OCR::/Vol_106/WLURG39_RTP_20031013/WLURG39_RTP_20031013_001.2.txt . JEB BROOKS EDITOR IN CHIEF Kevin White has resigned his post as Execu- tive Committee Vice President. White was ar- rested on Saturday, October 4 at l0:45p.m. for driving under the influence of alcohol. Helen Hughes, President of the Executive Committee, said that, “the EC supports his resig- nation and wishes the best for Kevin.” As of The Ring-tum Phi ’s press time plans for replacing White had not been ironed out. Hughes plans to make the campus aware of the EC’s procedures as soon as possible. According to police reports, central dispatch received a report of an accident at the intersec- tion of Nelson and Main in downtown Lexington on Saturday night. Officer Jonathan G. Shenk arrived on the scene where he discovered that White’s Chevrolet Blazer struck another vehicle. The officer deduced that White had not waited for the other car to proceed through the intersec- tion before he commenced his left turn. White was charged with failing to yield the right-of-way WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY T HE NG-TUM Tie rhrdrril roire of Washington and Lie Urrirerrin shire 7897 Executive Committee vice president arrested, resigns PHI .O2% .10% .30% How DRUNK ARE YOU? KNOW YOUR BAC. Each mug equivalent to .()l%. Statistics from Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The legal lirriit for persons under 21 driving under the influence. The legal limit for persons age 21 and over while driving. up to 12 months ing to Sutton. 2CI)E’s complaint against AACIJ to be heard Tuesday ERIN JULIUS NEWS EDITOR Washington and Lee’s lo- cal fraternity drama will be taken to the national level this week. On Tuesday, the North- American Interfraternity Confer- ence (NIC) will hear Sigma Phi Epsilon National’s complaint against Alpha Delta Phi Na- tional with regard to the coloni- zation on Washington and Lee’s campus. AD Phi has initiated members who had been initiated into SigEp. A problem arises because SigEp does not believe it re- leased the brothers of its Wash- ington and Lee chapter when it revoked their charter. AD Phi believes that the men are no longer brothers of SigEp and were therefore eligible for initia- tion into AD Phi. “The complaint is that Al- pha Delta Phi violated the Co- mity Agreement,” said Dean of Students Dawn Watkins, “If AD Phi is found in violation, the penalties asso- ciated with that will be at the National level.” “The complaint is that Alpha Delta Phi violated the Comity Agreement. If AD Phi is found in violation, the penalties ternity, until the fraternity with which such group was previ- ously connected has officially given written notice to the Con- ference that all rights have been waived by them, or until five years have elapsed from the date of resignation or disassocia- tion.” According to Watkins, the Comity Agreement is something the NIC takes very seriously, “Jon Williamson [President of the NIC] told me that the Comity Agreement is ‘one of the most sacred aspects of the Constitu- tion,”’ she said. Watkins also believes that it is somewhat ironic that the is- sue arises because of the Comity Agreement, because normally smaller fraternities are protected by the agreement, whereas in this case, the larger fraternity is SigEp and it is using the Comity agreement to act against the much smallerAD Phi. SigEp has 264 chapters na- tionally, while AD Phi has 26 chapters in the U.S. and Canada. The University will be informed of the NIC’s de- Punishmentwill _ _ _ cision before not be gar_ associated with that will be noon on nered at the 10- at the National level_’’ Wednesday. cal level. The NIC is The NIC DAWNWATKINS composed of 66 vice president DEANOFSTUDENTS fraternal orga- called Watkins nizations,witha on Friday morning to inform her about the hearing Tuesday. If AD Phi is found to be in violation of the Comity Agree- ment, it may appeal the deci- sion at the NIC’s next board meeting in April, however, in the interim, any penalties would remain in effect. The Comity agreement states that, “No member frater- nity shall accept a petition for membership, grant colony or other affiliated status, or grant a charter to any group sub- stantially representing an exist-' ing or previously resigned or disassociated colony or active chapter of another member fra- total of 5500 chapters in the United States and Canada. It is led by a Board of Directors, all volunteers, and headquartered in Indianapolis. Its rriission is to, “advocate the needs of its member fraternities through en- richment of the fraternity experi- ence; advancement and growth of the fraternity community; and enhancement of the educational mission of the host institutions. The NIC is also committed to enhancing the benefits of fra- ternity membership,” according to its Mission Statement. Efforts to get in touch with SigEp’s Executive Director were unsuccessful. to the other vehicle. Shenk began filing a routine report. While talk- White was charged with failing to yield the right-of—way, driving under the influence and re- ing With White, th€ Officer n0tiC6d 8 strong Smell Of fusing a breathalyzer test. He is scheduled to alcohol as well as his bloodshot and watery eyes. This gave probable cause for an arrest. appear in court on October 21 at 9:00a.m. According to Officer Sutton of the Lexington was elected to the PMONDAY, OCTOBER 13, Police Department, judges have a great deal of leeway with a case such as this one. White faces the possibility of losing his driver license for up to 12 months and being fined. The judge also has the opportunity to sentence White to in jail. Because this punish- ment is more severe, it is also more rare, accord- The University’s policies may also affect White. The Student Judicial Committee hears all cases of drunk driving. The suggested pen- alty for driving under the influence of alcohol is suspension. According to the 2003-2004 Stu- “drunkenness, when it results in behavior that endangers self or others” can Equivalent to dent Handb00K surgical anesthesia. I'CS1llt 3 Strike. The book also states that a first strike re- sults in, “mandatory education and counseling, plus moderate sanction. Parents notified upon charge and disposition.” White is a member of the Law class of 2004. His undergraduate degree is from Randolph- Macon College, where he graduated in 1999. He Executive Committee last year. Homecoming 2003 Crowned Queen! Carolyn Duffy, Pi Kappa Phi’s nominee for Homecoming Queen was crowned. “It was such a shock to hear my named called as the _ Homecoming Queen. Itwas a day I’ll never forget, the perfect collegernemory. I’m so proud that both students and faculty chose me to represent the University, and it has been humbling to receive congratulations fiom so many different people,” said Duffy. See page 7 for more on Homecoming. STEVEN MARINOS/ RING-TUM PHI Phi Eta Sigma, national honor fraternity, works for recognition This year, Washington and Lae’s campus‘ will see a publicity campaign for freshmen by this fraternity BY IMRAN NAEMULLAH CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Phi Eta Sigma might not be the most recognized name on campus, but it claims over 130 W&L students as members. This national honor society for college fresh- men, was founded in 1923 at the University of Illinois at Ur- b a n a - Champaign, mak- . ing it the oldest _ freshman honor- _ ary society in America. It has over 700,000 members nation- ally spread amongst over 300 chapters. W&L’s chapter was founded in 1937, making it the oldest Phi Eta Sigma chapter in Virginia; the next oldest is the one at William and Mary, founded in 1965. This year, Phi Eta Sigma is de- termined to make sure its name is better recog- nized at W&L. ‘ The officers are junior Alex Schaerrer, presi- dent; senior Cullen Carter, vice president; junior Robyn Konkel, secre- tary; and junior Kim Sanford, treasurer. They most re- cently met on Sept. 23 with Deans George Bent and David Leonard to plan out their activi- ties for the year and brainstorm how to make their presence more widely known on cam- pus. Said Schaerrer, “Our goal is to make Phi Eta Sigma a driving force on campus. We want to help serve as a bridge between learning and leader- ship.” Some of the key methods which they identified to in- crease their name-recognition include t—shirts, a page in the yearbook, and sponsoring more community service events. They are also working to- wards increasing their “group solidarity,” as Bent put it, by doing things like planning activities for their members which balance fun with the intellectual caliber of its members. According to Schaerrer, membership in Phi Eta Sigma requires a class standing in the top 20 percent at the close of winter term. Membership is not auto- matically conferred upon freshmen meeting this re- quirement; they must apply and be selected by the soci- ety. Benefits of the society in- clude recognition from em- ployers To help increase aware- ness of Phi Eta Sigma among the freshman class, the group plans on having an ice cream social followed by a movie in the Commons at a point in the not too distant future. Plans are also in the works to find out if faculty can be inducted as honorary mem- bers of Phi Eta Sigma. For more information on Phi Eta Sigma, contact President Alex Schaerrer. OCR::/Vol_106/WLURG39_RTP_20031013/WLURG39_RTP_20031013_002.2.txt JAMES (3. ?..39'W_,.3$«” ‘.-it‘:'{flY 5 m‘ PAGE 27 MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2003 N-Its‘aR.t-rs-'tr=:.a'Et§ Plans for PayneHall renovatio Construction. To help facilitate the renovation being done on Payne Hall, there has been a fence constructed around the building so as to block any construction sounds and hide any messes made. The fence has been painted red in order to preserve the uniformity of the Colonnade. The Payne Hall Construction is just the first in a series of renovations on the Colonnade. Payne Hall is receiving the first of many up- dates to the Colonnade. The old Dean of Students office is being converted into a new meeting room. The room will be entitled the Mason New Room in honor of Mason New, an alumnus of Washington and Lee. A gift was given in his honor to fund the room. The gift covers all of the cost which comes to a total of $500,000. “The money was given by a foundation in honor of [New] so the President could have a for- mal reception area for important guests,” stated Joe Grasso, Vice President for Administration. Vari- ous groups can also use the Mason New Room for high visibility speakers and meetings. The former Dean of Students offices are now going to be one room. “The Mason New Room is unique in that we have an architect form Charlottesville who is a Washington and Lee alum- nus,” commented Grasso. The plan is for the Ma- son New Room to have a historical interior design. The Mason New Room will pay tribute to the university’s rich past and presence in Rockbridge County. The wall treatment and furniture of the Mason New Room will be from period style of 100 to 150 years ago. “This will not be a stuffy restored room, UNIVERSITY BLUEPRINTS it become a reality but a room that has a historic presence that func- tions in a modern way,” said Grasso. Possible art work may include portraits of various United States presidents or portraits of very important people to Washing- ton and Lee. A construction fence has been placed around the build- ing. ‘This function of the fence is to reduce the noise and visual construction. The project began September 1 with internal demolition and removal of asbestos from the building. The construction is expected to be completed in the middle of January 2004. The offices left vacant by the Dean of Fresh- men and her staff, in Payne Hall, are at the moment being used by the English Department as faculty offices. In other changes to Payne Hall, an elec- tronic classroom was added over the summer. This is just the first phase in a lengthy, enor- mously expensive project to renovate the Colon- nade. The improvements will take place over the next decade. The administration hopes to set a precedent with the Mason New Room for the rest of the Colonnade. The style being historical, tak- ing in all of our heritage as a university, and make the buildings function in an advanced technologi- cal manner. ail {news brier;.,,t¢i=-phiowtu. C" Need Technical Training? If your classes require that you make oral presentations and if you wish to do them professionally, or if you have been given as- signments requiring you to develop WWW sites with class related material, you might consider getting some free training in three very important areas. The Tucker Multimedia Center (TMC) is continuing its training program for students on web and presentation software use and will again be offering evening training sessions on 1) Power Point pre- sentation software, 2) Adobe Photoshop and scanning techniques, and 3) Front Page web page development basics. Topic dates and times are listed below. It’s quick and it’s easy and free, so mark your calendar. Yes, enrollment is limited, so register early. Web Page Development using Front Page Tuesday, October 14, 2003 7:30 pm TMC, Tucker Hall 408 Power Point Presentation Software Thursday, October 23, 2003 7:30 pm TMC, Tucker Hall 408 Adobe Photoshop and Scanning Thursday, October 30, 2003 7:30 pm TMC, Tucker Hall 408 Go to the Tucker Multimedia Center web page at hnp://tmc.wlu.edu to sign up for student training. Look for the “services” link in the main menu. Sign up via the email link and remember to indicate which session(s) you wish to attend. Washington Term applications due next Tuesday Want to spend Spring Term in our Nation’s Capital? The dead- line for the Washington Term Program Internship applications is Tuesday, 5 :00 p.m., October 21, 200. You may obtain your applica- tion online or outside Professor Connelly’s office, Room 304, in the Williams School. For more information about the Internship Program, please at- tend the Information Session tonight, Monday, October 13, 2003, at 7:30 p.m., in room 221 of the Williarns School. Need Financial Aid for study abroad programs? Ifyou plan to participate in the Spring Term Abroad Program and will need financial assistance, come by the Financial Aid Office AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. You must verify with the Financial Aid Office that you have the required forms on file. Written notification of fman— cial aid awards will be sent prior to Thanksgiving break if files are complete by November 6. Media CEO to Speak J. Stewart Bryan III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia—based Media General Inc., will be speaking Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in Lee Chapel. His talk, sponsored by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications, is entitled “The Evolu- tion of News Delivery in the 20th and 21st Centuries.” In his 35 years as a news executive, Bryan has built quite an ampire. Media General is a Southeastern communications com- pany with 25 daily newspapers, 26 network—affiliated television stations and interactive media holdings, including the Richmond Tlmes-Dispatch, The Tampa Tribune and WFLA, which is the top television station in Florida. It also hold partial ownership of The Denver Post. 100 other periodicals are also held by Media Gen- eral. Bryan was named as the vice president of The Tribune Co. in Tampa, then went on to serve as its executive vice president, and then became President and Publisher of The Richmond Times- Dispatch and The Richmond News-Leader in 1978. Those papers merged in 1992. Bryan graduated from the University of Virginia and currently serves on several media boards, including the Newspaper Asso- ciation of America, the Foundation for American Communities and the Virginia Historical Society. Monday, October 13 is Christopher Columbus Day, a Federal holi- day in the United States. Important FactsAbout Chrktopher Columbus: In 1492, he left Spain for his first voyage. He landed in San Salvador at Cap-Haitien and returned home to Palos, Spain, in 1493. In 1493, he left Spain for his second voyage. He landed on Marie—Galante, then went again in Cap-Haitien, St. Ann’s Bay, and returned to Cadiz, Spain, in 1496. In 1498, he left Spain for his third voyage. He landed in Santo Domingo, and returned home again to Cadiz, Spain in 1500. In 1502, he left Spain for his fourth and final voyage. He landed on the Bay Islands off of Central America, Portobelo, and then re- turned home to Sartlucar, Spain, for the final time. He later died in 1506. Hs_“TTD.o 3' Yesterday was the 133rd Aiiniversery of Lee’s death. What follows is Lee’s definition of a gentleman: , The forbearing use of power does not only form a touchstone, but the manner in which an individual enjoys certain advantages over others is a test of a true gentleman. The power which the strong have over the weak, the employer over the employed, the educated over the unlettered, the experienced over the confiding, even the clever over the silly—the forbearing or inoffensive use of all this power or authority, or a total abstinence from it when the case admits it, will show the gentleman in a plain light The gentleman does not needlessly and urmecessarily remind an offender of a wrong he may have committal against him. He cannot only forgive, he can forget; and he strives for that nobleness of self and mildness of character which impart sufficient strength to let the past be but the past. A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others. RARY. GOV Faculty calendar vote over, decision left to Board of Trustees FROM STAFF REPORTS Washington and Lee’s faculty voted October 8-10 and October 10-12 on the three calendar proposals. The options were for retain- ing the current 12-12-6 cal- endar, moving to a 13-13-4 calendar or a 14-14 system Vote one narrowed the op- tions to two, while the sec- ond vote determined which option the faculty preferred. After the first vote, the 13—13—4 “compromise” cal- endar was eliminated. The second round of voting, which began on October 10 and ended Sunday night will determine whether the faculty chooses the 12-12-6 or 14-14 calendar. Votes are being tallied by the University Registrar to- day and will be reported to University Officials and the Washington and Lee commu- nity shortly thereafter. The ultimate decision will be made by the Board of Trust- ees, which will discuss the issue in late October. The Board of Trustees will be meeting October 23 through the 25, at which point they will discuss the calendar decision, taking into account the opinion of the faculty. The Board is responsible for determining Washington and Lee’s budget and will have to look at the cost im- plications of any calendar changes. to flooding Chi Psi’s Late Night shut down due PHOTO courmzsy MICHAEL LEE Flooding! There was floodingin Chi Psi’s house, The Lodge, this Homecoming weekend. The brothers had to evacuate their Late Night D} party because the flooding made it a safety hazard. BY ERIN JULIUS NEWS EDITOR Chi Psi’s notorious Late Night party was shut down by the brothers this Homecoming Saturday due to flooding. “It was a safety issue, we didn’t want anyone slipping,” said Chi Psi President Brooks Batcheller. The flooding was in the basement of Chi Psi’s house, where a DJ party was taking place as part of the fraternity’s Home- coming festivities.. The party was already wind- ing down when one of the toilets upstairs flooded, causing pipes to leak. Between 3 and 3:30 a.m. it became clear that there would be a safety issue, so the base- ment was evacuated. The water had to be shut off. Sophomore brothers had to clean up the flooding mess and a plumber will have to be called to fix the pipes. OCR::/Vol_106/WLURG39_RTP_20031013/WLURG39_RTP_20031013_003.2.txt MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2003 S“l‘ii15“il‘3‘éDiToRiAL Plan sober ride Kevin White resigned from the Ex- ecutive Committee. The Ring-tum Phi lauds his decision. His choice to step down from the EC was appropriate in light of his recent arrest for driving un- der the influence of alcohol. His experi- ence should open the eyes of Washing- ton and Lee students to the risks of drunk driving and the need to plan for a safe ride home. We believe that there is never an excuse to get behind the wheel of a car while drunk. When you drink and drive you do not just put your own life on the line, but also the lives of everyone on the street. Last year, 17,000 people died as a result of drunken drivers. Anyone who has the competency to be a Washington and Lee student also has the intelligence to plan for a safe ride home. Every stu- dent has got to plan a way back. Count- ing on staying “pretty sober” is not a rea- sonable excuse. Washington and Lee University of- fers a sober ride system that has its flaws, but its use is far better than risking lives. Now is not the time for complaining. Recent events should inspire students to make Traveller better. It should encour- age us all to see the need to work on the program. Don’t get us wrong, we enjoy embibing just as much as the next Wash- ington and Lee General. It’s fun and exciting, wild and fun, cool and tough and quite simply, a blast. Drinking and college life have gone hand-in-hand as long as there have been students looking for something to do. However, the term “drinking” must be preceded by “re- sponsible.” Be careful and plan a so- ber ride. We support Mr. White’s decision to uphold the integrity of the Executive Committee by resigning. The commit- tee is more than the people‘who serve it. It represents the most cherished and hallowed traditions of our University. Thank you Mr. White. You did the right thing. “Welcometothe party.” ~'Ihe ReverendAl Sharpton, in response to Wesley Claik’s implication that Democrats shouldn’t attack other Democratsinatough2004Presidential election. (.'.‘EHl':<'(:TC?€ 3.>:i- il.iz2.n*: G-TUM PHI Editor in chief Jeb Brooks Assistant Editor Kyle Wass News Editor Erin Julius Opinions Editor Caley Anderson Arts & Life Editor Megan Morgan Photography Editor Cody Gabbard Sports Editor Allison Perry Asst. Sports Editor John Hyland Production Assistants Hilary Henry Chad Kiewiet de Jonge Emily Edwards Copy Editor Anne Iadarola Editorial Director Katie Howell Business Manager Pan] seifert Circulation Director Hem-y G1-imbau Distribution Dir. Thomas Worthy The Ring-tum Phi is published Mondays during the undergraduate school year at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia. The Washington and Lee Publications Board elects the Editor in chief, but The Ring-tum Phi is otherwise independent. The Ring-tum Phi welcomes all responsible sub- missions and letters. All submissions must be e-mailed to plii@wlu.edu or in the University Center mailbox by 5 p.m. Friday to appear in the following week’s edition. The Ring-tum Phi reserves the right to edit submissions for content and length. Letters and columns do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Ring-tum Phi Editorial Board. Advertising does not reflect the opin- ions of The Ring-tum Phi or its staff. This newspaper observes current oourt definitions of libel and obscenity. The Ring-turn Phi University Commons Rm. 341 Washington and lee University Lexington, Wrginia 24450 Telephone: (540) 458-4060 Fax: (540) 458-4059 Email: phi@wluedu TH:E RlN(.§-’_§TllE?»::i_ Pat CAIEYANDERSON OPiNioissEDIioR ' mm m PINIONS No change needed BY IMRAN NAEEMULLAH, ‘05 According to the many signs floating around campus lately, Wash- ington and Lee is a hotbed of anti-homosexual discrimination. My favorite, “W&L is number 2” is at once ambiguous and intriguing. Placing it in context of the other signs (including “homophobia is a curable disease” and “come out, come out wherever you are”) leads me to believe it refers to W&L’s number two ranking in this year’s Princeton Review for “alterna- tive lifestyles not an altemative.” That’s a pretty heady reputation, and according to the message implied by the posters, it is a well-deserved ranking and that needs to be changed. But is this ranking truly deserved (and I will argue no), and if it’s not, then do we really need to change much? We can all agree that W&L students are prone to inflated perceptions, whether about how much we drink, how much we study, how Southern the culture here is, how male-dominated this campus is, and so on. Perhaps, then, we can also agree that the stereotype of W&L as ultra-conservative, intolerant of “deviant” lifestyles, and generally “un-215‘ century” is also a distorted one that must be corrected. The favorite refrain of liberal activ- ists on campus is usually that they love this school but they have serious issues with things like our lack of “diversity,” our “homophobia,” and our tendency to be judgmental. In other words, they say, this school is won- derful except that it is so conservative and if only we could fix a few things, then it would be perfect. But is W&L so conservative? What exactly do you mean by “conservative” anyway? If we are politically conservative because we tend to vote for (or at least profess support for) Republicans, then so be it. If we are conserva- tive because we love our school’s traditions, then that’s great. But to proclaim us socially conservative is bizarre. A true social conservative would frown upon our drinking, our sexual activities, our drug-taking, our occasionally foul language, and the like. We are not exactly social liberals, particularly when it comes to expressing what we believe as opposed to what we actually do, but we are more moderate than anything else. And following this train of thought, I would not call this school “homophobic” as a rule. First off, let’s define “homophobia.” The American Heritage dictio- nary says it is “fear of or contempt for lesbians and gay men.” I don’t think that people here have a “fear” of homosexuals; some might dislike the act of homosexuality, some might mock it because they perceive it as funny, but this is not fear. Very few people, in my judgment, are scared of homo- sexuals. “Contempt” is also largely inapplicable. There are no doubt some people at this school who do not want homosexuals to join their fraterni- ties or sororities, or would rather not have a homosexual roommate, but “contempt” implies scathing hatred, an adjective I would certainly not ascribe to any W&L student’s emotions. Even on the Spring Term issue, where students’ passions have flared up as they haven’t since coeduca- tion, the debate has been impressively civil. . This word, “civil,” brings us to the heart of the matter. W&L prides itself on its civil and genteel atmosphere. This must extend to all members of campus. Therefore, racism is unacceptable, as are sexism, ethnocen- trism, “fraternity—ism,” and any other negativism you’d like to include. Civil behavior, which gentlemen and gentlewomen must embody, requires that we shun these negative traits. The posters around campus imply a need to take action; they are a call to repeal this school ’s alleged anti- homosexual atmosphere. But I think they overestimate this school’s “con- servatism” and in doing so, inflate perceptions and distort reality. If we reaffirm our commitment to civil behavior, then this whole debate need not be lengthy. And if homosexuals on campus wish to test the civility of this campus, I would encourage them to do so. They should “come out” as and when they desire. They should feel free to take members of the same sex to date functions. I predict that they will be pleasantly surprised by the lack of negative reactions from the W&L community as a whole. And at the end of the day, let us not be slaves to the Princeton Review rankings. After all, they’re based largely on inflated perceptions and are scientifically inaccu- rate. At the end of the day, Washington and Lee, while not perfect, is a helluva lot more tolerant than any so-called “liberal” school where people tolerate your views as long as they’re to the left-of-center. Rebuttal from Anderson Mr. Naeernu]]ah’s argument is the same as mine, but I should point out that thepostersaid“IsW&LREALLY#2?” Ithinkthattheposters weiemeantto say thatW&Lreallywasn’t, buttlmtwe shouldooriectthatappearence, sohis state- mentthattheposters n1eantthat“itis awell-deseivedrankingandthatneedstobe clnnged” is erroneous. He says that “any..negativisn'L..is unacceptable,” and he also says that there are “people at this school who do not want homosexuals to join their fraternities or soroities,” and so on. The fact is that this IS negativism Andwhilelmraninakesthepointthatahomosexualwhobringsasame-sexdateto apartyorsome suchwillnotenoounteropenhostility,Istillmaintainthefactthat the person would definitely not enjoy the same esteem in the eyes of their fellow studentsasaheterosexualwhodidthe same. It’sjustafactoflifehereatW&L. I certainly don’t think that W&L is blatantly homophobic (the distinction between “fear” and “dislike” is hardly relevant in this case), I just think that it tends to be somewhat exclusionary of certain types of people, homosexuals included So while I agree that the posters overexaggerate the problem to a significat degree, andwhileIagreethatthePiincetonReviewprobablyhasusupalittletoo high on their list, I think we should make every effort to change that We may not be as intolerant as the anonymous signs or the wonderful folks at the Princeton Review maymakeus outtobe,butinthe2lstCentury, appearenceisreality. Our bestrecomseistomakedanmsmethatpeopleknowthatweAREaccepting. “I’d come up with something better, but l’ve been drunk since Wed.” -B. Love ‘05 “Football team won the game” -Justin Cole ‘07 “The 75-year alums” -Brooke Sanden ‘06 PAGE 3 W&L tolerance Room for Improvement BY CALEYANDERSON, ‘06 Washington and Lee University has many strengths, but diver- sity and tolerance of alternative lifestyles are not among them. Ac- cording to the Princeton Review, our three highest special category rankings are “Students Most Nostalgic for Ronald Reagan (#1),” “Major Frat/Srat Scene (#2),” and “Alternative Lifestyles Not An Alternative (#2)” Clearly, we’re no UC Berkeley (argue amongst yourselves whether that’s a good thing or not). In recent days, someone has been posting about W&L’s campus anti-homophobia posters, which say things to the effect of “It happens to the best of families,” “One in ten is,” or, my personal least favorite “Homopho— bia is a curable disease.” Now, don’t get me wrong, I agree that these posters are out of line. First of all, they were posted anonymously. Anonymous postings of statements charged with political significance never sit well with me. If you feel so strongly about your opinion, why not have the courage to come right out and say it to the student body? Secondly, these posters come on a little too strong, the “Homophobia is a curable disease” poster in evidence. But, nevertheless, the posters raise a valid point- W&L is not notable for being a highly tolerant school, of homosexuals, minori- ties, or anyone else who’s not middle/upper class, southern white, and quite generally in the mainstream here. This is not to say that there aren’t individual students who aren’t accepting of differences, I know there are many. The whole problem here is that the campus’ general feeling is that it’s not going to be dragged into the 21st Century without a fight. “It’s a school for rich white southemers,” said one alumni who commented on the Princeton Review’s site, “Only a little less than 20 years ago, it was only a school for rich white southern boys.” The problem, as I assert, is not that W&L refuses to take in homosexuals, ethnic minorities, etc. (as there are many of these fine folks at our great school), it’s that the primary student body generally don’t accept these people as “fitting in” to the W&L scene. As one Texan student on the Princeton Review commented: “Those who fit in agree that never before have we met friendlier people. Those who don’t fit in either transfer out or endure a long four years.” This is not the great University that I know Washing- ton and Lee is. I’m generally opposed to the whole process that’s referred to as “Swarthmorification,” (i.e., standardizing our calendar, adapting Swarthmore/Amherst type curriculum and teaching policies, etc.), but I do think that those 11 schools above us in U.S. News’ rankings have something we don’t, and that’s willingness to include anyone as a complete, non—excluded member of the student body, and as a member of the “in-crowd.” Here, in my opinion, we still apply ex- clusionary tactics based on things other than whether or not the person’s a cool guy/girl, which should be the only real criteria. Again, does W&L have a serious problem that needs immedi- ate attention? No. Are the posters right? No. Is the Princeton Review accurate in their ranking? No. Should we make some attempt to convince these people that we’re a much more tolerant place than they make us out to be? Yes. Otherwise, we run a definite risk of alienating outstanding po- tential students, faculty, and staff. So, even though the problem is an overexaggerated one, it’s still there lurking between W&L’s white columns. Perhaps the most telling of all these posters is the one that says “Is W&L REALLY #2?” I think that we’re not really #2 and that Princeton has got it wrong, but I also think we should start going out of our way to prove it. Rebuttal from Naeemullah Ca]eyAndersci.ngton, VA 24450 54£?~46¥~3447 OCR::/Vol_106/WLURG39_RTP_20031013/WLURG39_RTP_20031013_007.2.txt MEGANMORGAN AK1S&LlFEEDIIOR FMAr;MoRGAArlrB@wiUri1J MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2003 is LIFE Homecoming bands receive mixed reviews verse, but they set the stage well for the atmosphere of the concert. KDTU played excellent back- ground music, and a fairly large crowd of people stayed up until the end of the show. As people were leaving to go to parties and PAGE 7 BY KATHERINE SHELL toured this summer with the it Alhnan Brothers and will begin STAFF WRITER their fall tour in a couple of weeks in Colorado. Information about the band can be found in their website: www.karldenson.com. The show started at 9 but Karl Denson’s Tiny Uni- verse with opening act The Or- dinary Way kicked off homecom- ing this weekend at the Pavilion Friday night. Both bands re- didn’t pickup until 10:30 or 11:00. other activities, other people were ceived mixed reviews. While there was a dance party showing up to enjoy the end of The Ordinary Way debuted just in front of the stage, there the show. * in 1999 with their first album, Ris- ing. Based in Northern Virginia, they have been traveling all over the country since then, gaining new fans every place they visit. Overall, KDTU had a great at- mosphere and was enjoyed by many of the students. Other stu- dents felt the need for a more lively, interactive band, but everyone en- was also a crowd of people stand- ing in the back, just talking, and not paying attention to the band. The Ordinary Way, an interest- ing mixture of jazz, reggae, and Friday night was the first time blues, played slightly longer, joyed having KDTC and The Or- they have opened for Karl slightly harder—to-dance-to songs dinary Way travel to Lexington to p_ Denson’s Tiny Universe. KDTU than Karl Denson’s Tiny Uni- kick off Homecoming Weekend! . Corbin Blackford / The Ring-tum Phi ...aooovW"""‘“'“ Corbin Blackford / The Ring-tum Phi Charlottesville offers dining delights I think that at some point we all start to feel as if the walls of Lexington are closing in on us and we just want to escape this town, even for an evening, if only to convince ourselves that there is life beyond this campus. To make things even worse, the restau- rant culture stag— mind as both local favorites and guaranteed great meals. But last weekend I happened upon an eatery I hadn’t no- ticed before, and it has now become my latest favorite. Located on a corner of “the Corner,” the appropri- ately named hot spot right across f r o m CAROLYN DUFFY , nates fairly ’ h e quickly around HOMECOMING QUEEN U V a here, and the ——————— ~"=—— campus thought of more on Uni- pizza, more subs, more Chi- nese or Mexican food seems almost unbearable. Well, per- fect! It sounds like a road trip is in order. A great meal, a change of pace, a drive full of breathtaking mountain views and fall foliage...that’s more than enough reason to ven- ture out of town——how about Charlottesville? Recently, a national poll named Charlottesville the most energetic city in America. And I think they have the restaurants to match that title. Exotic and exciting, romantic and refined, lively and colorful—The Mellow Mushroom, Northern Expo- sure, and the Ivy Inn come to versity Ave, Michael’s Bistro and Taphouse boasts a pub- like atmosphere full of youth- ful energy, a unique and finely tuned beer and wine list, and a surprisingly sophisticated menu of both the exotic and the familiar. After climbing a steep narrow staircase, patrons sud- denly find themselves in a spa- cious, sprawling second-story space where diners sit com- fortably in multi-tiered sec- tions of dark wooden booths. The lucky dozen who have managed to snag the balcony tables overlooking the busy street below have the privilege of enjoying the cool night air along with their cold beer. When the server brings you the menu, I am positive you’ll have as difficult a deci- sion on your hands as I did. I wanted to order everything on the menu, and to make it even more impossible to decide they also offer daily specials. I settled on the Thai Chicken Curry with dried apricots. MOkay wait———I know that sounds a little scary for those of you who only eat as ethnic as Hunan’s. But somehow Michael’s throws in a bit of East Asian inspiration and French flair without detracting from the whole tavern/pub/ beer theme. It just works, and after eating here even the big- gest skeptics will have to ad- mit that exotic flavorings like saffron and soy sauce and co- conut milk can perk up the fin- est flank steak and add texture to the most tantalizing trout. My chicken, served in a bowl over basmati rice with gener- ous slices of homemade flatbread to soak up the rich, fruity, fragrant sauce, was out of this world, no other way to describe it. The menu is diverse, and the dishes combine complex flavors to create artistic and el- egant dishes like chicken and duck potpie served with a thick, hearty stew and topped with browned mashed potatoes. Equally tempting was the Icelandic Arctic Char‘ (that’s fish) wrapped in a potato crepe and served with crispy pro- sciutto and asparagus. How amazing does that sound? I would be willing to bet you won’t find food like that in Lexington—and certainly not for $10, which is the average price for en- trees. An exceptional deal to say the least. One more reason to try Michael’s: you can order a beer sampler and try four small glasses of the most interesting—sounding beers on the menu. With at least twelve beers on tap, over 40 bottles, and a selection that focuses on American microbreweries like Rogue and Pyramid, you have a wide variety to choose from. I am convinced that a great meal is worth the trip—Michael’s Bistro and Taphouse was definitely worth mine. The Ring -tum Phi wishes the Washington and Lee community a safe and happy Reading Days Corbin Blackford / The Ring-tum Phi ABOVE, under one of the big tents located at the Law School field, alumni, young and old alike, enjoyed the scrumptous buffet line provided by dining services. FAR LEFT, students like Josh Comthwaite and Mandi Kimble ate various food types ranging from hors d‘oeuvres to crispy cookies while chatting with fel- low students and graduates. LEFT, the band The Ordinary Way played music in hopes of inspir- ing dancers, unfortunately few took the cue. W&L offers variety of films BY MEGAN MORGAN ARTS AND LIFE EDITOR Like movies but tired of go- ing to the small Lexington the- atre or driving to Roanoke to see one? Students have another option at their disposal. This Oc- tober, several films will be pre- sented by various organizations on the Washington and Lee cam- pus. The John W. Elrod’s Com- mons Theatre will host several films this month. These include “Seabiscut” and “2 Fast 2 Furi- ous. “Seabiscut, which stars Tobey Maguire and Jeff Bridges, tells the story of a racehorse considered an underdog by most, that rises to prominence during the Great Depression. The film will be shown at 9:30 on October 14th. 2 Fast 2 Furious is the story of a former cop, played by Paul Walker, who along with an ex—con friend helps to transport money for a Miami crime lord while se- cretly working for an undercover agent to bring the the crime lord down. This film will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on October 17th and 18th. Both this film and Seabiscut are being sponsored by the university. The Washington and Lee Film Society will also be present- ing several films in the Commons Theatre. These include “Bend It Like Beckham” and “The Devil’s Backbone”. “Bend It Like Beckham tells the story of Jess Bahmra, a young Indian girl growing up in England who is a talented soccer player but is un- able to play because of her fair1ily’s traditional values. The film will show at 7:30 on October 24th and 25th. “The Devils Backbone, showing at 7:30 on October 31st and November 1st, is a super- natural drama about a remote Spanish orphanage at the end of the Civil War that is haunted by the ghost of a child. Several films will also be shown at the Williams School of Commerce. On October 23rd, “RussianArk”will appearas part of the Fall 2003 Russian Film Se- ries. The film, which is in Russian with English subtitles, is told through the eyes of an unseen Russian director who meets the 19th century Marquis de Custine while touring the Hermitage Mu- seum. As the two of them stroll through the rooms of the muse- ums, rooms which used to be the home to generations of Romanovs, they meet up with historical figures from Peter the Great to Nicolas II. The film will be shown at 7 in Room 221 of the C—School. The Fall 2003 Politics Filrnfest will also present a film in Room 221 of the C—School. At 7 on October 24th, the film “Brim will be shown.The film, directed by Gillo Pontecorvo, examines co- lonialism and revolution on Portugese controlled Carribean island during the 18th century. Marlon Brando starts as an En- glishman on a secret mission to incite a slave revolt, seize the sugar cane trade for England and reenslave the revolters. All of these films are open to the W&L community and are free of charge. 7 North Jefferson Street 463-3622 University Cleaners WE’LL GET RID OF YOUR DIRT Great Service First—Rate Quality dry cleaning, laundry, alterations Triple Nine Society Founded 1978 Extraordinary camaraderie international society of peers. 99.9th percentile: old SAT 1450, new SAT 1520, GRE 1460, MAT 85; see complete list at: www.tn‘p|enine.org in an Editorial Note: In last week’s Ring—tum Phi, we ran a sec- tion called “Homecoming Nominees announced.” Three people’s pictures were excluded. Melanie Barr, Joanna Periniiand Arriita Wofford were not included because the Phi’s source for headshots is The Calyx and the three women were not in the yearbook. We are sincerely sorry for any confusion that may have resulted. HOUSE FOR RENT Available June 2004 6 Tucker Street 3 Bedrooms/1 Bath Living Room/Large Kitchen Washer/Dryer Recently Renovated 463-9180 evenings/weekends 458-5001 weekdays $840/mo. OCR::/Vol_106/WLURG39_RTP_20031013/WLURG39_RTP_20031013_008.2.txt PAGE 8 “ll-{E Ri::se~i"i%;si Pa: THE AST ORD How, when and where to get it The award-winning Absolut FratIord’s guide to freshman romance College features the whole spectrum of re- lationships. You can sometimes find a pure, ro- mantic relationship — the kind when the happy couple sticks together for years and antes up for the long haul. Of course, not all college rela- tionships are so perfect. On the dark side, you have those “weekend-only” relationships, lust- motivated and practically convenient. In be- tween, relationships take so many forms and labels that you can never really be sure what’s going on between two college people. Are they hooking up? Are they dating? Are they whipped? Who knows, but here is the Frat Lord advice on college relationships: First things first — High school relationships belong in high school. There is no easier way to ruin your freshman year than to cling to the past as long as you possibly can. The story is so common it’s al- most cliché — high school boyfriend/girlfriend end up in different places, desperately commit- ting to keep it going. They talk on the phone. They chat on the intemet. They send emails. For the first few breaks, they bustle home as quickly as possible, spend every waking minute with each other, and then return to school at the last possible moment, dejected that they have to suffer through more intolerable separation. Where is the fun in that? There are so many reasons why folks desperately cling to high school relationships. Sometimes, people like to just stick to what they’re used to. Sometimes, people just feel insecure without a significant other. But when you have four (or more) years of college ahead of you, the LAST thing you should do is cling to high school relationships, especially if they’re more trouble than what they’re worth. Don’t get me wrong — long—distance rela- tionships have their benefits. If you can stand only seeing your “other” every 6 weeks or so, long—distance allows you the freedom to live ABSOLUT FIEEBKD“ TIM SMrrH ‘04 your life without someone checking up on your every move. But the minute you start sacrific- ing fun in the here—and—now for someone X hours away, long—distance relationships lose their point. College is not the time to limit your options. College is a time to have fun. And when it comes to relationships, college is a time to be practical. Think about it. You can try as hard as you want to make a long—distance relationship work. And maybe, for a year or two, you succeed. But eventually, something could go wrong, causing the relationship to come to an end. You feel the hurt, the emotional drain from los- ing something you’ve worked so hard to keep. And then you realize, worst of all, that you let two or more years of your college social life slip down the drain. So here is the frat lord recommendation for relationships during your W&L tenure — HOOK UP! College relationships work backwards. Hook up first. Hook up again. Hook up a third time — Call it a relationship. This is how things go. It’s not necessarily a horrible thing, it just takes some getting used to. Some people can’t bring themselves to consider the hook-up. Some purists think that relationships are only worthwhile if they pro- vide long—term meaningful benefit. Their in- tentions are good, but their expectations are misplaced. Hook-ups are part of the college experience. Even if you don’t choose to hook-up (you don’t have to), just remember this important guideline — Don’t put yourself into any relation- ship situation that limits your opportunity for fun. Go on some dates. If you get that feeling that things just aren’t what you’re looking for, DON’T PROLONG. Get the hell outta dodge. Why stay in a situation that’s not going to pan out? Why waste the time? MEGANMORGAN AKIS&LlFEEDlFOR EwAn;M)RcArnin@wLnn1J MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2003 BENNrFER’s BEST. Ame1:ica’s couple is the epitome of love for which every W&L couple should strive. College only lasts four years. Here, nearing the end of my tenure, this fact is becoming more clear every day. You could spend that time liv- ing miserably, trying to prolong relationships that are doomed to failure. Or you could spend that time having fun. I’m sure there are thousands of counter- arguments against my realism. But, like I said, college only lasts so long. Over the next few years, you’ll have tons of important things to worry about, decisions to make that will permanently shape your futures. Take my advice —— enjoy this time while it lasts. Oth- erwise, you may find yourself in four years looking over your shoulder, wondering where the time went. What to wear...what to wear, so many choices and so little time This week the Fashionista is back and fuming about common faux-pas at Washington and Lee University The seasons are changing and it is time to update our wardrobes. Here are a few tips for picking out the perfect outfit sure to score you the best date possible for the Mock Con Gala (since he might not have taken you to homecom- ing): When buying clothes try them on, and if you do shop on-line and after receiving the item find that it’s too big or too small, send it back. Most on-line stores offer fre shipping on returns, and will ex change items for free. If it doesn’t fit, don’t buy it; end of story. Size really does matter, but it doesn’t matter what size. The point is to look good in your clothes, not to squeeze your size 10 legs into size 2 pants. You’re going to look better in something that fits comfortably than something that is too tight. On that note please make sure your shirts cover your rnidriff. There is nothing more dis- gusting than rolls sticking out where top should meet bottom. With regards to designers: WHO CARES? I can recognize a good designer as well as the next and appreciate quality items, but trust me we can all see the little LV’s on your Louis bag, and we don’t need to hear you gossip about it as if it were some freshman girl you want to early bid. I don’t care if the pope himself hand—stitched your FAsHoN1sTA’s FURY Italian leather pumps, If they’re ugly, don ’t buy them. Seriously! There is nothing more unattrac- tive than listening to someone blab about their $600 designer skirt, (emphasis on the price tag). It just makes me think that they really do lack fashion sense, because while God may have made the skirt it is still ugly, and definitely not worth $6, let alone $600. So now that you have secured a wardrobe in the appropriate size and price range the final, and perhaps most important step is to always consult a full-length mirror before leaving your house. NO EXCEP- TIONS. Some recent cases of those who “forgot” to look in the mirror before walking out the door: Me — every day. Seriously, I look like crap on all occasions, so I figure why not let thet world know! The girl in the white stilettos. These are two heinously offensive topics. 1) No more white shoes 2) for advice on stilettos please consult last week's column. XAK (but I’m sure he doesn’t care) and if he does would someone please buy him some socks. The blazer over the cowl neck sweater - Re- ally, why did you do that; because while I’m sure you think it was cute, the combination made it THE look like you got your fashion sense from Bozo the clown. The way too tight white shirt, pink skirt, and lace-up around the ankle shoes: a) spandex is a privilege not a right, don’t think that just because they make it in your size you can wear it. (it’s like those size 87 bikini’s does anyone want to see that on spring break? No!) b) again NO MORE WHITE SHOES, and what’s with this lace at the ankle thing? Are we all trying to practice tying toe shoes to audition for the New York City Bal- let Co.? While the previously mentioned pink skirt is passable, though barely, the puffy, ruffled, wrap- around number has to go; don’t wear it again. And while we’re on pink, get rid of the pink shoes too. Really, are we six? Since pink has been such a dominant factor so far I feel it necessary to mention that only movie characters can have a “signature color” and even that sounds ridiculous to me. Put some spice in your wardrobe by mixing up the colors and try to venture out of the pastel family every now and again. So far we’ve hit on clothes and shoes, but thinking back to my freshman days makes me remember how much importance a good face book picture has on your life at W&L. To secure a snapshot of superior caliber entails a perfectly groomed coif so listen up. You must wash your mane at least every 36 hours, that is virtually EVERY day. If you’re con- cerned about damage from drying and styling just let it air dry while you’re sleeping and deal with the damage in the morning. For those of us with curly hair who long for a sleaker look, please make sure you straighten your whole head (including the back). To achieve the best look I would recommend first drying using a blow-dryer and a round, preferably boars hair, brush, before a quick once—over with a straight- ening iron if necessary. As a final point if you choose to enhance your natural hair color by highlighting remember that these subtle accents are done to do just that — highlight your natural color — not to take you from ebony to blonde, and some of us must real- ize that we can’t be blondes. For expert advice on the best way to enhance the natural beauty of your own hair consult your hairdresser. Addi- tionally before putting any color in your hair re- member that dye jobs are high—maintenance. Roots must be kept up; seriously, you don’t want to look like a zebra. These are just a few thoughts on what ought not be done and how to make the most of what you’re given. Take my advice and just take a careful look at yourself before leaving and you’ll probably be OK; otherwise you’ll hear about it next week. “is (I) The Women’s Swim Team would like the Men’s Swim Team to stop urinating in the pool. Q Stop making fun of Lilly Pulitzer. She has excellent Fall and Winter collections in addition to her now out-of-season Spring, Summer and resort wear. Q The light in the old Sig—Ep House should really be turned off. Q I’m glad the infirmary takes such great care of its patients and listens to me when I tell them that I have a serious problem. They really do a great job! Q Forget Prof. So-and-so: Dick Grefe is the hardest grader at this school. Q Freshmen should not vomit in the uri- nals. Q Jeb Brooks is quite possibly the most eligible bachelor on campus. (I) Don’t do drugs kids, because if you do, in the words of Coach Joe Lyles, “You lose!” (I) I think that if you swallow gasoline, you’re generally okay, unless you burp, which many people think is rude. Q What was with that opinions piece on video games last week? Can you say super- nerd? (I) University Cleaners is the absolute best! Q I demand shuffleboard courts some- where on campus, possibly in the Commons. (1) Tom Burish for provost! _ Q Fraternity houses would also like some tri—ply toilet paper. Q RACAS is coming: http://stufs.wlu.edu/ ~mendralaa/racas/newpage.html. ' (1) Health tip: Lack of water is the number one trigger of daytime fatigue. Q What freshmen would be dumb enough to accept a bid in October from Sigma Phi Oops-we’re-gone or whatever their name is now? (I) Father Alan Lipscomb, pastor of St. Patrick’s, has the best red-headed afro this side of the Atlantic! (1) Graham—Lees 2nd floor Commons side would like Helen Hughes personally to bring tri—ply toilet paper to the hall. (I) Hooking up in freshmen dorms loses its luster once you’re a junior. (I) The Lexington post office is unreliable, however, campus mail services can be trusted. Q Tuesdays are underrated. Q Mini-skateboards, as seen in Wal-mart, are fun for about ten minutes. (I) Breadsticks are the best tasting and most economical snack on the new Co-op’s menu. (I) The Emporium” will never be able to live down the name Co—op nor “The Mar- ketplace” the name “D-Hall.” (I) How many meanings are behind the title “Five Star General?” (1) If dogs are “man’s best friend,” then are cats “man’s mortal enemy?” (1) Why are there so many cats lurking around campus? (1) Shout out to Le Chat! Q What ever happened to Bob Villa? Q Sen. Robert Byrd (D- W. Va.) is the only former Klansman in Congress. (1) Three cheers to Dean Watkins for let- ting two sad and stranded students shower in the Lee-Jackson House on Wednesday. (1) Turtles are great reptiles. (I) E—mail your anonymous Quick Hits to phi@wlu.edu.