OCR::/Vol_107/WLURG39_RTP_20050131/WLURG39_RTP_20050131_001.2.txt €3’!%-75$ R552. v.IO'7 mole “THE WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY RING=TUM PHI. MG‘DAY,JAMlARY31,% BY THE STUDENTS AND FOR THE STUDENTS SINCE 1897 It £1° THIS ISSUE To our readers, subscribers and the Washington and Lee community, In our letter last week we said that at this point in The Ring—tum Phi’s history, we wanted to communicate to our readers that we are a paper of dignity, respect and Washington and Lee history. As such we have the responsibility to apologize for offensive made in our paper in the “QuickHits” section. To anyone who has been offended by any of these anonymous “hits” in the last year and a half, we are sorry. The section has been revised and will begin in its new, responsible form next week (see staff editorial). WHAT’S INSIDE FIsI1'ngfOrLaJd'Is New columnist Hugh “The Fisherman” Trout teams up for the first time with Marshall Rule and Kristine Early on the Last Word. See more on page 8 HOT TICKET Raisethefioof Carbon Leaf comes to Lexington to perform hits from their latest album, “Indian Summer.” Playing at 10:00 p.m., Fri., Feb. 4, at the Lambda Chi Alpha house at 225 E. Nelson St. Healthcareforsale Consumer Uriion’s economics and health reporter Trudy Lieberman speaks in the Commons theater at 4:30 p.m. on Wed., Feb. 2. Free. Venonaugit Acting Company stops by Lenfest to perform Shakespeare’s “Two Gentlemen of Verona” at 8 p.m. on Tues., Feb. 1. ‘ SIMPLE LIFE Makeyourroomawinterhaven If you have to stay inside to avoid the wintry weather, the normal room can quickly feel drab and dreary if it doesn’t drive you stir—crazy. Here are some tips that will spruce it up and bring friends flocking to your door. ITum off the overhead fluorescent lights and stick to table or floor lamps that start at around $14 at Walmart — we recommend 40-60 watt bulbs to give the room a more romantic light as well as prevent these little sources of heat from transforming your room into a furnace. -A potted plant or small bouquet gives the room life when the once- green world outside is asleep under the snow. Add a splash of hydrogen peroxide to the vase’s water supply to keep your flowers alive longer. -Keep a stash of hot cocoa ready for that unexpected visitor and maybe even a box of ginger snaps for them to enjoy. -Usually keep those shades drawn - tight? With the campus covered in snow, why hide such a view? You’ll be even more in the mood for winter if you’re always reminded that Jack Frost has indeed coated Lexington" with a beautiful blanket of white. Internet ByErinJuius ' E The Virginia Military Institute made national news this week after photographs surfaced featuring Cadets dressed in costumes parodying Nazis, drag queens and a starving African. For this past Halloween, VMI first- classmen dressed up rats in an array of costumes for a school-sanctioned party. The event took place in Barracks. The Drudge Report, The Roanoke Times and other national media picked up this story after photographs of cadets in the more controversial costumes were posted on an internet chat room unaffiliated with VMI. “Every year we have a costume party or “rat trick-or—treating,” said Paul Bryan, the Regimental S-5 Captain in charge of public affairs. “The idea is to dress your rats up and see who can get the most attention...someone was thinking more about trying to be noticed and they went overboar .” “People were pretty upset. Every year we dress up the freshmen,” said Andrew Upshaw, S-5 Sergeant. “The whole Corps is embarassed.” According to Upshaw the Corps is upset that people, “look at our school like there are Nazis at VMI. It was taken out of context...VMI holds itself to a higher standard,” he said. “When someone breaks that standard it falls on the whole Corps.” VMI’s Officer of the Guard Association, made up of Cadets, will investigate the photographs and report its findings to the General Committee, which is responsible for recommending disciplinary action. The General Committee is comprised of Cadets from the upper three classes at VMI. “I can say there wasn’t any malicious intent,” Bryan said, “they were webshots shock the Institute not trying to make a statement.” Possible punishment for anyone convicted of “conduct unbecoming of a cadet” can include confinement, when a cadet caxmot leave post, and penalty tours, when a cadet marches for an hour with his rifle. Those guilty of involvement in the pictures are looking at charges of “conduct unbecoming of a cadet.” VMI’s administration will also have input into the disciplinary action taken. Most Cadets resent VMI’s recent national attention “VMI really strives to promote civility—this doesn’t help to show that civility,” Bryan said. Pmhddebgabspresanawum0ansoq1abdedh1gMmsexialassaufldiagesmcanms. CORBIN BLACKFOFID / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Students voice opinions on campus life Bysadilvlnay IVEVVSEDITCR Greek students of all years and affiliations addressed campus issues last Saturday at Day of Dialogue, the annual discussion forum sponsored by Panhellenic Council and the Interfratemity Council. While the main topic was sexual assault, the event allowed Greeks to air their concerns about other problems and propose solutions. “I think there were a lot of perceptions changed,” said Karlyn Gold, new Parihel president. “People heard what other people were saying." Students first watched a mock trial of a sexual assault case in Evans Dining Hall. Members of W&L’s Mock Trial Association presented both sides of an acquaintance rape case that involved alcohol and many ambiguities——details that characterize and complicate many sexual assault situations. Afterwards, participants split off into discussion groups that mixed students of different genders, ages, and affiliations. Under the guidance of trained discussion leaders, the groups held conversations about negative attitudes and actions at W&L, offering differing points of view. insights, and suggestions. While the exchange began with questions on the trial and campus assault, students soon branched out. “Some talked about sexual assault, but a lot talked about the elirriination of differences between men and women on campus,” said Gold. Many of these students pointed out the incredible difference between freshman year, when male and female students live, eat, and work together, and the stark divisions of other years, when students separate along gender lines after joining a Greek organization. Some suggested that the near—estrangement could be responsible for the attitudes that result in W&L’s above-average sexual assault statistics. As a result, students called for more interaction outside of the party scene. Some recommended that the fraternities eat lunch on a schedule rotating them through the sorority houses. Others called for Greek—sponsored sober activities as a way to bring together different groups. “The Commons has so many THETA COUNTRY-GIRLS STEAL SHOW programs, but people are not going to them,” Gold pointed out. Other topics included depression, eating disorders, drunk driving, and communication between the administration and the student body. Afterwards, the group facilitators met to review the suggestions made in discussion. Two years ago, this resulted in the establishment of the Panhellenic fitness classes. This year, students have proposed a number of actions for Parihel and IFC to consider, including attempts to increase awareness of options for women’s health and for counseling for problems such as eating disorders. In an evaluation form, participants were asked for suggestions for next year’s topic. Suggestions included stress, eating disorders, sexual assault a second time, alcohol abuse, and image issues. Day of Dialogue attendance is mandatory for all new members of a Greek organization. In addition, sororities send 10 upperclassmen and fraternities send five upperclassmen, including officers. While the event is open to independents and faculty, there is very little interest, according to Gold. A STEVEN MAFIINOS I STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Search for new dean continues The nation-wide search for Washington and Lee’s new Dean of the College is winding down to a close. The four finalists, consisting of both men and women, scientists and humanities scholars, will be coming to campus in the coming weeks. The search process began with Provost Thomas Williams selecting English Professor Ed Craun to chair the Dean Search Committee. Craun and committee which brings together 10 College faculty, one trustee, one law professor, and one School of Commerce professor. The committee first devised a job description to be advertised in the Chronicle of Higher Education, the leading publication for college administrators. The school also asked presidents from other top Liberal Arts colleges to recommend candidates for the job. Applications were due Dec. 13. After analyzing the candidates’ files, which contained information on their scholarly work and educational projects, the comrriittee narrowed the candidate pool to 25. The pool was later shortened to 11, ten of which were interviewed in Washington D.C. Jan. 21 and 22. “The semi~finalists were grilled for one to one and a half hours,” Craun said. Some questions included, “How should liberal arts institutions be evolving in the new century? How do you think that successful faculty work to serve the liberal arts mission of a school like Washington and Lee, and what are the key challenges they face? What do you see as the best opportunities for developing the connection between students’ academic and social lives in the coming years?” Craun said the committee was looking for administrative experience and talent. They want to find a dean that will have the administrative style that will fit at W&L. While on campus, the candidates will have meetings with President Burish, Provost Williams, a selected group of students, the other deans, and the department in which they would be appointed. Each of these groups will submit a written evaluation of each candidate. The selection committee will pick two of the four and Provost Williams will have the last word on the university’s choice. Williams said that he is looking for a candidate that the faculty can have confidence in as a colleague. As a result of the Board deciding to keep Spring Term, an additional 20-25 faculty will be hired. He said that it will be an “amazing opportunity” for Dean Peppers and the new Dean of the College to add the new faculty to a school with only 160 faculty members. With the final decision resting on his shoulders, Williams said the most important thing he is looking for in tli new dean is “vision.” 4 Williams will make his decision in rr1id—March. The new dean, however, will not start until July 1. Williams worked together to form the‘ OCR::/Vol_107/WLURG39_RTP_20050131/WLURG39_RTP_20050131_002.2.txt no.9»-sf 2 0 THE RING-TUM PHI E2085 M(WDAY,JAMJARY 31,215 Lexington proves hard sol Attracting international students to W&L often not easy ByLed1Kershaw STAFFWHTER Washington and Lee’s tradition of academic excellence is not always enough to attract international students to rural Rockbridge County. Over 30 percent of international students in the United States attend colleges and universities in huge cities like New York and Los Angeles. Washington and Lee University, located in a rural town with no public transportation, has difficulty attracting these students to such an isolated city. Deniz Ergin ’O6, from Istanbul, Turkey, names transportation as one of the biggest problems facing international students at Washington and Lee. Ergin .said he was originally drawn to Washington and Lee because of its journalism school and small—town environment. But Ergin said he did not know the extent of Washington and Lee’s isolation before he came to Lexington. Other international students also find transportation to be a major problem. Native Bulgarian Maria Ignatova ’06 said it is difficult to go anywhere in Lexington without a car. “It’s very frustrating when you get bored of a little place like Lexington and you just want to leave and go somewhere,” said Ignatova. “lt’s hard even to get back from the airports,” said Ergin. Without the use of a car, said Ergin, international students are forced to use cabs. A cab ride from Lexington to Roanoke costs around $80, said Ergin. Washington and Lee’s difficulty attracting international student is further compounded by a national trend of decreasing international student “It’s hard even to get back from the airports. It’s great to be able to trust people in a city where you don’t know anyone and can go out without locking my door.” — MAHABNA1DVAMflVEBULGAHAMG1flEUPSAM3DWVNSFORM'ERNATUMLSfl.£JTSNLB( enrollment universities. in U.S. colleges and The number of new international students enrolling as I freshmen at Washington and Lee was cut in half this year, to only 12 students. Dr. William Klingelhofer, director of international education at Washington and Lee, said there are multiple reasons for the decline. “The perception of the United State has taken a hit since the war in Iraq,” said Klingelhofer. Increased competition among private liberal arts colleges and universities in the United States has also hurt Washington and Lee’s international student enrollment, said Klingelhofer. He said colleges and universities in bigger cities are able to offer a greater variety of leisure activities and a comprehensive public transportation system. Consequently, colleges and universities comparable to Washington and Lee in size and academics have a higher percentage of international students. In the fall of 2004, international students comprised 4 percent of the Washington and Lee undergraduate body. According to the Institute for lntemational Education, international students comprise 19 percent of the student body at Mount Holyoke College and over 9 percent at If you want to pnspnre yourself for 32 posiiiéon of leeAdsr*s’h.ip» -in -no-rrsrsint-cation, rrsedis. or the arts. ‘you’?! need a graduate degree. At Rsag;es1H3ni:%.*ersiiy‘s Sdtoosrl of Communication Re the Arts yoolt study 'with mtirrvent national media ptolsssionu arils in one of the truest tachnologscaliy advanced tncilims on the east coast. Visit our "s{rgis1§.a: Beach Campus during Preview Wealoannlé to find out more about our-degree programs including: Middlebury College. The students agree with Klingelhofer’s reasoning for the declining numbers of international students-at" Washington and Lee. Arslan Volkan ’O5, a native of Istanbul, Turkey, said that the town of Lexington provides very little social diversity. Students are limited in their dining and entertainment options, and you need a car even to go to the local bowling alley, he said. Volkan said that the social atmosphere and lack of public transportation in Lexington became so frustrating that he had to escape back to Turkey for his junior year, taking classes at Bogazici University. Granted, the on-campus activities offered by student organizations this year have created additional social opportunities, said Volkan. But Washington and Lee and the city of Lexington must work together to create more of a niche for international students, said Volkan. Still, the small town atmosphere of Lexington is not without its benefits. “It’s great to be able to trust people in a city where you don’t know anyone and can go out without locking my door,” said Ergin. v Cinemnatoélsviséionlsaiimstiwon v Communication Studies « Phfl. in Communication » Theatre Arts «- doumaiism Each semester, college students are asked to fill out teacher evaluations, _ only to watch thesinformation disappear into the abyss, never to be seen again. Word of mouth was the only option students had to-learnt about professors ’ until recently. At RateMyProfossors.corn, students can now anonymously rate professors on their helpfulness, clarity, difficuity of classes and even physical attractiveness. Students can also leave comments about professors and the courses they teach. a The Website was founded in 1999 . by John Swapceinski, who graduated that year from San Jose State University. “1 got the idea for the site after taking a class with a particularly dastardly professor who often left students in tears and genuinely seemed to enjoy it,” he said. Students who visit the site can check professors’ ratings, or rate professors on a.-l to 5 scale, 5 being the best, in the categories of heipfulness, clarity and easiness. Although some a expect the site to be just aplace to bash professors, almost 70% of the ratings are positive, according to Swapceinski. At‘ the time of this writing, RatcMyProfessors.com had a total of 618 ratings for 168 Washington and Lee University professors. One of ::':~,°>rsuy is wxzrrrditad by Ihs=iiT‘ssrr2s1s<»w:ri run ‘Iii’:-ilat»;*,:-., at she f%a:¢stt1tru§o"es3ce2siiun«:v§ ‘5,.‘s2?'€'3E(k‘f2!?.’av-dllil l.‘.«’€hvo!s ij l‘5f§-4:- Izésuthzrn 1..-nus. iwcateri rr’s and r.ls.2st.r:-rat degrees. losorm 1.t‘nie¢:r:r»:.2r,s."~<. ,§K>llClt§ wvzrniru the admission :4! savanna ream in its ruissuarr ssrtzmrnt, his are not amismti prosilrdve s diwrse anglers isuxxty of ms:-2. cs:t%or.. Ji%%':ity. or nstsmkzf--2»: ethos: main. Rniflttfl Ufll*£'!7‘-’$1'i3«’ is sr<*r%il'2».*s1‘?»,-* this firms ti‘-cz OCR::/Vol_107/WLURG39_RTP_20050131/WLURG39_RTP_20050131_003.2.txt V 4 NKNDAY,JAMJARY 31 ,ZI5 snorts THE RING-TUM PHI 0 3 THIS WEEK TUESDAY, FEB.1 -Women’s Basketball at EMU; 7:00 FRIDAY, FEB.4 'Track at VMI; TBA SATURDAY, FEB.5 -Men’s Tennis at Furman; 9:00 IWrestling hosts; 11:00 -Men’s Basketball vs. Harnpden Sydney; 2:00 lWomen’s Basketball at RMWC; 2:00 Track at VMI; TBA SlNDAY, FEB.6 .Men’s Tennis at E&H; 2:00 -Men’s Basketball vs. Lynchburg; 2:00 -Women’s Basketball vs. Lynchburg; 4:30 SPORTS BRIEFS Wrestling Places Third at Appnenlicelnviiational (1/29) The Washington and Lee wrestling team placed third out of eight teams at the Apprentice School Invitational on Saturday afternoon I in Newport News, Va. COURTESY SPORTS |NFOFlMATlON Men’s Basketball Downedby Fioanoke,64-60(1/29) Freshman forward Josh LaPorte (Staunton, Va./Riverheads) notched career-highs in points (14), rebounds (16) and steals (5) to lift Roanoke to a 64-60 win over Washington and Lee in ODAC men’s basketball ‘ action on Saturday evening at the Warner Center. Women’s Basketball Edged Out byRoanoke,47-46 (1/29) Senior forward Chandra Forrester (Wytheville, Va./Rural Retreat) hit two free throws with no time remaining on the clock to give Roanoke a 47-46 victory over Washington and Lee in ODAC women’s basketball action on Saturday afternoon at the Warner Center. lllig .l j 1. .1 ll Orchardside Yarn Shop Knitting Specialty Shop 273 Raphine Road Raphine, VA 24472 540-348-5220 ° 1-877-NIT-YARN Knitting cottage nestled along the creek which carries a fabulous selection of basic and novelty yams, kits, needles and accessories. Customer service from start to finish with your projects. Mail order and lntemet accessibility made easy. Callforworkshop&dassintonnatlon. Halfway between Lexington and Staunlon On I-8) / I-64 at exit 205. Raphine. «miles west on Route 606. Raphine RM /M/rr/or a working farm that ofiers "U-PICK" opportunities for fresh fruit when in season. lites - Sat 10:00 - 5:00, Wed until 8:00 m Runners set records at meet ByMa~shaIRde wmeneeprron Nathan Johnson has not slowed down from Cross Country season. Johnson took top honors among Division HI runners in the 3000 meter race at the Christopher Newport Invitational on Saturday. The meet included teams from Division I, H, and IH. Johnson finished fourth overall with a school record time of 8:37.24. He can add this accomplishment to his growing resume. In the fall Johnson won the Cross Country Regionals earning himself a bid to Nationals. . That was not the only record that Johnson broke. In the distance medley relay he teamed up with junior Andrew Johnson, senior Lee Stinnett, and freshman Jack Jeong to take fourth place “I was really excited and pleased with my performance. I didn’t do as well as I had hoped in my first meet this year, so it was great to do better this time.” -ELlZABE|'HBRAM.X.ER and break the school record with a time of 10:50.76. “I ran really well” Johnson said. “Saturday was my main race. Iknew what the record time was to beat and it was always in the back of my head.” At outdoors last year Johnson missed the record by five seconds. Johnson continued, “It was a really great meet with a lot of talent.” Nathan Johnson was not the only athlete to break a school record at the track meet. Freshman Elizabeth Brandler also set two records. Brandler took second among Division III athletes in the pole vault with a height of 10 feet six inches. The jump was enough for fourth place overall and a school record. “I was really excited and pleased with my performance” Brandler said. “I didn’t do as well as I had hoped in my first meet this year, so it was great to do better this time.” Brandler took home another record in the triple jump with a length of 34 feet ‘/2 inch and a first place finish among Division HI athletes. But, Brandler has bigger goals in mind. “I really want to get that 11 foot mar ” Brandler said. “I really want to qualify for ODAC’s. I also want to go to Nationals. That would be really cool.” Meredith Walker also took home a school record in the 60 meters with a time of 8.69 seconds. Meanwhile Senior Brian Krupczak took home third among Division HI athletes in the 55 meters. The Generals hope to break a few more records at their next meet on February 4'“ at the VMI Winter Relays. Pa. football fans have great year Krall ofiers her hometown perspective ByKahynKrd STAFFWFITER It may sound cliched, but in Pennsylvania, football is a way of life. With the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles competing in the AFC and NFC championship, there has never been a better time to be a Pennsylvania football fan. The love of the game starts at a high school level. Standouts are the heroes of small towns across the state. The atmosphere at the Friday night game is the stuff of movies, with the steam from hot chocolate filling the air and scarves taken off to be used as banners. In Pennsylvania, even the high schools have football bands, not to mention the colleges. Football permeates everyday existence. Not only do people wear NcNabb jerseys, but they also try out the latest Terrell Owens touchdown celebration dance at the school prom. In college, the football obsession only grows. Joe Patemo would be elected governor unanimously if he chose to run, and claiming to bleed blue and white is common. In Pennsylvania, girls actually watch football for reasons other than tight pants. If you aren’t from either of the major cities of PA (perhaps I should say the only cities), who you cheer for is hereditary. I am an Eagles fan because my dad is one, who is one because his father always has been one. When the patriarch of the family dies, his oldest son inherits his football paraphernalia. At the pro level, the fans are even more devoted, and with good reason. Combined, the two teams have only been defeated five times, and Philly’s first loss was at the hands of Pittsburgh. With record-setting feats, hard work, and unparalleled theatrics, the players themselves characterize what it is to be a Pennsylvania football player. Donovan McNabb has been setting records for an African—American quarterback, while Ben Roethlisberger is probably the most successful rookie QB ever. Duce Staley and Brian Westbrook personify strength and determination, and Terrell Owens is in a league of his own. After three excruciating losses in the NFC championship game in a row, the Eagles have finally earned a Super Bowl berth. The Steelers fell to the Patriots in the AFC championship game, but the Eagles are out to avenge the defeat of their brother team. My prediction for the superbowl? The Patriots may have the advantage on paper, but the Eagles have heart, and a strong tradition of PA football behind them. $450 Group Fundraiser Scheduling Bonus 4 hours of your group’ s time PLUS our free (yes, free) fundraising solutions EQUALS $1, OOO— $2, 000 in earnings for your group. Call TODAY for a $450 bonus when you schedule your non- sales fundraiser with CaIr[pusFundraiser. Contact CampusFundraiser, (888) 923-3238, or Sporsfleleme S”(J=l'|'SI\FC}?v1ATU\l The Washington and Lee men’s and women’s swimming teams swept Marymount on Saturday afternoon in Arlington, Va. The men upped their record to 6-2 with a 133-68 victory, while the women improved to 8-6 with a 124-79 win. ' In the men’s meet, the foursome . of sophomore Kevin Hayes (Mercer Island, Wash./Mercer Island), freshman Stuart Frankfort (Lynchburg, Va./E.C. Glass), senior Chris Colby (Ossining, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) and sophomore Maxwell Pike (Goldsboro, N .C./Wayne Country Day) won the 400- yard medley relay in a time of 3:41.89. Colby also won the 200-yard butterfly in 2:00.64, while Frankfort captured the 200-yard IM in 2:08.99. Junior Clark Barrineau (Charlotte, N.C./ South Mecklenburg) was victorious in two individual events. He touched the KELLY BOSS / FILE PHOTO hfl1isweeler1d’sn1akfl1upMu1MaymounLfl1ema1’sa1dworna1’sswmnhg Swimming teams sweep Marymount on Saturday Team records improve to 6-2, 8-6 wall first in both the 500-yard (5205.00) and 1000-yard (10:28.33) freestyles. In the women’s meet, the quartet of freshman Jess Cobb (Moorestown, N .J ./Moorestown), sophomore Abbie Sauter (Darien, Conn./Darien), freshman Amy Roberson (Nacogdoches, Texasl N acogdoches), and senior Suzie LaFleur (Natick, Mass./Montrose) captured the 400—yard medley relay in a time of 4:16.31. Sauter and junior Kristine Holda (strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville) each won two individual events. Sauter was victorious in both the 200-yard IM (2:18.84) and 200-yard breaststroke (2132.94), while Holda won both the 100-yard (55.94) and 200-yard (2:02.40) freestyle events. The W&L men’s swimming team returns to the pool at the Bluegrass Mountain Conference Championships from Thu., Feb. 17 to Sat., Feb. 19. The W&L women’s swimming team returns to action at the ODAC Championships from Fri., Feb. 18 to Sun., Feb. 20. #1 snring Break Vacations canoun. Iamaloa, lleanuloo. Bahamas 8. F|0l‘|I|a| Best Parties. Best Ilotels Best Prices! Iiroun nlsoounts. nruanlzors Travel Free! 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Call now or visit website! www.premier411.com 1 877 SEE POOL OCR::/Vol_107/WLURG39_RTP_20050131/WLURG39_RTP_20050131_004.2.txt 4 0 THE RING-TUM PHI arts&|ife llfl‘DAY,JAMJAFlY31,ZX5 Mrs. Kemb1e’s Tempest Shines at Lenfest Ziegler’s renowned play performed ByNaciaWolfe STAFF\M7!TB:i “Shakespeare’s plays,” Fanny Kemble declares towards the end of the play, “all of them, are about only one thing: being human.” The same can be said for Mrs. Kemble’s Tempest, a masterful play by W&L Theatre professor Tom Ziegler. It is no small wonder the play came out of a month- long run at the Fringe, a famous—and tough to please—annual play festival with a five star rating, the highest possible. Fanny Kemble, daughter to the famous actor Charles Kemble, was one of the most celebrated actresses of the nineteenth century. Despite this, she considered herself primarily a writer, keeping journals, writing poetry, and authoring plays. Ever struggling for freedom, first from her family’s history as great actors, then from her father’s lack of financial success, from a marriage in which she was expected to be subservient, and finally financing herself as a divorcee. Her inconquerable nature led Henry James to say of her, “A prouder nature never affronted the long humiliation of life. She had, from the first, abundantly lived.” This proud nature and courageous spirit comes across brilliantly in Zeigler’s play. The play’s premise is a hypothetical 1869 farewell reading of Shakespeare’s The Tempest by Mrs. Kemble. However, the audience is treated to more than just Shakespeare. “Is it not possible, given the finality of this engagement, I might digress?” she asks, and proceeds to do just that between parts of Tempest and several other Shakespearean plays, as well as scenes from her own life, always playing every part. Whoever said, “Those who can’t do, teach,” obviously hasn’t seen Jane Ridley on the stage. A professor in the Professional Actor Training Program at Pennsylvania State University, Ms. Ridley takes a demanding role and soars with it. She is utterly believable as Kemble——as well as the many roles Kemble performs. She is perfectly charming as the witty, independent, tragic yet triumphant Fanny Kemble. She skillfully portrays not only Kemble’s enduring strength of character, but also her vulnerability and hurts without making her unrealistic or saccharine. Ridley was well—supported by Josh Harvey (class of 2000) as her frazzled accompianist and Tom Anderson (W&L Theatre Technical Director and professor) as the annoyed stage hand at her beck and call. The music, selected by Harvey, was both historically and theatrically appropriate for the scenes she was acting at the time. This production boasts new set and costume designs since its original production. Jere Lee Hodgin, also the director, created a beautiful Victorian setting with an appropriate color palette of mainly burgundy with gold, and Mary A. Folino’s golden hoop dress meshed well both with the set and the new wig Lighter than last year’s, it is colored to show the aging of the then sixty year old actress in a beautiful snood updo. These changes are well made, and contribute subtly to Ziegler’s play. Mrs. Kemble’s Tempest is a literary and theatrical feast for any audience. Hilariously funny, wonderfully uplifting, this story of the triumph of one human soul is magnificent and touching, and emminently entertaining. As she realizes at the end, her own quest for independence has finally been fulfilled through the stage she initially rejected: “Mister Shakespeare, he was my refuge wasn’t he? He was my liberator.” Bravo, Mrs. Kemble. Duell’ingi”be,, to at e an “Dreaming and I ; BvK2hvnKml $"&ZFlSl'AH"VlHTE3 _ The filming for the original screenplay, “Dreaming and Duelling,” . that is being made here at Washington '*.a.'ndLeeisinitsfinaiweek. Workon the project began during the summer, bptpthe lasttwo,wee_ks havepbeen the “ ? most intense’ ‘as the actors and production crew have been working -around the clock to complete the V ‘ Paige Smith, a junior theater r major, has been an extra in a film, but her role in “Dreaming and Dueiling” . ' is her first speaking role. She plays V Mrs. Thorpe, the fencing coach of the character Eric Culien, who is played j, by Michael Wagoner. Wagoner is a I sophomoretheatermajorwhobecaxne I excited about the film because he _- knew it was a big chance for the . . department. “‘I decided that I would I “like to be a part of such a different V ' sort of venture" said Wagoner. This is his firstmajor role as well. I j ‘ - Balancing a full academic course load the rigors‘ of i such an extensive project has proved challenging to the actors involved. . “Luckily all the t":1miag,isfat night.;;so 7 there is not conflict with classes I all, but homework is a different story. ’ Most of us have been some work toeach of the sheets for down » So far I haven’t fatten it": _ any of my classes, andiI'Adon’t’see?th'a‘t I I w‘ ” said Wagoner. Most“ of the "difficulties of. 7 ‘ " filminglstem from the aspect of production. .‘‘Setting‘ up the lighting, , and shots takes the most time’?.said.. Smith. There have been few maior complications on the acting side of the filming. obstacles are frustrating because they; are unexpected. ‘ » I ' .' Frequently the actors have to use « all their resourcefulness. and creativity to solve what appearto "be siinpie problems. but often prove to be quite complicated. T ‘:0 ’ VI-I'owever..l‘_even minor,‘ —. = whitzeiiefezicing-ioutfit, but tiienlvitt We havetogo _ . The problem then was that I biood allover me.whe_i[t I wasn ’ Luckily fwejreiIiov'ed as A A ‘conid and then used some white tape ; j ‘ to the rest of the coioring._’f ' if ‘V’ lpfilthoughloften , aneiftusttafins; filmin is usually enjoyaiiiie ana.a.s1ss"i:, ‘S vest those.’ learning the “fight choreograp I haveo’t hadmuch experience- ,‘ Astageifipghtingpand iearningr M vmoyes», while exhausting, was entertaining” said Wagoner. \ 7 Even after, experieneinj thf .stress1o£'rna§;mg..a movie, "Smith 7decipdedthattl1e.gAoodfaroutweighsi ‘ bad. .‘‘i interested. in going int 7 "filnjiindustryfa”fter ‘on,-’ " “ tsp.-as moves: .LA;-and ‘a Wagoner explaini_edione,s" it situation: “One difficulty was i , final scene there’s stage biood used. And it would get all qmme, my i i. ; favorite experience thus far‘ I - I ography. I ’havert’t had much experience age a _ Allearrting all the moves, while exhattsting, entertairtirti" Orchestra gives first concert Bystatewlson ST AFFWFUTER Saturday night, both local residents and Washington and Lee students braved wintry conditions to make their way to the Lenfest Center for an evening of music. Despite a barrage of freezing rain and iced- over roads, a sizeable crowd emerged to hear the University-Shenandoah Symphony Orchestra give its first performance of the new semester. Entitled “A Visitor from Portugal”, the night was an occasion to highlight the collaborative efforts of guest conductor José Ferreira Lobo. Besides a traditional symphony by Brahms, the concert was to feature several works characteristic of the Iberian Peninsula, including its composers and musical style. Lobo entered the stage to a flurry of applause and the show began. Symphony No. l in C by Brahms, a piece of four movements, highlighted Lobo.’s artistic direction and the high quality of the performers. With little doubt, the notes were clear and full of resonance, and the selection allowed for a full range of emotion and technical expertise to be" expressed. The only problem seemed to be during the second movement when the conductor could be heard directing an audible “shh” to the Violin H section. However, this stylistic qualm is most likely attributable to the generally too short and too few practices that come with a guest conductor. The orchestra more than compensated in the fourth movement with an ending that was both soaring and climatic. As the first symphony ended, looks of bewilderment crossed the faces of the audience as the house lights remained dark. The puzzlement increased as Lobo, after leading the orchestra in a series of bows, launched into the second act. With titles such as “La Boda de Luiz Alonso”, or “The Wedding of Luiz Alonso”, the USSO filled the audience’s imagination with images of festive parties and wild dancing in the old countries of Spain and Portugal. The mood was set with the marked inclusion of castanets, and a brass section whose energy filled each piece. Unfortunately, the party did not last. After about three pieces, the house lights did go up and the hour came for everyone to go home. Apparently, time constraints had indeed cut short the numbers of pieces the symphony could play. Nonetheless, the professionalism and talent of all those involved was notable. The brief glimpse into Iberia was a delight well worth the battle against ice and cold. Maestro Lobo, whose Orquestra do Norte plays more than 140 concerts and a year in Portugal, took a moment to speak after the performance. Noting his delight at being invited to play by Dr. Barry Kolman, full time head of the USSO, he described the students he worked with as, “very lovely people” who “enjoy music.” He also expressed how impressed he was the group, which includes many people for whom music is not a principle profession. While affirming his desire for more practice time, he also stressed his experience as “a pleasure” that he deeply enjoyed. The USSO Hill will complete its concert series on Saturday, March 12 with a selection called “American & Russian Masterpieces” with guest flutist Katherine De] ongh. Tickets are free for W&L students and may be reserved at the Lenfest Center box office extension 5000. Film Society offers diverse selection Why go to the country when you can stay in the city? BVEIYSEMOOUV STAFFVWWTBR With pledges around to drive eager partygoers out to the country or just about anywhere else, W & L students have a pretty busy social calendar this winter. However, I suggest that you check out the movies playing in the Commons every once in a while. They show some really quality films, along with some lower- grade but hilarious ones, and there are convenient showings at 7:00 PM or 9:30 PM during the week. The Commons will be showing Team America: World Police at 7:00 PM on Monday, January 31, 9:30 PM on Tuesday, 9:30 PM on Thursday, and 9:30 on Friday. Remember that show Thunderbirds, the military one with the creepy wooden puppets? Well, Chris Parker and Matt Stone (better known as the creators of South Park) have implemented these stunning special effects in their film satirizing the war against terrorism. As their byline wittily asserts, they’re “putting the F back in ‘Freedom’.” I haven’t seen this one yet, but I have only heard good things about it. My brother mentioned something about an interesting love scene...with puppets. Weird but hilarious is the consensus, and if you like South Park, I’m sure you’ll love it. The theme song expresses this best: “Team America: f@ !* yeah!” At 7:30 on Friday, February 4 and Saturday, February 5, the Film Society presents The Dreamers, a film by Bernardo Bertolucci. Matthew, an American studying in Paris, is drawn to Isabella and Theo, a French brother and sister duo, by their common love of cinema. Set against the backdrop of the student riots in the l960’s, this film captures the unique characteristics of a friendship formed in the midst of intense conflict. It provides a wonderful, intellectual contrast to Team America. Just before Washington Break, Shark Tale will be playing on Monday, February 8 at 7:00 PM and on Thursday and Friday at 9:30 PM. Incorporating the talents of huge celebrities like Will Smith, Renee Zellweger, Robert De Niro, Angelina Jolie, Jack Black, Martin Scorsese, and Ziggy Marley, Shark Tale is a comedy written in the same vein as Shrek—it has a little bit of comedy for everyone. When Oscar, a young fish, is found at the scene of a shark mob boss’s son’s murder, he takes advantage of the opportunity to toughen up his bottom-feeder reputation without considering the consequences of his.actions. This movie sounds like the murder mystery version of Finding Nemo, although I’m not sure it can possibly live up to this precedent. Finally, upon our return from the break, the biographical film Ray, chronicling the life of the legendary Ray Charles, will be shown. J amie Fox gives a simply astounding performance in the title role, proving his talents beyond the realm of comedy and exhibiting the results of many months of intensive research and study. He is incredible as Charles—virtual1y a mirror image of the recently-deceased songwriter. Kerry Washington makes her debut on the big screen as Della Bea Robinson. 1 am really looking forward to this one. I have the soundtrack, and it is really a lot of fun to listen to. Although “Georgia on my Mind” is a standard for all of us Southerners, the album is full of Charles’ best-known tracks and a couple of live recordings-——it’s worth buying even if you aren’t interested in the movie. OCR::/Vol_107/WLURG39_RTP_20050131/WLURG39_RTP_20050131_005.2.txt “ MONDAY,JAMJARY31,2m5 11-|E R]NG.‘|TUM pm . 5 ‘ HIDDEN VALLEY FARM Aptly named for its magnificent set- ting at the base of the Blue Ridge Moun- tains, HIDDEN VALLEY FARM offers, on 438 acres, an exceptional combination of a privately situated farmstead, productive upland acreage, unobstructed mountains views, practical improvements to accom- modate horses and cattle, healthy wood- lands, providing habitat for plentiful wild- life, and abundant water resources pro- vided by numerous springs, wells, and one-half mile of the Saint Mary's River. The solid brick home exhibits early Shenandoah craftsmanship with heartpine floors, six fireplaces, carved mantels, and simple, solid woodwork throughout the six primary rooms. The cottage and early log smokehouse complement the hospitality of the home. Horse facilities include seven stalls in a stable complete with an office, washrack, and feed and tack room. Nearby are six day stalls and two stallion stalls with indi- vidualpens. There is a large crushed stone exercise area suitable for a ring or rings. Additional structures include numer- ous run-in sheds, a pole building for hay storage, a machine shed and a traditional bank barn. A flexible conservation easement con- veys with the farm. Hidden Valley Farm: $2,450,000 CABIN ON THE MAURY .I’ ‘ §:3§§I£§§rZT§fa§§Z’b§i1§lli?§e féfiflflllf’ 19"“ Land C°mPa“Y ' ’ ‘ P ' Old School Realtors Walk swim or canoe to town. _ g office: (540) 348-2000 °a'°'" °" “'9 ""a"'Y= 5°‘-D residence: (540) 348-5656 wvwv.|andandestates.com OCR::/Vol_107/WLURG39_RTP_20050131/WLURG39_RTP_20050131_006.2.txt 6 0 THE RING-TUM PHI MCIDAYJAMJARY 31,215 0Il|Il|0|lS Quick hits to end In light of recent concerns, the Editors of The Ring—tum Phi have decided to remove the “Quick'Hits” section from our V newspaper. An anonymous forum such as Quick Hits creates irresponsibility and allows for personal attacks. Though it was the most popular feature of the newspaper, an anonymous open forum such as Quick Hits is irresponsible journalism. Students abused anonymity, used derogatory language and offended multiple members of the student body in the year and a half that the feature existed. We are taking a week off and revising the section. “Quick Hits” is dead. The concept of an anonymous forum is very much alive. This idea was ours alone. Our policy had been to print all the quick hits we received unless one was clearly aimed at a certain individual student or was extremely lewd. We can longer abide by this policy because, as editors, we carmot always foresee what will offend certain members of the student body. We can no longer, in good conscience, allow an anonymous forum that contains potential offensive remarks to run in our paper. Quick Hits is a section with huge liability, and we are designing a way to retain the anonymous forum without printing offensive, mean-spirited ‘ and slanderous material. Quick Hits has hurt and offended our fellow students. We carmot in good conscience defend juvenile attacks. We will defend anonymous, legitimate criticisms’ of campus life and the Administration and we will now ensure that this is how Quick Hits functions— as a legitimate forum, not as a juvenile rant. UPS & DOWNS Opinions editor Caley Anderson gives you his take on what rose and fell this week at W&L and around the world. 0“Grammer” GrammAr! With an a! You’re EDUCATED PEOPLE! Don’t get me started on they’re/their, or your/you’re. Ovirginia Militaly Inslitute Damn it, I write an editorial about how cadets deserve more respect and then they do THIS. ONashington&LeeUniVersity But then again, we beat them to it. Ocainescym I know we have a nice fitness center in the gym, but when things start rusting, don’t they deserve an itty bit of maintenance? 0 AP Test I had to get a FIVE on the Government test to place out of Politics 100? My FOUR was insufficient? That’s like calling a “B” grade failing. 0 Health When Professor DeLaney cancels _class....there’s a bug going around. ()Michael Jackson Criticizes media for reporting leaked information from his Grand Jury hearing. This from the man who stands on a car and plays to the crowd after being charged with child molestation. Ooptimism Everything’s down this week. Student body in need of a reality check ByAmeFIiey T}‘EBGPCTU¥ This is my second year both at ‘Washington and Lee and writing for the _ Phi. Looking back on how the subject matter of my opinion pieces have evolved, I realize I’m starting to become more like the typical college student, following the same trends people have before me. I started out, like anyone would who has suddenly been thrown into a new and strange environment, commenting and critiquing the student body and culture. I gave advice as only a freshman could, wrote about the unnecessary division of students as being from the “North” versus “South,” touted college as the ideal opportunity for self-discovery, and urged students to break out of the mold of the “typical”; W&L student. This year, I’ve tended away from preachy pieces aimed at the student body, and instead focused on suggested reform by the mother of all collegiate scapegoats, the administration. My last two articles, for example, called for a better scheduling of breaks and a reversal of the sudden and steady increases in tuition and other related costs. But just when I’ve finally come in line with the majority of school newspaper writers in occasionafly finding reason to criticize our school’s management, I find myself needing to stray over the issue of how the administration is handling the alcohol crisis. Call me na'1've, but whether or not recent actions and policies are completely effective, I truly believe our school’s leadership is trying to act in the best interest of our student body. Sadly, liability in our day and age must inevitably be a serious consideration, but this is hardly the main reason why steps are being taken to curb incidents of dangerous behaviors and sexual assault. Is it really so hard to believe that our President and deans care about our health? That they could, being a little older and wiser than us, actually have some decent ideas and perspective about how to make the long-terrn situation of our school even better? I absolutely love that our school is unique, that it has history, and that there is no place like it on Earth. But we must admit that it is also seriously in need of a reality check. To cite, once again, the startling results of student surveys last year, studentshere (especially females) are . about twice as likely to be sexually assaulted than at other national institutions, and twice as likely to have an eating disorder. No one can tell me that this is a good thing, or that it adds to the special character of our school. It is not normal, and it is not right. To say, as I all too frequently hear, that this “happens at all colleges” or “is just a fact ‘of life in college” is a cop out. ' Binge drinking, though it happens across the country, is also not the norm of behavior for people our age. Yet, whether or not its prevalence is exaggerated on our campus, the practice seems generally accepted by the student body. It is treated like a joke, in fact. I always get a bad feeling in my gut every time I overhear someone nonchalantly laughing about how they can’t remember what they did the night before. I understand that mistakes happen, that people lose count and drink more than they intend. But when drinking to get drunk and blacking out during the weekend becomes routine, something has to be done. This is not me being morally superior; morals in my opinion have nothing to do with it. I worry for people’s safety, just as the administration worries, because I don’t want one of my friends or fellow students to die needlessly or do something they will regret for the rest of their lives. So, for just a minute, honestly try to put yourself in the administration’s place. They’ve been around the block a few more times than we have and I respect their position. There is absolutely a place, and a need, for concerned students to speak their minds about problems they see with any policy. But when we start laying all the blame elsewhere and saying this school’s leadership is acting in their own self—interest rather than ours, nothing gets resolved. We have to take some responsibility for having necessitated these changes and then get our own behavior under control. That is the ultimate experiment in self government. m—~—=]~— WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY S-1 TH E RINO -’I‘UM PHI. EDITORS-IN-CHIEF ERIN ELIZABETH JULIUS CHRIS LAUDERMAN MANAGING EDITOR MARSHALL RULE NEWS EDITOR SARAH MURRAY ASST. NEWS EDITOR KATHERINE SHELL OPINIONS EDITOR CALEYANDERSON ASST. OPINIONS EDITOR ANNE FINLEY ARTS & LIFE EDITOR EMILY EDwARDS PHOTO EDITOR CORBIN BLACKFORD LAYOUT EDITORS CHAD KIEwIEr DE JONGE EMILY HULEN BUSINESS MANAGER DAVID SEIFERT CIRCULATION DIRECTOR ROB RAIN ASST. CIRCULATION DIRECTORS LEGGET K|'l'CHlN ELIzABE11-I ROBINSON YINYAN Ll ROHAN POOJARA COPY EDITORS AMANDATHOLKE VANESSA ARNESS DAVID KRONENFELD SI-IAI£wLsON 771sRi1g4z1nPIT'SpIbishedMmda3SdumgtTeIrdeIgIadua1Esdndyear atWaSl'IirigtmandLeeUriversiIy,Le><'ngl0I’I,\/IIg'nia. fleHhgtmHTlsanernberdfl1eRbia3fiaIsBoam,bIniSdtIeTwbeimepaTda1t Alstbrrmionsmustbee-maiedtophi@vv1U.eduorintheUniversitycentermaboxbyspm. Fridaytoappearinthefollowingweel€sedtior1. 7hel%g-amfliresewestterigtttoedtstbrfissiasforomternartdbngm. LetteIsandoolurnrIsdorIotneoessaIi|yrefle<1Iheop'nion<>t TheFIhg-tIImPhiEdtoria|BoaIId. AdveI1isingdOeSndrefectflTeopinior1sof7heHhg-hmPfioritsstaff. ThisrIewSpaperobser\/esmnemootmdefinifiasotflaelardobsoetity. TheF&1g-tunPhI' 341 WasrhgIaor1arIdLeeUrIi~/ecsity Lex'ngton,VIr9"ia24450 Telephone: (540)4584060 Fax (540)4584059 Emai:phI'@wlu.edu Stbsofpfion rate$40 A baby’s life begins at birth, not at conception Plenty of evidence in both religion and philosophy for pro—choicers ByBeckyLeMohe Tl-ELEMLVEW When pro-life activists try to use the Declaration of Independence and science as means to justify government involvement in the abortion issue, they are blatantly avoiding some basic realities. First of all, ontological questions, such as “What is life and when does it start?” are neither clear nor simple issues. No human being knows with absolute certainty the answer to such a question, and thus many people develop different views. For example, pro-life Christians often claim that life begins at the moment of conception, rather than the moment of birth. However, in the Bible, Genesis 2:7 says, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” If we were to literally interpret this passage, it indicates that life begins with the first breath; this first breath is experienced upon exiting the mother’s womb. People of various backgrounds constantly disagree on the exact moment that life commences, and none can actually prove their point of view. For all we know, all of our philosophies could be completely wrong. With this in mind, along with the concession that determining the start of life is a complicated and controversial issue, we can then fully examine the Declaration. The pro-life argument here is based on the fact that pregnancy involves “two distinct bodies” and therefore we do not have the right to deprive the unborn of life. However, this statement is not only very misleading, but also inaccurate. Throughout the entire process, is the fetus ever self-sustaining? The answer is no. The fetus is completely physically dependant upon its mother throughout pregnancy. Therefore, the fetus is neither a distinct body, nor a separate entity. It only has the potential for an individual life. Furthermore, the Constitution itself defines what the United States considers as a life and hence a citizen possessing rights. The Fourteenth Amendment states, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State —wherein they reside.” This clause clearly does not include pre-born humans. In contrast, the mother is an actual, developed, thinking, and feeling human being. Thus, the pro-life argument is essentially that we should deny the rights of an actual human being, for the sake of providing rights to a potential human being. This is an extreme breach of a woman’s privacy. In the words of philosopher Leonard Peikoff, “Responsible parenthood involves decades devoted to the child’s proper nurture. To sentence a woman to bear a child against her will is an unspeakable violation of her rights: her right to liberty (to the functions of her body), her right to the pursuit of happiness, and, sometimes, her right to life itself [...] Such a sentence represents the sacrifice of the actual to the potential, of a real human being to a piece of protoplasm, which has no life in the human sense of the term. It is sheer perversion of language for people who demand this sacrifice to caH themselves ‘right-to-lifers. ’ ” Pro—life activists also tend to maintain that abortion induces emotional trauma on a woman. Yet, what could be more emotionally traumatizing than looking into your son or daughter’s eyes each and every day and remembering the trauma of the rape that caused the child to be conceived? In addition, how would it feel to be the child of parents who neglect their parental duties, or who express the fact that they never planned on having you? It seems foolish to inflict unnecessary pain and suffering on adults as well as children, especially when there are so many neglected children in this world already. Consequently, the possibility of Post Abortion Syndrome is not nearly as severe as the guaranteed consequences of forced childbirth. As far as adoption, it is a very involved matter; the number of uncared for children by far outweighs the number of couples able to adopt. It is true that some women engage in promiscuous activity and then want to have an abortion. Yet, what about women who are forced to engage in sexual activity? Should a woman who had hopes, dreams, and plans for the future be punished for the rest of her life because a man physically took advantage of her? It would be unjust to deny any woman her right to choose because they each have their own reasons and it is not our right to judge whether or not their reasons are valid according to our personal beliefs system. What may be right for one woman may not be right for another. Yet, every woman should at least have the option to decide what is right for her. ' We will all agree that the First Amendment to the Constitution secures the right to freely practice religion. Based on this, is it not fair for one religious group who believe that life starts at the moment of conception to impose this view on another religious group who believe that life begins at birth or who believe in reincarnation. In effect, it is unjust for the government to literally forbid and outlaw a personal choice, one that is a matter of individual opinion and belief. I believe that this highly infringes on religious freedom and individual liberty. To conclude, I leave you with an anonymous quote to consider, “Of course abortion isn’t right. But it is even less right to bring unwanted children into lifelong suffering and to strip women of their choice. Making abortion illegal is not the way to prevent it. There is a much larger picture that starts with much deeper roots.” “Thus, the pro-life argument is essentially that we should deny the rights of an actual human being for the sake of providing rights to a potential human being.” OCR::/Vol_107/WLURG39_RTP_20050131/WLURG39_RTP_20050131_007.2.txt MG‘lDAY,JANJAHY 31 ,ZI5 “It didn’t completely ruin my summer, but it did give me a lot of undue stress both at home and at wor .” -QUO'FEOFTHEWEEKPeerLa:sat17,moIssungrissmoorrorasImgnrn bdohomeworkoversunnrervacalion THE RING-TUM PHI 0 7 Rape still a serious problem Bycaissaslialey NT}-EIFKIS No means no, but sometimes it’s not enough. When I first started writing this column, I hoped to make people think, even if they came to the same conclusions that they had before they read the article. But no issue that I’ve brought up before or that I will ever bring up has been as important to me as this one. Last week, my sorority met with President Burish, Dean Watkins, and several representatives of the sorority’s national organization to talk about sexual abuse on campus. The meeting was a question and answer format and I was surprised at a lot of questions that were asked. It has been repeated over and over that there is no excuse for sexual abuse of any nature, no matter the circumstances. Whether or not alcohol is involved, previous voluntary sexual contact, and even marriage between the victim and the assailant give no justification for rape or abuse. No matter how many times we are told that any kind of unwanted sexual contact can be considered abuse and that there is no way it can be warranted, it still happens. The recent reports of abuse here on campus clearly show that Lee’s rule of every man acting like a gentleman is not followed. Does honor stop at the threshold of a bedroom? It shouldn’t, but apparently it sometimes does. I’m a member of both BRAVE and KEWL, organizations which work for the prevention of sexual abuse and for the protection and rights of womerr who have been abused. These are not the only organizations with this mission and I know many people who are involved in working for this cause, including many men. However, no matter how hard we work, we can’t put a total stop to abuse here on campus, locally, nationally, and especially world-wide. Ideologically, we want to stop it, but realistically, there will always be abuse of some form or another. The fact that there is always a possibility of abuse should be in the forefront of women’s minds. This brings me back to the questions that were asked during the information session. Many women, in their argument that the new alcohol policy has created a situation where parties are being held off-campus and out in the country, pointed out the fact that they feel more at danger now than before. It may be true that the probability of something bad happening ‘is greater off-campus, but the important point is that the probability is always there, no matter how large or small. This means that it is up to women to protect themselves and not increase their risk by entering into a dangerous situation. If you feel like that party out in the country is going to be the best party of the year, but you know that you don’t get cell phone reception or that there might not be very many people there, don’t go. If you can’t find a buddy to go with you who will stick by you during the night, don’t go. You might be missing out on a really great party, but isn’t it worth it? Maybe it seems like there’s a relatively small chance of oneself individually being raped, but do you want to risk an event that can change your life forever just for a night of drinking and hanging out with friends? As I stated before, I seriously doubt that there will be a place where you have absolutely no chance of being abused and I’m not encouraging you to lock yourselves in your room every night, but taking precautions goes a long way towards preventing abuse. You are all smart women and know to stick with your friends and sisters, to leave a party before it ends so you aren’t the last one there, and to call or find a security officer if you ever feel unsafe (you won’t be reported if you are underage and have been drinking). But when you think that a party could be unsafe, even after you have taken preventative measures, just don’t go. It isn’t worth it. Conservative concepts could save Social Security Investment plan is the only viable solution for crisis of the pensioneers BYWWHEVDIIWEV $\E?ALLYS’EAKl\G The beginning of a new year is traditionally a time for resolutions, promises of improvement, and decisions to change old ways. This same self-improvement mentality is apparent in American politics, with the latest hot potato issue, Social Security reform. There are several political factions arguing for different solutions, including private investment accounts, benefit cuts, tax increases, or some combination of the three. Many others believe that the government should just leave the issue alone. Social Security reform is generally associated with conservatives and has recently been identified as a top priority of President George W. Bush‘s second term. With collapse of the system ' predicted in thirteen years, there is little time for partisan squabbling. Social Security reform should not be a Democratic or Republican issue-it is a problem that transcends party lines and affects all working Americans, and should be treated as such. Although technically the system may be able to pay promised benefits for years to come (at least until 2018), taking the approach of hiding our heads in the sand is a mistake. Many economists agree that 2018 is an overly pessimistic estimate for the demise of Social Security and that the program’s life span is in fact much longer. This assertion is largely dependent ‘on the state of the economy. Higher wages, as a result of an economic upswing, could provide more funds for the program, giving it a boost. The problem with this optimistic approach is that it is based on a rather optimistic economic forecasts. As a result, any unforeseen economic downturn could destroy even the best-laid plans based on this theory. Not to mention that ignoring the problem for a while, just because we can, will not actually change the fact that Social Security will run out eventually. Some action must be taken now, not left for future generations. The question is, which course of action is most appropriate? To sustain the current system, we could increase payroll taxes and decrease benefits. While this would be a secure way to ensure the survival of the program, it is not the best. By taking this approach, future recipients of Social Security will receive even less return on their money, making the system increasingly less equitable to future generations. Another approach, while deemed somewhat risky, is to allow citizens to invest a portion of their Social Security taxes in privately-owned investment accounts. One such plan is called the Model 2 Plan, which was proposed by the Commission to Strengthen Social Security. The Model 2 Plan would allow private investment of a portion of one’s Social Security taxes amounting to 4 percent of one’s taxable income. This _ plan would stabilize the system by 2050, economists predict. It is possible that one could end up with slightly less money with the Model 2 Plan than with the current system. However, it is more likely that taxpayers would get a much better return on their contributions (the average person born in 2000 will only earn 0.86 percent return). Though some politicians fear this plan would subject taxpayers to the rise and fall of the market, it would solve the major problems with the current Social Security system. Most importantly, it would keep the system afloat and would prevent it from dipping into its surplus (which is currently being used by other government programs). Furthermore, it would put some of the taxpayers’ money back into the control of the taxpayer, instead of the government. LETTERSTO THE EDITOR Reader decries lack of cystic fibrosis ball coverage by the Phi Dear Editor, ' Congratulations on your new design for the Phi. I enjoyed perusing it; I turned each page expectantly, impressed with the fine color photography and artwork. But as I came upon the last page, my heart sunk. Not once was last Saturday’s Cystic Fibrosis Charity BaH mentioned. There were no photographs. Not even one iota of text was devoted to an event attended by at least one hundred students, an event which featured Burr Datz and his band of W&L alumni, or an event which raised over $3000 for a charitable cause. Senior Jon Lefler poured out his heart and soul to put on an elegant ball and to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis. To ignore such a significant event in the W&L community is somewhat insulting, and is certainly disheartening for those who volunteered and selflessly sacrificed their time for sake of charity. Pro—life article sheds Dear Editor, p In the January 24"‘ edition of the Ring Tum Phi an editorial was published by Theresa Dougherty that left me cold, unsettled, and ultimately very disappointed. Abortion is such a polarized issue in our country that I have little faith anything I could possibly say might penetrate her ideological defenses, if she even bothers to read this, but getting some of these thoughts down on paper will at least be somewhat cathartic for me. First, it saddened me to see the words of Thomas Jefferson, one of our country’s greatest men, bandied about attached involuntarily and out of context to a debate that has devolved into nothing better than a national shouting match. It is indeed convenient to prominently drop the name of a founding father to bolster your cause, but Ms. Dougherty, I can hardly visualize Jefferson the Colonial clad all in black attempting to bomb an abortion clinic or taking careful aim with a high-powered rifle at a doctor and a patient in a parking lot. Wait, I’m sorry, that wasn’t really fair was it? Well, while we're on the subject of fairness in constructing a logical argument, please allow me to quote you: “I do not know what it is like to be raped, but I would guess that the emotional trauma of the actual rape followed by the decision to have an abortion could only inflict further harm on the woman.” You may guess a lot of things on any given day, will it snow today, will my professor give us a pop quiz, will the srat lunch suck again, but to “guess” about the physical Offensive Quick Dear Editor, I write today first to applaud your attempt to bring the Phi to a new level of journalistic integrity through last week’s much—improved layout and the enhanced contributions of your writing staff. Unfortunately, I also write today to express a deep disappointment. In last week’s series of “Quick Hits” I was surprised, if not shocked, to read the following submission: “I figured it out —- Tom Burish is just Adam Hutchinson's puppet for tuning this school as gay as Williams or Amherst or wherever he went.” Not only does this submission contain an offensive colloquialism, it reveals the author to be rather misinformed. and emotional damage a rape victim suffers is both naive and pathetic. I am a man, therefore the odds that I myself will be raped in my lifetime are rniniscule at best, but I bear the burden of being part of the gender that overwhelmingly plays the role of rapist. On a daily basis I am reminded of this fact, of my guilt by association, and yet your statement leads me to believe that despite the best educational efforts of hundreds of women’s groups throughout the country and around the world, and even here on campus, you have somehow managed to completely miss or shut yourself away from the horrible realities of rape itself. It is a disgusting, barbaric act that leaves the victim physically hurt, psychologically shattered, and perhaps most frustratingly — oftentimes deeply ashamed about a situation in which they were the victim. Perhaps you feel that by letting the reader know you “have at least one person in your life conceived through rape” you somehow become invulnerable to dissent on this topic. Forget it. Allow me to propose another possible outcome of the above situation: what if the victim, to her horror, learns that she is pregnant with the child of her attacker? What if she cannot bring herself to overcome the psychological link between this fetus and the act during which she was so terribly violated? Worse yet, what if this child grows to closely visually resemble its mother’s attacker? Must this woman be forced to relive that horrific moment every day for the rest of her life every time Hit criticized In the literal sense of the word, neither Williams nor Amherst is any gayer than Washington and Lee. Trust me, if they were, I’d be a Purple Cow (Williams) or a Lord Jeff (Amherst) instead of a General. Overall, I don’t believe the submission to be intentionally offensive, largely because the term “gay” is unfortunately used so commonly in a derogatory way. However, that should not keep you, the editors, from judiciously screening submissions in order to maintain the “journalistic integrity, dignity, and respect” touted on your front page. Your choice to retain and print this submission exposes either your temporary lapse in judgment or your ignorance and prejudice. I’m hope it is the former. Steve Martinenza ‘05 I realize that your recent re design was a time consuming and arduous process, but I do not think it unreasonable to ask for at least some mention of Saturday’s Ball. With all luck and hope, we will be holding the ball next year, and a story, a picture, or even a blurb however small would have been welcome publicity for next year’s event. No one worked for recognition, we all worked to benefit CF research, and an article showing the rest of the W&L what an exciting and fun event the ball was, would, I could only have hoped, helped with next year’s fund raising. Please consider providing some coverage in next week’s edition and next year, both before, and most certainly after, the ball. Sincerely, J arnes Heidbreder little light on subject she sees this poor bastard child simply because YOU think she should? Lest I begin bore you with my silly remarks, let us examine only one more possibility. One keystone issue of the Pro-choice side of the debate was conspicuously missing from your article, that of ectopic pregnancies. Perhaps, like your apparent misunderstanding of the severity of rape, you aren’t quite up to date on your understanding of the subject. Please allow me to educate you. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the ovum implants somewhere besides the endometrial lining of the uterus. This happens most often in the Fallopian tubes, but it can also occur elsewhere. To cut to the chase, if the fetus is allowed to be carried to term the end result is almost certain death for the mother and generally the fetus as well. The most common and effective treatment is removal of the pregnancy, a very early term abortion, but a form of abortion nonetheless. A total ban on abortion might help you sleep better at night, but it would be signing the death sentence of 1 out of every 4000 mothers- to-be in this country. This brings me to the point of my entire response. The rights granted by the Roe v. Wade decision are not about the callous use of abortion in place of safe sex, tl1ey’re not about a mother’s relieved ending of her fetus’ life because it appears to have a cleft palate or Down’s Syndrome, they’re about guaranteeing the safety of the minority against the views of the majority, and they’re about moderation. Dear Editor, I LOVED the article in your most recent issue about women needing to know their place. I laughed SO hard I started crying. It was probably the funniest part of my week and I plan to hang it on my wall where I can read it whenever I need a laugh. I want to compliment you all for being able to see the humor in a satire like that and not taking it in a serious manner. It is my opinion that anyone who would take offense at a high schooler’s There are Pro-choice activists who would like all abortion restrictions lifted, who would like the ability to receive an abortion under any circumstances at any time in the pregnancy, and there are just as many if not more Pro—life activists who would like any and all forms of abortion banned flat out. This might come as a shock to you, but neither of these positions is the answer. From the tone of your article I, the reader, sense that you are one of the “Pro—life at all costs” people, and I pray that never in your life will you be faced with your obstetrician telling you that you have an ectopic pregnancy or that you never have to deal with the absolute horror of rape and the second numbing shock of being told you carry your attacker’s child. The choice of having an abortion is a deeply personal decision, perhaps the most personal one a woman could ever be asked to make. The laws are in place to ensure that each woman is able to make that decision on her own, safe from the idealistic shouts and demands of a person who carmot, simply cannot, possibly know the true weight crushing down upon that poor woman’s shoulders. Sincerely, Drew Heath, ‘05 Reader delights in recent Phi parody piece joke like that is very insecure on their position of women’s rights and I think it is awesome that you saw it for the comedic work that is was. Thank you so much for brightening my week so much and I can only hope that those who were offended by such a silly article eventually acquire a funny bone. Sincerely, Brooke Sanden ‘O6 OCR::/Vol_107/WLURG39_RTP_20050131/WLURG39_RTP_20050131_008.2.txt 8 0 THERNG-TLIVIPHI word MGDAY,JAMJAHY 31 ,2[X5 H f\ Due to concerns regarding'an offensive Quick Hit this past week, we are taking a week off and revising this section. “Quick Hits, ” in its current form, is dead. The concept of an anonymous forum is very much alive. To preserve anonymous forum that Quick Hits provided we will now pose a topic each weekand allow students to respond by replying to phi @wlu.edu. These responses will be anonymous,'as were QuickHits. We are posing the A topics in order to direct campus dialogue surrounding interesting and important campus life issues. Respond however you want: honestly, humorously, or seriously. We want to ensure students have a place where they feel comfortable expressing their honest opinions about campus life. TtI'sweek’s1opic: Alooholpolicy enforcement, 2 monlhslater. Voting is really trashy The Fisherman gives his take on personal responsibility at W&L Bynughrmui ll-EFS‘E:MPN No really, it is. But beyond just voting, caring about large scale events in general is for suckers. Elections? Lame. Trying to work towards goals? Too much effort. Having beliefs that you care about? Yeah, and you probably also think helping poor people out is good too. Loser. Apathy is way too underrated, primarily because those who don’t care, don’t care enough to stick up for what is important and paramount in their lives: the principle that at the end of the day, screw it. Well, I am here to speak up for these voiceless people. So, let me outline a few fundamental principles that must be understood. First, if it doesn’t directly benefit you or just feel good in the next five minutes, let someone else handle it. This includes any sort of community service, striving to make a change in the world and paying taxes. How do you think I look so hot all the time in my trendy clothes? By paying taxes? No way man, Ikeep it real. Also, the rule about stopping . for red lights is much more ‘lax in our world. It’s not so much that I have hit three people, as they hit me and my car. While some may call that a hit and run and a felony, I call it being polite enough not to make a big deal out of a broken headlight and bloodstains on my windshield. My benevolence knows no bounds. And seeing how that little girl was in a wheel chair, I much prefer to think of that one more as a car crash than hitting a normal person on foot. But The Fisherman isn’t the only good looking, well-known person who understands that responsibility and participation blow, there are others. For instance, professional football player Ricky Williams finally came to the realization that instead of spending the time and energy playing football, he could instead just sit back and enjoy his hobbies while letting others put in the effort. Way to go, Ricky. Also, pretty much any NBA player displays a thorough understanding that while some kids may look up to them as role models, that really shouldn’t stop them from committing crimes and not bothering to play in the Olympics. After all, who cares about the Olympics anyway? And for my personal favorite, Paris Hilton has managed to turn not doing anything and only seeking pleasure into a very lucrative career. I was thinking about asking her to Fancy Dress, but then again, I don’t want to put in the effort of the phone call, and I’m sure she is busy making money by looking down on poor people and having it filmed. I bet you’re thinking that I must be failing out of school with this attitude. Well, since you probably still think your “live strong” bracelet is cool, I’l1 fill you in on what’s up. Not doing well in school is very in style these days. Failing is the new passing. Know what else is in style? Kids who vomit in the bathroom but miss the toilet. Remember, at the end of the day it’s not you that has to clean it up, which means there is no reason to care about it. So be creative in where you puke. Just the other day I puked on someone’s cat. In conclusion, get some class and learn not to bother yourself with trivial things that small-minded people have convinced you ‘are important. Don’t vote, give to charity, be employed, help the needy or participate in any way that might lead to something. Sit back and let the other people worry about that. After all, you‘re now one of the elites, everyone else is just here for your entertainment. Tune in next week when I explain the source of all evil: orphans. I mean really, what’s with them anyway? So be creative in where you puke. Just the other day I puked on someone ’s cat. What would Bobby Lee do? Bymashalnue FUTATOMPN Everyday college students are faced with difficult choices. Should I cut off the mold on the pizza before eating it, or should I just eat it as is? Problems like this are encountered every day by young, hormone—driven college students. Luckily for Washington and Lee students, we have a role model to look up to. Whenever a student here has a problem, they just think WWRELD. That’s right, what would Robert E. Lee do? I know that many of you are skeptical of the idea that you can still have fun while listening to Bobby Lee; after all, he is the man who started that whole honor thing. But Mr. Lee didn-’t always color inside the lines. Many times he didn’t even color at all. Instead he was out getting drunk. What was his favorite drink you ask? Mike’s Hard Lemonade. He drank that stuff up. Once Abraham Lincoln called him a sissy for drinking it at a frat party. Robert E. Lee was so pissed that he started the Civil War over it. As you can see Mr. Lee was a normal man just like you or me. He had his flaws, and compensated for those flaws by fighting for the south just to piss Abe “goody-two-shoes’,’ Lincoln off. And it worked for Bobby. He has a Once Abraham Lincoln called him a sissy for drinking [Mike’s Hard] at a frat party. Robert E. Lee was so pissed that he started the Civil War over it. whole region that considers him a small step above God. This is why we should incorporate Robert E’s lifestyle into our own. For instance, when you have to decide whether or not to pull the trigger after a long night of drinking, just ask yourself WWRELD? I’ll tell you what Robert E. Lee would do. Robert E. Lee would pull that trigger; pull that trigger all over that kid from New Jersey. Darrin Yankee. Are you a freshman guy right now? If the answer is yes, you should listen to Robert E. Lee. Were you thinking about going to the hazing website? Were you thinking about rolling over on your best friends? Ask yourself WWRELD? Do you think Bobby never went through a little hazing? You may have had to clean the kitchen, but Mr. Lee had to do something involving a 9 iron, a gallon of ketchup, and a four dollar hooker. An you thought you had it bad. ‘ The next time you wake up to a woman twice your size in your own bed and don’t know how to act, just ask yourself WWRELD? Robert E. Lee would do the same thing you want to do... run like hell and don’t look back. You should have seen the first time Robert E. Lee hooked up with Susan B. Anthony. He was halfway to Atlanta before he stopped to rest. After you get out of town, stay out of town, then move to a remote town in the Shenandoah Valley to be president of a college. Let’s be honest Mr. Lee didn’t come to W&L (at the time it was simply called W&) to teach, he came to hide from the nympho monster named Susan'B. So next time you are trying to make the decision between getting drunk and going to class, do what Robert E. Lee would do... get drunk before going to class, after all attendance is 5% of your grade. Mono equa s root of a evil ByKrist'neEa1y lVlJ(Af\DO£ESEGlFL So, contrary to last week’s article, coffee isn’t enough to keep this northern gal alive and kickin’. A few days before the January 24th issue of the Phi hit the stands I was diagnosed with. . ..drum roll, please... strep throat and mono. Starbucks, you know I love and respect you, but not even a vaunted venti espresso macchiatto with skim milk can help me now. Looking back, I should have known something was wrong long before I made an appointment at the health center. Two days in a row I was under the covers by 8:30 p.m. And by now you should realize that this girl doesn’t exactly subscribe to the “early to bed, early to rise” philosophy- especially on Wednesday nights. Maybe the sore throat should have been a clue, too. Of course, pride is a hard thing to swallow. They say that money is the root of all evil. Drop the “ey” and add “o,” and I might just agree with the ever elusive but clearly wise “they.” Mono is a cruel, cruel disease, trying even the most patient individual. Let’s put this “mono” thing into context. The zenith of my weekend was eating a bowl of Rocky Road ice cream. Now, don’t get me wrong. Rocky Road ice cream is amazing. Scratch that. AMAZING Which is why I went back for a second bowl. And a third. Yes, I am the only person on the entire face of the earth who could manage to gain two pounds immediately after coming down with mono. What can I say? I’m just that “special.” But maybe I am being a bit too dramatic. Maybe my weekend wasn’t that bad. After all, in addition to sitting around eating ice cream, I did get to catch up on pop culture. Yes, I sure did. I don’t have cable in my room, so I watched eighteen consecutive episodes of Sex and the City. And it was good. However, not even nine hours of awkward sexual situations and off—the—wall fashion managed to make me any stronger. I was left with no choice but to check into the infirmary. The nurses that work at the infirmary are wonderful, wonderful people. They did everything they could to make sure I was cornfoitable— bringing me blankets and hot meals and snacks and checking up on me often to make sure I was doing okay. However, as you can imagine, the infirmary is not an exciting place. Thus, once again, I relied on the TV for amusement. It had been quite awhile since I’d seen “Full House,” “The Nanny,” “Golden Girls,” “Family Ties” and “Step by Step.” I don’t know how I managed so long without the Uncle Jesse, Fran Drescher and Steve Erkel. Tell me: how did I manage? Of course, my saving grace was Lifetime. It is, after all, the “network for women,” and I clearly possess XY genes. Lifetirne’s schedule is chalk-full of such gems as “Too Young to Be a Dad,” a made- for-television movie about a fifteen year- old fatlrer-to-be featuring such “stars” as Kathy Baker, Bruce Davison and Paul Franklin Darmo. I don’t want to give the plot away. Suffice it to say, it’s a real tearjerker. And then there was “Dangerous Son.” Blood, sweat, tears... I was clutching my hospital sheet in suspense. Thanks to Lifetime I also learned about the baby black market. Who said TV is a waste of time? Ice cream, “Golden Girls,” Lifetime... As you can see, I’m living the highlife. Let’s compare weekends. While you were braving the cold to make it from Pi Phi to Windfall, I was bundled up under a down comforter watching high quality- viewing material. While you were chugging down a third Natty Light in an attempt to impress the boys, I was classily sipping good ole’ chicken noodle soup. And while you were trying to fend off that clumsy dancer, I was dreaming of Patrick Swayze. Okay, maybe I’m pushing it. But I’m an optirriist. You have to be to survive the Midwest for upwards of eighteen years. Have no fear, dear readers. Your Milk and Cheese Girl will be back and with a vengeance. It may be a month or two before I’m on the scene again, but “nobody puts [this] baby in the comer.” On a side note, I am not a leper. You will not catch mono by sitting next to me. Unless I spit on you. But, on my honor, I promise not to engage in such a nefarious activity. How to spot a Keydet in good old Lex Due to popular demand (or an extreme case of boredom on my part), your favorite grey-clad writer is back in the saddle one week earlier ' ' . than expected. JonathanProctor Without further THEGUY”EXlDOOR ado, away we go... T h o u g h normally one can spot a Keydet from a mile away, occasionally when wearing our blazer and Ronald McDonald tie or sneaking uptown in (spitting noise) civilian attire, we may manage to blend in (especially when the eye of the beholder is glassy and dilated). Therefore I thought ’ that I would offer some helpful hints as to how one may identify said Keydets on a glorious, Lex-tastic weekend. If one is at the Palms, then recognizing a Veemie is a rudimentary task. All you have to do is find the guy that is treated with disdain by the staff, talks/shouts way too loudly and stares down every Minkette as if he were the lion [a Keydet] stares down every Minkette as if he were the lion and she the gazelle and she the gazelle. Upon exiting the I establishment, he will more than likely stumble on the disproportionate stairs (which should really be fixed), where he will then be arrested for being drunk in public (do not scoff, dear readers, for it has happened on more than one occasion). After spending a night with Rockbridge County’s finest, he will then get in trouble upon returning to Post and spend the next few months on conf1nement(a.k.a. “time- out”). When at the Mirage, the best place to find a Keydet would be to look at the dance floor for one of two possible situations: (a) a group of eight to twelve virile young men dancing a bit too closely together, belting out the chorus of “November Rain” with a bit too much zeal, or (b) a lone couple re—enacting scenes from our favorite episode of “The Grind”, the male in his early twenties and the female in her early forties (fresh off of the Wal—Mart night shift). These are the things that happen when your living conditions would rate as the third—lowest among the nation’s prisons and you envy the love life of a three—toed sloth. Remember, when one encounters a Keydet outside of his natural habitat, one should not be meek due to our lack of social graces. I assure you that we are indeed some of the most well-mannered people that you will ever come across, but on those nights when we attempt to drown our Pain and Sorrow (that’s right. . .capital P, capital S; it is, in fact, that bad), it would be prudent to leave well enough alone. Otherwise, we are always looking for a good time, ladies and gentlemen, so feel free to say hello or even to buy us a round, or five. Until next time, neighbors, keep on truckin’...