OCR::/Vol_108/WLURG39_RTP_20050523/WLURG39_RTP_20050523_001.2.txt I (L, I '4 .,AmN I “‘f~_‘:—L'>)78~ 9RS&2 ? wot mm fifi WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY 3 THE RING-TUM PHI. MONDAY, MAY 23, 2005 BY THE STUDENTS AND ron THE srunrurs sINcEds97 ‘,3 ‘I VOLUME CIX, NUMBER 2 WHAT’S INSIDE" I Breka gives you a laugh with her list of the top 10 things to do before leaving Lex. Page 4 I Becky LeMoine accuses pop. culture elitists -- are you one? Find out on page 2. I Want to see “The Tamer Tamed” but aren’t sure if it’ll be worth your time? Check out our review to hear our opinion of the spring show. Page3 HOT TICKET‘ Supercomedy! What happens to superheroes once retirement hits? Come watch “The Incredibles” to find out. The film runs in the Commons theater on Mon. May 23 at 7:00 p.m. and at 9:30 p.m. on Tues. May 24, Thurs. May 26, and Fri. May 27. SPORTS UPDATE Women’s tennis hit quarterfinals Both women’s tennis doubles teams moved on the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Championships on Saturday in Kalamazoo. Senior Lindsey Hagerman was the lone singles player to advance into the I quarterfinals. Hagerman also won her seventh All-American honors by defeating Muhlenberg’s Amy Schmidt, 6-1, 6-3. Senior named All-Star W&L senior midfielder Adam Chesbrough has been added to the south roster for the annual North- South Men’s Lacrosse Senior All- Star game to be held at 12:00 pm on Sat., June 11 at SUNY-Cortland. Men’s tennis falls short W&L senior Paul McClure and junior David Shay were defeated in the first round of the NCAA Division _III Doubles Championships on Saturday afternoon on the campus of the University of California Santa Cruz. Additionally, McClure was eliminated from the singles championships with a second round loss. TUNE IN He’s been called the “greatest musician you’ve probably never heard of’ and has claimed bluegrass competition championships and the respect and admiration of the largest of the living legends in the genre. It’s the “Larry Keel Experience.” _ It only takes the spin of one track to realize the depth and breadth of Larry’s ability: not only does he fire crisp and clear melodies on his six- string but backs it up equally with a gritty baritone voice. I Hear Larry on House Mountain Radio this Tuesday evening from 7:00-8:00 pm before he takes his band out west for the summer. For more information check out his website at www.larrykeel.com. Students prove susceptible to attacks By Erin Julius and Leah Kershaw EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND STAFF WRITER Two local men have been charged in connection with crimes against Washington and Lee students. Mike Young, W&L’s director of security, said the two men are formally charged in connection with the recent car robberies that occurred at the Pole Houses. The Rockbridge County Sheriff informed W&L security that the two men had been charged and that stolen belongings had been recovered on Friday, said Young. The Rockbridge County Sheriff’s office confirmed that both men had been taken into custody. Young said he suspects that the two men were also involved in the assault of a Washington and Lee. student early Thursday morning. David Mitchell, a sophomore, was trying to flag down a Traveller car near “County Seat” when he was attacked. Mitchell said two men came up from behind him. One sprayed him in the face with a chemical, similar to mace, and the other struck him in the back of the head. The two men then fled the scene. Mitchell said he filed a report with the Rockbridge County Sheriff on Thursday. Another incident occurred Saturday night when a group of five men attacked Washington and Lee student David Seifert “It’s important for all students to remember that bad things can happen in Lexington and we need to remember to take the necessary precautions.” —'KELLY JO LARSEN, W&L STUDENT ‘05 as he was walking up Henry St. and turning on to Randolph St. Seifert said that the men were yelling vulgar comments at his companion, Liz Lane. He said they tried to ignore the comments, but the men stopped them, pushed Lane out of the way and started punching Seifert in the face. “I tried to defend myself but I was surprised by it,” Seifert said. Lane called the police while the men were punching Seifert. After she told the men that the police were on their way, the five men ran away. An ambulance arrived with the police to take Seifert to the hospital. The two students have filed a police report but have not notified Washington and Lee security. In addition to the string‘ of recent attacks, a peeping tom has been harassing female Washington and Lee students. Kelly J o Larsen, Kristen Brown and Annie Rochfort, who live at the corner of Randolph and Massie, came home one night about a week ago to police pounding on their door. The police informed the students that one of their neighbors had called and reported seeing a man on the women’s roof. ‘This is complicated by the fact that our living room and two bedrooms have skylights in them,” said Larsen. This peeping tom apparently has a habit of spying on the women. “A week earlier my roommates had thought they had heard a man on the roof but we didn’t do anything about it,” Larsen said. “We’re rational and when you hear things you don’t think much about them.” The students have not reported the attack to Washington and Lee security and thepolice have not caught the peeping tom. “The police were very nice and told us to call if we ever thought anything was wrong,” Larsen said. Thispeeping torn is not the first to harass Washington and Lee women. Around February, the five women of “Utah” on North Randolph Street discovered that someone had set up a ladder to the roof of their house. According to Katharine Lester, one day the women’ found footsteps in the snow and called the police. Police moved the ladder, told the women to lock their doors and windows, and promised the women that they would watch the house. The women have not had a problem since. In light of the recent crimes, Young said he urges students to be more careful. “Although Washington and Lee security can’t protect you all the time, we are trying to keep you as safe as possible,” said Young. Students certainly need to be more aware of their surroundings following these various reports of attacks and harassment of Washington and Lee students. ‘ “Everyone always thinks these things don’t happen in Lexington,” Larsen said. “Recent events have highlighted the fact that we don’t actually live in a bubble. It’s important for all students to remember that bad things can happen in Lexington and we need to remember to take the necessary precautions,” she said. Murph Murphy ‘55 and friend reminisce at their 50th reunion. Alumni descend on Lex Class of 1955 donates over $2 million to its alma mater By Katherine Shell ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR This past weekend, the classes of 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980. 1985, 1990, 1995, and 2000 made their way to Lexington for Alumni Weekend. Events such as luncheons, assemblies, tours and banquets entertained the alum for the majority of the time. Also, with various band parties and cocktail parties, undergraduate students and alumni were able to reunite for the last weekend of the year. Valerie Delaune ’O7, a member of Kathekon, stated that “we enjoyed, having the alums in town this weekend, and hope they had a wonderful time meeting “It was very comfortable being on campus. The students made the alums feel very welcome.” —CHRlS SURDO, CLASS OF ‘04 undergraduates and their classmates.” “It was very comfortable being on campus,” says Chris Surdo ’04, back for his first alumni weekend. “The students seeing STEVEN MARINOS / PHOTO EDITOR made the alums feel very welcome.” Events were planned by various classes and groups on campus to show the returning alumni new buildings and plans. The administration held an assembly dedicated to informing the alumni about the Strategic Planning currently being discussed on campus, giving the alumni “the opportunity to hear about current suggestions, voice their opinion of these ideas, and contribute their own ideas into the process,” according to the Alumni Website. The class of 1955 gave over two million dollars to the university in honor of their fiftieth reunion, and the class of ’ 1980 gave a full scholarship honoring a classmate who died the_first week of their freshrnanyear. Bow ing class ost By Shelley Orman STAFF WRITER Students who wish to take one of Washington and Lee’s most popular have to travel outside of Lexington if the class continues to be offered. This change is a result of the closing of Lexington’s only bowling alley, Lexington Lanes. - A notice on the door of the alley reveals that the center closed at midnight on May 16. The sign indicates that the bowling alley closed because of financial reasons and corporate dissolution. Lexington Lanes’ closing will affect more than people who just like to bowl. Organizations like the Special Olympics Bowling and Washington and Lee’s PE class will have to adjust as well. There are currently 146 students on the wait-list for Bowling 149 who will be affected by this change. Sophmore Mallory Calhoun said, “I wouldn’t travel an hour to take a bowling PE class because my schedule’s already so full anyway.” Students who do want to go bowling can travel to one of the five bowling alleys located within an hour from Lexington. Staunton Bowling Lanes and Thunder Alley, which is located in nearby Covington, Va., are both a forty minute drive away. They can also try Char1ottesville’s AMF Kegler Lanes, which is open seven days a week and has 48 lanes. AMF Hilltop Lanes in Roanoke and Lee-Hi Lanes in Salem are just over an hour away. Sen. Warner, T orn Wo fe to come to Press Release WASHINGTON & LEE UNIVERSITY Two of Washington &Lee University’s most famous alumni return this June to participate in the 218"‘ commencement. This year’s commencement ceremony, to be held June 2 at 10 a.m., will include Washington and Lee alumnus, Virginia’s senior Senator John W. Warner, class of 1949. , . Warner will be presented with an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. Warner credits his alma mater, and in particular its Honor System, with preparing him well for his political career. “It has been the core values of the University, particularly those embodied in our revered honor code, that I have turned to at times_in my life when I have had to make difficult decisions,” said Warner. “I consider that honor code to be my anchor. I have reached for that anchor often, and have found its strength to be both reassuring and inspirational.” “It is altogether fitting that Washington and Lee University, which has long prided itself on dedication to service, should be honoring one of its own for his," graduation said University President Thomas Burish. Another notable alumnus, author Tom Wolfe, class of 1951, will give the commencement address. This will be Wolfe’s third appearance on campus this year. Previously, Wolfe has visited for book signings of his latest novel, the controversial I Am Charlotte Simmons. a ey coses, . PE courses, Bowling 149', will now‘ OCR::/Vol_108/WLURG39_RTP_20050523/WLURG39_RTP_20050523_002.2.txt THE RING-TUlW‘P1‘-H 2 0 \\.. ‘V. II.’ ,- flit moi 0I]|ll|0llS MONDAY, MAY 23, 2005 No matter what changes, alumni say that W&L remains the same Bylvlayctids I‘i‘SM)TYC1J.|'!"sNE Well, if you couldn’t tell by my last two (or so) articles, plus that one that they gave to me that I didn’t write, the inspiration for these articles has been a bit lacking. So when my old friend Torn Lovell of the alumni department — I’m telling you, I have some pretty weird connections — approached me at lunch today, he was all, “why is everything you write in the Phi negative?” Negative, is it? 1 have very little idea of what I’ve been publishing here, apparently. Perhaps its been lackluster or hypocritical at best. So I told him, well, Tom, this is how it is: I got nothing to write about. Any suggestions? And he said he’d think on it. And I was expecting some Tom Lovell e- mail a few weeks later, perhaps in July, discussing the importance of a beard when chaperoning children — to assert your masculinity and age and assure your control of the situation, even on Bourbon Down wit ByBeckyl.dVlo'ne Tl-ELERALVEW By now, it seems that I have established myself as the one of the most offensive Phi writers. The irony lies in the fact that I have offended everyone, at one point or another. So, to end the year in a similarly offensive fashion, I would like to examine an issue that could collectively insult every type of person, including myself: People who are elitists about their tastes in pop culture. What defines a “pop culture elitist”? I believe there are two separate categories of elitists. For convenience and clarity, these categories—will;be.,defined in terms of music. The first is the elitist who refuses to recognize the artistic or musical value of any form of music other than the form he/she confines himself/herself to. The second is the elitist who feels he/ she is superior to other people who like the same form of music, with reasons for this superiority varying from length of devotion to a particular band or singer to the amount of useless trivia known about a band or singer. In both cases, the elitist wishes to establish his/her superiority over others simply based on tastes in pop culture.To some degree, I think we are all the first type of elitist. For most of us, there is at least one genre of music or one particular band or singer that we refuse to recognize as worthy of our listening. For me, that singer is Ashlee Simpson. For you, it might be Marilyn Manson or Garth Brooks or Britney Spears or Dave Matthews or the list goes on and on. _ However, there is a difference between having the opinion that a band is terrible, Street. But I gotta tell you, Tom surprised me.lHe really came through this time. I was in mid—conversation with people my age, you know, freshmen, when Tom comes over and says hey, c’mere,_I’ve got . an article for you. My friends looked at me kind of weirdly that I was being summonsed by this random guy, but I had faith in Tom and I followed. He led me to a table of alumni brimming with ideas for an article, and — you know this is coming — love for their old stomping grounds. Now I was caught completely unawares that alumni even read my article. That’s a pretty awkward realization to have in the middle of a sea of alumni. I didn’t even know about that whole constituency - I guess it should have occurred to me, but I missed it. But these alumni had read my articles and were more than willing to contribute. And they couldn’t help but wonder. . .Why do alurrmi froth at the mouth so about their beloved Washington and Lee, and why by extension, why do they come back at every chance they get? Now Washington and Lee is a small school, and we’ve been a small school for a while now. And the obvious answer to why its alums are so in love, still, after all these years, is that there are only so many of us to love. YOU went to W&L?? I went to W&L!! Tl1at’s amazing! ! And we could stop there and think that that’s why we’re all so in love with each other, because it’s like a little piece of our darling W&L come to talk to us. But my friends at the table and I thought it was perhaps more than just that. This passion for W&L and this avid desire to return for Parent’s Weekend (whether or not you have a kid there. . . ..) and Alumni Weekend is evidence that W&L is doing something right (oh my God, a positive article by yours truly. And oh my God, something positive about W&L in a newspaper. It’s a big day on both fronts). Through all the years, and all the various administrations trying to make us Davidson and trying to bend such a wonderful University to whatever Dean’s evil will, Washington and Lee has proven pop culture elitists and being elitist about your music choice. Having an opinion usually denotes that you have at least listened to a substantial amount of the band’s music, and still think it lacks talent. Being elitist means that you do not like a band simply based on one song, an image, or reputation. In other words, you would not dare descend from your lofty pedestal to give a chance to something you consider so shallow and dissonant. I am this way about Ashlee Simpson, and each of you are probably thesame way about another band or singer. Just fill in the blank: “I would never be caught dead listening to ________.”The second type of elitism is what really bothers me. These are the people who say, “I’m a bigger fan because I liked them way back when, when nobody knew who they were!” This is just ridiculous. The circumstances that lead us to like a band are different for each. Maybe you didn’t start liking your favorite band until a certain event made you start associating one of their songs with that special memory. Maybe it was when you saw the band in concert. Maybe it was when you first listened to an entire album. There are countless reasons why you could have started liking a band later ‘than someone else. Don’t get me wrong; being with them from the beginning could certainly mean that you are a more devoted fan. It just seems absurd to use this fact to assume your superiority over another fan.The same argument can be made for people who think that your devotion to a band can only be measured by how much money you spend buying their products, how often you have seen them in concert, and how much useless knowledge you know about the band. While all of these facts could certainly indicate that you are a more devoted fan, there are always circumstances in which this would not be true. For example, someone who is too poor to simply go out and buy every Elvis artifact in existence is not necessarily less of a fan than the rich person who can easily afford to spend thousands on an extensive Elvis collection. In general, competition over who is the bigger fan seems a. petty means of establishing that only you have the right and deserve to enjoy that particular music; in essence, that the music can only be special for you, because you have a closer connection with it than anyone else. Yet, I think that most artists would appreciate any well-intentioned listeners, even if those listeners had not heard of the band until one of their songs hit the radio, did not have a huge collection of their memorabilia, and could not boast of having been to at least twenty of their concerts. Having differing opinions and differing tastes is what makes us individual beings. Though we may not like a certain band, we should at least respect others who see the beauty in their music. Additionally, though we may feel as though we are the only ones entitled to like our favorite band, we should at least respect others for recognizing, in whatever means possible, the talent we have loved all along. I don’t think there is anything wrong with being a pop culture elitist, as long as you don’t disrespect others for not being on the same page as you. If we begin to deride and demean everyone for their tastes in pop culture, we may get more than what we wished for... a homogeneous society. LIFEGUARDS/POOL MANAGERS Blow hiring for summer 2005 NoVa areas! Competitive Pay! Call now or visit website! www.premier411.com 1 877 SEE POOL 103:.” true» heat £ -of "y=v:u1a.1r Iigfa‘? lE:2as-1ste-r- Virginia can Help ‘y-nru. .£i'n.<:1 11:. We acre ~¢::cau.1m.:rnui.tta«c1. sac: help-htg peapdre disaaadlitiesi ugtarirt. -greatest is:-.-u::i.e.r]g;reara:::1e::si.«::a¢=.-.~... ]'a:'>;-hm. urnxr dedicated tea:-n. -t1-1.11:; asam.un:rne-:r- at Gaxnp East-arr finals "‘U'i.rcgiz:tia in Craig Gotxmtty. VHF-cu hnvun ‘ far -::ai.z:r|g;:I- acxunsalm-rs » _ _ . - — 4 (axgun-Izics, riding, nuxsic, nnhmra, 3.21:3. rn»oxrsa}- flaunt, caniaaizt Deharah Dmszerkz at clciurerkxfiwra.-eaertuaxasealseczorn or at (6403 8k€6‘~d:-—-6:760- Visit aux vv4a2l.:m:i.te tn: ieazn how ‘yricaru -cart: rrtsskaee Ia. ciiffe-rence- vau‘varvwc..v'a-eat:s.taa>;:res:etals...¢aotn1. 0 ‘ZIP FINE LINGERIE Come See What ’s New in Town 21 W. Nelson St. 463-6963 Mon - Fri 10-5:30 Sat 10-5 “semper ubl sub ubi” itself amazingly resilient. Despite changing laws and regulations, we still partake in the same fundamental activities and despite the changing face behind the Colonnade, the real stuff that makes up our University has remained unchanged and will probably, based on the enlightening and reassuring comments of our forerunners, be there for us to make our pilgrimage to kneel before the tomb of Lee and walk in the shadows of white columns. So there’s hope yet, as my alumni friends indicated to me — because in their day, they too had the Phil Walotskies (sorry, Phil, I had to make it plural — I know how to spell it) v. the Dean Watkinses, and here we continue to wage that battle with the full knowledge — or hope — that we’re fighting the battle for show and we all understand that nobody, not nobody but Lee himself, could ever change this school from what it is and what Lee meant it to be. And while that would have been a good place to end, I have one more point. While we were discussing how rabid these Bysaabuckworlh FIHEHIJDKE What is there to say really? The school year is drawing to a close and some of my best friends are graduating. I’m excited for them and they’re going to some great places. They have also all made the foolish mistake of inviting me to come visit. They’re going to graduate schools and getting real adult jobs. In high school, graduation was always exciting, because everyone was going off to college and experiencing that first true sense of freedom. There was a sense of assurance that at the end of May everyone would come back " homeland swap all of their “awesome” stories about all the “awesome” parties they went to with all of their “awesome” new friends. Sadly, that adult world does not include summer vacation, nor does it mean everyone coming back to Big Lex at the end of the year. Thank goodness for cell phones. To be honest, I’m glad I have one more year before it’s my head on the chopping block, even though everyone I meet has started to ask what exactly alumni are, Lee Hollis and Barry Barlow (two of my table buddies) commented that when a graduate leaves W&L, it’s not just a piece of paper with a signature to hang up. We leave here as shareholders in this‘ fine institution — there will never be a point in our lives when we are not closely tied to the “cult” of W&L. When we return, it’s a check-up to ensure that Lee would smile upon our progress and call us Gentlemen (and women). Maggie Olgivie, class of ’97, added that it’s a part of our duty — a result of our honor code that is so drilled into us. As graduates, W&L is a part of us forever and the yearly journey to pay homage is also an acceptance of that responsibility to uphold and maintain the University as it has been and as it should be. And under the ‘watchful stone eyes of General Lee (and I shouldn’t neglect Washington) and the guiding hand of our friendly and rabid alumni, Washington and Lee will continue to battle itself to keep itself. And the odds there are pretty good ’ that W&L will come out on top. Farewell to class of 2005 I’m doing with the rest of my life. Telling them that I’m desperately waiting to get interviewed for my MRS degree doesn’t seem to suit (and if you know me that really is a joke). My mother’s face turns an interesting shade of white every time I mention social worker. My grandmother, is positive I was just kidding about not going to medical school, but sadly, I still don’t want to take the MCAT — or Organic for that matter. My father’s Christmas letter included a plea to all of his fraternity brothers to find me a job. The people in Career Services may get incredibly tired of me, but I’ll figure it out. Senior year looks to be exciting and it never hurts to be the oldest ones on the totem pole. Just think: Ihave successfully picked a major, managed to finish all of my GenEds without taking any classes I hated and could still write a thesis. I still get one more year of “playing” adult in my off campus house and attending class instead of a job from which I could get fired from for being 5 minutes late. Soto sum up: I am thankful to not yet have Senioritis as I am not yet a Senior and I am going to miss my dear friends a lot when they venture forth into that world that thankfully remains somewhat foreign to me. Position Announcement: Possible opening for an under- graduate admissions counselor The Washington and Lee Undergraduate Office of Admissions wishes to announce a possible open- ing for an Admissions Counselor. Responsibili— ties include extensive recruitment travel, con- ducting student interviews and group inforrna— tion sessions, and evaluating applications. Strong communications skills and demonstrated organizational abilities are expected. The suc- cessful candidate will be willing and able to work as part of a highly successful admissions team, yet will be capable of creative self—direction. Some evening and weekend work is necessary. Candidates should be willing to commit to two years in the position. Bachelor’s degree is required, as is a valid driver’s license. All interested candidatesshould submit a cover letter and resume, including two references. All materials should be sent to Jonathan Webster, Assoc. Dean of Admis- sions, Office of Admissions, Lexington, VA, 24450. )9, OCR::/Vol_108/WLURG39_RTP_20050523/WLURG39_RTP_20050523_003.2.txt ‘v ~ 4 1. >~ MONDAY, MAY 23, 2005 THE RING-TUM PHI 0 3 arts&|ile French p ay absurd, but charming By Dane Boston‘ STAFF WRITER Audiences Wednesday and Thursday nights were treated to a truly surreal experience. French 342 presentedgLe Jardin de délices by Fernando Arrabal and the two play series Jacques ou la Soumission and L’avenz'r est dans les ouefs by Eugene Ionesco. The plays took a brief glance into the development of French theatre after the discoveries of Sigmund Freud and amidst the confusion and moral bankruptcy felt by many young artists in the interim between the world wars. In the first play, Arrabal’s Le Jardin, an extraordinary cast of characters bring to symbolic life the desires and conflicts of the main character. Altemately played to perfection by Paten Hughes and Kathryn George (and in her childhood form by Maria Blackwell), the sensual, artistic Lais experiences a strong desire to break free from the constraints of her unique childhood. Lais was raised by nuns and oscillates between outright rebellion from their strict rules and a desire to reclaim her lost innocence. The rebellion manifests itself particularly clearly in Lais’s argument with God, during which she decides to follow her ambitions to fruition, and her innocence is brought to life by a helpless flock of sheep she must feed and defend. The outrageous panoply of characters that Lais confronts in her journey through life include the nun Miharca, played by Alex Mahoney, Zénon the malleable, gentle savage played by Robert Armstrong, and the enchanting prince—charming who carries his heart in a curio cabinet strapped to his chest, played by John Harcus. This exceptionally strong supporting cast makes more lucid the many abstract concepts communicated in the ‘play. Added to their numbers is the rotating corps of broadcasters and talk show hosts which embodies the empty consrunerism of the modern age. All three plays complement each other exquisitely, and were performed flawlessly. The accents of the actors and actresses convinced this very average French student, and the enthusiasm and confidence with which each and every participant played his or her part was refreshing. Bravo to the French 342 class and director Domnica Radulescu and hearty thanks for bringing a little absurdity to Washington and Lee. Orchardside Yarn Shop Knitting Specialty Shop 273 Raphlne Road Rapliine, VA 24472 540-348-5220 0 1-877-NIT-YARN Knitting cottage nestled along the creek which carries a fabulous selection of basic and novelty yarns, kits, needles and accessories. Customer service from start to finish with your projects. Mail order and Internet accessibility made easy. Callforworksliopszchssiilorrnation. Halfway between Lexington and Staunton On [-81 /I-64 at exit 205. Raphtne. 4rnc'les west on Route 606. Raphine KM [M/Ir/M a working farm that ojfcrs4J«PlCK" opportunities for fresh fmit when in season. lites -sat 10:00. 5:00, Wed until 8:00 mm By Emily Hulen LAYOUT EDITOR hough it may have taken the audience a while to get the hang of the Shakespeare- like dialogue, the cast of “The Tamer Tamed” had won the hearts (and, more importantly, the laughs) of every theatergoer by the end of the show. The play itself is a sexually charged and quick witted battle of the sexes, which ultimately allows the feminists to take the upper hand. At some point, the storyline becomes unbelievable — perhaps when all the women in the entire city revolt against their husbands? . The plot takes the same predictable twists over and over again and ends abruptly without much explanation as to the “why” and “how” that it all worked out. The director’s notes in the program request forgiveness for this ending, admitting the faults and arguing that “all’s well that ends well.” Sorry, but that just doesn’t offer much comfort after a less- than—satisfying wrap to the plot. Just the same, the show managed to keep us entertained with the ridiculous escapades that would have made you feel like a giddy child again, were it not for the strongly suggestive script. On the whole, the acting was convincing — I have no complaints‘-other ‘ that one or two need to lose the modern vocal inflections. Senior Victoria Stanham proved a perfect match for the strong-willed Maria, who manages to connect with the audience by putting everyone at ease and interacting freely with them. Her performance was full of surprises, and she earned every laugh with her exaggerated expressions. Charles Barbour, the tamed Petruchio himself, delivers another high- energy performance that has become typical of his roles so far this year. Dr. Jew and cast pull Off an amazing show that keeps us laughing A STEVEN MARINOS / F-Ho'ro Emma Rowland (Michael Wagoner) tries to win back the love of Livia (Ligia Abreu) after she takes up the feminist cause with other rebellious wenches in “The Tamer Tamed.” Ruth Esponda’s Bianca stands up well as the independent leader of the wenches, effortlessly offering the ideal amount of both poise and authority to the character. Ligia Abreu and Michael Wagoner play the forbidden lovers, who bring in an entirely new melodramatic aspect to what had until that point been mostly quick wit. It’s a well—timed shift that lets our brains rest a little and feeds us some cheap but gratifying laughs. But the collective castfs chemistry absolutely made the play. Every member of the audience could easily see the actors were enjoying themselves up there, especially in scenes where the women hold a revolution and resort to hurling fruit and pillows at the , men from the balcony high above. The details of costumes and props were meticulously designed, and the set was exquisite and quite convincing as a Venetian terrace, complete with a genuine fountain. Interesting choice of theater, too — at first, I was a little surprised they didn’t use the Keller for its size. But after seeing it, the Johnson proved an ideal choice for its versatility and intimacy, which aided the connection with the audience that the actors sought to achieve. Director Kimberly Jew presents this show as her directorial debut on the W&L stage. Her resume explains a lot — she’s got some notable experience under her belt, and it shows in her handiwork. At the same time, Jew should be commended for allowing her actors the freedom to take risks and liberties with their roles. They all seemed to come into their own for this performance, making the audience feel as comfortable during the show as the actors seem on the stage. I certainly recommend the show - definitely a success for Dr. Jew and the cast, which rescued a less-than—perfect script with a great set and outstanding chemistry. Catch the 8:00 p.m. performance in the Johnson theater at Lenfest on either Mon. May 23 or Tues. May 24. 3% CASH $$$ sss CASH sss $$$ CASH $$$ for the summer! End of year. ..last chance BOOK BUYBACK Cnsssssrosrs Lobby szos 5:t.ro ;;p.ns. was may 23*‘ '.s%::2ss.v sets May 2?“ Sat: "May 23*‘ {jl~{t:(}<} sari. fizififfi :;3.r3';._’j: Mess May El??? m:s..:. ’E7‘i.i"§3 May 3 lat .§§ls:?:::*eirse up an 5€.3%- faryesxr £«!饢‘3£§ Zs:3sr§£.sf ssesge tease» seiasoi §im*s'z more ans-eri sestsszf yszsr Washington. sad -§.$e&' §.%ssE*sessi‘ty Store ‘wisésesyms success’ ass" serge exams, east ewzgsatafestesssi as ass cites: of ‘$3 OCR::/Vol_108/WLURG39_RTP_20050523/WLURG39_RTP_20050523_004.2.txt THE RING-TUM PHI word ’MONDAY, MAY 23, 2005 A question or ByHughTrout THE FISHERMAN While this might be my last article and is the end of my freshman year, I refuse to write that “reflecting upon the year” article because anytime you stop and focus on the past you distract yourself from the far more important future. And I feel like the future holds a lot of great possibilities: flying cars, no more Star Wars films, and my own personal dream of Jéigermeister vending machines on street corners. W&L, despite the bitching from everyone (I am guilty of this about certain newly enacted policies as well, so I am not absolving myself from blame) about how the school is being destroyed, has a great deal of progress and improvement ahead. First off, because of a whole new and great season of informal rush will be here next fall, I will have another shot at finally proposing to the lead singer of Snackbar Jones and avoiding her boyfriend, who is also in the band. I feel like I have a lot to offer: young, good looking, and can make an amazing Easy Mac whenever she asks for it. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I also hope that maybe Fancy dress next year can have a better theme. In fact, if we are being truly candid, I think we should get rid of the actual event. This may seem like a horrible idea, but hear me out. Everyone ends up having way more fun at the pre-parties and post-parties, and the event itself is more a chore or obligation to go to legitirriize the whole formal attire and “fancy dress.” However, what if we all just pretended that fancy dress was happening but really never bothered to spend the money and throw the event? In other words, it could just be one of those things W&L people talk about but two for you don’t really do, like the speaking tradition. That way people wouldn’t feel guilty when they get blackout and don’t ever go. And the kind of stuff we could do with that money could be pretty cool (“Lexington, Virginia: Home of W&L and the largest slip-n—slide in the world.” Ever wanted to go hear a speaker at Lee Chapel but just didn’t have the energy to walk? Take the slip—n-slide). But beyond Fancy Dress’s future, we should call into question the future of other school traditions and institutions. What new buildings will be added to our lovely campus (may? I suggest a library that doesn’t make me feel as if I have been sent to prison every time I actually build up the dedication to read a book)? What message will be delivered to next year’s entering class as to what the true meaning of being a W&L student is? What will become of Jeb Brooks? All these questions loom in the back of the minds of every W&L student and offer great hope for making our amazingly sweet and radical school even doper. And most of all, let us all hope that just as the future may allow the United States to repair it’s image to the rest of the world and restore good relations, so too can W&L students convince townies not to hate us as much as they do, or at least not to try and gun me down in their cars. Actually, that only happened once, but it was one of those small cars that wouldn’t have killed me but just badly, badly wounded me which scares me even more. I might have broken a lot of bones, but I would have dominated that Dodge Neon if I didn’t have the cat-like reflexes that I do. Also, let us all pray for the future of the NHL because even though my home town just got its own baseball team, I need my fast and exciting hockey back. Well folks, that is about it for me. Thanks to everyone who helped make my year a good one and have a great summer and live the dream. Ever wanted to go hear a speaker at Lee Chapel but just didn’t have the energy to walk? Take the slip- n—slide. -~———— WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY THE R1No:i‘UM PHI. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR ASST. NEWS EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR ASST. OPINIONS EDITOR ASST. UHEEDITOR PHOTO EDITOR LAYOUT EDITOR BUSINESS MANAGER CIRCULATION DIRECTORS CDPY EDITORS Thefihg-tLmPhiwebornesaII TneFthg-t1nHv'spib|‘shedMaxlaysdinrigmemdergrad.atesdndyear atWasI‘u'ngtonaridl.eeUriversity,Lexington,\firg'I'\ia. n:eHngimPn1sanrernberoinaeMedaBoard,m/moticanbereachedai - medaboard@v\Au.ed.i,bt.itisoIhe4wiseindeperident Allsubmissionsmustbee-mailedtophi@wIu.eduorinIheUrtiversityCeriterr'r\aiboxby5p.m. Fridaytoappearinflriefoliovvhgweelcsedfion. fl1eFhT1g-mmfiiiresewastengttoedtstlxriissbrsbroaitataridlertgm. Lelteisandoolumnsdonotneoessarily refecttheopinionof TheFi'ng-turnPhiEdIIoriaI Board. Adverfisingdoesnotrefleottheopiniortsoflliefihg-axnPHorflsstafi. llisnevvspaperobseweswrrentowndefinifiovrsdbdandobsoenily. TheFhg-tunPh' Uriversityoorrrmns Room. 341 Washingonand Lee University Lex'r‘gtrx1,\/wg‘n'a2445O Telephone: (540)458-4060 Fax (540)458-4059 Ermi: phi@\Mu.edu Stbscfption rate$40 ERIN ELIZABETH JULIUS MARSHALL RULE KATHERINE SHELL CALEY ANDERSON ANNE FINLEY BREE MELTON STEVEN MARINOS EMILY HULEN DAVID SEIFERT YINYAN LI ROHAN POOJARA WOODROW FRIEND DAN MCMENAMIN AMANDA THOLKE VANESSA ARNESS An extra Early on campus By Kristine Early THE MILK AND CHEESE GIRL Most of you know that I’m not the first Early to attend Washington and Lee. What you may not know is that I’m not the first Early to write for the back page of the Ring Tum Phi either. There’s a reason they call me Early 2.0. See, my brother and I are pretty much carbon copies of each other. We’re both ridiculously good looking, smart, and witty (though I think I have an edge in all three categories). In celebration of alumni weekend, I have invited my brother to help me coauthor my last article of the year in Flav/Dub sty1e— only lproniise that it will make sense. So, Bryan, what’s it like to be back in LexVegas? I know you took your brothers down at the poker table last Tuesday night. Sure, eight dollars of your winnings came from my pocket, but at least we kept it in the family, eh? Well, spending a week back visiting W&L during Spring Term with literally nothing to do has been very reminiscent of what my previous Spring Terms had been like... only people are a lot nicer to you if they haven ’t seen you for a year. The disturbing twist has been that for all the times you had visited me at W&L during my four years, now I’m the one who is introduced to people as “Kristine Early’s brother. ” I’m not sure if it’s so much the continuance of a legacy or replacement of one for the other. Well, Bryan, what can I say? “I’m kind of a big deal. People know me.” I mean, besides my column I have the best radio show on WLUR. Too bad only three people listen. Bry, tell me, what’s the best thing about W & L? The beiruit toumeys? Oh, yeah. That’s right. I forgot. You lost to me last Wednesdaynight. Taken down by the lil’ sis. Shameful... If there is anything worse than losing to your little sister at beruit, it must be having to worry about your little sister going out, partying, and dating at W&L. I ’ve already gotten a few grey hairs—and I’m working on an ulcer. Fratty experiences were a lot more enjoyable when I was the living through/witnessing them then hearing them second-hand from or about my sister... Seriously, getting the call that your sister just broke your old fraternity ’s house record for the number of gold fish consumed in one evening (51!) is a veritable grab-bag of emotions.‘ bemusement, bewilderment, pride, fear, disbelief, anger, _ jealousy, embarrassment... About all you can do is shake your head. Dating? Does that take place at W&L? Casual hook—ups are definitely the way to go, Bry. Getting to know someone is way too much to ask. You should know that. You may not have been the Ultimate Frat Lord, but I hear you had game back in the day. Now that you’re an old geezer ' what do you thing of the frat/srat scene? Coming back and experiencing the “good ole days” made me realize that: 1) Your glory days can be imitated but never relived 2 ) It’s probably a lot better that way 3) It definitely would be a lot healthier not even to try. As for your other soul-cringing comments, I ’m sure that there are plenty of good-looking, intelligent, well- intentioned guys left at W&L—-even after Tim Smith decided to move on—that would be more than willing to escort you to box socials, poetry readings, and even the occasional demolition derby. Barring that, I ’m glad that you will be working with nuns this summer... perhaps a bit of their austerity will rub ofl on you. Man, I really am going to miss «sketchy dj parties this summer. Maybe I can get the nuns to live it large, take off their habits, and get down to “Like a Prayer.” That would definitely be a party worth hiring Party Pics for. Anyway, I think we’re running out of space, big bro. Before you do the honor of closing my last article of the ‘O4-‘O5 school year, I just want to give a shout out to all the seniors. Good luck, boys and girls. Don’t trip on the platform June 2"“. That would M be embarrassing... and very Early-like, don’t you think, Bry? After a year gone-by, I can tell that everybody that although post-college life is not nearly as fun or exciting, it has its own set of perks. .. I just can ’t think of any at the moment. As most of you already know, nobody who hasn’t been a part of W&L will ever understand your experience here. Take what was special, leave your regrets with the wadded-up bundle of clothing you lefi‘ at thejsteps of Newcomb when you streaked the Colonnade and let your fond memories guide you back whenever you need a refresher Well said, Bryan. You didn’t think I’d actually let you have the last word though, did you? Of course not. See, my brother and I are pretty much carbon copies of each other. We’re both ridiculously F good looking, smart, and witty. Going home to do list Breka reminds you what to do before you head home By Bree Melton and Eka Akpakip BREKA It’s the end of spring term, just one more week...so how are you going to spend your last couple of days on this campus before going off to your summer jobs? It had better be pretty dominant because you know Breka’s going to be living it up. We have high expectations for this campus. So here are our top ten things to do before the term is over. 10. Of course, there’s the quintessential “streak the Colonnade.” If you haven’t done that, well you just haven’t lived. If you need to change it up a bit, you can always streak the Ruins. But make sure the ground isn’t wet and security doesn’t catch you. Hiding naked in the bushes...well really would security actually chase a naked person? I mean, catching a naked person would require tackling...that’s just not a pleasant image. So go for it, in the dead of night or while the sun is still high, you only have a week left. What do you have to lose? 9. I don’t know if you got this from our previous article, but KISS A SENIOR. Kiss two, or five. . .two each day...they’ll be gone in a week. So if you’ve got that senior crush, now is the time to go for it. And really, they’re not going to complain! If you’re shy, you could just go for that sly smack on the toosh. Not as daring, but very enjoyable. And no, Joe Harouni, this is not just for you. But ladies, he’s always up for anything and plus — it’s easy to walk back home from Gaines. 8. Skip class. If you haven’t done it at all this year. . .well you have a problem. It’s called being a nerd. Redeem yourself. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and most of you are pretty pasty (special note from Eka, not all of us can have naturally dark skin) — so go get some sun! 7. Speaking of sun, where’s the perfect place to get some of those wonderful UV rays? Goshen, duh. If you haven’t yet been to this W&L pastime, you need to get yourself out there! Or to Panther Falls — House Mountain, even. Now is the time to enjoy the weather while celebrating nature and beer - the best combination ever. You might even want to take along that special—just-for-this- week someone. They could use some sun, too. 6. Haven’t found that special-just- for-this-week someone? Well, you could try a new frat. By this time in the year, you’ve established the places at which you like to hang out. You know the guys there really well, and most of them you probably wouldn’t hook up with. I mean, they’re ' practically your brothers. So now’s the time to branch out and check out a new frat. Or if the Greek scene isn’t your style, check out “THE SWEET.” They’re certified gangsta. 5. Wild card. This is your chance to be creative because, while you should take most of your cues from Breka, we want y’all to be individual and think for yourselves. It must be something crazy, maybe slightly dangerous, possibly even something that would make us raise our eyebrows - and that’s pretty intense". For instance, one of our friends went skydiving this weekend. While this is a little cliché, it’s still an adrenaline rush, and that counts. So be spontaneous and have some fun! 4. Another way to have some fun and achieve carnpus-wide renown is to join the Colonnade Club. You know what we mean...hook up in every building on the Colonnade. This is a bit more of a challenge than just streaking the Colonnade because it takes time and plarming - and a partner. Teamwork is key in achieving this goal. You may even want to have two partners so they can switch off, and no one will get tired. I mean, you might, but it will be well worth it. If the Colonnade isn’t your style, you could go for the Lenfest challenge. The most impossible challenge ever, but the theatre majors aren’t daunted. Of course, there is the Five-Star General. Less commonly known and soon to disappear as the new sorority makes its way onto campus. Any man that can join this elite group should be commended. If you want detail plans on how to accomplish this...ask Breka. While we’ve yet to accomplish it, (hinthint) we’ve thought it through. 3. We now command you to drink. Everyday, everywhere. I mean don’t feel pressured, it’s only a suggestion. And really, we’re not talking about alcohol. . .are we? Well maybe just a little. If there isn’t a lawn party, make your own. Case of beer plus grass equals lawn party. . It’s just that simple. 2. In this final week, one of the most important things to do is tie up loose ends. You don’t want to leave for the summer with clothes that aren’t yours and cell phone numbers you never use. So make room for summer clothes and numbers. You know I will. For example: that boy who you got with in the fall, but you never called? BALETED. (note: Strongbad reference). There are non—awkward and awkward ways to return clothing. One thing that is not suggested is to go into someone’s room, find them absent, then think it would be wise to lock the door, put porn on their computer, and attempt to run away. -This is not productive, but is ‘ entertaining. So. . . .what is the number one thing to do before this term ends? 1. BREKA. Heck yes, alot. Ifyou don’t know us, meet us. If you do know us, kiss us. You’ve wanted to all year, we know. Now is your chance. Special deal, one time only, and Eka won’t slap you. And if you’re lucky, there might be a Breka sandwich involved. And when we say Breka sandwich, we’re talking about hugging, of course. If you are daunted by these tasks, don’t worry, we too are yet to accomplish all of these things. What is most important is that you try. But if someone does accomplish all of our top ten, we will be happy to share a cold one with you. After all, a one that is not cold is scarcely a one at ,>~