OCR::/Vol_110/WLURG39_RTP_20070212/WLURG39_RTP_20070212_001.2.txt Wrestling wins again Team gets ready for Saturday's Centennial Conference Championships. -- Page 10 WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY HE RNG-=1‘ B‘! TH£ 3TElU£R‘l'3 Alli} $03 THE »S‘l:'UD%EfiI3- SHIGE 139? State d e bates MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2007 VOLUME cx, Numarnxf ;’3 Virginia Sen ate passes bill to ban smoking in public buildings, but decision will rest with the House smoking ban By Wes O’Dell STAFF WRITER Waffle House may soon lose one of its defining characteristics: the smoke. As will the Palms, Malones and virtually every other “enclosed space frequented by the public” if a bill making its way through the Virginia General As- sembly musters the votes it needs to become law. On Feb. 5, the Virginia State Senate approved SB l16l—The Smoke Free Air Act. Sponsored by J. Brandon Bell 11 (R), the act aims to forbid smoking in any building used by the public. According to the General Assembly's Legislative Infor- mation System, the bill would exempt privately owned homes, residences and automobiles as well as certain hotel rooms and tobacco-related business. The bill will now go to the House for con- sideration. Sen. Bell represents the 22nd Senate District, which is south of Lexington and includes all of B0- tetourt County, all of the Cities of Radford and Salem and parts of Montgomery and Roanoke Coun- ties. According to his website, the senator believes “all workers have the right to breathe clean air. Secondhand smoke is not just an annoyance. It is dangerous... While I respect the right of pri- vate business to make their own choices, the public health con- cerns are substantial and must be addressed.” _ Bell is no stranger to public health issues; according to vapap. org, a website tracking money in Virginia politics, the healthcare industry has contributed more money than any other industry to the “Bell for Senate” campaign in the current cycle. If passed, this bill could have a significant effect on commerce at the local level, as it would effec- tively outlaw smoking sections in restaurants and bars. Cindy Campbell, President and General Manager of The Palms restaurant, would actually welcome the change. “I’d love for it to pass,” she said. She pointed out that the major- ity of The Palms is non-smoking already (70 percent non-smok- ing), and that the restaurant often has a full non-smoking section and an empty smoking section. Campbell attributes this in large part to a decrease in the number of students that smoke, particularly law students. She also believes the bills passage would allow her to en- sure a healthy atmosphere for her staff, customers and herself while providing a “level playing field” so The Palms would not be at a competitive disadvantage by go- ing smoke-free. Virginia considers joining other states with smoking bans : smoking laws across the nation: smoking smoking Statelaws banning _ Loca|_|aws banning r, . The ban would likely change little at W&L; university tobacco policies already forbid smoking indoors. for fraternity houses, University General Counsel Le- anne Shank indicated the “private residences" exemption seems to exclude them. Of course, the bill must still overcome a long history of oppo- sition in the House from commer- cial interests such as the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Associa- tion and the Virginia tobacco in- ClllSl1'_V. A similar bill in the pre- vious session died in a House subconnnittee after achieving Senate approval. The bill received two additional votes this year. The Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Connnerce declined to take a position on the issue and indicated that the State Chamber has not taken a stance either. Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine (D) has expressed opposi- tion to the bill, citing its provi- sions as overly broad. He instead supports a narrow- er ban for restaurants and other offenses. proposed smoking ban: - Would forbid smoking in buildings or enclosed areas used by the public. - Exceptions would be made for private homes. residences. automobiles and . home—based businesses. - Specialty tobacco stores and tobacco manufacturers would also be exempt. - Smoking in a prohibited area is punishable by a $100 fine for a first offense and a $250 fine for subsequent public facilities. Kaine himself recently signed an order prohibit- ing smoking in all state govem- ment offices, common areas and vehicles occupied by the execu- tive branch. The bill is currently awaiting hearings in a House subcommit- tee dealing with alcohol and gain- bling. Mock Trial preps for nationals Two squadsfirom W&L is three—year—old team will compete in March at nationals in Minneapolis By Sacha Raab STAFF WRITER hile most of the Wash- ington and Lee com- munity is preparing for midtenns and trying to make it through the long and dreary winter term, the Mock Trial team is intensifying its practices in preparation for Nationals, its larg- est competition thus far. The weekend of March 17, while fraternities and sororities are organizing St. Patrick’s Day parties, two of W&L’s Mock Trial teams will be heading to Minne- apolis, Minn. to compete against some of the best teams in the na- tion. Team A, captained by David Mitchell, is comprised of Eugina Huang, Thadeous Larkin, Pearse Davidson, Sarah Atkinson, Erin Coltrera and Bill Larson. Walker Humphrey is captain of Team B, which includes Chris- tine Giordano, Emily Lurie, Andy Budzinski, Dane Davis, Emily DeVoe, Alex Caritis and Kelly Bundy. At the start of fall term, the teams laid the groundwork for the case of the year and practiced about two times per week. Each practice lasts approximately two hours and takes place at the Law School. Afier going over the case, theo- ries and themes, the team decided on witnesses and began practic- ing cross-examinations and direct questioning. Finally, the teams rehearsed the actual case. The teams now focus on one or two aspects of the trial, choos- ing from openings, closings, di- “7 he greatest diflerence between National and Regional competition is that there are no bad teams there. The deadwood s been cutaway. ” DAVID GREENE, Mock Trial Assistant Coach rect questioning or cross-exami- nations. By this point in the year, they are primarily fine-tuningtheir work and increasing the depth of their cross-examinations. With Nationals looming ahead, their practices are becom- ing more intense and focused. ‘The coach and assistant coaches work with the team on improving their adaptability to a more so- phisticated case, which they will likely see during the competition in Minneapolis. David Greene, an assistant coach who graduated from the University of Tennessee and is in his third year at the W&L law school, said, “The greatest differ- ence between National and Re- gional competition is that there are no bad teams there. The dead- wood’s been cutaway.” Sophomore Allie Zeger, who attended Nationals last year, talk- ed about competing. “My favorite part of competi- tion is seeing how well the team works together,” Zeger said. “Everybody is very excited and works very hard. People really step up their performances and come through for the team.” The greatest challenge the teams will face at Nationals con- cerns case changes. One or two witnesses will be added to the case, which will result in more facts. These could either slightly or greatly affect the case. There are two levels within Nationals. The top two or three teams in regional competition go straight to Gold Nationals, which takes place in St. Petersburg, Florida in early April. The top six or so teams go to Silver Nationals. Silver Nation- als takes placein Minneapolis and in Chicago in March. The highest placing teams in Silver Nationals will then go on to Gold Nationals. Mitchell and Greene discussed their goals for the competition in Minneapolis. They plan on attempting to qualify for Gold Nationals. While qualifying for Silver Nationals is impressive, making it to St. Peteisburg would greatly raise the team ’s stature. Greene said about the teams: “I’m pretty proud of them. I’m optimistic for the upcoming com- petition, because we have a lot of people on the teams who have been doing this for the past three years. I’m even more optimistic for the future, because the team is heavily populated by freshmen and sophomores, and we have some very bright people.” OCR::/Vol_110/WLURG39_RTP_20070212/WLURG39_RTP_20070212_002.2.txt ., , . .it-avitsaaia-““fi£i£ uwvire-W 0 VA -24450 )FEB 14 turn 2 ' THE RING-TUM PHI MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2007 ll BWS An Amer . ’ 1CaI1 1I1 China . Washington Post reporter John Pomfret will discuss China and his time there as a reporter By Dane Davls STAFF WRITER he Washington and Lee I community will host dis- tinguished author and Washington Post reporter John Pomfret on Feb. 27. His sched- uled talk is titled “Chinese Les- sons” and will detail his seven years as a reporter working in China. Pomfret will explore and dis- cuss themes presented in his re- cently published book “Chinese Lessons: An American, Five Classmates and the Story of the New China.” The book is an account of his lengthy stay in China and the inti- mate relationships he formed with individuals from almost every section of Chinese society. “Chinese Lessons” has earned widespread acclaim from the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and other major reviewers. Pomfret has long-standing ex- perience with journalism and Chi- ‘:7-~ ‘‘[Modern China] is all money orientea’. People can get houses; they can virtually 1 get anything here. ’ HONGCHU FU, Associate Professor of East Asian Languages and Literature na. Aside from being Los Angeles Bureau Chief for The Washington Post, Pomfret has over fifteen years of journalistic experience. He has covered the 1989 Tianan- men Square protests and conflicts in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Congo, Sri Lanka, Iraq, southwestern Turkey and northeastern Iran. The talk will relate his expe- riences in China to the country’s changing role in the world of eco- nomics and politics. Hongchu Fu, Associate Pro- fessor of East Asian Languages and Literature, said that China today has overwhelmingly em- braced capitalism and Western culture. Fu goes said that modern Chi- na “is all money oriented. People can get houses; they can virtually get anything here.” This is a radical change from the widespread poverty that en- trenched China for most of the twentieth century. During the 1900s China fought a long and bloody war with Japan before and during World War II. The country then fought a civ- il war that led to the communist takeover in 1949. The government has allowed 0 more freedom in recent years, but the press is still tightly regulated. Fu said, “Everywhere you go, you can see traditional Chinese architecture being replaced by Western buildings.” This radical transformation of China from a developing country to an emerging world power has created conflicts between Chinese culture and Western culture. Fu' cites the example of the Forbid- den City, preserved and ofi‘-limits to the general public for hundreds of years. Now the palace complex is open to tourists and is the home of a Starbucks. It is within this context Pomfret wrote “Chinese Lessons.” The story begins with his years as a student at Nanjing University in ‘ the early 1980s. While at Nanjing University, he met and befriend- ed people that later became Red Guards, villagers, businessmen, and dissidents. Characters in Pomfret’s book include “Idiot Zhou, the widow Little Guan, the sad sack Old Wu, the feckless dissident Daybreak Song, and Party apparatchik Big Bluffer Ye.” Mr. Pomfret will also visit classes during his stay. comlng to campus: Who: John Pomfret, the Los Angeles Bureau Chief for The Washington Post and author of the recently published book . “Chinese Lessons: An American, Five Classmates and the Story of the New China.” When: February 27 at 4:30 P.M. Where: Stackhouse The- ater of the John W. Elrod University Commons What: China's new soci- ety and its role in today's world ,2; 5 l’oi2:g.' L":-"'.’.-1.! SUIDIHET GCOI GETOWI1 UHIVCRSITY et ahead by enrolling in Summer School 2007 at Georgetown University. Choose from over 300 courses and learn from the world's foremost faculty. Network and enjoy exclusive Washington access available only to Georgetown University students. You've had enough ordinary summer breaks. This year, aspire higher. Enroll in Summer School 2007 at Georgetown University. Visit summerschool.georgetown.edu or call 202.687.8700 OCR::/Vol_110/WLURG39_RTP_20070212/WLURG39_RTP_20070212_003.2.txt MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2007 THE RING-TUM PHI 0 3 , Looking for a new view A local resident encourages the university to restore downtown Lexington is view of the Colonnade @ By Jacob Geiger MANAGING EDITOR s Washington and Lee prepares its new Master Plan, at least one local resident wants the plan to improve views of the historic Colonnade. William de Laat moved to Lexington six months ago after he retired from a job at the Ca- nadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. He first learned about the master plan during a presentation by Joe Grasso, W&L’s Vice Presi- dent for Administration and one of the principal designers of the proposed plans. “As an outsider I probably see things differently than some- one who has lived here for a long time,” de Laat said. Some people feel the wall is a nice border to the campus; other people think it means ‘keep out. ” JOE GRASSO, Vlce-President of Administration De Laat’s main concern with the plan was an initial proposal to build new buildings at the cor- ner of Washington and Jefferson streets. Grasso said W&L has backed away from any plan to build on that comer, but de Laat still hopes the university will find a way to partially clear the views from that comer and make the Colonnade visible from downtown Lexing- ton. ' Grasso said the current ver- sion of the master plan calls for the corral parking lot to remain in place. “As a newcomer — a prospec- tive student, parents or tourists — you come into town and there is really no formal entrance to the campus,” de Laat said. “While the Lee Chapel Me- morial entrance is attractive, it doesn’t draw one’s eyes to the Colonnade and great lawn,” de Laat said in an open letter to Gras- so and President Ken Ruscio. In his letter, de Laat outlined several several other suggestions that he said would make the cam- pus more accessible to visitors as well as create a dramatic view of the Colonnade. His first proposal is to remove the red brick wall currently running along Jefferson and Washington streets. De Laat also suggested that the school remove the Red House, which currently houses most of the East Asian Studies depart- ment, as well as some of the trees and parking lots around the cor- ner in question. He suggested replacing the lost parking with an underground garage at the comer of Washing- ton and Jefferson. That garage, he said in his let- ter, could then have an open park or plaza built on top that would help create a sweeping view of the Colonnade from downtown Lexington. “The general idea is that this be open and accessible to the city instead of walled off, because it is walled off now,” de Laat said. “To preserve not just those build- -ings but the view of them would be great.” Grasso said the Board of Trust- ees just approved the proposed lo- cation for a new Center for Jewish Life. That building will be built on Washington Street right next to R.E. Lee Episcopal Church. Fundraising will begin soon for that project. While Grasso said the board has approved some parts of the plan, the entire proposal will not be approved until the May board meeting. He did say that the school was continuing to study proposals along Jefferson Street and for the corner in question. “We don’t know what we should do with the [brick] wall,” JACOB GEIGER / Manging Editor Though downtown Lexington used to have a’ sweeping vlew of the Colonnade, that vlew Is now largely blocked by trees In the corral parking lot. The brlck wall at the corner of Washington and Jefferson was bullt In the 19905. Grasso said. “Some people feel the wall is a nice border to the campus; other people think it means ‘keep out.”’ Grasso said he believes the brick wall was built during the early 1990s, when John Wilson was president of W&L. In a letter that will run in the Rockbridge Weekly, Grasso agreed with de Laat’s suggestion that the school work with Lexing- ton to improve the views along Jefferson Street. Grasso’s letter said that placing utilities under- ground and improving surround- ing sidewalks would “be long term investments in the attractive- ness of downtown Lexington.” De Laat said that while much of the master plan is still under consideration, he wanted the school to at least consider the concept of a formal entrance to the school. “People, when they think about the school’s mission, rightly thing of the academic requirements of the university,” de Laat said. “But when you’re in a small city and custodians of a National His- toric Site, it’s incumbent on you to consider other factors » and I know that the school does.” “ALUMNl IN Residence" SERIES Psychology in the Workplace Exp/are your dream job(s): A. C'//’m'ca/ psycho/og/‘st 3. FBI agem‘ CI Forensic psycho/og/st D. 6'5I extra Bernie Lewis, PhD Clinical and Forensic Psychologist W&L Psychology Graduate Wednesday, February 14, 2007 Individual Meetings with Students 10:00 a.m. — Noon Informal Lunch and Conversation 12:15 — 1:15 p.m. Commons 206 Sign up required Contact Career Services, x8595 Sponsored by W&L Career Services and the Psychology Department With support from the Class of '65 Endowment for Excellence in Teaching If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It. The l9est—loi/ed Valentines Day gifts are waiting for you at The Iefiferson. florist @ garden Sorority Pillows, Ribbons, Key chains, Coozies, Fresh Flowers, Gift Baskets, Live Plants and Great Gift Ideas—Under one Roof. Call, Click, or Come in and see us today 540.463.9841 603 North Lee Highway, Lexington,VA 24450 email: thejefferson@adelphia.net what the Master Plan calls for: Here Is what W&L ls conslderlng for the corner of Washington and Jefferson streets: - A new Center for Jewish Life (the Hillel House) on Washington Street next to R.E. Lee Episcopal Church. The Board of Trustees has approved the site for the building and fundraising will begin soon. - Preserve the current parking lot that is located behind the brick wall. - A new admissions building on the current site of the Red House. This proposal, even if approved, would probably not happen for several years. $$$$ EASY MONEY $$$$ I will pay $40 for your phone book Call Lee Ramsey toll free 1-866-577-7237 www.thejeffersonfloristandgarden.com Honeydew C?j§2Jt}fi£-(s~[{a'€?/ Panties Buy 2-Get I Free A] V reg. $12~$I4 each “NE ‘~‘”GE*“E 21W.NelsonSt. 463-6963 Mon ~ Fri 10-5130 Sat 10-5 “semper ubi sub ubi " Welcome Back OCR::/Vol_110/WLURG39_RTP_20070212/WLURG39_RTP_20070212_004.2.txt 4 0 THE RING-TUM PHI MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12,2007 IIIIIIIIIIIIS lettertotheeditor Venezuela article lacks some context Arguments against Venezuela is leader poor: unbalanced , comments and concerns about Abel Delgado’s article “The Demise of Democracy.” First let me begin by saying that, in general, I felt that the article was in some ways vague, at one point unfair/incorrect and overall tended to misrepresent and misunderstand a large portion of many of Venezuela’s issues. A few points: I just thought I’d offer a few 1. In reference to the line, “giving the dictator, I mean presi- dent”, Chavez is the democrati- cally elected leader of his coun- try. He was elected in what were deemed to be fair elections, which represented the majority will of the people. Yes, his actions have made the form of government more author- itarian, but he is not a dictator. 2. The classification of Ven- ezuela as “the birthplace of the new and improved militant left” is incorrect, mostly because Chavez’s government is not a military regime. The military does have a role in carrying out social programs but the government itself is inde- pendent of the military and in no way involves itself in governmen- tal or political affairs. 2.5 A few small points on the paragraph about nationalizing the entire energy sector. How does this paragraph at all present evidence that the policy it- self is not meant to help the poor. Bringing industries under state control is usually done as some part of a larger redistribution of wealth across the country, largely intended to help the poor. Despite this point, yes, Chavez’s policies have done little to help the poor, but the overall argument made as to why is poor. 3. With respect to the follow- ing; “He has continually meddled in other Latin American elec- tions.” This is referring to exactly what election, when, where? Is it referring to Chavez been a vocal supporting of other lefiist leaders or candidates in the re- gion, much the same way a Presi- dent here might throw his weight behind his preferred candidate? Or is it possible referring to the Nicaraguan election where former leftist Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega was fairly and freely elected by the‘ people of his country, and whom Chavez con- gratulated on the victory. 4. I would like to see where the author got his information on Chavez calling for “a unified Lat- in American military similar to NATO, only under his control.” What I do know is that [the fol- lowing is taken from the website www.cfr.org/publication/11285/ hugo_chavezs_world_tour.htrnl] Chavez has called for the spread of what he calls a “Bolivarian Revolution.” This would be the uniting of Latin America under a unified system similar to that of the Eu- ropean Union. That union however, is found- .............................................................. .. WASHWGTON AND LEEUMVERSITY THE RING—TUM PHI. EXECUTIVE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR ARTS&LIFE EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR COPY EDITOR STAFF WRITERS DESIGN EDITOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS BUSINESS MANAGER MISSION STATEMENT: It is the mission of THE RING-TUM PHI to accurately, truthfully, and thoroughly report news affecting the Washington and Lee community for students. faculty, parents and alumni. Our goal is to look deeper into news affecting campus life and hold leaders accountable. Through our reporting, we aspire to spark discussions that lead to discovering information that prompts change. THE RING—TUM PHI is published Mondays during the undergraduate school year. THE RING—TUM PHI is a member of The Media Board, which can be reached at mediaboard@w|u.edu, but is otherwise independent.THE RING—TUM PHI welcomes all letters. We reserve the right to edit submissions for content and length. Letters and advertising do not necessarily reflect the opinion of THE RING—TUM PHI staff. This newspaper observes current court definitions of libel and obscenity. THE RING-TUM PHI UNIVERSITY COMMONS ROOM. 341 WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA 24450 TELEPHONE: (540) 458-4060 FAX: (540)458-4059 EMAIL: PH|@WLU.EDU SUBSCRIPTION RATE $45 KATHERINE GREENE JACOB GEIGER STACEY GRIJALVA JESSICA SHAW MIKE FAHEYV CATHERINE CARLOCK CODY BEAUCHAMP DANE DAVIS BRIAN DEVINE MADELINE GENT MICHAEL HUNTRESS MICHAEL KEENAN ADAM LEWIS ABRI NELSON WES O’DELL EMILY PECK SACHA RAAB RUSS WEEMS QUEENIE WONG MELISSA CARON MICHAEL KEENAN MORGAN HARRIS DAVID SHUBICK 4 ed more so on the basic of eco- nomic power and not on military alliances or groups. In order to conclude I would like to add another point or two. The proportion to which the Venezuelan “threat” is expounded and presented in this article is flawed and unbalanced. And finally, if you are going to examine Chavez’s influence in or threat to region, you have to look at his actions and policies within a broader Latin American context. The leftist movements are split into two. To quote Jorge G. Castaneda “One is modern, open-minded, re- formist, and intemationalist, and it springs, paradoxically, from the hard-core left of the past. The other, born of the great tradition of Latin American popu- lism, is nationalist, strident, and close-minded.” (www.foreignaffairs.org/ 2006050lfaessay85302/jorge-g- castaneda/latin-america-s—lefi-« tum.htrnl). It is to this second group that Chavez belongs, but understand- ing the affects inside and outside of Venezuela would be hard with- out a deeper understanding of the roots of his and other leftist movements in Latin America. I appreciate you listening to my comments and concerns and please feel free to contact me if you wish. Joshua Gonzalez It has been another busy week for the W&L rumor mill. As the Inter-Fratemity ' Council launches another in- vestigation of pledgeship — or New Member Education, as the school would like it to be called — rumors are flying. In the span of one or two hours, fratemities have been convicted then exonerated, kicked off campus and then rehabilitated. The IFC and school ad- ministration probably can’t work that fast, but the rumor mill can. Which fraternities were under investigation? All of them? Just a few? . The rumor mill keeps try- ing to answer these questions, but a different answer comes around every hour. Everyone claims to have heard — directly from a reli- able friend on the IFC, of course — exactly who will be punished and who is in the clear. Butinstead of keeping stu- dents informed of the devel- oping events, the IF C sent out yet another broadcast e-mail that essentially says nothing other than “everyone be good and behave yourselves.” feditorial IFC must silence rumors with facts Public disclosure can put a stop to wild rumors W&L’s hazing policies seem relatively straightfor- ward, but their enforcement is anything but clear. Who does handle enforcement and disciplinary issues? The IFC or the Student Affairs Com- mittee? During our last issue we used this same space to dis- cuss how the school could build and maintain strong relationships with the student media. We said that the ad- ministration usually does a good job of maintaining open lines of communication. And while what we said is still true, it is disappointing that the school has not chosen to be more open about the on- going investigations. The recent IFC investiga- tions are far more important that school-press relations. These recent meetings could decide the fate of entire fra- ternities and the people — both brothers and pledges — who belong to them. They could decide if sophomores will stay in their houses or be forced to move out. They will determine if freshmen have been go- ing through a legitimate new member education or inap- propriate hazing. When the stakes are this high, should the rumor mill be allowed to rule? The IFC is wielding con- siderable power right now, and with that power comes a responsibility to provide in- formation about the ongoing cases. The council does not need to release its preliminary investigations, but it should move quickly to release its ultimate findings. In a perfect world the IFC would have more time to con- duct its investigations before taking action, but W&L is not always a perfect world. Since rumors are going to keep swirling, the IFC must pro- vide some facts to the entire community. If sanctions are going to be handed out, they should be publicly announced, not simply delivered to the presi- dent of a house. If a house is investigated and found inno- cent, that should also be an- nounced. With a few simple e-mails, the IFC can push the rumor mill into the background and let facts rule the discussion. Enough whispering. Share the facts. - vaccine pushessex Texas governor has mandated the HPVvaccine for female sixth—graders By Cody Beauchamp coLu M NIST On Feb. 3, Texas Governor Rick Perry issued an executive or- der that will require Texas school- girls to get vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually-transmitted virus that has been shown to cause cervical cancer. Perry, Bush’s hand-picked suc- cessor as governor of Texas—and one of the staunchest of conser- vatives—sidestepped the Repub- lican-controlled legislature with the use of the executive order. In doing so, he sidestepped conservative religious and par- enting groups that would have certainly protested had the issue been given a chance to be debated on the floor of the statehouse. In other words, Perry decided to ignore powerful religious con- servatives and implement a law that will greatly reduce a deadly STI’s prevalence in the second most populated state in America. Attaboy, Rick! Let me say this—-norrnally I’m not much of a Perry fan. As much as I abhor the man as president, I’ll admit that Perry’s predecessor (a little-known “decider” named George Bush) really was a good governor. No, really. Perry, on the other hand, is an- other story. On his watch, multiple special sessions of the Texas legislature have failed to reach any good solution to a critically important school finance debate (namely, for all you non-Texans, “how the According to critics, immunizing Texas girls against ST Is will some- how increase promiscuity. heck are we going to pay for our schools?”). He has used his veto power a record number of times for a Texas governor. He has been criticized nonstop in the state for being very partisan. He is not, normally, the kind of guy who disagrees with Texas’ (many, many, many) reli- gious conservatives. Yet, in a bold move, Perry or- dered the HPV vaccinations. What’s bold is he did it by way of executive order, meaning that the powerful religious con- servative groups that would have torpedoed any bill mandating vaccinations had it gone through the legislature had no say in the process. Thanks, Rick. The arguments of the religious conservatives against the vac- cinations are pretty lackluster to begin with. Supposedly, accord- ing to critics, immunizing Texas girls against STIs will somehow increase promiscuity and the like- lihood they will have sex. However, the vaccinations as Perry ordered them will be given predominantly to ll- and 12-year- old girls. I highly doubt that most 11- or 12-year old girls are think- ing seriously about sex. 0 If they are (I can’t really as- certain that information without asking some Christopher Walken- level creepy questions), I can promise you very, very, few boys their age are. So, while the vac- cines may put the thought into their heads, most won’t be able act on it until another few years, by which time sex is on the mind anyway. Another argument critics of the HPV vaccination have is that ordering the vaccine eliminates parents from the picture, takes away a choice they have in how to raise their children. Fine, I’ll concede that manda- tory vaccination does that. But, why then is no one crying foul over mandatory polio shots? How about whooping cough vaccines? Measles? Mumps? There’s a battery of vaccina- tions that most parents are willing to allow their children to receive because they know that getting the vaccinations will protect their children against horrible diseas- es. When they were mandated, the vaccines fought what were very real threats to public health, and the vaccination campaigns have put real dents in the prevalence of all the illnesses. Why, then, are we so scared to fight an STI in the same way we’ve fought any of the above diseases? The answer can be broken down into three letters — “s,” “e,” and “x.” Texas religious conser- vatives don’t like talking openly about sex. They don’t want their children to know anything about it, other than that it’s one of the most hor- rible decisions you can make, un- less you’re making it with a ring ’ on your finger and to the love oi your life. As a Methodist by birth, a Baptist by faith, and the native 01 a pretty zealously religious town, I understand that argument. I don’t entirely agree, but 1 un- derstand. But for the good of society, I’m glad that Perry-—another re- ligiously-raised, small—town Tex- an—decided to grow up and face the music. Much to the dismay of faith- ful Christians, people have sex out of wedlock; girls having sex can contract a life-threatening vi- rus; there is a vaccine available that could prevent almost all girls from contracting HPV. Perry, as governor of Texas, went against his staunchest politi- cal supporters and even his own extremely conservative personal faith. He did the practical and prag- matic thing, and likely will save many Texas girls from HPV. Maybe he’s not so bad after ‘ all. OCR::/Vol_110/WLURG39_RTP_20070212/WLURG39_RTP_20070212_005.2.txt MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2007 arts&life Senior Lauren Kampf and sophomore Tabitha King shower junior William Holliday with affection in W&L’ v .«...w‘-‘ Oscar Madison, played byjunior William Holliday, and Felix Unger, played byjunior Charles Bar- bour, engage in comical dialogue (left). Sopho- more Tabitha King captures her audience with her dramatic expressions (above). This theater department production of Oscar and Felix was performed last Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Photos by Morgan Harris By Emily Peck STAFF WRITER “Oscar and Felix” presented a delightful version ofNeil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” last weekend in the Lenfest Center. The play successfully captured the hilarity of two opposites forced to live under the same roof, keeping the audience laughing until the last applause. The cast portrayed the time- less characters of Simon’s comic genius well. Noticeable among the performances was senior Lauren Kampf’s Ynez, the Sexy Spaniard who flirts with Oscar and Felix. Everything in Kampf’s delivery was top notch, from her Spanish accent to her over-the- top boisterous behavior. The highlight of the evening undoubtedly was junior Wil- liam Holliday’s portrayal of neat freak Felix Unger set against ju- nior Charles Barbour’s depiction of slob Oscar Madison. Holliday superbly embodied the prim and prissy Felix, never breaking form and delivering his lines with a humor and believ- ability that would have done Si- mon proud. Barbour played the gruff, good-for-nothing Oscar with a charisma and comedy that really made his character come to life. According to Barbour, the best thing about being part of a cast of such timeless characters is Neil Simon’s hilarity.The play also excelled in highlight- ing the subtle themes of Simon’s THE RING-TUM PHI ' Performers dazzle audiences in Lenfest Center with comical presentation of Simon classic work. The “new look” at the Odd Couple drew attention to issues of sexuality and society’s no- tions about them. This added to the comedy while also question- ing the themes of Simon’s play. The actors did a good job of layering their roles, adding a meaningfiil tone to the humor of Oscar and Felix’s dysfunctional relationship. Attention to these details of the comedy made the show truly satisfying. Such a fantastic production of a classic speaks to the quality of Washington and Lee’s theater program, a program which often gets overlooked in the myriad of other disciplines offered at W&L. “The W&L theater department has grown tremendously. More and more people are getting in- volved, and the faculty treats you like family,” Barbour said. “It’s an unusual experience because the department sees every side of you - not just the good tidy student go-to-class smile and drink coffee side - but also the messed up hair, pissed off and I’m about to go mental side. But they still put up with you. It’s a beautiful thing,” Bar- bour continued The beauty of the students’ commitment to theater and their talents was indeed evidenced in their outstanding production of the play. Overall, the show was received well by the crowd and was a pleasure to watch the whole way through. What a way to spend a Friday evening. MORAN HARRIS / Staff Photographer s performance of Neil Simon’s classic comedy last weekend. OCR::/Vol_110/WLURG39_RTP_20070212/WLURG39_RTP_20070212_006.2.txt 8 0 THE RING-TUM PHI arts&liie MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2007 Clubs venture nationwide Several students will spend Feb. break serving impoverished or exploring exotic wildlife By Queenie Wong STAFF WRITER For one week, members of the Nabors Service League, Bon- ner Leaders Program and Outing Club will venture into different worlds. Away from the familiar Lacoste polo shirts and blue blaz- ers of this campus, each club will kick off its Washington Break by tackling issues ranging from homelessness to surviving in the Wilderness. The NSL will travel to Houston, Texas; the Bonner Leaders Program to Immokalee, Florida; and the Outing Club to Everglades, Florida. The NSL started organizing its trip alter a Washington and Lee alumnus working for Teach for America in New Orleans moved to Houston, said Micaela Coffey, NSL’s Alternative Breaks Chair. Following ‘Hurricane Katrina, the alum asked for help on the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) school that was granted an emergency charter after the hurricane. NSL, which is sending 15 stu- dents on the trip, will work with SEARCH, a nonprofit organiza- tion helping 14,000 of Houston’s homeless, Coffey said. The Hous- ton Alumni Association is spon- soring the trip. “It’s so comforting, as a stu- dent, to see how generous the W&L alums are,” Colfey said. “That they care so much about current students means a lot to me and is yet another reason that I’m proud to be a W&L student.” NSL is holding a fundraiser this Thursday at Frank’s from 5- 10 p.m. 20 percent of the restau- rant’s profits will go towards the $100 fee for the Houston trip, said Sonia Siu, NSL’s General Chair. While the NSL helps the home- less, 11 first-year Bonner leaders will be tackling a different issue: rural poverty. Immokalee, Florida is an agricultural district which functions as a hub for low wage workers, said Bonner Leader Pro- gram Director Sandra Hayslette.- “This trip humanizes the is- sue of poverty and low wages by coming face to face with these problems,” she said. According to Hayslette, the trip contains both a community service and educational aspect. The leaders will perform services ranging from helping Harvest for Humanity create affordable hous- ing to talking to the Rural Legal Service and the Coalition of Im- mokalee Workers. Hayslette es- timates that Bonner leaders will accomplish at least eight hours of community service each day. She also hopes, following the trip, that leaders will be able to analyze and compare their lives to the lives of Immokalee residents. “I think one thing students will get from this trip is a lot of food for thought—no pun intended,” she said. Because the trip is fully spon- sored by the Bonner Foundation, participants will be staying at the Immokalee Friendship House, a homeless shelter, where they will share meals and converse with residents. This is the first time the Bon- ner Leaders Program created a trip for first-year members. In another part of Florida, the Everglades, 13 Outing Club mem- bers will find themselves kayak- ing through mangrove islands and camping on beaches, Outing Club Director James Dick said. This is the 13th year the Outing Club has participated in this trip. “I figured it’s a chance to learn something new and get away from all the cliche trips and vacations,” said sophomore Allison Gionta, who is attending the trip. According to Dick, the partici- pants will cook their own meals and carry their own kayak gear. They will also have a former park ranger and a commercial fisher- man guiding them throughout the America’s #1 law school for trial advocacy is in sunny Tampa Bay, Florida. call Stetson toll-tree today at (877) LAW-STET or e-mail us at lawadmissions@Iaw.stetson.edu. THE RESORT AT UNI STAY AND SKI FREE PACKAGE STARTING AT $59.00* - Two FREE all—day lift tickets forWinterplace Ski Resort - Access to the new leisure center, including indoor pool and IO—lane bowling alley** FREE shuttle to Winterplace State your school name when making a reservation. 1.800.634.5233 WWW.GLADESPRINGS.COM GLADE SPRINGS 255 Resort Drive - Daniels, WV 25832 *Per person, per night, based upon double occupancy. Taxes not included. Excludes holidays. Subject to availability. Certain restrictions apply. “ Additional fee for bowling. S ETSON VERSlTY College of Law ~-..., -mi he ’ , ‘_Wi.d and Wmzdmjrxl -van. $ alternative break trips: Houston, TX NSL Serving homeless in SEARCH program Immokalee, FL Bonner Loaders Program Learning about and serving impoverished The Everglades Outtlng club Kayaking, camping in exotic habitats MELISSA CARON / Design Editor See where your fellow classmates are headed for Washington Break. Everglades National Park. The trip, which costs $550 per mem- ber, will include low tide walks and beach bonfires. Students will come face to face with a variety of sea life and en- dangered bird species such as the white pelican and osprey. Dick also said that Catarina Passido- mo, a 2004 W&L alumnus, will host the group in Naples Friday night of the break. For the major- ity of the trip, however, students will camp out. As students learn about the history of the Everglades, Dick hopes they will see the benefits of having national parks and natural areas. The development in Flori- da has changed the ecosystem in such a way that it may not sur- vive, he said. “It is a very special place for sunsets, exploring hidden man- grove tunnels—most students have not been this far away from civi- lization before. The bonds that are created far from campus stick with the participants for years." Dick said. Georgetown University l\'I.\s'rI«:R‘s l)I«:(;.Iu«: as [N PROF §SSl()N.\L S'rl'm|«:s .l(,)l'RI\'.~\l,|Sl\l AND l’i'i:i..i<: Ri«:1.,\'J‘1<_>xs/CoRi><;>1a\'rr: Go.\i.\iL'N1<:r\'r1<:>Ns Earn the part-time master’s degree that combines at Georgetown University learning experience with the opportunity to gain experience through an industry sponsored capstone project. Gain the confidence and credibility you need to advance your career. VISIT CPD.GEORGETOWN.EDU/MPS OR CALL (202) 687-9100. OCR::/Vol_110/WLURG39_RTP_20070212/WLURG39_RTP_20070212_007.2.txt Women ra o MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2007 THE RING-TUM PHI '~ 7 15:62 awareness Vagina Monologues return to campus this week, provide outlet for females to address controversy lntlmate detalls: What? Vagina Monologues Q Where? Troubadour Theater V When? Feb. 15 and 16; 7 pm. 9 Why? To raise awareness about violence against women in times of war V Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 at door C By Abrl Nelson STAFF WRITER aginas are for lovers. Or so the t-shirts say. The Vagina Monologues are back. This is the third per- formance of the monologues at Washington and Lee, sponsored by the Women’s Law Students Organization. Previously, the organization sponsored the show every other year, but the leadership decided to try an annual performance af- ter the success of the last year’s show. The Vagina Monologues are performed on college campuses every year around Valentine’s Day to raise awareness about women’s issues, from sexual misconduct and violence against women worldwide, to everyday things like going to the gynecolo- gist. “It’s a really good way to get things on the table,” said Crystal Teed, a first-year law student and ; one of over twenty women from the law school, undergraduate “T he heart of the production is real wom- en Ls voices being heard I get to bring out the superstar in me. It is for any woman who has ever felt uncomfortable. ’ 1 YVONNE COKER, Junlor partlclpant school, and the faculty at W&L performing this year. “It breaks down barriers in a really con- structive way.” Teed did not know much about the monologues before she saw an advertisement for auditions in the law school. Coming from y a performing arts family, she wanted a creative outlet to offset her schoolwork. After the first read through of the script with the other actors, she was hooked. “It’s a very introspective pro- cess,” she said. “The play really tries to tap into every woman.” Each monologue focuses on a dilferent aspect of being a wom- an, often exploring transitive pe- riods in life and sensitive aspects of relationships. The value of the monologues also creates the controversy sur- rounding them, because they are written in a way that is very up front and edgy. E’Lon Cohen, an undergradu- ate senior, knew exactly what she was getting into. She has seen the monologues on stage twice and decided to au- . dition thfi year after she was con- vinced to by a friend. “It gives me a way to show me,” she said about her piece. She said that women tend to freeze up when asked about con- troversial issues, and this was a chance for her to step out of her comfort zone and be able to show an aspect of herself that most peo- ple might not see. Yvonne Coker, an undergradu- ate junior, also decided to audition after seeing the show last year. She was attracted by the idea that the actresses did not need to have prior experience i11 order to get involved. “The heart of the production is real women’s voices being heard,” she said. “I get to bring out the superstar in me. It’s for any woman who has ever felt uncomfortable.” Each year a new monologue is written to spotlight a different is- sue around the world. Last year, the monologue was about the plight of the Vietnam- ese “comfort women” exploited as prostitutes by the Japanese military during World War II. This year, due to the increase in violence against women and girls that occurs in time of war, the spotlight issue is women in conflict zones. The campaign is motivated by recent conflicts in Sudan, Congo, and Iraq. It is aimed at making sure the issue of sexual violence remains in the media even though the conflicts at hand might seem commonplace because of their ‘ frequency. For the women involved in the production at W&L, it is about carrying that message but also about raising awareness here. “Lexington is a small town,” Teed said. “We don’t always talk about certain things. Hopefully, this will give people an opportunity to feel connected and everyone will come away with something different." “It‘s fun and difficult,” said Coker about her acting experience so far. “But the fact that I want to be excellent motivates me.” The Vagina Monologues will be performed this Thursday and Friday in the Troubadour The- ater. Tickets will be available in ad- vance or at the door. l r l ADVERTISEMENT M Gem ‘M in tn .jarcE1. 2.151‘ Lee Rerzemirm will folfl.ew in the -trod ,l;ii.ir.i..zzg Ma:i'I.y Awards slush as it e LfaSsun.g Hero and fa earls Award ssetli y Stud rat organ.-tzati..»ons are wateom to pi?-: Everyone we‘Eeo«rr:ie to strait mat E timtt. f¢‘fl-ttt” sores fer the 'LI‘n$rtang e‘t:;?“t3 Asgard ‘Wei dz; t‘t‘1.T’tft_%ét”2«.l.§t’t:E.s:§¥§t..” W‘i'LiJi.,¢dl..B to «insert OCR::/Vol_110/WLURG39_RTP_20070212/WLURG39_RTP_20070212_008.2.txt 8 0 THE RING-TUM PHI MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2007 SDOHS briefs Wrestling The Washington and Lee wrestling team has been unstoppable in re- cent weeks, posting a 3-0 record and defeating the top two teams in the Centennial Conference. Saturday morning, the Generals defeated Newport News Ap- prentice School, 21-15. With the victory, the Generals improve to 8-3, which is the most wins that the team has posted in a season since the 1986-1987 campaign, when it went 9-5. Juniors David Shubick and Jesse Sataloff and freshman Sammy Brusca all registered wins in the meet. Two weekends ago, W&L posted a pair of huge up- sets over the top two teams in the Centennial Conference. The Gen- erals captured a 21-17 decision over previously-undefeated 30th ranked Ursinus and then claimed a 18-16 triumph over Muhlen- berg. With the win, the Generals also snapped Ursinus’ 27-match unbeaten streak in conference action. Both of the victories were not decided until the heavyweight bout. Against Muhlenberg, the Generals were trailing by a point when sophomore John Christopher defeated his opponent 3-2 to clinch the victory for the Generals. In the Ursinus match, the teams were tied going into the final match, but Christopher defeated his opponent l“"m‘:"",6’-_5 to give W&L a victory. Peter Iéawrerice, Satalofl‘ and Anthony Boniello were also undefeated on the day. The Generals return to the mat on Saturday when they compete in the Centennial Confer- ence Championships hosted by Gettysburg College at 11 a.m. Women's Indoor Track The Washington and Lee men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams had eight first—place finishes, set six school records and had two athletes qualify for nationals against Division I,II and III opponents this past weekend at the Bucknell Winter Classic. The W&L women broke a school record three times over in the same event when sophomore Jackie Burns finished third overall and first among D-III runners in the mile. Burns shaved over seven seconds off the previous school record. In that same race, sopho- mores Becca Taylor and Elizabeth Webb also broke the same school record, finishing fourth and fifth overall, respectively. Webb also crossed the finish line first overall in the 800—meters. Freshman Mag- gie Sutherland broke two school records single-handedly and fin- ished first overall in the high jump. She broke her own school record with a leap of 5’5.0.” Sutherland’s height was also an NCAA Provi- sional Qualifying Standard. She also broke her own school record in the 55-meter hurdles and fin- ished third among D—III runners. Sophomore Stacy Doombos fin- ished first overall in the long jump, also breaking her own school record. With a jump of l7’9.75”, Doombos’ performance was‘ also an NCAA Provisional Qualifying Standard. Additionally, Doombos set a new school record in the 200-meters, finishing first among D-III athletes. The Generals return to action on Saturday when they participate in the Virginia Tech Challenge. Hunsinger sets record Jessica Hunsinger sets a school record for rebounds, but record winning streak ends for Generals By Madeline Gent STAFF WRITER On Tuesday, Feb. 6, Washing- ton and Lee women’s basketball achieved a feat it has never before reached. In the Warner Center, senior Jessica Hunsinger became the first ever General to have pulled down a thousand rebounds. Even though the team lost to visiting Guilford in a 72-66 overtime decision, Hunsinger, the team’s captain, had good reason to be proud of her athletic performance at W&L. In fact, all of W&L has good reason to be proud of Hunsinger, as well as the entire women’s team. With a recent school-record winning streak, or seven games and an overall 12-10 record (8- 9 in ODAC play), this season has proved to be one of the most promising in recent memory for the blue and white. “The record is a nice thing to brag about in front of the men’s team,” said Hunsinger, “but I am more excited about how well we have been playing.” Team effort aside, Hunsinger has made herself a force to be dealt with on the basketball court. The three year letter-winner start- ed ofi‘ her season ranked second in school history with 168 career blocks, third all-time with 779 re- bounds and sixth in scoring with 1,118 points. In the past 22 games, all of which Hunsinger has started, she has scored 276 points, making her second in scoring to fellow team- mate junior Kristen Krouchick, leads the team in rebounding with 229 boards and has 76 blocks un- der her belt — breaking her own school record of 74. Going into Tuesday night’s game, Hunsinger said, “I wasn’t anxious about [the thousand re- bounds] mostly because people told me I could do it. I don’t really keep track of how many rebounds I had or have. I didn’t realize until I actually had it, but I felt confident that this would hap- pen eventually.” The officials stopped the clock when Hunsinger hit her mark for a brief moment of celebration. “I was aware that Jess was getting pretty close to the record, although when they announced it during the game, it was somewhat of a surprise,” said junior team- mate Emily Wolff. “During the game, when she pulled the thousandth rebound, we stopped playing, and it was announced that she had broken the record. We all gave her hugs and congratulations, but then con- tinued playing.” Hunsinger added, “They were all very excited for me and they’ve all been there all along the way — four years of rebounding...so much of it depends on what my teammates were doing — whether or not they were boxing out. It was definitely a team effort.” As for the celebration, she said “it would have been better if we won.” With the season coming to an end, Hunsinger’s achievement proves the women still have some fight left to take to the ODAC tournament. “Not only is Jessica breaking records, but the team is as well... the record for most consecutive wins,” said Wolfii “It just shows that this year we are determined to take it to the next level and not settle for me- diocrity.” - On Tuesday, the women will head to Hollins. Even with one feat down, Hunsinger is just 14 rebounds away from another one — the ODAC record for most re- bounds in a career. Whether you’re just going to see history happen or just to cheer on the women, the next few games for W&L’s women’s basketball team will be exciting to follow. MICHAEL ENNAN / Staff Photographer center Jessica Hunsinger fights through a defender and gets off a shot. She is the program’s all-time leading rebounder and the first W&L player to grab 1,000 boards. Pros look intolerant again Some NBA stars look boorish and backwards as they criticize openly gay player ByAdam Lewis COLUMNISI Alright, it’s time to tackle this issue once and for all. Former NBA center Joe Amaechi an- nounced this week that he is gay, surprising teammates, coaches and fans, all of whom had little if any suspicion regarding his sex- ual orientation. Following his “coming out,” players and coaches from around the league began making com- ments, ranging from the re- spectful understanding of Amae- chi’s position to the resentment of his “secret,” which he had kept quiet throughout his career. My question is: Why the hell does it matter? 1. Just because he happens to be attracted to the male gen- der does not mean that he is suddenly going to hit on every man he sees. For some reason, this is a com- mon occurrence in our society, and is especially prevalent in all- male organizations, such as the army and the NBA. Regarding this issue, NBA player Shavlik Randolph (who, by the way, was Duke—educated), made his view- point clear: “As long as you don’t bring your gayness on me I’m fine....I’m sure I could play with him. But I think it would create a little awkwardness in the locker room.” Now tell me something, Mr. Randolph. Do you have such a high opinion of yourself that you think anyone who likes men will have the uncontrollable urge to approach you in the locker room with the intentions of asking you on a date or touching you? Don’t flatter yourself; you don’t even start on one of the worst teams in the NBA. People need to un- derstand that being gay does not entail the inappropriate attraction to all men. It’s that simple. 2. Statistics show that ho- mosexuality (estimated to be NBA commissioner David Stern said it best: “We have a very diverse league. The question at the NBA is always: ‘Have you got game? around 10 percent of the adult population) is about as common as being left-handed (estimated to be around 8-15 percent of the adult population). Why then does society require homosexuals to reveal this per- sonal attribute to everyone, and then shun them for having kept it a secret? You don’t see lefties going around declaring that they write with their left hand, nor do you see people gossiping about the “lefty that came out of the closet.” To me, this is just mind- boggling. And I would like to use a comment from the face of the NBA, Lebron James, to fur- ther my point: “With teammates you have to be trustworthy, and if you’re gay and you’re not admit- ting that you are, then you are not trustworthy.” I’m sorry, Lebron. Did Joe Amaechi offend you by not letting you in on his personal life‘? Wow, I can’t imagine what it would be like if one of your teammates tells you he is a lefty. Wouldn’t want to be that guy-he would be so untrustworthy. 3. Being gay may imply many things, but athletic ability is not one of them. As shown by Martina Navra- tilova and Sheryl Swoopes, both of whom are regarded as some of the best players in their respective sports, homosexuality does not inhibit one’s athletic performance. What really matters? As far as I know, sports are about competi- tion, entertainment and nowa- days, money. If an athlete is able to compete, entertain and make money, why is sexual preference even an issue? If he scores on ' the court, why does it matter who he scores with after the game? It doesn’t. NBA commissioner Da- vid Stern said it best: “We have a very diverse league. The question at the NBA is always: ‘Have you got game?” As great as American sports are, this is definitely something that has got to change. There have been only a handful oi professional athletes to publicly come out, and with the struggle they have had to deal with, who can blame those who haven’t? I commend Joe Amaechi for tak- ing the step that he did, and I can only hope that in years to come. the world of sports changes and learns to acknowledge an ath- lete’s performance, not his ori- entation. To use the words of the great Jerry Seinfeld: Joe Amaechi is gay, “Not that there’s anything wrong with that”—because there most definitely isn’t. OCR::/Vol_110/WLURG39_RTP_20070212/WLURG39_RTP_20070212_009.2.txt MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2007 THE RING-TUM PHI ° 9 Wrestling: Blue and White slam opponents Contlnued from page 12 The winning streak was not to survive to 28 as the Generals, be- hind the strength of sophomore heavyweight John Christopher. Christopher’s bouts were the deciding factor in both match- es. The Blue and White trailed Muhlenberg 15-16 before the Fort Lauderdale man took the mat and topped the Mules.’ Joe Tartar; likewise, W&L was tied with na- tionally-ranked Ursinus before Christopher’s win over Matt Wil- liams. . Both victories were by a single point, and both handed the win to the home side. Generals wrestlers Peter Law- rence and Anthony Boniello also deserve a heavy dose of credit for pins in the Ursinus match. Lawrence, at 157 pounds, took only two minutes and 13 seconds to pin his opponent. He, Boniello and Satalofi were undefeated on the day, losing nei- ther against the Mules nor the Bears. _ The Generals’ threqwins bring “their record to eightiwins and three losses (5-2 in Centennial Conference play). This is W&L’s best record since they posted nine wins and five losses in the 1986-1987 sea- son. The team will try to continue its wave of recent success at the Centennial Conference champi- “Everyone is asking, ‘Who are these guys?’ We ’ve placed dead last for six years in a row, but now everyone is looking at as wondering what we can do. We havea lot of confidence. ’ ANTHONY BONIELLO, junlor 7 onships next Saturday at Gettys- burg College. Despite their loss, Ursinus is considered the favorite to add a fifih consecutive title to their im- pressive trophy case. But also, the Generals cannot be counted out. After their two big wins over Ursinus and Mul- henberg, they have momentum in their favor as they enter into the Centennial Conference champi- onships. Boniello said, “Everyone is asking, ‘Who are these giys?’ We’ve placed dead last for six years in a row, but now everyone is looking at us wondering what we can do. We have a lot of con- fidence. It just feels great beating the topitwo dogs.” As for the team as a whole, there are very high expectations for everyone. Boniello said, “Across the board we have a lot of kids who can perform very well. We’re hoping for at least four kids to get in the finals.” One of the major things that ;9«,3E- ». > 1: n ....»....m M n.......s,, Major Cree’; Carcir Accepted Timber Ridge Auto Center 16%?) ‘Vailiiey Pike .l..e2'<:.in.gto‘n, 3%. 244.58 (5:43) 4»€>=i§~1?997' ANS §*”orr:ig,'ri and i:}*{}I}1€Si;iC Repairs f.'7.Ii'1 izhzmgri iifitil 3i:..—l.§'.§Z>c“3, Anti... C.ori:1pi.it'=er Di.agI:.i::ist£r;s.. i.‘§r’.ii'§1{}T and Major Engine impair, Brakes, Mei l_njeerioa Servme, T.ransmissi=on .Sers-flee, Camera’: Rush, M.ir2.o*r and tliriajtir 'i:‘i.m.e -ups. We ear} ;p:rm~'i