OCR::/Vol_112/WLURG39_RTP_20090209/WLURG39_RTP_20090209_001.2.txt O 2; C‘ I in 4 . N ls. /\.l 1-1 Weekend Read the highlights of the women’s basketball games] SPORTS / page 6 WASHINGTON AN LEE UNIVERSITY THE RING-TUM PHI. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2009 BY THE STUDENTS AND FOR THE STUDENTS SINCE 1897 VOLUMECXILNUMBERI4 Wide open spaces Leyburn Library is main floor opens for business after extensive renovations Trident goes online Past debt prevents the rident from continuing to print By John Henderson N EWS EDITOR Spacious, bright, good colors, great comput- ers and lots of places to sit-- these are some of the words students have used to describe the newly renovated Leybum Library main floor, which was officially opened at 9 am. last Mon- day. By 1 p.m., clusters of students were already at work around the library. Some were sitting in the front of the library wherecouches and arm- chairs are arranged in Various configurations for group studying. Some students had spread out their books on the long tables or the shorter booth—style tables in the reference section in the middle. Still others occupied the group study rooms in the back and the new computer stations that flank the glass-fronted offices used by library staff. In addition to those who were quietly work- ing, rnany Visitors walked around to explore the new space, which includes a centrally-lo- cated infonnation desk where stylish cylindrical lights overhead give the clear plastic desk-top a translucent glow. ‘ For newcomers, there is a sense of awe at seeing how the old main floor, a poorly lit labyrinth of shelves and ofi‘ices, has been trans- formed into abright, inviting work place. “It feels like a normal college library should not like a dungeon,” said sophomore Lauren Skerrett, who had set up shop by the new com- mons-side entrance to do work last Thursday. “It used to be the last resort, like, if you can’t do work anywhere else then OK, I ’ll go to the library. But now it’s like, ‘Oh, let me go to the See “Library Opens” on page 2 By Valaree Tang STAFF WRITER The Trident, one of Washington and Lee’s student newspapers, has made a transition from print to web publication due to issues with funding. Because of prior debt , the Trident has been struggling to fund print editions of the newspaper. “We are choosing to cut costs and publish strictly online,” said Editor-in- Chief Alexandra Scaggs. “We think that we can reach the student body and alumni better this way.” ’ While the EC has never provided funding for the Trident in the past, writ- ers for the Trident approached EC mem- bers to request funds for coverage of old expenses. The EC did not provide fund- ing to the Trident for reasons which one EC member said were confidential. Nonetheless, the Trident has been receiving a steady stream of income from advertisements this school year “When you take the news- paper aspect out of a campus newspaper, you ’re bound to lose some reader- ship. John Scully, back page columnist for the Trident that should cover old costs, according to Scaggs. The debt that the Trident owed was incurred prior to Scaggs becoming ticles online on Feb. 3 and should con- tinue to put out articles exclusively on the lntemet for the rest of the school year. Scaggs is hopeful that the Trident will serve the student body with breaking news via email. A blog for commentary will also be available. The Trident will be publishing weekly issues, with about five news stories, four sports stories, and the same writers in the Distractions section each week. The Tri- dent will feature breaking news updates that can be accessed by registering at www.thetrident.org. The Trident is cur- rently seeking a Web master to improve the appearance and layout of the web- site. While the Trident has not advertised its transition from print to web, writers remain confident that the changeover will the Editor-in-Chief. The Trident started publishing its ar- See “Trident" on page 2 Recyclemania: bring your bottles Recycling initiative designed to create sustainable waste disposal begins VICTORIA TAYLOR / Staff Writer 7 John Coffey, a facilities management grounds worker, loads mixed paper onto a truck to be taken to the recycling center. By Victoria Taylor STA F F W R IT E R Make sure that you prop- erly, dispose your plastic cups because Recyclemania is un- der way. Washington and Lee Uni- versity is participating in the 10-week collegiate compe- tition to increase recycling awareness and promote waste reduction. The Recyclemania compe- tition started on Jan. 18 and continues until March 28. It is a project of the College and University Recycling Coun- cil and is administered by the National Recycling Coalition. This year, there are over 500 participating schools. Washington and Lee’s par- ticipation complies with Presi- dent Ruscio’s Climate Com- toward achieving climate neu- trality that he signed in 2007. It is one of the many aspects of the campus’ sustainability initiative to become more en- vironmentally friendly. Participating schools weigh and measure the amount of trash and recycling that they collect and then report their mitment, a pledge to work. data by using a forum on the Recyclemania website. The data is then ranked to deter- mine which school has col- lected the least non-recyclable waste per capita, the most re- cyclable waste and the highest recycling rate. As a member of the bench- mark division, W&L’s results are reported but are not in- cluded in the official rankings. Therefore, W&L is not eligible to win the competition. Environmental manage- ment coordinator Chris Wise explained that Washington and Lee is not in the competi- tion division this year because of the changes caused by the campus’ incorporation into Lexington’s curbside recy- cling program. In the past, everything that was recycled on campus was measured and weighed separately, Wise said. Now, aluminum bottles, cans, plas- tic bottles and cardboard can be placed into the city’s blue dumpsters on campus and be collected as part of the pro- gram. Although W&L cannot win Recyclemania, Wise said that the campus is involved in the waste management aspect of the competition. He explained that the goal of waste manage- ment is to not only reduce the quantity of trash sent to land- fills but to cut back on recy- clables as well. “Recyclemania is about trying to see how many tons “I would hope we can keep people is at- tention long enough to instill lasting habits of green life- styles. Kara Fitzgibbon, Student Environmental Action League co-president of plastic water bottles you can recycle,” Wise said, “but the fact is that there are other ways that you can drink water. Any time you recycle some- thing you actually purchased it in the first place.” Although the Student En- vironmental Action League (SEAL) has taken a lesser role in Recyclemania this year, sophomore co-president Kara Fitzgibbon said the or- ganization will continue to raise awareness on campus. She mentioned that SEAL is responsible for the eco-facts in the daily Campus Notice c- mails and that its members are working on posters with easy tips on how to be green. Fitzgibbon said she is pleased with W&L’s efforts toward sustainability. “I definitely feel there is an increased awareness of re- cycling on campus,” she said. “With this new fad of going green it seems that the issue is at the very least out in the forefront, and I would hope we can keep people’s attention long enough to instill lasting habits of green lifestyles.” Wise agrees. “I think that there has been more interest on the part of students,‘ fraternities and so- rorities thisyear to try to talk. about recycling and other sus- tainability-type issues like re- ducing the amount of energy and eating local foods,” he said. OCR::/Vol_112/WLURG39_RTP_20090209/WLURG39_RTP_20090209_002.2.txt UNIVERSITY LIBRARY LEXINGTON, VA 24450 FEB 1 0 2008 WASHINGTON & LEE UNIVERSITY 2 - THE RING-TUM PHI MONDAY, Where did we go Wrong? Economist writer Greg Ip reviews past mistakes, forecasts economic future By Anne Vesoulis STAFF WRITER Students and faculty alike crowded room 327 in Huntley Hall to hear Greg Ip, a writer and editor for the Economist, talk about America’s financial future last Thursday evening. In his speech, “Economic 9/ ll,” Ip explained how Amer- ica has reached its current eco- nomic nadir. Ip described the approximately five year period leading up to today’s finan- cial crisis as the “great mod- eration”—a period of time with low interest rates during which America’s perception of risk greatly declined. “We had our houses to fall back on,” Ip said. “We looked to our houses as ATM’s. We had this idea that home prices wouldn’t decline, so we bought houses instead of stock. We didn’t question lower income families receiving mortgages.” In terms of the global econo- my, America is “the best house in a bad neighborhood,” Ip said. With the economic downturn causing a global panic, Ip con- siders the United States to be the most fortunate. In a question and answer pe- riod, Ip explained the possible geopolitical changes that could take place due to the economic downturn. “It’s going to be hard to make a case [for other countries] to adopt free capital,” he said. Ip began his business jour- worked at the Wall Street Jour- nal for over ten years and began working for the Economist in July 2008. His opinions and insight re- “We had our houses to fall back on. We looked to our houses as AT M is. We had this idea that home prices wouldn ’t decline, so we bought houses instead of stock. ” Greg lp, writer and editor for the Economist nalism career at the Vancouver Sun in 1989. He then trans- ferred to the Financial Post and the Toronto Globe and Mail. Ip Library opens MORGAN HARRIS / Staff Photographer Michael 0’Brien (left) and John Ditore take advantage of the new work space on the Leyburn Library’s main floor. Trident goes out of print continued from page 1 go over with little to no complications. “The Trident is still trying to work on the transition and hopefiilly it will go as smoothly as possible,” said Markheav— ens Tshuma, writer of the column'“Lex and the City” and for- mer distribution manager. “Students, alums and parents alike are very dedicated to the Trident so we foresee the majority of our readers coming along with us to this new chapter.” Some readers look forward to the switch from print to web publication. “I’m excited to read the Trident online,” said sophomore Becky Guynn. “I think that it’s great that the staff of the Tri- dent have found a way to continue to publish stories despite their financial situation.” While the Trident is now available to anyone with a com- puter, it will still be written for the W&L community. “I am getting really positive feedback from alumni on our website,” said Scaggs. “We welcome any more comments or suggestions people have.” The Trident is the only student web publication at Wash- ington and Lee other than the Rockbridge Report, a faculty- advised student publication in the journalism school. Not everyone is as positive about the transiton. “When you take the newspaper aspect out of a campus newspaper, you’re bound to lose some readership,” said John Scully, a Trident writer. Scaggs remains confident that the Trident’s success from the print editions will carry over to its Web publication. “I’m pretty excited about taking the paper online. We have great staff members and writers, and I can’t wait to see where we can take the website,” she said. garding the current state of the economy are respected by pro- fessionals across the country. “I thought Mr. Ip was incred- ibly interesting,” said junior Katie Boiles. “His lecture was probably the most concise, well though-out description of what’s going on. He really did an amaz- ing job of providing all of the historical background necessary I to understanding our current problem. . .I never got bored.” Professor Brian Richardson, head of the journalism depart- ment, thought Ip’s ability to ap- peal to non-economists made his lecture a success. “I’m not an economist, but from what I do understand, he is very knowledgeable,” Rich- ardson said. “He speaks Eng- lish--he has a rare ability to of- fer a sophisticated analysis in a language everybody can under- stand. That’s hard to do.” Toward the end of his talk, Ip provided insight regarding the future of America. “There need to be some pro- found ‘changes, and I’m pes- simistic, but there are tentative signs of a turnaround,” he said. Ip thinks consumers will have to practice purchasing re- straint, increase long-terrn sav- ing and think about “retirement sustenance.” Through things, “we have the opportimity to press forward,” Ip said. these FEBRUARY 9,2009 continued from page 1 library to do my work.’ I just think it works for a lot of people,” she said. “This week already I’ve been here more times than I was last term,” added her friend, sophomore I Catherine Guilbaud. The renovation of the library’s main floor was one of the_,university’s top priorities but had to compete with other projects for funding. For years, librarians recognized that the shabby fi1rni- ture and interior design needed to change. Even- tually the school committed $2.5 million, allow- ing architects to draw up plans for a new main floor last April. As work went ahead this fall, students and oth- er visitors were directed past the temporary ply- wood walls by the entrance down to the circula- tion desk, which was moved to the first floor. The circulation desk and the help desk had to share the Northen Auditorium, but employees managed to assist students despite their cramped quarters. Without the use of the main floor, tables and chairs in other buildings such as the commons were in constant demand. Now, students have an alternative, whether it’s studying at one of many tables in the back or socializing in the Bames-and- Noble-style cafe’ at the front. Skerrett and Guilbaud are among many stu- dents who have discovered the comfort and flex- ibility that the main floor of the library offers. Junior James Dick said the good lighting, vari- ety of seating and openness are all reasons he will be using the library more in the future. “I used to come to the library to escape from people because I thought no one goes to the li- brary because it’s so ugly,” Dick said. “But now I think that more people will be here and I would definitely want to come here more to study.” Summer Sterling, a junior, said she would be using the library as an alternative to the com- mons. “A couple of my friends, we always hang out in the commons to study, and now it’s like de facto, like, we’re all just coming here because it just kind of feels like a big living room,” she said. The library has attracted students and non-stu- dents alike. On Thursday a local freelance writer did work on her laptop at a table near the coffee and vending machines at the front. In the back of the library, journalism professor Doug Cumming sat on a bench-style sofa reading a journalism A magazine. Cumming, who estimates his office in the jour- nalism school is the closest one toxthe library, said he would be using the main floor as an alternative to the J-school. Cumming eruditely described the neutral putty tones and simple furniture as “con- servative modern.” “It doesn’t look like a designer was calling at- tention to him or herself,” he said. “I’m pleased with it. I know the librarians are happy.” One library staff member, Carol Karsch, said she is very pleased with the new arrangement. Karsch, a data and statistical support specialist, helps students do research on the brand-new Ma- cintosh computers and Dell Precision PC’s. Her office is one of six glass-fronted offices on the side facing the science building. Karsch, who used to work behind the circula- tion desk, said there are more students using the library now than in the past. While some features leave room for improve- ment-—some students say the new furniture is a bit stiff--the reaction to the new main floor has been overwhelmingly positive. “I like how much light there is. I like all the open space. I like how there are so many different styles of study areas,” said James Dick. “There’s the high chairs, there’s the high-backed couches, there’s table space. There’s also a lot of space for group work which I think is really good.” “I feel like no matter what I’m studying or who I’m studying with I could come to the library and find some space.” ALL STUDENTS INVITED Alumni-in-Residence SCOTT & TRICIA MILLER Scott Mi||er‘92 is Staff Psychologist at Regents’ Center for Learning Disorders Tricia Miller '93 is Head Registrar at the Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia Thursday, February 12 Have lunch or individual conversation with either alum. Reservations required. 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Pedui flare 8: Tia Toys? l..o<:ated at 540-463-3478 OCR::/Vol_112/WLURG39_RTP_20090209/WLURG39_RTP_20090209_003.2.txt MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2009 THE RING-TUM PHI ‘ 3 opinio I15 G Former Phi editor wishes online Trident well Geiger says going online was the smart move for the Phi is rival and hopes it makes it a better paper By Jacob Geiger CO LU M NIST When the Executive Commit- tee announced last month that it would not give any money to the Trident, I’ll admit that I had mixed feelings. It seemed odd — and unfair — to grant InGeneral more than $600 while the Trident got noth- ing. And it ‘seemed strange that EC members would invite the Trident to apply for funds only to leave them out in the cold. But at the same time, it was tough to see a campus newspa- per asking for money from the student government. It seemed like a step back, an admission of failure after several years when neither the Phi nor the Trident received a penny from the EC or the administration. The EC allocation process obviously does a lot of good in our community. For evidence, look no further than what Cam- On roofies, gentlemen, ladies In part two of a series on men and women at W&L, Aleisha By Alelsha Butler C 0 L U M N I S T Lets set a scene.‘ Its cold, dark and wet. The puddle of light from the streetlamps stops short of where you ’re standing. This discussion didn ’t start well, and now you ’re stuck on the sidewalk with him. He is scream- ing so close to your face that flecks of spit are hitting your cheeks and your eyelids. When you try to push past him and run home he grabs you under the arms, lifts you ojf your feet, ' shakes you till your head snaps back and forth on your neck and tells you you ’re not going any- where... you ’re not done talking yet... tears are squeezing them- selves from your eyes and your breath is dragging in and out of your chest because this guy just wont let you go... you 're alone and exposed and you ’re not sure, but it really looks like you might get hit tonight... Did that scare you? pus Kitchens is doing with EC money. I just don’t think journalists should be relying on the student government for a handout. The Trident has basically been running on a break-even basis for the last six months. They were at least managing to pay the bills. But what finally sunk their hopes of continuing in print were large debts left over from last year. They’ve moved on-line now, restoring their old Web site and sending out weekly e-mail up- dates. But the printed product appears to be gone for the time being. I know the Trident’s staff must be disappointed that past debts are keeping them from see- ing their work on campus news- stands. And I also understand that many of them think the mistake of last year’s Bracket continues to hamper their operations this year, even though the two writ- It should have, because it’s happened before and it will hap- pen again. To your friend, your sister, your daughter, your wife; violence against women is com- mon, and will remain so in a culture that values male domi- nance and female. submission. That uneven structure comes at a cost: girls are taught from birth to fear. “Don’t walk alone at night.” “Go out with a group.” “Don’t leave a drink unattended.” “Keep your car key in your hand.” “Don’t draw attention to yourself.” “Don '1‘ ask for it.” From the time that we are very young, we are taught to be careful, be suspicious, be guard- ed... and it’s infuriating. Women and men are evenly matched when it comes to intel- ligence, character, and “moral virtue,” if there is such a thing. However, women aren’t as physically brawny as men; our muscles just don’t get as big (al- Obama, not Simba Stockton Bullitt would like to remind everyone Obama is not the messiah By Stockton Bullitt C0 LU M N I ST On November 4, when Scar and his neo-con hyenas were expelled from Pride Rock, I of course celebrated. That celebration lasted for about two months. During that time, I had the fortune of listen- ing to all the formerly disenfran- chised. Now that Obama was elected, racism was over; toler- ance would be widespread; there would be enough money for ev- eryone; etc. Among liberals at least, the Bolsheviks had beaten the Mensheviks all over again. Then January 20 came and we got to get drunk before noon! But now it’s February, and I am starting to grow weary with some of the gripes that I have been hearing for the last decade. I expected these complaints to come from the traditional hy- enas. I expected to feast on the bitterness of Fox News. Howev— ' er, these guys, and Republicans for the most part, have taken the whole losing thing pretty well. Of course they complain that the stimulus plan is too much spending, and that we should instead focus more on tax relief. But then again, they are Repub- licans. I wish they would have spoken up more when we were dishing out $18.7 billion to John Thain and Bank of America. I do not take issue with any Re- publicans so far during Obama’s term. Instead of the far right, the people that are really starting to be a problem is the far left. These are the people that even MSNBC is frightened to broad- cast, the people that shame Keith Olberrnan. These are the people who made the “Hope” posters, who were so quick to canvass and put the bumper stickers on the back of their Priuses. They were essential to the campaign because they were a candidates’ favorite kind of de- mographic: people who do not know what in the hell they are voting for. ,. Two weeks ago, I read an article in this very newspaper about one writer’s outrage at the choice of having Rick Warren preside over the inauguration ceremony [Editor’s note: see Jean Chapman’s “Rick Warren insulting,” in the January 26“‘ 2009 edition]. The writer took issue with Warren’s stance on homosexual- ity and gay marriage. She also mentioned that it was blasphe- mous of Obama to choose some- one who opposes gay marriage as his invocator. There are a couple of issues with this outlook on Rick War- ren. For one, he did not in any way impose his views upon oth- ers in the inauguration, "and he is not the Antichrist for the gay community. Gene Robinson, the only ho- mosexualjbishop in the Episco- palian church, mentioned in an interview with the Daily Show (Since I am not a serious jour- nalist, I refuse to watch serious television), that he was fine with the choice of Rick Warren and had even had a conversation ers have graduated. Even though I spent some time as the Ring-Tum Phi Editor, and competed against the Tri- dent, I want them to survive and do well. I think this campus will Let s face it: when one paper dominates a market...its easy for that paper to get lazy. be a better, more informed place to live, work and study if we have two papers instead of one. Let’s face it: when one paper dominates a market ~ whether it’s a small college campus or a giant city — it’s easy for that pa- though we can debate pain toler- ance all day long). That physical inequality com- bines with the patriarchal norms of our culture to create a con- stant, inherent threat of harm. The awareness of that threat is drilled into females’ heads from the day that we start wondering about the differences between boys and girls. Sadly, even the nicest guys in our society, those who would never consider hurt- ing a woman, are completely unaware of women’s constant awareness. A male friend of What, may I ask, is acceptable or arous- ing about dropping a drug in a girls drink? with him during the inauguration that did not involve the issue of homosexuality in anyway. Secondly, Rick Warren is a seriously good preacher. His supposedly “suspect” book “A Purpose Driven Life” has sold over 30 million copies, so may- be it has one or two things going for it. The last two reasons are what, more or less, is wrong with the far left right now. Refusing Rick Warren, who is arguably one of the most im- portant religious figures in the United States right now, to do the invocation based solely on a view that is not pertinent to the situation at hand is ridiculous. Obviously, Rick probably should not do the invocation for the Gay Rights Parade, but this is an inauguration ceremony. I am thankful that pro-lifers give me the time of day to talk, even though to them, I am for killing babies. Having differing views on controversial issues does not exclude someone from a conversation. Obama constantly talks about how he wants people around him who disagree with his views. In fact, Obama’s en- tire campaign was about coming together for a common cause. It is unfair to say “Yes, we can, but no, they can’t.” Rick Warren represented the important evangelical de- mographic, who will need to somehow accept the atheists if they want something done. But conversely, the atheists need the evangelicals to be on board if they want to make progress. _ That is an idea that some of us liberals need to accept: the Republicans have just as much to bring to the table as Democrats, and progress is only made when both sides can come to some sort of coalition. And if you don’t agree with me, just read per to get lazy. The Trident was founded for that very reason; in the mid-1990s, the Phi had got- ten lazy and was no longer serv- ing its readers as well as it should have. But the Trident needs to suc- ceed on its own, in the free mar- ket. It shouldn’t rely on the Ex- ecutive Committee for support. When it’s all said and done, I think it’s better for them to op- erate as a web-only outfitand be free of EC money than to keep putting out a print edition on the student government’s dime. Journalists must serve as watchdogs over those in power, making sure their actions are eth- ical, appropriate and correct. Our publications also serve as a com- munity forum open to all voices. Even if those voices can include the administration or student government, how can a paper ef- fectively watch over those insti- tutions when they receive money from them? It’s tough. Even if there is no overt at- tempt at censorship or pun- ishment for what’s published, wouldn’t a paper that takes money from the school naturally be more reluctant to criticize the people who fund their opera- tions? One of the Phi’s biggest rea- sons for striking out on our own was an attempt by the EC to cut our funding after we ran stories about EC misuse of money. That happened more than a decade ago, and the Phi is now in its sixth year of financial independence. ‘ It’s given us the confidence to report things that we may have hesitated about in past years. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that our work has improved since we started paying our own way. We know that unless we produce quality work .that engages and informs our readers, our adver- tisements and subscriptions will dry up. Making the finances work isn’t easy. Our business staff spends countless hours talking with advertisers, e-mailing sub- scribers and — each week — stuff- ing envelopes sothe papers can be mailed out. , I hope the Trident can follow this path on the web. By cutting out inost of their fixed costs, I’m hopeful they can focus their time and energy on producing good reporting and strong writing. The Trident has some excel- lent editors; I think they’re up to the challenge of keeping the pa- per going. A strong Trident will encour- age the Phi to work harder as well. Competition breeds excel- lence. I’m just glad I’ll be reading a Trident this term that isn’t be-' holden to the EC. and why they shouldn’t mix Butler questions the culture of fear W&L is women live in mine once told me that I have “a way too active imagination.” Here at Washington and Lee we claim to have a tradition of honor and respect and, for the most part, we feel like our party scene is safer than that of a big- ger school’s. However, the 2008 National College Health Assessment de- termined that while 6% of W&L men reported being sexually touched against their will, 20.6% of W&L women reported the same. That number is double the national college average; Washington and Lee’s statistics for rape and attempted rape are also almost double the national numbers. Following some depressing statistics like those, I have to wonder: does a gentleman cause someone else to fear? What, may I ask, is accept- able or arousing about dropping a drug in a girl’s drink? Is it hot and sexy to take a limp, uncon- senting vegetable home with Obama’s keynote address at the 2004 Democratic Convention because, apparently, he does. The final issue I have a prob- lem with comes from the idea that this action was somehow against Obama’s earlier preach- ing. During the primary cam- paigns, Obama was maligned for being the most socially con- servative Democratic candidate among the final three in regard to homosexuality. While he sup- ports civil unions, he has never been for gay marriage. So by choosing Rick War- ren and not immediately sign- ing an act demanding universal gay marriage, Obama is actually staying in line with what he said he would do all along. This is probably the biggest problem we liberals have with Mr. Obama: we spent so much time placing him somewhere in-between Simba and Jesus over the last couple of months, we forgot that he is just a regu- lar politician who happens to be pretty good at his job. Look, Obama will not man- date universal healthcare. Why? Because he never said he would. Neither will he legalize mari- juana. Or completely pull out of the Middle East. Or even fix racism. Politically, he is pretty mid- dle of the road. If you wanted a bona fide liberal, you should have voted for Hillary. The thing that made Obama so awesome was not that he was an African-American or even a liberal; it is that he is a good pol- itician, who is willing to listen. Maybe some of us liberals should follow our pariah a little more and start to listen to some- one who is not exactly like us. Then, maybe we can hope for some real progress. x i you? 90% of assaults are commit- ted by someone known to the victim; I can only assume that on a campus as small as ours, where everybody knows almost every- body, that that kind of violation can only occur when a woman becomes an object, and sexual pleasure becomes a goal, an end- point, a score to be achieved. I know that there have been . a few nights that I’ve only had a drink or two and ended up spending the entire night on the bathroom floor. What was I drinking? The same can be said for most of my friends, and the only rea- son that my closest friends and I have managed to avoid some very bad situations is because we vigilantly watch out for each other. “No woman left behind” is our policy, and at the end of a night, even if one of our group isn’t quite ready to leave, we take her with us. W&L parties are small and exclusive. Rarely are outsiders or non-students allowed in. There- fore, I can only conclude that the suspicious drinks my friends and I have had were mixed by fellow Washington and Lee students. What gives someone the right to incapacitate another person and take whatever they want? Why is it necessary for girls to travel in packs, constantly vigi- lant, always aware? At W&L we claim to maintain the traditions of honorable conduct, but we seem to be lacking severely as soon as the sun goes down. We should consider making mutual respect and compassion prerequisites for “honor.” After all, that girl who’s passing out on your bed right now with her skirt around her waist has a mom, a dad, a gray-haired old dog who’s been around since she was five. She’s got major, goals in life, and by slipping a muscle relax- ant into her drink you just took away her ability to say “yes” or 44 39 I10 WASHINGTON AND LEE UMVERSITY ................................................................ .. RING-TUM PHI. MANAGING EDITOR NEWS EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR ARTS & LIFE EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR CONTRIBUTING WRITERS DESIGN EDITOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS BUSINESS MANAGER DISTRIBUTION MNGR. 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, BUT IS OTHERWISE INDEPENDENT. QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE PHI SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE EDITORS AT PHI@WLU.EDU OR TO THE MEDIA BOARD AT MEDIABOARD@WLU.EDU. IS AN INDEPENDENT, STUDENT-RUN EDITORIAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WORKING WITH ALL MEDIA OUTLETS ON THE WASHINGTON & ALL INQUIRIES WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL. 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 RlNG—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: PHI@WLU.EDU SUBSCRIPTION RATE $45 LEE CAMPUS. ALLISON CHOPIN JOHN HENDERSON CODY BEAUCHAMP CELESTE CRUZ- CARANDANG WILL DORRANOE CRIGHTON ALLEN STOCKTON BULLITT ALEISHA BUTLER JACOB GEIGER DIANDRA SPICAK VALAREE TANG VICTORIA TAYLOR ANNE VVESOULIS RUSS WEEMS KIMBER WIGGS LARA JORDAN RYAN ELSEY MORGAN HARRIS STROCK MOORE ROB GEORGE THE MEDIA BOARD OCR::/Vol_112/WLURG39_RTP_20090209/WLURG39_RTP_20090209_004.2.txt 4 ' THE RING-TUM PHI MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2009 arts&|ife Poignant play shows that magic can happen ‘Vaclav Drda ’ by alum Christopher Cartmill examines value of art By Kimber Wlggs 5 TA F F w R IT E R The Washington and Lee theater department welcomed back alumnus Christopher Cartmill for the annual Floumoy Playwright Festival this weekend. As part of the Festival, Cartmill directed his The Apotheosis of Vaclav Drda. The show ran Thursday through Sunday in the Johnson Theater in the Lenfest Center. The Apotheosis of Vaclav Drda tells the story of a rag-tag group of theater people ~ none of whom are getting paid — trying to pro- duce a play with limited funding and even less hope of success. That play is a powerful commentary on war and oppression in 1938 by the fictional Czech author Vaclav Drda. Early on, there is obvious tension between the actors in this play within the play. Gabriel, played by junior Kevin Mannering, is a self-involved egomaniac who continually boasts about the fact that he has an agent and a manager. Lisa Reppell’s character, Jo- anna, is the passionate female lead who fears this production may be her last chance to “make it” as an actress. Trying to maintain peace between these two fiery personalities is Nick the director, portrayed by sophomore Johnny Coyle. Nick means well, but his attempts at pep talks generally deteriorate into clichés and unfinished thoughts. To provide comic relief are the wise-cracking stage manager Cecily, played by Marquita Robin- son, and Steve, a happy-go-lucky, sweet-hearted simpleton, ador- ably portrayed by sophomore Dave Curran. The first half of the show revolves around the conflicts between “In a way, theater is more real than...what we do day—to—day. ” Marqulta Roblnson, actress characters who just do not understand one another, as Cartmill later put it. They butt heads on almost everything, from the terrible translation of the Czech script to Nick’s casting to Steve’s amateur ideas about theater (he calls it “play practice”). Everything seems to go wrong for this bunch, and the tension builds up until Joanna breaks down. After a long break in the rehearsal, and after one of Gabriel and Joanna’s many arguments, the two leads seem to find a real connection to the work and to each other through a particularly poignant scene, beautifully acted by Mannering and Reppell. Sud- denly Joanna asks to stop, inexplicably withdraws into a comer, and asks everyone to leave. Gabriel explodes at her for stopping the rehearsal yet again and then storms out. It is a testament to the actors’ abilities that there was a sense among the audience of just having witnessed a very awkward public confrontation. Eventually Joanna is left alone to weep for her dubious future in the theater. Her grief lasts only a short while, however, as she is interrupted by a mysterious custodian, played by Brian Devine. The peculiarly insightfiil stranger helps Joanna to realize that “recognition” is not a true test of greatness, and he restores Joan- na’s faith in theater and in her own hopes of success. ' With the help of this Czech janitor (who just so happens to be named Vaclav), the rest of the cast and crew also discover the true meaning of their work and ultimately achieve a theatrical mind- meld that reveals the final image of the play: Jenna Worsham as an angel who is holding a clock and “is saying to me, ‘get on with your work, do what you have to do while you have time to do it.”’ I Following the performance, Cartmill and the cast engaged in a talk-back session with the audience. They fielded questions that ranged from where Brian Devine got his Czech accent to the, ad- mittedly bafliing final image of the angel. Cartmill’s response to the latter query was that the pantomime angel represented the characters’ renewed faith in the meaning of the play and their belief that magic can happen. Theatrically, the image was made even more interesting by the fact that the “roof” of the acting space was mechanically raised to reveal Worsham’s angel. That final image met varied reactions from the audience, but Cartmill made a good point that it is for each member of the audience to decide what that image meant. On the whole, Christopher Cartmill’s The Apotheosis of Vaclav Drda was a deeply thought-provoking exploration of the mean- ing of theater in today’s society. Lisa Reppell commented that, in many ways, theater has become a consumer industry, which is unfortunate. But hopefully, talented actors performing a profound work, such as these W&L students did Friday night, can still give audiences a meaningful experience. When asked why she acts, Marquita Robinson spoke of the emotions she must explore when she steps out on the stage. She said that “in a way, theater is more real than, sometimes, what we do day-to-day.” So no matter what audiences think, these seven students choose to perform because it is still a meaningful experi- ence for them. Art exhibit is edgy Photographer is art includes display on Ku Klux Klan By Dlandra Splcak STAFF WRITER The Staniar Gallery will open its doors to an exhibition of William Christenberry’s work called “William Christenberry: Site/Possession” on Monday. Christenberry, a renowned photographer, is most noted for his photos of his childhood home of rural Alabama, but this exhibit focuses on much more. The exhibit will feature paint- ings, photographs, construc- tions, “dream buildings” and the “Klan Room Tableau.” The exhibit offers a glimpse into the artistic process of Christenberry, including one of his earlier drawings from 1959, when he had just begun to hone his skills, and also a more re- cent drawing from 2006, which . employs the techniques he has gleaned from his years of work. The drawings feature a range of subjects, from Southern gourd trees to tenant houses to dream buildings, and each drawing shows the scope of Christenber- ry’s 40-year career. On the more controversial side, the exhibit also houses the “Klan Room Tableau,” a mixed- media display which includes dolls costumed in Ku Klux Klan regalia, miniature effigies, pho- tographs, drawings and signs that all evoke the KKK’s ritu- als. ' Christenberry began to as- semble the Klan Room in 1962 as “a public exorcism of the demons that have haunted him ever since he attempted to enter a Klan meeting more than 40 years ago.” According to those who help host the exhibit, while the exhibit is, no doubt, “in your face,” the material is meant to challenge the viewers, causing them to draw their own conclu- sions. “What the Staniar Gallery does is to try to make Washing- ton and Lee talk,” publicity and marketing intern for the Staniar Gallery, senior Mallory Ruy- mann, said. “This exhibit is really edgy, seeing as it deals with the KKK. Different people will react dif- ferently to the material, and see- .RedHenLex.com ing as W&L is rather ‘southern,’ parts of the exhibit may be hard to stomach.” Though critics have ques- tioned Christenberry’s creation of the Klan Room, Christenber- ry, in his defense, has said the work is a way for him to come to terms with the Klan. During a 1996 interview, Christenberry was cited as say- ing, “The Klan is a manifesta- tion of evil, and‘it’s hurtful to me as a Southerner, as someone who in most instances is proud ofwhere he comes from, to be identified with something so terrible.” The exhibition is curated by Dr. Andrea Douglas of the Uni- versity of Virginia Art Museum. She will present a lecture on the exhibition on Monday, Feb. 9, at 6 p.m. in the Staniar Gallery. Christenberry will also‘ visit W&L to give a lecture about his work on March 11 at 6 p.m. Both lectures will be in the Con- cert Hall in Wilson Hall and are free and open to the public. A reception will follow each pro- gram. Christenberry majored in art at the University of Alabama and has taught at the Corcoran School of Art since 1968. His art is owned and featured by many museums, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, Museum of Modern Art, National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. He is represented by Hemphill Fine Arts of Wash- ington. While the nature of the Christenberry exhibit in the Sta- niar Gallery is controversial, the main point of the exhibit is to showcase talent and to get the W&L student population more involved with the artistic pro- cess and with art in general, said Ruymann. “Art should get you think- ing, and that’s what this exhibit does,” she said. “Hopefully, people will come to appreciate the works in the gallery, and understand that it is more than just a edgy topic — it’s art.” ‘ Profiles Leadership: ] uli e Petersen Volunteer at the Manor of Natural Bridge; Chamber Singers; ODK; Senior Voice 1n Recital with Matt Amling; a role in the upcoming Bentley Musical, The Secret Garden; RUF worship music leader and member of Chi Omega What energizes you about taking on the responsibilities of campus leader- ship? “To live in excess while others live without does not fit with my personal commitment to love my neighbor as myself. I think the ability to bring people together across racial, political, and socio- economic divides is one of the most inspiring ex- This Valentineis Dag treat Ljourselves to the Most Romantic dinner in Lexington at the Red Hen \ A la carte menu, or a special seven~course tasting menu Two seatingsz 6_and 8:50 C Call 464.4401 now for a reservationl ll E Washington Street ' pericnces I have found. People often get so caught up in being right, that they fail to see how much common ground we all share. I have been drawn to the Shepherd Poverty Program and the music and theater departments specifically for their tendency to attract people from all walks of life and unite them behind a common goal.” What has been one of the most rewarding aspects of leadership at W&L? “Organizing and leading a book study of ]im Wallis’ The Great Awakening last Spring gave me the opportunity to bring together a group of surprising diversity in age, race, academic ‘ focus and socioeconomic background to discuss how religious faith can be utilized to unite people behind a just cause, rather than as a divisive partisan tool. We tackled issues that often prevent deeply partisan politics from effectively addressing the needs of our society's most vulnerable members. Facilitating group members of different races and political persuasions as they found common ground on previously in- compatible issues was one of my most exciting and humbling experi- ences at W&L.” Any words of advice for those who follow? “Find what you are passionate about and go all out. It takes a lot of work to max" out life!” V Tuesdays with Leadership: Conflict Resolution Part II 12:15 and 6:30 PM, Room 214 Elrocl Commons Utilizing role plays, experience the challenges of resolving conflicts using the theories presented last week. .. OCR::/Vol_112/WLURG39_RTP_20090209/WLURG39_RTP_20090209_005.2.txt MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2009 THE RING-TUM PHI 0 5 sports A A tainted reputation Crighton Allen discusses A—Rod is alleged steroid use By Crlghton Allen COLU M msr According to a report by Sports Illustrated, the national pastime of baseball has received yet another horrible soar to its already beaten image. According to the report, Alex Rodriguez tested positive for anabolic steroids in 2003, when he was with the Texas Rangers and won the AL home run title and MVP award. Rodriguez, the 275 mil- lion dollar man, the face of not only his club, the New York Yankees, but of arguably all of baseball allegedly tested positive for testosterone and Pri- mobolan, an anabolic steroid. Since his teenage years, Rodriguez has been hailed as the man that might one day rewrite all the record books. Blessed with tremendous size, talent and an incredible drive, he had all the tools needed to one day go down as the greatest base- ball player ever. Alas, he, like so many others, has apparently fallen victim to the allusion that he needed an artificial boost in an effort to stay atop of his profession. As much as I don’t want to believe this report, Sports Illustrated bears the most respected name in all of sports journalism. This isn’t some random fan rambling on his blog; SI possesses the finest reputation in the field and would not run the report and risk its reputation were they not very certain of its validity. What a sad, sad day for anyone who calls him- self a baseball fan! In 2006, when Barry Bonds broke Henry Aaron’s all-time homerun record amid cloud of steroid allegations, many took com- fort in the fact that in all likelihood, Bonds was only renting the space atop sport’s most hallowed record. Most everyone assumed that one day, the Golden Boy, Rodriguez, would one day pass Bonds and restore the integrity of the record. Right now, A—Rod stands at 553 homers, need- ing only 211 more to pass Bonds. At only 33, Rodriguez has at least another ten years of good ball left in him, and if he hits, conservatively for his standards, 25 dingers each year, should com- fortably pass Bonds. If indeed that happens, I am left wondering: so what? Will the record mean anything? Can it mean anything when so many of base- ball’s great sluggers of the past 15 years, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGuire, Rafeal Palmero, and, of course, Bonds, have all been convincingly linked , to steroid scandals? Even pitchers like the great Roger Clemens have been on the juice as well. Baseball has always been a reflection of the American mentality. In the days when the Ameri- can spirit was characterized by gritty determina- tion, hard work and humility, the great ball play- ers of the day, think Ted Williams for example, manifested these traits heroically. Yet, as America has morphed into a nation obsessed with its im- age and determined to achieve the desired ends at cost, baseball players have unfortunately demon- strated that shift, too. Now, drama queens that tear apart locker rooms and play for salaries that would make a big—oil CEO blush have come to dominate the game. \ Maybe I was naive, but I really thought Rodri- guez was different. In him I saw a humble hard- working guy that played the game the right way, a man that through his honest actions could restore the game back to its once proud origins. It ap- pears that I, and the nation, have been duped once again by someone we thought we knew so well. It seems the only thing stronger and more fervent than our hope in the ideal is the harshness of the reality. A-Rod looked around. him and saw his great contemporaries cheating and saw no other recourse but than to join them if he wanted to con- tinue to compete at his usual high level. I can only hope that I and Sports Illustrated are wrong. 1 want A-Rod to be clean, the game of baseball needs A-Rod to be clean, but it appears that neither I nor the game can continue to live under that assumption. It pains me to see baseball endure yet another scandal, but it looks like we are in for a long off-season of continued accusation as speculation about the fundamental integrity of the game. And I could not be the sorrier. Swimming conferences continued from page 6 pared this year’s team to the 2007-2008 squad. “This year’s team has much more depth in the strokes. While we miss Alex and Tim, the desire of each team member this year to race is stron- ger,” he said. Shinofield and his team hope that they can match and even improve‘ on last year’s success. In November, the head coach said, “The guys have - set their goals very high. They want to re-capture the conference championship and finish in the top ten at NCAAS for the third straight year.” In order to ensure that his team is rested for conferences, Shinofield has decreased the diffi- culty of his practices since the Hopkins meet. He said, “Really for most people it’s just a fine-tun- ing period. We definitely back off on the volume quite a bit. Most of the guys are at about 40 per- cent of their max volume during the season. And then the intensity level is down significantly as well. Really most of its just about making sure the technique is perfected and that they are pre- pared to go fast.” The Bluegrass Mountain Conference has 17 I men’s swimming teams in both Division II and III. Three teams in the conference are in the top 16 of Division 11 teams in the nation, according to collegeswimming.com. Shinofield recognizes the stiff competition that his team will be up against this weekend. “We could have a great meet and still finish fourth in our conference,” he admitted. The team’s head coach said his team is anx- ious for the start of the meet. “I think they are prepared, but 1 think that if you care about some- thing, you’re going to be nervous. So I think they have that nervous energy about them, but I defi- nitely believe they can do it.” The team leaves for Charlotte on Wednesday afternoon. On the other hand, the women’s team is 9-6 overall and 2-0 in the ODAC. Although they have had fewer meets against conference teams, the Lady Generals currently sit at the top of the ODAC standings. Head coach Kami Gardner said, “We’ve had an outstanding season. The freshmen have really contributed; put that together with our great lead- ership, and we’ve had a very good year.” At the beginning of the season,‘ Gardner said, “As a whole, I want the women to develop into a great team that is supportive of each other’s goals and obviously to succeed at the ODAC and na- tional level.” I Gardner thinks that the team has indeed ac- complished the first part of that goal. She said, “[The team] has been very "supportive of each other and knows what everyone is doing in the water. They are very invested in the program this year.” In 2007-2008, the team went 13-6 including a 7-0 conference record. In addition, the women finished first at the ODAC Championships last year. W&L is looking to repeat as conference cham- pions this year, but Randolph-Macon will likely provide some pretty tough competition. The Yel- low Jackets are currently ranked second in the conference with an overall record of 11-3 and a 6-1 ODAC record. Its sole conference loss was to W&L on Nov. 7 (156-102). While Gardner recognized that Randolph-Ma- con is probably the biggest threat" to prevent W&L from being back-to—back ODAC champions, she also hopes her team doesn’t focus on their com- petition. “I think [ours swimmers] are very confi- dent in that they are going to swim fast. We can’t control Randolph-Macon. We are looking to fo- cus on what we can control,” she said. Just like the men, the women over the past ' week have been tapering for conferences this weekend. . Gardner said, “Since [the Hopkins meet], we are really looking to develop speed and give them rest. I think that we are very healthy, mentally and physically.” Senior captain Jule Miata thinks that her c0ach’s program has worked in preparing the team for conferences. She said, “I definitely feel the changes in my body with the lower yardage and extra rest time that we have in practices.” Feeling rested, Miata is confident for the con- ference championships. “We have what it takes to win another ODAC title,” she proclaimed. W&L women’s swimming team leaves for Radford Thursday afternoon. C2C College To Career Fair WHEN: Wednesday, February 25 10:00 am-4:00 pm WHERE: Greater Richmond Convention Center Richmond, Virginia WHO: All W&L students WHAT:An opportunity to talk with employers about internships and full- time, post-graduate options www.col|egetocareerfair.com WHY: Why not? Explore all of your options! Visit the C2C web site to register, and contact Career Services if you are interested in transportation. , There will be space with internet access reserved for your use throughout the clay. OCR::/Vol_112/WLURG39_RTP_20090209/WLURG39_RTP_20090209_006.2.txt MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2009 6 ° THE RING-TUM PHI ports tdeck MoN Tues WED THURS FRI SAT SUN at vs vs M°"'3 Randolph. Lynchburg: BC Basketball Macon » 7 p.m. 2 p.m. 7 p.m. at at womenvs Emory & Randolph- Ba5kCtba" Henfy Macon 7 p.m. 4 p.m. Men's 3‘ swlmmlllfi Bluegrass Mountain championships Women's at lswlmmlngi ODAC Championships at _ Mews Lafayette/ Track Rider 4 p.m. at womows Lafayette/ Track Rider 4 p.m. VS _, at pp: lye wresfllng school McDaniel ’ 7 Mm 11 a.m. at Riding 39 lnvlte at Mews Emory & Tennis Henry 1 p.m. vs w°“‘°“’5 Radford Tennis 4 p.m. The number of points scored by Lebron James in the Cavaliers’ 107-102 win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden Wednesday. He also tallied 11 assists and ‘was originally credited with 10 rebounds. The NBA later decided his last rebound was mistakingly A credited to him, causing James to lose what would have been the first 50-point triple-double since 1975. $500,000 Center fielder Andruw Jones‘ 2009 salary after he agreed to a mi- nor league contract with the Texas Rangers organization. He made $14,726,910 last year but hitjust .158. box “It’s not my decision. It’s theirs. I have nothing to say, but if that’s they want to do, that’s their choice. It’s something that USA Swimming came up with. It’s fair. Obviously, for a mistake you should get punished.” Fourteen-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps after USA Swimming suspended him for three months. A photograph of Phelps inhaling from a marijuana pipe was released last weekend. Courtesy of espn.com. “She said make sure that doesn't hurt me on Valentine’s Day.” Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers expresses his wife’s hope that his recent flne won't affect her Valentine's Day gift. The NBA fined Rivers $15,000 for verbaling abuslngthe referees In the Boston Celtics’ 110-109 overtime loss to the Los Angeies Lakers Thursday. Courtesy of cbssports.com. ‘‘You’ll have to talk to the union. I'm not saying anything.” New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez after Sports Illustrated released a report Saturday that he had tested positive for two anabolic steroids In 2003, the year he was named the American League MVP. Courtesy of mIb.com. “I love the fact that Urban had to cheat and still didn't get him.” Tennessee head coach Lane Klffln accusing Florida head coach Urban Meyer of a recruiting violation at a signing day breakfast celebration Thursday. Kiffin said that Meyer called recruit Nu’Keese Richardson during his visit to Tennessee’s campus. Richardson signed his letter of intent Wednesday to Tennessee. The SEC later said that Meyer's calling Richardson did not violate any SEC regulations. Courtesy of espn.com. ' W&L goes 1-1 on weekend 1 Women is basketball falls to Lynchburg, beats Randolph RYAN ELSEY / Staff Photographer TOP: Sophomore center Felice Herman attempts a shot over Randolph's Michelle Brockman in the Generals’ 55-46 vic- tory Saturday. W&L also played Lynchburg Friday night but lost that game, 70-73. BOTTOM: First-year guard Meghan Ingram goes for two of her 16 points Saturday afternoon. Ingram leads the Gener- als this year with 15.0 points per game. By Russ Weems STAFF WRITER This weekend, the Washington and Lee wom- en’s basketball team took on two ODAC oppo- nents, Lynchburg and Randolph, losing one and winning the other. Lynchburg came into its contest with W&L at '7-12 overall with a 5-9 ODAC record. Randolph was 3-15 and 2-13 in the ODAC before they faced the Generals. W&L came into the weekend 10-8 with a 9-4 ODAC record. The team opened up the weekend Friday at Lynchburg. The Generals came out strong, con- trolling most of the first half. The Generals’ lead got up to seven points at one point. However, the Hornets rallied at the end of the half with a 6-2 run to tie the game at 40 going into half. Lynchburg carried their momentum into the second half as they scored the first 13 points of the half. This run was carried on by a shooting slump from the Generals. W&L missed its first 14 shots of the half. This streak was finally broken by a Bethany Ridenhour lay-up with 11:31 to play that brought the score to 53-42. ' The Generals began to chip down the lead from this point. Ten minutes later, with 1:37 left, the Generals regained the lead at 69-68 on a free throw by first-year guard Meghan Ingram. The Hornets went ahead once again with 1:12 left as junior forward Tamara Snead sank two key free throws. Clutch free-throw shooting by Lynchburg sealed the game leaving the final score at 73-70 for the Hornets. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Generals. W&L was led by Ingram’s 20 points. First- year forward Rebecca Bolton added 17 points and a career-high 12 boards. Ridenhour contributed 15 points. Saturday, the Generals took on the Randolph WildCats. Randolph got out to an early six-point lead over the Generals, but W&L quickly recov- ered to tie the game at 16. Randolph finished the half on a 10-6 run that left the Generals with a 22-26 halftime deficit. - The Generals started the second half strong, scoring nine of the first 11 points. This run was capped off by an Ingram three-pointer with 16:15 left that gave W&L its first lead of the game at 31- 28. Over the next six minutes, the game was back and forth with four lead changes. With 10 minutes left, the Generals started to pull away. They out- scored the WildCats 18-10 in the last 10:51 to the earn the win. Lockdown defense for the Generals created this run. ‘Randolph only made four shots in the final 13:51 of the contest. The final score was 55-46 for the Generals. The victory gave "W&L six wins in their last seven games and a 10- 5 ODAC record. The Generals were against paced by Ingram with 16 points, five rebounds and four steals. Ridenhour matched Ingram’s 16 points and also had seven rebounds. Senior forward Kara Nadeau had a well-rounded game with six points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists. W&L’s defense was a big part of the win. The Generals scored 24 of their 55 points off of 30 Randolph turnovers. The Generals also held the WildCats to 40.0 percent shooting including 30.0 percent from beyond the arc. The team returns to action on Tuesday as it travels to Emory & Hemy for a 7:00 pm. con- test. Generals await championships Men is and women is swimming teams prepare for conferences By Will Dorrance SPORTS EDITOR Both the Washington and Lee men’s and women’s swimming teams will compete in their respective conference meets later this week. The men are set to race in Charlotte, N.C., for the Blue- grass Mountain Championships this Wednesday through Saturday while the Lady Generals will swim in the ODAC Championships this Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Radford, Va. Both teams’ last meet was on Satur- day, Jan. 31 at Johns Hopkins. The men lost 119-143, and the women also fell to the Blue Jays, 97-156. Since then, they have been conserving their energy in preparation for what will be, for most swimmers, their last meet of the year. Those top few that qualify for nationals will swim at the NCAA Cham- pionships March 18-21 at the University of Minnesota. On the men’s side, the Generals sit at 9-2 on the year with their only losses coming to Wingate and Johns Hopkins. According to collegeswimming.com’s national rankings, Hopkins is the fifth best men’s team in Division III while Wingate is ranked 14th in Division II. The website put W&L at 13th on its Di- vision III rankings. Head coach Joel Shinofield, who is in his sixth season at W&L, seemed to be pleased with his team’s performance in the regular season. “I think [the season’s] gone really well considering the number history. Sweet finished first in the 50 free at nationals, broke the Division-III record for that event, and swam in the Olympic Qualifiers this summer. McGlaston was also a first-team All-American and fin- ished seventh in the 50 free. Last year, the Generals went 9-2, fin- ished second at conferences and eighth at nationals. The only team to finish ahead “I think they are prepared, but I think that if you care about something, you ’re going to be nervous. So I think [our swimmers] have that nervous energy about them, but I definitely believe they can do it. ” Joel Shinofieid, head coach we graduated last year and having to rely on a number of freshmen this year.” The W&L men’s swimming program lost eight swimmers to graduation last year. Alex Sweet and Tim McGlaston, both members of the Class of 2008, were two of the better swimmers in the team’s of them at the 2008 Bluegrass Moun- tain Championships was Wingate, who earned 821 points as compared to W&L’s 638. Senior captain Chris Diebold com- A See “Swimming conferences" on page 5