OCR::/Vol_116/WLURG39_RTP_20121112/WLURG39_RTP_20121112_001.2.txt 3 onwtcrittas T iSPORTS/ page 8 I! t-iomesmcthome? Looking forward to your warm bed and food-laden kitchen table? New Englanders may be in for a bit of a shock. A&L / page 6 WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY ° THE RING-TUM PHI. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12,2012 BY THE STUDENTS AND FOR THE ST-U DENTS SINCE 1897 VOLUMEcXV||,NUMBER9 Hillel, Chick-fil-A and 4 more years By Randy Karlson STAFF warren [iv Last Tuesday America spok told us that they want four more years of Barack Obama. Obama won the popular election by just over three million votes and won the Electoral College by a mar- gin of 126 votes. The domination ofthe Electoral Col- lege by President Obama is due to his virtual sweep ofthe swing states, which included Virginia, Florida, New Hamp- shire, Wisconsin, lowa, Ohio, Nevada and Colorado. Obama won every single one of these states, but none were won very convincingly with Governor Rom- ney putting up very good fights. In Virginia, which usually votes red, Obama pulled out a victory. The Con- gressional seat was won by Democrat Tim Kaine, who beat out Republican in- cumbent George Allen. Washington and Lee’s very own, Republican Bob Good- latte (L ’77), won Virginia’s Sixth Dis- trict convincingly by a margin of 32% of the vote. When asked about Obama’s victory on Tuesday, Todd Smith-Schoenwalder (College Democrats’ President) and Lex Luther (College Republicans’ President) had very different reactions about the win. e, and ‘NM Smith-Schoenwalder had believed that “an Obama victory was very likely.” Luther said he “was surprised and disappointed” and he “didn’t think Pres- ident Obama was going to be able to es- sentially sweep the swing states.” Luther also believed that this election has to be awake-up call for the national Republican Party leaders in Washington, D.C. “I think with back-to-back defeats this has to be a wake-up call for the par- ty,” said Luther. “The leaders in Wash- ington have to realize that voters want solutions, notjust ideology.” Smith-Schoenwalder did not have anything to say about the state of the Democratic party, but he was extremely proud ofhis group on campus. “Every weekend, College Democrats had been canvassing all over Rockbridge County,” said Smith-Schoenwalder. “Everyone was excited that our efforts made a difference.” Despite all of the differences that the two parties and the two groups have, the College Republicans and the Col- lege Democrats put on a very successful Election Night Viewing party at Hillel House on Tuesday night. :- houghout the night the two grups were selling Chick-fil-A sandwiches and W’ .‘ Students met in the Hillel House for an Elc chicken nuggets in order to fundraise for future events. “The W&L College Republicans were much more successful than the national party,” said Luther. “Selling Chick-fil-A was a great fundraiser for the club and we are looking forward to ations kept absolutely civil, making the event enjoyable for all who attended.” J ack Clarke, a first-year and first time voter, said he identifies with the Repub- lican party and was quite worried about the election in the early part ofthe night. First-year Matt Kinderman said “Every weekend, College Democrats had been can- vassing all over Rockbridge County, ” said Smith- Schoenwalder. “Everyone was excited that our eflorts made a diflerence. ” Todd Smith-Schoenwalder, College Democrats’ President the next term.” Smith-Schoenwalder had a similar reaction when asked about the turnout on the night. “We had a great turnout at the Elec- tion Night party, co-hosted by College Democrats and College Republicans.” said Smith-Schoenwalder. “More impor- tantly, students from all political affili- Wtc e. tion h Party on the night of the elenction. he identified with the Democrats and was not surprised by the results of the election. He was quite confident in the Democrats’ strategy for the Electoral College. RANDY KARLSON/ Staff Writer Fightin By Hamlet Fort STAFF warren _ Fraternity men at Washington and Lee can expect changes to New Member Education beginning in January. The lnter-Fraternity Council (IFC), Student Affairs Committee (SAC), and Campus—Community Coalition have worked simultaneously to alter New Member Education, or as it is colloqui- ally known, pledgeship, in a way that is more conducive to the New Members, or pledges. , Starting this year, new fraternity ini- tiates will see changes to contact hours from fraternities and the minimum Grade Point Average required tojoin. The SAC, led by Dean of Students Sidney Evans, formed a report on the state of New Member Education at W&L, and commissioned the IFC in an effort to make amends. Among the rec- ommendations presented was a proposal to shorten New Member Education from its normal eight weeks to six weeks. The SAC’s main objective, according to IFC President Danny Murray, is to “change the culture of New Member Education that would legitimize the purpose, which is to instill a sense of brotherhood.” Murray says the administration’s main concern for pledges is a diminished quality of life, including lower GPAs, a less regular sleep pattern and forced ac- tion in certain situations. Most fraternity presidents disagree with the proposal to shorten New Member Education, accord- ing to El Wislar, President of Sigma Chi. “Less time would simply mean heightened intensity and very little would change except making those 6, weeks worse,” says Wislar. However, Wislar admits some as- for pledgeship pects ofNew Member Education should change. “As ofnow, a step must be taken by the fraternities in order to show that we are willing to work with the adminis- tration,” Wislar says. The lFC countered the SAC’s report with a report of their own, a list of pro- posed amendments to pledgeship that happen, though not so drastic as cutting pledgeship to six weeks. “We want to increase the student quality of life and have a better structure that allows for less manipulation of the system,” said Murray. . The IFC and the New Member Edu- cation Task Force has ideas for doing so, “Less time [for New Member Education] would simply mean heightened intensity and very little would change except making those six weeks J worse. ’ EJ Wislar, Sigma Chi President would keep the eight-week length intact, including the changes to contact hours and minimum GPA. Previously, the hours in which New Members would be “on-duty” were from 7:00 a.m. to mid- night. These hours have been changed from 9:00 a.m. to midnight. New Members also must now have a minimum 2.3 GPA in order to join afra- temity, instead of the previous 2.0. This change comes in an effort to realign New Members’ priorities from pledgeship to academics, a major concern for the SAC. Additionally, a New Member Educa- tion Task Force has been created to fur- ther investigate potential changes. Wislar says one alternative being considered is removing one day a week from New Member Education altogether, essen- tially shortening it to seven weeks, while maintaining the eight-week time frame. Murray agrees that changes need to says Murray, including “mandating that pledge educators have more control.” Murray and Wislar are confident that all parties involved can get what they want. “The IFC has worked hard to maintain the Greek values which have made this University great and will con- tinue to do so,” says Wislar. “In my opin- ion, a happy medium can be reached that will not jeopardize the fraternal tradition _ but will appease those administrators and faculty who have complaints.” As of now, only the changes to con- tact hours and minimum GPA will be in effect this January. These minor changes, and potentially others, will undergo a one-year trial period to judge their ef- fects. The issue will be revisited next fall by the SAC and the IFC, and more changes could come then. Easing the By Douglas McNie| STAFF w R ITER Although Parents Weekend is usu- ally held late in the fall semester, it will be moved to an earlier date next year. Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Sydney Evans said that there are mul- tiple reasons for the switch. She cites the main reason as the administration believing that it would be more benefi- cial to first-years if their parents visited earlier on in the fall semester. If parents visit earlier in the semes- ter, then there is a better chance that they can contact and/or alert the deans ofany initial problems their child might face in the transition to college, accord- ing to Evans. While first-year parents are by no means the only parents who visit dur- ing Parents Weekend, the majority of the programming is aimed toward them. Currently, only two weeks separate Parents Weekend and Thanksgiving. By the time the break rolls around, many students have already seen their parents recently. The administration believes that it makes more sense to widen the gap between parental interactions so the adjustment: parents to come back earlier initial gap of starting school and see- ing parents at Parents Weekend will be shortened. The administration expects that this will help the first-years have a better transition to college living. Besides the main issue, another reason for the switch is the increased chance of inclement weather. While the possibility of poor weather was not the main factor, Evans cited the icy weath- ‘Parents Weekend Schedule: 2o13: Oclzober 4-e 2o14: october 3-5 2015: october 9-11 er, which occurred in the 2011 Parents Weekend. The team that was charged to over- see the change faced many challenges, including scheduling the new dates around all the other events that oc- . cupy the fall University calendar. They wanted to find a weekend with a home football game, while not interrupting important events such as Homecoming and the Board of Trustees meeting. The earlier Parents Weekend is al- ready on the calendar for the next three years. In 2013 it will occur on Oct. 4-6, in 2014 it will occur on Oct. 3-5, and in 2015 it will occur on Oct. 9-11. OCR::/Vol_116/WLURG39_RTP_20121112/WLURG39_RTP_20121112_002.2.txt IINIVERSITY LIBRARY V‘/A‘3i‘i.lx'~if§T0l%I 8: LEE UNIVERSITY LEXINGTON, VA 24450‘ NOV I Hill? 2 - THE RING-TUM PHI- M 0 N DAY, NOVEMBER 12,2012 Celebrating uss By Krysta Huber s TA F F w R | T E R The Celebrating Student Success Initiative selects two students to be rec- ognized for their accomplishments and contributions to Washington and Lee as Generals of the Month, every month. This month’s recipients, awarded at a reception in the Marketplace on Nov. 1, were seniorsiAli Hamed and Jennifer Ritter, according to wlu.edu. “The Celebrating Student Success Initiative is purely an effort at praise,” said Assistant Dean for First-Year Ex- perience Mr. Jason Rodocker. "It‘s ia Tech Research Symposium. Hamed has also been a teaching assistant to physics students, according to wlu.edu. Ritter is an Appalachian Adventure Leading Edge Trip Leader and co- president and student choreographer of the W&L Repertory Dance Company. She is also the personnel chair of Chi Omega sorority and the co-president of Catholic Campus Ministry, according to wlu.edu. In addition, both Ritter and Hamed are members of several different honor the Physics Honors Society, works for Traveller, is in his third year as an RA and has been a member of the varsity basketball team for three years. “The award was a great pat on the back,” Gilfillan said. “When you’re so involved in multiple projects, it’s good to know your work has not gone unno- ticed.” Deutsch is also the Assistant Gener- al Manager and Music Director of9l.5 WLUR FM, Co-Chair of First Book, Vice President of Philanthropy of Pi Beta Phi sorority and Programming Chair of SPEAK. “Winning the CSS award was such a humbling and exciting experience,” said Deutsch. “I never really took into account how much work I did on and off campus prior to the CSS nomina- tion, so having my work recognized was such a wonderful surprise.” After an informal five-minute cer- emony in the Marketplace, two posters of the Generals of the Month, created by Director of Publications Ms. Mary Woodson, are hung in the Marketplace. The ceremonies are always held on Thursdays, between ll:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. “We intentionally put the ceremony on the same day as a special dinner so that the posters get the widest recog- nition,” said Rodocker. “On a typical day, 500 people may come through. On “Winning the CSS award was such ‘a humbling and exciting experience, ” said Deutsch. “I never really took into account how much work I did on and oflcampus prior to the CSS nomination, so having my work recognized was such a wonderful surprise. ” Joni Deutch ’14 an effort to draw attention to positive things that occur within student life. So often people focus on some of the negatives and that’s what all the con- versation revolves around.” According to Rodocker, the CSS committee is composed of students, faculty and staff. The committee looks to award students who add significant depth to the W&L community, but aren’t being recognized for their ef- forts. The CSS initiative is typically spread by word-of—mouth: if a friend is named General of the Month, stu- dents will usually nominate other peers that they believe are deserving of the award. Rodocker hopes that more members of the W&L community will participate in the nomination process in the future. Students can be nominated at go.wlu.edu/css. “We’re looking for the person that is running an organization and doing it in a really good way, or they’re in- volved in Habitat for Humanity, but no one other than those in Habitat know that,” said Rodocker. “A lot of titnes it’s notjust one thing, but an accumula- tion of things — the student is a good friend to their peers; they’re someone who is trustworthy and dependable.” The November Generals of the Month were recognized for a variety of activities that they are involved in across campus. Hamed, who is a dou- ble major in physics-engineering and economics, participated in extensive research studies over the last two sum- mers, which led to his involvement in presentations at the American Physical Society Meeting and the W&L-Virgin- University-Shenandoah _ opened its season, called; World,” witha concert con Europe and Russia.’’. ,.' ~ Conductor of the USS fomiance of Shostako societies on campus and have been awarded a number of scholarships a special dinner, they might have V1000 people.” Ali Hamad and Jennifer Ritter (above) were Generals of the Month for November. throughout their four years at W&L, according to wlu.edu. Along with Ritter and Hamed, se- niors Taylor Gilfillan, Alexandra Fer- nandez, Ronald Magee and Rachel Pityk, and junior Joni Deutsch have received the Generals of the Month award this school year. Both ‘Gilfil- lan and Deutsch were recognized for their involvement in Orientation Week: Gilfillan served as First Year Orienta- tion Committee Chair this year and Sodalis chair in his junior year, while Deutsch acted as the General Co-Chair of FYOC this year. Gilfillan is also chapter president of PHOTO COURTESY OF KEVIN REMINGTON Rodocker also added that a simi- lar poster is sent to the students’ high schools, letting them know that their graduate has been recognized at W&L. “It’s doubly beneficial because it is recognition for the students back home and is also nice PR for us as a univer- sity,” Rodocker said. “I can say that spending time with the students who are receiving this rec- ognition is the best reminder I have of why I do what I do,” Rodocker said. “It’s exactly why people want to come to this college, be involved with this college and work with this college.” I ,”_;' Tchaikovsky’s “Variations on a Rococo Theme, op. :33," featuring Julia Goudimova, cellist; and Gold- fnark’s “Rustic Wedding Symphony.” , ..On Feb. 2, the USSO will perform its next concert, titled “Music of Western Europe.” On March 30, it will ‘esent “Music of the Americas.” ' ’ eported by Graham_Colton, Head Copy‘Editor i 3» .6’ STAFF WRITER Earthquake in Guatemala Guatemala was hit by its biggest earthquake in over thirty years on Wednes- day. It measured a 7.4 magnitude and left multiple areas of the country in sham- bles. Landslides that ensued after the quake are making rescue attempts difli- cult. At least 52 are dead, many missing and countless trapped. Approximately 73,000 people are still without electricity. China prepares for space mission China is preparing for its next space mission, officials say. A manned space- craft, the Shenzhou-I0, is set to launch in June of 2013 carrying two men and one woman. They will be working on the country’s first experimental space sta- tion, Tiangong-l, for 15 days. Suicide bombing in Afghanistan People across Afghanistan were killed on Thursday by various blasts. A sui- cide bomber in Kandahar killed at least three policemen and wounded other citizens. Five soldiers died in a landmine explosion in the eastern region ofthe country. In addition, a roadside bomb went off in Helmand killing at least ten people. Violence continues in Myanmar Violence continues between Buddhists and Muslims in western Myanmar. Nobel laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, encouraged the government to send more troops to the region in an effort to restore peace. She claimed that more forces are needed ifthe killings are going to be stopped. The government needs to ac- cept this responsibility for human rights, she said. Iran puts ban on “luxury goods” The government of Iran on Wednesday placed a ban on what it deems “luxu- ry goods.” This group includes foreign-made cars, laptops, watches, coffee and more. The list ofitems totaled 75, many ofwhich are basic everyday goods. The purpose ofthis ban is to save billions of dollars by eliminating many of the na- tion’s imports. Citizens are now left with no choice but to purchase these items on the local markets. Greek citizens demonstrate outside Parliament on austerity vote Eartlier last week, nearly 70,000 Greek citizens demonstrated outside Parlia- ment as austerity measures for the 2013 budget were put to a vote. In order to repay a 5 billion euro treasury bill on November 16 the Greek government needs a bailout loan. However, the last austerity measures passed were not sufficient to receive the loan. Without the economy could easily default this week. BBC head steps down in the wake of scandals The new head of BBC, George Entwistle, stepped down this week after just two months. He said it was the “honorable thing” to do in the wake of two scan- dals regarding poor reporting about the alleged sexual misconduct of a former BBC employee and a former senior politician. V 1' . ‘By HannahyHoward am, *4. at LEE Ill “Hands Down the In Host Truckstop In America“ - The Travel channel, Most Extreme Truekstopa Home Cooked Meals & Sonrkmr Ho.tplral1r_r! Orderfmm our complete menu (Jr Jain urfar our ofaur A (J, }'0u[-' (bl.-I-' EA 1‘ .li‘ufl"t:.r.' Daily Breakfast Bar Monday — Friday 6 am — 10:30 am Saturday 5 5und‘a1,r6 am -1:30 pm Daily Hui Bar Monday - Thursday 11 am . 10 pm Soup, Salad. 8. Fruit Barltllweel-:10:3O am - it pm Friday Mghl Sealoo-:1 Buffet 5 pm - ‘I0 pm Saturday Night Pod: B80 Buffet 5 pm - 10 pm Sunday Baked Chicitenfi Port-:LoInt1am-9pm Fridays. Saturday Late Night Breaklast Buffet 11 pm — 2am Order Breakfast 24 Heu rs a day, ? days a week! I-31 8. I-54. Exit 195. 2516 N. Lee Hwy.. Lexington. VA 24450 540-463-3478 www.laahi.com See ourmami amine Twitter Qberltysfoud Find us on Face book OCR::/Vol_116/WLURG39_RTP_20121112/WLURG39_RTP_20121112_003.2.txt MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2012 3 ° THE'RlNG-TUM PHI 0 opinions O ByJP Beall OPINIONS EDITOR When you think of Washington and Lee and how it came to be, what comes to mind? Do you think of George Wash- ington, and how his gift of canal stock served to keep the young Liberty Hall going? Do you think about the Lee Pres- idency, which institutionalized much of our W&L culture? . Lee gave this campus many impor- tant traits that we might be hard pressed to recognize W&L today without them. Lee cemented the newly forming Honor No leeway System and gave us that “one rule here.” From this culture of civility, Lee gave us what we now call the Speaking Tra- dition. Though sometimes it seems that there are some people who would have the Speaking Tradition fall silent. I think most people here have had at least one encounter by now with that one person walking down the brick path- way—wearing the “I Whale Bob and George” shi1t—who knows people are coming, and rather than give a quick nod, holds out that cell phone for ev- eryone to see, perhaps fakes a text, and looks the other way. First off, we all text and talk while we walk—l am notorious for it—and some- times we miss people who smile, nod, or say “hi.” It’s an honest mistake~maybe you show that you heard them—and they understand. I hardly think General Lee meant for people to drop everything when pre-occupied and shake every- one’s hand when between classes. But he did mean for people to act honestly and with respect towards other people in their community. Let’s face it, if we all talk and text while we are on the move, we can tell who is taking rather than acknowledge that the rules of civility apply to every- one. ‘'We éaae flat ewe rude For one thing, the fakes are trying way too hard to look like they’re texting or talking. The pained look of effort is smudged all over their face like coal- dust as they struggle to come up with a line to whisper into their phone or tap furiously into the keys. Of course, there’s nothing better than watching that one person use the old singing trick, and mouth “watermelon- watermelon,” and try to look interested when Silence, equally interested, an- swers them. Isn’t it easier at this point to just make eye contact, or nod, or smile? All these other tactics, in addition to being more work, and more transparent, are flat-out dishonorable, and no amount of ~2a5e¢t 5. .4’ee W&L tridents or Bob & George pattern can fix that. I’m definitely not saying that people should be liable for dismissal for snub- bing someone on the sidewalk. If noth- ing else, the EC would never leave their chambers. But the Speaking Tradition used to be enforced. Not too long ago, there was a cam- pus organization called the Assimilation Committee. It was a group appointed by and answerable to the EC, and was on Speaking Tradition charged with enforcing different things of cultural importance to W&L, like wearing blue blazers at Lee Chapel, the Speaking Tradition and other things. Students who did not were ticketed. Never mind the occasions where stu- dents were just flat out caned by snubbed upperclassmen. While an institution like the Assimi- lation Committee could be a construc- tive institution here on campus, we are fortunate to be charged with self-en- forcement ofthese things. After all, isn’t that what General Lee wanted us to do, was to hold ourselves accountable? Yes, that gives us wiggle room to put up idiotic pantomime charades with our cell phones as props, but then you know what you’re doing and so does everyone else. But at least you didn’t have to be bothered for a split-second to return a friendly gesture. STAFF WRITER To: Donald Trump By Yates Wilburn Subject: Your Future in American Politics ’. Just so you know where I’m com- ing from Mr. Trump, I am a Republican. Now, I’d like to ask you--with nothing but genuine politeness--to take a few deep breaths, count to ten, and cease communication with society at large. Why, you ask? Well, when you take to Twitter questioning President Obama’s citizenship--an issue (if it ever really was one) settled long ago--declare the death of democracy when a president wins electorally but not popularly (which he didn’t), claim that 2 million votes were forged, or encourage your fellow Ameri- cans to take up arms against their legiti- mately elected government, it presents several problems. First, less intelligent people in our own party may take you seriously, which could be very bad for their careers, legal situations, and sanity. Second, less intelligent people OUT- SIDE our party may take you seriously, and assume we are all reactionary, in- flammatory children desperate for atten- tion. Seeing as we now live in a political and economic situation that requires the most respectful and delicate nature of negotiation and compromise, neither of these is helpful. Now, don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with criticizing, question- ing, and improving one’s government; that’s the American way. Furthermore, I agree that our country is certainly in dire straights that I felt would be better navi- gated by Mitt Romney. However, simply throwing a toddler’s temper-tantrum on the intemet in the hopes of validating one’s existence in a desperate bid to stay relevant is not constructive. For God’s sake, we have reality TV for a reason. So, please Mr. Trump, stop talk- ing politics and head back to where we like you: reality TV. We lost, President Obama won, time to adjust to a new real- ity. I suggest you leave the big decisions America is facing to the adults--meaning people with maturity of an l8 year old or higher. Don’t take it personally, I think the same of all spoiled children I meet. In essence Mr. Trump, “you’re fired.” Sincerely, Yates Wilburn P.S. This obviously disregards the fact that I can’t seem to recall you making a super big case when President Bush AC- TUALLY lost the popular vote in 2000 OR that you have donated mountains of cash to Democrats in the past only to re- cently find your tried and true conserva- tive feelings in the past year. the apprentice: done in one Election leaves America in the weeds By Julianna Satterly EDITOR IN CHIEF Cannabis. Weed, pot, reefer, grass, ganja, moon- K. flower, dope, hash, marijuana. Whatever you call it, Cannabis sativa has made quite an impact in the world. Chances are, you’ve smelled it, seen it or smoked it in your life. But how much do you re- ally know about the number one illegally used drug in America? Since legalizing the stuff has become a front-running topic of late, I thought I would fill you in on all things pot. And it is quite possible that at some point we will be voting here on the same sensitive bill that just passed in Colorado and Washington. A brief history lesson Indigenous to Central and South Asia, evidence of psychoactive cannabis use has been dated as far back as 2,000 years. The ancient Assyrians first used it in religious ceremonies, and the mod- em name ‘cannabis’ probably comes from the Assyrian word ‘qunubu’ mean- ing ‘way to produce smoke.’ Traces of marijuana have been found all over the world from the writings of Herodotus to Shakespeare’s home in England. Pos- session of the plant was not made illegal globally until the 20th century, with the United States leading the crusade. Now almost every country has outlawed the possession of any amount of weed. This is your brain on pot The active ingredient in Cannabis sativa is THC, or Tetrahydrocannabinol. It affects the transmitters of the spinal cord, and ultimately modifies the way you feel pleasure and pain, memory, thought, concentration, time percep- tion, appetite and motor coordination. Sound familiar? Other areas of the body that THC impacts include the heart and lungs. There are both negative and positive effects of using reefer. People claim that smoking relieves pain, lessens nausea, decreases stress-related problems, and even clears up asthma. The downside: a combination of lowered blood pressure and increasing heart rate causes smok- ers to have a 400 percent higher chance of heart attack. Also, pot users have the same lung problems as tobacco smokers, and are three times as likely to get cancer as a non—user. More obvi- ously, it hinders driv- ing and think- ing ability. Guys, you might want to have a seat, because grass also decreases sperm production and functionality if smoked by young men. Informed voters? Washington and Colorado have both passed bills decriminalizing the posses- sion of less than an ounce of dope for people twenty-one and older. Now, stop jumping up and down, because all is not rainbows and sunshine in the world. government is missing a giant opportu- nity. Yes, ganja affects the brain pretty severely. So does alcohol. The only real difference is that hash causes more last- ing damage. Can you imagine the rev- housing for cannabis rule-breakers. Is it worth the cost? I don’t think so. I’m not saying that I agree with a “pot for everyone!” world, but I do like the idea of being debt free. The entrepreneur 0 . Pot is the #1 most used illegal drug m in the US crs mega; pot is a $35 billion imiustry -4. .- Smoking increases the”, , odds of cancer 3x,.and a 400% greater chance v .- ,. of heart attack ’ ‘ ~Cannab‘is has ' wt; 1 been around for“ ‘ ., C0 and WA jo‘ ed the Neth- erlands’, Peru . _ nd" Danglae-. =, desh as the plac"_es?-Vvhere ~~ ‘ weed possession is legal ,_ W M ' at ‘ The US annually. , ’ spends $15 billion? 3.‘ ’ L 2900 years I ,_ on Prohibition I First, the federal government has not lifted the ban. What this means for us is the beginning of a battle between the states and nation. Technically, the fed- eral law supersedes state law. Which is probably the precedent that the Justice Department will want to set, as this is the first time in history a law of this sort has been passed anywhere in the world. So even though two states are pushing for the Promised Land, chances are high that they will get shut down. If you ask my opinion, the federal enue generated by putting an outrageous sin tax in place? Economists can, and they say that the industry could gener- ate between $44 billion and $100 billion in revenue for the country. Per year. Can you say deficit reduction? More ben- eficially, drug stores popping up sea to sea would be some serious job influx. Around 75 jobs per store. If that’s not incentive, here are some sobering facts (pun intended): the US spends almost $14 billion every year in prohibition costs, plus over $1 billion on prison in me sees a booming industry ahead, and I honestly don’t think there’s much we can do to stop it. The black market al- ready exists. Legalizing weed would de- crease the street cost, and therefore drug- related crime, and completely eliminate the related black market. A strongly reg- ulated endeavor can only help us. Mari- juana (for medicinal purposes) is already the number one cash crop in California. All in favor raise yourjoint. OCR::/Vol_116/WLURG39_RTP_20121112/WLURG39_RTP_20121112_004.2.txt 4 ° THE RING-TUM PHI - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2012 Now with 4BR/2BA Units. A Two & FOUR Kitchen, Laundnt BEDROOMS & Huge Living Room AVAILABLE G NE ALS’ ° RETR AT - NOT f~xffih.:~ma(1 with \Nashingt0r1 5. Lee Ur1i~.n‘2r':5i{‘y' Townhome Style Apartments On Nelson Street 2BR / 1BA UNITS and 4BR / 2BA UNITS WASHER.jTDRYER , WATER, TRASH, FIBER OPTIC INTERNET ALL INCLUDED g1>-I'.IT ,, over here! *5 ‘I ,. ’ ‘ ’ 3, 5 E‘: J E , ‘ , , ‘X ‘ V;;‘.‘ Ev V V’ ‘I V’ i <2 i. ,,.vnaI0N 540-464-373 ian@tbmcom.com W Volleyball 2. Bus-V~bulI V THE QIJTLIDIIF-E MANADCICNT CD OCR::/Vol_116/WLURG39_RTP_20121112/WLURG39_RTP_20121112_005.2.txt MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2012 5 0 THE RING-TUM PHI - arts&Iife , Dank’s Giving A collaboration between the General , By Christian Kennedy STAFF WR ITE R In preparation for Thanksgiving, a group of student organizations brought the band Dank Sinatra to campus on Friday night. Dank Sinatra, based out of Athens, Ga., is one of the best and most popular jam bands of the South. The five—man band consisted of two guitar- ists, a bassist, a keys player, and a drum- mer, all of whom also sang. Activities Board, the Student Activities Board, and multiple fraternities includ- ing KA, SAE, Sigma Chi, and Sigma Nu presented the band at the Pavilion from 9 p.m. to 12 a.1n. last Friday night. The goal of the benefit concert was to raise money to purchase instruments for stu- dents at the Rockbridge County High -_i H‘. Li,- Name: Eric Rosato’ l3. Hometown:'Syracuse,_N.Y.- , Maj or(s): Biology and Politics ‘ Activities on campus: Mock Convention, Peer Counseling Where will you spend Thanksgiving this year? a It wfll be my first outside of the States as I head to London to visit friends and to see a Mumford and Sons show. Trying to honor the holiday in the UK will prove an interesting task, undoubtedly, but I’m sure we’ll dnim something up. What are you looking most forward to doing during A Thanksgiving break? 'I‘raveling and visiting friends in a setting outside Lexington. Pumpkin, pecan, apple or cranberry? Apple. ti LI.-:E‘.. LI::i~.-rt ii‘ Eric Rosato '13 What will be the hardest pet about ieavingwahroi e . Forgetting that We have”—to come _ — a back to finals and terrn papers V , Does your family any ’ Thanksgiving traditions? Our neighborhood had an annual Turkey Bowl in which the fathers and sons play a game A of flag football’ on Thanksgiving T morning before heading off to celebrate flie holiday with our families. But as the sons have gotten older and headed in different directions, it’s a tradition” .7 that has passed. Other than V that, it’s.usually arun-of-the_—mil1 _ _ Americanthanksgivingforus. _ , _ it » i * T I'a_vorit_e_clas‘s_atW&L?- , f, African.Politi'cs with Professor‘, What are you most grateful for? . , ‘ ‘ My health. Then my family and I ‘ friends. » » . _ V Who would you rather have at your Thanksgiving table, comes early to W&L ah, up . Band members of Dank Sinatra played from 9 p.m. to 12 .§e,_ ~. a.m.»last Friday at the Pavilion, doing the benefit /concert to raise money to purchase instruments for Rockbridge County High School students. School. Tickets were sold the week before and at the door for $5 each, and alcohol was available at a cash bar for students over 2 1. Like many Pavilion events in the past, there was a less than impressive turnout, due to the location as well as poor ad- vertising. This, however, did not affect Dank Sinatra’s performance in the least, who put on a exciting show and stayed in a great mood regardless ofthe amount of people there. Sophomore Patrick Wellborn coin- : 2+ . merited, “l’ve been to every single Dank Sinatra show at this school, and they were as good as ever tonight.” ' By Mariel Pearl S’;__1'A_l_*'F:' WRITER ~ \ . ',lliobertE.,Ilee‘or‘George 2 " A, on;.Hisir\strumental_ v— f . . . _o11rtding.of nation’ metl'1ing’_.l would be more A ' sted in hearing about V" A ’ life jor1_.ee;Te_ ' ye a chance tositwitliitlte first _’ pfisildentilof United. States W andsomeone ‘so pivotal in the . 3’ ’ ‘ " cireation of the institutions that still a this nation today would be , _ great and something‘: couldn’t pass up: A Favorite spot to study on 5 campus? ~ . r .Dickiovick 9 it was a spring term study abroad program in Ghana. We had a great group of students - and professors, the material was beyond interesting, and there's , just so_‘methingabout_ being able Dank’s nonstop three hour show was filled with a variety of southem clas- sics mixed with their own originals. By blending different music genres together, the band created a unique sound which was “something that can only be de- scribed once it has been experienced,” according to the group’s biography. Although there wasn’t a majority ofthe student body present, every person who attended seemed to have a fantastic time. At midnight, Dank Sinatra finished off their set with a glorious, electric guitar- led Star Spangled Banner. After speak- ing with the band after the performance, they expressed that they really enjoyed to immerse yourself in the culture and its people that can’t be matched by a simple classroom lecture. It is an experience I will V take with me for years to come. the show and would love to come back and play again at Washington & Lee. Said bass player Clint Meadows: “We’re not going to worry about where this band will be in two to three years. We’re thinking about where this band is right now and what things we can do to improve and master the sound of Dank Sinatra for our fans and ourselves alike.” Hopefully in the future, Dank Sinatra will return to play many more shows where many more students will be able to attend. What do you do in your spare ’ time? Spare time? Caroline Bearden '16 blame: Caroline Bearden ‘ 16 _.‘_'I-Iometown:Summit,N.]. I ,_ Major(s): Business _ I ‘, 'ties'onpus:Riding Team, Outing Club . 4 Where will you spend _At home. _ i if are you most loo’ S forward to doing during Thanksgiving break? . Seeing my family, catching up with friends, and relaxing! iwhatwillbethehardest part about leaving W&L for a week? Missing all of my friends here Pumpkin, Pecan, Apple or Cranberry? Pumpkin. Describe yourself in three words. Determined, nice, easy-going. Favorite spot to study on campus? Book Nook in Leyburn. Ifyou could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be? All ages have their advantages and disadvantages, I wouldn’t want to live forever and miss the things that come later in life. and the freedom of college life. Who would you rather have at your Thanksgiving table, Robert E. Lee or George Washington? ‘ Why?’ Robert E. Lee — he is just the ultimate gentleman and man of honor (not that George isn’t, of course). OCR::/Vol_116/WLURG39_RTP_20121112/WLURG39_RTP_20121112_006.2.txt ' THE RING-TUM PHI - M O N DAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2012 arts&Iife By Allie Weiss DESIGN EDITOR For most families, Thanksgiving is a time of reflection and rest. It is one of those all-too-rare days when we can come together to share a‘ meal, recall memories of the years gone by, and show gratitude for those we love. But for some students, this Thanksgiving break won’t be what we have all come to ex- pect. Those who will be traveling home to places hard-struck by recent weather catastrophes are in for a far different ex- perience. Students from New York City, New Jersey, and Long Island have been hear- ing stories for weeks about the chaos in their hometowns. After Hurricane Sandy struck, it left a host of issues in its wake. Some families have been living without . power for more than two weeks. With the chilly weather of November well underway, the loss of heat is more than merely an inconvenience. Said Frank Diez ’ 14 of Bronx, N.Y.: “I didn’t have any power in my house for almost a week. My mom couldn’t stay in her house because nothing was work- ing.” “My family lost power on the 29th and, with the recent snow storm, they’re not expected to get power back until the 13th at the earliest,” said Kristina Seon ’l5 of Long Island, N.Y. “It’s frustrating being here and knowing my family is going through this. It’s incredible how much we rely on electricity now and they don’t have any of it.” 9-at. Hurricane Sandy proved to be the most destructive storm in the history of Con Edison, the energy company which pro- vides electricity to much of New York City. 174,680 customers lost power on Staten Island alone. While turning the power back on is the company’s main priority, many homeowners now have to contend with the damages from the flood which might delay the restoration of electricity. According to Diez, “I know that most of Manhattan got flooded. My friends who live in the lower part of Manhattan were forced to stay home because every- thing was so flooded. There wasn’t any- where to go.” Furthermore, New York City and New Jersey have become subject to fuel short- ages. For the first time since the 1970s, officials have started rationing gasoline. This posed a huge problem in recent weeks for parents of W&L students, who had planned on visiting campus for Par- ents’ Weekend. “There were hour-long lines at the few pumps that were still working, and sometimes they ran out before everyone had a chance to refill, so people had wait- ed hours for nothing,” said Sarah Scaf- fidi ’l5 from New York City. “My mom was able to make it down to see me for Parents’ Weekend, but she had to drive an hour upstate to get gas because there is such a shortage in our neighborhood and in New Jersey.” . . . I passerby examln the extensive damage lft behind by Hurricane Sandy at the Shenerock Shore Club in Rye, N.Y. I .- ‘ -..i J’, » ' _‘/mi’ _ . 5 «L: ‘ iii’ «J: This aerial photo shows a collapsed house along the central Jersey Shore coast on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012. New Jersey got the brunt of Sandy, which made landfall in the state and killed six people. More than 2 million customers were without power as of Wednesday afternoon, down from a peak of 2.7 million. With Break right around the comer, students from these areas are gearing up for the unexpected. Though the clean-up has been a slow process, the city has be- gun to repair itself. Said Seon: “The city is still trying to get back on its feet too. I think Thanks- giving is going to have a different feel this year, [and we will be] thankful for things that we didn’t think about before.” f . - KATHRYN LANG MIKE GROLL/AP PHOTO ‘PI 2.’. , ‘ ru ‘ 3% .. A car goes through the high water as Hurricane Sandy bears down on the East Coast, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in Ocean City, Md. Governors from North Carolina, where steady rains were whipped by gusting winds Saturday night, to Connecticut declared states of emergency. Delaware ordered mandatory evacuations for coastal communities by 8 p.m. Sunday. ALEX BRANDON/AP PHOTO WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY THE RING-TUM PHI. EDITOR IN CHIEF NEWS EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR ARTS&L|FE EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR HEAD COPY EDITOR DESIGN EDITORS SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR STAFF WRITERS BUSINESS MANAGERS DISTRIBUTION STAFF JULIANNA SATTERLY NEIL HAGGERTY .IP BEALL CYNTHIA LAM LEIGH DANNHAUSER GRAHAM COLTON JULIA LANG ALLIE WEISS SARA J. KORASH-SCHIFF HENDLEY BADCOCK LINDSEY BURKE SHELBY FLORES HAMLET FORT HAILEY HARTLEY HANNAH HOWARD KRYSTA HUBER KYLE JAEGER RANDY KARLSON CHRISTIAN KENNEDY PAT MCCARRON DOUGLAS MCNIEL MARIEL PEARL BAILEY RUSSELL SARAH WARD YATES WILBURN DAVID WILSON DILLON MYERS KANE THOMAS 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@wlu.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 For Politics Professor Eduardo Velas- quez, spinning isn’t just a fonn of exer- cise, but rather a source of revival from a debilitating illness. “Spinning brought me back to life, literally,” said Velasquez. Several years ago, the Colombian-bom professor was diagnosed with Lyme dis- ease. It took 15 years before he was finally diagnosed, allowing the bacteria to spread into his system and brutally alter his me- tabolism and sleeping patterns. According to Velasquez, many students unconsciously carry Lyme diseases. “It just completely incapacitated me,” said Velasquez about the illness. “At that point, I thought: ‘my career is over.’” Before physicians could find the cause of Velasquez’s pain, his body could hardly handle simple, everyday tasks. “I came to the point where walking up four flights of steps was painful,” he said. “I wanted to move my body, but everything hurt so much that I couldn’t even exercise.” In October 2009, the pain became so se- vere that Velasquez was forced to take a leave of absence, with the advice of sev- eral professionals. However, even Lyme wasn’t strong enough to stop his tenacious character. “I have spoken with and continue to Professor Eduardo Velasquez gives politics a whole new “spin.” speak with students devastated by ill- A new spin on By Lindsey Burke STAFF WRITER things Professor Velasqez, aka Eddie V, will be teachingspin classes Mon- day, Wednesday, Friday at 12:15 p.m. during winter term. nesses they don’t yet fully comprehend -- because even specialists don’t,” he said. With the help of a heavy dose of hope and antibiotics, Velasquez began his career on the bike. The slow peddling at the start of his spinning career is symbolic of his incremental recovery, where each step forward is like one turn higher on 4 the bike dial. Although his “body is not what it was,” . he uses every ounce of strength left to teach spin classes at the University, with ' the goal of helping others feel happy and I supported. “I surrender to spin and cel- - ebrate that life is a gift,” said Velasquez. “Whatever that is reminds me that we are not alone in this universe.” Velasquez’s spin classes are more than just a series of scheduled workouts. He uses his background music to create trust with his students. With the help of social media, it’s “impossible” not to get to know his students on a personal level. This week, he used first-year spin student Elizabeth McGarry’s online Spo- tify playlist during class. He also creates Facebook pages for his politics and spin classes. Professor Velasquez spins like there’s no tomorrow, as he says spinning tomorrow is no guarantee. He tends to smile after every workout “because me teaching spin does not make sense.” After all, he never imagined that he would be in the condition he is in today - feeling stronger and better than ever before. “My illness is an odd sort of blessing. It reminds me at every moment that that moment is all we have, and we don’t even have that,” said Velasquez. “I can’t avoid the conclusion that I am a better person for it.” EddieV’s spin classes will be held Mon- day, Wednesday, and Friday at 12:15 p.m. during winter term. He will be offering a spring term course titled, “A Course About Nothing,” where he will incorporate spin and yoga into teaching about getting out of our heads and learning to be present in everything we do. Check out his spinning Facebook page online! Going home to fmily and Sandy , -er OCR::/Vol_116/WLURG39_RTP_20121112/WLURG39_RTP_20121112_007.2.txt M 0 N DAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2012 7 0 THE RING-TUM PHI 0 ..Sp0I‘t By Sarah Ward STAFF WRITER Washington and Lee rounded out the regular season with a 42-23 win over Shenandoah in Lexington on Saturday afternoon. With 4:10 left in the first quar- Courtesy of W&L Sports Information ter, senior running back Sasha Vandalov ran six yards for a touchdown, posting the only points for either team in the first quarter. Shenandoah scored the first points in the second quarter, completing a field goal with 12:38 left. The Generals re- sponded with two touchdowns in the last ~ W&L takes Shenandoa 43 seconds of the first half. Vandalov ran four yards for his second touchdown of the afternoon. The first play ofthe Hornets’ next drive resulted in a fumble recovered by the , Generals and consequently a 13-yard ‘ i pass from junior quarterback Nick Lom- i bardo into the endzone to junior tight end Alex Evans with just 26 seconds left in - the half to bring the score to 21-3. The Generals began the second half with a four yard touchdown run by se- nior running back Brett Murray as a result of an interception by senior line- backer Zach Zoller. The Hornets then scored a touchdown on their next drive to end the third quarter with the Generals up 28-10. W&L scored the first points ofthe final quarter as well with yet another touch- down by Vandalov, who ran 22 yards to reach the endzone. Sophomore kicker *' Joe Campbell took over kicking duties from senior Luke Heinsohn after Van- da1ov’s third touchdown to score his first point ofthe game. Several first-year players saw time in the fourth quarter, including fresh- man running back Jimmy Moynahan who scored his first career touchdown on a three yard run with 8:03 left in the game. Shenandoah scored two additional h, next NCAAs A Defensive back Jeff Schulte and inner line backer Peter Partee Courtesy of W&L Sports Information touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but the Generals still finished on top with a final score of 42-23. Kevin Travaline, Jake Pelton, and Wal- ter Ramsey each had six tackles on de- fense for the Generals. The Generals now await their matchup for their first NCAA Division III playoff game, which will be announced on Sun- day night. W&L, the ODAC champions, earned an automatic bid with their win last Saturday over Hampden-Sydney. Rugby comes with challenge and responsibilty By Hendley Badcock STA F F w R I T E R As with many club sports, the rich tra- dition and spirited camaraderie of Wash- ington & Lee Minks Rugby Club provide players with an enjoyable environment to compete and challenge both them- selves and their teammates. According to Coach John Welsh, rugby’s inclusive- A ness is what makes the sport so distinct. He explains, “there truly is a position for everyone on the field [as] each position demands something different.” Generally, the team consists of twenty- five men; fifteen players comprise an “A” and a “B” side during match play. This year, seven seniors have led the club through the regular season with a 5-1 record. Watching the complex plays and unique formations for the first time can undoubtedly lead to some confusion about rugby. Having to learn and enact those plays brings out a whole new level of devotion to the sport. “You definitely have to want to learn,” first-year Wilson Prioleau states. Sur- prisingly, 80% of the club has never been exposed to rugby before. Prioleau, a first-time player, recalls how it took a couple of games to really figure out their positions. Fellow first-year Blake Odom agrees. “It was pretty easy to pick up be- cause most of the other freshman hadn’t played either,” said Odom. Welsh and Coach Tom Lovell, as well as the upper- classmen, always offer help and encour- agement to the younger players. Welsh himself began playing rugby at Radford University before participating in the Roanoke Men’s Club. Minks rugby competes in the Virginia Rugby Union against Lynchburg Col- lege, Roanoke College, Hampton Syd- ney, Mary Washington, and Christopher Newport, their most challenging oppo- nent. Outside of official matches, rugby also plays against some Division I and 11 teams, namely VMI and James Madi- son University. From mid-August to the beginning of November, Minks rugby participated in the fall season; beginning after February break, they will advance to the spring post-season. “Even if we don’t make the post season [due to our fall season rankingll we still schedule tournaments and matches,” Welsh states. “Players not only learn how to compete but how to handle the responsibility of managing a team,” Welsh remarks. A club sport, rugby requires much leader- ship from players to handle everything from scheduling matches to managing fiscal issues. These jobs are distributed amone...:h,e.. I.{IP.$.i§1§,£1t;.,,.££9aS‘1¥9?§a.;.§§l?L"¢h secretary, recruiting chair, and captain. Rugby welcomes new players at any time; those interested should contact rugby President Jack Gallagher, galla- gherj13@mai1.wlu.edu. Practice takes place every Tuesday, Thursday, and Fri- day, 4:00-6:00 on Fudge Field. Volleyball falls in the first round of the NCAA tournament By Shelby Flores 5 TA F F w R IT E R The Washington & Lee volleyball team will not move on in the NCAA Tourna- ment after a loss to fifth-ranked Christo- pher Newport University last Friday. The Generals kept the first and third games close but were unable to pull out the win in the 25-22, 25-11, 25-20 loss to the Captains. CNU’s strong blocking kept W&L at Kyle leger a .099 hitting percentage. Head Coach Bryan Snyder said that CNU blocked better against them than the first time the teams met in early October. “In general, both teams played at a higher level,” Snyder said. “We just eouldn’t come up with a big kill when we needed it.” First-year outside hitter Anna Lausberg led the Generals with 14 kills in her first NCAA Tournament appearance. Junior setter Meghan Meleski and first-year libero Kasey Cannon led the team with nine digs a piece. The loss ends the 2012 season for the Generals. The team finished the season with a 26-10 overall record and a 10-1 conference record. This year marked the team’s 13th ODAC title and its 11th trip to the NCAA Tournament. Snyder is happy with the improvement his team made this year and he says he is excited for next year. The Generals will return all 12 players next season, includ- ing seven first-years. “We can continue to build and improve, rather than try to rebuild,” Snyder said. Coach Snyder says he would like to thank the players, the coaching staff, the athletic training staff, and everyone else who supported the team this year for making the 2012 season so successful. _ Hailey Hartley Michael Vick is perhaps the most polarizing quar- terback to ever play in the NFL. Vick has dazzled fans for years with his unique skill set, but shocked them with his off.the field issues. In 2007, he was implicated in a dog-fighting ring and it seemed that his career was over. The Falcons, his former team, were disgraced and promptly released him. After serving jail time and filing for bankruptcy, the Ea- gles took a chance on him. Initially not the starter, Vick worked hard and created a QB controversy, earning the starting job. In 2010, his second year with the Eagles, Vick was a revelation, however, he has been in a downward spiral ever since. It appears that Vick has reached another rock bot- tom in his career. This season, the Eagles are 3-5, following last years performance in which an in- credible offseason earned them the “dream-team” label. Vick led this so-called dream team to a dis- appointing 8-8 record. This season is going even worse. Through eight games, Vick has thrown 9 interceptions and fumbled 10 times. Vick has been so bad that Andy Reid, one of the longest tenured coaches in the NFL, might lose hisjob. Not only has Vick been bad on the field, he has created controversy off it. His brother, Marcus Vick, recently tweeted during last week’s Eagles — Saints game,“P1ease trade my brother. We request- ing out of Philly! ! 1! Please please please.” Michael Vick had nothing to do with the tweet, but the peop1e"who Vick surrounds himself with have let him down yet again. Michael Vick has not handled the press particularly well himself, either. When asked how he felt about his potential benching, Vick said he would support Andy Reid’s decision. Vick should’ve been more outspoken, asserting himself as a leader and claiming his stake as the startinggquarterback. Instead, he appeared unsure and timid. After two disappointing seasons, Andy Reid is on the hot seat. In order to protect his job, Reid needs to make changes, to show the orga- A losing re- cord is never really accept- able in the NFL; with only 16 games in a season, even nization and their fans that he is still a great head coach. The change started with the firing of defensive coordi- he Eagles have been struggling this season. They are 3-6 and are at the bottom of the NFC East standings. Who is to blame, Quarterback Michael Vick or Head . Coach Andy Reid? Kyle and Hailey line up on the issue. week one can have playoff implications. The NFC East has tra- ditionally been one of the toughest divisions nator Juan Castillo. Vick will be next. The Eagles have rookie Nick Foles waiting in the wings for his opportunity. Reid can bench Vick and insert Foles, and if Foles shows promise and wins some games, Reid’s career could be salvaged. Starting Nick Foles is a win-win move for the Eagles. If he performs well, the Eagles have found their quarterback for the future. If Foles tanks, the Eagles will have a better shot at a high draft pick, where they can select a long-term solution to their quarterback problem. The Eagles organization is in a state of disarray. The team has failed to meet expectations time and time again. The Eagles have some great pieces on both sides of the ball, but a struggling quarterback and offensive line has kept them from reaching their potential. Andy Reid needs to do something soon, for the team and for his own sake. It appears that change will be starting Nick Foles at quarter- back. No one can know for sure when this impend- ing move will happen, but it seems inevitable. If the Eagles lose to the Cowboys this weekend, and Vick continues his poor play, get ready for Nick Foles against the Redskins on November 18th. in the league. The Gi- ants are the defending Super Bowl champions, and the division race is always close. The Philadelphia Eagles are 3-5, home to some of the toughest fans in the nation, and people are calling for heads. When Michael Vick arrived, fans and NFL experts believed that this was the Eagles’ time. They picked up huge defensive free agents last year in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha. The Eagles were poised to be the Miami Heat of the NFL. So what isn’t working? One of the most frequent suggestions to help fix this err-er-prone team is to bench Michael Vick. The guy’s status as a superstar just hasn’t been what it was when he was in Atlanta. There are flashes of his brilliance, and then he drops the ball... and not on purpose. But should Vick really be benched? Probably not. Nick Foles definitely is not the answer. Mi- chael Vick hasn’t lost his talent; he seems to have lost his direction. His offensive line is horren- dous, and the few times he actually gets a chance to do something with the ball he’s probably so shocked he forgets what he’s supposed to be do- ing. Hence the 19 turnovers. The team is talented and under the right direction, they could be living up to the standards that they have set for them- selves. - The solution for the Eagles is for Andy Reid to step down as head coach. The guy has had a rough year, no one can blame him for that, but his inability to inspire and drive his team is unac- ceptable. He’s been a great coach and loyal to the Eagles, but his time as head coach is winding down. I believe that given a new coaching staff, the Eagles can play at the highest level. If they are able to come out strong the second half of the season, Philadelphia can still salvage the season. Their best chance of doing this is with Michael Vick under center. OCR::/Vol_116/WLURG39_RTP_20121112/WLURG39_RTP_20121112_008.2.txt 8 ° THE RING-TUM PHI - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2012 s ports in the numbers 10 The total number of weeks in a row that the Ala- bama Crimson Tide spent at the top of the Associ- ated Press college football poll. Alabama fell to fourth this week after losing to Texas A&M on Sat- urday, 29-24, while at home. 76 The total number of goals that Lionel Messi has scored this calendar year. He scored numbers 75 and 76 to take the record from Pele when Barcelona beat Mallorca on Sat- urday. He is also nine goals away from Gerd Mueller’s career record. 17 The average point differential for the New York Knicks this season. The next highest for any team is the Miami Heat with 9.5. The Knicks are 4-0 while the Heat are 5-1, with their only loss going to the Knicks. 55 The total number of points that the Baltimore Ravens scored in their game versus the Oakland Raiders on Satur- day. This is a franchise record for the Ravens. This also ties the Raiders’ franchise record for points allowed. The Raid- ers allowed 55 points twice before, once in 1961 and again in 1981. 420 The total number of touchdowns that Peyton Manning has thrown in his career. He threw number 420 while leading the Denver Broncos over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. He is now second on the all-time list. Only Brett Favre has -thrown more touchdowns in a single career, with 508. Congratulations to Molly Ortiz and Lauren Schultz for earning bids to the NCAA Cross Country Championship. They earned their bids by placing eighth and ninth respectively at the South/Southeast Regional Championships on Saturday at Emory University. The National Championship is Nov. 17 at Terre Haute, lnd. .. -v‘: W&L Voted last in ODAC preseason poll By Bailey Russell STAFF WRITER The Old Dominion Athletic Conference re- leased its 2012 Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll and placed the Generals at 12th place. Guilford, the defending ODAC cham- pion, received eight first-place votes and took the top spot in the coaches’ poll. Washington & Lee will return with five players and two starters from the 2011-12 team that went I4-13 overall and 11-9 in the conference. The Generals progressed to the ODAC semifinals, where they lost to Virginia- Wesleyan, 60-58. Senior forwards Rachel Warrick and Katy Wilson return as the top two scorers. Warrick started 26 games last season and aver- aged 8.1 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game. Wilson, a 2012 Third Team All-ODAC selection, started all 27 games last season and had 11.8 points per game and 8.8 rebounds per game. The Generals’ team will feature 11 members, including five first-years. W&L begins the season under the direction of new head coach Christine Clancy on Thursday in Roanoke for a 7:00 p.m. game. enlor Katy Wilson Courtesy of W&L Sports Information Women’s swimming leaves Sweet Br1ar 1n the1r wake By Hailey Hartley STAFF WRITER Washington and Lee’s Women’s swimming team won their only match this week when they visited Sweet Briar by a score of 114-78. The Generals swept five individual events in the match-up and set four pool records. In the 200 Free, first-year Sarah Schaffer won with a pool record of 2:12.73. Sopho- more Kate Feeser and senior Kelly Mae Ross rounded out the top three. The Gennies also swept the 800 Free, led by Sydney Gay. Re- becca Brown, Emma Swabb, and Rachel Adams-Heard, taking the top three spots re- spectively, swept the 50 Free. Sophomore Caroline Hamp led the 200 Individual Medley efforts and Colleen Moore won the 200 Fly. The Generals set several relay pool re- cords, including the 200 Medley. A time of 2:06.61 was set by Hamp, first-year Stephanie Foster, Swabb, and Schaffer. Foster"s leg of the 50 back set an individual pool record. The 400 Medley, made up by Swabb, Schaffer, se- nior Delaney Rolfe and sophomore Meredith Hardy set a pool record with a time of4:09.28. *3 The Generals will return to the pool when r. they travel to Carnegie Mellon fora quad meet on Nov. 17. Junior Katie D’lnnocenzo Courtesy of W&L Sports Information Monday Men's Basketball Snyder sets up the Volleyball team for success By Pat McCarron STA F F w R l T E R Having grown up in rural Ohio and Pennsyl- vania towns and attended Washington and Lee during his college years, Coach Bryan Snyder is no stranger to the tight-knit community of W&L. Perhaps it is his upbringing that makes him the perfect coach to bring teams together, to get the most out of his players. The last eleven seasons for W&L’s women’s volleyball team prove this notion. On Nov. 3 the volleyball team won its ninth Old Dominion Athletic Conference title under Coach Snyder’s tenure, a reign that has also brought him the honor of ODAC Coach of the Year eight times. His team moved on to the NCAA tournament, where they hoped to expound upon the team’s already successful " 2012 campaign. But don’t expect Coach Snyder to place much value on his Coach of the Year acco- lades. He says they mean little to him person- ally. He prefers to view them as a representa- tion of the team’s success as a whole: “[They are a] sign that the program is very strong, but there were years when another oach deserved it and didn’t win. It’s just ~. given to the best team, but not really the best coach,” said Snyder. “But it validates all the hard work and it’s something I’m very proud of.” Snyder tends to credit his team more than . himself, but his guidance has instilled key val- ‘ ues into his players. As is necessary for suc- cess in any sport, Snyder demands “consistent Tuesday Wednesday hard work,” something that as a coach, he has prided himself on his whole life. The bottom line is, the players know what they are getting themselves into: they are put to work every day, and are placed in a tough schedule. But according to Snyder, the key attributes of the typical W&L student athlete allow his players to rise to the challenge. “The student athletes of W&L are great: they are willing to be pushed and respond to that. A great coach without great players is nothing,” said Snyder. Bryan Snyder knows a thing or two about the typical W&L student. He is one. Before graduating from W&L in 1995, Coach Sny- der played for W&L’s club men’s volleyball team. This was not any ordinary club team. Snyder was pitted against some of‘ the great club teams in the area, challenging the likes of Duke and the University of Virginia in the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association South Conference. In addition to serving four years in the men’s volleyball club team, Coach ' Snyder honed his coaching skills as a student assistant for W&L’s women’s team. He has not stopped coaching since. Although his return as a General was not immediate upon his graduation, there is no questioning Coach Snyder’s allegiance to the school, and it was his familiar sense of com- munity that brought him back. When asked to return, Coach Snyder did not hesitate. “To be able to come here and impact their Thursday - Friday at Rutgers-Newark 6pm experience in a positive way was something I couldn’t pass up,” said Snyder. The most special aspect ofcoaching at W&L has been the relationships he has formed over the years. Having gone through the experienc- es of his athletes himself, he “can share suc- cesses and support through challenges.” These relationships have hardly been limited to the prototypical coach-player bond. Whether it’s attending a former player’s wedding or a sim- ple visit during alumni weekend, the relation- ships he has built with his players have formed lasting memories that he will forever cherish. The prospects‘ were high this year, as W&L’s youngest, and perhaps most well-rounded team headed to the most important games of the season. “This year’s team, from top to bottom, is skilled in all areas. We have no specialists and the skill level all-around is probably the high- est it’s ever been. We’re not as big, but we’re athletic and fast. Everybody can do everything and we have a plain style and system this year where were wide open.” Although the Generals lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament, next year they will lose just one senior from this year’s team. Saturday Sunday at Rutgers-Newark Women’s Swimming at Carnegie Mellon Men's Swimming at Carnegie Mellon a. Women’s Basketball at Roanoke 7 pm vs Swarthmore 7pm at Swarthmore Cross Country NCAA’s Football at Hobart Wrestling at George Mason