OCR::/Vol_107/WLURG39_RTP_20041206/WLURG39_RTP_20041206_001.2.txt WASH N ANBIEEE UNIVERSITY PHI VOLUME CVII. , No. 16 MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2004 Frats survive weekend, four DUI ’s reported BY ERIN JULIUS AND CHRIS LAUDERMAN thelastweekofNovember,University securityarmounced EDlT()R—IN—CHIl'£l7 AND MANAGING EDITOR Fraternities survived their first weekend un- der the new alcohol enforcement policy with little prob- lem, but many changes. Parties were moved into hotels, restaurants, and off campus houses where students could drink, regardless of their age. Lexington police chief Bruce Beard reported four . anests for driving under the influence and one arrest for indecent exposure and drunk in public. “There were an awful lot of alcohol-related inci- dents this weekend,” Beard said. “I don’t know if that [enforcement of the alcohol policy] was the reson we had more DUI’s or not.” At the Inter Fratemity Council meeting during liked . its absut ts‘ coldisatiurday, to"v}atch tlreérty;s"a , -‘frssaw it last year _ thing and it’sso.tcool,’f*‘ ‘ x BY KATHRYN KRALL STr\I’I~‘ \X’RITF.R On Thursday evening, the Glasgow Endow- ment presented a lecture by Roy Blount J r., a well- known humorist and author. Blount has written columns for The New York Times, The Oxford American, Esquire, Rolling Stone, Playboy, and Sports Illustrated. He was praised by the Chi- cago Tribune, which reported that “he has be- come America’s fore- most humorist.” Blount is the au- thor of sixteen books, including “Robert E. Lee: A Biography.” Raised in Georgia, Blount enjoys com- menting on American customs and is an avid spokesman for “Southernness.” The subject of his talk was his recent work on Robert E. Lee. He read selections from his work, in addition to sharing interesting facts he learned about , Lee while doing research for his biography. He presented humorous and often scandalous tid- bits about General Lee that most people have never heard. Blount came across many little- known details. “Lee wore size 4 ‘/2 C shoes. I just couldn’t get past that- it sounded round! I thought maybe the author was talking about Trav- eller or something.” Blount mentioned that we know relatively little about Lee’s personal life, but “one thing we do know about him— he was fond of having his hands and feet tickled.” Even mundane events in Lee’s life were Glasgow Ehddwmentspeakeri cc ' 9 ' ' I America s foremost humorist” talks about Lee CoURrI«:sY W&L News OFI-‘l(ZlZ Mr. Blount replied that he had an idea for a new that they would be looking for underage drinking at frater- nity parties and reporting violations to the Administration and IFC. ' Allpartiesintlrefraterrrityhouseswillrequirevt/rist— bands to identify legal drinkers. If security sees a student drinking in a fratemity house, the security officer will ask the student to show identification. Mike Young, Director of Security and almost every security guard attended the meeting. According to Brent " Beshore, President of Lambda Chi, Young said security would look for underage drinking during Week-A end. “No longer will security look the other way when underage drinking occurs on campus,” said Beshore. Freshmen men said that alcohol was easy to obtain off carnpus.“'Ihere didn’t seem to be any formalities in r r — presented with wit and humor. Blount recounted an episode occurring while Lee was president of Washington College. “When reviewing the troops at VMI with General Smith, he'wanted to show that he was out of the army, so he would purposely walk out of step. That takes a lot of rhythm. Maybe Lee wasn’t as white as we al- ways thought.” , _ Toward the end of the lecture, Blount opened the floor-for questions, because, ac- cording to him, this im- proves almost every- thing. “A lot of plays could be improved by throwing the floor open for questions. For ex- ample, Othello. If they had opened the floor for ‘ questions about half- way through, the trag- edy could have been averted.” . Freshman Dane Boston related what he found particularly hu- morous, “When asked what he thought of the Confederate battle flag, Southern flag, incorporating a black hand and white hand clasped in friendship on a symboli- cally chromatic field of blue (the sky) and green (money), over the motto ‘Just fine. And you?’” The evening ended with Mr. Blount sing- ing his original country song, “I’m Just a Bug on the VVrndshield of Life.” V “I enjoyed his sharp wit and talent for storytelling,” said Dane Boston, “It was a delight- ful Dixie—themed time in Lee Chapel.” getting drinks,” said one freshman man. “We just had older friends getting us drinks.” According to fieshmen, fraternities reportedly fol- lowed the rules in the house. “You needed a wristband to get cocktails or champagne in the house,” said a freshman ml . “We did not serve alcohol at dinner in the house,” Erik Kiewiet de Jonge, President of Phi. Psi, said But University security told a different story. “We had some problems in the houses,” said Young. The problems involved serving underage students, no use of wristbands, and a communal source of alcohol in four or five ofthe houses. Fraternity presidents feel that parties will continue to shift off campus. Beshore echoed Kiewiet de Jonge in believing that this will be a trend “[Parties being moved off campus] depends on how the school enforces the policy in the future,” said Kiewiet de J onge‘. Traveling in and out of the country was not diffi- cult for students. Fraternities provided sober drivers. Traveller’s servicesalsoranfrom l0p.m. to2a.m. “lthink they [the fraternity] gave rides out before everyone started drinking,” saidafreshman man.” “It was easy for me to get a ride,” said Drew McWay, a freshman who went out to the Polehouses. He also said that the fraternity provided sober drives when- ever anyone needed one. One country party had three kegs and hard liquor, said one freshman man. According to several freshmen men, champagne and liquor flowed freely at off-campus houses. _, , ‘ singing” the of Christmas wi om the‘"Academy playing Students advance in Rhodes Waddell reaches the final stage of interviews BY SARAH MURRAY NEWS EDITOR This year’s list of Rhodes Scholars does not include any students from Washington & Lee Univer- sity, but four students distinguished themselves in the demanding application process. Ricky Busby ’05, Robyn Konkel ’05, Jererrriah McW"rlliams ’05, and Trrnothy Waddell ’04 all advanced to the semi-final interviews, with Waddell continuing to the final stage of interviews. There are about 1000 Rhodes applicants every year. Applicants with exceptional references and per- sonal statements attend state-wide interviews. Ap- proximately 100 students advance from the state level to the eight regional interviews. Four winners are se- lected from each region—32 total—and receive full scholarships for graduate work at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. About six to ten W&L students apply to Rhodes annually. This year, 13 students and graduates applied and four received state interviews. Both numbers could tie or even set a school record, although official docu- mentation doesn’t go back far enough to confirm that. Applying for a Rhodes scholarship was an ob- vious choice for Busby, who is majoring in Medieval and Renaissance Studies with a concentration in Art History. “I knew thatl wanted to go to graduate school and the Rhodes made perfect sense—2 years of fully- funded study at one of the best universities in the world.” ‘ Konkel, a public policy major, was familiar with the procedure after interviewing for a Truman Fellow- ship in her junior year. Even so, the selection process was challenging. “’Ihe other ten competitors were amazing people,” she said. "The interview itself was, I to put it mildly, intense.” George Bent, Associate Dean for Student Aca- demic Support, works as the faculty liason for Rhodes applicants. His experiences have convinced him that students here are strong contenders. “Rhodes. . .is looking for a leader who performs well in the class- room, who is interested in talking about issues inside and outside of the classroom, and who is willing to take intellectual risks,” he said. This year’s applicants in particular convinced him that there is a “core group of students” who fit the bill. And on W&L’s small campus, those students have more opportunities to get involved in athletics, community service, and club leadership. “I would put any of them against anyone else’s any day,” Bent said. Politics professor Robert Strong has a similar esteem for students after supervising the Rhodes ap- plicants in past years. “Every year the W&L juniors inducted into ODK, Phi Beta Kappa, and other honor societies plus the recipients of various athletic awards and acaderrric prizes. . .constitute an impressive group,” Strong said. . Bent also insists that the school’s much—vaunted name recognition comes into play. “Washington & Lee University carries some clout. They know us,” V Bent said. “Your next—door neighbor may not know what ‘Washington and Jefferson’ is, but the people who matter do.” Several statistics reflect these strengths. Strong scoured the Internet for other schools with four Rhodes interviews; he found none outside of the Ivy League, national military academies, and a few large state uni- versities. The University ofV1rginia, with almost 13,000 students enrolled, only received three state interviews to W&L’s four. Yet this year’s record numbers and strong appli- cants did not alter a 13-year stretch without Rhodes Scholars. No W&L student or graduate has won a Rhodes scholarship since Patricia Lope.s—Harris in 1991 . In comparison, the News Office reports that six W&L students won scholarships between 1973 and 1983. Bent says one large obstacle in recruiting for Rhodes is that many students consider themselves to be unworthy of a scholarship. “[W&L students] go to Nicaragua. They work in soup kitchens. They do things,” Bent said. “They should be knocking my door down, but instead they’re all bashful with their hands in their pockets.” Out of this year’s 32 winners, 16 are women and 16 are men. The most successful schools were Harvard. with five winners, and the U. S. Naval Academy, with three. OCR::/Vol_107/WLURG39_RTP_20041206/WLURG39_RTP_20041206_002.2.txt ’ ton to include a martini bar opened its ' says this time the date is definite. ‘ of gourmet and international cuisines, I as well Internet shopping and an 4 online cataloge, the 14,700 square-foot ' and Washington D.C. and was Demi V King. There will also be a cyber-café, ' come to study. J‘ opening of the store have been long and frustrating, with constant rumors open and whether it is connected with legally or financially connected with /, fly .. . ..I -uw§9...... .. PAGE2 DEC {F8 2084 The first grocery store in Lexing- doors on Nov. 20. A grocer carrying gourmet cuisines from around the world, has been trying to open for al- most two years, but owner Erik King Besides offering a wide selection store located in the Lexington College Square Shopping Center will have two separate restaurants, Café Mohring and Matsumato Sushi Bar. Sam Matsumato, the sushi chef, has owned restaurants in Richmond Moore’s personal sushi chef during the filming of GI. Jane. Cafe Mohring will offer a full cof- fee bar. “We’re going to be the Starbucks of Lexington, I think,” said where King hopes local students will The months leading up to the circulating about when the store will Foods of All Nations in Charlottesville. The Charlottesville store is not the store in Lexington. But Erik King, the owner of the Lexington store, is the son of the founder of the Charlottesville store. King’s father is still on the board of di- ’ rectors at the other store, but the two are run " separately. Although King’s family remains close to the Charlottesville store, King said the rela- BY LEAH KERSHAW STAFF WRITER Washington and Lee University President . Tom Burish, who began his work with the Ameri- - can Cancer Society 20 years ago when he accepted a grant for cancer research, has vowed to drasti- » cally reduce cancer rates during his term as chair- ’- man ofthe ACS. Burish is proud to be the new chairman of ‘ the ACS, the largest nonprofit voluntary health or- ganization in the world. Burish said that it is a “privi- lege to follow exceptional leaders.” As chairman of — the ACS, Burish will be working with millions of other people to reduce cancer rates in America.This ’ year alone 1.3 million people will be diagnosed with cancer and 550,000 people will die of cancer related ' illness. International grocery store opens after t BY MEGAN WARD STAFF WRITER MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2004 I CORBIN BLACKFORD / THE RrNc;—TUMPHI tions between the two are strained. The Charlottesville store says otherwise. Butch Brown, CEO and president of Foods of All Nations, says that the relation- ship is fine, and he hopes the Lexington store will be successful. ‘ “I think that Lexington will benefit from a store like that,” said Brown. By the year 2015, Burish’s goal is to have reduced the age adjusted incidence of cancer by 25% and cancer related deaths by 50%. The ACS has partnered with the Center for Disease Control and the National Cancer Institute to meet this goal. Every year since the mid l990’s, the rates of both age adjusted cancer mortality and the incidence of cancer have decreased. Burish said the decrease is K i the result of fewer people choosing to smoke. 25- 30 % of cancer related deaths are affected by smok- ing. Burish outlined a multifaceted plan to reach his goal. Health education in schools must be in- creased to stress to importance of healthy habits such as exercise early in people’s lives. The mass media will continue to play an important role through commercials and advertising. ACS has also recently joined in a partnership with the American Heart GAB looking ahead after problems with Christmas Weekend scheduling Leaders plan for “three or more” events during winter, spring BY KATHERINE SHELL ASST NEWS EDITOR After the excitement on campus surrounding the Christ- mas Weekend band sponsored by the General Activities Board, students were surprised to learn that neither band was ac- tually as available as the GAB had previously thought. How- ever, the GAB looks forward to booking more bands for this year and using the student sur- vey again to determine which bands the students want to see perform on campus. W&L students were polled over the weekend of November 5, with Better than Ezra and Pat McGee winning over Bone Thugs ‘N Harmony by 7 votes. After the survey, the GAB attempted to book Bet- ter than Ezra and Pat McGee for Christmas Weekend. Because of family conflicts, Better than Ezra was unavailable, and the GAB withdrew their contract. The second runner up, Bone Thugs ‘N Harmony, was offered a contract, but was unwilling to comply with a previously agreed upon contract. The GAB was unable, because of unexpected circumstances, to book a band for Christmas Weekend. Next semester, the GAB plans to have “roughly three or more concert-like entertainment” this year, says Hartley Meiic, ’07, and a member of the GAB. The GAB is looking into attempting to book Bone Thugs ‘N Har- mony for next semester. Lauren Peters, ’O6, President of the Gen- eral Activities Board, said, “We cannot disclose at this time ex- actly what bands we are look- ing into for next term, but we do hope to utilize the student sur- vey again.” She also added, “We are looking into the Harlem Gospel Choir for spring, and al- ternative entertainment options such as Peking Acrobats or Harlem Globetrotters.” Students will definitely have input on which bands will visit the W&L campus in the future. In the past, the GAB has been able to book such bands as Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe ‘for Homecoming 2003, and has been sponsoring General Com- edy in the Commons every Wednesday night where stu- dents are able to see student opening acts and professional comedians. Also, the GAB has organized Common Grounds in Café ’77 with live acoustic per- formances. This year, GAB brought Keller Williams for Kellerween, and Drive By Truck- ers for Homecoming. Students can look forward to more acts visiting Lexington this year. SUSHI IN LEXINGTON? The Matsumato Sushi Bar is getting rave reviews from Washington and Lee students and professors. The Phi has yet to ' hear whether Cafe Mohring is really the Starbucks of Lexington. King decided to start the store in Lexing- ton after his brother had opened a Foods of All Nations in Virginia Beach. But the" Virginia Beach store suffered after Sept. 11 because many military personnel stationed there were called for duty shortly thereafter. Sales dropped from $20,000 to $3,000 a day, and the - Burish vowes to pursue ambitious goals with American Association and the American Diabetes Associa- tion. All three organizations have united to provide the same message about protecting oneself from disease. Additional research is also important to re- ducing cancer rates. Through research, doctors will be able to provide better..scre.enin,g and diagnosis for cancers that are currently not fully understood. The ACS funds $120 million of cancer related research a year. This money comes from the $800 million dollars the ACS raises every year. Around 90% of the money raised by the ACS is the result of voluntary contributions averaging $40. As a result, the ACS is not beholden to any one group and can direct its money wherever it deems necessary. Burish acknowledges the difficulties which will be involved in balancing his duties as Presi- dent of W&L and as chairman of the ACS. Burish wo year delay ~ store had to close after only six weeks. The financial losses incurred from the closing of the Virginia Beach store would not allow the company to open the Lexington store. King then broke away from Foods of All Nations, and took matters into his own hands. King has been trying to open the Lexington store since November 2002, but was delayed by the death of his brother, who had started the Virginia Beach operation, in May 2003. King doesn’t believe that competition from his store will endanger any other Lexington businesses. But local coffee shops and groceries like Healthy Foods and Lexington Coffee seem to target a similar consumer profile. While Lexington Coffee and The Daily Grind declined to comment, Jo Parent, man- ager of Healthy Foods, said that she hasn’t talked to any- one from Foods International so she doesn’t know if they’ll be carrying similar products. “Any time an enterprise moves in everyone is af- fected,” said Parent, but adde_d that she isn’t sure ex- actly how Foods International will affect her business. “I really believe in net- working,” said King, who said he will work with already es- tablished local business, hoping that his store's presence will increase the amount of business for everyone. And King is a firm believer of the ‘gas station’ theory: “The more gas stations you have on a corner, the more gas is sold,” he said. Cancer Society maintains that his priority is W&L. Working the ACS has helped Burish to better connect with stu- dents and alumni whose lives have been touched by cancer. Burish himself lost his father to cancer several years ago. Burish also names W&L’s tradition of ser- vice as a factor in his continued volunteerism. “How could I not_have ‘service as a value, I’m not doing anything that the majority of students, staff and alunmi don’t do” said Burish. While Burish ac- knowledges that his current position as chairman of the ACS might be more visible than other volun- teer efforts, it is certainly not any more important. The ACS is optimistic about Burish’s terms I as its chairman. John Seffrin, the CEO of the ACS said, Burish “has provided steadfast and visionary leadership to the society and has never wavered in his abiding commitment to our lifesaving mission.” Cold weather, maybe snow, expected soon BY ETHANJAMESON STAFF WRITER Students and local residents looking for- ward to snow can expect the area’s first snowfall any day now. A late, colder—than—before winter is anticipated. According to regional weather forecasters, temperatures I may have plummeted and rain has started to fall, \ ’/ but here in southwest Virginia, folks can expect /“' to wait until December for the first predicted snowfall. “Perhaps after Decem- ber 4-7 time range, we’H finally see some significantly colder air, and a pattern shift occur,” said Wally Mayo, a meteorologist with weatherroanoke.com. “As for the gen- eral season outlook, we are in a weak El Nino status. Personally, I feel such times are fairly good for significant snows.” _ A Mayo also feels that we have a 65% chance of greater than nor- mal snowfall this season. 4 According to Scott Lancey, a forecaster with Mid- _ Atlantic Weather in Lexington, Va., “It’s un- usual for the Lexington area to receive accu- mulating snow right after Thanksgiving but we usually have had some snow by December 10th.” Lancey added that the type of weather expe- rienced in November usually is not an indicator of what the overall winter will be. Forecasters also predict a much colder win- ter than in previous years. David Weit, chief meteo- rologist of the National Oce- anic and Atmospheric A Administration’s _ Blacksburg, Va., office, said that, “The NWS — National Weather Service - is calling for a colder win- ter than normal with precipitation at or slightly below normal.” Richard Dunn,'webmaster for the Central Virginia Weather Station’s website, agrees with the winter forecast, adding that “the general consensus that I have seen is that this winter will be colder than normal in this part of the country.” , Dunn was quick to add that, “However, colder A V _ weather doesn’t always translate into more snow. The long range forecasts that I have seen have been split between normal to above normal precipitation.” Q83 Several campus organizations host events marking 16th annual World AIDS Day on December 1st BY KELLY Jo LARSEN STAFF WRITER December 1, 2004, marked the 16"‘ anniver- sary of World AIDS Day. Various campus groups marked the day the raising both money and aware- ness. ‘ GayLaw handed out red ribbons and‘ raised $450 from law student and faculty for the AIDS/ HIV Services Group of Charlottesville. GayLaw President, Tamara Graham, believes the event was a great success. She noted that they enjoy working with a local group, such as the one in Charlottesville, because “we can emphasize that AIDS has touched all of our lives and isn’t some mystery out there in the darkness.” On ,the undergraduate campus the Gay- Straight Alliance also hosted several events. They teamed with LIFE to sponsor free HIV testing in the Student Health Center. In a short two hour span, nine people were tested. The GSA and LIFE also brought a piece of the AIDS quilt to be hung in the John W. Elrod Commons. The twelve by twelve section, composed of panels representing people who have died of AIDS, is just one of 5,683 pieces of the AIDS quilt. The GSA also sponsored a showing of “Phila- delphia,” a movie starring Tom Hanks as a lawyer dying of AIDS. Both GayLaw and the GSA thought it was increasingly important to celebrate World AIDS Day given the growing problem of AIDS across the world. Graham states, “ AIDS affects our commu- nity so powerfully, and by our community, I mean our large community—not just the gays.” She cites the Women’s Law Student Organization and the Black Law Student Association’s support of the World AIDS Day as showing that all people can find a connection to AIDS that inspires them to help. GSA Treasurer Theresa Dougherty notes that “by increasing awareness and encouraging people to get tested, we can help prevent the spread of such a devastating disease.” UN health officials believe there are 39.4 mil- lion people world wide infected with the HIV virus and that number grows daily. Students can receive confidential AIDS testing in the Student Health Center. OCR::/Vol_107/WLURG39_RTP_20041206/WLURG39_RTP_20041206_003.2.txt I MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2004 rat_‘-:R:N<_;-rtrr»~:l’nr. ‘ ST FF EDITORIAL Phi calls for safety Washington and Lee University is no longer a safe place to drink. It’s counterintuitive, but pumping up security patrols and using wristbands to identify le- gal drinkers creates a dangerous social at- mosphere. _ We are not making an argument for un- derage drinking. The law is the law and we can’t argue with it. _ Underage drinking in a college town, es- pecially one as small as Lexington, is to be expected. Students are leaving home for the first time and testing and enjoying their freedom away from their parents. Drinking is simply the most exciting, and dangerous, privilege of adulthood. Washington and Lee students are a smarter-than-average bunch, but that doesn’t mean we all understand our limits with alco- hol when we enter as freshmen. Part of growing up and creating your identity is making mistakes. The old Washington and Lee understood that, and did its best to en- sure a safe environment for its students. The Washington and Lee of today, in the same spirit, is trying to create a safe en- vironment but may be making the situation worse. Enforcing the alcohol policy has al- ready moved more parties into the country. Even with the best Traveller service money can buy, students will probably be tempted to drink and drive at ever-increasing rates. When students were allowed to drink in fraternities, the dorms and most homes were within walking distance. Security pa- trolled through fraternity houses frequently enough to intervene in a bad situation or drive someone to the hospital. In addition to the dangers presented by country parties, there is another, purely so- cial, aspect. In the Washington and Lee of old, all students were welcome at all parties because parties were held in fraternities. Country parties are held in private homes, which will segregate the student body fur- ther into exclusive groups. Lost is the sense of community created through open parties. Inevitably, Washington ‘and Lee students will Enforcing the alcohol policy will only make drinking more dangerous. “Notre Dame is willing to do anything to be NCAAfootbal1’s powerhouse again, including selling out their academic standards .” ~ESPN SportswriterAlan Grant r RIM}-TIEM. OPINIONSEDIIOR mm m INI PAGE 3 Alcohol, the White Book, and sober driving, on my This week I had so much on my mind that I’m going to be talking about three issues- first, I address some reactions to my sober driving piece. Then, I move on to the dismal fate of the “Withdrew Vs. Dismissed” White Book amend- ment that I and a hundred other students pro- posed. And finally, I talk about alcohol, for ob- vious reasons. Sober Driving Thanks to everyone who wrote in with com- ments and thoughts on my last article in the Phi, which detailed my recent sober driving misad- venture. I got two major ideas And then, of course, there is the 2 ton el- ephant in the room, the fact that the EC has been unable or unwilling as of yet to eriact any real Honor System reform. A few weeks ago they voted down what I thought was a very well- reasoned out and viable amendment from Ms. Kelly Jo Larsen, a senior, who argued that the partial definition of an Honor Violation as “ly- ing, cheating, or stealing” amounted to codifi- cation, and that students are beginning only to classify actions as ‘HVs by the standard of whether they are “lying, cheating, or stealing.” She proposed that the EC remove the “lying, cheating, and stealing” phrase, arguing that stu- dents can define for themselves from a110fY0’~1- The first W35 a what is honorable’ or not, and fhat Y0“ {Cally half? the I-ex‘ MODERATES MUSINGS that they were already of the lngton P011“ Department Pm CALEY ANDERSON ‘O6 opinion that lying, cheating, and not sure that they specifically target W&L students for minor infractions, as some of you assert, and I think that on the whole they do a very good job. I just wish they’d be a little more understanding of the problems/motives of sober drivers on cam- pus. The second sentiment I got from your let- ters was regret that I, personally, was quitting my sober driving gig, and exhortations to keep fighting the good fight for the University and for my fellow students. I cannot thank you enough for your sympathy, but I really can’t re- sume sober driving, at least not in the immediate future. I really can’t afford even risking another ticket, in a simple financial sense. But I have much appreciation for you anyway. Amendment to the White Book I wrote an article a few weeks ago about the inherent unfairness of the current White Book policy of labeling a dismissed student’s tran- script either “withdrew” or “dismissed” based on whether the student left after a closed or open hearing, respectively. Many of you signed the petition that brought this matter, with the help of EC members Thomas Worthy and Wheeler Sparks, to the EC’s attention. I was both encouraged AND disappointed with the EC’s response. There were actually two proposals, one that would have changed the wording to ALWAYS be “withdrew,” and one that would have changed the wording to always be “dismissed.” The “withdrew” proposal was voted down unanimously. The “dismissed” pro- posal wasvoted, down 11-0, with’ two absten-O tions, Worthy and Sparks. I was encouraged by the fact that the EC did not dismiss me outright, as Ifeared they might. There was a highly productive discussion, and in particular Craig Hensel, Marie Trimble, and Justin Arnold brought up some points that I had not considered. A lot of light was shed on the real pros and cons of switching the White Book over as a result. The EC has shown me that it is willing, at least, to give real thought to student opinion as to Honor System change. ‘I was disappointed, naturally, that the EC voted both measures down. Some members of the EC did not speak, ask questions, or‘ really partici- pate at all in the discussion, and at the end of the dialogue, they simply voted “nay” without comment. I had hoped for more than that. stealing were dishonorable. The EC voted this down 8-4 (Wor- thy, Nunez, Duddy, and Stafford were the four dissenters), but I never really heard a persua- sive argument against the amendment. Some felt that it was valid, but not important enough to act on (isn’t ANYTHING related to the Honor System important enough to act on?) Others felt that the “no codification” rule and the “ly- ing, cheating, stealing” standard balance each other out rather than contradict each other, something I find highly questionable. The point is that the EC is beginning to ap- pear generally opposed to change when it comes to the Honor System. This is crucial in a period when our concept of Honor must not become stagnant, lest it begin to resemble a set of rules or a simple code of conduct, as has happened at other schools with “Honor Systems.” The White Book is not perfect, nor is it the unques- tionable, final word when it comes to the Honor System. It can and should be changed in a sig- nificant way. The change I ask of the EC is not the destruction of the Honor System or of the Single Sanction. The request is only for fair- ness, and for a renewal of vitality, for fear that Honor at our University will otherwise drift slowly away into obsolescence. Alcohol I have to tread carefully here. I’m not ex- actly a big fan of alcohol, in fact the only time l’ve ever had it was when I was three. In those days I would steal my mom’s wine coolers with the studied precision and efficiency of the stealthiest of ninjas. Thus, feel free to call me on it if you think I say too much with too little experience. Both of the bitter, bickering sides in this debate would do well to be honest with them- selves. The administration should not kid itself by giving us the line that they are simply en- forcing existing policy that was already on the books. Those policies have gone a long time without really being enforced, and the adminis- tration should know that an alteration of the kind they are arguing for WILL have a dramatic ef- fect. I know that part of the University’s rea- soning, stated or not, is to escape from legal liability, should something tragic occur, and this is valid. If a freshman dies this weekend at a fraternity from alcohol poisoning, the school can and will be successfully sued for millions. But the student argument that enforcement will push drinking off-campus where it cannot be con- trolled is also valid. The administration and the Board of Trustees can’t pretend that off-cam- pus drinking does not exist, and it should know and care about the fact that enforcement of the kind they are advocating will actually increase the risk of things like alcohol poisoning and DUI. They cannot simply wash their hands of the likely sicknesses and (perhaps) deaths that will occur as a result, increased Traveller fund- ing or no. The University will have to sell a better solution than that. {On the other hand, the alcohol culture of _W&L should not kid itself either. As I said be- fore, the administration can’t simply wash their hands of the likely danger of pushing drinking off-campus. But make no mistake- if drinking does go off-campus as a result of enforcement, and people start dying, the blame will rest squarely on our shoulders as students, and not on the administration’s. It is a piece of propa- ganda wielded fearlessly by many that “heavy drinking will always happen ‘on this campus no matter what,” and while it may technically be true, it is not something to be quite that proud of. Some students remind me of the little kid _ who, being informed that he could not swim in the family’s swimming pool by himself because his mom is afraid he’ll drown, tells his mom that he’ll go play by the train tracks instead, where mom can’t supervise him.‘ It’s a threat of GREATER harm to oneself designed to draw a response out of fear (or concern for us) from the parent (or administration, in this case), and I find it childish and immature to a tiresome de- gree. We are not children. Freshmen to seniors, we have all demonstrated not only intellectual maturity, but superiority, in gaining admittance here. Thus, of course, the 21 year—old drinking age IS foolish and ought to be reduced to 18, and I think to some degree the students have a point that they ought to enjoy certain freedoms while here. But on the same hand, since we are mature, rational adults here, the administration has a point that we shouldn’t throw about the threat of drinking off campus, thus sending in- numerable student drunk-drivers into those bloody films that they show in driver’s ed classes. That’s intellectually AND morally bank- rupt. The issue is not as simple as either side would like to make it. If a solution that really works is to be found, it will take a lot of discussion and probably end up being a complicated and much-argued—over compromise. What will result in disaster is if the administration tries to railroad over the students, or if the students pack their bags and leave in a huff for Zollrnan’s (or wherever). The administration should be willing to REALLY listen to the students and to implement a plan that is at least half-satisfactory to them. The students should try to understand where the University is coming from, and not try to make a claim to absolute freedom of action. The sort of hostility and unwillingness to com- promise that I’m seeing is not worth student deaths. As I said before, all the people at this University are rational, mature adults- students, faculty, staff, ad- ministrators, and trustees. I am confident that we have the brains to make a plan that works. Editor in chief Erin Elizabeth Julius Managing Editor Chris Lauderman News Editor Sarah Murray Asst. News Editor Katherine Shell Opinions Editor Caley Anderson Asst. Opinions Editor Anne Finley Arts & Life Editor Emily Edwards Sports Editor Marshall Rule Photography Editor Corbin Blackford Layout Editor Chad Kiewiet de Jonge Asst. Layout Editor Emily Hulen Business Manager David Seifert Circulation Director Rob Rain Asst. Circ. Directors Legget Kitchin Elizabeth Robinson‘ Yinyan Li Rohan Poojara Distribution Dir. Stephen Lipscomb Copy Editor Amanda Tholke The R1'ng—tum Phi is published Mondays during the undergraduate school year at Washington and Lee Univer- sity, Lexington, Virginia. The Ring-rum Phi is a member of The Publications Board, but is otherwise independent. The Ring—tum Phi welcomes all responsible sub- missions and letters. All submissions must be e-mailed to phi@wlu.edu or in the University Center mailbox by 5 p.m. Friday to appear in the following week’s edition. The Ring-tum Phi reserves the right to edit submissions for content and length. Letters and columns do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Ring-tum Phi Editorial Board. Advertising does not reflect the opin- ions of The Ring-tum Phi or its staff. This newspaper observes current court definitions of libel and obscenity. The Ring-tum Phi University Commons Room. 341 Washington and Lee University Lexington, Wrginia 24450 Telephone: (540) 458-4060 Fax: (540) 458-4059 Email: phi@wlu.edu Subscription rate ‘$40 Ups and Downs - sweet, sweet taste of infallibility. put their kids through, uh....co1lege. SVU- E University and I'm a GUY. _ fl Before Colin Powell even resigned, of Condi Rice- “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the next Secretary of State.” Ah, the ~ Beer- 3 I guess brewers will just have to find some OTHER college to I feel creeped out by the ogling dude from Southern Virginia Ups and Downs Opinions Editor Caley Anderson gives you his take on what rose, what fell, and what stayed about the same this week at W&L and the world. Plants in the Commons- Good lord. I thought they had gotten rid of the infernal Vietnam of plants that used to inhabit this building, but apparently the holidays are all about the wreaths’. VMI- fl Congrats to our Lexmates for taking down Virginia Tech the other night, both on the court and in a certain Phi editrix’s heart. Way to go, Keydets. Ok, THAT’S the last sports one. Notre Dame- Let me play the bleeding heart liberal for a moment. Davie— gets his full term as a coach despite being horrible. Faust- gets his full term as a coach despite being horrible. VVrllingham— gets fired early despite doing better than either Faust or Davie because.....well, let’s be honest, it’s because he’s black. BCS- In more college sports, Auburn gets the short end of the stick. NFL- fl San Diego....super Chargers, San Diego....CHAAAARGERS! Remember kids, the Chargers are the only team powered by DISCO. NBA- 3 Both fans and players are to blame. Solution- don’t throw crap at players. Also, don’t go INTO the stands to beat up fans. Holidays- fl Apparently the season starts at Halloween now. MLB- fl Bonds “didn’t know” that the steroids, which he obtained from the steroid man at the steroid shop, were steroids. Sure, Barry. Sure. Last sports one, I swear.....or not. What can I say, it’s an interesting sports month. Supreme Court They bob and weave, passing the law ball around looking for an opening until bam, they rush in and dunk it. This court is picking its battles well, and isn’t being activist OR stodgy. John McCain- fi Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the next Republican nominee for President of the United States. And if I’m wrong, hey, I’ll be far away from W&L by the time it’s proven. Pixar- 3 Every time I think they can’t POSSIBLY make a movie better than THAT one, they do. Caleys’ Fall 'I‘errn Professors- fl Anagram of “Rush, Velasquez, DeLaney, and Machado” is “Ouch! He’ll squeeze and rave a mad day!” The squeez- ing I get from all of them, the raving from one in particular. Zen- C-:5 Zen students used to work for years at menial tasks, driving their minds and bodies to the brink, until, in the midst of this exhaustion, some offhand remark by their teacher would enlighten them. Anyone else feel like that right now? I mean, I’m all about the enlightenment, it’s just the menial labor that I don’t care for. Stop-in- fl Traveller adds a stop there, offering the opportunity to say “I’ll stop at the stop in stop.” Or, alternately, if you were going to try to PREVENT someone from stopping at the stop-in stop via telegram, you’d say “Stopl Don’t stop at the stop-in stop stop.” Redundancy-T] Isn’t it funny? Redundarrcyfi Isn’t it funny? OCR::/Vol_107/WLURG39_RTP_20041206/WLURG39_RTP_20041206_004.2.txt PAGE 4 MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2004 Carissa’s leftover thanks to give— why we should be happy at W&L and at home Before Thanksgiving break, I couldjust imagine being snuggled into my own bed, watching the snow fall, listening to the fire popping and cracking in the fireplace, hav- ing a wonderful meal with friends and fam- ily, and putting up the Christmas tree. I am usually a level-headed person, but the sentimentality of the holiday season al- ways gets to me. My favorite day of the entire year is Christmas, and in my excite- ment and anticipation, I don’t really give Thanksgiving its due. This year, things changed. I have so much to be thankful for that I really wanted to appreciate Thanks- giving as more than a step- ping stone on the way to Christmas. iWhile the bad always comes with the good, I think we have a lot to be thankful for here at Washington and Lee. For many people I know, college was a struggle. They only had one choice of where to go and sometimes did not even have enough money to make it all the way through. When I think about the struggles of adults who go back to school, students who have to work their way through college, and people who never got the opportunity to go at all, the first thing that I am thankful for is that I am here. ' Everyone knows the party scene here, but our parents would be quick to remind us that they sent us here for academics. While some people might consider the academics as being just a small part of the education they are re- ceiving, I don’t think that we could ask for any better. I hate tak- ing general education requirements and think that physical education classes should be electives, or at least worth credit, but our classes are made bearable by our wonderful professors. Not all teaching styles mesh with learn- ing styles, but there have been several classes that I passed only because of de- voted professors who have spent endless hours babying me through every step of the material. There have been professors who stayed late and came in early just to fit into my busy schedule. Even though I sometimes leave office hours frustrated, I always leave knowing more than I did when I walked in. I feel like I really know a lot of my professors. I’m in- terested in their families and who they are. When your professor invites you to have dinner at his house with his family, you Letters to the Editor IN THE I1ioNs CARISSA SHIPLEY ‘07 So as you are in the midst of the holiday season, remember that both Christmas and Thanksgiving remind us to count our blessings. A know you are very lucky to be at such a special place. Speakingsof great, accessible profes- sors, each of us has at least one support- ing us at every turn. They are our advi- sors; pushing us to do better, recommend- ing classes, and keeping us onitrack. We are at a point in our life where we have a lot of pressure to decide what we want to be. No longer do we get to dream and fan- tasize about what we want to be when we grow up. Now we have to decide. My mom always said that every de- A cision can be undone, but we’re tightly weaving the tapestry of our lives, and nothing can be completely undone and erased from our memory. Everything we do will either set us forward or backward, but we can’t stay the same, just as experiences won’t ’ let us return to one point in our past. Dur- ing this important time, our advisors can take our dreams and turn them into the re- ality that we will live for the rest of our lives. Even though a lot of people can plan the course of their college careers, our ad- visors are our safety nets and I am thank- ful that there is always someone here, watching out for me. The last thing that I want to mention is the environment in general. I’m thankful for small classes, inti- mate discussions, the speaking tradi- tion, and most of all, the honor system. The honor system allows professors, administrators, fac- ulty, and students to place faith and trust in one another- the same qualities‘ thatrwe celebrate'dur- -' ing the holiday season. So as you are in the midst of the holi- day season, remember that both Christmas and Thanksgiving remind us to count our blessings. I don’t know anyone who is more likely to get distracted by family, friends, presents, going to movies, hanging out with high school buddies, and just being sidetracked in general than me so I know it’s a challenge to appreciate this season for whatever it might mean to you. But during a time of finals, projects, es- says, and stress, just thinking about the I wonderful things we have and saying thank you or Merry Christmas to the people who make it easier for you to deal with these things all year long can put things into per- spective and add to the joy of the holidays. You gotta fight for your right PARTAY. Every fraternity, and W&L’s unique social scene, are threatened by the new enforcement policy. Usually, I try to be original. When ev- eryone else wrote about the election, I wrote about my lab top. (By the way, I love my new mac!) But this week, I must follow the pack. So, if you are sick of reading about the new drinking rules (which you shouldn’t be, since you faithfully read my article first, right?) I must warn you. What follows is a full-out bitch session. And I am about to use my position in the public eye to further my own goals. But since you are a W and L stu- dent or someone close to one, I bet we share some of the same interests. I am willing to venture that partying is something near and dear to your heart, too. (I know that it is a sin for us to have interests outside of the classroom, but sorry, it can’t be helped.) Apparently, I picked the wrong year to transfer. The school I love... Wait, the school I loved , is morphing into every other small liberal arts college in the nation. No more drinking in the fraternity houses? I hate to be the grim reaper, but social life here at Washington and Lee is dead folks. Dead. No. I am not being over dramatic. It’s all down hill from here folks. Don’t believe me? Think that off-campus parties can keep the social scene alive? I don’t want to burst your bubble, but trust me on this: unless we do something to stop the “fun police” our way I of lifewiill'5come to'an'e:i1'tli’I‘tisis‘ad but true. Dickinson, a long time ago, was once much like Washington and Lee. But its good days were over long before my arrival. As one of my former classmates was quoted on www.princetonreview.com: “We still hear about ‘Drinkinson’ but we’re all wondering ‘ where the hell it went.” ' And where the hell did it go? (I’m not sure if I’m allowed to swear in a school news- paper. Well, *&"% that. I’m on a tangent.) “Drinkinson” died the day the administra- tion outlawed drinking in the Greek houses. Some less educated students remain oblivi- ous to what they are missing out on. One of _ my ex—classmates even told the Princeton Review that, “the students at Dickinson are smart as hell and love to party like rock have fun. But, you and I _ KmsnNEEARLY‘07 ’ FILE PHOTO stars.” Haha. Yeah right. Only if “rock stars” sit around in their rooms doing shots of Stoli’s before they hit the streets. Cam- pus security at Dickinson forced us to be closet drinkers. I don’t want to be a closet drinker. I have good Irish genes, and I’m damn proud of them. I don’t need alcohol to both know that it has some amazing and welcomed side effects. Some people drink so they feel more confident. Others drink to forget their problems. I drink because somewhere in between Natty Light num- ber 2 and 3, I get the idea that I can dance. I wasn’t blessed with rhythm. I can’t clap a beat, and I am horrible at scansion- the reason I’m not an English major. But after a drink or two, when Eminem comes on the radio, I decide that I am the next white rapper to hit the scene. It doesn’t matter how much I slur. The important thing is that I know all the words- even if they come out in the wrong order. Band par- ties and dj parties just don’t hold the same allure when everyone shows up stone- cold sober. But maybe that’s just my opin- ion. So for the sake of Snackbar Jones and the Pi Phi djs, I am making a proposition. Drunk dial an alum. (OK. Maybe you should be sober ‘for'that.)' Let the admin- istration know how much we hate these new policies. Do it peacefully, and do it respectfully. But do it. Complaining to each other won’t get anything done. And maybe complaining to the board won’t ei- ther. But there are a lot of people out there who have fond memories of the good ol’ days. And they do have pull. ' We must band together. To para- phrase Bill Pullman’s inspiring speech from one of my favorite movies, Indepen- dence Day, “We can’t be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests.. We are fighting for our right to [drink]. We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight!” Cross Country runner criticizes sports coverage Dear Editor, I have seen my share of laziness and disrespect for the subject that is be- ing reported on any given day in the media, but as a member of the crosscountry team and out of concern for any future in journalism you may have, I felt it was neces- sary to point out the ex- ceptionally egregious er- rors in your article on "cross country in this week’s Phi. As a matter of fact, you waste no time in showing that you have made no effort whatsoever . to investigate the progress and success of the cross country team when your headline says “Johnson, Erickson prepare to go to nationals later in year in Wisconsin”. Later in the year as in December? Maybe over Winter Break, or on New Years Eve? You were ob- viously too lazy to even be lazy enough to just assume that they are running at Nationals this Saturday. At least you made the effort to look in the media guide to quote our Coach saying we “absolutely” had a chance at competing for the ODAC title, but didn’t take literally five more min- utes to peruse it, saying one sentence later that Nathan Johnson “recently recovered from an injured first two years.” Unless attending Will- iam & Mary inflicted some unknown mental or physi- cal pain on Nathan, I’m pretty sure he transferred here and didn’t run his first two seasons of crosscountry, and that it was in fact AJ that was in- jured. W e l 1 , maybe you got bogged down in the inextricable complexity and confusion of the 2004 W & L crosscountry media guide, and overlooked that Nathan and AJ, although they have the same last name, are in fact two dif- ferent people! That’s only the first paragraph of your article though. You start your sec- ond one with “Coach Kris Hoey of the women’s team had similar goals for her women’s team.” At least this is just repeti- tive and stupid sounding, and not a blatant lie, you just sound like Brick from Anchorman. The next sen- tence, you say that the girls, determined to have a successful season, “put in several miles of training over the summer.” What is several miles? Maybe 7, 8, 10 miles the whole sum- mer? The cross country race itself is sev- eral miles! Actually, I think you’re right, I think everybody that runs cross country just throws in a hundred meter sprint ev- eryday and calls it a day. The next paragraph is even worse. You call Lindsay Erickson, Jessica Buckingham, and Kelly Zwart 4 sophomores. The best part is you are not even consistently wrong. Three paragraphs later you note that fresh- man Lindsay Erickson claimed a first place finish at ODACs! However, your fourth paragraph is fine. Good job, you reported successfully that both teams went to Harrisonburg and won the ODAC title.- You even note in other paragraphs thatour coaches received ODAC coach of the year awards and that Nathan Johnson won several awards. I applaud you! Soon though ,you lose either focus or interest again, fabricating that ODAC Conference cham- pions automatically get a berth to the regional meet. A minor mistake, one that could have been avoided by actually asking any«cross country team member, but the fact is, anybody who wants to can go to the regional meet. Roanoke, Lynchburg, Vir- ginia Wesleyan, and EMU were all at Regionals. Well, other'than that, you just had a few awk- ward phrases here and there that further show you neither know nor care about, but most likely both, the sport of cross country. I look forward to reading future sport articles that you actually take interest ' in, and comparing them to the complete travesty of an article you put out. I’ll end by quoting Billy Madison: At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a ra- tional thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul. Your faithful Ring,Tun Phi reader, Alex Mahoney East Asian Languages notes difference from East Asian Studies The Ring—'IlJ1n Phi November 15 edition carried an article entitled “Intemational Education Week; Groupstostness intemationaledu— cation,” by Chris Lauderman. In thepenultimate paragraphthereis a listing of the groups associated with the two-week event, and among themislisted“theDepait- ment of East Asian Studies.” This is incorrect. There is no Department of East Asian Stud- ies. We are the Department of EastAsian Languages and Litera- tures (EALL), and the cospon- sors of this program. East Asian Studiesisaprogram, notadepart- ment, and they did not co-sponsor the event There is frequent con- fusion on campus between our Department and the EAS Pro- gram, and we would appreciate your assistance in helping the EALLDepa1tmenttobecomectly recognized -EALL Dept. X OCR::/Vol_107/WLURG39_RTP_20041206/WLURG39_RTP_20041206_005.2.txt MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2004 Male No 67% Yes 33% 8N5 Phi Quick Poll , “Do you think that sexual assault is a serious problem on this campus ? ” 105 students polled, 54 male, 51 female. Poll has 97% confidence in a +/— 5% margin of error Yes 84% Female No 16% College students like to drink even though it’s unlawful for about half of us to do it. Because no amount of complaining, ranting or raving is going to reverse the University’s obligation to operate within the bounds of Virginia law, we should focus our atten- tion elsewhere. Any reasonable person also knows that college students are going to seek a buzz no matter how diffi- cult it is to come by. If the University does not allow underage students to drink on campus, we’ll flock off. The responsibility to party safely that we once shared with the Uni- versity is now entirely our own. Instead of demanding that the University has to take care of us, why not do it ourselves? Why not show that we are re- sponsible adults? We all know that partying off-campus certainly has the potential to create dangerous situations. Does it have to, though? Instead, off-campus parties could provide the opportunity for us to show how respon- sible we are. We can create a safety net of our own. We don’t need the University looking over our shoul- ders. Drinking away from the University does not nec- essarily have to be inherently more dangerous than imbibing in a fraternity house. The responsibility for ensuring a safe—drinking en- vironment has now been placed squarely on our shoul- ders. , Instead of forcing Security to monitor us, it’s time for us to begin taking on that role for each other. In- stead of fighting it, let’s rise to the occasion. Let’s show the University community what we’re made of. CONTRIBUTING EDITOR !EB BROOKS ‘O5 pus party that you would for an on- Students must take responsibility for current underage drinking problems There are a number of practical things that can be done to ensure safe off-campus parties. If you see a classmate in need of help, get it. If someone needs a ride and you are sober, offer it. Plan for yourself and don’t drink more than you can handle. Stay with friends and watch out for each other. If you are throwing a party, make sure you have plenty of water and food for your guests who might need it. Make sure you have sober drivers available to people who may need a ride. Follow the same rules for an off-cam- campus one. Because we live in a community of trust, we ought to take advantage of that fact. Let’s do it by showing trust in one another. On a related note, as student coordinator of the Traveller Program, I can provide you with contact infor- mation for the company that operates the Traveller Ex- press buses. They will be happy to work with you to offer trans- portation to your guests above and beyond Traveller’s capabilities. Just shoot me an email (brool_<_s_j @wlu.edu) before your next off-campus event and I’H send you a phone number. You don’t even have to invite me! In short, we are intelligent, capable young adults. We ought to be willing to take on this responsibility. Now is the time for us to begin watching out for each other and to ensure that when we drink, we do it in a responsible, adult way. When we graduate into the dreaded Real World, 'we’ll have to do all of this on our own. Why not show them that we can handle it now? In American politics there are certain topics that often polarize people, even those who may share simi- lar political ideology. One of these topics is abor- tion. I identify myself as “Pro-Choice” and I hope that after reading this, my reasoning behind believ- ing that way will be clear. In talking about abortion with others I have often found that they believe Pro- Choice to mean Pro-Abortion. I person- ally disagree with the word Pro-Abortion because of what the name implies. It seems to suggest being “for” abortion in the sense that I go around trying to convince women to have abortions. This is certainly not the case. In my opinion abortions should only be performed under three circumstances: the health of the mother is at risk, the child would be born disfigured or with any un- natural deformity, or the preg- nancy was a result of rape or incest. With those views on abortion I can not call myself “Pro-Life” because I do not believe in protesting in front of abortion clinics and threatening those who have abortions with eternal damnation. Of course not all people who identify as being Pro-Life engage in those practices it seems to be com- moh in Pro-Life lobbyists. And while I personally know women that have had abortions that did not fit into any of the previously mentioned circumstances, I still believe that a woman has the right to determine whether she carries her child to full term or not as it is MARCAS BANKS ‘07 ...by making it illegal women who see abortion as the only option will resort to unhealthy, harmful, and potentially fatal methods Term “pro—choice” clarified, education about sex encouraged her body. I am also very strongly opposed to making abortion illegal. While I think that all abortions should take place within the first trimester, making all abortions illegal is not practical. Just because something is made illegal does not mean that people will not indulge in that activity. This also applies to abortion, by making it illegal women who see abortion as the only option will resort to unhealthy, harmful, and po- tentially fatal methods. Essentially by making abortion illegal a black market for abortion will be created. And with the resent verdict of Scott Peterson, who was found guilty of second degree murder for his unborn son, I can foresee a possibility of Roe vs. Wade being overturned because people view the crime Peterson committed as being so heinous. If people identify themselves as V Pro-Life and want to help reduce the num- ber of abortions the best way is to empha- size abstinence as well as the use of con- traceptives and prophylactics among teens. By reinforcing, these methods both at home and at school, which is where teens spend most of their day, will help increase the amount of awareness they have in regards to sexual activity and its pos- sible results and will help decrease the number of abortions performed each year. And although I would prefer that women not have abortions, some of them will, and it is a choice for them to make. REFLECTIONS Good Luck with exams! Have a safe and happy holiday season and a very Happy New Year. The Ring-tium Phi’s next edition will come out January 10, 2005. UniVersity’s new alcohol enforcement makes assault likely FOREBODING. Country places like this might cause the University’s ladies to party in fear. As a woman, I object to the en- forcement of the alcohol policy. Sexual assault is the most egregious problem on our campus, and that crisis is being dis- regarded in the crackdown on drinking. And no, enforcing the al- cohol policy will not alleviate the sexual assault problem on this cam- pus. If anything, women I talk to believe that the enforcement will cre- ate a more dangerous atmosphere for women. Enforcing the alcohol policy changes the face of the W&L party scene for the worst. We have already seen the effects of enforcement: drinking was pushed off campus over the weekend, people pre-partied hard before going out and snuck alcohol into parties. People have shared many criticisms of the alcohol policy enforcement, ranging from the mundane to the grim. Some complained that the cock- tail parties held in off-campus houses just aren’t as genteel as one would expect a Washington and Lee func- tion to be. When I entered this school as a freshman, the mission of Washington and Lee seemed to be creating ladies and gentlemen ca- _ pable of thinking, working and social- izing in the real world. My parents remember a speech in Lee Chapel in which administrators emphasized re- sponsible drinking. That attitude is no more. Others complained that they got drunker than they meant to, because they shot liquor in secret rather than drinking moderately in public. Still other women have mentioned that they fear a rise in the use of date-rape drugs. This is a sound fear. In the past, frater- nity presidents have held the liability for what occurs in the house and thus, did their best to ensure safety. No one will hold such liability at a country party. ’ Additionally, instead of the cans EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ERIN IULIUS ‘06 handed across the bar in a frat base- ment, people predict the rise of kegs and grain in the country. This means an increase in the use of open containers, which my mother has been cau- tioning me against since high school. Who knows when something could be slipped into a frat cup full of beer? Kegs and grain are also dangerous because one does not necessarily know what goes into them. Drugs could be dropped in, or there could be confusion over the strength of the alcohol—is it vodka? Is it everclear? The difference is huge. Off-campus debauchery is not re- sponsible, but it is the logical result of the new enforcement. I do not like coun- try parties; in my time at Washington and Lee, I have been to about three. Fraternity houses have always felt like a much safer environment to me. Maybe it’s the security guards one occasion- ally sees in any frat basement. Maybe it’s the massive number of people in a given party; safety in numbers. Maybe it’s just the comfort of knowing that I can walk myself home at any given mo- ment. Would a country party have any of these advantages? No. For the past two—and—a-half years, I have always had choices about where I wanted to socialize on the weekends and frat basements have always won out over private parties in country homes. Enforcing the alcohol policy changes the face of the W&L party scene for the worst, and frankly, it scares me. I’m envisioning young women trapped in country homes. Off-cam- pus homes are a more intimate envi- ronment, so it is much more likely that a man will feel entitled, and a woman will feel obligated. Traveller only runs until two, it’s not unrealistic to believe that people will be unable to get rides home. Most fraternity men are up- standing people, but sexual assault occurs on this campus now and coun- try parties provide even more oppor- tunity for assault. ‘ p ato murlegr of t/atamzdaxom OCR::/Vol_107/WLURG39_RTP_20041206/WLURG39_RTP_20041206_006.2.txt PAGE 6 . MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2004 " Wednesday ' Sunday 4* Men’s Basketball vs. Women’s Basketball vs. Guilford —— 7:00 VWC — 2:00 ’ Men’s Basketball vs. Piedmont -- 8:00 ‘I r I 9 . v ._’T.‘t:'of the-i.thté (la Bra, 1 ; , &L met}; sper_t;h1“g- a iimitcd ' Massiaali hrvitationaloa Saturday W 3 finished‘ second of rear “r O Is '\‘ rr~~lit \......o""‘”"A"~_-.-~*“"~e .. .. .. . . I fl ’ AA Q Horw Du I Tcmpt Thee? ',\‘‘'= ‘I9 » f is. r:'- ..;r be Elf“, ‘ ' ' ms «nu mow °'°';,“',,:“, ‘;'f,1i:';‘,..5“°P * anda lwiaélotlldtlvef - ,£::r¢~lr_v Ribbtias Wmtren ., min“ I’ ' . _ ads:-sf mums ‘ 3 . (:heerseaer tame ..-~- Zihurwfs §; RIPNMVA 24472 Fgfina ' j * §nxn9ric}*Inisi:~1£(f':1sarr:vnnx * .: 540.343.522o.1.377.N1T.yARN up Hanky Panky _ Knitting cottage nestled alongthc creek ’ Cosabeua which carries a fabulous selection of basic . Le M‘:/Stet’? f . -- h . ,. and novelty yams, kits, needles and Ananne at C 23$‘ accessories. Customer service from stanto Honeydew ‘ _ ' finish with your projects. Mail order and _ Internet accessibility made easy. * CaIforworltsl1op&dassinfonnaflon. 21 W. Nelson St. . 463*?” * M0" ’ F“ “P5730 A‘ W farm that ofers "U-PICK” opporrurrmer for fresh Sat . Mean-1 fniitwhen in season. Conam BLACKFORD / RING-TUMPHI _mes_ sat mtoolszw wedumfl 8:“) V JUMP THAT HURDLE. Indoor track, a not so well known sport at \W&.L, has started. Go support the indoor track “semper ubi sub ubi” 3 Sun $3‘ 00$ Saint 95 ’ I team as they jump hurdles and perform other feats indoors. . . - . The next Phi will come out January #1 Sp rmg Break V3-C3-Hons! Happy 20th ., 10’ 2005 Be ca]-efu[ Cancun, Jamaica, Aca;1>glc/:oéBathIar_nas,lFlorida 8r Costa Bnthday - ica. °o es rtces. C°m'"9 Emily Edwards Spring Break 2005 back on Book Now & Get Free Parties & Meals! _ , Travel with STS, America’s #1 Student Tour Operatorto 1 Lo e Jamaica, Cancun, Acapulco, Bahamas and Florida. Now January 2' Group Discounts. Campus Reps Wanted! CAL Egl ’ CIA hiring on—campus reps. Call for group discounts. . ’ ’ ’ Information/Reservations 1-800-648-4849 or 1 800 234 7007 3779 SM”: PMR www.ststrave|.com. ~ endlesssummertours.com " , 3; 4 ‘ = l iéé an r . A : c 4 Scans Psrrfirlcr purehaseexperlenee pg Mpg rtrr 1’mwCfl9WR&mT°Y C-W3 V , u ztzearelleltargglertlahassle. p Hwyr-. ; om: fiummwmpmmwu V .*:‘-saris stasis set: eitriisé. '?::aa.:- as eczeséz-:;;22 nail. Sémsiar Séraigéfiarraarzé i'°r’?3¥‘lE.:;3?‘i§§f°§§. . - ' W '~ 4- ’ Orjain mfirwefwrh’-L 3’0UC"N5“73"fi"" " , I ~Friz§ay Nigfit%fnodBuffetv4i83CtabALegs5?l§-18PM _ .. Friié 3% ‘ '' Saturday Night $99“ 3 5W~’*3P” V p _ t §g’3r;g 35; g§§gz;g; ~Smday Baked Chsdcan & 383 Ribfi 31 - ,. ‘ , $ . - -_ —-sreexrae:eer7neysaweesrsasa--:1srn ; g. - 2 4 ~Dwyl~l0tcountry%*1_»'£fia!a~1nW»! ‘ M ’ .. . . s .; ~DailySouP. 3aiad.&Ft1&Bar11fiefl~1flP_M Heme Cooked Mada &' Soutlmm Hospitality! A 0rdcrB:c:d:fmt24HmusaDay,Scvcn¢laysaweck! ' : Starslarq mm at _ i-éueatt rims; Cit states with six. speakers, isetuding rat: egg .5 gm 195,135 mam uxgwy, L2:x§xQ':'o{§',v,q. ' trreeters and Saar Saand_?raessir2s§%4F'3-{agents anti Xi;-1 540.453.3473 . ' . . psézteirie 'sfr.ea:.1';=' .9 Air fX}¥§{.‘i§§i€3¥%>%?’ t Eliinizs at live: rrhssl carer V ‘ aéssigas 3 rnzr-as brakes 5 Peers: txrieéasrs, seer inns, and . am 5”‘ 5*‘ 9"” °°“°“‘°" °’ ' estséée tiiirmrs ;‘ 5-year, éfitiiiti-rsiés Feesrrraizrwssranty‘ W” rm‘ 0"‘ “,3” 1”“ ' » 1- .- . : ~ 2 V 1. at . .. - *4 - * ' Ygv E ‘ ’ ' Spring Break Bahamas Celebrity PartY - innate ysur nearest Satan liealer at Scinn.:em or call 1‘8‘éé”~?B”:sc|N3 C,,,,Se, . . . _. .. . . .. ., ,_ _ V. X 5 Days $299! Includes Meals, Parties! ' Cancun, Acapulco, Nassau, Jamaica “ From $459 Panama City & Daytona $159 www.Spring BreakTrave| .com , 1-800-678-6386 OCR::/Vol_107/WLURG39_RTP_20041206/WLURG39_RTP_20041206_007.2.txt ii;-'.n:.ul‘*;r MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2004 W&L SPORTS RELEASE Washington and Lee held an eight—point second half lead but could not hold on, as the Generals dropped a 63-58 deci- sion at Randolph-Macon in ODAC men’s basketball action on Saturday afternoon. The Generals (0-7, 0-2) led by as many as 10 points (24-14) in the first half and claimed a 36- 32 halftime edge. The lead pushed back to eight points at 43-35 with 16:46 remaining, but the Yellow Jackets chipped away until claiming the lead for good with at 55-53 with 7:33 remaining in the game. W&L shot just 8-for-26 (.308) from the floor in the sec- ond half, while R-MC shot 12- of-23 (.522) in the second stanza. W&L was paced by senior Team loses grasp of victory in second half , PORTS guard Mike Stuart (Warrenton,Va./Fauquier) ‘ A and sophomore guard _ Chris Halkitis (New Port Richey, Fla./Ridgewood), who scored 16 points each. Freshman forward Greg Bienemarm (Chatharn, N.J./Chatham») notched 10 points, and freshman forward Colton Braud (Houston, Texas/ James Taylor) added seven points, five rebounds and five assists. I Randolph-Macon (2-2, 2- 0) was led by junior forward Justin Wansley’s 24-point, 15—rebound effort. Sopho- more forward Philip Hawley added 12 points. Washington and Lee re- turns to action on Sunday as it travels to Virginia Wesleyan for a 2:00 pm contest. PAGE 7 Emily Hulen / Ring-Tum P/12' University Dining Services Hours of Operation ‘ Extended hours for exam week only! *7 :30am to 1:00am Friday 10”‘, Sunday 12”‘-Wednesday *8:00am to midnight- Saturday 11”‘ *7 :30am to midnight- Thursday 16”‘ *7:30am to 4:00pm-. Friday 17”‘ . *7:30am to 2:00pm- Monday 20”‘-Wednesday 22"” *closed Thursday 23” until Sunday Jan. 2"” at *7:15am to 7:00pm- Monday 13”‘-Friday 17”‘ *closed after dinner Friday 17”‘ until Sunday Jan. 2"” at LAW SCHOOL BRIEF STOP *7:45am to 5:30pm- Monday 13”‘-Wednesday 15”‘ *closed Thursday 16”‘ until Monday Jan. 3”‘ at 7:45am ****MIDNlGHT BREAKFAST‘. 10:30pm-12:30am**** featuring Breakfast at Tillany’s at the Commons Marketplace December 2004 CAFE ‘77 15”‘ 5:00pm MARKETPLACE 5:00pm Monday December 13”‘ ’ down...thoroughly A game to remember Of all the recent sports events, nothing tops the brawl BY RYAN GRl'I"I‘ER SENIOR SPORTS WRITER Well, Thanksgiving break certainly had quite a bit to keep us sports fans interested, not the least of which was the fight be- tween the Pacers and Detroit fans. I had come home from a night out to be greeted by the sight of stupid fans getting punched in the face. ....over and over again. I had to watch 6 times before I was able to go to bed. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve always been curi- ous to see these guys fight, I mean they’re like 66” and com- pletely jacked. . . ..it was a dream come true to see them in combat. Though on that note I must say I was rather disappointed in their fighting abilities. Jackson landed a nice shot on that ran- dom fan, I’ll give him that, but Jermaine O’Neal was slipped and fell as he punched some fan on the court. He looked so lanky and goofy slipping and falling like that. Then Artest was not able to live up to his words and a mouth like that you know he’s been in plenty of fightsin the past. I liked when he palms the first guys face and slams in down, but after that it was all downhill. . ..nothing but pushing and grabbing. Then when that chubby little bastard comes up to him on court he misses twice! What the crap?!?! The guy didn’t even go disap- pointed. Also, in the stands, some little point guard (I couldn’t catch who it was) gets beaten down so quickly that I had to include the previous parenthetical. Seriously, some enormous black guy just beats the crap out of him with no trouble at all, and the player had to be at least 6’2” and ripped. While we’re on this topic, let “I don’t know about anyone else, but l’ve always been curious to see these guys fight, I mean they’re like 66” and completely jacked. . ...itwas a dream come true to see them in combat.” RYAN GRI'I’I'ER me just say that I agreed with the commentators from the night it happened, not after when they were pressured into being soft- ies. Did anyone notice that the night of the incident all the com- mentators agreed that if a player is physically attacked by fans he has the right to enter the stands, and that any violence on court was completely deserved? I quote one of them who said, “Anything they did on court is a freebie. Fans, if you went on the court you got what you de- served.” Merry Christmas from the PM Then the next few days after they quickly switched to view- ing all the players involved as criminals. Watch that one fan open a fresh Mountain Dew and pour it directly onto Jermaine O’Neal’s face and tell me who the criminals were in this situa- tion. So enough about basketball, let’s move on to baseball. For all of you who doubted whether or not Bonds used/uses steroids, let me give you an update here, a checklist of sorts. 1) Balco Indus- tries has now been confirmed as providing steroids 2) Sheffield has come forward and admitted that Bonds gave him steroids, and 3) Giambi has admitted to ste- roid use, and that he got the ste- roids from Bonds’ weight trainer. Coincidence? Please. Finally, the sport that usu- ally gets the most attention on Thanksgiving probably de- served the least. What was the deal with the football match ups this year? The first game was kind of entertaining as we could watch Peyton tear the Lions up, but he was out early in the third quarter, and the rest of the game was worthless. Then the next game, Bears vs. Boys, by far the worst offen- sive game I’ve ever watched. N o offense equals no interest, take a lesson from baseball on that one. Yet, despite footballs’ holi- day disappointments, nothing could bring us down from the in- credible fight, which was joined by more cool fights in college and pro football, as weH as plenty of shows based on fights... which are always good. BlueRidge PHYSICAL THERAPY Care with you in mind 463-5388 728 North Lee Hwy Lexington, VA {College Square shopping center) John 3:15 Specializing in: Orthopedics Sports Medicine Spinal Mobilization Postv-OP rehabilitation Please call or stop by to speak with one 0fOZ4?* srafi” members with any questions you may have concerning your rreamzenz‘, or your insurance. 0111‘ check Like No O01-her‘ Shop You've Seen! éifrs & Snac/cs‘ _f'ar_- All Occas/on.s_'_ 001' Tea Room (Serving Premium Teas, Light Fare 6: Sweets) Body Fr-osfirgl Student Care Package: 5171935 zuinfsl 6/taco/are Bandaidsl Kick/ts: Popcorn! 1VIonday—Saturday 10 a.rn. - 5:30 p-In- Sunday Noon — 4:00 pLm. 13 South Maj}; sn-eét" 464-4433 www-fi1nfoodsforyou-coxn _ ‘Access .$ornerhirg for Everyone Above/1)’ Candies 6/‘ff Baskets Fun Foods & _ or-es I OCR::/Vol_107/WLURG39_RTP_20041206/WLURG39_RTP_20041206_008.2.txt PAGE 8 MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2004 "§"2iEiiiN'(rl3;!lll)l-ii W F l .i.FE Lexington offers unique holiday gifts BY LEAH KERSHAW STAFF WRITER Looking for the perfect Christmas gift? Lexington shops offer unique presents with a personal touch. For a small college town, Lexington shops offer gifts to fit any student’s budget. Pumpkin Seeds, a boutique featuring women’s clothing, accessories, upscale toiletries, and hostess gifts, has much to offer the holiday shopper. Whimsical Christmas ornaments, festive jewelry, and stocking stuffers are sure to please the women in anyone’s life. Molly Gilbride, an upscale women’s shoe store, has a great selection of well-known brands including Lulu Guiness and Cynthia Rowley. Molly Gilbride also sells Tarina Taratino jewelry, which was recently featured in In Style magazine. Siobhan Gilbride, the owner of Molly Gilbride and Pump- kin Seeds, said that this funky jewelry, made of Lucite, is a popular item this year. If you are in search of the perfect hostess gift or stock- ing stuffers, Fun Food’s and Accessories is the place to go. Victoria Pannell, the owner of Fun Food’s and Accessories, has appointed her store the “stocking stuffer capital of Lex- ington.” Fun Food’s and Accessories features a variety of fun gifts for the holi- day season including a chocolate toilet seat and ant candy. Fun Food’s and Accessories is “truly a place to go that you can find something for everyone, animals included” says Pannell. Pappagallo, anthor women’s clothing store in town, has seen over 27 Christmas seasons in Lexington. If you are look- ing for help picking out the perfect gift, Susie Crawford, the owner of Pappagallo, is more than willing to help. Crawford has been in the women’s clothing business since August of 1977 when she opened Pappagallo. Vera Bradley products, affordable jewelry and tons of Free People clothing are among some of the gift ideas that can be found at Pappagallo. Crawford also offers gift certificates and free gift wrapping. Virginia Born and Bred features Virginia products. Over 80% of the items sold in Virginia Born and Bred are produced by Virginia manufacturers. This shop offers fine gift items and specialty gift baskets which can be shipped anywhere. Virginia Born and Bred sells silver plated utensils, funky glass colored beads wrapped in wire, which are handmade in Glen Allen, VA. Hilary DeHaan ’05 bought some of the uten- For a small college town, Lexington shops offer gifts to fit any student’s budget. 0 LrrrLE TOWN OF LEXINGTON. Still looking for Christmas gifts for friends and fa.mily.? Downtown Lexington offers many options for the ' discerning shopper in all of us. sils for her mom for Christmas. Her mother “likes them be- cause they’re classy with a funky edge” said DeHaan. Artists in Cahoots, the local artists co—op, has tons of unique gift ideas including jewelry and beautiful Christmas ornaments. Sylvan Spirit, one of the jewelry lines offered in the co—op, is sold in overone hundred shops around the world. Maureen Worth, one the two jewelry designers for the line, said Sylvan Spirit is making special holidayjewelry for the sea- son. The holiday line will include Holly and Poinsettiajewelry made of clay, silver and bronze. Worth is willing to custom design necklaces and earrings to fit any budget. Custom jewelry is completed in three to five days. Michael Viviano ’07 ordered a custom made necklace for his mother. He was pleased with the necklace and said that it turned out beautifully. “Since I’m from a big city, I don’t tend to see as much localized type stuff like Sylvan Spirit, so it was a nice change from what I’d normally buy as a gift,” said Viviano. Lexington boutiques offer W&L students great gift ideas with a local twist. W&L. Bookstore Presents... \ Student Book of the Week A , lly tenure of the loolstolo um! the n'ng-‘nun Ini \ I no ether or: ....‘.‘;,.~ A - A: 5 i ill: FOB Till‘: l'lClLIDfiElS This hilarious holiday book is full of.TeffFoxworthy's tradeinark humor. Includes the Redneck Twelve Days of Christmas, “The Night After Christmas," and dozens of holiday themed “You Might Be A Redneck If. . jokes, including: You mightbe a Redneck if. .. — The plastic deer in your ya'd at Christmas double as practice tagets Santa Claus refuses to let your lcids sitin his lap. Even your snowman has abeer gut Chrisunas dinner was too slow crossing the road on Christmas Eve. Hilariously illustrated, this book contains a bonus CD of Jeff Foxworthy’ s Redneck 12 Days of Christmas. Makes the perfect gift for your favorite redneck in end or relative &gularpn'¢:e: $14.99 Book afthe Week Price: $12. 50 Alternative Christ- mas carols you ought to learn BY EMILY EDWARDS AR'IS&LlFE EDITOR Many an odd thing has occurred on our cam- pus over the past couple of weeks. Something tells me our beloved Dubyuhnell is changing... and in some cases, not for the better. scholastic excellence in his chosen field of endeavor. excellence throughout your life. since 1945. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. www.olphcrphicrlpho.nei Why Alpha at WLU? . . . , The objective of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is to stimulate the ambition of its members; to prepare them for the greatest , usefulness in the causes of humanity, freedom and dignity of the individual; to encourage the highest and noblest form of manhood; and to aid down-trodden humanity in its efforts to achieve higher social, economic and intellectual status. Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African-Americans, was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York by seven college men who recognized the need for a strong of Brotherhood between African descendents in this country. The visionary founders, known as the “Jewels” of the Fraternity, are: Henry Arthur Callis, Charles Henry Chapman, Eugene Kinckle Jones, George Biddle Kelley, Nathaniel Allison Murray, Robert Harold Ogle and Vertner Woodson Tandy. Alpha Phi Alpha was founded with one thing in mind: scholarship. An Alpha man is first a college man, and his greatest boast is The Fraternity has grown from seven men in 1906 to over 175,000 men today. Times have changed and Alpha Phi Alpha has kept abreast with the times, but one thing that Alpha Phi Alpha has never relinquishedis scholarship. Proven scholastic attainment has always been a requirement of initiation in the fraternity. As an Alpha man, Alpha Phi Alpha is represented on the campus of leading universities and colleges throughout the United States, Africa, Europe, the West Indies and Asia (Korea & Japan). There are more than three hundred fifty college chapters to be found on the same number of university campuses that have been accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. The fraternity has been interracial Proof of Enrollment Transcript — minimum GPA of 2.5 Essay Biographical Sketch/Resume Proof of Voter Registration Three letters of Recommendation Application and Membership Fee Al WL ? Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. representation on the Washington and Lee University campus would provide opportunities for African-American students and others to seek membership in one of the historically Black Greek letter organization. Our primary focus is community service and to provide a link to the WLU campus and the Lexington community of issues and concerns the African-American community and other people of color. The most remarkable leadership in the African-American community in the 215‘ century has without question come from the , ranks of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The fraternity has supplied voice and vision to the struggle of the African-Americans and people of color around the world. This is your first step toward joining the ranks of hundreds of thousands of great men whose interest lay outside themselves. [H [I .l . '99] “MM” HI I" I" 7 . To learn more about becoming a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, lnc., please feel free to contact. Mr. Sean L. Bates (Advisor) at Ba or at 804 519-5176. you will be required to uphold this transition of scholastic So this is the last Phi before Christmas break. And in the Christmas spirit, I have “written” a few carols for all on campus to appreciate. I offer my sincerest apologies to the original writers of these timeless, traditional melodies. Go Tell it on House Mountain tune.‘ Go Tell it on the Mountain While Fratlords kept their watching, O’er quiet basements by night, Behold throughout Red Square, There shone an evil light. Chorus: Go tell it on House Mountain, Over the hills and everywhere, Go tell it on House Mountain That Burish comes to rule. The Fratlords feared and trembled as wristbands ‘arrived in tow. Twenty—one and over, or drinking’s a big “no-no!” (chorus) Down on the Colonnade, this ruling came to be. Trustees sent out the letters, hands tied by ABC. (chorus) What Grade is This? time: What Child is This ? What grade is this that faces me, in classes I am failing? While Harvard, Dartmouth and Princeton inflate their grades for rankings. This! This is infamy! I study hard but get a B. Brown! Yale! They work much less, and get an A with no stress. Good Freshmen Men Rejoice tune: Good Christian Men Rejoice Good freshmen men rejoice, with heart and soul and voice. Give ye heed to what I say, RUSH! RUSH! Pledgeship will come your way: To Upperclassmen you will bow, So enjoy your life right now. You will hate your life! You will hate your life! Good Freshmen men rejoice With heart and soul and voice. Now your life is endless bliss, RUSH! RUSH! You came for Dubyuhnell for this. Frats will open up their doors, And you’ll be blessed for evermore. Eight weeks you must endure! ' Eight weeks you must endure! «- 1* ‘ OCR::/Vol_107/WLURG39_RTP_20041206/WLURG39_RTP_20041206_009.2.txt ’IiiE (3~’ll,ii.\xw.«s/<< CURTESY OF ART.COM Ir’s THE END or THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT. People from Lexington and surrounding area came to Rockbridge County High School on Saturday for a chance at Stardom: being an extra in Spielberg’s latest endeavor, yet another remake of The War of tbe LVor/dr. tims in Sci-Fi movies. Feel like a shoe—in. 8:20 AM—FINALLY move inside. My toes are tingling (they WON’T have to be amputated! Phewl), but I am still excited. I scan the room for people exuding an aura of ce- lebrity. Disappointingly, I see no one and sense no vibes. Maybe ifI get picked for a part I can meet Tim Robbins?! Just maybe. 8:25 AM—Hand in my form at the table in the front of the gym. No big whoop. Nothing to be excited about yet—just waiting for that call. That’s all I can do now. Wait. That, and turn on the heat in my car and drive home while listening to Mariah Carey Christmas on the radio. And take a nap. want to become a ticictor. to March 1. 4'1 0-51 6»-7748. For more iriformation, visit The Johns Hopkins F’ost«»Bac;caiaureate Premiedicai rogram prepares college graduates with strong academic records to apply to the best medical seihrmts by giving them the I personai attention, the necessary science and math cows 3, and one-tmane academic advising» if you or someone you kriowswams to pureue a career as a doctor, apply during the application period of September 1 medirzal SC.ll(i£ii.” I .jhu.edulpostbac or call “I dam. have the p , required courses for JOHNS HOPE Past-Bar:csat aurea.te Premedical Prasgsram OCR::/Vol_107/WLURG39_RTP_20041206/WLURG39_RTP_20041206_010.2.txt PAGE 10 THE THE RlNG~TUM PHI AST ORD FJHILYFDWARIJS ARIs&liEEEDrioR EMAii;Ei)\riARusEiu@wiiiri)u MONDAY, DECEMBER .6, 2004 Potato Man ponders what actually happened to fim Chiistinas gifts Those who know me know that my phone’s ringer is set to We Wish You a Merry Christmas, all year long. Annoying? Yes. But to me Christmas is the best time of year, so, when you are around me, Christmas is year round. Unfortunately, my family seems to think that Christmas is a once a year thing and therefore celebrates it as such. VV1th that time fast approaching, I have had to make my annual Christmas list, which I feel kind enough to share with you, in case any of you feel the need to can’t drive there either. (See how this car thing works. . .I can even blame being fat on not having a car). Besides, treadmills don’t even come close to comparing to the efficiency of John Basedow’s work- out. If someone gives me those videos for Christmas, I might finally have the body I always dreamed about. I’ve also noticed over the past few years that I no longer get “fun” gifts. I used to open presents and get Power Ranger figurines. Those were the good old days, buy me a gift. ' POTATO MAN when everyone comes back to daycare with their new The first thing I am asking for is a car. Not toys....Actually, now that I think about it, it wasn’t because I will get a car if I ask for it, but it is more to ’ MARSHALL RULE that fun. That spoiled brat across the street always make my family feel guilty that I am here without a car. All year I tell them, “I need a car so bad. It’s impossible to survive without a car.” I have my mom feeling so bad that I don’t have a ride that she will now buy me twice as much stuff as my brother, and justify it by saying, “But he has to walk everywhere, so he needs more things.” I also need the Fitness Made Simple featuring John Basedow instructional videos. Lately, I have been putting on weight faster than Kirstie Alley. I know that there are treadmills in the gym, but the gym is just so far away. By the time I walk there I am exhausted and don’t have the energy to walk back. And since I don’t have a car, I got better gifts. He came with the Blue Ranger, and then made fun of me when I showed up with the Pink Ranger, because the store was all out of the others. When I got home to complain to my parents, they told me I was being ungrateful and needed my mouth washed out with soap. I have never complained about a gift since. But over the past few years I’ve had to ask for practical gifts. _ Clothes, alarm clocks, razors. I know they are necessities, but Christ- mas is supposed to be about fun, not personal hygiene. That is why this yearl am asking for the Blue Ranger. I don’t know if they still make them. I don’t know if the show is even still on TV. But I thinkl have waited long enough, and I finally want to show that brat across the street that I’m cool too. " My favorite gift on Christmas is socks. I know this seems stupid, and that most people imagine socks as the last thing any- one would want for Christmas. But, to me, there is nothing I love more than wearing a brand new pair of socks. Ifl was rich enough, I would buy a new pair of socks every morning, and throw them in the garbage at the end of the day. And lastly, I am asking that Boise State gets the credit that they deserve for going undefeated and having the longest winning streak in the country. Twenty-two games in a row. The BCS gives them no respect, and neither does the rest of the nation. I also wish that they change the setup of the championship so that the top four teams get to be in a playoff. The #1 and #4 teams play, the #2 and #3 teams play, and the winners face off in for the Championship. It’s time we take the controversy out of sports. If you could some- how buy the NCAA and change that, that would be a pretty cool gift, that and letting me hangout with the University of Kentucky cheerleaders. - Everybody says Christmas is about giving and not receiving, and I couldn’t agree more. . .. So GIVE me the things on my list. Now that’s the Christmas spirit. ' Overly friendly security, drooling five-year-olds and future opera stars ruin travel I love to travel. I am never happy staying in one place for too long. I get restless. Unfortunatly, today traveling translates to hours of waiting, be- ing patted down by security guards (who seem to enjoy their jobs a little too much, if you know what I mean), and canceled, oveibooked, and delayed flights. When I was little, I used to love airports. Chi- cago O’hare was a fun house- a maze of glass and chrome open to exploration. I was enthralled by the escalators and the baggage claim. I could have spent days sitting next to the Plexiglas windows, watch- ing the planes make shaky takeoffs and smooth landings. I even used to dream of being an airline attendant . One day I could be in London, the next in Barcelona. However, since I can barely walk in a straight line on solid ground, that dream was quickly put to rest. (Seriously, I weave around like a drunk- ard even when my BAC is a solid 0.0.) This summer, after a variety of mix-ups and rniscommunications between the pilots, the flight attendants, the baggage claim workers, and the tick- eting agents at United Airlines, I lost my faith in modern travel. Actually, I was half considering hitch- hiking back to Wisconsin‘ for Thanksgiving break. But, having seen my share of B-rated horror mov- _ ies, I decided to give air travel another shot (lest Michael Myers or Freddy Cougar have come back to life again). So, I booted up my computer, ran a google search, and came up with the best priced ticket I could lay my hands on and began mentally preparing myself for the trip to come. November 19 quickly rolled around. After I had made it to the airport (which was a dramatic, trau- matic experience in itself), I had a five hour wait for my flight. Thus, the trip was already posed to be long and exhausting. Since i had finished packing shortly before dawn, I had not been in the state of mind to pack a lunch. Thus, if I wanted to eat, I had to suck it up and patron the airport cafe (cafe is not the term I would employ, but. ..). Trying to be healthy (because I knew I’d gain at least five pounds over break) , I sidled up to the counter and ordered a bowl of cereal (half a serving), a granola bar, and a Nutragrain bar. The bill came to a total of $6.10. I balked. “$6.10?! For this?!” “The server sweetly explained that the cereal did indeed come with a container of I know that I’m from Vlfisconsin, where milk runs aplenty, but I’m fairly sure the go- ing rate for cow juice is not for me. Let me explain: Nine times out of ten, I get placed next to a “talker.” Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m a friendly girl. I love to meet new people, and I think its fasci- nating to talk to individuals with whom I'd nor- ' mally never come into contact. But I have my lim- its. Word of advice, if I just met you a half an hour ago, please don’t tell me a) what medications you are taking b) what weird rashes you’ve contracted in the past or c) the frequency with which you mow your lawn. No. I am not kidding. I have heard it all. Frankly, I don’t care if you mow every first and third Monday of the month. Or what kind of lawn mower you use. Or the brand three dollars, even in the South. Needless to say, I got a muffin instead (might as well get a head start on the holiday binge, THE MILK AND CHEESE GIRL KRisiiNE EARLY of weed killer. And I’d rather be kept in the dark about your rash, even if you assure me it’s not infectious. I’d rather sit right?). So at 12: 30 (rather than 12:10), Iboarded Flight 5841, well-fed but a bit on edge. Needless to say, I was not all that thrilled to discover that my seat was at the very back of the plane- the worst spot. I couldn’t put my seat back. I didn’t have a view. I was the last to get served. To top it all off my seat was right next to the bathroom. The bathroom was “malfunctioning,” a nice technical way to say that the toilet didn’t flush. It wasn’t a pleasant (smell- ing) experience. ‘ Now, normally, I wouldn’t complain about ei- ther the high costs of Cheerios or two and a half hours of discomfort. I would chalk everything up to bad luck and capitalism and forget the whole experience. But this experience wasn’t a fluke. I am beginning to think that the airport Gods have it in next to you in peaceful igno- rance. Actually, I’d rather not sit next to you. (Would you mind a seat on the wing? I hear it has a nice view. Bonus mileage points!) But even worse than the passenger who won’t shut up‘ about his lawn care system are the obnox- ious brats that inevitably end up in the row behind I Inc. And the row in front of me. And the row beside me. I like children. I really do. I especially like them when they are nowhere near me. (I subscribe to the “children should neither be seen nor hear ” school of thought.) Children, while irritating in restaurants and stores, are absolutely intolerable as soon as they step on an aircraft. The elevation must be good for their developing lungs. I’ve heard four-year olds who could blow the best opera singers away with their high Cs. However, as much as I enjoy the free entertainment, I’d prefer to listen to a Christina Aguilera CD. Or maybe not. Scream kids! Scream! (Oohh. Harsh, Kristine. Harsh.) Fortunately, on this flight, I was spared from the “yeller” and the “kicker” — the kid whose feet “accidentally” make contact with the back of your chair a few thousand times. But as much as I enjoy a good massage chair, I just can’t fall asleep when a drooling five-year old is pretending that my seat back is indeed a soccer ball. I can’t decide which is worse, the “kicker” or the seven year—old who pushes her seat all the way back (Her feet don’t even reach the floor! She does not need extra leg room!) But even once the little opera stars and future masseuses get off the plane, they aren’t much bet- ter. Six and seven year—olds are highly adept at po- sitioning themselves directly in front of the bag- gage claim. Apparently, “mommy’s little boy” thinks he can lift a fifty pound suitcase. Yeah, right. I can’t even lift a fifty-pound suitcase. (OK, I can, but it is a pathetic sight indeed. Nope, the eight pound weights at the gym just don’t prepare one for these real life test of strength.) However, despite all the aimoyances that ac- company air travel - the delays, the high—priced packaged food, and other passengers in general - ' it’s still my favorite way to cross the country. I would much rather suffer in silence next to a motor mouth and a toilet with a “technical problem” than spend sixteen hours stuffed in the family van. It seems that soon enough I’ll get that chance. Christ- mas is only a few weeks away. Boy, am I looking forward to the trip home... Ul S Q I heard Rockbridge High School was having a sick party this weekend and they aren’t carding. Q Even though the rivers run dry, the grass still grows and the snow still falls on Lexington. Q I want to go back high school. Q Did anybody else notice that the car in Joe Nichol’s “Nobody Believe’s In You” music video sports a trident? Q Have you ever been so hungry that you ripped apart the microwave popcorn bag and licked the butter flavoring off the inside? I have. Q Red Square - West side. Q Todd Tate long term goals: end under age drink- ing, find the last digit of Pi, find Osama, and world peace. I Q You have nice teeth. You should be a tooth ‘ model. Q Mittens are sexy. Q Attention Old House: anal-retention about beer pong rules won’t get you in anyone’s pants. Q Is purchasing stolen property an HV? Q Phi Delt, thanks for the pizza. Q Did you know Carl Weathers starred in “Action , Jackson” with Sharon Stone, and that you can rent it from Crossroads? Q Whose world isn’t rocked by Cat Swan? Q Attention freshmen: An inverted Trident sym- bolizes “the bird” — courtesy of “clu ” Sigma Nu, 1980. Q Since when do Trix involve flower-shaped pieces? " Q Accident Ahead. Q To the boy in Davis who pees in his sink...we can see you. Q Older women know just how to please a man. Take note, freshmen. Q Hey Professors, there’s a new craze going around campuses everywhere. It’s called GRADE INFLATION...try it some time. Q Why use Campus Notices for a quick hit when you could just use...Quick Hits? Q Is anyone else excited for pledgeship to start? It’s going to be awesome with everything off-cam- pus. Q Prediction? Pain. Q That’s a negative, Ghostwriter - ABJ Q H to tha izzo, John to the Rizzo. Holla! Q I don’t know any Snus. There’s a reason for that. Q Bernie Campbell rocks my socks. Q A certain senior male is going around comment- ing on nice breasts. Be sure to show him yours. Q Is anyone else upset that Scott Dittman is on the facebook? Q W&L made front page of the Roanoke Times on Sunday. For what you might ask? Sexual As- sault. Whoever said all publicity was good pub- licity obviously did not see this article. Q Lying to get a kill in mafia...not cool. ,Q If by, “a lot of random hookups” you mean, in comparison to Eastern Mennonite University, then yes... there are a lot of random hookups at W&L... Otherwise, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!?!?! Q Why is Walker Vlfilliams the cutest boy ever? Q Did you know Carl Weathers was’ in the NFL before he was Apollo Creed? Q Erastus Parsons - keeping it real since 1866. Q Keep Wayne Richey ’02 in your prayers as he recovers from an Iraqi grenade hit Q Dave's Produce - Same face, different place. Q I feel so naked without my cell phone. More Quick Hits... a reaction to the new alcohol policy Q Forget the honor system; drinking is a far bet- ter tradition .Q Minks disapprove of the new alcohol policy. Q The new alcohol policy is about as cool as lung cancer. Q It’s easier to black—out in the country anyway. Q If we liked the social life at Vanderbilt that much we would be going there...that’s not what we want here. Even our freshman class president who rep- resents our class feels that these policies are go- ing too far. Q I don’t know what everyone else is worried about. In the country they have grain and beirut. Q I bet Kim J ong-il lets his people drink. Q Is it too late to transfer for next semester? Q Notice to the Health Center: There is no more need for free condoms or birth control due to no more alcohol at frat parties. Q If the school is taking alcohol out of the frats, can we at least get better toilet paper? ‘ Q Now that Todd Tate has put an end to under- age drinking, he sets his sights on world hunger. Q I don’t know about everyone else, but if the administration tells me to stop drinking, Ithink I’ll do it. Q Don’t worry frats, I’ll just drink a fifth in my dorm before I go out at night. Q Now that there is no alcohol we can all start playing cranium in the living room. Q I wish I would have gone to a state school. Q No alcohol! ! !...well at least we still have drugs. Q This is not the same school I applied to. Q So much for sending my kids to W&L. Q I wish I had gone to Davidson. Q How is East Lex going to make money? Q What has this school become? I say the Board of Trustees gets a backbone, otherwise we all leave. Q Burish hates fun. QSend your anonymous Quick Hits to ' phi@w1u.edu.