OCR::/Vol_112/WLURG39_RTP_20080929/WLURG39_RTP_20080929_001.2.txt Q) Dancing fordimes Students danced all night to .a:m.oney:orr.., Marcliof Dimes and Rockbridge. literacy programs in the second annual Dan_ce—a-ttion. lAnrsf&LIr=E/ page 7 WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY THE RING-TUM PHI. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2008 BY THE STUDENTS AND FOR THE STUDENTS SINCE 1897 VOLUME CXII, The future of American diplomacy Morella on expectations of next administration By Brooke Sutherland STA FF W R IT E R Ambassador Constance Morella took the stage in Lee Chapel Wednesday night to speak about “Global Expectations for the Next Admin- istration” in the inaugural address of the Francis McNulty Logan Lewis annual lecture series. Morella was a fitting choice for the lecture, which is sponsored by the George C. Marshall foundation: Morella served as the U.S. represen- tative for the eighth district of Maryland for 16 years and was Permanent Representative to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for four years in Paris. . “As a United States representative in the OECD, Ambassador Morella is a testimony to George C. Marshall and the Marshall program,” said politics Professor William Connelly. “I be- lieve her remarks were very timely, especially in light of the current financial crisis.” “I think [the lecture] was a great opportunity for Washington and Lee University students and faculty alike to learn firsthand about the global- ization of politics and economics, “ he said. Turnout at the event was low, despite the no- “Ambassador Morella is a tes- timony to George C. Marshall and the Marshall program...I believe her remarks were very timely, especially in light of the } current financial crisis. ’ Wllllam Connelly, Professor of Polltics table relevance of Morella’s speech to today’s electoral climate. “I felt like too few took advantage of the opportunity to learn from someone with direct practical experience on globalization,” Connelly said. Drawing from her extensive experience in both national and international politics, Mo- rella stressed to the audience the “need to re- store [America’s] leadership in the free world” through cooperation with international trends and by’ setting an example for developing and developed nations alike. Morella stressed that perceptions about the United States as a world superpower are chang- ing and that “sentiment about America has dra- matically declined.” She highlighted six areas of concentration where the United States could improve its leadership: energy supply and envi- ronmental protection, trade, immigration, edu- cation, research and scientific innovation, and the economy. Morella called upon the next leader of the United States to take initiative in these areas. She stressed the need to act to “change the way we use energy and spread technology” in or- der to become more environmentally efficient, to move past growing attitudes of isolationism and protectionism towardsmore expansive free trade and bilateral treaties, and to create a more effective immigration policy. ‘Morella specifically called upon the future ad- ministration to rethink immigration policies that prevent educated foreign scholars from gaining the visas they need to study in the United States and adamantly urged America’s next leader to pursue recruitment and retention of engineers, a career that has seen a steady decline in profes- sionals. I See “Morella” on page 3 : DUls on the rise SJ C chastises students after four DUIs reported I By Allison Chopin MANAGING EDITOR Despite the availability of extensive transportation services for students who choose to drink, police have reported four DUI charges among Washington and Lee students so far this year. This number was cited by Brandon Dot- son, Associate Dean of Students, who re- ceived reports from the Lexington, County, and State Police. “Clearly, some students are making poor decisions,” Dotson said in an e-mail. “This level [of] behavior is not consistent .with the standards of the Washington and Lee University community.” According to Director of Public Safety Mike Young, this number is not necessar- ily a major increase compared to previous years. In the first month of the 2007-2008 school year, two DUIs were reported. But Dotson holds that students" and “There s nothing you can say to justifiz it...It is unbelievable that no one in recent years has been killed or maimed ” . Chrls Tutor, SJC Secretary administration still‘ have reason to be alarmed. “Anytime that the number that is greater than zero, I cannot say this year is any bet- ter than previous years,” he said. A DUI or other violation of a Virginia State Alcohol and Drug Law in Rockbridge County also violates the university’s Initia- tives on Alcohol and Other Drugs, as ex- plained in the student handbook. The Student Judicial Council (SJC) is currently working to process these viola- tions and issue proper sanctions. According to the handbook, sanctions can vary from fines and mandatory “education and coun- seling” up to suspension or dismissal from the university. SJC Chairrnain Riley Barnes explained that the handbook includes suggested sanc- tions, but the council makes decisions on a case-by-case basis, and sanctions can vary based on circumstances. Some circumstances, however, leave lit- tle room for negotiation. Barnes explained that a DUI with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .15 or greater automatically mer- its suspension from the university. SJC Secretary Chris Tutor noted that one student has been suspended this year, and others have received “sizeable amounts of community service.” See “Dnrnk Driving” on page 3 NUMBER 4 Wall Street scare rocks W&L investments Williams Investment Society rides shaky market, looks for opportunities Bylames Dick STAFF WRITER The recent economic woes on Wall Strect—including the buyout and bankruptcy of some of the largest investment banks-—has made some students in the Williams School of Commerce, Economics and Politics more concerned than usual about the ~ performance of the stock market. Since January the Williams Invest- ment Society (WIS), a student gr ‘ p that manages about $1.5 million of Washington and Lee’s endowment, has lost 15 percent or approximately $225,000 of their investments. WIS manages less than 1% of the school’s Endowment. No one questions that playing the ‘stock market is a dangerous game, and for WIS participants, it is also a learning experience. While the loss of several hundred thousand dollars has dampened spirits, the investment society is determined to get it back. As WIS’ executive director An- drew Sims said, losses are to be expected when you take the risk of investing in stocks. Stocks can be unstable if not volatile, and in the "A lot of what we ’ve seen in the market re- cently has been driven by fear——some legitimate and some not. ” Andrew Sims, Executlve Dlrector of Wllllams Investment Soclety current economic climate anyone with stock runs the risk of losing. Sims considers the investment soci- ety’s recent losses to be “systematic setbacks.” One of the investment societies’ strategies will be to invest in com- panies with unique products and low stock prices. The theory proposes that if a company has been underval- ued, the market will correct itself and the value of the stock will rise. Sims said the investment society is in a position to make profits while fear of volatile stock prices pervades the market. “A lot of what we’ve seen in the market recently has been driven by fear—some legitimate and some not,” he said. Prof. Dennis Garvis, department head of business administration and advisor to the Williams Investment Society, suggested that many of the problems in the stock market today reflect poor business models and an overreliance on borrowed money. “If a company that needs to bor- row money can’t borrow money at a good rate, it’ll have serious issues,” he said. On other hand, companies with sound business models such as Mi- crosoft are still doing well, Garvis said. The software company recently announced it would buy back a por- tion of it’s own shares, taking those shares out of the stock market and making the leftover shares more valuable. Garvis feels that if companies like Microsoft can afford to buy their own shares, they are probably wealthy enough to keep their operations going at a steady pace. Companies with the financial strength of Microsoft “keep producing, no matter what happens in New York and on Wall Street,” making them a sound investment, he said. Sims said he is excited about the prospect of buying stock in sound, if undervalued, companies while fear is still keeping share prices low. Sims is confident in the investment soci- ety’s ability to make money despite the economy’s uncertain future. OCR::/Vol_112/WLURG39_RTP_20080929/WLURG39_RTP_20080929_002.2.txt UNIVERSITY UBRARY . ton a LEE UNIVERSITY '\~.i'=255.&z~:~V)i—-:at4v¢~‘*tb.q-3: - Y Wednesday p . Local Flood Stewardship “ i bay, Elrod commons Mark’ A locally commitment/Tallorles Declaration, W&L’s green house gas inventory Rockbridge Report wins award Student production gains national recognition for the second time in the three years By Barbara Knlpp STAFF WRITER The Rockbridge Report, a multimedia news website pro- duced by Washington and Lee University journalism students, was nationally recognized for its production of local news by the Society of Professional Joumal— ists this past April. This is the second time in the last three years that the Rock- bridge Report has received top recognition in the “Stand alone onlinei category” at the SPJ re- gional conference ' This is no small feat, as the W&L production is competing with large programs from other major universities such as Ari- ‘ zona State University and North- western University. Professor Brian Richardson, head of the journalism depart- ment, said that it was “the out- standing students and faculty that made the difference” in produc- ing the Rockbridge Report. The Rockbridge Report is a converged, multimedia news website that produces the news of Rockbridge County through print, broadcast and interactive media. It is the only TV news station that is broadcast from Rockbridge Country. While the Rockbridge Report has been at W&L for years, it was just in the past six years that the project became the converged news program that it is today. The project involves students of the higher—level journalism classes who work together with faculty members to report on the local news of Rockbridge Coun- ty. Richardson said he has been involved in the newscast for years, particularly in the last year. He said he enjoys working closely with the students, who are largely responsible for run- ning the project. The students are in charge of reporting, interviewing, writing, compiling, editing and docu- menting each aspect of the Rock- bridge Report. On the third floor of Reid Hall, groups of journal- ism students can be found work- ing together on this and other projects. Caroline Davis, a junior, said she enjoys her time in the lab working on the Rockbridge Re- port because of “the great chem- istry among co-workers” and the “close-knit” bonds formed while compiling the Report. While students do much of the work, faculty members oversee the project and work closely with the students. Students who participate gain real-world experience in writing and editing, while also learning the technologies of broadcasting, podcasting, and creating web- sites. éreat food & (1 Antique Pedal !' gezéq c 2 PE[)A.L CAR DINER & Tm Tov CAFE Order from our complete menu 0r Join usfbr one of our ALL YOU CAN EAT Buffets.’ Friday Night Seafood Buffet with Crab Legs 5pm-10pm Saturday Night Prime Rib Dinner 5pm-10pm Sunday Baked Chicken, Pork Loin, & Pot Roast 11am-9pm Friday & Saturday Late Night Breakfast Bar 10pm-2am Breakfast Bar 7 Days a Week Sam-11am Daily Hot Country Bar 11am—’lOpm Daily Soup, Salad, &. Fruit Bar 1 ‘lam-10pm Order Breakfa.st 24 Hours a day, 7 days a wee'l<'¥ Home CoakedMea1s & Soutlzern Haspitalityt Located at LEE Ii MEL PLAZA 1-81 & D64, Exit 195, 25 In l\l(}t'l.l‘l Lee llwy.., Lsstxington, VA 540-4463-3478 great collection of Cars all Tin Toys! OCR::/Vol_112/WLURG39_RTP_20080929/WLURG39_RTP_20080929_003.2.txt 3 o THE RING-TUM PHI MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2008 Drunk Driving continued from page 1 of community service.” “We just want to remind people that adult choices mean adult consequences,” he said. Barnes pointed out other severe consequences that can result from a DUI charge. “It will be with you throughout your life,” he said. “It can be a ca- reer-ruining experience.” Tutor echoed Barnes and Dotson’s sentiments in declaring that these incidents are unacceptable by university standards. ‘‘It is a breach of the community’s trust to drive drunk,” Tutor said. ‘‘There’s nothing you can say to justify it." “It is unbelievable that no one in recent years has been killed or maimed,” he added. The recent conduct incidents prompted Dotson to advise Barnes and Tutor to send a campus-wide e-mail reminding students of the seriousness of al- cohol violations and the dangers posed to the com- munity by these behaviors. “The riskier the conduct, the more likely a ter- rible tragedy could befall our community,” said the e-mail. “The first several weeks of the year are exciting and warrant celebration, but they do not warrant the e remely dangerous behavior exhib- ited by some.” In addition to holding hearings and issuing sanctions for conduct violations, the SJC has been active in the “educational aspect” of encouraging students to make healthy decisions, according to Barnes. _ “Any decision to drink and drive when we have resources here is a bad one,” Barnes said, citing the availability of Traveller and other safe-ride op- tions. “Students that host social outings should be sure to provide safe rides and understand that the consequences for violating state and local alcohol laws are severe,” said Dotson. “Someone’s going to die if people don’t change,” concluded Tutor. Morella continued from page 1 Her final call to America’s future leader focused on the economy and the United States’ role as “a crucible of confidence in global capitalism.” Morella emphasized the need to generate both a short term struc- tural fix and a long term prevention plan for the good of the global economy. I Morella’s lecture made a strong impres- sion on many attendants. “I really enjoyed it,” said senior Rebec- ca Taylor. “I thought [her topic] was really relevant. The characteristics the world is looking for in the next American leader are very important to the election. The world is waiting to see what direction the next president will take us.” Added first-year Hannah Deming, “I thought it was really interesting how up- front she was about the international view of America. It really stood out when she talked about France, which most people see as a developed nation, and having such high security [as an American ambassador]. I thought that example pointed out what’s wrong with international relations.” Ambassador Morella wrapped up her stay in Lexington with two lectures at VMI for the Women in Leadership Luncheon and a Seminar on International Relations and a special visit to Professor Connelly’s Politics 100, American National Govem- ment class. SENIORS! - December and January Get all the details! SESSION Wednesday, Oct. 12:15 — 1:15 Elrod Commons‘ 301 CHECK THIS .OUT! SELECTIVE LIBERAL ARTS CONSORTIUM Off-Campus Recruiting Days in Chicago, Boston, NYC, DC in DEADLINES SOON INFORMATION in Career Services VV'.ASHINGTON AND .I.,}.'IE UN.IVERS.I’I‘Y 1 careers@wlu.edu 458-8595 CAREER@SERVICES http://careers.wlu.edu MYSPACE.COM/UTIMATECOLLEGEBOW EGISTER‘ '1'O"VOT£ tittfiiatti 913% 4~.\~u'=. finaflf‘ 1-.. 3!- vi-um AE?GRC!.lilE.€§i’t"i OCR::/Vol_112/WLURG39_RTP_20080929/WLURG39_RTP_20080929_004.2.txt THE RING-TUM PHI - 4 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29; -2008 opinions F ofrget the economy, says Abel Delgado, this election is still about the Iraq War By Delgado COLUMNIST The first presidential debate made it clear that the choice in this election comes down to one of two bracelets. During the debate, Senator McCain told the story of how fallen soldier Matthew Stanley’s mother asked him to wear her son’s bracelet, making him prom- ise that, “You’ll do everything in your power to make sure that my son’s death was not in vain.” This is at the heart of why Senator McCain supported the surge. Senator Obama also wears a bracelet, that of fallen Sergeant Ryan David Jopek, given to him by a mother with a different mes- sage. She wanted the Senator to “make sure another mother is not going through what I’m going through.” This is at the heart of why Senator Obama opposed the surge. Few people, not I, not Senator McCain, and not Senator Obama, can understand the grief these _ two women have experienced. Even when it is a result of a war, burying one’s child must be so unnaturally painful that no grief we’ve ever experienced can compare. But the grief led the women to come to two complete- ly different conclusions, and now the country must choose one. This is not just about who was right and who was wrong about Iraq. I believe both men made their decisions based on principles and not on politics. McCain supported the surge even when it could have cost him the presidency, because he believed winning the war was the right thing for America. Obama, even after admit- ting the surge succeeded, says he would still oppose the surge because it wasn’t about succeed- ing to him. It was about stopping bloodshed. This the fundamental differ- ence in philosophy that should determine the election. Voters have good reason to cal perspective between McCain and Obama encompasses Iraq, the economy and every other is- sue. The question here is not about supporting the surge or $700 bil- lion bailouts. Voters have good reason to say the economy is the most important issue, but our economy will be in tough shape regardless of who gets elected Presidents get too much credit. say the economy is the most im- portant issue but our economy will be in tough shape regardless of who gets elected. Presidents get too much credit when the economy is good and too much blame when the economy is bad. The difference in philosophi- The question is what beliefs should be behind the choices we make. If you believe that America has fallen, that we are losing but have not lost quite yet, that we should cut our losses, accept defeat and call it a day, then you should vote for Senator Obama. If you believe that tough times mean there is something fundamentally wrong with our nation, and that the wars we fight for our freedom and the freedom of others should stop because people will die, then you should vote for Senator Obama. If you believe that our capital- ist economy should be complete- ly reconfigured because the gov- ernment can do a better job, or that cost of defending principles of free people and free markets is too high in terms of lives or wage differences, then you should vote for Senator Obama. But if you believe a fallen America needs to stand up, and if you believe it is not our prin- ciples that have failed us but our leaders, then you should vote for Senator McCain. If you believe that an America that cuts its losses can never win, and that America should always win, you should vote for Senator McCain. If you believe that free people and free" markets’ when led by an effective and reformed govem- ment will ultimately lead to less bloodshed and greater wealth for all, then you should vote for ‘Senator McCain. If you are prepared to go through the tough times that we face regardless of who gets elect- ed president, if you can stomach the tough fight we have ahead to make sure that all those soldiers who died protecting America’s principles did not die in vain, then your vote will go to John McCain- Mine will. This is about two bracelets that represent honor and sacri- fice, but one that represents that our sacrifices‘ are far from over and our leader should be honor- ‘able enough to make them. No trays, no justice Scott Graham Centorino wants to know why we can ’t have dinner trays anymore By Scott Graham Centorino COLU MNIST As we all know by now, our beloved dining hall has decided to remove trays from its menu in the name of ‘sustainability.’ What does that even mean, sustainability? Now, I have a high school di- ploma, have taken a couple sci- ence courses in my day, and con- sider myself a mildly intelligent person. Never has ‘sustainabil- ity’ ever been used as an excuse to change something before. When you sustain something, you keep it the same. So, where are the_ trays? I understand this initiative’s purpose. I get it. Over the years, I have attained some notoriety as one who will enjoy a wholesome environmental green-fest. I’m all for it. However, I am also for jus- tice and civil liberty. Let’s face it — the United States of America would. not be where it is today without trays. From the Revo- lution and Manifest Destiny to the Gilded Age and Technol- ogy Boom, trays and American greatness have become interde- pendent. After all, could we even begin to imagine Jim Bowie, William Travis, and Davy Crockett jug- gling their final bullets through the hallways of the Alamo on bare plates? No. They had trays. Trays of bullets. E Real men carry their bullets on trays. When you’re in the operating room, with your life hanging in the balance, you don’t want to glance to your left and see Dr. Trayless cradling all his scalpels and forceps between each finger. No. You want to see your doctor rocking a tray, working his instruments one at a time. Trays save lives. In that operating room, you don’t want to turn to the nurse and hear, “Oh, don’t worry. The hospital is starting a new initia- tive for ‘sustainability’.” You would undoubtedly say, “Hey, how about sustaining my life?” Life or sustainability? Hmmm - tough question made even tougher by my complete lack of knowledge as to what ‘sustain- ability’ means. Shall we analyze the stated reasons for this shift in culinary vision? Actually, you have no choice. Signs appearing in the dining hall list five major reasons for going “Tray-less.” First of all, the sign itself is anti-American. Who puts up signs just declaring decisions in which you had no say? It might as well say — ‘Hey piggies- we’re doing this, and you can’t do any- thing about it because we made the decision in a dark, backroom without your meaningless opin- ion. Shut up and take it.’ A i C N l The last time Americans saw such oppressive posters, they were English colonists and they had a King. His name was George. The Third. The sign begins, “The Mar- vices on the evening of the 30”‘. It suggests an anti-sustainability regime has been subverted by administrative mercenaries via V regicidelbelfore propping uplthis false, pro-sustainability puppet. The next time you are in the D-Hall, look into the eyes of our friends behind the food. In their eyes, you will see the dangerous sublimity of cautious waiting. The sign begins, “The Marketplace is going T ray-Less! ” I ’m not making this up. What kind of audacity is required to end such a sentence with an exclamation point? ketplace is going Tray-less!” I’m not making this up. What kind of audacity is required to end such a sentence with an exclamation point? Humans should never be sub- jected to such things. It continues, in a very cheery font, “Beginning Sunday, Au- gust 31, 2008 Washington and Lee Dining Services supports sustainability.” This implies that there must have been some kind of planned coup d’état within Dining Ser- They hate sustainability, because people hate things they don’t un- derstand. I don’t understand sus- tainability, therefore I hate it. You also may ‘notice a subtle but visual hint of their quiet but firm insubordination. What do the workers use to serve their food? Trays. That’s right - dirty, costly, anti-sustainability trays. They are communicating with us. They are with us. All we have to do is listen, wait, and stand ready. The poster continues with “The simple act of going tray- less will: minimize food waste, reduce the release of chemicals into the environment, reduce costs, support the University’s enviromnental sustainability ini- tiatives.” Whoa. Hold the phone — five whole reasons we should sacrifice our freedom? You could have stopped at four and had me. Whichever puppet govem- ment bureaucrat wrote this poster has obviously never tried to carry two plates of tater—tots, Chilean sea bass, a glass of sweet tea, an appetizer salad, a lemon for the tea, and four plates of angel food cake - at least not without a ‘tray. If he had, he would never de- scribe it as a “simple act.” Food waste?'Maybe. Water and energy usage? I’ll buy it. , Reduce the release of chemi-i cals into the environment? Wait a minute. What on earth were these people up to back. there when we had trays? And reduce costs? When does my tuition drop? Finally, the real star attraction of this checklist - supporting the university’s environmental sus- tainability initiatives. Isn’t this that very initiative? Even the sleaziest used car sales- man would never try to pitch to a redlice _water’a‘.h‘d‘ usa"ge“"_q§udker custdfrfef “Oh, and your ~«uu.m.\n ').x\:C1J‘) clywqx/\ '.\_ .§A\3 purc ase of thisucar will support your initiative to buy a car.” . It then closes with the jolly, “Please join us on the path to sustainability!” Perhaps I missed something, but I only see one path - their path. Well, thank you for the in- vitation to your forced march! Much appreciated; I’ll be sure to attend. I’ll tell you what path I will take - I’ll follow Davy Crockett. Huddled in the dark and musty rooms of the Alamo, during the most famous siege in American history, surrounded by» thou- sands of approaching Mexican soldiers, the men of the Alamo never could have imagined a world where people would give up such basic liberties as trays without __a fight. Davy Crockett, I salute you. Nobody ever cried, “Remem- ber , the Sustainability ‘Initia- tive!” ; I believe in freedom. I believe in traysf I . At least until someone actu- ally explains just why they need to disappear that is. Thinkthe financial crisis doesn’t affect you? Think again. It doesn ’t matter what your major is, you are going to be affected by the impending financial meltdown. So pay attention! By Jacob Geiger COLU MNIST Think the financial crisis doesn’t affect you? Think again Unless you’re one of those unlucky business majors in the C-School who watched his Wall Street job offer vanish into bank- ruptcy ;last week, you may not have paid much, attention to the current financial crisis. Well, I’ve got bad news for you. Whether you’re a first- year, senior, or faculty member, and whether you work in the C- School, Science Center or Wilson Hall, this financial crisis matters. Congress is busily debating a $700 billion bailout proposal from Treasury Secretary Hemy Paulson that would — in theory — stabilize the financial markets and help keep faltering compa- nies in business. The plan calls for the govem- ment to buy up mortgage-backed 'securities; these securities have lost value in the past year as mil- lions of Americans fell behind on mortgage payments and lost their houses to foreclosure. The government hopes this will be a short-term fix that lets compa- nies get these bad assets off their books. In theory, the government can then sell the assets back to the companies a few years from now. How much is $700 billion? Well, since the federal budget for 2008 is about,$3 trillion, the bail- out represents about a 20 to 25 percent‘ increase in spending for the government this year. The problem, of course, is that the federal government only collected around $2.6 trillion in taxes last year, far less than the $2.9 trillion it was already plan- ning to spend. With the cost of the bailout, thatispending total is now well over $3 trillion. Deficit spending is nothing new to our government. Aside from a few unusual periods, in- cluding the tech boom of the late-19905, the government has run on deficit spending since the Great Depression. But deficit spending by the federal government is kind of like taking your credit card down to Pumpkinseeds. If you run up a big bill, you don’t have to pay it all back right away, but you do have to make regular interest payments. Right now the govem- ment is spending $460 billion a year on interest payments. That’s about 15 percent of the federal budget for 2008. The new bailout is going to push the national debt up closer to $10 trillion, meaning those interest payments are only going to get bigger. If we assume there are about 300 million U.S. citi- zens, that’s more than $33,000 of debt for each of us. Here’s the problem: At some point, the rest of the world’s going to be forced to stage a fi- nancial intervention. China, Sin- gapore, Dubai and other nations that keep loaning us money are going to cut us off and tell us we can’t have any more until we figure out how to stop spending more than we earn. Who do you think is going to pay up? Not the grandpas and grandmas who run.Washington, D.C. They’ll probably be dead before this financial intervention takes place. Not our parents, who will be heading off to retirement in the next 15 years (assuming their 401k plans recover from the disastrous last few weeks). Nope, we’ll be stuck paying for our parents’ Social Security and dealing with the colossal debt we’ve been handed. Gee mom and dad, thanks for all your love and support and a crushing federal debt! I understand that the financial crisis is difiicult to understand. Even a lot of people who’ve made their careers in business have had to learn a boatload of new terms in the last few months. How many people knew what a subprime mortgage or a credit- default swap was a year ago? (If you did know, thanks a lot for not warning us). We’re less than six ‘weeks away from a pivotal election. Frankly, neither one of these candidates looks particularly well qualified to lead us out of this mess. In fact, I’m not sure anyone on Wall Street or Capitol Hill can really be trusted to look afier the next generation. ’ Regardless of who wins on Nov. 4, a new age is coming. The days of borrowing obscene amounts of money to pay for immense federal government programs have got to end. If we don’t wake up and make Amer- ica’s leaders stop selling the fu- ture to pay for today, what sort of country are we going to inherit? he bracelet election ’ O OCR::/Vol_112/WLURG39_RTP_20080929/WLURG39_RTP_20080929_005.2.txt MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2008 THE RING-TUM PHI ' S opinions THE KING-T UM PHI. IT III GTIDIITI AIS III III IIDIIIII IIICI IIII MANAGING EDITOR NEVIS EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR ARTS A LIFE EDITOR ALLISON CHOPIN JOHN HENDERSON CODY BEAUCHAMP WILL DORRANCE CELESTE CRUZ- CARANDANG BRETT HOLTON MICHAEL MORELLA COPY EDITORS counilumio mmsns ANDREW BONDS ADAM CANCRYN scorr GRAHAM ceuronmo ABEL DELGADO BRIAN DEVINE JAMES DICK uzz ova GOZIEGBUONU I Mean GEIGER ‘b, suuu KECKLER BARBARA KNIPP WILL MAYS noon: SUTIIERLAND LEE ucxsrr VALAREE TANG DESIGN EDITOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER BUSINESS MANAGERS LARA JORDAN MORGAN HARRIS STROCK MOORE CHARLES PERSONS DISTRIBUTION MNGR. ROB GEORGE MISSION STATEMENT: It is the mission of THE RING-TUM PHI to accurately, truthfully, and thoroughly report news affecting the Washington and Lee community for students. faculty. parents and alumni. Our goal is to look deeper into news affecting campus life and hold leaders accountable. 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THIS NEWSPAPER OBSERVES CURRENT COURT DEFINITIONS OF LIBEL AND OBSCENITY. » THE RING-TUM PHI UNIVERSITY COMMONS ROOM. 341 ‘WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA 24450 TELEPHONE: (540) 458-4060 FAX: (540) 458-4059 EMAIL: PH|@WLU.EDU SUBSCRIPTION RATE $45 Flowers & Things Fresh flowers, balloons, gift & fruit 0 baskets and birthday cakes all delivered!!! Call 261-6300 Solid wood kitchen sets and 4 chairs- $300 to see call Flowers and T hings— 261 -63 00 ,'I We deliver! Where have all the good men gone? Wherever you ’re hiding, its time to ask a girl out By Gozl Egbuonu COLUMNIST As Homecoming is about to be upon us, I thought it would be poignant to discuss the unfortunate predicament that many campus women find themselves in: a Date- less Homecoming weekend. , Being that this will be my first dateless Homecoming, I immediately found myself in a frenzied panic that involved me going out several nights this week in the hopes that I would stumble on a possible date, but sadly, I was highly unsuccessful. Afier my failure, I had a moment of re- flection that sort of went like this: ‘Why am I out trying to find a date? Shouldn’t someone be looking for me in- stead? I am a fine woman (thanks, Oprah) and I deserve to be chased.’ And like that, I immediately knew what was wrong. All of the good men on this campus are missing. I have since put out an Amber Alert for them, but have not re- ceived any information or helpful leads. But in all seriousness, where are you guys? I know you are all out there, but I have yet to see you unless you are already with someone else and in that case, I am very hurt. Sure, many of you are probably think- ing, ‘Well, maybe something is wrong with you that is preventing you from getting as much as a measly date to homecoming.’ I Like you, I thought the same thing un- til I went out into the world beyond Rock- bridge County and realized that I am doing pretty well. I am not morbidly obese and forced to stay in a bed because I cannot move. Nor do I suffer from a serious case of bad body odor. Additionally, I lotion so I do not feel like an alligator, I try to spruce things up in the wardrobe department, and I have been known to put on a little rouge Homecoming weekend or inviting her to join you at a cocktail party. Chances are that buddy of yours who is giving you lip probably has a long-distance girlfriend at Sweetbriar or Hollins and just wants you to join him in misery. Don’t join him. Be the great General that I know you are The ball is in you guys ’court. There are assort- ments of gorgeous, outgoing, friendly, and beau- tiful single women out there who remain dateless and it is a shame. when the mood strikes me. I also happen to be one of the least awkward people on this campus. Yes, I may shout loudly across the BDG quad or blow my nose loudly in the commons, but I take that all as a sign of just how comfortable 1 am with myself. Hey, guys like a confident woman (don’t laugh, you know you do). So, with that settled, the ball is in you guys’ court. There are assortments of gor- geous, outgoing, friendly, and beautiful single women out there who remain date- less and it is a shame. Don’t let your friends tell you that you are lame for asking a girl out to dinner and go out there and find a date. Believe me, there are many girls dateless out there, so do not succumb to that horrible inflic- tion of thinking someone has already asked her to be his date. Ask her if she has a date and if she does, go on to the next girl. I know that may sound awful, but tough. You can’t have your cake and eat it too, so let the guy go find a date. I am a strong be- liever in sisterhood and we sisters have to be understanding in these situations. Ultimately, if you are a single gal and you still don’t have a date, just go out any- ways, or find your girls and have a girls’ night out. Every girl loves a GNOI Four DUI arrests ' I Weeks? A has‘ a drinking and driving problem. in as many " -. "It seems that Washington and Lee [ Considering the abundance of re- sources that exist for transporting students home from parties, this num- - ber-—in fact, any DUI incidents at Do anything, but don’t get in your car driving 3 a game, it is too deadlyfor Call a sober driver-~fratemities hire these for the sole purpose of mak- ing sure students get home safe. Call Traveller Dispatch. Call W&L Public Safety. Make plans before youvgo out so you’ll avoid these perilous situations. I Students brag about how they don ’t even remember I ij » getting home last night, but somehow, they made that *tr_z}:> driving in their own cars. Does that sound like something to be proud of? all-——is unfathomable. And unacceptable. . y ' The Traveller system developed in I 0 response to drunk driving accidents 3 that occurred several years ago. Now we pour lots of money into I . that system to make sure those trag- - edies don’t happen again. : _ So why are we seeing these num- bers? Sometimes the crowd of passengers . g trying to board Traveller creates a frus- tratingly long wait. , I A Sometimes you’re out on a Tuesday is night when Traveller buses aren’t mn- ning, or you’re in a location not on the route. I _ But call a friend. drunk. What’s been prompting students to make such poor decisions when all of the resources make this completely un- p necessary? We’ve been trying to figure that out. For students at W&L, partying-just like sports and academics—.~seems to be a competition. Students think it’s a game. I It’s not. Students I think they’re invincible, and they feel the need to prove it by taking as many risks as possible. T hat’s dumb. You know you’ve heard it before. Students brag about how they don’t even remember getting home last night‘, ' . drunk driving related death. but somehow, they made that tri ing in‘ their own cars.’ ‘ It - Does that soundelike;:0n?Ie ' be proud of? I If the answer to that is have good reason to be scared Drinking and driving is mi It’s not a way to have Some students seemed to: spy veloped the mentality that sinceeo isn’t quite the real world, the do here don’t really rnatfer. I ‘I decisions are real. I People can die. , . _ Frankly, ivsiramazingy for d that drinks as heavily and I we do that no one has 1 It’s a minor miracle that the }’hi woud just as soon ued. ’ ‘ — . Perhaps we’re being and lecturing. But when“ itc something this serious, weas would rather bluster than hay ‘we told you so.’ _ I’ In October 2000, Waslun Lee lost two students tofdnmk’ ! Since then, there hash ti When it comes to ‘no do I drunkdriving’ no streaIAsitive note the stoI'Y & LEEA ‘A 0'l2"’f"'AV A7; - A ’ A of the year is the emergence of 8: Henry 0-2; " A. the Tampa Bay Rays. Relegated , _ A1 I 3 I . ~ to complete futility for its entire A ‘ . V _ _ v .T_ tenure as a franchise, the Rays V, .“woM'EN7AsVsA°ccER __ .1. were quietly mentioned as an V . T is P . ~T improving franchise. _ H _ , After finishing in the cellar ' AA3.0 V , of the American League East T 3 A A . H . ' _ I ’ every year except for 2007, the wgsleyan . 0 1 V‘ Rays were able to accumulate ‘l-Vl'I;clfi!,2uf§ , =2,-_0-1 . 5 P high draft picks. Unfortunately lineup. Many of the current Rays have been developed through the organization, which has been very patient with most of its prospects, and are now showing the world the reasons for their high amateur billing. One off-season trade seemed to set the season in motion for the new-look Rays. Delmon Young had been a Baseball America top prospect for two straight years and had success in his rookie year with the big league club; however, some who can ’t compete in free agent signings and are forced to build their team from the ground up. It isn’t very often that a sure- fire first ballot hall of famer is traded from a contender to a team on the brink of elimina- tion, but the Manny Ramirez saga that captivated our atten- tion during the trade deadline became one of the biggest sto- ries of the year. Ramirez had become a main- stay in the Boston lineup and was an integral part of the two World Series championships sioner Bud Selig first addressed [With] the lovable Chicago Cubs and the 3 complete testing program, new On in history will be written for sure this October questions about attitude and dedication led to Young’s being dealt to the Minnesota Twins for two other former top pros- pects, pitcher Matt Garza and shortstop Jason Bartlett. Inserting Bartlett and jour- neyman free-agent signee Eric Hinske and placing Matt Garza and thirty-nine-year oltf closer Troy Percival on the pitch- ing staff drew some criticism league wide, but the Rays were committed to sticking with their plan. Many teams started out as fast as the Rays did but eventu- ally faded; theARays were able to stay afloat for the entire year. The Rays were able to tap into contributions from first- round studs like rookie-of-the- year candidate Evan Longoria and scrap-heap acquisitions like Carlos Pena to weather the storm of injuries in their rota- tion and their bullpen to clinch a playoff spot for the first time in franchise history. The Rays not only serve as a source of valida- tion for the much maligned Col- lective Bargaining agreement, which is meant to level the playing field for smaller mar- ket teams, but they also serve as a blueprint for other teams is what really matters. Whether in a league for big time money (sorry all NCAA athletes), play- ing for free online or in the con- stantly smack-talking group of friends, Fantasy Football has become a cultural phenomenon within the NFL community. It unites and divides, both building friendships and breaking them. On whatever level though, own- ers are always searching for that edge: This year it can be found in the NFC East. The NFC East is a hotbed for fantasy stars this year, from top to bottom. Popular sleeper picks such as Philly’s Desean Jackson, or value picks like Washington’s Santana Moss or Dallas’ Jason Witten, have outperformed ev- ery conceivable prediction of success. Once again, to throw out some statistics, all four NFC East quarterbacks are in the top- ten in terms of fantasy points, averaging close to sixty on the season. Furthermore the running backs continue to dominate: Marion Barber ranking second in the NFL with 64 points and Clinton Portis heating up with 44—points, more coming in the last two weeks after a poor first week performance. that the Red Sox have won in the past four years. His jovial personality and savant-like hit- ting ability made Ramirez a loveable character in Boston folklore; however, he seemed to have worn out his welcome in the month of July when many fans questioned his effort after his sometimes lackadaisical play. The Red Sox may have thought of the trade as addition by subtraction and didn’t come out of the trade empty handed, landing former All-Star out- fielder Jason Bay, 7but>Ramirez’s ‘. performance after his trade" had A“ been nothing short of remark- able. Despite the circumstances of the trade, which was specu- FA» Reviewing the year in Lee Tackett recaps the baseball season is highs and At the trade deadline, the Dodgers were on their way out of the playoff race, but with a slump from the Arizona Dia- mondbacks and an MVP perfor- mance from Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers have clinched the NL West title. After some early talk of Brewers hired gun CC Sabathia’s possibly taking the NL Cy Young Award for best pitcher, Ramirez has stolen all buzz about post-season awards. Since the trade, Ramirez has . led the National League in all Triple Crown categories and has raised the question of how many games a player needs to play to truly be considered the most valuable player. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the New York Yankeeshave made baseball what it istoday, from . . t A‘ tl t the convlcted was potential Ruth 0 Ma1’1S,t0 Man 5 0 Jeter, the Yankees are the most polarizing and most followed team in the sport. Many people who dislike the Yankees were displeased with the fact that they were always ,a factor in October, but for thefirst time in fifieen years, the Yankees will be absent from the post season. In a season with such fail- ures as an organization, Yankee fans have had another goodbye to say to their cathedral of his- toric Yankee Stadium. From the white fencing on tops of the bowl of the stadiumeto the faces of famous Yankees encrusted over the center. sag feg,ce,_ the 'Atr‘iiAditidii biAll3Avi/As A‘from tlAiAe'7gA§tes of Yankee Stadium. Although the new Yankee Stadium is built right next to_the old one and the structure~Ais’*said to be lated to be a direct result of ‘nearly identical, the tradition Ramirez’s being manipulated by his new agent, Scott Bo- ras, to gain a more lucrative contract, Ramirez has been far and away the best hitter in the National League in the second half. Ramirez’s stats haven't been his only contribution, as he has been a great influence on the young Dodger hitters, who have picked up their play dramatically over the past two months. l\lFC E ast do minatiri Andrew Bonds argues that NFC East is best in N In addition, Brian Westbrook ranks seventh, after only playing a quarter of last week's game. As every fantasy owner knows, running backs are the most es- sential tool for league domina- tion, and each team provides viable options should a star go down. As was the case with Westbrook and the Eagles, util- ity man Correll Buckhalter eas- ily compensated, outperform- ing many league starters last week. The Handcuff for a NFC East running back (“handcuff’ meaning their back up, who you picked jut in case your star goes down with an injury) in most instances is better than other starters, such as Buckhalter, the over-performing Felix Jones, Derrick Ward, or even Ladell Betts on occasion. In addition to running backs, the NFC East has three top-ten receivers in Terrell Owens, San- tana Moss and Plaxico Burress. The high-flying passing attacks in the division are not only ben- efiting the receivers but also the tight ends. Jason Witten domi- nates all statistical catergories for the position, yet L.J. Smith, Kevin Boss and Chris Cooley are also having solid seasons. will never be the same as one of baseball’s most recognizable stadiums. ‘. With some of the usual sus- pects prepped for a_,run at Oc- tober like the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Los An- geles Angels of Anaheim, and Philadelphia Phillies, the lov- able Chicago Cubs and the new kid on the block in .Tampa Bay, a fitting history will be written for sure this October. A To put it simply, the NFC East is running ‘the table in Fantasy Football. With the top player at every position (other than kicker, but 'w'lio cares), and at least three players in the top-12 of every position (sorry, kickers), you really; can’t go wrong. One more thing to think about, though, is the fact that the teams within the division play every team ,twice, giving each team six divisional games. The defenses in thedivision are weak against passl,A,:coverage, giving up disproportignate pass- ing yards and pointspbenefiting both quarterbacks and receivers in the league. ,3. To everyone whoggplays se- riously: we all know its more than just some online pastime, “fantasy world,”A or for that mat- ter, a game. It is life or death every Sunday whengyou check your players’ statistics, holding out hope that your one receiver playing on Monday Night Foot- ball can get you 18 points to beat your obnoxious friend. across the hall. If you really want to win, both in real football and fantasy, pick the NFC East. It truly is un- stoppable. OCR::/Vol_112/WLURG39_RTP_20080929/WLURG39_RTP_20080929_010.2.txt MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2008 10 ° THE RING-TU.M PHI sports deck Mon Tues WED Tnuns FRI SAr SUN vs Football "““"°""" Macon 1:30 mm. vs vs Fleld EMU UMW "°°k°y 6:30 p.m. 2 p.m. at vs Mon,‘ Emory & Randolph- socco Henry Macon 4:30 p.m. 3 p.m. at . vs womgn'g Sweet Randolph- s“°°° Brlar Macon 5 p.m. 12 p.m. vs vs vs ilolleyball E"‘°" 8‘ Ferrum "MW 8‘ Henry 8:30 p.m. Mac 6:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m. at woman’; Va. State Xc _ Meet 10:30 a.m. at M°"'9 Hanover V xc Invlte "°"" at ITA Reglonals Tennls at Rldlng Radford Invlte numbers 21-0 Unranked Oregon State's lead over first—ranked Southern California (USC) at halftime of its game Thursday. Oregon State went on to win the game 27-21 to hand USC its first lost of the season. 4 The number of consecutive starts on 3 days‘ rest by Milwaukee Brew- ers pitcher CC Sabathia to end the regular season. Sabathia pitched against the Chicago Cubs Sunday in a 3-1 win to advance his team to the playoffs as the National League Wild Card. 3 The number of touchdowns scored by Penn State senior wide receiver Derrick Williams in his team's 38-24 win over Illinois Saturday. Each touchdown was scored in a different way: 21-yard reception, 5-yard run and 94-yard kick return.. box ‘“‘The game was by far the best game I've been involved with coaching wise... you can’t get any one as good as this game for the spectacle of soc- 7!" Cer. W&L women's soccer coach Nell cunnlngham after the Generals lost 4-3 In overtime to natlonally first-ranked Messlah Saturday. “You don't pay someone $60-something million and then sit him on the bench...l’m not the only one who feels this way.” St. Louls~Rams running back Steven Jackson after head coach Scott Llnehan benched quarterback Marc Bulger In lace of 38-year-old Trent Green for Sunday's game against the Bu alo Bllls. LInehan’s declslon came after a 0-3 start, and his job has been rumored to be In questlon. Undisclosed team sources have reported that Bulger has said that he doesn't want to ever play for Llnehan agaln, courtesy of espn.com. "lt’s always a good time to buy a good baseball team.” Dallas Mavericks bllllonalre owner Mark cuban who Is one of flve people Interested In buyln the Chicago cubs. Cuban was asked If he thought the current flnanc al crlses would make It a bad tlme to make such a large purchase. He met with cubs ownership this weekend, courtesy o the chlcago Sun-Tlmes. Women’s soccer falls to national powerhouse F irst-ranked Messiah scored with 8 seconds left in first overtime to beat Lady Generals 4-3 Saturday in rainy conditions at Watt Field By Adam cancryn smrr warren Rain-soaked Watt Field played host to a soccer classic on Saturday, as Washing- ton & Lee’s women’s soccer team came within minutes of upsetting number one ranked Messiah University. Using speedy forwards and set piec- es to pressure the Messiah defense, the Generals showed no fear of their highly touted opponents. “We were always consciously not playing the writing on their jersey, we were playing our game,” said senior forward Anne Van Devender, who set up two corner kick goals and added another of her own. “We came out with confi- dence and nobody came out scared.” In the end, Messiah’s offensive attack was too much for the unranked Generals. But, for the majority of the game, it was W&L that looked like the nation’s best. After Messiah jumped out to a lead with a goal in the 10“‘ minute, the Generals took control. Using a counter-attack designed to take advantage of W&L’s quickness up front, the Generals pressured Messiah into conceding corner kicks.» Off of the set pieces, junior Maggie Sutherland and first-year Corinne Smith converted head- ers to give their team the lead. However, the Falcons showed the resilience of a top-ranked team, coming back to even the score two separate times in the second half. After controlling possession early in the 2"“, Messiah got off a long shot that slammed off the crossbar. The rebound settled perfectly in front of Messiah’s Rachel Loya, who put in the easy goal. The tie was short-lived, though, as ten minutes later Van Devender gave Wash- ington & Lee the lead once again. Taking a pass just outside the 18- yard line, the senior captain maneuvered around her defender, leaving a clear path to the goal. A couple of dribbles later, Van Devender netted her team-leading eighth goal of the year. With only twenty minutes left follow- ing the goal, W&L tried to preserve the victory by falling back into a defensive shell. But the strategy could not with- stand the ensuing barrage of shots. Given space in the middle of the field, and—forth period, Erin Hench struck again. The sophomore forward beat her defender to a loose ball and spoiled W&L’s upset bid, sneaking the ball past Moreo as she came out to challenge. Messiah University narrowly escaped Watt Field with their perfect record, but also served notice that this young W&L team can be a national force. Van Devender, one of just five seniors on a roster of 28, felt confident the team would benefit from such a hard-fought game. “It’s definitely the best game we’ve played all season,” she said. “If we can “It is definitely the best game we ’ve played all season... If we can take this kind of intensity and kind of mental- ily in our ODAC games we 71 be really successful this season. ” Anne Van Devender, senlor forward Messiah’s Erin Hench launched a 25- yard strike. W&L goalie Kiki Moreo had no chance to prevent the equalizer. Coming into Saturday’s game, Mes- siah averaged nearly 28 shots per game, an attack W&L fended off for much of the afternoon. Eventually, though, the Falcons began to create more scoring op- portunities. “They kept going and going and finished some really great chances that most other teams wouldn’t score,” said head coach Neil Cunningham. ln overtime, Messiah needed only one chance. With time winding down on a back- take this kind of intensity and kind of mentality into our ODAC games we’ll be really successful this season.” Coach Cunningham stressed that the game could be a stepping stone as long as the team responds well in spite of the loss. More importantly, he was in awe of the quality of soccer everyone had wit- nessed. “The game was by far the best game l’ve been involved with coaching wise. .. you can’t get any one as good as this game for the spectacle of soccer.” With the loss, the Generals are 4-3 (2-1 in the ODAC) going into the rest of their conference play. Football captures last- second win once again Team withstands late fourth-quarter push to beat Averett 31-23 Saturday behind another strong performance by senior RB Stuart Sitterson By Brian Devlne STAFF WRITER In their past two games, Washington and Lee football has developed a flair for the dramatic. Last week in its home open- er, the team scored two thrilling touch- downs in the fourth quarter and needed a last-second interception in the end zone to prevent Southern Virginia from rety- ing the game, and won 35-28.,This week it was more of the same, as the Generals scored 24 unanswered points to start the second half and withstood a last-minute comeback drive to beat the Averett Cou- gars 31-23 in Salem, Virginia. Again the hero for W&L was reign- ing ODAC Offensive Player of the Week Stuart Sitterson, who followed up his electrifying two-touchdown, 311 all-pur- pose yard game against SVU by leading the Generals in rushing, receiving and re- turn yardage. He also scored W&L’s first touchdown of their 24-point run with a 6—yard rush into the end zone to finish a 61-yard drive and make the score 14-7 in W&L’s favor. W&L extended its lead when the'Cou- gars, set up to punt from their 33-yard line, committed an awful mistake. The snap went over punter Nathan Davis’ head and all the way out of the back of the end zone. The referees awarded a safety to the Generals, and the score was 16-7, midway through the third quarter. Sitterson then returned the ensuing kick- off 50 yards to the Averett 19-yard line. With great field position, Charlie West- fal led his team into the end zone in just three plays and freshman running back Jonathan Clemo, beginning to emerge as a reliable change-of-pace for Sitterson, scored from three yards out. Sitterson then scored on the two-point conversion attempt to put the Generals up 24-7. After three failed drives, the game en- tered the fourth quarter. Westfal complet- ed a six-yard touchdown pass to Tucker Laurens, and Martin Prichard converted the PAT, to put the Generals up by 24 and the game seemingly out of reach. But Averett quarterback Shan Fairbanks was not finished yet. With five minutes on the clock Fairbanks completed a touchdown pass to Steve Oristian and Dontavius Wat- son ran into the end zone for a success- ful two-point conversion. A bad Spencer Richards punt on the ensuing W&L drive gave the Cougars good field position and Fairbanks capitalized, converting twice on third down before throwing to Antho- ny Squillini for his second passing TD of the game. After Fairbanks passed to Wat- son for the 2-point conversion the Gener- als’ lead was only eight points. To cap it all off, Averett recovered their onside kick and had possession, trailing by a touchdown, with 1:10 on the clock. Just like last week against SVU, the Generals had allowed their opponent to make it close in the final minute. But this time no interception was needed as Fairbanks threw three incomplete passes and was sacked by Scott Russell to force a turnover on downs. After a kneel-down, the game was over with the Generals on top 31-23. Several bright spots emerged from the game- for the first time all season, W&L gained more total yards than their op- ponent. Prichard proved himself to be a reliable placekicker and should have the starting job next week. Westfal again was solid, going 13-for-24 for 145 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Until Averett’s late heroics, the defense A was solid. Donavon Sawyer led the blue- and-white with four tackles. The Generals will suffer, however, if they leave their guard down the rest of the season. W&L begins conference play against Randolph-Macon, who finished second in the conference last year, next week at Wilson Field. The Yellow Jack- ets are an old-school football team, led by bruising tailback Zak Thornton and the conference’s best defense. The squad has stumbled in pre-conference play, los- ing to Johns Hopkins in triple overtime j before beating Catholic in their confer- ence opener last week. The game, Satur- day at 1:30 p.m., will be the centerpiece of Homecoming Weekend and the clash of stars between Thornton and Sitterson should be a great battle.