OCR::/Vol_113/WLURG39_RTP_20100125/WLURG39_RTP_20100125_001.2.txt X-‘;‘.' , ' y}.,';t’'''.', 3-_"., Yfl-.'.?fl3‘ ' 7 i i“.‘~ U«.$ié‘f.\ 1.5‘ ,:’-xiii 1 I L. A. ‘,4 Swim teams dominate en’s and wemen’s team win, four meets ever the weekend i SPORTS / page 7 WASNJA LEE UNIVERSITY E RING-’I‘UM PHI. MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2010 BY THE STUDENTS AND FOR THE STUDENTS SINCE 1897 VOLUME CXIII, NUMBER 11 Low stats despite risks W&L shows more responsible behavior on infamous Tear Night this year I - By Killeen King STAFF WRITER Washington and Lee students took safety more seriously on Tear Night this year than they have in the past. Tear Night, which fell on Jan. 16, is the night where students celebrate joining their respective Greek or- ganizations. It has traditionally been one of the most excessive drinking occasions for W&L students. Because of this, Lexington Police and the Student Health Center consider Tear Night one of the most dangerous nights for students. But this year turned out better than past years. Lexington Police LieutenantA. M. Miller said that police arrested no students on Tear Night this year. The Student Health Center had 20 percent fewer alcohol-related visits this Tear Night than they had last year, according to Doctor Jane Horton. “The largest decline was in visits by male stu- dents—they were down by two-thirds,” said Horton. Fewer students visited the ER and fewer students stayed in the health center overnight, said Horton. There was also a lower BAC average this year com- “Those consequences are pre- ventable students... did not make drinking choices that are diflerent... because they are celebrating new members joining a fraterntiy or sorority. ” DR. JANE HORTON, director of the student health center pared to last year. But, not all ofthe statistics were down. According to Horton, more female students visited the health center this Tear Night. 7 Both Horton and Miller agree that Tear Night remains a high-risk event and that students should be more aware of the dangers. Miller said that he usually sends out an extra po- liceman on Tear Night. This sixth policeman serves as a safety precaution. But Tear Night is not the worst night for Lexington police. “Our worst nights are Homecoming and Alumni Weekends,” said Miller. When asked what is the best way to control ex- cessive alcohol consumption on Tear Night, Miller responded, “People need to be held accountable for the things they do when they are intoxicated.” The school the policemen can only do so much. Students need to take responsibility for their own ac- tions and for each other’s actions said Miller. Miller said that he understands that alcohol is a big part ofthe W&L social scene. “We are not telling you not to drink; we are telling you to drink responsibly,” he said. Horton also acknowledged that alcohol encom- passes a large part of the social scene and that on Tear Night students consume even more alcohol than normal. “Students in general, and particularly first-year and female students, have an increased risk of expe- riencing negative health consequences from overuse of alcohol,” said Horton. Horton explained that negative health consequences include vomiting, blacking out, injury and unintended or unprotected sexual intercourse. “All ofthose consequences are preventable if stu- dents would choose to follow lower-risk guidelines for alcohol use and did not make drinking choices that are different from how they usually drink just because they are celebrating new membersjoining a fraternity’ or sorority,” said Horton. The police and the school cannot fix the excessive drinking problem, said Miller. It needs to come from the students themselves. The problem can only be fully addressed when students step up to the plate and take responsibility. By Valaree Tang STAFF WRITER Several student groups have gath- ered to raise funds for the three million residents affected by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the coast of Haiti nearly two weeks ago. Though poverty is not a new prob- lem for Haiti, the natural disaster has shed light on the ongoing crisis and brought poverty to the attention of organizations and individuals around the world. At Washington and Lee, students have created an ad hoc group for the purpose of raising funds to relieve Haitian distress. Though some of these students belong to other organizations that are dedicated to the united front of social justice, diversity, or commu- nity service, students have put their particular interests aside to focus on a single cause. The group, called Change for Haiti, gathers students from organiza- tions such as the Caribbean Society, the Bonner Leaders Program, the Nabors Service.League, the Multi- cultural Student Association (MSA), Action Change Tomorrow (ACT), Amnesty lntemational, Hillel, and the StudentAssociation for International Learning (SAIL). Caitlin Edgar, who is a member of the Bonner Leaders Program, said: “We no longer live in an insular world. What affects our neighboring nations affects us. In addition, any harm or devastation caused to another human heart, mind or body should elicit the same level of concern from us as ifthey were ourselves.” The group began its fundraising at the Martin Luther King keynote ad- dress by placing donation receptacles tfjtr: "‘f‘2,a::% » V €73‘? §f:%2ae“iggl am, ., ~ fiaaaatioia irzrz” 0 W&L st at the security desk, the Cafe 77 regis- ter and the bookstore. Since then, the group has already raised $400. However, the students are not stopping at $400. Change for Haiti is V holding a raffie, planning a luncheon, and a benefit concert. The majority of funds that are raised will be donated to a large organization that, according to Sum- mer Sterling, a member of ACT, will be “a well-known, reputable organization.”Some funds may go to CHA N G E R ; ‘ r:,§§§{;Z ab “eh£inge€’ffif2ri-those cfieete sell over I00 shirts, raising around $700. The t-shirts are donated by University T’s, and the proceeds will go to the organization to which Change for Haiti chooses to do- nate. One of the organizations that the group is considering is Haitian Health Foundation, founded by Professor Charles Lowney’s uncle, an orthodontist who works with volunteers to help Haitian orphans. Lowney’s uncle built a hospital that “We no longer live in an insular world. What af- fects our neighboring nations affects us. In addi- tion, any harm or devastation caused to another human should elicit the same level of concern from us as if they were ourselves. ” CAITLIN EDGAR, soflhomore smaller organizations as well. Studens are also selling raffie tick- ets to raise money for the Haiti relief fund in the Commons, the Market- place and the-Atrium. Ticket sales be- gin today. Prizes include Fancy Dress tickets, gift cards to local businesses including Sweet Things, and an iPod Shuffle donated by MSA. Dennis Fowler, Assistant Director of Operations of the Marketplace, has organized a benefit luncheon. For every person who eats lunch at the Marketplace this Friday, January 29, between ll:30 and 2:00, $3 will be donated to the Haiti relief fund. Fowler expects a minimum of 500 diners, raising at least $1500. Change for Haiti is expecting to serves over 225,000 patients a year, and, brings healthcare to villages via Jeeps. The foundation also helps local families become more independent by raising money to buy goats and building “happy homes,” cardboard shelters for the families. After the earthquake, nearly 1.5 million people were displaced and the group has already begun to ration supplies and food. Yet Lowney sees hope in the disaster in Haiti. See “Haiti” on page 2 ?%€'%?‘t’“a.;2%:tret at . ‘tail A I raflle table in iCoimmons Monday,‘ °.i.Jan.,.25th through , I f Wednesday, Feb. 3rd to M A‘ the following items ' and support Haitian V V I relief efforts: .a-;l.,GB iPod Shuffle I . gift Icertifiicates to , lsweet Treats , I I “ajgift certificate to ' sweet Things- I “N840 gift certificate ‘ I to the Sheridan 5 Livery gs $10 gifteertificate 7 I to The Patisserie I fgiftcertificates to , ‘Domino's pizza‘ ’ ‘$3.0 gift certificate to, Heatthy ‘Foods . -.00-op A ; japair of Pappaga|- ;l9’s earrings ‘ « J Fancy Dress ticket . Celebrating a legacy Along with MLK day, W&L remembers the civil rights hero in a week-long series of events By Chelsea Stevenson STAFF WRITER Members of the Washington I and Lee law, undergraduate and Rockbridge area communities col- laborated in putting together a series of events in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. The past two weeks at W&L have consisted of keynote speakers, films, a community service project and even a birthday party. The series of events started off with a showing of the 2004 film “Crash,” on Tuesday, Jan. 12. The film, starring Sandra Bullock, focuses on tolerance, acceptance and racism: all causes for which King fought. According to Dean Tamara F utrell, chairman ofthe Martin Luther King planning committee, interracial equality is still a struggle in today’s community and the film properly il- lustrates this issue. The second event of the week was a community service project that took place on Saturday, Jan. 16. People throughout the community donated school supplies to the Rock- bridge Middle School, in celebration of King’s passion for education. School supplies such as protrac- tors, compasses and glue sticks were requested out of need, but all supplies were graciously welcomed. Following the community service that still exist in our society, even project, there was a keynote speaker on Sunday, Jan. l7. - Julian Bond, the chairman of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and a student of Martin Luther King, gave the keynote address to the com- munity in Lee Chapel. Bond founded the Student Non- violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in 1960 and was an activist during the Civil Rights movement. He discussed several of his ex- periences in his speech, “The Road to the Dream: from Alabama to Obama.” His speech addressed issues with Obama’s inauguration. See “MLK” on page 2 OCR::/Vol_113/WLURG39_RTP_20100125/WLURG39_RTP_20100125_002.2.txt W UNIVERSITY LIBRARY LEXINGTON. VA 24450 - THE RING-TUM PHI JAN 2. 6 2010." M 0 N DAY,_JANUARY 25, 2010 Exposing the terror of torture New Yorker stafl writer, Jane Mayer, speaks out against American use of alternative methods to interrogate detainees By Victoria Taylor STAFF WRITER Jane Mayer appeared at ease. Sitting comfortably and confident on the Stackhouse stage, the New Yorker staff writer answered ques- tions Thursday about a topic that causes many to cringe: the United States’ dealings with torture. Mayer has done the legwork to merit discussing such a polarizing topic with poise. She addresses the matter in her newest book, “The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals.” In the book, she looks at the American military and CIA7s use of techniques like water-boarding, stress positions and sleep depriva- tion against prisoners. In the aftermath of the 9/ 11 terrorist attacks, Mayer said, Vice President Dick Cheney and his adviser David Addington took the - opportunity to further an agenda to augment presidential powers. She said the new interrogation methods being used in the War on Terror raised questions on what constitutes severe punishment. “The United States doesn’t have a lot of history of purposely torturing people,” she said. “We haven’t spent a lot of time figuring out how many fingernails we can or cannot pull out of someone.” Mayer said she found that MLK contlnued from page 1 Futrell wished that more W&L students had attended the speaker ‘because the majority of the sup- port was from local residents. However Amber King, a soph- omore and member of the Martin Luther King planning committee, not only attended but was given the opportunity to introduce Bond before his speech. “I got to have dinner with him prior to the event and he is a very down-to-earth person,” said Coo- per on her impression of Bond. Cooper became involved with the planning committee for Mar- tin Luther King through her em- ployment under Futrell. Her work mostly included publicity. Bond’s speech prefaced the actual national holiday, and the Haiti continued from page 1 “There’s a lot of hope down there. You see lots of smiling faces. You see light in their eyes. There isn’t an air of despair,” said Professor Lowney, Visiting Assistant Professor of Philoso- phy, who introduced the Haitian Health Foundation. those in the military believe the use of torture is an amateur’s mis- take. She said the mistreatment of people in custody sometimes leads to them giving false information, and that those who were not im- plicated in the program are not in favor of it. Associate Provost Robert “I think the best tonic for wrongdoing in high places is to expose it to sunlight,” she said. “You stop abuse by showing it.” Mayer said she agreed that some of the changes to civil liberties made after 9/ l 1, like the stricter airline guidelines, were needed. “I think the best tonic for wrongdoing in high places is to expose it to sunlight. You stop abuse by showing it. ” JANE MAYER, New Yorker staff writer Strong moderated the talk, which was entitled “The Dark Side: How the U.S. Became Enmeshed in Detainees, Water-Boarding and War Crimes Liability.” Mayer answered his initial questions before opening the fioor to the audience of students, faculty and community members who braved the ice and freezing rain to attend. When asked whether the im- ages that could lead to radical action, like those of tortured detainees, should be published, Mayer cited the United States’ history of self-correction. W&L community celebrated by hosting an annual birthday party for children in the Rockbridge community. With'a turnout of nearly 200 children and parents, “[But] fear really is the enemy of good decision making,” she said.. Torture is a topic about which sophomore Shiri Yadlin admitted she knew very little. She said she saw the talk as an opportunity to learn about an issue that has divided many and received a lot of attention. “We hear such contradicting statements about torture from politicians and political scientists who all claim to be speaking truth,” Yadlin said. “It was great hearing from someone who has done such Council hosted an information session and trivia game for the children as well. The birthday party is both Futrell and Cooper’s favorite because, according to “[Spike Lee is documentary, 4 Little Girls], puts personalities behind each‘ girl and talks about who the girls really were. ’ I TAMARA FUTRELL, Assistant Dean of students and chairman of the Martin Luther King planning commission W&L students offered games, face painting and cake for the children. The Multicultural Greek undergoing major operations to raise funds for the Haiti relief fund, individual students are also trying to make a difference. “I think in the midst of our campus environment and the ob- ligations that we have that are in our face and occurring right here, “There is a lot of hope down there. You see lots of smiling faces. You see light in their eyes. There isn ’t an air of despair ” CHARLES LOWNEY, Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Lowney said that the money goes directly to help the refu- gees. “I know that every dollar gets used efliciently,” said Lowney. Change for Haiti is also plan- ning a benefit concert that will feature student bands, dance groups and a cappella groups. The concert, to be held in Evans Dining Hall, will be accepting donations and is planned to take place on February 3. Though Change for Haiti is right now, it’s easy to feel like you can’t do anything, but there are tons of different legitimate charities doing work down there,” said senior Annie Blakey. Blakey said she believes that individuals have a unique role to play in helping others, which is why she is using her birthday to raise money for Haitians in need. Instead of asking for pres- ents, she hosted a get-together and asked her friends to bring a Cooper, the children are so cute. The final event in the Martin Luther King series of events was a showing on Tuesday of Spike few dollars. She will be donat- ing the money she raises to the Hands and Feet Project, which — was started a few years ago as a “children’s village” for Haitian orphans. extensive research and isreally _ knowledgeable but also relatively unbiased.” Yadlin said she also enjoyed the joumalist’s personal stories about gathering the information for the book. Among them were her interactions and use of a num- ber of dinners at the capital’s best restaurants to convince former Navy General Counsel Alberto Mora, whom Mayer considers to be one of the situation’s heroes, to go on the record. “I’m really interested in read- ing her book now,” Yadlin said. Senior journalism major Me- lissa Szumlic also noted Mayer’s neutrality and professionalism while discussing the controversial topic. “I thought she did a good job of presenting the facts, at least the facts she was able to discover,” Szumlic said. “For someone cov- ering a very biased topic, she re- mained surprisingly objective.” Mayer’s visit to W&L was sponsored by the Johnson Lecture Series and the Fishback Fund for Visiting Writers. Lee’s 1997 film “4 Little Girls.” The documentary tells the story of the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing‘ in Birmingham, Ala. Futrell explained that the film is very moving because of the dif- ferent family members who speak about the deaths of the four girls. “It puts personalities behind each girl and talks about who the girls really were,” she said. Following the film was a discussion lead by W&L history professor, Dr. Molly Michelmore and law professor Scott Sundby. As chairman and having been actively involved in this celebra- tion since 2004, Futrell said she hopes for more student attendance to all of the events in the upcom- 3,. Jan. 28 & 29, 2010 at 7:30p COURTESY OF W&L WEB SITE New Yorker staff writer and author Jane Mayer discussed the “Dark Side: How the U.S. Became Enmeshed in Detainees, Water- Boarding and War Crimes Liability” on Thursday in Stackhouse. ing years, but those who attended were very engaged. She said she also hopes to implement more publicity and to work with faculty in incorporat- ing the series of events into class syllabi. Nonetheless, the week in honor ofMartin Luther King here at W&L was beyond successful. This year’s planning was dif- ferent because in the past the law V school and undergraduate school have done separate events to cel- ebrate the holiday. This year, both committees decided to do something more extensive and join together. With that being said, Futrell said she gave special thanks to the law school, the campus activity staff, the African American studies ltfr./I lrfizpatcrur program, the Contact Committee and the Multicultural Student Association for their hard work in coordinating such a special week. 70611760 Cmpanyr clrtitstic ‘Dir'erier', _9’erztjfirr' mt Thea ance ‘ L Jan. 30, 2010 at 3 p.m. Post show talk with artists Keller Theatre I Lentest Hall Tickets are required ' Vs.»-— ?’ll()T(>l.vRv’\|’ll ':