OCR::/Vol_115/WLURG39_RTP_20110926/WLURG39_RTP_20110926_001.2.txt O Yflfiiifill ‘!"”f"”‘i " wR9_;“'l",J|(.fi _ ‘Hi rm ~ Spoiler Alert!“ j « oPiNioNs/pagé2ii i5 Bluegrass fills Marketplace Chatham Co. Line plays at W&L as part of. I the Common Grounds Live Music Series. ARTS & LIFE / pages 5 & 6 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 20113 T THE ST WASHING'l‘0NA..v‘iDf LEE UNIVERSITY ‘ THE RING-TUM PHI- IIDEHTS AIIII FBI THE SIUDEIIS SINCE ll-S? VOLUME CXV,NUMBER3 Election time F irst-years to vote today By Neil Haggerty co PY EDITOR The first-year Executive Committee and Student Judicial Council elections will take place today after candidates gave speeches Sunday night. Despite a new Student Affairs initiative this year’ to en- courage more women to participate, only one woman is run- ning for the SJC. « , “As a woman, it was so disheartening to see how male- dominated the council was in Lee Chapel during O-Week,” said first-year Sommer Ireland. “I am running to add diver- sity to the blazers and bow ties.” At this point in time, there is only one undergraduate woman represented in the EC and zero undergraduate wom- en on the SJ C. On Sept. 15, the Women in Student Government Panel was held for first-year women interested in having an impact on the W&L community. “Lack of Women in Student Government” has been a topic of conversation in Student Affairs for several years, ac- cording to Panhellenic Advisor Teri Cugliari. “We had a nice size group of first-year women [at the panel],” she said. “It seemed to really motivate them.” Cugliari said that she thinks there will be some “immedi- ate results” from the Women in Student Government Panel in the first—year elections, but that “change takes time.” More women are running for the EC than for the SJC. Seven women and ten men are currently running for posi- tions on the EC. ’ During Sunday’s speeches, candidates discussed how they hope to improve the relationship between the students at W&L and the Lexington Police and mentioned the impor- tance of upholding the Honor System if they are elected. Through F acebook pages and campaign fliers, many first years are trying to gain support from their peers and express the changes they would like to bring as participants in Stu- dent Government at W&L. , First-years can vote on Sakai throughout the day Monday. Strike out for strikes Student Judicial Council moves away By Kelly Mae Ross s TA F F w R l T E R The strike system is dead, but in name only. The Student Judicial Council and Student Affairs Committee decided last year to phase out the term “strike” and instead adopt the term “incident” when it comes to violations of uni- versity policy that fall under the jurisdiction of the administration and/or the SJC. “The terminology changed. The system hasn’t changed and the practice is still the same,” said Brandon R. Dotson, associate dean of students. Dotson said that the term “strike” wasn’t really appropriate for use in an incident-based conduct system. Members of last year’s SJC saw that and decided to do something about it. “None of the rules have changed. None of the consequences are different,” said Tim McAleenan, last year’s junior justice on the SJC. “The changing of the language was just to make it easier for students to understand that there was no automatic suspension or expul- sion associated with having a third conduct violation.” McAleenan said that the SJC also hopes that the “softer language” of the incident sys- tem will help quench student fears that the SJC is out to get them. “We’ve changed the language to try to make . it clear to the students that the rules are actually in their interest,” he said. For many students, their first conduct viola- tions that involve the use of alcohol or drugs are dealt with administratively (by a dean), not by the SJC. While the old rules may not have changed under the newly named incident system, a few new rules have officially been added into the university’s written conduct policy. This year there is a new provision included in the university’s policy on DUI. If a student under the age of2l is arrested for DUI, the rec- ommended sanction is suspension, no matter whether it is the student’s first, second or third incident (or even their fourth or fifth). There have been no underage DUI incidents this academic year, said Dotson. The new rules also make it clear that stu- dents who are of legal drinking age and con- victed ofa DUI with a blood alcohol concen- tration of'.l5 or higher will be suspended from the university, according to information from the Division of Student Affairs. SJC Chair Matt Simpson said the SJC wants to make it clear that the student governing body treats DUI as one of the most serious of offenses. “Very few things in our conduct system are automatic,” he said. “The only thing that I can think ofthat’s straight out the door is .15 DUI.” A second change made to the university’s policies on alcohol and drugs says that students can be punished ifthey.are “deemed an ‘acces- sory’ to violations,” according to information from the university’s Division of Student Af- fairs. A student may be deemed an accessory if he, for example, does nothing about the fact that his roommate smokesjmarijuana in.their shared dorm room. Although the accessory provision wasn’t officially written into the rules last year, Simp- son says that the SJC had established a sort of from strike system to incidents precedent for accessory rulings. The probationary process has also changed. The university’s new, cumulative approach to probation means that students will now serve a full 52 weeks (one year) of probation for each incident that they amass, which wasn’t the case under the old strike system. “So if you get in trouble week 48, they’re_ going to tack on 52 more weeks from there and you’re going to keep rolling,” said Dotson. On a scale of I to 10, Simpson said he thought the changes made during the switch from the strike to the incident system would rank no higher than a two or a three in terms of how big of a deal they are for students. “Ultimately nothing that we do will sig- nificantly change that much,” Simpson said. “We haven’t changed the way we think about things, we just have kind of made our reason- ing more public and more accessible.” nformation about the university's policy on drug and alcohol use and other conduct unbecoming to a W&L student can be found in the 2011- 2012 Student Handbook, available on the school’s website. ByTommyKent STAFF WRITER “ Judging by their pale visages, it’s unlikely that George Washington and Robert E. Lee got much sun in their day. But now Washington and Lee plans to harness the sun’s power and bask in its rays with clean energy benefits of quiet efficiency. W&L signed a Power Purchase Agreement on Aug. 5 with Secure Fu- tures, a company that installs and oper- ates solar energy projects. When com- pleted, the school’s solar panel system will be the largest in the state ofVirginia, four times the size of the second largest system located at the Eastern Mennonite . University in Harrisonburg, Va. The first photovoltaic solar panel array, located on the ramp to the upper deck of the parking garage, will provide 120 kW ofenergy while the 330 kW sec- ond array will be installed on the roof- top of Lewis Hall. A university-owned solar thermal array will be installed on the Leybum library roof to provide hot water for the heating needs of the build- ing. The solar panels are scheduled to be installed and operational by the end of the year. I ‘ Q) “I really view the solar panel instal- lations as a pilot program and a visual demonstration of the University‘s com- mitment to a sustainable effort,” said Scott Beebe, director of Facilities Man- agement. According to the Climate Action Plan drafted on January 15, 2010, the ultimate goal for is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Erik Curren, the director of mar- keting and communication for Secure Futures, said: “W&L has made a signifi- cant leap right now on the solar energy _ capacity of Virginia. By investing in clean renewable energy, [the University] is setting an example for other colleges, for the state, and beyond.” . The solar panel system will provide 3 percent ofthe energy used on campus. According to Beebe, the university will also save money on the other 97 percent due to the association of maximum ef- ficiency of solar panels in the summer to the cost of peak power times as deter- mined by Dominion Power. Curren, ‘87, said solar energy lines up neatly with W&L’s motto. “W&L has been around ‘for more than 250 years because W&L‘ has always been looking to the future,” Curren said. J “Solar panels are the kind oflong-lived infrastructure that will help Washington and Lee continue to thrive.” The installation of solar panels isjust one facet of the entire sustainability ef- fort on campus, which, according to the plan, includes recycling, composting, printing double-sided copies and grow-, ing vegetables for the Campus Kitchen Project. Through its Climate Action Plan, W&L hopes to reduce the utility opera- tions budget by $1 million in two years, reduce BTU’s (British Thermal Units) per square foot on campus by 25 percent by 2013, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020. The President’s Climate Commitment Task Force, the Energy Usage Task Force, and the University Sustainability Com- mittee are three major groups charged with coordinating the carbon neutrality effort. “There are skeptics who say clean energy is not practical but W&L is prov- ing them wrong,” Curren said. “It is not something that you have to wait for the future to do. You can do it right now.” In addition to the benefits from pro- ducing clean energy, solar panels may serve W&L in several other ways. “Young people are more interested in sustainability than they have ever been before and sustainability on campus is now one of the factorson the lists for colleges,” Curren said. “W&L is joining an elite group that has clean energy in- stalled and this should help with admis- sions.” Beebe also said the solar panels may function as an educational tool and as a way to get students more interested in sustainability. Said Beebe: “I hope that the visibil- ity of the panels will stimulate interest in the students, faculty, and community. One of the goals that I have, through the solar installations and sub-metering project, is that the solar panels will open up the opportunity for class and indi- vidual research. Why would it not be a good idea for a student in the business school to research the Power Purchased Agreement? Why would it not be a good idea for a student in the science depart- ment to research the photovoltaic pro- cess?” The sub-metering project refers to an effort that allows a diagnostic check of each building. The information collect- ed from the sub-meters will be compiled into alsoon-to-be announced Energy In- telligence System that will be open to all students on the school website. For now, the solar panels are still un- der construction. Construction has be- gun on the upper parking deck and panel installation will begin on the law school in a few weeks. “The people at W&L will easily see the solar panels at work,” Curren said. “They will be a concrete symbol of the University’s commitment to clean en- ergy and a sustainable future.” Construction begins on the solar panel system above the parking Solar panels arrive at W&L A deal with Secure Features brings Virginia ’s largest solar panel system to Washington and Lee GABRIELLE ESPY/ staff photographer M deck. When completed, W&L’s sytem will be the largest in Virginia. OCR::/Vol_115/WLURG39_RTP_20110926/WLURG39_RTP_20110926_002.2.txt UNIVERSITY LIBRARY WASHINGTON & LEE uu LEXINGTON, VA 24450 2 - THE RING-TUM PHI- SEP272m. Opi Fl MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 A behind the scenes view of the restaurant industry Columnist Ali Greenberg ‘explains the ins and outs of working in a restaurant and describes proper demeanor for diners It is my firm belief that ev- eryone should, at one point or I another, work in a restaurant. . I refer to res- taurants specif- ically, not only I to learn the value of a dol- lar and develop a work ethic because any job can teach you that. Work- ing in a restaurant can also offer the op- portunity for important life lessons that would benefit us all. There is no place better to learn hu- mility, something a great portion of W&L students have never had to ex- §‘ . 1,, By AliGreenberg COLUMNIST ‘perience. Waiting tables teaches time management while emphasizing com- munication skills and strengthening memory. Serving requires a positive attitude regardless of a customer’s bad one, a backed up kitchen or breaking two glasses of Ruby port. You cannot get flustered, you cannot break down, and you cannot talk back. . My first restaurant job was during my junior year in high school at an Italian place that was delicious. Unfortunately, the owner was as insane as his food was good. One night a young couple came in. Everything was fine until the chicken parmgan. They didn’t like it, didn’t eat it and didn’t want to pay for it. This didn’t fly with Nino, who pulled the entrée out of the trash, brought it to their table and proceeded to cut the chicken in order to prove it was cooked correctly and that it would be included on the bill. I am not kidding. I quit that night. The restaurant world is a volatile one, explaining why management can be high-strung at times. It is a fast-paced and high-risk business endeavor that can reap large rewards or cause major loss- es. A server has to be a problem solver, able to handle sticky situations on her own, and know when to ask questions or let a higher-up step in. Things can get stressful, but the ex- perience will toughen you up. As the saying goes, “if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen.” A good restaurant, sensibly, is the best place to learn about good food and wine. (Sorry Cracker Barrel). And if you are lucky enough that the chef allows you near his mise en place, you will learn more about produce and glazes than you could have ever imagined. Every W&L student should graduate knowing the difference between truffles from the ground and truffles of choco- late, basic wine pairings for reds and whites, how to mix a real cocktail, and when heirloom tomatoes are in season. A true appreciation for food is nurtured in the kitchen. And you don’t need to know how to cook to hold that appreciation. I can’t make anything but a fire in the kitchen, but I can make a reservation at a great place. Dining out is an experience, and waiters are there to facilitate that experi- ence. Just because it is someone’s job to serve you does not mean that you can be rude or disrespectful. This brings me to my rules and advice. Do not come in 15 minutes before closing time without a reservation. While some nights this may not be a big deal (lots of tables still there), on a slow night this is a real pain in the ass for those who have to wait around as you take your time through three courses. We don’t want to rush you out but time is money, so ifyou insist on coming late please buy a few bottles of wine. Do not order seafood on Monday or ever eat discounted Sushi. I worked at a Japanese restaurant that offered Mon- day night $l sushi, which was a great deal. But that fish was fresh on Thurs- day night, so while it is still technically safe to eat, it is discounted because they cannot use it the next day. Also, only or- der scallops from a restaurant you trust. They are too easily over or undercooked. A 20% tip is the norm. Tip less for bad service, tip more for excellent ser- vice. Too often people assume that 15% is acceptable for “good service,” but this is not true. Many servers make their liv- ing on tips and although you may think our $2.50 hourly wage is enough, we may disagree.’ I was told a long time ago that the best judge of character is how an indi- vidual treats a waiter and whether or not they tip 20%. This isn’t a matter of money either. If you make the conscious decision to go out for a nice meal, you should budget in an adequate tip and order accordingly. Not tipping 20% for good service is more bullshit than the Ortiz knockout. I If a restaurant offers a tasting menu, order that. It will not disappoint and the chef put a lot of work into it. Prix fixe menus are also a great way to get a deal at a fancier restaurant. We are happy to accommodate food allergies, but make sure you differenti- ate between “I don’t like that” and “I can’t eat that,” or else you may have the chef’s going through a lot _of extra trou- ble to ensure an allergy-free meal. Also, chefs hate vegans, just for the record. Do not overcomplicate your order. Waiting is not necessarily difficult in theory, but when you have three tables and the 4-top wants four separate mixed drinks, substitutions for their sides, de- caf and regular coffee and extra bread, it adds up. We are there to make your experience great, don’t make it difficult for us. Try to make reservations. You will be guaranteed a table, often a better one, and will likely receive better service since the wait staff and kitchen will be expecting you. For those dining out, my main point is to treat the servers with respect, al-. though I hope you already do. As those who have worked in the restaurant in- dustry can attest, while you serve others all night, sometimes the only thing you get to eat is humble pie. Understanding the US government's ”get out ofjail free”Card Right—wing columnist Brandyn Churchill describes “American Exceptionalism ” and all of its implications Con- fession: I hate talking politics at W&L. To those who know me, or at least have me added on Facebook, this may By Brandyn Churchill come. as a COLuMNIsT Surpnse‘ More of- ten than not, my profile contains more information on Ron Paul than his cam- paign website. Actually, I am the perfect example of why I dread talking politics at W&L— everybody has an opinion. It isn’t that I am afraid of confrontation. A decent amount of people would prob- ably claim that I thrive on it. I just hate wasting my time; I’ve found people are so set in their opinions that debating can only serve to do just that. That being said, I am going to totally contradict myself and write on politics. After watching the Republican debates, I could not help but feel a little uneasy about a term being thrown around the stage. What has me so worried that I am putting off my Health Econ. to write about it? “American Exceptionalism.” Let the charges that I am “un-American” begin. I hope they don’t, because I am not sure how to obtain a copy of my long-form birth certificate. .. . Anyway,‘ this cute little sound bite is political gold.‘Candidates use it to an- MANAGING EDITOR NEWS EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR‘ ARTS&LlFE EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR COPY EDITORS STAFF WRITERS HEAD DESIGN EDITOR DESIGN EDITOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS BUSINESS MANAGERS DISTRIBUTION STAFF MISSION STATEMENT: It is th hold leaders accountable. Th undergraduate school year. mediaboard@wlu.edu, but is ot to edit submissions for conten UNIVERSITY COMMO SUBSCRIPTION ileimrm Ammummn THE RING-TUM PHI. \\ DIANDRA SPICAK ELEANOR KENNEDY CAMPBELL BURR PAIGE GANCE JAYNA JOHNS '\‘\_ swer everything and anything. It can be used as an attack; one candi- date has claimed President Obama does not believe in “American Exceptional- ism,” because the president (realistical- ly) stated that other countries probably believe they are exceptionaltoo. It can be used to answer nearly any’ question. Example: Moderator: “Candidate X, many have criticized your plan to reduce the deficit, saying that the numbers are a stretch at best and are outright lies at worst. What do you have to say to these critics?” Candidate X: “Listen Moderator, unlike my critics, I am a firm believer in American Exceptionalism. When the American people set their minds to something, they can accomplish any- thing. I think it is time that my critics and the Washington establishment rec- ognize this.” Cue tons of applause. Have to watch‘ the debate for a politics class? Play the GOP Drinking Game: anytime the phrase “American Exceptionalism” is said, drink. Anytime Ron Paul mentions the Federal Reserve, drink. Or anytime Rick Santorum looks disgusted, drink. It may make the de- bate, at least, bearable. The problem with “American Excep- tionalism” is that it is not a real answer. Sure it sounds nice, but consider about what it is implying. If you hold to this belief, you are giving the US Govem- ment an indefinite “get-out-of-jail- free” card. It throws off the shackles of “real- ity” and “responsibility” and holds that no matter what America does, America is right. At the last GOP debate, Senator Rick Santorum attacked Congressman Paul’s view of 9/ I l . Santorum stated, “We were not attacked, because of our actions.... they want to kill us, because of who we are and what we stand for. And we stand for ‘American Exceptionalism.’” Paul went on to explain the need to under- stand the terrorist’s motivation for the JAMES BIEMILLER CHAuNCEY BAKER NEIL HAGGERTY DANIELLE HURLEY CASSIE MCGl_NTY JOHN PAUL BEALL sTOCI