UC Berkeley researchers Bill Jesdale, Rachel Morello-Frosch and Lara Cushing published the study Tuesday in Environmental Health Perspectives. Using U.S. census data and satellite imagery, the researchers found that heat-prone neighborhoods without tree canopy and surrounded by hard surfaces like cement were disproportionately populated by African Americans, Asians and Hispanics.

The study found that African Americans were 52 percent more likely than Caucasians to live in neighborhoods that were “urban heat islands” — microclimates that cause their environments to be slightly hotter than areas with trees — while Hispanics were 21 percent more likely and Asians were 32 percent more likely.

“There is a lot of literature and a lot of evidence that shows in the U.S. how low income communities of color are disproportionally burdened by pollution and have less access to environmental amenities,” Cushing said. “We are concerned that disadvantaged populations might be at greater risk because of climate change.”

Researchers say the findings highlight the racial disparities of different neighborhoods during a time when some experts say climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heat waves.

Incidents of extreme heat are responsible for about 1 in 5 natural hazard deaths, and studies of extreme heat have shown large racial disparities in heat-related deaths, the study says.

Cushing said the lack of tree canopy and number of impervious surfaces like sidewalks, roofs and driveways in such neighborhoods trap heat and can actually create “urban heat islands.”

Diana Almanza Camarena, an East Oakland community organizer with Communities for a Better Environment, a California-centered environmental justice organization, said that the study confirms the conditions she sees when organizing in communities of color.

“You’ll see no trees for the entire stretch of a whole block,”Almanza Camarena said. “(The study) definitely sheds light on the fact a lot of these communities are suffering disproportionately. (They) don’t have a lot of greenery. There is a lot of industry, not trees and not community spaces — like parks, for example.”

Morello-Frosh said the findings reveal the residential segregation of communities of color on a national scale.

The researchers looked at 304 metropolitan areas across the United States, which included more than 63,000 census tracts. Some of the most pronounced racial and ethnic disparities were in the midwest, northeast and southern parts of the country, she said.

Many of these communities have the least resources — like access to air conditioning — and therefore need more aid in protecting their families against heat-related illnesses.

“Not everyone is equally protected,” Cushing said. “We need to make sure that (these communities) are getting the resources and the attention needed. Those who are exposed to more heat risk-related cover are often least able to protect themselves so it is kind of a double jeopardy.”

Researchers suggested that to minimize heat risks in neighborhoods, city planners can plant more trees, paint roofs white and use pavement surfaces that absorb less heat.

“These social equity issues are going to have be taken into account if we are going to protect the most vulnerable populations,” Morello-Frosh said.

Alyssa Neumann covers city government. Contact her at aneumann@dailycal.org and follow her on Twitter @AlyNeumann.

The post Study finds racial minorities more likely to live in areas of heat appeared first on The Daily Californian.

One night after winning the Big 12 Conference regular season title, the K-State baseball team secured a series win over the Oklahoma Sooners with a 5-2 victory at Tointon Family Stadium. The Wildcats were led by starting pitcher Joe Flattery on Saturday, who delivered a nearly flawless outing.

“We turned it over to our pitching tonight,” said K-State head coach Brad Hill. “Joe Flattery man, we needed that out of him. It was hard to get going today and we needed a great pitching effort.”

Flattery was perfect through the first four innings before giving up a single to start the fifth inning. He left the game after 5.1 innings pitched with no runs and just three hits allowed.

“I came with the mindset that I need to come up to a good start,” Flattery said. “I knew we were probably going to be a little slow so it was important to come out and be sharp.”

The Wildcats scored a run in the first inning off an RBI ground out by Jared King to take an early 1-0 lead. Then, in the sixth inning, the Wildcats hung two more runs on the board after an error by the Sooners’ second baseman Hector Lorenzana, who overthrew his first baseman with the bases loaded.

In addition to Flattery’s good start, the relief pitching from the Wildcats was impressive as well. Gerardo Esquivel and Jake Matthys made appearances for K-State, and the relievers held the Sooners to just three hits after Flattery left the game.

“That’s been the game plan all year,” said Flattery about the bullpen’s performance. “If our starter has gone well through five, we have a great bullpen and you saw that tonight.”

The top hitter for the Wildcats on the night was designated hitter Mitch Meyer, who was 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs. His two-RBI single to right field in the bottom of the seventh inning put the nail in the coffin as the Wildcats took a 5-0 lead off of it.

“Our team, we always go out and play hard,” Meyer said. “So I don’t think we were worried that we weren’t going to play the way we have all year.”

Sunday’s home matchup at 11 a.m. between the Wildcats and Sooners will give the Big 12 champions a chance to sweep the series as they close out the regular season.

“We got to have the same mindset and come out and be prepared to win,” Meyer said. “They’re kind of struggling and wanting to get a win so you know they’re going to bring their ‘A’ game, so we have to bring that, too.”

Saturday’s win moves the Wildcats’ record to 39-15 overall and 16-7 in Big 12 play.

“[In "52"] Superman‘s a completely different person than the one I’ve been reading about for the last 20 years. He’s distant from humanity, whereas, before, he grew up as a human and thought of himself as a human, even though he knows he isn’t.,” Adam Coon, an avid DC Comics reader, said.

The idea was simple. A restart in the DC continuity meant original stories and new characters. That way, DC could draw in fresh blood to buy its comics. Unfortunately, that’s not what happened. Where some comics told stories of character origins, others dropped readers in the middle of action sequences. Such scenes failed to describe what was going on.

Greg Gage is the owner of Black Cat Comics in Sugar House. Despite seeing an increase of sales from the new “52” in the beginning, he is also not impressed with many of DC’s changes.

“I think the biggest weakness, story wise, is probably them having to feeling the need to do crossovers with everything. Everything has a crossover. When something’s not selling so well, instead of putting together a creative team and looking into why it doesn’t work, they cross it over into Swamp Thing or Batman to get it to sell,” Gage said.

DC Comics’ next mistake came by way of television. For years, audiences followed DC cartoons like “Batman the Animated Series” and “Teen Titans” due to developed characters and fantastically written plots. Then, shows aimed toward younger viewers started popping in and a drought seemed to settle. Finally, “Young Justice” came along. Every Saturday morning, kids and adults thrilled over mature characters and themes that melded perfectly with well-known superhero action fights. Characters, like Superboy and Artemis, quickly became fan favorites, alongside the familiar characters of Batman and Robin. The first season wrapped up with fans craving more and waiting for what will happen next.

Unfortunately, the second season of “Young Justice” turned cataclysmal. The series added dozens of new characters, with little to no backstory. In addition, the already introduced characters aged by five years. The show was more twisted and confusing than an episode of “Lost” in Latin translation. To add insult to injury, the episodes were shown sporadically. In March, the show was cancelled and DC had another group of angry fans to appease.

Finally, there’s “Man of Steel.” Not much can be said for this film, since audiences are only given vague and confusing trailers that tell nothing about the overall plot. One has to go to IMDB.com to even find the film’s villain, which is not a good sign for a superhero film. However, with the talent of the director Zack Snyder (“Dawn of the Dead,” “Sucker Punch”) there may be hope.

Regardless, the future of DC looks grim. With more kiddy shows coming out for Cartoon Network and the sale of comic books in decline, it feels like DC may be taking its last breath, unless, one of DC’s heroes, perhaps Superman, shows up at last minute to save the day.

“These incidents appear to be a prank, and the fires did not threaten any buildings, were minor and were quickly addressed,” CSU’s Public Safety Team wrote in an email to the campus community Friday afternoon.

CSUPD responded to the fires and is reviewing video footage to try and identify those responsible.

According to the Public Safety Team, there is no threat to campus at this time but were obligated to inform campus as a requirement of campus safety obligations set at the federal level.

Jacob Lauing
jacoblauing.md@gmail.com

As Joey Wagman put it, no starting pitcher ever wants to come out of a game.

But with a standing ovation, it’s a little bit easier.

Wagman recorded his 11th win of the season Friday night as Cal Poly (35-16, 13-9 Big West Conference) defeated Cal State Northridge, 5-1.

Tonight marked game one of a three-game set with the Matadors (31-21, 15-7 Big West) and the Mustangs’ penultimate series of the 2013 season.

With Cal State Fullerton running away with first place in the Big West, Cal Poly will likely need to win the majority of its remaining games to get a postseason bid.

“We have to make sure that second place spot is ours,” right fielder Nick Torres said. “It would have been great to win the Big West, but at this point we are just trying to keep up with Fullerton.”

The Mustangs got the leadoff man on in each of the first four innings, something head coach Larry Lee preaches on a regular basis. But Cal Poly couldn’t capitalize on those base runners, leaving men on base in the first and second inning.

“We had a chance to really do some damage offensively,” Lee said. “We just haven’t been able to do that the majority of the season.”

With the leadoff man on in the third inning, Denver Chavez and Torres both cashed in with RBIs, giving the Mustangs a 2-1 lead.

Torres reached out of the zone on a fastball and sent a line drive the opposite way, barely fair down the right field line.

“I figured since I already smacked a couple of curveballs, they were just going to try and blow fastballs by me,” Torres said. “I was on them, just chased a little bit out of the zone. As soon I saw that it was going to get chalk, I started booking.”

Torres landed on second base for catcher Elliot Stewart, who started the game over a struggling Chris Hoo.

“(Stewart) gives us a better chance offensively,” Lee said.

On Friday, Lee was correct. Stewart joined the third inning RBI parade and added a couple of his own with a two-out double.

But before the Mustangs were on the board, Wagman had to work hard early.

After a couple quick singles from Cal State Northridge in the second and third innings, Wagman found himself in back-to-back jams.

“That’s baseball,” Wagman said. “I’ve pitched here long enough to know that stuff is going to happen. It’ s all about how you can control that.”

Wagman, with help from the explosive third inning offense, was able to right the ship and settle into a groove.

“It’s always nice when the offense explodes like that,” Wagman said. “It makes me a lot more comfortable and it allows me to stay in my game plan of attacking.”

Even with the high stakes in the Big West, tonight’s game meant a little more to Wagman, as the senior tossed his final game under Baggett Stadium’s bright lights.

“We knew that he was going to come out and shove tonight with it being his last home start of his career,” Torres said. “He scuffled a little bit at the beginning, but we know that we had to put up runs to win the game.”

After 135 pitches, nine strikeouts and only one walk, Wagman exited the game in the eighth, jogging off the mound to a standing ovation from Baggett Stadium.

“The fans have been great here,” Wagman said. “They’ve been unbelievable all four years for me. I definitely heard the crowd.”

Reed Reilly, currently tied with the all-time single season school saves record, took over for Wagman and shut the door on Cal State Northridge.

And after dropping two of three to UC Irvine last weekend, Cal Poly fell to a fourth place tie with UC Santa Barbara in the Big West.

But according to Lee, the approach doesn’t change, even if the Mustangs rank below three teams with five games to play.

“It doesn’t have anything to do with where we are placed in conference,” Lee said. “Winning tonight continues to put us in a real good situation for postseason opportunities.”

Sophomore Matt Imhof will take the hill tomorrow afternoon for his 14th start of the season.

First pitch is at 1 p.m.

“We just go out and play the game that’s in front of us,” Wagman said. “We always say, no matter what the day is, the next game is the most important game of the season.”

Juniors Hilary Burns and Aaron Colston will continue in their positions as Editor-in-chief and Online Managing Editor, respectively.

Sophomore Ian Rutledge will now serve as the Print Managing Editor. Rutledge has been an editor in the news section for three consecutive semesters and looks forward to his new position.

“My primary goal as the Print Managing Editor is to serve as a resource for the rest of the editorial staff in terms of helping with both production and the development of story ideas,” Rutledge said. “I also look forward to working closely with the incoming freshman staff members and showing them the ropes in terms of how production and management of a newspaper section works.”

Now that Rutledge will be stepping out of the news section, freshmen Sarah Moran and Austin Cook will serve as co-editors of the news section.

“My main goal for the news section is to make sure that we continue to cover important topics that students care about with quality writing,” Cook said. “I want to make sure that we’re the go-to source of important news and information for Wake Forest students.” Moran seconds these sentiments.

Sophomore Molly Dutmers will continue to serve as the life editor. Dutmers plans to work with the online team to produce weekly blogs for the OGB and expand the multimedia section.

With sports editors Ty Kraniak and Max Wohlmuth studying abroad in Spain next semester, sophomores Nick Weldon and Alex Spear have been promoted to be co-editors of the section.

“Alex and I are really pleased with the direction that the section is moving in right now, but we hope to take it a step further next semester,” Weldon said. “One of our main goals is to include more feature and opinion pieces in the print edition. This would mean that game stories would go mostly online and hopefully be posted as soon as possible after the conclusion of the match.”

Spear adds, “I just feel really motivated to step up as a section editor. The OGB has an effective system in writing and producing each issue and I’m so happy to be apart of it.”

Sophomore Kristopher Kolb will continue serving as an opinion editor but since his co-editor Ade Ilesanmi will be studying abroad in London, junior Annie Johnson will step up as a co-editor.

Freshman Adrian Martino will take over as the Photo Editor and senior Lauren Lukacsko will continue as the graphics editor.

“I am proud of our progress this semester. I feel that we have delivered interesting content and we have worked hard to expand our presence online,” Burns said. “I am excited to continue working over the summer and into the next semester with this enthusiastic staff.”

For those who missed the event, here’s a recap of the night’s winners:

Best Solo/Duet Entry: Sarah Summers

Best Band Entry: The Street Hearts

Best A Cappella Entry: Bruin Harmony

Best Production Entry: Hooligan Theatre Company

Best Overall Entry: Bruin Harmony

Best Overall Participation: Alpha Delta Pi and Theta Xi

Best Group Director: Caitlin Myers for Delta Gamma and Pi Kappa Phi

Best Company Video: ”Now 1919″

For a recap of the night’s events, read the Daily Bruin’s live blog.

Compiled by Jessica McQueen, A&E senior staff.

Jacob Hannemann and the Cougars clinched a WCC tournament berth with a victory over Saint Mary’s Friday night.

BYU baseball clinched a spot in the WCC tournament with a 6-3 victory over Saint Mary’s Friday night.

“I’m just really glad that we finished it tonight,” head coach Mike Littlewood said. “I just can’t say enough about the overall attitude of our team. There was no anxiety, there was no tension. They wanted to get it done in two games and they got it done.

The Cougars (29-19, 14-9 WCC) earned at least the fourth seed in the tournament and could nab the third seed with a victory tomorrow afternoon. With the loss, the Gaels (21-33, 11-12 WCC) were eliminated from playoff contention.

“Our next goal is to try and get the three seed,” Littlewood said. “You’re going to play a good team no matter what.”

BYU scored early and often in support of starter Jeff Barker, who earned the win, pitching 5 1/3 innings and giving up two runs on five hits

The scoring started early as both teams picked up a run in the first inning.  The Cougars took the lead in the second inning on a two-out double by Hayden Nielsen that scored Kelton Caldwell. BYU tacked on one run each in the third and fifth innings to take a 4-1 lead.

The Gaels cut the lead to 4-2 in the sixth when Markus Melgosa scored on a double by Anthony Villa, causing Littlewood to bring in Adam Miller in relief. With runners on second and third and one out, Miller struck out Collin Ferguson and got Darian Ramage to ground out to end the inning, leaving the tying run in scoring position and ending one the Gaels’ biggest threats of the night.

The Cougars quickly got the run back on Whitney’s solo home run to left center in the bottom half of the sixth. Adam Law hit a solo home run of his own to lead off the eighth inning, extending BYU’s lead to 6-2.

The Gaels attempted to mount a comeback in the ninth, loading the bases with no outs. Reliever Matt Milke struck out pinch hitter Christopher Akmon for the first out. Saint Mary’s pushed one run across when Cole Norton grounded into a fielder’s choice, but Milke struck out Melgosa to end the inning and preserve the victory.

Tomorrow’s game will start at 1 p.m. MST. It will be televised on BYUtv and broadcast on KOVO Radio 960 AM.

Oregon pitcher Tommy Thorpe throws the first pitch of the second inning at PK Park Friday night against the OSU Beavers. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)

Oregon State infielder Danny Hayes (9) tags out Oregon’s Scott Heineman (6) during the first baseball game of the Civil War series. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)

Oregon’s Ryon Healy tries to stop Oregon State’s Jake Rodriguez from reaching first base during the baseball game Friday night. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)

Outfielder Scott Heinemen watches his fly-ball as he darts for first base during the Duck’s baseball game against the Beavers. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)

Oregon’s Ryon Healy smashes the baseball in the first game of the baseball Civil War. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)

Dark and ominous clouds loom over PK Park during Oregon’s Civil War match-up against the Oregon State Beavers Friday night. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)

Oregon infielder Aaron Payne grimaces after missing the pitch at the Oregon versus Oregon State match-up Friday night. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)

The Oregon baseball team celebrates with the crowd after winning the first game of the Civil War series 3-0. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)

Oregon’s Ryon Healy speaks with the press after Oregon won against the Beavers Friday night in the first game of the Civil War series. (Ryan Kang/Emerald)

An undergraduate tuition freeze and the DREAM Act may soon become realities at the University of Minnesota.

The state Senate and House both passed the higher education omnibus bill on Friday, which allocated $42.6 million to the University for the tuition freeze and funding to give undocumented students in-state benefits.

The bill also includes funding for a new University research initiative, MnDRIVE, with an appropriation of $35.65 million. A signature from Gov. Mark Dayton, which is due by Monday when the current legislative session ends, is the bill's last step before taking effect.

The bill's main goal is “to fill the jobs of tomorrow,” said  Sen. Terri Bonoff, DFL-Minnetonka, who is the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee  chair.

The DREAM Act, officially called the Prosperity Act, was unanimously adopted by committee and will take effect July 1. Proponents say it will help address Minnesota's achievement gap and workforce needs.

In an emotional testimony, Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, gave her support for the program at Wednesday's committee meeting.

“This has been so very important to so many young people and this is what we are about in higher ed is providing education to young people,” she said. “It doesn’t matter where they were born; they come to the United States.”

The DREAM Act will cost $100,000 in a one-time appropriation from the Office of Higher Education general fund.

Some, including Sen. Torrey Westrom, R-Elbow Lake, had issues with the act's inclusion in the omnibus bill at the Senate hearing Friday.

Westrom said he voted against the bill because the DREAM Act allows undocumented students to accumulate student debt but they can’t work to pay it back after graduation because of their immigration status.

“We all know how hard it is to pay college debt off,” he said. “Without employment, that becomes nearly an impossible task.”

Westrom and other lawmakers have said the issues tackled in the DREAM Act need to be handled at a federal level.

Though the state House didn't pass the DREAM Act, legislative rules state it could be included in the bill's final version because the Senate passed it, Bonoff said.

MnDRIVE, a University research initiative, was given more than $35 million in funding, just short of the full Senate’s proposed amount.

To receive the full funding, the University will have to complete three of five performance goals, like decreasing administrative spending by $15 million. The other goals include improving graduation rates, increasing undergraduate degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, and filing more invention disclosures.

In the bottom of the ninth inning with the bases loaded and one out, Oklahoma Sooners pitcher Jacob Evans threw a ball that got past catcher Anthony Hermelyn. Tanner Witt, who was standing at third base, sprinted home to score the winning run and gave the K-State Wildcats a 6-5 walk-off win that earned the team a Big 12 Conference title on Friday .

“There was a lot of balls being thrown,” Witt said. “The first thing I was thinking was maybe walking off with a walk, but then I just saw the ball get past him and I ran.”

The Wildcats were down 4-0 after 5 1/2 innings, but in the bottom of the seventh inning, Witt tied the game with an RBI single to center field.

In the bottom of the eighth, pinch hitter and freshman Lance Miles belted an RBI single to right field in just his 29th at-bat of the season to give the Wildcats a 5-4 lead.

The Sooners tied the game in the top of the ninth with a home run over the left field wall by shortstop Jack Mayfield. However, Wildcat reliever Jake Matthys stayed in the game after that and recorded the next two outs to keep the score even.

“I just believed in my team,” Matthys said. “I knew they were going to fight for me and I knew they were going to try and pick me up.”

The Wildcats loaded the bases with just one out in the bottom of the ninth, and the passed ball ended up being the championship-winning run for the Wildcats.

“I was thinking run, Tanner, run,” said K-State head coach Brad Hill. “And ball, don’t bounce back to the catcher.”

The Sooners put their best pitcher on the mound to start the game in Jonathan Gray. Projected to be a top-two pick in the MLB draft, Gray started the game out with five scoreless innings.

However, the Wildcats hung four runs on Gray in the sixth and seventh innings to force him out of the game.

“He’s an absolutely unbelievable arm,” said catcher Blair DeBord. “Early in the game we just kept communicating to start early and slow. We started seeing his pitches a little better, he started getting a little tired out there, and we were able to put some balls in play.”

The baseball team’s Big 12 title follows the standard that the football and men’s basketball teams have set this academic year, as both those squads won titles as well.

“Our vision is to have a model collegiate athletics program,” said K-State Athletics Director John Currie. “And we believe we can do that at Kansas State. Coach [Bill] Snyder talks about the 16 goals, and we should not have self-limitations at K-State.”

With such a young team that is dominated by over a dozen freshmen, the Wildcats were originally predicted to finish seventh in the Big 12 preseason polls. The regular season championship by the team marks the biggest jump in conference history for a conference champion from their standing in the preseason poll.

The Wildcats still have two more weekend games against the Sooners, starting at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at Tointon Family Stadium.

Head to tinyurl.com/aburvpp for more photos of Friday’s game.

Enacted in 1965 and reauthorized four times since, the VRA is credited with significantly reducing voter discrimination with respect to race. Rather than making a binary decision to uphold or strike down the law, the Court will answer two key questions in Shelby: whether discrimination today is pervasive enough to warrant continued federal intrusion into states’ rights, and what measures Congress should use to identify likely sources of voter discrimination.

Individual Enforcement Will Remain

The most important part of the VRA is Section 2, which prohibits states, counties, and cities from enacting voting procedures that racially discriminate. The federal government, and specifically the Department of Justice, has power to enforce Section 2 through litigation. The DOJ may ask courts for preliminary injunctions to prevent enactment of discriminatory voting procedures, and private individuals can also bring Section 2 lawsuits. Between 2000 and 2009, the DOJ brought only 26 lawsuits under Section 2, yet the threat of litigation is often enough to pressure jurisdictions into election reform. However, Section 2 is not at issue in Shelby, and the DOJ and individuals will retain their power regardless of the Court’s decision.

Section 2, combined with the Constitution’s 14th (equal protection) and 15th (universal male voting rights) Amendments provides a basic level of federal protection of minority voting rights. Further, political pressures constrain elected state and local officials from enacting discriminatory legislation. Abigail Thernstrom, vice chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and the author of two books on the VRA, noted this political constraint to the HPR, explaining, “it is politically impossible in America today to come off as racially uncaring.” Voter backlash against the Republicans’ recent immigration reform proposals is an example of this practical check, something Democrats are quick to highlight.

Is Voter Discrimination Still a Problem? 

The Court in Shelby will instead analyze the merits of Sections 4 and 5 of the VRA. Section 5 requires that select jurisdictions receive prior DOJ approval, or “preclearance,” before enacting any changes to their election procedures. Preclearance provides an early check for the DOJ to ensure that certain jurisdictions do not enact racially discriminatory voting procedures. Voting changes requiring preclearance include redistricting, moving of polling stations, redrawing precinct lines, purging voters, changing bilingual voting methods, amending candidate qualifications, and altering voter registration procedures. Section 5 was originally intended to be a temporary, five-year remedy. However, since 1965, Congress has extended it four times, most recently until 2031.

Section 5 is widely considered a vast expansion of federal power, necessary to prevent voter discrimination in the 1960s. Nevertheless, preclearance significantly intrudes upon traditional state powers to set voting standards. Such an intrusion may no longer be justified in light of reduced levels of discrimination. Ilya Shapiro, senior fellow of constitutional studies at the Cato Institute, described preclearance to the HPR as “a big blunt intrusion” into state powers that was “outside the constitutional norm and originally justified by … the exceptional conditions on the ground.”

In Shelby, the Court will determine whether the discriminatory conditions present in 1965 persist to an extent large enough to warrant continued federal intervention in core state affairs. As Kent Greenfield, professor of constitutional law at Boston College, explained to the HPR, “There must be a close fit between the exercise of [federal] power and … the potential violations of constitutional rights.” If the Court believes that substantial discrimination still exists, then it will likely uphold federal preclearance, but if it determines that modern discrimination tactics are neither prevalent nor effective enough to significantly impact minorities’ constitutional rights, then Section 5 will likely fall.

Supporters of Section 5 argue that, while the most heinous forms of voter discrimination are relics of the past, minority voter suppression still exists. Tactics such as unexpected changes to voting locations, voter ID laws, and the selective enforcement of criminal background checks by registration officials all constitute what Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has called “second generation devices.” While not as overt as poll taxes or literacy tests, these newer devices may be equally effective in suppressing minority voting. Bernard Simelton, chairman of the Alabama NAACP, explained the importance of voter ID laws to the HPR: “True, we aren’t facing the same things we were facing in the ‘60s,” he said. “But nevertheless it still achieves the same result: you don’t vote.” Supporters fear that if the Court strikes down Section 5, there will be no remaining constitutional check on these tactics.

Opponents of Section 5 claim that race relations have sufficiently improved to render preclearance obsolete and there is no longer any justification for the time and resources that the DOJ uses to process the 20,000 preclearance cases it handles each year. Further, opponents say the relics of voter discrimination that may still exist do not warrant the broad federal intrusion into core state powers. They are skeptical that subtler methods of modern discrimination produce the same undesirable effects as those pre-1965. These skeptics often cite the following statistics: among the 11 former Confederate states, eight have smaller disparities between white and black voter turnout than the national average, and among the eight states nationally that have a higher percentage of black than white voter turnout, four are former Confederate states.

How Should Congress Identify Voter Discrimination? 

The Court in Shelby will also determine the validity of measures that identify jurisdictions suspected of voter discrimination. Section 4 of the VRA establishes several tests to identify suspect jurisdictions. These jurisdictions must submit all proposed voting changes for DOJ preclearance. The Shelby case focuses on the Section 4 requirement that preclearance applies to any jurisdiction where fewer than half the voting age residents either (a) are registered or (b) turned out to vote. However, instead of using current census data, the VRA uses data from the 1972 presidential election. Section 4 captures nine states, as well as isolated counties and municipalities in seven other states. Thus, a key question in Shelby is whether 1972 voting data is applicable to measuring racial discrimination today and in the future.

Supporters of Section 4 argue that determining the proper identification method is a legislative decision in which the Court should not intervene. In 2006, Congress reauthorized Section 4, and its reliance on 1972 voting data, for 25 additional years by overwhelming bipartisan votes of 98-0 in the Senate and 390-33 in the House. According to Greenfield, these votes show that “Congress has given a clear answer” about whether to update the methodology. Similarly, Mr. Simelton said that in 2006, Congress “had significant evidence that this [method] needs to stay like it is.” In effect, supporters argue the Court should respect the separation of powers doctrine and defer to Congress.

However, despite the Congressional vote, Section 4 has become antiquated. Nationwide, voter registration is 59.8 percent. Applying the Section 4 registration requirement to 2010 census data, only Hawaii would be subject to statewide preclearance. Meanwhile, voter registration in the nine states currently subject to preclearance ranges from Louisiana, with the third highest state voter registration of 73.2 percent, to Texas, with the fifth lowest state voter registration of 53.2 percent. Overall among these nine states, voter registration is just 0.4 percent lower than the national average.

Pre-cleared states generally have a smaller gap between white and black registration than the rest of the country. Of the five states that have a higher percentage of blacks than whites registered, three are subject to preclearance. Meanwhile, of the 13 states with the smallest disparity between white and black voter registration, seven are subject to preclearance. Finally, while the gap between white and black registration is 8.2 percent nationwide, the gap is only 3.5 percent among the nine pre-cleared states.

Congress would never consider basing environmental or fiscal policy on 40-year-old data. Opponents of Section 4 say that federal policies on voting discrimination are no different.

Possible Court Outcomes

The Court largely has three options in deciding Shelby. First, it may find that voter discrimination based on race remains pervasive and that Section 4 provides an appropriate method to identify offending jurisdictions. This ruling would simply maintain the status quo. Second, it may find that discrimination is no longer prevalent enough to warrant federal preclearance. Under this ruling, individuals and the DOJ would retain the power to fight voter discrimination through Section 2 litigation, but the DOJ could not pre-clear states’ voting changes. Third, the Court may reason that voter discrimination is still significant enough to justify federal intervention, but that the current identification mechanism is outdated. This ruling would require Congress to utilize more current data to identify jurisdictions that discriminate.

Unfortunately, the public’s understanding of the Shelby case has fallen victim to media sensationalism. Like many cases that reach the Court, Shelby is more nuanced than a sound bite or newspaper headline. Contrary to general perceptions, a decision to strike down Sections 4 and 5, would not be an invitation to reestablish Jim Crow laws. Instead, the Court would recognize the tremendous progress the country has made in reducing voter discrimination and call on Congress to develop a relevant model, with current data, to continue this progress into the future. America’s ignominious history of racism and its current preoccupation with political correctness make it extremely difficult to debate any deficiencies of the VRA in a rational manner. However, both sides of this debate should view Shelby not a referendum on the VRA, but as an opportunity to determine the most effective ways to continue improving race relations in America.

When the number of women on campus rushing sororities jumped to approximately 250 in both 2011 and 2012—up from about 150 in 2008—demand for an additional sorority at Harvard began to mount.

This semester, an Alpha Phi chapter joined Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Kappa Kappa Gamma as Harvard’s fourth official sorority.

Jeanie Nguyen ’14, president of the Cambridge-Area Panhellenic Council, said that the Council welcomed the new addition to Harvard’s Greek scene.

“There’s definitely an increasingly high demand to join Greek life, and the Cambridge-Area Panhellenic Council is honored and more than happy to support an inclusive community where any girl who wants to join a sorority can do so,” Nguyen said.

This semester, the sorority held its first spring formal and has participated in philanthropic activities, including Relay for Life and volunteering at a food bank with fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi.

Megan Bouché, director of marketing and extension for the Alpha Phi International Fraternity, wrote in an email that she feels the new Alpha Phis at Harvard have bonded well over the past semester.

“The fun, friendships, and activities Alpha Phis developed and participated in this past semester mirror those of the other three sororities,” Bouché wrote. “From sisterhood events at SkyZone to volunteering at the Greater Boston Food Bank to the chapter’s first formal, Alpha Phis were able to spend time together and build their sisterhood.”

Looking forward, Bouché wrote, the founding members of the Harvard Alpha Phi chapter will be able to draw upon the long-established network of Alpha Phi members and alumni.

“A few of the most exciting parts of being a founding member of Alpha Phi are the opportunities to help shape the character of Alpha Phi, chart its course, and create the traditions of a group that establish a lasting legacy at Harvard,” Bouché wrote.

Alpha Phi conducted its recruitment process in late February after the other established sororities to build awareness and accommodate women who had not been chosen by other sororities, had not accepted their bids, or had not participated in the first rounds of recruitment.

Alpha Phi will host its recruitment process at the same time as the other sororities next spring.

—Staff writer Laya Anasu can be reached at layaanasu@college.harvard.edu. Follow her on Twitter @layaanasu.

—Staff writer Elizabeth S. Auritt can be reached at eauritt@college.harvard.edu. Follow her on Twitter @eauritt.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

CORRECTION: May 17, 2013

An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that an Alpha Phi chapter became Harvard’s newest sorority this April. In fact, the chapter officially launched at the start of this semester.

Jose Lumbreras, 25, has pleaded no contest on two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated for the deaths of 22-year-old UC Berkeley graduate Milanca Lopez and her 6-year-old son, Xavier Chevez. The Alameda County District Attorney’s office is requesting the maximum 12 years in prison, according to Deputy District Attorney Teresa Drenick.

“It is a tremendous relief to know this particular chapter has come to a close without the trauma of what we knew would be a painful trial for her family and friends,” said Rue Mapp, a UC Berkeley graduate and neighbor of Lopez, in an email. “We will continue to celebrate Milanca and Xavier’s lives and remember the beautiful friend and mother she was in our community.”

Paul Wolf, Lumbreras’ defense attorney, disagrees with the prosecution’s pursuit of the maximum sentence. He said Lumbreras has suffered greatly from the accident and that 12 years is too severe for the crime.

“Jose has never denied nor sought to shirk his responsibility for the damage and pain for which he has shared and continues to experience,” Wolf said. “He loved both of them. It’s an accident, and he’s responsible for it.”

Wolf will argue for a lighter penalty during Lumbreras’ sentencing on June 11.

At approximately 1 a.m. on May 18, 2012, Lumbreras drove into a tree in central Berkeley, killing Lopez and seriously injuring Chevez. According to police, his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit.

Chevez was placed on life support and died from his injuries one week later at Children’s Hospital and Research Center in Oakland.

Prior to her death, Lopez and her son lived in university student housing at University Village in Albany. Lopez began studying at UC Berkeley in 2007 and was planning to begin a master’s program for teaching at UCLA following her graduation.

Lumbreras came to UC Berkeley in 2010 after receiving a degree in sociology from UC Santa Barbara. He received a graduate degree from UC Berkeley’s ethnic studies department not long before the accident.

The couple was allegedly drinking in celebration of their recent graduations prior to the collision, Wolf said.

Lumbreras is currently being held at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, and his bail is set at $200,000, according to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office inmate locator.

“It’s one of the most tragic cases I’ve ever been involved in, and I’ve been a criminal defense lawyer for 37 years,” Wolf said. “It caused nearly intolerable injury and loss to three people and their respective families.”

Andy Nguyen is the lead crime reporter. Contact him at anguyen@dailycal.org
and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Truc.

The post UC Berkeley alumnus found guilty of DUI deaths appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Andrew Marian

For most, being forced to sing in front of their middle school class would be cruel and unusual punishment, but for one 2013 Spring Sing contestant, having to learn and sing “Mi Burrito Sabanero” in Spanish class marked a turning point in his life: it was the moment he learned that he could sing. Andrew Marian, a fourth-year psychology student, is one of this year’s performers in the soloist category. Read more

Ariana Afsar and Andrew Cedar

Fourth-year ethnomusicology students Arianna Afsar and Andrew Cedar perform a duet of their original song “Trade Hearts.” The song, which explores heartbreak and the desire to move on, will be featured in Spring Sing 2013. Watch the video profile above.

Free Food

Free Food, a hip-hop, soul, and retro funk fusion band will be performing at this year’s Spring Sing. Listen to how they feel about transitioning to adulthood in their original composition, “Circus Funk.”

India Carney Band

Second-year voice student, India Carney, and her band perform “Drive,” a song about the questions that come after heartbreak. The India Carney Band will perform at Spring Sing this Friday.

Paul Haro

From Kerckhoff Coffee House to Royce Hall, Philip Haro has performed almost everywhere on campus. But this Friday he will be performing on Pauley Pavilion’s much bigger stage as a Spring Sing soloist. Read more

Ruby Lee (aka Halle Charlton)

The prospect of singing to 8,000 spectators in Pauley Pavilion would be terrifying for any UCLA student. But for ’40s vixen Ruby Lee, this kind of thing is old hat. Third-year theater student Halle Charlton and her alter ego Ruby Lee will perform “I Owe You Nothing” at Spring Sing. Read more

Sarah Summers

The spotlight will shine directly on her, as she picks at the banjo, producing a twanging sound that combines with her mature, deep voice, and sings about her past and the exciting mystery of her future. Sarah Summers, a first-year dance student, is one of the students selected to sing in this year’s Spring Sing. Read more

Suze Papazyan

A first-time participant in Spring Sing, Papazyan will perform an original song, “Forever for Now.” Papazyan said her lyrics usually embody a personal experience or feeling, but the content of this song portrays the concept of a hope or a dream. Read more

The Street Hearts

Winner of the JazzReggae Festival Battle of the Bands, The Street Hearts performs “Head in the Clouds” and talks about the confusion that accompanies impractical passions, which motivated them to write the song. The band will perform in this year’s Spring Sing. Watch the video profile above.

Moore, the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year, threw her 12th complete game of the season.

The Emerald’s Hayden Kim has a full recap.

In addition to the Ducks 17 All-Pac-12 honors, the softball team was also recognized with six All-Region honors. The six awards — five first-team honors and one second-team honor — leads the nation.

First-team recipients: Jessica Moore, Kaylan Howard, Courtney Ceo, Alexa Peterson, and Janie Takeda.

Second-team recipient: Cheridan Hawkins.

***

The strong first-round play at the NCAA Tallahassee Regional Thursday from Oregon men’s golf gives them a tie for fourth place heading into round two.

***

The Oregon club ultimate men’s team is ranked No. 1 as they head into the USA Ultimate College Championships. It is the third time in the past four seasons they have headed into the championships with this ranking.

***

The Maloof Brothers have decided to keep the Kings in Sacramento, selling controlling stake of the team to a group of Sacramento investors Thursday for a reported $348 million.

Chris Hansen and his group of Seattle-based investors were offering $406 million for the team, but with pressure from NBA commissioner David Stern, the bros gave the Sacramento group a home-town discount.

Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby in “The Great Gatsby.”
Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros. Studios

Baz Luhrmann’s new film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s acclaimed classic, The Great Gatsby, is exactly what the title implies: great. Gatsby follows Nick Carraway (Toby Maguire) as he recounts the tale of his first summer on Long Island Sound. The mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby lives next-door, and hosts lavish parties almost every night in the hopes that his lost love, Daisy, who lives across the sound, might wander in one night.

Luhrmann’s directorial vision takes every single aspect of the novel and turns it into a decadent vision of the nineteen twenties, just as Fitzgerald intended. From the overly vibrant waters that separate the forlorn lovers to the synchronized movements of the hired help, Gatsby’s world is akin to a crystalline Neverland where the bottles of booze are bottomless and every curtain is made of the finest lace. The art direction perfectly highlights the materialism of the American dream, from the mysterious mist that surrounds the green light of Gatsby’s hopes and desires to the simple sheen of the yellow car the film includes as an homage to the 1974 Robert Redford version; every aspect of the film conveys the boozy haze that Carraway describes.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s fantastic portrayal of Jay Gatsby is possibly the most noteworthy aspect of the film apart from its magnificent art direction. DiCaprio’s Gatsby is both incredibly shallow and heartbreakingly idealistic in a way that endears him to the soul of every member of the audience. His likability, however, becomes deeply troubling when one realizes the materialistic vision of his dream to create a decadent world of things for Daisy to exist in. Both DiCaprio and Mulligan’s portrayal of their characters conveys the inability of Gatsby and Daisy to understand or to properly convey the feelings that they possess for one another.

Luhrmann makes interesting choices in molding the characters of Nick and Gatsby. While the film underscores the unreliability of Nick as a narrator by making the audience of his reverie a psychologist. The film also makes the shady source of Gatsby’s mysterious fortune much more prominent than it is in the novel, raising some interesting questions. If Nick has gone through a break down, how much of this story is actually believable? Is this a defense of Gatsby’s character altered by his friend, or the true story of Gatsby’s tragedy? Does the source of Gatsby’s fortune corrupt the dream world that he has created for his long lost love?

While the film creates an amazing artistic vision of the drunken debauchery of the 1920’s and the materialistic aspect of the American dream, Luhrmann draws from a more modern pool for the soundtrack. During the magnificent party scenes at Gatsby’s house, Luhrmann uses music from rap artists such as Jay Z to draw an interesting parallel between the party culture of the roaring 20’s and the party scene of today’s rap culture.

While The Great Gatsby will undoubtedly disappoint those who wanted Luhrmann to stay completely true to the text, those who were looking for a decadent, overly extravagant Gatsby with interesting changes made to highlight the broken vision of the American dream that exists today will consider the film a classic for years to come.

UH announced that its final game of the season on Nov. 29 against SMU will be played at Reliant Stadium. Three home games against Southern (Aug. 30), BYU (Oct 19), South Florida (Oct. 31) and the annual Bayou Bucket against Rice (Sept. 21) were already planned to be played at Reliant Stadium.

The only two remaining games to schedule are against Memphis (Oct. 12) and Cincinnati (Nov. 23).

To rent Rice Stadium, UH would have to pay $115,000 per game, while the price for BBVA Compass Stadium is approximately $130,000 per game plus a $1.50-$3 ticket fee, according to the agenda for Monday’s board of regents meeting.

The financial terms of playing at Reliant Stadium were also released. UH will be charged a $75,000 license fee and a $85,000 facility fee based on an attendance of 30,000, both per game. There is an additional $2 fee for each attendee when attendance is more than 30,000.

Here are the other terms to the deal:

• UH will keep all ticket revenue except for suites.
• 1,250 parking spots will be provided for donor parking. All additional spots are $10.
• All parking and concession revenue will go to Reliant.
• 20 percent of merchandise sales will be paid to Reliant.
• SMG and Texans will promote game dates to respective fan bases to increase ticket sales.

• “Quick turn-around” field conversion for USF and SMU game will be determined.

sports@thedailycougar.com

"Sen. Kel Seliger's Ten Commandments: College Edition"

State Senator Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, rewrote the Ten Commandments in modern times on stage in front of a thousands during his UT commencement address at the Frank Erwin Center. 

Seliger delivered the commencement speech for UT's College of Liberal Arts joint ceremony despite a busy schedule at the Texas Legislature. He kept his speech light and peppered it with jokes, inspiring laughter from the crowd throughout his time on stage.

High-profile speakers at college commencements across the country included President Obama at Ohio State University and Oprah Winfrey at Harvard University.

"You have me," Seliger said. 

The highlight of his speech was when he delivered the Ten Commandments and rewrote them to apply to college life. Some of Seliger's commandments are below:

-     The last supper would be pizza and cola the next morning.

-     There would be a new edition of the Ten Commandments every two years to limit reselling. 

-      The forbidden fruit would be eaten completely as long as it did not come from the Jester cafeteria. 

-      The end of the world would be known not as armageddon, but as finals. 

-     There would be no mules or sheep or goats, just mountain bikes. 

-      Moses and the Israelites wandered the desert for 40 days because they didn't want to answer directions and look like freshman. 

-     Creation was not done in six days. People would wait until the last day, pull an all-nighter and be done by 8:15 a.m. 

Seliger kept the crowd laughing throughout his speech, opening with brief excerpts from his college experience.

"My college education meant a tremendous amount to my family. It stopped my mother from ragging on me," he said. Seliger graduated from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.

11 a.m. Schmoozing with government graduates

Government senior Victoria Soto left Gregory Gym with a sparkle in her eye.

Soto was surrounded by family and friends as soon as she left Gregory Gym, where 314 students graduated from the College of Liberal Arts Thursday morning. 

A crowd of about 500 students, their friends and family gathered outside to talk and take pictures after the ceremony. Soto said she was feeling overwhelmed and a little scared after walking the stage.

"I don't want to leave," she said. While she is leaving UT, Soto said she is planning to stay in Austin for two years before she applies to law school. 

Tiffany Williams also graduated with a government degree Thursday. Williams was accepted to the Cornell University Law School in New York and plans to attend in the fall. 

"It's kind of just starting to set in that I won't be here next year and I'm moving on," Williams said. 

Williams said she is in the process of finding a summer part-time job. She said she felt attending a school with a diverse student population has prepared her to live anywhere. 

She had a few parting words for her fellow graduates: "We did it, so go apply it." 

10 a.m. – "Celebrate good times, come on"

About 314 students left Gregory Gym with government degrees after the first College of Liberal Arts commencement ceremony Friday morning. 

Matthew Haynes, a senior academic advisor for the college, said he will remember the Class of 2013 as the independent class. Haynes said this group of students went beyond just going to classes, taking internships and other opportunities.

"Don't stop continuing to find your own opportunities," Haynes said. "Don't wait around for them to be handed to you – make your own." 

The ceremony ended with "Celebration," a song by Kool and The Gang. 

Contact Jody Serrano at jserrano@utexas.edu, or tweet her @jodyserrano 

Frances Monson, wife of LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson, passed away Friday morning surrounded by family and friends. Monson, 85, died at 6:35 a.m. from “causes incident to age,” according to a release in the LDS Newsroom.

Monson served alongside her husband in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for several decades. President Monson frequently praised his wife for her support when he was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1963, sustained to the First Presidency in 1985 and began serving as Church President in 2008.

Sister Monson served extensively in the Relief Society and Primary auxiliaries of the LDS Church. She is survived by her husband, 85, and her three children, Thomas, Ann and Clark.

Sister Monson had also been receiving hospital treatment for several weeks. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Editor’s Note: Further information will be given as it becomes available; stay tuned for updates.

The earliest and most egregious misstep in the film is the rewriting of Nick Carraway’s story. We find him in the winter after the summer of Gatsby, staring ponderously out of snow-frosted windows, speaking even more ponderously about his binge-drinking habits and general sense of malaise. It becomes clear that he is being treated at some sort of swanky sanatorium—taking time to decompress from all he witnessed. This setup leads to his doctor telling him to write it all down, even if no one will read what he produces. It is difficult to parse whether this order is based on a premonition that the ensuing book will be a great work of literature, or on a deep and utterly understandable desire to stop listening to Tobey Maguire’s listless narration as Carraway. On the occasions when the film does directly quote the novel, the timbre of Maguire’s voice has a kind of grating insistence to it that does considerable damage to Fitzgerald’s original prose. In fact, the novel seems largely at odds with the film, something not at all mitigated by the uncomfortably heavy-handed insertion of floating text during especially poignant moments, the letters of which dissolve into snowflakes more often than not.

It’s not all bad, though. In fact, it’s often dazzling and affecting, especially during the more intimate moments of character development. Carey Mulligan’s Daisy feels slightly too human for the role, rarely reaching the heights of cold vapidity that the character does in the book. However, her chemistry with both her husband Tom(Joel Edgerton) and of course Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), is easily the cause of some of the best moments in the film. The infamously ambiguous shirt scene between Daisy and Gatsby has a resonance to it that transcends melodrama, and the final scenes between Daisy and Tom have almost palpable force thrumming beneath them.

The choice of DiCaprio for Gatsby feels almost too easy: the middle-aged star is easily the most bankable of available options for the tricky-to-cast role. However, though the choice seemed inevitable, DiCaprio certainly gives it his best effort. He truly shines in the moments when Gatsby is off-balance or vulnerable, seeming manic with the possibility of defeat, while always maintaining an iron sense of control. His characterization of Gatsby is not necessarily moving, but then again, Gatsby is not a pitiful character, and DiCaprio’s performance is true to this, erring on the side of giving the character distance instead of revealing him at his basest state.

The strong acting—though it holds the film together—is far from the focal point of the piece. The camera work seems committed in many parts of the film to turning debauchery and murder into a theme-park ride. The pans back and forth between the East and West Egg neighborhoods are unnerving and even nauseating in 3D as the camera skims the surface of the water. The party scenes at Gatsby’s are astonishing, replete with fireworks and mechanical Charleston dance moves.

The real problem at the core of the movie seems to be restraint: Luhrmann has none. When the aesthetics that marked the early party scenes carry over to the final, gory moments of the film, they feel plastic and hurried. There is no moment when the story breaks open to reveal its rotten core—even a concluding funeral scene has an impenetrable gloss over it. It seems apparent that Luhrmann is entranced with the first half of the story but confounded by the finale, and the film stumbles as it tries to explain why we should care about all this in the first place. While entertaining and visually magnificent, “The Great Gatsby” misses it mark for the sequins in its eyes.

—Staff writer Sorrel L. Nielsen can be reached at sorrelwestbrook-nielsen@college.harvard.edu

Despite Major Lazer’s recent canellation, students say they are excited for to see his replacement, Shaggy.

Emily Kong ’16 said that she was excited for the change of pace that Shaggy might bring.

“It’s cool that it’s a different genre,” she said. “It’s not just the electronic rap that’s so entrenched in the pop culture of today.”

Cody Bell ’15 agreed that Shaggy would be a good addition to the Green Key music line-up.

“Shaggy’s a legend, has one of the most unique voices, and was part of my music scene growing up.”

A number of student groups will perform over the weekend as well. As students crowd into Leede Arena on Saturday to watch Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity’s “Game of Thrones”-themed step show, others will gather in Spaulding Auditorium to enjoy the Handel Society’s culminating performance or head to Soul Scribes’ open mic night. This year’s Green Key weekend offers a wide range of arts-related performances and activities for students to enjoy.

Doug Payne ’15 said that he is excited about the selection of major artists hosted by fraternities during the weekend. He said that he is looking forward to going to a variety of concerts as they add to the atmosphere of the weekend.

“My house is bringing Afroman and being a big fan of rap it’s really exciting,” he said. “Everyone in the house loves ‘Crazy Rap’ so we’re really excited to see Afroman. I plan on hopping around and seeing different artists — this is why Green Key is the best big weekend out of the three in the academic year.”

Archana Ramanujam ’14 said that she found out about Adventure Club from a friend at Dartmouth during her sophomore winter, and they are one of her favorite DJ/artist-pairs.

“Their dubstep remixes are great — not too aggressive — and they pick good tracks to mix,” she said. “They’re good for a chill night, hanging with friends. I’m surprised they’re not bigger already.”

Tiantian Zhang ’16 said that she is thrilled for Adventure Club because they are a very hot dubstep group that knows how to put on a good show.

“I meant to go see them at Ultra this past spring break and I didn’t get to, so I’m glad that I’ll get to see them live,” Zhang said. “They’re not that big but they definitely know how to get the crowd going, and they’re a lot of fun so I think their music will be a good stress reliever from the typical academic routine.”

Although only two members of Alpha Phi Alpha are on campus this term, the step show will not be scaled back, with performances by Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Sigma Lambda Upsilon sorority, Lambda Upsilon Lambda fraternity, Sheba and Staccato. Doors to Leede Arena open at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

According to Alpha Phi Alpha president William Hernandez ’13, approximately 1,500 students typically attend the show, and he expects a similar turnout this year.

For the first time, the entire event will encompass a singular theme — a fun, light parody of Game of Thrones — due to the show’s popularity among students.

“This is the first year we are doing one overarching narrative, so it will be interesting to see how people view it,” Hernandez said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how it plays out.”

Each performance will take on a group or theme from the television series.

“The main plot of the step show is that every group is fighting for power and control,” Sheba co-director Gabriela Maica ’14 said. “By the end, all groups will come together and head toward one, unified goal.”

Hernandez said the step show holds importance for the College outside of its entertainment value.

“It is a good way for multi-cultural groups, fraternities and sororities to show how positive they can be through dance,” Hernandez said.

At 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, the Handel Society will perform Bach’s “Saint Matthew Passion” with its 100 singers, a 50-person children’s chorus, a double orchestra and five visiting soloists, Hopkins Center publicity coordinator Rebecca Bailey said. A second performance will take place in Spaulding on Sunday at 2 p.m.

The show will present Bach’s culminating life work, considered one of the largest and most significant compositions in classical performance. Conductor Robert Duff, who completed his doctoral treatise on “Saint Matthew Passion,” said he is anxious to share the work with the community.

“It’s a piece that gets done every 30 years given the effort it takes to learn,” Duff said. “I look forward to having a better understanding of the intention of the composer, both through the music and its meaning.”

The time and effort that the Handel Society has put into the performance is improving their appreciation, student manager Kristen Colwell ’13 said.

“I love the music, or at least I’m starting to love it,” Colwell said. “It’s a sort of thing where immersing yourself in something and learning all of the details, notes and how various parts fit together makes it way better.”

Soul Scribes will host an open mic night to allow returning alumni to perform.

“The poetry community can be a little bit isolated in Hanover so it’s nice to get outside performers, especially alumni,” Soul Scribes president Anna Winham ’14 said.

The weekend will also include a number of concerts at Greek houses. Alpha Delta fraternity’s Lawn Party on Saturday afternoon will be headlined by DJ Viceroy and feature the student band Chuck.

“This year, it will be a little different because we are on probation,” AD president Siegfried von Bonin ’14 said. “No alcohol will be served, but it will still be a fun time.”

Baauer and DJ Sliink will play at Chi Gamma Epsilon fraternity.

Other performance groups did not respond to requests for comment by press time.

Free Food, a hip-hop, soul, and retro funk fusion band will be performing at this year’s Spring Sing. Listen to how they feel about transitioning to adulthood in their original composition, “Circus Funk.”

A bill to protect underage drinkers seeking emergency help is one step closer to becoming law in Minnesota.

Thursday, the state House passed medical amnesty legislation, which would provide legal immunity from the possession or consumption of alcohol for underage drinkers if they seek help for themselves or others.

“We want to encourage responsible choice,” said Rep. Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester, the bill's author.

Some Minnesota colleges already have medical amnesty policies, but student organizations, including the Minnesota Student Association, pushed legislation to make it a statewide policy.

With a 124-8 vote, the House bill passed with bipartisan support, but a few dissenters had issues with the bill's necessity and scope.

Rep. Ernie Leidiger, R-Mayer, said the measure “legislates common sense.”

“When it comes to saving a life,” he said, “isn't it common sense that we're supposed to [seek help] first?”

Supporters, however, said the bill is necessary because it will make minors more likely to seek emergency medical help.

“This bill does not legislate common sense,” Liebling said. “It just removes one of the barriers to common sense.” 

Others questioned the measure's scope, but Liebling answered them by clarifying the bill only provides exemptions.

“The bill itself is very, very narrow … it has to be someone calling 911 for a medical emergency,” Liebling said, adding that the bill “strikes a good balance” in its scope.

The Senate is expected to hear its medical amnesty bill on Friday.

BYU baseball used a seven-run third inning and eight solid innings from Desmond Poulson to beat Saint Mary’s 11-1 on Friday night.

“I was really happy with how we came out ready to play,” BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said. “I didn’t sense that we were flat, everybody was on point and ready to go. Desmond did a great job for us on the mound.”

The game was the first of a decisive three game weekend series, with the winner getting the final spot in the conference tournament. The Cougars poured in 18 hits on a night in which the offense gave Poulson plenty of early support.

BYU exploded to break a scoreless tie when they scored seven runs in the third inning highlighted by a two-run double by Bret Lopez and a two-run single by Dakota Hernandez. Kelton Caldwell, Hayden Nielsen, and Jaycob Hannemann also had run-scoring hits in the inning.

Cole Norton’s home run to lead off the sixth inning was the Gaels’ only run.

BYU tacked on runs in the sixth and seventh on run-scoring singles by Nielsen and first baseman Brock Whitney to take a 9-1 lead. The Cougars put up two more in the eighth on a two-out, two-run triple by Brennon Anderson for the final margin.

The teams will play again Friday at 6 p.m. A win for the Cougars will clinch the final spot in the tournament as the fourth seed. With a series sweep, BYU would be tied with San Diego and San Francisco at 15-9 in the conference standing. BYU would take the third seed by virtue of a series victory over San Francisco.

Tomorrow’s game will be broadcast on KOVO Radio 940 AM.

BYU pitcher Desmond Poulson threw eight strong innings, earning a win over St. Mary’s on Thursday at Miller Park.

But what was Steve Wozniak’s Cal experience really like? We at the Daily Clog sat down with the Wizard of Wozillia himself to find out.

The Daily Californian: Can you tell us a little bit about how you arrived at UC Berkeley? Why did you choose to transfer here for your junior year?

Steve Wozniak: My parents had me apply to the University of California because it was an awful lot less expensive. So I applied. Berkeley really was the school I would have wanted to go to because it had a reputation for intellectual free-thinking. Civil liberties and the politics and economics of war were being challenged. Freedom of speech was being brought up as a subject. So I really admired Berkeley in that sense. I just wanted to be among great thinkers. So in my third year of college, I transferred into Berkeley.

DC: Where, in your experience, is the best place for experiencing what it means to be a Golden Bear?

SW: Oh my gosh. The first place that comes to mind is the rallies before the Big Game. As part of Berkeley itself, Sather Gate stands out in my mind as the most prominent feature of the university.

DC: Sproul Plaza has always been a center of campus activity. Any memories, strange encounters or lessons that you learned there?

SW: I often saw musicians sitting down and playing the guitar. I was into that kind of folkish approach. Sometimes, I’d sit down and listen to them — and even skip class for it.

DC: Cool. Other than music, Sproul is known for its demonstrations. Was this true when you were at Cal?

SW: We had sit-downs in those days. But there was one protest where marchers went to Bancroft and Shattuck and smashed every window. The cops would be shooting rubber bullets, so the kids in the dorms would love to go looking for them. I never found (one) — but thank God I never got a hit by one.

DC: While living in Norton Hall, Unit 3, you describe phone phreaking. Can you tell us a bit more? What experience stands out?

SW: Wow. I discovered, the day before coming to school at Berkeley, this whole idea that you could put little tones into a phone and dial calls anywhere in the world. It was  a bug in the phone system. I was talented enough to build tone makers — I did this with Steve Jobs — and I was excited that we would be able to make a device that would make calls all over the world. We were honest enough to tell our parents what we were doing. They just said not to make any of the calls from their phones. So we would mostly do it from the dorm rooms.

DC: Tell us about the Blue Box. We know it’s a device that you used to make international calls for free, but what did you do with it?
SW: It was never my idea to sell a Blue Box — just to make one to show off. But Steve Jobs said, “Why don’t we sell these to students?” He was always short on money. So we would set up demonstrations in dorms around campus and would set up an appointment to come back that night. I would be the master of ceremonies. I’d tell stories about what phone phreaks have done and what they could do. I’d make a demonstration Blue Box call, and we would wind up calling around the world. At every single demo, we sold a Blue Box.

DC: Wow, it sounds like you could do some crazy stuff with the Blue Box. Did you pull any pranks with it?

SW: We called the Pope. I pretended to be Henry Kissinger with Richard Nixon at a summit meeting in Moscow. I said that I wanted to talk to the Pope. I reached the Bishop, who going to be the translator, an hour later — but he had called the real Henry Kissinger. So, I was busted. We didn’t have caller ID in those days.

DC: Looking back, what advice would you give graduating seniors?

SW: Don’t expect that right away — even though you’re smarter than someone else — you’re going to stand out and have better ideas and approaches. It takes a while to learn that.

Contact Alex Mabanta at amabanta@dailycal.org.

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Five Knives. Photo courtesy of Fresh and Clean Media.

The stage lights dim. Two figures approach the stage. The hooded figures are adorned in completely black attire, wearing ominous reflective metal masks.

As the masked men find their places, a woman then approaches the stage and takes the reigns.

Wearing similarly dark attire and shirt that reads ‘playdead’ under a image of a playboy bunny, she grabs the microphone, wraps the cord once around her hand and says, “Bass.” The bass kicks in as this band, Five Knives, begins their set on stage.

On Wednesday evening, this Nashville band brought this crazy rock meets EDM energy to Amos’ Southend in Charlotte. The show was their final one with New Politics and headliners Twenty One Pilots before heading out for Warped Tour next month.

Five Knives is sure to thrive at the Warped Tour circuit. The mix of grungy and electronic caters to the new age fans of revamped young adult rock ‘n’ roll.

Front woman Anna Worstell uses a mix of strong and raspy vocals alongside sleek and sinister whispers throughout the performance. She envelops herself with the music, flowing around on stage, greeting and interacting with her band mates, Zach Hall, Nathan Barlowe and Shane Wise.

And it’s easy to see why the band has been on tour with Twenty One Pilots, as they are a eerie and different in a more mainstream way. Their melodic technology-mixed choruses with fast paced hardcore make for a dirty punk with a groove, like an often more vulgar Hollywood Undead/Halestorm mix.

The mannerisms of Five Knives were eccentric; Wortsell looked to the left and right often and sticks out her tongue in a peculiar way. She even has reminiscent vocals of a Minaj or Stefani-type character, especially throughout “Messin’ With My Mind.”

Her and other other band mates decided to spit across the stage whenever they have excess saliva. Even Hall pushed Worstell off of him in a playful manner.

The way they carry themselves onstage is a reflection of their submersion into their performance and music. It’s as offbeat and diverse as the electronic elements present within their sound.

Five Knives will be performing on Warped Tour all summer, which will come to Charlotte on July 29.

As the temperature rises in Eugene, college students love to head to the nearest bodies of water to cool off. Going to the McKenzie River sounds like a fun weekend adventure until, of course, someone gets hurt.

According to the World Health Organization, second to traffic accidents, the most common non-internalized cause of death for children and young adults is drowning and water accidents.

Following simple safety rules and making smart choices can make a visit to the river just as fun and exciting as it should be.

The McKenzie River is a direct runoff from the mountain, so even though the forecast for the day calls for 80 degrees and sun, the water can still be near freezing. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the McKenzie River can get as cold as 38 degrees and no warmer than 58 degrees.

Even the strongest swimmers have a hard time in the cold and quickly become too weak to swim due to hypothermia.

Hypothermia occurs when the body is exposed to abnormally cold surroundings. When this happens, the body temperature begins to decrease, and shivering and mental confusion occurs. Even though hypothermia happens gradually, the human body can become unresponsive in a matter of minutes.

The wave current and water levels on the river are also something to look out for. The McKenzie River has Class 2 and 3 rapids, meaning that the rapids either have inconsistent smaller waves, or that they have larger and irregular waves, making them more difficult to maneuver.

Despite the class of the waves, remember that a current of any size is strong enough to carry a swimmer in any direction.

As far as diving goes, make sure to check the surrounding areas. Cliff diving from any height is one of the most dangerous extreme sports. According to the Glen Canyon Natural History Association, cliff diving puts tremendous stresses on your body. If you jump from 20 feet above the water, you’ll hit the water at 25 mph giving the body an impact that is strong enough to compress your spine, break bones or give you a concussion.

If you still decide that you are experienced enough to jump, preview the surrounding area to ensure that the water is both deep enough and that there are no surrounding rocks or ledges.

John Miller, search and rescue coordinator for Lane County, suggests to play in the water, but to stay within your skill ability.

“There are lots of safety rules to deal with when you are out there. Learn how to read the water, understand how to float, don’t swim in our rivers and lakes alone, always have someone there with you and keep an eye on each other,” Miller said. “You’ve got to take care of yourself.”

The group arrives in the Central Valley around 10 a.m., ready to engage the students in workshops about topics such as drug abuse, political debates or college planning.

Mendoza is the founding member of the Central Valley Project, a mentorship program for high school students.

“When I came to UCLA, I knew I wanted to find a way to give back to the Central Valley community where I grew up,” said Mendoza, a former sociology and Chicana/o studies student who graduated from UCLA last quarter.

She recently won the Charles E. Young Humanitarian Award for her work in the Project. The $1,000 award is given annually to select UCLA students involved in community service to give to a public service organization of the recipients’ choice.

Charles E. Young, a UCLA chancellor from 1968-1997 and the award’s namesake, said the award represents the commitment students have to benefiting their community.

“I think (the award) will form a habit (of service) that will stay with (students) for the rest of their lives,” Young said.

The Central Valley Project does not provide tutoring for the high school students. Instead, it focuses on teaching the students about community engagement, sex education, and planning for future education and employment. Across sites in the Central Valley, project members mentor about 40 students overall.

Mendoza said two of the high school seniors she helped with college applications will attend UCLA in the fall.

Fabiola Figueroa, one of the students who will go to UCLA next year, said the Project has opened her eyes to the problems facing her community.

“Maria has taught me to always give back. She is my role model; she is from my town, she went to UCLA and now she is a successful woman, so I want to be like her,” Figueroa said.

Mendoza said she intends to use the money from the Humanitarian Award to start a scholarship fund for the students involved in the project.

“We want to motivate students to aim for higher education,” she said.

Frontman Blake Christiana said he enjoys audiences who get active during shows.

“Last month a guy jumped onstage, but then he just kind of stood there,” Christiana said. “I think he was surprised he even made it up there, and he didn’t know what to do. That’s always fun though.”

Yarn’s name has a double meaning: they are a string-based roots band, and their lyrics often spin stories and yarns. Since 2007, they have released four records that have topped the AMA and R&R radio charts. Dartmouth will be one of their first college performances, as they typically perform at festivals and clubs.

Christiana met his bandmates in Brooklyn, though their record label is based in Tennessee. Their cross-country travels influence music that is derivative of a range of styles.

“We kind of run the gambit,” he said. “We take the music in a lot of different places.”

Christiana, who plays acoustic guitar, often writes songs in the morning.

“That’s often the cleanest time to get things out,” he said. “I’m not thinking about late bills and whatnot. Sometimes writing in the car is good too.”

Yarn is known for their engagement with fans. They record all of their live shows and post them online, and one of their albums was released through Kickstarter, a fundraising platform for creative projects.

“I kind of felt like we were panhandling through the Internet at first,” Christiana said. “But if we didn’t do something, we weren’t going to get this record out.”

Their Kickstarter campaign raised $50,000, though they had hoped for just $15,000.

“We’ve got some really committed people who have connected with the music,” Christiana said. “Any time we play in a new city, we hang out with the fans afterwards. Now we have friends all over the country.”

Christine Wang ’14 said the band will add diversity to Green Key’s usual lineup of pop and rap lineup.

“It’s a brand of music that embraces positivity and good vibes,” said Zach Wooster ’15, a member of the new country band Chuck. Yarn’s style “fosters the atmosphere that comes from being at Dartmouth in the springtime, just kind of letting loose and having fun with your friends during Green Key,” he added.

Yarn recently signed on with Grammy-nominated producer Bil VornDick, who has worked with Bob Dylan and Alison Krauss. VornDick saw the band at a festival in Nashville and later stumbled across them on the radio. Since then, the band has over 150 tour dates per year.

Their influences include Paul Simon and Neil Young, among others. In this day and age, having an old-fashioned rock-and-roll or folk band can be difficult.

“Rock, you know how it is, it’s got cycles,” Christiana said. “It’s a hard business and it always has been.”

While the Internet allows the industry to be oversaturated with bands, it can also “reach millions of people,” he said. “If you know how to find your audience and your audience can find you, you can be successful.”

Yarn’s new record comes out Sept. 4.

BYU men’s golf will travel to Pullman, Wash. to play in the regional tournament on May 16-18. The tournament includes 14 teams and will be hosted at the Palouse Ridge Golf Club. There will be five other tournaments occurring at the same time, and the low five teams from each regional will advance to compete in the finals at The Capital City Club, Crabapple Course in Atlanta, Ga.

BYU has excelled as of late, finishing seven straight tournaments in the top three. Throughout the season, the Cougars have received 10 top-five finishes out of the 12 tournaments they have played in.

The Men’s golf team will compete in regionals in Pullman, Wash. this weekend. (Universe Photo)

“With the win at the Cougar [Classic], hopefully we’re just full of confidence and we go up there and make a lot of putts,” BYU head coach Bruce Brockbank said in a recent news release. “If we do that we’ll have some success, but it is a shootout. Every year there are so many great teams around the country. You have 54 holes and you have to figure out how to get one of those spots.”

81 teams total are scheduled to compete in the six regionals, and 30 of those teams will advance to the finals on May 28-June 2.

BYU can be followed in the NCAA Pullman Regional live at golfstat.com. For a complete list of all teams competing in this year’s NCAA Division I Men’s Golf Championships visit ncaa.com.

[View the story "Project #UTgrad: Gearing up for graduation" on Storify]

Second year voice major, India Carney, and her band perform “Drive,” a song about the questions that come after heartbreak. The India Carney Band will perform at Spring Sing this Friday.

In the bottom of the fourth inning with one out, Scott Heineman singled to right field scoring Aaron Payne from second – tying the game at one.

Turning point. Perhaps the most bizarre moment of the evening came in the bottom of the seventh inning. With bases loaded and one out, senior infielder J.J. Albotelli laid down a suicide squeeze, scoring not only Tyler Baumgartner  from third, but Ryan Hambright from second, who was running on the pitch.

“I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen it. That’s an exciting play, and you don’t see it very often,” head coach George Horton said.

A Brent Thomas RBI single in the ensuing at-bat took the Oregon run tally to four – all the wiggle room closer Jimmie Sherfy needed to close out the top of the ninth in front of 1,329 Duck fans.

Sherfy said the inning of work was a good warmup for this weekend – when the Ducks host in-state rivals Oregon State who lead Oregon in the PAC -12 standings by just one game. The three game series will most likely decide the outright conference champion.

“I’d rather have the OSU game tonight,” Sherfy said post-game. “I probably won’t sleep too much, but it’s gonna be a fun series.”

On the horizon. Oregon takes on Oregon State Friday night at 6 p.m. at PK Park.

With a booming economy in the 2000s, it seemed like India was on the fast track to becoming a developed nation. However, recent slow growth has not only reigned in this optimism, but it has also revealed just how rampant government corruption is throughout the country. Major scandals in the telecommunications industry and the coal mining industry have come to light in the past year, rocking the country and bringing the current coalition government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh under serious criticism. Tens of billions of dollars of taxpayer revenue have been wasted as a result of such corruption, and many fear this is only the tip of the iceberg. Some reports suggest that as much as fifty percent of government money intended for welfare programs and subsidies ends up in the pockets of politicians, bureaucrats, and influential businessmen instead. With 600 million people living in poverty, 300 million living without electricity, and 65 percent of the entire population under thirty-five years of age, most without any marketable skills, India cannot afford to waste any of its resources if it wants to improve the welfare of its citizens.

India’s Black Money Problem

While corruption scandals have made the headlines in India recently, the underlying issues have been deeply entrenched in the bureaucratic and political system for decades. Former Time correspondent Anita Pratap, in an interview with the HPR, claimed, “since the 1970s, no government has seriously attacked corruption.” Politicians and bureaucrats in India certainly have amassed a great deal of private wealth, much of which is black — deposited, untaxed, in overseas accounts. This results in a significant loss of revenue for India, with some estimates reporting about $419 billion in taxable income and profits being laundered out of the country over the past decade. Pratap noted that this loss of revenue stems largely from a treaty India has with Mauritius. “Indians can deposit funds in Mauritius bank accounts tax free, allowing politicians to ‘round trip’ their money — it comes back into India as white money through fake projects or to fund their election campaigns,” she explained. As a result, this tiny island has become India’s largest financier, which Pratap believes should signal a major red flag that corruption is taking place. In fact, last year, facing mounting international pressure, the Indian government adopted a tax code that will close this loophole for untaxed overseas deposits. While this reform is encouraging, the new tax code was supposed to be implemented in 2013, but it has already been pushed back to 2014, which means India will continue to lose sizable amounts of revenue for at least another year.

States Combating Corruption

Without enough revenue, the national government has been unable to adequately fund many of its welfare programs; however, several states have managed to fight corruption and execute innovative programs that have improved people’s standard of living. K.J. Alphons, now a Bhartiya Janata Party member of Parliament, spent twenty-seven years in the Indian Administrative Service doing just that. As a district collector for Kottayam, a district in the state of Kerala, Mr. Alphons began a literacy program that was free from outside monetary funding and, thus, corruption. He said, “Without any government funding, my administration rallied 14,000 unpaid volunteers to teach people to read.” By June 1989, Kottayam was declared the first city in India with a 100 percent literacy rate, and the methodology used became the model for the national literacy program, founded soon after. He went on to apply a similar methodology to immunize every child in his district, and in 1990, Kottayam ranked higher on quality of health indices than the U.S.

Other politicians have also led successful campaigns to bolster people’s standard of living and reduce corruption. In the state of Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a member of the Janata Dal party, has significantly reigned in a once rampant crime rate by increasing the size of the police force and fast tracking the successful prosecution of over 79,000 criminals since he took office in 2005.

Chhattisgarh, another state in India, has also seen standards of living increased by eliminating corruption. Formerly possessing the most corrupt grain distribution system in the country, in 2003, the state introduced a program that sends a picture of a grain truck the moment it leaves the distribution center via cell phones to every person in the village, along with a message stating exactly how long it will take the truck to arrive. This technology has been so effective at reducing corruption that the World Bank recently declared Chhattisgarh’s distribution system to be one of the best in the world.

Balancing Politics and Ethics

These successes at the state level are encouraging signs that real change in India is happening thanks to the determination of various government officials who are serious about combating corruption. Pratap concurs, stating, “The system in India is good if you have the right person at the helm. We don’t need new institutions, and we have fantastic human resources, but often, politicians ensure their financial backers are given high government positions, rather than well-trained bureaucrats.” Consequently, in order for the entire nation to experience progress as a whole, strong leadership is needed at the national level, which Alphons believes is currently lacking. He describes the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, as an “honest man,” but lacking “the strength to tackle corruption head on.” In 2007, major licenses for airwaves on the mobile spectrum were unfairly allocated to thirteen companies with close ties to government officials. The Prime Minister wrote a letter to the telecoms minister, Andimuthu Raja, informing him that this process of allocation was not transparent and needed to be changed, but Raja disregarded the warning, and Prime Minister Singh took no further action. Alphons explained that the Prime Minister’s excuse for furthering pursuing Raja is that “he is dependent on the support of ten or twelve parties — the Congress party doesn’t have a majority,” and Prime Minister Singh did not want to risk alienating members of the coalition.

 Moving Beyond Scandal

States across India have proved that they can reduce and even eliminate corruption, that they can implement programs that produce tangible benefits and services for people, and that politicians and bureaucrats can work transparently to improve economic standards. Alphons, Kumar, and others have shown that strong, honest leadership is crucial to fighting corruption and improving the lives of their constituents, and this needs to be translated to the national level. Despite the current government’s less than zealous attacks on corruption, there are signs at the national level that it will not be tolerated. On February 2, 2012, the Supreme Court cancelled all of the licenses that were unfairly allocated in the Telecom scandal. With a strong legal system, prosecuting those who do not want to do business fairly is possible. Reforming the tax code is another step in the right direction, though it needs to be implemented quickly, and changing the election laws so that the monetary barriers for candidacy are lower could help citizens outside the ruling elite win more seats in Parliament and hopefully reduce corruption. From Kerala to Bihar to Chattisgarh, as well as in other states, the people of India have shown they will support leaders who fight corruption, so it is time for the national government to stand against those who want to steal from the country and instead stand with the people.

Image credit: http://marbaniang.wordpress.com

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Hickenlooper said as he made the last swipe with his pen, “It’s a law.”

Graywater is the soapy debris-filled wastewater from laundry, baths, hand sinks and showers. Food waste and used toilet water are not included in the graywater supply, making it more sanitary for use in toilets and outdoors.

The bill to legally allow graywater use was first introduced in 2011, written in large part by CSU Professor of Engineering Larry Roesner and his colleague Sybil Sharvelle.

In 2012 the bill died following an election turnover, but was revived in 2013 and passed into the hands of Gov. Hickenlooper.

“There was just no recognition in the state statutes for graywater use,” said Colo. Rep. Randy Fischer, who worked extensively to pass the bill.

The new law will allow this used water to fill toilets and irrigate outdoor systems throughout the state, according to Sharvelle.

Although prior to this bill there were no laws in Colorado making graywater use illegal, there was no infrastructure to use it on a wider scale.

“The laws were very vague and it was left to cities and counties to decide how best to use (water supplies),” Sharvelle said.

Although buildings must be outfitted to use the system, it is a fairly straightforward process, Sharvelle said. The main component needed is a holding tank for the wastewater, which can be found in most home improvement stores.

According to Sharvelle, outdoor irrigation would use a drip system to prevent the wastewater from aerosolizing, making recycled water use safer for the general public.

The graywater use could also reduce the costs of treating water because it goes directly from laundry or sinks into a holding tank.

Sharvelle and Roesner’s research, some of which involved collecting and testing wastewater from Aspen Hall, shows that there are no problems using the water thus far. Although the water is not safe for drinking, it is safe for outdoor and toilet use.

The prospect of recycling water could be a blessing for drought seasons in Colorado. In urban areas, graywater can account for 30 percent of water consumption, according to Fischer.

“It is our most sacred responsibility as legislators to meet our water needs here in Colorado,” Fischer said.

According to Hickenlooper, the integration of graywater will reduce pollution and preserve national resources in our state.

“This is the kind of work that states and universities should be doing,” Hickenlooper said. “We have some of the most innovative approaches to graywater use.”

Collegian Senior Reporter Mariah Wenzel can be reached at letters@collegian.com

Girls, first of all you need a good sports bra. Good meaning one that supports you, not the one that gives you the most cleavage. There is a range of styles that are for different sizes and impact activities. If you will be doing high intensity cardio activities like dancing or running, then a more supportive (Nike Victory $42) bra is needed. If you will be doing lower impact activities like pilates or yoga, then you only need the Nike Pro ($30).

Lizzy Boshears/Old Gold & Black

Finding the right shoe also can depend on activity. The Nike Free series ($95+) is very popular, but personally I do not find the shoe supportive enough to do serious training in. If you will be staying inside doing elliptical and group classes then I would definitely recommend the Free, but as for a shoe with more support and cushion I would go with the Lunar series ($110+).

Guys, I think the most important thing to think about is fit and activity. You want clothes that fit you so you aren’t constricted in your activities nor are you constantly pulling up your sweats or shorts. Also, if you are going running, invest in a pair of actual running shoes instead of trying to run miles outside in your Kobe 8′s, trust me I’ve tried that and your feet will hate you afterwards.

Nike just came out with the Flyknit series ($160). I have not personally tried these out yet, but they are featherlight, breathable and perfect for summer. They also come in a variety of colors for both men and women so if style is what you are worried about, I’m sure you can find a shoe to match your shirt.

Lizzy Boshears/Old Gold & Black

Especially in the hotter summer months, a good dri-fit shirt will everyone well. The lighter material helps wick sweat away, which cools you down and makes longer workouts seem a little bit more bearable.

Remember, fit is the most important part of finding good workout attire and it is worth it to invest in a comfortable pair of shoes. So, gear up and get ready for your summer workouts!

Charlotte pitcher Hunter May was the eighth and final pitcher of the evening Tuesday against the High Point Panthers. May is now 8-0. Photo by Chris Crews

The Charlotte 49ers (33-19) defeated the High Point Panthers (26-27) 3-2 in the final home game of the regular season at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium. In what turned out to be a battle of the bullpens, the 49ers won their ninth-straight game in 11 innings with the help of eight Charlotte pitchers.

49ers pitcher Corey Roberts opened the game with a scoreless top half of the first inning. JJ Elseser started the 49ers off with a base hit. Elseser advanced to second base after Michael Green picked up the first out. Panthers shortstop Willie Medina picked up an error against Shane Basen sending Elseser to third base and putting Basen on first. Panthers pitcher Mike Krumm overthrew a ball hit by Brad Elwood and sent Elseser home to earn the first run of the game.

In the top of the second inning, the Panthers left fielder Adam Barry knocked one to right center field to pick up a double. An RBI by Cody Manzella sent Barry home to even the score. With runners on second and third base, the Panthers picked up their second run of the game and took an early 2-1 lead.

The Panthers held on to their lead until the bottom of the fourth inning. Brad Elwood picked up an early base hit and left fielder Justin Seager was walked, advancing Elwood to second base. Tony Montalbano picked up a hit and safely got on base, but Seager was thrown out running to second. With 49ers on the corners, catcher Nick Daddio put up a base hit sending Elwood home and earned a run to tie the game at 2-2.

Freshman pitcher Adam Huffman came in at the top of the sixth inning to hold the Panthers. Huffman struck out pinch hitter Scott Glover.

After Seager was hit with a pitch and Daddio was walked, pitcher Will Resnik came in for the Panthers to close out the bottom of the sixth inning.

Pitcher Sean Geoghegan threw the first pitch of the seventh inning. The Panthers were able to put Kyle Brandenburg on third, but 49ers pitcher Sean Pope came in and struck out batter Willie Medina to pick up the third out.

High Point started off the bottom of the seventh inning with pitcher Adam Pratson, but after he walked both Michael Green and Basen, Jared Avidon came in to close the inning for the Panthers.

49ers pitcher Wes Hatley pitched the entire top half of the eighth inning and kept the Panthers from scoring. Avidon allowed Charlotte to pick up a few hits in the bottom of the eighth, but the 49ers were unable to score.

Pitching for the 49ers, Jason Harris went three-up, three-down in the top of the ninth.

Grant Dunnegan made sure he didn’t pass up a good pitch in the bottom half of the tenth inning. After thirteen pitches, Dunnegan hit a fly ball sky high, but it was caught and Charlotte picked up their first out. After nine innings, the score remained tied at two.

In the third extra innings game of the season for the 49ers, Basen made an unbelievable catch out of nowhere to throw out Medina. The 49ers then brought in Ryan Mas to pitch. Mas marked the seventh pitcher of the game for the 49ers. With two outs and Panthers on first and second base, Hunter May (8-0) was brought in as the eighth and final pitcher for the 49ers.

Seager fired a hit off to deep left center and sent 49er fans to their feet, but the ball could not clear the fence. Seager picked up his twenty-first double of the season. With Seager on second base with two outs, Montalbano grounded out a ball to third base and picked up the third out.

Panthers Sly Edwards grounded a ball to Elwood, but was thrown out at first. May struck out Dane McDermott in the top of the eleventh to pick up the second out. Medina picked up the third out of the inning sending pitcher John Maloney to the mound for the Panthers.

Daddio struck out as the first batter for the 49ers in the bottom of the eleventh. Derek Gallello got struck with a pitch sending him walking to first base. Dunnegan rocked off a hit to left center advancing Gallello to third base. After Elseser picked up the second out on a bounced hit to Maloney, Gallello was able to get on third base and Dunnegan made it safely to second. Green put up a hit sending Gallello home continuing the victory streak with the ninth straight win for the 49ers.

In an 11-inning game that utilized eight Charlotte pitchers, head coach Loren Hibbs seemed more than confident in his decision to switch up the 49ers on the mound.

“Good thing is we got a lot of guys in the game pitching wise, which was good,” Hibbs said.

“We’re going to need a lot of guys come conference tournament time so it was good to get them in the game. I thought Roberts pitched pretty well, and we basically played just about everybody that we could have. I got a chance to get a lot of pitchers in.”

The Charlotte 49ers will travel to Saint Louis in the last series of the regular season on Thursday.

Sean McMinn
smcminn@mustangdaily.net

UPDATE — 11:08 a.m.

Presidential spokesperson Chip Visci said there will be no increase in salary for philosophy professor Rachel Fernflores in the new fellowship position. New salaries for David Wehenr and Andrew Thulin were not immediately available.

He added it is helpful to have a faculty member in the president’s office who understands curriculum issues and is familiar with university initiatives.

“There’s a lot of big ideas going on around what Cal Poly might look like in the future,” Visci said. “We might have a Learn by Doing village, we might nave an ag tech center. We know we want to strengthen partnerships with industry and others donors and stuff. But our curriculum has to be solid.”

Visci called the fellowship a common practice at other public universities in California. He said Academic Senate Chair Steve Rein was positive about the new position when it was announced during Tuesday’s Academic Senate Executive Committee meeting.

The job description for Fernflores’ new position is below:

Faculty Fellow Assistant to the President

ORIGINAL POST

Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong will create two new top-level positions after spring quarter, both of whom will work closely with the president in executing his goals during the coming year.

College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Dean David Wehner will serve as interim vice president for strategic initiatives — a position created in response to shifting administration and increasing opportunities for public-private partnerships at the university, Armstrong said.

“Sometimes people are ready for a change,” Armstrong said of Wehner’s appointment. “And … we need this assistance at the senior level.”

Philosophy professor and former Academic Senate chair Rachel Fernflores will also be named as the first presidential faculty fellow, according to presidential spokesperson Chip Visci.

The new positions, neither of which were open for applications before Armstrong and Provost Kathleen Enz Finken made the appointments, come just one week after Vice President of Administration and Finance Larry Kelley announced he would retire at the end of this academic year. Armstrong said part of Wehner’s job will be to help the successors of both Kelley and Dave Christy — who will leave his post as Orfalea College of Business dean during summer — transition to Cal Poly.

Wehner will be the fifth of Cal Poly’s six college deans to leave his position since 2010. Andrew Thulin, chair of the animal science department, will replace Wehner as the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences dean.

“Dean Wehner is a very seasoned leader,” Armstrong said. “He served as dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences for over 11 years. This will provide him an opportunity to do something broader than the college, which I know is a very healthy change and he’s excited to do it.”

With six key administration changes since Armstrong took office and the number of deans leaving, Armstrong said Cal Poly is at risk of not being able to capitalize on opportunities to improve. A donation campaign expected to bring millions of dollars to Cal Poly is already underway, and Armstrong expects Wehner to manage plans that will advance the university and reach out to donors.

Wehner’s position will exist for no more than one-and-a-half years, Armstrong said.

“I can’t really quote problems this will solve,” Armstrong said. “But I believe it’s a proactive move to help us capture opportunities in the future and frankly to help us speed up (current opportunities).”

Armstrong said he is not concerned about increased expenses in Wehner’s top-level move because of its temporary nature.

“You have to spend money in order to move forward,” he said. “And the good news is our budget is looking better.”

Fernflores will begin in her fellowship in mid-June and, according to her job description, report to Armstrong and his chief of staff, Betsy Kinsley. The president and other administrators will ask Fernflores to complete projects for the university during her two-year appointment, including representing the president’s on-campus committees.

The fellowship will remain a faculty position and does not have management authority, Visci wrote in an email.

Fernflores has not taught a class this academic year because she is receiving release time for her work on university committees. These include the high-profile Semester Review Task Force, which completed its work earlier this year.

She did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment Wednesday morning.

BYU held off a furious, ninth inning two-out rally by the Utah Utes to take home the baseball Deseret Duel trophy Tuesday night.

The two teams traded jabs from start to finish in a game that had four lead changes. A crowded and energetic Miller Park provided an electric atmosphere typical of a BYU/Utah rivalry game.

“We just plug away and keep going,” head coach Mike Littlewood said.

The Utes scored the first run of the game in the second when Bret Helton doubled to left and later scored on a throwing error by BYU shortstop Hayden Nielsen.

Mark Anderson pitches in Tuesday’s home game against the University of Utah. (Photo by Elliott Miller)

BYU fought back and took the lead in the third when Dakota Hernandez scored on a Jacob Hannemann single. Hannemann later scored on a single by Brennon Anderson to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead.

The Utes didn’t wait long to respond as they scored two runs in the top of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. Wyler Smith singled home Konnor Armijo and Cody Scaggari singled home Biss Larsen, both with two outs.

The Utes extended their lead in the top of the sixth. The Utes had runners on second and third with no outs when Cody Scaggari singled home Brett Helton. Biss Larsen was then thrown out at home by starting pitcher Adam Miller when Braden Anderson laid down a suicide squeeze attempt.

Miller was replaced by Derek Speigner with two outs in the top of the sixth. Speigner got Cory Hunt to pop out to end the inning and the threat.

The Cougars struck back in the bottom half as Jaycob Brugman led off with a double.  The Utes brought in Joe Pond to relieve starter Chase Rezac. Kelton Caldwell singled home Brugman bringing the Cougars within 4-3. After a Hernandez single, Hayden Nielsen was hit by a pitch to load the bases with Hannemann coming to the plate.

The Utes brought in leftie Nick Green to face Hannemann. Hannemann worked to a full count before walking, forcing home the tying run. Brennon Anderson struck out looking to end the threat with the score tied at 4-4.

The Utes immediately jumped on the Cougars in the eighth, as Tyler Relf started off the inning with a liner into the left center field gap which Hannemann initially misplayed. He recovered just in time and threw Relf out trying to take second. Speigner struck out Trey Nielsen and Konnor Armijo to end the inning.

In the eighth, Speigner walked Bret Helton and hit pinch hitter Tyler Yagi. Helton was thrown out at third by Brock Whitney on an attempted sacrifice bunt by Wyler Smith. Matt Milke came in for relief and struck out Scaggari and Braden Anderson flew out to left to end the Ute threat.

Brennon Anderson makes a hit in Tuesday’s home game against the University of Utah. (Photo by Elliott Miller)

The Cougars took the lead in the bottom of the eighth as Caldwell led off with a double down the left field line. He advanced to third on Bret Lopez’s sacrifice fly deep to right. The Utes brought in Luke West in relief who walked Hernandez. Hayden Nielsen hit a grounder to short and beat out a close double play at first, scoring Caldwell and giving the Cougars a 5-4 lead.

Hannamen kept the inning alive with a single to left. The inning ended on a close play at home when Nielsen tried to score from second on a single to right by Anderson, but was tagged out by Armijo.

Milke struck out Cory Hunt and got Relf to ground out for the second out. With two outs, no runners on and two strikes on Nielsen, it looked like the Cougars had wrapped up another victory. Neilsen then ripped a liner down the left field line for a double, followed by walks by Eppard and Helton to load the bases.

At that point, Milke had given up a double and two walks in the last three batters, but Littlewood elected to leave him in to face Bennett. Milke worked Bennett to a 1-2 count, Milke’s fastball on the outside corner was called strike three, giving BYU the victory.

The Cougars host Saint Mary’s this weekend in a do or die series for the conference tournament. Winning the series would give the Cougars a spot in the WCC tournament.

Winner of the JazzReggae Festival Battle of the Bands, The Street Hearts performs “Head in the Clouds” and talks about the confusion that accompanies impractical passions, which motivated them to write the song. The band will perform in this year’s Spring Sing.

The Emerald’s Aubrey Wieber has a full recap here.

Yesterday’s game was the first of Oregon’s two game home series against the Bulldogs. The second game will start today at 6 p.m. at PK Park.

***

Dave Telep of ESPN reports that top college basketball prospect Andrew Wiggins has picked Kansas to play at for his collegiate career.

The 6-foot-7 small forward signed a letter of intent with the Jayhawks after considering Florida State, Kentucky, and North Carolina as well.

Wiggins, a Canada native, averaged 23.6 points, 11.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists for Huntington Prep in West Virginia last season.

***

This week Oregon runner Jordan Hasay was named the Pac-12 Track and Field Scholar Athlete of the Year.  Arizona State’s Nick Happe won the award in the men’s category.

Hasay is a 17-time All-American, a four-time Pac-12 Champion, as well as a two-time NCAA Champion.

Studying business administration, the California native boasts a 3.87 GPA while competing in sports year round.

The Cougars shot a 7-under-par 857 to claim first place at the Conference USA golf championships in Texarkana Ark. It is the first time UH has won since 2001. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

After being chosen as a no. 5 seed, UH heads to Baton Rouge to compete in the NCAA Regionals on May 16, where the Cougars will compete against the top two teams in the country, Alabama and Florida, respectively.

“It’s a different kind of golf,” said junior Curtis Reed. “This is like the basketball or football playoffs to us. There’s a lot at stake, and we’ll be required to perform at a higher level.”

This is the first time that the Cougars will compete in the NCAA Regionals since 2001. The team’s recent successes — including a victory at the Conference USA Championship in April — have motivated them to continue making progress. Men’s associate head coach, Chris Hill, said that after taking some time off for final exams, the guys were ready to get back on the green.

“This is an opportunity for us to show some college golf,” said Hill. “We’ve been playing a lot of golf and having fun during practice. This is just another round.”

Junior Wesley McClain, said that he’s taken some time to analyze areas that he needs to improve on, and is looking forward to making those changes while in Baton Rouge.

“After Conference USA, I sat down and figured out what I did and didn’t do well,” McClain said. “I putted really well, I just didn’t make very many. What I need to do is make more putts.”

The tournament kicks off on May 16, with 18 holes scheduled each day through May 18.

“We have a strong Regional with a lot of Southeastern Conference teams there,” said head coach, Jonathan Dismuke in a press release. “We are going to have to show up and play good golf if we want to advance.”

sports@thedailycougar.com

This new curve is good news for all students — especially freshmen still calling themselves ‘pre-Haas’ — but it’s only going to be applied to classes starting this spring. Previous courses taken at Haas still fall under the old curves of 3.2 and 3.4. Being Berkeley kids, though, this simply isn’t enough. Revolution must be called for! Take action against The Man! Haas kids were so outraged at the fact that this policy is not being applied to previous semesters that they went so far as to create a Facebook event in protest.  We can picture the dean now, calling in all the troops and barring his doors now that the online world is in on the fight for curve equality.

The event was created as a forum to spread awareness of the change and get people to take action through means like letter-writing. They call for everything taken from fall 2011 — the last three semesters — to get that GPA boost, because that’s when a majority of those affected started at Haas. After all, with the competitive open business market ahead of them after graduation, we can imagine they’d want the highest GPA possible to up their job odds and not have to face the “Less than exemplary from one of the best business schools in the country?! For shame, we can’t hire you.” At least, that’s what we think business execs would say.

Do you empathize with the business kids? Wish your mean curve was higher? Or are you one of those English majors who don’t even know what it means for a class to have a curve? Whichever the case, keep an ear out for Haas friends complaining or rejoicing over the change! Thanks to the Clog, you can now chime in and sound extra smart about business-y current events. Not a bad way to spend a few study break minutes, if you ask us.

Contact Erum Khan at ekhan@dailycal.org or follow her on Twitter @erumjkhan.

The post Haas kids want more As appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Come August 1, same-sex couples will be able to get legally married in Minnesota. 

Gov. Mark Dayton signed a bill  Tuesday to make Minnesota the 12th state to legalize same-sex marriages.

The bill legalizes civil marriages between two persons and provides exemptions based on religious association.

After hours of debate in both the House and Senate, the bill got to Dayton, who signed it in front of a packed crowd on the Capitol steps in the sweltering Tuesday evening heat. 

“I'm 60 years old and I never thought I'd live to see this,” said Linda Lindsay, a volunteer with Minnesotans United For All Families, the main organization supporting the push.

The historic measure marks a rapid shift in public opinion regarding same-sex marriage.

Two years ago, the Republican-led Legislature put last fall's proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota on the ballot.

Minnesotans, however, voted the amendment down and put DFLers in control of both the House and Senate.

“Times change, perceptions of what's acceptable in society change,” said Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park, in an address to the Senate floor on Monday. “This is indeed the civil rights issue of our generation.”

The Senate bill's author, Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, gave his support for the bill in personal terms and talked about his husband,  Richard Levya.

“Here in Minnesota, [Levya] and I are legal strangers,” Dibble said. “How can that be okay?”

But the measure didn't pass without some controversy.

Monday, many voiced moral concerns with the law, which would also make it so clergy members can refuse to recognize a civil marriage for any reason.

“I think it's a sad day for Minnesota,” said Linda Sevlie, who rallied against the bill, “a tragic day.”

Sen. Dan Hall, R-Burnsville, said he will be called a “bigot” or a “hater” for voting against the bill, but stood by his decision.

“There are things in life that are worth standing up for, even being persecuted for,” he said to the Senate. “May god help us.”

Some senators said there isn't a consensus supporting same-sex marriage in Minnesota. Last fall's amendment failed with 52.5 percent  of Minnesotans voting it down. The measure passed with far stronger support in the metro area than in many greater Minnesota cities. 

“I'm sorry that we don't have room for people of faith in our statue books anymore,” said Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove.

Others disagreed, including Dibble, who said the bill isn't as “earth-shattering as people might think.”

“We are redefining nothing,” Dibble said. “There's no limit to love; it's not going to be used up — it only expands.”

In the Senate, one lone Republican, Sen. Branden Petersen, R-Andover, voted in favor of the bill. During debate, he said he's never felt more uncertain about his future in office, but stood by his vote.

“I'm absolutely certain that I'm standing on the side of individual liberty.” 

Reflecting on my time here, there is nothing I would rather do than thank Harvard for all that it has done, and how better to thank an academic institution than to list all that it has taught me. So Harvard, a sincere thank you for teaching me the following:

How to deal with failure. I am a strong proponent of the maxim that hard work can take you anywhere. But at Harvard, trying your best does not always lead to success. I have been rejected from several job offers, scholarship awards, and even extracurricular activities. A proud person in a similar situation would have called it quits. But these failures built in me a resilience I could not obtain any other way. As many of my peers can probably identify with, I was not used to failure at my public high school, where I accomplished whatever I set my mind to. Ask me during high school about failure, and I would have stated it was not an option. Now, perhaps drunken from senioritis, I understand failures are a part of life. There will be people better than me, and working hard might not be enough to compete against them—but that’s okay. Failure doesn’t mean the end; it just means you have to find a more interesting route to get what you want.

How to relax. Perhaps an addendum to the last item, in which I learned that everything tends to work out in the end as long as you keep trying. Harvard has taught me the importance of relaxation. To paint a picture of how nerdy I was before coming to Harvard, I was the girl who chose to attend a Future Problem Solvers competition during Harvard’s pre-frosh weekend. I never relaxed in high school, and so I didn’t enjoy what I was doing as much as I could have. From Harvard, I take away the term “brain break” and will apply it to my everyday schedule.

But also how to not relax too much. I remember how relieved I felt after my five o’clock moment—humbled beyond belief, but also glad that my life seemed set. I was going to a great institution and there was no way I could end up failing after graduating from there. What I didn’t realize until coming here, however, is that Harvard does a great job of ensuring greatness from its students, but these countless opportunities need to be sought after. So underclassmen, shamelessly take advantage of these opportunities! Take a class from a Nobel laureate, experiment at Harvard’s Innovation Lab, and go to that next talk by a Supreme Court Justice. Because you will never get opportunities like this anywhere else, let alone for free.

How to seize the day. A friend once joked with me about how she flashes her Harvard ID at museums hoping to gain free admission. Riffing from the previous point, take advantage of what Harvard has to offer and use it for your benefit. Materialistically, this means getting any free merchandise that comes your way—I have more water bottles than could possibly be useful. But Harvard’s “carpe diem” extends to other opportunities that might add more to your intellectual and personal wealth, like taking challenging classes and talking with professors who are leaders in their fields.

How to be appreciative and thankful. It is easy to complain about Harvard, but when we stop to really think about how much Harvard has shaped us and helped us with our future plans, we should sheepishly accept that these complaints are meaningless compared to what Harvard offers us. If you’re still skeptical, take a minute to think of all the great things you’ve done at Harvard that would not be possible anywhere else.

This list could extend for pages, but these top five items are the ones for which I am most thankful. Harvard, it’s been a great four years, and I wouldn’t take back any of it for a second. Thank you for making me the person that I am today, a more relaxed, more confident Harvard graduate, ready to pursue my dreams without abandon.

Gina Yu ’13, a Crimson editorial writer, is a biomedical engineering concentrator in Dunster House. Her column appears on alternate Thursdays.

Amanda Margozzi
amandamargozzi.md@gmail.com

Headache, sensitivity to light, nausea and fatigue are a few physiological symptoms people commonly associate with hangovers. The morning after a long night of drinking, however, partygoers do not always consider that emotional symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, may also occur.

“The emotional hangover lasts longer than the physical hangover,” Cal Poly counselor Mary Peracca said. “Oftentimes, people get in a big fight with their roommate or cheat on their boyfriend or girlfriend, and as a result wake up the next morning feeling dissatisfied with themselves.”

Peracca works in Counseling Services with students who either voluntarily come in to reduce or stop alcohol and drug intake or are mandated to after committing a felony. She also facilitates a substance abuse process group called New Directions, which explores the impact of alcohol and drug use on personal and academic functioning.

“Regret can be heavy the next morning after drinking,” Peracca said. “The issue is that some students deal with their emotional hangovers by drinking more and then get in a pattern of going out to temporarily fix their problems.”

Dean of Students Jean DeCosta said students are much less motivated the day after drinking and this is in part because alcohol is a depressant. As the alcohol leaves the body, it physically makes one feel more depressed.

“Fluids, rest and sleep are the only ways for a hangover to pass, and this requires time and nourishment,” DeCosta said. ”The body needs to recuperate, and things like coffee and aspirin will only mask the problems.”

Karen Hord, a staff physician at the Health Center, said that biologically, there is no cure for a hangover. There are enzymes in your body that break down the poison in the alcohol consumed, and for a hangover to pass, the enzymes have to complete breaking down all the poison.

“Vitamin C is a theoretical cure, but I am sorry to say that there is not any magic,” Hord said. ”I recommend high salt and water intake.”

Alcohol is a diuretic, so staying hydrated and trying to pace drinking alcohol to one glass an hour can prevent people from feeling sick or having medical consequences the next day, according to Hord.

“Vomiting and hangovers are your body’s way of telling you that it was too much alcohol and you shouldn’t do it,” Peracca said.

Peracca said some students do not feel the physiological consequences of alcohol if high tolerance of alcohol runs in their family. This causes them to feel no ramifications and that could lead to decide to continue to drink.

However, even those who do not feel nausea or dizziness after a night of heavy drinking should consider that they may unintentionally injure themselves when under the influence of alcohol.

“I see a lot of students come in with injuries after being in fights while they were drunk the night before,” Hord said. ”Also, people can get severe sunburns if they’re drinking out in the sun all day and neglect to put on sunscreen.”

Peracca said she finds as students go along in their Cal Poly career, they tend to realize they prefer smaller parties where they know everyone. In these sorts of settings, students are less likely to drink as much as they would at a big party with mostly strangers.

“Students need to know their limits and honor them,” DeCosta said. ”Alcohol can make you forget your goals and that is why it is important to know how much your body can comfortably handle.”

Academically, hangovers can have their consequences as well. Drinking on weeknights, especially, can cause students to either not feel up to studying or cause them to lose motivation to study, DeCosta said.

“When students are drinking, and even when they have hangovers, they are not cognitively fully there,” Peracca said. ”And if they’re drinking until 2 or 3 a.m. and have an 8 a.m. class the next morning, they could still be intoxicated.”

Peracca said students who spend a whole day studying for an exam and then decide to reward themselves by going out at night will not retain the information well because alcohol causes memory impairment.

If a student is unable to control alcohol intake, this is a sign of an alcohol problem. If a student is drinking to cope with depression, this is an unhealthy outlet and he or she should seek help from Counseling Services to fix the underlying problem, according to counselors.

The results come from the systemwide 2012 UC Undergraduate Experience Survey, which includes questions on academic engagement, community involvement and financial background.

According to the survey results, 82 percent of UC students responding said they were content with their overall education. Despite more than $900 million in state funding cuts to the university over the last five years, this percentage has remained relatively constant since 2006.

“I think that shows that despite the economic recession and the decreased funding to UC in recent years, we’ve been able to continue serving our students really well,” said Shelly Meron, spokesperson for the UC Office of the President, in an email.

But while academic approval has remained relatively constant, students are increasingly unhappy with the cost of a degree. The survey found that student satisfaction with the value of a UC education is now at 60 percent, down from 71 percent in 2006. The percent of students worried about the cost of tuition has increased from 64 percent to 71 percent over the last two years alone.

“Obviously we’re concerned about tuition increases, and we’re continuing to work with state legislators and the governor to resolve UC’s funding issues,” Meron said in the email.

Sereeta Alexander, research analyst at the UC Berkeley Office of Planning and Analysis, said that the campus’s own survey of new students has found similar results — that students are concerned about financing their education in the next few years.

“(The results) show that we should be thinking about how we should support students more with financial aid and scholarships — even if tuition and fees are rising,” Alexander said.

CalSERVE Senator and Executive Vice President-elect Nolan Pack said that higher student costs may reduce campus involvement, another issue studied in the survey.

“The more a college education costs, the more students have to work while they’re in school and the less time they have to do other things like public service or civic engagement,” Pack said. “The more we increase tuition, the more we’re chipping away at the holistic college experience.”

Pack also criticized possible plans to make tuition more affordable through online education, pointing out that the high academic satisfaction rates show that students value a classroom education.

“It’s clear that the quality of a UC education remains very high, but the state’s continued divestment from higher education puts that at risk,” Pack said. “The fact that students are overwhelmingly satisfied with faculty and instruction should say something. Online education … contradicts the experience of being in the classroom.”

Contact Alison Fu at afu@dailycal.org.

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The policy, passed by the Academic Senate on May 6, would prohibit recreational use of bicycles, skateboards or any other non-motorized vehicles not related to university activities. The Senate vote was tie decided by Senate president Robert Fujihami, said Allyson Mower, the Senate president-elect.

The Academic Senate Executive Committee will discuss the language of the policy at its meeting on June 17. Originally the Board of Trustees was going to hear the bill at its meeting on May 14, leaving the senate to review the policy in the fall. The policy will not take effect until passed by the Board of Trustees.

“The Senate had basically voted to approve it as-is with the caveat that not everyone agreed with the use of the wording ‘strictly prohibited,’” Mower said. “That wording is what the Senate wanted to be revisited in the fall. I think that wording along with the definition of recreation and commuting.”

Communications director Keith Sterling said the U administration in conjunction with the Senate made the decision to review the policy earlier.

“They’re going to take a close look at this language and I imagine refine it a litte bit because members of the Academic Senate had expressed publicly some concern about the severity of the language,” Sterling said.

As of May 10, Mower had not seen or heard any proposed changes.

The idea to revise the policy came from complaints about bikes and skateboards on campus.

“Their rational for revising the policy initially was because of the significant increase in the use of bikes and skateboards and other non-motorized devices on campus and then because of some safety issues and some damage that had happened to university property,” Mower said.

The policy would only apply to students, faculty or others associated with the U. Visitors on campus fall under a state administrative rule similar to the U policy currently in place.

U Police chief Scott Folsom said U Police receives many complaints about skateboarders.

“What he have is a continuing problem with skateboarders who behaving in ways that are generating a lot of complaints some of it is rude behavior quite often it is safety behavior they’re not yielding to people, having close calls or actually colliding with people,” Folsom said. “I’d say that the great preponderance of the calls we get are about skateboarders as opposed to bicyclists, but we do get occasional complaints about bicyclists flying down campus, of cutting somebody off or coming so close as to frighten people when they go by.”

Folsom said the current policy is not sufficient.

“I’ve personally talked to skateboarders who say [the penalty is] not very much and if you get a ticket it’s just the price of being able to skateboard. It doesn’t appear to be of enough consequence to make people change their behavior,” Folsom said.

U Police does not issue many skateboarding citations. Folsom said riders are often gone before officers arrive.

“If you’re just out walking around campus, you step out of a building and you’re confronted by a skateboader or who hits you or knocks you down or something by the time you get to a phone, call us they’re hundreds of yards or blocks away,” Folsom said. “We catch folks from time to time, but most of the time they’ve left the area by the time we get there. so we don’t issue a whole lot of citations but a few.”

Alma Allred, director of commuter services said a new policy is needed to “safeguard the public.”

Allred said he rides a bicycle around campus and often has to avoid skateboarders. He said one reason the U needs a policy is people riding and walking who wear headphones and are oblivious to their surroundings.

“If everyone had been using their head there would be no need to [have a policy],”Allred said.

The studio art major culminates with senior seminars offered during winter and spring terms. Because they are enrolled in classes that are less structured, seniors are given the freedom to follow their own artistic trajectory, with feedback from professors. For many, it is the first time they are treated as artists, rather than art students.

Students develop close relationships with professors in seminars and the pressure of the course’s environment often shapes the artistic identity of majors. They are able to take in constructive criticism, forcing them to question their choices as artists.

The entire senior seminar process “is in support of realizing a thesis body of creative work,” studio art department chair Colleen Randall said. “Each student is encouraged to pursue his or her individual artistic vision in the context of the senior seminar.”

The faculty selects pieces from each student’s work to be formally exhibited in the three galleries. The exhibition gives students the experience of presenting their work as well as communicating the meaning behind their pieces to audiences.

“I hope students will experience the complete process of creating work for exhibition as similar as possible to professional artists,” Randall said. “The completion of the creative process is to exhibit or perform work for a public audience.”

Because each piece represents an aspect of its artist, the exhibition sheds light on the overall community of seniors and their work, Julie Fiveash ’13 said. The exhibition contains a variety of pieces of different mediums from sculpture to painting to video. There are portraits, political works and other topical pieces related to the College.

Davey Barnwell ’13, for example, will be presenting three 5×5 paintings multilayered on wood. Her work has always been inspired by landscape in a more emotional, experiential way, she said.

“I paint what can’t be expressed in words,” Barnwell said.

Four pieces by Zak Kowalski ‘13 were chosen, including three unique prints that he created by working with plaster and powdered graphite to form an interesting texture that allowed for delicate marks. His invention provides a balance of intentionality and accident, he said.

Twenty pieces displayed in the exhibition represent a culmination of Fiveash’s personal work. Fiveash’s series functions to create an environment with graphics and comic inspired art, displaying “this weird psyche that I’m in with my art,” she said.

The exhibition united this year’s studio art class, bringing an opportunity for interaction among students of different concentrations. As they bonded over their work and the seminar experience, the studio was described as a family that “all lives together in a crowded, crazy art space,” Kowalski said.

Randall described the pieces in the exhibition as contemporary, expressive and knowledgable, citing the energy and imagination behind the works in particular.

The exhibition is not viewed as an end goal, but a chance to illustrate to Dartmouth’s greater community the wide breadth of experience and skill the seniors have accumulated in their time with the department.

“Art and showing your work by nature is very vulnerable,” Barnwell said. “Making art in general changes the way you think and gets you to know yourself in a way that other subjects don’t require. Once you get to this point in the program, all of us crave that active learning and vulnerability.”

Fiveash hopes visitors approach the exhibition with an open mind.

“I hope people come, enjoy it and take away something from the exhibition that they didn’t expect to see,” she said.

Fiveash is a member of The Dartmouth Staff.

While it now stands at 0.08 percent for all 50 states, the board is suggesting lowering the drunk driving limit to 0.05 percent.

Approximately one third of traffic accidents are drug- or alcohol-related, according to the NTSB.

Although the federal agency has no power to change the laws, its recommendation carries weight for lawmakers.

The BAC of an individual is determined based on the volume of alcohol in the blood. For any person age 21 or over, it is legal to operate a vehicle at 0.08 percent or less.

Depending on gender and weight, a 0.08 BAC can be caused by one to six alcoholic drinks, according to DrivingLaws.org. One drink is considered one beer, one glass of wine or one shot of hard liquor.

The BAC of a person decreases over an extended period of time.

Anyone with a BAC of more than 0.08 percent is subject to arrest for driving under the influence.

However, according to Cpl. Ramsey Crochet of the CSU Police Department, most — if not all — arrests are made on a situational basis.

“We don’t make the determination (of a DUI) based on numbers, we make decisions on an arrest based on the roadside maneuvers (sobriety tests),” Crochet said.

CSUPD deals with DUIs fairly regularly, according to Ramsey. Often, the officers do not know the specific BAC of an individual until after the arrest has been made.

Spokeswoman Rita Davis said Colorado already has laws that allow a person to be arrested if they have a BAC of more than 0.05 percent. The charged is called “Driving While Ability Impaired,” or DWAI.

Any changes to state law in Colorado would not change the enforcement standards already in place for drunk drivers, according to Davis.

In college towns and larger cities such as Fort Collins, there are affordable and free alternative methods to getting home after a night of drinking, but this is not always the case in other areas.

“In Fort Collins, we are very fortunate to have many safe ways home,” said Ashley Kasprzak, executive director of Team Fort Collins, a program which educates and provides drug and alcohol prevention services.

Fort Collins has late night buses, taxi services, and other resources such as RamRide available late into the night. Services are inexpensive and even free for those who need a sober ride home.

“Fees for a DUI can add up to $10,000… ” Kasprzak said. “That’s a lot of money for a person getting started in life. It can put them into a tailspin.”

In its announcement, the NTSB said it is not necessarily expecting states to change the laws. The last lowering of legal BAC took place in 2002, following years of advocacy. However, the forum plans to provide statistical data and a panel of experts who support lowering the BAC to 0.05 percent.

“Any amount of alcohol can impair you,” Ramsey said. “Everyone handles alcohol differently.”

Senior Reporter Mariah Wenzel can be reached at news@collegian.com.

The two teams traded jabs from start to finish in a game that had four lead changes. A crowded and energetic Miller Park provided an electric atmosphere typical of a BYU/Utah rivalry game.

“We just plug away and keep going,” heac coach Mike Littlewood said.

The Utes scored the first run of the game in the second when Bret Helton doubled to left and later scored on a throwing error by BYU shortstop Hayden Nielsen.

BYU fought back and took the lead in the third when Dakota Hernandez scored on a Jacob Hannemann single. Hannemann later scored on a single by Brennon Anderson to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead.

The Utes didn’t wait long to respond as they scored two runs in the top of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. Wyler Smith singled home Konnor Armijo and Cody Scaggari singled home Biss Larsen, both with two outs.

The Utes extended their lead in the top of the sixth. The Utes had runners on second and third with no outs when Cody Scaggari singled home Brett Helton. Biss Larsen was then thrown out at home by starting pitcher Adam Miller when Braden Anderson laid down a suicide squeeze attempt.

Miller was replaced by Derek Speigner with two outs in the top of the sixth. Speigner got Cory Hunt to pop out to end the inning and the threat.

The Cougars struck back in the bottom half as Jaycob Brugman led off with a double.  The Utes brought in Joe Pond to relieve starter Chase Rezac. Kelton Caldwell singled home Brugman bringing the Cougars within 4-3. After a Hernandez single, Hayden Nielsen was hit by a pitch to load the bases with Hannemann coming to the plate.

The Utes brought in leftie Nick Green to face Hannemann. Hannemann worked to a full count before walking, forcing home the tying run. Brennon Anderson struck out looking to end the threat with the score tied at 4-4.

The Utes immediately jumped on the Cougars in the eighth, as Tyler Relf started off the inning with a liner into the left center field gap which Hannemann initially misplayed. He recovered just in time and threw Relf out trying to take second. Speigner struck out Trey Nielsen and Konnor Armijo to end the inning.

In the eighth, Speigner walked Bret Helton and hit pinch hitter Tyler Yagi. Helton was thrown out at third by Brock Whitney on an attempted sacrifice bunt by Wyler Smith. Matt Milke came in for relief and struck out Scaggari and Braden Anderson flew out to left to end the Ute threat.

The Cougars took the lead in the bottom of the eighth as Caldwell led off with a double down the left field line. He advanced to third on Bret Lopez’s sacrifice fly deep to right. The Utes brought in Luke West in relief who walked Hernandez. Hayden Nielsen hit a grounder to short and beat out a close double play at first, scoring Caldwell and giving the Cougars a 5-4 lead.

Hannamen kept the inning alive with a single to left. The inning ended on a close play at home when Nielsen tried to score from second on a single to right by Anderson, but was tagged out by Armijo.

Milke struck out Cory Hunt and got Relf to ground out for the second out. With two outs, no runners on and two strikes on Nielsen, it looked like the Cougars had wrapped up another victory. Neilsen then ripped a liner down the left field line for a double, followed by walks by Eppard and Helton to load the bases.

At that point, Milke had given up a double and two walks in the last three batters, but Littlewood elected to leave him in to face Bennett. Milke worked Bennett to a 1-2 count, Milke’s fastball on the outside corner was called strike three, giving BYU the victory.

The Cougars host Saint Mary’s this weekend in a do or die series for the conference tournament. Winning the series would give the Cougars a spot in the WCC tournament.

Her dedication paid off this year. The third-year bioengineering student was one of 272 students who were awarded the Barry Goldwater Scholarship earlier this year. She is the only UCLA student to receive this year’s award.

The prestigious scholarship was established by the US Congress in 1986 to honor former Senator and 1964 presidential candidate Barry M. Goldwater and his interest in science and technology. As a part of the award, which recognizes her performance and desire to pursue a career as a scientist and an engineer, Wongvibulsin received $7,500 for next year’s tuition.

For the scholarship application, Wongvibulsin said she described her research on tissue engineering, which she started during her second year at UCLA. Her research uses sugar to make three-dimensional molds that regenerate tissues inside the body.

“(The Barry Goldwater Scholarship) is a great accomplishment for me, and is definitely the most prestigious award I have been selected for,” Wongvibulsin said.

Wongvibulsin works with Professor Benjamin Wu, who is the chair of the UCLA Bioengineering Department.

She said she met Wu during the 2010 UCLA Engineering Open House – before she enrolled at UCLA – and expressed her interest in starting research over the summer before her first year at UCLA.

Wongvibulsin uses her own rationale while researching instead of following directions blindly, which Wu said is one of her strengths.

“She takes notes, thinks and is curious. It is fun to work with students who are always on their feet,” Wu said.

Erik Reinertsen, who graduated from UCLA in 2012, worked in the same lab as Wongvibulsin and said he was always impressed by the way Wongvibulsin devoted her time in the lab and handled academics at the same time.

“It’s really cool and unique that she is interested in community health and wellness. She looks at medicine from a very different angle,” Reinertsen added.

When she is not doing research or in class, Wongvibulsin tries to make time for her other hobby: writing.

She is the editor-in-chief and director for Total Wellness magazine – a quarterly publication run by the Student Wellness Commission at UCLA.

She said putting her thoughts down on paper helps her switch gears from academics and get into a different mindset.

In order to be successful in academics and research, she said younger students should find out what they are really passionate about and seek good mentors for both guidance and support.

Wongvibulsin is currently working on her applications for medical school in order to pursue a MD-PhD program, which she hopes will help her mix her passions for research, engineering and medicine.

“I hope to bridge the gap between bedside and bench-side research,” she said.

The state Senate made Minnesota one step closer to becoming the 12th state to legalize same-sex marriage on Monday.

After more than four hours of debate, senators voted 37-30  in favor of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. Gov. Mark Dayton  is expected to sign it into law on Tuesday, which would take effect Aug. 1 .

The bill, which the House passed in a 75-59 vote last Thursday, legalizes civil marriage between two persons and provides exemptions based on religious association.

Supporters on both sides of the issue packed the Capitol, but only those in favor remained celebrating in the rotunda with songs and chants after Monday's vote.

“I'm 60 years old and I never thought I'd live to see this,” said Linda Lindsay , a volunteer with Minnesotans United For All Families, the main organization supporting the push .

The historic measure marks a  rapid shift in public opinion regarding same-sex marriage.

Two years ago, the Republican-led Legislature put last fall's proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota on the ballot.

Minnesotans, however, voted the amendment down and put Democrats in control of both the House and Senate.

“Times change, perceptions of what's acceptable in society change,” said Sen. Ron Latz, DFL-St. Louis Park, in an address to the Senate floor. “This is indeed the civil rights issue of our generation.”

But the bill didn't pass without some controversy. All but one Republican voted against the measure and many voiced moral concerns with the law. The bill would also make it so clergy members can refuse to recognize a civil marriage for any reason.

Sen. Dan Hall, R-Burnsville, said he will be called a “bigot” or a “hater” for voting against the bill, but stood by his decision.

“There are things in life that are worth standing up for, even being persecuted for,” he said.

Some senators said there isn't a consensus supporting same-sex marriage in Minnesota. Last fall's amendment failed with 52.5 percent  of Minnesotans voting it down.

“I'm sorry that we don't have room for people of faith in our statue books anymore,” said  Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove.

Others disagreed, including the bill's author,  Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, who said the bill isn't as “earth-shattering as people might think.”

“We are redefining nothing,” Dibble said. “There's no limit to love; it's not going to be used up — it only expands.”

One lone Republican Senator,  Branden Petersen, R-Andover, voted in favor of the bill. He said he's never felt more uncertain about his future in office but stood by his vote.

“I'm absolutely certain that I'm standing on the side of individual liberty,” he said in the Senate debate.

Dibble gave his support for the bill in personal terms and talked about his husband,  Richard Levya.

“Here in Minnesota, [Levya] and I are legal strangers,” Dibble said. “How can that be okay?”

Leaving it All Out on the Field

As part of a multimedia push at The Crimson, writers Martin Kessler, Maya Jonas-Silver, and Jacob Feldman took a look inside the concussion policies of the Harvard Athletic Department and the NCAA. Complete with stories of athletes who have suffered through the injury and the recovery, this story looks at one of the most pressing and current issues in sports, both at the collegiate and the professional level.

From Harvard to Harbowl

This February, Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk ’98 won a Super Bowl, ending a successful football career that took a four-year detour in Cambridge. This article, by Scott Sherman, looks back on Birk’s success with the Crimson and in Baltimore over the years.

Juszczyk Becomes First NFL Draft Pick Since Fitzpatrick ’05

As Harvard’s most decorated tight end, Kyle Juszczyk was drafted 130th overall in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Scott Sherman chronicles Juszczyk’s reaction to his selection and how he will continue Harvard’s legacy with the Baltimore Ravens.

Harvard Helps Spur the Growth of Ultimate

Did you know that the Red Line—Harvard’s club ultimate team—is nationally ranked? The Crimson’s Tanner Skenendarian breaks down the blood, sweat, and tears that go into winning a game. Find out about how the team is changing the face of ultimate in the United States and competing with professional teams along the way.

Alive in Memory

This season the Harvard baseball team took the field without the face of its program. Last spring, Joe Walsh passed away after 17 seasons with the Crimson and left a legacy of compassion and dedication. In this feature by David Steinbach, former players and the new coach talk about Walsh’s lasting presence that is still felt on the team, even in his absence.

Harvard Men’s Basketball Upsets New Mexico, 68-62, To Win First-Ever NCAA Tournament Game

The 14th-seeded Crimson shocked the world when it emerged victorious over favored New Mexico in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. It was the first Tournament win in program history, as well as Harvard’s first win against a AP Top-10 team. The Crimson opened up a four-point lead going into the second half and overcame a close second half behind sharpshooting co-captain Laurent Rivard. Reporting from Salt Lake City, Scott Sherman brings you post-game analysis and reaction from the most decorated team in the history of Harvard basketball.

Football Searches for New Offensive Leader

When Harvard loses record-breaking quarterback Colton Chapple to graduation this spring, the team will be left with a glaring hole in its offense. Without Chapple, David Steinbach chronicles, Murphy will likely turn to rising senior Michael Pruneau and rising junior Connor Hempel to fill the void. Neither player has seen much playing time, and only time will tell who takes over. Crimson coach Tim Murphy talks about his vision for the future.

Doubles Pairs Propel Men’s Tennis to Success

The Crimson repeated as Ivy League Champions this season, in large part thanks to its dominant doubles teams. This article, by Justin Wong, takes you inside the pairs of the men’s tennis team and doubles play, including how partnerships are formed and how they succeed depending on one another.

Cricket Squad Aims For National Title

The Harvard basketball team wasn’t the only Crimson squad that headed to a national tournament this spring. Alex Saich writes here about how the cricket club joined the 27 other top teams in the nation in Fort Lauderdale to compete for the Chanderpaul Trophy. Read all about how the club has navigated through its first year of official competition.

AROUND THE IVIES: Upset Potential in Ivy Men’s Basketball

It’s hard to pick just one ATI as the most entertaining basketball column of the season, but this one beat out some close competition. Columnist Andrew R. Mooney hates on the Yale Daily News, Brown basketball, Ian Hummer, and so much more. Unfortunately for the Crimson, his prediction about Columbia beating Harvard turned out to be true.

Morgan

Each year, the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation, a Texas-based nonprofit organization that supports charitable, scientific and educational undertakings, chooses 10 outstanding educators from across the state of Texas for this honor. Morgan is the 10th professor from UH to receive this honor.

“I teach to give something back that was given to me,” Morgan said. “It was clear from a young age that I had a hunger for teaching, and this was because a few excellent teachers in (kindergarten through 12th grade) played an amazing role in shaping my life.”

Morgan came to UH in 2002 and has served as the chair of the mathematics department for 10 years. Under Morgan’s leadership, the department introduced common exams to unify standards and approaches across class sections, built electronic databases and course management software, creating online learning materials and instituting mandatory attendance requirements.

Morgan is also a co-director of teachHOUSTON, a math and science teacher-preparation program. This six-year-old program is designed to help urban schools attract and maintain middle-school and high-school teachers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields by immersing aspiring educators in public school classrooms early in their college careers.

Chemistry professor Simon Bott was selected as a Piper professor last year and also serves as co-director of the teachHOUSTON program with Morgan.

“I feel very privileged to work with him.  He created teachHOUSTON and put a great team together of former high school and middle school teachers,” Bott said. “He has a very strong and ambitious agenda and set of goals for teachHOUSTON that will elevate the teaching of math and science in the Greater Houston area.”

In addition to his many responsibilities as a professor and chair of the math department, Morgan provides support and resources to math and science teachers in the community. He organizes competitions, workshops, and develops free exercises and practice exams for both students and teachers for kindergarten through high school.

Morgan is immersed in mathematics across the board at UH and has played a significant role in educating many college students who may otherwise have slipped through the cracks of higher learning. A substantial number of students have been inspired to become math majors because of their experiences in his courses.

“I am always trying to figure out how something works — even if I have to dismantle it. My curiosity for life is perhaps my greatest gift. I look forward to experiencing everything life brings my way and sharing that passion with my family, friends, colleagues and students,” Morgan said.

“Outside of family and faith, my commitment to teaching is the most important thing in my life. I love UH, and I plan to stay here as long as I can make positive contributions in teaching, service and research. I will continue to teach, work with teachers and contribute in any way I can, so long as I can find a way to make a difference.”

news@thedailycougar.com

And for some of us, myself include it, we made it to graduation. Weird thought, huh? If you’re not going to grad school then you may be done with school forever. Foreva eva. For me this means a move across the country and no more blogging for the Collegian.

I know.

Things are getting real and they are getting real fast. No more blogging for the Collegian? What am I supposed to do with my time? Oh, that’s right, just move the blog to a new platform.

Yep. I am going Rogue.

Not that Rogue. I am just moving my blog to a different corner of the internet. So don’t you worry, What the Buzz? will continue on.

Right here. 

The way Professor Ferguson made the point, however, has rightfully triggered passionate outrage. Although there are differing accounts of what he actually said, the core of his comment seems to have been something like this: Keynes’ lacked due concern for the future because he was a gay man who was more interested in talking poetry with his wife than in having children. The suggestion being, of course, that gay people and the barren cannot properly sympathize with future generations.

Shortly after his remarks went viral, Professor Ferguson issued an unqualified apology in which he characterized his comments as “stupid” and “insensitive” and, a few days later, he apologized once more in an open letter to the Harvard community.

Going a step further, he reached out on his own accord to Harvard’s Queer Students and Allies and to the Harvard College Office of BGLTQ Student Life with the idea of orchestrating a community conversation around the issue of History and Sexuality.

The conversation eventually drew a sizable crowd to the Harvard College Women’s Center Lounge where Professor Ferguson, once again, offered an unreserved and unqualified apology for his remarks. By the end of the conversation, Professor Ferguson had spoken on a wide range of issues. Notably, in response to a direct question from a student, he addressed his longtime friendship with famed openly gay columnist Andrew Sullivan (who is the godfather to one of his sons and played a notable role at his wedding).

What are we to make of all this and how should we view Professor Ferguson going forward? That is a question each of us will answer for ourselves.

As someone who has intimately worked with LGBT causes for the last five years, I would like to publicly share my answer:

Apology Accepted.

Why? Because all of us make mistakes and what matters in the end, at least in my eyes, is how we respond to those mistakes. To be sure, Professor Ferguson’s comments were incredibly hurtful and offensive. No one, not even even he, disputes this fact. But does that mean he is beyond redemption? Is it the case that nothing he says or does can ever absolve him from his mistake? And if not, what exactly must he do to redeem himself?

These questions are, of course, not new to any gay person. Few of us have had the luxury of growing up in families or socializing with friends who have not, at some point or another, said something we found painfully offensive. But what would have become of those relationships if we had not, at some point or another, learned to recognize a sincere apology and respond with forgiveness?

Sincerity, perhaps, is exactly what some find lacking from the present situation. It has been suggested more than once that Professor’s Ferguson’s apologies are nothing more than a political stunt meant to save face. If you are seeking proof regarding the purity of his motives, all I can do is point you to his numerous apologies and continued attempts to reach out to the gay community. Beyond this, I have nothing else to offer.

In circumstances like these, perhaps gut feeling and intuition is all we have to fall back on. As for myself, I will fall back on the sure knowledge that if I have erred in judgment, at least I erred on the side of forgiveness.

The views expressed in this article are expressly those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of any organization of which he might be a part. 

Caela Murphy: This is a historic moment for the museum. How do you feel about being the first person to hold this new position?

Ugochukwu-Smooth Nzewi: It’s an exciting situation to be in, but also one that comes with a lot of responsibility. I hope be able to manage the expectations, excitement and responsibility that comes with this. I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for me to chart a new trajectory for the museum, so I’m looking forward to what I can do. I also think that given that I am the first African art curator, I’m going to bring something different to the job. I don’t know yet what that will be, but I’ll know when I get there.

CM: What specific responsibilities will you take on as the collection’s first curator?

USN: Part of my job is to take charge of the collection’s pieces, which span different historical moments. The first set of objects was collected in the late 19th century, so we have pre-colonial pieces in addition to modern and contemporary pieces. It’s my job to take care of those and try to expand them. My position also entails facilitating the teaching of those objects for faculty. I will be organizing exhibitions around objects as a way of introducing African history and art to the immediate Dartmouth community and the wider community.

CM: The Hood’s African art collection is quite extensive. How do you hope to represent this diversity in the exhibits that you curate?

USN: I plan to use a few different models to talk about Africa to the academic community that uses the museum. First, I plan to do exhibitions that map across time. For instance, you can use canonical objects that span from the pre-colonial to the present to trace ideas as they are depicted in African art. Also, one can try to take the time period of the 1980s and do an exhibition about the issues affected Africa in that period. In the 1980s, there was a lot of political and economic anxiety, so one can do an exhibition where you look at art in the different sub-regions of Africa and see how those artists dealt with that political and economic anxiety. The third model is to get contemporary artists and see their response to historical moments.

CM: How do you see your relationship with students and faculty? How do you hope to engage them in the exhibits?

USN: First and foremost, the Hood is a teaching museum, so its role in the academic environment is to be there for students. Its exhibitions are didactic and pursue a strategy of getting people to know different cultures. Faculty currently bring students to museums as part of the academic programming, and I plan to enhance that program. I also hope to do exhibitions that can directly fit some of the courses planned by faculty, so that it becomes easier for students to grasp the lectures by visiting the museum. That’s really what the museum does, and I can only hope to enhance that.

CM: Throughout your career, you’ve worked in museums all over the world. What drew you to the Hood in New Hampshire?

USN: I’ve never been involved with university or teaching museum, so the strategy will be different. That was the initial attraction: how can one use the museum for academic purposes beyond the civic side, which is the conventional context of museums? When you engage in a teaching museum you engage in the museum’s civic side but also as part of the educational curriculum. Given my interest in scholarship, this is a good field for me. I thought it would bring my different interests together. I’m really glad and excited to have been offered the job and I look forward to getting started.

CM: In addition to studying art history, you are also a practicing visual artist. How will those two roles contribute to your role as curator?

USN: As an artist, I tend to understand material better. I have a different sense of the artistic process, and I think that knowledge is going to be very useful in organizing exhibitions and in dealing with artists. Because I’m one of them, I’ll always think as a curator but also as an artist, considering how I can get the public to understand the artist’s position, and also how I can get the artist to understand the nature of the art form. I think my background will be very helpful in planning exhibitions of this academic institution for the public.

CM: How would you describe the presence of African art in the arts world today?

USN: There’s been an increase in the stability of African artists and African art. Someone like El Anatsui, who is a contemporary artist, is no longer described as an African artist but as a contemporary artist. That tells you how things have shifted in international arts world since the 1990s. You find a lot of Africans artists gaining tremendous recognition, unlike ten years ago where that wasn’t the case. Things are changing and evolving and I think that is the direction in which the Hood wants to go. The Hood wants to expand its collection of modern and contemporary African art, because it’s a reflection of what is happening in the arts world. I think it’s exciting to be involved here at the moment when this is happening.

1. Be sure to watch out for food patrol in Moffitt. You know those people with the white plastic bags and walkie talkies? They’re out for your cookies and Red Bull! They’re usually pretty loud getting off the elevator to start their sweep for goodies, so stash ‘em before they have to confiscate. If you catch them in a good mood they may let you finish off your drink before tossing it, but to be on the safe side just keep everything gulpable and/or munchable out of sight.

2. Be strategic when ‘studying’ with friends. If you can all manage to sit around the same table without splitting into peals of giggles about that latest Facebook hack, by all means congregate to work. If you lack the willpower (as most of us do), finding a cubicle or some other secluded area to hunker down in for a couple of hours is probably a better strategy. Once you’ve gotten some solid work done, then you can take a social media break. Trust us, they’ll be much more satisfying. And you’ll get a lot less glares from people who don’t have headphones to tune you out with.

3. Pack provisions. If you’re planning on camping out for a while, bring a sweater if you’re sensitive to the cold (Moffitt and Main Stacks are freezing at night!) and money and food so that you don’t have to trek back and forth between the library and your dorm room or apartment.

We lied, there’s one more thing:

4. STAY SANE. The library does crazy things to your brain if you stay there for too long. You’ll start to forget what sleeping in a bed feels like and that when the sun goes down the day is supposed to end. We know we told you to pack stuff with you, but be sure to get some fresh air between hitting the books and acing those finals! It’ll all be worth it when summer rolls around … in less than a week!

Good luck everybody!

Contact Erum Khan at ekhan@dailycal.org or follow her on Twitter @erumjkhan.

The post How to: behave in the library during finals week appeared first on The Daily Californian.

BYU’s track and field teams had several athletes record personal best marks over the weekend and have many athletes that will now compete at the NCAA West Regionals later this month in Austin, Texas.

Both men’s and women’s teams sent athletes to separate meets on the East Coast. Most athletes participated at the IC4A Championships in Princeton, N.J. while others participated at the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta, Ga.

Victor Weirich had one of the top performances for the men’s team by placing first in the pole vault clearing a height of 17-10.59.

“Victor Weirich has been banged up the last month,” men’s head coach Mark Robison said. “We are finally getting him healthy and he looked very, very good.”

Other highlight performances included Joshua Weirich and Chase Dalton in the decathlon. Weirich placed second overall and Dalton placed fourth.

“The two decathletes did extremely well,” Robison said. “Chase Dalton had some really great performances.”

Dennis Christensen set his own personal record in the shot put with a throw of 57-03.50.

“Christensen threw 20 inches further than he’s ever thrown,” Robison said. “He has had a very good freshman year.”

Jared Ward finished first overall in the 5,000 meters with a time of 13:59.56 and teammate Steve Flint finished second overall in the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a time of 8:51.81.

The men’s team will have at least 23 athletes participate at the west regionals with the possibility of 26. Out of the athletes competing at regionals, 4-8 of them have a good chance at advancing to nationals.

“We need to go perform well and see how things shake out,” Robison said.

The women’s team had many of their own notable performances including a couple first place finishers.

Nicole Nielsen became the first conference champion for the women’s team finishing the 10,000 meters in 35:28.49.

Kelsey Brown took first overall in the 800 meters with a time of 2:03.95, three seconds ahead of her nearest opponent. Her time is good for fifth in the West this year.

“We are confident she can run even faster.” women’s head coach Patrick Shane said. “She is peaking right now.”

Candace Eddy Carlisle ran her best time of the year in the 1500 meters finishing in 3:22.35 while freshmen teammates Rachel Stewart and Ashleigh Warner placed fifth and ninth, respectively.

Shane was very pleased with Stewart, a walk-on from Montana, who now moves on to regionals by improving on her previous best time in the event by two seconds.

Andrea Nelson Harrison, Jennica Redd, and Maren Hanson Fassmann all recorded personal best times in the 3000 meter steeplechase with Harrison placing third overall.

Specifically, Nielsen’s and Nelson Harrison’s personal best times impressed Shane.

“I would say they were the co-athletes of the meet,” Shane said.

The women’s 4×400 team consisting of Nicole Rudd, Kelsey Brown, Allysa Hansen and Natalie Stewart ran the fastest relay time for the team this year placing third overall in 3:40.03.

Natalie Stewart also finished third in the 400 meter dash in 53.69 seconds.

“It was a good effort on our count,” Shane said. “I really felt encouraged by the way we performed.”

The men’s and women’s teams’ top athletes will now compete May 23-25 at the NCAA West Regionals in Austin, Texas.

Quentin Sickafoose: What has life been like after leaving the CSU football program?

Lanston Tanyi: It’s been a lot of hard work, I’ve been trying to get acclimated and knowledgeable so I can actually have my head above water. I did get an opportunity to play in the NFL, so it’s learning about the financial part, how it feels and that level of not stardom, but kind of (being) put on a pedestal. Everybody has a microscope on you and what you’re doing.

QS: What is the difference like going from playing at the collegiate level to the NFL and working out with professional teams?

LT: I think it was realizing when (in) college, it’s for the scholarship. You have to do this, you have to do that, to going to you can do whatever. It’s up to you in your decision to determine how far you actually go. It’s not like you signed a scholarship so you’re going to be here, you’re trying to get your foot in the door. The biggest thing was realizing it’s a business, they could find somebody after you who works harder than you. You have to stay on top of your game.

QS: Describe the transition going from having people keeping tabs on you to being on your own.

LT: I was always the guy to work harder. Even in college I was the guy doing the things they didn’t ask me, but did anyway because I wanted to and wanted to get better. I knew those things would give me an opportunity.

QS: Was it a little bit ironic for you to come to Colorado to play your last year of collegiate football and then get signed with the Broncos?

LT: It really is. Choosing (Colorado State) made me successful, and I felt like I made a good decision to come out here. Moving to Colorado is coming full circle, coming to Denver.

QS: Do you think it almost seems like fate?

LT: I actually really do. I know (Denver Broncos defensive coordinator) Jack Del Rio being here let him watch the games out here from Colorado State and Colorado (University), I’m sure. I guess they knew what type of player I was, and what type of program I was from.

QS: Have you had the chance to meet the guys you’ll be training with?

LT: Yeah, all of the veterans came in today so I had the chance to meet a lot of guys, which was cool. We worked out, nothing too hard, but got acclimated working with our position coaches. This was our off week pretty much, and next week we go back at it.

QS: What’s it like practicing with guys (who) you were watching on TV last year?

LT: The goal is to be professional, but at the same time when you’ve seen these guys growing up I’m kind of surprised I’m still in the locker room with them. It’s cool going to be able to say “I’ve played with this guy,” that’s surreal to me. I try to stay focused knowing we all have a common goal. It’s not like I’m a fan anymore, I’m actually part of what they’re trying to do. You have to keep those things in mind but it is really a cool opportunity and experience.

QS: Has it all set in to you yet?

LT: I’d like to say so. I had my time to thank my family and friends, but also know that season is just right around the corner. So I’m just thinking, thinking real fast, but I’m moving forward. I’m here where I wanted to be trying to make the roster for the team.

QS: Most guys fortunate enough to get to the NFL out of college can end up anywhere. Tell me what it’s like to be on one of the teams that has a shot at winning a championship your first year.

LT: That’s a blessing, before the draft and all that I just prayed to God to get an opportunity to be in the best position I possibly could be, that was my only prayer here. I have an opportunity now to be not only with a team, but one that has so much potential to win the Super Bowl at the end and be part of a winning tradition. I just feel so blessed with the way it worked out.

QS: Anything you’d like to say to McElwain and the Rams?

LT: I just want you to let them all know I’m proud at how hard they work. I keep up with everybody and know they have the potential to do well. I felt like me being there gave guys motivation to see what it takes, and a chance to see how far hard work can take you. I’m excited to see what they do, I’m definitely keeping up on them.

QS: I know you’re a Bronco now, but are you still a Ram fan at heart?

LT: Oh yeah, I’m a Ram fan. I fully bought into what coach McElwain was trying to do with turning the program around. I’m excited for it to take off and see what it’s going to be.

Sports Editor Quentin Sickafoose can be reached at sports@collegian.com.

Follow @QSickafoose
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In this April 18, 2013 file photo, Attorney General Eric Holder testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Justice Department has secretly obtained two months of telephone records of journalists for The Associated Press in what AP’s top executive says is an unprecedented intrusion into newsgathering. (AP Photo/Molly Riley,

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department secretly obtained two months of telephone records of reporters and editors for The Associated Press in what the news cooperative’s top executive called a “massive and unprecedented intrusion” into how news organizations gather the news.

The records obtained by the Justice Department listed outgoing calls for the work and personal phone numbers of individual reporters, general AP office numbers in New York, Washington and Hartford, Conn., and the main number for AP reporters in the House of Representatives press gallery, according to attorneys for the AP. It was not clear if the records also included incoming calls or the duration of calls.

In all, the government seized the records for more than 20 separate telephone lines assigned to AP and its journalists in April and May of 2012. The exact number of journalists who used the phone lines during that period is unknown but more than 100 journalists work in the offices where phone records were targeted, on a wide array of stories about government and other matters.

In a letter of protest sent to Attorney General Eric Holder on Monday, AP President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Pruitt said the government sought and obtained information far beyond anything that could be justified by any specific investigation. He demanded the return of the phone records and destruction of all copies.

“There can be no possible justification for such an overbroad collection of the telephone communications of The Associated Press and its reporters. These records potentially reveal communications with confidential sources across all of the newsgathering activities undertaken by the AP during a two-month period, provide a road map to AP’s newsgathering operations, and disclose information about AP’s activities and operations that the government has no conceivable right to know,” Pruitt said.

The government would not say why it sought the records. U.S. officials have previously said in public testimony that the U.S. attorney in Washington is conducting a criminal investigation into who may have provided information contained in a May 7, 2012, AP story about a foiled terror plot. The story disclosed details of a CIA operation in Yemen that stopped an al-Qaida plot in the spring of 2012 to detonate a bomb on an airplane bound for the United States.

In testimony in February, CIA Director John Brennan noted that the FBI had questioned him about whether he was AP’s source, which he denied. He called the release of the information to the media about the terror plot an “unauthorized and dangerous disclosure of classified information.”

Prosecutors have sought phone records from reporters before, but the seizure of records from such a wide array of AP offices, including general AP switchboards numbers and an office-wide shared fax line, is unusual.

In the letter notifying the AP received Friday, the Justice Department offered no explanation for the seizure, according to Pruitt’s letter and attorneys for the AP. The records were presumably obtained from phone companies earlier this year although the government letter did not explain that. None of the information provided by the government to the AP suggested the actual phone conversations were monitored.

Among those whose phone numbers were obtained were five reporters and an editor who were involved in the May 7, 2012 story.

The Obama administration has aggressively investigated disclosures of classified information to the media and has brought six cases against people suspected of providing classified information, more than under all previous presidents combined.

Justice Department published rules require that subpoenas of records from news organizations must be personally approved by the attorney general but it was not known if that happened in this case. The letter notifying AP that its phone records had been obtained though subpoenas was sent Friday by Ronald Machen, the U.S. attorney in Washington.

William Miller, a spokesman for Machen, said Monday that in general the U.S. attorney follows “all applicable laws, federal regulations, and Department of Justice policies when issuing subpoenas for phone records of media organizations” but he would not address questions about the specifics of the AP records. “We do not comment on ongoing criminal investigations,” Miller said in an e-mail.

The Justice Department lays out strict rules for efforts to get phone records from news organizations. A subpoena can only be considered after “all reasonable attempts” have been made to get the same information from other sources, the rules say. It was unclear what other steps, in total, the Justice Department has taken to get information in the case.

A subpoena to the media must be “as narrowly drawn as possible” and “should be directed at relevant information regarding a limited subject matter and should cover a reasonably limited time period,” according to the rules.

The reason for these constraints, the department says, is to avoid actions that “might impair the news gathering function” because the government recognizes that “freedom of the press can be no broader than the freedom of reporters to investigate and report the news.”

News organizations normally are notified in advance that the government wants phone records and enter into negotiations over the desired information. In this case, however, the government, in its letter to the AP, cited an exemption to those rules that holds that prior notification can be waived if such notice, in the exemption’s wording, might “pose a substantial threat to the integrity of the investigation.”

It is unknown whether a judge or a grand jury signed off on the subpoenas.

The May 7, 2012, AP story that disclosed details of the CIA operation in Yemen to stop an airliner bomb plot occurred around the one-year anniversary of the May 2, 2011, killing of Osama bin Laden.

The plot was significant both because of its seriousness and also because the White House previously had told the public it had “no credible information that terrorist organizations, including al-Qaida, are plotting attacks in the U.S. to coincide with the (May 2) anniversary of bin Laden’s death.”

The AP delayed reporting the story at the request of government officials who said it would jeopardize national security. Once government officials said those concerns were allayed, the AP disclosed the plot because officials said it no longer endangered national security. The Obama administration, however, continued to request that the story be held until the administration could make an official announcement.

The May 7 story was written by reporters Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman with contributions from reporters Kimberly Dozier, Eileen Sullivan and Alan Fram. They and their editor, Ted Bridis, were among the journalists whose April-May 2012 phone records were seized by the government.

Brennan talked about the AP story and investigation in written testimony to the Senate. “The irresponsible and damaging leak of classified information was made … when someone informed the Associated Press that the U.S. Government had intercepted an IED (improvised explosive device) that was supposed to be used in an attack and that the U.S. Government currently had that IED in its possession and was analyzing it,” he said.

He also defended the White House’s plan to discuss the plot immediately afterward. “Once someone leaked information about interdiction of the IED and that the IED was actually in our possession, it was imperative to inform the American people consistent with Government policy that there was never any danger to the American people associated with this al-Qa’ida plot,” Brennan told senators.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOSTON – Now that graduation has arrived, students around the country are about to be hit with their student loans for the very first time. A campaign by American Student Assistance™ (ASA) just launched to help students and recent graduates manage these loans. Through a short, psychological thriller film, The Red spins a story about the anxieties of being in debt and the relief that comes from facing them. The Red is part of a multi-media campaign created by ad agency SS+K to compel and empower young people to take control of their debt on a practical, day-to-day level.

The Red also introduces SALT™, a free, nonprofit resource created by ASA™ to help students and graduates better manage their loans and enter the real world on more solid financial footing. When signing up for SALT, they can enter for a chance to win $10,000 to pay for college or pay back their loans at FaceTheRed.com.

Nearing a trillion dollars, student debt affects nearly 15 million Americans under the age of 30. Few students and recent graduates even know what they owe – and they aren’t actively seeking advice on what to do about it.

“It isn’t easy to get young people who feel panicked about their debts to do something about it,” said Sue Burton from ASA. “To connect meaningfully with them, we produced something very entertaining that acknowledges how frightening it can be, yet portrays their own power and offers a path out of the nightmare.”

In “The Red”, which premiered in theaters across the country and launched nationally online at FaceTheRed.com, a 20-something girl is terrorized by ominous red smoke. The smoke follows her at every turn, mirroring the suffocating financial strain of a post-college world. No matter how hard she tries, she realizes that there’s no avoiding The Red. The only option is to face it.

“The Red” was directed by the Borderline Films trio of Antonio Campos, Sean Durkin and Josh Mond — the critically acclaimed filmmakers behind the thrillers “Martha Marcy May Marlene” and “Simon Killer.” The filmmakers know firsthand the horror of mounting student debts and the paralyzing fear that it can create. “We know exactly how scary it is to owe a ton of money for school and have no clue how to pay it back,” said Mr. Campos. “This is a story we related to. The feeling of ‘The Red’ made sense. And we embraced the opportunity to work on this project.”

“The Red” premiered in Boston, Chicago, Seattle, Tampa and Washington, D.C. – focusing on cities with a large student population and high percentage of young people with student debt. Beyond the film, a main focus of the campaign is to bring information and resources to students and recent grads through platforms and mediums that they already consume and trust. The campaign includes multiple content partnerships with millennial-focused media outlets like The Onion, BuzzFeed, College Humor and MTV.

About SALT & ASA: SALT is a free educational resource that provides simple, smart, personalized ways for college students and recent graduates to take control of their student debt and manage their finances. With a combination of helpful tools, tailored information, and unbiased expertise, SALT helps young people borrow less, borrow smart and repay their loans in a way that works for them. SALT was created by American Student Assistance, a nonprofit organization with 50+ years experience helping people make better decisions about financing their education and repaying student loans.

About SS+K: SS+K is the marketing/advertising agency that produced the most-discussed video of the 2012 presidential campaign, “Your First Time,” featuring Lena Dunham, and the award-winning “The Most Honest City” initiative for Honest Tea. SS+K helped GM introduce the Volt, and with Pfizer created the “Get Old” campaign. Current clients include VW, the College Board, Wells Fargo, Travelers, Kraft Foods and Fwd.us, the organization launched by Mark Zuckerberg and other technology leaders to promote immigration and education reform. In 2004, working with Nike, SS+K introduced the iconic yellow Livestrong wristband. Founded in 1993, SS+K is partially owned by the Hollywood agency CAA.

Thematic exploration is matched with a wide range of experimentation, opening the album with the relaxing piano- and drum-driven “Obvious Bicycle.” Lead singer Ezra Koenig sings the song to a generation with “LED still (flickering) in (their) eyes,” begging listeners to move against the grain of a world where “no one’s gonna spare the time for you.”

“Step” is of particular note, explicitly exploring the tribulations associated with growing up. Ghostly choral vocals are complemented by pitch-shifting effects, which prove to be a staple across the record. Koenig presents a powerful dichotomy between wisdom and youth, which is further continued in the following song, “Diane Young.”

The double entendre-driven song questions juvenile self-destruction for the sake of partying, with the threat of dying young on the horizon. Fifth track “Don’t Lie” provides a thought-provoking answer, weighing the choice of a “headstone” against the “lifetime right in front of you.”

Band member Rostam Batmanglij’s producing talents shine throughout, utilizing complex layering to create songs on a grand scale. The result is a neat package that feels more deliberately structured than previous works.

A few songs take the new direction a bit too far, overutilizing the pitch shifts in “Ya Hey.” “Hudson” is the weakest of the pack, feeling slightly out of place with darker-toned instrumentals. Moving quite slowly, the penultimate song drags the conclusion down a bit. Final track “Young Lion” does little to reconcile this misstep in an otherwise excellently paced record, closing the album on a weaker note.

Even with the heavier tone, the group finds plenty of room for fun, especially in “Finger Back.” Pumping up the tempo, the frantic and chaotic beat proves irresistibly catchy. The faster pace continues into “Worship You,” complicated with a religious zeal. The balance of slow and fast is largely reflective of the record as a whole, making for a roller coaster of a listen with plenty of space for introspection on the way.

“Hannah Hunt” is also a standout, with an ethereal elegance that proves difficult not to sway to. Koenig started writing the song before the release of the group’s first album in 2008, and the extra attention shines through.

The wispy vocals build toward an emotional conclusion, highlighting the heartfelt playfulness of the album. The lyrics traverse across California and New York, following Koenig’s relationship with the titular Hannah Hunt, supposedly a classmate he studied Indo-Tibetan Buddhism with at Columbia University. They unite under their “own sense of time,” Koenig expressing a nostalgic reverence as their relationship crumbles over the course of the song.

The album exhibits a nonlinear sense of temporality, weaving through the past and present with a disarmingly breakneck pace that never feels forced. Elements of the 1950s can be found in “Diane Young,” mashed against surf-rock guitar styles. “Everlasting Arms” similarly continues this trend, combining tribal drums with synthesizers. The result is an album that pays homage to the past while paving a bright future for Vampire Weekend in the process.

In her petition, Apana says according to the ASUO Constitution, the only reason a justice can be removed from office is if they are found guilty of nonfulfillment. Her petition requests the motion to remove her should be reviewed because according to her, Vanderpool’s motion is based solely on opinion, which doesn’t qualify as being a nonfulfillment of duties.

A court decision like this one is usually dealt with by all of the justices, but due to the petition coming from Apana, she won’t be involved in the process. Justice Caleb Huegel will also not be participating in the decision. According to him, he doesn’t want to be apart of the court’s decision because her petition isn’t valid.

“The Court has no authority,” he said, “to rule on Justice Apana’s petition for review because she does not have the right to submit it.”

He points to ASUO Constitution section 11.9 (PDF) where Constitution Court members are not allowed to refer such questions “regarding correct construction or interpretation of any part of the Constitution or any rule promulgated under it to the (court.)”

In addition to claiming Apana’s petition is invalid, he also requested Schultz relieve himself of making a decision in this matter as well, due to the alleged romantic relationship between Schultz and Apana. Schultz rejected Hueguel’s recusal.

“(Justice Cosner),” Schultz said, “didn’t feel that the evidence was sufficient enough for me to recuse myself.”

According to him, the court ruled in his favor by a vote of 2-1.

“Even though I’m named in this,” he said, “and that I’m upset with how I’ve been portrayed, and while I believe these statements are inaccurate, there’s no bias or self-interest in how I’ll make my decision on this matter.”

Also according to him, he and Cosner plan on making a decision on Apana’s petition Monday night, no matter how late it gets. Huegel will not be in attendance at all, but Apana will be present — even though the discussion will be about her removal. She is needed so that quorum can be satisfied — according to Court Rule 9.7 (PDF), she needs to be present in order to fulfill the bare minimum of justices who need to be present. Even though she will be present, she is not allowed to interact with Cosner or Schultz during the deliberation, in any regard.

“Justice Apana will not participate in any deliberations, any discussions and any voting,” Schultz said. “She will not be writing things down on paper or talking. She will be doing absolutely nothing except for sitting as quiet as possible.”

In Nov. 2012, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) submitted a request for a permit to perform seismic testing in the ocean surrounding the plant that was denied by the California Coastal Commission. In spite of the denial, PG&E is still looking into the possibilities.

Faculty and students at Cal Poly are hoping PG&E does not have to perform more seismic testing in the waters surrounding the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. Seismic testing poses a risk to sea life in the area, they say, but PG&E says it may need to conduct further tests to fully understand the seismic hazard the plant could face.

Seismic testing uses loud sounds to see how faults that lie beneath the surface are structured and if they may pose a threat if an earthquake were to occur, interim dean of research Dean Wendt said. However, the testing poses a threat to a variety of marine life such as endangered blue and gray whales, sea otters and white sharks.

“Basically they’re like explosions,” Wendt said. “So if there was someone who was near those guns when it was set off, they could die.”

The California Coastal Commission did not grant a permit for PG&E to conduct a high-energy offshore test. The test would impact local Marine Protected Areas, which also affects feeding pools for marine mammals and other endangered species, Wendt said.

Since water is a lot more dense than air, the sounds are more intense. Imagine those blow horns people have at sporting events, Wendt said — the equipment that is used for seismic testing is essentially a modified version of that.

But there are other areas in the world that conduct high-energy seismic tests without any long-term harm to marine mammals, PG&E spokesperson Blair Jones said.

“To mitigate any potential harm to marine mammals, we put forth a plan to take protective measures to prevent any harm to marine mammals,” Jones said.

Cal Poly’s Biological Sciences Department has a marine research pier in Avila Beach where many classes and students do various projects and studies. Biological sciences alumna Jessica Williams is concerned about the potential risks of conducting the high-energy test, she said.

“It can be hard to predict the effects the disturbance will have on marine life until it’s too late,” Williams said.

It’s not clear how it will affect fish populations that serve as a food source for larger marine life, Williams said. If fish leave the region, many of the larger marine life that feed off these local fish pools could leave the region and may not return.

Many studies have been ongoing for years, and the risk of skewing the data the pier has helped collect during recent years is a major concern for Tom Moylan, the marine operations manager at the pier.

“We have one of the most biologically rich areas as far as biomass and even species diversity because of the nature of our coastline,” Moylan said. “Based on the sound levels and intensity that they are proposing to use, I would be very concerned about what that would do to our environment.”

The testing could ruin some of these ongoing research projects such as studying the movement of fish populations, Moylan explained. If the sound waves impact the number of the local fish populations, all of that research would be affected.

“Sound travels through water and you can get a concussion effect from the sound and it can physically damage your ear drums and other body parts even if it’s intense enough,” Moylan said.

Just like dolphins use sound waves to stun their prey, the blasts from the seismic testing would have the same or a greater effect on the marine life in the area. In PG&E’s proposal, there are cautions that will be put into effect to keep boaters, divers and others out of the water.

“Those kind of cautions worry me,” Moylan says.

The seismic study consists of four parts, two onshore tests and two offshore tests. PG&E has already performed the 2-D and 3-D onshore tests and the 3-D low energy offshore tests last year. The California Coastal Commission denied approval for the 3-D high energy offshore testing, Jones said.

“The big concern was, and this was why the CCM didn’t approve it, is that they didn’t believe the results that could be gained through the study outweighed the potential impacts of the study,” Jones said.  “We appreciate the effort that their staff did in looking at the proposal.”

PG&E’s priority is to avoid any long-term impact to large marine mammals and other marine life in the area while safely conducting the proposed tests, Jones said.

“Before the research begins, they would slowly start up with lower level sounds,” Jones said. “These will serve as a warning to marine mammals to leave the general area.”

There is a safety zone that would be established around the testing site, Jones said. A 3.8-mile radius around the vessel will be established, in which the sounds are expected to be around 160 decibels. There will be spotters on the testing vessel and surrounding vessels to help spot marine mammals, if they begin to come too close to the testing site, Jones said.

The sound generated directly at the source is around 250 decibels, Jones said. Some survey models have shown that levels of 160 decibels could reach some shoreline areas such as parts of Montaña de Oro State Park, Morro Bay Sandspit and an area northwest of Cayucos.

“A human would have to be exposed to 150 decibels for 15 minutes or longer to receive any harmful effects,” Jones said. “Anything greater than 154 decibels can cause hearing loss.”

PG&E is now in the process of analyzing the data it has collected from the three recent studies and comparing it to past data that has been collected regarding the seismic hazard of the region. The next step is to look at what information it has obtained from these results and move from there.

When assembly bill 1632 passed in California in 2006 it called on the California Energy Commission to evaluate the impacts earthquakes might have on California’s largest nuclear plants, Jones said. In 2008, the California Energy Commission’s assessment of Diablo Canyon requested further research into mapping the fault zones surrounding the area. The test called for the use of 3-D high energy tests.

The recent 2-D and 3-D onshore and the 3-D low energy offshore tests found that one of the faults appears more vertical than initially thought, Jones said. It could potentially reduce the seismic hazard of that fault.

If the three tests that have already been conducted reveal that PG&E may need to do some further research into the seismic hazard of the area, then it may it need to move forward with more testing, Wendt said.

However, if the recent tests show that there is a larger seismic hazard than previous studies have shown, then they either need to reevaluate the seismic safety of their current structure or shut the plant down, Wendt said.

“They have two basic options; PG&E can either retrofit the plant, or they can shut it down,” Wendt said. “That means having to go in and make it more seismically safe, which is hugely expensive.”

PG&E’s next step is to continue with analysis of the recently collected data and compare this data with what they already know about the area, Jones said. PG&E’s long-term seismic program, which has been in place for decades, consists of geologists, scientists and other field specialists that assist in evaluating the data that it receives from the tests.

“The bottom line right now is that we are currently assessing all the data we previously had and all the data we have just received from the newer seismic studies to see if we need to further study the seismicity of the area and look at how to proceed,” Jones said.

Megan Stone contributed to this article.

The suspect then fled from the crime scene on foot, and no arrests have been made yet, Oates said, adding that the Providence Police Department is working with the Department of Public Safety on an ongoing investigation.

PPD dispatched officers to the corner of George and Thayer at 2:25 a.m. after receiving a call from DPS officers about the reported assault, Oates said.

Around 4:30 a.m., UCPD issued a 10-minute warning to the protesters — who had been occupying and farming a southern portion of a university property, known as the Gill Tract, since Saturday afternoon — to vacate the property or face arrest.

One protester, a UC Berkeley affiliate, was arrested for trespassing and resisting an officer, according to UCPD spokesperson Lt. Eric Tejada. Tejada said the protester was registered in the student directory, but could not confirm whether he was an active student.

The rest of the protesters moved off of the land willingly, and the university allowed the protesters to keep coming back to the land to collect their belongings, according to Claire Holmes, campus associate vice chancellor of public affairs.

Around 9:20 a.m., a tractor was brought in to remove the crops occupiers planted over the weekend, and two more were arrested for trespassing and refusing to follow police orders. A fourth person was arrested around 10 a.m, Tejada said.

Occupy the Farm made a public announcement Sunday morning that they planned to break down their tents early Monday morning and continue to farm throughout the day, said Occupy the Farm spokesperson Matthew McHale.

“The UC’s use of police intervention was completely unnecessary and unreasonable especially after we publicly declared we were leaving later today,” McHale said.

The university took action this morning because they wanted to choose a time where they felt they could vacate the lot as safely as possible and with the least amount of disruption to the community, Holmes said.

Currently, Occupy the Farm protesters are in close proximity to the property and have called for a public reconvergence at 5 p.m. to decide what to do next, said UC Berkeley junior and demonstrator Lesley Haddock.

According to Holmes, police are still near the tract to monitor the situation, and there will be a police presence throughout the day.

Contact Megan Messerly at mmesserly@dailycal.org

The post Four arrested following police action on Occupy the Farm appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Sophomore shortstop Frankie Ratcliff had back-to-back three hit games against UAB this weekend. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

UH has 33 wins and a dose of the all-important momentum after taking two of three games against UAB.

Offense propelled the Cougars to win their penultimate series of the regular season — the Cougars scored 28 runs in their three games against UAB and managed a 14-hit game on Saturday during a 11-2 win.

The squad now stands at 33-19 for the season with an 11-10 record in Conference USA play.

“This is a big series win for us,” said sophomore righthander Aaron Garza, who was the winning pitcher in Sunday’s 9-4 victory. “We want to have a solid week of practice, and come out ready for Southern Miss.”

Freshman outfielder Kyle Survance had one of the best games of his young Cougar career with a four-hit, two-RBI game on Saturday. He followed it up on Sunday with a two-hit game. For the entire series, he had eight hits and was able to reach base for the 20th consecutive time on Sunday.

Junior outfielder Landon Appling also stood out in the batter’s box as he went 2-3 on Saturday then drove in two runs on Sunday. Sophomore shortstop Frankie Ratcliff had back-to-back three hit games on Saturday and Sunday.

“Coach and I have been working on getting pitches to hit,” Ratcliff said. “I’ve been trying to take what the pitchers give me and hitting the ball where it’s pitched. Luckily it’s been working for me and I feel good at the plate.”

The pitching also kept Blazer batters at a safe distance throughout the series. Senior righthander Austin Pruitt got his eighth win of the season on Saturday and Garza picked up his fifth win in the series finale. Sophomore righthander Tyler Ford got his second save of the season in relief of Pruitt on Saturday. Cougar pitchers struck out 22 UAB batters through the course of the series.

In the first game of the series, the Cougars lost 8-7 after surrendering two runs in the ninth inning.

“We came out playing hard on Friday, but they were able to come back and get a win,” Ratcliff said. “That happening really fired us up, and we came out the next couple of days to get two big wins.”

With the postseason approaching and the magnitude of each game heightening, head coach Todd Whitting voiced confidence in his team.

“Two out of three, you can’t complain about winning a series.” said Whitting. “There’s still a lot of season left; we’ve got three games against next weekend and at least three games in the Conference tournament, so we’ve got a ton of baseball to play. We’ve just got to keep playing.”

Instead of the normal Friday through Sunday series, the Cougars will take on the Golden Eagles of Southern Mississippi this Thursday through Saturday at Cougar Field.

sports@thedailycougar.com

Since 2004, Couchsurfing has connected travelers with locals who can accommodate them or just show them around. Through the website, you can find hosts almost everywhere around the world, including Afghanistan, Vatican City, North Korea and even Antarctica.

UCLA students and alumni are among those who use the website. They share their travelling and hosting experiences and discuss how Couchsurfing is more than simply a platform to find free accommodation.

The Cougars were at it again Saturday afternoon as they faced the Utes in the softball Deseret First Duel. BYU swept Utah in Provo at the Gail Miller Field, finishing the game with a final score of 4-2.

The Cougars also suffered a great loss, however, when senior shortstop JC Clayton had to leave the field in the seventh inning due to a possible ACL injury. Clayton was chasing down a Ute in a pickle between second and third base. As she went one way to catch the opponent, her knee went the other way. She immediately dropped to the dirt, clearly in a lot of pain. Clayton was helped off the field and shortly after, her team won the game 4-2 to close out the regular season.

“JC is a huge part of our team,” Pitcher Tori Almond said. “She is a big leader, so we are just hoping for the best and that she’s ok. That would be a big loss.”

BYU head coach Gordon Eakin struggled to enjoy his team’s rival victory over Utah while also suffering the loss of Clayton, one of the greatest leaders, and the heart and soul of the team.

“You don’t want to lose any of your players,” Coach Eakin said, “but that’s the one player that just devastates this team. What a terrible time in a great player’s career to have just a freak accident like that happen.”

The terrible accident put a damper on the entire team’s victory. The Cougars played a great game against the Utes getting two runs in the bottom of the second inning to get a 2-0 lead. BYU freshmen Coco Tauali’i hit a home run in the second inning, as well as sophomore Megan Arnold who homered in the bottom of the fourth. This was Arnold’s second home run of the season and helped the Cougars extend their lead.

BYU pitcher Tori Almond almost single-handidly shut out Utah in a five-inning, two-hit shutout. Pitcher Hannah Howell came in for Almond in the top of the sixth.

“I should have kept Tori in for the whole game,” Eakin said. “I was really happy with the way we played right up until that last inning. I’ll take the responsibility for that, not that Hannah isn’t capable of coming in and closing out a game, she’s more than capable. But you give the other team a lift when you take a pitcher out after five innings.”

Almond is currently injured, but is still able to pitch and has led the team to many victories.

“I feel like we are peaking at a really good time,” Almond said. “We’ve had a tough year, but we’re peaking at the right time, so we feel really good going into regionals.”

The Cougars await Sunday’s regional announcement to see where they will play next.

Race and ethnicity play large roles in college admissions. After all, the modern college admissions process, requiring essays and alumni interviews, was purposefully conceived to enable colleges to identify and discriminate against Jewish applicants in the early 20th century. It is often argued that these same devices are used today to systematically discriminate against Asians. Both ethnicities wound up with the short end of the stick, regardless of their above-average test scores — which is why some people have labeled Asian-Americans “the new Jews.” Conversely, other minorities are helped by positive discrimination, with college admissions giving preference to applicants of certain race or ethnicity. The implication is that applicants are not judged by their merits but by their heritage, for better or for worse.

In the past, most universities have justified this racial discrimination and affirmative action by emphasizing the need to create a diverse student body. It has been argued that greater diversity improves the quality of education, and empirical evidence has shown that greater diversity is correlated with higher post-graduation earnings. But while the pursuit of diversity is admirable and provides clear benefits, the means of that pursuit should be open to criticism. Using race and ethnicity as an underlying categorization of applicants easily lends itself to a systematic, prejudiced review of applicants, far from the holistic review that so many colleges claim to uphold.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to prove claims of racial discrimination at an individual level, as admissions processes are largely subjective and secretive in nature. Nonetheless, it is common knowledge that racial disqualification is a widespread and commanding force in aggregate. Some empirical research has shown that Asian applicants are generally held to higher academic standards. Under the current admissions process, two racially different applicants from similar socioeconomic and academic backgrounds will be evaluated differently, even when all of their qualifications are identical.

Does a difference in appearance directly indicate different and unique ways of thinking? Probably not. I would argue that two individuals from the same socioeconomic background are much more similar than their racial differences may suggest. To achieve a truly diverse student body, admission preferences should instead be given to applicants who strive to succeed in the face of socioeconomic disparity. This sort of inclusiveness lends itself to both cultural and socioeconomic diversity and to social mobility, while upholding racial and ethnic equality.

Some have argued that the sudden exclusion of racial and ethnic categorization may result in a harmful demographic redistribution of college students. When the University of California was forced) to stop using affirmative action, this initially led to a large increase in the number of Asian students and a decline in the number of other minority students. However, as of late, the numbers have shown the reverse: under this meritocracy, all minority groups have seen increased enrollment. It is clear that meritocracy actually benefits the pursuit of racial and ethnic diversity and equality. A meritocracy evaluates character, not color.

Race and ethnicity should not be blanketing characteristics in college admissions. To foster diversity, admission preferences should only be given in cases of socioeconomic disparity; race itself should never differentiate applicants. The current evidence suggests that there is injustice within the system, but a correction to this may come as soon as June.

The 5,000 meter runners led the men’s and women’s Cal Poly track and field team to third and sixth place finishes at the Big West Championships this past weekend in Northridge, Calif.

Chris Frias, Blake Ahrold and Sean Davidson swept the top three spots in the men’s 5,000 with times of 14:48, 14:49 and 14:53, respectively. Frias also won the 10,000, while Davidson came in second.

On the women’s side, standout freshman Laura Hollander won the 5,000 in a time of 16 minutes, 25 seconds, a meet record.

In the women’s 1,500, sophomore Hanna Edwards finished fifth, clocking in at 4:34.

In the men’s 800, junior John Guerrero finished in 1:50, good enough for second place. Junior David Namnath set a personal best in the 400 hurdles, where he completed the race in 51 seconds and took home silver.

Junior Jamison Jordan finished fourth in the men’s 100, 200 and 400 relay, along with Chris Nicholls, Paul Brown and Antwaine Miller.

UC Santa Barbara captured the men’s title while UC Davis took the women’s crown.

The teams will compete next in the NCAA primary round in Austin, Texas on May 23-25.

And they handled it well.

For the third year in a row, the Bears clinched their round-of-32 match to advance to the NCAA Sweet 16.

But for the first time in three years, the Cal squad was not anticipating its second-round matchup. No. 18 Cal had to pull its difficult 4-1 win over the lowest seed in its bracket — unranked Denver.

In the first round of the NCAA team championships on Friday, the Bears crushed Florida State, 4-1, to advance to the second round of the NCAAs in Gainesville, Fla.

After seizing the doubles point with wins on courts No. 2 and 3, Cal quickly took down three Seminoles to emerge as 4-1 victors. Although the Bears conquered Florida in two sets each in singles, the Seminoles did not fall without first displaying some resistance.

“Florida State kept fighting, and it was hot and humid,” said Cal coach Peter Wright. “Luckily, we were able to get to four in time, but it was a hard-fought match.”

After taking down Florida State, the Bears were wholly anticipating a rematch against No. 15 Florida, the top seed in the bracket, for the round-of-32s. They defeated the Gators earlier this season — on Feb. 16 — with a 4-1 win at the ITA National Indoor Championships held in Seattle.

But the unranked Denver team unexpectedly pulled a narrow 4-3 upset of the Gators and advanced to the second round with the Bears. After losing the doubles point and trailing 3-1 in singles, the Pioneers managed to stun Florida in the round-of-64.

Denver was the only team across the country to upset a ranked squad in the first round of the tournament.

“That was quite unexpected,” Wright said. “Denver played with a tremendous amount of heart and energy, and quite frankly, that heart and energy carried over into our match today.”

In doubles on Saturday, the Pioneers fiercely battled against the Bears, fighting back despite trailing on all three courts to start the doubles round. Denver eventually took the first-point advantage after the Pioneer pair of Enej Bonin and Jens Vorkefeld topped Cal’s Christoffer Konigsfeldt and Campbell Johnson on the top court, 8-6. According to Wright, the Bears failed to play aggressively at the net and ultimately handed the first point over to Denver.

“They outplayed us in the doubles point, and that was surprising to all of us because they lost the doubles point fairly easily to Florida the day before,” Wright said. “We were being a little tentative and passive.”

In singles, the Bears and Pioneers exchanged a few games before getting rained out and having to move to indoor courts. The rain delays, however, gave the Bears time to recuperate and shift the momentum in their favor.

Once Cal initiated play inside, the team found its rhythm and notched four straight points across courts two, three, four and five.

“We took advantage of that small amount of time and came out firing after that rain delay,” Wright said. “We were a different team from doubles, coming out and taking initiative — playing the Cal style of tennis.”

Janice Chua covers men’s tennis. Contact her at jchua@dailycal.org.

The post Despite unexpected opponent, Cal men’s tennis advances in NCAAs appeared first on The Daily Californian.

On May 12, 2012, Boston University students completing a semester in New Zealand were involved in a tragic car accident. They had been traveling at the end of a semester abroad.

College of Engineering junior Austin Brashears, School of Management junior Daniela Lekhno and College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Roch Jauberty lost their lives, and five others were injured.

The tragedy rattled the BU community. One year later, those lost live on in our memories and in our actions. The recovery process has been long and difficult, but people have come together with resilience and love.

This video is dedicated to all those affected and to those who lost their lives, a memory we will never forget.

Freshman Catherine Harrison had clinched the win for the Bruins from another court at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. Harrison was initially unaware that she would be the player coming in the clutch.

“Actually, at 2-0 in the third set, I thought Robin had won her match because everyone had started cheering. I was rushing, and I was like, ‘Oh, let me at least make it 3-0 before they tell me to call it,’” Harrison said. “Then I looked over and it said 5-4 on Robin’s court. … I just took it one step at a time. I was really, really happy when I won.”

UCLA opened the weekend with a 4-0 win against Army on Saturday. The Bruins proceeded to the second round where they toppled the Cowgirls with another sweep, winning 4-0. After experiencing a season with its fair share of ups and downs, through injuries and a weekend of consecutive losses, UCLA is playing its best at the ideal time.

“I think we were playing good at different times, and working on things as a team,” said junior Courtney Dolehide. “I think we always had confidence that we were all going to come together at this point. This is kind of what’s expected.”

Dolehide said that her experience in the postseason as a freshman and sophomore helped prepare her for what to expect. The junior earned a point in each of her singles matches over the weekend.

“NCAAs always feel the same. It’s always really high intensity and you know everyone is battling. The teams that you play against are always bringing their A game,” Dolehide said.

With the second-round victory, UCLA punched its ticket to the Sweet 16 in Illinois where it will face No. 10 seed Michigan next weekend. Coach Stella Sampras Webster said it is difficult to deal with various emotions during the tournament, especially early on.

“These are always tough matches to get through, because everyone just wants to get to the Sweet 16, so the anxiety and the intensity is really high here,” Sampras Webster said.

The festival has two stages: the Treehouse Stage for up-and-coming bands and the main stage where the seven larger acts performed. People generally moved back and forth between the two stages, as there were breaks between the main performances and all of the good food was by the Treehouse Stage. There were many food trucks and booths offering a range of sustainable, healthy food such as “Wichcraft” chicken and kale sandwiches and delicious vegan desserts from Sticky Fingers, as well as the usual festival staples such as chicken fingers and funnel cakes. There was also plenty of alcohol available, including beer and margaritas. There were long lines for the delicacy drinks, such as chocolate beer, but they were actually cheaper than the regular, less tasty beers.

The main stage got more and more crowded as the day progressed, but there was plenty of space to hang out on the lawn when Lindsey Stirling, the first main act started around 12:30 p.m. It was impressive that each act started pretty much on time, as it kept the already long day from ending too late. Stirling is a violinist, which is a unique choice for a lineup full of vocalists. She started off the festival with a large amount of energy, sassily prancing around the stage while playing a mix of original songs and adding violin to popular songs, including a Michael Jackson mashup.

Singer-songwriter Solange came on next, bringing an retro nightclub vibe to the festival. It is impossible to watch Solange and not think of her more famous sister, Beyoncé, but Solange certainly has her own set of pipes. She constantly implored the crowd to dance, asking us at one point to pretend that we were in junior high and slow grind. The people close to the actual stage seemed to be into it, but that energy did not carry over to the lawn, where people were casually sipping their beers and wandering around. Though she’s not a big enough act to have been included later on in the festival, Solange would have done better once it was dark outside, or even in a much more intimate setting where everyone could slow grind under dim lights. The crowd’s energy did pick up, however, when she sang what is arguably the best song from her newest album, “Losing You.”

Singer and guitarist Gary Clark, Jr. was a good act to follow Solange, as he brought her sensual vibe to another level. His voice is very smooth and soulful and helped pick up the energy of the crowd as more and more people drifted over to the lawn.

There were a good amount of people on the lawn and sitting by the stage by the time that the Yeah Yeah Yeahs came on at 4:30 p.m. Unfortunately, this was around the time that the crowd started to get rowdy, so people didn’t enjoy singer Karen O’s creativity and spunk as much as they should have. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs did a great job working with the limitations of an hour-long set, singing almost every song fans would have wanted to hear. They crafted mix of hits from their new album, Mosquito, and old favorites such as “Maps”, “Heads Will Roll” and “Cheated Hearts.” She even managed to fit in a sparkly costume change and an interaction with the audience where people who probably didn’t know who she was tried to sing along to her songs. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs should have been the closing act for Sweetlife, as they gave the best performance of the day and had the most energy. Their funky lyrics would have been even more fun to jam out to if it had been dark outside.

It started pouring during the end of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ set, which only added to the energy of their songs. The rain got worse and worse during the break between them and Kendrick Lamar, and when the rapper finally got on stage, it was pouring and mud was everywhere and his performance did not make up for it, though most of the crowd would disagree. The same intoxicated crowd members who weren’t nearly enthused enough about the Yeah Yeah Yeahs seemed to know every single lyric to each one of Kendrick Lamar’s tracks. Granted, there weren’t too many lyrics, as he tends to repeat phrases over and over again, never allowing gems such as “Pussy and Patrón make me feel alright” and “B***h don’t kill my vibe” to leave your head. His lyrics were a little bit too crude and misogynistic, but the audience ate it up. He’s booked at multiple festivals this summer, so there’s obviously some appeal to him.

It finally stopped raining, and there was mud all over everyone’s stuff and bodies, especially because people did not seem to be too concerned about stepping all over everyone’s stuff. Leaving the lawn to attempt to get food was treacherous, as the lawn had turned into a mix between Slip ‘N Slide and an avalanche full of mud. Multiple people were covered in mud because they had wiped out. Not all of the food stations were even open, which was upsetting after making such a perilous journey just to find some funnel cake. The bathrooms were also just not an okay situation, as there were crazies in there trying to clean their clothes in the sinks. People literally stopped drinking liquids after a certain time to avoid the bathrooms until the festival was over.

It was sunny by the time that Passion Pit took the stage, and the crowd was drying off and ready to enjoy the band’s indie electronic tunes. They didn’t disappoint, playing songs from their new album, Gossamer,  such as “Take A Walk.” They were the perfect band to dance to as the sun set. The crowd was still pretty belligerent as this point, which was both entertaining and obnoxious to watch.

It started to rain again as Phoenix came on at 9 p.m. It thankfully cleared up as they progressed through their set. Phoenix pulls off a good performance. They played popular tracks “1901” and “Lisztomania” and the crowd was very into it, with everyone jam packed onto the lawn and dancing. Phoenix got an hour and a half to play, which seemed almost too drawn out at the end of a very long festival. They had a ton of energy, but the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were still the best performance of the night and should have closed the festival, even if they are not as popular as Phoenix.

Even though everyone was gross, muddy and exhausted by the end of the night, people still seemed to have a good time hanging out, listening to music and eating all day. Sweetlife did a great job combining so many different types of music and appealing to a large and diverse group of people.

Filipino L.A. native Mark Redito, who took on various monikers before sticking with Spazzkid,
had released a few underground projects before this new album on his bandcamp page. All three of his albums were practically the same in terms of style. “Blank Stares,” “Fake Accents,” “Right Now” and some remix compilations had been constructed with a beginner’s tools and mindset, and such attributes were evident in the final project. Some songs flowed with vivid, chimeric-sounding atmosphere while others were bland.

What separates “Desire” from any of Spazzkid’s past works is the heightened sense of
awareness, production quality and overall aesthetic makeup. Listeners will immediately notice a striking Japanese influence in some of the track’s samples and will also take note of the abundant down-tempo  hip-hop drums that carry throughout the 8-track instrumental album.

There are plenty of xylophone and piano instruments laced within tracks like “Getting to Know
You” and “40 Winks.” Both of these intimate tracks harbor some sporadic yet seamlessly executed transitions with drum changes and mesmerizing samples. Through these beats, Spazzkid showcases his ability by switching between a mellow pace to a double-time breakdown.

Along with this track, “40 Winks” and “Forgiveness,” which are arguably the best tracks on the
project, hold interesting build-ups from the start of the song and comes swinging with a resounding
finish in the end. Both tracks are very light-hearted in the samples and synths used in background. For
the latter track, the loud, hard and authoritative kick drum that is present throughout is beyond
satisfying. These opposite elements work well with the gentle tone conveyed.

“Loving Free” is a pool that a lot of fans will want to dive into upon first listen. The track is a
high-octane and club worthy dance track. Spazzkid’s vocal accompaniment, complete with its spacey and trance-influenced structure, makes this song the most energetic of the batch.

“Candy Flavored Lips,” featuring Skymarines, is an easily skippable track. It’s obvious that Spazzkid had put a lot of work into this album in terms of working with unique elements that give each song a certain characteristic. These elements, however, didn’t flow through with this particular track. The drums are dull, and it seems like Spazzkid didn’t play around with the hazy loop in the background. To make matters worse, Skymarine’s vocals takes an already damaged ship and pulls it further down under the sea. Lyrics in the song are hard to make out and the singing sounds unmotivated.

Although Spazzkid didn’t have a concrete theme in “Desire,” the idea of timelessness fits
perfectly. Each track sounds a lot longer than it should and that could partially be due to a lot of moving
around within every second of the production. Fans of Toro Y Moi and How to Dress Well may find that Spazzkid borrowed a few of their features, but Spazzkid’s level of production exceeds beyond many artists within this small yet gradually popular genre.

Summer is here, and the soothing sounds of “Desire” are perfect for the season. Spazzkid has put out a beautifully crafted project for those looking for light-hearted, sample-based experimental beats.

arts@thedailycougar.com

Chechen woman mourns loss in Grozny, the capital city of the Chechen Republic.

As soon as the nationality of Dzhokhar and Tamarlan Tsarnaev was announced in the aftermath of the Boston bombings, misinformed statements stereotyping the Chechen people spread through Facebook, Twitter, and other social media. Not only did such updates and tweets draw a connection between the suspects and Islamic extremism that has not been confirmed, but they also revealed how ill-informed the public is regarding a region that has been troubled by years of violence. The history of Chechnya, where the brothers Tsarnaev are originally from, reveals a largely unconsidered angle from which the Boston bombings can be examined.

Historically under Tsarist and then Soviet rule, the Muslim republic of Chechnya declared its independence in 1991, when the Soviet Union collapsed. Unlike the case of the central Asian republics, however, Russia had always been keen to maintain control over this small enclave between the Black Sea and the Caspian. Between 1994 and 1996, and again in 1999, Russian forces brought war to the region against Chechen rebels, but — in spite of systematic attacks on both exponents of the separatist movement and civilians — the Kremlin was never able to completely subdue this territory. In the words of Elena Bonner, widow of Russian dissident Andrei Sakharov, Moscow’s violence in Chechnya has gone as far as to make it “one great concentration camp.”

Today, Chechnya hosts a traditionally Muslim population of about 1.3 million. After Akhmed Zakayev, head of the legitimate government of Chechnya, was last exiled in 2007, Moscow sent Ramzan Kadyrov to form a puppet government in the Republic. A radicalized Islamist fringe led by Dokka Umarov, however, has since resisted the authority of the formal government by staging violent attacks both in Chechnya and closer to the Kremlin. The attack that gave Chechnya international exposure, however, happened three years before 2007, when the Beslan school hostage crisis tragically culminated in 380 deaths. Russian president Putin has exploited the actions of this extremist movement to stigmatize the Chechen people and justify his strong hand in the region. In addition to this, the Kremlin is also strongly suspected to be behind the deaths of multiple dissidents who attempted to expose his crimes in Chechnya, like investigative journalist Anna Politkosvkaya, who was murdered in 2006.

What, then, does the tormented past and present of Chechnya have to with the Boston attacks? As far as the investigations go, there is no connection between the crimes of the brothers Tsarnaev and the extremist Chechen Muslim movement. In fact, the two men have been described as self-radicalized, even though they seem to have declared their support for Chechnya’s independence through social media platforms. There is, however, a subtler link between Chechen politics and the extremism shown by the two perpetrators, one that connects the American attitude toward the Chechen refugees and the personal attitudes of the Tsarnaev brothers.

Many members of the Chechen diaspora have sought refuge in Eastern Europe and central Asia. The Tsarnaev family itself emigrated to neighboring Kyrgyzstan to escape the Kremlin’s abuses. A very limited number of Chechen refugees, however, have ever been admitted to the United States, which allocates only an extremely small proportion of its asylum program to this region. According to Olga Khazan of The Atlantic, only 4 percent of refugee allocation is designated to Europe and Central Asia. Coupled with the general disinterest of the West, and particularly of the United States, in the Chechen situation, this factor — in addition to Moscow’s treatment of the Chechens — might have contributed to the sense of alienation experienced by the brothers Tsarnaev, who declared that they never felt truly integrated in American society. The self-radicalization that has led to the tragic events of the past week, then, can be seen, to a certain extent, as the result of this profound marginalization.

It is plausible that the Boston bombings will have dire repercussions for the Chechen people as a whole. Soon after the attacks, Putin personally called Obama to offer his support and cooperation. Moreover, he used the crimes of two young men as a scapegoat, playing up the threat that Chechnya represents for Russia and using it as a justification for his crimes in the region. Therefore, it will not be surprising to see Moscow adopt even more assertive policies towards Chechnya as a result of the bombings.

Rather than being a pretext to further stereotype a faith and a whole population, the Boston attacks should bring global attention to a real humanitarian emergency that has been overlooked or even ignored for two decades now. This is not to say that justice should not make the brothers Tsarnaev responsible for their crimes, but these crimes might have been triggered by years of injustice that should not be forgotten.

Quaid recently tied up the first season on his TV show “Vegas.” Under the educational influence of Cecil Pickett and Sidney Berger, Quaid recounted his time at the University and attributed his drive and success to the theater department.

Watch Quaid’s speech here. | Video courtesy of UH Media Relations

news@thedailycougar.com

Earlier in the day, DJs battled it out for the first and only available performance slot in the night-half of the WVMF. (Nate Barrett/Emerald)

A hula dancer twirls her glowing hula hoop and dances to the music. (Nate Barrett/Emerald)

A male is approached by a UOPD officer after he and a female were discovered embracing in a dark corner next to the Rec Center near the WVMF stage. (Nate Barrett/Emerald)

The 45th Annual University of Oregon MotherÕs Day Pow Wow well held in MAC Court at the same time as the WVMF. (Nate Barrett/Emerald)

The night portion of the WVMF saw various local and regional DJs performing until midnight. (Nate Barrett/Emerald)

A female was discovered by UOPD passed out in a dark corner near the wall of the Rec Center following the conclusion of the Willamette Valley Music Festival. (Nate Barrett/Emerald)

Attendees of the WVMF brought an assortment of gloves, hula hoops, and collars that glowed various neon colors. (Nate Barrett/Emerald)

UOPD and Eugene Fire Department first responders help a semi-conscious female up after they discovered her passed out near the Rec Center. (Nate Barrett/Emerald)

The center, which will open in the fall 2013 semester as part of the College of Engineering, will serve as an educational tool related to engineering and manufacturing, said BU spokesman Colin Riley.

“The College of Engineering and [ENG] Dean [Kenneth] Lutchen have received an $18 million in-kind gift in software from PTC,” Riley said. “That software is the latest and greatest in manufacturing.”

The donation is the largest ENG has ever received, Lutchen said.

“It really validates the exciting ways in which we’re going to try to educate the engineers of the future of the United States and the world and continue to innovate technologies and products,” he said.

Riley said the EPIC will be located at 750 Commonwealth Ave. in the former Guitar Center space.

“The purpose of it is to encompass the entire cycle of manufacturing, from concept through creation … where people who have interest in engineering will actually get to see how the whole process works, not just their segment of it,” he said.

PTC donated two types of software, Lutchen said. The first allows students to create a virtual three-dimensional design of potential products, while the second allows students to manage the development and eventual manufacturing and marketing of the product.

The software will help students become more prepared for the workplace by exposing them to different components of the manufacturing process as well as to innovative technology, Riley said.

“With these software programs, the key is that students will be working using tools that are in the workplace,” he said. “So they will be making a seamless transition from the college experience into the workplace.”

Lutchen said the center will be important to providing students with a thorough understanding of technologies that are used to create products.

“The center will have a very major impact on the holistic way that engineering students at BU understand technologies, from the computer-aided design of a potential product to prototyping that kind of design to eventually creating it in a way that can be deployed for profit in large numbers,” he said.

The center reflects ENG officials’ goal to have engineering students of different disciplines working together, Lutchen said.

“Almost all kinds of projects are at the intersections of many kinds of technologies in engineering,” he said. “So, we’re going to try and create courses in which engineers of different disciplines get to work with engineers of other disciplines and understand how to create a product that has integrated technologies.”

The offensive star for the Ducks has continued to be Mitchell Tolman. The freshman had five hits and four RBI on the night, bringing him up to 18 RBI in the Ducks last seven games. Two of Tolman’s RBI came in the 11th inning of the first game to give the Ducks a two run lead with one of the nation’s best closers, Jimmie Sherfy, set to pitch the bottom half.

The man they call the Wild Thing wasn’t perfect but slammed the door to pick up his 17th save of the year despite loading the bases.

Oregon didn’t cut things as close in the second game, riding a complete game shutout from Cole Irvin to the four run win, and once again it was Tolman who delivered the clutch hit, cashing in Aaron Payne from second base with a first inning triple. Brett Thomas was also 2-for-3 with a run scored and JJ Altobelli added a leadoff triple in the third inning.

The Ducks will close out the series tomorrow morning before returning home for a midweek set with Gonzaga an all-important series at PK Park with Oregon State. The three game Civil War may well determine the Pac-12 regular season champion and it will have serious postseason ramifications with both the Ducks and Beavers hoping for a national seed.

Daniel Hartis chronicles this evolution of the region’s beer scene in his new book, Charlotte Beer: A History of Brewing in the Queen City, and illustrates the steps – and missteps – that breweries, restaurants and bottling companies took along the way.

“The most hardcore of beer nerds were unaware of most of the city’s history outside of the current breweries, and even folks who aren’t that into craft beer enjoy learning more about how it fits in with the city’s larger history,” says Hartis about the paperback released last March that’s been well-received by critics like Creative Loafing, which called it “enthusiastic” and “conversational.”

Hartis breaks up the contents into different eras, including pre-prohibition, the temperance movement and the current brewing climate. Readers are introduced to every Charlotte-related brewery and supporting businesses, like a convenience store that began carrying homebrewing supplies during the 33-year brewery drought the city endured after Atlantic Ice and Coal Company closed its Charlotte location in 1956.

Enthusiast groups like the Brew Pub Poets Society, which invited professionals from various fields to gather at Dilworth Brewery during the 1980s, are also profiled. Members were required to write a beer-related poem and read it aloud to become inducted in the group – something Hartis would like to see return today.

“Many members are still around, including founder Jack Dillard, though they haven’t met in some time,” he says. “It was a very cool concept and I would love to see it return today.”

The author

Hartis, who turned 31 this month, spent last December finalizing the manuscript holed up in a Panera Bread, just months after the American Palate division of the History Press approached him to write about local beer history. At the time, he was unsure if there would be enough information to write the book, though clearly he’s uncovered a lot since then.

He thanks his wife Airen for taking care of their children, a two-year-old son and a now 11-month-old daughter, while he worked late nights on the book. They’ve been married almost four years and she shares his interest in craft beer, though he concedes she’s not as obsessive.

“She loves porters, specifically Foothills People’s Porter,” says Hartis, who often dodges the ‘favorite beer’ question himself.

“To me, one of the best things about Charlotte’s beer scene is its diversity,” he says. “I often like to compare The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, which brews with only water, hops, barley and yeast, to Cornelius’ Ass Clown Brewing, which brews with just about anything under the sun from bacon to oysters.”

Outside of beer, Hartis works as a healthcare communications specialist and enjoys listening to copious amounts of audiobooks and podcasts on his commute from Monroe. He hopes to find time this year to write some fiction and wants to start homebrewing, which is something that he’s helped friends do but not by himself.

“I have amassed most of the needed equipment,” he says. “It’s my goal to finally start brewing this year.”

Perhaps he would have started earlier if The Brewing Experience was still around.

“Charlotte was home to North Carolina’s very first brew-on-premise brewery, in which someone would walk you through the process of brewing your own batch of beer,” says Hartis of the concept that closed several years ago.

The former student journalist has come a long way since the start of his relationship with craft beer at UNC Asheville, where he majored in literature and worked a semester at The Blue Banner, their student publication. In 2006, the school paper gave the reporter an assignment to check out three breweries on the Asheville Brews Cruise, a brewery tour that was then in its infancy. The story, titled ‘Brewers Quench Asheville’s Thirst,’ made the front page.

“Mark at the Brews Cruise talked with me about each of the beers we had at the breweries, and I was hooked,” he says, admitting that prior to this his fridge was often stocked with Milwaukee’s Best rather than craft beer. “That was the start of a craft beer journey that still continues to this day.”

Hartis founded CharlotteBeer.com, which won Creative Loafing’s 2012 readers’ pick for Best Local Blog, in January 2011 to keep enthusiasts informed about beer events, dinners and tastings. The idea was to showcase the great work that businesses are doing to “further the great beer here in the Queen City.”

Brian Mister, a UNC Charlotte graduate and marketer for NoDa Brewing Company, believes the site is successful because it can help you figure out anything going on in the Charlotte beer world and sometimes beyond.

“It’s great because it’s non-biased and informative,” says Mister, who describes Hartis as “very humble.”

The blogger intends to keep improving the site and write hyperlocal guides for specific neighborhoods like NoDa and SouthEnd – possibly creating a print version to distribute around town.

Current news

Today, the Charlotte region is home to seven independent microbreweries with another one, curiously named Unknown Brewing Company, to open later this year.

The city of Charlotte has been receptive to these businesses, sponsoring an amendment this year to relieve restrictions on where breweries can open. Currently, zoning ordinances restrict them to industrial zones but Hartis is pleased with how the city is handling the situation.

“The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery has purchased a larger building with more land just down the road from their current brewery, and they plan to move into the new space early next year,” he says, signaling that business owners predict the change will happen.

Craft beer fans may have more to look forward to with a recent N.C. House Bill that would allow grocery stores to carry 64-ounce growlers of beer, which brewers often package their products in. Hartis has been keeping over 3,000 followers informed about the advancing bill on the @CharlotteBeer Twitter page. He continues to write several blog posts a month, and the website remains the central location for local beer news. In addition, there is also a Charlotte Beer Facebook page, which has over 1,300 ‘likes.’

“He’s always keeping people up-to-date on what’s happening when he goes to city meetings,” says Mister. “It keeps craft beer in everyone’s face basically – in a good way.”

The team has built on the surprising success of its inaugural campaign, in which the Moc’s finished 12-4 under Head Coach Kara Reber.

“I’m very happy with the season so far,” Reber said. “I think our team has picked up right where we left off from last year.”

Despite a 12-10 loss to fifth-ranked Rollins on April 3, the Mocs are still right in the thick of the playoff hunt. Sophomore Co-Captain Melissa Halstead believes the close loss actually gave the Mocs confidence as they approach the season’s home stretch.

“We know we could’ve beaten them,” Halstead said. “They get ranked so high and now we know we’re just as good.”

That confidence could be an important factor in a huge three-game stretch to close out the season.

The Mocs face a rematch with Rollins and a visit to third-ranked Limestone, which bookend a meeting with Lenoir-Rhyne.

The Mocs will likely need to win two, if not all three, of the games in order to reach the NCAA Tournament.

Reber believes her young squad will hold up just fine under the pressure of three contests that could ultimately decide its postseason fate.

Sophomore co-captain Megan Asper fires a shot in a March 23 victory over Shippensburg.

“Even against Rollins, our sophomores and freshmen weren’t phased,” Reber said. “They’re doing just fine. They don’t know what to expect so they just go out and play.”

While the youth of the players may not play a factor, the youth of the program could hurt the team’s chances of a postseason appearance.

According to Reber, other schools that already have an established reputation could be chosen in place of her team, even if the Mocs have a better record.

“We’ve always felt that if we want to go to the postseason, we need to exceed expectations and come as close to going undefeated as possible, because our reputation just isn’t there yet,” Reber said.

Sophomore Co-Captain Lorianne Hoover thinks the lack of respect the Mocs get as a new program has given them an edge this season.

“I feel like that’s why we beat a lot of teams,” Hoover said. “They come into games thinking it will be an easy game and don’t prepare well enough. Then we beat them.”

“People definitely doubt us because we’re a new program and we’re from the south, but they shouldn’t,” Halstead said.

Surprising opponents as they build a reputation for the program has served as a point of pride for the young Mocs squad.

“It’s about being able to say that we made history as part of a new program instead of playing in a program that’s already established,” Hoover said. “It’s really cool.”

As the next three contests, especially Rollins and Limestone, stand between the Mocs and the next step in building the program’s reputation, Hoover believes the playoff bid is anyone’s for the taking.

“It all depends on who shows up that day because all of the teams are so close in our talent and our records,” Hoover said. “We really just have to prepare and show up ready to play, but I don’t have a doubt that we can beat both [Rollins and Limestone.]”

Reber and the Mocs are concentrating on one game at a time, as they try to bolster their NCAA Tournament resume.

“Obviously we’d love to win a national championship, but the first step is to win our next game and get ourselves into the NCAA Tournament,” Reber said. “Then we can go from there.”

The Mocs will begin what could be the biggest stretch in the fledgling program’s history on April 28, where the rematch with Rollins awaits.

Check out the Gallery for more Women’s Lacrosse Photos:

Writer’s note: I received a free copy of “Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon” in order to review the game for this publication.

The open world violence of “Far Cry 3″ found a DeLorean and traveled to an alternate line of history to make “Blood Dragon.”

The story begins in ’90s videogame cinematic style, showing shoddy cartoons of what’s happening with an overdramatic narrator. In the cut-scenes it shows your character, Sgt. Rex Powercolt, being re-built from a human corpse into an unstoppable cyborg soldier.

Next thing you know, you’re shooting as many things and people as you can from a helicopter in what appears to be Daft Punk’s home planet before you storm a fortress.

In this alternate history, most of the world was nuked into fallout (another great game) in the year 2000. It is the year 2007, in which the super-cyber-soldier will make his adventure.

If all of this sounds ridiculous, good, because that is the point of this stand-alone downloadable content, and yes that means you don’t need “Far Cry 3″ to get “Blood Dragon.” All you’ll need is $15 and a PC, Xbox 360 or PS3 with an Internet connection to get this game, as it is download only.

“Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon’s” entire style was based on action movies made in the ’80s and ’90s. The stereotypes are abundant in just about every sense.

Rex Powercolt can’t help but spitting out one-liners akin to “Die Hard’s” John McClane between over-the-top executions of opponents. Occasionally Rex will flip off downed enemy cyborgs or cyber-animals after ending their artificial existence. Even recognizable music from the ’80s action genre appears in the midst of missions.

If you’ve missed macho ’80s culture, this game will probably fill your need. If not, then no “Terminator” movie marathon will.

As action-packed as “Blood Dragon” sounds, I couldn’t help but laugh every few minutes I was playing, much like when watching my favorite ’80s action movies. Even when in tense situations hiding around the corner from enemies and giant dragons searching for me, hearing cyborgs usher obscene threats in horribly robotic voices left me laughing alone like a psychopath.

Laughing and then performing chain takedowns, or blowing the hell out of whatever stood in my way. I must admit this game made me feel like some dirty, buff and tanned Rambo taming the post-apocalyptic jungle while waving around a light machine gun; in other words it was just plain old fun.

If stories in games don’t interest you as much as pure action in a video game, “Blood Dragon” is what you want. The story is purposefully stupid in order to meet the ’80s action movie criteria, while the action is over-the-top to fit the same bill.

Upgrades to the guns you’re provided include: Explosive rounds, quadruple barrel shotguns, magazines so big they would make senators s*** themselves and all kinds of scopes, amongst all the other futuristic upgrades like laser rounds.

This isn’t some small blip of a DLC, but rather a full stand-alone game well worth the price. The closest thing I can think of in terms of quality DLC is “Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare.” No other DLC I’ve played was able to justify its existence outside of the main game like “Blood Dragon” or “Undead Nightmare.”

Ultimately the only thing “Far Cry 3″ and “Blood Dragon” are totally different worlds, with totally different guns and characters.

The main differences in gameplay I noticed between the two games was that the player’s character is now able to sustain much more damage, and stealth killing an entire garrison is now much harder with the layout of bases.

If one thinks in terms of ’80s movies though, this is more like the formula for action: No stealth and a lot of head to head gun battles. Even all the collectables have changed from things like WWII dog tags to VHS tapes and old TVs that will unlock the outlandish upgrades for guns.

It is clear that “Far Cry” decided to make the switch from the serious issues of human slavery, drug trafficking and third-world poverty to a satire of corny action movies in order to make an entirely different game.

The new map of “Blood Dragon” presents the player with 13 garrisons to take over inside a new free-roam map; a quest or two per outpost once captured, but only six guns to use throughout the game, with a few mods each and a re-skinned bow will guide you through the new challenge.

Still this iteration of “Far Cry 3″ brought me more fun than many full priced games have in a long time, so I’d recommend picking it up, especially considering it’s only $15.

My only real complaint was that there was no attached co-op or multiplayer, which is a great time with friends in the original.

Collegian Writer Matt Gabriel can be reached at entertainment@collegian.com.

Throughout the day, Obama stressed the importance of competitive technological development, specialized job training, and the importance of reforming high school curriculums and making higher education more affordable.

Obama visited Austin on the first stop of a Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity tour, which he will continue through the next several weeks. While in the city, Obama also met with UT entrepreneurs, including the student founders of Lynx Laboratories, a 3D photography company established through UT’s Longhorn Startup program.

At Applied Materials, an Austin-based company that provides equipment and services to manufacture advanced semiconductors, flat panel displays and solar photovoltaic columns, Obama announced several new initiatives, including a competition his administration is launching to create three “innovation institutes” around the country.

“We are looking for businesses and universities that are willing to partner together to help their region — help turn their region into global centers of high-tech jobs,” Obama said. “We want the next revolution in manufacturing to be ‘Made in America.’”

The manufacturing hubs, created by executive order, will be funded using $200 million from five agencies: the Departments of Defense, Commerce and Energy, the National Science Foundation and NASA. Obama said he hopes Congress will vote to fund an additional 15 hubs in the near future.

Obama also announced his administration will take steps to make government-held data more accessible to the public. He cited StormPulse, a startup that uses government weather data to help track disruptions in energy service, as one example of an entrepreneurial company using publicly available information for business.

“One of the things we’re doing to fuel more inventiveness like this, to fuel more private sector innovation and discovery, is to make the vast amounts of America’s data open and easy to access for the first time in history,” Obama said. “Talented entrepreneurs are doing some pretty amazing things with data that’s already being collected by government.”

Zindia Pierson, whose sister has a connection to White House staffers, brought her two elementary school-aged children to the speech. Pierson said she agreed that innovation is the key to future economic growth.

“I think that’s what America needs to do, get more innovative so we can get more jobs,” Pierson said. “I’m hoping we do innovate so that my kids will have jobs, so they can be financially independent, so they’ll be able to have families [and] be able to afford their housing. I’m hoping for a better future for my kids.”

Pierson’s daughter, Alexandra, said she also enjoyed the speech.

“I think it was awesome,” Alexandra said.

Andrew Chavez, a materials project manager for Applied Materials, said he also appreciated the forward-thinking nature of the speech.

“I was inspired, I mean, holy cow,” Chavez said. “I think like he said, the high tech sector is what drives the economy right now, especially in Austin. And driving these youngsters through the high tech schools, trying to encourage these kids to grab a spot in their future industry, I think that’s really great.”

Before visiting Applied Materials, Obama also spoke to students at Manor New Technology High School, where Obama promised to make more jobs available. The high school accepts student applicants interested in careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through a blind lottery, and focuses on project-based learning.

“We've got to start rethinking and redesigning America’s high schools,” Obama said. “That’s what is happening here, innovation that equips graduates for the demands of a high-tech economy, with hands-on learning.”

Obama said in the last three years, several major companies have created a combined 85,000 jobs in Austin, including Apple, Visa and General Motors. He said the tech sector supports one-third of Austin jobs. Austin has an unemployment rate of 5.2 percent and five-year expected annual job growth rate of 3.2 percent, according to Forbes magazine. The currently unemployment rate in the United States is 7.6 percent.

Obama said because many students struggle to afford higher education after high school, he launched a “college scorecard” for colleges and universities to help students find institutions with the best value. The college scorecards grades universities on tuition, student debt, graduation rate and employment.

According to the scorecard, UT’s cost is graded “medium” and the amount of money borrowed for students to attend is graded “high.”

Obama left Austin shortly after 6 p.m. Jason Zielinski, public information specialist for the Austin-Bergstrom airport, said flight delays were minimal Thursday.

“Airlines are aware of the ground freeze ahead of time, so they plan accordingly,” Zielinski said. “As far as passengers who may have been inconvenienced in any way, it was a very minor delay – no cancellations or anything like that.”

Even though the JHU students elected me as Treasurer, I accept this ruling with regret and under
resonant advisement that the rules need to be updated so there are no hidden interpretations to
prevent this from occurring in the future.

Respectfully Yours,

Schaefer Whiteaker

The Sun Devils were the first to score with a solo home run from shortstop Cheyenne Coyle in the first inning.

The Ducks fought back in the second inning starting with a double from first basewomen Kailee Cuico. Then, Alexa Peterson and Samantha Pappas each had a base hit, bringing Cuico home. Later in the inning, Pappas also hit home plate after she advanced on a sacrifice bunt and an infield out.

Oregon earned another run in the fourth after Peterson hit a double and advanced on fielder’s choice; a sacrifice pop fly by Koral Costa, that brought in Peterson and gave the Ducks’ final run of the game.

Turning Point. Arizona State went on an offensive frenzy in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring four runs and putting the game out of reach.

Oregon was not able to earn any runs the rest of the game, securing the series win for Arizona State.

However, both teams will face off Sunday for the last game. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. Today’s game will conclude the regular season for Oregon. The selection show for the Women’s College World Series will air Sunday May 12 at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.

Dardashti currently serves as director of community engagement at Temple Beth El, a Conservative congregation in Stamford, Conn. She will start her new position at the University this summer, according to the press release.

The search to fill the position began when Rabbi Mordechai Rackover announced in December he would leave the University at the end of this academic year, The Herald previously reported. An Orthodox Jew, Rackover has served as Hillel’s rabbi since the fall of 2008.

Dardashti was chosen from almost 100 applicants for the position, said Harpo Jaeger ’14, one of two students on the search committee. The search committee members, who chose a Conservative rabbi to succeed an Orthodox rabbi, decided early in the process that they “didn’t want the person’s practice to matter” when they made their selection, Jaeger said. “People from all Jewish backgrounds” applied and were strongly considered, Jaeger said. “It wasn’t like by picking someone who wasn’t Orthodox we were ‘trading down.’”

Janet Cooper-Nelson, University chaplain, praised the committee’s selection. “I think (Dardashti is) a wonderful mix of traditional scholarship and very modern, socially engaged understandings of the traditions of Judaism,” Cooper-Nelson said.

Dardashti comes from a diverse background — her father is Iranian, her mother is an American folk singer and she is married to an Australian Jew, according to Hillel’s press release.

With a family “literally from all over the world,” Dardashti “knows many different traditions of Judaism and is not only acquainted with them but really values them,” Cooper-Nelson said.

Dardashti said her perspective fits well with the culture of “openness” at Brown.

“Brown is a place that is interested in melding one’s own personal story with a broader story,” she said.

Emmet Golden-Marx ’13 and Jesse Golden-Marx ’13, student leaders of Hillel’s Reform services, said they are pleased with Dardashti’s appointment.

“The response in the Reform minyan was positive,” said Emmet Golden-Marx. “It sounds like she has a real focus on the community.”

Dardashti said she received two other offers at synagogues, but the “pace of a university” and the “unique opportunity” of serving at Brown made the choice “very clear.”

“College is all about … exploration and learning and wanting to develop oneself,” Dardashti said. “People are certainly eager to grow and learn generally, and my role is helping make Judaism a piece of that.”

For graduating seniors at Kansas State University, May 18, 2013, will mean many things.

It will mean new beginnings, new careers and new chapters to fill.

It will mean smiling faces, flashbacks to memories made and sad goodbyes, all at the same time.

And while I’ll be joining all the other K-State seniors graduating in Bramlage Coliseum, the date May 18, to me, will forever mean something completely different.

For me, it will be the mark of how far I’ve come in exactly three years.

Three years ago, on May 18, 2010, during finals week of my freshman year of college, moving forward with my life became the last thing I wanted to think about.

Moving forward sounded like an impossible task.

On May 18, 2010, my father, Col. John M. McHugh, was killed in action in Kabul, Afghanistan. He had served 24 years in the United States Army.

A suicide bomber took the lives of 18 people that morning after driving his Toyota minibus packed with explosives into a U.S. military convoy. Five American soldiers, including my father, were killed, along with a Canadian colonel. The convoy was on its way to a NATO peace conference in Afghanistan’s capitol building.

My dad wasn’t deployed. He was only supposed to be in Afghanistan for two weeks.

While I’ve never known any other life than being a military child growing up, tragedy always felt so far away from me.

I had never personally known someone killed in action.

My dad was a West Point graduate, a helicopter pilot throughout the 1990s and a colonel in the United States Army. As he moved up the ranks in the Army, his job became more command-oriented. Although I had friends whose parents served multiple deployments, my dad was only deployed once, to Kuwait in 2007-08.

I used to think I had lived the ultimate “Army brat” life when he would talk about retiring after 25 years in the service.

It’s an adventurous lifestyle for a kid — moving all the time, seeing other countries and cultures through a child’s eyes and making new friends at every duty station — but it’s a lifestyle that reinforces the importance of independence, patriotism and family bonds from an early age.

I mean, I did live in 12 different houses before I graduated from high school. What more could an Army kid possibly go through, right?

I learned the hard way exactly what more an Army kid could go through — taking that step from a proud Army daughter to an even prouder Gold Star daughter.

My Story
My family lived on post at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., when my dad was killed.

I graduated from high school in 2009 in Carlisle, Pa., where my family was stationed for just 10 months while my dad attended the U.S. Army War College. The week after my high school graduation, we packed up and moved to Kansas.

My dad worked for the Battle Command Training Program at Fort Leavenworth. He spent his first year there going on the road for a few weeks out of every month to visit different military facilities and work with their training programs.

Almost a year after we moved to Fort Leavenworth, in May 2010, he left for a two-week visit to Afghanistan.

I worked at Fort Leavenworth’s indoor pool about a mile away from my house. That morning I was scheduled to teach swim lessons, and then I got a text from my younger sister:

“Kelly, you need to come home now.”

I put my phone down and got back to work. What could possibly be going on that they’d want me to just up and leave?

That text was followed by another text from my sister, then one from my mom. Finally, my mom called. The strangest thing about the phone call was that my mom sounded completely calm.

“You need to leave work,” she said. “Now.”

“I’ll be back in 30 minutes,” I said to my boss and apologized as I walked out the glass double doors.

I didn’t return to work that day.

The car ride home was usually only a three-minute trip, but for some reason I took a longer route. I wanted to give myself time to think about what could be going on back at my house.

Looking back on it now, I think subconsciously I just wanted a few more minutes of my normal life before a new reality struck.

When I finally turned down my street and saw our driveway, everything hit me at once. As an Army daughter, I knew exactly what it meant that two unfamiliar cars were parked in my driveway.

The cars’ two distinct license plates still haunt me today. One said U.S. GOVERNMENT. I pulled in behind the other car – my pastor’s car. Written in big, bold letters on its license plate was one word – PRAY.

Three years later, I can’t see that work or look at a government license plate without being brought back to that moment in my life.

In April 2010, my older brother, U.S. Army Warrant Officer Michael McHugh, was deployed to Iraq with a unit out of Fort Riley. I braced myself for the worst as I got out of my car and prepared myself for the bad news I expected about my deployed older brother.

As I walked past my house’s front windows, I saw two men wearing green uniforms. Two is Army protocol for bad news.

I walked in the front door and into an immediate embrace from my mom. I didn’t even look at the two soldiers. All I could think about was comforting her. I still thought the bad news would be about my brother.

Then while she was still hugging me, she said it.

“It’s your dad.”

When I had walked in the door she was composed, but just saying those words brought her back to tears.

I walked to the staircase in our house and sat down. I was emotionally thrown for a loop, confused and angry.

It never crossed my mind that those cars parked in front of my house and the two men in green uniforms standing in my home could be there because of my dad.

My dad had only been in Afghanistan a few days. He was only supposed to be there a short time longer.

He wasn’t even deployed.

The rest of the day was like living in some kind of a dreamland. I know that sounds cliché, but it’s exactly how it felt. My family wasn’t allowed to call or talk to anyone until my grandparents and my dad’s siblings, who all lived in New Jersey, were notified.

It was eerie. The sun was shining and it was a gorgeous spring day, but my family, my two younger sisters, my 5-year-old brother and my mom, just sat around our kitchen table. We were unable to tell anyone about what had happened, we didn’t know if my older brother had been notified yet and we still didn’t know any details other than that our dad was killed. No one said much.

I don’t remember much else about that day, or the days following. My brother was given the news while still in Iraq. It took three days for him to get back on U.S. soil to be reunited with us.

In my mind, the whole first week is lumped into a mix of emotions and actions. I can’t place exact times or dates of when things happened. My entire family, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, all came to Kansas for the funeral. Family friends and military friends came from around the world to be there. There were so many people that first week leading up to the funeral, so much going on, but I still felt numb to it all.

It didn’t feel real to me until I heard the 21-gun salute, until taps was played at my dad’s funeral in Leavenworth National Cemetery. That’s when it hit me. That’s when it became reality.

I was 18 years old when my dad was killed. Most children who have lost parents in the war have been much younger. I felt like I was one of a kind. But I soon found out I wasn’t the only college student suffering the loss of a parent killed in action.

Josh Harrison was a junior at Leavenworth High School on May 6, 2007, when his dad, Col. James Warren Harrison, was killed in Afghanistan. Col. Harrison was killed by an Afghan soldier in a shocking “green on blue” incident.

The Harrison family was stationed at Fort Leavenworth three years before my family. I had never before met Josh, nor had I heard his story. But he had heard mine through mutual friends at Fort Leavenworth.

Three days after my dad was killed, Josh, then a student at K-State, made the two-hour drive from Manhattan to Fort Leavenworth and showed up at my house.

I appreciated each and every person who came over to comfort my family, but before Josh, I never felt anyone could relate to me.

When Josh showed up, it was different. He and I sat at my kitchen table, where we were constantly surrounded by people coming and going, but we just continued to talk.

He talked about what his family went through. He talked about his brothers, his mom, his grandparents and uncles and aunts. He talked about everything, and he was honest when talking about the years following his father’s death.

We had just met, but we had a bond like longtime friends.

Seeing his success at K-State three years after his dad was killed gave me assurance. Despite how dark my world looked at the end of May 2010, life would get better.

Eventually.

Josh and I continued to be friends when I transferred to K-State in the spring of 2011. He was always there to answer my calls or texts regardless of what my questions were. He helped me through the paperwork that came with Veterans Affairs and he introduced me to a few incredible organizations, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and Children of Fallen Patriots, that support military kids like us.

Nearly three years later, I’m at the place in the healing process Josh was when he first visited.

Josh graduated from K-State in May 2012. He is now a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army stationed in South Korea after graduating from the Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., in April.

It’s a strange coincidence — the similarities between Josh’s story and mine.

Three years separated the deaths of our fathers. Three houses separated his old house and mine on post. Three tombstones separate our fathers’ graves at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.

I finally understand where Josh was at when he came to visit me that day. I will never really completely heal; my life has just taken on a new normal. I can let my dad’s death hold me back or I can use it as motivation to move forward.

I am moving forward to make my soldier proud.

And now, exactly three years after my dad was killed in action, exactly three years after I became a Gold Star daughter, I’ll be taking that step from college to the real world when I graduate on May 18.

Three years later.

Without my hero, my coach, my biggest fan.

Without my dad.

Kelly McHugh is a senior in mass communications. Please send comments to news@kstatecollegian.com.

Poudre Fire Authority fire trucks sped on to campus Friday night, passing scantily clothed college students participating in the undie run, after a small fire broke out in the Physiology building on the south end of the CSU campus.

The fire is believed to have “started at a circuit board,” CSU Public Relations wrote in an email to the Collegian.

PFA Captain Geoff Butler, who was on the scene, said the fire was believed to be ignited by an electrical malfunction. At 10:03 p.m. Butler said there were no injuries on the scene or people taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

Graduate student Doug Pierce extinguished the fire after hearing popping noises come from an electrical panel. He pulled the fire alarm and grabbed a fire extinguisher to put out the small fire.

At 9:57 p.m., CSU Public Relations stated “Two people were transported to the hospital for smoke inhalation,” in an email to the Collegian. But they also said there have been no other injury reports.

The building was evacuated.

The bar, located at 1097 Glendon Ave., will serve its last drink anytime from late June to August, depending on when the current owners can finish the real estate transaction and transfer their liquor licences, said George Workman, the general manager of Westwood Brewing Company.

The Boiling Crab, a seafood chain, will move into the space, said Steve Sann, the chair of the Westwood Community Council.

Workman said the reason for the closure was the owner’s desire to focus on other projects. He added that the Westwood Brewing Company has not been profitable since 2008, in part because of a decrease in the number of customers.

“Ever since the recession we have made less,” Workman said. “Instead of buying eight shots of Patrón (like they used to) we have people buying eight waters and two $8 beers.”

The eatery was sold for $450,000, reduced from $595,000, according to real estate listings.

The owners of the Westwood Brewing Company and The Boiling Crab could not be reached for comment after multiple phone calls and emails.

Workman said he plans to host a few closing events for the restaurant’s patrons, including a comedy show that brings back old acts.

The local community reacted to the closure on Twitter:

Too bad, but shadow of former selfMT “@dailybruin: The Westwood Brewing Company will close after almost 2 decades ow.ly/kVtk3”

— Scott Reilly (@RilesSD) May 11, 2013

Very sad to hear that Brew Co is closing, but excited to hear about The Boiling Crab. #westwood #UCLA — Andrae Vigil-Romero (@AndraeVR) May 11, 2013

BOILING CRAB IN WESTWOOD?!??!?!?! but no more brew co.. — Kyle Tomita (@kyletomita) May 11, 2013

Very sad to hear that Brew Co is closing, but excited to hear about The Boiling Crab. #westwood #UCLA

— Andrae Vigil-Romero (@AndraeVR) May 11, 2013

Compiled by Erin Donnelly, Bruin senior staff. 

Foley

The finalists are Henry Foley, vice president of Research and dean of the Graduate School of Pennsylvania State University, and Jorge Haddock, dean of School of Management for George Mason University. The remaining two will soon learn who takes the official position in UH’s Office of Academic Affairs.

“If you consider my record, you will see that I am a scholar and a researcher, as well as a teacher, but more importantly that I have held every academic leadership position save for Provost or President,” Foley said in the cover letter for his curriculum vitae.

According to the letter, Foley’s administrative experience is strongest in finance, strategic planning and change management. At Penn State, he currently oversees a “research enterprise” with $810 million of annual expenditure activity, a budget of $49 million and about 450 professional staff members.

Including top flight scientists from Huck Institute for Life Sciences and the Materials Research Institute, six internationally reputed experts from these enterprises report to Foley while he remains working in this role.

“Through each of these institutes, I am in touch with all facets of the university’s scholarship and research, from those who are interrogating Bose-Einstein Condensates to others who are most interested in the literary articulation of the human condition,” Foley said.

In Haddock’s cover letter, he outlines his background as a tenured professor in a level-one research institution and dean of a liberal arts college of more than 4,000 students.

Haddock

“Numerous experiences have prepared me for this position,” Haddock said in the letter. “I am a traditional scholar who rose through the ranks at Rensselaer from assistant to full professor.”

In a parenthetical statement of the same paragraph, Haddock said that to the best of his knowledge, he is the first person belonging to an under-represented minority to accomplish that feat.

Haddock said he has authored or co-authored 75 publications, 42 other scholarly reports and multiple research proposals resulting in 20 approved projects.

“In terms of leadership roles, I consistently held administrative and leadership positions at Clemson and Rensselaer before transitioning to the Lally School of Management and Technology,” Haddock said.

“I am committed to a rigorous academic process.”

Initially joining Foley and Haddock was David Manderscheid. Manderscheid, the dean of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s College of Arts and Sciences, removed himself from the race for undisclosed reasons before his forum, which was set for this past Wednesday.

The Provost Search Committee made it’s official recommendation to President and Chancellor Renu Khator on Thursday, and pending her approval or dismissal, either Haddock or Foley will step in and release Paula Short, who has been serving in the interim position, from the chief academic officer’s responsibilities.

One of the provost’s first duties will be to appoint a search committee seeking a Law Center Dean.

news@thedailycougar.com

The plan allows Utah to continue to run its existing health insurance marketplace for small businesses, a system that lets employees pick health care plans in an online exchange. The federal government will run the state’s individual exchange. The two marketplaces will operate independently of each other.

Gov. Gary Herbert first requested this arrangement in February, and the two sides had been negotiating since. Gary Cohen, head of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, announced the agreement’s approval in a letter sent to the governor Friday.

A cast of Utah lawmakers and others weighing in on Utah’s possible Medicaid Expansion meet Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo by Rick Bowmer)

Other states will have the option to consider this model after the U.S. Health and Human Services approves an official rule allowing Utah’s deal to go forward.

Herbert said in a conference call with media Friday that it was an important and historic day for Utah. He emphasized that the state didn’t back down in negotiations. For example, he said, Utah made sure the government knew it would not share information about its residents or businesses with a federal database.

“They’ve granted us everything that we asked for, and for that I’m grateful,” Herbert said.

He applauded Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius for her willingness to work with Utah in crafting a plan that works for both sides. The governor said Sebelius told him in February she hoped to find a way to say yes to Utah’s proposal.

“That’s proven prophetic,” he said. “We’ve found a way to get to yes with this announcement today.”

Health and Human Services granted the request after carefully review, agency spokesman Fabien Levy said.

Until now, states have been choosing from three options:

— Federally run exchanges in which states default to the U.S. government, a plan selected by 26 states.

— State-run exchanges in which states operate their own marketplaces, a plan chosen by 17 states.

— Federal-state partnerships in which the two sides work together, a plan chosen by seven states.

Utah’s model is different in that the two sides will work totally independently of each other — Utah as it continues to improve and expand its small business exchange created in 2009, and the federal government in creating a marketplace where regular residents can go to buy health insurance.

Utah was in a unique position, being one of two states, along with Massachusetts, with existing exchanges. But unlike Massachusetts, Utah’s marketplace offered no plans for individuals.

Massachusetts has opted to continue to oversee its existing marketplace.

Utah previously considered expanding the marketplace to offer plans to individuals. But Herbert said in February that after meeting with staff, legislators and insurance industry representatives, he ultimately decided a combined state and federal effort would work best.

By being able to focus on the small business marketplace, Utah can move forward with expansion plans that had been on hold due to the uncertainty that came with the passage of the health care overhaul, Herbert said.

These health insurance marketplaces are required under the Affordable Care Act, which goes into effect Jan. 1. Consumers will be able to start signing up Oct. 1 for coverage that takes effect next year.

Utah’s marketplace, called “Avenue H,” allows small businesses to offer their employees the opportunity to select health care plans in an online exchange that resembles websites that sell airline tickets. About 340 small businesses use the exchange, covering 8,000 employees and their families

Students enjoy sunny weather, food, crafts and all that the ASUO spring Street Faire has to offer.

But May is also a time to recognize the challenges that Asian Americans face. One important yet often overlooked issue in the Asian American community is the dearth of Asian Americans in the performing arts. The issue first entered the American consciousness about 50 years ago, when theater companies such as East West Players and Asian American Theater Workshop were created in the 1960s and 1970s with the specific aim of promoting Asian American representation in theater in response to the racial discrimination that Asian Americans faced in the performing arts. There were few roles designated for actors of Asian descent, and extant Asian roles were often very racist and stereotypical. In addition, Asian roles were often given to white actors who would wear make-up that accentuated stereotypical Asian features, a technique called “yellowface.” This phenomena elicited controversies in major productions and films, such Madame Butterfly, Miss Saigon and The Good Earth.

Despite the progress that Asian Americans have made in their visibility in the performance arts, lack of Asian American representation in theater still remains a topic of concern. For example, the casting of the 2012 production “Nightingale” in Southern California elicited controversy, with critics pointing out that only two Asian Americans were cast in a play specifically set in ancient China. This recent controversy demonstrates the continuance of the discriminatory phenomena “yellowface.” Meanwhile, the disproportionate underrepresentation of Asian Americans cast in theater productions in New York, even in comparison with other minorities, continues to be a point of dispute.

Several Harvard undergraduates are tackling this issue by creating a new Asian American theater group on campus called “The Dis-ORIENT Players,” whose mission is to “encourage more Asian American participation in the performing arts, as well as to “[spark] dialogue on broader issues of cultural awareness.” The name of the organization possesses much symbolic meaning. According to Karoline Xu, the founder and director of the organization, the hyphen signifies the “hyphenated lives of Asian Americans,” in which Americans of Asian descent are never considered fully American. Meanwhile, the word “dis-ORIENT” has two meanings: a play on the word “oriental,” a term considered offensive by many Asian Americans, as well as a reference to the idea that Asian Americans’ “double lives” can be disorienting.

Xu first conceived of the idea for the theater group last semester when she became involved in Harvard-Radcliffe Dramatic Club and learned about theater groups on campus that focused on specific cultures, including Black Community and Theater (BlackC.A.S.T.) and Harvard College TEATRO!. “I realized that there was no outlet for Asian-American specific performances,” Xu told the HPR. “There is so much talent in the Harvard community and I really wanted to harness that into an organization that promotes Asian American culture through theater and give performance opportunities to interested students without previous experience.”

The organization plans to become officially recognized by Harvard College in the upcoming fall semester. Their first production, called “The Secret to Raising Successful Children,” will focus on modern issues that affect Asian Americans, such as family and cultural tensions and societal expectations. After this production, the organization will continue to hold different productions that address Asian American historical and cultural issues each semester. All students, not just Asian Americans, are welcome to join the staff or audition for roles in productions.

Just as a theater group for black Americans and Latino Americans are important on campus, a theater group tailored to Asian Americans also proves necessary. The Dis-ORIENT Players will provide a much-needed space in which students can open up dialogue about issues that affect the Asian American community, share Asian American experiences and help Asian Americans shape their own identity and image. Such discourse will help challenge the discriminatory “oriental” image often imposed upon them by society, defying the racial stereotypes that hyper-sexualize Asian women, emasculate Asian men and portray all Asians as subservient.

Moreover, encouraging Asian American students to become involved in theater will help break down potential barriers for participation and ultimately help increase visibility of Asian Americans in the performing arts. Even at Harvard, lack of Asian American actors in student productions is evident. The casting for productions is usually very white-dominated, particularly for major roles, and very few minority actors, let alone Asian American actors, can be seen. The exact source of this underrepresentation of Asian Americans in theater is unclear. It could be attributed to lack of Asian Americans who audition, perhaps due to discouragement in Asian families or culture to join theater, the lack of Asian American actors on stage who can serve as role models or the inherent belief that Asian Americans will not be cast in major roles. It could also be attributed to inherent bias on the parts of casting directors who refuse to cast Asians, not only for roles that are specifically designated for Asians, but also for non-race specific roles or roles in which race is specified but does not inherently matter, a decision that may be influenced by audience perception. Most likely, it is a combination of both. Either way, it is important to encourage Asian American participation and help break the cycle of Asian American underrepresentation in theater.

The establishment of an Asian American theater group at Harvard symbolizes a step forward for Asian Americans in achieving racial equity in theater. By serving as a venue for Asian Americans in theater, The Dis-ORIENT Players will help foster diversity and promote cultural awareness in the Cambridge community. Harvard undergraduates, whether of Asian descent or not, should join the organization in the fall as a staff member or audition to be a performer. By doing so, they can support the effort to increase minority involvement in theater.

Photo credit: Audrey Magazine

The Basketball team announced Friday that center Ian Harward will not continue his basketball career at BYU due to injury, which comes in the wake of guard Raul Delgado’s decision to transfer schools.

Harward suffered a back injury in the summer of 2012 and felt effects of that injury for the entirety of last season. The effects of this injury will keep him from continuing his basketball career, but he will continue his studies at BYU.

Ian Harward shoots over the head of an opponent during a game this season. (Photo by Sarah Hill)

“We are sorry to lose Ian to injury,” coach Dave Rose said in a news release. “He is a fantastic teammate and one of the hardest workers we have had in our program. He will be missed in the locker room and on the floor. We wish him and his wife Sarah the very best.”

Harward is a product of Orem High School and joined the BYU team after he served a mission to San Antonio Texas. After red-shirting the 2011–12 season, Harward saw limited minutes in the 2012–13 season. Harward averaged one point per game on 33 percent shooting in 3.9 minutes per game. He recorded a season high of seven points against Notre Dame and a season high of five rebounds against Virginia Tech.

“I’m disappointed that my basketball career is ending,” Harward said in a news release. “I’ve loved being a part of this program and playing with my teammates. They’re a great group of guys and I’ll miss being a part of that. My wife and I are excited to complete our education here at BYU and to move on to the next stage in life.”

The team confirmed Friday, April 26 that Raul Delgado would be transferring schools for his senior season. He will be transferring to Metro State, a Division II team near Denver, Colo. This announcement comes about a year after Delgado announced his decision to transfer to BYU from Western Nebraska Community College.

Delgado started his junior season at BYU with an elbow injury that limited his practice time in his new team’s system. He was never quite the same after that.

Raul Delgado shoots from the three-point arc against Findlay this season. (Photo by Sarah Hill)

At Western Nebraska, Delgado averaged 19.7 points and shot 43 percent from three point range as a sophomore. Delgado saw a significant drop in his numbers during the 2012-13 season at BYU where he averaged only 6.6 minutes per game. Delgado shot just 36 percent from the three-point line last season, and recorded just 1.8 points per game.

Since Delgado is moving from a Division I school to a Division II school he will be allowed to play two more years. He also will be allowed to play immediately rather than have to sit out a year, which he would have to do if he was transferring to another Division I school.

With the loss of these two players, Rose now has three open scholarships to work with for the 2013–14 season.

Batting in the leadoff position, Mask hit a conference-best .399 and also led the league in hits (59) and on-base percentage (.464) and was second in stolen bases with 37. She scored a total of 30 runs, third-best in the conference, and also batted .464 in conference matchups.

Additionally, Mask, who was named America East Player of the Week on April 15 and 29, was named to the All-Conference First Team and All-Academic Team with a 3.35 GPA.

Junior shortstop Brittany Clendenny started every game at shortstop in 2013 for the Terriers and earned her second All-America East First Team nod. This season, she batted .260 and was tied for the team lead team in doubles.

Junior third baseman Megan Volpano was named to the Second Team for the third straight year. Volpano, who batted .284, finished second on the team with a total of 24 runs scored and had 19 RBIs, including three home runs.

Freshman pitcher Lauren Hynes, after a 3-3 record and 2.21 ERA with 25 strikeouts in conference play, was named to the All-Rookie Team.

Senior second baseman Emily Roesch was also placed on the All-Academic Team with a 3.85 GPA.

Students react with excitement, as well as disappointment, after hearing the results of the 2013 Undergraduate Students Association Council election Thursday night.

When asked to explain the absence of these reports, assistant dean for campus life Kate Burke said that Undergraduate Judicial Affairs is “in transition,” and claimed that the next report will be issued before the end of the summer. This response is simply unacceptable. No transition can excuse two years of inaction. Over the last few years, there has been significant turnover in many parts of the administration, most recently with senior vice president and senior advisor to the president David Spalding being named dean of the College of Business at Iowa State University. Nonetheless, administrative positions have not simply been left empty; they have been replaced by interim hires. One could reasonably expect that procedural actions, such as the release of annual COS reports, would still occur on schedule. In spite of this, members of the Classes of 2014 and 2015 have not seen a single COS annual report issued about the time that they have been on campus. It seems nearly farcical that a time of transition is put forward as an excuse for irresponsibility on a major task.

The continued failure to release annual COS reports bolsters student complaints of administrative inaction and lack of transparency. While the community has seen much recent discussion over sexual assault, the dialogue has been almost completely devoid of hard data, limiting the community’s ability to reach a shared understanding of events on campus. While COS data admittedly suffers from the widely recognized problem that sexual assault is an under-reported crime, the information would nonetheless be useful. Many people have wondered whether the College has been adequately punishing those found guilty of sexual assault. If the COS released these reports in a timely fashion, we might be able to intelligently discuss this question. At this point in time, we simply cannot.

The Committee on Standards must prioritize the completion and timely publication of its annual reports for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 academic years. There is no legitimate excuse for further delay. More importantly, the COS needs to commit to releasing future annual reports in a prompt fashion, such that the College never again finds itself in a situation like the one it currently faces.

The Fort Follies were founded by two long time cyclist racers Christi Leong and Whitney Shultz. They created the group in hopes of promoting the empowerment of women in the FoCo area to be active and impactful members of our cycling community through riding, racing and philanthropy.

“We strongly believe in a positive, supportive, and inclusive team, suited for women of all abilities and disciplines,” said Leong.

“Folly is defined as lacking good sense or an act of foolishness, and when thinking about our team name, we thought — really, what’s more foolish or lacking sense than five hour rides in the dead of winter, hucking your mountain bike off a big drop, or racing a criterium at 30 miles per hour. You bet we’re lacking some sense to outsiders, but we have a ton of fun doing it together,” Leong said.

This group will be putting on a fundraiser that will surely match their spirit. Their “Sadie Hawkin’s Dance” is ‘40s and ‘50s themed and will rock around the clock with a live band, competitions, prizes, food and beer.

HWY 287, who will be performing live at Road 34, is sure to make this crossroads one to remember. The four piece collaboration has members from well-known bands all across Fort Collins.

“This Americana-country band is sure to get you swinging around the dance floor,” said Leong. This band will play both original and cover songs.

“We already play a couple cover songs from the rock era,” said guitarist Dee Tyler. “We are just always try to play good dancing music so that everyone can join in.”

Some of the friendly competitions will include best tan line (both jersey and short), best costume and a track stand competition.

The grand prize is a bike frameset from Aluboo bikes; other prizes include a wide range of goodies from gift certificates to everyone’s favorite cupcakery Buttercream, jerseys from local breweries Odell’s and New Belgium, all the way to a steamboat condo for a night.

Road 34, as the host of this event, will be providing all beer and food. Food and beer is not included in price of admission, however, which is $6 if you come by car and $5 if you come by bike.

The Road 34 bike bar has been a supportive backbone to the Fort Follies ever since their group was born.

“We have been working with the Fort Follies since their inception,” said Greg McDaniel, bartender at Road 34. “They have been coming in after rides to cool off and have meetings for quite some time now.”

One hundred percent of all proceeds from the door will go to the Fort Follies. This funding will go towards the Follies’ races they are hosting this upcoming summer.

The Fort Follies and HWY 287 will be sure to host a swinging event, so spin whatever wheels you’ve got down to Road 34 for the Sadie Hawkins dance event.

Entertainment Writer Emily Senkosky can be reached at entertainment@collegian.com.

It is a widely accepted notion that live music is better than putting in headphones or listening to the stereo. But why? If the point of music is to leave the world, don’t headphones accomplish that task better by blocking off the external completely? You’re right, they do — but they also isolate us. Listening to music by yourself is wonderful at times, but it can also be lonely. Listening to music with people lets you bring friends with you as you teleport to a brand new dimension. And while the dance room stereo lets you bring your friends along for the ride, it excludes a special group from the adventure: the musicians. The understanding between the artist and the patron is a unique mixture of respect, admiration and communication and is almost entirely lost without the presence of the artist. Unfortunately, Beethoven is long dead, so the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra will have to represent the ideas he stood for.

There are a million good reasons for going to the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, and the sheer amount of class that radiates from listening to classical music is enough to impress anyone. You don’t have to be an old person to enjoy classical selections, and spoiler alert: The cello solo near the end is some damn good music.

Image Source: Quincena Musical, under Creative Commons

Contact Kamin Kahrizi at kkahrizi@dailycal.org.

The post A weekend with Ludwig appeared first on The Daily Californian.

By NICHOLAS MILANES
Originally Published in the Fordham Observer
Blog Editor
Published: May 1, 2013

As final exams draw near, easily distracted as the collegiate mind with summer approaching, we have all asked ourselves what to do this summer. Here’s an idea: why not write a book?

Besides being a great way to fill the gap of time between Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, it’s a great opportunity, since publishers like HarperCollins are actively seeking young college-age authors. New Adult Fiction is making waves; HarperCollins wants to help young authors make a splash.

New Adult Fiction is an emerging genre centered on college-age protagonists and characters. While plenty of us enjoy Young Adult (YA) novels like “The Hunger Games,” there’s no denying that as high school shrinks smaller and smaller in our horizon, we all crave something that hits a little closer to home.

“YA has always been really popular, and New Adult is actually a much wider world than YA,” said Tessa Woodward, editor at Avon Books, a HarperCollins imprint. “High school is a very enclosed space—you know, it’s just high school. But once you have these kids get out into the world, there’s such a broader range of things that they can experience. The younger writers aren’t afraid of having crazy emotional backstories for their characters.”

The New Adult Genre is free from the constraints of many long-established genres, but has roots in the “Twilight” franchise, which pushed the boundaries of sexual subject matter within YA novels and led to “Fifty Shades of Grey”—a trilogy whose success lies in its sexual frankness.

“YA is what we call a ‘closed door,’” Pamela Spengler-Jaffee said, director of publicity at Avon. “There might be something happening, but you don’t know, because of the readership of YA, and the rules of YA. For the most part, if they’re having any sort of relations, writers don’t write about it.”

Even if the story you want to write doesn’t involve whips and/or chains, a college-age story is likely to be a little less “Degrassi” and a little more “Girls”. New Adult presents an opportunity for writers to tell stories that are raw and real.

This is not to say a New Adult writer is constrained to college matters. “They’re not all set in colleges; it’s just that age group,” Lucia Macro said, vice president and executive editor at Avon. “Some of them have those situations that deal with college or university, but some of them do not; a lot of protagonists are forced into certain circumstances.” Many New Adult protagonists must skip college and live in the real world. New Adult authors are no strangers to confrontational subjects such as rape and unwanted pregnancy.

New Adult is not only a new genre, but a new form of community. Digital publishing is the lifeblood of the pioneering New Adult author, and blogs are the heart. “There are super readers on Goodreads,” Spengler-Jaffee said. “One is this woman named Maryse. She has a well-followed blog—when she recommends a new adult book, all of a sudden, 500 people put it on their shelves to be read. She’s like the Oprah of New Adult. She’s hosting a New Adult reader festival next month—the Orlando Book Bash. There’s a whole slew of authors confirmed to attend.”

The potential audience is growing alongside the genre. New Adult authors have been self-publishing online, on blogs and dedicated websites where fans can easily access them. Publishing houses are now beginning to distribute New Adult novels in the e-book format, making it quicker, cheaper and easier to get an author’s work in the hands of readers everywhere. A growing number of readers find themselves more willing to pay five dollars to download a book to their phone or e-reader than they are to shell out twenty-some dollars for a hardback.

The possibilities are endless for innovative stories and for publishing opportunities. You no longer need prior publishing experience in order to be published. “People are writing who aren’t necessarily taking creative writing classes. They’re not necessarily learning all of the rules of, ‘well, this is what a story should be,’” and there’s a lot more freedom in that. They say, ‘this is what I want to read, so I’m gonna write it down.’” There’s no better time than now to jot down those ideas that have bounced around in your head for so long. “It’s frontier era here. It’s exciting.”

Aspiring authors, send your submissions to Tessa Woodward, at tessa.woodward@harpercollins.com, or submit directly online at www.avonimpulse.com.

Nine out of the 13 council positions were contested in this year’s USAC elections.

The Bruins United slate claimed six of the council seats, while LET’S ACT! secured four seats and Bruin Alliance did not receive any seats. There will be three independents on council next year.

Here is a list of all the USAC candidates and the percentage of votes they each received:

• President:

  • Taylor Bazley, Bruin Alliance (eliminated)

  • Carly Yoshida, Bruins United (48.2 percent)

  • John Joanino, LET’S ACT! (51.8 percent)

• Internal vice president:

  • Lana El-Farra, LET’S ACT! (47.3 percent)

  • Avi Oved, Bruins United (52.6 percent)

• External vice president:

  • Maryssa Hall, LET’S ACT! (55 percent)

  • Nicole Fossier, Bruin Alliance (45 percent)

• General representatives:

  • Charmaine Campbell, LET’S ACT! (eliminated)

  • Devin Murphy, LET’S ACT! (eliminated)

  • Lizzy Naameh, LET’S ACT!

  • Sam Haws, Bruins United

  • Sunny Singh, Bruins United

  • Avinoam Baral, Bruins United (eliminated)

• Academic Affairs commissioner:

  • Uyen Hoang, LET’S ACT! (46.9 percent)

  • Darren Ramalho, Bruins United (53.1 percent)

• Financial Supports commissioner:

  • Lauren Rogers, Bruins United (54.1 percent)

  • Brenda Gutierrez, LET’S ACT! ( 45.9 percent)

• Facilities commissioner:

  • Armen Hadjimanoukian, Bruins United (50.9 percent)

  • Anthony Montalvo, LET’S ACT! (49.1 percent)

• Campus Events commissioner: Jessica Kim, Independent (100 percent)

• Community Service commissioner: Omar Arce, Independent (100 percent)

• Cultural Affairs commissioner: Jessica Trumble, LET’S ACT! (100 percent)

• Student Wellness commissioner: Savannah Dianne Badalich, Independent (100 percent)

Students also rejected the Bruin Diversity Initiative, and approved the Bruin Bash Referendum in this year’s undergraduate student government elections.

The Bruin Diversity Initiative, which would have increased student fees by $9.93 per quarter to support programs related to community service, diversity, retention and college preparation, failed. About 52 percent of the votes it received were “no” votes.

The Bruin Bash Referendum, which will increase student fees by $1.33 per quarter starting in the fall, passed with 60 percent of the vote.

The referendum will create a fund for Bruin Bash and return 33 cents to students through financial aid as dictated by University of California policy.

Compiled by Naheed Rajwani, Bruin senior staff.

Former quarterback Case Keenum is the leader in many passing categories in the UH record books. He now has a chance to showcase his skills for the Houston Texans. | File Photo/The Daily Cougar

A year after becoming the most prolific passer in NCAA history at UH, former quarterback Case Keenum is beginning to impress his NFL coaches.

“He’s got an excellent chance to be a fine player in this league. This (offseason program) is very important for him,” said Texans head coach Gary Kubiak to the Houston Chronicle.

“I’ve been watching him every day — we’re in phase two (of the offseason conditioning program) and I see how far he’s come. He knows what we’re doing now. That stuff (playbook) comes a lot easier. You can see his talent take over.”

Keenum will compete in the Houston Texans’ rookie mini camp this weekend because he was on the practice squad last season. After a year in the system carrying the clipboard behind starting quarterback Matt Schaub, Keenum has learned a lot, Kubiak said. So much so, that his small frame is not much of a factor anymore.

“We’ve talked about his size (6-1, 209), but I think that’ll go out the window now,” Kubiak said. “I really like what he’s done. I plan on playing him a lot in preseason, and we’ll see how he does.”

sports@thedailycougar.com

John Pauly. Photo courtesy of Marquette University

John Pauly will step down from his current position of provost at the end of the month and join the faculty of the College of Communication, the university announced in a news brief Wednesday afternoon.

Pauly, who has served as provost since 2008, will make the shift “to pursue his passion for teaching,” the release read. Before becoming provost, Pauly was the dean of the College of Communication for two years. He was also a professor at Saint Louis University for 13 years and the chairman of that university’s communication department.

“I appreciate the opportunity both Father Wild and Father Pilarz gave me to be the academic leader of such a fine university,” Pauly said in the brief. “I am proud that the initiatives of the last five years have helped Marquette enhance its academic quality and reputation during one of the most challenging economic periods in higher education history.”

As provost, Pauly has overseen academic budgeting, institutional planning and the 10 academic deans and the dean of the libraries. Margaret Faut Callahan, currently the dean of the College of Nursing, will serve as the interim provost.

“John has left his mark on this campus through his leadership and commitment to collaboration with colleagues across the university,” University President the Rev. Scott Pilarz said in the release. “He was integral to increasing the diversity of the freshman class by more than 60 percent, reorganizing Marquette’s Center for Teaching and Learning to strengthen its support of faculty teaching, and increasing the university’s external research funding.”

According to the release, the university plans to undergo a nationwide search with the goal of having a permanent provost in place by July 1, 2014.

University spokesman Brian Dorrington said Pilarz and Pauly “worked on (the decision) together” and that Pilarz has been “very supportive.”

“The timing worked out in terms of university preparing for the future,” Dorrington said. “You look back at what Dr. Pauly has done, and his successes speak for themselves.”

Callahan thanked Pauly for his work and said financial stability, academic excellence and better recognizing the university’s staff are among her top goals as interim provost.

“The key here is that we have our eyes set firmly on the vision of the university, and then as a group we come together and decide how we can get to that point,” Callahan said. “It’s a big job with a very big responsibility, but no one can do this job or any senior leadership job without great teams.”

Callahan said her work on the university’s committees for its strategic plan and re-accreditation process, among other positions, had prepared her for the job.

“I’m so grateful to my friend and colleague John Pauly, who has really set us on a strong path for the future here at Marquette,” Callahan said. “I look forward to working with all members of the Marquette community in helping to move the university forward. We’re really positioned well now with the strategic plan, and I think our work going forward is very clear.”

College of Communication Dean Lori Bergen, Pauly’s successor in that position, was unavailable for comment Wednesday afternoon. Former University President the Rev. Robert A. Wild, who was president when Pauly took office in 2008, was also unavailable.

Thanks to some up and coming technology, the classic arms race is taking a protective spin on personal defense. Below are five new and developing materials that have the potential to change the future and save lives.

BOMB-PROOF CONCRETE

While the concept may sound mythical at best, it may be surprising to learn that such a material has already been used to construct several government buildings among other things in Australia.

Engineers at the University of Liverpool in the UK have been exploring several options to strengthen the common construction go-to and they seem to have found the perfect mixture. This new concrete contains a much lower water-cement ratio than in traditional concrete and only utilizes silica sand particles as an aggregate which is much more fine than traditional crushed stone or gravel. The concrete is then reinforced with embedded steel fibers that possess extremely high compression ratings.  Scientists claim that the tensile strength of the new material may be up to ten times stronger than that of traditional concrete.

Engineers have been testing the material with controlled explosions and so far have gathered positive findings. Because of its strength, the new concrete is less likely to disintegrate and turn into deadly shrapnel upon a close range blast impact.

The higher curing temperatures and limited shaping abilities of the new concrete are a small price to pay for its potentially life-saving qualities.

EXPLOSION-PROOF GLASS

Of course, you have heard of Plexiglas (which isn’t actually a glass at all, it’s a thermoplastic!) and it’s shatter resistant abilities. You are probably also already aware of the greenish Harry Potter novel-thick blast-proof glass panels that protect important world figures like President Obama and the Pope. But what about thin, lightweight blast-resistant glass? Such things may be headed for our very own windows within the next couple of years.

Collaboration between scientists at the University of Missouri and the University of Sydney, Australia as funded by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate are working towards developing such a material. They have high hopes that the new glass will be able to withstand the rattles of an earthquake, the winds of a hurricane, and the blast force of an explosion.

Such panels are actually made up of a weave of tiny glass fibers, thinner than the width of your average human hair, soaked in liquid plastic and bound by an adhesive. Special engineering has rendered the panes transparent and the whole thing is only about a quarter of an inch thick. Preliminary tests with small panels of the new material have proven highly successful. In one trial, the entire front side of the pane remained intact after a close-range detonation while the other side merely cracked but resisted shatter. Fingers are crossed for success on a larger scale.

BLAST-PROOF FABRIC

Imagine if there was a miracle fabric —a fabric that could withstand multiple blasts and still maintain its original integrity. Thanks to recent efforts, there’s no need to imagine such a material any longer.

Made by Patrick Hood, creator of the fabric and managing director of Auxetix Ltd., Zetix fabric defies physics by utilizing the principle of helical-auxetics, where objects increase in size when experiencing an increase in tension. This principle is rather counter-intuitive.

Imagine a bungee cord. When you put tension on the cord, the strands stretch and the cord becomes thinner. However, with Zetix fabric, an additional fiber is wound around the original cord. When taut, the secondary fiber stretches tight, causing the cord to bulge outwards.

The incredible application of this material becomes evident when it is woven into a fabric. As a sheet, each thread undergoes the principle explained above when under stress. The bulging of each thread creates thousands of pores that allow airflow but are small enough to block flying shrapnel. Once the discharge passes, the fabric returns to its original form, ready to protect against a second explosion.

Not only does the fabric have vast potential for applications, it is also extremely cost-efficient. It is made up of the same expensive state-of-the-art materials used in today’s blast-resilient fabrics, but in much smaller quantities and in junction with cheaper materials.

Auxetix Ltd. has entered into discussion with other companies for mass production, however it is not yet known how soon the material will be out in the commonplace market.

BOMB-PROOF WALLPAPER

This is probably the greatest mind-warp of them all. Why just have blast-proof concrete walls when you can reinforce with wallpaper as well? Bomb-proof wallpaper is the brainchild of Berry Plastics and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The X-Flex Adhesive sheets are literally of the peel and paste variety that can be rolled over any surface in a matter of minutes. The X-Flex Adhesive sheets can prevent a wall from buckling in and collapsing following a blast impact, and that means safer structures and saved lives.

Courtesy of www.prlog.org
When a bungee cord stretches, it narrows. Zetix fabric works in the opposite fashion and widens with tension.

The No. 38 BYU men’s tennis team will play the No. 32 Memphis Tigers Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament at the University of Mississippi.

The Cougars received an at-large bid after a narrow loss to No. 8 Pepperdine in the conference tournament tennis match. It is BYU’s fourth appearance in the NCAA tournament under current head coach Brad Pearce, the last coming in 2011.

The Tigers won the Conference USA tournament, beating top seeded Tulsa and receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. This is their second straight appearance in the tournament.

BYU is led by first team all-WCC singles player Patrick Kawka. Ranked no. 35 nationally, Kawka led the Cougars with 21 victories. Kawka and sophomore Francis Sargeant team up as the No.1 doubles team for the Cougars and also received first team all-WCC honors.

The Tigers are led by Conference USA Player of the Year Connor Glennon. Memphis is riding a seven-match winning streak, including two wins over top 25 teams.

This will be the first meeting between BYU and Memphis. The winner will face the winner of Ole Miss and Lehigh on Saturday. Ole Miss is the overall 6^th seed in the NCAA tournament and ranked 7^th nationally.

The match will begin at noon ET and live scoring is available through Ole Miss’ website at olemisssports.com.

Patrick Kawka leads the Cougars into the first round of the NCAA Tournament this weekend against Memphis. (Photo by Chris Bunker)

For fifteen kopeks, players can play an arcade game based off of the game polo that utilizes a decapitated goat head as a ball. Jason Torchinsky, an artist featured at UCLA’s 2013 Game Art Festival, discusses the ongoing hoax surrounding his arcade cabinet “Ulak-Tartysh.”

Original Story: Austin’s winding Red River Street may be straightened out to accommodate the new UT medical school, according to the new UT Campus Master Plan presented by architecture professor Lawrence Speck at Wednesday’s UT System Board of Regents meeting.

The 2012 master plan, which will help shape the University’s growth for the next 25 to 30 years, focused mainly on the architectural efficiency of the central campus area, which is to the east of San Jacinto Boulevard and currently encompasses the School of Law, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs and Fine Arts buildings. The presentation also focused on the land that will be designated for the planned medical school. Speck said the last campus master plan was published in 1996.

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The  UT Campus Master Plan divides the campus into three areas — core, central and east.

President William Powers Jr. said the master plan is critical to the expansion of the campus.

“We have engaged historically in a master plan process to look out over the next 25 years and make sure what we’re planning and doing is consistent, rather than just making decisions on an ad hoc basis,” Powers said.

Speck emphasized the need for increased density in central campus but said this density can include lawns and other social spaces.

“Right now, central campus is really nobody’s favorite part of campus,” Speck said. “There’s not much shade in the area – it’s just not a place where there’s a lot of lively campus activity, and we want to create more lively spaces for those activities to occur.”

Speck said the UT Medical District land presents multiple architectural challenges, citing five state- and city-designated Capitol view corridors — sightlines where the capitol must be visible — as an example. He said one of the biggest impediments to building on the land is the winding Red River Street, which divides the blocks unevenly. The plan proposes a street realignment which would put Red River on a grid with surrounding streets.

“[Red River Street] has never carried much traffic, but it’s a very wide street,” Speck said. “It creates strangely shaped parcels of land, where the grid [that used to be in place] made for much more sensible parcels.”

The master plan proposes multiple other changes, which will be implemented in stages over the next five to 10 years. The Frank Erwin Center, Collections Deposit Library and Denton A. Cooley Pavilion are all slated for removal, while other sites will be converted for short-term use for the medical school, such as the 15th Street parking garage.

UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa asked about the accessibility of the third section of the UT campus, which is land to the east of Interstate 35.

“In looking at this plan, the only part where continuity seems to be somewhat compromised is the flow of people and individuals to that east side,” Cigarroa said. “Are there corridors where you can facilitate that path?”

Speck said he was confident that such corridors existed but also said this was not the focus of the current plan.

“At Manor Road, there’s a good connection across I-35, but we have not really fully utilized that connection,” Speck said. “That’s going to be absolutely critical, that we strengthen that connection … [but] this phase did not emphasize that so much.”

For the second year in a row, more students have committed to the University than expected, Miller wrote. Last year, 55.8 percent of admitted students committed to Brown, a six-year high. This year’s 60 percent yield rate is the University’s highest since 1998, the first year for which such data is available from the Office of Institutional Research.

The University anticipated an incoming class of 1,515 students, or 57 percent of accepted students. Instead, about 1,589 have committed to Brown. The total number of students in the class of 2017 is not yet final because some students have secured extensions on the May 1 commitment deadline due to financial reasons, Miller wrote.

But the Admission Office expects the number of committed students to decrease as some may decide to take gap years or attend other universities to which they are admitted from waitlists, Miller wrote.

The Admission Office will likely admit only “a handful” of students off the waitlist this year, Miller wrote. No students on last year’s waitlist were offered admission.

This year is the first in a three-year process of implementing former President Ruth Simmons’ recommendations for reducing the number of admission spots for recruited athletes.

Following the Corporation’s approval of Simmons’ recommendations last year, the Admission Office was required to cut 20 spots reserved for recruited athletes — from 225 to 205 — within the subsequent three years, The Herald previously reported. Two hundred and sixteen recruits — 10 fewer than last year — were admitted, Miller wrote.

About a week ago, a guy at a party swept me off my feet — and right away, we both knew there was an instant connection and energy neither of us could ignore. He lives a state away but is moving to Eugene in June. We’ve been talking via text and phone calls every single day since we met at the party. The only problem is he is pushing we get intimate a little quicker than I was anticipating. We’ve only seen each other face-to-face for a few hours, but throughout the past week, we have really made an effort to get to know each other. I am really attracted to him, however, I am just afraid pushing intimacy could hinder my friendship with him and, more than anything, I don’t want to lose his friendship. What should I do?

Sincerely,

Flattered Yet Cautious.

—-

Dear Flattered Yet Cautious,

First, it’s great you found a guy you can connect with. However, if your gut is telling you not to move too fast, don’t. I’m curious — how is he pushing intimacy with you? Is he being aggressive (verbally) about it? If so, definitely express to him your hesitations about getting together too fast; tell him you’d like to take the time to get to know each other more. Because the reality is, even if you are speaking frequently and already feel close to him, you have only known him for a week — enough time to sense a connection but not enough time to truly develop it.

Be open with him about your feelings and concerns. If he doesn’t respect your wishes, he’s not worth it. If he is sensitive to your feelings and really values the connection you two already have, he would be willing, glad even, to do what makes you feel comfortable. Don’t be afraid to be honest with him and go at your own pace.

If you’re worried about ruining a potentially great platonic relationship with him by becoming more than just friends, it’s up to you to decide what you feel is more important: A great friendship or a potentially great romance. The fact that you’re even questioning your desire to be with him romantically may be evidence of your lack of feelings for him. Or, maybe you’re always hesitant in these situations. I don’t know, but take your time with it. There’s no harm in taking it slow. Time will allow you to better see what you want out of the relationship — whether you want to be friends or more.

Sincerely,

Katherine

Minnesota head coach Geoff Young couldn’t even distinguish his current No. 1 singles player, Rok Bonin, at first sight.

Bonin, the stud senior on the Gophers roster, has an identical twin brother, Enej, who Young also recruited.

“I couldn’t tell who was who at the time,” Young chuckled. “I know I knew both their names, but even when the visit ended I couldn’t tell them apart.”

Young has gotten familiar with Rok Bonin since then — and for a good reason.

Bonin is the top singles player on Minnesota’s roster and the only singles player on the team to earn a bid to the NCAA singles tournament May 22-27.

His brother is the No. 1 singles player for the University of Denver and will also compete in late May in the NCAA singles tournament.

“We’re still really competitive,” Rok Bonin said. “We both performed well with our teams throughout our careers, and it was fun to watch that.”

He said he and his brother played against each other often as kids growing up in Slovenia, but he has never faced his brother at the collegiate level. He said he knows it would be a competitive match because it always has been.

“There was never a clear winner between us,” Bonin said. “I’d win some matches. He’d win some matches. We were pretty even growing up.”

They’ve remained even through college, which leaves many wondering how much potential they would have had on the same team.

But that option was never in the cards.

“They were not really tied up with looking to go to the same school,” Young said. “They both came on campus for a visit, and Rok really liked the school and was really impressed with the facilities. I think that sold it for him.”

Bonin said he was impressed with the school, but he remembered his brother wasn’t necessarily in the same boat.

“He really wanted to check other schools out and visit other coaches … but I knew what I wanted,” Bonin said.

Bonin has steadily improved since he committed to Minnesota and said he knows he made the right choice.

As the only senior on the squad, he has emerged as a definite leader on the team, though he doesn’t admit it.

“We don’t have any captains, and I think the leadership role is shared by mostly everyone,” he said. “I had the best results this season, but I don’t think I had a specific role as the leader.”

His coach said Bonin has been the backbone of the team this season.

The Gophers will rely on him against tough competition in the NCAA tournament.

Bonin’s playing career will end soon, but he will return to the Gophers next season as a volunteer assistant coach.

“I’m proud of my senior year and everything I accomplished, but I would like to do more,” he said. “I wish I had another year, but I guess in a way I kind of do.”

Kirkland will hold a gathering in the Senior Common Room at 5 p.m. on Thursday to remember Li.

In their email, Kirkland House Masters Tom C. and Verena A. Conley and resident dean Cory T. Way urged any community members in need of counseling services to reach out to them, House tutors, or University Health Services.

“The news is disquieting for everyone at Kirkland, especially for the students, faculty, and staff throughout the College who have known her,” they wrote. “We mourn her passing.”

—Check TheCrimson.com for a forthcoming obituary.

Going into its 26th season, the popular concert series not only aims to spike up the interest of Salt Lake City hipsters dawning fedora hats with bands like Belle and Sebastian, The National and MGMT, but also attracts a more eclectic crowd of listeners with artists like Erykah Badu and Kid Cudi.

Arts Council head Casey Jarman said the lineup was deliberately diverse.

“But, [we] can’t satisfy everybody,” Jarman said.

The concerts will run from July 18 throughSept. 5. With nine shows and 18 artists, music aficionados should have more than their fair share of tunes to keep their wondering ears content.

Continuing from last year’s new founded tradition, each show will be $5. The Arts Council also offers season tickets at $35 available for purchase online. Gates open at 5 p.m. with music starting at 7 p.m.

Starting this year, the Arts Council is hoping to give Salt Lakers a taste of a traditional music festival, with back-to-back shows on Aug. 7 and 8.

Here’s this year’s lineup:

July 18 – Belle & Sebastian, Blitzen Trapper

September 5 – MGMT

k.vastag@chronicle.utah.edu

Homeowner Ariel Castro was charged while his brothers, Pedro and Onil Castro, were held but faced no immediate charges.

Beth Serrano, sister of Amanda Berry, reads a statement to the media after the arrival of Berry Wednesday, May 8, 2013,at her home in Cleveland. Berry is one of three women missing for about a decade and apparently held captive in the house in Cleveland police said. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

The men were in custody and couldn’t be reached for comment. Their brother-in-law has said the family is “shocked” after hearing about the women at the home.

The three women were subjected to prolonged sexual and psychological abuse and suffered miscarriages, a city councilman briefed on the case said Wednesday.

Councilman Brian Cummins said that many details remain unclear, including the number of pregnancies and the conditions under which the miscarriages occurred. He also said the women were kept in the basement for some time without having access to the rest of the house. Police said they were apparently bound with ropes and chains.

The horrific allegations came out as police built a case against the three brothers.

“We know that the victims have confirmed miscarriages, but with who, how many and what conditions we don’t know,” Cummins said. He added: “It sounds pretty gruesome.”

Two of the young women, meanwhile, were welcomed home by jubilant crowds of loved ones and neighbors with balloons and banners Wednesday. The families of Gina DeJesus and Amanda Berry protectively took them inside, past hundreds of reporters and onlookers. Neither woman spoke, and their families pleaded for patience and time alone.

“Give us time and privacy to heal,” said Sandra Ruiz, DeJesus’ aunt. Ruiz thanked police for rescuing the women and urged the public not to retaliate against the suspects or their families.

The third captive, Michelle Knight, 32, was reported in good condition at Metro Health Medical Center, which a day earlier had reported that all three victims had been released. There was no immediate explanation from the hospital.

The Associated Press does not usually identify people who may be victims of sexual assault, but the names of the women were widely circulated by their families, friends and law enforcement authorities for years during their disappearance.

In a development that astonished and exhilarated much of Cleveland, the three women were rescued on Monday after Berry, 27, broke through a screen door at the Castro house and told a 911 dispatcher: “Help me. I’m Amanda Berry. I’ve been kidnapped, and I’ve been missing for 10 years and I’m, I’m here, I’m free now.”

Law enforcement officials left many questions unanswered, including how the women were taken captive and who fathered Berry’s 6-year-old daughter.

Neighbors said that Ariel Castro took part in the search for one of the missing women, helped pass out fliers, performed music at a fundraiser for her and attended a candlelight vigil, where her comforted her mother. As recently as 2005, Castro was accused of repeated acts of violence against his children’s mother.

On NBC’s “Today” show, Police Chief Michael McGrath said he was “absolutely” sure police did everything they could to find the women over the years. He disputed claims by neighbors that officers had been called to the house before for suspicious circumstances.

“We have no record of those calls coming in over the past 10 years,” McGrath said. On Tuesday, some neighbors said that they had told police years ago about hearing pounding on the doors of the home and seeing a naked woman crawling in the yard.

DeJesus, who disappeared in 2004 and is in her early 20s, arrived home in the afternoon Wednesday to chants of “Gina! Gina!” Wearing a bright yellow hooded sweatshirt, she was led through the crowd and into the house by a woman who put her arm around the young woman’s shoulders and held her tight.

Her father pumped his fist after arriving home with his daughter, and he urged people across the country to watch over the children in their neighborhoods — including other people’s kids.

“Too many kids these days come up missing, and we always ask this question: How come I didn’t see what happened to that kid? Why? Because we chose not to,” he said

Berry arrived at her sister’s home, which was similarly festooned with dozens of colorful balloons and signs, one reading “We Never Lost Hope Mandy.” Hundreds cheered wildly but weren’t able to get a glimpse of Berry as she went in through the back.

A 2005 domestic-violence filing in Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court accused Ariel Castro of twice breaking the nose of his children’s mother, knocking out a tooth, dislocating each shoulder and threatening to kill her and her daughters three or four times in a year.

The filing for a protective order by Grimilda Figueroa also said that Castro frequently abducted her daughters and kept them from her.

In 1993, Castro was arrested on a domestic-violence charge and spent three days in jail before he was released on bail. A grand jury did not return an indictment against him, according to court documents, which don’t detail the allegations. It was unclear who brought the charge.

Meanwhile, the aunt of a 14-year-old girl who disappeared in 2007 near the house where the missing women were found said the girl’s mother has spoken with the FBI.

“We’re hoping for our miracle, too,” said Debra Summers, who described her niece, Ashley Summers, as not the type of girl who would leave without coming back.

The FBI did not immediately return a call about the case and whether it was connected to that of the three missing women.

The Castros’ brother-in-law Juan Alicea said the arrests of his wife’s brothers had left relatives “as blindsided as anyone else” in their community. He said he hadn’t been to the home of his brother-in-law Ariel Castro since the early 1990s but had eaten dinner with Castro at a different brother’s house shortly before the arrests were made Monday.

Shot on 16 mm film on a mere $7,000 budget, 2004’s “Primer” stands among the brainiest sci-fi movies ever made. But the technical story didn’t depend on a multi-million dollar Michael Bay budget — the director even filmed most scenes in one take. Jargon-laden dialogue made for a dense but rewarding script about a time-travel device that goes awry.

Nearly ten years later, former engineer Shane Carruth returns with a film even more puzzling, although the information lies in the experimental filmmaking instead of the script. Taking cues from Terrence Malick’s playbook, “Upstream Color” depends on the non-verbal cues of its actors and repetition of parallel imagery to drive the narrative.

But unlike “The Tree of Life,” Carruth aims for a darker, microscopic approach to the story. Equally disorienting and emotionally palpable, a man abducts Kris, an effects artist (Amy Seimetz). The mysterious figure uses a bioengineered grub to manipulate her. After a grisly surgery involving a pig, Kris recovers with no memory.

Eventually, she bonds with a trader named Jeff (Carruth), who shares a similar experience, and the two fall in love in the unspecified dystopia. Detailing the plot of “Upstream Color” poses problems because the film challenges audiences with fractured shards of information rather than a linear arc.

While the visuals remain arresting throughout the film, the experience feels dependent on your ability to empathize with the stone-faced acting. Many of Carruth’s lines feel stilted, but Seimetz drives the emotional arcs successfully. “Upstream Color” remains Carruth’s brainchild. And as the producer, writer, director, editor, cinematographer, composer and distributor — the film secures his position as a true autodidact. “Primer” wasn’t a fluke.

“Upstream Color” disorients, but for a true purpose. Shards of individual scenes and moments explore humanity’s loss of connection to the natural world. After abandoning an epic adventure, “A Topiary,” Carruth’s newest, represents his most personal work to date. The barrage of close-ups creates a singular tactile experience alongside a creeping electronic score.

Kris experiences the implanted grub moving throughout her limbs, more gripping than the chest-bursting scene in “Alien.” On screen, the digital and natural worlds somehow affect one another — close-ups show an illogical relationship with nature for Kris and Jeff. In one scene, the two recite “Walden” to each other in between swimming laps.

Ultimately, Carruth aims for Stanley Kubrick’s level of artistry. “Upstream Color” may fall slightly short, but the confusing experience gives darkly emotional strokes of genius that conventional movies fail to live up to. Carruth fills the movie with tantalizing visual riddles that reward multiple viewings. Even with its shortcomings and deliberate uncertainty, the movie marks the work of an auteur.

Albert Bimper Jr., assistant professor of special education, counseling and student affairs, researches race and diversity issues in sports as well as the experiences of student athletes in higher education. His goal is to discover how the experiences of student athletes, particularly non-white student athletes, can be enhanced to improve their education and increase graduation rates.

Bimper completed his Ph. D. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Cultural Studies in Education at the University of Texas at Austin.

Bimper said his passion in the areas of sports, education and social justice stems from his own experiences as a former collegiate student athlete playing football at Colorado State and professionally for the Indianapolis Colts.

“I was a student athlete, and I played professionally. I wanted to think deeper about the experiences that I had and use that for a bigger cause,” he said.

Bimper said he is looking for ways to better understand the experiences of student athletes of color at K-State in order to enhance the experiences of future students, ultimately leading to higher graduation rates and more success. Currently, K-State leads the Big 12 in student athlete graduation rates and has for the past four years. Additionally, the K-State football team had 11 Acaddmic All-Americans this past season. Senior guard Rodney McGruder of the men’s basketball team was also an Acadmic All-American.

“We have to account for cultural differences so that when student athletes come to an environment like K-State, that we are attending to their needs so that we can better their experiences as they head toward graduation day,” Bimper said. “We want student athletes to graduate and be successful citizens after graduation.”

Kyle Colnar, sophomore in accounting, said it may be tough for student athletes who are from different cultural backgrounds.

“I think that it might be tough for someone with a different cultural background, such as someone from a large city, to socially integrate with people at a place like K-State just because their way of life and views might be different,” Colnar said. “But I think K-State is a good place to come, because I feel that people can come from all over the world to study here and feel comfortable and accepted.”

The potential difficulties that Colnar mentions are exactly why Bimper is researching this issue. Bimper said his qualitative research has shed light on the challenges that some student athletes of color face and that he plans on using his findings to help understand how the issues can be addressed and changes implemented.

Bimper said he believes that athletics are a perfect means to look into and act on these types of cultural issues.

“I think that college sports are on a platform and can speak to a lot of these cultural issues that can move our country further along in terms of progress,” Bimper said. “It can unite people that maybe otherwise wouldn’t ever speak to each other. Sports are just one avenue that can bring these kind of conversations to light for us to think about and consider.”

Bimper also said that athletics can play a large role because many people have heroes within the realm of sports.

“We all have heroes in sports, and some of our heros are black, white or whatever, and so we can use those heroes to really shed light on the experiences of students on campus and some of the issues that are happening there, so we can bring those conversations out in different areas,” Bimper said.

Ashia Woods, sophomore guard on the K-State women’s basketball team, said her experience as a student athlete has been difficult but also very beneficial.

“I think playing a sport can be hard, but at the same time it can definitely help,” Woods said. “It just depends on how use your sources and how much effort you put into it.”

Bimper said he strives to be a helpful resource for athletes like Woods. He explained that he knows that these issues are sometimes hard to address but emphasized that they do need to be considered. He added that it takes certain characteristics to bring a conversation of this nature to light.

“My interest in it is this: using the vehicle of sports to bring a unique perspective to those conversations, to those ‘courgeous conversations’ I like to call them,” Bimper said.

Bimper explained that he wants to be a part of the bigger picture, bringing positive change to race and diversity issues.

“We’re all in this together, but for us to really move forward, we have to celebrate our differences a little bit so that we can understand how we can really work with student athletes if they come from a different area or if they have different cultural backgrounds,” Bimper said. “We have to account for those issues if we’re going to be able to work collaboratively as an athletic department or as a university.”

One man, Joshua Denzel Brown, 20, was arrested and charged with rape, and Statesboro PD issued a warrant for the arrest of Nikilas Jamal Fussell for the same charge, according to a Statesboro PD news release.

At approximately 1:30 a.m. Monday Statesboro PD officers responded to a reported rape in progress at an apartment at The Cove, according to the news release.

The complainant reported that multiple males in the apartment were having sex with an unconscious female, according to the news release.

Officers made contact with the subjects and took voluntary statements. EMS transported the unconscious 20-year-old female to East Georgia Regional Medical Center. The victim had no apparent physical injuries, according to the news release.

Officials are still investigating the victim’s relationship to the suspects.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Statesboro PD.

It’s a warm spring night in the heart of San Luis Obispo, and cyclists have gathered in ranks to swarm the downtown scene with a carnivalesque circuit of Marsh and Higuera streets.

Rory Aronson joins the herd to cheers of his name: “Rory’s here!”

As the mob rolls on, flagrantly dressed riders maneuver in to briefly clutch him — as if to ensure the man, clad in a tight-fitting, pink flamingo costume, is no mirage.

Like the 5-foot-tall, green freak bike that hoists him high above the crowd, his reputation among these Bike Night revelers is the product of his own hands.

Rory is a builder.

He always has been — since he was a curious teen enrolled in ceramics, woodshop, metalshop and photography at Encinitas’ “arts-oriented” high school — until now, in the last quarter of an undergraduate career that has produced more art, more machines and more friendships than most do in a lifetime.

PROPEL THEM

PROPEL THEM

Three worn-in sofas crowd the open-air porch. Rory reclines in one of them. A woodsy, almost-black glaze of beard frames his face. Each piece of clothing on his body seems plucked from a different decade: black-and-white striped swoop neck, fluorescent purple hoodie, maroon jeans.

“Whenever you do anything, you’re just caught up in your own mind, your own thought processes, especially if you work alone or with one group,” Rory says. “Until you actually start telling people about it, until you start trying to describe something concisely, you really don’t know what the hell you’re doing. You’re going with the flow.”

The previous night, Rory started telling people about his latest project when he applied for the San Luis Obispo Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s HotHouse Summer Accelerator Program. If chosen, Rory and his startup teammates would receive professional counseling, funding and office space to get their concept off the ground.

Their concept: a digital platform to make people do.

“That is something that I see a big problem with,” Rory says. “People are not engaged. People are not active. People are all talk, no show, no action.”

So the mechanical engineering senior and three recent Cal Poly graduates posed a question: How do you get people engaged?

Their answer was simple: positive reinforcement.

“Perhaps giving them a little bit of a push, with a little bit of incentive, will get people to take action and do cool things,” Rory says.

Rory and friends drew blueprints for a digital platform dubbed “Propelem.”

Propelem has two main components: a digital marketplace on the web to purchase goods for other people and a mobile app on which they can redeem said purchases after completing certain actions.

For example, a corporate manager could incentivise healthy living for employees by pre-purchasing Jamba Juice smoothies that only become available after checking in at the gym.

After satisfying the activity requirement, the giftee can present his or her smartphone to the retailer, and the mobile app will provide proof of purchase.

In addition to GPS location, the requirements could involve taking pictures, tweeting specific hashtags, scanning QR codes and other smartphone capabilities.

Or — if it’s someone’s birthday, say — there could be no requirement at all.

“But it would be more fun to give someone a gift and say, ‘Oh, but you gotta do something — check in at the beach,’ or make them do something fun or ridiculous,” Rory says.

The platform itself has been a call to action for the Propelem team, which consists of Rory, Aaron Rowley, Joseph White and Daniel Hall.

“It’s looking very promising that that could be a job after school,” Rory says. “The team definitely plans on working on it after school, regardless of whether we get into the Accelerator or not.”

LIFE ON TWO WHEELS

LIFE ON TWO WHEELS

Rory gives a hypothetical application of Propelem: rewarding someone with coffee for biking to work.

This comes as no surprise, considering Rory’s lifestyle.

“I’ve always been a bike advocate,” he says.

Rory bikes everywhere he goes. He rarely misses a Bike Night. A bike is the only way he’s gotten to and from campus for five years. And he builds his own — some of them Frankensteinian hybrids.

His campaign video for a recent contest to become the city’s social media ambassador features him almost exclusively on two wheels.

Three summers ago, Rory biked alone from San Luis Obispo to his native town of San Diego (more than 300 miles). This past summer, he one-upped himself with a Seattle-to-San Francisco trip (more than 800 miles) with two roommates.

“There’s some people that bike tour and they stay at hotels and whatever,” Rory says. “But I’m the one who’s like, ‘Oh, I’ll just have a sleeping bag and jump in the bushes.’ So there’s always the worry of, ‘OK, where the hell am I going to sleep?’ I’ve definitely had some sketchy nights in parks, in the ice plant, on the beach, on these random cliffsides, kind of in people’s backyards, almost.”

On these extended journeys, Rory finds no greater joy than the “reward” that comes with cresting a tall hill — sometimes after an hourlong battle with the incline.

“You get to basically fly down this thing,” he says. “I mean, it really is flying. It’s the closest thing to flying under your own power, I’d say, where you can just lean forward and let your hands go and feel the wind.”

‘THE UPHAM HOUSE’

‘THE UPHAM HOUSE’

The primary seedbed for Rory’s bicycle evangelism has been his house at 880 Upham St., which the residents affectionately call “The Upham House.”

Bike culture once defined The Upham House for anthropology and geography senior Donald Shin, who moved in this past fall to become Rory’s sixth roommate.

“It’s a big part of the bike community,” Shin says, crossed-legged on the living room couch. “Even when I was not living here, I just knew that this house was where it was for fixing bikes or making bikes.”

In every corner of the place, this is evident.

A mutant vehicle, half grocery cart and half bicycle (Rory: “This is kind of my grocery-shopping-mobile”), stands parked in The Upham House’s narrow side yard. A little farther down, a double-decker BMX bike (Rory: “There’s really no purpose to a tall bike other than the fact that it’s fun.”) leans against the house. Farther still, four bike frames welded into a crescent (Rory: “The remains of the Bike Arch — it’s so sad.”) collect cobwebs on the ground.

The Bike Arch was once the grand entryway to this tinkerer’s paradise, but the landmark had to be dismantled following a complaint filed with the city.

Other two-wheelers-turned-sculptures remain in place, though.

“I didn’t know what I was doing,” Rory says about the sphere dangling above his head. Constructed from shards of sawed-up bike wheel frames, the fitness ball-sized object resembles a metallic tangle of yarn. “I decided, ‘Hey, I have all this material, I have this tool (an angle grinder, he later clarifies matter-of-factly). Let me try and make something.’ It turned into this cool orb, and I just decided to hang it up.”

Add these creations to a long list of reasons why Rory’s life would not fit in an apartment.

He makes too many things, has too many friends, has too big of a personality.

He couldn’t be boxed in the typical college den, decorated with empty booze bottles, discount posters and other telltales of a temporary dwelling.

When Rory’s customary dorm-bound first year came to an end, he needed a home.

It was fortunate, then, that his sister Kendra had just graduated from Cal Poly and was vacating the house their parents purchased for her to live in during college.

In the four years since, Rory has built The Upham House into something akin to a commune. He attributes the house’s countless projects to “us” — never “me,” and says the steady flow of couchsurfers, bike tourists and other temporary residents “gives the house a life.”

Of all the things he’s built, Rory calls this community the most important.

“Rory’s just really good at connecting people,” Shin says. “Most of the people that come together at this house are through Rory, and a lot of friendships happen because of this.”

And The Upham House community extends beyond its four walls.

Anthropology and geography senior Georgia Suter casually struts up to the front of the house. She needs nails, she says, and knows who likely has some.

“Rory is the guy with all the stuff,” Suter explains. “If I need a knickknack or something, or I’m just looking for something random, it’s probably here.”

A SEEDBED

A SEEDBED

Don’t ask to see all of Rory’s stuff without a clear schedule — it calls for an extensive tour.

In front of the house, there’s the Community Cabinet — a handmade, wooden box for local residents to freely trade things. According to Rory, word of mouth has so popularized the chest that he finds new items — including laptops, toys and, one time, a salad — inside it every day. The cabinet has also produced roughly half of Rory’s wardrobe.

At the core of The Upham House, a full bathroom houses one murmuring computer tower. The oddly placed device hosts every kilobyte of WikiSLO.org, a community-based information nexus that Rory created.

Beyond the back door, one finds an inelegant hose system protruding from the house’s backside. With this contraption installed, all gray water from The Upham House’s kitchen sink and dishwasher funnels into a French drain under the backyard.

A third of this backyard is a freshly tilled garden. Watermelons, beans, tomatoes and peppers silently take root below. Above the dirt, a length of twine suspends several compact discs with Sharpied labels such as “BEAT CD” and “Jazz Mix.” These silver rings ricochet daggers of light at would-be feathered thieves. The intermittent babble of chickens — four live in a small coup erected by Rory and company — obscures the notion that this house sits smack-dab in suburbia.

Many of these projects share an ultimate goal: sustainability. Rory, president of Cal Poly’s Zero Waste Club, strives to live off the grid. Though eggs from the chickens and homegrown produce account for a small percentage of the household’s diet, Rory wants to see that self-reliance grow.

These sustainability efforts have earned Rory the admiration of Peter Schwartz, an associate physics professor and admitted champion of efficient living.

“Rory’s one of the most creative people I’ve ever met — on every level: technologically, socially, what he’s doing with his house, with his friends,” Schwartz says.

The two met in 2011 on a study abroad trip to Guatemala.

The trip, led by Schwartz, took a team of students to the small mountain village of San Pablo with the mission of adapting technology to better the locals’ lives.

Rory’s group sought to harness the warmth of chimney exhaust (“The villagers have their stoves on constantly,” Schwartz explains) to heat water in the often-frigid, two-mile-high town.

It worked.

“A (Guatemalan) guy from his group actually disassembled the machine when they were done and took it home,” Schwartz says. “So he’s got one of the only places in San Pablo where you can have a real good, hot shower.”

Now that Rory’s back in the United States — home, yet still building — Schwartz says San Luis Obispo is lucky to have him.

It might not for long, though.

Rory’s ready to go all-in on Propelem after he graduates this spring, and most of the team is already stationed in San Francisco.

A month after submitting to SLO HotHouse, Rory received a phone call telling him Propelem was shot down.

The same phone call, however, informed him the project was accepted by Kauffman Fasttrac, a similar program that Rory says offers everything SLO HotHouse does besides the money and office space.

The turn of events has done little to shake the maker’s confidence.

Rory’s always been a builder.

Constructive toys such as Legos and K’Nex occupied him as a young boy in fair-weathered San Diego.

And he’ll always be a builder, he believes — not because he feels a need to succeed, but because creating is his natural state.

“There’s always going to be this constant stream of ideas,” he says. “I think I will never lose the mindset of, ‘Hey, if you have an idea, go for it. Why not? It’ll be fun.’”

Ivy League coach committees convened to vote men’s and women’s tennis and lacrosse All-Ivy teams, and between those sports, the Big Green saw ten players voted to All-Ivy teams.

In addition to All-Ivy recognition, women’s lacrosse co-captains Courtney Bennett ’13, Hana Bowers ’13 and Kelsey Johnson ’13 landed spots on the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association All-Northeast region team.

Baseball players Jeff Keller ’14 and Michael Johnson ’13 were recognized for their academic efforts and named to the Capital One Academic All-District baseball team.

Keller, an economics major, earned recognition for the second time with a GPA of 3.97. Johnson, also an economics major, received the honor for the first time with 3.43 GPA.

Keller was a dominant force at the plate for the Big Green, finishing in the top three in the Ivy League in 10 offensive statistical categories.

He lead the Ancient Eight slugging .702, driving in 41 runs and crushing 21 doubles to set a new Dartmouth record.

Johnson was spectacular on the hill, recording a 7-0 record to top the Ivy League and a 1.82 ERA. Johnson finishes his Big Green career 15-2 for the second highest winning percentage in program history.

The Big Green women’s lacrosse team had five players who were awarded All-Ivy honors. Attacker Bowers and midfielder Bennett were named to the first team, while defender Johnson earned a spot on the second and attacker Liz Calby ’14 and goalie Kristen Giovanniello ’14 earned honorable mentions.

“An award to an individual is always an award to the entire team,” Bennett said. “It’s a great honor to have our three captains invited onto all these lists, but really it comes from the dedication of the team pushing each other to get better day in and day out.”

Bowers, Dartmouth’s leading scorer, ended her senior season with a career high 63 points, including 48 goals and 15 assists. Bowers is the first Dartmouth player to net 40 goals since 2005. Bennett, one of the team’s primary playmakers, was a force all over the field, recording 13 goals and 52 draw controls.

Johnson landed a spot on the second team for the second time, previously winning the distinction as a sophomore. As the Big Green’s best defender, Johnson tallied five goals and grabbed 35 ground balls this season, all while posting up against the oppositions’ best attackers.

“Kelsey is one of the hardest working and most competitive individuals I’ve ever met,” Bennett said. “She’s always fighting for the 50/50 groundballs and is always leading the defense with hustle in getting back.”

Giovanniello was a fixture in the cage for the Big Green, recording a 9.89 goals-against average, earning her third All-Ivy honor.

Calby recorded 50 points this season and looks poised to command Dartmouth’s offense with Bowers’ pending departure. Giovanniello had 118 saves this season, increasing her career total to 387.

Dartmouth men’s lacrosse had two seniors, defender Pat Flynn ’13 and goalie Bernie Susskind ’13, earn All-Ivy distinctions. This was the fourth straight season men’s lacrosse had two players earn All-Ivy recognition and the second season two-time captain Flynn was named to the second team.

“I’d trade getting into the Ivy League tournament for any type of accolade in a heartbeat, but it’s still nice to be recognized,” Flynn said. “Any kind of recognition for Dartmouth lacrosse helps to move the program forward. Even though it’s an individual award, I think it is more of a testament to the defense and team as a whole.”

In his final season, Flynn caused 12 turnovers and grabbed 29 groundballs. He put an exclamation mark on his career with his first ever assist late in the third quarter against the University of Vermont.

Susskind earned honors after his first season in the net as a starter, replacing three-time All-Ivy goalie Fergus Campbell ’12. Susskind rose to the occasion with 160 saves and a save percentage of .530.

“If we didn’t have Bernie I don’t know what we would have done this year,” Flynn said. “I think he was definitely our MVP and best player on the team.”

Dartmouth men’s tennis landed the No. 1 doubles duo of Xander Centenari ’13 and Brandon DeBot ’14 on the second All-Ivy team. Centenari and DeBot went 5-2 in Ivy League play and toppled Columbia’s top first team All-Ivy doubles duo in a tiebreaker.

Dartmouth women’s tennis standout Katherine Yau ’16 was voted to the second team All-Ivy singles team.

Yau recorded 18 wins in singles action and went 4-3 in the Ivy League, playing six out of those seven matches at the No. 1 spot. At No. 1, Yau defeated two unanimous first team All-Ivy selections from Princeton University and Yale Univeristy.

“I didn’t think about getting an award while I was playing throughout the season, but I’m happy that my hard work this year was recognized,” Yau said. “It only serves to motivate me to do better next year and sets a benchmark for my performance moving forward.”

Meal points, as everyone in their freshman year would tell you, are one of the hindrances that you just have to deal with. They bind you to the dining halls with the sheer guilt you feel about eating out when you know that you have mountains of points left over. Of course, this consequently leads to inordinate weight gain, which is hard to work off even by running the length of campus. And even if you do eat every meal in the dining halls and buy your groceries from campus facilities, you’ll still have a solid amount left over. This isn’t typically a big deal at the end of the fall semester because some of them can roll over, but all those accumulated points now face imminent destruction if they aren’t used within the next week and a half.

Though this isn’t the most efficient of business models, it does appear to have some value. When signing up, only “berkeley.edu” email addresses are accepted, and hence certain contact details of the sellers will only be released to Berkeley students. The interface is admittedly easy to follow — a simple spreadsheet-type layout with each entry containing the names of sellers, their selling price, their max number of points and the locations at which they can facilitate your purchases. Some have also posted details about discounts for buying in bulk, for those who are thinking of buying out Bear Market. We can only imagine how awkward it would be to be accompanied by a total stranger to all your meals, but if for whatever reason, you’re longing for dining hall food for cheap, this is your website.

Image source: Aaron Loessberg-Zahl under Creative Commons

Contact Uday at umehta@dailycal.org or follow him on Twitter at @mehtakid.

The post Meal points for sale: Get ‘em while you can! appeared first on The Daily Californian.

The sophomore has made back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances with the volleyball team, played with Mike White and the softball team in the Women’s College World Series, spent two seasons on Paul Westhead’s basketball team and even won the javelin competition at the Oregon Twilight. Her main focus in college has been volleyball, though she initially joined the basketball and softball teams when injuries opened up roster slots.

Also nominated is Baylor star Brittney Griner, Taylor Thornton of Northwestern lacrosse, Kimberlyn Duncan of LSU track and North Carolina field hockey player Loren Shealy. Trey Burke and Kahled Holmes are among the nominees for the men’s award.

Agenda

• The weekly contingency allocations were approved.
• The council unanimously approved changes to the Student Organization Operational Funds guidelines removing the cap placed on money allocated to groups for T-shirts.
• The council approved the Student Organization Operational Funds budget assumptions and instructions changes with a vote of 11-0-1. The change decreased stipend titles and pay rates, removing the monthly and quarterly payment to help encourage efficiency.
• The council unanimously approved a change to its bylaws stating that the Student Leadership Fund will be transferred to the council from UCLA Development and will not exceed $50,000.

Officer Reports

• Carly Yoshida, a general representative, said a farmer’s market is planned for Wednesday from 2-6 p.m.
• Michael Starr, a general representative, said Bruins Night Out is planned for next week, where students can watch Monsters University will be showing for UCLA students at the Bruin Theater.

Compiled by Kristen Taketa, Bruin reporter.

Jasmine Hardin is living away from home for the first time this year, and while she enjoys living closer to school, making rent can be difficult.

The Evening Standard and The Times are given for free at Tube stations or airports (depending on the airline).

Over the past semester, I’ve tweeted from trains, updated from airports and shot photos from water ferries.

I’ve struggled to find WiFi in the Scottish Highlands, at the top of the Apennine mountains and on the coast of the Mediterranean.

I’ve attended football matches, toured palaces and wandered around parks. I have talked with flatmates, shop owners, lecturers and family for background information.

I have taken approximately 5,572 photographs and written 23,337 words in four months.

In short, over the past semester I’ve become a blogger.

There is a rather large debate occurring the the journalism world right now between the “old school” and the “new school”, specifically at Marquette. It isn’t really a debate that can be simplified to one blog post, but my semester of blogging has taught me that it might be worth discussing anyway.

Online journalism is not as different from ‘traditional’ journalism as I originally supposed. There may be more multimedia involved and a higher focus on analytics, but really, what’s the difference between analytics and circulation numbers?

What hasn’t changed is the need for solid reporting and good content. I’m not reporting breaking news in my blog, but hope some of my posts have been entertaining.

Both “old” and “new” journalism require good research, fine-tuned listening skills, meticulous editing and an eye for interesting topics. Both require understanding of established boundaries, a comprehensive knowledge of AP style and adhesion to deadlines.

I think sometimes we focus too much on getting the journalism online, on Twitter or on Facebook that we forget it needs to be quality journalism.

The vocabulary has changed slightly, but the basics are still required. It took me quite a bit of time to realize that fact.

I was quite upset this year when the print paper The Marquette Tribune experienced budget page cuts and restructuring. I was convinced the school was ignoring the importance of writing for young student journalists such as myself, because I had learned so much from the paper.

I thoroughly respect #LongLiveTheTrib. But after spending a semester with this entirely online project and looking over my daily life, I realized I only read a paper newspaper a few times per week because the Evening Standard is still handed out, for free, at every Tube station. I’ve read the Financial Times when I’m offered it by a British Airlines flight attendant or when an old banker leaves it on his seat in my railcar.

But if I didn’t receive these paper editions for free, I would not read them. My news comes from Twitter, the television, my News Feed on Facebook and my BBC Homepage. Even my hometown paper, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, is now delivered electronically to my inbox, not a paper in my parent’s mailbox.

I’ve had a chance to learn multimedia and get better digital skills because of my online endeavor. My editorial style of journalism here is only one very small example of what online journalism can be.

My first online journalism endeavor has taught me that “new” journalism does not have to equate to “bad” journalism. It can, and sometimes does. But, it doesn’t have to – the online reporting of Marquette’s media outlets and countless news organizations across the country prove that daily.

I am still skeptical about focusing journalism online. I’m used to the print model I grew up with.

“New” journalism may mean tweeting more, checking analytics like baseball scores and worrying more about SEO than column inches. But we’re still searching for that perfect news model (which in reality probably does not exist).

If I’ve learned anything this semester, it’s that “new journalism,” “digital journalism,” “online journalism” – whatever it might be labeled, is worth a shot.

Wilson, a junior business major, collapsed in class and died on Jan. 17.

Wilson’s parents, Kenny and Lisa Wilson of Savannah, made the donation.

“I can’t explain to you the importance and need for awareness to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation and how to use an automated external defibrillator,” Lisa Wilson said in the news release. “It is our hope that this defibrillator placed here in Cory’s memory will one day serve as a lifesaver for another student, parent or staff member.”

The AED is a portable electronic device that can be used by people without medical training when there is a cardiac emergency.  The defibrillator automatically diagnoses and provides a brief electroshock when needed in potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and provides simple visual and audio commands for the user to follow.

“We are here today because of a tragedy that the Wilson family has worked to turn into something positive,” Bill Wells, interim dean of COBA, said in the news release. “They are looking forwards instead of backwards. The hope is that in the future this AED could help save a life.”

The Wilson family worked with Mike Castleman and Rob Williams, a GSU alumnus, of Cardiac Science and Janet Prince of School Health to secure the donation of the AED.

“This donation is the embodiment of Eagle Nation,” University President Brooks Keel said in the news release. “It means this University is a family. When tragedy strikes a family, we come together to support each other and raise awareness about an issue that affects the family. We have come together to take action to hopefully prevent this from ever happening again.”

On Tues., May 11, City Council voted to approve a resolution that would drastically revitalize the Foothills Mall in Fort Collins at a meeting that lasted until almost midnight.

“This is the culmination of about 9 years of work,” said City Manager Darin Atteberry.

Historically, The Foothills Mall has gone through many attempts of redevelopment that have ultimately failed. As a result, Atteberry said the Foothills mall was of “high priority” for the city of Fort Collins. More so, he said that voting in favor of the mall will help realize a community vision.

Atteberry said the revitalization will launch a catalytic opportunity in the midtown area of Fort Collins and believes it will have a ripple effect through the midtown area.

The project is currently expected to cost $53 million in taxpayer money, with the entire cost of the revitalization being $312 million.

Despite the millions of dollars needed for the project, the city anticipates there will be no harm to their current balance sheet.

Many different groups were in opposition to certain aspects of the resolution. The ARC Thrift Store, a business that shares ground with the Foothills Mall, has much at stake if the redevelopment goes through, given they have agreed to move the store to provide more space for the revitalization process. However, their current landlord has not yet approved the new lease.

“We believe ARC would have added to the traffic and diversity; however, we agreed to move to a different location,” said CEO of ARC, Lloyd Lewis.

Collegian Writer Skyler Leonard can be reached at news@collegian.com.

UT President William Powers Jr. selected Iverson after a search committee interviewed five finalists from across the country, all of whom met with students and faculty on campus in the last few months to present their goals for the position. The committee recommended three candidates to Powers in April.

“As someone who was part of the initial conception of the School of Undergraduate Studies, Brent Iverson is the perfect person to build on the successes of the school, creating pathways for leadership and excellence in undergraduate studies,” Powers said in a statement. “He is a recognized teacher, researcher and scholar, with a proven commitment to providing our undergraduates with the best academic experience possible.”

The appointment will be effective July 1. At a public forum in April, Iverson said the School of Undergraduate Studies must focus on helping students find and explore their passions. 

“Higher education changes and it’s going to continue to change,” Iverson said to The Daily Texan in a separate interview in March. “I fundamentally believe that UGS is going to be the beacon of change on this campus. It’s going to enhance what goes on around it. So I hope the right person gets it, even if that is not me.”

The School of Undergraduate Studies emerged in 2006 to serve as a "home and champion of the core curriculum," as dubbed by the Task Force on Curricular Reform — a task force which Powers chaired and Iverson sat on in 2005. Iverson will take over for Larry Abraham, who has been serving as interim dean since Paul Woodruff, classics and philosophy professor, stepped down last year. 

As dean, Iverson will oversee the core curriculum, advising services, undergraduate research, interdisciplinary programs and first-year programs within the school. According to the search committee criteria, the dean reports to the Provost and through a visionary strategic planning for the school, coordinates with administrators, deans and department chairs to improve undergraduate education and fundraise for new initiatives. 

Iverson has been at UT since 1990 and is a member of the University's Academy of Distinguished Teachers — a collection of the top 5 percent of tenured professors on campus — and a member of the inaugural class of the UT System Academy of Distinguished Teachers. He was originally scheduled to teach organic chemistry in the fall, but his classes have been reassigned to other professors in the department, according to the most recent course schedule.

“This event is to honor our Latino/Latina students, their student successes, student achievements, graduation and being a part of the Semillas program,” said JohnElla Holmes, co-director of the Semillas program and instructor in American Ethnic Studies.

Semillas de Excelencia means “seeds of excellence,” and is a program that was brought to K-State four years ago through a grant written by Holmes and Dawne Martin, co-director and assistant dean of diversity.

“What they were looking for was programs that would make a difference in terms of Latino student retention and success in universities,” Martin said.

Holmes and Martin saw a need to bring Semillas to K-State to give Latino/Latina students community and a support system.

“I didn’t know what they were in the beginning, but then I got to know that they actually help you, whenever you’re new here on campus, to get you information about different things in case you need like aid for study or finding scholarships, or just different community things that you can get involved with,” said Yojana Mendoza, junior in microbiology.

Mendoza transferred to K-State from Dodge City Community College in fall 2012, and Semillas helped her transition to a larger four-year university. Mendoza said she joined Semillas because of the friendly people, and she was honored with a participation award at Tuesday’s banquet.

Semillas also strives to increase the retention rate of Latino/Latina students.

“Well, as a proactive retention program, we’re helping with that retention, that first generation, that first semester, that first year,” Holmes said. “The retention has been at 83 percent so we know that once they’re involved, they really tend to stay. And 83 percent is much above the national norm of like 41 percent.”

According to Holmes, Semillas helps retain students who are often the first in their families to attend college by providing support, advice, mentorship and recognition. For the approximately 1,300 Latino students at K-State, this program has helped to make the campus a closer community.

“Hispanics all being here together is pretty cool, considering there’s not a lot of us on campus,” said Miguel Ramos, senior in marketing and Semillas mentor.

Ramos was recognized with a multicultural leadership award.

Funding for the Semillas program came from Excelencia in Education in Washington, D.C. K-State was selected as one of 20 universities nationwide for a $50,000 grant to implement the program. Co-founder of Excelencia in Education, Sarita Brown, was the keynote speaker at Tuesday’s banquet. She spoke to students and faculty about the importance of students striving to not just get through, but to excel.

“You are a role model in everything you do,” Brown said.

K-State was selected for the Semillas grant due to the many programs that were already in place to support and encourage students, as well as the faculty’s dedication to testing new programs and implementing them at the university. The Semillas program also fits into K-State’s 2025 goal for ensuring and encouraging diversity across the campus.

“We hope it continues to build momentum and reinforces that the university is behind them, that they support them,” Holmes said.

Brigham Young University men’s lacrosse team will begin their quest for a championship May 13, in Greenville, S.C. as a No. 4 seed facing No. 13 seed Grand Canyon University.

BYU’s team appears poised for a good showing as they have played well heading into the 16-team Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association tournament.

“We are playing great lacrosse right now,” Coach Matt Schneck said. “I think as we go into the tournament, there’s going to be a tremendous opportunity to go deep into the tournament and make it to the championship.”

BYU’s Mike Fabrizio takes a shot. (Photo by Elliott Miller)

The team enters the tournament battle tested with an overall record of 14–4 after a very difficult regular season schedule.

“We play in what many would consider the toughest conference in the country,” Schneck said.

Out of the 16 teams to make this year’s tournament, Schneck said his team has already played eight of them and defeated five of those eight teams.

Last year, BYU entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed and advanced to the semifinals before losing to the eventual champion, Colorado State.

BYU typically must endure a high turnover of players each year while upholding its reputation of being a top program and this year was no different. The coaches utilize difficult schedules each year to prepare the young players for this tournament.

“It takes longer for our team to hit its potential and gel,” Schneck said. “We have a lot of young guys we are typically trying to get up to speed.”

Through the tough schedule during the season, Schneck said the young players have shown their talent while continually developing into better players.

Though the team would love to exceed last year’s success, the team cannot afford to look past the first round against Grand Canyon.

“Our objective this week, honestly, is just one game and that’s Grand Canyon,” Schneck said.

With a victory, BYU would advance to the quarterfinals and face the winner of Chapman and Oregon on Tuesday, May 14 at 4:30 p.m.

A group of University of Minnesota students, staff and faculty members stood under an oak tree on the St. Paul campus Tuesday, their guide wielding a Nut Wizard — a scepter-shaped tool used to gather nuts — and explaining ways to harvest acorns and eat them.

The urban foraging tour was one of a series of de-stress events put on by University Libraries to help students manage their stress before finals week.

The creative and technology-free study break was created to fit into the topics taught on St. Paul campus, said Kristen Mastel, outreach and instruction librarian at Magrath Library.  

“Students are so tied to technology,” Mastel said, and having a couple minutes to relax while getting their hands dirty can be an effective stress reliever.

In addition to crossing the St. Paul campus to learn about edible foods, students and faculty can plant organic plants and make aromatherapy sachets.

Strolling along Cleveland Avenue by St. Paul campus’s miniature “frat row,” tour guide Charley Underwood explained how cattails are the “supermarket of wild food,” because you can eat every part of it depending on time of year.

Raking acorns into the Nut Wizard with a quick sweep across the ground, Underwood talked about the process of preparing acorn flour. Since the nuts are bitter, he suggested boiling them in multiple batches of water before grinding them in a mixer. The powder can be mixed with what flour to make pancakes, he said.

The flour can also be used on its own as a gluten-free option, he said.

“A lot of things from the wild are sort of flavor-intensive,” Underwood said, and a good forager not only needs to be able to identify plants but have a “discriminating taste” like a cook. 

Educational psychology graduate student Ha Vo said she went to the event because she was stressed from finals week. Since she lives close to campus, Vo said it would be useful to know which plants are edible.

“It’s just cool to know that there are a lot of them around and I can eat them,” she said.

Vo said she particularly enjoyed learning about the barberry bushes, found all around the St. Paul campus, which are currently full of sweet berries that can be eaten off the stem or made into wine.

Thinking about this new food source made her feel less stressed out, she said.

“I just feel like [I’m] in a different world and I can distract myself from my studies a little bit.”

Operations manager for St. Paul libraries Mark Desrosiers said it was really interesting to learn about how plant species like the Ginkgo tree can change gender.

“We Americans don’t really think about food and where food comes from as much as we should,” Desrosiers said.

The other libraries are hosting de-stress events that fit closely with the different locations, Mastel said. Walter Library will hold a gaming study break on Monday and Wilson will have giant crosswords available next week from a faculty member who writes crosswords for the New York Times.

Mastel said she hopes the event helped students get in touch with nature and let go of their stress.

“I think everyone walked away with a little something and got a breath of fresh air as well,” she said.

One sentiment I have repeatedly encountered following our recent day of reflection is a newfound empathy — a realization that one’s own Dartmouth experience may not, in fact, exemplify an experience for all. I was heartened to see so many in our community take the time to listen, and to consider the experiences of all students on this campus. Yet what does it say about Dartmouth that it required the full cessation of normal activity for this sort of breakthrough to occur? That so many are only now tuned in to the fact that some in our community are struggling?

Our campus is severely fragmented. The notion of a singular “Dartmouth community” is truly an Admissions Office publicity pipe dream. One need only to glance in FoCo during dinner hours to witness the striking segregation that runs like a current through our school: from our classrooms to our social spaces, to our locker rooms, residences and dining halls, dividing us so often along gender, race, orientation and class. It is not a perfect segregation, but it is readily apparent to any who dare notice.

Many have addressed the self-segregation that seems to occur at Dartmouth. Fewer have given thought as to why such a phenomenon might occur in the first place. For me, the chore of defending my right as a gay man to basic human dignities — the freedom from unprovoked ridicule or subjection to dehumanizing slurs, for instance — has simply proven too exhausting within specific circles. But far more often, the sense of alienation is more subtle: the implicit assumption of heterosexuality and the reflexive pairing up of fraternities and sororities in our dominant campus social culture; the Greek system’s inherent tendency to divide us by gender and reinforce antiquated gender norms; the heartbreaking regularity with which Dartmouth men and women feel compelled to remain “in the closet.” (You’ll have to trust me on that last one.)

I cannot attest to anyone else’s experience, but I know from conversations with my peers — black and white, straight and gay, mainstream and marginalized — that I am not alone in feeling this way. Sometimes, segregating yourself with people who actually give a damn feels like the only way to stay sane.

But then I wonder, am I any better than those whom I feel have pushed me here? I decry a culture of insularity only to establish one of my own. I can do better than this. I think we all can do better than this.

We will continue to grapple with these same problems, hurt each other and then fail to understand why the other is hurting, until we stop treating each other like strangers and start treating each other like the classmates, colleagues and community members that we are. If you are a student at Dartmouth, then you deserve the love and loyalty of this entire school, not just the members of your friend group, or your immutable affinities or your “brother-” or “sisterhood.” I challenge us to live up to the notion of a cohesive community, and that inherently means opening ourselves up to people and experiences that differ from our own.

Take a look around you. Who are the people shaping your time at this school? Are they teaching you new things? Are they challenging you to think differently, to question what you know, to explore new ideas? Or do you find yourself, as I know I sometimes do, trapped in an echo chamber, where everything you believe is validated by and reflected in the person sitting across from you?

I do not deny that administrative or institutional changes may be warranted in some capacity, nor that I myself tend to be especially critical of particular campus institutions. But the onus is on each of us as individual students to make this a college for all of us.

BYU demographics as of fall 2012, show approximately 14,000 students are part-time employees at BYU. With a little less than half the student population working for BYU, this doesn’t include the numbers of students who work off-campus.

The negative connotation that typically comes with being a student employee doesn’t hold much ground when it comes down to it, according to some BYU students.

Jonathan Brannon, an Italian major from Decatur, Ala., said he enjoys working for BYU.

“The ability to stay on campus to work eliminates any time I would spend traveling to work off campus,” he said. “Staying on campus helps me stay on task and get all my schoolwork done. It works for me.”

Working can take up a lot of extra time students would have to devote to schoolwork, but some are upset about the effects it has on their social lives.

Brock Matthews, a business management major with an emphasis in marketing from Mesa, Ariz., has been a student employee for a year now.

“I really enjoy working and feeling good about being able to provide and take care of myself, but being a student and working also takes its effects on trying to enjoy the social life and activities that take place,” Matthews said. “My grades do take a hit because I can’t study as much and I try to balance it with work, school and a little fun. There isn’t enough time in the day to do all three.”

Matthews and other students have to learn to deal with maintaining a balance of all the activities in their busy lives. Grades may be affected, but not necessarily negatively.

Brannon thinks his grades are positively affected. He said being on campus for work makes it much easier to stay focused and do extra homework.

Grades can be a major issue, but the necessity to work and provide for oneself is the main purpose for maintaining jobs while attending school full-time. Typically, the “poor college student” needs all the money they can get. When it comes to supporting oneself, having a job means everything when paying for all the expenses that come along with college.

Elizabeth Smith is a full-time, married student. She and her husband rely heavily on their part-time jobs to support their needs throughout the school year. Smith, along with other students, have some complaints about the pay level, but they’ll take what they can get.

“The pay could be a little higher, but the starting line is better than most other student positions elsewhere,” Smith said.

Having understanding bosses and supervisors at the BYU work environment is another plus to being a working student. Working for BYU can make it easier to focus on school as well as have better scheduling to work around classes and extracurricular activities.

“Because I work for the school, my employer always emphasizes that school is most important and they provide a flexible work schedule,” Natalie Pennington, a recreation management major from Heber City, said. “Being a student employee is the absolute best option for working and going to school. It is convenient because my work and school are both on campus.”

Kirk Lester is a neuroscience major from Mount Pleasant, S.C. He said finding time to balance everything in his life has become a challenge and he accepts it with great responsibility.

“Managing time for studies and dating is hard,” he said. “But with a job, you have money for dates and fun with friends. I love being a working student.”

Taking time to have fun and go on dates can be especially important for BYU students. With a strong emphasis to date and build healthy relationships among members of the opposite sex, LDS students find a strong desire to balance their dating lives among work, school and everything else.

“Sadly, dating seems to take a back seat to all the other demands in my life,” Michelle Israel, a public health major from Amherst, Va., said. “I date, but not for recreation. I have too much to do to waste my time going on pointless dates.”

She echoes the thoughts of other BYU students as balancing school, work and dating life all bring about where to set your priorities.

Most students agree, however, as Lester said, “The pros definitely outweigh the cons.”

Photo courtesy of Wake Forest University

Despite winning 61 percent of the vote in the election, secretary-elect Ryan Cleland was not sworn into office. Cleland chose to step down and not be sworn in as secretary after controversy erupted, stemming from photos being placed around campus during the campaign.

“Ryan Cleland made the personal decision last Friday afternoon to not assume his elected position as Student Government Secretary,” Sutherland said.

Cleland believed that stepping down was the best course of action.

“As a devoted member of Student Government,” Cleland stated, “I did not want my personal being on the Executive Board to limit the reach and scope of SG in the eyes of any group on campus, whether that be student, administrative, faculty or otherwise, and felt that stepping down was the best and only decision to retain continuity and legitimacy for the organization.”

Cleland also wanted to clarify to the student body that Javar Jones’s campaign had nothing to do with the photos and flyers that were placed around campus and apologizes to the student body for his actions. “I’m sorry for what I did. I’m sorry that I hurt and offended so many people,” Cleland said. “I’m sorry for causing so much pain and anger.”

Ryan Cleland

Cleland’s campaign manager, sophomore Margaret Mulkerrin declined to comment.

Due to the timing of Cleland’s decision to step down, the runner-up, Javar Jones was sworn into the position. “The position naturally transferred to the Secretary-runner up, Javar Jones,” Sutherland said, “as he was the only candidate who qualified to run for the office during this past spring’s election.”

In the office of secretary, Jones plans to correlate his initiatives to the platform that he campaigned on. His platform includes being an active voice for the student body, increasing the transparency of Student Government and getting more student involvement in SG.

“Ryan’s resignation was surprising to me however, I feel as if the perception of Ryan may be skewed,” Jones said. “We have been in conversation and I plan on working with Ryan. Although the circumstances weren’t ideal, I am happy to be the new Student Government Secretary however, I don’t want people to exclude Ryan or perceive him outside of who he truly is. I’ve gotten to know him more recently and his goal, as much as mine, is to take this situation as a learning experience, as everyone makes mistakes, and move forward to build the Wake Forest we know it can be.”

Javar Jones

Both Jones and Cleland are passionate about the issue of diversity and inclusion. And both hope to bring the issue to the forefront. “ I am a big proponent for diversity and inclusion, and Ryan also shares this passion, so although the circumstances are what they are, we still plan to foster a personal as well as professional relationship to achieve the same goals,” Jones said. ‘My goal is to execute the office to the best of my ability and work tediously on behalf of the student voice. Hopefully this is what you need.”

Cleland shared Jones’s sentiments and plans to work towards making Wake Forest a more inclusive campus.

“Looking forward, this event has finally brought the topic of diversity and inclusion to the forefront of student discussion and I am hopeful that passion will remain and action will result; and I know that I will be part of it.”

Carter, who serves as assistant chief at the Austin Police Department, will begin his appointment on July 1. Carter will replace UTPD Chief Robert Dahlstrom, who is retiring at the end of the month after a five-year stint as chief and 36 years in law enforcement. 

Officials are confident Carter's experience, confidence and open personality will help pick up where Chief Dahlstrom left off. 

“We were in a very fortunate situation where we had four extremely qualified finalists,” said Michael Lauderdale, social work professor and chairman of the search committee, in a statement. “Chief Carter’s high level of technical and professional experience along with his knowledge of the university and its unique needs ultimately led us to this recommendation."

At a public forum last month, Carter said he will focus on creating a strong relationship between APD and UTPD so they can accomplish their two main goals — keeping the community safe and creating a community-wide perception of safety.

“Clearly there’s differences between the campus police department and the city police department, but their roles are very similar,” Carter said at the forum.

Carter said he will try to ensure police are perceived on campus as outstanding and to build trust between the community and police officers. Carter said he also plans to reach out to campus organizations.

“A challenge will be how best to approach and address those organizations, some that may want to hear from the police and some that may not want to hear from the police,” Carter said at the forum.

As part of the selection process, Carter met with President William Powers Jr. on Tuesday morning to finalize his position. 

Carter is a seasoned police officer, starting his career with APD in 1985. He advanced positions, eventually becoming chief of staff. 

Among Carter's accolades are several medals for law enforcement excelence and combat spurs awarded by the U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Division for engaging enemy insurgents in Iraq. 

Patricia Clubb, vice president for University Operations, said Carter's vision will help move the department into the future. 

"Chief Carter’s vision for UTPD aligns well with the future UT-Austin,” Clubb said in a statement. “His professional accomplishments and existing relations with public safety agencies give us a great deal of confidence in his ability to meet the challenges we face as a growing institution.”

Additional reporting by Allie Kolechta.

President and Chancellor Renu Khator spoke at the slightly-less casual Staff Council meeting, which was more conversational than the norm, on Tuesday. | Kayla Steward/The Daily Cougar

Administration and Finance representative Andy Moon moderated the meeting, and President and Chancellor Renu Khator was the guest speaker, offering her insight on problems, solutions and her own goals for the University.

“It’s all of us that push and pull and do whatever is needed,” Khator said.

Khator touched on multiple topics, first praising the staff members for their hard work during this school year, as well as addressing issues that can be improved.

As a Tier One university, Khator said she wants to push for changes in graduation rates and student life.

“The graduation rate must improve. Many students are living on campus now, and we must continue to build student life,” Khator said. “After two years, I know that graduation rates will improve pretty significantly.”

Khator went on to explain the importance of personal interaction and becoming more involved in the Houston community. She made several requests of the staff, including becoming more innovative, engaging in the belief that they can do better and enjoying their jobs so as to not get burned out.

After Khator’s statements, she answered a few questions from staff, such as the concerns regarding the mood in Austin relating to higher education. After she answered several questions, the remaining staff members broke into groups.

Each group had a moderator who led the discussion, introducing issues such as communication problems and staff orientation concerns.

Staff council president-elect for  the 2013-2014 Fiscal Year led one of the tables to a discussion regarding UH’s presence in the community through volunteering. The concern was enthusiastically discussed by staff members.

“I want to know if there are any community service and volunteering opportunities. I’m looking for something to get involved with,” said academic advisor of The College of Pharmacy, Natasha Hindocha.

One of the ideas raised by the discussion’s participants was that an increased presence in community service will shed a positive light on the University.

“If you want to be recognized in the community, there’s no better way than through volunteer work,” said UH Cinco Ranch program coordinator Owen Campbell.

The next staff council meeting will be held on May 9 in Room 306 in the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library.

news@thedailycougar.com

However, a complete shutdown of the center signifies that Harvard will be barred from participating in crucial efforts in basic scientific research in the years to come. One of only eight primate research centers sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, the NEPRC is the sole research facility of its kind in the whole of the northeastern United States. If we are to take the University’s declaration that the center is to be closed because of financial uncertainties at face value, that further highlights the adverse outcomes of reductions in funding, and is especially relevant in light of the recent debate on sequestration.

Harvard’s ability to participate in a number of scientific endeavors will be crippled by the closure of the NEPRC: An example of this is the federal BRAIN Initiative recently kick-started by NIH, a large-scale effort in Brain Activity Mapping research whose stated goal is to build a functional map of human neural circuits by complementing the creation of a static connectome of the brain—that is, a map of the firing patterns of all neurons in the nervous central system under the effect of diverse stimuli. President Obama announced the nationwide launching of the brain initiative at the beginning of April in a speech that he gave at the White House.

Obama remarked how the BRAIN Initiative was partly inspired by the Human Genome Project in its approaches, and asserted that the deeper understanding of the brain’s system-wide dynamics to be acquires in the course of this large-scale endeavor will be “transformative.” Obama maintained that the BRAIN Initiative would possibly herald new advances in the treatment of diseases like Parkinson’s or autism. Indeed, other scientists have agreed with Obama’s enthusiastic stances, from Society for Neuroscience President Larry W. Swanson, to the group of scientists who initially proposed the initiative. Among these was Harvard Medical School Professor George M. Church, who made clear in a seminal collaborative paper published in Neuron that primate research would be a fundamental step of the BAM research efforts.

The very reason for which primates are crucial test subject—their evolutionary closeness to us—warrants extreme care in their treatment. The NEPRC has been run reprehensibly in the past, and future primate research efforts must be handled with greater care. However, it is regrettable that research tools are being powered down because of financial difficulties, especially on the eve of such pivotal research endeavors as the federal BRAIN Initiative. The closure of the NEPRC will mean that Harvard’s contribution in a project that might prove as important as the mapping of the human genome will be limited—a great misfortune for a large research university.

Getting ready for school in the morning can be a challenging task, especially when you’re doing it for two people.

Some Cal Poly students aren’t headed to school by themselves in the morning — they drop their young children off at the on-campus Orfalea Family and ASI Children’s Center before heading to class themselves.

Cal Poly’s children’s center provides childcare for kids ages four months to 6 years old, and students with children get first priority in enrollment.

“That is our primary mission, to help our students,” Director of Children’s Programs Tonya Iversen said.

The center has 17 full-time staff members and 80 to 100 student employees to care for the 125 children who attend, Iversen said.

Childcare aside, the children’s center also strives to build a sense of community among all families, Iversen said.

The various classrooms have parent meetings and socials that allow for everyone to get to know each other and talk about parenthood.

In addition to the camaraderie that is built, there is also the support that comes with being surrounded by other students who are also parents.

“I think just being able to walk into the building and know that you are not the only student parent is probably a good feeling,” Iversen said.

Graduate student Heidi Webber is one of the students who uses this resource. Her 4-year-old daughter, Maggie, currently attends and her 6-year-old son, Jack, went there but is now in kindergarten.

Webber’s husband is an undergraduate at Cal Poly, and she said that without the children’s center, they would both not be able to go to school.

“Being a student is exhausting, and working and being a student is exhausting, but this is a sacrifice that we both decided to make,” Webber said. “One of the challenges is just making sure that we are meeting our own expectations for parenting.”

Aside from the convenience of the children’s center and the fact that the fees are subsidized, as is true for most student parents, it is the quality of the center that she loves, Webber said.

“There is peace of mind that the teachers have been doing this a long time and are really watching, caring and investing in our kid and who they are as individuals,” Webber said. “Just the partnership between us and them has been really amazing.”

Mathematics junior Veronica Medina said she might not have come to Cal Poly had her 5-year-old daughter Olivia not been accepted into the children’s center.

Medina said the center is not an average day care in that it actually has a curriculum set up for the children. She sees how it has helped Olivia develop.

“It has shaped Olivia in a lot of ways,” Medina said. “She is really smart for her age and a really social creature. They do so many great things for kids, and they teach them so much.”

Though being a parent and a student is hard, student parents just have to be disciplined and responsible, Medina said.

“I don’t do this for myself, I do it for my daughter so she can have a better future,” Medina said. “It is not only an internal battle, but a battle you are fighting for someone else, and you have to have faith in yourself and know you can do it. If I can do it, anyone can do it.”

Vice President of Student Affairs Keith Humphrey said the children’s center and the Child Development Preschool Learning Lab are tremendous resources for both students and faculty and staff.

Humphrey, a parent of two small boys, said he understands having to balance different things and make commitments and trade-offs.

“Full-time anything and also being a parent is always challenging,” Humphrey said. “I am always impressed by students who are going to school while raising young children, it is a huge commitment.”

Humphrey said he is glad the children’s program is at Cal Poly and pleased with the message it provides.

“Simply by its presence, it sends a clear message that every aspect of your life is important to Cal Poly, including the fact that you have a family,” Humphrey said. “The sheer presence of it sends a strong message to someone on the outside that this is possible.”

1. Sunbathe. The skies have been gray for the past few days, but the forecast predicts some sun in the next two weeks. Bring your books out to Memorial Glade and soak up some vitamin D in between reviewing chapters. Rest your eyes and enjoy the sunlight with the grass beneath you and the bells of the Campanile ringing in the distance.

2. Play sardines outside. Hear us out on this one. Once you’ve had enough lounging around outside, get some friends together for a game of sardines! For those of you not familiar with sardines, it’s basically hide-and-seek backwards. One person hides, and everyone else looks for them. When someone discovers the “hider,” he or she hides alongside that person. This continues until one poor soul is out looking by themselves. This is especially fun after dark.

3. Play hide-and-seek in the library. Similar to our last idea, this is also tons of fun! Gather a group of friends and go to a library like Main Stacks or Moffitt with lots of shelves and places to hide behind. After that, you know the rules! You’ll have to be careful not to disturb fellow students in the library who aren’t taking a break, so make it a quiet game. We’re not trying to get you kicked out! But this is a good way to make the library look less terrible and gloomy. And think of all the possibilities with those moving shelves in Main Stacks! (Just don’t crush anyone. Please. Safety first.)

4. Conduct social experiments. Experiment with people on Sproul. Will people walk you with their umbrella if it’s raining and you have none? Lend you some paper? Let you use their phone? Stop and answer your questions about a class? See how nice people really are at this school. Or, if you have more faith in your theatrical skills, have a (loud) emotional breakdown in the middle of heavy foot traffic, and see who stops to ask if you’re okay. You could even record yourself and make a YouTube video! After finals are over, of course. We at the Clog would love to see that.

5. Exercise. This might be the most boring and predictable of the lot, but it’s a legitimate option for those who still want to be productive during their time away from the books. Walk around campus. Jog. Do lunges across Memorial Glade. Find a secluded spot like the eucalyptus grove and do push-ups and crunches. Use the beautiful outdoor space for something productive while taking time to unwind and let go of all that pent-up stress. Added bonus? You’ll be getting a head start on those summer abs.

Contact Erum Khan at ekhan@dailcal.org or follow her on Twitter @erumjkhan.

The post Five things to do on campus besides studying appeared first on The Daily Californian.

As long as he can remember, Andre Dome has had a routine.

Beginning when he was 8 years old, his father would have the young tennis player repeat the exact same drill in practice. It was drill after drill, day after day.

“It was all repetition,” Dome said. “Looking back at it, I see why my dad did that. It was consistent. I still do the same thing every week. I’ve got a routine.”

The habit continued when he left home and started college. At the beginning of each quarter, Dome develops a pattern of when he eats, when he trains and when he studies. But after completing his last season in a Cal Poly tennis uniform, the two-time men’s tennis Big West Player of the Year will have to make a few adjustments.

Ranked 29th in the nation by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, Dome will embark on a journey to the University of Illinois to compete in the NCAA tournament on May 23 before graduating in June.

And as Dome dons a cap and gown to receive his diploma, Cal Poly will let go one of the best tennis players to ever step between the lines of the Mustangs’ courts.

Born in Indonesia, Dome began playing tennis when he moved to Arroyo Grande at age 5. By the time he graduated high school, he was considered one of the top 10 tennis recruits in the nation. Realistically, he could have gone to school anywhere.

But while programs across the nation recruited the budding talent, Dome had different plans. He wanted to stay close to home.

“My mom’s been to every single home match,” Dome said. “(My parents) have just done so much for me. They are my backbone.”

And even for Dina Dome, it came as a shock to her that her son chose to play for the Mustangs.

“I was so surprised when he chose to come to Cal Poly because I wanted him to decide for himself,” Dina said.

He made his mark during his first season on campus. As a freshman, Dome was Cal Poly’s highest ranked player and earned Big West Freshman of the Year honors.

Ian Billings/Mustang Daily

In his second year, Dome’s routine was shattered. Following irritation in his hip throughout his freshman year, Dome consulted doctors who said he strained his groin. However, after getting a second opinion before the start of his sophomore year, Dome decided to have hip surgery which forced him to sit out the season.

Instead of dominating on the court, he was struggling to walk.

“(Having surgery) was probably the biggest thing in my life that I’ve been through because I couldn’t play tennis for six months,” Dome said. “That gave me a new perspective on things, especially tennis.”

It was during his time on crutches that Dome began to change as a player. He wrote a list of things in which he wanted to improve — in his game and in school. Re-committing himself to doing the hard work, Dome wanted to return to the courts as a new player. And as he does best, he developed a routine.

“I focused on getting my cardio back and started swimming every morning,” Dome said. “I tried  to get my schedule back. I wanted to come back stronger, and it was just a commitment to everything else but tennis, and that helped my tennis. I was ready.”

Returning from a medical redshirt season, Dome claimed all-conference first team honors in his 2010-11 season after recording a 19-5 overall record at the No. 1 singles spot.

And it was in his junior year that he and the men’s tennis team made program history by claiming Cal Poly’s first Big West Conference championship.

“Growing up here and going to the Cal Poly matches, I’ve just seen so many generations of players that haven’t done that,” Dome said. “You can cheer (on your teammates) as much as you want and support them, but at the end of the day, it’s your teammate playing. That’s why it is my best memory out of college; it was pretty special.”

After the Mustangs were eliminated in the second round of the Big West tournament this past season, his senior year, Dome had accumulated an overall record of 23-4 and ended with a perfect record in conference, going 6-0 as the team’s co-captain.

“With a team, when we lose a match, I feel like it’s my fault,” Dome said. “I would say, ‘What do I have to do next time for the guys to win the match?’ Whenever we had a loss, I would work a little bit harder. Maybe that would help the team win the 4-3 matches.”

Head coach Nick Carless saw Dome rise as a tennis star in the past two seasons and has witnessed his best player lead the team by example.

“He’s going to be almost impossible to replace,” Carless said. “I’ve seen players who’ve been top 10  in the country go to college and not get better. I think he set a great standard for what the No. 1 player at Cal Poly should try and be like.”

But while Dina is proud of all her son has accomplished on the court, the newly recognized American citizen simply can’t wait to see her only child step up on graduation day to receive his diploma. It’s something she never got to do.

“This is a dream come true,” she said. “It’s my dream too. My dream is that my son will graduate from college.”

And as Dome’s collegiate career ends, his mother will watch, proud as ever, as he chases a dream of his own — to play the game he loves as a professional.

“Not being able to come back in September and go to classes … that’ll scare anybody,” Dome said. “I’m not going to have the routine I have had here. It’s going to be a shock to me, but I’m going to have to adjust.”

And with the eyes of Cal Poly on the simplistic creature of habit, Dome will fight to find his groove in the next chapter of his tennis career.

I was duly attacked for my remarks and offered an immediate and unqualified apology. But this did not suffice for some critics, who insisted that I was guilty not just of stupidity but also of homophobia. I have no doubt that at least some students were influenced by these allegations. Nobody would want to study with a bigot. I therefore owe it to students—former and prospective—to make it unambiguously clear that I am no such thing.

To be accused of prejudice is one of the occupational hazards of public life nowadays. There are a remarkable number of people who appear to make a living from pouncing on any utterance that can be construed as evidence of bigotry. Only last year, though not for the first time, I found myself being accused of racism for venturing to criticize President Obama. This came as a surprise to my wife, who was born in Somalia.

The charge of homophobia is equally easy to refute. If I really were a “gay-basher”, as some headline writers so crassly suggested, why would I have asked Andrew Sullivan, of all people, to be the godfather of one of my sons, or to give one of the readings at my wedding?

Throughout my career as a historian, I have regularly written and spoken about Keynes, who had one of the most brilliant minds of the twentieth century. That, of course, is the most important thing about him. You may disagree with his argument that, in a depressed economy, the government should borrow and spend money to stimulate aggregate demand. But you cannot ignore it.

Not for one moment did I mean to suggest that Keynesian economics as a body of thought was simply a function of Keynes’ sexuality. But nor can it be true—as some of my critics apparently believe—that his sexuality is totally irrelevant to our historical understanding of the man. My very first book dealt with the German hyperinflation of 1923, a historical calamity in which Keynes played a minor but important role. In that particular context, Keynes’ sexual orientation did have historical significance. The strong attraction he felt for the German banker Carl Melchior undoubtedly played a part in shaping Keynes’ views on the Treaty of Versailles and its aftermath.

The historian, unlike the economist, is concerned with biography as well as with statistics. Keynes’ first biographer, Roy Harrod, drew a veil over Keynes’ complex private life. But the author of the more recent and definitive three-volume life, Robert Skidelsky, felt no such inhibition. Anyone who reads that great work will find the question of Keynes’ homosexuality treated sensitively and intelligently and related, where appropriate, to his work. Keynes’ fellow members of the Bloomsbury Group would have approved, had they lived to read Skidelsky’s book, for they had no doubt at all that sexual orientation had a significance beyond the narrow confines of the bedroom, and that intellectual life and emotional life were intertwined.

As a historian, I have often had to contend with the question of how far to take the Bloomsbury approach.  Keynes is very far from the only homosexual or bisexual I have written about. In The Pity of War, for example, I discussed the case of T.E. Lawrence, whose real or imagined rape by his Turkish captors was central to his experience of World War I. In The House of Rothschild, I identified at least three members of that illustrious financial dynasty as gay. In Empire, I sketched the lives of both repressed and unrepressed homosexuals who played important roles in the Victorian British Empire.

Yet no one who reads these books could seriously accuse me of harboring a prejudice against gay men (or women). It would be as absurd to accuse me of anti-Semitism for alluding to the fact that the Rothschilds or Warburgs were Jews.

In The War of the World, I sought to explain how warped, pseudo-scientific racial and “eugenic” theories provided a justification for some of the most horrific acts of organized violence in all human history. I could not have been more explicit in condemning such theories. You will find a similar condemnation in Civilization: The West and the Rest. Incidentally, one of the heroes of that book is Frederick the Great of Prussia, who was almost certainly gay.

There is still, regrettably, a great deal of prejudice in the world, racial as well as sexual. There are two strategies we may adopt. One is repression—the old Victorian practice of simply not talking about such things. The other is education. In my writing and teaching, I have labored long and hard to expose precisely what was wrong about the theories that condemned homosexuals, Jews and others to discrimination and death. I have also tried to explain what made those theories so lethally appealing.

The War of the World concludes: “We shall avoid another century of conflict only if we understand the forces that caused the last one—the dark forces that conjure up ethnic conflict and imperial rivalry out of economic crisis, and in doing so negate our common humanity.”

I doubt very much that any of my vituperative online critics have made a comparable effort to understand the nature and dire consequences of prejudice. For the self-appointed inquisitors of internet, it is always easier to accuse than seriously to inquire.

In the long run we are all indeed dead, at least as individuals. Perhaps Keynes was lucky to pre-decease the bloggers because, for all his brilliance, was also prone to moments of what we would now call political incorrectness. In his Economic Consequences of the Peace, for example, he wrote: “Unless her great neighbours are prosperous and orderly, Poland is an economic impossibility with no industry but Jew-baiting.” Even at the time, that was an outrageous thing to say about a country that had suffered grave hardships since its partition in the eighteenth century. But does anyone today seriously argue that we should not read Keynes because he was a Polonophobe?

Ironically, Keynes was even more averse to Americans than to Poles. As he told a friend in 1941: “I always regard a visit [to the US] as in the nature of a serious illness to be followed by convalescence.” To his eyes, Washington was dominated by lawyers, all speaking incomprehensible legalese—or, as Keynes put it, “Cherokee”.

Shock, horror: Even the mighty Keynes occasionally said stupid things. Most professors do. And—let’s face it—so do most students.

What the self-appointed speech police of the blogosphere forget is that to err occasionally is an integral part of the learning process. And one of the things I learnt from my stupidity last week is that those who seek to demonize error, rather than forgive it, are among the most insidious enemies of academic freedom.

Niall Ferguson is the Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History at Harvard.

What would life be like if we could remember everything that has happened to us? There may be moments that would remain sweeter with the remembering, but then again, there are moments that would become more bitter. If you can remember every detail of your life, it also puts you in the sad state of living in the past, constantly rehashing things that have already happened, unable to move forward. We take for granted the gift that is our tendency to forget.

Yes, it has its disadvantages, obviously. But forgetting is also liberating. We are unburdened from remembering so sharply the wrongs that we have done and the people that we have hurt. Life would be pretty miserable if we could remember acutely all the awful things we’ve done. We are all flawed and I already feel haunted by some of the mistakes I’ve made. I couldn’t imagine not being able to forget some of my past. It would make it impossible to forgive myself and live in the present.

When I finished my undergraduate degree, the dean of my college gave a speech that has stayed with me. He talked about the art of forgetting. He talked about how our minds act like sieves, keeping the important items and letting the rest filter through. Forgetting allows us to focus on what is most important and remember those things. The rest can be forgotten.

In the scriptures we are constantly reminded to “remember.” We, by our nature as fallible human beings, forget not only mundane minutiae, but we also forget things of paramount importance. We must deliberately choose what we remember because we are so easy to forget. It’s just how we’re built.

I have a difficult time letting things go, people most especially. Once someone is in with me, they are in and I will be loyal to them. For a long time this loyalty was to a fault. I would let people who were close to me walk all over me and treat me like trash. It was hard for me to recognize what they were doing because I would never want to do things like that to my friends.

For years I let this pattern continue until I realized that I didn’t need to hold on to everyone in my life, that it was OK to let people go. I also had to realize that not everyone has to like me. I try really hard to like everyone, but that doesn’t mean that the converse needs to be true. I can’t control other people.

I figured if people want me in their lives, they will make the effort to reach out to me if I’ve let them go. And so far, this has proven to be true. I’ve been able to see who my true friends are and realize which relationships are worth holding on to.

Having this mentality of being able to let people go and let them be in the past has been so healthy for me. I had a friend tell me a couple years ago that her mom always said that people come into your life for a reason, a season, or for a lifetime. That gave me a whole different perspective on my relationships with others. Sure, it takes time to see which category people fall into, but it makes both holding on and letting go easier in some respects.

There is an art to forgetting. We shouldn’t forget the past because it’s painful. That knowledge is what helps us to progress, to not make the same mistakes. We shouldn’t let go of people because things get hard. We should hold on to the memories and the people that make us better, that propel us forward. The things that bring us down may at times be things that are necessary to remember and hold on to, but sometimes it’s liberating to leave it behind and forget.

The Terriers (21-26-1, 8-9 America East) were riding a three game winning heading into Storrs, Conn., to take on UConn (26-27) Thursday. The Huskies were a familiar opponent for the Terriers, as the two clashed at the BU Softball Field earlier in the year, a game in which the Huskies edged the Terriers by a score of 11-8.

In the Thursday matchup, the Terriers sent freshman pitcher Lauren Hynes to the circle. Hynes, who has vastly improved since the start of the season, went seven innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and struck out two in another solid effort.

Although Hynes was strong in the circle, she needed offensive support, which BU gave to her very early in the contest. In the first inning, senior second baseman Emily Roesch doubled to left field, which brought in junior third baseman Megan Volpano, giving the Terriers an early 1-0 lead.

The score remained that way until the fourth when the UConn offense finally started to click. After a sacrifice fly and an RBI single by second baseman Brittany Duclos, the Huskies took a 2-1 advantage heading to the fifth.

Despite falling behind, BU came right back in the top half of the fifth and tied up the game. Hynes helped her own cause, and drove in the tying run on an RBI groundout.

With things still all knotted up at two, the Terrier offense exploded for three runs in the sixth frame, taking a 5-2 advantage. Junior first baseman Chelsea Kehr had the highlight of the inning with her two-run home run. Sophomore left fielder Emily Felbaum added another run with an RBI double to center field.

The fifth run proved huge, as the Huskies battled back in the bottom half of the frame. Duclos came through with another RBI single and freshman Valerie Sadowl added an RBI single of her own to cut the Terrier lead to one.

With a walk, the Huskies had the bases loaded and a golden opportunity to tie or take the lead in the game, but Hynes induced a groundout from right fielder Maddy Schiappa to end the threat.

Hynes retired the side in order in the seventh, giving the Terriers the victory, which was their fourth in a row.

With this four-game win streak in hand, the Terriers next took on America East foe Stony Brook (31-22, 10-8 America East) in their final series of the season.

The first game of the three-game set was a classic pitchers’ duel between Hynes and Allison Cukrov.

The two kept the game scoreless until the fifth inning, when BU finally jumped on the board. Felbaum came through with a double to left, scoring junior shortstop Brittany Clendenny.

With the way Hynes was pitching, it appeared that could be enough. She went six innings and only allowed three hits.

However in the, the Seawolves took the lead, scoring two on a single by right fielder Bria Green.

The two runs gave Cukrov enough support, as she shut down the Terriers in the final frame.

BU sent senior pitcher Erin Schuppert in the second game of the day to attempt a win in the circle. Schuppert struggled from the outset, and allowed 10 hits and four runs in her 5.1 innings of work.

The Seawolves scored three runs in the first two innings, and took an early command of the game.

However, in the third inning, the Terriers got to ace pitcher Christine Lucido and knotted up the score. With Volpano’s RBI double and junior catcher Amy Ekart’s two-run shot, the Terrier comeback was in full force.

The Terriers added another run in the next frame on a home run by freshman right fielder Haley King, and BU took its first lead of the game.

However, for the second time, the Terriers could not hold the lead and blew another chance to win in the sixth. Pinch hitter Melissa Phelan came off the bench for Stony Brook and delivered a two-run homer, good enough for the lead and the win, as the Terriers lost their second game of the day 5-4.

The final day of the three-game set did not fare much better for the Terriers, as the team dropped the final game of the season by a score of 8-0.

Hynes got the start for BU again and kept the game scoreless into the third inning. However, this scoreless game quickly turned into a blowout, as Stony Brook slugged out seven runs in the third inning off of the freshman pitcher.

The Seawolves added another run in the fourth, giving them an 8-0 lead. The Terriers came to bat in the fifth, and promptly went down 1-2-3, ending their season in mercy rule fashion. The loss not only ended the season, but it was BU’s last ever game as a member of the America East Conference.

Will former UCLA punter Chris Kluwe being cut by the Minnesota Vikings have an impact on athletes who are outspoken with their personal views?

Tyler Drohan: I don’t believe Kluwe’s release will prevent athletes from being outspoken about their personal views. As many know, he was particularly vocal in his support of same-sex marriage as was former UCLA special teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo who was cut by the Baltimore Ravens. However, I think much more is being made of these two cuts than is necessary. Special teams players in their 30s are cut often. It’s the way of life in pro sports, and I find it hard to believe the teams just up and decided they were done with these guys because of their personal beliefs.

Andrew Erickson: While Kluwe’s release likely had something to do with his activism, the decision wasn’t made without football reasoning. Speaking in terms of net punting averages, Kluwe was the 17th-best punter in the NFL last year, and as with any job, when performance is lacking, replacements are sought. The Vikings found that replacement in another former UCLA punter, Jeff Locke, who impressed in his first mini-camp drills and justified Kluwe’s release. If this sends a message to athletes, it’s that being outspoken is justifiable as long as the stats are there.

The last time UCLA didn’t win a national title during a school year was in 1994. Will the Bruins’ 19-season string be snapped this year?

Tyler Drohan: Bruins fans are nervous, as they should be. It’s very late in the season without a winner. But there are a few teams with legitimate chances to win an NCAA title. It all starts with the only UCLA team currently ranked No. 1 in the country – men’s tennis. The team has just one blemish on its record and earned the No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament, thanks to a pair of victories late in the year against four-time defending champion USC. I think they’ll wrestle the title away from their crosstown rivals and keep the streak alive. If they don’t, a darkhorse team with a shot is women’s tennis, which heads into the tournament as the No. 7 seed.

Andrew Erickson: While men’s tennis appears poised to earn title No. 109 for UCLA, I think the Bruin men’s golf team is finally ready for greatness. A common denominator with a number of title-winning teams is motivation, and the Bruins have plenty. No. 1 golfer Patrick Cantlay bolted for the season to try to make the PGA Tour, and on the course, UCLA has consistently played in the shadow of conference rival and top-ranked Cal. While the Bruins lost to the Golden Bears by nine strokes in the four-round Pac-12 Championship, look for this team to play with a chip on its shoulder – and in its chips – come NCAAs.

Of the Bruins’ undrafted free agents, who is most likely to make an NFL roster?

Tyler Drohan: I think tight end “Big Joe” Joseph Fauria has the best shot of any of the Bruins’ undrafted guys to make a roster. He immediately signed with the Detroit Lions following the draft, and surprised many by going undrafted in the first place. He’s a big body – 6-foot-7-inches – and a major red zone target who has an NFL pedigree. Though there are concerns with his speed, route running and toughness, Fauria will not only make the roster, but also challenge for playing time behind Lions’ starter Brandon Pettigrew.

Andrew Erickson: Oh, snap, I think this is an easy one. UCLA coach Jim Mora said a couple weeks ago that a number of NFL coaches had told him former UCLA long snapper Kevin McDermott was the best at his position in the whole draft class. Now a San Francisco 49er, McDermott will have to fight to enter one of the scarcest job markets in all of professional sports, but he certainly has a window of opportunity to earn a job. McDermott will split reps 50-50 with current long snapper Brian Jennings during the 49ers’ offseason, with the best long snapper taking the job.

First ever crowd-funded transcontinental train journey seeks to empower 100 young artists, innovators, and entrepreneurs during 10-day train journey to help move America forward.

Washington, D.C. – Today, The Millennial Trains Project (MTP), a non-profit organization that leads crowdfunded transcontinental train journeys for enterprising, creative, and civic-minded Millennials, announced it has begun accepting applications for its inaugural journey from San Francisco, CA to Washington, DC (August 8-17, 2013).

In partnership with City Year, McKinsey & Company, National Geographic Traveler, Opportunity Nation, and the Startup America Partnership, MTP will turn a caravan of refurbished mid-20thcentury train cars into a mobile innovation lab, campus, and dormitory.

“Journeys build leaders – and Millennials are the new pioneers,” said Patrick Dowd, the Millennial Trains Project’s 25 year-old founder and CEO, “I started MTP to create a platform for people my age to explore their own personal, professional, and creative frontiers on a national scale – and to better understand our country in the process.”

To get on board, applicants will use MTP’s crowdfunding platform to propose and build support for a project that they intend to advance in each community where the train stops.

Applicants have until July 1st to reach a $5,000 fundraising goal, which covers the cost of their participation. Since the application process is a race, those that apply early have the best chance of getting on board. Anyone age 18-34 is eligible to apply, and the public is encouraged to visit the MTP crowdfunding platform to support applicant projects.

Traveling from San Francisco, CA to Washington, D.C. over the course of 10 days, 100 participants will have the opportunity to learn from on-train mentors, explore local examples of innovation, and advance their projects. Participants will be evenly allotted among the following ten professional tracks:

• Advocates: Community organizers, non-profit leaders, changemakers, lobbyists, lawyers;
• Entrepreneurs: Job creators, disruptive thinkers, risk-takers, founders, soon-to-be founders;
• Explorers: Mountaineers, conservationists, astronauts, park rangers;
• Intrapreneurs: Anyone leading within an established company or non-profit organization;
• Innovators: Inventors, hackers, engineers, scientists;
• Makers: Architects, designers, writers, filmmakers, poets, journalists, craftsmen;
• Performers: Actors, singers, dancers, musicians, comedians;
• Public Servants: Political staffers, teachers, enlisted soldiers and law enforcement officials;
• Students: Anyone enrolled in college or grad school, research assistants, fellows;
• Veterans: Anyone who served previously in the military.

“Long before the Internet brought the world to our fingertips, trains served as vehicles of discovery, connection, and economic opportunity,” said Dowd, “we intend to use them for this purpose once again.”

ABOUT THE MILLENNIAL TRAINS PROJECT

THE MILLENNIAL TRAINS PROJECT (MTP) is a non-profit organization leading crowd-funded transcontinental train journeys to empower diverse groups of Millennials to explore America’s new frontiers. Stopping in 10 cities in 10 days, MTP’s mission is to help participants and virtual audiences to identify, evaluate, and explore emerging opportunities and challenges in the communities where our trains stop – and advance a project that benefits, serves, and inspires others. The inspiration for the Millennial Trains Project comes from a similar train journey, theJagriti Yatra, that founder Patrick Dowd helped lead as a 2010-11 Fulbright Scholar in India. Learn more about the Millennial Trains Project at millennialtrain.co. For the latest news and updates, follow MTP on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr.

For press inquiries, please contact Jessica Straus (jessica@millennialtrain.co or 203-219-8666).

For more information, visit http://millennialtrain.co/.

The Bulls entered the game with numerous players on the injury list, most notably point guard Derrick Rose who has still yet to return from a torn ACL he suffered in the playoffs last year.

Chicago dealt the Heat their first loss of the 2013 playoffs in surprising fashion, with Nate Robinson pacing the Bulls with 27 points.

Game 2 is Wednesday night in Miami.

****

It’s never too early to look at draft projections, and the 2014 list has began to make its way throughout the college football community.

Once again, Oregon has several players rated very highly in these mock drafts and it something new head coach Mark Helfrich has taken notice of.

The Register-Guard’s Rob Moseley gives a full update on how Helfrich plans to handle the draft discussions with his players.

****

Once again, former Lakers head coach Phil Jackson finds himself in the news linked to another head coaching vacancy.

The retired Jackson has stated he wishes to make a return to the game but only if the situation fit him, and the Brooklyn Nets have come calling.

Jackson has also expressed interest in joining the front office of an organization, and Brooklyn might be a situation where that could be possible.

The invalidation almost led to another election, until the University of Oregon administration had to intervene and deemed the results valid.

“Right after the election results were thought to be invalidated,” he said, “was when I started to think about putting this motion together.”

In his motion, he said the court’s ruling of declaring the election results invalid would have changed nothing and would have only been a waste of student’s time.

“I’ve talked to some senators about it, and there are definitely people on board with this,” he said.

This motion will be brought up during the next ASUO Senate meeting this Wednesday in the EMU Walnut Room.

He also questions Apana’s credibility, claiming that when she was asked if she knew anyone from the court prior to her nomination, she said no. But he claims in the motion that she did know of former Chief Justice Nick Schultz and suggested that the two were actually in a “romantically relationship.”

Vanderpool is requesting for her to be removed from office for not properly fulfilling her duties as a member of the ASUO Constitution Court and establishing that he — and other student senators — may not have voted for Apana if her relationship with Schultz had been known.

AUSTIN, TX—A new infographic from SpareFoot, the nation’s largest self-storage finder, provides all sorts of facts and figures about the College Class of 2013—from their job prospects to their living arrangements.

Two tidbits from the infographic: An estimated 1.8 million students from the Class of 2013 will earn bachelor’s degrees, and 51 percent of college graduates plan to move to a new apartment after school ends.

“As the Class of 2013 prepares to head into the ‘real world,’ this infographic from SpareFoot will give soon-to-be college graduates—and their parents—a glimpse at what the world will really look like,” said Chuck Gordon, CEO of SpareFoot.

An embed code at the bottom of the infographic allows anyone to post it on a website at no cost.

To view the infographic, visit www.sparefoot.com/consumers/tips/college-class-2013-infographic.html.

About SpareFoot

SpareFoot, based in Austin, TX, makes renting self-storage easy. Our free marketplace lets customers find and reserve storage units online. We have the largest inventory of storage units in the U.S., with a network of more than 6,500 facilities, ranging from mom-and-pop to publicly traded REIT. We reach millions of people who need storage through exclusive partnerships with brands like SelfStorage.com, Apartments.com and Penske Truck Rental. SpareFoot brings consumers and facilities together to deliver the most convenient and enjoyable storage experience possible online, offline and via mobile.

For more information, visit www.sparefoot.com.

Media contact:

John Egan
SpareFoot
512-799-1022
jegan@sparefoot.com

The study, published on May 2 in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, found that levels of certain metals in lipsticks and lip glosses may raise long-term health concerns in users. The paper was authored by S. Katharine Hammond, a UC Berkeley professor of environmental health sciences, Sa Liu, a campus researcher of environmental health sciences, and Ann Rojas-Cheatham, director of research and training at Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice, a nonprofit organization in Oakland.

Researchers estimated the average consumer’s daily intake of lead, cadmium, chromium, aluminum and five other metals for 32 types of lipsticks and lip glosses commonly found in stores. To assess the health risks of using these products, the researchers compared these estimates with “acceptable daily intakes” they derived from information used by the California Environmental Protection Agency.

In 2007 and 2010, the Food and Drug Administration conducted studies analyzing the lead content of lipsticks and found it to be safe for consumers. According to the FDA’s website, the agency currently regulates the lead in color additives for cosmetics but not the level of lead in the products themselves.

Hammond explained that there are problems when determining an acceptable standard for lead exposure in cosmetic products.

“Lead was not present (in the lipsticks) at the high levels that would lead to a concern,” Hammond said. “However, we also know that lead has a history that the more we study it, the more we see health effects happening at lower and lower levels. So there is no completely safe level of lead.”

While the FDA is aware of the presence of lead in lipsticks, metals like cadmium, chromium, manganese and aluminum — also found in the lipsticks studied — have received less attention, Liu said.

According to Hammond, younger children, whose developing bodies absorb more of the metals, and people with compromised kidney functions or diabetes are the most susceptible to these potential health problems. High levels of cadmium can damage the kidneys and, along with some forms of chromium, can cause cancer. Overexposure to manganese can damage the nervous system over time.

Liu, however, emphasized that the danger of these metals lies in long-term use.

“We don’t want to cause any panic in the users or consumers,” Liu said. “We don’t think it will cause any harm in the short term, but the more you use and the longer you use it, the more likely a person may get overexposed (to the metals) and potentially be taking higher risk for adverse effects.”

According to the study, the researchers did not observe clear patterns indicating that metal concentrations were related to specific brands, product type, color or cost.

Linda Loretz, a chief toxicologist for the Personal Care Products Council — a trade association for the cosmetics industry — reaffirmed the safety of lip products, noting that traces of these metals are also found in food.

“The report does not provide any new meaningful information,” Loretz said in a press release. “The finding of trace levels of metals in lip products is not unexpected given their natural presence in air, soil and water.”

Courtney Mullen, a UC Berkeley junior, also said she did not feel too concerned about the findings.

“I’m in theater, and I use cosmetics for shows,” Mullen said. “I’m not seeing that many health concerns at the present time, and there are many other things that can hurt you that are not cosmetics. So I would probably continue using them.”

Contact Yvonne Ng at yng@dailycal.org.

The post UC Berkeley study reveals health concerns with lipstick usage appeared first on The Daily Californian.

The council also voted to approve the creation of a new interdisciplinary degree for students in the College of Natural Sciences and elected executive members for the 2013-2014 school year.

One of the council’s measures was a resolution harshly criticizing a new UT System policy that enacts a series of disclosure requirements on all University employees, including, in certain cases, graduate students. The policy, known as UTS 180, was subject to several hours of debate at the council's meeting in April, and the criticism was submitted on behalf of the Faculty Council Executive Committee.

“The proposed policy, as it is currently written, represents a serious invasion of privacy and an intrusion into constitutionally protected rights,” said Alan Friedman, English professor,  author of the resolution and a former council chairman.

Friedman also criticized Dan Sharphorn, associate vice chancellor and deputy general counsel for the System, who recently said many faculty members “don’t have an objection to [UTS 180].” Friedman asked if anyone at the Faculty Council meeting wanted to defend or express support for the policy and received no response.

“I kind of thought he didn’t have any examples in mind,” Friedman said. “To my knowledge, all faculty who have weighed into this issue are opposed to it … a number of current UT faculty have cited UTS 180 as the reason they are leaving or contemplated leaving.”

The policy, which was meant to go into effect on May 1, has been delayed until September for further revision and examination, Sharphorn said in an interview last week.

The Faculty Council also passed a resolution responding to the UT System Task Force Report on the Evaluation of Faculty Teaching, proposing four amendments and expressing a series of reservations about the task force’s recommendations.

“No study is cited to demonstrate that using social media to "continuously evaluate" the professor during the course will not devolve into an anonymous ‘slam table,’” the response stated. “

Psychology professor James Pennebaker warned of potential repercussions the evaluations might have if they are enacted in the way the task force recommended.

“The full evaluation system that is being proposed will undermine faculty morale, be a huge drain on faculty time and research productivity, and likely will not lead to any substantial improvement in teaching,” Pennebaker said in an online comment about the policy.

The council also voted to approve several resolutions aimed at personalizing and simplifying the degree-obtaining process. One resolution approved the creation of a new degree, a Bachelor of Science and Arts, to allow College of Natural Sciences students to take a more interdisciplinary approach to their education. Sacha Kopp, associate dean for curriculum and programs at the college and a physics professor, said he felt a more interdisciplinary approach would allow for scientific achievement to be viewed in different contexts.

“The old joke is the 'is/ought' problem,” Kopp said. “[Right now], we teach you what something is, but not necessarily what you ought to do about it.”

Other approved changes to the General Information Catalog included a proposal that students be required to discuss the implications of adding a major, which associate sociology professor Mary Rose said would help forward a culture of four-year-graduation goals. Another proposal would standardize and implement the process of recognizing minors on students’ transcripts.

The council also voted to remove a policy requiring an additional 24 hours of credit in order to obtain a dual degree. Rose said there was no logical reason the rule existed and that its only impact was to further slow down degree progress for students who wish to seek multiple degrees.

“We can’t find any reason why we have this rule,” Rose said.

The three-hour long meeting also included remarks from UT President William Powers Jr., who fielded questions on campus security and tobacco policies and expressed tentative optimism about the ongoing budget process at the Texas Legislature. When one faculty member asked about campus safety in light of the recent Boston Marathon bombing and subsequent shoot-out on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Powers said he was confident in the abilities of the UT and Austin police departments.

“For major incidents, shooters, bombs and bomb threats, there is a very robust team in place, a great deal of preparatory work done in terms of policing,” Powers said. “We have an extremely good relationship with the intelligence communities in the state and in Washington, D.C.”

Faculty Council also voted for a chair-elect and three members of its executive committee. Mathematics professor William Beckner will serve as chairman-elect, while Brian Evans, electrical and computer engineering professor, Elizabeth Gershoff, human development and family science associate professor and law professor Susan Klein will also serve on the executive committee.

Evans criticized UTS-180 in a statement about why he was running for the position.

“We’re under a lot of external pressure, both from within the System and outside of it,” Evans said. “If elected, I would like to join President Powers and Provost [Steven] Leslie, or whoever the new Provost is, and fight back against egregious system policies.”

In the modern NFL era, pass first offenses, the read option, and elite tight ends are affecting the way certain teams handle their personnel decisions. That was very evident in the way many teams made their selections in the 2013 NFL Draft this past week. Certain positions were valued much higher than others this year, because they contribute to the success of the quarterback, or prevent the other team’s quarterback from making big plays. Here are four positions that were affected by the revolution of the game of football in recent years.

Wide receiver:  Today’s NFL requires most teams to have an elite quarterback with a variety of weapons to compliment him in order to win. Three teams picked up wide receivers in the first round, and two of them traded up to get the one they wanted. The Rams acquired the eighth pick to grab Tavon Austin in front of the Jets, the Vikings traded four picks to get back into the first round and draft Cordarrelle Patterson, and the Texans picked up DeAndre Hopkins at the 27^th pick. The Rams had several big targets for Quarterback Sam Bradford, but no true “slot receiver” who can stretch the middle of the defense and exploit mismatches with linebackers and nickel corners. A few years ago, a 5-foot-8, 174 pound wide out might have been a head scratcher, but with the emergence of playmakers like Percy Harvin (5’11”) and Randall Cobb (5’10”) in recent seasons, short, quick pass catchers with return ability are on the rise.

Running back:  According to the Washington Post, not a single running back was taken in the first round for the first time since 1963. I don’t need to give the gas prices, popular movies, or president at that time to emphasize how much the game has evolved in the last few years to undo half a century of running backs being considered first round commodities. The first running back drafted was Giovani Bernard with the 37^th overall pick. The consensus number one running back available this year was Eddie Lacy, and he fell to the Packers at the 61^st pick due to mild injury concerns. Experts have been speaking to the devaluing of the position over the last few years, but it appears the transition to a passing dominated league is now complete.

Quarterback:  Despite the pass first mantra that is taking the league by storm, only one quarterback was taken in the first round, E.J. Manuel. Matt Barkley, the quarterback that many predicted would be a top ten selection even after a shoulder injury this past season, slipped to the first pick of the fourth round. The Manuel pick is a reflection of the fact that the NFL just witnessed a read-option quarterback lead his team to the Super Bowl last year. Robert Griffin the third and Russell Wilson are other young read-option quarterbacks that flexed this ability last year. Teams in need of a field general such as the Bills and Jets drafted mobile quarterbacks like Manuel and Geno Smith respectively due to this trend in the game.

Tackle:  Ron Jaworski said late in the first round during ESPN’s draft coverage that the selections made reflected “the importance of that seven yards behind the line of scrimmage.” What he was referring to was protecting the quarterback. Nine offensive linemen were drafted in the first round this year, with three of the first four picks being tackles. For teams without a quarterback who can protect themselves by scrambling outside of the pocket, it is more critical for the guys up front to provide that protection. The unusually high number of them drafted as early as they were this year is evidence of a changing NFL landscape.

This will be the final Whole Nine Yards column of the year. Look for it to return next year as a fantasy advice column once again. Thank you to all the viewers who made this column what it was all year long. Follow @ZacBellman_WNY for NFL updates throughout the offseason.

In the world of consumerism, the United States is driven by capitalism: the belief in buying and selling in a race for who can be the most successful the fastest. The K-State Coalition for Students Against Sweatshops is committed to ending the exploitation of overseas sweatshop workers by U.S. companies.

“There has been a lot of mixed information about sweatshops and the effects of purchasing these products here in the U.S.,” said James Coover, president of the K-State Coalition for Students Against Sweatshops and graduate student in agronomy.

U.S. corporations like Nike, Disney, Wal-Mart, Reebok, Phillips-Van Heusen, the Gap, Liz Claiborne, Ralph Lauren, J.C. Penney and Sears are just some of the companies that rely on overseas sweatshop labor, typically from nations in South and Southeast Asia, according to the Do Something Campaign.

As some of these companies and brands are affiliated with K-State or are present in the larger Manhattan community, some K-State students have taken an interest in ensuring that the university does not support companies that exploit foreign workers in sweatshops. Members of the K-State Coalition for Students Against Sweatshops have begun preliminary discussions with Varney’s Bookstore to begin selling clothing produced by Alta Gracia, a company based in the Dominican Republic that opposes sweatshop labor and pays its workers relatively high wages.

“Alta Gracia is a brand that not only gives people the option of purchasing fair-wage clothing, but to show there is a choice in the buying options,” Coover said.

Coover said one of the worst effects of purchasing non-fair wage clothing is that it perpetuates the cycle of oppression for the people working in these factories. He explained that people in these factories are kept in very low-wage situations that make it difficult to support themselves and their families and to help their children receive an education. When those children become old enough, they have to work to help their families, and their lack of education or other qualifications mean they are unable to move upward in socio-economic status.

Alta Gracia is different from many large textile businesses, especially those that print collegiate clothing. Alta Gracia, which is based in the Dominican Republic, pays its workers three times the local minimum wage. Yet even though their workers are earning relatively high wages, the cost of the clothing sold in the U.S. is not significantly affected.

Coover and Kathryn Douglass, vice president of the K-State Coalition of Students Against Sweatshops and sophomore in biological and agricultural engineering, have both been pushing hard to see the Alta Gracia line in Varney’s and the Union Bookstore.

“There are a lot of students who don’t think they have a voice, but we actually have a lot of power,” Douglass said. “Students have more power than they know.”

Currently, K-State’s athletic contracts are with Nike, which has a history of not helping displaced workers when something overseas goes wrong. In 2011, some U.S. universities cut ties with Nike after the company refused to pay severance fees to employees in subcontracted Honduran factories. According to a May 25, 2011, Huffington Post article, Nike “has long said that it could not be held responsible for what its subcontractors did,” but it eventually paid workers $1.5 million due to pressure from American universities.

Rutgers, Cornell, Georgetown and the University of Washington, among others, have moved to sever ties with businesses like Nike and Adidas due to their mistreatment of overseas workers. Many universities have also threatened to sever ties with Nike and Adidas unless they improved the conditions of their workers.

“We always encourage students to do more research on their own,” Douglass said. “There is a lot of information about these infractions that are happening all over the world. Doing more research for themselves is always incredibly beneficial.”

Recently, there was a factory collapse in Bangladesh. According to a May 6 NPR article, the collapse had killed more than 650 people, with some still being pulled from the rubble. These workers had seen the large cracks in the walls of the building, but the building owner demanded that they enter the factory, threatening them with unemployment if they refused to work, and denied that the building was unsafe.

This is one of the most recent examples of the problems seen in sweatshops. According to a May 2 Forbes Magazine article by Benjamin Powell, Bangladesh has more than 4,500 garment factories that employ approximately 4 million people. And sweatshops in Bangladesh only pay about $40 per month, according to an April 29 article in The Guardian by Maha Rafi Atal.

Coover said that bringing the Alta Gracia line to K-State would benefit the community by bringing awareness to the topic of sweatshop worker exploitation.

“The awareness the Alta Gracia line would bring to K-State would be incredible,” Coover said. “It would encourage people to question what they buy from stores.”

U.S. companies’ use of sweatshop labor dates back to the Industrial Revolution, when the United States supported the use of sweatshops domestically. According to the National Endowment for the Humanities, events like the Haymarket Affair, the Homestead Strike and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire “illustrated the unfair conditions faced by workers as the United States assumed its position as the most highly industrialized nation in the world.”

After those four incidents, states began passing laws to improve working conditions in factories and to protect workers’ rights to unionize. In response, many large businesses and organizations began outsourcing their business to overseas factories in order to produce the goods that Americans demand at lower costs.

Jakki Thompson is a sophomore in journalism and mass communications and American ethnic studies. Please send comments to news@kstatecollegian.com.

Backed up by six musicians playing an equal parts sultry and adventurous score composed by Danielle G. Rabinowitz ’14, the performance was reminiscent of Walt Disney’s Fantasia, with the careful, intentional movements of the performers accompanying corresponding musical riffs and instrumental dialogue. As two girls (Mariel N. Pettee ’14 and Madison M. Dildine ’16) flirted on a park bench, their angular, shy twitching and fitful smiles were enhanced by by a jazzy, spunky section of music. One of the most impressive parts of the show, Rabinowitz’s score propelled the various plotlines and maintained an incredible level of energy throughout the production.

Since each storylines was so different, it was particularly remarkable that the music was able to evolve with and enhance the relationships being portrayed on stage. Some parts felt like a play off of “Cell Block Tango” from the musical “Chicago,” with four of the female dancers (Sofie A. R. Seymour ’15, Nina M. Yancy ’13, Melanie J. Comeau ’13, and Talia M. Fox ’13) up on the balcony, emoting the same anguish over an unfaithful lover (Kevin Shee) through synchronized dance moves. Each female dancer wore a button-down shirt, presumably from the same man they had all encountered, and the scene started out as individual morning-after moments, until the performers seemed to realize their hurt and anger, and then began to mirror each other’s movements.

Lever’s choice to have each of the dancers wear the same shirt was emotional, and felt like the narrative was reaching for a more substantial statement about relationships. Other choices, however, seemed a bit forced. For example, the one singer in the production, an incredible vocalist named Page Axelson, interrupted the scenes three times to sing a slightly different rendition of “At Last.” The first time was moving, and set the mood and theme of the play quite well. The second rendition, complete with an obligatory cigarette and glass of scotch, felt forced, and though Axelson belted the lyrics through pent-up frustration and sarcastic head tosses, the intended reinterpretation of the words in the song was confusing and seemed to overtly herald what was otherwise a carefully chosen progression of scenes and climactic dances. Each of the couples’ interactions, whether it was the charming, smitten boy (Matthew W. G. Walker ’16) and disinterested girl (Yancy), or the sexy, almost matador dances of Comeau and Ivo B. Baca ’13, felt so honest and engaging. However, the decision to focus the beginning and the end of the performance on the unfulfilling narrative of the unfaithful lover and cast-aside girlfriend (Fox) felt odd when compared to such a varied and important selection of scenes.

This is not to say that the few confusing choices took away from the rest of the production. Rather, the rest of the show was incredibly meaningful and impressively fluid from the moment that the audience stumbled into the theater. Immediately the performers were invested in their parts, and each wrote a certain section of the lyrics repeatedly throughout the space, only to erase, revise, and rewrite the lyrics at different points throughout the show. Though the theatergoers stood inches from some of the performers, the performers themselves did not flinch but rather kept in character, even when ushering the clumsy audience out of the way when, as occurred several times during the performance, the raised platforms had to be rolled to a different location, often exactly where the audience had been standing seconds before.

All of these movement went on without a hitch, and what could have been a disorienting attempt at immersion succeeded fantastically. The warm toned, practical lighting by Joseph R. Seering ’13 indicated where the audience was supposed to turn, though often multiple stages in the couples’ relationship took place at the same time. There were breakups on the left, a besotted duo on the right, and playful friendly interactions behind. The varied relationships reached a climax at one moment in the middle of the production when all nine performers herded the audience into one group and danced around them, chant-like and circular as the lights narrowed on the unsuspecting theatergoers. The message was clear; relationships are all-consuming, emotional, and there’s no way to avoid the glaring reality of love.

—Staff writer Virginia R. Marshall can be reached at virginiarosemarshall@college.harvard.edu.

While the motives behind the Boston bombings are unclear, it is important to remember that killing innocent lives has no justification. As an American Muslim, I find in the Quran (5:33): “Whoever killed a person … it shall be as if he had killed all of mankind.” While the culprits claim to be Muslim, it is clear that they lacked the proper guidance that would have illuminated this Quranic verse.

As a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, I am grateful to have such guidance. Led by Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community champions the separation of mosque and state, while condemning all forms of terrorism. His Holiness is making a historical visit to the U.S. later this month. We invite all Americans to join us in rejecting violence and uniting to serve humanity.

Country music filled Aggieville early Saturday evening at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity’s third annual Beta Lei event at Aggie Station. The concert featured up-and-coming country music artist JT Hodges, and brought in $2,700 for TARC, a support organization for children with disabilities and illnesses.

“We support TARC because two of our brothers have lost family members,” said Zach Kohlrus, member of Beta Theta Pi and sophomore in accounting. “We felt that this was closer to home, it has made these events more meaningful.”

Approximately 275 people attended the event, Kohlrus said. All ticket sale proceeds went directly to TARC.

“The biggest reward for me was that I wanted to raise money for a cause that I felt was important,” Kohlrus said. “It also gives students the opportunity to enjoy themselves before finals.”

In the previous years, the concert had taken place at the Beta Theta Pi’s house, but that was not possible this year. Colder weather and chance of rain caused the fraternity to move the concert inside to Aggie Station.

“I wish it was outside, but it’s obviously way too cold for that,” said Ciara Chambers, freshman in political science.

Although new, many people liked the different location.

“I like this venue, it’s very open and it seems well thought out,” said Kristen Doberer, freshman in elementary education. “There was room to sit and room to dance.”

Dillion Cowing, senior in civil engineering, opened the concert around 6:30 p.m. with a mix of original songs and covers of songs by Josh Abbott Band, Flo Rida, Florida Georgia Line and Kip Moore.

“I liked the original songs and the covers were good too because it was easy to sing to them,” Chambers said. “He has a really good voice.”

Cowing, who is from Clay Center, Kan., started performing about a year ago.

“The crowd was a lot more than I expected, but it was probably the coolest crowd I’ve played for,” Cowing said. “They were very receptive to my music and supportive of what I was playing.”

Cowing brought his CDs to sell to audience members, and pledged to donate 25 percent of the earnings to TARC.

“This is something I started doing for fun, but now its something I can do to help more than just myself,” Cowing said.

After Cowing, JT Hodges came on stage, and sang songs from previous records, as well as new music that has not been released yet. Hodges released his debut, self-titled album in August 2012.

“I am really looking forward to JT Hodges,” said Molly Jennings, freshman in chemistry. “I just got his CD last week, and I’ve been listening to it nonstop.”

Hodges is a fairly new country artist, and is not known by all country music fans.

“I have not heard of him, but I think he’s good so far,” said Ted Augustine, sophomore in mechanical engineering.

Overall, the concert was a success, said Kohlrus and others.

“I thought this was awesome, JT Hodges by far exceeded my expectations, and its all definitely going to a great cause,” said Jacob Grove, sophomore in secondary education.

After defeating UAB this weekend, the Cougars finished second in the Conference USA standings. | Catherine Lara/ The Daily Cougar

Coming into a weekend series against University of Alabama at Birmingham, first place in Conference USA was on the line. The Cougars needed a sweep to win the C-USA regular season crown but fell just short.

UH won the series, winning two of three, but UAB captured the final game 7-3 on Sunday at Cougar Softball Field.

Senior infielder Holly Anderson said getting a series sweep against good teams is hard to accomplish.

“I view it as a successful weekend because we took two out of three,” Anderson said. “It’s not really supposed to happen, a sweep, against a good team. We’re still in second place with a chance to go to the conference tournament and kick butt.”

Both teams scored a run in the first inning, but the Blazers took a 5-1 lead in the third when they scored four runs and knocked junior starting pitcher Deidre Outon out of the game. The Blazers would add two insurance runs in the sixth inning.

The Cougars didn’t threaten their opponents again until the final inning, when the team scored two runs.

In a Saturday doubleheader, the Cougars held the Blazers to two runs in as many games. They won both games 4-1 by overcoming the emotions and distractions of senior day.

“It’s such an emotional day for them,” said head coach Kyla Holas. ”For them to be able to play, participate and keep focused with everything that is going on around them today, that’s just a testament to what type of girls we have here. I’m going to miss all three of them very much, but luckily, we still have a lot of softball left to be played.”

In the first Saturday contest, Outon held the Blazers to two hits through six innings and navigated through trouble in the final two. With the win, Outon has 10 victories on the season.

The Cougars scored four runs in the bottom of the first after junior shortstop Kendra Cullum came up with the bases loaded. She hit a grounder to third base and three runs to crossed the plate after an error. Anderson doubled on the next pitch to score Cullum and give UH the commanding 4-0 lead.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Outon got the Cougars’ scoring started with a solo home run. The blast to deep right field tied the game and set the Cougars up to take the lead later in the inning.

After bunt singles by freshman outfielder Katie St. Pierre and Cullum, Anderson walked to load the bases for junior catcher Haley Outon. Haley Outon reached safely on a fielder’s choice and St. Pierre beat out a throw home.

Senior outfielder Reina Gaber doubled in the sixth inning moving into a tie for second place in school history with 35 career doubles. She scored later that inning on Diedre Outon’s two-out single.

Redshirt junior pitcher Bailey Watts found a rhythm after giving up a run in the first inning. She held the Blazers scoreless the rest of the way.

Holas said she likes the way that the team is playing.

“I’m glad of the softball we’re playing heading into the post season and Conference USA championships,” Holas said. “This is just the beginning and that’s one of the things we told this team.”

sports@thedailycougar.com

Come one, come all! ASCSU is having a ball!

No promises that there will be any glass slippers lost on a staircase, but with the theme being a casino, according to elected Vice President Andrew Olson, maybe there will be some lost poker chips.

Associated Students of Colorado State University is holding the annual Inauguration Ball, or I-Ball, Wednesday evening. The event is an after party to the actual inauguration and legalities, such as oath taking, that will take place in a Senate meeting prior to the ball, according to Nigel Daniels, elected President.

“The I-Ball is a celebration for both administrations to come together and celebrate the accompliments and the journey that has been fought for up to this point,” Daniels said.

Olson referred to the I-Ball as “a passing of the torch sort of ritual” where he said the current administration hands off ASCSU to Daniels, Olson and their cabinet members.

Current ASCSU President, Regina Martel, said she is looking forward to the I-Ball and she thinks it will be fun.

“It is just kind of an appreciation that we have for the last administration and the coming administration,” Martel said. “Overall its just the annual tradition we have.”

Olson said there will be food and activities there, with games for everyone. He also said that many people bring dates.

“It’s a good time to familiarize ourselves and get to know each other in a more casual environment,” Olson said.

Daniels said he is looking forward to the exciting week as well as the I-Ball.

“It’s going to be very exciting and I’m looking forward to joining my peers to celebrate what will come ahead,” Daniels said.

Olson agrees that he is excited for the celebration.

“I am absolutely excited for the I-Ball. It’s a good experience,” Olson said. “For us it’s the passing of the torch, so I feel really good about it.”

Senior Reporter Corrie Sahling can be reached at news@collegian.com.

There has been much discussion about the school’s hybrid identity, but many people fail to anticipate the future success of the school. Dartmouth’s name is obviously indicative of its manifesto, and the name “the College” does partially suit the school, yet the institution’s flexible identity allows Dartmouth to define itself. Rebranding would allow the school to emphasize the current characteristics that will create a durable identity.

Of course, there is historical significance in “the College,” and all those John Belushi posters might lose some of their charm, but we must not let outdated conventions bind us to the past. To call this school a college is to mislabel it and ignore one in three students on campus — the graduate students. The fact remains that Dartmouth is not a static institution. While it may once have been an isolated college, today it is a globally oriented research university whose students hail from all 50 states and also over 100 countries.

Dartmouth is not only a research hub, but an artistic mecca whose creations attract visitors from around the Upper Valley. With a close relationship with the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center is one of only three hospitals in northern New England, and the only one in the state, equipped for level one trauma. But the newly christened Geisel is not the university’s only graduate school — don’t forget about the Tuck School of Business and the Thayer School of Engineering, not to mention the numerous graduate programs in the arts and sciences.

The administration’s recent preview of its strategic planning report includes a byline suggesting that “Dartmouth should consider adding ‘University’ to its name” in an attempt to enhance its “global prominence,” which is code for “international brand”. Dartmouth is already largely a university, but explicitly stating so would indeed more accurately announce its intentions and character.

Like amending the Dimensions show, changing Dartmouth’s name would not immediately alleviate campus-wide concern about the school’s intellectual reputation or dropping matriculation rates, but would signal a change to a receptive audience.

The globalized world, in which the strength of Dartmouth’s name will become more important than ever, demands savvy and dynamic graduates. Both prospective and current students expect their education to interface with the outside world, and they desire research opportunities that will prepare them for life in an increasingly connected world. Adding “university” to Dartmouth’s name would symbolically reaffirm the school’s commitment to these already-present goals.

Some of the resistance to calling the school a university goes beyond sentimentalism. Concerned advocates of “the College” argue that change would hurt Dartmouth’s position relative to competitive peer universities, not bolster the reputation of the school. They point to Dartmouth’s unique position between small colleges and large universities as its greatest asset, and warn that Dartmouth University would forsake its biggest competitive advantages — its college atmosphere and undergraduate focus.

These worries are unfounded. I do not advocate abandoning the strengths that make Dartmouth unique. The school would by all means maintain its commitment to undergraduate teaching and value the liberal arts college experience it is famous for. Not only would a name change likely boost Dartmouth’s appeal, but students of Dartmouth University would still bleed the same shade of green.

Dartmouth’s illustrious history has made the institution what it is today, but students should allow themselves to see beyond Dartmouth’s proud past. Sentimentalism cannot be allowed to triumph over new opportunities. We must choose to embrace Dartmouth’s new identity if the school is to thrive in an increasingly global, research-driven world, and Dartmouth University will be best suited to confront the challenge. Change is not a rejection of the past, but an acceptance of the future.

In a letter sent to university officials today, Peter Heimlich asked university officials to re-open the investigation of its employees’ participation in malariotherapy, a controversial form of therapy that involves injecting malaria-infected blood into HIV patients as a possible cure for HIV.

During the last investigation, UCLA referred Dr. John Fahey, a UCLA researcher said to be “indirectly” involved with malariotherapy research, to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Peter Heimlich, in his letter, alleges that UCLA did not adequately turn over documentation that could prove the researcher and his colleagues’ connection to the research and that the employees were not properly disciplined.

The Heimlich Institute, which funds new approaches to medical research, led a study in China beginning in the 1980s to test the effectiveness of malariotherapy in helping cure HIV, which Henry Heimlich and others referred to as “cancer” in documents from the recently established Henry J. Heimlich Archival Collection at the University of Cincinnati.

Henry Heimlich, the physician credited with the invention of the Heimlich Maneuver, donated the documents to the University of Cincinnati in 2011 and the archives were established late last year.

Documents from the archives at the University of Cincinnati, and others Peter Heimlich obtained through public records requests, show extensive communication between the Heimlich Institute, researchers in China and UCLA. Peter Heimlich published the records on his blog today, making them available to the public for review.

The Centers for Disease Control issued a public health warning against malariotherapy for HIV treatment in April 1993, according to Daily Bruin archives.

“The practice of malariotherapy for treating (Lyme disease) has been emphatically discouraged because there have been no controlled, well-designed studies showing that this approach is effective and because of the severe morbidity associated with malaria infection,” an October 1991 advisory from the CDC reads.

News reports regarding two UCLA researchers’ alleged involvement in Heimlich’s research surfaced in 2002, when UCLA officials, including the UCLA Office for the Protection of Research Subjects received a letter from an individual with the alias Bob Smith , asking the university to look into Fahey and Dr. Najib Aziz’s contributions to the Heimlich Institute’s research in China. Both Aziz and Fahey still work at UCLA.

Aziz said he was not aware of the letter and declined to comment on it, but said he was not as involved in the research as Fahey.

UCLA officials closed the investigation after Fahey denied involvement with the research, according to Daily Bruin archives.

But, the university reopened its investigation after receiving documents from Henry Heimlich – as shown through documents Peter Heimlich obtained from records requests years later – that showed written communications between Fahey, Aziz and Heimlich. The documents also contained correspondences between Fahey and the researcher in China, who was overseeing the study’s implementation.

Much of Fahey’s communication was made on paper with UCLA letterheads, signifying official communication between UCLA and the outside researchers involved in the study.

In 2003, UCLA changed its previous statement and acknowledged in a press release that “Dr. Fahey, while not personally involved in the clinical trials, was involved in evaluating data and biological samples brought to UCLA from China.”

UCLA also stated that Fahey participated in human subjects research without getting approval from the university.

The university then turned the case over to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which is responsible for maintaining public health.

UCLA officials wrote to the department and said Fahey assured them that he and those under his direction would, in the future, have approval before conducting research at UCLA, according to documents Peter Heimlich obtained through public records requests.

Department officials wrote back, stating that the arrangement appeared to be “appropriate” under federal regulations, according to the public records.

It is unclear whether UCLA gave the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services all the documents it received from Henry Heimlich for review.

Correspondence between Fahey and researchers in China shows that Fahey’s involvement was not limited to testing blood samples from China, but also included a trip to China and the shipping of reagents to help with the research. The purpose of Fahey’s trip to China, however, is unclear.

Additionally, the documents show Fahey was involved in helping Heimlich and the researcher in China draft journal articles about the malariotherapy research.

Peter Heimlich, the son of Henry Heimlich, has asked UCLA to determine whether the investigation was properly conducted and whether university officials adequately reported the findings to the Department of Health and Human Services.

The university is reviewing the letter and did not immediately have an official response.

Fahey continues to work at UCLA and is listed as an immunologist, researcher and professor on the David Geffen School of Medicine’s website. He is also the director of the Center for International Research in Disease. Aziz is listed as a manager and technical specialist at the UCLA Clinical and Translational Research Laboratory, according to the lab’s website.

Compiled by Naheed Rajwani and Alessandra Daskalakis, Bruin senior staff.

Old Gold & Black Photo File

Dear Class of 2013,

The time is finally here and I’m sure it is hard to believe that four years have come and gone. You are moving on to the next stages in your lives, after crossing the literal stage on Hearn Plaza May 20.

As you near that monumental day, reflecting on the past four years is inevitable.

You each have had a unique college experience filled with different achievements and memories. But what you all have in common as a class are the intangibles.

You may struggle to recall every specific moment of your collegiate years, but the overall emotions and relationships you experienced will resonate with you long after graduation.

The exhilaration of acing the calculus test you labored over. The curiosity of taking a class that challenged how you thought before. The dedication to a group or organization on campus. The passion of late night conversations with classmates when you probably should have been studying. The joy of getting ready for a formal with your best friends. The unity of Rolling the Quad after a big sports win.

These emotions are real and powerful. You are an accomplished group of individuals who have succeeded through four years at Work Forest. And you are so much more than that. You have all left a mark on this campus forever.

To highlight these accomplishments of your class, the editorial staff of the Old Gold & Black has created this special graduation publication.

In these pages you will find a senior nominated by each department as an outstanding student. These students embody the university’s motto of Pro Humanitate and represent the very best of the Class of 2013. Read about your fellow classmates’ successes and memories to remember the own passions and accomplishments that you have assumed at Wake Forest.

This special tabloid also includes a letter from your Student Body President, Tré Easton. He reflects on your growth and success as an entire class.

We have also compiled reflections from seniors about their fondest memories, advice for underclassmen and what they will miss the most about Wake Forest on pages 12 and 13.

Page four also includes a short photo story of monumental events and changes that have occurred since your arrival on campus in 2009.

The university may have new buildings and less parking since you arrived as a freshman, but Wake Forest will always be your home away from home.

This is an exciting time full of emotions, nostalgia and potentially anxieties over the future. I hope this publication allows you to pause and reflect on your own experience at this university.

You have so much to be proud of and so much ahead of you. The underclassmen of the university appreciate everything you have given back to our Mother, So Dear. We hope to follow in your footsteps as we finish our time at Wake Forest.

Congratulations Class of 2013. We look forward to seeing all that you achieve.

Best,

Hilary Burns

Editor-in-chief

Old Gold & Black

Grad Tab Articles

Benjy Egel
benjyegel.md@gmail.com

Just when the baseball team needed it most, true freshman Brian Mundell came through again on Sunday afternoon.

The designated hitter hit his second walk-off hit of the season and led Cal Poly to 4-3 win over visiting UC Riverside (18-25, 7-11 Big West) for the series sweep.

“It was a slider, or a slurve, or whatever he has, some type of spinning pitch,” Mundell said. “I recognized it early, and I was able to adjust my swing enough to put it through the infield.”

The weekend victories ended a 2-5 skid that saw the Mustangs drop series to conference foes Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State.

The No. 24 Mustangs (31-14, 11-7) trailed by one run with two outs in the ninth when second baseman Denver Chavez drew a 3-2 walk.

Mundell tipped the next batter, center fielder Jordan Ellis, that he would get a first-pitch fastball. Ellis blasted the heater deep to center, where it got caught in the billowing wind and fell in front of a lunging outfielder.

“With this wind out here today, everything’s dying,” Ellis said. “The wind plays a huge factor. You’d be surprised at how much it really affects the ball. Everything is just hitting a wall in the sky and just drops.”

Ellis’ hit, a triple, tied the game, and Mundell followed with a chopper to the left of the shortstop. He beat the throw for an infield single, and the rest of the players poured out of the dugout to celebrate.

“The most important thing for me is that we won the game, and that we were able to come back and put a W in the win column,” Mundell said. “It just shows the heart and courage that our team has.”

First baseman Tommy Pluschkell knocked in both of the Mustangs’ first two runs despite going hitless in three plate appearances.

Pluschkell grounded into a fielder’s choice to score David Armendariz in the second. After consecutive UC Riverside errors in the fourth, Pluschkell moved a run home on a sacrifice bunt.

“It wasn’t a squeeze bunt, it was a safety push bunt, with the runner on third not going unless it’s down and away from the pitcher,” Lee said. “It’s just part of our game, and it keeps you from hitting into an inning-ending double play.”

Starting pitcher Bryan Granger was pulled after beginning the fifth inning with back-to-back doubles. This season, Granger has seen quality starts turn into nightmares, and Lee was quick with the hook.

“When you get this far in the season, there’s a history,” Lee said. “You watch how your pitchers are at a certain pitch count or in certain situations, and you make your decisions and determine on that.”

Reliever Michael Dingilian let one of Granger’s base runners score, and UC Riverside tacked on another run.

Michael Holback kept Cal Poly in the game with four shutout innings, yielding three hits with no walks and four strikeouts.

“Pitching is the biggest percentage, by far, of baseball,” Lee said. “When you pitch, you can be in every ball game, and then you find ways — like today — to win.”

Mundell and Ellis provided offensive support throughout the game, combining for five hits. Ellis and David Armenderiz both extended hitting streaks in their first at bats, to 13 and 10 games, respectively.

Despite the early offense, the Mustangs stranded men in key situations. The team left four runners on base in the first two innings, including three in scoring position.

In the third inning, shortstop Peter Van Gansen made a sliding backhanded stop, popped up and fired across his body in time to nail the runner.

Van Gansen’s gem was much needed, as the Highlanders loaded the bases against Granger but were unable to push a run across.

Catcher Elliot Stewart had a highlight reel play as well, gunning a throw down to second in time to nab a potential base stealer in the eighth.

Every game remaining is a must-win, Ellis said. The Mustangs want to leave no doubt that they are worthy of the postseason this year.

“Last year, we thought we had a good shot at making regionals. We were 36-20, good record, but they didn’t select us,” Ellis said. “Hopefully we can hit that 40 (win) mark, and then I don’t see how they couldn’t select us.”

View a full photo set from Sunday’s game on our Facebook page.

The three-alarm fire at 87 Linden St. killed College of Arts and Sciences senior Binland Lee and injured of nine Allston residents and six firefighters. Two of those injured were identified as BU students.

“It [the fire] started in an old staircase that wasn’t used anymore,” said Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald. “It was a wide open space that those going from the first floor to the second floor to get to the second floor will pass.”

Additionally, city inspectors cited the residence’s landlord, Anna Belokurova, for an unsafe structure, for failing to secure change of occupancy from a two-family home to a home of 19 lodgers and for failing to secure a long form permit to extend the home’s living space to the basement, according to several violation reports.

The cause of the fire was determined from a variety of evidence, including interviews with those close by, MacDonald said.

“Fire investigators based that determination on interviews with people that live in the building,” he said. “They base it on physical evidence from the fire, they based it on burn patterns — basically the way the fire burns. That tells a lot about the way the fire started.”

While the investigation of the cause of the fire has ended, the investigation of Lee’s death is still underway, he said.

“Right now, it’s up to the [Suffolk County] District Attorney to see if this fatal fire warrants any criminal charges and get that resolved,” MacDonald said.

Suffolk County DA spokesman Jake Wark said the DA’s office has assigned a prosecutor to work with the City of Boston and Boston Police Department detectives to determine whether criminal charges are appropriate.

“In Massachusetts, the statutory authority for overseeing a death investigation in the event of a sudden, unattended or suspicious death is given to the District Attorney’s office,” he said. “… That investigation, unlike the cause and origin investigation, is still ongoing.”

Wark said the investigation is ongoing and no specific timeframe is set.

“We’ll follow the evidence and apply the law,” he said. “That’s how we reach all of our charging decisions.”

With their last weekend of play in less than a week, the hope of the CSU softball team competing in the NCAA Championship grows slim in Ram Country.

Not only does the Rams need to sweep New Mexico next weekend, but CSU also needs UNLV to sweep San Diego State at home for a chance at first place in the MW and a continuation of their 2013 season.

Taking a step in the right direction in game one, the Rams recorded a 3-0 over the Aztecs as they moved one step closer to first place. As CSU took one step in the right direction, the Rams quickly took two back. Shut down in game two and three on offense, the Aztecs took game two 12-4 and game three 4-0.

“You know I thought the hits were gonna start coming for us, but we were just in too big of a hole,” CSU coach Jen Fisher said. “San Diego State is a great program and a well coached team … solid on all three fronts: base running, offense and their pitching was really good.”

Throughout the season, the Rams have consistently come out in game one swinging the bats. However, throughout the season, the Rams offense has not been able to continue their offensive drive during the entire series. In game three against San Diego State, CSU came to the plate 23 times and only were able to get two hits against four strike outs.

Prior to the weekend, CSU and San Diego State were only separated in the conference by one game. The Rams are now two games back from San Diego State and have now put themselves in a position to finish the season under .500.

Sunday’s game against San Diego was not only the Rams last game at home this season, but the last home game for seniors Kacie McCarthy and Kailey Snyder.

“You know its rough, and its hard to take in,” McCarthy said. “Its really just taking the time to come in an focus one pitch at a time, Its getting the hits and executing what we need to do as pitchers and defense players. If we do that, we will be somebody you are gonna need to look out for.”

McCarthy and Snyder transferred here at the beginning of last season where they made Fort Collins their home as they brought CSU on the national map.

“You ask San Diego State two years ago, who is Colorado State?,” Fisher said. “They would basically say nobody, you do not have to worry about them.”

Improving from last season, CSU continues to make their name known compared to last year.

“They definitely know who we are now, I think Washington, Georgia, Nebraska knows who we are now,” Fisher said. “We have played right with those teams. And our charge now is to make sure we keep moving forward now.”

The season is nearing its end, but for the Rams this season has set them up for a chance to improve even more for next year.

Next the Rams will head to New Mexico where their regular season play will come to a close. Keeping their fingers crossed for a miracle, CSU softball needs to play its best against the Lobos.

“Were gonna come out against New Mexico this weekend and finish with a bang,” McCarthy said.

Softball Beat Reporter Haleigh Hamblin can be reached at sports@collegian.com.

Source: MUSG.
Infographic by Rob Gebelhoff / robert.gebelhoff@marquette.edu

Marquette Student Government drastically changed its election rules at its last meeting of the year Thursday night, adopting two constitutional amendments.

The first changed the wording in several sections of the MUSG election rules but was especially focused on changing the way MUSG presidential elections work with more than two tickets running. It eliminated the primary and introduced a runoff voting process.

In the past, with more than two tickets running for the MUSG president and executive vice president, a primary election was held before the general election to narrow the field down to two tickets, which meant two election dates. MUSG members hope the new system will increase voter turnout.

“(The runoff) would eliminate the need for a primary election, which would allow us to advertise for one date and allow candidates to work toward one date,” said Dani Theis, a freshman in the College of Business Administration and McCormick Hall senator who helped write the legislation.

In the new runoff system, voters will rank their candidates from favorite to least favorite. Only first place votes will be counted toward the total. If no ticket has a 50 percent majority after all votes have been cast, the last place ticket will be eliminated and the second place votes on that ticket’s first place ballots will be redistributed as first place votes. This process will be repeated until one ticket has 50 percent majority. The redistribution process allows for all votes to be counted.

“Votes would not be dropped,” Theis said. “They still would be considered as a second choice.”

The legislation comes after MUSG faced a compacted spring election in which the presidential election saw two primaries after a vote tabulation error and a delayed general election after one primary ticket was found to have violated an election rule in sending out a mass text message. This was also the first year in the last four that MUSG has needed a primary election, raising questions as to the necessity of the legislation.

“I think it’s necessary in the cases where (a primary would) happen,” said President Sam Schultz, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences who helped write the legislation. “We know that it’s pretty infrequent that it does, but we thought we had the opportunity to sure up the process.”

The second amendment passed to alter the election process eliminated the signature requirement for those wishing to run for the commuter senator position. Kevin Sanchez is the only commuter senator right now, and he argues that it is often difficult to find commuters on campus because the only meeting spot they have is in the small commuter lounge on the first floor of the AMU.

“It’s been my experience that depending on the week or even the month, it can range from 10 to 35 commuter students,” said Sanchez, a freshman in the College of Education. “So I think that idea that if you have a concrete number, it could just depend on the week.”

The old requirement for commuter senators was 25 signatures. With that eliminated senators will be allowed on the ballot once properly filing with MUSG.

The Undergraduate Students Association Council Candidate Debates will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday evening in De Neve Auditorium. During the debate, the 23 candidates for office will participate in the debate that Daily Bruin Campus editor Jillian Beck and USAC Election Board chair Dana Pede will moderate. Watch the live stream above.

Macklemore conducts electrified fans at Matthew Knight Arena. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis performed several songs from his number 2 US Billboard 200 studio album, The Heist at Mallard Madness. (Mason Trinca/Emerald)

Macklemore sprays his fans with water during the first set of songs in the first annual ASUO’s Mallard Madness in Matthew Knight Arena. (Mason Trinca/Emerald)

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis plays his encore song for the fans in the first annual ASUO’s Mallard Madness at Matthew Knight Arena. (Mason Trinca/Emerald)

Macklemore surfs on top of his fans during the first annual ASUO’s Mallard Madness at Matthew Knight Arena. (Mason Trinca/Emerald)

Macklemore jokingly smells his old thrift shop jacket moments before performing his number 1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart song, “Thrift Shop” at Matthew Knight Arena . (Mason Trinca/Emerald)

Macklemore hypes the crowd moments before performing his number 1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart song, “Thrift Shop” at Matthew Knight Arena. (Mason Trinca/Emerald)

Ben Haggerty, known with his stage name as Macklemore, greets the thousands of fans at Matthew Knight Arena. (Mason Trinca/Emerald)

Gogo dancers perform on stage during Maklemore & Ryan Lewis performance at Matthew Knight Arena. (Mason Trinca/Emerald)

Opening artist, SOL, performs at Mallard Madness at Matthew Knight Arena . (Mason Trinca/Emerald)

Jacob Frey won the 3rd Ward DFL endorsement for Minneapolis City Council Saturday after incumbent Diane Hofstede withdrew from consideration, citing flaws in the system.

Frey, in between hugs from an onslaught of supporters after receiving the party’s backing, said he was thrilled to receive the endorsement with more than 70 percent of the vote.

Speaking to a sea of red-shirted Frey supporters at DeLaSalle High School in northeast Minneapolis, Hofstede said some of her constituents were disrespected and unable to participate fully in the precinct caucuses to elect delegates in early April.

But the former Team USA runner’s path to City Hall isn’t without hurdles, as Hofstede said she’ll continue on with her campaign.

“I will take my campaign to the people and let them decide,” Hofstede told the crowd, suggesting the convention goers didn’t accurately reflect the ward as a whole.

She had previously said that she’d abide by the endorsement, and her change of heart angered some in attendance.

“She was going to respect the endorsement when she thought she was going to win it,” said Frey supporter Christopher Meyer. “As soon as she realized she wouldn’t, she changed her mind.”

Frey said he was disappointed Hofstede decided not to abide by the endorsement, but hopes she’ll come around and support his campaign.

A robust campaign of her own is in her sights, however.  She said many East African and older supporters of hers were mistreated and kept from participating in the day’s convention. Those concerns led her to withdraw from the endorsement process.

“There are just too many irregularities with this caucus system,” she said.

Frey supporters questioned the merits of her concerns, and said they hadn’t noticed any issues.

State Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, who supports Hofstede, said she was at various precinct caucuses earlier in the month and noticed the problems Hofstede was referring to.

Kahn said large groups of pro-Hofstede Somalis showed up, but surprisingly few of them were on the convention floor Saturday morning.

“None of them ended up being delegates,” she said, indicating that something in the process cut them out.

Though Kahn is a Hofstede supporter, she said she wished the councilwoman would’ve at least waited to withdraw until after the question and answer section of the convention.

“I think that would’ve shown what a deeper insight she has into the city,” she said.

‘Frey’s our guy’

Despite an opponent gearing up a full campaign to beat him, the day was a good one for Frey.

After Hofstede dropped out, he gave an impassioned speech rallying his supporters about the strides the 3rd Ward can take under his watch.

One supporter, matching his passion, yelled “I love you, bro,” to Frey, to which the newly endorsed candidate responded, “I love you right back.”

Frey’s accessibility, willingness to listen and closeness to his supporters have been cited consistently by his supporters as strong leadership qualities.

Frey lauded the work his supporters have done so far, and said regardless of Hofstede’s intentions he fully expects to win in November.

“We’ve got a grass-roots organization that’s growing every day,” he said.

Frey said it was thrilling to win the endorsement, and he couldn’t be more proud of his staff.

It wasn’t supposed to end like this.

“I figured we were in for a long match,” Coach Chris McGown said. “Until that last ball went into the stands, I was sure that we were going five and were going to prevail. It just didn’t end up that way.”

Each player from UC Irvine put on a championship t-shirt, danced around and held up the first-place trophy. Each player from BYU looked on as if they had just lost a loved one. No dancing. No smiles. No enthusiasm. BYU was out of character throughout the match, and certainly out of character following the match. After painfully watching UC Irvine’s celebrations, McGown finally put his team out of its misery by directing them to the locker room.

President Samuelson shakes hands with BYU volleyball players after their loss to UCI.

“I’m just disappointed,” a teary-eyed Sander said. “It’s so hard to get to this point in the season and not come out (on top). I think anybody would be disappointed, so it speaks for itself.”

This season was the most successful BYU has had in a decade, despite the loss. It pulled out close match after close match, willing its way to the first conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance it has had since 2004. BYU held the No. 1 ranking in the country for 11 weeks. At one point, it had won 12 straight matches and 18 of 19. BYU even defeated UC Irvine twice in the regular season. But in the most important match of the season, BYU couldn’t pull it together. The runner-up trophy was the end result.

All of the hours spent in the gym, the hard work, the sweat, the blood and the tears from each member of the team were directed towards this match, the pinnacle of each players volleyball career. The one and only season all-Americans Patch and Sander played together on the same team. The final year of Ryan Boyce’s and Rusty Lavaja’s college career. The year that for so long seemed like “the year.” It turned out not to be so.

“I’m hurting for the guys,” McGown said. “I know how hard this is. I know how much they invested. I know just the hours and hours and hours that go into doing this. Unless you’re in it, you have no idea how hard these guys work every single day and how much of their soul they commit to being a great volleyball player. I’m feeling it for them more than I am for myself.”

BYU had every chance to win the match. It clung to a 23–22 lead late in the first set, and it appeared BYU was going to squeak out a win. UC Irvine scored the next three to steal the set. BYU took a commanding 11–4 lead early in the second set, but watched it quickly dwindle into a 12–12 tie, and ultimately a 22–25 defeat. In the third set, BYU had a strong 24–21 lead with three opportunities to put the set out of reach. One UC Irvine kill and four BYU attack errors later, it was over.

“I’ll just be mad at myself for getting blocked three times at the end,” Sander said. “Thats something I’m better than, so it sucks that it happened at this point in the season.”

Ultimately, BYU was proud of the way its season went. McGown offered encouraging words to his discouraged team shortly after the match in the locker room.

“I told the boys what a wonderful season it has been,” McGown said. “It’s been a remarkable run by these guys. I am so proud of our team and for what they represent, from the way they represented BYU to the way they carried themselves throughout the season and the way they battled.”

Sander was happy with the way the season as well, and spoke highly of his team.

“We’ve had such a great season,” Sander said. “We did so many great things and I’m so proud of my guys on our team and proud of the program. We have so many good things to take away from this season.”

BYU will lose starters Lavaja and Boyce to graduation, and Patch to a two-year LDS mission. Despite the losses, McGown is confident that BYU can make it back to the top stage next year.

“Taylor and Josue are going to be a year better, Jaylen is going to be a year better, DY [Devin Young] is going to be a year better,” McGown said. “Then we’ve got to figure out something out with Rusty’s spot and hope Tyler Heap develops a bit more. If we can figure out that opposite spot, I like our chances.”

Sander plans to work hard this off-season to give his team a chance to make it back to the national stage.

“We have so much confidence in the guys that we’re bringing back,” Sander said. “We’re just hungry to work hard next year and reach the goal we had this year, to win a national championship, but we didn’t. We got a new year next year.”

BYU’s Men’s Volleyball Team huddles together as UCI celebrates their national championship.

“That’s me,” he says, pointing to one of the soldiers on the cover of the novel he’s clutching. The book is his first novel, “Soldados: Chicanos in Viêt Nam.”

This past Friday night, Vietnam War veteran, novelist, filmmaker, publisher and editor Charley Trujillo came to the campus to discuss the novel and screen his documentary of the same name.

Trujillo’s American Book Award-winning (1991) novel “Soldados” consists of 19 accounts of Vietnam War veterans from Trujillo’s hometown of Corcoran, Calif. and their struggle to readapt to society upon returning from war.

The 63-year-old wrote the book because he wanted to include Chicanos and show the ways they participate in history, such as in significant historical events like war, he said.

“I felt like I really accomplished something,” Trujillo said about the release of his first book. “We’re always excluded from history so I thought this was a good way (to show our role). We have a lot of problems coming back, adjusting to society. (‘Soldados’) shows a side of war from a cultural perspective that is very seldom discussed or even exposed and also I do not romanticize war.”

Around 1984, Trujillo began interviewing war veterans in Corcoran for the novel.

Though Trujillo didn’t work on the book every day, it took him approximately three years to finish. He then looked for a publisher for three years, but was rejected by 100 of them, he said.

“I got turned down, so I just decided to publish the book myself,” he said.

“Soldados” was published through Trujillo’s Chusma House Publications and came out in 1990.

Approximately 10 years after the release, the accompanying documentary was in the works.

Sonya Rhee, a freshly graduated New Yorker at the time, contacted Trujillo about making a documentary on Chicano soldiers after picking up Trujillo’s book at Barnes and Noble. And so the creation of the documentary began.

Modern languages and literatures professor Gloria Velásquez, who has known Trujillo for 15 to 20 years, also has a connection to the documentary.

Velásquez’s song “Son in Vietnam” made an appearance in Trujillo’s documentary.

“I was very honored when (Trujillo) used the first song I ever wrote and recorded, ‘Son in Vietnam,’” she said. “He was very moved by that song and so he asked for permission to use it in his documentary.”

Velásquez was also asked to play the song live at the documentary’s premiere in Corcoran.

“He’s a great human being who has suffered tremendously and has been able to find a way to turn it into something beautiful and share it with others,” Velásquez said. “Vietnam has been an ongoing theme in my work because my only brother was killed in Vietnam and so it’s something close to my heart in my own writing and in my own life so I thought (Trujillo) captured that beautifully. So many veterans don’t come back and those who do come back come back severely hurt and damaged.”

In his novel, Trujillo documents the experiences of some of the Chicano Vietnam War veterans through their varying perspectives.

“I’m very fair,” Trujillo said. “I disagree with some of these things (the veterans say), especially one guy in (the documentary), but I let them speak and I don’t censor them.”

Velásquez believes Trujillo’s novel and documentary are important pieces of work that should be read and seen.

“Everyone should know their history,” Velásquez said. “How can we improve society if we’re not aware of the things that happened in the past? I think it empowers you when you know your history.”

And this is a history Trujillo wants to make known through the eyes of Chicano Vietnam War veterans.

When asked about his experience in the Vietnam War, the salt and pepper-haired Trujillo said, “No tortillas, no beans, — man, it’s hard.”

“I know war is evil,” Trujillo said. “I don’t romanticize war. I hate war.”

The UO Gospel Choir traveled to China for their 2013 spring break to participate in musical and cultural exchanges. Here they perform “Wo de ge sheng li” or “You exist in my song”, a Chinese pop song, written by Wanting Qu, in front of the Qingdao Art School. The pop song became wildly popular after a contestant sang it  on a television show called The Voice of China.

http://music.uoregon.edu/programareas/ensembles/gospel.htm

Tommy Thorpe took the mound for Oregon, going six and  a third innings while giving up seven hits and three runs, two earned. Darrell Hunter came in in the seventh as relief, throwing the rest of the inning. Garrett Cleavinger pitched the eighth, striking out all three batters faced and picking up the win. Jimmie Sherfy closed out the ninth. The three relievers combined to pitch a hitless two and two thirds innings.

Mitchell Tolman again led the Ducks, getting them on board with an RBI bunt single in the first and then a two RBI single in the third. Tolman finished with three RBI, giving him 12 in the past three games and a great shot at winning Pac-12 Player of the Week honors.

Brett Thomas hit 4-5, scoring twice. Aaron Payne also had a productive game, going 2-3 with three runs scored.

Turning Point. The game was tied in the top of the ninth as Ryon Healy walked to the plate. Healy shot one past the short stop, allowing Thomas to score. Tolman came up next and was walked to load the bases. Then Scott Heineman drove in Payne to give the Ducks a two run lead.

On the Horizon. Oregon and Washington State play the second of three games Saturday at 2 p.m. Cole Irvin will get the start for the Ducks.

Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore smiles at students after jumping into the Charles River Friday morning, along with College of Communication senior and Senior Class Gift Committee Co-Chair Mike DeFilippis. PHOTO BY MICHAEL CUMMO/DAILY FREE PRESS

Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America, will deliver the 2013 Commencement address to graduating students on May 19, Boston University officials announced at the annual senior breakfast Friday morning.

“I wanted to have someone as our commencement speaker that has made a huge impact through what she has done coming out with an undergraduate degree, and you’ll hear from Wendy Kopp,” said BU President Robert Brown in his announcement.

Kopp founded Teach for America in 1989 as an organization where recent college graduates teach for two years in low-income communities. Currently, she serves as chair of the board of Teach for America.

Kopp is also CEO and co-founder of Teach for All, a network of enterprises that recruit future leaders to teach for two years in high-need areas.

College of Arts and Sciences senior Cassandra Castillo, one of BU’s three campus Teach for America representatives, said she is glad Kopp will be speaking at Commencement.

“She’ll have a lot of good stuff to say,” Castillo said. “She’s very accomplished.”

Castillo said about 20 BU students from the Class of 2013 are participating in the program Kopp founded.

“She started Teach for America to send teachers into low-income communities, and they’re not necessarily education students,” she said. “It could be college students from any major to teach for a two-year commitment.”

Brown said honorary degrees will be awarded to actor Morgan Freeman, engineer and Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Robert Langer and former BU Trustee Bishop Peter Weaver, who will speak at the Baccalaureate service.

While Boston Mayor Thomas Menino received an honorary degree from BU in 2001, he will also be honored during Commencement as 2013 marks the end of his final mayoral term, Brown said.

This senior breakfast was the most successful ever with more than 2,200 students in attendance, said Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore during the breakfast.

Elmore fulfilled his promised to jump into the Charles River following the breakfast.

Senior Class Gift Committee Co-Chair Mike DeFilippis said Elmore had pledged to jump in the river if at least 2,013 donors contributed to the class gift. DeFilippis and Lindsey Garber, the other committee co-chair, promised to join Elmore if the total donors reached 2,236.

DeFilippis said Elmore also jumped in the river for the Class of 2011.

“The important thing about the river jump, in particular, is that we have a chance to start a tradition,” DeFilippis, a College of Communication senior, said. “… I hope, if we do continue this, the Class of 2014 will follow in our footsteps, and this will be one of the things the quirky and amazing Class of 2013 is known for.”

Brown acknowledged the students the Class of 2013 lost, including CAS senior Binland Lee, who died in a house fire in Allston Sunday, and CAS graduate student Lingzi Lu, who died in the Boston Marathon Bombings April 15.

“This morning as you go forward, I hope that you will reflect on how precious life is and how short our time on this earth can be,” he said. “This year, we have lost wonderful members of our community who would have been with you at commencement.”

The Class of 2013 also lost Austin Brashears, who would have graduated from CAS, and Daniela Leknho, who would have graduated from the School of Management. Both were killed in a car accident in New Zealand in May 2012.

“I hope you’ll always remember these young and exciting students and colleagues, and I hope you’ll hold your friends and your family close, because they are the foundation of the journey you will begin in two weeks,” he said.

SMG senior Dylan Duzey said he was pleased to see Brown recognize those students lost before graduation.

“You lose any member of a graduating class and it’s a big loss to the community,” he said. “It’s very important to recognize them and all the hard work that they had to put in.”

Duzey said he believes the Senior Breakfast is an appropriate tradition to raise spirit as graduation approaches.

“You can feel it that everyone is excited to graduate,” he said. “It’s going to be a good couple of weeks coming up.”

Reporter Stephen Phan speaks to the map’s creator, J. Michael Walker, to find the history and inspiration of this huge literary map, as well as Kelly E. Miller, the head of the College Library to describe the purpose of a 23-foot across and 5-foot high piece of art on display among the book stacks of Powell, which will be on display in Powell Library by the fall of 2014.

The Oath of Horatii

Four semesters ago, Harvard introduced the Freshman Pledge system. It was a call for freshmen to reaffirm the values of integrity and kindness that was met with little fanfare. At the time, the general consensus was that the pledges were an overbearing move that overstepped the institution’s mission. This very publication referred to the pledge as a “halfhearted attempt at addressing a non-issue.”  The accepted wisdom in fall of 2011 was that Harvard’s commitment to academic excellence was more important than reaffirming abstract values.

In the intervening year, a series of scandals have made a central statement of values seem less ludicrous. Cheating scandals in Quiz Bowl and Government 1310 cast shadows on our integrity, and the mental health debate revealed that many students do not feel that their peers value their wellbeing. In both the cheating scandal and the mental health discussions, much of our criticism has been focused on the administration. We’ve called for resignations over the mishandling of the cheating scandal and rallied against the structural barriers to mental health at UHS. On the other hand, we remain rather unenthusiastic to the university’s efforts to reaffirm our positive values through the creation of an honor code.

Although all 7,000+ of us received a link to the newly proposed honor code in our emails, few of us actually read it and only a handful publicly responded to it via the discussion board. Over 50 students proudly posted their name on the College Event Board’s discussion board during the Tyga debate, yet only seven have posted responses to the newly proposed honor code. The general sense is that honor code or no honor code, Harvard’s high-pressure culture will remain the same.

This logic assumes that most Harvard students truly do value success over integrity, while the opposite is true. A survey of the Class of 2004 found that while Harvard students list hard work, honesty, and respect as their top values, they thought success was more valued by Harvard as an institution. Thus, what is often conceived of as a problem of values is actually a problem of perception. In a sense, the critics are correct; establishing an honor code is not likely to fundamentally alter the values of Harvard students. That’s because Harvard students are no less concerned with values than students at other universities. We just think we are. In conversations with friends we obsess about the culture of success while lauding ourselves for being morally above average. We fear telling our friends that we are stressed out, or that we are barely coping, or that we feel inadequate and then in an ironic twist of fate we see those same friends in the waiting room for Mental Health Services. If we take the honor code seriously, and truly take ownership of it, it won’t necessarily transform us, but it will transform the way we see each other.

There is already significant evidence that honor codes reduce academic dishonesty. In The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty, Dan Ariely found that declarations of morals lower the likelihood of plagiarism and cheating. Another study on honor codes published in 2002 found that one’s perception of his or her peers is a greater predictor of cheating than the fear of being caught or the potential severity of penalties. While in the fall of 2011, statements of values seemed frivolous and unrelated to Harvard’s educational mission, these studies and the events of the past year show that the two are tightly linked. When we cannot trust that our peers will treat us with kindness and integrity, we are less likely to collaborate or take risks. We are more likely to settle for easy or stolen victories than strive towards true excellence. We shouldn’t let the administration off the hook for their role in the current ethical crisis, but we shouldn’t let ourselves off the hook either.

Business majors aren’t the only BYU students that can give back to the community in financial terms.

MicroBusiness Mentor and BYU student JT Adlard helping during the MBM fireside in February. (Photo courtesy of Francesco Loli)

MicroBusiness Mentors (MBM), a nonprofit organization started by BYU students over a decade ago, helps local Hispanics who are looking to start their own business by providing one-on-one mentoring and training for free. Volunteers are mostly BYU students, but they don’t have to be a business major, they just have to speak Spanish.

Keven Stratton, president of MBM, said the organization makes a difference not just by providing training, but by also giving microloans of around $500.

“Our motto is dream big but think small,” Stratton said. “So we take that big vision (of a start up) and we break it up into smaller pieces.”

MBM asks what a client can do right now with what they have today to make money tomorrow. For example, if a client wants to start a landscaping company, they can start with a lawn mower and going door-to-door. Then, once a client reaches the point of needing capital, they can take out a microloan, which keep clients from getting into deep, unnecessary debt.

Clients tend to be people who are underemployed, or those with jobs that still have a hard time making ends meet. Looking for a way to supplement their incomes, these clients usually try to start their business part time.

Stratton shared the story of one woman who came in and started making costume jewelry that she sold at a farmer’s market. When her husband lost his full-time job, this woman’s income carried the family until her husband got another job.

Stories like this remind JT Adlard, a BYU student who has worked as an MBM volunteer for several semesters, that he is making a difference by volunteering at MBM.

“It’s nice to see that you don’t have to go far, you can find opportunities here to still make an impact,” he said. “It helps me see on a smaller scale how (clients) can be successful and how that can transfer to my future career.”

Warner Woodworth, a BYU professor in the Marriott School of Business who helped found MBM and over thirty other microfinance non-governmental organizations (NGOs), said MBM is a laboratory for BYU students to learn how to do microcredit.

“The idea of microcredit sounds so simple, you just find some poor people and give them tiny loans, but students find out it’s not that easy,” he said. “You have to design an approach to the poor that makes them feel like they are worthy of a loan and that they can handle a loan and do some good with it.”

Student volunteers learn beyond the business school curriculum, Woodworth said.

“It’s a great opportunity for them to see how an NGO in our own community operates … how service to the poor can be effective and not just simply be a handout. We’re not just giving them money, we’re giving them a dream that they can become a micro-entrepreneur,” he said.

Stratton said MBM is still looking for Spanish-speaking student volunteers. Multiple positions are available, including marketing, fundraising, outreach programs, etc.

But that’s just not the case.

I’m actually dreading graduation. Just thinking of it makes me nauseous — even angry.

My future after May 18 is unknown. I try to imagine it, but my vision fills with static. Even being buried under piles of coursework right now isn’t distracting me from what’s to come, or in my case — what’s not to come.

Everyone tells me, “Don’t worry, you’re young. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you to figure it out.”

Everyone is right, I am young and I do have my whole life ahead of me, but I’m still worried. And it’s exactly because I’m young, and I have my whole life ahead of me!

Freshman, sophomores and juniors can continually look towards graduation after senior year, but being a senior — it’s here, and it’s absolutely daunting trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my adult life.

Even though I’ll be a college graduate, I’ll still be relatively unemployable because I’m young, inexperienced and indecisive about what I want to do.

Plus, I’m graduating with a degree in creative writing. Even I am not naïve enough to believe that it’s going to get me a great job right out of college.

For instance, a McDonald’s in New Hampshire posted a listing for a job and it required a bachelor’s degree. It actually turns out that this was an error — no bachelor’s degree was required. Apparently a support team member at Jobdiagnosis.com incorrectly put up the listing when the educational level was defaulted to a bachelor’s degree.

Although it was a mistake, I think it says a great deal about the job market: a bachelor’s degree is quickly becoming the default, making all of us graduates not quite so special anymore.

There is also the sad fact that as I’ve gotten older, people have continually paid me less and less to work for them. Throughout college, my average hourly pay has never risen above minimum wage, and I don’t see why this would change anytime soon.

The highest paid position I’ve ever had was being the host of my high school graduation party, earning roughly $400 per hour (don’t tell me you didn’t sweat for dough at your grad party). It’s embarrassing to think that at eighteen I had greater financial clout than I do now, and perhaps more than I ever will have again.

But, as a true liberal arts major might say, life isn’t all about money.

And perhaps I’m looking at graduation wrong and just being a total downer, which brings to mind a quote, “Every ending is disguised as a new beginning.”

That sounds nice and dandy, but whoever said that is totally full of crap.

Strutting around campus as a senior I feel some sense of import, but when I walk off the stage at Moby on May 18, I feel as if I’ll be right back to square one.

So yeah, I’m pretty excited to graduate…

Quinn Scahill is a senior English major. His columns appear Fridays in the Collegian. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.

… I’d make surprisingly good grades, I’d make horrendously bad grades, I’d join the school newspaper, I’d write things that made people think, I’d figure out what I wanted to do with my life, I’d spend hours debating if that was the right decision, I’d get in trouble with my friends, I’d truly figure out why people hated the 11 a.m. kick at the Texas-OU game, I’d make mistakes, I’d learn from them, I’d disappoint myself, I’d do myself proud.

I’d hug my parents goodbye and take a 6 a.m. flight to New York City on the biggest adventure of my life, I’d spend a summer in the basement of my girlfriend’s parents’ house in Denver. I’d watch Mike Trout and Bryce Harper in their rookie year, I’d get cussed out by Albert Pujols, I’d hit on 16 in Las Vegas with my best friends, I’d drive 14 hours to Omaha to cover the College World Series. 

I’d interview Darrell Royal, Kevin Durant, Vince Young and Ricky Williams. I’d be there when Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III were drafted and shake Lawrence Taylor’s hand on Fifth Avenue. I’d witness the dawn of Linsanity and watch Derek Jeter hit an inside-out single to right field. I’d play basketball at Rucker Park and ski the Rocky Mountains. I’d catch John Legend at Austin City Limits and then see him three years later in the bathroom of a Manhattan bar and tell him how good he was. 

I’d walk past my grandfather’s open casket and wonder what the point was, if we’d just end up buried in dirt at the end of it. I’d watch my father give the eulogy and I’d hold my sister’s trembling hand, and then I’d realize that this is actually pretty beautiful. I’d learn what it was like to be broke and I’d see how nice it was to make gobs of money, and then I’d realize I was stupid to spend all of it on Sixth Street. I’d play 2K late into the night with Eddie and finish second to Kristen every single time in Mario Kart — she’s Yoshi, I’m Koopa Troopa. I’d dance to Jay-Z with Hank, from the nosebleeds, and I’d drive to San Antonio with Kyle and Todd (and technically with Hank, too) for Mama Margie’s at 4 a.m. I’d watch Nick chunk apples into building walls and plop them into hot tubs. I’d drive to San Antonio with Kristen to watch the Spurs play the Heat on a pretty penny, and pull into the parking lot and learn LeBron and D-Wade weren’t playing. I’d watch David Ash thread the needle from the stands in Stillwater, Okla. 

I’d broaden my horizons and learn that everything I was taught was not necessarily right. I’d make friends with people from all walks of life. I’d stop judging them the way I did in high school. 

I’d cover the Texas football, basketball and baseball teams, and learn that press box food was not good for your figure. I’d be pumped up by awards and then humbled by typos and inaccuracies. I’d stand on a bench and defend myself in front of protesters. I’d protest, too, but mostly about the Longhorn Network. I’d gulp down Shiner pitchers purchased by Doug at Hole in the Wall and I’d sneak Christian into bars in Dallas. I’d figure out I was no good at basketball, but thanks to everybody at Gregory who put up with me, anyway. 

I’d spend a day with Julius Whittier, the first African-American football player in school history, and we’d go to football practice together. I’d get pizza with Garrett Gilbert, and ask him about his failures as a quarterback (cue the high school version of me, punching a hole through the wall). I’d spend weekends at Disch Falk-Field, listening to Augie Garrido talk about the human spirit. I’d play intramural softball, and stand in the outfield as our former sports editor (requisite Dan Hurwitz shout-out) gave up 22 runs in one inning. I’d see pitching nearly as bad covering the Colorado Rockies a year later. I’d go to Big 12 Media Days with Nick and Sameer, and we’d ask Robert Griffin III about his chances of winning the Heisman that fall, and then we’d watch him win the Heisman. 

I’d get a new dog, and a cat. 

I’d grow up, become independent and assume I knew everything. I’d fall down and have to ask
for help. 

I’d turn 21 and then I’d turn 22 and then oh man, I’m getting old. 

There was nothing to worry about. It’s been a wonderful ride, even if it did go way too fast. Texas forever. 

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Trey Scott started working at The Daily Texan in fall 2010 as a sports staff writer. He has been sports editor, associate managing editor and is now the managing editor. He encourages all of you to keep searching for the perfect lede. 

There are admittedly a number of potential benefits to this policy. Keeping freshmen out of fraternities for a period at the beginning of fall may enable them to make the transition to college more smoothly and at their own pace. Freshmen would be forced to find alternative nighttime activities, and if they choose to consume alcohol, they would be limited to doing so in their residence halls, presumably under the supervision of undergraduate advisors and fellow classmates. This has the potential to create a safer environment for freshmen to learn their limits regarding alcohol, particularly for the large portion who will arrive without prior drinking experience. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the threat of losing rush eligibility for the following fall would appear to be a powerful deterrent to those tempted to set foot in a Greek house while alcohol is being served.

We are skeptical, however, of how effective this policy will be in promoting a healthier, safer and more inclusive social environment without concurrent changes in residential policies. It is certainly plausible that the first few weeks of fall term will see fewer Good Samaritan calls and a diminished incidence of sexual assault. Yet without more liberal policies for alcohol consumption in freshmen residence halls, we fear that the policy will encourage even more clandestine and high-risk drinking. If doors remained closed, freshman consuming hard alcohol around other freshmen who are unsure how to react when their friends have had too much to drink put each other at risk.

Moreover, this policy undoubtedly runs against the openness on which our Greek system has traditionally prided itself. It implies that freshmen are not welcome to participate in our campus’ dominant social scene and, as a result, may significantly delay their full assimilation into the Dartmouth community. It is highly dubious whether self-enforcement in Greek houses is realistic and system-wide accountability will be maintained.

This proposal has the potential to fundamentally alter the freshman experience, perhaps for the better. If implemented, its broader effects will take time to ripple through our community. While we will obviously support any measure to improve the collective wellbeing of this campus, we urge the administration to support this student-driven effort by creating a freshman residential life experience more conducive to socializing in the residence halls.

According to the report, released Friday afternoon, the manner of death was accidental. The report also listed morbid obesity and cardiomegaly, or enlarged heart, as significant conditions in the investigation.

BPD’s own internal investigation was also released Friday afternoon, also finding that Moore’s death was accidental.

On Feb. 13, BPD officers responded to a disturbance call on the 2000 block of Allston Way and were directed to Moore’s apartment. Moore, who originally identified as Xavier Christopher Moore, became unresponsive while officers attempted to restrain her to a gurney. She was then transported to the Alta Bates Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Moore’s death triggered substantial community response, including demonstrations at a City Council meeting and various protests, due to a perceived lack of transparency with regard to the investigation.

More updates to follow.

Contact Sophie Ho at newsdesk@dailycal.org.

The post Kayla Moore’s cause of death released appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Here are a few of the artists that may be of interest:

Josh Wright

Josh Wright’s new album “My Favorite Things” comes out May 7. (Photo courtesy Shadow Mountain Records)

For those who love piano music with a bit of whimsy, Josh Wright is sure to please. Wright has won numerous awards for his technical skill and topped the Billboard Classical Traditional chart with his self-named album. He performed childhood favorites “My Favorite Things” from “The Sound of Music” as well as a Harry Potter medley. He added in his own improvisations throughout, his fingers flying across the keyboard with seeming ease.

Wright offers piano lessons online through his YouTube channel.

Sandra Turley’s album “On Broadway” features Broadway hits. (Photo courtesy Shadow Mountain Records)

Sandra Turley

A Broadway star and member of the original closing cast of “Les Miserables” on Broadway, Turley stole the show with her medley from “Les Miserables.” She received a standing ovation for her effortless mastery of various characters’ melodies. She closed out her set with a show tunes classic, “The Girl from 14G.” A vocal dynamo, Turley is well worth looking into for those who love all things Broadway.

Justin Cash

Justin Cash’s album “Beautiful World” is now available. (Photo courtesy Shadow Mountain Records)

Cash got the audience dancing and waving their cell phones around like lighters with his reggae and blues rhythms. Cash is a competent vocalist, but his guitar prowess is where he shines — reminiscent of BB King. For a good groove and a happy tune, check out Justin Cash.

Hudson Lights

Hudson Lights will be releasing an album this upcoming fall. (Photo courtesy Shadow Mountain Records)

The newest members of the Shadow Mountain Records family, Hudson Lights had its debut performance last night. Composed of three Vocal Point members who competed in NBC’s The Sing-Off and a Nashville soul man, this big band vocal group charmed its way into the audience’s hearts with feel-good songs and peppy dance moves. The groups is set to release an album this coming fall, combining original songs and big band favorites.

More information on these artists can be found at shadowmountainrecords.com.

On April 20 an infantile a cappella group called Major 7 — featured as The Vocal Chords’ guest act — performed for the first time in the Bloomberg Auditorium.

Most small, lesser known groups struggle to draw an audience for at least the first few months of their careers.

However, unlike typical fresh-faced a cappella groups, the troop known as Major 7 brought a large fan base to its debut, receiving personalized cheers the second they entered the spotlight.

Contrasting rookie norm, Major 7 appeared to possess an enthusiastic following before ever performing.

While ordinary, novice a cappella groups naturally appear nervous during their early shows, Major 7 was poised, prepared and arguably gave a flawless performance.

Several audience members recognized the faces of Major 7.

Familiar to a cappella fanatics were soloists Jaquain Sloan and Jacki Choi, for both singers belong to official Hopkins a cappella groups outside of their Major 7 membership.

In fact, every Major 7 singer originates from a separate Hopkins musical establishment. Ari Messenger and John An accompany Sloan in the female-favorite AllNighters. Ben Ackerman leads ICCA Quarterfinal winner, The Octopodes. Jacki Choi belongs to The Mental Notes, while Nicki Hodgins and Carrie Quarquesso are Voice majors at The Peabody Conservatory.

Unaware viewers began to wonder if the exclusive unit branded Major 7 stole its members from various musical corners, snatching some of Hopkins’s most talented in the hopes of creating a hybrid, powerhouse group. Inquiries arose regarding the happiness of members in their independent musical pursuits. Buzz circulated questioning Major 7 auditions and whether or not tryouts were underground or invite-only.

Fortunately, sophomore and Octopodes Assistant Music Director Ben Ackerman addressed these questions in an interview with The News-Letter to set the record straight.

When asked about a mastermind behind the troop’s formation, Ackerman explained that there was no plotting figure responsible for Major 7’s birth. By contrast, the idea casually arose during a conversation between two friends.

“My suitemate, John An, and I were talking one day and we decided it would be fun to get a group of our friends together to sing a couple songs.”

Needless to say, no auditions were held for Major 7.  Ackerman and An simply invited mutual friends from campus and Peabody to convene and test their chemistry.

“We just tried out an arrangement that we had lying around, and once we saw that we were able to learn it quickly and were happy with the results, I arranged Skyfall,” Ackerman said.

Jacki Choi’s rendition of Adele’s “Skyfall” subsequently accrued over 20,000 views on YouTube.  The video received hundreds of praising comments, including those of admirers willing to buy Ackerman’s arrangement sheet music.

The popular footage generated some of its fame after being featured on Brazil’s leading pop culture blog, PapelPop (a BuzzFeed equivalent). Major 7 certainly had not predicted the tremendously positive reception.

“I was honestly really surprised. We definitely weren’t expecting such a massive response when we posted the video on YouTube,” Ackerman said.

Major 7 is currently not officially registered with the University.

“I don’t think we plan on becoming an official group. The nature of Major 7 is just a group of friends who want to have fun in something low key. We rehearse maybe an hour every time we meet, which has been a total of five or six times since we started,” said Ackerman.

Attributing to the casual nature of the group, Major 7 takes a backseat to the members’ outside music commitments.

“We wouldn’t miss our individual rehearsals or gigs for Major 7,” Ackerman said.

He assured that members did not band together as a result of dissatisfaction in their former groups.

“We came together for the opposite reason. A lot of us had fun, positive experiences in the other groups that we’re in. Major 7 came out of us wanting to hang out to share our positive, separate singing experiences with each other.”

“Each Hopkins a cappella group is unique, but certainly not lacking. The Mental Notes are a comedy a cappella group, The AllNighters are entirely male and Peabody isn’t a cappella at all. This was our chance to come together and try something different than what we’re used to in our primary groups.”

Campus a cappella troops can rest assured knowing that Major 7 will not compete to recruit incoming talent.

“We’re a very young group. Most of us are freshman and sophomores, so we plan on remaining the original seven in upcoming years. I don’t foresee any of us being exchanged out because the whole point of our gathering was for this group of friends to be able to experience a cappella together,” Ackerman said.

Hence incoming freshmen should not plan on adding Major 7 to their list of potential a cappella tryouts.

Major 7 is scandal-free and for fun.

These seven friends have multiple songs in store both on the web (be sure to visit their YouTube page) and in possible upcoming performances.

The orchestra sounded out the last notes of the Utah fight song and a shower of fireworks lit up the Huntsman Center at the conclusion of the commencement ceremonies Thursday.

8,007 students graduated from the U at the first commencement ceremony to be held in the evening at the U. The graduates gathered to celebrate years of hard work and receive their degrees. They came from all 27 Utah counties, all 50 states and 83 different countries, according to U president David Pershing.

Speakers at the ceremony spoke on education, community and the resiliency of the human spirit.

Elizabeth Murray, best-selling author and Harvard graduate, delivered the commencement address, encouraging students to see the blessings along their individual paths. She shared her own story, which was the source for her autobiography, “Breaking Night: a Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard.”

In the 1980s, Murray was living in a tenement home in the Bronx with her parents, who were addicted to cocaine and used their welfare checks to buy more drugs. When they ran out of money, they would sell anything they had: The Thanksgiving turkey in the freezer, the television set and once, her sister’s winter coat. When the sisters got hungry, they would go through the floors of the building, begging for food. Sometimes ice cubes, chapstick and toothpaste were their only options.

“Actually, even in the dark periods of our lives, well, I believe that there are gifts in the paths that we come from,” she said.

Murray dropped out of school, but returned and graduated. She would fall asleep doing homework on trains and park benches and wake up in the morning to find her way back to school. She completed four years of work in two years and was accepted to Harvard University, which she attended on a scholarship she saw advertised in The New York Times. After The Times published an article about her strangers showed up at her school offering help.

“I didn’t know people could be good,” Murray said. “These people, they taught me, that you can really make a difference in a person’s life.”

The strangers paid her rent and filled her fridge. One woman did all she could to help by washing Murray’s clothes each week.

“I believe that there are blessings in the paths we walk,” Murray said. “I know that no matter where we come form, even if I haven’t met you personally, who doesn’t want a better life? Just because I was homeless doesn’t mean I lost my humanity. I would dream of a better life.”

Lauryn Roth graduated with degrees in biology, chemistry and environmental studies and was one of two students who addressed graduates at commencement. She reflected on the community that helped her through her five years at the U, from the mustached bus driver on her 8 a.m. bus to dedicated mentors.

“Our undergrad career was an obstacle course one in which I made mistakes, and I know I wouldn’t have made it through without the help of community,” Roth said.

Roth, who will be attending medical school at the U, said even if graduates do not remember the content of their lectures 10 years after the commencement ceremony, they should always remember the rationale behind them.

“Our next challenge… is finding our niche in the community,” she said.

Pershing encouraged graduates to move forward with confidence.

“Given what you’ve already achieved, you should be looking forward to life, even though there will be inevitable challenges,” Pershing said.

The U also conferred three honorary doctorate degrees. Apu Sherpa who received an honorary doctorate of human letters, has summited Mount Everest more times than anyone else in the world. He earned money to support his family by helping others climb the mountain, though he always wanted to become a doctor. He is the founder of an organization that provides funding for young Nepalese children to go to school.

Sherpa had one bit of advice for graduates.

“Set a goal, then achieve your goal,” he said.

In the fall of last year, Hannah Levinson wanted to do a non-traditional thesis project for her major. Levinson is pursuing a Master of Arts in Methods of Applied Philosophy. Deciding to ditch the paper route, Levinson decided to find a new medium for her thesis.

As she began to speak with professors and advisers, she came across the idea of producing a documentary film.

Now only 7 months later, her film “From the Back of the Line” will be screening at the UNC Charlotte Center City building this Friday, May 3 at 7 p.m.

Levinson explains that the film follows the lives of seven undocumented immigrants in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the story delves deep into their day-to-day lives while also bringing up important topics that many shy away form speaking about.

“It talks about those things that aren’t usually taken into consideration when we talk about immigration policy and documented versus undocumented immigrants in America,” said Levinson.

“From the Back of the Lines” talks of the impact of immigration policies on families and shows personal accounts of those who have dealt with deportation proceedings of their beloved family members.

“The film aims to cultivate a better American landscape through diversity and build a greater depth of understanding within the Charlotte community,” according to the film’s Facebook screening page.

Levinson collaborated with many local area organizations, inside and outside of UNC Charlotte.

For the project, Levinson partnered with the Familias Unidas, United 4 The Dream, The Latin American Coalition, Action NC, NC Dream Team, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Department of Philosophy, Center for Philosophy and Applied Ethics, Office of International Programs, Department of Latin American Studies and the Department of Communications.

Levinson funded the post-production of the film through the crowd-funding website IndieGogo.

There will be a question and answer session following the screening of the film with the filmmakers and those who shared their stories in “From the Back of the Line.”

The entire event is free and open to the public.

Check out the video above with an interview with Levinson, who speaks more on the process and creation of “From the Back of the Line.”

What’s that cliche about ups and downs? That’s how I’d describe my time at The Daily Texan. It’s been an incredible three years in this endearing basement, where I worked (very) briefly as a reporter, extensively as a copy editor and associate copy desk chief and recently as a member of the web staff. As a staff, we encountered a lot of learning opportunities, and I think that is exactly what made working here so great. I am so grateful to have worked here and to have contributed to such a dynamic, prestigious publication throughout my college career with some truly amazing people.

I always knew, even in high school, that if I attended UT-Austin, I would most definitely work for The Daily Texan. I barely knew anything about the journalism department here, but you can bet I knew I was working for this paper. While I wasn’t a reporter for long, I found my niche at the copy desk, where I could be the perfectionist grammar nerd that I am. I always looked forward to seeing all the cool hairstyles and makeup looks Elyana would rock that day, and I still don’t know if it was a blessing or a curse that Klarissa generously fed my Snickers Ice Cream bar addiction every week with her leftover Dine-in Dollars. Overall, I don’t think anyone has sass like the copy and design department.  No copy cat or kitten can compare to Riley the copy LION. Except the very rad Kristine. Or Bow Tie Bobby.

Outside the copy desk I was surrounded by friendly faces, such as the kickass, inspiring personality of Audrey; the ever-singing, ever-reporting, ever-deliciously-baking Jody; Bow Tie Bobby, who has worked with almost every department possible at this office; the witty, hilariously cynical mind of Aleks; Omar and his beautiful wardrobe; and the cool and hardworking Pu.

And to my Web friends, I’ll never forget hacking the codes, puffing cheese polymers and watching out for those bouillon constrictors and croissantulas in the bathroom. Thank you, Hayley, Ryan, Tyler, Omar and everyone else for making me feel so welcome and supported and, of course, for making me laugh until I couldn’t breathe. Now, can someone please call pest control already?

I’ll always be thankful for my time here and look forward to seeing how the paper continues to grow.

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With the Boston Marathon bombings still fresh in many people’s minds, K-State professor David Stone, an expert in the military history of the Soviet Union and Russia, lectured to a small group of students on Thursday evening about the history of the Chechen Republic.

The two main suspects in the Boston bombings, Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, are Chechen, and the political and military unrest surrounding that area have come under heavy scrutiny since the April 15 tragedy.

Stone was cautious in drawing a link between radical Islam in Chechnya and the Boston bombings.

“It’s a little early to say,” said Stone, “but there may be a link to the radicalization of the Chechen cause and what we saw from these two young men in Boston.”

Stone said the mindset of Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, and his brother Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, is grounded in the context of radical Islam in Chechnya, which stems from the republic’s independence movement in the 1990s and 2000s. Tamerlan was fatally shot by police officers on April 19 during a manhunt in Watertown, Mass., while Dzhokar was later taken into custody.

The two brothers are suspected of having ties to radical portions of Islam. However, Stone stopped short of saying that the unrest in Chechnya had a direct correlation to the Boston attacks.

“Clearly, these kids learned their nasty ways in the U.S.,” Stone said. “It’s very difficult to say without knowing more specifically. But it is fair to say that the Chechen cause, over time, has become more radical, more interested in violent interpretations of Islam. So there may be a link.”

Stone also made it clear that the current head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, wants to separate Chechnya from the Boston tragedy in the public eye.

“No government wants to be on record as supporting terrorism,” Stone said. “He is in power in Chechnya essentially to keep things quiet for the Russians. So he does not want anything that looks like instability or recurrence of this level of violence that we had before. So it’s very much in his interest to treat what happened in Boston as having nothing to do with him, nothing to do with Chechnya, that what happened to these two young men happened in America.”

Chechnya, a republic of Russia that has been granted autonomy, has a violent history with Russia. The Chechens and Russians have fought two wars as a result of Chechnya’s independence movement.

Stone said that during the two wars, many Chechens left Chechnya as refugees, and that was when some became radicalized.

It was 2009 when Russia and Chechnya finally reached an agreement to end hostilities. The terms of those agreements included autonomy but not full independence for Chechnya. Russia also financially assists Chechnya in rebuilding the country, which has led a number of refugees to return.

Because of the recent years of peace, many refugees have returned to Chechnya, Stone said, and according to his presentation, violent incidents in Chechnya have decreased significantly.

“Chechnya itself is quite calm,” Stone said. “The Russian government has been able to find Chechens it can work with, it’s providing an awful lot of money to keep the population there satisfied, and it’s giving a free hand to the president of Chechnya in order to let him maintain order.”

Crayton Caswell, senior in history and president of the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society, the group that sponsored the lecture, said Stone’s presentation was very important and timely.

“I think it is very important what he had to say,” Caswell said. “How everything mixes into the question of terrorism internationally, and how the Muslim cause and the Chechen cause might have some ties. It gives you a lot more understanding of the situation. It’s important to know what the history of the area is. It’s extremely helpful to know how something like the Boston bombings could have happened.”

“It never ends, but hopefully this time it is my last performance,” Karasugi said.

The Senior Capstone Dance Concert will be held this weekend and next weekend. The concert is put on entirely by senior dance majors as their final hurrah on the Colorado State stage. Performances will take place Friday, May 3 at 8 p.m., Saturday, May 4 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Friday, May 10 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, May 11 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $14 for the public, $10 for Colorado State students with ID and $9 for youth under 18.

The difference between this concert and past years’, according to senior dance major Brittany Adams, is that the number of seniors meant the show had to be split into two different shows over two weekends.

Karasugi, originally from Japan, came to Colorado State after retiring from a professional dancing career for over ten years.

She danced at a ballet company in Canada where she met Colorado State dance professor Carol Roderick, who recommended she come study at the university.

“I was almost thinking about retiring, and I asked her (Roderick) what should I do next,” Karasugi said. “I don’t want to keep dancing; it’s hard for my body, I am burning out. Colorado Ballet performs so much and I was in every single performance and I was just fed up.”

Karasugi, being a retired professional dancer, was able to get on a fast track program that took only two years to get a degree.

“Mostly what they’re doing is a training program to be a dancer; that part I’m done with,” Karasugi said. “A professional company doesn’t give us any diploma, which is required to work anywhere in the real world.”

Last year, Karasugi was diagnosed with breast cancer. As a result, she didn’t dance at all for a year, which reinforced her desire to stop performing.

“It’s so hard to keep in shape,” Karasugi said. “Because my standard was so high from being a professional for ten years, I know I’m not in good shape. Even though I might look fine on stage, I’m still struggling.

For the concert, all seniors are required to dance at least five minutes in the performance, choreograph a solo that is five to seven minutes and choreograph a group piece which is 12 minutes long.

Karasugi’s solo incorporates live music performed by Dr. David McArthur, an accompanist for ballet classes.

“He’s a really great pianist. I can’t even believe he’s playing ballet class everyday because he’s really that good,” Karasugi said.

For Karasugi’s solo and group piece, she made the costumes for herself and her dancers. She wanted to not necessarily have a theme, but focus on expressing the music.

“Training involves musicality, technical execution and performance quality, and you have to include that for the show,” Karasugi said. “I wanted to express the music. I want the audience to see the music, and hear the dance — which is actually a quote from George Balanchine.”

In contrast, Adams is just beginning her career and has a solid concept for her piece.

“My piece is about life and was inspired by my college experience that people I become close to … I was really hurt by them in terms of lying, twisting the truth, and lying to other people,” Adams said. “It’s a response to the interesting human nature of lies.”

During this semester, Adams has been traveling around the country auditioning for dance companies and cruise ships.

“I’m still trying to do cruise ships so I can travel and make some money. I know as for the teaching experience, there’s no escaping it,” Adams said. “I just want to be in the dance world as much as I can.”

Molly Gray, another senior dance major, hopes to dance with a professional dance company, as well as begin a career in movement and dance therapy.

Her group piece is about childhood and innocence while her solo is a darker piece.

“My solo is a more personal piece of work and I think that has made it easier to choreograph. It was also easier because I only had to think about my own body in space,” Gray said. “My solo is completely opposite from my ensemble piece; it’s dark and a little creepy. I like the contrast between the two pieces.”

The Senior Capstone Concert is a culmination of the seniors’ time at Colorado State and showcases the up-and-coming talent in the dance world.

“Students should come to the Senior Capstone Concert because it showcases different choreographic styles of dance, the incredible talent of the dance department and the collaboration between directors, faculty and various departments in the performing arts school,” Gray said. “It’s an incredible way to say goodbye to our college lives and hello to our professional careers.”

Entertainment and Student Life Beat Reporter Bailey Constas (@BaileyLiza) can be reached at entertainment@collegian.com.

The California Modernization and Economic Development Act would enact an oil severance tax on crude oil extraction in California. The ballot proposal needs to gather 505,000 signatures in the next five months to qualify for the 2014 ballot.

The act would place a 9.5 percent tax on oil and gas extracted in the state, said Jack Tibbetts, a third-year political science student at UC Berkeley and the author of the act. The roughly $2 billion generated annually from the tax would then be divided between public K-12 and public higher education institutions.

Tibbetts authored the proposal in late 2012 and reviewed it with different professors and groups. He then submitted it to the attorney general’s office, which cleared the proposal for circulation, Tibbetts said.

Tibbetts said the proposal has earned endorsements and recognition from some significant public figures, including former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich.

“Using a tax on oil extracted from under California to help finance the education of Californians should be a no-brainer,” Reich said in a statement supporting the California Modernization and Economic Development Act. “It won’t affect fuel prices. It will only improve our schools.”

The oil tax proposal generated statewide attention when they held a rally last week to advocate for the act. UCLA students have since become involved with the movement to tax oil to raise money for education.

Many smaller environmentalist interest groups also support the effort, said Tibbetts, who is also the campaign manager for Californians for Responsible Economic Development, a group which is campaigning in support of the act.

Some of the groups that have endorsed the proposed act are the University of California Student Association, the Student Senate for California Community Colleges and Associated Students UC, the student government at UC Berkeley.

Dianne Klein, a UC spokeswoman, said the University did not have enough information to comment on the UC’s stance on the tax at this time.

A separate proposal to tax oil production is currently circulating in the state Legislature.

In February, state Sen. Noreen Evans proposed Senate Bill 241, which will provide $2 billion for public education and parks through an oil severance tax, according to Evans’ website.

California is the fourth-largest oil-producing state in the nation, and the only one of the top ten oil-producing states that does not already impose a significant oil severance tax, according to a press release from Evans’ office.

Similar to the California Modernization and Economic Development Act, SB 241 would enact a 9.5 percent tax on large oil companies for extracting oil in areas with California jurisdiction. SB 241 would use 93 percent of tax revenues to fund public education and 7 percent to fund state parks, according to a press release from Evans’ office.

The bill passed through the Senate Governance and Finance Committee on Wednesday.

Evans’ office has been working closely with supporters of The California Modernization and Economic Development Act because they have very similar goals in mind, Tibbetts said.

Members of the external vice president’s office of the Undergraduate Students Association Council at UCLA, with members of the UC Student Association, took a delegation of about 60 UCLA students to Sacramento in March to lobby for SB 241, said Hinnaneh Qazi, a fourth-year political science student and state affairs director in the undergraduate student government’s external vice president’s office.

Opponents of both Senate Bill 241 and the California Modernization and Economic Development Act – like the Western States Petroleum Association – have argued that the proposed severance taxes would hurt consumers and oil companies alike.

“It’s unfortunate that people who should know better continue to hold out this faulty promise to California students and educators, that there’s a magic bullet that would solve these very serious and chronic state funding problems,” said Tupper Hall, a spokesman for the WSPA. “It is simply not true nor productive to think that a tax on oil is an easy answer.”

With a Democratic supermajority in the state Legislature, Evans’ office is optimistic that SB 241 will pass, said Teala Schaff, communications director in Evans’ office.

The bill will go to another committee in the Senate before it can be voted on by the chamber.

In the meantime, Tibbetts said supporters of the California Modernization and Economic Development Act will continue their efforts to get enough signatures to add the proposal to the 2014 ballot.

As of January, there were 30,000 applicants to law schools for the fall, a 20 percent decrease from 2011 and a 38 percent decrease from 2010, according to the Law School Admission Council.

UH Law Center has seen a decrease in applicants as well, and it may be because the economy is improving.

“Usually when the economy is bad, most folks try to apply to law school,” said Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall Law School Dean Dannye R. Holley.

The idea of being an attorney creates a sense of financial security that many other jobs can’t, said Holley.

“I wanted to go to law school because once I graduated I didn’t have to look for a job, I was a job,” said UH law graduate Berhanu Gebreslasie.

The Law Center’s Associate Director for Admissions Nathan Neely said he agreed that the economy affects attorneys, as everyone else, but in a unique way.

Around 2006 and 2007, prior to the economic crisis of 2008, there were historic numbers of law school applicants, Neely said.  Because it takes generally three years to complete law school it wasn’t till 2009 and 2010 that those applicants felt the wrath of the economy.

“It took that long for the applicant pool to react to the housing market and to the credit issues going on at that time.” Neely said.

A focal point of discouragement amongst people wanting to go to law school is the fact that during that time period, only a few years ago, it was more difficult to find a job out of law school than previous years.

“In spring 2009 after some assessment firms said ‘whoa we might not be able to take all these people,’” said Law Center’s Associate Dean for Student Affairs Sondra R. Tennessee.

However 2009 wasn’t long ago, and the discouraging words of those old fresh lawyers still circulate through our hallways.

“My brother graduated from law school in 2010, and it was such a hassle for him to get a decent paying job,” said international business graduate Amanda Baetz.

But Tennessee said the passionate law students do not let the job market deter their application.

“We are working with people that really want to be here,” said Tennessee.

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In February 2012, the campus stood on the verge of capturing a $60 million grant from the Simons Foundation to launch a theory of computing institute. Its competition, several elite East Coast private universities, equated the problems facing the campus with a death spiral. Why, they wanted to know, would the foundation consider giving such a large sum of money to a campus that in a decade would be a shadow of itself?

Having been posed the question, UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau gulped as he sat across a table from the foundation’s decision-makers. Completely unprepared for such an assessment, he paused for a full 30 seconds before unleashing a 30-minute lecture on the ongoing vitality of UC Berkeley.

“I told them everything,” he said in an interview last week. “I told them about our public character, I told them about our comprehensive excellence, I told them about our financial aid strategy.”

UC Berkeley’s proposal, which drew from a variety of fields, including molecular and computational biology, and incorporated the star power of Nobel Prize-winning physicist Saul Perlmutter, won the grant, beating out top-flight private universities like Harvard and MIT.

This triumph is emblematic of the excellence UC Berkeley has achieved under the leadership of Birgeneau, who is stepping down this summer. Worldwide rankings place it among the top universities on the globe, it has maintained its status as the premier public institution in the United States and its faculty members and students continue to win the most prestigious awards academia offers.

But the success has come at a cost, to both UC Berkeley itself and the University of California as a whole. For many, the path charted by Birgeneau through the state’s disinvestment has threatened the fabric of the UC system and alienated members of the campus community. To some, it has gone so far as to jeopardize the very idea of the public university.

Because of its stature, UC Berkeley has a unique ability among the UC schools to generate revenue through fundraising, private partnerships and nonresident tuition dollars. In a two-day strategic planning meeting shortly after he took office in 2004, Birgeneau decided to capitalize on this advantage in order to maintain what he calls the campus’s “comprehensive excellence.”

But this strategy — a mixture of increased lobbying for federal research grants, a drastically expanded private fundraising enterprise and a sharp increase in out-of-state students that yielded unprecedented nonstate revenue for the campus — favored UC Berkeley ahead of the rest of the system. By leveraging UC Berkeley’s brand, Birgeneau set the campus apart from the other nine UC campuses.

“(Fundraising) is campus-driven: You’re always counting on the allegiances and often the heartstrings of the donors,” said David Blinder, who spearheaded fundraising efforts as the campus’s associate vice chancellor of university relations and vice president of the UC Berkeley Foundation. “Their affiliations are to the campus rather than to the broad, amorphous thing that is the University of California.”

In the last fiscal year alone, the campus has raised $408 million through programs like the Campaign for Berkeley.

UC Berkeley’s prestige gives it a leg up on the fundraising competition, and Birgeneau has not shied from exploiting this advantage — a policy with which Birgeneau, who says he values the Master Plan’s multitiered structure, sees no problem.

“Ultimately, the responsibility of the UC Berkeley chancellor is to ensure that Berkeley continues to set the standard for public education nationally and internationally,” Birgeneau said. “My first responsibility is to ensure that … California has at least one public institution that is as good as the very best private institutions and sets the standard for the world.”

Birgeneau further articulated his vision of UC Berkeley’s primacy in a 2012 white paper he co-authored that called for many decision-making functions to be devolved from the central Office of the President to individual campuses. Although he said the proposal was not intended to give UC Berkeley or any other campus special status, it strained the unity of the 10-campus UC system. Among many controversial points, the paper’s proposal to create decision-making boards specific to each campus opened the door to differential tuition between campuses — a proposal that was shelved by the university’s 2010 Commission on the Future due to concerns it would irreparably destroy the system’s nine undergraduate campuses’ equal-footing relationship.

In addition to being a coalition of campuses, the UC system is also a coalition of undergraduate and graduate institutions. At UC Berkeley, the relationship between undergraduate and graduate programs has struggled — and in some cases, this relationship has been severed almost completely.

In the face of state disinvestment, graduate programs have ratcheted up tuition rates and subtly pivoted away from the campus. Combined living and tuition expenses at the UC Berkeley School of Law now top $72,000 for California residents, placing it in the neighborhood of its private peers. Meanwhile, graduate programs in the sciences have increasingly looked to sponsored projects as a way to obtain research money.

“All of the attention in access has tended be on undergraduate education,” said Judson King, director of the Center for Studies in Higher Education at UC Berkeley.

In pursuit of financial security, the campus’s graduate programs have emulated the operations of their counterparts at schools like the University of Virginia. Virginia’s Darden School of Business, for example, has relied largely on tuition and fees to finance itself self-sufficiently for more than a decade.

“What a lot of places are doing is selectively quasi-privatizing certain schools, like law and graduate business schools,” said University of Virginia professor David Breneman, an expert in the economics and financing of higher education. “But they don’t like to talk — UVA doesn’t like to talk about anything but it being a public university — but we’re moving away from the meaning that it’s largely publicly financed.”

Instead, the reliance on student fees and donations has meant that graduate programs have come to look more like privately financed arms of a public university.

In order to demonstrate to donors that he was serious about maintaining UC Berkeley’s comprehensive excellence, Birgeneau fully committed the campus to his alternative funding push.

“First and foremost, it was important for our constituents to have the confidence that nobody was going to be retreating from Berkeley’s standards,” said Blinder, who left the campus for a similar position at The Scripps Research Institute this year.

But the focus on money created an atmosphere in which Birgeneau spent so much time away from UC Berkeley pursuing additional revenue that students and faculty members alike came to see him as aloof from the needs of the campus community. The tension came to a head during Birgeneau’s controversial handling of the November 2011 Occupy protests — an episode he said he regrets — when many in the faculty called for a no-confidence vote in his leadership.

Other policies also created conflict on campus. Operational Excellence, a cost-saving initiative that Blinder credited with demonstrating the campus’s commitment to financial efficiency to donors, often became a target for its layoffs that campus workers perceived disproportionately affected nonsenior management roles.

Increased admission rates of nonresident students became an equally frequent focus of campus dialogue. During protests, activists decried the immediate effects of the out-of-state influx while analysts considered the policy myopic. A recent paper co-authored by professors Bradley Curs of the University of Missouri and Ozan Jaquette of the University of Arizona found that increased enrollment of nonresidents at public research universities, including UC Berkeley, has limited socioeconomic and ethnic diversity.

“It undermines the university’s long-term case that it is a public university and needs public support,” said Patrick Callan, president of the Higher Education Policy Institute, who called the pursuit of nonresident students “expedient revenue-hunting.” “These things represent short-term solutions to long-term systemic problems that need to be worked through.”

All these policies and decisions, and the reactions to them, are manifestations of the fundamental tension that underlies Birgeneau’s term as chancellor. His nine years in California Hall have been at some level a prolonged dialogue on what it means to be a public university.

On the one hand, the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education founded the UC system on the public ideal, according to which the population of the state invested in the education of its younger generations. This is the ideal that many faculty members and students aspire to and the principle that has guided the movement against state disinvestment of the past four years.

But as the state disinvested from the UC system regardless and UC Berkeley began raising money from other sources, Birgeneau has sought to maintain what he calls the “public character” of the university.

“Saying it’s a public university means it is available and accessible to all residents of the state depending only on their having the academic qualifications for admission,” King said. “The idea of public education is that it is available without regard to personal or family (financial) resources.”

By this metric, Birgeneau claims to have preserved public character. Although middle-income enrollment has decreased 9 percentage points from 2000 to 2010, 38 percent of UC Berkeley’s student body receives Pell Grants, and in December 2011, the campus implemented the Middle Class Access Plan, which caps parent contribution toward undergraduate education for students with family incomes of between $80,000 to $140,000.

Birgeneau’s appointment in January as the leader of the Lincoln Project — a three-year initiative organized by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences aimed at defining the future of public higher education — affords him a platform from which he can continue exploring higher education reform, this time on a national level. Though his methods have at times been controversial, his peers in public higher education refer to the successes of the campus during his tenure as the “Berkeley Miracle.”

Endorsing his work at UC Berkeley, the academy wrote in a press release announcing the move that Birgeneau “has launched initiatives at UC Berkeley that are the models for public colleges and universities elsewhere.”

Contact Jordan Bach-Lombardo and Curan Mehra at newsdesk@dailycal.org.

The post Birgeneau leaves legacy of complicated commitment to public mission appeared first on The Daily Californian.

Nearly 200 students gathered in the EMU on Thursday with a common goal during the two-part Dear World event.

Using his unique message-on-skin style, Robert X Fogarty, a University of Oregon alum, helped students spread their personal messages to the world.

He started the Dear World idea with a project called Dear New Orleans, honoring those involved in Hurricane Katrina, and soon the project transformed into a constantly moving event.

“We started to see people writing things that became more personal,” he said, “and that’s how I realized that this could take on a different set of stories using the same method. It is another way to tell great stories and there is no end in sight. I don’t really have an end goal except to keep on telling beautiful stories in this distinct way. I feel really honored.”

As a touching way to wrap-up the event, Fogarty hosted a keynote speech sharing his personal experiences, as well as presenting six unique UO students to share their stories behind their messages.

Guest speakers included Byron Etta, sharing his message “Climb On”; Antonia DeMichiel, “Stop seeing my disability, start seeing my ability”; Jo Niehaus, “Ignorance is fatal”; Win Min, “Terrorism has no religion”; Marita Barger, “Depression does not define me”; and Dante Jordán, ” Self sacrifice.”

“It gives a chance for students to see that we all have unique stories,” DeMichiel said, “but that we are all united because of the fact that we all go to school here together, and it gives us a chance to really get to know each other beyond the surface details.”

The guest speakers, accompanied by their personal portraits, created a moving and inspiring atmosphere for all who attended. It was truly remarkable how little we know about the true identity of our surrounding individuals.

“I have the opportunity to look into the eyes of thousands who’ve shared their hopes and fears,” Fogarty said in his keynote speech, “their losses and regrets with me. I consider each person’s portrait as a gift to the rest of us.”

I cannot say whether I succeeded in this goal; that would be for my staff to determine. I hope you can forgive me, however, if I take the opportunity now to publicly bear witness to the incredible work these people did these past 11 months. This group has so much to be proud of.

Robert Gebelhoff and Rebecca Rebholz reinvigorated the visual content desk like never before. Rob designed a new nameplate featuring the Jesuit sun to symbolize our desire to hold our administration, our peers and ourselves to the moral standards upon which our university was built. Becca brought an incredible unity to the photographers, not only in their photos, but in their personal friendships, as well, leading with grace and kindness.

Pat Simonaitis and Allison Kruschke commanded the news section with experience and vision. Pat was quick to be the devil’s advocate in any editorial board meeting to ensure we were seeing all sides of an issue, and he fostered professionalism and a fun spirit within his desk. Allison developed the entirely new position of projects editor, organizing long-form, research-based stories to accompany the regular, shorter news. She was truly a friend to all, and her contagious laugh made every day in the office better.

Joe Kaiser and Tessa Fox spent countless hours pouring their hearts into our editorials, and they constantly strove to offer more thoughtful and detailed critiques of the columnists to better the entire desk.

Matt Mueller demonstrated week after week what it means to have an incredibly strong, well-informed, entertaining voice, and his passion for his work enlivened his staff to challenge themselves in their writing.

Patrick Leary demanded successful anecdotes and concise language from his strong team of dedicated sports writers, resulting in exciting stories that in turn gave the writers more pride in their work. Mike LoCicero before him made leading the desk look effortless in his ability to always keep everything running smoothly.

Alec Brooks and Ashley Nickel led their detail-oriented copy editing team remarkably, catching the tiniest of mistakes before printing to ensure the continued reliability of our publication. Their in-depth knowledge was an asset to the entire staff, who frequently turned to them with any and every AP style hesitation.

And Andrew Phillips, my partner in crime, never strove for less than perfection. From the minute he woke up in the morning to the minute he went to bed, the Tribune was always at the forefront of his mind. For better or worse, he spent his classes sending messages about how to tackle an MUSG story, how to change the layout of the ads, how to best handle a conflict. He constantly looked at the work of other student publications and sought to incorporate their strengths into ours. His quiet but resolute leadership commanded respect not only for him but for the publication itself, and his delight in being surrounded by our staff members day in and day out was second to none.

I will stop there, only because this could go on for dozens of pages if I did not. These editors embody what it means to “hold the ladder” for others, to “bear witness” to each other’s work. Every single one of them challenged me to think in a new way, and for that I am so grateful.

To be honest, I haven’t yet figured out if this experience was positive or negative for me overall. I spent as many hours laughing late into the night with some of my now-dearest friends as I did letting my frustration at the decisions and attitudes of the Tribune’s advisor and of the Student Media Board consume my thoughts and overwhelm me emotionally. I spent as much time coordinating online content as