Sarah Chavis

Staff Reporter

A person dies by suicide about every 16 minutes in the United States according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). That’s why the Commuter Student Association at McDaniel College is sponsoring a 3-5 mile walk around campus to prevent suicide, Out of the Darkness on Saturday, November 7th.

The Out of the Darkness Community Walk was created to allow people around the nation help raise money for research and education programs to prevent suicide, increase awareness about suicide and depression, and assist survivors of suicide loss.

Junior Kristina Martin, an active member of the CSA, introduced the idea in remembrance of her father who committed suicide eight years ago. Martin and Junior Steven Carney, president of the CSA, agreed on a goal of $1500 for the upcoming walk. However Martin says, “If we don’t even raise money at all, that would be fine, as long as we raise awareness for the cause.”

Anybody can participate in the walk, students, faculty, family, friends, and any members of the community. For more information, visit www.outofthedarkness.org or contact Kristina Martin at klm015@mcdaniel.edu or Steven Carney at swc001@mcdaniel.edu.

Megan Robinson

News Editor

McDaniel is getting involved in the first Disabilities Awareness month by showing the Oscar winning documentary King Gimp; followed by a discussion with the film’s director, Susan Hardary, on October 28th at 5:30.

King Gimp is a documentary that follows the life of a man named Dan Keplinger who suffers from Cerebral Palsy. This documentary was originally shown on HBO in 2000. This documentary has some local ties; Keplinger is from Towson, Maryland and went to local Parkville High School.

The goal of Disabilities Awareness month is to encourage colleges and other schools to have activities raising awareness and opening up the discussion about people with disabilities. Tom Webb, director of the Student Academic Support Services Office, said he hopes this film will create a dialogue about people with disabilities. Webb said viewing a film about a person with a disability will “build a comfort zone” for students to learn more about disabilities versus a reading or discussion.

Webb said the college decided to hold just one focal activity, as opposed to holding many smaller activities that may not discuss the topic in such depth. His goal for this event is for “people to change any stereotypes about their comfort or discomfort with people with disabilities.” Webb said he believes people with disabilities have a lot of potential, and can accomplish more than people often realize.

The director of the film, Hardary, comes to McDaniel through a mutual friend that Webb made while working as a congressional staffer on Capitol Hill. Webb helped draft the American Disabilities Act for two years on Capitol Hill, before starting as the new director of SASS at the beginning of this school year. Webb said he hopes to bring more people of “equal caliber” as Hardary to campus for other events.

This event is co-sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. For more information about this event Tom Webb can be contacted at twebb@mcdaniel.edu ; and for more information on Disabilities Awareness Month go to Maryland’s Department of Disabilities website at www.mdod.maryland.gov/DHAM.aspx

Samantha Lambert

Staff Reporter

Props Bag. Check.

Disco Ball. Check

Fishnet. Check.

Virgins. Check.

Let the games begin!

McDaniel’s twist on Rocky Horror was not only a success at the box office, but it was also a success in audience pleasing (wink). The show almost sold out Friday night; other nights drew large crowds as well.

Even before the show began, friendly phantoms enticed audience members with glimpses of what to expect on stage: an excitingly erotic production.

While some faculty and parents seemed a wee bit uncomfortable, McDaniel students were more than willing to participate in “de-virginizing” and practicing the first steps of the slammin’ time warp dance. (For those who could not attend the show, audience members who had not seen Rocky had to do some smooth moves with a banana).

But when the musical began, the audience (myself included) was enraptured by the rockin’ live band on stage, the provocative dancing, and thrilling looks between cast members that left us clutching our arm rests.

The choreography was top-notch, demonstrating the wild and conflicting emotions of characters as well as revealing the true character relationships. The lighting, especially during the Time Warp, pulled the whole scene together, highlighting the sexy actors singing their way into a climatic dance party while pulling the audience along with them.

The production was highly satisfying. Shout outs to C-Mo for his excellent rendition of Dr. F, Nina and Andy for never holding back their sexiness, Annie for the awesome props, Brooke for her belting it out, Sydney for the beautiful intro, and Pfeiffer for giving us the do’s and don’ts.

Everybody did a marvelous job. This will be a production McDaniel will never forget.

As Tori Potucek, a sophomore, commented, “I’ll never forget I was “de-virginized” by Mike Pfeiffer with a banana.”

Bravo.

Lisa Starr

Contributor

The fall theatre production at McDaniel College was The Rocky Horror Show. The show is filled with shocking twists and unexpected personalities. McDaniel put the play on for four nights, with a double feature on Friday night. My friends were all excited about the chance to partake in their first play here at McDaniel. I was the only one in my group of friends who was a Rocky alumna. I have seen the show four times and have been able to compare and contrast all the productions, picking out strengths and weaknesses. I persuaded five of my friends to see the show with me, and they looked to me for guidance. Oh, the things I could convince them to do!

A week before the show my friends threw ideas at me about the outfits they should wear. The ideas started out prim and proper (a nice pair of jeans with a polo) but got more appropriate as time went on. Two days before the show, we purchased our tickets, precious green rectangles with Rocky Horror printed in black writing. After weeks of waiting, the show was finally ready for the public.

One of my friends was in the cast, playing the role of Brad. A freshman getting such a good part would be unheard of at my old school. He disappeared for weeks before the show. When he would finally appear, he would be in a sleepy stupor. I decided that the more bags I saw under his eyes the better the play would be. The night before we saw the play, the bags under his eyes reached his cheekbones.

That night we ate dinner at top speed, taking three bites at a time. We decided to arrive 20 minutes early to make sure we found prime seats. We gathered in Anna’s room. The clothes for that night covered her bed like a blanket. Showers were necessary if we were going to stay up so late. The adrenaline rush we were experiencing could only get us through the first half of the show. We sprinted to the bathrooms and took the fastest showers ever.

Clustering in Anna’s room, we dressed in our Rocky get ups. Although I helped choose most of the outfits, they now looked different. Perhaps it was the excitement twisting my vision, but everyone looked awesome!

Anna wore a low cut black dress she had tacked up the night before so it came to her mid thigh. Carol’s outfit was the one exception to the rule of dressing slutty. She wore a jean skirt that made her cringe every time she looked in the mirror, a tank top, and leggings. Her hair was teased up in a ponytail that looked like it was straight out of I Dream of Genie.

Maria’s outfit might have been my favorite; leggings covered her legs in a tight black veil. On top of the leggings, she wore loosely fitted black shorts that came up to her mid thigh. She also wore a black tank top that flowed from her body in little ripples. A white collared shirt was layered on top of this, buttoned halfway so that is slipped off her shoulders. Maria’s hair, like Carol’s, was pulled in a high ponytail adorned with a sparkly silver hair band. She gave the impression of Kelly, Barbie’s younger sister. This Kelly, however, was ready for the streets!

Sarah wore a ribbed, black tank-top and pants with a fishnet glove. Taylor was the only one in the group afraid to look too outrageous. She constantly said, “Oh, I look like a hooker; I’m so glad my parents can’t see me.” Her outfit, although not as scandalous as others, was spectacular. She wore a short jean skirt with tall, black, formfitting boots and a maroon tank-top. Her hair was half up and half down with one strand of hair coming through to the front.

I wore the same outfit I had on for The Rocky Horror Picture Show movie I saw in town. I decided the pink corset top with skinny jeans did not look scandalous enough, so I added some black underwear that peaked out of the top of my pants.

Of course, make-up is critical at Rocky Horror, so we passed around a tube of blood red lipstick. Everyone sampled its power. Each person then added personal touches to her own make-up, and we were ready. We stepped outside, feeling the icy wind cut through our thin garments, piercing our skin with its bitter power. Running to the theater, we all burst out laughing.

The play was amazing! I really think it was one of the top two theatre productions I have ever seen. After the show, the audience exploded in applause, and, sadly, the night was over.

Becky Carpenter and ‘The Vagina Monologues’ return for a seventh debut

Casey Crough

Staff Reporter

Becky Carpenter will be preparing to orgasm for her seventh year with “The Vagina Monologues” cast in February 2010.

For those who are unaware, “The Vagina Monologues” is an episodic play written by Eve Ensler. Different perspectives of female empowerment pieces provide audience members with a chance to reflect on the importance of anti-violence for women. The show raises money for women’s anti-violence groups locally and around the world. In past years, the production at McDaniel has raised over $5000 dollars for local and global organizations.

Carpenter is a professor of English and enjoys swing and ballroom dancing in her spare time. She was promoted to the title of professor of English, which is a huge accomplishment. “A lot of women never make it past associate professor; McDaniel has done a good job providing equal opportunity for women,” said Carpenter.

Carpenter first gained interest in “The Vagina Monologues” when she started teaching a Gender Literature course; she used the text in her class and thought that it would be phenomenal if it were produced at McDaniel.

In Fall 2004, Carpenter went to the first interest meeting. She expressed that she was a little hesitant about the student reactions, but she was accepted by the group of diverse women and got the role of the “Angry Vagina.”

The first performance was extremely successful. “The line went around the block,” explained Carpenter. The theatre was completely sold out, and although the production was such a success, the cast still felt overwhelmed and deeply moved.

Carpenter explains that “it is never just about the play. We take time to work on ourselves, and through the experience we get a chance for some great bonding. Go sisterhood!”

Carpenter has participated in roles such as “Outrageous Fact,” “Smell,” “Comfort Woman,” and “Hair” a couple of times. Yet, Carpenter made it clear that her all time favorite role has been the “Angry Vagina.”

“I got to wear my ‘stompy boots’ for the role,” said Carpenter.

At the end of the production, one of the cast members shares one of their experiences with violence.

“Each year is a different and great experience. We have neat, fascinating, and brave students that end with their personal story. It takes an enormous amount of strength,” said Carpenter.

Interested in participating in “The Vagina Monologues”? There is only one requirement for those who want to perform. “You do have to have a vagina,” said Carpenter.

Yet, the show encourages both men and women to come and show their support. The show in no way should be construed as “male bashing.”

“The show no way blames all men; it is not what it is about,” stated Carpenter. She also comments that the show provides a feminist argument for pro-man.

Yet, Carpenter believes that, “If violence is caused by the length of a skirt, we have reached a sad pass with men.”

Auditions occurred Oct. 14 and 15 and performances will be Feb. 5 and 6, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in Alumni Hall. For more information, contact Dawn Aldrich at dna002@mcdaniel.edu