Commentary Editor

It is possible that some of you reading this have recently encountered the name Alex Knepper in popular news sources. It is also possible that some of you have even read his March 28, 2010 article in the American University Eagle as it spread throughout the Internet and made waves across the national news scene and caused storms of outrage. Finally, it is possible that my response to this article will only be another drop in the ocean of that outrage. Despite this possibility, I feel the necessity to continue.

In this article entitled “Dealing with AU’s anti-sex brigade,” Mr. Knepper, among other claims, most notably argues that “date rape” is not, in fact, rape. What? Let’s rewind that and review, shall we? Although this is not always an accurate indicator, if the crime is included in the name of the act, there’s a good chance it’s a crime.

But, I admit, that’s not enough. Let’s look at the example Mr. Knepper uses of a typical date rape situation and determine if it qualifies as rape. “Let’s get this straight,” Knepper declares, “any woman who heads to an EI party as an anonymous onlooker, drinks five cups of the jungle juice, and walks back to a boy’s room with him is indicating that she wants sex, OK?” I don’t know how many of you are familiar with jungle juice (it’s a college campus, so I’m assuming a large portion), but this particular concoction is frequently comprised of a juice-esque liquid and whatever cheap liquor can be obtained. This often includes grain alcohol. To take a page from Knepper’s book, let’s get this straight: THAT SHIT CAN MAKE YOU GO BLIND. And not like “inspiring Ray Charles-blind.” More like “I keep tripping over/injuring small children-blind.” At best, five cups worth of jungle juice will make your face go numb. At worst, a bunch of small children have bruises because of you. At what point in that experience does a person have the capacity to indicate consent. Simple answer: they don’t. That’s what rape is: sexual intercourse without that person’s consent. Simple rule of thumb ladies and gentleman (because a man can be raped too): no definitive consent=don’t do it.

In the course of his article, Knepper also offers a blistering critique of feminism in which, he implies, the feminist movement is attempting to make women more powerful than men. Let’s be clear: that’s not feminism. Being a feminist simply means that an individual believes that men and women should be politically, socially, and economically equal (or at least have equal opportunities to succeed in any or all of these categories). Feminism means you believe everyone has the right to choose their own destiny. Believe that? If you do, congratulations. You’re a feminist. Now you can be as pissed off as I am about the things Knepper said.

First of all, Knepper compares feminism to Pat Robertson. Given this particular individual’s frequent criticisms of the feminist movement, such a comparison seems a stretch. Second of all, he labels feminism a “religious dogma.” For those of you who haven’t taken an introductory religion course (or haven’t actually lived on this planet), that’s not true. In order for a set of beliefs to qualify as a religion, it must possess three basic characteristics (often referred to as the ABC’s of religion). These are: A)ssures salvation, B)elieves in a precise theology, and C)onverts non-believers. At what point does feminism assure salvation? No feminist ever told me I would go to heaven for supporting the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. Furthermore, anyone familiar with the myriad of different feminist movements (including but not limited to womanism, LGBT-focused feminism, anarcha feminism, radical feminism, liberal feminism, Libertarian feminism, and environmental feminism) can hardly claim that feminist theology is “precise.” I might be able to give Knepper the “converts non-believers” category. After all, I believe everyone should have an equal opportunity to succeed, why don’t you? Maybe you should reconsider whatever you’re about to say to that.

Third, Knepper completely abuses the idea of “social construction theory” (which, by the way, has not been “disposed of by neuroscientists and psychologists” and is actually correctly termed “social constructivism” or “social constructionism”). In fact, I could be wrong, but I’m fairly certain Knepper isn’t talking about social constructivism at all. Social constructivism is devoted to the study of how social phenomena like stereotypical gender roles (i.e. girls are nurses and boys are doctors) become widely accepted traditions. It is not completely focused on the study of gender roles, but that study is part of the wider social constructivism structure. Nowhere could I find in my admittedly brief research before writing this response any theory that argued that “men are essentially born as eunuchs, only to have wicked masculinity imposed on them by an evil society.” I did happen upon some interesting findings in the field of gender identity research that claimed individuals do not develop a functional gender identity until they are 2 or 3 years of age. As far as I can ascertain, that particular study has not been “disposed of” by neuroscientists and psychologists. Questioned, maybe. In a competitive scientific world some questioning is inevitable. But it hasn’t been disregarded. Perhaps if Knepper had done a modicum more research than the poor uneducated sap who is writing to you now, such a mistake would never have been made, and readers would have been more likely to take his opinions seriously.

Fourth, Knepper offers to his readers a series of what he calls “pro-sex views.” Personally, I wasn’t aware anyone over the age of puberty was not pro-sex. There are those who advocate celibacy before marriage, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with saving yourself for marriage. But that isn’t to say that after marriage you can’t bump uglies like there’s no mañana. According to Knepper, “the goal of contemporary feminism and Gay Party activism is not to explain sex, but to abolish its passion.” This passion, according to Mr. Knepper, is characterized by “spontaneity, raw energy and control (or its counterpart, surrender).” I will agree with Mr. Knepper on several points: sex can in certain situations be improved by “spontaneity” and “raw energy.” Furthermore, if your own individual sexual preferences include the possession of “control” or the act of “surrender” in that situation and you can find someone else who will give their consent to be your “counterpart,” feel free to act out those fantasies. But that does not mean that such sexual practices are always, 100% of the time, appropriate (as Mr. Knepper implies). But, a sexual relationship of mutual respect, love, and caring is. It may sound naive to some of you for me to say that. It may even seem unnecessarily obvious to others. However, it has to be said. Sex doesn’t always have to include the “inherently gendered thrills of fetishism, sadomasochism, kink or cross-dressing” as Knepper argues. Sometimes sex isn’t about simple gratification. Sometimes it’s about expressing the feelings you have for a person in the most intimately physical way possible, which makes Knepper’s glorification of “anonymous sex” seem a bit shallow and immature. One has to wonder if Knepper has ever experienced a mature, responsible relationship himself.

Finally, Knepper “altruistically” offers five of his favorite books on sex and gender: “The Myth of Male Power” by Warren Farrell, “The Sexual Spectrum” by Olive Skene Johnson, “Vamps and Tramps” by Camille Paglia, “Philosophy In the Bedroom” by the divine Marquis de Sade, and “Who Stole Feminism?” by Christina Hoff Sommers. The first has most often been used (wrongly, it would appear from my brief research) as the anti-feminist Bible. The second unabashedly uses personal stories to bolster scientific findings (and, if you’ve ever taken a psychology class, you know that anecdotal evidence doesn’t actually represent evidence). The third is written by an author that argues that in order to “revamp” feminism “the lady must be a tramp” and calls the idea that homosexuals are born gay “ridiculous.” The fourth is just creepy, but again, if you’re into that kind of stuff, feel free to check it out. Finally, “Who Stole Feminism” is by a woman that once claimed that feminists were “just mad at the beautiful girls.” Personally, I find the idea that a movement devoted to promoting equity and respect between the genders requires impropriety to be successful counterintuitive and ridiculous. Furthermore, the idea that homosexuality is any more reversible than heterosexuality is offensive. Finally, the idea that feminists are just ugly girls jealous that they aren’t more sexually appealing is a stereotype. I looked it up.

But, again, I have only performed the briefest research in preparing to write this article. I could be wrong about everything I believe. However, like Alex Knepper, I have the right to tell anyone who disagrees with me to suck it in a public forum.

Staff Reporter

Just when the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church seemed to be dying down, another round of accusations has surfaced in recent months. The most recent case to come out is one claiming that Vatican officials have tried to cover up the sexual abuse of two teenage girls by a Minnesota priest from 2004-05. This is especially disconcerting for a number of reasons. First, this alleges that the Vatican itself knew about the abuse did not act (the Vatican has often blamed local bishops for ignoring the problem and not passing information on to Rome, but, as this case indicates, knowledge of the situation seems to have gone much higher). Second, while the vast majority of allegations have concerned abuses that occurred decades ago, this latest development shows that the problem has continued more recently as well.

This latest allegation claims that Father Joseph Pavanivel Jeyapaul abused two girls while serving in the diocese of Crookston, Minnesota from 2004-05. Evidence that the Vatican knew about the abuses and did nothing is obvious in the form of repeated letters sent to the Vatican from Victor Balke, bishop of the diocese in Minnesota. To make matters even worse, Balke also complained that large amounts of money had been disappearing under the watch of Jeyapaul. Still, the Vatican did nothing.

So where is Father Jeyapaul today? He is in India, his native country, where is head of a church education commission, and still a Catholic Priest. Addressing this lack of action by the Church, Jeff Anderson, attorney for one of the abuse victims said, “This is systematic. All roads … lead to Rome and the top officials there,” and, “As horrific as the rape of children by Jeyapaul is … the cover-up of it is every bit as horrific and criminal.” The county attorney for Roseau County, where the abuses occurred, is trying to extradite Jeyapaul from India for trial in the United States. As of April 5, Jeyapaul was still in India.

The issue of abuse has been an ongoing one for the Church since at least the 1970’s, but it was in 2002, amid a flurry of media attention, that the issue became widely publicized. An estimated 80% of accusations worldwide have occurred in the United States. The Church seems to have put itself in a very undesirable position through its reaction to the problem. It has been criticized for reacting too slowly or for not seeming to care at all. Some of this has resulted from misunderstandings between the Vatican and the faithful in the United States, as many Church officials have stated that the Vatican finds American Catholics strange and ignorant of the ways of the Church in Rome. Whatever the reason, this has unquestionably led to further outrage over the abuses.

One thing the Church should have recognized about Americans is their love for conspiracy theories. Americans love to think of a big, bad, evil plot somewhere out there whether it is the government, the corporations, or even aliens. And while this may be irrational, the Church has given people plenty of reasons to suspect a large-scale cover-up operation to be in progress. Whether or not this is true, this is what a growing number of Americans believe. And more than anyone, the Church should understand the power of belief.

The AP contributed to this story.

Staff Reporter

This year, McDaniel says goodbye not only to the graduating class of 2010 but also the last generation to have BLAR as their academic plan. Many freshmen have probably heard debates over the nature of BLAR’s replacement: the McDaniel plan. As I learned researching this topic, the issue regarding this new plan is much more complicated than many students may realize. According to Communication Chair Deborah Vance, the plan changed because students on BLAR “would try to get every [general requirement] out of the way soon and faculty were hoping the new plan would get rid of that way of thinking, but it hasn’t.”

Kathleen Levendusky, a Junior, history major and peer mentor, “understands why they make us take these requirements but I wish they wouldn’t go completely off kilter from my focus.” So why are students taking classes they don’t need? First, each department interprets the plan according to their focus. Unfortunately, the gross miscommunication between administration, staff, faculty and/or whole departments have led to students missing out on classes they needed and wasting time on classes they didn’t.

On the other hand, Junior and religious studies major Jeff Griepentrog sees the plan differently because he “can’t take water classes or aerobics classes because of [his] disabilities.” “I’ve tried to take archery and bowling,” Griepentrog said, “but the classes filled up quickly.”

As Jeff reminded me, there are issues that can hold students back regardless of the plan in effect. The recession has forced cutbacks that have made departments cut courses out of their curriculums, including requirements. Adding to these difficulties, new time codes have been set which force students to choose between requirements being taught at the same time. If that was not enough, absences from teachers on sabbatical make requirements unavailable for up to several semesters at a time, forcing some students to extend their graduation date to a year or longer. According to Jeff, his roommate, George, is also dealing with these problems: “He’s a Bio-Chem major but he needs a language and the only language classes are at the same times as the classes he needs for bio. All that’s left is Spanish. Why does a doctor need Spanish anyway?”

As for why George may need Spanish, I can only think about my mother, a physician who returned to school for her MBA when I was still in high school. Among her general requirements was a basic Spanish course. Did she ever use it? Well, let’s say I wouldn’t ask her for help in my SPA 1102 final. My point is: If the McDaniel plan has any silver lining right now, it’s that it reminds you that the biggest obstacles to fight for in life are the ones that will hold you back the most. By then, other barriers look like mere gaps in the road.

Staff Reporter

Along with college, there comes homework, studying, activities, clubs, and the winner: a whole bunch of sick kids in close proximity with one another! With everyone inevitably sharing germs, the Wellness Center in Smith House can be known as either a go-to spot on campus or a notorious one, depending on who is doing the talking.

The Health Center offers a variety of different services to McDaniel students, resulting in either their contentment or dismay. Upon being asked about their experiences with the Wellness Center, students’ answers are generally diverse in reference to their satisfaction with their visit.

When freshman Lauren Handel first arrived for orientation on move-in day, she had to cope with the normal anxieties that new students face: Adjusting to a new environment, trying not to pass out in the heat while lugging their lives into dormitories, meeting new people, and getting used to an unfamiliar place. Unlike most others, Lauren also had to handle something extra: becoming extremely ill and not knowing where to go or what to do.

“As it turned out, the Wellness Center was not an option at that point in time, so I had to call Campus Safety to take me to the hospital,” said Lauren. After the fact, she was pleased with how Campus Safety dealt with the situation, but remained disappointed that the Wellness Center was not open during such a crucial time for students.

Once she was finally in the swing of things, Lauren started feeling under the weather again and sought after help from the Wellness Center. “I called them and they told me that based on my symptoms, I probably had cervical cancer.” Terrified and shocked, she went in for an appointment to be told something completely different. “When I went in they told me it was just a problem with my birth control.” Needless to say, Lauren’s view of how her situations were handled is very much below par with the exception of Campus Safety’s help.

Another student who fell victim to a less than desirable circumstance with the Wellness Center is sophomore, Kristen Houpt. During her freshman year, she came down with a bad sinus infection.

“I went to the Wellness Center to get checked out and to hopefully get some medicine. I wasn’t sure if they’d be able to offer me anything since I’m allergic to most antibiotics,” said Houpt. “They gave me an antibiotic that I had never had before and a few days later, I began breaking out in hives. When I went back to get the hives looked at, they told me that they probably shouldn’t have given that medicine to me in the first place because they had a feeling I’d have a reaction to it. They gave me some Benadryl and when I woke up the next day, the hives were worse, my lips were swelling, and my throat was closing up. Campus safety had to rush me to Carroll County Hospital and from there, they gave me better medicine and treated me for the reaction.”

The Wellness Center’s image has remained scarred in Kristen’s eyes since her experience there last year. Can you blame her?

Others have had pleasant experiences at the Wellness Center, like Kara Owens, Sophomore. “I went in because I was sleeping for days and couldn’t get up. They tested me for strep and mono, and I tested positive for mono so they sent me home. I’d say it was handled efficiently.”

Senior Jordan Hawthorne has had to make his way over to the Wellness Center quite a few times in the past four years. “For the most part I would say my visits there were good experiences,” said Hawthorne. “Even though they say they no longer take walk-ins, in certain circumstances that called for it I was able to get in. The only downside that Hawthorne mentioned was that “the hours need to be extended for sure.”

Junior Jason O’Neil has had generally good experiences as well. “Well I like that they are cheap,” said O’Neil. “The charge was minimal for the steroids they gave me when I had poison ivy so that was good.”

Personally, I have had both positive and negative experiences with the Wellness Center. I have been treated quickly and efficiently for basic illnesses such as colds, and I have also been asked the notorious question that our female students are more-than-often asked upon entering the back rooms: “Are you pregnant?” (The answer was no, especially since I went in for reasons that show no correlation with pregnancy.)

Based on the various opinions and recollections of the students, I’ll let you be the judge!

Either way, here are some affordable (and some free) options in the area:

Staff Rerporter

It’s dawn. You sit on a rock on the bank of a river, the cool morning chill contrasting vaguely with the hot orange sunrise. The mist coils and rises from the river, disappearing into the pale sky above. You sit quietly as you officially ring in your 24 th straight hour awake, a nd there is one question you have to answer: how will you sleep today?

That’s what I had to ask myself when I decided to take a week and try out a new sleep pattern. I had read about a particular sleep pattern which supposedly could make you more productive.

The basic idea is that you sleep for about half an hour every three hours, and in about 10 days your body will adjust so that virtually all 30 minutes are spent in R.E.M. sleep, where your brain gets most of its rest , thereby allowing you to sleep only half the amount of a normal person.

It’s easier to get into a new pattern if you get out of the one you’re in first, so my friend Tyler Langsdale, 20, and I took some tents and supplies out to the woods on a sunny April Sunday and stayed up all night. Monday morning we sat on a rock awaiting our scheduled 7:00 am nap, alarms at the ready.

The first three days are grueling. Not sleeping the way you want to sucks, and tempting yourself with short naps is tortuous at best. Camping actually helps because you’re occupied all the time so you don’t think too much about it.

The fourth, fifth, and sixth days aren’t bad. You have that weird, dreamy feeling you get from staying up too long, but you don’t want to sleep. Tyler hyperbolizes, “I don’t feel tired. I feel like I would be tired if I honestly believed I was awake.” Productivity does go up somewhat, but you get tired easily.

The seventh and eighth days (which were the last two I could do) bring on some confidence that this new schedule can actually be adjusted to, though if you’re not careful you could easily slip back into a normal pattern.

Unfortunately we had to cut it short there. I was never fully adjusted, but I think I would have gotten there with a little more time. It’s rather difficult to keep yourself going at first, but once you get some momentum you roll. If you can pull it off, congratulations, you’ve achieved maximum efficiency. And a really inconvenient sleep schedule.

It’s fun to try it, though.

Rula Zaru

Staff Reporter

How often do you run into a cool freshman dorm room? Probably never.

President of the HvZ club at McDaniel, Torin Grosso, and basketball player, DJ Whiten, reside in the common area “quad” on the second floor of Rouzer Hall. Interestingly enough, they are the only two living in the quad. That means two televisions, four beds, two wardrobes, two closets, four desks, four dressers, two fans, two doors, two refrigerators, and two microwaves.

Can this room get any better?

Yes. The floors are carpeted and there is a large couch in the center of the room. Oh wait, can’t forget the beautifully painted tan walls and the large amount of space in every corner of the room.

“I was excited to be living with four people,” Torin said. “But when one guy never moved in, and the other moved to the fourth floor it got even better.”

DJ said he “loves the size and the space,” which make it feel more like a bedroom.

Not the typical freshman, Torin has several favorite things about his room: five dodge balls, several hand crafted chain mails that he has created, four Nerf guns, 50 Warhammer 40k collectable models, fighter movies, his PSP, and his magic cards.

Not only does Torin store a variety of gadgets in the room, but he also uses his room in order to work on projects of his choice. Torin spends time creating chain mails, which are scattered around the room and add uniqueness to it. “My friends are always in here…we watch a lot of fighter movies.”

Torin also owns “Bruce Lee’s Fighting Methods”, the complete edition, and he passes the book around to many of his friends to read.

Whether you like playing with magic cards, a PSP, swords, Nerf guns, dodge balls, or watching a good fighter movie, this room is the place to be.

As DJ puts it, “the room has a homey feel to it.”

Now if you think you have a lot of shoes, you’ll appreciate the massive collection on top of DJ’s wardrobe. 20 pairs total – Nikes, Adidas, and Jordans. If you ever need to borrow a shoe, DJ’s the guy.

Beside DJ’s desk is a 32 inch flat screen TV. DJ enjoys watching basketball games on the large screen and his friends are always in the room glued to the television or playing Madden 10 on his Xbox.

“There is always a place to sleep,” DJ explains. With two extra beds DJ enjoys the luxury of space and the ability to have his friends crash in his room without any inconveniences.

This McCrib is the coolest freshman dorm room. Not convinced? Go to Rouzer and visit Torin and DJ; you’ll have a good time. Chances are you won’t want to leave and you will go back a second time.

Staff Reporter

Benefits of a small campus: Ability to get to know people well, close relationship with professors, short walks to class, etc.

Disadvantages of a small campus: Only one dining hall, limited course selection, the inevitability of seeing someone you have hooked up with over and over and over.

There is a range of ways to interact with a post-one-night-stand. You could ignore them completely, making the situation even more awkward, and thus draw attention to yourself and your awkwardness. However, you can carry something like that on only so long; after all, it’s only a matter of time before you see that person at another party.

There is the seemingly casual, “hey” and head nod. This is a step up: you are acknowledging that you have interacted with this person before and you have developed a casual but formal demeanor when interacting with this person.

Or, you can interact with that person like you have never seen them naked, and carry on. This is especially easy if you were friends with the person beforehand.

But what if a post-hook-up decides that they want to take the first route of ignoring you? Being ignored by someone who you have seen pantsless is a huge blow to the ego. It leaves a build up of all sorts of questions: What do they want from me? Am I really that bad? Do they even remember? Was it even that person?

The best thing you can do in situations like those is to remain cordial. Don’t ignore the fact that it happened, just respect the hook-up. We are all adults. It would be best if everyone could be mature about stuff like this. We can all appreciate the enjoyment that comes out of hook-ups; no one’s saying stop. However, do what you can to make that post-hook-up daze a little easier for everyone.

Staff Reporter

Nicholas Sparks meets Miley Cyrus in the tearjerking teenage romance, The Last Song. Sophomore Megan Robinson and I were happy to receive passes to a free advance showing of this film during our recent trip to New York City for a college media conference over spring break.

During the screening, there were mixed audience reactions. I noticed many people leaking water from their eyes, but just as many shamelessly giggling and commentating. These contradictions are justified, though. After watching the movie, I felt conflicted about my opinion of what I just saw. It made me cry, but it wasn’t technically good.

It was difficult to see Miley Cyrus as anything but Hannah Montanna. I couldn’t take her seriously as Ronnie Miller for quite a while into the movie. Her voice kind of bothered me. For example, when her character was supposed to be emotionally disturbed and frustrated, she just came off as bratty. Not all of the acting was horrible, though. Greg Kinnear as her dying father was really very believable; he carried the cancer plot to the emotional levels that reduced me to tears.

The script was kind of cheesy, to be honest. Some of the moments that came off as bad acting could probably be attributed to bad scripting. Similarly, there was bad editing that resulted in rough transitions and strange changes in audio levels.

The movie wasn’t horrible, don’t get me wrong. It was totally worth the free movie ticket and a couple hours of my life. Rather than spending money to see The Last Song, though, wait for it to come out on Netflix.

Staff Reporter

“This skirt makes me look so lumpy from the back. I figured no one would see me from the back.” Her eyes widened. “But you’re all around me!”

She turned to one of the wrap-around railings. “Maybe I’ll just sing to this side.” She turned again. “Or this side. Oh, you’re all around me!”

So began Ingrid Michaelson’s set at Ram’s Head Live on March 20. She kept the laughs going by explaining to reluctant boyfriends in the audience that dancing makes penises grow (studies have been conducted, apparently), taking someone’s camera from the front row and singing an entire song to it, and making up a song called “Emo Boy, Why, Why, Why” and claiming that it will appear soon on a “Grey’s Anatomy” episode.

Michaelson is, of course, not just an entertainer, but a soulful musician with a range of skills. During her hour-long set, she showed off her talents on the guitar, ukulele, piano, and drums. She played not only her own songs, but covered Radiohead and Britney Spears. She chose light-hearted numbers such as “Be OK” and “Everybody” as well as ballads like “The Chain” that appealed to my friend who had been dumped the week before.

Michaelson’s range and liveliness appealed even to those who had never heard of her. Even the large, brooding man to my left who had obviously been dragged to the show by his wife and who donned a cut-up flannel shirt and a visor that said “mayonnaise” muttered that Michaelson was “pretty good” during the show.

Michaelson’s show did not have the special effects or large crowd that typify other concerts, but she created a closeness with the audience by singing, playing, joking, and laughing her way through the night. Her show not only made her cult-followers want to kneel down and propose, but persuaded skeptics to respect her as an artist, lumpy skirt and all.

Songs to listen to if you’ve never heard of Ingrid:

Can’t Help Falling In Love (Live at Daytrotter) – Be OK

You and I- Be OK

Keep Breathing- Be OK

Soldier- Everybody

Everybody- Everybody

Maybe- Everybody

Die Alone- Girls and Boys

Masochist- Girls and Boys

The Way I Am- Girls and Boys

Creep- Live Session (ITunes Exclusive)

Dear McDaniel Campus,

Spring seems to finally come our way and embrace us with the long sought and desired sunshine and warmth we so much miss.

After a very white and cold winter Budapest is slowly awakening from its dormancy of the last few months, new and exciting possibilities arise in the horizon as day become longer and outside becomes more appealing to us.

At present we are focused on our mid-term exams and we have been pretty much buried into our books and notes lately, so the thought of spring break coming fast our way and the possibility of enjoying being outside again turns into a very tempting reward.

Recently we organized an International Evening, an event where all students are invited to share their home cultures and flavors and mingle in a cosmopolitan atmosphere that is always present in the Campus here but rarely enjoyed amidst all our endeavors.

Among the delicacies on offer one could find the traditional Hungarian paprikás szalámi, the Spanish tortilla served with the customary Sangria, Humus and Falafel from Israel, Iranian stew, Norwegian waffles as well as Portuguese and American specialities. Besides the nourishment of the body we also were served wonderful sights to nurture the mind such as the Japanese Kimonos, the Nigerian colorful outfits, and the smiles of all the different nationalities present there. The night was concluded with an entertaining and amusing talent show with students from all over the place performing songs and music pieces from their home countries.

This year Hungary is hosting one of the European Capitals of Culture in the beautiful city of Pécs, south of Budapest near the borders with Croatia and Serbia. With a very rich and diverse cultural offer together with the architectural beauty of the city this for sure will be a charm to draw many of us there this Spring. You can find more information about this at http://en.pecs2010.hu/ (specially if you are considering coming over for the Fall semester this year).

Budapest is also a fantastic city to walk around and enjoy when the weather is fine. There are lots of small squares with cafes and bars who display terraces from April onwards and they are just perfect to end your afternoon having a nice cold drink, chatting with your colleagues and friends, or just watching everyone going about their lives at the end of another busy day. I am sure that we will make good use of such places in the coming months!

Anyway, I believe we are all looking forward now to our Spring break, having the chance to get our minds off our studies and enjoy a few and well deserved days of rest, doing the things we like the most, and for some of us allowing the brief return to our home countries to revisit the places we could only experience in our memories over the last few weeks.

We hope all is well over there and we are looking forward to hear more about what is going on over there in Maryland.

Happy Spring break!

McDaniel Budapest

Staff Reporter

Hello McDaniel College,

Over Spring Break I visited Managua, Nicaragua. My friend Andrea’s father lives in Nicaragua and offered us a place to stay. This country is one of the poorest countries in the world but has some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. The tropical scenery that was a part of every beach we visited always took my breath away. Throughout the week I was there I traveled with my two friends (who also go to school at McDaniel).

We bought the plane tickets in December, during our Winter Break but the culture and adventures we experienced during Spring Break 2010 will never be forgotten. The culture there was shocking in every aspect. Not once did I feel like I was still at home. Everyone spoke Spanish (I knew very little) and they always knew right away just by looking at you: you were not native to the country. The only way we could slightly get by was through Andrea. She looked native and although her Spanish was much better than mine it was still not comparable to the natives. Of course we were dead-give-aways the moment we spoke English.

We experienced the night life and met college students just like us (who always seemed to want to have a good time). They told us about living in Nicaragua and showed us around the parts that were inaccessible to tourists. Not every aspect of Nicaragua was all fun and games though. We met American Troops and teenage missionary groups who helped provide cleaner water systems and volunteered in orphanages by taking them to the beach for the first time.

By the way, the driving there is nothing like it is here. All of the people drive like maniacs; avoiding many traffic safety laws that we abide to here. The beep of a horn is just a kindly reminder that occurs every two minutes while driving and does not signify road rage like it does in America. Experiences like those made it just as much a learning opportunity for me as it was a fun vacation time. But, the simple pleasures of water fountains providing free, clean water and clean, trash-less roadsides were some things I’m became more appreciative of after returning to America.

Sincerely,

Devon McAndrew

Staff Reporter

Have you ever written a newspaper article? Well, I hadn’t either until this very moment, and you could turn your life around just like me if you would sign up for the Newspaper Practicum class offered here at McDaniel.

For someone with little or no journalism experience (until now, the only experience I’ve had has been watching the movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas a lot), the very title of this class can be intimidating. But, as I have recently discovered, there is nothing to be afraid of and plenty to even be excited about.

Admittedly, the practicum is a little overwhelming at first. As soon as you get into your seat the first day , you find out that you don’t always have to go to class . A great deal of the learning, and work, is done at odd hours in strange places. This is cool. Then Lisa Breslin starts talking at high speed about deadlines and “ leads ” and “60 seconds” and “McCribs” and the fact that you get to pick you first assignment. Y ou have absolutely no idea what’s going on. As it turns out, that’s fine.

Breslin is extremely open to questions , and she is one of the more laid-back faculty members to be found here. Rest assured she is acutely aware of how hectic the newspaper process seems at first, and she is more than willing to help you improve from any starting point. You even get to come up with your own first assignment, if you so choose and if your idea isn’t terrible.

So I’m here to tell you from experience: if you have even the remotest interest in writing for the paper, or for any other reason find yourself in a position to take the Newspaper Practicum, don’t hesitate. There’s nothing to worry about. Y ou get to meet some cool people, and you get to see your name in print, which is awesome.

Contributor

How come petty goods like plasma televisions, cell phones and laptops increase in quality and fall in price each year, while a college degree becomes less valuable and more costly every semester? Why is a college graduate more likely to have an IPod, X-box and computer rather than health insurance? Isn’t it ironic that politicians never talk about making the next line of Gucci bags more affordable, yet they continuously get less expensive, while on the other hand, elected officials often promise to make college more affordable, yet tuition keeps rising. The reason for all of this is that our government handicaps the free market and prevents its powerful forces from being unleashed.

The fundamental explanation for why college degrees continue to fall in value while tuition costs rise each year is pure and simple…GOVERNMENT! The vast majority of college students receive government financial aid, enabling them to pay for college. On the surface, having the government help students pay for college sounds great; however, nothing could be further from the truth. If the government did not provide financial aid, most students could not afford college. Accordingly, classrooms all over the country would become nearly empty. In response, colleges would have to lower tuition fees, making it more affordable for potential students.

Unfortunately, this concept was completely ignored last semester, as McDaniel College’s president, Dr. Coley, sent out a campus-wide e-mail urging students to vote against the state ending “its program of monetary support for private colleges, mainly to help them pay for financial aid.” While this program would indeed help McDaniel College and its benefactors in the short run, the point is that government subsidies in education contribute to rising tuition costs. Despite the fact that I voted “YES,” as many times as I could, this e-mail was offensive because Dr. Coley assumed “the correct vote would be ‘NO,’” ignoring the benefits of voting “YES.” In an environment in which students should think for themselves, it is unfortunate that Dr. Coley never suggested to students that they should investigate the matter for themselves. It certainly would have been more appropriate for Dr. Coley to present the matter by saying, “in my opinion, the correct answer is ‘No’”.

Nevertheless, failed policies continue to be implemented in Washington. During the State of the Union speech, President Obama announced a plan that will allow college graduates to pay just 10 percent of their income on student loans, and after 20 years, default. Furthermore, if that college graduate chooses a career in “public service,” that 20 year period will be cut in half. This will undoubtedly put more college graduates in debt and continue to push up tuition fees. More students will need student loans, and the process will continue as before, ever since the federal government started subsidizing education.

Milton Friedman, a Nobel Laureate economist, once said “If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in 5 years there’d be a shortage of sand.” No other organization can drive quality down while increasing prices. Just imagine if you put the government in charge of selling movies. This year they’d be selling Blue Ray disks for twenty dollars; the next year they would VHS’s for thirty dollars.

A real solution to rising tuition costs is for the government to step back and allow the free market to work. Accordingly, college would become less expensive and more valuable, one of the great benefits of market forces.

If you are upset with both parties and seek a party that promotes peace, freedom and prosperity and want to learn more about Libertarianism, contact Ross Smith at ras010@mcdaniel.edu

Staff Reporter

Walking through the forest at night is a more dangerous task this season in LOST. Like most LOST fans, I watch the new episode every Tuesday at 9:00 p.m. on ABC. But watching the episode is not really enough when they are chasing unknown objects all across the island; I’m bound to miss a connection between one of the characters. That is the reason for the repeat episode at 8:00 p.m. right before the new episode. It reviews last week’s episode before the new episode and includes commentary bar at the bottom of the screen with text explaining how some parts refer to past episodes as they appear. They help connect parts from older episodes that might have been missed or for the new viewers who find themselves lost.

A large aspect of the show, drawing in 12 million viewers each week, is the questions we seem to always have at the end of each episode. Slowly, this last season is answering questions about the black smoke monster and who Jacob really is.

As questions are answered on the Island it doesn’t help when we have so many other questions about the events that take place during the flash sideways.

As questions are answered about the survivors of flight Oceanic 815 and their past, we see these “flash sideways” which are their lives as if their flight had landed and their lives never touched the island. Their lives the passengers of flight Oceanic 815 still intermingle. We see Claire and Kate’s lives connect in the taxi and in the hospital when Aaron is born.

The fact that each character is still connecting with other characters after the plane has safely landed in America creates more questions. It does tell us how their lives are different without the Island. But, are their lives better back on the Island?

As the season comes to a close with only 10 episodes left until the 2 hour grand finale, hopefully more questions will be answered and fewer questions asked.

One thing is for sure, Lost will be remembered as the show that kept their viewers completely lost until the very end.

Staff Reporter

So far in my writing for this column, I’ve touched on many sexual issues. However, safe sex is not something that’s come up. This is an issue that I think is extremely important and obviously relevant to anyone who is sexually active.

On campus, there are few ways to get free condoms. You have to go to the health center, and awkwardly take a handful of condoms from that Halloween bowl, and with that method you have to go back often. You can also do something similar at counseling services. Additionally, you could go off campus to various family planning or women’s clinics and get some there, but there’s got to be an easier way.

Last week the Women’s Issues Group hosted a table that distributed candy, condoms, single-serving packets of lube, dental dams, and female condoms for national condom week.

“Our main goal was to promote safe sex awareness on the McDaniel Campus,” says junior Bryan Yarrington, president of W.I.G., “having sex is OK, just be safe.”

Students seemed to respond extremely well, no one seemed to be embarrassed about coming up to the table to take come condoms and a tootsie roll.

“We got rid of 1,000 condoms in a week,” said Yarrington, “but we also found that people were taking informational packets as well.”

The Women’s Issues group received condoms through Planned Parenthood, an organization that generally holds negative connotations for college students. Parenthood is generally thought to be the worst possible outcome of sex, so Planned Parenthood seems to be a place to avoid. However, this is far from what the organization does. Planned Parenthood recognizes the choice that people have when it comes to sex, and they respect everyone’s right to privacy. Spreading ideas of safe sex on college campuses is one of their many outreach programs.

“They got back to me immediately after I called and expressed interest in doing a safe sex campaign,” Yarrington explained “She told me about National Condom Week and asked me if I wanted a box of 1,000 condoms. It’s hard to turn that down.”

So when it comes down to it, somewhere, someone is trying to give away free condoms, waiting to be taken advantage of.

Keep an eye out for more Women’s Issues Group events, such as the rescheduled Vagina Monologues on April 2, 3, and 8.

More information about Planned Parenthood, contraception, and much more can be found at www.plannedparenthood.org .

Staff Reporter

Walking onto the strange and unsettling set of Blood Wedding seemed to be the proverbial hors d’oeuvre before the main course, the dramatic theatrical entrée.

Blood Wedding is a great play of dramatic events in rural Spain written by the Spanish dramatist, Federico Lorca. The play takes place during a usually joyful occasion, a wedding; a bloodbath ensues over passed grudges, passion, and love.

The audience sits around the perimeter of the main stage and the actors to perform on a defined stage in the middle of the audience. This set-up offers audiences a good view of characters’ faces at all times – no one has tot miss the deep-set emotion so many of these actors convey.

So many scenes of this play were executed with such a defined emotional voice and movement that the audience experiences the same events played out by the young actors. For example, everyone feels the pain of the Mother’s (Jen Solomon) grief over her dead family; most audience members can relate to the apprehension of the Bride’s (Colleen Alford) decision of marriage; and many people can relate to Leonardo’s (Chris C-Mo Molloy) conflicted feelings of love and passion.

Few people can escape feeling remaining actors and actresses’ dark acceptance of the spilt blood on a would-be beautiful day.

The character of death, a Man (Brandon Senter) and the Girls (Shelley Hierstetter, Britt Burr, Ann Hebert, and YiChong”Angel” Li) who depicted the moon put on a wonderful symbolic scene with the woodcutter Boys (Mike McNulty, Ryan Powell). The scenes symbolizes not only death, (death of the end of human life), but also the end of relationships. What is left? An endless, meaningless life.

Shout outs to Katie Cooper and Maggie Powell for their beautifully tragic foreshadowing lullaby, Julia Williams and Simone Davis for adding the touches of warmth when needed, and the beautifully played love scene in the forest between Miss. Colleen Alford and Mr. Chris Molloy.

Director Ron Miller said in his notes that the characters “descend into the darkness of human passion and compulsion.”

And they do — they really do so bewitchingly. Bravo.

Contributor

Walking across Red Square between classes I often found myself avoiding the slightly uncomfortable side glances of various men and woman who had seen me in various states of undress.

I’m not positive they really recognized me; I mean I am wearing more than my bra, but that awkward uncertainty lurked right between my shoulder blades just the same. I wondered what the appropriate response was in this kind of situation.

Do I give them a “so-you-have-seen-my-nipples” smile, or maybe one of those “this-isn’t-that-unusual wavey nod” things. More often I pretended the whole naked ordeal never happened; it seemed like one of the classier options.

While I might like to say that yes, I am so outrageously seductive that I have had liaisons with scores of McDaniel’s student and teacher population, I really just don’t have that sort of energy.

I am a nude model – one of the few students on the fair Hill that wasn’t afraid to bare it all for the sake of art, literally. Well, and money; money is good too.

It’s not hard to sit in the art studio naked as the day you were born while students sketch or sculpt your various body parts. You often stare at the clock that is inevitably wrong, always wrong, your head filled with Glar, or rather, the regret of the taco salad an hour earlier.

The real trouble starts when the clothes go back on.

How do you look your boyfriend in the eyes and say, “Honey, I am going to get naked in front of your friends for money today.”

Honestly, it just sounds bad once your bra is securely fastened. Like many other aspects of college life, it’s just better when you are in the buff. And there is also the emotional turmoil you feel sitting in your apartment later that day as your roommate and his girlfriend, who happens to be one of your best friends, snuggle on the couch. You can’t but think, “Huh, he just stared at me in a thong for an hour. Does that classify as a breach of friendship? Should I go to confession?!”

These are the tough questions faced by student models everywhere.

It’s the clothed activities that really suffer once the paint brushes are put away.

When I contemplate the numerous times people have asked me how I could consider doing what I do, I think to myself, “How could I not? Nudity is the only relief I get these days.”

Staff Reporter

On a humid beach in Panama, I sat rubbing sand off my legs and wondering whether or not I really wanted another Margarita. I felt fatigued, sunburned and slightly annoyed by the toothless, beach-dwelling man who was currently hovering over me in effort to sell me cocaine. Needless to say, I was leaning towards yes on the second margarita.

I had been abroad for almost an entire year. I had spent the spring living in Budapest; stepping on sea-urchins on Croatian beaches, posing with fake-Gladiators outside of Roman ruins, having suave men buy me pints of beer in Ireland. I had been lucky enough to live with my closest friends in a European city. I’d be lying if I said that it wasn’t a four month long party.

But my fall was different; a complete 180 from the urban trendiness of Europe. My fall was spent speaking Spanish in a small, rural town in Costa Rica. There, I spoke only Spanish, all day, everyday. All of my classes were about the Spanish language, taught solely in Spanish, by native Spanish-speakers. Overwhelming? Uh, yeah!

I will always remember my first day of classes in Costa Rica. I was nervous as all hell. It felt like kindergarten. I didn’t know what to wear. I tied and re-tied my shoes. I wondered if I’d make friends. I’d hoped my teachers would like me.

I had left my host-family’s house and walked out on to the poorly paved street. A large cow with a collar made of old, purple rope, stood there standing in the middle of the road, directly in front of my family’s home. The cow stared at me. It was stationary in the hot morning sunshine, with its soft-brown eyes affixed to my own. There was not a person in sight and I had no idea what to do. Should I touch this cow? Pull it by its cow-collar out of the street where it would most likely get hit by a car? Should I walk on by? Perhaps this was a stray cow…is there such a thing?

After about 10 seconds, a short, shirt-less man appeared running down the street. He ran directly up to the cow, yelling Spanish profanities and smacked it repeatedly on its head. He turned to me and apologized. Seeing as I was not Costa Rican, he spoke to me in adorable broken English. He explained that this was his family’s only cow. They had owned other cows but all of these cows had done just what this one was doing; escaped from their yard to stand in the street. These other cows had been hit by cars and died. He asked me, if I saw this cow again, could I please take it by the collar, and lead it back into his yard? I obliged and agreed to participate in the suicide-watch of this cow.

At least three times a week, I would leave for my classes and find the cow standing, immobile in the middle of the road. I would lead it back to its yard while telling her that she had so much to live for, that life as a cow couldn’t be that bad, that I was there for her, if ever she needed to talk.

Near the end of my semester there, the shirtless man’s family had saved up enough money to install a new fence around their yard. Thus, the cow was safely contained and my mornings of saving the cow’s life were over.

Before I left to return home to the US, the shirtless man approached me on the street. He hugged me and thanked me for all my help. He said that for all of my efforts to protect his cow, his family and he had decided to re-name the cow after me. Now although this may seem stupid and absurd, I felt so touched. My eyes welled up and I couldn’t help but shed a few tears.

While I sat on the beach in Panama, I thought hard on not only this cow-saving occurrence, but everything I’d experienced in the last year.

I had been nervous to come to a “third-world country” alone. Hell, I’d been nervous to go to Europe with a whole bunch of friends! I had expected things and people to be so extremely different outside of my safe, little American-girl world. But I found that anywhere you go in the world, people are people. When it comes down to it, we’re not so unlike each other. While we might think we’re different; divided by countries and religion, sexual preference or skin color, but no, we are all the same. We all fear, we all love and we all, sometimes, need help.

I’ve found that some of the most important things you can ever learn in life are best learned by stepping out of your comfort zone. It is so much easier to roll through life in a safe routine, then to take a chance. But in this rut, in this safe routine, how much do we ever really experience? How much do we really ever learn about ourselves?

So although things can get shitty, and although it’s much easier to be scared than to be brave, be willing to take a chance. Have faith. Take a breath. And order that second margarita. And if things get hard along the way, know that it is ok to ask for help. Whether its help starting a new life in a foreign country or just keeping your runaway cow in your own damn yard ; )

Staff Reporter

The MARC train is Maryland’s primary commuter train system consisting of three branches. The Brunswick Line reaches west to Frederick Maryland and Martinsburg, West Virginia. The Penn Line travels east to Perryville in Cecil County, Maryland. The Camden Line connects Baltimore to Washington DC. Carroll County is the only county in Central Maryland with no physical connections to the state mass transit system.

If anything, the Marc train would prove essential to one of Westminster’s relative life sources–McDaniel College. Every year, students embark on a journey from hitching a ride from a friend, to train hopping from the Metro to the light rail before reaching the Amtrak itself. Since the Marc train already travels through the same stations as Amtrak, its inclusion would reduce a lot of these obstacles for out-of-state students without cars. Unfortunately, many graduations may come and go before McDaniel Students can enjoy the realization of a Westminster MARC train station.

The issue regarding Mass Transit in the County has less to do with basic necessity and more with the values of the local residents. For instance, there is currently a struggle between those who seek to preserve the county’s untouched rural character and those who believe it should adapt to the growing urbanization. At this year’s annual State of the County Luncheon, Commissioner Michael Zimmer explained that one side prefers national businesses to locate branches (and attract workers) into the county while others prefer to accommodate commuters. He added that with the onslaught of the recent recession is causing many residents to seek work outside the county. One side appears to be winning this long-time debate once and for all.

If Mr. Zimmer is right, and the county needs to meet these needs soon, there are alternatives to MARC. For example, as of February 2, 2009, York, Pennsylvania’s Rabbit Transit announced the launch of a commuter bus service which takes people across the state line to Timonium, Maryland in order to relieve traffic on I-83. Carroll has the CATS bus, which is efficient if a student needs to get around town, but there are still limits even to this long time county service. The CATS bus, along with the local gypsy cab services in the County (two so far) do not cross the county line, even for a fee. This fact becomes more frustrating knowing that cab services from neighboring Baltimore, Howard, and Frederick counties are willing to cross into Carroll if necessary.

For now, cars rule the county, but not all people drive, especially students and workers. Businesses will only go where the environment accommodates them and their workers’ welfare. Many students at McDaniel don’t even have cars, so what are they to do? If Carroll County wants to preserve their businesses, and their prime institution, they will have to give in order to get.

Staff Reporter

This is the first edition of ‘Deaf Savvy’, a place where Deaf Culture can be discussed, questions asked and answers provided. Deaf Awareness month on McDaniel Campus starts March 22nd and continues through April 16th. To celebrate Deaf Culture I would like to share some insights, interesting quotes/facts/trivia, and answer any questions this campus might have about Deaf Culture and ASL. There may be occasions where I won’t know the answer and will enlist the knowledge of some Deaf friends or experts.

“Deaf communities had theatrical societies, literary circles, masquerade balls, organized debates, sports teams, and travel groups. The deaf culture had that had taken root in the schools for deaf children cropped up all across the country in deaf clubs for adults. People came together to sign, to help each other, and, quite simply, to have a good time,” said Lasander Saunders in Through Deaf Eyes

Deaf Culture is more than a common bond of not being able to hear; it’s filled with Deaf humor, music, art, poetry, literature, linguistic styles, a rich history and a common heritage. The Deaf Studies program at McDaniel prides itself on its bi-lingual approach, stressing the importance of knowing and mastering both English and American Sign Language (ASL). We have a community of Deaf and Hard of Hearing undergraduates and graduates as well as Professors. There are classes taught completely in ASL that impress upon the values of Deaf Culture and history. It is because of one of those classes that I am writing this article. For the next few weeks I welcome and encourage you to email me with questions, comments, myths, or anything that you want to be discussed and I will try to comment or get someone else to comment on the subject. I hope we can all learn and have a respectful discussion about Deaf Culture.

-Marissa Graff may be reached at mag008@mcdaniel.edu

Shared Dream

By: Emma Kartalia

(Elementary Student at William Winchester Elementary, Winner of Martin Luther King, Jr. Writing Contest)

So many years ago America knew a man.

A man who gave his life for freedom,

for friendship.

A man who had a dream.

A dream that I now share.

Peace, harmony.

I try to do small things,

Small things that will help peace prevail.

I hear crying on the playground,

its exclusion, disruption.

It is disruption of the peace,

The peace some have tried to savor.

Like that man so long ago the girl down on the playground knows

how it is to be looked down upon.

Distress anger.

I stood up for that girl.

I stood up for harmony.

I stood up for others,

Just as the man with a dream did so long ago.

Pride, triumph.

To this day I remember that moment.

It gave me strength.

It gave me courage.

I will always remember the shared dream.

J. Ellis

Staff Reporter

“I stood up for harmony,” is the phrase that continues to resonate in my mind days after McDaniel’s dinner celebration in honor of the Reverend King. Almost 57 years ago Dr. King envisioned an America that would one day realize its self evident truth-that all men regardless of race, creed, or color are equal. Today his legacy lives on.

As I sit in a room full of women and men, black, white, and shades in between, I cannot help but to think of how far WE, as a nation and as a world, have come since that day in late summer of 1963.

My mind goes back to Mahalia Jackson’s song “We Shall Overcome” which became the soundtrack of The Civil Rights Movement. She sings “…We are not afraid, everything’s gonna’ be alright…” For it was per Jackson’s request, that day at The Lincoln Memorial, that King share with the crowd ‘the dream’ that he’d had.

And on this day, February 1st, 1960, four black students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College performed their non-violent “sit-in” at The F.W. Woolworth Company’s all-white lunch counter.

There is no other place that I would rather be at this moment in time then celebrating the lives of those who fought to eliminate social injustice. To achieve the social harmony that Emma so eloquently speaks of: The Little Rock Nine, Mahalia Jackson, Thurgood Marshall, Mary McLeod Bethune, Linda Brown, Medgar Evers, Jackie Robinson, John F. Kennedy, and so many others that go unrecognized. Their contribution, no matter how big or how small, is living proof of a shared dream that in 2010 has come to fruition.

“It’s not the Kennedy seat, and it’s not the Democrats’ seat, it’s the people’s seat”

One single line could very well help right the course of America and the presidency of Barack Obama. This single line sums up the campaign message that propelled Scott Brown to victory in the blue state of Massachusetts. For the first time in over a half a century a Republican has won a senate seat in the Bay State. In a state where only one-third of the registered voters are Republican, it is clear that the people of Massachusetts have had enough of business as usual in Washington D.C. President Obama won the White House with the support of independent voters and the promise of bringing change to a government in need. However, over a year has passed since the inauguration and Americans still see no sign of this change being enacted. Was this vote simply about the people of Massachusetts or was it a referendum on the liberal agenda that is being spoon-fed to the American people? Early indications point to rough water ahead for President Obama and his Democratic comrades if they do not drastically correct their course.

To pull off such a shocking upset, Scott Brown had to orchestrate a strong, grass-roots campaign to relay his message of government restraint. Most of the time this election would barely be newsworthy in the state of Massachusetts and back page news almost everywhere else as another Democrat would assume the seat and vote the party line in Washington. However, this year a win by a non-Democrat would cost the party their 60th vote in the Senate, ever important as this would insure that they would no longer hold a super-majority and be able to fast-track their agenda through the floor of the senate. Basically, without the right to filibuster, bills could be signed into law without opposition or meaningful debate and discussion.

This election had such national importance that President Obama was able to find time in his busy schedule, between making Super Bowl predictions and sitting in with the commentators at a Georgetown men’s basketball game, to make his way up to The Commonwealth and downplay Brown’s credibility and highly effective pick-up truck advertisement. As was the case in New Jersey and Virginia, the voice of the people resonated above that of the President and the democrats were defeated for the third time in the past three months. Vital indicators are beginning to suggest that President Obama’s idea of change may not be in agreement with that of the people, even those who voted for him during the election. A recent Gallup Daily Presidential Poll (January 30, 2010) suggest that 47% of voters approve and 47% disapprove of the job the President is doing, making him the most polarized president in history after only one year in office. Furthermore, a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% of U.S. voters say Congress should drop health care reform and focus on more immediate ways to improve the economy and create jobs, while just 30% of voters nationwide think Congress should press ahead with health care.

It appears that President Obama is beginning to lose the support of voters, especially those who carried him to victory a year ago, Independents. Despite what people want and what these polls clearly illustrate, President Obama has shown no signs of altering his stance. Unlike the President, Scott Brown seems to be listening to the people, he observed, “One thing is very, very clear as I traveled across this state. People do not want the trillion dollar healthcare plan that is being forced on the American people, and this bill is not being debated openly and fairly.” Brown was very clear throughout his campaign that he would be the fortieth vote against the current healthcare bill. He believes the bill will, “raise taxes, increase government spending and lower the quality of care, especially for elders on Medicare.” He goes on to say, “I support strengthening the existing private market system with policies that will drive down costs and make it easier for people to purchase affordable insurance.”

These are certainly trying times for the many Americans and the Obama administration. Does he forge ahead with his healthcare bill, or does he take a step back and reconsider his position? The next few months may very well seal the fate of President Barack Obama. If he listens to the polls, and quite frankly the mid-term election results, like Bill Clinton did before him, Obama has a chance to revive his presidency. If not, he should be ready to move back to Chicago after just four years in the Oval Office.

Contributor

President Obama recently gave a speech on foreign policy, announcing his intentions to increase troop levels in Afghanistan by 30,000 in order to win the war on terror. A speech intended to provoke unity and patriotism merely echoed President Bush’s deceitful rhetoric for invading Iraq. A mirror image of ideas, Obama’s plan will simply further our countries involvement in another unjustified war. This reckless attempt at making America safer will achieve no such goal. It will only promote deeper debt, more military casualties and a wicked trend of policing the world.

Running on a platform of “change” and criticizing John McCain for being more of the same, President Obama, ironically enough, is just George W. Bush with a different swagger. Directly after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, President Bush called our nation to arms in order to defeat those who attacked us. While his initial plan of sending military forces over to fight al-Qaeda was justified, things quickly changed as our nation was deceived into invading Iraq, a scheme that should go down as one of the most despicable acts any US President has ever taken.

Today, President Obama is using the same platform, justifying his actions as a way to fight terrorism and make our country safer. However, this course of action has nothing to do with defeating the culprits of 9/11. Current reports suggest that al-Qaeda’s numbers and resources in Afghanistan are deteriorating, posing a negligible threat to our national security. General James Jones, Obama’s top national security advisor said “”The al-Qaeda presence (in Afghanistan) is very diminished. The maximum estimate is less than 100 operating in the country, no bases, no ability to launch attacks on either us or our allies.” Still, many defend Obama’s plan on the merits that al-Qaeda attacked us from Afghanistan with support from the Taliban government. Conversely, the 9/11 commission report concluded that there is “no evidence that any foreign government – or foreign government official – supplied any funding” to al-Qaeda. Since we are supposedly fighting terrorists, why don’t we invade Sri Lanka, as they commit more acts of terrorism than any other country? The reason is because Obama plans to re-build the Afghan government, just like Bush planned to rebuild the Iraqi government.

According to our Constitution, only Congress has the authority to declare war, yet countless military engagements since 1945 have occurred without Congressional consent. Furthermore, when politicians don’t declare war, the wars don’t end. The United States defeated the Axis Powers in under four years because we declared war, set clear objectives and fully committed ourselves to the task at hand. Today, this supposed “War on Terror” is going on nine years, yet no end is in sight.

Unfortunately, in our two-party system, Americans have a lack of options- both the Democratic and Republican parties support this war in Afghanistan. However, Americans have another alternative. The Libertarian party is the only party that opposes America’s current foreign policy and truly believes in saving American lives and restoring our civil liberties.

Thomas Jefferson said in his inaugural address: “peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.” Following our founding fathers advice and pursuing a non-intervention foreign policy would accomplish more than any un-just war ever did. A step in the right direction would require our military-empire in over 100 countries to end. As a result, we could save thousands of lives, hundreds of millions of dollars, and the credibility this great nation once had as a role-model for the rest of the globe.

If you are upset with both parties and seek a real party that promotes peace, freedom and prosperity and want to learn more about Libertarianism, contact Ross Smith at ras010@mcdaniel.edu

Staff Reporter

There are people not of our generation, (we’ll call them grown-ups for now) who ask the question: how are you people so focused on sex? The question really is: how can we not be?

More television shows, commercials, movies, songs, music videos, even popular literature focuses more on sex than it ever has. It’s impossible to turn on the TV or radio, open a magazine or webpage without having some obscure sexual image shoved in our faces. It goes without saying that if I open a magazine and have some actress’s boobs staring right at me, I’m bound to let my mind drift to some overly sexual plane of existence.

We have been brought up in a culture that expects displays of overt sexuality. This is by no means to say that we should all go around naked (it’s too cold for that anyway) or doing it in public, but people tend to be very nonchalant with vulgar acts (like thrusting, grinding, touching inappropriately) in public, but only with people that they’re not ‘with’ or know to be ‘with’ by the public. This is very strange. I can grind up on a stranger at a party and it’s acceptable, but as soon as it gets serious, people start making accusations of public displays of affection. We live in a strange world, but this is what has become expected by the public, because this is what the public sees happening in the media.

Many would argue that the sexual culture we live in is caused by the public, rather than the media. This puts us in a ‘which came first’ situation. We may very well never know, but for the mean time, the two continue to play off of each other and my thoughts are poisoned by images and knowledge that I never asked for but am forced to look at.

Or I could stop reading, watching TV, listening to music and interacting with people. But that doesn’t sound like much fun. Or does it? (It doesn’t)

So what are we to do? A lost generation looking for a less forcibly sexual existence. Is that what we’re even looking for?

I don’t think so.

What we need is a more openly sexual existence, one where people are thinking about sexual issues because they want to. Because they’re genuinely curious. Not because they’re forced to think about certain aspects of it by the media.

Which brings me back to something I said in my first article. I love feedback, I love suggestions, I love hearing what you people are thinking about what I’m thinking. My email address is nrr001@mdaniel.edu . Please send me anything you have to offer. I look forward to hearing from you.

Staff Reporter

In this issue’s episode of As the Hill Turns, we’ve got quite a lot on our plate – it looks like some of the more creative members of the campus are getting a little strapped cash and have taken to breaking into cars and running scams. Awesome! Last time I checked, this was McDaniel, not Ocean’s 11. Get a part time job at Safeway or something, y’all, because these robbery shenanigans aren’t cool.

The Rouzer Boys and their inexplicable love affair with fire extinguishers continue to baffle and confuse, but the resident’s of Blanche haven’t exactly been on their best behavior either, what with reports of broken doors, public drunkenness, and pulling fire alarms – but if they really want to get on the Rouzer Boys level, they’re going to have to step up their game a tiny bit. Until you have had a live bat running around your building and an armed robbery, you’re still in the amateur leagues.

A student was written up for littering outside of the Garden Apartments, and while we’re glad to see that Campus Safety is following through with McDaniel’s efforts to go green, we were less glad to see all the reports of harassment and assault – even a possible sexual assault that took place in Academic Hall over the Homecoming weekend. Not funny – never funny. Come on, McDaniel – wasn’t the beating we took from Ursinus over Homecoming embarrassing enough?

Staff Reporter

On October 15, the nation’s media alerted the public to a terrible event: a young boy had flown away from his Colorado home in a homemade balloon. Falcon Heene (yes, the boy’s name was Falcon) was believed to have climbed into the basket of the family balloon (yes, the family had a family balloon) when the balloon was accidentally released. What would seemingly make for a charming Disney film was in fact a terrifying and desperate situation for the organizations that were looking for the boy, which included the military and many branches of law enforcement. It would also seem to be a frightening experience for the boy’s parents, Richard and Mayumi Henne. But that’s where an already strange story became even stranger.

Let’s review the story told by Falcon’s parents. According to them, they were doing something with the balloon but believed that it was tethered only a little bit off the ground. When they went to release the cord keeping the balloon on the ground, the balloon floated away by mistake. They then called the FAA, they claim, although no record of this call exists. There are records of them calling several news stations. Shortly after the call to the FAA, the Hennes say they realized that Falcon was nowhere to be found and thought that he was in the balloon. This kicked off a frantic effort to capture the balloon and find the boy.

Through the course of events, the balloon sailed over 60 miles, forced the redirection of commercial air traffic and shut down Denver’s airport for a brief time. Eventually, it landed several miles away from the airport, but no one was in it. A sheriff’s deputy claimed he saw something fall from the balloon while he was following it, raising the fear that the child had fallen out. However, a few hours later, his parents “found” him in a box above the garage.

In an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that very evening, Blitzer asked Falcon why he didn’t come out when his parents were calling him. Falcon hesitated to reply, then looked at his parents and said quietly, “You guys said we did this for the show.” His father, Richard, struggled to some up with something else to say, but it was too late. Suspicion quickly grew after the show and other subsequent interviews. In investigation documents from October 17, Mayumi Henne admitted that the whole event was a hoax, designed to get the family media attention.

Even before the hoax, people who knew the Hennes knew they were an odd bunch. Richard was a believer in the 2012 doomsday phenomenon and was looking for ways to survive. The family had been featured on the show Wife Swap. On the show, Richard had commented on his belief that humans were decedents of aliens. He was also known as an avid and reckless storm chaser. Richard had been trying to get his family on TV as a way to get money for future projects. In fact, TLC says that the Hennes approached the company a few months before the balloon incident and requested a show, but the company declined. It appears that the balloon hoax was an effort by the Hennes to force their way onto TV since they could not get a reality show of their own.

So, in the end, the balloon boy incident has gotten the Hennes on TV, but probably not in the way they wanted. Instead of gathering interest in their work, the Hennes have made themselves objects of public ridicule. More importantly, Falcon’s parents are facing criminal charges including conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and attempting to influence a public servant. The FAA is also investigating the incident to see if the balloon broke any aviation laws. According to the couple’s lawyer, they are willing to surrender to authorities as soon as charges are filed.

The Associated Press Contributed to this Article

Matthew Bodnar

Staff Reporter

Barack Obama, who often speaks of transcending politics in this country, is finally starting to appear vulnerable and every bit the partisan politician that he claimed he was not. The President who has always appeared calm and composed in the face of opposition, is beginning to show signs that something is making him quite uncomfortable these days. That something is the Fox News channel, and in an uncharacteristic move for a sitting President, Mr. Obama has stepped into the ring and begun attacking a specific news network.

The First Amendment of our Constitution states among other things, that Congress shall make no law, “abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” This time-honored American tradition protects the opinions and views of all citizens and grants the press the freedom to report the truth. The President, when he is officially sworn into office, swears to protect the Constitution of the United States of America and thus this amendment. The President must balance his official roles in foreign policy and domestic affairs, while serving the country as a figure head. As President, Mr. Obama represents all Americans.

Is it really President Obama’s place then to attack a news channel with so many other pressing issues on his plate? Iraq, Afghanistan, and the economy are just a few examples of the issues facing our President, and yet his Administration has found the time to go on the offensive against Fox News.

White House communications director Anita Dunn, spoke to The New York Times, considered by some to be a left-leaning publication, and said, “As they are undertaking a war against Barack Obama and the White House, we don’t need to pretend that this is the way that legitimate news organizations behave.” She continued to say that Fox News acts, “almost as either the research arm or the communications arm of the Republican Party.” When referring to Fox News, President Obama, himself, stated there is “one television station that is entirely devoted to attacking my Administration.” The official White House website has also used valuable taxpayer money to attack Fox News commentator Glen Beck for his “lies” regarding Mr. Obama’s health care reform.

It appears that this administration is refusing to distinguish between the concept of news programs and opinion programs. On-air personalities like Glen Beck and Bill O’Reilly are commentators whose shows are classified as “opinion” programs. As such, these individuals have the right, as guaranteed by the First Amendment, to appear on television to present their opinions and stances on political issues.

One might consider Obama’s decision to attack Fox News as unwise, when one considers the ratings, which are the industry standards for measuring TV viewership in America. Despite the harsh words and accusations from Obama’s Administration, Fox News is easily the top rated cable news network in the country. According to the Huffington Post, Fox News has benefited from another dominant quarter, claiming the top 10 cable news programs in the 3rd Quarter for 2009. Fox News averaged 2.25 million total viewers in prime time for the third quarter, up 2% over the previous year. That number is more than CNN (946,000, down 30%) and MSNBC (788,000, down 10%) combined.

“ The O’Reilly Factor” led all cable news programs with an average of 3.3 million total viewers for the quarter, up 12% over the previous year. “Hannity” (2.6 million, up 9%), “Glenn Beck” (2.4 million, up 89%), “On the Record with Greta van Susteren” (2.2 million, up 16%), and “Special Report with Bret Baier” (2.0 million, up 20%) complete the top five cable news programs in America.

Contrary to Mr. Obama’s opinion, the audience that actually tunes into Fox News each and every day is quite diverse. One would think if you listen to the Administration that only right-wing radicals and conservatives make up Fox’s audience. However, a poll conducted for the League of American Voters by the Global Marketing Research Center shows Fox News has the broadest range in audience. According to the poll, 46 percent of those who watch Fox News “just about every day” are Democrats or Independents. Fifty percent of the audience who watch it “several times each week” or more are Democrats or Independents. Overall, the poll showed that 21 percent of all American voters watched Fox News every day and 18 percent watched it several times each week.

President Obama, who claims to be in touch with everyday Americans, may want to reconsider his Administration’s position on Fox News. The average American voter has chosen to watch Fox News, and the Administration cannot spin that in any way. By attacking Fox News, President Obama runs the risk of alienating American viewers who tune in everyday. Some may consider this an unwise decision, especially since Americans are the ones who give the President his job. While the move to attack Fox News certainly appears questionable now, we’ll officially see how this affects President Obama in 2012.

Naomi Raphael

Staff Reporter

Everyone knows the feeling. You’re stressed, easily annoyed, and just generally cranky. The smallest things bother you. You lose the will to interact with other people. You are a sexually frustrated horndog.

There are several ways for you to deal with this, several of which are illegal in all fifty states, but there are other, more law-abiding options. You can hike up your jeans, put on your going-out shirt, and hit campus hard, hoping that whatever you end up in bed with is as attractive the next morning as it was last night. Or you can take the more drawn out approach, and start asking people out on dates and hope that it goes somewhere fast.

Or, you can get down with yourself. Now stay with me. There are an incredible amount of taboos associated with masturbation.

It is expected that guys masturbate, it’s just not discussed. Bring up the idea of female masturbation, however and people freeze up in terror.

This is absurd. Females have needs equal to or surpassing that of guys, and have an array of sex toys to prove it. Yes, there are sex toys for men as well, but they come with their own, very different reputation.

No one should ever feel ashamed for carrying out what are basic human needs. Additionally, no one should ever be judged. It’s just not fair.

Masturbation is good for you: it releases endorphins, lowers your heart rate, and warms you up. It can help you fall asleep, or it can help you wake up.

So why should something so healthy be so taboo? Really the reason that everything else sexual is so taboo, is just because society has evolved that way.

So, when you have some time off from all that schoolwork, lock your door, dim the lights, light some incense, and see what you can find.

And let’s try not to cringe every time the subject is brought up.

Staff Reporter

With much news lately about the economy improving, there are still many college students who are feelings its ill effects. The economy is affecting students in all sorts of situations. It is influencing decisions for those just entering college, it is affecting the way those in college pay for their education, and it is creating problems for those about to graduate.

FastWeb.com, a website dedicated to helping students find scholarships, conducted a survey in August that found that one-third of students preparing for college are changing their plans in some way based on financial difficulties associated with the slow economy. Of the people surveyed, 38 percent have decided to attend a less expensive school than they had originally, 35 percent say they are going to a community college before moving to a four year institution, and 31 percent say they will attend a school closer to home than originally planned.

Another way the economy is still affecting higher education is through enrollment and financial aid. Economic downturns usually stimulate enrollment in colleges, especially community colleges, according to the Community College Review. Many of these people are adults returning to college because they have been laid off or feel a need to expand their skills to avoid being laid off. With this increase in enrollment comes a further strain on financial aid programs. With more students applying for aid and less private money being donated to colleges for aid programs, there are fears that financial aid will not be available to all those who need it. So far however, these problems have mostly been prevented. Increased government money has helped balance out decreases in private donations at some institutions, and in others, private donations have not decreased significantly since many donors are wealthy enough to withstand the economic downturn (as an example, McDaniel’s Carpe Diem campaign has gone over its goal and is still accepting donations).

Of course, even after being accepted to college, students must still overcome a multitude of financial difficulties. Books are expensive, meals are expensive, and student jobs are sometimes hard to come by and usually do not pay well. Book rental services have made lightened the financial load for students, allowing them to rent their books for the semester or year, and then return them when they are finished. This can save students over 50% of the cost of buying new books. Although pioneered by websites such as Chegg.com, some publishers have begun to rent directly to avoid getting pushed to the sidelines by other rental services.

Finally, the situation for students planning to graduate may be the most frightening of all. What if you have spent the last four years of your life working hard only to be jobless after graduation? One option that many students are considering is going directly to graduate school. While most advisors would discourage students from going to graduate school just because they are afraid they won’t find jobs, getting a post-graduate degree can be a worthwhile way to spend time during an economic drought. When more jobs do become available and there are many people competing for them, people with post-graduate degrees will stand out. In a September article, the University of Illinois Student Newspaper reported that US graduate school applications for the current semester are up 8 percent. However, admissions are only up 2 percent, so if you are planning to apply, make sure you work hard as an undergraduate to distinguish yourself.

There are however plenty of students who say they have not changed their plans based on the economy. Many were trying to save money even before the economy turned sour and have simply continued their efforts. Senior Natalie Hartman says, “I have tried to spend less and save more money, but I think I would be striving to do that even if the economy weren’t in bad condition. Any spending money that I do need while at school I earn working at the college bookstore. I work full time during the summer and that’s when I really try to save most of my money.”

For many students, concerns about what to do after college have to stay on the back burner for now. After all, you can’t worry about what to do after college unless you actually finish college successfully. Senior Marzak Ahmed says, “My plans after college are to do museum studies and eventually work full-time in a museum. I interned over the summer at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, so I’m working towards that goal. I probably will go to graduate school, but I haven’t thought too much about it at the moment. I’m more focused on doing well for my senior year.” Junior Atlee Baker says, “My plan to go to Med school remains the same…even in the face of needing large loans in the future.”

For most students, the best advice is just to continue doing what you want to do. Try to go to school where you want to go, study what you want to study, and try your best to get a job you love after school. Of course, things might not go 100% according to plan right now, but a little flexibility and patience will get you there eventually.

Bryan Nuckles

Staff Reporter

“What is an Ice Cream Diary?”

Honestly? I have no clue. But I suppose that’s the point, once you get down to it. Discovery… Ok, that’s bull, but it sounds nice doesn’t it? Just a little? No? Anyway.

I suppose this is about life. All it’s little quirks and unexpected twists, like the time your roommate spilled the entire bottle of Febreeze on the carpet, when you were Facebooking someone from home and they told you that you sound different… over Facebook, realizing your addiction to emoticons , dealing with rats in your room and scrunchies on your door, walking very quickly away from campo even though you did nothing wrong… * ahem *.

This column is on pens, pencils, and erasers; markers, sandwiches, salads, and the sandwich man; cooks, crooks, books, laundry, hooks, and Doctor Seuss; this segment is of mice and it is of men with just a tad of insanity in between. If you talk about it in Glar, we want a taste. I mean, who can turn down ice cream?