Today we posted Sports Editor Pat Ritter’s response to something that ran in his section this week, a column about Grinnell's football team. Some have expressed concerns about this post appearing above the updates about Paul, which is feedback I appreciate and want to address.
While thinking about how to address these concerns, I realized we've talked to you a lot as journalists but not very much as fellow students. As a student and a member of the Grinnell community, I understand the concerns about the blog format—it feels like everyday things like football aren’t quite as important when someone from our community is still missing. I know it seems insensitive to post other things "on top of" news about something so difficult for the community this newspaper serves. Posts appear in the order they are posted, with the most recent first. It is one of the limitations of a blog, and people much technologically smarter than I am are trying to change it.
That said, I do think it’s important to try to continue with our daily lives as much as possible. For the S&B that means covering other things that are happening and other things people are thinking. Some sense of normalcy is crucial during such a difficult time, and we’re still a newspaper that covers all sorts of news and opinions—debates about football included.
But that doesn't mean we've forgotten about Paul and moved on—we haven't, and we won't. For me, reporting about Paul’s disappearance is really tough because it’s something so emotional and close to home. I can’t just put on a reporter hat and shut out how scary and worrisome this is—it’s always scary and worrisome. And all I’ve thought about this week is that if I don’t know Paul and I’m this scared and worried, I can’t imagine how hard it must be for his family and friends.
David Montgomery, our News editor and Sarah Pierce, a staff writer, have done most of the reporting about Paul’s disappearance, but when they both had class on Wednesday, I went to one of the press conferences. It was unexpectedly jarring. Logically, I know that anyone’s disappearance is news, but sometimes logic is hard to hang onto. It was so bizarre to hear reporters talk about Paul and his disappearance like it was any other news story. The reporters weren’t heartless or mean—journalism is their job, and they were just doing their job to the best of their ability. But this isn’t their school or community and Paul isn’t their classmate or friend. I don’t know Paul, but I know people who do, and Paul is a part of this tiny, tight-knit community I call home nine months of the year. We’re missing “one of our own” and the uncertainty is really hard. Technically, I was at the press conference as part of the media, but I wasn’t, fundamentally—I’m a student, and I’m completely freaked out.
As journalists, we are charged with reporting the news. But as students, providing facts and updates is also our way of helping, our joining a search party. I think we try to put on reporter hats as much as possible so we can do that job as best we can. So if we on the S&B ever seem insensitive or dispassionate in covering this story, that's why.
We happen to be student journalists and Paul’s disappearance is news, but he is not news. Paul is a peer and friend and part of Grinnell, and that is always with us.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Behind the news: a look into the S&B's coverage
As news editor for the S&B, I usually deal with very mundane problems. A story I had been planning on running in one week is unusable because a reporter wasn’t able to get in touch with a key source. Limited space forces me to make decisions about what articles to cut. I try to keep our political coverage as neutral as possible.
This week made all those problems seem trivial. On Tuesday morning I became aware via GrinnellPlans that Paul Shuman-Moore ’09 was missing. At that point I—and almost everyone else on campus—had no idea what lay ahead—and we still don’t. Regardless, it was something that the student newspaper should cover.
I sent out an e-mail to all our writers asking for someone to keep tabs on the search, with the end goal of writing a story for this week’s paper, and Sarah Pierce ’08 responded within minutes. But we could also do more. Paul could be nearby, in a situation where anyone could find him. But not everyone knew that Paul was missing, what he looked like or the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. We are a weekly paper, but this new blog meant that we could offer news on a minute-by-minute basis. I took information from the best source then available, the Plan of Ian Lunderskov ’08, and posted it for anyone to see.
Our early postings on the blog were little more than amalgamations of rumors. Many of the initial pieces of information we posted turned out to be false leads, and we corrected those when we became aware of them. With the chance to find Paul quickly, though, the benefit from putting information up with a disclaimer potentially outweighed the harm. In the long run, though, we needed to move beyond that. Our next post was a more measured news story including input from authorities helping with the search.
At the same time that I was working on putting whatever useful information we could on our blog, I also had to do something much more unpleasant: consider the possible endings for this scenario, and how we as the student newspaper would react to each one. By the end of Tuesday, it was clear that no matter what happened, this would be the dominant story for this issue; I talked with our editors-in-chief and we decided to move our previous Page One centerpiece, an article about the Elephantitis Ultimate Frisbee tournament, back to the sports pages. I also e-mailed my editor at the Seattle Times (where I interned over the summer), Grinnell alum Kim Eckart ’92, for advice on what tone to take in our article.
By the time I started laying out this week’s S&B Wednesday night, with still no sign of Paul, I had decided to devote the entire front page to this story. Everything else was just less important. A couple of articles I had been planning on running this week were pushed back. I also sat down with Sarah Pierce and we outlined what we would do under different scenarios.
We also made another key decision Wednesday night about what not to publish: the information that Sarah had learned of a note that Paul left behind. Grinnell Police Chief Jody Matherly had told reporters that Paul was “despondent” before disappearing, and we also knew that Paul’s family had asked that the note not be publicized. We decided to respect their wishes.
The Des Moines Register made a different decision. Finding out about the note in the same way we did, they published its existence in a headline and the first sentence of a front-page story. Local—and national—TV news also broadcast the note’s existence. The other S&B editors and I quickly revisited our decision. We still respected the parent’s wishes, but the news had broken. We decided that with the news out there, it was better that Grinnell students find out from us than from the Des Moines Register. But concerned about the ramifications of publishing such sensitive information, we called a number of experts around the area, including an RLC, Director of Communication Kate Worster Foster ’87, Tom Crady, the Health Center, the Poweshiek County Mental Health Center and the mother of one of our editors, who is a professor of journalism ethics. Not everyone was there when we called, but those we were able to reach supported our decision with some revisions. We made those, ran our post past everyone, and then published the existence of the note on our blog.
We’ll continue to cover this story as it breaks, and hope for a happy ending. We’re very conscious of the dual role we must play as a newspaper reporting facts and as members of the Grinnell community sensitive to community needs. We hope to fulfill those responsibilities as best we can. Any concerns or comments that readers have are welcome.
This week made all those problems seem trivial. On Tuesday morning I became aware via GrinnellPlans that Paul Shuman-Moore ’09 was missing. At that point I—and almost everyone else on campus—had no idea what lay ahead—and we still don’t. Regardless, it was something that the student newspaper should cover.
I sent out an e-mail to all our writers asking for someone to keep tabs on the search, with the end goal of writing a story for this week’s paper, and Sarah Pierce ’08 responded within minutes. But we could also do more. Paul could be nearby, in a situation where anyone could find him. But not everyone knew that Paul was missing, what he looked like or the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. We are a weekly paper, but this new blog meant that we could offer news on a minute-by-minute basis. I took information from the best source then available, the Plan of Ian Lunderskov ’08, and posted it for anyone to see.
Our early postings on the blog were little more than amalgamations of rumors. Many of the initial pieces of information we posted turned out to be false leads, and we corrected those when we became aware of them. With the chance to find Paul quickly, though, the benefit from putting information up with a disclaimer potentially outweighed the harm. In the long run, though, we needed to move beyond that. Our next post was a more measured news story including input from authorities helping with the search.
At the same time that I was working on putting whatever useful information we could on our blog, I also had to do something much more unpleasant: consider the possible endings for this scenario, and how we as the student newspaper would react to each one. By the end of Tuesday, it was clear that no matter what happened, this would be the dominant story for this issue; I talked with our editors-in-chief and we decided to move our previous Page One centerpiece, an article about the Elephantitis Ultimate Frisbee tournament, back to the sports pages. I also e-mailed my editor at the Seattle Times (where I interned over the summer), Grinnell alum Kim Eckart ’92, for advice on what tone to take in our article.
By the time I started laying out this week’s S&B Wednesday night, with still no sign of Paul, I had decided to devote the entire front page to this story. Everything else was just less important. A couple of articles I had been planning on running this week were pushed back. I also sat down with Sarah Pierce and we outlined what we would do under different scenarios.
We also made another key decision Wednesday night about what not to publish: the information that Sarah had learned of a note that Paul left behind. Grinnell Police Chief Jody Matherly had told reporters that Paul was “despondent” before disappearing, and we also knew that Paul’s family had asked that the note not be publicized. We decided to respect their wishes.
The Des Moines Register made a different decision. Finding out about the note in the same way we did, they published its existence in a headline and the first sentence of a front-page story. Local—and national—TV news also broadcast the note’s existence. The other S&B editors and I quickly revisited our decision. We still respected the parent’s wishes, but the news had broken. We decided that with the news out there, it was better that Grinnell students find out from us than from the Des Moines Register. But concerned about the ramifications of publishing such sensitive information, we called a number of experts around the area, including an RLC, Director of Communication Kate Worster Foster ’87, Tom Crady, the Health Center, the Poweshiek County Mental Health Center and the mother of one of our editors, who is a professor of journalism ethics. Not everyone was there when we called, but those we were able to reach supported our decision with some revisions. We made those, ran our post past everyone, and then published the existence of the note on our blog.
We’ll continue to cover this story as it breaks, and hope for a happy ending. We’re very conscious of the dual role we must play as a newspaper reporting facts and as members of the Grinnell community sensitive to community needs. We hope to fulfill those responsibilities as best we can. Any concerns or comments that readers have are welcome.
Ritter: Keep the football team
On 9/29, the S&B Sports section ran an opinion piece written by Mark Japinga ’09 that argues Grinnell College should drop the football team. I disagree with Japinga’s argument and feel that he fails to take a fair look at the team’s on-field performance, Grinnell College’s finances, and campus-wide interest in football. He also does not address many key benefits of having the football team and, in focusing on win-loss record and finances to begin with, misses the mark on the real purposes of a Division III sports team.
Firstly, to clear up any misconceptions, Grinnell is not a perennial football cellar-dwellar. The Pioneers posted a 40-30 record from 1998-2004 and had a winning record (6-4) in 2004.
The past year and a half has been the exception, not the rule. Even if on-the-field performance was the judge of a college team's value (which it is not), it would be far too early to talk about dropping a traditionally competitive program. If Grinnell was this quick on the trigger a few decades ago, our most dominant program today—cross country—would have gotten the axe.
Instead, we should be supportive of getting a team that has proven it can be successful back on its feet and rallying for a repeat of the undefeated 1998 season.
Secondly, it is off the mark to criticize the football team for having “only” 400 people in attendance at the games, or around 2400 over six home games. Try to name even three of the other 17 sports that warm up 2400 seats per season.
400 people attending a sporting event here is very good. In comparison, the top-notch women's soccer team (6-1-1, 3-0 MWC) drew 100 versus a good Beloit team last Saturday. Contrary to Japinga’s claim, attendance figures make it obvious that a lot of Grinnellians would, in fact, miss football.
Thirdly, it makes no sense to bring up the collective finances of other colleges to claim that Grinnell’s football team is stealing funds from other sports, as Grinnell obviously differs greatly financially from the vast majority of colleges that go into such statistics. The facilities, equipment, jerseys, coaches and accommodations for all of our sports are tremendous compared to other schools at our size and level of competition. With a brand new athletic center and a staff of full-time coaches (something few colleges Grinnell's size can boast), the rest of the sports here are not at all being held back by football.
But the most important point to this discussion is that college athletics—especially non-revenue sports at the Division III level—are not about money and not about win-loss records and athletic accolades. All of Grinnell's sports lose money every year. And in the vast majority of years, no Pioneers become professional athletes.
Our teams should take pride in win-loss records and individual athletic accomplishments, but those accolades are not vital to the functions that athletics serve our small-college community.
Grinnell athletics should be about opportunities for students to play sports that they love. Football gives that opportunity to several dozen people.
Grinnell athletics should be about giving the student body entertainment. Football does that more prolifically than any other sport here outside of basketball.
Grinnell athletics should be about attracting unique, diverse students. Our athletic department considers football a “blue-collar” sport because it helps to bring in the working-class students that Grinnell so desperately needs for diversity. Football also brings in students from all over the country, as only a handful of roster members are from Iowa. The football team is one of our most valuable tools for admissions diversity.
What we have with the Grinnell football team is a program that has won half of its games over the past decade (including an undefeated season), a team that gives anywhere from 35 to 60 students an opportunity to compete every year, a sport that attracts more spectators than almost any other sport, and a sport that adds to student body diversity and recruiting. I see no good argument for eliminating the program but see many good reasons for keeping it.
Note: For those who use grinnellplans.com, Mark Japinga has posted more of his thoughts under the account [japingam].
Firstly, to clear up any misconceptions, Grinnell is not a perennial football cellar-dwellar. The Pioneers posted a 40-30 record from 1998-2004 and had a winning record (6-4) in 2004.
The past year and a half has been the exception, not the rule. Even if on-the-field performance was the judge of a college team's value (which it is not), it would be far too early to talk about dropping a traditionally competitive program. If Grinnell was this quick on the trigger a few decades ago, our most dominant program today—cross country—would have gotten the axe.
Instead, we should be supportive of getting a team that has proven it can be successful back on its feet and rallying for a repeat of the undefeated 1998 season.
Secondly, it is off the mark to criticize the football team for having “only” 400 people in attendance at the games, or around 2400 over six home games. Try to name even three of the other 17 sports that warm up 2400 seats per season.
400 people attending a sporting event here is very good. In comparison, the top-notch women's soccer team (6-1-1, 3-0 MWC) drew 100 versus a good Beloit team last Saturday. Contrary to Japinga’s claim, attendance figures make it obvious that a lot of Grinnellians would, in fact, miss football.
Thirdly, it makes no sense to bring up the collective finances of other colleges to claim that Grinnell’s football team is stealing funds from other sports, as Grinnell obviously differs greatly financially from the vast majority of colleges that go into such statistics. The facilities, equipment, jerseys, coaches and accommodations for all of our sports are tremendous compared to other schools at our size and level of competition. With a brand new athletic center and a staff of full-time coaches (something few colleges Grinnell's size can boast), the rest of the sports here are not at all being held back by football.
But the most important point to this discussion is that college athletics—especially non-revenue sports at the Division III level—are not about money and not about win-loss records and athletic accolades. All of Grinnell's sports lose money every year. And in the vast majority of years, no Pioneers become professional athletes.
Our teams should take pride in win-loss records and individual athletic accomplishments, but those accolades are not vital to the functions that athletics serve our small-college community.
Grinnell athletics should be about opportunities for students to play sports that they love. Football gives that opportunity to several dozen people.
Grinnell athletics should be about giving the student body entertainment. Football does that more prolifically than any other sport here outside of basketball.
Grinnell athletics should be about attracting unique, diverse students. Our athletic department considers football a “blue-collar” sport because it helps to bring in the working-class students that Grinnell so desperately needs for diversity. Football also brings in students from all over the country, as only a handful of roster members are from Iowa. The football team is one of our most valuable tools for admissions diversity.
What we have with the Grinnell football team is a program that has won half of its games over the past decade (including an undefeated season), a team that gives anywhere from 35 to 60 students an opportunity to compete every year, a sport that attracts more spectators than almost any other sport, and a sport that adds to student body diversity and recruiting. I see no good argument for eliminating the program but see many good reasons for keeping it.
Note: For those who use grinnellplans.com, Mark Japinga has posted more of his thoughts under the account [japingam].
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Investigation continues
The search for missing student Paul Shuman-Moore ’09 continues, but has changed from broad-based searches to what Grinnell Police Chief Jody Matherly described at a press conference Thursday afternoon as “surgical.” Around a dozen searchers went out today, with more in teams of two on all-terrain vehicles, down from the hundreds of people combing the area yesterday.
As the investigation draws into its third day, Matherly admitted to feeling slightly “frustrated” with not having found Shuman-Moore yet. He insisted that he would not close the investigation until Shuman-Moore was found, and said that authorities continue to follow leads and continue the search.
Matherly, who had been holding press conferences three times per day, also announced that there will be no further updates until he has new information to report.
Special Agent Wade Kisner from the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation is assisting Matherly, both with searches and with tracking down leads.
Matherly encouraged those students who wanted to help search to contact Security and add their name to the list, but said that every student could help in their own way by keeping up with their normal lives. “It is difficult when a friend’s in distress like this,” Matherly said. “Even though Paul’s missing, Paul would want his friends, his acquaintances and his fellow students to continue with their classes, stay together, support each other … That’s the best way to serve him.”
Vice President of Student Services Tom Crady said later that counseling is available on campus. “If there are students you are concerned about, refer them to professionals,” Crady said. “Resources are open and no appointment is necessary. If people need assistance, let us know. This is a tough time for everyone … and especially for students. We’re doing everything we can to find Paul.”
Security is keeping a list of volunteers to call upon if necessary, but only around 25 students have signed up so far. Students interested in being on the list should call Security at 641-269-4600.
One lead that has failed to pan out is the rumor that searchers had found Shuman-Moore’s shirt. A shirt was found, but Matherly said that they don’t believe it was Shuman-Moore’s.
As the investigation draws into its third day, Matherly admitted to feeling slightly “frustrated” with not having found Shuman-Moore yet. He insisted that he would not close the investigation until Shuman-Moore was found, and said that authorities continue to follow leads and continue the search.
Matherly, who had been holding press conferences three times per day, also announced that there will be no further updates until he has new information to report.
Special Agent Wade Kisner from the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation is assisting Matherly, both with searches and with tracking down leads.
Matherly encouraged those students who wanted to help search to contact Security and add their name to the list, but said that every student could help in their own way by keeping up with their normal lives. “It is difficult when a friend’s in distress like this,” Matherly said. “Even though Paul’s missing, Paul would want his friends, his acquaintances and his fellow students to continue with their classes, stay together, support each other … That’s the best way to serve him.”
Vice President of Student Services Tom Crady said later that counseling is available on campus. “If there are students you are concerned about, refer them to professionals,” Crady said. “Resources are open and no appointment is necessary. If people need assistance, let us know. This is a tough time for everyone … and especially for students. We’re doing everything we can to find Paul.”
Security is keeping a list of volunteers to call upon if necessary, but only around 25 students have signed up so far. Students interested in being on the list should call Security at 641-269-4600.
One lead that has failed to pan out is the rumor that searchers had found Shuman-Moore’s shirt. A shirt was found, but Matherly said that they don’t believe it was Shuman-Moore’s.
Note found
As many of you probably know, the Des Moines Register reported earlier today that Paul Shuman-Moore ’09 left behind a note before disappearing early Monday morning.
The S&B found out last night from Shuman-Moore’s roommate, Mike Horrell ’09, that Shuman-Moore had left a note. We decided not to publish the information out of respect for Shuman-Moore’s parents, who had asked that the information not be released.
The college offers a number of resources for students looking for someone to talk to. The Health Center offers walk-in counseling in the basement of the Forum. They can also be reached by phone at 641-269-3230.
The Chaplain’s Office also offers counseling services. They are located at 1233 Park Street, and can be called at 641-269-4981.
The Poweshiek County Mental Health Center also has counselors and trained staff available to help students. Their phone number is 641-236-6136.
The S&B found out last night from Shuman-Moore’s roommate, Mike Horrell ’09, that Shuman-Moore had left a note. We decided not to publish the information out of respect for Shuman-Moore’s parents, who had asked that the information not be released.
The college offers a number of resources for students looking for someone to talk to. The Health Center offers walk-in counseling in the basement of the Forum. They can also be reached by phone at 641-269-3230.
The Chaplain’s Office also offers counseling services. They are located at 1233 Park Street, and can be called at 641-269-4981.
The Poweshiek County Mental Health Center also has counselors and trained staff available to help students. Their phone number is 641-236-6136.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Shuman-Moore Update
Updated Wednesday 9/27 at 5:29 p.m.
Grinnell Police Chief Jody Matherly held a press conference at 3 p.m. today, but had no substantial new information. Another press conference is scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight outside the Security office at 1432 East St.
Over 300 personnel continue to search for Paul Shuman-Moore ’09 starting at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning. The search is principally focused on a 3-mile radius around Grinnell. An investigative team is also searching through electronic information, bank accounts, and interviewing witnesses to try to gain more information to help searchers.
Shuman-Moore’s family asked Kate Worster Foster '87, director of Communication for Grinnell College, to thank everyone who has helped with the search.
Worster Foster said that authorities have confirmed that Shuman-Moore was “despondent” at the time of his disappearance. This “heightens our concern for his welfare,” Worster Foster said.
Grinnell Police Chief Jody Matherly, who is coordinating the search efforts, said that while investigations are still underway, Shuman-Moore did not appear to have taken any personal effects with him.
At a press conference after searching ended at 7 p.m. last night, Matherly said that there was no reason to suspect an abduction, assault or any foul play. “He is just missing at this point,” Matherly said.
“We have an individual here who is a good son, a good student, he is a nice person and to just take off like this is out of character,” he added.
Students interested in searching for Shuman-Moore are encouraged to participate in the official search and not to go out on their own. The next search will stage at noon today and leave at 1 p.m. Volunteers should wear appropriate clothing, including long pants, sleeves, and closed-toe shoes.
The search parties this morning include over 200 volunteers, and more than 160 personnel from 14 different civil agencies. Several airplanes are conducting aerial searches, and authorities have horses on standby to traverse difficult terrain.
Grinnell Security can be reached at 641-269-4600.
The Grinnell Police Department can be reached at 641-236-2650.
—Sarah Pierce contributed reporting for this article
Grinnell Police Chief Jody Matherly held a press conference at 3 p.m. today, but had no substantial new information. Another press conference is scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight outside the Security office at 1432 East St.
Over 300 personnel continue to search for Paul Shuman-Moore ’09 starting at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning. The search is principally focused on a 3-mile radius around Grinnell. An investigative team is also searching through electronic information, bank accounts, and interviewing witnesses to try to gain more information to help searchers.
Shuman-Moore’s family asked Kate Worster Foster '87, director of Communication for Grinnell College, to thank everyone who has helped with the search.
Worster Foster said that authorities have confirmed that Shuman-Moore was “despondent” at the time of his disappearance. This “heightens our concern for his welfare,” Worster Foster said.
Grinnell Police Chief Jody Matherly, who is coordinating the search efforts, said that while investigations are still underway, Shuman-Moore did not appear to have taken any personal effects with him.
At a press conference after searching ended at 7 p.m. last night, Matherly said that there was no reason to suspect an abduction, assault or any foul play. “He is just missing at this point,” Matherly said.
“We have an individual here who is a good son, a good student, he is a nice person and to just take off like this is out of character,” he added.
Students interested in searching for Shuman-Moore are encouraged to participate in the official search and not to go out on their own. The next search will stage at noon today and leave at 1 p.m. Volunteers should wear appropriate clothing, including long pants, sleeves, and closed-toe shoes.
The search parties this morning include over 200 volunteers, and more than 160 personnel from 14 different civil agencies. Several airplanes are conducting aerial searches, and authorities have horses on standby to traverse difficult terrain.
Grinnell Security can be reached at 641-269-4600.
The Grinnell Police Department can be reached at 641-236-2650.
—Sarah Pierce contributed reporting for this article
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Missing Student: Paul Shuman-Moore '09
Editor's note: Not all of this information may be accurate. In constantly-changing situations like this, authorities and witnesses often provide information that later turns out to be partially or wholly wrong. We are trying to aggregate all the information we can to help searchers and provide what information we can to those concerned about Paul. As we discover something reported here to be wrong, we will correct the mistake. We apologize for anything we may get wrong here, and hope that Paul is found soon. Thank you.
Updated Tuesday 9/26 at 7:27 p.m.
Administrators from GrinnellPlans said that while Shuman-Moore's Plan was logged into at 11:58 a.m. this morning, it was not him. Rather, someone else accidentally logged into his Plan from a computer with Shuman-Moore's Plans password stored.
Updated Tuesday 9/26 at 3:07 p.m.
Campus Security provided this description of Shuman-Moore at the time of his disappearance: "He is 19-years old, stands five feet and seven inches tall, weighs about 138 pounds. He has medium length brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a green t-shirt, a light colored plaid shirt, and white sneakers."
Searchers will continue until 7 p.m. tonight and continue the search in the morning.
Shuman-Moore's parents have been notified.
Updated Tuesday 9/26 at 2:29 p.m.
Paul Shuman-Moore '09 was reported missing at 10:25 p.m. last night. His friends, Security, and police are searching for Shuman-Moore. Here's some information about Paul and the search. (Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge, but will be updated as more facts come in. Keep checking back.)
• The sighting of Shuman-Moore at the Kum 'n' Go getting into a grey van, as previously reported, is considered a dead lead.
• He last ate in the dining hall Sunday lunch.
• His bike is still here. We previously reported that his guitar and amp were missing, which was incorrect—all of his instruments and his computer are still here
• The last confirmed student sighting of Shuman-Moore was 1:23 a.m. on Monday morning
• Local police, fire, sheriff's officials, college staff and volunteers have all been mobilized to search for Shuman-Moore. The local Community Emergency Response Team has also been activated. KGRN is broadcasting the news.
Shuman-Moore is known for taking long walks out of town. Security is looking for anyone who saw Shuman-Moore on Monday, as he did not come back to his room Sunday night either.
Contact Security (641-269-4600) with any information about Shuman-Moore's whereabouts.
Security is forming a search party. Contact them (x4600) if interested in joining the party, or stop by the Security office at 1432 East Street. A tent has been set up, and volunteers can get orientation, supplies, radios and refreshments there.
Updates coming periodically.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Musings on Political Reporting
For any newspaper, reporting on politics is a tricky business. How does a news article (or series thereof) stay objective in an environment where every fact is spun? This is more than just equal time. As our politically-involved Editor-in-Chief Ben Weyl argues, equal time can be unfair when the facts clearly favor one position. But our own biases color what we see as facts. And Grinnell is a very liberal campus, where many people take for granted some facts that others dispute.
The S&B is not a partisan newspaper. Our editorial coverage will take positions, and if we do endorsements will probably endorse all Democrats. (As News Editor supervising our coverage of local political races, I'll abstain from editorial decisions and debates about political races to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.) Further, the issues that we choose to cover—issues like gender, sex, racial justice, poverty, and social action, to name a few—betray our implicit biases. A politically conservative reader looking through an S&B could with complete justification pick out ways in which we make value judgements based on what we cover and the tone we take in our stories. But we're a campus newspaper, and we'll cover campus issues, which tend to be liberal. We're not going to change to try to impose a false political balance on this campus. We do need to acknowledge where we're coming from, though.
My number one concern in editing political stories is to get past those implicit biases and deliver news in as objective a way as possible. I work with our writers, drawn from the same overwhelmingly liberal student body as I am, to parse sentence by sentence and eliminate statements that display bias.
An example:
In our first piece of political coverage this year, we did a breakdown of the positions of the two candidates for the Iowa House of Representatives in our district. Our writers sat down with Danny Carroll, the Republican incumbent, and Eric Palmer, his Democratic challenger, and got them to explain what they believed and what they'd do if voters sent them to Des Moines.
This particular election is a rematch from two years ago, when Carroll barely one. That election touched directly on Grinnell College, because of a mailing from the Iowa Republican Party in support of Carroll that attacked Grinnell students' voting in Iowa. The mailing also used images of Sens. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY) to describe the campus as "1000 East Coast liberals." In the aftermath of that mailing, Carroll apologized for the portrait of Grinnell's overwhelmingly midwestern student body but insisted that he wasn't involved in that mailing.
Now, that's the background. The question that I as an editor (and other editors I consulted about this) faced was, to what degree is this a relevant piece of information for an article about THIS election? We came to several conclusions:
• With the same two candidates running this year as last election, their previous matchup is important to provide context for the half of our student body who weren't around in 2004.
• As a campus newspaper, the mailing is still relevant because the issue of out-of-state students voting in their college town is still contentious. It's a way that the election directly touches the Grinnell student body.
• To touch on the mailing without context would be unfair to Carroll. By presenting it as a "Republicans vs. Grinnell College students" issue, the carefully laid out policy positions elsewhere in the article would be meaningless. It would make voting a personal matter for students who felt threatened as political actors by Carroll. (That's not to say that students should or shouldn't take the mailing personally. It's just not our job as newspaper to incite opinions either way.)
• Placement matters. We debated whether the mention of the mailing should go at the top of the article or at the bottom. On one hand, the mailing was a subsidiary issue to what we hoped to do in the article (explain policy positions), and should therefore be placed at the end of the article. On the other hand, it's bad writing to introduce the election, explain the candidates positions on the issues, and then say "Oh by the way" and bring in the election from 2004. Still, to put the mailing at the top of the article would privilige it over the here-and-now facts.
The decision we made was to run it at the top of the article, after the basic framing of the case and immediately before we launched into the issues. We expanded the one paragraph dealing with the article in the initial draft into two, placing it in a "horse race" context: yes, the Republicans are opposed to all these liberal college students voting in Grinnell, because it's a political threat to them. The Democrats, on the other hand, try very hard to encourage college students to vote in Grinnell because they see political advantage in it. Many students may still take that personally, but our presentation of it was in neutral terms as each party trying to maximize their share of the vote.
A long way to go
Obviously, our political reporting isn't very sophisticated yet. We make mistakes. I let phrases and quote selections slip through that favor the Democrats. And absolute objectivity is impossible. All we can do is constantly be aware of our biases and try to adapt to them.
It's a great thrill to be able to have the opportunity to cover political races as a college newspaper. Local politicians of both parties are very obliging in taking time out to sit down with reporters from a newspaper that covers around 2,500 readers who've likely already made up their minds as to which side they'll vote for. We understand that, and hope to simply inform those readers as best we can about issues that affect them as students and citizens.
Comments are welcome.
The S&B is not a partisan newspaper. Our editorial coverage will take positions, and if we do endorsements will probably endorse all Democrats. (As News Editor supervising our coverage of local political races, I'll abstain from editorial decisions and debates about political races to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.) Further, the issues that we choose to cover—issues like gender, sex, racial justice, poverty, and social action, to name a few—betray our implicit biases. A politically conservative reader looking through an S&B could with complete justification pick out ways in which we make value judgements based on what we cover and the tone we take in our stories. But we're a campus newspaper, and we'll cover campus issues, which tend to be liberal. We're not going to change to try to impose a false political balance on this campus. We do need to acknowledge where we're coming from, though.
My number one concern in editing political stories is to get past those implicit biases and deliver news in as objective a way as possible. I work with our writers, drawn from the same overwhelmingly liberal student body as I am, to parse sentence by sentence and eliminate statements that display bias.
An example:
In our first piece of political coverage this year, we did a breakdown of the positions of the two candidates for the Iowa House of Representatives in our district. Our writers sat down with Danny Carroll, the Republican incumbent, and Eric Palmer, his Democratic challenger, and got them to explain what they believed and what they'd do if voters sent them to Des Moines.
This particular election is a rematch from two years ago, when Carroll barely one. That election touched directly on Grinnell College, because of a mailing from the Iowa Republican Party in support of Carroll that attacked Grinnell students' voting in Iowa. The mailing also used images of Sens. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY) to describe the campus as "1000 East Coast liberals." In the aftermath of that mailing, Carroll apologized for the portrait of Grinnell's overwhelmingly midwestern student body but insisted that he wasn't involved in that mailing.
Now, that's the background. The question that I as an editor (and other editors I consulted about this) faced was, to what degree is this a relevant piece of information for an article about THIS election? We came to several conclusions:
• With the same two candidates running this year as last election, their previous matchup is important to provide context for the half of our student body who weren't around in 2004.
• As a campus newspaper, the mailing is still relevant because the issue of out-of-state students voting in their college town is still contentious. It's a way that the election directly touches the Grinnell student body.
• To touch on the mailing without context would be unfair to Carroll. By presenting it as a "Republicans vs. Grinnell College students" issue, the carefully laid out policy positions elsewhere in the article would be meaningless. It would make voting a personal matter for students who felt threatened as political actors by Carroll. (That's not to say that students should or shouldn't take the mailing personally. It's just not our job as newspaper to incite opinions either way.)
• Placement matters. We debated whether the mention of the mailing should go at the top of the article or at the bottom. On one hand, the mailing was a subsidiary issue to what we hoped to do in the article (explain policy positions), and should therefore be placed at the end of the article. On the other hand, it's bad writing to introduce the election, explain the candidates positions on the issues, and then say "Oh by the way" and bring in the election from 2004. Still, to put the mailing at the top of the article would privilige it over the here-and-now facts.
The decision we made was to run it at the top of the article, after the basic framing of the case and immediately before we launched into the issues. We expanded the one paragraph dealing with the article in the initial draft into two, placing it in a "horse race" context: yes, the Republicans are opposed to all these liberal college students voting in Grinnell, because it's a political threat to them. The Democrats, on the other hand, try very hard to encourage college students to vote in Grinnell because they see political advantage in it. Many students may still take that personally, but our presentation of it was in neutral terms as each party trying to maximize their share of the vote.
A long way to go
Obviously, our political reporting isn't very sophisticated yet. We make mistakes. I let phrases and quote selections slip through that favor the Democrats. And absolute objectivity is impossible. All we can do is constantly be aware of our biases and try to adapt to them.
It's a great thrill to be able to have the opportunity to cover political races as a college newspaper. Local politicians of both parties are very obliging in taking time out to sit down with reporters from a newspaper that covers around 2,500 readers who've likely already made up their minds as to which side they'll vote for. We understand that, and hope to simply inform those readers as best we can about issues that affect them as students and citizens.
Comments are welcome.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Another Great Issue
Hello faithful readers of the S&Blog,
Wanted to let you know that our first three issues are all now online and remind you that our latest issue is hot off the presses and located conveniently, as always, in Crady Mail Services (ie the post office).
This issue is jam-packed with goodness. And when I say jam-packed, I mean it. Normally we put out a 12 page newspaper, but we had so much content this week that we bumped it up to 16. So enjoy those four extra pages, no extra charge.
Here's a quick run-down of this week's paper:
In News, we say goodbye to Pip Gordon and Eric Stabb, while welcoming Rabbi Daveen Litwin and Pepsi-Cola. Also in News, you'll find some strong political reporting of the recent Harkin Steak Fry, as well as a pair of article son the campus center, specifically on Out Takes (first reported right here) and the possible pub-holding basement.
Arts gives us a nice look at the sketchy alums, er, 9th semester art interns, as well as returning Grinnellian John Chavez '05 who will be playing on Sunday with his band, The Punks. Also in Arts: movie reviews, how to download music at Grinnell, the a cappella scene, and a really, really good Review Corner piece by English Prof Khanh Ho. Definitely check that one out.
Features boasts the first double-truck (two page spread in middle of paper) of the year with a fascinating study of safe sex practices on campus. Kudos to writers Amy Levin, David Logan, and Tiffany Au as well as Features Editor Abby Rapoport and Graphics Editor Mark Root-Wiley. These people really worked their asses off on this and it shows. Besides, with quotes like "The worst STD you can get [at Grinnell] is a kid" and "I should use condoms when giving oral sex, but the risk factors are so low and the taste of latex sucks" you know you are in for a great piece. (What can I say, sex sells.) Features also has an interesting piece on the divide between international and domestic students. This is a really important issue that not enough people seem to think about. A Day in the Life of the always adorable Emma Lawler rounds up the Features section.
We finally received some Letters to the Editor (on the hot topics of Sri Lanka and Israel), so check them out in this week's Opinions section. You can also find a terrific cartoon by Asia Sample. She has produced great stuff every week so far, so let's hope she keeps it up. Also in Opinions are the usual bag of goodies: Sudoku, Snedge, and a nice Overheard quote concerning Al Gore and Lindsay Lohan. But perhaps the best parts -- at least in my opinion -- are the two biweekly columns. Molly Rideout's is bitingly funny and Brendan Mackie's is thoughtful as always. With those two, plus Lindsay Dennis' humor and Sheahan Virgin's political musings, in addition to Leigh Kunkel's blog-sclusive column, I think I can say with some confidence that we have the best S&B columnists in years.
Sports sports articles on the male and female cross-country teams, just coming off a huge victory, which made front page news of last week's S&B. We've also got a couple of great stories on the women's tennis and men's soccer teams, who after a somewhat rocky start, have really kicked their games up a notch. Also included is an article on the football team's loss. While offense seems to be doing alright, defense seems to be "one step off" according to one player.
Finally, the Back Page (the best thing since the front page) rocks out with probably it's finest showing since its debut two weeks ago. Photo of the week goes to Calvin Heiling for his picture of students flying on the homemade swing that was mysteriously cut-down. Arbitrary Analysis gives thumbs up to the NOJO, thumbs down to the hockey mask assailants, and a half-and-half to Outtakes. A hilarious blast from the past from Freeda Brook, plus some rants, and an excerpt from Paul Kramer's comment from the S&Blog.
To be honest, this post went a little longer than I intended. I'll make it shorter next time. And sorry for all that gushing (don't I sound like a proud parent), but I think if you read this week's issue, you'll know why the title of this post is "Another Great Issue."
Happy Friday!
Wanted to let you know that our first three issues are all now online and remind you that our latest issue is hot off the presses and located conveniently, as always, in Crady Mail Services (ie the post office).
This issue is jam-packed with goodness. And when I say jam-packed, I mean it. Normally we put out a 12 page newspaper, but we had so much content this week that we bumped it up to 16. So enjoy those four extra pages, no extra charge.
Here's a quick run-down of this week's paper:
In News, we say goodbye to Pip Gordon and Eric Stabb, while welcoming Rabbi Daveen Litwin and Pepsi-Cola. Also in News, you'll find some strong political reporting of the recent Harkin Steak Fry, as well as a pair of article son the campus center, specifically on Out Takes (first reported right here) and the possible pub-holding basement.
Arts gives us a nice look at the sketchy alums, er, 9th semester art interns, as well as returning Grinnellian John Chavez '05 who will be playing on Sunday with his band, The Punks. Also in Arts: movie reviews, how to download music at Grinnell, the a cappella scene, and a really, really good Review Corner piece by English Prof Khanh Ho. Definitely check that one out.
Features boasts the first double-truck (two page spread in middle of paper) of the year with a fascinating study of safe sex practices on campus. Kudos to writers Amy Levin, David Logan, and Tiffany Au as well as Features Editor Abby Rapoport and Graphics Editor Mark Root-Wiley. These people really worked their asses off on this and it shows. Besides, with quotes like "The worst STD you can get [at Grinnell] is a kid" and "I should use condoms when giving oral sex, but the risk factors are so low and the taste of latex sucks" you know you are in for a great piece. (What can I say, sex sells.) Features also has an interesting piece on the divide between international and domestic students. This is a really important issue that not enough people seem to think about. A Day in the Life of the always adorable Emma Lawler rounds up the Features section.
We finally received some Letters to the Editor (on the hot topics of Sri Lanka and Israel), so check them out in this week's Opinions section. You can also find a terrific cartoon by Asia Sample. She has produced great stuff every week so far, so let's hope she keeps it up. Also in Opinions are the usual bag of goodies: Sudoku, Snedge, and a nice Overheard quote concerning Al Gore and Lindsay Lohan. But perhaps the best parts -- at least in my opinion -- are the two biweekly columns. Molly Rideout's is bitingly funny and Brendan Mackie's is thoughtful as always. With those two, plus Lindsay Dennis' humor and Sheahan Virgin's political musings, in addition to Leigh Kunkel's blog-sclusive column, I think I can say with some confidence that we have the best S&B columnists in years.
Sports sports articles on the male and female cross-country teams, just coming off a huge victory, which made front page news of last week's S&B. We've also got a couple of great stories on the women's tennis and men's soccer teams, who after a somewhat rocky start, have really kicked their games up a notch. Also included is an article on the football team's loss. While offense seems to be doing alright, defense seems to be "one step off" according to one player.
Finally, the Back Page (the best thing since the front page) rocks out with probably it's finest showing since its debut two weeks ago. Photo of the week goes to Calvin Heiling for his picture of students flying on the homemade swing that was mysteriously cut-down. Arbitrary Analysis gives thumbs up to the NOJO, thumbs down to the hockey mask assailants, and a half-and-half to Outtakes. A hilarious blast from the past from Freeda Brook, plus some rants, and an excerpt from Paul Kramer's comment from the S&Blog.
To be honest, this post went a little longer than I intended. I'll make it shorter next time. And sorry for all that gushing (don't I sound like a proud parent), but I think if you read this week's issue, you'll know why the title of this post is "Another Great Issue."
Happy Friday!
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Breaking News: Dining Changes
Following student input, several key changes have been made to Dining Services.
• The lunch hours for Out Takes have been extended until 12:30 p.m. on weekdays. Hours had originally been curtailed away from peak hours because Out Takes is located in the Grille and Dining did not to overcrowd the facilities. For more information about Out Takes, see this week's S&B on Friday.
• Dining employees will no longer search students on the way out of the dining hall. Students are allowed to take small items such as fruit and ice cream out with them. In addition to student complaints, this issue was raised prominently by a parent during the State of the College address last Saturday, in which Vice President for College Services John Kalkbrenner admitted that enforcement had been "overzealous."
• The lunch hours for Out Takes have been extended until 12:30 p.m. on weekdays. Hours had originally been curtailed away from peak hours because Out Takes is located in the Grille and Dining did not to overcrowd the facilities. For more information about Out Takes, see this week's S&B on Friday.
• Dining employees will no longer search students on the way out of the dining hall. Students are allowed to take small items such as fruit and ice cream out with them. In addition to student complaints, this issue was raised prominently by a parent during the State of the College address last Saturday, in which Vice President for College Services John Kalkbrenner admitted that enforcement had been "overzealous."
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Extended interview with Steve Clemons
Steve Clemons is the author of The Washington Note, a foreign policy blog. He was also the New America Foundation's former executive vice president and is now a fellow there. The S&B met with him at Prairie Lights bookstore in Iowa City on Sept. 11. What follows is an expanded—though edited—transcript of the interview led by staff writer Brendan Mackie. The original article ran in the Sept. 15 issue of the S&B.
How did you get involved in blogging?
The Washington Note is an effort to carve out a space for deliberative thinking and discourse about serious national security foreign policy issues that struggles with the unique problems of our times. If you look at these times as a hinge-point in history, a moment of discontinuity where what we're going to be doing in the future is likely very different from what we've done in the past—how we change our institutions and thought in response to this change requires serious deliberation. I'd been at a think-tank for years. I helped build and create the New America Foundation. But I needed a blog to find my voice and I needed to find out what I thought, if that makes sense.
I'm not trying to reach broader America. If they wander through my blog, great. But I write a wonky, clonky blog. I'm aiming at much more of an elite audience. I have probably one of the best readerships among senior journalists, politicians and people in government. I'm trying to influence them.
What can young Americans do to get involved in policy work?
I don't want to give you a cornball answer and say you have to be engaged and write letters to your congressmen. If you want to make a difference in the things that matter you have to learn how to think, how to communicate and how to lead. To become a public intellectual—somebody who's not an intellectual, but an activist who's aware of what the political currents are—you have to be able to add value to what you talk about beyond what that subject is.
What news stories are we not reading, that we probably should?
The struggle over John Bolton [America's ambassador to the U.N.] is a big game of symbolic politics over what kind of character U.S. foreign policy is going to take in the future. Whether we're going to have revived and legitimated this pugnacious nationalistic fortresses mentality, or whether we're going to have a more enlightened one.
There's a battle over Rule of Law in the Bush administration. There is a vital battle in the administration between David Addington, who's Cheney's chief of staff, and the folks around Condi Rice about whether we should end the secret detentions of terrorists, to end extraordinary rendition, to bring the people in who are in the black space in our legal environment into the light. And the president's speech last Wednesday—while poorly delivered—was an important move essentially ending this black space.
These issues about values are important. America seems to be rejecting modernity. Most of the country gets riled up because they get their nerves pushed over gay marriage, stem cell research or education—and they feel threatened. Everybody's now paying homage to these really barbaric anachronistic attitudes and so the Enlightenment is invisibly losing ground. Democrats and moderate Republicans who were products of the Enlightenment and reason haven't figured out how to tell their side of the story yet.
Structural corruption in Washington, like the kind of things that Tom Delay was up to, are important. Just because he's gone doesn't mean that it's over. The problem is that in Washington people don't go after the bad guys. After a certain point Washington becomes a place where no one wants to take risks.
What’s happened to America after the attacks of September 11th, 2001?
A lot of the fault about what happened on 9/11 lies—in my view—in the Clinton era. The Clinton era failed to replace the Cold War brand of thinking with a new brand of thinking that worked. I’m going to be unfair, perhaps, and overstate for this point for effect. I think that the Clinton administration’s foreign and economic policy became (for lack of a better term): Whatever was good for the multinational corporation was good for America. There was a kind of a spiritual vacuum in that way of thinking. There wasn’t much pride of place, there wasn’t much aspiration. We deluded ourselves in thinking that all this new IT infrastructure would automatically create more global opportunity, automatically create more wealth, but it’s just not like that. We deluded ourselves much like Bush is deluding himself now about the success in Iraq.
It’s really interesting to me how the Bush administration came in as Republicans and essentially retracted the ‘What’s good for multinationals is good for America’ strategy. Most people look at the Republicans as representing big corporate America. But they don’t really act that way if you’re honest about it. They’ve shaken up the international system in ways that aren’t good for globalization – you don’t have people and ideas, business and money moving across borders like you once did. The globalization after 9/11 is messier, the borders are thicker.
I think to some degree we became different as a society after 9/11. We’ve been trying to sort out who and what we are and I think we’re very uncomfortable. There’s a pugnacious nationalism that got awakened by 9/11. It’s outraged, very xenophobic and jingoistic, and is politically powerful. This nationalism has started to fill the spiritual vacuum Clinton left with some reason and rationale for a sort of new American triumphalist nationalism. Those of us who are on the more Enlightenment side – those of us who see ourselves as part of the Northeastern political establishment whether we live in Iowa or in California – are struggling to understand how this came to be. Part of it is our own failings as a country to get everybody on the same page before. We were deluded thinking that the IT world was this equalizer. It never was. 9/11 more than anything exposed our own internal weaknesses, which have come back to bite us.
What do you think we should do about Iraq?
I think it’s horrible either way. We’re either in a slow bleed situation if we stay, or if we leave we’re in a situation where great harm will be done to a lot of people. But I think at the end of the day you can set a date for departing Iraq that becomes a wake-up call for everyone else in the region, particularly Arab states and Europe, which basically says: “We’re leaving, guys. You’ll be dealing with the million people who leave Iraq when there’s a bloody civil war, you’re going to deal with the Shia/Sunni regional conflagration as the Jordanians and the Syrians and others rush in to protect their Sunni brethren from being wiped out by the Shia as we leave.” At the end of the day I think [former Secretary of State under President Carter Zbigniew] Brzezinski is right, the Sheiks and warlords that sit on top of these militias and movements and tribes need to look into the abyss of how awful it really could be if there was a full-scale civil war and do a deal. As long as we’re there buffering that deal from being able to take place then these other key players won’t be responsible for the vision of stabilizing Iraq. The only way that we can end the civil war is for leaders on both sides to say that the option of a full-scale civil war is so horrible they would have to make a deal to stop it. Such a full-scale civil war wouldn’t stay internal to Iraq, it would involve all the nations in the region, and they would tear themselves apart. The rest of the world would simply put a big sandbag around the region and wait for them to kill each other. But you’ll see massive migration, massive dysfunction and a humanitarian crisis that we haven’t seen in that part of the world for thousands of years as a result.
How did you get involved in blogging?
The Washington Note is an effort to carve out a space for deliberative thinking and discourse about serious national security foreign policy issues that struggles with the unique problems of our times. If you look at these times as a hinge-point in history, a moment of discontinuity where what we're going to be doing in the future is likely very different from what we've done in the past—how we change our institutions and thought in response to this change requires serious deliberation. I'd been at a think-tank for years. I helped build and create the New America Foundation. But I needed a blog to find my voice and I needed to find out what I thought, if that makes sense.
I'm not trying to reach broader America. If they wander through my blog, great. But I write a wonky, clonky blog. I'm aiming at much more of an elite audience. I have probably one of the best readerships among senior journalists, politicians and people in government. I'm trying to influence them.
What can young Americans do to get involved in policy work?
I don't want to give you a cornball answer and say you have to be engaged and write letters to your congressmen. If you want to make a difference in the things that matter you have to learn how to think, how to communicate and how to lead. To become a public intellectual—somebody who's not an intellectual, but an activist who's aware of what the political currents are—you have to be able to add value to what you talk about beyond what that subject is.
What news stories are we not reading, that we probably should?
The struggle over John Bolton [America's ambassador to the U.N.] is a big game of symbolic politics over what kind of character U.S. foreign policy is going to take in the future. Whether we're going to have revived and legitimated this pugnacious nationalistic fortresses mentality, or whether we're going to have a more enlightened one.
There's a battle over Rule of Law in the Bush administration. There is a vital battle in the administration between David Addington, who's Cheney's chief of staff, and the folks around Condi Rice about whether we should end the secret detentions of terrorists, to end extraordinary rendition, to bring the people in who are in the black space in our legal environment into the light. And the president's speech last Wednesday—while poorly delivered—was an important move essentially ending this black space.
These issues about values are important. America seems to be rejecting modernity. Most of the country gets riled up because they get their nerves pushed over gay marriage, stem cell research or education—and they feel threatened. Everybody's now paying homage to these really barbaric anachronistic attitudes and so the Enlightenment is invisibly losing ground. Democrats and moderate Republicans who were products of the Enlightenment and reason haven't figured out how to tell their side of the story yet.
Structural corruption in Washington, like the kind of things that Tom Delay was up to, are important. Just because he's gone doesn't mean that it's over. The problem is that in Washington people don't go after the bad guys. After a certain point Washington becomes a place where no one wants to take risks.
What’s happened to America after the attacks of September 11th, 2001?
A lot of the fault about what happened on 9/11 lies—in my view—in the Clinton era. The Clinton era failed to replace the Cold War brand of thinking with a new brand of thinking that worked. I’m going to be unfair, perhaps, and overstate for this point for effect. I think that the Clinton administration’s foreign and economic policy became (for lack of a better term): Whatever was good for the multinational corporation was good for America. There was a kind of a spiritual vacuum in that way of thinking. There wasn’t much pride of place, there wasn’t much aspiration. We deluded ourselves in thinking that all this new IT infrastructure would automatically create more global opportunity, automatically create more wealth, but it’s just not like that. We deluded ourselves much like Bush is deluding himself now about the success in Iraq.
It’s really interesting to me how the Bush administration came in as Republicans and essentially retracted the ‘What’s good for multinationals is good for America’ strategy. Most people look at the Republicans as representing big corporate America. But they don’t really act that way if you’re honest about it. They’ve shaken up the international system in ways that aren’t good for globalization – you don’t have people and ideas, business and money moving across borders like you once did. The globalization after 9/11 is messier, the borders are thicker.
I think to some degree we became different as a society after 9/11. We’ve been trying to sort out who and what we are and I think we’re very uncomfortable. There’s a pugnacious nationalism that got awakened by 9/11. It’s outraged, very xenophobic and jingoistic, and is politically powerful. This nationalism has started to fill the spiritual vacuum Clinton left with some reason and rationale for a sort of new American triumphalist nationalism. Those of us who are on the more Enlightenment side – those of us who see ourselves as part of the Northeastern political establishment whether we live in Iowa or in California – are struggling to understand how this came to be. Part of it is our own failings as a country to get everybody on the same page before. We were deluded thinking that the IT world was this equalizer. It never was. 9/11 more than anything exposed our own internal weaknesses, which have come back to bite us.
What do you think we should do about Iraq?
I think it’s horrible either way. We’re either in a slow bleed situation if we stay, or if we leave we’re in a situation where great harm will be done to a lot of people. But I think at the end of the day you can set a date for departing Iraq that becomes a wake-up call for everyone else in the region, particularly Arab states and Europe, which basically says: “We’re leaving, guys. You’ll be dealing with the million people who leave Iraq when there’s a bloody civil war, you’re going to deal with the Shia/Sunni regional conflagration as the Jordanians and the Syrians and others rush in to protect their Sunni brethren from being wiped out by the Shia as we leave.” At the end of the day I think [former Secretary of State under President Carter Zbigniew] Brzezinski is right, the Sheiks and warlords that sit on top of these militias and movements and tribes need to look into the abyss of how awful it really could be if there was a full-scale civil war and do a deal. As long as we’re there buffering that deal from being able to take place then these other key players won’t be responsible for the vision of stabilizing Iraq. The only way that we can end the civil war is for leaders on both sides to say that the option of a full-scale civil war is so horrible they would have to make a deal to stop it. Such a full-scale civil war wouldn’t stay internal to Iraq, it would involve all the nations in the region, and they would tear themselves apart. The rest of the world would simply put a big sandbag around the region and wait for them to kill each other. But you’ll see massive migration, massive dysfunction and a humanitarian crisis that we haven’t seen in that part of the world for thousands of years as a result.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Commenting
The S&Blog is off to a terrific start and Leigh's column in particular seems to be generating some great discussion. One suggestion: don't comment anonymously.
Yes, the internet has a great memory and once you write something on it, it is there forever. But that shouldn't stop you from attaching your name to innocuous comments like, "I concur." It's great that people have opinions but they should also feel confident enough to own them. Furthermore, people should know that every comment is vetted and confirmed by the S&B. Deliberately hurtful or nasty comments won't get published, anonymously or not.
Finally, though this is on the world wide web, remember that it is still a Grinnell entity. Kudos to Renata Sancken and kramerpa for their additions to the Grinnell dialogue, because that's what this is. Like letters to the editor or random rants, this is a great way to talk back to the S&B and to Grinnell College as a whole. Exceptional comments, in fact, will be published in the print edition of the S&B, and we are much more disposed to publishing something with a name attached to it.
Thanks for reading and we look forward to some great commenting ahead.
Yes, the internet has a great memory and once you write something on it, it is there forever. But that shouldn't stop you from attaching your name to innocuous comments like, "I concur." It's great that people have opinions but they should also feel confident enough to own them. Furthermore, people should know that every comment is vetted and confirmed by the S&B. Deliberately hurtful or nasty comments won't get published, anonymously or not.
Finally, though this is on the world wide web, remember that it is still a Grinnell entity. Kudos to Renata Sancken and kramerpa for their additions to the Grinnell dialogue, because that's what this is. Like letters to the editor or random rants, this is a great way to talk back to the S&B and to Grinnell College as a whole. Exceptional comments, in fact, will be published in the print edition of the S&B, and we are much more disposed to publishing something with a name attached to it.
Thanks for reading and we look forward to some great commenting ahead.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Cut to the Quick
We are proud to introduce "Cut to the Quick," a biweekly column, exclusive to The S&Blog, written by Leigh Kunkel '09.Confessions of a Grammar-phile
I'll be the first to admit it: I'm a grammar-phile. It drives me crazy when people substitute "your" for "you're," or put apostrophes after everything, or overuse the semicolon. This isn't to say I've never sinned. I once wrote an entire paper putting an apostrophe after the word "theirs." However, there is nothing worse than the abuse-or use at all-of the exclamation point.
The exclamation point is, possibly, the most unnecessary grammatical mark ever invented. I suppose that technically it serves a purpose, (that being the indication of excitement) but any sort of decent writer should be able to select words that convey the same level of enthusiasm without the use of that awful thing.
Whereas the exclamation point was once used sparingly, and usually only to indicate great distress or urgency, it has become the grammatical equivalent of Tara Reid: completely overexposed. Take, for example, this actual conversation I have copied from a friend’s recent online chat:
Girl #1: THANKS FOR BEIN SUCH A SPORT AND TAKING THE SMALL ROOM!!! LOVE YA AND U CAN SLEEP IN MY BIG BED ANY TIME INSTEAD OF UR CRIB!!!
Girl #2: someone was a huge facebook whore recently...
Girl #1: yeah well thats what lots of free time will do to u since i haven’t seen u all week!!!!!!!!!!! by the way love the pic!! haha i am putting mine up soon as i get my laptop backkkkk omggg
No, I did not make that up. Even ignoring the all caps, the spelling errors, and the use of "u" instead of "you," those exclamation points weren't necessary. Girl #1 could have expressed herself just as well without these things. For example:
Girl #1: Thanks for being such a sport and taking the smaller room. I really appreciate it. I love you so much, and of course you can sleep in my big bed any time instead of your tiny crib.
Girl #2: You've been spending way too much time online lately.
Girl #1: Well, that’s what happens when you have so much free time. I can't believe I haven’t seen you all week. I love your pictures, by the way. I'll put mine up as soon as I get my laptop back.
Now, the second version may not have the same kind of maniacal enthusiasm, but the message gets across. An exclamation point is a crutch. People use it when they aren’t confident that what they've written will suffice. Exclamation marks indicate a lack of confidence on behalf of the writer, which is the last thing you want to do when you’re trying to make a point.
Exclamation points, therefore, should never, ever be used in formal writing. Even in casual writing, like e-mails, the exclamation point should still be used sparingly. When I read something like the passage above, all I can think about is that I'd gladly accept any punishment I received for duct-taping those girls' mouths shut rather than listen to them talk.
I don't pretend to have never used an exclamation point. I have. But I've never felt good about it in the morning.
Corrections
No one is perfect, not even the S&B (we know, shocking). In this week's issue, we made two mistakes that we would like to correct.
On Page 4, in the Features Section, we inadvertently switched the profiles of two of our new RLCs. Brad Menard of Smounker fame is from Oxford, New York. He received his masters at Iowa State. CND RLC Jennifer Bieniek is from Fergus Falls, Minnesota. It is she who thinks college students are the best population on Earth.
And on Page 10, in Sports, we erroneously reported that Courtney Smith '09 is missing this weekend's volleyball match due to academic probation. Quite the contrary; she has been on the Dean's List since she got to Grinnell and is missing the match because of an important biology lab that she couldn't miss. That makes a bit more sense, doesn't it.
We truly regret these errors and we are very sorry for any pain this has caused. We will print corrections in next week's edition.
On Page 4, in the Features Section, we inadvertently switched the profiles of two of our new RLCs. Brad Menard of Smounker fame is from Oxford, New York. He received his masters at Iowa State. CND RLC Jennifer Bieniek is from Fergus Falls, Minnesota. It is she who thinks college students are the best population on Earth.
And on Page 10, in Sports, we erroneously reported that Courtney Smith '09 is missing this weekend's volleyball match due to academic probation. Quite the contrary; she has been on the Dean's List since she got to Grinnell and is missing the match because of an important biology lab that she couldn't miss. That makes a bit more sense, doesn't it.
We truly regret these errors and we are very sorry for any pain this has caused. We will print corrections in next week's edition.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Extended interview with Funkadesi
Q&A with the musical group Funkadesi appeared in the September 15 issue of the S&B. Below is the full article and interview by Rebecca Park and Bethany Prosseda.Wonderfully bold and refreshing, Funkadesi offers music that is colorful, fun and straight-up funky. Funkadesi incorporates the musical tastes of every member of its 10-person band. The upbeat, reggae-type band manages to draw on the diversity of its members to create smooth and distinct masterpieces. With flavors of Indian-American, Jamaican, African-American, European-American and Latino music, it is no surprise that the Grinnell Multicultural Alliance (GMA) picked this unique and stylistically versatile band to perform for the New Orleans benefit concert at Harris Concert Hall this weekend. The event is free and non-alcoholic, and GMA will collect donations for relief organizations.
According to Leslie Turner ’07, GMA co-leader, the group chose to invite Funkadesi because of the band’s dedication to New Orleans relief. “The band is very socially aware,” she said. She also cited the band’s diversity. “Funkadesi plays a little bit of everything,” she said. “We're trying not to exclude people.”
Q&A with Rahul Sharma (bass guitar, sitar, tabla, acoustic guitar, and vocal bols).
How would you describe your music to an unfamiliar listener?
To those who aren't familiar with our music, I would describe it as the typical garage band. No, I'm joking. But it is the American garage band of the 21st century, with people and sounds from all over the world. The music is best described as East Indian music fused with reggae, funk, and Afro-Caribbean groove.
How did the band get started?
The idea started almost ten years ago when I was in college at the University of Michigan. I went through my Alex Haley period, becoming interested in my cultural heritage. I'm of Punjabe descent, but my parents were born and raised in Kenya. About a hundred years ago Indian families migrated to that area to work on railroads for the British. That's my heritage, but I was raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan. When I was in the Indian Cultural Show in 1992 I had the opportunity to try out a song featuring that kind of music and I had a phenomenal response. Ever since, I've had Funkadesi on my mind. But it wasn't until I was in Chicago getting my doctorate in Clinical Psychology in December 1996 that I met the right people.
Your music is an eclectic mix of various genres. How do you combine these diverse influences into a coherent sound?
A couple of things-Indian folk rhythms, especially Punjabi folk rhythms, go really well, hand-in-hand with reggae, and I think that helps. We started out sounding pretty together, but by spending time together, playing together, and hanging out together we've found our sound, the pocket, when the drummer and bass player are playing in sync, tight. We found a really good pocket together; we found one where we're not sacrificing each other's cultural heritage. So three things: the music blends well, the people spend time together, and I don't really know-we're really always trying to deepen our sound.
What do you think of current trends in world music?
I love it. I think it's needed, and it needs to be mainstream-not the music, but the interest and appreciation for it. I think that's happening and that's cool.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your musical career?
Absolutely and by far, being able to get as close to these other people in the band. Because of the music, we get this family, this trans-Atlantic family. If it wasn't for the music, I wouldn't have this opportunity.
Welcome
Welcome to The S&Blog, the official weblog of The Scarlet & Black, Grinnell College's student newspaper. For years, we have been telling Grinnell's stories in print. Having entered the 21st century, we figured it was time to get a blog.
Too often news breaks on a Friday and we have to wait a week before we can report those stories. Sometimes we're scooped by Plans; other times false rumors run wild, when a quick phone call to Tom Crady could have the situation cleared up in no time. Our blog will be a way to report on stories as they develop, as well as focus on issues that may not have room in the print edition. The blog will also be a great way to further open the lines of communication with our readers, allowing you to comment on stories and offer feedback.
Keep an eye out for news analysis, original reporting, a bi-weekly opinion column, and much more.
Enjoy!
Ben Weyl and Caitlin Carmody
Editors-in-Chief
Too often news breaks on a Friday and we have to wait a week before we can report those stories. Sometimes we're scooped by Plans; other times false rumors run wild, when a quick phone call to Tom Crady could have the situation cleared up in no time. Our blog will be a way to report on stories as they develop, as well as focus on issues that may not have room in the print edition. The blog will also be a great way to further open the lines of communication with our readers, allowing you to comment on stories and offer feedback.
Keep an eye out for news analysis, original reporting, a bi-weekly opinion column, and much more.
Enjoy!
Ben Weyl and Caitlin Carmody
Editors-in-Chief
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