By Chloe Moryl
As seven mud-covered Grinnellians crossed the finish line on Nov. 18, they came to the end of an unprecedented season. The women’s cross country team had sealed Grinnell’s place in history as the first team in the Midwest Conference to win an NCAA Regional title a week earlier, and their seventh-place finish at the NCAA Division III National Championships established the program as one of the best in the country.
This year was the first time Sarah Spencer ’08 and Sara Brady ’07 competed at Nationals, and the two top Pioneer runners earned all-America honors. Spencer came in third place overall with a time of 22:52.00, while Brady came in 35th place with a time of 23:54.00.
Injuries had kept Spencer from competing at a top level in past seasons.
“I think the reason Nationals meant so much to me is because I’ve battled injuries for the past two and a half years, so I didn’t know if I’d be able to get back into running again,” Spencer said. “My biggest goal was to make it to the end of the season and to stay healthy, so to have done that and performed well was something that I didn’t know [would be possible].”
Brady joined the cross country team as a junior, and she has exceeded her own expectations by becoming one of the top runners in the country.
“This kind of represents … the time I’ve put into something, “ Brady said. “And [proves] that hard work really can pay off.”
But the Pioneers’ long hours of hard work couldn’t have prepared the runners for the soggy course in West Chester, Ohio.
“The conditions made it a lot more of an intense experience,” said Spencer. “The race was in a park, and it had rained a lot leading up to the meet. We were running through several inches of mud and water and runners’ feet were getting stuck and their shoes were being pulled off; some people were finishing with only one or no shoes.”
Spencer and Brady were supported by three other Pioneers who finished in the top 100 out of over 250 runners. Katie Ryan ’07 placed 83rd, Allison Louthan ’08 finished 92nd and Becky Bessinger ’09 crossed the finish line 93rd.
Grinnell is expecting to have a strong incoming first-year class next year to build on the team’s recent success, which has included three straight MWC titles.
“I think recruiting has gone well this year for [coach] Evelyn [Freeman],” said Spencer. “How this season went will make the recruiting easier because they will come to her instead of her having to seek them out.”
Although they are losing nine seniors before next season, the team looks forward to continued success.
“We’re losing a couple of the really crucial members of our team,” Spencer said. “But I would love to see the younger runners step up and be able to fill their shoes so we can have another exciting season like this one.”
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Extended Q&A with one-act director Becky Mwase ’07
The S&B sat down with Becky Mwase ’07, director of the one-act play Defusion. The one-acts festival is this Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
What sparked your interest in the play you chose to direct?
I went to this bookstore in Taiwan that had a lot of English-speaking books and I found The Best Short Plays of 2005 and I was like, “Sweet, I can find my one act.” So I read through about four and then got to Defusion, and thought it was amazing and decided that’s what I was going to do, even though I thought Chris [Connelly] might say no because there weren’t stage directions of any kind and no blocking, so basically I would have to come up with everything.
Describe your play.
It’s about a man and a woman. They don’t have names. My play is after the fact. The woman had a boyfriend and she started an e-mail affair with a guy that she’d met three years previously and then went to see him. And they had sex and everything went wrong, so she went home and her boyfriend broke up with her. But the story is being told after all of this has happened and she’s sort of trying to work her way through it.
Did you look for anything in particular during the auditions?
Can you act? I had no preconceived notions about what I needed or wanted. I basically went in and looked for people who I thought listened to direction well and then called those people back and looked at how they interpreted the parts I gave them to read. And I looked at how informed their choices were and how they varied.
Describe your directorial style.
Sexy. (laughs) It depends on what we’re working on. I take notes every run and if I’m working stuff I move around to view things from different angles, and it helps me think when I’m walking. During the actual performance I try not move because it distracts [the actors].
What are the challenges of being a student director?
Never knowing what you’re doing. No, it’s weird because the directing class mainly just consists of reading and discussing articles by other directors. They rarely help me because there are so many divergent views on how you should direct and it’s difficult to sift through that and find your own style and the way that you work the best.
Have you identified with any of the directors that you’ve read in class?
Not really. All of the directors that we read are professional directors and so they’re working with professional actors. They don’t have the issues that we have, such as working around schedule conflicts. You can’t force them [our actors] to do anything, so if they show up late, the most you can do is give them time fines or a stern look. (laughing) You don’t want to yell at them and make them hate you. Every minute that they’re late you can hold them a minute after.
How has your perception of the play changed?
I understand the play much more for what it is rather than what I was trying to make it. I was trying to make it like a love story—she fell in love and then she went [to meet her lover]—but that wasn’t what was happening. Instead, she wanted to have an affair and it blew up in her face. That’s what happens and it’s painful. But there are fun moments in it and I’d been missing those. Now there’s a balance and the stages of her development are more obvious.
Do you plan to continue to work in theatre?
I would like to. I really enjoy directing, surprisingly. There’s something fulfilling about shaping and creating this thing. Initially, the play ran at 17 minutes, and now the actors have truly relaxed and are able to give a more nuanced performance that runs at 21 minutes. So that’s a tangible difference.
What sparked your interest in the play you chose to direct?
I went to this bookstore in Taiwan that had a lot of English-speaking books and I found The Best Short Plays of 2005 and I was like, “Sweet, I can find my one act.” So I read through about four and then got to Defusion, and thought it was amazing and decided that’s what I was going to do, even though I thought Chris [Connelly] might say no because there weren’t stage directions of any kind and no blocking, so basically I would have to come up with everything.
Describe your play.
It’s about a man and a woman. They don’t have names. My play is after the fact. The woman had a boyfriend and she started an e-mail affair with a guy that she’d met three years previously and then went to see him. And they had sex and everything went wrong, so she went home and her boyfriend broke up with her. But the story is being told after all of this has happened and she’s sort of trying to work her way through it.
Did you look for anything in particular during the auditions?
Can you act? I had no preconceived notions about what I needed or wanted. I basically went in and looked for people who I thought listened to direction well and then called those people back and looked at how they interpreted the parts I gave them to read. And I looked at how informed their choices were and how they varied.
Describe your directorial style.
Sexy. (laughs) It depends on what we’re working on. I take notes every run and if I’m working stuff I move around to view things from different angles, and it helps me think when I’m walking. During the actual performance I try not move because it distracts [the actors].
What are the challenges of being a student director?
Never knowing what you’re doing. No, it’s weird because the directing class mainly just consists of reading and discussing articles by other directors. They rarely help me because there are so many divergent views on how you should direct and it’s difficult to sift through that and find your own style and the way that you work the best.
Have you identified with any of the directors that you’ve read in class?
Not really. All of the directors that we read are professional directors and so they’re working with professional actors. They don’t have the issues that we have, such as working around schedule conflicts. You can’t force them [our actors] to do anything, so if they show up late, the most you can do is give them time fines or a stern look. (laughing) You don’t want to yell at them and make them hate you. Every minute that they’re late you can hold them a minute after.
How has your perception of the play changed?
I understand the play much more for what it is rather than what I was trying to make it. I was trying to make it like a love story—she fell in love and then she went [to meet her lover]—but that wasn’t what was happening. Instead, she wanted to have an affair and it blew up in her face. That’s what happens and it’s painful. But there are fun moments in it and I’d been missing those. Now there’s a balance and the stages of her development are more obvious.
Do you plan to continue to work in theatre?
I would like to. I really enjoy directing, surprisingly. There’s something fulfilling about shaping and creating this thing. Initially, the play ran at 17 minutes, and now the actors have truly relaxed and are able to give a more nuanced performance that runs at 21 minutes. So that’s a tangible difference.
Extended Q&A with Grinnell Monologues leaders
The S&B sat down with Amanda Slatus ’07 and Stephanie Rosenbaum ’08, co-leaders of this year’s Grinnell Monologues. The Monologues will be performed tonight at 9 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. in Loose Lounge.
How long have the Grinnell Monologues been going on?
AS: This is the third year.
SR: The idea is based on the Vagina Monologues, but what we did was decided to take the idea of the Vagina Monologues and make it our own. So it’s actually all written by the Grinnellians who are in it.
AS: Grinnell Monologues is a brainchild of Sarah Millhouse, who came to Feminist Action Coalition three years ago and said, “Listen, every year when we do the Vagina Monologues we invite Grinnellians to write their own and we always get fantastic ones. I think we have enough interest to do a show all of our own and not even do Vagina Monologues.” And so she and a few other people, including myself, created the Grinnell Monologues out of Feminist Action Coalition.
So is it still about vaginas?
SR: Some of it. Not all of it.
AS: The subject matter has certainly expanded. We’ve gotten monologues about everything from body image to smelly vaginas to …
SR: Gender identity, sexual orientation, fetishes …
AS: Being awkward …
SR: Dating at Grinnell. Because it’s such an open forum, you get so many different responses to what we aim to talk about.
How many pieces are there?
AS: There are 16, and three choral pieces.
What’s the boy-girl ratio?
AS: This year we have three boys.
What do you think makes this special for Grinnell?
SR: I think a really nice part about it is that it’s a very honest way of expressing how people feel about certain issues that may be more uncomfortable to talk about. So when you have a group of people that are willing to share their own experiences about sex, sexuality, body images, all of these above topics, which are sometimes taboo to talk about, which are sometimes very uncomfortable to talk about, and you have these people that are being very honest about their own experiences, it opens it up for other people to say what they think about it.
AS: For me, it’s really cheesy, but you start off at the beginning of the process with a group of strangers, and by rehearsal week, not only do we know each other’s monologues and each other’s names, but we know each other’s feelings about a variety of things, and we’ve become friends.
How long have the Grinnell Monologues been going on?
AS: This is the third year.
SR: The idea is based on the Vagina Monologues, but what we did was decided to take the idea of the Vagina Monologues and make it our own. So it’s actually all written by the Grinnellians who are in it.
AS: Grinnell Monologues is a brainchild of Sarah Millhouse, who came to Feminist Action Coalition three years ago and said, “Listen, every year when we do the Vagina Monologues we invite Grinnellians to write their own and we always get fantastic ones. I think we have enough interest to do a show all of our own and not even do Vagina Monologues.” And so she and a few other people, including myself, created the Grinnell Monologues out of Feminist Action Coalition.
So is it still about vaginas?
SR: Some of it. Not all of it.
AS: The subject matter has certainly expanded. We’ve gotten monologues about everything from body image to smelly vaginas to …
SR: Gender identity, sexual orientation, fetishes …
AS: Being awkward …
SR: Dating at Grinnell. Because it’s such an open forum, you get so many different responses to what we aim to talk about.
How many pieces are there?
AS: There are 16, and three choral pieces.
What’s the boy-girl ratio?
AS: This year we have three boys.
What do you think makes this special for Grinnell?
SR: I think a really nice part about it is that it’s a very honest way of expressing how people feel about certain issues that may be more uncomfortable to talk about. So when you have a group of people that are willing to share their own experiences about sex, sexuality, body images, all of these above topics, which are sometimes taboo to talk about, which are sometimes very uncomfortable to talk about, and you have these people that are being very honest about their own experiences, it opens it up for other people to say what they think about it.
AS: For me, it’s really cheesy, but you start off at the beginning of the process with a group of strangers, and by rehearsal week, not only do we know each other’s monologues and each other’s names, but we know each other’s feelings about a variety of things, and we’ve become friends.
Thanksgiving in Grinnell
A belated post is better than no post, right?
by Merrick Meyers
This coming Wednesday, most Grinnell students will scatter to their homes or other destinations for Thanksgiving break, the briefest of all Grinnell vacations, returning in time for classes to resume the following Monday. Some Grinnellians, however, will be staying put, enjoying the holiday right here on campus.
Vice President of Student Services Tom Crady estimates the number of students who stay at around thirty percent of the student body. Most of these students simply live too far away from Grinnell for it to make sense to spend time and money returning home for a mere half a week before coming back to campus. Others live nearer by but do not desire to leave, or at least not enough to go through the trouble, preferring to hang out on campus with their fellow students.
Thanksgiving break generally passes without incident, though legends are still told of the break several years in ago during which some students stored a full turkey in the ceiling of a dorm hallway, and then completely forgot about it, not remembering it was there even after the smell of rotting turkey flesh became overpowering. The turkey was not discovered by Facilities Managements until two weeks later.
Many of those remaining on campus are international students, for whom returning home for such a short break is obviously impractical. While some vacation with fellow Grinellians or other American friends, or stay with a host family, a good portion simply stay where they are.
In a few cases, however, there were more somber reasons for staying at Grinnell. Last year, friends of Thomas Alexander '05, who had died in a car accident during Thanksgiving break the previous year, stayed on campus in order to be with one another.
The Thanksgiving and Fall breaks are the only vacations during which all students are allowed to stay in the dorms. Lingering during other breaks requires special permission, which is given to international students and others who require it. Of the two, the campus is significantly more populous during Thanksgiving break, as Fall break is much longer, making it more worthwhile to make travel plans.
At this critical point in the semester, some stay focused on their studies, working on papers and other projects. Others take the time to relax. "It's toward the end of the semester, so there are a lot of projects that people have been working on, so Thanksgiving, people say, 'I'm not gonna worry about it,'" said Jon Ohliger '07. "There's definitely a large amount of time dedicated to just hanging out." Many students select one day to devote to schoolwork, and treat most of the rest of the break like a vacation.
Some partake of dining hall food for their Thanksgiving feast, but the service is limited so that the dining staff can be with their families. Similarly, most alternatives in the town are closed for the holiday, leaving students largely to their own devices. Several Thanksgiving dinners are thrown on campus each year, with at least one open to all comers.
For the most part, these culinary efforts are well-planned and tend to go smoothly, although the residents of DAG House recall with amusement last year's attempt at mashed potatoes gone horribly wrong, which they say went through several color changes before being declared inedible. "None of us knew how to make mashed potatoes," admitted otherwise successful cook Christina Gargiullo '08, "so I made it up."
Of course, many of the international students on campus have no particular attachment to the Thanksgiving holiday or its traditions. "For me it was just a long weekend," pointed out Yue Hou '09, a Chinese student.
Reducing the population of the college to a fraction of what it usually is during the school year can do a lot to change the atmosphere of the place. "It was really quiet, and I kind of liked the feeling that there's not so many people around," said Hou, "but also when you saw people coming back it was really really nice cause it's a really small place and when it's really quiet there's nothing going on."
Others are more impressed with the change. Janaki Sullivan '07 describes life on campus during the break as "a lot more relaxed, a lot less frenetic, more peaceful, so you can actually feel like you can take time to stroll around campus, if there are any fall colors still left look at fall colors, or the snow, go to a movie in town, just hang out in the lounge somewhere, spend time with friends without feeling like you have to go rush off and go to class or an activity or homework or what have you." It's the kind time, she said, "which honestly I wish there were more of at Grinnell."
by Merrick Meyers
This coming Wednesday, most Grinnell students will scatter to their homes or other destinations for Thanksgiving break, the briefest of all Grinnell vacations, returning in time for classes to resume the following Monday. Some Grinnellians, however, will be staying put, enjoying the holiday right here on campus.Vice President of Student Services Tom Crady estimates the number of students who stay at around thirty percent of the student body. Most of these students simply live too far away from Grinnell for it to make sense to spend time and money returning home for a mere half a week before coming back to campus. Others live nearer by but do not desire to leave, or at least not enough to go through the trouble, preferring to hang out on campus with their fellow students.
Thanksgiving break generally passes without incident, though legends are still told of the break several years in ago during which some students stored a full turkey in the ceiling of a dorm hallway, and then completely forgot about it, not remembering it was there even after the smell of rotting turkey flesh became overpowering. The turkey was not discovered by Facilities Managements until two weeks later.
Many of those remaining on campus are international students, for whom returning home for such a short break is obviously impractical. While some vacation with fellow Grinellians or other American friends, or stay with a host family, a good portion simply stay where they are.
In a few cases, however, there were more somber reasons for staying at Grinnell. Last year, friends of Thomas Alexander '05, who had died in a car accident during Thanksgiving break the previous year, stayed on campus in order to be with one another.
The Thanksgiving and Fall breaks are the only vacations during which all students are allowed to stay in the dorms. Lingering during other breaks requires special permission, which is given to international students and others who require it. Of the two, the campus is significantly more populous during Thanksgiving break, as Fall break is much longer, making it more worthwhile to make travel plans.
At this critical point in the semester, some stay focused on their studies, working on papers and other projects. Others take the time to relax. "It's toward the end of the semester, so there are a lot of projects that people have been working on, so Thanksgiving, people say, 'I'm not gonna worry about it,'" said Jon Ohliger '07. "There's definitely a large amount of time dedicated to just hanging out." Many students select one day to devote to schoolwork, and treat most of the rest of the break like a vacation.
Some partake of dining hall food for their Thanksgiving feast, but the service is limited so that the dining staff can be with their families. Similarly, most alternatives in the town are closed for the holiday, leaving students largely to their own devices. Several Thanksgiving dinners are thrown on campus each year, with at least one open to all comers.
For the most part, these culinary efforts are well-planned and tend to go smoothly, although the residents of DAG House recall with amusement last year's attempt at mashed potatoes gone horribly wrong, which they say went through several color changes before being declared inedible. "None of us knew how to make mashed potatoes," admitted otherwise successful cook Christina Gargiullo '08, "so I made it up."
Of course, many of the international students on campus have no particular attachment to the Thanksgiving holiday or its traditions. "For me it was just a long weekend," pointed out Yue Hou '09, a Chinese student.
Reducing the population of the college to a fraction of what it usually is during the school year can do a lot to change the atmosphere of the place. "It was really quiet, and I kind of liked the feeling that there's not so many people around," said Hou, "but also when you saw people coming back it was really really nice cause it's a really small place and when it's really quiet there's nothing going on."
Others are more impressed with the change. Janaki Sullivan '07 describes life on campus during the break as "a lot more relaxed, a lot less frenetic, more peaceful, so you can actually feel like you can take time to stroll around campus, if there are any fall colors still left look at fall colors, or the snow, go to a movie in town, just hang out in the lounge somewhere, spend time with friends without feeling like you have to go rush off and go to class or an activity or homework or what have you." It's the kind time, she said, "which honestly I wish there were more of at Grinnell."
Friday, November 17, 2006
Game of the Century? No Question.
Over the past few weeks, many football fan friends of mine have entered my room and glanced puzzlingly at my computer wallpaper, which depicts Michigan RB Mike Hart and Ohio State QB Troy Smith in action poses with “Game of the Century” written on the bottom half. “Really?” they ask inquisitively. "This Saturday’s #2 Michigan vs. #1 Ohio State clash is the 'Game of the Century?'"The unconvinced looks proved to me that few outside of Michigan and Ohio truly understand the magnitude of the greatest rivalry in sports. Other great rivalries give each team multiple chances to beat the opposing foe each year. The Red Sox and Yankees played 19 times last year, while Duke and North Carolina battle two or three times per year in basketball. For Michigan-Ohio State, each team’s shot at glory—and usually the Big Ten title—comes once a year, on the third Saturday in November.
No game has shattered more national title hopes than Michigan-Ohio State, and this Saturday, the game is even bigger. The two teams are playing each other as the #1 and #2 ranked teams in the nation for the first time ever, and both teams enter the game undefeated for the first time in 33 years. The winner goes on to play for the national championship, no questions asked.
Wait a minute. Enough objectivity. The best way to communicate the scale of this rivalry is to throw out journalistic integrity altogether. So let me put it bluntly:
I hate Ohio State. I despise them with every ounce of my blood. I rate entire seasons based primarily on whether Michigan beats Ohio State. I think that any Michigan coach who cannot win more than 50 percent of his games against Ohio State after five seasons should be fired on the spot, regardless of his record in every other game. I think OSU coach Jim Tressel’s sweater-vests are a sign of the anti-Christ.
My level of fanaticism at best equals that of any fan making the trek to Columbus this weekend. Tensions are running so high that the Michigan Dean of Students e-mailed everyone on campus traveling to the game, warning them of the Buckeye hooligans that roam the streets of Columbus.
The memo told Michigan fans, “If possible, drive a car with non-Michigan license plates, … stay with a group … [and] avoid High Street in Columbus,” referring to OSU’s main campus thoroughfare. One Ohio State student said, “There will probably be some rioting [if OSU loses] ... but I don’t think it will be too bad.”
Wow, that’s reassuring. But that’s Michigan-Ohio State, where calling in the National Guard is just another item on the Columbus to-do list. No #1 vs. #2 game has packed this much loathing into one epic Saturday. The result will either completely ruin my November or make me the happiest fan at Grinnell, with no in-between.
Such is the life of a Michigan fan, living and dying by the 3rd Saturday in November and always remembering the words of former Michigan broadcaster Bob Ufer, who once said, “Never forget that Ohio is a four-letter word.”
Go Blue.
Columnist Mark Japinga is a second year student. He invites all of those who are not Ohio State fans to enjoy the game with him in Read Lounge at 2:30 on Saturday.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Concert Preview: Mucca Pazza, Low Skies and Vegetable Medley
by Alysia Vallas
This weekend’s concert combination will be like nothing you’ve heard before. Mucca Pazza and Low Skies, both from Chicago, break all sorts of musical barriers and do it in style.
Mucca Pazza does not fit your conjured image of a typical punk group, unless, of course, you generally picture a 27-piece circus marching band. They parade the stage with their big band, surf and punk sound, sporting all sorts of instruments: trumpets, trombones, accordions, and more percussion than you can handle. Running amok in their snazzy costumes fit for a football team marching band, the group is bound to keep you entertained. Believe it or not, cheerleaders come included. The band’s MySpace describes them as, “Oompah-oompah-oompah-pah! Toot-toot! Doo-doo-doodoo-doo! Honk! Boom-bap boom-boom-bap.”
Low Skies may be a little less flashy, but they rock a mean, nerdy look. They push the limits with unique vocals and an atypical sound, a fun fusion of indie, soul and blues with a twinge of electronica. The band leaves you singing its tunes thanks to the soulful yet twangy vocals of Christopher Salveter and misty atmosphere the rest of Low Skies produces. While the music has lots of potential to be mopey and sad, it actually leaves a happy-go-lucky aftertaste. The overall affect is music that you can thoughtfully bob your head to while pondering your exes and the world at large.
Mucca Puzza and Low Skies will perform with campus band Vegetable Medley this Friday night in Gardener Lounge at 9 p.m.
This weekend’s concert combination will be like nothing you’ve heard before. Mucca Pazza and Low Skies, both from Chicago, break all sorts of musical barriers and do it in style.
Mucca Pazza does not fit your conjured image of a typical punk group, unless, of course, you generally picture a 27-piece circus marching band. They parade the stage with their big band, surf and punk sound, sporting all sorts of instruments: trumpets, trombones, accordions, and more percussion than you can handle. Running amok in their snazzy costumes fit for a football team marching band, the group is bound to keep you entertained. Believe it or not, cheerleaders come included. The band’s MySpace describes them as, “Oompah-oompah-oompah-pah! Toot-toot! Doo-doo-doodoo-doo! Honk! Boom-bap boom-boom-bap.”
Low Skies may be a little less flashy, but they rock a mean, nerdy look. They push the limits with unique vocals and an atypical sound, a fun fusion of indie, soul and blues with a twinge of electronica. The band leaves you singing its tunes thanks to the soulful yet twangy vocals of Christopher Salveter and misty atmosphere the rest of Low Skies produces. While the music has lots of potential to be mopey and sad, it actually leaves a happy-go-lucky aftertaste. The overall affect is music that you can thoughtfully bob your head to while pondering your exes and the world at large.
Mucca Puzza and Low Skies will perform with campus band Vegetable Medley this Friday night in Gardener Lounge at 9 p.m.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
UPDATED: Power problem closes Noyce
The Noyce Science Center closed at 6 p.m. tonight. Workers are attempting to fix a cut power line and are trying to finish before classes start tomorrow, but there are no guarantees.
A subcontractor working on the Noyce construction accidently cut the power line. In order to fix the line, workers have to cut off power to the building, pull up the old line and lay a new one.
A subcontractor working on the Noyce construction accidently cut the power line. In order to fix the line, workers have to cut off power to the building, pull up the old line and lay a new one.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Cut to the Quick
Okay, admit it. If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably on Facebook, too. I don’t care if you “almost never go on,” or if you think it’s “totally lame.” You’re on it. Period. Now that we’ve established that, we can get to the heart of the problem: profile pictures. Pictures of you smiling, or you with a friend or dressed up in some ridiculous (note: “ridiculous” and “slutty” are not the same thing) outfit … those pictures are okay. But there are certain types of pictures that aren’t.The “Oh-My-God-I’m-So-Effing-Hottt” Pictures
You want to bring sexy back? I suggest you put it away again. I have no interest in pictures of you in your underwear, pictures of you giving any sort of “come hither” look to the camera or pictures of you taken by a professional photographer. Facebook isn’t a beauty contest, especially not here at Grinnell.If you put up some picture of you looking “sexy,” chances are everyone who sees it knows that you don’t look like that on a regular basis because they see you in the dining hall in your pajama pants eating stir fry and ice cream.
The “Look-Look-Look!-I-Have-a-Significant-Other!” Pictures
It’s wonderful that you have someone who thinks you’re special. Someone who likes you so much that they don’t tell you how creepy it is that you’re using a picture of the two of you kissing for your profile picture. Truly, I’m happy that the two of you have found each other. But I am not so happy for you that I have to be confronted with pictures of the two of you making out every time I turn on my computer, especially if the caption is something like, “Aren’t we soooo cute?” and you’ve listed their name as one of your interests. If you’re dating them, I’m going to assume that you find them interesting. (Although if you do this, I’m not sure that I can say what they see in you.) You do not need to inform the Facebook world of your relationship. It just makes it more entertaining when the status suddenly goes from “In A Relationship” to “It’s Complicated” and finally to “Single,” and the profile picture goes from the happy couple to you with your cat.
The “My-Soul-Is-On-Fire” Pictures
I’m sorry that you feel so much more existential angst than the rest of us. I realize that as an artiste, your emotions run deeper than those of the average person. You alone recognize the injustices in the world, and thankfully, you’ve found a medium to express this to the world: your Facebook picture. That black-and-white picture of you looking morosely off into the distance, or of just your eye, caked in black eyeliner, really makes the rest of the world take a closer look at itself and realize its inadequacies. The very fact that you can put down your poetry journal or guitar long enough to participate in something so pedestrian as Facebook astounds me, and I commend you for it.
Yes, Facebook may be a little ridiculous, and it is kind of embarrassing to admit that you use it. But don’t make it worse than it already is. Don’t be one of these people.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Iowa Election Results
It was a big day for Democrats in the state of Iowa, as in most other places around the country. Democrat Eric Palmer beat longtime Republican state representative Danny Carroll 5,697 to 5,021, with 53.15 percent of the vote.
This helped Democrats take control of the state legislature after years in the minority. Several seats are still very close and not yet decided, but the Des Moines Register predicts 54 out of the 100 House seats and 30 of 50 Senate seats in Democratic hands. Before the election Republicans held a 50-49 edge in the House, and the parties each had 25 Senate seats.
Democrat Chet Culver, the Iowa Secretary of State, won election as governor with 563,538 to Republican Jim Nussle's 464,228. Culver took 54.03 percent of the vote.
U.S. Representative Leonard Boswell (D) beat back a determined challenge from Republican Jeff Lamberti, taking 114,558 votes to Lamberti's 103,182. Boswell had a 51.76 percent majority.
Democrats Bruce Braley and Dave Loebsack won the 1st and 2nd House Districts for the Democrats over Republicans Mike Whalen and Jim Leach. The GOP held on the 4th and 5th districts, with Tom Latham and Steve King handily winning reelection.
Michael Mauro (D) beat Mary Ann Hanusa (R) for Secretary of State with 53.63 percent.
Republican Bill Northey defeated Democrat Denise O'Brien for Secretary of Agriculture with 51.42 percent of the vote.
For more results and reactions, be sure to see this Friday's S&B.
This helped Democrats take control of the state legislature after years in the minority. Several seats are still very close and not yet decided, but the Des Moines Register predicts 54 out of the 100 House seats and 30 of 50 Senate seats in Democratic hands. Before the election Republicans held a 50-49 edge in the House, and the parties each had 25 Senate seats.
Democrat Chet Culver, the Iowa Secretary of State, won election as governor with 563,538 to Republican Jim Nussle's 464,228. Culver took 54.03 percent of the vote.
U.S. Representative Leonard Boswell (D) beat back a determined challenge from Republican Jeff Lamberti, taking 114,558 votes to Lamberti's 103,182. Boswell had a 51.76 percent majority.
Democrats Bruce Braley and Dave Loebsack won the 1st and 2nd House Districts for the Democrats over Republicans Mike Whalen and Jim Leach. The GOP held on the 4th and 5th districts, with Tom Latham and Steve King handily winning reelection.
Michael Mauro (D) beat Mary Ann Hanusa (R) for Secretary of State with 53.63 percent.
Republican Bill Northey defeated Democrat Denise O'Brien for Secretary of Agriculture with 51.42 percent of the vote.
For more results and reactions, be sure to see this Friday's S&B.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
East Hall Dedication
This Thursday, the college will dedicate East Hall in honor of Frank Rathje Jr. '50. Rathje is the former president of Illinois Regional Bank and former chair of Illinois Valley Bancshares Inc. He has also been active in charity, chairing the Glenwood School for Boys. The dedication ceremony will be Thursday at 8 p.m. in the new Rathje Hall's first floor lounge.
For more on Rathje and the decision to name a hall after him, be sure to see this Friday's S&B.
For more on Rathje and the decision to name a hall after him, be sure to see this Friday's S&B.
Election Day
Well it's been a wild ride this election season. And it all ends tonight.
In our pages, we've mostly focused on the local race for IA House District #75 between Danny Carroll (R) and Eric Palmer (D) because that is closest to home and Grinnell College students can have the most impact on the outcome of that race (they're also the candidates who are easiest to get a hold of for interviews!). That being said, David's recent post reminds us that there are other races to watch tonight as well.
We plan on doing some final analysis of the election and Grinnellians' role in it after we see tonight's results, so stay tuned. Other than that, go out and vote (if you feel comfortable doing so, as our latest staff ed would be sure to remind you). Polls are open until 9 pm tonight at the community center located on Park Street between 4th and 5th Ave.
In our pages, we've mostly focused on the local race for IA House District #75 between Danny Carroll (R) and Eric Palmer (D) because that is closest to home and Grinnell College students can have the most impact on the outcome of that race (they're also the candidates who are easiest to get a hold of for interviews!). That being said, David's recent post reminds us that there are other races to watch tonight as well.
We plan on doing some final analysis of the election and Grinnellians' role in it after we see tonight's results, so stay tuned. Other than that, go out and vote (if you feel comfortable doing so, as our latest staff ed would be sure to remind you). Polls are open until 9 pm tonight at the community center located on Park Street between 4th and 5th Ave.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Truckstop Souvenir brings y'allternative sounds to St.'s Rest
by Amelia Koford
When Truckstop Souvenir moved from Seattle this past fall, they picked a fitting destination. Iowa’s highways are dotted with souvenir-filled truckstops, including the world’s largest truckstop on I-80 near Walcott, IA. Whether or not husband-and-wife duo Dennis James and Lauryn Shapter knew this when they decided to move to southeast Iowa after several years on the Seattle scene, their move to the heartland is in line with their commitment to what their MySpace site calls “the music of the American landscape.”
Truckstop Souvenir’s acoustic music draws on country and folk traditions. Their easygoing songs invite toe-tapping and singing along. The two trade off on vocals and guitar, and incorporate fiddle, piano and mandolin.
Although James and Shapter harmonize flawlessly together, they maintain distinctive sounds. Their debut album, Leave Nothing Behind, is split into five songs written and sung by James and five by Shapter. The two join forces on a cover of The Allman Brothers Band’s “Ramblin’ Man.” Texas-born James’s songs, like "Pretty Woman (You Walk On My Soul)" and "It’s Simple Here," have a straight-up, honky-tonk Texas country feel. New York-born Shapter’s tunes, like "All-Night Franchise Diner" and "Mama's Debt," have a subdued country-folk groove and more unusual lyrics.
Their tribute to traditional American music is radical on the country scene, which is dominated by trendy, hit-based Nashville country. Truckstop Souvenir’s emphasis on non-Nashville music aligns them with artists like John Prine and early Wilco, in the movement referred to as alt-country, americana, or my personal favorite, y’allternative.
Truckstop Souvenir performs at St.’s Rest on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 6:30 p.m.
When Truckstop Souvenir moved from Seattle this past fall, they picked a fitting destination. Iowa’s highways are dotted with souvenir-filled truckstops, including the world’s largest truckstop on I-80 near Walcott, IA. Whether or not husband-and-wife duo Dennis James and Lauryn Shapter knew this when they decided to move to southeast Iowa after several years on the Seattle scene, their move to the heartland is in line with their commitment to what their MySpace site calls “the music of the American landscape.”
Truckstop Souvenir’s acoustic music draws on country and folk traditions. Their easygoing songs invite toe-tapping and singing along. The two trade off on vocals and guitar, and incorporate fiddle, piano and mandolin.
Although James and Shapter harmonize flawlessly together, they maintain distinctive sounds. Their debut album, Leave Nothing Behind, is split into five songs written and sung by James and five by Shapter. The two join forces on a cover of The Allman Brothers Band’s “Ramblin’ Man.” Texas-born James’s songs, like "Pretty Woman (You Walk On My Soul)" and "It’s Simple Here," have a straight-up, honky-tonk Texas country feel. New York-born Shapter’s tunes, like "All-Night Franchise Diner" and "Mama's Debt," have a subdued country-folk groove and more unusual lyrics.
Their tribute to traditional American music is radical on the country scene, which is dominated by trendy, hit-based Nashville country. Truckstop Souvenir’s emphasis on non-Nashville music aligns them with artists like John Prine and early Wilco, in the movement referred to as alt-country, americana, or my personal favorite, y’allternative.
Truckstop Souvenir performs at St.’s Rest on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Sports previews
Pick up Friday's S&B for stories on three Pioneer teams that captured MWC championships and are gearing up for postseason competition:
Women's Soccer - Grinnell's stingy defense allowed just one goal in the conference season and heads into this weekend's MWC Tournament ranked in the top ten in the region.
Women's Cross Country - Pioneer runners accounted for five of the top seven finishers, including individual champion Sarah Spencer '07.
Men's Cross Country - Drake Ballew '08 nabbed the top spot, and the team finished tied for tops in the conference with Monmouth College.
The cross country teams are preparing for the NCAA Regionals in Northfield, Minn. on Nov. 11th.
Women's Soccer - Grinnell's stingy defense allowed just one goal in the conference season and heads into this weekend's MWC Tournament ranked in the top ten in the region.
Women's Cross Country - Pioneer runners accounted for five of the top seven finishers, including individual champion Sarah Spencer '07.
Men's Cross Country - Drake Ballew '08 nabbed the top spot, and the team finished tied for tops in the conference with Monmouth College.
The cross country teams are preparing for the NCAA Regionals in Northfield, Minn. on Nov. 11th.
An update on Iowa politics
Courtesy of Pollster.com, here's a chart that gathers a variety of different polls on the Iowa gubernatorial race.
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