September 26, 2008
Volume 115 Issue 5
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The Sandspur
Behind the banjo with Béla Fleck J u s t i n b r au n & K e l ly M c n o l dy the sandspur HOW DID YOU COME TO PERFORM AT ROLLINS? They made the effort and invited me. I was really busy this season but I said yes because I don’t get to play solo very much. I want to learn to perform solo so it’s something that I’m not afraid of. WOULD YOU SAY THAT A PERFORMANCE LIKE TONIGHT WAS STEPPING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE? Yeah, a little bit. I almost did it like a workshop. It wasn’t quite so formal, like a recital. In informal performances, more natural things happen, things that I wasn’t expecting. Musicians, when playing in any kind of uncomfortable situations try to trick themselves into not being scared. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF YOUR STATUS AS A LEGEND? I don’t even know what to make of all of that. There are times when I bought into that more than what I do now. I just feel like I’m lucky to be able to do what I do. I understand how it happens because I have people that I look up to in that way. It’s like getting to play with Chick Corea, who’s a legend to me. It’s like transforming from a legend to a real person, a human being. I’m really serious about trying not to let myself have a big ego. HOW MANY PIECES DID YOU IMPROVISE ON TONIGHT? Less than I thought I was going to do because I was a little nervous. The more nervous I get the more unsure and less comfortable I am to improvise. When I play Bach I’m more of a technician…but as I played along with certain songs I thought hey, I’m going to take this a little bit longer, see what the neck would do. So I was slightly improvising but I was not as confident as I would be if I were to just improvise. WAS IT HARD BREAKING THE SOUTHERN STEREOTYPE OF THE BANJO? The more I would be myself, the more of a non-issue it seemed to be. It was fun to be a renegade. It’s the most natural thing in the world to play on the banjo. I like to think that I’m more of a renegade, I like the idea of being a renegade more than I really am.
Check out Rollins students being involved pages 6-7
Musical innovator Béla Fleck rocks Rollins with legendary recital J u s t i n b r au n & K e l ly M c n o l dy the sandspur
The Tiedtke Concert Hall buzzed with electric anticipation last Tuesday evening, filled to capacity with students, faculty, and patrons of the arts. Fashionably-late overflow attendees congregated on the porch and in an adjacent rehearsal room due to the liberal-arts sized venue, unable to contain the overwhelming number of fans. Casually taking the stage, bare except for two microphones, a chair, and an autographing table, legendary jazz banjoist Béla Fleck received thunderous applause from an enthusiastic audience. As he sat and prepared for performance, Fleck smiled at the crowd and said, “Wow.” Without further introduction, Fleck’s fingers began plucking with inconceivable speed. Instantly, the minds of all in attendance were blown by Fleck’s virtuosity. Unlike stereotypical banjo music heard in movies and television, Fleck emanated brilliantly warm, dark tones from the instrument in his lap, a 1937 Gibson flathead banjo, just like the one legendary banjoist innovator Earl Scruggs used to play. “No one’s ever equaled the sound of this banjo,” said Fleck, educating the audience partway through his workshoplike performance. “There’s richness to it. It’s not as sharp as the banjos they make these days.” At the beginning of the concert Fleck appeared nervous, focusing his gaze primarily on his banjo. The tension soon broke as Fleck became more comfortable as the center of attention, smiling and flicking his head with dissonant notes he produced and making little quips between his first few songs. It felt like the awkward beginning of a first date, but melted into a playful atmosphere with an incredibly satisfying finale. The musical conversation gained depth as the evening progressed, with fleck revealing his down-toearth nature, making personal connections with the 300 plus in attendance. “Usually I’m playing with the Flecktones and I can hide behind them, but here, well, I
can see you. I mean you, you’re right there,” said Fleck, pointing to a Rollins student who was front and center. At times clearly improvising, Fleck explored the genres of classical, bluegrass and jazz tunes by John Hardy and Ralph Stanley, and even contemporary songs from the Beatles and Led Zeppelin. In between pieces, Fleck took questions and requests from the audience, which ranged from music aficionados attempting to prove their vast eclectic knowledge to a young child asking what it was like to play in front of everybody. Fleck cleverly replied, “It’s scary, actually…I rarely play solo, so it’s five times more exciting for me than it is for you.” Typical of when audiences are encouraged to ask questions and make requests, “Freebird” was requested not once, but twice, and both times it Andrew cohen/ the sandspur was laughed off by INSPIRED: The world’s premiere banjo player Béla Fleck came to Rollins to jam Fleck. However, with students, give presentations and perform. He brought students, faculty and when “Over the the community together for an amazing performance. Rainbow” was requested, Fleck gave it a go and permutated living there, it was not a normal musical journey tracing the and harmonized it flawlessly. sound for me,” said Fleck. “My origin of the banjo throughout several countries, the film “I never tried that before,” he mind was blown.” A couple of decades followed Fleck as he connected said and after a pause, he added later, Fleck had the honor with African musicians in “That was cruel.” After improvising a 1920’s of re-recording the “Beverly creative jam sessions where the rag piece entitled “Flapperette,” Hillbillies” theme song with the modern world of music met the diverse percussive traditions of Fleck gave the audience a history original vocalist. “They had some L.A. Africa. lesson on the banjo. “Back in When an audience member the late 1800’s, everybody used studio vocalist do the singing to play the banjo,” he said, and not Buddy Ebsen because asked Fleck how the typical “the women would sit in their they didn’t want it to sound too Flecktones song was composed, parlors and entertain with Bach. southern,” said Fleck. “I didn’t he humorously said “It usually Now it has this white southern want anybody else to re-record happens during sound check,” stereotype and I hope I can crack the theme because I didn’t want said Fleck, “I usually just start them to screw it up. Bluegrass playing something and hope that stereotype.” Fleck described his average has a lot of class when it’s played they notice it and if not I just write something else.” Ask Northern upbringing, revealing right.” Another big topic of the anyone in attendance that that he first encountered the banjo through an episode of the night was Fleck’s documentary night in the Tiedtke Concert “Throw Down Your Heart,” Hall, the playfully innovative “Beverly Hillbillies.” “I was five or six years old which he had shown the night improvisational skills of Fleck and living in Queens, NY, and before. An emotionally-charged were definitely noticed by all.
September 26, 2008
AIarrobino@Rollins.edu
Student records to drop the old system and add into the digital age Greg Golden the sandspur
Are you tired of Rollins’ system of adding and dropping classes? Are you sick of waiting in lines, filling out paperwork, and scouring the campus for your adviser, all while trying to make sense of your first week of classes? At long last, change is coming. Just as other schools have elected to adopt an internetbased system for swapping
classes, so will Rollins adjust to the digital age. The new system will model current methods, with a check process that will allow professors and advisers to digitally approve students’ desired changes. However, even though the goal is to merely mimic the pen-and-paper process that is in place now, there are still issues looming that must be resolved. “Part of the challenge is maintaining a level of contact between students and advisers. We would like to reduce the hassle for everything, all while continuing to facilitate learning,” Associate Dean Toni Holbrook said.
Since face-to-face meetings with advisers will be lessened, there will need to be ways for them to remain involved in students’ academic progress. The Director of the Student Resource Center Doug Little said that the main goal is to keep advisers in the loop and keep students from prolonging their stay here. When asked why Rollins has not followed other colleges’ online leads sooner, “The difference is it’s a liberal arts college. It has a more complex curriculum; it’s an enriching curriculum,” Little said. This system will undoubtedly reduce the
number of times students see their academic advisers, with the change going hand-in-hand with new implementations that the college has in its immediate future. “We are diligently moving as quickly as we can, all while making cultural changes with the entire advising conversation,” Holbrook said. She wants there to still be an aspect of help offered to ideally keep students on track. “We may turn to preapproving 2-4 year plans to reduce the overall number of advisoral meetings.” After these changes are made, other potential problems remain, which must be addressed
immediately when they arise. Holbrook easily thought of a couple, including, “The integrity of the online system and educating new students on how to use it, which must be timely.” Ultimately, while Holbrook was optimistic about the outcome of the changes being made, she had words of advice for students eager to ease their classchanging woes: “Be patient.” Celebrate, for gone will be the days of scrambling to find advisers, professors, and CRN numbers in a week when you are really just worried about finding your classes.
Jennifer stull the sandspur
Greek life is usually an integral part of any college campus. It is seen as a way to make friends, take on
leadership roles, and get involved. However, in a small school such as Rollins there are many fewer sororities and fraternities than at most public universities. Because of this, almost all students are familiar with each sorority and fraternity and have certain ideas of how each house is perceived on campus. There are eleven Greek houses on campus. Six of them are sororities and five fraternities. The six sororities are Alpha Omicron Pi, Chi Omega, Kappa Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Non Corrpis Mentis, and Sigma Gamma Rho. The five fraternities are Alpha Tau Omega, Chi Psi, Phi Delta Theta, Tau Kappa Epsilon, and X-Club, a local fraternity. With every group of people come stereotypes and
got greek?
time here at Rollins.” Kennedy goes on to say, “Although there are no negative aspects to any fraternity here, it’s unfortunate that movies such as Animal House and
NCM
stigmas, especially when it comes to Greek life. Rollins is no different. Although Greek life only makes up thirty percent of our student body, there are major impressions of each house that may or may not be true. Steven Madow, a member of X-Club, says their stereotype is, “that we’re nice and get good grades. I would generally say this stereotype of the fraternity is true, but besides being nice and having good grades we also hold a lot of leadership
positions on campus.” Sororities, too, are judged and perceived by the student body. Lauren Johnson, member of Alpha Omicron Pi, says their stereotype is that “We’re nice and we’re smart, which I agree with. We’re all good girls who get along well. I think that sums us up.”
While it is good to have a positive reputation on campus, it is also important to know what your specific sorority or fraternity stands for. Chi Psi member Chris Kennedy explains, “Chi Psi was founded on the idea of being a scholar and a gentleman. This is a concept that has been pressed on us during the pledging process and then practiced by the brothers for the rest of our
V a n Wilder make Greek life look totally about partying and doing extraneous stuff. But in reality Greek life is responsible for raising a ton of money and organizing many campus events and fundraisers.” Greek life is undoubtedly an integral aspect of college life, regardless of school size. Indeed, Greek life will undoubtedly have some effect on your college experience, regardless of your own Greek status. So, whether you are in a sorority, fraternity, or simply a member of the Rollins College campus, set aside the stereotypes and prejudgments, and take the time to learn about each house.
Abroad programs on the move MLyras@Rollins.edu
September 26, 2008
news
on Saturday, there was a variety of resources On Saturday, September available to th 20 , the Office of International the students Programs hosted an interested in informational session covering going abroad everything students need to to Sydney. know about studying abroad in Four students Sydney, Australia. Every Fall, who had Rollins offers 30 students the p a r t i c i p a ted chance to enroll in Australian in the Rollins Studies courses while living in Sydney with Australian host families. program in In addition to taking courses previous years unique to Australian culture and were available history, the students also partake to answer in numerous course-related any questions field trips and excursions. If the about the students wish to continue their international experience in Australia, they experience. A can participate in a 3-4 credit former host internship lasting four and a mother from half weeks after the semester the 1980’s Walt Perkins / the sandspur comes to an end. was also CHILLIN: Students abroad this semester in Sydney Grahm Menzies, Jesse Morano, and Many Rollins students use present at the Walt Perkins turn their backs on a view of the world-famous Sydney Opera House. the Rollins in Sydney program information to knock out major parts of their session. She and Dawn Wharram, an advisor has to offer. said that she in the Office of International Among other new changes had recently Programs, were also on hand that the Office of International reconnected with to provide students with vital Programs has been making, a five former Rollins information and to answer any new online initiative has been students who questions. Students enjoyed implemented to make the stayed in her home some light refreshments and application process for studying during the late listened to firsthand experiences abroad more efficient. Starting 1970’s and early on the lawn behind Ward Hall. Fall 2008, all students interested 1980’s. The host The Office of in studying abroad will need mother and former International Programs has to fill out the RIPA (Rollins students discussed been going nonstop since the International Programs Abroad) the differences semester started. During the forms online before coming for between studying first week of school, the office an advising session. RIPA can abroad in Sydney was busy moving locations from be found in FoxLink under the then and now. This the International House to their Student tab. The link is in the allowed students new office on the second floor third box located on the left hand to hear how of Carnegie Hall. Just one week panel. For more information much Sydney has after settling into their new home on the study abroad programs changed over the they hosted a study abroad Rollins has to offer, stop by the past 30 years. fair in the Darden Lounge on Office of International Programs P r o f e s s o r September 16th. Students passed located in Carnegie Hall Hoyt Edge, who through on their way to lunch Monday-Thursday from 1:00Dawn Wharram/ the sandspur handles the and were able to gain some 4:00 p.m. and Fridays from 9:00GATHER ‘ROUND: Students attending the International Programs information Australian Studies basic information on some of 11:30 a.m. for walk-in advising session on a sunny day program at Rollins, the opportunities that Rollins sessions.
K at i e J o n e s the sandspur
general education requirements. The program offers interesting courses such as: -AUS 255 Australian Aboriginal Studies (C) -AUS 262 The Australian Economic and Political Systems -AUS 288 Australian History (D) -AUS 356 Australian Literature (L) -AUS 361 Australian Art (A) -AUS 368 The Fauna and Flora of Australia (O, N) -AUS 388 Australia’s Physical Environment (P) There is always a bonus when students can combine their international experience with the completion of some of those necessary Gen Eds. Studying abroad in Australia during the Fall is the same price as studying at Rollins for a semester because most financial aid (grants, loans, and scholarships) transfers over to the University of Sydney. At the information session
Just “Brushing” it off Colleen Mahoney the sandspur
Most people in the United States have heard of The New York Times, but not Poets and Writers. Both of these publications are worthwhile, but one focuses on the news, and the other on literature. Similarly, most Rollins students have perused a copy of The Sandspur, but not Brushing Art and Literary Journal. This student run publication has existed in some form since 1929 as The Flamingo, and then morphed into Brushing 35 years ago. According to former editor-in-chief Fay Pappas, Brushing has overcome
adversity since 2006, when their funding was cut due to the creation of Fox Funds. Luckily, the Brushing staff managed to keep the journal going. When asked about what Brushing contributes to Rollins, editor-in-chief Nastassia Alayeto commented, “Brushing is basically a collection of the artistic and literary talents of Rollins College. It’s a chance for publication, a chance to get recognized for your talent, and a chance for us to show Rollins, the community, Alumni, and more the abilities and skills of Rollins College.” The annual reading and awards ceremony where the Brushing copies are distributed tend to impress many with its beautiful and professional
design. What is also striking is the variety of art and writing. Reproductions of sculptures, paintings, and photographs from different artists blend with the writing. Nonfiction, creative nonfiction, and fiction grace the pages along with poetry. The layout is impeccable, and every two pages of the 45 page journal have their own unique design. According to former editor-in-chief Jess Drew, “Submitting to the journal is now easier than it’s ever been since the creation of our new website in 2007, and with a new, highly talented and experienced editor-in-chief, Nastassia Alayeto, Brushing’s design quality and professionalism are about to skyrocket.” Anyone in the Rollins
community can submit to Brushing, not just Creative Writing minors or Studio Art majors, and this includes Holt students, faculty, and employees. Just go to www. brushingjournal.org, and you can submit up to 10 pieces before 11:59 pm on November 30. When asked about the selection process, Nastassia said, “We never know the names of the writer or artist until after a piece has been selected, to eliminate bias and allow staff to submit as well. Sometime in January we have our final selection, which we then begin to insert into the actual journal.” This great selection process allows for the best art and writing to appear in the journal without a thought as
to how many pieces a person submits. In theory, a student who submits the maximum ten pieces could have all of those pieces published. Usually, the talented often don’t recognize their gifts. Anyone who even dabbles in art and writing should not hesitate to submit their work to Brushing. So many pieces of art, stories, and poems never have the chance to be put in front of an audience; this is when self-expression truly begins. Hungry for more about Brushing? Well, when browsing the website to submit, you should find an online PDF version of last year’s edition. If that’s not enough, Nastassia might have a couple extras available in print.
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FKermalli@Rollins.edu
September 26, 2008
Opinions
Tax the “rich” and give to the “poor”: limitations of the Robin Hood mentality Julio Carrion the sandspur It looks like Robin Hood has arrived in the United States! On Thursday, Democratic VicePresidential candidate Senator Joe Biden (D-DL) said in an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America” that it was time for a major tax overhaul. Addressing the wealthy, he stated, “It’s time to be patriotic...time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut.” He then went on to say, “We want to take money and put it back in the pocket of middle-class people,” reinstating the Obama campaign’s position in regard to the sensitive issue of taxes. Let’s face it; taxes are a necessary evil; without them our society would cease to function
properly because the government would not be able to do much of anything. We can all logically attest to that. But who among us should have to pay more? A significant number of us lean on the side of making those who make the most give the most. After all, those “rich” people have plenty more where that came from, right? The crux of the issue is what defines “rich,” “wealthy,” or “successful.” We all agree that the likes of Paris Hilton, Brad Pitt, and other big name celebrities have enormous amounts of resources and luxury. We all agree that the CEO’s of major corporations also have tremendous wealth (As a side note, I think it is comical that we find one form of wealth-gathering more acceptable than the other).
The holy herb P e t e r T r av i s the sandspur In the times of the Old Testament, God sent the Israelites manna from heaven when they were starving in the desert. In the New Testament, Jesus fed the multitude by making a supply of fish and bread to feed over 5000 people. And now, in the 21st century, divine intervention has taken on a completely new form: marijuana. That’s right, the reefer. Weed. Ganja. Bud. Grass. Side Salad. Mary Jane. Sticky Icky. Whacky Tobaccky. Whatever they call it, one thing is sure: Our Father, who art in heaven, puffs the magic dragon. “Sacrilege!” shouts Pope Palpatine XVI. Now, now your Excellency, relax and take a spot in the rotation. How do I know that the Almighty blazes with the archangels? Father Cyril Papudov told me so. Father Papudov is a Bulgarian priest who has a backyard full of marijuana. But this grown operation is not an everyday weed farm. Father Papudov claims that this particular garden is evidence of Immaculate Conception. When asked by police and reporters about his grow work, he claims the garden is “God’s gift to nature,” and that the plants seeded themselves. Since authorities have already arrested Father Papudov seven times in the past, they have now had him on 24-hour surveillance since the beginning of this month. After their careful observation, the Bulgarian police will be able to say whether or not the weed is being grown from above. Thus, in 50 years Zora Neale Hurston’s classic novel may be reprised with the title, “Their Eyes Were Watching God’s Weed.”
At the moment, police are not buying Father Papudov’s story, denying the possibility of holy herb. “If someone has a huge crop of cannabis in their back garden, it’s highly unlikely they are just sitting there admiring its horticultural properties,” said one police source, cleverly making a pun out of the adverb “highly.” There has been no discovery made in terms of the strand of the cannabis seeds in Father Papudov’s garden. Thus, we may never know whether God prefers White Widow, Maui Wowie, or Pineapple Express. The miracle of Father Papudov’s garden raises several pressing questions. Does God eat communion bread when he has the munchies? If I convert to Christianity, will I be rewarded with a backyard full of marijuana? And most importantly, is this the second coming of the Christian savior? Could it be that to best correct his world God has assumed the role of weed to enlighten the so-called “potheads” of society? Many of them have long hair and beards, coincidentally resembling the hairstyle of one Jesus Christ. Furthermore, the Gospel conveniently leaves out any details of what was growing in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was arrested before his crucifixion. Is it possible that Judas’s betrayal was actually a drug bust that caught Jesus watering his pot plants? Thus, the curious case of Father Papudov may deserve a little more attention than the third link on the front page of websites such as www.uselessonline.com. While Papudov’s innocence is still intact, Christians around the world should be waiting anxiously to find out whether or not their God is lighting up more than just Sodom and Gomorrah.
be, the build-up of tax pressure But what would be at the lower our money needs increases. The problem is, however, wouldn’t actually cause them to end of the spectrum, the line dividing the upper from the mid- that the proposed tax increases give of themselves. Instead of (not just the repeal of the Bush giving away their luxury yachts, dle class? Biden in this particular in- tax cuts) would hit the “upper- jets, and other toys, they would terview said that anyone who middles” along with the Hiltons probably (in their greed) cut makes $250,000+ would cer- and the Gates. In fact, the pro- back on the employee and optainly face a tax increase; how- posed tax increase would hit the erating costs of the companies ever, various members of the very rich only decently; maybe that they run. So if he is right Democratic Party, including ad- they would buy two luxury in that assumption, the workvisors to Obama, have differing condos instead of four, or open ing and middle classes will end views on this line. From what three cheaper factories in China up “paying” the most by losing we know, the lines dividing rather than opening one here. their jobs, wages and benefits! Taking such action would the “rich” from the rest range Either way, they are secure be like shooting ourselves in from the low $100,000’s to the $200,000+ a year mark. Based Instead of repossessing the wealth the foot. Instead of repossesson these statements, basically of the most successful, we would... ing the wealth of the most successful, we would drive an anyone who makes more than [smash] the link between the even bigger economic wedge six figures would be open for middle and upper classes. between people by smashing a tax increase. the link between the middle Now come the sticky details; all the talk until this point enough to weather the storm and upper classes. Given time, has been on the middle class: without much incident (or they this wedge will continue to how times are bad for the mid- could always take their golden grow until we are left with only dle class, how it is under attack. parachutes to another, less inva- the super elite and the rest of us. We would rob the middle class However, could it be possible sive country). The upper-middle class, of its brightest stars and in the that in their attempt to aid the middle class, the government however, would have no such end leave a larger class gap than will be doing more harm than protection, and given the vola- ever before. Obama should thus focus good? The fact is that many in tile economic times, many busithe middle class (the upper- nesses would be under more his attention away from punmiddle) do make six figures a pressure than ever. Times are ishing the “rich,” and instead year based on their tax returns. rough enough that many would focus on using what we already They are the small time pro- undoubtedly go under, creating have to our best advantage: the fessionals and business own- a vacuum that would have to first step toward true change in ers who often combine their be filled by those least affected, Washington. You can take every personal and business records those who make enough money dime of wealth from every “rich” on their W-40s. Individually to either pay or skirt the system, person, you can remove every they usually don’t make more namely the major corporations, silver spoon from their mouths, than six figures, but factor in a chain stores, firms, and mega- you can throw the Hiltons into spouse’s and business income, marts. Only this time, they will the streets, but unless you use it and often their households will offer even less benefits than be- wisely and frugally, the money generated is useless. We have to fall into the mid-$100,000 range. fore. In addition, if these “rich” break the cycle to where as taxThis fact is often overlooked in all the rhetoric and emotion sur- people are as greedy and self- es go up, spending follows. We rounding the issue as the call to serving as Obama, his camp, need spending reform before make the “rich” responsible for and his party make them out to we need tax reform.
Real lovers of music Vernon Meigs the sandspur I hear a lot of talk from a great deal of people about music being their life. Okay, so what music? Something they hear on the radio that the immediate masses happen to know about? Something off of “American Idol” or “Guitar Hero?” Something the media tells them is a “hit?” Some popular song to put on their iPods? Is it just me, or are people being told what music to make their “lives” by the media? And until the next big fad starts, how long is that song going to stay on your playlist? What if I asked people if they knew of the band Spiral Architect? If I point out that Kitaro is coming to play in the local area, what reaction can I expect besides “Who?!” I’ll bet anything that not so many people are familiar with the glory days of Fates Warning. But what if I decided to play some of that music for them? They would not pay real attention to the melodies or
rhythms or the singing for the simple reason that they’re not familiar with the group or even the genre. They would blurt out, “But you can’t dance to it!” They would complain, “Well, everybody doesn’t know it!” or, “It’s too complicated!” People who are so passionate about music that they keep on exploring and discovering hidden gems among the sands of obscurity are the true music-lovers. They are real fans of their music and do not subscribe to whatever the radio tells you is the year’s biggest hit. They find their own classics and care not for who dismisses those songs as “unpopular.” They are the reason music is still alive in this world, and what is their reward? Being shoved in a corner while The Jonas Brothers provide superficial gratification to those too lazy to explore music that deserves to be noticed. The world is missing out on quality music that artists and musicians spend a great amount of time and money on. When I first listened to Dream Theater’s 11 minute instrumental “Stream of Con-
sciousness,” I almost screamed, “Why isn’t this in every music text in the world?” I reminded myself that the radio and the mass media are only interested in what is “catchy” or “accessible” or “a hit.” The media doesn’t care about quality musicianship, or songs that are multilayered epics that transcend what we see as music. Whatever happened to creativity? I pride myself on my extensive collection of CDs and knowledge of artists, musicians and bands on which I did active research. Here I am hoarding the music of some amazing and stellar musicians that nobody will know about because they simply cannot transcend the radio or whatever is on MTV: Seven Kingdoms, Empyreon, VaniShine, Behold…the Arctopus, Outworld… I could go on. Those who take my word for it; those who go and listen to this music, discover their own, evolve their tastes, will undoubtedly discover an entirely new world. I urge you to do so – I guarantee you will be amazed.
FKermalli@Rollins.edu
September 26, 2008
opinions
5
OrgSync may centralize event planning Lindsey Hirsch the sandspur Rollins is facing a revolution- an internal revolution, that is. With every new concept comes change, and with change comes fear; but you knew it was coming; it was inevitable. The campus has been promoting it since just before summer began about four and half months ago at the Leadership Exchange. Rest easy Rollins College, for I have been there and back on my personal journey of the OrgSync adventure and have survived. Yes, I was confronted with a few hindering blockades and a few doubts of uneasiness, but I have come to accept this change and have learned to adapt. OrgSync is basically a Facebook for student groups here at Rollins College. This system was started as a way to streamline the processes that student
clubs must endure in order to put on events or receive funding for their organizations. The motivation behind OrgSync was to make the leadership experience at Rollins a little easier and more centralized. Instead of having to meet with the Fox Funds committee, the Special Events Planning Committee, Events Planning, etc, everything has become more accessible in one place. Evyn Garner, the graduate assistant working with the Fox Funds committee this year, has commented about OrgSync, “We wanted to have a central location where all information for student organizations was held and give them the tools to update their own calendars.” Through OrgSync, student organization leaders will be able to create forms, apply for Fox Funds, manage the members of their organization through notifications of messaging and announcements, create co-curric-
ular transcripts that highlight each other’s activities and camtheir extra-curricular activities pus groups. So really, people for graduate schools and com- already know the processes and panies, and readily communi- know what is actually going cate with the rest of campus. on. It is the new students and When asked about the ef- students who are hesitant to be ficiency of this new program, involved on campus that need Evyn Garner responded, “It to register. is so much easier It is a having everything perpetual ocIn theory, OrgSync is a currence that in one place ingreat idea that provides with every stead of running around to different equality and information new process offices looking for comes an adto the entire campus. different forms and justment peguidelines. I am riod. So yes, confident that OrgSync was an this task of OrgSync may seem excellent addition to our cam- a little daunting now, but the pus and that it will become even only way this OrgSync system more effective in the future than will work fluidly is when evit is now.” eryone gets involved and signs In theory, OrgSync is a up online. There is no point in great idea that provides equal- posting a calendar of events if ity and information to the entire there is no one signed up in the campus. However, commu- organization’s group. nism is also a great idea in theDon’t know how to regory. The leaders on this campus ister? It’s easy! Go to www. all seem to be the same people orgsync.com and click login, over and over again involved in use your GroupWise login and
Did Palin abuse power?
Selfishness Vernon Meigs the sandspur
A m a n da D ru m the sandspur Most of us at this point are probably sick of hearing about Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential candidate. Even those who support the Republican Party are probably weary of Palin-bashing and propaganda. In that case, sorry to disappoint: Palin has made the news again. This time it’s for an investigation into a case of Palin possibly abusing her power. She has been accused of using her status as governor of Alaska to fire their Public Safety Commissioner for not laying off an Alaskan state trooper that happens to be her estranged brother-in-law. Palin’s sister and the exhusband state trooper, Michael Wooten, are in the midst of a nasty child custody battle. That’s about where fact goes away and speculation takes over. The Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan accused Palin and her husband of approaching him about firing their brother-in-law, Wooten. Monegan stated in a reported quote, “She’s not telling the truth when she told ABC neither she nor her husband pressured me to fire Trooper Wooten, and she’s not telling the truth to the media about her reasons for firing me.” According to Palin, whom only just ‘uncovered’ audio recordings of aides actually trying to make Monegan fire Wooten, the scandal had only just come to her understanding. “I do now have to tell Alaskans that
password, click on “Join an Org”, scroll down and select Rollins College organizations, and then find the club or organization that you are or want to be a part of. The password for the majority of the groups is “rollins,” however, some groups such as fraternities or sororities may have their own personalized passwords. Getting involved on campus is extremely imperative in shaping the person that you aspire to be. It is not as intimidating as you may think, and it is more painless than you probably anticipate. As students at Rollins College, we are encouraged to be involved and wellrounded. As apprehensive as your attitude may be towards OrgSync, and despite the way it may sound or appear, it really has revolutionized the way in which Rollins operates. So register online so you can get your money to throw awesome campus-wide events.
photo courtesy of Mctcampus
such pressure could have been perceived to exist, although I have only now become aware of it,” Palin said. She had only known about some contact with Monegan from staff, and even then professed that she didn’t once bring up Wooten. “Many of these inquiries were completely appropriate. However, the serial nature of the contacts could be perceived as some kind of pressure, presumably at my direction,” she said. That sounds a lot like padding to me, especially if evidence finds her guilty of power abuse. Along with this story, she also tried to push another. Monegan wasn’t fired; he quit! According to the VP nominee, she was ‘reassigning’ Monegan to the director’s position of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. “It was a job that was open, commensurate in salary, pretty much -- $10,000 less,” she
explained. But apparently Monegan didn’t want this cut, so he quit working for the state. Two radically different stories, but generally it boils down to some lack of knowledge on Palin’s part. It still isn’t known why Monegan was being reassigned or fired, whichever of the alleged happened. However, the focus is whether or not Palin actually abused the powers of the governor’s office to fire Monegan and attempt to fire Wooten. It seems too early to judge because of a lack of tangible evidence. This isn’t a course of ‘innocent until proven guilty’, just trying to keep a logical head of things. Hearsay makes for good press, but not for a very good investigation. People can have their affiliations based on the people involved and Palin could very well turn out to be a “Pa-Liar.” But, it can’t hurt to open your minds a little.
“I am selfish.” What does this phrase mean in society today? The connotation of the term “selfish” has commonly been a negative one. If one places himself above others, he is immediately labeled as selfish and becomes shunned for it. One is only accepted as a “good” individual if he is altruistic: if he keeps on giving and caring for the rest of the world while receiving nothing in return. What’s interesting is that across the world – whether in college, politics, your home, wherever – people in general practice selfish pursuits, while simultaneously preaching and speaking against the practice of those indulgences and selfaggrandizement. They do one thing and say another. It is hypocrisy. My argument is not that people need to stop making lustful, greedy, and otherwise selfish pursuits and do exactly as the social dogmas state, but that those dogmas are falsehoods and mistakes in the first place that prevent the individual from personally advancing and becoming strong. When one accuses someone of “selfishness” and “greed,” they are being hypocritical: in turn, they are also being selfish and greedy. When someone complains that a person is being “selfish,” he disapproves of that person being focused inwards instead of outwards. But this, too, is a selfish behavior. The disapprover is angry because he is not being taken into account. Hence, the accuser is hypocritical. So, what happens when this disapproval of selfish greed and private accumulation of power and ability is shunned upon a social scale? Nobody
can practice self-aggrandizement openly without running into some sort of taboo. While those actions that are currently labeled as “altruism,” “selflessness,” and “virtue,” are perfectly valid, they, too can be selfish pursuits, depending on the individual and his interests. One would help a companion or someone he cares about, for it would be an indulgence to see him happy. Selfishness has long been associated with extreme introversion, compulsion, intemperate hate, and antisocial behavior. I view this as a mistake, a serious one, as I feel that selfishness is a virtue to the individual. Not only it can lead him to power and pleasure, but to his mind’s liberation and thus freedom to pursue all the arts, beauty, knowledge, and imagination this world has to offer. And when one is giving, or helping, is it such a good thing to be called a “selfless” act? Is it not fulfilling to help or give selfishly, out of pure delight and indulgence? Wouldn’t one rather be helped by someone who cares, rather than someone acting out of reluctance, compulsion, or “duty?” Perhaps a complete overhaul of certain terminology within the English language is in order? I advocate the free and unabashed display of pride and selfishness for the sake of the good of the individual. From this we can decide who are the genuine intellectuals, achievers, and willing community helpers. The best results can be received from those with genuine interest in what they do. I look forward to the age that “selflessness” is no longer associated with socially virtuous behavior and that the selfish can truly come out of the “Individualist Closet” and reap the rewards of their creative proactive lifestyle.
The Rollins College Sandspur
AIarrobino@Rollins.edu
September 26, 2008
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ashley light / the sandspur
BEACHED: Students headed to Cape Canaveral September 20th to dedicate their Saturday morning to helping the environment by cleaning up the beach.
International coastal clean-up day
melody justice / the sandspur
Amanda hampton / the sandspur
GO TARS: The men’s soccer team blanks Florida Southern 3-0 at the home game September 19th.
Tars capture second shutout
Grilling with the Greeks
evie lyras / the sandspur
BBQ: Greek Life hosted a Meet the Greeks barbecue on Mills Lawn September 23rd. Greek organizations sported their letters and served free burgers and hot dogs for all who attended.
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The Rollins College Sandspur
AIarrobino@Rollins.edu
September 26, 2008
I stole your honey like I stole your bike annabelle kempster the sandspur
Amidst all the travel between classes, bicycles provide a way of getting to class faster, allowing for a few extra minutes that would have been spent walking from building to building. In light of recent events however, it has been proven that bikes are a target of theft. Despite the bike racks provided near many buildings and residence halls, bike theft on campus has risen. In some cases, even just the tires are taken. “I just had my bike sent to me from home, and I watch it carefully after hearing about the thefts. I don’t want it to be taken, and I really appreciate it being on campus. It gives me an extra few minutes before each class that I would have had to spend rushing to my next building”, freshman Kayli Ragsdale said. “Sometimes, I even lock my bike altogether including the tires, so they can’t be taken off.” Campus security has been notified of the situation, and they are trying their best to keep an eye on things. What we can do is watch the bikes carefully. If it has a good lock, there is not much to worry about. “I really don’t need a bike
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on campus, and I honestly don’t mind the walks to class. Especially between classes, the walks can be refreshing. It’s not worth the hassle to have a bike on campus, and to have to worry about it all the time overrides its benefits, in my opinion,” said freshman Nehal Bellani. If students think a bike would help, and they really would get a lot of use out of it, then they should get one. Keeping it locked up in front of dorm buildings allows for it to be looked after. And for the very paranoid, check on it every few hours. Or just get an ugly bike! Chances are the thief will go for the nicer bike next to it. Freshman Alexandria Aguasvivas also finds no need for having a bike on campus. “The campus is so small that I feel like I can just get around anywhere in enough time, and sometimes I even have time between classes. There’s really no need for a bike, and I probably wouldn’t even use it if mine was sent to me from home.” All in all, it’s a matter of personal preference whether students take a bike or walk to class, but with that decision follows the need to look after their belongings. Campus security does monitor the campus, but in the end it’s the owner’s responsibility to look after his or her own bike.
nehal bellani/ the sandspur
JUST NOT RIGHT: A victim of a bike theft returned to find nothing left but the tire. Apparently the cable securing the wheel to the bike stand was just not enough to stop the crook.
Brazilian Capoeira kicks ass on Mills Lawn a m a n da d ru m the sandspur
Many Mills Lawn passersby on Friday night, Sept. 19, stopped to watch and listen to the chanting, singing and music of the RODA event that began at 9:00. This first RODA of the year was conducted by the Capoeira organization at Rollins College, and was a demonstration of the Brazilian martial art. Student Kelsey Beaumont, who attended the event, said of RODA, “It was pretty great. It’s definitely a form of self-expression that I haven’t seen before, so that was cool.” When asked what she had expected of the performance, she replied, “Well…I’d heard that it’s possible to kick someone’s head off in capoeira, so I was honestly expecting someone to get hurt.” It began with members and observers alike forming a circle in front of the Mills Building, clapping and singing along to student lead verses of Brazilian song. Not knowing the language or any of the words - the students not involved with Capoeira quickly learned - was not an excuse to not sing along anyway. The songs that were sung varied in tempo and tune and were led by instruments that are fundamental of capoeira. The first being the berimbau, a bow with a metal strong attached to a gourd. It’s played by striking a rod against it to make a light, dry percussion sound with different notes and pitches. Other instruments included the atabaque and the pandeiro. The atabaque is a large
drum that looks like a precursor to the conga, and the pandeiro is the equivalent to a larger tambourine. The members then began the martial art aspect of the RODA. One by one, they almost tag-teamed each other into the ring of participants, and began a complicated pattern of kicking, cart wheeling, and jumping over each other. The moves could be as simple as dodging a kick, or as difficult as handstands and flips. Regardless of how long each person was in the program, they matched each other in the levels of energy and enthusiasm. Capoeira began in Brazil, during times of slavery where the Brazilians and Africans were put to work on sugar and tobacco plantations. The three main ports were in Bahia, Recife, and Rio de Janeiro. In Recife, when slave escapes were commonplace, a group of forty slaves rebelled against their master and fled their plantation. To hide they completed a hike to the mountains that took many months. They eventually founded a community called Palmares, because of the region’s abundance of palm trees. In this community, Capoeira was developed. After slavery was abolished in 1888, “Capoeiristas” were seen as a government oppositional force, because their main objective was to disrupt the political life and continue the fight for equality. Because of their activity, a penal code was placed upon practicing Capoeira until 1920. Between then, any practitioners disguised Capoeira with the term ‘folk dance’, making presentations more accepted by the general
public. Today of course Capoeira is completely legal and regarded as a Brazilian martial art, with some speculated roots in West Africa. It
is an intriguing and challenging art form; the general impression is best summarized by Kelsey, who stated, “I think it takes a certain type of person to be able to do
the things they do... I wouldn’t necessarily consider myself one of those people. But, I think it’s pretty awesome that others can.”
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NZazulia@Rollins.edu
arts
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When iThink about
you iTouch myself L au r a H a r dw i c k e the sandspur
Among the myriad of products available for your iPod these days, is one that will not be found at Best Buy or the electronics section of Wal-Mart. No, you will have to make a secretive trip to Fairvilla Megastore for this one—the Naughtinano. The Naughtinano promises sexual sensation set to the tune of your iPod. It comes in four colors to match your iPod, bubblegum, licorice, green apple and blueberry. Despite the appetizing names, these vibrators are not flavored. For $69 you get the vibrator, cord, batteries, and a “discrete” scratch-free velvet carrying case that reads the company’s name, OhMiBod. The directions are simple: Plug in your iPod, attach your headphones to the dual input, and enjoy. However, it isn’t that simple. The stout batteries barely fit and the three-foot
Images courtesy of MCTcampus.com
Filled with selfloathing and repetitive anger, Rev Theory’s new CD “Light It Up” is a bit of a disappointment. There is very little variety in the messages conveyed from song to song. The only difference is whether the song is “calm” (calm in comparison to their other songs), or a cacophony of sounds that don’t blend well together. Most of the songs are not very appealing; however, there was one specific song that caught my attention. It is called “You’re The One,” and has soothing background music. Although it still conveys messages of sadness and overall self-pity, it has the nicest instrumental use of all of the songs. Rev Theory could have done a better job switching between a sort of rock-metal and alternative style of music. Overall, the songs make the listener depressed.
OhMiBod made another oversight with this product-- Suppose a customer makes it past the tangled cords and awkward playlists, and is really enjoying a song (maybe Divinyls’ “When I think about you I touch myself” would be appropriate). As great a band as Divinyls is, they did not write the song anticipating the rate of climax for every audience member. A song switch could come at an orgasmicly-fatal time, killing the mood. Credit should be given where it is due, and the Naughtinano accomplishes what it claims. It is almost eerie how in-tune to the song the vibes are. The idea has merit. Music is all about pleasure, setting the mood for ladies since the days of Romeo. I can picture Barry White being a spokesperson for the product. It is not the Naughtinano’s failure to sync me with my iPod that makes me dislike it though. The Naughtinano represents our culture’s complete fixation on technology. You can’t walk down the street without seeing peers attached to cell phones or not-so naughty Nanos. Do we really need to bring this infatuation into the bedroom? You can’t help but think about how ridiculous someone using this toy would look—as if they were giving birth to an iPod, with a three-foot “freedom” umbilical cord! I suggest rather than buying something that automatically stimulates you to music, you do it yourself! That is the spirit of it, right?
Myth Busted: Tina Up’ Fey Returning to SNL
‘Light it is a letdown Annabelle Kempster the sandspur
“Freedom cord” gets twisted and tangled in your headphones. If it is carpel tunnel you are trying to avoid with this product, try again. If your patience has lasted past set-up, you are in for some more surprises. Vibrations are controlled by the volume of your iPod. OhMiBod recommends seventy-five percent as the “sweet-spot,” but if you’re using the ear buds in a (most likely) empty room, that is just too loud to listen to! That volume could be charted on the Richter scale. I feel sorry for owners with overly-sensitive volume dials. Achieving climax would be like trying to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time. The Naughtinano redefines the old wives tale that masturbating can make you go blind. Those ambitious pleasure
seekers could go deaf in the process! Another obstacle that this product tester did not foresee was the music content. From working out and driving it has become a habit of mine to leave my entire iPod on shuffle. This was particularly strange when my guilty pleasure, Disney songs, came back to haunt me. Call me old-fashioned, but a whole childhood can be ruined when your Naughtinano starts vibrating to the tunes of “Chitty-chitty Bang-bang.” Of course, you could always create a specific playlist, but suspicions are sure to be aroused when someone browses your iTunes to find a playlist entitled “Vibrator music.”
September 26, 2008
“Light It Up” just isn’t my cup of tea. It all depends on the listener’s preference of music. As Rev Theory is a hard rock band, they should be given my benefit of the doubt. As I am just not that into hard rock, I guess they may be good, but not in my sense of the word.
Images courtesy of MCTcampus.com
Lindsey Hirsch the sandspur
You put lipstick on a pig, and you get Tina Fey? Forget about who will win the election between Obama and McCain in November. Let us set the 2008 presidential election on the back burner for just a moment while we tend to some much needed pop culture issues, because there is a new, more immediate, and pressing matter in the minds of the television-watching American public. Will Tina Fey grace us with her presence again and return to “Saturday Night Live?” If you are one of the few who has not witnessed the glory that is Tina Fey’s impression of Sarah Palin alongside Amy Poehler’s imitation of Hillary Clinton on Saturday Night Live, then I pity you. However, you must be living under some misguided rock, because it is nearly impossible to not come across the Fey/Poehler skit online. Tina Fey’s spoton impersonation of the Republican Party’s Vice Presidential nominee/Alaskan Governor teeters on the line
of perfection and flawlessness and proceeds to kick the ass of excellence. Tina Fey could be mistaken easily for Sarah Palin. Perhaps it is her identical appearance and immaculately replicated wardrobe, or her more than precise “Alaskan” accent and active gestures that make the actor’s performance so believable. Nevertheless, whether you are a Democrat, Republican, or an Independent, I promise you will literally be rolling on the floor laughing your ass off (roflyao) within seconds. Because there was so much controversy over whether or not Tina Fey would return to the show this season, the ratings for the season opener were up to a record high since 2001. Because Tina Fey appeared on the season premiere of the thirty-fourth “Saturday Night Live” season and made history with her five minute skit, ratings were the through the roof and up sixty-four percent from last season’s opening episode. Saturday Night Live is notorious for the political personas that they mimic and ridicule. As the election draws nearer, it seems inevitable that Governor Sarah Palin’s character will return on the show. Now
the question is whether or not Tina Fey will return for encore performances. For those who are unaware, Tina Fey writes, produces and stars in NBC’s show “30 Rock.” Therefore, it is safe to assume that she is fairly busy with her day job. When asked about Tina Fey’s return to the show, Marc Liepis, spokesman for “Saturday Night Live,” remarked that they are “… taking it day-by-day” and that they “…don’t even have a script written yet [for this next week’s episode].” At this point, it is unknown if the talented Tina Fey will return, but it is entirely possible. “Saturday Night Live” is a very spontaneous show full of creativity both on and off stage. This spontaneity is reflected in the show’s script and in the actors’ talents for improvising scenes. Members of the show’s audience can only hope that Tina Fey will return to grace the show’s stage once more with her presence and deliver audience members from the hardships of every day life such as work, school, pollution, disease, famine, and Sarah Palin. Please Tina, save us with a reprising role of your Palin impersonation.
NZazulia@Rollins.edu
arts
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September 26, 2008
entertainment
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King’s Lisey’s Story, D o n ’ t b u y Startling and Disturbing N o t 4 S a l e E r i k K e e va n the sandspur
Steven King has done it again. Mixing his special blend of suspense and horror, Stephen King brings the world into the 21st century with “Lisey’s Story.” This story delves into the horrors of the human mind in a way that almost feels like a warm embrace after a long time alone. Once again Stephen King’s horror seems almost romantic to the willing mind. “Lisey’s Story” is a story about, as you may have guessed, Lisey Langdon. At the start of the story, her husband has been dead for years. He was an author whose books were often sought after and widely read, much like King himself. The story begins with Lisey sorting through her husband’s things in his office, a chore she has put off for the entire two years since his death. She finds boxes and boxes of papers, some pieces of books and stories that he had been working on before his death while others were the ravings of a mad man. One word in particular jars her mind: Bool. While she is searching through these papers, she receives a disturbing phone call from a mysterious stranger calling himself Zack McCool. He threatens to hurt her if she does not turn the papers of her late husband over to certain authorities in that area. Lisey hangs up on him, slightly put off by this strange man, but not scared yet. While thinking about this occurrence, she receives a call that her manic-depressive sister has violently cut herself. Lisey
gathers her wits was only looking and journeys to hurt Lisey. to her sister’s Later that house to mend evening, despite the wounds. the armed guard She takes her outside her house, sister to the the manic calling hospital, but the himself Zack wounds aren’t McCool makes serious enough an appearance in to warrant an Scott’s study. After overnight stay knocking Lisey and they return unconscious, he home. Lisey tortures her with decides that her a can opener. sister is still not stable enough and www.stephenking.com He then leaves decides to sleep in the same bed her bleeding on the floor. To overcome this maniac as her older sister. She awakens after a series of strange dreams and save herself and Scott’s to speak with her sleeping sister, papers, Lisey must delve into who sounds much like Lisey’s her own memories and the dead husband, Scott. After the memories of her late husband brief discussion, Lisey discovers and his abusive and suicidal that her sister has become father. She must come to terms catatonic and cannot wake up. with the secrets that Scott held When Lisey tries checking and learn the truth about the her into a mental institution, “pool” from which he got his Greenlawn, she is told that they ideas. How can she survive the are booked solid. But she soon onslaught of a mad man and the discovers that her husband, ravings of her own husband? Scott, had reserved a spot for Will her sister ever wake up? her sister years earlier. With And what is a “bool”, anyway? This book is a must-read for her sister taken care of, Lisey was able to return to her home. any Stephen King fan or anyone When she arrives, she finds who loves suspense stories. a dead cat in her mailbox. This King is at his finest as he crafts scares her, prompting her to call this novel filled with danger the police, who send a guard and discovery. He beautifully to her house. She calls the man displays the undying love of who she is convinced hired the two soul mates that continues psychopath, but discovers that, on, even beyond death. The though he had sent this man to beauty of his diction illuminates her, he can no longer call him the world of the story, from off. The e-mail address he had the rural streets of a Maine been given doesn’t work, and he town to the deepest depths of has no other way of contacting the human mind. Let’s all go the man. It seemed that the down to the pool and drink. man had lost his marbles and
Te a r s b e g i n W h e r e the River Ends Rox a n n e Lo the sandspur
What would you like to have accomplished before your time on Earth comes to an end? For Abbie Coleman, this means spending some time together with her husband Doss Michaels. Doss grew up poor with his mother in a trailer park in southern Georgia. His childhood memories are composed of things too ugly for his age; his only escape was the paint his mother bought for him. Since he was a little boy, his mother recognized his talents with art and he grew up pursuing his passion as an art student, working and living in a cold-water studio in Charleston, South Carolina. On the other hand, Abbie, the beautiful daughter of the senior senator from South Carolina lives her life like royalty. Her childhood was vibrant and brilliant; a stark contrast to Doss’. Like Romeo and Juliet, Doss and Abbie are two star-crossed lovers, meeting accidentally on a fateful evening when Doss rescues supermodel Abbie from a boardwalk thug. It was love at first sight and the two be-
lieve they have found their soul mates. Their relationship results in upheaval within Abbie’s family, who considers Doss trailer trash, and sets their sights on doing whatever it takes to keep the young lovers apart. Too in love to care, Abbie and Doss marry in a civil ceremony at the age of twenty-one, leading to the estrangement of Abbie’s father and stepmother. Abbie manages to become a successful interior designer without any relations to her father’s fame, steering clear of Charleston’s upper-crust. Doss, too, finds success, as his decorfriendly paintings also take off. In celebration, Abbie and Doss go on a world tour of museums, where he witnesses Renaissance work he’d only seen in art books. When Abbie discovers a lump in her breast, however, their happily-ever-after turns into a nightmare full of nonstop visits to the hospital, endless medical treatments, and nausea. Four years of therapy later, Abbie is mutilated and does not resemble her former self; however, her spirit is still undefeated. Watching his wife waste
away in the care of hired strangers is the last thing on Doss’ mind. Risking all that he has, Doss willingly faces the possibility of kidnapping in order to fulfill his promise to her as well as her last wish for one more adventure together—a 130mile trip down St. Mary’s River. Despite the surreal atmosphere, Charles Martin still manages to capture readers with his romantic theme of husbandly devotion. Doss and Abbie face every obstacle together and, hand in hand, overcome all their troubles: parental interference, hatred, cancer, chemotherapy, and impending death. In addition to a beautiful theme, Martin uses impressive imagery throughout the novel, while deftly crafting a metaphor out of the couple’s final river journey. While many of us have wild ambitions, Martin’s novel pulls us back a step; although there is nothing wrong with such dreams, perhaps, he says, we should take the time out of our lives to realize the simple pleasures that exist in the world. In the meantime, I’m going
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Hope kramek the sandspur Not 4 Sale. Let’s analyze this fragment. The phrase is absent of a subject, and therefore could be replaced with any noun. In keeping with the phrase’s ambiguity, I have chosen the noun “something.” So, something is not for sale; presumably, Kardinal Offishall is not for sale, or maybe his music, or possibly his ideas. Not 4 Sale is a completely
The problem I come to when listening to Not 4 Sale happens to revolve around the lyrics. Some endings of songs include strange phone-like voices speaking nonsensically with no basic reference to the music whatsoever. These additives taint the CD and cause me to change to the next song immediately. Aside from these idiotic voice extensions, some of the actual song lyrics have little to no positive mental impacts for women. Most of the songs, if
http://www.kardinaloffishall.com/
erroneous belief; everything is for sale, especially Kardinal Offishall, his music, and his ideas. The cover, by the way, depicts this contradiction. Kardinal Offishall is photographed in an old World War I army helmet, painted with black below his eyes and a barcode covering his mouth. The barcode placed over his lips is a literal correlation between the commercialization of his main mechanism for communication, and thus can be translated from his speech to his music. I find myself in a contradiction when evaluating the musical assessment of Not 4 Sale. Without a doubt, the instrumentals are superb. The beats, strong and undulating, are consistently enticing. All of the songs would be entertaining and worth listening to sans the lyrics. The beats can transform anyone into a sort of chill, relaxed, and poised trance. I especially like the vibration emitted from my car speakers as I play “Set It Off.” Although I also like the tasteful use of sirens, it’s a little unnerving mid-drive.
centralized around the female gender, pertain to their objectification and overt sexualization. For example, I am not quite sure how to describe the extent to which I am disturbed by the lyrics of “Gimme Some” in which a member of featured artists, The Dream, ogles of a gyrating girl and describes how much he wants to touch her. What am I suppose to do with that? Imagine myself being degraded to the level of a sexual toy? I respond to that song by saying, as I hope all women will, “Actually, I do not want to give you any.” In the style of pro-conpro, I will end this review by expressing the excellent choice of feature artists. The album has Kardinal Offishall paired with some of the top names in music today, including Akon, Rihanna, and T-Pain. All three of those songs, “Dangerous,” “Numba 1 (Tide is High),” and “Go Home With You” are more than necessary on any new iTunes playlist. I highly recommend that if you like the featured artists, download these songs.
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NZazulia@Rollins.edu
arts
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September 26, 2008
entertainment
Irrational’s music Colby O supplies is anything but overdone songs Photo from colbyodonis.com
e r i k k e e va n the sandspur
Static fills your speakers as a ghostly voice tells you to find your weakness. Thus begins the journey of Irrational’s sophomore album “Loyalty is Everything: The Cursed Recordings.” For the next thirty-five minutes you are in the hands of these Orlando-based rockers. Lighter guitar elements accent the bass-laden music, while the guitarist/vocalist, Jason Tropf, delivers the band’s heavy lyrics, punctuated with screams from bassist Garret Jankowski. The band’s lyrics are filled with meaning and purpose. On their MySpace page, they credit life as an influence for their music. Their lyrics are dark with many allusions to suicide. “My Final Statement” is a song about a
person, the listener can’t be sure whether it is a man or woman, committing suicide. It even includes the sound of a shotgun in the opening of the song. However, the band strongly opposes suicide and seeks to help those in need. On the back of the jacket for “Loyalty is Everything,” they have included a message from the band on the concept of suicide. They believe that at least once, everyone will feel trapped and alone, but that “suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” They call for those who are depressed to seek help, and for their friends to help in any way possible. There are many downs in life, but there are also many ups. For a local, unsigned band, the music is mixed and produced amazingly well. The vocals are easy to distinguish even with the heavy music that accompanies it. The lyrics are clear and easy to understand, including the
Photo from myspace.com/irrational
Irrational promises a passionate performance
background screaming that takes place. The music is intricate, and even if it is not filled with guitar solos and bass flares, the skills of the musicians are easy to see. The passion that they have for music and life is evident in every line that they sing and every chord that they play. Throughout the six-year existence of Irrational, there have been several line-up changes. The band acknowledges these changes as the reason for the evolution of sound that Central Florida undergrounders have grown to love and cherish. The rawness and realness of their lyrics and the passion of their music has extended to the public, enveloping them in the musical experience that is Irrational. At shows, the band is just as lively as the music sounds. Never standing in one place, the band moves with the music. Garret even jumped off the amps and sound equipment strewn across the stage at one show. Their sound is mixed beautifully, and it is possible to hear every word as the music courses through the room like an electrical current. It is impossible to sit by idly. You feel yourself start to jump and move with the music, as the players jump into the audience. Songs such as “This is a Test” and “Good Bye Forever” send the crowd into a fervor that is rarely seen in contemporary music. So if you love hard-core music, or lyrics that have a deep-rooted meaning, Irrational is a must-have. You will find yourself singing along with them in the shower or randomly throughout the day. Become a loyalist of the Orlando sensation Irrational and take your spot in music history as they take you on a journey that you will never forget.
jennifer stull the sandspur
“Hey, My name’s Colby. I know this is kinda out there, but I been staring at you from across the room and can I talk to you for a second? I’ve been thinking Baby, you could do better.” Yes, you could do better than this CD. This wonderful display of poetic disaster comes from Colby O’Donis’ CD “Colby O.” I had the interesting opportunity to listen to dear Colby’s breakout album, but sad to say it’s more of a breakdown. Many of you probably do not know who Colby O’Donis is, but you might be familiar with his one hit “What You Got,” featuring Akon, where Akon raps and Colby sings. Prior to hearing this song on the CD, I thought the vocalist was a woman. After listening to the rest of his debut album, it seems as though this 19-year-old Akon protégé might not live up to all the hype of his single. A few of the more entertaining song titles on the CD include “Under My Nose,” “Saved You Money,” “Thinking Bout Ya” and “Hustle Man.” Not to mention my personal favorite, “Sophisticated Bad Girl,” where Colby sings “Maybe, baby, I could call you up. Grab your cell and fall in love. Look, girl, I’m just kidding, I just really wanted to hook up. Interested in you, are you interested in me? This girl has got the game on lock. Homie, can’t you see?” If those lyrics aren’t the making of a beautiful love ballad, then I don’t know what is. His style is a wannabe latino Justin Timberlake with the poppy sounds of Jesse McCartney. At first glance of the CD, one might believe there is some promise since O’Donis collaborates with artists such as Akon, Paul Wall, Lil’ Romeo, and T-Pain, but in those songs these featured artists carry the only positive qualities in the music and O’Donis adds little musical flair. The sounds of the songs are rather scattered as well. While they all contain the same pop feeling, some songs have an ethnic tone that does not flow with the rest of the CD. The lyrics also lack a genuine quality. In his song “Hustle Man,” Colby starts the song with the words, “You know this is not just another song to me. I’ve been through this struggle and I’ve been through the years. Man, it’s a long way up,” which may sound heartfelt, if O’Donis had not been raised in Orlando, where he became a paid actor at the age of 9. The whole sound of the album is generic and overdone with wannabe thug lyrics and a bad boy attitude. While I will not deny that I am a fan of his one hit, I do not foresee any other of his songs becoming charttoppers any time soon. However, if you’re looking for a good laugh by all means pick up this CD. The sounds and lyrics are sure to put you in a better mood. However, if you are looking for genuinely good music and lyrics, “Colby O” will leave you musically lost and searching for the next one hit wonder.
Austin Art Show should attain attention l au r a h a r dw i c k e the sandspur
While browsing the Orlando Weekly for something to do this past weekend, I stumbled across an advertisement for an art show at Austin’s Coffee and Film. The ad promised “More than a dozen rare and unique posters found on San Francisco Bay Area walls, poles, and trees from about 1985-2000.” So I grabbed some friends and headed down Fairbanks for a wellneeded dose of culture. For a Saturday night, the place was close to empty. My friends and I got our coffee, and
it took me a second to even notice the posters. It looked as if a third grade class had accosted the wall with construction paper and scotch tape. Maybe the collector was going for simplicity, but sloppiness was the only angle achieved. A closer look at the cultural content of the political posters saddened me; so much history treated so poorly. They were haphazardly taped onto construction paper, with rips and tears from what must have been previous shows. Granted these aren’t rare Rembrandt’s, but art is art and it should be taken care of — particularly if
you plan on showcasing it to the public. The content varied greatly. One poster promoted a ban on indoor smoking in the Bay area around 1980. It was particularly interesting because it displayed a wide variety of scenes from the eighties, such as hip-hoppers, skaters, and even metal heads. The description on one poster dealing with the Sandinista movement was almost insulting. It shrugged off the poster’s political significance with a vague, hazy reference to the collectors drugged out past. The collection’s most out-
standing piece was a black and white photograph. A toy tank resting on a man’s abdomen pointed at his crotch, with an erection pointing right back. The poster read “WARPLAY.” Shocking, witty, and simple, it serves its purpose as political art. Even better, its timeless approach still holds true today. While the ad claimed art dating up to 2000, most of the art was from twenty to thirty years ago. Even though our country is still in political unrest, there is very little art illustrating individual’s opinions. The show’s poor presentation was upsetting, but
I left more disappointed with my generation. Why aren’t our streets crowded with opinionated pieces? Where is our voice? It seems the internet has become our hotbed for political opinions. Maybe I’m too traditional, but there seems to be more validity in a wheat-pasted poster or street art versus an online political cartoon, or even worse…a Facebook bumper sticker. A band began setting up and an audience started to trickle in. I wonder if they even noticed the history lining the wall. And if they did, would it make a difference?
HKramek@Rollins.edu
sports
September 26, 2008
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Rollins Cross Country Mid-Season Statistics Women’s Team 5K (3.1 Mile) Race Stats: Runner Christina Goodwin Kelly Rolfes-Hasse Salem Willis Brittney Cross Tawny Najjar Jenay Shook Katie Powell Morgan Frost Kelly Sorren
UCF Knight Attack Invitational (Sept. 5, 2008) 30th - 22:18.66 37th - 23:24.91 38th - 23:25.27 40th - 23:45.84 42nd - 26:16.54 48th - 30:42.20 50th - 31:29.10
UCF Black and Gold Invitational (Sept. 13, 2008) 21st - 22:20.37 27th - 23:19.63 31st - 23:33.47 38th - 24:16.11 39th - 24:43.71 49th - 30:02.17 48th - 28:55.34 47th - 27:54.43
Men’s Team 8K (5 Mile) Race Stats: Runner Jesse Hugo Aleks Markovic Shelby Burks John Watson Tyler Cloutier Buck Snyder Rob Hoffman Seth Pierce
UCF Knight Attack Invitational (Sept. 5, 2008) 14th - 28:20.26 31st - 32:13.75 32nd - 33:13.33 33rd - 34:16.51 36th - 35:35.78
UCF Black and Gold Invitational (Sept. 13, 2008) 3rd - 28:29.64 17th - 31:57.00 19th - 32:12.35 32nd - 35:17.64 20th - 32:19.17 23rd - 32:31.21
Embry-Riddle Asics Open (Sept. 20, 2008) 19th - 23:27.55 21st - 23:53.62 24th - 24:04.43 31st - 24:32.31 71st - 33:04.26 51st - 27:29.50 37th - 25:10.96
Embry-Riddle Asics Open (Sept. 20, 2008) 20th - 29:25.55 51st - 33:05.79 38th - 32:00.17 69th - 36:54.20 59th - 35:04.50 35th - 31:48.07 45th - 32:25.72
Women’s Team Spotlight:
Meet Salem Willis Salem Willis is a senior at Rollins and the CC women’s team captain. I was recently lucky enough to sit down and ask a few questions about her racing career:
The Sandspur: How many years have you been running CC? Salem Willis: This will be my eighth year. TS: Why do you run? SW: It is a great stress reliever, a good break in my hectic schedule. TS: What is your favorite workout and why? SW: My favorite workouts are the long runs down by the various lakes. There are some really beautiful runs in Winter Park- I just love being outside, especially by the water. TS: What is your favorite college race to run and why? SW: My favorite college races would have to be the ones in Tampa because I am from there and it’s fun to remember the high school days. TS: What is your personal record when did you break it? SW: I trained pretty hard this summer so my PR would have been when we I raced my friends at home with a time of 21:26, I am hoping to reach somewhere around that this season, but our race courses are pretty tough so it will be difficult.
Men’s Team Spotlight:
Meet Jesse Hugo
Jesse Hugo is a sophomore at Rollins and is currently our very own “athlete of the week”. He also managed to come up with some pretty solid answers when bombarded by my inquisitiveness to his CC career:
The Sandspur: How many years have you been running cross country? Jesse Hugo: This is my second year. TS: Why do you run? JH: For a few reasons: First, I run to clear my head. I know that sounds weird, but it’s the most refreshing and relaxing part of my day. Second, I’m not that good at other sports. And finally, chicks dig runners. TS: What is your favorite workout and why? JH: I love doing anything at night when it’s raining. It feels like I’m in a movie. TS: What is your favorite distance race to run and why? JH: By far, it is the mile. The mile is a treat for distance runners, it actually feels like a race rather than a punishment. TS: What is your personal record- when did you break it? JH: In college it’s 28:20 for the 8k. I ran it the first meet this year (UCF Knight Attack Invitational).
XC Remaining Schedule: Fri, Oct 03 - flrunners.com Invitational at Titusville, Fla. 5 p.m. Fri, Oct 17 - Stetson Hatters Invitational at DeLand, Fla. 4:30 p.m. Sat, Oct 25 - Sunshine State Conference Championships at Tampa, Fla. 8 a.m. Sat, Nov 08 - NCAA Southeast Region Championships at Searcy, Ark. TBA Sat, Nov 22 NCAA Division II National Championships at Slippery Rock, Pa. TBA
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KMcNoldy@Rollins.edu
Sunday
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Bach Festival: Masters of the Baroque Tiedtke 3pm
National Society of Collegiate Scholars Suntrust Auditorium 6:00 p.m.
“Doubt,
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Bach Festival: Leon Fleisher Knowles 3pm
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Parable”
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6 WPRK Marathon Kickoff! The Blob on the Lawn! 6:30
WPRK
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Bela Fleck Open Rehearsal Tiedtke Concert Hall 12:30-1:45 p.m. Bela Fleck Concert Tiedtke Concert Hall 7:30 p.m.
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Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Bush Auditorium, 7 p.m. National Presidential Debate Viewing Ward Hall, 9 p.m.
Marathon!
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Frontline: The Choice 2008 and discussion with Dr. Mike Gunter Ward Hall, 9 p.m. Women’s Soccer vs. NOVA Southeastern 6:00 p.m.
W P R K
20 Frontline: Heat and discussion with Dr. Mike Gunter Ward Hall, 9 p.m.
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Tuesday Wednesday
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Bela Fleck Presentation Tiedtke Concert Hall 7:00 p.m.
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September 26, 2008
backpage
21 Major/Minor Fair Cornell Campus Center, 8:00 a.m.
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Thursday
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2 National V.P. Debate Viewing Ward Hall, 9 p.m.
Women’s Soccer vs. Florida Tech 7:30 p.m.
Volleyball vs. Tampa 7:00 p.m.
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15
Parable”
4 Rollins Volleyball 7:00 p.m.
Family
Weekend
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Men’s Soccer vs. Saint Leo 7:00 p.m.
Women’s Soccer vs. Saint Leo 7:00 p.m.
The
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Men’s Soccer vs. Florida Tech 5:00 p.m.
Solar Energy Workshop Winter Garden City Hall 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Rollins After Dark Dave’s Down Under 10:00
“Doubt,
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Saturday
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Rollins Brand Town Hall Presentation Bush Science Center 12:30-1:45 p.m.
Volleyball vs. Florida Southern 7:00
Friday
Blob
is
Coming!
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“Literary Influence: An Inconvenient Truth,” with Billy Collins Keene Hall, 7:00 p.m.
Check
it
out!
18 Men’s Soccer vs. NOVA Southeastern 6:00 p.m.
Rollins College www.TheSandspur.org