Volume IX Issue II

December 2012

Board wishes you

good luck wiTh

The ediTorial

Emotions vary as finals

wEEk approachEs
By Rebecca Bell Contributing Writer John Cabot University students have mixed feelings about finals - some are worried while others are relaxed. Jessica Kallqvist, 22, has her hands full when it comes to final exams. She is taking five classes and feels that she has a lot to study for. There is so much to remember I get nervous. There is so much to do in so little time, she said. Mariah Mckechnic, 21, isnt worried about exams saying I just dont get worried about finals. Mckechnic is an art major taking four classes, and typically she only has one final per semester and it is usually a paper. Michelle Lenartz, 20, feels well prepared for finals this semester, saying, I feel that the professors here have taught me quite a bit this semester, they all know their stuff really well, and are passionate about the topics. While she may feel prepared for finals Lenartz still studies. She likes to study in her room where she can play her music and concentrate without worrying about other people distracting her. Remy Hassett, 20, likes to study in the library, saying the library is where Im most productive. I always rewrite my notes, I cant just reread them. Normally Ill rewrite them as they are, then rewrite them again summarizing them a bit more. At home Ill go through this several times and end up going from 20 pages of notes to like two. While Hassetts studying process is very involved she is not very stressed about finals, saying by the time Thanksgiving passes she feels pretty done with school.

Finals, saFe Trips

and amazing

merry chrisTmas and a happy new year!!!

holidays!

changEs in drinking bEhavior among studEnts

whilE studying abroad
By Emily Silber Contributing Writer Rome - Its 5:00 pm, Tuesday evening, and the Campo de Fiori piazza is crowded with study abroad students from John Cabot University (JCU). Whether sitting below the monument of philosopher Giordano Bruno, gathering around the fountain, or eating and hanging out at one of the many restaurants or bars, the majority of students have one thing in common: they are drinking. Going out and drinking is one of the main forms of socialization here, said Kristen Harker, 22, a JCU student from San Diego, California. I think students are more willing to drink, and drink more often, because they feel like studying abroad is like vacation and have more of a party mentality because they are in a different country. Harker is one of the many study abroad students who is swept up in the alluring nightlife and exciting atmosphere of Rome. Its just our generation. As college students thats what we do: go out and drink. As someone who turned 21 before coming to Rome, Harker admitted that her level of drinking has significantly increased since being abroad, and that she goes out about four to five nights a week. When asked how many drinks on average she usually has per night, she admits that she would prefer not to say but that I drink above what I think most people would normally drink. In an article on the psychology of addictive behaviors, When in Rome: Factors associated with changes in drinking behavior among American college students studying abroad, Eric Pederson, Department of Psychology, University of Washington, and his co-authors, found that American students drink twice as much when abroad. The article listed several contributing factors, including the lower drinking age in the majority of countries where study abroad programs are located, allowing those under 21 to have greater access to buy alcohol and the ability to drink in public, Pederson said. Paul Piane, a bartender at The Abbey Theatre, an Irish/American pub near JCU, explains that another dynamic that leads to more drinking is the way female students are targeted by many bars. Its a marketing technique, said Paine. Thats why we allow free drinks for girls and have Ladies Night on Thursdays. If you bring in girls, guys will follow. Italian guys in particular go to these places for one reason, and its not because they like Irish music. Another American restaurant/bar, Continued on Page 3

pagE 2.........campus lifE pagE 3.........campus lifE pagE 4.........campus lifE pagE 5.........politics pagE 6-7......christmas in romE pagE 8.........film fEstival pagE 9.........food cornEr / film fEstival pagE 10.......EvEnts at Jcu

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accordingly. Do not come to class how you woke up. Lanzone said a mandatory dress code would make JCU take a step back and support the idea that it is just another school. But he added: Students need to see JCU as a work place. It is about common sense. Therefore, professors should tell students face-to-face to behave and dress accordingly. I also do not appreciate them eating during class hours. Federica Capoferri, Assistant Professor of Italian, Chair Modern Languages and Literature Dept, who is seen as one of the most chill professors by students with her multiple earrings, tattoos, and military-like boots, said that there should be no dress code for professors. As for students, she has noticed that recently they take more freedom in the choice of what they wear to school. Although she is against prohibition, she thinks that especially American female students should be warned of their choice in attire if they do not want to be treated as outsiders or differently. She made the example that in America, short shorts are considered casual, while here, they are considered extremely provocative, therefore American girls are immediately noticed. Mary Merva, Vice President and Dean of Academics, said the uniqueness of JCU is due to the fact that our student body reflects many aspects of the world and it is by examining how we live within this concept that we may learn and gain greater wisdom and understanding of this world that increasingly places individuals in contexts with others. The university, she said enables students to appreciate, benefit from and contribute to the richness and diversity of other cultures and that it encourages sensitivity to diverse ethnic origins. She said the reputation of the school is not based on the clothes its students wear. Dress code is a very interesting issue to address as it highlights the role of individual freedom versus the role of a state in controlling that freedom, said Merva. During her lectures, she said she focuses on what the students can take from the experience, not what they wear. I personally try to look at the individual and get to know them rather than make predetermined judgments based on outward appearance. Looking into someones eyes and listening to them is what matters, she said.

Jcu studEnts want a drEss codE

By Gabriella Di Benedetto Contributing Writer Rome A number of John Cabot University students feel the university should establish a student dress code. For some it is a matter of respect, for others it is a cultural matter and for others it is just plain common sense. Marianna Pallini, 22, from Arezzo, Italy, said that students from other parts of the world tend to show respect for their surroundings, but she said that especially Americans lack in decency towards themselves and others. Students come to Italy; therefore they should respect its culture, that day, said Fernandez referring to business leaders and academics who visit the university. Giovanni Francesco DArrigo, 23, known as G-Frank, from Laguna Hills, California, said he does see the benefit of a dress code, but I do not see it working for our rebellious generation. G-Frank said he did see students go to school in bathing suits in California because they would go to the beach after class. It depends on where and how you grow up, he said. Then there are those students who highlight the fact that JCU is a university that promotes freedom of expression and therefore students should be free to dress however they want. I went to the New York Military Academy, where I was forced to wear a uniform. Here at JCU, it is a breath of fresh air and the school does not hold the right to limit our freedom, said Josh Alexander Hernandez, 20, from Miami, Florida. To establish a dress code at JCU would not only rob students of individuality and personality, but also rob them of their liberal ideals. Pierre Fara Baranyanka, 20, from Monaco, said he would personally be angry if John Cabot established a dress code, because dressing is a form of expression and freedom. Tariro Mzezewa, 21, from Maryland, said, You know what message you want to send out. Yes, we are in Italy, but we go to an American college, therefore we should combine the two cultures, not have one prevail on the other. We are old enough to make our own decisions. However, she admitted that she would feel uncomfortable if professors were to dress as slackly as students. Andrea Lanzone, Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs, said, Do as the Romans do. By this I mean that we are in Italy, therefore we should act as Italians act. I believe universities today suffer from a serious illness: to think that college is a continuation of high school. College is not a school; it is a professional environment and students need to behave

which entails to respect a dress code. Even professors should clean up and avoid accessories like flip flops or shorts, maintaining a casual-formal look and giving a good example to students, she said. We are in a college setting, therefore we must dress accordingly, its not ok to state that in America students dress however they want, because we are not in America; we are in Italy, said 21- yearold Paola Scotto di Frega, from Naples, who was wearing leggings, a long black blouse and white shirt that completely covered her shoulders. Scotto di Frega suggested a dress code; even uniforms might not be a bad option. But other students feel that the matter should be brought up to students but they should make their own decisions. Alexandra Nikole Fernandez, 22, former student at JCU from Virginia, said the idea of a dress code should be addressed during orientation week because pajamas, basketball shorts, booty shorts or wife beaters are completely inappropriate. Not only is it bad for JCUs reputation, but you never know who you will meet

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Drinking continuEd from pagE 1

Sloppy SAMS, located in Campo Di Fiori, caters to college students studying abroad by offering discount shot specials, Jell-O shots, pitchers and beer pong. The majority of our customers are tourists or foreign students, said Makenzie Newman, a Sloppy SAMS waitress from Bozeman, Montana. I have yet to see American students come into sloppy SAMS to eat. Theyre usually only in to drink and based on their condition at the end of the night, Id say their drinking is a bit excessive. As a club promoter in Rome, Matt Reynolds, 21, from New York City, explains that his main goal is to get people, particularly students, to spend money at the clubs he promotes. One way to do this is by offering them free entry or discounted drinks, he said. On some nights the clubs will have a few hours of unlimited drinks and everyone tries to get as many as possible before that time is up, said Reynolds. In general, I tend to target study abroad students because they are not super concerned about their performance in school. They come to Europe to drink, travel and experience a new culture. A lot of them are not 21 yet either, which means its a new thing for them to be able to drink legally, and they take full advantage. Reynolds, who is also a student at JCU, has been living in Rome for the past five months and has done his share of drinking and partying. Every night I see people drink past their limits. Sometimes they puke, sometimes they can barely walk or stand straight, and sometimes they even pass out in inappropriate places, said Reynolds. The first night of the semester when all the JCU students moved in, Reynolds remembers how one of his friends got really drunk, disappeared, and they found him later curled up in the fetal position

CAMPUS LIFe
between two homeless gentlemen. Michelle Miele, 20, from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, is one of the few students at JCU who said her drinking behavior has not changed significantly while being abroad. I only go out once or twice a week. In general I dont drink a lot because I like to get a good amount of sleep and school is much more important to me, Miele said. However, I would say I do drink more here than when Im home. It has to do with the people Im friends with and the environment. At home my friends mostly stay in, but here everyone goes out, so I will too for social purposes. According to research supported by the U.S. Department of education and the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, targeting perceptions during pre-abroad programs may have an influential effect on student study-abroad drinking rates. This is what the JCU Orientation Program strives to do at the beginning of each semester. I believe that drinking in general is an issue that needs to be addressed in any college environment, said Beatrice Nanni, Student Services Associate Manager at JCU. Its a cultural problem that comes from students growing up with this idea that when they go to college they have to drink a lot. Students studying abroad need to take a step back and look at the reality of the situation: yes drinking is part of the culture in Italy, but it is drinking in moderation, and it is considered as more of an art. During the Orientation Program, Ben Peracchio, the Vice Consul for American Citizen Services at U.S. embassy Rome, was brought in to discuss topics concerning drinking and partying while abroad. Many students are abroad for the very first time and may not be aware of the many resources at their disposal, said Peracchio. Rome is a big city and unfortunately some students find themselves in trouble. During his lecture, Peracchio described how the Embassy could be of assistance after a long night or weekend of partying and listed multiple suggestions for how students could protect themselves while drinking. Its important to talk about drinking while abroad at John Cabot because its part of the Italian culture thats housing them, said Pilar Murgia, Student Services Manager at JCU. They should try to learn about what this beautiful country has to offer, and orientation, simply put, is a way to orient them. Murgia has been in Rome for approximately 28 years, 10 of which she has spent working at the university. During this time she has observed that drinking while abroad depends on the goal and mission of the student. If their objective is to drink, then thats exactly what they will do, but there are also those who choose to study, said Murgia. JCU Vice President and Dean of Academics, Mary Merva, said the university tries to promote responsible drinking. An institution cant pressure students to do something they dont want to do, or try to control their freedom. This is an issue every university has to deal with; it doesnt matter if its overseas or in the United States, she said. All Universities want to say, weve done X, Y, Z and have certain programs to prevent dangerous drinking, but just to cover issues of liability. I dont think these programs effectively solve anything. Its up to the students to decide when enough is enough and how they want to live their lives. I dont see them as weak or bowing to peer pressure. I have more respect for them than that. I just hope students will start thinking of themselves as young scholars, she said.

Jcu studEnts call for morE study spacE

By Danielle Falcone Contributing Writer ROMe - Working together on a group project, Michelle Miele and three other John Cabot University undergraduate students tirelessly searched for a place to study. They tried the Tiber Caf which was too noisy, hunted for an empty classroom with no luck, and ended up at the library that was closed by the time they arrived. Miele, a 19-year-old study abroad student from Albion College in Michigan, is one of many students struggling with the lack of study space at JCU, and doesnt think size is a legitimate argument. My home university has about 1,400 students, so its pretty similar to here. I think it should have similar resources, she said. JCU currently has a number of formal study spaces, including a residential study room in the Gianicolo Residence Hall, terraces on both campuses, small studyonly rooms, and the Frohring Library, which is in the midst of an expansion that will incorporate new space for studyseekers.

Chiara Abbondanti, a 22-yearold degree-seeking student, says that considering the size of the school, which grew from around 800 to 1,200 students in the last three years, the current amount of formal study spaces seem fairly reasonable. Abbondanti argues that the university is only now adjusting to the size of the student population. I think its only an issue now that we have a lot of students, she said. As for the Frohring Library, some students find the study area to be subpar as well. Michelle Imperiale, a degree-seeking student in her second year at JCU, said the library is her favorite Continued on Page 4

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For some students, however, its not a question of quantity but of quality. Melissa Abate, a senior who transferred to JCU more than two years ago, said, Unfortunately a lot of the study spaces that we have at John Cabot are located next to or below loud rooms. For example, she pointed to the study room at Gianicolo that is next to the gym, and because there is a door connecting them together, many students find the stereo in the gym to be a major distraction while studying. While every student has their own idea for a solution to the problem, the university assures students that they are being heard. Elisabetta Morani, the head librarian and as she refers to herself, the interpreter of users needs of collections, has along with her staff spent countless hours assessing the situation surrounding study areas. They have intensely interviewed students to address their academic needs, drawing two days a week. He walks to the farmers market just steps away from his front door in Piazza San Cosimato. He sits back in his metal rocking chair, in the viewing area of his studio and brushes his hand through his wavy salt and pepper hair. The top buttons of his blue checkered oxford shirt are open, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Being an artist is difficult, there are no guarantees. The only compensation is that you get to set up your life the way you want, in a way that feeds your creativity. Flaccus uses a process in his art called encaustic, painting with colored beeswax on large wooden panels. He describes the wax as cumbersome and slow, qualities that lend themselves to his methodical approach to creativity. He says the slow process allows his creativity to flower, because his mind is constantly moving forward into new conceptions while the materialization takes time. The result is a cache of ideas he can develop into new pieces. He moved to Rome in 1993, after spending much of the 70s and 80s in the booming art scene of Soho, New York. He admits that Rome is not the vital and stimulating atmosphere he may crave if he were a younger artist. But now, he says I organized the information into a structured report and presented it to the administration. As a result of their efforts, the Frohring Library is currently working on a new addition that will accommodate 40 new seats for library-goers. The small chapel-turned-library, located between the library and the Lemon Tree Courtyard, should be ready for students by the Spring 2013. As for the complaints, Morani said, I take it as an opportunity for creating awareness. Having heard their pleas for more space consistently for numerous years now, Morani understands that the students need more space to study, but she encourages them to understand the universitys restrictions. I am trying to make [these needs] compatible with the environment, trying to balance space available with the citys restrictions. In some ways, her hands are tied. Her solution: I was about to suggest a boat on the Tiber.

StuDy Space continuEd from pagE 3

place to study, but with restrictions: Only if its not hot or loud or smelly, she said. Study-abroad student Lindsey Livacich dislikes the library for a different reason. Even when Im at Guarini, I can hear everything outside the library. Its not quiet, she said. The lack of comfortable and ample study spots has forced many students to create their own study environments that include either staying home or going to a coffee shop. When Veronika Wuest, a study-abroad student from UCLA accustomed to ample study space any time of day or night, was asked about her favorite study spot, she said, Not on campusa coffee shop. Some students use the Tiber Caf, but there is a consistent amount of clatter from plates, utensils, and coffee cups, as well as six TVs, that are always blaring CNN or MTV at you, Wuest said.

By Jani Goza Contributing Writer

crEating spacE
Professor Peter Flaccus looks over his works in progress, in the corner of his bright and welcoming studio. He wipes dust off the surface of the wide, wooden workbench and switches on one of the hotplates, which will quickly melt the sunshine yellow wax now hardened and fixed in its small aluminum pot. It is all a process, he explains, and process is the key to being creative. Flaccus attributes his process of creativity, and the freedom he feels to express himself through art, to his open and uncluttered style of life. He rides his bike to his studio and to John Cabot University, where he teaches painting and

Peter Flaccus, Three Ellipses, 2008 138x240 cm appreciate more some stability and tranquility. And he already has plenty of material to work with. He does not rely on lightning strikes of inspiration, so his art evolves naturally out of his experience and his environment. For him, environment and lifestyle are vehicles for his art, and the charming streets and warm culture of Trastevere provide a healthy atmosphere for both. But dont go calling him an expatriate. I hate the term. I am happy here in Rome, but it doesnt mean Im some sort of exile. When he moved into his current studio three years ago the place was a real cavern, he says. But after a year of renovation, a complete overhaul of the gloomy, drab basement level flat, Flaccus has created a bright and welcoming workspace. With its capacious arched ceilings and white walls, perfectly disposed to contrast the vibrant fuchsias Continued on Page 10

Peter Flaccus, Wall Painting-Red, 2012 183 x 200 cm

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By Patrick Johnson Contributing Writer On November 6 America chose a government. It was not an inexpensive affair- over $6 billion in ads spent across one Presidential race, 33 Senate races, and 435 House of Representative Races (of which 81 were closely contested). And what did our $6 billion and almost two years campaigning buy us? 1 net gained Senate seat (gained by the Democrats) and 2 cumulative House seats (also net gain Democrat). essentially, America bought the status quo. For many reasons, this makes me very happy. I voted for President Obama, and will defend his record vehemently. I applauded the outcomes of Senate races all across the country, and was proud to see my preferred senator reelected in my home state of California. But taking a step back from individual glee or sorrow over the outcome of November 6 night we need to acknowledge the bigger picture: we are a fiercely divided nation, and in our division our system is failing. Lets look at some numbers: In September 2012 the approval rating for Congress was at 13 percent (Gallup Poll). In October just before the election it jumped to 21 percent, but that is still one of the lowest approval ratings for a congress before an election ever. The rhetoric surrounding Congress is glum: gridlock, partisanship, and useless are used to describe Congress much more frequently than any adjective remotely reflecting approval. Is this the Congress that we want to reelect? On election night, almost to the letter, it appears America sent an emphatic Yes! In fact its highly dubious that any among us would want this exact combination of congressmen and women reelected. We all want our OWN version of Congress elected. We want a Congress that can swiftly respond to a crisis and grapple with the real issues of our timeoh but dont let the other side get in on the issue: theyre thinking is wrong. Make no mistake friends, its we who cause the gridlock on Capital Hill. We only have ourselves to blame. So one arm of government is deadlocked, and poised to remain so for a few years. How about the other two? Unfortunately there are less-than-encouraging numbers there. The Supreme Court, after divisive cases such as Citizens United and Healthcare reform, has similarly suffered approval ratings around 44 percent (New York Times). And the President? Well if the popular vote is any indication, exactly as many people dislike Obama as like him- 50 percent of votes for him, 48 percent for Romney, 1 percent other. As a country we could not be more evenly split if we tried. And this, in a nutshell, is why we all lost on election night. Our own partisanship resulted

how wE all lost ElEction night- no mattEr who you supportEd

POLITICS

in a reelected divided government, without any partys plan or leadership given a strong mandate for change. Without clear leadership and direction the problems facing our country- most urgently the fiscal crisis- are going to be poorly handled. The saddest part is the low probability that anything will change in the near future. Pundits, especially on the left, will tell you that the GOP will have an internal civil war after this embarrassing loss against a weak incumbent- but theyre wrong. The GOP just got half the country to vote for their man- if we go by the popular vote rather than the Electoral College this was practically a tie. Why would they change anything? If you listen to the pundits on the right, they believe not only that the election was lost due to a mistimed hurricane, but they are confident that the Democratic party will evaporate in four years when the economy still has not recovered. No the GOP will remain exactly as they are, and hope that next time around the coin lands on the other side. As with all great nations, Im confident that in the face of external threat we would band together and forget our differences. We did with Sandy. But short of a national crisis, we will continue to bicker and weaken ourselves through stagnancy.

By Patrick Johnson Contributing Writer

Q & a with piErfEdErico asdrubali

Professor Pierfederico Adrubali teaches International Economics at John Cabot University but also works for the Council of Ministers. Italian citizens have been protesting against austerity measures and what better time to delve into the mystery of how Italy plans to fight its way out of the current financial crisis. Patrick Johnson: Can you clarify what it is exactly you do for the Council of Ministers? Professor Asdrubali: I work as support staff for the Council of Ministers, which is led by Mario Monti. My current work focuses on the rebuilding of Aquila, a town devastated by recent earthquakes. PJ: How is the Italian government actively working to solve the aging population crisis? PA: Right now there is no active or long-term plan for the seniorization of the population. The best we can do is to encourage immigration, as immigrant families usually have the most children. PJ: How is Mario Montis government dealing with Italys economic crisis? Should the Italian people prepare for some radical changes?

PA: The current crisis was not caused by some type of swelled state budget, it was a result of poor investment. Some of the countries in most need of help, such as Spain, had smaller debts than even Germany. Accordingly, Italy will not undergo much austerity or change. What has been done in terms of austerity so far has largely been to save face with Germany, and encourage them to provide continued assistance. The one exception to this is perhaps Greece, which really does require a sizable change. PJ: No austerity measures? Doesnt Italy need to work more and spend less to get out of this mess? PA: When you face a problem like this you have two options: You can implement austerity measures sure, but that can make the problem worse. Youll enter into a liquidity trap, in which nobody has money to spend, and thus the government receives no revenue, and nothing changes. The better option is to be more surgical: close loopholes and generate revenue through efficiency. Approximately 25 percent of Italys GDP is lost to the black market, such as the Mafia and tax evasion. Tapping into that wealth would be much more beneficial than re-stalling the

economy through austerity. Unfortunately, Mario Montis government has a short time frame. Surgical implementation of austerity is not an option in so short a time frame, and theyve instead done austerity cuts across the board, without attention paid to necessity or merit. The net effect is that the good is thrown out with the bad, and those that are left have to pick up the slack, but often they have less good workers to pick up the slack with. PJ: What about Italys incredibly generous labor laws. Such as the law that states a public worker cannot be fired for any reason. Shouldnt those laws be revised to be more efficient? PA: Its true that this law has made for some ridiculousness in the past, such as the public worker who committed murder and went to jail, but was not fired from his job. But these laws are in place for good reason. A problem in the past has been politically motivated firing. If youre a public worker from the out political party, your job is no longer threatened.

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During the Christmas season, youve got lots of opportunities, from midnight Mass (although getting tickets can be tricky) to Urbi et Orbi on Christmas Day (no tickets needed). The brass ring of the experience is, of course, midnight Mass at St. Peters. While thats a very, very special (if crowded) experience, its also tougher to book than a scavi tour. If you want to take a shot, then fax or write the Prefecture of the Papal Household at +39 06 6988 5863 with your information. The detailed information about the booking can be found here - http://www.vatican.va/various/prefettura/en/biglietti_en.html. Even if you dont have tickets to midnight Mass, you can still attend. Youll just have to stand out in the piazza and watch the ceremony on Jumbotrons; not quite the same, but still pretty neat with thousands of people packed into the square. Just remember that its actually at 10pm, not midnight.

Celebrate Christmas at the Auditorium! Romes Auditorium hosts a number of Christmas-themed events, running from Dec. 8-Jan. 8 (with some events running later, too). Goings-on include a Christmas fair, ice-skating rink, and lots of concerts from Christmas Italian music to gospel. For detailed information and schedule go to Auditoriums site: http://www.auditorium.com/eventi/5095629.

If you want to join other Catholics in the celebration of the Holy Holiday, you may visit several churches around Rome, where the mass is celebrated in english: the American Catholic Church of Santa Susanna has a childrens pageant mass, feast of the Holy Family, and lots of other services throughout Christmas. For non-Catholics, the Anglican Church of All Saints holds holiday services, including the Service of Nine Lessons with Carols, and the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church of Scotland has services throughout the Christmas season. Other churches with non-Catholic services in English during Christmas include the American Episcopal Church of St. Pauls Inside the Walls, the Methodist Church at Ponte SantAngelo, and the non-denominational Cavalry Chapel.

Appreciate the tradition of Italian nativity scenes: as well as Christmas cribs appear in churches around the town, Rome boasts both a museum of more than 3,000 of them and, during Christmas, a temporary exhibition of 200 presepi from artists across the globe. The annual exhibition 100 Presepi, founded in an attempt to revive the tradition, is open at the Santa Maria del Popolos Sale del Bramante till January 8th. Right next to Romes imperial forums, meanwhile, is one of Romes least-known museums: the Angelo Stefanucci Museo Tipologico Internazionale del Presepio (Via Tor de Conti 31/a). Located in the Church of Sts. Quirico and Giulitta, the museum has more than 3,000 presepi, ranging from a 17thcentury Sicilian crib built out of shells to Catalan works made from plaster. Others are made from terra cotta, glass, pearl, marzipan even eggs. From Christmas to epiphany (Jan. 6), the museum will be open weekdays, from 5 to 8 p.m.) and on holidays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Access is free, although a small donation is appreciated.

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chrIsTmas spIrIT In rome

T h e internationallyrenowned academy of Santa Cecilia hosts holidayt h e m e d concerts on four nights in December: Handels Messiah followed by Christmas songs on Dec. 17, the Messiah again on both the 19th and the 20th, and a Christmas concert on the 23rd.

Enjoy delicious Christmas sweets! Bakeries are brimming over with yummy holiday offerings like panettone, torrone and pandoro. Make sure to taste the goods!

Give back to the community: from Dec. 1-23, the Emergency Christmas Market is on at Palazzo Velli on Piazza Santegidio 10, in Trastevere. A Christmas market with a twistproceeds from the goods, which include everything from Nepalese hats to Cambodian silks to Italian panettone, go to charity. The market runs Monday - Thursday and on Sunday from 11am-8pm.

Go ice-skating: the Auditoriums not the only place you can enjoy one of the amusing activities of the winter. You also can skate underneath the iconic silhouette of Romes Castel SantAngelo. Other skating rinks in Rome include those at Re di Roma, Tor di Quinto, and Villa Gordiani.

Head to a Christmas market! There are plenty of them around Rome this time of year, the most famous being, of course, that in Piazza Navona, working from Dec 8 Jan 6. Another big Christmas market, Villaggio di Natale Ice Park, which is a representation of the Christmas village itself, can be found in Parco Tor di Quinto, 55 from Dec 1 - Jan 10. The award for the market most easily mistaken for a party and for boasting the biggest variety of super-hip gifts goes to the Happy Sunday Market (Via di Pietralata 159/A; www.happysundaymarket.com). This is where Romes trendiest young designers showcase their clothes, jewelry, art and handicrafts, along with records, vintage clothes, and books. Open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on one Sunday each month, the market, which takes place in a converted factory in Romes outskirts, also offers brunch, aperitivo and, often, live music.

ROMe FILM FeSTIVAL 2012

By Federica Brizzi and Francesca Mirabile Staff Writers

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A new artistic director (Marco Muller), a new Rome Film Festival this year. A Festival dominated by Asian productions, experimental movies, tons of late cancellations and lots of promises but few fulfillments. Among the international stars announced to visit the eternal City were Charlie Sheen, Jude Law, Bill Murray, and Quentin Tarantino but only Sylvester Stallone and James Franco made it to the red carpet, leaving many disappointed. Fortunately the movies were less disappointing and we covered the best of this years edition. P.S. We miss the old Festival. Lets hope for next year! MENTAL Directed by: PJ Hogan. Cast: Toni Colette, Rebecca Gibney, Caroline Goodall, Liev Schreiber. Politically incorrect, hilarious and engaged are just three of the many adjectives one could give to PJ Hogans Mental. An Australian family has to deal with the apparent mental disorder of the mother Shirley Moochmore (Rebecca Gibney). The neighborhood does its best to underline her being insane and at the end shes sent to a mental institute. Her kids, convinced of suffering of mental ilnesses themselves and neglected by their father, will understand that those who try to drive them apart are the real mentals thanks to a singular and unpredictable nanny Shaz (Toni Colette). Under the surface of a comedy, Mental conceals much deeper and serious themes such as that of discrimination, critique of the institutions and parenthood. After less engaged American comedies (but not less beautiful) as My Best Friends Wedding starring Julia Roberts, Hogan switches to a more multi-faceted cinematic view where every element is important and linked to each other, and at the same time connected to a bigger picture that is up to the spectator to grab and to reconstruct personally. TAR Directed by Edna Biesold, Sarah-Violet Bliss, Brice Thierry Cheung, Gabrielle Demeestere, Alexis Gamb (with the supervision of James Franco). Cast: James Franco, Mila Kunis, Jessica Chastain, Zach Braff, Henry Hopper, Bruce Campbell. Being a PhD student in english at Yale University and having attended graduate school at Columbia Universitys MFA writing program, James Franco appeared to be the only rational choice to interpret American poet C.K. Williams in the movie Tar. Named after one of the many collections of poems by Williams, the movie was a experimental project done by NYU graduate students, shepherded by Professor James Franco. The movie is a travel throughout the writers life; from his past relationship with his mother (played by Jessica Chastain) and his present one with his wife (played by Mila Kunis). Tar literally brings us into the sensibility of the artist and into his special way of looking at things. Williams words are used in the background, while vibrantly colored photographs flash on the screen. Sometimes, the movie appears to be more about the other four senses than that of the mere sight; it is the audience who holds the hand of the dearest ones, who smells the freshly cut grass, who senses the bittersweet taste of coffee. On November 16, the Teatro Studio of the Auditorium Parco della Musica di Roma hosted a meeting with Franco himself. He was 35 minutes late, but he looked great and his fans forgave him and soon as he walked into the room. After a true storytelling of his early life and career, Franco was asked to distinguish between cinema and art: he admited to have passed from one to the other even in one of his own works, Rebel. The project involved young many-sided artists and was meant to bring back on the big screen the cult, Rebel Without a Cause in an alternative way. Nonetheless, in Francos opinion cinema cannot be considered art because it is also a means of entertainment, whereas art in its purest form is not and the artist is therefore freer to create a limited number of original works. What Franco tries to do in his life and career is mold the two worlds together, so that people can feel art as close to them as cinema is. This is exactly what Tar is about: bringing the life of an artist into a work of cinema. A GLIMPSE INSIDE THE MIND OF CHARLES SWANN III Directed by: Roman Coppola. Cast: Charlie Sheen, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Katheryn Winnick, Patricia Arquette. After father Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather), and sister Sofia Coppola (Marie Antoinette), finally 47-year-old Roman Coppola joins the family movie directing business presenting at Rome Film Festival A Glimpse Inside The Mind Of Charles Swann III, which was surely successful among the audience at the premiere, but maybe unlikely to be appealing to the Italian market. Starring Charlie Sheen (Two And A Half Men) as designer and ladies man Charles Swann, the movie tells the story of Charles visionary and crazy recovery from an important break-up, and of his eventual decision to turn his life around. The movie charms both the spectators with its colourful mise-en-scne and the comicity of the lines, and both the moviegoers who will find reference to past masters like Fellini in Coppola Jr.s work.

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BREAKING DAWN: PART II Directed by: Bill Condon Cast: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone, Peter Facinelli. Out of competition and out of stars to fill the red carpet due to the brilliant decision of screening it in contemporary with the LA premiere, Twilight Sagas Breaking Dawn Part II was another number of the Festival. The lack of their idols did not decourage the teenagers from buying the tickets for the premiere, which was a success in terms of sales. Bella is by now a vampire, and that would keep her family safe from the Volturi. However, a false rumor about her daughter Renesmee being an immortal child sets off the Italian vampire family against the Cullens. While the first part of the movie partially lacks of action, the second is pretty entertaining and surprising and provides an adequate end to the commercial phenomenon of the saga.

fooD / ROMe FILM FeSTIVAL 2012

By Francesca Passudetti and Paola Scotto Di Frega Staff Writers

food cornEr

two nEw opEnings in trastEvErE

antica focaccEria san francEsco
Antica Focacceria San Francesco, historic restaurant founded in Palermo (since 1834), opened its doors in Rome. The inaugural ceremony was held in the evening on Thursday, November 15th. Antica Focacceria brought its popular Sicilian specialties in Piazza della Malva (former Bar della Malva). The menu offers many Sicilian traditional dishes that respect the old recipes, and preserve the use of homemade products. If youre in a hurry you must order a Schitticchio, that is a popular mix of mostly fried specialties including panelle, cazzilli, arancini etc. However, the menu will also please you with characteristic Made in Sicily first courses, second courses and fresh salads. Eventually, you cannot miss a sweet taste of cannoli, sette veli, or cassatina. What is more, the restaurant offers the possibility of enjoying a typical and different aperitivo for only 7 Euro. exciting scents, unique flavors, old sensations: this is Antica Focacceria San Francesco.

BULLET TO THE HEAD Directed by Walter Hill. Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Sung Kang, Jason Momoa, Christian Slater, Sarah Shahi. For the keenest moviegoers, Walter Hill is one of the most important American directors of the 80s films such as Southern Comfort, The Warriors, and 48 Hrs. are well known and remembered by any action movie lover. Hills newest work, Bullet to the Head, was presented November 13 at the International Film Festival. Even though it was out of competition, the movie was one of the most applauded along with other international works like Mental and Populaire. We are in New Orleans and a Korean cop (played by Sung Kang) is forced to ally with a mercenary killer of Italian origins, Jimmy Bobo (played by Sylvester Stallone, in flesh and muscles on the red carpet and at the screening). The two will of course start enjoying each others company, also helped by the sentimental developments between the cop and Slys fictional daughter (played by Sarah Shahi). The movie is light and the plot is basic; nevertheless, Hill is a master in mixing a country concert with the slaughtering of a character or in giving the anti-rhetorical grand finale just seconds before the closing credits.

ZaffErano
Tired of eating pasta or salad? Willing to try something different? A new, interesting fast food just opened in Via del Moro, 37. Its name is Zafferano, like the exotic plant drawing its origins from the Arabic word zafarn. And Arab is the cuisine there. With its luminous glass windows, this little corner of Arabic world perfectly fits into the multicultural atmosphere of our dear Trastevere. After Chinese, Japanese and Indian restaurants, we can tickle our palates with specialties from the Middle East. The menu offers just the right amount of specialties that will satisfy your tastes and save you from spending half an hour to decide what you want. Meat and vegetarian dishes are served, as well as a set of typical desserts that only wait to delight you. Colorful dishes of couscous, tasty Falafel patties, tender Fatayer pies can be wisely accompanied by intriguing beverages, such as nango juice, mint tea or goyave juice. The only thing that remains to be said is: bil hana wish shifa!

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The maTThew
The event was held in October. They painted a picture of optimism and brushed aside the ideas that Nigeria was backwards or inoperably corrupt. They assured students that Nigerian business operates like business in any other country. The recent advances in infrastructure have made it possible to conduct business, women are more accepted in the workplace, and the banking system works well. Dozie explained that doing business in Nigeria is just the same as anywhere else in the world. He evaded questions about corruption noting, Every country in the world has corruption. Although some of Mr. Dozies answers were vague, the presentation was enlightening to the state of business and politics in Nigeria. Students, especially International Business students would do well to regard Nigerias importance. It has the second largest GDP on the African continent. Nigeria is to Africa as America is to the world, Dozie said. Be ready, for Nigeria is here to stay.

prEsidEnt and foundEr of diamond bank nigEria visits Jcu

By Patrick Johnson Contributing Writer John Cabot University welcomed Nigerian businessman and founder of the Diamond Bank Pascal Dozie who spoke to students about the economic and political state of the nation. Dozie was accompanied by his wife, also a business leader in Nigeria. In a room full of curious business-minded students, the duo answered questions about doing business in Nigeria, a notoriously complicated and corrupt country, but one that may hold the economic key to Sub-Saharan Africa.

not losing hEr marblEs

By Jani Goza Contributing Writer Rome - John Cabot University welcomed Dr. Elizabeth Bartman, an expert on Greek and Roman art, to speak about a famed art collector in the cutthroat art dealing markets of 18th century Europe, Henry Blundell. The event, held on October 23, chronicled how Blundell, and other members of the competitive art trade, amassed large and renowned collections of antiquities in the late 1700s. The event was sponsored by the Archeological Institute of America (AIA), Rome-SPQR Society and was part of a series of special monthly events held to celebrate the 40th anniversary of JCU. The mission of the series is to promote cross cultural dialogue in Rome in the tradition of American liberal arts education. Some 40 students and faculty members filed into Aula Magna Regina, on the Guarini campus, to hear Dr. Bartman present a concise and entertaining overview of Henry Blundells personal life, his position as a wealthy landowner, and his progression into the surprisingly zealous art collecting scene of the aristocracy of 18th century Britain. There were also members of the Roman branch of the AIA present, who are currently in the process of petitioning to be an officially chartered society within the organization of over 250,000 people worldwide. The group is short 15 members of this official accreditation. They offered a discounted student membership,

importance of archeology and most importantly the preservation of ancient sculptures. Sadly, she said, too many of these marble sculptures end up as scrap pieces, seen as worthless junk because of the extensive restoration they underwent in the 18th century. Dr. Bartmans presentation, which included a large collection of slides to provide visual context to her account, was followed by a question and answer session and a reception in the Lemon which includes an exclusive eligibility for felTree Courtyard of the Guarini campus. lowships worth up to $1000 that can be applied to a number of archeological field schools. reating pace Dr. Bartman is the president of the AIA and has been serving the society in many capacities continuEd from pagE 4 for over 30 years. She has published several and oranges of his abstract works, books and numerous articles on classical Greek his space showcases his colorful art. and Roman sculpture and is a renowned scholar It also plays an important hand in its throughout the world of art and archeology. creation. Now I have the space I want. The article she detailed in her talk, Henry I was able to set up a situation where Blundells Marbles in the Context of the something surprising could come out Grand Tour, was inspired by the potential of it. sale of Blundells private collection of ancient Flaccus does not see art as an esoteric marbles, the greatest in England outside of endeavor to uncover some great inner the British Museum. At the threat of losing genius, but a process of curiosity, of such a treasure, English citizens voiced strong forming a relationship and sensitivity opposition, bringing into the spotlight the with the world outside of oneself. And importance of the collection and of classical art what better way to create beauty than and artifacts at risk of disappearing from public by being surrounded by it. For Flaccus, scholarly attention. the process of creativity is much more Dr. Bartman is grateful to the AIA, and interesting than the inner muse people to the budding community of supporters of imagine. He says, that is just some archeology in Rome. She emphasized the myth people use as an excuse to never need today for such societies to advocate the start being creative.

Editorial Board
Advisor Rosamaria Mancini Editor-In-Chief Matthew Carlebach Head Copy Editor Tariro Mzezewa Layout Editor Anna Prosvetova Secretary Ksenia Kurileva

About Us
The Matthew is the student-written and student-managed, nonprofit newspaper of John Cabot University. The Matthew is published while classes are in session during fall and spring semesters. No part thereof may be reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the consent of the managing editor. Op-eds and Letters to the Editor may be submitted for publication by e-mail to newspaper@johncabot.edu.

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