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The Scarlet and Black First College Newspaper West of the Mississippi
Campus remembers
Whitney Hendrickson
BY R ACHEL F IELDS
Tessa Cheek’s ’12 first memory of Whitney Hendrickson
is a fitting one. Cheek was one-and-a-half, sitting in a Jolly
Jumper suspended from a door frame. She was crying in terror;
Hendrickson was using the door for extra jumping leverage.
“I was sitting there sobbing, I had no idea what was going
on, and Whitney was jumping around crazily,” Cheek says.
It seems an appropriate start for their 17-year friendship.
Hendrickson’s friends agree that certain moments were just
better when she was around—funnier, crazier, more alive.
“Everyone says ‘live in the moment’, but she was one of the
few people I met who really embodied that,” Cheek says. “She
was fully invested in the people she was with, and things were
always more fun when she was there.”
Hendrickson died on March 17 in her hometown of Colo-
rado Springs, Colo., when a pick-up truck collided with the
gas pump she was using to fill up her minivan. The gas pump
exploded, and witnesses were unable to get close enough to save
Hendrickson from the fire. Friend Julie Podair ’12 was with
Hendrickson at the time, but escaped without injury.
There are almost no words to communicate the tragedy
of Hendrickson’s death. In the days after the news was passed
along through phone calls, the online forum GrinnellPlans and
an e-mail from Student Affairs, students were stunned. For
many Grinnellians, it’s almost impossible to understand how
this could happen to someone like Hendrickson—someone so
bright and young and incredibly well-loved.
“She had a way of making you a little more daring because Whitney Hendrickson, formerly ’12, spreads her arms under a clear sky. Hendrickson was remembered by her friends for being one who
Hendrickson, see p. 3 brought humor and happiness to life, often in the least expected ways. CONTRIBUTED
It’s more than just a Space-time continuum Ben Jones went Chances are, if you
3
Friday 4
Saturday 5
Sunday
6
Monday 7
Tuesday 8
Wednesday 9
Thursday
MEN’S TENNIS VS. RI- MEN’S TENNIS VS. UNIVERSITY OF CULTURAL FILMS: FALL 09 INTERN- BONE MARROW BLOOD SCREENING
PON: 10th Ave. Tennis LAWRENCE: 10th Ave. NEBRASKA BRASS CARAVAGIO: Bucks- SHIPS WORKSHOP: DRIVE: JRC 101, 9 AND BENEFITS FAIR:
Courts, 3:30 p.m. Tennis Courts, 10 a.m. QUINTET: Bucks- baum Faulconer Gal- CDO Conference a.m.-3 p.m. Multiple Locations, 6
WRITERS @ HERRICK ORGAN baum Sebring-Lew- lery, 7 p.m. room, 1127 Park USING PIONEERLINK a.m.-5 p.m.
GRINNELL READING: REDEDICATION: Herrick is Hall, 7:30 p.m. Street, 4:15 p.m. WORKSHOP: CDO APPLIED STUDIO
MICHAEL HOFMANN: Chapel, 3 p.m., 8 p.m. GRADUATE SCHOOL 104, 1127 Park STUDENT RECITAL:
Buckbaum Faulconer MEN’S TENNIS VS. PLANNING: CDO 104, Street, 4:15 p.m. Bucksbaum Sebring-
Gallery, 7 p.m. CARLETON: 10th Ave. 1127 Park Street, GENDER SYMPOSIUM: Lewis Hall, 12 p.m.
MOONLIGHT STORY- Tennis Courts, 3 p.m. 4:15 p.m. JRC 101, 4:15 p.m. OCS PRE-DEPAR-
TIME & OBSERVATORY: COMEDY SHOW: JRC HUMAN TRAFFICKING CULTURAL FILMS: TURE ORIENTATION:
Grant O. Gale Obser- 101, 7 p.m. PRESENTATION: JRC AELITA: QUEEN OF ARH 102, 4:15 & 7
vatory, 7-11 p.m. ALL CAMPUS HOE- 101, 4:15 p.m. MARS: Bucksbaum p.m.
HERRICK ORGAN RE- DOWN: Harris Center VISITING PROFESSOR Faulconery 7 p.m. GENDER SYMPOSIUM:
DEDICATION: Herrick Concert Hall, 7 p.m. LECTURE: CHEN JIAN: SGA FILM: Hor- JRC 101, 4:15 p.m.
Chapel, 8 p.m. GRINNELL MONO- ARH 102, 4:15 p.m. rible’s Sing A-Long GENDER SYMPO-
GRINNELL MONO- LOGUES: Loose COMMUNITY MEAL: Blog: Forum South SIUM RECEPTION:
LOGUES: Loose Lounge, 8 p.m. Davis Elementary Lounge, 7 & 9 p.m. Stonewall Resource
Lounge, 8 p.m. SGA CONCERT: School, 818 Hamilton ALLY TRAINING: Center, 8 p.m.
SWING QUAD: Main GRAND BUFFET: Main Avenue, 5:30 p.m. TBA, 8 p.m.
Hall Quad Dining Hall Gardner Lounge,
Hall, 9 p.m. 9 p.m.
April 3, 2009
S B 3
Expert on Palestinian-Israeli relations expresses hope
&
NEWS edited by J. Francis Buse and Brian Sherwin
busejohn@grinnell.edu, sherwinb@grinnell.edu
Dr. Maurice Roumani and Junayd Mahmood ‘09 sit down for a one-on-one Q&A on the issue of conflict in Israel
The Palestine Solidarity Group and Chalutzim teamed up to the Israelis feel, is very dangerous. When you have suicide bombing and rampant attacks like we
bring speakers to campus this week to discuss the topic “Transcend- Would they undertake an attack? I don’t think they can do heard just yesterday in the West Bank, if such a thing is finished
ing Conflict: Palestine and Israel.” Representing the group Israel it by themselves. But, they are very frightened by the prolifera- and over with, I think the Israelis must take off the checkpoints.
on Campus, Maurice Roumani spoke in the 11 a.m. convocation tion of nuclear weapons especially when they have a theocracy But if that is not the case, then you need it to protect the citi-
spot on the topic “Israel and Palestine: Intractable Conflict or Unre- like it is in Iran. That theocracy can govern an individual to do zens because in the middle of the day in Jerusalem or in Ne-
solved Issues?” Dr. Roumani is co-director of the Center for Middle certain things in the name of God and cover up everything else tanya, ‘boom boom’ and children and people in buses and all
East Studies at the University of Oklahoma and is the founder and … can be dangerous. that. That’s why there are checkpoints.
Director of the J.R. Elyachar Center for Sephardi Studies at Ben Israelis are not interested, you have to understand, in con-
Gurion, University of the Negev in Israel. He was born in Libya What do you think the prospect of peace is with the new tinuing the conflict. They want to have peace. They pray for
and spent a good deal of his young life in the Arab world before right wing government in Israel, especially Foreign Minister peace daily, it’s part of their culture. It’s part of the name of
emigrating to Israel. Avigdor Lieberman? God—peace, shalom, salaam. But they are afraid that when you
Lieberman is an issue. But, he is only one minister. It’s Ne- say salaam it is only a truce and not really a final truce, that
How does your upbring- tanyahu. And Netanyahu already admitted that he will not do you cannot really have peace with the infidels. This is the crux
ing in the Arab world uniquely the mistakes that he did when he was prime minister. So, I of the problem, and therefore you need reform and education
shape your perspective on the think the prospects are much better because he is also older, and to accept the Jews—the human beings entitled also to exist in
conflict? he is also, let’s put it this way, he is also more mature and I think the world.
That peace can [and] will with the Obama administration, he cannot do something that
exist between Jews and Arabs would upset the Americans. What role do you think that the U.S. should take in the
because we have so much in conflict?
common … From the Qur’an Why is a post-ethnic and post-racial society in the form I think it should emphasize the commonality that exists
and the Old Testament we have of a one-state solution no longer possible? between them. What unites them, and what projects, mutual
so much in common. As I said Because Israel will no longer be a Jewish state. The Jews projects that they can do together to promote the well being
before, the five pillars of Islam have escaped Europe, have left the middle east and north Af- of the Palestinians, and not the leadership of the Palestinians
can easily be reflected in Juda- rica to have like Egypt, it’s primary Muslim, you have Muslim because those are corrupt. But the people, the common man of
ism. You know, like sawm [fasting], like giving alms to the poor. holidays, Iran, you have Muslim holidays. They don’t call them- the street, his children, education, health, like Israel is doing in
Like prayer—you know Muslims pray five times a day, we pray selves Muslim states, but you know, look at the constitution Israel.
that only on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, but we pray in Egypt. Number one, the religion is Islam after the name of We need a Marshall Plan for the Palestinians. And the Eu-
three times. The pilgrimage—we’re supposed to go at least once the state. And every state, including Morocco, including Libya, ropeans have understood that. They say that 4.5 billion dol-
a year to Jerusalem for pilgrimage, the same thing as in Mecca. all these places have at the basis of their state the religion of lars have already been allocated. Where do they go to? In the
So there is a lot in common, and as I coexisted—I’m not Islam. leaders pockets or go to the people? We in Israel criticize very
saying that I lived free like I’m living in America. From time to If the Jews in Israel would allow for a one state solution, much our leaderships—not one leadership, but leaderships at
time, I have to be careful, but I know I was tolerated as long as the demography will obliterate the nature and character of the every level, okay. There, they are afraid to criticize we know
I lived under Islam. I think this ability to coexist [can come], Jewish state. Because the Arabs have 3.2 births per family while that. We know what happens. The media doesn’t talk about it.
providing that the Arab world can accept an independent Jew- the Jews have 1.6. In 30, 40 years there will be a majority Arab But Hamas people have shot Fatah people among themselves,
ish entity in the Middle East. and a minority Jews. If that happens and its not solved, you will so we know these things but the media covers up such things.
have an apartheid state. But this is unfortunate because they are divided among
What is the national mood with regard to Iran in Israel? themselves and the people cannot rise up because the leader-
Good question. There is a lot of fear, a lot of apprehen- Do you feel that settlements, checkpoints, the wall, and ship and say they don’t want this- they say I want to have my
sion. Israel cannot undertake by itself any attack on Iran. [Iran the occupation in general are obstacles to peace? home, I want to have good home. That Hamas indirectly, intel-
President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad, his WMD program would Yes, they are obstacles to peace, but on the other hand the ligently is buying these people.
have been fine if its not combined with the ideology of anni- Israeli leadership is caught in the middle. As in any state whose —Interview conducted by Junayd Mahmood
hilating [and] destroying the state of Israel. That combination, citizens pay taxes, the state is obligated to defend its citizens.
Hendrickson you were so into it,” Cheek said. on Mac Field. They happened to sit on the same branch, and Radoshevich said. “Any time I’d meet up with her, she’d seem to
from p. 1 “Whenever I did something that quickly exchanged names and phone numbers. For the next be enjoying whatever she was doing.”
maybe turned out to be stupid, she was usually present. Once week and a half, Gordon texted Hendrickson regularly—until Like all Grinnell students, Hendrickson wasn’t perfect,
I jumped off a pier because she was like, ‘Let’s do it!’ I’m really she agreed to go on their first date, a bike ride to Taco Bell. but her friends laugh thinking about it. She was forever los-
bad at swimming, and my biggest fear was “Whitney wasn’t the kind of per- ing things, they say, and she was constantly late. If she left
drowning, but still.” son who needed romance thrown in something in a friend’s room, it would be there for weeks, even
There are a thousand stories about Hen- “She wanted to find beauty in every- her face,” Gordon said. “She wanted months, before they finally forced her to take it back.
drickson, but one clear consensus emerged: thing. Her dad said something recently to find beauty in everything. Her dad “I think she lost five p-cards,” Podair said. “She’d lose her
she loved people, and people loved her. said something recently that charac- phone, and we’d go across campus looking for it, and she’d be
Danica Radoshevich ’12 met her in sixth that characterized her perfectly—she terized her perfectly—she was too like, ‘It might be in this person’s car from two days ago. Oh, I
grade, when Hendrickson was performing was too busy living life to worry about busy living life to worry about what don’t have the keys, though.’”
in a production of “A Christmas Carol.” it meant.” Even in the midst of his grief, Gordon is trying to focus on
She saw Hendrickson on stage and waved what it meant.” Gordon and Hendrickson, who the best parts of his time with Hendrickson. He thinks about
to her. Undeterred by the ongoing produc-
tion, Hendrickson waved back.
Brad Gordon ‘12 dated for six months before Hen-
drickson’s death, spent a lot of their
small moments with her—visiting her after she had finished
her homework, watching Arrested Development, and witness-
“I was just like, ‘Oh. I want to be friends time just talking—on Gordon’s com- ing her obsession with www.fmylife.com.
with her,’” Radoshevich said. fortable bed, or in the park a few blocks from Norris. They “Whitney just brought so much happiness to my life, and
Hendrickson brought the same energy to her life at could joke about anything, Gordon said, even things that other my entire world centered around making her happy,” he said. “It
Grinnell. Before they went out on the weekends, Kristen Mu- people would find offensive or strange. was my goal to see that smile and hear that laugh every single
maw ’12 and Hendrickson would meet in Mumaw’s room and “We were constantly berating each other, for lack of a bet- day. I can say with all honesty that my biggest achievement at
sing rap songs to each other. For Halloween, Hendrickson built ter word,” Gordon said. “That’s how we worked off each other. Grinnell so far was getting Whitney Hendrickson to love me.”
a piñata costume out of crepe paper and candy—a dress that Everything in life was funny.” A service to celebrate Hendrickson’s life will be held on Fri-
looked surprisingly real, her friends say, until they started eat- Hendrickson did not fight with people much, her friends day, April 3 at 4:30 P.M. in Herrick Chapel, with a reception
ing the candy off her. said. She didn’t see the point. With a whole world of costumes following in JRC 101. At the service, her friends will be able to
“She was like, ‘Guys, stop it! This is a piece! It’s not for and rap battles and sunshine to be experienced, she wasn’t one share their favorite memories of Hendrickson and pay tribute
consumption!’” Cheek said while laughing. to waste time on petty differences. to the girl they say made every day better.
Brad Gordon ’12 met Hendrickson after a night of parties, “She was always so aware of how precious things are, wasn’t “Of my entire life, 80 to 90 percent of my most hilarious
when he and 15 mutual friends decided to climb the big tree worried about the future as much as living life for what it was,” days were with her,” Radoshevich said.
BY C HLOE MORYL
In an e-mail to student staff on Thursday, March 19, Dean until May, she has already been involved with the search for
of Students Travis Greene announced that Andrea Conner new RLCs. At a conference in Washington D.C. this past
had been appointed to the position of Assistant Dean of Stu- weekend, she participated in interviewing RLC candidates,
dents & Director of Residence Life and Orientation. After according to Dean of Students Travis Greene.
interviews, job talks, and informal discussions with students Candidates will be coming to campus beginning as early
was chosen by a committee comprised of members from as next week.
SGA, SAs, RLCs, faculty and administration One of the biggest changes to the Assistant Dean position
Currently, Conner is the Assistant Dean of Students and will include Conner heading up the NSO committee. Pre-
Director of Residence Life at Bard College. According to the viously, several administrators were involved in the process,
Bard website, her position includes overseeing Area Coordi- often making it difficult to have a cohesive and coordinated
nators (ACs) of the dorms, comparable to RLCs, and Peer strategy. “Orientation has sort of floated, different people
Coordinators (PCs), who serve a function similar to SAs. have had responsibility for it at different times over the past
Conner, an Iowa native and Coe College graduate, is well years and we’re really wanting it to have a home,” Dougharty
versed in not only all things Iowa, but also has been profes- said.
sionally involved with small, liberal arts institutions like Since NSO has been solidified in Student Affairs, some
Grinnell for some time. of the initial differences will be infrastructural changes from
“From the minute Andrea hit campus the feedback we years past. “Instead of having a student committee and then a
were getting, especially from students, was that Andrea faculty/staff committee … we’re bringing the whole group to-
seemed like a fit for Grinnell,” said Vice President of Student gether,” Dougharty said. “In general, we’re going try to make
Affairs Houston Dougharty. “She has by far the most experi- it a more integrated program, and we’ll put in it Andrea’s ca-
ence at small liberal arts colleges having gone to and worked pable hands when she gets here.”
at three ACM [Associated Colleges of the Midwest] colleges As part of Hugh Redford ’10’s Wilson internship, he will
and then being at Bard [College], which is similar to Grinnell be spending his summer in Grinnell working with Conner on
in some ways.” 2009’s NSO. “NSO was broken before and it was impossible
Paul Gagne ’11, a student-at-large on the hiring commit- to get things done and you never knew who you needed to
tee, said Conner stood out above all the other candidates. talk to,” Redford said. ”There’s only good that will come out of
“She immediately understood not only the concept of self everybody having to spend less time figuring out who to ask
governance, but also what it means to this school,” Gagne their question to and more time trying to find the answers.”
said. “Also, the fact that she is very approachable makes her a “She [Conner] has the sort of background to be adminis-
desirable person to have as an administrator.” trative and operate in that kind of way and environment but
The position of Assistant Dean involves the hiring, train- also really get along with students and really be comfortable
ing and supervision of all RLCs. with being a student advocate,” Redford said.
Andrea Conner, future Assistant Dean. CONTRIBUTED
Though Conner will not be present on Grinnell’s campus
Cleveland
from p. 1 confiscated by security. “The police are investigating too.” worse and fires do occur.’” [regarding cigarettes] wasn’t conveyed to the
“That night I was in Cleveland lounge till The security officer that happened upon Cleveland hall resident Cecilia Darby ’12 SAs at a self-govern level,” said Musselman,
about 10 p.m. and I left my computer there, the cigarettes in the first place was part of an said that the security presence has stretched in a phone interview with the S&B. “Basi-
as I usually do and then I left to go to Rose increase in security patrols in Cleveland Hall. beyond merely routine checks. “I was woken cally, we’re just really upset that the magnitude
with my friend [Isaac Garcia Molina] and I According to Briscoe, the increased presence up at three in the morning by a security radio wasn’t expressed to us and we could have done
just stayed there for the rest of the night, I did of security in Cleveland is due to complaints outside my door because they saw my pet rats something, and we’re annoyed that they had to
some work, and I just fell asleep,” he said. about cigarette smoking. and thought they were wild rats,” Darby said resort to this level to patrol us.”
After being held by security, Bajaj’s com- “We had been down there a number of in a phone interview with the S&B. “Anyway, Briscoe said he hopes that students and
puter was returned to him. “That my computer times before, but we’ve gotten complaints just it was just like a very strange invasion of our security can reach a solution to halt cigarette
was in that space does not mean that I was re- lately … again in that particular area [Cleve- privacy to be up on our floor at three in the smoking indoors and decrease the presence of
lated to or had anything to do with that bag of land 1st lounge],” Briscoe said. “And so we morning. He woke a bunch of people up.” security in the dorm. “We’re hoping that the
weed,” Bajaj said. started going to that area on a regular basis Cleveland third student advisor Kelly students will work with us to come up with a
The identity of the person whom the mari- and then when we saw what was going on, the Musselman ’11 expressed concern about se- solution … so we don’t have to go over there
juana belongs to is still unknown. “The inves- cigarette burns, the burning, we’re like ‘oh god, curity’s increased attention directed towards anymore,” Briscoe said.
tigation is ongoing. I won’t say exactly where we do have to be in here to keep checking this, Cleveland. “The amount of complaints that
we are with that investigation,” Briscoe said. until we can get on top of this before it gets Student Affairs has said that they received
April 3, 2009
Last night, one of the most unique voices in modern poetry read
in JRC 101. Quincy Troupe began his career as a poet and journal-
ist in Los Angeles, where he met and befriended such luminaries
as Allen Ginsberg and also developed his unique, syncopated rhyth-
mic style of poetry, based on jazz. Over the next 20 years, Troupe
would work as a poet, journalist, performer, professor, and editor of
a multimedia magazine out of New York University called “Black
Renaissance Noire.”
He has written 17 books of poetry, two children’s books, the only
authorized biography of Miles Davis, co-wrote the book and now
movie “The Pursuit of Happyness.” and the book and now screen-
play for a new movie based on his relationship with Davis entitled
“Miles and Me.” He has read his poetry all over America, Europe,
and South America and also taught and read in prisons in America,
where he also worked to increase awareness of prison education.
When did you first start to figure out how to create this
style of poetry?
I was working at all these little magazines [in Los Ange-
les] and making poetry on the side. It was a good gig, I was
making money ... When the Watts riots happened, Bud Schul-
berg [a famous screenwriter and novelist of the 50’s and 60’s]
went down to Watts and started the Watts Writers Workshop.
I covered this story at Los Angles City College where these
two poets [from the workshop] came. There was the defense
minister for the Black Panther party and this man Alvin Saxon
Peter Phillips, the founding member of the Tallis Scholars, conducts who called himself Ojenke at that time there. He had gone to
the group during Wednesday’s concert in Herrick chapel as tenor UCLA and majored in biology and physics, but he was a poet.
Mark Dobell and alto Caroline Trevor make magnificent Baroque And I heard him read, and it just blew me away. I had taught
music. BEN BREWER myself to write poetry by writing sonnets, villanelles, haikus,
Choral virgin no more and sestinas because I thought that was the way to do it.
But when I heard this poem—because his father was in the
churches, the Baptist churches—I couldn’t believe the energy
BY J. F RANCIS BUSE
Though the texts were primarily Latin and the subject was and the metaphors and the rhythm. I didn’t think you could do Visting poet, Quincy Troupe. LAURENCE SUMULONG
often Catholic mass—two subjects alien to a large number of that in poetry. I said, “Listen man, where do you go to learn this
Grinnellians—the Tallis Scholars nearly filled Herrick Chapel poetry?”, because all these guys in Venice [Beach] were these motherf--cker, you better get to the back of the line, or I’m go-
for a concert this past Wednesday. The group of ten vocalists, white guys who loved the fact I could write these form poems. ing to pour you like lava.”
directed by the spritely Peter Phillips, brought a satisfying And he said, “In Watts.” I just want to be equal to everyone else. If you don’t treat me
and moving sample of classic choral music from England to I went out there and threw away all my sonnets. A bunch like a human being, I’m just not gonna deal with you.
Grinnell. of great musicians were out there, and that’s where I found my
The nine pieces performed by the Scholars and composed voice. The iambic pentameter beats like the heart, but when I feel like that comes out in your poetry. You’re both an
by a smorgasbord of 16th century artists come from a unique you really study the language of everyday people, that’s not how African-American man, and you don’t forget that, but you
juncture between two points of musical development, Rennai- they talk. I started substituting lines of John Coltrane for hex- also see that you’re a part of this community of poets. It’s not
sance and Baroque. The program notes were dense with de- ameters, ba ba ba do boo da boo ba and starting to make that either/or, it’s both/and.
scriptions of the pieces’ musical subtleties and influences on the line. Syncopation, you know? Like a Miles Davis solo. I feel that way. My mother, who will be 92 this year and is
future developments in “secular, opera and instrumental music” about 5’ 2”, won’t take nothing from nobody. I grew up seeing
in their role as “proto-Baroque experiments.” Was Miles [Davis] the first one you felt that deep con- that attitude. I never have felt inferior to anybody. I tell people
Phillips acknowledged the difficulty many audience mem- nection with? that all the time. I taught for 32 years, and I would hear these
bers might have interpreting the music, calling two pieces “ex- I had a deep connection with my brother, who was a jazz whispers being my back, you know, “Quincy’s so arrogant.” I
tremely complex mathematically” in a break between songs drummer. When I was in high school, he would be doing these would confront them. I would say, “I’m not arrogant, I’m confi-
during the middle of the concert. While describing the echo- paradiddles [a type of drum exercise] all day, dent. I’ve been confident for a long time. I was
ing, overlapping and inverting interactions between the dis- and I thought, if he could do these paradiddles, a great basketball player, and I was confident
parate groups within the choir, he noted that “you won’t hear I could shoot 500 jump shots, because I was a then. Your idea of equality is my down here
this—nobody can. But that’s how the pieces are written.” basketball player then. and you up there. I don’t buy into that.”
The atmosphere was relaxed, and the audience seemed able Miles was the greatest artist I had a con- That’s Obama, and that’s me. I was so hap-
to enjoy the music without an encyclopedic knowledge of 16th nection with, though. I learned so much from py to see a politician like that, who says, you
century choral music. The pieces encompassed a wide spectrum him, not only about art. I was interviewing him know, that he’s a black guy but that’s not it. I
between soft and loud, slow and quick. The presence of a male one time and I got a phone call and got in a read, I know my history, and I love the United
alto added a uniqueness to the event beyond its inherent re- long argument with this guy. After I hung up, States, I know about this stuff. I’ve participat-
markableness. Miles said, “Why’d you talk to the motherf-- ed in all this stuff, but I’m going to tell you if
The highlights of the show included the pieces “Ave Maria” ker so long?” I said, “What do you mean?” He it’s not working. If I think you are stupid, I’m
and “Nesciens Mater” by Alonso Lobo and Jean Mouton, re- said, “You know how they have an on and off going to tell you that, black guy or whoever.
spectively, the most musically unique of the pieces due to their switch on the television?” I said, “Yeah.” He I’ve told people that who want me to write
aforementioned complexity. The audience enjoyed “Missa Bell’ said, “Cut the the motherf--ker off. Cut if off, their books. Black guys, and white guys. I tell
Amfitrit’ alterat”, a parallel of Catholic mass, to the point that cut it off. Hang up the motherf--cking phone. You could have them that they gotta tell me the whole truth. It’s got to be a
they applauded between each movement, visibly surprising the stopped talking to that motherf--ker five minutes ago.” I just literary project. I’ve got billionaire friends who I treat like that,
Scholars. said, “Oh.” good friends. My wife and I go out to New York, and we see
Still, to the untrained ear, the differences could be hard to I kinda do that with people now. What do you need all of them, because we like good wine, and good food, and we have
distinguish and the music could seem mundane. An elementary this extraneous conversation for? I did that to a friend of mine great conversations. That’s what it’s about. It’s built on that.
school-aged boy was allowed access to his PSP after the third before coming here, and he said,“I understand, that’s that Miles There’s one guy I know, I won’t say his name, but he’s one of
song, and spent the rest of the concert watching YouTube vid- s--t .” And I just explained that it wasn’t that I didn’t want to those guys who will say anything to you. And I’ll tell him: “F--k
eos. Another student, looking conspicuously drowsy, rested his talk to him, it’s just that I’ve got to do other stuff. you.” And he’ll say, “Oh yeah, f--k me?” And I’ll say, “Yeah, F--k
head several times on the pew in front of him. It was a concert If Miles liked you, he’d do anything for you. If he didn’t like you.”
to calm attendees and allow them to think, not necessarily to you, that was it. It wasn’t arrogance, it was confidence. I heard I just want human relationships with people, whoever they
awaken and excite. him talk to Clint Eastwood and he talked to him like a dog happen to be, poets or whatever. If I don’t agree with you, I’m
I went into Herrick something of a choral virgin—I have about his latest movie at the time, “Bird.” not going to ambush you, but I’m going to tell you what I be-
enjoyed the Tallis Scholars via Pandora and CDs checked out lieve. And you can say what you believe to me, and our rela-
from Burling over the past year, while also attending nearly all That kind of reminds me of what they said about Obama tionship is like that. That’s the way a good relationship has to
of the Grinnell Singers concerts. But the sonic elegance dis- early on the campaign trail. be. That’s how I am with all these people, Miles Davis, Jimmy
played by some of the finest vocalists in the world was over- He was saying, “I don’t do that, I don’t kiss your ass.” In my Baldwin, even Marlon Brando when I met him during the
whelmingly beautiful and mesmerizingly balanced, with or early essays, I was saying he was going to win everything. In Watts Writers Workshop...
without extensive knowledge of the music being performed. January 2008, I said he was going to beat Clinton, and Mc- He (Brando) actually introduced me to James Baldwin. And
As the last performance of the Grinnell College Public Cain. People don’t understand that there are a lot of African- the first night Baldwin and I met, we got into a big argument.
Events Committee this year, the Tallis Scholars proved a note- Americans, women and men, who are like Miles. We learned We got in a big f--king argument about nonviolence...
worthy and solidifying end to a program that has included the from Miles. After a while you start to feel like you belong in this group.
likes of Wynton Marsalis and Inti-Illimani. Marsalis brought I remember I was standing in the airport, and I was wait- You may not have a dime, but you feel like you belong there.
us the lights of the city and Inti-Illimani the sounds of Chilean ing in line. This white guy comes, obviously he’s a business- —Interview conducted by James Anthofer
folk music, but the Scholars showed us the sweeping grandeur man. There’s a whole line behind me. And he says to me, “Are (This Q&A is continued at www.thesandb.com)
some modern of music’s origins. you in line, or are you taking up space?” I say, “You know what,
April 3, 2009
SB &
ARTS edited by Mark Japinga & James Anthofer
japingam@grinnell.edu & anthofer@grinnell.edu 7
Come on, get happy with this weekend’s films
ly how, and Hawkins comes to quickly show
us what a wonderfully charming character
Poppy is.
The film doesn’t have a stereotypical
plot, working instead as a character study for
Poppy by looking at a few chapters in her
life that test her unwavering sense of opti-
mism. We see her care deeply for Zoe, her
best friend and flat-mate of ten years (Alexis
Zegerman), her youngest sister who is just
finishing college, and the kids she teaches in
her elementary school class.
But maybe Poppy cares too much. She
also can’t help but feel for the cranky driving
instructor Scott (Eddie Marsan), her more
moody sister living in the suburbs, and, in
one scene, a homeless man she passes on the
street late one night.
The scene with the homeless man sounds
cliché and really shouldn’t work, but it some-
how does. While walking home one night,
Poppy hears a mumbled chant coming from
an alley. Her face lets us know that she’s a
little scared and uncomfortable (and she
even murmurs “What am I doing here?”),
but she goes to investigate. There she meets
and strikes up a “conversation” of sorts with
a homeless man who doesn’t really speak in
words so much as sounds. They manage to
communicate, though—Poppy really listens
to the man.
It’s at this point in the film that it be-
comes clear that Poppy is very much living in
the real world, she’s just chosen to go through
life open, engaged, and happy. Poppy’s flat-
mate tries to lecture by saying that she, “can’t
Golden Globe Winner Sally Hawkins stars in Happy-Go-Lucky, whose exuberant personality drives the film. ALLMOVIEPHOTO.COM make everyone happy.” But Poppy brushes it
off and replies, “No harm in trying, is there?”
bicycle through the streets of London with (when she takes a book titled “The Road Leigh succeeds in making “Happy-Go-
a warm, bright smile on her face. She sees to Reality” from a shelf, she quickly puts it Lucky” both a funny and thought provoking
Happy-Go Lucky a friend that she knows and her smile gets back, commenting, “I don’t want to be head- film. Hawkins won the Golden Globe for
(2008) larger and she waves. And then she does the ed there, do I?”). It’s hard to know whether Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy not only
same thing to another friend that she hap- to side with Poppy (she seems sweet!) or the for being sublimely funny (and Poppy is hi-
pens to see. And then we realize she’s waving employee (she seems annoying!). Exiting the larious), but for showing us a woman who, in
to people that she doesn’t know. bookstore, she finds her bike has been stolen the sad and mixed up world we’re living in,
Poppy (Sally Hawkins), the protagonist She pops into a bookstore and chatters and quips, “We didn’t even get a chance to chooses to enjoy life and leave other people
of Writer/Director Mike Leigh’s “Happy- to a disgruntled employee working there say goodbye” before moving on. smiling in the process. “Happy-Go-Lucky”
Go-Lucky”, seems to live in her own kooky who seems irritated by her sunny optimism How is this level of cheery exuberance is the definition of a feel good movie.
world. We first meet her as she rides her and the way that she laughs at her own jokes possible? Mike Leigh’s out to show us exact- —Jaysen Wright
H Slumdog Rocky Hor- F Happy A One Day S Monsters vs. Fast & Furious Race to Witch
MOVIE Millionaire ror Picture O Go Lucky R You’ll Un- T Aliens Mountain
Fri. - 4:20, 7:20 & 9:25 p.m.
A Fri.
R 10:30- 4:30, 7:30 & Show R Fri.- 7:30 & 9:30 H derstand R Fri. - 4:30, 7 & 9:05 p.m. Sat. - 2:10, 4:20, 7:20 & 9:25 Fri. - 4:30, 7:20 & 9:30 p.m.
p.m. p.m. Sat. - 2, 4:30, 7 & 9:05 p.m. p.m.
TIMES
Fri. - 8:00 p.m. Sat. - 2:10, 4:30, 7:20 & 9:30 p.m.
R Sat. - 1:30 p.m.
Sat.- 10:30 p.m.
Sun. - 1:30 p.m. U Sat. - 7:30 & 3 Sat. - 8:00 p.m. A Sun. - 2, 4:30 & 7 p.m. Sun. - 2:10, 4:20 & 7:20 p.m. Sun. - 2:10, 4:30 & 7:20 p.m.
I M 9:30 p.m. 0 Sun. - 2:00 p.m. N Mon.-Thurs. - 4:30 & 7 p.m. Mon.-Thurs. - 420 & 7:20 Mon.-Thurs. - 4:30 & 7:20 p.m.
S 2 D p.m.
8 edited by Chloe Moryl
morylchl@grinnell.edu
SB
FEATURES
& April 3, 2009
BY A LYSIA VALLAS
While many Grinnellians parted two weeks ago for home
or destinations with temperate weather, Marissa Gilman ’09,
Aniko Drlik-Muehleck ’11, Katherine Gregersen ’09, Annie
Pigott ’12, Mary Jane Giesey ’12, Grace Philipp ’12, Evan Pon-
der ’10, and Emma Peterson ’10 headed to Nicaragua where
they spent their spring break experiencing firsthand the devel-
opment of the San Ramon community.
After an internship in San Ramon, where she worked with
an office of sustainable community tourism, Gilman was in-
spired to organize a return trip, this time with the company of
other Grinnellians.
Influenced by a Global Development Studies trip to Costa
Rica with Monty Roper, Anthropology, Gilman knew that she
wanted the trip to be an experiential learning opportunity. “I
still wanted to have some sort of learning component to it.
I wanted to have a group of students go to this community
I worked in,” Gilman said. “I knew I wanted us to deal with
Spanish, Global Development Studies, and Latin American
issues.”
Gilman, determined to see the trip through, set about pos-
tering and applying for funding for various College grants.
Although the College initially agreed to provide funding, risk
assessors brought to the administration’s attention the high
risk of eight unaccompanied students traveling abroad. “The
hardest part was finding funding,” Gilman said. “Two weeks
before the trip, the College was canceling our funding and the
administration, the higher ups, found out about the trip and
decided to revoke the funding that had been received.”
After contributions from President Russell K. Osgood and
his family, however, the trip was made affordable, and therefore
possible.
Once the eight students successfully made it to San Ra-
mon, they spent a little over a week learning about the region’s
economy and assisting in various community projects. While
the students anticipated more participation with the commu-
nity’s microfinance efforts, they took the advice of the com- Marissa Gilman ’09, Aniko Drlik-Muehlec ’11 and Katherine Gregerson ’09 cutting sugar cane in Nicaragua. CONTRIBUTED
munity’s development office and insetad learned more about
the general state of the community. “The office didn’t think satisfaction at their mastery of bench construction by the end the students, overall, found the trip to be a rewarding and eye-
this was the most beneficial thing to be done with our time. of the trip. “I had never used a machete before!” said Gregers- opening experience. “Even though there are so many limita-
None of us wanted to force our own agenda on the organiza- en. The remainder of their time was spent learning about the tions with a big group and short period of time, it was impor-
tion,” Gilman said. sustainable tourism effort in San Ramon and working with tant to have a taste of [the San Ramon community] and to
The students spent a good portion of their time at a cloud the primary office to help find ways to improve their tourism have other Grinnellians to share the experience with in order
forest reserve, studying the area’s economic dependence on programs. to better understand complex issues going on in a community
coffee and helping the proprietor create rest areas through- Despite an unfortunate encounter with fried bologna and that is trying to get out of a rut it finds itself in,” Gilman said.
out the plantation for potential tourists. Students expressed a few alarming incidents with vociferous indigenous monkeys,
Changing the hiring process While these talks may provide a glimpse that more closely resemble class dynamics at
into the candidate’s academic credentials and Grinnell. Some departments, such as math
Hiring and firing practices at Grinnell professorial and psychology, invite
College have been a topic of frequent campus prowess, they their candidates to guest
conversation this year. Such discussions were do not necessar- teach during a class pe-
sparked again recently when the History De- ily reflect on the riod. They sometimes
partment decided not to hire a popular term candidate’s po- even provide students
professor for one of its tenure-track positions. tential classroom with literature relevant
According to those involved with the de- performance. to their topic.
This Week in Grinnell (April cision, the controversial decision was attrib- These talks are This format provides
3 –April 9) uted to the candidates’ job talk performances. largely directed students and faculty
While this system for evaluating professorial at sitting faculty, greater insight into how
Strand 3 Theatre. $5 Grinnell College candidates affords students some means of in- who tend to dominate both attendance and the a candidate would fit within the classroom and
Discount Passes available at the Campus put in the decision-making process, it is overly post-talk question period. Interaction between the department. Candidates who may not ex-
Bookstore and the Pioneer Bookshop. Call rigid and does not effectively communicate the lecturer and students is generally limited cel at more formal lecturing may nevertheless
236-7600 or visit http://www.fridleythe- how a candidate will perform in the classroom. and, when present, impersonal. perform better in a classroom setting.
atres.com/ for show times. Showing April 3 The format for evaluating prospective profes- Classes at Grinnell are rarely this formal; Professors at Grinnell are expected to do
– April 9: Monsters Vs. Aliens (PG), Race sors should be adjusted to better capture how instead, they are often discussion-based and more than simply talk at their students. They
to Witch Mountain (PG), Fast & Furious candidates will actually teach. rely on active student participation. While must be willing and excited to facilitate dia-
(PG-13) Many academic departments look to their excellent academic credentials are important, logue, while mentoring their students in an ac-
SEPCs and students at large to assess the qual- this College prides itself, first and foremost, on ademically invigorating and emotionally nur-
Observatory Open House. April 3, 7 ity of candidates. Students have the opportu- being a teaching institution and its professors turing environment. A mere lecture should not
p.m.; Grant O. Gale Observatory, Grinnell nity to attend lunches and formal job talks in should be hired accordingly. be the determining factor in hiring Grinnell
College, north of 10th Avenue and adjacent which the candidate presents on a topic of their In addition to the aforementioned job professors.
to Les Duke Track. Stewart Library staff choice and then fields follow-up questions. talks, departments should provide forums
will offer storytelling and activities focused
The Scarlet & Black welcomes story ideas from students, faculty and
other members of the town and college community. If there is any story that
should be covered, please email newspapr@grinnell.edu.
The Scarlet and Black April 3, 2009 Send letters to the editor via email at newspapr@grinnell.edu or mail
them to Box 5886. The author’s name must be included, but letters can be
published anonymously in certain occasions upon request. Letters will be
printed at the discretion of the editor. The S&B reserves the right to edit any
Editors-in-Chief Pat Caldwell Graphics Editor Mike Kleine and all submissions. The deadline for publication in Friday’s paper is Tuesday
and David Logan News Assistant Brian Sherwin of the same week. Please do not include footnotes in letters to the editor.
Ad Designer Karuna Giri News Editor J. Francis Buse
The opinions expressed in letters to the editor, opinion columns and
Arts Editor Mark Japinga Opinion Editor Morgan Horton advertising do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the S&B, SPARC or
Business Manager Katie McMullen Photo Editor Ben Brewer Grinnell College.
Copy Editor Stephanie Nordstrom Sports Editor Jai Garg
Design Editor Margie Scribner Web Design Tony Pan Advertising inquiries should be directed to the business manager, Katie
McMullen, who can be reached at sandbads@grinnell.edu or by mail at Box
Features Editor Chloe Moryl Honorary Editor Robert Logan 5886, Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA 50112.
The Scarlet & Black is published on Fridays by students of Grinnell College and is printed by Marengo Publishing Corporation. The Subscriptions to the S&B within the United States cost $25 per semes-
newspaper is funded in part by the Student Publications and Radio Committee (SPARC) and also relies on advertising revenue to cover ter. Subscriptions outside the U.S. are $55 for surface mail and $85 for air
operating costs. All publications funded by SPARC are copyright of SPARC and cannot be reproduced elsewhere without specific written mail per semester. Again, send all inquiries to Box 5886 or newspapr@grin-
consent from SPARC. nell.edu.
12 &
OPINION
edited by Morgan Horton
hortonmo@grinnell.edu April 3 , 2009
BY M AX CALENBERG
With an influx of students, strong returning athletes, and
an encouraging indoor season, the men’s and women’s track and
field teams are aiming to have a standout season.
The teams traveled to Myrtle Beach, S.C., over spring break
to practice and compete in the Shamrock Invitational hosted by
Coastal Carolina University.
“We often did more than one workout a day,” said women’s
head coach Evelyn Freeman. “It was nice to not be limited by
time. There was a lot more opportunity to work on technical
events.”
After a week of practices, athletes competed in the invita-
tional against top competition including St. Norbert College,
UNC Wilmington, University of South Carolina, and 2008 Di-
vision II champion St. Augustine College.
On the men’s side, team Captain Nick Sparr ’09 ran away
with the 3000 meter race,
winning in a time of 8
“It felt good. Especially to beat minutes 47.44 seconds,
some Division I guys.” while setting a school re-
cord for the event.
“It felt good,” said
Nick Sparr ’09 Sparr. “Especially to beat
some Division I guys.”
Willie Stewart ’09
placed third in the javelin throw, throwing an impressive 191’ 11”,
an NCAA Division III National’s provisional mark, the tempo-
rary mark to qualify for nationals.
“I was pleased with my throwing,” Stewart said. “It was a
vast improvement upon my opening meet last year; hopefully it
speaks of good things to come.”
For the women’s team, Becky Bessinger ’09 claimed fifth in
the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, with a time of 11:53.85.
“It’s been two years since she’s run that race,” Freeman said.
“So it was nice to see her get a good race under her belt.”
One disadvantage plaguing Grinnell in the past has been low
team numbers in certain events, particularly shorter distances.
However, this season Coach Freeman has seen that trend re-
verse.
“In the past distance runners have been at least half the team,”
Freeman said. “This year we have a lot of new sprinter-jumper
types, so that really helps with balancing our team.” Left to Right Maia Olsen ’11, Victoria Vertilo ’12, Allegra Kwong ’11 cruise around the track at a blustery Monday practice in prepara-
Although the team did not fare too well at the Midwest tion for the team’s first meet this Saturday at Central College. SOPHIE FAJARDO
Conference Indoor Championships, with the men taking fifth
place and women eight-place, Coach Freeman cites injuries and Once the team gets healthy, and with the addition of some said. “We have never had a male high jumper, and now we have
missing athletes for the results. outdoor events, namely the javelin, in which Grinnell has four of Dylan [Boucher ’12] and Andy [Hirakawa ’12] who could both
“Had we been at full strength we have no doubt that we the top five throwers in the conference, both squads are looking potentially place at conference.”
would’ve finished second,” Freeman said. “With the women, to move up in a conference traditionally dominated by Mon- The Pioneers will be traveling to meets the following two
we had quite a few health issues and some key athletes studying mouth College. weekends, before retuning home to host their only home meet of
abroad.” “This is the most complete team in my four years,” Stewart the season, the Dick Young Classic on April 18.
AL CENTRALL NL CENTRAL
Cubs
Indians Brewers
Tigers Reds
Royals Cardinals
Twins Astros
White Sox Pirates
AL WEST NL WEST
ALCS: Yankees Vs. Athletics
Athletics NLCS: Cubs Vs. Mets Dodgers
Angels AL Champion: Yankees Diamondbacks
Mariners Giants
NL Champion: Cubs Padres
Rangers Rockies
World Series: Yankees Vs. Cubs
Champion: Cubs
14 edited by Jai Garg
gargjai@grinnell.edu
After being inside the friendly confines of the PEC, the team traveled on a ten game road trip including a trip to Florida
BY C HLOE MORYL
With late March and early April snow flurries; the baseball team has been
relegated to practicing and competing in indoor venues—not exactly conducive to
real game situations. After coming back from a successful training trip in Florida,
the baseball team has gained experience, confidence and sweet tan lines.
The Pioneers faced both conference and non-conference competition in their
ten-game road trip. Ending with a 7-3 record for the trip, many of the games were
high scoring, including a 20-4 win against Crown College, a 15-4 win against
Earlham College, and a 7-0 win against Lawrence University.
While there were definite standout performers, specifically Paden Roder ’10,
Ben Mendoza ‘09, and Greg Suryn ‘11, the Pioneers attribute their offensive suc-
cess to their depth of bats. “The nice thing about our lineup is that we have a lot of
guys that can hit well so when one of our top guys is having a bad day somebody
in the back can pick them up,” said Ryan Fletcher ’11. “We also had a lot of good
pitching. All our pitchers did well, but Harris was lights out.”
Pitcher Ryan Harris ’10 was named this week’s Midwest Conference Men’s
Baseball Performer of the Week after garnering a perfect 0.00 ERA. Over the trip,
Harris pitched a total of 13 innings and was the winning pitcher in two games.
Though the Pioneers have strong bats and quick gloves, many of the double-
header contests ended up being split. “It’s mainly due to a lack of focus,” Fletcher
said, “because we definitely have the talent to win but sometimes we just don’t
bring it as much as we can, and then sometimes the bounces just don’t go your
way.”
With seasoned talent on the team, for the first-year class, of which there are 12
playing on the team this year, the trip to Florida really meant getting significant
playing time in their first collegiate games. “Obviously, the trip was a good bond-
ing experience for everybody and then on the team you get a little bit better of a
view of what your role is going to be,” said catcher Mike Nodzenski ’12. “It was
definitely a good experience for the freshmen because everybody got playing time
and you know sometimes that won’t be the case later in the year.”
Fletcher agreed, adding that the volume of games will better prepare the team
for conference play. “But I think it’s nice that we have that many games they have
a chance to get in there and really feel it out so when conference comes around
they’re not like deer in headlights,” Fletcher said.
With a handful of games under their belt, the Pioneers travel to Galesburg to In the blistering cold, Jim Malewitz ’09 catches for a bullpen session outside while Chad Takabuki ’10 simulates a batter
face Knox College in their first conference game of the season this Saturday at 1 to get the pitcher used to throwing in near-game situations. PAUL KRAMER
p.m.
The Back Page
The Best Thing Since The Front Page
Remember “I” before “E” More on sub-free housing Someone spilled their coffee
random C’mon, Henry Rietz. Change your name or The current debate on sub-free housing has After enjoying Frost/Nixon at Harris this past
rants
get out of dodge. Over my four years here I’ve brought up an important question. Why does Saturday afternoon, I reached down and picked up
received countless emails, letters, and packages sub-free housing exist? The very existence of the copy of Jean Baudrillard’s Passwords that I had
intended for YOU. Just because you’re a profes- it runs against self governance. I believe that set on the floor beside me. Unfortunately, I was
sor and your name is almost the same as mine Grinnell students should learn to work out our is- greeted not with the book I had originally placed
Students speak is no excuse! I don’t care that Alicia will not sues rather than isolate two groups with differing there, but instead with a “special edition” that came
about what’s on be in your class today (thanks, Health Center). opinions. This lack of working together results in pre-soaked with your coffee! I looked in the direc-
their minds in 142 I will not write your advisee a letter of recom- groups that can become polarized with sub-free tion of the coffee flow but alas, you were already
words or fewer, mendation to become a counselor (thanks, reli- students learning to only associate drinking with gone. As it is a relatively thin (and absorbent) book,
and you’re invited! gious studies student). I will not be attending the being obnoxious and racking up dorm fees and this particular copy has been rendered essentially
If you have a rant, Diversity Leaders Program Dessert Reception extremists (like me) on the other end that assume useless by the liquid that has permeated it. Though
e-mail it to (thanks, admissions office). I do not want your all Grinnellians drink. After all, out there in the these circumstances would be unfortunate in any
[hortonmo]. Com- book on the religious history of Newton (thanks, real world we will all have to live and work with case, this book happens to belong to Burling Li-
random stranger). And no, I do not plan on pay- people with opposing opinions. brary. While I usually tend to visit the library so I
plaining in a public
ing for your trip to Philadelphia this spring break Also, asking Southies whether Cleveland or may avoid paying for a book I will read only once,
forum is always James should be sub-free is like asking if you you have granted me an exciting opportunity: now
(thanks, accounting office). So please remember
more fun than do- – “I” before “E” except when contacting ME. would rather be shot in the arm or leg. I get to pay for someone else’s copy of this book!
ing it alone. Thanks!