11.2.12 archive

www.manitoumessenger.com

Bob Woodward shares tales Watergate journalist inspires voters St. Olaf is a hub for accomplished and in!uential people, but it is a rare occasion when a true American legend roams its halls. On Wednesday, Oct. 24, Bob Wood-ward – the man who exposed Watergate and contributed to Pulitzer-winning 9/11 coverage – visited the Hill as the fall head-liner for the Political Awareness Committee (PAC). A"er dining with PAC members, Woodward addressed a crowd assembled in Boe Chapel (which was the butt of his #rst joke; he admitted that his profes-sion usually keeps him out of holy places). As an investi-gative journalist who built his ca-reer on the con-viction that ugly realities should not be sugarcoat-ed, Woodward did not design his speech as an upli"ing, pre-election rally. He emphasized the chasm between what the Ameri-can people are aware of and the machinery of Washington. “We only know 1 percent of the story,” Woodward said. It’s not the most signi#cant 1 percent, either: He suggested that what we don’t know is the most crucial piece. “We must set up a system that aggres-sively tries to #x this,” Woodward said. What this system might look like was ab-sent from the rest of the speech. Woodward asked audience members to raise their hands if anyone thought they knew the real Barack Obama, and predict-ably, no one did. He gave them a warning: “Secret government is what will do us in.” In a brief interview with Mr. Woodward before his speech, he singled out the na-tional debt as the country’s most ominous problem. “We are trillions of dollars in debt,” he said. “$e gorging has got to stop.” In his speech, he noted that in the past three and a half years, there have been no spending cuts whatsoever. Woodward recently con-

ducted an interview with the president, in which Obama said that he would willingly “lose an election to #x it,” a grim allusion to the gridlock that has paralyzed the nation. In addition to his concern about Amer-ica’s overspending, stagnant and dishonest government, Woodward expressed his dis-pleasure with the state of journalism today. Woodward said that the standards of inves-tigative journalism are falling. “Journalists need to be the watchdogs, but they’re just not right now,” he said. However, quality reporting is hard to do

in an industry that’s losing money. “$ere’s not enough money in journalism,” he said. “$e business model is failing.” $is pessimism didn’t stop him from en-couraging college kids to see journalism as a viable career path. “Go for it,” Woodward said. “It’s a great profession. You get to drop into people’s lives when they’re interesting and leave when they’re not. How many other careers can you say that about?” During the post-speech question-and-answer session, Woodward was asked about the role of new media, particularly Twitter and WikiLeaks. He didn’t condemn Twitter, but he asked his audience not to take it too seriously. “Twitter is a means of communication,

but it’s not even close to the full story,” Woodward said. He dismissed WikiLeaks as overhyped and powerless in the political scheme. “$e White House laughed [WikiLeaks] o% because they didn’t have the documents they really base their decisions on,” Wood-ward said. Full of juicy stories only a true insider could tell, Woodward’s address provided perspective, but little direction to the audi-ence as soon-to-be-voters. “His heavy reliance on anecdotes made

things perhaps more interesting than in-sightful,” PAC member Alex Everhart ’15 said. “$e actual content of the speech was a little bit of a curveball for us; the listed title for the lecture was something to the ef-fect of, ‘$e Role of Leadership in the U.S. Presidential Election,’ but there wasn’t actu-ally a whole lot of that covered.” “He tended to avoid issues directly re-lated to the election,” Erika Meierding’15 said. “$e speech didn’t help me reach a decision as a voter, but it did make me more aware of issues facing government today.”

[email protected]

By Abby GrosseArts and Entertainment Editor

Just a"er 2:45 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 29, North#eld authorities received a phone call that an employee of the America’s Best Value Inn had just been robbed at gunpoint. O&cers were immediately dispatched to pursue the al-leged robber.$e hotel, located on Riverview Drive, just

o% of Highway 3, is about three miles from St. Olaf. $e college was careful to take any pre-cautionary measures possible on behalf of its students, sta% and faculty.

At about 9:50 a.m., anybody subscribed to the college’s emergency noti#cation system re-ceived a text message or an email notifying him or her that an armed robber was at large in the North#eld area. At about the same time, Presi-dent David Anderson ’74 sent an email to all students, sta% and faculty to alert them of the robbery.$e email noti#ed students that an armed

robbery had occurred south of town, and that the suspect was still at large in the North#eld and Dundas area.

Anderson’s email urged everybody at St. Olaf to be “on heightened alert,” encouraging them to contact Public Safety if they saw anything “unusual” and to call 911 directly if they saw anything “alarming.”

Monday morning, Cassie Paulsen ’15 and Kate Panning ’15 traveled to town to HeadStart Preschool, where they volunteer every Monday morning.

“On our way home, we saw a dozen police cars, a few SWAT team vans and the search he-licopter by the Walgreen’s and gas station near campus,” Paulsen said. “$is was before any information had gone out on Ole Alert, so we decided not to raise the alarm.” $e alarm was indeed raised shortly a"er, so soon almost all students, sta% and faculty were also aware of the criminal’s capture.

St. Olaf ’s emergency noti#cation system, called Ole Alert, has been in place since Sep-tember of 2007. $ough occasional test messag-es are sent out, Ole Alert had only been used to notify subscribers of an actual emergency once before Monday’s robbery incident.

According to Fred Behr, director of St. Olaf Public Safety, on July 14, 2010, a message was sent out to alert campus of an approaching tornado. Because the severe weather reached North#eld in the middle of the summer, how-ever, far fewer people were actually on campus. Monday’s robbery marked the #rst time that Public Safety has used Ole Alert during the school year.

According to reports, North#eld Police Chief Charles Walerius said that in addition to the SWAT teams, police o&cers and deputies that Paulsen and Panning spotted, the State Patrol helicopter and K9 teams were dispatched in the search.

Eric McDonald, professor of education and biology, had a #rst-hand encounter with the po-lice, who suspected the alleged robber may have traveled through his wooded backyard.

“I am amazed at the response of the area to what seems like a local issue, though when it happens in your backyard it gets really big,” Mc-Donald said. He was happy to cooperate.

Shortly before 11 a.m., alleged burglar Eric Wade Forcier, 26, was nabbed in a wooded area near the Cannon River and taken into custody, where he remains. Police also arrested an al-leged accomplice, who drove the car in which Forcier originally escaped the hotel before !ee-ing on foot.

Less than two hours a"er the #rst noti#ca-tion, at approximately 11:20 a.m., Public Safety sent out a second Ole Alert message.

“$e suspect in this morning’s armed rob-bery in North#eld is in police custody,” the message said.

According to Behr, Ole Alert sent 1,597 total messages on Sept. 26. Behr also noted that be-tween the 1,032 text messages and 565 emails, there was likely overlap.

“Many people subscribe to both email and text, so numbers can be misleading,” Behr said. He estimated that the alert system reached ap-proximately 1,400 people total.

North#eld’s renowned status as a small town that stands up against the threat of robbery was upheld by Monday’s manhunt. What is more, Oles learned not only that they can depend on their town to keep them safe, but also that Ole Alert is succeeding at its function of keeping the campus informed and aware of any poten-tial danger.

[email protected]

Armed robbery By Ashley BelisleNews Editor

HANNAH RECTOR/MANITOU MESSENGER

Vote No display in Buntrock

On Thursday, Oct. 25, students, faculty and staff participated in a demonstration spelling out the word “NO” in Buntrock Commons to take a stand against the marriage amendment and the voter ID amendment. Organized by St.

Olaf College Greens, Students for Reproductive Health and Choice and St. Olaf College Students For Liberty, Oles stood in solidarity to support their position. A photo of the demonstration went viral once it hit the web, causing activists

throughout Minnesota and across the globe to praise Oles for making a statement against the amendments.

REBECCA REMPEL/MANITOU MESSENGER

Bob Woodward, famed Washington Post journalist and Pulitzer-winning writer, visited campus on Wednesday, Oct. 24 to discuss leadership and elections.

On Sunday, Oct. 14, Felix Baumgartner shattered the world record for the highest bal-loon ride and parachute jump. Plunging 24 miles to the Earth, he completed the longest and fastest free-fall on record. This stunt was sponsored by the com-pany who produces the popular energy drink Red Bull. The company has spon-sored many extreme sporting events over the years, contribut-ing to its image of extreme thrill, adven-ture and excitement. Stratos was suc-cessful. Baumgartner landed safely on Earth after a four-minute free-fall, before the eyes of more than eight mil-lion online viewers. Although his jump was a great achieve-ment, many people wonder where Red Bull’s place should be. Obviously, the Red Bull Stratos was an extremely danger-ous stunt. Risk and uncertainty are what draw such a large audience to these kinds of activities. Most people would never jump out of a space capsule 24 miles above the Earth’s surface. There are too many things that could have gone wrong. Baumgartner’s pressurized suit could have mal-functioned, or his parachute could have failed to open prop-erly. He put his life on the edge for every second of his descent. Not all stunts sponsored by Red Bull have concluded with such a happy ending, and while many people view his stunt with awe and admiration, others are dis-gusted with Red Bull for pro-moting a human taking such a risk. However, regardless of

how the news of the event was received, it has gained global attention. The reality is that this kind of sponsorship is effective for companies. The reason that it was extremely dangerous is the same reason that it is an extremely effective advertising

endeavor: People are fascinated with the limits of human poten-tial, and Baumgartner proved that the known limits can be surpassed. Promoting athletes allows products to gain public recognition. We crave a taste of the thrill they experience and desire to be a part of the action. Although we know sipping an energy drink will not simulate an extreme experience, we still associate it with living on the edge. This influences the deci-sions of consumers and leads them to select brand names that coincide with the image they are

trying to express. The stigma of a Starbucks cup is the polar oppo-site of a Red Bull can because the products are thought to be consumed by different crowds. The idea of associating prod-ucts with activities is a basic advertising strategy. In the 1960s and ’70s, the orange-fla-

vored drink Tang was sold as the beverage of astronauts. This summer, advertisements led us to believe Coke beverages and Subway sandwiches were the fuel of Olympic athletes. Companies have been coming up with more creative ways to get their names out. Instead of focusing on broad advertising strategies, such as the Gatorade symbols plastered on the water coolers of almost every professional football team, some producers are choosing to sponsor specific, extreme events. Professional snowboarders, surfers, mountain climbers and

other extreme sport specialists are individually sponsored by companies. Red Bull sponsorship, as well as that of thousands of other companies, helps make the dreams of many athletes pos-sible. Often the most talented, cunning and daring athletes have

the passion and ability to achieve greatness, but lack initial means. Costs of training and equipment, support of strategists and coaches and the opportunities for practice can be pro-vided by companies all allow people who would otherwise never have had the chance to fulfill their ambitions. Sponsorship provides athletes and people who do extreme stunts with monetary support and public attention, and it sets the com-pany up for exciting advertising opportuni-ties. If they are willing to take the risk and work hard to prepare themselves, compa-nies should be able to sponsor these people. While Baumgartner did take a huge risk, he did it knowingly. Because he was spon-sored, he was able to perform his stunt with

all of the equipment and support he needed to make it as safe as possible. Allowing companies to be sponsors gives them a unique opportunity to promote their products and help others reach their goals. Red Bull literally made the dreams of Felix Baumgartner come true, and it will most likely continue to help other athletes reach their goals.

Amy Mihelich ’16 ([email protected]) is from Forest Lake, Minn. She majors in English and environmental studies.

O!"#"$#%page A2 November 2, 2012

Red Bull Stratos a leap for athletes, marketingBy Amy Mihelich

ANNA CARLSON/MANITOU MESSENGER

MANITOU MESSENGER

I have watched all three of the presidential debates, and like most people tuning in, I am not an undecided voter.

So why do so many Americans spend three October evenings watching two middle-aged men yell and interrupt each other? I keep watching because it is qual-ity entertainment. Watching President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney shake hands and then tear each other to shreds for an hour and a half is fantastic television. It is like watching a guilt-free reality show.

But that got me thinking. If I, along with many other

Americans, am tuning into the debates for the snarky comebacks and witty remarks rather than the actual political issues being covered, do the debates really impact the election results? From my research, I learned that the debates actually do matter.

Many people know something about the candidates from glanc-ing at newspaper headlines, but for some Americans, the debates are the first times they see and hear their potential president directly address them live on camera. Good stage presence means a lot when an election is as tight as this race.

People remember a bad debate. The media made sure of that by

throwing Obama under the bus after the first debate in this cur-rent election cycle. And in a 1992 presidential debate, Bill Clinton vs. George H.W. Bush, Bush was bashed by all of the media out-lets for checking his watch dur-ing one of Clinton’s speeches. That moment of poor judgment by Bush clearly hasn’t been for-gotten; if you begin typing the words “Bush checks” into Google, a video of the incident appears on the screen, and this was a debate that happened 20 years ago.

One might argue that the 1980 election, Jimmy Carter vs. Ronald Reagan, was influenced the most by a presidential debate. Reagan’s closing remarks, in which he

asked the American people, “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” made a strong final point. Many still say this sin-gle comment ended up giving Reagan a lot of the undecided voters and helped him secure the presidency.

Now let us return to the present for an election that is just around the corner. One major error I noticed in all three presidential debates was the absence of social issues. If women truly are the most sought-after undecided vot-ers, as many news outlets have been claiming, I think it was a mistake that the debates did not include a night for the candidates to cover birth-control and the gay marriage amendment. The third debate, focusing on foreign policy, just seemed to be a com-bination of the first two debates; the evening would have been bet-ter spent on the more controver-sial social issues. If you want to coax the undecided voter to check your name on the ballot, you need to address their concerns, which means that social issues merit some attention too, not just economic and national security issues.

This is going to be an incred-ibly close election, and come Nov. 6, the wait will be over. Let’s hope the undecided voter has heard enough from the candidates to feel that whomever he or she votes for will be the best man for the job.

Jocelyn Sarvady ’15 ([email protected]) is from Atlanta, Ga. She majors in American studies with a concentration in family studies.

Presidential debates influential, then and now

NOAH SANDERS/MANITOU MESSENGER

By Jocelyn Sarvady

THEMANITOU

MESSENGEREstablished 1887

Olivia N. KoesterExecutive Editor

Ethan S. Hiedeman Managing Editor

[email protected]

MANAGING TEAM Business Manager

([email protected])

Gabby Keller

DESIGN TEAM Visual Director

([email protected])

Katie Lauer Photo Editor ([email protected])

Hannah Rector

Staff Illustrators Anna Carlson Noah Sanders Daniel Bynum SECTION EDITORS News Editors ([email protected])

Ashley Belisle Rachel Palermo Opinions Editors ([email protected])

Stephanie Jones Kate Fridley Sports Editor ([email protected])

Alana Patrick Arts and Entertainment Editors

([email protected])

Bri Wilson Abby Grosse Features Editor

([email protected])

Shannon Cron

COPY EDITORS ([email protected])

Kaitlin Coats Becky Meiers Carissa Beckwith Julie Fergus ONLINE EDITION Online Editor ([email protected])

Shannon Cron

ADVISING Faculty Advisor

Jan Hill

Submission Policy The Manitou Messenger encourages

contributions from students, alumni, fac-

ulty, staff and administrators. Opinion

articles are open to all political, social

and philosophical viewpoints. The views

expressed in all letters, editorials and

articles do not necessarily represent the

views of the student body, faculty, admin-

istration or Messenger staff members. “A

word from our editors...” is written each

week by the executive and managing edi-

tors.

The Manitou Messenger reserves the

right to edit all submissions for length

and/or content. Letters must be signed

and must include the writer’s full name,

telephone number, year in school and

major, title or occupation. The Messenger

will verify the authenticity of all letters

before they are published. Letters submit-

ted by an organization must be signed by

an author representing that organization.

Letters or articles containing offensive

language, libelous material or misleading

information must be rewritten before

publication. Letters based on two-party

disputes will not be published. Letters

must address issues affecting the larger

campus community.

Letters must be submitted via e-mail to

<[email protected]>. Letters must

not exceed 400 words. Letters exceeding

400 words will not be published until

they are edited by the author to meet this

specification. Letters must be received by

5 p.m. the Sunday preceding the publica-

tion date.

The Manitou Messenger does not en-

dorse the content of its advertisements.

They are exclusively the opinions of the

advertiser and do not represent the views

of the newspaper or its staff. The Edito-

rial Board of the Messenger reserves the

rights to review the content of advertise-

ments prior to printings or to refuse pub-

lication.

All content and editorial decisions of

the Manitou Messenger remain in the

hands of the students.

If you wish to contact us you may

reach us at our office in Buntrock Com-

mons, Room 112. All staff members are

available via e-mail at the addresses list-

ed above.

The Manitou Messenger is a student

publication of St. Olaf College, North-

field, Minn. It is published weekly dur-

ing the academic year except during va-

cations, exam periods and interim. The

cost for one year’s subscription is $50.

Postage is paid in Northfield, Minn.

The paper can be found online at:

www.manitoumessenger.com.

Address: Manitou Messenger

St. Olaf College

1500 St. Olaf Ave.

Northfield, MN 55057-1001

[email protected]

As we enter the registration period for interim and spring semester, upperclassmen are beginning to look beyond life on the Hill. This is a stressful period, full of MCATs, GREs, interviews and phone calls. In the coming months, you will probably begin to hear joyful exclamations as Oles receive word that they have snagged their first job or have been accepted to graduate school. But even this joy can give way to anxiety, because entering the real world can be a daunting prospect after four years within the St. Olaf bubble. In order to help us properly approach this transition, the Harry C. Piper Center for Vocation and Career is standing by. You’ve seen the emails and the advertisements. The Piper Center works to bring us job fairs, information sessions and workshops. They have staff members who focus on different majors and career areas, and they are even run-ning Connections trips across the United States. All of these resources are at our disposal with one goal in mind: to help Oles hit the ground running after graduation. However, immediately entering a career or moving on to the next phase of schooling are not the only choices. The option of taking a gap year can sometimes be downplayed in our focus on post-graduate success, but the skills and expe-riences that one can gain from the gap year make it worth considering. Let’s be clear about what I mean when I talk about a gap year, because some may consider simply living in their parents’ basement a “gap year.” In this context, taking a

gap year refers to service and volunteer pro-grams, teaching programs, cultural exchange programs and even seasonal or temporary work. Of these four categories, the first two seem to be the most popular. This is because they each boast highly-renowned programs. The Peace Corps is a very popular option for students looking to volunteer during their gap year, especially because of the inter-national experience it provides. For those looking to stay local, Volunteer USA and AmeriCorps are worth looking into. If you are more interested in teaching programs, Teach For America is a highly recommended option. Why would a student want to take a gap year? If you already have a good idea about what you want to do after graduation, what reasons could there be for putting it off, espe-cially if you have studied abroad during your time at St. Olaf? There are some students who cannot wait to get started in graduate school or in their new jobs. There is nothing wrong with making that choice, but Oles ought to understand that taking a gap year can help pad their resumes for an eventual return to the competitive job market. Furthermore, it might very well be the only opportunity to take advantage of these programs before the responsibilities of a long-term career tie you down. Despite its highly promoted resources for diving straight

into a career post-graduation, the Piper Center does not discourage students from taking a gap year. It even has a staff member, Nate Jacobi, to help advise students who are considering it as an option. Regardless of your major, a gap year could be an opportunity that you do not want to miss.

Chris Miller ’15 ([email protected]) is from Robbinsdale, Minn. He majors in political science.

O!"#"$#%November 2, 2012page A3

MANITOU MESSENGER

Not all roads go the same direction for soon-to-be graduatesBy Chris Miller

NOAH SANDERS/MANITOU MESSENGER

It’s no secret that many people, especially among the younger generation, are disen-chanted with politics. These apathetic senti-ments have gone so far as to convince a fair number of potential voters that it’s en vogue to abstain from the voting process altogether, with the rationale that neither presidential candidate fits the bill. But many forget about one not-so-tiny thing: the rest of the ballot. Politicians at the state and local levels are our closest and most accessible ties to gov-ernment, yet ironically they garner the least amount of attention come election season – or any time at all. I’ve had the privilege of working with and volunteering for politicians at these levels. If I gained one thing from the experience, it’s the realization that they should not be ignored.

These are the people who are familiar with the most pressing issues in our communi-ties. They study their districts closely to bet-ter know the people they represent. When citizens need help or wish to participate in government at the most basic level, they care. Presidential races always appear more rel-evant and exciting on the surface. But when it comes down to it, politics at the lower levels of government have the real power to influ-ence lives. Just look at the two constitutional amendments on the ballot in Minnesota: one to change whom we marry, the other to change how we vote. Politics don’t get much more intimate than that. Granted, much of what occurs at the national level also has a substantial impact on our personal lives. The passing and Supreme Court approval of the Affordable Care Act

is a prime example. But legislation like that doesn’t come around once every year, or even once every decade. Some complain that national politics are out of touch with the lives of average citizens. They are among the many who bemoan a lack of power; theirs is just another voice to be drowned out in a sea of millions who want a say in our system of government. Not true. At the local level, even a handful of ballots can matter. For example, former Minnesota House Representative David Bly (D), whose district encompasses Northfield, lost his seat in the 2010 election by a mere 37 votes. That’s one floor of a St. Olaf dorm’s-worth of people who could have bridged the difference. It even happens at the federal level. Current United States Sen. Al Franken, who under-

went a vote recount during the 2008 election, won office by a margin of fewer than 300 votes. It’s an unfortunate reality that many of us don’t even know the names of our local repre-sentatives. But when all is said and done, these are the people who really make things happen in our everyday lives. That’s why, even if you don’t vote for Obama or Romney on Tuesday – or any of the other presidential candidates on the list – you should at least cast your ballot for your local politicians.

Opinions Editor Kate Fridley ’14 ([email protected]) is from Apple Valley, Minn. She majors in political science with concentra-tions in management studies and Middle Eastern studies.

Cast your ballot on Election Day, even if it’s not for presidentBy Kate Fridley

On Oct. 21, Kurry Kabab, a favorite lo-cal restaurant among Oles, closed its doors for good. !e rather abrupt closing of the casual establishment, which was known for its inexpensive, yet authentic Indian cuisine, was met with widespread discontent in the North"eld community. Loyal North"eld patrons missed no op-portunity to get their "ll of Indian delicacy before the restaurant’s closing on Sunday evening. During Kurry Kabab’s last weekend in business, the establishment struggled to keep up with the unusually massive amount of customers. Every table was packed during the week-end bu#et, and the chefs even ran out of chicken due to the massive in$ux of cus-tomers. !e wait for a table was more than an hour during dinner, and even former

employees who were enjoying a last meal pitched in, bussing tables and distributing take-out trays to customers. Kurry Kabab was the only restaurant de-livering to campus other than North"eld’s pizza joints. And even though our Caf food is top-notch, sometimes there is nothing bet-ter than gathering up some friends and eat-ing chicken shahi korma and palak paneer on your dorm room $oor. While North"eld isn’t known for its abundance of ethnic food establishments, we’ll still have Chapati for our Indian food cravings. But the Division street restaurant, although more upscale than Kurry Kabab, lacks much of the authenticity that made Kurry Kabab a favorite among Olaf students. Chapati is also pricier and does not deliver to campus. “By losing Kurry Kabab, we are losing the

one authentic Indian restaurant in North-"eld,” said Chris Hager ’16, a North"eld na-tive and former employee of Kurry Kabab. “All of the food was cooked by one Indian family, who used traditional recipes, while Chapati is more American.” Kurry Kabab opened in 2005 when Satin-der Singh and his family moved to North-"eld from New York City to open their res-taurant. According to the North"eld Patch, which released a press statement immedi-ately following the closing of the establish-ment, Kurry Kabab closed due to a string of economic woes, which in the end were too great to overcome while staying in business. “With the loss of their liquor license and raised rent, it was hard to make ends meet,” Hager said. “Kurry Kabab was not a well-run business. !e location was weird, their number wasn’t in the phone book and they had little to no advertising. I think the only reason it stayed open was because the food was so good.” Kurry Kabab catered in large part to North"eld’s student population and re-mained committed to being an a#ordable eating establishment, despite their economic di%culties. “Kurry Kabab really treated me like fam-ily,” said Mary Clare DuRocher ’16, another former employee of the eatery. “My bosses were always fair with prices and payment, even when their rent skyrocketed. “ !e family that ran Kurry Kabab was just so friendly and welcoming,” Hager said. “!ey were very understanding, and gener-ous bosses. It’s just really disappointing to see this happen to nice people.” Whether you’ve been going to Kurry Ke-bab for years, or just discovered it on closing weekend, Kurry Kabab will not be forgotten.

[email protected]

E&'()'*+&,(&'page A4 November 2, 2012MANITOU MESSENGER

This week I am talking about an oral skill in bed, but not the kind you are think-ing of. I am talking about communication, you know, like that ORC credit. It is, as some people say, the key. When it comes to getting what you want in bed, you can try new things, read Cosmo and just hope for the best. On the other hand, wouldn’t it just be easier to ask for it? We all know that an open line of communication is important in any relationship, so let’s move it from the Caf date to the bedroom. First of all, it is important to communi-cate with one another on expectations and boundaries. Not wanting to progress past a certain point is OK, but a heads-up on what and what not to expect prevents too high of expectations, getting both of you in the right mindset to enjoy whatever does happen. It is important to know what each person is comfortable with so that you can move forward together. Speaking of moving forward, how does one begin the conversation about taking it to the next level? This is one instance were I recommend a different kind of commu-nication: body language. The best way to know if the person you are with is ready for more (without an awkward conversa-tion that might send you backward) is to read the body signals. Watch how he or she reacts when you start to try something new. Do they lean in closer or do they tense up? Honestly, it is up to your dis-cretion, but advance slowly! Moving too fast can be uncomfortable for both of you so try to stay on the same page. When it comes to intercourse, make sure to discuss contraception and concerns BEFORE it happens. It is easier to make these deci-sions when you are not in the heat of the moment. Be able to communicate to each other, verbally or not, that you want to take the next step and interpret your part-ner’s reactions. Here is the real question when it comes to communication in our lovely twin-sized beds: How do I get what I want? This is the trickiest thing, in my opinion. Generally, people are bashful or they are very prideful in their, let’s say, abilities. It is important not to offend! So let’s get some dialogue going. Instead of saying “That doesn’t really feel great,” try “You know what would feel amazing? [Fill in the blank.]” Similarly, you can try telling a bit of a white lie. Telling someone that you love it when they do something specific, even if they haven’t ever done it, gets them think-ing about it, and they are more likely to do it. It is kind of like reverse psychology, and it is very effective. There is also the compliment sandwich. So if the message still isn’t getting through try this formula: compliment, critique, compliment. Here is an example. “I love it when you … but could you try this instead … you are so great.” Get the request in there, but flatter as well. In short, be nice, be direct and be courteous. How does one keep getting what they want? Rewards. Whether these are verbal or something else, let your significant other know that you enjoyed what they did. Let them know that you appreciate his or her efforts and chances are he or she is likely to do it again. All in all, don’t be afraid to talk! Physical relationships should be fun and rewarding, and learning about each other’s prefer-ences helps you understand each other as a whole. As Oles, we like to be the best, so let’s improve more than just our academic skills.

To submit questions, comments or concerns to the sex columnist, e-mail

[email protected].

By Madeleine Tibaldi

Contributing Writer

Kurry Kabab permanently closes its doors

Director Sarah Rasmussen offers wisdomKATIE LAUER/MANITOU MESSENGER

Oles in search of high-quality music de-livered in an intimate setting may "nally have their answer, and it’s not the bustling clubs of Minneapolis. Enter !e Chapel, a music and art venue that is the newest addi-tion to North"eld’s already vibrant local arts scene. Tucked amid the gi- shops, cafes and clothing stores of downtown Division Street, !e Chapel is an operation lacking in pre-tension. Michael Morris, a Minnesota native and frontman of the band Dewi Sant, found-ed it almost by default. Initially, he intended the space to serve as the headquarters of his independent record label, Plastic Horse Re-cords. But he quickly found that it doubled nicely as both an o%ce and performance space. “It was totally over the top as an o%ce,” Morris said. “It’s way too huge and costs too much, but the idea of having a space in my record label’s home where music could be performed and art could be shared was just too good to not make happen – especially a space that sounds, looks and feels like !e Chapel.” A musician himself, Morris is familiar with the Twin Cities scene and o-en books local artists who happen to be his friends or acquaintances. A handful of well-known acts have performed in the venue already this year, including Caroline Smith, Lucy Michelle, Communist Daughter and Charlie Parr. “I try to get acts who wouldn’t normally perform in North"eld, other than at the col-leges,” Morris said. He believes that !e Chapel can o#er a listening experience di#erent than !e Pause or !e Cove at Carleton. Part of the uniqueness stems from the acoustics of the venue. A-er initial experimentation with the sound, Morris thinks he’s "nally hap-pened upon the perfect system. He likens the sound quality to that in a church or ca-

thedral, hence the venue’s name. “I’ve never been in a room that sounds so amazing. It’s got this epic natural reverb,” Morris said. !e Chapel also o#ers a sense of intima-cy that bigger venues o-en lack. Christian Graefe ’13, who saw Charlie Parr perform at !e Chapel in early October, said the venue had a more personal vibe, in part due to the informal seating on folding chairs or the $oor. “It was a very relaxed atmosphere,” Graefe said. “!e artists are close to the audience and can interact with them.” !e ambiance of the space is all part of Morris’ broader artistic vision and his desire to connect listeners with art and artist on a deeper level. “One of the reasons that we named it !e Chapel is because we think art and sharing it is sacred, and it becomes even more so everyday in a world where every interaction seems to be monitored and calculated for value to convince companies it’s worth advertising on Facebook or whatever. !is space seems to have the unique e#ect of re-minding everyone of what music and art mean.” !ough !e Chapel has acted primarily as a music venue thus far, Morris plans on dallying in other art forms as well, includ-ing dance, theater, poetry, "lm and visual art. Ulti-mately, he hopes that the venue will become what he calls an “art gallery in the truest sense,” a space that mixes media while blurring the line between artist and audience. In the meantime, a handful of shows are already

lined up for the upcoming weeks. Bomba de Luz, a band of St. Paul Central students, will perform on Nov. 3, and Jim Ruiz and the Starfolk are slated to play the following weekend, on Nov. 10. !e "rst visual art show will debut in December, featuring the work of local artist Doug Bratland, who de-signs most of the posters for Chapel shows. Whether it be Lucy Michelle plunking out her newest melody or a local visual artist displaying his or her work, !e Chapel has something to o#er art connoisseurs of all tastes and ages, which is exactly what Morris envisioned. “I want !e Chapel to be a space that brings people together,” he said. “If there’s a way that it can be a space where di#erent people in this community can get together to experience music or art, I’d love that.”

[email protected]

By Ellen Squires

Staff Writer

The Chapel introduces new concert venue

Professional theater director and St. Olaf alumna Sarah Rasmussen ’01 returned to the Hill on Oct. 22 to visit several classes and speak with students about her recent directorial work and theater arts in gen-eral. A-er Rasmussen graduated from St. Olaf with majors in English and theater, she traveled to Norway on a Fulbright Scholar-ship to continue her study of theater. Upon returning to the United States, Rasmussen received an MFA from the University of California-San Diego before beginning her career as a theater director. Since then, she

has directed or assisted with performances in venues ranging from Broadway to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival to the La Jolla Playhouse in California to the Mixed Blood !eater in Minneapolis. Most recently, Rasmussen has begun directing Sarah Ruhl’s “In the Next Room” (or !e Vibrator Play), which will open at the Jungle !eater in Minneapolis on Nov. 2 and run until Dec. 16. Ruhl’s play takes place in the late-19th century in upstate New York and discusses the medical use of the recently invented vibrator to “cure” women’s hysteria. !e treatment helped a.icted women reach a “hysterical paroxysm,” which is Victorian

medical-speak for an orgasm. !e largely light-hearted play, which was nominated for several Tony Awards, deals with themes of sexuality, medical ethics and marriage while also raising questions about the val-ue of technological progress and the ways it a#ects interpersonal relationships. Although this will be the "rst time Ras-mussen has directed “In the Next Room” on her own, she served as assistant direc-tor on a Broadway production of the play, which gave her the chance to meet and work alongside Ruhl. Working with the playwright gave Rasmussen a great sense Rasmussen...

continued on A5

KATIE LAUER/MANITOU MESSENGER

By Bradley West

Staff Writer

E!"#$"%&!'#!"page A5 November 2, 2012

For many, the stress of midterms has subsided, and with finals in the distant – or rather, the soon-approaching – future, November is the perfect month in which to attend many live music events. This Saturday, for example, I will be attending a Dan Deacon concert at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis. For those of you who might not be famil-iar with electronic composer Dan Deacon, you should check out his latest release, America, or his recent cover of Carly Rae Jepson’s “Call Me Maybe” – titled “Call Me Maybe Acapella 147 Times Exponentially Layered.” It is exactly as the name describes it: the summertime hit layered on top of itself creating a very dissonant and industrial sound out of its origin. Dan Deacon has become known for creating a communal experience at his concerts, often asking for audience participation in his own performance. Rumor has it he once inspired his entire crowd to play London Bridge at a show in Austin, Texas. Other concerts this weekend include: Laurie Anderson at the Walker Arts Center in Minneapolis, Nov. 2, 3, and 4 (good luck finding tickets for this one!), as well as Madonna at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets for her performances are very pricey, but if you are a fan, it may be

well worth hearing her on tour in promo-tion of her latest release, MDNA. However, you should be aware: the 54-year-old pop singer stirred up controversy during her recent New Orleans appearance by telling her audience, “I don’t care who you vote for as long as it’s Obama.” Her remark was met with many boos and a few cheers. Should you attend either of her perfor-mances this coming weekend, be prepared for potential headline-inspiring actions from the artist. If you cannot make it to Madonna’s concerts and are still hoping to hear a per-former of yesteryear within the next week, I recommend attending Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler’s show at the Xcel Energy Center next Wednesday, Nov. 7. I was lucky enough to hear the legend himself play in Milwaukee a few years ago, and although most of his classic tunes (“Hey Mr. Tambourine Man,” “Like a Rolling Stone,” “All Along the Watchtower,” etc.) have been transformed by his now-limited vocal range, it was still quite an experi-ence. On Friday, Nov. 9, as many of you may know, St. Olaf will play host to Trampled by Turtles, hailing from Duluth, Minn. This bluegrass group gained much acclaim for its 2011 album Palamino and are continuing to do so with its most recent release, Stars and Satellites. The band has appeared at many national festivals, including Coachella, Lollapalooza and the Newport Folk Festival. It may be difficult to snag tickets for this show, but if you can, have a wonderful time hearing this (somewhat) local band live. Last, I’d like to draw attention to an event at The Cedar on Nov. 13. Alternative/pop ensemble and one of my favorite bands, The Magnetic Fields, will be performing there in promotion of their spring 2012 album release, Love at the Bottom of the Sea. Their music is a com-bination of very funny and strange lyrics (mostly about love, the moon and danc-ing), catchy pop melodies and whimsical instrumentations. Although I have hardly covered the spectrum of concerts taking place in the area this month, I hope I have, at the very least, inspired you to keep your eyes peeled for events that might be of interest to you. Happy November!

[email protected]

By Molly Raben

Music Columnist

MANITOU MESSENGER

of the love of language and literature that informs the po-etic lyricism of the dialogue of “In the Next Room.” Ras-mussen also expressed excitement about getting to direct this rather intimate play in a smaller, more intimate envi-ronment than the large-scale Broadway production. During Rasmussen’s visit to campus last week, she met and spoke with several groups of students that shared an interest in theater and literature. While she certainly talk-ed at length about her recent work with Ruhl’s play, she also shared her thoughts on everything from Shakespeare to poetry to feminism to Aristotelian narrative arcs. While speaking with an English seminar that recently read “In the Next Room,” Rasmussen explained why the play, concerned as it is with a Victorian world far-removed from our own time, is nonetheless relevant to contempo-rary experience. “Although we have some remove from this comedic time period,” Rasmussen said, “these characters still look back at us through the frame, asking about our contempo-rary lives and making us think about the relation between the stage and the world.” Rasmussen also spoke about her admiration for Ruhl as a feminist playwright challenging the few stereotypical roles open to women in traditional theater. “Ruhl writes roles for women other than the ‘young lover,’” Rasmussen said. Some of the most fascinating moments of the director’s talk with the seminar occurred when she shared her phi-losophy about theater in general. Rasmussen compared plays to poems, explaining that both genres leave open many spaces for the audience to (ll in with their own ex-periences. She also told students about her personal crite-ria for evaluating plays – a task she undertakes regularly while working with young playwrights and reviewing new plays. “In a good play, everyone is right. Everyone is trying to be their best,” Rasmussen said. “)ere are no villains.” Rasmussen said that the many new plays fall into the trap of trying too hard to make a point and push a politi-cal or social agenda. According to the director, such plays ignore the true purpose of the theater. “Good plays are all about questions. )ey shouldn’t have a thesis statement,” Rasmussen said. Students wishing to see the work of this erudite and pas-sionate alumna should head up to the Jungle )eater in Minneapolis sometime within the next month and attend a performance of “In the Next Room.” )e play promises many laughs at the expense of 19th-century ignorance about sexuality, but will also raise many serious questions about your own relationships, both to others and to tech-nology.

[email protected]

Vote November 6

rhondapownell rhondapownell.blogspot.com

Prepared / paid for by the Pownell for Mayor Committee

Leads, Listens and Gets the Job Done

Community Member – 23 yearsCity Council and EDA Member – 3! yearsLeague of MN Cities – Board of DirectorsAdopt-a-Park Program and Citywide

Marketing Video – Spearheaded/Championed

Vote November 6






Community Member - 23 yearsCity Council and EDA Member -3! yearsLeague of MN Cities - Board of DirectorsSpearheaded/ Championed:

6th!

Rasmussen- welcomedBy Wyatt Engl

Staff Writer

continued from A4

“My mind wants to die.” If you were to cut Sarah Kane’s “4.48 Psychosis” down to a single line, that would be it. Last weekend, Maxwell Collyard ’13 directed a pro-duction of Kane’s work in the vacant Steensland Library, starring Emelia Carroll ’13, Taylor Heitman ’16 and Jesse Landa ’16. Taking on a work like “4.48 Psychosis” would be quite the challenge for even the most experienced of directors. Part of this di*culty stems from the extremely unconven-tional composition of the piece. Kane’s script is devoid of any stage directions or character divisions. Even the size of the cast is completely open to the director’s interpretation. In this case, Collyard mirrored the original production and cast three actors, dividing them as the mind, the body and the doctor. Some background on Kane is in order here. She rose to prominence in the 1990s as a leader of the in-your-face movement in British theater, and is particularly well known for play “Blasted,” which was +atteringly compared by one reviewer to a “feast of (lth.” Tragically, Kane suf-fered through clinical depression for much of her life and committed suicide shortly a,er completing “4.48 Psycho-sis.” )at said, and to li, a quote from Michael Billington, theater critic for London’s !e Guardian, I (nd it impos-sible to “award aesthetic points to a 75-minute suicide note.” I feel that it would be in poor taste for me to o-er a critique of Kane’s script. Even 12 years removed, watching “4.48 Psychosis” felt like seeing someone slowly mutilate themselves until they (nally succumbed to their injuries. Last weekend’s production was a great triumph in many ways, but ultimately, less-than-stellar performances and some confusing direction kept the play from making a pro-found emotional connection with its audience. Collyard deserves quite a bit of praise for his scenic design. Steensland Hall, now a vacant storage area, was a perfect venue for the show. )e bare and decrepit interior of the building provided a foreboding atmosphere that coated the space with a malaise that (lled the audience with a sense of impending doom. On one end of the room, the wall was covered with pieces of a shattered mirror and shredded page of the script and the writings of Nietzsche. )e playing space itself consisted of a throne on which the doctor perched and a rickety bed on which the mind and body would interact, sometimes in an almost romantic way. )e lighting, designed by Marcus Newton ’16, also highlighted the actors’ relationships to their environment and established e-ective transitions from one moment to the next. Unfortunately, the actors’ performances largely failed to measure up to the potential suggested by the design

elements of the production. I mentioned earlier that two actors were divided into a mind and a body. However, aside from near-identical costumes I would have had no idea that Collyard chose to enact such a concept if I hadn’t taken a peek at the stage manager’s binder. Without speak-ing with Collyard, one could be forgiven for assuming that Carroll and Heitman were portraying two di-erent people rather than two halves of the same person. While none of the actors seemed terribly unprepared or out of place, they all had +aws that impeded my under-standing and enjoyment of the play. First, Landa’s portrayal of the doctor was very confusing because, especially in the beginning of the piece, her physicality did not match her vocalizations. She struck an intimidating presence strut-ting around the space in her heels and (tted suit, but her voice and words were so, and soothing. I wasn’t sure if she was sympathetic to her patient or antagonistic. However, at the climax of the play Landa brought an amount of hu-manity to her character as she watched her patient’s mind su-ocate its body and observed that she had been met with her “(nal defeat.” I had a hard time deciphering the motivations of the mind as portrayed by Carroll. )roughout the production, she seemed to move simply because her director told her to and spoke because he demanded it. I understand that con-sidering the subject matter an emotionless delivery may be realistic, but for the sake of a compelling dramatic narra-tive, there has to be something at stake for the characters. Unfortunately, the mind resigned itself to death from the moment the play started, leaving the character no room to develop. I was quite impressed by Heitman’s portrayal of the body, but her performance was tainted slightly by shaky memorization in certain places. Finally, I had the luxury of sitting down with Collyard and asking him for his interpretation of the play and his concept for presenting. He told me that he believed a cen-tral theme of Kane’s play is the “idea of truth.” In this case, Kane wondered if taking medication to treat depression was an act of lying, of concealing one’s true self. Such an interpretation would give new meaning to a scene where Carroll’s character grudgingly agrees to undergo a chemi-cal lobotomy. Another question that stems from this pre-dicament is when does it become no longer worthwhile to remain entirely truthful? Sadly, I did not pick up on any of these themes when watching the show, and I doubt that many others could have done so either. While I do not doubt for a moment Collyard’s personal investment and dedication to this work, the listless and one-dimensional performance deliv-ered by his cast su-ocated any of the passion and emotion that may have informed its creation.

[email protected]

‘4.48 Psychosis’ explores mental illness

Vote November 6






Vote November 6






Community Member - 23 yearsCity Council and EDA Member -3! yearsLeague of MN Cities - Board of DirectorsSpearheaded/ Championed:

6th!

MADISON VANG/MANITOU MESSENGER

Deep End APO staged “4.48 Psychosis” last week in Steensland.

St. Olaf Graduate - 1993

MANITOU MESSENGER

page A6 November 2, 2012

DANIEL BYNUM/MANITOU MESSENGER

On Sept. 15, the National Hockey League (NHL) officially locked out its players for the second time in recent history, and now, nearly two months later, it seems that the end is nowhere in sight. Most recently, the NHL proposed a deal that would allow the league to have a full 82-game regular season, and a 50-50 split in hockey-related revenue. The NHL Players Association quickly rejected this proposal and offered three more of its own, each agreeing with the 50-50 split but also asking for owners to honor the long-term contracts that have already been signed. All three of these deals were quickly rejected by the NHL owners and now, it seems, they are back at square one. With no headway made since these propos-als were rejected, the NHL has now cancelled its season through November, effectively eliminating over a quarter of the hockey sea-son. Even worse are the rumors now surfac-ing that later this week, the NHL’s Winter Classic will be canceled. The Winter Classic is an annual outdoor game played between two teams on Jan. 1, and it is one of the most anticipated games of every season. This year was going to be even more interesting as two of the league’s most storied teams, the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs, were set to play at The University of Michigan’s Big House, a venue that was sure to bring in over 100,000 people and include alumni, junior and college hockey games as well. For a league that has already had trouble regaining popularity after its most recent lock-out, it seems that both sides should be making more of an effort to agree on a deal. After all of this cancelling is said and done, the people who are really losing out are us, the fans. As an avid hockey fan, I am extremely disappointed by the way this lockout has progressed and by the seeming lack of effort put forth by both sides in the negotiations. What’s even worse is that being a hockey fan in Minnesota is extremely exciting right now. The Wild spent the summer signing two of the biggest free agents in Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, and with a flock of young, talented players coming up from the minors like Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle and Matt Dumba, the Wild are finally looking to be the playoff-ready team that their fans have been waiting for. Even if the Wild aren’t your favorite team (they aren’t mine), going to watch a young, exciting team at the always-packed Xcel Energy Center is something to look forward to. However, all is not lost. There is still hock-ey around for those who, like me, miss watch-ing their favorite sport. NCAA hockey is extremely competitive and fun to watch, and if you are seeking high-level hockey games look no further than this year’s University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Lead by standout forwards Nick Bjugstad and Kyle Rau, the Gophers are currently ranked second in the nation and are poised to make a run at the WCHA championship in their final season before transitioning to the new Big 10 hockey conference. If you’re looking for hockey closer to the Hill, St. Olaf houses three hockey teams. The men’s and women’s varsity hockey teams started their seasons strong this past weekend, and both are looking to be fierce competitors for the MIAC Championship this year. At a slightly lower level is the men’s club hockey team, which has games scattered throughout the year. So, if you need your hockey fix, break out your black and gold jersey and head over to the Pepsi Center to support your Oles, because this lockout isn’t ending anytime soon.

[email protected]

Hockey fans can look tolocal teams in lockout By AJ SheehanContributing Writer

Team Opponent/Tournament

Result Date

Men’s Hockey U18 Norwegian National Team W 5-1 10/31

Women’s Hockey

UW-Stevens Point

L 5-2,W 2-0

10/26, 27

Men’s Soccer Carleton College L 1-0 10/27

Volleyball Carleton College L 3-2 10/30

NAME: Jorden Johnson ’15SPORT: Cross CountryHOMETOWN: Blaine, Minn.HIGH SCHOOL: Blaine High SchoolMAJOR: ChemistryWHY I CHOSE ST. OLAF: I came to St. Olaf because it has a great community atmosphere, and this college allows me to pursue a degree in chemistry in a state-of-the-art science building.CROSS COUNTRY HISTORY: This is my first year ever running cross country. Last year, I played soccer for the Oles, and in high school I played varsity soccer, hockey and lacrosse for four years. FAVORITE PUMP-UP SONGS: “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons and “Heart of a Champion” by NellyFAVORITE SPORTS MOVIE: “Miracle” . . . I guess I am a true Minnesotan hockey player.FAVORITE PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE: Alex Morgan (U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team)

FAVORITE TV SHOW: “ER” reruns and Food Network’s “Chopped”FAVORITE BOOK: “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” trilogyFAVORITE RESTAURANT: Red LobsterTHREE FAMOUS PERSONALITIES I’D HAVE OVER FOR DINNER: Kate

Middleton, Oprah Winfrey and Nelson MandelaFAVORITE SPORT OTHER THAN CROSS COUNTRY: It’s a tie . . . soccer in the summer and hockey in the winter. RANDOM FACT: I have never read the “Harry Potter” books or watched the TV shows “Friends,” “Pretty Little Liars” or “Glee.”BEST ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED: Everything happens for a reason; it just may take a while to find out what the reason is. PLANS AFTER OLAF: Go to graduate school for chem-

istry and then find a job in a lab somewhere. Eventually I want to get my Ph.D. - Alana Patrick

First-time runner Johnson dominates MIAC

The women’s soccer team suffered a 1-2 overtime loss to Augsburg College on Oct. 31 in the MIAC semifinals at Rolf Mellby Field. The defeat ended the Oles’ season, the team’s final record standing at 8-7-4, 6-4-2 in the

MIAC. The Auggies jumped to a 1-0 first-half lead off a goal from midfielder Bri Dorale at 36:17. Rachael Nelson assisted on the play, claiming the ball off a corner kick and passing to Dorale in front of the net. The goal marked Dorale’s third of the season.

The Oles responded in the second half. After a near miss on Kajsa Brindley’s ’16 shot that hit the post, the Oles tied the game in the 60th minute off a goal from Christine Barringer ’13. Similar to the Auggies’ first-half goal, the point followed a corner kick. Barringer rushed to a loose ball in front of the net, send-ing it unassisted past Auggie goaltender Katie Gajewski. The goal was Barringer’s third of the season. In the final half hour of regular time, the Oles dominated, outshooting the Auggies 4-0. Brindley had a shot hit the crossbar in the 84th minute, leading to a rebound attempt by Kyle Clifford ’16. Gawjewski, who had seven saves throughout the game, thwarted the Oles’ efforts. As the clock wound down, the score remained tied, forcing sudden-death over-time. The Auggies had four shots in the extra time period, including Marie Fitzgerald’s game-winning goal with 4:06 remaining. St. Olaf goaltender Nora Forbes ’14 made six saves in the loss. Augsburg faces Concordia-Moorhead on Nov. 3 for the MIAC championship.

[email protected]

The St. Olaf men’s and women’s swimming and diving team participated in its first meet of the year at the University of St. Thomas on Oct. 27. The team earned 14 points and came in fifth place out of eight total teams. The meet started off with one- and three-meter diving. Hannah Besonen ’16 and Hannah Fulton ’16 placed 10th and 11th in the women’s one-meter diving finals. Scott Hodgson ’16 placed third in the men’s one-meter diving finals. In the three-meter diving finals, Besonen placed ninth for the women and Hodgson placed third for the men.

St. Olaf took first place in the mixed 200-yard medley relay. The team of Carolyn Bernhardt ’14, Billy Brebrick ’16, Colby Kubat ’14 and Abbey Schnaith ’16 finished with a time of 1:42.37, beating out another group of Oles by more than two seconds. Abbey Schnaith ’16, Madeline Lee ’16, Marla Thomforde ’16 and Meghan Weiss ’13 smoked the competition in the women’s 800-yard freestyle relay. Their time of 8:01.23 was 17 seconds faster than the second-place team from Carleton. The St. Olaf men’s 800-yard freestyle relay team of Spencer Scarth ’14, Evan Griffith ’15, Tanner Roe ’15 and Michael Gratz ’15 also placed first. The Oles continued their domination of the relay events by placing first in both the

men’s and women’s 300-yard breaststroke relay, 300-yard backstroke relay, 400-yard freestyle relay, 4 x 100 individual medley relay and the 1100-yard animal relay. The animal relay consists of three swimmers, the first swimming a 200-yard butterfly, the second a 400-yard individual medley and the third a 500-yard freestyle. St. Olaf is looking to avenge the men’s and women’s close second-place finishes at the February 2012 MIAC championships. After competing at Carleton on Nov. 2, the Oles will host the Northfield Colleges Quad Classic at Skoglund Center on Nov. 3.

[email protected]

Swim teams enjoy successful first meet

By Alana PatrickSports Editor

HANNAH RECTOR/MANITOU MESSENGER

Above: Ole midfielder Kajsa Brindley ’16 controls the ball as an Auggie player defends. Below:

St. Olaf’s Christine Barringer ’13 is pushed into the net following her second-half tying goal.

Despite a dominant second half, the Oles were defeated in overtime 1-2 at Rolf Mellby Field.

The MIAC semi-final loss marked the end of the season for the Oles (8-7-4, 6-4-2 in the MIAC).

Johnson ’15

Women’s soccer falls in semifinalAugsburg’s overtime goal ends Oles’ season in devastating loss

S!"#$%

ST. OLAF SCOREBOARD

Men’s Hockeyvs. College of St. Scholastica on 11/2 Women’s Hockeyvs. Bethel University @ Blaine, Minn. on 11/2

Wrestlingvs. Central College @ Pella, Iowa on 11/7

ST. OLAF SCHEDULE

By Alex Ripperger Staff Writer

Fall playoffs by the numbers ...1st place finish by the men’s cross country team at the MIAC Championship in St. Paul, Minn. on Oct. 27

21 kills by Melissa Burch ’13 in volleyball’s heartbreaking 3-2 MIAC quarterfinal loss to Carleton College on Oct. 30

60 points earned by the women’s cross country team to earn 2nd place at the MIAC Championship in St. Paul, Minn. on Oct. 27

19 strokes over par for Molly Erickson ’13 to clinch the indi-vidual title and help her team to 1st place at the women’s golf MIAC Championship in Coon Rapids, Minn. on Oct. 6-8

N'()November 2, 2012

MANITOU MESSENGERpage A7

On $ursday, Oct. 25, Duke profes-sor and sociologist Dr. Eduardo Bonilla-Silva lectured on campus. Students #led into Tomson 280 to hear him address the topic of 21st-century racism.

Bonilla-Silva is renowned for his ex-pertise on the current color division and his e%orts in sharing it with the general public. He is the author of four books, “White Supremacy and Racism in the Post-Civil Rights Era,” “White Out,” “Racism without Racists” and “White Logic, White Methods: Racism and Methodology.” Along with his writing, he travels to various institutions around the nation to give speeches.

At St. Olaf, Bonilla-Silva delivered “From Dr. King to President Obama: Ra-cial Vision, Racial Blindness and Racial Politics in Obamerica.” Bonilla-Silva’s talk was divided into three systematic parts in order to help students under-stand the topic of racism in the United States.

He #rst described the racial regime of post-civil rights America, illustrating it as a “now you see it, now you don’t” phenomenon. Essentially, he suggested that people’s overt acts of discrimination were a signi#cant part of racism before the Civil Rights Movement, whereas rac-ism is now based on people’s covert acts of discrimination. A perfect example of this covert discrimination, according to Bonilla-Silva, is housing segregation. At the start of the 20th century, there were laws and covenants set in place that in-hibited families of color from living in privileged, “white habitus” communities. $e current practices, in terms of hous-ing, are much more subtle; real estate agents are able to steer Black, Hispanic and Asian families away from white areas and to their respective neighborhoods. $e second part of the speech focused

on deciphering color-blind racism, which is the type of racism present in our society today. Bonilla-Silva suggested that Jim Crow’s racial structure morphed into the color-blind structure, which is composed of four unique frames. $e frame that he discussed in depth was called abstract liberalism, which uses ideas associated with political liberal-ism and economic liberalism in an ab-stract manner to explain racial matters. By implementing this frame, whites can appear “reasonable” or even “moral” while countering almost all practical ap-proaches to deal with the de facto racial inequality.$ere were three other frames (mini-

mization of racism, cultural racism and naturalization) apart from color-blind racism, although Bonilla-Silva did not have enough time to explain them.

In his book “Racism without Racists,” Bonilla-Silva writes that the minimiza-

tion of racism suggests that discrimina-tion is no longer a central factor a%ecting minorities’ opportunities in life. Rather, cultural racism relies on culturally-based arguments such as “Mexicans do not put as much emphasis on education” or “blacks have too many babies” to explain the standing of minorities in society, and naturalization allows whites to explain away racial phenomena by suggesting they are natural occurrences.

Lastly, Bonilla-Silva discussed how Obama and the post-racial movement #t the post-civil rights racial era. He voiced his utter disappointment with Obama’s lack of progressiveness and e%orts in bat-tling the issue of racism.

He started by suggesting, “Obama has done little to nothing on the race front and when pushed by certain circum-stances he has done a lousy job.” Bo-nilla-Silva continued by proposing the following reasons as to why our black president has not been #xing the issue: Obama does not represent an honest so-cial movement, his policies are centrist and he has moved clearly to the right, he has taken a problematic color-blind ap-proach to politics and policies, a large portion of his funding comes from elites and they have received preferential ac-cess to Obama, and his rise to political stardom means something di%erent for whites and non-whites, making even the symbolic value of his election a problem-atic matter.

Bonilla-Silva ended with an encourag-ing list of actions we can take as a nation to slay the “smiley sidekick monster” of color-blind racism. His three main points were that there needs to be a #erce urgency of now, we need to return to so-cial movement politics and our ideas of change need to be innovative and mod-ern.

Many students were extremely pleased hear Bonilla-Silva share his thoughts on racism today.

“His point about the need to talk about race, even though it’s di&cult, was really important if we ever expect to see real change in our society,” Louisa Carroll ’15 said. Other students were simply over-joyed by his presence at St. Olaf, consid-ering they had read some of his literature in class.

“It was great having him speak about his book,” Tosaka $ao ’15 said. “Silva reading dialogue was hilarious, and him-self as a speaker kept me strangely en-tertained and attentive to the matters in America.”

[email protected]

Eduardo Bonilla-SilvaBy Maddy GambleContributing Writer

Launch YourCareer in Health Care

Come To Discovery Day.Acupuncture, Chiropractic

Massage !erapy.

Don’t Delay. Register Today!www.nwhealth.edu/discovery

Apply Within 30 Days of Attending & Receive a First-Term Tuition Grant.

Saturday, November 3, 2012 | 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.Can’t make it in November? Register for our next Discovery Day in January 2013.

Students that have navigated the study abroad application process before should note that there are a couple signi#cant changes this year. $e #rst is the new international studies

website, www.stolaf.edu/international. Stu-dents can now browse program options by region or name, view program costs and sub-mit their declaration of intent to study abroad online. It is now even possible to request an academic advisor’s signature online.

“$e new website will cut down on the number of paper brochures. Everything is on-line these days,” said Eric Lund, professor of

religion and director of International and O%-Campus Studies. $e second change that International and

O%-Campus Studies is implementing is at-tempting to balance the number of students studying o% campus each semester.

“$is will allow the college to balance [its] #nances and the number of empty beds, mak-ing it easier to predict the number of students it can admit, which will be better for the school,” Lund said. “We normally have many more students studying abroad in the fall than in the spring. On the declaration of intent, we are asking the students to list at least one second-semester option.” In an e%ort to make that balance, Lund asks that students think

carefully about studying abroad in the spring. If they cannot, the declaration of intent asks that a su&cient reason be provided.$e importance of studying in another

country or merely o% campus cannot be over-emphasized.

“Graduate schools and the job market are looking for high-impact experiences, that is, experiences where students apply the knowl-edge they’ve learned in the classroom to real-life scenarios,” Lund said. “It is simply crucial that people in every occupation – every frame of mind – have familiarity and knowledge of the world.”

“Job competition is important, but it’s not the only thing,” said Helen Stellmaker, coor-dinator of program advising and student ac-tivities in the International and O%-Campus Study O&ce. “I hear so many stories about how studying abroad has changed students’ views of the world. I have only heard of one bad experience in 25 years, but have had many more students who didn’t go who had wished they had studied in a foreign country.”

St. Olaf has one of the highest o%-campus study rates in the country, with between 70 and 75 percent of students from each class having studied away from the Hill. Every year, approximately 800 students leave campus for academic programs in East Asia, Africa, North and South America, Europe and a slew of oth-er locations.

Students are provided with an abundance of options in terms of academic preferences. $ey can choose to study in English or in a foreign language; they may study abroad for a year, for a semester or during interim; they may ful#ll major requirements, GEs or no par-ticular requirements at all.

When it comes to studying abroad, Stell-

maker believes students need to decide what kind of program is the best #t individually.

“Students can either go into a program where they take courses with St. Olaf students or they can direct enroll into a foreign univer-sity where they may never see another Ole. It all depends on their preferences,” she said. “I have students say ‘I love to camp. I love to do this.’ Find some way to #t that into your pro-gram and pursue something that you love to do.”

To prevent any disappointment down the road, students should ensure that they are eligible to study on their desired program. Stu-dent eligibility requirements vary by program but can include class prerequisites, GPA re-quirements or even limitations on which class years may attend the trip. While all semester programs are closed to #rst years, there are a couple of o%-campus interim courses in which #rst years may participate. $ere are limited enrollment slots for each

program, so students who #led their declara-tion of intent by the deadline of Nov. 1, 2012 will be given preferential consideration.

Students should also consider their credit needs when choosing where and for how long to study. $ey need to ensure that studying abroad will not jeopardize their progress to-ward graduation.

“While your trip doesn’t have to #t with your major, the more class !exibility you have, the more program options you will have,” Stell-maker said.

St. Olaf boasts an amazing array of study abroad opportunities, and the changes in the International Studies O&ce will help students navigate all these options more e%ectively.

[email protected]

Students navigate myriad off-campus study options

KATIE LAUER/MANITOU MESSENGER

By Bjorn ThompsonStaff Writer

Four kittens found in trapsPublic Safety has now captured #ve kittens

on campus in an attempt to catch the one that bit two female sophomores on Oct. 20.

Public Safety believed they had caught the correct kitten on Oct. 20, but three days later, the bite victims identi#ed it as the wrong cat. It was completely orange and the one that bit them was both orange and white.

On Oct. 24, Public Safety set up two traps on campus.

Since that time, four additional kittens have been trapped – none of them the correct cat, according to Director of Public Safety Fred Behr. $ese animals were released o% campus,

and the traps remain in place, Behr said. Students should report any cats on campus to Public Safety at 507-786-3666.

By Manitou Messenger Staff

L to R: Ryan Lubinsky ’12, Catherine Haines ’13, Sam Botsford ’12, Vicki Anton ’14 and Gabby Coll ’14 pose for a picture next to the Arno River in Florence, Italy.

By Shannon CronOnline and Features Editor

“Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Demo-cratic answer, but the right answer.” -John F. Kennedy “

As the election approaches and the polls continue to !uctuate, many St. Olaf stu-dents prepare to vote for the "rst time on Nov. 6. #e St. Olaf Political Awareness Committee (PAC) – along with party-speci"c student organizations on campus – encourages students to actively and in-telligently participate in the election. With a mission to provide the student body with an unbiased source for political information, PAC has put on a variety of events to increase the level of the political conversation at St. Olaf. “In regard to the election, PAC has prompted us to put on events like Candi-date Town Hall: an opportunity for unde-cided voters or anyone that wanted to come and ask questions about the positions of each of the four most prominent candi-dates,” PAC Coordinator Kevin George ’13 said. Additionally, PAC brought in politi-cal speakers such as Zach Wahls and Bob Woodward – both well-attended events –

but most importantly, worked to register as many students to vote as possible. “Easily the most important thing we’ve done so far is our drive to register students to vote,” George said. “It is a fundamental goal of our organization.” PAC successfully pre-registered between 200-250 students, and in combination with the e$orts of Students for Barack Obama (STObama), students are well-informed about the formalities of the voting process. “So many students wanted to register to vote on campus or had questions about how they could request an absentee ballot from their home state,” STObama Volunteer Co-ordinator Olivia Slack ’15 said. “Voting is your civic duty as American. Our demo-cratic system as we know it today wouldn’t function without people participating in the political process by voting.” For "rst-time voter Ben Swenson-Klatt ’16, excitement about voting extends be-yond civic duty. “To me, voting in this election is more than just believing in a political party,”

Swenson-Klatt said. “Basic human rights are being voted for which I think shouldn’t even be an issue in the "rst place. I have friends that will be a$ected if certain amendments pass. I believe very strongly in equality for everyone – the chance to love someone or the ability to vote, so I’m trying to do everything I can to stop them.” With so much buzz about the election coming at students from di$erent direc-tions, PAC remains one of the few organi-zations – on or o$ campus – that transmits political information without an agenda. “We don’t exist to convince you how you should feel about a speci"c policy or can-didate, we exist only to give you the best information possible for you to make your own decision about, which is an invaluable resource,” said George. Zach Westermeyer ’15 appreciates PAC’s unbiased approach, noting that the media does not always present the truth about politics, especially around election time. “All the partisanship prevents the gov-ernment working for the good of the peo-

ple like it was created to do, and instead turns into a giant campaign to make the other side look worse, Westermeyer said. “On the bright side, election season is a re-minder of the fact that we live under a free, democratic government. Educated voting is important because you are exercising your right to an opinion from your per-spective on who should lead this country.” Although election season can be a long, tiring process, the excitement on campus about the election remains evident. “I do think students are excited to vote this year,” said George. “#ere has been a lot of energy on campus the past few months, and I expect that to carry through to Election Day next week. We have a fair-ly politically aware campus, and students do show interest, as they are involved in a wide variety of political causes and organi-zations.”

[email protected]

www.manitoumessenger.com

By Elizabeth Jacobson Contributing Writer

College Greens A new political organization on campus, College Greens focuses on informing stu-dents about the Green Party’s presence in the upcoming election, as well as promot-ing the party’s key values. “Ecological wisdom is really important to us, focusing on environment problems and environmental justice,” College Green’s President Lauren Kramer ’13 said. “We are also going to focus on environmental jus-tice issues happening in North"eld com-munity, and we might host local environ-mental activists just to get out the word for environmental justice.” As far as other events, College Greens took part in PAC’s candidate panel and hopes to table in front of the Caf and host speakers to discuss non-violence and their involvement with peace movements. College Democrats With a focus on student involvement. College Democrats has been and will con-tinue to organize phone-banking, door knocking and tabling outside the Caf. “#e purpose and goal of the College Democrats is to help St. Olaf students be-come informed about local candidates, as well as giving people the chance to become politically active and volunteer [at] events, as well as for candidates,” Greta Johnson ’14 said. #e organization is working to spread the word about the importance of voting for candidates running for o%ce as well as amendments. “Although we focus on the Democratic platform as a whole, the pro-posed Marriage and Voter ID amendments on the ballot this year in Minnesota are im-portant to us,” Johnson said. Students For Liberty Also a new student organization this year, Students for Liberty is a non-partisan libertarian organization on campus. “Students for Liberty is a new organiza-tion and our main focus is discussing issues that pertain to liberty,” Treasurer Kristen Stenehjem ’15 said. “We will mainly be dis-cussing topics that are relevant to the elec-tion between now and Nov. 6 to give our members better insight into how to form their opinions to maximize liberty and free-dom.” #e group understands that there is still

work to be done following the elections. “We are planning on continuing the con-versation of liberty and how it will change in our country a&er the outcome of the elections,” Stenehjem said. Students For Barack Obama As the name indicates, Students for Barack Obama (STObama) is working towards the goal of re-electing President Obama. “STObama has been working hard to register and contact voters and recruit vol-unteers for Get Out #e Vote,” Volunteer Coordinator Olivia Slack ’15 said. “STO-bama’s goal is to contact 3,000 voters during the Get Out #e Vote four-day period.” Between tabling, phone banking, host-ing debate-watching parties and dorm can-vassing, STObama has been quite active on campus. “We table outside the Caf every Wednes-day during lunch. During tabling, we regis-ter people to vote, have them sign ‘Pledge to Vote’ cards and just generally inform people about the upcoming election and answer any questions students might have,” Slack said.College Republicans Hoping to share Republican values with the St. Olaf Community, College Republi-cans has been in contact with several of the candidates that are representing this dis-trict, including Mike Dudley, Kurt Bills and John Klein. “Two weeks ago Brian Wermerskirchen – a local candidate currently running for the Minnesota House of Representatives – came in and chatted with us about his cam-paign, his platform and what he has been doing in the community,” College Republi-cans’ Chair Matt Mittelsteadt ’15 said. College Republicans plans on tabling in order to support the Republican Party’s candidates on both a local and national lev-el, while also publicizing their organization. “Last year the organization wasn’t too big, but we are really trying to make it well-organized this year so we have a bigger im-pact,” Mittelsteadt said. “A&er the election we are hoping to meet with some of win-ners of the local elections, asking them to come in and speak at St. Olaf.”

[email protected]

As a teacher for over 30 years, David Bly has made it his life’s work to educate and prepare Minnesota kids for the future. In the state legislature, David Bly will make education a priority again.

PHOTOGRAPHERS (L TO R): HANNAH RECTOR, BEKAH ENGSTRAND, BEKAH ENGSRAND, REBECCA REMPEL, STUDENTS FOR LIBERTY FACEBOOK PAGE

F'()*+',November 2, 2012

MANITOU MESSENGER

page A8

Party at the Polls

11.2.12 archive

Documents

tigative journalism

state of journalism

postspeech question

wikileaks o

audience members

pessimism didnt

theyre interesting

e gorging