UWC- USA FEBRUARY 2015

The Weekend of MIND

ISABEL SKYE(USA - WI ‘16)

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Over the course of the previous weekend we saw a number of our fellow peers teach and celebrate their cultures through the first ever Middle Eastern – Indian Subcontinent Cultural Day, or MIND. The festivities of MIND started on Friday and lasted till Saturday. These events varied widely from dances to the food with ate for diner al l culminating in a

w e e k e n d t o r e v e l i n t h e backg rounds of our fe l low students.

The festivities officially started on Friday with dinner. Served to the student body was falafel, biryani, veggie biryani, laham be ajeen, cheese laham be ajeen, hummus and tahini, gajar wa halwa and to wash all that down a nice drink of lassi & Aryan. Whilst treated to the pleasant foods the performers of MIND gave the cafeteria inhabitants a performance of select dances for entertainment. As a whole the meal, with the food and performance, was considered to be a success and a great opener to MIND weekend.

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CAMPUS NEWS

This weekend the students were witness to the first MIND (Middle East and Indian Subcontinent Day) Show.

WORLD NEWS

T h i s i s s u e , w e c o ve r everything from the Chinese New Year to the atrocities committed by ISIS.

OPINION

Flip to the back for our take on dog laws as well as your weekly dose of good advice.

Photo Credit: Heather Hong ]

UWC- USA FEBRUARY 2015

A message from the Editors

Hello readers,

While the weather begin to get colder, take the opportunity to flip through this issue to read about everything from the first MIND Show to the Oscars that took place this weekend.

Best,

The Editors

LITERATI STAFF

THE EDITORS

Blake Anderson USA-KS

Ojaswee Rajbhandary Nepal ‘15

Katerina Yang China ‘16

Izabella Pastrana USA-MO ’15

Sage de Brum Marshall Islands ’15

FACULTY SPONSOR

Parris Bushong

Tengliang He Japan ’16

Isabel Skye USA - WI ‘16

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Charlie Thompson Canada ‘16

UWC- USA FEBRUARY 2015

Once dinner was done it was quickly proceeded with MIND Global Issues. In the small, enclosed space of the Student Center we were allowed to witness intimate presentations on the different issues, situations, etc. around the represented region. The issues ranged broadly from solutions to the Syrian Military System to beauty standards in India. It was considered by many who saw it to be a deep, heartfelt and thought provoking series of presentations and discussions.

With Global issues a strong finish to the Friday MIND festivities the whole campus was left with nothing but anticipation for the MIND performance on Saturday. By the time the curtain finally opened at 7:15 that evening the people were alight with excitement. The world stopped when it finally laid eyes on the wondrous and detailed backdrop that told the collective story of the people of MIND. From that moment we were privilege to witness amazing, passionate and creative performances that ranged

from vivid dances to intense poetry performances. It was the perfect mix of lighthearted fun and profound depth. Yet the celebration didn’t end there.

That night, not long after the end of the show was the party. For many it was a lovely way to conclude the weekend. There was dancing, music, refreshments and even a display for people to go and get pictures taken with friends. The party lasted till 12 and officially concluded the months of tireless world and endless fun that was the Middle Eastern – Indian Subcontinent Cultural Day.

It was quite the weekend, watching our peers put their hearts out to share with us their homes and their culture. From comments heard it is apparent that those hearts were received well. It turned out to be a fabulous weekend of fun, celebration and teaching. With this being the first MIND, it is safe to say that it set a precedent for highly successful, fun and grand MINDs for years and years to come.

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3 Photo Credit: Heather Hong

UWC- USA FEBRUARY 2015

Swing! Swing!

TENGLIANG HE(JAPAN ‘16)

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On Valentine’s Day, 14th of February, Santa Fe’s biggest swing and ballroom dance concert was held in Santa Fe Community College with live music by the Santa Fe Community Orchestra and the Santa Fe College Big Band. With 15 swing lovers from UWC-USA and a bus, we were able to join the concert.

On the way to the hall we were filled with excitement, and all the swing lovers looked gorgeous and stunning. The hall was simply huge and beautiful. People were already dancing, and as soon as we got there, we jumped into the dancing crowd. People’s ages ranged from 14 to probably 80, and they were all enjoying that moment in the hall, dancing. The music was mainly aimed at ballroom dance. With our amateur ballroom steps, we were all smiling, laughing and having fun. When it came to swing music, we all danced like professionals and made other people gasp at our performances. East Cost, Lindy Hop, Charleston, our swing lovers just rocked the whole concert. After a while, there was a swing dance competition going on so Haley and I participated. With number ‘12’ on my back and some of the world’s best music playing, the competition had begun. Girl’s turn, boy’s turn, tuck turn, coffee shop, Texas tommy . . . we didn’t manage to get into the final but that was the best moment of my swing life (so far).

There was also a free photo shop in the hall, and lots of us seemed to enjoy taking photos. We had two big tables and were able to get free drinks. Some of us, including me danced with

others outside of school. This was a fresh experience because on campus we always dance with the same partners while getting swing moves from Parris. However, there are varieties of dance steps that we have not learned. I danced with a 60 year-old lady from Santa Fe, and she knew all sorts of dance steps. She taught me how to dance Cha-cha and Waltz and she was full of energy which I personally was surprised. It was kind of hard for me to keep up with her steps. Also, the Santa Fe College Big Band was great for their elegant music. Without them, there would be no swinging.

Overall, our swing lovers all seemed to have fun in the concert. I bought some cute dolls from a silent auction, and it turned out to be one of the best parts of the day. This event is held by the Santa Fe Community College annually and is very popular among locals. I am very grateful that we had this wonderful opportunity to swing in a real ballroom hall, and all thanks go to Christie, who organized this amazing swing trip for us.

Photo Credit: www.pixshark.com

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UWC- USA FEBRUARY 2015

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Deal Brokered to Keep Greece in the

Euro Zone

CHARLIE THOMPSON(CANADA ‘16)

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At the eleventh hour, a deal was struck between Greece and the European Central Bank (ECB) that will guarantee support for Greece’s banks for another four months while more in-depth negotiations take place over the long-term future of the country’s financial crisis that has strained the European Union for most of this decade. The agreement — which was not guaranteed by any means — avoided a Greek exit from the euro zone, which would have likely been catastrophic for everyone involved.

The major players in this conflict are Germany and Greece — the former being the provider of much of the financial aid, and the latter being seen as an irresponsible spender and a financial liability to the EU. Of course, things are rarely as clear cut as that. There are some root problems that have not as of yet been resolved by any bailout agreements or austerity, but Germany is unhappy to be footing the bill . This has created considerable tension.

At the root of the Greece crisis are a number of problems. First of all, the big-government ideology of the last 40 years has contributed to extremely bloated expenditures, inefficient policy and often incompetent government. The tax system

is incredibly complex, and arguably the largest issue is the culture and practice of tax evasion in the country, which costs an estimated 30 billion euros every year. Had the tax evasion been curbed years ago, this s i tuat ion would have l ikely never manifested and Greece would actually have had a budget surplus in the years 1993-2008. The government has failed to invest in education and infrastructure, and depended very strongly on tourism revenues to keep the country afloat.

The tax evasion in particular has made the burden on working-class citizens much more heavy. These causes have created a very real humanitarian crisis in Greece, and there are some key numbers that i l lus t ra te what i s g o ing on: unemployment is at 27%, while youth unemployment is at 60%. The debt is currently sitting at 185% of gross domestic product (GDP), and there has been a 100% increase in poverty in the last 5 years. The amount of households without electricity has risen 250% in the same time period, and salaries (for those who do have jobs) have fallen more than 40%.

Photo Credit: cloudtimes.org

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UWC- USA FEBRUARY 2015

Brain drain is a major issue that will need to be resolved should Greece recover as well — over 250,000 young scientists have emigrated from the country, and many of the best and brightest are leaving due to a lack of hope about the possibilities of saving the country. Like many of the aspects of the crisis, this is a self-perpetuating cycle with no clear remedy.

The situation is not without hope, though. Many Greek voters believe that the newly elected Syriza party has the best interest of the country in mind. Many regard their leader — Alexis Tsipras, as a breath of fresh air and proponent of real change in the struggling country. He is radical in many ways, and his election sent both jitters and ripples of hope across the EU. He is a young, pragmatic and non-traditional politician, if he can be called that. He was elected on the promise of change — and so far he seems to be following through. Many were outraged at his lack of a tie on the first day, and his rejection of the traditional religious oath on a Bible struck a chord. He refused to participate in many of the ceremonies that usually accompany the inauguration of a new Prime Minister. “We must expedite procedures,” he said, “as we face an uphill struggle.”

Sources: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/02/20/greece-and-europe-agree-to-a-compromise-avoiding-financial-catastrophe/

http://www.mananvyas.com/the-origin-of-the-greek-sovereign-debt-crisis/

http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2015/02/18/greek-humanitarian-crisis-in-numbers/

2015 Oscars KATERINA YANG

(CHINA ’16)—————————-

British actor Eddie Redmayne has won the best actor Oscar for The Theory of Everything, while Julianne Moore picked up best actress for Still Alice. Holding the Oscar statuette, Redmanyne felt grateful to Felicity Jones, his “staggering partner in crime”, and James Marsh, his “ferocious but incredibly kind director.

At the same time, the dark comedy Birdman, the most promising film this year, won best film and best director for Mexican film-maker Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. It also won best cinematography and best original screenplay. Michael Keaton, who hopes to revive his washed-up career by putting on a Broadway show, plays a former movie superhero actor in this film.

Moore raised awareness for Alzheimer's disease during her speech for Still Alice; she plays the role of a 50-year-old woman who has early on-set Alzheimer's. "I'm so happy, I'm thrilled that we were able to shine a light on Alzheimer's disease," said Moore. "So many people who have this disease feel marginalized. People who have Alzheimer's disease deserve to be seen so we can find a cure."

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Redmayne paid tribute to the Hawking family in his speech.

UWC- USA FEBRUARY 2015

Redmayne was honoured for his portrayal of physicist Stephen Hawking, who has suffered from motor neurone disease (ALS). Accepting the award, Redmayne showed great thanks to the Hawking family, including Jane Hawking who wrote the books that the film is based on, and said his award belonged "to all of the people around the world battling ALS".

On the other hand, Richard Linklater's Boyhood won just one award from six nominations, best supporting actressm which went to Patricia Arquette. Arquette thanked "her Boyhood family" and "every woman who gave birth" in her award-winning speech. "To every woman . . . we have fought for everybody else's equal rights. It's our time to have wage equality," she added to huge applause from the audience.

By playing a strict drumming teacher at a music conservatory, JK Simmons won best supporting actor for Whiplash. Other winning films such as The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Phone Call, and The Imitation Game were all welcomed by a lot of audience. This year’s Oscars is gathered with actresses wearing rainbow full dresses and actors posing different modellings. Los Angeles became the world’s focus again.

Sources: http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-31580656

Moore shared her delight with journalists in the press room.

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UWC- USA FEBRUARY 2015

Ask Sir E Brum It seems there are no questions for today at all, and it seems that all the questions were anyways easy to answ-

1. Do vegetarians eat animal crackers?

2. At a movie theatre, which arm rest is yours?

3. If a jogger runs at the speed of sound, can the runner still hear his iPod?

4. If humans evolved from monkeys, why do we still have monkeys?

5. If 3 times better than leading brand, why isn't it the leading brand?

6. Why aren't there any B batteries?

7. When does it start to become partly cloudy and not partly sunny?

8. If bread is square, why is sandwich meat round?

9. Why are pizza boxes square, pizzas circular, and pizza slices triangular?

10. If a picture is worth a thousand words, how many words is a picture of an EE worth?

11. If new and improved, what did it need improving on if new?

12. In the Marshall Islands - not to say that you're from there...because you're probably not...you know, I mean statistically speaking - is there a similar thing to the Ask Sir E. Brum part of their newspaper?

Finally, a question I can confidently answer. There in fact is; it is called Are You Aware? It is a bit at the back of the Marshall Islands

Journal where little punny or slightly amusing bits are put. Here are a few:

Are You Aware

- THAT if you own a car in Majuro [marshall islands capital] you have every right to block any driveway that you want?

- THAT this appears to be the year winter forgot?

- THAT if you do not enjoy what you are doing, you will never be good at it?

- THAT the World’s Worst Newspaper, the Marshall Islands Journal, is featured in this month’s issue of Pacifica, Continental Micronesia’s inflight magazine?

13. Is it crazy to think that I went to the local Wal-Mart last week, on Wednesday, bought a friendly cactus named, whom I have named Spike, and am chatting with him occasionally when my roommate, let's say he's Chinese-Canadian, is not around and I look at Spike and all he seems to do is photosynthesize and not much else and I do not really think that he is actually paying attention to me and I guess he wasn't so friendly after all and I give him water and stuff but it does not work and I speak Marshallese to him, not that I'm Marshallese or anything and you definitely are not one either, and it still does not work I think I bought a friend that is mute I do not know what to do and maybe he hates me and stuff and why is life like this IB life is so hard?

Yes.

14. Follow-up question, who are you?

Can’t tell you, but still feel free to ask anything by sending questions via email to sage.debrum@uwc-usa and maybe I’ll leak information about who I am.

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Source: www.movieplot.com

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