November 10, 2006 - College of Idaho
Transcription
November 10, 2006 - College of Idaho
COYOTE THE CAMPUS NEWSPAPER OF ALBERTSON COLLEGE 10 NOVEMBER 2006 - ISSUE #4 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Celebrities are royalty in America, so why not find out which one you resemble? The Coyote uploaded pictures of ACI community members to the website myheritage.com. Then, using super-secret James Bond-like facial recognition algorithms, the website compares your picture with its large database of celebrities. Apparently I don’t look like Ethan Hawk or Andy Roddick (damn you Chris Rifer and Matt Weaver!). My highest rated match was Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Capote in Copote) at 68%. I can grudgingly live with that comparison. But the Dakota Fanning (60%) and Michael Richards (Seinfeld’s Kramer, 59%) matches hurt a little. According to the website, Will Smith and I are a 64% match. Not too shabby, but I always fancied myself more of a Brad Pitt look-alike. Right? —Stephen Lowman Best Match! Dr. Steven Maughan, History Chris Rifer, ASACI President Matt Weaver, ASACI Vice President 66%...Ethan Hawk 54%...Barack Obama 52%...Jamie Foxx 51%...Danny DeVito 70%...Andy Roddick 66%...Ron Livingston (Office Space) 59%...Ewan McGregor 55%...Matt Damon EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stephen Lowman FACULTY ADVISOR Alan Minskoff COPY EDITING AND LAYOUT: Stephen Lowman and Patrick Watson COVER: Genevieve Gerke 2 Dr. Jasper LiCalzi, Politics and Economics 57%...Jared Leto 56%...Chuck Norris 53%...Jason Lee (My Name is Earl) 52%...Johnny Depp 59%... Engelbert Humperdinck 55%...Dan Quayle 54%...Adam Carolla 49%...Patrick Dempsey Dr. Sara Heggland, Biology Paul Bennion, Dean of Student Affairs 68%...Scarlett Johansson 68%...Prince Henry 56%...Nicole Kidman 55%...Joe Pesci 63%...Vin Diesel 60%...Cat Stevens 60%...Freddie Prinze Jr. 58%...Timothy Leary ART Allison Barber, Patrick Dougherty, Zach Hagadone, Ali Straubhar CONTRIBUTORS Brad Baughman, Alex Birmingham, Brandon Buck, Jordan Drake, Ben Jarvis, Stephen Lowman, Molly Mooney, Kate Radford, Stephen Reinschmidt, Aika Shima, Kim Stiens, Daniel Thrasher, Lael Uberuaga-Rodgers, Dustin Wallace, Patrick Watson About: The Coyote is the student-run campus publication of Albertson College of Idaho. We provide a forum for student, faculty, staff and administrative voices. The opinions presented here are not necessarily those of The Coyote or Albertson College. Submissions and Letters: The Coyote reserves the right to edit all submissions for style, length and grammar. Articles should be submitted in 10 pt. Times New Roman, single spaced and with paragraphs indented five spaces. Articles may be submitted by emailing them as a Microsoft Word file to slowman@albertson. edu or [email protected] Letters to the editor are welcomed and will be printed as space allows. Letter may be edited for grammar. Letters can be emailed to [email protected] or sent to the address below: The Coyote Albertson College 2112 Cleveland Blvd. Box 52 Caldwell, ID 83605 Payment: The Coyote pays $0.03 per word, $15 for an original piece of art, $30 for an original cover and $5 per photograph. Writers will be reimbursed for costs pertaining to reporting at the discretion of the editorial board. Reimbursement must be sought in advance. Advertise and Anything Else: Contact editor Stephen Lowman at [email protected] or (208) 761-9295. The Coyote office can be reached at (208) 459-5509. Subscriptions: Anonymous letters will not be Subscriptions are availible for $25 per year. printed. 10 NOVEMBER 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS THE COYOTE ANSWER THIS BY PATRICK WATSON Q: The J.A. and Kathryn Albertson foundation has recently increased ACI’s grant by $5 million dollars per year for the next three years. How should the money be spent? “I think part of it should go to new science equipment in Boone, and the other part needs to go to housing.” Colin Burke, Sophomore Back then it was a simpler time with simpler signs. Photo courtesy Jan Boles/Archives “Get Terteling some new books, and update the 70’s look.” Daniel Grad, Sophomore NEWS Foundation Extends Grant 8 Albertson By Stephen Lowman We’re Getting One 8 Yearbook: By Daniel Thrasher Considers Crime Minor 9 College by Patrick Watson Sparks Debate 10 T-Shirt by Ben Jarvis and Brandon Buck Studies Canada 12 Professor by Kate Radford Sigmas Forced to Go Dry 13 Kapps by Brad Baughman Students Pull Pranks, Alarms 13 NNU by Brad Baughman History of The Hat 20 The by Brad Baughman OPINION Consent?” 4 “Got By Stephen Lowman I Eat My Bagel? 4 Can By Stephen Reinschmidt to the Editor 5 Letters by Isaak Stafford and Molly Mooney 6 We Not of the Faith by Alex Birmingham and Glamour 7 Lookism by Kim Stiens Killed the Radio Star 7 ACI by Lael Uberuaga-Rodgers ISSUE #4 ARTS & LEISURE Art of the Road Trip 14 The by Jordan Drake A with Jon Baker 15 QBy&Jordan Drake the Pub Work 15 Making by Lael Uberuaga-Rodgers 16 The Rosenthal Gallery by Dustin Wallace Borat 17 Movie: by Jordan Drake “As a biology and psychology major, I believe that severe improvements are needed for both of those departments.” Ines Tucakovic, Senior “I think they should use it to make tuition a little cheaper than it is now.” Sonnet Donohue, Freshman Marie Antoinnette 17 Movie: By Brad Baughman The Decemberists 17 CD: by Jordan Drake Under Rated Songs 18 Six By Kim Stiens Recovery Memoirs 18 Vice: by Molly Mooney 19 Horoscopes “The school should update its facilities, especially the athletic facilities, and fast track the new dorm.” Vicky Vail, Freshman “Improved weight room equipment, new washers and driers, and hot tubs in the basement.” Cameron Anderson, Freshman 3 OPINION THE COYOTE EDITORIAL BOARD BRAD BAUGHMAN STEPHEN LOWMAN Editor-in-Chief PATRICK WATSON TAYLOR ST. JOHN BRANDON BUCK DOVE RAINBOW The Center, Student Affairs did disservice to community with “Got Consent?” It is in the best interest of the college that the Women’s and Men’s Center’s “Got Consent?” workshop has been postponed until community discussions can take place regarding it. The event, which was billed as “mandatory” for freshmen, had good intentions. Everyone wants ACI to be a safe community. Increasing awareness of what constitutes consensual sex and informing students of the resources available to them if a sex crime takes place is important. But Student Affairs and the Center failed in properly executing an event that concerns such a sensitive and critical issue to students. Whether the issue is rape, binge drinking, mental health or violence in the surrounding city, it is vital that these issues be discussed at a community level. ACI is not immune to these problems, nor is it disproportionately troubled by them. These problems are endemic to society and can be magnified in the college environment. It will take the entire college working together and engaging in honest dialogue in order to alleviate these problems. Center director Pamela Lassiter and Dean of Student Affairs Paul Bennion chose to only consult with themselves. Not only was the rest of the campus in the dark as to what would be presented in the “Got Consent?” workshop, other staff members in Student Affairs had little to no idea about the nature of the presentation or what would happen to a freshman student if they failed to attend. The Center (along with the Peer Counselors) bungled a presentation on the same topic to last year’s freshmen. It should not have been a surprise to Lassiter and Bennion that this year’s presentation would come under close scrutiny, and more importantly, that the community would expect the opportunity to give input on how such a serious matter would be presented. Further, the Center and Student Affairs repeatedly misinformed students (either deliberately or through an incredible case of miscommunication, or both) over a period of six days. Lassiter and Bennion have repeatedly promised that the operations of the Women’s and Men’s Center would become more transparent to the rest of the College. The “Got Consent?” event demonstrates they have not fulfilled this promise. I would not presume to know how to solve the complex issues faced by my friends and the rest of the world outside these 50-acres. The Women’s and Men’s Center doesn’t have the final answer either. But community issues require open and honest community dialogue. This is fundamental to educating students in the classroom, and I believe it is essential to keeping every member of this community safe. —Stephen Lowman 4 Let Me Take My Damn Bagel Bon Appetit! And please consider the starving Africans By STEPHEN REINSCHMIDT After eating breakfast in the cafeteria the other day I decided I would wrap up my leftover bagel with cream cheese and take it home for later. Initially, I was hesitant because I knew this was “technically” against the rules, but then I remembered hearing stories of ACI students furnishing their entire home dining sets with Bon Appetit silverware, plates, and cups, and so I figured it was a relatively minor offense by comparison. As I was wrapping my bagel with a sheet of plastic wrap, I was approached by one of the Bon Appetit staff members. She asked me if I was taking something “to go” and I quickly considered whether I should fib a little to avoid confrontation or simply fess up as to my intentions. I knew by choosing the latter I was headed down the road to that all too familiar conversation—the issue of taking food out of the cafeteria that most of us have encountered at some point or another. When I responded that I was indeed planning to take the bagel home with me, the staff member told me that I really was not supposed to do that. Feeling a little irritated at this point, I continued to engage the conversation and asked her if she would rather I waste my bagel — to which she shockingly replied “yes.” At this point Ali Straubhar I could have made the whole “starving kids in Somalia” argument to her, but to be honest my reasons for griping are more selfserving. Basically, after all the money we pay for an “all you can eat” meal plan, I am upset that the staff of Bon Appetit raises issue with someone trying to take a bagel to go and condones wasting food rather than satisfying its diners. Now don’t get me wrong, I understand that Bon Appetit is a business and certain rules must be imposed. Either you eat in or you get a box and get your food to go. That is completely fair, but it leaves a huge grey area concerning food that remains on one’s plate following a meal. If something has already been man-handled or chomped into and is simply going to be thrown away, why shouldn’t we be allowed to take it home (assuming it is something easily wrapped up)? Unless the cook in the back is planning to pick through the garbage for my leftover bagel or management is planning to use it as a “food model” to show prospective students what a bagel looks like, I see no reason why such an issue would be made. So have a heart, Bon Appetit, and let me take my damn bagel home with me. If for nothing else, do it for the starving children in Somalia… OPINION THE COYOTE Letters to the Editor Catching Up with the A less than amateur analysis of our less than amateur analysis Stephen Lowman, I write concerning the sports article written in Issue #3 by Brandon Buck. I offer my less than amateur opinion. I know very little about soccer but I think the author was unfair and incorrect in his critical analysis of Coach Taylor. I believe (again in my less than amateur opinion) that the 0-0 tie despite a 28-5 shot advantage for the Lady ‘Yotes was due more to factors such as bad luck and Cascade’s game strategy (which seemed to be put every player in the box on defense) than it was due to any substitution strategy. The author also failed to mention the fact that the Lady ‘Yotes had played a hard-fought game to one of the best teams in the nation just the previous day. I believe (again, less than amateur opinion) that substitutions would be critical in keeping players fresh, especially the day after a hard-fought match. I believe Coach Taylor and the whole women’s soccer team is doing an excellent job, in fact to quote the author, Saturday they “earned their first winning league record since the program began in 1989.” I congratulate the coach and team on a fine season and hope they can put this negative “analysis” behind them and make a run at the conference tourney! Keep up the good work ACI soccer! Isaak Stafford Clearly this reader has penis envy. Really, it’s just crazy to call The Coyote phallocentric... I love The Coyote and have been thrilled to see it on campus again this year, having dearly missed it in its absence. There is one thing that’s been nagging at me, though. Music reviews are usually the first thing I turn to when I open any book, magazine, or newspaper — and if you put it in front of me, chances are I will open it. But The Coyote’s music reviews have had a serious phallocentricity problem for the past several issues. All the music reviews have involved male-fronted bands, with the exception of Yo La Tengo, who are fronted by a husband-and-wife duo. Even our illustrious editor’s own list of the “11 Wussiest Songs” featured male artists ISSUE #4 exclusively. Now, if I were the sort of person who created a lot of free time for myself, I might peruse the reviewers respective Facebook profiles. And if I were to do that, I just might happen to notice that their Favorite Musicians lists are also predominantly comprised of male artists. Only, though, if I were that sort of person. Isn’t a campus newspaper supposed to reflect the culture of its campus? I wonder, then, if our male reviewers aren’t doing the largely female body of Albertson College a disservice by focusing on these so-called “rock gods” and neglecting the women of the industry? I am also curious to see a review that comes from outside the requisite “liberalarts-indie-hipster-garage-rock-revivalistfloppy-haired-skinny-musician-witha-penis” genre. I’d like to see some art music, or some folk, maybe some punk . . . really, just something outside the general taste spoon-fed to most college students by the likes of Paste magazine. So here is my challenge to The Coyote’s male reviewers: Do some research. Find an independent, female-dominated — not just female-fronted — band, and write a review. Whether you end up liking them or not, it would be nice to see some variety. (And before you ask, yes, I will be submitting some of my own.) Men of Sigma Chi (and Their House) Just a short walk from McCain, the white farmhouse with the green shutters and the cross in the window is a sight that all ACI students have passed at one time or another. For the past couple of years, it did not have the cross in the window. However, now that the men of Sigma Chi have gotten their house back after two years, that cross is displayed prominently in the window once more. Currently living at 1718 E. Ash are: Leon Samuels, Mike Ridley, Jason Cox, and Jake Fulcher. The best part of getting the house back according to Samuels is “it has enhanced brotherhood in our fraternity. It allows us to have a location that is truly our own. Plus, it’s fun to throw parties and have people over just to hang out.” Recently, the fraternity threw Top Gun and Miami Vice-themed parties. —Aika Shima Molly Mooney Whether you’re an expert or amateur, have a vagina or penis, The Coyote welcomes your letters Now that the Sigma Chi’s have a house, they can have formal dinners like this one. Please email your letter to Stephen Lowman (slowman@ albertson.edu) or send it to the address below: The Coyote Albertson College of Idaho 2112 Cleveland Blvd. Caldwell, ID 83605 The Coyote reserves to the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity. Due to space limitations, the writer may be asked edit their their letter for length. Anonymous letters will not be printed. 5 OPINION THE COYOTE We Not of the Faith By ALEX BIRMINGHAM 6 conversation: C: I believe that Jesus Christ died to save our sins. A: Well, why do you believe that? C: Because of (insert verse here) that says so. A: But why do you believe that verse? C: Because of (insert verse here) that says the bible was breathed into man from So I found that in order to buy into any part of the Christian faith I would have to accept without question any other part of it. Thus, the gates would open. But wouldn’t I in the process have forgotten my original intent in this inquiry? I began an ardent search for the truth, only to find that in order to find ‘the truth,’ I would have to believe in something that could be God. In essence, the bible has authority because the bible says it does. I believe the Qur’an possesses a similar duality. Either could be true. Neither, logically, is true simply because it claims to be. I found that every conversation about Christianity was predicated on the authority of a biblical verse, and that verse was predicated on the authority of another biblical verse, and so on and so on. In logic101, this fallacy is known as ‘Begging the Question.’ a lie. Moreover, it seemed a lie. Suddenly I realized that the leap of faith so gloriously represented by many was merely a blind acceptance of a dubious truth which would beget an entire context of dubious truth. Furthermore, I realized that if I was going to lay down reason for the dubious truth of Christianity then why not the dubious truth of any other religion? None held any validity to me, none held a context that wasn’t circular. This was depressing stuff, but it was PATRICK DOUGHERTY How to go about this article? Do I speak of the apparent political ramifications of faith? That I see it as something inevitably corrosive in society? That I see evidence of this spattered painfully across the entire human timeline? That I see it as especially apparent in the present day US? Do I take on the role of the atheist? Do I attempt to articulate the significance of spiritual inquiries, and then continue to debunk the idea that the vocabulary and ideology of religion are our most fitting context for discussing such inquiries? I would have to abandon the term ‘God,’ for something simultaneously more and less definable like ‘The Universal Super-Ego.’ No to the first, because with a paradigm of spiritual truth I could rationalize political unrest. Even now I can, though the exercise feels counterfeit. No to the second, and for this I’m not entirely sure. In part it is because I live in a Judeo-Christian culture, and God still sounds a bit more warm-blanket than ‘The Universal Super-Ego.’ It is also in part because I will lose not a few readers who represent my target audience: those of the faith. And lastly it is something more: I am at the gates. I’ve gone to church and mass, bible study and Sunday School, and I’ve held countless discussions with well-meaning, genuinely good-hearted, and above-all intelligent Christians, because I want in. I’ve done my homework and paid my dues because, like any other sane human being, I want a coherent spiritual paradigm and the peace that it would bring. I am at the gates of a stronghold that seems to be locked shut. Against almost everything I know and comprehend I really do believe that the voices I hear coming from within are filled with actual joy. I’ve been knocking. I’m knocking now. And I’m beginning to believe that you are either on the boat or off the boat. Inside or outside the stronghold, as it were. If you’re at the gates, you’ll always be just at the gates. The plight of the agnostic is this: that the Christian invitation towards faith comes from inside a context so cyclical that every link’s authority is predicated on the authority of the link prior, a chain whose origin extends into the happy acceptance of childhood and the dubious luxury of its forgetfulness. The circular logic can be seen in any Agnostic(A) to Christian(C) about to get worse. I wanted to know how my Christian friends had found themselves in that context in the first place, how they had surmounted the problem which now faced me. The answer was obvious: they had been raised to believe in it. For them one tenet of faith simply gave rise to another, in a long and beautiful terracing of truth that had been under construction for so long that the original tenet, the dubious truth, was dwarfed by colossal ‘truths,’ the ones that I saw and wanted in conversation. But this wasn’t truth, this was socialization! Surely they couldn’t deny that they would have been Hindu had they been born in Bombay? And was my being out of the loop of truth merely a result of my being improperly raised, IE socialized? No, I thought, truth is more universal than that. Further. Truth is better than that. But religion works, I thought. Isn’t that enough? I’ve met twenty-somethings with the psychology of 12-year olds, their maturation having been stunted by some painful familial abuse. This broken paradigm isn’t damage to them, it’s a defense mechanism; it allows them to function. It works. No, ‘works’ couldn’t be enough. I am aware of the born-again Christian. I have never met one who has been faithful to the God of logic. In other words, they have not found a passage in the wall so much as they have flung themselves over the wall itself. This ‘leap of faith,’ seems to the agnostic to be rooted in emotionalism, or functionalism, to find its catalyst in the power of religion to call upon the wouldbe believer’s yearning for truth. I am aware of this yearning, and I believe in the pain of being unable to fulfill it in the company of those who are. I know that faith works and feels good, but just because something ‘works,’ or ‘feels good’, doesn’t make it true. The real plight of the agonistic is this, then, that if we could at least believe that you, of the faith, had entered into your context because it is true, and not because it works, and not because it feels good, and not because it was taught to you, then at least we could believe in your faith. But I cannot see anyone on the inside that has entered in the way we wish, loyal to both God and truth. It seems most poignant to end with the sentiments of one Fox Mulder, who understood the painful dissonance between human nature and reason, and that human nature is rarely reasonable: I want to believe. 10 NOVEMBER 2006 OPINION THE COYOTE awarding attractive women this prize. And, of course, if those who decide who wins this competition have a picture handy while evaluating the candidates; they will pick the more attractive people. Everyone does. We all like the beautiful people. Additionally, many of them are from really, really good schools. There is one Yale junior, one Emory, one Wellesley, a Rutgers girl, and one from Juilliard. College is a natural re-enforcer of socio-economic classes, and the winners of this contest are almost certainly in decent economic standing (one very possible exception is a student from Zambia studying at Wellesley), as evidenced by appearance, school choice and status as a college student. Now I’m not saying that Glamour is opposed to picking poor college students for this award, but the admittedly wonderful and life-changing things these students do would be impossible without at least modest resources. My point? This contest is totally winnable for many ACI students. We’re a Lookism and Glamour: The Top 10 College Women Competition By KIM STIENS Most of us have seen the flyers hanging up in McCain: it’s Glamour Magazine’s Top 10 College Women Competition! I grabbed the flyer and decided to take a look, and was a little surprised by what I found. Of course, I’m always suspicious of women’s magazines. I’ve always felt that the Cosmopolitans and Glamours of America do more harm to women than any other kind of oppression. Take this snippet from the Glamour website, on an advertisement for Glamour blogs on the same page as the Top College Women: “Dating, fashion, beauty and gossip. Seriously. What more do you need?” So I was interested to see exactly what kind of women win this thing, and what my (or any female at ACI’s) chances are. The 2006 crop of women are inspirational indeed. One volunteered in an orphanage in Kenya and drafted new rules for employees there. Five ISSUE #4 of ten have founded or created non-profit organizations, scholarships or programs to help others in various fields. One has a Shakira ringtone, one loves Grey’s Anatomy and one “can’t live without” her True Religion jeans. Of course, all are (in my estimation) above average looking. I mean, you can’t put UGLY people in a magazine. In fact, one of the requirements for the scholarship application is a picture, no larger than 8” by 10” supposedly “for identification purposes only.” But let’s face it: one of the winners of this contest is a former model. None could ever be described as ugly. Why wo u l d they ask for a picture for “identification” purposes when there are far better ways to confirm identity? The answer is that they have a vested interest, being a fashion magazine, in fairly prestigious school with many goodlooking and well-off students. I don’t personally know of any non-profit organizations started by any local juniors, but I’m sure someone here among us has done something they could submit. Poor, ugly kids, take heart: If Congress goes Democrat they might not reduce the amount we get in Pell Grants. You beautiful, wonderful, middle to upper-class juniors: Grab an application. It’s not YOUR fault you’re pretty. Take every opportunity you can get. God knows I would. Why Have They Killed the Radio Star at ACI? By LAEL UBERUAGA-RODGERS What happened to ACI.D radio? “Wait, what?” you’re asking. “We have a radio station?” ACI.D Radio, or Albertson College of Idaho Digital Radio, has slipped through the cracks. You used to be able to listen to it online by going to the ACI.D page under “Campus Life” on the Albertson website. According to that outdated page, the DJ’s are Seth Cole and Jeremy Seick, neither of which attends ACI anymore. Last spring sophomore Rich Hatch was a DJ a few nights a week, but nothing is happening right now. No one has contacted him to do it again. I asked John Britschgi, the technical manager of ACI.D Radio, but he admits he doesn’t know what’s going on either. “In fact, I need to get in contact with Tech Committee about taking the ACI.D link off the Albertson website,” Britschgi added. So who is actually in charge of the Radio? According to Britschgi, it’s Tech Committee. What’s going on, guys? Radio is becoming obsolete as mp3’s take over the music scene. Fight back, Tech Committee, give us some DJ’s and tunes, and help preserve, like the name of a Josh Ritter song, “The Golden Age of Radio.” Who Wins This? A Profile Straight From the Magazine THE ADVOCATE Rebecca Mitchell, 22, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities HER DEFINING MOMENT: Mitchell volunteered at an orphanage in Kenya in 2005, where she saw a caretaker whipping young children. “They were on the ground trembling,” she remembers. HER NEXT STEPS: She lobbied to have the caretaker removed and drafted new discipline guidelines for all employees. The biology major then founded the Student Project Africa Network (SPAN), a nonprofit organization (it started as a blog) that’s sent 43 people to Africa to continue her work. DREAM JOB: Director of the World Health Organization. MOTTO: “Do something that scares you every day.” The old ACI.D Radio office is now “Meeting 1” 7 NEWS THE COYOTE Albertson Foundation Extends Grant College receives $5 million per year for three years, plus a one time $5 million donation to go toward a new residence hall or science hall update By STEPHEN LOWMAN “I didn’t know good news brought people out,” Albertson College president Bob Hoover told a packed Langroise Recital Hall on Monday, Nov. 6. “This is phenomenal.” In his announcement, Hoover told the crowd that the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation chose to extend their challenge grant in the form of an additional $5 million per year for three years. The way the grant is structured, the foundation has the option of renewing future funding in threeyear increments. Additionally, the Foundation gave the college a one-time $5 million grant to go towards the construction of a new residence hall or a remodel and equipment updates for the college’s science building, Boone Hall. The foundation, with input from ACI, will decide shortly which project the money will go to. In February 2005, the college received a $17 million challenge grant from the foundation. Coming on the heels of a fiscal disaster that threatened to shutter the school, the grant put ACI back on a steady financial footing. “The renewal of the grant gives the college the stability to focus on long term priorities,” Hoover said. The college is attempting to become a Top 100 Liberal Arts College. As part of their original grant, the foundation set targets for the school to meet. ACI must increase the number of entering freshman, its freshman to sophomore retention rate, and revenue coming in from tuition and fundraising. The foundation also spotlighted the education and business departments for reorganization. While the retention rate is up and the college narrowly met the requirement of increasing the alumni giving rate by two percent this year, enrollment numbers for the entering freshman class were not as high as the college wanted. Although ACI has 822 students — the third highest enrollment in the past 35 years — the college had hoped to have between 280 and 300 students in this year’s freshman class. Approximately 250 freshmen were admitted. Due to the lower than expected enrollment numbers, Hoover said the college faced a revenue shortfall at the State of Faculty Salary Presentation Given to Board the College address in September. Budget tightening resulted in faculty bonuses being cancelled. At Monday’s announcement, Hoover said that he would ask the Board of Trustees to reinstate the bonuses. Hoover explained that the college had requested the grant be renewed at this time in order to better prepare for the upcoming midterm accreditation report and the 2008 budget. “We suggested that renewal now would negate the problem of writing about financial stability in the accreditation report…we also said that it was hard to put together the ’08 budget without knowing information on the grant,” Hoover said. The college’s proposal to the foundation argued that a longer time frame on the grant would provide the college with better budget continuity and the ability to make more informed investments. “This is a remarkable commitment by the Albertson Foundation and it will make a significant difference as the college seeks to position itself as a Top 100 National Liberal Arts College,” said ACI Board of Trustees chairman Gerald Baur. Yearbooks: We’re Getting One By DANIEL THRASHER $ At their Oct. 6 meeting the Board of Trustees were given a presentation on ways to promote scholarship among faculty, along with ways to attract and retain quality professors at ACI. Faculty pay is important, especially in the latter. Whether or not the faculty will receive a holiday bonus is still undecided. In order to reduce the budget shortfall bonuses were put on hold by Trustees. That could change at their next meeting now that the Albertson Foundation has extended their grant. The chart above compares ACI faculty salaries with their peers in the mountain west region. The salary gap becomes even greater when ACI is compared to peer schools in other regions. —Stephen Lowman 8 President Hoover addressing the campus on Nov. 6 The yearbook at Albertson College has been a heated issue for some time now. I sat down with co-editors, Kim Kraft and Cherise Wetzel, to gain an understanding of the yearbook situation and to find out what we can expect for the future. The fact is, the yearbook staff is currently trying to recover from a problem that began before they even attended Albertson. Many years ago, an editor didn’t spend much of the available funds on the actual yearbook, and so the very next year, the new editor felt she had to compensate for the previous year’s book by making a perfect one. Perfect came at a price, however: a big price. Yearbook fell into debt with the publishing company. Upperclassmen know that a yearbook hasn’t been put out for the past couple of years. The reason for this is that there was an investigation, during which time they were instructed not to write articles or take pictures. Now, the publishing company is working with the yearbook staff to get them out of debt. Instead of a full year- book for the 2004-2005 school year, they made pamphlets, which are on slate to be distributed by December. What I got from the interview is that the future is bright for the yearbook. They have a dedicated staff of only five people –– including Kim, Cherise, and three photographers –– who are not only making a brand new yearbook for this year, but also are trying to get out a prior yearbook and get out of debt. The publishing company reps are working with them to help them get back on their feet. This year, they are going to release a biannual yearbook that covers the 2005-2006 year and the 2006-2007 year. They are hoping to have the yearbooks available in May, with the graduation inserts to be shipped a few months later. If anyone has pictures from last year that they can contribute, contact Kim or Cherise. Remember that every year missed will still have some sort of publication, and the yearbook staff will be able to provide quality yearbooks in the future without having to worry about debt. It looks like a good year to be getting a yearbook. 10 NOVEMBER 2006 NEWS THE COYOTE College Considering “Crime in Society” Minor By PATRICK WATSON Across the nation, more and more colleges and universities are developing courses in the field of Criminal Justice. With the popularity of television shows such as Law and Order and CSI, it is clear that interest in the subject is not limited to institutions of higher education but is part of the general public as well. The United States currently leads the world in prison population with nearly 25 percent of the world’s inmates within our borders. Approximately 45 percent of these inmates are incarcerated due to drug charges, and some 7.3 million children have one or both parents in prison or jail. As the number of inmates in the U.S. continues to increase, little is being done on the side of the government to insure that rehabilitation is occurring in our prisons. As the field of Criminal Justice, or Criminology as it is often called, becomes a more relevant, pressing issue, it is clear that Albertson College of Idaho must, in some way, respond to the trend. Three years ago, President Hoover proposed that the field of criminal justice be considered as a possible area of study. Since then, members of the ACI faculty have been spearheading a movement to create the Crime in Society minor. Recently I had the opportunity to discuss the proposed minor with the leaders of the project: Robin Lorentzen of the Anthropology/Sociology department and Diane Raptosh of the English Department. According to Raptosh, the Crime in Society minor would be a liberal arts approach to criminal justice. Lorentzen added that the minor would be completely interdisciplinary and would not require the hiring of new staff. There would be no cost to the school. The Crime in Society minor would focus heavily on writing and literature and would, potentially, incorporate forensics coursework down the road. There appears to be significant student interest in the subject at ACI. The College has offered courses related to this subject in the past. One of these is The Prison Experience, last offered in the winter of 2004. In the course evaluation, much praise was given. One student commented as follows: “This class has served as the pinnacle of my college experience @ ACI. I have never been more moved and inspired by a class. I have found myself talking about [it] outside of class and people are really interested. Participating in this class has developed me as a person. I have so much that I can give back now. I would recommend this class to anyone – regardless of their major & minor. It should be offered every year. ACI would gain immeasurably from more classes like it.” 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 students reported that two vehicles at the Delta Tau Delta house had their tires slashed 4:10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25 there was a fire alarm in Hayman Hall caused by burnt popcorn 6:55 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 Campus Safety responded to a medical call at Hendren Hall 2:15 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29 a suspicious person was reported in Hendren Hall 1:26 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 Campus Safety responded to a complaint about individuals racing a go-cart and motorcycle in the Activities Center Parking Lot 3:10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 Campus Safety responded to skateboarders on the steps of Strahorn Hall 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 2 a student reported an item missing from her room responded to a complaint at the Kappa 12:20 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4 Campus Sigma house Safety responded to a medical assistance 3:15 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 15 there was a call at the Activities Center gym fire alarm in Hayman Hall caused by a dis2 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 charged fire extinguisher two individuals visiting a 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15 student were found exa car was reported burglartremely intoxicated in front IS WHO YOU ARE ized and burned in the JewGOING TO CALL ett Parking Lot of Hayman Hall. The paramedics were called and one 2:10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. was taken to the hospital for treatment of 28 smoke was reported at Anderson Hall alcohol poisoning. from hot coals that were not extinguished 11:25 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11 there was properly a fire alarm in McCain caused by a faulty 12:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 2 there was a smoke detector fire alarm in Voorhees and Hayman hall. 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13 there was a fire Both were caused by a false pull alarm in Anderson Hall caused from burnt 11:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2 Campus popcorn Safety responded to a fire on the front 11:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13 Campus Safety porch of the Delta Tau Delta house Here’s would another student had to say about the course: “This class has literally changed my career path. I am excited to use what I have learned in this class out in the real world. My opinion[s] about prisoners & prisons have honestly flipped and I can’t say that for any other class. I have seen ever[y] perspective on prisons and that is what must happen to be fully educated in something. I honestly wish this class was a 1[2] week course. The professors were amazing and I had such an amazing time in this class. This should be offered as a GGR so that everyone can understand the prison system & the role it plays with the crime in society.” It is clear that not only is the study of crime in society important and necessary in our day and age, it has a profound effect on people and is a valuable learning experience. The Crime in Society minor could become a reality as soon as the 2007-2008 school year. For this to happen, however, the minor must be approved at a series of meetings before the end of this current semester. These include the three divisions meeting on Nov. 16, the curriculum council meeting on Nov. 28, and the faculty assembly meeting on Dec. 7. “The Crime in Society Minor must pass at these three meetings in order to be in catalogue for the next school year,” Lorentzen said. Minor Crime at the College: Campus Safety Tidbits Compiled by JoANN GILPIN ISSUE #4 x5151 WATCH OUT! Historically November is a busy time for car burglars at ACI. Campus Safety is asking for your help to make ACI parking lots less inviting to would be burglars. Please take extra care to keep your valuables safe. Remember never to leave your purse, CDs, jewelry, or other valuables in your car and always take your stereo faceplate with you. If you see anyone who looks suspicious report them to Campus Safety immediately. 9 T-Shirt Sparks Debate on F NEWS An Email Fr Mansfield to A [October 25, 2006 Subject: coyote support] By BEN JARVIS The rivalry between Albertson College of Idaho and Northwest Nazarene University has a long and glorious tradition. In fact, it is the oldest athletic rivalry in the state, dating back long before BSU and U of I ever even knew what a basketball was, let alone how to dribble one. This summer, ASACI President Chris Rifer created the Fall Sports Challenge to help and fuel our competitive nature, and bolster school spirit. To help aid the fight for dominance, Rifer blanketed the campus with emails wondering if people would be interested in ‘Sader Hater shirts. For 5 dollars a student could get a T-shirt that would have ’Sader Haters printed on the front, and the words because a Coyote never committed genocide emblazoned on the back. After a meeting with Vice President for Student Affairs Mark Smith, however, Rifer decided to change the wording to because a coyote never slaughtered thousands of innocent children, to make it more historically accurate. This would not to be the last change, however. As word spread around campus about the shirts, some faculty began expressing concern over the content on the back. One of Rifer’s meetings with ACI President Bob Hoover detailed complaints from NNU administration over the vulgarity of the shirts, and included the possibility that the rivalry could end. “Yeah, there were threats about that. I heard that from a few people. As best I could tell, that was never the case. If we kept the shirts the same, that never would have happened. NNU’s administration indicated to us that they wouldn’t mind that much, especially after meeting with NNU student leadership, who hasn’t had any problems with the shirts at all” Rifer said. In fact, rumor has it that NNU has cre- 10 ated its own shirts as well. “Yes. I’ve heard that they have an Albertsons with a circle crossed out, and super value below that” Rifer explains. With that in mind, the shirt order was placed on Monday, Oct. 23. The Coup de Grais came midweek with the announcement that United Heritage, the primary sponsor of the game, threatened to take their name off the deal and void the contract they have with the College. “It was told to me that United Heritage, the sponsor, would threaten to cancel the deal, which was worth 50,000 to the athletic department… It’s my bet that it was a bluff by [United Heritage], but it was not worth the risk,” Rifer said. Now, nearly two months after Rifer first put in the request for students to buy the shirts, the phrase on the back has been finalized. For all of you who bought a shirt, you are now wearing the ‘Sader Hater shirts with because we don’t censor our students, we just intimidate them until we get what we want. While Rifer’s original main complaint was that the school has no authority to dictate how students will be spending their money, the threats from United Heritage added a new dimension to the issue. And as for United Heritage’s beef with our students, “I think this is a pretty bush league move. It’s not surprising that a lot of United Heritage upper management are NNU grads,” Rifer said. Aside from United Heritage’s upset administration, Rifer cannot really explain their motivation for threatening to take away our financial contract. “It’s something that perplexes me for a number of reasons. It’s pretty unlikely that the media would have latched onto them at all. Even then, it would be quite a stretch to associate United Heritage with the shits. Even if they were associated, they just get more TV time and press, which is probably good for them anyway. I just think its ridiculous that United Heritage and our administration would put us in a situation that dictated what we did with our own money,” he said. Fortunately, most of those who ordered the shirts have been sympathetic to the situation that Rifer has been placed in. “I’ve only received one real complaint, the vast majority have been very supportive,” he said. Either way, we will still have the rivalry, and NNU will just have to deal with our genuine collegiate ingenuity. “I always suspected that some NNU grads would be offended by science and the arts, but it kind of surprised me that they were offended by history too. What’s next, math?” Rifer said. Chris, I’m writing, as Faculty President, in response to some news I recently received about tshirts that you are printing or have printed. I understand that you are making (or have made) t-shirts that say “Sader hater” on front and “Coyotes don’t kill babies” on back. This is not in good taste and has some folks, understandably, upset. I’m going to give you my two cents for what it’s worth. First, if the saying on the back is just in jest about the NNU crusader mascot and ACI Coyote mascot, then there are two relevant items that argue that this is both wrong and makes you look stupid. Coyotes do, in fact, engage in infanticide. Coyotes are known to eat the pups of neighboring groups. Further, the Presbyterian and Nazarene traditions are both “descendents” of the Crusaders and neither NNU nor ACI can claim to have more (or less) of their share of the heritage of atrocities of the crusades. Second, I have heard that the The Evolution of a T Free Speech and Good Taste THE COYOTE rom Faculty President Don ASACI President Chris Rifer NNU administration is rather put off by the news of the t-shirts. I think that you are risking some potentially serious consequences if the t-shirts are worn at the game. Of course, you are only trying to nurture some good school rivalry, which is a great idea, but if NNU or the sponsors of the interdivision athletics don’t see it that way, they may be unwilling to participate in future competitions. Not having NNU and ACI basketball games in the future would be a big loss for all of us. I have no idea just how the NNU administration or event sponsors might view the shirts, but if there is a chance of losing the possibility of future NNU/ ACI games, it doesn’t seem worth provoking. Furthermore, if the NNU faculty take offense and wish to make a statement, there is a collegial gathering of the two faculties on 7 November (when the two faculties meet, socialize, and discuss ways in which to promote the scholarly life of both institutions), in which they might choose to exercise a protest. Again, I have no idea whether their faculty would see t-shirts as so offensive as to not wish to associate with ACI faculty (seems pretty petty to me), but I don’t really want to risk it. Though I’d rather not dissociate the ACI faculty from the ACI students, I will happily do so to preserve the good professional relations that the faculties of the two colleges now share. I’m all for free speech and, honestly, don’t have much of a problem with a bunch of t-shirts. I also think that having a healthy sporting rivalry is a good thing, but I thought that I’d point out that it does make ACI students look pretty stupid and is potentially quite insulting, hence embarassing for the college. And, if taken too seriously by the NNU administration or the United Heritage group (?--the group that sponsors the Idaho Center event), the result of wearing the tshirts could backfire and put an end to the NNU/ACI rivalry. That would be a very unfortunate effect. I’d think that would be something that you would not want to be associated with your tenure as ACI student body president. There you have it. That’s my take. You’ll do what you do. Don T-Shirt and a Controversy An Angry Trustee? A Pulled Sponsorship? Someone is Lying By BRANDON BUCK The ‘Sader Hater t-shirt debacle raises some interesting questions about the nature of a rivalry, the role of a student body president, and censorship on behalf of administration. ASACI President Chris Rifer set out to bolster support for the ACI vs. NNU rivalry. He decided he could accomplish said goal most efficiently by creating ‘Sader Hater t-shirts which were originally to read something to the effect of: “Because Coyote never committed genocide. . . .” (an allusion to the fact that a Crusader has) After his plans were made known, ACI’s administration “strongly encouraged” Rifer to change the T-shirt design. But what does “strongly encouraged” mean? Rifer alleges that Board of Trustees member, Don Deters, put pressure on ACI Athletic Director Marty Holly to have Rifer removed from the cross country team if he went ahead with t-shirt production. Holly, however, denied the accusation saying that nothing of that nature was ever proposed nor discussed. “Deters is an old football guy,” said Holly, “he knows how a rivalry works. This issue was of no concern to him.” Rifer also alleges that he was told by administration that The United Heritage Foundation, who sponsors the ACI/NNU basketball game, threatened to not sponsor future events and would possibly revoke the $50,000 scholarship which goes to help ACI athletics. Holly, however, adamantly dismissed these charges as well. “Absolutely not,” said Holly, “The United Heritage Foundation wasn’t even aware of the t-shirts; I talked to the people there this morning [Oct. 31], and nothing about it was ever brought up.” The point here is that someone is lying. Regardless, Rifer, in the face of all the pressure, perhaps wisely, yielded. “I decided to change the shirts,” said Rifer, “because it was not worth risking $50,000. I didn’t want to hurt the students over a t-shirt.” Moreover, the NNU/ACI basketball rivalry is fragile. NNU doesn’t have a real reason to play ACI (being that they’re division two) and the t-shirts may very well have been the final impetus for NNU to suspend the rivalry. “Whether or not [NNU] would have ended [the rivalry] isn’t the issue,” said Rifer, “if there was even a remote risk of that happening, it was a big enough risk to not make the t-shirts.” As for the game itself, Josh Owen (not pictured) hit five second half threepointers as the Albertson College men’s basketball team rallied from a 16-point halftime deficit to defeat Northwest Nazarene, 88-80, in the 4th-Annual United Heritage TipOff before 4,852 fans at the Idaho Center. 11 NEWS THE COYOTE Professor Gets to Know Our Neighbors to the North By KATE RADFORD The town square of Quebec City, Quebec. The quaint 400-year-old European-style city has been marked for preservation by the UN. Photos by Robin Lorentzen Sociology professor Robin Lorentzen spent her sabbatical last year studying and visiting Canada. She gave her sabbatical presentation Monday, November 6th. “I have always been interested in Canada,” she said. She even got married in Canada last year. “Just in the last few years I’ve begun focusing on Canadian studies.” “It’s a paradox. It’s seemingly so like the United States — the same continent, language, diet, culture. But Canada so contrasts with the United States. They have parliamentary government, national healthcare, official bilingualism, legal abortion, gay marriage, and they banned capital punishment.” “Canada is incredibly important to our economy, and we know practically nothing about it,” Lorentzen said. Most Canadians live within 100 miles of the U.S. border and tend to be highly aware of American economics, politics, and culture. Canada and the United States do more trade with each other than either does with any other country. The Canadian market absorbs more United States exports than the entire European Union. Eighty-seven percent of all Canadian exports come to the United States. Trade between the two countries has increased six percent annually since the adoption of NAFTA. Canada is the largest supplier of crude oil to the United States and has the second largest proven oil reserves in the world. Canada supplies more energy to the United States than any other country, including 17 percent of our oil, 85 percent of our natural gas, and 96 percent of our electricity imports. 39 states, including Idaho, export more to Canada than to anywhere else. Canada supports 23,000 jobs 12 in Idaho. Lorentzen also said, “Ironically, Canada’s ten provinces. She has not yet visour impression of Canada is improving, ited any of the three territories, which are but their impression of us is going down.” largely populated by First Nations peoples. ACI, at Lorentzen’s urging, joined the “I’m also doing ongoing research on Pacific Northwest Canadian Studies Con- Canadians in Idaho,” she said. The 2000 sortium. She also began joining up with Census stated that 4,542 Canadians lived in BSU’s Canada department. Every year they Idaho. Lorentzen said, “They’ve been really hold a Canada Week in April, and she has hard to locate. There’s no directory, and participated in it over the last few years. they look just like us.” She said that most This year, ACI will be holding a Canada of the Canadians she has spoken with do Day in conjunction not know any other with BSU’s Canada Canadians in Idaho Week, which will be and wouldn’t recogApril 2-6 this coming nize them if they met spring. BSU will have them. Seeking Canadithe Canadian Amans, she put ads in ten bassador come from papers, had a table at a Washington, D.C. to Steelheads game, and speak. Kevin Cook, wore a sandwich board the academic advisor at Ice World during the at the Seattle ConsulState Hockey Playoffs. ate, will be holding a So far, she said, she has luncheon for interestsent out about 250 sured faculty, along with veys and has received a First Nations film 96 back. festival, and a round She has learned that table discussion on 75 percent of Idaho Canadian issues. Canadians are between While on sab26-50 years old. 70 perbatical, Lorentzen atcent are married, and tended three summer few are divorced. They institutes, one each in tend to be very highly Alberta, Quebec, and educated; 75 percent Nova Scotia. She also have college degrees. took two car tours, Many came here for one in British Columwork. 80 percent are bia and one in Newfrom four provincfoundland, and vises: Alberta, Ontario, ited eleven Canadian Manitoba, and British universities and six of A Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Alberta Columbia. 80 percent have been here for up to fifteen years, and 64 percent are permanent residents while 24 percent are dual citizens. Along with their backgrounds, she is surveying Canadians about their political beliefs. Andrew Brock is a transfer student this fall from Vancouver. He is a psychology major and plays baseball for the Coyotes. “Canadians and Americans aren’t really that different -- we’re exposed to the United States every day.” When asked about differences between Canada and the United States, Brock replied, “I find the education is not that much different. We have a little bit more tolerance for the visible and invisible minorities. Handguns are illegal. I don’t pay anything for healthcare. Thanksgiving is in October. I actually celebrated it when I was home on break. We have Canada Day on July 1st instead of Independence Day.” Brock said that about half of the news channels they receive in Canada are American, but that “United States news channels are so biased. It’s all got a United States flavor to it. It’s how it affects America, not what’s going on in other countries,” he said. “Americans know nothing about Canada and deal more with it than any other country. Americans don’t know, and the sad thing is, they don’t want to know.” This winter semester, Lorentzen is offering a Contemporary Canada course. It will be a survey course focusing on the social problems of Canada, healthcare, cultural diversity, province issues, and environmental policy. “Ultimately, I’m interested in offering a Canadian Studies minor, although that depends on the level of interest at ACI,” she said. 10 NOVEMBER 2006 NEWS Kappa Sigmas Forced to Go Dry through January By BRAD BAUGHMAN The Lamda Chi chapter of Kappa Sigma, founded April 28, 1979, is the oldest Greek Organization on campus. However, an anonymous complaint made this last week to the national headquarters cast doubt over its future here at Albertson. In speaking with president Tim Garza, district grand master Kelly Hagens, and faculty advisor Dr. Jasper LiCalzi, I learned about the fraternity’s history of academic excellence, its rocky relationship with the National Charter, and why our premier party frat will be on alcohol probation until the next national meeting in Mexico this January. “It’s really nothing that we can’t handle,” said Garza, the current president, in response to the alcoholic restrictions set upon the house, “We are not a liability.” Maybe not, but a dry fraternity means that they will have to adapt their schedule by cutting social events, most tragically, the Toga. They are still considering participating in a Thanksgiving Social with one of the campus sororities. This fall, Garza’s responsibilities were winding down, and he planned on devoting most of his time to teaching the younger brothers the ropes. He now has a new workload as he faces the task of upgrading standards to better comply with the Kappa Sigma initiatives. These initiatives were explained to me over the phone by Hagens, the Idaho/Utah Director, but amounted to little more than catch-phrase goals and mission-statement buzzwords. When asked what would influence the decision to lift the stipulations in January, Hagens said that they were looking for better communication and integration with the National Charter, such as logging the Community Service hours into the national database. Apparently our local brothers did their fair share of work; it was just a matter of entering it into the computer. But what actually happened? “The specific cause is that there was an anonymous report by someone at the school that things had been going on, very little of which could be found out,” said Hagens. This report came in the form a letter sent this summer to headquarters. It included several specific incidents and a number of general warnings. As Kappa Sigma HQ values feedback and wishes to protect the source’s anonymity, no further specifics were given. Hagens and the governing body then launched an inquiry here at ACI early this school year, asking both students and faculty, but did ISSUE #4 not come up with anything substantial. The Kappa Sigmas are known for partying hard, but they also study hard. The chapter has the highest GPA in the Idaho/ Utah region and ranks very high nationally as well. Apparently this doesn’t buy any leniency. According to Hagens, “If they are caught drinking it will be seen as a violation of a direct order from the governing body and will result in an immediate suspension of the charter, pending an investigation… in all likelihood the chapter would not continue to exist at Albertson College.” This probation is really just a slap on the wrist compared to what happened in November, 2003, when there was a policy break concerning the ratio of brothers to non-brothers at the Toga Party. The National Headquarters fined them 5000 dollars and fired all officers, pushing the chapter to consider going local. The past is in the past, but is this current group different? I spoke with faculty advisor Dr. Jasper LiCalzi, who described himself as a liaison between the fraternity and the College. “In comparison to other years, these are choirboys.” He went on to cite the fact that within the twenty brothers there are resident assistants, a hall director, senators, club presidents, and even last year’s vice president. LiCalzi acknowledged the presence of rumors but dismissed them as baseless and irresponsible, especially when propagated by fellow professors. “There is a stereotype about them, and they let that get perpetuated. They should work on being more visible to show the campus who they really are.” Who are they? According to Hagens they are, “A great chapter full of guys who really do embody the values of the fraternity.” But as that tells us nothing, I suggest you go and meet them for yourself. They are located on 1818 Oak St. behind the gym. Grab a six pack of O’Doul’s and look for the big house with the KΣ, where according to Garza, in a previous article this year on this history of the house, “the door is rarely closed.” Community Service Events Planned by the KΣs: ►Adopt a Highway (Clean a mile stretch of Chinden) ►Ringing bells for the Salvation Army ►Habitat for Humanity, (house building) ►Baseball Clinics for handicapped children ►Mentoring at area elementary schools ►Canned food drive in association with other organizations ►YMCA health awareness events THE COYOTE Intruders, Likely From NNU, Pull Pranks and Alarms And you can watch it on YouTube! This dude even uses the Voorhees john! Just after midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 1, Supplemental Resident Assistant Rich Hatch made an off-the-clock call to Campus Safety that three hooded strangers were loitering in Voorhees. One of them had been spotted pressed flat against the wall outside RA Maddison Harris’s room on the second floor. The other two sat quietly on the couches in the basement. During Rich’s call, a downstairs fire alarm was pulled. A few minutes later a Hayman fire alarm was also pulled. Though the three escaped, Voorhee’s resident Hongmey Zhen Castillo caught one of them with the video feature on her Finepix F700. He glanced nervously at the camera twice, once as he washed his hands and once after he was followed out the door by a crowd of angry residents carrying rakes and table legs. This was after he had tried to kill time by hiding in a bathroom stall. The “lynch mob,” as they described themselves, had formed and rallied as suspicion about the strangers grew. Campus Safety Officers Rolando DeLaCruz and John Duncombe arrived on the scene shortly after the call. The videos can be seen on Youtube by searching “Lynch” or “ACI.” If you recognize this person or know any other details about the incident, please contact campus safety. It is believed NNU students also put soap in ACI’s fountains in the lead up to the basketball game between the two on Nov. 2. Whether or not the students were from NNU is still up in the air, but Campus Safety will be turning the video footage over to the NNU Director of Security. According to our Campus Safety Director Allan Laird, if the suspects are caught, they could face a misdemeanor with a fine of up to 1000 dollars and up to a year in jail. —Brad Baughman 13 ARTS & LEISURE Life in the Breakdown Lane: The Delicate Art of the Road Trip By JORDAN DRAKE There was something not quite right with the motel, but I’d been driving for almost ten hours and was too tired to allow myself to succumb to paranoia. I switched off the ignition, and Natalie and I climbed out of the car, making our way around the side of the building to the night buzzer. The initial ring prompted no response from behind the check-in counter, and when we tried the door to the foyer we found it unlocked. My feeling of unease grew exponentially once we entered the dingy, high-ceilinged lobby. A dusty animal skull sat on the bookshelf behind the counter, amidst yellowing travel pamphlets and brochures. Thick cobwebs hung from every corner of the room and choked the potted plants. A stuffed owl was perched on the wall behind the front desk, wings outstretched as if ready to swoop down upon its prey. The bell on the desk also produced no result, and after two half-hearted tries neither of us could stand it anymore. Unease gave way to Dread and pervaded my every pore. “We need to get out of here,” I whispered to Natalie, but the room’s acoustics caused my voice to echo and boom. Whoever was supposed to be on duty may not have heard the chime, but wherever he was he most definitely heard the fearful quaver in my voice. This was his chance. If he were going to attack, he would do so now. Shaken by this realization and the sound of my own voice, I fled, Natalie close at my heels. We dove into the car and as I fired it up and shifted into reverse, Natalie realized what was wrong with the motel. 14 “Oh my God, none of the rooms have windows!” she cried. The side of the motel featured only doors (each with only a vent and doorknob) but no windows. There was nobody at the front desk because he was probably in one of the rooms, looming over the bed of his next victim. We were both absolutely positive someone was being murdered at that very moment, but that someone would never receive our help because we couldn’t tell in which room he or she struggled. We sped out of the parking lot and back onto the highway, leaving the motel and its murderous proprietor behind. And though we drove without speaking for the next five miles, we both were thinking the same thing: this has been the best road trip ever. Okay, so (probably) no one was really killed and I have no doubt that the Econo Inn in Cascade Locks, Oregon is a perfectly wonderful establishment, but it makes for a good story. In fact, any road trip has the potential to be filled with the kinds o f e x periences you’ll remember for the rest of your life. The road trip is a collegiate tradition, a rite of passage, an art form, if you will. However, don’t let such lofty rhetoric sway you from thinking you’re unworthy of partaking; if you’ve got friends, a little free time, and access to a vehicle (preferably THE COYOTE ACI’s Deal with Publisher Keeps Idaho History Texts in Print one whose dependability is somewhat quesBy COYOTE STAFF tionable), you’re set. So pack a toothbrush, grab a map, gas ACI and Caxton Press have finalized a up the car, and hit the highway. It’s road trip trade distribution agreement that secures season. the continued availability of some of the Need ideas? Try some of these: ►Visit a nearby college: Curious how your friends up at U of I are doing? Maybe you wonder how students party up in Bozeman? Pay them a courtesy call and find out! (As for Montana parties, there’s pretty much nothing else to do up there, if you catch my drift). ►Go see some live music: Boise’s music scene is stagnant and Caldwell’s is non-existent, but Portland’s music scene? Legendary. Catch a show at a real concert venue. An afternoon’s drive can put you in Salt Lake City or Seattle just in time for the opening band. Or, when the weather isn’t so inclement, relax at an outdoor arena like The Gorge in central Washington or the Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend, OR. ►Get caught in a tourist trap: Almost every truck stop in the country offers some sort of ‘exciting’ attraction. On I-84 just outside of Twin Falls, for instance, is the Garden of Eden, complete with a treebound serpent (Disclaimer: Eden, ID is not where existence began. God isn’t that ironic). ►Eat at an out-of-the-way diner: It’s common knowledge that every small town has at least one amazing greasy-spoon restaurant. Indulge. ►Take a scenic drive: Simply cruise in whatever direction the road points you, take in the beauty of the American West, and bond with your friends. No goal is necessary. Rules of the Road Drive Responsibly: Always obey local traffic laws. A ticket is a very effective way to kill the fun. Hold Your Flatulence: Or at least provide ample time for the people trapped in the backseat with you to prepare themselves before you let loose. Pitch in for Gas: If it’s not your car, then you are, by road trip law, required to purchase at least one tank. most important books about the history and culture of Idaho. The College has assigned control of the inventory and copyrights of books published by Historic Idaho, Inc., a nonprofit publisher that recently donated its assets to the college. Arthur A. Hart, author of some of the most beloved books about the region published in the last 27 years, including Life in Old Boise, Wings Over Idaho, and Basin of Gold worked to affect the transfer. Hart taught at the college from 1948 until 1953, and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree by the school in 1985. To him Albertson College was the logical successor to Historic Idaho, Inc., because of his personal love and admiration for the school and because of Caxton’s close relationship with the college and its ability to carry on distribution of the books. “We were all volunteers at Historic Idaho, and felt after all these years it was time to donate our assets to a respected educational institution able to carry on the work started in 1979.” “Arthur wanted to step back from his active participation in the publishing enterprise and was looking for a partner to continue his work,” said Albertson College president Dr. Robert Hoover. “ ACI was happy to help and honored that he looked to us in this regard.” Immediately after agreeing to work with Mr. Hart, ACI looked to local publishing house Caxton Press to help the college manage the new relationship. What has emerged is a trade distribution agreement between ACI and Caxton Press in which Caxton will represent the Historic Idaho titles to the book trade on behalf of the college. “Caxton Press was an obvious choice,” stated Hoover. “Their history, their reputation and their ability to access the book market made it an easy decision. It is a wonderful opportunity, Historic Idaho and Arthur Hart’s years of scholarship remain available to the public and Albertson College benefits from the association.” Caxton Press is one of the oldest publishing houses in the West with an active title list of over 300 books. 10 NOVEMBER 2006 ARTS & LEISURE THE COYOTE Question and Answer Jon Baker on Music, Censorship and Girls By JORDAN DRAKE There is a certain mythology surrounding Jon Baker. While some things we know for sure (he is a student at ACI, he dwells in Anderson, he attends class on occasion, and he makes music), the majority of Jon Baker’s life is shrouded in mystery (“As the story goes, poachers found him orphaned in Siberia, being raised by tigers”; “I heard that if you rub his belly he’ll grant you three wishes”; “Did he really kill a man using mind bullets?”). I sat down with Jon Baker in hopes of discerning fact from fiction, and by the end of our interview it was clear that he is a lot more ‘with it’ than he would have you believe. I was left with one final, unsettling question: How much of what Jon Baker does is an act? So, how would you describe your music? Delicious. That’s how you would describe my music. It’s very simple but catchy, with strange lyrics sometimes. rap music in high school. I also did some Spanish-influenced stuff with a guy from Ecuador who didn’t speak English. Hard rock, softer rock. I did screaming. Screaming is fun. You’ve been kicked off stage at the Pub more than once. Do you have anything to say about that? People in the audiences usually want me to play some dirty stuff at the shows. I’d like to be able to play a lot of my offensive rock stuff at the pub, because I think it’s my most fun material, but that didn’t work out too well. I don’t like censorship. I think you should say what you want, and I think that if people don’t want to listen to what you have to say, they shouldn’t listen to it. I don’t need to offend people who don’t want to be offended. Can you give me a brief history of your musical career? I’ve done just about everything. I played Do experiences like this make you want to change your style? No. If anything, it makes my music better. Having something to struggle with gives me something to write about. I use music to help me get over things, to deal with things. They didn’t like my songs on the Ahh, the pub. That little offshoot of McCain with broken tables, an empty stage, and goth window treatments. Besides its desperate need for a décor revamping, the Pub is a pathetically underused resource at ACI. Right now, it serves as a room for occasional Program Council events or overflow seating at lunchtime. One would think that a campus pub would be a popular destination especially with one dollar PBR on Wednesdays. However, the Pub is usually ignored on weeknights. Why? With wobbly tables, chairs that break, and too much dead space, it is not an inviting place. I tracked down Mc- Cain Student Center Director Savala Smith and discussed with her the future of the pub in terms of new programming, interior design, and big-screen entertainment. First of all, there are fun technological improvements in the works. The Pub is considering the addition a drop-down projector screen that will be nearly the width of the stage. It will be used for movies, sports games, presentations, and even video gaming (life-size World of Warcraft, anyone?) Smith would also like to see a free weekly movie happen. In addition, a new sound board will soon be added to give more options to performance acts (aka public drive, because some of them, like “My Girlfriend’s Butthole,” were offensive, so I wrote this song about censorship called “Censor My Haircut.” I got pulled off stage playing this one in concert, too. Kind of ironic. It probably had something to do with the last verse, though. Also, I think there were some prospective students and their parents in the audience. Also, I think they may have been Mormon… You’re obviously the source of a lot of controversy on this campus. Why do you think that is? I’ve had a few run-ins with judicial committee, and I’m pretty sure feminists really don’t like me. I make some girls feel uncomfortable. I don’t try to make people feel uncomfortable, but it’s alright. I’m used to it. I figure if I act the way I want to act, then I’ll end up with friends that I want to be friends with. I like controversy. If you write something controversial, people will want to listen to it and talk about it and it’s a lot more fun. There’s more interest in things that are controversial. Are you bothered by how others on campus view you? I got kicked out of a Delt party because I ‘was making some girls uncomfortable.’ It bothered me then, but I’m okay with it now. I have a bit of a reputation, but I guess that’s good because then people know who I am. I’m a pretty nice guy. It’s mostly my art that’s pretty offensive. A lot of girls don’t like that, and it causes a lot of trouble. But I’m pretty sure a lot of people know who I am. Even freshmen girls know me. What does the future hold for Jon Baker? I’m writing just about a song a day right now, and I’ll be releasing two new albums simultaneously on Jan. 23. Part of my plan is to make some music videos and release them onto YouTube. I’ve already got one on there for “Psychosis.” I had Steve Snell cut my hair for the “Censor My Haircut” video. I also set myself on fire. I lost some hair on my arm because of it. You can find Jon Baker’s music on the internet at myspace.com/jonbakerrock and also on the public drive in the “Recorded Rock Music” folder. $1 PBR Isn’t Enough? Making the Pub Work ISSUE #4 By LAEL UBERUAGA-RODGERS you’ll be able to mic your voice and guitar, at the same time!) As far as décor goes, Smith would like to give the Pub more of a coffeehouse atmosphere, with comfy chairs, better decorations, and maybe an area rug. Improving the surroundings will draw more students in. In addition, the Pub is looking at possible menu changes and a Beer-of-theMonth, to add variety. If all goes as planned, the Pub will be ready with its drop-down video projector and fun new menu items when March Madness hits. Savala is also planning programs for the spring. Although she gave no spe- cifics, she promised that the programming “will be legendary.” Right now, sub-par furnishings and a boring atmosphere do not exactly make the Pub a fun and interesting place to hang out. “The reason people don’t come in here is because it’s ghetto,” Savala said. With the addition of more entertainment, more inviting surroundings, and a variety of menu items, the Pub will go from being a cafeteria used occasionally for programming events to a fun spot for ACI students to relax and socialize—“a place to be,” according to Smith. “We want students to make this space their own.” 15 ARTS & LEISURE THE COYOTE The Rosenthal Gallery The Rosenthal Gallery, located adjacent to Blatchley Hall, contains a permanent collection of art owned by Albertson College. Over 400 different pieces of artwork rest in the gallery basement. They range dramatically in style, with works from Picasso, Hogarth, hundreds of lithographs, and some student contributions too. The Gallery Needs You! What the gallery needs most is volunteers. You can help out with shows, which entails hanging pictures, guarding the gallery, and making labels; or you could volunteer to help with organization, documentation and framing of the permanent collection, just contact Dr. Claassen. Only two of the six work study positions are filled right now. If you’re interested in appreciating some art you can set up an appointment with professor Garth Claassen and see the permanent collection, or you can go to the gallery on a weekday or Saturday afternoon (schedules depend on availability of work study students) and check out what’s hanging on the walls. Right now, the gallery features pop art with prints from Liechtenstein, Warhol, and others. “The melody haunts my reverie” sings one of the many blonde women of Lichetenstein’s pulp-comic tracing phase. Created in 1965, you can see this Benday dot covered print in the Rosenthal Gallery. If traced pulp imagery isn’t your cup of tea then you could take a gander at the monochrome half-tone of Jacqueline Kennedy’s portraits by Andy Warhol, too. The gallery itself is a suitable space for displaying artwork, with a central column and a stage area, the space flows elegantly. But as Claassen said, it’s hardly ideal for art shows because it lacks security and features old and inefficient lighting. When asked in what direction he’d like the gallery to go Dr. Claassen said, “What I’d really like is for the resources [of the gallery] to be used more actively.” For instance, when art professor Stephen Fisher put together a small art show of prints from the collection for the College of Southern Clockwise from Idaho, it let other people in the community top left: Chrisy, “Fight or appreciate the artwork. —Dustin Wallace Buy Bonds”; Lichtenstein, “Sweet Dreams, Baby!”; Warhol, “Jacqueline Kennedy III”; Lebas, Untitled; Motherwall, “One of the Monsters Series” 16 10 NOVEMBER 2006 ARTS & LEISURE Immigrants. Who the hell do they think they are invading our country? Don’t they know we Americans already have enough to worry about without them perpetuating the shallow stereotypes we assign them? While thoughts like this are depressingly common in the world, it’s exactly what makes Sacha Baron Cohen’s fishout-of-water mockumentary Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan razor sharp satire, scathing social commentary, and absolutely hilarious. Realizing his country’s need to develop, Kazakh journalist Borat (Cohen) travels to America to document its cultural advances in hopes of, well, “make benefit glorious nation of Kazakhstan.” He also falls in love with Pamela Anderson after watching a syndicated late-night episode of Baywatch and wants to maker her his wife. Through his journeys, Borat encounters the best American culture has to offer (elevators, rodeos, evangelism, Hummers, frat boys, feminists, etc.), and at every turn the audience is privy to the hilarity his ignorance in such subjects causes. However, Borat uses that very ignorance to exploit the unfair and ridiculous prejudices we Americans have against just about every- Borat! one else on the planet. Borat travels with a live hen in his luggage, mangles the English language, can’t quite grasp the subtlety of American jokes, and misuses the toilet in a number of ways; seeing as he comes from a country so backward and primitive as Kazakhstan, though, this behavior is to be expected. In one standout scene, a rodeo cowboy tells Borat that his black hair and moustache make him look like a terrorist. Borat is reassured when the cowboy tells him that if he would only just shave his moustache he may be able to at least “pass for an Italian.” Borat deftly critiques American culture and ideas by showing just how hypocritical our nation can be. Perhaps it’s hearing a stadium full of people cheer in support of our country’s “War of Terror” that causes one to realize that racism and prejudice, after years of civil rights, are still just as alive today as they were almost half a century ago. Stereotypes will always exists, but Borat’s willingness to acknowledge and poke fun at those stereotypes, as well as those lessons it offers in forgiveness, understanding, and acceptance, shows faint glimmers of hope for the future of tolerance in America. High five! —Jordan Drake THE COYOTE The Best Flick You Missed My criticism is not about the curt dia Marie Antoinette, directed by Sofia Ford Coppola, sings with the soft sound of a logue or the lack of an explosive fight moist finger traced around a crystal glass. scene. It’s not about the lack of screen time This sensitively directed period piece de- for the Revolution (which was not the foserves a review even if it is a few weeks cus of the story) or even about the careafter its Oct. 21 release. This film is not fully selected rock singles that were spliced for all; not even for most. It is a lavishly throughout the various montages. In truth, detailed, stylized look into the story of a my only criticism is that this movie really young Austrian princess who finds herself dragged in points. Sure, the cinematography was stunning. Sure, the ostracized by the customs subtle glances between and cliques of the 18thcharacters were shot with century French Royal sniper’s perfection. Sure, Court. Not exactly Mission the music was inventive Impossible III. and oddly fitting. But In this movie, AntoiCoppola stretches every nette’s friends are fickle sunrise, every sunset, and and her husband is curiously timid (especially The Guillotine Sounds Lovely! every over-exposed glowafter dark). She doesn’t actually even say ing summer shot into a minor work. She the words, “Let them eat cake,” except in drowns us with too much of a good thing. quoting the propaganda of the mob. His- There were points where I wanted Coptory has a way of sculpting people into cari- pola’s father to fly in with his choppers to catures of certain stereotypes, and movies napalm the whole Rococo pastiche to the often prey on these misconceptions. How- tune of “The Ride of the Valkyries.” But that’s being harsh, and overly so, esever Coppola came out early and said that this biopic was not meant to be historically pecially to such a sensitive film. The characters are both believable and touching. There accurate. The plot: Marie Antoinette, played by is a shot where Antoinette stands at the Kirsten Dunst, comes to Versailles as a window of the palace as the camera zooms young girl and is expected to fit in, keep re- out, leaving her stark, frail and alone, surlations smooth between the countries, and rounded by walls and windows of ornately produce an heir. This last task is tougher carve stone. Maybe this film is too sensitive, than it seems, due to the social and sexual and that’s why I could not thoroughly enawkwardness of King Louie XVI, played joy it as much as I expected to, or perhaps by Jason Shwartzman (Coppola’s cousin). the climactic moments were just too quiet The tensions are purely internal in the sense and refined for my tin ears, like the high, that they have to do with the customs and soft humming of a finger on a crystal glass power struggles of the royal court and very amidst the din of our action movie culture. —Brad Baughman little to do with the Revolution. Do You Take Literature with Your Indie Rock? By JORDAN DRAKE Come, my friends, let me tell you a tale, one of thieves and vagabonds, of love and loss, of buccaneers and battleships. It is a tale of murder, mayhem, and marauding. It is a tale of destiny. And it’s only track two on The Decemberists’ new album. The Decemberists’ frontman, Colin Meloy, doesn’t write songs so much as melodic novellas, his previous work concerning such topics as loneliness in the desert sands (“The Legionnaire’s Lament,” from 2003’s Castaways and Cutouts) and whale digestion and retribution on the high seas (“The Mariner’s Revenge Song,” from 2005’s Picaresque). And The Crane Wife finds him at the apex of his talents. The jump from an independent record label to a major one oftentimes signals the beginning of the end for a critically adored ISSUE #4 but relatively unflimsy backdrops to known group like Meloy’s complex storyThe Decemberists. songs. However, with But the band’s hythe larger budget afper-literate indie forded by a major label, rock has weathered the compositions on the transition from The Crane Wife are lush Portland-based Kill and fully orchestrated: Rock Stars to the the lyrics now tell only much more widely half the story. And this distributed Capitol is saying a lot, because Records (Radiothe lyrics of each song head, Coldplay) partell one hell of a story. ticularly well. Not only are they riIt could be said diculously fun to listen The Decemberists Prepare a Russian Revolt of The Decemto, but Meloy’s tales are berists’ previous albums that their major poetic, sophisticated, and filled with litershortcomings were in the area of instru- ate twists; any one of these tracks would mentation. Musically, they seemed a bit do O. Henry proud. Especially noteworthy shallow and constructed only to serve as is the aforementioned number two (“The Island”), a staggering four-part, twelve minute indie-prog epic about a kidnapping gone wrong. Other standouts include “The Crane Wife (Parts 1, 2, & 3),” based on a Japanese folk tale, the Romeo and Juliet-ish “O Valencia!” and the chilling “Shankhill Butchers,” the best song ever written about baby killers. The Decemberists have always been meant to sound as they do here; they simply needed the time and financial backing to achieve such. To call The Crane Wife merely ‘epic’ would be doing it a grave disservice. Settle in and make yourselves comfortable, dear audience, for the story has only just begun. Highlight: “The Island” For fans of: Japanese mythology, 19th century Russian novelists, pirates 17 ARTS & LEISURE Six Under Rated Songs THE COYOTE Don’t Deny It. You Kind Of Like Them. By KIM STIENS probably one of the most moving pop songs in recent history. Lyrically mysterious and stirring, a genuine listen gleans much more than the sappy romance that characterizes almost every other boy band ballad. Additionally, it’s a song that is showcased in the perfect way: such lyrics demand graceful and magnificent vocals, and let’s face it: nobody does a five-point harmony like the Boys. Vanessa Carlton − “White Houses” “Love, or something ignites in my veins, and I pray it never fades in white houses…” I’m no big Vanessa Carlton fan, mostly finding her songs to be trite and annoying, but this is one glaring exception. It’s a beautifully performed song she wrote about the summer she lost her virginity, a topic which comes through powerfully in her lyrics. Far from being giddy and silly, as her other singles have been, it’s a serious song with an underlying drama that is very easy to relate to. It’s definitely underappreciated because this wonderful song was lost in the “Thousand Miles” afterglow, where Carlton was dismissed as a frivolous pop star ala Michelle Branch, but it’s definitely worth an objective listen. Backstreet Boys − “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely” “So many words for the broken heart. It’s hard to see in a crimson love…” Ah, boy bands. We love to hate them, and hate to love them. This song is Almost Any Country Song “Cotton was short and the weeds were tall, but Mr. Roosevelt’s a gonna save us all.” I wanted to stay away from artists and genres in this piece, but Country music is probably the most underappreciated genre of them all. Sure, it has more than its fair share of death, divorce and alcohol, but it also has more than it’s fair share of genuine songs from the heart. Ranging from the poppy and danceable to the morose and moving, Country has such variety that almost everyone could find something they liked if they just looked. Great songs to check out include: “Song of the South” (quoted above) by Alabama, “Neon Moon” by Brooks and Dunn, “Should’ve been a Cowboy” by Toby Keith, “No Time to Kill” by Clint Black, “Independence Day” by Martina McBride, and “Ol’ Red” by Blake Shelton. Matchbox 20 − “Back 2 Good” “Everyone here hides shades of shame, but looking inside we’re the same, we’re the same…” One of the best bands of the 90s, Matchbox 20 has declined from the great songs of Yourself or Someone Like You to the solo musings of Rob Thomas, none of which I know because they all sound the same. A great single from their heyday but perhaps overshadowed by the more popular songs of their next 18 album, this song is alternately haunting and inspiring, and is somewhat less clear and poppy. Definitely more “Push” than “3 A.M.” at a time when the band was becoming more and more average. Outkast − “The Whole World” “Pursuing all that’s pursuable; doing, God’s willing, all things that are doable.” Outkast is an incredibly unique band in that they have two distinct types of music they perform: Very good, danceable pop tunes along the way of “Hey Ya” and “I Like the Way you Move,” and completely serious and intriguing hip-hop tunes like “Bombs over Baghdad” and “Ms. Jackson.” This song is one of the best examples of the latter. It is perhaps at its best when paired with its video, which depicts the singers as circus performers entertaining a crowd of mesmerized, suited white men. Very easy to listen to, but still absorbing lyrically, this is one of the least appreciated of a great group’s songs. Kid Rock − “Only God Knows Why” “I said it too many times and I still stand firm: You get what you put in, and people get what they deserve” Ah, how I long for the days when I wasn’t embarrassed to say that I like Kid Rock. Best known for being a loudmouthed, offensive white pseudo-rapper, this was his introspective ballad (the kind that rockers often feel the need to create). While often verging on whiny, there are a few lyrical gems in this piece that really make you feel like you know what he’s talking about. Additionally, unlike most of his other pieces, it ends on an inspirational note, reflecting not only his bemusement of the plight life puts us all in, but the thoughts we all have at times. Bad Things For Good People Recovery Memoirs I am an addict. It’s not hard drugs, it’s not booze, it’s not marijuana or even your bottleof-Nyquil high. It’s the memoirs of recovering alcoholics that I am addicted to. I can’t pass one by without at least picking it up to read the back cover or the inside of the book jacket, and more often than not I will buy one of them based solely on the subject matter. It’s unwise, getting into this sort of thing without knowing what might happen. It all started in an attempt to better understand my own family’s genetic predisposition toward alcoholism, and, somewhat ironically, I plunged into the depths of addiction from there. The first title I picked up was Caroline Knapp’s Drinking: A Love Story, which, despite the somewhat off-putting title, set me on a quest to devour every recovery memoir I could get my hands on. Knapp led me to Augusten Burroughs, the man recently in the news for being the man behind Running with Scissors. The first book of his I read, Dry, was also a memoir, but it dealt less with his bizarre childhood and almost exclusively with his adult alcoholism. Burroughs describes living in a threeroom apartment, empty bottles of booze covering the floor so completely that he eventually resorted to putting them in his empty oven. All this despite being one of the youngest, highest-paid advertising executives in the history of his company. I’m limiting myself to just two memoirs here, but I have read several more (and am in the middle of one as I type this). I am not sure exactly what keeps me interested – the basic storyline is always the same: suburban person develops drinking problem, realizes problem, struggles with problem, reforms, comes to terms with an alcohol-free life and then continues to pontificate about its effects. I’d like to say that it’s the resilience of the individuals writing that keeps me coming back to this one particular genre, rather than the seemingly constant supply of human tragedy. Maybe it’s the self-deprecating wit that so many alcoholics develop and continue to possess throughout their lives. Whatever it is that drives this addiction, I have no compulsion to stop it anytime soon. —Molly Mooney 10 NOVEMBER 2006 ARTS & LEISURE THE COYOTE Your Horoscope An ACI student who wishes to keep their astrological powers anonymous (but who is endorsed by Miss Cleo) has been charting the movements of celestial bodies with scientific rigor. Here are the bleak results. Scorpio (October 23- November 21): A drunken encounter or two (or ten) may get you in trouble. Watch out. However, you could always say it was the alcohol, not you. Go on with life, but have a massive hangover thereafter. At least be sure to drink a little water. Sagittarius (November 22- December 21): Your mouth has been running away with you. In fact, I saw it at the Acapulco the other day, enjoying a burrito bueno. Muy bien! Capricorn (December 22- January 19): I heard a dirty little secret about you. With someone. You know. About that one night you don’t remember, but your kind friends have so graciously filled you in on. So, it’s like you remember, but you were so much happier in your ignorance. Aqarius (January 20- February 18): To quote Todd from Wedding Crashers, “I made you a painting.” You should also follow that course that Todd took and paint. Explore your creative side. But, please, only make paintings that are about Vince Vaughn and title them “Celebration.” Pisces (February 19-March 20): Joining that Facebook group titled “Holding in Farts Only Creates Shitty Ideas” was probably not a good idea. In fact, probably being the admin for that group is a bad idea as well. However, joining the group “Derek Erstad Is Better than You Are,” is a good idea. As someone once said, “Derek, show us your proteins!” Aries (March 17- April 19): Too many activities have got you on a short leash. Oh wait, that’s your girlfriend. My bad. Taurus (April 20-May 20): Taurus, it’s your month to go on a safari and explore downtown Caldwell. Well, maybe not. If you head downtown though, at least be sure to poke your head into Waldorf ’s and ask about Zippy. Leo (July 23- August 22): Peeing on the sofa is not an effective way to make friends (or keeping the ones you do have). However, in them giving you the nickname “the Duke” it always helps to make amends. Gemini (May 21- June 21): I know that watching a fat man walk across campus always makes my day. Gemini, don’t lose hope, one day you will see a fat man walking across campus, too. Virgo (August 23- September 22): The bayroot gods are smiling down on you. But only for a short period of time because, after that, some townie is going to show up and start a fight. And then all will be shot to hell. Cancer (June 22-July 22): As the food in the caf is hit and miss, so will be your social life. Sometimes you will be a hit at parties, other times, not so much. Like that one time at the Goose. Well, going to the Goose is a miss in itself. Never mind. Libra (September 23-October 22): You know that cute guy you’ve been eyeing in your history class? The one that doesn’t pay attention to you? Yeah, him. Well, this month, he probably still won’t pay attention to you either, so give up. But These Events Were Totally Predictable… NatchraLeigh Wired closed ISSUE #4 Dr. Jasper LiCalzi was on Channel 6 election night Students, like Brent Houston, dressed up and drank...hot cocoa... on Halloween 19 NEWS THE COYOTE A Symbol of the Past, Updated for the Present From the railway to the freeway, a look at the history of The Hat By BRAD BAUGHMAN The Hat, that Chinese-roofed, four-legged structure on Cleveland Boulevard at the end of the Sterry Walk, has fallen into a state of disrepair. Discolored shingles, crumbling brick, and a fascia board with peeling paint give it an unstable, unhealthy appearance. The Hat (supposedly) is where Joe Albertson proposed to Kathryn McCurry. It is the fourth oldest structure on campus. And although it has fallen off the campus radar in recent years, during the first half of the school’s existence it was a prominent symbol of the College. It is also one of the last vestiges of the interurban mass transit line that ran through Caldwell. Wait, mass transit in Caldwell? For nearly 22 years, a 60 mile electric trolley car loop circulated through Boise, Eagle, Star, Middleton and Caldwell. In 1912, the Idaho Railway, Light & Power Company built College Station Heights, which was basically The Hat with walls. However when returning World War I soldiers started lodging in it, Idaho Railway took the walls down. This left its appearance very similar to what we have today, except for the brick legs. These were added when students beautified it as a monument in 1926. Then in 1933, a passing car snagged the roof and brought it down. The structure was rebuilt, but placed just a bit farther from the curb. So what happened to the Interurban line? Prosperity killed it off with new affordable Model Ts. With more and more cars, the cities on the loop upgraded their roads and the train lost most of its passengers. The Boise Valley Traction Company 20 1914 1933 1950s 1956 closed the line in 1928. If you look across Cleveland from Hayman Hall, there is a small section of rail line embedded in the sidewalk. Feel free to use this tidbit of trivia to impress your friends next time you stumble across it on your way to some house party or Caldwell bar. People still used College Station Heights to wait for busses well into the 1960s. Long-time Caldwell resident John Tietsort used to wait under The Hat with his friends so that they could skate at the Rollerdrome in Nampa. Then he would take the bus back to Caldwell at night when the Rollerdrome cleared the rink to host concerts for local bands (Paul Revere and the Raiders were just starting in Boise at this point). You can still catch busses from under the Hat today, but according to the Valley Ride receptionist I spoke with, you can also flag down the bus from any point along the boulevard. The Hat’s use has waned over the years, but it still serves as a reminder that this College is as old as our state. In 2001, the Caldwell Historic Preservation Commission appealed to the Idaho Heritage Trust fund for a 50-50 grant to raise $4,000 dollars to help restore The Hat. On September 22, the Caldwell Board of Realtors pledged their matching funds. The check presentation ceremony was originally set to take place on Nov. 1, but has been postponed. Next time you are on a walk, swing by the Hat. Maybe your kids will ask you about it someday. Who knows, your grand kids might even wait under it for Caldwell’s next try at mass transportation. 10 OCTOBER 2006