ledger - University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections

Biaclcie wants to see you at the
DiacKie wanis K
L EDGERI
zoo this spring
Pages 6-7
Th
University of Washington, Tacoma
Comic bool(
heroes swoop
into films
Page 9
A
Vol. VII No. 11
ch 1 3 , 2 0 0 3
n
Campus awareness detering theft
by Maggie Straling
Shellie Jo White, UWT student life
manager, sweeps and cleans her own
office. She puts garbage and recycling outside of office before going home at night.
White is taking measures to keep her
office supplies and personal items from
being stolen.
Looking aroimd the room, she wonders
if something is missing. Is it the palm
pilot, CDs, tea box, projector, or computer?
UWT's faculty and staflF are closely
examining their offices and classrooms in
order to protect themselves due to recent
thefts. They are also keeping their office
doors locked.
When White came back to her office
after Christmas break her palm pilot was
gone. Although she had locked the office
the palm pilot along with other belongings
managed to get away.
"When I came back from Christmas
break my M500 series palm pilot, syncing
unit and cables along with a number of
CDs were missing and the office was
secure. It is my understanding that my
office was not the only locked office with
things missing," said White.
"We have instituted a new policy in this
office. Myself, security and my one assistant are the only ones with a key to the
administrative office," said White. "So I
clean my own office, I sweep and wipe
things down once a week. I would rather
clean it and lock it to insure it is safe."
Although time has passed and the palm
pilot has been replaced White still feels the
emotional burden.
"It was disheartening. I immediately
started looking around to see what else
they have taken."
White contacted campus security
immediately after noticing something was
missing.
White is not alone. Linda SpenceNoyer, assistant to executive director in
office enrollment services and student
affairs, was also a victim.
See Theft page 5
Eyes of the past witness the future
John Thorburn / The Ledger
The statue outside Union Station symbolizes downtown growth and the vision of the future.
Softball teams shaping
up for spring season
by Tolena Mahlum
The UWT softball teams are
ready to hit the diamond for
another season of fiin.
A men's, women's and co-ed
team have begun filling out
their paperwork to start the season in the Tacoma Metro Parks
league. The three slow pitch
teams are for UWT students
only, and provide an opportunity for students to get involved in
sports.
"The club existed for a short
time in 1997 and 1998," said
John Tilton, organizer for the
softball club. The teams didn't
get enough interest from students to keep the club going.
Tilton says that the club was
finally able to restart last year.
The season will run from the
beginning of April to late Jime.
Tilton, a senior in the business
administration program, adds
that the Services and Activities
Fees committee has paid for
equipment, uniforms and registration fees for the league in the
previous years, so student costs
are minimal.
See Softball page 11
The Ledger
takes home
national award
The Ledger was named second best in the nation for fouryear college,
non-weekly
newspapers at last week's
National Collegiate Newspaper
Convention in Seattle.
The award, conferred by
convention host the Associated
Collegiate Press, is the highest
honor the University of
Washington, Tacoma student
newspaper has received in its
seven year existence.
The LaSallian, the student
newspaper of De La Salle
University
in
Manila,
Philippines, flew home with
the first-place award in the category.
Notre Dame De Namur
University's newspaper, The
Argonaut, won third place.
In other categories, local
schools
winning
awards
include Olympic College's
Olympian, second place for
two-year
schools,
and
Washington State University's
The Daily Evergreen, an honorable mention for four-year
dailies.
Bill allows UWT to tum Into four-year school
by Tolena Mahlum
ciently and certainly do it for less money," said
Steve Wall, President of Pierce College. Pierce is
A proposed bill allowing branch campuses to a community college with campuses in both
offer freshman and sophomore courses could be Puyallup and Steilacoom.
trouble for commimity colleges.
"It could be the first step toward tuming the
Sen. Ken Jacobsen (D-Seattle) introduced the UWT into a four-year school," reported the News
bill for the addition of lower-division courses at Tribune on Jan. 21.
branch campuses such as UWT. He says that the
UWT Chancellor Vicky Carwein said that she's
bill would provide more options for students as not trying to make the campus a four-year univerwell as some healthy competition among public sity, but she would like to offer select freshman
colleges.
and sophomore courses to students who might need them
Some community college
" We did not
when they transfer to UWT.
officials say that the move
would not make economic
"We did not invite or proinvite or promote
sense for taxpayers or for stumote the bill," said Jack
the bill/'
dents.
Nelson, Vice-Chancellor at
- Jack Nelson, UWT. Nelson says that there
"In these times of really difVice-Chancellor, UWT
ficult fiscal constraints, I think
we can [educate students] effiSee Four-Year page 5
Buzz
March 13, 2003
Husky Voices
Nominate outstanding
staff before Friday
Karaoke night revisited
this Friday
Every year UWT recognizes
two staff members for their outstanding contributions to the
campus
with
the
UWT
Distinguished Service Award.
The UWT Staff Association is
asking for nominations for the
2002-2003 awards, which will be
presented
at the Annual
Recognition Night.
All UWT staff, permanent or
temporary, professional, classified, or librarians, full time or part
time are eligible for the award.
All nominations must be
returned to Lorna Fernandez,
elections
committee
chair.
Institute of Technology/CSS, Box
358426 no later than March 14.
All nominees and the two candidates
selected
will
be
announced prior to the awards
ceremony. The award will be presented to the two award recipients at Recognition Night.
For more information contact
Femandez at (253) 692-4612.
Come an enjoy food and
drinks with your friends and try
your skills at karaoke-if you dare.
Come
to
Josefina's
Restaurant and Bar March 14 at
9 p.m. for Karaoke night hosted
by the Student Recreation Club
and Civitas. Josefina's is located
at the comer of Pacific Avenue
and 46th street.
For more information on this
event contact Dan Cleary at
[email protected] or at
(253) 709-4547.
SWSO hosts suicide
intervention speaker
Dr. Bob Baugher will present
"Understanding Suicide: Steps in
Intervention" from 6-8 p.m. April 7
in the Keystone Auditorium.
The event, brought to you by
the Social Work
Student
Organization, also indudes a
reception before the presentation
at 5:30 p.m. where food will be
available.
From
Highline
Community College, Baugher
has written books on bereavement and suicide inten/ention. Dr.
Carol Wood will be present and
provide resources.
Get your resume done
before Career Fair
The UWT Annual Career Fair
will be held in the academic atriums on April 22-23. A professional resume can enhance your
chances of leaving a good
impression and making a valuable
employer
connection.
Whether you are updating or just
beginning, attend a free resume
workshop at the Career
Services Center in Keystone
202. For a list of dates and time,
log on to
http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/career/calendar.html.
UWT Career services hosts
Career Fairs each Spring. It pn>
vide the opportunity to recruit students for full and part time
employment and intemships as
well as to showcase your organization to UWT students and
alumni. If you would like to be
included in our employer database to receive appropriate invitations, please e-mail your organizatkxi's name, contact person,
address, and phone number to
[email protected].
For more infcxmation call the
Career Center at (253) 6924421 or stop by the Career Center
today.
Staff award goes to
Professor Rea
Professor Ruth Rea, of
Nursing, has been selected as
the University of Washington,
Tacoma's
Distinguished
Teaching Award recipient for this
year
She will be honored at the
UWT Recognition Night ceremony in June, at the UW
Recognition Ceremony June 12
in Seattle and at the UWT commencement June 14. She will
also receive a $5,000 award
provided by the office of the
president.
Students who wrote letters
nominating Rea were particularly eloquent in what they had to
say about her ability to illumi"
nate difficult concepts, to awaken the joy of leaming, to instill
confidence in her students and
to inspire professional achievement.
The selection committee,
after evaluating submissions
from a deep pool of outstanding
nominees, found Rea's overall
record of teaching effectiveness
to be most worthy of the
Distinguished Teaching Award.
Ruth holds a Ph.D. in
Nursing Administration from the
University of Texas, an M.S. in
Nursing from the University of
Colorado, and a B.S.N, from the
University of Maryland.
She has substantial military
education and earned U.S.
Army Nurse Corps Scholarships
for her doctoral education, as
well as for her undergraduate
education. She retired from the
military in 1995 at the rank of full
colonel after 27 years in the
Amiy Nurse Corps.
Professor Rea has been a
member of the Nursing faculty
since 1998. She has also
served in academic positions at
Saint Martin's College, Seattle
University, the University of
Texas Houston Health Science
Center, and the U.S. Army
Medical Department.
Selection committee members this year were: faculty
members John Peterson, of
IAS; Tracy Thompson, of
Business Administration; Rich
Knuth. of Education; Janet
Primomo, of Nursing; and Lisa
Hoffman, of Urban Studies; student Brett Nelson and alumni
Amy Rang.
What would you put in a time capsule
to represent Tacoma?
Story and photos by James Winkelman
Mark Hansen
Social Work
Fiona J o h n s o n
MBA A d v i s o r
"The philosophy of
the university,
because it
represents Tacoma's
diversity, from African
to Asian to European.
They're all covered in
classes."
"Bob's Java Jive.
The building is historic, and its shape
[coffee pot] and the
artwork inside reflect
Tacoma."
Leslie Sargent
CSS
"All my class syllabi,
so they could see
what the teachers
here put us through.'
Sam Loughery
IAS - Mass
Communication
Amy H e m b r o w
IAS - Mass
Communication
"Chihuly's eye patch
and a hard hat."
Mark Lapointe
IAS Lecturer
"Something to do
with the smell. You
can tell when you get
to Tacoma because
of the smell."
Caroline Calvillo
I A S - M a s t e r of Arts
"A minature railroad.
Trains are part of
both Tacoma's past
and its future."
"Something related
to the museums. A
piece of Chihuly
glass or a plate from
the art museum."
Brett Nelson
BA - Intemational
Business
"A soil sample, so we
can see if the ground
is still as contaminated in 100 years."
Setting the record straight...
In the Feb. 27 Issue, Vol. VII, of The Ledger, Jill Purdy's was mistakenly identified as Judy Purdy. We
apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Th
LEDGER
University of Washington, Tacoma
1900 S. Commerce St., WCG 104 Tacoma. WA 98402-3100
(253) 692-4428 fax: (253) 692-5602
e-mail: [email protected]
The Ledger is the independent student newspaper ofthe University of Washington, Tacoma. Neither the
ASUWT Student Govemment nor the UWT administration exercise any editorial control over the publication.
Funding is provided through UWT Services and Activities Fees, and supplemented with advertising revenues.
Publisher: Meg Smith
Editorial Staff
Editor-in-Chief: Tolena Mahlum
Layout Editor: Karie Anderson
Photo Editor: James Winkelman
Assignment Editor: John Thorbum
Copy Editor: Carmela Amador
Arts & Entertainment Editor:
Lalena Broussard
Sports Editor: Tolena Mahlum
Webmaster: Thang Nguyen
Layout assistant: John Thorbum
Assitant Copy Editors: Penney
White and Janet Mark.
Reporters a n d
Contributing W r i t e r s
Margeu^t Straling, Marques Hunter
and Michael Dwyer.
Submissions
The Ledger encourages submissions
including articles, editorials, letters
to the editor and general conunents.
Please direct inquiries to the above
e-mail address. The editorial staff
reserves the right to edit submissions for style, grammar and
brevity.
Advertising Manager:
Kayla Cogdill
Graphic Artist: Vickie Brown
Office Manager: Penney
White
Advertising
For advertising rates, deadlines and
specifications, contact advertising
manager Kayla Cogdill at (2S3)
692-4529. Or, e-mail her at .
[email protected].
LEDGER
March 13, 2003
Opinion
Supreme court to decide on college diversity
T
his spring a decision will take
place in the controversial Grutter
V. Bollinger case conceming
"reverse discrimination" against Barbara
Grutter, a Caucasian applicant, who was
denied admission to the University of
Michigan Law School. The center ofthe
dispute is whether affirmative action
should no longer be a factor in admissions', consequently, minorities would
then be denied higher
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
education.
"Conservatives
keep saying we need
to get rid of affirmative action so that we
can have the colorblind society Dr.
Martin Luther King
advocated. He advocated a color-blind
CARMELAAMAOOR
society, but he didn't
say we have one, and we still don't,"
said Dr. Mike Honey, Harry Bridges
Endowed Chair of Labor Studies at the
University of Washington and a history
professor at UWT.
Allen Bakke was a Caucasian student twice denied admission to medical
school, regardless of his high test
scores, due to minority applicants with
lower test scores being preferred.
The landmark Powell decision in
the 1978 Bakke v. University of
mmiiF
California Regents Supreme
Court case upheld the use
of race in admissions as a
"plus factor" so that there
will be a diverse population
on college campuses.
University of Michigan Law
School admissions operated
the grounds of the Powell deci
sion. If it is struck down in the Grutter
case, then federal law will not allow the
use of affirmative action in admissions.
Since Washington State Initiative
200 was passed prohibiting racial preference in education the University of
Washington Law School minority
enrollment has dropped from 15.3 percent to 7.7 percent since 1998. In Smith
V. University of Washington Law School,
recently cited in an Amicus Curiae brief
to support the University of Michigan,
the Ninth Circuit upheld a lower court
ruling that it is constitutionally permissible to use race as a "plus factor" in
order to achieve racial diversity.
The Smith case is a prime example of a woman, Katuria E. Smith, being
denied the right to bring her diverse
experiences in life to a college campus
because she was Caucasian. Her diverse
and disadvantaged background as a
struggling single mother was not enough
to convince the Supreme Court that
"reverse discrimination" is a possibility
Tal(e advantage of tiie free
student^omputer worloiiops
Your Student Technology
Fees pay for computer technology workshops. They are three
hours in length and limited to 10
students.
Comparable workshops at
UW Seattle cost $50 per student
and on the outside up to $100 per
student. The workshops are
hands on and are geared at giving
UWT students the computer
skills they need to keep up with
their classes. All ofthe workshops are introductory but some
do get into intermediate and more
advanced features ofthe applications.
Some ofthe recent comments
on a PowerPoint woricshop were,
"Awesome workshop - 1 want to
take it again to leam even more."
"The instructor was great, the
workshop was very beneficial."
The different workshops that are
available are:
U W r Computer Orientation
Leam everything you need to
know about using computers at
UWT.
Introduction to Computers
This workshop is for students
who need to leam the basics
about
computers. It is designed for students who have little or no experience using computers.
Introduction to Microsoft Excel
This workshop is designed to
help students that are taking
courses that require a basic
knowledge of Excel. It is an
introductory course on Excel.
Introduction to MicFosoft
Word
Leam basic Word skills and how
to use these skills to write papers.
Using Microsoft PowerPoint
Create Powerful slide presentations with PowerPoint.
To leam more about what is covered in these workshops and to
register for them go to:
http://www.tacoma.washington.e
du/at/training/student
or from the UWT home page:
http://www.tacoma.washington.e
du/. Choose Current Students
Computer Workshops, second
link on left side.
Each month more workshops are
scheduled so bookmark the training site to get a date that works
for you.
~ Deb Sklar
Instructional Consultant,
Academic Technologies
Letters to the Editor policy
AU signed Letters to the Editor should \» 500 words or less and will tw considered for
publication if submitted by 1 p.m. the Friday prior to publication. Letters to the Editor are
sut)ject to editing. We reserve the right to not publish any subniitted letter. If you would
like to submit a Letter to the Editor, e-mail [email protected]
or drop it off in the gold box outside WCG 104.
when
it comes to
college
admissions.
The University of Washington and
the University of Michigan are both
state schools, which means that the federal fimding they receive is being used
to discriminate one student's race from
another. If these were private colleges,
then there would be no dispute because
of the funding.
The unspoken truth is that affirmative action weighs race, not the accomplishments ofthe individual, yet sometimes the constraints of society make
that necessary.
"African-Americans, Latinos,
Native Americans and many AsianAmericans have been nearly locked out
of higher education for much of our history. That problem isn't fixed. If you do
nothing about that, you simply perpetuate exclusion," contributes Dr. Honey.
An African-American student at the University of
Michigan testified at a recent hearing that the lack of resources and
unequal education she encountered
while living in segregated inner city
public schools in Detroit made affirmative action a necessary tool to combat
inequality.
"Affirmative action is just one
tool, a weak one at that. If we follow
King's advice we might not even need
it. He called on govemment and business to direct money to healthcare, education and jobs for everyone.
Why can't the richest in the world
provide college education free to everyone? Why should education be an
unequal privilege? Until our society
puts its resources into creating a more
equal society, affirmative action remains
one of the tools we need to open the
doors to higher education that have been
closed to many people," said Dr. Honey.
The individual student and their
experiences with racial interaction in
society could make the right decision
conceming affirmative action, yet reality makes this impossible. What the
Supreme Court decides this spring will
determine diversity and opportunity for
college campuses nationwide.
Letters to the Editor:
on professional
Computer services sur- pursuits
and the
corporate
marpass other institutions keting strategies
w
surrounding the
I am writing in response
J software and operating
to the letter by Forrest Tyree
system market, are imporand Timothy Bostelle.
tant factors for all citizens
The services at the
to consider, not just students
UWT are top-notch,
or system administrators.
enterprise-class and
While supporting the IT
far ahead ofthe
StafT, their decisions and
curve compared to
professional
what is available y •pl^
expertise, I
at other Puget
^ ^^
iv would also
Sound educa_
/^ 6 encourage the
tional institu^ ^ ^ ~ V^'7-^::::^^
UWT,asan
tions.
institution, to
Even though I have been
explore altemative software platcritical, sometimes to the unproforms and products.
ductive point of negativity (with
I think that operating system
regards to my private discourse
and office productivity solution
on institutional technology and
altematives can be deployed on
UWT IT policies that I have
the UWT campus in the general
engaged in with UW staff), I
applications student computer
support and applaud the dililabs, in addition to the current
gence and professionalism that
computing environment, and that
die UWT IT staff exhibits in
this endeavor would have realismanaging and deploying techtic benefits for the institution,
nology resources for leaming.
the IT staff, and student users.
I believe that many people
are impatient with technology,
~ Chad Akins
and have little interest in becom- Urban Studies Department
Community Volunteer
ing expert users on systems and
Non-Profit Technology Consultant
applications that are not directly
related to their specific pursuit of
degree and/or certification programs.
Looking forward to obtaining degree from the UWT, and
several certified endorsements, I
This is in response to the artiwould suggest that IT skills are
cle "IAS dept searches for new
just as important as the classic
faculty." I am an IAS student at
major, minor and certification
UWT in the Arts, Media, and
career pathway. The patience to
Culture program. The news that
understand these technologies,
a "new" Asst. Professor will
the scope and effect IT has on
die global job market, the impact most-likely be instmcting the 2D
Keep Instructor
Tliomlison liere
and 3D Art courses next fall is
difficult to comprehend.
R. Thomlinson, who is currently an adjunct instmctor for
these courses, has demonstrated
through her personal and professional life a remarkable uniqueness and an assiduous knowledge ofthe art arena. She is not
only a teacher for the community of Tacoma, but a talented
local artist. It is not beneficial
for the students at UWT to lose
Thomlison as an instmctor for
these courses.
Thomlison has profoundly
impacted many students with her
exemplary knowledge of art.
Thomlison is proficiently adept
and has ensured through her professional expertise and knowledge that all UWT students in
the AMC program leam, grow,
and achieve their full potential
as artists and students ofthe
community at UWT.
Thomlison's exceptional abilities, sheer determination to
ensure that all UWT students
who take her couiises leam, compiled with her education and
experience in the art world, are
amazingly evident in her professional curriculum at UWT.
Furthermore, Thomlison has
proven to be an exemplary rolemodel and is a vital asset to the
Art program. It would be a disservice to the students at UWT
to dismiss Thomlison for these
courses. Therefore, I highly recommend and voice my view to
keep R. Thomlison on as an
instmctor at UWT.
—^Jody Rawlings
UWT Shident
AMC Program
mymiW3r W w 9 1
MP
March
LEDGER
13, 2003
Learn how to mind your manners
b y Karie A n d e r s o n
Don't know a salad fork from a
plastic spork? Coming to your rescue is
an informational night outlining all of
the proper and acceptable ways to conduct yourself before, during and after a
professional dinner.
In a competitive employment market, first impressions are everything
and the task of proper dining may not
seem as important as polishing your
fntervie^'ing skills, but it is just as crucial. Good manners can aid in making
a favorable impression and help avoid
.iUsgusting a prospective employer or
client.
With that in mind, the student
organizations m the b^fsiness program
are hosting Etiquette Night A^il 11 at
the Landmark Convention Center from
6-9 p.m. Students can attend for $15,
students with a guest can attend for $25
and faculty, staff and community members are invited for $26.
"The whole event is talking about
etiquette, social etiquette, dining etiquette and professional etiquette," said
Sue Dahlin, undergraduate advisor and
staff advisor of student organizations
for the business program. "If this goes
well we would like to keep it at the
The event is partly funded by the
Institute of Management Accountants,
a student organization that had set
aside a small amount of their budget
for the event.
"It has been a challenge.
Fortunately S&A Fees was able to help
fimd this," said Dahlin.
Despite the use of student funds,
after paying for the event all proceeds
are intended to go directly back to
S&A Fees fundsMany business student organiza
tions have joined together to make sure
this event will happen.
The overall goal of d» IMA Student
Chapter is to a t i m ^ award of excellence each year while provi<ting their
membetS:, with the oppKMttunity to net
work, gain jMrofcssional certification,
participate in community service, gain
leadership skills, gain competency in
teamwork and leam flexibility and communications. The groups expect the
Etiquette Night to provide a valuable
resource for students and the communityFor more information contact Sue
Dahlin at [email protected].
To purchase tickets for the event go to
the cashier's office on the fourth floor
in GWP.
Landmark convention center every
year."
Recently hired Dahlin came to
UWT from Seattle University where
she had been involved in similar
events. Although every school carries
out etiquette events differently, she
explained that they are very common
in business programs on many campuses.
"We want to emphasize this to other
programs," said Shelley Soi, Etiquette
Night committee chair.
Whether students plan on working
in the non-profit sector or for a corporate office after they grailuate, jmam^s
and behavior are universal accotdjng tf>
Soi and this event will give people the
chance to "shake out that nervousness."
Attendees wiil not only ^ u y eating
a meal, but they will leara how to
properly dine during a four-course
meal, how to move about a room during a professional event and what to
expect in a real setting.
Everything from the right fork to
what to do with your gum will be
answered during this
session.
According to Dahlin this will be an
event "where you can ask all ofthe stupid questions."
professional events
«No drinking Is allowed
- No smoking vAm& prohfcted
- Mingle and meet new p$x^
- Don't be yoiflself, im y(M best self!
- Don't try too h ^ to iinptfess Be iKjnest about
what ycHj know. As a i^iKtent you af^ n ^ expected
to know as much as pmMriQ pco^ssmaHs
- Shake hands finnly - nrt weakly, M not with a
vise-like grip. Pradsce your intertock, gjp, hold and
6e courteous SHKI poUe
as, sroriT»€HiD,
name
Take me away
Spring break getaways not as far off as you may think
b y Kayla C o g d i l l
The quarter is just about over
and we all wonder where and
when there will be a chance to
regain that sanity lost on finals.
A few spring break destinations like Cancun, Negril,
Montego
Bay,
Acapuico,
Panama Beach, Daytona Beach
and Key West can offer that tan
we all lack. Surprisingly, these
destinations are cheap enough to
be within reach of the starving
college student's pocket book.
"Airlines offer a limited
number of seats and the least
expensive are what the consumer wants, but you have to
book early," said a travel representative from All Wonderland
Travel Inc.
Traditional travel guides
don't offer any spring break
specials, but can offer more personalized travel options.
"We adjust our pricing for
the season," a travel agent from
AAA said. "The cost is going to
depend on what the individual
wants."
If you don't care how you
reach the pearly white beaches,
there are some inexpensive
online tour agencies that would
be happy to help you tan.
Endlesssummertours.com
offers the largest selection of
spring break destinations. All of
the rates are per person for two
or more people and the packages include airfare, hotel and
transfers from location to location. The more people that are
booked together receive a larger
discount. However for only
$509 plus tax you can spend
your spring break alone in
Cancun, Mexico.
ir that's a little out of your
range and you want to keep both
feet on U.S soil, don't fret. For
only $399 you can stay at
Panama City Beach and even
better yet, $329 at Daytona
Beach, Florida.
Other online travel agencies
included icpt.com or intercampus programs and sunsplashtours.com. They offer the best
"Airlines offer a
limited number of
seats and the
least expensive
are what the consumer wants, but
you have to booi^
early."
Travel Representative
from All Wonderland Travel
arrival packet for entertainment,
activities and free booze.
Sunsplashtours.com
offered
food, but who really cares about
that? Take note that not all
offers are available when leaving from the SeaTac airport.
Even if you can't afford the
trip you can always go the web
site and look at the pictures of
parties, beaches, and teenyweeny bathing suits.
If the cloudy skies of
Washington are more of your
thing, don't worry. There are
plenty of affordable things to do
in the area.
The Seattle Supersonics will
be hosting the Washington
Wizards on March 26, the
Memphis Grizzlies on March 28
and the Los Angeles Lakers on
March 30. Safeco Field will also
be hosting WWE WrestleMania
on March 30.
The Paramount Theater in
Seattle has a nice line up with
Audioslave playing on March
22, Erasure March 23 and Dee
Dee Bridgewater on March 27.
The Tacoma Dome is the
place to be, so whip out the
spurs because professional bull
riding is coming to town on
March 22. If horns and wranglers aren't your style there is
always Arenacross from March
28-30.
HEY YOU! Need some extra credits?
1
;
,
•
•
•
•
You can take credits f o r The Ledger by s i m p l y w r i t i n g articles for the
publication. For more i n f o r m a t i o n contact The Ledger at
(253) 692-4428 or by email at [email protected]
•
.
-
"
•
•
;
For a more sophisticated
night out on the town, check out
Fosse, a Tony Award winning
musical. The Broadway Center
for Performing Arts will be
showing Fosse on March 26. Or
you can wear the pearls for a
night at the Tacoma Opera featuring Die Fledermaus on
March 22 at 8 p.m. and on
March 23 at 2 p.m.
If there are little ones in the
family, the Point Defiance Zoo
has two new exhibits with more
on the way. The new polar bear
and sea horse exhibit should
Avtmtii AfO'Sc/ricrs
definitely Bie a hit for the whole
family.
For the student that only has
one night free there are quite a
few movies that will be coming
to theaters over the break. Some
of those movies are Boat Trip,
Dreamcatcher,
Piglet s Big
Movie, The Core, Head of State,
Basic, They Guys and Chunchik
Satsau.
So before you bum your textbooks that won't sell back, go
look for a travel guide and a
strong SPF for your delicate
Washingtonian skin.
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LEDGER
News
March 13, 2003
Theft: Bike patrols keep campus crime low
Continued from frontpage
"When the Tacoma bike patrol came in
here, and had a substation in the office
"I feel very violated, I bought a gift for the Science building. On Oct. 21 walked you could actually sit and watch the drug
someone and it was stolen ovemight."
into the Science building and walked out dealers. They would come on campus, see
the cop car and tum around. Having the
Spence-Noyer bought a gift for a with a computer.
Security does not know exactly when Tacoma Bike Patrol here, to us, has made
friend and one for the whole office. Both
or how but a computer was stolen from it a safer deterrent, they do not want to
of the gifts were stolen.
As if two offices are not enough, three the science building, but staff noticed the come here."
Bailey said that if someone was going
is a charm. Lisa Tice, manager for dis- computer missing from the moming after.
abilities and support services, also a suf- The computer was there one day and to rob a place they probably would not do
gone the next. The theft was reported on it with a police car parked outside it
fered.
would be too bold.
She is under the assumption that Jan. 8.
"Some
people
Other thefts on campus
someone was desperate to put together
"I do not think
are," he said. "We let
Christmas presents. Two decorative include cash from the copy
it is an outbreak, them know they are
boxes were stolen from her office right center and a bike located on
not welcomed on
19th and Jefferson.
before Christmas.
I think we are
campus."
Although there is some
"1 am really sad, real disappointed
very fortunate
Bailey remembers
especially since they really did have theft on campus, campus
that it has been a time when the
strong sentimental value. Hopefully it is security believes we are
Tacoma police made
the last because it does not feel good," lucky.
as low as it
a couple of arrests
said Tice.
"I do not think it is an outhas/'
right outside the
Office doors are not the only ones break, 1 think we are very for- Jeremy Kunkel, security office.
locked, so are some classrooms. tunate that it has been as low
Campus Security Campus police
According to Campus Security Safety as it has," said Jeremy
Officer are doing everything
Manager, Darren Bailey six to seven Kunkel, campus security offithey can to stop peoclassroom doors are locked until class cer.
ple from coming on
time, in order to combat theft.
The biggest theft on camcampus that do not
"Every theft that occurs is a loss to the pus he can remember is when
budget," said Bailey. "Anything with the science building was being built and belong, but it is difficult.
someone broke in and stole thousands of
theft is a major deficit."
"Anyone can come onto campus and
The locked doors are a result of three dollars worth of construction tools.
walk through. You can actually look in
projector thefts. One projector was stolen
"Five years ago we used to have night- the offices and the computer labs," said
Feb. 27 from WCG, room 110. The other ly open containers around the rail road Bailey.
two projectors were stolen in 2002.
tracks, we would find at least five needles
Anyone who walks onto campus can
The thieves also stole items from The a week, beer bottles, cans, prostitutes; see in the windows. The majority of the
Ledger office. On Nov. 21 technology anything you can imagine was here at the windows that face the street are tinted but
the ones looking onto campus are not.
equipment and over $400 in CDs were time," said Bailey.
reported stolen.
Bailey noticed a change when the
When Bailey was asked if they suspected anyone he said, "It is an unknown.
Someone even stole a computer from Tacoma bike patrols moved to campus.
It could be anybody."
Bailey tries his best to become familiar with every student, staff and faculty
member on campus. He recognizes nine
out of ten people on campus.
"If I see an unfamiliar face I try to figure out why they are here."
Bailey deters crime by "letting them
know that we know they are here. It just
moves them off. With people on the street
word travels fast," said Bailey.
UWT is fortunate to have such low
crime on campus given the area. The
campus is in the middle of a high crime,
high traffic area. UWT's area extends
from Pacific Avenue to Tacoma Avenue.
"15th and Tacoma is the worse. If you
drive up in your car you will know exactly what 1 am talking about."
"Everyone can help fight the battle
against theft," said Bailey. He attributes
part of the anti-theft measures to community policing.
"Community policing, it is everybody's job not just Campus Security or
Tacoma bike patrol. If you are going up to
your car and you see someone looking
into car windows who do you call? That
is community policing. Students and staff
walking around that is community policing. Community policing is a big part of
security in law enforcement."
The awareness and involvement of
students, staff and faculty in reporting
suspicious activity helps deter theft
according to Kunkel. "It is really a group
effort," he said.
Four-Year: Some say move would not make economic sense
Continued from frontpage
have been extensive meetings between UWT and the local
commimity colleges about offering lower division courses, but nothing has been officially decided on as of yet.
"I would support limited courses," said ASUWT
President Brian Feller. "If a student could centralize themselves to one campus they will most likely perform better
and have more opportunities to be involved on campus."
Feller added that many students currently find themselves taking courses from multiple locations to fill
[uette
Ni^t
I April 11, 2003
requirements. He also said that UWT is not prepared to Washington University. "I'm close enough to home in
case I need anything, but far enough away that I can be
become a four-year institution yet.
"I think a more beneficial solution may be to work independent."
more closely with the commimity colleges to better preWelles and Jacobsen do not expect the piece of legispare students for upper-division coursework," said Feller. lation to pass, however Welles says that the issue is likely
Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Seattle) says that many to resurface.
students prefer to attend a four-year university rather than
"This is an issue we need to address to ensure all
a community college. She says that students should have regions of our state provide adequate access to a bachemore choices about where they attend college.
lor's education," she said.
"It was time for me to get out of my house and out on
my own," said Dana Allen, a senior at Westem
Become a Foster Parent!
Pierce County Alliance is seeking committecl indivtduais
& families who want to make a difference
in the lives of children.
Contact 253.502.5449
|/jandmark
Lonventionl
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Want to get
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New residents,
new construction
../.-«*" V
at Point Defiance Zoo
T
here's a lot going on this spring
at the Point Defiance Zoo and
Aquarium.
In January Bill Nye made a visit to the zoo to
film a segment for his new television show on
PBS called "The Eyes of Nye." Unlike his previous work for kids, this new show is aimed at an
adult audience.
The segment they were filming deals with
comparisons between human sexual behavior and
behavior of other animals.
Joining Nye was Dr. Marlene Zuk of the
University of California-Riverside. Zuk's area of
study is sexual behavior and the evolutionary
processes that result in the differences between
males and females.
Nye and Zuk filmed footage ofthe Titi monkeys housed at the zoo. Zuk said that their relationship between the sexes is somewhat unique,
but similar to that of humans. They are monogamous, share parenting roles, and are behaviorally
indistinguishable.
Nye said that one ofthe reasons they asked the
zoo for access for filming was that "the displays
at Point Defiance are good. Also, the displays are
good for kids and there is space for filming."
Now that Boris and Kenneth, the two new
polar bears, are settling into their new home, the
zoo has announced that four new animals have
recently arrived.
Fern and Ivy, two prehensile-tailed skinks, are
now in residence in the World of Adaptation. Like
some primates, these lizards can use their tails to
grasp food and branches.
Potter is a snowy owl who was shot in Alaska
and treated at Washington State University. He
Louise and M&M rest one of their flipper
had to have part ofa wing amputated and will be
part of the zoo's education programs.
on her while they're swimming around the
The fourth, and most interesting, new resident
pool.
is M&M, a 2-year-old female harbor seal. She
"Sometimes Blackie gets annoyed with
joins the zoo's two other seals, Blackie and
the other two always being around, but
Louise.
she usually cooperates," says Belting.
M«&M came to the zoo from a rehabilitation
There is also quite a bit of construction
center in Canada that usually releases animals
going on this spring. Currently, crews are
back into the wild. But M&M could not be
working on a new cei)tral plaza and a new
released because of vision loss due to cataracts in amphitheater. The plaza will allow visiboth eyes. Louise also has cataracts and can only
tors to more easily move between exhibits
distinguish between light and dark. Because ofthe and should be completed by June.
zoo's experience with Louise, M&M was felt to
The new amphitheater is taking shape, Lefttc
be a good match with the zoo.
with the stage area already going up. It
will eventually include animal holding
The behavior between the three seals is fasciareas as well as covered seating and the stage
nating to watch. According to Marine Mammal
area. Zoo officials hope to have the amphitheater
Manager Traci Belting, harbor seals are usually
ready
for partial use by the summer, with the projsolitary animals. But because of Louise and
ect being completed in September 2004.
M&M's sight problems they rely heavily on
Blackie to help them out.
The newest project, and one that promises to
be very exciting, is the Asian Forest
Blackie can see the
Sanctuary. This new project is in the
trainers coming, or where
"There will be
final stages of planning.
people are standing near
The project will employ a concept
their pool. The other two
opportunities to
rotational exhibitry, an idea used
can sense Blackie's posiwatch the new zoo called
at only one other zoo in the nation. The
tion in the water and folemerge. There will exhibit will be based around a central
low her to the side of the
pool where the trainers are
be hands on 'build animal holding building. This area will
standing.
a zoo' activities for include separate housing and exercise
areas for each species, as well as faciliBelting said that both
kids. The zoo will ties for the zookeepers. There will be
Blackie and Louise have
focus on close
several exhibit areas, each of which
helped M&M settle in.
encounters, keep will be connected to the central buildWhen watching the three
swim around the pool you
things interesting ing by a system of pathways and tunnels. Using these, zoo staff can rotate
wouldn't know that two of
and
exciting
as
the animals between the different
them can't see.
things
change."
exhibit areas. This will keep the aniBlackie even lets
- Carolyn Cox,
Public Relations
Coordinator for
Pt. Defiance Zoo
Top: E.T. the Pacific
walrus greets visitors
at eye level through the
viewing window
of his tank.
Above: The elephants
will gain an expanded
enclosure as part
of the Asian Forest
Sanctuary project.
Right: The zoo's
beluga whales share
an exhibit tank with
the three harbor seals.
Photos and Story by James Winki
its,
ruction
efiance Zoo
had to have part ofa wing amputated and will be
Louise and M&M rest one of their flipper
part of the zoo's education programs.
on her while they're swimming around the
The fourth, and most interesting, new resident pool.
is M&M, a 2-year-old female harbor seal. She
•'Sometimes Blackie gets annoyed with
joins the zoo's two other seals, Blackie and
the other two always being around, but
Louise.
she usually cooperates," says Belting.
M&M came to the zoo from a rehabilitation
There is also quite a bit of construction
center in Canada that usually releases animals
going on this spring. Currently, crews are
back into the wild. But M&M could not be
working on a new ceiitral plaza and a new
released because of vision loss due to cataracts in amphitheater. The plaza will allow visiboth eyes. Louise also has cataracts and can only
tors to more easily move between exhibits
distinguish between light and dark. Because ofthe and should be completed by June.
zoo's experience with Louise, M&M was felt to
The new amphitheater is taking shape, Left to right: Louise, M&M and Blackie swim in training pool behind the exhibit area they share with the zoo's t>eluga whales.
be a good match with the zoo.
with the stage area already going up. It
will eventually include animal holding
The behavior between the three seals is fascimals from being confined to one particular exhibit zoo, says that visitors can expect to see more staff
areas as well as covered seating and the stage
nating to watch. According to Marine Mammal
space, and enhance the experience for both aniand animals roaming the zoo.
area. Zoo officials hope to have the amphitheater
Manager Traci Belting, harbor seals are usually
"There will be opportunities to v, atch the new
ready for partial use by the summer, with the proj- mals and visitors.
solitary animals. But because of Louise and
zoo emerge," says Cox. "There will be hands on
The exhibit areas will include an Asian forest
ect being completed in September 2004.
M&M's sight problems they rely heavily on
with a waterfall and two different outdoor primate Tjuild a zoo' activities for kids. The zoo will focus
Blackie to help them out.
The newest project, and one that promises to
on close encoimters, keep things interesting and
enclosures.
Blackie can see the
be very exciting, is the Asian Forest
exciting as things change."
The
final
vote
on
the
$6.1
million
project
by
trainers coming, or where
Sanctuary. This new project is in the
"There
will
be
the Metro Parks Tacoma Board of Commissioners
If you haven't been to the zoo lately, there's a
people are standing near
final stages of planning.
is
scheduled
for
March
17,
with
construction
to
lot
to
see and more on the way. Don't forget, the
The
project
will
employ
a
concept
their pool. The other two
opportunities to
zoo and aquarium are only 15 minutes away from
called rotational exhibitry, an idea used start soon after.
can sense Blackie's posiwatch the new zoo at only one other zoo in the nation. The
campus. So, take a little while, enjoy the good
With all the construction going on, zoo staff
tion in the water and folemerge.
There
will
weather when it's here, and don't forget to say hi
are
making
a
special
point
to
involve
visitors.
exhibit
will
be
based
around
a
central
low her to the side of the
to M&M.
Carolyn
Cox,
public
relations
coordinator
for
the
be hands on 'build animal holding building. This area will
pool where the trainers are
standing.
a zoo' activities for include separate housing and exercise
areas for each species, as well as faciliBelting said that both
kids. The zoo will ties for the zookeepers. There will be
Blackie and Louise have
focus on close
several exhibit areas, each of which
helped M&M settle in.
will
be connected to the central buildWhen watching the three
encounters, keep
ing
by
a system of pathways and tunswim around the pool you
things interesting
nels. Using these, zoo staff can rotate
wouldn't know that two of
and exciting as
the animals between the different
them can't see.
things change."
exhibit areas. This will keep the aniBlackie even lets
- Carolyn Cox,
Public Relations
Coordinator for
Pt. Defiance Zoo
Right: A slightly dishevelled scale
model of what the amphiteatre
will look like when completed.
Left: Boris suns himself on a
rocky outcrop overlooking
the polar bear exhibit.
Photos and Story by James Winkelman
ArtsJ^
Entertanfnieiit
8
LEDGER«
March 13, 2003
City of God
March 14-30
Beguiled Again
8 p.m. FridaysSaturdays, 2 p.m.
Sundays
Nan-ows Theater tocated at 7116 6th Ave
(253) 565-6867 $19$12
tells riveting emotional story
March 19
The Vines and guests
8 p.m. at the Moore
located at19320 2nd
Ave, Seattle
$21 adv @
Ticketmaster
March 18-23
Dr. John
Jazz Alley
located at 2033 6th
Ave, Seattle
$27-$23
March 22
Instant Winner,
Ruckus, Thought
Crime and The
Unknown Assassins 5
p.m. at Hell's Kitchen
Doors at located at
3829 6th Ave $7
Photo courtesy ofimdb.com
City of God highlights a true story of two boys growing up in a life of drugs and war in Rio de Janeiro.
the book Cidade de Deus by
Paulo Lins.
In the book, Buscape's charCity of God opens with a darling chicken running for its life acter is actually Paulo Lins, the
author and main character.
away from a barbecue.
The central figures are gang
As the story develops, you
forget the little chicken in favor leaders and dmg dealers such as
of much more moving and much Ze Pequeno (played by Leandro
less fiinny subject matter. The Firmino da Hora), a triggerstory depicts the growth of the happy drug dealer with aspiraorganized crime in a suburb of tions to control the city. The city
goes through a transformation,
Rio de Janeiro.
The City of God is a favela, a from a dangerous slum to a war
slum, a housing project designed tom wasteland.
Based on a tme story, this
for the thousands of homeless in
Brazil. The little chicken fades movie portrays the trials of life in
into the back of yoiu mind as the a poor community run by young
story develops into a serious and children with guns.
moving tale of Buscape
The movie comes across as an
(Alexandre Rodrigues), a poor honest portrayal due to the acting
child who doesn't want to be a of the starring children. Katia
criminal but is too ambitious to Lund, the co-director of the
be an underpaid clerk.
movie, said in an interview for
The movie is ad^ted fix>m the movie's Web site that the
by Lalena Broussard
decision to use local talent posed
I found this violent and
interesting difficulties.
bloody movie to be confusing,
"The casting process was a yet riveting. There is no sense
challenge we knew would define that the violence is gratuitous,
or undermine the strength of the just that it is a part of life in the
film," Lund said. "We opted, City of God.
therefore, not to cast traditional
The one down side to the
actors, but to research, discover movie is the insufficient subtitles.
and prepare a cast of non-profes- I fear that something was lost in
sional adolescent boys fh>m the translation. The actors' lips
poor commimities who could keep on moving while the subtiinstinctively understand and tles don't change. For the most
apply favela slang, body lan- part this is fine because you don't
guage, attitudes and feelings - need the subtitles to know what is
bringing to the screen a universe happening, but at times it would
of realism similar to that por- be nice to understand a bit more
trayed in Paulo Lin's book."
ofthe dialogue.
Using nontraditional actors
This portrayal of life during a
posed some problems, but it war between dmg dealers and the
gives this movie a sense of reali- police is a riveting and emotional
ty. It becomes obvious while you stoiy that deserves an audience.
watch that the movie feels like a
Oh, and the chicken? He
documentary, like it is really hap- escapes.
pening, not staged or acted.
F
L
March 22
Clan Gordon Tartan
Ball 8 p.m.-l a.m. at
the Pavilion at the
Puyallup Fairgrounds
$15 per person (253)
638-1713 or www.clangordonpipeband.org.
March 29
Tacoma Symphony
^aqd Q^prus perfonns
Pantages Theater
kx^ted at 901
Broadway $57-$22
March 30
Little Blue and the
Bluenotes at the Swiss
March 30
Jim Kerl's Swing
Sessbn with Special
Guest Greta Matassa
6 p.m. at
JazzBones $7
Classifieds
3 lines, 2 weeks, 5 bucks for UWT
A
AN EVENING OF POETRY:
THURSDAY,, MARCH 27 6:00PM - 8:00PM
FREE WITH ADMISSION
1
By Email:
ledger@u. Washington.edu
By Phone:
(253)692-4428
Womof) iXiBU from the community organj^ation Ff®9 Ya Mind
present poetry in response to the works in Never Late for
Heaven; TNK Art of Gwen Knight.
Placing A Classified Ad
By Fax:
1
(253)692-5602
Deadlines:
Contact The Ledger
sshingiofi 9iM02
-tiAi:\'.,,.
., ,• , . , j
:AC0MA
ART MUSEUM
G
L
E
Cost:
Up to 3 lines for 2 weeks: $5
for UWT Students
and $8 for non-UWT Students.
Each line is an additional $1
websites & tutoring. Price
neg. Contact Jiminy Tang
[email protected].
Advertise these items and
many morel
Help
Wanted
c. Services
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iy & Spirit
Automotive
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For Sale
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•i
LEDGER
Arts & Entertainment
Comic heroes swoop into films
by Penney White
Comic books and movies have been
entertaining people for a large part of the
twentieth century and now into the twenty-first. Movies and television shows
have been popping up year after year that
involve comic book heroes whether they
have superhuman strength or just a compelling story to tell.
What is interesting are the changes in
film technology and superhero success
recently seen in "Daredevil" starring Ben
Affleck. The last six months have also
brought others such as "Spiderman,"
"Men In Black 2" and "Road To
Perdition."
"I tend to hold out for the
previews to see what kind of
graphics and special effects
will be used," said Randy
Blackmfin^, S|f, |AS., student
"That helps me determine if I
will go see it."
Movies
and
comic books
are simi
I a r
because they both deal with plot, character development and script. The most
common practice in movie making and
the comic book industry is the storyboard: a sequence of pictures created by
a production illustrator to communicate
the visual concept on camera for a movie
or the pages in a book.
The question these days is which corporation will have the next comic book
hero going to the big screen. After
researching the transition from books to
the big screen, it appears DC Comics,
once known as the 1935 National
Periodical Publications who created
"Superman," is in second place.
The popularity of DC comic book
characters seems to be sticking to television after a successful run with the
"Batman" and "Superman" movies.
You can also see "The Hall of
Justice League" on the Cartoon
Network or
"Smallville" and
Birds of Prey" on the WB
Network.
I remember when I
was a kid. We
a t c h e d
Wonder
Woman'
with Linda
Carter.
T h e r e
w e r e
those old
dent graphic novel tumed to movie
' Superman'
that is coming out this July is Alan
shows too and
Moore's, "The League of Extraordinary
'The Green Hornet'
Gentleman." Sean Connery will be makwith Bruce Lee," said
ing a move to comic book hero acclaim as
Jamie Warren, a stuone of its characters. The film, directed by
dent at Green River
Stephen Norrington, will be loosely based
Conununity College.
Marvel Comics, once known as Atlas off the original comic novel who's characComics, set the stage in the '60s with the ters include Captian Nemo, Allan
"Uncanny X-Men," "Amazing Spider-Man" Quartermain and The Invisible Man, who
are brought together to fight crime in the
and 'The Fantastic Four" among others.
"I liked the movie 'The Phantom.' It early nineteenth century. Norrington will
came out about 10 or IS years ago. There's be adding Tom Sawyer and a few others.
Rumor has it that
that scene where he's
Marvel is working on
riding the horse, try" I tend to hold one of their oldest
ing to catch a bisuperheroes, "The Subplane. It was great!"
out for the preMariner," about Price
said Michael White, a
views to see what Namor,
a
halfmother visiting UWT.
human/half-amphibian
kind of graphics
The Marvel charthe lost island of
acters have dominated
and special effects from
Atlantis.
Universal
comic books sales and
will be used."
Studios has purchased
superhero
movie
- Randy Blackman, the rights to the characmaking.
IAS student ter and may be looking
"The
Fantastic
at Nicholas Cage to
Four" is now in the
play the part of the
writing stage, but
mutant. There are hopes
rumor has it that
for
"Spider-Man
II" in 2004 as well.
release will be sometime in 2004. Today,
previews are showing for the remake of
As comics continue to make their way
"The Incredible Hulk," once adapted for across the big screen, moviegoers will
television starring the late Bill Bixby. enjoy high tech action while comic book
Coming this May, Marvel Comics will fans will have a visual to compare to
continue its domination of the big screen their hard copies. The mcorporation of
with the release of "X-Men 2," bringing these characters and the silver screen has
back most of the original cast and intro- boosted interest of comic fans as well as
ducing a few more villains.
sales.
"The ending ofthe first 'X-Men' movie
seemed incomplete. I hope this one
does
better,"
said
Blackman.
An inde
pen
Upcoming mo
X-Men 2
May, 2003
The Incredible Hulk
Summer, 2003
Spiderman II
2004
The Fantastic Four
2004
Sports
1
10
LEDGER
March 13, 2003
Zach Holt, who represents UWT at NIRA rodeo competitions in bull riding, demonstrates proper form, keeping
his body forward and his free hand out and up for balance.
Local rider represents UWT as campus' only intercollegiate athlete
by James Winkelman
Zachary Holt is not someone
you'd call a cowboy - at least
not at first glance. No cowboy
hat, no boots. But Holt does one
thing that might make some call
him a cowboy. Zach Holt rides
bulls.
"I'll probably rodeo until I'm
too old or too hurt," says Holt.
Holt, an environmental science major at UWT, has been
involved in rodeo events ever
since his grandfather showed
him how to rope. But Holt's roping skills weren't the best, and
he didn't have a horse.
"This severely limited my
roping capabilities," Holt says.
Because of this. Holt's
involvement in rodeo shifted to
roughstock competition, first
bareback bronc riding and now
bull riding. His continued
involvement in rodeo competition was received with little
enthusiasm by Holt's parents.
"My dad wanted me to be a
track star and my mom didn't
care [what I was doing] as long
as I wasn't rodeoing," Holt says.
Holt made the switch to
roughstock competition at age
13. But it was several years
before Holt covered a bull in
competition.
"It's hard to keep going when also has two aunts who used to
you keep failing," says Holt.
compete in timed events and a
Holt rode bareback bronc cousin who will be competing
until high school, when the for Blue Mountain Community
number and severity of his College soon.
injuries increased, partially
Holt is also the president and
because of the switch to pro founder of the Rodeo Club. The
level stock in competitions. main objective in starting the
"Every ride is like being in a car rodeo club was to give Holt a
accident," he says. Holt decided way to compete in the National
then to switch to bull riding as a Intercollegiate
Rodeo
slightly
Association as a
less danUWT
student.
" Every ride is
gerous
But
he
also
alternalike being in a car wants it to serve
tive and
as a way for
accident"
has been
those
students
- Zach Holt.
competthat are interestPresident of the
ing
as
Rodeo Club ed in rodeo to get
s u c h
involved. Holt is
since.
working on ways
for people to get
D r .
Michael Allen, UWT history directly involved, but people are
professor and advisor for the more than welcome to come to
UWT Rodeo Club, describes meetings and check the club out.
Getting the club started was
roughstock competition as the
most dangerous of rodeo events. not easy. There was a lot of
"Zach is a very courageous stu- resistance by school officials
and it took almost a year to cut
dent athlete," says Allen.
Holt was bom and raised in through the red tape.
Port Orchard, Wash. His grand"Zach is a perseverer and an
father, James Light, was a sad- amazing young man," says
dle bronc rider in the first half of Shellie Jo White, student life
the 20th century. He and much coordinator. "He has overcome
of Holt's extended family live in a lot of adversity to get the proPendleton, Ore., home to the gram off the ground."
Pendleton Roundup rodeo. Holt
Holt's interests are not limit-
ed to rodeo. He also likes to skydive, rock climb, mountain bike
and go off-roading. He has a
Toyota 4Runner that has been
modified for going off road and
he especially enjoys driving in
the Elbe Hills area.
Holt competes in the
National Intercollegiate Rodeo
Association, on the northwest
circuit. He competed in the
rodeo held in Walla Walla,
Wash. Feb. 28 through March 2
and plans to enter as many of
the northwest circuit events as
possible, with the possibility of
going to the finals in Casper,
Wyo. this summer.
The NIRA is a non-profit
goveming body that organizes
and regulates national collegiate
rodeo competition. It originally
had 13 member schools in 1949,
was divided into three regions
and was originally headquartered in Texas. It has grown consistently and now organizes
over 100 rodeos a year, has 137
member schools and universities, is divided into II regions
and has over 3,500 student
members. Since 1979 the NIRA
has been headquartered in Walla
Walla, Wash.
For more information about
college rodeo, check out
www.collegerodeo.com,
the
Web site for the NIRA. Want to
watch in person? The nearest
NIRA event is held in
EUensburg April 11 and 12. The
two major pro rodeo tours,
PRCA and PBR, will also make
visits to Washington. The Pro
Bull Riders will be at the
Tacoma Dome March 22 and the
PRCA
ProRodeo
visits
EUensburg Sep. 1 and the
Puyallup Fair Sept. 7.
\n a itmtB
tvBe e v ^ ^ for
women. There te an award
Ibr aach c^ the lop fir^ham,
li^us the t(^ inlsh^ v ) ^ (tm
highest cofnbitiad scora
fr<xr\ tt*e seven mc^'s
events or the Vnme women's
events. These are Vhe aBamund c^nrpons.
Rodeo aver^ are divided ^to two gmt»si cale^ » ' ^ ; t i r r ^ ev^nls ami
ji»igede\^^.
jt,«E^]ed mmtte i»e the
roughstock competitions:
b^erebad^ axfd S£KJdle bfDnc
nding and bull riding.
M
One person's junk may be another's treasure. Sell your Stuff in the Lec/gfCr classifieds.
See page 8
LEDGER
Sports
March 13, 2003
SPORTS BRIEFS
Not just for young men anymore
Dawgs muzzled early
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - The
Huskies' quest for a Pac-10 toumament
championship was ended prematurely last
weekend when they were soundly defeated
by the twenty-second ranked Arizona
Wildcats, 74-51.
Finishing the regular season in second
place, Washington should receive an invitation to the NCAA Toumament later this
month.
The Huskies suffered a scare when Pac10 Player of the Year, Giuliana Mendiola,
lefl the game with an ankle injury. During a
postgame press conference, the junior
declared it was only a sprain, however, and
that she will be ready to play in the NCAA
toumament.
Men's squad done
MEN'S BASKETBALL - Playing in a
must-win game to extend their season, the
Huskies failed to succeed against UCLA,
losing 84-72 last Friday.
Washington, playing for the eighth and
fmal seed to the Pac-10 Toumament, finished the year with a 5-13 conference
record, 10-17 overall.
- ^
WgF^
SOFTBALL:
U\NT fielding
full squads
Continued f r o m f r o n t p a g e
"The participation this year is about one
and a half times what it was last year," said
Tilton, who has played baseball his whole
life. "The tumout and willingness to assist
in coaching has been great."
While there was only enough interest for
two teams last year, Tilton is receiving a
record number of responses from students
interested in playing. The women's team
was established this year to accommodate
the increased number of responses.
"There is definitely enough [players] for
three teams this year," said Tilton who adds
that all three teams are almost full.
Participation fluctuated between 25 and
35 players last year, but Tilton has already
received well over 50 responsesfi-ominterested players.
Information about the softball teams
was sent out via the UWT Lifeline starting
in January. Space is limited, however Tilton
says that interested students can still get a
hold of him to try and be placed on a team.
No experience is necessary to play.
"Based on the interest expressed this
year," said Tilton, "There will most likely
be teams next year if there is a willingness
to do the woric." Tilton is graduating this
June, and a replacement for his position will
be necessary next season.
Uniforms consist of a white sleeveless
jersey with a UW Tacoma logo on the front.
Purple t-shirts can be wom underneath
Games will start the week of April 13
and will be played at the South End
Recreation Area fields that are located on
South 60th and Adams Street in Tacoma.
If you are interested in the UWT softball
teams,
contact
John
Tilton
at
[email protected] or stop by The
Ledger office in WCG 104 for more information.
John Thorburn / The Ledger
A young woman works out on a butterfly maching at the Tacoma YMCA while a male member rests in the background.
YMCA memberships booming
by Emily Cantrell
YMCA parking lots have been filling up fast.
Not even a week and a half into February, the number of
new members at one local YMCA had already exceeded its
month-end goal. March is proving to be just as successful.
Membership offices around Pierce County are signing up anywhere from 10 to 100 new members daily.
"We're pretty happy," said Scott Valen, membership director of the Morgan Family YMCA.
In January, over 50,000 fliers were randomly mailed out to
Pierce County citizens, offering a tour and a one-week membership for one individual and a fiiend. The goal was to attract
new members rather
than trying to recruit
" / think it's great
members from the
for revenue, but we
past. As a result, new
individuals had a week
have to find the
last month to try the
pool space. Finding
facilities in Pierce
County, and many
a pool that's not
have decided to join.
being used will be
"February was a
like hitting the
real
busy
month,
which was the ultimate
lotto."
marketing goal," said
~ Dan Balderson,
Valen, "instead of just
YMCA Aquatics Director
January, which is typical."
Valen explained the
ideal number of members for the Morgan-Family Branch,
located on 1002 South Pearl Street, is anywhere from 12,50013,000. Currently at 12,446 members, Valen says it is an easier number to work with. When reaching 13,000 members or
over, instructors have to adjust class schedules and find a way
of getting children off of class waitlists.
"We're likely to have around 200 children on the waitlist
this session," said Aquatics Director, Dan Balderson. "I think
it's great for revenue, but we have to find the pool space.
Finding a pool that's not being used will be like hitting the
lotto."
"We're still shooting for it, and when it happens we'll
adjust to it," Valen said about the high number of members.
"It's a good challenge for program staff," Balderson added.
Due to the first quarter goals already being met in early
February, the Morgan Family YMCA has increased the number
of Adult Fitness classes being offered. The Yoga, Pilates and
Tai-chi program has expanded, and aerobic exercise classes
have increased in numbers and types.
For those individuals who are new to working out and are
not sure where to start, the 12 Week Center provides a more
personalized program providing guidance and encouragement
from trained YMCA staff. Computerized equipment tracks
each individual's progress, and automatically adjusts weights
to each person's needs.
Along with aerobic and adult fitness classes, the YMCA
also offers activities such as aquatic programs, gymnastics,
dance, martial arts, youth sports and wall climbing. Other programs such as a chess club. Teen Theater Troupe, and Youth &
Govemment programs are also available.
In addition to the Morgan Family Branch, there are three
other branches in Pierce County: Tacoma Center on Market
Street, Lakewood Family located on Lakewood Dr SW and
Mel Korum family, located in Puyallup.
For anyone afraid that the YMCA will be too busy to enjoy
activities, Valen says it's not a problem. The perfect time to
workout is 12-2 p.m., since parent/child classes are generally
from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., and 3-7 p.m. is a peak time due to youth
programs and a high student population including college students in the evening. However, after 7 p.m. there is generally
never a problem trying to use a piece of equipment.
"I haven't found the new members to be a problem. I just
try to remember that finding a parking spot is half the fun in
working out," said YMCA member Carrie Cullom.
Photo courtesy of Mel Korum Family YMCA
Women have become regular patrons at local YMCAs.
Memberships have been surging at area facilities after
low-cost signup incentives were mailed to Pierce
County residents in January.
1^
LEDGER
Sports
March 13, 2003
PIGS
on
Women's football team, Tacoma
Majesties tackle fledgling IWFL
Photo courtesy of Tacoma Majesties
by Marques Hunter
The Tacoma Majesties are lacing up
their cleats, strapping on their helmets
and lowering their shoulders for another
year of full contact football.
Their first season was a success as
they went undefeated, winning seven
games and the Women's Spring Football
league championship title in 2002. Now
the Majesties step into a new league that
stretches across the nation and even into
Canada.
The Tacoma Majesties began practicing in May of 2001 with hopes of playing
in the fall of 2001.
After suffering low player nimibers
and near collapse of the organization,
playing in the fall was impossible.
Nonetheless, players and coaches kept
their dream alive by gathering enough
players to play in the WSFL and take
home the championship in 2002.
According to Lindsay Krill, board
member ofthe Majesties and team player,
playing for this team has been a great
experience.
"It's so exciting to be able to play football," Krill said. "I'm hoping this will
open minds for younger girls and also
boys that women have the opportunity to
play football."
Players and coaches on the Majesties
take each game seriously and work hard
practicing three times a week including you the opportunity of playing a different
sport."
Saturdays.
Krill stated that many people, particuThe Majesties are playing in a new
larly males, are supporting their effort in league called the Independent Women's
bringing a promising women's football Football League that was started in 2000
team to Tacoma.
by a group of women interested in the
"I don't see anything wrong with idea of establishing a women's league.
women playing football," said Matt The IWFL is currently a member organiCreaser, UWT student. "If they want to zation of team owners that was started to
support women's tackle football.
play, let them play."
The IWFL is a
According to Krill,
full contact, nonprofthere have been more
'' If women want it women's football
women than men that
league
aimed
are non-supportive of
to see women's
their pioneering in
towards
giving
sports, they need women an opportuniwomen's tackle football.
to start watching." ty for achievement in
"Some women have
not been supportive,"
— Lindsay Krill, football by introducMajesties player ing a positive, safe
Krill said. "Everyone
and board member and fiin environment,
says that women aren't
according to IWFL
getting enough press.
organization.
Well, that's because
women aren't watching.
Since the league
If women want to see women's sports, allows teams to work independently,
they need to start watching."
teams can target their surrounding area
The NFL, college and high school and find ways of producing effective profootball have captured the eyes of many motional and marketing strategies for
male and female viewers. So if men can their own teams.
watch and play, why can't women?
The league now has more than 20
"I support any woman that wants to teams spanning North America including
play football," said Jennifer Reed, UWT Montreal.
student. "I think women playing football
The IWFL has two conferences with
helps diversify sporting ventures because separate divisions similar to the NFL.
anytime you try something new, it gives
The Majesties are part of the Pacific
Northwest conference and face challenging teams in Oregon and Idaho.
They play eight games during the regular season and currently have 40 players
on their roster. All team players are under
contract, but are not paid.
The Majesties will donate portions of
net game revenue to locally sponsored
charities after each game. Essentially,
every player for the Majesties is a volunteer while playing football or supporting
other women playing football. This
allows players to give their full attention
to the sport and not worry about salaries.
The women are recognized as football
players, not just athletic skill on the field.
They understand discipline and look to
achieve success by dedicating themselves
to the game of football. Many of them
are hard working students that have come
to play for the mental achievement, as
well the physical.
They hope to develop as a team while
building confidence in their everyday
lives. The Majesties look to gain respect
with support from the board, coaches,
players, family and the community.
The Majesties play their first home
game on March 29 against the Eugene
Edge.
To find more information about the
IWFL and the Majesties organization,
check
their
Web
site
at
www.iwflsports.com.
Player's Union plagued with ephedra dilemma
After the untimely death of Orioles
pitcher Steve Bechler, it should be clearer
to people that ephedrine is a harmful substance. Unfortunately this is not the case.
So what's all the hype about anyways?
Ephedra (also known as ma huang) is
^^^^^^_____ the herbal form ofthe
drug
ephedrine.
When combined with
caffeine, the result is
usually
increased
energy for a more
intense workout.
If ephedra is such
a good thing, then
why is it banned by
the NFL, NCAA and
TOLENA MAHUJM
the
International
Olympic Committee?
"It's good that it's banned by jqjprts
regulatory bodies because it is efTective
and therefore would be cheating," said Ira
Jacobs from the Defense and Civil
Institute of Environmental Medicine.
According to the rulebooks, anything
"mmm
that boosts performance is not allowed, so
Jacobs is right. If ephedra does what the
doctors claim that it does, the result is
cheating, plain and simple.
Baseball's Conmiissioner Bud Selig is
determining whether the substance should
be banned fiom MLB. He has taken a step
in therightdirection by banning the use of
ephedra in the minor leagues.
Selig was easily able to ban ephedra in
the minor leagues because the player's
union has no say in the matter. The ban in
MLB is different, however.
MLB wants to ban the substance, but
the player's union will not allow it.
Players should be responsible enough
to respect their bodies. Especially professional athletes. While a ban is not necessarily the right answer, it might make it
easier for players to regulate their use.
When your job is reliant on your athletic
performance, it would seem wise to take
care of your body.
But there are other factors.
For many athletes, the idea of being
more competitive by taking some pills is
enticing. Being quicker, stronger or better
than your opponent would sound good to
any serious athlete and in the case of the
young rookies, it might even appear necessary for success.
If you are not a true athlete, it may be
hard to understand, but there is something
about competition that drives athletes.
Glory changes people.
In competition, it is easy to ignore any
long term effects, which is why so many
players will re-enter a game with a broken bone or a concussion. Nothing holds
them back because they want to win they want the glory and they're not thinking straight.
To add to the mess, studies have not
actually proven that ephedra is harmful.
Specific case studies such as Bechler's
have linked the substance to serious injury,
but as of yet it has not been proven.
On Feb. 28, the White House
announced that it wants tougher labeling
rules for ephedra, however that step is
minimal for the reduction of use. Most
athletes do not ever read the label.
Although there is no current ban on
the drug, many stores have taken
ephedra-containing products off of their
shelves. Xenadrine, the supplement
linked to the death of Bechler, has recently come out with an ephedra-free version
called Xenadrine RFX.
Xenadrine officials say that Bechler
took more pills than the amount recommended. He also had an existing heart
condition and was prone to heat stroke.
Common
problems
linked
to
ephedrine are heart attacks, strokes,
seizures and heat strokes.
Bechler's temperature before death
was recorded at 108 degrees - far above a
healthy limit.
Young athletes should not need the
help of supplements to properly shape
their bodies. Steroids are looked down
upon for a reason - they're harmful.
So is ephedra and all products containing it.
i
i
MARCH 2003
JOINT PROJECT ofthe DPT. of JOURNALISM, MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY and UNIVERSITY of WASHINGTON, TACOMA
"'^^SP^
y r
Surrendered to war 2-4
Gone with, the web 8-9
Feeling the economic pressure 10-12
...<-««.
fr
'^^^m
• - • - - - * ^ - ' * • - * ' > •
iflbMi.
fiditodal
Editor's
welcome
Moscow State University and the
University of Washington, Tacoma have
Joined forces In producing this Issue of the
Journalist and The Ledger. UWT students
Tolena Mahlum and Karie Anderson traveled
to Russia to work closely with the MSU
newspaper staff at the Department of
Journalism.
We had only four days to produce this
diverse and Interesting newspaper for students and faculty on both campuses. For the
purposes of time limits, both sets of Journalists were Instructed to follow the limitations
of press required In their own countries.
We were brought together with the help
of MSU's Deputy of Creative Work, Dr. Maria
Louklna, and UWT Instructors Dr. Bill
Richardson and Dr. Chris Demaske. Bill Is
the
founding
director
of
the
Interdisciplinary Arts and Science program
at UWT, and Chris is a professor In communication.
With the successful completion of the
first Joint newspaper production between
the two universities, a life-long connection
has been made for the hope of future projects such as this and we hope that media In
both of our countries will obtain new Journalists free from false stereotypes.
Staff reveals Iraq perspectives
There's one short story by Ray Bradbury about a man who works at the waste dumpsters in the suburbs and is called one day to his director's office who shares the news about the coming nuclear war The
worker is ordered to get ready for collecting human bodies from the streets with his truck. He returns home
horrified and tells his wife about this bright future awaiting the city They both silently eat dinner and go to
bed. But while falling asleep the man suddenly realizes that the only thought knocking at his head is what
would be the best way to stack the bodies in the truck to pile up as many as possible for one ride!..
We felt it was important to say what our opinion on the Iraq issue is. And we want our voices to be
heard because we do care.
In my opinion
now it's too early to
judge what the war
with Iraq will bring
and whether it is
necessary in general. Also it is difficult
to tell whether or not
weapons of mass
defeat exist in the
territory of Iraq.
However, even
if they do exist it will
be so difficult to
prove for the United States, because the world community has already adjusted to the fact that the U.S.
is going to forge the results.
The most frightening thing in this situation is feebleness and the inconsistency of the United Nations
which was initially created solely for the maintenance of stability in the world. Now we can only hope
that the problem will be resolved with the least losses for both sides and that it wouldn't render influence
on todays system of international law and relations.
ANTON MANIASHIN
T o me this war in Iraq is not about bombing the
cities - it's more that we have become so used to
being shot at. We turn the TV on and watch violence in the news, we switch to a different channel
and find some movie about terrorists, walk out into
Mry M YHMBepcMTeT ujTara BauwHrroH
(UWT) oChBHIAH^rWI yCMilMfl B COBMeCTHOM the street and some maniac runs into our neighbor
with his car
npoeKTe no Bunycicy HOMspa raaetbi "XypBlood and tragedy all around makes us griefHaiiMCT"/The Ledger. AMepMKaHCKMe cryproof, and it lets the war step into our back-yard
AeHTKH ToneHa Ma/tyM IA KapM AHABPCOH
and shoot us from behind. That's how I see this
nptiexa/in B POCCMIO una TBCHOM paOoTu c
Iraqi conflict - we made it possible, not some prespoccMiicKtiM»i Ko/iiieraMn Ha (|)aKy;ibTeTe
ident or hidden chemical weapons since we started
protesting only when troops were already boarding
)KypHa;iMCTMKi>i
the vessels to go East. Is there a way to change it?
y Hac 6uno Bcero seTupe AHA ann sunyFrankly speaking, I don't know, but I do feel
CKa sToro nHTepecHoro M HeoflHOSHaHHoro
there is still a chance.
HOMepa. ByAyMM orpaHMseHHUMM BO speMeMARIA SCHOOR
Hn, Mbi npMAepxMBafiHCb onpeAeiieHHux raaeTHUx CTaHAaproB, npHHnrux B HauJMx
Recently it seemed that the second worid war
CTpaHax.
was the last serious conflict that mankind could
3Toi4 raaeru HB fiuno 6bi 6e3 noAAep)Kallow. All the second half of the 20th century,
KM saMAeKBHa no raopMecKOM pafiore AOU.
humanity struggled against the new war that could
lead the world to self-destruction. Every military
MapHu ilyKMHoii, npenoAaBaTe/ie() UWT
conflict - Afghanistan, Kuwait, Palestine, Bosnia AOKTopa 6i4/i/ia PMsapACOHa v\ AOKTopa
was expected to become the beginning of the third
KpMc 4eMacK. BM/I/I 6biJi opraHnaaropoM
world war. We were scared - the politics were carInterdisciplinary Arts and Science program
rying out their will. But we have never been so
(o6beAMHeHHo() nporpaMMU ryMaHMTapclose to the tragedy as we are today Great Britain,
HUX. TOMHUX M ecTecTBeHHwx HayK B UWT),
Turkey and even Australia are already involved in
KpMc - npo4>eccop no MaccoBOJi KOMMyHtithe war. Israel and Iran are afraid of bombing
attacks. Other countries, including the ones
KaUHM.
protesting, can become parties of war at any
Mbi HaAeeMcn, HTO aasepiueHiie nepeoro
minute. What would be the result of this war if socicoBMecTHoro npoeicra Me)KAy yHUBepcHTeety would remember to use common sense and
TaMM noc/iyxMT HaMa/iOM Aonroro coipyAHnthe military actions did not go outside of the Iraqi
secTBa M sanoKHT ocHOBy A/ifl HOBUX npoeKterritory? After the war is over, the American corTOB. Mbi TBK }Ke BepMM, MTO B HBIUMX CTpaHBX
porations will receive oil and oil-producing countries will be amidst economic crisis. The world, on
Tenepb noABflTCfl xypHa/iMCTw. craTbn KOTObehalf of the UNO, will prove their own weakness
PHx SyAyr /iMiueHu iioxHwx crepeoTMnoB.
and the people of Iraq will sustain long years of
occupation and chaos. And the worid will once
C ysaxceHMeM,
again feel defenseless of malicious desire.
To/iOHa Ma;iyM M MapMn lUyp
ELENA RACHEVA
Regards,
Tolena Mahlum and Maria Schoor
ournalist/ Ledger
It's too late to protest my disgust for the
war in Iraq. The bombing and killing has
already begun. People will die violently and
painfully, while others will become decorated
heroes.
Living in a highly advanced world where
ways of the past have simply become ways
of the past, war too should be left for the history books instead of our present and future.
Aside from the death and destruction, war
ultimately creates and feeds cultural divisions
and the war in Iraq will be no different.
One thing for certain is that generations to
come will be left responsible for mending the
wounds remaining from the war in Iraq. Wounds
throbbing of hate, disgust, guilt, regret, prejudice.
division, greed and suffering.
KARIE ANDERSON
O f course, I agree with those who say that this
war isn't necessary and could be avoided. There
are a lot of opinions on the topic of why President
Bush needs the war - beginning with the shortage
of petroleum and finishing with the version about
Saddam's neutralization. I don't answer such questions myself because the only person that knows
the real answer is Mr Bush. I want peace in the
world because it will give an opportunity for mothers not to lose their sons, for sisters not to lose their
brothers and for wives not to lose their husbands.
RAFAEL SAAKOV
W a r is about hatred, conflict, death and suffering. While war seems to be a necessary solution in the minds of many, I have a hard time justifying all of the lives that will be lost in the many
battles that are to come. The media is littered
with images of bombs exploding and soldiers
falling, all for something that I feel could have
been avoided. So soon after Sept. 11 were people beginning to recover from the violent images
and the nervous twitches... just in time to prepare
themselves for the next tragedy. That's what war
is to me. A tragedy with no ending.
TOLENA MAHLUM
J)(Q)tu][r[)i]§Do§fir[ni© L©(ol|)©[r
Joint project of the MSU dpt. of Joumalism,
Moscow and University of ilVashington, Tacoma.
Staff: Karie Anderson, Yevgeniya Dulo, Tolena
Mahlum, Anton Maniashin, tiena Racheva, Rafael
Saakov, Maria Schoor, Galina Tischenko, Anna
Tolokonnikova, Natalia Varentsova and Natalia
Vyalkina.
Layout: Sergei (Sturman) Poletaev and Karie
Anderson
Instructors: Dr. Maria Lukina, Dr. Bill Richardson
and Dr. Chris Demaske
Pictures: Chechnya pictures courtesy of the
Memorial Foundation. (Jther photos are taken by
Tolena Mahlum and Karie Anderson.
Contact: The Ledger at ledgengu.washington.edu
or The Journalist at [email protected].
M^"^"
^Q03
D
isplaying
Saddam
Hussein as the ultimate
villain,
a
recent
American television advertisement aired presenting the message "support our troops."
The contradictory messages
of war propaganda and the
media's underlying role of objectivity can make it difficult to determine if the media is really reporting the news from their non-bias
ed government watchdog chair.
"I think it's clear that the
media is tied very closely to the
federal government's propaganda
campaign," said Brooke Bower,
vice president of the Associated
Students of the University of
Washington, Tacoma. "My concerns here are that regardless of
the true threat to America
Saddam Hussein may be, I think
it is very typical of the U.S. government to pin all the world problems and every danger that may
threaten America to a specific
icon or figure. This is a ploy to
whip up support for American
aggression."
The advertisement ultimately
urged viewers to support the
American troops in their mission
to change the Iraqi regime.
"I don't believe the real prob-
lem is that Americans won't support the men and women being
sent to the Persian Gulf region; it
has very little to do with
Americans not supporting these
search global newspapers and
people," Bower said. "The true
media sources. In all of the rhetoissue is that Americans don't supric, when it's compared, the truth
port this act of preemptive aggresusually will surface," Bower said.
sion initiated by the federal govLike Bower, other individuals
ernment."
seek supplemental media outside
Claiming that the average
of the mainstream American
American citizen looks to televimedia including ASUWT Senator
sion and newspapers for the truth,
Mark Dodson.
Bower explained
the bias created
"/ think its clear that
"For
the
through
the
the media Is tied very most part, most
media limits the closely to the federal govof the informaflow of ideas for
ernment's propaganda tion that I obtain
readers
and
campaign."
world
about
viewers.
affairs comes
"If Americans
Brooite Bower
foreign
from
cannot expect to
media sources,
receive a clear understanding of
most notably France, Canada,
the issues or if they are only hearEngland, and Australia,' Dodson
ing one side, the side the bias
said. "Voices from the left are
intends the public to hear, then
almost unheard from in the U.S.,
how can anyone make clear judgwith the exception of the growing
ments as to what to stand up for,"
independent
media
within
Bower said.
America, which does give these
Although skeptical of the politiopinions their due time."
cal bias in the media. Bower said
Feeding his media diet
she trusts that she is hearing part of through the Internet, Dodson says
the story, but the media only breaks the Internet is a convenient way
the surface of an issue for her.
for getting the other side of the
"If I'm interested in a true
story while mainstream media
understanding of the issue, then I
misses the mark in balanced coverage.
"It's not that they're lying per
se, but that they are not telling the
entire truth, or they skip over the
relevant details in order to make
the piece easily understandable to
the general public, who are
assumed to be blithering idiots,"
Dodson said.
Although Dodson maintains
that the media voices from the left
are almost never heard in
American mainstream media, others feel the media in general has
been and still is titled towards left
ideals.
"The media ctoar^ still slants
left iaJ)«.J(^iQttMlLJbiJt
strong conservative alternatives
emerging such as FOX News,
which dominates cable news, the
topic is in the public debate and is
starting to neutralize the bias
somewhat," said Scott Juergens,
president
of
the
College
Republicans, a UWT student
organization.
While recognizing political
bias within the coverage of war in
media, Juergens said that the
presence of bias is improving.
"An example of this recently
was an anti-war rally in San
Francisco where it was reported
that there were 200,000 protesters, and a typically liberal San
Francisco paper took an aerial
photo and concluded there were
only 65,000. The correction might
not have been made 10 years
ago," Juergens said.
Commenting on the existence
or non-existence of ethics in
American mainstream journalists
today, Juergens discussed a
recent televised interview with
Saddam Hussein.
"I really questioned Dan
Rather when he gave an interview
to Saddam Hussein with an
absolute lack of control,"
Juergens said. "No serious journalist would accept restrictions
like that from our own president,
so I believe Rather was wrong to
create an accommodative standard for the enemy."
Despite clear division as to
whether the media is left or right,
liberal or conservative, what is
apparent is that many perceive
political bias either way is present
in American media accounts of
war coverage.
With tine war in Iraq unfolding
in froni of our eyes, it is expected
that this war will be covered more
than af\)f^<^^ war. Whether the
c i t i z e n s # # ^ t it is a left or right
a(;peui^l|piie conflict, many stud ^ > ^ , 1 ^ fects will be left out
information
Official reports
about the
nfiilitary conflict
In Chechnya are
similar, like
twins. A moderate regret about
destruction, the
obligatory optimism about
restoration of
the destroyed
cities, the
similar
pictures of new
buildings near
the ruins,
statistics of
losses and the
patriotic story
about victories
of the Russian
army.
Journalist/Ledger
CHECHNYA:
ROAD BLOCKS
ON INFORMATION
Troubled times
The First Chechen war was
named "actions for the restoration
of the law and order", and it lasted
from 1994 to 1996. At that time,
the state mechanism of providing
mass media with military information had only begun developing.
There were neither serious obstacles in the access to the information, nor the mechanisms of maintenance with it. There was minimal information in the official
Russian reports. Different militaries and governmental departments demanded different accreditation, and there were only journalists themselves who answered
for their own safety.
According to the Russian
Center of Extreme Journalism, during the whole first Chechen war
there were 20 journalists killed and
another 36 wounded. 174 were
detained - 90 percent of them by
the Russian militaries. No one was
punished for the crimes against the
journalists.
As Oleg Panfilova, the head of
the Center of Extreme Journalism
says, the Russian authorities
offered a private compromise to the
journalists: We (capacities) do not
limit your work, do not enter censorship or forbid to attend the
Chechen Republic. And you (journalists) go further, find the common
language with militaries and do not
complain about us.
J»^»«.
formational
biockage
The peace agreement in
Chechnya was signed in August of
1996. Since that time, the new policy of the republic - both social and
informational - has begun developing. From gorges and mountains,
battles have found their way to TVscreens and pages of newspapers.
As the war practice goes, the
republic was taken in a ring of
information blockade. State structures have shut down the access
to the whole information about the
first war. In 1996, the famous
Russian magazine "Ogonyok" has
tried to find out how many Russian
'^^''^" ^QQ3
access.
soldiers were killed and wounded, as
well as how many people became
refugees. The magazine has sent
inquiries to all power ministries, but
no answers were received.
On the 21st of September, 1997,
the President of Chechen Republic,
Asian Maskhaov, declared that
"there are the attempts to place
Chechnya on the terms of information isolation". The dates about the
life of the post-war country have
ceased to go outside.
Since that time, all Chechen
mass-media were obliged to receive
the license. Some oppositional journalists were arrested. According to
the dates of The Center of Extreme
Journalism, 23 people were kidnapped.
In an interview to the newspaper
"The Moscow News" on July 10,
2001, the secretary of the Security
Council of the Chechnya Rudnick
Dudaev said that inhabitants of the
country should receive newspapers
even though they did not, and they
should have access to all broadcasting, even though it was blocked by
mufflers.
or the nalr-lies?
Only in the first months of the
second military campaign (October
1999), journalists were able to work
in the territory of Chechnya without
any restrictions. According to the
famous
Russian
newspaper
"Kommersant", soon the chief of the
Joint Staff Anatoly Kvashnin had
personally forbidden to let correspondence of non-governmental
media in Mozdok, a part of
Chechnya. All military officials were
prohibited to communicate with journalists without the press-services.
However, the main ways to limit
the access to the information were
developed even in the first Chechen
campaign.
More then a hundred journalists
had their equipment and records illegally withdrawn. Oleg Oriov said that
he has seen, many times, the soldiers from blockhouses who took
away video and audio records from
the journalists without any explanations just as fast as they found them.
Almost always military men were in
masks, which made it impossible to
find them later and return the equipment. Not in any cases were the
guilty military men punished - even
if their names were known.
Besides, affer the kidnappings
and murders of several journalists,
many of their colleagues ceased to
use constitutional law to get access
to information. As Michael Metelitsa,
TV-cameramen in Chechnya, says.
MARPH 200-'^
the guns of Chechen soldier or a
sign "Mines" on the fields along the
roads limits movement of film crews
better than any accreditation.
Nowadays every journalist working in Chechnya can officially travel
through the country only under an
escort of the press-services.
According to Vladimir Voronov, the
military correspondent of the magazine "The New Time", if you are going
in the governmental Jeep, it is
extremely difficult to talk to anybody
except the officials and soldiers,
specifically prepared for interviews.
This is true also to see any indicative
shows with explosions of petards and
rockets.
The same demonstration performances is the main contents of
the informational lense of the pressservices.
lealistic
(ilfecnnya
mi
The first information shot was
made simultaneously with the takeoff of aircraft. On the first day of war,
Russian President Vladimir Pufin's
order established the Russian information center for the gathering of military information. But the shot quickly
appeared to be single, and the dates
about the war did not seem to be
truthful.
As Oleg Orlov tells, according to
the official dates in a Chechen village
Tsosen-Jurt carried out a large
antiterrorist operation, with more than
40 insurgents killed. When representatives of "Memorial" came to the
place of events, they discovered that
the large victory of the Russian
armies consisted of the neutralization
of four rebels.
There was widespread misinformation in the official news during the
years of war about the deaths and
injuries of extremists leaders. They
appeared with an enviable regularity
however their refutations were made
by the killed rebels themselves.
But the most popular is the
announcement of the end of the war.
As Oleg Panfilov said on June 26,
2000, the commander of the Russian
armies, Gennady Troshev, declared
that" in the territory of the Chechen
Republic war is completed", as well
as aviation impacts. In the same day
a news agency "Interfaks" informed
people that "today the fighting aircraft
has made 11-12 take-off of planes ...
and more than 30 starts of helicopters".
The essence of an official information policy has expressed Valery
Manilov, the assistant chief of the
Military Staff. According to the newspaper "Kommersant", at the meeting
of military press-services he has told
that it is necessary "to wori< as the
real professionals: speak a lot, but
tell nothing".
Common .sense
ana sensiDility
In Oleg Oriov's opinion, it's possible to receive trustworthy infonnation
about a Chechen conflict. But one
needs two things for that. First - to
wori< without the official journalistic
accreditation. And second - to have
an opportunity to publish the truth. It
is difficult to say what would be
stronger - fear of a journalist to
appear unarmed on a war field - or
the fear of his editor to tell truth on the
pages of his edition.
There is not so much Russian
media, which usually ventures to do
this. Qualitative newspaper "Novaya
Gazeta" regularly, almost in each
number, publishes articles of Anna
Politkovskaya, the most famous
Russian war correspondent. She is
one of the few journalists who tells
the readers about the life of the
peace inhabitance and problems of
refugees. Each of her articles causes
reactions both by readers and
authorities. The journalist was
detained and arrested several times.
Now, Politkovskaya uses personal
connections for travelling through
Chechnya, which gives her an opportunity to receive much more informa-
tion than any of the official journalists.
The human rights center
"Memorial" gather and publish information about Chechen war and
gives legal help to Chechen inhabitants. The Independent Center of
Extreme Journalism regulariy gathers facts about the war confiict and
studies infringements of rights of
journalists who work in the war conflicts.
Sometimes editors limit news
about Chechen war by their own principles. In the opinion of Vladislav
Shurygin, an observer of the procommunistic newspaper "Zavtra", the
main war concepts are "we" and
"another", therefore objectivity can
not exist and publishing the truth
could be harmful and dangerous.
Frequentiy the Russians themselves do not need the information
on a way of military actions. They
don't want to know about murders in
peaceful villages, nor about crimes of
federal troops or horrors of a
refugees life.
Naturally the war in Chechnya is
going on and interest in the war is
fading. News of battles are leaving
the front pages of newspapers and
moving to the end of the TV-news.
The end of the war can become
an event, but it is still not expected
yet.
RAFAEL SAAKOV
IF*
Vietnam and its lessons
For the last three years, since the beginning of my studying at the faculty of journalism of Moscow State University, I've learned much about
American television. Today my idea about it is rather contradictory
because of the many discrepancies taking place on TV in America. While
the most significant changes have taken place in TV journalism, it is also
the most problematic area of mainstream U.S. media.
The greatest attention of an audience is when the regular news drops
out of coverage during the time of military conflicts, when millions people
take a seat by their TV screens with the desire to learn the latest news
from the front of military actions. The technical opportunity to report from
the "hot spots" emerged in USA during the war in Vietnam in the 195060's of the 20th century with the occurrence of portable TV cameras.
"Then the Pentagon, which had authorized journalists for work in a military zone, pursued the propaganda purpose - having shown as easily
American army will cope with a situation in Vietnam to make the American
society, first of all elite, which gave means for realization of military operations, support war, - the researcher of the American TV, the senior lecturer of the Moscow State University Andrey Raskin says. "In the beginning all went on according to how the Pentagon planned,
and then, as other countries began to be involved in the confiict, it
became clear that there was nothing simple in this conflict and the more
the USA had coordinated this campaign, the more negative images
began to appear on TV screens.
Reports began to vary in tone, and, as a result, instead of supporting
this campaign, society on the contrary began to interfere with its realization and marches of protest began to be carried out. Thus, the TV involuntarily has played a specific role in the forming of anti-war moods".
CNN's strength
Since the war in Vietnam, practically all confrontations have been
covered on American TV channels, but it is clear that in each confiict
Americans approached the covering of events from ideological positions.
Proceeding to the end of 1980's, the system of sharing the Worid from
two divisions, USSR and USA, had broken up. The covering of conflicts
began to become new reference points, and the main news bulletin of
America - CNN- was born.
The first born television child of Ted Turner, CNN, is unique in its
round-the-clock news, whether it be political commentary, sports, business news, culture or style. When the channel had appeared for the first
lournalist/ Ledger
time, it was designated to have a short life, but the project appeared
durable and lasting. In 1991 the broadcasting company NNN got stronger
after its 11 years of existence and turned into a powerful information
resource - the only channel that was allowed to leave satellite aerials
directly over Baghdad to carry out their live translations. It was a new
world in TV development - signals transmitted through satellites, presenting an opportunity for covering military actions in a mode of real time.
The secret was simple: the effective bombardments of Iraq shown on
CNN became possible due to American journalists being notified beforehand by the government about approaching events in order for them to
occupy the front lines of battle to cover shootings on roofs or high-altitude
buildings. It was the biggest step in showing war developing in front of our
eyes in the whole world, when elements of war were shown for domestic
viewing.
Further, in autumn of 2001, the USA announced the beginning of the
conflict in Afghanistan not only to journalists as it was in Baghdad, but also
to the whole world, similar to announcements of the Olympic Games. The
first bombs over Afghanistan burst in air and war became a completely televised event termed as "action" not "war". It is noticed that even many
American politicians began to use the terms more pertinent to Hollywood
and the worid of show business.
Senior lecturer Raskin comments: "The reason of such a change is that
the character of the worid recognition varies: if eariier we corresponded
more to documentary cinema, we were concerned certain actions turned
into events, now to involve the big audience you "brush" confiicts to make
them look brighter. It is also necessary not to forget that for the last decade
such a powerful direction appeared with the development of computer
games.
"Today, many people try to "destroy" Iraq virtually The elements and
psychology of these virtual wars will infiuence certainly on those military
men who until the confiict played these games, and further they will try to
transfer them on the real ground."
Role of the journalist during war
It is considered that new confiicts, such as the development in Iraq, can't
last a lot of time because if they become long the steadfast attention of the
public will be lost. The broadcasting company CNN has even declared prior
to the beginning of war that they needed to allocate 25 million dollars of
their budget for the covering of war in Iraq. It is a big budget, but it is clear
that it is not designated for a long confiict - a maximum two or three months.
The explanation of this fact is that society today lives for such high
nmn ana
speeds and wants the war to begin today and finish tomorrow. If Americans
manage to carry out the operation in Iraq as well as they did it in the 1991
"Desert Storm", maybe this campaign can be recognized positively though
it withdraws us from the concept of a peaceful way of human society.
"People began to concern to war easily, - thinks A.Raskin, - Enough time
has already passed from great events of the last century, and all horrors
began to be erased from the memory, that's why the world wants something
new. The role of the journalist in such a situation grows twice: he should
manage how to protect the worid and find certain ways of informing society Certainly, all situations can't be simulated beforehand, but TV is a universal remedy, and each journalist is an individual. From here we understand that the journalist should follow the certain logic of events which occur
to rely more on his own intuition than on the tastes of an audience, and try
to give an objective picture of current events, following their morals and
ethics."
A special character of American TV is its organizational structure and
the principals of private ownership, where advertising is the fundamental
concern. Huge incomes of advertising make TV a business that is considered practically the most profitable branch of USA's economy. "Advertising
on American TV is part of an establishment, - says the director of the Centre
of Rights and Mass-Media at the faculty of journalism of Moscow State
University Andrey Rihter. "And, the advertisers are various corporations which to some extent are
connected to the government. These corporations frequently dictate conditions to TV-channels, not wishing the image of their corporation to be somehow suffered from the covering of this or that problem by this or that channel."
In conditions of the military confiict this problem becomes even more
actually, because depending on what kind of policy (governmental or oppositional) will the channel accept, advertisers will decide how to act. For
example, there is a paradoxical situation on the Fox-News channel today:
the owner is Rupert Murdoch and the information policy is determined by
the cousin of President Bush. Therefore, it's clear that this channel is ignoring public opinion and replacing it with the President's policy
Talks about war
Lots of people spoke against the war within the last month: Nobel Prize
winners, writers, actors, directors and other figures of Hollywood who have
acted out through protests on their own "stage" during the delivery of the
Oscars'. The political weight of such statements become insignificant to
government because they don't make an impression. Moreover, pacifistic
MARCH Jiin"^
activity has revealed the true attitude of the US government and their allies
through the freedom of speech. Ignoring public opinion is half of the big
troubles - American media has also started to operate through means of
self-censorship.
In the beginning of February the first lady of USA, Laura Bush, cancelled a poetic symposium to which she had invited talented poets of the
country. Explaining her step, she declared that some of the visitors were
going to use the symposium to criticize the policy of her husband. Laura
Bush said that she didn't want to transform literary expresion into a political forum. As a reaction to this, the poets declared February 12, the date
when the symposium supposed to be held, the "Day of Poetry Against
War."
Another occurrence happened on the ceremony of delivering the
Grammy Awards where the broadcasting company CBS promised to disconnect microphones of those who would start to express their view on the
conflict in Iraq. As a result ofthe American executives, rapper Eminem only
wished he could bid peace to the whole World. In addition, Sheryl Crow's
guitar's belt had an inscription that read "Say No! to War".
Opinion
Vladimir
Pozner,
President of
Russian
Television
Academy had
been wowing
for a long time
on American
TV with Phil
Donahue
Covering military conflict, the American
TV adheres to the certain policy of what
is possible to give on air ana what is
impossible. From times of war in
Vietnam, the Amencan government officials have a structure of dealing with
journalists. They enter some control in
the submission of information and in its
search, in the certain places journalists
are not supposed to go. And, in general,
as one clever person said, there is a war
which sjiows CNN, there is a war which
shows Al Jazeera, and there is simply a
real War,
a
jA££b
Internet lacking credibility
those produced by mass media and various scientific organizations.
Professor Zassoursky, the Dean of MSU
Department of Journalism talking about
censorship on the World Wide Web.
- Professor Zassoursky, are you satisfied
with the quality of information on the
Internet?
- Internet is a free space, like a street. On the
street you can read a newspaper from a tray
[credible information source] or you can read an
inscription on a fence [flyers posted by unknown
sources]. In this sense, the Internet is a means of
democracy.
Now there are about 600 million Internet
users, so the fence inscriptions are increasing.
The main thing is to choose that site which is
trustworthy. The most reliable sites seem to be
- Is the Internet a means of democracy, not
of anarchy? Nowadays, anybody can do anything he wants on the Internet.
- Of course I agree that the vast number of
Internet sites leads to difficulties in finding credible information, but despite this problem, the
Internet allows people to express their opinions
and to read the ideas and opinions of others.
Another problem is that the environment on the
Internet should be filled with information, not rubbish. The ecology of the Internet is a serious
problem, and it is impossible to solve it by means
of prohibition.
- Do you mean that censorship is impossible in the Internet?
- I think, yes, if we want the Internet to remain
open to everybody If it becomes closed, it will
cease to exist. We can reach an agreement to
make some filters for information on the Internet.
For example, we can decide not to allow child
pornography or to forbid using the Internet for terrorism. There are few examples like this, but all
these examples of restrictions show that the
Internet needs some definite rules of behavior.
- These rules - what should they look
like?
- In my opinion, the main requirement for
everybody who creates matter in the Internet
should be putting an address on the material. If
you build a site, then the Internet user should
know that it is really yours. And knowing you, we
can judge about the quality of your information.
A couple of dozens of years ago in
Afghanistan there weren't marked streets and
houses. People said, "This house is situated
behind the second hill in the third row." Now
streets are named — "The Second Mountainous
Street," "The Third Under Mountainous Street."
Likewise in the Internet. You should know whom
the person is, to whom you are talking and where
he is living. And all of these experiments, when a
ten-year-old boy pretends to be an old man on
the Internet, it is funny but it doesn't make joy.
- is it technically possible to make this
address requirement?
- I think, yes. All these things go through
providers and so the problem could be solved by
them if they choose to.
_^^
YEVGENJYA DULO
Public Announcement
The three campuses of the University of Washington will be undergoing a decennial accreditation
visit by representatives of the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges and Universities,
Commission on Colleges and Universities, on April 9,10, and 11. The University's Self-Study is available in
full at www.washlngton.edu/about/accredltation. Copies of the accreditation self-study have been placed at the
reference desks at both the Suzzallo and Odegaard Libraries on the University of Washington campuses.
The University of Washington has been continually accredited by the Commission since 1918. The standards against which the University is validated can be found at http://www.nwccu.ora/.
The University invites public comment to its self-study. An email address has been set up to receive public
comment accredit(S)u.washinqton.edu. All comments wiil be provided in full to the Commission.
Alternately, the public is invited to submit comments directly to the Commission at its headquarters:
Commission on Colleges and Universities
Northwest Association of Schools and of Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Avenue, N.E.
Suite 100
Redmond, WA 98052
Journalistr Ledger
MAPrH 2 0 0 3
censorship
UNNECESSARY
BLOCKING:
FOUNDATION SAYS
CENSORWARE NEEDS TO GO
TOLENA IVIAHLUM
The Internet has become a routine part of life
for most people in the United States. Vast
amounts of information await people of all ages
in cyberspace; however, this has raised concern
among parents, teachers and government officials. As a result, many types of software, called
censonware, have been developed as an attempt
to filter out negative images on the Worid Wide
Web.
Since the passage of the Children's Internet
Protection Act (CIPA) in 2001, schools and
libraries receiving federal funds for Internet
access are required to install filtering and blocking software into their computers. This software
has been created to safeguard children from
pornographic images online; however, some
organizations, including the American Library
Association, are claiming that this software is a
violation of their first amendment rights.
"Most vendors [of censorware] allow schools
to pick and choose which categories they wish to
block," said Lars Kongshem, associate editor of
the Electronic School Online. "But none permit
educators to view the full list of blocked sites."
Popular types of censorware include
CYBERsitter, cyber patrol. Net Nanny, BESS,
Smart Filter and SafeSurf.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation questions
whether the American Government's priorities
are straight when it comes to the monitoring of
electronic mass media.
The EFF says that viewing Playboy.com
should be the least of the government's worries,
when there are so many other "dangerous" activities that Americans participate in on a day-today basis.
The EFF states that its mission is, "Working to
protect our fundamental rights regardless of technology; to educate the press, policymakers and
the general public about civil liberties issues
related to technology; and to act as a defender of
those liberties."
aififli
idASC
Their Web site informs viewers about censorware and why they think it is wrong.
The EFF says that this software blocks not
only the "bad" information from reaching the
viewers, but it also blocks other sites that should
not be filtered out. Groups such as Amnesty
International, a human rights organization, and
the National Organization for women are being
blocked by the censorware.
"Schools have no way of knowing whether a
particular site is blocked — or why — without trying a site and seeing what happens," said
Kongshem. 'This is an important limitation, many
educators say, because vendors often incorrectly
categorize sites."
Recent studies by the General Accounting
Office and the House Committee on Government
Reform state that parents might not be understanding how much porn is available on everyday
services through the Internet.
"Seemingly innocent searches for files containing images of popular cartoon characters,
singers and actors produce thousands of graphic
pornographic images including child pornography" said Thomas Davis III (R-Va), a representative in the United States government.
With the filtering and blocking software in
place, the EFF claims that the World Wide Web
is transformed from being a vastly open
space full of valuable information to
a limited amount of space with not
all of the options.
"Part of learning about the
Internet is running into the occasional porn site," said Dana Allen,
a senior at Western Washington
University in northern Washington
State. "I think that it's going to
happen whether they have software for it or not. I would rather
know what all of my options are than
risk having something valuable [like Amnesty
International] blocked."
Censorware is designed to filter out the porn
sites more than anything else; however, according to Allen, the porn sites are as much of a part
of the Internet today as downloads and advertisements are.
Software sharing sites, such as music downloads, have become very popular for people of all
ages, and are at high risk for porn.
Kazaa is currently leading the market for
information sharing, namely music downloads,
however the GAO says that when they tried looking up names such as "Britney" or "Pokemon,"
more than 55 percent of the search findings
revealed some sort of pornography.
Rep. Henry A. Waxman, (D-Calif), said that
the file sharing programs such as Napster or
Kazaa are the worst for porn because the filtering
software, 3uch as censorware, can not adequately work within these types of programs.
"On the web, you generally need a credit card
to access hard-core adult videos," he said, "But
on file sharing programs it's all free."
"I don't want my teenagers running into porn
on the Internet," said James Roberts, a resident
of Tacoma, Washington. "I don't even let them
use the computer at home for email because I
get horrible images in my inbox."
The recording industry has indicated that 41
percent of music downloads are by children ages
12 to 18. With programs such as Kazaa
being downloaded more than 200
million times to computers across
the globe, young children have
increased access to the world of
Internet porn, regardless of the
censonware.
Despite CIPA's attempts to
install censorware for the protection of children, it has been
brought before the U.S. Supreme
Court for a hearing this month. In
May 2002, the Third Circuit Court of
Appeals unanimously ruled that CIPA is unconstitutional because the censorware both
under-blocks and over-blocks information.
Journalistr Ledger
la
capital force
POLITICS DRIVING ECONOMIC PRI
JOURNALISTS
ANTON MANIASHIN
GALINA TISCHENKO
ANNA TOLOKONNIKOVA
NATALIA VYALKINA
I
t's been ten years running that Russian mass
media has been changing a lot. They have experienced an intensive course of development. The
main mistake with state policy was the inability to
define its own strategy regarding the media market
where there was unlimited freedom of press.
The business community was the main source
financing the development of Russian media and we
came up with a strong instrument of political and economical infiuence.
Legislative lacunae doesn't provide for the protection of mass media from the direct pressure of the
owner and as a result they completely lose interest in
social needs and problems.
The Counselor of the Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the media group "Vechernyaya Moskva,"
Evening Moscow, Dmitry Murzin gives his opinion on
the issue, «Sometimes newspapers simply change
their face following the new owner and it is the direct
infiuence of the capital on the content of the paper.
"It all depends on the mission of the financial
group in charge of the newspaper. If the owner uses
the press as a political instrument the stories would
be surely biased with the journalists being told what
to write. The only way the reporter can get freedom is
when the newspaper is the only business of the
owner."
Sergey Smirnov, the reporter of the TVS news
program, tends to agree with Murzin. He believes
that the media market is run by certain groups, the
owners of mass media in our case, have specific
means of influence that protect and stand for the
interests of the owner.
"The more the corporation is involved in politics,
the more pressure mass media suffers from it."
The columnist of the business weekly magazine
"Russian Focus," Evgeniya Pismennaya, stated that
the stories are often sent for approval to the advertiser rather than to the founder or publisher.
For example, in Vremia MN there was a time
when the paper had a contract with the State
Transport Department and journalists were forced to
write only positive articles about the railway reform.
When the contract expired the management allowed
them to write unfavorable news about it.
U
^
Being a historical optimist I'd say we are looking
into unbiased press in the nearest future. It's going to
become more of the main business for the owner and the
publisher will be forced to give freedom to journalists in
order for the public to believe in every story and article
while feeling the information is trustworthy.
ournalistr Ledger
EvynlyaPismennaya
Ti t
columnist I ^ H ^ i ^
Dmitry Muain
newspaper manager
I work with certain persons in certain companies
so I try to support good business relations with them.
Traditionally, I prefer to call up the company and ask their
opinion, and in turn I will not be refused from some exclusive information. I believe, journalists in Russia act similarly. We don't display primitive pragmatism, but we always
construct the relations from a mutual understanding.
HftRfiH zona
A lot of staff-reporters and officers don't know
who really controls the magazine and we are never
informed about the magazine's financial sources. I don't
know any examples of somebody giving orders to journalists on how they must write a specific opinion about the
company
MAPCH ? 0 0 3
11
i:;apit2L&u:cft.
RIVING ECONOMIC PRESSURE FOR
JOURNALISTS
ANTON MANIASHIN
GALINA TISCHENKO
ANNA TOLOKONNIKOVA
NATALIA VYALKINA
The owner of the newspaper has the same influence on the staff. Murzin says that no Russian magazine or newspaper would dare to run an unfavorable
story about the company it belongs to even when it
has every right to do so. Needless to say there have
been cases of the opposite. The Financial Times
gives open critique ofthe Pearson's group, its owner.
But the chief-editor of the daily newspaper,
Izvestia, Mikhail Kozhokin, said in the interview for
Russian Focus magazine: "Have you ever read in
Financial Times something negative about The
Pearson's group or something negative about
Washington D.C. stories in the Washington Post? It's
absolutely impossible! So, if I read something bad
about The Pearson's Group I will believe that the
freedom of speech does exist. Journalists should
know that the newspaper has its own ethical rules
and they shouldn't say that the freedom of speech is
being violated because of their editorial policy"
The Russian press has some examples of this as
well. Smirnov mentioned the case when TVS ran a
negative story about Roman Abramovich being one
of the main stock-holders of TVS channel when he
bought the large oil company
Information agencies solved the problem of freedom of speech differently than other sources of mass
media. The staff correspondent of the Petroleum
Information Agency Ivan Gogolev, said that the main
difference between news agencies and other mass
media was that information agencies expound facts
without analysis or comments.
"It promotes the idea of objectivity in the news
and somewhat reflects the existing independence.
We are always in a position to refer to the exact
source, but sure, we give the company a chance to
comment on reported information. Ultimately, our
style is to show events and information from the maximum points of view. Background depends on the
correspondent: whether he will give neutral background or, for example, remind the reader about a
recent conflict directly connected with activity of the
reported company," Gogolev elaborates.
Evgeniya Pismennaya
•-»- J
columnist I
J^iM
I work with certain persons in certain companies
so I try to support good business relations with them.
Traditionally I prefer to call up the company and ask their
opinion, and in turn I will not be refused from some exclusive information. I believe, journalists in Russia act similarly We don't display primitive pragmatism, but we always
construct the relations from a mutual understanding.
lARCH
^JJUJ
A lot of staff-reporters and officers don't know
who really controls the magazine and we are never
informed about the magazine's financial sources. I don't
know any examples of somebody giving orders to journalists on how they must write a specific opinion about the
company
MAPrH 3 0 0 ' ^
U
Saigay Soiinioy
reporter
n
In fact, we have documents limiting the power of
the owner. According to the newspaper charter, the chiefeditor is elected by the staff members and the director
who is in charge of the financial part of the business is
appointed by the stock-holders. Thus, we get a normal
division of labor.
Journalistr Ledgei'
View
Financial pressures
changing toda/s newsroom
KARIE ANDERSON
Breaking news is hitting the newspaper
stands, ain«aves and
the Worid Wide Web
every second of every
day around the globe.
Along with the increasing demand for the news
now, the job of the journalist has evolved.
Amongst
political
pressure, media conglomeration, advertising-dependent companies and slow economic
times, delivering news
to the masses is becoming increasingly difficult to do.
As with most media businesses
"I haven't noticed much of a
in America today newsrooms are
change over the last two or three
being asked to do more with less.
years. Budgets are tight but at the
"We are expected to compete
same time the demand for news has
with a daily newspaper in our coverbeen overwhelming during that
age area with a decrease in staff and
same period," said Rob Artigo, a
a freeze on resources," said Lyn
Seattle, Washington radio news
Iverson, editor of The Puyallup
reporter for 710 KIRO AM. "The
Herald newspaper, a publication outeffect of that is, news rooms need
side of the Seattle area. "The result
quality reporters. They can't just rely
is staff members stretched to their
on some national service."
limits."
As a small weekly newspaper
Where the individual journalist
with seven employees, including the
really feels the economic crunch set
receptionist and the editor, Iverson
down by management is through the
said the difficulty is that most of the
lack of available resources, staff and
employees are new to their careers.
overtime. In many organizations,
"Add to the mix that community
overtime is something everybody is
weeklies are generally springboards
required to avoid.
to bigger newspapers, we deal with
"For example if overtime is
a high turnover
required, then it
"Large media companies rate annually
better
be an
important story," are so driven by the bottom which is someArtigo said. "You line, if you don't produce a thing that results
don't want to certain level of ratings and, in time lost to
interviewing, hirspend a lot of
money just for a thus, a certain level of rev- ing and training
feature-type story enues, you won't last long with remaining
staff taking on
when you know
in this business."
yet more duties
you will have to
to cover all the
use those overDori Monson
papers' beats,"
time hours for
Iverson said.
breaking news, war coverage or
something vital to the community"
At The Puyallup Herald, each
According to Artigo, jobs in the
staff member has a minimum of two
media are a high demand, but combeats, while most have three areas
panies can't afford to keep big staffs
to cover. During the recent economwhile vital local news is becoming
ic downturns such as the one experimore recognizably important.
enced in this country after Sept. 11,
"The bottom line is that I can go
the company requested that the
'above and beyond' covering a spenewspaper not immediately fill posicial project, but I do that because I
tions-even while reporters had
love the job and will do it on my own
recently moved on to other jobs. In
free time," Artigo said. "Keep in mind
addition, the small newspaper has
that even in good economic times
seen a dramatic drop in their adverthis is true."
tising department, resulting in less
ournalistr Ledger
Many U.S. newsrooms, largely dependant on advertising
for survival, are being forced to cut staff and hours.
"Balancing the mission of a weekly community paper of providing readers
with in-depth coverage of their communities, we cover five, in less
space with fewer people continues to
be a challenge we struggle with,"
Iverson said.
Predicting an increase in economic pressures over time, Iverson
said her gut feeling is that it will take
5-10 years for the country to get
back on its feet economically
Although The Puyallup Herald
newspaper and many others like it
feel the economic pressure in
regards to staffing and resources,
some claim they do not experience
economic pressure that discourages
or promotes writing or reporting on
specific topics.
"I don't really feel any economic
pressure in the sense that I am prevented from doing stories because of
pressure from advertisers or am told
to do stories that benefit advertisers," said Peter Callaghan, columnist
for The News Tribune. "There is no
such pressure that I am aware of. It
may happen at other papers, just
none I've worked for."
Callaghan claimed it is hard to
serve the public's interests with a
lack of staff but that is a result of the
weak financial state of advertising
and the need for publishers of newspapers to please stockholders with
revenue and earnings.
"The quickest way to more
staffing is to sell more papers and
sell more advertising," said
Callaghan. "I suppose there could be
subtie pressure, therefore, to please
advertisers by going soft on them.
But I don't think, and studies agree,
that such coverage would increase
circulation."
Although many American pub-
lishers aftempt to "educate" the
newsroom staff as to the economic
realities of the industry, Callaghan
said there is still a strong culture that
demands afirewallbetween the journalists and the business side of
advertising and circulation.
"The firewall serves a good purpose," Callaghan said. "The pressure to break it down is being met
with equal pressure to keep it standing. If anything, there is pressure to
be more entertaining, to replace hard
news with soft news. But that is felt
far more on TV than in newspapers."
Just as newspapers need to sell
advertising and circulation, broadcasting companies need to get ratings to ensure their livelihood in the
industry. The fast growing demand is
for media professionals to be entertaining, therefore receiving ratings
that consequently sell advertising.
"Large media companies are so
driven by the bottom line, if you don't
produce a certain level of ratings
and, thus, a certain level of revenues, you won't last long in this
business," said Dori Monson, a radio
personality on 710 KIRO AM.
Quarteriy results of earnings are
blamed for giving new journalists a
much shorter chance of surviving in
the industry. Companies are quick to
let radio hosts go if ratings are not
produced.
"I think companies used to be
more patient with the development of
talent," Monson said. "They would
sacrifice short term ratings to give
someone the chance to grow into the
job. Now, because of the quarterly
pressures of driving earnings, they
have a much shorter horizon. If a
host doesn't produce results right
away they will not be given much of
a chance to grow their audience."
' ^ ^ ° ^ " ^QQ^
13
voices
FACES OF THE FUTURE
If you could change one thing about the
world today, what would It be?
"American Poverty.
The cutting of
philanthropy faithbased initiatives."
Varvara Kagber
Newsaper group, MSU
Second year
"People's mentality. I
want people to become
more kindly. But I'm
sure that it's possible
only by using magic
power"
"1 don't think 1 could
limit myself to just one.
1 guess it would be the
perception that money
Rebecca D e n ! ^
rather than people
^ H ^ ^ f t solve problems and
lAS-Arts, Media
&Culture, UWT ^^^^^^^M
incite
for the
better"
Senior
Sergey Boris
TV group, MSU
Third year
Joey Iwo
lAS-Politics &
Values, UWT
Senior
"I think that it is necessary to change the
overall attitude towards
life. People need to
think more about their
soul."
"Peace and no war
For the fact that I think
we're in a world where
we're working on fear in
other countries rather
than focusing on ourselves.
We need to study more
on Iraq."
"/ want to change the
world economical system for all less developed countries to
become more develAlyona ZhukSW
V^VV'
TVnrnun MSU L J ^ H ^ ^ oped. 1 also want to
year i | f l | ^ ^ ^ ^ H stop the war in Iraq."
Julie Warden-Gregory
lAS-Public Action, UWT
Masters Student
Emil RabinovicI
TV group, MSU
First year
Brian
Social Welfare, UWT
Junior
Yakov P
TV group, MSU
Fourth year
Kandace
Nursing Administration
Masters Student
NATALIA VYALKINA
KARIE ANDERSON
MARCH 2 0 0 3
"/ want people to do
what they want, but not
what they must. I also
want it to be summer
all year long."
"Structure of the
schools to support kids
with issues like drugs
and alcohol. A complete restructuring so
that they can address
the needs of the kids."
"I want to change the
educational system in
Russia so foreign students can come to our
country, and all people
can travel around the
world without any
visa's."
"I^aterialistic Society.
There is too much
greed. Our kids and
family situations have
really gone down the
tubes. We're losing
sight of our true
values."
ANNA TOLOKONNIKOVA
TOLENA MAHLUM
,.
,n,.
.
Journalist/Ledger
14
-pop
oispi AY
, P i P | | ' P r ^ SURVIVOR
FACTOR SPRINGER REAL TV
BAY
y c,, c c
Vy/ATCH X - H L E S
CD
ER
^
SANTA
BARBARA
l^LEVISON!
We live today in the
Communication Era. Mass
media have become the only
form of cultural design. It is
clear that mass media mold
our minds, and our activities
are greately determined by
mass media's influence. So far
it's bearable, unless being
under such an influence leads
to violence and injustice.
_NATALIA VARENISOyA
MUTE
ournalistr Ledger
/vrM
he information boom,
which has become a
reality for the last five
years in Russia, has
introduced us to the global information society. Finally, the former Soviet media system has
given up its place to the
Western one. But the pill we
have swallowed has not
appeared to be a wonder-working sure remedy. Post-soviet
mass media, in many respects,
are of the same kind as their
precursors, especially television
with its prevailing networks
existing purely for entertaininment.
When freedom of speech
was established, the viewer
gaining access to information
also was enabled to watch foreign
television
products.
Russian TV channels were
immediately
infested
with
American TV shows and
Brazilian soap-operas, which
led to a substantial decline in
informational
programming.
Audiences for trivial and superficial TV shows increased steadily year after year and TV authorities started aiming mostly at the
broader public. Ever since,
Russian TV cannot be considered as a main news source. It
has changed into entertainment
with no one having noticed.
According to the Gallup
Media studies in January, 2003,
one hundred best television pro-
T
grams not according to genre,
channel and watching time,
news programs appeared to
take the fourth, twenty, first and
fourth place. In Soviet times and
in the beginning of the 1990's
they achieved only leading positions. One still gives its due to
the First Channel news programme "Vremia" ("Time"),
watching it Friday prime-time.
It is a sort of a habit and has
practically annihilated the desire
to meet one's informational
needs.
Other channel news programmes are less popular and
cede public acknowledgement
to the so-called "survivorshows" "Who Wants to be a
Millionaire?",
"Wheel
of
Fortune", to comedian shows
"Joke
After
Joke",
"LaughPanorama"
and
to
Russian talk-shows "Wait for
me", "Great Laundry", and "My
Family" based on foreign prototypes.
Funny enough but the political talk-show entitled "The
Freedom of Speech" where
burning political, economical
and cultural questions are discussed is not among the top fifty
and takes only the 93rd position.
The variety of Russian TV
channels provided by broadcasting networks is rather illusive and deceptive since only
four or five of them offer newsblocks. STS, TNT and REN-TV
offers everything but the news
and allure the audience by
ikfittL 2003
QuMro.
A NEWS SOURCE
OR ENTERTAINMENT
9
Russian versions of the American shows Survivor, Who wants to be a Millionaire, and Wheel of
translating films, all kinds of
TV-shows and soap-operas.
Moreover, those who keep
calling themselves informational channels proceed to
reduce the number of daily
news-blocks without making
the remaining longer.
No wonder television is
transformed into entertainment
today. Having launched the
Western media system we
have grafted all of its pests.
And,
according to The
Economist, it greatly suffers
from them. Despite the
September 11th events in
lower
Manhattan
and
Washington D.C, American
news-blocks are still mostly
devoted to local rumours.
The
Russian
Daily
Newspaper The Moscow
Times put in November, 2001,
some letters written by
American residents where the
latters critisized local mass
media. Nick Dale from Dover,
New Hampshire, expressed
his low opinion of American
media stating that information
was
on-hold
with
the
Government.
"Our government has made
it impossible to voice your
opinion, if you don't agree,
without being stoned in public", he says. "There isn't any
open discussion in any news
forum. It seems 99 percent of
television media and cable
only show what they are told
to. No truth is being told to us.
MAPPH 2003
Information is being withheld
and only one side is being told.
We have the right to know
what's going on the home front
and abroad. We are in dark on
both fronts. But I want the
option to see so I can make up
my own mind".
The variety of entertaining
TV shows compensate the
lack of information and even
try to hide it. The Economist
depicts ordinary TV Monday
evening enumerating a great
number of shows proposed:
eccentric "reality TV" shows
which are represented on both
NBC and ABC in both "Fear
Factor" and "The Chair". The
comedy show "Everybody
loves Raymond" on CBS and
all sorts of sport games and
old classic movies on NBC,
Sundance Channel, Turner
Classic Movies and HBO add
to the list of entertainment.
The USA Today gave an
official position on TV by its
columnist John Omicinski in
his October, 2001, issue:
"Responsible TV journalism
has gone with the greats".
Omicinski believes America's
worst enemy
after
the
September 11 attacks was
"neither the Taliban of
Afghanistan nor Osama bin
Laden's al-Qa'eda network"
but American TV which was
"driving plenty of impressionable, fearful people to nervous
distraction". He reproaches
the TV network for broadcast-
ing too much news about the
terror acts, anthrax contracted
and so browbeating the sensitive Americans.
According to Omicinski,
even NBC's Tom Brokaw and
CBS's Dan Rather are implicated in this "fear-mongering".
He considers their TV interview as a performance of two
looking haggard and drawn
actors who aim "to detail the
horror of their near-death
experience".
In sum, Omicinski is sure
that "TV has covered America
during this war as if it were a
foreign country to which it
owes no loyalty except as
news hawks or passport-holders". He also does not approve
of the setting out of
Afghanistan campaign as "not
need-to-know
information"
might be uncovered.
All these items make me
agree with Edward Herman. In
the book "The Real Terror
Network. Terrorism in Fact and
Propaganda", Herman indicates mass media as a part of
the state authority structure.
Thus the network is prejudiced against the same
objects as the latter is. It participates in the system by
keeping silent on some points.
And TV, being changed in
entertainment, has the same
reasons.
15
The most famous
Americans
In Russia
Every newspaper nowadays has its own
popularity charts: political, musical and
others. We didn't want to lag behind, so we
made our chart - of the most popular
Americans in Russia. Popular - not necessarily loved, but more often talked of. After
long disputes with the Russian half of our
team, the following ratings have topped the
charts.
In first place, unanimously,
is the President of the USA,
George Bush, whose surname can be heard both in
the underground and at bus
stop or in shops. Though it is
impossible to tell, he is probably not as popular as Bill Clinton was during his presidential period. Positive judgements about Bush
can be heard mostly from Russian females.
After the President, the second most popular American
among Russians is the richest
person in the worid. Bill
Gates. We are interested in
discussing
whether
the
founder of the Microsoft corporation's income
has decreased or increased since last year.
In third place is Britney
Spears. From her very first
hit "Baby One More Time",
she conquered the hearts of
pop music fans. With each
new song or clip, Britney
became more and more popular among the
Russians. The youth shared in the masses of
fans who were glad to hear about her
breakup with Justin Timberiake, and those
who were disappointed about the wedding
that wouldn't be.
Monica Lewinsky is still a
popular figure in Russia, as
she is becoming the heroine
of many jokes. She is in
fourth place on our chart. The
story of her affair with Bill
Clinton has become so popular that Lewinsky
could safely come to Russia without fearing
that she would be unrecognized.
Actor Leonardo DiCaprlo,
whose portraits hang in the
rooms of millions of Russian
giris, finishes the list of the
top-five Americans in Russia.
His leading role in "Titanic"
has put him on a pedestal for the list of foreign actors. In all of Russia, about 20 fan
clubs operate for DiCaprio.
Rafael Saakov
Journalistr Ledger
m
free press
PRESS
becoming global
fhlle the press In
Russia is mal<^
. . ing tracks on its
k I j i ^ w a y to becoming free, I
1 dl.
asked some American professors at the University of
TOLENAMAHLUM
Washington, Tacoma to
MAJOR PHASES FOR FREEDOM
OF THE PRESS IN RUSSIA
1985-1989
Publicity became a privilege for the media.
This was granted by the authorities in Russia.
1990-1993
The creation of a legal basis for free media was
reluctanly permitted by the authorities in Russia.
1994-1995
Media empires formed with the participation of the
authorities.
1996-1998
Media was starting to be used by the Russian
authorities for campaigns.
1999-2001
The crash of rebellious media empires and
liquidation of seif-regulated independent media
entities was inspired by authorities.
2002
With participation of the loyal media empires, the
forming of the media market controlled by
authorities began.
ournalistr Ledger
comment on what it means
in the U.S. to have a free
press system in place.
Dr. Charles Emiet, assistant professor in social work,
said that there is a down
side to the free press in the
United States.
"I think that it's important
for ail countries to have a
free press assuming that
there's a certain amount of
integrity with the press."
Emlet explained that what is
printed needs to be substantiated, otherwise it does not
serve any justice.
"i am annoyed at how
much they [the media] sensationalize and, in some
ways, edit what we watch."
Meg Smith, publications
manager of Tiie Ledger,
said that in America the
press gets to do its job as
the watchdog of the government. "There are no laws
that infringe upon our abilities to inform the public."
She added that if all
countries were able to have
a free press, the lines of
communication would be
open for the exchange of
information.
John Peterson, professor
in mass communication,
said that the freedom of the
press in America is set up to
encourage significant contribution from investigative
and editorial journalists. "We
have come to rely on [the
free press] as a key element
in accomplishing fairness
and openness."
Professor
Peterson
added that he feels that
freedom of the press is
important for all countries to
have. However, he said that
each country will develop its
own version of that freedom.
"Not all models of freedom
will be identical to the United
States' model."
INDICATORS THAT RUSSIAN MEDIA IS MAKING A
TRANSITION TO A FREE PRESS
- state broadcast companies
are transforming into public
broadcasting organizations.
- The integration of domestic
media into transnational media
corporations.
- The denationalization and
privatization of enterprises forming material and a technological
basis for the production of media
output.
- The grovirth of the advertising market to a level, which is
minimally sufficient, to ensure
self-repayment of media output.
- The adoption and introduction
of legislative measures to prevent
media monopolies and to ensure
media transparency and editorial
independence.
- The formation of a stable,
authoritative and capable of interaction structures.
- The disappearance of stateowned media.
- The synchronization of social
and economic processes in the
media with NATO and EU member
countries.
J]^gy<MJJ
17
lublic trust
Do WE
TRUST
THE MEDIA!
Russian author gives liis opinion
on cuitural differences
Do You trust mass-media most of time?
YEVGENIYA DULO
mericans do not trust the mass media.
That's what they say But despite this
claim, almost every person in the USA
sits every day in front of the TV and
watches CNN news. As for Russians, various
opinion polls show that people in Russia in whole
trust the media. But why? How can we explain
this difference? Popular Russian writer Victor
Erofeyev, investigator of Russian reality and
Russian character, thinks that the reason for this
difference is in our cultural mentality.
Erofeyev explained that words in Russia have
historically played a very important and powerful
role in constructing reality. He said, "Probably,
never and nowhere else has it played such role.
We not only trust words, we feel lii<e they create
reality".
It is this historical relationship with words in
Russia that may explain why Russians tend to
trust the media more than Americans.
According to Erofeyev, words have always
held a sacred place in Russian culture. "In eariier times, the word of the monarch was sacred; it
had a meaning of law. In the West and in
America, the word wasn't so authoritative.
Abroad, private person's lives were always more
free, so people could always make jokes about
authorities, not agree with them."
In Russia, people had some ability to critique
the government, but it was very weak, he
explained. "Bearers of this word were holy fools.
They were few, that's why words spoken against
authorities weren't so popular among Russian
people.
"In the Russian mind, there was a kind of law
that if you infringed on this sacred monarch's
word, you were not our man, you were a
stranger. We had in Russia the idea of "man of
Holy Rus", later "soviet man". If you told something wrong, you would be sentenced to death.
A
'^^"^" ^ " " ^
And, because of such a strict attitude to saying
words, people believed them."
As time progressed, the Russain relationship
to the word became somewhat muddled
because of the advent of mass media. Erofeyev
explained, "Russians were confused. This newspaper told them one thing and that told them
another. They were frightened by the word. It
was such a kind of fear that they trembled, trembled before the word as they would before a
loaded gun.
"Trust towards words was kept because people could choose which sources of information
they believed. After the Rebuilding, people
bought "Moskovskyi Komsomolets" newspaper
because it reported on the first page that everything in our worid was bad. It refiected the peoples' aftitudes to life. And, looking at this newspaper, they said to themselves: "Oh, that's right.
I'm thinking in the same way".
It is interesting, that after the Rebuilding
"Moskovskyi Komsomolets" (it was a name of a
youth communist organization) coudn't even
change its name because this word-title was
sacred. Change the name and the phenomenon
will change, it will become another newspaper,"
Erofeyev said. "Nobody will believe."
This difference in the relationship between
the word and the cultures in the USA and Russia
accounts for the difference in the trust levels of
the press in the respective countries.
Despite American polls, Erofeyev belives that
citizens in Europe and America acutally do put
trust in their mass media. "I don't think that in
Europe and America they don't trust mass media.
Mans consciousness always is seeking on what it
can lean on. There are certain definite newspapers and magazines in the United States that
people trust. For example. The New York Times the newspaper that I publish in - people read it
because mostly it rings true to them."
United States
Not sure
25%
V i c t o r E r O f O y e V , a wellknown novelist,
bears the same surname as Venedict Erofeyev —
another famous Russian writer, the author of
"Moskva - Petushki". Among his most famous
works are "Russian beauty", "Living with idiot",
"Terrible trial", "Men", "God X" and many articles.
The majority of Erofeyev's novels and stories are
translated in 27 foreign languages. One story,
"Living with idiot", was written as an opera by
Alfred Shnitke and produced as a film by
Alexander Rogozhkin. Thinking about Russian
character, Mr Erofeyev has created several works
about vodka and other national phenomenons. All
of these are entered in his book "The
Encyclopaedia of the Russian Soul".
Journalist/Ledger
18
Jeatuie
Baby Sophia
MAKES LONG JOURNEY HOME
Before beginning the selection process. Frost and her
mother, who also lives with her,
The new playroom was finished,
both went through detailed
complete with a big red barn painted on background checks and were
fingerprinted. In addition, Frost
the wall. The nursery was decorated and was thoroughly investigated
and interviewed to determine if
fully stocked. Practically every room in she
would be a good mother
the house had been cleaned from top to including home inspections.
"It's everyone's fear, the
bottom and repainted. Everything was in white glove test," Frost said.
After going through all of the
place for little Sophia to come home.
legal and governmental steps.
Frost was finally eligible to wait
"That's got to be the hardest part. My child
for a referral from the adoption
is over there and I'm ready over here," said
agency. That's when she evenErin Frost, a Washington State resident, who
tually ended up in Komsomolskofficially adopted 2-year-old Sophia this last
na-Amure to meet Sophia.
winter.
"She was in a really good
There was nothing left to do except for
orphanage and they took really
wait. Frost had already met Sophia at an
good care of her," said Frost. "It
orphanage in Komsomolsk-na-Amure, Russia,
was a clean place, they had
and had decided to adopt her, but she had to
toys."
wait for a court date to be set for her to be
Living in an orphanage with
approved by Russian authorities to take
about 80 other children. Frost
Sophia out of the country. The process from
said the women who took care
the time she met Sophia till the time she took
of Sophia were absolutely wonher home Christmas Eve, Sophia's birthday,
derful.
took 14 weeks.
"Sophia
has
adapted
"It's extremely emotional. You know it is
extremely well," Frost said. "I
going to be, but it's that unknown," Frost said.
think she has adjusted so well because of
"With pregnancy you know in nine months you
those ladies."
are going to have a child. With adoption you
After waiting weeks for a Russian court
just don't know."
date. Frost claims that when she came back to
Beginning the adoption process in
the orphanage to finally take Sophia home it
October, national adoption month, of
appeared the liftle giri was upset with her for
2001, Frost attended an adoption
leaving her after the first
conference at Overlake
"I just want her to visit.
Medical Hospital so
"I know they say
keep developing and
she could be connectshe'll forget, but I think
Iceep
growing
and
to
ed with the right peoshe remembered me,"
continue to be the
ple to help her figure
said Frost. "Because
incredible little girl
out where and how
the first visit she took to
to get everything
she is."
me instantly."
underway.
Frost and Sophia
Erin
Frost
"I
have
are just one of many
a l w a y s
families being joined
thought of adoption,
through international adoption. Data from the
and I am at a great
U.S. Department of State indicate there were
point in my life," Frost
19,237 foreign born children adopted by
said.
Americans in 2001. This is a three-fold
Although single. Frost, a
increase from 6,536 in 1992. Overall, Russia
Financial
Planner
for
was the greatest source for inter-country
Nordstrom's, explained that
adoptions, followed by China, Guatemala,
she has been stable and
Romania, Vietnam, India, Ukraine and
secure for quite some time
Cambodia.
and was absolutely ready
Frost says her overall experience in
to have a child.
Russia was a great journey because of the
"There are so many chilpeople she met along the way.
dren in this worid. I don't have
"I would go back again. The people I was
to give birth to love a child," Frost
surrounded by were warm and caring," said
J said. "Having Sophia, I don't think
Frost. "I think they were sad to see her go out
' I could have done any better."
KARIE ANDERSON
of the country."
Although psychologists
and sociologists warn adoptive parents about displacement disorders and overstimulation
in
children
recently adopted. Frost
claims she hasn't seen any
negative
symptoms
in
Sophia from the move.
"Music is her ultimate
favorite thing to do," Frost
said. "She's hit a real growth
spurt in climbing."
Although it has only
been a little over three
months. Frost says Sophia
already looks bigger compared to when she first got
off the plane. In addition to
improvements in her motor
skills, Sophia has gained at
least five pounds.
"Now she really eats
child size portions," Frost
said after commenting about
how much she ate when she
first came home.
Amazed at how much
time it really takes to care
for little Sophia, Frost said
she is enjoying seeing the world through a
child's eyes.
"It's been incredible. I can't remember not
having her," Frost said.
Dreading going back to work. Frost said
Sophia will be watched by Grandma Gretchen
partly and a structured daycare partly. Frost
said what her mother taught her about selfempowerment would be an important aspect
of life she would want to teach Sophia.
"You can really do what ever you want. I
want Sophia to feel empowered," she said as
Sophia climbed her toy box and told us what
sound the monkey makes-"Ohh, Ohh."
According to the International Adoption
Organization, costs for adoption can range
from a low of $12,000 to a high of $30,000,
although most inter-country adoptions average between $15,000 and $20,000. The waiting time for inter-country adoption, including
the home study and Immigration and
Naturalization Services approval process, can
take from one to three years.
Different countries have different regulations when it comes to allowing children to be
adopted by people from other countries.
However one thing is always asked. What is
best for the individual child?
"I just want her to keep developing and
keep growing and to continue to be the incredible liftle giri she is," Frost said.
i i AfifiU 2003.
slafL
19
Two newspapers meet as strangers,
LEAVE AS FRIENDS
Coming to Russia has been a wonderfi
experience within itself, but I got to experiencl
something extra. The opportunity to work wit'
the students from the department of journalism,
MSU has been an extraordinary experience I will
always remeber. I will remember how much the
students taught me about team work, russian
culture, professionalism and communication.
The staff taught me how much everybody's opinion counts and how important it is to stick to your
values. Although I learned more Russian than I
ever imagined I would, I was amazed at the students ability to read, write and speak English.
Despite all language and culturai differrences,
we have all transformed into friends. What I will
remeber most of all about the project is the new
friends I have made across the globe in
Moscow."
KARIE ANDERSON
The idea of Journalist/the Ledger project
was very successful. The proof is in your hands,
but I want to reveal the background of this issue.
Until the day when the delegation from Tacoma
appeared at our Department, we worried
whether they would be able to come. Could the
war that started one day before Karie, Tolena,
Chris and Bill should have arrived ruin our
plans? But it didn't become an obstacle on the
way towards making this joint paper - and it is
the victory of the MSU Dpt. of Journalism and
UWT. In addition, I want to say that I was really
very happy to spend this week with such a pleasant Russian-American team. We now have lots
of memories that made us closer to each other,
and made us a real TEAM. I hope, no, I'm sure
that we'll meet again in the future. Soon.
Congratulations to everybody who took part in
this project."
RAFAEL SAAKOV
I'm very happy to take part in joint
project because it's a great experience for
me. I learned the differences between producing a
newspaper in Russia and in the U.S. During our
work we were discussing the questions, which are
connecting with the model of our newspaper and
other important things. I'm glad that we found common ground.
The most exciting thing was going to the circus.
We saw dancing goats, cats twiriing fire, dogs and
other animals. I know Bill liked the giri who could
change her dresses very quickly. I believe Karie
and Tolena liked it too. It doesn't matter what
country you live in because you can always find a
way to connect with people. We were able to talk
with the giris about anything we wanted to. We
have had good results from talking to each other. I
hope we will see our American friends again."
GALYA TISCHENKO
Foreign people often say that Russians
drink vodka from morning till night and that
bears walk along the streets of Moscow. We
are often surprised about that opinion. But we
usually believe when somebody tells us such
stupid things about America. Now I understand that I had absolutely false views about
the US and their people. Our project helped
me to delete that opinion.
Our communication gave me the things
that we can't read in the books. Americans
told us a lot about life in their country and I
know what is really interesting to me. Besides
it was very good practice in English, which we
can't get from the Internet.
Americans have always been openhearted and ready to help others. But their joyfullness only helped them to work more and
harder then us. Russians should study how to
respond to American life. You should never
be so serious and run to the other side of the
street when somebody smiles at you. Try to
be happy too."
ANNA TOLOKONNIKOVA
it
Frankly speaking, I don't really know what to say about this experience. It's like visiting a
new country you've read so much about: it seems that you know where to turn on the next corner following the map but there's a child playing and a dog barking that were not mentioned in
the guide-book and it makes the journey more exciting. And I'd like to thank everyone for the terrific effort and the wonderful result - both Russians and our American colleagues we've grown
to become good friends with. Come back soon!"
MARIA SCHOOR
tt
People's attitudes and lives are moulded by their experiences and the lessons that they choose to take
with them. The short amount of time that I have spent witti my Russian colleagues has taught me many valuable lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life -1 am certainly not the same person now that I was
before.
Russia has taught me what it feels like to be completely out of my element. I came here with absolutely
no knowledge of the culture, country or the language. I have learned the value of true communication. Even
though Americans feel like they are good communicators, you can not test your skill until you have been
through an experience similar to mine. It is frustrating and difficult, yet enriching at the same time.
The students at Moscow State University have taken us in with open arms. During a time when the worid
seems so uncertain, it is amazing that complete strangers have been so kind and understanding. I will never
forget the students at MSU and I wiil carry with me this experience for the rest of my life."
TOLENA MAHLUM
HftRfH Mfla
We would like to thank
The Marc Lindenberg
Center for Humanitarian
Action, International
Development and Global
Citizenship, who partially
supported this project.
'The I
Journalist/Ledger
Stad«nt Technology Fee Committee
2002-2003
The STFC is now accepting proposais for 2002-2003
The Student Technology Fee funds the improvement of computer
hardware and technology to benefit the student body and the UWT
campus community. The STFC has an excess of $200,000 to expend
on technology this year!
NEW ONLINE PROPOSAL SYSTEM
This year the STFC has reconfigured the proposal process. All
proposals will be submitted online. To submit a proposal, go to
http://students.Washington.edu/uwttfc/.
The deadline for STFC proposals for the 2002-2003 school year
will be Friday, April 4, 2003. Please e-mail Penelope Wright at
pmwright@u .Washington .edu or Brook Bower blb2(g>u. Washington, edu
with any questions.
STUDENT TECH FEE COMMITTEE FONPEP THESE LAST YEAR
The Dante System
Additional Kiosks
New Computers in the Computer Lab
Additional/ Kiosk Printing Stations
VPN Access
Computer Lab Software
Wireless Connectivity in the Library
Technology Workshops
New Full-service Workstations in the Library
Multimedia Lab Equipment
Digital Cameras and Camcorders
Increased Access/Support for Teaching and Learning Center
Campus Agreement - Microsoft Products for Students