Athletics - The Wake
Transcription
Athletics - The Wake
TheWake STUDENT MAGAZINE www.wakemag.org The U’s Weekly Student Magazine • February 15, 2006 Staff Editorial Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor athletics editor athletics ASSISTANT ATHLETICS STAFF WRITERS Campus Editor campus ASSISTANT CAMPUS STAFF WRITERS Literary Editor LITERARY ASSISTANT S&V Editor s&v ASSISTANT S&V STAFF WRITERS FILM CRITIC FOOD CRITIC Voices Editor voices ASSISTANT VOICES STAFF WRITERS Kay Steiger Lane Trisko Craig Rentmeester Brian Tolentino Jeff Barthel Tyler Rushmeyer Jessica Mann Sarah Howard Rachel Drewelow Vincent Staupe Kim Gengler Achilles Sangster Michael Mitchell Jenny Odegard Erin Belling Haily Gostas Rachel LaBine Chris Wilson Taylor Eisenman Colleen Hellenbrand Cole Dennis Tom McNamara Nicole Wurdak 12 Ugly Buildings, Endless Possibilities The Como neighborhood, with its train tracks and industrial-strength dose of ugly splashed all over the buildings, city developers are beginning to look at the area as a place full of possibilities, including a proposed throughway that would re-route noisy trucks that come off of Highway 280 onto University Aveue. Production Production Manager ART DIRECTOR PHOTO EDITOR WEB EDITOR GRAPHIC DESIGN COVER ART illustration photography Copy EditorS Eric Price Sam Soule Brennan Vance Andy Tyra Carina Enbody Shannon Licari Eric Price Jeremy “Snack Attack” Sengly Aaron Ridgeway Aaron Groh Alex Judkins Miranda Peterson Eric Price Aaron Ridgeway Jeremy Sengly Stacy Bengs Jessalyn Courtney Ryan Rodgers Brennan Vance Elizabeth Aulwes Clayton Benjamin Mary Cummings Kelly Frush Business Business Manager Office Manager Advertising Executive PR Executive Distributors BOARD OF DIRECTORS Andy Tyra Tamara Swanson Jamie King Cameron Sorden Gwen McNamara Ryan Frailich Brennan Vance Chris Wilson James DeLong Paul Froiland Courtney Lewis Kathy Schlecht William Swanson 14 Williams Arena The building that draws thousands of fans every weekend has a legendary history. Some of the most famous Gophers ever to pass through this institution graced the raised hardwood floor of Williams Arena. Known as “The Barn,” Gopher basketball players of both sexes battle it out with other Big Ten schools on a regular basis. ©2006 Contributing Writers Jeff Barthel, Deric Brown, Dorothy Cheng, Rachel Drewelow, Amy Fink, Kim Gengler, Steven Hall, Robyn Hjermstad, Sarah Howard, Jeremy Keller, Jessica Mann, Michael Mitchell, Andrew Noyes, Jenny Odegard, Vincent Staupe, Brian Tolentino, Chris Wilson, Nix Wurdak Established in 2002, The Wake is an independent weekly magazine, produced by and for students at the University of Minnesota. The Wake is a registered student organization. The Wake was founded by Chris Ruen and James DeLong. The Wake 1313 5th St. SE Minneapolis, MN 55414 Send letters to [email protected] Please include your name, year, and college. The Wake does not publish anonymous letters. Letter from the Editor Volume 4; Issue 11 The poll on the Student Activities Office website asks everyone what they’re most exited about in the spring semester: the U of M student film festival, Spring Jam, jaMPACked week, spring activities fair, campus arts festival or the student service fees process. The winner, obviously, was Spring Jam, the last time I checked. What you don’t know about the dance team could kill you Athletics ......................................................................................... 7 Of course everyone is exited to drunkenly stumble to an outdoor concert to see a band—honestly, any band will do—in warm weather. This is what students live for. Although officially the event is to promote school pride or something, I’ve never seen anyone less than completely wasted at the events scheduled for Spring Jam. So Spring Jam won because of the rising binge drinking reported last week in the Star Tribune … or students just don’t know what the other things on the list are. jaMPACed seemed to be some extension of Gophers After Dark, complemented by the postponed Martin Luther King III speech. The student film festival, although cool, seems to be a little under the radar. The same goes for the spring activities fair and the campus arts festival. And let’s face it. Students don’t really understand how student services fees work unless they are requesting fees for a student group. It’s just the $3 tacked on to several thousands of dollars of tuition. So, as the heating bills rise this February, curl up under your blanket as you skip class and think warm thoughts about the week-long drunk fest known as Spring Jam. Sweet dreams, fellow students. KAY STEIGER Editor-in-chief [email protected] More sex is better than less Voices ........................................................................................... 10 Too late to save Ferdinand, too early to save Jesus Campus .......................................................................................... 4 Beauty in gray Photography ................................................................................. 12 She begged for death three times daily Literary ........................................................................................ 16 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, members wanted Sound & Vision .............................................................................. 18 Hey-hey, we’re the Monkees Bastard ........................................................................................ 22 4 Athletics EAM T NCE A D U February 15, 2006 t e r c e S p To After winning four consecutive national titles, the Golden Gopher Dance Team remains under the radar BY BRIAN TOLENTINO PHOTO BY ryan rodgers Tara Peckskamp, co-captain Athletics www.wakemag.org is ce team U’s dan al e n h o ti T a t: tive N secre u a c e e s v n a ty o s h c a , I Shhh… lly good. Four a dancing dyn ss a g le e in e R e . good pite b are clu t the U omplished. od. Des a o g ts s n e le Tit tud acc rity of s hat am has the majo t the dance te und campus w , a o h r am a e w t T ts u e n o ab r Danc es, g stude e h in p k o s a G While nk star ut their idn’t ew abo tless bla they kn ted with coun d glances. “I d nda e e re e fi r B ti g I was nd mys e team,” says looks a c n d a le d z a z pu ad student. unveil the ow we h even kn junior nursing to as time a ra Saxton, e” decided it w s. So we let Ta al ak pu tion a n e im “The W secret on cam ur-t er pt in and fo to be a memb best ke o-capta e c k , . li y p tr is m n a it u the co Pecksk , reveal what n team in champio college dance p, of the to 5 Upcoming Athletic Events Feb. 16, 7 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs. Ohio State Williams Arena Feb. 17, 5 p.m. Men’s Track, Snoeshoe Open, University Fieldhouse Feb. 17, 7:07 p.m. Men’s Hockey vs. Denver Mariucci Arena The Wake: Why is the U’s dance team so dominant? Basically, what sets the U apart from other schools? Tara Peckskamp: I think it is a combination of both work ethic and talent. Our first and second year was definitely our talent. Overall, what our team brings that other teams don’t bring is the emotion behind the routine. You can see a clean routine and you can see skills. Everyone can do the same skills. Everyone can turn, they can jump, they can perform a dance, but not necessarily portray what is coming through the words. That would be more of the artistic form of dance. Some people consider dance as an art and some consider it a sport, but it is kind of a combination of both. We combine the athleticism with the art and we portray that on the stage and that is what sets us apart. The Wake: What is it like to win four consecutive national championships? Tara Peckskamp: It is the biggest sense of accomplishment and I don’t think I ever felt that in anything I had ever done before coming here. The first year you don’t really know what you are doing. You are along for the ride and you’re just going to another dance competition. The years after, you really see what goes behind it and what goes into it and what it actually is. Winning a national title is so cool and it’s a big deal and at first you don’t really realize it. The Wake: Do you think the dance team received enough coverage and publicity for winning four national championships? Tara Peckskamp: I don’t want to say that we are just the dance team, but that is how a lot of people look at us. I guess I don’t expect to be like the football team or the basketball team because we don’t bring in revenue. It would be nice because we do work so hard, just as hard as the football, basketball or hockey team and sometimes it seems like we are the only ones who know, but sometimes that is all you really need. As long as you know your own sense of accomplishment and the things you have accomplished over the years and how hard you worked for it. The Wake: What is one misperception people have about dance? Tara Peckskamp: I think people think it is really easy and it’s not. They think it doesn’t take athletic ability and it is something simple. It is supposed to be pretty, but the whole point of training while you’re younger, like ballet, is to make it look easy. You’re not supposed to make it look like you’re struggling. It is supposed to be elegant and beautiful, not rough and tough. The Wake: Did you feel any extra pressure this year being co-captain of a team that had won three consecutive National Championships? Tara Peckskamp: Yea, oh definitely. I felt the pressure in the sense that I wanted it for myself so bad that I had to do it. We had to lead them in the right way. I wanted to do the things that would be right since everything was so new. I didn’t know if the way we were going about it was going to be the right way or if Casey Horton and I were leading the team in the right direction and motivating them enough to get done what we needed to get done. I felt as if we didn’t win, it would kind of be on our shoulders. The Wake: When the U’s dance team goes to the Dance Team National Championships in Orlando, Fla. are you guys seen as the studs of the competition? Tara Peckskamp: Yea, kind of. You can feel the aura around our team. I don’t think we are cocky by any means and I think that we are very humble considering how we could be winning four national titles. It is pretty cool. I am not going to lie. The Wake: Can the Dance Team win a fifth year in a row? Tara Peckskamp: I sure hope so. I want to see the legacy I saw as a freshman continue on and I think it will continue on because our choreographer is amazing. She has new ideas and I feel like that will keep up the excitement. It is something new and fresh and will not get stale. From what I hear, the talent coming in this year should also be pretty good. The Wake: What have you learned from Dance at the U? Tara Peckskamp: I have learned a lot from my coach in how to handle certain situations that go on in life. I have learned that if you set an attainable goal and the right steps underneath it, that anything is achievable and, that definitely, hard work pays off more than anything. If you don’t have hard work or a good work ethic, you’re not going to get very far. I think it is important that you don’t give up either. Even if you have doubts it is important to keep going. And my team members are so much fun. To have fun while you’re doing it is important too. Feb. 18, 3:30 p.m, Men’s Basketball vs. Iowa Williams Arena Feb. 18, 4:07 p.m. Women’s Hockey St. Cloud State Ridder Arena Feb. 18, 7 p.m. Men’s Gymnastics vs. Nebraska Sports Pavilion Feb. 18, 7:07 p.m. Men’s Hockey vs. Denver Mariucci Arena Feb. 19, 10:30 a.m. Women’s Tennis vs. Dartmouth Baseline Tennis Center 6 Voices February 15, 2006 NIX WURDAK Gender is a thing of the past illustration BY jeremy sengly This week, I watched The Notebook for the first time. I stretched out comfortably on a yellow suede couch, drowning in blankets, my stomach packed with chocolate cake. I had my best female friend on a couch beside me, tissues on hand. It was going to be a real estrogen fest. Throughout the film, she cooed at all of the romantic moments. She babbled about how cute the blond boy was. She yelped when they broke up, seemed like they might break up or engaged in any non-gushy relations. I quietly made gagging sounds. At the end of the movie, I glanced at her, curled up on her couch and, with slow deliberation, she turned and gazed at me with glassy eyes, tear-drenched lashes and a quivering lower lip. She asked me if I liked the movie. After some thought, I came to the conclusion that I…prefer porn. I prefer porn. I drink beer. I belch. Once, after a night of romance with Jose Cuervo, I peed in a urinal. Well, mostly in the urinal. I am a woman, but, not particularly womanly. Yes, I have boobs and I have a vagina, but I’m not going to drink a chocolate martini. I don’t want to remain locked in this pink floral box and play along with this dichotomy. It’s time to go beyond “boys” and “girls.” In traditional Native American culture there is one additional gender allowance, called winkte. Winkte were men who were not particularly masculine, such as those who had effeminate tendencies or transgender people born as men. The winkte were greatly revered and respected by others as it was thought that their atypical conduct and habits coincided with special talents and spiritual powers. In India, they have the hijra. Hijra are often eunuchs or transsexuals, men or women who wear non-gendered clothing, participate in nongendered jobs and make no attempt to fit into any gender role. They are known for their sharp manner of dress and dignified personas. People living this genre of alternative lifestyle often do have some biological background to their behavior. Studies have shown that differing hormonal levels in the uterus can affect the sexuality and gender expression of the child. In addition, some people who live in this third category could be the proud owners of chromosomes beyond the XX of chicks and XY of guys. People who have, for example, an XXY or XYY string of chromosomes, often exhibit manners and potentially different body composition than what we consider to be normal. Though body composition and hormonal levels do affect certain habits and abilities of a person, I am confident in my assumption that they do not have the final vote in determining what I drink, say or wear. Theorists and social scientists from here and abroad have concocted different not-relatedto-sex genders. Some argue that the concept of gender is only theory and not tangible in the least; others vote for the current two gender system, while still others have claimed that there are as many as 30+ genders present in the world. I reckon that figuring out placement on a 30-gender system would probably require energy, time and effort. I am far too lazy for that. Why do we need to fit into a gender box anyway? Perhaps useful in historical times for assigning different community or tribal tasks, any of these needs have been outdated. I can understand that it is likely that a born man is stronger than I and would thus be more able to perform strict physical labor. Now, we get our crops from machines. Construction workers, though often beefy, can accomplish a great deal regardless of their size. These gender roles were also given as reason for discrimination expressed by preventing women from voting or receiving an educa- Yes, I have boobs and a vagina, but I’m not going to drink a chocolate martini. tion. That’s not something we need anymore. The need for this theoretical concept of “gender” is passé. Acclaimed feminist and gender theorist Judith Butler said, “There is no gender identity behind the expressions of gender; ... identity is performatively constituted by the very ‘expressions’ that are said to be its results.” Gender is what you make of it. I think of it as a six-letter word, worth eight points in Scrabble. So, I suggest that we get rid of all this gender and gender roles. People born with girl parts don’t have to paint their nails, read romance novels or enjoy bubble baths. They should be able to wear baggy jeans and shirts and baseball hats without being called manly. Those toting their own mini-sausage should be able to gossip, cry and watch the Hallmark channel without having someone tell them that they’re acting like a chick. This rant could continue, but I am very busy. First, I have to scratch myself in an inappropriate manner, then I intend to play Grand Theft Auto for an irrationally long time and finally I will leave odd stains of bodily fluid on the walls of my shower. Just kidding. Fortunately I am quite busy painting my toenails a very cute shade of pink. Dorothy Cheng is a Voices guest columnist and welcomes comments at letters@wakemag. org. Voices www.wakemag.org 7 illustration by miranda peterson Yale University ponders jumping on the handwashing train Wash Your Hands, Please Soap: A cleansing agent made from a mixture of the salts of fatty acids of natural oils and fats. Humans have been cleansing themselves since prehistoric times; even cavemen figured out that washing mud off their hands with water was a good thing. Soap-like substances are known to have been used in ancient Babylon, dating back to 2800 B.C. Ancient Egyptians combined animal and vegetable oils with alkaline salts to create soap for treating skin diseases as well as for regular bathing. The early Roman civilization bathed sans soap, but as the culture evolved, the Greek physician Galen eventually recommended using it for medicinal purposes. Every great civilization has come to realize the benefits of soap (though it did take Europe a plague and three centuries to figure it out). It seems, though, that Yale University has yet to catch on to what those ancient Babylonians thought of tens of thousands of years ago. In fact, at 305 years without soap, Yale is beginning to rival even 17th century Europe. Students began agitating a decade ago for soap dispensers to be installed in Yale buildings, complete with exclamations of “We still hope for soap on a rope,” and “Germ free is the way to be” echoed through the Ivy League halls. Prior to this month, soap was a scarce and precious commodity at Yale, and students began to form a community devoted to keeping soap in the bathrooms. Students and parents would buy it and leave it in a bathroom, hoping that others would do the same. Unfortunately, not everyone cooperated and soap became an obscure product. Soap thefts became commonplace. “I put a little dispenser of liquid soap out and now it’s gone…I hope someone else will put one out,” said Steven Engler. Naturally, these thefts caused students much distress. James Ponsoldt also commented on the situation. “It’s pretty gross not to have soap in the bathrooms.” He’s right. According to the Mayo Clinic website, “[Hand washing is] one of the best ways to avoid getting sick.” The site also informs us that many ailments such as the common cold, the flu and some gastrointestinal disorders (one of which is infectious diarrhea) are spread through hand-to-hand contact. Hopefully Yale students will no longer live in fear of contracting a debilitating case of diarrhea from doorknobs, hand holding or finger foods. Yale has instituted a pilot program that includes the introduction of University-sponsored soap in the bathrooms of a whopping three of twelve residential colleges. This experiment is breaking 305 years of tradition, potentially ruining the aesthetic appeal of the bathrooms on campus, and digging very shallowly into the $15.7 billion dollar budget in order to fund and maintain soap dispensers. If the venture is affordable enough, next fall students will be welcomed to Yale with soap dispensers in all twelve buildings, a new Yale; a clean Yale; a Yale where students will greet each other with high-fives and handshakes, rather than small waves between dashes for the nearest toilet. Dorothy Cheng is a Voices guest columnist and welcomes comments at letters@wakemag. org. DOROTHY CHENG Photo Poll • By Stacy Bengs What is the most harmful gender stereotype? Keita • Junior • Liberal Arts Julian • Junior • Architecture Keita • Senior • Bio-chem & Genetics Carli • Junior • Nursing Power differences. I am from Japan where some discrimination against women happens. Men are assumed to have all the power and get to do what you want, whereas women struggle to get jobs and are often socially confined. It disturbs me that gender stereotypes exist at all, that there is so much emphasis put on this one aspect of human existence. There are obviously biological differences between the sexes but there are also huge biological differences between same sexes (like eye color, hair color, sexual orientation, etc). Why do we focus so much on this one element of difference? The most harmful stereotype is that an intelligence gap exists between women and men. The most insulting stereotype is that women can’t drive. The typical expectation is that men are supposed to be tough and macho, which leads to overaggression. Whereas, women are supposed to conform to this mediaprescribed beauty. 8 Campus February 15, 2006 Society for Creative Anachronism Recreates Days of Yore BY Rachel Drewelow photo by Brennan Vance Ignore the script. Imagine that Marty McFly and his comrade Doc Brown, wacky inventor of the plutonium-powered, time-traveling DeLorean, could have traveled to any time period. Are you picturing them blundering around in the Middle Ages? If so, you might just be a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), also called “The College of Tor Aerie.” The student organization has been reenacting and researching the Middle Ages for over twenty years. “If there’s something that was done in the Middle Ages or medieval times, you can find someone [in the SCA] who does it,” explains Breena Stanton, the group’s president (in medieval terms, she is Seneschal, Breena of Tor Aerie). The group of about fifteen students and friends meets weekly for various activities like crafts, dressing up, dancing, and fighting pre17th century European-style. (Actually, any country Europe had contact with during the time period is also fair game). They invite guest speakers to meetings as well—a lecture on leprosy last semester was especially appreciated, Stanton says. “My favorite part [of SCA] is learning about historical music,” says Mary Jane Thillen, a third year math major. Thillen has been involved with the SCA since her sophomore year in high school, since it isn’t just a campus club. “People raise their kids in it,” she says. SCA is an international non-profit group for people of all ages, with over 24,000 official members worldwide. In the medieval spirit, the SCA has a feudal-like structure. The university’s College of Tor Aerie is a branch of the Barony of Nordskogen, which includes all of the Twin Cities and in turn is a part of the Kingdom of Northshield. The Kingdom of Northshield includes much of the upper-Midwest and some of Canada. Naturally, there is a king and queen, who achieve royalty by winning a tournament. All members, even those who are not royalty or nobility, take on a name from the Middle Ages. Through the larger group, the College of Tor Aerie is invited to big events like medieval feasts, classes on manners and skills and combat tournaments. Some SCA members are trained in the art of medieval battle. For safety, they sport real armor and scrap with rattan (fake) swords. “We’re all here for the same reason—to play this game,” explains Margaret Broz, a sixthyear SCA member and a Ph.D. student. One of her favorite parts of the SCA is the “different sort of feeling to the way people act. There’s a sense of courtesy and chivalry,” she says. The College of Tor Aerie is currently planning their annual major reenactment event, a dance seminar, tentatively scheduled for April 29th. The affair will be held in Coffman Memorial Union, and will feature live music, dance lessons and a ball. Guests will, of course, don medieval garb (costumes). The group will invite university students as well as members of the SCA from outside of the university community. Participation with the SCA is free, but official membership is $35. Only members can be- Naturally, there is a king and queen, who achieve royalty by winning a tournament. come officers and receive training and authorization as a fighter. Note: Unlike in the ’80s flick Back to the Future, the SCA does not literally travel through time. Opting to enjoy mock Middle Ages, they skip out on the plague, pass on heinous torture and sidestep religious persecution. The SCA meets Mondays at 7 p.m. in the Boardroom on the third floor of Coffman Memorial Union. Newcomers are welcome and more information can be found at www.tc.umn. edu/~sca/. 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Abortion = Slavery Catholic Anti-Abortionist Speaks at the U BY Vincent Staupe illustration by aaron groh February 15, 2006 Events Calendar Wednesday, February 15 Learning Abroad Fair 10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (Great Hall Coffman Memorial Union Minneapolis Campus) Contact: Call 612.626.9000 for more information or [email protected] David Felton 1:00 p.m. (MCAD Gallery 2501 Stevens Ave S, Mpls.) The MTV Vice President and editor discusses his career. Free. 612.874.3700 Mayors Summit on Affordable Housing’s GREEN Issues: Environmental and Economic Sustainability 3:00 -5:00 p.m. (Cowles Auditorium, Hubert H. Humphrey Center) Seating is limited. To reserve a space, RSVP at 612-375-9644 or miko@fh fund.org The Rosa Parks Story (Film/Discussion) 7:00 p.m. (Coffman Theater) Mother of the Civil Rights Movement and how her courage changed the U.S. Discussion: Rose Brewer, Afro-American Studies Thursday, February 16 Love in the New Millennium (Lecture/Discussion) 3:30 -5:00 p.m. (Jackson Hall 2-137) Electronic Dating. Gender Roles. Cyber-Sex. How have the rules for dating changed? Dr. Wayne Caron, Family Social Science. So Far From Spain 4:00 -6:00 p.m. (Exhibit Gallery Elmer L. Andersen Library Minneapolis Campus) An exhibit of rare books and manuscripts from medieval and early modern Spain from the special collections of the University Libraries. Special exhibit opening on Thursday, February 16 from 4 to 6 p.m.; refreshments will be served. Zoot Suit & La Bamba 6:00 -10:00 p.m. (Room 211 Coffman Memorial Union Minneapolis Campus) Every Thursday, starting February 2nd until April 20th, University community members and off campus supporters are invited to join the Chicano Studies Department and La Raza Student Cultural Center for a film series that will meet in conjunction with CHIC 3223: Chicana/ o and Latina/o Representation in Film. Join us for meaningful films and fun! Friday, February 17 2006 Minneapolis Nonprofit Career Fair 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs) “Vital Signs: Images of Healing in the Middle Ages”: A Lecture by Melanie E. Holcomb 7:00 -9:00 p.m. (Room 125 Nolte Center for Continuing Education Minneapolis Campus) Illustrated lecture by Melanie E. Holcomb, Assistant Curator, Department of Medieval Art and the Cloisters, Metropolitan Museum of New York. Reception will be held at 6:00 p.m.. Part of the symposium Medieval Inventions: The Hospital? The issues surrounding abortion rights highlight a more intrinsic problem with our society as a whole, according to the fourth annual Faith and Bioethics Lecture held on January 27 at the Moos Tower. The lecture, given by Dr. Robert Spitzer, president of the catholic Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, was part of the MacLaurin lecture series whose goal is “dedicated to bringing God into the marketplace of ideas.” In his lecture, entitled “Toward a Philosophy of the Pro-Life Movement: Personhood, Rights and Purpose in Life”, Spitzer said that the “violation of the silver rule,” which is “do not do harm to others that you wouldn’t have done to you,” was a symbol of the case for abortion rights. He added, “Why wouldn’t you consider that every human being is deserving of human nature?” The government is a key player in the debate over abortion rights, according to Spitzer. “When the people [of the government] try to decide the definition of personhood, they get to decide who deserves to live and who deserves to die,” he said. However, Spitzer added that the “intrinsic right” of human life is a power that “no government can take away.” Spitzer also brought human rights into the discussion by calling the similarities between the slavery issue and the pro-life issue “uncanny” as well as using quotes and ideas from Bartolomé de las Casas, a Dominican priest who, according to Spitzer, fought for human rights in Central America in the 1500s. “If one human being is to be considered sub-human, than we [as a society] have committed an atrocity,” Spitzer said, using quotes from Las Casas. He added that, in today’s pro-choice climate, “We are right back at the mid 1500s—right back.” The audience, mostly middle-aged adults, included University of Minnesota undergrad Matt Kaul, a member of Mars Hill, a student group that “is dedicated to thinking about issues of faith and reason.” Kaul was very pleased with the lecture. “Dr. Spitzer is a brilliant speaker and a bright philosopher,” Kaul said, adding that the lecture also “offered a basis for a conversation to take place, to bring in base issues of human rights.” Kaul also said that, near the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, there was a general need on campus for more lectures like Spitzer’s, “because the atmosphere tends to be more liberal and pro-choice.” Towards the end of the lecture, Spitzer gave advice on how to get his message of the “egregious culpability to the silver rule” in today’s society across to other people with “alternative views.” “You must use love, goodness, and kindness to optimally define human nature,” he said, adding, “I think it’s important to show passion about this, but you must be utterly respective of those with alternative views.” Sunday, February 19 Israeli Folk Dance 7:00 -10:30 p.m. (Auditorium Hillel Off Campus) Sundays, @ Hillel, Beginners’ Instruction: 7 to 7:45 p.m., General Instruction 7:45 to 10 p.m. Come and learn the newest Israeli dances. Meet new friends and celebrate Israeli culture. Latin, hip-hop, lyrical swing—Israeli dance incorporates elements of them all. Great teachers and fun! Monday, February 20 U of M Job and Internship Fair 2006 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Minneapolis Convention Center Off Campus) Meet over 150 employers at the largest collegiate Career Fair in the State of Minnesota. Open and free to current University of Minnesota students and new University of Minnesota graduates from all campuses. Free transportation will be provided from campus to the Minneapolis Convention Center where the event is held. For more information on who is attending and to register for the event visit www.umjobfair.org. “From Nation to Neighborhood: Imperialism, Colonialism, and American (Indian) Studies” 3:30 -5:00 p.m. (Room 101 Walter Library Minneapolis Campus) Philip J. Deloria is a Professor of American Culture and History at the University of Michigan. He is also the Director of the Program in American Culture. He received his Ph.D. from Yale University in 1994. His recent publications include Indians in Unexpected Places (University Press of Kansas, 2004) and The Blackwell Companion to American Indian History, co-edited with Neal Salibury (Cambridge: Blackwell, 2002). Wednesday, February 22 “Rethinking Secularism and Tolerance in India “ 3:30 -5:00 p.m. (431 Heller Hall) Priya Kumar, English Department, University of Iowa Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 1967-1968: What ABC News Won’t Tell You 4:30 -5:30 p.m. (Room 330 Anderson Hall Minneapolis Campus) Photography www.wakemag.org 11 PHOTOGRAPHY BY E T H A N S TA R K Photographers! Submit your work and you could be featured in next week’s Photography section. Contact Photo Editor Brennan Vance at [email protected] for more information. Ugly Buildings 12 The transitway between East Bank and St. Paul screams for attention. Endless Possibilities Feature February 15, 2006 Any student traveling from the East Bank to the St. Paul Campus on the transitway can see that industry is alive and well in Minneapolis. As you zoom to our rural neighbor campus you pass tall, ugly buildings shooting out steam. You look to the ground and see a mass of railroad tracks. The industry of private businesses and railroads north of University Avenue is not always a pretty sight to see, but this area shouldn’t be ignored. The University of Minnesota transitway was built in 1992 and the bike path that runs along the road opened on Oct. 29, 1996. In contrast, most of the buildings in the area have been there for most of the century and the rail lines were built in the late 19th century, says John S. Adams, professor of geography, public affairs and planning at the University of Minnesota. The industrial part along the transitway stretches from 25th Avenue SE and 4th Street SE in Minneapolis to Energy Park Drive and Raymond Avenue in St. Paul. The main industrial area along the transitway is found in the University Bioscience Zone. This area is called University Research Park and is also known as the South East Minneapolis Industrial Area, or SEMI. This 700-acre area lies north of the transitway and south of the train tracks. The spot for this industrial area was chosen because it is between the two downtown cores. The distance between Minneapolis and St. Paul was 120 miles by river and only eight miles by land in the late 1800s when the area was industrialized, says Adams. The railroads also follow a route at a low point between the two cities, he says. University Research Park was once a center for transportation for the trade exchange that helped Minneapolis become the milling capital of the world, according to city documents. Prior to European settlement, the area was a wetland part of the Bridal Veil Creek Watershed. This wetland was eventually drained and replaced by the railroad tracks, milling companies and manufacturing support facilities, the documents state. SEMI includes one city-owned property and 24 properties held by 13 private owners. Among these private owners are Lighthouse Bay Foods Inc., Fleischmann-Kurth Malting Co. and Harris Machinery Co. While most of the area is owned by private businesses, there are some buildings owned by the university. The MAST facility, part of the National Science Foundation’s Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation is located between the transitway and University Village. This facility is used for gathering information about earthquakes and is one of 16 around the world. Most notably in this stretch along the transitway are the multiple train lines owned by both Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and Union Pacific, according to city documents. These train tracks connect Minneapolis to Chicago, Seattle, Dallas and California, among other places. According to the company’s Web site, Union Pacific is the largest railroad in North America operating in the Western two-thirds of the country. Much of this land is privately owned by these railroad companies and therefore is unattainable to the Prospect Park East River Road Neighborhood. Dean Lund, the PPERR representative for the Southeast Economic Development committee, says that the railroad companies are holding onto the land for no reason, except for that it may be worth more in the future, and have been “very frustrating to deal with” in selling negotiations. PPERR is working to improve the area. A master plan to clean up the area of grain elevators and various industries was approved about eight years ago to provide the area with infrastructure, mostly new roads and a storm water drainage system, Lund says. One of the suggested improvements is a road that would extend east and west to bring semi-trucks directly to and from Highway 280. This would keep the trucks off of University Avenue and out of residential neighborhoods that surround the area, Lund says. This road has yet to be completed, but residents, such as Kari Simonson who lives on 4th Street by Malcolm Avenue, would welcome the new road. It would be extremely helpful if a truck route were built from Highway 280 to the transfer station and North Star Plant areas so that all those trucks could be taken off of University and Malcolm avenues, she says. Another improvement the PPERR hopes to make is the installation of storm water drainage sites. The area often fills with standing water, which can stall rail traffic as well as make the area unattractive to future developers, Lund says. PPERR is hoping to build a pooling area and facilities that would allow the water to drain into the Mississippi River, he says. If the area were to be restored, certain grain elevators would stay put because some are historic structures, Lund says. Others no longer in use due to the decline in the milling industry have already been removed. No matter what happens to the area, apartments are unlikely to go in. The Zoning Committee opposed the building of new apartments in the industrial area because it would have gone against current zoning, says Karen Murdock, a member of the Prospect Park Zoning Committee. Overall, Simonson says, the industrial area makes for a good neighbor that is sometimes quieter than student neighbors—but there are exceptions. The North Star Plant emits methane gas, which smells bad and could be harmful. Even with frequent calls to the plant manager, the smell continues, she says. In addition, the lumberyard found at the intersection of Malcolm Avenue and the transitway sometimes runs equipment as late as 9 p.m., annoying residents, Simonson says. Whether you’re headed toward the river or to the capital city, as you wait for your fellow passengers to get on the Campus Connector by the parking lots found in this area, take a look around. Notice the buildings and their historical meaning because, although this area may be unsightly, it won’t be silenced. Story by Sarah Howard • Photos by Brennan Vance www.wakemag.org Feature 13 14 Feature February 15, 2006 Williams Arena: The Legacy of a Legendary Barn BY jeff barthel BY photos by jessalyn Courtney As technological advances allow for revolving stadium-ceilings and rubber-induced field surfaces, one campus venue has maintained its mystical sense without such changes. With its 79-year-old rafters and one-of-akind raised floor, Williams Arena has become an emporium of rich memories for countless fans, players, employees and visitors of all kinds. “I think it has that barn look to it,” says used for basketball, off-season winter football practices, tennis and indoor track. In 1950, the wide-framed building was split in two distinct playing areas, one for hockey and one for basketball. During this time, the famed Gophers gym changed its name to the wellknown title it bears today. Since then, Williams Arena has become known as one of the nation’s premiere basketball arenas. The first game played at the Barn came in the midst of some rough years for the Gophers. Minnesota transferred its team from Cooke Hall Constructed in 1927, “The Barn,” as Williams Arena is commonly known was first titled, the University of Minnesota Field House. Chuck Mencel, Gophers basketball guard from 1951-55. “It’s a very visually appealing place and has been a popular place for Minnesota families to come to.” Constructed in 1927, and first used in 1928, “The Barn,” as Williams Arena is commonly known was first titled, the University of Minnesota Field House. In these times, the facility was (which still exists today, used for kinesiology and sports studies) to play Ohio State at their new gym on Feb. 4, 1928. The Gophers lost the game in double-overtime and finished its season 4-12 and ninth in the Big Ten. In the 1930s, coach Dave McMillan led his team to its first Big Ten title at Williams. The team took out Wisconsin and Northwestern to Above Left and Above: The inside of an empty Williams Arena. Feature www.wakemag.org finish its season 14-6 (10-2 conference). The year 1946 marked the arrival of a young Myer “Whitey” Skoog, the man many basketball historians would suggest originated the jump shot. Don Knauer, a resident of Eden Prairie and U of M alum, shared some memories of Skoog and the 1948-49 Gophers. “Whitey Skoog invented the jump shot,” says Knauer, recalling the All-American he watched in his collegiate years. “It was the first time I had seen it used,” adds Knauer, who as a member of Phi Sigma Kappa – a fraternity still in existence on 18th Avenue Southeast “We (Gophers fans) always felt it was quite the treat to take a walk over to The Barn.” Soon after the days of Whitey Skoog, came Chuck Mencel. “I remember playing Iowa for the Big Ten championship in ’55,” says Mencel. “20,000-plus people packed the Barn that day.” Mencel was speaking of Feb. 29, when the largest crowd in Gophers basketball history (20,176) watched his Gophers play Iowa for the Big Ten championship. The former All-American Gophers guard spoke fondly of that day, recalling how fans crowded themselves into the Barn’s hallways. “The public support was amazing,” says Mencel of the excitement the city had surrounding the team. “At that time, it was the largest attendance of any basketball game in the country.” Mencel spoke passionately of the uproar of Gophers fever that day, saying the famed game led some of the local Minneapolis theatres to shut down their daily operations so they could offer ticket-less Gophers fans a chance to watch the game on their big screens. Williams could seat 18,025 at the time, but the excitement of a Big Ten championship, Minnesota’s 15-5 record and its interstate rivalry with Iowa, led to masses of Maroon and Gold maniacs. Unfortunately, for the team and its throngs of fans, Minnesota lost the game 72-70 and would finish the season in second place. Moving into the 60s, “Sweet Lou” Hudson would grace the Williams hardwood. Arguably the best Gopher ever, Hudson did not win any championships, but did average 20.4 points per game in his three years before embarking on a 13-year NBA career that included six All-Star performances. Years after Hudson made his departure, another player, who is often considered Minnesota’s best ever, Kevin McHale, entered Williams Arena’s confines (1977-80). McHale, who was a Minnesota-grown boy from the northern town of Hibbing, is definitely the most remembered. The Boston Celtics’ great helped his NBA team to three championships and eventually earned a spot in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. A few years after McHale’s days as a Gopher concluded the Clem Haskins era began. The coach of Minnesota basketball for thirteen years, Haskins is remembered for two things; the team’s Final Four appearance in 1997, the other, sadly, is an academic scandal. “I was then hired by Clem as a student manager,” says Michael Dale, a Williams Arena facility manager of six years. Dale, who was prepared to leave his hometown of Rochester to come work for Haskins, years] possesses the character and charm that are lacking in the new multi-functional arenas on other campuses.” Lee—a local radio personality of 16 years— and Lynch have been WCCO 830’s radio broadcasting tandem for the past five years. Dick Bremer, a television commentator, has done Gophers basketball games since 1986. Serving as the Gophers television voice, Bremer recalls the opportunity he had of capturing up-close-andpersonal memories of the much adored ’96-97 Gophers. “I thoroughly enjoyed the Big Ten championship season,” says Bremer. “I remember the dogged determination of Bobby Jackson; he was one of the players who separated Minnesota from the rest of the conference.” Jackson, now a nine-year veteran of the NBA, played point guard for this special Gophers squad. A junior college transfer from Salisbury, N.C., in his second year at Minnesota, thrilled many hometown fans with his mind-boggling passes and his rimrocking dunks. “I remember coming up here to watch the men play and watching Bobby Jackson,” says Jamie Broback, a native of Apple Valley and forward for the Gopher women’s basketball team. “I think Bobby was one of my favorite athletes to watch, then seeing Lindsey Whalen, she was my favorite female player to watch.” Broback was a senior in high school when she saw Whalen play on the Minnesota womens team’s first full season at Williams (it previously played in the Sports Pavilion). Coincidentally, this team’s inaugural year at its new venue (20022003) was also current coach Pam Borton’s first year at Minnesota. “It’s definitely a great arena,” says Borton. “It’s a tough place to play for opponents because of its mystiqueness, because the fans feel like they are sitting almost on top of the court.” Borton has been instrumental in building success for the Gopher women, lobbying and eventually accruing the help (which included much fundraising by her players) to get the team’s new locker room and team room built. These additions, combined with much of the work Michael Dale and the facilities team have contributed greatly to the renovation, remodeling and restoration of a treasured Arena. While the Gophers men’s basketball squad has struggled this year, the 2006 Gopher women have flourished. Either way, Williams Arena will undoubtedly continue to be a magical atmosphere for students, fans and the Twin Cities public for years to come. There’s been many great years here, a great place with a wonderful atmosphere for basketball. It still possesses character and charm. never would get the chance to work with him due to the aforementioned scandal. “My only personal memory with Clem was my senior year in high school,” says Dale, “he took two hours of his time to sit and talk with me.” Reverting a few years back in Clem’s coaching regime, there was a young man named Kevin Lynch (Gophers guard 1988-91) who lit up the maple floor of the Maroon. “Oh man, this place was rocking the time we beat Illinois,” says Lynch, recollecting a favorite memory. Lynch was referring to his Gophers 91-74 upheaval of the 4th-ranked Illini Jan. 6, 1990, another of a myriad of great memories this treasured arena has witnessed. Now a radio commentator of Gophers basketball, Lynch and his partner Dave Lee, happily spoke of a place they’ve both spent several years in. “Just look at the rafters, the atmosphere,” says Lynch, following the duo’s Jan. 29 broadcast of Minnesota’s 61-42 defeat of Indiana. “It’s just a great place to be at.” “There’s been many great years here, a great place with a wonderful atmosphere for basketball,” says Lee. “It still [after nearly 80 15 16 Literary She begged for death three times daily BY andrew noyes Once in the morning When we pushed, pulled, and wiped Her spotted yellow skin. Again in the afternoon As we hoisted her fetal body From chair to bed. February 15, 2006 Insecurity BY robyn hjermstad So you hear it – Do it until you hear it! He continued to band his head against the trunk of a tree until he heard it, until he heard nothing. For her he clenched the tree’s base, awaiting the eyelet’s satisfaction, no cries came. Then he hovered until the space Editor’s Note In this week’s issue I have included a movie review, which is not typical for the Literary Section. However, Slam features poet/musician Saul Williams and the movie makes a case for poetry in modern life. With that said, I hope you enjoy the review. I also wanted to invite all the writers out there to continue to contribute their work. You can send your work to [email protected]. Kim Gengler Literary Editor underneath his fingernails bled. She couldn’t yell loud enough; he couldn’t impulse hard enough. And once more in the evening While we stripped her, Snapped on her gown, and bid her a goodnight. She didn’t work anymore. I heard once that she had been a teacher Years ago. She never played although I assumed The faded black and white photos Of a vibrant young girl were her. I hadn’t heard her talk much Except, of course, to plead with God Or to curse me as I wiped the feces from her body. I asked her once about her family; Having never seen anyone visit, I was curious. She said, “This is a nice room; is it for rent?” Occasionally her heart would stop And I would think her prayers had finally been answered. Then her Pacemaker would kick in and she would go on begging for death. Four times a day now. House BY jeremy keller My world was carpet and tiles. I could never see the floorboards beneath: ascetics, prostrate under feet. I asked my Mother questions and I could tell it was Sunday by the way the sun soared through the windows and landed on the backs of the unreasonable couches. Terry cloth capes, plastic swords, and I was David. The ceiling, the floor above it, the roof, were held up by angles more than walls. The Smiling Catholic, towering, always coming home, never leaving. I saw the next one made. I saw the cement, the timber, the glass that went into it. The walls, the stairs, the nails. I cut its umbilical chord, but, being young and foolish, I cut it improperly. A professional has to finish the job. But I hung on to my little bit of it. Didn’t I? Is it not the stone in my sling? I am witness, captive to the memory: I saw the figures and angles that murdered the angels. Winter’s Despair BY andrew noyes We march through snow In blinding strides. The wind is fierce And sun is gold. Why must cold Bite so Silent In my flesh To rivers Violent. Literary www.wakemag.org Slam, a Fresh Bang of Poetry BY kim gengler It would seem poetry has fallen off the face of pop culture. Modern music, film and television have no time for line breaks and meter. These forms of media have even taken poetry’s place when it comes to entertainment. But maybe we aren’t looking hard enough and poetry still finds its way into modern culture’s consciousness. Recently, I came across the movie Slam, which stars poet and musician Saul Williams. The movie won Dramatic Feature Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and the Golden Camera at the Cannes Film Festival in 1998. After watching the movie, I realized poetry still has a presence in today’s entertainment. Slam illustrates the redemptive qualities of poetry and, more specifically, spoken word. Through the eyes of Williams’ character, Ray Joshua, the power of words becomes clear. After finding himself in jail on minor drug charges, Ray feels pressure from the other inmates to either join a gang or face violence. Soft-spoken Ray only wishes to write poetry and be himself without the confines of the drug game. Yet the gangs want Ray and in a haunting scene he uses a spoken word piece to advert a physical confrontation. His words shock and appease the other inmates, who see the truth behind what Ray has proclaimed. This moment also attracts the attention of the jail’s writing instructor, Lauren, played by Sonja Sohn. Seeing Ray’s sincerity and talent, she invites him to join her poetry class. Unfortunately, Ray’s first visit is his last because funding for the writing program has been cut, which exemplifies just another hardship facing African Americans in the judicial system. In a poignant speech by Lauren, she encourages the inmates to rise above their impoverished circumstances and reclaim their lives once they are out of jail. Their freedom is in their hands and it is their choice to get out of crime. Ray seems to take her speech to heart since it is what he desires—freedom from the socioeconomic adversity he knows all too well. In this scene Ray and Lauren begin to feel a connection that only strengths once Ray has posted his bail and he goes to see her. Once Ray is on the outside he considers not showing up to his trial, where he faces up to five years in prison. He and Lauren get into a heated disagreement about what he should do. She believes he should serve his time and rise above his circumstances, but he cannot bear the thought. Despite the argument, Ray goes to the spoken word event Lauren invites him to. There he is introduced to the healing and redeeming qualities of spoken word. Through expressing himself, Ray sees the hope that has eluded him as an inner city drug dealer. The violence, poverty and despair of Washington D.C. falls away. Through words, not actions, Ray finds himself. As for the acting, Williams brings passion to the film, as does Sohn. Both performers bring the social problems confronting those who live in inner city neighborhoods to the forefront. Though the film may seem idealistic, it does present a message for everyone: poetry and art are relevant and have power. Williams’ work certainly takes this into consideration. He has published three works of poetry, in addition to creating music and movies. Williams brings tradition to modern mediums and forms, which can be seen in Slam when hip-hop meets lyrical prose. Overall, the film inspires a contemporary notion of poetry and its relevancy, which also makes for great entertainment. 17 Free Live Lit Calendar Ernestine Bradley Wednesday, Feb. 15, 12 p.m. Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs (U of M) 301 19th Ave. S Mpls. Professor Ernestine Bradley lived the kind of life that would put Ayn Rand to shame and leave feminists like Camille Paglia smirking with approval. On February 15th, she will tell about her life, her education, her struggle with breast cancer and she might mention her marriage to former senator Bill Bradley somewhere along the way. Gary Clayton Anderson Thursday, Feb. 16, 7 p.m. Augsburg College, Christensen Center 2211 Riverside Ave, Mpls. (612) 330-1000 It is often said the winners write history. Anderson’s book, The Conquest of Texas: Ethnic Cleansing in the Primised Land, takes a closer look at the tumultuous history of the west frontier. It examines the ethnic violence that emerged for land battles between the Native Americans and Anglo settlers, creating a more detailed history of our country. Anderson, a history professor at the University of Okalahoma, will dissues his works. N.M. Kelby Thursday, Feb. 16, 7 p.m. U of M Bookstore, Coffman Union Kelby has been interested in mysteries since her childhood. A devout fan of Nancy Drew in her younger days, she pursued a career in journalism and encountered gruesome criminal acts first hand. You can trust from her credentials that her new novel, Whale Season: A Really Good Story, is as good as the title claims. She will be discussing her book, as well as her life as a journalist. Bernie Saunders Saturday, Feb. 18, 2 p.m. IFP MSP Center for Media Arts 2446 University Ave. W The Wake is blogging. http://internal.wakemag.org/content/blogs/hiddeneye Bernie Saunders and his mother Kay are an interesting artistic duo. She writes poetry to which he befittingly adds his nature photos. In a recent book, The Grace of Ordinary Days, the pair tell stories of memories they shared from their own individual perspectives. Bernie will be discussing his work and giving a brief artistic workshop as well. 18 Sound&Vision Softer Sound Re-invents February 15, 2006 Sound & Vision www.wakemag.org 19 Turning Up the Graphic Noise BY STEVEN HALL Black Rebel Motorcycle Club speaks about the paranoias of life PHOTOS BY KEN SCHLES PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ERIC PRICE By Jenny Odegard Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s Peter Hayes has a sloppy sort of drawl. We spoke on a phone for almost 20 minutes on a grey Wednesday afternoon about what lies ahead and behind of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (BRMC). The band’s story, much like my interview with Hayes, has been through several ups and downs and incarnations since its inception in 1995. BRMC was discovered via a demo that somehow ended up in the hands of an LA radio station. “It wasn’t even written up. Just a paragraph that said, ‘Oh this is a good CD.’ And then someone from a record company read that,” said Hayes. After one record company found out about BRMC, an onslaught of record companies found out, and so began a bidding war. BRMC eventually signed with Virgin, a deal that didn’t work out in the long run, but allowed the band to release two albums and gain a little notoriety. Howl, their third and most recent album, has broken the mold of what fans expect out of BRMC, which to a certain extent is freeing them the criticism doled out to their music in the past. BRMC’s first album gained them a reputation as a Jesus and Mary Chain rip-off band, or “Black Rebel Mary Chain” as Rolling Stone Magazine put it. When asked about the making of their self-titled debut in 2000, Peter said, “In the beginning we just figured we’d do it our own way. We always kind of pictured it as we were jumping down the belly of a beast and we were gonna cut our way out.” The cutting-out process has seemed to come to a close with the release of, Howl. “Accepting money for your art and … what comes with that as far as the expectations from a record company—our expectations are that we can’t let that affect our music,” said Hayes of the way that BRMC responds to pressure from the label and the media. He portrayed a sort of “fuck you” attitude toward comparisons and expectations, asserting in several ways BRMC was not trying to do any one thing in particular. The sounds of Howl are markedly different from those previously embraced by BRMC fans, a change which has left some wanting more and others disenchanted. Hayes said that the new songs were not a change at all, but just a different part of what they had been doing all along. “A lot of songs were written on acoustic guitar and a bunch of them … were written for the first album, but we never put that on there because they didn’t work as electric songs. So we held on to them.” Holding on to the songs turned out to be a wise move, as the sounds of Howl seemed to have made many of those who had dismissed the band reconsider. The album is roosty and reminiscent of the Depression-era folk music that influences modern folk singers. This is a bit unexpected, given the previous heavy synth and electric guitar sound of “Black Rebel Mary Chain.” “It’s just an addition to what we do.” Hayes commented. As for the future of BRMC, “it all kind of is under the realm of song writing, rock and roll. There won’t be any disco on the next album.” Hayes also discussed the listener friendly sound that he feels characterizes the new release. “I like that we got it out of our systems and were able to get it out to the public. It was something that we wanted from the first two albums … it sounds more inviting to the listener.” He also talked about a sense of nostalgia that the band members themselves feel for rock and roll days gone by. The original, inventive sounds that bands like the Beatles and the Beach Boys produced, and the way those bands reinvented themselves is something that Hayes said BRMC are working towards. To wrap interviews up, I always like to ask the musician or artist if there is anything else they’d like to include in the article or any other things they want to say about their album or tour. Hayes and I had covered most of the band’s history and goals, and his suspiciously sloppy speech had sharpened over the past quarter hour. Just as I was feeling content to wrap things up, Hays responded to my question by slipping back in to a tired, possibly intoxicated slur. The Wake: Is there anything else you’d like to talk about? Peter Hayes: Well, let’s see. I don’t know. Do you want to talk about the paranoias of life? The Wake: Do I want to talk about what? Hayes: The paranoias of life. The Wake: Do you want to talk about it? ... I can be here to listen. Hayes: You can be my, what do you call that? My sympathizer. The Wake: (Uncomfortable laugh) Hayes: That’s just I don’t know. There’s nothing else to say. This is an opportunity to say something about culture. You’ve got to watch out for the culture of capitalism destroying the culture of art. Watch out for that. The Minneapolis College of Art and Design presents “Graphic Noise: Rock Posters at 1000 dBs” for anyone who has ever glanced with caution over their shoulder as they ripped down a gig poster or riddled an innocent telephone pole with staples and flyers to herald an upcoming show. Casual fans of the screen-printing magic will enjoy the exhibit as well. Scaling the walls of MCAD’s Main Gallery through Feb.19, the expansive collection of contemporary rock posters brings together varying artists and graphic design techniques from all over the world to rock your optical senses. True to the exhibit’s name, the gallery walls are draped in excess, with varying degrees of color, shape, and psychedelia screaming from all directions. Like the music it aims to promote, the posters on display are not modestly illustrated. To take in an entire wall of the pop-meets-impressionism that many of these works embody, can verge on visual overload. Each successive wall offers an abundance of inspired pieces, some boldly original (such as the Animal Collective poster featuring a mutant whale, his blow-hole replaced by organ-pipes, spouting multi-colored handprints into the sky) and others reminiscent of vintage screen print styles (the Har Mar Superstar at Dixies poster by local graphic design team Squad 19 evokes the poster art of 1960s San Francisco). Close to 500 posters represent more than 100 artists from 8 different countries, and feature musicians ranging from the locally obscure to the globally legendary. “Graphic Noise” is diversified, eclectic, and still running strong after an auspicious debut at Atlanta’s prestigious Museum of Design. With popularity of the once-underground art form growing in magnitude beyond the function of hipster urban wallpaper, rock posters have found shelter from the weather-beaten street posts of First Avenue inside the swanky offices of the corporate cool and the less swanky living rooms of Joe and Jane College. With many artists selling their works online at reasonable costs, “Graphic Noise” offers a taste of the art world that you can afford to take home with you. Opening for “Graphic Noise,” so to speak, is “Post No Bills: Gig Posters of the Twin Cities,” MCAD’s injection of some local flavor into the exhibition. On display in the Corridor Gallery, local design teams and artists including Burlesque Design, Big Time Attic, and Squad 19 are showcased with artist information to highlight some of the brightest talent that the Twin Cities has to offer. As many of the featured local artists have successfully expanded their trade nationally, it is no surprise that many of the homegrown pieces hold up strongly next to the works of their more renowned peers. If you are one prefer Modest Mouse to Monet, and are interested in indulging your rock and roll lifestyle, The Minneapolis College of Art and Design is located at 2501 Stevens Ave, and the gallery is open weekdays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays noon to 5 p.m. The exhibition runs through February 19th, and like all good things in life, “Graphic Noise” and “Post No Bills” are free. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MCAD 20 Sound & Vision February 15, 2006 Exhibit at Augsburg portrays hate and compassion Art Puzzles Over Gay Rights BY amy fink photos by stacy bengs Politics have the power to invade the sanctity of a citizen’s privacy when controversial issues warrant public attention. Photography can capture this along with the emotion lost in the political conflict. This is the case with Terry Gydesen’s exhibit Justice For All, on display at the Christensen Center Art Gallery at Augsburg College until Feb 18. Gydesen’s exhibit portrays two decades worth of conflict between gay rights activists and their opponents, contrasted with reactions from apathetic policy-makers. While some photos portray compassion and happiness, others are wrought with frustration and pain. Toward the middle of the exhibit is a striking image of a man holding a sign amongst a crowd. His sign, “No queers or baby killing feminazis,” displays the harsh intolerance that comes from xenophobia. “Death penalty for homosexuals 2004,” depicts the magnitude of this prejudice with an image from a rally at the Capital of about 3,000 people against gay marriage. “It was the most afraid I’ve ever felt at any event I’ve photographed over the years,” Gydesen recalls. “I thought about Germany at the time of Hitler’s rise to power and thought it must have felt the same way then for people threatened by rhetoric.” The final composition mixes the realty of the picture’s setting with the details viewable in the print. Placed on the streets of New York during a rally against Bush, the image shows an ad on a bus shelter with a man approaching on the sidewalk. The ad consists of a body-builder in front of a blue backdrop and the words “Vote 2004.” But since the man approaching is overweight instead of perfectly toned one could interpret it as a message about image, more specifically what American’s perceive as the perfect image. “Vote 2004” is actually part of the text “Vote for Mr. Gay NY 2004,” bringing to the table a completely different context. Gydesen describes this piece as “one of the most successful, in that it’s loaded with many different elements and can be interpreted in different ways.” “My favorite images are ones that are like a puzzle,” she adds, “an image that instantly grabs you but has additional subtle details to give lasting intrigue.” The exhibit creates an emotional montage of conflict surrounding the fight over equal rights for the GLBT community. It includes images from the 1987 March on Washington and the 2004 legislative session, at which gay marriage was a hot issue. Some of the images stray from an otherwise chronological order to create emotionally poignant pairings that reflect the contrast in drastically different worlds of thought. While Gydesen shoots with a subjective camera, her exhibit is an expression of not only her views but also those of a vast group of activists and affected groups. “I do get caught up in it, and that’s why I’m not a photojournalist—I’m not neutral.” In the end, Gydesen’s exhibit raises the question: “Can a nation really ever have justice for all?” Sound & Vision movie review www.wakemag.org ALBUM REVIEWs P.O.S. Audition BY deric brown Rhymesayers Entertainment begins the year with a burst of much needed energy for the Minneapolis hip-hop scene. Audition proves that P.O.S. isn’t just another rapper destined for mediocrity. Starting strong with the bouncy “Half Cooked Concepts,” P.O.S. immediately succeeds in establishing his persona as he rhymes, “P.O., you know the dirty one disturbing all the categories / the matador in black, killing bullshit allegories.” Similar energy is found on “Stand Up (Let’s Get Murdered)” (produced by Lazerbeak) and tracks like “A Teddy Bear and a Tazer” and “Living Slightly Larger.” Guests appear in tasteful doses, and usually working to the album’s advantage. Slug and P.O.S. trade rhymes over two of the album’s most accessible cuts, “Bush League Psych-Out Stuff” and “Bleeding Hearts Club (MPLS Chapter).” “Safety in Speed (Heavy Metal)” features a lingering Craig Finn monologue and some of P.O.S.’s best material: “Welcome to Hollywood DC / where Reagan youth grew up cowboys off Ronnie’s Westerns.” This isn’t to say the album is flawless; Audition contains many moments overshadowed by the stark vocal similarities to Eminem. Fusing punk, metal, and hip-hop hasn’t always yielded positive results, but it is obvious P.O.S. isn’t worried about labels. Instead, he seems to be kicking down any barriers in his path in order to genuinely express himself. Once again, Minneapolis offers an impressive hip-hop release that will undoubtedly retain its buzz for much of the year. The Minus 5: Minus 5 BY michael mitchell As usual, Scott McCaughey (formerly of Young Fresh Fellows) finds himself in good company on the latest record from his pet project, the Minus 5. His friends on this outing include R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy among others. In addition to containing a stellar guest list, the CD comes filled with classic sounding songs penned almost exclusively by McCaughey. Drawing on years of experience and an obvious love of ’60s pop, the music is familiar and accessible. The subject matter also evokes a feeling of by-gone days, covering the topics of gun-toting and drinking. But don’t get me wrong, the music is more than pure nostalgia. Like other super group side projects such as Golden Smog, the Minus 5 offers a glimpse into where these musicians find their roots. On a handful of tracks, McCaughey and friends try unsuccessfully to add a sense of newness to the formula, mixing distorted guitars with Byrds-style hooks in a combination that sounds as forced as it does painful. While it’s far from an essential addition to your record collection, the self-titled disc from the Minus 5 (available on Yep Roc records) assuredly has some great moments. One listen to “With a Gun” will make you want to go back and give the rest of the record a try. The Minus 5 will be at the 400 Bar on March 21. Various Artists: Otis’ Opuses BY michael mitchell When a record label like Kill Rock Stars puts out a sampler, it’s bound to please fans of just about any style of music. It’s also bound to be a little weird. Otis’ Opuses, featuring a staggering 22 tracks, is a retrospective of the label’s 2005 releases with a few new songs as well. From folk to hardcore, noise to electronica, Otis’ Opuses is at once schizophrenic and cohesive, jumping successfully between these genres without batting an eye. The sampler features mainstays of the label like The Decemberists, Jeff Hanson, Deerhoof, and Harvey Danger along with lesser-known bands. But I was pleased to discover The Gossip and the Old Haunts. By incorporating so many sounds into one album, Kill Rock Stars proved not only the diversity of their acts, but also that they can win fans from many genres by giving them a taste of something they wouldn’t expect. Listening to “Cream and Bastards Rise” by Harvey Danger and “Cute Things” by Nedelle and Thom back to back seemed like a stretch at first, but its this sort of strange sequencing that makes this album work. 2006 should be an interesting year for the Kill Rock Stars label as The Decemberists bid farewell and head to Capitol Records. Nevertheless, Otis’ Opuses showcases the label’s potential for the year to come. BY chris wilson 21 The Fog of War Yes, it’s that time of year again. Summer brings us the blockbusters, fall and winter give us the Oscar contenders. Now with spring we can expect all the crap Hollywood chose not to pawn off on us during those other two seasons. And considering how much crap came out the other two seasons, this is shaping up to be a long spring for movie goers. So instead of shelling out a ten spot for Big Momma’s House 2, I decided to stay in this past week and check out a documentary I missed a couple years ago called The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara. The Fog of War isn’t exactly a retelling of Robert McNamara’s life story. More accurately, it’s a fairly candid look at one of the 20th century’s most infamous and complicated figures. McNamara was Secretary of Defense under John Kennedy and subsequently Lyndon Johnson. While Vietnam is a major part of the film, it also looks at McNamara’s involvement in World War II as well as his time spent as president of Ford Motor Company. This is McNamara’s version of history as interpreted by filmmaker Errol Morris. The majority of the film is a series of interviews done in the late ’90s with a then 85-year-old McNamara. Morris conducted these interviews using an ingenious camera setup nicknamed the Interrotron. In a sense, it makes it appear that McNamara isn’t so much being interviewed as he is talking directly to the audience. It’s amazingly effective. Interspersed is useful and often chilling archival footage. The editing is fantastic as are the music and art direction. The Fog of War can be appreciated as film art as much as it can be as an amazing documentary. This is a lean and compelling film that doesn’t especially have a message or agenda. In fact, I found that rather refreshing. Errol Morris seems to be the opposite kind documentary filmmaker as Michael Moore or that guy who ate McDonald’s for a month. Whereas those two seem to have their messages before filming begins, Morris’s documentary is entirely centered on its subject. McNamara is not necessarily a well-loved man. But viewed through Morris’s lens, he’s given a more complicated and compelling portrayal than many would allow. This is what documentary filmmaking should be about. If history, politics or beautiful filmmaking are of interest to you, this is a must see film. Besides, we’re all going to run out of good movies to see in the next few months. Admit it—you can only watch Final Destination 3 so many times. 22 Bastard February 15, 2006 This Week in UofM History • February 18, 1789 • The University of Minnesota did not yet exist, so nothing happened at the university during the year of 1789. However, several deer hooked up, and also several squirrels got into a tizzy over missing nuts, and it just turned out that a hungry raccoon had taken them when the two were out for an afternoon stroll. Also, a crow sat in a tree and waited for the squirrels to starve to death. The crow’s patience persevered and the squirrels died two weeks later. The crow, however, also died of starvation while flying down to feast upon the squirrels. It was tragic and funny at the same time. February 21-26 a mix of the latest in electronic and electroacoustic music, video, powered installation art, dance and other interdisciplinary events. alvin lucier Lucier has pioneered many areas of music composition and performance, including the notation of performersʼ physical gestures, the use of brain waves in live performance, the generation of visual imagery by sound in vibrating media, and the evocation of room acoustics for musical purposes. British artist Robin Rimbaud traverses the experimental terrain between sound, space, image and form, creating and absorbing multilayered sound pieces that twist technology in unconventional ways. scanner/robin rimbaud with free103point9 also Maja Cerar Randy Jones Brian Sacawa Ben Nevile ...plus Electropolis and more! $0--&(&0'-*#&3"-"354 COMPLETE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AT : www.spark.cla.umn.edu Major funding granted by the McKnight Arts and Humanities Endowment. Bastard www.wakemag.org BY ALEX JUDKINS Want Ads WANTED: A car seat. Contact Britney Spears. WANTED: Someone to write want ads for me. WANTED: Someone to shoot Dick Cheney’s cheek, neck and/or chest. Contact Harry Wittington, the guy who Slick Dick shot while hunting. WANTED: The truth about why Dick Cheney shot that guy. WANTED: To be a real boy. Contact Pinochio. WANTED: A wife who’s not smarter than me. Contact Dick Cheney. WANTED: To be cool again. Contact Prince. WANTED: A Vice President that’s had two DWI’s by 21, had “been in a couple of scrapes with the law” (wikipedia. org) after dropping out of Yale, and reenrolling in a community college… oh wait, we already have that… WANTED: A skirt that fits over my ass. Contact Mariah Carey. 23 Now hiring. Sound & Vision Staff Writer Public Relations Director Get your application at www.wakemag.org