Student Magazine
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Student Magazine
THE vol.3 issue.9 www.wakenews.org Wake Student Magazine The U’s Fortnightly Student Magazine February 9, 2005 FREE FOR THEM CHEAP FOR YOU Come on Wakie, light my fire. Advertise with The Wake! Student groups get a 10 % discount on our already cheap ad rates! We have more readers than the city of Brainerd has people! E-MAIL MEGAN STEIDL [email protected] THE Vol.3 Issue 9 Wake Student Magazine The Wake February 9, 2OO5 Established in 2002, The Wake is an independent fortnightly magazine, produced by and for students at the University of Minnesota. The Wake is a registered student organization. Editor In Chief WWW.WAKENEWS.ORG Managing Editor Campus Editor Contributing Editor CONTENTS -4-7-12- Athletics Voices Literary -14-22-26- Sound & Vision Campus Bastard Pages 25 22 Zachary Carlsen Athletics Editor Lane Trisko Art Director Brie Cohen Photo Editor Andy Tyra Web Editor Andy Tyra Copy Editors Advertising Executive Cover Art Graphic Design Dear Lovers, Ever since the first Lupercian priest flicked a sacrificial-blood-soaked strip of goat hide at the young women of Rome in an effort to increase their fertility, mid-February has been a giddy time full of saccharine romance. Morgon Mae Schultz, editor in chief Frederic Hanson, managing editor Chris Compton Cameron Sorden Megan Steidl Erieann Lorsung Zachary Carlsen Brie Cohen Eric Price Morgon Mae Schultz Photography Brie Cohen Jon Hart Michael Mitchell Andy Tyra Brian Whitson -12- LITERATURE: THE ESSENCE OF LIFE From the Editors Abbey Mackenzie Eric Carlson Devin Ensz Keely Grab Erieann Lorsung Sam Soule Eli Zimmerman -5- THE WALK-ON WHO WALKED OFF -26- WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE? WILL YOU? WILL YOU? Melanie Bloom Marissa Krzmarzick Illustrators/Cartoons -24- THE STUDENT BEHIND THE RODENT -7- SHAME ON ACEDEMIA Conrad Wilson Literary Editor PR Director -14- HIP-HOP SUPER POWERS Kay Steiger Frederic Hanson Business Manager 14 Frederic Hanson Sound & Vision Editor Office Manager 10 Morgon Mae Schultz Contributing Writers Sarah E. Bauer Grant Boelter Taylor Eisenman Frederic Hanson Brant Johnson Nell Kromhout Abigail Mackenzie Michael Mitchell Nick Neaton Craig Reutmeester Morgon Mae Schultz Sara Schweid Keeya Steel Lane Trisko Chris Wilson Conrad Wilson The Wake was founded by Chris Ruen and James Delong. The Wake 1313 5th St. SE Minneapolis, MN 55414 612.379.5952 Send Letters To: [email protected] With letters, please include your name, year and college. The Wake does not publish annonymous letters. www.wa kenews.org © 2005 All Rights Reserved 4 Athletics February 9, 2005 Walk-on Dilemma A promising athlete lost in the crowd “Four hours of standing, getting yelled at, and trying to sneak face time in from the nearby cameras.” Illustration By Sam Soule Wake Athletics By Craig Rentmeester February 9, 3005 THE 5 DeJaeger and lasted nearly a month. (52 and 50 yards), which were previously When high school football ends for His daily routine started at 9 a.m. and held by the current St. Louis Rams punter seniors, only a select few are lucky enough consisted of practice, workouts, running Kevin Stemke. The transition from star to to play at the college level. Like all schools, and eventually, rehabilitation for a pulled backup was a difficult one. quadricep muscle. the University of Once the season started, the schedule “I got to know the training did not get easier because DeJaeger was Minnesota actively staff better than the coaches,” juggling school work and practice. During recruits prospects and hands out “Iʼm a run the shit DeJaeger said of his injury. Each the week, he had classes until noon and day lasted until around 11:30 p.m. practice from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The scholarships to out your ass.” during his fight for the kicking team met six times a week, with Mondays deserving players. position off. The time spent This process takes at the with the team included place over many meetings, practice, months and ends with a group of excited university. Advice for Walk-ons weightlifting and His injury players fighting for a spot on the roster. rehabilitation. The made his fight Players hoping to make the team are hard work culminated even tougher, • Never make eye contact with preferred walk-on players –- those who do with playing time. considering there your coaches. They possess not receive a scholarship but are asked to For many athletes, were about 10 magical powers that can join the team –- and regular walk-on players, kickers game day isn’t a fairy battling turn you into an “athlete,” who try to make the team without being for the starting tale experience. For preventing you from enjoying recruited. Dan DeJaeger was lucky enough position. DeJaeger DeJaeger and many college’s true treasures: to be a preferred walk-on coming into the and the other others who weren’t on drugs and alcohol. 2003 football season. the traveling squad, kickers trained Throughout high school, DeJaeger was a top-place kicker for a conferencewinning football team, thus making him a prospect for many collegiate programs. His strong leg, field goal accuracy and deep kickoff capabilities were his defining characteristics. After visiting with scouts and coaches multiple times, DeJaeger’s best offer came when the University of Northern Illinois offered him a full scholarship. DeJaeger remembered a visit to Northern Illinois. “The whole place smelled like cow manure,” he said. Thus, after a disappointing visit, DeJaeger decided to pass on the scholarship and come to the university to play football. His struggles and problems started upon arrival for preseason workouts. The workouts started in August and hours of devotion and dedication were necessary from the athletes. While being a preferred a walk-on had its perks, there were no guarantees to the starting kicker position. The biggest benefit to being a preferred walk-on was missing the week of hell that regular walk-ons endure. This week consists of intense running workouts, which drain the players’ bodies and test their mental toughness. Though spared from these workouts, DeJaeger remembers a coach repeatedly telling the walkon athletes, “I’m a run the shit out your ass.” This phrase, coupled with the aching bodies of many poor souls during this seemingly dreadful week, shows the utter despair faced when trying to earn a spot on the team. The preseason regimen was very demanding on • Volunteer to show recruits game day meant throughout the around campus. I hear the additional hours of preseason, with a strippers are great. abdominal, strength scholarship as the • If you aren’t getting any and stretching reward. Eventually, playing time, try sleeping workouts. Finally, Rhys Lloyd became with the coach’s daughter. this group of players the kicker for the That will get you the respect would run for an hour Gophers. This from the coach you deserve. and a half. Following news did not come • Offer to carry equipment the workout, the entire easily to DeJaeger, back from the field. Then, team would meet for especially since when no one is looking, steal a meal before game he had passed it. I bet it is worth a lot of time. Then the team on scholarship money. would dress and take offers from other the field. programs. For this sidelined For DeJaeger, group of people games being second best was not easy. During his high school career, meant, “four hours of standing, getting he broke the records for longest field goals yelled at, and trying to sneak face time in Dan DeJaeger can finally smile after a frustrating career as a walk-on kicker. from the nearby cameras” DeJaeger said. “After the game the opposing teams would shake hands but when your not a starter, no one knows who you are, so you’re just shake a couple of random people’s hands and leave.” This lack of exposure and recognition was a major change for the one-time star. DeJaeger said he remembers feeling that if you weren’t a starting player, the coaches made it seem like the reason was because you hadn’t tried hard enough. The feelings of underachievement and the lack of opportunities started piling up and eventually led to a major decision in this young man’s life. For the first time in DeJaeger’s sports career, he wasn’t enjoying the game and the duties that came with it. He wasn’t having fun. Also, his grades were not at the level the he wanted them to be. So after spending seven games on the Gophers 2003 squad, he decided to leave the team. The final factor for DeJaeger was that the only legitimate chance to kick for the Gophers would come in his third year, following the departure of Lloyd. But that opportunity was not guaranteed since the team could bring in a group of new kickers to battle for the starting spot each year. These factors made the decision quite easy for the freshman. He regrets not taking scholarship offers from other programs, but he has learned to adjust to life after football at the “U.” Upcoming Athletics Events • • • • • • • Photo By Andy Tyra Feb. 10 - Women’s Basketball vs. Michigan State at Williams Arena 7 p.m. Feb. 11 - Softball vs. Tulsa at the Metrodome 4:30 p.m. Feb. 11&12 - Men’s Hockey vs. Alaska-Anchorage at Mariucci Arena 7 p.m. Feb. 12&13 - Women’s Hockey vs. University of North Dakota at Ridder Arena 2 p.m. Feb. 13 - Women’s Basketball vs. Purdue at Williams Arena 4 p.m. Feb. 19 - Men’s Basketball vs. Ohio State at Williams Arena 7 p.m. Feb 20. Wrestling vs. Illinois at Sports Pavilion. 2pm A View From the Bench: Athletics matchmaker Athletics Illustrations By Sam Soule Goldy & Crunch By Lane Trisko Ah, Valentine’s Day. The perfect excuse to cry your lonely self to sleep, wishing you had the courage to ask that cute red-headed girl to be your valentine. After all, if Charlie the two will have an expensive date. They will eat $70 porterhouse steaks at Rossi’s Steakhouse in downtown Minneapolis followed by a romantic outing at professional athletes’ second home, the strip club. Janel McCarville & that twerp who thinks he’s the shit at intramural basketball. Wow. Janel McCarville is one heck of a basketball player. And that jerk who never passes in intramural basketball because he thinks he is God’s gift to the three-pointer is on the opposite end of the basketball spectrum. You know what they say: opposites attract. The two will enjoy an evening of one-on-one b-ball. That’ll teach the douche bag. Goldy & Crunch. There has been a long period of sexual tension between the mascots of the Gophers and Timberwolves. It all stemmed from an encounter at a mascot mixer when the two were in seventh grade. Crunch was harassed by the drunk and belligerent Bucky Badger, so Goldy bravely cut in and shared a slow dance to Bryan Adams’ “Everything I Do.” The two will enjoy an evening of big game hunting. This issue’s Most Valuable Gopher: Vincent Grier. No one expected the men’s basketball team to do much this year. After all, the squad lost last year’s Big Ten leading scorer and rebounder, Kris Humphries. It turned out the departure of Pretty Boy Humphries was a blessing as it instilled a team mentality for a group used to big name, spotlight-hogging players like Humphries, Rick Rickert, and Joel Prysbilla. However, the addition of Vincent Grier has been key in sparking the Gophers into one of its best seasons since the Clem Haskins era. Grier, a transfer from Dixie State Junior College, has had a phenomenal debut in maroon and gold. His athleticism and intensity on the floor is contagious and makes the Gophers a dangerous team. THE February 9, 2005 Janel McCarville & that twerp who thinks he’s the shit at intramural basketball. Marion Barber III & Kris Humphries Wake Brown could never get her, what chance did you have? But before you broken-heartedly dismiss the holiday as a corporate sham designed to boost the teddy bear and chocolate industries, let us take a moment to play athletics matchmaker and pair the sports figures that deserve to spend Valentine’s Day together. After all, sports are people too… or something like that. Marion Barber III & Kris Humphries. Since Barber decided to forgo his final year of eligibility and jump ship to the NFL, it seems fitting to pair him with the U’s former superkid, Kris Humphries. Ever since Humphries took off the maroon and gold, his former team has flourished and has an outside chance at making the NCAA tournament. Maybe Barber’s departure will have some weird, coincidental similarities for a regularly underachieving football team. With the bling inherent in the move to professional sports, 6 7 February 9, 2005 voices Issues with Citations Academic namedropping makes for questionable authority By Grant Boelter Illustration By Sam Soule “Family Guy” enthusiasts know the episode –- the one where Peter starts his own country, appropriately labeled “Petoria.” While the authorities threaten to make Peter’s house and yard part of the union once again, Peter fends them off by eloquently citing the Constitution. By simply quoting the word “the” from a passage of our nation’s handbook, Peter convinces the soldiers to disburse and he is free to reign as the leader of Petoria. This scene brings up a good question (likely by no mistake of the writers): Why does the backing of what we perceive as an authoritarian source so easily blind normally skeptical eyes? There are plenty of well-publicized examples, as Wake Voices well as those that aren’t so highly-publicized, of people we look to for information fooling even the most astute. February 9, 2005 THE 8 The most recent high-profile example that comes to mind is the CBS News debacle involving the use of what appears to be falsified documents that condemned President Bush’s military record in a “60 Minutes” special report. While Dan Rather took the brunt of the criticism for this grave mistake made by the CBS staff, executives pushed to air the story despite objections by multiple document consultants, according to a Washington Post story. Another accuracy issue wasn’t so highly publicized. In his presentation to the United Nations before the current war with Iraq, Secretary of State Colin Powell used information that had been gathered to prove Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. Powell later admitted that the information he used for that part of the presentation was not valid after the information was proven to be obsolete. While everybody who pays any attention to the news knows about the Jayson Blair scandal at the The New York Times, there are probably about four or five Jack Kelleys for every Jayson Blair. Jack Kelley was a USA Today foreign correspondent who was fired early last year after it was discovered that he had plagiarized a number of stories. What about cases in which sound information is used, but in completely the wrong context? This goes back to the “Family Guy” example. It’s pretty easy for us to identify a valid source, but not nearly as often do we examine the manner in which the material from that source is used. While the Jayson Blairs and Dan Rathers are making headlines, there are plenty of others who make a living off distorting valid (and sometimes not so valid) information. A certain talk show host on the Fox News Network and a portly political documentary-maker deserve to be mentioned when tackling this issue. While these guys are pretty extreme in this sense, most know that their work is largely subjective. However, it brings up the question of how many of the people that we count on to bring us hard news are distorting information in more discreet ways? We won’t even begin to discuss the ways lawmakers and politicians mince words to support causes. Why do people use sources to back up their work, regardless of whether the information is consistent with what they are looking to prove? It works. All of the abovementioned journalists were widely revered for their work before they went down. Much of the United States is still in the dark about Colin Powell’s gaffe during his presentation to the U.N. Any college student will tell you that quoting multiple sources in a paper often results in a better grade, regardless of whether the quotes function correctly or not. This brings up another question: Why is this type of misinformation so prevalent in today’s society? A possibility could be the way we’re educated. The use of multiple sources, good or bad, is strongly encouraged by educators. While there are many good teachers who will question the sources used, there are just as many for whom a couple of citations, regardless of what they are, will suffice. Another reason could be our general instinct to jump to conclusions. The people receiving the information are eager to See “Citations,” page 11 Ethics, the News Council and Trust Consumers have the power to keep the media honest By Sarah E. Bauer “I believe democracy requires ‘a sacred contract’ between journalists and those who put their trust in us to tell them what we can about how the world really works,” says long- time journalist Bill Moyers, addressing colleagues. These words resonated with many American journalists who are faced with a public that no longer places its trust in the media. I can’t say that I blame the public for turning off the evening news or canceling their newspaper subscriptions. Has the media really proven they even deserve our trust lately? We read The New York Times, the most trusted paper in the United States until we found out that one of its up-and-coming reporters, Jayson Blair, had lied in many of his stories. His front-page reports contained fabricated quotes, exaggerated truths and many outright lies. There had been other liars before Blair -- Stephen Glass of The New Republic and Janet Cooke from The Washington Post. But the Blair situation was the last straw for many media consumers. If we can’t even trust The New York Times to print the truth, how can we trust any media institution? Like Moyers says, our democracy, our whole nation, depends on a healthy relationship between the media and the public. We trust that journalists will tell the truth -- that they will report the information we need to make informed political and life decisions. But, journalists also depend on us, the people. We have a responsibility to alert the media when there is an urgent subject that needs coverage or when mistakes are made. This ensures that the media and the public continue to exist in a symbiotic relationship. Right here in the Twin Cities, there is a group who recognizes that. The Minnesota News Council is fully dedicated to facilitating conversations between the public and the press. Members of the GLBT community recently came to the News Council because they felt as if the local media did not know how to address their community and the important issues affecting them. The News Council created a forum where members of the media and the GLBT community gathered to engage in a conversation and discuss these issues. Each group left with a better understanding of the other, and as a result, their relationship is now stronger. At a recent News Council forum, former gubernatorial candidate Tim Penny asked the press why they make political polls so difficult to understand. Penny noted that local papers did not include or explain margins of error and that polls were often visually confusing. The next time the Star Tribune published a political poll, they included and explained the margin of error and illustrated the poll with graphics that all could understand. The editor also included a written explanation of the changes the Star Tribune had made to their polls. I strongly believe in the collaborative relationship between the press and the people. I work for the News Council. I see both sides of this relationship -- the good and the bad –- on a daily basis. Just as the News Council does, I hope to create a conversation in our community between the press and the people. I will look at issues that come up in our student publications and in the local media. I hope to address media ethics dilemmas when they arise. Ultimately these conversations can bring about changes. Trust me. Sarah Bauer is a staff writer for The Wake and submits fortnightly editorial pieces concerning local media issues. She welcomes comments at [email protected]. Harvard President’s Comments were Provocative, all Right Illustration By Devin Ensz Voices “Daddy truck” diatribe illuminates sexism THE February 9, 2004 Last month, speaking candidly at a conference aimed at solving the problem of low numbers of women and minorities in science and engineering, Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers revealed the lingering boys’-club culture in the upper echelons of academia. Summers suggested factors on which to blame the lack of female scientists, and offered the suggestion that divergent test scores between high school girls and boys stem from biological differences. Most disturbingly, he used his daughter’s play behavior to illustrate his point about genetic predisposition. The girl was given two toy trucks in an effort at gender-neutral upbringing. Summers says she named them “daddy truck” and “baby truck,” as if Summers also said that married women with children tend to shy away from the 80-hour workweeks required When suits speak off the of top science faculty. Is the problem that they shy away, or have been cuff, they show us their true overlooked? Summers faced criticism perspective, not the polished, in the past because, in each of his public-relations-departmentthree years as president, senior job offers to women have dropped. approved, speech-writer Tonya Laufenberg, “U” biology version of it. major and community adviser to the Women in Science and Engineering living and learning community, agrees that underlying bias, and not said in a letter to the Harvard community biological predisposition, accounts for the that he should have “weighed them more gender disparity in top science positions. carefully.” But when suits speak off the cuff, “Engineering and science fields have been they show us their true perspective, not dominated by men in the past,” Laufenberg the polished, public-relations-departmentsays. “At a young age, children learn what approved, speech-writer version of it. Some fields are male oriented and what fields are conference-goers defended Summers’ female oriented. This ideology causes a lack comments, saying that only when scientist of encouragement to study in fields that are are allowed to speak openly about the not oriented to one’s gender.” possible roots of a problem can they But Laufenberg is hopeful, and believes further the discussion. Certainly Summers’ that the talented and hardworking women comments shed light on the obstacle women she’s met studying science and engineering in science face: old-fashioned sexism. at the “U” can “shatter the ideology” of those fields being male oriented. Morgon Mae Schultz is the editor in Summers apologized several times for chief of The Wake and welcomes comments the harm that his comments caused, and at [email protected]. Wake By Morgon Mae Schultz they were dolls. Any Disney movie shows us that children like to imbue inanimate objects with personalities, and the fact that Summers used this anecdote to justify a lack of opportunity for women is insulting. Nancy Hopkins, a professor of biology at M.I.T., walked out during Summers’ “daddy truck” number. She told the Boston Globe, “this kind of bias makes me physically ill.’’ Dr. Hopkins, who led an investigation into sex discrimination at M.I.T. that led to changes in hiring practices, added, ‘’Let’s not forget that people used to say that women couldn’t drive an automobile.’’ I don’t blame Hopkins for walking out. I’m not a scientist, but when I put myself in the shoes of the accomplished women at the conference, I am infuriated by the implication that they just don’t have what it takes to make it to the top. This kind of bias is so upsetting because it strikes at the heart of personal identity. Imagine devoting your life to whatever it is that inspires you, only to be told by those in power that your field is a big inside joke and you’ll never get the punch line. You just had to be there when they were passing out the Ys. Oh and, by the way, when I look at you I see a little girl who doesn’t know how to play with boy’s toys. 9 Wake By Nick Neaton February 9, 2005 THE 10 Photos By Brian Whitson Voices God Lives in Ely Some say that God lives in Ely, Minnesota, way up near the “Arrowhead,” not too far from the Canadian border. It’s a charming town of about 3,700 people nestled in the sprawling Superior National Forest, a mess of evergreens, bluffs, lakes and streams. Ely is the gateway to the Boundary Waters, a pristine, unspoiled wilderness. I went to Ely in January and I saw God. Two friends and I hiked through the pines, trudging through fresh boot tracks and following cross-country ski trails. We joked around while hiking, plotting out how we might befriend a hibernating bear (after a tense initial standoff). Our hypothetical relationship with this bear, “Bitey,” grew in detail as we plowed deeper into the woods. By the time we came to rest on the shore of a frozen pond, we had already decided that our imaginary bear encounter (which had, predictably, blossomed into a featurelength screenplay) would end in tragedy, with one of us mercy-killing Bitey. The January air was unusually warm and we stood on the lakeshore, debating whether to venture onto the slushy ice. The real world seemed a thousand miles away. We hadn’t seen any signs of life during our nature walk and didn’t much expect to. But then God walked across the ice. It didn’t occur to me at first that the Creator stood out there on the lake. In fact, I thought we had merely spotted another hiker, out for adventure on a balmy afternoon. The figure emerged from the distant shoreline, about a quarter-mile away, and ventured onto the ice. It didn’t move differently than a human; it just seemed like God had taken human form in an attempt to make Himself known to us. We drank our beers in silence, watching God cross to one shore and back again, melting into the woods. If God lives outside Ely, then Satan tends bar downtown, showing up for duty in early November and leaving by April, pouring watery tap beer for snowmobilers and community-college students. He listens to his patrons try their best at karoke, emulating George Strait or Charlie Daniels. I’d like to think the devil smiled when he heard me channeling Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender” in the corner of a bar. But he didn’t seem that impressed, solemnly mixing me a whiskey sour when I redeemed my free drink ticket. Satan cruises Ely’s snow-choked streets after closing time on his black Arctic Cat snowmobile. He guns the engine, feeling 750 cubic centimeters trembling between his muscular legs. Legend has it that God banished him from the forest long ago for reasons unknown; now, Satan patrols the sleepy town on these long, winter nights, forever trapped in solitary confinement. He moves among the darkened canoe-outfitter shops, sneaks between the drunken drivers. And when spring stumbles into Ely, all bleary-eyed and clumsy, the devil high-tails it north outta town, screaming away on the county’s last quarter-inch of powder. I’m told Ely comes alive with the summer, when sunlight glistens on the water and the forest stirs with wildlife. I wish I could believe it. But a town caught in an eternal battle between good and evil can never truly thrive, can it? Nick Neaton is a staff writer for The Wake and welcomes comments at [email protected]. ll Po -ad roi The Wake Asks: Photo Poll By Andy Tyra Now that youʼre in college, do you think youʼre better or worse at bullshitting, and why? “I am a lot better at it because you have to write so many papers, and you kind of learn that you don’t have to read the readings or anything like that. As long as the teacher talks about it, you can bullshit you way through.” “I would say that I’m actually worse at bullshitting today, simply because I’m more worried about being caught or labeled a cheater.” “A lot better. More practice with papers and class. More opportunities to bullshit.” –Farhiyo Abdulle– Sophmore Pre-Pharmacy –Meagan Smith– Freshman German and Political Science –Molly Scherber– Freshman Accounting –Stefan Daniels– Sophmore Global Studies and Economics Voices “I am worse at it because now they pay attention to what you’re doing, and there are all these new technologies they use to research what you actually wrote on. There’s more attention to it. I need to make sure I’m accurate.” “Citations,” continued from page 8 Photo By Brian Whitson Nick Neaton found God, the devil and a new way to rock ʻnʼ roll in Ely, Minn. We encourage members of the university community to express their views, which are independent of The Wake Student Magazine. The Wake Student Magazine welcomes ideas from readers for opinion pieces. Ideas should focus on campus, national, or international issues, and how they affect students. Please send pitches to: Conrad Wilson, contributing editor [email protected] The Wake Student Magazine 1313 5th Street SE Suite 331 Minneapolis, MN 55414 THE February 9, 2005 Grant Boelter is a staff writer for The Wake and welcomes comments at [email protected]. Voices is the editorial and opinion section of The Wake. Wake reach some sort of conclusion from it, so that’s all the more incentive to help them along in any way possible. If the audience isn’t going to question the information, there’s no incentive for the person disseminating it to present it as if they will, unless the author has a great sense of ethics. It may also be possible that there just isn’t enough time to go through and scrutinize everything we come across. We are fed so much information that it’s difficult to absorb every detail of what we receive, much less what contributes to it. Similarly, it would be impossible for a teacher of a class of as little of 20 to go through every paper by every student and see if the cited sources were legit. While it’s always good for purveyors of information to back up what’s being said with solid sources, the value we place on this process needs to be taken into perspective. Just because someone else said it, doesn’t mean it’s the truth. 11 Literary February 9, 2005 12 ECoast to Coast Poetry New York October 23rd, San Francisco steams wheels, inhales burnt out joints, harvests moonlit-limbs, This our last weekend, I turn. My soul out to pasture, rakes dried manure & mends wild fencing. laces imagination with brandy, Bukowski as legs drip out of bathtubs. It was here I first knew broken saxophones, love-scented cabs, cowboy’s crushed trigger finger, naked subway graffiti of I hate my life and yours, slumped bottles, the wild prairie. I could steal Central Park, big-boned blade of voluptuous earth, tax-deductible on Wall Street. New York all-nighters hit morning and run, ride high with blank stomachs blank guns, pockets of plugged nickels. Fear New York, a casket without a headstone. It slays traffic with scarred palms, inside the jungle gym where God’s eye is slit. As for me, I’ll move back to the farm. I’d rather be stolen by a tractor, unloaded in the dark. (The ocean, glad & cold, poured daily into our bed.) :: About the Poet :: Nell Kromhout, a candidate for a BA in English, enjoys most of her time in a barn surrounded by hay, dirt and horses. Her other engaging activities include rock skipping, knitting, reading and writing. She frequently volunteers in schools doing poetry workshops and hopes to orbit the earth in a space shuttle someday, to count moon craters. We waded water together. I dipped into handouts from last night’s beach party, slimed & salted— Styrofoam, a broken beer bottle. I pressed away your hand, hot from my back. Blur your familiar fingers over dead nerves. We solemned our way to shore (beaten & rageful) spewing in deliberation. All the oceans died after I swallowed salt. New York, my eyes are swooping Mafiosa basement bulbs. I’d strap a heart behind them if you said I love you. :: Editor’s Note :: Walt Whitman says, “The proof of a poet is that his country absorbs him as affectionately as he absorbs it.” Coming from a man who saw himself as a prophet and seer of all things a venir in America, he obviously did not foresee this year with our poet laureate…who? It’s Ted Kooser, right? Yeah he writes good poems, but is America affectionately absorbing him? I think not. A wise man once told me that the Academy did two things to American poetry and poetics; one, it saved it from annihilation by intellectualizing the genre, making poems that are to be ‘studied’ (and if you think ‘the Beats’ saved poetry you’ll be picking fights with a lot of smart people for a very long time, but that’s another rant); and two, while the Academy saved poetry it promptly killed the possibility of Americans writing emotional poems—meaning, the kind of stuff Neruda, Akhmatova, or Hikmet wrote. If an American poet were to write their sort of poem it would be blasted as trite, sentimental, or naïve…or would it? I want to know if anyone agrees with this. Write me. Write me. Write me. --Z. Cody Lee Carlsen :: SEND SUBMISSIONS—ANYTIME—ALL SUBMISSIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED :: [email protected] Poetry L Chach The rumbling against the pavement approaches the door He enters unannounced with his board With a sigh, he overtakes the nearest armchair His body slouched and sprawled devoid of care Tossing his hat and kicking off his tattered shoes He displays shaggy hair and an ankle with a fresh bruise A typical reciting of daily events begins He reports his troublemaking and mischievously grins Revealing teeth like a tattered fence Proud of who he is and his lack of common sense Soon the conversation tapers to a quiet break He’s entranced by the buzz the television makes The clock ticks and I must leave I send subtle messages he doesn’t perceive He remains slouched, doesn’t bother to move With no plans and nothing to pursue. iminal A Fine Arts and Literary Journal Poetry Fiction Essay Spoken Word DEADLINE: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH Now Accepting Graduate and Undergraduate Student Submissions for Inaugural Publication [email protected] 5-7-5 Literary :: About the Poet :: Keeya Steel is currently a freshman at the U of M majoring in political science and Spanish. Aspiring to hold a government office in the future, she loves traveling to Spanish-speaking countries. “The reasons for which I want to hold a government office are the same reasons I like to write many of my pieces; I analyze the stated and unstated laws of our society and focus on the people that struggle with the way these systems work -- of course by a much more artful means than a thesis paper.” She also enjoys being a student at the Loft Literary Center. Photography and Fine Arts Least Resistant Never mind the cold Never mind it, persevere! Wild ice will break stones My Lover Leaves for Work as I Wake Up Sartre and Sarcasm :: About the Haiku-ist :: Illustration By Keely Grab Un-named I pen lines Looking out in the Urban My deep heart blowing February 9, 2005 All of this is real Tell me what would not be real: All of this is fake THE Wake Nine bamboos and me. I kiss your yellow pillow. Dish of sun, tout seule. 13 Sound & Vision Music Film Art Definitive Jux Unleashes Hip-Hop Superpower Meet The Perceptionists Photos Courtesy of Biz3 Sound & Vision February 9, 2005 By Frederic Hanson The Perceptionists may be one of the best hip-hop supergroups ever. They’re a collective of uniquely and supremely gifted hip-hop heads and intellects. The group – DJ Fakts 1, Akrobatik, and Mr. Lif – are among the best Def Jux has to offer. On their own, they’ve all had more than successful indie careers. As a group, they’ve elevated their respective styles into one conscious stream of pure heavenly hip-hop. They’re a Bostonborn beat-breaking lyric-shaking machine that cannot be stopped. They’re currently touring around the country in a van, picking up new devotees as they go. Recently, Ak and Fakts were kind enough to talk to us about a whole lot. Read on. Love it. And go pick up the album while you’re at it. The Wake: What’s up? Fakts 1: Hey what’s up man? The Wake: So, how’s it going? Fakts: Eh, chillin’. The Wake: So what are you doin’? Fakts: Just hangin’ out in Milwaukee man. Just had a couple days off so we’re just here stuck in the hotel basically. The Wake: How’s the hotel? Fakts: It’s a good hotel, thank god. The Wake: I was wondering – the Patriots won. I know you guys saw that coming . . . Fakts: Well, yeah – we wrote a song about it months ago. But, I’ll tell you this much, man. I woke up the night before in a cold sweat thinking that Philly was gonna win it. And then the game went almost exactly like my dream for the first half. So I was just sittin’ there – we were at this bar across the street with all these Eagles fans and shit. The Wake: You go to a lot of games in New England? Fakts: Ah, I used to. Me and my dad used to be season tickets holders, man, so I was goin’ to games from like ’85 up to maybe like a year ago. The Wake: So what are your thoughts on T.O.? Fakts: T.O.? He played great, I mean he had a great game. The Wake: And Randy? Fakts: Randy Moss? Well, I dunno. I’m not a big Moss fan. I think he’s a talented player. The Wake: So how’s the tour been? Have you had a good response so far? Fakts: Oh yeah, definitely man. I’m here with Akrobatik and we’re both just chillin’ out. I don’t know, I guess I’d just say that it’s not really been large shows. We’ve intentionally been doin’ smaller venues and just opening up for groups who normally wouldn’t even have like a hip-hop opener. But the shows we’ve done, man – people have really been into it. We’ve gotten some really interesting responses from crowds that I didn’t even think would be into our shit. The Wake: How so? Fakts: Like we did this show in San Fran that was, for all intensive purposes, an indie- rock show. And a lot of people seemed really into it. It was cool, man. The Wake: What’s the craziest thing that’s happened to you guys on tour? Fakts: Nah. I mean, we’re not the type of guys who go out and start fights and be all wild and shit. But at the same time, we know how to have fun. A wild night for me is probably a bunch of unmentionable things and whatever in whatever publication you’re putting them in. We’re all pretty laid back. The Wake: You guys conspiracy theorists at all? Fakts: Ah, to some extent. Not anything super crazy. I’m not, like, super involved in shit. But I definitely feel like there’s some shit going on. I don’t know what it is. I wouldn’t even want to speculate on it, especially in a public forum. But there’s gotta be some power at work making shit like it is. The Wake: You guys were named artists to watch in 2005 by the Boston Globe. How do you feel about that? Fakts: I think it’s great, man. I’m glad that we can get a lot of love in our hometown. And I think that’s important for any musician or artist – just to have that kind of support wherever they come from. I mean, if you can’t do it at home, what makes you think you can do it somewhere else? The Wake: What’s the scene like in Boston, outside of New York? Fakts: It’s cool. There’s a lot of shows – a lot of tours that come through. Butt there’s also a lot of local cats. I mean, they’re about a dime a dozen – not even a dime a dozen. More like a dime a gross. Everybody raps. Everyone makes beats. So it makes for an interesting scene, because there a lot of young cats doing their thing – but it also gets watered down. The Wake: What else do you listen to? Fakts: A lot of dub, a lot of reggae. What we listen to on the truck when we’re driving around is probably a good example. I mean, we’ll listen to like ‘Kid A’ to like The Congos. The Wake: Cool, so what are you doing when you’re not playing shows? Fakts: Interviews, sleep. We’ve been doin’ like phone interviews in the morning. Doin’ email interviews. Like, literally, I’ve been sitting here on my laptop and I haven’t left all day. Here’s AK. Peace. Concert Heiruspecs The Wake: What’s up AK? Akrobatik: Not much man. The Wake: So you’ve got an online Madden league. Why’d you do that? AK: Well, I just love competition and playing. It’s the next best thing to being a player. I mean, being in a league. Competition is also a way to keep in touch with friends, and to give fans a feeling that we’re accessible. We’re just regular guys to chill with. The Wake: So, in “Memorial Day” you talk a lot about Bush, politics, etc. Is that something that you want to keep at the forefront of your music? AK: Well, you know – the world is constantly changing. There’s always a lot of different things going on. So I just feel that, as a lyricist, I just want to talk about what’s going on. Whether it be politics, or health – whatever. There’s just so many topics to talk about. And because the world is constantly changing and because we as people are constantly evolving there’s always things to talk about. The Wake: So if there were a draft – hypothetically – and you were drafted, would you go? AK: Well, first of all. I don’t think I’d be of much use because of a lot of old football injuries. But if it came down to it, and I was eligible and they wanted to draft me, would I go? Um, no. I wouldn’t go. Absolutely not. The Wake: Yeah, me neither. The Wake: Who are some of your favorite rappers? AK: My favorites are KRS, Big Daddy Kane, Public Enemy. Nowadays I like a lot of the MF Doom stuff. De La Soul is still up there for me. The Wake: Got a favorite on Def Jux? AK: If I had to pick one, I mean. RJD2 isn’t an MC, but I think I like his music the best out of anyone. But you know, the originator EL-P is pretty good. Page 16 Now Open Bordertown Coffee Page 20 Review Assault on Precinct 13 See “Perceptionists,” page 18 Who: Akrobatik, Mr. Lif, Fakts 1 What: Black Dialogue, the debut full-length from The Perceptionists When: March 2005 Where: Order it online through Definitive Jux, or buy it when it drops at local record stores. Page 21 Keepin’ it Real Heiruspecs deliver rap with roots live at The Whole January 28. Wake Sound & Vision By Morgon Mae Schultz Heiruspecs is all about mixin’ it up – defying rap conventions. The St. Paul hip-hop group backs its rhymes with live drums, bass and keyboard, so on stage they look like a pair of MCs rolling out rhymes in front of a rockband backdrop. But the sound is totally integrated, with Twinkie Jiggles’ strong basslines shining through in some songs and dVRG’s piano melodies in others. The fabric holding all of it together is the dense, smooth vocals of Felix and Maud’Dib. The speed at which the two fly through their lyrics creates a texture more than a discernible verbal statement, like a handful of wooden beads tossed on the floor. The attitude of each song, which is muted on the CD, comes through on stage. Heiruspecs’ independent roots didn’t stop them from signing with a semi-big record label. Although their latest album, Tiger Dancing, is backed by Razor & Tie, the guys recorded all the songs before signing the contract. Judging from the crowd at The Whole, they’ve retained the indie-rap connection with their fans that they developed grassroots-style since they formed the band in their St. Paul Central High School music class. When Felix led the crowd in “5ves,” a song about sitting on the front step while your neighborhood goes by, a roomful of Twin Cities kids shouted along and waved their hands in the air. Heiruspecs hopped down from the stage after their set at The Whole and headed to the merch table at the back to give autographs and sell t-shirts and albums. Twinkie counted ones out of a zipup money bag. The band’s rap-world popularity hasn’t forced them to trim from their identity the pride they have in their St. Paul origins. Gearing up for “Intro,” which opens with the line “Straight outta St. Paul,” Felix asks the crowd, “Who here is proud of where you’re from?” Everyone cheers. Chatting with a fan about local music after the Whole show, Felix says he’s the only person ever to stage dive at a Mason Jennings concert. Heiruspecs blend hip-hop bravado with critical self-reflection and integrity. Felix boasts in “Drop,” “Did you notice when I’m holding this pen, I flow with my hands like Chopin or Gauguin over a jam?” but in “Lie to Me” reveals, “I sometimes wonder if these epiphanies will kill me / Creeping out of the deep, dark corners of the real me.” When a young woman asks him to sign her tight white t-shirt after the show, Felix says, “The belly only.” I ask dVRG about the absence of girl-demeaning lyrics in their songs, which I’ve always associated with rap. “We were all raised in families with moms who loved us. There’s no reason for us to hate women. That’s ridiculous.” Heiruspecs takes a lot of risks to stay true to their roots, and when you get the chance to see them live you should thank them for the turning out a fun show with heart. Heiruspecs’ latest, Tiger Dancing, is available at local record shops throughout the Twin Cities. February 9, 2005 THE 16 Photos By Andy Tyra Felix (vocals), MaudʼDib (vocals), Twinkie Jiggles (bass) and Peter Legget (drums) blend rhymes with live music while dVRG (keyboard, not pictured) adds melody. From the Cradle to the Grave A metal moment with Cradle of Filth By Brant Johnson The Wake: You were in Cradle of Filth in the very early years, left, and now have just recently returned. What is different about being in Cradle of Filth now? Paul: The band is more mature. It’s completely different. The music and the feel has matured. If you listen to The Principles of Evil Made Flesh or Dusk and Her Embrace it sounds like kids playing and on Damnation and a Day and Nymphetamine it’s so much more mature. The Wake: I am curious there is always a lot of debate amongst fans whether Cradle of Filth is black metal or “extreme gothic metal” or some such non-sense. What do you have to say to this? Paul: Cradle of Filth is completely different than black metal. I love black metal bands like Dimmu Borgir and Immortal but that doesn’t sound like us. I think we have a lot more groove. I don’t listen to a lot of black metal myself, but the band has pretty broad tastes. I do love the new Satyricon. I just don’t think a band should pigeonhole itself like these black metal bands do — that would be suicide for the band. Cradle of Filth has been around almost fifteen years and that’s because we don’t paint ourselves in a corner. The Wake: What do you have to say about the state of metal today? Paul: I think it’s rubbish, really. There’s a lot I just can’t get into. I got into metal when the old school British metal bands were big like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon. I just can’t get into the new stuff. 3 Inches of Blood is one new band that is great and they play like the old bands. of the forty-minute second stage set to do us justice. The Wake: How has the switch from Sony to RoadRunner Records been? Paul: Roadrunner, they know what they’re doing. Their The Wake: Image is “Actually, right before I got market especially. Sony tried to market obviously rather important to on the phone with you I found us as a pop band. Cradle of Filth. out weʼve been nominated for Thanks to Sony we missed out on a I do assume it is a Grammy!” lot of interviews to meant to be very promote the band much tongue in and the album cheek. Paul: Image is very important for this band. (Damnation and a Day). They offered us an It is something that we think about seriously option for a second album and we said no. to get across the appropriate concept and RoadRunner has done very well. meaning. But yes, it is done very much with tongue planted firmly in cheek. The Wake: What’s next on the horizon for Cradle of Filth? The Wake: There had recently been a report Paul: We’re already writing the next album. that one of your former band members said We’ll be touring Greece and Europe coming Cradle of Filth would not play the Ozzfest up in February and March. Readers, now go again, can you elaborate on this? out and by Nymphetamine, From the Cradle Paul: Well, that was taken entirely out of to Enslave, Dusk and Her Embrace, and context. He said it jokingly. We would do every other COF album you can get your the Ozzfest again. We would only do it if it hands on. Also, check out cradleoffilth.com. were the mainstage though. People should see Cradle when it’s dark out. We’d really need to get an hour and a half set instead The Wake: What is your greatest pride as a member of Cradle of Filth? Paul: Oh, that’s easy. Our new album (Nymphetamine). It’s definitely our best accomplishment as a band. Actually right before I got on the phone with you I found out we’ve been nominated for a Grammy! THE Wake The Wake: Congratulations! Paul: Thanks! February 9, 2005 The Wake: Now, do you have any regrets about your career with the band? Paul: No, there’s no time for regrets, I’m too bloody busy. Everything happens for a reason. Even what didn’t go well. The Wake: So, what’s the best part of being in Cradle? Paul: Meeting all sorts of different people. Playing on stage. It’s great. The Wake: So who are your biggest influences as a guitar player? Paul: K.K. Downing and Glen Tipton (of Judas Priest), Adrian Murray (Iron Maiden) — a lot of jazz musicians. But I really listen to the whole band not just the guitars. I’m a big fan of Destruction. Sound & Vision A couple months ago I had the chance to talk to Paul Allender, guitar player for possibly the world’s biggest extreme metal band, Cradle of Filth. Paul was with the band in their formative days (1992-1994) and recently returned in 1999. In 2004 the band somehow managed to top all of their previous output (which is a great feat!) and released Nymphetamine on RoadRunner Records. The Wake: Well, Paul, I’d like to congratulate you on Nymphetamine, it’s really a killer record. But for those who haven’t been compelled to pick it up, tell them why they should bother. Paul: Nobody sounds like us. People compare us to black metal but we’re nothing actually like that. It’s unique and it’s our best album. photo courtesy of www.webarchive.com 17 Wake Q&A with Jukies Hangar 18 the habit. The Wake: So where do you look for inspiration? Alaska: I think mostly we look to ourselves. I mean there’s a lot of people that have inspired us to be MCs — to try to be better. The people on our label, or cats like Ghostface and Outkast. But mostly, we sorta have our own standards that we live up to. We know if we’ve written something good or if we haven’t — we kind of know. The Wake: So do you all write together? Alaska: Yeah — for the most part we write together. We’ll usually just sit around and get a bottle and spend like eight hours trying to write a song. But every now and again there are songs that we’ll write individually, like “Take No Chances.” But most times, Paul will come up with the beat and give it to us. Sound & Vision The Wake: Are you happy with how the album’s been received? Alaska: Yeah, definitely. I wish there was a little more awareness of it — but that’s also on us, to get out there and do shows so people know who the hell we are. The crowd response has been great. The Wake: So, I was wondering — if you could open for someone, who would it be? Alaska: Mini Kiss. Midgets that dress like Kiss are even more fun. Photo Courtesy of Biz3 Media The Wake: So what’s your favorite track on the album? Alaska: “Go Git That.” I think “Go Git That” is the unanimous favorite. It was the last one we did, and it’s sort of the direction we’re going. The Wake: So are you currently working on a follow-up? Alaska: We have like seven songs recorded —or written, sorry. We just recorded one song, called “Nerdy Girl” which is sure to be a hit in America among nerd circles. Visit www.definitivejux.net to buy The Multi-Platinum Debut Album and get information on Hangar 18. Perceptionists Continued from page 15 AK: Yeah, I’m working on stuff. Taking my time. But my focus right now is promoting the Black Dialogue album. Hey You. Yeah, you, the kid, reading The Wake. Did you know that we have a new website? Yup. We do. So you should go to it. Because if you go, then you will be like, totally choice. So as I sit here, waiting for you to come visit our lucious website, I dream about you. What do you look like? Do you have that really cool facial hair that I just adore, some people call it a chin strap...but really that doesnʼt justify its greatness. What do you like to do in your freetime? Do you play the guitar, do you like to play catch in the park? Are you annoyed that I am asking you all these questions? Than gosh darn it, go to the website! www.wakenews.org Hangar 18 looms large on the hip-hop horizon. Wake By Frederic Hanson February 9, 2005 THE 18 The Wake: Oh, okay. So what’s up? Alaska: Not much — I’m just driving to the beach actually. Yeah — we’re out in L.A. so we’re just hangin’ with some friends and goin’ over to the beach. Hangar 18 recently released The MultiPlatinum Debut Album. Their inaugural debut on Definitive Jux, Platinum – paWL, Alaska and Windnbreez — is more of an The Wake: Shit — it’s like 20 degrees here ironic understatement than anything. Maybe or something. it’s their defense against fears that they’re Alaska: Yeah — we were just there when fall into some kind of indie you guys had like hip-hop pigeon-hole like so twelve inches of many indie rappers seem to snow. We get drunk now and have done —but probably not. It’s mostly just funny. again but we donʼt do The Wake: So how And it’s pretty obvious they heroin yet. We havenʼt would you describe don’t need to worry about your sound? made enough money anything musically. Talking Alaska: I don’t know with MC Alaska, I learned yet to support the — I guess if I were a few things —notably, that to compare it to hiphabit. yes, they are actually named hop I’d probably say after the Megadeth song and Beastie Boys meet prior to hip-hop, Alaska’s HyRO. But I always favorite group was Iron Maiden. Strange. like to say that we’d be Guns ‘N’ Roses if The Wake: Is Tim there? they were a hip-hop group. Alaska: No, can I take a message? The Wake: You all live like Guns ‘N’ Roses The Wake: Yeah, this is Frederic with The too? Wake Magazine. Alaska: Ah — we try to. We get drunk now Alaska: Oh, hey, what’s up? Sorry — I was and again but we don’t do heroin yet. We screening my calls for telemarketers. haven’t made enough money yet to support NOW HIRING! Campus Writers Photography Editor Cover Artist Photographer Visit www.wakenews.org for an application Nate on Drums Local TV worth watching ʻNate on Drumsʼ holds its own in television THE February 9, 2005 consecutive episode aired on Channel 45. For season two, they plan to run an episode every week (as opposed to the once a month time slot they have right now). When asked about being on television late Sunday night, Price said, “We’re on at the same time as syndicated episodes of The West Wing. I think people like seeing something they haven’t seen before.” Something they haven’t seen is what the audience should expect, especially if you happened to see this month’s episode featuring cast member Linnea Mohn’s “Sex Bomb” segment. “The show is a reflection of our different backgrounds,” Price told me. Upon watching an episode, this becomes clear, but not in a way that is distracting. The influences of animation, drama, and music collide in a format that allows for this sort of variety. There is obviously a similar sense of humor among the people involved, and an extreme joy in making each episode. “We’ve got full time jobs,” said writer Caleb Rick. “But this is something we definitely like making time for.” On a recent episode, while introducing a segment, Mohn claimed, “These are the people I work with – Nate, David, Motion. They’re nice, polite young men, which in reality means they’re boring.” Sorry Mohn, but I’m going to have to disagree. The cast of “Nate on Drums” is far from boring; they’re spectacular. They also love what they do, which is of equal importance. If you call yourself an aficionado of the local music scene, or if you really want to see some great comedy by some Twin Cities talents, then you need to watch “Nate on Drums.” Don’t forget – the season one finale airs on Sunday, March 6 at 11:00 p.m. on Channel 45. Wake effective: write three or four really funny shorts, have four really talented people When you think of sketch comedy, two act them out, and have a live musical things probably come to mind: “Saturday performance close out the show. “Nate on Night Live” and “Mad TV.” When you think Drums” is tasteful, amusing, and incredibly of locally produced cable access shows only original. Aside from playing with such local one thing probably comes to mind: why bands as Cowboy would I waste my Curtis and Coach time watching Said Not To, that? What you Nate Perbix is may not know “Ranging from animation the show’s host is that the Twin to ad-lib dialogues, ʻNate and namesake. Cities has its own Introducing the locally produced on Drumsʼ epitomizes segments from sketch show variety.” behind his drum called “Nate On set, Perbix is Drums” that often guilty of could easily rival either of this genre’s giants in terms of impeccable wit and the inability to keep originality and taste. Not only is “Nate on a straight face. According to Harris and Drums” funny, it features local music, too. Price, Perbix is the show’s access to the It’s so good that Channel 45 has picked it up, local music scene, and a big supporter of which is a big leap for a show that was once getting bands on the show. All the music, from background clips and segues to inon cable access. Operating out of a studio in Mound, studio performances, is done by bands Minnesota (on Lake Minnetonka), the cast that the cast knows or from submissions of “Nate on Drums” is a small, tight-knit they receive from local groups. February’s group. “I love doing this,” David Harris show, for example, featured a performance said, reflecting on the time spent with by The Screens and a soundtrack including his cast members. Aside from being one The Repeats and The Amber Estate, among of the four main onscreen personalities, others. Ranging from animation to ad-lib Harris also functions as the show’s segment producer. He met cast-mate and creative dialogues, “Nate on Drums” epitomizes director Motion Price at the University of variety. The ideas always seem fresh –Minnesota when they were paired together showing evidence of a good sense of humor and an interest in developing the characters. as roommates by chance. “The whole show is put together by The show, which ends its first season with about eight or 10 people,” Price told me. a final episode on March 6, is moving out Most of them went to high school together, of what the cast called its “experimental where the idea of filming these hilarious phase.” Whatever the experiment may have been, it was successful. “Nate on sketches originated. The format for this show is simple and Drums” has seen ratings increase for each By Michael Mitchell Photo By Michael Mitchell Sound & Vision ʻNate on Drumsʼ holds its own in television. 19 Sound & Vision It’s a Fraternity! No! It’s a Coffee Shop! Bordertown Coffee comes to U owns the house and coffee shop, bought it two years ago, renovating it to its current Creative thinkers converted the grind-glory grandeur. former Theda Chi frat house into a coffee The name came from an ethics and shop that seeks to serve its philosophy discussion community in an ambitious group named way. Bordertown Coffee Bordertown that met opened in Dinkytown on “Itʼs a place where in the space about a the corner of 4th Street and year before the shop people can come 16th Avenue, at the end of opened, says Nathan and share ideas.” January, the day before the Clancy, a supervisor at Twin Cities got its first real Bordertown Coffee. He dose of snow. says the name stayed The Theda Chi house, because the shop wants built in 1929, closed about five years ago to keep that feeling. “It’s a place where due to fire safety regulations and declining people can come and share ideas,” says enrollment. The house remained vacant Clancy. He also stressed that it is a place to until Greg Silker, the director of Campus study, meet with friends, or even enter into a Journey, a non-profit Christian and non- conversation with people you do not know. greek fraternity and sorority that currently “As the coffee shop has come to the By Conrad Wilson foreground…building community has become a real big focus. There’s so much isolation to be had in American culture. On the largest campus in the nation [this] is a place where people can come,” says Matt Wingard, an employee of Campus Journey. “It’s an attempt to recapture the heart of community.” “We have a society that’s being medicated for the depression caused by isolation. If we can fight that on the forefront…than we’re really on our way,” says Wingard. Bordertown has a lot to offer their customers including: free wireless Internet, a full selection of coffee beverages and fireplace with plenty of couches and tables. They also have a room that groups can reserve if they want a more intimate meeting space, free of charge. “The value of a coffee shop is that in a sense it is a retreat from what’s going on and we want to cater to that…we want people to come in here and make it a place that becomes a home,” says Dan Armstrong, manager of Bordertown. The shop currently has acoustic performances every Friday night that they eventually hope to expand to other types of music. Other plans include hosting a local film festival, a place for artists to display their works and lectures once or twice a month on various topics. “Our goal is to be art rich,” says Silker. “We want to be a community that invites other communities,” says Clancy, but admits that a lot is still in the developing stages. “It’s still a business but we’re trying to put a heart underneath it,” says Wingard. Wake Bordertown’s Web site, which is up but not complete, is www.bordertowncof fee.com. February 9, 2005 THE 20 Photos By Andy Tyra Bordertown provides a unique atmosphere for coffee consumers. Wake Movie Review Film: Assault on Precinct 13 Ja Rule Against Classic Cinema Wake Food Review Eat a Piece of Elvis at St. Paul’s Highland Grill By Taylor Eisenman The Superhero Food Critic Rating: Sterling Location: 771 Cleveland Ave S, St. Paul 55116 The Wake reviews a restaurant every issue and rates each one with various arbitrary adjectives. February 9, 2005 sandwiches, and breakfast items beckoned to be tried. Choosing just one seemed an injustice to the menu and my stomach. But alas, in the end, my roommates and I shed a tear apiece, buckled down, and asked the waiter for a couple more minutes. I was ultimately cajoled by the fresh spinach salad with chicken. I know what you are thinking — salad? You could have had breakfast you fool! I’ll admit it; I am a sucker for salads, especially a fresh spinach salad with seasoned grilled chicken, candied walnuts, dried cranberries and brie cheese all floating in harmony with a tangy raspberry vinaigrette. This was where my stomach began to sing … “Heaven, I’m in heaven la la la.” My other victorious roommate ventured into the award-winning world THE Wake anyone. We all learned in the third grade that you’re not supposed to kill people. The original plot was about a gang If you like your movies mindless and out to avenge the murder of their leader, action-packed, you might want to check out both the new “Assault on Precinct 13” no matter what the cost. In the update, this remake that’s been in theaters a couple of becomes a crew of several dozen crooked weeks, and the original 1976 John Carpenter cops trying to murder Fishburne’s character cult classic of the same name. With no before he can turn state’s evidence. Naturally they have real plot to induce to kill everyone else distracting thoughts, in the police station these B-action movies as well. Gabriel Byrne plays “the are the perfect remedy This new to the Oscar snobbery bad guy” and tries to jusversion is a bad we’ll have to look tify his badness, but heʼs movie in the good forward to in the not fooling anyone. We all way, but in my coming months. mind it’s also a The original film learned in the thrid grade bad remake. It strands a handful does more with the of people inside an that youʼre not supposed crooks and cops abandoned police to kill people. stranded together station against an subplot but hasn’t onslaught of nameless the whole dirty street thugs. No famous police thing been done a few times already? actors and plenty of glorified violence. The beautiful thing about the original movie Honestly, if you’re rehashing Steven Seagal is how it plays with stereotypes. Making movie plots (remember “Exit Wounds?”) their stand are an assertive black cop, a you probably aren’t pushing the originality wise-cracking-white murderer and a pair of factor enough. The ‘76 version’s wave after female secretaries. Referring to coffee, one wave of anonymous attackers made it almost of the secretaries asks Ethan Bishop, the like a zombie survival movie, akin to “Night protagonist cop, “black?” He replies, “for of the Living Dead.” Also, the changes from over thirty years.” The same secretary ends an assertive black cop to a burned out white up taking up a gun, refusing to become the cop and from a wisecracking, likable white criminal to an intimidating black criminal damsel in distress. With an impressive cast (including aren’t really beneficial changes. It also Ja Rule…), the remake sends the action would have been nice to see some nods fast and furious though, without that stale to the source material, especially since Vin Diesel aftertaste. Ethan Hawke stars the original “Assault on Precinct 13” was as a burned out but still duty- bound cop, actually a modern update of the John Wayne crime kingpin Marion Bishop is played western “Rio Bravo.” If you don’t like old, low budget films cold and sinister by Laurence Fishburne; you’ll want to stick with the new version. Brian Dennehy is the jovial old Irish officer; John Leguizamo is the coke addict with an Otherwise, I would highly recommend the astounding vocabulary (not just of the four 1976 “Assault on Precinct 13.” It may lack letter variety); and Ja Rule does his best at the polish of its 2005 predecessor, but it playing the two-bit thug he is in real life. more than makes up for it in over-the-top Gabriel Byrne plays “the bad guy” and tries personality and under the radar social to justify his badness, but he’s not fooling conscience. By Chris Wilson Sound & Vision Photo Courtesy of RottenTomatoes.com of the turkey burger. Voted best turkey The beginning of this particular food burger by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine in expedition occurred months ago, before 2003, this burger had a twist of Thai in it. the onslaught of winter, at a barbecue Peanuts, jalapeno, onion, garlic and curry party my roommates and I hosted. We blended with ground turkey and accented were in the midst with pepper jack of a bet only horny cheese, poblano college girls would pesto aioli and implement: the makegreens. We were in the midst of out-with-a-random And finally, a bet only horny college boy bet, when out of the benefactor nowhere I went from girls would implement: the of our meals jolly to tipsy to piestrapped on her make-out-with-a-random eyed and plastered. “Blue Suede Blurbs of memory Shoes,” warmed boy bet. from that night flicker up her pelvis, and clear and then fade, sunk her teeth but I do know this — into a burger I won and so did my other roommate, but from Elvis. The Elvis burger was a meaty in the same impalpable fashion. Our prize morsel with a six-ounce beef patty, two was dinner, paid for by our less prosperous strips of bacon, American cheese, lettuce, roommate. Only in college can you win a tomato, onion, pickles and roasted garlic wager and get treated to dinner without mayo. Her only complaint—too much actually remembering how you won. lettuce. To claim our blue ribbon for After all of us had scraped our bawdiness we were taken to the Highland plates clean, we were brought the bill. Grill, a decked-down ‘50s diner, the usual I omnisciently smiled at our waiter. We nostalgic records and Fonzie memorabilia were not done yet. I explained that our missing from the walls. The décor was vision had been obscured throughout the modern—black metal lights hung against evening by piles of whip cream and we bright green walls contrasting the red ‘50s were prepared to investigate. We ordered booths. crème brulee and a brownie sundae. The It was Saturday night. We took crème brulee came dressed as its rich, two steps in the door and became part of a hungry parade of sardined patrons, fresh-vanilla-bean self and was, as always, all waiting to put their names in. While a treat for the taste buds. However, the heavyweight champion we waited, my wandering eye caught for the night was a humongous brownie glimpses of stacked high sandwiches, colorful salads, and to my delectation, topped with vanilla ice cream, chocolate overflowing omelets and hash browns. and caramel sauce, and two walloping “They serve breakfast,” I squealed, my puffs of whip cream. The sundae’s nimbus inner child enraptured by the chance to lingered even after the last bite of divinity have pancakes for dinner. We promptly was devoured. Highland Grill serves up quality put our name in and were told it was only a American cuisine, infused with unique fifteen minute wait—praise the diner gods ingredients that even the most avid meat for their in-and-out ethics. The menu was extensive and the and potato lover will enjoy. The reasonable exploration of it was a frustrating fiasco. prices and good service make Highland A medley of entrees, burgers, salads, Grill king of diner country. 21 Campus February 9, 2005 22 Sexy is as Sexy Does Gavon “The Houseboy” Haubner gets tense as things heat up and clothes fall down. Photos By Brie Cohen A burlesque beauty strips behind a translucent scrim, creating a 3-D effect for audience members wearing special glasses (see opposite, bottom left). Le Cirque Rouge de Gus is a wildly entertaining burlesque and cabaret show that puts on a risqué, refined performance. “The show celebrates women, because any woman can do this,” says manager Amy Buchanan. “You don’t have to look like Barbie. Sexy is sexy.” Le Cirque Rouge performs at The Loring Pasta Bar every Saturday night at 10 p.m. The troupe will put on special Valentine’s performances at the new Varsity Theater in Dinkytown on February 11, 12 and 14 at 9 p.m. Campus Le Cirque Rouge shows off its talent in an Egyptian dance. Actress Corin Caovette sings the blues. THE Wake Spectators check out the 3-D silhouette strip. February 9, 2005 What a tease! 23 The Importance of Being Goldy The mystery of the gopher revealed Wake Campus By Sara Schweid February 9, 2005 THE 24 energetic, loyal, [they] yell loud, and love their team.” As for signature dance moves and When I first decided to attend the University of Minnesota, I remember a sideline performances, Goldy has a few up friend of mine chuckling at the thought his sleeve. He calls his most impressive of me becoming a Gopher. A Gopher is, move the “head spin,” which can be initiated by the crowd if they yell perhaps a slightly unusual “Spin Your Head!” to mascot, not fierce like the beat of three claps a Tiger, not outright A gopher is repeatedly until grabbing ridiculous like a Hokie, Goldy’s full attention. (whatever that is), but it is perhaps a slightly Post-touchdown, the the perfect personification unusual mascot, crowd loves to count along of Minnesota nice. not fierce like a as Goldy does a number For 74 years, Goldy the Gopher has been the Tiger, not outright of pushups equal to the Gopher’s score. Goldy is face of the University ridiculous like a a nationally recognized of Minnesota, and he mascot. This year, Goldy couldn’t be happier. A Hokie (whatever was among 12 university die-hard Gopher fan and that is), but it mascots nominated for an athlete himself, Goldy the Capital One Mascot leads an interesting life. is the perfect Challenge. He calls the From performing at personification of whole experience a “true sporting events, to making Minnesota nice. honor,” personal appearances, to and feels practicing his signature grateful to dance moves and of course, making time to impress the ladies, Capital One for providing Goldy is quite the busy little gopher. As a mascots with some much student athlete whose season never ends, deserved recognition, saying staying in shape year-round is a necessity. that the competition “really As Jon Hart, Coordinator for Goldy Gopher gives mascots a chance to shine.” performances states, “it is It may very grueling to be in the seem odd to costume,” and so physical “It is very grueling be writing fitness is important. As to be in the this and a student athlete, Goldy referring must be a full time student, costume,” and so only to maintain a 2.0 GPA, and physical fitness is Goldy, and attend regular practices. not the Other than that, there are important. person who few actual requirements puts on for becoming Goldy. Each spring there is an audition that suit and entertains us process, during which students are tested all at sporting events. But, on physical fitness, personality, character it is essential to protecting creation and improvisation. This is the best what Jon Hart refers to as the way to test the students’ ability to perform “integrity of the character.” Any actor knows that and of course make people laugh. We’ve all witnessed Goldy’s sideline performances, one of the worst things and can probably agree that he is able to do that he or she can do on stage is break character. all of that amazingly well. And the best part of performing? For the duration of each “Interacting with the true Minnesota sports performance the actor is fans that are crazy at the games,” says not himself, the actor is the Goldy, they are “the best in the country… character. This basic theater lesson is taught to Goldy and is strictly upheld, hence the lack of a personal interview with the performer. The more that I considered this extensive secrecy I realized the importance of it. Hart puts it simply; Goldy is a symbol not only for the athletics department, but for the university and even the state as a whole. The identity of the performers must be kept secret because Goldy is “so Image Courtesy of umn.edu much bigger than the individual…and no one individual can take credit for what Goldy does.” And Goldy loves everything he does. He is able to travel and perform around the country, and makes appearances at birthday parties, weddings, and charity events, to name a few. Despite the fact that he receives “numerous professional offers each year,” he certainly has no intention of leaving the university. Though he loves his position here, if he could be any mascot, Goldy would want to be a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. “I am pretty good with a Bo staff…and I have been practicing my Nunchakus skills.” He has some in his locker and told me to stop by if I ever wanted an exhibition. Perhaps I’ll take him up on that offer. Contact Jon Hart at the Spirit Squad Office for information on the spring auditions (612) 382-0609 Photo Courtesy of Jon Hart Photo Courtesy of umn.edu Valentine’s Day is for Lovers Chemistry students unaffected By Abigail Mackenzie Online dating services reek of the information age. It seems almost impossible that they existed before people were too busy to leave the office for lunch let alone find a lover. Dating services have been around in one form or another (women didn’t always have it so good) for centuries. During the Roman Feast of Lupercalia, a pagan festival that celebrated the gods of marriage and religion, the Romans held a date lottery. The women would place love notes into a large vessel and then the men would pick one out. Whomever’s love note the man chose would become the object of his affection. The date of this festival: February 14th. Obviously, Valentine’s Day has come a long way since its inception during early Roman times. Campus Today greeting card companies sell more than $9 million in valentines. Today greeting card companies sell more than $9 million in valentines. Add in all of the money people spend on flowers, chocolates and jewelry for their sweethearts and you have an industry so large it would rival a small country’s GNP (Gross National Product.) In Dinkytown the owner of Avalon Campus Cards says Valentine’s Day is their second biggest season next to Christmas and that February 14 is their highest volume day. It seems like some people are reaping the benefits of the holiday celebrating love. When asked why she likes Valentine’s university sophomore Cindy Tschautscher responds “you get spoiled by the person who loves you.” THE Illustration By Eric Carlson “It’s enough to make a free-thinking individual want to gouge his own eyeballs out with an old rusty pair of scissors,” Leigh “Fuck Hallmark” Orf writes on his Web site. Orf has provided other Valentine’s Day haters with a way to survive the holiday. Suggestions include to “firebomb all of the Hallmark card shops you can find” and declare February 14th a day of hate. There are plenty of others who oppose Valentine’s Day, but many take a much less extreme stance than Orf. University sophomore Amy Dvergsdal says the holiday was more fun as a little kid. “I think it started out as a nice idea, sharing Valentine’s Day with someone you love, but I think it’s really kind of stupid now because there is so much pressure now. If you are dating someone you have to get them a present. If you are not dating somebody you have to be up-in arms over Valentine’s—so many people have so much hatred for it,” Dvergsdal says. First year chemistry grad student Aaron Burns, says Valentine’s Day sucked in high school, but now he doesn’t really think about it. “You’re asking chemists, I don’t think we think about Valentine’s Day.” Tschautscher’s brother Craig had a similar view of the day. “It’s just another day,” Tschautscher says. February 9, 2005 While many still revel in the anticipation of Valentine’s Day, others find the holiday too commercialized and ridiculous. Googling “Valentine’s Day sucks” brings up pages of sites, many of them blogs, devoted to anti-valentine supporters. One had a particular message against the day associated with cupid. Wake “Itʼs enough to make a freethinking individual want to gouge his own eyeballs out with an old rusty pair of scissors.” 25 February 9, 2OO5 26 The Wake Asks: Will you be my Valentine? “Maybe...” -Ryan JahnkeSophomore Chemical Engineering “Maybe...” -Michaela EchelbergerJunior Political Science “Maybe...” -Ashleigh GeibSophomore Sports Studies “No.” -Shah-Nawaz M. DowadSenior Biochemistry Wakie Got Mail! Wakie Says Hello To: Apparently our friendly Wake eye with apendages has fans. Look at what Wakie got in the mail! Go Wakie Go Wakie, it’s your birthday. Ann Well golly gee Ann, don’t you feel special! Tune in next issue to see if Wakie will say hi to you! -If Wakie said hi to you, say hi back!Write Wakie at Wakie 1313 5th St SE Suite 331 Minneapolis, MN 55414 So, itʼs almost Valentineʼs Day. Have you forgotten to make a card? Cut out an Arbitrary Award and tape it on a piece of paper. Itʼs way better than all that mushy gooshy crap anyways... THE WAKE’s ARBITRARY AWARDS! BEST accent: American accent you stupid foreigner. EASIEST test: drug test. WORST Valentineʼs day gift: gonorrhea. WORST fire: This fire! AHH! It burns! JUICIEST fruit: The fruit that juicy fruit gum comes from. BEST impression of a donkey: your jack-ass of a neighbor. jij & iji -By Eireann Lorsung- Co mix The Broken Sidewalk -By Devin Ensz- BASTARD So You Are In Collage -By Eli ZimmermanTHE Wake February 9, 2005 27 Web site of the issue: Build Your own Hero!! http://www.ugo.com/channels/comics/heroMachine2/ �� � ������ ������ �������� ��� �������� ���� ������ �� ���� �������� ��� ��� � � � � � � � � � � � � ������� �� ���� ��� ������� ��� ����� � � � � � � ������� ���� � '92 Safer Se x Si nce ���� JOIN THE ����� ���� ������ ������ ��������� ��� ������ � ��������� ������� ��� �������� ! pportunity O e ic v r e S Unique ARANTEED � � � T O GU Spphorah the Seawoman • M AK E YO U T HI N K • CALL WIT H QUESTION S 612.624. 194 0 ���� � ��� �������������� ����� � ����������������� ���������� ��� ��� � ���������������������������������������������� � ������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������� ����������������������� � � �������������������������������� � ���������������������������������������������������������������� � ������������������������������������������������������������������ ��� ���� ������������ ����� ��������������������� ������������������������������������ � ������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������ ����������������������� ������������������������������������� ��������������������� ������������������������������������������ ���������������������� ���������������������� ������������������������������������