Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
The Daily Gazette
Swarthmore College
Friday, October 2, 1998
Volume 3, Number 18
NEWS IN BRIEF
1) ML decides not to host Halloween party
2) World news roundup
3) Campus events
SPORTS IN BRIEF
1) Women’s soccer falls to Gettysburg
2) Today’s and tomorrow’s contests
WEATHER FORECAST
Today: Mostly sunny, breezy and cool, with highs in the mid to upper 60s.
NW wind increasing to 15 to 20 mph and gusty.
Think Van Gogh at Arles…
Tonight: Mostly clear. Low in the low to mid 40s.
…but this is your cue to put away the capri pants for good, darling.
Extended Weekend Forecast
Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.
Sunday: Fair. Highs in the upper 50s to upper 60s.
It’s all about trysts in the Crum — make the most of those last,
dappled rays of summer sunshine.
*****
NEWS REPORT
1) ML decides not to host Halloween party
Mary Lyons (ML) dormitory announced yesterday that it will not host a
Halloween party this year. The dorm sent an official statement to the
Gazette and other campus publications explaining the decision. The release
said the decision was made by the “Resident Assistants of Mary Lyons in
consultation with residents of Mary Lyons, other Resident Assistants, and
Deans of the College.” The statement cited “the new vigilance of the
Swarthmore Police against underage drinking and public drunkenness” and the
“high number of students who must walk to and from a Halloween Party held
in Mary Lyons which combine to create a large danger of numerous students
being picked up by the police” as the reasons the party will not be held in
ML this year.
According to Chris Flood ’99, the decision was not made lightly. Flood, an
RA in ML and a three-year resident of the dorm, said he spoke with RAs from
ML and other dorms during RA training and at a recent RA luncheon. College
Deans were also present at these discussions. Flood stated that the Deans
and most of the RAs agreed with the rationale behind the decision. The
crackdown by Swarthmore Borough police creates a difficulty for students
who drink alcohol at the party but then must walk back to campus. Flood
also spoke with many residents of ML about the possibility of not hosting
the party. A majority of the residents, he reports, “were not too
disappointed” about the decision.
Back on campus, the decision is eliciting mixed reactions. Janice Gallagher
’99, an RA in Mertz, protested the decision and the way in which it was
made. She said, “I am really horrified at their decision… The Halloween
party is a Swarthmore tradition that involves the entire campus… [The ML
RAs] should have taken the entire campus’ opinions into account.” She
pointed out that not all RAs were present at the RA training when Flood
mentioned the topic, nor were all present at the RA luncheon at which it
was discussed. Gallagher said she would have preferred “a more open forum”
in which alternatives could be discussed before the decision was made. On
the other hand, some students are more supportive of the decision. Megan
Hallam ’99 notes, “It seems like a reasonable decision based on police
presence; it’s not done to kill our fun… It’s sad to see a tradition go,
but maybe next year.” According to one (unconfirmed) source, ML has been
hosting a Halloween party for the past ten years.
Several residents of ML expressed relief that the party will not be held
there this year. Scott Price ’00, who has lived in ML for three years, is
“sad that people won’t be coming to ML,” but he does not regret the
decision. He said he is happy with the Dead Dog Cafe, and he added that
damage from last year’s party (including damage to a bannister, broken
windows, a door ripped off its hinges, stolen items, and pungent squid
materializing in the ML breakfast room) cost the residents of ML a large
amount of money to repair. Beth Biller ’00, also a three-year resident of
ML, described her dislike for the event after her room was invaded during
the ’96 party by a random person who only managed to yelp, “I’m sick!”
before charging into Biller’s shared bathroom. “The main reason I’m happy
about the decision,” Biller explained (only half-joking), “is because ML
just doesn’t have the bathroom facilities when you have people wandering
around vomiting.” Chris Flood ’99 emphasized that these are not the reasons
behind the dorm’s decision.
As Halloween draws closer, students should not be concerned their evening
will be dull. Brian Bell ’99, co-chair of SAC, said confidently, “There’s
going to be a Halloween party.” SAC has received one Halloween party
proposal so far, and, Bell said, “I’m sure there’ll be more.”
*****
2) World news roundup
HOUSE DEMOCRATS COUNTER REPUBLICAN INQUIRY RESOLUTION
Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee spent Thursday devising
a counter-resolution about the terms of any impeachment inquiry that may
take place. A Republican draft presented Wednesday called for an open-ended
inquiry in which charges not pertaining to the Monica Lewinsky scandal
could be brought against President Clinton, including allegations
concerning fund raising activities, misuse of FBI files, and Whitewater.
The Republican resolution does provide measures for Clinton’s lawyers to
cross-examine witnesses and object to evidence presented in an inquiry. The
House Judiciary Committee will convene Monday to decide whether to
recommend an impeachment inquiry against Clinton.
FURTHER REPORTS OF KOSOVO BRUTALITIES INTENSIFY INTERNATIONAL CONCERN
As reports of massacres conducted by Serbian forces against ethnic
Albanians in the Yugoslavian province of Kosovo continued to be released
from the war-ravaged region this week, the United Nations and NATO both
attempted to increase pressure on President Slobodan Milosevic to put an
end to the violence. After an ethnic Albanian told of how he survived a
massacre of thirteen villagers conducted by Serbian police, the U.N.
Security Council called upon Milosevic to punish whomever was responsible.
United States Secretary of State Madeline Albright announced that NATO
forces were prepared to begin air strikes against Serbian targets unless
the brutalities were stopped.
IN OTHER NEWS…
The Dow Jones fell 210 points Thursday, marking the second day in a row
with a 200+ point drop… The United States warned North Korea about its
testing and exporting of long-range missiles Thursday; talks of the same
matter begin today in New York between officials of the two nations… In
Major League Baseball playoff action, the Houston Astros defeated the San
Diego Padres 5-4 to tie their series at one win apiece; the Braves notched
a 2-1, 10-inning win against the Chicago Cubs to gain a 2-0 series lead.
*****
3) Campus events
FRIDAY
AIDS Walk Fundraiser Concert
WRC, 9:00 p.m.
Hooked On Phonics Party
Worth, 10:00 p.m.
Student Piano Recital
Lang, 4:30 p.m.
Dead Dog Cafe features Jim Foley ’95, Folk and Blues Pro and open mike
Mary Lyons, 8:00 p.m.
Movie: “The Game”
DuPont Lecture Hall, 7:30 p.m., 10:00 p.m.
SATURDAY
Movie: “Dead Poets’ Society”
DuPont Lecture Hall, 7:30 p.m., 10:00 p.m.
*****
SPORTS UPDATE
1) Women’s soccer falls to Gettysburg
The women’s soccer team was shut out by Gettysburg yesterday 5-0, dropping
to a record of 3-7 on the season (1-3 in conference play). Swarthmore was
outshot by the nation’s 19th-ranked team 47-2.
*****
2) Today’s and tomorrow’s contests
TODAY
Men’s tennis hosts the Eastern Rolex
TOMORROW – Homecoming
Men’s tennis hosts the Eastern Rolex beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Women’s soccer hosts Dickinson at 1:00 p.m.
Men’s soccer visits Dickinson at 12:00 p.m.
Men’s cross country is at the Salisbury Invitational at 11:00 a.m.
Women’s cross country is at the Salisbury Invitational at 11:00 a.m.
Field hockey hosts Dickinson at 1:00 p.m.
Field hockey hosts the alumni game at 2:15 p.m.
Football hosts Ursinus at 1:30 p.m.
Women’s volleyball visits Johns Hopkins with Muhlenberg at 11:00 a.m.
*****
Since the Publications Server is temporarily out of service, the Daily
Gazette contact e-mail addresses are not currently valid. We hope that the
server will be up very soon. Until then, please send all messages, tips,
queries, and comments to jgenere1@swarthmore.edu.
The Daily Gazette
Board of Editors
Joseph Genereux
Jeff Heckelman
Lorrin Nelson
Cathy Polinsky
Jessica Salvatore
Ty Wilde
Staff Writers
Jack Borrebach
Ben Geller
Megan Haberle
Lindsay Herron
Ilya Leskov
Ira Lindsay
Pete Schilla
Jaspal Singh
Nellie Tong
Weatherman
Benjamin Hanani
The Daily Gazette is published Monday through Friday by an independent
group of Swarthmore College students. Technical support from the Swarthmore
College Computer Society is gratefully acknowledged.
To subscribe to the Gazette, free of charge, send e-mail to
jgenere1@swarthmore.edu with the words “subscribe daily” as the subject
of your message. Use the words “unsubscribe daily” to cancel a subscription.
Back issues are available on the World Wide Web at:
<http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/org/daily>
Copyright 1998 by The Daily Gazette. All rights reserved.