Friday, October 30, 1998

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 30, 1998
Volume 3, Number 33

NEWS IN BRIEF

1) New options created for Halloween fun

2) Student Council uses polls to hear student voice

3) World news roundup

4) Campus events

SPORTS IN BRIEF

1) Volleyball finishes a disappointing season

2) Field hockey drops Muhlenberg

3) Today’s and tomorrow’s contests

WEATHER FORECAST

Today: Sunny. High in the upper 50s.
Your speed dial for the weekend…

Tonight: Mostly clear. Low around 35.
(888) FLY-E-SAVERS for a $109 round trip to Jacksonville FLORIDA!

Extended Weekend Forecast

Saturday: Mostly sunny. High near 60.
(800) 929-DIOR for designer sunblock!
Sunday: Fair. Lows in the low 30s to low 40s and highs in the 50s.
(610) 690-TAXI. That is all.

*****

NEWS REPORT

1) New options created for Halloween fun

Much controversy has been caused by the decision made this year by the Mary
Lyons RA’s to end the tradition of ML’s annual Halloween party.
Fortunately, several campus groups leapt at the opportunity to organize
Halloween events themselves. Two organizations, the International Club and
the combined effort of the Delta Upsilon and Phi Psi fraternities,
presented their proposals to the Social Affairs Committee last Tuesday.
Both of these groups have been prominent on the campus’ social scene in the
past, throwing several parties every year.

Ultimately, SAC decided to award its funding and support to the two
fraternities, despite their more expensive request. One SAC member said
that a significant part of the decision was that the fraternities’
application placed more of an emphasis on Halloween decorations. For the
party, the Phi Psi fraternity will be used for a haunted house, while the
DU building will be for the actual party. Decorations are to include
artificial trees, webbing, spiders, coffins, and “scary stuffed dummies”;
the party will be held in the two fraternity houses that are right next to
each other.

In addition to the fraternities’ party, there will be a number of open,
private parties across campus. Although many were disappointed by the
ending of the ML Halloween tradition, it appears that the result will only
be more options for the campus community.

*****

2) Student Council uses polls to hear student voice

Student Council conducted their first poll last night, in what will likely
become a regular activity. One hundred randomly chosen students were called
and asked the question below. It was organized by Chris Sajdera ’01,
Curriculum Committee Representative and Joey Genereux ’01, Secretary.
Jaspal Sing ’01 and Jessica Salvatore ’02 also aided in conducting the
poll, which concerned an issue currently being discussed by the Curriculum
Committee. The statement was:

“The Swarthmore College Curriculum Committee will address the issue of
removing the words “Of Our Lord” from the Swarthmore Diploma which
currently reads “the year of Our Lord”. We are taking this poll with the
intention to inform the student body of agenda topics within college
committees and to gain a diverse opinion on college issues. Would you be
for or against the college removing the words “of our Lord” from the diploma?”

Favor removing the phrase: 50%
Opposed to removing the phrase: 33%
Don’t care/indifferent: 17%
Margin of error: +/- 10%

The next poll will likely ask students about their preferences for
facilities, upon which topic a Collection is being held tomorrow at 1:00
p.m. in LPAC Cinema.

*****

3) World news roundup

PALESTINIAN SUICIDE BOMBING PROMPTS REACTION FROM ARAFAT

Yassir Arafat ordered Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the founder and leader of the
Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, to be put under house arrest Thursday
after a suicide bomb attack in the Gaza Strip killed an Israeli army
officer. In that attack, the unknown bomber tried to ram his vehicle into a
bus full of Jewish schoolchildren; one of two Israeli army jeeps that were
escorting the bus blocked the affront and prevented the explosion from
injuring any of the children. A nineteen-year-old officer in the jeep was
the only person killed besides the bomber. Israel Radio later received a
telephone call from a man who claimed the attack for Hamas. The incident
puts substantial strain on the deal recently forged between Israel and the
PLO.

SOUTH AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT RELEASED

The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its five
volume history of that country’s human rights abuses Thursday, providing
new insight into the years of apartheid rule and the struggle against it.
The report lays blame on top officials of the white government for
institutional killings and torture directed against political enemies. The
African National Congress, the political party of current President Nelson
Mandela, was also condemned for causing civilian deaths during its fight
against apartheid. Because of the criticism, a lawsuit was filed by the
ANC to block the release of the report, but it was dismissed.

IN OTHER NEWS…

At least sixty young people are dead after a fire broke out in a disco in
Gothenburg, Sweden, early Friday, in what may be an arson case… Space
shuttle Discovery blasted off routinely Thursday, returning 77-year-old
Senator John Glenn to space… Hurricane Mitch, which has caused 32 deaths
to date, was downgraded to a tropical storm yesterday as it remained over
Honduras… Melissa Drexler, the woman who two years ago gave birth in the
bathroom at her high school senior prom, and then left the newborn for dead
in a trash can, was sentenced to fifteen years in prison for aggravated
manslaughter in a New Jersey court yesterday. She is eligible for
parole in three years.

*****

4) Campus events

FRIDAY

Facilities Planning Collection
LPAC, 1:00 p.m.

Credo Dinner
Sharples 4, 6:30 p.m.

Halloween Contra Dance
Tarble All-Campus, 7:00 p.m.

Cuentos Afro-Caribenos Performance
LPAC, 7:00 p.m.

Country Ho Down at the Dead Dog
Mary Lyons, 8:00 p.m.
Live Country Music at 9:30 p.m.
Pum’kin Carvin’ at 10:30 p.m.

Movie: “Psycho”
DuPont Lecture Hall, 7:30 p.m., 10:00 p.m.

SATURDAY

Asian Cooking Class
Worth J Kitchen, 12:00 p.m.

6 Cent Comedy Improv
Olde Club, 8:30 p.m.

Halloween Party and Haunted House
DU and Phi Psi, 10:00 p.m.

Movie: “Scream 2”
DuPont Lecture Hall, 7:30 p.m., 10:00 p.m.

*****

SPORTS UPDATE

1) Volleyball finishes a disappointing season

Women’s volleyball lost a 3-0 decision to Haverford Wednesday, completing
an 0-16 season. Although failing to win a conference match, the women were
victorious in five games over the course of the 1998 campaign.

2) Field hockey drops Muhlenberg

The Garnet topped Muhlenberg 3-0 in Centennial Conference action yesterday.
Kim Cariello ’02 scored twice and Lurah Hess ’99 added a goal as Swarthmore
snapped the Mules’ nine game win streak. Jane Kendall ’00 turned away four
Muhlenberg shots for her seventh shutout of the season.

3) Today’s and tomorrow’s contests

TODAY

No contests are scheduled for today.

TOMORROW

Men’s and women’s cross country travels to Western Maryland for the
Centennial Conference Championships.
Field hockey hosts Haverford at 1:00 p.m.
Football hosts Franklin and Marshall at 1:00 p.m.
Men’s soccer hosts Muhlenberg at 3:30 p.m.
Women’s soccer hosts Haverford at 1:00 p.m.
Men’s and women’s ultimate travels to Drew University for the Halloween
tournament.

*****

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gazette-sports@student-publications.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
Alma Ortiz
Pete Schilla
Jaspal Singh
Nellie Tong

Weathercasters
Rachel Labush
Ben Hanani
Laurie Smith

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This concludes today’s report.