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
Monday, November 9, 1998
Volume 3, Number 39
CORRECTION:
In the Thursday, November 5 issue, the Gazette reported that Democratic
challenger Joe Hoeffel defeated incumbent Republican Congressman John Fox
by 9%. Actually, Hoeffel won by about 5%.
NEWS IN BRIEF
1) IC vandalized and defiled
2) Anti-gay incident shocks ML residents
3) Fall Formal provides good time despite complaints
4) World news roundup
5) Campus events
SPORTS IN BRIEF
1) Football loses in Centennial Conference contest
2) Men’s soccer defeated by Haverford
3) Field hockey falls in ECAC semifinal
4) Intramural scoreboard
5) Today and tomorrow’s contests
WEATHER FORECAST
Monday: Mostly cloudy and chilly, highs in the mid 50s. Light west winds.
What do Upper Tarble and Lake Geneva have in common?
Monday Night: Cloudy with a chance of sprinkles after midnight. Lows in the
40s.
Not much. Shall we keep that in mind for the next formal?
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy with showers likely. Highs near 60.
Incidentally, today in 1953 Philadelphia had 8 inches of snow. We call
that Progress.
*****
NEWS REPORT
1) IC vandalized and defiled
The big room of the Intercultural Center (IC) was found vandalized
yesterday afternoon. Five piles of feces and vomit with candy sprinkles on
top were found on the floor around the room. The general nature of the mess
suggested that this incident was an intentional defilement of the IC.
Janine Gent ’99, member of the Hispanic Organization for Latino/a Awareness
(HOLA), alerted Public Safety about the incident, who photographed and
locked the room. Said Gent, “I’m upset that the IC was
not available as a safe space last night.”
Many students have reacted strongly to this incident. Tim Stewart-Winter
’01, active member of the Queer Straight Alliance (QSA), said “I think it’s
really upsetting that people have so little respect for a space that is so
important to so many people. It’s hard to know what to do about it because
the IC coordinators trust the student body by keeping the IC an open
space.” Lena Sze ’01, Intercultural Center Intern for the Swarthmore Asian
Organization (SAO) said “It’s so disturbing that there’s a climate on this
campus that allows anonymous incidents like this to happen.”
The leadership of the IC groups and others are discussing how to respond to
this incident. Gent said, “I think that the intent of the perpetrators was
to divide the community, and I’m not going to let this become an incident
about hate; we have to bring together the positive aspects of our community
rather than let this act divide us.” Gent is hoping for a commitment from
all student groups to work toward safe space and mutual respect.
*****
2) Anti-gay incident shocks ML residents
Mary Lyons became the scene of another anti-gay incident aimed against a
Swarthmore student on Wednesday night. The targeted student, who is a
member of the Swarthmore Queer Union, printed a class paper to the ML
computing room. Another ML resident entered the room later and found a note
on the paper, which read, “Great work, [student’s name]! Why don’t you
accept the obvious fact that you’re a homo?”
Upon being notified, Public Safety immediately came and documented the
incident. Associate Dean of the College for Student Life Tedd Goundie
expressed frustration, especially considering, “SQU has been doing a
terrific job of reaching out to people this year.” Talia Young,
Co-coordinator of Queer-Straight Alliance, said, “It was targeted at an
individual, but this sort of incident affects the community, and it makes a
less safe space.” In response, the ML Resident Assistants each held
mandatory hall meetings yesterday, in which they stressed that the
community as a whole does not condone this sort of behavior and created
forum for student discussion on the issue. There was a lot of support for
the meeting in the residence hall. Alastair Thompson ’99, a Mary Lyons
resident, stated, “I think it was important to draw the insult to the
attention of the students in the dorm.” Katrina Clark ’01, IC Intern and
Mary Lyons resident, was also pleased by the hall meeting. Clark said “I
feel a lot better about Mary Lyons seeing how many people care.” She and
other students felt like the RAs did a good job in making sure that
everyone felt safe. Clark added “In general ML is the safest community that
I have ever felt on this campus [next to SQU
meetings].”
This incident comes soon after a more positive development in an earlier
homophobic incident. Two students came forward of their own volition last
month to admit that they had pulled down SQU’s board in Parrish at the
start of October. After a long process, involving a meeting with SQU
Co-coordinators Julie Russo ’00 and Ben Maulbeck ’00 facilitated by
Goundie, they each wrote separate apologies to the members of SQU. Said
one, “[C]ollege should be a comfortable environment; people should be
comfortable as they search for their true selves. I violated this belief
when I vandalized the Swarthmore Queer Union’s message board. Without
thinking, I made a whole segment of the student population uncomfortable.
Thoughtless mischief became an attack.”
*****
3) Fall Formal provides good time despite complaints
Saturday night’s Fall Formal, billed as “NIGHT OF MIRAGE, the most
extravagant formal ever,” appealed to many students looking for an
alternative to the same old parties. Decorations were kept to a minimum,
except for an eye-catching lighted fountain in the center of the Upper
Tarble dance floor, and a small waterfall. The dance music alternated
between a DJ spinning latin music and a live band which, according to
several students, left a little to be desired. Some students felt that too
many slow songs were grouped too close together, while others complained
about the bands’ timing. In particular, the band did not play between 11:00
p.m. and 12:00 midnight, when most students arrived at the dance.
People attended with friends, significant others, or simply to hang out.
Others, however, had a different agenda. “Me and my friend Matt went to
steal dates. But it didn’t work out too well, for me at least,” said Frank
Martinez ’02. Martinez also criticized the large amount of smoke,
especially from the machine floating around the center of the dance floor.
An anonymous senior echoed this sentiment, “The smoke machine guy was a
little out of control. He should have been aiming it in the air, not at
people.” Despite these complaints, the Formal was extremely well-attended.
Swatties took the opportunity to show their fashion sense, and a generally
enjoyable feeling, often absent at other parties, was felt through the crowd.
*****
4) World news roundup
US CONTEMPLATES ATTACK ON IRAQ
President Clinton decided yesterday to postpone a decision as to whether to
attack
Iraq. Although the United Nations has not threatened attacks, the United
States and Britain have said they will respond to continued Iraqi
recalcitrance over UN arms inspections with force. In a two-hour conference
at Camp David yesterday, Clinton told Secretary of Defense William Cohen
and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright that he wanted better reports
about other options before making a final decision. However, news services
report that two attack plans are being formulated by the Defense Department.
WYE AGREEMENT STILL NOT IN EFFECT
The peace accord signed in October between Israel and Palestine has yet to
be implemented. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the treaty
will not be effective until Palestine officially outlaws two prominent
terrorist organizations. One of the groups, Islamic Jihad, claimed
responsibility for a suicide bombing Friday in Jerusalem. Netanyahu wants
the military branches of Islamic Jihad and the other group, Hamas, made
illegal before Israel relinquishes control of the agreed upon West Bank lands.
IN OTHER NEWS…
$20 million worth of food from the U.S. began to arrive in Honduras this
weekend after Hurricane Mitch ravaged the country… The space shuttle
Discovery, which had been carrying 77-year-old John Glenn, returned
Saturday… According to Kremlin spokespeople, Russian President Boris
Yeltsin, who recently returned from a nine-day resort stay, is in improved
health… Adam Sandler’s new movie, “Waterboy”, grossed over $39 million
this weekend, a record for a November or December release.
*****
5) Campus events
Dialogues
Mertz 2nd lounge, 8:30 p.m.
All Women Over Lunch Meeting
PACES, 12:15 p.m.
“The Sperm’s Perspective on Fertilization”
Hannah Galantino-Homer, University of Pennsylvania
Kirby, 2:00 p.m.
Swing Practice
Tarble, 9:30 p.m.
SWIL Movie: “Flash Gordon”
Kirby, 10:00 p.m.
****
SPORTS UPDATE
1) Football loses in Centennial Conference contest
The Tide fell to Western Maryland 42-0, extending their losing streak to 27
games. J.P. Harris ’99 was 14 of 25 for 139 yards, Charlie Ellis ’00 caught
4 passes for 58 yards and Joe Allefi ’00 ran for 18 yards.
*****
2) Men’s soccer defeated by Haverford
The Garnet lost to the Haverford Fords 5-1 in a Centennial Conference
contest, closing the season at 3-16. Scott Samels ’99 scored the lone goal.
*****
3) Field hockey falls in ECAC semifinal
The Garnet lost to Wesley 2-1 in the ECAC semifinals to end the season at
13-7. Holly Baker ’99 scored the lone goal.
*****
4) Intramural scoreboard
Jay-Vee’s – 6, Springfield Isotopes – 0
FC Bonobo – 3, Mertz & The Mafia – 2
Faculty/Staff – 4, Willets Refugee All-Stars – 3
*****
5) Today and tomorrow’s contests
TODAY
No contests are scheduled for today
TOMORROW
No contests are scheduled for tomorrow
*****
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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
Contributing Writers
Cathy Muller
Talia Young
Weathercasters
Rachel Labush
Ben Hanani
Laurie Smith
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This concludes today’s report.
Copyright 1998 by The Daily Gazette. All rights reserved.
