Thursday, September 14, 2000

Thursday, September 14, 2000
Volume 5, Number 6

1) New student website “jolts” campus
2) World news roundup
3) Campus events

SPORTS IN BRIEF

1) Volleyball falls to F & M
2) Women’s soccer drops CC opener
3) Albright downs men’s soccer
4) World sports roundup
5) Today’s and tomorrow’s contests

WEATHER FORECAST

Today: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.
In an Opposite World, the weather forecast would be the joke and the joke would be the forecast….

Tonight: 60% chance of rain. Lows in the lower 60s.
There would be a 60% chance of lame humor and everybody would laugh at the miserable weather….

Tomorrow: Showers likely with possible thunderstorm. Highs in the mid 70s.
But since that’s what we already do now, would they really do that? Keep in mind, this is an Opposite World….

TODAY’S SHARPLES MENU

Lunch: Maryland crabcakes, lattice cut fries, *lentil stew, *roasted tofu, baby carrots, cauliflower
**Club bar

Dinner: Fried chicken, yams with apples, macaroni and cheese, *mashed black beans, stewed tomatoes, green beans
**Breakfast bar

NEWS REPORT

1) New student website “jolts” campus

So you’ve seen those signs all over campus advertising the Daily Jolt, and you’re thinking, “Well, what the heck IS it?” 

The Daily Jolt (www.dailyjolt.com) is a nationwide Internet project which was launched at Amherst College in 1999 for the purpose of providing students with pertinent information to their school. Several schools across the country now have their own Daily Jolt sites, customized by students from each particular school. Swarthmore’s Daily Jolt went live on Friday, September 8, 2000.

Main features of the Swat site include: daily weather and dining hall menus, events on and off campus, a discussion forum, restaurant and transportation guides for nearby areas, Swat links, and a search engine. 

Although the website, run by Nii Addy ’01, Josh Shakin ’02, and Jeremy Schifeling ’03, is relatively low-maintenance, it relies largely on student submissions, information, and ideas to ensure an entertaining and informative site. Swatties are encouraged to participate in the forum discussions and polls, submit professor quotes, and update the site managers on any ongoing campus events they want publicized.

Feedback and suggestions on the appearance and content of the site are also appreciated. Current projects on the site include a page where students can post course reviews for other students to read (especially beneficial to first-years unfamiliar with Swat professors and classes), and the “Love Monkey.”

As site manager Nii Addy ’01 explains, “If there’s a guy or girl that you’re interested in, but are not sure about whether the feeling is mutual, then the Love Monkey is a chance in a lifetime.” Student A submits the e-mail of his or her crush, Student B. If Student B also submits Student A’s e-mail to the Love Monkey, both students receive e-mails revealing the match. (Not to worry; the only way anyone knows what names are  submitted is if there is a match).

So before you grab your cup of coffee in Kohlberg, get your Jolt and get updated on life. Says Addy, “Basically it’s the perfect homepage so that when you start your computer in the morning, from that one website you know what’s going on around you.”

– Pei Pei Liu

2) World news roundup

Reform attempts in Indonesia were brought to a standstill Wednesday afternoon when a car bomb exploded in a parking garage underneath the country’s stock exchange. Fifteen people were killed and 27 were injured by the blast, while thousands were evacuated from the complex as smoke filled the building. No group has claimed responsibility for the act.

Imprisoned nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee was released yesterday following the government’s decision to drop 58 of the 59 charges of endangering national security against him. Lee pleaded guilty to the final charge, which carried a sentence of 278 days – a term he had already served in solitary confinement over the last 9 months. While U.S. District Judge James Parker issued a lengthy apology to the jubilant Lee, the Departments of Justice and Energy maintained their accusatory stances. The White House, meanwhile, looked forward in the following statement: “It is time to close this chapter, find out what happened to the missing tapes and move on.” 

The long-awaited Macintosh OS X was released in public test format at the first day of the Apple Expo in Paris. Improved features include enhanced multimedia applications, more powerful multitasking, and an enhanced file system. The company’s CEO, Steve Jobs, announced that a commercial version would be available “early next year,” at an undisclosed price.

3) Campus events

William and Mary Law School Information Session
Sharples, 12:00 p.m.

Law School Panel with UCLA, UC Davis, UC Hastings
Bond – Memorial Hall, 3:00 p.m.

Chemistry Colloqium
Dupont 139, 4:15 p.m.

Psychology Colloqium: Dr. Kim Wright Cassidy
Scheuer Room, 4:15 p.m.

Graphic Design Alumni Panel
Scheuer Room, 7:00 p.m.

Empty the Shelter Meeting
Kohlber 116, 10:00 p.m.

SPORTS UPDATE

1) Volleyball falls to F & M

The women’s volleyball team was defeated by F&M yesterday, 3-0 (15-8, 15-4, 15-12). Christine Hancock ’02 led the Garnet with 6 kills and 12 digs. This loss brings the team’s record to 2-6, 0-1.

2) Women’s soccer drops CC opener

The Centennial Conference season opened Wednesday on a slightly sour note for the Garnet with a 3-0 loss to Ursinus. Despite the defeat, the team still has an overall record of 2-2 on the regular season.

3) Albright downs men’s soccer

The Garnet Tide was felled by the Albright Lions yesterday afternoon 3-0, in their Centennial Conference season opener. As a result, the team’s record currently stands at 1-3.

4) World sports roundup

An estimated crowd of 6,000 bid farewell to the recently-fired Bobby Knight at Indiana University yesterday. In a speech described by the university administration as “awfully gracious,” Knight called for the students to respect the rights of the freshman whose run-in with the coach sparked his dismissal, and to continue their support of Indiana basketball. …The Chinese Olympic Committee admitted yesterday that the 27 athletes removed from the roster heading to Sydney were guilty of failed drug tests. The leading culprit in the majority of the cases was EPO, a performance-enhancing drug. …The U.S. Men’s Soccer team settled for a 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic on Wednesday in their Olympic opener. Though the Czechs were heavily favored, the U.S. was up 2-1 at half-time before relinquishing their lead on penalty kick.

5) Today’s and tomorrow’s contests

TODAY

Women’s tennis at Millersville, 4:00 p.m.

TOMORROW

Women’s soccer at NYU, 4:00 p.m.
Women’s tennis, Swarthmore Invitational

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Smoking kills. If you’re killed, you’ve lost a very important part of important part of your life.” – Brooke Shields