Monday, February 10, 2003

by Josh Hausman
Gazette Weatherman

Summary:  This week there will be no doubt that it is still winter. As you
read this snow should be falling and it is likely that our snow cover will
last for a while. After today high temperatures may not get above freezing
until next weekend (and they might not even get above freezing today!). Low
temperatures should be in the teens during the middle of the week, warming
into the 20s next weekend.  A bit of light snow is possible Tuesday night,
with more significant snow again possible early next weekend.

by Megan Mills
Gazette Staff Reporter

In an email to the Swarthmore community, the Ad Hoc Committee on the Living
Wage detailed recent developments in the exploration of “increasing the
minimum level of staff compensation at the College.”

The email noted that five subcommittees have researched costs, government
entitlement programs, wage increase alternatives, wage compression, and
current employee data in order to make recommendations to the
administration. The Committee hopes to share these recommendations on March
1st at the Board of Managers meeting scheduled for that day.

The President’s Ad Hoc Committee on the Living Wage is a group created
through the urgings of the Swarthmore College Living Wage and Democracy
Campaign.

Says SCLW&DC member Kae Kalwaic: “Several members of our campaign are
represented on the Ad Hoc, but its policies and recommendations may or may
not reflect the sentiments of the SCLW&DC.”

The email was the result of SCLW&DC recommendations to keep the entire
college community educated about this important movement, so that they “can
be informed and contribute through the process rather than be ‘surprised’ at
the end with specific recommendations,”according to Kalwaic, Administrative
Assistant for the Education Department.

The Ad Hoc Committee, which is chaired by Psychology Prof. Barry Schwartz
and Associate Vice President for Human Resources Melanie Young, hopes to be
able to make specific recommendations by the end of the semester.

On the subject of more community involvement, Schwartz noted that “there
will almost certainly be open forums when we get closer to having
recommendations.”

*****

by Mary Harrison
Gazette Staff Reporter

The ubiquitous Swarthmore ID card might be getting a face-lift.

Student Council is working on redesigning the student identity cards, used
for everything from buying meals to borrowing library books.

Long ridiculed by students for its black-and-white, unimaginative graphics,
the card’s design has posed problems for some when used outside the
Swarthmore community as, according to SC co-President Ryan Budish ’04, “it
looks like it was made in somebody’s basement.” Budish says that he has
heard complaints from students who claim that the card is not well received
by the general public as its unsophisticated appearance leads to the
suspicion that it is fake.

“It doesn’t even say ‘college’ on it and no one outside of this part of the
East Coast has heard of Swarthmore,” said Sarah Hall ’05.

Recently elected Appointments Chair Chris Ciarleglio ’04 took the initiative
in designing and proposing prototypes for the card.

Enhancement and expansion of the card’s electronic usage are also in the
works.

“Our goal is to improve the aesthetics and the functionality,” said
Ciarleglio. “We’d like to add color and change the design overall. But also
hopefully keep the cost down.”

Ciarleglio plans to present the design suggestions to Public Safety after
the Council has reached a resolution.

*****

by Jeremy Schifeling
Co-Managing Editor

The Wharton C basement public space is on the verge of becoming a little
less public.  After being trashed on three separate occasions during the
first week of the semester, the space, which offers kitchen, computer,
printer, and TV access, is now facing the possibility of being locked-up.

“We understand that three ‘big messes’ were left in the lounge during the
first week of school, including one the first weekend when a fire
extinguisher was discharged around the room,” said Myrt Westphal, Dean of
Residential Life.

In light of the vandalism, which as of yet has no suspects, the residents of
Wharton may end up footing the bill for clean-up (to be determined) and
recharging the extinguisher ($32).

In addition, the Deans and Wharton RAs are working together to come up with
ways to discourage future incidents.
One solution being contemplated calls for changing the locks to the
basement.  Thus, should there be another incident
with damage, the doors will be locked for a few days, meaning that students
needing access to the space will have to find an RA to gain entry.

In the meantime, the Deans are calling for anyone with information about the
vandalism to speak to them or an RA.  Additionally, they wish to remind
students that the C basement, unlike its D counterpart, is an officially dry
space.

*****

* UN weapons inspectors ended their talks with key Iraqi officials on Sunday
on a hopeful note. The inspectors said that they saw “a change of heart”
from the Iraqi side concerning disarmament. President Bush, however,
reaffirmed his belief that an attack against Iraq was necessary.

* Concerns over the situation in both Iraq and Venzuela are causing high gas
prices. Across the US, the average price per gallon has gone up 11 cents
during the past two weeks, for an average of $1.60 per gallon for self-serve
regular. That is the highest price paid since June 2001.

* Scientists reported on Sunday that for the first time they had managed to
genetically manipulate stem cells. The University of Wisconsin team found a
way to elimminate a disease gene from the embryonic cells. Such cells are
thought to show great promise in curing spinal cord injuries and diseases
such as Parkinsons’ and type-I diabetes.

*****

Internet Searching Techniques Workshop
McCabe Computer Classroom, 11:30 a.m.

Swarthmore Women in Astronomy and Physics Lunch
Sharples Room 6, 12:00 p.m.

College Bowl Meeting
Kohlberg 202, 7:00 p.m.

Lecture: “Language, Exile, Dispossession & Counter Discourse”
by Abena Busia, Professor of English @ Rutgers
Scheuer Room – Kohlberg, 7:00 p.m.

SWIL Movie: “Diamonds Are Forever”
Kirby Lecture Hall – Martin, 10:00 p.m.

*****

SPORTS UPDATE

Women’s basketball coach Adrienne Shibles notched her 100th career win this
past Saturday as the Garnet defeated Franklin & Marshall, 70-63.  Coach
Shible’s squad was led by Swat stars of the present and  future, as Katie
Robinson ’04 and Zoey Adams-Deutsch ’06 scored 29 and 24 points,
respectively.  In addition, Robinson recorded 11 steals during the contest –
a new school and Centennial Conference record.  With the win, the Garnet
improve their record 15-5 overall and 8-2 in the Conference.

*****

Both the men’s and women’s swimming teams earned victories over Dickinson in
their home match this past Saturday.

The men took their contest 115-89, getting double wins from Mike Auerbach
’05, John Lillvis ’03, and Mike Dudley ’03.  Auerbach took the 200 and 500
freestle races, Lillvis captured the 200 IM and butterfly heats, and Dudley
won the 200 backstroke and breastroke competitions.

On the women’s side, the Garnet were victors 114-91, with Patricia Funk ’06
and Tara Trout ’04 both taking two races.  Funk won the 100 and 200
freestyles while Trout took first in the 200 IM and 500 freestyle races.
Katherine Reid ’05 and Meredith Leigh ’04 won the 1000 freestyle and 200
breastroke heats, respectively.

The men are now 6-3 on the season and 4-1 in the Centennial while the women
are 6-3 and 4-2 in those categories.  Each team has its final home match
this Wednesday against Washington.

*****

The men’s and women’s indoor track and field squads traveled to Ursinus this
past weekend for that school’s Grizzly Invitational competition.

On the women’s side, Elizabeth Gardner ’05 captured the 800 meter race,
while Njideka Akunyili ’04 took third in the same event.  Sarah Hobbs ’06
earned a silver medal in the 1500 event, as did the 4×400 relay squad.
Molly Maurer ’06 was a bronze medalist in the 3000 meter race.

For the men, Rob Melick ’03 garnered third-place in the shot put contest.
Meanwhile, the 4×400 relay team took fifth and James Golden was seventh in
the 800 meter race.

Both teams will be back in action this weekend when they travel to Boston
University for the Valentine Invite.

*****

Despite a strong start against the Franklin & Marshall Saturday afternoon,
the men’s basketball ultimately fell to the Dips, 62-45.  Matt Gustafson ’05
notched 20 points and Blair Haxel ’05 tallied 12 points and seven boards,
but the Dips, ranked 23rd in Division III hoops, had too much talent for the
Garnet to overcome.  With the loss, the team’s record drops to 8-13 overall
and 4-5 in the Centennial, leaving them in a three-way tie for second in the
East Division with Haverford and Washington.

*****

Today:
There are no contests scheduled for today.

Tomorrow:
Women’s basketball at Bryn Mawr, 7:00 p.m.
Badminton at Bryn Athyn, 7:00 p.m.

*****

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Whatever women do, they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as
good. Luckily this is not difficult.”
–Charlotte Whitton

*****
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