Monday, February 17, 2003

by Josh Hausman
Gazette Weatherman

Summary:  Although it is hard to believe today, this snow storm marks the
end of cold, wintry weather in Philadelphia for the foreseeable future
(which is, of course, not very long!). After today highs will quickly jump
into the 40s by Wednesday, and low temperatures will hover around the
freezing mark from Wednesday night on.  Some rain, or possibly snow, is
possible Thursday night, with another chance of rain next weekend.

by Mary Harrison
Gazette Reporter

Approximately 75 Swarthmore students joined the throngs of anti-war
protestors in New York City on Saturday. Hundreds of thousands of people
gathered in a crowd that stretched for more than 20 blocks north of the
United Nations headquarters to protest a possible U.S. attack on Iraq in
what was part of a massive global refusal to support Bush’s militaristic
stance. In New York, speakers ranging from Archbishop Desmond Tutu to Susan
Sarandon and Danny Glover were greeted with an outpouring of cheers and
banner waving as they addressed the demonstrators in the numbing cold. The
demonstration was largely peaceful, though about a hundred protestors were
arrested when they attempted to climb over the barriers erected by the police.

Organized by SPAC (Swarthmore Progressive Action Committee), the Swarthmore
contingent involved the largest number of students ever to attend this kind
of event as a group. In order to fund transportation for the occasion, SPAC
wrote an emergency proposal to SBC last week, and was granted $600 to
charter a bus.

According to SPAC co-coordinator Cathy Meals ’04, the demonstration was the
biggest she had ever seen. “There were so many people there that it wasn’t
possible to actually see much of the rally. The police were doing a fair
amount of crowd control. They had all the intersections cleared and were
keeping people in pens in the cross-streets.”

Sophomore Andrew Main, Why-War organizer, also expressed frustration over
the law enforcement’s obstruction. “The police weren’t letting us get
through. We pushed through a couple barricades, and got sort of beaten up;
one person got maced. Some people were sitting down in the middle of the
street; the police rode their horses into the crowd to break it up.”

Members of Why-War also attended a rally at Times Square that had not been
given a permit by the city where they confronted several vanfuls of police.
“There were over a thousand of us at that point,” Main said. “Then there
were hundreds of police in front of us. Everyone just sat down. The cops
came in and started arresting people. They had to carry some people
off.  It could have gotten ugly but it didn’t. They weren’t really
interested in arresting people at that point.”

*****

by Pei Pei Liu
Co-Managing Editor

The 20-year-old sailor who was accused last spring of raping a Swarthmore
College student was found guilty of indecent assault and indecent exposure,
but not guilty on the counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and
sexual assault.

Benjamin Reid Ramsayer, who is stationed with the Nacy in Groton,
Connecticut, was released on $25,000 bail after the three-day trial. He
will be sentenced on April 1.

The Swarthmore student reported that in December 2001, she attended a
campus party with Ramsayer where both were drinking. The woman was put to
bed but awoke in the night and saw Ramsayer standing by her bed, partially
naked. The next morning, the woman found a condom on her pillow. However,
it was not until January 24, 2002 that she decided to report the incident
to police.

Ramsayer did not testify at the trial and did not comment on the verdict.
He could face up to four years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines, and as
little as probation to six months in prison.

As reported in the Delco Times, defense attorney Frank Morgan said, “I’m
grateful the jury acquitted my client of the more serious charges. I’m
hopeful that the charges of which he was convicted will allow him to
continue his career in the Navy.”

Assistant District Attorney Michael Galantino commented in the Times, “The
jury found he (Ramsayer) commited certain sexual acts in the victim’s room
but perhaps were not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt of the other
charges. The more serious charges require additional evidence that was not
present. The verdict demonstrates this defendant had no right to enter the
victim’s room while she was asleep and doing anything of a sexual nature.”

Swatties are waking up today to a second straight day of steady snowfall,
as the campus is engulfed by the major blizzard sweeping along the East
Coast. Total accumulations for Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley could
reach as much as three feet, although most models are projecting about
20-25 inches.

Pennsylvania and six other states have declared states of emergency,
ordering all nonessential vehicles off the roads. Baltimore-Washington
International Airport and Reagan National Airport closed yesterday, while
Dulles International Airport kept just one runway open and canceled most
flights. Passengers are being advised to postpone travel to and from New
York City and other major East Coast cities.

On campus, look for events to be canceled and services curtailed. Essie
Mae’s snack bar was closed yesterday and there will be no bag lunches today
due to a shortage in Dining Services staff able to get to work. The college
has not released an official statement on whether the school will close,
though it may be difficult for commuting professors and administrators to
reach the campus.

*****

* Millions of protestors converged all over the world this past weekend
demanding that the US not go to war with Iraq. In America alone, over 150
cities saw protests, with thousands of people converging in Manhattan
despite the lack of a permit. Organizers quote an estimated 500,000
protesters in New York, but police are placing the number at about 100,000.
numbers of arrests at the NY rally varied from 100-300, mostly for
disorderly conduct.

* The 18 members of NATO agreed Sunday to allow defense planning for Turkey
in the event of war against Iraq. Turkey had asked for the help last week,
as the war appeared to come closer. Though Germany and Belgium had initally
said that they would not support the plans, they were persuaded to vote
otherwise, while France, who also did not agree with the plans, did not
vote at all.

* Opposition leader Tassos Papadopoulos won the presidential election in
Cyprus on Sunday with an overwhelming majority of over 50 percent. The
victory lead to doubts about the possibility of peace and reunification for
the island. Papadopoulos beat out incumbent Glafcos Clerides, who had ruled
Cyprus for 40 years.

* The Simpsons, the popular animated series that airs on Fox, celebrated
its 300th episode on Sunday. The show debuted in 1990, and has just seen
its contract expaded to 16 seasons, making it the second longest-running
show on television. Meanwhile many critics believe that the show has become
an enmeshed part of American culture.

*****

Swarthmore Women in Astronomy and Physics (SWAP) lunch
Sharples Room 6, 12:00 p.m.

The Vagina Dialogues
Kohlberg 115, 4:00 p.m.

“English as a Foreign Anguish: African Diaspora and the Silencing of Tongues”
by Kamau Brathwaite, poet, historian, professor of Comparative Literature
at NYU
Scheuer Room, 7:00 p.m.

SAC meeting
Trotter 301, 9:00 p.m.

Swing Dance lesson
9:30 p.m.

SWIL Movie Night: “Lilo & Stitch”
Kirby Lecture Hall, 10:00 p.m.

———–
Ever wanted to sing early/eclectic music?  Now’s your chance to re-create
Cantatrix, Swarthmore’s quirkiest a cappella group. Many old members are
leaving this semester, so we’re seeking new members–no audition
necessary!–to invent the Cantatrix of the future. If you’re interested (or
if you have questions), email Al (abradbu1) soon!

*****

SPORTS UPDATE

by Saurav Dhital
Gazette Sportswriter

In the last home game of the season, the Garnet lost to Centennial
Conference powerhouse Ursinus College 70-48 on Saturday. The loss drops the
Garnet to 5-6 in the CC and 9-14 overall, but they still lead Washington by
half a game and Haverford by a game in the play-off race.

The Bears jumped to a 16-5 lead early in the first half, but the Garnet
fought back to 14-16, causing the Bears problems with their fast ball
movement. But the Bears then had a 14-3 run, with Denis Stanton scoring 7
of his game-high 27 points. In the half, the Bears led 36-23.

In the second half, the Garnet battled back to 48-41 on a Matt Gustafson
’05 three-pointer with 11:49 remaining. After an exchange of buckets at
either end, Josh Loeffler ’03 hit a lay-up with 6:36 remaining to cut the
lead to 57-47. The Garnet appeared to be ready to give the previously
undefeated (in the Conference) Bears a run for their money, but the
Loeffler basket turned out to be the last field goal of the day as the
Garnet missed their last seven attempts. The Bears had a 10-0 run in the
final five minutes with Steve Erfle leading the way.

Blair Haxel ’05 led the Garnet with 15 points; and despite a 5-7 from
Gustafson, the Garnet shot poorly, making just 17 of the 59 shots
attempted, a lowly 28.8 percent that caused their downfall. Meanwhile, the
Bears shot 25-52 for a 48.8 percent. This was the last home game for the
graduating seniors David Pearce (co-Captain), Eran Ganot (co-Captain), and
Josh Loeffler.

The Garnet return to action on Wednesday against Muhlenberg.

*****

Katie Robinson ’04 led the Garnet with a game-high 15 points as Swat romped
Ursinus 86-55 in a Centennial Conference victory.

Jennifer Stevenson ’06 and Kristen Lee ’05 posted personal bests, with
Stevenson recording 12 points and Lee five assists. Stevenson also
contributed five assists, while Lee added 11 points and four steals. Debbie
Farrelly ’06 was the fourth Garnet player to hit double digits in scoring,
with 10 points and four assists. Senior Ali Furman hit her 200th career
three-pointer, making her just the second player in the Centennial to reach
the mark.

The Garnet are now 17-6 overall, 10-3 in the Centennial.

*****

The men’s and women’s indoor track teams competed at Boston University over
the weekend. Leading the men was Robert Melick ’03 with a career-best
41-11.25 in the shot put to place ninth overall. He was the top Division
III finisher, as was James Golden ’05 in the mile, who finished sixth
overall with a time of 4:21.45.

Elizabeth Gardner ’05 paced the Garnet women, finishing 17th in the 800m
(2:20.21). Njideka Akunyili ’04 finished 19th (2:23.95) with Claire
Hoverman ’03 right behind in 20th place (2:26.43).

*****

The men’s volleyball club dropped its weekend match against Princeton 3-2
but retaliated to beat Saint Joseph’s 3-2.

*****

Today:
There are no contests scheduled for today.

Tomorrow:
Badminton at Bryn Mawr, 7:30 p.m.
Men’s lacrosse hosts York, 7:30 p.m. (scrimmage)
Men’s volleyball hosts TCNJ, 8:00 p.m.

*****

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“To be stupid, selfish, and have good health are three requirements for
happiness, though if stupidity is lacking, all is lost.”
–Gustave Flaubert

*****
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