Friday, March 28, 2003

by Pei Pei Liu
additional reporting by Megan Mills

Though Dean of Housing Myrt Westphal held an informational meeting Monday
on the new theme housing proposed for next year, hundreds of signatures
testify to continuing student concerns with the idea.

Anna Morgan ’04 and William Tran ’03 have written a student petition
against the multicultural education hall and tabled for signatures at
Sharples last week. They collected “about 324 signatures, which we consider
to be a significant number,” Morgan said.

The multicultural education hall will seek to create dialogue between its
residents on issues of diversity and difference. Residents will also be
responsible for organizing campus events on multiculturalism each semester.
Students will have to pick specifically into the hall in order to live
there, and people of any race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation may apply
as long as they are committed to living with and learning from their
diverse hallmates. Mertz 3rd North is the scheduled location for the hall
next year.

Both Morgan and Tran emphasized that they were not necessarily against the
idea of the multicultural hall, but rather that they opposed the process
the administration was taking and felt that student voice had been lacking
in the decision.

“We felt that while the goal of the hall is admirable,” Tran said, “the
actual plan is flawed. Also, we were shocked that Housing Committee did not
ask for input from the general student body.”

Morgan and Tran reported that most students they encountered responded
positively to the petition, and they were impressed with the number of
students who researched the topic and read through the petition carefully
before signing. They were disappointed, however, in the response they have
received from the administration.

Morgan said, “We received a response from Myrt Westphal, essentially
stating that the hall would continue as planned and the only way it would
not exist is if not enough students applied [to live there].”

Tran added that he and Morgan did not feel that their questions and
concerns had been adequately answered. “They said that they are going into
this blind and that this is an experiment. I feel that because race and
residential life are issues that affect all of campus, much more research
and planning is needed for this type of idea, rather than just going into
it blind.”

In addition to the lack of student input in the decision-making process,
the petition objects to the lack of a developed system to measure the
success of the hall after the pilot year. Morgan and Tran also feel that
the plan would place the burden of responsibility for raising awareness of
multiculturalism and diversity on that one hall’s residents, instead of
working for multicultural education in all dorms, across campus. Tran also
felt the hall would shift the responsibility for awareness away from the
administration, whom he already feels is dodging the issue.

“I find it hard to swallow that the voices of 324 students aren’t enough to
even convince them to reconsider,” he said. “Our only hope is to pray that
not enough students apply.”

“I am definitely disappointed that [the administration] blew the petition
off so easily,” Morgan added. “I feel that 324 signatures is a very large
portion of [the] campus and that it clearly shows that more thought needs
to go into the entire concept of the multicultural education hall.”

by Sanggee Kim
Gazette Reporter

As part of Diversity Week, Al Bloom spoke on Wednesday afternoon about his
time at Swarthmore College, and how he has worked specifically to increase
diversity during the last decade.

Originally from California, Bloom recalls having a definitive vision when
he first arrived on Swarthmore to make it more like the Sunshine State,
more specifically to increase diversity demographically. And he has been
successful; about one third of Swarthmore’s student body identifies itself
as students of color: 8% percent African American, 15.7% Asian American,
8.2% Latino/a American, 0.7% Native American, and 0.3% Multiracial
American. International students make up about 10% of the student body.

Students at the event questioned whether Swarthmore was concentrating
solely on increasing racial and ethnic diversity without looking at other
forms of diversity such as political slant, religious affiliation, sexual
orientation, etc. Recent concerns from the student body have also included
whether the College is doing enough to promote diversity beyond the
demographics. Students also asked if there would be more of a push to
create a board of trustees that reflected the current demographics of the
student population.

by Holice Kil
Gazette Reporter

If you’ve seen the signs around campus then you know: existential zombies
are coming to Swarthmore. According to Kate Duffy ’05 and Erik Osheim ’03,
creators of the Drama Board-produced film “Amid the Dead” set to begin
shooting in April, they are already here and you’re one of them; that you
don’t know it just proves their point. The Daily Gazette caught up with
screenwriter and student director Kate Duffy to ask her the hard questions
and get the straight answers.

DG: You mentioned “Night of the Living Dead”. Is there a horror film, a
director, or a “look” that you’re going for in this?

KD: I thought a lot about the movie Cemetery Man (1994) directed by Michele
Soavi. It’s about zombies, and it follows a guy who works at a graveyard
and the zombies just rise out of their graves – for no apparent reason he
just shoots them and it’s just his job. It’s a really bizarre, really
surreal film . it IS absurd, but it’s also sad, and we’re going for a more
serious approach with the zombies.

DG: So it’s not a comedy?

KD: It’s not a comedy per se – when you think about it it may seem
farcical, but it’s about alienation.

DG: This is just something I wonder about personally. Zombies . they’re
undead. Do you think they get haircuts? I mean, in your zombie universe, do
their hair and toenails continue to grow?

KD: In my zombie universe, it isn’t so much about the way the zombies look
in particular. They represent humanity in society: brainless, and devours
everything.

DG: That’s pretty harsh.

KD: But life is harsh.

DG: So, why zombies, if it’s not a horror flick?

KD: Because zombies rule! They tear out people’s stomachs and that’s pretty
fun to film, really, and I think fun to act as well.

DG: Have you ever met a zombie?

KD: Only on my way to 8:30 classes.

by Pei Pei Liu
Co-Managing Editor

There’ll be plenty of music, movies, and theatre this weekend, so get out
and enjoy the nice weather before it turns cold again!

The Intercultural Center will be wrapping up Diversity Week with the Blue
Party in Olde Club on Friday night. Think of it as your opportunity to warm
up for Sager…

Before you head over to Olde Club, check out Drama Board’s production of
Oscar Wilde’s “An Ideal Husband,” directed by Ester Bloom ’03 with set
design by Sarah Cohodes ’05. The cast includes Benjamin Bagley, Evan
Buxbaum, Adam Bisno, Nick Malakhow, Danny Loss, Ian Flora, Ariana Nash,
Heather Ylitalo-Ward, Rebecca Ennen, Stefanie Fox, Amelia Templeton, and
Felicia Leicht. The play will be performed in LPAC’s Pearson-Hall Theatre
on Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m.

Friday is also the night to get your song and dance fix: check out the
Contra Dance in Upper Tarble from 7:00-10:00 p.m. No partner or experience
is necessary, just a positive attitude and a willingness to get very dizzy!
Or if you’d rather keep your feet on the ground, try the Mixed Company
concert in the WRC at 10:00 p.m. with special guests Xtension Chords from
the University of Illinois.

Finally, there are two great films showing this weekend for all movie
buffs. The International Club is screening “Time of the Gypsies,” directed
by Emir Kusturica, in the SCCS lounge at 8:00 p.m. on Friday night, and the
Movie Committee is showing “Frida” on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and 10:00
p.m. in LPAC Cinema. Check out the Oscar-winning score and Salma Hayek’s
acclaimed performance as Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

*****

* Early Friday, Baghdad time, the US attacked communication and military
facilities in one of the heaviest bombardments of the war so far. One
target was a presidential compound in the center of the city. On Thursday,
the Iraqi defense minister announced in a press conference that the real
battle for Baghdad would take place in the streets. In response Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld suggested that the US will lay siege to the
capital rather than invade, in an attempt to get the citizens of the
country to rise up against their president. Bush and Blair echoed Rumsfeld,
vowing to stay in the war no matter the cost.

* More than 25 Marines were wounded on Wednesday when one unit mistakenly
fired against another. This incident was most likely due to the “fog of
war”, where it becomes hard to tell who is the enemy and who is not. The
Marines, all of whom came from Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville North Carolina,
were in the midst of a battle near the Iraqi town of An Nasiriya. In
addition 8 Marines were reported missing on Sunday from the Nasiriya
battlefield.

* Former Pentagon official Richard Perle resigned Thursday from his post as
chairman of a group that advises Rumsfeld. Perle cited not wanting a
controversy over his business dealings to distract from Rumsfeld’s
objectives in Iraq. The controversy surrounds Perle’s payment for advising
Global Crossing LTD. in its attempt to win governmental approval for its
purchase of two Asian firms. Perle has denied any involvement in the deal.

* World Health officials stressed the need of screening travelers for the
mysterious new SARS disease. Because the disease is believed to have spread
around the world on airliners, the screening of travelers is especially
important. Officials also said that they are close to identifying the virus
suspected to have caused the disease.

*****

Friday:

Teach for America presentation
Sponsored by Career Services
Memorial Hall – Bond, 9:00 a.m.

Shabbat Services and Dinner
Memorial Hall – Bond, 5:30 p.m.

Essence of Soul Performance
Sharples, 6:15 p.m.

Contra Dance
Sponsored by the Folk Dance Club
Upper Tarble, 7:00 p.m.

“Indian Classical Music from Islamic Courts: A tribute to Amir Khusro”
Pallabi Chakravorty and the Darbari Ensemble
Lang Concert Hall, 7:00 p.m.

Movie: Frida
LPAC Cinema, 7:30 & 10:00 p.m.

“An Ideal Husband” by Oscar Wilde, directed by Ester Bloom ’04
LPAC Pearson-Hall Theatre, 8:00 p.m.

Movie: Time of the Gypsies by Emir Kusturica
Sponsored by the International Club
SCCS Lounge, 8:00 p.m.

The Dismemberment Plan and Safety First!
Founders Hall, Haverford College, 9:30 p.m.

Diversity Week Blue Party
Olde Club, 10:00 p.m.

Mixed Company and the University of Illinois Xtension Chords
WRC, 10:00 p.m.

Saturday:

East of Sharples
Sponsored by SAO
Paces, 5:00 p.m.

Movie: Frida
LPAC Cinema, 7:30 & 10:00 p.m.

Student Chamber Music Concert
Lang Concert Hall, 8:00 p.m.

“An Ideal Husband” by Oscar Wilde, directed by Ester Bloom ’04
LPAC Pearson-Hall Theatre, 8:00 p.m.

Beauty Pill and Black Eyes
Olde Club, 10:00 p.m.

Sunday:

Sunday Mass
Memorial Hall – Bond, 11:00 a.m.

Music in Bond
Memorial Hall – Bond, 2:00 p.m.

Draft information session with draft counselor Jonathon Ogle
Sponsored by the Swarthmore Young Friends
Hicks 211, 4:00 p.m.

Meeting for Worship
Sponsored by the Young Friends
Bond Common Worship Room, 5:00 p.m.

Study with a SAM
Trotter 302 and 201, 7:00 p.m.

The Garnet built a 3-1 lead in the first eight minutes of play but were
unable to hold on as F&M defeated the team 15-6. Jackie Kahn led the team
with three goals and Christina Vu, Heidi Fieselmann, and Lucy Lang each
contributed one. At the end of the first half the game was close, but F&M
pulled ahead in the second scoring eight goals to Swat’s three.

*****

Arcadia established an early 6-0 lead from which the Garnet could not
recover. The non-conference loss brings the team’s record to 1-10 for the
season. Arcadia scored in the top of each of the first three innings before
the Garnet struck back with three in the bottom of the third. However, they
could not add any more and the game finished with a score of 7-3. Val
Marone was 3 for 3 in the game with three singles. Linsay VanSciver
absorbed the loss giving up 13 hits and five earned runs. The team begins
Centennial Conference play next Tuesday at Ursinus.

*****

Today:
Golf at Widener, 1:00 p.m.
Baseball hosts F&M, 3:00 p.m.

Saturday:
Track & Field at Widener, 10:30 a.m.
Men’s Tennis at W&L, 11:00 a.m.
Women’s Rugby hosts Lehigh, 11:00 a.m.
Baseball at Gettysburg, 12:00 p.m.
Women’s Lacrosse hosts Gettysburg, 12:00 p.m.
Men’s Rugby hosts Lehigh, 1:00 p.m.
Women’s Tennis hosts F&M, 1:00 p.m.
Men’s Lacrosse hosts McDaniel, 2:30 p.m.

Sunday:
Women’s Tennis at Dickinson, 1:00 p.m.

*****

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely
rearranging their prejudices.”
–William James

*****
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