Thursday, April 17, 2003

by Jeremy Schifeling
Co-Managing Editor

After a string of vandalism incidents last semester, the campus had been
relatively unblemished this spring. However, following a series of acts
this past weekend, Swat has now seemingly returned to old form.

The incidents began early Saturday morning when “three individuals were
observed acting suspiciously” at the train station, according to Director
of Public Safety Owen Redgrave. They appeared to be holding cans of spray
paint, but disappeared up Magill Walk before they could be apprehended.
Neither the Swarthmore Police nor the Public Safety officers were able to
track them down.

In their wake, the vandals left a trail of graffiti all over the station,
from the tunnel to the station billboards. Most of the messages seemed to
be directed at the Iraq conflict, with sayings like “We won’t stop until
the war stops,” and “Regiment [sic] change starts at home.” Others claimed
“Israel is an apartheid state” and made various allegations about President
Bush.

It should be noted that the station is not actually College property, but
is instead owned by SEPTA.

The following night, one of the glass panels at the top of Sharples was
smashed. Redgrave said there were no known witnesses to the damage and thus
cautioned against labeling the incident vandalism before more information
becomes available.

Finally, one of the lamp fixtures outside of Parrish was discovered to be
broken recently. It is not known when the damage was done.

Individuals with any information about these incidents should contact
Public Safety.

* Although the Syrian government has continued to deny claims that it is
harboring high-level Iraqis within its borders, U.S. officials said on
Wednesday that Farouk Hijazi, the former chief of the Mukhabbarat
intelligence service, is in Syria. One official went so far as to say that
he arrived on a direct flight from Tunis on Tuesday. Among other
activities, Hijazi is suspected of having been involved in the 1993 plot to
assassinate former President George Bush. According to U.S. authorities,
Hijazi entered the country on an Iraqi diplomatic passport.

* Syria introduced a resolution in the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday
that would forbid countries in the Middle East to develop or maintain
weapons of mass destruction. The resolution is backed by the 22-member Arab
League. Syria’s ambassador to the U.N., Mihail Wehbe, said, “We believe
such a draft resolution…is a very important factor for the peace
process.” The resolution is targeted mainly at Israel, which has refused to
confirm or deny the widespread belief that they have nuclear weapons. John
Negroponte, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said that the U.S.
supports the idea of a zone free of weapons of mass destruction, but feels
that the timing of the resolution is not correct because of the current
questions about the status of Syria’s weapons programs.

*****

ITS/Apple Computer Event
Sponsored by the ITS Department
Kohlberg: Scheuer Room, 8:00 a.m.

Upward Bound Tutoring
Sponsored by Upward Bound
Kohlberg 202, 4:00 p.m.

Chinese Literature Lecture
Sponsored by the Department of Asian Studies
Kohlberg: Scheuer Room, 4:30 p.m.

“Transnational Adoption/Queer Diasporas/Asian Americans”
Professor David Eng, Columbia University and Rutgers University
Martin: Kirby Lecture Hall, 4:30 p.m.

The Big Boss
Bruce Lee plays a city boy who moves with his cousins to work at a ice
factory. He does this with a family promise never to get involved in any
fight. However, when members of his family begin disappearing after meeting
the management of the factor, the resulting mystery and pressures forces
him to break that vow and take on the villainy of the Big Boss.
7:30 p.m.
SCCS Media Lounge
Sponsored by Films of Fury

Passover Seder
Sponsored by Ruach
Bond: Memorial Hall, 5:00 p.m.

“The Call to a Life of Morality & Service”
All-Campus Talk
Kohlberg 228, 7:30 p.m.

*****

SPORTS UPDATE

The softball team was swept in its double-header at Washington College on
Tuesday. The Shorewomen took the first game 6-1 and the second 5-4. In the
first game, the Garnet took an early lead in the top of the second, but
Washington scored all six of their runs in the bottom of the fourth to
surge to the win. Lindsay Van Sciver ’03 took the loss for the Tide.

In the nightcap, the Garnet again had an early 3-1 lead before Washington
sophomore Laura Scimeca hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the
third. Swat fought back to tie it at 4 in the fourth, but the Shorewomen
plated what would be the game-winning run in the bottom of the fourth. Mary
Mintel ’05 went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Christina Procacci ’06 went
3-for-4 and Pam Lavallee ’03 went 2-for-4. Emily Remus ’06 pitched all six
innings, giving up nine hits and five runs (four earned), while striking
out two and walking two.

*****

The Garnet lost to Washington 18-2 in yesterday’s away game. John Cleaver
led the squad with a goal and assist to help keep Swarthmore in the game.
The loss brings the team’s record to 7-6 overall, and 3-4 in Centennial
Conference play.

*****

Results for the tennis match were unavailable at the time of publication.

*****

Today:
Softball hosts Muhlenberg, 3:00 p.m.
Baseball hosts Ursinus, 4:00 p.m.
Women’s lacrosse hosts Centenary, 7:00 p.m.

Tomorrow:
Baseball hosts Washington, 3:30 p.m.
Men’s tennis hosts Washington, 3:30 p.m.

*****

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“We are confronted with insurmountable opportunities.”
–Walt Kelly

*****
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