Friday, March 5, 2004

by Jonathan Ference
Living and Arts Editor

There’s no doubt about it: the end is here, and you’re released for
a week. The most important thing to do, though, is to enjoy it.
Destress. Hang out. If you’re home, catch up with old friends, family,
and impress your former teachers with all the wonderful things you’ve
learned this semester (“Mertz mud builds character”). If you’re here,
don’t hang around Science Center 101 hoping your Intro to Psych lecture
will magically happen on Tuesday even though it’s vacation. Instead,
relax. If you’re off with a team, enjoy the good times without the
pressure of academics.

All in all, stay safe, stay healthy, and enjoy the break. The
weekend roundup will return the second Thursday from today!

*****

* The latest poll on the presidential race finds John Kerry and
George W. Bush in a tie, Bush leading slightly with a 46% backing
compared to Kerry’s 45%. This new poll comes in the wake of Kerry’s
lock of the Democratic nomination. Ralph Nader, who joined the race
last month, also made a showing and captured a 6% backing, enough to
have an affect on the overall outcome of the race. Nader’s appearance
in the race has been a point of contention for many Democrats, who
believe he was partly responsible for Al Gore’s loss in the 2000
election. Bush’s job approval rating was 48%, with 49%
disapproving-virtually the same as last month’s 47% approval.

* Gas prices have soared this past month, exceeding $1.70/gallon,
and are likely to set a record high later in March. This has prompted a
response from government officials, who say that they are “extremely
concerned” about the situation. The current record for gas prices is
$1.75/gallon, which was set last August. The rising prices are being
blamed on a recent increase in wholesale gas costs and on the improving
economy, which has led to a slight shortage of gas. The Bush
administration has not yet proposed any solutions to the issue.

* Horst Koehler, chief of the International Monetary Fund, announced
yesterday that he would be leaving his position in order to accept a
nomination for the German presidency. Koehler has been nominated for
the conservative party, which currently holds the majority, essentially
guaranteeing his victory in the May 23rd election. In the past, Koehler
has criticized the German’s resistance to economic reforms and hopes to
put his vast experience in international affairs to use in the office.
There is currently no one chosen to replace him at the IMF, although
plans for a search will be discussed on Monday.

*****

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

International Club Movie Screening
Science Center 101, 8:00 p.m.

Love Stories Movie Screening: Latcho Drom
Science Center 199, 9:30 p.m.

*****

SPORTS UPDATE

by Alex Glick
Sports Editor

While all Swatties have a variety of plans for spring break, the
Garnet sports teams will be busy with training and some of their first
contests of the season. It’s times like these when I wish I played
sports instead of reported on them, as this editor will have the
pleasure of forty degree high temperatures and the possibility of snow
in New York while our athletes will have to dig through their drawers
to find their sunscreen and tank tops in order to enjoy the seventy
degree sunshine!

The track and field team will head to Florida and will compete in
the Florida A&M Relays in their first test of the season. In the
mean time, the golf team will spend their break training in Pinehurst,
North Carolina.

After a quick trip to Goucher on Saturday, the men’s lacrosse team
will fly to Orlando and have the opportunity to face Drew and
Suquehanna before coming back to Swarthmore. The women’s team will
travel to Trinity College in D.C. and then will return home to face
Newman.

The baseball and softball team’s schedules are also packed with
contests during their training excursions in Florida. The baseball team
will have five games while the ladies on the softball team will have a
whopping eight contests in only a five day period! The men’s tennis
team travel west to California for their training with matches against
four local teams. Finally, if you thought things were getting topical
around here recently with our little “heat wave,” the women’s tennis
team’s experience will certainly top that as they go way south of the
border to Brazil for training!

It looks like our Garnet Tide teams will have their work cut out for
them over break. Make sure to check the gazette on March 15th to hear
all about the results of their games. That’s all for sports…now it’s
time to find my flannel-lined pants!

*****

Today:
There are no contests scheduled for today.

Tomorrow:
Men’s Lacrosse at Goucher, 2:00 p.m.

Sunday:
There are no contests scheduled for Sunday.

*****

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Humans are nothing but a question searching for the answer.”
–Karl Rahner, SJ

*****

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