President George W. warms up to White House: the first week
Greek recruitment over, actives now breathe easy
SEED adopts the Barbie project
Congress simulation class puts students in charge
Cowan catastrophe hits crazed campus
Freshman wins trip to Cancun at SAC’s Fly Away
Anne Ledford
Cento Writer
Saturday night the Student Activities Council invited students to ‘fly away.’ From 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Jan. 27, SAC sponsored a Fly Away dance party on the first floor of the Warehouse.
For only one dollar per ticket, students had the opportunity to win prizes ranging from gift certificates to an exotic trip for two to Cancun, Mexico, while dancing underneath a disco ball and a fountain of bubbles.
Every ticket purchased for the dance counted as a chance to have your name drawn for one of the eight door prizes given throughout the dance. The prizes included gift certificates to Sam Goody’s CD store, Abercrombie and Fitch, Outback, the GAP, Olive Garden, Applebee’s and J. Crew, with the final grand prize being the trip for two to Cancun. The winners of the prizes are as follows listed in respect to the order of the prizes above: Stacy Hoehle ’04, Aleah Bow ’03, Jenny Cheatham ’04, Tara Nantista ’03, Sarah Green ’02, Mary Ingram ’03, Chuck Beard ’02 and Kristen Allison ’04.
According to Lisa Greenwell ’03 and Nantista, both co-chairmen of special events for SAC, the tradition of a Fly Away dance at Centre can be traced all the way back to the 1970s. Greenwell and Nantista arranged the dance and worked out all the details for the door prizes. "The general idea of the dance is to give away a trip to an exotic destination. When it first started, you came to the dance with your bags packed and if you won, there would be a limousine waiting outside to take you to the airport following the dance. Things have obviously changed a little over the years, due to scheduling conflicts and reservation requirements. Now we book the tickets after we know who the winners are and let them pick their departure date," said Nantista.
Allison plans to take the trip to Cancun in the summer once she and her boyfriend are both out of school. The prize came as a special treat for Allison, who celebrated her birthday earlier that day. "I was flipping out when I heard my name called because I had been saying, ‘Wouldn’t it be awesome if I won the trip for my birthday!’ I’m so excited because I have never been out of the country before," said Allison, who turned 19 on Jan. 30.
In years past, Fly Away had a live band, but this year more money was put toward paying for the trip to the exotic destination.
The trip to Cancun was worth $1500, which included airfare, four days and three nights at a beachfront hotel and a full day of complimentary water sports. "We really enjoyed putting this dance together–we just wish that there had been a larger turnout earlier so more could have enjoyed the whole evening. Most people showed up just before midnight for the last drawing, but there were really good prizes given before that. How can you make anything more appealing?" said Nantista. Back to top...
President George W. warms up to White House: the first week
Thom Kelly
Cento Writer
During the Presidential campaign, Bush, running as a Washington outsider who vowed to change the acrimonious tone of politics in the nation's capital, kept the congressional leadership at a respectful arms length. Since the disputed Nov. 7 election was settled in mid-December, the former Texas governor has worked hard on a bipartisan embrace, inviting Democrats and Republicans to Austin for brainstorming sessions on education, defense and faith-based initiatives. Bush also expressed an interest in attending a retreat for Democratic senators next week and perhaps the caucus of House Democrats.
In the week since his Jan. 20 swearing-in as the 43rd President, Bush has hosted 90 members of Congress at the White House, one-third of them Democrats, and held an informal discussion with Democratic elders from past administrations. Most of them came away impressed with the new president's personal skills but some were still wary of his policies, unsure of his motives and uncertain about his abilities.
One week after taking office, President Bush delivered his first weekly radio address, focusing on his top domestic policy proposal thus far reforming America's schools. Bush has outlined a series of proposals to reform the nation's educational system, including mandatory testing in math and reading from the third through eighth grades with rewards or penalties depending on the results.
The plan would also allow poor students in failing schools to apply for federal and state aid their schools receive–averaging about $1,500 per student per year to help low-income parents pay for private schooling, a tutor or an after-school program. In his address, Bush also proposed a $5 billion initiative over five years for reading instruction.
Some Democrats have objected to the voucher initiative because they say it will drain federal funds from already financially strapped public schools.
Statements made last Thursday by Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan encouraged Bush. During testimony before the Senate Budget Committee, Greenspan did not specifically endorse Bush's proposed tax cut, but he suggested he would endorse some tax cuts.
Greenspan, who has long advocated using surpluses to reduce the debt instead of tax reduction, said that with sustained productivity fueling growing surplus projections, the trade-off between debt and tax reduction no longer exists. This gives backing to the broad tax cut proposal the Bush administration hopes to push through Congress.
On a different note, the White House is conducting an inventory of pranks apparently played by departing Clinton staff aides on the new administration, but a spokesman for President Bush said he is focused on "changing the tone in Washington" and said no formal investigation would take place. Many former Clinton staffers have made calls for a public list of the offenses and charge that this was a smear by the new administration on the old administration. It is common for transitioning White Houses to play pranks on the incoming one.
President Bush tried to start his second week in office on the right foot. Bush, his wife, Laura, former President Bush and his wife, Barbara, attended Lincoln Park United Methodist Church on Capitol Hill, a predominantly black church. Nationwide, blacks voted for Bush's opponent, Al Gore, by a 9-1 margin in November, and Bush has sought to reach out to the community since then.
The service and congregation at Lincoln Park were a sharp contrast to those of Bush's hometown church, Tarrytown United Methodist in Austin, Tex., where worshippers are reserved and overwhelmingly white. It was the second church he has visited since his inauguration. Bush attended services at the Washington National Cathedral after his swearing-in last weekend, but has not settled on a church where he will worship regularly, according to a Bush spokesman.
On Jan. 23, Bush gave California a two week extension of an emergency order that required out-of-state companies to supply electricity and other energy to the state's power industry. California faces the continued prospect of rolling blackouts, as its two biggest utility companies teeter on the brink of financial collapse, unable to buy enough power to meet Californians' demands. Power problems in the state followed California's deregulation of its energy markets.
In comments in NBC's "Meet the Press," Vice President Cheney laid much of the blame on the way California's utilities were deregulated, giving them little incentive to build the power plants needed to meet the state's burgeoning demand for energy. Cheney said that as a result, no major power plants have been built in California during the past decade.
President Bush has called meetings with some of his Cabinet members to discuss the California power crisis, but aides have made it clear that the administration wants the state to take charge of the problem.
It is likely that the weeks to come will not be as kind to President Bush as his first week has been as he rolls up his sleeves to begin the next four years. Back to top...
Greek recruitment over, actives now breathe easy
Ashley Vinsel
Cento Writer
All actives, you can breathe now. The recruitment process is over. Nobody took a terrible pledge class. The new members are happy. The women are in paint-marker paradise with an unlimited supply of picture frames and Tupperware at their disposal. The men are happily marching along, standing topless at basketball games, sporting their new hats and learning all of the rites and rituals of their new fraternity.
These new members are all currently involved in the heavily active period commonly referred to as "pledging." While the Panhellenic and IFC cringe and would rather it be called "new member education," as long as the chapters are happy, the Greek Life department is happy. The Panhellenic Council is especially pleased at the number of women placed in sororities: 99 out of 103 on preference night, the last night of recruitment. This is an incredible number. Show this number to almost any school in the country and they will not believe you. But Centre’s Greek system has thrived this year.
The large pledge classes in the fraternities can back up this sentiment. [Having several pledge classes in the teens is an accomplishment.] It should serve as a reminder to the chapters to utilize their new members to the fullest and make their chapters stronger. The quality of every pledge class demonstrates this as a possibility.
While the new members of the Greek system are busily spending time with their new member educators, the active members are trying to get back to life as usual. While this has led to an increase in drinking and rowdy behavior in the past few weeks, it has also provided the new Panhellenic and IFC Executive Councils with several issues to tackle upon transitioning into their new offices.
The peer monitoring system is one of the first issues that has come to attention of Greek Life. It is the one issue that will be discussed immediately. There are several fraternities that have received citations for females being upstairs in the fraternity houses. This is either because a) females still do not know about this rule, which means that they need to be reminded quickly, or that b) they simply do not care. This group of people may not be aware of the reasoning behind this rule. Here is a scenario to spell it out: Girl A goes up to a fraternity house and goes upstairs during the party. Girl A goes into the room of Boy A, who tells her to go away because he is studying. Girl A becomes angry and leaves and tells Girls B, C and D that Boy A took advantage of her. What this situation will cause is a scandal and college involvement. For the sake of the fraternity men, the women need to stay downstairs and party to their hearts’ delight.
All in all, life will calm down. The new members will be proud to be initiated members and the actives will be even more so. The actives can tell you how much joy they receive watching the new members mature and grow to full actives in the chapter. The general feeling on campus is that 2001 recruitment has been a success. Back to top...
SEED adopts the Barbie project
Libby Isele
Cento Writer
The "Where is Barbie?" contest that has been going on all winter term is slightly less challenging than "Where’s Waldo?" It would be pretty difficult to miss the life size paper mache figure with unreal proportions and unseasonable attire who, as of this week, has been guarding the stairs in the Doherty Library.
Barbie, who was crafted by Rachel McKinley ’01, to look to scale as the doll would if she were human, is one of the awareness activities sponsored by SEED (Students Ending Eating Disorders.) Just funded this year, SEED adopted the Barbie project to draw attention to unrealistic body images. Barbie, though she has enjoyed career success in fields from rock star to engineer, "reinforces an unattainable standard of perfection" according to Margo Maine, the author of Body Wars.
SEED is sponsoring "Every Body Is Beautiful Week" in conjunction with Parson’s Wellness Center Feb. 26-March 2. The wellness center has developed a variety of activities to complement the week, which coincides with its annual Health Fair, scheduled for Feb. 27. A Cowan booth, a bulletin board contest and a competition for the best table at the Health Fair highlighting eating disorder and body image are planned. Prizes will be offered for most activities. The keynote event of theweek is a convocation, "A Thin Line," advertised as "a one woman show on coping with eating disorders."
Contact Allis McLaughlin at ext. 5530 if you would like to help out or participate. Back to top...
Congress simulation class puts students in charge
Katie Harris
Lindsay Apel
Cento Writers
“Congress: A Simulation” is a course offered every winter term. The class is made up of around sixty students whose positions range from Speaker of the House, Benjamin Beaton ’03, the five members of the executive branch, Minority and Majority leaders, all the way to think tanks and the Washington press. Each student plays a very specific role in the class and with out any one of these members the Congress would not be complete, nor would the experience.
The simulation experience is different for each participant depending on their role. The position of Speaker of the House is held by Beaton. His job is to set the agenda for Congress and allocate time on the House floor. “The hardest part of my job is keeping up with what 70 some-odd other people are trying to do and organizing it into one coherent agenda for the class,” said Beaton.
The Democrats are the minority party, as in the real Congress, and consist of seventeen members led by Jacob Martin ’03 and Meredith Mays ’02. Nineteen Republicans make up the majority party lead by Matt Tatman ’03 and Ashley McGraw ’02. The majority party has the advantage of one more vote allowing them to pass partisan legislation. Despite unequal balance between parties in the legislature the committees still are equally divided.
The Executive Branch is made up of President of the United States, B.B. Markham ’02, Secretary of Domestic Affairs Megan Spindel ’02, Budget Director, Chris Ward ’02, and Press Secretary Brooke Folley ’03. Basically the President introduces his own agenda into Congress and the other positions each focus on particular areas of the President’s agenda. The registered lobbyists influence congressman to vote in their own favor by threatening to report to the constituents. Think tanks are independent policy research organizations. They come up with issue responses and talking points for their ideological companions in Congress.
Lastly, The Washington Press Corps is one of the hardest roles. Working nonstop in and outside of the classroom Congressmen are constantly trying to win influence through the media. Eric Richardson ’04 comments, "I truly enjoy acting as a journalist in this simulation because it is one role where a
person can actually see what both Republicans and Democrats are really thinking."
Students recommend the course to everyone with interests ranging from politics to government or journalism. Back to top...
Cowan catastrophe hits crazed campus
Ben Beaton
Lucas Chesnut
Cento Sports Editors
Dateline: Bid Day, Centre College. This craziest of Saturdays annually brings out the strangest of behaviors from Centre’s finest, all in the name of fraternal integrity. This year proved no different, as copious amounts of peppermints and a valuable antique basket were stolen from our beloved Cowan Dining Hall.
News of the Cowan caper rippled through campus, disturbing the daily routines of faculty and students alike. Individuals from all walks of life count on the ever-popular Cowan mints to combat the horrible affliction known as "breath kick" which so torments the coed population.
A somber mood quickly settled over the timeless campus. Days, then weeks, passed with no lead as to the whereabouts of the basket. Administration utilized cyber-threats in attempt to reacquire the stolen goods and student activists considered measures of non-violent protest and flags at half-mast.
Public pressure eventually forced those responsible for the heist to cave, returning the basket unharmed to the Cowan doorstep. Its contents, however, were missing, presumably consumed by the still-anonymous thieves.
Efforts to reach Sue for comment were unsuccessful, as she is currently protected from any further criminal acts by a newly installed bulletproof shield at the cashier’s desk.
The Centre populous has returned to its previous state of microcosmic bliss, complete with fresh breath and sugar-rotted teeth.
As for the crooks, may God have mercy on their souls should their sin-ridden identities ever be discovered.
Compiled by Ken Moore
Local cashier falls for phony $200 bill
Danville received some national media attention Monday when a cashier at Dairy Queen returned $197.88 in change to a customer who paid for her order with a bogus $200 bill bearing the likeness of current President George W. Bush. The bill, which bears the motto "right to bear arms" and a likeness of an oil rig, has been described by police as too obviously fake to be considered counterfeit. The suspect, if caught, will be charged with "failure to pay for a purchase."
Jailbreak
Six inmates, including three convicted murderers, escaped from a maximum-security prison by sliding under a 5,000-volt electric fence with the help of a broomstick. Tracking dogs and scores of law officers searched a wooded area Wednesday for the men, two of whom were serving life without parole. The prison has 1,301 inmates but only 188 correctional officers, about 65 fewer than officials say are needed.
Greenspan in action
The Federal Reserve, under Chairman Alan Greenspan, aggressively cut short-term interest rates another half-point to 5.5 percent Wednesday in an effort to prevent the weakening economy from slipping into a full-fledged recession. The move comes just four weeks after the central bank unexpectedly cut interest rates a half-point in a rare between-meeting action.
Pan Am Flight 103 verdict
A special Scottish court convicted Abdel Basset al-Megrahi of planting the suitcase bomb that blew Pan Am Flight 103 to bits in Dec. 1988, killing 270 people. Families of the victims remain unsatisfied, believing that the Libyan government should also be held responsile for the viscious attack.
Senate panel backs Ashcroft
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Tuesday to send the Ashcroft nomination to the floor, where the political landscape changed when Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., dropped consideration of a filibuster. Ashcroft’s confirmation as Attorney General seems assured.
Police thwart school shooting
Police evacuated more than 10,000 students and 1,000 staff members at De Anza College on Tuesday after learning of the possible "Columbine-style" attack. Al DeGuzman, 19, faces more than 50 felony counts. The school was to reopen Wednesday. Police said they found 30 pipe bombs, 20 Molotov cocktails and several weapons and ammunition stashed in his bedroom at the San Jose home where he lived with his parents.u
Sources: AP, Reuters, USA Today