The Crier
“The Voice of the CCC Student Body”
May	Issue	4	Spring	2003
Differing Opinions
By: Miles Tracy
Does it not upset you when someone with an opposing opinion steps up to the microphone and expresses passionately that opinion? And if that opinion is shared by the minority. should that person still be allowed a forum in which to express it? The answers are - yes. It is our right to express that which infuriates others. That is freedom.
It has become fashionable (read: expected) for all citizens to agree in a time of national crisis and anything less than total agreement is considered unpatriotic. Those not persuaded by popular opinion are labeled as traitors, subversives, sympathizers, and supporters of any agency labeled as the enemy of the United States. These are harsh words from fellow citizens of a democratic society that believes the “American way of life" is to be exported like any other commodity. There are also beliefs that anything less than full and total agreement of the popular opinion undermines the foundation on which this country was built. If this is true, then these same individuals would have to argue that the United States is a weak and fragile nation.
Articles have been published recently expressing concern over those that propose peaceful, humanitarian solutions over military might; that to refrain from military muscle flexing and search for alternative solutions offers a message of division and weakness. Is it prudent to invade another country.
devastate its infrastructure, inflict immeasurable pain and suffering on innocents, and murder its leadership in the name or our national interest? Currently, popular opinion is yes. Why? - because we can. Because we have to defend our home land from the kind of threat that destroyed the World Trade Center and attacks on U.S. interests world-wide.
What about the other threats made against the United States daily?
This country faces hostile acts as great as terrorism every day. We, as a nation, are attacked daily by drug cartels and dealers that destroy the very essence of our society by bombarding our streets with deadly devices as lethal as any “smart bomb”. How many people die each year from illegal drug use? We have enemies within our borders that alter the course of national evolution by attacking, maiming, and destroying our children. Pedophiles are as dangerous as any terrorist organization, yet they are considered minor, isolated incidences and relegated to back page news coverage. How many children die year from some form of abuse? Do you know if our government is waging a war against these issues?
The U.S. is assaulted daily by financial terrorists, dressed in expensive suits and extolling the virtues of capitalism. They attack the nation’s financial stability through mergers and acquisitions, corporate raiding, leveraged buy-outs, stock manipulation and real estate consumption under the guise of “doing business”. These organization’s actions erode the very fabric of every-
day life. The end results are lost jobs, lower wages, the deterioration of our standard of living and our inability to purchase quality goods produced by our own hands. Where is the patriotic indignation for these regimes and the selling of America?
There are many enemies facing the United States, internal and external, political and non-political, military and non-military, yet, as a nation, we can only focus on one thing at a time. Is this political tunnel vision? Is a nation with a difference of political or social opinion a candidate for enemy status? Should the United States drop bombs on all those who oppose our way of life or insist on creating their country in our image? The answer to these questions is absolutely not Some would disagree.
As a member of our national community we must exercise not only our rights but also our responsibilities of citizenship and demand equal protection from all other enemies - foreign and domestic, not just those that are visible in the bold print that gamer popular support. Citizenship is participatory, hard work, and must be exercised if our democracy is to remain free. Citizenship in a democratic state is defending someone’s right to dissent against your opinion, even if that opinion causes you concern.
Also, it is not only our right but also our responsibility as citizens to question the actions of our leadership. There is nothing unpatriotic about this process. The dissatisfaction with our (continued on pg. 9)
The Crier- May 2003
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A Criminal, a Maze, and a Vampire
By: Chris Wilson
Time for my (academic) year-end wrap up on the movie reviews, and Tm going to do something special for you. I’m going to do three of them. Three whole movies. Any idea how much that stresses me out? I had to go from the norm of two movies and pick a new one up. You should be grateful. Well, anyways, the movies we’re looking at this month are: “The Transporter’’. “Labyrinth.’’ and for our anime crew, “Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust”.
For those who don’t know, The Transporter was released on DVD, and VHS on April 15th. Great flick. Follows Frank Martin (portrayed by Jason Statham) around doing his job. transporting goods around in as little time as possible. Driving his BMW. he gets a deal, screws up, and you get to see where his life takes him from there. Quite adventurous, lots of car chases, and how often do you see a movie where a guy deflects an incoming rocket with a dinner plate? Not to mention, it’s a Luc Besson script (same guy who has credits for “Fifth Element’’, “Kiss of the Dragon”). Sure, there are a couple scenes in there that are a little unbelievable, but, hey, that’s Hollywood foryou! This flick gets two solid thumbs up and a shaky leg.
Anyone on campus a David Bowie fan? Cause I am. “Labyrinth” is movie from back when I was a wee little boy. Still a favorite. Jennifer Connelly plays Sarah, a girl fed up with her parents and her little brother. One day, she decides to put the curse of the Goblin King on her little brother(I mean, haha, it’s all just make believe anyways). So, the Goblins come and kidnap her brother, and she has to travel through a giant Labyrinth to find the Goblin King (portrayed by David Bowie) and save her brother. She comes across some rather interesting characters, from Hoggle, a nasty goblin trying to be good, to a talking door knocker. To be
honest, this movie takes some patience to sit through, but the vast majority of it is very exciting, and very well done. This is a two thumber. kind of like the Fonz.
And. as a tribute to our Anime Society, I’ve decided to review the movie “Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust". This movie is the sequel to an original. Unlike the original, however, “Bloodlust” wasn’t created in Japan, like a classic Anime film should be. It was actually created in the States. I still give them kudos on it. however, cause the animation just plain rocks. For those who aren't familiar with Vampire Hunter D, he's, well, a vampire hunter. He’s also a Dampere - a half vampire, half human - giving him a myriad of whacked out abilities. Oh. and he has a hand with a face, that talks to him. They built up a lot more on the hand's character in “Bloodlust” than they did in the original movie. And how could you not be interested in seeing a movie where a hand plays an important part. Ah. almost forgot the basic plot line: D and another Vampire Hunting group are racing to save a girl kidnapped from her home. If anyone's interested, writing credits for this movie go to Yoshiaki Kawajiri and Hideyuki Kikuchi. This one's getting a thumb up and two shaking legs.
Well, it’s time for me to make my legs stop shaking, and it's time for you to go get your finals over with, and enjoy your summer. Everyone have a nice summer, and hopefully we’ll have some of our readers back next semester. And, remember, rules are meant to be broken.
Trapt
By: Sarah Meyers
This self titled, debut album is one of the best I have seen in a while. This foursome originated way back in the early 90’s in suburban Los Gatos, California. Influenced by Korn, Pink Floyd, 311, and Metallica, these rockers are indisputably innovative and influential. Their first single of this album. “Headstrong”, is powerful ballad of fearless teens screaming out their emo-
tions. Headstrong is an especially apt single word description for this stubborn, uncompromising band. Another track off this album. “Echo”, shows off lead singer, Chris Brown's vocal talent. With lyrics like, “So I'll run away with you by my side. I need to let go of this pride. Until this echo in my mind...” it gives you a taste of his emotional and loving side. I predict this will be the second single of this great album. Track number ten. titled, “Stories”, is a nice break from electric guitar, with an acoustic song. It croons about hope of future love and leaving behind the same old stories. The vast difference between "Headstrong" and “Stories” shows the versatility of this group. The band will be touring with Seether, Double Drive, Godsmack. Stone Sour, and other such comrades. They will only be in New York once, on May 30th, at Dunn Tire Park, in Buffalo. I highly recommend this gang of four; their tenacious attitudes are revealed through their melodic tunes of passion. I give this band all five, that’s right, all five out of five rockin skulls!
Homeworld: Cataclysm is a standalone sequel to the game Homeworld. That just means you don’t need the original to play. The story takes place shortly after the first game ended and the Kushan have taken their home world of Hiigara back from the Taidan Empire. The Empire has fractured after the loss and is fighting with itself and others in an attempt to gain back power. Meanwhile, the Kiith (along the lines of a clan) have returned to their old pecking order leaving the smaller Kiith to fend for themselves and purchase technology that others gained for free from the Kiith council. You play one of these small mining Kiith called the Somtaaw. You control one of the Somtaaw's command ships that is minding its own business out in space mining asteroids one day. A distress call from the Hiigara is received and you (continued on pg. 3)
A Little Something From The Past
By: Jason Dean
The Crier- May 2003
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(continued from pg. 2) are called to help with a battle raging with one of the Imperial factions in orbit over the homeworld. That is where you start the game and things only get crazier after that. The main plot of the game revolves around a discovery that you make in one of the early missions of the game when you run across a der-elict escape pod. Inside the pod lies one of the most dangerous forces that the universe ever birthed. The entity later referred to as The Beast resides within and during scientific experiments your ship accidentally releases it from slumber. The Beast functions by subverting all biological and technological systems immediately converting them to its purpose. It does this to half of your ship and before the whole thing is taken, the infected half is discharged into space. It is at this point, just a couple of missions into the game that things start to get really dangerous and interesting. The first thing you'll notice is that the game runs on a beautiful engine and it is used to the fullest with beautifully detailed ships and lush planets and backgrounds. The game is a good deal better looking if you have 3D acceleration, but it can run in software mode. Most of the sound in the game is really top notch however. The music is once again extraordinary and really gets you involved in the game more than most other scores in other games are likely to and the sound effects are also top notch. Some of them are borrowed from the first game, but that was to be expected. The technologies and new technology tree do add a bit more strategy to the game, especially when it comes to the multiplayer facet of the game. Your command ship gets five different modules that each develop technologies independently from the others. These are the hangar, engineering, armor, advanced engineering, and weapon modules. Each of them houses their own teams that can research areas that pertain to them such as the hangar is able to research the different ship drives and the weapons module only concentrates on acquiring new weapons. In the single player game, you get each of these one at a time, but in the multiplayer game, all of them are available for construction right away. So after all is said and
done, the game delivers a very enjoyable experience that I highly recommend to everyone that likes strategy games, and even those that have never played one. The excellent tutorial and the addition of a difficulty level that spans five different difficulties should help those of you that need help getting into the game and challenge those masters of the galaxy with a very hard battle to rid the universe of The Beast. It is a very solid game that will draw you in and will beg you to play "just a few more minutes."
Do You Dare?
By: Colleen Philpott
What is a typical response given to the frustrated tantrums, cries of exasperation and internal rebellion against life? “Well, whoever said that life is supposed to be fair?” That answer is enough to make my skin crawl. Well, shouldn't it be fair? I am not trying to go philosophical on you. but the reality of life hits hard from the moment our “phenomenal'’ world is jarred by artificial light and the touch of a doctor's cold hands: Life is not fair. Whatever your beliefs consist of and whatever philosophical arguments you side with, the reality is that we have to deal with the world here and now. There is no escape from life, nor death, nor anything in between.
“We are to regard existence as a raid or great adventure; it is to be judged, not by what calamities it encounters, but by what flag it follows and what high town it assaults. The most dangerous thing in the world is to be alive; one is always in danger of ones life. But anyone who shrinks from that is a traitor to the great scheme and experiment of being.” - G.K. Chesterton
Just because life may not seem fair does not mean that it cannot be a gift and a brilliant adventure. Life can be the most devastating burden or the most intoxicating joy- it is all in how you wake up each morning. We all have to make that choice. Whatever our state in life is we a have a responsibility to give, to do more, and to make a posi-
tive impact on humanity- not so that our name will go down in history surrounded by lights, but so others can look at us and smile. I want to be a light to world. I know that in the years to come many will judge me unfairly, but I am more concerned with those who will look at me and ask themselves: Why? Why is she so different? Believe me it happens, but I am not afraid to be different and there is an answer as to why, but that is for me to know and everyone who crosses my path in life to discover.
I want to be a lawyer, and yes, I want to be a “politician”- not to join the unending battle for power and prestige, but so others will wonder what it is that makes me speak out even when my voice is not heard. I will not be remembered. I will not accomplish half of my future goals. I will not be great, but I accept that because somewhere along the line I will touch at least one person’s life in some remote way. That is my goal. If I can wake up in the morning and make a complete stranger smile, that is enough motivation to wake up the next morning and do it again. Take the risk. It is difficult I assure you and I often fail miserably, but I dare you. Take the risk. Dare to smile.
"I was lousy in school. Real screwed-up. A moron. I was antisocial and didn't bother with the other kids. A really bad student. I didn't have any brains. I didn't know what I was doing there. That's why I became an actor."
- Anthony Hopkins
The Crier- May 2003
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Composing Thoughts
By: Sherilynn Stage
Read this essay to Johannes Brahms’ “Violin Concerto in D” if you can. Imagine this: You are riding in the car with me (lucky you!) and we’re surfing the radio for something to listen to. As if by magic, 91.1 hits the airwaves and you’ve got Johan Straus’ “Emperor Waltz” blasting in the hippest time of his century. “Ah, NPR,” you think, and images of Fraser Crane holding a glass of merlot and appraising antique mahogany bureaus is flashing through your head. You likely cringe, and it wouldn’t be a bad bet that you would push the search button to discover the latest hip-bumpin’ track from Nelly. Thoughts now: of picking out your best outfit for said hip-bumpin’ next Thursday night. Big deal? Not really. I mean, who doesn’t like getting down with your bad self? But what was it initially that turned you off from classical genre music? Sure, you can’t bob your head the same way, but there really are plenty of ways you can funk out to any type of music.
Often, what can attract people to certain types of music is the background of those who create it. I’d like to think the reason that the lives of the rich and famous are so shoved in our faces is because we enjoy it. Who doesn’t like rags-to-riches stories, famous people getting married/divorced, the latest scandal to occur upon any unsuspecting celebrity is hot news. My ears are burning just thinking of it. So let’s relate.
Musicians and composers often had the same kind of lifestyles that the fellas on 94 ROCK do. Franz List was a real hottie in his day. I mean he had good looks, the latest fashions, plenty of cash, tour dates, groupies, stalkers, and scored with the Countess d’Agoult and Princess Sayn-Wittgenstein (ok boys, that’s like the Britney Spears AND Jennifer Lopez of the 1800’s). He also developed an amazing new form of fingering so the hands could just glide across the keyboard. I mean, what else could a man
like this do with his hands? You can let your imagination go to work on his “Hungarian Rhapsodies.”
Do you like watching “The Bachelor”? Hey, we’re all freaks. Imagine all the chicks that would sit in the private audience of some debonair home, just undressing Chopin with their eyes. This guy was smart, talented, pretty cute, and rich. What more does a material girl want? There was also that time when he dated a famous feminist, Madame Aurore Dudevant (you might recognize her under the pen name George Sand) for ten years. Hugh Grant and Elizabeth Hurley, anyone? You might be interested in his so-called “moody nocturnes,” like the “Polonaise in A.”
Highly romantic, are we? You would LOVE “Die alten, bosen lieder” by Robert Schumann. Talk about head over heels! He wrote his future wife, Clara Wieck, nearly 150 love songs. A far cry from “Roses are red.” Her father didn’t feel that he was good enough for her. His character was questionable, at best. So he had to wait until she was 21 years old (minus one day) before they could be married. Even during their marriage, the fact that Clara was a much better pianist and an accomplished composer didn’t bust his ego too much. She too composed songs for him on his birthdays, and they created one song cycle together. However, their story takes “A Beautiful Mind” twist, and Robert eventually succumbed to mood swings and breakdowns, leading to his commitment to an asylum, then dying two years later, at age 37, leaving Clara with eight children and little time to compose in a world that believed that no good music comes from women. You might be interested in any of her piano concertos, or “Der Mond Kimmt still gegangen” (“The moon has risen softly”). So tragically romantic!
Then there are the studiers. You probably might like a way to expand your creative concentration. Try Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. I’m not kidding. Maybe you have heard that listening to Mozart’s music for sev-
eral minutes before studying or taking a test will stimulate your brain waves. If you talk to the head of our music department, Dr. Martin, he’ll give you an excellent explanation. But in a nutshell, Mozart has written some of the most perfect compositions that we know of to date. Our brains are hard-wired to the traditional twelve-note chromatic scale. His chord progressions are written to feel naturally comfortable and tap in to those wires. Even mathematically, his music is perfect. With this guy, just listen to anything you can get your hands on.
Like soundtracks? Did you ever dive in the community swimming pool and try to sneak up on your little sister, making “shark” hands and singing the popular “Jaws” theme: “Duh-nuh, Duh-nuh, Duh-nuh ...” Maybe you might remember finding sticks in the woods for the perfect light sabre. Your friend does all the sound effects while you sing the theme to “Star Wars” that we all know better than our own CCC alumni anthem (yeah, we HAVE one!). Then you, my friend, are already a John Williams aficionado, and you didn’t even know it. Soundtracks have often been feeders into our lives for classical style music. The difference is only that instead of in the pit of an opera or musical, the musicians are pre-taped and added to the silver screen. You don’t see them, but believe me, there is a composer, and a conductor and all the violins, cellos, french horns, and oboes you can fit in a sound room. I don’t know what our lives would be like if we didn’t have the great supporting sounds for “ET,” “Superman,” and “StarTrek.” Here is some related stuff that might tickle your fancy: “The Planets,” by Gustav Holst, especially “Mars” will sound very familiar. Also, the “Romeo and Juliet Theme” is pretty cool. It isn’t all that lovey dovey romance stuff, there are some interesting parts stressing the feud between those Capulets and Montagues. Debussy writes some stuff that ought to have movies written particularly for it. Try his Nocturne “Clouds.” You really can see it all in your mind.
Ultimately, I hope these bits of information can turn you on to turning NPR on. After all, it was these composers and many like them, who developed the chord progressions that you hear in (continued on pg. 7)
The Crier - May 2003
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The Crier- May 2003
(continued from pg. 4) the background of every CD. So push that history and expand your culture. Go ahead, impress your girlfriend/boyfriend with sweet facts about the pieces you hear. I know I do.
'Majority of information provided by Listen by Joseph Kerman and Gary Tomlinson
The Mongoose Folly
By: Troy Brian Dontigney
Not too long ago. I was deluded into thinking that I would be going on to college this fall. I had it all planned out. too. I was going to be going to Arizona, to the University of Arizona to be exact, to get my bachelors and. if funding provided, my masters in Optical Engineering. It was a beautiful plan, but there was one little hitch:
I had just gotten dumped by my wonderful girlfriend because I am an idiot. (It doesn't matter why. so don't ask. That's not the point of this story.) Suddenly I was single with plans of moving 2000 miles away.
Now this may not seem like a bad situation to some, but to me, it was a nightmare. It had long been a joke in my family that girls were (metaphorically) snakes and I was like some sort of snake-charmer. I thought this was all funny stuff, and I certainly liked the attention, but Ed thought it was bogus until I suddenly found myself to be "available." It had also, however, been a bit of a joke that I was like a mongoose, the swift and terrible slayer of snakes. So I thought that, in light of my imminent departure, I would take on my role as that mighty, virtuous mongoose.
The problem with this idea is that everything you’ve seen in the movie 40 Days and 40 Nights is TRUE! It's like women can just smell the unavailability oozing off of you! So suddenly there are these girls who are ey-
ing me up who never used to even talk to me! At first it was relatively easy, with a few exceptions, to be the mongoose. But as the movie shows, over time you start having hallucinations and your underwear never seems to fit right anymore. It’s then that you realize a vital truth of life on this earth: sometimes. despite the best intentions, selfdeprivation is your enemy! Don't believe that lying, masochistic super-ego that Freud spoke so fondly of! It will get you KILLED.
So anyway, I’m in a jam and pretty soon every snake that rustled in the grass looked like dinner for this lonely, starving nomad. That staving part was the big problem, too. Starving animals are weak; their muscles are malnourished and half devoured by the body itself. A well starved animal has no energy to be a swift and terrible slayer of anything, and I was feeling like maybe I had painted myself into a corner... and I had.
The next couple of months were particularly heinous. As a dear old friend of mine might have said. I was starting to turn "flinging” into an art. The brief flings came and went and, though I wasn't actually having sex (thank you God), the downward spiral was obvious. The foul creatures that entered my life haunt me to this day. It’s true. I swear! The aftershocks of my retarded, self-centered, self-mutilating insanity are still constant threat. They are few these days, but they’re dangerous and bitter. Oh the joys of reaping what I saw! All I ever convinced myself that I wanted was some "friendship”, and look at the cow pile I ended up in!
That reminds me of one particularly long-lasting fling (long being a relative term, it was really only like a month) that was more entertaining after it was over with. It really kinda sums up the whole moral of the story. It was funny cuz after I had finally cleaned up my act and gotten my priorities back in line, I go back and patch up the bridge that had been, well, singed in the least. So we’re back on speaking terms and she’s all giving me the eyes and stuff like she wants to go make the two-backed beast (I swear this is true! Who
page 7
would make this up??) and she says “so are we back the way we used to be?”
Oh man. Yeah, and maybe I should glue my head to a prison bus while I'm at it. too! So the moral of the story is short but sure: no mongoose, even the swiftest and the terriblest, is virtuous.
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The Crier- May 2003
page 8
The Patriots of Denison Parkway
By: Keith Cooper
There is no shortage of criticism for those who are protesting the war the United States has declared on Iraq. Those conscientious objectors are described as disrespectful, unpatriotic, and even treasonous, among insults about stupidity and naivete. Yes. many of our ancestors died in the protection of their right to protest. Yes. our military men and woman on Iraqi soil need the support of their country men. However. opposition to the reason those men and women are fighting does not equal disrespect or insult, only dissent.
This is not the fight of freedom for Americans. This is not a light to protect our shores against the threat of terrorism. This is not a fight for the liberation of the Iraqi people. This war action is a political instrument designed to improve presidential approval, and protect stored of precious resources lying beneath Iraq’s sandy crust.
Yes, Saddam Hussein is an evil man. Yes, he butchered his own and has practiced unconventional and illegal warfare. Yes. perhaps, war with Iraq was inevitable at some point in time. However, what was the real risk of inaction in this case? Iraq could have driven up gas prices. The American tension regarding the events of September 11, 2001. might have cooled a bit. Hussein might have slipped up and given us hard and fast proof that there was stores of chemical or biological weapons standing at the ready.
Obviously. Hussein is a dangerous animal. He treats his people with disregard, destroying them as it meets his will. He is unafraid of using unconventional tactics. His agenda is obviously not one of peaceful coexistence with the neighboring nations. However, the threat at the time we declared war on Iraq was not immediate. There were so many UN representatives within Iraqi borders that mobilizing for aggression would have been impossible for Saddam. U.S. and Allied forces were gathered en mass prepared to engage or
contain Iraqi military action, had the country made the considerable effort to exercise the threat. Iraq may possess weapons of mass destruction and may choose to reveal this as-yet-hidden card at some point of desperation in this conflict. However, after months of intense inspection and nearly two weeks of invasion by coalition forces, these weapons have not been exposed. If, in fact, they do not exist a badge of shame will be pasted across the chest of leaders.
Saddam and his regime are aggressive and ruthless. The chances are high that Iraq would have to eventually be engaged by some military strategy. However, the claims that war was a last resort are purely inaccurate. The ultimatums that were placed before the Iraqi government were what made war inevitable. Complete disarmament of any nation is a tough sell to any leader. A tyrant like Hussein never intended to disarm completely. As deadlines crept closer and closer, and Iraq made at least cosmetic efforts to partially disarm. President Bush and British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, imposed a second most unlikely requirement. Saddam and his sons must step down to avoid war. This was clearly never going to happen. A western power will never enforce that kind of control over any Arab nation, no matter how progressive the relationship with that nation. Obviously, the stipulations were designed to fail and provide the Coalition with justification to drop the bombs over Baghdad.
Bush was not laboring apprehensively over a decision to bring military action into Iraq. He coldly made a decision months ago to declare war. He made feeble attempts to enlist the support of the UN and the Secretary Council, but in the earliest attempts made it clear that we would go in, even with only the support of the nations who stood behind us in mid-March. On the evening of March 18, when the first missiles were striking Iraq’s capital city, CNN reported at 10:30 pm - just two and a half hours after the first explosions - that President and Mrs. Bush had retired to their bedroom for the night. Apparently, George W. didn’t lose much sleep over the decision to imperil the Iraqi citizens of the hundreds-of-thou-
sands of U.S. soldiers who were just thrown into an ugly war.
We also rushed into this war motivated by our failing economy and our need for oil resources to further our corporate agendas. Concerned over the source of much of our crude, the small nation of Iraq with the world’s second largest store of oil beneath it soil, the U.S. and the U.K. sought to impose western control over this resource. The oil is what we wish to liberate from Saddam's hands, not the Iraqi citizens, whom we abandoned ten years ago after we had reasonable assurance our financial interests there were stabilized.
Tension over months of antiterrorism struggle with no tangible success. also propelled us into this military action. Fortunately for Bush and his administration, Iraqis have the same skin-tone as those who boarded our jetliners and turned them into weapons of mass destruction against our own on 9-11. The sting of those wounds, still bleeding, made it easier for many Americans to accept that this war effort was an opportunity to avenge that horrendous act of terrorism. There is absolutely no evidence to support Iraqi involvement in the events of September 11, but the scores of e-mails attempting to link Iraq to Bin-Ladin's work indicate that many Americans believe the political hype.
Fears of North Korea’s building nuclear strength also helped Bush sell military force to America. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, cranked up the propaganda machine in the months before the attack on Iraq, comparing Saddam's smoking gun with a mushroom cloud. In reality, there would be ample warning if Iraq did have effective weapons of mass destruction and attempted to use them. Western powers could easily have contained such a threat before those weapons could be used.
This war will progress to its own projected end, according the war plans being read in Command Central. Doha Qatar. No amount of anti-war protesting can stop the machine at this point. Protesters do have the right, however. to present their voice. It is our duty, in fact, as citizens of the United States
(continued on pg. 9)
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to act on our consciences. People gather at Bridge and Denison in the spirit of those few Americans, who stood up over two centuries ago. and protested against policies our government had at the time. Today's protestors are patriots like those few without whom the U.S. would be just another English colony. We cannot stop this war from happening, but we can respectfully tell our nations leaders that it is immoral and unjust. We should be proud to exercise the rights that so many bravely fought and died for.
(continued from front pg.)
leadership is reflected in the way each of us votes. If we, as citizens, were not allowed a voice in our government would we not have the same system of government as some of the countries we currently oppose?
The actions and processes we are witness to today should be celebrated in our classrooms as examples of the effectiveness of our democracy. To try and hide these events, bury them in obscurity, is to color the actions of those who sacrificed everything, and to affirm that they died to allow only those with a popular opinion the opportunity to remain free. Dissent should be embraced as a practical method of balancing the zealousness of the aggressive, to create a pause, and to pursue a more developed examination of an issue.
To squelch the voice of opposition is to stifle the very process that the majority claims to defend. To wave the flag at the minority and label them as “dimwits,” “trouble-makers,” “traitors,” and “unpatriotic,” is to take a dangerous step toward the destruction of democracy. Democracy will always have it’s up and downs, positives and negatives, virtues and sins but, it will never have total agreement of its citizens. To believe otherwise is foolish.
Go ahead, voice your opinion but. do so with the knowledge that there will always be a contradictory viewpoint, and respect that opposition because, it is through these debates that we exercise our democratic muscle and strengthen our nation.
Sex In The Crystal City
By: Crier Staff
I recently began dating someone new; he is sweet, charming, easygoing. self-employed, and he drives a great car! We share a love of nature, good books, and sculpting...he is everything I ever dreamed of and more. I am concerned, however, my mother met him recently, and her immediate response was. “Honey, don't you think he's gay?'' Her argument is this: he lives alone with three cats, cultivates house plants, practices Raiki healing, and enjoys long walks in the woods. In addition, he is extremely well dressed, sensitive to my needs, and he wants to "wait a little bit longer before get physical.” However. I argue that, for one thing, he is a mechanic (i.e. Couldn’t be gay), he has a collection of heterosexual pornography (Couldn’t be gay), he likes to fish (Couldn't be gay), and he listens to Country music (Couldn’t be gay!!!). What should I do? Is there any way to be sure? Please help me!
She says: Sweetie, seems to me you ought to be asking a few more questions than the ones mentioned here. Like, since when do you listen to everything your mother tells you about the guys you date? Has she ever liked anyone you have dated? Did you have any concerns about the relationship before she stepped into the picture? You say this guy is perfect; that tells me that you didn't have any doubts before your mom started planting them in your mind. Don’t get me wrong; a mother’s advice may be the single most valuable tool a woman receives in her lifetime (and she was right about that boy with the tattoos, and the motorcycle that you went to the prom with, wasn’t she?) However, in this case, I would say that you ought to stick to your own judgment.
As for your questions, 1 would say just keep doing what you’re doing. If the lack of physicality in your relationship is bothering you, mention it. Mr. Sensitivity will clearly hear you out.
and it will help open the doors of communication for both of you. And if the physicality isn’t the issue, why worry? You think this guy is wonderful; he’s fun to be around, mentally stimulating, and you share many common interests. And let’s face it: if you’re thinking about the long-term with this guy, some day those are going to be the most enjoyable parts of your relationship. On the gay issue. I would say it sounds like a good possibility, but if so, it’s likely that he doesn't know it yet. Or maybe he’s bi. Or maybe he’s just the last decent straight guy on the planet. The point is, asking him is probably not going to accomplish anything positive. If he’s in denial, confronting him is probably not going to inspire him to leap joyously from the closet in which he’s hiding. And even if he is, and he does finally come out, it sounds like you will still have a wonderful friend. And honey, a man to *#%@ is dime-a-dozen; but as Leo Buscaglio said, “A single rose can be my garden.. .a single friend, my world.”
He says: I’ll have stereotypes for a thousand please, Alex. So, a guy with these fine qualities is probably a homosexual? I for one do not fit into these categories, but I have many guy friends that are out of college and live a lifestyle like you described. And let me tell you, they get a lot of girls. Granted, most of my friends will copulate within the first few dates if things seem right, but they are also most of the other qualities that you mentioned. Conversely, this guy may be gay; one of my gay friends was the last to know. He was planted firmly in denial for a very long time. Go rent “In and Out” with Kevin Kline and Tom Seileck; watch it with him and then talk about it after. You may learn something. Gay or straight, enjoy his company and you may end up with an amazing friendship—or at least maybe a few great Barbara Streisand LP’s.
corning community college
The Crier- May 2003
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Graduation Information For Commencement
May 23, 2003
^ Everyone who intends to be seated in the gymnasium must have a ticket to be admitted (all ages). This includes graduates. Therefore, graduates should not come to the gymnasium, as you will not be admitted. This will ease any confusion for the ushers.
X Overflow facilities are available in the Commons Triangle and Kelly Lounges for people without tickets, or who would prefer not to sit in the gymnasium. There is a live TV link to both of these lounges.
X Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times whether in the gymnasium or the Commons.
X No one will be admitted into the gymnasium from 6:45 p.m. until 7:05 p.m. This time allows the students, faculty and staff to march into the gymnasium and be seated.
V Seats cannot be guaranteed in the gymnasium after 6:45 p.m.
X Spectators/guests cannot stand in the aisles, the comers of the gy mnasium, or along the back wall. This is a fire hazard.
£ Spectators/guests must remain in their seats during the processional and recessional. No one is to leave their seat to take pictures or videos.
X Graduates must leave the gymnasium immediately. Please meet family/ friends outside following the recessional. Sitting inside either upstairs and/ or downstairs causes congestion and prevents others from exiting the gymnasium.
Please be aware that seating in the gymnasium is limited and extremely crowded. We do our best to seat everyone. However, keep in mind the overflow lounges in the Commons.
Thank you for your cooperation.
The following is the schedule for graduation events for the next couple weeks:
£ Thursday, May 22nd, 2003
9:00 am - Complementary Continental
Breakfast
10:00 am - Rehearsal
£ Friday. May 23rd. 2003
7:00 pm - Commencement Exercises
Students must be at classroom by 5:30
pm
Reception in the Commons immediately following commencement.
Corning Community College Student Association Election Results 2003-2004
President
Brian Andrew
Vice-President
Rene Sherw ood
Student Trustee
Colleen Philpott
Auditing Treasurer
Adrianne Hepfner
Secretary
Patti Yeaples
Senators
Tower Hazard Michael Roberts Brianne Goodell Angela Warwick Sam Payzant
Student Judiciary
Veronica Gallton Brian Andrew Rene Sherwood Colleen Philpott Anthony Lurcock Samuel Payzant Patti Yeaples Tower Hazard Joel Davis Adrianne Hepfner
Mathematics Learning Center Spring 2003 Hours
On Campus, Room S113
Monday- 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Tuesday- 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Wednesday - 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Thursday- 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Friday- 8:00 - 3:00 pm Saturday- 9:00 am - 12:00 noon
Elmira Free Academy, Room 134
Tuesday- 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Wednesday- 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Note: Occasionally, tutors are unable to hold on/off campus evening hours or Saturday hours. It is recommended that students call the MLC (962-9380) before 3:00 pm to check for the possibility of evening hours being cancelled. To check on the status of Saturday hours, students should call 962-9000. Public Safety, before 9:00 am on Saturday morning.
On-Line Tutoring http://portal.corning-cc.edu To access this service, click on the “Community” tab on the top of the Blackboard menu, click on “Math Learning Center,” and then on the “virtual chat” tab along the side.
Monday- 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm Tuesday- 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Wednesday- 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm Thursday- 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm Friday- 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Saturday- 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Sunday- 7pm - 9 pm
The Crier- May 2003
page 11
Annual Student Show
By: Brenda L. Goodman-Kearns
As you may already know, the Atrium Gallery is sponsoring a display of CCC student art. The reception is on Friday, April 25th, from 4-6:30pm. Students can submit artwork completed as projects in their various studio art classes. Finished works including ceramic pieces, painting, drawing, sculpture and photography will be amongst the mediums on display. Students are encouraged to contact the art department to submit entries for this event. Tell your friends and family to come out and see what we creative minds do at CCC.
FYI
This may be of special interest, especially for ceramic, art, and CCC students. Cornell University has three exhibits currently showing through the first week of July. The show includes a display of ceramic artist Ah Leon. The other two sections include items from Chinese Tenmoku ceramics and a display on the pattern and designs of the South East Asian culture. You can view these as well as other establish artwork of different mediums at the Flerbert F. Johnson Museum of Art. on Cornell University’s campus in Ithaca.
I personally went to see the 5 floors of exhibits works. Many of the ceramic pieces used techniques new to me. Overall, it is located in a nice setting and has a breathtaking view from the 5th floor. Parking is limited so try to car pool if you can. This is a must see opportunity!
Ceramic Department Fund-Raiser
The Ceramics Studio will be hosting a
fund-raising event on Friday, May 2nd from 9:00am -4:00pm. The sale will be held in the Ceramic Studio, located behind the Nursing Building, here on campus. This event will include ceramic items donated by CCC students and Professor Fred Herbst. The proceeds of the sale will benefit future projects and special events. Please come, look and buy something that will help support the Ceramic Studio activities. What a wonderful idea for a “Mother’s Day” or graduation gift! Contact Fred Herbst at extension #297 for more information.
Ceramic Artist Workshop
CCC Instructor of Art, Fred Herbst, often informs his students of local opportunities to view established artists’ displays or demonstrations. The Ceramic Workshop hosted and funded in part by Campus Artist and Lecture Series of SUNY Cortland was one of those special opportunities. Opened to students of CCC by the invitation of Jeremiah Donovan, Associate Professor of Art and Art History at SUNY Cortland. This two-day workshop was an event well worth the trip.
The world famous artists were well received by the audience at the panel discussion the first evening held at Brockway Hall, Jocobus Lounge on SUNY Cortland’s campus. Ah Leon of Taiwan and Richard Notkin of Helena, Montana, discussed their personal influences with regards to clay and the common bond they had established with the ancient Chinese art of Yixing teapots. The slide presentation gave examples of both of their early works and went through the friendship they have developed over the years sharing this unique pottery aesthetic
The second day was a hand on demonstration at the ceramics studio located in Old Main. Even with technical difficulties that were encountered due to a campus wide power outage, Notkin was able to begin his demonstration without hesitation. His step-by-step seminar consisted of many useful techniques and personal hints he ac-
quired by trial and error. Students, professors and local artists watched in awe as he layered different clays to make a special effect to his symbolic “ear.” (Examples shown in picture.) He shaped the “ear” with a common kitchen cheese cutter, explaining that he often uses kitchen utensils, or improvises and at times, improves existing tools to do the job and get the results he desires from his piece. He studied people, made sketches, and notes over several months before embarking on his “ear” project. He explored the way Mother Nature has made rocks and stones over the centuries and he developed a way to have a similar effect on the clay. He fires and then tumbles the “ears”, sometimes more than once, until the “ears” resemble river rocks. Their symbolic meaning stems for the heritage he tries to emphasize, in particular these “ears” are representations of the Holocaust and they’re pleas falling on “stone deaf ears.” There are other hidden meanings and he graciously shared some of them during his slide presentation after lunch. Many of his Yixing teapots are more sculptural than functional; most of them have pieces from molds he designed in intricate detail. They too have political or environmental messages. It was an invaluable experience to attend, watch, and listen to all the knowledge he had to offer.
I will treasure the pleasure of those two days and both visiting artists offered all that. Being exposed to different artists gives one a practical look at the wide arena the ceramic world has to offer. It unlatched possibilities in my imagination to explore and develop. This field of study is really as Richard Notkin said, “unlimited... limited only by your own mistaken inhibitions.”
Something’s Cook’n up for the Ceramics Studio this Summer
This summer CCC is offering a special studio seminar in Ceramic Kiln
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(continued from pg. II) design and construction. The class is two weeks long from July 28th -August 8th, M-F 9:00am-5:00pm. This intense session will include instructions and construction of our very own wood-fire kiln. Visiting artist Simon Levin of Gresham, Wisconsin, will be instructing those who enroll. There are still a few openings, but there is a 20 person limit, so if interested don't delay registering, Simon Levin has his own established studio in Wisconsin, “Mill Creek Pottery.” The 15ft. wood kiln we will be building is his personal design. He has traveled and assisted in establishing kilns in other places as well, most recently an experience working in Hast Timor, near Australia. He helped the local women of this small island country to design and construct their wood kiln. This provided them with a way to fire their ceramic water filters, allowing them to purify their water supply for this poor community, and also provides them with a way to support them selves. Simon Levin will take students through a step-by-step process. With on location construction of the kiln students will be able to explore new, yet ancient technique of firing their pottery. This project will enhance the community’s awareness of the programs at CCC. Professor Fred Herbst hopes to open our doors to other schools and artists in the area giving CCC students a chance to work side by side with other professionals and students.
"The entertainment industry is a cruel and shallow money trench... there is also a negative side." -Hunter S. Thompson
Kenneth Miller Literary Awards Winners for the 2003 SCOP
Poetry
First Prize: “Giving Lip” - Aleathia Leblond
Second Prize: “The Main Grill” and “Laying Carpet Squares” - Vicki Jones Third Prize: “Snow Blossoms” - Kimberly Fenton
Fiction
First Prize: “Theft and Wandering Around Lost” - Christopher Bojangles Pike
Second Prize: “The Best Performance” - Vicki Jones
Third Prize: “First Smoke” - Gordon Cooper
Honorable Mentions: “Natalie, Melinda and The Wind” - Kelly Thomas
“Victoria’s Secret” - Gordon Cooper
Drama
First Prize: “Tortured Genius: The Insanity of Friedrich Nietzche” and “The Birdhouse” - Joel Davis Second Prize: “Autumn Harvest” -Vicki Jones
Third Prize: “The Gift” - Brad McKinney
Essay
First Prize: Vietnam Veterans Against the War - Gary Kenyon Second Prize: Dude, Are You Still Getting a Dell? and “Like A Rock:” Selling Out? - Gordon Cooper Third Prize: Maximum Zombie, Minimum Crime, or Who do Voodoo? You do Voodoo - Gunnar B. Podolec
You are invited to attend the Introduction To Acting Showcase Performances (TH102 Final Exam)
Friday, May 9, 2003
7:00 pm - Doors open at 6:45
Science Building Amphitheatre -S010
Coming Community College
All are welcome - Reception Follows
A Hatful of Rain by Michael V. Gazzo featuring Jonathon Brown & Cheryl Mathews Loose Ends by Michael Weller featuring Brian Simkin & Katrina Bick
Barefoot In The Park by Neil Simon featuring Michael Mathews & Amy Ciarlo
Agnes Of God by John Pielmeier featuring Jamie Furterer & Christie Runkle
The Sea Horse by Edward J. Moore featuring Tiffany Vedder & Christopher Wilson My Sister In This House by Wendy Kesselman featuring Linda Truesdale & Rachel Jones Birdbath by Leonard Melfi featuring Stephen Foster & Erin Cary
P.S. Your Cat Is Dead! by James Kirkwood featuring Greg Birosh & Matthew Apthorp ‘Night Mother by Marsha Norman featuring Laura Groves & Katie Milliken
I’m Herbert by Robert Anderson featuring Christopher Wilson & Jessi Davies
*Some scenes may include adult language and content.
corning community college
M
I don't pretend to be captain weird. I just do what I do." -Johnny Depp
The Crier- May 2003
page 13
Warning: This Could Be a Rant
By: Joshua Lahnum
Do you know what I'm doing right now? No, of course you don't. So, I’ll just tell you. At the moment, I am eating a Fruit Roll-Up. I bet most of you don’t realize just how dangerous a Fruit Roll-Up is, and that you could very well die while eating it. Thankfully, for my sake and everyone else’s, there is a warning on the wrapper telling you how to consume one of these in a risk free manner. If you’ve ever taken the time to read it. the message is as follows: Remove plastic wrapping before ingestion. I for one would never have thought to do that before cramming one in my mouth and I’m willing to bet I'm not alone. In case you didn't get it. I was being sarcastic. You know what really boggles my mind though? The only reason that warning is on there is because someone probably bought one and thought "Plastic wrap? What's the worst that could happen?'' and then proceeded to put it in their mouth and choked to death. I'm going to say something now that may sound mean, so don’t take too it personal. But, the stupidity of the human race irritates, amuses and amazes me all at the same time. Well, for the most part, it usually just irritates me to no end.
Am I the only one who's noticed the startling lack of common sense in people now and in the past? It really worries me sometimes. Flow are we, as a species, going to survive if we can’t even figure out that coffee is usually served hot unless you request it with ice?
Here’s an example. I was looking at this web site of odd facts and I saw an advertisement for a Swedish chainsaw. There was a warning on the side of the box that read "Warning: Do not attempt to stop chain with hands or genitals.” Now tell me. how could anyone, anyplace have thought it was a good idea to stop a chainsaw with their genitals? This is a tool that is used to cut solid wood. I don’t know about you, but I would never put a chainsaw any-
where near my crotch. Just a little personal guideline I live by. Something tells me that the person who actually did this, more than likely sued the company that made the chainsaw. How did he even build a case on that? Did he just phone in and say “Hi. I’m suing your company because, mentally, I'm on the bottom of the evolutionary ladder and tried to stop one of your chainsaws with my wang.’’ If I had been the judge for that case, I would’ve cracked that guy in the face with my gavel just for wasting my time.
I think that's what irritates me more than anything about this. People sue for things that are a result of their own stupidity and they usually win. What’s wrong with this country when a woman can sue a company that makes microwaves, because she stuck her cat in one to dry it off faster and it exploded? Honestly, would you stick your cat in a microwave let alone a regular oven? What now? A warning on microwaves that says, “Don’t put animals in this appliance or they will explode?” It’s ridiculous and getting quickly getting out of hand. There is, however, a small sign that the world may be coming back from the ledge that it was so precariously teetering on. I heard that, finally, the cases against McDonald’s are being thrown out of court because they have no basis for legal action. Haven’t heard about this? Well, here's the back-story.
About a month or two ago, I heard that McDonald’s was being sued. I thought to myself, “Sweet, they probably gave someone food poisoning and now they'll have to improve the quality of their business.” I was, however, very mistaken. A family was suing the home of the Big Mac because their child had become obese from eating too many of those very meals. They claimed that they had no idea that something like this could happen. My jaw nearly hit the floor when my brain finally processed the polluting stupidity that had just invaded my ears. They didn’t know!?! How could you not know!?! Fast food is not something that’s known for its nutritional value. I’m sure they’ve even found a way to make their salads give you a heart attack. But, maybe I’m be-
ing a bit hasty in my judgment of these people. I mean, after all, how can a food product that nails all of the basic food groups in one paper wrapper possibly be bad for you? Let’s break it down so everyone can see the nutritional miracle that is the Big Mac. We’ll start at the top of the pyramid:
Fat: We have plenty of that. Trust me.
Dairy: You have two; count them, two slices of processed cheese! Meat: Two all-beef patties. Vegetables: We’ve got lettuce! Fruit: Tomatoes. Yes, they are considered a fruit.
Bread: All of it served on a sesame seed bun.
Wait, no. Those people are just idiots. Common sense should tell you that if you eat too many Big Macs, you will end up looking like a beached whale. Well, as it goes, more people jumped on the bandwagon and started suing McDonald’s for making their kids chunk-monsters as well. I’m just glad the courts finally decided to say “Sorry, you’re fault. Guess it’s time to bust out the Slim-Fast.” And just to clarify something, I’m not picking on fat people. I’m picking on stupid people who have become fat as a result of their low level of common sense. So, if anyone should be mad at me right now, it should someone with a plastic covered Fruit Roll-Up stuck in his or her throat, someone with no genitals due to a chainsaw injury, someone whose cat blew up or someone who now weighs close to a ton from eating Big Macs.
Now keep in mind, this is only my opinion. Is it a little over the top? Yeah, I can see how it can be seen as being so. But, let’s face it; I wouldn't have much of an article if I simply stated that people with little common sense irritate me. That would be a sentence, tops. That would just be a waste of time to put in the paper. I’m sure this article will probably offend someone, it’s pretty much ensured. But, what I’ve written about in this article offends me as well. I’m offended at the idea that someone can sue and win large sums of money because they couldn’t figure out that their coffee would be served to them piping hot. It offends me that (continued on pg. 14)
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(continued from pg. 13) someone has a case because they thought it would be a good idea to clean their toaster with a metal spatula. But. that seems to lead into glaring flaws in our legal system. I played a game once where one of the characters jokingly states, “That’s the great thing about this country, you can sue anyone for just about anything and probably win.” Sadly, that statement seems true to me sometimes. Any legal system that allows a burglar to sue the family of the house he broke into because he got locked in their garage while they were on vacation, surviving on nothing but Pepsi and dog food, and win that case just seems flawed to me. But. I won't get into that right now. Maybe next semester I'll write about that. But. for now. I think I've gone on long enough.
Baseball Junkie
By: Tammy Pierson
Major League Baseball is America’s game. As long as I can remember baseball has been on my TV. The older I’ve gotten, the more appreciation I have for the game. I have had the pleasure of seeing games at Yankee Stadium, Shae Stadium and Park Olymipque in Montreal. My dream is to be able to see a game at every park someday. Baseball is so rich with history. I have also had the thrill of visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. I got the same feeling of awe here, as I did when I saw a game at Yankees Stadium for the first time. There is 254 Hall of Fame players enshrined in Cooperstown. All thirty current Major League teams have a showcase there as well. There are bats, balls, gloves and other accessories that baseball’s elite actually used while playing. I was amazed at the equipment from the early baseball years. The catcher’s equipment, their gloves and protectors were so small. The gloves had no padding inside. This doesn’t seem like it would have protected them at all. Cooperstown is full of baseball nostalgia as well as surrounding shops with memorabilia of all players, not only of yesteryear, but of today's stars
as well. There are two full blocks of non-stop memorabilia stores to visit. I bought twenty -one cards of the 2002 Cy Young award winner Barry Zito. and all of the cards cost only a dollar. There are two bat shops, where they sell game used bats as well as newly made ones. Also on the same main street are a few old fashioned restaurants. Baseball purists have tried to preserve the old fashioned. turn back the clock atmosphere of Cooperstown. The only conveniences are a McDonald's and a Pizza Hut. which are at least ten minutes away from the Hall of Fame itself. The Hall is definitely out of the way of the city rush. It is over a half an hour away from the exit for Cooperstown, but it is definitely every bit worth the distance. They play a game at Cooperstown every year. The same since the strike, but it is still as exciting to the real fans as it ever was. Baseball is an addiction, once you have baseball fever, there is no cure.
Alia Jacta Est
By: Eric Dontigney
There are phrases in the English language that chill my blood. And the one that chills my blood more than any other is this: “if you're not with us, you’re against us." It is the phrase of dictators, of tyrants, and now it is the phrase of American Presidents. It is a phrase that allows for no dissent, no questions, and no free will. It demands absolute loyalty to a position. In these days of war and death, when American soldiers go to a land of oppression, it has become the status quo for anyone who does not have absolute loyalty to the position of George W. Bush to come face to face with the notion that if you’re not with us. you’re against us. The implication is that protest is treason, that questions are intolerable, and that the belief that war is not a solution but a symptom is heresy. It is fashionable to vent anger at protesters, to say they are not patriots, and. more insulting and less forgivable, if you protest you do not support the troops. Yet this could not be farther from the truth.
We are told that our troops are
engaged in an act of liberation, freeing the Iraqi people from oppression of freedom of expression. This may be true, but what's good for the Iraqi people must be good for the American people. Supposedly we fight in Iraq so that those who live there may question their government. Are those who live in America not to be afforded this right? Are we whose brother’s and sisters, sons and daughters, husbands and wives are being placed in danger to be denied the right to question Our government, to express our views? Apparently so. Take for example the case of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, who cancelled an anniversary running of the film Bull Durham because its stars Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins protest the war. In calmer days, this would be called censorship. Or take for example Henry Norr. technology columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, who was dismissed from his job after participating in a war protest. These people did nothing other than embrace their right to freedom of expression and they are being punished for it.
Is this the democracy we want to bring to the rest of the world? A democracy that works wonderfully as long as you don't disagree, don't dissent, don't protest? That is not democracy. Democracy is founded on the ideas of equality and dissent. For those who have not yet realized it, we have an obligation to question our leaders, to keep them accountable, for if we do not, democracy will die. A popular epitaph hurled at protesters these days is that “our soldiers are dying so you can do that.” They say the words, yet somehow they miss the point of what they say. They’re right, they're exactly right, our soldiers are dying so that we can do exactly what we're doing, as American soldiers have done so often in the past. Do those who harbor so much enmity toward protesters think that our soldiers die solely for the idea of democracy and the idea of the right to disagree, but the not the reality of those things. They die not only so we can protest but so that if we feel strongly enough that we will protest. Still, we are told we do not support the troops.
I have yet to meet a person
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(continued from pg. 14) who protests this war because they don’t support the troops. I'm sure they' re out there, but I don’t know one. Those I have met protest for many reasons. Some, like myself, protest on the grounds that this military action is in violation of international law. Others protest because they are pacifists. Still others protest because they feel that this is just a new breed of imperialism. Some protest because when the war is over, and reconstruction begins. Bush and Cheney will make a lot of money by handing out contracts to reconstruction companies in which they have holdings. Those companies, by the way, have already been chosen and that puts a very different spin on the nobility of our actions. Yet the purpose of the protests have had one thing in common, we didn't want our troops being sent into harms way to begin with because we did not want them to die. We want our troops brought home because we don’t want more of them to die. We hope that this military action will end soon so that the fewest number will die. We hope, we pray, and sometimes we depend on the variable favor of luck for the protection of those soldiers. However, some will still insist that all of we damned protesters don’t support the troops even though what we really protest is the policy.
There is another reason some protest, perhaps the most important reason. and that is because this is not the end. Preemptive wars were for decades, in theory, not permissible. Now, the world can no longer depend on those laws to protect them from the hostilities of foreign nations. Bush has opened the door for any aggressor with a grudge to invade another country under the umbrella of ’‘they posed a legitimate threat." This was a door many protesters had hoped would not be opened, and for a brief moment America was as Caesar at the Rubicon, pausing in contemplation, but now we can not undo what we have done and the world has stepped onto the slippery slope. Every invasion will have to be judged from the grounds of whether a potential threat existed. The vast gray area of the morality of war has been widened further and we, the students, the young, the future adults
of the world, will be the inheritors of all that this war has done and what it has undone. The die is cast.
Six Months
By: Kathy Dreifuss
Six months. Six months without a carefree moment or the ability to be completely happy. Six months where not a moment has gone by that I haven’t wondered, why her? Six months of tears and a pain so deep it has left a hole in my heart and life.
My sister died six months ago. She had a seizure while she was taking a bath, and she drowned. My mom and I found her and called the ambulance, but one look at the paramedics face and I knew it was too late.
I was numb for weeks. I told everyone that I was fine and that my parents were fine, but the truth was that I couldn’t face the pain and I had gone on autopilot. I went to school everyday, did my homework, played in the community band, just like before, but it wasn’t like before. Everything had changed overnight and things were never going to be the same, no matter how much I tried to continue living a “normal” life.
I miss my sister. I don’t have any other siblings, and the house is too quiet now. It’s a lonely feeling, knowing that you are your parents’ only chance to become grandparents, and always feeling that you should have to somehow fill the role of both daughters.
Most of my friends and teachers never mention my sister. I think people are afraid of hurting me by bringing up memories, but the greatest hurt is the fear that everyone else has forgotten her. Some days I wonder if anyone really remembers her besides my parents and myself.
A former teacher, for whom I have great respect in most ways, told me that “it’s been several months and you should be moving on with your life”. I’ve had other people tell me that “she’s in a better place”, and that “God only picks the prettiest flowers for His
garden”. Most people don’t understand that you don’t get over the death of a sibling the same way you get over the flu. It takes time, and even months later some days it still feels like it happened yesterday. The deep pain fades, but never really goes away.
My sister left behind a 20-pound cat named Little Bit, a room full of books and owl figurines and pictures, and a family that never got to know her full potential. Her death has left an emptiness in my life that I don’t think can ever be filled. Life does go on, but it will never be the same.
In Memoriam The administration, faculty, staff, and students are deeply saddened by the tragic death of student Brad W. Taylor due a boating accident on Saturday, April 5th, 2003. Brad loved to fish, play basketball and go to Elmirs Jackals games. He will be missed by many. We all extend our sympathies to Brad’s family and friends.
In Memoriam The administration, faculty, staff, and students are deeply saddened by the unexpected death of student Joe Ladoue on April 29th, 2003. Joe enjoyed gardening, home renovations, singing with “Common Time,” and being around people and his cherished family. Memorial donations may be directed to the World Mission Society, Horseheads Church of Nazarene, 431 Wygant Rd. Horseheads, NY 14845, in Joe’s memory.
The Crier- May 2003
page 16
Opinions and Editorials
^	_• *	«,.r Dear Editor
Dear Editor,
In the last issue of The Crier there was an “advertising supplement” titled “The Silent Epidemic.” I thought perhaps this was about a disease or even, God forbid, censorship, but I was mistaken. In fact, it was about abortion; a perfectly suitable subject for American’s to be familiar with given its volatile nature. However, as I read through this “supplement” that was from a decidedly Pro-Life perspective, it became apparent that it was making assertions that have no relation to reality, or were deeply misleading. For example, the section dealing with PAS (post abortion syndrome) reads like a guidebook for how one would feel in hell, but does not address the fact that PAS is very rare. In fact, “A representative of the APA has testified before a committee of the LIS House of Representatives that PAS docs exist, but is less common than post-partum depression after a birth.” That’s the part that gets left out but is the most relevant. The “supplement” implies that every woman who gets an abortion will feel this way.
This supplement also flat out says that an abortion will increase your risk of breast cancer. However, ‘The best surveys, cohort studies, all report no link, at least for the 90% of abortions that are performed during the first trimester. The largest study found that a link may exist for late-term abortions; however the data is not statistically significant.” This section of the supplement is misleading at best and an outright falsehood at worst.
It also notes the fact that many Planned Parenthood clinics are located near large minority populations and that this is some form of racism. I don’t even know where to begin with that except to point out the demographics. Minority groups have higher percentages of teen pregnancies and unwed motherhood. It would seem to me that it’s only natural that a group focused on family planning would establish itself where there appears to be a need for family planning.
So now I finally come to my
point, which is this. If The Crier is purporting itself to be a journalistic outlet then I feel that it also has an ethical responsibility to see to it that information it provides on such a sensitive topic as abortion, directly or indirectly, is as accurate and unbiased as possible. The information provided in the so-called supplement was neither accurate nor unbiased. I feel that the “information” it offered bordered on the irresponsible and that it was irresponsible of The Crier to distribute the supplement to the student body.
Sincerely,
Eric Dontigney
Dear Eric,
Thanks very much for your feedback. My editorial (on page 17) this month deals with students who will not contribute their thoughts and opinions, yet they will talk smack behind the back of The Crier. I thank you for your input in an attempt to better our journalistic efforts. We don’t claim to have all of the answers; every effort that we make is an educated attempt to do what is right for the paper. We openly discuss any controversial topic amongst our staff and hope that we make a good decision in whether or not to put it in The Crier. Often we succeed; occasionally we fail. None of our articles are the express opinions of CCC. As our frontpage banner states, we are “the voice of the CCC student body.” Those voices represent each of us in some way or another. We do not always agree with what is printed; however, we try to offer diverse pieces (and public service announcements) that may appeal to each student. I realize that my comments provide you with no true answers; however, your opinions will help us to make student-related decisions with another voice and opinion. Unfortunately, no one else that reads The Crier is willing to try to make the difference that you were willing to make. Thanks, Eric, for trying to question what you read. It’s called free speech. We used it; you used it. Share it with others.
Dear Editor
I am writing to say that I think the last issue of The Crier was outstanding. I was especially taken by the article written by Gary Cooper and Colleen Philpott; they captured the essence of why America is in Iraq and why to protest makes no sense.
This is a great time to be alive. We today have the opportunity to know people whose lives have spanned some of the greatest events in human history, and some of the worst. I well remember my father’s aunt who was bom in December 1875 - six months before Custer met his fate at the Little Big Horn. She passed away shortly before her 101st birthday, yet my daughter remembers her too. I can remember telling her that by the time she has grandchildren the world will be different in ways we can't imagine.
My father and all but one of my uncles fought in WW11; they literally saved the world. I have known people who survived Nazi Death camps, and even a survivor of the Bataan Death March after the Japanese conquered the Philippines. I am a Vietnam veteran and proud of that service. Later, I was proud to have protested that war when I came home. But there is protest that is right, and that which isn’t. It was right to protest that war - which is not to say give material aid and comfort to the enemy (like Jane Fonda did. That is a whole other thing; such a person is a traitor.) No, to protest that was right because five successive presidents and their staff lied to the American people and the Congress in order to gain support for their policies, which were not based on reality and did not take into account the needs or aspirations of the Vietnamese people.
It was not a protestor that put his life on the line so people had the right to protest. That was a soldier. It was not a movie star who won the right to freedom of speech. That was a soldier. And just what is it about a movie star or famous singer that makes their opinion so important anyway? To hear these people you would think their philosophy is “America, my country, al-
(continued on pg. 17)
The Crier- May 2003
(continued from pg. 16) ways wrong." It was a soldier who won us the right we have as Americans, and more is the pity that our younger people today are taught so little about that. To have the right to protest doesn't mean that it should be used irresponsibly. For whatever flaws our democracy has, and there are some serious ones, ours is still the noblest experiment in history . From the start, people have beaten a path to our shores and away from governments they didn't feel free under. Think about that. How many Americans are illegal immigrants in other countries?
Now that war with Iraq is started, it is our obligation to the men and women who serve to support them, to let them know that the country stand with them. They have all sworn a solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution; they don't get to pick and choose which orders are desirable and which are unpleasant. It will take time after the main fighting has ceased to build an infrastructure that the Iraqi people can run. Our troops need and deserve our support both now while they are deploying and after they come home.
I have heard people say they protest because they feel empathy for the people of Iraq. That is absolute rubbish. Do these people think that the Iraqis regime would have gone away if they weren't running from our troops? To be empathetic with the Iraqi people is to support all of the humanitarian aid and infrastructure-building measures possible; it is NOT to oppose the military campaign that has made these efforts possible in the first place.
It is not American or Coalition troops who are deliberately firing on civilians. That was Iraqi troops. It was not American or Coalition forces who used chemical and nerve agents against the Kurds in Iraq to terrorize them away from their bid for freedom following the Gulf War a dozen years ago. That was the Iraqi government. To protest our involvement is to ally with those kinds of things, no matter how much that are denied.
I am a proud member of Vietnam Veterans of America, whose founding principle is "Never again shall one generation of veterans abandon an-
other," as me and my peers were abandoned and ignored for two decades following Vietnam. I am also a proud member of the Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion, where I have come to know some really good people who served both before and after my period of service. No matter the period in which our military service occurred, we are all still veterans and proud to have served.
The bottom line is this: to publicly protest our involvement in this war is to attempt to undermine the morale of our forces in the field. To protest is to ally oneself with thugs and mass murderers who have even murdered their own families to stay in power. The three major religions in the area, Christian. Jewish and Islamic, all agree that this a dangerous period in history. But war and Armageddon are not inevitable; that is why the war against terrorism is so important. Yes, this is a great time to be alive. I have had the honor and privilege of seeing in my life some great moments in history, and that has only deepened my appreciation of America and those who came before me.
Dear Gary.
I appreciate and respect your passion. I agree, "this is a great time to be alive.” The writers at The Crier have represented most sides of the war. As a veteran, your thoughts are very important to our understanding of all sides of this confusing issue. Your voice matters to more people than you probably know. Thank you for sharing a different point of view.
“Trying to produce an issue of The Crier that no one complains about, is like trying to slice water.”
-Joel Davis
page 17
EDITORIAL
One hundred and four people—we have over three thousand full-time students on campus, and only one hundred and four people turned out to vote two weeks ago for the run-off elections. So, maybe the turnout was low because it was merely a run-off election versus a full-blown election? Nice try. One hundred and THREE people showed up for the actual elections on April 1st. Are you embarrassed yet? I am...for those who didn’t vote. The other two thousand nine hundred folks are willing to talk openly about the inequities of the administration, student government, Crier articles, and student activities, but when it comes down to making a difference they are about as effective as generic dish soap.
I am embarrassed that only a small faction of the students care enough about things to try and make a difference. I can only assume that that is the way they live their lives and will pursue life after CCC with that very same lack of concern and devotion. A student walked into the activities office the other day with a concern about the insert in the last Crier. After venting his venom about his opposition to the topic, he was told to contact me and write a letter. He didn’t—too much effort, I guess. Conversely, Eric Dontigney took time out from his pre-finals work to illustrate his opposition (page 16). He can complain all he wants because he tried to make a difference. Don’t complain about President Bush unless you voted; don’t complain about the quality of the red peppers at the market unless you are willing to talk to the merchant and let him know they are too wrinkled; and don’t complain about the content of an insert in your college newspaper unless you are willing to have the stones to speak up. So, if you didn’t vote in the elections then smile, keep your mouth closed, enjoy your fall semester, and don’t complain when one hundred and four people make your decisions for you.
TheCrier@hotmail.coni
The Crier- May 2003
page 18
Flowers For Mom
By: Vicki Jones
(Printed from the 2003 SCOP)
I was ten years old the day I lost a piece of my soul. It must have been July. Yes, I’m sure it was July. After that day, Uncle Ron would say to me, “You’re too young to have such old eyes.” I didn’t know what that meant then. I’m not sure I do now.
I’d slowly lost my ability to trust anyone, like when I was seven and a Sheriff banged on our door one night asking Dad to step outside. “Grampa Sutton died,” I told my mother. I don’t know how I knew, but I knew Dad’s father had died. Mom slapped my-I-shouldn’t-talk-like-that-mouth and sent me to bed. Three days later, tears fell from my chin onto the yellow satin of the casket that embraced the love of my seven-year-old life. My Grampa was dead. Because I somehow knew he died, my brother Pat said I killed him.
Incessant, torrential rains steamed us that July, just a few weeks after Robert Kennedy was shot. Mom was on her knees in front of the black and white TV, tears streaming down her face.
“Not again,” she whimpered. Either Mr. Kennedy or Daddy had made her cry. Mr. Kennedy was dead; daddy was passed out on the couch. I didn’t care. All I wanted to do was swim.
That day, a sunny day, I didn’t have to take my brother’s swimming. Mom was home. The trestle, two streets away, had one of the deepest swimming holes near our new house. All the neighborhood kids swam there. The boys would knock each other off the railroad ties into the water and push each other under. I could dive off the top and not hit bottom. Bompa, my other grandfather, said the train used to go over it on its way to Elkland. His mom, my great grandmother, would spend a whole day shopping there. I couldn’t imagine a train going over that rickety bridge.
We had moved again. Changed schools again. Waved to Juanita out the bus window for the last time. Left the same school Eric Dartt left. He got leukemia. I didn’t know what leukemia was, but his brother
Steve said, it was bad. I wondered if it was as bad as Mom getting knocked down the stairs, or Timmy, my brother getting kicked up the stairs was. Mrs. Robertson cried while she told our class Eric died. My Dad didn’t allow crying, so I kept swallowing and swallowing until the lumps in my throat went away. Mrs. Robertson said an angel took Eric away. I’ve been afraid of angels ever since.
When he was sober. Dad referred to the house we moved into on Famham Street, as our new start. It was “the dump” when he was drunk. “The dump” was his reason to break dishes and punch walls, I guess.
That steamy day, I walked two houses down to ask my friend, Lauren, to go swimming. We could walk to Rock Bottom two miles up the road, where no boys went. They didn’t like walking that far. Her mother wouldn't let her. Her mother was mean. Lauren cooked, cleaned and watched her brothers all the time. She wanted me to wait until she was done, but I wanted to go swimming. I’d never gone to Rock Bottom alone before, but I was mad because Robin couldn’t go.
The idea of going there began as a, “I wish I dared,” to a “I’m going anyway.”
The dingy towel around my neck passed for white. Mom wouldn’t use bleach. All our whites were that color. Lauren’s mother used bleach. Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Allen used bleach. Mom wouldn’t. She said it made her break out. I wonder now if beer came before bleach in more places than the dictionary. Anyway, Lauren never got picked on in the locker room because her under pants looked dirty.
The dirt road to Rock Bottom was tree-lined on both sides with mountain laurel growing on the bank. I had picked some once. It was so pretty a pink, it made me remember the cotton candy at the county fair the year before. I took some home for Mom to put in a mason jar. Dad had screamed at me. Something about it being a state flower and the cops were gonna put me in jail and wouldn’t I feel like sh*t sitting in a cell away from my family with guards throwing food through the bars. I cried.
making dad furious. He spanked me so hard I peed my pants. I never picked flowers for Mom again.
I walked toward the swimming hole. This time, I stayed way on the other side of the road away from the mountain laurel, hanging onto my towel and not even looking at flowers. I could see the trampled path up ahead, leading down into the swimming hole and I could see an old man riding a bike towards me.
Looking down over the bank,
I daydreamed about standing on the knotted swing- rope that hung from the biggest tree there. Swinging out over the dark, swirling water and sliding in, toes, knees, belly, shoulders and head. Loving the rush of falling. Loving the water embracing me.
I was jolted back to the present by the old man standing right beside me.
“I’ll give you a dollar if you go in them woods and get my cane,” he said. I didn’t answer right away. Mom said I was slow like that, but answering too quickly always had its problems. I couldn’t understand why this old guy’s cane would be in the woods in the first place and I couldn’t understand why he couldn't go get it himself. There was a dirty canvass bundle tied with baling twine to the back of his old bike. His bike didn’t have high handlebars sticking up or a banana seat like mine. The one I would have been riding, if my brother hadn't taken parts off mine to fix his. Tim, my youngest brother, ran wheel first into the big Maple in front of our house, because Mike and Pat were peppering him with tomatoes. My front wheel, seat and handlebars became Tim’s. Dad told Mom the week before, “I damn guartantee it, it won’t be a week and them little bastards will wreck these bikes. “I don’t know why I bother to buy them anything, they don’t appreciate nothing.” Sure enough. Dad was right. But, dad was always right. Here I stood; looking up at this hideous man with dirty cheeks and a baling twine belt holding up urine soaked trousers two sizes to big. I looked into his blood shot eyes, cringing from the strange excitement in them.
I told him, “No,” I wasn’t going in the woods for him and started
(continued on pg. 19)
The Crier- May 2003
page 19
(continued from pg. 18) backing toward home, needing a few less steps between me and Mom.
“I’ll give you a quarter if you let me look at your pussy,” he said, his gap-toothed grin moving toward me. I didn’t know what a pussy was, but if I had one, I sure didn’t want him looking at it. His hand, all knuckles and veins groped my arm. I turned to run.
“NO,” screamed its way from the bottom of my belly searing my throat. 1 kicked at his legs trying to escape the hand that crawled on my skin.
I was used to being scared all the time. Scared Mom would forget to put lipstick on before Dad got home. Scared Dad would break all the dishes in the house. Scared Dad would kill Mom. This was different. I was scared for my life.
“Just let me feel your titties,” he said, with a, “He he he,” like it was fun or a game. Like Red Rover, Red Rover come on over, or a quick game of cartoon tag or hide and go seek. Ollie, Ollie home free, somebody come find me. I recoiled from the black caked fingernails thrust between my thighs. I flip flopped like a fish out of water. He held my arm. I twisted first toward the stench of his perverted sweat, shrinking from his roaring cigarette breath, twisting then away from him glimpsing through the trees, the sun-sparkling water in the swimming hole where I should have been. Facing, for the final time my ability to ever trust another living soul. The frenzied writhing yanked him from the bike leaning against his hip. As he jerked back to catch the falling bike, his grip on my arm loosened. I jumped away, falling forward on all fours, groping at the dirt road for traction, like a runner at the starting blocks.
Racing home, I was sure I felt his dragon breath on my neck. Each rapid step seemed in slow motion. I thought every heartbeat and every breath would be my last.
Dad and John Quigley, the senior high school boy from next door, stood on the steps of our porch. 1 ran crazed at them. Tears streaked my dirty face. A hollow well of unspeakable words released from my brain paralyzed my throat. I jumped onto Dad, craving security. A spider on a web. He pried
me off.
My scraped hands clung to his shoulders. I searched his drunken eyes for comfort, revealing what the man had done and what he had asked me to do. Neither one spoke, as they bolted across the yard. We didn’t own a car, but John Quigley did. They jumped into his ’56 Crown Victoria, squealing out of the drive, speeding up the road I had just raced down.
Dad once told John, “I used to have a car like her once. She was a beauty. Had to trade her for the ole lady and kids.”
John had grinned, telling Dad, “I’ll keep my car.”
Mom heard my hysterical tale from inside the screen door and pulled me into the house.
“What ever possessed you to go off on your own,” she scolded, “Do you know how your dad’s going to act when he gets back? He’s going to blame me, you know? Now get to your room.”
I climbed upstairs, looking at my feet. Mom said to my back, “I hope you’re happy now.”
I wasn’t happy. I didn’t want dad to be mean to her because of me. I wondered as I lay in my room, in my bed, under my covers, if all men either hit like dad or touched like the old man did.
Lapping at my salty tears, I cried, sobbing about what happened, about what didn’t happen and for some elusive part of me now absent. I cried alone, like I’d heard Mom cry too many times.
I heard the car doors slam. The pillowcase Mom embroidered with lilacs and leaves smeared tears and snot all over my face. I slid from the bed crouching near the heater grate listening to Dad and John talking to Mom in the kitchen.
“You’re not gonna believe this,” hollered Dad, “We caught up with the son of a bitch about three miles up the road. I yanked the fucker off the bike and beat him to within an inch of his life. John had to pull me off him. Huh, John?”
“I thought he would kill him,” said John, “I finally talked him into taking the pervert to the police.”
Dad went on, “We opened his old bag he had tied to his bike.” “Guess what we found in there. Handcuffs, a knife, a whip and girlie magazines. I bet that son of a bitch woulda kilt her. What the hell was she doing up there attracting the likes of him?”
At that very moment, my tears dried up, never to flow as freely again.
Dad stopped yelling, grabbing a half-empty bottle of Jim Beam from the side- board, and charging down to the basement where he stayed for hours.
I stayed in my room until I heard my brothers racing across the lawn, excited about a stray kitten they’d found behind the neighbor’s garage.
My father never mentioned that day again, no one did, and I never knew what came of the old man.
I couldn’t understand why fate clutched me for that terrifying moment, snatching such a large piece of my soul. But, I never dared to ask. Of course, I was to blame.
Twenty-five years passed before events occurred that shed light on some of the reasons for my father’s behavior. I was by then, a married woman with five children of my own. I was also an aspiring writer, selling nothing. A writing pal challenged me to put my pain in print.
I had a heart to heart with Dad just before he died. It broke his heart to tell me that the grandfather I adored, his father, raped and molested all of his children for years, my own father included. I was pummeled by the confession. The years of pain funneled to this moment. This revelation of his need to physically and emotionally distance himself from me, allowed me to understand he couldn’t have helped me cope with that day on the dirt road. He wasn’t capable of helping himself. He gave me the most sacrificial gift he could have; he never touched me the way his father touched him.
After years of self-blame, I was finally relieved of the biggest baggage I toted inside. Incidents and circumstances happening long before I was born shaped the past from which I ran. I began to heal by writing about this past, finding my best writing came from my worst pain.
The Crier - May 2003
page 20
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