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(04/12/06 12:00pm)
The music blared around campus from the Packer Hall parking lot, drawing students into the fun and festivities of mtvU's 2006 Campus Invasion Tour.
The tour, which kicked off on Tuesday at the College, began with an interactive village that invited students to compete in music games and compete for prizes, including money and a car.
"It looks like a village and (students) get a taste of mtvU," Joe Armenia, overseer of the campus tour, said. "They are experiencing new music. And it is all about free stuff."
Armenia, who created the tour in 1998 before mtvU existed, said he is thrilled to be part of a project that brings music to college students and allows them to see performances by groups that may not yet be in the mainstream.
"It is designed to give college-age students access to what they want," he said.
With music playing in the background and an announcer consistently reminding students of the evening's concert, visitors to the village competed in games where they had to identify the bands singing and match song titles to artists. In addition, they had the opportunity to sign up for free newsletters in exchange for mtvU bags and put their names in a drawing for an iTunes gift certificate.
The students responded well to the village and many stopped by to get a peek at what the channel had to offer.
"I think it's really fun, really different," Vanessa Campana, sophomore communication studies major, said. "(It's something you) don't see every day."
The still fledgling channel, which is an offshoot of MTV, began as a way to easily reach MTV's younger viewers, namely the college crowd. According to Armenia, the station was not doing enough to cater to them and he and others at MTV wanted to find a way to host cheap concerts with bands that college students enjoyed.
The channel is now broadcast on hundreds of campuses around the country.
The Campus Invasion Tour started out being a biannual event, but it soon became a huge annual excursion.
"The franchise is strong and still going," Armenia said. "I am happy and thrilled to be a part of it. It's a model that works and artists clamor to do the tour."
Once the tour is scheduled, those in charge determine which campuses it will visit. According to Armenia, they announce the tour to the schools in the "mtvU universe" and wait for the campuses to show interest.
"There was a demand from (the College)," he said. "I feel like (the College) chose us because our target was to start in early April and the time they were willing to do was perfect."
The final step in the process is to choose the bands that will perform on the tour. Armenia said that many of the bands that have participated in the Campus Invasion Tour in the past have gone onto bigger gigs afterwards.
"The trend is to go from mtvU to MTV2 and MTV," Armenia said. "We are uniquely poised as a music brand to do this."
According to Armenia, Motion City Soundtrack was an obvious choice for the tour.
"I think they are poised to go to the next level," he said.
In addition, he said he is happy to bring hellogoodbye and Straylight Run to the college masses.
"Straylight Run has an amazing live show," he said. "They have the best show I've seen in a while."
Although Straylight Run had to cancel due to illness, the band members were happy to talk about the future of the tour before they made the announcement.
According to Shaun Cooper, Straylight Run bassist, the band's show is always spontaneous to keep it interesting.
"Nothing is the same every night," he said in a phone interview. "We will be switching up the songs every night."
Straylight Run began with Cooper and lead vocalist John Nolan, who also plays guitar and piano.
The two friends left their former band, Taking Back Sunday, to try something new. They soon recruited drummer Will Noon and Nolan's sister Michelle, who also played guitar and piano and was writing songs.
According to Cooper, the Nolans write most of the band's lyrics and melodies, while the other two members contribute to the final structuring and timing of the songs.
"We have all different backgrounds," he said. "The idea was not to get pigeonholed in any one brand."
Cooper said the station asked Straylight Run to participate in the tour because mtvU has been playing its videos and fielding requests for its music.
"This will be an amazing tour and we are happy to do it," he said. "Our songs are a little less poppy so maybe we will add a little more diversity (to the tour)."
Overall, Cooper said the band is looking forward to the tour and visiting the different campuses, including the State University of New York at Binghampton, where his sister graduated.
"A lot of people who work at (the colleges) will go out of their way to help because this is not an everyday thing," he said.
The Campus Invasion Tour ends May 5 at the University of Maine.
"It's a great show that people want, but didn't (necessarily) think they'd get to see," Armenia said.
(03/22/06 12:00pm)
Sodexho managers addressed student concerns about Eickhoff Hall's water main break during their Dining Services committee meeting on March 8.
When a leak was reported outside the Marketplace Convenience Store on March 6, the water had to be shut off in the building to repair the damage. According to a statement on the meeting agenda, the College was forced to close the dining hall as well as the store because of the lack of running water for employees to wash their hands and the dishes in compliance with Department of Health standards.
John Higgins, general manager of Dining Services, said Sodexho had expected the problem to be fixed by midnight and was pleased when procedures to repair the break were successful.
He said the decision to close the dining hall was made between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., normally the busiest time of the night.
"We made the decision to close," Higgins said. "But we were not going to let anyone go hungry."
Employees were moved to other dining locations on campus, including Brower Student Center's food court and the Travers/Wolfe Dining Hall, to accommodate students who were turned away from Eickhoff Dining Hall.
Higgins said he received two e-mail complaints from students concerning the closing of the dining hall. One came from a community advisor, who said communication between the College and students needed to be improved to let students know that Eickhoff Dining Hall was closed for the evening.
The second e-mail came from a student who has the Carte Blanche meal plan and was concerned that he did not have any more points to spend in other dining halls.
"Without a doubt, we would have given him a meal," Higgins said. "I made myself available in case this was a problem (throughout the night)."
Aside from these issues, Higgins said there were no major problems that night.
"(About) 400 to 500 people were fed in T/W," Higgins said. "There were no complaints there."
Karen Roth, director of Auxiliary Services, attended the meeting and explained how the campus informs students of problems that affect them.
According to Roth, in instances such as a massive snowstorm, the campus usually has 24-hour notice and can prepare for possible emergencies. She said an e-mail is normally sent to the entire campus to inform students of the plans and others are written throughout the day to keep everyone updated.
"This situation happened much quicker," Roth said. "(Next time) we can be better about getting the message out."
Higgins said he will be working with Steve Hugg, marketing director, and Matt Hower, resident dining director, to do something for the students in appreciation of the way they handled the difficult situation.
"So many of the students were inconvenienced but adapted to the changes in a positive way that I wanted to say thanks," he said.
The meeting ended with a discussion of several complaints and praises for Sodexho from students, which were brought to the attention of the Student Government Association.
Among the comments recorded were ones requesting fewer fried foods, a larger selection of sugar-free desserts for diabetic students, better cleaning of utensils and a shout out to Big Larry as being the "freaking man."
In response to the issue of dirty utensils, Higgins said that Sodexho has received the highest marks possible in recent health inspections, but students should find a manager if there is a specific item they feel has not been properly cleaned.
In addition, some students have complained that there is a poor selection in Eickhoff Dining Hall between lunch and dinner each day and from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Higgins said the turnover of food is based on the demand and food is prepared before the 11:30 a.m. rush.
"Later in the day, we don't prepare foods as early," he said, adding that food is often made to order later in the day.
Higgins also addressed a complaint concerning the overcrowding of the food court between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. every weekday. He said that the area is always jammed from 11:25 a.m. to 11:55 a.m., but that the opening of the New Library caf? next semester should alleviate some of the crowds.
"It will hopefully offset some of the crowds," he said. "We will be offering meal equivalency (for freshmen and sophomores) in the library caf?."
(12/07/05 12:00pm)
On Saturday, Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity and Kappa Delta Sorority cosponsored TCNJ Making the Band in the Cromwell Lounge. During the event, which attracted more than 100 people, participating fraternities and sororities competed with each other to prove they were the best performers. The participants came to the competition with a chosen song, dance and costumes, while the organizers provided them with "ridiculous instruments," according to John Birckhead, secretary and risk management chair of Phi Alpha Delta.
The event was an opportunity to raise money for charity, aside from their usual food drives with Mercer Street Friends and a campus beautification project in which the fraternity regularly participates.
"The fraternity is always looking for new ideas and programs that are fun to put on at the College, and to raise money for charity," Birckhead said.
In the end, Sigma Alpha Epsilon took home top prize in a tiebreaker between them and Phi Sigma Sigma.
Half of the proceeds from the event went to the Lauren Talbot Memorial Fund.
"(This fund is for) one of my students from my student teaching experience who passed away from a car accident in the rain about six weeks ago," Birckhead said.
The remaining money was given to the winner, who kept half and donated the rest to their charity, the Children's Miracle Network.
(12/07/05 12:00pm)
At the final event for the Visiting Writers Series (VWS) this semester, Robyn Art will be coming to the College today at 3 p.m. in the New Library Auditorium. The award-winning poet took time to answer questions about her inspirations, awards and teaching at the College.
Audrey Levine: How did you begin your writing career?
Robyn Art: I've been reading and writing poetry from a very young age. I was lucky to have a mother who read to me often, and I think this got me hooked pretty early on. I also had some incredible teachers in grammar school who encouraged my writing and, further down the road, a college professor who helped me develop the confidence to pursue writing after college. After graduation, I was living in Portland, Ore., kind of lost, not writing too much and working at various menial jobs, when I started auditing evening poetry workshops at Portland State University, and met my most important mentor, the poet Henry Carlile, who to this day remains (next to my parents) my most ardent supporter and loyal fan. He and my classmates helped me get refocused and writing prolifically, and everything took off from there.
AL: What do you find most gratifying, writing or teaching?
RA: I find writing and teaching both extremely gratifying, but in different ways. With teaching, the happiness I get from watching my students grow as writers and gain confidence in themselves really can't be compared to anything else. I also enjoy working with young writers because I know from experience how discouraging the world can be when you're just starting out. I had a lot of helping hands along the way, and I like the idea of returning the favor by supporting and encouraging the next generation of poets. Writing is, of course, extremely gratifying too, but in a solitary, entirely self-focused way. For me, the combination of writing and teaching is a perfect one.
AL: How does it feel to be reading at the College after having taught here?
RA: I loved teaching at the College, and I'm happy to be reading here again. Catie Rosemurgy and Cathy Day have done an amazing job with the creative writing program, and I continue to be inspired by them as writers and as teachers. My students were also great: talented, motivated and very bright. I hope I'll get to the chance to teach at the College again.
AL: Where do you get your inspiration for your poetry?
RA: I get inspiration for my writing from regular, boring, everyday life: garbage cans, overheard conversations, animals, Burger King, loneliness, the complex and painful web of human relationships. Even though I live in the city, I'm also very much influenced by the natural world. Furthermore, I'm one of those people who doesn't like the idea of writing in an isolated artist community. It's the daily interaction with the minutiae of the world that really feeds my creative spirit. I think writers tend to live in a highly attentive state, and that daily engagement with the world is what is eventually transmuted into poems.
AL: How does it feel to be nominated for such prestigious honors as the Pushcart Prize?
RA: I have to admit it does feel good to be acknowledged as a writer by people whose business it is to bestow literary honors. For so long I struggled with rejection after rejection; of course, rejection is an inevitable part of the game and I still get turned down constantly, but you get a thicker skin as you gain confidence in your own ability and artistic vision. I still write first and foremost for myself, and would write even if I never got anything published at all, but it is a nice feeling to be recognized in your field.
AL: What is your best advice for budding poets?
RA: The best advice I could give is to believe in your own writing and develop a thick skin. You'll get rejected constantly (my good friend, a widely-published poet, already has 400 magazine rejections to his credit) and encounter many people who will try to undermine your writing ambitions, but if you're writing primarily for the love of it, all of this just sort of falls away, and one day you find that you've become so stubborn and determined that the rejection just doesn't matter so much anymore. Also realize that life is long and publication tends to come very slowly; Robert Frost didn't publish his first book until he was 42, and there are many writers who embarked on their careers or found recognition relatively late in life. Be patient, and let things unfold as they will.
The second best advice I would give a budding poet is to develop a sense of discipline, and don't let writing time be crowded out of your day. You have to learn to write in off-moments - waiting in line at the bank, on the train, at the Laundromat, etc. - because otherwise, you'll find that writing gets pushed aside. Be stubborn about your writing time and guard it, even if it's just twenty minutes a day.
Finally, do a lot of reading: you need to read at least twice as much as you write. It doesn't have to be just poetry, either, and probably shouldn't be: I tend to read a great deal of fiction, and find that it really helps me nail down concrete description.
AL: What do you hope students take from your reading?
RA: I hope students enjoy the reading and feel comfortable enough to ask me questions afterwards. I was in their shoes not so long ago, and it's been a tough road to get where I am, but I would hope that hearing or reading about my own experiences as a fledgling writer might help them realize that they can get there too.
(12/07/05 12:00pm)
- About 150 fourth graders were invited to the White House to watch members of the American Ballet Theatre perform the Nutcracker in the East Room. The children, all sons and daughters of soldiers fighting overseas, sat with President George W. Bush and First Lady, Laura Bush as the dancers performed and Santa Claus visited with the children. As Bush told the children, "I know it's hard when they're away. This has got to be a difficult time for you. But we really want you to know that they're doing important work. They're not only protecting the country, but they're helping other boys and girls live in freedom like we do here in the United States." Awwwwww.
- Now, with a big sigh of relief, we can finally put to rest all those doubts that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are a couple. No, not because of the constant pictures of them together or them actually confirming the rumors - because Pitt has decided to adopt Jolie's children. Jolie recently filed a petition to formally add Pitt's surname to her children's names. They will now be Maddox Jolie-Pitt and Zahara Jolie-Pitt. The hearing for the name change is scheduled for Jan. 14. Pitt will finally get his wish to have children, the supposed reason for his divorce from Jennifer Aniston in January.
- Two "Lost" stars were recently arrested for charges of Driving Under the Influence of alcohol. Michelle Rodriguez, who plays Ana-Lucia on the drama, and Cynthia Watros, who plays Libby, failed sobriety tests on early Thursday morning after they were seen weaving across the road on separate occasions. Rodriguez and Watros posted the $500 bail and have a court hearing on Dec. 29. The two stars will also have their licenses revoked. Rodriguez already has her own police record, having previously pleaded no contest to a hit and run, driving with a suspended license and driving under the influence. She was sentenced to 48 hours in jail, community service, time in a rehabilitation center, and three years probation. If this incident is found to violate her probation terms, she could face up to six months in jail.
(12/07/05 12:00pm)
Students graduate from the College and, hopefully, they go on to fame and fortune. It seems Peter Matkiwsky, a recent graduate from the College, is doing just that with the premiere of his first movie, "The Bonnie Situation."
The film is about a man looking for love in all the wrong places until he sees it in a local woman who may not be everything she seems. It will premiere at Tribeca Cinemas on Friday. In the spring, the College Union Board (CUB) will premiere the film for the campus community.
Audrey Levine: Why did you decide to enter the field of directing?
Peter Matkiwsky: I'm a writer, but directing was something I always wanted to do. I always wanted to have control and directing was the obvious next step.
AL: Where did you get the idea for "The Bonnie Situation?"
PM: When I was in college, I drew from stories from my friends. I drew from everything I knew. I mean, who hasn't had a breakup? This was actually my senior practicuum with Terrence Byrne, (professor of communications).
AL: How did you go about developing this project?
PM: I went on the Internet and put out ads on mandy.com and Craig's List. I got about 600 responses and held auditions. I was able to cast everyone in a week. People who shouldn't have worked for a kid right out of college liked the script and did it for half the price they should have worked for. Everyone contributed above and beyond.
AL: How do you feel about the upcoming premiere?
PM: I'm nervous. I'm excited. I've never had my work shown on that level. There will be 230 people, it will be on a marquee at Tribeca Cinemas. Agents and movie companies will be there. I'm hoping for positive feedback.
AL: What do you hope for the future of the film?
PM: The next step is to get the film into festivals, like Tribeca or Williamstown. I'm not shopping it, but I will try to show it everywhere.
AL: What do you hope for your future?
PM: I developed a good rapport with the cast and crew and now I'm writing a second one. I'm looking to show people what I did with $27,000; maybe people will want to give me more. I will make the next one a slam-dunk.
AL: How does it feel to have the film premiere at the College?
PM: I'm excited. I'd love for my old professors to see it and tell me what they think. I hope we get a good turnout.
(12/07/05 12:00pm)
Katy McColl, senior editor and writer for "JANE" magazine, understands the difficulty in finding a journalism job. She also understands the customs on an Indian reservation in Montana. And all of this she has put to good use throughout her career.
On Dec. 14, at 8:30 p.m., McColl will come to the New Library Auditorium in an event sponsored by Ed on Campus, "ink" and Sigma Tau Delta. She took some time out of her busy editing schedule to answer questions about reporting, writing and dorky cover letters.
Audrey Levine: What drew you to the field of journalism, particularly magazines?
Katy McColl: I gave a speech to a group of alumna when I was an undergrad at Smith (College) and one of them, a magazine editor, came up to me afterward and said, "I loved your speech and I want to help you." I was so shy I would only call her to follow up on Sunday nights when I knew she wasn't at the office, but she ended up recommending me for an American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) internship at "Travel & Leisure."
AL: What do you enjoy about being an editor versus a reporter?
KM: It takes a lot longer to report and write a story than it does to edit it. And writing, as anyone who's procrastinated before sitting down to draft a paper knows, starts with a blank page. Whereas editing is all about taking a story and making it better. I actually love editing because it's very instinctive. I used to edit my friends' love letters to their boyfriends, and they'd be like, "I asked you to read it, not mark it up with red pen!" But editing's a kind of mysterious, invisible process to a reader, because editors don't have bylines. I might edit four stories in the magazine, but if I don't write any, my grandmother's like, "What did you do all month?"
AL: Tell me about the book you recently wrote. Do you look at writing books as a side to your journalism career?
KM: I wanted to write a book about creative careers that was useful and fun to read. Not just for writers, but for people who've studied liberal arts and want to become fashion designers or presidential speechwriters but who don't know how to get their foot in the door. And it's not like passing the bar or going into Teach for America, where there's a clearly defined path set out for you. It's intimidating. I know it's intimidating. And that's what everyone who emails me wants to know: how to get started at a magazine. I see the book as part and parcel of my career.
AL: How did you go about trying to obtain this position as senior editor at "JANE?"
KM: I was rescued from my cappuccino-fetching assistant job on the recommendation of that same editor who approached me in college. So, "JANE" found me. Kismet in action. But that's only because it's a really, really small world here in publishing. That was maybe six years ago and I just remember being so thrilled to have business cards and not have to be a secretary anymore.
AL: What advice do you have for aspiring journalists?
KM: No dorky cover letters! If you want to write, show your voice and your skill from the beginning. And instead of bragging about being "detail-oriented," demonstrate it in your description and analysis of the publication you're writing to instead of relying on a template. Does that sound grouchy? Oh, well. Intern, intern, intern. Local newspapers are a great place to start.
AL: What do you enjoy most about working on a magazine?
KM: I love the variety. And I love using my judgment in a variety of situations. I worked on a heartbreaking story following the murder of two young women on an Indian reservation in Montana and completely immersed myself in researching the culture of this particular tribe. One of the reasons why the mother agreed to an interview was because I presented her with a blanket, a gift customarily conferred on someone from whom you're seeking knowledge. It meant something to her that I knew that. Anyway, lucky for me, every month is different.
(11/30/05 12:00pm)
- After all the rumors, questions and pressure, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey have officially decided to divorce. They decided to part ways on Nov. 23, saying in a statement that it was a mutual agreement. Lachey is quickly working to up his star status, which has been waning in recent years, as he prepares to star in a new comedy for the WB as a baseball star trying to survive a new marriage. Representatives for the show say the comedy will be considered for the 2006 fall season and shooting will begin in April.
- Black Sabbath was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame this month. The group was first nominated in 1996, but after a nomination in 1999, frontman Ozzy Osbourne requested the band be taken off the list of nominees, saying the nomination is not worthwhile because, "it's not voted on by the fans." Regardless, Osbourne allowed the band to be accepted into the Hall of Fame this year. Black Sabbath performed at the ceremony where Osbourne celebrated the occasion by mooning the audience.
- The battle of the Simons has ended, and neither has come out victorious. Apparently Simon Cowell, rude judge of "American Idol," and Simon Fuller, "Idol" producer, have settled their $170 million dispute out of court. The argument stemmed from Fuller's accusation that Cowell copied the idea for his show, "The X Factor," from Fuller's "American Idol." Cowell maintained that the two shows are completely different. Now that the Simons are friends once again, they plan to team up for upcoming projects.
- Pat Morita, the Oscar-nominated Mr. Miyagi of "The Karate Kid" films, died Thursday at the age of 73. Born June 28, 1932, Morita dealt with hardships, including a bout of spinal tuberculosis and time in an internment camp during World War II. He began his career doing comedy, and appeared on "The Tonight Show" in the 1960s. His many appearances on television included a guest spot on "Sanford and Son" and his time as the unintelligible Arnold on "Happy Days." As the 5-foot-3-inch man said, "My fame is largely due to young people, they're the first ones to discover me."
- Information compiled from AP Wire and eonline.com.
(11/30/05 12:00pm)
You can either love them or hate them, but if you don't watch, there is no one else to blame.
That's right, with the end of the first half of the television season comes the lineup of canceled shows across the networks.
Besides several that were canceled within the first few weeks of the season (case in point, "Head Cases" on FOX), many have recently announced their cancelation effective at the end of their ordered seasons.
One such show is the WB's "7th Heaven," which will end its 10th season with a series finale. The story of the Camden family, namely a minister and his kids, will go out in style, being the longest-running family drama in television history. Although its ratings are still relatively good, averaging about 5.1 million viewers each week, the price of keeping the show on the air has risen too much as the stars have very high salaries after 10 years.
But it seems the show itself has run out of story lines. After watching four of the Camden kids graduate high school and the house hold more ex-boyfriends and girlfriends than can be reasonably understood, it seems the writers may finally be running out of storylines.
According to Brenda Hampton, creator, in an article for CNN, this season is the best thus far for the show and she has big plans for an "exciting and heartwarming conclusion."
If nothing else, the show will at least be remembered as a highly successful and long-running drama on a network that has had its share of ups and downs in its short existence. There is talk of a spin-off, but Hampton maintains that this is a family show and it would be difficult to take any of the characters completely away from the main Camden clan.
Of course, all viewers should think of "Joey," the show that was supposed to be the second coming of "Friends" and instead is barely holding its own on NBC's Thursday night.
Also canceled is the critically acclaimed "Arrested Development" on FOX. After winning six Emmy Awards, the show could not gain enough viewers to justify keeping it on the air.
With only 4 million viewers in the episodes following its four-week hiatus for baseball, the show put FOX in fifth place for the night.
In addition to being canceled, the show's order for the season has been dropped from 22 episodes to 13. As of January, all the remaining filmed episodes will have aired and the show will vanish into television history.
Supposedly, there is still a slim chance that the show could continue for another season, but, with the lowered order for episodes, this is unlikely to happen. The ratings simply have not been good enough to convince FOX to keep the program among its slim pickings of comedies, among them the also-canceled freshman series, "Kitchen Confidential," which aired the same night as "Arrested Development."
Although the network has stuck by "Arrested Development" for two seasons despite low ratings, it seems time has finally run out for this award-winning comedy.
Well, three shows down, how many more to go? Stick by those shows you love - you never know when they'll pull the plug.
(11/16/05 12:00pm)
"No other path / no other way / no day but today."
Classic words. Inspirational words. The theme of the late Jonathan Larson's masterpiece, "Rent," which, after 10 years and counting on the Broadway stage, is moving to the big screen with an adaptation opening Nov. 23.
It is the first of two Broadway musicals set to hit the big screen before the end of the year, with "The Producers" being released in late December.
"Rent" is the story of several Bohemians living together in New York City and trying to survive under conditions of disease and poverty. It is quite a twisted tale that cannot be easily explained, but, hey, let's try.
Without giving away too much of the story, it is about Mark Cohen (Anthony Rapp) and Roger Davis (Adam Pascal), who are best friends and roommates in the city. Roger is HIV positive, having contracted the disease from his last girlfriend, who killed herself after receiving the diagnosis.
Mark, as the narrator, is the filmmaker of the story, trying to document their lives on camera. Roger is the songwriter and has retreated into himself because of fear over his diagnosis as well as the loss of his girlfriend. This changes, however, when he meets Mimi Marquez (Rosario Dawson), who is also HIV positive and a drug-addicted S&M dancer.
The story also features Maureen (Idina Menzel), Mark's former flame; Joanne (Tracie Thoms), Maureen's new lover and a lawyer; Tom Collins (Jesse L. Martin), a computer genius who is also HIV positive; Angel (Wilson Heredia), Collins' drag queen street musician lover who is HIV positive as well; and Benjamin Coffin III (Taye Diggs), the landlord of the apartment building the characters live in, who, coincidentally, was once Mark's and Roger's roommate.
Did you follow all that?
No matter, because as the story unfolds, each character's idiosyncrasies become clear and are thrown at the audience for judgment and sympathy.
Larson's story is written almost entirely in song as the characters live through an entire year filled with struggles, love and loss. But through it all, they learn what it means to stay together and the importance of friendship. Sappy? Maybe. But a beautiful story nonetheless.
The movie features almost the entire cast from the original Broadway production, which premiered in 1996. One actor to join the cast is Dawson, who has starred in other musical films such as "Josie and the Pussycats." Although her singing talent was undetermined in that film, with a few solos in "Rent," we will finally be able to know if she has a singing voice that can match the veteran Broadway performers.
The movie is directed by Chris Columbus and, according to him, casting the original actors brings more honesty to the film, as these people actually lived through Larson's death the day before the play debuted on Broadway.
"If you have people too young, you have people that are 21 playing those roles on camera, on screen, I don't think you'd buy it," he said in an interview for about.com. "I think you have to believe that they've lived a little bit of a life. And anyway, they all look like they're in their 20s and it's going to be a remarkable movie just because of the sheer power."
This movie could also herald in a new age of the movie musical and, despite it being given an R rating, it could still have the power and draw to bring back this kind of movie.
Although Columbus also says there will be more dialogue than was featured in the original play and another plot point will be added to enhance the film experience, the movie promises to be a huge success. With at least three trailers playing on rotation on television and much talk being passed around, the word is out on the season's first and hottest musical. So .
"Forget regret or life is yours to miss / no other road no other way / no day but today."
(11/09/05 12:00pm)
He played new music and songs from his old album, and covered the hits of Smokey Robinson and Sam Cook. And he did it all to thunderous applause from the audience.
"I challenge any of those punk-ass rock bands to play any of this shit," he yelled out to the audience, guitar in hand.
Gavin DeGraw succeeded and then some when the College Union Board (CUB) brought him to Kendall Hall on Sunday night.
"A lot of people were actually asking to see Gavin DeGraw come to the College," Nicole Gough, CUB event coordinator for the concert, said. "There is a huge fan base here for him."
DeGraw, who released his debut album, "Chariot," in 2003 featuring all self-penned songs, performed to a sold-out auditorium and the applause of 800 students.
"I fell in love with the sound of music," he said. "Before I became a musician, I was a fan of music first. You're a fan first and then you start trying to emulate things you like about it and all of a sudden you have a trade."
Although he said he finds a great power in music, he did not always want this career. He said when he was young, he believed he was actually going to be an ophthalmologist.
"Then I went to a concert, and I said, 'Wow, this is healing, this is medicine,'" DeGraw said. "This is what I love to do, I love playing music."
The audience felt that love as he walked onstage to a standing ovation and screams emanating throughout the auditorium. He walked over to the piano and took a seat at his instrument, and the applause swelled as the first notes were played.
"His music is appealing to so many people, and the people who don't know every song on his CD will recognize the ones they hear on the radio," Gough said. "But most of all, he was able to interact with everyone while onstage and after the performance, which goes above and beyond just standing onstage playing music. He got very into the music he played, so the audience got into it as well."
DeGraw began his set with several of the songs from his album, ncluding "Follow Through," his latest radio single.
"It's about two people coming together and they're sort of beginning a relationship and, upon discussion, they learn about each other's failed relationships," he said. "They're talking about what they're looking for in a future relationship."
DeGraw was able to rile the crowd during covers of "Papa was a Rolling Stone" by the Temptations and Sam Cook's "Cupid," among others, when he climbed on top of the speakers and then proceeded to walk out into the crowd and across the arms of several seats. Standing in the middle of the crowd, he encouraged the audience to clap and sing along before he danced with a girl in the audience and returned to the stage.
This became the perfect opportunity for two girls from Zeta Tau Alpha to stick a note in DeGraw's pants pocket. Several songs later, they yelled out to him to check his pants where he found the aforementioned note. Later in the concert, a few more girls placed a note on his piano in another attempt to communicate with him.
DeGraw continued with several songs not on his album, prefacing many with comments to connect with the audience.
As he prepared to play a song about stalking a girl, he explained the situation behind the lyrics.
"I thought it would help her if I showed up everywhere she went," DeGraw said to laughter from the crowd. "If I'd had a crush on Biggie or Tupac, they'd still be alive."
Although he has a huge fan following now, it took DeGraw some time for his career to really take off. His first record deal offer came when he was 19, but he refused it at first, saying he was making more money at a lumberyard than the record company was willing to offer him.
"For the first part of my negotiations with the record company, I think . I was really enjoying saying no to these companies and I was enjoying being courted by them," he said.
DeGraw eventually did sign a deal with the legendary Clive Davis in the spring of 2002 and followed with his debut. He recently re-released "Chariot" as an acoustic version, titled "Stripped."
"I didn't feel like the original recording had everything," he said. "I liked the recording, but I felt like it was missing a little bit of that homegrown feeling and I wanted what fans that I had already interested in the record to hear something a little bit different and that felt a little bit more authentic."
Although it may be some time before he releases a new album, he does have a few pieces he is working on, including one about prescription medicine, called "Medicate the Kids."
He also plays a new song in concerts concerning alcohol or, as he calls it, "the other medicine."
With this song and others, DeGraw continued to play off the audience and the screams and requests thrown at him. At one point, two girls yelled out, "We Belong Together!" referring to one of his song titles.
DeGraw whipped his head around to face them, yelled, "That's right!" and began playing the song.
Probably the loudest applause and most excited reaction came for a song he played toward the end of the night. To preface it, he looked out at the audience from behind his piano and said, "This song's about having your own damn identity. Hard to come by lately."
With cheers emanating from the auditorium, he began playing his first single, "I Don't Want to Be." This song is also featured as the theme song for the WB's "One Tree Hill," something DeGraw said he was not keen on at first proposal.
According to DeGraw, the show's executive producer, Joe Davola, approached him after the album had been released and said he wanted to use the song for a new coming-of-age television show.
"I thought the best-case scenario would be a TV show I used to watch when I was a little kid called 'The Wonder Years,'" DeGraw said, referring to Joe Cocker's version of the Beatles' "With a Little Help From My Friends." "I used to look forward to seeing that show every week just because of that 30 seconds of that song, so best-case scenario would be that. It definitely helped to move the song into being played in that circle of Top 40 radio stations and it helped get more play on VH1 (and) MTV."
According to DeGraw, the song may not have been played otherwise. "I think a lot of it is due to the image of someone who writes songs. Maybe I don't wear enough body oil on my naked chest to get play on a lot of video stations and I don't pretend to be in some half-assed gang from Los Angeles," he said. "I didn't have the right cartoon-like imaging to appeal to a lot of that sort of programming. The show helped me get that sort of play without having to be seen. I just want people to hear me."
The concert also featured Dirtie Blonde as the opening act, with Amie Miriello as the lead singer. Their 45-minute set included songs from their album to be released in February off Jive Records, as well as several covers.
Miriello said she began playing music upon deciding she was a terrible actress at an arts boarding school. After teaching herself to play guitar, she joined with her best friend, Jason, an acoustic guitar player, and began looking for more band members.
The band's sound includes a very '70s influence and can be defined by Miriello's strong vocals.
In this, their third gig together at the beginning of their first tour, they found themselves opening for Gavin DeGraw and, according to Miriello, they are excited, but nervous.
"This is very nerve-racking for us, but we're very excited and happy," she said. "It feels like a dream come true."
Overall, the concert was a huge success and many met DeGraw in a special meet and greet afterward.
"I thought it was really awesome, obviously, and I liked how he combined covers, new songs and the album," Lauren Windle, junior secondary education/history major, said. "I liked how interactive he was with the audience."
Breanne Murray, junior marketing major, and Noelle Jaeger, junior accounting major, have seen DeGraw perform in larger venues, but like the intimacy of the small concert hall better.
"It was nice that we could see him in such an intimate setting," Murray said.
DeGraw's performance, which included an encore of two songs, including his album's title track "Chariot," ended in a standing ovation as he thanked the audience and shook the hands reaching up towards the stage.
"If you want to make something happen, don't waste any time," he said. "If you fall in love with something that you're good at and you can make it your career, you must pursue it. One regret that I never want to have is because I didn't try to make something incredible happen for myself."
(11/09/05 12:00pm)
He walked out onto the stage with his trumpet in hand. As he began whistling, four people followed behind him, stomping their feet as they took their positions on the stage. Suddenly, the room erupted in the sounds of the bass and drums and the whistling crescendoed.
Slowly, Wynton Marsalis lifted his trumpet to his lips, closed his eyes and began to play.
"His countless hours of dedication to his craft have rewarded him throughout the years," Greg Marsh, junior music major, said of the brilliant performance.
Marsalis, renowned and award-winning jazz trumpeter, visited the College as part of Celebration of the Arts on Tuesday, Nov. 1, performing to a packed house in Kendall Hall.
"I don't care where I play, it's all important and good," Marsalis said. "It could be Carnegie Hall in New York or Carnegie Hall in West Virginia."
Marsalis filled his two-hour set with jazz music that was both upbeat and mellow, delighting the crowd, who responded with loud applause and cheers after each song.
He began his first song, an upbeat ditty, as soon as the band had settled onstage, following a key format that each following song did as well. It began with a solo by Marsalis, followed with one by Walter Blanding, the saxophonist. After the two had finished, they would retreat to the back of the stage and let the drummer, bass player and pianist continue the song.
"I've learned more in nine months (working with Marsalis) than all six years in school," Blanding, 28, said.
After the first song, Marsalis looked out at the audience, microphone in hand. "That first piece, we don't have a name for it yet," he said. "It's just a tune. We're thinking about 'Revolutionary War.'"
Marsalis began playing trumpet when he was six years old and spent much of his time with his father, who was also a musician.
"I was always at gigs," Marsalis said as he sat after the concert playing chess with Blanding. "I'm from New Orleans and there's a lot of musicianship."
Being from New Orleans, Marsalis said he was hit hard by the effects of Hurricane Katrina.
"We are all shattered. Everyone is trying to figure out what to do," he said.
Marsalis said he played in all different bands as a young boy, including a traditional one as well as a funk band in high school.
Since then, Marsalis has grown as a musician and made many friends along the way, bringing several of them to perform with him at the concert, including Clifford Ames, an accomplished trombone player.
Marsalis also welcomed Jennifer Sanon, a 20-year-old singer, who joined him for several songs during the second half of the show. Her jazz-oriented choices included "All of Me" and "Azalea," originally by Duke Ellington.
Sanon's vibrato voice echoed throughout the crowd and earned her resounding applause from the audience.
"You sing so good, you don't have to get naked to make it," Marsalis said, accompanied by a loud chuckle from the audience.
Sanon said she was thrilled to be working with Marsalis, although she is considering a singing career of her own.
"(Marsalis) likes to encourage and help (others) to go out on their own," she said.
Marsalis, who has won eight Grammys for his music and was the first jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize, said he believes it is more about the music than winning such awards.
"I'm always happy to win an award, it's better to be celebrated than not," he said. "For me . it's the stuff I get from people, all the different traditions I've heard."
Marsalis continued to play different jazz songs he had written over his long career throughout the concert. As he played, his nimble fingers raced over the keys and audiences watched him sway with the music. Overall, he said he believes jazz can be saved, despite many people calling it a dying art form.
"Art forms don't die," he said. "People can breathe life into (them)."
Even Marsalis' band has incredible talent at such young ages, including his pianist, Dan Nimmer, who is only 23. Nimmer has been playing piano since the age of 10 and has been working with Marsalis since March.
Overall, the performance truly delighted all those in attendance.
"I basically went to the concert because I knew (Marsalis) was one of the most instrumental figures in jazz, and I wanted to experience what it was like to be inside a place that's appreciative of jazz, kind of like experiencing mini-New Orleans in a sense," Jon Cherng, junior mathematics major, said. "I thought Marsalis did a great job of providing that type of theme with his own uniqueness. I enjoyed the concert very much and it was something I needed. It was an experience that was very uplifting from reality."
"I went to the concert because I know of Marsalis' reputation as a phenomenal trumpet player, and he definitely backed it up on Tuesday night," Marsh said. "His playing was outstanding, and I think that many of the music majors on this campus, if not all of them including myself, try to emulate his level of musicality and showmanship."
Marsalis said he was pleased to be able to perform and looks forward to getting even better in the future.
"A democratic proposition hinges on two fundamental principles," he said. "One is the right of individuals to be themselves and the second one is the ability to use reason to work with other people who are also themselves. That's jazz music."
(11/09/05 12:00pm)
The Visiting Writer Series (VWS) continues with a reading from author and Montclair University professor Jess Row at 3 p.m. today in the New Library Auditorium. He took some time out of his busy schedule to share insights about college students and New York City culture.
Audrey Levine: How long have you been writing and how long have you known that you wanted to be a writer?
Jess Row: I knew that I wanted to be a writer from a pretty early age, about 10, and I started writing seriously when I was in high school, at around 17. I'd been a very committed reader for a long time. I think I really like to make up stories. I was a pretty good liar as a kid and I think I was drawn to fictional universes. I had very good English teachers in high school and my love of stories in high school led to a desire to want to write.
AL: What do you enjoy about teaching as opposed to writing?
JR: I enjoy teaching because it gets me out into the world. It gets me away from my desk, sometimes for very long periods of time unfortunately. I like working with undergraduates because they are so young, they keep me on my toes. They have pretty good bullshit detectors and I like to know what they're thinking. I need to have their ideas to reflect my own ideas and a big part of all of my work has to do with dialogue and multiple voices, so teaching is a way of surrounding myself with multiple voices.
AL: Where do you come up with your ideas for your stories, including those concerning different cultures as in your most current novel?
JR: I do sometimes get ideas from working with students, but not often. It's difficult for me to say where I get my ideas or even how I get them. After you've been a writer for a while, ideas are just sort of a fabric for everyday life. It's just part of living. I started (my newest novel) when I lived in Hong Kong so it reflects what my life was like at the time. I live in New York City and one of the reasons I like living (there) is it's a world where many different cultures rub up against one another. It has become very important to my work because the work I'm doing now has to do with cultural overlap and cultural friction and there's no better place to see that than New York City.
AL: Why do you enjoy reading for college students? What do you hope they get out of the reading?
JR: I enjoy any opportunity to read. I'm very honored that (the College) invited me and, as I understand it, a number of students have already read my work and it was the students who wanted to invite me and that was a great honor. It is very exciting. I just hope they enjoy it. They'll get out of it whatever they get out of it.
AL: What do you enjoy about writing short stories versus longer novels?
JR: I like the fact that you can finish a short story relatively quickly. You can work on more than one at a time without going crazy and I really enjoy compressing a great deal of experience and a great deal of life into a very short space. I enjoy it as an aesthetic hole. (With long novels), you can make money and novels afford you a much larger canvas. They give you time to develop characters and they allow your writing to expand. They don't force on you the pressure of having to make every paragraph neat and self-contained. It can be a little messier, a little more polyphonic. I enjoy them both.
AL: What is your advice for aspiring writers?
JR: My first advice is always to read a lot. Any writer has to begin as a reader. My second advice is to worry first about the work and second or third or fourth or 10th about getting it published. It's not a question of worrying about whether it will get published, but worrying about whether it's publishable is the bigger problem. The vital thing is that you yourself should be happy first.
(11/02/05 12:00pm)
With the ever-continuing box office slump, movie-goers have begun to question if a loss in originality is to blame for a general lack of enthusiasm about going to the cinemas.
If the recent influx of biopics and other films "based on real events" is any indication, they are not wrong.
Over the past couple of years, Hollywood has taken it upon itself to release movies that feature influential celebrities or other public figures of the past century. These stories highlight the struggles behind the stars and the obstacles they faced as they worked their way to the top of the charts. Such films include "Ray," "Beyond the Sea" and "Walk the Line" among others.
Probably the newest and best example of a biopic, although it is more of a nonfiction story, is "Good Night, and Good Luck" about the legendary CBS news anchor Edward R. Murrow and his battle against Senator Joe McCarthy. It is one of the most innovative portrayals of broadcast journalism to hit the big screen in quite some time.
The film takes place during the McCarthy era when the senator tried to rid the country of communists. Murrow, played brilliantly by David Strathairn, attacked McCarthy's witch-hunt style in several pieces airing on CBS news, culminating in a government investigation of McCarthy and his methods. Along the way, Murrow and his team dealt with happiness and heartbreak as they struggled against censors and companies who threatened to pull advertising from the program because of the stories.
The film is done in a style that brings the viewer inside the newsroom and provides an up-close look at the workings and controversy in the world of broadcast journalism.
Directed by, co-written by and co-starring George Clooney, the movie is filmed in black and white, which makes it more realistic for a film taking place in the 1950s. Clooney expertly fuses history and humor together to keep the viewer completely enthralled by the events happening onscreen.
From the married couple who must keep their relationship secret in the newsroom to the suicide of a colleague after bad press, the movie is perfect for students studying journalism or communications and trying to understand what a newsroom is all about.
Probably the best example of newsroom madness comes during Murrow's first report on McCarthy. The phones in the studio are turned off to avoid any interruptions. The report finishes and Murrow and his partner Fred Friendly (Clooney) wait for the calls to come in. When there is nothing but silence, Murrow comments that maybe people weren't even watching. Suddenly, a voice from the control room calls out, "Should I turn the phones back on?"
Classic humor like this is a trademark of the film's ups and downs and truly exemplifies the tension and panic that goes through a newsroom when an important story is about to break.
This movie is a must-see for everyone interested in journalism. And now, to quote Murrow's trademark ending line, "Good night, and good luck."
(10/12/05 12:00pm)
Each year, the English department's Visiting Writers Series (VWS) brings different authors to read for students and provide insights into the wonderful world of the written word.
This year is no exception, as the VWS brings Jonathan Ames, award-winning author of such novels as "Wake Up, Sir!" and "The Extra Man," to the College. He will be reading today, yes today, at 3 p.m. in the Library Auditorium. In preparation for the reading, he volunteered his time to answer some questions about his career, awards and a Showtime pilot.
Audrey Levine: How did you begin your career as an author and what do you enjoy about it?
Jonathan Ames: My first novel, "I Pass Like Night," was published in 1989. It was an expanded version of my senior creative thesis at Princeton (University) - I graduated in 1987. What I like about being an author is that I am my own boss. I'm not a well-paid employee, but I set my own hours. Also, I enjoy my job because I get to entertain people. It's a way to contribute, to be of service in the world.
AL: How does it feel to be a Guggenheim Fellowship winner?
JA: I was thrilled when I won the Guggenheim. It meant that my work was being taken seriously and I received some money, which is always helpful.
AL: How will you be involved in turning two of your books into movies and how do you feel about this opportunity?
JA: I've written the screenplay adaptations for two of my novels, "Wake Up, Sir!" and "The Extra Man." I don't know if they'll be made into movies - these things are always a longshot. I hope it happens, primarily because if the movies are made, more people will read the books.
AL: Where do you get your ideas for your books? What do you enjoy about these ideas?
JA: I'm not sure where ideas come from exactly. Mostly I'm inspired by other books and want to write something similar to what I've enjoyed.
AL: Can you tell me about the TV pilot for Showtime?
JA: I wrote a TV pilot based on my comedic memoir "What's Not to Love?" We shot the pilot last fall and I played myself. I was trying to achieve my version of "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Unfortunately, the show won't become a series, but the pilot will air on Showtime in 2006, though I'm not sure when.
AL: Does the book feel more real or easier to write if you write about real-life concerns and emotions, such as in "Wake Up, Sir!"? Why or why not?
JA: "Wake Up, Sir!" is fiction and I made everything up, but you can't make up human emotions, so, like all writers, I draw on what I've seen and experienced in my life.
AL: What are your plans for future stories?
JA: Not really sure. Waiting for ideas to come to me. I have a vague idea for a novel, but I haven't started it.
AL: Do you often speak to college students and do you enjoy it? Why or why not?
JA: This semester I'm teaching at two universities, the New School and Columbia (University), so in that sense I speak to lots of college students, and in the past I've given readings about half-a-dozen times at different colleges, and I always enjoy it. It pleases me to meet young people who are interested in books.
- For more information on Jonathan Ames, visit his Web site at jonathanames.com.
- See page 21 for an excerpt of "Wake Up, Sir!" by Jonathan Ames.
(09/28/05 12:00pm)
Some movies take but months to finish. Others take a year. And still others take upwards of 18 years.
"One Last Dance," starring Patrick Swayze and his wife, Lisa Niemi, was such a movie, requiring over a decade of preparation and practice to make the show happen.
The film follows three ex-dancers as they try to get back in shape to perform the dance that took them out of the business in the first place. After their master choreographer dies, they agree to reunite and perform in an attempt to save his company. But the reunion reopens old wounds of past loves and possible feelings of inadequacy among the dancers.
The movie is written and directed by Niemi, who also co-produced it with Swayze. But perhaps the most amazing aspect of the movie is the actual dancing done by Swayze, 53, and Niemi, 49.
The idea for the movie came about 18 years ago, but did not get off the ground right away because of the lack of a script that the actors felt did justice to the premise of the film. After much prodding, Niemi agreed to write the script, and the magic of the dance was born.
After five years of training, both Niemi and Swayze were prepared to perform dances that are not normally attempted by those over 40 years of age. Between difficult lifts and twisting movements, the couple proved that after all these years, they can still dance.
The movie has only been released on DVD, but should be a sure hit. The dancing is the central focus of the film with the movements telling a story of three people afraid to reconnect because of hidden secrets they may discover.
It is quite obvious in the beginning of the film that there is a secret relationship between Travis (Swayze) and Chrissa (Niemi) as they perform with ease, yet maintain their distance. Niemi brings a certain innocence to a character that would be difficult to sympathize with during her diva-esque requests and random fits of yelling at the people who seem to be trying to help.
Travis is a man trying to find his dance once again and would like to make amends for any past indiscretions against Chrissa. At times, Swayze's expressions seem very monotone, but he all but makes up for it with his dance performance and the emotion that infuses it.
Max, played by George de la Pena, does not reveal much about himself through most of the film, instead playing backseat to the problems between Travis and Chrissa. His one outburst, however, reveals pent-up emotion, and Pena brings the character to life as the confident, supposed backbone of the team.
Though slightly shabby, the DVD extras do provide important insight into the complicated making of the movie. In a behind-the-scenes montage, the actors explain how difficult it was to put on their dancing shoes so late in their lives.
"Physically, it sure would have been nice to have done (the movie) 18 years ago when we were still closer to a little rubber person," Swayze says on the DVD.
Despite this, it is obvious he is still the master dancer he was back in "Dirty Dancing," when he played the rebellious, yet wickedly talented Johnny Castle. Swayze moves with such ease, attacking each step and making the movements flow.
The DVD extras also feature a look at the talented dancers who are cast as members of the company. They tell of the humbleness on the set and the difficulties of the dances themselves. The set also features snippets of their practice sessions, something that, for every true dance fan, is a joy to watch and provides a fun look at the rehearsals and difficulties in making a movie all about dance.
Perhaps Swayze gives the best explanation of what the movie is about in an interview with People magazine: "It's loosely based on our lives as dancers and the idea that it's never too late to rediscover a dream."
(09/21/05 12:00pm)
It is the biggest night of the year for television, the Primetime Emmy Awards, celebrating the year's best series, miniseries, variety show, actors and ... singers?
That's right, perhaps the biggest twist of the night did not come during the announcements of the winners or the acceptance speeches, but rather a new aspect, strikingly called "Emmy Idol."
Several television personalities sang some of the most celebrated theme songs, and viewers had the opportunity to vote on their favorite performance. Despite the obvious humor of the contest, the choices were pretty slim between Donald Trump (in overalls and a flannel shirt) and Megan Mullally from "Will & Grace" singing "Green Acres;" Kristen Bell of "Veronica Mars" performing the theme from "Fame;" Gary Dourdan of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and Macy Gray singing the theme from "The Jeffersons;" and William Shatner, also known as Captain James T. Kirk, and opera star Frederica von Stade performing the theme from "Star Trek."
From these slim pickings, viewers chose Donald Trump's and Megan Mullally's performance as the night's winner. What would Simon Cowell say about this odd pairing?
Aside from this minor setback, the 57th annual Primetime Emmy Awards was an enjoyable three hours of expected winners and even some underdogs coming out on top.
The telecast began with a performance by the Black Eyed Peas and Earth, Wind & Fire. The singers asked audiences to remember the past year in television as images of key scenes flashed on the screen behind them.
Ellen DeGeneres hosted the show for the second time, bringing her own special brand of comedy and nonstop talk as she met the man who keeps track of the time backstage and mocked Eva Longoria for being the "Desperate Housewife" without a nomination.
DeGeneres first hosted the Emmys after the Sept. 11 tragedies, garnering high praise for helping people laugh again after the attacks on America. She now found herself hosting once more in the wake of another tragedy, Hurricane Katrina.
The night also served as a beautiful reminder of those we have lost and the struggles still taking place in New Orleans.
Tyler James Williams, the young star of UPN's "Everybody Hates Chris," came onstage with Charles Evans, a young boy displaced from his home after the hurricane. The boys asked the audience to assist with Habitat for Humanity and rebuild homes for the victims.
But overall, the awards are the reasons people tuned in to the three-hour live broadcast, which delivered several surprises.
Taking home six awards, including Best Directing in a Drama Series and the coveted Best Drama Series prize, was ABC's surprise hit "Lost." J.J. Abrams took home the direction award for the series' pilot episodes, and much of the cast and crew joined him onstage to accept the final award.
ABC's other hit, "Desperate Housewives," also took home awards, including Best Directing in a Comedy Series for Charles McDougall. With three of the five "housewives" nominated, Felicity Huffman took home the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
FOX's latest hit drama "House" also scored big, with David Shore winning the award for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series.
The Emmys also awarded "Everybody Loves Raymond," which ended last season, with several awards, including Best Comedy Series.
The night's award-winners also pulled out some comedy routines, including Mitchell Hurwitz and Jim Vallely joking with the audience as they took their award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for Arrested Development. As they put it, "The Emmys have twice rewarded us for something you people won't watch!"
In her acceptance speech for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie, winner S. Epatha Merkerson, who starred in HBO's "Lackawanna Blues," informed the audience that she didn't know what to say because she had dropped her acceptance speech down the front of her dress. Um, thanks for sharing.
David Letterman also led a heartfelt tribute to Johnny Carson, the "King of Late Night TV," which included a montage of some of the host's finer moments on "The Tonight Show." But the tribute would not have been complete without a moment of Carson's trademark humor. Letterman recalled a question to Carson about what made him a star, to which Carson replied, "I started out in a gaseous state and then I cooled."
In another touching tribute, the Emmys celebrated three news anchors who have stepped out of the spotlight, both in retirement and death: Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather and the late Peter Jennings, who recently succumbed to lung cancer. After a recap of some of their most memorable stories, Rather and Brokaw took the stage to a standing ovation and praised their fallen colleague.
Brokaw ended the tribute with a smile as he quoted Jennings, who once said of the three anchors, "Yes, we are friends, but probably because we don't see each other much."
Overall, in the wake of another national tragedy, the 57th annual Primetime Emmy Awards was a touching tribute to some of the best talent in both news and entertainment and finally showed a diverse range of winners among the networks.
(09/21/05 12:00pm)
Without informing the entire campus community, the College renewed the contract of Sodexho Dining Services, its current dining services provider, for another two years.
In 2001, Sodexho began its work at the College after signing a contract for three years with two one-year extensions. This year, the contract came up for renegotiation and the College approached the company in late spring to begin discussions.
According to Toni Pusak, assistant director of auxiliary services and liaison between the College and Sodexho, Sodexho had to complete the negotiations as soon as possible.
This was necessary, according to Mark Mehler, assistant director of budget and finance for the College, because it would not be feasible to do the contract negotiations during the year, while his office is working on a housing study.
This is the reason Mehler provided as to why the contract was signed over the summer when students were not around, a fact that was not well-received by all students.
"Last year, I was Sodexho liaison for SGA (Student Government Association) and I conducted a campus-wide survey, which they used the results of to implement the new changes," Jasmine Charl?n, SGA executive vice president, said.
"That's why John Higgins (general manager for Sodexho) said that they had our input, which they did, but I think that students should have taken a bigger role in this."
Charl?n said she is in the process of arranging a meeting with Pusak to discuss the contract and why students were not around for the actual renegotiations.
Last spring, Charl?n worked with SGA to approach Sodexho with information from forums and surveys that showed what changes the College students desired before its contract could be extended.
According to Higgins, the requested changes were then compared with feedback Sodexho had received.
"I think the College and Sodexho are in the same place of wanting satisfaction for the students," Higgins said.
Higgins said Sodexho already knew there had to be some changes in Eickhoff Dining Hall concerning hours of operation and certain foods that were available in every other dining facility except the main one.
As a result, Meal Equivalency options were introduced for lunchtime, dining hours were changed and the dining menus were more clearly defined. The College has also requested that Sodexho work with research taken from other schools to see what would be best to offer the students.
According to Steve Hugg, district marketing specialist for Sodexho, contract extension is very common for an incumbent because the company is on campus at all times and sees how the facilities work and what the students are requesting firsthand.
Pusak said that throughout the past year, different classes gathered data about what students wanted from Sodexho and what changes needed to be made.
"We didn't want to wait another semester to implement the changes," Pusak said.
Still most students feel they were not properly consulted.
Heather O'Neill, sophomore elementary education and psychology major, said she does not recall being given opportunities to provide feedback about Sodexho, and that students should have been around during renegotiations.
"(Sodexho and the College) should have waited, because there are all these incoming freshmen who could have contributed to the study, while in the spring they possibly gathered information from people who could have graduated," she said. "This (renegotiation) would have no effect on them."
Some students, however, said they are fine with Sodexho and the College proceeding with the feedback they had previously collected.
"Students give their input for the nine months they are here at school so I would hope that the school would have a good idea about what students want and would push for these demands in the new contract," Dave Nash, senior finance major, said. "I don't see why it matters when they did it."
Both the College and Sodexho said they are attempting to better the dining halls based on past student complaints, and will continue to do so.
"Student input on the dining program has a bigger effect month to month than when the contract comes," Hugg said.
Students can provide Sodexho with ideas for changes in the system by attending monthly dining services meetings.
(09/14/05 12:00pm)
To most people in Central and North Jersey, "The City" is the Big Apple, New York City. But to many others, there is another City, "The City of Brotherly Love," Philadelphia.
Philadelphia is the home of several important attractions, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed. But not all college students are interested in these sights. Many would rather go to attractions with shopping, nightlife and fun - and Philadelphia delivers.
South Street
Probably one of the most well-known hot spots in Philadelphia is South Street. It is basically a marketplace filled with all different kinds of shops, including those specializing in tarot cards and magician's tricks as well as clothing for all styles. One such store is Agent Aloha, which features different clothing for men and women in the style of the dance music scene.
Although we may love the shopping, who would honestly go to South Street and not sample a genuine Philly cheesesteak? Located at 337 South Street is Ishkabibble's, known for its award-winning French fries and, of course, the Philly cheesesteak. Around since 1979, the restaurant is adorned with black, purple and yellow colors to attract the attention of tourists and natives alike.
Once the sun sets, the lights come on at South Street's many bars and clubs. One of its most popular is Club 218, which hosts live local bands every Thursday night. Besides the music, it has food, drink and pool. Although the club is only for people 21 and older, it is definitely a place to look forward to visiting once you reach the age.
Called the best Irish grill and pub in the city is Blarney South, another club that features acoustic acts, Irish music sessions and live Premiership football. With its jumbo sandwiches and other featured appetizers, it seems to be a perfect place for a traditional Irish night and some good food.
Rittenhouse Square
The Square, named for clockmaker and astronomer David Rittenhouse, is located in the middle of a selection of restaurants, stores and a residential district. The beautiful tree-filled park is the perfect place for walking, skateboarding or just spending time with someone important. Housing a beautiful selection of sculptures, Rittenhouse Square is in the center of an east coast downtown, surrounded by everything a visitor could possibly imagine. Despite it not being a place with a great deal to do, anyone spending time there could leave the park itself to visit the shops, restaurants and bed and breakfasts that make up the area.
Philadelphia Zoo
For the animal lover in all of us, there is the Philadelphia Zoo, one of the finest in the country and complete with all sorts of animals and attractions. Begin the trip with visits to Bear Country, Bird Valley and an exhibit of Australian animals. But aside from the animals themselves, there are different rides which give visitors a true taste of animal life.
One such ride is Dodge Wild Earth where anyone can take a 3-D ride through the plains of Africa and experience the dangers and beauty of living in the Serengeti. Despite a lot of other rides and activities specifically designed for younger children, what adult would say no to seeing so many different animals and their quirks and playtimes?
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Also in the city is the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with its collections of East Asian, European and modern works. The Museum also houses the world's largest and oldest collection of clothes and textiles, including Swiss embroidery and Turkish velvets. The Museum hosts several events, including the 29th Annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show in the nearby Convention Center, where local artists can share their work and observers can purchase some of the pieces. The Museum also welcomes Art After 5, a band that blends jazz and international entertainment in a set they perform every Friday night.
Overall, Philadelphia is a city that has a great deal to offer college students who want to get away for a little relaxation. The main question is, what is "The City" for you?
(09/14/05 12:00pm)
Amid student complaints that they are not being given large enough portions or second helpings at the dining halls on campus, Steve Hugg, Sodexho marketing director, said Sodexho workers are working to accommodate everyone and provide the food that people desire.
According to Hugg, there are only two instances in which a student may not be given a second portion.
The first is when an item is batch-cooked or prepared in limited quantity. In other words, if each individual item has just come off the fryer or only a certain amount can be made at a time, the workers will try to make the helpings last as long as possible for as many students as possible.
The second instance, Hugg said, is when an item is prepared to order with the student standing in a line. One such example is the omelet station, where students request what they want and the food is made in front of them.
"If a customer has been denied a second entr?e, it very well may have been to ensure there are hot products available for other customers," Hugg said. "If that wasn't the case, I apologize."
In addition, Hugg said, the workers are concerned with waste and will try to curb what they give to ensure that food is not thrown out.
At a recent Dining Services meeting, the issue of rations was discussed with management, who determined that they would speak to the workers to ensure that students are always accommodated.
Hugg said that Matt Hower, director of residence dining, would be speaking with the workers about the rationing.
"This is a management responsibility," John Higgins, general manager, said. "We probably overemphasized (the rationing)."
According to Greg Zappile, junior interactive multimedia major, he went to Eickhoff Dining Hall for some breakfast and asked for scrambled eggs, sausage and French toast sticks.
"The woman serving shook her head at me and she then said, 'eggs or French toast sticks,'" Zappile said. "(It was) not a question, she prompted me to decide."
Although he did not question the woman, he said he was a bit upset that he was not given exactly what he asked for.
"I was a little upset considering I have agreed to pay a certain amount for my ? la carte plan and Sodexho did not deliver," he said.
Christine Pennacchio, junior physics and secondary education major, said that she has also been denied extra portions of food in the dining hall.
"They have instructions to give certain sized portions and to give seconds if you come back a little while later," she said.
"Maybe they realized how much food is thrown away and they figured that it's better for someone to make two trips than to waste food."
According to Higgins, there have not been too many complaints about small rations, but the workers are there to accommodate the students.
"If you want a little more or less, we should be able to (accommodate you)," he said.
No matter what, Hugg emphasizes that students should feel free to find a supervisor if there are any problems in the dining halls.
"I know our students are very busy, but our managers and supervisors can usually be found nearby in Eickhoff or most of the other dining locations, and can take care of most issues immediately," he said.
"I think our staff, our employees, supervisors and managers like to take care of a customer right away, rather than respond to a situation later."