KYLER POST Editor-in-Chief

The biggest question facing Berry students Tuesday was a simple one: ninja or pirate?

Campus police caught four students tagging vehicles with the words “ninja” and “pirate” early Tuesday morn-ing, Campus Police Chief Bobby Abrams said.

Both student vehicles and vehicles owned by the col-lege were tagged by the group of students, Abrams said.

“We caught them running around behind the science building around 2:30 in the morning,” he said. “They were using some sort of shoe polish to vandalize vehicles.”

As students headed to class Tuesday morning, the wide-spread vandalism brought mixed reactions.

“I thought it was funny,” sophomore Brittany Regan said. “Seeing that kind of thing on almost every car in the lot was pretty awesome.”

Junior Ivy Ricks said she did not give the vandalism a second thought.

“I had better things to worry about that day,” she said. “Like tests.”

While most of the vehicles tagged featured writing on the back glass of the vehicle, some of the paint was found on the body of some vehicles.

Regan said she and her brother, senior Shawn Regan, both had window paint on the body of their vehicles.

“Even though it was on the body of my car, there was no permanent damage,” she said.

Senior Megan Michener also had paint on the hood of her car, and she said she still hasn’t completely removed it.

“I had to scrub my car with Clorox wipes for a pretty long time,” Michener said. “And even after that, when I saw it in the sunlight, you could still see it faintly.”

Michener said she was upset but also appreciated the humor of the campus-wide prank.

“I’m kind of in the middle on this,” she said. “If it had just been on my windows, I would have laughed it off like

it was nothing, but the fact that it was on my hood really upset me.”

Senior Hannah Farish, another victim of the vandals, said she understands the joke, but also thinks the students overstepped boundaries.

“I think they were probably just bored,” Farish said. “And it’s a pretty unique prank, but they took it a step too far when they damaged other people’s property.”

Senior Stephen Santana said he was disappointed by

the actions of the vandals.“Immature doesn’t begin to describe what I think these

people are,” Santana said. “Not only are their actions not mature, but they’re just not Berry.”

vv Sports | Page 7Features | Page 6

please recycle our paper.

| Page 8 Fact of the Week:

SEE “VANDALISM” P. 12

In the average life-

time, a person will

walk the equivalent

of 5 times around

the equator.

CANDLER HOBBS, Asst. Photo Editor

Many students’ cars were vandalized on Tuesday morning by having either the word “ninja” or “pirate” written on them. College vehicles were not immune to the vandalism.

Student vandals tag student, college vehicles

Student Battling Cancer

and How You Can Help

Equestrian Team

Maximum student work hours to be loweredAMANDA GRISWELL

Managing Editor

Students participating in the student work program next year will see a decrease in the maximum number of hours they are allowed to work.

Currently, freshmen are allowed to work a maximum of 15 hours per week, whereas sophomores, juniors and seniors may work up to 20 hours per week. In the fall, all stu-dent workers will only be able to work a maximum of 16 hours a week with a few exceptions.

Mike Burnes, dean of student work and experiential learning, said there were three reasons why the number 16 was chosen.

The student work program needed to “promise less [hours] because of the bud-

meaningful work [and] 16 is a historical number [for Berry].”

In the 1960s, students worked two eight hour days each week. The student work program can no longer guarantee 20 hours

per week for students, while staying within their budget.

“The budget is driving the drop to 16,” Burnes said.

The student work budget is still being worked on for next year.

“It’ll be more than this year,” Assistant Vice President for Finance Scott Shank said.

Some students agree with the decision and see that it is for the best. Sophomore Alyssa Nobles said she thinks that the change is necessary because of all the prob-lems with the budget.

“Probably the best solution,” Nobles said.

This solution will still provide jobs for students working on campus. There are few alternative options when it comes to staying within the budget.

“[There is] only one other option … in-crease the budget,” Burnes said.

Increasing the budget is not feasible, be-cause the money is not there. If the money is put into the student work program bud-

get it has to come from another source, Burnes said.

Students are aware that something has to be done in order to give all students the opportunity to work. Christine Clolinger said she understands where the college is coming from and it is better to cut hours than jobs.

“… It forces students who want to do too much to cut back a little,” Clolinger said.

All students will not be impacted by the new maximum number of hours for student work. Students who are paid on a stipend will continue to receive the same amount of money.

“Stipend pay will remain the same,” Burnes said.

Students continue to express their con-cerns and misunderstandings about the change in the maximum number of hours a student can work.

Sophomore Jessica Cantrell said she is confused because 16 hours per week will not meet the money she is awarded through the federal work study program.

Other students said they feel Berry should continue to offer students more hours if the emphasis for school continues to be on the student work program.

Juniors Thushy Muruges and Angela Stephens said they feel the limit is contra-dictory to the student work program.

Departments will be able to apply for students to work more than 16 hours if they

student. “There will be exceptions,” Burnes said.

“There will be some positions with more than 16 hours.”

will have to show what the impact of not

will switch from the students responsibility to the departments responsibility, Burnes said.

“There will be exceptions,” Burnes said. “There will be some positions with more than 16 hours.”

ANDREW BLEVINS Deputy News Editor

This week the Campbell School of Business published -

-

-

-

-

-

-

DAVID CHIEM, Staff Photographer

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Are you a Senior?

Are you about to rotate off yours parent's health insurance?

HAVE WE GOT A DEAL FOR YOU!

Seniors OnlySchedule your annual physical/pap smear, with Caye Burch, FNP.

Only $50.00 now through May 3, 2010

Call the Health and Wellness Center at 706-236-2267 for your appointment today

Campbell School publishes undergraduate journal

AUSTIN WOLFF News Reporter

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A Haiku

open mic

Senior Victoria Watkins is the executive editor of the “Undergraduate Business and Economics Research Jour-nal,” which published its Spring 2010 issue this week.

NEWSAPRIL 22, 2010 CAMPUS CARRIER, PAGE 3

No Citizen Left Behind: The State of Civic Educa-tion in AmericaSee three presentations

at Berry’s 13th Annual

Conference on Politics,

Religion, Culture, and

Community. In the Evans

Auditorium, see “Teach-

ing Politics Today” at 1

p.m. and “Human Dignity

and Higher Education”

at 3 p.m. In the Spruill

Ballroom, see “Lincoln and

Patriotic Education” at 5:15

p.m.

Faculty Collaborative Recital: Adam Hayes & Kris CarlisleHear a variety of contempo-

rary works for trumpet and

piano tonight at 7:30 p.m.

in the Ford Auditorium. CE

credit offered.

Berry College Theatre Company: “The Beaux’ Stratagem”Laugh the night away with

Farquhar’s skewing of mar-

riage tonight, Saturday and

Sunday at 8 p.m. and Sun-

day at 2 p.m. in the E. H.

Young Theatre. CE credit

offered.

Gloria M. Shatto Lecture Series: Dr. Ben CarsonAttend a discussion by the

world-renowned neurosur-

geon tonight at 8 p.m. in

the Cage Center. CE credit

offered.

Late Night EditionKeep the night going with

the Residence Life staff

tomorrow night from 11

p.m. to 1 a.m.

All Out Blow Out!Wind down the semester at

KCAB’s Spring Fling event.

Enjoy laser tag, monkey

madness, food, a movie,

a sky dive simulator and

more Saturday, April 24

from 3 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. in

the Clara Bowl.

Harnessing the Power of Social MediaBecome educated about the

phenomenon of social me-

dia use and the resulting

impact on professionalism

Tuesday, April 27 in Room

326 of the Green Building.

CE credit offered.

Check out the community cal-endar at viking-fusion.berry.edu to get the inside

scoop.

NICOLE NESMITHOpinions Editor

Since the onset of spring, heavy pollen

has attacked the Berry community with a

vengeance.

According to a “Pollen cast” by The Weather

Channel, Mount Berry is experiencing “very

high” tree pollen counts as of last week. The

“Pollen Almanac” showed a clear change from

moderate to very high pollen counts begin-

ning April 5, 2010.

Along with Berry College, many other areas

in the Southeast are experiencing one of the

worst pollen seasons in years. A pollen count

of 120 is considered high, but last week Atlanta

reached an almost record-breaking count of

5,733 according to The Weather Channel.

Anita Errickson, director of health services,

said the Health and Wellness Center has had a

lot more students come in with allergy prob-

lems, a one-third increase from the previous

academic year.

“Pollen counts are so high that even stu-

dents, who did not have allergy problems

before are coming in,” Errickson said.

Nose congestion, sore throats and watery

eyes are common symptoms around campus

as cars continue to turn light green and yellow

Junior Katie Underdown said she often

feels very congested in the morning because

of the pollen.

“I get stuffy noses and sometimes a sore

throat,” Underdown said.

Sophomore Josh Stevenson said the arrival

of pollen this spring was far worse than previ-

ous years.

“Because of the high pollen count I could

without my eyes watering and being itchy,

along with my nose running,” Stevenson said.

“I have started taking some medicine for it,

and I am beginning to get some relief.”

Professor of Biology Martin Cipollini said

plants build up different resources and car-

bohydrates that partially determine whether

cycle is driven by weather and temperature,

but it has been thrown off due to unusually

cold weather this past winter, in addition to

three years without much rain.

“We had a suppressed three-year drought

and then above normal rainfall the next year,”

-

much in the past.”

Errickson said while the high pollen count is

a consequence of an amalgamation of weather

factors, rainfall is undoubtedly needed.

“There hasn’t been much rain. [The pol-

len] is staying on cars, on windows, on every-

thing,” Errickson said.

Cipollini said the majority of the allergens

students are experiencing lately stem from

various trees and prosper in the air.

Trees are pollinated through wind, which

can travel as far as 400 miles. This common

springtime allergen will thrive for longer peri-

ods this year. Cipollini said the “yellow stuff”

many are seeing is from hickory, oak and pine

trees.

intrusive and annoying, some admit it could

be worse.

“This is not the worst year,” Junior Joshua

Stevenson said. “Three years ago you could

would form as you walked through it. At least

this was so in North Atlanta Metro, which is

where I’m from.”

The sticky invader will disperse in due

time but will be followed by the more com-

mon grass and weed allergens in the summer.

Allergy sufferers are advised to treat symp-

toms early, as waiting can likely cause or exac-

erbate asthma and decrease productivity.

Pollen pervades, so do allergies

Taking out the trash

Junior Lorin Letcher, a member of Students Against Violating the Earth (SAVE), disposes of a telephone at the

e-Waste event Tuesday, April 20 behind the Cage Center. The event was one of many during Earth Week.

DREW WHELCHEL, Staff Photographer

CANDLER HOBBS, Asst. Photo Editor

It happens all around the

world, United States included,

and is as close to home as Atlanta.

-

the world, 27 million people are

States Department of State said

600-800 thousand people are traf-

every year: 70 percent of those are

female, and 50 percent are chil-

over the last year. It started when I

the situations I put myself in. I

-

ceptive of the people around me.

her. However, it doesn’t always

In January, I attended a Chris-

tian conference, Passion 2010, and

they had a space called Do Some-

People-men, women, and chil-

dren are sold into inhumane con-

ditions every day and forced to

display, I watched a video of those

-

who have endured such cruel

treatment made it all too real. I

recently at a cultural event here on

Berry’s campus. Jennifer Swain,

House and the Juvenile Justice

convicted of prostitution. Renee

-

me, these children are clearly

their own will.

this issue for the last year and

cannot stand on the sidelines any-

students to educate themselves

-

-

-

we are constantly tested with

-

-

ference, our campus as a whole

However, this is usually done in

the vicinity of a dorm room, in

-

However, when it comes to uti-

positive, people run scared with

of their minds.

-

-

concludes the 60s or 70s. It may

aware of the vast difference in

-

-

voice concerns and opinions to

would say they invited it with

D-Hall.

not mean what it used to. At a

the necessary tool. When the

-

-

nered little attention, despite it

-

simply shows that while there

fruition.

-

sities, especially those that are

private and/or secular, admin-

-

various platforms. If students do

not fall in line with certain view-

or conservative, you essentially

-

tions move away from inclu-

-

-

often dies at the source.

-

is the root of any attempt for

a freedom that can essentially

that doesn’t mean it should

-

-

every person the opportunity to

-

APRIL 22, 2010

signed[un]

The Carrier Editorial

Kyler PostEditor-in-Chief

Charnele NoelBusiness Manager

Amanda Griswell Managing Editor

Jessica HooverCopy Editor

Claudia HaganNews Editor

Nicole NeSmithOpinions Editor

Katherine Lavey Features Editor

Ashley McIntyre Sports Editor

Laura DiepenbrockEntertainment Editor

Meredith McDermott Photo Editor

Brittany Howes Graphics Editor

Jessie DuckworthOnline Editor

Alisha DosaniAsst. Business Manager

Andrew BlevinsDeputy News Editor

Lauren JonesAsst. Features Editor

Megan BensonAsst. Sports Editor

Tristan HarrisonAsst. Entertainment

Editor

Candler Hobbs Asst. Photo Editor

Anna SmithAsst. Graphics Editor

Kevin KleineAdviser

Editorial Board

THE CARRIERBerry College

Press Association’s Senior

Campus Carrier

490520 Berry College Mt. Berry, GA 30149

(706) 236-2294E-mail: campus_carrier@berry.edu

The Carrier

-

necessarily those of the administration,

-

MEREDITH MCDERMOTT

Photo Editor

OPINIONSAPRIL 22, 2010 CAMPUS CARRIER PAGE 5

“What nickname would you give the pollen?”

Whitney KazragisSenior

LETTER SUBMISSION POLICY

Letters to the editor must include a name, address and phone number, along with the writer’s class year or title. The Carrier reserves the right to edit for length, style, grammar and libel.

E-MAIL: campus_carrier@berry.edu

Colin StaleySophomore

Steven QuigleyJunior

Sonya Habib Sophomore

Berry’s yellow fever.”

Tree semen.”

Asthma-inducer.”

Kelli Stansell Senior

Tree poop.”

The instigator of God’s blessings. Get it? Achoo?”

MARIA BILHORNGuest Writer

I love food—especially good food. Although I am not a picky eater, there is nothing more disheartening to me than a boring meal. I know my way around good food and often cannot believe how my peers are so content eating what they do—for both health reasons and because they have no idea what good food really is. To me,

healthy. My habits, attitude and philos-ophy regarding food are perhaps more thought out than most my age.

I do not mean to brag because when it comes to American junk food I am indeed naïve—I have (to the amaze-ment of my American friends) had little exposure to most common snack foods. Yet I consider being spared of this void a luxury in many ways. I grew up out-side of the U.S., where even getting peanut butter was a luxury item often found in your Christmas stocking. Since my family has moved back to the U.S., we have never really felt the need to mesh ourselves into the eating hab-its of Americans—we enjoy our African and foreign food too much and do our best to replicate those here.

As a teenager, I never had the “eat-all-you-want-and-never-gain-a-

to manage my weight and how food will affect it. Am I a dieter? Perhaps. I am certainly more aware of what I eat, but no food is off limits to me. My atti-

tude toward food is that food should not merely be consumed; it should be thought about, analyzed and overall

immediately begin to look at food in terms of its ingredients and how they harmonize together to perform a bal-lad that is music to your mouth.

People in the U.S. do not under-stand what good food really is. Most of my peers abhor vegetables or have just plain never tried so many of the most basic, simplest foods. They are trapped in their bubble of fast food and pro-cessed, wrapped foods. I can proudly say that I have converted some people to cooking in a different way. Part of the problem is that mothers themselves do not cook anymore; they consider cooking as a laborious pain that is oh, so hard. It is really not—all you have to do is follow directions on a recipe. The results of this laziness have brought about a generation that does not know what home made meals are (this does not include frozen, store bought dishes that are put in the oven for so long) and do not know how to cook themselves. Cooking is a salve for me, perhaps the best demonstration of how I learn something. I will follow directions, experiment through trial and error and most likely end up tweaking whatever I cook to make it my own. I began cook-ing mainly baked goods when I was in

interests elsewhere and now have the ability to prepare a whole meal. I am always willing to try new things. Cooking is a way to please others, be

So few homes cook their own meals

anymore. Food should be an art. One day I found myself watching the TV show “Ace of Cakes” and thought to myself, “I could do that.” So I began making cakes of all shapes and sizes. Limited of course, to my family’s kitchen, I still found that food could also be a creative outlet and began working with fondant and buttercream to stack and sculpt cakes.

-

My mother had her hold on me from the beginning. She is a master at cook-ing wonderful homemade meals, but is not your steak-and-potatoes kind of mother. Since our family has travelled far and wide, recipes are one of the things she has adopted. I can say with pride that my mother has the ability to cook Asian, African and other world cuisines. Our meals are healthy and delicious. I am sure most children do not like vegetables because their moth-ers do not know how to cook them properly (I wouldn’t like green beans from a can either; not when they can be sautéed with garlic).

At times I feel like the Pixar charac-

am simply an avid food lover who feels trapped in a world where few appre-ciate food for what it really is. I feel blessed to have an understanding of food because of my international expe-rience, my family, and well, desire for “the good stuff.” I am excited about the culinary possibilities that lie ahead.

Expand culinary horizons

NICOLE NESMITHOpinions Editor

Expression key to a thriving democracy

freshman, I took my place on The Car-rier as a staff writer, uncertain what I would contribute in the long run. I

-ions, despite my lack of experience. I was always able to voice my concerns.

Now, as opinions editor, it is not as glorious as it once seemed. Week after

willing to write opinions for the sec-tion, and even when I do reel someone

in, it is often merely because I annoyed them enough. So, more often than not,

only weakens my desire to write opin-ions, but it also weakens my respect for the student body.

Are students scared to voice their opinions? Is the administration bear-ing down on our right to freedom of

Yes, we are a private college, but does that mean students should run scared when given the chance to express themselves? They shouldn’t, but that’s exactly what is happening at Berry.

Legally, we all have the right. Remember the First Amendment? Yes. It is still around, but sadly, it is not thriving. The Supreme Court has

upheld students’ right to freedom of expression on campus. However, we are constantly tested, especially in time’s of great strife. People have been

On Sept. 18, 2007, at the University of Florida, a college student was Tasered because of his regard for free speech. People had mixed feelings about it, but it shows a clear disregard for free speech. There will always be factors pressing down against us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try. Because if we just cower in fear, we essenitally lose the opportunity to instigate change while the First Amendment wilts and gathers dust.

So, if this happens to piss you off, then, please, by all means write a letter to the editor. That will introduce you to the beauty of free speech.

A new printer. Power. Eternal glory. Our staff has many desires. Having YOU on staff is by far the most important. You can’t spell Carrier without care.

kyler.post@vikings.berry.edu

FEATURESPAGE 6, CAMPUS CARRIER FEATURESAPRIL 22, 2010 CAMPUS CARRIER PAGE 7APRIL 22, 2010

OZMA NIVEN'S STORY

LAUREN JONES Asst. Features Editor

It was Feb. 17, 2010, and she was at the

Cage Center between 3 and 4 p.m., working

out on what she thought was an elliptical

machine. All she knew was that it makes

her thighs and glutes hurt with a really

that machine. Working out relieves stress,

and she had really been stressing herself

out lately. She was taking classes and work-

ing like crazy.

As a biology, pre-med major, her day is

down. But there was a nagging voice in

her head reminding her of the surgery she

had a few days ago. The surgeon had re-

moved one of the hard knots she found on

her lymph nodes, and she was waiting to

hear news.

Meanwhile, she was living life as nor-

mally as possible, staying busy and getting

her work done. But it was in the Cage Cen-

ter that junior Ozma Niven’s phone lit up

with the call that changed her life.

The surgeon who preformed Niven’s

surgery told her that he had some bad

-

phoma, but he would not tell her exactly

could research it. Niven said the surgeon

was being evasive, and that when she said

she was working out at the gym, the sur-

geon said, muttering more to himself, that

her working out was a good sign.

told me, I didn’t even hear because I was in

shock. I didn’t know what was happening,

I only knew that it was bad.”

Niven said she had been working out

with a friend when she received the news.

-

kin’s Lymphoma alone. She walked with

Niven to the science building to see her

adviser, Associate Professor of Biology Bill

Davin, who automatically told her that her

disease was cancer. Niven was in shock,

and she emotionally broke down. Davin

Wellness Center.

Within the hour Niven received another

phone call, this time from an oncologist

calling to schedule more medical tests for

Niven, who broke down again. Niven said

she felt completely overwhelmed.

Niven said she wanted to go to class and

work the next day. Niven was the mascot

for the cheerleading squad and wanted to

make practice. But on her way to her nor-

mal day-to-day activities, Niven was called

into the hospital to get some last minute

Positron Emission Tomography scans, or

PET scans.

Niven said she had never heard of

cancer with a high cure rate. Niven said

it starts in the lymph nodes and spreads

into the bone marrow and in that case, can

be fatal. But Niven’s cancer was caught in

stage one, preventing any extremely nega-

tive consequences.

Niven said her cancer began in her neck

and spread quickly to her shoulders.

“I noticed the bumps in November.

There were hard knots in one area of my

neck. I had one big lymph node in my neck.

It was a hard knot sticking out of my neck,

and friends touched it, and were like, ‘Ew,

gross! What is that?’ I woke up and realized

it was something else when I had two more

red bumps. I went to the Ladd Center, and

they told me to take ibuprofen all day and

come back in three days. They wanted to

schedule an appointment with the doctor

for me, but it was at 8 a.m. And I wasn’t go-

ing to go at 8 in the morning, but I should

have gone,” Niven said.

Niven said she went to the Urgent Care

frightening surprise.

“I went to Urgent Care, and right when

I went there, they sent me to the ER. They

told me I had to talk to a surgeon,” Niven

said.

Niven had surgery removing one of her

lymph nodes in early February, not even

a week before she was diagnosed. Niven

asked to see the lymph node that was re-

moved and said she thought it was pretty.

lymph node,” Niven said.

Niven said she has to go through three

to four cycles of chemotherapy before mov-

ing on to radiation therapy.

“I hate chemo,” Niven said. “It makes

me nauseous just thinking about it. I dread

it.”

Niven said chemotherapy is not “excru-

ciatingly painful” but that it is a long, hor-

rible process. Several drugs used for cancer

patients are released into Niven’s blood

steam. Niven is connected to a machine for

around four hours and receives four differ-

ent types of medicine.

“I automatically taste metal in my

mouth,” Niven said, describing the initial

feelings of chemotherapy. “And now, I

my urine can burn children.” Niven said.

Three of the medicines Niven receives

through chemotherapy are clear, but one

is red. The red medicine is the one that

makes Niven lose her hair. Niven said she

has lost a lot of hair, and the hair she does

have does not feel like her hair at all. It feels

coarse and wiry. Before her cancer, Niven

had very long, natural-blond hair. She had

it cut off and donated the 17 inches of blond

to Locks of Love.

“I was really upset [about losing my

hair], and I guess it was a security blanket.

Now, I wear a bandana or a hat,” Niven

said.

A side effect of chemotherapy is having

a lot of sores in your mouth, Niven said.

-

wash, which eases the pain of these sores.

Along with her chemotherapy, Niven

had a bone marrow biopsy to make sure

her cancer did not spread into her bone

marrow. She described a very painful pro-

cess, where a giant needle is inserted on the

back of the hip bone.

“They told me it was going to tickle … it

Niven said her family is being very

-

ter have been there for her. The only other

family member Niven has with any type

of cancer is her grandfather, who has can-

Niven said, has his chemotherapy done at

his chemotherapy days to match her treat-

ments. Now, chemotherapy is a family af-

fair, and the place is packed with Niven’s

friends and family. One nurse in particular

-

ther told the nurse to be nice to his baby

and treat her well. Niven said she sleeps a

lot after her chemotherapy.

Niven’s last chemotherapy treatment is

Friday. She will have scans done by May

3 to make sure the cancer is gone. Then, if

there is no more cancer, Niven can move on

to radiation treatments.

Niven’s friends are also showing great

support. Junior Gabrielle Ossege is one of

Niven’s best friends and was present at the

Also, senior Tyler McCaslin and juniors

-

chez, Craig Morgan, Seth Camp and Chris

Stewart showed their support for Niven.

The boys heard their friend was starting

chemotherapy and made a collage for her

using Photoshop. Before and after shaving

their heads, they took photos of themselves.

They sent it to Niven by mail, and she said

she received it right before her most recent

chemotherapy treatment.

“It just happened that way. I cried,” Niv-

en said, describing receiving and opening

her letter.

Niven said she has been enjoying her

-

friend is from Savannah, and he goes to all

of her treatments with her as well. Niven

said she could not have taken classes and

worked at Berry while undergoing treat-

ments, but she does miss Berry.

“I really wish I didn’t have to leave, but

I’m glad I did for the semester. I have a lot

of bad days, and I know I couldn’t handle

my classes,” Niven said.

Niven did not plan to have to take time

off from her education but said she is tak-

ing a chemistry course during the summer

to help catch up with her studies. Though

Niven said it has its drawbacks.

“My parents won’t let me leave, and I

can’t lay out in the sun, I’m from the beach,

and I love the sun,” Niven said.

-

bined with chemotherapy makes Niven

more prone to skin cancer. Now, Niven

said she has to wear at least SPF 30 when

outside.

Niven started a blog on caringbridge.

com to help provide her friends and fam-

ily with updates so they will know how she

is doing. This way, Niven said she will not

have to answer the same questions many

times, and people can check on her daily.

Niven said her father turned her focus onto

the blog forum.

“My dad told me I needed to make one

[blog] because a girl with my type of can-

originally to keep in touch and give advice.

She just got done with radiation. My dad

wanted me to get it just for me, too. I get on

and vent about my cancer,” Niven said.

Niven has posted excerpts from po-

on her blog. She had quoted Walt Whit-

man’s “Leaves of Grass,” dialogue from

“Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott, and

kinds of things help make her feel comfort-

able during this painful time.

“They comfort me, these things I have

seen before. They have totally new mean-

ings to me because I have cancer now,”

Niven said.

She described riding in the car with one

of her friends and hearing Lady Gaga’s

“Just Dance” on the radio. Not a huge Gaga

fan, Niven said she could not believe when

she started crying. She said she was touched

by the lyrics, “It’ll be OK, just dance.”

Niven’s two Sheltie dogs also have com-

forted her, and she goes to the gym as much

as she can.

“On my good days I always go to the

gym. I notice running is a stress reliever,”

Niven said.

-

ma has changed her perspective on life.

“I appreciate each day, and I don’t take

things for granted anymore. I’m really

blessed. I could have had any cancer. This

cancer has a really high treatment rate. And

I just think ... if I lived way back when they

didn’t have treatments, I’d be a goner,”

Niven said.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY OZMA NIVEN

One student's battle against cancer

KATHERINE LAVEYFeatures Editor

&WHITNEY KAZRAGIS

Staff Writer

The Berry College Lady Vikings basketball season may

be over, but they are still working together as a team.

-

niors Carol Lampley and Kendall Davis found out Berry

athletic trainer Ginger Swann’s mother had been diag-

nosed with Leukemia in Febuary, they decided to give

back and make a difference by planning the Ponytail Party

seen around campus allowing students to see and prepare

for the event on Wednesday, April 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. in

Krannert’s Spruill Ballroom.

“Since our freshman year, Brittany has been joking

about cutting her hair short before we graduate and go

into the ‘real world’ but had been chickening out a little,”

Carroll said. “She decided she wanted to cut her ponytail

and donate it in honor of Beth Swann and all that Ginger

had done for her these past four years.”

Davis had known Ginger since she was in high school

and said she has done so much for her.

“When I found out her mom had cancer, I knew im-

mediately that I wanted to help in anyway I could," Davis

said.

Davis’ role in the event was organizing, she said, “by

calling and going to talk to people and businesses about

-

ets. Davis said they have been trying to get the word out to

the community to let people know what they are doing.

the Berry community has done to get involved. The stu-

dent training staff made T-shirts and held a massage

Ginger said. Beyond Berry, many other places are taking

an initiative as well. The four girls with the help of the

team raised money from local businesses such as Moe’s

and Schroeder’s.

“There are no words to show the amount of grati-

tude (I have),” Ginger said. “It’s overwhelming and

inspirational.”

Ginger said she knows the girls have been busy even

girls have committed their time to getting things ready for

the event over the past couple of months.

“Their acts carry further, it encourages people and

changes lives,” Ginger said. “Love changes people’s

lives.”

The Ponytail Party, an idea that came straight from the

sidelines of the basketball court in the Cage Center Arena,

is an event supporting the Pantene Beautiful Lengths pro-

gram. This organization takes ponytails of at least eight

inches and creates wigs completely cost-free to cancer

patients.

The party will include free food, a free cut and style

from Blonde on Broad for those who want to participate

-

proached Blonde On Broad, an Aveda Salon and Spa on

Board Street, to ask if they could provide assistance with

Broad will be bringing four stylists to cut and style hair in

the Krannert Ballroom.

The owner, Libby Thomas, opened the business for her

-

ing some of her master stylists to the event, Lamar Clark,

who has worked in Buckhead and as a Redken perform-

ing artist, has worked with hair for more than 15 years.

Drusilla Fowler, who has worked more than eight years

with Vidal Sassoon in California, has been doing hair

more than 20 years and Carrie Williams, who has been in

the business for 20 years will be providing her skills.

“They are all well-educated hair stylists,” Thomas

said.

With a quick two hours to achieve a new look, the do-

nors do not need to worry, Thomas said.

“Don’t be afraid because our salon is not a Wal-Mart

-

Some girls may have to go back to the salon or the styl-

salon has had customers give to Locks of Love, but was

never involved with a school.

“We don’t mind, it’s for a good cause,” Thomas said.

Greene’s Jewelers and Mary Kay as well as a Flip video

present to win.

“Our teammates were great at advertising the event

and selling tickets,” Lampley said.

As of April 19, the team has raised more than $1900.

"Each girl on the Lady Vikes has been instrumental, truly

making this a team effort," Lampley said.

“I will never be able to repay her for all the times she

has taken care of me, but here is one chance that I can help

take care of her and her family,” Davis said.

For more information about making a donation, e-mail

-

2293 or Centennial 210. The cost is $2 for one ticket and $5

for three tickets.

“”

I hate chemo. It makes me nauseous just think-ing about it. I dread it.

Ozma Niven

Junior

In honor of Ozma Niven's bravery through chemotherapy treatment, senior Ty-

ler McCaslin, juniors Will Brooks, Craig Morgan and Carlos Sanchez shaved their heads. They sent her photos they took in a form of a collage.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY OZMA NIVEN

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY TYLER MCCLASIN

Ga., her close friend junior Gabrielle Ossege was present to show support.

On Thursday March 11, Ozma Niven cut her blond hair and donated 17 inches to Locks of Love. Niven will end her chemotherapy on Friday.

Symphony concert spotlights young talent

The Oak Hill Symphony Concert was another of those that broke the mold of the average instrumental concert and provided some audience-friendly alterations.

music and spotlighted many talented young musicians. I have always been envious of anyone who can play the vio-lin and produce a pleasant sound that isn’t squeaky.

To me, the violin is one of those instruments that never looks simple to play, no matter who’s hands it is in. The intensity of the player is always apparent in every ounce

Darby Jones, a student of Cumberland Academy in

-self with her dramatic performance of Mozart’s “Violin Concerto in A minor.” A current high school student, she played with college ease.

As a singer, I am always excited to hear other vocal performers, especially when they are my peers. Junior concerto competition winner Susanna Brown wowed the crowd with her rendition of “Vedrai Carino (from Don Giovanni),” another piece by Mozart.

Her soprano voice was clear and easily heard, and she hit every note with enviable persistence. Her presence on stage displayed a natural ease and relaxation enough so that she jokingly gave conductor Norman Bernal a thumbs up before exiting the stage.

The third concerto winner to take the stage was junior Megan Benson on the piccolo. The piccolo is another

instrument that I feel must be handled by a skilled musi-cian or else it can sound high and potentially annoying.

-colo. She performed a haunting piece, standing out yet working in harmony with the band.

Intermissions are always nice, though I did not entirely see the reason behind the intermission at the Oak Hill concert. The changing soloist kept it far from boring, and there were only six songs in the program.

The two performers listed after the intermission were junior mezzo soprano Michelle Miller and sophomore vio-linist Lizzie Petrey.

Miller sang a piece from one of my favorite operas “Carmen.” Her version of the aria “Habanera” was lovely, and her dress matched the story that goes along with the song.

The ending piece of the concert, “Violin Concerto in D major” by Beethoven, was a bit long but a nice piece to end

down.The concert overall was quite enjoyable. Stan Pethel,

speaking about current conductor Bernal’s four years in the position. Experienced conductor Mirna Mirna Ciric will soon be taking over.

ENTERTAINMENT APRIL 22, 2010PAGE 8, CAMPUS CARRIER

‘Beaux’ Stratagem’ full of charisma, old world charm

Sadly, I can probably count on one hand how many times I have been in the E.H. Young Theatre in the past four years; I wish this was not true.

The bright lights drew me into the basic design of the stage for the Berry College Theatre Company’s version of “The Beaux’ Stratagem” by George Farquhar. The stage was set up like a hotel parlor in the 1600s.

The props were simple allowing for the focus to be on the actors. The centerpiece of the room was a portrait of College Presi-dent Steven R. Briggs as our “king.”

I felt like I was entering into a hotel with the music playing in the background. I felt at home and ready for the show to start.

The play opens up with the owner of the hotel Boniface, junior Matt Dixon, speak-ing with his daughter Cherry, freshman Ashley Harzog. The stage is full as senior Will Honea playing Jack Archer and junior Joe Thornton playing Tom Aimwell bring life and drama as guests at the hotel.

Their expressions seem to say more than the words they are speaking in their perfected accents. Thornton continued to surprise the audience with his over-the-top expressions or his unexpected comments. His character was even more amusing when he fell in love with Dorinda played by freshman Jennifer Allman.

Gloss played by junior Jeremy Brinson easily stayed in character, when I would have lost it. As his day job would suggest, he gave a new meaning to the title “priest” by robbing stage coaches on the side. He was full of charisma and brought laughter to the audience.

Lady Bountiful uses quite the character

with her outlandish ideas about what is needed in the medical world and entertains the audience with her surprising words of wisdom. Senior Emma Harr as Lady Boun-tiful becomes the center of attention as she takes the stage.

She was the spotlight with her manner-isms becoming part of the character. Lady Bountiful even attempts to show that she can handle a gun, but when it accidently goes off the entire audience jumped. This does not happen once, but twice. Harr brings her acting expertise to this play.

Often the scenes were changed while one character would be giving a monolog or two characters would be having a con-versation. It was easy to only focus on the actors and not realize the scene was chang-ing before your eyes. A few prop changes can put the stage in a whole new light.

One moment it would be the entrance of the hotel then the next it was a bedroom. The “hotel workers” moved the props so quickly that it was over before you knew it.

I recommend going to see “The Beaux’ Stratagem.”

BERRY COLLEGE FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT

AMANDA GRISWELLManaging Editor

TRISTAN HARRISONAsst. Entertainment

Editor

The Oak Hill Symphony is made up of wind and string

players from Berry and the local community. This year’s

Bernal.

Remaining Fine Arts Department events:

Tonight: Adam Hayes/Kris Carlisle

7:30 p.m.

April 23: Wind Ensemble Concert

7:30 p.m.

April 24: Berry Honor Band Concert

8 p.m.

April 29: Woodwind Ensemble

Concert 7:30 p.m.

All performances will take place in Ford

Auditorium. CE credit is offered to all

students who attend.

PHOTOS BY CANDLER HOBBS,

Asst. Photo Editor

Left: Senior Emma Harr plays the role of Lady Bounti-

ful in the BCTC production “The

Beaux’ Stratagem.”

Bottom right: Junior Jeremy

Brinson and senior Will Honea

entertained the audience with

their accents and manerisms.

E.H. Young Theatre

April 22-24 at 8 p.m.

April 25 at 2 p.m.

$7 Admission

Some of you, I imagine, lie awake at night searching for meaning like I do.

Perhaps some of you have the distant glimmers of a dream that might make life everything you ever hoped it could be, and everything you knew it could be. For those of you, who like me, have been waiting, I have good news. Glory has arrived; civilization has come to its zenith.

I can hear your voices now: what miraculous thing has come to save us? What could this epitome of glory be? Brace yourselves. The answer is Christopher Lee’s new symphonic metal album entitled “Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross.”

I will say this again: Saruman the Wise, the White Wiz-ard, Master of Isengard, has taken his rightful place at the head of a metal band.

The album tells the story of Lee’s direct ancestor Charle-magne. It features the actor singing in front of a full orches-tra, chorus, various guest singers and the metal band. Italian composer Marco Sabiu provided the score for the album.

The lyrics were written by Marie-Claire Calvet, a grad-uate of Bristol University. Either that or Christopher Lee simply made it all into being.

The result sounds much like musical theater. The album

an introduction, in which the historical background infor-mation is narrated, and a musical section that expands upon the information in the introduction.

The overture sets the mood for the album. Dramatic orchestration rises and gives way to the electric guitars and drums. The sounds of swords clashing mix with the music just before the guitar solo, and then we’re off to the story.

The story of the album centers on Charlemagne’s role as a Christian king and how his faith played into his reign. It tells of how he tried to spread the faith by means of both

the Franks and the Saxons. Parts of it run much like a soliloquy, with Charlemagne pondering the morality of his actions as king.

The orchestration, while well-done, plays a subordinate role to the storytelling and singing. I honestly would have liked to hear more from the orchestra and metal band, and less from the singers.

The singers themselves do a good job, for the most part. The album features a number of guest vocalists, who play various characters in the story. Among them are Vincent Ricciardi as the young Charlemagne, Christina Lee as the narrator, and Christi Ebenhoch as the storytelling singer.

As for Lee himself, he doesn’t so much sing as intone

He’s made a good career off having an awesome voice, and he can pretty much do what he wants at this point. It doesn’t sound musical, but him chanting “I shed the blood of Saxon men” sounds so right, somehow.

use of the chorus, gradually mixing with the metal band, which moves on to a reprise of one of the more memora-ble themes from the album called “The Bloody Verdict at Verden.”

All in all, the project is an interesting balance between musical theatre, classical music and metal. This is not for someone looking to have music playing in the background.

It is different and maybe a little silly at times. On the other hand, Saruman’s voice has been known to put men under a spell, and it’s a little bit awesome just for that.

I have lived in the south most of my life, and I have always loved barbecue. When Backyard Barbecue closed this past summer, I was afraid Rome was out of good barbecue options.

Since I recently decided to cast off the “res-taurant chains,” I wanted to avoid Shane’s Rib Shack, even though it is fairly good. I was crav-ing home cooked, local barbecue. I heard about Big Bear’s BBQ, and within the week I had sat-

Though it is not very convenient to Berry, it is well worth the trek and is located on Dean Avenue headed on the way to Rockmart. The restaurant is not fancy and looks as though it was an old drive-thru restaurant at some point. However, looks don’t matter when the barbe-cue tastes this delicious.

I ordered the barbecue pork plate with two sides and bread ($6.95). The pork was steam-ing hot and served on a freshly warmed bun. I chose corn nuggets, and the potato salad as side items. While the potato salad was not the best I’ve ever had, the corn nuggets were tasty.

Their homemade barbecue sauces come in -

on any of their barbecue. As far as I know, they are the only place in town with smoked wings.

-nitely delicious!

The service is friendly and everything is made fresh to order. Big Bear’s really is a great

menu even has local businesses advertising in it. Catering and whole cakes or pies are also available for purchase.

They also offer the two-pound Burger Chal-lenge, which includes a 2-pound. hamburger, 1-pound. French fries and a 32-ounce drink, but I don’t think I will be up for this challenge any-time soon. However, I will be going back for the 49-cent Wednesday wing night.

Country-style tablecloths adorn the tables and a carved wooden black bear stands in the corner, and I assume he must be “Big Bear.”

Big Bear’s is located at 1517 Dean Avenue. They are open from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon-day through Friday. Call in orders are welcome at 706-235-6090.

RATING 4 OUT OF 5 STARS

ENTERTAINMENT APRIL 22, 2010PAGE 9, CAMPUS CARRIER

Coming soon...

Dr. Ben Carson

‘The Beaux’ Strategeum’ will continue showing April 22 through April 24 at 8 p.m. and conclude with a matinee on Sunday, April 24 at 2 p.m. Admission is $7 and CE Credit is offered to all

students who attend.

The Shatto Lecture Committee presents

Carson was featured in the TNT movie “Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story” and is

known for his work with conjoined twins.

MYSPACE.COM

WHITNEY KAZRAGIS

Staff Writer

Tonight8 p.m.

Cage Center

Free admission, ticket required upon entry

Actor Christopher Lee, known for playing Saruman the White in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, recently recorded a metal concept album about Charlemagne.

Lee’s ‘Charlemagne’offers unique musical balance

GORDIE MURPHYGuest Writer

Renowned Neurosurgeon

SPORTSPAGE 10, CAMPUS CARRIER APRIL 22, 2010

ASHLEY MCINTYRESports Editor

Coach David Beasley has recorded the highest number of wins of any coach in Berry

at 424-275-1. Despite his success and love for the game, he said he never saw himself coaching. Beasley called his road to baseball “unorthodox.”

With two older brothers, Beasley was surrounded by baseball and was a batboy when

the team someday, I was willing to do it.”His peers ridiculed him, but he said not having to play every day gave him a chance

to study the game.

four years later I was on the team and an All-American.”

Beasley went on to play baseball in college at George C. Wallace Junior College in Selma, Ala., then transferred to Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala. While in Mont-

said he is grateful that his wife and family were so supportive of his transition.

have families around, including ours.”The Beasley family lives in Rome, and includes his wife Cindy and their three children:

Heath, Alexis and Dylan.

-

program.-

III program he can.”

the fact that he wanted players he would teach, rather than talent alone.

said.-

consistency and commitment to excellence.“I would rather my players be role models than great players,” he said.

down. He really cares about his players.”

of 38-12. He said that he underestimated the transition, but believes that once the provi-

coached.

the world,” Beasley said.

Wesleyan University on April 23 and 24.

MEREDITH MCDERMOTT, Photo EditorCoach David Beasley instructs his players during practices and games. The 2010

Beasley leads Vikings to success

SPORTSAPRIL 22, 2010 PAGE 11, CAMPUS CARRIER

Equestrian team prepares for nationalsMEGAN BENSON

Assistant Sports Editor

Members of the Berry College Equestrian Team will be participating in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Nationals in Lexington, Ky., from May 6 until May 9.

place. Only the top two teams qualify.

to place in the top four.

Quarter Horse Association Trophy western team title at

there.”

great chance to win.

chance to win. “Sarah [Pogue] has a huge chance of winning at nation-

-

-

nation.”

-

-

interesting.”

Glossary of Equestrian TermsAction – the manner in which a horse travels and

moves

Balance – The horse is carrying the riders and its

Canter -

Gallop – The gallop is very much like the canter,

except that it is faster, more ground-covering, and the

fastest gait of a horse, averaging about 25 to 30 miles

Hand – the unit by which the height of a horse is

Open class – a show in which any horse of a speci-

Trot – The diagonal legs must be raised from the

ground simultaneously and be replaced on the ground

Walk – The horse moves his legs one after the other

WWW.LOCALRIDING.COM

ball thrown, but potential professional

-

Pittsburgh. He began the 2007 season as

For Long” for nothing. Will these players

-

of their potential. The top -

tions about their playing style,

-

incoming NFL players.

-

run rampant through the league, teams

extremely well at the NFL combine by running a forty-

-

question.

-

NFL.

out of most of his last season, but the team

of the season.

-

-

Now this year’s main course is the

league instantly.

their way into the league.

JESSICA GILKER, Staff Photographer

Rachel Besch competes at Hunter’s Regional’s on March

CAMERON CARTER

Staff Writer

NFL draft full of defensive potential, quarterbacks

NEWSPAGE 12, CAMPUS CARRIER APRIL 22, 2010

Vandalism CONTINUED FROM PG. 1

Santana said the recent events are part of a disturb-ing chain of events, including the variety of vandalism in Centennial Hall throughout the year.

“Things like this aren’t typical of a place like this,” he said. “But the ‘ninja’ thing wasn’t completely sur-prising, which is sad.”

Ricks said she doesn’t think the students initially meant any harm, but they should have anticipated the backlash from their actions.

“I think it started out innocently,” she said. “But it just wasn’t thought out very well.”

Abrams said the police report was not yet complete because more and more students were coming to him, requesting to have their vehicles’ damage added to the report.

In the end, Brittany said she was just happy to be included in the prank.

“Because almost all of my friends were ninjas too, and I didn’t want to be a pirate, or even worse, left out altogether.”

JIM TANKERSLEYTribune Washington Bureau

When millions of environmental activists gathered on college campuses and in major cities 40 years ago to

-nizing helped galvanize support for action on a historic scale including passage of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, plus creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.

But even the most optimistic organizers of Thursday’s anniversary celebrations Thursday in cities across the country and the major rally scheduled in Washington on Sunday might concede there’s little immediate prospect of matching such watershed achievements.

The political climate has changed, with a battered econ-omy making it harder to build support for policies that could raise prices, cost jobs or slow growth. Today’s issues global warming, ocean pollution, carbon-based energy systems are more abstruse and remote. And environmen-talists’ opponents are far better organized.

engaged in planning the event’s 40th anniversary celebra-tion, said Thursday that many business leaders and oth-ers who now square off against environmentalists “were caught a little off guard.”

Now, with the focus shifting to global warming, the contending sides are so evenly matched that it’s unclear whether climate legislation has a realistic chance of moving through Congress, even though President Barack Obama supports action.

This week, Hayes answered questions about the Earth

he hopes will be its legacy for the future action on climate change, which he calls “the most important issue facing humanity.”

Q: -mental movement today versus 40 years ago?

A: In 1970, the stuff we were mobilizing people around was obvious. You could see it, smell it, taste it. ... The big issues that remain now are things that are largely impos-sible to detect unless you have sophisticated instruments.

big issues, but not something you can see affecting your children.

Q: Is that why we see polls today showing public con-cern waning on environmental issues, and skepticism of

A: Not at all. Polls are like taking a snapshot from a full

We didn’t have any focus groups. We were doing what we thought ought to be done, and seeing if the public wanted to come along with it.

Q: The senators pushing the climate bill hardly ever talk

about climate anymore. They’re selling the bill on jobs and security ...

A: The business here is to assemble a coalition that will get you 60 votes. ... My sense is, you need to change the politics (to elevate climate as a concern for members of Congress).

Q: How can your rally in Washington do that?A: The way that American politics is currently operat-

ing, regrettably, is that intensity often matters more than breadth (of support). ... We need to mobilize people who will say, if you’re wrong on climate, we need to get some-one else into that seat.

Q: From what you know about it, how do you rate the climate bill that Senators (John) Kerry, (Lindsey) Graham and (Joseph) Lieberman plan to announce next week?

A: (Since Kerry and Sen. Barbara Boxer introduced an early draft bill last year), every subsequent change has weakened it and weakened it and weakened it, until you have a bill with enough votes, but it’s not really worth anything.

Q: So is this bill worthless?A: I certainly prefer Cantwell-Collins (a bill introduced

by Maria Cantwell and Susan Collins that would cap greenhouse emissions, sell emissions permits and refund most of the money to taxpayers). ... The only argument I’ve heard against that bill is that it can’t pass. What we want to do is make it so it can pass.

Earth Day organizer speaks about present environment

of Their Student Workers

Kisha BryantSourosh AmaniChelsea Tindall

Happy Student Employee Week!!!

European air travel ramps up, but problems aren’t over HENRY CHU

Los Angeles Times

Airlines sent their jets back into the skies of Europe in large numbers Wednesday but faced an enormous backlog of passengers that will probably take days to clear.

travel through European airspace, more than 80 percent of the usual tally, the most since volcanic ash from Iceland began stranding planes and passengers across the continent April 15, the aviation agency Eurocontrol said.

recriminations. Critics accused authorities of having bungled their response to the airborne grit by imposing an unnecessary

industry $1.7 billion.After several days of enforced inactiv-

ity, Europe’s busiest airports, including those in London, Paris and Frankfurt, Ger-

many, were back in business. Most long-haul services were restored; short- and

more gradually. Joyful reunions lighted up arrival terminals across the continent.

Restrictions on airspace remained only in a few areas, including Finland and northern Scotland, Eurocontrol said. But the Brussels-based agency said it expected

Thursday.London’s Heathrow was the last of the

big European airports to reopen, on Tues-day night. The relief was palpable among passengers who had been wondering whether they would ever leave.

have enough cash for a hotel,” said Kurt Lang, 23, an Australian who has been trav-eling the world. They had camped out at

Bangkok, Thailand.

come in last night around 10.30 p.m.,” Lang said. “There was a lot of cheering and peo-

ple saying, ‘Welcome to Heathrow.’ “But thousands of travelers face more

delays as airlines work through long wait-ing lists.

because of ash from the Eyjafjallajokull vol-cano, creating such a volume of stranded passengers that some carriers have had to push re-bookings well into next week. Air-lines were also left scrambling.

Experts say a full return to normal travel patterns is likely to take days.

The shutdown of airspace over northern Europe for nearly a week has become the

here in Britain, where aviation authorities abruptly lifted restrictions on all the coun-try’s airports Tuesday night after heavy lobbying from airline executives. Flights had resumed on the continent during the day, prompting critics to question why the ban was still in place here.

The government’s sudden reversal came after consultations with scientists and jet manufacturers over how much ash the

engines and other components could toler-ate. The discussions led to a raising of the danger threshold.

to err on the side of caution.“You’ve got to make sure people are safe

and secure. We would never be forgiven if

danger to people’s lives,” Prime Minister Gordon Brown said. “We’ve had discus-sions with manufacturers of planes, we’ve had discussions with the air-safety authori-ties, and we’ve had to make sure that it’s

level of ash but not a complete absence of ash.”

A leading British scientist told the BBC

through ash were “10 times” less strin-gent than before, but that it was correct for the government to have held extensive discussions before relaxing the previous standards.

Make sure to check out Viking Fusion for more awesome news stories.

www.vikingfusion.berry.edu