issue 9 nov 2

TheCentenary College of Louisiana’s Weekly Independent Press

ConglomerateNovember 2, 2007 Volume 84, Issue 9

Halloween Hoopla

2007

Versha SharmaEditor-in-Chief

The basketball season was introduced with a bang Wednesday night with the Halloween Hoopla event at the Gold Dome. With the combined efforts of CAB, Residence Life, the Athletic Department, and other Centenary organizations, the night’s activities both entertained students and demonstrated the college’s collective athletic prowess.

Over a hundred Centenary students filed into the Gold Dome

for the Hoopla, which consisted of Halloween-themed activities, basketball competitions, and an impressive show from the gymnastics team. Students Ben Crismon and Lindsay Ezell were the emcees for the night and provided running commentary of the various competitions – a dunk contest, a Maroon vs. White scrimmage, and a costume contest.

Junior Nick Stallings, who is from New Orleans, won the dunk contest easily with high-flying stunts that had the crowd both apprehensive and then screaming

with support. Entrants in the costume contest included students and even one basketball coach Rob Flaska.

The Hoopla also had local Centenary alumni in attendance– James Maher, a 2006 graduate, came out to show support for the athletic teams. “I like that it was very interactive for the fans and they gave out good prizes,” Maher said, referring to the Centenary paraphernalia awarded to contest winners and regularly thrown into the crowd by the emcees and basketball players.

“I came because I like to support all different aspects of the school, and athletics is a pretty big one,” said Senior Parker Jarnigan. After the Hoopla, many students trekked over to Cline for the Haunted House in the basement.

The basketball teams will play an exhibition game against LSU Shreveport next Tuesday, November 6th, before starting the season the following weekend. On the 9th and 10th, the men’s team will travel to Iowa to compete in the Iowa State Tournament, while the women will be playing in Mississippi.

Basketball season introduced with a bang

Top left: Coach Rob Flaska joins in the Halloween festivities.Top right: A very creative entrant in the costume contest.Bottom left: Junior Nick Stallings displays his dunk contest trophy with emcees Ben Crismon and Lindsay Ezell.Bottom center: The gymnastics team entertained the crowd with impressive flips and somersaults across the Gold Dome floor.Bottom right: One of Nick Stallings’s many impressive dunks.

All photos courtesy of Jennifer Majchrowicz.

�November 2, 2007 Volume 84, Issue 9

Question of the Week

What is the strangest Halloween treat you’ve

received?

“A booger.” - Alysha Wallace,

Junior

“Chicken wings.” - Betsy Smith,

Junior

“A paddle ball.” - Brady Loflin,

Freshman

“Mardi Gras panties.” - Michael Anne Wheeler,

Junior

“A Bible.” - Kat Michiels,

Senior

“A singing skeleton.” - Nikki Mattson,

Senior


Here’s what we learned in D.C.: the rain can really suck.

Alright, maybe that’s not all we learned, but the freezing rain definitely seemed to dominate our trip – a trip made possible thanks to the generosity of the Provost, Dr. Darrel Colson, and the Student Government Association. They paid our way from Shreveport to Washington, D.C. and back, as well as our conference fees. Layout Assistant Courtney Delaney, Copy Editor Rhagen Russell and I attended the National College Media Convention, where over 4,500 delegates from colleges and universities all over the country came to learn about the newest trends and themes in newspaper content and design. Poor Courtney became sick after all the trekking

to and fro from metro stations and the hotel where the conference was held (walking in pouring rain for three days can do that to a person), but we still had a good time.

To cut accommodation costs and to have a newspaper reunion, we stayed with Centenary alumnus and former Editor-in-Chief Roxie Smith (2005-2006). Quite apart from reminiscing about 12-hour layout sessions, our gracious host treated us to an evening of Xanadu (if you don’t know it, IMDb it, and prepare for glorious fun).

We absorbed quite a bit of information – we scrupulously took notes on our gorgeous (and free) notepads provided by news agencies around the country (it sounds so nerdy, but a clean and stylish notepad is pretty much the coolest thing ever for an aspiring reporter). Even though the notes later became a bit wet thanks to the dreary

weather, we still have them. They include ideas on how to improve the design of the newspaper, from the front page to the horoscopes (which Courtney has already been working with in terms of redesign!), how to write more engaging headlines, how to cover all areas of the campus effectively, and most importantly, how to reach out to the readers.

We’re going to be making some changes in the Conglomerate, some noticeable, some minute, and we want your feedback on all of it. Email us at [email protected] to let us know, for example, if the new font size works for you – for the technical-minded, we normally run a 12-point font, but after design guru Ron Johnson of Kansas State University told us the perfect size is 10.4, we decided to downgrade to 11-point. We might go for perfection, but we want to make sure it’s readable – for our readers

– first.Conventions like this, put on

by the Associated Collegiate Press, certainly have an intimidation factor. The exchange table, where all attendees put copies of their own newspaper, included the likes of the New York University and University of Texas at Austin papers: full-color broadsheets with a circulation of 15,000-30,000. Daily! The Conglomerate can’t hope to compete with the size of those staffs and budgets, but we can still improve and work with what we have. That’s what we plan on doing, box by box, page by page, until we truly feel we’re delivering the best product possible. Remember, throughout that process, we want as much input as possible, whether positive or negative.

continued on page 3

Letter from the Editor: On D.C., rain, and big-time newspaper conventions


Features Centenary Conglomerate

StaffVersha [email protected]

Rhagen RussellCopy [email protected]

Courtney DelaneyLayout Assistant [email protected]

Aleks KasztalskaFeatures [email protected]

Todd JohnsonA & E [email protected]

Michael JarboeSports [email protected]

Emily DeLatinMindy McKoinPhotographers

Carly CarpenterBusiness Manager

Copyright © 2007

The Conglomerate is an independent student publication, and does not reflect the opinions of Centenary College of Louisiana.

Contact: [email protected]: 318-869-5269

The Conglomerate2911 Centenary Blvd.Shreveport, LA 71134

Dr. Robert Prickett, Mascot Commission, Faculty Co-Chair

Countless words have been written, spoken, and rumored about Centenary’s mascot (or lack thereof ). To allay some of the rumors and concerns, we offer this piece in an attempt to answer questions and concerns that may or may not be founded.

First, the history. In recent years, Centenary has examined the role and impact of the mascot through informal SGA student/faculty forums, alumni surveys and questionnaires, the Campus Diversity Climate Assessment and so on. At the end of the last school year, a Mascot Inquiry Committee was initially formed by SGA to discuss this ongoing issue. The committee was made up of a diverse body of students, faculty, and staff representing many facets of campus life. At the beginning of this academic year, the committee was enlarged to include Marketing, Alumni, Athletics, and Admissions Departments. This group was then commissioned by the President to develop, analyze, and coordinate an inquiry into the mascot issue. This commission has been operating since September.

Second, the process. From the previously mentioned endeavors,

the commission was given a list from students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members of approximately 30-40 suggested mascots to analyze, research, discuss, and oversee. Looking at such factors as perception of mascot idea, personality of mascot idea, impact of mascot idea, uniqueness of mascot idea, extension of campus identity, marketing of mascot idea, and so on, we have reviewed and reduced the initial list to five potential mascots. This proposed list will be voted upon (via online survey) in the upcoming weeks – planned voting to take place the week of November 12th – by current students, faculty, staff, administration, and alumni. We also will invite a few top prospective students (as identified by Admissions) to join in the voting. From this initial voting, if no clear “winner” is chosen, a follow-up run-off voting will occur in the same fashion. The results will then be presented to the President as a final recommendation. Ultimately, the current plan is to unveil the new mascot during Homecoming festivities in February.

Third, the rationale. The search is for a new visible mascot; not to replace the nickname. Students have clearly voiced a desire for a “fun” mascot, one that

Voting on an additional mascot will take place this monthcan be “dressed and entertain” during sports and campus events. The work of the commission is to assist in recommending an additional mascot – rather than replacing – the “Gent.” As it most recently was depicted, the “Gent” was a Southern gentleman bearing the likeness of a male plantation owner. At the very least, this image is not inclusive of Centenary’s female, African-American, Asian-American, or international students, faculty, staff, and alumni. There are concerns that the “Gent” does not represent our entire student/alumni/faculty/staff population and has the potential to offend a substantial population of both current and prospective students.

The addition of a new mascot will hopefully act as a unifying force across campus, not only in gender and ethnicity, but also among groups such as athletes, music students, and Greeks. While conscious of the need to preserve tradition, the commission is aware of the desire of our community members to have a mascot that past, present, and future Centenary students/faculty/staff can rally around and support for the 21st century Centenary College of Louisiana experience.

I can promise you I get almost as excited about a negative response as I do about a positive one, because either way, it means someone is reading the paper and cares enough to comment. With as much work as we put into The Conglomerate on a weekly basis (and the kinds of weather we trudge through in order to learn how to improve it…), that’s always a cause for celebration.

P.S. We also had the privilege of listening to Sam Feist, CNN’s political director, give a keynote address at the convention. He was pretty inspiring, even if I don’t agree with his disapproval of “The Daily Show” - it is real news! They just put a very obviously biased spin on it! They still do a better job of exposing hypocrisy in politics than many major media outlets, though...

If you want a more detailed idea of what we did and who we saw, visit www.studentpress.org/acp.

For a few pictures from our trip to D.C., see page 9, which features Sam Feist and the Washington Monument on the National Mall.

Letter from the Editor, cont. from page 2


College Night has moved!To Pieworks on Pierremont

in Towne Oaks Squarenext to Superior Steakhouse

Every Friday from 5 until close.

get a medium 1 topping pizza for only $5.00, 2 for 1 Wine, Well, and Draft

$4.00 Domestic pitchers, $5.00 Import Pitchers

Riley AdamsStaff Writer

While Warren Buffet hardly seems to be slipping away into retirement at the age of 77, Kathleen Casey-Kirschling filed for Social Security benefits as the first baby boomer of a generation.

As reported by Reuters, in the next 20 years it is expected that over 80 million baby boomer retirees will draw on Social Security and cause what has been dubbed the “silver tsunami” effect on the system.

Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue said at a press conference with Casey-Kirschling, “We are already feeling enormous pressure from baby boomers being in their peak disability years and

now we’re preparing for so many of them to file for retirement.”

The Social Security program’s trustees said that by 2017, Social Security would be paying more in benefits than it receives in taxes and by 2041, the Social Security trust fund is projected to be drained.

Until the next president takes office in January of 2009, little is expected to happen due to President Bush’s recent failed attempt to privatize Social Security.

According to National Public Radio, Kirschling was born just after midnight on January 1, 1946, making her America’s first baby boomer to retire. She will enroll online at a public ceremony and receive her first check in February of 2008.

First baby boomer applies for Social Security benefits Versha Sharma

Editor-in-Chief

Stephen Colbert, most famous for his right-wing pundit TV character on “The Colbert Report” and his former work as correspondent for “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” is running for president.

Comedy Central announced a few weeks ago that he will be running for president in his home state of South Carolina, both as a Republican and a Democrat. Since then, however, that stance has changed to just Democrat – the Republican fee of $35,000 to appear on the ballot was just too high. (According to CNN.com, Democrats require just $2,500 or a minimum of 3,000 signatures.)

Since the announcement, met with amusement by most and criticism by others (for making a

mockery of the political process), Colbert’s legion of fans – known as the Colbert Nation – have mobilized the social networking sites. The Facebook group “1,000,000 Strong for Stephen T. Colbert” grew in membership at exponential rates, soaring over a million and easily besting groups supporting presidential candidates like Barack Obama.

Colbert has already been visibly campaigning (or just garnering publicity) in South Carolina, speaking at a “Rock the Vote” event last Saturday and receiving a key to the city of Columbia from Mayor Bob Coble. The extra exposure of his newly released book doesn’t hurt, either – “I Am America (And So Can You)” is currently sitting pretty at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List, above memoirs from Eric Clapton and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Stephen Colbert runs for President in home state of South Carolina

AMERICAN POLITICS


Sara CarpenterStaff Writer

On Thursday, October 25, Erica Gannon, a Peace Corps recruiter, was in the SUB offering information to students interested in joining the Peace Corps. Travis Reece, a Centenary student going into the Peace Corps, was also there giving advice to fellow students.

The mission statement of the Peace Corps is “To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.”

T h e Peace Corps has been around since March 1, 1961, and currently has 187,000 volunteers who serve in 139 countries. Peace Corps volunteers are diverse in their backgrounds and in the way they help.

Travis Reece commented, “Different talents are needed. You may think you have nothing to offer, but you have everything to offer. Any skill you have can be used.” Travis will be teaching math, science, English, and tap.

There are opportunities to help in education and youth development, health and HIV/AIDS, agriculture, environment, business development, and information technology. There is definitely something for everyone.

Former volunteers can be anyone from senators to CEOs. Reed Hastings, the founder and CEO of Netflix, served in Swaziland from 1983-1985. Senator Christopher Dodd served in the Dominican Republic from 1966-1968. The Peace Corps community is a diverse

one.Volunteers serve for 27

months. Three of those months are spent training and the other 24 are actually on the job. While in the Peace Corps, volunteers are given a living allowance and provided with complete medical and dental care. The cost of transportation to and from the country of service is also provided.

For most people, moving to another country where you do not speak the language is a very scary thing. The Peace Corps tries to

alleviate this as much as p o s s i b l e . There is an office in each c o u n t r y , and staff m e m b e r s v i s i t volunte ers on site.

S a f e t y of the volunte ers is a number

one priority. Gannon did not finish her stint in the Corps because of a coup in the country she was serving. The Corps made sure she was safe and got her out of the country just in case.

The application process should begin about a year prior to the date you would like to join. Volunteers can give a regional preference, but that does not guarantee they will serve there. When asked what advice she had for those thinking about joining, Gannon said, “Do your research. Call recruiters. Talk to volunteers and get the good, the bad, and the ugly.”

Reece contributed, “Start early even if you’re barely thinking about it. Apply anyway. You can always change your mind in the process.”

For more information on the Peace Corps, visit the website at www.peacecorps.gov, call the regional recruitment office at 800-424-8580, or e-mail Erica Gannon, the regional recruiter, at [email protected].

left: Regional recruiter Erica Gannon and future Peace Corps volunteer Travis Reece talked to interested students last week.

above: Gannon speaks with Centenary students about serving in the Corps.

Photos by Mindy McKoin.

Peace Corps recruiter visits Centenary campus

Send us your secrets!

In honor of the newly released Post Secret book A Lifetime of Secrets the Conglomerate will be printing secrets of Centenary students.

In order to particpate take a postcard and tell your secret anonymously. Send the card to campus box number 786 or slip it

under the Conlgomerate Office door on the third floor of the SUB.

Some tips....Be brief - the fewer the words the better

Be legible - use big, clear, and bold letteringBe creative - let the postcard be your canvas

Visit www.postsecret.com for inspiration


Allison CormierStaff Writer

The opinions and ideas expressed by this article do not in any way reflect those of Centenary College, the Conglomerate, or the writer herself. In fact, these ideas probably don’t express any intelligently informed opinions anyway.

Dear Allison,I am in the middle of my third

semester at Centenary College. I still have no idea what I want to do with my life after college. What should I do to find my calling in life?

-Undecided UndergradDear Undecided,No one ever really knows

what they really want to do. Do you find that you are really talented in music? Do you find biology fascinating? Is bowling your forte? Find what you’re good at and what you enjoy doing most. In fact, if you really enjoy your undergraduate life, you can just keep working on that degree for the next ten years.

Dear Allison,There are two guys that I am

really interested in but I don’t know how to choose between the two. I like them both equally but for different reasons. How do I make the best choice?

-Doubtful Debbie Dear Doubtful,I think you should go on

dates with both of these dashing young gentlemen. Getting to know them better individually will help you decide which is better suited for your lifestyle. If you like to shop, take them shopping. If you like foreign films, take them to a French film festival. Do you enjoy protesting with your pro-animal rights friends? Grab your date a “Fur Is Death” sign and count him in. Find which of these guys can adapt to your life more easily. Be sure that you don’t double book a date, however. That could be really embarrassing.

Advice from Allison: Do not

double-book datesAleks KasztalskaFeatures Editor

Conglomerate: Could you introduce yourself to our readers?

Claire: My name is Claire and I come from France. My major is international business.

Congo: Are you here for a year or a semester?

Claire: I’m here for one semester, but I hope to find an internship in the U.S. afterward. If not in the U.S., then maybe in Hong Kong. My last choice would be the U.K, but I hope to stay in the United States. I plan to go to back to France in July.

Congo: Have you been to the United States before?

Claire: No, it’s my first time.

Congo: Are there any customs in France that you were really surprised not to have found in the United States?

Claire: Yes! In France, I kiss all my friends every day just to say “hi.” I don’t have the habit to hug, though. In France, a hug is something more personal; it’s something you do when you’re really close to someone. But you kiss everybody even if you don’t know them that well, so that is really different.

Congo: What has your Centenary experience been like?

Claire: It’s been a really good experience because it’s totally different than in France. I can’t really compare between France and the U.S. because they’re too different. For example, the campus system, student life, relations between people, courses – they’re all quite different.

Congo: Which educational system do you like better?

Claire: I can’t say that I prefer one because there are advantages and disadvantages to each. And I don’t know enough of the American system to make a judgment.

Congo: So, what made you choose Centenary?

Claire: The choice was kind of made for me. It depended on

my grades in France. For example, I chose to come to the U.S. – that was my first choice – but not to Centenary in particular. I chose the U.S. because it is the most important country for trade, which is really important to me, and because I really wanted to improve my English. Also, I wanted to go to another continent.

Congo: Do you travel a lot while in Europe?

Claire: My uncle has a company in Madrid and that’s why he’s there – he’s married to a

Spanish woman, and my cousins are Spanish, too. I don’t travel a lot, but my Spanish family often visits me in France. Spain is my favorite country to travel in Europe. I have a lot of friends there and I often go there for a large part of the summer. It’s expensive, so it’s better to travel there for a longer period of time.

Congo: What has been your greatest challenge at Centenary?

Claire: When you’re in another country, everything is a challenge… But maybe being understood well.

Congo: What do you like the most about Centenary?

Claire: The global environment and the community here. Everybody is very involved in what they do: sports, fraternities, associations - like the Conglomerate. People are really friendly, too.

Congo: What surprised you

the most about the United States and/or Centenary?

Claire: They’re really strict about alcohol and ages here. If you’re under 21, the laws are very strict and the police are everywhere. I’m really surprised! I can’t believe that you have to show your ID everywhere. The legal drinking age in France, I think, is 16, but nobody cares. I’ve never shown my ID to buy anything. But people don’t really abuse that. People in France don’t drink more than in the U.S, so it shows that the rules and the

strictness aren’t that good.Congo: What are some of

your hobbies?Claire: I like to play the piano,

travel, swim, and play water polo. I also love cinema and art.

Congo: What type of art is your favorite?

Claire: Contemporary art. My favorite artist is Antonio Segui.

Congo: What’s your favorite type of food?

Claire: Definitely French food, of course! My favorite dish? Maybe crepes, otherwise snails cooked with butter and garlic, with herbs. And with good wine! It’s the perfect dish.

Congo: If someone made a movie about your life, who would play you and your hot boyfriend?

Claire: To play me, French actress Marion Cotillard. And my boyfriend? It’s hard because there are so many attractive guys… It would be a mixture. First of all, Jude Law because he’s classy and chic. And then Mike Delfino from “Desperate Housewives” because he’s sexy. Then Rafael Nadal, who’s a tennis player, for his muscles. And then Romain Duris for his acting talent.

Congo: Lastly, is there anything you want to say to our readers?

Claire: I guess if you want to know more about me, just ask me! It’s different to read an interview and hide behind the paper, but if you really want to get to know me, you need to talk to me.

Photo by Mindy McKoin.

Meet Claire Auzanne, a business student from France


Todd JohnsonA & E Editor

From November 8-11, Centenary College will play host to the Southwest Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls annual conference.

For those who do not know, the Southwest Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls, or SWACURH, is a regional division of the National Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH). This division consists of schools like the University of Texas, Texas A&M, Centenary College, Louisiana State University, Texas Tech, University of Arkansas, Tulane, and many others.

SWACURH is a student-run organization with the purpose of setting up relations with other colleges around the region and country and sharing ideas, leadership tactics, programming ideas, and anything else that can help make the residence halls on each campus more welcoming and enjoyable for all residents.

“Centenary is the smallest school in the conference and it is a really big deal to host the conference. We are really proud of it,” said SWACURH co-chair Maggie Mahoney.

Every fall, a conference is held in a host school, with Centenary being the host school for this year. The conference is one of three opportunities for the colleges to meet during the year. The other two are No-Frills, a business conference held in January, and the NACURH conference, which is held in May or June.

It is expected that Centenary will host 342 delegates from 23 schools during the weekend of the conference. However, the other schools will not be staying on campus, so do not worry about having to host any visiting students in your rooms.

That means that the college will be containing an influx of

people for the weekend. So don’t be alarmed when you see groups of people wearing non-Centenary gear and screaming goofy spirit chants across the campus. It is only part of the SWACURH experience.

The conference is set to start on Thursday night, with activities taking place in Brown Chapel, Jones-Rice Field, the Fitness Center, Kilpatrick Auditorium, and the Centenary Room, as well as other locations around campus.

The next morning, sessions for the conference will be occurring across the campus in unused classrooms. Do not worry, as all sessions have been designed to coincide with classes and the delegates will be told not to disrupt classes or to make lots of noise within a certain radius of each building.

On Friday night, there will be the Roll Call, which is essentially the big Pep Rally-like event for each school to present cheers, skits, etc. to prove that they have the most school spirit out of all the schools in the region. Stop by and check out the excitement when it happens at 7:00 in the Shell.

Saturday will consist of more events happening in various locations across the campus. This will be the last day that the other schools will be on campus. On Sunday, the other schools will leave for home.

All events have been scheduled to provide the least amount of inconvenience to both students at Centenary as well as visitors to the campus. However, you might have to wait longer in the lines in the Caf, though enough has been done to alleviate traffic in the lines.

If possible, try to welcome the visitors to the campus and make their stay here as enjoyable as it can be.

Ryan ThackerStaff Writer

In some countries around the world, the average family eats on only $2.00 a day. That’s less than the cost of a drink and a bag of chips at Randle’s. The students of Dr. Bieler’s Human Geography class want to do something to help. We want the Centenary community to be aware that there are families around the world that are not as fortunate as we are.

We are teaming up with Heifer Project International to send water buffalos to Ghana, Guatemala, Romania, Rwanda, Brazil, Thailand, and Indonesia. Heifer also has goats, sheep, llamas, heifers, and many other animals available. Heifer Project teaches the families

proper animal management as well as agricultural techniques. Once the families have learned the tricks of the trade, they are able to grow produce for their own nutritional needs, or to sell for money to buy other necessities.

From November 5-16, there will be cash bowls placed in the SUB as well as other places around campus. The windows in the Caf will also have information on the countries we are trying to help. By showing your support of a few dollars, we can help ensure these families have enough to eat.

Heifer International: Ending Hunger, Caring for the Earth

For more information on Heifer International visit www.heifer.org.

SWACURH Conference to be held at Centenary next weekend

Human Geography class saving up for water buffalos

As of Friday, October 26 These Modules have filled: Nicaragua - 1 on the waitlist Spain - 3 on the waitlist Urban Education - 10 on waitlist India - no one on waitlist Gay Politics - no one on waitlist Modules still open: 50 open spots left Mississippi Delta - 3 spots left Hawaii - 9 spots left Ecuador - 5 spots left Paris - 4 spots left Germany - 3 spots left China/Business - 16 spots left China/Education - 10 spots left

These numbers may have changed since Friday, for more information contact Diane Tooke at the 2910 building.

Students camp out in the Student Union Building for coveted spots on the May Module roster.

May

Mod

ule

2008


Jon SchleussStaff Writer

KSCL traveled to New York City for the College Music Journal Music Marathon from October 17 to 21. It’s the best place to hear about current trends from music industry executives. It’s a great way to find emerging artists. It’s a great place for experiencing this never-dying force that is radio. It was a great experience for the students, KSCL, and Centenary. A personal thanks is needed to SGA for making this all possible.

The College Music Journal, CMJ for short, is a charting agency for college, underground, high school, and independent radio stations. The annual festival connects radio staff, music industry professionals, and artists in one city for five days.

KSCL charts records from w e e k l y T o p 2 0 0 , World Beat, Loud Rock, and Electronica music through the CMJ service. And we talk to t h e promoters, record companies, and even the artists of the records we chart each week. The CMJ Music Marathon is the best place to meet all of the industry professionals and amateurs with innovative ideas. We stole some of those ideas.

The majority of talk was about change, because whether you’re on the boat or not, the music industry is changing. CD sales are falling faster than digital sales can climb and piracy is at an all-time high. But college radio stations don’t quite have the money to make the switch.

CMJ 2007 could have effectively been renamed, “Let’s talk about digital technologies, give you the tools and advice, and we’ll cross our fingers.” We learned tons for our future growth. Put up a website that streams. Take digital downloads into the booth. Get out a podcast. Take notes in Google. Put playlists online.

And give listeners the opportunity to give you feedback (they are your number one supporters!). So, that’s what we’re starting.

I want to get internet streaming up and running for next year. Wouldn’t Admissions eat that up? Students bring computers to college, not too many radios. We’re working on how to make the booth more digital. We just took out one turntable, we moved our computer closer to the board, and we are getting emails everyday with the new music only available digitally. It’s good for distribution, timing, and the environment. It just costs money.

We’ve already got a podcast accessible in iTunes. Just search for “kscl” in the bar. You’ll find

exclusives that we’ve collected

and a lot of potential for

g r o w t h . I urge

students , faculty, and

staff to contact me with ideas or projects they

would like to see on our podcast. We want to create a place for exclusive audio stories that involve both Shreveport and Centenary.

We’re collaborating as a staff using Google Calendar and Google Docs, much in the same way that the Web Director and RAs are already doing. We’re doing it with our internal contacts, manuals, and notes. And we just began taking feedback through widgets on our blog at kscl.blogspot.com. We are also working out the kinks for getting every song that’s aired onto our website.

Again, the majority of panels at CMJ were about becoming a digital service and growing as a station in new and innovative ways. KSCL is situated to benefit the college and the community in so many ways. We have a great opportunity, as students, to connect with our community in a very powerful way. The music industry is changing. KSCL is changing. Are you on the bandwagon?

KSCL DJs attend College Music convention in New York City

Above: Students speak on a panel at the College Music Journal Marathon.Photos contributed by Jon Schleuss.

The Conglomerate

thanks

the Provost,

Dr. Darrel Colson

and

SGA

for funding

our trip to the

National College

Media Convention in

Washington, D.C.

We appreciate it!


Outreach and CAB will sponsor the third annual Safe Sex Week next week!

Safe Sex WeekSunday: Knocked Up Movie -- Want to see what happens when you don't use protection? It might not sound like a fun situtation in real life, but the movie turns a bad situation into a hilarious one. Come watch Knocked Up and eat free food! James Lobby, 8pm.

Monday: Sex Carnivale -- come play games, win prizes, get your sexual fortune read, and support your organizations (which are hosting game booths!). Jackson Hall, first floor, 6:30pm-8:30pm.

Tuesday: CAB Coffeehouse & the Banana Split party -- Come listen to music and get yourself a free banana split! Kilpatrick, Time TBA

The Conglomerate goes to WashingtonBelow: Sam Feist, political director of CNN, delivers a keynote address to attendees at the National College Media Convention. Photo by Versha Sharma.Right: The Washington Monument, the most visible landmark on the National Mall. Really looks better in color (sunset!). Photo by Rhagen Russell.

10November 2, 2007 Volume 84, Issue 9

A&E


Big robots beating the hell out of each other. If that sentence sounds stupid or turns you off completely, then “Transformers” might not be the movie for you. If it doesn’t, then the good news is that the movie has finally made it to DVD and is yours to own.

I personally loved the movie. It was a lot of fun and worth seeing on the big screen. For those who managed to miss it on the theatrical run, the movie is about a boy named Sam Witwicky (Shia LeBeouf), who unwittingly holds the key to the location of a cube called the All-Spark, which gives life to inanimate objects. The All-Spark is a device from the planet Cybertron, which is home to robots

that transform into other objects, like cars.

On the planet, there are two factions, the evil Decepticons and the benevolent Autobots. They fight each other for the cube and find

their way to Earth

and eventually Sam. From there on out, it is big robot beatdowns like you have never seen before.

The movie is a lot of fun. It has some legitimately funny moments (i.e. not unintentionally funny). It has insane amounts of action. The last 30-40 minutes of the movie are

one long robot battle. However, the movie also has

some problems. The script is weak, and plot holes and dumb moments abound. Many of the characters (robot or human), save for one or two, have very little character development. It is fairly long at 143 minutes. Plus, the movie also suffers some from SCS (shaky-cam syndrome). There are times when it is very hard to make out the battle scenes.

For those of you who like a little dumb with your action and the idea of watching beautifully-rendered battling robots, this is the movie for you. But is the actual DVD any good?

If you buy the special two-disc edition, then yes. There are lots of special features on the disc (and a geeky cool transforming case if you buy it at Target). The first disc contains the movie, which looks damn good and sounds even better. This movie is the reason to buy surround sound and a big-screen TV. It also contains a commentary by director Michael Bay, who has some interesting things to say about the movie.

The second disc is loaded with documentary extras, divided into three sections. The first section, titled “Our World,” is about the

human characters and the practical stunts behind the movie. The second section, “Their War,” is about the creation of the transformers themselves, from the looks and the voices to the work it took to bring them to the silver screen. The last section is titled “More Than Meets the Eye,” and is any extra material not covered in the previous featurettes.

Overall, the quality of the features is pretty good, and they give you a good idea of the size of the project

and time and effort put into making the film.

Basically, if you are a fan of the movie, then you owe it to yourself to pick up this special edition DVD. It is very well-made and definitely the best version of the movie on the market, outside of HD-DVD.

DVD review: big robots beating the hell out of each other can be great visual fun


The MTV pilot “Cheerleader Camp” is scheduled to shoot in Shreveport beginning next week. On November 5, the show will film for one week, and BAM Casting Louisiana is currently looking for extras who were or are real cheerleaders, male or female, ages 18 and up. For more information, visit www.bamcastingla.com.

A few movies that filmed in Shreveport now have announced release dates. As previously stated, Stephen King’s “The Mist” will be released on November 21. The trailer can now be viewed online. The majority of the film was shot inside StageWorks Louisiana, the soundstage/studio in downtown Shreveport. According to the Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), “The Mist” concerns “a freak storm [that] unleashes a species of blood-thirsty creatures on a small town, where a small band of citizens hole up in a supermarket and fight for their lives.”

“The Great Debaters,” featuring Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker, is slated for release on December 25. The movie was filmed in Mansfield this summer and the Weinstein Company is hoping to generate Oscar buzz. “The Great Debaters” is “a drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College, Texas. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school’s first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship” (imdb.com).

“Mad Money,” featuring Diane Keaton, Katie Holmes, and Queen Latifah, will be released on January 18, 2008. According to imdb.com, the movie is about “three female employees of the Federal Reserve [who] plot to steal money that is about to be destroyed.”

Film industry

local news

11November 2, 2007 Volume 84, Issue 9

It’s not every day that a local gets a record deal, nor is it often that a local is on the BET Hip Hop Awards performing. Hurricane Chris broke those norms and with his debut album, “51/50 Ratchet,” he shows that he is a true rapper and not a gimmick who has an album because of his hit single, “A Bay Bay.”

“51/50 Ratchet” is a great album with good beats and lyrics to match. He has songs that fit into the gangster rap genre, like “New Fashion,” “Do Something,” and “Bang.” Songs like “Touch Me” and “Playas Rock” are clearly for his female fans.

Songs like “Doin’ My Thang,” “Beat in My Trunk,” and “Walk Like That” are club bangers. Hurricane Chris shows his sensitive side on “Momma,” a song dedicated to his mother.

There are limited guest appearances on the album, the most being on the “A Bay Bay” Ratchet Remix, which features The Game, Lil Boosie, E-40, Angie Locc, and Jadakiss. In addition to this song there are appearances by Nicole Wray, Big Poppa, Hollyhood Bay Bay (the inspiration for “A Bay Bay”), and Boxie.

With “51/50 Ratchet,” Hurricane Chris breaks the norm. He actually has a good album and didn’t release only the good songs on his album.

“A Bay Bay” and “The Hand Clap” are good songs, but Hurricane Chris did not fall victim to hit singles. “51/50 Ratchet” is an album that I recommend to people who like rap music.

Samantha GreenStaff Writer

Chrisette Michele’s album “I Am” is brilliantly titled and indicative of the songstress. She has a great and powerful voice. She is a modern version of classic soul singers. She is a great mix of neo soul and R&B. Chrisette Michele is the future.

Chrisette Michele’s voice is a mixture of Chaka Khan and Jill Scott. That is a wonderful and unique combination. Her first single, “If I Have My Way,” is a love song, with a high note that shows her voice is powerful enough to be more than a chorus on Jay-Z’s “Lost Ones.” With the songs “Like a Dream,” “Mr. Radio,” and “Is This the Way Love Feels,” Michelle sings laid-back songs about a man.

With every song, Michele tells a story. She keeps listeners’ attention because they want to know how the story plays out. All of Chrisette Michele’s songs are soothing. Even her up-tempo songs like “Be OK,” featuring Will.I.Am, are relaxing.

With “I Am,” Chrisette Michele delivers an album that calms the listener. If you are stressed out or hyped about a test, Chrisette Michele’s album will relax you. If you want to hear a great love song told by someone who sounds wonderful and as if they are in love, “I Am” is the album for you. Highly recommended.

With her sophomore album, “Ms. Kelly,” Kelly Rowland shows that she is more than Beyoncé’s sidekick. With a good balance of up-tempo and mellow songs, “Ms. Kelly” is a wonderful album that can be listened to when going through any emotion.

The album starts with her first single, “Like This,” featuring Eve. The song is up-tempo and perfectly segues into “Comeback.” Her second single, “Ghetto,” featuring Snoop Dogg, is the third song and the first slow song on the album. Her collaborations with both rappers are good, but it is Rowland’s collaboration with R&B singer Tank on “The Show” that makes that song the best on the album.

Kelly Rowland gets very personal on “Still in Love with My Ex,” which some think is an explanation of her broken engagement to Dallas Cowboy Roy Williams. However, with the songs “Love” and “Better Without You,” Rowland clearly points the finger at the man.

“This is Love” is the final song on the album and it is the perfect ending. After songs about finding love, losing love, placing the blame on the other person, and finally looking within, “This is Love” defines love in its simplest form.

“Ms. Kelly” is an album that shows who Kelly Rowland is now. Gone is the 16-year-old girl we first met and here is the 26-year-old woman we should listen to. “Ms. Kelly” is a wonderful album that can be listened to at any time.

CD reviews:

The best of current rap, hip-hop, R & BHurricane Chris,“51/50 Ratchet”

Kelly Rowland, “Ms. Kelly”Chrisette Michele,

“I Am”

all by Samantha Green, Staff Writer

1�November 2, 2007 Volume 84, Issue 9

Aleks KasztalskaFeatures Editor

If you haven’t heard of Jonathan Coulton yet, I pity you. I pity you and your Coulton-less existence. But I also love you, which is why I want to enlighten you in the way of the mighty Jonathan Coulton.

Let’s start with the basics. Jonathan Coulton is a singer-songwriter and musician with a huge fan following that is largely Internet-based. His lyrics are always witty, sometimes weird, and more often than not, geeky.

You’ve just got to love a guy who sings about mad scientists, computer programmers and DNA.

His music ranges from soft and mellow – even folk – tunes, to upbeat rock themes that will be stuck in your head for much longer than you will want to admit.

Coulton probably falls somewhere between They Might Be Giants and Stephen Lynch on the music continuum: he leans more on the comedy side than TMBG, but tends to be a little tamer than Lynch. At the same time, however, he puts more effort into his music arrangements than Lynch does.

To get a better idea of just how talented this guy is, imagine this: not only does Coulton sing and write all of his songs, but he also plays the piano and the drums, or as he says on his Myspace, “all of it baby.” I assume this also includes the harmonica, banjo, ukulele and accordion that he incorporates into some of his songs.

Are you swooning yet (and it’s okay if you’re a guy; I’m sure Mr. Coulton would be flattered)?

Coulton is perhaps best known for his zombie song, “Re: Your Brains,” and his tribute to every disgruntled office worker, “Code Monkey,” as well as his acoustic, mellow cover of Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back.” Singing about gangs and hoes has never been so sexy.

A self-proclaimed “internet superstar,” Coulton is also a big supporter of the Creative Commons, making all of his works free to listen

to from his website. At least half of the songs are also free to download right off the same web page, and anyone is w e l c o m e to use C o u l t o n’s music in m u s i c v i d e o s , i m a g e c o l l a g e s , a n d w h a t e v e r else you can think of.

T h e artist shares some of his favorite fan works on his personal homepage, but you can find dozens other fan-made videos with his music on YouTube.

Coulton’s amazingness is further displayed in his monumental one-year undertaking called “Thing a Week.” For a whole year, between September 16, 2005, and September 30, 2006, he challenged himself to write and record one song every week – which turned out to be a huge success.

His fan base skyrocketed, his online sales went up, and yes, the 52 songs that were borne out of this rather exhausting process, are of consistently good quality. It’s during this period that Coulton wrote classics like “Code Monkey” and “Re: Your Brains,” which remain some of his best known hits.

Personally, I love “The Future Soon,” a song about unrequited love, robots, and a time in the future when things that makes us “weak and strange” will simply get “engineered away.”

“I Feel Fantastic,” on the other hand, is a satire of how much our society relies on medications to solve all our

problems. It’s “a day in the life of” someone addicted to sleeping pills,

painkillers and ant i -anxie ty drugs, who claims, “All I know is my steak tastes better when I take my steak-tastes-better pill.”

Coulton’s rich repertoire also includes s e l f -e x p l a n a t o r y titles like “Creepy Doll,”

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Subject Labs Magale Library 1A 6:00-9:00pm Biology Monday & Tuesday Economics Monday & Tuesday French Sunday & Monday German Thursday History Sunday & Wednesday Physics Thursday Political Science Sunday & Wednesday Psychology Thursday Religious Studies Monday & Tuesday Spanish Wednesday

Learning and all ARCS services are free to all Centenary Students. If you

have any questions contact Dr. Meg Webber or Dr. Kim VanHoosier-Carey at

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“Womb with a View,” and “I Hate California.”

All I’m going to add is that his cover of Destiny’s Child’s “Bills, Bills, Bills” is insanely cool, and that “First of May” is one of the catchiest dirty songs out there.

To sum up, Jonathan Coulton is a very talented and very funny guy who definitely made the right choice when he left his software writing job to pursue his love for music. You should check out his songs at www.jonathancoulton.com or add him as your Myspace friend at http://www.myspace.com/jonathancoulton.

Come on, let Coulton unleash your inner geek!

Jonathan Coulton, self-proclaimed internet superstar, merits attention



T h e combination of Julie T a y m o r ’ s artistic vision, 30 Beatles songs, and a story set in the 1960s seems almost too good to be true – for any Beatles fan, it certainly w a r r a n t s enough to see a film. T a y m o r ’ s “Across the Universe,” a movie that works more as a series of vignettes set to the most loved of all Fab Four songs with psychedel ic visual effects, is the kind of innovative gem you don’t (can’t, or won’t) usually find in Tinseltown.

Miraculously, however, a month after the film’s initial release, it came to Shreveport – and is still currently running in its third week. The trailers (check www.imdb.com or YouTube) were enough to pull me in, from when they first started running in movie theaters many moons ago – lots of color, lots of action, drama and protest (as any ‘60s era movie even loosely related to the Vietnam War should be), and lots of Beatles. The actual movie follows the same formula – but to call Taymor’s work formulaic would be doing it a disservice.

“Across the Universe” is, above all, a love story between Jude from Liverpool (Jim Sturgess) and the all-American Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood) – yes, most main

characters are named after Beatles songs. Jude travels from the U.K. to

the U.S. to find his estranged father, finds a friend in Lucy’s brother Max instead (Joe Anderson), and starts a bohemian life in New York with Max and a fascinating array of characters – the lonely stray Prudence, the throaty singer Sadie, and her brooding guitarist JoJo.

The film is not perfect. The director’s ambition falls a little flat in some parts – a scene of the aforementioned Prudence wistfully singing “I Want to Hold Your Hand” to a fellow cheerleader unsettled me a bit, if only because it seemed too early on in the film for such dramatics and more like a music video than plot-related. Likewise, Eddie Izzard’s colorful (and cracked out) take on “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite” will entertain some viewers and only make others wish they’d brought along their ‘60s-era drugs. (My personal take: it’s Eddie

Izzard! It works!)Taymor, in many scenes,

interprets Beatles lyrics quite literally and with great skill. She knows when to stop – when Bono, in an incredibly amusing cameo as one Dr. Robert, sings “I Am the Walrus,” the screen certainly turns psychedelic and trippy, but the U2 frontman himself does not turn into an animal. In what is probably the best scene of the movie, however, Max and several other unfortunate young men drafted into the army to fight in Vietnam visibly carry the burden of the Statue of Liberty to the tune of “I Want You (She’s So Heavy).” The film can be undeniably cheesy and melodramatic in parts, but scenes like this, showing young American men resorting to desperate attempts to avoid the draft and then being completely lost in the jungles of Vietnam, are what give the

movie its artistic, historical, and cultural validity.

For all its confusing elements

– again, the movie works more as a series of vignettes or even imaginative music videos than a conventional plot-driven film – the acting is of high caliber. Jim Sturgess plays Jude with inescapably adorable aplomb; many moviegoers will fall in love when he sings “I’ve Just Seen a Face” and many will feel his pain when he has a violent encounter with police at an anti-war protest. Evan Rachel Wood and Joe Anderson turn in similarly compelling performances as a typically dysfunctional American family torn apart by politics, career ambitions, and the war. Dana Fuchs, as Sadie, delivers one of the best musical moments of the movie with a screeching performance of “Helter Skelter.”

Beatles fans will find it hard not to enjoy this movie, if only for the sheer pleasure of singing along with their favorite songs; visual art fans will definitely delight in the avant-garde special effects that Taymor disperses throughout the movie – and the average moviegoer should enjoy the dramatic, oftentimes humorous, and emotional ride. It may seem like a wild concept, not often found in Hollywood, but “Across the Universe” has something entertaining and gripping for everyone.

Movie review: “Across the Universe” is an innovative gem

A Star

Wish Upon

5th Annual Silent Auction bene�tting the

Make-a-Wish Foundation

Hosted by Chi OmegaSaturday, November 3 4-6 p.m. Fitness Center

Tickets $5 at the door. Food Provided.

“Nothing’s gonna change my world...” (except maybe this movie).


Rachel PowellStaff Writer

It’s been ten years since Hanson became a household name with the release of their pop single “MMMBop,” and despite questions like “didn’t they die?” and “are they still making music?” Isaac, Taylor, and Zac Hanson are still rocking out for fans across the United States and beyond.

Hanson disappeared from the music scene for a while thanks to major disputes with their record c o m p a n y : the label w a n t e d catchy radio tunes, but H a n s o n w a n t e d to make real music. After a long s t r u g g l e , H a n s o n broke away from the label and started their own record c o m p a n y , 3CG Records. Since becoming an independent band, Hanson has put out two records and the brothers are making their way across the country on another tour.

The boys have grown up (all three are married, and Isaac and Taylor both have children), and so have their fans. At two concerts this past weekend, teeny-boppers were hard to spot, replaced by women (and men) in their twenties, thirties, and even forties. A crowd of all ages had no trouble singing along to Hanson’s greatly matured music.

A long way from Hanson’s poppy first album, “Middle of Nowhere,” their music these days is catching the serious attention of music critics and constantly showing up on independent Top 40 charts. From rock and roll songs

like “Blue Sky” to love ballads like “Go,” Hanson stays true to the art of music. In a song titled “Been There Before,” Hanson asks, “Does it move you?/Does it soothe you?/Does it fill your heart and soul/with the roots of rock and roll?” The boys have made it clear that music is what they love, and music is what they will keep making.

At both shows I attended, Hanson began with an energetic song called “Great Divide.” The first song on their

new CD, “ T h e W a l k , ” “ G r e a t D i v i d e ” was recorded with a children’s choir in Africa, where Hanson’s eyes were opened to the d e v a s t a t i n g poverty/AIDS crises. The band decided to take action - every dollar spent p u r c h a s i n g

“Great Divide” on iTunes goes to Africa, as well as the proceeds from their red “Great Divide” t-shirt.

What’s more, Hanson has teamed up with a company called TOMS Shoes. For every pair of shoes sold, TOMS donates a pair of shoes to a child in Africa (www.tomsshoes.com). Hanson set a goal of selling 50,000 pairs during this tour, allowing them to personally deliver 50,000 more pairs in Africa at the end of this year. Before each show on The Walk tour, Hanson walks a mile barefoot with their fans to raise awareness and reveal what a difference a pair of

shoes can make. So far, they have walked over 25 miles.

Though they may miss the tremendous fame they once had, Hanson’s becoming an independent band has been a blessing for the fans. Between playing more intimate venues like the House of Blues and being able to walk a mile with fans, in addition to having records released more quickly without the hassle of major record companies, Hanson is able to deliver good old rock and roll from the heart. Still don’t believe me? Pick up a copy of

their new CD, “The Walk” (available at www.hanson.net), and get ready to be surprised.

Ten years after “MMMBop,” Hanson is going strong (and doing charity along the way)

Above right: The Hanson brothers walk barefoot to raise awareness for less privileged children in Africa.

Left: Taylor Hanson talks to fans accompanying the band on the walk, explaining their chosen charity purpose.

Below: Hanson with their band members after a show.

All photos by Emily DeLatin.



I love a good gangster film. Whether they are based on true stories or not, I can usually find them very entertaining. The most recent entry into this genre is “American Gangster.”

This movie is almost like a gift from the movie gods. We have Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe starring, along with lots of recognizable faces scattered throughout the film, and Ridley Scott directing (he made “Gladiator” for those who don’t know, along with many other classic films). Plus, the script was written by Steve Zaillian, who wrote “Schindler’s List.” So there was no way this movie could be bad. The only question was if the movie is as good as promised. So is it?

To this reviewer, the answer is simply yes.

The movie is about Frank Lucas (Washington), who rises to power in Harlem during the 1960’s and 70’s after the leading crime boss there dies by selling drugs straight from Vietnam. His drugs are purer and cheaper than the ones being sold, so Frank almost instantly becomes the most powerful crime figure in New York.

However, Richie Roberts (Crowe) is one of the few honest cops left in New York (he once turned in a million dollars in unmarked cash). He is put in charge of a drug task force based in New Jersey and immediately starts to crack down on drugs in the city, which puts him on the trail of Frank. The movie, from there on out, is essentially the story of how Frank Lucas is brought down from power.

I am going to state the obvious.

The two main performances are amazing. But I did not expect anything less from Crowe and Washington, as they are two of the best actors alive. However, the supporting cast offered some major surprises. Cuba Gooding Jr. finally makes a return to form in a very small role as Nicky Barnes, another Harlem crime boss. However, the real scene stealer is Josh Brolin, who plays an extremely nasty, corrupt cop who gives both Lucas and Roberts hell throughout the entire movie. He manages to steal the thunder from both Crowe and Washington on occasion, which is really saying something.

The movie is also incredibly beautiful, in a grimy and filthy kind of way. It feels like the filmmakers stepped back in time and started shooting on the spot. This movie is that convincing of the time period.

I can’t really think of any

problems with the movie itself, although I would be curious about what a director like Martin Scorsese would have done with this film. It is very similar to other gangster films, as it basically tells the same story, but it is still told very well.

The movie moves along at a good clip and never gets boring. The characters are all very interesting and well-developed. To be honest, the only complaint I had was that, even at two hours and thirty minutes, the movie still felt like it was too short and could have been longer. I don’t say that often, but in this case it was true.

In a nutshell, “American Gangster” is definitely one of my favorite movies of this year. I would not be surprised to see it up for several awards this year. This is a must-see for fans of Washington, Crowe, Scott, or just good movies in general.

Jenni LoerTheatre Correspondent

The year is 2024. Remnants of war drape the stage. The sturdy industrial set, with its sharp angles, protrudes into the seats, casting the audience as the Lords of Thebes.

Courtney Gaston, a senior, directs “Antigone” as post-World War III at Marjorie Lyons Playhouse for this season’s student production. The towering steel set is designed by Nic Gadpaille, the costumes by sophomore Marissa Brown, the sound by sophomore Savannah Baggerly, and Steve Scarlato acts as technical director for the production.

In an unusual approach to directing Sophocles’ Greek classic, the chorus takes on the lead role of the production. Karen Massey, Emily Mwakitawa, and Nate Wasson have been experimenting with movement and voice since early September, before the characters of the cast began rehearsals. Moving as embodiments of their own words

and those of the other characters, the chorus is the force behind the actors, manipulating them almost as a puppet master would. Although the chorus acts as one entity, each member has a distinct voice and characteristics, making their role that much more powerful.

Contrasting the creeping chorus, the characters appear statuesque, holding faithfully to their convictions that provoke the action of the play. The inner turmoil of the title character, Antigone, played by Lorna S. Dopson, attacks the edict of the king. The struggle between divine and political power in the script is reflected in the tension of the cast. Adam Boyd breaks from his usual comedic role to play Creon. He is politically defensive as he attempts to justify his kingship and reiterate his power by holding steadfast to his edict with unyielding pride, despite the ominous warnings of prophecies. Jacob Bates plays the blind prophet Teiresias while Genevieve Fontenot takes on the messenger, both

bearers of bad news, the brunt of which is received by Eurydice, played by Rachel Havird. Leah Tennyson as Ismene and Cameron Bradford as Haemon both practice familial disloyalty. Despite the cast’s fearfulness of Creon’s edict, each character eventually finds the strength to denounce his power, allowing the marriage of loyalty and justice to trump pride and tyranny.

To fully appreciate the dialogue-driven script, the story leading up to the tragedy should be familiar. The main action revolves around the deaths of two brothers of Antigone, one, Eteocles, who was loyal to Thebes, and the other, Polyneices, who fought in opposition, dying as a traitor despite his fight for his rightful place on the throne as the oldest son. Creon, uncle to Antigone, takes the throne as the closest of kin to the deceased royalty with his son Haemon, who is engaged to Antigone, next in line. Antigone’s fate is sealed long before the drama commences by the unfortunate marriage of her

parents, Oedipus and Jocasta, who unwittingly married each other as mother and son. The tragedy focuses on the conflict between the rule of the gods and that of the government and the moral dilemma encountered by the people who are affected by these contrasting laws. Fate plays an imperative role in the Greek tragedy as Antigone comes to grips with the consequences of her actions.

“Antigone” opens at Centenary College’s Marjorie Lyons Playhouse on Thursday, November 8, at 8 p.m. There will be shows on November 9 and 10 at 8 p.m. and November 11 at 2 p.m., and a special preview performance on Wednesday, November 7, at 7 p.m. All performances are assigned seating, except for the preview performance, which is general seating. Tickets are free for Centenary students. Please call the Box Office at (318) 869-5242 for ticket reservations.

“Antigone” takes the stage at Marjorie Lyons Playhouse

Movie review: “American Gangster” is a gift from the movie gods


SportsMichael JarboeSports Editor

The Dallas Mavericks lost badly. Really badly. As the Golden State Warriors came into the postseason to face NBA’s best team in basketball, they had nothing to worry about when it came to losing. In five games, the Dallas Mavericks’ prolific season had been crushed by a young Warrior squad.

League MVP Dirk Nowitzki, who struggled against Golden State in the postseason, led the Mavericks in scoring and rebounding during the regular season, while Jason Terry, who posted about 16 points per game, dished out a team-best 5.2 assists

Dallas Mavericks season looks bright after initial heartbreak

per game. This year’s fab five

(Nowitzki, Terry, Howard, Harris, and Diop) will be more on its toes than ever, working to have another 50+-game winning record as the postseason approaches. Already this year, the Mavericks have pulled a decent 5-3 pre-season record, winning big games over rivals San Antonio and Sacramento.

Nowitzki needs to put the pains of his playoff performances this last season behind him, and get back to playing his game. The Mavericks were stunned against Golden State, but Coach Avery

Johnson will get the team back on track and have them winning games consistently once again. As for the playoffs, a journey back to the finals is a possibility if the postseason matchups are right and the entire team is on its game, every game.

Karyn GehrlsStaff Writer

This year’s Mudbugs hockey team promises outstanding things. The departure of former captain and leading player (in both points and penalty minutes) Dan Wildfong was a big blow to the team’s morale. Things were looking somewhat up for the Mudbugs at their opening game on Saturday, November 20, against the Texas Brahmas. What most of the fans were not expecting was who the Brahmas coach was: Dan Wildfong (yes, the Dan Wild-fong mentioned before). Not only is he now coaching the Texas Brah-mas, he has recruited Craig Menard

(also a former Mudbug) and former Mudbug goalie David Cacciola to play for the team.

Losing some of the best and most hardcore players did not stop the Mudbugs from fighting hard in their first home game of the season, however. Before the first frame was even over, a pair of former Mud-bugs, Blair Manning and Scott Sheppard, had a love connection to score the first point for the Brah-mas only 33 seconds into the game. Only 2:06 later, Captain Chris Bras-sard, with assistance from Elias Go-doy and Darryl Lloyd, made his first of three goals of the night. Coming out strong after the first frame, the Bugs were playing a decent game,

with a 2-1 lead after Brassard scored yet another goal.

At the beginning of the second period, Texas struck back, tying the game at 6:33. Brassard countered the score with another goal nine minutes into the frame, making the score 3-2 40 minutes into the game.

Leading into the third period, the Brahmas brought their A-game and scored three consecutive goals to take a 5-3 lead over the Bugs. Ken Carroll was pulled from the net and replaced by John DeCaro to finish the game. The Mudbugs scored another goal, this one by Joe Ori, to make the score 5-4. Cacciola would not let any more shots in af-

Bossier/Shreveport Mudbugs open the season with a few changester that and sealed the win for Tex-as. The Texas Brahmas dominated the Mudbugs 5-4.

It was not all sad, however. Quade Lightbody got into the first home game fight of the season, no gloves and all, and was placed in the penalty box for a five minute major penalty for fighting.

Friday, November 2, the Bugs will play their second game with the Mississippi RiverKings before their first trip to Texas to play the Brah-mas again on Saturday night. The Bugs are still looking for their first win of the season.

Friday, November 2ndTennis(M)ULL TournamentLafayette, LA

Swimming (W)at Hendrix ClassicConway, AR

Swimming (M)Hendrix College Conway, AR

Soccer (W)Western IllinoisShreveport, LA

VolleyballIPFWFort Wayne, IN


Michael JarboeSports Editor

You always see them. Sometimes they don’t want to be seen. Other times, you can’t help but stop and stare at what the hell they’re doing.

The Centenary College swimmers are truly a blessing to this campus. I know what some of you kids are thinking: “Say what, Jarboe? Those swimmers are nuisances to this college and an embarrassment to us and everything we stand for. All they do is eat, swim, eat some more, and run around in Speedos on Jones-Rice Field for hours on end.” To those of you who think that, I say horseradish! These 40 or so individuals that bear the name swimmer are not only good students, but the backbone of the spirit community. Ever been to a gymnastics tournament? The swimmers have. All of them. Painted from head to toe, rooting for pretty much any move any of them make. Made it out to a soccer game this season? The swimmers have. Lining the fence, screaming profanities at the players (especially girl soccer players that have strayed from the pack). They even have a crazy freshman that brings bagpipes to the game and plays them on every goal. Take that, Irish immigrants! Joined an organization recently? The swimmers have. Almost all the swimmers on campus are involved in some other organization outside of swimming that takes up more time of their busy schedule.

The Swimmer Nation is on the prowl. Slowly, day by day, more and more students on campus want to become more like the swimmers. From the way they act, make decisions, and even the clothes they choose not to wear. Wait! Is that Ben Crismon in a.... oh God. It begins.

Jarboe Jabber:Swimmer nation takes over campus

Ryan ThackerStaff Writer

Full Name: Breanne Marie FletcherClassification: SeniorHometown: I’m a military brat, but I claim Schertz (San Antonio), TX Major: BiologySport: SoccerPosition(s): Outside Midfield and Forward

Why did you choose to come to Centenary? The great biology department first interested me and then I couldn’t turn down the op-portunity to play Division One!

How long have you been playing? As long as I can re-member. I think I was four.

What was the best part of this

season? The team. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls or coaches to be with as I finish my playing years. They definitely know how to work hard and have fun while doing it! I know they will all continue to succeed! Ladies, try not to miss me too much. Haha. But seriously, I’ll never forget y’all!

How do you feel about your senior season coming to an end? It’s bittersweet. I have really enjoyed playing and it has been a fun senior year, but I am also anxious to move forward with my life and career.

What has been your greatest accomplishment? Playing three sports in the same year (soccer, swimming, and softball) and going to conference for all three.

What are your plans after graduation? I am attending grad-uate school (hopefully the Uni-versity of Alberta) to receive my Master’s in Public Health with a focus in Epidemiology, so I’ll be involved in fun research to promote community health.

Athlete of the Week: Soccer player talks about her senior season

photo compliments of GoCentenary.com

Allison McClainStaff Writer

It’s been a while now since I have written—two weeks, in fact. A lot has been going on since that time, though it is like a blur that I can’t seem to escape. Now, since we are done playing and all, individual practices have begun and community service marks the beginning of the fall off-season for our softball team. We spent our first Monday of individuals volunteering our time at the Northwest Louisiana Food Bank. There, we helped by taking merchandise tags off of school uniforms and painted ceramic bowls that will be sold as a fundraiser for the food bank. Every year, our team volunteers our time to help a variety of non-profit organizations around the city to provide bonding between the Shreveport community and Centenary softball.

Over the past week or so, we have begun individual practices where we focus on particulars of the game. With that, we now have time

to catch up on schoolwork, sleep, and other jobs that might come our way. It is much needed after such an intense and long fall season. Our softball life has slowed a bit—but we never stop.

Besides the school stuff, I just wanted to note that I have never been so excited to watch Major League Baseball. It’s that time of the year when the best two teams are left to battle it out for a World Series title. Though, I must admit, I am a little biased as I sit in my room staring at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, hanging on my wall.

Every night, I have to beg my roommate, Ryan, to watch just a few hours of the last games of the season. I believe I have finally got her hooked. Red Sox vs. Rockies. It is hard to find people around here that actually like baseball, and with that, a team from Boston who sports the red and white and plays in the greatest ballpark in baseball. Their green monster wall and their wild fans simply provide the best atmosphere out there for any sports

fan. Ever seen the movie Fever Pitch? If so, you know why I’m such a fan of the team.

Whether they win it or not, a true fan is one who supports them until the very end. And I am that fan. You will see a blue hat and a red B on my head no matter what happens. Ortiz, Manny, Pedroia, Lowell, Varitek, Youkilis, Beckett, Papelbon, Drew, Crisp, Dice-K, Okajima, Schilling, Ellsbury, and Lugo. There is only one team in baseball with this talent - the Boston Red Sox.

“I come to play everyday.” –

David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox

The Conglomerate presents: The life of a student athlete

photo compliments of GoCentenary.com


Crossword Puzzle:On the Silver Screen

Horoscopes

Scorpio (10/23-11/22) Its time, cut all your hair off, give your clothes to salvation army, and go on that long road trip you’ve been putting off for years.

Sagittarius (11/23-12/21) The proper way to solve all of your problems at the moment is to buy volley ball and hide underneath your bed telling it all your secrets

Capricorn (12/22 –1/20) Stop pretending you really know what you’re talking about. Aquarius (1/21-2/19) Print off all the pictures from facebook of the

guy/girl next to you in your first class monday; paste them on your notebook. The results are amaz-ing, and it will make your Monday slightly more enjoyable.

Pisces (2/20-3/20) The key to your own happiness is making sure someone is more miserable than you.

Aries (3/21-4/20) I know you think that everyone cares about how much sleep you got last night, but they really just want to punch you in the face.

Taurus (4/21-5/21) I would keep a careful eye on your car this week.

Gemini (5/22-6/21) If life was re-ally fair then I would be sleeping

right now instead of writing your horoscope, get over it.

Cancer (6/22-7/23) Bitterness is your middle name, people would like you better if it was Sunshine or Free Pizza

Leo (7/24-8/23) Its time you real-ize that you have lost the privilege to pick your own theme song. Why? Because Venus and Mars are aligned in the shadow of Jupiter’s third moon.

Virgo (8/24 –9/23) Call Mommy.

Libra (9/24-10/22) I doubt that what you think is true is really the truth unless you are skeptical of its being true, then I think its really true. Understand?

ACROSS1. John _______; now starring in new movie “Martian Child”3.“The Nightmare Before __________”5. “Across the _________”6. “The Assasination of ______ ______ by the Coward Robert Ford”7. Stars in the upcoming film “The Darjeeling Limited” with 10 Down and Jason Swartzmann.11. _______ Redford15. New Denzel Washington film18. Philip ________ Hoffman19. Number of “Saw” movies20. Steve Carrell Film “______ in Real Life” DOWN1. Star of “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”2. Director of new film “Why Did I Get Married” and earlier flick “Madea’s Family Reunion”4. Stars in “We Own the Nights with 9 Down8. Vince Vaughn holiday film about St. Nick’s brother9. Stars in “We Own the Night” with 4 Down10. Stars in the upcoming film “The Darjeeling Limited” with 7 Across and Jason Swartzmann.12. New George Clooney flick13. Comedy poking fun at sports movies14. Comedian starring in “The Bee Movie”16. Latest Amanda Bynes flick17. “Good Luck ______”


A Day with Christ by Chris Christ

�0November 2, 2007 Volume 84, Issue 9

Up ‘til Dawn Letter Writing Campaign

Friday, November 92-5 p.m.

Fitness Center

4,700 patients are treated yearly at St. Jude Research Hospital. No patient is turned away, so we need your help in order to continue treating patients at St. Jude.

For more information contact [email protected]

Aleks KasztalskaFeatures Editor

This has been a good week for weird news. I’m really excited about the articles I’m going to present to you, as I had a lot of fun writing them. More than I usually do, at least.

It’s probably for this reason that (some of ) the articles turned out a little longer than usual. So, instead of four stories, there are three… I hope that it’s okay.

If it isn’t, just let me know and I’ll find a way to punish myself. Like I said, anything for my dear readers.

1) Wife: I want a divorce.Husband: Great! I heard

Divorce Expo is this weekend.Wife: O RLY??Husband: Yes! Let’s take the

kids out Saturday and wander around!

Wife: Sounds like a plan! I’ll meet you there. I’ve packed your stuff since you’ll have to find another place to stay from now on. You can grab some granola bars on your way out. Oh, and I’m taking the Chevy.

…But in all seriousness, the Vienna Divorce Expo was held at the end of October. The first event of this kind in the entire world, the Expo was organized by Baraz Mediagroup, a company which specializes in wedding planning.

Its motto being “Start Your Life Anew,” the Expo was intended to make divorce a slightly less stressful experience for unhappy couples. Thus, the exhibitors hailed from such diverse backgrounds as realty agencies, law offices, marriage counseling firms, DNA analysis labs, and even detective agencies.

Austrian visitors could also attend seminars and workshops on topics ranging from negative effects of divorce on kids to successful conflict resolution during a divorce.

Hopefully, some of the couples who attended the Expo will find that it was a bonding experience and will give their relationship another shot.

But not too many. You have

to think about the exhibitors - those divorce lawyers and private detectives have to make a living somehow.

2) This will just go to show what a nerd I am, but the following story is my favorite this week.

The German magazine “Kulturaustausch” (“Cultural Exchange”) has recently announced the winner of its contest: “yakamoz.”

The contest? Finding the most beautiful word in the world. The winner? The Turkish word for the reflection of the moon in the water.

The magazine jury, which evaluated around 2,500 words sent from 58 countries, took into consideration the candidates’ originality, cultural meaning and reason given for submitting each word in particular.

“Kulturaustausch” emphasized that the main purpose of the contest was to promote the study of foreign languages and to bring its readers’ attention to the richness of the world’s tongues and cultures.

The two subsequent runners-up were the Chinese word “hu lu” (to snore) and “volongoto,” which stands for disarray in the south African language Luganda.

And just because I’m Polish, let it be known that Polish was represented by the word “filiżanka” (pron. fee-lee-ZHAN-ka, with the “zh” sound resembling the French “j” in “juin”), meaning a tea or coffee cup.

Some of MY favorite words are the English “leeches” (especially when yelled by Meryl Streep in “A Series of Unfortunate Events”), “cookie-dough” (shut up, the dash makes it one word!), the Polish “zajzajer” (explaining its meaning would take almost as much time as writing down the pronunciation) and the German “Kakelake,” for

cockroach.3) You might not agree that

lying does not pay off, but you’ll have to admit that telling the truth does turn out to be a very profitable habit.

Columbian television recently launched a new hit game show: “Nothing But the Truth.” The premise was simple: answer 21 increasingly private questions while being hooked up to a lie detector to win up to $50,000.

Rosa Maria Solano thus won $25,000 in what would be the show’s last episode before it got cancelled, despite high ratings. For, to get her juicy prize, Solano confessed to hiring a hit man to kill her husband.

The said episode aired on October 2 and stirred controversy over the show, which had already been under a lot of criticism, after some of its contestants admitted to drug smuggling and prostitution (among other things).

Of course, the U.S. version of the program, “Moment of the Truth,” is already on its way, to premiere in the next few months on the Fox network. Other spin-offs are planned in England, Spain, Australia, and in other countries with a poor definition of entertainment.

Oh, and like you care, Solano’s husband got tipped off in time and left his wife, alive and well. Like you care.

Sud

oku

Strange but true news: Divorce Expos and spousal assassination

issue 9 nov 2

Business

costume contest

basketball season

halloween hoopla emcees

basketball teams

dunk contest trophy

chief basketball competitions

centenary alumni

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