A s you pass by a frosted shop window full of Christmas décor in the coming weeks, you may catch a glimpse past the glitter and plastic trees to the pitiable, overworked, and often underappreciated sales people that slave away this “most wonderful time” of year. From screeching children tearing apart meticulously festooned displays to irate customers brandishing expired coupons, the holidays in the world of retail can be hell. At times, service with a smile is about as easy as getting all that glitter that mysteriously appears when December hits out of the store carpet. Even through stark rudeness, impossible requests, and unreal characters, retail workers have to try to keep the age-old lie of “the customer is always right” in mind. There is a blanket of crazy that descends upon many shoppers around the holidays, one that insists they must find the perfect gift for everyone. Should the occasion occur that the perfect gift is no longer in stock? Take cover. “I had a customer throw a book at me,” says Marissa Murr who at the time was working at B. Dalton in Glenbrook Mall. “She asked me for a self-improvement book. We didn’t have it so she proceeded to freak out.” If a store is unfortunate enough to be equipped with a public restroom, the employees get to deal with an entirely new set of problems. Often, the restroom floors resemble a murder scene of paper towels, toilet paper, and seat covers. But rightly so. At the holidays, people no longer have time to flush, no time to wipe off the seat, hardly time to splash water on their hands when finished—the need to shop trumps all! Whether it is parents leaving their offspring in the children’s section expecting employees to babysit, or having to ring up a drool-soaked toy as the little one shrieks like a banshee, or catching young people using the famous “five finger discount,” let us not forget that boys and girls can be especially dear during the joyous holiday season. Who does not love the sound of Christmas songs being played merrily over the PA system? The employees who are on round 47 of the Josh Groban Christmas CD, that’s who. No matter the majesty of the voice, the dandy jingle bell feel, or even the instrumental prowess of a world renown orchestra, hearing the same holiday tunes since the first of November will have anyone wishing they could shove tinsel so far in their ears it comes out their nose. Being banished to stand behind a register during a seasonal rush can be worst of all. Not only are many of the customers carrying some kind of virus, but money itself is filthy. Even with disgustingly large amounts of hand sanitizer behind the counter, it is a true Christmas miracle not to catch the flu after processing hundreds of people who sneeze and hack into their hands just before handing over their cash. So next time you go to a store between now and January, keep in mind that a person is standing behind that register, the customer service desk, or next to that shelf. Be nice, shoot them a smile, and practice some patience. In the world gone mad that is retail at the holidays, a gesture of kindness might be enough to shield them a little from the onslaught of psychosis. Vol. 41 Issue 14 Read the story of one IPFW student who is homeless this holiday but not hopeless. Wednesday, December 8, 2010 www.ipfwcommunicator.org PAGE 5 ► Christmas Season Brings Out Zombie-like Shoppers and Workers WORKING DEAD THE
Transcript
As you pass by a frosted shop window full of Christmas décor in the coming weeks, you may catch a glimpse past the glitter and plastic trees to the pitiable, overworked, and often underappreciated sales
people that slave away this “most wonderful time” of year. From screeching children tearing apart meticulously festooned displays to irate customers brandishing expired coupons, the holidays in the world of retail can be hell.
At times, service with a smile is about as easy as getting all that glitter that mysteriously appears when December hits out of the store carpet. Even through stark rudeness, impossible requests, and unreal characters, retail workers have to try to keep the age-old lie of “the customer is always right” in mind.
There is a blanket of crazy that descends upon many shoppers around the holidays, one that insists they must find the perfect gift for everyone. Should the occasion occur that the perfect gift is no longer in stock? Take cover.
“I had a customer throw a book at me,” says Marissa Murr who at the time was working at B. Dalton in Glenbrook Mall. “She asked me for a self-improvement book. We didn’t have it so she proceeded to freak out.”
If a store is unfortunate enough to be equipped with a public restroom, the employees get to deal with an entirely new set of problems. Often, the restroom floors resemble a murder scene of paper towels, toilet paper, and seat
covers. But rightly so. At the holidays, people no longer have time to flush, no time to wipe off the seat, hardly time to splash water on their hands when finished—the need to shop trumps all!
Whether it is parents leaving their offspring in the children’s section expecting employees to babysit, or having to ring up a drool-soaked toy as the little one
shrieks like a banshee, or catching young people using the famous “five finger discount,” let us not forget that
boys and girls can be especially dear during the joyous holiday season.
Who does not love the sound of Christmas songs being played merrily over the PA system? The employees who are
on round 47 of the Josh Groban Christmas CD, that’s who. No matter the majesty of the voice, the dandy jingle bell feel, or even the instrumental prowess of a world renown orchestra, hearing the same holiday tunes since the first of November will have anyone wishing they could shove tinsel so far in their ears it comes out their nose.
Being banished to stand behind a register during a seasonal rush can be worst of all. Not only are many of the customers carrying some kind of virus, but money itself is filthy. Even with disgustingly large amounts of hand sanitizer behind the
counter, it is a true Christmas miracle not to catch the flu after processing hundreds of people who sneeze and hack
into their hands just before handing over their cash.So next time you go to a store between now and
January, keep in mind that a person is standing behind that register, the customer service desk, or next to that shelf. Be nice, shoot them a smile, and practice some
patience. In the world gone mad that is retail at the holidays, a gesture of kindness might be enough to shield them a little from the onslaught of psychosis.
Vol. 41Issue 14
Read the story of one IPFW student who is homeless this holiday but not hopeless.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
www.ipfwcommunicator.org
PAGE 5 ►
Christmas Season Brings Out Zombie-like Shoppers and WorkersWORKING DEAD
THE
The Communicator | December 8, 2010
news2www.ipfwcommunicator.org
EVENTSChristmas at the ConservatoryDec. 8-Jan. 2. Tuesday-Saturdays, 10am-5pm; Thursdays, 10am-8pm; Sundays, Noon-4pm. Closed Mondays, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. $5 adults; $3 ages 3-17; Free for children age 2 and under. Froellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory, 1100 S Calhoun Street; 427-6024.
Fantasy of LightsDec. 8-31. Sundays-Thursdays, 6-9pm & Fridays-Saturdays, 6-10pm. View a holiday-themed light display at Franke Park by car or carriage ride. $5 per car. 456-2971 ext. 5874.
Festival of Gingerbread at the History CenterDec. 8-12. Wednesday-Thursday, 9am-5pm; Friday, 9am-8pm; Saturday, 9am-5pm; & Sunday, Noon-5pm. $5 adults; $3 seniors and students; Free for children age 5 and under as well as History Center members. For more information, visit www.fwhistorycenter.com. 302 E Berry Street; 426-2882.
Holiday Houses for HabitatDec. 8-23. Monday-Thursday, 4pm-8pm; Friday-Sunday, Noon-5pm. Free admission. For information or to donate online, visit www.holidayhousesforhabitat.com. Grand Wayne Convention Center, 120 West Jefferson Boulevard; 426-4100.
Skating at Headwaters Park Ice RinkNORMAL HOURS: Monday-Thursday, 1-8pm; Friday, Noon-10pm; Saturday, 11am-10pm; Sunday, 11am-8pm. EXTENDED HOLIDAY HOURS: Dec. 18-Jan. 2. Monday-Friday, Noon-10pm; Saturday, 10am-10pm; Sunday, 11am-10pm. $5, ages 14 and over; $3 ages 13 and under; $2 skate rental. 110 West Berry Street; 425-5745.
The Christmas SpiritDec. 10-12 & 17-19. Fridays-Saturdays, 7pm & Sundays, 2pm. Written by Nancy Kierspe Carlson and directed by Thom Hofrichter. Eve Cashman is losing her mind after she is tricked into directing her church’s Christmas Pageant. Full of wonderful music and perhaps all-too-recognizable church characters, this play will help you find your own Christmas Spirit. First Presbyterian Church, 300 W Wayne Street.
Christ Child FestivalFriday, Dec. 10, 6-9pm; Saturday, Dec. 11, 12-8pm; and Sunday, Dec. 12, 12-8pm., Free admission. Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Avenue; 483-1111.
German Christmas ShowFriday, Dec. 10; 5pm dinner, 7pm show. Dinner and live music. $20 for show, $30 for dinner and show. Fort Wayne Sport Club, 3102 Ardmore Avenue; 244-6964.
Home for the Holidays at Parkview FieldSaturdays, Dec. 11, 18, 5-7pm. Free admission. Bring $$ for holiday snacks and/or hot beverages. For information visit www.tincaps.com; 482- 6400.
A (Red) Christmas with Homeless J Friday, Dec. 17, 10pm-2am. Join us for the night to raise money for anti-retroviral medications in the fight against HIV. Dance performances, a fashion show, and a live concert from Homeless J to raise money and awareness for AIDS in Africa. Columbia Street West, 135 West Columbia Street; 422-5055
Holiday Monday Luncheon, “Happy Hollydays” Monday, Dec. 20, 11:30am. $4 per person. Come to our annual Holiday Luncheon and join in the holiday fun! Reservation deadline Dec. 16. Make your reservations at the Community Center (233 West Main Street), or call 427-6460.
Piere’s New Year’s Eve BashFriday, Dec. 31, 7pm. $25. Toast with champagne, enjoy our breakfast buffet, collect party favors, and enjoy a live concert with Down Stroke. 5629 Saint Joe Road; 486-1979.
Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana Masquerade BallFriday, Dec. 31, 9pm-2am. $35 advance tickets, $40 day of event. Join us for our masquerade ball with prizes awarded for the best mask and enjoy a night filled with music and dancing, hors d’oeurvres, a cash bar, casino games, fireworks and much more. For more information, visit www.ylni.org. Parkview Field, 1301 Ewing Street; 482-6400.
DANCESHoliday Candy Cane Ballroom Dance Saturday, Dec. 11, 7:15-11pm. Open dance; singles are welcome. IPFW Student Union Ballroom; 494-3185.
Dances of Universal PeaceSaturdays, Dec. 18, Jan. 8 & Feb. 12. 7-9:30 pm. Dance to promote peace and join us for prayer and meditation; $7. Fort Wayne Dance Collective, 437 E Berry St # 3; 424-6574.
Viva La New Year!Friday, Dec. 31, 8:30pm-12:30am. Beginner and intermediate dance lessons, champagne toast, hors d’oeuvres, mini-seminars and activities, $50. Arthur Murray Dance Studio, 3824 East State Boulevard; 483-1139.
DISCUSSIONSDisease ProofSunday, December 12, 10am. Have a healthy holiday season; join us to discuss ways to be mindful of your health as we approach the year’s end. Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, 5310 Old Mill Road; 744-1867.
An Atheist Vision of Morality & CharacterSunday, December 12, 10am. Mike Butler of Freethought Fort Wayne leads an open forum. Unitarian Universalist Meeting House.
What Really Happened at the First Christmas & WhereSunday, December 19, 10am. Please join us to hear John Moore as he leads this enlightening and intriguing forum. Unitarian Universalist Meeting House.
This Christmas Card Was Written 500 Years Before Christmas.This Christmas Card Was Written 500 Years Before Christmas.
* Micah 5:2
About 500 years before Jesus’ birth, the prophet Micah wrote that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.* Right where Jesus was born. You know the Christmas carol, “Oh, little town of Bethlehem…”And do you know who knew of Micah’s prophecy? All the religious leaders who advised King Herod. We’re told that when Jesus was born, some wise men from the East went to King Herod in Jerusalem. They asked Herod where the Messiah was born, “For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” Herod didn’t know. So he gathered all the chief priests and scribes and asked them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet…”
The Old Testament frequently pointed to a coming Messiah. There are over a hundred such prophecies that describe who this Messiah would be and what he would do. Like a prophetic Global Positioning Satellite pointing out the Messiah, the Christ. The amazing thing is that Jesus fulfilled every one of them. Before the end of the first century countless Jews and Gentiles in the Middle East put their faith in Jesus. This Christmas is a good time for you to look at the life and teachings of Jesus—and decide for yourself. A good place to start is by asking God to reveal the truth to you—He will. Then open to the section of the Bible called “John” and begin reading. If you have questions, contact us at EveryStudent.com.
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11
weatherrundown Wednesday
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Saturday37° / 21°
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Black Friday is renowned for being the busiest shopping day of the year. It provides an opportunity for businesses and manufacturers to profit greatly and gives consumers great deals on almost everything they need for their Christmas shopping.
Sophomore Austin Barron was one of the many Black Friday shoppers looking for great deals at Wal-Mart for his Christmas shopping.
“The deals were very nice. If you were looking for low prices, Wal-Mart had them. However, their inventory was lacking,” Barron said.
Though shopping on the busiest commerce day of the year may seem like fun, it could also be stressful. Especially if you were trying to find a parking space—let alone a good one.
Regarding the conditions of the parking lot of the Wal-Mart, Barron said, “parking was atrocious. The parking lot was completely full and it was almost impossible to find a good spot. You had to wait and drive about ten minutes just to find a spot.”
Shoppers and workers alike had hectic and chaotic experiences. Junior Timothy Heath, who works at the Southtown Wal-Mart, said he “came in at 3 a.m., running on a couple hours of sleep, and the entire store was busier than it is on even the busiest weekend.”
“The store was … literally pack wall-to-wall with customers. There were lines everywhere for all sorts of electronics, every register was open and every register
had lines of four or five people in them.”To keep up with customers, Heath’s fellow
employees “were passing out free shots of 5-Hour Energy.”
Glenbrook Square Mall also had its fair share of Black Friday chaos.
A manager of a Glenbrook store, who asked to remain anonymous because of company practice, said, “we were packed to the walls with people. There was hardly any walking space.”
Sophomore Aaron Memmer, who works in a candy store called Inside Scoop, said, “I felt good. I was a little tired due to the night prior and there were lots of people to help, but it was exciting with all the people making sure everything ran smoothly and effectively.”
Local businesses like Wooden Nickel, which sells new and used records, also benefited from Black Friday. Independent record stores like Wooden Nickel were a part of the new “Record Store Day Black Friday Exclusives” program that featured special vinyl and CD releases.
According to the owner, Bob Roets, “This Black Friday was the first venture outside of Record Store Day aimed at giving independent retail something special to attract the Black Friday shopper. We nearly sold out of every piece that was brought in by this promotion, so I would say it was a smashing success.”
Finding a parking space in a packed lot may be challenging, and navigating through all the people may be overwhelming, but considering Black Friday has many deals to offer consumers, some would say that all the disadvantages are worth it.
The Communicator | December 8, 2010 www.ipfwcommunicator.org
news&politics 3
Colin McCallister
Tyler Christman
Black Friday Offered Good Deals and Frustrations
November 11, 2010, U.S. embassies were faced with an embarrassing exposure brought on by WikiLeaks, which has–over the past four years—risen to Internet stardom by showing the world what some governments think would be better kept as secrets.
In what might be considered the first of the so-called “megaleaks,” The Afghanistan War Logs, over 90 thousand classified documents were presented. Documents which revealed an escalating conflict, a weak intelligence base and a solid distinction between the silver-lined accounts open for the public’s perusal the reality that ground forces had experienced.
The second of the megaleaks, The Iraq War Logs, showcased 391,832 reports. These leaks often highlighted horrific, repeated attacks on civilians and other war crimes. Similar to The
Afghanistan Logs, this leak revealed a very obvious difference between the accounts of U.S. officials and those told in the unfolding of actual events.
The most recent of the megaleaks—this one being referred to as Cablegate—initially consisted of 220 classified U.S. Embassy cables, a number that has steadily grown in order to reach its eventual inventory of 251,287, making it the largest collection of confidential documents ever to have been released to the public.
The classified documents, covering a timeframe ranging from late 1996 to February 2010, contain confidential exchanges among 274 embassies from countries across the globe, and in some cases house information deemed capable of igniting crisis among diplomatic territories. Information echos suspicions of corruption in the Afghan government. It reports that Russia has become a “virtual mafia state.” Also, it expresses certain fears from Washington concerning Pakistan’s program
for nuclear weapons – citing that government employees could smuggle enough nuclear material for terrorists to build a bomb.
A cable from April 2009 suggests that U.S. diplomats were ordered to collect data on senior UN officials. The data ordered for collection varied between individuals from different countries, but included e-mail addresses, fax numbers and telephone numbers on one end of the spectrum. On the other: credit card numbers, frequent flier identification numbers, fingerprints, facial images, DNA and iris scans.
The order to collect such data could draw serious speculation from foreign governments, as is the case for numerous segments of information being revealed by the cables. Whether one sides with WikiLeaks’ mission for transparency or against it, it cannot be denied that there is a certain illusion thrown over the eyes of the public, and that WikiLeaks—for better or worse—provides disillusionment.
WikiLeaks: A Recap in Disillusionment
Photo courtesy of Lars Plougmann via Flickr.
Reduce, Reuse, RecycleA healthy planet is a happy planet, and we
all need to do our part to keep our environment healthy. Join the movement and go green! Reducing your carbon footprint doesn’t take drastic changes; a simple change such as turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth will make a difference. Here are a few tips to help you live life the green way.
It’s Sunday afternoon and you are still recovering from partying over the weekend, you walk out into your kitchen and there are enough beer cans to fill a small swimming pool. Do not, I repeat do not put them in the trash! Instead fill up as many bags as you can with the left over cans and bottles and take them to the nearest recycling center. Not only will you go home with the gratitude of helping the environment, you won’t have to search the house for change for next week’s beer run.
Instead of going to a restaurant to eat, be your own personal chef. Cooking your own food allows you to be in control of the waste that is produced. If you have leftovers you can easily store them with reusable Tupperware, while at a restaurant they would give you a Styrofoam container that will never decompose and sit in a landfill for years.
Bring your own reusable grocery bags to the supermarket. Not only do these bags work for the grocery store, you can use them when you go to the mall, a bookstore and any store in general. If you buy a few things and you happened to not
bring a reusable bag with you, use your hands and carry them yourself. Don’t be lazy people you can do it, I promise.
The United Nations recently published, “Live Stock’s Long Shadow-Environmental Issues and Options,” Livestock was among the top three contributors to our environmental problems. Livestock such as cows, pigs and chickens
are responsible for 18 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases. Choose a day or two out of the week where you don’t eat meat and you will ultimately reduce the world’s carbon footprint.
When traveling to close locations, either ride your bike, walk or any other means of transportation that doesn’t use fuel or electricity. You can help keep the planet healthy while keeping yourself healthy by getting in some daily exercise. Try to Carpool with friends, family or neighbors as often as possible. Not only will it save you money on gas, but cut the amount of toxic emissions that are let out into the environment.
We live in the age of technology and each one of us has at least three plugs being used 24/7. When you are not charging your cell phone, unplug your charger. When your laptop is fully charged, unplug the charger. When your i-anything is not in need of anymore battery, unplug the charger. If you have any electrical device that is fully charged and does not need anymore assistance, unplug it!
With these small changes, you can make a big difference in our environments health. Reduce the amount of waste you produce by using only the necessary amount. Reuse anything and everything you can. Finally recycle, recycle and recycle! Together we can make a difference. Peace, love and recycle!
As the holiday season comes ever closer, many people are decorating and businesses are designing their holiday displays. But many are torn between “Happy Holidays” and
“Merry Christmas.”According to a November 2009 Rasmussen
Report, 72 percent of adults prefer to say “Merry Christmas” as opposed to “Happy Holidays.” For the most part, older adults preferred the
traditional holiday greeting.It may be because “Merry Christmas”
represents a Christian-based holiday, as opposed to a broad holiday time, that there is so much discussion about which is best. Some argue that neutrality is best: as this country becomes more and more diverse, holiday greetings should diversify as well. Different religions or cultures have different celebrations around December 25, and using
“Happy Holidays” is a solidly neutral way to wish everyone good times.
Many large stores, such as JC Penny, Macy’s and Sears use Christmas in their ads. Merry Christmas is tradition. People enjoy tradition. Christmas means many things to family: getting together with close family, seeing distant relatives (for kids: presents). Using “Holiday” doesn’t evoke the same conventions.
Many shoppers enjoy seeing “Merry Christmas” in ads. The public associates Christmas with sales. Sales means increases in revenue for stores.
As the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Using Christmas seems to work just fine.
Hippie Health: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
Photo courtesy of Flare via Flickr.
&Merry Holidays Happy Christmas
Photo courtesy of Flickr.
The Communicator | December 8, 2010
opinion4www.ipfwcommunicator.org
Nicole Felton Daily TitanCollege News Network
Kaitlyn Lucas
Holidays
The Communicator | December 8, 2010 www.ipfwcommunicator.org
feature 5
Christina Dafnis
Financial Struggles, How to Get Help
HOMELESSfor the
Photo by Christina DafnisPhoto courtesy of Franco Folini via Flickr.
Is your holiday season going to be less plentiful than years previous? It is a trend sweeping across the city and our campus. Some will pinch pennies to get by, others will seek assistance and some will be left with no option but to seek help from a shelter.
Jeffery Harmon, director of the Learning Center of the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission, pointed out that late November to January is always the busiest, as 100-115 beds are occupied nightly in the men’s section.
One occupant, after being involved in a fight resulting in broken ribs and a slew of other injuries, lost his job and residence. He came to the Mission bearing the burden of alcoholism and drug abuse—but at the time of interview had been “sober and happy” for 32 days. Stories of progress are an inspiration at the shelter.
“Never thought it would happen; homeless and without a drink,” another resident stoically announced. He has abstained from alcohol for three weeks.
Julie Creek, coordinator of the Center for Women and Returning Adults since January
2009, observes IPFW students in financial crisis daily.
“One of my jobs is to match students with the services they need to keep food on the table, a roof overhead and overcome obstacles which would prevent them from finishing school,” she explained, “The majority of returning students have families and kids, or are caring for aging relatives. A
lot have gotten laid off. Statistically, many of people without secondary degrees suffer disproportionately in an economic downturn. Even a minor health concern or one broken-down car can be a crisis.” Creek explores assistance options for students of all ages, including those who reside outside Allen County.
But if you think poverty ends at the doorway of missions and soup kitchens,
think again. In an anonymous interview, a homeless freshman majoring in Computer Sciences at IPFW gave a glimpse into his life.
The student talked about an unstable home life - specifically a drug and alcohol-addicted mother with bipolar. Her addictions gave rise to his drug and alcohol lifestyle, and his brothers suffered the same misfortune. After he was released from jail and moved in with a friend, the friend lost the apartment - leaving him homeless.
A family member suggested he go to a local shelter for help, and shortly thereafter he became clean of drugs and alcohol, and made the decision to enroll at IPFW after earning his GED.
“It was the best option for me,” he said, “I failed all of my other options. I messed up my opportunity with the military due to untreated mental health issues.”
The student has high goals for his life after graduation, with the desire to master multiple branches of science and even become a professor one day.
“Never thought it would happen; homeless and without a drink.”
Michael Wartell and Jerrilee Mosier, Chancellors for IPFW and Ivy Tech Community College, announced an expanded agreement that will allow students to “cross the road” between the two schools
more efficiently. “Ivy Tech and IPFW have
been partners … for a long time … it would be hard for us not to be,” Wartell said, adding that the agreement is something that the institutes “should have been doing all along.”
Ivy Tech’s admissions application will have a check
box allowing prospective students to apply to both Ivy Tech and IPFW at the same time,” Mosier said in a release, adding that, “their admission to IPFW will be delayed until they actually transfer across the street.”
In addition, both of the financial aid offices will band
together to give aid to the Crossroads students at the school of their choosing.
Crossroads students are able to live in IPFW student housing, share the Military Student Services and join in on intramural sports already, though Wartell noted that future possibilities that the agreement
leaves open are nearly endless.Mosier said that about 15
hundred students take credit at Ivy Tech with the intention to transfer to IPFW, and that the number for dual-enrollment is anticipated to rise 15 percent.
“I’m excited to be a part of this particular partnership,” Mosier stated.
Expanded Agreement for Campus CrossroadsKristan Mensch
For the 25th year, the Fort Wayne Historical Building is hosting the annual Gingerbread Fes-tival inside its newly re-stored upstairs room. The event is sponsored by Fort Wayne Lutheran Hospi-tal. The entire building is decorated to the nines with Christmas garlands, ribbons, and lights. Small animatronic children and elves twist and turn this way and that in the cor-ners of the room. The figures, also recently re-stored, were once part of the window displays in the Wolf & Dessauer Christmas windows. It is candy galore in the beau-tiful reception room, as there are tables covered with hundreds of ginger-bread houses. There is a reason the festival does not include “house” in the title. Of course, there are the traditional four
roomed structures we all know, but you will also find gingerbread man-sions, birdhouses, even an incredibly detailed repli-cation of Hogwarts castle, complete with a Whomp-ing Willow made com-pletely out of pretzels. Visitors can cast their vote for their favorite building, and many are available to be taken home through a silent auction.
The gingerbread cre-ations are judged in eight different categories rang-ing from kindergarten lev-el all the way up to profes-sional. One family built a stunning replication of Parkview Field, with hundreds of Teddygram people in the stands, each one iced minutely with different clothing and ex-pressions.
The delicious smell of sweets alone should be enough to entice anyone to pay a visit to the fes-tival; however, there is plenty of history there as well. One of the catego-
ries calls for submissions that replicate historical places around Fort Wayne and it is quite something to see famous sites such as the Old Fort recreated in cookies and candy. Along the walls are paint-ings depicting Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol which once used to hang in another historical department store.
Should the exhibition have sparked your ap-
petite for Gingerbread, freshly homemade cook-ies are available for 50 cents on the way out the door. Take your family, a date, or just enjoy it alone. The Gingerbread Festival is a sweet way to enjoy the holiday season.
Refer to page two for more information on this event and oth-ers in Fort Wayne
At first you may be confused by the meaning behind her 20’s inspired intro, but the underlying message of this video is that beauty comes in many forms throughout all of time. I find the characters she plays as spot-on for the image they portray, from her dress to her movements. The characters range from a flapper from the 20’s to the Dreamgirls of the 60’s to ladies in silky pajamas—this mu-sic video shows girls of all types. The backup dancers paired with Keri in the WWII scene could take a lesson from any drag queen, but that aside, the dancing and choreography fit well with all of the scenes. I think one
aspect was overlooked: where is the male image in this video? You would think that since she talks about guys all through the length of the video, that there would be
some sort of male lead. There is no protagonist/antagonist plot or any kind of story behind this video, just her singing. Overall, I can’t exactly see why this is one of the most watched vevo music videos of recent (num-ber 6). Personally, I have not heard this song played too much over the popular radio stations, but I have al-ways loved her music. With almost 4 million views, people most certainly think she is a pretty girl.
Check out this video and more at: http://tinyurl.com/musicvideospot-light3
Arts&Entertainment
► One of the hottest up and coming bands out today, and I do not just say that because the bassist is a babe. I cannot easily describe this band, which is a good thing in my opinion. I guess some would classify them as new wave psychadelic rock or something weird like that. I just call it good.
► So these guys are actually hip-hop producers who apparently have their own band now. It sounds legit. This is almost Queen status with the cool violin added. Stadium music at its finest.
► The 70s revival is still going strong. Seriously, I promise you, this song was made in 2010.
► The xx makes the chillest music. It all kind of depresses me really. I wonder if they ever make music when they are in a good mood. Still, winter is the perfect time to have a pity party.
► Japanese kids making American style indie rock music. It is not in English but the music itself is really fun and bouncy. A good song to listen to after your pity party is finally over.
► Guilty pleasure. Commercial club music made to get people to dance. Everyone needs to have a good time every once and awhile and just celebrate. Their album, Last Train To Paris, comes out this month too.
► We have to get in the holiday spirit. It only comes once a year and the only thing that can truly warm us up during these harsh weather conditions are the classic Christmas songs we all remember. Besides, the legendary Otis Redding sang this song. If he is not too cool for Christmas, then you certainly are not either.
WARPAINT - ELEPHANTS
THE KICKDRUMS - ANIMAL
OGRE YOU A**HOLE - (HEADLIGHT)
The Communicator | December 8, 2010 6-7
Music Movies Theater
Devin MiddletonJoseph Wright
Cher the LoveDancing its way into theatres on
November 24 came “Burlesque.” Starring Christina Aguilera and Cher, this movie is one for the ages—the older ages. Caution: this is not a movie for children, unless you want your kids to get a crash course in female anatomy. Cher is back, can I say more? This movie follows Ali (Aguilera), a small town girl from Ohio as she makes her way to a big city. Hired as a waitress by Tess (Cher), a former dancer and now owner of the venue, Ali does what she can to make her dreams come true to perform burlesque. As always, Aguilera does not disappoint when it comes to singing; her voice was great. I really enjoyed this movie’s
soundtrack, but after listening to it without the movie, I realized it was the movie I enjoyed. This movie has been called Cher’s comeback, and by all means, it is. Her singing was superb and, well, for being 64, she can still move. Directed and written by Steven Antin, former actor from “The Goonies,” this movie’s overall theme was sex.
If you are not afraid of seeing Christina Aguilera in pearl beads only, and I mean ONLY, then you will definitely enjoy her fancy number halfway through the show. Now for the grade. This is another difficult one to grade. It has its good aspects, and it has its bad aspects. I just cannot pass up Cher - I wish she had been in it more. If she had, this would have been an A+ for sure, but as it is, this movie receives an A-. ‘Till next time.
Alex Richardson
THE XX - SHELTER
UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRATHOUGHT BALLUNE
DIRTY MONEY FT. SWIZZ BEATZ A** ON THE FLOOR
OTIS REDDINGMERRY CHRISTMAS BABY
Photo Courtesy of IMDB.com
ipfw
dep
t of
the
atre
IPFW students with I.D. is free All Others $14 and underChildren 6 and under will not be admitted
Schatzlein Box Office 260-481-6555
Indiana University–Purdue University Fort WayneIPFW is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access University.
The Hot L BaltimoreDecember 3 - 12 Williams Theatre
The Hot L Baltimore is a humorous, compassionate and touching study of lost souls trapped by society’s unyielding decay and becomes a poignantly powerful call to America to recover its lost values.Contains nudity and adult language and subject matter.
By Lanford Wilson Directed by Craig A. Humphrey
Music Video Spotlight:“Pretty Girl Rock” by Keri Hilson
A Hansel and Gretel DreamThe Fort Wayne Historical Building holds Gingerbread Festival
Lindsay Sprunger
BUY&SELL CURRENT
COLLEGETEXTBOOKS
Sell your textbooks at the bookmark and receive a ten dollar coupon for your next purchase.
Your Off Campus Bookstore
3420 NORTH ANTHONY BLVD. 46805 260-484-2665
Cash for TEXTBOOKS!
Best prices in town!• JUST SOUTH OF CAMPUS ON N. ANTHONY •
For the 25th year, the Fort Wayne Historical Building is hosting the annual Gingerbread Fes-tival inside its newly re-stored upstairs room. The event is sponsored by Fort Wayne Lutheran Hospi-tal. The entire building is decorated to the nines with Christmas garlands, ribbons, and lights. Small animatronic children and elves twist and turn this way and that in the cor-ners of the room. The figures, also recently re-stored, were once part of the window displays in the Wolf & Dessauer Christmas windows. It is candy galore in the beau-tiful reception room, as there are tables covered with hundreds of ginger-bread houses. There is a reason the festival does not include “house” in the title. Of course, there are the traditional four
roomed structures we all know, but you will also find gingerbread man-sions, birdhouses, even an incredibly detailed repli-cation of Hogwarts castle, complete with a Whomp-ing Willow made com-pletely out of pretzels. Visitors can cast their vote for their favorite building, and many are available to be taken home through a silent auction.
The gingerbread cre-ations are judged in eight different categories rang-ing from kindergarten lev-el all the way up to profes-sional. One family built a stunning replication of Parkview Field, with hundreds of Teddygram people in the stands, each one iced minutely with different clothing and ex-pressions.
The delicious smell of sweets alone should be enough to entice anyone to pay a visit to the fes-tival; however, there is plenty of history there as well. One of the catego-
ries calls for submissions that replicate historical places around Fort Wayne and it is quite something to see famous sites such as the Old Fort recreated in cookies and candy. Along the walls are paint-ings depicting Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol which once used to hang in another historical department store.
Should the exhibition have sparked your ap-
petite for Gingerbread, freshly homemade cook-ies are available for 50 cents on the way out the door. Take your family, a date, or just enjoy it alone. The Gingerbread Festival is a sweet way to enjoy the holiday season.
Refer to page two for more information on this event and oth-ers in Fort Wayne
At first you may be confused by the meaning behind her 20’s inspired intro, but the underlying message of this video is that beauty comes in many forms throughout all of time. I find the characters she plays as spot-on for the image they portray, from her dress to her movements. The characters range from a flapper from the 20’s to the Dreamgirls of the 60’s to ladies in silky pajamas—this mu-sic video shows girls of all types. The backup dancers paired with Keri in the WWII scene could take a lesson from any drag queen, but that aside, the dancing and choreography fit well with all of the scenes. I think one
aspect was overlooked: where is the male image in this video? You would think that since she talks about guys all through the length of the video, that there would be
some sort of male lead. There is no protagonist/antagonist plot or any kind of story behind this video, just her singing. Overall, I can’t exactly see why this is one of the most watched vevo music videos of recent (num-ber 6). Personally, I have not heard this song played too much over the popular radio stations, but I have al-ways loved her music. With almost 4 million views, people most certainly think she is a pretty girl.
Check out this video and more at: http://tinyurl.com/musicvideospot-light3
Arts&Entertainment
► One of the hottest up and coming bands out today, and I do not just say that because the bassist is a babe. I cannot easily describe this band, which is a good thing in my opinion. I guess some would classify them as new wave psychadelic rock or something weird like that. I just call it good.
► So these guys are actually hip-hop producers who apparently have their own band now. It sounds legit. This is almost Queen status with the cool violin added. Stadium music at its finest.
► The 70s revival is still going strong. Seriously, I promise you, this song was made in 2010.
► The xx makes the chillest music. It all kind of depresses me really. I wonder if they ever make music when they are in a good mood. Still, winter is the perfect time to have a pity party.
► Japanese kids making American style indie rock music. It is not in English but the music itself is really fun and bouncy. A good song to listen to after your pity party is finally over.
► Guilty pleasure. Commercial club music made to get people to dance. Everyone needs to have a good time every once and awhile and just celebrate. Their album, Last Train To Paris, comes out this month too.
► We have to get in the holiday spirit. It only comes once a year and the only thing that can truly warm us up during these harsh weather conditions are the classic Christmas songs we all remember. Besides, the legendary Otis Redding sang this song. If he is not too cool for Christmas, then you certainly are not either.
WARPAINT - ELEPHANTS
THE KICKDRUMS - ANIMAL
OGRE YOU A**HOLE - (HEADLIGHT)
The Communicator | December 8, 2010 6-7
Music Movies Theater
Devin MiddletonJoseph Wright
Cher the LoveDancing its way into theatres on
November 24 came “Burlesque.” Starring Christina Aguilera and Cher, this movie is one for the ages—the older ages. Caution: this is not a movie for children, unless you want your kids to get a crash course in female anatomy. Cher is back, can I say more? This movie follows Ali (Aguilera), a small town girl from Ohio as she makes her way to a big city. Hired as a waitress by Tess (Cher), a former dancer and now owner of the venue, Ali does what she can to make her dreams come true to perform burlesque. As always, Aguilera does not disappoint when it comes to singing; her voice was great. I really enjoyed this movie’s
soundtrack, but after listening to it without the movie, I realized it was the movie I enjoyed. This movie has been called Cher’s comeback, and by all means, it is. Her singing was superb and, well, for being 64, she can still move. Directed and written by Steven Antin, former actor from “The Goonies,” this movie’s overall theme was sex.
If you are not afraid of seeing Christina Aguilera in pearl beads only, and I mean ONLY, then you will definitely enjoy her fancy number halfway through the show. Now for the grade. This is another difficult one to grade. It has its good aspects, and it has its bad aspects. I just cannot pass up Cher - I wish she had been in it more. If she had, this would have been an A+ for sure, but as it is, this movie receives an A-. ‘Till next time.
Alex Richardson
THE XX - SHELTER
UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRATHOUGHT BALLUNE
DIRTY MONEY FT. SWIZZ BEATZ A** ON THE FLOOR
OTIS REDDINGMERRY CHRISTMAS BABY
Photo Courtesy of IMDB.com
ipfw
dep
t of
the
atre
IPFW students with I.D. is free All Others $14 and underChildren 6 and under will not be admitted
Schatzlein Box Office 260-481-6555
Indiana University–Purdue University Fort WayneIPFW is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access University.
The Hot L BaltimoreDecember 3 - 12 Williams Theatre
The Hot L Baltimore is a humorous, compassionate and touching study of lost souls trapped by society’s unyielding decay and becomes a poignantly powerful call to America to recover its lost values.Contains nudity and adult language and subject matter.
By Lanford Wilson Directed by Craig A. Humphrey
Music Video Spotlight:“Pretty Girl Rock” by Keri Hilson
A Hansel and Gretel DreamThe Fort Wayne Historical Building holds Gingerbread Festival
Lindsay Sprunger
BUY&SELL CURRENT
COLLEGETEXTBOOKS
Sell your textbooks at the bookmark and receive a ten dollar coupon for your next purchase.
Your Off Campus Bookstore
3420 NORTH ANTHONY BLVD. 46805 260-484-2665
Cash for TEXTBOOKS!
Best prices in town!• JUST SOUTH OF CAMPUS ON N. ANTHONY •
We all know that Christmas break is a time to eat, sleep, and repeat, but this year, the later weeks of December give you a very good reason to keep tabs on your Mastodons. In case you were not one of the three hundred or so students at the homecoming basketball games last week, the men and women’s basketball teams are off to tremendous starts. Fighting through an extremely tough schedule, the women’s basketball team currently holds a .500 record (3-3). Over the break, the women’s team will still be working hard at improving their record. The Dons have six total games over break, including two
huge Summit League match-ups at home against IUPUI on January 8 and Western Illinois on January 10. Up to this point, Stephanie Rosado leads the women’s squad with 19.2 points per contest and 8.7 rebounds per game. Rosado also has a free-throw percentage of 82 percent and has blocked a team leading fifteen shots.
On the men’s side, they are off to one of the hottest starts in school history. Currently, the men hold a 5-2 record, with their only losses going to national powerhouses Xavier and Cincinnati. IPFW is 3-0 on their home turf and have won four contests in a row, with two of those being Summit League matches. As soon as finals are over next week, the men start off on a long Christmas
break that also includes six games, with just two being at home. The biggest match-up happens December 21 in West Lafayette when the men will take on the Boilermakers from Purdue. Although no tickets were made available to IPFW students, thirteen dollars and your student I.D. will get you a ticket at the door the day of the game thanks to Purdue Athletics. So if there was ever a time for a mini road trip, this is the perfect opportunity to pack your friends in a car and go support your team. Up to this point in the season, senior guard Ben Botts and sophomore guard Frank Gaines are leading the charge for IPFW averaging fourteen and fifteen points per page respectively. Also leading in the rebounds category this
season is Gaines who is pulling down an average of eight per game. The quiet leader on the floor, Zach Plackemeier is leading the team with a total of thirty-two assists on the season. So, students, enjoy
the time away from academics, but do not forget to go out and support your IPFW men and women’s basketball teams as they continue their seasons throughout Christmas break!
The Communicator | December 8, 2010 www.ipfwcommunicator.org
sports 8
Samantha Simonson
Logan Pea
Athletics
Photo Courtesy of gomastodons.com
Photo Courtesy of gomastodons.com
Men’s Basketball
On Saturday, December 4th, the IPFW men’s basketball team defeated Southern Utah 76-66 at the Memorial Coliseum. The ‘Dons kept the lead throughout the majority of the game, and senior Zach Plackemeier contributed 19 points and led five teammates in double figures.
In the first half of play, IPFW led by nine points. Junior Jeremy Mixon shot a 3-pointer and scored with a layup. Southern Utah also scored a 3-pointer of their own from junior Jake Nielson to bring the score to 34-32, but the ‘Dons led 42-39 at halftime.
Near the beginning of the second half, Southern Utah took a three-point lead with the help of junior Ray Jones. However, that would be their
last lead in the game as IPFW pushed through to score some excellent shots by sophomore Frank Gaines and senior Zach Plackemeier. With 15 minutes left, the ‘Dons were up 50-47. Successful shots by junior Trey McCorkle, senior Ben Botts, and Plackemeier confirmed the IPFW win by 10 points. Plackemeier’s claimed the game-high figure of 19 points, while Botts (15), Gaines (12), McCorkle (11), and Mixon (10) all followed with double-digit scoring. IPFW also lead in rebounds, 34-30, as well as forcing 16 turnovers.
The win improves IPFW’s record to 5-2 and 2-0 in the Summit League. It is only the second time that the ‘Dons have begun 2-0 in the conference. For the next four games, IPFW will stray away from Summit League components. They will return to action on Wednesday night as they face Toledo at home in the front half of a double header at 6:00 PM.
IPFW Men’s Basketball Win Over Southern Utah
Take a Break From School, Not Athletics
Pop Culture Shock Therapy
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Hopefully, avid sports fans, you didn’t miss anything, but just in case you did, here we go again. The BCS is set, and for the first time in as long as I can remember, there isn’t a shakeup. The top eight teams in the country have been decided fair and square. Auburn and Oregon, the two best teams, will play on Monday, January 10 in the BCS title game. The All-State Sugar Bowl will be played Tuesday, January 4, between Ohio State University, and the former Michigan quarterback; once Heisman Candidate Ryan Mallet and the Arkansas Razorbacks. On January 3, the Orange Bowl will include teams from Stanford University and Virginia Tech University, who snuck in as the thirteenth ranked team and the ACC champion. On the first of the year, the highly anticipated Rose Bowl will be played all the way out in Pasedena, California between Texas Christian University and the Big Ten’s Wisconsin. Finally, following the Rose Bowl game
will be the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl played between the powerful Oklahoma Sooners and the underdog UConn Huskies. Tis’ the season for bowling, it’s going to be a good one!
Sometimes being on the outside looking in is a good thing. That’s where the Indianapolis Colts are, and for them, it’s not a good thing. The Colts fell to 6-6 after a devastating overtime loss at home against the Dallas Cowboys Saturday afternoon, and are now even further outside of the playoff picture. As former head coach Jim Mora once said, “Playoffs!?” The Bears, maybe the most surprising team in the NFL, improved their record to 9-3 after sneaking past the Detroit Lions. Brett Favre was knocked out of the game early in Minnesota with a shoulder injury and backup Tavares Jackson lead the Vikings to a 38-14 thrashing of the Buffalo Bills. We’re now 75 percent of the way through with the regular season and the team with the best record, Atlanta 10-2, is in the best position surging for the playoffs and home field advantage.
IPFW women’s track and field opened their season this past Saturday at the Findlay Oiler Challenge which was held in Findlay Ohio. The Dons debut allowed sophomore Kierstyn Jones to set her new personal best. Jones accomplished with a toss at the shot put which had a distance of 10.21 meters (33-feet, 6-inches).
In the 60 meter dash two Dons were able to tie and set new school records. In her IPFW freshmen debut Jasmine Perry tied the school record at the 60-meter dash record with a time of 8.14. She was placed 26th. Perry’s time tied the Dons record which was set by Marshell Smith who ran the same time in 2007. Teammate Kaylin Taylor finished the same event with a time of 8.27 which allowed her to be placed in
position 39. However this time set by Taylor is the fifth fastest ever run by a Don.
In the 200 meter dash Taylor was able to finish the run in a time of 27.28 which placed her in 21st position. That time, set by Taylor, allowed her to set a new fifth best time for IPFW. Meanwhile Perry finished 25th with a time of 27.41, setting a new sixth best time school record. Teammate sophomore Theresa McHugh finished with a time of 30.36 which allowed her to finish in the 44th spot.
In the shot put Don Courtney Bowen was able to do a toss of 10.36 meters (34 feet). This toss placed her in 29th position.
The Lady Dons track and field will be back in action next spring on January 15, 2011 at the Green Bowling Challenge which will be held in Bowling Green, Ohio.
IPFW Lady Dons open their track and field season.
The Communicator | December 8, 2010
sports9www.ipfwcommunicator.org
Courtenay Dibble
vs.
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By Lucas Fisher and Logan Pea
Jets at Bears [Week 16] ►Fish-Bears-D stifles Sanchez►Pea-Jets-D shuts down Bears
Oklahoma vs. UCONN ►Fish-Oklahoma-Too much fire power►Pea-Oklahoma-Better game than you think
(6) Ohio State vs. Arkansas►Fish-Arkansas-Mallett over Pryor►Pea-Ohio St-Great game
Eagles at Giants [Week 15]►Fish-Giants-Slow down Vick►Pea-Eagles-Philly wins big
Patriots at Bears [Week 14]►Fish-Bears-Brady shut down►Pea-Patriots-No contest
Celtics at Magic►Fish-Magic-Howard-Carter dominate►Pea-Celtics-Shootout
Jets at Steelers [Week 15]►Fish-Steelers-Defense is the key►Pea-Jets-Defense wins
Saints at Ravens [Week 15]►Fish-Ravens-Contain Brees►Pea-Ravens-Division best
Capitals at Penguins►Fish-Capitals-Hockey’s best in shootout►Pea-Penguins-Another classic
Saints at Falcons [Week 16]►Fish-Falcons-They don’t lose at home►Pea-Falcons-NFL’s best
Wisconsin vs. (3) TCU►Fish-TCU-Shows they belong among elite►Pea-Wisconsin-Great game
(4) Stanford vs. (13) Virginia Tech►Fish-Stanford-Close battle►Pea-Stanford-Luck proves he belonged
Heat at Lakers [12/25]►Fish-Lakers-Win close at home►Pea-Heat-Miami teams up
Steelers at Ravens►Fish-Bears-Clinch division behind D►Pea-Packers-Rodgers’ arm comes up big
(2) Oregon vs. (1) Auburn►Fish-Auburn-Oregon falls short►Pea-Auburn-No Heisman curse
Photo Courtesy of GoMastodons.com
Women’s Track & Field
What You MissedLogan Pea
Fort Wayne, IN - IPFW was held to 32.4 percent shooting (23-of-71) from the field, and made just 3-of-24 from be-yond the three-point arc (12.5 percent), as the Mastodons fell in its 2010-11 Summit League opener to the Southern Utah University Thunderbirds by a 69-66 score.
IPFW (3-3, 0-1 Summit League ) was led by Stepha-nie Rosado, who picked up her fourth double-double in the last
five games with 18 points and 10 rebounds, as Jordan Zuppe tied her season-high with 15 points. Chelsey Jackson added nine points for the Mastodons, with Amanda Hyde and Sydney Weinert each chipping in seven.
Weinert and Anne Boese added seven and five rebounds, respectively, while Jackson and Zuppe each dished out a team-high two assists. Jackson had a game-high three steals, with Rosado adding a pair of blocked shots.
Southern Utah (3-5, 1-1 Summit League) jumped out quickly, and led 13--6 with
13:20 on the clock after a Chal-lis Pascucci lay-up; however a minute later Pascucci picked up her second foul of the half and was forced to the bench, setting up an IPFW run.
Over the next six minutes IPFW rattled off a 17-2 run to turn the seven-point deficit into an eight-point lead after a pair of Hyde free throws with
7:05 left in the first half. IPFW would not trail for the remain-der of the opening period, al-though the visitors cut the lead to just two points on four occa-sions, as the Mastodons took a four-point, 33-29 lead into the locker room for halftime.
Coming out of the locker room, Southern Utah rattled off a 15-2 run to push ahead to a nine-point lead after a three-pointer by Andrea Jones with 15:45 left in the contest. The nine-point lead got cut to five three times over the next ten minutes, and hit a game-high of 10 at 59-49 with 6:52 remain-
ing.An 11-4 run by IPFW closed
the gap to three following a pair of Weinert free throws, and the Mastodons twice got to within two, the latest with 27 seconds left following a Zuppe lay-in, but three open looks at three-pointers cam up empty by the Mastodons in the last 20 sec-onds, falling by three in the league opener 69-66.
Desiree Jackson scored a game-high 19 points, nine com-ing from the free throw line, as Caitlyn Sears scored 13, and Pascucci and Jones each added 11.
December 11,2010 | 11:00 AM W. BASKETBALLDETROITMEMORIAL COLISEUM
December 11,2010 | 1:00 P.M.M. BASKETBALLUT MARTINMEMORIAL COLISEUM
December 18,2010 | 8:00 P.M.M. BASKETBALLVALPARAISOVALPARAISO, IN
December 19,2010 | 2:00 PMW. BASKETBALLHAMPTONHAMPTON, VA
December 21,2010 | 4:00 PMW. BASKETBALLLONGWOODFARMVILLE, VA
December 21,2010 | 6:30 P.M.M. BASKETBALLPURDUEWEST LAFAYETTE, IN
December 28,2010 | 8:00 P.M.M. BASKETBALLORAL ROBERTSTULSA, OK
The Communicator | December 8, 2010
sports10www.ipfwcommunicator.org
Gomastodons.com
Women’s Basketball
Sport Schedule
Life happens. Especially to students. And accidents, illness — they don’t care if you don’t have health insurance and they don’t think you’re indestructible even if you do. That’s why there’s Indigo Individual™ from PHP. It provides the essential benefits of group health insurance to college students like yourself. To find out more, call us or visit us online and click on the Indigo link. Because everyone deserves great health insurance.
800-982-6257 www.phpni .com
All nighters, frat parties and a diet that consists primarily of Cap’n Crunch.
Yeah…you need health insurance.
Cold Shooting, Thunderbirds, Drop Mastodons in Summit Opener
“Chelsey Jackson added nine points for the Mastodons, with Amanda Hydes and
Sydney Weinert each chirping in seven.”
Abortion, gay marriage, Con-servatives versus Liberals and lol-cats.
These are just a few of the many different – and sometimes overly opinionated – postings that one might find on the message board hanging within the Liberal Arts building. The board, which can be located down the hall from the lounge area and near the vending machines, is a forum for students to post their weekly thoughts for the rest of the student body to read and comment on. Imagine a sassier Facebook in real life.
But what seems like a fun and provocative way to connect with the masses on campus also has its
downfalls. The board is refreshed every week with new construc-tion paper and four or five Sharpie markers for students to post their thoughts. Inevitably, someone al-ways gets the ball rolling by say-ing something like “Glenn Beck sucks” or “Abortion is the work of the devil!” And to controversial topics like that come even more controversial replies. Soon enough, the entire board is flooded with dif-ferent colored markings, arrows at-tached to demeaning replies point-ing to other comments, hand drawn pictures of cats saying funny ex-pressions (and almost always pur-posely spelled incorrectly) among many other things.
Is this a good way for the IPFW student body to get their thoughts out into the open? Everyone has
the right to their own opinion, but when those opinions are allowed to roam so vibrantly through the halls of the Liberal Arts building, it’s no wonder that some students get a lit-tle too Sharpie-happy. The message board in the Liberal Arts building is a marker free-for-all, and is open to absolutely everyone who takes a stroll through the hallway while on their way to class.
Regardless if you feel as if mar-riage is strictly regarded for a man and a woman, a woman has the right to end her pregnancy at her own will, or that President Obama is a dinosaur hiding in a business suit, the Liberal Arts message board has a Sharpie marker with your name on it. Go on, post your opinions.
The Communicator | December 8, 2010 www.ipfwcommunicator.org
student issues 11
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Editorials are the opinion of The Communicator. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IPFW, its employees or its student body. A column is solely the opinion of its author.
The Communicator welcomes responses. Letters to the Editor must be signed, dated and accompanied by a current address, telephone number and class standing/major or title (if applicable). Letters not meeting these requirements will not be considered for publication.
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Submissions must be typed and no more than 700 words.The editorial board of The Communicator reserves the right to
edit all submissions for length, grammar, style, and clarity. Letters deemed potentially libelous by the editorial board will not be published under any circumstances.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KELLY McLENDONMANAGING EDITOR AZARIAH SOUTHWORTHADVERTISING MANAGER BILL RICHMANGRAPHIC DESIGNER ELYSE BOUTALLCOPY EDITOR AMANDA McCANNNEWS & POLITICS EDITOR KRISTAN MENSCHSPORTS EDITOR LOGAN PEA A&E EDITOR DAN MOHR WEB EDITOR CRAIG LLOYDPUBLISHER MATT McCLURE
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SUDOKUFill in the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9.
Dan Mohr
For the second time this school year, the Firefly Coffee House off of North Anthony held an install-ment of the Science Café, a series of lectures and discussions open to the public. This year’s topic is the environment. On Tuesday, Novem-ber 30, the Dean of Arts and Sci-ences, Dr. Carl Drummond, gave a brief lecture entitled “The Green-house Effect and Global Warming” with the focus of the talk on what it is and how it occurs.
Starting off, Dr. Drummond did his best to make the extraordinarily complicated concept of the green-house effect accessible to a room full of coffee drinkers. His slides and short explanations were effec-tive at bringing everyone to a basic level of understanding. Water and carbon dioxide absorb heat that is given off from the sun’s rays. The more carbon dioxide there is, the warmer the earth becomes.
Drummond points out that the evidence of global warming is
overwhelming. Since the Industri-al Revolution, the earth has seen a shocking rise in the amount of car-bon dioxide levels in the environ-ment. An alarming graph showed the levels of CO2 in the environ-ment from the year 1000 CE to present day—the line shoots up nearly vertically with regard to the last 100 years. But how does any-one know such information from 1000 CE?
“Ice,” says Drummond. Bub-bles captured in ice frozen hun-dreds of years ago are used to mea-sure the levels of carbon dioxide in the air at the time. Ice in Greenland has also been an indicator that the world is warming, as it reduces by centimeters each year. Were the ice in Greenland to melt completely, it would raise the level of the ocean 7 meters. This is bad news for major cities in the world—most are at sea level.
The question of what can be done was the predominant one posed by members of the audience.
“Anything you can do to reduce [energy usage] is positive. It slows
the problem down. But until we have large scale shifts in alternative energy collection, we won’t see a reversal of this problem.”
There is no easy solution, es-pecially not for places like Indi-ana. Drummond explains that the climate here is not fit for alterna-tive energy such as wind, water or solar—there simply isn’t enough of any. Why not cover Arizona in solar panels or build thousand of wind turbines across Texas? The transmission of energy such a long distance would be an economic di-saster. Currently, the only immedi-ate fix would be the much-debated use of nuclear energy. There is hope on the horizon, however. The US is currently the largest contrib-utor of funding for global warming research. Until then, the solution is to reduce energy usage as best as possible.
Overall, the Science Café was a successful, interesting discussion led by a knowledgeable speaker. Keep your eyes open for Firefly’s third installment, likely to come in the spring semester.
Board Member
2010
Board Member
2010
Graphic Designer Advertising Representative
Opinionated Etchings
Lindsay Sprunger
The Science CaféFirefly Hosts Lecture on Global Warming
The Communicator | December 8, 2010
student issues12www.ipfwcommunicator.org
ShenaniganTeenagers often go
about their shenanigans on the weekends. Dennis the Menace engaged in many shenanigans in the comic as well as the movie. Fort Wayne area bars are often filled with shenanigans.
Many readers will know exactly what that word stands for in all three sentences. M e r r i a m - W e b s t e r ’s second definition for shenanigan is “high-
spirited or mischievous activity,” though the first definition is typically lesser-known: “a devious trick used especially for an underhand purpose.”
So, the person at the poker table with cards up his sleeve: he’s playing shenanigans. The mysterious balloon that will not pop at the carnival: shenanigan. A keystroke logger that got connected to the USB port: shenanigan.
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