THE C REIGHTONIAN JAYS BATTLE AZTECS: Find out how the Jays fared against San Diego. creightonian.com NUTCRACKER Creighton’s semi-annual production opened Wednesday. Page 4 SCENE INCREASING SUCCESS Creighton organization helps high school students find their way to college. Page 3 NEWS REAL OR FAKE? Christmas trees spark a debate between two columnists. See who you agree with. Page 6 OPINION WOMEN PREP FOR YEAR e Jays look to climb their way to the top of the MVC. Pages 7 SPORTS Creighton’s Inter Residence Hall Government is looking to make big changes in the near future. is year IRHG re-invented its committee system and created five Campus Action Committees to address specific issues that are pertinent to the 2,400 students that live on campus. One committee is focused on dining, three of the committees are focused on guest check-in and visitation policies in residence halls, and the last committee is focused on laundry. Each committee has been gathering information related to its issue and has draſted legislation for suggested changes, which they presented to the IRHG General Assembly on Tuesday. “We’re not trying to make any night and day changes, but we’re keeping in mind our Jesuit traditions and looking to see how we can improve our policies,” IRHG President and Arts & Sciences senior Nick Stukel said. For dining, IRHG is looking to give students more flexibility with their meal plans. e proposed changes would allow four meals per day, which could be used at any time throughout the day, including ‘swiping in’ a friend to the dining halls. In order to gather information and opinions, the Campus Action Committee for Laundry sent out a survey to which about 900 students responded. “What we thought would be students’ main issue was the cost of laundry, but the survey showed us that it’s the convenience of the laundry system that is most important,” Lianna Schmidt, a Nursing sophomore and IRHG On- Campus Programming Chair said. e laundry committee is proposing legislation that includes laundry fees being included in room rates, providing an increased number of reliable washers and dryers and creating a website and/ or mobile app that would allow students to monitor the status of their laundry machines. e suggested changes that will likely have the largest impact on students’ daily lives are related to HANNAH O’KEEFE News Reporter GINGERBREAD: Contest celebrates 26 years of Christmas spirit. PUNK ROCK PROFESSOR: Discover the hidden life of a Creighton history professor. Page 4 creightonian.com While Christmas may be a few weeks away, Creighton started celebrating early. To kick-start the Christmas season and spread holiday cheer, the Creighton Inter Residence Hall Government hosted the 25th annual Christmas at Creighton event on Wednesday evening. e event featured the Rev. Timothy R. Lannon, S.J. leading the lighting ceremony that displayed the Christmas lights on campus and the banquet in the Skutt Student Center Ballroom. Also featured at the event was a jazz band, the Creightones, snow in the Skutt Student Center, a live nativity scene and hot cocoa and cider for the students watching the lighting ceremony. In addition, Creighton welcomed several of the residence hall community partners throughout Omaha to campus. is year Assumption-Guadalupe Catholic School and Together, Inc. celebrated Christmas at Creighton. “Every year we do try to make it open to as many people in the community as possible,” said Arts & Sciences sophomore and IRHG community outreach chair Jillian Kuligoski. “is year we are holding a canned food drive for Together, Inc.” Christmas at Creighton stemmed from a small ceremony 25 years ago and has blossomed into the annual event that it is now. “IRHG started the Christmas at Creighton event in fall 1986 with a simple lighting ceremony for a single Christmas tree on the mall,” Arts & Sciences senior and IRHG president Nick Stukel said. “Over the years, this has evolved and grown. Within the last decade, it has expanded to include lights all across campus, as well as MADELINE ZUKOWSKI News Reporter A Creighton Christmas Story Traditions light up campus, bring holiday cheer IRHG looks to make changes to policy TURN TO “IRHG” PAGE 2 TURN TO “CHEER” PAGE 2 The Rev. Timothy R. Lannon S.J. turns on the Creighton Christmas lights. Photos by Dino Beldia. Volume 93 Issue 10 • December 2, 2011 • Omaha, Nebraska • www.creightonian.com • www.twitter.com/CUCreightonian
Transcript
theCReIGhtONIANJAYS BATTLE AZTECS: Find out how the Jays fared against San Diego. creightonian.com
NUTCRACKERCreighton’s semi-annual production opened Wednesday.Page 4
SCENEINCREASING SUCCESSCreighton organization helps high school students find their way to college. Page 3
NEWSREAL OR FAKE?Christmas trees spark a debate between two columnists. See who you agree with. Page 6
OPINIONWOMEN PREP FOR YEARThe Jays look to climb their way to the top of the MVC. Pages 7
SPORTS
Creighton’s Inter Residence Hall Government is looking to make big changes in the near future.
This year IRHG re-invented its committee system and created five Campus Action Committees to address specific issues that are pertinent to the 2,400 students that live on campus. One committee is focused on dining, three of the committees are focused on guest check-in and visitation policies in residence halls, and the last committee is focused on laundry.
Each committee has been gathering information related to its issue and has drafted legislation for suggested changes, which they presented to the IRHG General Assembly on Tuesday.
“We’re not trying to make any night and day changes, but we’re keeping in mind our Jesuit traditions and looking to see how we can improve our policies,” IRHG President and Arts & Sciences senior Nick Stukel said.
For dining, IRHG is looking to give students more flexibility with their meal plans. The proposed changes would allow four meals per day, which could be used at any time throughout the day, including ‘swiping in’ a friend to the dining halls.
In order to gather information and opinions, the Campus Action Committee for Laundry sent out a survey to which about 900 students responded.
“What we thought would be students’ main issue was the cost of laundry, but the survey showed us that it’s the convenience of the laundry system that is most important,” Lianna Schmidt, a Nursing sophomore and IRHG On-Campus Programming Chair said.
The laundry committee is proposing legislation that includes laundry fees being included in room rates, providing an increased number of reliable washers and dryers and creating a website and/or mobile app that would allow students to monitor the status of their laundry machines.
The suggested changes that will likely have the largest impact on students’ daily lives are related to
HANNAH O’KEEFENews Reporter
GINGERBREAD: Contest celebrates 26 years of Christmas spirit.
PUNK ROCK PROFESSOR: Discover the hidden life of a Creighton history professor. Page 4 creightonian.com
While Christmas may be a few weeks away, Creighton started celebrating early.
To kick-start the Christmas season and spread holiday cheer, the Creighton Inter Residence Hall Government hosted the 25th annual Christmas at Creighton event on Wednesday evening.
The event featured the Rev. Timothy R. Lannon, S.J. leading the lighting ceremony that displayed the Christmas lights on campus and the banquet in the Skutt Student Center Ballroom. Also featured at the event was a jazz band, the Creightones, snow in the Skutt Student Center, a live nativity scene and hot cocoa and cider for the students watching the lighting ceremony.
In addition, Creighton welcomed several of the residence hall community
partners throughout Omaha to campus. This year Assumption-Guadalupe Catholic School and Together, Inc. celebrated Christmas at Creighton.
“Every year we do try to make it open to as many people in the community as possible,” said Arts & Sciences sophomore and IRHG community outreach chair Jillian Kuligoski. “This year we are holding a canned food drive for Together, Inc.”
Christmas at Creighton stemmed from a small ceremony 25 years ago and has blossomed into the annual event that it is now.
“IRHG started the Christmas at Creighton event in fall 1986 with a simple lighting ceremony for a single Christmas tree on the mall,” Arts & Sciences senior and IRHG president Nick Stukel said. “Over the years, this has evolved and grown. Within the last decade, it has expanded to include lights all across campus, as well as
MADELINE ZUKOWSKINews Reporter
A Creighton Christmas Story
Traditions light up campus, bring holiday cheer
IRHG looks to make changes to policy
TURN TO “IRHG” PAGE 2
TURN TO “CHEER” PAGE 2
The Rev. Timothy R. Lannon S.J. turns on the Creighton Christmas lights. Photos by Dino Beldia.
Page 2 “No matter how bad you may want someone else’s tree, you can’t have it. If another family found their perfect tree first, you can’t just go chop it down.”
carry a substantial charge.The Creightonian (USPS No. 137.460) is published weekly except during examination and holiday breaks for $8 per year by Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska. Periodical postage paid at Omaha,
Nebraska. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Creightonian, Hitchcock Communications Arts Center, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, 68178-0119.
The full staff list is available at creightonian.com
Editor in ChiefEmily Wynn
News EditorMatt Entringer
Ad ManagerDakotah Braun
Head Copy EditorBecky Haworth
Online EditorAmy Engle
Graphics EditorScarlett Blake
Photo EditorTrina Pham
Opinion EditorNatalie Killion
Scene EditorAnna Shymanski
Sports EditorKatie Hansen
Faculty AdviserKris Boyle
11/22/20119:35 a.m. A Public Safety Supervisor and a staff member were involved in a traffic accident at 17th and Burt streets. There were no injuries.
12:44 p.m.A twenty year-old non-affiliate who was previously banned and barred from campus, was observed loitering in Deglman Circle. The man was cited for trespassing by the Omaha Police.
4:05 p.m. Two students were involved in a traffic accident at 27th and Burt streets. There were no injuries.
11/22/2011 2:35 p.m. A student reported paint scrapes on the rear bumper of his vehicle while it was parked on the third level of the 24th Street Garage.
11/26/2011 12:25 a.m. An intoxicated student was transported by Public Safety from Deglman Hall to CUMC.
11/28/20118:35 a.m. An ill student was transported by Public Safety from Swanson Hall to Student Health.
WEEKLY CAMPUS
SAFETY REPORT
Sophomore Army ROTC cadet Jenifer Edmondson is not only seeking to serve her country this year, but also the community of South Omaha.
As a Sunday school teacher at Hillsdale Church in South Omaha, Edmondson could not help but notice the growling sound emanating from the stomachs of her students.
Edmondson, who quickly discovered that the community’s food bank had been dry for several years, felt compelled to combat this harsh reality.
Edmondson’s solution was to help revive the community’s food bank. However, the area’s food bank had been closed for years. Due to this fact, Edmondson teamed up with the Hillsdale Church pastor to open a new food bank: The Hillsdale Community Food Bank.
“This is not your typical food bank,” said Edmondson, referring to the fact that the food bank will be based out of a small room in the pastor’s quaint home of South Omaha.
In order to restore the food bank, Edmondson said she reached out to those who already selflessly lend their service to others; her cadre and comrades that work alongside her in the Creighton Army
ROTC program. Edmondson, along with many others,
said she is working diligently to develop a committee whose sole purpose is to promote and collect food for the Hillsdale Community Food Bank. Creighton Army ROTC is planning on teaming up with the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Air Force ROTC in order to reach a larger number of people.
“We are planning on collecting from Dec. 5-18,” said Army veteran CPT. Tamra Holub, head of the Creighton food bank committee.
Holub also said that there will be tents set up on both campuses for three days straight in order to collect the maximum number of cans.
“From Dec. 6-8, look for a tent on both campuses if you wish to donate non-perishable canned food items to our drive,” Holub said.
The Black Wolves Battalion Commander, Claire Hansen, said she will be making announcements in all her classes because she feels that the Creighton community is a very giving one.
“Anyway we can get the word out is great, we are working hard to shed light on such a devastating situation in South Omaha,” Hansen said.
Edmondson said she feels hopeful that the Black Wolves Battalion as well as the Omaha community will step up to ensure her Sunday school class is adequately nourished.
MAMIE SPARACINOGuest Reporter
ROTC starts food bankthe signature annual banquet for all students to enjoy.”
This year Christmas at Creighton featured something new for the audience.
“This year we [had] something completely new outside,” said Nick Williams, Arts & Sciences sophomore and IRHG vice president of service, faith and justice. “The Student Ministry Team decided to put on a live nativity, so that was something extra that needed to be coordinated with the lighting ceremony.”
In addition to the live nativity, the Creightones’ performance was new this year.
Stukel said that Christmas at Creighton is one of the highlights of the Creighton experience and said that it is his favorite event at the university.
“Whether it be sharing a great meal with your friends, listening to the live music or being in awe of the lights while sipping on some hot cider, there is really something for everyone to grab onto and cherish each year at Christmas at Creighton, and aside from the fabled t-shirts, I think those special memories are why people keep coming back,” Williams said.
Kuligoski said this event truly stresses the importance of community. She said IRHG hosts the event early so that people can have time to enjoy the holiday season with their friends.
“I really want students to walk away from the event feeling the joy of spending time with friends that comes with this special time of year,” Kuligoski said.
check-in and visitation policies.IRHG did extensive research about
this issue, including conducting literature reviews of the visitation policies of all other Jesuit schools.
“We’ve found that we’re one of the most conservative [Jesuit] schools in regards to our policies,” Stukel said.
Using this research as backing, IRHG is proposed to extend check-in time for dorms from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and for freshmen and sophomores, extending the visitation hours for members of the opposite sex to 2 a.m. on weeknights and to 3 a.m. on weekends. Additionally, for upperclassmen that are on 12-month housing agreements, visitation hours would be eliminated completely. These instead would be replaced by a strict policy against cohabitation – which is defined as overnight visits with a sexual partner.
All of the legislation created by the Campus Action Committees will be discussed and voted on by the IRHG General Assembly next Tuesday. Following that meeting Stukel said he will send the passed legislation on to the administration to be approved, and these changes could potentially be implemented as early as next semester.
“I am confident the legislation will pass IRHG and I think we have a very compelling argument that will be interesting not only to the student body, but to Creighton administration,” President of Opus Hall and Arts & Sciences junior Westin Miller said. “This policy change is in the best interest of students, administration and most importantly, the Creighton mission.”
Students help fill South Omaha stomachs
CHEER: CU lights upIRHG: Looks to improve
Senior defender Andrew Duran battles for the ball against a University of California, Santa Barbara opponent. The Bluejays ad-vanced to the quarterfinals of the men’s NCAA soccer tournament by beating USCB on Sunday. The Bluejays beat the No. 15 seed Gauchos 2-1 at Morrison Stadium. Creighton will host the University of South Florida Sunday at Morrison. The Bulls are the No. 7 seed in the tournament and have an overall record of 13-3-4. The winner of this quarterfinal matchup will advance to the College Cup in Hoover, Ala. See more details in sports. Photo courtesy of White and Blue review.
Jays head to quarterfinalsNo. 2 seed Jays advance to quarterfinals with a win over UCSB
THE CREIGHTONIAN 2 December 20113 News
John Gallion Jr. spends his days doing what he loves: providing an opportunity for those wanting to return to school.
“I’m providing people with the opportunity to make a difference in their own lives,” Gallion said.
Gallion, an outreach coordinator at Creighton Education Opportunity Center, said he simply loves what he does. Gallion helps fill the education need within the Omaha community. He said the dropout rates in Omaha are getting out of control, and that he is in a position to do something about it.
The Omaha World-Herald reported in January that with 1,000 dropouts a year, Omaha has lost more ground regarding graduation rates compared to other large cities within the U.S.
Gallion said that these numbers indicate it is imperative to the community that there is a program available to assist them in what is needed to graduate and move on to college.
Karrie Scott, administrative assistant at the EOC, said Gallion helps about 600 students a year. The goal for the EOC as a whole is 1,000 students a year.
Gallion has a strong desire to reach out to as many individuals as possible. The EOC also works closely with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services helping individuals reach self-sufficiency. Participants are encouraged to receive specific job training or a degree.
Gallion plays the role of recruiting clients into the EOC program. With self-sufficiency being the main goal, Gallion advises each individual about what their
options are.Gallion said he works with individuals
in the process of becoming college students. Regardless of where each person begins their journey, he said seeks to find the same end result: college admissions.
“A lot of people think that you have to borrow money to go to school, and there are other ways to help finance education,” Gallion said.
Gallion said that financial issues are the main reason people choose not to continue their education.
Gallion also said there is much satisfaction knowing that he has helped at least one person a day apply for college.
Scott has worked with Gallion for the last few years and said she appreciates his love for what he does.
“John has taught me a lot about enrolling students into college and financial aid … There isn’t a day that goes by, someone isn’t requesting him specifically,” Scott said.
Jane O’Brien, an EOC teacher, said that working with Gallion is a joy, and he is extremely helpful.
“John has a huge impact on recruiting … he helps students finish their education to continue on to college, and he helps Creighton reach the social justice goal when it comes to Jesuit outreach,” O’Brien said.
Outreach coordinator advisesstudents on educational optionsTEKA BUNDYGuest Reporter
is thankful for YOU! THANK YOU! The Student Philanthropy Committee was able to gather 725 thank-you notes during our “Thank-a-Thon Week.” The following week, “National Philanthropy Week,” we had 170 students give back to Creighton raising $1,664.13!"#$!%&'#()$%'*+%,!")&-(./!0121(#+314.,!%+1&*5&!%&'##(%!)40!colleges and Creighton’s areas of greatest need. The Student Philanthropy Committee would like to thank each student participant for their generosity!
YOU
John Gallion Jr., an outreach coordinator for the Creighton Education Opportunity Center, spends his time helping to fill the education need in the community. Photo by Teka Bundy.
THE CREIGHTONIAN 2 December 20114 Scene
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At a young age, people are often asked where they see themselves in 10 years.
While responses vary amongst differ-ent individuals, a common conception is that people want to be successful while doing what they have a passion for. This is exactly what has happened for Scott Eastman, an Assistant Pro-fessor in Transnational History at Creighton who has been a member of the punk-rock band Horace Pinker.
As a professor of history and lead singer and guitarist for his band, 40-year-old Eastman has been successful by combining his two greatest passions in life, music and teaching.
Growing up in small-town Connecticut, Eastman expressed interest in both music and history. He attended Loomis Chaffee, a private high school located in Windsor, Conn., where an admirable history teacher can be partly attrib-uted with Eastman’s love of history.
However, his passion for music was not disheartened; he actively took guitar lessons throughout middle school and high school. Af-ter high school, he fell into the position of a con-cert promoter. In the early 90s, he promoted and played alongside bands like Green Day, Blink 182, and Jimmy Eat World. His band officially took off in 1991 when Horace Pinker released their first seven-inch record.
“We never went into it wanting to become famous,” Eastman said. “So many bands like us today expect to become rock stars.”
The band originally began in Tempe, Ariz., but was relocated to Chicago as Eastman attend-ed DePaul University for his undergraduate edu-cation. Eastman heads the stage as the lead singer and guitarist, with a second guitarist, bass guitar-ist and drummer behind him. His position as lead singer didn’t come as a shock to many students.
“He is really personable with a younger personality than most professors,” said Arts & Sciences sophomore Carli Tritz, a student in his History 101 class. “If I had to guess one profes-sor from Creighton that was in a band, I would guess him.”
Eastman and the members of Horace Pinker toured full-time as they released 11 more seven-inch records between 1993 and 1997. During this time, they launched their first CD, “Power Tools,” in 1994. They have since released 7 albums.
Full-time touring had run its course with Eastman and the band, as the lead singer decided to go back to school. With a bachelor’s degree from Depaul University, Eastman was on course to become a professor with a doctorate in history from the University of California, Irivne.
Eastman moved to Omaha with his wife, Kara and daughter, Sabina, and began his career as a Creighton history professor in the fall of 2005. He currently teaches History 101, a required core class, and various upper division classes.
Even though the members of Horace Pinker have geographically separated, the music plays on. Since his employment at Creighton, Horace Pinker has toured the United States, Brazil, Chi-na, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
“Local State Intertia,” the band’s only CD since Eastman’s arrival to Omaha was released in the United States on November 22 of this year. It was released in Europe just a few weeks prior.
To some, it may seem impossible juggling a teaching career at Creighton and being in an ac-tive band, but Eastman seems to have it under control.
“You just have to balance it out,” Eastman said.
As if being a father, professor and musician isn’t difficult enough, Eastman is also an aspir-ing author. His first book, “Preaching Spanish Nationalism Across the Hispanic Atlantic, 1759-1823,” is set to release on January 16, 2012. In his 264-page work, Eastman tackles the issue of na-tionalism in the 18th and 19th century Spanish Atlantic Empire.
Eastman considers making music his avo-cation, as the band tours during Creighton Uni-versity’s fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring breaks, and only practices on the occasions that their lead singer can make the trip to Chicago. In regards to touring and playing, Eastman is “happy he can still do it,” even with the additional priorities he has.
NATALIE HACKBARTHGuest Reporter
The Chinese dancers in Creighton’s semi-annual production of “The Nutcracker” represent Chinese holiday traditions. The show follows Clara, an 11-year-old girl, through a Christmas dream. They are part of a dream sequence in the second act. Friday and Saturday shows are sold out, but tickets are available for two Sunday performances at the Wilson Peforming Arts Center in Red Oak, Iowa. For more information and pictures, visit creightonian.com Photo by Dino Beldia.
Professor proves history can ‘rock’
THE NUTCRACKER
THE CREIGHTONIAN2 December 2011 5 Scene
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The Christmas season is officially upon us, so it is time to deck your dorm rooms in twinkling lights, slather your dry skin in Vanilla Bean Noel from Bath & Body Works and make a holi-day station on Pandora. Everyone has important traditions in their family whether that be reading “The Night Be-fore Christmas” together on Christmas Eve, baking a birthday cake for Jesus or watching a series of claymation Christ-mas movies.
My family has tons of traditions of our own, but the one that always kicks
off our holiday season is going Christmas tree shopping. Every year at the end of Thanksgiving weekend, we head out to the most glorious tree farm in the world. It is the cutest place imag-inable, complete with horse-drawn wagon rides, complimen-tary hot cider and peanuts and a jolly family that owns the farm.
As I was traipsing across the acreage filled with countless kinds of pines, firs and spruces this year, I realized just how similar Christmas tree shopping is to dating. For those of you who have never experienced the joy of picking out a Christmas tree from a tree farm, let me tell you what I mean.
If your family wouldn’t approve, why bother? If you are a person who values the opinion of your family, spotting unwor-thy trees and relationships are easy. If you know your parents wouldn’t approve there is no reason to take the tree home. For example, my family appreciates a genuine person as much as a genuine tree. We turn away quickly from trees that have been heavily spray-painted green because they don’t even seem real.
A good Christmas tree should be like your significant other in the fact that you want to take him or her home and have your mother beam with pride as she poses you next to one another to snap a memory card’s worth of awkward pictures.
You can’t fix crookedness. Sometimes a Christmas tree looks darn near perfect at first glance, but after further ex-
amination, you realize the trunk is completely crooked. A lot of families seem to think that even if they buy a tree with a crooked trunk, they’ll be able to straighten it out in the tree stand at home.
I feel like many college girls have similar thought processes. Let’s say they begin to date a guy who has a history of infidelity. They think to themselves, “Sure, he may have been wild before dating me, but I will be able to straighten him out.” Go ahead and give it a shot, but don’t say I didn’t warn you when your tree breaks free of the tree stand and crashes through your window.
Don’t buy the first tree you see. Take your time to shop around. Half the fun of tree shopping, as well as dating, is the experience. Don’t settle too quickly.
Don’t fall for the ones already spoken for. Christmas tree shopping is highly competitive. Many families head out in early November to select their perfect tree. Each tree is marked with a tag, and if the tree is sold, the bottom of the tag is torn off and a ribbon is tied onto the tree. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been on this tree farm and ran up to what looked like the most
perfect tree in the world only to discover it was already taken.This seems to be the case with college students sometimes
too. Maybe you went out earlier this year and met a guy who you ended up talking to for hours. You had so much in com-mon, you felt mutual attraction and you begin to wonder if this is what being swept off your feet feels like. Only at the end of the night one of his girlfriend’s friends walks up to you and tells you exactly what you didn’t want to hear: You know he’s taken right? At least with trees you have a ribbon to give you your answer; no Facebook stalking or asking around needed. Either way, when this happens, it is always disappointing.
No matter how badly you may want someone else’s tree, you can’t have it. If another family found their perfect tree first, you can’t just go chop it down yourself and take it home. If a tree, or a person, is taken already, respect that.
You might not realize how much you like a tree, until you see another family notice it. My family often picks out three or four trees to keep our eyes on during our time shopping. We usually mark the tree in some way, so we know where to go back and find it. When it is time to make our final decision about which tree we like the best, we often approach an area only to see another family standing around one of the trees we marked.
In the dating world this tree would be equal to the girl you were attracted to but just can’t decide how much you actually like. One night you see another guy talking to her at a bar and he is clearly interested in her, only you don’t care in the slightest. Without even intending to do so, you’ve found your answer: you don’t really like her all that much to begin with. But if you see this situation and are ready to sprint over and run interference, then maybe this is a girl (or tree) worth the fight.
At the end of the day, it is all worth it. Okay, yes I stepped in horse poop during my great tree hunt, and my entire body was numb from being in the high speed winds for so long, but it was all worth it because I found the perfect tree. So don’t be discour-aged if you’ve been stepping in the horse poop of the romance department lately. It is possible that it is actually all worth it in the end.
APRIL PAYNE Scene Columnist
The DatingScene
Looking for love, lingering on a limb
THIS WEEK IN...
TELEVISIONTHEATERS M U S I C T W I T T E RDoris Day – ‘My Heart’Amy Winehouse – “Lioness: Hidden Treasures’Chevelle– ‘Hats Off to the Bull’Korn – ‘The Path of Totality’The Black Keys – ‘El Camino’
DEC. 6“The Rachel Zoe Project” 9 p.m. (Bravo)Get a taste of the life of celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe as she styles elite celebrities, runway models and other private clients.
“Coriolanus” – RGerard Butler and Ralph Fiennes start in this movie about a Roman general pitted against his citizens. When he can’t gain citizen support in order to secure his rule as Consul, he plans revenge on the city of Rome.
#WhatILearned — Both in and out of the classroom, Twitter users are talking about life lessons they’ve been taught in different situations.#cantsayno — It seems like there are a lot of things that “tweeters” can’t say “no” to, such as chocolate, gas money and even using hashtags.
Compiled by Anna Shymanski
Photographs of America’s West have at-tracted contemporary art enthusiasts and many others to Omaha’s Joslyn Art Museum.
This fall the museum’s featured exhibit is “American Landscape: Contemporary Photo-graphs of the West.” The exhibit is a collection of works by 14 different photographers who traveled through the West and captured the geography, history and culture of the land and includes pho-tographs from three decades. The Joslyn’s chief curator Toby Jurovics brought the exhibit to dis-play a variety of landscapes from the West.
“[Jurovics] brought the exhibit here to ex-pose Omaha to the art form of photography and show the different landscapes that make up the western portion of the United States,” Alex Oas, an overseer of the exhibit, said.
Since the exhibit’s debut in September, the exhibit has drawn many people from across Ne-
braska, as well as neighboring states, said John Svatos, a representative for the Joslyn Art Mu-seum. Many school groups have taken field trips to the Joslyn to examine the photographs and get a better understanding of the rich history of the West.
“We also had several of the American Land-scape photographers come to do talks that drew in large crowds,” Svatos said.
Most of the images are of rivers, trees, water-falls and rock formations to show the geography. The photographs are arranged along several walls throughout the exhibit for guests to examine.
“My favorite part of the exhibit was how beautiful nature looked,” Joslyn visitor Kimberly Hannan said. “Many people think that the West is full of grass and sand, but these photographers found places in nature and made them look very peaceful and beautiful.”
“American Landscape: Contemporary Pho-tographs of the West” will remain on display through Jan. 8. Admission to the museum is free of charge with a valid Creighton I.D.
BOBBY BECKERGuest Reporter
Joslyn exhibit captures the West
Opinion
“What do you want Santa to bring you for Christmas this
year?”
Danielle FiumefreddoArts & Sciences senior
“May 12th.”
Dan CaterBusiness junior
Katie YoungArts & Sciences senior
Ericka LewisArts & Sciences sophomore
Caroline ScottArts & Sciences sophomore
“Snow.”
“An ‘A’ in Chemis-try.”
“A 4.0 GPA.”
Compiled by Natalie KillionPhotos by Trina Pham
THE CREIGHTONIAN 2 December 2011
Created by Katie Thompson
With Thanksgiving behind us, it is now socially acceptable to deck the halls with Christmas spirit. Although, let’s be real:
I’ve been in the “Christmas spirit” since mid-November. I blame the Pandora Christmas station for this.
But how do we know when Christmas season really begins? Is it the appearance of Mall Santas? Is it green and red wrapping paper adorning the store shelves? Is it mistletoe hanging precariously above a doorway? Or is it the arrival of holiday cups at Starbucks (although they came surprisingly early this year. Really, Starbucks? Right after Halloween?)? The passing of Thanksgiving makes it socially acceptable, but when can we say that Christmas season really starts?
All of these are definitely good indicators that Christmas is looming in the not-so-distant future. But the real kicker, the one that lets us all know without at doubt, is the tree. Why else would someone put an evergreen in her living room? A bonsai tree, perhaps. But an evergreen? Nothing else can explain that the way Christmas can.
So, Christmas is fast approaching. You need to get a tree. These are facts. But the big dilemma you face, you little Christmas tree shopper, you, is what kind of tree to purchase. Not Balsam Fir vs. Scotch Pine. Who cares about that? The actual debate at hand is real tree vs. fake tree.
My personal preference for trees aside, I will seek to convert you to the Church of Fake Trees today. Its followers are devout, no doubt, and you will find that they have many practical reasons why your signal that Christmas is coming should be of the manufactured-variety.
In the spirit of the holiday, I will provide you with the reasons why fake Christmas trees trump the real ones in the style of the “Twelve Days of Christmas.”
A partridge in a pear tree: the smell of real Christmas trees is nauseating and it stinks up the whole house. Why would you want your house to smell like something that has long been associated with air fresheners for used cars? Fake trees don’t have that awfully overpowering odor and instead, a lovely scented candle can fill your house with much more appealing scents than nasty old pine. Peppermint, perhaps?
Two turtle doves: you can get your real Christmas tree in any color you want as long as it’s green (or brown when it dies). This is not the case with fake Christmas trees. Would a nice red tree fit the motif of your pad better? Not a problem. There’s a tree for that. Fake trees can come in any color and can even be multi-colored. This is something Mother Nature just can’t do.
Three French hens: real trees are dangerous. Call me crazy for caring about the well-being of those who chop down their own Christmas trees. Axes and saws are not toys, kids, and can cause serious bodily harm. One wrong move and a new limb might be on your Christmas wish list. Fake trees, on the other hand, are quite safe. No sharp tools necessary to obtain a fake tree. Safety first!
Four calling birds: real trees have an expiration date. Fake trees are immortal. You may have to fork up a bit more money when you buy your first fake Christmas tree, but rest assured, it’s an investment in your future Christmases. Fake trees can last for decades. Consider it a family heirloom, if you’d like. You can’t pass on a real tree from generation to generation unless the kids would like a bag of nasty mulch. That’s worse than coal.
Five golden rings: fake trees offer the modern American a great deal of convenience. They don’t need to be watered and some of them come pre-decorated with lights. Disposal is also much easier. Just pop that sucker back in its box and send it up to the attic. No little pine needles to pick up either. What a relief!
So when you and your kinship head out to get your Christmas tree, don’t make the mistake of buying a smelly, monotone, dangerous, decaying, inconvenient real tree. Go fake. All of its perks will add a little cheer to your Christmas season.
Think of all the smells associated with Christmas: cinnamon, peppermint, hot chocolate, freshly baked cookies,
and most importantly, the refreshing smell of cedar and pine. Now think of all those smells together – it’s a Christmas medley of scents. However, attempts at nailing that evergreen tree smell through candles or car air fresheners can’t compete with the natural smell of a real Christmas tree. There’s just something about real trees that artificial trees don’t have.
You can’t experience that annual day out with your family to pick out the Christmas tree if you use artificial. For some families, this day only requires a ten-minute drive to the nearest Christmas tree vendor, in which you pick the tree from the array that are ready for the picking.
Then there are those dedicated families who fully embrace the real tree experience and make it an all day affair. The family packs up the car, drives at least an hour to the tree farm and wanders around until a special member of the family dubs that patch as the ONE. More
wandering, many suggestions made – and many suggestions shot down by the person in charge (usually the person with the ax or chainsaw) – until FINALLY, someone spots the winner.
After all the technicalities have been covered (tree cut, hauled to the car, tied to the top) it’s time to head home — but
not without some more family bonding time!Then comes that moment when the tree is brought
into the house and placed in its dedicated spot, and then, you inhale deeply and embrace that natural scent of an
evergreen tree. There’s nothing like it. There’s nothing like getting sap on your fingers from touching the trunk as you help haul the tree in the house. There’s nothing like vacuuming all of those pine needles that accumulate on the ground. There’s nothing like crawling under
the tree – which becomes more difficult after Christmas when there are gifts to push out of the
way – in order to water the tree so it doesn’t become too dry, or dare I say it — die.
Decorating a real tree has its challenges, but I’ll argue it builds character. Yes, there are artificial trees that require the owner
to string lights on, but most people are getting the trees where all you do is take it out of the box, set it
up, and plug it in – that’s almost too easy.There is no way that the Germans thought that their tradition
of Christmas trees would evolve into something so — lazy. Everyone should experience the frustration that Christmas lights bring: the untangling process; checking for burnt out bulbs; and wrapping the strand around the tree over and over and over again, until the whole tree glows.
The sense of accomplishment after hanging lights is one of a kind because you can actually see the work you put into it. If you wimp out, your tree will show it. Real trees build character. It helps the owner learn responsibility. Who knew that a real tree came with all of these added bonuses?!
Did Charlie Brown decide to get an aluminum tree when he couldn’t find the perfect one? Did he look at the pitiful tree, turn his nose up, and decide to go the fake route? NO. Like Linus said, “it just needs a little love.”
Seeing Christmas trees near the curb symbolizes the end of the Christmas season. Christmas is over when you can’t drive through a neighborhood in the early days of January without seeing old Christmas trees littering the side of the road.
Don’t get me wrong – I would rather see Christmas trees littering the ground than actual garbage — but it is a bittersweet moment seeing trees next to the trash. But think of all the good times with it: spending countless hours decorating it; sitting in front of it while opening Christmas presents; standing in front of it with the family for the annual Christmas picture, all while enjoying that special evergreen smell that is only around for limited times in the year. Don’t miss out – get a real tree.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas treeFake trees offer better investment Real trees have sentimental valueNATALIE KILLIONOpinion Editor
ANN DUFFYColumnist
“I would like a PS3. Screw world peace. I want a Playsta-tion.
6 Opinion
THE CREIGHTONIAN2 December 2011 7 Sports
It was raining 3-pointers at D.J. Sokol Arena on Sunday afternoon as the Bluejay women upset the previously undefeated North Carolina State University Wolfpack 74-67. Before the keyed up crowd of more than 700, Jim Flanery’s team made 12 three pointers, shooting a lethal 43 percent beyond the arc.
It was a evenly game up until the first media timeout in the 1st half. Following the media timeout the Jays built a lead with two 3-pointers by freshman forward Taylor Johnson and one 3-pointer each from sophomore guards McKenzie Fujan and Jordan Garrison. The Wolfpack went on an 8-0 run to cut the Bluejay lead to 25-24. They would go on to lead 33-30 at intermission.
In the second half the Bluejays went on a critical 10-4 run that pushed the lead to nine at 43-34. The closest the Wolfpack got the rest of the way was at the 6:03 mark when North Carolina State made a layup to cut the lead to 56-54. But as they did all game long the Bluejays responded with a three pointer, this time from Garrison.
Down the stretch the Bluejays made their free throws while the Wolfpack did not. For the game the Wolfpack shot 42 percent (10-24) from the charity stripe in comparison to the Bluejays 75 percent (12-16.)
Solid bench play all game long kept the Bluejays fresh on defense. Against a physical Atlantic Coast Conference contender the Jays rebounded the ball well and played smothering defense. The Jays never let the Wolfpack get comfortable shooting the ball as the Wolfpack struggled to knock down open jumpers.
Head coach Jim Flanery talked about the talent of his bench after the game.
“Those kids that really don’t have a lot of experience stepped up and made big shots,” Flanery said. “That’s huge. Trusting each other … those kids are capable of doing that. With a younger team the longer you go without winning, the harder it is to get that feeling back.“
The Jays hit 3-pointers at opportune moments, almost every time the Wolfpack went on a run and got back into the basketball game.
Nelson had a monstrous game, leading all scorers with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Johnson hit 4 three pointers and finished with 15 points, while her teammate Jensen hit 3 three pointers and finished with 14 points.
The Bluejays travel to Wyoming on Dec. 1 of December before returning home to take on the No. 2 University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Tip-off for the game against the Fighting Irish is set for 1:35 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 4, at the D.J. Sokol Arena.
The Creighton women’s basketball team, already off to a 3-2 start following a 74-67 victory over North Carolina State University Sunday, looks to improve upon its 18-13 record (12-6 conference record) of last season.
The key obstacle standing in the way of success for the Bluejays is a lack of experience. The team lost three key starters from last year—Kellie Nelson, Sam Schuett and Kelsey Woodard.
Women’s basketball head coach Jim Flanery believes that is no reason to write off the young Bluejays.
“We’re going to be a deeper team. We’re going to play more people. There’s less separation from the top of our roster to the bottom in terms of talent and experience,” Flanery said.
To accommodate for the lack of experience on the roster (9 of the 12 players on the roster are freshmen or sophomores), Flanery wants to focus on defense, specifically creating pressure and forcing turnovers in the full-court.
“Defensively we lost a lot last year, so it’s going to take a lot to get back to where we were and everyone buying into our defense and working on it every single day,” senior forward DaNae Moore said.
Moore is the only senior on the Creighton women’s basketball team.
“It’s important for me to be a leader on this team,” Moore commented.
A lack of experience on the team does not mean that the team lacks leadership as well. In addition to the senior Moore and the two
junior guards Ally Jensen and Jasmin Corbin, sophomore guard Carli Tritz and sophomore forward Sarah Nelson have emerged as leaders on the team as well.
Tritz, the returning Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and Missouri Valley Conference preseason all-conference team selection, will be a key factor in the Bluejays’ success this season.
The sophomore guard’s season could have ended before any games had even been played. At one of the first practices of the season, Tritz went down with a knee injury. The team at first feared the worst — that Tritz would suffer a season-ending knee injury similar to the one of Jacqui Kalin of the University of Northern Iowa, the returning MVC Player of the Year.
Players, coaches and fans alike let out a collective sigh of relief after the injury turned out to be only a torn meniscus, which, as far as knee injuries were concerned, was a quick fix.
“[The knee] is good. It doesn’t bother me that much when I play,” Tritz said of the repaired knee.
Nelson will be another force to be reckoned with this season. She currently leads the team in points, rebounds, and steals and has recorded three double-doubles in five regular season games. Her stellar play has earned her Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week honors twice within three weeks this season.
“It’s just really nice to be honored. I never would have thought in a million years that that would be me,” Nelson said about receiving conference player of the week honors.
This combination of stellar young talent and useful, albeit limited, experience
presents the Bluejays with the opportunity to have an excellent season. Several difficult nonconference opponents followed by a challenging conference schedule will test Creighton early and often.
“We have the toughest schedule in the league by far,” Tritz said.
The highlight of the non-conference schedule this season will undoubtedly come on Dec. 4, when the Creighton Bluejays host the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish at D.J. Sokol Arena.
When conference play begins on Dec.31 against Drake University, the Bluejays, ranked No. 4 in the conference preseason poll, will be frequently and aptly tested against strong conference foes like Missouri State University, the University of Northern Iowa, and Wichita State University.
“I think it’s really anyone’s competition right now,” Sarah Nelson said about conference play.
“I think we’re … under the radar,” Tritz added, “People really are expecting us to finish fourth in the conference … because we lost three seniors, but I think because there are no expectations, we can play really loose.”
At first glance, Creighton appears to be a young team that is building for the future; however, with a bit of experience in the three upperclassmen and a lot of talent coming from freshmen and sophomores ready to step into and embrace their roles on the team, the Bluejays could be serious contenders in the Missouri Valley Conference come March.
Tis the season ... to win
Bluejay DominationLook online for extensive coverage of the men’s basketball team.
Check out the recap of the game against Campbell University in which the Jays scored over 100 points.
Find out why December is so important in college basketball.
Read about the 26th ranked Bluejays battle with the 29th ranked Aztecs of San Diego State University.
Follow basketball through break online!
Online
JOSH BUCYSports Reporter
Jays shoot lights out
MICHAEL KOTROUSSports Reporter
The team huddles up last season after playing Iowa state University. The Jays have a young team and they hope that they continue to devlop their skills as the season progresses. Photo courtesy of White and Blue Review via Flickr. Graphic by Hayley Henriksen
Bluejays move on to Elite EightThe No. 2-seeded Creighton men’s soccer
team defeated an imposing No. 15-seeded University of California Santa Barbara 2-1 in the third round of the NCAA Tournament at Morrison Stadium Sunday afternoon.
The Bluejays scored twice in the first 20 minutes of the match, a feat that the Gauchos could not match in the 70 remaining minutes. The win gave Creighton its eighth ever NCAA quarterfinals appearance.
The Bluejays are now 13-0-0 at Morrison Stadium this season and 20-2-0 overall.
Creighton entered the contest ranked as
the top defense in the country, while UC Santa Barbara had the third-best offense. It was the Bluejay offense, however, that was able to land the first blow.
In the eighth minute of the match, Creighton was awarded a corner kick. During the set piece, a Gaucho player was booked for grabbing senior forward Ethan Finlay in the box. Sophomore midfielder Bruno Castro stepped up and drilled the ensuing penalty into the back of the net for his sixth goal of the season.
“Of course, I was a little nervous,” Castro said. “I just went for it, I didn’t think much about it.”
Just 11 minutes later, another corner kick paid dividends for the Bluejays. Junior midfielder Jose Gomez sent the corner across
the box to junior midfielder Greg Jordan. Jordan headed the ball to the front of the goal mouth where junior forward Andrew Ribeiro blasted a shot for his fourth goal of the season.
Creighton managed to keep the high-powered UC Santa Barbara offense in check throughout the first half of play. The Bluejays held on to the ball for much longer than the Gauchos, who did not have a shot on goal in the first 45 minutes.
UC Santa Barbara was finally able to break the Creighton defense in the 79th minute for a goal. Before that, Creighton had not allowed a goal since Oct. 15. It was only the second goal Creighton had allowed at home and only the fifth goal allowed by the Bluejays all year.
The final minutes of the match featured
very open play. They also included two red cards for the Gauchos and a yellow card for Creighton’s freshman midfielder Jose Ribas.
Even though UC Santa Barbara entered the game with 50 goals scored on the season, they left with only two shots on goal. Senior goalkeeper Brian Holt did not record a save in the match, since Jordan knocked away the Gauchos’ only other shot on net.
Creighton has reached 20 wins for only the second time in the program’s history, with the only other time being the 2000 NCAA runner-up team. The Bluejays are in the Elite Eight for the first time since 2008, when they lost to Maryland in College Park.
MATT BOURGAULTSports Reporter
Sophomore defender Tyler Polak kicks the ball up the field in the Jays win over UC Santa Barbara in the third round game. Photo by Dino Beldia.
