Invisible Children “Face-to-Face” Tour Visits Sewanee

On November 8th, students packed Blackman Auditorium, as dozens turned out to take part in the Invisible Children's "Face-to-Face" Tour presentation. Dedicated to pursuing the rescue of hundreds of child soldiers within Josephy Kony's "Lord's Resistance Army" active around northern Uganda, the humanitarian organization sent its touring squad to visit Sewanee, a speaking engagement that featured not only permanent Invisible Children staff members, but most importantly, Ugandans whose lives have been directly impacted by the organization's efforts to both liberate child soldiers as well as rebuild Uganda's shattered education system through material and financial support. 

5th Annual Turkey Trot Raises $13,000 for Blue Monarch

Saturday, November 20 featured the 5th Annual Turkey Trot, hosted by Theta Pi, TKP, and PKE. The Turkey Trot was started by Theta Pi Sorority as a fundraiser in support of Blue Monarch, a non-profit organization designed for Tennessee women and their children who are struggling to overcome abuse, unhealthy life choices, and emotional wounds. During a 12-month residential stay at Blue Monarch, the women are treated for alcohol and drug abuse as well as physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. The Blue Monarch aims to "provide a safe, nurturing, and challenging environment...while they restore family bonds and gain independence and maturity through the experience of God's love." 

Getting Used to Wikileaks

A month ago, I had to explain what Wikileaks was when I talked about my philosophy thesis - now everyone has an opinion. I had decided to call the paper "Indecent Disclosure: the Ethics of Wikileaks". At first it was kind of a joke, "indecent" wasn't really the right word, I just wanted to allude to the sudden nakedness of the US government after of the disclosures of the Afghan and Iraq War Logs. Now, though, it seems my joke is getting around in the form of a snappy quid pro quo: Wikileaks does to the American government what TSA does to American citizens. Indeed, the timing couldn't be more ironic - at the very moment when the government has decided to stretch the 4th Amendment beyond recognition - that is, the American freedom from warrantless search - the government finds itself violated, intruded upon, and angry. 

The Shabby Guide to Surviving Exams

I have gone through many an exam process, and not one has been easy. I remember my freshman year exams where I almost went into a nervous breakdown, overdosed on coffee, and lived in the library for a week leading up to them. I, of course, was overreacting and overanalyzing the situation. When I got to my exams, they were far easier than I had expected, and I got through them without any major difficulty (well maybe one panic attack when I momentarily forgot that the fifth king of Rome was Tarquinius Priscus). However, having gone through the "finals" process several times now and studied the habits of highly successful students, I consider myself a proverbial old hand and have refined my studying tactics to both an art and exact science so that I no longer require a sedative to go to sleep or am called an ATC troll. Follow these pointers and you shall be well prepared for any exam. 

The Big Bang Theory: A Dork’s Delight. Bazinga!

The Big Bang Theory is in the middle of its fourth season and it continues to draw in 13 million viewers. The show won the People's Choice award for Favorite Comedy and also won the best comedy series TCA award. Jim Parsons (aka Sheldon Cooper) won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The show is geared towards educated college graduates, college students and dorks. The show's humor incorporates many different types of humor that can be narrowed down into the three different types. The first is the overall geekiness of four of the principal characters whom love things such as Star Trek, Star Wars, etc. The next type of humor involves educated humor that typically plays on scientific subjects such as psychology, biology, astronomy, and physics. The final type of humor, the most important part of the show, is personality conflicts. Sheldon is a genius that obtained his PhD when he was 16, does not understand humor at all, and adheres to strict routine. Leonard is Sheldon's roommate who has mother issues and is more socially functional than Sheldon. Penny is an attractive blond, extremely witty, bearer of common sense, and is Sheldon and Leonard's next door neighbor who had a relationship with Leonard. 

The Most Expensive Plaque on Campus

As you walk into to Spencer or the newly renovated Snowden, you may notice a large and official looking glass plaque that clearly announces for all to hear that this building is environmentally friendly and LEED certified-the hippie architect and institution's greatest recognition. After last year's deplorable "D" grade in sustainability, Sewanee has and continues to work hard in improving its environmental impact and sustainability. We have an expanded recycling program, begun composting on a larger scale, and tried to conserve more energy through motion activated light switches and water efficient toilets. The largest shift and the one with the most significant impact, however, has been in construction. With the completion of Spencer Hall and Snowden, Sewanee now has two certified LEED certified buildings. Getting LEED certified is a complicated and elaborate process. 

Don’t Touch My Junk, Bro!

"Sir, please step aside," the Travel Security Administration agent instructed me at the Nashville airport last week as I was about to fly home to San Antonio. Falling victim to "random selection," I was taken to a separate line to go through the controversial full-body scanner, the giant x-ray machine that performs what has been dubbed a "virtual strip search." Apparently I failed the search, so I had to undergo the even more controversial pat down procedure. As the stocky TSA agent slid his hands up and down my thighs and around my ass, he gave me this apologetic look that said, "I'm sorry, man. I want to be doing this as much as you want to be standing here right now." Turning up nothing - surprise, I'm not a terrorist - I put my sweatshirt back on and walked to my gate, unsure if I should have felt molested, violated, or just kind of amused. Amidst a media firestorm, civil liberties and privacy advocates have declared these new screening measures unwarranted and unconstitutional; pundits and politicians on both sides of the aisle have stopped just short of calling for the head of Janet Napolitano, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. In post 9/11 America, there have been gradual encroachments on individual liberties in the name of securing our nation from the threat of terrorism, but what is more troubling is that most people do not seem to care until it directly affects them. 

Music Review: Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

I don't care what you think about Kanye West, I really don't. That's right, I'm addressing you, the reader, because when something like My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy accumulates critical hype to the degree it has, its reviewers come across as repetitive trend-followers. Unless they're naysayers. And the way Pitchfork and company have given Kanye the ever-coveted kiss of eternal indie approval, you'll be hard pressed to find a negative reaction to Fantasy.

Arm and Trout Exhibits Student and Professor Musical Talents

It's a cold November night and you're walking through central campus when, suddenly, you hear music coming from a big white house next to the McCrady dormitory. People are meandering around the front and sides of the building. Some of them are merely talking with friends while others are hauling musical instruments into the front door. Curious about this rather out of the ordinary activity, you wander into the building only to find the entryway almost completely blocked. You manage to squeeze past a few people and find yourself in a softly lit room filled with chairs, coffee, food, students, professors, and music. 

Tigers Boot Competition

Lady Tigers Split Family Weekend, Hungry for More Wins

The women's soccer team has taken the field and their season by storm. With a 5-5 overall record and never having lost a game by more than one goal, these ladies are getting the job done. During Family Weekend, October 1-3, the girls took on both Austin College, who defeated them 1-0, and the University of Dallas, who they beat 7-0.

Ebbing Tide: Elite Stumble in College Football, Wk.6

After an ungodly long amount of time without losing a game as a starter, Greg McElroy finally lost and Alabama tumbled from their top spot as the number one team in college football. After the Tide's disheartening loss to South Carolina, Ohio State assumed the number one position, with Auburn leaping in front of Alabama as the highest ranked team in the SEC (7).