STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1929

TheCauldronVolume 106 No. 13 Aprill 14, 2008 |

Viking ExpeditionsCSU Students Promoting Change and Aid

Contents

10Team Polar Bear w- Mrs. Parent (Kathleen Oglesby)

THE MELTING POTGetting in Over Our HeadsAndrea’s Anecdotes

CULTUREAre They Worth a Listen? The Importance of Punctuation:Contest Allows Young Composers a Chance to Shine

THIS WEEK’S FEATUREVIkING ExPEDITIONSVacant houses—and there are many—tell their own story. Almost all of them have a large X somewhere on the front of the structure. This symbol was meant to tell rescuers which homes have been searched, and what was found there. In the top of the X the date that the house was searched is written. In the right and left sides the group that did the searching, and the entirety of the search [interior, exterior, etc.] was specified.

NEWSEarth Day in ClevelandBlack Aspirations WeekBlack Poetic Society at CSUFidel Who?

SPORTS CSU Golf Team Making Strides

Weekend Provides Plenty of Winningfor Women’s Teams

SECTIONS

Colin Baylen

The Melting PotThe Cauldron reserves the right to edit letters for

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CauldronAndrea MitchellLaura DyndaJayson GerbecKatie ShoemakerEbony CashIlona WestfallNick CaminoSteve Thomas

Michael QuinteroAnne Werner

Reid MayMark JablonskiFaith LarraineJamie DuBoisMark KatzbachChris EnochScott ArkoRobert IvorySabrina PeacockRoman VerzubEmily OuztsWhitney Maddox-FosterDan HallowellShanette D. Buford

Francis X. Bova IIISairah ZaidiM.P. Beller

Editor-In-ChiefManaging Editor

Advertising ManagerAdvertising Rep.

News EditorCulture EditorSports Editor

Layout Editor &Web Designer

CartoonistBusiness Manager

Staff Writers:

Contributing Writers:

The

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Volume 106 No.13| April 14, 2008

Andrea’s AnecdotesBy Andrea Mitchell

April 14

2008

The

Melting PotAndrea MitchellLaura DyndaJayson GerbecKatie ShoemakerEbony CashIlona WestfallNick CaminoSteve Thomas

Michael QuinteroAnne Werner

Reid MayMark JablonskiFaith LarraineJamie DuBoisMark KatzbachChris EnochScott ArkoRobert IvorySabrina PeacockRoman VerzubEmily OuztsWhitney Maddox-FosterDan HallowellShanette D. Buford

Francis X. Bova IIISairah ZaidiM.P. Beller

Editor-In-ChiefManaging Editor

Advertising ManagerAdvertising Rep.

News EditorCulture EditorSports Editor

Layout Editor &Web Designer

CartoonistBusiness Manager

Staff Writers:

Contributing Writers:

L ast Friday as I was walking from the Main Classroom to the bookstore I noticed several people standing on the sidewalk holding huge signs. Each

sign depicted graphic representations of breast surgery and abortion. The protesters didn’t bother me and I made my way across the street without interference, so I dismissed the protest.

Later that afternoon a friend of mine called me and asked if I had seen the protesters. I said I had and she asked me if I was going to run a story in The Cauldron about it. As far as news goes I didn’t feel the protest warranted coverage because abortion protests happen everyday. However, it got me thinking about the first amendment. We all have the right to conduct a peaceful protest and that is exactly what these anti-abortion protesters were doing.

They didn’t do anything to me personally and while they have the right to stand there on Euclid Avenue expressing their beliefs, women all over the country still have the right to choose. The fact

is that everyone is entitled to their own opinions in this situation. The protesters were educating the public on moral dilemmas and the public, such as myself could choose to smile and walk the other way.

The thing is though, that to people like my friend who called me and others walking past the protest, the message was hurtful. So my question is how do students feel about protesters this close to campus?

I can tell you that I feel they should be able to stand on the sidewalk everyday and shout at the top of their lungs that abortion is wrong. However, pro-life protesters should be able to stand right next to them and shout at the top of their lungs that abortion is right. What is great about this country is that people can say whatever they want.

I think we forget when people present political, religious or moral issues the fact that everyone has the right to say what they think. Many have died for us to have this right and whether or not people will ever agree the fact is we can agree to

disagree.So whether or not anti-abortion protests make

liberals mad or pro-choice fanatics express their feelings loudly in the middle of the MC plaza, we have a the right to say what we feel.

I’m interested in what all of you have to say about this issue. Please comment at www.csucauldron.com or send a letter to the editor to us at cauldroneditors@hotmail.com. My only request is that you leave the moral dilemma the protesters were speaking about out of your comments/letters and focus on the first amendment, while exercising it.

They didn’t do anything to me personally and while they have

the right to stand there on Euclid Avenue expressing their

beliefs, women all over the country still have the right to choose

A Cartoon by Michael Quintero

The Melting PotPage �

April Fourteenth 2008

How many credit cards do you have? Do you have one or two? Or do you possibly have 12 cards in your wallet right now? Ask any

college student and they might just tell you one of these answers. College students with credit cards can equal big trouble. With just one click of the mouse, you can sign your name up for never ending debt.

On Apr. 9, Cleveland State University’s Levin College of Urban Affairs showed the 2006 documentary Maxed Out to educate students on the inner workings of the credit card industry. There was a discussion after the film with Ohio Treasurer Richard Cordray, Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis, and Professor Kathleen Engel of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

Have you ever passed on of those tables that advertise a free t-shirt or beach towel if you sign up for a credit card? Most college students would answer yes to doing so. Did you know that even though you may be denied that credit card, your name is put on a list that is sent to different credit card companies, who in turn send you mail advertising their product.

In the film Elizabeth Warren, a Harvard Law Professor conducted the largest study about why Americans are going broke at a higher rate than during the Great Depression. Instead of

individuals saving their money, spending it seems to be the major trend. The

next generation will have to face the repercussions from

this, and suffice it to say that is our generation. In her book The Two-Income Trap, Warren said, “The next generation is starting their economic race 50 yards behind the starting line.”

Each generation looks to the one before them for guidance. What do we see when we look to the last one. Al that I see is DEBT…debt from the war, and debt from terrible spending. With each presidential administration, more and more money is taken out of social security and used to pay the interest on loans that the United States has. It is a system that needs to be reformed and changed. But will someone do it? Will the next president give the United States what it really needs? Will they enforce regulations on credit card companies and mortgage companies? That is something that will have to be seen.

One of the biggest problems is that this country is facing is having its citizens spend their paycheck before they get it. By doing this, Americans do not save their money, and if some unforeseeable monetary problem arises they will go head first into credit card debt. Credit card companies have no regulations, they can charge whatever interest they choose, and can call and harass its customers who do not pay on their charges. This is a revolving system that just keeps going. Credit card companies actually love it when their customers skip payments and have to pay late fees. This is where they make the most money. And college

students make up a huge demographic of this.College students having trouble with money

is not something new, if the government can’t give us a break on our student loans. How can they possibly give us a break on our credit cards? In 1970 during a Special Message to the Congress on Higher Education, President Richard M. Nixon said, “No qualified student who wants to go to college should be barred by lack of money. That has long been a great American goal; I propose that we achieve it now.”

Suffice it to say…this did not happen. The United States government has not done anything to lessen the load of the college student’s burden. With loans that can never be eliminated by bankruptcy, students have the added pressure of getting a well-paying job in order to pay off their loans.

Until the government implements reforms in the financial system, make sure to pay off your credit cards each month. Never sign up for more cards, because your name will circulate to different card companies. Only keep two cards, because more cards will hurt your credit rating. Start to save your money! Start now, that way you will not have to work until you are 70 to pay off debts that you accumulate now. Maxed Out is now available from Netflix.

Getting in Over Our Heads: Maxed Out Credit CardsStory by Laura Dynda

Tuesday Apr. 22th is Earth Day. Earth Day is an important event that all Clevelanders can participate in. This year the Cleveland

Metroparks Zoo is hosting Earth Fest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday Apr. 20th. The zoo will host various booths occupied by the Earth Day coalition, NASA, the city of Cleveland’s recycling programs, a number of solar powers manufacturers, the Great Lakes Brewing Company, car companies, Levin College of Urban Affairs for public Transportation, the magazine Earth Watch and many others.

Earth Day, however, is just one day out of the year to look at the environment. Chris Trepal the executive director of the Earth Day Coalition of Cleveland said, “Definitely it’s a day to celebrate. For Cleveland it’s our 19th annual event.” The event and the coalition look

to spread awareness about the environment and changes that need to occur to combat some of the most harmful practices.

For college students the phrase “being green” is not always the easiest mission. To help out Trepal said, “One of the easiest things for students to do would be get out of their cars and look into public transportation. [Also] they can turn off the energy use.” Trepal encourages students to turn off lights, computers and anything that uses energy when they’re not using it.

Over the past four decades Cleveland has tried to promote a cleaner way of living. Trepal told The Cauldron, “In the Midwest Cleveland is actually one of the leaders [in environmental action].” It was after the Cuyahoga River caught fire in 1969 that Clevelanders truly began to see the impact of industrialization and

pollution on the environment. Today, however, with events like Earth Day, Cleveland is moving forward. Trepal said, “I do think Cleveland and northeast Ohio is providing quite a bit of leadership.”

Overall Earth Day spreads awareness to the public and shows the community what is happening to fight the negative ways we live. Trepal tells Cleveland State students that, “Our event is held at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and college students can get in free to the zoo if they go to Public Square and take the shuttle to the zoo.” All day, every fifteen minutes, a shuttle will run from Public Square to the zoo to drop off participants in Earth Day for free. If you would like to make a difference in the community or attend Earth Day at the zoo, more information is available at http://www.earthdaycoalition.org/.

By Andrea MitchellEarth Day in Cleveland

April 14

2008 News

The Black Studies Program presents Black Aspirations Week, which is April 14th through the 19th. During this week the Black Studies Program presents various

programs from International Day, Curtis Wilson Community Dinner, Black Alumni Reunion, and an Urban Community Forum.

Many people do not know what Black Aspiration Week is, the history behind Black Aspirations Week, and what historical figures made all of this possible. So, what is Black Aspirations?

Black Aspirations brings together contemporary social, political, and economic issues. All are welcome to learn and participate as we identify, examine, analyze, and reflect upon responsible actions for the growth and development of the African American community, while celebrating our unique blend of cultural arts and entertainment.

Black Aspirations Week is not only for the African-American community, it is for everyone who has an open mind, and wants to learn more important facts.

“Black Aspirations Week is important because it gives all students, no matter what the color of your skin is, important history information on issues the African-America community faces”, said Ruth Reese, who is a Black Studies staff member at Cleveland State University.

The history of Black Aspirations Week dates back at Cleveland State. “This is the 35th year of Black

Aspirations Week and it was developed by a group of administrators at CSU. The group of administrators includes Mary Joyce Green who is the Director of the Women’s Comprehensive Center at CSU, and Curtis Wilson who was an Assistant Professor of History at CSU. The purpose of Black Aspirations Week was to celebrate black achievement in the African-American community, bring diversity to CSU and bring together the CSU black community and the surrounding black communities. In the ‘70s there was not a lot of diversity at CSU”, said Valerie Hinton Hanna of Student Life at Cleveland State.

During the Black Aspirations Week there will be various events taking place all over campus. Some of the events will be lectures, dinners, and films. One of the events taking place is a meeting with guest author Walter Mosley. Walter Mosley is an African-American author who has written many mystery books such as Fear of the Dark, Cinnamon Kiss, and Walkin’ the Dog. He is the guest speaker for the Black Studies Programs Tombouctou Book Club.

This event will be Monday April 14, 2008 at 6 p.m. in the Waetjean Auditorium, which is located in the Music and Communication Building at 2001 Euclid Avenue.

On Tuesday April 15, 2008 at 5 p.m. the Black Student Union is hosting an event called “Searching for Our History: OAAU meets BSU”. This event will be held in the Dively Auditorium (CSU Urban Building

1717 Euclid Avenue) for more information on this event call (216) 687-5461.

One of the events that will bring Black Aspirations Week to a close will be The Curtis Wilson Scholarship Fund Dinner. This dinner is held every year as part of The Curtis Wilson Scholarship. This year marks the 20th Annual Curtis Wilson Dinner and it will be held Saturday April 26, 2008 at 6 p.m. at the Wolstein Center.

The dinner is a “Salute to Black Graduates” and a scholarship in the memory of Curtis Wilson. For more information on about this event call (216) 687-2048 or 687-9394.

Curtis Wilson was an important figure at Cleveland State. He was the former director of Black Studies Program, and an assistant professor of history at Cleveland State. Wilson was an advocate for students, and he served as advisor of the then African-American newspaper The Vindicator.

“I hope all the students enjoy Black Aspirations Week and learn some important information about the African-American community,” said Patricia Washington who is the secretary of the Black Studies Program.

For more information on the events taking place during Black Aspirations Week visit the Black Studies Program website at www.csuohio.edu/blackstudies or call the Black Studies Program office at (216) 687-5446. All the events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.

Black Studies Presents: Black Aspirations WeekBy Shanette D. Buford

ADVERTISEMENT

April 2008 – University Lofts Bookstore doubles up on activities for its Open House on Thursday, April 17, 2008 with two separate author signings scheduled for the event. John Gorman will be on hand in the morning to sign copies of The Buzzard: Inside the Glory Days of WMMS and Cleveland Rock Radio – A Memoir and Michael Heaton will be on hand during the afternoon to sign copies of Truth and Justice For Fun and Profit: Collected Reporting. The event is from 11:00 a.m. to �:00 p.m. and all are welcome to attend.

The Open House celebrates the recent opening of University Lofts Bookstore. Last summer the bookstore settled into an historic building across from Cleveland State University, becoming the first retailer to open as part of the downtown revitalization efforts. At 8,000 square feet, the bookstore houses a mini café as well as a wide selection of merchandise including textbooks for the CSU students, general reading, magazines, greeting cards and gift items, and university apparel. University Lofts Bookstore is located at 2020 Euclid Avenue and is easily accessible for the campus and surrounding community to enjoy.

During the event, attendees will have the opportunity to meet John Gorman, an Ohio Radio-TV Hall of Fame inductee who helped turn WMMS into one of the most popular and influential rock stations in the country. His book, The Buzzard: Inside the Glory Days of WMMS and Cleveland Rock Radio – A Memoir, takes you behind the scenes of this station during FM’s heyday from 1973 to 1986. It offers juicy insider details in a fast-paced, entertaining story. Gorman will be on hand to sign copies of his book from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Attendees will also get the chance to meet Michael Heaton, an award-winning columnist and reporter whose byline has appeared regularly in the Plain Dealer for more than 20 years. Truth and Justice For Fun and Profit: Collected Reporting is the first collection of his feature-length reporting. The book includes 40 newspaper and magazine stories that show Cleveland to be a place of bold schemes, failed dreams, and colorful characters. Heaton will be available to sign copies of his book from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

In addition, the College Town Developers will be on hand to give attendees a preview of what’s happening in the future for the community. They will discuss the ongoing revitalization planned for the downtown area.

Stop in Thursday April 17th from 11:00 – �:00 for . . .

Fun, Book Signings, Live Music and . . .Free Refreshments! Free T-Shirts! Raffles and more!

University Lofts Bookstore Opens its House to Two Authors

The Black Poetic Society will be presenting Don’t Call It a Come Back; The Poems of Black Poetic, at Divey Hall in the Urban Affairs building on Friday April 18th.

This event, which will be directed by Douglas Hoston, founder of the Original Black Poetic Society, will mark the first time in seven years that more than three poets from the troupe, Black Poetic, will perform together. The Black Poetic Society began in 1994 and has since seen its initial audience grow from less than a 100 to 300. As its audience grew quantitatively, so did its members from three to 17 four years later in 1997.

“I found out that people won’t buy your book unless you’re doing some kind of performance poetry,” Anthony “Da Boogieman” Rucker one of the main acts scheduled to perform Friday said concerning his attempts to get his name out in the world of performance based poetry.

Rucker’s love for poetry started in the fifth grade when he met his English teacher. “We did not get along at all,” Rucker said about his initial interaction with his teacher. During one class Rucker’s teacher had him stay after class to his surprise he found out that she was so impressed by his poem that she wanted to hang it up on the wall.

Rucker began his involvement with Black Poets around the same time he was working at a cleaning company and bookstore. “I ended up quitting my cleaning job because I couldn’t go to the meetings like I did the first year,” Rucker said.

Rucker originally started a group of poets called

the Oppress Poets, which later fused with Douglas “Sage” Hoston’s Black Poetics.

Rucker also worked as an adjunct professor for New York University as a professor of Slam Poetry. There were five other classes including a workshop for young children, a class that explored the successfulness of slam poetry, and a class that explores the relationship between belief/spirituality and poetry.

“Unfortunately I couldn’t take the position and they had to let me go…I wasn’t acclimated into system,” he said concerning the University’s requirements for him to teach.

Rucker also worked as an educational coordinator for the Police Athletic League for the Bronx police. He also worked the lecture circuit for Harvard.

Spoken word poetry venues are spread sporadically throughout the Cleveland Region. From the Beachland Ballroom, University Circle Arabica and the Great Lakes Brewing Company, to the Kamikaze coffee shop across from Randall Park mall and the Barking Spider.

Slam poetry is a competitive form of poetry that is often associated with spoken word. Marc Smith, a construction worker from Chicago in the late 80’s, developed it. Prior to slam, spoken word artists like Gill Scott Heron, the Last Poets, and Umar Bin Hussain integrated social commentary in their soul infused beat poetry.

According to Rucker, today’s spoken word and slam poets lack a social context like their forefathers

did in the mid 70s. Rucker said that developing your poem into a social context isn’t the main objective in today’s poetry scene. Instead Rucker said, “Some poets today do monologues instead of poetry.”

Another rising trend that is starting to infiltrate the poetry culture is its need for commercial sustainability. As HBO’s Def Jam Poetry and other entertainment outlets begin to expand the scope and popularity of spoken word the money doesn’t fall far behind. “That’s the nature of the capitalist society just like anything when it gets popular you could make money off of it so why not make money off of it?” Rucker said.

The problem however, according to Rucker is that money doesn’t necessarily equate to good quality art.

According to Rucker a lot of what is considered popular lacks intellectual substance because there isn’t anything to argue about. Rucker uses comedy as an example. Rucker delineates between Adam Sandler and George Carlin.

“Sandler’s comedy makes you laugh, but it doesn’t make you think, [while] Carlin’s comedy is political and he adds social commentary to his comedy,” Rucker said.

This is one of the reasons why people from the hip hop community started to assimilate into the slam culture. According to an article written by Free Times journalist Michael Gill, “Slam poetry became a refuge for spoken-word artists who got frustrated with the commercialization of hip-hop.”

Cleveland has a fairly long history with the slam movement. In 1994 the Cleveland slam team brought home the national championship. In these competitions a poet has to have 10-15 poems memorized and ready to go according to Cleveland slam poet Q-nice.

Rucker isn’t very specific about how or where he gets his inspiration from. “Anything and everything that moves me or touches me,” he said. “To me poetry is a catharsis. If I’m not writing I’m not happy.”

In addition to Anthony “Da BoogieMan” Tucker poet/playwright/educator, Dr. Mary Weems, MC/Poet Q Nice of Chief Rocka Entertainment and National Poetry Slam Champion and four-time APOLLO Winner, will also be performing. The event will also feature Elegant Ladies of Poetic Thought.

Curiously enough, the scheduled performance comes a day after Saul Williams, well known hip hop spoken word artist and political activist, is supposed to perform at the Grog Shop.

Black Poetic Society Performance to Take Place at CSUBy David Edwards

NEWSPage 8

April Fourteenth 2008

Crime Prevention TipBrought to you by Cleveland State University Police

Saul Williams

Last year celebrity blogger Perez Hilton reported that Cuban dictator Fidel Castro was dead. He was wrong, of course, and to

this day Castro remains alive, albeit not that well. At 81, he remains ill in bed, the shell of his former imperious self. And as he waits for what will indisputably soon be the end. He watches his country – the country he has ruled over for almost 50 years – change.

Fidel Castro’s brother, Vice President Raul Castro, was the acting president of Cuba for 19 months before the dictator stepped down and handed over the reins. Now, things are changing; slowly, yes, but in the most hopeful of ways.

Cuban historian, Eusebio Leal, told a gathering of Cuban intellectuals that the country should ready itself for “a new destiny.”

While the laws that prohibit leaving the country are still strong and in effect, smaller, more common privileges have been granted to the residents of Cuba. The first common privilege granted to residents is the ability to stay in luxury hotels that were before reserved

strictly for tourists. Next is being able to have more of a part in deciding how to use their land, what to plant, etc.

Former bans have also been lifted on electronic appliances, DVD players, and microwave ovens. Finally, the beginning of refurbishing the family doctor program, in response to the claims that it was understaffed.

And as of April 14th, Cubans will even be allowed the freedom to buy and use cellular phones, something they were never before granted.

Although Raul Castro has only been in power for a couple of months, his desire for change is hard to ignore. At 76, however, just five years younger than the former dictator, one can’t be too sure as to how long he will last as the new president. Nevertheless, hope appears to be strong, and perhaps Castro is on the way to a true revolution. One that can be followed, perfected, and enhanced for years to come.

Fidel Who?Changes Occurring with new Leadership in CubaBy Christina Niehaus

Jogging, Biking and other outdoor activities: - Choose routes in advance that are safe and well populated- Vary your route and schedule- Avoid jogging and biking at night- Know businesses that are open and locations of police and fire stations- Consider not wearing your stereo headphones. ITS SAFER TO BE ALERT.

NewsPage 9

April Fourteenth 2008

Crime Prevention TipBrought to you by Cleveland State University Police

Brought to you by the Student Occupational Therapy Association at CSU

April

14

2008 Feature

Viking ExpeditionsCSU Students Promoting Change and Aid

By Reid May

A trip to New Orleans in May of 2007 was the beginning of Viking Expeditions. It was on that trip Heidi Vielhaber discovered the

impact that could be made by a group of like-minded students. When she returned to Cleveland State University Vielhaber realized she wasn’t the only one who thought that way.

Vielhaber discussed her ideas with Student Leadership advisor Paul Putnam, who pointed her in the direction of Huong Nguyen, Heather Nguyen, and Sarah Seibert all of whom had similar aspirations. Together, these four students were the beginning of Viking Expeditions.

Over spring break, as many relaxed in the comfort of their homes, months of work came to its summit. Viking Expeditions made it’s first out of state service trip, taking twenty-eight students and two staff advisors to New Orleans, Louisiana for a week of laughter, tears, teamwork, bonding, growing and most of all, making a difference.Preparation

Viking Expeditions formally came together as a committee in August of 2007, to begin preparing for the two service projects they hoped to complete during the school year.

The first would occur during Thanksgiving Break, focusing on Cleveland and the surrounding area. The second, a bit farther down the road, in New Orleans, Louisiana where an effort would be made to help residents recover from Hurricane Katrina.

This original committee was constructed of only six students and one staff member, Paul Putnam. They were faced with the task of planning two trips with no prior experience to support them. But this group, while lacking in numbers, was up to the challenge. They successfully orchestrated a Thanksgiving weekend retreat that included trips to Dress for Success and St. Augustine’s Hunger Center, while laying the groundwork for post-winter break planning to prepare for New Orleans.

While the planning for New Orleans took place over the course of the entire year, most of

the work was completed after classes resumed in January. The committee expanded to include several additional members, who joined in for a final two months of preparations to make the journey possible.

The work—which encompassed finding housing, shower facilities, and coordinating with a volunteer program, while also planning for and purchasing food, transportation, and equipment among other tasks—was seemingly endless and often emotionally straining.

However, in a great example of what Viking Expeditions hopes to become, the committee persevered and was ready to embark on their first great journey when spring break arrived on March 8th. Then the snow hit.

The blizzard conditions that battered Cleveland—along with the entire mid-western United States—on the 7th and 8th of March was the first obstacle on the trip to New Orleans. On Saturday morning, hours before the bus was supposed to depart, the decision was made that due to the extreme conditions,

Both Teams gutting again (Antonia Orosz) Cobras and Polar Bears--Gutting (Antonia Orosz)

Polar Bears Roofing Again (Antonia Orosz)

Team Cobra Trampoline Pic (Heidi Rose Vielhaber)

Team Polar Bear--Stripping the Roof (Antonia Orosz)

leaving Ohio would have to be put off for at least twenty-four hours.

Nobody had planned for a delay, and as a result the schedule in New Orleans was changed before the trip even began. Instead of spending Sunday enjoying the unique city, the group would instead travel all day, and go straight to the service headquarters and work sites on Monday morning.

Despite the change in plans, there were no complaints about lost time, or inconvenience. The mission of the trip was universal. We were going to help people, and that was what mattered.Working

The week spent in New Orleans was one of the most enriching I’ve ever experienced. While the devastation and feeling of helplessness was so prominent in the area, it was amazing to see how quickly an impact could be made. There wasn’t a day on the work sites where we didn’t feel like we were making a difference, making challenges easier to overcome.

Upon arriving on Monday morning [March 9th] the bus immediately took us to the service headquarters for the Louisiana United Methodist Disaster Recovery Ministry [LUMDRM] where we were introduced to the professional staff that would be guiding us through our week on the sites. An hour-long introductory meeting provided us with some background on the recovery situation in the area, mostly outlining what little work had been completed.

Viking Expeditions would be working on the North side of Lake Pontchartrain, which technically isn’t in the city of New Orleans. The work on this side of the lake was about 85% completed, while the work in the actual city—the 9th ward and surrounding area—was only five percent completed.

It was shocking to hear that two and a half years after the hurricane hit, 85% of the city of New Orleans hasn’t received assistance. Even more unnerving was the news that of all the recovery work occurring was not government funded.

Habitat for Humanity and private church organizations—LUMDRM—were the only reason that recovery had even begun.

After the introductions our group, too large for any one-work site, was split into two teams—creatively named the Cobras and the Polar Bears—and assigned to two different North shore locations. Half of our team would be working on the home of and elderly gentleman named Mr. Smith, whose home had three rooms that needed gutting, and a tin roof that needed to be completely removed and redone.

The other home was that of an 80-year-old

woman, Mrs. Parent. The tasks at this residence were the removal of a humongous amount of brush and tree debris from her yard and the stripping and re-shingling of her roof. Both of these people lived alone with few (or no) family members in the area. Neither of them were able to complete these tasks themselves.

Countless hours were spent at the two worksites, and our two teams, neither of which had any construction experience, completed nearly every task requested of them. Team Cobra, working on the home of Mr. Smith, was able to complete the removal of all damaged interior materials and perform mold prevention treatments for the rebuilding of the house.

They also removed the tin roof and replaced it with a plywood base and tarpaper, leaving shingles as the only task not completed on that worksite. The team didn’t have time to complete the final phase of the project, though part of that was at the fault of the contractors because the supplies were not at the site on time.

Team Polar Bear completed the entire roof on their worksite, finishing the project late on Thursday evening. There was a lot of excitement surrounding the completion, especially after receiving very little instruction from site contractors, and largely having to figure it out on their own. A large part of the yard was cleared of brush, and an attempt was made on the rest, though Team Polar Bear concluded that nothing short of a bulldozer could clear some of the massive trees that had fallen there.Problems Encountered

The snow that inhibited our departure from Cleveland would not be the only problem encountered on Viking Expedition’s maiden voyage. And while that is, of course, expected on a first time journey, most of the obstacles we faced were far out of our hands.

Our bus was twice the victim of poor roadways and un-negotiable turns, finding it’s way into two ditches, once on Monday, and again on Wednesday. While only one of the incidents required a tow-truck, both slowed our progress, and created frustrating schedule conflicts.

The location of our lodging, and its relativity to our worksites and shower locations made our commute long and difficult. This was chiefly the result of where LUMDRM put us, and was out of our control for the week.

Also unexpected and out of our hands was the lack of instruction we received on site. A contractor oversaw each location—ours was simply known as Dwight—and we were told that he would be on site every morning to show us how to complete our tasks. This was

never the case, and Dwight was often difficult to contact with questions or concerns.PerseveranceWhen put in perspective, the difficulties we encountered seem small and trivial, but one after another they made for a stressful week where the common plea was “What could possibly make this any worse?” Despite the difficulty, this group of people—a group that was largely unfamiliar with one another prior to the trip—was able to grow and work together, pushing through whatever came across it’s path.It was a very special experience to observe people who had no investment in each other constantly provide mutual support in hard times. The reason this trip was a success wasn’t because of the location, the contractors, or the work being done. It was all about the people doing it, and their dedication to completing the task, regardless of external factors getting in the way.Witnessing the Devastation

I chose very specifically to talk about the devastation in the lower 9th ward last. It was one of the most terrible things I have ever seen. Katrina occurred two and a half years ago, but the streets and the people tell a different story. It looks as though the damage was done yesterday.

On Friday, March 14th our group got its chance to tour the area. We spent 40 minutes walking a few streets, speaking with some of the residents who are still there. Most of the houses are empty, and of the few people that remain, only the most fortunate have a livable home to be grateful for.

Vacant houses—and there are many—tell their own story. Almost all of them have a large X somewhere on the front of the structure. This symbol was meant to tell rescuers which homes have been searched, and what was found there. In the top of the X the date that the house was searched is written. In the right and left sides the group that did the searching, and the entirety of the search [interior, exterior, etc.] was specified.

The bottom part of the X is reserved for a body count. As we toured the area it was eerie because the streets were actually very quiet. You realize that in these homes you were walking past, people had died trying to outlast the worst natural disaster in United States history. They had lost their lives here, and now we walked through the streets like it was a tourist attraction. It is difficult to describe the devastation that occurred in the 9th ward.If you want to understand the magnitude of what has happened to that city, to that entire region, then you have to go to New Orleans. You have to witness it yourself.

A ttention all aspiring composers-- the Cleveland Chamber Symphony’s semi-annual Young and Emerging Composers

concert is coming up on May 22nd, and they are currently accepting submissions of pieces to play in the show. This exciting opportunity offers performance experience, professional quality orchestral recordings, and the chance to get your name into the arena as a serious composer. CCS collaborates with many of the top universities in the Northeast Ohio area for this series, selecting compositions exclusively from student composers.

Established in 1980, the Cleveland Chamber Symphony was previously in residence at Cleveland State University under the direction of founder and conductor Dr. Edwin London. Currently, the orchestra has an ongoing residence at Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music under conductor and artistic director Steven Smith, and is developing a new relationship with the Cleveland Music School Settlement, located in University Circle.

Devoted to the commissioning, performance, and recording of new music, CCS has premiered over 170 pieces. They have given repeat performances of those pieces locally and nationally, in addition to their vast collection of musical recordings, allowing their contemporary music to be easily accessible to a wide range of audiences.

The orchestra also recently developed the revolutionary concept of the Public Commissioning Initiative, which gives the general public the ability to collectively contribute to the funds for a new piece. Currently, the funding is going towards sponsoring a piece by composer Marta Ptaszynska.

Their commitment to the performance of new American music has been recognized several times, receiving funding from foundations such as: The National Endowment for the Arts, The Ohio Arts Council, and The Cleveland Foundation. Just last year, the group won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance for Olivier Messiaen’s Oiseaux exotiques, with vocal soloist Angelin Chang, a professor at Cleveland State. They have also been given numerous other regional and national awards by the American Music Center, American Composers Alliance, ASCAP’s Edwards award, and the American Symphony Orchestra League.

Maestro Smith will only be reviewing chamber string ensemble scores for this Young and Emerging concert, and eight will be selected for the performance. In addition to receiving a professional recording of the piece, the selected

composers will also have the opportunity to work directly with the conductor and musicians during the rehearsals, and have the possibility of their piece being selected for future performance at a CCS concert. Previously selected composer, Christopher Lee, reflected on his experience, saying, “The Young and Emerging Composers series is extremely important for the continued nourishment of concert music in northeast Ohio and everywhere else… Many young composers who were inspired by their work with this series have gone on to do great things on the international stage. A lot of careers begin here.”

All submissions must be five-ten minutes in length and never previously performed at a professional level. Scores, along with a brief resume and contact information should be sent to the Cleveland Chamber Symphony c/o Michael Leese, 3084 Yorkshire, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 and must be received by May 14th in order to be considered. The concert and all rehearsals will be held at Drinko Hall in the Music and Communications building on the Cleveland State campus, and the debut performance will be May 22nd at noon, free and open to the public. For further information, interested students may contact David McGuire at david101043@yahoo.com.

Contest Allows Young Composers a Chance to Shine By Laura Krawczyk

April 14

2008 Culture

A visit to the Cleveland State University Student Art Show is a refreshing experience. The quiet atmosphere that greeted me when I stepped into the gallery gave the perfect opportunity to relax and focus on the student-made art. There was a lot of space to move around and it would be easy to make a decision if I were making a purchase. Some of the pieces had already been purchased and they were marked by a big black dot on the nametag. I was able to move in a perfect circle around the gallery and study each piece individually.

After walking around briefly, I came across a piece that was too good to describe with words. After looking at the sign next to the exhibit, I saw that it was created by Michael Kuschnir. The piece, titled “Memories of a Family Dinner,” was a unique creation using steel, glass, cloth, water, soap, sugar, oil, ethanol and gelatin. All of these items recreated old memories of items you would see at the dinner table. Everything looked so real, but at the same time it had meaning to it. It was an indescribable something that made you stop and think about what you were looking at. Kuschnir was well deserving of an Award of Excellence given

to his piece.

Band of Choice: A Cursive Memory

10 Reasons Why You Should Listen to A Cursive Memory

1. Sound: It’s really not too bad. It’s kind of catchy in places…sort of intriguing. There’s really not much to say about it in the PRO section.2. Voices: Lead singer Colin Baylen has a sweet voice. It’s kind of little boyish, with some femininity in there, but still has some masculinity. Again, it’s quite hard to explain. It doesn’t make me melt per se, but it does fill my heart. It’s a happy voice. He’s like a human endorphin!3. Video: Ok, so they only have one video out. It’s for their song “Everything” and the video is pretty friggin’ amazing. It looks homemade and all they do is chase after paparazzi and catch different singers and movie stars in their video. There are cameos in there from Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Jerry Springer, etc. A lot of good ones are in there. It’s a pretty funny video, as well. 4. The Transition: The band actually formed in the eighth grade. Then, they signed with Binum Murray in the tenth grade. They were promised a record deal right out of high school and now here they are. They started young, and have gained so much since their middle school days! 5. Album: Their debut album Changes came out in February on the record label Vagrant …which will be talked about later. 6. Look: They are soo adorable. They are obviously young and they still have those precious young boy features. Plus…they look like total skater boys. Gotta love them skater boys!7. Warped Tour: A Cursive Memory will appear on a leg of Warped Tour this summer. Which leg that is…I’m not sure. Let me check.

[Googling] …information unknown. 8. M-Music: This is the record label they were with right after high school. This record label is run by Binum/Murray productions. They produce shows like The Simple Life and MTV’s Real World. Very cool. 9. Played with: They have played along with bands such as hellogoodbye, Senses Fail, and the infamous Jimmy Eat World. Therefore, they have cool friends. 10. Appearance: A Cursive Memory will be at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights on May 3. Tickets are on sale now for $8.

10 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Listen to A Cursive Memory

1. Young: They are really young. They act really young… (Move to con #2)2. Goofy:…they are that stupid kind of young. They act really goofy in that awesome video they made. Yes, the video was awesome…but I don’t think they are ready for the nitty-gritty of this business. They could grow to appreciate it more, but right now I think they just want to have fun. 3. Top Friends: Four band members equals four top friends on MySpace. No! Don’t put yourselves as your top people on your MySpace. How conceited! 4. Vagrant: This record label isn’t that great. It’s just not. Other bands they have signed are Frenchkicks and The Futureheads. Yeah…they suck. 5. Lyrics: The lyrics are kind of corny. I understand it’s suppose to be cute but, “You’re my E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G/Everywhere, every time, everything”. CORNY AS HELL!6. YouTube: Bandarazzi??? That’s their YouTube name? Lame! You’re not going to always be chasing after celebrities for every music video. Get over yourselves.

7. LA: They are from California. I don’t know if I trust California boys…they seem like players and really lame for being players. But…I am making accusations because of the state they live in. I guess that’s kind of wrong. NOT!8. Pop Rock: Not really rock at all. All pop seriously. Ugh…pop. Sure they have the guitar and the kick butt drums but…Baylen’s voice kills any type of rock category they could possibly have. 9. Medic Droid: They are on tour with this crazy techno group. They are a little weird. A Cursive Memory is nothing like them and it was probably a bad move to tour with them. 10. Final Thought: They really aren’t that good. The youngness, the label, the immaturity…it all adds up to a thumbs down. Sorry.

Are They Worth A Listen?By Faith Larraine

Have you ever wished that when you made plans with someone that they would actually follow through? But then, you realized that those plans just failed miserably because the person likes to disappear on you…and all you can hope for is better times with someone else. You’re probably still waiting for them though, right? That’s what this band likes to sing about. The band name makes me think of a “dear john” letter; but you can make up your own mind about them. So you tell me…are they worth a listen?

Colin Baylen

CulturePage 13

April Fourteenth 2008

It’s 2008, and you’re Panic at the Disco. In four short years, you’ve managed to rise from MySpace obscurity to the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, tour

with the hottest bands in the business, and sell more than a million copies of your debut record, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out.

However, you’ve also suffered the less-than-amicable loss of your founding bass player, become reluctant martyrs for emo, and endured widespread criticism from those who say that you use elaborate visuals to disguise the fact that your music isn’t really all that great.

Now, it’s time to release your sophomore album, the all-important record that can either secure your success or expose you as one-trick ponies. The expectations are high – what do you do?

First order of business, if you are Panic at the Disco, is to market yourselves as if you’ve done some growing up. That includes, most importantly, giving your name’s punctuation the axe. With the release of Pretty. Odd., Panic! at the Disco become plain old Panic at the Disco, losing the very exclamation point that characterized the band’s ridiculous appeal.

Secondly, you must take your music

seriously. Lose the playful titles, like “I Write Sins Not Tragedies,” and use darker ones (“When the Day Met the Night”) and even another language (“Pas de Cheval”). In the same vein, drop the lyrical anecdotes about tramps in rosaries and get all psychedelic with lines like “clouds are marching along, singing a song just like they do.”

Lastly, re-develop your image so that you reek of the Beatles and an early David Bowie. Follow your contemporaries like My Chemical Romance, who fashioned themselves as Queen with The Black Parade, and the Killers, who turned the Springsteen on with Sam’s Town, to ensure respectability through homage to the greats

After following this formula, the real question is – what does all this say about your music? Does your highly anticipated sophomore album live up to its hype?

For all your efforts, the answer is – not exactly. Panic at the Disco have lost a lot of their spark in trying to redo their image. Pretty. Odd. is a lovely album, full of instruments and rolling crescendos, but it’s also a dull one. Most of its content verges on the edge of experimental folk meets radio pop, but not in the same fun way as the band’s previous

efforts. While Fever was biting, witty, and lively, Pretty. Odd. takes itself too seriously for its own good.

The first single off Panic’s new album, “Nine in the Afternoon,” is boisterous enough to recall the band’s snappier days, but most of the record’s momentum slides from there. Lead singer Brandon Urie, as pretty looking and sounding as ever, overpowers most of the album’s simple instrumentation with gregarious vocals, swinging from verse to chorus with the swagger of a Broadway diva. Guitarist and lyricist Ryan Ross lends a subtler vocal track to songs like “Mad as Rabbits,” and his more subdued style is easier on the ears than Urie’s constant voice acrobatics.

Pretty. Odd. does have its highlights, of course. “She’s a Handsome Woman” moves along a jazzy beat, and “That Green Gentleman” features a rock n roll chorus that’s hard not to sing along to. The band sounds best when they’re just having fun and being boys – which, incidentally, they are. Jon Walker, who replaced scorned bassist Brent Wilson in 2006, is the band’s elder statesman at 20.

For its occasional shining moments, however, most of Pretty. Odd. blends together in a mess of elaborate instrumentation and flowery choruses. The band seems to have a hard time establishing their own style, ripping on the Beatles and the Beach Boys at almost every turn. Panic shows signs of true musical talent, but until the band finds its own footing, their efforts are ambitious enough to prove that trying too hard is indeed the curse of death in the music business.

After ditching the eyeliner, wearing out their copies of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club, and adding dozens of unnecessary instruments to their music, Panic at the Disco have turned out, at best, a mediocre album. It seems that the band lost their sparkle right along with their exclamation point. While it will be interesting to see which direction Panic goes after Pretty. Odd., the record’s discord may be best attributed to growing pains. Stay tuned to see which classic artist the band will emulate next, and in the mean time, pull out your copy of A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out and reminisce about better, more exclamation-pointed times.

The Importance of Punctuation: Panic at the Disco’s new album falls short By Emily Ouzts

Panic at the Disco

CulturePage 14

April Fourteenth 2008

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If you are a die-hard Vikings fan of female sports, then last Sunday was your sports nirvana. The Viking softball team not only took care of the Butler Bulldogs for

the second straight day (winning two of the three games over the weekend series), but the CSU soccer team also completed their very successful spring season at the domed Krenzler Field.

The softball team lost their first game of the doubleheader 2-0 in nine innings, but showed their resiliency and won the second game 3-2. Amanda Macenko pitched another gem, not allowing an earned run and only giving up three hits in her complete game. Leadoff hitter and leftfielder Whitney Willard scored in the first inning on a Butler throwing error, and scored again in the third as Danielle Young hit a homer

to close out the Bulldogs.In the rubber match on Sunday, it was the

all too familiar face of Macenko shutting down the Butler offense. Again, the Bulldogs were just unable to hit what Macenko threw at them.

It would be the long ball again that the Vikings used to win. This time it was Katelyn Ciminelli that would get the four-bagger, which brought in Amanda Houchin and the Vikes were just too much for Butler, and would cruise to a 6-1 victory.

The women’s soccer team continued their stellar defensive form, as they beat the Bowling Green Falcons 1-0. The score line reflected how well head coach Derrek Falor has shaped the team after a dismal year.

Clean sheets against, Slippery Rock, Tiffin,

John Carroll, Edinboro, and Bowling Green has shown how the back line has matured.

“We have all of our starters in at defense, were looking for maybe another offensive threat, but I am really pleased with our defensive situation,” Falor said after the match.

As for the softball team, the squad has had success by both the arm of Macenko and the offensive shelling of their bats. Horizon League wins against Detroit Mercy (1-0 and 6-1) during the middle of the week has put the Vikings in the driver seat in first place in the Horizon League at 6-2 (tied with Valparaiso).

The probable decider will be the May 3rd and May 4th showdown with those Crusaders at the ballpark in Cleveland. Spring is here, and what a great time for a sports fan.

Weekend Provides Plenty of Winning for Women’s TeamsSoftball Team Continues Great Run, Women’s Soccer ShinesBy Robert Ivory

As their season rolls on, the Cleveland State men’s golf team continues to improve both individually and as a unit heading into their final

two weeks of the 2008 campaign. This will unequivocally make them a force to be reckoned with in the final three events of the season.

Under first year head coach and former

Viking golfer Steve Weir, CSU has shown steady improvement throughout their season which actually began back on Sep. 10, 2007 at the John Piper Intercollegiate in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Since their return back to the links on Mar. 13, the Vikings have had impressive outings with two first place finishes, a second place finish, a third place finish, and a fifth place finish at competitive tournaments throughout the second half of the season.

Heading into this weekend’s Detroit Invitational the CSU squad remains a confident bunch. Led by sophomore Kyle Cobb, junior Jake Scott, and senior Doug Barber, the Vikings are perhaps the surprise team in the Horizon League Conference coming off their first place finish at the two day Wright State Invitational in Fairborn, Ohio.

Sitting in fifth place at the end of the first day, the Vikings mounted a memorable comeback led by Barber who shot a career low 67 in the second round and winning medalist honors overall by four shots. Scott tied for second place after shooting three solid rounds with consistent scores of 73, 73, and 70.

Weir commentated that this is a great accomplishment for the team, but there is still work left to be done.

“We are going to take a couple of days off and then get back at it as we continue to build toward our ultimate goal of a conference championship,” Weir explained.

High expectations for the Head Coach? Not necessarily.

All season the CSU squad has continued to grow both individually and as a team stunning people around the NCAA golf world.

After the Detroit Invitational, the Vikings will take to the course at the Kent State First Energy Invitational, followed by the Horizon League Championship. A great individual performance there can earn select members of the team a bid to the 2008 NCAA Men’s Golf Tournament.

With the continued improvement the team has already shown, coupled with their recent first place finish at the rugged Wright State Invitational, the sky appears to be the limit for the CSU men’s golf team as well as the individual members who proudly represent this fine institution.

CSU Golf Team Making StridesVikings Take First at Wright State, Now Looking to DetroitBy Nick Camino

CSU senior golfer Doug Barber

April 14

2008 Sports

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Occupational Therapy Word Jumble

k w r o __ __ __ __

y a l p __ __ __ __

s t e r __ __ __ __

e l p e s __ __ __ __ __

Occupational therapy promotes a balanced life for greater wellbeing. Practice maintaining the four rhythms in your life and evenly distribute your time

among your various__ __ __ __ __ !

Occupational Therapy Month Crossword Puzzle

For more information about Occupational Therapy go to: www.promoteot.org

Junior Brad Buell takes a look at a ground ball before he decides to make the dash to third base during the Vikings 9-7 loss to Kent State.

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