Hail to the Chief

Katie Powers, the editor-in-chief of The Santa Clara, reflects on her first quarter running Santa Clara University's student newspaper in an interview with Managing Editor Sophie Asmar.

Omaha for Obama

This is a big election for Nebraskans.

For the first time since 1964, we might have one electoral vote going to the Democratic candidate. Since Nebraska, being the crazy/great state that it is, it splits its electoral votes by congressional district, so not all 5 will go the overall winner in the state. Obama has the lead in the second congressional district, where Omaha is. This is a big deal for everyone, considering if you are a Democrat in Nebraska the feeling is you might as well just give up, all the time.

I voted absentee, hoping this may be possible. I can't wait.

Obama actually campaigned in Omaha. And that's what I love. Many other presidential candidates skip Nebraska. In fact, Clinton had never even BEEN to Nebraska until his last year in presidency. (My grandmother took me out of school to see him at the Air Force Base, it was great). But skipping places in the Midwest because 'they are Red States' perpetuates regionalism and snotty divisions in our country. And it's just plain wrong. There are many Democrats in Omaha, and now, we are proving it.

We all know Obama is going to be the next president. It inspires hope and patriotism around the country. But for us liberal Nebraskans, it also inspires the hope for local political diversity.

Barack Obama

I am proud to be an American tonight.

Really, B?

Before I get onto representations of women in the media from a historical perspective, have you seen Beyonce's new music video? I used to think of her as an empowerer, jelly and all, someone "who wouldn't dis you on the internet." But this put a ring on it is a little anti-feminist? No?

She's just bragging because she's marry Jay-Z I guess.

I'm skeptical, B.

"Blog it Out"

Touching on Nicole's last blog, I just arrived in the library. Or moonbase, as I like to call it.

I'm about to transcend into the mindset of a historian, writing my introduction pages to my historical writing paper. So to warm up in the most opposite fashion, I started with a blog about college life.

One of the biggest components of college life is stress management, or so I've realized. I  just got off the phone with my best friend from American University, and she too is experiencing some major stress-filled battles. It's like, senior year should be fun? That or the scariest time of your life?

No that is exaggerating. I guess when it's May and I am unsure what I'll be doing in September is the scariest part...But really. We manage so many full-time roles. Student. Editor. Job applicant. Trying to have a personal life. I dunno.

By the way, the loose leaf coffee in the library is $2.00. Steep. Yikes. I forgot to mention one of the roles of the college student is frugal budget manager.

Uhhh...onto Soviet women.

Library - 12:57 AM

You know when you watch a movie and there's that scene at the beginning when the main character is walking down the streets of New York City and the whole world is zooming around them?

That's how I feel right now sitting in the library. I've been in the same seat for hours, and the people have changed, the murmur of the room has quieted and the sky has turned dark.

But I'm still here.

First Blog

Is this going to work?

I used to be a paid blogger. Just putting it out there.

Welcome to mah worlllld!

What kind of car could your tuition buy you?

Could the economy be affecting students' choice in college? Seems like it. According to an article by neighbor school San Jose State's newspaper, the California State University system has already received approx. 50,000 applications thus far, a 21% increase from last year. According to the CSU website, in-state tuition for SJSU, including all fees, room & boards, books, etc. is roughly $20,000, while the cost to attend Santa Clara University is roughly $50,000.

Update with Santa Clara application numbers to follow soon...

Ivy Leagues Debate ROTC Program

After Barack Obama and John McCain spoke at Columbia University in September, controversy regarding bringing the ROTC program back onto Ivy League has been at the forefront of students' minds.

Both candidates criticized the universities for banning ROTC programs on-campus, which is partly in reaction to the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. This article, published in Dartmouth's student newspaper, provides a pretty good explanation of the situation.

Sure, I can do that too...

I'm going to be honest - I'm blogging in class.

But I'm also listening to a great lecture, taking notes, texting with my friend, reading about the economy on CNN.com and... yes, I'm also checking Facebook.

There are about twenty students in my class, and at least a third of them have their laptops open and are attempting the same multitasking routine as myself. Yes, our ability to click between screens is amazing, but are our non-plugged-in classmates learning more than us?

Who knows. But I was inspired to google "college students" and "multitasking", and ran across an article published in TIME magazine in 2006. Pretty interesting, especially this statistic:

Today 82% of kids are online by the seventh grade, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project. And what they love about the computer, of course, is that it offers the radio/CD thing and so much more--games, movies, e-mail, IM, Google, MySpace. The big finding of a 2005 survey of Americans ages 8 to 18 by the Kaiser Family Foundation, co-authored by Roberts, is not that kids were spending a larger chunk of time using electronic media--that was holding steady at 6.5 hours a day (could it possibly get any bigger?)--but that they were packing more media exposure into that time: 8.5 hours' worth, thanks to "media multitasking"

I rarely even sleep 6.5 hours a day.

New reporting crew

It's a new year with a new team of Streetbeat Reporters ready to start blogging. Introducing...

Sophie Asmar: Back in action after blogging last spring. She's interested in profiles of photographers.

Katie Powers: New to the team. She's from Omaha. She's interested in personal essays and interviewing seniors. She's concerned about finding a job in journalism.

College Reporters goes on vacation

With the academic year coming to a close at SCU, it's time for the College Reporter's crew of bloggers to head home for the summer. Thanks for all your hard work and engaging writing this year.

Saying Goodbye

My range of emotions in the past week have been out of control. I'm graduating college in six days. I've woken up crying, I've had moments of panic, and I've had evenings of pure celebration. I'm excited, I'm sad, I'm nervous, and I'm thrilled about leaving the world of Santa Clara. Everyone seems to be handling this time in our lives differently. Change is accepted by people in a variety of ways. My one roommate has spent the past week scrap-booking, reflecting on photos from our four years and packing up the pieces of her life that has made her college room. Another roomie has chosen to go out almost every night and catch her last drinks at our favorite local watering holes. I am currently receiving daily phone calls from my dad, "eight more days"...."seven more days"...I don't want to be reminded. He called today and said my name "Marjorie McLeod McAteer" like a graduation speaker while humming "Pomp and Circumstance" . I tried on my cap and gown yesterday and while I look ridiculous it was bittersweet to see myself ready for the stage. I can't believe I made it. What an amazing experience. Its hard to believe that Saturday my career as a student here at SCU will come to an end. These four years went by in a blink but I know I will remember them all forever. Thanks for everything!

-Maggie

Pat Semansky, photographer extraordinaire

Pat Semansky is a former photo editor of Santa Clara University's undergrad newspaper The Santa Clara. He was such a wonderful part of the paper, took on so much responsibility and went out of his way to make sure the paper ran smoothly, the staff moonlighting award is now named after him.

Since he graduated in 2006, he has spent his days in New Orleans shooting for the likes of the Associated Press and doing who knows what else. I admire his talent and ambition.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of his:

Besides the fact that this boy is adorable, which always adds to a picture, his expression captures the moment. He's watching the New Orleans Mardi Gras parade with such wonder and awe. The angle of the barrier and the blurry background draw the eye straight to the little boy's face. The boy is obviously the focus with only an out-of-focus float, scattered beads on the floor and in his hands to give the photo some context.

Kat Ryalls and Lindsey Ott are the two volunteers in this school buidling damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The light coming through the broken roof gives this photo an eerie feel. You really get a sense of the ruins left behind in New Orleans in the dingy colors. Again the angle of the walls and the shadows draws the eye to the girls' corner, along with the brilliant white face masks among the dirt and ruins.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the hope of renewal eventually came from help from the nation. The stark contrast between the strength of the nation in the symbolism of the flag burried in the the grime and rubble is powerful. The contrasting light and dark areas add to the dramatic aspect of the photo.

This is an example of capturing an exact moment, which makes for the best sports photos. The cornerback's hand is still in a fist inches away from the jersey he was just clasping. As the tailback sticks his hand out in the opponents' face and gets away, his jersey still hangs where it was being tugged. It takes a lot of talent and luck to get such a perfect moment -- with the players even facing the camera.

For more great shots and to see where else Pat's work has been, check out his Web site: http://www.patsemansky.com/

- Sophie Asmar

(Photos taken from http://www.patsemansky.com/.)

Megz & Drue!

My roommate Meghan (a.k.a. Megz) took her boyfriend, Drue, to the Delta Gamma Senior Banquet dance last Friday. Prior to their departure, Alexa, James, and I took priceless photos of the couple outside of Sobrato in front of the fountain. Then, a luxurious party bus took the couples to the Hilton Hotel in San Jose, which is where the dance took place. Megz and Drue had a wonderful time dancing the night away. Meghan was impressed with Drue's dance skills, especially since he previously told her he couldn't dance. She also said she enjoyed the music and appreciated the oldies songs that the DJ played, such as "Footloose". Megz and Drue had a truly memorable night!
-Karina Grobelny

Wierdest College News Articles Part V

• College bans hat throwing at Graduation
• Bush commencement speech & chest thump
• Cincinnati water sprayer strikes
• Northwestern's pickiness on commencement speakers
• A college student's worst fear: cursive handwriting
• Wake Forest gets rid of SAT/ACT admission requirements

Another week, enjoy!

-Collier King

Mixed Emotions

Over the last week I have been thinking a lot about the end of my Freshmen year here at Santa Clara University and to be perfectly honest I have mixed feelings about leaving for Summer vacation. Don't get me wrong, I am extremely excited to head back to my hometown of Albany, NY in another week and a half. I look forward to seeing my family and my old friends. I also am excited about my two Summer jobs; as I will be working for the the Ayco Company, one of the nation's leading providers of comprehensive financial counseling and education services, and for the New York Giants as well. However, I can't help but feel saddened and dismayed about not seeing my new friends for about three months. Over the course of the school year I definitely feel like I made some real lifelong friends this past year and it will be hard not to see them for such a long period of time. To help solve this problem I will hopefully be going to visit my friend Alexa, who is coming to New York City twice this Summer. Also, my friend Pat will hopefully be coming up for two Dave Matthews Band Concerts as well. I wish I could visit all of my friends at least once this Summer, but it is unlikely because of everyone's busy schedules and the lack of flexibility I will have from the Giants when they arrive in the middle of July. I wish everyone a wonderful Summer vacation, and I cannot wait to see everyone again in the Fall.
-Ryan Kutey

Madden 2009 Player and Team Ratings

Every year EA Sports will allow various Madden websites to play the game before it comes out. This year, the screenshots of some Madden 09 ratings have been leaked extremely early. Keep in mind that these are very early ratings, and it is very possible that they will change before release. With that said, here are the team ratings:

Patriots 97
Cowboys 96
Chargers 95
Colts 95
Giants 94
Steelers 94
Jaguars 93
Packers 91
Eagles 91
Bucs 91
Vikings 90
Browns 88
Redskins 88
Seahawks 87
Saints 87
Panthers 86
Broncos 84
Titans 84
Bills 82
Ravens 81
Bengals 80
Bears 80
Cardinals 78
Texans 78
Lions 78
Rams 77
Jets 76
49ers 72
Chiefs 71
Raiders 71
Falcons 67
Dolphins 67

As for player ratings, in this post I will discuss the only team that I actually care about- the Oakland Raiders. Some key player ratings for the Raiders are:

Offense
QB- Russell 84
HB- McFadden 85 (According to the guy who posted the screenshots, McFadden has 97 Spd, 96 Agi, 99 Acc)
WR- Walker 87

Defense
LE- Burgess 92
DT- Kelly 91
MLB- Morrison 92
OLB- Howard 91
CB- Asomugha 96
CB- Hall 93
SS- Wilson 85
FS- Huff 84

If you are unfortunate enough to be the fan of another team, you will have to search for your team's players on your own. Heres the link:

http://www.pastapadre.com/2645/madden-09-player-and-team-ratings?nggpage=2

Coast Swapping at SCU

I recently conducted an interview with an east coast transplant at Santa Clara, Ben Seidenstein. Ben hails from Greenwich in Connecticut, near New York City. Ben explained that he chose SCU for the small class sizes as well as the prestige the university has attained throughout the state of California. These reasons were important for me also, in choosing SCU for college. As a student from out of state myself, I wondered whether or not Ben shared some of my views and opinions about moving to and living in the Golden State. When I asked him about what he misses most about leaving home, Ben explained that among other things, hanging out with his high school friends and having his own car topped the list. I can attest that I really wish I had a car here as well and it is kind of tough not seeing your old buddies. Ben also mentioned missing his trips and weekends in New York City and Long Island Sound. While a student at SCU, Ben has travelled to San Francisco on multiple occasions as well as parts of Southern California and Arizona. Ben mentioned his desire to explore more of the Bay Area and California and hopes to do more of this throughout the next three years at Santa Clara. When I asked Ben about his favorite part of living on the West Coast, he told me that the weather and the laid back atmosphere was it. I asked Ben what the hardest part adjusting to California culture was for him. Aside from missing parts about home and having to put up with the word “hella,” Ben said that communicating with his friends and parents on the East Coast through the time difference has been the hardest part about living in CA. On his favorite parts about living in Santa Clara, Ben said that he really enjoys visiting Santa Cruz as well as watching the great division one sports Santa Clara offers like baseball and basketball. Ben plans to travel during the summer and is anticipating a great sophomore year when he returns.
-Collier King

From New York Style Pizza To In'n Out

I interviewed our very own RYAN "DA KUTEJ" KUTEY! He's originally from New York from a small up state New York Town near Albany (I actually forgot what its called; hope u dont get angry Kutey!). I sat down with Ryan recently to talk to him about the struggle and life of living in CA, while being from out of state. I asked him what the troubles of living so far from home were. He told me that being away from home was the hardest when he missed his family because they were all the way on the east coast. That makes a lot of sense because i am from the area, and every time i want to go home i can just hop in my car and see my family. You have to be strong to do what Ryan is doing. He also added that if he wanted to go home he would be have to take a long flight home lose three hours and sleep in order to get rid of the jet lag. He essentially would lose a day. So if he went home for a weekend he would be home friday night sleep have saturday night and leave first thing sunday in order to get here for classes on on monday. On topo of that Ryan is a huge sports fan and being a New York Giants Football fan has been a struggle living so close to the bay where he is consistently harassed by the weak niners fans and the vicious passionate Raiders fans. Our interview was interrupted by a friend, but Kutey was able to explain how difficult it was to live so far from home. I think he is strong willed determine kid to be living so far away, but i also think it's an experience he is always going to carry with him . To be so far from home is a courageous act.

All the way from Nebraska

This week I interviewed my friend Justin Howard who is from Omaha, Nebraska. Justin is a freshman undeclared major here at SCU. I asked him about his adjustment to college life, and how he likes California. Justin told me that the adjustment was difficult for him. "It was hard being so far away from my family and dogs. Also, I hate it when people here at SCU keep saying 'soda'. Its called 'pop' darn it." says Justin. Regarding California, Justin said, "Being from a pretty rural state, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of people in the Bay Area. The people in California seem much busier and go at a faster pace than people in Nebraska." Aside from the different names for soda, and the busy West Coast lifestyle, Justin thinks California is awsome.

From Arizona to SCU!

I interviewed my suite neighbor, James Spadafore, about his thoughts and feelings about being at a college away from home. James is a freshman (business major) from Phoenix, Arizona. He has enjoyed his first year here at Santa Clara University, and he feels that he has made the right college choice. Ever since his sophomore year in high school, James knew he wanted to attend SCU. One of his high school teachers was a SCU alum, therefore he informed James about how wonderful and beautiful SCU is. James then researched and even visited SCU only to find out that his teacher was not lying-- Santa Clara really is that great. James was finally able to attend Santa Clara in the fall of 2007, and his experiences have been memorable so far. James appreciates the warm California weather (with the exception of winter quarter) as well as the beautiful campus here at SCU, located in the Silicon Valley. He enjoys meeting new people, especially in his classes and around campus. James likes the small class sizes and the ability to be able to interact with his professors and establish relationships with them. He also stated that the ladies at SCU are pretty good-lookin’. During his free time, James enjoys stargazing and horseback riding. On the contrary, James misses his family and his cats. He especially misses his mom’s cooking, but he has gotten used to Benson food (Bacon chicken ranch burgers are an everyday meal for James.) He wishes he had his car on campus so he could cruise in his red convertible Stang’ around town. (However, he should probably stay away from vehicles due to the amount of speeding tickets he has received.) James will miss SCU this summer, and he is excited to return in the fall!

-Karina Grobelny

What Happens in Vegas Never Stays There

This past weekend my six closest girl friends and I made it out to Las Vegas and somehow made it back to tell our stories. While I could write a book about the seventy-two hours we had in Sin City it might be easier to sum up the most memorable moments in a couple of bullet points:
- seeing the almost seven foot LeBron James live and in person at Tyrst in the Wynn hotel.
- experiencing the amazing Asain cuisine at Tao in the Venetian
- winning $75 on the slot machines and then spending it all on souviners that I neither needed or wanted
- our Virgin America flight to and from Vegas had blacklights and strobe lights in it that did not stop during the hour and fifteen minute flight
- getting my heel caught in an escalators packed with people in the Mirage resulting in my shoe coming off and the escalator stopping
- watching a man bet then lose $30,000 in a game of poker
- seeing the sunrise over the strip
- and last but not least spending one of my last weekends as a free college student with my best friends in the lawless community of Vegas.

Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation week

As part of Santa Clara's Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation this week, Len and Libby Traubman are holding a dialogue on campus today. The pair are part of an Israeli-Palestinian discussion group from the Peninsula that has been around since the 90s, where Palestinians and Jews come together at someone's house to talk about the conflict. It's more difficult than it sounds, and the fact that they have been going strong for a decade is a positive sign, even if it is half a world away from Israel.

I bring this up because I met Len and Libby last week at another dialogue meeting -- a San Francisco church hosted two members of Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, a one-of-its kind half-Jewish, half-Arab village that promotes coexistence between the two sides in Israel. Len and Libby were two of about 25 people in the church who discussed the conflict and the village, which is called the Oasis of Peace in English.

I was at the meeting because I visited the Oasis of Peace in December, which I am currently writing about for my senior journalism capstone. It was pure chance that Len and Libby were going to be at Santa Clara the next week. I talked with them afterward and they were looking forward to coming to campus.

Here is the Web site about their dialogue group: http://traubman.igc.org/global.htm
And the site for the Oasis of Peace: http://nswas.org

— Jeremy Herb

A Buddy for Obama

The question concerning most Democrats is no longer who will be the Party's presidential candidate, but rather, who will be the vice-presidential candidate? A Gallup poll conducted this month reported that 55% of Democratic Party voters surveyed wanted Hillary Clinton to be Barack Obama's running mate. The poll also reported that 75% of Clinton supporters and 43% of Obama supporters desire this "dream ticket." However, if such a ticket does reach fruition, Barack Obama's American Dream-like campaign will wither.

The bitter primary battle between the two candidates has exposed the nasty character of running for office in America. It is unfortunate that public office must be fought for "by any means necessary" rather than by civil debate or personal honor. Granted, the stakes are high. Passions are understandably inflamed by such important issues as war, healthcare, and immigration. However, it seems the intensity of campaigns lies not in arguing issues but in attacking an opponent's character.

The Obama campaign began as a breath of fresh air. The articulate and dignified senator sought to pursue the presidency with class and integrity, not with the fierce drive that has maligned most other campaigns, from Congressional seats the the Presidency, since the dawn of the negative television add. But it did not take long for Obama to be drawn into a back-and-forth fist fight of words and accusations with Senator Clinton. Yet, the Obama campaign remained focused on the idealistic notions of hope and change - indeed, the hope that the political process, from campaigning to consensus-building in government, could be changed.

Opponents have charged that the Clintons carry political baggage that could make it hard for Hillary to be elected in November. This charge is more dangerous not in terms of the Clinton's history, but in terms of their political personality and perspective. The 1990's saw the growth of partisanship and divisive political posturing. Leon Panetta, who served as President Clinton's Chief of Staff from 1994 to 1997, argues fervently that politics is compromise. The Clintonian approach, in my eyes, is more focused on winning. And so it is with so many other candidates for public office at every level throughout America. The system is broken because of the continued failure to reach, or even strive for compromise. And it is the American people that suffer from this lack of leadership and common decency from elected officials, as such momentous issues as immigration and social security remain unreformed, and the burden awaiting future generations - my generation - becomes heavier and scarier.

Opinion polls might organize data and tell a person one thing, but they must not dominate decision making. Whether 55% or 80% of Democrats believe the "dream ticket" of Obama-Clinton could be elected in November is not nearly as important as whether Democrats and Republicans can BEGIN to work together in Washington, through compromise and empathy. The aim of politics is not winning but good government. Senator Obama must stay focued to the core message of his campain, and realize the broad support his message has built. Change is so desired and so needed in this country. And change cannot come without bipartisanship and compromise. President Obama will lack legitimacy if he reverts to "old-style" politics of division rather than hopeful oratory reminiscent of Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. Karl Rove may have gotten President George W. Bush elected to two terms through aggressive, adversarial campaigns. But in all honesty, the presidency of W. Bush has been a horrible failure. Iraq War aside, domestic policy has become stagnate due to the complete absence of bipartisanship. Elected officials have not become public servants but policy procrastinators, and the country is disgusted by
this.

And so Obama stands at a crossroads. Political pundits on television and in the nation's most respected newspapers and magazines have all but crowned Senator Obama as the Democratic Party nominee for president. If the delegates to the Democratic National Convention concur, Obama must decide how to pursue the presidency. Will he satisfy (current) polls and choose Senator Clinton so as to appease Clinton supporters and guard against their defection, or will he satisfy the integrity of his message, and work not only toward winning the presidency but toward building a more effective political climate in America?

Numerous names have surfaced as possible running mates for Obama, from Governors Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania and Ted Strickland of Ohio to Virginia Senator Jim Webb and countless others, whom, it is perceived, could carry a particular swing-state vital to a Democratic victory. The most courageous choice would be Michael Bloomberg, the centrist Republican mayor of New York. Bloomberg would appeal to many, many centrists throughout the nation, as well as many hard-line conservatives that admire the mayor's economic knowledge and accomplishments. But the primary strength of Bloomberg lies is in his attitude. The New York mayor
seems to ignore partisanship and focus on policy.

My former teacher, Professor Panetta, emphasized that politics must not be about grandstanding but problem-solving. Mayor Bloomberg fits well into this idealistic view of government. Furthermore, a bipartisan ticket would signal a new approach to political campaigns and culture in America. Rather than demeaning an opponent are lambasting his or her party, a candidate could take a higher road and pursue the virtue of openness rather than the destructive vice of stubbornness. U.S. representatives must negotiate with each other rather than isolate each other.

The stakes are too high for the current political attitudes of representatives to continue to stall policy and taint voter attitudes. The choice for running mate by Obama, the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party, will test his values and integrity. Does he seek primarily to be president or to better America? He can have both, perhaps, but right now, one impulse must be primary. The road that could lead to his presidency must not stray too far from its original course, or he will become, like many Americans, lost in the political wilderness of an uncivilized and warring political system.

-James Haight Driscoll

No to Mccain?

It seems that John Mccain can't catch a break in CA, and i feel thats a good thing. I recently asked Brittany Munoz about the candidate situation. I asked who she was going to vote for, and the first thing that she said was that she "wouldn't vote for Mccain!" It was a pretty quick respond, and i found it funny, so I asked why he wasn't an option. She said his ideals and views weren't compatible with her views as how this country should be ran. I asked her who she saw as a better leader for this and she said she didn't know which democrat would better suit her opinion, and we left off there.

-Andy Pantoja

From the ATL to SCU

My suite-mate Wandrille Gounot aka "Von" is a member of the Santa Clara class of 2010. He comes to Santa Clara from Atlanta, GA. Coming to the West Coast from the East Coast, Von has certainly had to adjust. Some of the biggest adjustments Von has had to make include his lifestyle, the food he eats, the music he listens to, and the different fashion of the West Coast . When I asked Von to elaborate on this more he said, "it was hard for people to respect my fresh". For all you West Coast people that means it was hard for people to respect Von's swag-his style and different tastes. Von also mentioned that people on the West Coast are much more laid back than on the East Coast. He said, "the East Coast is much more formal and scheduled than the West Coast. The West Coast is much more flexible and less traditional." The weather on the West Coast is much different as well. On the West Coast there is basically three seasons, while on the East Coast there are the traditional four. I can relate to these adjustments and differences because like Von, I come from the East Coast.
Von can't wait for next year as he will be living in his own apartment for the first time in his life. Von says that the increased independence will be good preparation for what it will be like in the real world after he graduates college.
-Ryan Kutey

Wierdest College News Articles part III

This is becoming a routine, so just sit back and enjoy....

• 10 year old college genius


• Nightmare for a Janitor


• Freshman Mayor


• A fact of College Life: Respect Your Elders


• Bow Hunting at CU, apparently not legal


• Funding cuts classes at UF


• Another undie run at UT

-Collier King

D'Antoni is Knicks' Man

The New York Knicks introduced their new head coach, Mike D'Antoni today. D'Antoni is the franchise's 24th overall head coach and fourth since 2003. Donnie Walsh, who replaced Isiah Thomas as the team's President of Basketball Operations last month, hopes that that D'Antoni can bring his high tempo offensive style of play from the Desert to the Big Apple. D'Antoni's style was very successful in Phoenix as he had a regular season record of 253-136, which is far better than Isiah's record as coach. I still can't help but feel though that most of his success was a result of the Suns roster; and looking at the Knicks' current roster I think it will be very difficult for him to live up to the high expectations and find success right away. I would have liked former Knick point guard, Mark Jackson to have been offered the job. I know he lacks experience, however I believe he would command respect and there wouldn't be ridiculous expectations. Whether Knick fans like the hiring or not, I guarantee that every Knick fan is happy that the head coach is no longer Isiah Thomas.
-Ryan Kutey

Wine Culture. A very smokey flavor with hints of raspberry.

The wine culture has never been a big part of my life as neither of my parents drink and wine is usually not the choice beverage of college students. However this past weekend my roommates and I headed up to Napa Valley for a day of wine tasting and my eyes were opened to a lifestyle enjoyed by many. Not knowing what to expect I went into the day with an open mind and hoped to learn a thing or two about the supposed complexities of wine aside from one kind being red and the other being white. After the two wineries and about five glasses of various wines I began to realize that most of the wines I tasted seemed fairly similar in taste.
“In this you will taste hints of cherry and oak on the front of the palette and some hints of chocolate in the aftertaste”. I did not taste any of these flavors. If wine tasted like chocolate and cherries I would be drinking it more often. A man next to be swirled his glass, smelled it, swirled it again and then remarked that he didn’t taste oak in the wine but instead he had a smoky flavor. I tasted bitter grapes.
All day I couldn’t help but listen to the wine coinsurers name each different wine, ask for the year it was made, or what direction the grape grove faced. At one point I really just wanted to ask if it really mattered? Could someone really taste a significant difference between a 2004 Syrah that’s grapes were grown facing northeast or a Merlot that was aged in an oak barrel for five years? The frightening realization I had this weekend is there are people that can do that. They could even tell you what time of day the grapes were picked at to make the wine. Okay maybe that was a stretch. However the wine culture is alive and blooming and next time I visit I have planned on making up descriptions of each wines flavors. I feel like if you just throw out words such as “full”, “fruits”, “strong nose”, and “hints of berries” you will be quickly accepted into the elite wine community. Until then I am proud to know the difference between a red and a white.


Maggie McAteer

Daniela <3s Barack!

I interviewed my friend Daniela Garza (Freshman) about the upcoming presidential election. She stated that she would most likely vote for Barack Obama. Ms. Garza is a democrat and feels strongly about this candidate because of his views on the war, which includes removing the troops from the war to end it. Also, she believes that he will promote change, and she feels this is necessary for our country. Ms. Garza approves of most of Obama's policies, therefore she finds him a worthy candidate.

*Photo courtesy of: http://bagnewsnotes.typepad.com/bagnews/images/Obama-Surf.jpg

The 2008 Election- A student's opinion

Today I interviewed Santa Clara University student Ryan Kutey about his opinion on the upcoming election. Ryan is an undeclared business major from Albany, New York. Like many college students, Ryan is apathetic towards the election, and honestly does not care who wins. If he had to choose someone, he would select Barack Obama. Ryan likes Obama's views on many issues, but especially likes Obama because he wants to get the troops out of Iraq. When asked about the other candidates, Ryan said, "McCain is ok...I dont like Hillary because she badmouths everyone. Infact, the only Hilary I would ever consider voting for is Hilary Duff."

Wierdest College News Articles Pt. II

So here's round two, a little more morbid than last week's but equally as informative.

• Berkeley Stabbing


• Salmonella at Princeton


• Dartmouth professor suing faculty, students


• Students at ASU strip before taking finals


• University President DUI


• Massive Drug Raid at San Diego State


• Madison's most controversial seminar yet

-Collier King

Who Should Be President?

The question of the right presidential candidate in the next election has loomed in the minds of many Americans. This election is one of landmark historical importance; never before have both a black man nor a woman had such momentum in their quest to attain the title commander & chief. No matter what candidate is chosen, it is clear drastic changes will accompany the installment of the new administration. In my own experience I have not encountered too many people who are fans of Hillary Clinton being our next president. Likewise, I haven't met many more who are in favor of John McCain's presidential bid. The majority of people I have spoken to are for Barack Obama as our next president. That said, I interviewed one McCain supporter who enlightened me on the reasoning behind his support for the Republican candidate. I interviewed Ben, a freshman at Santa Clara, who expressed his belief that John McCain is the only logical choice of our next leader. "He shares my political values," explained Ben, "he's fiscally conservative." Ben believes that in our current state, focusing on combatting terrorism and promoting our overall security is the prominant issue at hand. Ben explained that he dislikes Hillary because her liberal nature and past in the White House. He also doesn't favor Obama because he has "the most liberal voting record in the Senate." Clearly, liberalism is not on Ben's agenda for an appropriate leader for America. Ben added that McCain's experience both in the Senate and in Vietnam adds to his character as a leader. Summing up his views, Ben added, "I can't imagine having a good President other than McCain."

-Collier King

Who will you Vote For?

With the 2008 Presidential Election only six months away, people are trying to figure out who they are going to vote for. Others have already made up their mind, including my suite-mate, Tony Cassara. Tony is a Business Management major who plans on voting for Senator John McCain. He believes John McCain has the most actual experience in government. He also believes McCain's military experience will pay large dividends in helping with the nation's defense, which he believes is a high priority.
-Ryan Kutey

Return of the Quakes

Finally, after a 2 year hiatus, Major League Soccer will return to the South Bay when the San Jose Earthquakes kick off against FC Dallas at Santa Clara's own Buck Shaw Stadium on May 3rd. With a sellout crowd of over 11,500 expected for the matchup against the Western Conference leading Dallas squad, it is assumed that our campus will be flooded with fans on game day. While the University has taken many strides to ensure a convenient and fun fan experience for the Quake faithful, they seem to have turned a blind eye to the needs of the students. Over 2,000 student parking permits are being overridden and nearly every lot of meaningful size on the campus is being commandeered for use by the MLS fans. This has been handled poorly by the University as it puts a lot of students in an uncomfortable and strange situation. Having to park off campus is often a risky and scarce proposition. Not only are there few to none spots in the immediate surroundings of the campus, but those that are available are in high risk areas for damage, such as the spaces behind Safeway on Market.

Santa Clara should have leveraged the construction of a new parking structure from the Earthquakes in their agreement to house the team. I mean, they agreed on a large expansion for Buck Shaw, and a brand new practice field, but they couldn't get MLS help for a parking structure to accommodate the large influx of fans to this new venue? I don't buy it. The Quakes were coming here regardless, they had no other option then to play at Buck Shaw until they can get a stadium of their own. The only alternative for the Quakes would have been the Oakland Coliseum, and that isn't financially viable for a team that would have been bound to leave 50,000 seats empty per game. Shame on you Santa Clara for you poor planning and execution of what could have been a shinning moment in University PR.

Sobrato Security

Sobrato is taking precautions and further strengthening dorm security. First, at the beginning of the school year, each suite common room door was transformed into the keypad lock system. Each suite requires an ACCESS card and a four-digit pin number to unlock the suite door. Now, additional fencing around the dormitory is being built. (It is going to be more difficult to hop the fence now!) This is to ensure that invaders cannot enter the premises. There have been several robberies in the past, therefore Sobrato is taking extensive measures to ensure the safety of the students as well as their personal belongings.
-Karina Grobelny

Figuring Out My Future

In roughly six weeks I will no longer be a college student. I will be thrust into the world outside the comforts of my college community and will be moving back in with my parents. I have avoided job fairs like the plague and have yet to send my resume to an employer. I think its denial. Where did four years go? I walked by a career fair last night held in the student center and took a moment to look around at the students in suits and dresses reaching out for business cards. For some reason I didn’t mind that I wasn’t meeting the representatives from Abercrombie and Fitch and Sun Microsystems.
More recently this year than ever before, I have realized that there is no way my life will work in a 9-5 cubicle. Luckily I figured this out in February, right in time for MTV’s ‘The Real World’ auditions. Turning on my video camera I confessed to the producers of the show that I was a “fun and wild individual that doesn’t want to join the work force”, therefore I would fit in with the cast of Season 19. Apparently I didn’t have the quality of “dysfunction” and therefore didn’t get called back. If by some act of hell I’m still jobless in a year I might re-audition and make up some lie about how I have anger management issues, and have already been to rehab. But on second thought ruining my future and becoming a permanent fixture on MTV may not be my best option.
So once ‘The Real World’ was out of the picture I decided to go the entrepreneurial route and somehow convinced my other two jobless roommates to open a bar with me. The idea struck when I found a vacant property near our college campus. The 8,000 square foot building would be converted into a dance floor, bar, maybe two if we were ambitious. We thought about names for about two weeks and decided on ‘The Holy Grail’ paying respects to our Jesuit education roots. Other options were ‘Chapmans’ (the name of the cross-street) or ‘Vonnies’, a nickname that we awarded our fourth roommate. We then talked to the real estate agent who shattered our dreams by informing us that the building was not zoned for a bar and was going for a cool two million dollars. I literally laughed at him over the phone, thanked him for his assistance, and then started raking my brain for more a new idea.
I should invent something. But from years of watching late night infomercials and visiting the “As Seen on TV” stores in airports everything has been invented. From the light that turns on when you clap to a handsfree canopener I can only hope that I am blessed with some form of genius and am able to sell some over priced gadget in the SkyMall magazine. But until that day I might need to start looking for a nine to five.

Wierdest College News Articles

What's the wierdest thing going on in college right now?
Well probably not something postable but here's few recent news articles about college life with the intention of shocking, impressing, and just plain informing you about what's going on in the university sector of absurdity. This week we've got some interesting picks, including:

• Terrorist Lecturers
• Beer Tax Protests
• Housing Rip Offs
• A Free Degree from WVU?
• Zebra on Campus

This is a growing list, so expect more to come.

-Collier King

New York Giants 2008 NFL Draft Review

Overall, I thought the New York Football Giants had a very good draft. The notable players that they drafted included S Kenny Phillips, WR Mario Manningham and QB Andre' Woodson. Coming into the draft, the Giants secondary was definitely its biggest weakness. I believe they more than addressed it with their first round selection of Kenny Phillips, a safety from the University of Miami. I expect Kenny Phillips to start at either one of the safety positions. I think he will make a great impact and hopefully will get to start alongside veteran safety Sammy Knight, who could be a great mentor to Phillips. I believe the two of them can be a dynamic duo in the NFC. I was extremely happy that wide receiver Mario Manningham managed to slip all the way into the third round. In my opinion, Mario Manningham would've been a first round pick and the number one wide receiver chosen in the NFL Draft had it not been for his minor off-field issues. Although I feel that the Giants should've traded up to draft linebacker Dan Connor, Manningham is a great value pick in the third round and has tremendous upside because of his extraordinary athletic ability. With Amani Toomer getting up their in age the Giants need to find an eventual replacement for him and Manningham should be that guy. I can already see Manning to Manningham for several touchdowns next year. Even though quarterback wasn't a position of need in the draft, the drafting of Andre' Woodson makes sense because he was the best available player still on the board in the sixth round. The pick also provides extra insurance to Eli Manning and should give the Giants a significant strength. I expect Woodson to make the team as the third quarterback and hopefully he will be able to learn a lot from Eli Manning and David Carr. I think that if he develops nicely he may pass David Carr to move up to the second QB on the depth chart. Who knows, he may even replace Eli Manning someday. The Giants also drafted corner back Terrell Thomas from USC in the second round, who should be able to replace R.W. McQuarters and/or Sam Madison and play some nickel and dime back this year and could ultimately challenge Corey Webster for the second starting corner back spot. Linebackers Bryan Kehl (BYU) and Jonathan Goff(Vanderbilt) were taken in the fourth and fifth rounds respectfully. Both of these picks should help replace the departures of linebackers Kawika Mitchell and Reggie Torbor in free agency. The Giants used their last draft pick, number 199 overall in the sixth round, on defensive end Robert Henderson(Southern Mississippi), who should provide more depth to the Giants' biggest strength on defense. I would rate the Giants draft a B+.
-Ryan Kutey

The NFL Draft-The Best Weekend of the Year

Ever since I was about 13 I have watched the entire NFL Draft. Although that was when I was back home in Albany, New York, being a freshmen at Santa Clara University isn't going to change that. I am currently watching the first round of the NFL Draft with a pizza from Round Table, a foot long sub from Subway, a box of chocolate chip cookies, a bag of Twizzlers, and a bag of chips. Big names such as VernonGholston, Darren McFadden, Sedrick Ellis, Matt Ryan, and Glen Dorsey are already off the board. As a lifelong New York Giants fan, I am hoping there are still some elite players available when the Giants have their first pick at number 31. I would like the Giants to use their first round pick either on a LB such as Dan Connor from Penn St, S Kenny Phillips from Miami, or S Tyrell Johnson from Arkansas St.. I believe any of these players could come in right away and make an immediate impact on an already stellar defense.
-Ryan Kutey

~Summer Plans~

The 2007-2008 school year is slowly coming to an end... The weather is getting warmer (with the exception of today)... People are slipping into the summer zone- tanning, relaxing, & hanging outdoors. Out of curiosity, I asked several of my friends their plans for the summer, & I received many diverse answers. The most frequent response I received was SLEEP. Can't ever get enough of that... One of my friends is taking summer classes in order to receive more credits. Others are leaving the country, such as myself. (I'm going to Poland and other European countries!!!!) My other friends said they are going to hang out at home with their families and friends. Others intend to get a summer job and earn some $. Someone also mentioned going to the beach (a.k.a. paradise)... Soon enough!

Photo courtesy of: www.marriott-timeshare.com

-Karina Grobelny

Season's over...

April 19, 2008, a day which will live in infamy in Minnesota Wild history. After outplaying and outshooting the Colorado Avalanche badly in St. Paul for game 5, they dragged their feet and played sloppy on route to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Jose Theodore and Peter Forsberg. After a Northwest Division title and high expectations going into a favorable 1st round matchup with Colorado, the wheels just seemed to come off the train. Nick Schultz, a second pairing Wild defensemen underwent an appendectomy and was out said to be done for the series, little did he know that he would actually be done for the season. But enough of the poor and tiresome Wild, next year should be better for an injury plagued season that still produced great success. Onto a happier subject...


The Sharks!! My adopted Western Conference team in the South Bay! Going into a potentially dangerous series with the Calgary Flames and sharpshooter Jarome Iginla the Sharks fought off the pesky Flames to win a "heated" seven game series with a 5-3 victory last night at HP Pavilion. With that win the Sharks advance to the 2nd round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and will head south to Texas to face the former Dallas (Lone)Stars. This is a sore subject for me, and any Minnesotan. You see, the "Dallas Stars" were actually stolen from my great state. They were originally the Minnesota North Stars. Norm Green will forever be known as a thief and traitor to the state for stealing away the beloved pro team from the State of Hockey. Regardless, my only two desires in hockey are for the Wild to win, and the (Lone)Stars to lose, and San Jose should make that happen in this series. GO SHARKS!!

Never Forget. Never Forgive Norm Green.

Lonely Vikings Fan Celebrates Blockbuster Trade

Mid afternoon on April 22, 2008 news spread through the wires that the Minnesota Vikings had landed Kansas City Chiefs standout defensive end and franchise player Jared Allen in a trade. Being possibly the only Vikings fan at Santa Clara, this produced a large swelling of excitement that unfortunately nobody else seemed to share. I can shake off the lack of enthusiasm though, its probably just a bunch of bitter people from Los Angeles who are angry they don't have a PRO football team.

Its probably good Brett Favre retired when he did,
otherwise this would have been him next year.

Ignoring the haters though, this is one of the largest and most influential trades of the offseason. With the addition of Allen to an already dominating defensive front of the Williams duo, the Vikings look poised to not only terrorize running backs, but quarterbacks as well. Allen was the sack leader in the NFL last year with 15 1/2 sacks over 14 games. That kind of production should only increase with the other talent in the Vikings defense that he is surrounded with. Also with Allen's quarterback rushing talents, the Vikings secondary which saw so much action last year, should get a break and be more productive. Overall, this is the most pre-draft day excitement from the Vikings in some time, and should be a large topic of discussion on draft day as the Chiefs pick up 2 3rd round picks and the Vikings' first round pick at number 17. I give this trade a B+ for the Vikings, they failed to get a DE in free agency but this made up for their failure, it did come at a steep price though.

Coming to a Close...

After months and months of hard work, sweat and anguish, the season is winding down. Its a prestigious time for a first year rower. The entitlement and fulfillment instilled is amazing. The hours of pulling on the worst of all cardio machines, the Erg, does not go unsung. For most the satisfaction of being a normal college student is great, but to me a summer without the team is going to be rough.

-Andy Pantoja

Food Review: The Sunstream Cafe, Part 2- Salads and Pizzas

This is part 2 of my food review series. This post covers a several of the salads and pizzas available at the new Sunstream Cafe in the SCU library. Each item is separated into two parts: the Grade I give it, and comments. My grading scale is pretty obvious, with A being outstanding and F being disgusting. Heres the review:

Pepperoni Pizza
Grade: C-
Comments: Just a plain small pepperoni pizza, nothing spectacular. This honestly may be the second worst pizza I have had in my life (The absolute worse being the horrible pizzas served in the Bronco). The only reason it stays above the D, or even F range is that compared to the abysmal SCU food I am used to, its actually on the good side.

Mixed Garden Pasta Salad
Grade: B
Comments: This pasta salad has potential. It was pretty good, but the reason I am giving it a B is that it is extremely dry at the top, because the sauce soaks at the bottom. Also, I only got 1 piece of asparagus in the whole salad.

Southwestern Chicken Caesar Salad
Grade: A+
Comments: Tastes great, possibly one of the best foods I have had at SCU, and definitely my favorite salad. Very good mix of all ingredients, has a great balanced taste. I would definitely eat this again.

Cobb Salad Shaker
Grade: A
Comments: Another great solid salad. Plenty of great ingredients that all show up evenly. Eggs, olives, and blue cheese give it a pretty unique taste. I would definitely eat this again as well.

Overall: The salads at this place are awsome. If I could recommend only one item at the Sunstream Cafe, I would go with the amazing salads. The pizzas however, are a different story. They are still better than most SCU food, but are utter garbage when compared with pizzas from any other place.

Food Review: The Sunstream Cafe, Part 1- Sandwiches

This is part 1 of my food review series. This post covers a selection of sandwiches available at the new Sunstream Cafe in the SCU library. Each sandwich is separated into two parts: the Grade I give it, and comments. My grading scale is pretty obvious, with A being outstanding and F being disgusting. Heres the review:

The BLT
Grade: A
Comments: Very good. Good mix of bacon, lettuce, tomato. May have too much mayonaise for some people, but I like mayo, so its all good. Great sandwich, I would recommend it.

The Sunstream
Grade: B+
Comments: Now this is a weird little sandwich. The ingredients are bread, pesto, cheese, and tomato. It smells great, and the pesto is a great touch. It should have more tomato in it, and I found the texture a little too squishy in my opinion. Overall, good solid sandwich that is great for a change from usual SCU food. Would eat again.

The Californian
Grade: C+
Comments: Tastes alright, a bit too bland in my opinion. I didnt even notice the guacamole until halfway through my sandwich. If you enjoy very plain tasting sandwiches, go for it. I personally would rather have any other sandwich on the Sunstream cafe menu.

Overall: These sandwiches taste alright, but are way overpriced. $4.00 for a 3 inch sandwich is overkill in my opinion. I'd rather pay one more dollar at Subway and get a footlong sandwich. If you want an overpriced sandwich for a quick snack while studying, this is definitely the place to be. However, if you feel like eating a sandwich that will actually make you full, I would walk down to Subway, or even to Benson for it.

MY ROOMIE!!

Freshman year of college... Didn't know what to expect... The transition from living at home with my family in my own bedroom to living in a dormitory full of young adults, specifically a roommate. Her name is Meghan, a.k.a. MEGZ, and she is awesome. We have bonded over the course of the year, and have shared some of the best memories in our decorative double room. We have enjoyed doing pranks on the boys next door, playing our own theme songs, and exchanging stories about our daily events. One of our favorite activities is reading The Frog Prince before bedtime. We are both hoping that one day two frogs will hop out of the Santa Clara pond and turn out to be our princes! :)

-Karina Grobelny

SCU Novice beat a Varsity boat, but Stanford is too much

This past weekend, early Saturday morning, both varsity boats and the first novice boat went to Redwood Shores looking for competitive races against Stanford and the nations top rank team, Cal. The Varsity boat went first, only to come up short. It seemed as though they would walk on Cal, but the valient effort of the varsity boat wasn't enough. The novice A boat and the number 2 varsity boat took on the Stanford novice. The Stanford novice are as amazing as their varsity. The Novice A boat beat the 2nd SCU varisty boat, but did lose to the Stanford novie boat. The conditions were not ideal either as the boats were catching a head-wind only making it harder to row.

-Andy Pantoja

Isiah Thomas is Fired-It's about Time!

Donnie Walsh is off to an excellent start as the the Knicks' President of Basketball Operations. Last Friday he finally fired Isiah Thomas as Head Coach of the New York Knicks. Isiah Thomas became the Head Coach of the once prestigious franchise following the embarrassingly terrible 2005-2006 season in which Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown led the Knicks to a 23-59 season. The fifty-nine losses set a franchise record for most losses in a season. James Dolan, owner of the Knicks, then elected to fire Larry Brown and replace him with Isiah Thomas, who was the Knicks' President of Operations at the time as well. Dolan figured that since it was Isiah who assembled the Knicks' roster that he should be given the opportunity to coach. That ended up being a big mistake; as Thomas was a horrendous 56-108 over the past two seasons. This season was Isiah's worst by a long shot. Not only did he trade for the problematic Zach Randolph on draft night and hurt the development of Eddy Curry . He also tied the Knicks' franchise record for most losses in a season.
Unfortunately, Isiah Thomas will still remain with the Knicks as an advisor to Donnie Walsh. But Knick fans, don't let that keep you down. Instead, be happy knowing that Isiah no longer has any significant say within the organization. It is a great time to be a Knicks fan, as the Knicks look to improve drastically next season.




Isiah Thomas, ex-head coach of the New York Knicks, now an advisor to Donny Walsh.

-Ryan Kutey

Shopping the worlds most ridiculous products at 30,000 feet in the air

I was flying home last week from a visit to my grandmother in Richmond, Virginia when my iPod died within the first forty-five minutes of the flight. Of course three rows in front of me was a screaming child and the man next to me was pounding on his laptop at maybe 300 words per second. I refused to hand over an extra $5 for a two pronged head-set to watch "Alvin and the Chipmunks" so I resorted to the seat pocket infront of me where I came across the SkyMall Magazine. With over 150 pages of in-flight shopping I figured that flipping through the multitude of products would take up at least an hour of the five-hour flight. I have always had the desire to invent something however every idea that I thought of seemed too absurd. SkyMall gave me hope. Proven by the glossy pages of the colorful magazine, no invention is too ridiculous; especially when it comes to modern day convienes. Our cultures laziness has taken on new forms with some of the products I saw featured. Below are three of my favorite findings:

The Rotating Tie Rack:



Able to hold over sixty ties, this tie rack helps you find your favorite with just a touch of a button. So for you men out there with sixty ties (???!!!!!) you know longer have to struggle to find them. The idea for this product most likely came from the dry cleaners where thousands of customers clothes rotate on those giant tracks for convenience. But a personal tie rack with a light on it? Someone's buying it...

The Dog Dazer and Dog Off Deluxe:



The description for this product reads "this gadget protects you against hostile dogs whenever you might travel". Unless you are traveling to to Michael Vicks house I'm not quite sure why anyone would need this device. When I travel, hostile dogs is not high on my list of concerns. How about you?

The World Largest Crossword Puzzle:



Forty-nine square feet of crossword puzzle is far too much for any sane person to handle. Aside from having a wall to hang this on- what adult has this amount of free time?

I think the most shocking this about the SkyMall Magazine was not the products themselves but the fact that people are actually buying these things? Someone in this world actually owns the crossword puzzle. Someone is warding off violent dogs with a handheld gadget and without doubt someone is picking out a tie from a rotating hanger. Godbless America.

New York Knicks' Season Ends-Finally!

Finally, the New York Knicks' turbulent season finally came to an end on Wednesday night with 132-123 loss to the Indiana Pacers. The loss is the team's 59th loss this season, which ties a franchise record from the 2005-2006 season. Hopefully, the end of the regular season for the Knicks will serve as a catalyst for a massive overhaul of the entire organization that is long overdue. The first priority of the Knicks' off-season should be the firing of Isiah Thomas. During Isiah Thomas' reign as Head Coach, the Knicks are a pitiful 56-108. If the record wasn't enough, Isiah has been involved several disagreements with star players Zach Randolph, Quentin Richardson, and Stephon Marbury. You also can't forget about the sexual assault controversy involving Isiah Thomas and former Knicks employee Anucha Browne Sanders. All year fans have been calling for the firing of Isiah. That decision lies in the hands of new Knicks President of Basketball Operations, Donnie Walsh, who according to ESPN, will make his decision regarding Thomas' future on Thursday. Donnie Walsh is no stranger to firing Isiah, as you may recall he fired Isiah Thomas as the Head Coach of the Indiana Pacers following the 2002-2003 season. Bottomline: Donnie Walsh, please fire Isiah. By firing Isiah Thomas, Donnie Walsh would be ridding the Knicks of the Cancer that is Isiaih Thomas and doing more good for the organization than Isiah has done in his entire tenure.
-Ryan Kutey

Ejection Crab at SCU

The Santa Clara novice crew team looks good, then has a bit of trouble. Check out this rare ejection from a fast-moving boat.

Clever Test Answers

With final exams intensely approaching, all everyone has on their mind is TESTS, TESTS, TESTS!


Sometimes it is so easy to just not study and have that extra night of hanging out with your friends. However then your still stuck with taking a test that you know you will fail. What do you do then?

If only i was as clever as these students, this is what i would do.

His professor sent him an e-mail the following day:

Dear Michael,
Every year I attempt to boost my students’ final grades by giving them this relatively simple exam consisting of 100 True/False questions from only 3 chapters of material. For the past 20 years that I have taught Intro Communications 101 at this institution I have never once seen someone score below a 65 on this exam. Consequently, your score of a zero is the first in history and ultimately brought the entire class average down a whole 8 points. There were two possible answer choices: A (True) and B (False). You chose C for all 100 questions in an obvious attempt to get lucky with a least a quarter of the answers. It’s as if you didn’t look at a single question. Unfortunately, this brings your final grade in this class to failing. See you next year! May God have mercy on your soul.

Sincerely, Professor William Turner

P.S. If all else fails, go with B from now on. B is the new C

Moral: If you cant study, be creative. :)

The Many Faces of College Dorm Rooms

What's your dorm room feng shui?

Magazine-walled?

Space-saver?

Ultra-decorative?

Simplistic?

Messy?

Check out college dorm room decor tips and ideas, and start decorating!