Page 439 – Flat Hat News

Nichol evaluates State of the College

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February 3, 2007

College President Gene Nichol announced that the Campaign for William and Mary raised $26 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 during his first annual State of the College address last Thursday evening in the University Center Commonwealth Auditorium. Nichol said that the amount was a record for a fourth quarter.

p. The Campaign for William & Mary aims to raise $500 million for the College by June of this year. The College releases figures for the campaign quarterly.

p. As of Sept. 30, 2006, the College had raised $476.9 million. This most recent $26 million quarter would appear to put the campaign above its $500 million goal about six months early.

p. The College would not comment on whether the fundraising campaign had officially ended.

p. “The President did say we raised $26 million in the past quarter,” Director of News Services Brian Whitson said. “As the President said, ‘good news is ahead for our Campaign.’ Expect an announcement regarding the campaign in the coming weeks.”

p. When Nichol was a candidate for president after former College President Timothy J. Sullivan announced his retirement, Nichol participated in a forum with students in which he praised the work of the Campaign for William & Mary. He said that as soon as the current fundraising campaign was completed, the College would need to begin a larger fundraising campaign.

p. In the address, Nichol also announced the formation of a committee that would examine the place for religion in public universities. Nichol had been criticized for his decision to remove a cross from permanent display in the Wren Chapel. A group of concerned alumni founded the website savethewrencross.org to circulate a petition and post news articles from around the country about Nichol’s decision, which some viewed as an overstep of his role as president of the College.

p. While over 10,000 people have signed the petition so far, the Board of Visitors has continued to back Nichol’s decision.
Nichol recognized that the move was not popular with all members of the College community during his address.

p. “Though the decision [to remove the cross] has received much support—particularly within the campus community—many, many have seen it otherwise,” Nichol said. “So tonight, having had discussions with many, on campus and beyond, including members of the Board of Visitors, I announce the creation of a presidential committee to aid in the exploration of these questions.”
Nichol stated that the committee would be co-chaired by James Livingston, emeritus chair of the College’s religious studies department, and Law School Professor Alan Meese.

p. The committee to examine the role of religion in public colleges is part of a recent effort on Nichol’s part to moderate his decision. As part of a compromise, Nichol allowed the cross to return to the chapel permanently on Sundays. For more information on the cross controversy, see Cross, page A1.

p. Nichol also thanked the Williamsburg for changing the way he evaluates voter registration applications. Now, anyone with a driver’s license that lists a Williamsburg address as their residence will be able to vote in Williamsburg, a move toward allowing more student voting. Previously, students allegedly would be denied the right to vote in Williamsburg if they listed a dorm address on their application. For more information, see Registrar, page A1.

p. Nichol offered a positive assessment of the College during his 30-minute speech. He praised the graduation rates of student athletes at the College while referencing the College’s disagreements to the NCAA. Recently, the NCAA ruled that the college’s athletic logo, a WM with two feathers, was offensive to American Indian groups.

Professor, author debate Wren cross removal

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February 3, 2007

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Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Wren Chapel, Religious Studies professor David L. Holmes and Dinesh D’Souza, a New York Times best-selling author and Fellow at the Hoover Institute, debated whether or not the Wren Cross – removed from the Wren Chapel in October by President Gene Nichol – should be reinstated.

p. The debate, co-sponsored by conservative campus newspaper The Virginia Informer and the conservative non-profit organization The Collegiate Network, was titled “Religion and the Campus: Should the Wren Cross be Reinstated in Wren Chapel?”
Holmes, a professor at the College since 1965, argued against the cross’s reinstatement, while D’Souza supported it.

p. Holmes began the debate insisting that his arguments were his own, and not those of the College administration.

p. “I speak for myself tonight,” Holmes said, “and not as a surrogate for President Nichol.”

p. In a 15-minute opening statement, Holmes noted the Anglican history of the Church, a history that rarely, if ever, placed crosses in its sacred spaces. He noted that the College went more than 200 years without a cross on display in the chapel. Holmes also said that, throughout College history, the Chapel has been used for many secular purposes, including “theatrical performances, lectures, classes and kangaroo courts during freshman hazing.” He added that, along with fellow colleagues, he was “baffled” with the subsequent uproar over the removal, as a chapel without a cross was consistent with Protestant tradition.

p. In his opening dialogue, D’Souza insisted that, even with the cross, the chapel remained “in the spirit of Christian Universalism … a tolerant place.” He argued, however, that the cross had been pigeonholed by some, including Nichol, as a “symbol of intolerance.”

p. D’Souza also mentioned Nichol’s alleged indiscretion in removing the cross without considering the views of the College community, as well as the President’s continued avoidance of invitations to debate the issue.

p. According to D’Souza, Nichol’s decision was made “recklessly, without deliberation, [and] without consultation.” In one of many statements that drew laughter from the audience, D’Souza likened Nichol to a mechanical toy soldier that runs into a wall and, despite the fact, continues walking.

p. After the opening statements, both Holmes and D’Souza offered rebuttals. Holmes acknowledged that Nichol’s decision was made with insufficient consultation, but also praised Nichol’s establishment of a committee to examine the cross issue and the overall role of religion in public institutions. The committee will be co-chaired by James Livingston, emeritus chair of the College’s religious studies department and Law School Professor Alan Meese.

p. “[The committee] could not be better, it could not be in better hands,” Holmes said.

p. Holmes also noted that the College did not own the cross, but it belonged to the Canterbury Club, the College’s Episcopalian student group, which borrowed it from the Burton Parish church in 1931.

p. “[The cross] doesn’t belong to William and Mary,” Holmes said. “The cross remains the property of Burton Parish, and conceivably they could ask for it back, because no ministry … wants its cross to be a source of peace.”

p. Holmes’ statements were greeted with applause as D’Souza took the podium to begin his rebuttal.

p. “Somewhat like the mosquito in the nudist colony,” he said, “I am not sure where to begin.”

p. D’Souza claimed that Holmes was mistaken in emphasizing the historical accuracies of the church, claiming that such facts did not guide Nichol’s decision.

p. “[Nichol’s] decision was driven by something very different. It was basically driven by the idea that Christianity and its symbols are in some ways offensive, if not inclusive, and that [non-Christians] become lesser or second class members of the community.”

p. After a second round of rebuttals, both Holmes and D’Souza made closing statements reinforcing their opening positions.
After the debate, Holmes and D’Souza spoke to The Flat Hat about the debate.

p. “I came in here a little tired, I prayed that I would be able to think. I’m content but I’m not exhilarated,” Holmes said.
Holmes also said that he was surprised at the personal comments that D’Souza made throughout the debate.

p. D’Souza said that he was pleased to be a part of the discussion.

p. “I was really very honored to be part of it. If our debate introduced some moral clarity, I am very pleased to be part of that,” he said.

p. The debate comes three months after Nichol’s Oct. 26 decision to remove the cross, which was donated to the school in 1931, from permanent display. Nichol said cross’s removal was meant to make the Chapel “more welcoming to students, faculty, staff and visitors of all faiths.”

p. Nichol’s decision was met with disagreement among some students and alumni, who felt that the cross should remain as a symbol of the College’s Christian roots. Those who protested the decision also cited Nichol’s failure to discuss the matter with students prior to the cross’s removal.

p. Over 10,500 people have signed a petition on the website SaveTheWrenCross.org to support the cross’s reinstatement.
Despite the petition, Nichol defended himself Nov. 16 at a College Board of Visitors meeting.

p. The BOV offered tacit approval over the cross removal, but the issue remained contentious for those opposed to the decision. In response to the outcry, Nichol – in a Dec. 20 school-wide e-mail – announced two changes to the policy. The cross would be displayed all day Sundays, and a plaque commemorating the chapel’s history would be installed.

p. Despite the addenda to the policy, disparity on the issue remained. Since The Flat Hat broke the story in October, the issue has been featured in the national media, including Fox News and the Washington Post.

Registrar eases voting standards for students

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February 3, 2007

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Nearly a year ago, Williamsburg General Voter Registrar Dave Andrews rejected now-sophomore Sen. Zach Pilchen’s voter registration application. Even though Pilchen’s driver’s license matched his dormitory address, Andrews ruled that it was unclear if Pilchen was domiciled in Williamsburg, and he was therefore ineligible to vote in the city.

p. But in Andrews’ eyes, Pilchen — and perhaps dozens of other students previously denied voter registration — may now be domiciled in the city. Andrews announced a procedure change this week saying that he will now register anyone who has a driver’s license that lists an address in Williamsburg.

p. College President Gene Nichol praised Andrews’ announcement in his State of the College address, saying that the new rules would open “the door very substantially to fuller participation in the political process.”

p. Andrews, who will be up for reappointment in June, said that the change comes with the arrival of a new statewide electronic voter registration system that ties into the Department of Motor Vehicles database.

p. “If we receive a non-permanent address, we will check to see if the address matches the DMV residence address,” he said. “If it does, the application is accepted at that point. State law requires you to notify DMV within 30 days of moving to a new address, so this is a good standard.”
p. Andrews said that he made the change in part because the State Board of Elections did not support guidelines for registering transitory voters, but instead set aside a proposed policy clarification at its January meeting.

p. Sophomore Sen. Matt Beato, an active supporter of student voting rights, said he believes this is the primary reason Andrews changed the policy.

p. “The SBE’s decision to not approve the guidelines is a repudiation of the policy Dave Andrews has used to deny dozens of students the right to vote in Williamsburg,” Beato said.

p. If it had passed, the non-binding policy would have endorsed Andrews’ original policy of issuing a questionnaire to applicants with an address at a dormitory, military barracks or any other non-permanent abode in order to determine domicile. Now the form will only be used if an applicant’s address does not match the address listed on his or her driver’s license.

p. At the January SBE meeting, several people made public comments against the proposed policy clarification.
Among those commenting was Chris Faia, a Democratic member of the Williamsburg Electoral Board, the group that will be responsible for appointing the voter registrar.

p. The proposed SBE policy “is, I believe, a step backward, an effort to use selective criteria to discriminate against certain groups, an effort that is reminiscent of poll taxes and literacy tests,” she said in a written statement to the state board.
For now, Faia is satisfied with the procedure change offered by Andrews. She remains hopeful, however, that the SBE or the legislature will clarify the code and open voting to students living at college.

p. Beato agrees that there should be further clarification.

p. “I believe that Andrews has changed his policy before and could do so again to disenfranchise students,” he said.
The issue of voter registration came to the forefront in 2004 when four students at the college ran for city council and many students found they could not register in Williamsburg. Controversy was renewed in 2006 when then-junior David Sievers announced his candidacy for city council and students faced similar problems when registering to vote.

p. Now many students previously rejected during the past election seasons may be able to vote.

p. The State Board of Elections released a report about voter registration in Williamsburg in March and April of 2006. During that period, at least 11 out of 89 applications were rejected that would likely be accepted under the new policy. It is unclear how many such cases have come up in the intervening months.

p. Pilchen may have been the first of these students to take advantage of the policy. He has already re-registered to vote, and Andrews accepted the application. Pilchen is happy to be able to register in Williamsburg, but he remains baffled about the policy change.

p. “I just don’t understand it,” Pilchen said. “[Andrews] said to me personally [Jan. 15] that using a driver’s license was silly, that it doesn’t mean anything about where you are determined to live, where your roots are, where you pay taxes. He said that what the DMV says means nothing. Then three days ago, he announced this new policy.”

Sinfonicron’s ‘Mikado’ wows

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February 2, 2007

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p. As ironic as it may seem, an event like Sinfonicron’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado” can be very difficult to review. Unlike a movie or a book, where the story is subject to criticism, all we can judge here is the interpretation of previously-written songs, characters and events. When a theatrical production does this so well that it seems (at least to the viewer) not only seamless, but incredibly entertaining, then no real critiques can be made. With the exception of a few strained high notes, Sinfonicron’s “Mikado” was magnificent. Thus, this article makes no pretense of being anything other than a laudatory ode to all involved.

p. Gilbert and Sullivan are better known for writing the musicals “H.M.S. Pinafore” and “Pirates of Penzance,” but “The Mikado” certainly deserves some notoriety as well. “Mikado,” often classified as a “light opera,” has been called a play about England. Though it is a comedy that takes place in Japan and spoofs Japanese names, not much else proves truly Japanese. Many interpret it as a parody of English culture and society, simply set in Japan. It is a delicate, yet rip-roaring free-for-all of an opera which provided ample fodder for the brilliant cast and crew that brought it to life in Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall last weekend.

p. The first thing one notices upon entering PBK is the gorgeous set, with its soothing, ethereal colors and gigantic traditional Japanese fan standing front-and-center on the stage. The set is sparse — as most of the stage is needed for dancing — but the set crew has made clever use of all available space, transforming it into a beautiful Japanese courtyard. An elegant pagoda, complete with paper windows, stands in the background. A crescent moon floats in the sky during the night scenes. Two half-stairwells bordering the stage are later joined to form a bridge. The whole set is simple, beautiful and wholly practical.

p. The overture begins, and the pit plays it so gorgeously that, long as it is, it would have been sufficiently entertaining on its own. The audience is given something to look at, however, in the form of five strategically-placed and occasionally changing silhouettes behind the fan. This delightful little innovation sets the mood beautifully.

p. Finally the show begins with the charming, hilarious opening number, “If You Want to Know Who We Are,” in which the gentlemen of Japan parade around the stage and sing a tongue-in-cheek song about their own sophistication. This song sets the tone for the rest of the play; it gives a very elegant, majestic feel while its lyrics dip in and out of hilarity. The result is a pleasant combination of melodrama and burlesque. While the actors possess the voices and acting capabilities to carry off the more operatic demands of the musical with graceful ease, they also have a great sense of comedy. More than anything, this production is hilarious. Director senior Cheryl Gnerlich and choreographer senior Evan M. Cook do a fantastic job blending refinement with unabashed slapstick savvy.

p. A dull moment is never allowed, as something is always going on — actors make the most of their humorous lyrics, Japanese gentlemen pirouette across the stage, sly officials give the audience knowing looks. The costumes also provide a constant source of eye candy. The flow of humor and lightheartedness proves continuous and near-perfect. The performances are so tight that there are never any of those moments in which a line seems to have been dropped, or the chemistry between two characters has temporarily faded.

p. While a show will likely fail without a great crew, it will definitely fall without a great cast. And this one more than delivers the goods. After the performance, the lobby was filled with plenty of high praise like, “I can’t believe what talent we have at William and Mary.” This couldn’t be more true. Let’s just say that the quality of the show could have merited far more expensive tickets than what were (thankfully) available.

p. Junior Bethany Bagley and Freshman Ben McVety shine as Yum-Yum and Nanki-Poo, the leading love interests. Bagley’s voice possesses the strength and clarity necessary to carry her spunky role, and McVety’s tenor is sweet and dreamy. Especially impressive is his “A Wand’ring Minstrel, I,” in which he performs a succession of difficult scales with his amazing range. The two bring a measure of depth to their stock roles.

p. Also possessing impressive pairs of vocal chords are freshman Thomas Brigham, who plays Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner, and his government official (in many capacities), Poo-Bah, played by senior Brandon Williams. They, however, are probably most notable for their acting performances. Whether singing or in dialogue, these two are side-splittingly funny. They possess great chemistry, and Williams especially keeps the audience rolling. His character may be the comic relief in what is already a very funny show, but he goes above and beyond the call of comedy, summoning a variety of very expressive gestures and vocal inflections. Senior Amy Wrisley plays the evil Katisha who loves Nanki-Poo and schemes to marry him. Never breaking character, she does a phenomenal job vivifying the least funny character in the play. Her voice is beautiful and truly operatic — so beautiful, in fact, that it’s hard to see Katisha as a villain. Happily, there is no weak link in the play. The “minor” characters such as Pitti-Sing (sophomore Sara Black), Peep-Bo (freshman Maurene Comey), Pish-Tush (sophomore Dan Plehal), and the Mikado himself (senior Tom Bambara) all perform their parts to the fullest and prove decidedly wonderful. It’s so rare to see a production in which not one of the players manifests some sort of noticeable weakness, but this is one of them. All in all, Sinfonicron’s “The Mikado” is a splendid, admirable piece of theater.

Hollywood Gossip

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February 2, 2007

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p. Bend it like Ozzy?
English Soccer hunk David Beckham and his former-Spice Girl wife may be looking to spice up their lives: Ozzy Osbourne style. The couple is moving to Los Angeles, with Beckham having signed a multi-million dollar deal with the L.A. Galaxy soccer team. If the Beckhams accept a recent offer, cameras may show it all as they adjust to American life. Like the reality show “The Osbournes,” the tentatively titled “Living With the Beckhams,” will help the two Brits gain fame in America.

p. Jessica: Justified?
A few weeks after ending his relationship with Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake can’t seem to get enough of Jessica Biel. The two are in 7th Heaven, having spent hours together at Prince’s Golden Globe party. Though it may just be an illusion, it seems there’s something about Justin and Jessica, especially after Biel flew to the Sundance Film Festival to be with Timberlake. Perhaps Diaz, who has confronted Timberlake about his new relationship, wishes she were still in Biel’s shoes.

p. Abdul, out?
Will Courtney Love, named ““the most controversial woman in the history of rock,” by Rolling Stone, soon become American Idol’s biggest controversy? Love launched rumors that Idol is looking to replace Paula Abdul, saying that executive producer Nigel Lythgoe called her. “He was wondering if I was interested. I thought it was kind of weird but brilliant,” Love told USMagazine.com. With Abdul’s drug use in question, Love seems a fitting replacement, ensuring the controversies will continue.

p. Tabloid Talk: Tubby Tyra
Tyra Banks was shocked by tabloid headlines mocking her slightly fuller frame. Having gained 30 pounds since her runway days, the 33-year-old stands behind her healthier physique. Though tabloids captured unflattering pictures of her on holiday in Sydney, Australia last month, Banks insists that it was simply a poor angle. In fact, the talk show host intends to host another “reveal” show as she did last year, featuring her in the bathing suit from her holiday snapshots.

Underappreciated ‘Lost’ loses ground due to misguided execs

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February 2, 2007

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p. Dear ABC(American Broadcasting Company),

p. What gives? First you take a staple show like “Lost” off the air for almost three months — an unprecedented amount of time which in our current TV landscape translates to about, say, a bazillion years. Then you go on and scare us (and by “us” I mean geeky television nerds, and by “geeky television nerds” I mean this writer) by getting all worked up at the show’s producers for suggesting an imminent series finale. I know, I know: Wednesday night’s line-up would suffer without “Lost,” which is, after all, your third best performing drama behind “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Desperate Housewives;” and none of your new shows are doing that hot, really; and syndication is where the money is these days and blah, blah, blah. But putting “Lost” in danger of becoming the next “X-Files” just for a couple of bucks? Really, ABC? What gives?

p. I really like you, ABC, I do. After all, you’re the network that brought me “Alias,” reintroducing me to J.J. Abrams after the whole “Felicity” fiasco, and you recently made Thursdays bearable by giving me the greatest guilty pleasure in the form of a small, poncho-wearing, ratty-haired, bushy-eyebrowed Latina gal from Queens with a heart almost as big as her … personality. However, I have to be honest: I’m not buying this we-care-about-“Lost” shtick you’ve been pulling off lately in all the magazines. It seems, well, a little fake and desperate — like an apologetic Isaiah Washington, but I digress.

p. Let’s be honest, ABC, if you really cared for “Lost” as much as you’ve been trying to make it sound like you do, you would have run the show in the fall or the spring. Look at FOX’s “24.” Now that’s a shining example of a network actually supporting its hit show and going the extra mile for it. And if you think about it, “24” is not that different from “Lost”: they’re both critically acclaimed shows with intricate plots and plenty of unanswered questions and they both boast a very, very devoted (if not exactly large) following. Sure, the analogy only runs so far before falling apart, but you know what, ABC? Save it — because no matter what you try to argue, a three month hiatus is not in any show’s best interest.

p. In an act of civility, I’ll grant you this much, ABC: it has not all been your fault. I’m willing to acknowledge that last season of “Lost” was, well, anything but stellar, from the headache that was Ana Lucia (Michelle Rodriguez, “S.W.A.T.”) to the whole unresolved Walt-and-Michael (Malcolm David Kelley, “Antwone Fisher;” Harold Perrineau, “The Matrix Reloaded”) plotline and let’s not forget about the menacing black cloud (?) that lurks in the jungle. Truth be told, last season’s “Lost” was a little light on the “oohs!” and a little heavy on the “what the fucks”. But “Lost” wasn’t your only show going through the sophomore slump. Those crazy wives over on Wysteria Lane had that bizarro human-chained-in-a-basement plotline that went nowhere and yet you (unfortunately) didn’t take them off the air.

p. Whatever your reasons, I’m glad to hear that you’ve slowly started to come to your senses. Announcing that the next season of “Lost” will be aired without interruption is a step in the right direction. The next step would be to realize that the show will never have the audience numbers of “Grey’s” or “CSI.” Shows like “Lost” are designed for a very specific demographic; most people interested in watching doctors sleep with each other and cry (like, a lot) before sleeping with each other again aren’t going to be drawn to a show about a group of survivors stranded on an island.

p. As a last point, I’ve got to say I’m not particularly pleased about the show’s new hour (10 p.m.) but I’ll let it slide (for now) because I’ve read that the newest episode is mind-blowing and delivers in a way only a show like “Lost” can. So just, please, ABC, promise to take better care of the show from now on because — not to sound scary or threatening — there are a lot more people out there like me who aren’t really happy with you right now.

p. Thanks for being such a great sport, ABC. I’m really looking forward to all your latest programming (except According to Jim) this semester.

p. Oh, and ABC, one last thing: Please just fire Isaiah Washington already.

p. Sincerely,

p. Your loyal viewer

p. Alejandro is a senior at the College. He still insists that “Lost” is better than “Grey’s Anatomy.”

The best of 2006 in music

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February 2, 2007

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One reviewer gives us his list of the top ten albums you must hear from 2006 — a year of comebacks, maturity and breakthroughs

p. 10. “Karmacode,” Lacuna Coil
Lacuna Coil’s brand of loud rock music coupled with ethereal female vocals has drawn some unfortunate comparisons to its contemporary, Evanescence. However, where Evanescence creates accessible pop-metal for a mass audience, Lacuna Coil goes straight for the jugular. Anyone who has heard the eastern-influenced single “Our Truth” can testify that vocalist Cristina Scabbia makes Amy Lee sound downright sheepish.

p. 9. “A City by the Light Divided,” Thursday
This album that almost never was finds the emo-core group Thursday continuing the musical progression from their last album, “War All the Time.” While not a drastically different album, it improves on the existing foundation. An album that practically seethes with emotion, “A City by the Light Divided” represents the best of Thursday’s catalogue and stands as a solid release from an increasingly diluted genre.
p. 8. “Modern Times,” Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is aging gracefully. Few artists have had the same impact as Dylan, and hardly anyone can lay claim to such a vast catalogue. Accordingly, with each new release comes the pressure to live up to his legend. “Modern Times” isn’t quite “Highway 61 Revisited” for the new generation, but it is an incredible album from a music legend and well worth checking out.

p. 7. “The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me,” Brand New
Brand New proves that the third time’s the charm with this latest effort. After the band’s first effort — the witty, but ultimately cardboard “Your Favorite Weapon” — it was assumed that it would go the way of other cookie-cutter emo-pop outfits, but the band returned with a surprisingly strong, matured sophomore album. Continuing the growth started on that second album, “Deja Entendu,” Brand New’s latest shows a band to be reckoned with. Better than either of their earlier efforts, this alt-rock tour-de-force is not to be missed.

p. 6. “Donuts,” J Dilla
Of all the albums on this list, this one is probably the most emotionally charged of the lot. Released a few days before producer J Dilla passed away, this album is a collection of beats put together while fighting a losing battle with Lupus. Arguably one of the best collections of instrumentals to date, this work represents the apex of an underground legend’s skill and devotion to his chosen art form. If anything from 2006 will be regarded as a classic record a decade from now, this is it.

p. 5. “Pearl Jam,” Pearl Jam
After slipping from its perch, Pearl Jam returns to form with this self-titled release. Besides being an excellent comeback record that captures listeners through to the sweeping conclusion, this disc also marks a rarity in the modern rock scene: a straightforward rock album. A breath of fresh air in a genre filled with gimmicks and hybrid styles, the band proves that it can still do it better than almost any other out there.

p. 4. “Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing,” Keith Urban
While other artists are branching out and expanding their musical palette, Keith Urban has consistently stayed true to the course. Though detractors could argue that this comes from a lack of innovation, Urban has, instead, taken a particular sound and steadily perfected it over time. His newest album marks the latest installment in this refining process and proves to be his strongest to date.

p. 3. “10,000 Days,” Tool
If Tool’s excellent track record doesn’t recommend this album, nothing said here will convince anyone. Taking listeners on an eleven-track aural journey, Tool consistently turns out brilliant, nuanced records and “10,000 Days” falls right in line. Continuing the band’s progression from “Lateralus,” Maynard Keenan and company create an inspired piece of art that spans the musical gamut from the muscular “Vicarious” to the epic “Wings for Marie/10,000 Days.” Plus — just take a look at the packaging.

p. 2. “Continuum,” John Mayer
John Mayer shuts up critics across the country with his latest studio offering. On “Heavier Things,” it was clear Mayer was taking his music somewhere new, but hardly anyone could have predicted his sound would evolve so rapidly. Simply put, this album is nearly flawless and, along with the excellent live album “Try!,” establishes Mayer as this generation’s Clapton. (Yes — I did just say that.)

p. 1. “Game Theory,” The Roots
And now, the number one album on this list comes from hip-hop veteran The Roots. In a genre where this week’s hit is found in next week’s bargain bin, this type of staying power is nothing short of miraculous. In the band’s darkest and most political offering to date, The Roots proves, without a doubt, that it isn’t going anywhere. A sonic companion piece to 2002’s “Phrenology,” this album further exhibits the technical and creative skills of band leader ?uestlove and emcee Black Thought. With a poignant nine-minute tribute to departed producer J Dilla closing the disc, “Game Theory” stands as the high point of 2006.

‘Labyrinth’ shines with lore and gore

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February 2, 2007

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Master of gore, guts and all things that go bump in the night, Mexican director Guillermo del Toro (“Hellboy”), presents his masterpiece “Pan’s Labyrinth.” Appropriately described as a fairy tale for adults, all the essentials of a del Toro film are present in this movie. There is an excessive amount of violence, hideous creatures run rampant, and at the center of it all is the heart of a child. This time, however, del Toro has a nearly flawless script to work with and the end result is a rare gem.

p. It is 1944 and Franco has just declared victory in Spain. The movie begins with a pregnant mother, Carmen Vidal (Ariadna Gil), and her daughter, Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), setting off to live with her new husband in a rural area in northern Spain. The husband, Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez, “Dirty Pretty Things”), is a cold and caustic man who tortures at all costs, kills mercilessly and only cares that Carmen deliver him a baby boy so that his legacy will endure. Ofelia, desperate to escape the fascist world around her, finds reprieve in a labyrinth near the mill where they reside. There, she encounters a faun (Doug Jones, “Hellboy”) who reveals to her that she is the long lost princess of the underworld and that to return to her regal parents she must complete three tasks. Amid the completion of these gruesome, at times horrifying tasks, Ofelia must deal with her dying mother, rebels invading the village and the visceral nature of her step-father. Del Toro’s setup is fascinating, haunting and full of curiosity.

p. Technically, the movie is almost flawless — a pleasant surprise considering the fact that del Toro is working with about a third of his typical budget. The creatures in the film are very realistic as del Toro’s decision to use animatronics and body suits as opposed to CGI paid off. The man wearing the suits, Doug Jones, is one of Hollywood’s most renowned prosthetics men because of his ability to become the creature he is trying to portray. After working with del Toro in “Hellboy,” he knows exactly how del Toro wants his creatures to behave.

p. The setting is dark and very dreary: throughout the film, the rain and cloudy weather of Spain add a sense of despair to the environment. The only drawbacks in the film are its battle scenes. Del Toro has a penchant for displaying a lot of gore, which at times is effective at making the audience squeamish. However, since most of the gore is computer generated, it often looks fake. Also, Del Toro makes the mistake of showing too much; it can be more effective to keep the killings off-screen to let the audience’s imagination create its own gruesome image.

p. The acting in the film is excellent. Ivan Baquero as Ofelia must carry the entire movie on her shoulders — she performs marvelously. Her innocence is never questioned in the film and she is able to avoid the pitfalls most child actors fall into: overacting and becoming annoying. Baquero should be commended for never losing her audience. The other notable performance is that of Sergi Lopez as the vile Captain Vidal. Lopez is remarkably evil as the cool and collected Captain. His facial expressions are stoic in nature and the delivery of his lines is powerful. Del Toro spends a lot of time showing the Captain going through his daily routine, which would be no different from any normal man, except the way Lopez exhibits his habits shows him falling on the side of insanity.

p. Ironically, this movie almost didn’t get made. Del Toro tells the story of how he lost the majority of his notes and pictures for the film in a cab and thought he would never find them again. Fortunately, the driver who found the materials realized their importance and worked diligently to return them to del Toro — leaving the director even more determined to make the film.

p. “Pan’s Labyrinth” is the rare foreign film that has been able to break the language barrier and appeal to American audiences, possessing a unique universal appeal. Del Toro’s ability to tell a story that can connect with any audience, young or old (though, believe me, the gore warrants the ‘R’ rating) allows it to succeed. The film works on every level. “Pan’s Labyrinth” is not just an adult fairy tale — it is a masterpiece.

A working vacation

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February 2, 2007

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This year, senior Sarah Stroh’s entire winter break amounted to the equivalent of most students’ fall break: four days. In fact, the longest winter vacation she can ever recall having at the College was six days. Factor in travel time back to her home in British Columbia on the Pacific coast of Canada, and she only got to see her family for two full days around the Christmas holiday this year. But you won’t hear her gripe much about her lack of vacation. As a member of the women’s basketball team, Stroh is more than used to cutting her time with friends and family short in order to practice and play games.

p. “Everyone would like to be home as long as possible,” Stroh said. “Three days doesn’t seem like a long time, but the reason I’m here is to play basketball. For four years of my life, that’s what I committed myself to do.”

p. Over break, when most students head home to relax and mooch off their parents, members of the men’s and women’s basketball team remain in Williamsburg and work, preparing for the heart of their season.

p. “It’s not vacation. It’s like an extended basketball camp. Basically you eat, sleep and play basketball,” Stroh said. “Some years, we would come in to practice and work out at 11 a.m., and leave when it was dark, around 6 p.m. It pretty much feels like a month-long basketball game.”

p. Freshman members of both teams must live in Williamsburg area hotels, while most of the upperclassmen remain in their off-campus apartments. Stroh, who has lived on campus all four years, is an exception and lived with the women’s team at a local Days Inn this year.

p. Given a daily food stipend of $7, players must also deal with the closure of campus dining halls.

p. “I like campus life better, especially with students back,” freshman men’s basketball player David Schneider said. “The UC and Caf are good because you have a meal right there and you don’t have to go looking for food.”

p. This winter break, when other students were probably resting at home sipping on egg nog, both the men’s and women’s teams rattled off impressive seven-game win streaks. In previous seasons, both programs have hit cold slumps, losing several games in a row during late December and early January. Senior guard Adam Payton credited some of the men’s holiday success, capped off by a 67-63 road upset over 2006 Final Four participant George Mason University earlier this month, to having fewer distractions.

p. “When there’s no class and when students leave, there’s nothing to do but play ball and focus,” Payton said.

p. There are no NCAA rules governing how long coaches can keep players occupied with basketball over break. “It’s not just sit in your apartment time,” he said. The team often practiced twice per day.

p. The small amount of vacation can be a problem for some players who don’t live close to campus. A native of Burlington, N.J., Payton drives home to visit family for the holidays. Last year, with only five days of vacation, Payton found himself hustling back to Williamsburg as the team was preparing to leave for a road game. Sitting in a traffic jam, he missed a whole practice.

p. This year, Payton’s wife, Sharena, traveled down from New Jersey with him after Christmas and stayed through New Year’s Day.

p. “It’s definitely hard to have a family while in school, but I know right after I graduate I’ll be back with them,” he said.

p. Stroh, who must fly home, said however many days the team has off for vacation, she usually subtracts two for travel time. This year she intended to leave the College at 6 a.m. Dec. 22 and arrive in Seattle at 11 a.m., but the flight was changed a month before its departure and she was not able to leave Williamsburg before 11 a.m. Scheduled to arrive in Seattle early in the evening, her plane did not land until after midnight. It took another two-hour drive into Canada before she was home. A whole day was shot.

p. “It’s very hectic, but I’ve learned to be calm over the years,” Stroh said.

p. Unlike Stroh and Payton, Schneider lives closer to Williamsburg and doesn’t have to worry as much about travel arrangements. He went to Charlottesville to spend time with his mom and grandmother during the team’s four-day break this year. Originally from Arizona, his family moved to Myrtle Beach, S.C., so they were better able to travel to watch him play over break.

p. “Having family really close, that’s a bonus for me,” he said.

p. While suiting up for the Tribe ultimately means that all three players must forfeit most of their winter break, they still enjoy all the time they dedicate to playing basketball.

p. “I kind of wish I had a bigger break,” Payton said. “But I love the sport and I have learned to play it all the time.”

Tribe lays smackdown on Drexel

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February 2, 2007

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Junior forward Kyra Kaylor paced the Tribe with 18 points, and senior guard Sarah Stroh and junior guard Devin James each added 12 of their own as the College routed CAA opponent Drexel University 75-50 last night at Kaplan Arena.

p. Despite its loss to Old Dominion University Sunday, the team went into last night’s game with a 13-7 overall record and a 5-4 record in CAA play. The Tribe defeated Northeastern University and Georgia State University before falling to ODU, the only undefeated team in the conference. Additionally, the College won nine of its last 12 games and has already surpassed its total number of home wins from last season.

p. Kaylor recorded her 7th double-double of the year, leading the Tribe with 18 points and 10 rebounds in its 58-49 victory over Northeastern. Stroh also tallied 13 points and four steals, while sophomore guard Courtney Portell and freshman forward Tiffany Benson each poured in 11 points.

p. Though Northeastern got on the scoreboard first, the College countered with an 11-0 run, six points of which came from Benson. The Huskies answered with a 7-2 spurt to narrow the Tribe’s advantage to 4 points with 12:59 remaining in the first half. After rampant scoring on each end, the College built a sizable 27-18 lead with 6:17 left in the first. The Tribe only allowed the Huskies another four points the remainder of the half, and held them scoreless in the last four minutes. The College went into the locker room with a 32-22 lead.

p. The Tribe came out strong in the second half, going on an 8-0 run within the first two minutes to build a 40-22 lead. The Huskies refused to back down, however, as they charged back with a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 44-34. With consecutive three-pointers from Portell and Stroh, the College pushed the margin back up to 16 points by the second media timeout. Despite a valiant eight-point comeback attempt by the Huskies, the Tribe managed to keep the lead and finish with a 58-49 victory.

p. The College earned its second win of the week in its triumph over Georgia State in Atlanta last Thursday. It was a grueling match, as the Tribe only out-shot the Panthers 47.4 percent to 45.2 percent to secure a 77-76 victory.

p. Kaylor again led the College with 30 points, which enabled her to reach the 1,200-point mark, becoming only the sixth player to do so in the program’s history. James also gave a stellar performance, recording a career-high 27 points along with eight rebounds and two steals. Stroh and Benson again played key roles in the win.

p. The Tribe led 8-6 at the first media timeout, as all of the points came from Kaylor. While the College commanded an 8-point lead with 13:12 on the clock, the Panthers countered with a 9-2 run to cut the Tribe lead to one. There was back-and-forth scoring for the remainder of the half, and although the College held a five-point lead with under six minutes remaining, by the end of the first half GSU again only trailed by one point.

p. After intermission, the Tribe went on a 7-0 run to gain a six-point lead with 16:57 showing. Although the College held a six-point lead multiple times in the second half, an 11-0 spurt by the Panthers caused the Tribe to trail 68-63 with less than 5 minutes left in the game.

p. The College surged forward, however, outscoring GSU 7-1 to put the Tribe ahead by one point with 1:45 remaining. Although the Panthers briefly reclaimed the lead, a three-pointer and a pair of foul shots by Kaylor, followed by two free throws from James, allowed the College to clinch the 1-point victory over GSU.

p. ODU ended the Tribe’s winning streak Sunday by a score of 63-47. Benson led the Tribe with 12 points, marking her first career double-double and giving her a total of 45 blocks so far this season. Benson is now in first place for most rejections in a single season, exceeding the previous record of 42 set in 1991. Devin James and Sarah Stroh added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

p. The Lady Monarchs opened scoring with a 15-0 run to take an early lead. The Tribe managed to hold ODU scoreless for almost six minutes before the Lady Monarchs made another 12-3 spurt. The College answered with a 9-2 run of its own, but it wasn’t enough as the Tribe trailed by 13 at halftime.

p. Although James and Stroh were the Tribe’s only scorers in the first half, Benson and Taylor managed to knock down some baskets to help the College in the second. The Lady Monarchs charged ahead, however, making another run to gain a sizable 50-33 lead with 9:38 showing. With a pair of three-pointers by senior guard Katy Neumer, the College cut the margin to 13 points with 5:38 to go. Despite an all-around team effort, the Tribe was unable to significantly narrow the lead as it fell 47-63.

p. The Tribe hosts James Madison University Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Kaplan Arena.

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