Popular alternative rock band My Chemical Romance is expected to perform at Kaplan Arena at William & Mary Hall April 28 as part of MCR’s international Black Parade Tour.

p. The band disclosed details about the location of 11 stops on the tour between April 14 and April 28 to its official fan club today on the band’s website, MyChemicalRomance.com. The non-restricted portion of the website shows the scheduled dates, but with the locations are left mostly blank with only some letters filled in. While the location for the April 28 show is among those left mostly blank, the given letters appear to spell out “Williamsburg, Va., William and Mary Hall Kaplan Arena.”

p. The locations will be disclosed to the general public Monday.

p. The date of the show coincides with the general time frame for the University Center Activities Board’s annual spring concert; however, UCAB could not comment at press time.

p. The College’s main arena, now called Kaplan Arena, used to be a regular stop for high profile concerts, including the Grateful Dead, Bruce Springsteen and The Cars. My Chemical Romance would represent a return of big-name headliner concerts in Williamsburg.

p. MCR is known for its popular blend of alternative, punk and emo rock. The ‘Parade’ tour comes on the heels of the release of the band’s latest album, “The Black Parade,” in October. “The Black Parade” is the third effort from the quintet, comprised of frontman Gerard Way, bassist Mikey Way, drummer Bob Bryar and guitarists Frank Iero and Ray Toro. Like the band’s previous two albums, “Black Parade” is a concept album looking back on the life of the central character, “the Patient.”

p. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 list and has enjoyed generally positive reviews. Rolling Stone called the album “the best mid-Seventies record of 2006 — an ingenious, unrestrained paraphrasing of the over-the-top glam theater of Queen and classic Alice Cooper.” Likewise, The Washington Post referred to ‘Parade’ as a “phantasmagorical high-wire act.”

p. In its live act, MCR is known for high-energy performances and attention to thematic details. Like the concept-heavy albums, the band attempts to tell a story through the performance, and chooses song lists carefully, an attention to detail that is appreciated by fans who post on the message board on the band’s website.

p. More details about the additional tour dates, including times and ticket pricing, are expected to be announced Monday.

In an effort to respond to increasing student demands for study abroad opportunities, the Wendy and Emery Reves Center for International Studies, in cooperation with a variety of esteemed faculty members, once again are offering several summer programs in a variety of global locations, including the brand new option of Galway, Ireland.

p. Currently, students may choose from 12 programs, while incoming freshmen have the option of a College-sponsored Freshmen Experience in St. Andrews, Scotland.

p. Students interested in studying abroad this summer have until Feb. 8 to complete an application and submit all of the required materials to the Global Education Office. Applications require a personal statement, a written reference and a $50 application fee. The Reves Center hosts pre-advising workshops on Tuesdays at 3 p.m., Wednesdays at 4 p.m., Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. and Fridays at 11:30 a.m. Students must attend one of these workshops before arranging an appointment with a study abroad advisor.

p. For a full list of available programs and information, visit the Reves Center’s website at www.wm.edu/revescenter. The website also includes information on other international education options, including cooperative programs through other American universities and accredited study abroad agencies.

p. According to Reves Center Director of Global Education Guru Ghosh, the popularity and variety of options available has grown tremendously over the last seven years. In addition to the current possibilities, both during the summer and the academic year, the Global Education Office has recently been the recipient of notable grants from the U.S. State Department to pursue Arabic study programs in the Middle East and a $1.2 million contribution from the Freeman Foundation to expand opportunities for students wishing to study in East Asia.

p. “Students are going where they never used to study,” Ghosh said. “Since April of 2000, we’ve doubled the number of students who go overseas and doubled the number of summer programs available.”

p. Ghosh also said that the College has more than doubled the number of scholarships for students, and noted that the GEO hopes to start Arabic programs in Syria or Morocco as early as the Fall semester. Planners are also looking at Jordan and Egypt as possible locations.

p. “We’ve been impressed and stunned at the level of involvement,” Ghosh said. “Students are yearning for the international experience.”

p. Ghosh stressed the importance of global and international education, concepts which have become virtually ubiquitous at institutions of higher education in an increasingly interconnected world. He called a sustained study abroad experience “an integral part of the liberal arts experience.”

p. The skyrocketing percentage of students studying abroad is perhaps a testament to the effectiveness and practicality of the programs. Sophomore Rob Cottrell, who participated in a joint economics and sociology program in Goa, India last summer, said that he originally chose India because of the courses and subjects offered. Cottrell said that learning about globalization and economic development in India was incredibly influential in helping him to adjust his course of study.

p. “I initially chose Goa because I thought I wanted to double major in economics and sociology. The location was just an added bonus, but those were the courses being offered,” Cottrell said. “My experience there made me change one of my majors, and I’m now really interested in international business.”

p. Senior Celeste Otsuka attended the College’s exchange program in Prague in the summer of 2005, a program which was first launched three years ago and whose numbers have doubled in that time. Otsuka also chose the program based on the course offerings, since the College did not offer many economics courses during its summer session.

p. Otsuka said that even though she took classes from both Czech and College professors, the classes were structured very similarly to upper level economics classes students would find at the College.

p. “The fact that we were learning about corruption in emerging markets in a recently corrupt country made the facts a little more real,” Otsuka said. “We could really see instances of the communist influence on the country.”

p. The College’s programs continue to grow both in variety and popularity, but the safety of students abroad remains the primary concern of the GEO. While many Americans have been concerned with post-Sept. 11 travel, Ghosh noted that, ironically, the College “experienced a tremendous spike in students going abroad, which has continued ever since.”

p. Ghosh also noted that faculty for the programs are well-trained and carefully selected. “Faculty members apply based on their experience and their areas of interest,” he said. “There is a systematic selection process. All of our faculty are also trained in emergency situations.”

p. It is the hope of the GEO that options for cultural learning abroad will continue on their current upward trend. A new program is scheduled to open in Capetown, South Africa for the summer of 2008.

p. “Study abroad is not just about people who are international studies or language majors,” Ghosh said. “We hope that these programs can be catalysts for our students.”

The Williamsburg Area Restaurant Association will feature 22 local eateries in its “Williamsburg Restaurant Week” in order to showcase restaurants that stand out from the abundance of steak and waffle houses. From Jan. 28 through Sunday, WARA invites diners to “enjoy Williamsburg’s finest dining at a fraction of the price.” For eight days, the 22 participating WARA restaurants will feature multi-course fixed-price lunch and dinner menus for guests to sample. Notable participants include The Trellis, the 415 Grill, Berret’s Seafood Restaurant and Seasons Cafe.

p. As Richmond Road confidently displays, the area offers an infinite variety of eating places, 120 of which belong to the WARA. The association is a leading organization helping promote the area restaurant industry’s vast expansion and change. To aid in this growth, Restaurant Week aims to bring in customers to choose from each restaurant’s featured specialties. In celebratory fashion, each price is reminiscent of the New Year: three-course dinner menus range from $20.07 to $30.07 while two-course lunch menus are priced at $10.07.

p. “We just think it’s a wonderful opportunity for all residents of Williamsburg to enjoy our food and the food of other restaurants at a discounted price,” Trellis General Manager Robert Hall said. “We’ve advertised in local newspapers, and we hope to give people who don’t dine out often the change to enjoy our food.”

p. The Fat Canary, another popular white-table restaurant on Duke of Gloucester Street is not a member of the Williamsburg Area Restaurants Association, although owner Tom Power, Sr. said that, had they been members of the organization, they would certainly be participating in the program. A three-course dinner at the Fat Canary costs an average of $50-$60 per person.

p. “We chose not to be a part of the organization,” Power said. “It isn’t because we don’t like them, we just did not see that it was an advantage for our restaurant. It certainly is great for some restaurants.”

p. Participating restaurants have already noted the success of the promotion. Berret’s Dining Room Manager Melissa McKelvey said that a large percentage of patrons took advantage of the discounted entrees last Wednesday night. “We sold 30 of the specials after seating only 50 people,” she said.

p. Ending just before Valentine’s Day week, the promotion offers a way for restaurant-goers to scout out dining spots for February 14. This week of discounts also serves to make more upscale restaurants affordable to students and locals. In addition, the project will help participating restaurants prepare for Jamestown’s 400th anniversary and the influx of tourists it will bring to the Historic Triangle.

p. With millions of visitors — including Queen Elizabeth II — expected, the success of Restaurant Week will get WARA members ready for big business in May.

p. For more information on Restaurant Week or the Williamsburg Restaurant Association, including menus and prices of participating restaurants, visit WilliamsburgAreaRestaurants.com.

Few college students would welcome a late-night interview when they have a cough and homework to do, especially during the first week of classes (a time when, let’s face it, the very notion of homework still seems like a cruel joke). That Girl, however, managed not only to illuminate a cold winter night with her warm conversation but reveal some ways in which she follows Ghandi’s instruction to ‘be the change you want to see in the world.’ Amanda Nixon talks about building schools in Uganda, medical relief overseas, and the appeal of the great outdoors.

**What’s your major?**

p. I’m a government major. Only at William & Mary is one major underachieving. I hate that people can be defined by what organizations they are in. I love everything that I do but it’s not the sum of my person. I think that I’m guilty of it too — that we can do that with. I do everything that I do because I love it. It fills me in a way that other things don’t, but by no means is that ‘Amanda Nixon.’

**How do you define yourself?**

p. I think that if someone were going to define me by the people that I choose to spend my time with, that would probably be a better definition than I actually am. I love to surround myself with people who inspire me and people who challenge me and that are crazy. So I think my friendships are the most important thing to me. It’s tough when you are really involved, to maintain that as your top priority.

**What about community service and philanthropy interests you?**

p. I was part of Young Life for two years. I felt really pulled away from my William and Mary experience because I was in high schools most of the time off-campus. I’m pleased with my decision to be part of Young Life because I learned so much and met so many incredible people, but I wasn’t giving myself the opportunity to grow as a college person. So junior year I decided to come back and made William & Mary my community. I haven’t been involved in as much Williamsburg, but I have worked really hard servicing this campus and abroad with Building Tomorrow. I think that it’s incredible to be in a place where so many people are willing to give time to others instead of themselves. But I also think that it can be draining and it takes draining yourself to learn that time to yourself is important to you too. I can’t do as good a job for anyone else if I’m not doing good for me. My trip to Uganda in January brought clarity to how many people are willing and able to do something and don’t.

**Tell me about Uganda.**

p. I went for two and half weeks over Christmas break. It was incredible. We stayed in the first school that William and Mary built [for Building Tomorrow] for a week. I got to play with kids and teach them. We sang songs and danced and jumped rope. And then I got to see where the kids were from, which was heartbreaking. We did some home-based care. The whole experience made me realize how important Building Tomorrow is. I would love to graduate having raised enough money to build another school there. We just take so much for granted and the people there, the thing that hit hard, according to our standards have nothing materialistic. They live in dark houses surrounded by HIV and AIDS. The idea that we can give these children a place to go learn, learn English, learn skills to sustain themselves, learn ways of making a living and inspiring them would be incredible.

**Are you going to participating in a Spring Service Trip?**

p. I’m going to Nicaragua with W&M Medical Relief. I thought I knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life at the end of junior year and then I realized I wasn’t so sure.

p. I wanted to go into Higher Education and work in student activities with college students, and I’m still considering it, but medicine has recently come into my head. It was a dream I had as a child and then I realized that I could either go pre-med in college and not have a life, because sciences do not come naturally to me, or that I could fully experience college and chose a major with incredible professors that comes more naturally to me. I chose government, and I do not regret it at all, but now I’m considering being a doctor or going into public health.

**What is the appeal of the great outdoors?**

p. I think I see God in the outdoors. I look for God in the outdoors and in other people. The African outdoors are sweet. We went on a safari. It was really hilly, and the animals were incredible. We saw elephants and hippos in their natural habitat. One night a hippo joined us for dinner, just walked right up to the table. Our server said “Excuse me, hippo!” A zoo will never quite be the same. I’m so excited because one of my best friends and I are taking a trip across the U.S. after graduation, and I’ve never seen the West before. I can’t wait to live off peanut butter and crackers and sleep in the car. And under the stars.