Blitzjack Meets Sexual Assault Commentary

The following blitz was apparently sent from the PRFORM blitz account to all '14 women during Orientation, before their first weekend out at the frats. Attached was a song titled "Out of Control" written for us Dartmouth students, which we've uploaded.

>From: PRFORM

>Date: 24 Sep 2010 18:23:31 -0400

>Subject: blitzjack

>To: (Recipient list suppressed)

Welcome to Dartmouth, we are glad you are here

Prepare to surrender what you hold most dear

Your money, your time, what is it you ask?

You will find out, once this school we unmask.

What you think of this place is not what it seems

You may see the lines, but not what's in between

They tell you we're great, just fun and games

But some of us are not so friendly and tame.

What they will take, you will never get back

Your world that was white will now become black

Beneath the lies is the worst of crimes

For which recovery will take quite some time.

Out of Control (5:58)

In this author's opinion, the song and poem raise some strong points and very powerful, and it's clear whoever wrote it has felt a lot of pain. The message, however, seems better directed at all of us, and not toward unwitting 14s who hadn't experienced our culture just yet. I hope the good will behind this gesture isn't too drowned out by the delivery or strength of the message, which is undoubtedly shocking to many.

Update 9/30/2010 11:10 AM: This blitz was sent to 13s, under a gmail account named "Expecto Petronus," on September 29th. It may or may not have been sent by the same person; there's no easy way to tell.

Compassion and the "Mosque" Controversy

In the third grade, I was the only Asian kid in my class at Hoben Elementary. Sometimes, I would have conversations like this:

DJ: “Konichiwa!!!!”

Me: “Hi, DJ.”

DJ: “No speekee English. Ching-ching!!! Tofu!! Ka-Powww!!! What did I just say?”

Me: “You said you didn’t understand English and ‘tofu’.”

Please don’t get me wrong: Elementary school, with its naps and snack times and easy friendships, held some of the happiest years of my life. Conversations like that angered me, but I don’t blame DJ or carry some deep grudge. The reasoning is simple: Most of it wasn’t malicious, and it’s just what kids do when they see unlike-Trust me, it happens all over the world.

But as I got older, I noticed people became less inclined to do those bothersome things.

Lazio Drops out of NY State Governor's Race

Rick Lazio has withdrawn his name from the race for Governor of New York State. And so Andrew (don't call him Andy) Cuomo's sole challenger with be Crazy Carl Paladino. Though Cuomo once held a monumental lead, it has been dwindling of late.

Jump to Dartlog's previous coverage of the NYS gubernatorial race here.

Indians Punch Past Pioneers, 21-19

There’s nothing like a thrilling victory. The Indians got one yesterday when they took down Sacred Heart after trailing at the half 12-7. Dartmouth scored 14 unanswered points in the third quarter to take a lead that they held to a nail-biting finish when Sacred Heart missed a field goal wide left with less than a minute left. The Indians are off to their best start on the warpath in thirteen years.

If there’s one thing the Indians are lacking, it sure isn’t a ground game. With the Monster from Massachusetts, Junior tailback Nick Schwieger ‘12, out of action with flu-like symptoms, freshmen running back Dominick Pierre proved an able replacement, dashing for 110 yards and a pair of trips to the promised land. QB Connor Kempe ‘12 threw sixteen completions on thirty attempts, including four completions to senior Tim McManus ‘11 to surpass 2,000 passing yards in his career.

This is Dartmouth’s best start in over a decade and the first time the team has won consecutive victories since many on campus were in middle school. The Indians face off in their Ivy League opener against the 24th ranked Penn Quakers (1-1)in Pennsylvania this upcoming Saturday. This will be the most challenging test the Indians have faced thus far. Penn has an extremely stout defense led by senior defensive back Jon Saelinger who earned National and Ivy Defensive Player of the Week honors in Penn’s victory over Lafayette thanks to three interceptions. Notably the Quakers only allowed eight first downs, 19 yards rushing and 168 yards total offense; in addition, they had four takeaways and held Lafayette to less than a yard per rush on average, an intimidating set of figures but one to be expected from last year’s #1 defense amongst FCS schools (they are currently number one this year as well). The good news is that the Quakers’ offense appears to be anemic, having scored only 29 points overall.

Go get ‘em, Indians. Wah-hoo-wah!

President Kim Alters View on Humanities

As reported by the Daily D, President Kim's speech at Convocation, held on Tuesday, was a far cry from remarks made previously in an interview with the Washington Post. Rather than disparage the humanities, Kim praised their value, calling for students to learn from his mistakes. “Don’t make my mistake of not engaging in [the humanities] until after you graduate...Embrace the lifelong task of becoming a better thinker,” he said.

President Kim, who aroused suspicions last year as to his commitment to the liberal arts, also spoke of the benefits of the humanities in his Presidential lecture in July, in which he stated, "You can map many of these traits, habits of the mind, on the course work that we are already doing, especially in the humanities and arts — others as well — but especially I think in courses in the humanities."

What remains unclear is whether Kim's statements come from a genuine interest in the humanities or a desire to appease those who remain concerned about his long term goals for the college. Indeed, Kim's introduction of a master of health care delivery science program last year sounded alarms for many and raised doubts about his commitment to the liberal arts.

Read the full text of President Kim's Convocation speech here.

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Everyone remembers how exceptional support was for Barack Obama in 2008 from college students. Now many are having second thoughts, even if support for the President is still higher amongst the young—and less world wise—than amongst other demographics. College Republicans managed to capture that growing apathy perfectly with this delightful little video.

They probably could’ve saved on production costs if they’d just played this oldie.

Indian Football Opens With a Win

Now that's more like it.

 
The Indians overcame an 11-point halftime deficit to storm back with 34 unanswered points in the second half to smash Bucknell 43-20. Junior running back Nick Schwieger rumbled to 216 yards and two touchdowns in the first season opening victory Dartmouth has had since 2005 when the Indians defeated Colgate 26-21 in Hanover.

The Indians are 1-0 and go up against 8th ranked University of New Hampshire Sacred Heart next in the home opener. Wah-hoo-wah!

Finally, a Rally for the Rest of Us

Because the account two weeks ago of Glenn Beck's populist revival received so many comments, I couldn't help but take note of an upcoming event that is sure to gain traction. Even as it seems that our nation's public discourse could not get lower into the mud, a bright light appears on the horizon.

The inimitable duo of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert will be keeping it classy on the National Mall on Saturday, October 30 with twin gatherings: Stewart will preside over the Rally to Restore Sanity, while Colbert's stage persona will lead the satirical March to Keep Fear Alive.

From the Wall Street Journal's "Speakeasy" blog:

On his show, Stewart spouted a number of slogans to promote his event, including "Take it down a notch for America." He also promised pre-made signs for attendees to wave around, with signs ranging from "9/11 was an outside job," to "Got Competence?" and "I disagree with you, but I'm pretty sure you're not Hitler."

Watch the videos below, too. Thank goodness for these guys. How did it come to be that two of the most level-headed and mature current-events commentators on TV today are on Comedy Central?

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Rally to Restore Sanity
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
March to Keep Fear Alive
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes 2010 Election Fox News

Interesting Perspective on the Ground Zero Mosque Controversy

In light of the ongoing Ground Zero Mosque controversy, a quote from President Dwight D. Eisenhower on the opening of a Washington D.C. Islamic Center in 1957:

I should like to assure you, my Islamic friends, that under the American Constitution, under American tradition, and in American hearts, this Center, this place of worship, is just as welcome as could be a similar edifice of any other religion. Indeed, America would fight with her whole strength for your right to have here your own church and worship according to your own conscience. This concept is indeed a part of America, and without that concept we would be something else than what we are.

Shameless Self Promotion

Up on the Voice blog once more.