Catalyst

PAGE 1

Features Apocalypse Wow --page 4 The Insider --page 5 Opinion Opinion: Anti-Consumerist Films Consumed .. page 7 Volume X, Issue 12 Wow, he just made the international sign of the doughnut. December 3, 1999 Students to perform Hephaestus and Aphrodite by Ben Ruby On December 2, 15 New College students will gather behind Sainer to help one man realize his epic vision. That man, fifth year Pat Griffin, is one of the few students in the his tory of New College to write and stage a play in iambic pentameter. His play, titled Hephaestus and Aphrodite, is a drama about Greek gods. The cast of immortals had their o w n take on t h e production. fjrst arn, o y Hephaestus, said, "1nis is my first play. I was bludgeoned into doing it, but I'm definitely enjoying it." Jennifer Growden, who is a fourth-year thesis student, as well as Aphrodite, simply said, "Booze is life, booze is warmth, booze is in spiration." When asked about the play itself, Growden got slightly more serious, saying, "Its got vio lence and sex and gods and skin, its great. We could get this networked on Fox" The play, which begins at 9pm opening night and at 8pm for the following two performances, will run from December 2 through December 4, in the courtyard be hind Sainer. Michael 01 en, who play Zeus, commented that, "Although being Zeus has been one of the biggest power trips that I have ever experienced, power doesn't keep me warm." James Sheridan, otherwise known as Hades, the god of death, enthused, "I'm so glad I signed on, there are women in Togas." Patrick Armshaw, wbo fills a dual role as Poseidon and assistant director, expressed his enthusiasm for the way the production was coming together. "We have manly sword fights involving an eight "PLAY" ON PAGE 5 Four Winds Cafe may move to new locale The cafe may relocate to Hamilton center due to financial troubles. by David Saunders Store would move to the north At November's Town Meeting, it was announced that the man agers of the Four winds Cafe wanted to move it into Hamilton Center before the beginning of next year. This came as a bit of a shock to the campus. It seems that the Four Winds isn't doing enough business to keep it running, and the managers feel that to move it to Hamilton Center would be very good for business. They didn't come to this conclusion easily. The cafe runs on loans, and it is losing money. "There just isn't enough business," said co-man ager fourth-year Danielle Babski at the meeting. .------:-"-;-I--:::e::--e--::-l-t.,.h_a_t ___ --, side of Marriott, which would hopefully make it "a larger and Where would they pot it in on e er. Accot g Hatnilton Center should be the 'living roon11 of the campus. Students should. want to go there, 11ot have to." ---Mark Blaweiss more efficient store," said Blaweiss. What happens to the game room is still undecided. Blaweiss said that "It has been suggested that we enclose the open area behind Barbara Bergeren's office and place the game room there." The mail room would be enclosed and separate from other rooms. Over the summer, Hamilton Center will hopefully get new car peting and paint in the halls. "I feel that Hamilton Center should be the 'living room' of the cam pus. Students should want to go there, not have to," said Blaweiss Director of Student Affairs Blaweiss, the proposal started a domino effect. The CI SEE "4 WINDs" ON PAGE 2 Math Clinic reaches out to community Tutors and tutees alike benefit from Community Math Clinic. by Nikki Kostyun On Sunday morning, while most New College stu dents are recovering from the after affect of the previous evening, small groups of dedicated students are gather ing around campus and carpooling to Selby Library. In fact, these students are about to spend the next two hours tutoring people of any age in any mathematical topic, at no cost. This is the Community Math Clinic. During February 5-7, the first weekend after spring classes began, Eirini Poimenidou, an associate professor of mathematics at New College, and her Abstract Algebra students went on a retreat to Long Key, Florida. Debra Hebtsman tutors a child in the Math Clinic. The retreats official website described the event as a se ries of "group student presentations on topics related to applications, generalizations and extensions of the mate rial in [the] Abstract Algebra I class." From this event came a by product: the Community Math Clinic. It was "a new outlet," as Poimenidou said, "for the sense of community and excitement about mathematics that was generated" by the retreat. "I had introduced the idea to my class in the fall about the math clinic, bot I wanted them to come to me and say 'we want to do it', so after the retreat Doug [Wahl] and Jake [Byrnes] came to me and said 'we really want to do this tutoring thing,"' explained Poimenidou about the in ception of the Math Clinic. "I thought it was a pretty good way for New College to go out to the community of which it is a part. That's where my original idea came from, and I think the climate was right after the math re treat because of all the increased interaction and interest that we had." The mention of the Clinic sparked immediate interest in the Abstract Algebra and other math students. "In two days we had about 15 people sign up to tutor," com mented Poimenidou, who also determined that the Clinic should be available to the public in a public area. "The point was to go out to the community, not have the com munity come to us," explained Poimenidou, "Once we decided to do this, I came and met Catherine Morrisey and I talked to her about this and she thought this was a great idea." 'SEE "MATH CUNIC'' QNJ>AGE.6 .. 1

PAGE 2

2 The Catalyst Clinton Allocates the last of the National Budget with a $385 Billion Bill On Monday, President Bill Clinton signed into law $385 billion bill which wrapped up the national budget for fiscal year 2000, $1.8 trillion dollars. The bill ignored fiscal limits set by Congress in 1997, and may end up tak ing funds from the Social Security surplus which both the Republicans and the White House had their eye on for a rainy day. The bill itself encompassed funding for a myriad of federal services, including funding for the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, the Interior and a host of other government agencies. The budget law signed on Monday combined five of 13 spend ing bills that were dated to pass by October 1. Protestants and Catholics working together in Ireland? On Monday in Northern Ireland Protestant Unionists and Catholic Republicans agreed to share power in a coalition government for the formerly battle entrenched British province. One time IRA leader and now chief negotiator was nominated to serve in a cabinet with Protestant politicians whose parties are pledged to uphold British rule. The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) led the way for the cabinet by backing a formula that was created through mediation talks with Sinn Fein. Its main aim was to revive the stalled Good Friday accord. ee a rning e World Trade Organization During this week Clinton will be meeting with a few of the groups that have been protesting against the World Trade Organization at talks held in Seattle. Clinton will not directly take part in the talks concern ing the length of a new round of trade negotiations which will free up trade in goods and services. Rather, his goal is to make the case for the issues that the U.S. wants to see addressed in the coming talks, above all reduc ing farm subsidies, and argue for the benefits of free trade. Aides reported that Clinton was meeting with farmers on Wednesday morning, and ad-News dressing trade officials from the 135 countries expected to take part in the meeting over lunch. According to White House spokesman Joe Lockhart told reporters that Clinton would make time to meet with some of the groups protesting against the WTO and the oncoming globalization it stands for. Thanksgiving Weekend becoming a Web Shoppers Dream Online retailers posted record online ales around the Thanksgiving weekends national homage to capitalism. Luckily, retailers were able to handle the massive amounts of couch potato shoppers without losing their sites to the casualties of the crash. America Online re ported that spending tripled compared to last years Thanksgiving weekend, more than 4 mil lion happy shoppers purchased their fine wares in the ShopAOL mall. Microsoft Wriggles and Writhes like a Fish On a Hook. Judge Richard Posner convened with repre sentatives of the Microsoft Corporation, as well as 19 states and the Justice Department on Tuesday to determine if Microsoft can mediate an agreement in the company's antitrust trial. Judge Posner, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, requested that nei ther side discuss the private meeting which will took place in Chicago. Scientists Discover 6 More Planets Oa a announce t at I ey ave etecte six more massive planets, five of which are con sidered to be on a "habitable zone" which would allow the existence of liquid water, a prerequisite for life. Astronomers have discov ered 28 of the so-called "estrasolar" planets found over the past five years while surveying hundreds of stars similar to our own in the hopes of finding planets. Compiled from The Associated Press December 3, 1999 Hamilton Center will be renovated, in order to make room for the Four Winds Cafe jFROM "4 WINDS" ON PAGE 1 As for the cafe itself, the managers are going to be surveying students throughout the ISP term and spring semester. "We want to know what students want to see in there," said co manager fourth-year Sara Breselor. "We don't want to rush into this without having the details planned out." There are tentative ideas nonetheless. Blaweiss said that there have been suggestions such as putting large sliding glass doors in, so that the area can be opened up when the weather is nice, as well as having awnings and street lamps remniscient of a European cafe. The managers will be in constant contact with Mark Blaweiss though the construction, working with as much student input as they can. The overall goal is to make Hamilton Center a more beautiful place to eat and play, as well as keeping the cafe in business. There have been mixed reactions in response to this course of ac tion, however. Most people prefer the cafe at its loca1io:Q I very cozy, re a ing energy And e that it is away.' Sometimes that is very nice," said second-year Caroliz Perez. Isabel Thompson, a second-year, said that "I'm not to tally against their moving. I guess it would be more of a nostalgia." The faculty expressed concerns over to relo cation of the cafe, because it is the only outpost for refreshments on the west side of campus. However. the main client base is in the dorms. and it's in the students' hands whether or not the cafe will succeed. "With the advent of Palm Alley extending from Dart-Goldstein, many more students will probably patronize the Cafe," said Blaweiss. "If we do this right, I think it could be really great." catalyst The Catalyst is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.sar.usf.edu/-catalyst/ General Editor Shanon Ingles Managing Editor Ben Ruby Online Editors Nikki Koslyun and David Saunders Layout Editor Michael Jones Photography Heather Whitmore Staff Writers Max Campell, Kathryn Dow, Darren Guild, Ryan McCormick Price, Esq., Michael Sanderson, Mario Rodriguez Contributors The Catalyst is an academic tutorial spon sored by Professor Maria Vesperi. It is developed.in the New College Publications Office using Adobe Photoshop and Quark Xpress for PowerMacintosh and printed at the Bradenton Herald with money provided by the New College Student Alliance. Direct submissions and inquiries to: The Catalyst 5700 N. Tamiami Tr. Box #75 Sarasota, FL 34243 catalyst@virtu.sar. usf.edu The Catalyst reserves the right to edit submissions for space, grammar or style. Contributions may range in length from 250 to 500 words. Letters to the Editor should be no more than 250 words. Submissions should be labeled as either letters to the Editor or contributions and include names and contact information. Submissions in "rtf' or "WriteNow" format may be saved to the Catalyst Contributions folder in the Temp Directory on the Publications Office file server, printed submissions may be placed in campus box 75, and all other contributions may be e-mailed to catalyst@virtu. No anonymous submissions will be accepted. All submissions must be received by 5:00 p.m. Saturday in order to appear in the following week's issue.

PAGE 3

3 The Catalyst li.f 0 1095-The Crusades 200-year Christian campaign to "re claim Jerusalem from Muslim rule brought Europe's greatest military and commercial ex pansion since the fall of Rome. It inspired a wealth of art and literature--most notably Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. It was also a bloody episode, a portent of ethnic strife to come. Purported relics from the era of Jesus un in Jerusalem (the Holy Lance, Joh'n the Baphst s remains), proved to Western Christians that the city belonged to them. Almost from the moment Pope Urban II launched the First Crusade in 1095, zealots plu_ndered their way toward Palestine, slaugh tenng unbelievers--including thousands of European Jew In 1099 the Christians took Jerusalem. Battles continued there and throughout the Middle East, and in 1244 the Muslims regained the city. StilJ, Europe won much from the Crusades. They helped revive mining and man ufacturing. New trade routes opened, conduits for Eastern imports that brought things like silk, spices, gunpowder, and algebra. Also an other invention we can all thank them forincome tax which was in tituted to help pay for the holy wars. 1348--The Black Plague Perhaps it's silly to suggest that man would not have stepped on the moon had it not been for the Black Plague. But the disease, which Disease ravages the world, modern cience emerges from the ashes News adventure emboldened Gutenberg to develop the printing press; it would push Columbus the Atlantic in the next century, and in Spire a lot of wonderful, morbid art. 1776--The Declaration of Independence "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are dowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights ... Today most govern ments at least pay lip service to those truth But before July 4, 1776, when the Continental Congress adopted "The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America no nation bad been founded on such principles. Writen by Thomas Jefferson the Declaration was meant to explain, after year of war, the American colonies' break with Britain. The document listed the offenses of King George Ill, ranging from restriction of trade to the use of foreign mercenaries. (A pas sage denouncing the king's promotion of Two Nazi soldiers brutalize an old man. Holocaust cost roughly 80 million their lives. slavery was cut to placate some delegates.) More important, it laid out the concept of nat ural rights--borrowed largely from British philosopher John Locke--that would form, in the words of Congress president John Hancock (one of 56 signatories), "the Ground & Foundation" of the U.S. government. And its avowal that aU men are born equal moved more than males: When the U.S. women's suffrage movement was launched in 1848, its founders modeled their declaration on Jefferson's. It also provided in piration for many movements, from Latin America break ing its ties with Spain to the women's suffrage movement. 1939-World War II In any accounting of the millennium's mon sters, first place must go to the ruler who made genocide a multinational industry--Adolf Hitler. The scale of the horrific enterprise makes even the coldest person shudder: freight trains carrying Jews to human stockyards from all across Nazi-occupied Europe, victims worked to death, shot or gassed; corpses incin-The Car: Helping people kill each other since 1908. Up to 43,000 as isted killings a year. erated or processed into soap; gold teeth har vested for the coffers of the Reich. Hitler's megalomania sparked the Holocaust and his tory's most destructive war. Promising salvation from the Depression swept aside German democracy. A nohc ?r.ator, he preached a frightening form of Darw1rusm: at evolution's pinnacle were the so called Aryans who were destined to subdue or destroy all "inferior" races--particularly the Jews. World War II began in 1939. Six years later, the Axis countries were vanquished some 17 million combatants and 60 civilians were dead. And within that horror lay a new benchmark of evil: six million Jews and nearly as many other "unde irables" (Gypsies, homosexuals, leftists, Slavs) had been system atically slaughtered. titude." At $850, tbe Model T was tbe first car rhat couJd fit a farmer's budget. Prices feJJ stiJJ further after Ford introduced the revolutionary system of manufacture--the moving assembly line, which eventuaJly spewed out a Tin Lizzie every 24 seconds. As other automakers adopted Ford's methods, cars altered the face of the planet. Industries arose to serve a flood of trav elers. The economics of petroleum decided the fate of nations. Traffic deaths mounted ( 43.700 fatalities last year in the U.S. alone). Smog spread. And so did another by-product of the assembly line: the culture of mass consump tion. Is Henry Ford the man responsible for the MsDonaldization of society? Perhaps he is. Also, we invented and discovered a lot of other nifty things. Things like the Internet, the airplane,cloning, motion pictures, AIDS, the toaster, methods of time travel (even though we aren't supposed to know about them), nuclear weapons, scientology, smog, silicon breast-im plants, SUVs, vinyl pants and Easy Cheese, not to mention global apathy. A privleged few have gotten to leave this stinking planet and go to the moon and actually survive. And Uma Thurman. Mmmm, Uma Thurman. Aren't we, as humans, just really great? Comp(led from Time Online.

PAGE 4

4 The catalvst Entertainment oecember 3, 1999 Apocalypse, wow! Seven ways to celebrate armageddon Here's a list of what may happen when the clock clicks over to the next century. by Ryan McConnick Price, Esq. The End of the World is upon us, Novo Collegians, and it is every stu. dent's responsibility to know what to expect as the End Times come roaring in like a lion with a scorpion's tail and the face of a man and the form of a locust which is shaped like a horse (see Revelations 9:3-10, if you think that will clarify matters). And since you all know perfectly well that none of you want to take any sort of responsibility, we at the Catalyst have done it for you. Now, with this Top Seven Countdown of Interesting Ways to End the World, all based on solid documented evidence, you too can be prepared to meet your Maker, whoever He/She/it may be. Bear in mind that while many cultures have their own plans and predilections as to how the world will end, we at the Catalyst have decided to focus on a mostly Western train of world-destruction This is in no way meant to cast aspersions on other religious or cultural be liefs, but as Americans we feel we have a right to our own particular means of massive devastation. On with the show ... Apocalypse, WOW! 7. The Sun explodes in a mere 5.8 billion years Presuming the Universe has been around for 12 billion years, give or take a millennium, that onJy leaves 5.8 bil lion years until Sol kicks the bucket, taking all life on Earth with it. Of course, since 5.8 billion years is well beyond anyone's comprehension, no one cares. By that point, even our Styrofoam cups will be gone. Thus, the Sun's death, while so remote as to be largely clinical, is on the list because of its inevitability. Spooky, isn't it? Someday the Sun will DIE. Brrrr ... 8. Tbe ayce Conundrum -The Earth's axis shifts, and Merry OJde England and the nation of Japan both sink into the sea. Tidal waves and hurricanes ravage the world, destroying New York and Los Angeles and the islands of Atlantis arise from the coastal floor. Atlantis figures largely in many end game scenarios; apparently the Lost Continent is miffed that it never made it into the Rand McNally atlases. This disaster is set to happen around 2001, so make sure to sell your Toyota stock before then. 6. The Super Plague -Deep in the vaults of Area 51, below the arid Nevada desert, lies vial after vial of hideous genetic concoctions: monstrous measles. beastlv bronchitis. and fatal flus. Sure. it's not a colorful a wav to kill off the world as fire or flood, but it's cost-effective. All it takes is one rogue sol dier, mad scientist, or clumsy janitor to end all human life except in a few isolated nodes of humanity too remote for contact with the plagued citizenry; research labs in Antarctica, temples in Nepal and the Viking dorms. power, but that's not really an END to the world ... just a rearrangement of the current system 3. One Big Nuclear Family--World War III is certainly destined to be the war with the least entertaining songs written about it. The final fracas comes about when some fanatical dictator somewhere ... more than likely the. Middle East ... pushes the button to destroy some other fanatical dictator. Of course, as soon as ONE country launches a nuke, EVERYONE has to launch a nuke. And then we're left with a burning, twisted landscape full of strag gling mutants, who immediately build hot rods and tear around the countryside, killing each other off. But at least there will be plenty of parking. 2. Y2K, or why not 2K? --Whether it's the real Millennium or not, at 12:00 AM on January 1st, 2000, every machine in the world goes stark raving mad as their internal clocks suddenly get set back 99 years. Planes fall from the sky onto rampaging groups of riot ers, the flaming debris setting ablaze the piles of cash spit into the street by berserk PJMs. Martial law is declared when a military junta formed by the Department of Defense seizes power. Blenders and microwaves and vacuum cleaners become homicidal killing machines. Dentists fail to keep track of cleaning appointments and the world dissolves into a berserk orgy of violence, bloodshed, and broken glass. The stock market thrives, however, as Remington and Campbell's Soup go through the roof. 1. Ah, Rapture! -Some politi<..-al leader somewhere, after being shot in the head and recovering, starts a war of extermination against Judea-Christians. The world unites against the Church and Israel and war wracks the globe until angels start coming down with heavy tidings, as well as seven trumpets and bowls that cause lots of un pleasant things to happen. Darkness covers the earth, the waters are poisoned, demons are released from the pit of Hell, a big Harlot is killed, evil frog spirits hop into the Nile and two cranky old prophets are beaten to death in the streets, only to come back as angry angels. This period is known as the Tribulation. It is a hot source of debate among Christians as to whether the Rapture (when aU good Christians are taken up into the air to look down sadlv and smul!lv uoon their tortured brethren) occurs before or after these Tribulations. After all this, however, a .,.......,,_...._ Dragon appears in the sky, attempting to eat a pregnant woman and this heralds the coming of Satan, who is stopped in his tracks by the return of Christ, who tosses Satan, all the people allied with Satan, the British giants Gog and Magog and every one else who deserves it into a burning lake for all eternity. Meanwhile, Earth becomes a fairly small city of alabaster and opal which is the new Heaven. Heaven, now abandoned, becomes prime real estate. So, there you have it: The End of the World. It's going to happen, one way or 5. Bash at the Beach--With cows and automobiles creating an immense cloud of thick air in the upper atmosphere, the Earth becomes one gigantic spherical green house, baking the surface to a golden brown and melting those enormous ice cubes at the North and South poles, creating a rise in sea levels so drastic that Oklahoma suddenly becomes beach front property. Wear Will martians came and party with us this new years' eve? another, but no one really knows exactly how. These seven possibilities were chosen We'll just have to wait and see. a swimsuit and watch out for jellyfish in the kitchen. 4. When Aliens Attack --Alien forces, which have been watching us from distant galaxies for untold aeons, suddenly decide to swoop down and capture a few specimens for study, and then annihilate the 4 billion hapless bipeds crawling the planet's surface on general principles. Aliens don't need a good reason to destroy the world. It's in their handbook. An alternative to this is enslavement of the masses by cruel? callous aliens seeking wealth and only because they are some of the most prob able, interesting, or amusing. There are endless possibilities when you're talking Apocalyptically. Perhaps we'll be consumed in a giant fireball. Perhaps we'll all die of skin cancer. Perhaps the djinni will free themselves from their fiery domain and wreak havoc on the world. Perhaps J. Edgar Hoover will appear and destroy us. In essence, the end of the world is what you make of it. So, in that spirit, we at the Catalyst wish you a merry Christmas and a fruitful Armageddon.

PAGE 5

s The catalyst Entertainment oecember 3, 1999 The Insider proves to be a poignant and moving legal drama Based on a true story, this film presents the exposure of the tobacco industry with grace and dignity by Darren Guild In Th e In s ider AI Pacino stars as Loel Bergman, the 60 Minutes producer who convinces Dr. Jeff Wigon (Russell Crowe), a hesitant former vice president of a major tobacco company, to ex pose the truth behind the tobacco companies knowledge regarding the addictiveness of nico tine. Ba ed on the true tory of the 1998 256 billion dollar settlement between tobacco giants and the state of Mississippi, The Insider is riveting in a refre bing way that separates it from other legal thriller in the Grishame que dominated field. The Insider begins when Jeff Wig on fired from his job as head of Research and Development at Brown and Williams, one of the seven major to bacco companies in the United States. Wigon is approached by high powered, aggressive Bergman (a 60 Minutes producer) who encourages Wigon to expose secret information, but Wigon had signed a cooperate confidentiality agreement not to ex pose Brown and Williams. With Pacino breathing down his neck pres uring him the whole time, Wigon deliberates about whether he should agree to an interview for 60 Minutes for a good first half of the film. Caught between getting his company Wigon's damaging interview is aired on 60 min utes and Mississippi wins the case against the tobacco companies for an outstanding amount of money. In the Grisham age legal thrillers are often just a series of twists, turns, and flip-flops; all within a plot just believable enough to keep the audience glued to the edge of their eats. Tlze Insider is unique in that it attempts and succeeds at bringing together a mix of the slower, more normal flow of real life with the magnitude of the existing situa tion. Much of the credit of this success should be given to the fantastic up close and per onal cine matography, the soothing flow of the plot and AI Pacino and Rus ell Crowe. back for firing him and doing the right thing or Russell Crow e (left) andAl Pa c ino (ri g ht) give protecting his life, livelihood and family Wigon b rillian t performa nces i n Th e Ins i der. huffle s b ack and forth but finally is provoked by a threatening e-mail to go throu g h with the inter-A majority of the s hots in The Insider wer e tactics. These tactics are successful where they might be less so in other films, because what is re ally being expressed through the suspense scenes is Wigon's perspective; from his view point the apprehension he feels at the time. Some of these tenser scene could easily be dismissed as at tempts to ensationalize the movies for the sake of dramatic effect, but when looked at from a per spective consistent with the cinematography of the movie there is no question that the further effect that is aimed at is to put the audience right in Wigon's shoes. There is a scene after Wigon's eight year old daughter tells him she s, N someone in the backyard where the camera follows him at close quarters down into the basement. The sound is riveting as his every breath is caught on tape and the footsteps as he runs down the stair sound like procession drums forecasting his future. It is as though the tone and feel of the movie follow the lead of Wigon 's emotional state. Throughout the middle parts of The Insider, while Wigon is painfully deliberating whether to interview or not, the cinematography slows down, and the movie regroups for the dramatic ending. The plot is timed perfectly to raise and gently lower the in tensity level of the audiences emotions. Pacino and Wigon are terrifically balanced in their roles. Pacino is high strung and highly moral whil e C ro w e is often apathetic and dreary--but ex plosive. They feed of each other, a nd th e view with Pacino. The rest of the liKWil. :tt 'dr:lltswith politics, money, and more politics. The inespecially scenes terview Wigon does is clearly damaging to the emotional level was lifted and the actor or actress many, are also tobacco companies, but a problem arises at CBS was particularly full of violent emotion--which The Insider is a break from tbe constant thrust about whether to broadcast it--because of money was the case with Pacino and Wigon more often into tenacity and tension that most movies of the and politics among the executives at CBS. than not. The closeness of the camera zoomed in legal thriller genre make. It is not only a break Around the same time, a civil action suit in on just the head of the characters and the shakihowever, it is also a worthwhile film that deals Mississippi is filed against the tobacco companies ness that come with switching from head to head with highly sensitive political and personal issues and Wigon is pulled into the midst of it as the govgave The Insider the continuous marks of a typiwithout preaching. The Insider is one of the few emment's top witness. The whole time the cal documentary. This style pulled the audience movies that I have seen lately that takes pride in tobacco companies are doing everything in their into the movie, and also gave it a certain amount letting me interpret it for myself rather than push seemimzlv bottomless budg:et to discredit his testi-of credibilitv because it seemed so real. inll me to see it in an intended wav. In other words. mony. Meanwhile, Wigon's wife leaves him The smooth, timely plot is what really makes The Insider is a multidimensional film that allows because she "just can't do it," takes his two daugh-The Insider effective. There are times at the bethe audience to choose what they get from it in ters with her and files for divorce. Because The ginning where Wigon's paranoia and the stead of the movie trying to choose for them. Insider is based on a true story that most people cinematography that accompanies his feelings at are familiar with, to tell the end is not an injusticethat time, boarder on using horror movte suspense The play was written and directed by a New College student 'FROM 1'PLA.Y" ON PAGE J I pound sledge," explained Arm haw, "We have manly dialogue, and all of the actors are manly, ex cept the women, who could kick our asses." Griffin, who claims that the play was inspired by "girlfriend trouble four and a half years ago," said that so far this production was, "as good or better than I hoped for." Griffin also mentioned that he was "concerned that a play in iambic pen tameter that nobody had seen before would be inaccessible to the audience. But those who have seen it say its very accessible, and I credit that to my actors." Second-year cierdwyn Lucker, who plays Athena commented that, "It's been a pleasure working with Pat and I've learned a lot." Most of the cast, who have been rehearsing since September, are not getting credit for the pro-"We have tnanly sword fights involving an eight pound sledge .. We tnanly dialogue, and all of the actors are manly, except the woinen, \vho could kick our asses." --Patrick Armshaw duction. First-year June Gwathalny, who plays Hestia, emphasized that Its amazing how much better we are." Second-year Catalyst staff mem ber David Saunders, who plays Ares, is getting ready for opening night by slipping into character. ''I want a bigger part," he snarled. Overall it seems as if these Novo Collegians will pull off this ambitious production smash ingly. Griffin still has reservations about the writing, but he explainetf, "For me, if your ever happy with your written work, your done as a writer."

PAGE 6

December 3, 1999 6 The Catalyst News Environmental artist creates transpecies sculpture Artist Lynne Hull an island-like sculpture that serves as a wildlife habitat, as well as art. by Michael Jones On November 19, 1999 a new piece of art was added to the New College environment: an island. Located within the retention pond at Old Caples, the transpecies island rests as the result of a tutorial held here throughout the spring emester. Lynne Hull, an environmental artist who has garnered international renown, was in resi dence here from November 14 to November 24 in order to help bring this creation to life. While some artists create art that cro ses gen der, racial, and economic lines, Hull specializes in creating art that is "transpecie ." This sclupture isaesthetic to humans and interactive to the local wildlife. here on campus. It will not only attract bird and other animals, but functionally provides them with additional food and shelter, much like a natural island would. This man made environmental en hancement was released Tuesday, November 23 at 4:00 pm. The public was invited and a reception was held im} mediately after for creators and spectators alike in the Betty lsermann .Q" Fine Arts Building. re Earlier that week, Hull offered a slide g show depicting ther genre of art. The how, held on Friday, November 19 at 7:30 in room 505 of the Jsermann Fine Arts Buildiilg, was entitled "The Artists' Role in the Natural Environment: The sculpture itself is a floating island de signed for the storm drainage pond at Old Caples. While serving as a piece of asthetic art for humans, it also serves as a habitat for wild birds and other furry friends Interpret, Interact, Rernediate, Reclaim." The Math Clinic is held on Sundays, at Selby Library /FROM ''MATH CUNIC" ON PAGE 1 I Morrisey is the circulation director at we actually sent letters out to some of the teachers of local schools. We had the Selby Public Library. a little more variety simply because more people knew about it; now we have The result was a varying group of New College volunteers who, from March a lot of repeat customers," explained Poimenidou, "A lot of these kids have 22 to May 17, spent every Sunday at Selby Library from 2:00 to"4:00 pm tubeen corning every Sunday and I think that we had a great season this fall, it toring whomever wanted help with Math. was just different from this spring. Poimenidou stressed that "those are some of the elements of the original The fall season also brought the opportunity fur mure community inclinic that I we still hold and those are some of the things that we volvement in the actual tutoring. Justin Walensky, a Sarasota High School thought would be reaU im rtant, namel do to Birini an inaemJJIIII'G&i._.. .... .. ogram w en e an interest in teacning at e ere wJt t e students'] primary duties so that [they] can be the best the college level. "I think it's a great outreach program," commented students that [tbeyJ can be, and just doing it 2 hours on a Sunday afternoon Walensky on tbe Clinic, who decided to volunteer as part of his internship. seemed to be a good time, a dead time for most people" He went on to comment that "its good to have a reliable source of help in The spring session of the Clinic proved to be successful, with well over math, which is probably one of the hardest subjects for people." 100 people, from ages 5 to 85, attending. They came from over 25 schools During the Clinic, Walensky tutored Doreen Eberle, a Manatee ranging from elementary to college level. Comruunity College student. "I really feel I wouldn't have made it through Poimenidou noted that in the spring the Clinic "had a New College alum this math course at MCC," commented Eberle in a letter expressing her who came. She has ber own business in town and she makes Christmas orthanks for the Clinic. naments. She wanted to know what the surface area of the tree is so she Poimenidou decided that "tbis semester it was nice to have Justin join us knew how much to charge and how many ornaments per square foot she because I think its another aspect of the clinic that could be enhanced. We would need" could get high school students from local schools and then it becomes more Rachel Labes, a fourth-year Math I Bio major, has participated in the of a community effort. Justin worked out very well and this could open up Clinic since its beginning. "When Eirini suggested this last spring semester the door to other in the community that can do it" I thought it was one of the best ideas I bad heard in a long time," said Labes, Poimenidou does get one question asked to her often about the clinic: "My parents have remarked multiple times how happy I sound on Sunday "Why do the students do it? They get no academic credit, they don't get paid nights as opposed to any other day of the week when I am truly frustrated or for this ... Why do they come? despairing because I cannot do math. I will talk to them on Sundays and be Third year Deborah Herbstrnan participates "because its good for the really excited because I actually helped someone do something or learn community and its good for New College to get out and help the Community. something or understand something that they didn't understand before, so in People in the community give a lot to New College and its good that we that respect I think this is one of the best ideas that New College has come come out and do something for the greater Sarasota Manatee area." She also up with in a very long time" believes that "its good that we get out and do things. We should do a lot more The first period of the Clinic was an obvious success; parents and tutees and likewise it would be fun if people from the community: artists, scholars submitted their thanks to Poimenidou and the tutors both verbally and in letcame to New College, building some bridges. Why aren't the English stu ters. Morrisey also wrote a letter, thanking Poimenidou and the students "for dents here?" providing a wonderful program to the community." "You are to be comPoimenidou bases the clinic off of the philosophy that "teaching is learn mended for your worthwhile contribution," she commented in the closing of ing twice," and to her "that's what the Math Clinic is about." She is the letter. optimistic about the continuation of the Clinic, feeling that "its ready to be Successful and appreciated, the Clinic continued its service in a fall seataken over by the students." son, spanning the Sundays from September 19 to November 21. This second "We've had new people coming in and new interest," she added, "I feel re term would prove to bring in more diversity of tutors, less variety of attenally good about this spring cause it looks like we have a good bunch of dees and publicity problems. people who want to do it. I think it's a new New College tradition." "This year we've have had minimal help publicizing. My husband went The Math C:linic will continue this spring, beginning February 20, 2000 to the Sarasota Herald and had to put the [advertisement] on their desk and at the Selby L1brary. Anyone at any mathematical level is welcome to vol ask them to do it. We sent it to them and they did not publish it, so the first unteer. time we came in the fall nobody knew about it. There were, like, 2 people" Despite initial lack of attendance, the Clinic bounced back with full force. It achieved the same nwnbers of attendees and schools as the previous sea son, though the demographics were much narrower. "The first time around

PAGE 7

1 Th 0 inion Opinion: Anti-consumerist films consumed Recent films show dark underbelly of society; tickle little imps. by Mario Rodriguez Hollywood finally produced three decent movies: American Beauty, Fight Club, and Being John Malkovich. Does this scare anyone else? I mused to dis missing everything the entertainment industry chums out. Could the e movies actua1ly be good? American Beauty and Fight Club depict all sorts of great things: white-collar slaves blackmailing their bosses, their.families to take a flying leap, ophng to pot m theu garage while chasing a 19year-old skirt, real estate agents sobbing at the end of the day, a panorama of every bank in the city exploding. Annette Bening being mowzted by Kevin Spacey a These are wonderful, scathing satires of the suburban suburban dad who's less than exemplary. doldrums and vapid consumer culture, not at all the the film's revolutionary import; it's like, I don't know, "signpost themes and messages" leading to a "profunembodying Che Guevara in a talking Chihuahua. dity ... only skin deep," Owen Gleiberman of The movie's sleek editing, flashy computer graphics Entertainment Weekly attributed to American Beauty. and all techno soundtrack further confuse the is ue: these Robert Horton of Film.com criticized Fight Club for are all facets of the vapid consumer culture Fight Club being all bark. "Is making fun of Martha Stewart supattacks. posed to be bold?" he asks. Well, does the emphatic Lester and Tyler Durden (in his insanity) are isolated. razing of all the major credit card companies in a meThey focus on selfish interests, and whatever sense of to tropolis sound like a bold statement? getherness they cultivate is only touched upon at the These critics are the ones who need signposts, alconclusions of their respective movies. Glorifying these though Horton is right when he says questions of identity characters is tantamount to glorifying selfishness and addressed by the later half of Fight Club are not as interisolationism, which are just the values of consumer culesting as the social satire of the first 90 minutes. ture. Lester (Kevin Spacey) tone of accep-Then again, madness is very entertaining. Very dratance and res1gnment at the end of American Beauty malic. In fact, I loved both these movies, not just because weakened an otherwise daring script. Lester turns his they satired issues no other movie dared touch, but be back on family and job in favor of a second adolescence cause they were well-packaged. Hell, I'll just admit it. I which includes infatuation with his daughter's love the contradiction. I'm a twisted product of the sick, leader friend. prefab these movies splatter across the screen, Before he dies, he realizes amily and oved ones are reve ing in it, trying o o om good an e n imore important than profession, more important than multaneously. being carefree. This is a good Americans need Like Chuck Palahniuk. He wrote the novel Fight to realize that fraternity is what's really important and Club and the screenplay on which the movie, directed by also what's lacking in most suburban lives. David Fincher (Freedom '90, Madonna's Vogue, Alien3, "It's quite a fortunate position to be not American and Se7en), was based. Palahniuk writes technical manuals looking in as an observer," said American Beauty direc(for trucks), lifts weights and was reluctant to admit he tor Sam Mendes, himself an Englishman. "Sometimes listened to Nine Inch Nails while writing the book. that gives you sort of a distance and a clarity Palahniuk, who looked out his driabout what you're looking at." ver's side window one day down the barrel Lester behaved so wantonly throughout of a highway sniper's rifle, disclosed his the film that perhaps he should have just ridnext novel will be about a beauty queen who den off into the sunset, though. Director Sam gets her face blown off. Mendes could have shown there is nothing "She realizes that it gives her the ultito be salvaged from the wreckage of suburmate freedom to do whatever she wants and ban life. Maybe this would have been more gets away with it," he said in an interview effective commentary. with Jayne Margetts. "So she goes on a Fight Club is also undermined by the crime spree." Okay, so maybe this guy is just protagonist's epiphany, in this case, insanity. sick. If we are to attribute the destruction of towRealistic depictions of violence in ering banks, the edifice of globalization and Fight Club are guaranteed to malce moviethe rape of the natural world, to madman goers think twice about resorting to Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), what does that say Mastermind Tyler Durden violence, though. about the tens of thousands who marched on talks about self-destruc-Despite their contradictions, Fight Club the World Trade Organization in Seattle tion, but we all know he and American Beauty promote messages of Tuesday? got scores of personal fraternity, tolerance, and ac-The protesters chanted, "Who's world is trainers. tivism, even though the appeals are made to it? Our world! Whose streets? Our streets!" Are we to bethe perverse imp within us all. lieve the demonstrators are insane'? Or is it a system so Philosophy Professor Douglas Bergren tried to underout of control it reqQires violence to be counteracted? stand why people genuinely disliked American Beauty. Lester shouldn't have resigned himself to bourgeoisie Perhaps, he mused, they were looking for something of living. Durden wasn't completely out of his mind. sublime beauty in Lester's outlook--for an exemplar, but There are other problems. Svelte Brad Pitt extolling found only a lecher. the splendors of self-destruction is as ludicrous as it is That's okay by me. dangerous. Associating the Fight Club with a pop icon diffuses We, at the Catalyst, would like to bring to your attention that there have been riots in Seattle this week over the World Trade Organization. Our hearts go out to the injured pro testors. Contribution Guidelines Letter to The Editor: A response to previ ous articles, lette1:s and/01: .. ... that iS mtended ta shared with the student body. Letters to the Editor should be no more than 250 words, and are not a forum for free advertising. Contribution: A factual article written by someone not on staff. Contributions should be informative and to the interests of New College students as a whole. Contributions may ran_ge in length from 25050Gwords. Guest Column: A so licited ORinion piece. Guest columnists do not necessarily represent the views of the Catalyst, but rather opinions of which we feel the New College community should be made aware. Guest columns may range in length from 250-500 words. We hope you make it through the new year, cen tury, and millenium.

PAGE 8

8 The Catal Announcements by Max Campbell If the moon and stars affect the tides, couldn't they affect our lives? Well, the www.excite.com astrology section would have us believe so, at any rate. We mere humans need not worry about our careers or our future plans, for out pathway has been predetermined and in scribed on the heavens above. Take heed, for as the semester comes to a close, this astrologist has gazed into the stars and foreseen the future that awaits us.* Sagittarius (November 22-December 21): The lime green comet is clashing with your sign's fa hion sense. Today might tum out badly, but only if you let it happen. It may be a good idea to lock yourself in the room and hide under the bed. They can't find you there. Or, you may want to go out into the world and confront your problems face to face. Be sure to bring your mace. Capricorn (December 22-January 19): The happy nebula is entering your sign through the nostrils. Now may be a good time to reflect on your life up to this point. Are you as happy as you could be? Have you ac complished everything you've dreamed of? Maybe you should hurry and get everything done before the end of the month, just in case the world does end in 2000. mooning your sign. Today is a good day to consider those who are less fortunate than you are. You may want to consider volunteering for a charitable organization or making a donation to a good cause. Remember that Santa Claus knows about everything you do. He also knows where you live. Pisces (February 19-Marcb 20): Your sign is being flushed down the celestial toilet, but that's okay. As the semester comes to a close, you should feel free to amuse yourself by doing something fun and meaningful, like drinking. Just remember that tons of others will have the same idea. Alcohol-related deaths are very common around this time of year, so be sure to have a safe winter break as well as a happy one. Aries (March 21-April 19): The sun is in Gemini, the moon is in Aquarius. You are too sexy for your hat--it may be time for a change of wardrobe. Try wearing leather pants, getting a tattoo, or shaving yourself bald. All the cool kids are doing it. Garlic necklaces will pro tect you from vampires and bring you good luck on exam week, although you may want to try studying as well. Taurus (April 20-May 20): The Cow Star is moving into your sign today. The stars indicate that your fam ily's ancestral curse will soon fall upon your head, so remember to carry an umbrella. I also foresee an ISP in your future. It's always best to be prepared, so don't be afraid to hibernate over winter break to save your en ergy for when you really need it. Gemini (May 21-June 21): Scorpio is crawling on your sign's epidermis. This is indicative of a potentially dangerous karmic imbalance. You can achieve good karma by tipping generously at the Four Winds Cafe, or by sticking large cash donations to the Catalyst in box 75. Today, you may have uncontrollable sexual fan tasies involving dental floss. Cancer (June 22-July 22): This sign is an especially bad one for smokers to be born under. Today, you will realize that your destiny is to become a dentist, a. star quarterback, or a plumber. What free will and all, the choice is up to you. Now is a good time to be ad venturesome-try eating something new and different at Marriott. Hell, try eating at Marriott at all! Leo (July 23-August 22): The Tiger and Bear are eat ing Dorothy. Don't let end of the year stress get you down ... this, too, will pass. Today you should do some thing fun to take your mind off work, like your laundry. In a previous life, you may have been a little-known rel ative of Karl Marx or Walt Disney. Somewhere, somehow, a raccoon is watching you. Virgo (August 23-:September 22): Sign of the Virgin? 0 brilliant and incredibly desirable students on campus. You'll win the Nobel Prize before you're 25, and go on to become the President by the time you're 40. People everywhere will fall to their knees before you. Today you may be writing a horoscope column. Scorpio (October 24-November 21): Your sign bears the name of a super villain from a Simpsons episode. That's a good thing. Today may be a good day to con sider your choice of majors. Far too few have the courage to major in their true area of interest, such as "Table Tennis," or perhaps "Watching Cartoons." You may also want to brush up on your panhandling, while you're at it. Libra (September 23-0ctober 23): The North star is lodged in your trachea. The order of the day is sanita tion. You should clean out your room and your refrigerator, or-better yet --get someone else to do it. The holiday season is on us in full force. From now until late December, you will be unable to enter a store with out being plagued by endless Christmas jingles *Disclaimer: These horoscopes are the definite, real, honest-to-god truth. That said, the previous statement was in no way a legal guarantee, and these horoscopes are for recreational purposes only. If any of these horo scopes was less than totally accurate, bear in mind that even the greatest astrologist can be thrown off by satel lites, high-flying planes, loose change, and other bright shiny objects. March 18, 1999 CAREER C ENTER Internships: The Conservancy of Southwest Florida announces their Conservation Associate (CA) pro gram for various internships in Naples, FL. The CA's receive a cost of living allowance of $100 per week. Housing is optional and may be provided at no cost, based on availability. Additional information on the internships is available in the Career Center or visit web site: www.conser vancy.org. Scholarships: James Madison Fellowship: The Program implements its mission directly by helping collegians and college graduates who wish to teach American history. Fellowships carry a maximum stipend of $24,000 for master's level graduate study. For further details check the Career Center Saturday. Midnight. Palm Court. Be there, sugar-lips. SAC MINUTES 11.30.99 In attendance: Molly Robinson, Cathy Heath, Shannon Dunn, Andrew Jay, Lindsay Luxa. All votes are unanimous with the exception of the chair who does not vote. 1. Organization: Darkroom Debra Herrick Requesting: $19.72 in supplies for darkroom. Allocated: $20.00 Total Allocations: $20.00 "I was tear gassed in Seattle Last Week. ... A _]!resentation on the WTO corprate tyranny, and the protests in Seattle last week. 7 pm fishbowl, moo, toes, & weds next week by Brian Frank, contact brifra@hotmail.com