Hometown Florist

Page 5

Mission Statement

Page 3

Man Lunch

Page 4

February 17, 2012 Volume 135 Issue 17 The Student Newspaper of Geneva College

The Geneva Cabinet

Kate Braun Photo Editor The Academy, a new Geneva initiative designed to help students prepare for the transition to college, seeks to equip students to encourage each other to make it to graduation by developing strategies for success and building a network of support. Though academics are involved, The Academy isnt a typical collegeprep program. Rather than rehashing things students have been hearing since their SAT prep groups, it focuses on cultivating motivation and purpose. We will have group discussions in a class setting, said Program Coordinator Lamont Downs. Once they arrive at Geneva, MSS will serve as a mentor to the students to meet with them at least once a week to make sure they are doing well in their classes and coach them to discover their passion. Coupled with a strong commitContinued on Page 4...

Caitlyn Mitchell Staff Writer Ring by spring was the phrase on nearly everyones mind and lips at the speed dating event sponsored by the Black Student Organization (BSO) on Tuesday evening. Thirty students, 15 ladies and 15 gentlemen, spent their Valentines Day connecting with the opposite sex over three-minute dates in the Brig. Club President Rashad Briscoe and Secretary Alisha Murray gained approval from their faculty advisor, Shaka Sydnor, for this event early this semester. Both were very pleased with the event and surprised by the turnout and excitement generated by the participants. We were not expecting so many people to come, remarked a delighted Murray halfway through the evening. Clearly Geneva women are more open to speed dating than Geneva men, as five ladies who had signed up were unable to participate because there were not enough men. Senior engineering major Kyle

THE GENEVA SPEED DATING SAGA

GENEVA PREP PROGRAM

Photo by Kate Braun

DANGEROUS AND BENEFICIAL EFFECTS

Sarah Wilson Staff Writer The Marcellus Shale drilling throughout Pennsylvania means change, but this change, affecting the environment, the economy, and the hometown, is looked at with two different perspectives. To President Obama, Marcellus Shale drilling is the catalyst which will lead the United States towards a brighter future: it will create jobs and power trucks and factories that are cleaner and cheaper, proving that we dont have to choose between our environment and our economy. However, to students concerned with the environment as well as residents of areas with large numbers of wells, it means a cost, whether it is a short-term or long-term cost. The main environmental concern is the process by which natural gas is extracted from the shale: hydrofracking. Senior biochemistry major and secretary of the Creation Stewardship Club (CSC), Josh Andre, explained that the main danger of hydrofracking is contamination of the local water supply by fracking fluids. The club hosted a viewing of the documentary Gasland last spring, which examines the danger of hydrofracking in communities. Fracking works by forcing a

MARCELLUS SHALE DRILLING Weekend

mixture of fluids into the shale so that the high pressure ruptures the rock and releases the gas. Some of these chemicals are harmful to humans and the environment, so you want to recover them for safe disposal, not release them into the groundwater where they can seep into community drinking water sources, Andre stated. He added that drilling companies claim that the wells are designed to contain the fluids, but many critics disagree. Katherine Michalak, senior biology major and member of the CSC, agrees with Andre, saying, The full consequences of hydrofracking are Continued on Page 6...

Potter picked up his speed-dating skills from the YouTube duo Rhett & Link in preparation for the date. Ive done my research on how these things should go, remarked Potter;

As per Rhett & Link, [speed dating] is an interview for the job of making the guy unsingleized. However, many students participating in the event went in with

lower expectations than Potter. There are beautiful people on this campus, and its just nice to get to talk to them, said junior business Continued on Page 4...

She Stoops to Conquer

Friday 8 p.m. and Saturday 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Geneva Studio Theater

Genevans Movie Night

Friday 7:30 p.m. & Saturday 5 p.m.

John White Chapel

See page 9

Vanport Volunteer Fire Dept., Vanport, Penn.

Restaurants, caterers and individuals compete. You be the judge. Sunday 12 to 4 p.m. $5

Chili Cook-off

Page 2 The Geneva Cabinet

Daniel Favand Editor in Chief Whats in an image? Over the last year, Public Relations has been phasing in a new branding scheme, Accept the Challenge, cheesy cross for the T and all. (The assertion of Geneva as The challenging Christian College on our turnpike billboard has apparently allowed for light-hearted mocking by some Waynesburg students who have come to the revelation that their school must be The sorta-challenging sorta-Christian college. Haters gonna hate.) The whole scheme is to change how people, especially potential students, perceive the college. Perhaps we do need to increase our visible prestige level. We have some pretty incredible people here, but dont have the image to go along with it. While we now try to bill ourselves, rightly or wrongly, as a challenging Christian college, Im not sure we entirely view ourselves as challenging in essence. Maybe the new mission statement will flesh this out. The current mission statement is focused on producing servant -leaders who will transform society for the kingdom of Christ. Uninspiring as it is, it might be all right if all we are is a challenging, even sorta-challenging college. But this mission is about what the college wants to do; not who we want to be. The college is more than a mill for turning freshmen into well-rounded citizens, as good as that goal might be. The college is also the life of 96 faculty members who go on with the business of the academy that has been going on since Plato: asking questions, finding answers, experiencing the joy of discovery, and

IN OTHER NEWS
passing on that joy and accumulated knowledge to the eager student. (Pardon the optimism.) That the old mission statement doesnt say anything about the life of the faculty is unfortunate. The faculty, more than any other group, are what make up the college. Every four years we have an almost completely new student body. Those in administrative and non-academic arms of the college last considerably longer, but positions, advancements and departures tend to change with sometimes-confusing rapidity. The faculty tend to not only be here for the long haul, but also have the most at stake in how the college runs. Now, according to a letter sent to students by email this week, the mission statement committees stated goal is not to create a new mission for the college but to restate Genevas existing purpose in a meaningful way. Any consideration of our existing purpose must include the purpose and life of this core component of the college, the faculty. If the new mission statement recognizes this, it will be an improvement. The mission statement and our marketing mantra shouldnt be confused, but the relationship should not be ignored. If we want to advertise a challenging education, that challenge will come mostly at the hands of the faculty. While our symbolic statements, such as our mission statement, sometimes seem like generic platitudes, they also have the potential to crystallize who we are in a way that invites and inspires. A mission statement that doesnt include the life of the faculty doesnt include a central part of who we are.

Perspectives

Life of faculty is important.

Sarah Felton Assistant Editor As I walked to chapel on Wednesday, a friend of mine, voice tight with anticipation, expressed her excitement to hear Dr. Steve Garber speak in chapel; his book, The Fabric of Faithfulness, changed her life, she said. On her recommendation, I grew excited. Dr. Keith Martel, another respected voice in my life, commended the book as influential in his own development. Geneva College, an institution I generally get along with, esteemed Dr. Garber enough to invite him to speak. I have a history of dissatisfaction with wishy-washy chapel speakers telling me Im the center of the universe, but despite myself, I anticipated a quality chapel. Dr. Garbers book may be wonderful, but his chapel message was at best unimpressive, and at worst lazy, narcissistic, unfocused, and ageist. What I learned from chapel: Garbers book will answer all of lifes questions, and dont get old. The entire conversation of consequence was neither conversational nor consequential; it was promotional. The purpose of the two panelists seemed to be to tell the good folks why they should buy my book. (This is not to blame Jon or Sarah: Judging from their demeanors on stage, they werent aware of their apparent demotion to book publicists.) The secondary purpose of the panelists, incidentally, was apparently so Garber could moderate from the sidelines, rather than preparing a message himself. I might excuse that as self-effacing humility, had every other word from Garber not been self-promoting or name-dropping. The only

GARBER MAKES POOR CONVERSATION

source he referenced more than his own book was his BFF Isaac Slade from The Fraythe famous band, have you heard of them? Not to neglect The Civil Wars; you might have seen them on the Grammys. For what its worth, Garber also failed my litmus test of referencing Scripture or proclaiming Christ. Maybe Saint Peter and co. should have just read his book? In fact, besides referencing how his book cures cancer and dear Isaacs thousand questions, Im not really sure what Garbers point was. Maybe you have to read his book to find it. His questions for the panelists were scattered with no trajectory; his own comments were anecdotal and insubstantial. He raised two very good questions, about pursuing Gods call on your life and about expressing Christianity in terms secular audiences can share, the latter question near to my heart as I pursue a career in writing and editing to the glory of God, but Garber answered neither. He was, moreover, conveniently vague about general calling (seek first the kingdom of God) versus specific or vocational calling (all these thingsjob, community, family will be added to you). What I did learn about calling was this: Youd better find it now, because when you get old youre useless to God. I agree with Jaques Ellul (author of the collect), affirmed by Garber, that you must take sides earlier; certainly the younger one begins pursuing Christ and Gods will for your life, the better. Unfortunately, that is not the message that Ellul, and by association Garber, conveyed: Then [after you become senile and paralyzed] it is too late for you to serve as the presence of God in the midst of the world and the creation. What? Gray hair has been demoted from a crown of glory to a badge of impotence. In fairness, Im not prepared to write off Garber: My respect for those who recommend the book outweighs my frustration over one experience with the author. I have not read his book, and I was unfortunately editing this newspaper when he spoke Wednesday evening. I truly expect that his ideas and wisdom are valuable, and perhaps better expressed in personal conversations or in his writing. Nevertheless, Garber made a poor showing on Wednesday morning, and I think its appropriate to be criticalthats what they teach at a liberal arts college, right?
Front Page Photo Credits Werapat @ Flickr Kate Braun Sommer Gilpatrick

What I learned from chapel: Garbers book will answer all of lifes questions, and dont get old.

The Geneva Cabinet

Daniel Favand Jonathon Cosgrove Editors-In-Chief Joshua Carback Sports Editor Dr. Tom Copeland Faculty Advisor Sarah Felton Assistant Editor Kate Braun Alysha Skye Mumau Photo Editors Joe Grondziowski Business Manager Allie Reefer Features Editor Erin Bruker Layout Editor Joel Shannon Foreign Correspondent

The Student Newspaper of Geneva College since 1878

The purpose of The Geneva Cabinet, the official student newspaper of Geneva College, shall be to keep the members of the college community informed about all events that concern it, whether of international or campus-wide significance; to provide for an open forum for airing the views of all interested groups on campus in order to promote understanding among all the groups; to help create a climate of intelligent and mature consideration of issues and events; to expose injustice on any front; and to develop in the readers an appreciation of Christian values by approaching all duties in the spirit of love, justice and responsibility that Christ showed in all his dealings on earth.

Letters, Advertising, Thumbs, Suggestions and Compliments should be sent to [email protected] l Box #2616

The views expressed in The Geneva Cabinet are not necessarily the views of Geneva College.

February 17, 2012 Page 3

Perspectives
Kylie Gardner Senior Class President Geneva College is undergoing a task of revising its current mission statement. This is likely a statement that you will hear over the next few weeks as the Committee to Update the Mission Statement has sent out a letter to our college community explaining this change. Some of you wont care, others will. But everyone on campus ought to be aware of this change, so that we may hear the voices of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, Board of Trustees,

REVISING THE MISSION STATEMENT, NOT THE MISSION

and Board of Corporators. You see, this change is not merely about word-smithing to get the right feel. No; it is much more than that. We are seeking to articulate the purpose of Geneva College that accurately portrays our current calling as an educational institution, a community, and a campus desiring to serve God. That is where you come into play. We (the Committee) need input from our constituencies so that we may best reflect the qualities of Geneva College that should never change in the mission statement. I am the current student representative on this committee. It is my desire to seek insight from students and to share our voice in this process of change. The goal of this process is to establish a description of the things Geneva does best so that we may be accountable to those values. The letter that was sent out to our community includes an online survey; please take the time to contribute to the conversation, and let your voice be heard. The revision of OUR mission statement is more than putting words on a page; it is about publicly acknowledging that which makes Geneva, Geneva. Instead of simply complaining, instead of pointing out the things you dont like about Geneva, I ask that you try acknowledging all of the positive values that are on this campus and in this community. Remember why you came to Geneva in the first place, but more than that, remember why you choose to stay.

What is the worst pickup line you have ever heard?

Anna McFall Missions Major The article in the Feb. 10 issue of the Cabinet posed a question to the readers: Is Mormonism the same as Christianity? (Mormonism: Is It Christian?). After reading this article, I felt that this question was not properly answered. Other than a brief overview of the Mormon Church, the practices and beliefs of Mormonism were left by the wayside. This omission left the reader to wonder what the real difference was between the two. It is in this ignorance on the basic beliefs of Mormonism that we might mistakenly be inclined to say that it is on the same level as Christianity, or at least that Mormons are headed in the right direction. Mormonism has taken the beliefs of Christianity and bent them slightly so that without taking the time to compare the two, the subtle differences are easy to miss. A central discrepancy in the doctrines of Christianity and Mormonism is God himself. Christianity holds the

LETTER: MORMONISM
very strange belief that God is triune, that he is three persons in one. The Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ and God the Father are not separate beings but equally important persons within the Triune Godhead. The Encyclopedia of Mormonism however states that the Holy Spirit and Jesus are literally the offspring of the Heavenly Father and his celestial wife. The Devil and all of mankind are also included in Gods literal children. All these children were not created out of the power of God but through natural procreation of celestial beings. As Gods children we are required to worship only Him even though there are as many gods as there are planets. Each planet is ruled over by a particular celestial being who proved himself worthy of ruling by virtue of his life in the flesh. By extension, it is concluded that if we take care to live righteously while confined to the flesh then we will also be raised to the position of god and given our own uni-

Did you eat lucky charms this morning? Because youre magically delicious.
attempted to straddle thinking of itself as a Christian nation while fervently advocating for a separation of church and state. Some American voters are afraid that Mitt Romney will push a Mormon agenda if he wins the election while many others have likened this to the hysteria that surrounded the Catholicism of John F. Kennedy, Jr. It is in such instances of religious concern in the political arena that the political history of a candidate has to take precedence over whatever church, religion or (dare I say it) cult they may be associated with. In this way one might argue that the religious standing of a candidate is irrelevant. It is important, however, to keep in mind that the president will be an official representative of the country to the rest of the world. For this reason we should consider more carefully what the main beliefs of the Mormon Church are and if we are comfortable with projecting them as the general consensus of our population.

verse to rule over. Other beliefs such as the polygamy of Jesus while he lived on earth, the until-recently disqualification of those of African descent from priesthood, and the complete apostasy of the world until the revelation was given to Joseph Smith in the early 1800s outline the irreconcilable differences between the two religions. Mormonism is not Christianity and Christians should not be ashamed to say so. The article in last weeks Cabinet posed another question to the reader: Can a Christian vote for a Mormon candidate for President? In response, similar questions could be raised such as Is it right to vote for an Islamic candidate? or Can a conservative Christian vote for a gay candidate? Questions such as these are met with immediate consternation and dismissed quickly with a resounding No! Either this question is not taken seriously or it is not to be taken seriously. America has always

- Nick Butto, Freshman Communications Disorders

If I followed you home, would you keep me?

- Jo Weissert, Sophomore Student Ministries

Are you a ninja, cause your bodys kicking.

- Justin Bennett, Sophomore English Education

Page 4 The Geneva Cabinet

Campus News
AND WE SINGTHE DOXOLOGY!
Justin Bennett Staff Writer Every Thursday the stench of men fills the Brig as MAN LUNCH!!! gathers around an open table. MAN LUNCH!!!s mission is to devote Thursdays lunch to manliness and spending quality time with fellow men. According to Tyler Millers blog post, MAN LUNCH! The History of Testosterone and Lunch, it all started when four guys, Miller, Tyler Schoenberger, Nate Mansor and Chuck Walters, now seniors, started meeting once a week their freshman year. We realized we just need a meal to sit down and be men with each other, wrote Miller. This tradition started with only four men and has had a record of 21 men in attendance. In attempts to become a club, MAN LUNCH!!! President Mansor wrote an extensive constitution but did not get approved to become a Geneva club. Despite not being a club, MAN LUNCH!!! continues its traditions of getting together once a week. The group meets on what it has dubbed on its Facebook page as Meaty Thursdays. The Brig serves meat sauce and cheese ravioli on this day. Sophomore student ministries Continued from Page 1... major John-Henry Jarwood. The event was held in the Brig, so there were many onlookers as the evening progressed. Reactions from these bystanders ranged from surprise that Geneva would allow such an event, to envy of the fun participants seemed to be having, to downright ridicule of the program. Good Lord, sighed senior Jeff Carpenter, the number of cheesy Geneva Valentines events just amuses me. Throughout the evening, participants scored each date on a scale from one to five, with one being a bad date and five being a great date. At the end, the score cards were collected and the best dates from both genders were awarded prizes. Freshman education major Rhetta King won the title of Best Date among the ladies. Keynon Jackson and Micah Doban tied for Best

SPEED DATING

Photo by Sommer Gilpatrick

major Jeff Slattery said that there are only two requirements to join MAN LUNCH!!!: You must be a man and must love God. The men of this group encourage guys to just come and sit down with them during this time. It was really a bonding experience. It's something so simple, but it's amazing how quickly a routine can become a legend, said junior music business/vocal performance major Ian Taylor. This is a group whose central focus is on bonding with fellow men while glorifying God.

My favorite part of MAN LUNCH!!! is getting to hang out with some guys that I don't normally see throughout the week. It's always nice to reconnect over lunch, said Schoenberger. Most students know MAN LUNCH!!! because they sing the doxology at the end of every lunch. I lead the singing of the doxology at the end of every MAN LUNCH!!!. It's sort of a tradition now, and it's a great reminder that whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, we should do it all to the glory of God, said Taylor. Both Schoenberger and Slattery agree that singing the doxology is their favorite part of MAN LUNCH!!!. Commented Slattery, I love that we are a bunch of fearless men who know that God made us, knows us and loves us and we are not ashamed to sing to Him in a public setting.

Date for the gentlemen; however a speechless Doban took home the prizea giant Reeses Peanut Butter Cup heart-shaped platter. King and Doban were not the only winners of the night. Many who participated shared their excitement for the connections they had made and renewed hope for finding a soulmate at Geneva. I would date 50 percent of these guys, said Maura Allen, echoed by her companion Karmyn Culbertson, when the evening was over. The club hopes that this will be the start of a Valentines Day tradition at Geneva. Club officers are already considering ways to accommodate for a larger group next year, as they expect more excitement to spread through word of mouth and personal accounts of how fun the evening was. Predicted BSO member Montias Jackson, Next year is going to be crazy.

Continued from Page 1... ment to fostering intelligence about the different ethnic cultures at Geneva, the program aims to prepare future students for life inside and outside the classroom. Workshops will include leadership development, intercultural communication, time management, campus resources, college writingjust to name some, said Downs. The program hopes that building study skills and relationships will give students a head start on figuring out the college scene.

ACADEMY

MATH CLUB PUZZLE

The program is free of charge, and those who complete it over the summer will receive a $500 scholarship. Furthermore, Downs explained, students will be given assistance with practical matters such as how to fill out a FAFSA form and reminding students of deadlines. Since this is the first year the program will be running, the number of participants will likely start out fairly small: the goal right now is five by May. If enough interest is generated, the directors will gladly adjust that number. Downs is the official director of The Academy, but it wont be a one-man show. Im hoping to get faculty, staff and students involved in running this program to help develop the students we will receive, he said. The program needs students to serve as mentors to the youth who participate. Interested students should stop in the MSS office.

February 17, 2012 Page 5

Campus News
HOW GOD BLOSSOMED DOWNTOWN FLOWER SHOP
David Daniels Staff Writer Roses are red, violets are blue; Nancy Altsman will supply you. Main Street Flower Company at 1320 Seventh Avenue, founded by Altsman in August, offers a broad range of flower servicesand a 20-percent discount for Geneva students. Getting married? Theyll furnish your flower girl. Going (line) dancing? Theyll complete your outfit. Altsman truly feels she was called to be a florist. Her passion ironically ignited, not over an obsession with flowers, but a lack thereof. When my daughter was born, Altsman recalled, we just didnt have enough money to buy flowers or flower arrangements for our house so I decided to take apart my mother-in-laws flower arrangements to see the mechanics, how they were put together, and Ive just never stopped. But her current occupation wasnt simply derived from a hobby. According to Altsman, God paved the way to what the Main Street Flower Company is today. She told the story of her journey to Seventh Avenue: My husband is in a Bible study with Matt Nance whos the leader of Tiger Pause. I had been struggling with trying to decide whether I should open a flower shop. And I heard a message one day at church that said that youre supposed to use your gifts and talents. I had ignored it for quite a few years and I said, Ok, God, thats what were gonna do. Altsman scanned Sewickley and Chippewa for a potential landing spot, a pair of areas where she had her heart set on pinpointing. After not having much luck, she waved the white flag and said: Im gonna leave it up to God; wherever He puts us is good.

THE PROVIDENTIAL LIFE

Photo by Kate Braun

Matt Marino Staff Writer I enjoy managing the details of being a dean, said Melinda Stephens. I also enjoy teaching. Theres a grounding you get from being in the classroom. It is a reminder of what the real world is. Stephens currently serves as the Dean of Academic Programs in addition to teaching a few chemistry courses. She graduated from Geneva in 1993 with a B.S. in chemistry and received her Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh in 1998. I feel fulfilled in my dean position if I can make life better for people and not harder, Stephens said; The work Im doing is fulfilling if it helps push the mission of Geneva and not cause a barrier. This is what I am after. As part of her duties as a dean, Stephens works with the Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE), a body that accredits degree-granting colleges and universities in the northeastern United States. She makes sure Geneva College maintains its accreditation as a valid educational institution with MSCHE. She also serves on the Academic Strategic Planning Committee where she processes department budgets, approves curricular changes and works with the graduate program. On the level of being an administrator, Stephens works diligently to help Geneva adapt to a changing world, the landscape characterized by the affordability of online schooling, the continuing rise in tuition costs, and the battle to strategically choose which people to market to and bring to the school. We want to be sure to present ourselves truthfully as a college, she said; We dont want to devalue who we are. Born and raised in the sleepy town of Edinboro, Penn., Stephens attended General McLane High School where her mother worked as a chemistry teacher. Stephens developed a fascination for the science at an early age and cites her mothers influence as the reason for her interest in chemistry and her desire to pursue a degree in the field. Spending five years in Pittsburgh for grad school gave Stephens a taste of city life that was starkly different from Beaver Falls, both geographically and in terms of how you planned your day. Despite the distance and the lifestyle changes, she was able to maintain relationships with several faculty members at Geneva. These connections proved useful as she was accepted as a faculty member in 1998. Geneva was impressed with her background and knowledge of analytical and organic chemistry. Eleven years later, she took on the Dean of Academic Programs position in the autumn of 2009. My return to Geneva was providential, she stated, because I now understand how difficult it is to get new positions approved. Similar to her career path, Stephens has indeed enjoyed a providential life. She and her husband John are proud parents of four young boys: Adam, Michael, Daniel and Zachary. They live on College Hill and attend the Chippewa Evangelical Free Church on Sundays. In her spare time, she plays racquetball and enjoys scrapbooking. I think for me its balance. I work as dean half-time and faculty half-time. I have a husband and four boys. The youngest is not quite two, Stephens explained, and I have to make sure I pull my weight in the classroom as well. Its always so rewarding having students come back and tell you what a difference you made for them, she said with a satisfied smile.

Photo by quattrostagioni @ Flickr

Just about a month later at a Bible study, Altsmans husband vented about his wifes struggles with not knowing what to do to Nance who curiously asked, Whats your wife want to do? After hearing of her love for flowers, Nance responded, Well, I have a flower shop thats empty. On the condition that Altsman work with local children, which she already had a strong urge to do, the shop was hers. The most chilling part of Altsmans testimony is that, before she took over the store, it was called Nancys Flowers. She laughed at Gods version of a flashing neon sign, saying, I guess I cant ignore that anymore. It was like God was kicking me in the butt. The Flower Company has called Beaver Falls home since August of 2011, and they plan to continue to be Gods hands and feet here until called elsewhere.

New smaller cubbies in Alexs No large cubbies in Alexs

Page 6 The Geneva Cabinet

February 17, 2012 Page 7

National & World News

BAN ON UGGS
Op-Ed by Ben Butler Staff Writer For the first time since their explosion onto the fashion scene, Uggs have been banned in a Pennsylvania school. The ban has been implemented at Pottstown Middle School just outside Philadelphia. Gail Cooper, the principal, sent out a letter to parents announcing the new rule. This ban includes any boot that does not fit snugly around ankles. Open-top Uggs, and all the imitators, are among the offenders that will no longer be permitted. The schools policy also prohibits students from bringing cell phones into class. It requires them to be left in lockers and turned off until the school day is over. Where boots became a problem was when students started stuffing their cell phones into their boots to try to bypass this rule. We have been experiencing problems with some students wearing open-top boots and carrying items in their boots that are prohibited in school, Coopers letter read, according to the Pottstown Mercury. Following several problems with these items, I have banned the outdoor, open-top boots from our classrooms. There was a very negative response from the public about the decision. There were many comments criticizing the school and calling them a bunch of crazies, as well as other comments sarcastically telling the school to just make the students go naked. Then again, there was the minority of parents supporting the decision. These parents told The Mercury that those kids ought to be glad thats all shes banning, and that the rude and ignorant children got what they deserved. From my experience in public school, texting is definitely a concern. Students can often be seen using their cell phones during class, but I think a complete ban on them is a little extreme to begin with, especially requiring students to keep them turned off in their lockers. Beyond that, I do not think banning Uggs from school is the answer. It really starts with the teachers. I also know from my school experience that the teachers who truly enforced the no cell phone policy were well feared and respected. If they saw a cell phone, they would commandeer the cell phone and keep it situation in his town of Washington, stating that, With the rise in housing prices, most of the smaller boroughs and towns around Washington are hardpressed to find space for the waves of employees. This causes a rush for housing. In that rush to build suitable dwellings, it seems like many building standards will be brushed aside. The Pittsburgh Tr ib u n e -R e v i e w claims that the price of rentals has tripled in these counties, making it difficult for low-income residents to pay rent. Never t heless, Carter and Douglas maintain that the influx of workers is a positive thing, even if they are only here for a short period of time. The boost in the econo-

National & World News

Multicultural Student Services Office
From the

THAT TIME EVERYTHING WENT WRONG

Joel Shannon Travel Columnist Ive come to notice that the good stories are almost always the ones where something really bad has happened. No one wants to hear about how you had a perfect day at Disneyland and how everything was nice and beautiful and amazing. We want to hear about the time you and your buddies got chased out of Disneyland by a security guard who looked like Hulk Hogan and wore a Mickey Mouse nametag. That's a story. Which is why I maintain that this past weekend was absolutely amazing. Because everything went wrong. Six of my friends got together and decided to visit Tuscany for the weekend. We didn't know much about Tuscany, but we had been led to believe it was one of those places that Roman gods go when they lose their license. We got a great deal on a hotel room at a very nice hotel with a hot tub and a pool. We found a cheap train ride there. We looked up numerous free attractions within a short distance of the hotel. Sure it was supposed to be a little cold, but who cares when there's year-round hot springs right down the road: 97 degrees any time of the year. And we only started having second thoughts when we discovered that there was a small blizzard between us and paradise. But we persevered. Even when the town's greeting committee turned out to be an old homeless man who repeatedly growled arancione (orange in Italian) at us as he shook his orange umbrella. And we kept on persevering as we walked around town for hours in the snow, waiting for the checkin time at our hotel. At one point in the afternoon, we all stumbled into a building we thought was an Italian equivalent of a YMCA. It wasn't. It was definitely some sort of industrial shipping company that specialized in pools. I'm not sure how it all works, but I'm going with the theory that they make flying pools. We were all bundled up like hitchhikers in Iceland, obviously on the verge of hypothermia. And the first words they hear from the weary American students: Where is the nearest shopping mall? It was a legitimate question. We knew there was one in the area, and we figured it could provide some shelter. But I don't think the retired Roman gods saw it that way. Because after that moment, the weekend quickly tanked. We paid over a hundred euros in cab fees to visit attractions that were closed. We found out that the fees included for the pool and spa in our hotel were only included after you paid them, not in the bill we

NEWS IN BRIEF
- Iranian threats to attack U.S. and Israeli officials and buildings have caused increased security in both Israel and cities around the United States. Attempted attacks in India, Thailand and Georgia have also put security forces on alert. Additional sweeps of residences, cars and consulates connected to Israel or the U.S. government are being made in major cities throughout the country. - In January, California enacted a new anti-human trafficking act requiring around 3,200 corporations to be transparent about their steps to prevent slave labor in their factories. This will affect companies such as Apple, who is currently under investigation for the working conditions of a plant in China that manufactures iPads. Companies who comply with the act will be certified as traffickingfree. - Both Santorum and Obama spoke about birth control recently. Obama previously ruled that contraception would be a required insurance coverage that even religious organizations would have to pay for. He has now compromised this ruling, saying that religiously affiliated employers do not have to pay for the contraceptive coverage. Santorums stance on birth control that he expressed in 2006, calling it harmful to women and to our society, is being revisited in lieu of Obamas new requirement and the upcoming election. - In Massachusetts, at least 17 teen girls photos were taken from their social networking pages and used for pornographic websites. Although the girls were fully clothed, the association with child porn sites and other such websites was devastating to many of the teens. The FBI and police are working to find the perpetrators, and awareness about the situation is being made to prevent further incidents.

The Origin of St. Valentines Day

Sarah Garlow, Multicultural Educator

Photo by easylocum @ Flickr

till the end of class and sometimes even the end of the day. Students did not dare brandish their cell phones, no matter their ability to hide it behind the desk or text from their pocket. It is interesting that even with cell phones banned, the students still managed to find a way to smuggle them. I realize the school is trying to follow through with their rules and banning Uggs is a part of that, but based on this entire situation, the students will find another way to get their cell phones through. More than likely, the school will ban that way too, but the problem will continue to persist until they properly enforce the rules they already have in place. It goes back to the teacher, not the boots. Enforce the rules strongly enough and I am positive that the students will follow them. Do not resort to being ridiculous.

Have you ever wondered where St. Valentines Day originated? Its actual origin is steeped in legend, religion, and romance. Saint Valentine is the patron saint of lovers for the Catholic church, but the Catholic church actually recognizes three different saints by the name Valentine or Valentius who were all martyred. The actual accounts of these saints are shrouded in legend, for there are no factual accounts of these people other than that they were priests, possibly at different points in history. One popular legend talks about how Valentine was a priest in thirdcentury Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. It was at this time that Claudius made marriage illegal on the premise that single men made better soldiers than married ones. Valentine continued to marry couples in secret, but when Valentine was discovered the emperor put him to death. Another legend tells how when Valentine was in prison, he fell in love with a young girl, who might have been the jailers daughter, and sent her a love note signed, Your Valentine. The very first valentine perhaps? This girl visited him during his confinement and the note was delivered right before his death. This saint is one of the most popular saints mainly because of the legends surrounding him. Saint Valentine has been popular since the Middle Ages in England and France. There is more to learn about the origin of this holiday, so I encourage you to do some more research to find and read all the legendary accounts of Saint Valentine!

Photo by Joel Shannon

were given (which makes as much sense to us as it does to you). We found out that anyone who stays at a fancy hotel should be physically made of money and dress and act like royalty, or the staff gets real grumpy. We also found out that the yearround hot springs were buried under six feet of snow. And we also found out that the hot tub that we had been longing for all day was more of a mildly warm tub. And that mildly warm tub was occupied by a couple who were pretty obviously enjoying each other's company a whole lot. And weren't real happy about giving the tub up. And we weren't real happy about getting in there after them. And yet for all of that, the weekend was still a success in a lot of ways. We found ways to amuse ourselves. We stole fruit from the continental breakfast to show them. And we found the most creative ways to express our frustration. But mostly, we laughed. I mean, when everything goes so totally wrong, there's really nothing to do except think about how ridiculous the whole situation is. And in the end, I'm really glad we went. We not only came through the day as friends, but as better friends. No finger pointing, no blame games. And that was pretty cool. What I'm trying to say is, there's no better way of bonding than living through a total disaster.

Continued from Page 1... unknown and the environment and the people in it are suffering the consequences of discovering them. I do not think that we have the technology or knowledge of consequences to safely frack for natural gas. While the environmental impact is important, residents of drilling areas are experiencing a more present consequence of Marcellus Shale wells. Here, for residents, the main concern is the sudden influx of outside workers into rural towns. In Pennsylvanias Greene County (293 wells) and Washington County (410 wells), the influx of workers is boosting the economy while causing a shortage of housing. Mary Douglas, freshman music business major and resident of Waynesburg in Greene County, described how the wells are affecting her town: It's almost impossible for anyone, especially newlyweds and college-age people, to find anywhere to live. All the drillers have either rented or bought out everything. Senior Christian ministries major Chris Carter depicted a similar

SHALE

my is exciting for both hometowns. Douglas expressed this excitement, saying that Marcellus Shale has brought friendly new faces as

well. In addition, developers may build more restaurants and stores. Marcellus Shale is only supposed to be around for the next

25 to 30 years, so maybe by then, southwest PA will be [a] thriving metropolis! concluded Douglas.

Image from the Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research

Erica Shaffer Staff Writer Violence in Syria continues to escalate, while the new Arab League resolution plan has been rejected. The UN General Assembly has started a debate on the matter of Syria. Russia and China are in disagreement with many other fellow members, with Russia arguing that there must be a ceasefire before peaceful forces can be sent in to help, and China believing all can be solved with peaceful words alone. The Arab League is ending all co-operations with Syria after Russia and China vetoed the last Arab League peace resolution which was supported by many on the UN Security Council. Many believe Syria is marching toward a civil war as new killings and reports of violence come in every day. The Syrian army is releas-

VIOLENCE IN SYRIA ESCALATES

ing major gunfire on the civilians in Homs, with many being taken captive. Three families were recently murdered by the Shabiha, a word in Syrian that literally means thug or ghosts. The Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters believe that executing any members of the Shabiha army they come in contact with is the only way to bring order and justice. Such acts as these are giving pause to Western governments when deciding whether or not to aid the FSA. Help from the American and British governments may be given to the FSA in form of advice and supplies. Both governments, however, have agreed that they will not arm the fighters. Reportedly U.S. officials are looking into suspicions that there was al-Qaeda involvement in two deadly blasts that rocked Aleppo. Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri told the opposition in a video message not to rely on Western or Arab countries for support, and expressed his support for the Syrian uprising.

UN Security Council Chamber Photo by Amit Chattopadhyay @ Flickr

Lactaid milk in the Brig

Page 8 The Geneva Cabinet

Op-Ed by Anne Reiner Staff Writer Madonna was asked to sing for the Super Bowl, but the Queen of Rock failed to show up; instead we were stuck with an average 21stcentury performance surrounded by flashy entertainment. At 53 years old Madonna is still trying to dance with the 20-yearolds. This years Super Bowl halftime show was a stunning example of Madonnas descent from her glory

Entertainment MADONNAS 2012 SUPER BOWL BLOW OUT

days. Far from the rebel who commanded the stage in the 80s, this 21st-century performance was void of the passion and emotion she was so well known for. As a rock legend we expected her to give a performance for the ages. After all she is the role model for so many; it is from people like her that todays singers learn and grow. Her voice, often too perfect to be anything but lip-synced, lacked the emotion she portrayed in her earlier days. Risk was not on the table for this night, therefore we were not left with anything extremely controversial to critique, nor were we given anything so amazing so as to leave our mouths agape. The Salt Lake Tribune stated, [Madonnas] 12-minute extravaganza felt uncharacteristically tentative for a superstar known for breaking down barriers to get her way. Her performance was so ordinary that we were forced instead to watch her supporting acts to find entertainment. LMFAOs twominute spectacle of Party Rock Anthem and Im Sexy and I Know It helped capture our attention after the first five minutes of simply watching Madonna prance around as an Egyptian queen while performing Vogue. M.I.A. gave some vocal variety with their rap and even provided some controversy for people to talk about with her middle-finger gesture to the camera. But even this Madonna rejected after the show, telling Ryan Seacrest in an interview that she wasnt happy about it. look more and more like a modern The final song sequence, Like rock ensemble than that of a rock A Prayer, with supporting singer legend. Cee Lo Green, is a blanket song to In the end it is evident that Maall religions, but stopped short on donnas show did little more than the basic beliefs most can agree on. give us something to tap our feet Touching our hearts, but failing to to. The sad truth is that Clint Eastreach into our souls. woods Chrysler commercial made The Super Bowls new orienta- more of an emotional impact than tion to a more family-friendly show Madonnas World Peace sign to has deterred mishaps like the Janet end her remix. Jackson wardrobe malfunction of 2004, but also served to take away the parts of Madonnas performance that blow our hair back. Madonna succeeded in building a massive display, but it felt a bit hollow, said the Tribune. Pulling off a halftime show is a massive responsibility, but her 80s counterparts Prince and Bruce Springsteen didnt seem to have a problem with it in recent years. While some may make excuses for her because of her age, this should not play a factor in the level of her performance because she did not look a day over 25, making her performance Photo by stephen_d_luke @ Flickr

Photo by stephen_d_luke @ Flickr

February 17, 2012 Page 9

Entertainment
MAGIC IN THE MOVIE NIGHT
Olivia Mitchell Staff Writer The Genevans are once again bringing a magical night of music. This year's Movie Night will feature a wide variety of captivating music, from energetic and comical movies such as Grease to old classics like Stormy Weather. Louise Copeland, professor of voice, heads up this operation. People won't want to miss the opener, The Muppet Show Theme, sung and played by several of the men in The Genevans. And Ian Taylor's Unchained Melody and Alisha Murrays Fever are mustsees as well, said Copeland. This show serves as a benefit concert for the Genevans choir, but according to those involved, the benefits are seen more potently on the non-financial end of things. Stacey Key, junior, will be performing in her third Movie Night. Key will sing Stormy Weather. This song is a particular favorite of hers, and Key is especially excited to have her good friend Bethany Miller accompanying her. Key looks beyond the basic idea of a fundraiser for the night. What makes this night magical is the variety of music that will be heard. We're doing old and new music, Disney, and other things I

The Genevans

Photo by Geneva PR

Photo by AlexKormisPS (ALM) @ Flickr

THE NIGHT ADELE STOLE THE GRAMMYS

Sarah Wilson Staff Writer The 54th Grammy Awards was a celebration of legends: the lost, the already, and the upcoming. Whitney Houston, who died Feb. 11 at age 48, was remembered by host LL Cool Jay during the welcome speech. He said a prayer for Houston as well as played a tribute to her success and influence in music. Other artists also paid tribute to Houston in their performances. Etta James, most famous for her song At Last, also died this past year. She was remembered through a tribute by Alicia Keys and Bonnie Riat just before the announcement of Best Pop Solo Performance. However, the night was stolen by Adele. Adele started off the night winning Best Pop Solo Performance for Someone Like You. She thanked her doctors for bringing her voice back. Adele underwent throat surgery last November to mend a benign bleeding polyp. Her win seemed to have particularly disappointed Bruno Mars, who theatrically flailed and stomped around backstage as Adeles name was announced. Adele broke many hearts that night, though. She walked away with six Grammys, tying Beyonc for the most Grammys won by a female artist in one night. Adele won Album of the Year with 21, Song of the Year with Rolling in The Deep, Best Pop Vocal Album with 21, and Best Short Form Music Video with Rolling in The Deep. Paul Epworth, producer of Adeles songs Ill Be Waiting and Rolling in The Deep, won Producer of the Year, Non-Classical. Along with her six Grammys, Adeles highly anticipated comeback performance stole the show. Gwyneth Paltrow, the only Oscar winner to perform on the Grammys, introduced Adele to the audience as the winner of four awards that night already, and the winner of Best New Artist in 2009. The now-blonde Adele stood in a spotlight, wearing a vintageinspired black dress, and started to sing her most recently celebrated song, Rolling in The Deep. Her voice was as raw and stunning as ever. At the end of the song Adele displayed an ecstatic smile, exposing her excitement at being able to perform once more. The audience gave her a standing ovation. Other outstanding performances were by Paul McCartney, who sang a new song (My Valentine) as well as a Beatles song for the end performance; Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, who played the new single We Take Care of Our Own; and The Beach Boys. The Beach Boys performance was a celebration of their 50th anniversary. It began with Maroon 5 singing Surfer Girl, and then Foster the People sang Wouldnt It Be Nice. Finally, The Beach Boys came out and sang Good Vibrations. Taylor Swift also performed Mean at the Grammys while playing the banjo. The song won two awards that night: Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance. Swifts Album, Speak Now, was beat by Lady Antebellums Own The Night for Best Country Album. Other notable winners were Bon Iver for Best New Artist, and songwriters Alan Menken and Glenn Slator for Best Song Written for Visual Media with I See The Light, sung by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi in Tangled.

personally can't wait to see. People should come see the show because its a chance to hear favorites from movies they know, and find new music from movies they don't know, said Key. Craig Bennett, senior, will be helping The Genevans in this concert, accompanying sophomore Alisha Murray. Murray will perform a haunting version of Fever, from the movie The Fighting Temptations. Bennett will play bass. This will be Bennett's first time involved in a Movie Night. He also sees it as something deeper than a fundraiser. I think the most magical part about this show will be the charm that all the songs will have, as well as being able to perform on stage with such a great, fantastic cast of

performers, some for the last time, Bennett stated. The Movie Night and Broadway Review just have a certain magic to them, in and of themselves. He hopes for the seats to be filled, for the sake of community. I think that students should come to the Movie Night to support their fellow students. It will be the last chance to support some of the students, as many are performing for their final time. Copeland said, Seniors will be featured in solosSarah Falk and Lauren Holmes. Come see them in one of their last performances on the Geneva College stage. The Movie Night will be Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. in John White Chapel. $4 admission for students, $7 for adults.

Having to restart a computer to print The Pendragron being oddly warm

Page 10 The Geneva Cabinet

Sports
DIFFICULT SEASONS CONTINUE FOR MENS, WOMENS BASKETBALL
Michael Trn Staff Writer In mens action, the Golden Tornadoes dropped their fifth game in a row to fall to 5-19 overall (411 PAC) after an 89-73 loss at the hands of Washington & Jefferson (7-17, 3-12 PAC). Geneva managed to score the first basket of the game, but that proved to be their only lead, with the Presidents dominating the first half to lead 46-36 at the break. The song remained the same in the second half, with the home-standing five in control throughout. Senior Dave Phillips shot 6 of 14 to lead Geneva with 20 points, while Matt Lorello and Keynon Jackson added 13 each to supplement Genevas offense, which managed to shoot an impressive 51 percent overall in the loss, but an ice-cold 24 percent from behind the arc on 21 attempts. Genevas defense had no answer for the Presidents, who had five players in double-figures, led by Mike Resnik with 19 off the bench and 18 each from the starting backcourt tandem of Uchenna Okacha and Zach Bellhy. Washington & Jefferson shot 55 percent themselves, while also hitting an impressive 15 of 19 from the charity stripe. The loss sees seventh place Geneva now just one game ahead of the Presidents in the PAC with one game to play, a perilous spot if the Golden Tornadoes hope to avoid falling into the PAC tournament play-in game against Waynesburg for the right to travel to the top-seeded side, either Bethany or Thomas More. The combined record against those two squads for the Golden Tornadoes this season: 0-4, with an average margin of 18.5 points per game, including a 31-point drub-

PRESIDENTIAL FITNESS

Photo by Kate Braun

bing at Bethany. Genevas regular season will conclude tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. in Metheny against Westminster (6-18, 4-11 PAC), a team they lost to in a heartbreaking overtime thriller, 82-81, in April. In that game, the Golden Tornadoes outshot the Titans 51 percent to 48 percent and out-rebounded them 40-31, but had 14 costly turnovers. Undoubtedly, Genevas focus will be shutting down Doug Smith and the rest of Westminsters perimeter attack. Smith drained seven three-pointers in the matchup and scored 29 points, as the Titans made 11-23 threes on the night to eke out the victory. In womens basketball, Genevas stormy season continued with a 6944 loss to Washington & Jefferson (12-12, 7-7 PAC) in their own penultimate contest, dropping their record to 3-21 (2-15 PAC). Dressing only seven players due to injuries that have plagued the team all season, the Tornadoes looked as though they would keep things close, as midway through the

first half they trailed by only four, at 21-17. The Lady Presidents superior depth took over, however, and they used a 15-0 run to put the game virtually out of reach by halftime. Beth DeLuca paced Geneva with 20 points and seven rebounds, while fellow senior Rachel Rouan chipped in 10 points of her own. The two accounted for 68 percent of Genevas point production, while showcasing their unwillingness to give in during what has become a tough season, their last in a Geneva uniform. The loss was the eleventh in a row for Geneva, who will look to conclude the season with a victory at home against Westminster (8-15, 8-9 PAC) tomorrow evening at 5:30 p.m. in Metheny. Last time out against the Titans, Geneva fell 55-43 after shooting just 36 percent from the field and committing 17 total turnovers. While Westminster has been on a comparable streak of late, winning four of seven, there is a glimmer of hope in that they are a total of 3-9 on the road this season. Seniors DeLuca and Rouan will be honored along with mens seniors Drew Santarsiero, Dave Phillips and Lambros Svingos before the mens game, which tips off at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night on College Hill following the womens match.

Holly Vizino Staff Writer The ACC 12 teams will soon expand to 14, but maybe not as soon as planned. On Feb. 14, it was reported that Pitt and Syracuses transition from the Big East to the ACC will not happen for at least another year. "We have been engaged in discussions on the various options for integrating Pitt and Syracuse since early fall, said ACC commissioner John Swofford. It's a tremendous tribute to the leadership at our schools that we will be able to seamlessly add Pitt and Syracuse at the appropriate time when they become full-playing members." That appropriate time turns out not to be until at least 2013. On Feb. 14, Syracuse Universitys website released an article stating that Pitt and Syracuse will not, in fact, join the ACC this fall, but will wait another year. The fact we made our decision how we will schedule and compete certainly helps us (when they join), Swofford told CBS Sports. In terms of when that time may come, I dont want to get into a hypothetical of this or that. Our position continues to be that we want to prepare ourselves when theyre ready and its appropriate for them to join us. When Pitt and Syracuse do join, the ACC projects that the football teams will follow a nine-game conference schedule. Each team will play each of the six teams in their home division, as well as their designated primary crossover partner school from the opposite division.

CHANGES IN THE ACC

Each school will additionally play two other crossover opponents each year, rotating through playing each non-primary crossover school over a six-year period. Swofford also mentioned changes that will be made to adjust the conferences basketball schedule to an improved format as well: We've decided to move to an 18-game conference schedule next year, regardless of our membership number the additional conference games create a more equitable schedule and we've received significant feedback from our fans for more conference games." We are very excited to be joining the ACC, expressed SU chancellor and president Nancy Cantor, upon approving their invitation to their new conference home. This is a tremendous opportunity for Syracuse, and with its outstanding academic quality and athletic excellence, the ACC is a perfect fit for us. She continued, The ACC is home to excellent national research universities with very strong academic quality and is a group that Syracuse will contribute to significantly and benefit from considerably. The conference shake-up was initially motivated largely by economic concerns. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that their new ACC media deal would increase Pitts revenue anywhere from $8.4 to $9.4 million a year. "It will be a significant increase for us in terms of annual revenue," commented Pitt Athletic Director Steve Pederson.

Dr. Meek saying witty taboo things in class

February 17, 2012 Page 11

Sports
Continued from Page 12... end, however, Ian turned away from basketball to a different outlet for his physical talent after making his choice to attend Geneva College in the fall of 2011. David had introduced weightlifting to Ian when Ian first entered high school. While they admitted that they had no idea what they were doing at first, they grew to love working outa love that only expanded, finally to the point when Ian decided to make a difficult decision to quit basketball after his freshman year at Geneva to focus completely on bodybuilding. The thing with Crohns is that your joints start to wear downand with basketball, its a lot of stopping and going; its a lot of pressure, Ian explained. It accumulates on your body, puts a lot of stress on it. Ian needed to engage his body in a regimen that would keep his immune system at top performance to protect his body from future Crohns attacks. Lifting ultimately became that regimen, as Ian began to throw all his energy and talents into bodybuilding. Just as things started to settle down and college life seemed to signal a new period of calm in the Barnes lives, they were fated to suffer another major setback this past winter that ultimately pushed Ian, and his entire family, to their limits. A regular check-up with the eye doctor in December gave Ian a crushing report. Doctors had discovered that he was going progressively blind. A rare degenerative tissue disease, Keratoconus, which only affects about one in every 2,000 people, was chewing up Ians cornea. The hard news obviously floored everyone. I never broke down with Crohns. I always had felt in control, Ian commented, but once I heard that, I broke down. It was the first time I broke down; I felt like it was the straw that broke my back. Ians vision was failing fasthe was already beginning to suffer from split vision. As he approached what would be his own darkest hour, the family continued to hope for a way out, and help did indeed come, though from the most unlikely of places. Determined to find the light at

BARNES

I felt like we won the lottery; in fact, better than the lottery

the end of the tunnel that her son so desperately needed, Ians mother took matters into her own hands and began poring over research on the internet. She eventually discovered and contacted Dr. Bryan Boxer Wachler, the head doctor at a vision institute in Beverly Hills, Calif., who had patented a revolutionary procedure to help cure Keratoconus. Sensing an opportunity, Beth Barnes faxed a copy of Ians medical records along with a copy of a story that GNCs Muscle & Body magazine did on Ian to Dr. Boxer Wachler. That evening, as if it were divine intervention as Beth recalled, the daytime television series The Doctors contacted the Barnes family offering to pay the majority of the cost of the operation. I felt like we won the lottery; in fact, better than the lottery, his mom recalled, remembering the jubilant moment she first heard the news. Not only would the show help pay the cost, but Ian would also get a little celebrity treatment as The Doctors would air an episode in which a recording of Ians surgery would be played, and Ian himself would be interviewed about his experience live in front of a televised audience. Needless to say, the Barnes accepted the shows offer, and Ian, along with his mother, flew out to California for the surgery and later ventured to Paramount Studios for the filming of the show, which is tentatively scheduled to air Feb. 23. In less than two hours, Ians vision underwent an incredible transformation, from 20/80 to 20/30, correcting his split vision. Once again, Ian had triumphed over the odds, and was ready to get on with his life. One Friday evening I had a chance to venture down to College Hills fitness center and see what Ian can put up. He works out six days a week, typically for two and a half hours. At 61, 195 pounds, Ians body contains just over 5 percent body fat, and he can bench 300 pounds and straight barbell curl 135 pounds. Ian continues to assist doctors in developing medical journals on his condition. He told me that he regularly sends them copies of what he eats and how often he lifts, in hopes of helping them eventually

Ian Barnes posing with Muscle & Body editors

Courtesy of Ian Barnes

find ways to treat, and even cure, Crohns disease. As much as work ethic has been critical to his success, so has his work environment. Hes surrounded himself with a solid base of support at his home gym in Warren, including notable figures such as professional Filipino bodybuilder Raymond Riola. Ian also works out from time to time with Young Trajik, an aspiring rap artist who has opened for Rick Ross and continues to gain attention as he advances his career. People at my gym, were almost a self-help group. We are always talking about our problems who

were dating, Ian told me in an interview, laughing. The group sometimes visits the karaoke bars in their area to loosen up and share good times. Ian and his brother have both been impressive in their ability to remain balanced and succeed in the classroom, despite the time demands associated with lifting. Ian has a 3.84 cumulative GPA, and David will graduate summa cum laude at the end of this semester after three years of undergrad, and is currently in the law school selection process, thumbing through an impressive list of options including UCLA and USC.

Ian Barness incredible ability to overcome tremendous obstacles and to seek out the best in life is an inspiring tale of courage. His brother David put it best: Ian is the strongest person I know. Its not because he can bench press 300 pounds or straight bar curl 135. No, its because he has faced adversity greater than most of us can ever imagine and conquered it. He hasnt questioned anything. He has simply overcome it. He truly is an inspiration and has redefined the way I approach life. Well said, David. Well said.

Continued from Page 12... the PAC long jump, with Katherine placing second and Liz third. Four male athletes will be making the trip to nationals following the West Virginia event. Taking a second-place finish in the long jump was Stephen Polite; Mark Filtz claimed a qualifying third. A 12.46-meter throw in shot put got Rick Truesdell his ticket to the NCCAAs, and a time of 7.30 seconds in the 60-meter dash gave Nick Agostinelli a seat as well. I have been working really hard to get to this point and know that I have a lot of work ahead of me too, said Agostinelli. I'm going to do everything in my power to prepare myself for this Saturday. Several familiar names will appear on the list for tomorrows events. Junior distance runner Nick Edinger, having simultaneously

TRACK

broken a school record and qualified for the NCCAA final in an earlier meet at Baldwin-Wallace College, said he was looking forward to this years championships: It is the best competition that we face, so it is very exciting. Kathryn Regaldo pulled a qualifying fifth place for shot put during the same meet. Alayna Merkle and Emily Hoobler secured places at the nationals during the Mount Union meet, with respective third and fourth places in the 5,000-meter race. This event also saw Edinger qualify yet again, first-place style, while Chuck Walters managed an eighth that will get him to tomorrows championships for the first time. Coach Yowler was optimistic about his expectations for his athletes tomorrow, especially of those who have attended the championships before.

They know that they'll face very tough competition from mostly DII and NAIA athletes, but with their experience they should rise to the occasion. It's really humbling to see the amount of talent that's out there, said Agostinelli. Theres so much good competition that it brings the best out in everybody.

SUDOKU ANSWERS

Page 12 The Geneva Cabinet

CANT KEEP A GOOD MAN DOWN

Joshua Carback Sports Editor I know it seems like every other minute were always reading something about someone who did something brilliant that no one ever thought they could do. But do you have time for just one more story? Its about this guy who sits next to me every MWF for 8 a.m. lecture. His name is Ian Barnes, and its not even the fact that hes a bodybuilder and a top student here at Geneva College thats great. Most people dont know this, but the fact that hes alive today is simply amazing. Born with ball in hand, Ian had relentless energy and dove into recleague competition from the get-go. Given that Ians mother and father were two-sport and three-sport athletes respectively in high school, growing up playing sports in a competitive family was just the natural thing to do. Our dad would [give us] both private baseball lessons and shoot hoops outside with us, said David Barnes, Ians older brother, describing their childhood in their hometown of Warren, Ohio. Sports became the perfect father-son, brother-brother bond. We always pushed each other to be the best we could be. Ians life would change forever in June of 2002, when he returned home one Saturday evening feeling ill after pitching through a game of baseball. The situation worsened quickly, as Ian began vomiting without reprieve, to the point where his parents decided to rush him to Trumbull Memorial Hospital. At first we thought Ian had the flu, said his mother, Beth Barnes. When it didnt go away, they told us Ian had food poisoning. They didnt know what I had initially; I ended up losing 20 to 25 pounds in three or four days, Ian said, reminiscing over what would become the most important day of his life. They told me I was going to die. What the doctors discovered as being the root cause of Ians health complications would change the Barnes family forever. Ian has Crohns disease, a rare and deadly condition in which a persons white blood cells mistakenly attack healthy bacteria lining the walls of their intestines, causing severe inflammation that results in drastic weight loss and blockages that prevent proper digestion. To make things worse, the doctors also discovered that Ians health problems were being compounded by a case of E. coli, which threatened to shut down his kidneys. Knowing that they had to act soon if they were to have any hope of saving their son, Ians parents medevaced him to University Hospitals in Cleveland, where he was given over to the capable hands of Dr. Steven Czinn, one of the leading gastroenterologists in the nation. Despite being in serious condition, the strength of Ians family support during that time was fundamental to his survival under the care of Czinn and his team. I was in the hospital for two weeks, and at least one of them was by my bedside every day, Ian said. Even though the doctor told me I was going to die, I never saw them

Tornado Wrap-up

Photo by Kate Braun

weak; they never broke down in front of me once. Seemingly against all odds, Ian made an astonishing recovery, and before they knew it, he was back on the field doing what he loved. Ian continued to develop as an athlete, with his exceeding talent becoming more apparent every time he stepped on the field. At age 12, Ian even had the opportunity to travel with his baseball team to play in Cooperstown, N.Y., on Hall of Fame Field. As Ian entered high school, he put down the glove and focused on his true passion: basketball. Despite suffering a Crohns flare-up that docked him 20 pounds during the first week of basketball tryouts his

junior year, Ian bounced back to play in the first game of that year and throughout the remainder of his high-school career, averaging 15 points a game, five assists, and 4.5 rebounds by the end of his senior season. Despite Ians impressive athletic ability, you wouldnt have heard a peep from him about his lifethreatening condition in the halls of Champion High; he desired to prove himself and be one among equals with his teammates and classmates. To that end, Ian unveiled his goofy sense of humor by participating in his high schools talent shows, performing Ushers Yeah with friends, and even dressing in drag with his basketball team.

Ian also supported his own family the way they had supported him when he was hospitalized during his Crohns attacks. When his brother David was injured at age 15 after standing up to a bullyhe was assaulted for his courage and suffered permanent eye damageIan was there at his side encouraging him in what David later spoke of as his darkest hour. Ian graduated high school a 4.0 honors student; schools were throwing all kinds of scholarships his way. His effort on the court earned him looks by some of the best DII basketball schools in the country, including Northern Kentucky, Mount Olive and Pfieffer University. In the Continued on Page 11...

TRACK & FIELD HEADING TO NATIONALS

Kate Braun Photo Editor Five student-athletes were added to Genevas list of NCCAA championship qualifiers last Friday. As schools from the PAC competed at West Virginia University last weekend, Genevas track team clinched numerous top-10 performances and several more rides to this Saturdays competition. Tomorrow the NCCAA will host its annual indoor track and field competition at Cedarville University. Coach Brian Yowler said that qualifying for this event is a goal for many Geneva studentathletesone that recently, more of them have been achieving. As coaches, we've been successful increasing the number of qualifiers each of the last two years, noted Yowler. Before the PAC meet, this years season had indicated that the trend might be broken. Entering the PAC championships, we only had six athletes qualified, said Yowler. However, we had a big day at WVU and had five more qualify! Those 11 athletes consisted of four distance runners, three shot putters, three jumpers and one sprinter. Liz and Katherine Michalak will both attend the championships. After qualifying with a high jump distance of 1.45 meters, Liz expressed that she would spend the week leading up to the NCCAA champs focusing on reinforcing technique and consistency in my jump approaches, eating right, and getting sleep. Though shes not new to the national events, having qualified for the outdoor competitions last year, Liz insisted her enthusiasm is as fresh as ever: This will be my first time going to indoor nationals. I am very excited! Katherine had already qualified in shot put at a previous meet. Both sisters also performed well in Continued on Page 11...

Tornado Watch
Track and Field: NCCAA Championships at Cedarville University, February 18, 10 a.m. Womens Basketball: Home vs. Westminster, February 18, 5:30 p.m. Mens Basketball: Home vs. Westminster, February 18, 7:30 p.m.

Best of luck to all the athletes!

~The Geneva Cabinet