Vol. 32 – Issue 1 | THURSDAY August 25, 2011 999 Tahoe Boulevard, Incline Village, NV |

S i e r r a N e v a d a C o l l e g e

If you’re thinking Sierra Nevada Col-lege’s fall semester is starting a little early, don’t worry; this is for your own good. Ar-riving for school in late August couldn’t be a better time to ease back into the routine of rigorous schoolwork by splitting class time with some important beach hours.

With 72 miles of shoreline, Lake Tahoe is home to some of the most beautiful moun-tain beaches in the world. Tahoe beaches are as diverse as the seasons and feature everything from secluded private coves, dramatic cliff-ridden shorelines, and sandy expanses with grassy lawns and free water-side concerts.

Late August and September are often the best time to enjoy these beaches. After La-bor Day, the crowds dwindle to consider-ably lower numbers and parking becomes much less of an issue. The cold mountain waters of Lake Tahoe take most of the summer to warm up, so hot late summer days are the best time to get in the water.

It is not uncommon for the weather to stay warm until late September or early October, so don’t procrastinate; get out there and explore the beaches of Tahoe be-fore the snow comes. Here are five drasti-cally different beaches around the lake that can also, with a little creativity, be enjoyed without paying parking or entry fees.

BY ANDREW DUNNINGSports Editor

From the student editorial staff,

Eagle’s Eye

Summer doesn’t cease simply because the semester begins

Welcome to the Adventure...

ANDREW DUNNING

To get directions and insight to all of Tahoe’s best beaches, turn to PAGE 8

Wilderness OrientationStudents begin at SNC after a week of dustyadventure in the woods, turn to page 4

Take Advantage of the Remainder of Beach SeasonYou’re most likely stoked to go ride the “epic pow”

predicted for this next winter season, but calm down and stop waxing your board. The sun is shining, the Coronas are sweating and the water is warmer than it’ll ever be. Kayaks and stand-up paddle boards are available in most towns around Lake Tahoe, but the beach is just as enjoy-able when you’re laying on a blanket or cave-diving on the East Shore. Soon the snow will inundate us and the shred will commence, but until then, enjoy the weather and go get a tan to hide under all that winter gear.

Purchase a Diamond Peak PassSpeaking of snow, there are a lot of world-famous ski re-

sorts all around the lake that would be great to have a pass

to on the days that you don’t have class. However, having access to Diamond Peak, the small resort right up the road, is definitely worth it when it comes to time and price. It’s close location not only allows you to go riding before, af-ter or in between classes, but almost always ensures first tracks in the fresh powder.

The Library May Not be the Most Ideal Place to Study

Most libraries tend to be a quiet study area, but Prim Library happens to be the hub for socializing students go-ing to and from classes or grabbing a cup of Peet’s coffee. The only time you’ll find the majority of students cracking down on the books is during finals, so if silence is what you seek, empty classrooms or the student lobby of Tahoe

Center for Environmental Sciences (TCES) are ideal.

Explore Every DepartmentConsidering the fact that SNC offers a liberal arts edu-

cation, it allows for students to really explore every de-partment of the school. Even though certain classes may not seem like something you’d ever be interested in, it is always good to broaden your horizons. You never know; with all the different types of professors at this school as well as the different types of learning arenas a student can take at SNC, you may come to find a whole new set of interests you never knew you had.

“I wish I knew that then...” when I was a freshmanWe’ve all been the new kids at one point or another. We’ve been out of the loop or in the dark about what’s good in what places, but with a few suggestions, you can skip the awkward stage and get it right the first time. Even if you’ve attended Sierra Nevada College in the past, it’s never too late to know what’s good.

See WHEN I WAS A FRESHMAN, 3

Staff Reports

SNC by the Numbers:Fall 2011

530

100

110

320

210

*Numbers are approximate and will be finalized 08/26/11

This year, a Bachelor of Fine Arts

degree is being offered in Creative Writing. Three new Business majors are

available as well: Accounting, Finance/Economics and Marketing.

Source: Shannon Beets, VP For Institutional Effectiveness/Associate Provost

Total Enrollment

Incoming Freshman

Incoming Transfers

Returning Students

New Students

THURSDAY, August 25, 2011Eagle’s Eye 2 CAMPUS

of eventsCalendar

Managing EditorSavannah HooverNews EditorRich CoochPhoto EditorPatricia Sainz De Rozas Sports EditorAndrew Dunning Features EditorChelsea De La Rosa

AdvisorTanya Caninotcanino@sierranevada.edu

The Eagle’s Eye is produced by the Editing and Journalism Workshop classes.

Letters to the Editor:eagleseye@sierranevada.edu

The Eagle’s Eye is a member of:

Would you like your opinion published in the Eagle’s Eye? Please send comments to

eagleseye@sierranevada.edu.

Corrections Policy:The Eagle’s Eye strives to be accurate, fair and complete in its coverage and corrects significant errors of fact. If you see an error, please e-mail the editor at eagleseye@sierranevada.edu or call 503-386-5042.

Advertising:Businesses who would like to support the student newspaper at Sierra Nevada College while gaining exposure to the Incline Village community are encour-aged to advertise in the Eagle’s Eye. For more information, please call Eagle’s Eye advisor Tanya Canino at (530) 386-5042 or email eagleseye@sierranevada.edu.

The journey has led you here,it’s time to enjoy it.

BACK TO SCHOOL!!!Aug. 29-Sept. 5

Burning Man

Tuesday, Aug. 30 Ron Kauk, Yosemite climber

“Return to Balance” video7-9 p.m. TCES 139/141

Monday, Sept. 5Labor Day, Campus closed

Tuesday, Sept. 13Native American Film Series:

“Naturally Native”7-9 p.m. TCES 139/141

Wednesday, Sept. 14

Lunch with SNC’s Ski & BoardTeams (SNC Eagle Club)

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. TCES 139/141

Friday, Sept. 16Writers in the WoodsBrian Wormser, poet

7-9 p.m. TCES 139/141

Saturday, Sept. 17Poetry workshop with Brian Wormser

9 a.m. - noon TCES 139

Sept. 16 & 17Fall Alumni Reunion

Tuesday, Sept. 20Native American Film Series:

Miss Navajo7-9 p.m. TCES 139/141

Tuesday, Sept. 27Native American Film Series:

Snowbowl Effect7-9 p.m. TCES 139/141

Oct. 14 & 15Parents Weekend

Eagle’s Eye mission statement

The Eagle’s Eye is a student-run publication which covers news of interest and importance to the greater Sierra Nevada Col-lege community. We will remain open to your feedback as the Eagle’s Eye progressively im-proves.

A welcome letter from the editor

This is not a 2,000-acre campus. There is no Greek Row. There are no parking garages, white pil-lars,

amphitheaters or football games.If you haven’t noticed yet, we do things a bit differently at Sierra Nevada College.Our small grounds are covered in 90-foot trees and littered with all sorts of life. The soft grass of

Patterson Lawn is almost always occupied with barefooted study circles or sunbathers. If you slip behind Prim-Shultz Hall, it’s entirely possible to wander across a New Genres art project. At any given moment, the Outdoor Adventure program may be loading up the buses for a day of white-water rafting or a week’s worth of backpacking. Wherever you happen to be on campus, there’s always a chance to experience something new.

New opportunities also emerge just by being friendly and saying hello. Our social circles are not established by joining the fraternity or the cheer squad. Those don’t exist here. You’ll do laundry in the company of strangers, take classes with new students and find yourself at all the same gather-ings. Introduce yourself. You never know where it will take you.

If you take a look in the crowded parking lots, it’s easy to see that we’re a diverse crowd. Whether we come from the Land of Enchantment, America’s Playground or the Last Frontier, we always make our way back to SNC. We’ve driven and flown for thousands of miles to arrive right here.

We come back because we do things differently. Instead of worrying which shoes to wear that day, we end up going without. Instead of being shuffled into a psychology course with 500 other students, we share tables with a few other classmates. Instead of wasting a Friday night in a football stadium, we host our own rail jams and jello wrestling competitions.

Our campus is small, the students are friendly and the sports we play do not take place in a sta-dium. We don’t just learn or participate, we experience. We live each day expecting something dif-ferent, something grand.

No matter where you came from or what you expected, you have arrived. The experience is waiting for you.

Savannah HooverManaging Editor

THURSDAY, August 25, 2011 www.sierranevada.edu 3NEWS

We Live in a VillageIncline Village is definitely a very relaxed place to live.

You’ll probably notice a lot of people walking around town or the grocery store in sweats or going out to parties or dinners in simply just a hoodie and jeans. It has even been known for people to go out dancing in their snow pants during the winter time. Just so you don’t end up be-ing the only over-dressed person at a party, this informa-tion could be useful (but if you want to dress up anyway, go ahead and do it — no one will judge.)

Incline Village, along with the SNC campus, as you most likely have noticed, is very small. This means that word tends to travel fast. Sometimes information ends up being distorted (just like the telephone game we all

used to play in grade school) and other times information tends to spread from campus into the community like wildfire. The main rule of thumb here is that if you do not want everybody knowing something about you, don’t do it, and if you want something about you to be known by everybody, then do it.

There is a Free Tutoring Center at the SchoolThe tutoring center is located on the third floor of the

library and offers all kinds of tutoring for most classes. Current drop-in hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, noon to 8 p.m.; Tuesdays from 4 to 8p.m..; and Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. You can also make appoint-ments if the drop-in hours do not work for you. Just go online or into the tutoring center and fill out a tutoring request form.

SNC has Work Study OpportunitiesStudents have many options for part-time employment

at SNC; all they need to do is establish eligibility. Once eligibility is established, all students need to do is go to the career center to fill out paperwork and find a job placement. Financial Aid Advisor Nicole Ferguson is the person to talk to regarding work study eligibility. You can e-mail her at nferguson@sierranevada.edu. If you don’t qualify for work study, you can still find a job at https://creator.zoho.com/skydog/view/1/ for on and off campus positions.

Aly Cohen, Savannah Hoover, Chelsea De La Rosa contributed to this story.

Things you need to know about where to goPrim Library, SNC Help Desk/I.T., Tutoring Center Book Store

Cafeteria

RICH COOCHPrim Library: Students can use the library Mon.- Thu. 8 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri. 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m.- 10 p.m. SNC Help Desk/Information Technology: The I.T. department is open on Mon.- Fri. 8:30a.m.-5p.m.

Tutoring Center: Students can drop in to the tutoring center Mon., Wed., Thu. 12 p.m.- 8p.m.,Tues. 4- 8p.m., Fri. 12-4p.m.

RICH COOHBook Store: Students can come by the book store and pick up anything from text books and school supplies to new SNC gear Mon.- Fri. 9 a.m.- 8 p.m.

RICH COOCHCafeteria: The cafeteria will be serving food to hungry students on Mon.- Fri. 7:30 a.m.-7p.m., Sat.- Sun. 10:30a.m.- 7p.m.

The Recreation Center

RICH COOCHRec. Center: Students can use their free passes and go enjoy a work out and free group classes on Mon.-Fri., 9a.m.- 4p.m., 7 p.m.- 9 p.m., Sat.- Sun. 9 a.m.- 8 p.m.

WHEN I WAS A FRESHMAN, from front page

THURSDAY, August 25, 2011Eagle’s Eye 4 OUTDOORS

Almost two weeks before the bustle of a new school year began at Sierra Nevada College, 50 students opted to pack up and head out for a four-day, three-night trip to Desola-tion Wilderness, Calif. On Wednesday, August 10, 42 new students met with eight student leaders to begin the prepa-

rations for Wilderness Orientation. After introductions were made, backpacks were fitted and gear was assigned, the students trekked into the dense woods behind SNC to camp for the night. The next morning, the true adventure began. Each of the groups, composed of eight new stu-dents and two student leaders, were dropped off at five dif-ferent trailheads. Between the pains of new hiking boots

and the huffing lungs of acclimation, the first day was a difficult journey, but most found the experience reward-ing. By the time the buses returned to campus on August 14, the students believed the dirt was worth it. Besides a few blisters and a few hundred mosquito bites, the groups returned with new skills, friendships and plenty of stories to tell from their experience in the outdoors.

BY SAVANNAH HOOVERManaging Editor

COURTESY OF BEAU KISSLERTHE LEADER TEAM takes a break at the top of Dick’s Pass. From the left: Sonya Hernandez, Savannah Hoover, Katy Lambert, Beau Kissler, Rich Cooch, Ryan Allaire, Stephen Costas, Casey Donohue and Corbin Usinger.

Welcome to the WildernessFifty Sierra Nevada College students journey into Desolation Wilderness

for an unforgettable experience

Information gathered by Katy Lambert

THURSDAY, August 25, 2011 www.sierranevada.edu 5OUTDOORS

RICH COOCH ADVENTUROUS STUDENTS walk along jagged rocks toward their destination.

COURTESY OF BEAU KISSLERTHE EAGLE FALLS GROUP crosses the bridge from civilization to wilderness for four days.

RICH COOCH THE GROUP that began at Echo Lake takes a few minutes off the trail to pose for a group shoot at Lake Aloha in Desolation Wilderness..

THURSDAY, August 25, 2011Eagle’s Eye 6 OUTDOORS

Lake Tahoe survives another summer season as crowds from miles away flock toward its crystal-blue waters and, unfor-tunately, our grocery stores.

Famous for congested roadways and paid access beaches, summertime Tahoe offers a sure-to-please visit for the vacationer, as well as a good time for the local. If you

prefer to spend days off relaxing, a visit to one of the lake’s many beaches could be just the ticket.

But there is much more to do aside from being a beach bum.

The clear and perfect weather, offering only a few days of short-lived thunder-storms, makes for perfect days of biking, hiking, camping and more. Just avoid the Incline Village General Improvement Dis-trict (IVGID) beaches if you forgot to bring

your recreation pass, or 12 dollars.Just like anywhere else, Lake Tahoe has

its flaws too. Summer, or as some locals call it, “con-

struction season,” makes commuting truly a headache. Most construction around the lake is during business hours, Monday through Friday, and can provide delays up to half an hour. But as we whine about sitting in traffic and breaking a sweat in only 10 percent humidity, we should keep

in mind that a refreshing plunge is only a hop and a skip from any given stoplight; this is paradise compared to most summer destinations.

But alas, the “construction season” is coming to an end. Fear not that school is back in session; instead, settle down and get comfortable in the land where the mountains reach as high as our spirits, and may your lows drop no lower than a cool summer’s eve.

Despite crowds, summers still satisfy in TahoeBY RICH COOCHNews Editor

LIZ HILLSIERRA NEVADA COLLEGE STUDENTS enjoy a relaxing float on the lake to celebrate the Fourth of July.

RICH COOCHSPECTACULAR VIEWS can be found just about anywhere in Desolation Wilderness, Calif.

THURSDAY, Aug. 25, 2011 www.sierranevada.edu 7FEATURES

Meet your R.A.’s

This year at Sierra Nevada College, dorm students’ woes and enjoyment will be in the hands of six undergraduates, who will be the peace keepers and the media-tors between dorm life and new students.

Resident assistants wear many hats throughout the semester in order to help make the best of everyone’s collegiate ex-perience. For many, college means a whole new way of life; for those who move into the dorms, it means a whole new way of living. According to the RA’s it is their job to be there for new students and facilitate new experiences through activities and ca-maraderie.

“The RA's are responsible for making sure that the residents are safe, following the housing rules and providing support for anything from school to personal is-sues,” said Junior Scott Tepper, who will be presiding over the first floor of the Prim-Schultz dormitory.

RA’s choose activities that others might enjoy and encourage student involvement. This allows students to break the mold and form new relationships.

“An RA looks out for all the students and is there to help them out. They also plan events and activities to get the students involved and engaged” said Christy Ras-mussen who has been assigned to the third floor of the Campbell-Friedman.

Senior Andrew Gauthier, who will be the RA for the second floor of the Prim-Schultz dormitory, said he looks forward to what he can bring to SNC’s dorm life experience.

“I hope I can just add to the positive culture here at SNC. The students are in control of their own experience here, but if they need some advice or guidance along the way, it’s nice to know someone is there to help,” he said.

Second floor Campbell-Friedman RA, senior Caitlin Burrows said, “I provide

counseling to my ducklings, make sure they are safe, and give advice.”

As well as being the facilitators of fun and sometimes a confidant to students, RA’s must also keep order in the dorms. This involves making sure students re-spect each other’s living space and way of

living, and they follow the rules laid out in the student handbook, which is available at sierranevada.edu.

Burrows sums up how students should act in order to stay on the good side of dorm life:

“Behave, be good, be quiet, be nice.”Ezra Stemple, who is returning for a

third year as an RA for the third floor of the Prim-Schultz dormitory, also stressed that students should respect each other. He explained how respect can go a long way and that students have a responsibility to each other when living under one roof.

“Respect me by listening to me. When I ask them to turn down the music or follow a rule, do it, and show up to floor meet-ings. We have one or two a semester so if you miss that it’s a big deal,” said Stemple.

Tepper held a similar attitude toward stu-dent conduct in the dorms.

“Follow the rules and don't be stupid. It's usually the ones that do stupid things or don't think before they do something that get caught,” said Tepper.

With a new school year comes new chal-lenges, including getting along with your roommate, deciding what groups and clubs to get involved in and surviving another batch of classes. A good relationship with your RA can make a difference in your day to day life. Keeping that relationship can be even more beneficial when it comes to living comfortably in a house filled with your peers.

As for Gauthier’s recommendations for getting on his good side, it’s a simple pro-cess.

“For students to get on my good side, I believe you just got to make sure I get my sleep. For example, don't lose your key at 2 a.m. and knock on my door to be let in,” said Gauthier.

BY CHELSEA DE LA ROSAFeatures Editor

PATI SAINZ DE ROZASSenior Caitlin Burrows presides over the second floor of the Campbell-Friedman hall.

PATI SAINZ DE ROZASSenior Ezra Stemple will be looking after the third floor of the Prim-Schultz dormitory.

PATI SAINZ DE ROZASSenior Andrew Gauthier will be the resident assistant for the second floor of the Prim-Schultz dormitory.

PATI SAINZ DE ROZASJunior Christy Rasmussen will be looking after the third floor of the Campbell-Friedman dormi-tory.

PATI SAINZ DE ROZASJunior Scott Tepper presides over the first floor of the Prim-Schultz.

PATI SAINZ DE ROZASSenior Chad Hedlund will be looking after the first floor of the Campbell-Friedman dormitory.

Six undergrads will be looking

after students in the dorms as

this year’s resident assistants

“

“

“I provide counseling to my ducklings, make sure they are safe, and give advice.”

Caitlin BurrowsResident Assistant

“

“

Follow the rules and don’t be stupid. It’s usually the ones that do stupid things or don’t think before they do something that get caught.

Scott TepperResident Assistant

THURSDAY, August 25, 2011Eagle’s Eye 8 NEWS

u Incline Village

u South Lake Tahoe

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5) Emerald Bay Beach – Hwy 89A one-mile hike down to lake level will take you to a beautiful beach where Eagle Creek meets

the head of Emerald Bay. Surrounded by huge peaks, the bay is one of the most popular areas of Lake Tahoe. From the beach you can see Fannette Island and Vikingsholm, a 1920’s era mansion modeled after the castles found in the fjords of Norway. Park on the road a few hundred yards from the parking lot to avoid a $7 parking fee.

3) Tahoe City Commons Beach - Center of Tahoe City

Drop out of downtown Tahoe City to water level and you are at Commons Beach. Perfectly manicured lawns, a sandy beach and lots of picnic tables. Not the best beach for swimming because it is so shallow and rocky, but visit soon and catch the last few free concerts or a waterside Farmers Market. The last two free concerts of the summer are Sunday, Aug. 28 and Sunday, Sep. 4.The Farmers Market is every Thursday from 8 a.m. until noon through Oct. 13.

2) Kings Beach State Recreation Area - Center of Kings Beach

Smack in the middle of Kings Beach, this area has volleyball and basketball courts as well as huge expanses of sand and warm shallow waters perfect for swimming. With beachfront rental shops, Kings Beach is a great place to rent standup paddle boards, sea kayaks and jet skis. Park anywhere in town and walk over to the beach to avoid paying for parking.

1) Hidden Beach and East Shore Beaches (Chimney Beach and Secret Cove)

Hidden Beach is a local favorite and hugely popular among SNC students. Although it’s located directly below busy highway 28, you would never know of its existence unless you’re looking for it. Look for a trail just past the last house heading south of Incline Village towards South Lake Tahoe. Parking is limited so you might have to walk a bit. The beach is surrounded by miles of boulder piled shoreline that is great for rock hopping and exploring. The shallow white sand bottom makes the water here look like something you’d expect in the Caribbean. The east shore is littered with small hard-to-find beaches. Keep heading south about two and a half miles past Sand Harbor and look for a parking lot on the left. A short hike down the mountain takes you to Chimney Beach. Secret Cove is located less than a mile south of Chimney Beach. Parking can be difficult so expect to walk.

4) D.L. Bliss State Park– South of Meeks BayAnother beach you have to work for requires a hike ranging from

a half mile to three miles along the Rubicon trail, arguably one of the most gorgeous hikes in the Tahoe Basin. The trail carves through vertical granite cliffs hundreds of feet above the lake. The water here is deep and exceptionally blue. Many people have discovered numerous jumping cliffs ranging from five to 50 feet in height. However, Public Safety Superintendent Brian Barton warns that jumping cliffs in a California State Park is illegal. Parking at the free lot above the park will save you an $8 parking fee but adds an extra mile to the walk.

A Guide To Tahoe Beaches

MICHAEL DUNNING / EAGLE’S EYESENIOR MALLORY SPIKA and Andrew Dunning standup paddle boarding near Kings Beach.

ANDREW DUNNING / EAGLE’S EYECARIBBEAN WATERS. Michael Dunning enjoys the turquoise waters of Hidden Beach.

COURTESY PHOTOEMERALD BAY with a view of the beach and Fannette Island.

MICHAEL DUNNING/ EAGLE’S EYESMALL WAVES splash ashore on a summer evening.

Graphic and story by Andrew Dunning

SUMMER, from front page