U. Magazine 2007 - Colleges.comcolleges.com/Umagazine/2007fall/images/32.pdf · Title: U. Magazine...

U. Magazine 2007Exclusive Interview with a Rising Star
a story of Heroism & chiseled abs
a story of Heroism & chiseled abs
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4 September / October 2007 U. The National College Magazine
PUBLISHER & EDITOR John Carrieri
ART DIRECTOR Tony Carrieri
ASSISTANT EDITOR Stephanie Golubski
CIRCULATION MANAGER Gabriel Jacobs
CAMPUS CLIPS
Candice Aguilar Kaustav Acharya
TURKS AND CAICOS
Who’s doing what in the “Green” scene? Sustainabilty is in. What happened to Duke’s network and the iPhone, College Cost Reduction Act gets the Presidential signature.
Fall 2007
magazine? Get published and have a great addition to your
resume.
We’re looking for students to write for both U. Magazine & OnlineTimes
Photographers too :
8
Meet rising star Crystal Hunt. She’s the nicest, “girl-next-door” movie star you’ll ever meet, and a major player in college movie, “Sydney White.”
Case Western Reserve sophomore Rita Cabral gives us an inside look at an exclusive summer school in a far away place.
USC student Dawn Powell takes us south of the border on her summer trip to South America
We get a raw, honest look at what it’s really like to be a doctor.
19
30
Amazing pictorials of movies 300 and Renaissance, a sci-fi original. We review a powerful true story called Beyond the Gates and other bits of pop culture.
Noise-cancelling headphones block out the smallest noises and we get an in-depth look at Adobe’s Creative Suite 3.
PUZZLES
We review Halo 3, the greatest multiplayer of all time and whole slew of other games on almost every platform - dare we say Mac?
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2007_Fall_Umagazine_32page_ver3.e$S:Layout 1 10/4/07 11:46 PM Page 4
A GIVING HEART WVSOM GRADUATES Proudly Meeting a Vital Healthcare Need in West Virginia
David Carr, DO Family Medicine Physician Tug River Health Association Gary, WV McDowell County
DETERMINED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
www.wvsom.edu 1.800.35OSTEO
A COMPASSIONATE SOUL Dr. David Carr is West Virginia through and through. Raised
in Parkersburg, educated at Marshall University, attended medical school at WVSOM, and a lifelong medical practitioner in the Mountain State.
Dr. Carr arrived in McDowell County in 1982, possessing a WVSOM medical degree and intent on making a difference. Twenty-five years later, his impact on healthcare in the community is undeniable.
At the rural Tug River Clinic, Dr. Carr treats patients in an area of the state suffering from a lack of health professionals. Many of his patients have little or no insurance. Carr realizes he won’t get wealthy practicing in tiny Gary, WV, but to him it’s not about the money. “You can’t put a price tag on the value of a human life,” he says.
A giving heart...a compassionate soul...and determined to make a difference.
WVSOM graduates like Dr. David Carr embody these values in caring for the residents of rural West Virginia.
Summer2007_Umagazine:Layout 1 4/23/07 2:41 PM Page 7
Allison Bond
Vats of old cooking grease may sound like an unlikely environmental tool, but for Northwestern organic chemistry professor Owen Priest and students in Engineers for a Sustainable World, the oil may hold the future of fuel. They hope to power campus vehicles with the 7500 gallons of used vegetable oil the schools cafeterias discard annually, eventually bringing bio-diesel mainstream.
Northwestern isnt the only campus lessening its environmental footprint through renewable energy. Since October 2006, more than 400 capuses nationwide have signed the President's Climate Commitment, the first long-term pledge to eliminate emissions. Other schools, such as NYU and Bates College, purchase clean, renewable energy equal to their overall power use. “Far-reaching sustainability plans help the environment more than smaller efforts like recycling or com- posting,” says Sierra Club's Student Coali- tion National Director Jared Duval.
But even the most extensive “green” prac- tices start small. Colleges should approach environmentalism based on the resources available, location and interests of its population, says Julian Dautremont-Smith, As- sociate Director of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). “If you're in Arizona where it's dry, you might start managing water con- sumption because it's an issue in your community,” says Smith.
Northwestern University; Evanston, Ill. The 100 to 150 gallons of used cooking oil collected
from Northwesterns cafeterias every week must be purified before they can power a car. After students collect oil from seven sites on campus and combine it into a central batch, the oil settles and goes through a series of paper and ceramic pressure fil- ters. Now the oil is ready to fuel vehicles equipped with a converter or can be chem- ically converted to bio-diesel.
Unity College; Unity, Maine Unity College, an environmental college,
is ahead of the sustainabilty curve. The school cut its carbon footprint by nearly
20% since 2001 and has the lowest emissions of any school nationwide. The college also hopes to reduce emissions by 5-10% a year until 2010.
Also, 2007 graduate Stephenie McGar- vey started a shuttle and carpool service after she was “astounded” at how often students hopped into their cars instead of making the five-minute walk around campus. And senior Sara Trunzo aims to make the schools food system more earth- friendly by expanding its quarter-acre garden to provide students with organic food.
St. Olaf College; Northfield, Minn. St. Olaf students have taken the green
movement into their own backyard. The school is constructing a sustainable 180,000-square-foot “green” science com- plex and has a $1.9 million wind turbine that reduces the colleges electricity use by one-third. But the schools tastiest innova- tion is the student-run St. Olaf Garden Re- search and Organic Work (STOGROW) farm project. Founded by Dayna Burtness (07) in fall 2005, the organic farm provides the colleges 3,000 students with vegeta- bles prepared by the colleges food service.
Starting STOGROW proved chal- lenging. At first, school adminis- trators rejected Burtnesss request to start the half-acre farm because students had failed at similar attempts in the past. “I just sneaked around them,” plant- ing a few seeds in a corner of the campus. Today, STOGROW is a source of pride for the school, with a volunteer base of more than 100 students that harvest the 1.5 tons of tomatoes and ¾ ton combined of summer squash, zucchini and winter squash the
farm produces. “Its really great to see my friends eating the food that I grew,” she says. “Its kind of a miracle.”
Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania Students in environmental studies pro-
fessor Mark Wallaces class know reducing Swarthmores impact on the earth means adjusting student attitudes. “The culture of Swarthmore needs to change for sustain ability to become a part of the campus,” says Colton Bangs, a 2007 graduate and
Campus Clips
Northwestern oil filtering process
2007_Fall_Umagazine_32page_book_1-1020873884_1-1020873561_1-1020860696.e$S:Layout 1 10/3/07 4:45 PM Page 6
one of nine students who penned a school sustainability plan to guide Swarthmores “greening” effort. Students are interested in environmentalism but dont know that something as simple as turning off a laptop at night can save energy, says 2007 graduate Kristin Leitzel. “Students dont know how in their daily life to reduce their environmental impact,” Leitzel says.
The college also recently installed two “green roofs:” plants growing on a thin layer of soil, which absorb the excess storm water that can overwhelm sewer systems, bypassing treatment plants and running into rivers. Green roofs are expensive to in- stall, but their longer lifetimes and the energy saved in heating and cooling the building saves money in the long run, says coordinator of horticulture for Swarthmores Scott Arboretum Jeff Jabco. Most importantly, the roofs are a step toward fulfilling Swarthmores “green” plan. “I hope that more people will be talking about the environment around campus and will be excited about new initiatives,” says Bangs. So when your neighborhood gas station offers the chance to fuel up with vegetable oil, you may have college students to thank.
A few weeks after it’s release, the iPhone was blamed for jamming Duke University’s wireless network. At first, it was thought to have happened due to the flood of con- nection requests the cam-
pus-wide network was recieving from the iPhones, but later Duke’s chief information officer, Tracey Furthey, said that it wasn’t the phones, but in fact it was, “The deploy-
ment of a very large Cisco-based wireless network that supports multiple network protocols.” No one quite knows the exact problem as parties involved are being very hush-hush about the specifics, but sources tell us that Cisco worked closely with both Apple and Duke Univer- sity to resolve the problem.
Campus Clips
The iPhone found Innocent!
College Cost Reduction Act The Most Student Aid available since 1944
Stoyan Smoukov, Ph.D uses filtered oil to power a 1979 Mercedes. He used this car to re- locate over 1000 miles across the US without stopping for gas
As of October 1, 2007, the College Cost Reduction Act goes into effect. This is the single largest increase in student financial aid since the GI Bill was passed in 1944. After threatening a veto on this bill, President George W. Bush finally succumbed to pressure from many special interest groups and overwhelming public support.
With college costs rising nearly 40% in the last five years, many families are unable to afford college for their children. By putting the College Cost Re- duction Act into effect, both loan and tuition costs will be reduced and the amount of money going into scholar- ships and Pell Grants will be boosted.
These measures will be paid for by making the financial aid system more efficient rather than taking money out of the pockets of taxpayers.
How does this benefit you?
• Students that take out need-based student loans will see their interest rates cut in half over the next five years.
• Students who pursue jobs as school teachers in the public sector will recieve up-front tuition assis- tance. More up-front tuition assis- tance will go into these teachers who choose to work in high-poverty places or high-need subject areas
• People who go into fields of public service such as nurses, public de- fenders, military, police and fire fight- ers will recieve loan fogiveness after 10 years of service.
• More than 600,000 additional students will become eligible to recive the Pell Grant, expanding financial aid to more families in need.
• Student loan payments will become more managable for borrowers and federal loan limits will be raised, making students rely less on privately owned companies.
• Loan repayment will be will be capped to 15% of borrowers income.
U. The National College Magazine September / October 2007 7
$
Talented, beautiful, self-assured
simply a breath of fresh air.
In the limelight most of her 22
years performing in pageants, TV
commercials and movies, it was her
juicy role as teen villain Lizzie
Spaulding on the daytime drama
Guiding Light that soared her to
stardom. In 2005, Crystal earned a
Daytime Emmy Nomination in the
Outstanding Younger Actress cate-
comers.”
personal lifestyle choice, which in
2001 landed her an anti-drug TV
commercial with *NSYNC.
Amanda Bynes, Sara Paxton and
Matt Long. Her next project,
“Brooklyn to Manhattan” is sched-
uled for release in 2008.
Join us as we talk with Crystal about being a positive role model in a very
tough industry, her strong work ethic, her love of family and some great
decisions she’s made on her journey toward success.
by: Gabe Jacobs
C
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U: You played a spoiled
teenager and villain on TV, is
that your true persona?
who is so opposite of you.
U: So what are you like in real
life? Are you a sweet girl?
CH: I’m more like my charac-
ter Dinky, in Sydney White. I’d
say I’m more bubbly and outgo-
ing. I’m pretty talkative.
U: What sort of advice can you
give to young troubled teens,
like your character on the soap
opera?
the people you meet are just
your acquaintances for that
institution you’re in for a few
years and after it’s done, you’re
onto real life. So all the conse-
quences from the things that
you’ve done during that time
are going to either carry over
into your life or you’re going to
be proud of what you did.
You’ll get into your real life and
high school will have nothing to
do with who you are now. A lot
of people make big mistakes in
high school and its sad. So
many people are affected by
what other people think, or
what other groups think or how
they can fit in. Really, it doesn’t
matter if you don’t fit in, be-
cause the truth of it is, it’s only
four years and then comes real
life and that’s what matters.
U: You started so young, have
you ever really had a regular job
outside the entertainment in-
opera when I was 17, so not re-
ally. I’ve worked at my dad’s
construction company.
Dirt” and I was young and re-
ally into computers and my
parents said “We’re going
teach her how to do that,
you’re working at the office
when you get out of school!”
So I learned how to put blue-
prints into the computer and figure out
how much dirt you need to level off a job-
site. So, that’s my back-up plan!
U: Tell us about the role you played in
Sydney White.
Dimetria Rosemead Hodgekiss. I play the
roommate of Sydney (Amanda Bynes) as
her best friend throughout the film. I re-
ally tried to think out my role before we
actually shot the film. How can I make this
girl her own person so she’s unlike anyone
else? Dinky has a southern accent, little
sayings and a quirky personality. I think it
was really cool to play a character, not just
somebody who is you with some alter-
ations. It was a great role to play and I was
very confident in my portrayal.
U: Well, you have to be confident in what
you do, so that’s great. What was it like
working with Amanda Bynes, Sara Pax-
ton, and Matt Long?
because Amanda Bynes and Sara Paxton
were both child stars, and Matt is just re-
ally good looking. In Ghost Rider, he
played young Johnny Blaze. You never re-
ally know how girls will be, so it was a big
weight off my shoulders when we got to the
table to read. We rehearsed with each
other and everybody was just so real and
so cool. They’re all on the same level as
me, they don’t party, and it was so cool
when I heard, “You and Amanda are going
to get along great, she doesn’t drink or
party or anything.”
like yourself or just completely opposite?
CH: I like playing a character that is not
like me, because it’s a challenge.
U: Who are your heroes?
CH: In acting, my heroes are Lucille Ball,
Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon. I was
never the typical child, I never watched
Nickelodeon until it was Nick at Nite and
I’d watch Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, I Love
Lucy and Sanford and Son. Lucille Ball
has always been the person that I want to
be like one day. I’ve always been just fas-
cinated by her. But in life, my biggest hero
would be my mother, how she handles her
two daughters, my father, my father’s
business, my dog clothing line, my pet bou-
tique, my career and my puppy Roxy. God
only knows how she does it. And eight
grandchildren with the ninth due this
week. She’s a product of my grand-
mother who had eight children and
was a really strong woman. She’s an
extremely selfless woman.
remembered?
less person. Someone who was always
there for you. A true friend, whether
it’s friend or family. I
don’t really care about
the fame. I just want
people to appreciate
work. I think that’s the
most rewarding thing
running up saying, “You
parents say, “Really, you
were great.” That makes
a very sweet, beautiful,
Both myself, and the
folks at U. Magazine
ing or whatever you
CH: Thank you very
much!
On the set of Sydney White: (L to R) Sara Paxton, Amanda Bynes, Ashley Edner, Ashley Benson and Crystal Hunt
CASE WESTERN
The School for Field Studies: Center for Marine
Resource Studies in the Turks and Caicos Islands intro-
duced me to the wonderful world of marine research. I am
a biology and geological sciences major but I have always
been interested in marine sciences and wanted to know
what it would be like to be a marine biologist. Since my
home university doesn’t offer much in the way of marine
science courses, I began exploring some sort of field study
that would meet my needs and I came across the School
for Field Studies. They offer programs across the globe
for budding field researchers including one in Australia
for rainforest studies, Kenya for wildlife management,
Costa Rica for sustainable development, and Mexico for
conserving marine mammals and coastal ecosystems.
They offer both semester and summer programs and the
credits you receive are accredited to Boston University,
which means they are able to be transferred to most other
universities.
The Center on South Caicos is perched on a cliff
overlooking the ocean, a fitting spot for a marine research
center. We would see the most beautiful sunsets and a
dizzying amount of stars. Logistically the Center is lo-
cated in an excellent area as well; most of the population
is employed through the fishing industry which makes
South Caicos a fine place to study fisheries management
and see the direct impact of humans on the surrounding
ecosystems. The goal of our semester was to investigate
the effectiveness of marine protected areas and how zon-
The beaches were beautiful, the vistas were breathtaking, the locals were welcoming,
and I’m not talking about a vacation: this was my school.
The School for Field Studies: Center for Marine Resource Studies
in the Turks and Caicos Islands
ing helps maintain a healthy marine ecosystem. Everyday
we would wake up at the crack of dawn and begin our
studies and research. This included three morning classes
followed by some sort of field work such as a snorkel or
dive in the afternoon. I now know the Latin names of over
100 different coral, algae, and fish species, the life cycles
of marine organisms, and the interconnectedness of the
coral reefs, sea grass, and mangroves. We also researched
the impact certain developing resorts would have on the
locals and indigenous marine populations. We were
shown the benefits of ecotourism and learned the value
of conservation.
Not only did I learn more in a month than in a
whole semester at my home school, I was living with 19
of my best friends. Everyone on the trip became so close
I 2007_Fall_Umagazine_32page_book_1-1020873884_1-1020873561.e$S:Layout 1 10/1/07 3:21 PM Page 12
that we’re having a
reunion this com-
ing summer in
Chicago. We even
became close with
gent and competent professors I’ve ever known live and
teach at the Center. The interns were awesome too. They
were so funny and demonstrated to me what I could do in
the future. Internships are an amazing way to learn the
necessary skills and knowledge for your career while ex-
periencing a completely new culture.
On the weekends and after dinner we would have
free time to explore the island and get to know the locals.
They are an amazing group of people. Everyone was
friendly and welcoming to us. We were able to go to the
elementary school a few times and play with the kids.
They were curious and excited to have new people on the
island. Everyone on the island seems to know at least a
little bit about the center. The center opens up to the com-
munity every Saturday for swimming lessons in the salt
water pool we have. During the semester I heard that they
host dinners for the community to welcome them in and
understand why the center is on their island.
Sundays the students have a day off of research to
explore the island and recuperate from the week. We took
advantage of this
day by swimming
fore releasing them back into the ocean. Everyone also got
to experience a night of sharking as well. We’d set up gill
nets, wait, and then as soon as we heard a splash go and
get the pup from the net. We’d weigh, measure, and tag
them as well before releasing them again.
The experiences I had through the School for Field
Studies are irreplaceable. I have learned so much about
marine ecosystems, the impact humans have on them, and
myself. This experience was the single most amazing ex-
perience of my life and despite the long hours, long nights
and dehydration, I would do it a million times over.
2007_Fall_Umagazine_32page_book_1-1020873884_1-1020873561.e$S:Layout 1 10/1/07 3:19 PM Page 13
Been to one of the New 7 Wonders of the World? Send in your pics to [email protected] so we can publish them on our travel section - www.colleges.com/travel
With hopes of improving my
Spanish skills and visiting some places
I’d seen in pictures and learned about in
school, I decided to go to South America.
Summer turned into a journey beyond
my wildest dreams.
and live with a host family for the next
seven weeks. I got to know the city inti-
mately, visiting the distinct barrios,
studying at corner cafes and learning how
to tango. I ventured out on weekends to
hang glide, dance samba all night, and
horseback ride in the sierras of Córdoba,
Argentina’s second largest city. I ambled
through the cobblestone streets of Colo-
nia, Uruguay, relaxed on the breathtaking
beaches of Florianópolis, Braziland hiked
around the powerful and expansive
Iguazu Falls. A week in Rio de Janeiro to
visit one of the new Seven Wonders of
the World, the statue of Christ the Re-
deemer, was the high point of my trip.
I said my goodbyes to Argentina
and Brazil and got on a bus to Santiago,
Chile with nothing more than a backpack
in tow. I had three weeks to get to Lima,
Peru, which I thought would be sufficient
time. Then I got to Bolivia, where five-
hour bus trips turned into 13-hour fiascos
because the miners were on strike, block-
ing all roads in the country. The circum-
stances allowed me to slow down and
fully witness the natural beauty, learn
about their current politics and make
some amazing friends. I navigated the
Salt Flats in an old Land Cruiser and
never paid over a dollar for a three-
course lunch. While visiting the Island
of the Sun in Lake Titicaca, where the
Incas believe the world was born, one ex-
perience sticks out above them all; bik-
ing 64 km along the World’s Most Dan-
gerous Road, which descends 11,800 feet
from the biting cold of the mountains to
the humid heat of the jungle, with a 1,000
meter sheer cliff threatening me along the
way. To say I had an adrenaline rush is
an understatement. The crosses along the
side of “Death Road” speak volumes. I
fortunately made it out alive and contin-
ued traveling on to Peru and eventually
back home to southern California.
Two and a half months of ex-
ploring only left me wanting more. A
continent filled with unsurpassable
by the human spirit of resilience, South
America is calling me back. I am already
planning a trip to Ecuador this winter.
by Dawn Powell University of Southern California ‘10
South America in
I left m
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Sitting at my desk, a year after having sur- vived my internship and currently working as an Emergency Department (ED) Resi- dent Physician, I was looking up labs and x-ray reports on a patient that I had just examined with anemia and chronic headaches. I was approached by one of the ED secretaries, a young man in his twenties, who informed me that he had just taken the MCAT, an exam required to enter medical school, and was excited about the application and interview process. “Are you glad you went to medical school and became a physician?” he inquired with a grin. What a question. I am thirty years old, I have been in school most of my life, and I make less money than my twin brother did right out of col-
lege. My brain is worth two hundred thousand dollars, yet my medical service, according to the government, is only worth forty thousand dollars a year (with an 80 hour work week.) With the amount of debt incurred, no matter how I feel about medicine, I am compelled to stay the course so I can pay back my loans. That aside, I do remember the excitement of becoming a medical student, a future physician. Opening the letter and seeing that I had been accepted to medical school was exhilarating. In retrospect, I wish I had known more about the journey required to reach this destination.
And its been quite a journey. Your first two years of medical school involve learning about disease processes through lectures and textbooks. The second two years are spent applying this knowledge to real patient care. On the surface, this sounds like an ideal system. But at a deeper level, one must realize that it requires significant quality-of-life concessions in terms of personal time, commitments and activities. The never-ending evaluations, always wondering how you are doing and whether your superiors are satisfied with your work darken your dreams. The feeling that you have to stay longer, work harder and study more, so you can get the grades that may ultimately determine your ability to get the medical residency of your choice, constantly looms over your head. This pressure can take quite a toll on the human spirit. Many medical students complain about being “emotionally abused” by their supe-
riors, constantly made to feel inadequate. This is not a productive type of learning environment. Even those students who are fortunate to find good teaching still en- dure considerable stress. The longer you are in the field, the thicker your skin must become to cope with the criticism, at times destructive rather than constructive. De- moralization and humiliation are two words that adequately describe many experiences during medical student training. I remember being referred to as “bookie,” during a surgery rotation, a derogatory reference to my “job” of keeping track of all the patients on the service in a “book” car- ried in my pocket. I spent two months on that service and dont even think my superiors knew my actual name. We tend to laugh it off, pretend that were having fun, but deep down, we feel less like humans and more like machines - training for a profession that requires as much humanity as medical knowledge and skill. These aspects dont improve much during internship. The only true differences: your white coat is two feet longer, you can write medical orders and you are called “Doc- tor.” The condescension and denigration by superiors is still there. On an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) rotation, I watched a col- league get yelled at in front of the whole staff, simply because he didnt get an ac- curate daily weight on one of the twelve
So, you want to be a Doctor?
Andrew W. Seefeld, M.D. UCLA Medical Center Department of Emergency Medicine
Careers brought to you by
have very limited free time. And the time that you do have outside the hospital is usually spent catching up on sleep or staying up to date with current medical literature. I often joked about being a “homeless physician-in- training,“ living in the hospital and without an apartment. I could simply sneak from call room to call room each night, finding an empty bed for some sleep. If all the beds were taken, then the backseat of my Volk- swagen Jetta would work fine, as it had many nights in the past during previous rotations. Yes, I actually slept in my car overnight! More importantly, my hospital provided free food to the interns, and I knew where all the showers were, hence, I had my own motel, without the vibrating beds and late checkout privileges.
Healing patients and coupling medical science with patient care were the reasons I chose this career. Had I known what would be required to achieve this goal, I might have put a little extra thought into making my decision. I never imagined how radically the demands of medical education and training would alter my lifestyle. I was not prepared for the emo- tional impact of making mistakes and the strength required to cope with them. Unfortu- nately, nobody was there to tell me the realities of medical training, the hardships of medical school, and the mental as well as physical fatigue of residency training.
So the question resurfaces... am I glad I am a doctor? Looking at the energetic young man who had asked the question, full of excitement and desire to learn and obviously ad- miring my position as a current resident, I wanted him to appreciate the effort it took to get to this point: the pain I endured, the cop- ing with mistakes, the sleepless nights, the alienation from family and friends. So, I told him to expose himself to the field, talk to current medical students, interns, residents and attendings, get an idea of what it is like, lifestyle outside the hospital included. This would at least allow for a truly informed decision, something I wish I had done. I told him with certainty not to base his decision on a desire for the status that the “M.D.” denotes. Its not worth it, if your heart is not committed. Happiness in life is far more important than a doctorate in medicine. Lucky for me, I chose the right profession, despite my lack of knowledge of the realities of training. Not everyone is so fortunate. The cost is worth it to me; but will it be for everyone?
300 is out on DVD, and if you missed it in the theatres, then you’ll definitely want to buy it. 300 is based on Frank Miller's graphic novel about the historical Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C. in which a small number of 300 Spartans led by King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) stood against the massive invading Persian army of Xerxes.
The Greek historian Herodotus had estimated Xerxe’s army including his “10,000 immortals” at 1,700,000 not including his navy. It is generally accepted that this number is exaggerated; there is more historical consensus that the number was probably between 100,000 and 200,000 soldiers, not counting support personnel, which would be about double the number of troops. Regardless of the exact number, the fact is, few stood against many, against insurmountable odds to protect their freedom. King Leonidas made a stand with his 300 elite soldiers, 700 Thespians, 500 Tegeans, 80 Myceneans, and several thousand fellow Greek coun- tryman totaling approximately 4,900 at Thermopylae or ‘Hot Gates.’ The gates were named after hot springs in the area, for their narrow 35- 50 foot passage between mountains. This small contingent of Greeks led by Leonidas and the Spartans used the geography to their advantage and repelled wave after wave of the Persian troops including “the immortals.” It will never be known if the Spartans could have beaten these impossible odds because they were betrayed by a Greek traitor Ephialtes, who showed Xerxes a hidden mountain pass that led the enemy behind Thermopylae. When scouts let Leonidas know that the Persians had discovered the pass and were advancing towards their vulnerability, he let the rest of the Greek troops leave so they could fight another day. As for himself and his Spartans, they prepared for their final battle as Spartans never retreat and never surrender.
The Spartans were eventually overrun, but went down in history as valiant heroes who resisted tyranny and defended their freedoms. Ul- timately, it was their heroism and courage that inspired their fellow Greeks that transcended any military significance of the battle. The Greeks did go on to eventually defeat the Persians in the Battle of Plataea in 479 B.C.
As for the movie, Director Zack Snyder created a brilliant and dra- matic adaptation closely following Frank Miller’s excellent graphic novel about the event. Gerard Butler (King Leonidas) drove the movie with an indomitable and lionhearted performance that made me want to take up a spear and join the effort. Additional kudos go to the men who got into incredible physical shape for the film; certainly an inspira- tion to get into the gym. Also, the makeup artists and costume de- signers deserve an award for their artistic brilliance; just look at everyday photos of Butler and Rodrigo Santoro who played Xerxes to see their transforming work.
By: John Carrieri Rock-N-Reel
All Photos courtesy of Warner Home Video Clockwise from top:
King Leonidas battles Xerxe’s soldiers
King Leonidas roars in defiance
Spartan Phalanx
Queen Gorgo
Young Leonidas surviving Spartan manhood ritual - man against nature
Spartan attacks a boastful Persian leader who trys to whip him
Frank Miller illustration of final battle
Movie close adaption of Miller’s work
Director Zack Snyder talks with Gerard Butler who plays Leonidas
My only complaint is that the demonizing of the Persian army in the sense of adding some mon- strous characters detracted from the historical significance of this epic battle. One could not write a more compelling story than what actually happened.
In the end 300 is a classic, which I imagine will be in many guys’ essential movie collections.
Renaissance is a ground breaking, animated, avant-
garde film created completely in black and white using motion capture technology. While the thought of black and white might make you think of early 20th century films, the story takes place in the future, in the year 2054 in Paris. Reminiscent of the futuristic classic ‘Blade Runner’, the movie touches on the in- triguing topic of immortality.
The story begins when Ilona Tasuiev a 22 year- old highly intelligent scientist is kidnapped. Her employer, Avalon, a big-brotherish corporation hires police taskforce Inspector Karas (voiced by Daniel Craig, James Bond, Casino Royale) to find her. He enlists the help of Ilona’s sister, Bislane (voiced by Catherine McCormack, Braveheart) to unravel the mystery and the plot turns and twists into a surprising end. Jonathan Pryce (Pirates of the Caribbean) is the voice of Ilona’s determined, yet unhelpful employer.
The animation technique in itself is worthy of an award and although the plot is completely original, Director Christian Volckman not only created something unique, but also masterly delivered a multi-di- mensional experience that is nothing short of pure brilliance. There are so many scenes of this movie, that are admirable for the way they are able to por- tray the on-screen experience in black and white, that it’s hard to single one out in particular. It’s safe to say the film is a masterpiece and anyone appre- ciative of art will appreciate this movie.
Art aside, I wondered if I would be bored by the black and white within a short while; however, I sur- prisingly found that the movie had a riveting plot which immediately drew me in and kept me engaged to the end.
Back To School Box Sets
Maybe it’s been
a religion incorporating all religions)
but David Arquette has been placed
here to entertain us. His new movie,
“The Tripper” is total B movie camp
destined to reach cult status. Enter an
all-star cast comprised of Jason Mews,
Balthazar Getty, Paul Rubin and Jamie
King, add sex, drugs and a serial killer
obsessed with Ronald Regan and put
them all together at a college music
festival in the middle of woods and
you’ve got yourself a surefire horror
hit. The Tripper is David’s creation
(writer, director and producer) and it
is good. We caught up with David and
had the chance to talk about a few
things, including his career in profes-
sional wrestling and why he chose to
make apolitical horror film. He said
Generation X at it’s Finest
Heeeeere’s Ronnie war and death on the battlefield are all too real, but
when you watch a completely over-the-top horror
movie like The Tripper, you know the deaths you
are watching are fake. The victims in the movie are
clueless that death is coming for them just as we are
completely clueless when it comes to the informa-
tion the media chooses us to see. It’s time for us to
buck up and pay attention to where the facts are
coming from. When asked his advice for college stu-
dents, Arquette said, “...you can make what ever you
want happen. Just have some goals. Put in the time,
do your work and although rejection is all over the
place, we do have a responsibility to make this
world a better place.” To read the full interview go
to www.umagazine.com/interviews/arquette
GPA: 1.43
This is Spinal Tap
David watches recently shot footage, directing The Tripper
Chris Nieratko is an underground legend. Before Jackass
was even a twinkle in MTV’s eye, Chris watched PJ Clapp
shoot himself with a .38 while wearing a kevlar vest way
before Clapp was Johnny Knoxville. Chris found out just
how many eggs he could eat in one the earliest episodes of
the famed TV show and exactly how much eggnog he
could chug before throwing up. One of his first jobs in the
limelight was as an editor for Big Brother magazine, a
risque skate mag later bought by Larry Flynt. Big Brother
was basically about skateboarding, but contained carefully
crafted articles by Nieratko and others that gave his sub-
scribers hints on how to be cool. He then moved on to
writing a hit column for Vice magazine after Mr. Flynt
“toned down” Big Brother. It was Vice who
would go on to later publish Skinema, a collec-
tive of Chris’ life, written under the guise of re-
viewing “dirty movies.” He rarely describes the
videos he reviews, instead using them to account
hilarious true life stories which according to
Chris, are 100% true. This book is laugh out
loud funny and so is our interview. If it’s all true,
this guy has had one really crazy life. Check out
Chris’s hilarious interview with one of our own at
www.umagazine.com/interviews/chrisnieratko
The Milwaukees
Genuine Rock ‘n
Roll which we
don’t see a lot of anymore. This album is stock
full of good old fashioned American rock. A
combination of hair-raising guitar licks, heart
pounding drums and bass, paired with lead
singer Dylan St. Clark’s amazing vocals, the
album is sure to satisfy. Check out great song,
“Moonshaker,” “Bullet Train” and “Rich and
Famous.” - CA
of LA is made up of
brothers Nick and
mined not to let a record company tell them
how to make their music, this band is unsigned
and proud of it. While essentially rock band,
the guys make their music with an electronic
twist, using unique equipment both cutting
edge and older gear from the ‘60’s and ‘70’s.
The band has a totally experimental sound,
sometimes sounding like Prince, sometimes
Bono and all the time like A.i. Check them out
at aimusic.com or myspace.com/ai or log on to
collegeradio.com to watch our exclusive inter-
view with the band. - SG
1408
Dimension
“Haunted” books
and as of yet, has never actually been in a truly
haunted place. He gets a mysterious postcard
telling him about the Dophin Hotel in NYC and
against grave warnings from the hotel manager,
decides to stay the night. This 2-disc set gives
you bonus features and includes an alternate
ending. 1408 is sure to give you some great
scares and is perfect for long nights in a dark
dorm room. - SG
Reign Over Me
roommate Charlie (San-
Manhattan and quickly
still not dealt with the loss of his entire family
on that tragic day. At the same time Alan, who
leads a seemingly perfect life, struggles with
overwhelming feelings of responsibilities to his
family and career, missing his more carefree
college days. The two men rediscover their
friendship, and help each other to find happi-
ness in their present lives. - CA
The Dollyrots
throw caution to the wind when they found
out George W. Bush had won the 2000 elec-
tion. They moved to LA to start their musical
career. “The world is probably going to end
anyway, so let’s just do the band.” Killer
tunes include “My Best Friend’s Hot” and
“Brand New Key.” - SG
100-day period, the film was made on the
very grounds the horrific events actually took
place. Residents of Kigali candidly told their
stories to the producer, director and cast
members creating a deeply moving, detailed
account of the three-month horror. A large
group of the production crew are actual sur-
vivors of the genocide. They are living proof
that nothing is impossible. When asked,
“What can I do to help?” survivor Jean-Paul
Sagahutu told me “Tell our story, let people
know, so it may never happen again.” May it
never happen again. -NKC
be hosting a free screening and discussion
of Beyond the Gates at The Institute for
Peace & Justice in November, 2007. To be
a part of this event, please contact
[email protected].
ipper
Creative Aurvana X-Fi Noise Canceling Headphones Creative Labs has created an excellent set of headphones that rivals anyone out there, including bossey companies that think that college students dont appreciate fine audio. These over the ear headphones completely screen out audio annoyances including air- plane drawl and as much as 90% of ambient noise. Cre- atives X-Fi technology also helps restore clarity to your MP3 files by intelligently en- hancing the high and low
ranges of your music. In addition, their X-Fi CMSS-3D recreates 3D sound when listening to movies or audio with surround sound features. I tested this feature by watching Gladiator on my computer and the clarity was amazing - the shrill of the arrows flying by was hair-raising.
If you travel often via plane, then these are the headphones for you. But even if you dont travel, the sound quality is exceptional. They fold flat (although theyre still a little bulky) and they come with a sturdy carrying case and an air- plane adapter. Street Price: $299
Tech Talk Looking for Peace of Mind? Need a mental rest from your roommate? Looking for your own musical co- coon? Where ever your music takes you, youll find either of these two headphones excellent companions.
JVC HA-NC80 JVC has also engineered a sweet piece of
hardware with their HA-NC80. The audio sounds great and the noise canceling works well. I really like the form factor of the HA- NC80s because they are both stylish and compact. They cover the face of your ears, but not your complete ear which I believe for most situations, gives you a perfect balance between screening outside noise, but still re- maining small and nimble. They are an excellent value. Street Price $35
Cardo S-800 Bluetooth® Headset
Sick of holding your phone up to your ear? Sick of endanger- ing others while talking on your phone while driving? (We are!) Then get a Blue- tooth® headset, but dont just get any headset, get the Cardo S-800 which is the best Bluetooth® headset I ever tested. The S-800 not only sounds good, but looks good, which is usually the downfall of these devices. The S-800 is the smallest
headset I have ever used and it fits in you ear without needing an over the ear brace, even though it includes one if you want to use it. The device also includes other tech- nically advanced options like the ability to store three different phone numbers which you can hot-dial right from the S-800 instead of looking them up on your phone. www.cardosystems.com Street Price $39 - 45
Crucial Memory If your computer seems slow, there is a good chance that you could breathe new life into it cost effectively by adding extra RAM. RAM (Random Ac- cess Memory) is the system main memory which among other things allows you to have more programs open and store more information si- multaneously while it is running. Crucial Technology is actually a manufacturer of RAM and the only company in the world that both manufacturers RAM and sells it direct to individual computer users; therefore, you can buy direct with factory level pricing. You can also get free shipping right now on orders over $40. Also, to note they are headquartered in the U.S.A. in Idaho.
Their Memory Advisor™ on their site can help you find the right memory for any computer system and compatibility is guaranteed 100%. I got to try a Crucial 1 GB memory upgrade which brought my Mac G5 from 1.5GB to 2.5GB and it made a huge difference. Now I can keep the twenty programs I like to run, all open at the same time not to mention a million browser windows. www.crucial.com
U. The National College Magazine September / October 2007 25
Tech Talk Adobe’s CS3 Rocks our world and our computers
Adobe CS3 Design Premium – PC Review Reviewed by: Kaustav Acharya
Adobes Creative Suite 3 Design Premium (CS3 Design Premium) is nothing short of spectacular. This bundle of software encom- passes everything a graphics/web designer needs, and Adobe has really showcased its talents.
Tested on a Toshiba Satellite Laptop running an 1.6 Ghz Intel Centrino Duo Processor combined with 2GB RAM and Windows XP Media Center, we confirmed the obvious no- tion that CS3 Design Premium does need a higher end system to run effectively. The inter- faces on Adobe Bridge, Photoshop CS3, Dreamweaver CS3, Flash CS3 Professional, Ac- robat 8 Professional, and Illustrator CS3, have gotten a bit of a facelift, but have not changed much from CS2.
The flexibility of juggling one document among the programs listed has really been streamlined by simply exporting the file you are working on to another application (e.g. InDesign to Flash or Photoshop to Flash) and Bridge CS3. Best no- ticed however is the Flash CS3 interface, which has the familiar the Adobe toolbars based made famous by the original Adobe programs. One is also able to import layered Photoshop and Illus- trator files into Flash, animate them, and export them automatically as ActionScript 3.0 to hand off to developers. Bridge CS3 allows all your media to display (with previews) in a very modern (dare we say Mac-like?) interface. In essence Bridge CS3 gives users the ability to have a central con-
sole from which to send files to a particular application. This comes in handy when you are trying to manage a large group of design files and you need to send them to different applications.
New this year is the more compelling mobile graphics in Illustrator and Photoshop Extended. With Adobes Device Central CS3, one is able to design and test the latest and coolest mobile media with very little guesswork as all the mobile standards are built into it.

Illustrator CS3 Flash CS3 Professional Dreamweaver CS3 Fireworks CS3 Acrobat 8 Professional Contribute CS3
Encore CS3 After Effects CS3 Professional
Soundbooth CS3 InDesign CS3
2007_Fall_Umagazine_32page_book_1-1020873884_1-1020873561_1-1020860696.e$S:Layout 1 10/4/07 11:36 AM Page 25
The newest edition of the Halo franchise is finally here and its worth every dollar. Its not surprising that it topped the gaming charts, but whats really astonishing is that it has become the top grossing entertainment production on its launch, grossing $170M, of any entertainment property; yes, that means movies, too. Bigger than Spider-Man3s opening weekend of $151M, and bigger than last sum-
mers Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and bigger than Halo 2
which also opened with a healthy $125M. Yes, there are differences between comparing a movies opening weekend, which has three days, to a games opening day, and the product price point is different, but does that really matter? With a good multiplayer like Halo 3, its easy to enjoy 200 vs. 2 hours for a movie and thats being very conservative on the 200.
So lets move beyond the discussion of sales. Is it worth the hype? In my humble opinion, yes. The game takes a twist as Master Chief, the main character, and the humans find them- selves allying with part of the alien race that first attacked Earth, the Elites and their leader – The Arbiter. The Flood is out of control as well as the Prophet of Truth and all looks despair- ingly bleak unless you, as Master Chief, can pull out one heroic effort to save mankind. As far as the rest of the plot, I dont want to spoil it, but suffice to say its gratifying. Also, to note, Cortana is back; however, she has been captured by
Gravemind and the Flood. All I can say about Cortana is, she received one heck of a fine graphic upgrade. No wonder Master Chief wants to save her – but isnt she just a computer program?
With respect to features and graphics, there are new vehicles including a Mongoose, which is a quad ATV and a Hornet, which is a single pilot hovercraft with two jump seats. Both are fun to pilot, as the Mon- goose is great for jumps and small places the warthog cant go - such as up narrow staircases. The Hornet is equipped with both a machine gun and a two-silo missile launcher.
As for weapons, there is a new Spartan Laser, which is incredible. Pick something with the laser, and five seconds later when it charges to full power, that target is gone. On the alien side there is a new dual wielding Brute Spiker, which is like the Needler (on steroids,) the dual wielding Mauler, which is a cross between a shotgun and a pistol, a deadly spike grenade and Firebomb Incendiary Grenade. On the heavy side are three turret weapons that can now be unleashed (broken) from their turrets for devastating damage; Middle Pod - which carries 8 rockets that can be fired in sequence without reloading, a Heavy Machine Gun (gatling-style) and Plasma Cannon which fires 300 rounds per minute.
There is also new equipment such as a Bubble Shield, which stops all projective weapons, a power drainer, a trip mine, a portable gravity lift, a radar jammer, a flare, a regenerator, and a deployable Cover or force shield.
Lets talk Multiplayer since this is the best part of the game. The reason Halo has the best multiplayer engine is that it has been developed over 12 years with the launch of Marathon by Bungie on December 12th, 1994, followed by Marathon 2: Du- randal and Marathon Infinity. The whole Marathon trilogy was developed and ran only on Macs; its network multiplayer was groundbreaking. We used to play with 5 or 6 players everyday after work. As soon as 5 PM rolled around, the battle sounds echoed through our office. I bring this up because #1, it
Halo 3 Publisher: Microsoft Developer: Bungie
Review by: OrionX
“It’s all about the Multiplayer. If you haven’t played the multiplayer, then you haven’t
really played Halo.” – OrionX
Battlefield 2142
EA Games
MacPro Intel
We are very excited to bring you EA’s
MMO, Battlefield 2142, tested on, yes! a
Mac platform. It was only a matter of time
until EA released a set of their latest games
for the new Macs. Battlefield 2142 is among
them and is truly a remarkable game.
An ice age threatens to completely
take over earth in the year 2142. The land is
up for grabs and it becomes survival of the
fittest. The game swoops from the icy lands
of Europe to the boiling terrain of Africa,
where you can pick from a Recon, Assault,
Engineer or Support team depending on
your gaming style. As you progress, you are
able to unlock over 1500 special weapons
and accessories.
15 minutes. Once launched, the submenus
and the in-game animations ran exception-
ally well and didn’t have the millisecond
hiccup, common on running a high end
game like this. Game play is fun once the
controls are mastered, although the level of
difficulty seems higher than games in the
same genre.
processor is slower than a 1.83GHz Intel
Core Duo processor with less than 1GB of
RAM, so high machine specs are a must.
We’re quite pleased with the game
stability and wowed by the Mac’s perform-
ance running it. The game deserves our
highest rating but because it doesn’t allow
for the older generation 1.66GHz Core Duo
to run it (the PC version allows for lower-
end hardware to run) we had to kick it a
thumb. Price: $39.95
By Resident Game Guru
Kaustav Acharya
demonstrates how many hours of enjoyment can be realized out of these games and #2, why Microsoft bought Bungie, because it was simply the best network multiplayer ever developed. So now when playing Halo 3 and reflecting on the previous Halo, its not that it is totally new, but a continued refinement on the incredible existing engine that has continued to mature over the last twelve years. The most notable new feature in Halo 3 is the Forge, which now allows you to edit multiplayer levels. You can add all kinds of objects such as weapons, equipment, vehicles and even trans- porters. Each object is worth a certain amount of points, and you have a budget as to how many items you can allocate. The Forge opens the game up for a whole additional layer of playing and is very fun to play and create. You can lit- erally fly through the level when editing. You can see and put things in places you might not normally ever be able to see. When editing, you can really see just how great the physics are of the Halo engine. Try placing a ghost or large object on a pointed cliff or metal beam and youll see it not only fall due to gravity, but also fall and bounce off objects just as you would think it would in real life. You can also try creating new and exciting playabil- ity, such as putting one gravity lift at the top of another gravity lifts range, giving you double the height boost to reach places your characters wouldnt normally reach. Es- sentially, you get to be the artist of the chess game that keeps you and your friends coming back for more.
In the end I give ‘Halo 3’ six out of five thumbs on our 1-5 scale; the only game we have ever given this lofty of a score. (6 out of 5?)
“But mine goes to eleven.” - Nigel, Spinal Tap.
For a great reference on everything Halo, check out: http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Halo_3
2007_Fall_Umagazine_32page_ver3.qxp:Layout 1 10/4/07 2:36 PM Page 27
NBA ‘08
Publisher: SCEA
Platforms:
PSP/PS2/PS3
B a s k e t b a l l - s i m s
have always fallen
into the ‘play one and you’ve played them all’
mentality. It will take SCEA a lot to break
that mentality; however, we tested on the PS3
& we were impressed.
take into account the SIXAXIS™ Controls.
According to Sony, “...the expanded SIX-
AXIS functionality provides an all-new and
deeper set of control options including spe-
cific dribbles as well as high and low offen-
sive and defensive moves.” Seeing it in
action is even more impressive. The anima-
tions have been varied up as well allowing for
a more realistic feel of the game. The AI has
been made significantly more intelligent and
the positions they play are a lot more realis-
tic than previous years. The fluidity of game-
play is really where the PS3 showcases it’s
potential. The court is crisp and clear, and an-
imations suffer no lag. The character models
are well designed, but it seems that the light-
ing was over emphasized in the development
studio causing for the reflections off the
player’s skin to look fake. Aside from that
though there is little to gripe about as the
game outputs at 60 frames per second and at
a full 1080p. The game also features brand
new NBA commentary that flows perfectly
into the game, but doesn’t distract the player.
In short, the commentary is well incorporated.
Newest in NBA ‘08 is the Progression Sys-
tem. As the player is progressing through the
game, certain challenges are presented which,
upon completion, you can trade in for expe-
rience points. These points are used to
progress your player statistics and enable him
to line his virtual trophy wall with all kinds of
goodies.
short; however, mustering the plays on the
other hand, is a bit difficult. Although it takes
a while and it’s a great feeling watching your
player spin around and dunk on the defender,
the whole game gets a little monotonous.
Still, despite that, the game is fun, probably
even more so in multiplayer.
Price: $39.99/$39.99/$59.99 PS3
wartime strategy games. With a futuristic
feel of both the interface and the in-game
graphics, Tiberium Wars sets itself apart from
the others with fluid animations and great
sound quality. With over 30 single-player
missions, this newest installment will keep
you occupied for hours. The game primarily
focuses on wise strategy and deployment of
units to vanquish the enemy. While this may
seem elementary, friendly units will be lost if
the attack isn’t carefully planned. Tiberium
Wars is a great game that focuses on brains
rather than brawn and we like that. Game
play is smooth, although we recommend a
higher end processor, approximately 256mb
of Video RAM, and about 2GB of system
memory. Price: 49.99
NCAA Football 08
phenomenal product once again. For fans
looking for the ‘wow’ factor, the new Cam-
pus-legend mode enables you to create a
player and guide him to stardom. An inter-
esting feature, although not new from last
year, is a focus on academics. Upon selec-
tion of your character, you’ll need to choose
a major to pursue. After practice, you’ll have
a choice of mingling with peers or studying
for tests.
rival-game, scrimmage, practice, and spring
drills are all there. The latter is good for begin-
ners to learn the game controls and get familiar
with the interface. You are able to practice all
kinds of plays along with a few new trick plays.
Smooth transitions paired with insightful and
comedic commentaries from Brad Nesler and
Lee Corso provide for countless hours of fun.
Offensively, it’s business as usual: nudge the
trick-stick to avoid the heavy tackles and finish
the play. Defensively, you’re actually able to
block field goal attempts if the defensive-line is
positioned correctly.
is hard to justify the extra $10 for the PS2
version. The XBOX version retailing for
$40.00 has a cleaner look and feel than the
PS2 version so EA’s reasoning for the in-
creased price is lost on us. Despite that, we
love the game, and highly recommend it.
Price: Varies by platform.
back to the Metal Gear se-
ries, the benchmark in tactical and covert-ops
games. The developers at Sony have really
stepped up to the plate with Logan’s Shadow,
which we feel is one of the best third person
shooter games for the PSP. You are Gabe
Logan, dispatched to the USS Mt. St. Helens to
stop a terrorist mastermind who is after some
hush-hush cargo on the ship. Gabe’s secretive
contact in Washington interferes with the mis-
sion by killing off a major character then black-
mails Gabe.
you expect them to be, although the control
stick is sensitive. This is really evident when
you get into the game and perform sudden
movements such as trying to aim at the bad guy
shooting at you. The graphics are so sharp you
easily forget you are playing on a hand-held de-
vice. Sony Bend has done an amazing job at
mastering game detail and special effects. Did
we mention that it’s really cool to sneak up on
a bad guy and take him out with stealth tactics?
Do that successfully and you’ll see a very cool
animation of the takedown. Price: 39.99
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with Learning Disabilities and AD/HD.
Puzzles 1. Nobel Prize city
5. Troubled former
33. Madonna's signature
dance, or fashion
Arizona
30. Superman nemesis Luther
31. Florida State nickname
Across DownCollege Sports Spectacular
WE KNOW WHERE
THE THEORY OF PI
AROUND HERE.
MMMM ... PIE.
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