Shedding some light

Student enlightened by the darkness of the LRC

By JORDAN SANDERSON, Managing Editor

This past Sunday, I made my way towards the LRC in order to read some 16th Century Spanish Literature. As usual, I made a left once inside the building, heading towards the Fireside Room. I sat down at one of the large tables in the middle—I unloaded my entire backpack, laptop, books and paper—everything I would need. After about five minutes of unpacking, I was ready to begin. I plugged in my laptop and turned on the lamp at the table. Nothing happened.
When the light didn’t turn on, I began thinking about the numerous times during the past few years I have sat down at the same tables and the lamps hadn’t worked. So, I made my way around the tables looking for one with a light that worked. Although there were people at two of the tables, I assured myself that one of the six remaining lamps would work. No such luck. Out of the eight lamps in this section of the LRC, a whopping three of them work. I am no statistician, but that is about 37.5 percent. That’s not so great. 
Not only did the lamps not work, but the lamps were scattered randomly around the tables. One table had no lamp and another had two. One lamp was even on the ground. The current display of non-functioning lamps is not complementing any of the beautiful and super-expensive library that students pay to upkeep with outrageous tuition and fees.
All the lamps need are new light bulbs. These lamps have not been working for a long time now and it is time something is done about them.
And if for some unexplainable reason the LRC does not want to pay for new light bulbs.

Word from the Editor

By AMANDA OWENS, Editor-in-Chief

Every Tuesday night in Hill Chapel, a little bit of magic happens.
I had my first little taste of the magic last Tuesday night.  I arrived at “The Georgetonian” office at 2:45 in the afternoon with my laptop, my water bottle and the energy that only a first time editor can bring to the first layout of the semester.  I shortened my usual phone call with my mother, explaining that my editors would arrive soon, and swivelled around in my chair a little bit.  I told myself the office wasn’t really chilly.  I told myself the staff computer was just hiding the Georgetonian drive somewhere in its depths.  I told myself the fluorescent green walls and Brady Bunch inspired orange vinyl chairs were a part of my new home.
Then I realized there is a reason people don’t jump into home-buying.
By 3:15 p.m., a fellow editor and I decided there was a reason “The Georgetonian” office owns a space heater.  At 3:20 p.m., when all the computers in the room clicked off, we realized why we didn’t use it.  By 4 p.m I was acquainted not only with my new staff, but with our good friends at Maintenance who fixed our tripped breaker.  The paper was completed seven-and-a-half hours later.  Too bad it was completed with the wrong date.  By the wee hours of Wednesday morning, I slid onto the ice outside the Chapel a little older and a lot wiser than I had entered that afternoon.
When I grabbed the first issue outside the Caf later that afternoon, I realized that the magic wasn’t in the paper itself.  It wasn’t in the correct date on every right handed page.  It wasn’t even in the names of the new staff, or on the front masthead.  One week and one day ago, I learned that the magic of a publication is not in the editor’s title.  It is not in the swively chair or in the ability to call a staff meeting at will.  It is in the talent of the writers who interview and e-mail.  It is in the patience of a colleague who will calmly explain at midnight that you need to redo five pages of the paper to correct the date.  It is in the dedication of a former page editor who swings by to give an extra set of hands.  The magic of a publication is not in the one that oversees it, but in all those who give little bits of themselves to make it possible.
So this Tuesday, I will get to the office at 2:45 with my laptop, my water bottle and a few less grandiose expectations.  I will caution about the space heater, triple check the date and be thankful that even when I can’t do it all, I am still privileged to be part of a collective whole that makes “The Georgetonian” work.

A ballooning health epidemic

Obesity is an ever looming public health crisis

By JASMINE GREGG, Staff Writer

When it comes to eating healthy is, America setting itself up for failure?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2000 to 2006 the state of Kentucky has had a steadily rising rate of obese inhabitants. It has risen from about 20-24 percent to about 25 -29 percent. This rise in the state of Kentucky is not the only state with an increasing obesity rate. Mississippi and West Virginia have reached an obesity rate equal to or higher than 30 percent.
In order to combat the rising obesity rate, channels such as Cartoon Network are creating programs and commercials urging children to get active and to eat healthy. Even fast food places, such as McDonald’s, have turned to healthier choices by giving children the choice between getting french fries or apple slices, milk or soda. Many grocery stores are placing their organic foods by the entrance doors, making them more accessible.
According to the Mayo Clinic, organic foods are grown and raised without the harmful insecticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizer and antibiotics that conventionally grown food uses. The question then becomes just how much healthier are they for us? So far, there has been no concrete evidence that organic foods are any more nutritious than conventionally grown foods. Also, organic foods have a higher cost and they tend to spoil more quickly because they do not have the preservatives that conventionally grown foods get. While organically grown foods actually benefit the ground they are grown in, experts have agreed that the pesticides found on some of the produce carry a small risk to the human body. Organic does not always mean healthy. The fear that some people have about conventionally grown produce stems from the use of pesticides, but by simply peeling and washing your vegetables and fruit thoroughly, you can rid yourself of things like that. So, having read all of this information about organic, conventionally grown food and obesity ratings, I do in fact believe that by trying to become a healthier society, America is setting itself up for failure. Not too long ago, society was pushing the thought around that organic food was healthier than conventionally grown food, when in fact this is not true. The organically grown food has just as much sugar, salt and calories than conventionally grown foods. At least in the beginning, the media was setting the public up for failure by pushing the need for organic foods. Lies, whether intentional or accidental, bring on a sense of disappointment once the truth is learned. With the disappointment that is felt when one realizes that the food that they bought thinking that it was healthier turns out to be just as bad for you as the cheaper products he or she tends to give up the ideas of eating healthy.
Also, the so called “health” food floating around now is becoming more and more expensive, and it is also getting harder to find. The profit that the big corporations are looking to make is causing Americans to give up things like eating healthy. The money that is asked for in order to join exercise plans and gyms is also a factor that is dissuading Americans from becoming active. The commercials that are targeting children and giving them the chance to choose something healthy are not productive either.
Some children will look at those commercials and think that maybe they have not played tag in a while and they should get out and play, but most children, my sister included, will look at that and take a nap instead.  Giving children the choices between things like french fries or apples is simply preposterous. Many children want to copy the child on television eating apple dippers, but once they get into the store they smell the fries and they want them instead of what they saw on television. Furthermore, McDonalds offers milk as a substitute for soda.  Milk does not go with everything, but you can always find a type soda for anything. Finally, the rising obesity rate, despite the effort to raise awareness about it, shows that America as a whole is failing.

Imago Dei Study Begins

Women exploring the “Image of God”

By WHITNEY McCLAIN, staff writer

Sophomore, Junior and Senior women at Georgetown have a new opportunity to explore their identity in Christ and to grow through personal reflection and studies.
  Imago Dei, meaning ‘in the image of God,’ is a weekly small group that seeks to provide a context in which women can explore what it means to be created in the image of God.  Many faculty and staff women who participated in this study last semester are taking the opportunity to share what they have learned with students through their own individual small groups.  This semester there are 4 small groups that are by faculty and staff. 
Throughout the semester, these small group will focus on events that  dominate today’s woman, including sexuality, body image, role expectations and what it means to be a Christian woman. By using the Bible as well as other resources from the media, cultural studies and psychology, the small groups will be able to help women find their true identity in Christ. 
As previously mentioned, there are four small groups that will be led this semester. The studies are offered on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  The following includes the schedule of small group leaders, times and places for the studies.
Therefore, if you are interested in joining one of these small group weekly discussions with other women hosted by faculty and staff, feel free to sign up for Imago Dei.  Sign up sheets are posted in the basement of the Chapel or for more information, contact Campus Ministry, Cynthia Insko at Cynthia_Insko@georgetowncollege.edu., or feel free to directly contact the small group leaders.

Who Wants to be a Reallionaire?

By KRISTA CHELF, staff writer

Hope will arrive on the Georgetown College Campus in the form of Dr. Farrah Gray for anyone who has ever dreamed of success and riches at a young age.
This Saturday, Feb. 2, Gray, a motivational speaker, entrepreneur and author of the bestselling book, “Reallionaire,” will speak about his phenomenal success as an entrepreneur at a very young age.
His appearance at Georgetown College is co-presented by both the college and Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church of Midway.  Steven Shackelford of Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church is very excited about this event. He said, “Dr. Gray has beaten the odds and has achieved more in his 23 years than most people achieve in a lifetime, and I look forward to hearing him speak about his success.”
Most people have had the experience of the lemonade stand as a child, yet Dr. Gray took this idea one step further and became the youngest self-made millionaire at age 14.  As a child of six, he began selling homemade lotion and painted rocks to his neighbors in Chicago. At age 14, his business sold for $1.5 million.  At age 23, Dr. Gray is a celebrity, showing up in newspaper and magazine articles as well as radio and television broadcasts.
“Reallionaire” showed up on Amazon’s and Barnes & Noble’s bestsellers lists for two weeks before its release internationally.
He has also been recognized as an entrepreneurial icon by “Ebony Magazine,” received an honorary doctorate from Allen University and partnered with the Kauffman Foundation to help entrepreneurship within the inner city schools nationwide.
His discussion regarding his success will take place in the John L. Hill Chapel at 6 p.m.  Admission is free and open to the public, and no reservations are required.

Tribal Violence in Kenya

By ELIZABETH CLEARY, staff writer

On Dec. 27 2007, Kenya held a polling day to elect new officials; however, the polling day did not go as planned. The election in question was for the fourth President of Kenya, a historic election to say the least.  Fifteen minutes after the election was declared in favor of the former President Mwai Kibaki of the Kikuyu tribe (one of Kenya’s 40 various tribes), the slums of Kenya erupted in violence. Thousands poured out of the slums and began to smash shacks, burn tires, hurl stones and wave sticks.  In response, the government sent soldiers to meet them. In other areas, gangs went from house to house attacking people of various tribal heritages, clubbing them to death.
This outrage came after a very murky election that had all the makings of an inside rigging job.  Another issue came from two candidates as they appealed to their own tribes by degrading and promising to persecute their opposing tribes. Since tribal allegiance is, and always has been, such a large priority in Kenya, it has weighed heavily on elections past and present. Candidates often have to make sure they go against the smallest and most hated tribes of the region to ensure they get the most amount of votes.  According to the British Broadcasting Corporation’s reports in Kenya, campaigns would use slogans like “It’s our time to eat” in order to appeal to the poverty stricken tribesmen.  The entire country is below the poverty line due to rabid unemployment. The fact that the president has the right to allocate money to wherever he sees fit makes the election very important.
The opposing candidate, Raila Odinga of the Luo tribe, was originally called the winner of the election by several sources and by the public outcry of Kenya.  The Luo and the Kikuyu tribes have always been against each other, so when Odinga decided to “take our case to the court of public opinion,” rather than to fight in the nation’s court about who really won the election, thousands of Odinga supporters raged through the muddy paths of Nairobi’s largest slum of Kiberia. Markets run by Kibaki’s tribe the Kikuyu were set ablaze and people continued attacking any Kikuyu they found. Kenyans are very keenly aware of tribes and are very proud of their heritage, so it is not uncommon for hostility to well up quickly over seemingly small things like water holes and grazing land.
A day after elections were held, over thirty people were killed. Many of which were children that had been burned to death in a church just outside of Eldoret. The violence has only escalated since then.  Now the number of dead continues to rise daily.  As of Jan. 28 the death toll was 750. Odinga is currently demanding a re-election and that Kibaki work with him to allow an easier government transition.  However, the current government will not make an exception to create a special post for Odinga, and they do not take the idea of a re-election lightly.
As violence has spread into popular tourist spots, some believe that this has spiraled out of control, almost to the point of being considered ethnic cleansing. In the most recent attack in Nairobi, the military was deployed for the first time to prevent each side from attacking each other in order to prevent further loss of life. Now the Kenyan government is threatening to arrest the top opposition leaders who they suspect are orchestrating the bloodshed.  In turn, this has caused the opposition to blame the government for supporting gangs. In all appearances, it has drawn itself into a “he said, she said” domain.
Kenya, once the most promising African Country, has become unrecognizable less than a month after elections. Just before the election, Kenya was celebrated because they were the most stable country in Africa, but now the country is spiraling radically out of control.

Galvin’s: A New “Old Towne” 

New family-owned restaraunt  targets college crowd

By KRISTIE POWELL, staff writer

  Last week, the new restaurant Galvin’s opened in the heart of Georgetown.  A mere five-minute walk from campus, Galvin’s has taken the place of Old Towne on Main Street.  Though it shares the location of Old Towne, the owners made it clear that their hope is to veer from the similarities with the previous business. 
  The owners like to think of Galvin’s as more of an “upscale” restaurant.  The eatery is a family business owned by two brothers-in-law with the hope of serving a casual dining experience to their patrons.
   Always willing to go where there is food, my friends and I went for dinner there two nights ago.
Upon arrival, I noticed that the interior received a new paint job and the monolithic projectors had been taken down.  My friends and I were greeted immediately by a server who gave us a choice of seating. 
  Glancing at the menu I noticed a number of traditional meals such as pizzas and burgers, but there was also a section dedicated to types of Stromboli and a unique number of sandwiches.  The prices were about average, perhaps a little less expensive than Applebee’s. 
  Our food was served in an efficient amount of time.  I split a pineapple pizza with Ryan Barnette.  We had more than enough food and managed a filling meal for $4.50 each.  The texture of the pizza was a bit doughy for my tastes, but I was later informed by our server that the regular pizza cook was off duty due to an injured back. 
  With regards to the variety of vegetables in her potato soup, Bethany Smahaj described it as “a surprise in every bite.”  Rachael Frank ordered a BLT sandwich and was pleased with the homemade chips. 
  Bobbie Jo Whitaker ordered a codfish sandwich.  It is an entrée I normally would not order, but I found it to be the best meal at our table.  The fish was deep-fried golden brown with a crunchy exterior that made for a delicious sandwich.
  All in all, the quality of the food was pleasant and of a much greater quality than the previous establishment.
 Our waitress was friendly, and we saw many familiar Georgetown faces working behind the bar and in the kitchen.
I had a chance to speak with the two owners, Dan Galvin and Lee Jones.  Jones casts the focus of Galvin’s to be on the quality of food and service which is ideal for most college students who are indifferent to pretentious foods.  It does seem as if Galvin’s is still in its early stages, but the owners have many ideas that will appeal to college students.  Though Galvin’s does not currently accept the G-Card, it plans to in the near future.  Other plans include the installment of wireless internet access.  I think that Galvin’s is a place that can become something special to Georgetown.  It is accessible, friendly, and unique, and I feel as if Galvin’s can be a contender for a steady college crowd.

Local Spotlight: Band The Apples In Stereo Reviewed

Jackson Silvanik

Frontman Robert Schneider has always been proud to call Lexington his home, and the city is certainly glad to have him. The mathematically-minded songwriter has been releasing albums with his band The Apples In Stereo for over a decade, and got his start as a founding member of the well-respected Elephant Six collective.
Aside from having their music played on the smash television series “Pete and Pete”, The Apples in Stereo have recently released a double album that has been among their most critically-acclaimed releases. The album marks the inaugural release by Simiam Records, a record company founded by Elijah Wood of “The Lord of the Rings” fame.
The band’s unique brand of bright power-pop is fueled largely by Schneider’s interest in math. The man purports to have spent hours perfecting his songwriting technique. One song in particular, Schneider claims, literally came to him in a dream, capturing it on his guitar right after waking up.
The band does not play shows in the area too often due to the band member’s various side projects and other commitments. For Schneider, this includes an appearance on “The Colbert Report” to compete in a guitar challenge with Chris Funk of popular indie band The Decemberists.
Their latest album “New Magnetic Wonder” can be found in stores now, and tour dates can be viewed at www.myspace.com/theapplesinstereo.

The Fate of “The Dark Knight”

Viral Marketing approach continues in the wake of tragedy

Jackson Silvanik, Arts and Entertainment Editor

For the past year, the marketing strategy for the upcoming film “The Dark Knight” has been in full swing. Internet-savvy fans have been tracking a series of websites offering clues about various aspects of the film, including the first glimpses of various characters including Heath Ledger’s portrayal of “The Joker”, an iconic villain in the franchise.
When Ledger passed away last Tuesday at the age of 28, one would believe that the marketing approach would change drastically. Certainly there are new questions concerning the fate of “The Dark Knight” and the impact that the passing of the Australian actor will have at the box office.
Though there is concern over continuing with the increasingly effective approach of viral marketing, there is a bigger matter at stake as the opening of the film draws closer. Executives associated with the picture have expressed various concerns largely focused on the desire that the film not become overtly associated with Ledger’s death.
This is a problem that has occurred before. Renowned actor James Dean famously was killed in a crash shortly before the opening of his last film. Circumstances being what they were, the movie opened as planned and probably enhanced the appeal of the movie to a mourning fan-base.
Does Warner Bros. have similar hopes for “The Dark Knight”? Because filming was entirely finished, except for possibly some sound recording work, there is no doubt that the film will still be ready for release on the advertised date. There does not appear to be any plans to change this and the studio has refused to comment other than to confirm that the viral marketing will continue.
Despite the continuation of the marketing strategy, it follows that the focus will likely shift from the Joker-centric approach that has dominated the internet thus far. Early last May, a cryptic website appeared featuring the character of Harvey Dent, a political figure in the film’s setting of Gotham City.
As the site grew in popularity, user interaction would cause a picture of the Joker, portrayed by Ledger, to appear pixel by pixel, eventually giving the fans their first glimpse of the character. Jack Nicholson portrayed the Joker in a previous installment of the Batman film franchise, giving the character a comic twist that solidified him in the minds of audiences.
Ledger’s portrayal of the character, however, is purported to feature a much more violent and twisted demeanor. Marketing continued, with the focus entirely on the Joker himself, a foreshadowing of his evil intentions plastered across the web.
The actual character of the Joker is associated with aspects of death in appearance, made up with pale white makeup and sunken, hollow eyes. Clad in a tattered purple and green suit, the Joker sports wildly applied red lipstick to support the image of a clown gone awry.
Will this grisly image of Ledger be the one that lingers in the minds of the audience, affecting his legacy as an actor? That remains to be seen. In more optimistic opinions, the film will only generate more intrigue as audiences clamor to view the final performance of Ledger on the screen, a fitting tribute to the young actor.
Ledger claimed that the role was emotionally and physically taxing, often leaving him exhausted. Sources close to the film have been known to claim that the role saw Ledger at the height of his talents, delivering a performance entirely unique to the franchise.
As for the movie, it’s nature as a big-budget production demands that the show must go on. The wheels have been set in motion, and to halt them now would only be an insult to the performance that Ledger delivered and the effort he put into giving the audience a unique movie-going experience.

Writing Center set to open Feb. 3

By KRISTA CHELF, Staff Writer

If your nights are fraught with nightmares over your latest paper, worry no more.
On Sunday, Feb. 3, the Georgetown College Writing Center will open for the spring semester. Aiding students from creating a sound thesis to the final revision, the Writing Center staff will help students gain valuable writing skills to help in all classes. Grammar exercises are also available to brush up on some of the more difficult English rules. 
Students can set up an appointment by calling extension 8423, or walking in on a first come, first serve basis. The Writing Center will be open 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday, and 9 p.m. – 11 p.m. Wednesday. The Writing Center is located in the basement of the Learning Resource Center in room 016. 
Don’t let lengthy papers get you down. Let the Writing Center help get your semester off to a great start.

Writing  Center Hours:

Sunday: 12:30 – 4:30 p.m., 7 – 9 p.m.
Monday: 9:30 – 11 a.m., 12:30 – 4:30 p.m., 7 – 9 p.m.
Tuesday: 12:30 – 4:30 p.m., 7 – 11 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:30 – 11 a.m., 12:30 – 4:30 p.m., 7 – 9 p.m.
Thursday: 7 – 9 p.m.