Interactive TWIH

If you picked up the print edition of The Pharos that came out yesterday, and you read page two, you know that today (Jan. 30) is the anniversary of the Bloody Sunday incident in Londonderry (now just Derry), Northern Ireland.

The column mentioned the U2 song "Sunday Bloody Sunday." Below is a video of that song along with photos and news footage of the event.

Volume 100, Issue 7

Volume 100, Issue 7 of the print edition of The Pharos is now available. You can grab a copy on the ledge in front of the mailboxes in the campus center. Check out the inauguration pictures on page five, and our new cryptogram on page four!

As always, feel free to get in touch with us at pharos@wvwc.edu or Box 148. We always accept letters to the editor, but be aware that we reserve the right to edit for content or brevity, and reserve the right to print or not print.

Film Screening

Tomorrow, January 28, Dr. Eric Waggoner of English Department and The Frets fame will be screening Eraserhead, a 1977 film by David Lynch. The screening will be in Hyma Auditorium and will begin at 8 PM.

All are welcome to the screening of this semi-horror, surreal flick, but be forewarned: it is aggressively strange, in Dr. Waggoner's own words. Therefore, those with "delicate constitutions" might consider opting out this time.

This screening begins a semester-long series of David Lynch films, so if you can't make this one, there'll be another.

Since part of college is becoming a more cultured individual and really just being plain cooler than you were before, the staff and editorship of The Pharos highly encourages you to check this out!

Masquerade Ball!

Everyone on the staff of The Pharos hopes to see you, yes, YOU at the Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball TONIGHT at 9 p.m. at the Bi-Ci! The ball is sponsored by CAB and a plethora of other organizations.

Dress is semi-formal, and masks are encouraged but not required. Those who are over 21 will have access to the bar at the 88 restaurant.

See the upcoming issue of the print publication for photos and a write-up.

Hope to see you there!

Inauguration!

So, are you and your friends doing the American thing and cutting class to attend the Inauguration in DC Monday and Tuesday?

Then you should send The Pharos pictures of your experience at pharos@wvwc.edu ! We'll publish a selection of photos we receive in an upcoming print publication.

Just be sure to tell us who is in the photo and who took it. Have fun celebrating a new era for the USA!

2009 Is Upon Us

Hey!

We realize this thing hasn't been updated since Heath Ledger died. Sorry about that. Things were pretty crazy here at The Pharos last semester, but we're back now. You'll see lots of stuff here, everything from opinion pieces to recipes to things that we just think are especially relevant for the college community and beyond. But first, let me give you a quick rundown of what's been going on personnel wise for us.

This year, The Pharos is headed up by senior Sarah Wilkinson and sophomore Alic' Shreves, serving as co-Editors in Chief.

News Editor Daniel Trader and Social and Community Editor Jeff Webb both returned to their respective positions, without too much pleading from Editor Wilkinson.

Entertainment Editor Jennifer Elkins also returned to her position, albeit after a semester-hiatus of study abroad in London, England. We are all very jealous. During her "sabbatical" as we'll call it, Krysta Rexrode filled her position as Interim Entertainment Editor, and everyone on staff is very grateful to Krysta for her service.

New in the fall was Sports Editor Carlee Gault. We are thrilled to have her; she's fantastic!

New this spring to our lovely Editorial Board is Alice Foley, who will fill the slot of Greek Editor. This position sat vacant last semester due to lack of available parties, but we're thrilled to have Alice on board. She'll be fantastic, and she's also quite entertaining.

Our print publication dates for this semester have not yet been set in stone, but look out here for updates on that. As far as this blog goes, you should have updates at least every other day, if not every day.

We look forward to a great semester of serving the Wesleyan community!

(Got something to say? Leave a note in the comments or email pharos@wvwc.edu!)



The Pharos acts both as a source of news and as a forum of free expression for the West Virginia Wesleyan community. The Pharos and its staff operate with editorial freedom and responsibility. The views and editorials printed within the Pharos and its affiliated forms reflect the opinions of the individual writers and not the college or the Pharos staff as a whole.

The Pharos mourns...

Everyone on the staff of The Pharos is shocked, saddened, and disheartened to learn of the death of actor Heath Ledger.

Ledger was a prominent actor in several films that defined our generation, including 10 Things I Hate About You, The Patriot, and Brokeback Mountain. His enormous talent will be greatly missed.


According to CNN and wire reports, Ledger, 28, was found dead in a Lower Manhattan apartment. Ledger was discovered by his housekeeper, who was attempting to wake him for an appointment with a masseuse. He was pronounced dead at 3:30 PM today, Tuesday, January 22, 2008.

The Pharos mourns this tragic loss to the film making industry.

Recipe for your Dorm

Note: This recipe does require an oven, which all of the Camden apartments have, as well as most of the upper-class dorms. Editor Wilkinson also thinks (though she has not tried this herself) that maybe if one used a bagel (or maybe two or three bagels) instead of pizza dough, one could do this in the microwave until the cheese gets melty.

Recipe submitted by Lauren Hametz, reporter for The Pharos

Spinach Dip Pizza

Here is an easy to make twist on a pizza that any college student can make and you don’t even need to know how to cook.

prep time: 5 minutes

cooking time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

1 pizza pre-made pizza dough

1 TGIFriday’s spinach and artichoke dip

1 tomato or 1 can of diced tomatoes

Shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)

Directions

1. First, you will need to preheat your oven to about 400 degrees. Then you will need to heat up the spinach dip in your microwave for a couple of minutes just to make it soft so that it will be easy to spread on top of the pizza.

2. Next, you will need to spread the dip on top of the pizza dough. Put on as much as you like or as little as you want.

3. After you have put the spinach dip on you will need to either cut a tomato up and put it on top of the pizza or open a can of diced tomatoes and put those on top of your pizza.

4. Then you can sprinkle some cheese on top of your pizza to your liking.

5. Finally, all you need to do is place your pizza in the oven and wait about ten minutes, checking your pizza a little before ten minutes to watch its progress, and when your pizza is cooked to the way you like it, take it out, let it cool down, and eat it!

The Pharos Gears up for Second Semester

Whew! We here at The Pharos can hardly believe how quickly the fall semester went by!

Spring 2008 brings a couple of changes for The Pharos. First, we now have a vacancy in the position of Sports Editor. We will continue to bring you the best sports news possible as we work to fill the position. Second, we have a new crop of writers thanks to the Newspaper Practicum class! We are very excited about these new people, as well as the experienced writers who are staying on staff from previous semesters.

Editors Zak Ritchie and Sarah Wilkinson look forward to another exciting semester of bringing you The Pharos. Be sure to email pharos@wvwc.edu with news tips and suggestions!

Most of All You've Got to Hide it from the Kids: The Coming of Age Tale of “The Graduate”

Young adults refusing to conform to the idealistic standards of society is a constant theme portrayed throughout history. Consequently, many young adults believed that the older adults of their generation simply did not understand them—or their lifestyle choices. Throughout the 1960s, following the conservative mindset of 1950s America, many American teenagers sought to cut away the apron strings of their parents conservatism, taking part in the rebellious lifestyle of sex, drugs and rock and roll.
The film, “The Graduate,” produced in 1967, typifies the struggle of a young man, Ben Braddock, who is attempting to find his place in the world, while at the same time, portraying his rebellion from his parents as he engages in a marital affair with an older woman, Mrs. Robinson. The plot of the film is incredibly twisted, not only because Mrs. Robinson is the wife of Ben’s father’s business partner, but is also a long-time friend of the family.
It is evident that Ben’s family is suffocating him with their values in the first scene of the film in which Ben is gazing into a fish tank in his room, not wanting to attend his college graduation party.
Mr. Braddock: What's the matter? The guests are all downstairs, Ben, waiting to see you.
Benjamin: Look, Dad, could you explain to them that I have to be alone for a while?
Mr. Braddock: These are all our good friends, Ben. Most of them have known you since, well, practically since you were born. What is it, Ben?
Benjamin: I'm just...
Mr. Braddock: Worried?
Benjamin: Well...
Mr. Braddock: About what?
Benjamin: I guess about my future.
Mr. Braddock: What about it?
Benjamin: I don't know... I want it to be...
Mr. Braddock: To be what?
Benjamin: [looks at his father] ... Different.

Throughout the film, Ben struggles to find himself—a recent graduate, he is unsure what he wants to do with his life. Mrs. Robinson’s initial attraction toward Ben first appears at his graduation party, an ironic twist because her own daughter, Elaine Robinson, is merely a college student as well. Upon coercing Ben to take her home and then proceeding to seduce him, it is obvious that Ben is incredibly uncomfortable.
Ben: Oh my god.
Mrs. Robinson: Pardon?
Ben: Oh no, Mrs. Robinson. Oh no.
Mrs. Robinson: What's wrong?
Ben: Mrs. Robinson, you didn't... I mean, you didn't expect...
Mrs. Robinson: What?
Ben: I mean, you didn't really think I'd do something like that.
Mrs. Robinson: Like what?
Ben: What do you think?
Mrs. Robinson: Well, I don't know.
Ben: For god's sake, Mrs. Robinson. Here we are. You got me into your house. You give me a drink. You... put on music. Now you start opening up your personal life to me and tell me your husband won't be home for hours.
Mrs. Robinson: So?
Ben: Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me.
Although at first, Ben may have been uncomfortable with Mrs. Robinson’s aggressive sexual behavior, he soon warmed up to the attention and the two began their affair—further coercing Ben to become more emotionally involved in the relationship than Mrs. Robinson. He wants the pair to talk rather than simply having sexual intercourse;
however, Mrs. Robinson quickly opposes, wanting to keep their relationship merely sexual.
Ben’s situation becomes more complicated when his parents begin questioning his late-night whereabouts, along with his plans for the future—thus proving that Ben is merely drifting along in his life, without any concrete plan.
Mr. Braddock: Ben, what are you doing?
Ben: Well, I would say that I'm just drifting. Here in the pool.
Mr. Braddock: Why?
Ben: Well, it's very comfortable just to drift here.
Mr. Braddock: Have you thought about graduate school?
Ben: No.
Mr. Braddock: Would you mind telling me then what those four years of college were for? What was the point of all that hard work?
Ben: You got me.
Furthermore, his relationship with Mrs. Robinson disintegrates when he begins to date—and fall in love with—her young, attractive daughter Elaine. Soon after, Mrs. Robinson threatens to tell her daughter of their relationship, forcing Ben to admit to their affair. The whirlwind of trauma that follows—Ben’s parents’ disgust, Mr. Robinson’s threats, Mrs. Robinson’s psychotic behavior and Elaine’s departure to college—only fuels Ben’s unrequited love for Elaine. He refuses to give up, and follows her to Berkeley.
The film’s plot continues to display parents’ forcing their children to conform to their morals and standards when, after Elaine falls in love with Ben, the Robinson’s force her to marry a medical student from Berkeley. Ben was completely heartbroken; however he rushed to the church, where he found Elaine kissing her new husband. Still not willing to give up on their love, he yells at Elaine through a glass panel, and she flees from the church, thus allowing the pair to start their relationship with one another—at the contempt of their families.
Mrs. Robinson: Elaine, it's too late.
Elaine: Not for me.

Although many critics argue that “The Graduate” promoted sexual promiscuity, and was too risqué for its time, I believe that the film was both eye-opening and revolutionary to the lives of young Americans. All too often, young adults make their life decisions based on their parents’ views—rather than regarding their own happiness and well-being. The internal conflict of Ben, which is seen throughout the film, epitomizes his struggle of finding himself following his graduation. He is unsure what he wants to do with his life, although his affluent family and friends try to impose unwanted advice. His affair with Mrs. Robinson further shows his confusion and although the affair could be deemed as sexually provocative to film critics, I believe that it was necessary to enhance viewers’ perception of Ben’s uncertainty in his life.
All in all, “The Graduate” portrayed the exact feelings—confusion, anger, mistrust—that many young adults living in 1960s America felt. It is practically impossible for young adults to grow up independently in a society in which the previous generation’s ideas are forced upon them. At the same time, this same concept compels many coming-of-age men and women to engage in outlandish behaviors, such as Ben’s affair with Mrs. Robinson. Without films like “The Graduate” young adults would possibly not be able to have the courage to make their own decisions about their lives. The film is a straight-forward portrayal of a reality in which young adults must make decisions about the lives—whether right or wrong—in order to ensure their happiness, without regard for the approval of their parents’ generation.

-Meaghan Cochrane