On Jan. 22, Academy Award winner and University alumnus Bill Westenhofer ’90 offered students, faculty and community members information regarding the visual effect process by describing the effects of using both live-action footage and graphics through presenting scenes from “Life of Pi.”
“The event was mostly a visual effect breakdown of ‘Life of Pi,’” Cristiane Teles Maia ’13 said.
Maia invited Westenhofer originally, and helped organize the event with Associate Professor of English Eric Faden.
“[Westenhofer] showed what it took to make the tiger and also the water specifically [in ‘Life of Pi’],” Maia said. “He also explained all the steps they had to take to study them–I believe he spent a few weeks studying the tiger alone and then he spent some time on the ocean, studying the movement and lighting of it. He also had a few videos showing the process from lines to the final outcome of scenes.”
Westenhofer won the Academy Award in 2007 for his visual effects used in “The Golden Compass.” He has a history of working on the visual effects of many successful films, including “Chronicles of Narnia,” “Men in Black 2,” “Elf,” “Stuart Little” and “Stuart Little 2,” as well as “Land of the Lost.” Other successes of his include his experience as a technical director of the Rhythm and Hues Studio, as well as for his supervision of the visual effects in “Babe: Pig in the City,” a 1995 Academy Award winner.
Westenhofer graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering from the University, and went on to get a master’s degree from George Washington University’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
“Bill was a great guy,” Maia said. “I got to spend some time with him throughout the day and he had great stories from Bucknell and is very proud to be a Bucknellian. He met with my computer graphics class and talked about jobs in the industry. He also said that he is most proud of the ‘Life of Pi,’ comparing it to all of his work.”
As many have seen from the signs around campus, Alpha Xi Delta is a new sorority that is coming to the University this spring. They have had a few events to introduce themselves and they have a few more coming up soon. At these meetings, they share information about their national chapter with the University.
Although Alpha Xi Delta is new to the University, it is established on other college campuses. Their philanthropy is Autism Speaks, which is a foundation that sponsors research to cure autism and also holds outreach programs to inform the public about the disease. On campus, the sorority is looking to recruit a cohesive group of girls who are leaders, and who are involved, motivated and academically successful. Alpha Xi Delta’s colors are light blue, dark blue and gold, or as they refer to them: “double blue gold.”
Penn State is the closest college campus with an Alpha Xi Delta chapter and there is a possibility of hosting events together in the future. The founders of the chapter here at the University are committed to creating an exciting social calendar to create sisterly bonds and to become involved in the school. At the open house last Thursday, the founders described one benefit of joining a new sorority on campus: the pledge class gets to decide the nickname, whether it is “Alpha Delta,” “Alpha Xi,” or another combination. They also get to start their own traditions and reputation, as they are the founding class.
If anyone is interested in learning more about Alpha Xi Delta, they are hosting a few more public events in the near future. A few key dates are Jan. 29, Jan. 31 and Feb. 5. You will see them around campus handing out cards and flyers about upcoming events and more information.
Siobhan Murray | The Bucknellian Theodore Doremus ’16 woke up in this home in Milton.
Siobhan Murray
Writer
On the morning of Sunday, Dec. 2, an intoxicated former University student Theodore Doremus ’16 woke up in the living room of a Milton home, having no recollection of getting there, facing a home-owner’s loaded shotgun and state police officers.
Upon waking, Doremus told police he attended a house party the night before but didn’t remember how he ended up in Timothy and Angela Witter’s home on Old Route 45.
Homeowner Timothy Witter, who had been watching over Doremus with a shotgun, immediately called the Pennsylvania State Police at around 8:00 a.m. State troopers arrived, shined a flashlight on Doremus’ face and asked him if he knew how he had gotten there.
Siobhan Murray | The Bucknellian Doremus awoke at the house in Milton starred above, far from campus (bottom left).
“When I woke him up, he couldn’t have been a more deer-in-the-headlights than what he was,” State Trooper Scott Carl said. “He didn’t know how he had ended up so far off campus, but quickly realized the gravity of the situation.”
Doremus said he had been drinking the night before. He remembered leaving Vedder Hall and going to a house party, but didn’t remember what happened after that. Troopers brought him to local Milton State Police Headquarters.
“I can see Mr. Doremus meant the family no harm and that it was just a drunken, foolish thing to do,” Carl said. “He wasn’t there to harass or annoy, or do anything criminal. He was just there to get out of the cold, being without shoes or socks, or even any kind of coat on.”
Police soon determined that Doremus, in 30 degree weather, had used a vacuum cleaner left on the back porch to open a back porch window and gain entry to the home, where he fell asleep on a couch.
Charges of criminal trespass, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, underage drinking, public drunkenness and loitering and prowling at night are pending. Doremus and attorney Graham Showalter to attended an arraignment and preliminary hearing on Jan. 3 at the Union County Courthouse.
“He knows what he did, and we’re trying to satisfy the victims but not ruin Mr. Doremus’ life,” Carl said. “There are lots of charges that are applicable here, but plea agreements can be made.”
Still, incidents like this may outline a strained relationship between the University and the surrounding community, as families like the Witters fear for their home security.
“There is nothing funny about this,” Angela Witter said on the Sunbury Daily Item’s online article about the incident. “I pray that one day our seven-year-old will feel comfortable enough in his own home to be able to camp out in our living room as he does so many weekends.”
“You have to put yourself in the [Witter] family’s position. It’s affected them, and it’s going to take quite some time for them to feel quite as comfortable in their own home,” Carl said.
The Witters have since installed a security system.
Milton native Morgan Greenly ’15 added that she has always noticed a tension between students and locals.
“[People from Milton] may see Bucknell as just fitting one privileged stereotype but may not understand the campus drinking culture,” Greenly said.
Still, incidents like this outline locals’ apprehension about students’ sense of entitlement to the Lewisburg area beyond the confines of campus.
“Students are not only members of the Bucknell Community, but also of Lewisburg. It is important that they act as contributing members to both communities,” Dean of Students Susan Lantz said.
Doremus is no longer enrolled in the University and has returned to his home in Vermont.
“He’s trying to make amends for what he’s done and clean up his act,” Carl said.
Trooper Carl added that Doremus has written letters of apology to the Witter family and University administration.
“He has been very apologetic and cooperative, and has shown a willingness to work with charges. He’s trying to close the barn door after the horse got out, if you will,” Carl said.
“This was something that nobody could ever see Ted doing,” a close friend of Doremus and University student said. “He was really smart and was always doing his work.”
From here, the case will move on to County Court where Attorney Showalter and District Attorney Peter Johnson will work out a plea arrangement.
Courtesy of Kathy Gilbert Kathy Gilbert ’82 generously donated equipment to the campus’s radio station.
Kerong Kelly
Writer
Kathy Gilbert ’82 Donates Processor to WVBU
WVBU, the University’s student-run radio station, received a processor donated by Kathy Gilbert ’82. This generous donation will drastically increase the sound quality of the station. Both Ms. Gilbert and her husband, Kid Kelly, a NYC radio disk jockey on the Sirius network, wanted to show their interest and support for student-run media outlets at the University.
“We are very excited about getting this generous gift for the radio station. With it, the radio station will finally be able to replace its 30+ year old processor and in its place, put a new and aesthetically more pleasing processor,” said Charlie Geitz ’15, WVBU’s new station manager.
WVBU is an important aspect to the student life and culture at the University; it offers a wide range of entertainment, from music to coverage of athletic events.
“After visiting WVBU and seeing that they had many needs, I saw an opportunity to use my radio background and peer network to assist WVBU in upgrading their facility. Drew Kelly, the program director of WQKX in Sunbury, will also be working with the WVBU staff to increase the distance that the station can be heard as well as teaching the students about radio,” Gilbert said.
The new processor will allow the station to produce material at a higher level of quality and will allow listeners to hear the more subtle aspects of the broadcast music. With the help of Drew Kelly, the new processor is now a reality. Members of WVBU and listeners wait to hear the new and much anticipated improved sound quality.
Note – Sara is a Bucknell alum who wanted to contribute an article she wrote for her pre-grad program to The Bucknellian. She said that some of the people she talked to at Inauguration were not willing to give their last names, so that is why some quotes only have first names associated with them.
As an appreciative family disappears towards the Capitol, waving, Maurice Clifton turns to look at the National Mall–a sea of colorful hats, puffy coats, American flags and smiles. Clifton, a Presidential Inaugural Committee volunteer, has been answering questions and giving directions from the corner of 14th Street Northwest and Madison Drive since before sunrise. He arrived at 4:45 a.m.
“The crowds have been steady like this for hours,” Clifton said. “I donated to the campaign and I volunteered because I wanted to be a part of the event.”
Clifton was among the one million people who flooded the District on Jan. 21 to experience the 57th Presidential Inauguration.
Attendance decreased substantially from President Barack Obama’s first inaugural ceremony four years prior, at which the crowd was roughly double the size. However, the energy and excitement that characterized the city on Monday was not unnoticed.
Aislinn McMillan, 17, says she felt proud to witness this patriotism firsthand, and most enjoyed watching “the crowd on the jumbotrons” and “cheering with [her] sister and all the people surrounding [them].”
“You could see just how many people had come out to see the inauguration, and support Obama and the abundance of American flags waving,” McMillan said.
In addition to guests with tickets, who stood in front of the Capitol in reserved sections, masses of people gathered on the muddy lawn farther back, in the area open to the general public.
Four-year-old Imani, who was born just days before Obama’s first inauguration, watched one of the large television screens attentively from this area of the Mall, as the 44th President was sworn into office for a second term.
“We came to see President Obama,” Imani said, clapping when he appeared on the screen.
According to Imani’s mother, she [Imani]had been “talking about it for over a month.”
Imani shared this moment with people from across the country–and the world–as Obama delivered his inaugural address.
“With common effort and common purpose, with passion and dedication, let us answer the call of history and carry into an uncertain future that precious light of freedom,” Obama said.
The inaugural program also included musical performances from James Taylor, Kelly Clarkson and Beyoncé, a poem from Richard Blanco and other noteworthy speakers.
Civil rights leader Myrlie Evers-Williams led the inaugural invocation, on a historic day also designated to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. As she spoke, the crowd became silent, engrossed in her words.
Seven-year-old Oliver, lifting the hat that fell over his eyes, was visibly fascinated by the overall experience.
“We came for him,” Shana, Oliver’s mother, said while holding her son’s hand. “I wanted to teach him about democracy and give him some memories. It’s a wonderful opportunity.”
This was a common sentiment, especially for people who had not previously been to an inauguration.
“I have grown up in D.C. but felt as though I had never taken advantage of the history that takes place here,” McMillan said. “I will always remember, and can now say, that I was there to see our president take office.”
During the parade, the President and First Lady emerged from their car and joined the procession, waving to the fervent people who lined both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue.
“I wanted to see history in the making and share it with people who were enthusiastic and passionate about their president and their nation,” McMillan said. “I am so glad I decided to go. It made me feel a part of something.”
Since its creation, “Bicycles Against Poverty” (BAP) has provided 386 bicycles and affected the lives of over 2,000 people, weekly. BAP is an organization founded in 2008 by University student Muyambi Muyambi ’12. The organization provides bicycles to low-income workers in northern Uganda. These bicycles are a form of transportation and promote economic development. These people have access now to better markets, farms and clinics.
Currently BAP is offering various internships and opportunities for involvement to University students. These internships will take place during the school year and are an opportunity for real professional work. They are also based around BAP’s cross-country cycling trip, which is a fundraiser for the organization. A University student team and possibly one from Skidmore College will help plan the event. The internship is best suited for management majors, but it is open to anyone interested. BAP looks for proactive leaders who take initiative and show passion, motivation and work hard.
There are several positions open: two spring internships, three summer positions and three cyclist positions. The spring internships will learn how to plan campaigns, manage teams, reach out to the media and coordinate events. Spring internships are focused on planning and marketing for the cycling trip fundraiser to be held in the summer. The culmination of the internships will be planning the training for the six summer members for the summer cycling trip.
The summer interns will learn how to fundraise, put forth messages, management, organize, media pitching, communication and planning. Interns will be divided up into different areas to focus their skills, but will still likely be exposed to all parts of the process. These interns will also accompany the six cyclists who will be participating in the fundraiser. Three of these cyclists are also recruited from the University. These cyclists will learn team management and write daily blogs.
Those interested in applying for the spring positions can email their resume and a letter of interest to Molly Burke at mburke@BicyclesAgainstPoverty.org by tomorrow. There will be interviews conducted afterwards on Dec. 3 and 4. Those interested in summer positions can also reach out for more information, but details are yet to come.
Recently, the University received a $300,000, three-year grant from the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women Campus Grant Program. Across the nation, only 21 other colleges have been selected to receive the same grant.
“This grant program is very competitive and is highly sought-after funding for colleges and universities nationwide each year. Receiving this grant is an honor, recognition of the work we are doing and validation of our collective campus leadership and the direction in which we are headed,” Tracy Shaynak, director of the Women’s Resource Center, said.
The grant will be used to expand education and enhance services that will strengthen responses to many issues both on and off campus, including dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.
“We will partner with student leaders, our Speak UP Peer Educators and others to actively engage more students in the work that lies ahead. We can’t accomplish what we need to without more students stepping up and recognizing that everyone has a stake in these issues, and everyone has a responsibility to promote and protect a safer campus for all students,” Shaynak said.
Mainly, the grant will be used to fund a prevention coordinator position, one dedicated to enhancing education for students focused on promoting positive bystander behavior. The grant will also help offset costs for the Speak UP Bucknell Peer Education program.
Co-directing the grant with Shaynak is Marie Shaw, a psychologist for Psychological Services.
“The work from this grant will have an impact across campus with many departments as well as off-campus partners. For example, a campus community response team has been created to achieve greater coordination and communication among services both on-and off-campus. Additionally, a new position focused solely on coordinating prevention services has been created,” Shaw said.
The grant also allows for the Women’s Resource Center to work with Transitions, a local crisis center affiliated with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR). This collaboration will provide training for local law enforcement both on campus and downtown, and also give opportunities to work with survivors of assault and other issues.
“The expected outcomes we hope to achieve at the conclusion of the grant include enhanced relationships with newly formed Buffalo Valley Regional Police Department, Public Safety, Transitions and campus,” Shaw said.
“I am most excited about this grant because it validates that Bucknell has its programs, initiatives, relationships and future goals aligned that will allow us to move forward and begin to create meaningful awareness and change on our campus. That, in combination with working with students who are committed to partnering with us in this process, is incredibly rewarding,” Shaynak said.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is not only important in its ability to help environmentalists better conserve global resources and protect biodiversity, but also in its recent demand among employers. The University’s Office of Library and Information Technology recently hosted a GIS conference from Nov. 16 to 18, which drew an impressive crowd of professors from 50 different liberal arts universities and colleges, in addition to University faculty members from assorted fields of academia.
The gathering was held to discuss GIS, a specialized computer software used for making maps and conducting spatial analysis. This program is being incorporated increasingly across an array of professional disciplines, from a wide range of companies and businesses to various branches of government, in order to help manipulate and analyze data.
As a result of its growing use across these many applications, there is an increase in demand among employers for employees who are proficient in GIS, a statistic identified by the department of labor. This program is being used across campus in various disciplines to give students a different way of understanding the material they are working with and to help put data into perspective.
Beyond the professors in attendance, a large group of students attended the conference, which was compromised mainly of three work-group sessions that focused on a multitude of topics about GIS.
Conversation varied from qualitative analysis of GIS to its application in community outreach and service learning. Each session was divided into presentations followed by group discussion, a format that promoted energy and brainstorming among participants about the theme-based material.
The conference’s enthusiastic reception by the student body comes as no surprise. Many professors from other colleges continually referred to the University’s approach to GIS as the ‘Bucknell Model for GIS,’ a well-deserved compliment to the faculty’s hard work in developing and incorporating GIS into academic life here at the University.
The buzz surrounding the conference even lit up Twitter, where attendees exchanged tweets praising its success. Readers who are interested in learning more about GIS can contact the Office of Library and Information Technology.
Ally Boni | The Bucknellian Alex Lyras brought Steve Jobs’ legacy to life in “un/real and un/true: The Agony and the Ecstacy of Steve Jobs.
Christina Oddo
The Bucknell Forum “tech/no” National Speaker Series hosted an original University production to unveil the fact and fiction surrounding the life of Steve Jobs and the ever-encompassing hold Apple has had, and continues to have, over the world. Starring Alex Lyras ’93, a successful solo theatre writer and actor, and directed by Bob Gainer, the play within a play also included faculty members and students as part of the cast, or writing or research teams. “un/real and un/true: The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs” took place on Nov. 27 at 7:30 in Trout Auditorium.
Ally Boni | The Bucknellian Lyras gives a realness to Jobs in the Agony and Ecstacy of Steve Jobs.
“Before joining this project, I had no idea how much time and effort went along with putting on a production of this size,” Rachel Litt ’13 said. “Maybe my jaded Bucknell mind that craves instant gratification merely thought speakers appeared out of thin air and arrived on campus for our entertainment. But it’s so much more than that. Scheduling, script editing, rehearsals … and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”
This play was based on the original production of The Public Theater, “The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs,” starring Mike Daisey, the writer of the play. The production utilized and reduced Daisey’s original script, with his permission.
“Being a member of the script writing committee … we chose the interruptions, completed the research, wrote the insertions and lastly placed them in the script,” Litt said. “It was challenging, but so much fun.”
In fact, the original script and the controversy around it more generally aims at the question of whether technology is ultimately good or bad, a question that captures the essence and goals of the “tech/no” series. The University’s play within a play unfolded a series of debates that the task force shared in trying to find the truth.
“I got involved in the play because I am in Business, Government and Society with Professor Jordi Comas, and he was one of the producers of the play,” Kathleen Lenox ’13 said. “For homework, we listened to the original podcast of Mike Daisey performing ‘The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs’ on National Public Radio’s ‘This American Life.’ I was listening to Mike Daisey reveal the horrible working conditions at the Foxconn factory … and became frustrated with myself. A week later, we listened to Mike Daisey’s retraction in which he admitted that he fabricated many details. I then became frustrated with Mike Daisey. He lied to a lot of people. This frustration led to a curiosity of the actual truth, which had to lie somewhere between Apple’s glossy investor reports and Mike Daisey’s ‘reporting.’ Thus, when I heard about the opportunity to join the forum and share the truth with an audience, I took it.”
Daisey focused “The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs” on the immorality associated with factory conditions in Shenzhen, China. The rest of the issues surrounding Jobs and Apple branch from the idea that people should be responsible for knowing where their technology and other items come from. “un/real and un/true: The Agony and the Ectasy of Steve Jobs” presented fact and fiction through Daisey’s supposed view of Jobs, alongside Daisey’s fabrications and exaggerations.
Throughout the play, faculty stood and spoke about what they believed was the truth. For example, Zhiqun Zhu, MacArthur Chair of East Asian Politics and associate professor of political science and international relations gave his opinion that Daisey generalized superficial phenomena.
The audience was presented with statistics that served as facts: Foxconn, stationed in Shenzhen, is responsible for 50 percent of all of the electronics of the world. A live interaction with Siri on the iPhone was also presented by Lenox as a fact; Siri will not answer a question regarding the iPhone’s origin.
Further, Daisey’s voice continued to describe the factory conditions, especially by stating the suicides that have occurred, and the precautions that Apple has supposedly taken to stop the madness: putting up nets around the area. The play shifted to an interview with Jobs, who stated that 13 out of the 400,00 people employed in the factory had committed suicide over the course of a particular year, and that was under the U.S. suicide rate. As a company obsessed with detail, according to Daisey’s words, how could they not know what was ensuing in these factories? Apple merely sees what it wants to see.
Problems regarding fact and fiction arise, in particular, to the n-hexane issue. As a narcotic agent, clearly dangerous to humans, n-hexane, supposedly used in the factories, harmed workers, according to Daisey. However, through later research and interviews, it became clear that Daisey had never met a worker who had been affected by n-hectane. Moreover, when interviewing Cathy Lee, Daisey’s translator at the time, it also became known that Daisey had exaggerated other details (for example, that the guards at the gates held guns). Where should the line be drawn between exclaiming fabricated and truthful accounts with the aim of proving a point?
“Rachel Litt, Nick Stetz ’13 and I poured over his original script looking for ways that we could show how nuanced reality actually is,” Lenox said. “We did not set out to prove that Mike Daisey was a liar, but that his truth was not factual enough to give his audience a good understanding of what is actually happening in China.”
The audience was left with questions to prompt thought and further discussion.
“Our ultimate goal was to show the audience that they should question whatever piece of information they are shown; they should not take it as fact,” Lenox said. “We wanted to show the nuances of the truth that exist depending on the source and to encourage the Bucknell community to think critically about what is really happening.”
Yessica Martinez | The Bucknellian Bucknell welcomes new multicultural soroity, Mu Sigma Upsilon, to the greek community. They are a national sorority that welcomes diversity.
By Siobhan Murray
Senior Writer
Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc., the first multicultural sorority in the nation, takes pride in its foundation. More specifically, it takes pride in colonizing here at the University. Recently, the University welcomed Mu Sigma Upsilon to campus with its formal probate, or “coming out” ceremony, that took place earlier in November.
Yessica Martinez ’14, president of the University’s chapter of Mu Sigma Upsilon was more than pleased with the response to their formal initiation ceremony.
“We were very nervous because we had practiced for some time and we wanted it to go perfect,” Martinez said. “We were very surprised with the crowd. It was very comforting to see that people were interested and curious in our organization and came out to witness our initiation. We have received positive comments since, and we appreciate everyone who has welcomed us to campus.”
As a multicultural sorority, Mu Sigma Upsilon does not exclude women because of their background.
“Everyone is different and that is what we embody. Our motto resembles exactly that: ‘Mujeres Siempre Unidas’ (‘Women Always United’). Our Founding Mothers decided to create this sisterhood as a support system for all women, ‘a student organization that celebrates diversity and fosters progress,'” Martinez said.
These five women founded Mu Sigma Upsilon, with the intent to unify women while observing their differences.
“We will follow through with what our Founding Mothers intended this sisterhood to be. We are excited to grow as a strong sisterhood and showcase all we have to offer to our community,” Martinez said. “As we do not fall under the Panhellenic Council, we do not participate in Rush, so we have no incorporation with formal recruitment. Instead, our interests will be participating in an orientation process. We go more in details about our process at our Ladies Night, and we encourage all those women who are interested to attend … These sessions will be advertised, so just be on the lookout. If there are any questions, interests can contact Angel Crockett (acc020).”
