Category: Uncategorized

Australian director Cate Shortland’s second foray into feature film has produced the visceral “Lore.” The period piece is set in Germany immediately after the death of Hitler, and tells the story of a family of children traveling over 500 miles to reach safe haven in Hamburg.

“Lore” is short for Hannelore, the name of our heroine, a 14 year-old daughter of Nazi parents, suddenly forced into a role of adulthood. While she was a member of Hitler Youth, Lore’s father was deeply involved in the Final Solution, and her mother equally complicit. Before leaving for their own punishment, the parents warn Lore to remember who she is, an ominous enough beginning by itself, but heightened by the audience’s modern understanding of exactly how wrong everything is that Lore has been taught.

The film has a sort of fairy-tale superstructure: the parents are gone and a family of five children, one an infant, must travel by foot through the black forest to make it to grandmother’s house on the other side of the country. And, like any good fairy tale, there’s something rotted and evil at its core: a flailing country’s guilt and confusion over what has happened, what they have done and their uncertainty about what will happen next. Germany has been divided up by the Allies and there are borders to be crossed and guards to watch out for, and the children, we soon realize, are woefully unprepared.

Then, help arrives from the least likely quarter: a boy of little more than Lore’s age, called Thomas, steps in to prevent the family from disaster and becomes their new leader. The problem? Lore has seen his papers, which label him a Jew. As he provides again and again for her family, Lore is torn between gratitude to be relieved of so heavy a burden and the hate that she has been bred to harbor for him. Her confusion is compounded by her burgeoning sexual awareness, her conflicted hatred of his people and her own mounting desperation as food becomes scarcer and the journey seems never-ending.

The scenes of the countryside are very revealing, especially as we see them through the shocked eyes of Lore and the half-comprehending viewpoints of the younger siblings. One woman, who houses the children for a day speaks of the beloved fuehrer, and how “he loved us all so much.” Another group of disbelieving people discuss the “faked” pictures from the internment camps, a conversation some continue today. Bodies are discovered in empty buildings, full suitcases dropped the moment they could no longer be carried; it is a state of flux and still the children march on. They are forced to commit their own sorts of atrocities in the name of survival and after one particularly brutal scene, Lore asks Thomas “What have we done?” She means it immediately, of course, but that question hovers over the entire film, and continues to be asked in our own time.

Saskia Rosendahl, the newcomer playing Lore, delivers an interesting and compelling performance, effectively coupling rage and doubt in the moments where she is given dialogue to voice her character’s feelings. Most of her role is silent contemplation of her new discoveries or the explanations she gives her siblings for the things they have seen. Her beauty, even as their journey continues and the children grow more and more ill, seems pointed and poetic.

Shortland’s ending is unapologetic and unromantic, with little evidence that the characters have learned all the lessons we wanted them to. World War II period pieces abound, this is not the best or the worst of the lot. “Lore” is, as the title suggests, a story, it’s just not the one I was expecting.

“Bison Confessions” Deemed Not Entertaining Enough

By now, there isn’t a single University student and hardly an alumnus who has not heard of “Bison Confessions,” the Facebook page that allows members of the University community to anonymously confess, console and condemn. It has become the Jerry Springer or Maury Povich of campus, and students can’t get enough of it. In the wake of House Party Weekend 2013, it would appear that the need for a new, not-so-anonymous Facebook page has arisen. For this reason, Jerald Montagnais preparing to create “Bison Boasts,” a Facebook page that will allow students to let the University know exactly what juicy things they do and precisely who does them.

“I think it’s going to be a great success,” Montagna said. “The new page will address the biggest problem students have with ‘Bison Confessions’–the anonymity. We all know that #381 is a male in the class of 2014 and that he had a three-way on the roof of the library, but who is #381? How do we congratulate him? Who do we high-five? And when #407 says she’s gotten stoned in every academic building while wearing nothing but the head of the Bucky the Bison costume, we can only assume she is longing for us to know her identity.”

Indeed, it must be frustrating for #379 to have slept with  “at least one girl from each sorority” and received not even a single fist bump from his bros for his effort. Likewise, #327 must be upset that, while she “has a job after graduation because [she] majored in something useful,” those who remain jobless cannot applaud her and tell her how superior she is to them.

“Bison Boasts” will have another feature that “Bison Confessions” lacks. In addition to a name, each user’s room and mailbox number will be included. This way, commenters will also have the option of sending fan mail or leaving congratulatory bouquets outside the user’s door. Those that disapprove of a user’s actions/remarks will not be limited to bickering and name-calling as they are on “Bison Confessions.” Hate mail and bags of feces will now be options as well.

“I just want to optimize the amount of attention both users and commenters can generate for themselves while allowing them to do so in a venue void of anybody who has actual problems and/or advice to post,” Montagna said. “That’s the problem with ‘Bison Confessions.’ Its entertainment potential is hindered by the fact that some of its content is serious and should be respected. My page will cut straight to the good stuff.”

Trend Report: Spring Denim

By Kate Jansen

As winter slowly melts into spring, it’s time to shed leggings and sweats for this season’s latest denim trends.

White Denim: The old fashion proverb to not wear white pants after Labor Day does not apply this spring! White cropped skinny jeans are definitely a wardrobe must. Paired with patent heels, a flowy blouse, statement jewelry and a blazer, traditionally taboo jeans could look sophisticated and chic. For a more casual look, pair white denim with a simple V-neck tee and a menswear watch.

Printed Denim: Last fall’s sensation has hit major retailers again this spring. Printed denim is another wardrobe staple. They come in a variety of patterns and colors that are sure to revive your outfit. My favorite printed denim are polka dot shorts from Free People and pinstriped shorts from Madewell.

Distressed/Vintage Denim: Do you have a pair of ancient boyfriend jeans with a hole in the knee? Don’t throw them away–break them out this spring! Distressed, aged denim pants look great when paired with neon sandals and a neutral top. Cuff the bottoms of too-long pants to create a more unique look.

Denim Jackets: I am obsessed with my denim jacket. What I love the most about these jackets are their timelessness. I’ve had mine for five years and it hasn’t gone out of style. I love pairing denim jackets and vests with floral summer dresses. If you’re bold enough to pull off the denim-on-denim look, try pairing your jean jacket with printed denim.

Homemade Hand Pies
Apple Spice (left): 100 calories, 5 g fat, 14 g carbs, 1 g protein, 2 g sugar
Strawberry Peach (right): 96 calories, 5 g fat, 13 g carbs, 1 g protein, 2 g sugar

Ingredients:
Apple Spice
1 pack frozen pie crust
2 green apples
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp corn starch
1 egg white

Strawberry Peach
1 pack frozen pie crust
1 peach
1 cup strawberries
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp corn starch
1 egg white

Directions
1. Heat oven to 375 F and spray pan with nonstick spray. Chop fruit into small pieces and mix with sugar and corn starch (and spices if applicable).
2. Spread pie crust and roll into at least 12 inches across.
3. Trim sides to form a square then cut into six rectangles (save the edges and re-roll to form two more mini pies).
4. Put two tablespoons of fruit mixture on each rectangle, brush edges with egg white, fold over and crimp edges with a fork. Brush tops with egg white and lay on tray.
5. Bake for 20 minutes until the crust is golden.

Andrew Arnao

Sports Editor

Mike Muscala ’13, the all-time scoring leader for the men’s basketball team and one of the most prolific athletes to ever play for the Bison, was showered with awards prior to March 6’s Patriot League playoff game against Navy. Muscala won Patriot League Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He was also selected for the All-Patriot League First Team along with teammate Cameron Ayers ’14, and also earned a starting spot on the Patriot League All-Academic Team with teammate Bryson Johnson ’13.

Muscala has achieved many accolades over the past couple of months, and for good reason. He has helped lead the Bison to a 25-5 record, including 12-2 in the Patriot League, as well as three straight Patriot League regular season titles. He also broke Al Leslie’s all-time scoring record of 1,973 on March 6, and now has 1,986 points in his career.

Muscala also has 20 double-doubles this season, tied for the national lead. He also has 343 rebounds, good for fourth in the nation, and averages 11.1 rebounds per game. Along with averaging 18.9 points per game, he also has 76 blocks this season. He is one of only two active Division I players to have both 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his career.

Muscala won Patriot League Player of the Year in 2011 as well, and has made the All-Patriot League First Team for four years straight, only the second player in league history to do so. Muscala is also well known for his academic success. A management major, Muscala also made Dean’s List last semester, and was a member of the Patriot League All-Academic Team in 2011 and 2012.

Kerong Kelly

Writer

Jordan Vilchez, one of the survivors of the tragedy at Jonestown, spoke to the University community on March 6, about her experiences as a young member of the People’s Temple.

At age 12, Vilchez became a member of the People’s Temple and subsequently relocated to Redwood Valley with her older sister. Just eight years later, they moved to Guyana. Vilchez left Jonestown the day before the mass loss of life, in order to attend a meeting in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana.

On Nov. 18, 1978, Vilchez lost her sisters and nephews during the infamous tragedy. As a member of the community, her job included being an active participant of the Planning Commission, which subsequently allowed her to familiarize herself with the inner workings of the movement. On a personal level, Vilchez recollected feelings of repression and a diminished sense of self worth and self-esteem.

“For me, I did not really exist for myself. I grew up feeling that my hopes, my dreams, my wishes, none of that mattered,” Vilchez said.

As a trusted youth in the community and the youngest member of the Planning Commission, Vilchez was chosen to complete tasks such as counting money, processing living requests and doing security shifts. Vilchez spoke about practices, such as the separation of families upon their arrival and public chastisement known as being “brought up.” Vilchez recalled specific instances, where ideas of complete control and total revolution were reflected in Jim Jones’ actions. For instance, Jones forced the youths to watch videos and read books such as “The Glass House” by Philip Johnson.

Vilchez currently lives in Berkeley, Calif. and has an integrative mentoring practice called the Cosmology of You. She also contributes to the yearly publication, “The Jonestown Report,” which includes biographical data, photographs and information of those who resided at Jonestown. It is also a compilation of remembrances and personal accounts of the experiences of living in Jonestown.

This semester, Professor of English Carmen Gillespie and Professor Emeritus Bob Gainer are teaching a course on the Jonestown massacre. 

“It’s one thing reading all of these very different books to see Jonestown from different perspectives, but it’s another thing entirely to read a book or see a documentary and be able to hear the words from a person’s mouth and ask them the questions that ran through our heads as we’ve studied the tragedy. It’s really incredible,” Allison Friedlander ’16 said.

“The focus and purpose of this work is to remember and revisit the stories of Jonestown, to use narrative to uncover a deeper meaning to these events than the catchphrase about ‘drinking the Kool-Aid.’ The tragedy of Jonestown is an important piece of contemporary American history that bears continued examination in order to come to a better understanding of the intersections of power, race, sexuality, politics and the desire for social change that occurred leading up to that fateful moment. Of course, studying these events and coming to that more nuanced understanding will hopefully mean that we can learn from them, gleaning whatever positives we can from a situation with a terrible outcome, and preventing tragedies like this from happening again,” said Rebecca Willoughby, lecturer in English and interim assistant director of the Griot Institute.

“The Jonestown narrative engages fundamental questions of religion, race, nationality, power, civil rights, sexuality, poverty, aspiration and identity that are not disconnected from the dilemmas of the present moment,” Gillespie said. “I hope that both the Jonestown class and the series reintroduce the fundamental questions that the Jonestown tragedy invokes and brings about the recognition that this story resonates with issues that remain central in 2013.”

“Jonestown Reconsidered, 35 Years Later,” a series of events sponsored by the Griot Institute for Africana Studies, reflects on the events surrounding the Jonestown massacre. The lecture series creates a forum for students, professors and members of the community to discuss questions of religion, race, sexuality, power and aspiration. The talks are free and open to the general public.

W. Morris Fierman

News Editor

University students Jeffrey Finegan ’14 and Carter Wells ’14 were arraigned and released on payment of $25,000 bail each on Feb. 27, facing charges of criminal trespassing, receiving stolen property and burglary.

Finegan was the president of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity, a position he has since resigned. Wells is also a member of Delta Upsilon.

The pair admitted to Public Safety Officers to entering Mods 7 and 10, removing laptop computers, textbooks, cash and other items valued by police at more than $9,600.

On Feb. 24, Delta Upsilon brothers Michael Maneri ’13 and Andrew D’Abbraccio ’15, who has since become president of Delta Upsilon, arrived at the Department of Public Safety wishing to speak with an officer. They reported to officers Paul Shipton and Trace Nevil that Finegan was responsible for the thefts.

Maneri had loaned his car to Finegan on Feb. 16 and later found out that Finegan had used it to carry out the burglaries, according to the official criminal complaint filed with the Union County Courthouse.

Two other Delta Upsilon Brothers, Nathan Opalinski ’15 and Justin Meshulam ’15, accompanied Finegan to Mod 10 on Feb. 9, planning to pull a prank on the occupants by rearranging the furniture. They witnessed Finegan remove several items from the room, placing them in his backpack, the report continues.

Finegan later gave Opalinski $60 and Meshulam $40, money that was handed over to Public Safety officers during an interview. Finegan also invited Opalinski to accompany him on a second burglary the next weekend, but he refused.

On Feb. 16, Finegan broke into Mod 10 via an unlocked living room window, handing several laptops through the window to accomplice Wells, who placed them into Wells’s car. The two then moved on to Mod 7, entering through an unlocked door and removing several more laptops, cash and backpacks full of textbooks.

They then told Opalinski and Meshulam about the incident, who asked them to return the stolen items or put them in a public place where they could be found. They were told by Finegan that several of the items were already being sold on the internet.

After receiving the “Timely Notice Warning” in an email from Public safety on Feb. 18, Finegan and Wells became nervous, and later claimed that Wells placed the laptops against a dumpster in a bag behind a Kohl’s department store in Selinsgrove, Pa., where he was shipping out several of the textbooks he had already sold online. The laptops have not been found.

Several days later, Opalinski and Meshulam told Maneri and D’Abbraccio about the incident, who then turned Finegan and Wells in to Public Safety. Public Safety carried out search warrants on Finegan’s room, Wells’ room and Wells’ car, according to Public Safety Chief Stephen Barilar. Both were interviewed by Public Safety Officers and admitted to the burglaries.

Finegan presented the officers with receipts from websites textbooksRus.com and ecampus.com where he had already sold several of the stolen textbooks.

Andrew Kilman ’15, a resident of Mod 7 who’s MacBook Pro and marketing textbook were stolen, found it hard to believe that this sort of thing could happen at the University.

“The Public Safety Officers that interviewed all of us didn’t even think that it was Bucknell students before those two guys confessed,” Kilman said.

He and his roommates, who were robbed of a Macbook Pros, wallets containing cash and credit cards, and a large number of textbooks, felt comfortable leaving their door open before the burglaries. Kilman said that “now we obviously lock our doors.”

Victims of the robberies were told that if Finegan and Wells were found guilty they would be contacted by the pair or their attorneys who would arrange compensation for the stolen items.

“Their actions at the Mods are not congruent with the values of Delta Upsilon. Currently Mr. Finegan and Mr. Wells are suspended as a brothers. We will continue to move forward as a chapter having cooperated fully with the administration and authorities,” D’Abbraccio said. 

Finegan and Wells are no longer on campus and are awaiting the formal procedures outlined in the University Code of Conduct. These procedures will determine the University’s response, according to Dean of Students Susan Lantz. They are scheduled for a preliminary hearing at the Union County Courthouse on March 28.

Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes
82 calories, 2 g fat, 20 carbs, 2 g protein
Makes 16 cupcakes

1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour (you can use regular whole wheat flour too)
6 Tbsp dark cocoa powder
3/4 cup Truvia Baking Blend
1/2 ripe avocado
6 Tbsp apple sauce
1 cup Silk Light Original Soymilk
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1-2 Tbsp red food coloring

1. Heat oven to 375 F.
2. Mash avocado then mix with apple sauce and Truvia.
3. In a separate bowl mix flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
4. Add avocado mix, vanilla, soymilk and red food dye. Mix until just combined.
5. Distribute evenly among 16 cupcake molds (I used a Ziploc bag to pipe the batter in to make them neat).
6. Bake 15-20 minutes until fully cooked.

I dusted mine with powdered sugar but you can also make a vegan frosting by beating 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/4 cup Earthly Balance and 1/2 cup powdered sugar.

Marianne Solivan performs for full lobby

By Laura Crowley

As part of the 2013 Janet Weis Jazz Series, Marianne Solivan and her quartet performed on Feb. 20 for a full audience in the lobby of the Weis Center for the Performing Arts. Solivan joined the mainstream jazz scene in New York when she was a finalist in the Jazzmobile Vocal Competition in 2009 and debuted “Prisoner of Love.” This song received Four Stars in the Sept. 2012 issue Downbeat Magazine. Solivan wasn’t always committed to jazz, as she went into Berklee College of Music for singing pop music. She only made the switch when she realized that she enjoyed or, in her own words, “dug” jazz.

After graduating from Berklee with a degree in Music Performance and Education, she attended The Boston Conservatory, where she earned a master’s in Jazz Studies. After her first year at the Conservatory, Solivan took three years off when she lost her passion for music. She accredits her return to Ella Fitzgerald, who she says inspired her enormously.

“I purchased the four oddest recordings for a jazz newcomer, one of those Ella Fitzgerald songbook compilations,” Solivan said. “No matter how sad the ballad, no matter how bad the break-up song, there’s always a silver lining [in Fitzgerald’s music].”

Solivan’s performance style is similarly complex; she is able to traverse a wide range of notes and sing calmly, yet passionately. Even in the early stages of her career, Solivan has performed alongside Jeremy Pelt, Ugonna Ukegwo, Neal Minor, Roy Hargrove, Michael Kanan, Steve Lacy and Ray Gallon.

Solivan came to a member of the Weis family’s attention during a performance in her native city of New York.

“It’s fun to present artists who are in the early stages of their careers. We think she’s an up and coming talent [and] we think she’ll have a successful career,” said Kathryn Maguet, executive director of the Weis Center.

This event is the second event in three-part jazz series. Assistant Professor of Music Barry Long is excited that “we are continuing a fantastic tradition bringing live jazz events to Bucknell.”

The last performance will be from Tia Fuller Quartet on April 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Campus Theatre.