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News

Lambda Chi Alpha hosts Watermelon Bust

By Christina Oddo

Writer

Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity hosted its annual Watermelon Bust, a philanthropy event to raise money for a charity of the winners’ choice, on the lawn outside of their fraternity house on Sunday.

Each sorority involved sent one or two teams to represent their organizations in a series of fun, yet challenging, watermelon-related relay races and events. Each of the 10 teams chose two Lambda Chi Alpha brothers to help coach them.

The first race was the “over-under race.” Sorority sisters lined up in rows and passed the watermelon over and under their heads. The team that passed the watermelon along the line in the least amount of time won the first round.

The “tug of war” competition, won by Chi Omega, was a crowd-favorite. One sorority competed against another on a huge tarp of broken watermelon. “This was the most fun event,” Mark Sabbas ’14 said.

The “wheel barrow race” involved one girl holding her partner’s legs while her partner tried to move a watermelon across a field and through the finish line without using her hands. The girls particularly enjoyed the sense of sisterhood and connection that this activity fostered.

The competition concluded with an eat-off. Each sorority chose one team member who ate a watermelon, as quickly as she could, with their hands tied behind her back.

There was also a spirit competition that was factored into each team’s total score. Whichever sorority cheered the most and loudest won this portion of the competition.

Kappa Kappa Gamma won the overall Watermelon Bust and split the winning philanthropy money with Lambda Chi Alpha. Both organizations will donate this money to the charity of their choice.

 

 

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News

Neuroscience writer explains creative thinking in scientific terms

By Alexander Slavitz

Contributing Writer

Creative thinking has to come organically and people have to let their minds work on their own in order to reach proper answers and compelling ideas, writer and journalist Jonah Lehrer said on Tuesday night.

Lehrer’s discussion was party of “Creativity: Beyond the Box” national speakers series sponsored by the University. His speech, entitled “Imagine: The Science of Creativity”, was held Tuesday Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Trout Auditorium.

Lehrer began his discussion by recounting the experience of Wagner Dodge who, along with only two others out of 16, survived the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire thanks to a spontaneous idea generation, which Lehrer called a “moment of insight.”

Scientists at Northwestern University use a word game called Compound Remote Associate (CRA) to study this “moment of insight.” The game presents participants with three words, such as “pine,” “crab” and “sauce,” and asks each participant to come up with a word that can be combined with each. In this case, for the three words given, the motif would be apple (pineapple, crabapple, and applesauce). By using machines that measure both where and when activity in the brain takes place, scientists discovered it is possible to predict whether an individual will have a moment of insight up to eight seconds before it occurs. These scientists also found that if a participant tried to consciously work out the motif, he would be less likely to solve the problem. The participant had to be calm and relaxed, an observation that led Lehrer to joke “the way to solve every creative problem is to take a long shower.”

“When Jonah Lehrer brought up the importance of taking a break when you hit a wall, I was able to easily relate. For example, when writing a paper, I take a break, listen to some music which usually sparks some sort of thought that allows me to continue writing, or start writing.” Sean Dougherty ’15 said.

Lehrer also discussed a phenomenon called “feeling of knowing.” He told the story of a man named Mo who was able to crack the formula for his lottery ticket in 2003 after he heard a persistent voice in his head saying he would be able to. Since that year, he has cracked 13 other lotteries. Lehrer calls this voice a “feeling of knowing.” Many people experience this phenomenon when faced with a difficult problem–it is possible to know right away if a problem is solvable or not, and approximately how long it will take to solve it.

Lehrer acknowledged that students can relate to this. “When you feel like you can’t see the answer in the foreseeable future, you should take a break. Trust these feelings of knowing,” Lehrer said.

Fifty years ago, the most notable scientific achievements were completed by single individuals, Darwin and Einstein as examples. But today the most notable scientific achievements come from group efforts. According to a study at UC Berkley that compared three groups attempting to solve traffic problems on campus, brainstorming within groups has been found to not work. This is because people worry they will be judged based on the poor quality of their ideas, which causes them to hold back.

Many students and organizations were present for Lehrer’s discussion.

“Different student groups, including our group BRAIN [Bucknell Researchers, Advocates, and Investigators in Neuroscience] Club, were present at the event. That definitely speaks to what the intellectual culture really is here at Bucknell,” said AJ Collegio ’13, president of BRAIN.

“He really knew what he was talking about. It was really interesting to learn about how creativity comes about in your mind,” Alexis Mook ’15 said.

Lehrer’s, whose mother attended the University, gave insight to not only the mechanical workings of the brain, but how when we understand these mechanisms, it becomes easier to channel our creative energies.

“For so long imagination has seemed like a magic trick … One day there’s something and the next day there’s not. The imagination is not magic … by finding how [imagination] works we could perhaps imagine a little more,” Lehrer said.

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Arts & Life Books Review

“The Wrong Blood” got it right

By Carolyn Williams

Staff Writer

“The Wrong Blood” by Manuel de Lope is a story both sweeping and personal, about two women of different backgrounds brought together by similar circumstances during the Spanish Civil War. First published in Spain in 2000 as “La Sangre Ajena,” John Cullen’s 2010 English translation conveys languid, unusual, intense language like “roses as plump as a wet nurse’s breasts,” and preserves the emotion beneath the text, a true feat in translation.

The primary storyline, which deals with the Civil War time period, focuses on María Antonia Etxarri, an innkeeper’s daughter who, while waiting one night on a squadron of rebel soldiers, feels with a level of certainty, that she will be raped. Sure enough, a sergeant takes her to bed, and for the rest of her life she is never entirely sure whether or not she gave her consent. Either way, the events of that night alter her irrevocably. She enters service and begins to work for Isabel Herraíz, a young war widow who, like María Antonia, finds herself pregnant and without a man. At her estate, Las Cruces, they form a pact which the young, recently lamed Doctor Castro witnesses. This secret forms the backbone of the novel.

Interwoven with the wartime story is one of Miguel Goitia, Isabel’s grandson, set a few decades later. He has come to Las Cruces for an extended stay in order to study in peace and solitude as he prepares for his bar exam, a guest of the current owner of the house, the now-elderly María Antonia, who inherited it after Isabel’s death. With little knowledge of his family’s history, and only hazy memories of his deceased grandmother, Goitia studies on a regimented schedule, eats at specifically appointed times and interacts with almost no one, all of which is quietly observed by his interested neighbor, Dr. Castro.

Castro, starved for human companionship so many years after a motorcycle accident that left him permanently crippled, attempts to cultivate a relationship with Goitia, hoping for a friendly camaraderie with a fellow intellectual. Rebuffed by the intense young man, Castro is not discouraged, but continues his careful study of Goitia, reflecting on the history of the youth’s family to which he was witness, and, more importantly, certain secrets that now only he and the elusive María Antonia know in full.

The mysterious family secret around which the book revolves is built up so that it is hard to miss, but the overall effect of the book is satisfying. A story of family and war, “The Wrong Blood” is the kind of novel that operates on two levels: a surface of beautiful language and vivid description underlain with an intense, emotionally striking plot.

 

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Sports

Swimming succeeds at home

By Scott Padula

Writer

The Orange and Blue swimming and diving team kicked off competition with an exhibition meet against UMBC Saturday afternoon in Kinney Natatorium. The men won 14 of 22 events, while the women took nine events of their own.

Christian Treat ’13 and Patriot League Champion Mike Nicholson ’14 led the charge, capturing three first-place victories each. Treat won the 50 , 100 and 200 freestyle, while Nicholson took the 100 , 200 and 400 individual medleys. Eric Sokolosky ’12 and Taylor Harris ’12 won the 50 fly and 50 back respectively, and Billy Krause ’13 finished the 400 IM just behind Nicholson in 4:07.65 seconds. First-years Ben Seketa, Tim Perley and Collin Greene each won a race in their first collegiate meet.

“After losing only two swimmers to graduation, our freshman class showed tremendous poise in their first collegiate meet and swam very well. We have been training very hard this year, and it is no surprise that our entire team performed so well. We look forward to continuing our high level of intensity and improving upon our already impressive performances,” Sokolosky said.

The Bison women also swam well behind Kelly Pontecorvo ’14, a multi-race winner. Her first victory came in the 500 freestyle where she finished in 5:08.09. She also won the 1,000 freestyle in 10:25.03. 

Katie Hetherington ’15 and Lauren Perry ’15 also captured multiple wins in their first college competition. Hetherington won both diving events. Her one-meter score of 264.68 was more than six points better than best in program history. Her three-meter score of 252.53 put her fourth all-time. Perry won the 100 and 200 freestyle and placed second in the 50 freestyle.

“The team looked great on Saturday and almost everyone improved from this meet last year. Our goals for this year are to improve our league and meet placing from last season and I think we are off to a great start in pursuing those goals. I am very excited to see what this season has in store and how we are going to continue to work on our goals in and out of the pool!” Pontecorvo said.

The Bison host the George Washington Colonials Oct. 22 to officially start their season. The meet will start at 1 p.m. in Kinney Natatorium.

 

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Sports

Iepuras wins 100th match

By Cooper Sutton

Sports Editor

Dumitrita Iepuras ’12 won her milestone 100th match as a Bison at home during the Bison Quad this past weekend. She is only the 10th player in Bison women’s tennis to do so.  Jen Bush ’15 and Alyssa McAndrew ’15 also made it to the doubles finals.

After a first round bye, Iepuras dismantled Kelsey Wanhainen of Colgate, 6-0. She was not as lucky on Saturday, after rain forced the matches inside, losing 8-3 to Youngstown State’s Marta Burak in a shortened match. Burak was the overall winner of the Flight A singles tournament.

Elena Vidriscu ’14 also made it to the semifinals in Flight A singles. She won her first two rounds without losing a set, but fell to Hilary Hansen of Niagara 8-4.

In Flight B singles, four of five Bison advanced through the first round, with none of the matches going to three sets. None of those four made it past her quarterfinal match.

Bush and McAndrew won their first three matches before ultimately falling in the finals. They won their first two matches 8-4 and 8-3. In the semifinals, they won an 8-6 contest before ultimately falling 8-3 to a team from Youngstown State.

The Bison Quad marked the end of the fall season for the women’s tennis team, who will be back in action again in January.

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Sports

Women’s soccer drops league opener

By Andrew Arnao

Writer

After falling behind just three minutes into the contest, the women’s soccer team could not overcome the early deficit in a league-opening loss at Colgate this past week. The Bison defense surrendered 21 total shots, with 11 hitting the target. Despite surrendering three goals, goalkeeper Sandita McDermott ’13 finished with seven saves.

After their early goal, the Raiders added two more goals before the end of the first half to gain a three-goal lead. The Bison had some opportunities on corner kicks in the first half, but for the rest of the game, the offense was almost completely shut down.

“We gave up two goals early and that really hurt us,” defender Meghan Fitzpatrick ’13 said. “We still created a lot of opportunities for ourselves as we got behind their defense throughout the game, but couldn’t find a way to capitalize.”

Overall, the Bison were outshot 21-6 and had three shots on goal.  Midfielder Taryn Boucher ’13 was the only Bison to record multiple shots, ending the contest with two.

“I think [Saturday’s] game reminded us both of the type of competition we face in league and of the effort and level of play that we need to bring every time we step on the field during the remainder of the season,” forward Megan DeGennaro ’12 said.

The Bison will continue their four-game road stretch with two games against Patriot League rivals Holy Cross and Army today and Sunday, respectively.

“There were some things we need to change and others that we executed well and will bring with us as we continue in league play against Holy Cross, and then Army and beyond,” DeGennaro said.

Sitting with a 0-1 league record, the Bison cannot afford to drop both upcoming contests if they hope to stay in contention.

“Getting any points on the road is a challenge,” Fitzpatrick said. “We will look to focus on keeping a shutout and finding a way to score goals.”

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Sports

Men’s soccer falls to American

By Eric Brod

Writer

After a heartbreaking loss to Lehigh last week, the men’s soccer team was unable to break its winless streak, playing a scoreless draw against UMBC on the road Tuesday. Following its second straight Patriot League loss on Saturday, this time to American, the team’s record currently stands as 5-5-1.

On Tuesday, the Orange and Blue played a tough, physical match that ended in a scoreless tie. The men outshot UMBC 13-11 on the game, while goalie Tommy Caso ’12 made several spectacular saves in the extra session. Caso recorded his fourth shutout of the season and made five saves. The Bison had several chances to score in the first half, with the best one occurring midway through the first half when Mayowa Alli ’14 nearly connected on a corner kick play following a shot by Brendan Burgdorf ’13 that just missed the net.

On a wet Saturday afternoon at Emmit Field, the rival American University Eagles rallied late past the Bison to drop them to 0-2 in league play. Throughout the game, American’s defense stifled the Bison’s offense attack, limiting to six shots while the Eagle’s goalie Matt Makowski only had to make two saves.

After a rocky first half, the Orange and Blue took the lead after Josh Plump ’13 forced American’s defense into a faulty clearing that resulted in a goal to give the Bison a 1-0 lead with under 20 minutes to play. Just 1:43 later, American answered with a goal by Seth Goldman after a beautiful pass from Cristobal Soto. The Eagles shocked the Bison when Jake Scott netted the game winner past Caso with just 8:22 remaining.

The Bison return to action tomorrow when they travel to Annapolis, Md. to face Navy in search of their first Patriot League victory.

“Although we lost the first two games, we have to keep our head up because last year we lost two Patriot League games and still managed to be successful,” Alli said. “As long as we give every game our all, we should be fine.”

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Sports

Football continues success against Hoyas

Football

Greg Stevenson ’12

For the first time in 10 years, the Orange and Blue won four of their first five games. The Bison won their Patriot League home opener last Saturday afternoon with a 35-18 home victory over the Georgetown Hoyas. The win marked the fourth consecutive time the Bison have beaten Georgetown, dating back to the 2008 season.

Defensive end Roberto De La Rosa ’12 earned the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) National Defensive Player of the Week from both The Sports Network and College Football Performance through his three sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss and forced fumble. De La Rosa ranks third all-time in single-game tackles for loss in FCS history.

“We trust in each other and in the coaching staff, which really allows each of us players to perform to the best of our ability,” De La Rosa said. “The coaches do a great good in preparing for our opponent each week and we’re fortunate enough that no one slacks off. Everyone, from the starters to the scout team, works their butts off throughout the week.”

Offensively, it was a three-man attack that powered the Orange and Blue. Running back Tyler Smith ’13 and wide-receiver Frank DeNick ’12 each gained 100 yards on the game, with Smith reaching the century mark on the ground for the first time in his career. Quarterback Brandon Wesley ’14 threw 200 yards and three touchdowns, the most for a Bison since 2002.

“We are fortunate that we have good players on this team,” Head Coach Joe Susan said. “Plays are there to be made and will only be made when preparation meets opportunity. The long passes are there because of the threat of the run game, protection, and the pass being thrown on time. It all works together.”

Only a minute into the contest, the Orange and Blue forced and recovered a fumble deep in Hoya territory. The offense scored just three minutes later to go up 7-0. The Bison scored three more touchdowns in the first half, going up 28-0 before a late Georgetown score pushed the halftime lead to 21.

Georgetown added a touchdown and field goal in the third quarter, getting within 10 points, but Wesley’s third passing score of the contest early in the fourth period sealed the game for the Bison.

The Bison return to the field this Saturday afternoon against the Lehigh Mountainhawks. The toughest opponent for the Orange and Blue so far this season, Lehigh enters the contest ranked 10th in the nation and on a three-game win-streak.

“Lehigh are playing well and have some excellent players,” Susan said. “We will prepare for them like we prepare for our other opponents, but we are fortunate to be healthy and playing at home.”

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Sports

Field hockey wins two at home

By Chris McCree

Sports Editor

After two losses, the women’s field hockey team rebounded last weekend with two wins against Holy Cross and Villanova at Graham Field.

“We are so thrilled about this weekend’s wins. It means a lot to capture both wins, because we have not been able to win two in a row up to this point,” Rachel Misko ’14 said.

In their first Patriot League matchup of the season, the Bison shut out Holy Cross 7-0.  Maggie Murphy ’15, Gabby Palumbo ’15 and Misko scored to secure a 3-0 lead at the half. Mallory Smith ’12 scored twice within the first 15 minutes of the second half to increase the margin to five.

“As a team, we are most successful when we play together,” Palumbo said. “It’s hard to win when one person feels like the weight of the game is on her shoulders and this weekend really proved that. We played as a team and we were rewarded for it.”

Coming off the win, the Orange and Blue gained a narrow 2-1 victory over Villanova the following day. After 31 minutes of scoreless play, Villanova scored the first goal, but the Wildcat lead did not last long. Just one minute later, Kate Bowen ’12 tied the game with her third goal of the season.

Four minutes into the second half, Misko netted her second goal of the weekend. The Orange and Blue maintained this 2-1 margin for the remainder of the contest.

“This weekend’s games gave our team a big confidence boost. We played a tough team on Saturday and an even tougher team on Sunday. Both games showed us that we can play as a team and we can score,” Palumbo said.

The Bison conclude their homestand this Saturday against Patriot League rival Lafayette. Standing at 1-0 in the league, the Bison are scheduled to face each league opponent once before the final tournament in the beginning of November.

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Sports

Men’s golf fights back on final day

By Ajan Caneda

Writer

Looking to bounce back from their 10th place finish at the Cornell Invitational, the men’s golf team traveled to Williamsburg, Va. on Monday and Tuesday to compete with 12 other teams in the Joe Agee Invitational. The Bison finished eighth on Monday but put on a strong showing on Tuesday that helped them finish fifth in the tournament with an overall score of 909. Will Bachman ’12 and Schuyler Stitzer ’14 tied individually for 17th overall with a final score of 227.  Dan Bernard ’13 placed 30th with a score of 230 and J.J Szmadzinski ’13 who finished one stroke behind.

Monday proved to be a tough test for the Bison as they struggled to move up in the pack. Longwood got off to a commanding lead posting a score of 578 which was 20 strokes ahead of High Point who finished second at the end of Monday. Bachman tied for 26th and posted a 153 while Stitzer and Peter Scialabba ’15 missed the top 30 finishing with scores of 154 and 155, respectively.

“I believe the guys now realize that physically and skill-wise they can compete with all teams at this level,” Head Coach Jim Cotner said.

The Orange and Blue improved their ranking on Tuesday. Only 10 strokes separated the fifth from eighth place teams and the Bison took advantage. Delaware posted a 306 in the final round as they dropped to eighth after finishing seventh on Friday. William and Mary placed seventh with a score of 915 overall. The Bison were able to move their way up to fifth after they posted a 291 in the final round which was the lowest collective score of the third round.

“The third and final round at the Joe Agee Invitational was our season’s best. It was the type of performance that I expect from the members of our team,”  Cotner said. “It was the most locked in mentally that I have seen our team in the past two years. Hopefully this focus will carry over and now be a permanent part of their games.”

The Bison head to Fairfax, Va. to compete in the George Mason Intercollegiate next Friday.