Categories
News

Alumnus creates Tokyo start-up

Elaine Lac
Writer

Hiro Maeda ’09 majored in computer science and economics and has since started Open Network Lab, a Tokyo-based incubator. The company provides advice, funding and office space to small start-up companies. The large technology companies like Panasonic are failing, and Maeda’s fresh and innovative management techniques are just what Tokyo needs. The Bucknellian sat down to ask him a few questions about his career path.

What drove your interest in start-up Internet companies at the University?

“During my freshman year at Bucknell, a lot of interesting and successful internet platforms emerged. Facebook was getting started and was exclusive to college students at that time. The product was evolving every day and the growth was insane. YouTube became really huge and was acquired by Google. Digg and Reddit were both growing fast and were competing to become the “frontpage of the Internet.” I felt that this is another huge opportunity so I decided to switch my major from electrical engineering to computer science.”

How did the idea of Open Network Lab come to be?

“Before starting Open Network Lab, I have started a company and invested in a few companies as well. I became addicted to innovation and entrepreneurship. But both my entrepreneurial and investment activities were in the U.S.A. I wanted to do something in Japan (since that’s where I’m from). At that time, (2008-2009) there was barely any activity in Japan.

I was fortunate enough to meet the CEO of Netprice.com, Teruhide Sato, who shared my vision of creating an ecosystem and a community of entrepreneurs in Japan. After meeting him, I decided to join him at Netprice.com and moved to Tokyo.

After doing some research, I found out that that there are two very successful incubators called TechStars and Y Combinator, which did a new-style of investing. They invested in companies synchronously and focused on building a network so that entrepreneurs and mentors can help each other. I thought that was a brilliant idea. I proposed my idea to Teruhide. He then introduced me to co-founders of Digital Garage, Joi Ito and Kaoru Hayashi. We had a discussion going and together we decided to become partners to start Open Network Lab.”

What makes the company effective?

“It’s the support of successful entrepreneurs and investors such as Teruhide Sato, Joi Ito and Kaoru Hayashi. They have brought in a global network of mentors and supporters who are helping us build successful companies.”

Do you have any advice for current University students about their future careers?

“Be adaptive and responsive to change. Take action to whatever you think is right and put your whole heart into it.”

Categories
Letters to the Editor Opinion

Letter to the Editor

To the editor:
For The Bucknellian to compare lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students with members of a fraternity or sorority is misguided. For The Bucknellian to compare Fran’s House (one small building housing just over 10 students and in existence for one academic year) with more than 20 fraternities and sororities (part of campus since 1855 and with membership including 50 percent of sophomores, juniors and seniors) is unfair. To conflate Fran’s House and FLAG&BT, as The Bucknellian appears to do in this editorial, is misleading. If you would like to discuss issues related to coming out, gender identity or other LGBT topics, please consider contacting the Office of LGBT Awareness.

Melissa Rycroft
Fran’s House Advisor

Categories
Letters to the Editor Opinion

Letter to the Editor

To the editor:

I am disappointed by the misrepresentation and critique of the LGBT community in the previous two issues of The Bucknellian. While there are excellent points in each article that capture aspects of the lived experiences of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals, these points are minimized within articles that portray caricatures, reinforce stereotypes and employ the very heteronormativity you decry. It is to be noted that both articles are opinion pieces, but many of the opinions are misinformed, under-researched and often contradictory.

In the Sept. 28 edition’s “Sleeping Around” column, the author, who utilizes a closet him/her/hirself with a pseudonym, defines “the closet” as an experience exclusive to queer men–negating the women and people of diverse genders who should be central when discussing this common experience of our community. The author further intones that any man who has sexual contact with another man will obviously construct his identity as gay–not queer, bisexual, pansexual, MSM, straight or other various labels one may use to connect with those of similar experiences or shared histories. Before offering very sound advice to allow people the space to come to terms with their own sexualities, the author engages in egregious stereotyping. Stereotyping based on the clothing one wears, the music one listens to or if someone has ever been in a sexual situation with another “dude” is not only harmful to those within the LGBT community, but reinforces notions of what is appropriate gendered behavior and polices those behaviors for anyone who is not or does not consider themselves gay.

“The proverbial closet” also fails to recognize that “coming out” is a life-long process, not the singular, albeit extraordinary, step of disclosing one’s sexuality to another person for the first time. For someone whose job title includes the well-recognized acronym LGBT, I am still forced to consider whether or not to come out every single day. When I enter a new space or a space with new people, I need to decide whether I will be safe and comfortable before I speak, act or touch my partner, all because of the assumptions that are articulated and perpetuated in “Sleeping Around.”

This notion of safety and comfort is critical when considering the editorial published on Oct. 5. For members of the LGBT community, there is much of campus that is not considered safe. Even if thought of as safe by isolated individuals within our community, Bucknell is not a space where one is generally comfortable holding a partner’s hand walking across campus or taking a same-gender date to a party. FLAG&BT meetings, Fran’s House and, hopefully, the Office of LGBT Awareness are spaces on campus where LGBT students know they, as individuals, and their desires will truly be celebrated. These are a sample of the very limited number of spaces on campus where a queer culture is learned, practiced and welcomed. The critique that these queer spaces should be made more comfortable for straight people is to deny the very impact of heterosexual privilege critiqued within the editorial. Lacking understanding of queer culture and privilege is what is truly to blame for how “efforts … lack effectiveness.” Those who are straight must analyze their own privilege and their discomfort in spaces where their experience is decentralized. There are many resources and individuals on campus who would be willing to engage in conversation about how this discomfort is experienced and how to move through those feelings towards engaging with the LGBT community as an ally.

The commentary regarding how some of these spaces exclude members of the community they should serve reflects a reality we recognize and acknowledge. This examination offers room where these organizations can grow. The diversity within the LGBT community is vast, and a handful of spaces aren’t likely to have the capacity to serve the social, cultural, political, developmental and personal needs of the entire community. That doesn’t mean each of these spaces can’t and shouldn’t do better. This is an important conversation, and it should be central to the assessment of these spaces and considered in the structure of leadership and the decisions that are made. It should be noted that these are small communities and therefore the possibility for significant change is incredibly tangible, if those who feel marginalized challenge themselves to continue engaging with the organizations in meaningful ways.

The Bucknellian, while a decent model for recording what has happened, is perhaps not the most effective forum for affecting change. Dialogue in this medium is disjointed as it spans editions and the editorial board has discretion over what makes it to print. I encourage anyone who would like to deepen their understanding of the LGBT community or the concepts in this letter to engage in LGBT events or visit the Office of LGBT Awareness. Conversations within and across communities are critical and ultimately processing feelings of discomfort is important to not only accepting difference, but developing a campus where there can be a celebration of difference.

Sincerely,
Bill McCoy
Director, Office of LGBT Awareness

Categories
Arts & Life Columns

Butternut Squash Lasagna

 

Katie Mancino | The Bucknellian

Katie Mancino
Columnist

Butternut Squash Lasagna

277 calories, 42 carbs, 8 g fat, 12g protein

Fall is in full swing, and since fall holidays are around the corner, I thought it was time to start busting out the healthy holiday recipes! Butternut squash lasagna is always delicious, but is usually filled with heavy creams and cheeses (I was drooling over a “Better Homes and Gardens” food blog recipe that tipped the scales at 700 calories). So, I decided to make a lighter version that had all the roasted cheesy flavor without all the fat and extra calories. It’s a perfect dish to impress friends or family, or to just enjoy yourself. Even though there’s a few steps, it’s actually a simple dish to assemble and is absolutely well worth the effort. I cut mine into six squares and put each serving in an individual Tupperware to enjoy throughout the week.

Ingredients: Makes 6 servings

  • 6 cups butternut squash, peeled and sliced into round disks (about 1 1/2 medium squash)
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp. Land O’ Lakes Light Butter
  • 2 Tbsp. all purpose flour
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups nonfat milk
  • Barilla No-Boil Lasagna Noodles (9 of them)
  • 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
  • Rosemary
  • Thyme
  • Oregano

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 425 F. Slice butternut squash and toss with olive oil and 1 teaspoon each rosemary, thyme and oregano. Spread on a baking sheet and bake 15-20 minutes until soft.
  2. While squash is baking, prepare sauce. Over medium heat, melt butter, cook garlic in the butter for one minute then add flour (it will become a thick paste). Reduce heat to low and add milk, then simmer until it thickens into a sauce.
  3. Once squash and sauce are done, begin assembly in the bottom of an oven-safe glass dish by layering 1/2 cup sauce, top with 3 pasta noodles, a layer of the squash and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat so you have 3 full layers ending with squash and Parmesan on top.
  4. Bake 30 minutes and enjoy!
Categories
Arts & Life Columns Humor Rees' Pieces

Rees’ Pieces: American Dreams

Ben Rees
Columnist 

The world is a cruel place and this November, our nation has an election that many believe will change things. Both sides of the political spectrum have incessantly bombarded the populace with terms, ideas and goals that are supposed to make citizens feel like the situation will get better. The reason these promises mean nothing is because our nation is made up of embittered voters and non-voters who complain about every promise political folk fall short of fulfilling.

The general populace needs to be a bit more imaginative; maybe everything politicians say isn’t a lie, and even if it is, let’s go along with it for a little while. Perhaps, if I may be so bold, my loyal fans will oblige me and permit me to weave them a dream of what our country could be.

In my America, nobody sues for dumb reasons. If a woman spills coffee on herself while driving, she won’t be able to sue because the cup doesn’t say “Caution: Hot.” Rather, she will understand that gnarled, rheumatic hands should stay on the steering wheel of her Buick instead of holding a Styrofoam cup; cup holders exist for a reason.

In a perfect America, Christina Aguilera is still cool, and sharks have eaten the entire staff of TLC. Our nation’s goal is to propagate intelligence, and television like “Dance Moms” has a quota instated on it. This means that those who watch smut TV for more than 20 hours per week will be zapped with a cattle prod by a government-sponsored agent. That’s what I call welfare.

I believe in an America with change … machines on every street corner, so no person will ever have to worry about parking violations. I believe in an America where nobody has to hope that he or she will win Norah Jones tickets. Instead, we will all be able to sit and hear her warble.

In this dream, no longer is America reliant on fossil fuels because sustainable energy is synthesized from a mixture of wind, solar rays and Obama’s basketball game sweat. Milk and honey flows from every sink, while energy drinks have been banned from stores for causing long-lasting testicular shrinkage–people understand no drink is worth turning grapes to raisins.

I believe in an America where words really do matter. All campaign speeches have to start with an original joke, and if nobody laughs, they cannot continue. How much cooler would Romney be if we believed he wasn’t a robot? The word “gubernatorial” would also be scrapped from the dictionary because nobody wants to vote on a goober.

All these ideas would make America so much better. Things would run more smoothly, and I truly believe we would all be happier. This November, dream away, because no matter who gets elected, a lot of things will stay shitty.

Categories
Arts & Life Campus Events Music

Musical group gives voice to Chilean people: a representation of Latino culture

Molly Ford
Writer

Inti-Illimani, the Chilean instrumental and vocal Latin American music group, performed at the Weis Center for the Performing Arts on Oct. 11. The eight-member group utilizes over 30 instruments and numerous cultural and musical influences to create a distinctive, Chilean folk sound.

“The blending of traditional South American sounds, the versatility of the musicians and the soulfulness of their lyrics made me experience one of the best performances here at Bucknell,” Angel Hernandez ’13 said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better representation of my Latino culture.”

The performance was one stop on the group’s 45th  anniversary tour. Inti-Illimani became a voice for the Chilean people during a time of political unrest in 1967, and the group continues this mission today.

“I loved the performance, both for wonderful music and their extraordinary musicianship, but also because they continue to bear witness and give voice to people all over the world, and especially Latin Americans, who have struggled against oppression,” Professor of Geography Paul Susman said.

The group has performed at Amnesty International Concerts alongside Sting, Peter Gabriel and Bruce Springsteen, proving the group’s status as a cultural icon.

Categories
Arts & Life Campus Events

Retreat fosters lifelong bonds and a vision for a better Bucknell

 

Courtesy of Laura Yeckley
Director, assisant directors and facilitars create lifelong friendships during the Common Ground Retreat.

Christina Oddo
Arts & Life Editor 

Common Ground continues to be a rewarding experience for students year after year during fall breaks. Common Ground is a free, five day diversity immersion retreat that takes place at the Cowan Forrest Brown Conference Center. Common Ground focuses on issues surrounding race, sexual orientation and gender. Thirty-five students participated this past fall break, lead by Director Capri Dubois ’13 and Assistant Directors Sam Lauer ’13 and Ana Aguilera Silva ’14. There were also 11 facilitators for the program.

Courtesy of Laura Yeckley
Thirty-five students break out of their comfort zones to learn more about one another.

“As a facilitator, Common Ground taught me that the things I say truly do have an impact on people,” Kate Albertini ’14 said. “One night, through tears and laughter, I encouraged participants to say ‘hi’ when they pass people they know on campus. At the time, I did not think it was that profound, but I can tell you that I have been so incredibly touched by all the amazing hugs and greetings I have both witnessed and received since returning to campus.”

Students take part in different activities that highlight topics about identity. The “Race Iceberg” is an activity that deals with racial and ethnic stereotypes, while the “Falling Stars” activity explores the coming out process. Different levels of discussions are facilitated in small and large groups throughout the retreat.

“I do not come from a very diverse background, and the diversity immersion retreat opened my eyes to the difficult experiences many Bucknellians are going through at home and on campus in relation to issues of race, sexual identity and gender among others,” Jennie Means ’14 said.

Favorite bonding activities among the participants include “Trees & Stumps,” “Mafia,” “Psychiatrist,” dance parties and campfires.

“What gives me the most hope for the future of Bucknell is the response members of the retreat have had since returning to campus,” Means said. “The experience we had together and the love and respect we now share is something that will not only help us maintain our friendships into the future, but will also drive us to make change on Bucknell’s campus and follow through on the action plan we created.”

Categories
Sports

Bison Athlete of the Week: Caroline Tolli ’13

 

Alex Wagner

Sports Editor

Player Profile

Caroline Tolli ’13

Lockport, N.Y.

Education and Spanish

 

Season stats:

8th of 110 (16:21) at Harry Lang Invitational

1st of 97 (18:27) at Detroit Titan Invitational

2nd of 34 (19:43) at Saint Francis (Pa.) Invitational

13th of 243 (21:47) at Pre-Nationals

Caroline Tolli ’13 has been one of the most consistently strong performers on the women’s cross country team all year. Her performance over the weekend at Pre-Nationals in Louisville, Ky. was no exception. Tolli finished in 13th place out of a strong 243 competitor field after finishing the Sawyer State Park’s six-kilometer course in 21:47. She was one of two Orange and Blue runners finishing in the top 100.

“The course at Pre-Nationals is well-made, very flat and fast. It’s unlike any course we’ve run on so far this year, as we’ve been training and racing on hills in preparation for the Patriot League Championship,” Tolli said. “Knowing the course was fast (and the competition good), we all as a team tried to get off to an aggressive start on Saturday and keep moving up in the field throughout the race. It was a lot of fun to run hard on such a nice course–I tried to make the most of the opportunity and enjoy every minute.”

Tolli’s strong performance helped lift the Bison to a 12th place finish out of a 27-team field. Now her focus is on the future as the Patriot League Championships approach.

“My finish definitely gives me momentum in training the next few weeks going into the Patriot League meet, where I just want to do all I can to help my talented, hardworking team win a championship,” Tolli said.

Categories
Golf Sports Women

Lee leads women’s golf

Alex Wagner

Sports Editor

On Oct. 15 and 16, the women’s golf team earned a ninth place finish at the Mid-America Conference Preview tournament in Nashport, Ohio behind a career-best performance from Jen Lee ’16.

Lee shot a 74 on Monday, just two above par, and an 83 on Tuesday to tie for 13th place in individual scores and to become the Orange and Blue’s top performer.

Unfortunately, her strong individual performance did not translate to a top spot for the Bison, who finished in ninth place out of 15 teams with rounds of 320 and 325.

Bridget Wilcox ’14 also performed well, shooting rounds of 77 and 82 for a 159 total, earning her a tie for 20th place, just two strokes behind Lee. Lauren Bernard ’14 finished in a tie for 46th with a 164, Kasha Scott ’14 finished in a tie for 57th with a 166 and Emily Timmons ’15 finished in a tie for 72nd with 171 strokes.

Ball State won the tournament with a team score of 621, followed by Bowling Green State with 624 and Eastern Michigan with 625.

The last event this fall for the Orange and Blue will be the Palmetto Invitational at Kiawah Island, S.C. on Oct. 28-29.

Categories
Football Men Sports

Football drops fifth game in a row

 

Chloe Chou | The Bucknellian
Brandon Wesley ’14 looks for an opening in the opposition’s defense. The Orange and Blue were only able to find the end zone in the final minutes of the game against Harvard.

Eric Brod
Senior Writer

Coming off a hard fought loss to Holy Cross last week, the Bison were stifled by No. 21 Harvard as they dropped their fifth straight game 35-7.

Early on, the Orange and Blue defense proved stout against Harvard, forcing two punts and an interception on their first three possessions. An interception by Evan Byers ’15 gave the possession to the Orange and Blue at the 12-yard line. Quarterback Brandon Wesley ’14, after completing seven of his first 10 passes of the game for 79 yards, threw an interception in the end zone. With 3:01 left in the first quarter, the Crimson took the lead on a six-yard touchdown run.

Harvard was able to pull away in the second quarter by outscoring the Bison 21-0 and outgaining them on offense 237-21. The backbreaking play for the Bison came when a Harvard tight end caught a 20-yard pass, and ran for the touchdown, digging the Orange and Blue in a 28-0 halftime hole.

The Bison played much stronger in the second half, holding the Crimson to only a single touchdown. The offense finally broke through in the game’s final minute when Wesley led the offense on a 10 play, 91-yard drive that ended in a one-yard touchdown run by Jeremiah Young ’13.

“Our team continues to play hard at every position through the course of the game. Evan Byers continues to improve, as does Jordan Dudas [’15], and Matt Steinbeck [’15],” head coach Joe Susan said. “We need to eliminate turnovers and do a better job of catching the ball in our receiver group. We are bringing along more young players. In this league you cannot stay young very long.”

Wesley finished the game 21-29 for 227 yards. Travis Friend ’14, Charles Thompson ’14, Tyler Smith ’13 and Young contributed to 10 catches for 108 yards. Byers had an outstanding game with two interceptions.

The Bison rushing attack was stifled by the top-ranked rushing defense in the nation, gaining just 23 yards on 37 carries.

“We had some match-up issues with their front seven,” Susan said. “Their front four is the best I have seen at this level. They play seven guys and keep the pressure on an opponent.”

The Bison look to snap their five-game slide tomorrow when they travel to Bethlehem, Pa. to take on Patriot League rival Lehigh at 12:30 p.m.

“We have shown resilience as a team. We will work hard to put together an effective game plan against another ranked opponent,” Susan said. “When this turns, it will stay turned.”