The Mac Weekly: February 7, 2003 Headlines

Grades on the rise: Average GPA increased in Fall 2002 By LIZZIE TANNEN Macalester's mean grade point average rose in the fall semester of 2002, continuing a five-year streak of climbing grades. According to Provost Dan Hornbach, the upward trend reflects a nationwide change that began in the 1980s. {more}


January term classes travel the world By PASHLEY KILE This January while most of the Macalester community relaxed, a small group of adventurous Mac students took advantage of opportunities to explore the American continents as part of three January Term classes offered in the Deep South, mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. {more}


Fund-raising accomplishments endangered by resignations of key administrators By PETER GARTRELL In an effort to increase domestic diversity and multiculturalism on campus, Macalester has considered a variety of programs for implementation during the last several years. The push to increase diversity has recently accelerated, causing the school to evaluate some of the different plans. {more}

Finally, Spotlight will shine: With outside help, co-editors finally send directory to printer By BRENT HECHT After months of missed deadlines due to severe understaffing and a myriad of technical difficulties, Spotlight, a Macalester tradition, should be in students' mailboxes by the end of the month. {more}


Eclipse emerges from concert blackout By JESSE MORTENSON A packed house showed up for the first legal concert in roughly two years at Eclipse Records last Friday. The featured act was Malachi Constant, preceded by fellow St. Paul rockers Hockey Night and Valender. Malachi singer/guitarist and Eclipse Records volunteer Carl Wedoff '01 is now booking free, all-ages shows on a regular basis. {more}

Welcome black: Quietly and mostly to myself

By andré carrington

Every year I hear that we don't need Black History Month anymore and that it's just another transparent, commercial ploy to corporatize multiculturalism and add another flavor-of-the-month to the operation of hegemonic capitalist culture. I often believe the hype, recognizing the validity of claims that every month should be Black History Month, though I would add that every month should also be Asian/Pacific/American Heritage Month and every week should be Latino Week and every day should be Native Peoples' Day. And I think that would work out okay, as long as everyone maintained a well-organized calendar. I come back to this subject every year and reflect on the significance that Black History Month has had in my life. I can't help but wonder where I'd be without it. {more}

Alaskan Shamanism

By LAUREN BONILLA

I am not much of a phone talker, but once a month I anticipate a particular phone call. My heart leaps with joy when I hear the distinct ring of an outside call on my dorm room phone, and when I pick it up, I hear the welcome sound of phone fuzz and a broken "Lau—ren?" {more}


Administration ignoring environmental issues By MCSG ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITEE Last semester, MCSG passed a resolution urging the Macalester Administration to better incorporate environmental sustainability into both its curriculum and extra-curricular programs. The reply was that our suggestions were either not feasible or needed more thought. {more}

Let's be accountable for our actions: Reinstate the draft By DAN UREVICK-ACKELSBERG This fall I took a history class called War, Peace and Empire. Given the opening attendance of at least fifty students, it was clear that even if Macalester students generally oppose wars, they sure like to study them. As we were going through the first day formalities, the professor asked an interesting question: If the war on Iraq went worse than thought, and a draft was started, who would go? About three guys raised their hand, including myself. Mainly because I like to make trouble, I asked a very polite question about whether or not everyone else was aware that someone else was going to die in their place if they didn't go. The responses to my query were not kind. {more}

Mac-Hamline: The battle of Snelling Avenue

By MATT McGRATH

I frequently find myself beset by the question: "What did Hamline ever do to you?" The puzzled expressions, the pharasaical heads oscillating dismissively, noses wrinkled in disgust-truly, rivalry building is thankless work. When I arrived at Macalester, I came with a vision of heated sports rivalry. Where I come from, merely loving a team is insufficient. Hatred of a rival is an integral part of true fandom. Upon arriving at Macalester, I learned that a rivalry already existed, albeit a lukewarm, ill-conceived one. The well-known "Tommies Suck" cheer, meritorious though it may be, seemed misdirected to rival reviler like myself. "What a piss poor choice for a rival," I thought. "What the hell does St. Thomas have to do with us?" {more}

Brian Schenk '03

By JAMES HAMILTON

The Mac Weekly decided to resurrect its Spotlight tradition to keep you in touch with the faces in the crowd. This week features Brian Schenk '03 and what I remember of a post–Monday night class celebratory session: {more}

Page 8: Your source for creative works and cussing

By SEAN McCARTHY

On my way out of McDonald's I bump into a bum who's holding open the door with his right hand and a Starbucks cup filled with change in the other. He doesn't say anything to me, just smiles, and I appreciate the silence so I give him a dollar. {more}

Mac Cinema promises cinematic diversity in Spring '03

By BEN SACHS

Continuing the precedent set last semester by alternating innovative, albeit a little obscure, international filmmaking with more mainstream arthouse successes, Mac Cinema's schedule for Spring '03 looks to be their best yet! (I happened to select a number of the titles.) The term boasts an out-of-print American classic, a diverse international sampler, and––just in time for spring––a revival of Hitchcock's Vertigo. {more}

Jerry Rudquist: A life's work

By COLLEEN STOCKMAN

Jerry Rudquist retired in 2000 after forty-two years of teaching painting and printmaking at Macalester. He worked as artist in residence at the College until his death last winter. An exhibition of his work is now on display at the college's art gallery. {more}

Brit rapper Mike Skinner: A day in the life of a geezer

By MAURA McANDREW

In October 2002, an album was released by an English kid called Mike Skinner. He recorded it in his bedroom in Birmingham with his friends, turntables and a tape deck. He called himself The Streets and the album Original Pirate Material. He sat back, smoked a little weed, and played a little Playstation. In the meantime he was on his way to becoming the new voice of a generation. {more}

Frosty the Snowman makes a guest appearance in front of Old Main. Macalester experienced its first significant snowcover of the winter on Sunday, prompting students all over campus to frolic in white powder.
Photo: Peter Bartz-Gallagher.

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