<rss version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Advance-Titan]]></title><link>http://advancetitan.com/rss.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[All stories currently published and not in the archive.]]></description><generator><![CDATA[UW Oshkosh Residence Life RSS 2.0 Grabber]]></generator><item><title><![CDATA[Wolverine tears apart theaters]]></title><description><![CDATA[The coming of May brings both the approaching end of the school year and the beginning of the summer movie season.  As usual, Marvel brings another superhero movie to begin the wave of blockbusters; this time, it’s the beginning of everyone’s favorite indestructible killing machine in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”

Hugh Jackman returns for the fourth time to show us the origins of Wolverine, the clawed mutant with a metal skeleton and healing capabilities.  The story begins in 1845, with James Howlett (later referred to as Logan) seeing his father murdered by the father of Victor Creed (better known as Sabertooth and played by Liev Schreiber). When James sees this, he unleashes his six boned claws and kills the man, who is then revealed to be his own father.  James and Victor, now brothers, run off into the night. Years later, after fighting in nearly every major American war, the two brothers are recruited to work in an all-mutant team, led by William Stryker (Danny Huston).  When Logan sees the heartless murders that Team X commits in an African community, he quits.

Six years later, Logan has settled into a new life as a lumberjack and is happily dating Kayla Silverfox (Lynn Collins). However, Stryker returns, and so does Victor. Victor kills Kayla, and Logan agrees to go with Stryker to gain the one thing that will make Wolverine a greater opponent than Victor: an indestructable skeleton made of adamantium.  When Logan hears that his memories will be wiped and he will be used as a weapon,  he breaks free from captivity and goes on a personal vendetta against Sabertooth, Stryker and several other classic X-Men characters.

I went into Wolverine expecting some great things, and while I was pleasantly surprised by the movie’s action scenes and humor, the film almost feels rushed. Because of that, there was hardly any character development and the story didn’t play out as far as it could have.  I gladly would have watched another half hour of the movie, but it felt like this film was just a filler until the next X-Men movie.  While the movie is filled with action, it teases at possible spin-offs, either about Charles Xavier’s first mutant students or about the wisecracking Deadpool (played by Ryan Reynolds in this film).  

One of the main reason fans will want to see the film is for the references to popular comic characters.   Deadpool’s comedic moments are equally balanced by his stunning fighting sequences.  Scott Summers, better known as Cyclops, is played by Tim Pocock and has a minor role in the story.  Even Patrick Stewart has a cameo as the young Professor Xavier.  But the most eagerly awaited fan-favorite character is Gambit, played by Taylor Kitsch. With his dazzling fight scenes and swaggering style, I was disappointed by his lack of appearances in the movie.  

The acting was very well done by almost every character. Jackman was able to once again show the complicated personna of Wolverine, both as an unstoppable animal and as a kinder man hiding from his terrible past.  Schreiber also did a fine job as Sabertooth, displaying just how ruthless the villain could be.  Ryan Reynolds was perfectly cast as Deadpool, but his comedic side didn’t have enough time to shine with the story. Though the character had a fair-sized part in the film, he doesn’t have his appeal during the final battle with Wolverine and Sabertooth.  

Finally, when the end credits start rolling, be sure to stay in your seat until the very end. Not only does Stryker have another scene midway through the credits, but after the credits there is another scene that can actually vary between theaters.  It’s not known how many different post-credits scenes there are, but there are at least two: one with Wolverine in a Japanese bar, the other revolving around the fate of Weapon XI, which was really creepy.  This was a mean way to lure audiences to see the movie again, but it may just work for die-hard fans of the characters.

Now, even though “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” was released to theaters this last Friday, many people may have seen it beforehand, due to the leaked copy off the Internet.  This version of the film doesn’t have all of the special effects added, so you can see wires on the actors and the unfinished special effects.  Also, there are still another 10 additional minutes of action scenes added with re-shoots.  I recommend that even if you’ve seen the work cut, you should go see the finished film as it was meant to be viewed. And shame on you for illegally downloading off of the Internet.

All in all, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” will be great if you love action and are a fan of the classic comic book characters. Though it’s not the strongest movie ever made from a Marvel Comic, it certainly is a fun thrill ride, and a nice kick-off to a summer full of great movies waiting to be seen.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Arts+&amp;+Entertainment&amp;s=7709</link><author>by Jeff Forehand of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Music review - Emperor: Live Inferno]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hail to Emperor, one of a very few bands that bloodily birthed black metal into the world.  Now with the release of this live album, which celebrates the reunion of members in Emperor, listeners have the next chapter in perhaps one of the most notorious black metal bands in history.

The first seconds of Emperor’s “Live Inferno” plunge the listener into a musical trip into Dante’s Inferno, of screaming voices, writhing masses and a fiery demon voice screeching out damnation.   Fast tremolo guitars scathe the ears and undulate against a wall of cosmic chanting of the spheres.  Drums blast beats as if the very firmament trembled beneath some army of rebel angels taken to flight in cosmic warfare.  Here opens a double dose of black metal.

Emperor faced an ever-evolving line-up due to imprisonments for murder and church-burning such as in 1994 when “Samoth was sentenced to 16 months in prison for burning Skjold Church in Vindafjord, together with Varg Vikernes.” Now, band members Ihsahn, Samoth and Trym Torson here have reunited to issue forth a double disc of brutal symphonic black metal.

The album listens like a best–of Emperor compilation. Most live albums generally feature wasted intros and outros on applause or fan cheering, whereas with this album both CDs have little to none of those wasteful qualities throughout.

The open-air recordings lend a vastness to the sound quality that even the bleak walls of sound the original Emperor albums cannot achieve.  The screams of the audience came through seldomly and generally enhance the parts that they do.

“Live Inferno” spans the entire Emperor corpus, with a pleasant emphasis on their earlier albums like “Wrath of the Tyrant” and “In the Nightside Eclipse.”

‘Thus spake the nightspirit’ is a personal favorite.  The orchestral strains in the background, the dynamic shifts and tight phrasing add a swirling structure to the song –chaotic, yet structured, carefully crafted, but also exploding with aggressive energy.  The clean vocals soar above the sea of liquid toned guitars and cymbals like crashing waves.

The detractions are minimal. The doubled songs from disc one to two take away the range of material that could have been presented, although the slight variations are worthwhile.  As with most black metal, the bass balance on the songs is reduced.

The drums are excellently played even though the snare and double-bass drumbeat vary little from song to song and the album maintains high energy, and aggressive drive. Greater dynamic shifts might have improved this album, but would have broken the general aesthetic rule of black metal’s “harder and faster.” The symphonic elements are light and pulled off excellently, but don’t evoke the grand sweeping motions that Dimmu Borgir’s “Death Cult Armageddon” used.

“Live Inferno” should stand out as both a history of Norwegian black metal and as a summation of a band’s corpus of material yet to be surpassed in the genre.

Emperor sums up their achievement best by some of the lyrics to their “Wrath of the Tyrant.” “He is the wind, He is the storm./ He is the woods, He is the roots./ Nobody will escape the wrath of the Tyrant./Forever the Beast shall wander the Earth.” He is Emperor.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Arts+&amp;+Entertainment&amp;s=7718</link><author>by Max Davies, of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Music Review - Metric: Fantasies]]></title><description><![CDATA[I want to make babies with Emily Haines.  This isn’t because she has mammoth breasts like Pamela Anderson or a rump like Beyonce; it’s the way she carries herself: she’s blunt, cerebral, and, yes, seductive.

Haines is the vocalist for Metric, an indie-ish Canadian band with hook-filled, electro/New Wave-inspired songs that make me want to sing and dance.  Though “Fantasies,” their fourth album, isn’t quite as good as their previous album, “Live It Out,” it’s miles beyond what most of the current scene’s tarted-up singers or timid bands could ever hope to accomplish.

Metric doesn’t know how to write a bad song; every song on this album is catchy and tight.  The biggest flaw with “Fantasies” is the album is so up-beat there’s not as much contrast from song to song as I would like.  But this is a minor complaint.  

Album-opener “Help I’m Alive” hits the listener immediately as the band keeps a staccato rhythm, while Haines softly yet insistently sings about how her heart is “beating like a hammer,” which proves she’s, well, alive.  I can’t stress enough how beautiful her vocals sound here.  It’s the strongest leadoff track I’ve heard all year.  

In the third track, “Satellite Mind,” the band keeps a twitchy beat as Haines sings about wanting to be alone, but laments hearing people having sex on the other side of the wall.  This is a recurring theme in Metric’s work: sex, love and not being totally comfortable with either.

Another favorite topic of Metric’s is mocking excess and consumerism.  “Live It Out” feature insightful lines like “buy this car to drive to work, drive to work to pay for this car.”  On the fifth track, “Gold Guns Girls,” Haines returns to that territory as she wonders whether all the sex, gold and guns will ever be enough to satisfy.  The lyrics may seem repetitive as she sings “is it ever gonna be enough” over and over, but it doesn’t sound dull, it’s an anthem.    

Track eight, “Front Row,” is a skewering of models and burnout celebrities.  Album closer, “Stadium Love,” makes fun of mega-selling bands: “every living thing, pushed into the ring, fight it out, to wow the crowd,” which is kind of hilarious.  Plus, it rocks hard.  

I know, I know: a thousand bands have already commented on the problems with fashion models and bands “selling out.”  The topic is as fresh as the Spanish Inquisition.  I’m tired of it, too.  But there’s a significant difference between Metric here and other musicians that flog these subjects: I don’t mind when they do it.  

Haines isn’t some oversized celebrity bitching about pop stars even as she enjoys pop star fame, like Pink or Avril Lavigne, nor is Metric some hateful punk band that will never sell out anything larger than a basement.  Haines looks like a Kate Winslet/Keira Knightley hybrid, so she sets my heart a-flutter—and the band does have a pretty big sound.  But Metric doesn’t trade on beauty or dilute their message, which they could easily do to reach the rafters. 

In an era where all it takes is a short skirt and a sexy makeover—see Mariah Carey or Britney Spears—or a crazy-cool ‘look’ and a PR blitz—see Karen O or Gwen Stefani—to sell tons of records, Haines refuses to make herself a fetish object.  The songs take precedence over her image, and I love her for it.

As good as “Fantasies” is, it suffers in comparison to 2005’s “Live It Out,” which I still play regularly; in fact, it’s become one of my “desert island discs.”  Still, “Fantasies” is a huge step over another previous Metric joint, “Grow Up and Blow Away,” and fits in the middle, quality-wise, between those earlier albums.  

So if you want to rock, dance and think all at the same time, then this album is for you.  With more bite than Death Cab for Cutie, more soul than Coldplay and catchier songs than just about everyone else, you don’t need to run out and buy this album right this second, but a brisk walk is most definitely in order.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Arts+&amp;+Entertainment&amp;s=7719</link><author>by Charles Greenley of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Music Review - Ben Folds Presents: University a Cappella!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Think of this as a greatest hits album for the YouTube generation. That is, in fact, how the album was inspired.  

Ben Folds had come across many versions of his songs on the Internet performed a cappella style and was inspired. On his blog, he called for video submissions of a cappella groups performing his songs, with his favorites to be recorded and included on an album.

The project saw great success with a large number of submissions. Folds himself selected his favorites, contacted the groups – mostly university a cappella groups – and went personally to hear and record them.

The album, “Ben Folds Presents: University a Cappella!” is the culmination of the project.  It features 16 of his most famous tracks. Fourteen of the tracks are arranged and performed by a cappella groups, while two, “Effington” and “Boxing,” were arranged and performed by Folds.
The album is a nice pickup for any Ben Folds fan, as the disc boasts a nice repertoire of tunes spanning his catalog from the Ben Folds Five days to his present album, “Way to Normal.”

The treat of this album, for anyone with any knowledge of Folds’ work, is the re-working of the tunes into something new. Obviously changes are made so that the song can be performed without instrumental accompaniment, but the real treasures in the disc are the subtle nuances in the arrangements.

The track that boasts a lot of artistic interpretation is “Selfless, Cold and Composed” from the Ben Folds Five album “Whatever and Ever Amen.” The track, which has a lounge feel to begin with, is given an even jazzier feel. The addition of complex harmonies and minor switches allows the track to feel less like a “cover” and more like a re-arrangement, something that many of the songs lack.

One track that stays fairly faithful to the original version is “Magic” from the Ben Folds Five album “The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner.” “Magic” is haunting from the beginning with a bass singer providing solid ground to the rest of the track’s performers. The track truly stands out and is one of the few on the album that could be listened to over and over.

Close to him, the UW-Eau Claire’s a cappella group “Fifth Element” performs “Fair,” a great track from “Whatever and Ever Amen.” The track, in a breakdown near the end, features an excerpt from “Zak and Sara,” a song from Ben Fold’s album “Rockin’ the Suburbs.”

Is this album anything more than a novelty, though? 

Yes and no. By reading Folds’ blogs and having knowledge of what kind of guy Ben is, the album was put out with great intentions of showcasing the talents of “non-professional” singers across the country and hearing his songs performed in a new and exciting way. With that being said, however, the album is really only fresh for a few listens and the uniqueness wears off pretty quickly.

The album is worth a listen, as there is some pretty interesting stuff, but it will be put back on the shelf quickly. I’ll stick to a cappella covers on YouTube instead of in my CD player.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Arts+&amp;+Entertainment&amp;s=7720</link><author>by Jay Spanbauer, of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Student soldiers share story]]></title><description><![CDATA[Cody Brunet, 23, and Julie Basler, 51, are both veterans; Basler joined the Marines in l981, Brunet joining the Army in 2002.  Brunet, as a combat engineer, was part of the intense action in Iraq, while Basler was a watchdog for l,800 individual Marine’s service records. Both had life-changing experiences in the military, and both are UW Oshkosh students who have never met. 

After finishing basic training at age l7, Brunet began his freshman year at Oshkosh in January 2004. The first day of his sophomore semester, Brunet said he got an e-mail:  “You are being involuntarily mobilized and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom for 545 days.”

“I dropped out of school a month later, in October,” he said. “We left for a month’s training in Ohio, then to Camp Atterbury, Ind. for two more months training, and on Dec. 26, 2004, the day after Christmas, we flew to Kuwait. From there, we headed North to Iraq.”

The first three months in Tikrit, they were doing building projects, he said, but in May  2005 headed to western Iraq to work with Marines combating insurgents coming from Syria.

“On the way there, we were hit by a roadside bomb, and I took shrapnel to the left side of my body,” Brunet said. “I was 19 and invincible, but this scared the piss out of me. My buddy was injured a lot worse; the bomb hit him in the face. We got Purple Hearts out of the deal.”

The remainder of his deployment in western Iraq, he said, was routine combat patrols and building up the Iraqi National Guard bases in forward areas where they were often under direct fire. During combat patrols, he said he lost two friends under horrific circumstances.

“When I came back to college in 2007, it was extremely difficult for me to adjust,” he said. “I’d been gone for 16 months, learning things that could save my life; now I was sitting in class learning calculus.”

Brunet said he would get into heated discussions in class about the war, which usually ended when he revealed he had been deployed there. The hardest part, he said, was that people didn’t understand.

“It really frustrated me that people believed they experienced the same thing as me because they knew somebody who’d been there,” he said. “Or they’d say things like, ‘my cousin’s brother was in Iraq, and he said it isn’t that bad.’ I seriously wanted to punch them in the face.”

For the first nine months, Brunet said he had a problem with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but moved past it. He now tries to help soldiers coming back from deployment who want to return to school by talking with them, listening to them vent their experiences, helping them organize their paper work to receive their veteran’s benefits. He is also participating in the Best Warrior Competition, a series of military events that will eventually lead to only one noncommissioned officer in the entire Army. 

Elizabeth Wee, who first met Brunet over a year ago as a coworker, said his positive outlook encourages others to get out and live.

“Cody is not only good hearted, but he’s smart, strong, mentally and physically, a hard worker and dedicated,” she said. “He always has something fun and exciting to say when you ask him what’s new. He listens to others and wants to know more about each individual. Meeting new people and exploring new places seem to be an important aspect in his life.” 

Brunet said his training as a combat engineer didn’t help him directly with school, but being in the Army did.  

“It allowed me to deal with incredible amounts of stress and when I got to college I had real leadership experience under my belt,” he said. “Being in Iraq also caused me to change my major from Biology to Nursing. I was planning to work outdoors with the DNR (Department of Natural Resources); I never thought about doing anything in health care before being deployed.” 

In l981, when Basler joined the Marines at age 23, she was sent to Parris Island, S.C.  for two months of basic training, school for two more, then to Camp Lejeune, N.C., where she spent the remainder of her four-year enlistment. 

“I was in the 2nd Maintenance Battalion, as was my brother and Ron, my future husband, who I’d not yet met,” she said. “My job was to make sure 1,800 service records were kept up-to-date for each member of our battalion.”

The Service Record Book, she said, contained personal information, pay information, military statistics such as swim qualifications, rifle qualifications and recognitions for any reprimands. Everything that occurs to a Marine during their enlistment, she said, is in the Service Record Book.  

“It was vital they be kept up-to-date, in war or peace,” Basler said. “Transfers, deaths or deployments must be recorded accurately, and it was part of our job to speak to each Marine individually to get the information. That’s why the camaraderie was so great; because we knew each other.”

Because of the accuracy of these records, she said, they knew how many in their unit were sent to Beirut, Lebanon in 1983, and that none of those 10 percent died in the conflict.  

“They were sent as engineers, motor-transport help, fabric repair and administrative personnel as supportive troops,” she said. “The four of us in records worked very long days and nights getting every detail in order, and making sure that every family of every Marine deployed had an ID card.” 

With the unit on alert, Basler said, her marriage to Ron Basler was put on hold plus  neither of them knew if he would be sent into the conflict.

“I was scared and excited when the Beirut alert came through,” Ron Basler said.  “With all my training I was ready and was recommended by my Master Gunnery Sergeant to be sent as Sergeant in charge of the subordinant troops in my company. But another Marine had recently been promoted to Staff Sergeant, which meant he outranked me, so he was sent instead. The alert was lifted shortly after, and Julie and I were able to come to Neenah and get married.”

Ron Basler said some of the returning troops, especially the infantry, were mentally distressed and required treatment for post-traumatic stress syndrome. Another reason he was glad he didn’t go.

“One of the warrant officers brought a recording back from Beirut and let the battalion listen to it,” Julie Basler said. “You could hear a sound in the background, pop, pop, pop.  It sounded like popcorn popping, but it was gunfire, and they couldn’t shoot back because it was a peaceful mission.”

When they left Lejeune, the soldiers were ready for action, she said, but upon return their excitement had changed. 

“All soldiers are trained for battle,” she said. “They talked about the frustration, anger and feelings of inadequacy for not being able to fire back to defend themselves and their comrades.” 

Basler and her husband left the Marines in 1985 when their contracts were up, and came home with their daughter to begin full-time family life. They have two children; their son is also a student at Oshkosh.

“In 2008, with my children grown, I needed another purpose in my life,” Basler said.  “I came back to school to earn my bachelor’s degree in psychology, something I’d wanted to do before I went into the Marine’s, but couldn’t.”

In her third semester, she said she’s doing fairly well, although some classes are extremely challenging.  

“I’ve learned to ask for help when I need it,” Basler said. “That was a difficult thing for me because I was always knowledgeable in my area of expertise, and my comrades and children always came to me for help. As a Marine I learned how to show confidence even when I didn’t have any.”

Basler said she walked away from the Marines knowing she had done an exemplary job of serving her country.  She said she learned how to take charge of any situation as it arises, remain calm, decisive and come up with solutions to succeed.      
         
“My husband and I have successfully reared our children to own their individuality so they can venture out into the world and explore what life may have in store for them,” she said. “Leadership skills can carry me anywhere God may lead me to go, and will take you anywhere your heart desires.”]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Features&amp;s=7698</link><author>by Pat Goetz</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Chaos, art & music: all in Time]]></title><description><![CDATA[On Saturday, May 9, the Time Community Theater will be in utter chaos.  
That night, the Chaos, Art and Music Experience will feature some of the area’s best musical and artistic talents, and the proceeds will go toward revitalizing the once relished downtown establishment.

Located at 445 N. Main St., Time Theater originally opened in the 1940s, showcasing a wide variety of movies. But in the early 1990s, it was forced to close when the new movie theater, the Oshkosh Marcus Cinema, opened at 340 South Koeller Street. The Time Theater sat vacant for many years, and while several attempts were made to remodel it, none were successful.

That changed when, in March 2007, members of the Community Theater Group of Oshkosh dedicated themselves toward remodeling and revitalizing the theater.  In an effort to restore the theater to become a vital venue in the Fox Valley area, the Community Theater Group of Oshkosh has been organizing events, which will show off local talent, in addition to allowing people to look at the facilities during monthly Downtown Oshkosh Gallery walks.

“We’re starting small, only operating nine months out of the year,” said Rick Maki, the secretary/treasurer and events coordinator for the theater. “But we hope to show music, theater, dance and, eventually, movies.”  

Even though Time Community Theater won’t be open the whole year doesn’t mean it won’t be showcasing a lot of talent. The Chaos Music and Art Experience will exhibit some new artists and musicians, along with ones who have visited the theater already.

Kicking off the event will be the short film “Piss Missile,” directed by Leif Larson, who painted a mural in the theater last May. The film, a mockumentary about a fictional hard rock band, is one of 30 short films Larson has made.  

“Of all of them, that one was the funniest,” Larson said. “When it came to where he wanted to show the film though, there was no denying why to show it at the Time Theater.  I love it, it’s a beautiful place, and they’re always willing to help out. The art community is strong in Oshkosh, and events like these allow it to flourish.”

Aaron Baer, also known by his stage name, Dr. Kickbutt, will help present the “Piss Missile” film which he helped write and star in.  After the film, he will perform with the acoustic jazz band Dr. Kickbutt’s Orchestra of Death.  Each member of the band has their own character, and the band does comedic skits along with their music.  Baer said audience members should “look for the subtle humor” among the characters.

Additionally, there will be performances by local artists, presenting poetry and other arts.  Plus, there will be live art displays made from wood, all with the common theme of time.

Although the Time Community Theater showcases a lot of local talent, the Chaos Music and Art Experience is bringing in musicians from across the nation as well.  The headliner of the Chaos Event is Samvega, a progressive rock band from California.  They describe their music as a diverse mix of rock, cabaret, blues, jam-style, jazz, funk, and world.  “They’re awesome people, and a lot of fun,” Larson said.  

Local artist and organizer of the Chaos Event, David “Daithi” Kelley, will be doing a painting jam along with Samvega’s music, which he said is a cross between “Dr. Seuss and Pink Floyd.”  This is the third Chaos Music and Art Experience he has put on.  The first two raised over $2,000 for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which helps support families who lost loved ones in the war in Iraq and to help victims of the Dec. 26, 2004 Asian Tsunami. When the opportunity arose to help the Time Community Theater’s revitalization, Kelley said he was eager to help.

“[The Time Theater] is a cultural identity that could help bring the community and the arts together in Oshkosh,” he said. 

While half of the proceeds of the Chaos Music and Art Experience go to the Time Community Theater restoration project, don’t take this as one of the last events to happen at the theater.  During this year alone, there will be several choirs, bands, a family fun night and even a wedding.  Also, Larson and Baer hope to show their film “Dr. Kickbutt’s: Kick Saving a Beauty” at the theater after they finish production.  The Dr. Kickbutt movie will be previewed after the film “Piss Missile” is shown on Saturday.

“Be sure to come on down,” Kelley said about the May 9 event. “There’s a lot going on.”

The Chaos Music and Art Experience takes place at Time Community Theater, beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $5, and half of the proceeds go to the Time Theater restoration project.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Features&amp;s=7710</link><author>by Jeff Forehand of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Students who serve]]></title><description><![CDATA[In a time in which the Iraq War has taken a backseat to financial woes and economic turmoil, 14 journalism students found a way to localize the Iraq War through an ambitious class project that will culminate in an exhibit May 15 at Oshkosh’s Steinhilber Gallery.

“War: Through Their Eyes” is a multimedia student project showcasing 16 stories of UW-Oshkosh students and alumni who have either fought in the Iraq War or are awaiting their call to serve abroad. The project includes an 80-page book, a series of podcasts and an art gallery exhibit.

The stories were assembled through multiple in-person, e-mail and phone interviews between the student reporters and the military men and women. The stories are compiled in a book that will be published in May and then sold at University Books & More and online. Also included with the stories are photographs by Amber Patrick, an Oshkosh student majoring in graphic communications and photography.

This expansive project began before students had even entered Grace Lim’s entry-level Writing for the Media classroom. Lim, an adjunct journalism instructor, sent a lengthy e-mail regarding all the events and assignments that were going to take place during the semester a week before the semester began.

“I wanted the students to get real-life experience, with real deadlines,” Lim said. “It turned out that it was better that the students came in clueless about the workload. They had no idea that they were no way ready for this, that they couldn’t do this. In this case, ignorance is bliss...until the first day of class.”

The first day of class was filled with detailed instructions and high expectations, not the typical syllabus review seen in most classes. 
“My first reaction was to drop the class,” said Alex Mueske, a senior majoring in journalism.

After a lengthy review of the upcoming schedule and deadlines, Brian Ledwell gave a demonstration on how to use a Wiki page to communicate information among students. Ledwell is the manager and multimedia developer of Oshkosh’s IDEA Lab.

 “The first day in class I thought my head was going to explode,” said Lynnea Krajco, a junior majoring in marketing. 

The next class period, Wayne Abler gave a demonstration on podcasting and technological equipment at the instructional television studio in Clow. Abler is the coordinator of Oshkosh’s Instructional Television Services. This demonstration, however, was brief, and students were not given much time to let the information sink in before they got to work.

“It was about 20 minutes after we got our instructions that I had my first interview,” said Nate Tornow, a junior majoring in advertising. “I’m sitting there trying to fiddle with the computer, and he didn’t say it at the time, but I’m pretty sure my soldier thought I was idiot.”

Lim said that she had toyed with the idea of this project since the beginning of the Iraq War in 2003. She was pushed to begin the project as a result of contact with student Nicole Middleton, who served in Iraq from 2006-2007 and is featured in the project.  Middleton shared a different perspective with Lim about the Iraq War during a class discussion about the media’s coverage of the war.

“It took a student to remind me that behind every number is a person with a name, a face and a voice,” Lim said.

Lim said the stories that came in were both heart-warming and heartbreaking. 

“One Marine talked about the first time he saw his dad cry, and it was the day his dad took him to boot camp,” she said. “Another soldier talked about how he and his buddy had a choice between two missions. He chose one; his buddy chose another. His buddy was killed by a roadside bomb.”

Excerpts of the stories, the full podcasts and a collection of photos can be found at the “War: Through Their Eyes” Web site at www.uwosh.edu/war. Ranah Voss, a senior majoring in graphic communications, who works for the University’s Media Services, designed the site.

Gallery coordinator and Oshkosh instructor Emmet Sandberg is pleased to exhibit the “War: Through Their Eyes” project in the gallery.

“The collaborative nature of the project demonstrates a creative learning process,” Sandberg said.  “Gallery visitors will experience the results and gain insight into the creative process that created the project/exhibition.”

Sandberg was also impressed with the overall quality of the project, as a result of the instruction of Lim, the project’s editor.

“She has set up the conditions for the project to take on a life of its own, offering new and positive experience to all participants,” Sandberg said.

The project has garnered attention from many around the campus.

Chancellor Richard Wells was impressed at the work done by the students, as well as intrigued by the stories that were collected.

“I’m very proud,” Wells said.  “Quite frankly, it’s interesting to hear the stories of these veterans. The project opens people’s eyes to the fact that these soldiers are people.”

Alec Augustine-Marceil, a cadet captain in Oshkosh’s ROTC, is one of three project participants who have yet to experience the war firsthand. In the podcasted interview with student reporter Natasha Spielbauer, he said his joining the military came as a shock to his parents, who lean heavily liberal. 

“When I joined the military, it was because I felt that you didn’t need to be Republican or a conservative to be patriotic,” said Augustine-Marceil, a senior majoring in international studies.

The humanizing aspect of the project was something that appealed to Iraq War veteran Shawn Monroe, who graduated from Oshkosh in January of 2008 with degrees in geography and international studies.

Ten years ago, Monroe, then 20, transferred from another university to Oshkosh and enlisted in the National Guard. Two years later on Sept. 11, 2001, he anticipated the abrupt call to go to the Middle East and wanted to be ready.

But Monroe never received that call. Tired of waiting, he volunteered in 2004. Monroe served as a forward observer, acting as the eyes of the artillery unit from 2004 to 2005. His position put him deep into enemy territory, within sight of the target. Having suffered a traumatic brain injury caused by an IED (improvised explosive device), Monroe was honorably discharged in September 2007.

Monroe was happy to share his story, as he feels that the stories of those who serve are important and are not adequately covered by the media.
“The only thing you hear on the news is occasionally that four soldiers were killed,” said Monroe, now a peer counselor with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Appleton. “You don’t hear their names. You don’t hear who they are as people. I don’t think most people even consider these soldiers people.”

Like Monroe, Jon Jandrin, who served two tours in Iraq from 2004 - 2006, welcomed the opportunity to share his story. Jandrin, a junior majoring in athletic training, appears on the cover of the “War: Through Their Eyes” book.

 “I love to talk about my stories,” said Jandrin who had been a corporal-special signals intelligence operator in the Marines. “I think it helps the public understand what’s really going on, and how a veteran may feel, or how it feels for somebody that has family and is ready to deploy.”

“War: Through Their Eyes” will be shown in the Steinhilber Art Gallery located in the Reeve Memorial Union through September 2009. The book will be sold at University Books & More campus and online. The podcasts are available on iTunesU and www.uwosh.edu/war. The exhibit opens May 15 at the Gail Floether Steinhilber Art Gallery with a ceremony starting at 6 p.m.

[i]The author of this piece participated in the “War: Through Their Eyes” project.[/i]]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Features&amp;s=7711</link><author>by Jay Spanbauer, of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[A community comes together on The Waters’ edge]]></title><description><![CDATA[Usually serving as a warning to sailors that land is near, the flickering beacon of light glistening off of Lake Winnebago acted as more of a spotlight on Saturday night as it welcomed the public to a rare view of one of Oshkosh’s least-seen amenities.

In its first time participating in Downtown Oshkosh’s Gallery Walk, The Waters, which calls itself the city’s premier special events facility, opened its doors to all for the event “Art after Hours.”  This is only the second time it has been open to the public since its large-scale renovation last May.

Besides specialty events like weddings and banquets, The Waters, located on the shore of Lake Winnebago at 1393 Washington Ave., is home to the Oshkosh Yacht Club and the American Legion Cook-Fuller Post 70.  For non-members and to those never invited to an event at the facility, like recent UW-Oshkosh graduate Andrew Frenz, the Gregorian Revival-themed building that showcases two-story white pillars conjured up more questions than answers before last weekend.

“I’ve walked past [The Waters] plenty of times before, and I always wondered what it was,” Frenz said.  “So when I heard from a friend that it was open as part of the Gallery Walk, I thought it’d be a cool opportunity to check it out and see a side of Oshkosh I don’t normally get to see.”

As the night progressed, it was apparent that Frenz was not alone in his sentiment, and General Manager Kim Price’s wishes to show off the establishment by opening its doors while supporting a community event were put to the test.  

“It’s free of charge and open to the public so we’re just hoping people will come and see our beautiful building and enjoy the water,” she said. “People can sit on the balconies and porches and really just enjoy themselves.”

As Price had hoped, hundreds of patrons journeyed to The Waters to enjoy the view, art, company and much more. Unlike many of the businesses that participate in the Gallery Walk, Jim Evans, the Gallery Walk’s organizer, said because of its size, The Waters was able to provide more than a display with a few paintings on the wall.

Upon entering the event, which took place from 7:30 to 11 p.m., the relaxed mood was immediately set as the sounds of attendee’s discourse and jazz music by members of the Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra resonated throughout the building.  The four-piece jazz ensemble was nestled into the corner next to a large fireplace in the hard-wood floored Winnebago room.  As guests meandered through the room and joint screened-in porch area, there was glass-blown artwork on display from local artists Jenna, Nathan and James Larson.  Varying in size, theme and color, the glass artwork ranged from colorful faces to more abstract pieces that were made to resemble wood-grain.

Located directly next to the Winnebago room was the Harbor room, which presented a view of Lake Winnebago and a walnut-furnished, stainless steel topped bar.  A crowded hotspot throughout the night, guests, including former Oshkosh mayor Frank Tower, spoke amongst one another while being served drinks ranging from cold beer to various mixed drinks and wine.

Ascending up the double-stairway toward the grand ballroom, guests marveled at the European crystal chandeliers that adorned the ceiling.  With another view of the lake, more chandeliers and a large open-air balcony, the grand ballroom exhibited nature-themed oil paintings by Christie Wells, wife of UW-Oshkosh’s Chancellor  Richard Wells.  A wine bar and complimentary hors d’oeuvres provided by The Waters’ six preferred caterers including The Roxy, Zuppas and Fratello’s Waterfront Brewery were also available for the guests.

From the moment the doors opened until the night’s close, guests at The Waters, like 23-year-old Nate Dolske, said they were amazed by the transformation from a deteriorated banquet hall it was, before Bill and Beth Wyman bought the 106-year-old building in 2007, into the historically authentic special events facility it is today.

“I had heard that there had been a lot of things done to the place so that’s why I wanted to come and see it,” Dolske said. “After seeing all that’s been done, it’s just very impressive.”

Not all who attended Saturday’s event were unfamiliar with The Waters, however.  As a long-standing member of the Oshkosh Yacht Club, Robert Cummins said he enjoyed the event and thought it was a nice gesture to open it to the public because that is historically where the roots of the William Waters-constructed building were formed.

“This building started out as a community center, and the owners here are community minded so when the word went out [about ‘Art after Hours’] the community came,” Cummins said.

As the night drew to a close and guests filtered out of The Waters to their respective homes, Price reflected on the out-of-the-ordinary evening that brought all demographics of the community together to enjoy a Gallery Walk like none other.

“It’s been so wonderful,” Price said.  “There are a lot of people who have been here before, but there’s so many that are new, and it’s really been just incredible.”]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Features&amp;s=7721</link><author>by Phil Martinez, of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Photographer shows passion in student project]]></title><description><![CDATA[Amber Patrick doesn’t do the typical class picture. There is no lining up students in rows with the teacher in front. For the UW-Oshkosh student photographer, that would be too boring.

 At a recent shoot, she had 14 journalism students walk around in the dark while their instructor stood like a statue. 

The only light available was transmitted from the computer monitors. Students bumped into each other and into furniture. One whispered, “What is she doing?” 

The “she” in this case is Amber Patrick, who has a unique view of the world through her camera’s eye.

The result of that unusual shoot: a photo that captured a clear image of the instructor with her students, appearing translucent, milling about her.
In other words, a typical Patrick work of art.

On May 15, that photo and other Patrick works will be on display at the Reeve Union’s Steinhilber Gallery. Patrick was the project photographer for student journalism project called “War: Through Their Eyes.” The multimedia project looks at 16 soldiers and Marines that are either current students or alums of Oshkosh and asked them to share their stories of serving in the military. Not limited to only war veterans, it also covers stories of students who are awaiting the order to serve abroad.

Patrick feels most comfortable telling stories through her photos.
 
“It’s a family thing,” said Patrick, a junior majoring in graphic communications and photography. “My mother was an artist, and I was a photographer for my high school yearbook. I’ve always liked it. Maybe I was born with it.”

For the past two years, Patrick owns and operates GNE Photography, focusing on kids, families and weddings.  However, while wedding shoots are challenging enough, she said photographing war vets and other military men and women proved to be a different kind of challenge.

 “Weddings are one-day projects,” she said. “With ‘War: Through Their Eyes,’ it’s a continuing and consuming project.” 

Patrick shot photos and the soldiers and Marines in studio, at class and at home. Patrick even went as far as trekking through the woods in freezing conditions to shoot and document a ROTC field exercises.

 “During the shoot, my hands were freezing, it made it really hard to press the trigger,” she said. “That led to a number of out-of-focus shots, but we still ended up getting some great pictures.”

 Patrick first learned of the project two weeks before the start of the spring semester. “I was ecstatic to be a part of the project,” she said. “My mind was reeling with all of the possibilities of what we could do to add some artistic flavor to the project.”

Grace Lim, the journalism instructor who assigned the project to her 14 beginning journalism students, describes Patrick’s work as exceptional.
 
“I keep forgetting that she’s a student,” said Lim, a former reporter with the Miami Herald and People magazine. “She’s as good as some of professional photographers I’ve worked with before.”

Lim said she was taken by Patrick’s creative take on the class photo. 
“All I was expecting was a simple photo of me and the students; instead I got this cool photo that looks like a painting.”

Patrick aims to accomplish much with the project. 

“The project shows the variety of shots I can do,” she said. “I want people to know who each soldier is and experience their story.”

 The project, which includes a book, a series of podcasts and a photo exhibit, gives the student soldiers and Marines a forum to share their stories with the rest of the world. 

Patrick said the soldiers and Marines were not used to being the focus of attention, but once she got them into the studio, she got them to ignore the camera. 

“I asked them about their interviews and tried to just ask normal questions,” she said. “I wanted to get to know who they were and to talk to me as if they were talking to anyone else.” 

For Patrick, “War: Through Their Eyes,” has taught her to fit her photography to the style of the project. 

“The whole process has been a blast, but I am predicting that the exhibition on May 15 will be the most memorable part for me.”]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Features&amp;s=7727</link><author>by Alex Mueske</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Exhibit showcase student's work and service]]></title><description><![CDATA[The photos are both haunting and hopeful. One shows a pensive Iraq War vet in a classroom. Another image captures the innocence of a young soldier who has yet to experience the reality of war.
 
These are the images of the “War: Through Their Eyes” student multimedia project, which showcases the stories of 16 UW-Oshkosh students and alumni who have either fought in the Iraq War or are awaiting their call to serve abroad. The semester-long project produced by instructor Grace Lim’s beginning journalism students will culminate in a gallery exhibit that opens May 15 at the Steinhilber Gallery in Reeve Memorial Union Theatre.

At the opening, visitors will get a chance to meet the participants of the student-driven project including the soldiers and Marines, the reporters and the photographer. Visitors will also see a collection of the images, be able to listen or watch the video and audio podcasts and read excerpts from the book, which will be sold at the event.

The book was designed by Shawn McAfee, coordinator of the Oshkosh’s Instructional Resources Center. She is also an adjunct art instructor who recruited Amber Patrick, a former student in her digital art class, for the project. 

“When Grace approached me with this project I knew that Amber’s unique and intimate style of portraiture was the perfect complement for the personal stories that the soldiers and Marines were telling,” McAfee said. 

Patrick, a junior majoring in graphic communications and photography, captured the soldiers and Marines at home, in class and during field exercises. She said she hopes exhibit visitors will “walk away thinking about some place other than Oshkosh, Wis.”  She also wants visitors to appreciate the work the military men and women are doing here and abroad, regardless of their political views.

 “These are some of the people who have sacrificed everything so that we can live the life we are living,” Patrick said of her photo subjects.

Emmet Sandberg said the exhibit fits the gallery’s mission perfectly as a learning space. 

“The people responsible for ‘War: Through Their Eyes’ have created a powerful experience,” he said. “Everyone has a story to tell. The stories included in this project offer the viewer another means for exploring the human condition and connect the university to the world at large.”

Chancellor Richard Wells said the “War: Through Their Eyes” project puts a human face to war for many people. 

“This project breaks down the tendency to see them only as a soldier,” he said. “You’re given that perspective of a multifaceted human being that also happens to be a soldier.”

Costs for the printing of the “War: Through Their Eyes” books and gallery prints were offset by donations from Oshkosh Defense and others.

For more information about the “War: Through Their Eyes” project, visit http://www.uwosh.edu/war.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Features&amp;s=7729</link><author>by Kristen Manders</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Senior sendoff: Anthony Berg - Opinion Editor]]></title><description><![CDATA[I have worked for the Advance-Titan twice during my academic career. 

My first employment was educational. I learned to basics of newspaper production. I also learned how to handle my alcohol. This was acquired through many hard-won lessons and too many vodka Redbull mixers. In one night with that preliminary crew of stalwart journalists, I shoved a person across a room, got a vagina shoved in my face, shoveled in drinks at three locations before ordering a round of Topper’s sticks for everyone on my credit card and leaving for home before they were cooked. This is not to account for later seeing my editor-in-chief head butting the senses from my eyes, trying absinthe for the first time and then living with one of the photographers.

In those early days, the Advance-Titan allowed me to hone my skills in journalistic writing as a copy editor and writer for the super-serious video game reviews. I was not pressured to major deadlines or to break from my comfort zone, but simply enjoy the company of the other staff while working at my pace.

My second employment was professional. The paper needed an experienced person to become Opinions editor. I learned more about production. The work was harder, but I was paid more and the ability to voice my opinions made it worthwhile.

I simply want to say thanks to the Advance-Titan staff for giving some of the most fun, educational and personal experiences I’ve had these past years. Thank you and farewell.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Lighter+Side&amp;s=7722</link><author>by Anthony Berg of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[These guys must be high]]></title><description><![CDATA[You never know what types of people you’ll meet on campus in the dead of a Tuesday evening.  

In my haste to catch up on my most recent string of procrastinations, I found myself wandering home after an arduous stretch of fiendish typing in the Halsey computer lab last week. Walking home at 11:35 p.m. doesn’t usually frighten a resolute fella like myself, but something to my right caught my eye. 

Looking over, I saw a dark figure on their hands and knees, apparently making some sort of sidewalk chalk display on a campus walkway. Realizing that such forms of communication are quite the odd nocturnal activity, no sooner had I stopped to take another gander when the figure stood as if it had been caught in the act. 

I opted to carry on toward La Casa de Grande rather than confront this vampire of a sidewalk chalker, and I went to bed feeling swell, despite what I had just seen. But when I got to campus early the next morning, my bearded jaw literally dropped when I discerned the message that had been crudely chalked on that section of campus cement only hours earlier.

In plain, white chalk, the message before me read simply this - “Legalize it. WalkforMarijuana.com.”

“Bless my bong,” I thought to myself. “The stoners have organized.”

My skin crawled, immediately breaking into a cold sweat. Running home as fast as I could, I slammed the door to my bedroom, wheezing like a hyena from the nine-block sprint I had just endured. Taking a massive drag from my Albuterol inhaler, I popped in my worn out DVD copy of “Reefer Madness” to quell the immense fear that little chalky message had left on my delicate psyche. 

Taking a few deep breaths, the Fear subsided once I realized how utterly hilarious the prospect was of rallying a mass of marijuana enthusiasts for an organized activity. First of all, asking a stoner to conform to a scheduled physical activity is quite possibly the most oxymoronic plan I’ve heard since… I can’t think of anything. 

Judging from my assorted interactions with The Stoned in the past, I’ve found that the concept of time is of no consequence to a mind in the dire grips of THC. If you were planning an “All Night “All Night Legalization Couchathon” or a “Marijuana Isn’t So Badminton Tourney,” that might be more up the stoner’s alley. 

But relying on a bunch of time-ignorant, Cheetos-chomping, Robot Chicken-watching, Umphrey’s McGee disciples to show up at a designated time for a somewhat boring activity is a plan that’s just waiting to fail. 

Secondly, I can’t even imagine how difficult it was for these subversive organizers to actually put these ideas together. I can just picture a meeting among of these red-eyed and tie-dyed hipsters:

“Everyone, thank you for meeting me here in my parent’s basement. I think this legalization rally will be exactly what we need to put Mary Jane on the map – in northeastern Wisconsin at least. 

Before we get down to business, let us open the windows, light the incense and put some smoke in the air. Brody, please turn on the Food Network – the newest episode of ‘Ace of Cakes’ is on.”

Mere moments later:

“Ok, now that we’ve all taken the edge off… Umm… What was I talking about? Holy sh*t, did they really make a cake in the shape of a fire truck? Turn that stuff up, Brody.”

However, it seems that a faceless group of chronic crusaders have actually overcome such obstacles, quasi-organizing an event to spread awareness for this most hallowed of herbal essences. 

But if you’re so adamant about getting the marijuana message out, why do so under the cover of darkness? No matter what cause you “fight” for, have the gumption to put your message out there loud and proud in the daylight, not sneakily and in the dark. 

And another thing – what’s the deal with the bland delivery? I understand that it’s probably hard to draw psychedelic magic mushroom letters in the dead of night, but I thought that The Stoned would put out a more creative design than hurried chicken scratch in plain white.

If they really wanted to be taken seriously, these blunt-fueled pioneers should have injected a little more creativity in the next go-round of sidewalk messages. I’m talking about that Haight-Ashbury, Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test creativity that would leave Ralph Steadman scratching his head. 

If your stuff doesn’t look like a circa-1964 Grateful Dead concert poster, don’t expect any nods from this guy. Phish would be ashamed at your lack of ingenuity.

So, to those of The Stoned that were involved with this “Walk for Marijuana,” and to general stoners everywhere, please don’t take these beefs to be a downright attack. 

I’m neither for or against the plight to legalize marijuana, let alone the initiative to organize a walk for such a cause. But I AM a fan of doing something right or not at all. After all, it’s pretty important to realize that… That… What was I talking about?]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Lighter+Side&amp;s=7723</link><author>by Will Amacher, of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Senior sendoff: Jenna Kleist - A-Section Managing Editor]]></title><description><![CDATA[Working at the Advance-Titan was sometimes difficult, tiring and at times overwhelming. It was also exciting, fulfilling and too short. I was lucky to have had the opportunity to work on the paper while at the same time prepare myself for my career.

Thank you, Mom and Dad. Your kindness, love and support are all things that have made me the person I am today. Grandma Betty, thank you for your love and support and for getting me addicted to crosswords. I look forward to all the free time I will have to do crosswords and watch “The Young and the Restless” with you.

Thanks to Lee Colony, my first journalism professor who encouraged me and helped me build confidence and to professor Miles Maguire, who showed me my writing was more of a work in progress than a masterpiece.

Tyler Maas, thanks for making “yikes” almost as catchy as “jeepers,” and Andrew Winistorfer, thanks for showing me how to use a Mac. And thanks to the random classmate who showed me how to turn it on. Also, Tyler and Andrew, thanks for always making me feel welcome. 

Thank you Adam for giving me the assistant news editor position and for hiring me as a news reporter, and thanks to Ben Munson for making me managing editor and news editor at the same time (yeah, thanks a lot).
Max, thanks for letting me come back when I wasn’t sure what I wanted. Tyler, Ben and Max, I enjoyed working with all of you during your time as editor-in-chief of the A-T.

Andrew Munger. To steal a quote from a UW-Oshkosh sports coach, “You are a rock star.” I would not have made it through fall of ‘08 if you hadn’t been my assistant news editor. Thank you for continually demonstrating your commitment, passion and love of journalism. You are an amazing sports editor, and you are going to be a great editor-in-chief. 

Kasey Thompson. You have done an excellent job as news editor, and I know you are going to continue to do a great job. I appreciate your initiative, drive and hard work. I know from experience the news editor position isn’t easy, but you have always had patience. Remember that sometimes it may seem like your work isn’t appreciated, but someone cares. If no one else that person is me for at least for six months, the imaginary deadline that I will supposedly have a job by.  

I would also like to thank Felicia Clark for being a pro Busted section writer. And for the news staff that was around while I was news editor, thank you for your understanding, patience and hard work. 

Thank you Will and Phil for demonstrating your hate of each other through sweet one-liners. Although it was fake, it was hilarious, and I don’t know what Will will do now that Phil is graduating too. Thanks to Jay for being a great Web editor and updating the site so quickly when things came up.

Becky, I had fun working with you and thanks for talking to me about “Grey’s Anatomy,” even though I’m pretty sure you never watched it. And thank you professor Barb Benish for helping me with my resume, references and everything else during the internship class, and thank you everyone who took time out of their day both on and off-campus to talk to me for various articles I have written.

Before they cue the music, thanks to all of the professors I have had here at Oshkosh and at UW-Waukesha, and thanks to the entire Advance-Titan staff, past and present. I enjoyed working with all of you, and good luck in whatever you do. 

And for those of you who are stuck here, good luck getting out of here in four years.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Lighter+Side&amp;s=7724</link><author>by Jenna Kleist, of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Senior sendoff: Phil Martinez - B-Section Managing Editor]]></title><description><![CDATA[Well since these senior sendoffs traditionally end up sounding like award ceremony acceptance speeches, I would like to begin mine by first thanking the Academy…tear.  Next, I would like to thank a man who I consider to be my second father, and hopefully the next president of the United States, Brett Favre.  Hard as it is to go further since thoughts of touchdown passes and ultra-human manliness are clouding my brain, I will go further to thank Metallica, Boston’s self-titled debut, Charlie from “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia,” Weezy F. Baby and the fuel that made up the majority of my diet since coming to the Advance-Titan: black coffee and full-flavored cigarettes.

But in all seriousness, this is a solemn day for me, as I will soon be saying good-bye not only to my beloved Advance-Titan, but also to UW-Oshkosh.  As much as I pissed and moaned about the city, campus, teachers, homework, hicks, Community Advisers, police giving me tickets, dude-bros, all Wingers’ regulars, Big Will’s hygiene, Country USA, slow walkers etc; I wouldn’t change a thing and I will truly miss UW-O, the place I’ve called home for the past four years of my life after transferring from UW-La Crosse.

Coming to Oshkosh with no declared major, I will never forget when I finally realized what I wanted to do with my time in college and hopefully for my future career.  It began the second semester of my sophomore year when I took Intro Journalism with Grace Lim while I was living by myself in Evans Hall after being forcefully removed from North Scott on trumped up charges (you can believe that or not).  I’m not sure exactly when it happened; but during that semester something clicked, and I would like to especially thank Grace, Miles and the rest of the journalism department for participating in my growth as a young journalist, and for being part of what I can honestly say has been the most productive, fun and rewarding experience I’ve had in all of my 22 years residing in the greatest state in the U.S.

While I knew what I now wanted to do, it took some pushing from my good friend Zandi to actually begin my journalistic expeditions at the Advance-Titan much like she did for A-T alum Shagzula the Mic Rula. I believe our conversation in a grungy basement over lukewarm Beast Light went something like this:

Zandi: “How the hell are you going to be a journalism major if you don’t write for the school paper?”  

Me: “Touché Zandi, touché.”

And so I began my career at the Advance-Titan writing A&E stories and music reviews under the watchful eye of Andrew Winistorfer. This was my first glimpse into the world of a student-run newspaper and from there I became A&E editor and most recently the managing editor of the hippest sector of our paper, the B-section (the B stands for better).

For all of the great times in the news-cave in the bottom of Reeve Union, I’d like to thank my reporters and fellow editors for making this an experience I will never forget.  I mean, where else could I get away with writing everything from profiles on various bands and dissecting vulgar rap lyrics in music reviews to columns on the lost tradition of scrambled porn, Gary Busey teaming with Satan, my hatred for Smokey Bear and the separation of church and state, not to mention profiling a book on culinary recipes featuring seminal fluid?  

Seriously…I’m looking for a job so if you know of one, hit me up.

In closing, I’d like to thank everyone who’s taken any part in my journalistic journey, even if you think I’m a hack.  I’d like to wish Max, Kasey, Big Willy Style, Munger, Shayla, Jay and the rest of you cats the best of luck in your future endeavors at the Advance-Titan and I’d also like to wish my fellow graduates Jenna, Anthony and Louis the best of luck in earning some skrilla in this asshole of a job market. 

“And if you don’t know, now you know.”  

Peace.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Lighter+Side&amp;s=7725</link><author>by Phil Martinez, of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Senior sendoff: Louis Garcia - Features Reporter and gamer-extraordinaire]]></title><description><![CDATA[My first career choice for my future was to stand in front of a crowd of thousands in the storied stadium that is Anfield.  Playing with soccer’s greats such as Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres was the only thing I’ve ever thought about.  In fact, I still think about it less than two weeks away from graduating. 

When I look back at my decision to come to college I laugh.  Since Liverpool scouts didn’t call me up, I had to think seriously about my future.  I thought about my love for video games and considered becoming a computer programmer.  Turns out you need to know calculus and other crazy made-up things for that line of work.  So in order to someday work for Nintendo that doesn’t consist of me kidnapping Super Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto, I decided I would come to school and try to become a writer.  I chose journalism as the tool that would someday land me a gig writing the next great “Legend of Zelda” story.  

Having chosen this profession for all the wrong reasons I ventured from my town of a little more than 100 people and landed in the new land of Oshkosh after a scenic three-hour drive.  

I have no regrets choosing this career path.  

Someday I will work for Nintendo.  But you know what?  Being a reporter is a heck-of-a-lot of fun too.  Writing is great, but it wouldn’t be as fun if it weren’t for the professors I had.  Aside from all the soccer I played, they were the best part of my college experience.

Professor Gleason, photo professor and lover of bad soccer teams such as Arsenal, is just a great guy inside and outside the classroom.  It was great to just walk into his office and strike up a 30 minute conversation about soccer. As a professor he has taught me much about photography.  It is just to bad he likes Arsenal so much.  

Dr. Filak. I only had one class with him, but it left quite the impression, mainly because the man scared me. Without his reporting class I would be a little less confident in my writing ability.  You scare me, but I’m a better writer because of you.  

For the sake of keeping this short and mildly interesting I will bolt through these last few.  Grace Lim, thanks for helping me get a hefty $1,000 scholarship.  I got it two years in a row.  I also have to thank you for keeping me up to date on absolutely everything going on in the recent election.  Finally, thank you for getting hearing aids.  

Barb Benish. Without your help I wouldn’t have even known how to get an internship.  Not only did you help me score a sweet internship, but you also helped me to build my portfolio and knowledge of how to gain a job in the “real world.”  I won’t let that go to waste.

Cowling.  You rock as a Society of Professional Journalists adviser.  Law class may have put me to sleep on occasion, (it was early when I took it) but at least you made up for it with some good conversations and jokes in SPJ.  

Finally, thank you Gary Coll.  I was in one of his last classes before he stopped teaching.  If he hadn’t been as funny or interesting I may have changed my major to history or sociology, and I wouldn’t have met all of the professors that have had such an impact on me. 
 
It’s crazy to think that I will write for a living.  When I first wrote something for the Advance-Titan my editor (the famous Kate Briquelet) had more red pen markings on the paper than I had words.  Either I got a little better or the staff just got sick of using up their collection of red pens on me.    

Now that college is over, it is time to find a job.  Unfortunately, the economy makes for some stiff competition with an army of fired employees from papers that have downsized or disappeared.  Even my precious “Electronic Gaming Monthly” has closed up shop, leaving me to have almost nothing to look forward to every month.  It’s a nerve-wracking time period to graduate in, but I remain confident that I will sign with Liverpool this summer if I don’t write for a small-town newspaper or magazine.   In all actuality I will probably be at home applying tirelessly in between freelance work, video game sessions and 1v1 soccer matches with my brother.  When I do get a job however, I will be thanking all of the great people that have helped me to achieve that next step in my life.  Thank you all so much.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Lighter+Side&amp;s=7726</link><author>by Louis Garcia, of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Busted!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Feb 08.2009 

(1:25 a.m.) —  A community service officer observed a male on the second floor of Evans Hall remove a window screen. According to the report, the male then hung himself out the window and attempted to urinate from the window. Officers arrived and made contact with the male who was visiting the hall. Officers said the male said he wasn’t being smart and had intentions of urinating out the window, but didn’t and instead went back into the room. Officers observed the window screen leaning next to the closet in the room leaving nothing between the open window and the outside. Jacob P. Simon, 21, not a UW-Oshkosh student, was cited for disorderly conduct.

Feb. 27. 2009

(11:41 p.m.) — A community service officer at Gruenhagen Hall reported an intoxicated male that was involved in a disturbance with a pizza delivery driver who was trying to remove a bicycle from a bike rack. Officers stopped the male student who was riding a bike down High Avenue. According to officers, as they arrived the male started walking away shouting, “f***, f***, this bulls***” and denied stealing the bike and later said he got it from Winger’s Tavern. Officers told the student to “keep it down” or he would receive a citation for disorderly conduct. The male then started to walk toward Donner Hall and continued to swear, and as the officers drove around to watch him he pointed in their direction and screamed “you f***er,” according to the report. The bike was taken to the police department. Student Michael Hardtke, 22, was cited for disorderly conduct.

Feb. 28. 2009

(1:30 a.m.) — A community service officer observed a female on the fifth floor of North Scott Hall causing a disturbance by swearing loud enough for the whole floor to hear. Officers were a few doors away and heard her go to her room and yell “I told you they wouldn’t do sh*t,” according to the report. She was identified by officers as the room’s sole resident and was with another female student. Officers said after making contact she continued to be loud and obnoxious. The officers asked to search her room for alcohol and drugs because she appeared to be intoxicated, and officers said she consented to the search. According to the report, the officers asked her if they would located any drugs to which she replied “none that I know of.” Officers located a glass pipe with suspected marijuana resin and two bags of suspected marijuana. According to the report, officers said they were going to test the pipe for drugs to which she replied, “that is not necessary, we all know what it is.” Her blood alcohol content was .175 percent. Student Jennifer E. Gingras, 20, was cited for disorderly conduct, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

March 10. 2009

(2:08 a.m.) —  Officers observed a vehicle travel the wrong way from Jackson Street to Wisconsin Street. The vehicle was stopped in lot 15. Officers asked the male driver why he had driven the wrong way. According to the report, he said, “I’m not from around here, and someone told me to go that way.” The officers said they could tell he had been drinking alcohol, and he had a blood alcohol content of .144 percent. He was warned about driving while intoxicated. Officers said he gave verbal consent to search his car for drugs and alcohol, and officers found a marijuana pipe with a partially burnt vegetable substance in the bowl. According to the report, he denied owning the pipe and admitted using the pipe previously. He said the last time he smoked marijuana was on March 9, 2009. The three female passengers denied knowing about the pipe and were all identified and released, according to the report. One of the female passengers said her name was Lindsay, which officers later discovered to not be her name. Officers located her in the third floor lounge of Taylor Hall where they again asked her what her name was and she said it was Jessica, which again was not her name, according to the report. Officers said she admitted to drinking alcohol at a bar and had a BAC of .158 percent. Jacob A. Hurt, 21, not a Oshkosh student, was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to obey a sign. Student Nicole J. Christenson, 20, was cited for obstructing an officer and underage drinking. 

March 14. 2009

(9:54 p.m.) —  Officers were called to check the welfare of a female who was carried into Clemans Hall because of her level of intoxication, according to the report. Officers checked on the female, who was found to be intoxicated, but not incapacitated, and was vomiting into a garbage can, according to officers. Community service officers observed her being carried to a room by two males. She had a BAC of .196 percent and had “several fun bottles of alcohol” in her possession, according to the report. Adriannah Doyle, 18, not an Oshkosh student, was cited for underage drinking.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=News&amp;s=7704</link><author>by Jenna Kleist, of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[New dorm to arrive by 2012]]></title><description><![CDATA[After May 2010 the NBC Village will be replaced by a new residence hall geared toward upper classmen. 

According to Petra Roter, vice chancellor for student affairs, construction will take 16 to 21 months and will cost an estimated $34 million. Roter said the cost includes an air conditioning chiller for the rooms. 

Currently the NBC Village consists of Nelson, Breese and Clemans halls and is located next to Reeve Memorial Union. It will remain open for the 2009 to 2010 academic year. According to Roter, the new rooms will resemble traditional spaces as well as apartment style suites. The hall will cater to juniors and seniors much like Taylor does presently, although all students are welcome, Roter said. 

“There will be an additional charge,” Roter said of the rooms’ cost.

Roter also said in keeping with sustainable building practices, the hall would try for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification and possibly gold standard, second only to platinum. LEED certification is given to buildings that are constructed with the environment and sustainability in mind.

Plans for the new residence hall, which has a goal of being available by fall 2012, were unveiled during the Campus Master Plan forum Monday in Reeve Ballroom. Designer Ken Saiki presented a number of possibilities for re-routing traffic on campus, additional parking opportunities and expansion for the university.

Chancellor Richard Wells stressed that the plans, which were last looked at in 1998 and 1999, were preliminary.

“This is something we wanted to make sure we did before the end of the semester,” Wells said. “This is just the first shot at it. Nothing has been committed to.”

Wells handed out information on completed projects, current projects and future projects. Future projects include: a renovation of Fletcher Hall between 2009-2013, for $19.4 million; a remodel plan for Donner and Webster halls between 2009-2013, for $18.7 million paid through student funding; and a building remodel of Clow and the Nursing and Education building between 2011-2015, for a cost of $23.9 million paid through public funding, among other projects.

According to data presented from 2006, there was an estimated need for 1,378 additional parking spots. Another estimation, which took into account creating islands in parking lots to help with the drainage of runoff water, estimated a need for 1,407 spots. The data also indicated 200 to 500 residents on waiting lists for spots, and 700 vehicles traveling on campus property on the busiest days. Saiki said all these numbers were rough estimates and could be off. 

Joe Blohm, director of parking, said during the forum that the numbers were outdated and that demand for spots has decreased due to a rise in parking permit costs and higher gas prices, among other factors. 

Saiki said the estimated 1,407 additional spots would require four parking ramps, similar in size to the one currently on campus, or would cover an area of 12.5 acres for a surface parking lot.

Wells said that one ramp may be possible, but four would not be built and said an area of 12.5 acres would not be used for additional parking.

“We have to put ourselves in the mindset that we are an urban campus,” Wells said.

Among suggestions that Wells said would be more likely than an additional parking structure were: not allowing freshmen to bring cars, having a campus taxi system, creating a park and ride and promoting the use of bikes and mo-peds.

Thomas Sonnleitner, vice chancellor for administrative services, said parking was not the biggest priority.

“We don’t want parking to drive our plans,” Sonnleitner said. “Parking really is an auxiliary.”

Saiki also presented possibilities for additional storage in Kolf, art studios, Information Technology space in Polk Library and the possibility of obtaining parts of AxleTech and Lincoln Elementary School for expansion. AxleTech could possibly be used for additional storage and for expansion as part of the proposed road reconstruction, and Lincoln Elementary could possibly be converted into a student health and daycare center.

Plans for re-routing traffic would mean main access points for the campus would be at High Avenue and Woodland Avenue and off Wisconsin Street. The draft also included the possibility of a roundabout at the High and Woodland intersection. The changes would divert traffic from areas such as Reeve Union, Albee and Blackhawk Commons.

“The biggest thing that this plan has done for campus is a major road reconstruction,” Saiki said. “A good deal of campus is going to be disconnected streets.” 

Following the forum Saiki, Sonnleitner and Wells addressed audience members concerns such as the need for additional personnel to maintain the grounds if the plans went through and providing outdoor activity space for students to use. 

Sonnleitner said the university had considered the need for additional personnel to maintain the grounds, and Wells said that the university owned the practice field located near Congress Street and the Jackson Street Athletic Field. Wells said better signage or promotion of these fields may be necessary and said these are just two of the areas owned by the university that students may not be aware of.

Wells said that the preliminary plans would continue to be discussed over the summer and beyond.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=News&amp;s=7705</link><author>by Jenna Kleist, of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Asian eatery likely to come to the union]]></title><description><![CDATA[Reeve Advisory Council voted last week to explore Jump Asian Express instead of Kentucky Fried Chicken as a replacement for Burger King.

On April 9, RAC decided to go forward with KFC, but on April 10 the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals filed a complaint against KFC’s suppliers based on its treatment of KFC’s animals. 

Petra Roter, vice chancellor for student affairs, said the university was aware of previous complaints filed against KFC in 2004 and 2005, but found that those complaints had been dealt with appropriately and fixed. After receiving word of the April 10 complaint, RAC decided to review its decision, Roter said.

According to the minutes of the RAC April 29 meeting, two people voted to keep the KFC concept, and 11 voted for Jump Asian Express. Another option that was explored to replace Burger King, which will leave after around 10 years on campus, was Moe’s Southwest Grill. However, no one at the meeting voted in support of that option, which offers food similar to Titan Taco.

Andrew Evenson, president of RAC, said cost and variety were the reasons RAC opted for Jump Asian Express.

“The KFC would not have been a full KFC, lacking options like mashed potatoes and chicken on the bone,” Evenson said. “This caused many RAC members who had supported KFC to change their mind.”

Jump Asian Express was explored due to student survey feedback and in the past, Panda Express was considered. Roter said the price point for Panda Express was too high, and it didn’t allow for meal transfer so the idea was rejected.

“The appeal to the Asian cuisine is that it provides variety, vegan and vegetarian options,” Roter said.

The surveys also indicated that students sought comfort food like grilled cheese and burgers. This need will be fulfilled by a dining option that offers these foods in Reeve after Burger King exits, Roter said.

Sophomore Niki Van Nuland has a block meal plan and eats in Reeve around five days a week. She said she was in favor of Jump Asian Express.

“That would be good,” Van Nuland said. “I like Chinese food, and I would eat there a lot.”

Roter said a number of things are considered when choosing a franchise including: the cost of buildup, which includes the building itself and equipment and can’t exceed $50,000; affordability for students; and the ability to transfer meals through the use of a Titancard.

The next step is for RAC to look at these costs and do a taste test of Jump Asian Express cuisine. The changes could mean a new look for Reeve Concourse as well. Roter said if Jump Asian Express comes to Reeve, Titan Taco could be moved where the center salad bar and soups currently are. If Moe’s comes to Reeve, Titan Taco would leave, but it depends on what is decided, Roter said.

“Our hope is to go into construction by fall of 2009,” Roter said.

In late April members of the Campus Sustainability class started to circulate a petition that protested the possibility of KFC coming to campus. Although Roter said no members of RAC or university administrators were given the petition to review, Evenson said that other factors played more of a role in RAC’s decision than did PETA’s complaint.

“This vote should not be misunderstood as if RAC had caved into the demands of PETA,” Evenson said. “PETA may view this as a major victory for them, and they have their right to their opinion.”

 David Barnhill, Campus Sustainability Council co-chair, Molly Battist, Campus Sustainability class member and Jackie Schiller, Food Committee chair all discussed various aspects of the impact of bringing a KFC to campus and audience members also provided feedback.

Comments ranged from concern over the campuses sustainable reputation if KFC was chosen to questions about cost and transferability of meals if the Jump Asian Express option was chosen, according to the minutes from the meeting.

If any students wish to provide additional feedback they can contact Randy Hedge, director of Reeve Memorial Union or Marty Strand, of university dining, Roter said.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=News&amp;s=7706</link><author>by Jenna Kleist, of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Students survey smoking stance]]></title><description><![CDATA[Through a survey, three UW-Oshkosh nursing students found that 72 percent of 18-to-24-year-olds would be in favor of a statewide smoking ban.

Erin Folstad, Brittany Watring and Kate Hoerth, all seniors, worked with the Tobacco-Free and Drug-Free Communities Coalition of Winnebago County. According to Folstad, the survey was part of a project to fulfill a nursing program requirement.

“The three of us chose this [project] because we all support the smoking ban,” Folstad said.

In conjunction with a new bill in the state legislature, the results of the survey were meant to share young voters’ views on the proposed statewide ban of smoking in work and public places. The bill could be up for vote before the full assembly as soon as May 13, Emily Dieringer, co-coordinator of the coalition said.

“From there, if both versions of the bill are the same, it could become law,” Dieringer said. “If the senate and [assembly] versions are different, they will have to go back and make both versions the same before it can be passed into law.”

When conducting the survey, Folstad, Hoerth and Watring spent time at local restaurants, bars, a bowling alley and Reeve Union, Dieringer said. Around 200 people between 18 and 24 years old completed the survey.

“Seventy percent [of those surveyed] prefer to go to a non-smoking bar,” Dieringer said.

These results, along with pictures of survey takers, were compiled into a presentation and sent to state legislators, Folstad said.

“All three of us put in around 55 hours,” Folstad said. 

This included meetings, speaking at a town hall meeting, and creating a PowerPoint that was sent to 48 legislatures across the state.

Dieringer said they have yet to hear any responses from those state legislators.

“I don’t know if any legislators specifically had any opinions,” Dieringer said. “But Sen. Mike Ellis, Rep. Gordon Hintz and Rep. Richard Spanbauer are all sponsoring the smoke-free air bills that are going through the legislature.”

A major part of their project centered on secondhand smoke, which the proposed bill would help eliminate in work and public places, Dieringer said.

“Less smoking and secondhand smoke equals less upper respiratory problems, cancers, heart attacks and asthma,” Folstad said. “Since we are nursing students, we know how much smoking and secondhand smoke affects people’s health. If we can prevent illnesses and cancer by doing something so simple, we are interested.”

Watring said she has shared secondhand smoke statistics with clients during her clinical time.

“Tobacco smoke causes several problems to children such as SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), asthma and ear infections,” Watring said. “Less secondhand smoke will decrease problems in children and lower the rates of cancers and heart problems.”

Besides asking 18-to-24-year-olds about the smoking ban, Folstad, Hoerth and Watring gathered opinions about the proposed tax increase on cigarettes.

“Fifty-three percent [of those surveyed] supported the 75 cent tax increase on cigarettes,” Dieringer said. “The cigarette tax is still in the budget waiting to get voted upon.”

Dieringer said the coalition has been working since early this year to spread the word about the bill.

Watring said she had many reasons for contributing to the project.

“Cancer is a huge risk factor in my family, so if I can reduce my risk and my family’s risk, I’m happy,” she said. “My grandpa had bladder cancer five years ago because of tobacco use. Thankfully, he is in remission and hasn’t smoked a cigarette since.”

Folstad said she also feels the effects of workplace smoke. She’s worked at a restaurant that allows smoking for four years.

“The smoking section seems to be the entire building because of poor circulation,” Folstad said. “When I started I didn’t have any problems… [Now] I have allergies to cigarette smoke. It sucks to consider quitting my job because of my health.”

The Oshkosh Student Association has recently been discussing the campus’ current smoking policy. it has released a survey in order to solicit the opinions of the campus community.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=News&amp;s=7707</link><author>by Jade Bolack of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Chancellor receives award for work with student groups]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Oshkosh Student Association held its last senate meeting of the year Tuesday by giving Chancellor Richard Wells the newly created Shared Governance Award and giving Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Petra Roter the Doug McLean Memorial Award.

Before Wells received his award, OSA President Thomas Wolf acknowledged that shared governance is not easy, and for almost a decade Wells has devoted himself to the idea of making it work.

Under state statue 36.09 (5), universities are required to obtain feedback from students, staff, faculty and administration prior to making any changes that could affect students, staff, faculty or administration. 

“Under this we as student organizations are given perspective areas that we oversee, 36.09 (5) covers OSA, USRH and RAC and where our jurisdiction lies,” Alex Abendschein, newly elected OSA vice president said. “Basically put, it is a system of checks and balances that insures that all students, staff, faculty and administrators have a voice in the decision making process. The UW System is one of the only systems that has a shared governance clause in their statues and we are very fortunate because of it and to have the administration and leaders that we do on this campus.”	

In reference to UW-Oshkosh being an institution outside of just students and faculty, Wolf said, “It is all of us combined.  We are the institution.  And in this institution, Chancellor Wells has committed himself to the empowerment of students.”

Prior to the senate meeting, Wells had no idea about the award and was appreciative and surprised upon receiving it. 

“I am really moved that students acknowledge something I am committed to,” Wells said. “Being recognized by students is better than any other recognition.”

Future Reeve Union Board President Shane Arman stressed the importance of shared governance.

“Shared governance ensures that students have a legitimate voice in situations like the budget crisis, issues that affect the entire university and community,” Arman said.

Abendschein talked about Wells’ work.

“UW-Oshkosh is extremely fortunate to have a leader amongst peers in the area of shared governance,” Abendschein said. “[Wells’] open approach to student opinions and suggestions makes our work as student leaders all the more important.”

This award was created to acknowledge Wells’ continued commitment to students and the shared governance process on campus.  

Other UW campuses also try to utilize shared governance. UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow said, “If you think shared governance is tough, try fighting against it.”

Several OSA senators and the OSA president felt that Wells does not fight against shared governance, but embraces it, because he is not afraid to work with and address students.

Roter was equally surprised when she received the Doug McLean Memorial Award.  Roter is an active participant on campus for student advocacy and is the adviser.  

Wolf stated that Roter has dedicated herself over the past years to work with students in residence life, athletics, campus safety, leadership developments and financial assistance for child care.  Roter is devoted to providing the highest quality of leadership and counsel to benefit students.
  
“Dr. Roter is a leader and a role-model of the highest caliber who selflessly advocates for students,” Wolf said.

Roter’s response to the award was similar to Wells’. 

“I work for students, and it means the most to receive an award from them,” Roter said. The Doug McLean Memorial Award has been around since 1999.  It is named after the former Assistant Dean of Students and OSA Adviser Doug McLean.  McLean was an inspiration on campus for being a strong advocate and friend to students.  	

Administrative Assistant of the Student Recreational and Wellness Center Jill Reichenberger had the privilege of knowing McLean. 

“I don’t think there was ever a time I saw him get upset or angry,” Reichenberger said of McLean. “He was always interested in what students were doing and wanted to share their successes.” 

The Doug McLean Memorial Award for student advocacy is given in honor of individuals who have put forth great efforts in contributing to the success and helping student organizations.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=News&amp;s=7708</link><author>by Amanda Betts of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Update from Parking Services]]></title><description><![CDATA[Earlier this spring, an AT reporter interviewed me about the loss of 500 parking spaces for the Fall 2009 semester.  At the time, I promised the reporter that I would keep the AT informed about new developments.  There have been new developments.  During the Fall semester, we will not lose all of Lot 34.  Approximately 150 of the 225 spaces in Lot 34 will still be available.  However, we will lose all of Lot 34 in Spring 2010.  Losing some and then all of lot 34 is necessary so the geo-thermal phase of the Elmwood Center construction project can be completed.
 
Also, for Fall 2009, we will should only lose 136 spaces in lot 7, not 273 as  originally thought.  (We will still have roughly 137 spaces.)   The 136 spaces are being lost due to the construction of the new academic building.  These spaces will not be available again until the new academic building is done.
 
The bottom line is--we will only lose 211 spaces in Fall 2009, not 500 as previously thought.  The loss in Spring 2010 will be 361 spaces.

Thanks,
Joe Blohm, Parking Services]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=News&amp;s=7730</link><author></author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Freeganism combats overconsumption]]></title><description><![CDATA[The shops are closed, lights turned off. Without enough customers herding through for consumption, food and gadgetry, the unsalable materials are cast into metal containers meant to keep garbage contained and safe from scavengers. Out of the darkness of car interiors, tree lines and alleyways come blue-jean hunters and gatherers, intent upon the dumpsters and their bounty. One comes out of the pile with a still-warm pizza. Another spies an office plant that may look better in their home. Still a third finds a bike with a flat tire that can be cheaply fixed. Store owners and the police they alert would call up antiquated laws to harass these people who see their actions as combating waste problems and liberating the discarded.

Modern freegans enter society as a revival of the hunter-gatherer tradition adapted to the capitalist system. Freegans effectively create a marginal community of individuals that oppose the capitalist system by removing money as much as possible from the process of survival. These marginalized individuals can be those without the ability to survive without resorting to freeganism or those who choose it as a philosophy to preserve the environment and their pocketbook. If the modern capitalist system has taken to providing the basics of survival in lieu of the environment, then the new capitalist environment will inherently create freegans from the people who do not want to be alienated from their survival. 

Alienating individuals from the means of their own survival has caused dissident opposition throughout history every time an industrial innovation took from populations the ability to make a living by wage. Inventions like the cotton gin and mechanized loom caused rebellion and uproar in their times. Without the ability to resort to wage labor, nature has always been able to provide the means of survival. Since all nature is legally spoken for and most populations are cordoned into cities by this legality, the nature of the urban environment takes the slack of alienated individuals. 

The products of survival in the urban environment are legally protected, which alienates one from survival due to the legal protection of natural spaces, thus one finds the wastes of the urban environment as their fruits of survival. Waste is a problem of the modern world. Overpopulation, coupled with overconsumption in advanced capitalist economies has caused waste on an epic level. 

Robert Malone of Forbes Magazine reported in 2006 that the United States “manages to produce a quarter of the world’s waste despite the fact that its population of 300 million is less than 5 percent of the world’s population, according to 2005 estimates.”

Waste levels in industrialized countries are not low and are not relegated to only America.

Malone noted that the United States was first amongst industrialized nations with 236 million tons of waste in 2005. Following closely were Russia with 207.4 million tons, Japan with 52.36 million tons, Germany with 48.84 million tons and the United Kingdom with 34.85 million tons. 

“It also needs to be noted that countries like Japan and Germany, for all their trash, are most accomplished at recycling and properly burning waste under controlled conditions,” Malone said.

Freeganism is recycling technology. Although freeganism cannot completely solve the problem of waste, it can fight the system of overconsumption by avoiding the need to buy something new when used (and free) is just as good. Freeganism can correctly be said to be reliant on waste. The system of overconsumption itself has created the growing community.

Jan Goodwin of Marie Claire magazine ran a story about the freeganism community with the same surprise surrounding the subject as their articles in the same section such as: “The teacher’s pornographic past” or “I survived prison: what really happens behind bars.”

“Born of the extreme environmentalist and anti-globalization movements of the ‘90s, freeganism is a wholly modern crusade whose followers live off the grid while simultaneously exploiting it,” Goodwin said. “Freegans rarely go hungry thanks to the colossal amount of food Americans dump every day — 38 million tons annually, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.”

Freeganism is borne of the anti-globalization movement in that overconsumption is borne of the globalized corporate capitalist economic model. Companies compete for the most attention, lowest prices and cheapest distribution for their products to take the most money from consumers attracted to their product. While lots of money may go into advertising and distributing products, the losers are inherently the environment, the workers and the small business. By sharing costs, the corporate businesses can justify a certain amount of waste to justify the overstock that may satisfy increased demand.	

“The United Nations says our leftovers could satisfy every single empty stomach in Africa,” Goodwin said.

Freegans can live off this overstock.

To sort though the discarded goods, freegans can put to work particular skills to augment their lifestyle. A person with a biology backgroud would not only be able to identify healthy waste, but also wild-growing plants. A person with a technological background could scavenge wastes for useable or fixable appliances and transportation.

In a 2006 issue of Take 5, Phoebe Turner said that she got into freeganism at 10 years old when she found a barely damaged bike in the trash and took it home to fix. Ever since, she has been feeding herself and her college roommates by regular excursions to sites that provide wasted foods.

One can get just about anything from the trash and freeganism can be augmented by many skills to make the process more safe and efficient. Though our world is far from the garbage-drowned vat of vapid seen in the movie “Idiocracy,” freeganism may at least remove enough population from the practice of consumerism and egoistic conspicuous consumption to reinforce the need to rethink the system. To form a majority, the people need a committed marginal minority to build on. If we were all willing to accept a lowering in lifestyle standards by supporting humble, work-oriented but free lifestyle choice, then perhaps the world may never need freeganism ever again.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Opinion&amp;s=7712</link><author>by Anthony Berg of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Advance-Titan must change with the times]]></title><description><![CDATA[As the semester ends and another class of students graduate, the A-T will also be taking part in the proceedings. So before you take part in the Howard Hughes-like swine flu phobia graduation ceremony, read on to see what changes we’ll be making after you graduating students are gone.
Graduating this semester are A-Section editor Jenna Kleist, as well as B-Section editor Phil Martinez, B-Section writer Louis Garcia and Opinions Editor Anthony Berg.  Kleist had steadfastly held down the news section for most of her tenure here.  Martinez was the author of many fine band reviews, as well as his infamous “Spunk recipes” article.  Garcia had graced the A-T with more video game reviews than this paper has or probably will see for years to come. May he find his niche in the future. Berg had also contributed video game reviews in the past, but his more recent turn to editorials and stepping up to be opinions editor has helped keep the student informed of national and international events through his strong opinions. Those of us remaining will miss them and their contributions to the A-T over the past years.  For our readers, if you see Jenna, Phil, Louis or Anthony, and liked what they’ve done, congratulate them and wish them well.

This issue also marks the end of the current editorship as Editor -in-Chief for Max Davies and the beginning of Andrew Munger’s editorship, as decided by the staff election on April 14.  May he continue the Great Work and bring the A-T to new levels of recognition and esteem.

Current Faculty Adviser Miles Maguire will be replaced by Vince Filak. Thanks go out to both Maguire’s past help as adviser and in advance for Filak’s contributions in the future.

Inevitably, staff changeover means we’ll be changing certain things about the paper as well. In comparison to the mainstream media world, our changes will probably not seem as extreme, nevertheless we want readers to stay informed as to what we’ll be working on. So here are the new things readers can expect next semester.

We’ll be trying to recruit for many positions in virtually all sections as we seek to provide more comprehensive coverage from our paper.  News will likely expand by a page and the opinions section will decrease by a page. 
We’ll be looking to change our Web site in several ways: Ads, more and better Web exclusive coverage, increased updates, greater use of the A-T’s Facebook and Twitter accounts to keep readers connected and informed, along with photo galleries and the possibility of podcasting. These changes will bring the Advance-Titan from the primarily print format we have accustomed ourselves to, and allow for a whole host of new media reporting that will hopefully not only garner more attention, but get more people engaged with the campus and the events going on at Oshkosh.
 
Several more immediate changes to the hard copy of the paper will also be apparent.  The Advance-Titan will feature a Sudoku puzzle, a crossword, and also strive to have a more unified layout. To put some of these new additions into the paper, the Busted! section will be reduced in size, mainly the map, to accommodate the added material.  So loyal readers of the Busted! Section, worry not, for there will still be the weekly listings of your fellow students caught in the act that you can use to humiliate those that appear in it.

Thank you for reading the Advance Titan and tell us what you think of the changes.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Opinion&amp;s=7713</link><author></author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[May Day tales of ants and ninjas]]></title><description><![CDATA[Let me tell you a story of May Day and ants, and afterward let’s consider what the story means.

May Day this year was marked by 30 ninjas who broke numerous windows in Milwaukee, and internationally by 273 police officers receiving injuries in Germany from the hands of rioters in the news. As reported by Milwaukee CBS 58’s Ashleigh Barry, “Police say there may have been up to 30 vandals who were dressed as ninjas, all in black and wearing masks.” 

Likewise in Germany, “In all, 5,800 police officers were on hand to try to keep a lid on the violence that has become a yearly ritual in Berlin. They used tear gas, pepper spray and water cannons as some of the roughly 5,000 leftist demonstrators, marching under the motto ‘capitalism is war and crisis,’ threw stones and bottles,”  reported an Associated Press story out of Berlin.

May Day, also known as International Worker’s Day, celebrates the achievements of the international worker’s movement. It commemorates the Haymarket Massacre in Chicago in 1886.  Workers had gone on general strike for an eight-hour work day, when Chicago police fired on the workers and killed a number of them. It has long been a holiday used for demonstrations by socialist, communist and anarchist groups, which is probably why anarchists are suspected, since a group of them had held a protest earlier in the day in Milwaukee.

Many who read of these actions think of them as senseless vandalism.  So here’s a story of ants, because humans are a lot like ants. Peter Kropotkin, in his book “Mutual Aid” described “the fundamental feature of the life of many species of ants is the fact and the obligation for every ant of sharing its food already swallowed and partly digested, with every member if the community which may apply for it.” Among ants, there is a behavior they exhibit when meeting other ants.  If an ant is working and hungry when it encounters another ant, it will ask for food.  Kropotkin later writes, “If an ant which has its crop full has been selfish enough to refuse feeding a comrade, it will be treated as an enemy, or even worse.  If the refusal has been made while its kinsfolk were fighting with some other species, they will fall back upon the greedy individual with greater vehemence than even upon the enemies themselves.”

The hungry ant is a have-not.  The other ant is a have. Ants fix the problem of hoarding wealth at the most basic of levels before it becomes aggravated to the level of society.

These ninjas are have-nots.  Those businesses, especially Bank of America, are the haves.  Is it still surprising to see what happened?  It shouldn’t be.  Rather quite the opposite.  I’m surprised it hasn’t been seen as much before.  It’s the totality.  When everything about the dominant culture and economic system is f*cked, does it matter what gets destroyed? 

Whether others want to acknowledge it, property destruction is a form of non-violent protest.  Violence needs to be between living things, bodies for it to be considered violence proper. Certain advocates of property destruction, such as anarcho-primitivist John Zerzan, believe that “we have too much stuff” and society needs to be reset.  

Whoever did these acts did not necessarily have to believe society has to be reset, but it is clear beyond a shadow of a doubt that following our ant analogy among our society, certain ants have hoarded selfishly and refused to feed others.  When the actions of “ninjas” come home like this past May Day, we should reflect on it and try to aid all people.  People aren’t as irrational as they seem.  There is a method to their madness.  

Rather than allow already bloated ants to continue to hoard the very necessities of life such as food and shelter, which Bank of America has been one of the leading agents foreclosing houses for people all over America, we should strive to recognize, like the ants, that these things should be the right and duty for all people to look out for all others.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Opinion&amp;s=7714</link><author>by Max Davies, of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Letter to the editor: KFC ethics are without merit]]></title><description><![CDATA[In response to your letter “KFC ethics” (4/30/09), it was disappointing to see that KFC continues to issue deliberately deceptive and unfair statements to consumers about the treatment of chickens raised and killed for its buckets and boxes. As carefully detailed in PETA’s recent complaint to the Federal Trade Commission, the chickens raised and killed for KFC routinely suffer painful, crippling injuries and have their limbs broken. Many have their throats cut while they are still conscious. Therefore, the company is lying to its customers when they claim they treat chickens humanely.

Thankfully, students see right through KFC’s misleading statements, which is why they gathered nearly 500 petition signatures last week against the chain opening a restaurant on campus. Whether out of concern for their own health, environmental devastation, or cruelty to animals, students sent a clear message that KFC is not welcome at UW-O.  

For more information on KFC’s practices, visit peta2.com to request free literature, stickers, and a DVD.

Sincerely,

Ryan Huling
College Campaign Coordinator, Peta 2]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Opinion&amp;s=7715</link><author></author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Letter to the Editor: Response to specter leaving Republican Party]]></title><description><![CDATA[Arlen Specter leaving the Republican Party demonstrates the vacuum of ideas, not just Republican ideas, but the complete absence of well-thought-out alternative to Obama’s plans. Somebody needs to sit down with the Democrats and discuss the ramifications the huge deficit we are leaving our children. Yes, sit down with them, but leave out the name-calling, the questioning of Obama’s patriotism, the character assassination, the potty-mouth, and the insistence that the only response to any Democratic suggestion is “No.” 

 I am a fan of Obama, and a lifelong Democrat, but I recognize the danger of one-party rule, and today, the only party opposed to the Democrats is dominated by people who use terms like “baby-killer” to define their opponents. Republican leaders insist on describing Democrats in the worst of all possible terms, ascribing to them the lowest motives and morals. This one-note symphony is all you hear. After the Specter announcement, Republican leaders clearly resisted any self-analysis, and simply hurled insults: “Take McCain and his daughter with you,” and “We’re better off without him.” Republican ex-senator Rick Santorum couldn’t resist getting graphically profane, and before the day’s end, another Republican representative claimed that Democrats are responsible for Swine Flu. 

 Yes, Repubs just can’t lay off the name-calling. They call Obama 0A“socialist,” even though he’s presiding over the largest corporate giveaway in US history, with very few strings attached. That’s sad, because on this one point, the far left and right actually agree: The administration is too chummy with Wall Street and the banks. The thinkers of both sides of the isle agree that the Administration’s solution to our economic woes is too bank-centric. Now, in countries with a parliamentary system, what we’d be witnessing right now is a strategic alliance between the left and right, designed to reign in the Administration’s love affair with Wall Street. But for that to happen, the Republicans must put forth ideas, not just repeat the “lower taxes” mantra endlessly. Will they change? No, because the people running the party believe their future lies in a firmer anti-gay and anti-abortion and anti-tax stand, rather than invite new thinking. In the coming days, look for more big-name Republican defections, followed by more glee from Steele and Limbaugh as the moderates flee in droves.

Joey Marin]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Opinion&amp;s=7716</link><author></author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Letter to the Editor: Oshkosh students reject KFC]]></title><description><![CDATA[On April 10, PETA filed a formal legal complaint—online [url=http://blog.peta.org/archives/KFC%20FTC.PDF]here[/url] —with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urging it to force KFC to retract false statements regarding its so-called “animal welfare” policies and advisory panel, which turned out to be the game-changer, which led to the reconsideration and cancellation of UW-Oshkosh’s plans to allow KFC to replace the Burger King in Reeve Memorial Union. This led to a student movement to opt, instead, for a relatively vegetarian and animal-friendly option.

The final straw fell on April 29, when the Reeve Advisory Council (RAC) decided, with a huge super-majority of the vote, to reject KFC’s bid to take Burger King’s place in the UW-O food service, and opt for Jump Asian Express, instead. Jump has many vegan and vegetarian options prominently featured at the top of its menu, and, as far as I know, it has no outstanding animal welfare complaints against it.

As Randy Hedge, UW-O Director of Dining Services, explained at that RAC meeting, PETA’s consumer fraud complaint against KFC came on April 10, which was the day after UW-O had initially decided to bring KFC to campus. That complaint resulted in a motion to reconsider that decision in all three of the involved student government bodies. Moral elements throughout the whole campus immediately rose to the occasion and created a grassroots student opposition movement, which petitioned, lobbied hard, and overwhelmed the amoral elements. UW-O students should feel proud of themselves.

All you proud members of the moral community are now hereby invited to take it to the next level by joining me for my next monthly 1st Saturday protest at the KFC restaurant in Oshkosh, on the corner of Jackson and Murdock, for a noonhour (12-1 p.m.) full of good moral suasion and fun.

Steve Barney
Oshkosh, WI]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Opinion&amp;s=7717</link><author></author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Titans earn three-way tie for conference title]]></title><description><![CDATA[[url=http://www.titans.uwosh.edu/Baseball/]The UW-Oshkosh baseball team[/url] ended a wild conference season by taking three of four games at UW-Superior to capture a share of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title.

The Titans ended the regular season in a three-way tie with UW-Stevens Point and UW-Whitewater for the WIAC crown. The championship marked Oshkosh’s 29th WIAC championship and only the second three-way split championship in WIAC history (2000- Stevens Point, Whitewater, La Crosse). 

Oshkosh coach Tom Lechnir said going into the weekend the team thought they needed to win all of their games to be in the best position to win the conference.

“We thought we needed to win all four to win a conference championship,” Lechnir said. “Obviously we weren’t able to do that, Platteville helped us out a little bit. But, considering the circumstances with (Jeremy) Rubens being out, (Brad) Demmin being out, we thought could still win a conference championship.”

Going into the weekend, catcher Derek Hiroskey said the team remained focused on trying to take care of what it could control, winning its games against Superior. 

“We were just going to try to take care of what we could take care of,” Hiroskey said. “We weren’t worried about what they (Stevens Point and Whitewater) had going, we just wanted to go and take it one game at a time and play like we know we’re capable of.” 

The Titans won the first game on Saturday, defeating the Yellow Jackets 7-2. Oshkosh jumped out to a 5-0 lead, highlighted by Blake Berger’s two-runsingle in the fifth inning and cruised to the victory. Starter Evan Matson scattered seven hits and two runs over eight and a third innings of work. 

In the second game on Saturday, the Titans were handcuffed by the Yellow Jackets 7-3. Oshkosh trailed 7-0 going into the top of the ninth inning, but Travis Helland drove in the team’s only runs with a three-run home run to left field.

Heading into Sunday the Titans were still immersed in the WIAC title race and took care of the business they had control over, sweeping the Yellow Jackets 8-0 and 6-2. 

In the first game, Oshkosh got a great start from Ryan Demmin, who went all nine innings, giving up only four hits while striking out 10 batters. Brad Sebesta connected on a solo home run in the second inning to put the Titans on the board and Helland added an RBI single to give the Titans a 2-0 lead. Oshkosh put the game out of reach by scoring three runs in the sixth and seventh innings thanks to Kyle Kannenberg’s two-run double in the sixth and back-to-back bases loaded walks in the seventh. 

The second game saw the Titans strike right away on an RBI single by Kannenberg in the first and add another run in the second when Brock Wetenkamp scored on a wild pitch. Oshkosh put up three runs in the 5th; two on back-to-back run scoring doubles by Berger and Sebesta and on a fielders choice by Justin Jirschele. Kannenberg pitched all nine innings, giving up only two earned runs and five hits in a 6-2 victory. 

As the focus shifted from the final conference games of the year to the WIAC Conference tournament, Lechnir said the team is spending time working on little things to help his team in games. 

“(Tuesday) was all about drills and spending our time doing the little things,” Lechnir said. “Bunting, moving runners along, learning how to get jumps off the bases, just doing some team defense kind of things. 

Given their 23-15 (15-9 in the WIAC) record, Lechnir said he didn’t think his team would get an at-large bid for the NCAA Division 3 Baseball tournament, so the team would have to win the conference tournament this weekend to continue their season.

Hiroskey said the team has to play with a sense of urgency, knowing each game could be their last of the season.

“Now we’ve just got to take it one game at a time,” Hiroskey said. “Every game could be our last game so we’ve got to play like that and play with a sense of urgency and come out with four wins this weekend.”]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Sports&amp;s=7699</link><author>by Brandon Berg of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Men’s track team finishes disappointing fourth at Conference]]></title><description><![CDATA[[url=http://www.titans.uwosh.edu/MOutdoorTrack/]The UW-Oshkosh men’s outdoor track and field team[/url] took fourth place out of nine teams at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship held Friday and Saturday at J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium. It was Oshkosh’s lowest finish at the spectacle since 2004, when it also finished fourth in Bruce Coleman’s last year as head coach of the outdoor squad.

Titans’ head coach John Zupanc said he wasn’t shocked by the results, instead disappointed, believing his team should have been in the top three.

“We just made too many mistakes,” he said. “Particularly mistakes on the first day, which carry over. If you make mistakes in the trials, you aren’t getting to the finals. You can’t score points if you aren’t in the finals.”
Oshkosh was seventh after day one, with just 21 points recorded in seven events, by far the Titans’ worst finish this decade.

Oshkosh tallied a grand total of 106 points at the 91st version of the invite, seven points better than UW-Platteville (99), but 23.5 behind UW-Whitewater for third (136.5). UW-La Crosse won its 19th consecutive WIAC title, its 31st in the last 32 years and league-record 45th crown overall with a score of 176.5.

Junior James Simms took home the Titans’ first title in the triple jump since Tom Rath (46 feet, 5 3/4 inches) did it in 1970 by knocking off 15 other entrants with a leap of 48-1 1/4. Simms became just the athlete in Oshkosh history to win an outdoor conference crown in the event, which gave Oshkosh its fourth trophy in the event overall and was the Titans’ only individual conference champion. Simms also improved on his old provisional mark of 46-11 3/4, substantially increasing his odds of qualifying for the NCAA Division III Championship on May 21-23 in Marietta, Ohio.

“He’s established himself as one of the best triple jumpers in the country,” Zupanc said of Simms. “This just solidifies that he jumps well in big meets when he needs to.”

Oshkosh earned its third straight conference crown in the 3,200-meter relay and sixth title overall by winning the event with a time of 7 minutes, 45.55 seconds. The team was comprised of senior Willy Kaul, junior Ben Wizner, freshmen Nate Stymiest and Dan Rammer. Kaul and Wizner have been apart of all three of the winning teams during the current run, something very difficult to do, according to Zupanc.

“There’s an ever-changing set of 800-meter runners, and you’re shuffling guys around and things,” he said. “We’ve always looked to do well in this event; historically we’ve been in the top three in this relay (at the conference championships) for about the last 20 years.”

Junior Brett Jude provisionally qualified for Nationals by taking first place in the preliminaries of the 100-meter dash, sprinting to a time of 10.73 seconds, beating his previous best time of 11.20.

Other notable performances by the Titans included senior Andrew McGuire taking second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:16.55), the foursome of senior A.J. Hollanquest, juniors Chad Churchill and David Edwards and sophomore Chris Lipke achieving a second place result in the 1,600-meter relay (3:20.05), and senior Joe Dillon taking third place in the decathlon (5709 points).

Since Zupanc took over the outdoor team in 2005, Oshkosh has failed to equal or exceed its finish from the indoor season at Nationals, doing worse in the outdoor campaign all four chances. Zupanc attributed the reasons for his team’s struggles in outdoor to many things, but said the main cause is the nature of both seasons. Indoor track has 13-14 events at Nationals, whereas outdoor has 22, making the 10 points awarded to a team for a win in an event much more meaningful in the indoor season, something the Titans appear to be better suited for.

Zupanc said other things such as suspensions, illnesses and injuries have also hit his teams at the wrong time during his tenure as coach, but refused to accept those explanations as unavoidable.

“It’s something that shouldn’t occur,” Zupanc said. “We should be better outdoors than we are indoors. It’s a pattern that we’ve had and it’s hard to figure out. There’s so many variables; as soon as you think you’ve got one thing down, then something else comes up and you don’t.”]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Sports&amp;s=7700</link><author>by Logan Boelle of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Titans trounced in WIAC Tournament, no NCAA at-large bid]]></title><description><![CDATA[[url=http://www.titans.uwosh.edu/WSoftball/]The UW-Oshkosh women’s softball team[/url] managed one victory in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament on Friday and Saturday, May 1-2, at Liebardt Field in Superior.

After earning the No. 3 seed in the tournament, the Titans came out strong and beat the No. 6 seeded UW-Stout Blue Devils 4-1 in the opening game of the three-day competition.

The Titans overcame an early solo home run by Stout in the second inning with their solid defense and the crafty pitching of hurler Ashley Kowalewski. 

Kowalewski allowed only three hits by the opposition and one earned run in less than six innings of work.  Lauren Roberts pitched in relief for Kowalewski with two outs in the top of the sixth to grab the save.

Leading the offensive pursuit for the Titans were right fielder Lisa Hart, who totaled two hits and two RBIs, and Whitney Tornow, who scored twice for the team.

Later in the day, the Titans were defeated by the No. 2 seed, UW-La Crosse by the score of 4-1 in game seven of the tournament.

The Titan’s bats went dormant in this contest as they were only able to account for four hits as a team.

While both teams only totaled one hit apiece after four innings, La Crosse lead-off hitter Rachel Croak broke the scoreless affair with a two-run home run in the top of the fifth.

After La Crosse added two more runs in the top frame of the seventh inning, the Titans had no answer at the plate as all three batters struck out to end the game.

Though still alive in the double-elimination tournament heading into Saturday, the Titans remained ice cold at the plate and were defeated by UW-Whitewater 8-1.

Head coach Cindy Suess said she was disappointed with how the team played in the tournament because the team did not do its part and take advantage of some early upsets.

“We’re capable of playing at a much higher level,” Suess said. “You can’t just show up and go through the motions.”

Tornow tallied the Titans’ only two hits in the game as Oshkosh was defeated by the Warhawks, who are the fourth-ranked team in Division III and the WIAC regular season conference champion.


Tornow was the only bright spot for the Titans in the game, which is no surprise, as she has shone for the team throughout the entire season.

Yesterday, Tornow was named the 2009 WIAC Position Player of the Year and voted onto the All-WIAC Women’s Softball First Team, for the second-consecutive year.

Tornow has swung a ridiculously hot bat, finishing the season with a .482 batting average, with a school-record 12 home runs and 45 RBIs.

She accumulated the highest slugging percentage in the conference with .936, the highest on base percentage at .568 and was ranked third in batting average.

Tornow finished third in total bases with 103, third in walks with 21 and fourth in RBIs.

Specifically in only conference games, Tornow finished first in home runs, RBIs and total bases while she hit with a massive average of .574.

Tornow said she surprised herself with the way she swung the bat this season.

“I could see the ball, and I had so much confidence,” Tornow said. “It just happened.”

Tornow played like an all-star and filled an irreplaceable role in the Titans line up by clearing the bases over and over again.

No one better than defending Division III national champion UW-Eau Claire can describe what Tornow accomplished at the plate. 

In the Titans recent sweep in their doubleheader against the Blugolds on April 28, Tornow totaled three hits, which included two home runs, four walks, three runs and an impressive eight runs batted in.  

Suess said Tornow had an incredible year by staying patient at the plate and she was the team’s soul.

“She did everything and more we asked of her,” Suess said. “Her strikeouts were down and her discipline at the plate was phenomenal.

“The kid was amazing.”

Sydnee Wyss joined Tornow on the All-WIAC Women’s Softball First Team and made the All-Sportsmanship Team.

Titan’s pitcher Roberts received Honorable Mention in conference and appeared near the top of the individual achievements in several categories.  

Roberts finished sixth in earned run average with 2.25, sixth in opposing batting average at .243, and she took third in strikeouts totaling 139 and third in saves with three.

Due to their lackluster performance in the conference tournament, the Titans missed out on an at-large bid into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Softball Championship.

After the final loss to Whitewater, the Titans overall season record finished at 20-17.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Sports&amp;s=7701</link><author>by Adam Katzfey of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Titans’ tennis team  drops both matches in WIAC Tournament]]></title><description><![CDATA[[url=http://www.titans.uwosh.edu/WTennis/]The UW-Oshkosh women’s tennis team[/url] ended its season with back-to-back losses in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Team Tournament on May 2, but its future is looking bright.

UW-Whitewater shut out Oshkosh 6-0, and the Titans then lost to UW-Eau Claire, 8-1, to place fourth in the tournament, finishing with a 9-8 dual meet record.

However, because Jenna Abbott is the only senior leaving, head coach Steve Francour said the Titans will return experienced athletes with some talented recruits coming next semester.

“I think we’ll be able to pick up next season where we left off this year,” Francour said.  “I’m very excited for the future and I think the kids are, too.”

Francour said Abbott, who lost her singles matches against Whitewater (6-0, 6-0) and Eau Claire (6-3, 6-1), was a great leader and a good doubles player.

“Her skills as a partner in doubles are really going to be missed,” he said.  “She was always someone I could count on to put with somebody and she was going to help that other person get through as well as play at a high level herself.”

Junior Brittany Braasch, Abbott’s new partner in No. 1 doubles, said a lack of familiarity contributed to losing against Whitewater and Eau Claire 8-2 and 8-3, respectively.

“It was hard because we really didn’t get to practice with each other all week because people have different schedules with school right now,” Braasch said.

Illness kept freshman Emily Bostwick out of action and forced Francour to do position shuffling, including new doubles teams.

One of those new pairings was the No. 3 freshmen tandem of Eva Counsell and Liz Leffler who notched the Titans’ only win by beating Eau Claire 8-6.

“That was a team that they played that they need to make sure they were forcing the issue, put some pressure on them, and they did that real well together,” Francour said.

Next season, Counsell and Leffler will be two of the younger athletes that Braasch will try to lead to success.

Braasch said she is excited and looks forward to taking on her leadership role.

“I really get along with all the girls on the team, so I don’t think much is going to change,” Braasch said.  “It’s just going to be that we’re all going to have to step up.”

Francour said Braasch is integral to the Titans competing for a conference championship.

“She’s one of our hardest workers and she sets a good example for everybody else on what they need to do to be ready to play,” he said.  “So, she’ll help us a ton next year.”

Calling this season a “huge success” coming off a last-place finish the year before and Francour said he is extremely excited about next year.

However, he said Oshkosh is not the only team in the WIAC returning a lot of talent.

“Our conference is extremely tough,” Francour said.  “You look at La Crosse, Eau Claire, and Whitewater—I think those three schools combined lost three kids.”

Francour said the experience his players gained from the team tournament will help them achieve future success.

“It was good for the girls to see what that level’s like, and now we just got to make sure we’re doing everything we can to get back to that for next year.”]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Sports&amp;s=7702</link><author>by Eric Balkman of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Titans stumble late, take second at coference]]></title><description><![CDATA[[url=http://www.titans.uwosh.edu/WOutdoorTrack/]The UW-Oshkosh women’s outdoor track and field team[/url] held the lead for as long as it could, but in the end, the Titans finished second with 181 points at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships on April 1-2.

Oshkosh went into the second day of competition with a 10-point lead over two-time defending champions UW-La Crosse; however, even a herculean effort by senior standout Ayla Mitchell couldn’t hold down the Eagles.

Titans’ coach Deb Vercauteren said she was hoping her team could retain its lead, but wasn’t very surprised midway through the second day when it lost the lead to La Crosse, considering the Eagles had 17 runners in the final day’s events to Oshkosh’s six. The Eagles won the meet with a total of 211 points.

“Would we have liked to win? Of course, but I’m really proud of what we did this weekend,” Vercauteren said.

Even though the meet went to La Crosse, the day went to Mitchell.

After anchoring the WIAC Champion 3,200-meter relay team, Mitchell came back on day two and won both the 1,500 and 5,000-meter runs; although she ran the slowest times of the season in both events to save her legs.

“Ayla is a great competitor,” Vercauteren said.

Vercauteren has said there is a chance Mitchell may run the 1,500 and 5,000-meter events at nationals, but she won’t know exactly what she will do until a few days before competition.

Mitchell said she had fun running and winning three different events and didn’t rule out the option of competing in multiple events at nationals.

“Nationals is a little different, all the races would be a lot faster,” Mitchell said. “We’ll see how it pans out at the end.”

Mitchell was one of five Titans to become a conference champion at the meet with the throwers collecting the other four titles.

In fact, the Titan throwers were the main reason Oshkosh held the lead after the first day, collecting 47 of the team’s 76 first-day points.

Sophomore Sue Trzebiatowski led a plethora of Titans in the hammer throw, which saw Oshkosh earn the top four spots and six of the top seven spots in the event.

Senior Katie Kohn won the javelin throw with an NCAA Division III National Championship provisional qualifying toss of 128 feet 1 inch, to lead three Titans who finished in the top eight of the event.

On the second day, the Titans continued to show off their throwing prowess collecting a first-place finish in the shot put, sophomore Holly Ozanich (44-00 ¾ feet), and discus, junior Ellie Sitek (148-05 feet).

Throwing coach Pat Ebel said nearly every thrower set a personal record, a feat that is exactly what he had hoped for.

“In our conference, to place six girls in the top seven, that’s pretty good,” Ebel said. “I don’t think it’s ever been done before.”

Other notable performances for the Titans where the efforts turned in by seniors Katie Wondra and Jenny Stein, as well as sophomore Andrea Fabiano.

Fabiano provisionally qualified for nationals in both the 100 and 400-meter hurdles after finishing second in both events with times of 14.93 seconds and 1:03.96 minutes respectively.

Stein finished third in the heptathlon with 3,995 points, while Wondra also took third in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 39:00.61.]]></description><link>http://advancetitan.com/?se=Sports&amp;s=7703</link><author>by Andrew Munger, of the Advance Titan</author><pubDate>07 May 2009</pubDate></item></channel></rss>