Perhaps it is just the advertisements. There is nothing quite like sharing a bag of Doritos while an ad for the pre-dipped tortilla chip fills the big flat screen small campus-lounge screen. I was satisfied, especially since this ad was my personal favorite last year (be sure to check it out in HD!):

You can check out more ads with this sweet feature from Hulu:

Yet I am torn over the diversity of Super Bowl watching parties. Don’t get me wrong, I still engage in them and plan to host my own this Sunday, but there is something sacred, ritualistic, and uniquely satisfying about yelling at my TV with true fans alone every Saturday and Sunday in the fall and early winter that is only completed by the stark contrast of my roommate’s watching “So You Think You Can Dance” and listening to atrocious 80’s R&B. Super Bowl Sunday brings an entirely different atmosphere, and I am not quite sure I like it.

This odd day in sports got me thinking: everyone loves the Super Bowl, but is that a good thing for hardcore sports fan like myself? Should I like that I get to watch the game with a big, excited audience, even if that audience might not understand or care about the game? Do I have the right to enjoy the most important day of the sports year without the casual and less than casual fans defiling my holy day? I don’t expect Super Bowl XLIV to be much of a game, so as Peyton Manning and the Colts steamroll the new “America’s Team,” the New Orleans Saints, I urge you to ponder whether this American tradition is a good thing (feel free to add yours below!). Here are some of my thoughts on the issue:

Pros

• That special someone of yours might actually listen to your rant on whether both feet were inbounds or whether the NFL should change to the college rules. This is probably the only time, so embrace it.
• There’s nothing like a room full of people, split on the team they are cheering for, jeering each other about a topic they know little to nothing about. It’s like your very own US Congress.
• Super Bowl watching parties are like potlucks, and the less the people care about football, the more likely they are to have actually made their contribution. Homemade cookies go a very long way to making anything bearable.
• The illusion of interest. I love thinking, even if it is just for a day, that people around here actually care about sports.

Cons

• The boisterous audience during play which hushes only on a break to commercials. Really? I mean I understand that the commercials are funny, but at least during the GoDaddy.com ad, let me talk about what just happened during the game — we all know no one is trying to listen to that ad anyway.
• With such a big crowd, the networks feel obligated to have some absurd, usually bad, and sometimes raunchy half time show instead of actually breaking down the game. Must they always pander to the lowest common denominator? They should reward the true fan for a dedicated season of watching and have a full halftime of analysis.
• Snack free-riders
• “No. The tight pants are not to show off their muscular legs.”
• It’s all a lie. Next September I will be watching my Florida Gators and Dallas Cowboys alone.

But even after weighing the pros and cons, there’s still glory to be had by at least one person after the game is over — check out the poll below:

Editor’s Note: This sports column is a regular feature from “The Nightcap” crew, a group of 5Cers who air a weekly radio talk-show on KSPC. You can listen in online at KSPC.org (click “Hear us Online via Live365”) every Monday from 8-10 PM.

The plan?  Deck the North Dorm courtyard out like the lair of a mad scientist.  With a host of science themed decorations and music provided by perennial favorite DJ, Mixed Reactions, the Mudd Goes Madd Party is slated for this Saturday evening.  But an event of this caliber doesn’t simply invent itself.  For that, much of the task fell to Harvey Mudd freshman Julius Elinson, who along with Jonathan Schwartz and a score of friends navigated the hassles of bureaucracy and fundraising to bring the plan to fruition.

“Mad scientists. It felt so right,” said Elinson, “It was surprising we hadn’t already done something like this.”

Mudders hard at work in preparation for the party. Photo credit: Daniel Crowley

The challenges of preparation can be hard for the uninitiated to appreciate.   Elinson began taking care of the laborious process required to hold an event this elaborate early in December.  There were several stages to the ordeal, beginning with budgeting.  Funds were needed to pay for alcohol, decorations, and music.  The social board had to grant approval, and then came the waiting.  As the 5C student governments gave funding to the event, Elinson had to be patient as his proposals were slowly accepted by all 5 colleges.  ”At Pitzer, I went to three different groups, there was some miscommunication, and I wound up having to go back a second or third time,” he explained, adding that all colleges contributed to the party funding, though some schools were more generous than others.

To help cover the cost of the party, Elinson and his co-conspirators also sold condoms in custom-designed wrappers at the Hoch-Shanahan Dining Hall at Harvey Mudd.  Available in a variety of bundles, the condoms have been wildly successful.  ”The general idea is t-shirts and shot glasses [at most parties], but we thought, ‘What’s cooler than a custom condom?’” said Elinson, who touted the merchandise as both humorous and useful.

The turnout could be fantastically high, with over 1100 students RSVPing as attending on the Facebook event and the party will occur regardless of weather, as the students have plans to cover the courtyard in the case of rain.  It’s comforting to know that regardless of what happens come Saturday night, the Mudders have made arrangements to keep us protected.

Editor’s Note: Yeah, we realize we’re acting like parents obsessed with home videos of their kids, but we just hired two photographers and wanted to show them off. We promise not to bombard you with slide shows all semester– just one or two a week.  Enjoy!

Every so often, ASCMC receives the opportunity to welcome the presence of a distinguished musical artist to help our students add to their long list of memorable college experiences.

On March 5, 2010, we will be doing just that, with the help of none other than Mr. “Kick Push” himself, Lupe Fiasco.

Just in time for his third studio album release, Lasers, we will be able to enjoy a show filled with new songs and classics alike.

Approximately one week from now, CMC students will be able to purchase tickets at $15, while 5C and public seating will available at $20 and $25, respectively.  CMC students may purchase one ticket per ID, with the opportunity to purchase up to one additional ticket for another CMC student if you bring their ID, as well as your own.

Also, look forward to a raffle for pit tickets so that you may collect Lupe’s sweat in a glass container during the show.

As a senior who is about to graduate, I am ironically only sure of a few things. One of the bullet points on my Post-It sized list of truths is that you must do everything in your power to make memories during your limited time at CMC.

So whether you are a fan of rap, rock, or reggae, identify the group of your most motivated friends, and prepare yourself to enjoy what will be a phenomenal show.

Love Always,

Isayas Theodros

Career Services is currently searching for a replacement and has hired on an interim Assistant Director, Jason Jeffrey, to fill her position. Jeffrey, who will take over the sponsored internship program, starts at CMC on January 11.

After Dean Huang’s interview with (and ultimate decision to decline an offer from) Amherst earlier this semester, not to mention his replacement as Dean of Students by Mary Spellman, Beth Ricca’s departure rounds out something of a tumultuous semester for the administration.

Kris Brown in his natural environment.

Kris Brown is up to his elbows in chocolate. Surrounding him are bowls full of it, liquid chocolate, solid chocolate, chocolate covered utensils, chocolate covered everything.  At the center of it all stands the Seattlite, smiling, reveling in the environment, and only slightly less covered than the items within his grasp.

Brown is making truffles, melting down gourmet chocolate he buys in bulk and creating ganache from scratch.  It’s a weekly ritual, usually taking place on Sunday afternoon, with the CMC junior making a batch of nearly 150 truffles.  He sells these truffles through the Motley coffeehouse on the Scripps College campus.  Brown works as an independent contractor, splitting the proceeds with the Motley.  The results are both delicious and successful, with the small chocolates selling out at a dollar a piece in only a few days.  With finals week in full swing, the demand has gone up significantly, and Brown plans to make an extra-large batch to help fuel late-night study sessions.

“The most recent batch sold out in about 10 hours at the Motley,” says Brown.  ”People have always told me I should increase prices on these things, and seeing how fast they sell out it’s definitely ‘commercially viable.’  But the money isn’t a driving factor for me.  I want to provide good food without a high cost associated with it; I want to expand people’s horizons with what they expect out of a piece of chocolate.”

The flavors are perhaps the most notable part of the truffles, as a different trio of ganaches appears each week.  Certain flavors are given creative names, such as the “Peaches” truffle, a vanilla, cherry, and almond combination bearing the nickname of CMS’s All-American hammer thrower Taylor Berliant.  Says Brown: “If someone inspires the flavor of the truffle, I name it after that person.  They usually get free chocolate, too.”

Despite the truffles’ popularity, few know that they come from a CMC student, although they might not be surprised to hear it’s one with such a strong resume in the culinary arts.  Brown is the manager of  The Shakedown, Pitzer’s student-run restaurant and over the summer he interned as a prep cook at Seattle’s renowned restaurant Tilth.  For the fall semester, Brown moved off campus, allowing him to improve his cooking with a full kitchen.  Besides his culinary duties, Brown finds time to run cross country, competing for the Stags  during their successful fall run.

Sadly though, the supply of truffles is in jeopardy for the spring semester.  Brown will be abroad in Nepal, cultivating his palate for exotic spices, and therefore unable to contribute.  As of now, the duties will be falling to Harvey Mudd freshmen Kate Crawford, who will continue the tradition in the spring.  Nevertheless, this week is your last chance to try Brown’s special recipe, which he bills as “sentimental chocolate.”  The final batch will go on sale in the Motley sometime Sunday evening.  Best to be there early, they’re sure to go fast.

Andrew Cosentino (CMC JR) was named to the All-SCIAC first team for the second straight year. Photo Credit: Gary Stephenson.

Women’s Volleyball
A young team, graduating only one senior (Jamie Matusiak (CMC)) finished a rocky season at 14-15 overall and tied for 5th in SCIAC competition with a 6-8 conference record. Allie Macy (CMC JR) OH and Taylor Jones (CMC FR) S were named to the All-SCIAC second team.

Women’s Soccer
One of the most dominant seasons in Athena’s soccer included a nine-game winning streak, an undefeated SCIAC campaign, and a second straight SCIAC tournament title before falling in the round of 32 of the NCAA tournament. Laura Hagen (CMC SR) was selected as SCIAC Player of the Year, leading the league in assists, and 2nd in goals scored.  First Team All-SCIAC selections included goalie Camila Friedman-Gerlicz (CMC SR), defender Stefanie Chan (CMC JR) and midfielder Nicole Sady-Kennedy (CMC SR). Defender Courtney Funk (SCR SR), midfielder Kirsten McAfee (HMC JR), forward Giselle Galanto (CMC SR) and utility player Julia Nishioka (CMC SO) were named to the Second team.  We finished 16-3-2 overall and 10-0-2 in SCIAC play.

Men’s Soccer
After a fourth place finish in the regular season, the Stags knocked off top seed Pomona and second seed Redlands to qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2000. They continued their magic run in the NCAAs, winning at Santa Cruz before falling in the round of 32 to Whitworth.  Goalie Ryan Fahey (CMC SR), defender Tomislav Zbozinek (CMC SR), midfielder Michael Nguyentat (CMC JR), and forward Harrison Doyle (CMC FR) were named to the All-SCIAC first team. Midfielder David Taylor (CMC FR) was a Second Team All-SCIAC selection.  We finished 12-8-2 overall and 8-5-1 against SCIAC foes.

Football
After a 2-0 start, including the seniors’ first victory over regional rival Puget Sound, the Stags went into a mid-season funk, losing four of their next five games. However, strong performances by the defense, QB Pat Rooney (CMC SO) and DJ Lillard (CMC SR) helped the team win their final two games, clinching a winning season and retaining the Peace Pipe. First team SCIAC selections were running back DJ Lillard, linebacker Dan Picciotto, (CMC SR), and defensive back Brock Olson (CMC SR). Offensive tackle Matt Pautler, (CMC JR) and defensive lineman Rory Baird, JR, (CMC JR) were named to the second team. The Stags finished 5-4 overall and an even 3-3 in SCIAC play.

Men’s Cross Country
The men finished a strong season in 15^th at NCAAs after winning the West Region and SCIAC titles. All-Region honors for the men included Kramer Straube (HMC JR) 4^th, Brian Kopczynski (CMC JR), Florian Scheulen (HMC SR), Brian Sutter (CMC FR), Georgi Dinolov (HMC JR) and Matt Kurtis (HMC SR). First Team All-SCIAC selections were Straube, Kopczynski Kris Brown (CMC JR), and Sutter. Second Team All-SCIAC selections for the Stags were Scheulen, Kurtis, Dinolov, and Dillon Ayers (HMC JR).

Women’s Cross Country
The women finished 22^nd at NCAAs, besting conference rivals Redlands and Occidental in their final two meets, after finishing behind these two in the SCIAC championships   Jennifer Tavé (SCR SO) finished 27^th to become the first Athena All-American runner since 2005, also earning First team All-SCIAC honors and All-Region honors. All-Region honors for the women also included, Julia Rigby (SCR SO), and Breanna Deutsch (SCR SO). Rigby and Ashley Scott (CMC JR) were named to the All-SCIAC second team.

Men’s Tennis
Robert Erani (CMC SO) won the West Regional tournament and finished in 3rd place at the ITA nationals to earn All-American honors for the first time in his  budding career.