The Griffin: volume 71, issue 18 - Mar. 23, 2001

              Dr. Mick Cochrane, professor of the English department, is coordinating O'Brien's visit through the Writerin-Residence program as well as the Contemporary Writers Series, which is made possible through the generosity of the John R.Oishei Foundation. For more information regarding the Contemporary Writers Series or Tim O'Brien's lecture, call Dr. Cochrane at 888-5662 News 1 Editorial Jj4 Viewpoints 6 Features 8 Sports W 13 On the Wing 15 http://www.canisius.edu/griffin O'Brien is a fiction writer whose work has received international recognition. In 1979 his novel Going After Cacriato won the National Book Award in Fiction. Another novel, titled The Things They Carried, won France's prestigious Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger award and the Chicago Tribune's Award winning author Tim O'Brien will visit Canisius next Wednesday, Mar. 28 in the Carl and Carol Montante Cultural Center. O'Brien will be reading from his most recent novel, Tomcat in Love, a story about a man torn between his desperation to win back his former wife and his obsession with charming every woman he meets. Following the reading, O'Brien will then take questions from the audience. The event will conclude with a reception and book signing. photo courtesy ofPRF.VlEW.COM Author Tim O'Brien (above right) will speak next week as part of the Contemporary Writers Series. O'Brien's latest novel, Tomcat in Love (above left) has received widespread critical acclaim. He will be reading from his new book in the Cultural Center next Wednesday. Baseball nuts, you're in luck! The mens baseball team is starting their new season on a warm note. See how they fared in their four game set. See full story, page 13. Take a look at our special Oscar preview, complete with the best-bets, longshots, and our critic's personal picks for the year's. See full story, page 8. Read about upcoming lectures on New York State government as part of the Dr. Peter Galie's Student Constitutional Reform Commission. See full story, page 3. While many of our fellow peers basked in the sun and lay in the warm sand along the Atlantic coast, sixty students, the campus ministry staff and I opted for another alternative—the Alternative Spring Break Project in the region of Appalachia. The Project emphasizes four cornerstones including, service, simple living, reflection and prayer, and community. From West Virginia down to Kentucky, the Canisius crew gained unique experience and understanding of the rural poverty that exists within our national borders. Though I had an amazing week last year that gave me the opportunity by Kathy Riley Special to News: Commentary to form new, solid bonds within the Canisius community, my experience was enhanced this year as a result of careful revision and evaluation done by Campus Ministry last year. Joe VanVolkenberg and the Appalachia Leadership Team had been diligendy working since October so as to establish community within each of the sites, along with providing other preparatory information. Six students, Fr. Jack Ryan and I joined a group of forty other students from across the country at Nazareth Farm in West Virginia. Though I received much satisfaction having worked long hours building a shed, an addition unto a house and digging post holes for a garden, the most beneficial and enlightening part of my ex- perience was the opportunity I was given to interact and form bonds with the people of Appalachia. Bill, a lively, loving, youth of about seventy years welcomed my group into his home, shared his stories, his macaroni and cheese and challenged us each to a game of checkers. As he spent his afternoon repeatedly defeating my friend Amber, he expressed more gratitude for the few possessions he had than I have ever uttered in my entire life. I left Bill's house that raining afternoon looking back at his simple home and rickety steps as he enthusiastically waived goodbye thinking about the love that is present in my life that I neglect to recognize and appreciate. The Naz Farm experience forced me Though the poverty of the Appalachia region was evident to me throughout the week, Alex Gomez summarized his experiences for me in a profound way. I asked him how his week at Phelps Area Habitat for Humanity it in Kentucky had gone and he expressed to me the surprise he felt when to abandon the things that clutter my daily life (from my watch to my Literature book) and dig deeper in assessing my life and where I see God in my life, a task that I generally neglect amidst the bustle of my schedule. I am truly convinced that the Appalachia experience has benefited me more than the people of Appalachia.VIEWPOINTS Does the sexist language of mainstream Hip Hop offend you? Viewpoints Editor Gary Bostwick tackles the issue of female degradation in rap. See full story, page 6. The Griffin today Appalachia: spring break alternative Students gain life experience, help others The Griffin The Weekly Student Newspaper of Canisius College "Serving the Canisius Community Since 1933" Tomcat in Love SPORTS FEATURES see Spring Break page 3 Student dies unexpectedly by Joe Clifford Griffin Sports Reporter Getting to know Dave Steinmuller was not the easiest task in the world. People "knew" him around campus, but very few really knew him. For those that did, it was On Tuesday afternoon, March 20, Canisius senior Accounting major Dave Steinmuller, 42, passed away at Sisters Hospital in Buffalo, NY. He died as a result of complications from surgery earlier in the week to repair blockage in his intestine. He took a turn for the worse on Sunday evening and had to be placed on life support and kidney dialysis. He was still in this condition when he died. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, Mar. 26 at 4:00 p.m. in Christ the King Chapel. see Dave page 3 by Dan Cox Griffin News Rt >orter pholo courtest of AMAZON.COM FORECAST | th rn I s HE353HT3 a J T I s msarz u -J&k ■ Author Tim O'Brien visits Canisius Heartland Prize. The novel was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Cirde Award. In 1994, O'Brien's novel In The Lake of the Woods was selected as the best work of fiction by Time Magazine. It also received the James Fenimore Cooper Prize from the Society of American Historians. INDEX | NEWS | Volume LXXI FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2001 Ni mbkk 18 | | i'ani:>ius students I and local volunteers work to rebuild home* in the Phc![>s Area I liibit.it for Humanity in MiCarr, KV. Photo i , . :nU \y ttf ' WW S w\i \/RY