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North Carolina Wesleyan College, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804
ARTS & STYLE
May 3 2(v
A Memo to the American Film Institute
By James Guy
Decree Staff Writer
In case you have not heard, the
American Film Institute (AFl) will be
revisiting its infamous “1(X) Greatest
American Movies of All Time” later
this summer The original list, released
in 1997, has attracted both admiration
and criticism in subsequent years for
its choices. Most film critics, including
myself, have disregarded the list, noting
that, in dozens of cases, selectors were
influenced to an excessive degree by
the number of Academy Awards won
by the film. In some cases, it appears
that AFl selected films because they
were infamous in some way (e.g., the
seduction scene in “The Graduate.”).
When such a list is made, it al
ways raises the question “What makes
a movie great? In my opinion, not only
should a great film receive positive
reviews from critics at the time of its
release, it should impact society, and it
should stand the test of time.
It’s worth remembering that the
list includes only “American” films.
Every critic, including me, can name
over twenty movies that we would
place on a list of the “100 Greatest
Film.s” but they’re disqualified from
the AFl list because they are foreign.
So, here is my list of changes that
will occur with the new AFl rankings. Let’s
begin with films from the last decade with
the best chance of making the top 100:
01. “Saving Private Ryan” (1998)
02. “Lord of the Rings: Return of the
King” (2003)
03. “Lord of the Rings; The Fellowship
of the Ring” (2001)
04. “Titanic” (1997)
05. “The Thin Red Line” (1998)
06. “American Beauty” (2000)
07. “Memento” (2001)
08. “Chicago” (2002)
09. “The Sixth Sense” (1999)
10. “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless
Mind” (2004)
Not only will revisiting the list
allow for movies from the last decade
to be added. It gives AFl members the
opportunity to correct their mistakes and
add films that were overlooked in 1997.
One of the most serious slights, I thought,
was in the science fiction category. In the
initial list, AFl passed over “The Empire
Strikes Back.” It was almost as if AFl felt
it had covered its sci-fi base by putting
“Star Wars” at number 15.
Here is a list of older films that
AFl should give serious consideration
to adding:
01. “The Shawshank Redemption”
(1994)
02. “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980)
03. “The Quiet Man” (1952)
04. “Beauty and the Beast” (1991)
05. “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
(1966)
06. “The Adventures of Robin Hood”
(1938)
07. “The Exorcist” (1973)
08. “Babe” (1995)
09. “Intolerance” (1916)
10. “In the Heat of the Night” (1967)
Alternate: “Dog Day Afternoon”
(1975)
With the passage of ten years,
some listed films have seen their stock
rise and should, as a result, ascend in
the rankings:
01. “Goodfellas” (1990)
02. “Pulp Fiction” (1994)
03. “Raging Bull” (1980)
04. “Amadeus” (1984)
05. “The Apartment” (1960)
06. “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962)
07. “Fargo” (1996)
08. “Double Indemnity” (1944)
09. “The Godfather Part II” (1974)
10. “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968)
By contrast, in the last decade,
some honored films have come under
increased criticism by film experts.
Others, many of them older, will fall
into oblivion in the coming years
because their subject matter or style
will fail to capture the imagination of
contemporary audiences. As an aside:
AFl should exclude “Lawrence of
Arabia,” the film ranked number five
in the 1997 list; though a fine film,
there is nothing “American” about it.
Here then are ten films that may
drop in the rankings; some may even
fall from the API list altogether:
01. “Rocky” (1976)
02. “Tootsie” (1982)
03. “Doctor Zhivago” (1965)
04. “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”
(1967)
05. “A Place in the Sun” (1951)
06. “The Philadelphia Story” (1940)
07. “The Manchurian Candidate”
(1962)
TURMOIL from pg 1
“I think it’s essential that
Wesleyan hire a DSA who has a stable
work history and experience within
Student Life,” she said. “If admin
istration prefers the college retain
a prestigious image, then the hiring
process of a new DSA should be given
the same effort as it applied to the
hiring of a new academic dean. A typi
cal Wesleyan student interacts much
more with the DSA of the college as
compared to the Academic Dean.”
Sirois stated that the college
should give the development of student
life as much weight as the development
of Academic Life. “Students cannot
excel in academics if Student Life is
inadequate,” she argued. “Wesleyan
needs a stable DSA who is very effec
tive in multi-tasking and organization.
The DSA position includes various
responsibilities that require a skilled
administrator to handle.”
Hill, a member of Phi Beta Sigma,
concurred with Sirois’ comments. He
said that Wesleyan’s academics will
improve with the enhancement of
extracurricular activities. He noted that
many view activities as a reward that the
college can offer students for strong per
formance in the classroom. A satisfying
out-of-class life can raise student morale
and heighten achievement, he said.
Said Hill, “It’s ridiculous for the col
lege to go through two DSAs in one year.”
Instability has marked SGA’s year
as well, Sirois noted. First there were
the resignations last fall of the treasurer
and secretary. This semester it has
struggled to attract candidates to head
next year’s organization. She noted
that one student has expressed interest
in running for president, but that, as of
April 27, a formal slate of candidates
had not emerged.
Boyd pointed to many reasons —such
as the low level of .student retention —for
the lack of involvement in SGA. He believes
the primary one is that SGA “lacks a real
voice on campus. Even when we follow
the system to a T, the administration will
override us.”
Dr Phaiah has handled the DSA
duties, on top of his responsibilities as
dean, since early March.
“I will admit Peter does try,”
Boyd said, “but he does not understand
the student body’s wants or needs
either.”
Dr Phaiah has been Dean of
Students since his arrival from Texas
Wesleyan University in September 2003.
At NCWC, he finished his Ph.D. while
he handled a diverse set of responsibili
ties. He will leave on May 15.
Junior Kelvin Clark, former
president of SGA and a resident advisor,
said that Dr Phaiah has been a positive
influence on him as well as many of
his peers. During his freshman year,
Clark recalled, “a friend described Dr.
Phaiah as a man with ‘his heart out for
the students.’ What my friend meant
was that Dr Phaiah would do all in
his power to help students, whether it
was as simple as opening a closet or as
difficult as finding the equipment the
students requested at the most affordable
price. He has become a friend to me and
I will miss him.”
Dr Phaiah had spearheaded the
search for a new DSA. He had hoped
to involve student leaders—such as
the student government president
and director of intramurals—in the
selection process, but the extent of
the student role was unclear as the
semester drew to a close.
President Ian Newbould said
that Belinda Faulkner, vice president
of finance and administration, will
oversee Student Life until the college
can fill the dean’s vacancy.
08. “Forrest Gump” (1994)
09. “Wuthering Heights” (1939)
10. “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962)
[Default]
I hope that AFl will make better
decisions than it did back in 1997.
One reason for optimism is that AFl
has granted part of the vote to the
American public. Maybe this time, the
AFl top 1(X) will please movie fans
and critics alike.
RETIRE from page 2
Clark believes that Dr Watson
has been an ideal role model. “The man
represents history, whether it concerns
Africa or Europe,” Clark said. “He will
be sorely missed by every ardent student
of history that he ever instructed.”
Kimla Brandt has been a student
and Supplemental Instruction Leader
for Dr Watson every semester she
has attended NC Wesleyan. She said
that Dr Watson has been “unfailingly
supportive of [her] academically as
well as personally.” Brandt believes
that Watson has challenged her to aim
higher and strive for more than she
thought herself capable of achieving.
Brandt said that Dr Watson has helped
her to see the world differently, “with a
deeper relevance.”
Spending time with his first
grandchild and completing a research
project are Watson’s plans after
retirement. “My wife, Kay, and I have
our first grandchild in Texas; I plan to
be more of a grandpa than I could were
I still teaching” said Watson, “And I
might teach a course or two here, if
they’ll have me.”
Student poets Amanda Landi and Hannah Smith, a graduating senior
The Day that Life Ended
By Hannah Smith
Flickering on and on it goes,
blinding thoughts that sift into duE.
Hours pass like seconds when thought collapses
barren minds like the sands shrivel up.
Another cry is brought to life
another mind to live through Erife,
to see the day grow pale and numb,
like wars and violence to the subconscious mirui.
Why and why does this go on?
The page is turned but not a word read,
the sound of nature is almoH dead,
and every battle is left un-won.
Flickering on and on it goes,
sorrow drifts to the end of the line
to await a hundred more years.
The century will draw the tears,
only to be sent hack again, unknown and
un-noticed.
Moses Karnga views the exhibition "and the tfe'vee broke: meditations on the power of water."
which consists of paintings drawings and collage reflections in response to Hurricane Katrina.
The exhibit is on display in the Mlmms Gallery through May 13.
GSA from pg 1
fellowship for this community. I hope
that the GSA will promote discussion,
information, and respect about gay
issues on campus.”
It was Dr Sanborn who enlisted
the support of Dr Steve Ferebee,
professor of English, as a sort of
co-advisor
Two founding members of the NCWC Gay-
Straight Alliance: Kim McCorkle (left) and
Julianne Cyr
“When I was thinking about the
possibility of a GSA at Wesleyan,” Dr
Sanborn recalled, “I spoke to Dr Amy
Kamehm-Willis. I knew there had been
a GSA at Wesleyan in the past, and she
informed me about that and suggested
that Dr Ferebee would be a good
G53 I
07/21/08 41300 S
person to help with the organization.
He’s a strong, outspoken leader, and I
think he will be an asset to the club.”
Cyr believes that gays need
a place to gather and support each
other She acknowledged concerns
that formation of GSA may lead to
increased “gay-bashing” and pointed to
an editorial in The Decree last spring
that underscored a certain level of
homophobia already on campus.
Was Dr Sanborn concerned
about reaction on campus to GSA?
“Despite the fact that homosexuality
is increasingly accepted by society,”
he said, “I’m sure there will be some
at Wesleyan who will have a problem
with the GSA. There is, of course, still
a huge taboo about homosexuality. If
members of the Wesleyan community
feel uncomfortable with the idea of
a GSA, my hope is that they will be
mature and respectful enough to talk to
people (gay or straight) affiliated with
the GSA.”
Cyr said that she discussed the GSA
and gay issues in a recent presentation
for Dr Kamhehm Willis’ Sociology of
Discrimination course.
“The students seemed nervous,
like they didn’t want to offend with their
questions,” Cyr said. “But after a slow
start, the kids became a great crowd.”
She said that she hopes for a
similar reception as SGA becomes
more well known campus-wide.
Innocence That Once 1
By Amanda Landi
The Life that once was,
the innocence we once had,
the happiness that once exiHed.
Gone.
Now,
what do we have?
Now,
what do I have to live for?
Everything is gone,
everythifigfeels empty.
What is right in front of you,
is not there in my eyes.
It’s like rain.
You feel it,
but I can see right through it.
It’s like hail.
You feel it,
and it hurts bad.
Can they see it?
Can I tell them?
The pain within,
will they want to know?
PARDS from page 7
Parker felt that Buck deserved
what explanation he could offer “ljust j
didn’t know what else to do...”
“I said for you to leave,” Buclc
interrupted again, a slight edge creeping
into his voice. “Get out of this office,
before I run you in for attempted murder, j
assaulting an officer of the law, horse
thieving, trespassing, and some other
charges I’m sure you’re guilty of.” He
somehow managed to keep his voice fai
level, even if it did get slightly louder.
“Buck...” Parker didn’t know wliai
else to say. He didn’t want that to be the|
last thing that passed between thein.
Buck had gone back to his paper
work, his agitation evident in the harshnes|
of his movements. He opened a desk
drawer and not finding what he wanted,
slammed it shut and opened another.
Parker walked over to the door. He|
stood there a while hand resting on tl
knob, eyes downcast.
Buck still went about shuffling tel
papers, bearing the burden of his office.!
Parker looked around the small, sp:
furnished room. He knew in the back
of his mind that he would never see
tiie inside of this building again unless |
hauled in, in irons, like he had been a
few days before. He tried to remember I
the place as it had been, a warm place tl
sit, and share a laugh or two over coffetj
or on a better day, something stronger.
It was a difficult task. Those memories, |
or what was left of them, had been
shattered and scattered to the winds.
Parker stepped out into the street. |
The door closed softly behind him.
A storm was brewing towards the j
west. I had better ride if I want to beat
the rain home, he thought. He started
toward the livery, intent on renting a
horse this time.
Buck watched Parker through tlie I
window that let in just enough light to
read by. He sat there a long time after
Parker was lost from view.
He sat there a long time after,
listening to the rain and the wind and®
thunder rumbling across the land like
the hooves of wild horses or the distant |
rattle of gunfire.