Sign up for student forums!

Since they're not advertised through Wesmaps, it can be tough to find good information about student forums.

Jason Bitterman '10 sends in some info about his upcoming student forum, "Comics as a Language:"

Interested in reading and discussing comics? Sign up for the comics student forum this semester!

We will be looking into a variety of comics, including mainstream comics, graphic novels, alternative comics, and manga. Over the course of the semester we will try to define what comics are, discuss different methods of cartooning, and determine what comics can do that no other medium is capable of.

If you are interested, please email jbitterman@wes.

Long Lane Farm sends in some info about its student forum, "Sustainable Agriculture and Sustainable Food Distribution:"

The Long Lane Farm is offering a student forum this semester focusing on sustainable agriculture and sustainable food systems. This forum will be worth one full credit, and will involve weekly readings, some weekend practical work at the farm, as well as a final project. We can accept up to 15 participants, but also please let us know if you're interested in auditing. There will be a meeting for those interested on this coming Thursday (the 22nd) at 8 pm at Earth House. If you cannot attend, but are still interested, please let us know! Contact us at longlanefarm@gmail if you have any interest - we will send you an application.

Annie Paladino '09 sends in a blurb about the "Intro to Stage Management" class:

Interested in learning about stage management? Stage managing a show this semester and want to have a group of people to bounce ideas off of? If you've ever been interested stage managing theater performances at Wesleyan (or elsewhere!), but weren't sure where to start, come learn the ropes in this .5 credit student forum!

What does a stage manager do? The stage manager is one of the most important positions for any theatrical production, coordinating and serving as a point person for virtually all aspects of the production/rehearsal process. At Wesleyan, student stage managers often have to make do with on-the-job training; this forum aims to provide an alternative, low-pressure environment where students can develop the skills necessary to be a successful stage manager.

Shows are always in need of competent stage managers, and this is a great way to get involved in theater at Wesleyan or just see how this process works! Contact Annie Paladino '09 (ampaladino@wes) if you are interested!

And Melody Chang '12 tells us about the student forum, "The past, present, and future of sustainability:"

Join us this semester for a student forum about sustainability! Worth 1 credit and capped at 15 students, this forum will be meeting Monday & Thursdays 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Sustainability is a word used left & right these days but - what is it? Does it really matter? How did we get to our current state and what can be done to move towards a more "sustainable" world? Topics to be covered include: climate change, energy, water, waste, & food systems, economic & governmental policy, social justice, religion & finally personal values as they pertain to a continued existence on earth.

Email mchang@wes for an application and more detailed outline of topics to be covered. Thanks!

To see all of the student forums approved for this semester, check out the Registrar's webpage.

Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes

I know that lots of peeps at Wes recognize the genius that is Alan Moore's Watchmen, but you might not know that Zach Snyder (of 300 Fame) is directing a movie adaptation. (Alan Moore, of course, wants nothing to do with it)

Well, the production blog just posted pictures of a few of the characters here, and all I have to say is:

OMG!!!!!!!!!!1

The Week in Now

• Ironically, Joe Newman '09's comic dissing Gawker ended up on Gawker and hence legitimized Wesleyan's place as the most annoying, pretentious, "privelledged" liberal arts college. (But really, who among us did not see this coming?)
  

• In other news, as if Bob Allen's racist wordvomit wasn't enough to leave skidmarks in the GOP's panties this month (with Daily Show coverage, of course), recently-elected president of the Young Republican National Federation, Glenn Murphy Jr. burns an unfortunate legacy for himself as that creepy dude who tries to perform unwanted sex acts on sleeping college guys. I like this article because it paints the Young Republican National Federation in my mind as an organization led by fat, closeted vampires.
  

• Got Health Insurance? Young adults between 19 and 29 make up the largest group of the uninsured. Incoming froshies and rising sophies, if you're on your parents' health insurance, you might want to have them check their policy to see how much longer it'll cover you. I have had a couple of friends this year get dropped from their parents' coverage or state coverage without notice.
  

• And a related warning to incoming frosh: the default plan Wesleyan puts you on if you're uninsured *sucks* (I know because I'm on it and it alone). Covers pretty much nothing short of getting your arms ripped off by a rampaging chimpanzee. But it's coverage, you know, still, in case you do get your arms ripped off by a rampaging chimpanzee.

• In New Haven, two computers stolen from Yale last month contained the social security numbers of over 10,000 students, faculty and staff, jeopardizing their financial records. Well, I'd say that trumps our Ambien Hackgate 2007, don't you?
  

• Lastly, this will probably affect very, very few people, but in VIDEO GAME NEWS, I just read that Beautiful Katamari will be coming out on the wii now and not on the PS3 or 360 (which just dropped its price a pitiful $20). But, Guitar Hero III is still coming out on my dinky, yet awesomely cheap PS2, so I'm good on systems I think for another year since realistically, I shouldn't be playing video games this year anyway with the, what, six billion things I need to do before I graduate.

• Edit: A commenter informs us that BK will be coming out on the 360. Because I have no 360, I did not pay attention because I'm horrible. I'm sorry :(.
  

Comics Online

Joe Newman '09, author of the Argus comic series Roomies, has put it online! He writes us:

The blog is on its way to being functional, although there are only two comics on there so far. (The comics page in the Argus is only once a week, you know, so there isn't much else I can put on the site as of yet...)

Perhaps this is an open call for the Argus to put all the comics online! *hinthint*