About once every other year a student walks into Steve Carr's office complaining. They say their teaching assistant can't speak English. And about once every other year, Carr, McCormick's associate dean of undergraduate engineering, brings the TA in for a chat, during which he usually finds himself wondering "what's the problem?" "I sympathize with students who are in a course (and are having trouble understanding their TA)," Carr says.… Post the First Comment

For the past three months, Medill junior Henry Rosoff has been living by himself in a hotel in Sioux Falls, S.D. After eating a continental breakfast, Rosoff tries to start his car, but freezing morning temperatures slow him down. The gas tank guzzles Rosoff's cash - because there are no nearby oil refineries, gas prices are even higher than in Evanston.… Post the First Comment

DEAN LAVINE, PHONE HOME Dean Lavine had his first post-Quotegate interaction with a group of students on Tuesday night when he spoke to a group of Phonathon student callers. An e-mail sent to about 50 employees said he would be visiting their office, and all were encouraged to show up - whether they were working that night or not.… Post the First Comment

Wednesday the 27th- I got to Norris about noon, and worked on projects/had meetings in the building all afternoon. The ASG Senate meeting went late, and then I met with some ASG people, which means I didn't get out of Norris until 12:30 a.m. Wrote some e-mails, including responding to someone who for some reason thought I was empowered to allow "bounce-houses" on campus, and went to sleep.… 8 Comments

Last winter, an unmarked police car pulled out of the shadows under the Noyes El station one night during Finals Week, where a student was shooting a realistic-looking pellet gun at stop signs with several friends. Two Evanston police officers jumped out of the car, drew their weapons and shouted, "Drop the weapon!" and, "What are you, fucking retarded?" The student, now a McCormick senior, says he immediately put the toy down and backed away with his hands up, yelling, "It's a fake gun.… 2 Comments

Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie are two comedians who have found success playing struggling musicians as Flight of the Conchords. Armed with two guitars, seven chords and a couple killer falsettos, they've reclaimed the world of musical-comedy from Jack Black's grubby hands and rejuvenated a post-Sopranos HBO.… Post the First Comment

They're French. They're a duo. They're DJs. And they're not Daft Punk. Justice first packed the dance floors with "Never Be Alone," a losing entry in a Simian remix contest, in 2003. The pair slowly gained a following and the attention of Daft Punk manager and Ed Banger Records boss Pedro Winter.… Post the First Comment

Ten years ago the first group of inmates deemed the worst-of-the-worst were transferred from Illinois prisons to the Tamms Closed Maximum Security facility. At Tamms, they spend 23 hours a day in an 8ft-by-12ft concrete cell: alone to eat, sleep, urinate, defecate, and wonder how long they would stay sane.… 3 Comments

Spring break for college students is a time-honored American tradition, a week of escapism that has long been a bastion of body shots and poorly orchestrated stripping late into warm, tropical mornings. I was surprised to discover a large group of socially aware students at Northwestern who, instead of suffering liver damage or getting laid, actually want to improve the world with their Spring Break vacation.… Post the First Comment

F or one week in March tens of thousands of concertgoers descend on Austin for the city's annual South by Southwest music festival - one of the largest in the country. This year, they will overcrowd the hotels, pack the flights into the city and steal my parking space.… 1 Comment

Low brow Presidents of the United States of America "These Are The Good Times People" The Presidents of the United States of America are back with their first new album in four years and, not surprisingly, they're up to their old poppy antics again. These Are the Good Times People features 14 tracks of silly pop-rock perfect for top-40 radio airwaves or your stupid little brother.… Post the First Comment