Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

% /I I Y THEY SAID IT _ 1A \\/ I I /\ "If you don’t scale the mountain, Page 10 I V I I / % you can’t view the plain.” Wednesday, September 8, 2004 T _■-_m_ Chinese proverb I rlt AbbUUI/\ I tU rKtoo Rob Johnson, right, of Clemson, empties out his kayak of water between teaching his friend Matt Williams, left, of Clemson, how to perform an eskimo roll on Lake Hartwell in Seneca on Friday. Johnson said 34 other students at Clemson University are in the Clemson Whitewater Club. Members practice on the still waters of Lake Hartwell to improve skills. By JAIME MCSWEENEY THE GAMECOCK For the past 25 years the Mountaineering and Whitewater Club at USC has sponsored expeditions into the mountains of the Southeast. Club members routinely abandon the comforts of campus life for a chance to venture into the wild with nothing but a pack on their backs. To those of us who are slaves to our hairdryers, the exact allure of leaving all whitewater rafting for him, Prochnow said, is in experiencing the road less taken. “Climbing a mountain or paddling a difficult stream is a challenge that heightens your appreciation for the little things in life,” Prochnow said. “Dinner is not just your everyday, standard meal after a day out in the wild. Dinner becomes a reward, because you worked for it and there was so much more exertion in attaining it.” Suddenly making it to the front of the luxuries behind and roughing it in the wild seems hard to fathom. However, as members of the club attested, camping in the wilderness . should not be likened to a scene out of “Deliverance.” In fact, such activities as back packing, rock c 1 i m b i n e . “Dinner is not just your every day, standard meal after a day in the wild. Dinner becomes a reward, because you worked for it and there was so much more exertion in attaining it.” STEVE PROCHNOW THIRD-YEAR BUSINESS STUDENT laco Bell line at tne Russell House doesn’t seem like such an accomplishment. Another unique perk involved in mountaineering and whitewater rafting, Prochnow said, is that “it’s a fun challenge, not like the challenge of getting to all your classes on time.” “In the whitewater rafting and kayaking can wilderness, time isn’t of the essence, often prove both physically and mentally When you’re out there, you are not a therapeutic. slave to the clock. It’s nice to lose that Third-year business student Steve exactness and just kind of go with the iProchnow serves as secretary of the flow.” club. The thrill of mountaineering and Second-year engineering student Victoria Bigham said that the aesthetic aspect of spending time in the wilderness is also rewarding. “I was never much of an outdoors person until I joined the club. But it gave me an appreciation for nature and the outdoors.” Columbia can only offer so much when it comes to physical beauty, causing some club members to seek more far flung adventures. Fourth-year international studies student Cedric Baele, along with four other USC students, spent this spring break in the Gila Wilderness Area of New . Mexico. He said he enjoyed the peaceful ambiance of the outdoors. “Life is pretty simple. Society seems to like to-complicate it.” Along with the challenge and reward of mountaineering and whitewater rafting, there is also a social aspect. According to both Bigham and Prochnow, such activities are great ways to meet new people. “It’s easy to' get lost in the sea of people here,” Prochnow said. “A mountaineering trip is a good way to get to know individuals because of the teamwork aspect. You always leave a trip knowing people in a way that is different from what a party or basic class interaction can offer.” “The people in the club were so fun,” Bigham continued, “and they helped me to learn skills like rafting, climbing and hiking.” There are many organizations around town that are constantly offering expeditions. Specifically at USC, the Mountaineering and Whitewater Club provides routed trips and the necessary gear. Club President Jimmy Drawdy said trips are open to all students. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or an expert in outdoor sports.” everyone is encouraged to come out. Prochnow added, “Trips are offered just about every weekend.” Such trips include hiking along the Chatanooga River in Georgia, kayaking the Nantahala River in North Carolina, rock climbing in West Virginia, climbing I to the peak of Rocky Top in Tennessee and even taking local camping trips in the Congaree Swamp and kayaking down the Saluda River. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK From local rivers and streams to the mountains of New Mexico, members of the USC Mountaineering and Whitewater Rafting Club enjoy taking in the scenic view. MOVIE REVIEW Witherspoon takes period piece humor seriously in ‘Vanity Fair’ “VANITY FAIR” Starring Reese Witherspoon ★★★★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆ By LESLIE DENNIS THE GAMECOCK Adding an English accent and a period piece to her ever-growing resume, Reese Witherspoon breaks loose from the shell of the blonde girl-next-door stereotype she became famous for with films such as “Legally Blonde” and “Sweet Home Alabama.” In “Vanity Fair,” Witherspoon attempts to not necessarily reinvent herself but revamp her image by playing the saucy social climber Rebecca Sharp from William Makepeace Thackeray’s 19th century novel. “Vanity Fair” is an anomaly in today’s cinema, representing a genre that has been ignored the past few years: it is a period film. Taking place in 19th century England, “Vanity Fair” is a filmmaker’s paradise, offering the director a chance to delve into the archives of history and reveal the beauty of the music, the dress and the events of the past. Mira Nair, a little known director whose most recognizable accomplishment is “Monsoon Widding,” richly depicts England at the beginning of the 1800s as she relays Matthew Faulk, Julian Fellowes and Mark Skeet’s adaptation of Thackeray’s scandalous novel onto the screen. From meager beginnings as the daughter of a Parisian opera-lady and starving artist, Rebecca slowly works her way through the inner sanctum of England’s high society by using her sexuality and natural wit. She begins her journey with her one true friend, Amelia (Romola Garai), making a brief stop at Amelia’s house before heading to her first job as a governess. At Amelia’s house, hoping to marry into wealth and good social standing, Rebecca woos Amelia’s older brother, Joseph (Tony Maudsley), but her plans are foiled by Amelia’s fiancee, George Osborne (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers). Moving on to her new governess position at Sir Pitt Crawley’s (Bob Hoskins) estate, she soon finds a new prospect, quickly and quietly marrying Rawley Crawley (James Purefoy), Sir Crawley’s second son and the favored nephew of the rich Matilde (Eileen Atkins). But Rebecca’s hopes of wealth and social acceptance are once again destroyed by her marriage to Rawley. Although Matilde claims to be accepting and supportive of “imprudent” unions, she does not favor the marriage of Rebecca and Rawley and disowns the nephew who was once the benefactor of her wealth. Rebecca rises and falls out of favor in high society, emphasizing the theme of the never-ending struggle between the classes. Despite Rebecca’s maneuvers to achieve her goals and her plan to promote herself in society, the viewer still identifies with Rebecca and feels somewhat sorry for her in the end. With Atkins as the deliciously tart aunt Matilde and Rhys Ifans as Rebecca’s quiet, lovelorn admirer Dobbin, “Vanity Fair” boasts a wonderful supporting cast who deliver high caliber performances. “Vanity Fair” also sumptuously illustrates the time period through the costumes and art design, ranging from the intricate hair designs of upper class women to the exotic attire of a dance performance. Although the movie is somewhat drawn out, clocking in at two hours and 15 minutes, “Vanity Fair” distinguishes itself as a rarity as it reworks the period piece, adding humor, drama and a mix of devilish characters to the classic formula. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfewres@gwm.sc.edu PHOTO BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS James Purefoy and Reese Witherspoon star in "Vanity Fair.” This period piece is characterized by the beauty in the music and the dress. A strong supporting cast^acks up Witherspoon.