theplanetaupNovember 2012 The American University of Paris

Three students have been ousted from the Senate after missing more than three scheduled meetings. Two of them, Danite Arefaine and Luka Ivicev, resigned before the October 17th impeachment vote. The third, Florian Schreiter, was formally impeached by unanimous vote. The trio argued that scheduling conflicts prevented them from attending the Wednesday sessions, and they tried to get the Senate to change its meeting time. An attempt to find a compromise failed, because it proved impossible to find a time slot that worked for all 19 senators. The dramatic turn of events il-lustrates some of the weaknesses of AUP student government: a difficulty of finding times that work for everyone, the way communication to the senators is handled and changing rules about which student groups are represented - and which aren’t. One of the three, Luka Ivicev, shouldn’t technically have been able to participate in the Senate at all, since he represented a Major – Politics, Philosophy, and Eco-nomics (PPE) – rather than a Department. Under existing Senate rules, only Depart-ments can elect representatives. Some students were highly critical of the whole affair. “This situation should have and could have been dealt with within the first 24 hours of the issue

being brought to people’s attention,” said Maya Lorton, a returning student who is a film major. “People in leadership posi-tions have wasted nearly half the semester clarifying legalities and formalities when they could have been spending time on actually improving the university.” Kevin Fore, advisor to the student Senate, expressed regret that the issue had come to a head. “We’re a small school and we want to encourage students to get involved whenever and wherever we can,” he told the Planet. The Senate meetings take place on Wednesdays from 12:10 to 13:30. Arefaine, the Sophomore Representative who resigned, said she wasn’t aware that the time and day had been set the previous semester. “What I understood was that following the elections of all the senators, those elected would then decide on the time and date harmoniously,” she said. Schreiter, the Junior Representa-tive who was impeached, and Ivicev, who resigned, also argued that they hadn’t been informed of the assigned time slot before the election. Ivicev pointed out that the Fall Senate application made no mention of the time, which was at the root of the problem. Fore said that students interested in running for the Senate should have known about the schedule, and he

was surprised to discover that some of the representatives didn’t. “The time was posted in the school handbook, in all the material we had printed for extracurricular activities and even on the online course browser,” he said. At the Senate meeting on Oc-tober 10th, a week before the threatened impeachment, Ivicev argued that it was important for his “small and struggling” PPE major to be represented, and urged his colleagues to find another time slot. But his plea ran into considerable opposi-tion. For example, Madison Riley, the History Representative, said a change of time wouldn’t be fair to Senators who had built their schedules around the weekly meeting. At the same time, Riley said she appreciated their enthusiasm and felt compassionate for them. Riley herself has taken over responsibility for representing the Art History department, which doesn’t have its own representative.

“A Real World Exercise”

Maximilian Schleich, the current Economics Representative, led the effort to find a compromise. He moved to reex-amine all of the student senators’ current schedules, in the hope of finding a new time that would be convenient for every-

one. When asked whether he believed his effort to find another meeting time was even realistic he answered, “I do not think that the question was ‘is changing the meeting times realistic?’ but rather ‘is it in any way possible to find a way around impeaching the senators?’” Ivicev hasn’t been replaced on the senate, since technically he shouldn’t have been there in the first place. Sophia Christou has replaced Arefaine as the Sophomore Representative, and Miriam Youssef has replaced Schreiter. Arefaine said, “although the turn out was not exactly what we intended, the debate engaged in by the Senate and the senators at risk, demonstrated the democratic philosophy I believe the SGA represents. This may just be small-scale AUP politics, but it was an interesting and helpful real world exercise I was proud to be a part of.” Ivicev says that, “the students took matters into their own hands and ultimately handled everything in a demo-cratic manner.” However he thinks there are lessons here for the future. “The administration’s decision to designate a day and time for the students was in need of clarification, and com-munication necessary in order to fairly execute this process,” he said.

AUP COFFEESHOP pg. 3

BEST PARIS BARS pg.5

BEST MEXICAN pg. 12

AUP SENATE PURGE

BY MAE CAMARA

THREE ELECTED STUDENTS OUSTED FOR MISSING SESSIONS

Cre

dit:

Eliz

abet

h M

arsh

all

campusnews2

November 2012

The American University of Paris31 avenue Bosquet

75007 PARIS

Editor-in-ChiefMaritza M. Lacayo

Art DirectorWilliam J.B. Dorn III

Editors:Clare HaughLizzy Melton

Elizabeth Marshall

Contributors:Danite Arefaine

Mae CamaraChloe DunderdaleJorge Franco IVClaudia Galtes

Karina KlindtworthMaya LortonJoanna Saab

Angela Waters

-----

AUP Student Media:

Publisher: Ford Leland

Treasurer: Jessica Lynch

Interested in getting involved with The Planet?

We are always looking for new contributors, even for one issue.

If interested, send an email to:

theplanet.aup@gmail.com

theplanetaup

The Neighbors Who Will Miss Us...

By Elizabeth Marshall and Maya Lorton

SHOPS AROUND 31 BOSQUET REACT TO THE SALE

What do you think about the sale of the Bosquet building?

C’est dommage. On aime bien les étudiants américains. C’est dommage parce que l’on aime bien voir ce mouvement de jeunes dans le quartier…c’est agréable.(It’s too bad. I like the American students. It’s a shame because I’m happy to see

young people out and about in the neighborhood)

– Daniel (Bureau de Tabac)

Following the announcement of the sale of 31 avenue Bosquet and AUP’s relocation, the Planet asked merchants in the neighborhood for their comments. Their overwhelming reaction: we’re sorry to see you go, since AUP students bring a youthful energy to the neighborhood.

Exactly how much of your business do you estimate is from university students?

Au moins 30% est de l’AUP. Il y a des étudiants, mais aussi des professeurs. Je ne sais pas trop qui sont les étudiants et les professeurs mais ils y a vraiment beaucoup de clients américains. Après il y a aussi les touristes américains mais ca c’est diffé-rent. (At least 30% (of our sales) are from AUP. Including students and professors… not always sure which is which, but we definitely have a lot of American clients. Of course we also have tourists, but that’s another thing.)

– Alice, Assistant Manager (Starbucks, Ste. Dominique)

What do you think about the sale of the Bosquet building?

Je suis très triste que l’immeuble soit vendu, j’aime beaucoup la clientèle. C’est dom-mage vraiment. Ça faisait une animation dans le quartier et ça créait du mouvement…

mois je trouvais que c’était bien. (I am very sad that the building is sold, I really like the (AUP) clientele. Its really too bad, it made the neighborhood more lively and I always found that to be a nice thing.)

– Christina (Panini Lady)

Will you miss us?

Oui beaucoup, parce que les étudiants sont très gentils, pas comme les étudi-

ants français.(Yes because the American students are nicer than the French students)

– Pharmacien (Pharmacie next to AUP Bosquet)

How much of your business is AUP related?Tout ce qui est commerce ici on vit grâce aux écoles dans les environs. (Everything sold here is thanks to the schools in the neighborhood).

Have you been bothered by a lot of noise from the students?Non je n’ai pas, à me plaindre. On a eu un peu de musique mais bon ce n’est pas très grave. Cela nous n’a pas dérangé plus que ça. On ne vit pas ici non plus, on est là que pour travailler.(Nothing that upset us too much. A little bit of music but nothing serious. We don’t live here, we only work here.)

– Madame Moon (Paper Store next to AUP Bosquet)

campusnews 3

... and Those Who Won’t‘GOOD RIDDANCE’ SAY FED-UP RESIDENTS

By Karina Klindtworth

It’s no secret that residents on avenue Bosquet are not too fond of the university or its students. So you might think that the news of AUP’s departure from Bosquet would be greeted with joy. However, the neigh- bors are keeping pretty quiet about it.The Planet set out to canvas their opin-iona, sending a letter to residents in all the surrounding buildings.

“Normal to have parties”

Only one neighbor replied. He’s Renaud de Guignard, the president and founding member of Orient Finance, an independent finance company that links Asian local stockbrokers to European in- stitutional investors. He has been residing at 16 avenue Bosquet for years. It turns out that his biggest problems with AUP are that we leave the lights on in class-rooms at night... and that we dress badly. The good news is that, on the

noise issue, he’s actually more relaxed than most neighbors. “It’s normal to have a few small or big parties several times a year,” he writes. His main complaint is AUP’s environmental footprint. “It’s very regrettable that the big classroom that faces Avenue Bosquet is lit up all night, with all the spotlights on regularly” he writes, castigating AUP’s “total indiffer- ence about the preservation of energy.” He says he has written to the school administration, and that this issue would be simple to correct. Or “is it the perfect reflection of the wasteful Ameri- can approach to consumption whose spirit has been exported to your school?” As for the way we dress, de Guignard complains that it’s “slovenly” and “far from the ‘preppy’ look of the U.S. colleges” he has visited. Moreover, “it adds nothing to the aesthetic dimension of the neighborhood.” In short, he says that there are no advantages to our presence on avenue

Bosquet. He signs off, almost apologeti-cally, “I am no doubt very reactionary in my thinking, but at least I’m expressing openly what many people in the neighbor- hood think.”

Shutting Everything Down

“I would imagine they want as little to do with us as possible,” said Phil von Eiff, a staff member who has taken charge of relations with the neighbors. The Planet thanked de Guignard for his candor. Front desk security says that he isn’t someone who regularly com-plains. Over the years, they have taken a number of steps to counter the neighbors’ complaints, including Phil von Eiff’s “moment of weakness” of giving out his personal phone number. “They call Phil, and Phil calls us. Then everything gets shut down,” said Stephanie Dissette, the communications

director of AUP’s Student Government Association. We can be loud at all hours of day and night. We drink, we litter. We’re not French. Just ask the front desk security guards, who deal with a regular stream of complaints. “We share walls with some of the neighbors, so I sympathize with them about the noise,” said von Eiff. Signs and eclectic posters have been placed around the building entrance and they multiply every time there is an event in the Amex in an attempt to pre- vent complaints. “There is a long history,” said Kevin Fore, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. Moving out of 31 avenue Bos- quet has given us an escape route from this history and the neighboring critics like Renaud de Guignard. Nevertheless, it makes us wonder what controversies we will cause in the future, at our new loca-tion.

campusnews4

Fresh Ideas Percolate at Campus BookstoreLATTE LONGINGS & CAPPUCCINO CRAVINGS

Lacy Wood has a vision. She sees a quiet place where people can go and sit in comfortable chairs and drink quality coffee. Wood thinks about coffee all the time. A graduate student at AUP major-ing in International Affairs, she is writing her thesis on the coffee trade in Vietnam. As an apprentice at Coutume Café, Wood is learning the trade of coffee roasting, a skill she plans to use in order to personal-ize her own perfectly roasted cup of cof-fee.

By Elizabeth Marshall

“Students need a quiet space”

Because of Wood’s involve-ment with SGA last year, she often heard people say “students need a quiet space. They need a place to go to hang out with friends.” “Since I’m interested in coffee, everyone would ask me where to go,” she added. Following the fire in the Amex last year, Wood started thinking about how she could combine her love of coffee with the students’ wish for a quiet space. Last summer, she put together a business plan and some architectural sketches for a coffee bar and submitted them to the administration. One of the proposals was to put the coffee bar in the AUP bookstore, a space that – except when crowded with frenzied students at the beginning of each term – is barely used. A coffee bar would enable year-round traffic in the bookstore, promote sales of some of the back stock of books, and create the kind of environment students want.

“You go in to Starbucks and you see half the school”

CAPPUCCINO, COMPLETE WITH POURED LATTE ART

LACY WOOD

When questioned about the obvi-ous comparison to Starbucks around the corner, Wood answered, “You go in to Starbucks and you see half the school. They need that space where they can go and have group meetings for classes or meet a friend and just chat, and they want to have quality coffee when they do that.” However, Wood’s vision goes beyond just providing students with a quiet place and a quality cup of coffee. She wants to get students motivated and educated about the coffee trade and why it matters. “Next to oil, coffee is the most common traded commodity in the world.”

“We’re still in the talking phase”

For now, the plans are still up in the air and include the possibility of

postponing the project until the University has a new building. “We’re still in the planning phase, but it’s good to start talking about it,” Wood concluded. “There’s already a lot of student curiosity about it, and with lack of information, people insert their own opinions. I like to provide concrete details so people have an idea of what it could be.” As an interim solution, Wood is hoping to have a small outlet for the end of the semester to set up coffee and snacks at the library. “Lets face it, that coffee machine doesn’t cut it,” she added.

If you want to check out the latest with Lacy Wood and her coffee recommenda-tions around Paris, visit her web site at www.coffeesnobinparis.com.

Becoming FrenchNEW GOVERNMENT PLANS TO EASE CITIZENSHIP LAWSBy Danite Arefaine

France’s Interior Minister Ma-nuel Valls has announced plans to make it easier for foreign citizens to obtain French nationality, a move that could help AUP students get jobs here more readily. Valls, who himself is a natural-ized French citizen, made the announce-ment on Oct. 18, saying that “French na-tionality should not be sold-off or reserved for the elite.” The plans are an about face from the tough immigration policies put in place by the administration of former President Nicolas Sarkozy, which led to a sharp drop in the number of French natu-ralization cases over the past two years. One of the key changes for AUP students is that it will now be possible to apply for French citizenship without hav-ing a permanent employment contract (a “contrat de durée indéterminée, or CDI). Under current laws, foreign citizens need a permanent contract before they can ap-ply. Employers are reluctant to offer these contracts because tough labor laws make it hard to fire someone who has a CDI. That in turn makes it harder for students to gain residency, and thus nationality.

With the planned new reforms, students with temporary job contracts will be able to apply, making it easier and more accessible to obtain that coveted red passport. Valls has also asked the prefects to be more sympathetic when handling student cases, since their lack of money and steady employment can hinder their application for French citizenship.

Valls is also scrapping multiple choice exams that would have tested knowledge of French history and culture, supposed to have come into effect this July. “You don’t become French by answering multiple choice questions and I reject the idea that only those with perma-nent employment contracts can become French” Valls said. So how will this affect AUP students? Danielle Savage, head of the The Career Development Center at AUP says that, “this broadens the government’s attitude to hire international students. Previously, the French government was much harsher in terms of opening im-migration, though the hard-line attitude has not changed really since. But what has changed is the attitude and approach towards students in their economy.” The previous rules were put in place amid an upsurge in concern on the right about a wave of immigrants who might erode French culture. “My aim is not to reopen a debate our country doesn’t need by changing completely the rules

to becoming French, but I simply want to make the rules more fair, transparent, understandable, and more effective,” Valls said. His proposed changes sparked a hefty reaction. Most notably, France’s 2012 National Front candidate Marine Le Pen said the changes now made obtaining French nationality, “as easy as purchasing a metro ticket.” Supporters of the change say that France needs to become more attractive to foreigners if it is not to suffer a brain drain, but instead draw an educated work-force from other countries. “These new reforms seems like the right steps taken by the government in assimilating those, such as myself, who have worked, studied, and moved their lives to this country. I appre-ciate the less negative tone when it comes to foreign citizens, and I appreciate the consideration of our time and abilities as students applying for naturalization,” said Maya Lorton, an AUP junior from San Francisco, who is seeking French citizen-ship.

5arts&cultureNovember Arts CalendarEXHIBITS AND MUSEUMS TO SEE THIS MONTH:

Autour du Chat Noir: Arts et Plaisir à Montmartre, 1880-1910

Now until January 13th (6€ for students under 25)Musée de Montmartre, 12 rue Cortot, 75018

First time visitors to Montmartre are often disappointed to discover that the district’s Bohemians and intellectuals have been replaced by artists offering quick carica-tures and vendors selling plastic trinkets. Fear not: the Musée de Montmartre has gathered together over 200 works with the intent of recreating the atmosphere of the famous Chat Noir cabaret. Enjoy the art of Toulouse-Lautrec, Édouard Vuillard, and Steinlen, pause to enjoy the music of Bruant in the reconstructed théâtre d’ombres, and ignore your disenchant-ment with modern-day Montmartre.

The Museum of Everything: Exhibi-tion #1.1

Now until December 16th (Free)Chalet Society, 14 boulevard Raspail, 75007

After stops in England, Italy, and Rus-sia, the world’s only museum for un-discovered, unintentional and untrained artists is finally landing in Paris. Taking up residence in a 100 year old school in Saint-Germain, Exhibition #1.1 offers an expanded iteration of the museum’s first show given in London in 2009. Juxtapos-ing the art of janitors and factory workers with essays by mainstream art greats like John Baldessari and Christian Boltanski, the show promises to be irreverent and completely off the rails. Holiday Bonus: stop by the Shop of Everything, located inside the museum, to pick up the most unique Christmas gifts known to man.

25 Ans de Créativité Arabe

Now until February 3rd 2013 (4€ for students under 26)Institut du Monde Arabe, 1 rue des Fossés-Saint-Bernard, Place Mohammed V, 75005

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the Institut du Monde Arabe has united art works in various mediums, covering everything from painting and sculpture to high-tech video installations. De-signed to demonstrate the current trends and sources of inspiration employed by contemporary Arab artists, this exhibi-tion includes both pre-existing works and pieces commissioned specifically for the occasion. Spread throughout the Institut, the exhibition offers visitors a compre-hensive overview of contemporary art from across the Arab world.

Chaïm Soutine: Order Out of Chaos

Now until January 21st, 2013 (Free for students under 25 with a carte de séjour or visa)Musée de l’Orangerie, Jardin des Tuiler-ies, 75001

Chaïm Soutine must have gone through a lot of paint. Active in France between the First and Second World Wars, Soutine’s canvases display thick smears of paint characteristic of his Expressionist style. While the artist’s landscapes and portraits are stunning, visitors should be pre-pared for the visceral punch of Soutine’s depictions of the flayed carcass of an ox. Painted from life, the artist’s neighbors were forced to call the police after the stench of rotting meat became over-pow-ering and blood began to seep out from under Soutine’s door. Who said art was supposed to be pretty?

By Lizzy Melton

EVENTS ON STAGE THIS MONTH:

Play: Le Retour by Harold Pinter

Now until December 23rd (Tickets start at 6€)Le Théâtre de l’Odéon, 2 rue Corneille, 75006

Luc Bondy directs a star-studded cast in Philippe Djian’s translation of The Home-coming by Harold Pinter. What happens when Teddy brings his wife home for the first time? Naturally, she seduces his entire family. Starring Bruno Ganz, Louis Garrel, Pascal Greggory, Jérôme Kircher, Micha Lescot, and Emmanuelle Seigner.

Play: Le Jeu de l’Amour et du Hasard by Pierre de Marivaux

November 13th until January 3rd (27€)Comédie-Française, Théâtre Éphémère, Place Colette, 75001

By Jorge Franco IV

Silvia is engaged to marry Dorante, a man she has never met. Upon their first meeting, she disguises herself, switching places with her servant in order to observe the true nature of her beloved. Unaware of Silvia’s plan, Dorante does the same. Comedy ensues and love prevails in Mari-vaux’s romantic-comedy classic.

Reading: Nicolas by Thomas Gatus

November 18th (Free)Carr’s Pub & Restaurant, 1 rue du Mont Thabor, 75001

Twice a month you can enter the base-ment of Carr’s Pub & Restaurant to aid in the development of new and upcom-ing plays. Performed by an ensemble of professional bilingual actors, each evening features between one and three pieces. Afterwards, you can take part in audience-

driven feedback and speak to playwrights face-to-face. On November 18th, meet screenwriter Thomas Gatus and witness a reading of his new work Nicolas, a screen-play presented in English.

Play: Le Clan des Veuves by Ginette Beauvais-Garcin

November 22nd & 29th and December 6th & 13th (29€)Théâtre de l’Alhambra, 21 rue Yves Tou-dic, 75010

After a successful run throughout France, Le Clan des Veuves has finally arrived in Paris. Tragedy turns upside down as the “clan of widows” takes shape. Garance Chansigaud-Fargepallet makes her Paris theatrical debut in this hilarious comedy by Ginette Beauvais-Garcin.

Cre

dit:

Gar

ance

Cha

nsig

aud-

Farg

epal

let (

Act

ress

)

1. Théophile Alexandre Steinlen, La tournée du Chat Noir avec Rodolphe Salis, 1896

2. Doris Bittar, Each Land is Born in Due Time, 1993 / L’Institut du Monde Arabe

3. Chaim Soutine, Flayed Beef, ca. 1925 / Photo courtesy of Museé de Grenoble

4. © The Chalet Society

6

THE BEST BARS IN PARISTHE PLANET’S GUIDE FOR TASTES, FROM HIPSTER TO RAD, COOL OR CRAZY (AND DON’T MISS THE MEXICAN WRESTLING)By Chloe Dunderdale

It’s Friday night, and you’re all dressed up and ready to go out. Sud-denly it dawns on you that you’re about to head to the same bar you always go to. Shocked, you realize that weekends have become routine. Even in a city as varied and lively as Paris, you’ve become a crea-ture of habit. If this sounds familiar, don’t panic. Help is at hand. The Planet can-vassed the AUP community to compile a list of fun, happening and interesting spots that will smash that routine and bring you out of your comfort zone. In general Paris knows what’s up with its nightlife and, although some of the areas of this city may not carry the reputation of the East Berlin or New York’s meatpacking they have a lot going for them. “Paris night-life is what you make of it,” says Jessica Lynch, an AUP senior. If it is cheap drinks or loungy bars you’re into, moving one arrondisse-ment over to a place you hadn’t thought of can provide for an unexpected night of laughter and excitement. Take the club Titty Twister located on Rue de Berri. The

Champs-Elysees carries the reputation for being crowded and full of unpleasant people. But just behind the Champs you’ll stumble upon club central. Rue de Berri and Rue Ponthieu are the perfect places to get dressed up and get into mischief. Another favorite from our club hopping AUP kids is called BC. It’s located in the same area and it’s the “after after” hours club. “BC is the club you go to after the night out, it’s great when you have been drinking” says Pauline Rodhain, an AUP senior. If you’re looking for something upscale, but not as crazy as a club, Per-scription Cocktail Club in the sixth arron-dissement has a speakeasy feel. There’s no sign on the front door, and it is only recognizable by a black door and bouncers outside, but do not fear. Walk in to a décor of chandeliers and velvet staircases. Each drink tastes like heaven, and has its own surprise. Not to mention the ambience, a dreamy lounge feeling with a mixed inter-national crowd. Traditionally the sixth arron-dissement is known as the place to go out in Paris. In the 1920’s it was where the

artists and philosophers went to ponder their next creations. So it’s no wonder that around every corner there are places to stumble upon. Like, Chez Georges a clas-sically French bar with a young crowd. “The bar blasts French music. Everyone just gets wine drunk and listens to Edith Piaf,” says William Dorn, Sophomore. If cheap and cheerful is what you’re looking for, try the bars on rue Oberkampf. “There is a grungy undercur-rent that sweeps through this city and if your cool, artsy, or just plain broke you’ll hear about it” says Angela Waters, The Planet’s regular columnist and Junior. On average this area carries the reputa-tion for being the hipster, scruffy, flannel wearing type that trickle in from other universities around Paris. Esprit Chupitos on Rue Saint-Maur can offer you over 600 different kinds of shots for €2.50. These are not just your everyday vodka, and whiskey shots. These shots light on fire, fizzle, and change colors. Let’s just say if you can walk out of the bar still standing, congratulations because you’re a champ! “I recommend the big poppa shot, and the poprock shot,” says Chloe Elder,

Junior. Another favorite of this area is UFO located on Rue Jean-Pierre. This bar is decorated with old movie posters and comic books, and the drinks are surpris-ingly well made. “I ordered an amaretto sour and was surprised to see they made it correctly egg white and all” says Jaisy De La Cruz, AUP senior Staying within the same budget and walking just over to République, you’ll find Canal St. Martin filled with great places to day drink and people watch. A personal favorite of the Planet’s is the tiny bar called Les Jemmapes on Quai Jemmapes. Its cherry beers are deliciously lethal and will make any conversation you’re having instantly fun-nier. The Canal also has its fair share of excitement, with loads of street art to look at and performances happening all the time, especially in the warmer months. “I once saw a man do a performance dive off a bridge into the water, it was crazy” says Genevieve Shea, Senior. This city has loads of places to offer, and this article is just the skimming the surface. For more places in different areas of Paris check out the map!

bestbars

1ST ARR.

2ND ARR.

3RD ARR.

4TH ARR. 5TH ARR.

6TH ARR. Le Magnifique 25 Rue de Richelieu

Giant luxurious living room (worth get-ting a table). Best time to go is after 1-2 am Wednesday and Saturday nights.

Le Dernier Bar Avant La Fin du Monde 19 avenue Victoria

Filled to the rim with Star Wars memo-rabilia it’s a “geeks heaven”. Drinks are themed and the men’s toilets are video games.

L’Experimental Cocktail Club 37 Rue Saint Sauveur

Well mixed cocktails in a “secret” atmos-phere. Be sure to save the address as you won’t find the bar on the street.

Footsie 12 Rue Daunou

Prices change on the minute, as the bar is based on a Stock Market theme. Time your next drink carefully!

Le Pin Up 13 rue de Tiquetonne

Very small and intimate, be sure to order the “piscine,” a delicious mix of red bull, vodka, and Champagne.

Stolly’s 16 rue Cloche-Perce

An international dive bar with Happy Hour cocktails priced at € 5. Small, but a smart place to start the night.

La Perle 78 Rue Vieille du Temple

Made famous as the “hangout spot” of John Galliano. A chic and fashionable Pa-risian street cafe. Good food, good drinks.

Les Etages 35 Rue Vieille du Temple

Clever cocktails with antique decor and chilled-out music. Be sure to order the Raspberry Mojito!

Le Crocodile 6 rue Royer Collard

With 200 different types of cocktails for cheap prices during Happy Hour--- Need we say more ?

La Lucha Libre 10 Rue de la Montagne Sainte-Genevieve

MARGARITA ! Unique decor with an interesting theme. Think Nacho Libre, complete with live entertainment at the wrestling ring.

Le Piano Vache 8 rue Laplace

Complete with great live music, cheap drinks. “Old-Paris” antique themed ver-sion of a dive-bar.

Prescription Cocktail Club 23 Rue Mazarine

Speakeasy ambiance. “Secret” place as there is no name on the street and curtians cover the windows. Amazing drinks, as just one does the trick. Chandelier is made of vintage top-hats.

Café Laurent 33 Rue Dauphine

Lovely classy piano jazz bar. The perfect place to go in winter if you love jazz, giant fire places, and delicious deadly hot chocolates

Chez Georges 11 Rue des Canettes

In a French cave. Younger French crowd fills up and gets wine-drunk listening to Edith Piaf classics. Fun late into the night.

LE CROCODILE

STOLLY’S

7bestbars7TH ARR.

8TH ARR.

9TH ARR. 10TH ARR.

L’éclair 32 rue Cler

A new bar in the 7th. Now there is another alternative to Collins with good cocktails. Plus you can get a “cauldron” of Kentucky Lemonade-- so worth it!

Titty Twister 5 rue de Berri

The “biker-bar” club of the 8th.

Noire Platine 23 Rue de Ponthieu

A new club owned by Le Magnifique. Lots of lights and music to dance to. Dress to impress!

BC aka Black Calavados 40 Avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie

The after after hour club! If you’re done at the club and the night isn’t done with you... Head to BC!

A la Cloche d’Or 3 rue Mansart

Come after after midnight, and don’t worry-- food is served until 4am !

Le Glass 7 Rue Frochot

A new dive bar owned by Candelaria. Great cocktails.

Les Jemmapes 82 Quai de Jemmapes

Cherry beer that is lethal and a great at-mosphere. Perfect for a sunny day!

The Cork and Caven Pub 70 Quai de Jemmapes

A fun and friendly pub atmosphere thats right next to Canal St. Martin.

11TH ARR. Tape 21 Rue de la Roquette

Grunge, graffiti and interesting people. A hipsters paradise.

Barbershop 68 avenue de la Republique

A pseudo gallery mixed in with a daytime coffee shop, and evening bar. A great place to relax and enjoy some local art.

Esprit Chupitos 117 Rue Saint-Maur

This bar has over 600 different types of shots for € 2.50. Be careful if you ask for the Monica Lewinsky...

12TH ARR.

13TH ARR.

Le Calbar 82 rue de Charenton

A classy bar with a surprising twist. The waiters just so happen to serve you in their underwear.

China 50 rue de Charenton

Retro decor with a hint of Asian flair. This bar is a host to great gigs and classic cocktails. Try the “Hemingway.”

Le Batofar Port de la Gare

Imagine a bar inside one of the live-in boats we see along the Seine. This place has amazing dub-step and electronic tunes.

Oya 25 rue de la Reine Blanche

Over 500 board games to choose from. The perfect place for a cold winter’s day. Get drunk and play board games!

14TH ARR. Le Café Tournesol 9 Rue de la Gaîté

Of all the bars in the 14eme this is the only one worth going to.

15TH ARR. Le Cristal Bar 163 Avenue Suffren

You’ll most likely run into the sports boys from AUP. The cheapest beer is about € 4 a pint. If you’re going cheap. Go here.

MARGARITAS AT LUCHA LIBRE

“CAPTAIN’S ORDER” AT DERNIER BAR

8 bestbars16TH ARR. Scossa 8 Place Victor Hugo

They make a mean Pina Colada!

Sir Winston 5 Rue Presbourg

There is a tiger skin on the ceiling. It’s where James Bond (obviously) takes his dates at 3am. Old and English.

17TH ARR. L’imprévu 2 rue de Tocqueville

A calm place perfect for an afternoon beer.

18TH ARR. La Machine du Moulin Rouge90 boulevard de Clichy

Three story music venue with an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ theme.

Le Kremlin 6 rue André Antoine

If you like vodka, this is definitely the place to go. Imported vodka is their spe-cialty over everything else.

19TH ARR. Glazart 7-15 Avenue de la Porte de la Villette

An funky music venue that brings in some of the best underground electorinc music in Paris.

Rosa Bonheur2 Allée de la Cascade

Located inside Buttes Charmount its an outdoor bar that has some of the best views of Paris.

20TH ARR. La Miroiterie 88 Rue de Ménilmontant

An artist ‘squat’ turned into a concert hall. It has no rules, so you can only imagine!

MOJITO FRAMBOISE AT LES ETAGES CHAMPAGNE FRAMBOISE AT LE CROCODILE

WILLIAM AT LE CROCODILE

9aupsportsGirls Can Jump, Too !ALICIA FARINA, MEN’S BASKETBALL STARLET

By Joanna Saab

Basketball is in Alicia Farina’s veins and she couldn’t wait to become a professional “baller.” After break-ing her ankle in high school, her dreams of playing basketball in college were crushed. All that changed when she came to AUP and joined the men’s basketball team. Fifteen minutes into their first practice, the men on the team realized she was no joke.

“He looked a bit surprised that I actu-ally showed up.”

Ashkan Shalbaf, AUP’s Sports Director, responded positively to Alicia’s request to join the team and invited her to join them for practice. “The fact that there is no other female participant, and that we have no female team, didn’t stop her from showing up. And she did show a couple of our guys how basketball is supposed to be played. Alicia plays as a Post player, a position that is reserved for the tallest and strongest players of a team. That should say enough about the inten-sity she is sometimes confronted with.”

arts&culture

Alicia recalls that “he looked a bit surprised that I actually showed up.” Some of the guys were shocked to see her, but this soon wore off. Now one of the guys, Alicia isn’t afraid to get down and dirty with them on the court. “I under-stand their humor and like hanging out with them,” she said. Encouraged by her father, Alicia has been playing sports nearly every day since the age of nine. It’s never mattered whether she’s practicing with the girls or with the boys, Alicia just loves to play sports. In sixth grade she became a mem-ber of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), an organization dedicated to the promo-tion and development of amateur sports. The team was called The Hoops Specialist and former NBA players ran the team. Basketball wasn’t the only sport she excelled at, participating in track and playing field hockey all four years of high school. She was even the captain of the field hockey team her senior year. She was also on a state championship discus relay team her senior year in high school.

“Then I broke my ankle.”

Her basketball dreams came crashing down when she broke her ankle at an AAU game. “I volunteered to fill in for another girl, on another team, because I just wanted to play, even though it was the fourth game I played that day,” said Alicia. “Then I broke my ankle and my dad was so angry with me!” In college Alicia joined the rugby team at George Washington University. Ranked #3 in the nation, it was chal-lenging and rigorous. Then she broke her femur. Despite being unable to play, Alicia remained active with the team off the field. Her rugby experience prepared her well for playing with the boys. De-spite initial worries that she would be treated too “gently,” she experienced no special treatment. Henry Dean, a fresh-man on the team, said “I even acciden-tally shouldered her jaw pretty hard, but she took it well. Her ability on the court doesn’t warrant going easy on her.” Two months into practice, it’s clear that Alicia’s an integral part of the AUP men’s basketball team. And no one cares that she’s the only girl. Henry Dean

drives this point home, “we still say ‘man’ when talking about players on the court, the fact that she’s not actually a ‘man’ doesn’t really change anything.”

“You don’t have to dress in basketball shorts”

Other teams haven’t been quite as open-minded. “I can’t play in the games yet for medical reasons, but once I can, it will be on a case by case situation,” says Alicia. “The teams have to approve of me playing and we have to declare ourselves as a mixed team.” Waiting until she can play in a game, Alicia has partici-pated in a couple of scrimmages, noting that she is given two kisses instead of the firm handshake her teammates receive. Alicia encourages other girls to get involved in sports at AUP, saying “you don’t have to dress in basketball shorts and be manly to play, you can still look cute and be an Art History major, like me, and be active.” The games schedule for the basketball team will be posted soon, offering all AUP students the chance to see Alicia in action.

Clash of the Art TitansBy Lizzy Melton

When art world heavyweights like Larry Gagosian and Thaddeus Ropac decide to have a showdown, art lovers come out on top. October saw both Gagosian and Ropac opening new mega galleries just outside Paris, the second space for each in the capital. This “mine is bigger than yours” contest was already a hot art world topic, and the announcement that both spaces would be inaugurated with shows by Anselm Kiefer only fanned the flames. Ropac engaged Buttazzoni & Associés to transform an old factory in Pantin, resulting in four exhibition spaces and a venue for performances, all with crisp white walls and massive skylights. Already home to the Centre National de la Danse, Pantin is now on its way to becom-ing a cultural Mecca. Gagosian added a location in Le Bourget to his bulging portfolio of eleven galleries flung across the globe. Architect Jean Nouvel, of H&M Champs-Élysées fame, was brought in to carve a chic and sleek art space out of a 17,000 square foot

warehouse. Gagosian seems to be bank-ing on the proximity of Le Bourget air-port, allowing wealthy collectors to travel quickly from private plane to gallery and back again. As Gagosian and Ropac duke it out, visitors to the galleries are the real winners. Artist Anselm Kiefer has a history of creating dramatic works too massive for display in traditional galler-ies, making him the perfect choice to fill enormous spaces. Both gallerists may have recalled that Kiefer was chosen for the first edition of “Monumenta,” an annual exhibition at the Grand Palais featuring monumental site-specific artwork. Despite sharing the same artist, the two shows of Kiefer’s work couldn’t be more different. In Kiefer’s show for Ropac, entitled “Die Ungeborenen” (The Unborn), huge canvases and two enor-mous installations have taken over the gal-lery. Kiefer explained in the gallery’s press release that the show considers “the

other aspect of the unborn, the desire of not wanting to be born.” One installa-tion, with resin sculptures of embryos contained in glass jars, is not for the faint of heart. Kiefer went slightly more mini-malist at Gagosian, limiting the work in “Morgenthau Plan” to a single installation of the same name. Here the gallery has been filled with a wheat field encircled by a metal cage. As a German artist born in 1945, Kiefer’s artistic output has long been devoted to understanding Germany’s conflicted past and Morgenthau Plan is no exception. Referring to a 1944 plan to turn Germany into an agricultural state, proposed by then United States Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Kiefer provides visitors with a glimpse of an alternative ending to World War II. “Morgenthau Plan” at Gagosian Gallery runs through January 26th and “Die Ungeborenen” at Thaddeus Ropac closes January 27th.

© Anselm Kiefer and Thaddeus Ropac, Paris/Salzburg

GALLERY HEAVYWEIGHTS TAKE IT TO THE ‘BURBS

arts&culture10

Blockbuster Edward Hopper Show Wows Grand PalaisAMERICA’S ULTIMATE PAINTER RETURNS TO HIS ROOTS

A lone clarinetist plays a jazz-age soundtrack as a two-hour line snakes around the side of the Grand Palais. The line is to see the exhibition of American realist Edward Hopper, the latest artist to have his body of work grace the ferrovit-reous French palace. At the center of the exhibition is Hopper’s voyeuristic work “Nighthawks.” The enchantingly mysterious painting looks into the window of a city diner late at night, where two men and a woman are sitting at the counter. The two men are both wearing suits and fedoras, one sitting alone while the other is accompanied by a redhead in a red dress. She isn’t the only russet-tressed beauty that appears in Hopper’s work. Also on display is “Girlie Show”, an oil painting featuring a strikingly similar-looking redhead on stage, wearing nothing but a face full of makeup and blue high-heels. States of Undress

These are the pieces that have categorized Edward Hopper as an ambas-sador of American modernity. His use of architecture, technology and attention to styles of grooming and dress show people in the character of American life at the time. Even his paintings of women in various states of undress show their interaction with the world that surrounds them. His paintings of women in the bedroom, shows them illuminated, not just by morning light, but by cityscapes and landscapes; it is a mix of the intimacy and the outside world. Alongside these iconic paintings are the lesser-known works that round out Hopper’s career. A large projected slide show displays the artist’s commercial

By Angela Waters

work, designing the cover art for trade magazines like “The Morse Dial,” and “Hotel Management.” While different in subject from his fine art, the magazine covers retain Hopper’s signature Weltan-schauung. Hopper’s self portraits are also a key part of the exhibition, with eyeless younger Hoppers to more distinguished older Hoppers. Not only do the portraits show how the artist’s conception of him-self changed, it shows which other artists he was influenced by at the time. The exhibit shows Hopper’s self-portraits next to the works of other artists with notice-ably similar styles.

The European Influence

The work of Edward Hopper was very diversified. He went up and down the New England coastline doing water-colors of seaside scenes, including cape houses, lighthouses in Maine, and the Victorian manors of Gloucester, Massa-chusetts. Hopper’s landscapes serve as a counterbalance to his urban fixation. Although synonymous with America, the exhibit exposes Hopper’s early Europhilia. The French masters, such as Edgar Degas and Edouard Manet, served as models for his earlier work and inspirations behind his trips to Europe. Beguiled by Paris, Hopper created a series of charming watercolors depicting life in the city. He concluded his fascination with Europe in his melancholic oil paint-ing of a pantomime in a cafe, “Soir Blue,” in 1914. Running until January 28th, there is plenty of time to see the exhibit and take in the 20th century through the muted colors and lugubrious lens of Edward Hopper.

Edward Hopper, Nighthawks, 1942, Friends of American Art Collection © Art Institute of Chicago

‘Gas’, 1940 / © 2012. Digital image, The Museum of Modern Art, New York/Scala, Florence

‘Morning Sun’, 1952 © Hopper, Edward, Columbus Museum of Art, Ohio

opinion 11

This year AUP celebrates its fiftieth anniversary, a major milestone on its journey to becoming a real col-lege. While the university may be young at heart, it is starting to show signs of ageing and maturity. Incrementally there are more and more features that make the Univer-sity look credible. There is campus EU, which strangely resembles dormitories. While there are no meddling RA’s yet, it is a step closer to a standard college. In the student store, there is an increas-ing amount of new AUP merchandise. There’s the lighter/bottle opener combo that only lasts for one pack of cigarettes. And now that there are sweatshirts, T-shirts and sweatpants, bumper stickers can’t be far behind. Fifty years is nothing to scoff at, but any university younger than 100 is still a fledgling. Oxford, Harvard, or the Sorbonne have been around for hundreds of years. They have historic ivy-covered buildings, benches with the names of wealthy alumni benefactors, churches, school colors, and stylish shoes. No matter how much AUP students seem to beg for moral and spir-itual guidance and a place to practice religion, we don’t even have a chapel. The university has sheepishly claimed the American Church, like all things “American” in the 7th. There will even be a Thanksgiving meal celebrated in the Cathedral, where students can come together to share a meal like homeless pilgrims they are. Isn’t That In Cairo?

Despite the university’s best efforts, nobody is aware that it’s au-tonomous. Most people in the United States automatically assume that it is a study-abroad campus for The American

sparkling waters

A column by Angela Waters

Fifty and Fabulous

University. Sometimes it is best to let people think that you go there; that’s is a lovely school in Washington D.C. with a 42% acceptance rate (as opposed to the 103% acceptance rate at AUP), a functional mascot, and it was approved of by U.S. President Benjamin Harri-son. The other possibility is that people think the school is connected to the American University of Rome or The American University of Cairo. This is also not a bad thing. While the uni-versity works out its publicity issues, it gives the students a bit of leeway; after all, people will believe what they want to believe. Free Snacks

While some things will never change, like the university’s promise to add French Accreditation to the diploma, there are immediate benefits from the fifty year anniversary. For one, there is more free wine and cheese than ever before. AUP, which is famous for its events supplying dairy and alcohol, is taking the opportunity to host even more soirées, using the excuse of the “50th Anniversary” and brandishing it as a logo in the title. On any given night, between the hours of 5:30-8:00p.m, there are most likely free refreshments in the Grand Salon, Combes Gallery, or C13. For its Golden Anniversary, the university is looking better than ever. It may have a few more wrinkles and have become more crotchety about things like “attendance” and “plagia-rism,” but AUP has done well for itself. Combining over 100 different nationali-ties in one arrondissement, it pursues its mission of educating those who pay tuition.

Taking the Heat

By Maritza M. Lacayo

The Planet is a newspaper, a source of information for students who want and need to know about what’s happening at their school, in their community, and in the city of Paris. We have a dedicated team of writers, photographers, and editors, whose job is to inform the AUP student body in a way that is effective and interesting. We are endeavoring to publish a paper that has high standards of accuracy and is committed to the principle of fairness. There are times when what we write might not sit well with some. That was certainly the case with our October issue. The compliments and complaints came flooding in as soon as it was published. As Editor-in-Chief, I took most of this ‘heat,’ which is the way it should be. Given the controversy we generated, I think it is useful to explain how we see our role. It was obvious to us that the selling of the Bosquet building was the foremost issue concerning students at the beginning of the semester. Despite President Celeste’s announcement of the building’s sale, many students were not aware that their beloved 31 Avenue Bosquet mailing address would not last long. The responses came flooding in once the students saw the words “Sold” and “9 Million Euros” splashed across the front page in bold, red type. The article, despite its accuracy and careful reporting, came under fire from certain members of the administration. That was unsettling, but it enabled us to see our role and responsibilities in a way we had not seen them before. The Planet is a publica-tion that is taken seriously. If an article within our pages can stir the pot the way “Bye Bye Bosquet” did, inform students of what affects them directly, and raise questions, then the article, and the entire team, has succeeded. I’d like to focus on the issue of raising questions. Isn’t that after all the respon-sibility of the media? To air, dissect and challenge issues that directly affect the commu-nity is to give the community a voice. It gives the community the choice of whether or not they want to act. It allows for a discussion to occur and for potential changes to be made. At the Planet we see ourself as the voice of the student body. We appreciate responses, letters to the editor, and, of course, the interviews and quotes students pro-vide us while we investigate and report on our stories. Sometimes, the opinions voiced by students will be controversial. That was the case with our October issue. After it was published, one student quoted in an article was severely criticized for her personal opinion. Our response was simple: we will not apologize for an article that is factually correct. We respect the opinions of students, but we also respect the views of those who don’t agree with what we print. If we write something that rankles you, tell us about it. Letters to the editor are always welcome. We strive for The Planet to be a discussion board for the community. As the school’s newspaper, we stand by the articles we write. We stand along-side our writers and assume our responsibility as a service to the community. We will not shy away from controversy. We welcome the heat.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Cre

dit:

Rac

hel T

onTh

at

12 cityguideThe BEST Mexican Food in ParisHow to find Burritos and Tacos in the Land of Onion Soup

Do the words guacamole, hot sauce, and sour cream mean anything to you? If you’ve been having intense cravings for real Mexican food and you’re a student on a budget, mariachi on down and check out the best Paris has to offer!

The Planet tested out a range of restau-rants with two real Mexicans. This is what we found.

El Nopal3 rue Eugène Varlin 75010

This place is amazing. The vegetables are all fresh and everything is cooked on the spot, so the food is hot. Best thing on the menu is the € 8 burrito that comes with rice, beans, and the meat of your choice. The quesadillas are spicy and will keep you coming back for another round. Other items on the menu include the traditional Mexican fare of: tortas, tacos, and chips with guacamole. Beware: this place only accepts cash. Also, it’s a takeout restaurant so there isn’t any space to sit down. For € 15 you can eat your fill.

Overall rating: * * * * Cost: $Metro: Château-Landon (Line 7)

Mexi & Co.10 rue Dante 75005

The décor is in-your-face festive with traditional Mexican dolls, painted chairs and Corona salt shakers. And you can’t miss the beer bottle chandelier in this Latin quarter staple. But the food overall is disappointing and the service was slow with only one waitress. The tamales were worth the wait, however, and the place sells Mexican groceries. Bring cash: no

By Claudia Galtes

credit cards accepted.

Overall rating: * Cost: $$Metro: Maubert-Mutualité, Cluny-La Sorbonne (Line 10)

Boca Mexa 127 rue Mouffetard 75005

This place is similar to Chipotle but with all the food served buffet style. You can get the equivalent of a burrito bowl for under € 10. There is a televised mariachi band playing on the wall along with a counter selling Mexican candies and hot sauces. Plenty of room to sit down and share some rice and beans with your ami-gos or get something to go. Fast and easy on the wallet.

Overall Rating: * * Cost: $Metro: Censier-Daubenton (Line 7)

O’Mexico20 rue du Père Guérin 75013

The aroma of Mexican cuisine hits you before you even walk into the restaurant. This place is a bit pricier than many of its rivals, but it offers more options, includ-ing enchiladas and fajitas. There are also full set meals. Prepare to spend about € 30 for ample food and several drink pitchers!

Overall Rating: * * * Cost: $$$Metro: Corvisart (Line 6)

Candelaria52 rue de Saintonge 75003

This cute and tiny place is very authentic, and almost everything on the menu is un-der € 10. Great for a late lunch or snack.

The tacos are highly recommended and are sold by the piece. Best of all is what happens in the evenings, when the restau-rant’s bar serves € 15 cocktails including Pisco Disco and a big range of Margaritas. Just walk through the wall (hidden door) at the back of the restaurant next to the kitchen to enter the bar.

Overall Rating: * * Cost: $Metro: Filles Du Calvaire (Line 8)

The Studio 41 rue du temple 75004

This place is located in the Marais and has a spacious terrace so that one can eat out-side. The interior is also festively decorat-ed so when the weather gets cold, you’ve still got a “view.” The menu isn’t limited to Mexican food; the entire restaurant has a Hispanic feel and the entire staff speaks Spanish. We liked the free chips and salsa and the service was pretty attentive. Food portions are also quite large so you’ll most likely still feel full the next day! Expect to drop about € 20.

Overall Rating: * * * Cost: $$$Metro: Rambuteau (Line 11)

La Perla26, rue François Miron 75004

If you’re not in the mood for fiesta hard but fancy more of a Mexican beach atmosphere, La Perla has wooden, slow-moving ceiling fans and a relaxed vibe. The free salsa and chips keep coming, and check out the mango-papaya daiquiri, which will transport you to Cozumel, even if the owner now lives in Chicago and this is one of several La Perla’s around the world. It’s quite pricey, with a small

burrito costing about € 8 and the portions are small, but their guacamole is highly recommended.

Overall Rating: * * Cost: $$$Metro: Saint-Paul (Line 1)

El Guacamole37, rue Yves Toudic 75010

The best tacos in Paris. The owners are super friendly and funny, and they have a deal on their entrees: three tacos and the drink of your choice for about € 10, which by Paris standards is very reasonable. If you want to spice it up, ask for their homemade special sauces. El Guacamole also has a choice of meat to add to your taco and just introduced burritos. Service is very fast. Highly recommended.

Overall Rating: * * * *Cost: $Metro: Jacques Bonsergent (Line 5)

Tampico 14, rue Xavier Privas 75005

Located in the Latin Quarter, Tampico is brightly lit with over-the-top decor. Som-breros line the walls, strings of money dangle from the ceiling and strobe lights flash to attract customers. Authenticity is not on the menu: Tampico is owned by a Frenchman who spent several years in Spain and has only an approximate idea of Mexican food. There’s a big choice on the menu, but it’s pricey - at € 15 for a burrito - and our azteca soup tasted like hospital food. Nonetheless the place draws a lively American and French crowd.

Overall Rating: * Cost: $$$$Metro: Cluny-La Sorbonne (Line 10)

Cre

dit:

Cla

udia

Gal

tes