Published since 1915 by the students
of Xavier University
Published since 1915 by the students
of Xavier University
Brandy Williams
Asst. Diversions Editor
Remember when adopting a child was considered the most vivid act of showing one’s selflessness through providing an orphaned child with a loving family? Some argue that we may be facing the end of those days. In Hollywood, adopting a foreign third world child is just as much a show of status as the Vera Bradley handbag.
After we oohed and ahhed over the Brangelina adoptions of Cambodian son Maddox and Ethiopian daughter Zahara, the world is now raising an eyebrow to pop star Madonna, who was recently granted permission to adopt a 13-month-old African baby named David Banda. Adoption rules were bent for the star as Malawian law says that it is illegal for non-residents to adopt children from their country.
Rumor has it that fellow adoptive parents actress Angelina Jolie and actor Brad Pitt suggested that she adopt an African child. Madonna says that the rumors are false and that she has never met the celebrity couple. But with the recent hype over foreign adoption in Hollywood, it is questionable whether the well-known trendsetter is jumping on the bandwagon.
The bullet doesn’t stop there, as the Jolie-Pitt family says that they plan to adopt another child as soon as they figure out which race will fit best with their children. Actress Mia Farrow has adopted 10 children from developing countries. Actor Tom Cruise and ex-wife actress Nicole Kidman have two adopted children, one of whom is biracial. Botox victim Meg Ryan has an adopted daughter from China.
By no means is anyone suggesting that adopting needy children is wrong. No matter what the reasons, these celebrities are saving the life of an impoverished child.
However, it is tempting to view such actions as just another example of the power of rampant celebrity egos in an age in which stars are held up as authorities on global poverty and humanitarian crisis issues.
UNICEF voices the concern that celebrity adoptions from foreign countries may not be in the best interest of the child, who is thrown into a new country in the media spotlight.
Skeptics believe that Madonna probably thinks that what she is doing is in the best interest of the child, but the money she will spend on the adoption and the child could have gone to help many other orphaned children in Malawi. “But then she wouldn’t have a cute black child to show off,” says Save the Children advisor Daniela Reale.
Jeff McMurray
Contributing Writer
My world has been shattered. Doogie Howser, M.D., has come out of the closet. You read that correctly. Neal Patrick Harris, the cultural icon of our youth who made us all believe that we could be teen doctors, is gay.
This really does speak to his acting skill, though. If you have seen “Harold and Kumar go to White Castle” or “How I Met Your Mother,” he comes across as quite the womanizer. In “Harold and Kumar,” he sure looked like he was enjoying himself as he drew a line of coke off a stripper’s naked body. But you expect Oscar-winning performances such as these coming from the man who starred in the great movie “Starship Troopers.”
Sadly, this is not the worst news I have heard in the past couple of weeks. The truly stunning news that Bob Barker will be retiring from “The Price is Right” in June takes the cake. I ask you: Who will entertain college students skipping class around 11 a.m.? Who will tell us how much a bed setting costs?
It’s terrible to think that no one will provide answers to these pressing questions any time soon. For now, no replacement has been announced for the show, even though we all know that no one can truly replace Bob Barker.
If you do wish to see Bob Barker in all of his glory, he does plan to return to film. According to sources, he still refuses to do nude scenes. Mr. Barker still has strong values and does not want to be just another beautiful body in Hollywood.
But there is good news amidst of all of this! Those who are old enough to remember “Fraggle Rock,” the classic T.V. show of the eighties, will be pleased to hear that a “Fraggle” movie is in production. It is currently untitled, but it does star five of our favorite Muppets of yesteryear: Gobo, Wembley, Mokey, Boober and Red.
The basic plot of the movie deals with the fraggles leaving their home and heading to “outer space,” which is basically the human world. It is being written by Ahmet Zappa, and it will be out in 2007. There is still no word on whether or not the bartender from “Boondock Saints” will be co-starring with these beloved Muppets again.
That’s all for this week. I am off to corrupt the youth of America.
Emily Hoferer 
Diversions Editor
Xavier Players will be putting on their second studio play, Ariel Dorfman’s “Death and the Maiden.” Showings start at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9-11 in the GSC studio and at 4 p.m.. on November 12. Tickets are $3 for students and $5 for the public.
Late Night Movie
Take a break from your rigorous studies and come see the hilarious comedy “Talladega Nights” starring Will Ferrell. Showings will be November 9-11 at 11 p.m. in the GSC Theater. The movie is free to Xavier students.
“Showstoppin’”
Fashion Show
The Black Student Associations’s Antonio Johnson and Social Committee is presenting a fashion show of what to wear and what not to wear at the upcoming Antonio Johnson Scholarship Gala. The event will take place at 7 p.m. on November 10 in Kelley Auditorium.
Musketeer
Masquerade
Xavier’s Musketeer Masquerade Homecoming Dance is quickly approaching! Tickets are on sale this week for $10. Come out from 1-3 p.m. on November 13-14 to make your own mask in GSC.
