The Matthew Online

Just one question: Why so many absences?

A reliable, if occasional, feature of many a student newspaper is "Just One Question". As the concept implies, one of our student journalists will ask a single, probing question to an important city or school official, a student, an academic, or somebody passing through Rome who can shed a little more light on the world in which we live. JCU student Hellen Vera Chilelli recently cornered Italian MP Franz Turchi with this query.

A Royal presidency in France? The world wonders

By Ainsley Woakes

ROME, Dec. 18 – A woman has been appointed head of state in Germany, Britain and India. Could it happen next in France?

Last month, Segolene Royal made history in France. Voters chose the 53 year-old Socialist politician as the country’s first-ever female presidential candidate.

Now, the election, scheduled for April 22, 2007 will have the world watching, as Royal, mother of four, could become the first woman president of the world's fifth largest economy. And, after Germany's Angela Merkel, shek would be the second female head of state of a G8 Nation. If Royal proves victorious in April, it would be a major step for women in politics. But just what would these implications be?

Italy's rape law hardly just

By Charlotte Savino

ROME, Dec. 19 – The usual caveat about Rome is to watch your wallet. But for women in the Eternal City the words of warning could be simply: watch out.

According to statistics released in September by Rome police, there are over 100 rapes per year in the city -- or, one rape every three days.

Until 1996, convicted rapists could avoid jail sentences by marrying their victim or include as a legal defense the number of previous sexual partners the victim had. These loopholes are evidence of the cultural view that lingered in some parts of the country that rape is a crime against honor, not a violent act against the body or mind.

Hunger-fighting unit in fight for its life

By Fatin Sonbol

ROME, Dec. 7 - A Rome-based United Nations organization dedicated to eradicating world hunger may be closed down by the end of December as funding dries up, a director said.

Walk the World was established in 2003 with the help of World Food Programme's corporate partner, the Amsterdam-based TNT. The aim has been to achieve one of UN's primary Millennium Development Goals, to end child hunger by 2015.

That work is in jeopardy though, says one high-ranking official in the program.

 

Minus starters, surging JCU battles to tie

By Alexandra Capriotti

ROME, Dec. 7— Even with eight starters of The JCU Gladiators unable to play Wednesday night, JCU still managed a tie with Univrsity of Malta, 1-1.   

Ferdinand Carfagno’s perfect assist in the box to Nicola Mastrajanni gave The Gladiators a lead midway through the first half.  JCU dominated the first half with an excellent offense and unfaltering advances on goal. 

Meet your new study buddies

 

By Michael J. Vagle

Hurray, exams are coming soon! 

On the eve of finals, I am reminded of a pleasant recent experience. Yep, studying in the library for midterms. You remember: It was such a quiet and peaceful place to get work done. I can only hope it will be the same for finals.

I was able to interview the three people who I met back in October who made studying, well, more of a community experience. These folks have taken it upon themselves to ensure that the library is a very productive place to study. They have a special place in my heart. Here they are:

Cracking the code of Trajan's arch

 

By Tyler Pryor 

ROME, Dec. 6 - Even though thousands of people pass by it daily, the detailed work of Trajan’s column is lost on the average Roman tourist,  marble expert Peter Rockwell said at a special presentation at John Cabot University Monday night.

Built almost 2,000 years ago, Trajan’s column (located near the Roman Forum at the base of the Quirinale hill) is a monument with a relief depicting the Emperor’s two victories against the Dacians, a particularly resilient tribe in central Europe. Standing almost 100 feet tall and weighing over 100 tons, the column is still one of Rome’s oldest attractions.

Trajan’s column is one of the  finest examples of Roman art and craftsmanship. And, Rockwell says, many of the techniques used to build the piece are still used today in working with marble.

 

Elections loom in Morocco, the world watches

By Anna Cooper

 

ROME, Dec. 5 – With a general election looming next year, Moroccans face a crucial decision: to continue with economic reforms or slip back into decline. They don't have to face the task alone. Americans can help their North African allies, says former US Ambassador to Morocco Fredrick Vreeland.

 

 

From warships to catwalks, JCU grad makes splash

By Jake Coyle

ROME, Dec. 5 - "Blown" is a good title for artist Gabriele Giugni’s first exhibition, a polished photographic light show that leaves one with memories of things they probably have never experienced.

Nuovomondo wins critical acclaim, illuminates family histories

By Shira Strassman

ROME, Dec. 5—Italians are getting a unique kind of history lesson at their local movie theaters this autumn thanks to film director Emanuele Crialese, who tells the story of early 20^th-century immigration from Italy to the U.S. in his film "Nuovomondo".

At the world premiere at the Venice Film Festival   it won the coveted Silver Lion award. And despite less-than-impressive ticket sales, it was chosen to represent Italy as its best foreign-language film for the 2006 Academy Awards.