TL20060907-01 "Brian Stelter Editor in Chief For Scott Spaulding, enrolling in Arabic 101 last fall was a no-brainer. Spaulding, 22, a senior political science and international relations major, was back in Towson after spending seven months with the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq. As a corporal in the 4th Civil Affairs Group, Spaulding worked with Iraqis to rebuild and secure Fallujah, a hotbed for insurgents west of Baghdad. Knowing he would redeploy to Iraq this fall, Spaulding thought he would benefit from a semes-ter of Arabic. But as he sat in Linthicum Hall, he couldn�t con-centrate on the material. He kept having flashbacks to a day in Fallujah when he helped place the remains of dead Iraqis in body bags. �There was a person in my class that looked exactly like one of the dead insurgents,� Spaulding recalled. �The resem-blance was so striking.� In class, Spaulding would stare at the student. �I think I weirded him out some-times,� he said. �But I couldn�t help but stare at him. I kept think-ing, I�ve seen him dead.� Spaulding dropped the class. ... On Aug. 28, as the rest of Towson�s student body dreaded the first day of the fall semester, Spaulding awoke before dawn and drove to Andrews Air Force Base for a 5 a.m. flight to Europe, then onto Iraq. Considering where he was head-ed, Spaulding packed pretty light. Unlike his first trip, he brought along some comfort items: a lap-top, an MP3 player, and a digital camera. On Wednesday evening, Spaulding said he was stuck at an air base in Al Asad, Iraq, waiting for a flight to Fallujah. �I just want to get there and finally unpack,� he said. �I�ve basi-cally been traveling for a week and a half.� ... �What�s it like there?� �How hot is it?� �Did you see anyone die?� Like other Marines, Spaulding is used to hearing the same generic questions about his time in Iraq. �They ask you questions, but they always seem to want the short answers,� he said. �And there aren�t really short answers.� Sept. 7, 2006 www.thetowerlight.com The Towerlight Published by and for the students of Towson and Baltimore -- twice-weekly Thursday INSIDE Calendar........3 Perspectives........4 News.......7 History.......12 Arts......17 Puzzles.......20 Classifi eds......22 Sports.......28 on the Fulfilling his duty to America Classroom cannot subside memories of war for student-turned-Marine Scott Spaulding; senior flies to Iraq on Towson�s first day of fall courses Photo courtesy Scott Spaulding All geared up, Cpl. Scott Spaulding poses for a quick picture north of Fallujah in Iraq in early Oct. 2004. Involving more than just typical clubs at fair STUDENT ACTIVITIES One bullet Superman couldn�t stop: Affleck steals show from Brody in �Hollywoodland� Arts, page 18 Krysten Appelbaum Associate News Editor The twice-annual Involvement Fair can be overwhelming as enthu-siastic fraternity brothers, anxious sports club members, and Student Government Association officials try to recruit new members. However, beneath the music, handouts, and free T-shirts are some less well-known groups looking to expand their orga-nization. The University Union Chesapeake Rooms, Potomac Lounge and Susquehanna Terrace along with the second floor lobby were filled Wednesday with all those groups recruiting members for the new school year. The island themed event, which was originally scheduled to take place on Burdick Field, was relocated indoors due to the threat of inclement weather. Several of the tables were decorat-ed with leis and tropical decorations, and a steel drum player was perform-ing in the background as part of the island theme. Anna Kranvig of Charm City Swing, an off-campus swing-dancing group, said it was the group�s first involvement fair at Towson since forming in March 2005. �We�re trying to advertise to a lot of campuses in the area, get the word out about us and what we do,� she said. Best Buddies, an organization that pairs students with individuals with disabilities, was another lesser known campus group that was present at the fair. �Most people haven�t heard of Best Buddies, I like when people are genu-inely interested in it,� Valerie Ruzin, a junior special education major, said. Lois Weber from Baltimore County Volunteer Services and the Department of Aging was also trying to take on helpers. �I�m trying to recruit volun-teers for what�s called Home Team. We help the elderly and disabled with their everyday See MARINE, page 8 �If you went to Iraq and it had no effect on you, then there�s something wrong with you.� Scott Spaulding Corporal, U.S. Marines See FAIR, page 10 "
