The Vanguard - 03/26/2009 by The Vanguard

THE VANGUARD PROUDLY SERVING BENTLEY UNIVERSITY SINCE 1963

VOLUME XLVII ISSUE VIII

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2009

WWW.BENTLEYVANGUARDONLINE.COM

This Issue Policy change: campus alerted to incident of bias

An Incident of Bias

Student Employees Drinking & Studying Obama’s Higher Education Plan .............4 Club Updates ..................5 Gerri Taylor....................6 Food Dude: Microwaved Part II........7 For Your Entertainment: Junior Boys ......................8 Snuggie Review............9 Magnamagic review ....9 Mistress of Issues: Possibly a Pet ..............10 Notes from Abroad.....11 Business ......................12 Men’s Lacrosse............15 Ice Hockey .........................16

Dan Merica STAFF WRITER

In an e-mail to the Bentley community on March 4, Jeanette Buntin, director of the Multicultural Center, notified campus of an “incident of bias” that occurred on campus. “An incident that is currently being investigated by our university police and residence life staff occurred between two students, that resulted in offensive language of racial nature being shouted within the Slade Residence Hall,” read the email. In an interview with The Vanguard, Buntin stressed how important it is for the whole of the Bentley community to understand that these acts of bias do occur on campus. “This incident happened in a residence hall, removed from all other areas at Bentley,” said Buntin, “These incidents do happen on this campus and its important to let people know that when [they] do happen, people are ready to act and help so that if this happens to any other person,” they’re prepared. The Bentley community is not unaccustomed to large scale e-mails, but it is a change of policy for the Multicultural Center that Buntin says, “needed to be made in order to squelch rumors and keep

Photo from www.bentley.edu

The incident occured recently in Slade Hall.

everyone informed and most importantly, [to] start a process of healing.” “When something like this happens in Slade, it takes only a few minutes for someone who was there to take their information and talk to people where they live in say, North Campus,” said Buntin, “I know that students are not regulated to just one residence hall.” Before the change in policy, as Buntin alluded to, the incident and response would have been contained to the building or community in which it occurred. While this is not a huge change in policy, the

inclusion of everyone signals a move by the Multicultural Center to draw attention to these issues and include everyone in the thinking process that comes with dealing with racism and discrimination. While this academic year has been fairly quiet in regards to acts of bias, the academic year of 2007-2008 was plagued with these sort of instances. “About a year ago we really had a rough time with these types of things on campus,” said Buntin. “This year we haven’t had very many issues but I do think that they happen regularly. To the point that

there are people who feel somewhat isolated and feel as though they don’t have places to turn to, so it’s just something they get used to.” Just as in the past, the Multicultural Center has laid out plans for attacking these issues and preventing them from happening again. In the e-mail, Buntin noted that both Campus Police and the administration are investigating this incident and gathering the information for possible charges. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, Buntin could not comment on (continued on Page 7)

Student employees recognized at luncheon The college student balance

Leslie Dias CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR

With a superior emphasis on job opportunities and career initiatives, Bentley recognized student employees and supervisors last week during National Student Employment Week. The crowded Executive Dining Hall held many student employees, supervisors, and other interested faculty

Photoby Bree Johnson

and students who eagerly awaited the announcements of this year’s Student Employee Winner and Supervisor Winner. During this year’s event, 19 student employee nominees and 5 supervisor nominees were recognized by their departments for outstanding work ethic and value. Candice Garabedian, assistant director

of Student Employment, hosted the event and gave insight to each student employee’s exceptional job performance. Among the top student employees included third place finisher Nicole Darvirris from Undergraduate Admissions, runner up Chrislene Paillant from Student Activities, and winner Julia Guilger from Library Services. Guilger entered Bentley at the young age of 16 and became a valuable asset to the Library Services desk. She performs dual roles as an inter-library loan assistant and library services representative. Her astute knowledge and eagerness to learn earned her the top spot among her peers at this year’s ceremony. The two runners up received fifty dollar gift certificates to Barnes and Noble while the winner was given free books for her next semester at (continued on Page 7)

between drinking and studying

Photo from USA Today

Melody Shekari STAFF WRITER

Throughout our culture, it’s assumed that college is now all about drinking, but is it really? Campus can feel like that on a Friday or Saturday night, but the hours that Bentley students spend in the library on weeknights and Sundays suggest otherwise. But what is the balance between drinking and studying for college students? According to a recent USA Today article, nearly 50% of college freshmen

that drink spent more time drinking than studying. The survey found that an average of 10.2 hours a week were spent drinking compared to 8.4 hours a week studying. In order to find out if Bentley has similar statistics as the average college, Jessica Greher, Assistant Director for Wellness and Coordinator for Alcohol and other Drug Education, was able to provide information comparing national and Bentley survey results regarding alcohol. (continued on Page 6)

Police Log 2 Cartoon 3 Editorial 3 Voices 8 Horoscopes 10 Games 13 Falcon of The Week 16

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MARCH 26, 2009

THE VANGUARD

CAMPUS NEWS

POLICE LOG

EWSBRIEFS

Taking a Course Away this summer? Attend a workshop: Monday, March 23 @ 2:10pm Smith 214 or Wednesday, April 22 @ 12:45pm Lindsay 28 Find out how to take a Course Away this summer and receive answers to your questions. To get started, check out the Course Away information on the Academic Services website: www.bentley.edu/academicservices/cours e-away.cfm Students are welcome to bring their completed Course Away Request Forms to the workshops for pre-approval. Questions? Walk-in hours for Academic Advising are Monday – Thursday, 11am to 3pm in LaCava 298.

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Turn to Page 5 for the section

CLUB UPDATES ___ Academic Advising Night A follow-up to the Majors/Minors Fair... Monday March 30th, 5:00-6:30pm in the Back Bay Connect and find information about the various majors and academic opportunities available at Bentley! The following departments will be attending: - Faculty & Peers from all majors, minors, and LSMs - Career Services - Education Abroad - Academic Advising - Service Learning - Honors Program * Class Registration begins on April 6th... Figure it all out here!! *

PLEASE READ

Gaelen Austin-LaFrance VANGUARD STAFF

Motor Vehicle Accident Tuesday night, just after 10 p.m., a call came in to the station regarding a motor vehicle accident on College Drive near the LaCava Graduate Center. Upon arrival, Campus Police observed a vehicle off on the side of the road with deployed airbags and the driver standing nearby. The driver was not hurt and informed officers she had taken her eyes off the road for a moment when she hit a curb causing the airbags to deploy. There was no visible damage to the car and she was advised to contact her insurance company to report the incident. The car was towed off campus due to the deployed airbags. No Longer Safe to Park…Anywhere While on patrol Tuesday night at around 11:30 p.m., an officer observed a motor vehicle parked near the stairs in the Orchard parking deck that was not a designated parking spot. As he was preparing to write the ticket, the information on the vehicle check came back with a revoked registration. The car was then towed off campus and the owner will be charged with Vehicular Violation. Noon on Wednesday, while on patrol in the Baseball Parking Lot, an officer observed the rear window of a vehicle had damage measuring approximately 6X10 inches across the glass. The officer photographed the damage and the owner was unable to be reached but was left a message. The case remains open until the owner confirms the cause of the damage. Just after 10 a.m. Friday morning, an officer observed a motor vehicle without a decal while on patrol in Lot 18 outside of Slade Hall. As he was filling out the citation, the staff member who owned the vehicle came out and explained the vehicle was his. The information from the database came back as a suspended license. He was informed that he should go to the registry to renew his license, and in the mean time, he had to have someone else move his car because he could not legally drive it. He was also told if he did drive the car, he would be subject to arrest for criminal charges from driving with a suspended license. A properly licensed friend drove the car back home for him. The case is closed. Sunday afternoon at around 4:30 p.m., a student approached an officer about damage to his friend’s vehicle in the Miller Parking Deck. His friend, a Bentley alum, had parked the car overnight on the top deck and returned the next day to find the windshield cracked. Review of camera tapes in the area turned up nothing as the car was out of view. The case is closed unless further information comes to light.

Campus Police were dispatched to the Dana Center 1:45 p.m. Monday to take a report of a past incident from a student. The student indicated his vehicle had been damaged between the hours of 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The passenger door had been dented and scratched but officers were unable to identify a vehicle in the area that might have caused the damage. Photographs were taken and the case is closed due to a lack of suspects. Monday night, just before 7 p.m., an officer took a report from a student regarding a vehicle break-in at the Orchard Parking Deck. Among the items missing were an in-dash Sirius Radio and an iPod jack. The student indicated she believed the vehicle was secure when she last left it. A review of video from the area turned up nothing as the vehicle was out of view of the camera. Due to a lack of suspects, the case is closed. Arrest During a standard motor vehicle stop at the Forest Street entrance to Bentley Thursday night at 8:30 p.m., an officer ran the vehicle and driver’s information into the database and found the driver was a commuter student with a suspended license and a warrant out for his arrest. The license suspension was a separate incident from the warrant. The driver was immediately taken into custody and transported to the Waltham Police Department. Due to privacy reasons, the cause of the warrant cannot be reported. Medical Officers were dispatched to the Library Tuesday evening just before 6 p.m. for a report of a severe nosebleed. Upon arrival, they met with a staff member who indicated he had been in the men’s room when his nose started bleeding uncontrollably. An ambulance was called and the staff member was transported to the hospital for further treatment. During a rigorous Ultimate Frisbee practice at the lacrosse fields last Wednesday night at around 9:30 p.m., a member of the Bentley Ultimate Frisbee team went down with a debilitating ankle injury. Witnesses informed officers that as the player fell to the ground he let out a high-pitched, resonating yelp. One witness described the spectacle as, “crying like a little girl.” When officers arrived, the student declined ambulance transport and toughed it out to the hospital on his own like a trooper. He was given ice packs and a ride back to his dorm by officers. In a related story, Bentley Ultimate Frisbee Men’s team went on to win the UConn tournament in his honor.

The new way to anonymously comment on campus, by instant messaging the Vanguard at “INSTANTVANGUARD” “Hasbro is putting Kota the Triceratops into Extinction!! We need a documentary immediately!” “With the increased costs for next year, how about building some more living space so everyone doesn't screwed with housing.” “Class rings are so expensive! They are almost $500, more than I made during an entire week of work!” “I sat at a clean table in Seasons....what a diamond in the rough that was.” “Texas is denying evolution again....what's next? Gravity?”

THEN RECYCLE “Vote Vanguard Club Bingo for Falcon Awards Program of the Year!!!”

THE VANGUARD

MARCH 26, 2009

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OPINION AND EDITORIAL

Sudoku Level: Medium By: Nic Smits

*The Vanguard’s editorial as well as the editorial cartoon are proposed at each editorial board meeting. They are represented as being the opinions of the board as a whole, although drawn by individuals, and not the Bentley community.

EDITORIAL A Housing Meltdown that hits closer to home Bentley recently experienced a burst of its own housing bubble that started and exploded within a single year. Not surprisingly, the end result is a student body left confused and upset. Everything started around this time last year, when Undergraduate Admissions was sending out decision letters to the eager beavers we now call freshmen. Just about every school that attracts a good amount of applicants tends to admit more far more than it actually has space for in the freshman class, and Bentley is no exception. This translated into the admission up to 2,700 students for 900 spots (a threefold surplus). It is the job of Undergraduate Admissions to derive, with accuracy, this estimated student population where the majority of those admitted choose to attend other schools, but enough choose to come to Bentley. The problem here is apparent: what happens if Admissions gets it wrong? Well, if the number ends up being short of projections, Bentley faces a potential funding shortage. This

in theory leads to program cuts, faculty and staff reductions, etc. On the other hand, a number that exceeds projections could be more troubling, stressing the academic structure of first year classes, not to mention campus residential and dining facilities, to the maximum. Long story short: Admissions made the latter mistake, and Bentley students are now paying for it. This year, the housing system faced the stress of having to place student classes that have been successively getting larger each year into existing housing. With enrollment up approximately 70 to 80 students according to numbers provided to BusinessWeek, where are these students supposed to fit? Observers of the housing process this year witnessed Apartment-style housing (Falcone, Orchard South, Collins, Rhodes, and Bolyston with the exception of North Campus) was decimated within the first day and a half of the lottery, which forced a large portion of the junior class to take suites, thus placing a large amount of next year’s soph-

THE VANGUARD Bentley University 385 Beaver Street 310M1 Student Center Waltham, MA 02452 Phone: (781) 891-2912 Email: vanguard@bentley.edu Web: bentleyvanguardonline.com

omores into Miller Hall. Now at first, this sounds like the usual end result of the lottery…until you look at Miller’s available rooms. The entire basement of doubles and triples was consumed by sophomores, along with large amounts of every male floor. In the end, Miller has become a male sophomore and female freshman dorm, which is the equivalent of every freshman parent’s worst fear. You can’t place all of the blame on the Admission office for this situation either, as it was Residence Life that closed off Orchard North for an upperclassman Global Living Center, as well as Kresge Basement for what many have termed a “transfer floor.” The Orchard changeover caused more junior groups of five to miss out on apartments all together and take the larger suites in Copley and Fenway, while the idea of a transfer floor promotes the concept that transfer students are more important than current students. Bentley does a lot right in terms of housing by providing facilities that are well kept despite acts of vandal-

ism and year-long use, air conditioning, large rooms, ID access rather than keys, and three styles of living that every student is given the chance to try at some point. Bentley also promises housing all four years, which is almost unheard of for most major universities today. It’s also great that so many students chose Bentley, speaking to our growing reputation for a fine education. But these successes do not hide or excuse Bentley’s recent missteps. Before you cry “build another building!,” let’s not forget the years of planning and amount land (where could we put it?!) a new building would require, along with the financial burden of a capital project that no school wants to undertake during a recession. What Bentley could have done, and should do in the future, to avoid this kind of mess is simple: if our number proves too high for accepted students coming,

send letters to a group of the students rescinding their acceptance. Could this prove to be a headache with complaints from angry parents and even some frivolous lawsuits? Absolutely, as it effectively punishes these students unfairly; but Bentley is accountable more to its current students, as we’re the ones currently paying Bentley’s bills. This year, it is clear that Bentley will be facing a clear challenge in placing the Class of 2013 into housing. Will the school respond by suspending the admission of transfer students, or act as schools including Boston College and Boston University do when they face a freshmen class too large to handle, and rescind acceptances? Or will Bentley continue to push housing levels to the limit, turn offices and study/social lounges into dormitory rooms, and eventually turn academic building into residence halls? We’ll have to wait and see.

Disclaimer: The opinions published in The Vanguard are submitted by readers of the newspaper, and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Vanguard and its staff. We are not able to print any letters submitted anonymously.

Editor in Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lindsay Sauvé Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan Ryaboy News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rebecca Langweber Business Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Apuzzo Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robbie LaBrie Campus Life Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leslie Dias A & E Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ian Markowitz Copy Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jon McColgan Photography Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bree Johnson

Online Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nic Smits Production Manager . . . . . . . . . . Heather Sprinkle Business Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ben Barenboim Advertising Manager . . . . . . . . . . . Eugene Berger Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maria Dilorenzo Journalism Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . Judy Rakowsky Cartoonist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Perron, Shimon Sasaki Circulation Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stanley Rameau

The Vanguard is the student newspaper of Bentley University. It does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the college administration; Bentley is not responsible for statements herein. The Vanguard is published every Thursday of the academic year, excluding examination periods and holiday breaks. It is distributed free to all students, faculty, and staff of Bentley University. The Vanguard is funded in part by the Student Activity Fee, but relies on advertising revenue to cover the majority of its costs. Advertising rates are available upon request at (781) 891-3497. Circulation is 4,000 copies. The Vanguard reserves the right to refuse an advertisement; only publication of an ad constitutes final acceptance of the offer to advertise. The Vanguard reserves the right to edit all copy for grammar, spelling, punctuation, style, libel and length. The Vanguard office is located on the third floor of the Student Center. Mailing address: The Vanguard, Bentley University, 310M1 Student Center, 385 Beaver Street, Waltham, MA 02452. Phone: (781) 891-2912.

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MARCH 26, 2009

THE VANGUARD

NEWS Obama budget increases financial aid availability for students James Malone STAFF WRITER

Within the last month, President Barack Obama presented his budget proposals to Congress, including plans for healthcare, military spending, and deficit reduction. This may seem routine, as presidents provide budgets each year, but this budget certainly affects us at Bentley, as it outlines how the White House intends to financially support higher education. The good news for Bentley students is that the Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposal included a substantial increase in the federal loan money awarded to college students. With numerous banks and other lenders stressed by a drowning housing market and severe lack of credit among consumers and businesses, it is vital, yet exceedingly challenging, for collegiate students to obtain loans that are secure. More recently, some banks have even denied loans to students entering cheaper community colleges, making it unusually difficult for these students to find the money they need. The plan, which deals primarily with the Federal Perkins Loan program, has its annual funding increased on a massive scale, from $1 billion to $6 billion and will also allow for the loan values to increase in order to match inflation. The White House estimates that this proposal, along with other policy changes to be detailed soon, would result in 2.7 million more collegiate students receiving loans than are currently eligible. Of course, the proposal still has to pass through Congress, but its passage appears likely, as support for higher education is something both sides of the aisle are attempting to tout. On March 10, the Obama administration further expressed its sincere belief in Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s responsibility to education, releasing a statement that said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shared responsibility to ensure that more of our students not only reach the doors of college, but also persist, succeed, and obtain their degree.â&#x20AC;? Other provisions in the education proposal dealing with college funding call for the creation of a $500 million grant program which will seek to create ties between local, state, and federal governments for the purposes of both retaining

Loan availability has become an issue for students.

and graduating low-income college students. This piece of the plan is rather important to the administration, mainly because low-income college students have and will suffer the most in these tough economic times. The Obama administration said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lack of financial resources should

Photo from www.wired.com

never obstruct the promise of college opportunity.â&#x20AC;? The proposed changes are aimed at eliminating financial obstructions. Even with the potential for an increase in loan availability, the amount of money that the average student has to repay post-graduation is ever increasing. FinAid.org shows

a roughly 8% average increase per year in school tuition. With the scarcity of jobs in the current market, many will find that even after receiving a college education, the job that they land after commencement may not be as lucrative as originally hoped. Still, Bentley asserts it has a very high job placement rate despite the recession, and when one factors in that, according to BusinessWeek the mean starting salary of a Bentley graduate increased $5,000 from last year, the burden of student loans here at Bentley is slightly less than the national average. Nationally, young people were strong supporters of Barack Obama, and his actions in supporting higher education would seem to be answering for that support. Additionally, economists

across the board feel that reinvesting in and maintaining an educational system that has fallen behind the systems of many other developed nations will be a significant factor in turning the economy around, as well as keeping America competitive around the globe. It has been made clear that to be successful in the modern economy, a college education is an essential stepping stone, and as more Americans attend colleges and universities, more fuel is provided for the intellectual and conceptual machines that drive American innovation and industry. These financial aid reforms are argued to open the door for millions of Americans by making college affordable, and could prove to be one of the administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s smartest moves in its battle for future economic prosperity.

Make an impact on campus. Become a Peer Educator.

Good with an audience? Maybe Peer Education is for you. College and universities across the country have Peer Educators who promote the importance of balance and emotional well-being on campus. After extensive training, Peer Educators work together to provide information to other students about topics such as stress management, relaxation, mental health and relationships. If you are a student leader who is independent, confident, and enjoys helping

positions! Interested? Visit www.bentley.edu/counseling/ for an application or email Stephanie Kendall in CSD at skendall@bentley.edu.

THE VANGUARD

MARCH 26, 2009

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CLUB UPDATES La Societa Italiana

The Women’s Center The Women’s Center will be co-hosting the A View from the Top this Thursday, March 26. The event will be held in LaCava Executive Dining Room from 5:30-8:00 p.m. Come join us for an evening of dinner and discussion with four high-level female executives with backgrounds in Accounting, Finance, Consulting, Information Technology, and Economics. Gain insight from these women as they discuss a range of topics, including keys to having achieved such successful careers, challenges they have had to overcome, and important lessons learned along the way. Hear how the distinguished panelists maneuvered their careers to achieve professional success. Gain valuable tips and insights which you can use to create your own successful career path. FREE. For more information, contact GWLO at gwlo@bentley.edu. Register at https://community.bentley.edu/olc/pub/BTT/events/event_order.cgi?tmpl=events&event=2222328 We have weekly meetings on Monday during the activity period, 2:10-3:25 in LaCava 180.

On Friday March 27, 2009 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. La Societa Italiana will be hosting its sixth annual wine tasting. A “Taste of Italy” is a chance for students, faculty, and other guests to join together to appreciate some of the most quintessential elements of an Italian gathering. Guests will be able to taste some simple, yet delicious Italian hors d'oeuvres and wines. Authentic Italian “finger food” such as, savory prosciutto, calamari, gourmet cheeses, fresh fruit and rustic breads will complement a handpicked selection of Italian red, white, and sparkling wines. A silent auction and live band completes the event. All proceeds will benefit Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, which is committed to finding a cure to an incurable cancer that has stricken a large number of Americans. Tickets are available at the door for $20 for those over 21, and $10 for those under 21. If the tickets are purchased in advance at the info desk there is a discount of two dollars.

Black United Body

The Black United Body would like to invite Bentley students to our movie night on Monday, March 30 at 6:30 p.m. Come take a break from studying, tests, relax and relieve your stress. The event aims to bring the Bentley community together for an entertaining and informational movie night. This event will take place in the MCC lounge, which is on the Third floor of the student center. There will be snacks provided for the event. Channel 3 is now... Bentley Entertainment Network New BSTV Episode out this week

New Movies this month: Iron Man, Semi-Pro, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Lakeview Terrace, Hancock, RocknRolla, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Coach Carter Check our website for schedule: http://student-organizations.bentley.edu/tv/channel-schedule/

Gamma Phi Beta

On Wednesday, April 1 at 9 p.m., Gamma Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma Delta will be co-sponsoring a charity event. Proceeds will be donated to SMA, Spinal muscular atrophy patients. Frank Santos will be performing his R-rated hypnotist act with fifteen lucky volunteers. He has been a performing artist for over 21 years and is known for his fun, racy, and fresh shows. Frank has toured the country and mesmerized millions of people with his hypnotic powers. Tickets are $5-Cash only- so come out and enjoy a night of laughter with your friends and other Bentley students while supporting a wonderful cause!

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MARCH 26, 2009

THE VANGUARD

NEWS Dean Taylor elected into NECHA

Photo provided by Bentley

Sarah Adams STAFF WRITER

Gerri Taylor, Bentley’s assistant dean for Health and Wellness, was recently elected secretary to the Board of New England College Health Association, or NECHA. NECHA is made up of seven states in the New England region. The board meets three times a year to discuss the most pressing and current medical issues that college students are currently facing. “[NECHA] is a great place to share materials that will help other colleges. You get so many people in your field that can give you valuable mentorship,” said Taylor. “It really helps out our students because if we were good, but didn’t try to get better, things would remain average.

Our goal with NECHA is to continually improve our medical program as well as help other colleges in the area.” NECHA is a regional affiliate of the American College Health Association, which incorporates all regions of the United States. Two of the meetings a year are regional, and the third is a nationwide convention, meeting this year in San Francisco, CA. Taylor noted that “one of our board members is now the President of ACHA. The fact that we know him and has worked with us for years gives us [Bentley] an important connection.” Dean Taylor began her medical training at the University of Connecticut, where she graduated with a nursing degree. After teaching at various colleges, she began her master’s program of primary care at the University of Pennsylvania. A short while later she moved back to Boston, where she finished her master’s degree at Boston University. Taylor has been at Bentley for twenty years, during which time she has truly improved our medical programs, both in treatment and prevention. She has traveled to Oxford for its Preventable Health program where she presented on Pandemic Preparedness and has recently done a few local presentations

on the “Management of Bacterial Meningitis for a Small to Medium-Sized College.” She previously served as the President of CHAND (College of Health Association of Nurse Directors) and has written an article for each edition of the NECHA news letter. On a note that hits close to home, she has been the reason for the drastic improvement of our Health and Wellness center over the past few years. Instead of having to go off campus to get prescriptions, they are now delivered right to the health center for easy pick up. Also, “a student came to me last year asking if I would help her get yoga classes started. I thought it was a great idea and this year we have different health classes four days a week. I encourage students if they have an idea on how to improve our health center to come to me and I would be more than willing to help,” said Taylor. Asst. Dean Taylor’s new position as secretary of NECHA is beneficial to the entire Bentley community. “I think it’s all about the exposure. It’s really good for Bentley, it’s good for our office, and it’s great for our students because we have access to information on cutting edge medical practices which in the end benefits the students.”

Drinking vs. studying (continued from Page 1) Many studies have shown that colleges in the Northeast have a higher drinking rate than other regions and the national average. Caucasian males and business culture are two characteristics that have also correlated with higher drinking rates. These surveys are based on self-reported student estimates, and although they may not be as accurate as actually timing a student’s weekly activities, they provide important insight into behavior and how students rate their own habits. According to the National Collegiate Health Assessment from 2006, 56.9% of the 439 Bentley students surveyed said that alcohol had not affected their academics, while over 8% said that they received a lower exam or course grade as a result of drinking. The survey also questioned students regarding how many hours a student spent drinking at their last event with alcohol. Almost 28% reported spending only zero to two hours, 22.7% reported three to four hours, 33% reported five to six hours, and about 15% reported seven or more hours. Through these surveys, it was found that 25% of Bentley students drink more than two

days a week, while the national average out of 94,806 surveyed students was 15%. The AlcoholEdu program that surveys freshmen in August and October about their alcohol habits and attitudes was another thing Greher addressed. She noted that perceptions of what college life should be and what it actually is could impact the behavior and attitudes of freshmen, even after October. She also mentioned that alcohol usage can be high in freshman year and tail off in junior and senior years. Of the 796 students over 18 that were surveyed, 23% said that they didn’t drink the past year in August, and the number dropped to 17% in October. The 543 drinkers surveyed were also questioned about the number of hours they drank in the last instance of heavy drinking in the past two weeks. 67.4% of students reported drinking for less than two hours, and only 7% drank for six or more hours. The survey also had interesting indications for when in the week students are drinking. The survey showed that most students drink on Friday and Saturday night. On the issue of getting drunk on a school night, 66.8% of students felt that it was unacceptable to drink on a school night, and that number

increased from August to October. From the survey of the freshman class the year before, 71.7% felt that it was unacceptable. This survey also questioned the study habits in terms of number of hours spent studying in a week. Over 86% of students reported studying six or more hours a week, and 50% studied 11 or more hours a week. Of the negative consequences of alcohol consumption, 10% of students reported that they were concerned about their sleep or studies being interrupted by an intoxicated student. Although these results came from Bentley students when entering their freshman year, what do Bentley students think after being here for a semester or a year? Two male freshmen, a female sophomore, and a male sophomore were questioned about their experience and observations of alcohol use on campus, as well as reactions to the USA Today article. When asked if the average student at Bentley drinks more than studies, one freshman responded, “Most freshmen do. [Be]cause we don’t have – to study.” Another freshman said, “No, the average person doesn’t…people honestly spend a lot of time studying.” He also com-

mented that although going out Friday or Saturday night is common, Thursday night is the breakeven point—students who drink on Thursdays as well spent equal or more time drinking compared to studying. He also felt that the USA Today article blew the alcohol usage out of proportion. Two nights a week, or the average 10 hours a week a student spends drinking according to USA Today’s article, seems small when considering how many hours of the week students have outside of classes and sleep. He asked, “Do you want [students] to study all of the time? They blow off the weekend anyways.” This sentiment was echoed by the female sophomore. She said, “weekends would [otherwise] be spent watching movies…weekends are meant to relax.” She also stated that the average Bentley student went out three nights a week, sometimes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and estimated that probably 60% of students studied more than they drank. She expressed skepticism regarding the accuracy of the self-reporting manner of the surveys, saying that some may over exaggerate while others under report their behaviors. She also said, “I know smart people who like

alcohol…and people don’t drink on Sundays.” The male sophomore interviewed stated firmly, “more students [at Bentley] are studious, because Bentley is competitive.” He also estimated that students went out on average three nights a week, and he felt that though the 10 hours a week spent drinking may be accurate, students need their “unwinding time”. There are many questions unanswered in the USA Today article, and the students interviewed for this article brought up some very good points as well. Although surveys show that there are a variety of other interests students have including sports and hanging out with friends, many drink in social settings to relax. There are obvious risks with drinking too much, but the point of these programs are to educate you on drinking and to inform you so that you can make smart decisions if one decides to drink. Students should engage in activities that include the outdoors, sports, arts, etc., but the argument that students are missing out on these things because they are drinking is extremely shortsighted. It doesn’t take into account financial constraints, laziness, time frame, or dislike for these activities.

THE VANGUARD

MARCH

26, 2009

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COLUMNS / NEWS The Food Dude:

By: Tom Hoeler

Microwaved on High Part II I’m back this week with more ready-made goodness. Or horror, depending on which side of the potential Health & Wellness visit you reside on. After a week spent recuperating on a steady diet of homemade sauce and biscuits made from scratch (a future Food Dude column, I promise), I was ready to hop back onto the microwave bandwagon. The product I was most keen to try this week was definitely the Ore Ida “Steam and Mash” potatoes. The product implies that you can steam flash-frozen potato chunks in the microwave and have them come out as if you had made them from scratch. Though it sounds ridiculous, being a mashed potato fanatic, I allowed myself to become slightly excited at the prospect. It was by far the easiest of items to make. After a 10 minute steam in the microwave you mix it up with butter and milk according to the directions and mash in the normal fashion. Like the other items, the potatoes just taste wrong. At first, I couldn’t figure out what it was, but then I realized the potatoes are really, really grainy and taste like the inside of a French fry, but not in a good way. They did soften up enough and mash easily, but the end result is disappointing.

The directions are also woefully conservative when it comes to the level of butter and milk you should be using to make this taste good. I nearly doubled the recommended amounts and still couldn’t get rid of that nasty grainy texture. Adding more milk eventually did eliminate some of the grainy taste, but you really have to overdo it if you want them to be really smooth, and by then they don’t taste like mashed potatoes anymore. They taste like milk potatoes and yes, milk potatoes taste just about as bad as they sound. This isn’t the worst microwave product, and could actually be something to use in a pinch. If you plan on making the potatoes to then go on top of a Sheppard’s pie, or get used in some sort of baked gratin, these might work since the additional ingredients will mask the grainy texture. But, if you want to punish yourself with this substitute instead of the real thing so you can save a few minutes, that’s your call. The last instant meal that I felt compelled to try was from Lean Cuisine, specifically a Panini sandwich which they claim “grills” in the microwave. Now, I already knew that this was impossible before even opening the box, because the act of grilling BY DEFINITION requires a grill. Apparently the people at Lean Cuisine do not concern

themselves with trivial things like definitions or reality. Either way, there’s no way this works right? Anyone who ever microwaved a piece of bread knows it just gets really soft. That’s why you can put day old or stale bread into the microwave and “revitalize” it to some extent. But it doesn’t crisp up, and it certainly doesn’t get grill marks. If, however, this were possible, it would really be a culinary revolution right? We could grill without gas and charcoal; grill in all seasons and any weather. Heck, we could have an old fashioned Fourth of July cookout right in our dorms in the middle of January. Sorry to disappoint you, but not only will the revolution not be televised, it won’t be microwaved either. The sandwich doesn’t grill really at all. In fact, the bread looks like it’s been pre-toasted before it was frozen, meaning that while some coloring does “appear” during cooking, it may have already been there. The bread gets pretty soft, there’s no real crunch to it, just some sections that feel stale. The sandwich comes with a special “grill plate” that supposedly creates all the magic. It’s nothing more than a glorified paper plate with some sort of silver film on one side. My guess would be that the film reflects the waves of heat

Bentley. The job opportunities at Bentley are countless and accommodating. Whether a student receives work study for financial aid or decides they would like to get some extra money, students at Bentley are presented with an array of fulfilling and essential jobs with over one thousand student employees at the university. As mentioned during the presentation, many of the services on campus would not be possible without student employees, and many times their efforts get overlooked. The reliance on team effort and hard work was a common theme throughout the ceremony, and several nominee introductions included the possession of these two characteristics. Student employee Katie Donnellan also agrees with the enjoyable atmosphere of

student employment here at Bentley. Representing the Financial Aid office, Katie, who works as a Financial Aid Records Assistant, attended and commented on the event, “The event was a nice break from the day to sit and eat as well as bond with fellow employees and supervisors in your department.” Katie also remarked on the convenience of working on campus saying, “It’s really flexible, and the students and staff enjoy each other’s company. They are also understanding of the fact that we are students on campus.” As well as recognizing the fellow student employees, the Student Employment Appreciation event also acknowledged those supervisors who carried out significant roles in the student employment area and provided support for those employees. This year’s super-

back at the sandwich which is close enough to it that it causes some browning in the bread while the rest of the sandwich heats as usual. The taste is pretty average. If you had to eat this, it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but really with a heated brick covered in tinfoil and a pan you could make a real Panini sandwich without the microwave, so why be forced to settle for this? The flavors are mediocre and you forget you ate it two seconds after it’s gone. I chose the southwest chicken sandwich, and no I wouldn’t really buy it again; but it wasn’t the worst thing I had to try (Nothing is going to dethrone the Ronzoni pouch of doom). The other problem is that, well it’s not actually a Panini. Here again those pesky “definitions” rear their ugly heads. While Panini does come from an Italian word meaning

Photos fromleancuisine.com

small bread role; its more accepted culinary definition is that of a “grilled” sandwich made in a press. Well it’s already clear that no grilling is going on here, but there is also no “pressing.” So that’s double false advertising by Lean Cuisine. Kudos to the marketing department over there, because the goal when advertising your product is obviously to describe it as being the COMPLETE opposite of what it actually is. I’m surprised Apple, Coke and other companies haven’t latched on to this brilliant marketing strategy. In fact, it’s a wonder that this isn’t being taught in colleges and universities all over America by now given how well Lean Cuisine is doing. So what can we learn from all this? Make good decisions in the grocery store and you won’t pay for them later at home, in the bathroom, or at the doctor’s office.

Bias incident

Student employees (continued from Page 1)

Lean Cuisine is not the worst option for microwaved foods.

visor superior was Jenny Ehalt from Undergraduate Admissions who was applauded with proud cheers from her department. Jenny always strives for a cooperative team environment and works with the student ambassadors to help project the most enthusiastic and welcoming attitude to prospective Bentley students. Ehalt was given the privilege of keeping the honorary supervisor plaque for her dedication. Ms. Donnellan summed up student employment nicely stating, “Student employment is another way to be involved with Bentley’s activities while making money at the same time.” The event truly emphasized not only the camaraderie between the students and supervisors of each department, but it also reiterated the sense of community found between all the students at Bentley.

(continued from Page 1) any specifics regarding the night in question. Buntin also mentioned that the Multicultural Center has met with the student in question, while the Diversity Council is developing “a formal process for reporting incidents of bias or hate.” When asked the question of how often she thinks an act of bias like this occurs at Bentley, Buntin stated quite directly that she doesn’t “think it’s anything we should be surprised of.” And she has a point. In a 2001 study at University of Western Florida, 67% of the respondents stated they had experienced discrimination at the university, 15% daily, 18% monthly, and 13% annually. In the same study, considered one of the more comprehensive studies in the area of racism in college, 66% of African-American students and 41% of white students in the study reported experiencing racial discrimination. From a broader perspective, 74% of Caucasians and 85% of

African-Americans believed in the existence of racial hostility. While the study does not directly reflect any racial tension at Bentley it is clear that racial divides are clearly present on college campuses. It is impossible to say why specific acts of bias occur, but what Buntin did say is that the Multicultural Center is dedicated to helping resolve such issue and educating the community so that they do not occur frequently. To conclude the interview, Buntin stated, “I think that individuals come to Bentley with a bunch of luggage, and I think that through their experiences, the chance encounters they have with people different than them, their luggage becomes unpacked and sometimes their dirty laundry comes out in acts like this. It is up to students to say that they aren’t going to stand for this.” If you have any information concerning this incident or any other incident of this kind, you are encouraged to contact Campus Police.

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MARCH 26, 2009

THE VANGUARD

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

VOICES

For Your Entertainment

Where will you be living next year? SVETLANA GANKINA CLASS OF 2012 CORPORATE FINANCE & ACCOUNTING “North Campus D.”

MANUEL MIRANDA CLASS OF 2010 FINANCE “North Campus B.”

ANASTASIAH ROBINSON CLASS OF 2010 FINANCE “North Campus B.”

SEAN HOGAN CLASS OF 2009 CORPORATE FINANCE & ACCOUNTING “Jeremy Langton’s mansion.”

KATIE LIDESTRI CLASS OF 2009 MARKETING “In a van down by the river.”

Photos by Bree Johnson

Album Review: Junior Boys – Begone Dull Care In my eyes, Junior Boys has always drawn the short straw when it comes to the ratio of actual popularity to deserved popularity. They produce a soothing electro-pop that really has the potential to win a large number of people over. My reasoning here is based largely on the fact that the Postal Service has gained a considerable following off of one album of music very comparable to that of the Junior Boys (i.e. soothing voice over a down-tempo electronic background). While I like the Postal Service, the Junior Boys have put out three consecutive albums that are of equal or greater quality than Give Up, and unlike the Postal Service, Junior Boys continue to make music. So in a way I find it oddly frustrating that if I bring up the Postal Service, it’s fairly common for someone to tell me how they “really like them,” but if I bring up Junior Boys I just get “who?” This being the case, this isn’t just a review; it’s a completely biased (but deserved) attempt to get any Postal Service listeners out there to give Junior Boys a try. Come on, I know you’re getting bored waiting for that second album that might never even happen. What do you have to lose? Junior Boys consists of Jeremy Greenspan and Matt Didemus, who are Canadian. I saw them live my freshman year and ultimately missed the last shuttle back from Harvard Square. This was unbelievably terrifying at the time, but still worth it. There first album, Last Exit, was critically praised, although personally I felt as though some of the tracks lacked the immediacy found on their second album, So This Is Goodbye. On So This Is Goodbye, many of the tracks just seemed to jump out on their first play. “In the Morning” and “The Equalizer” were just waiting to get lodged in your head with their big synths and lyrics that were bitter, dreamy, and catchy all at once. On their third effort, Begone Dull Care, they’ve pursued a slightly different path than on So This Is Goodbye. Most notably, the beats are not nearly as upfront, and come across in a subtle manner. It’s somewhat difficult to describe, but this whole album feels a

By: Matt Weisse

These albums would appeal to Postal Serivce fans.

little softer and a lot less urgent. Songs like “Like a Child” stood out immediately with its bouncy intro synth and others, such as those mentioned in the above paragraph, used choruses to keep themselves memorable. On Begone Dull Care, there are only eight songs, most of which are much longer than those found on their previous album, and for lack of a better way to put it, this album takes its time. To its credit, Begone Dull Care certainly starts out with its best foot forward. Album opener, “Parallel Lines” is incredible. This song just hangs with you though the album, and it was really the only thing I could think about after listening though the whole thing once. Although it lasts six and a half minutes, it feels like it goes by in under two, and I had to keep going back to the beginning to replay it once again. I’d normally be hesitant to completely gush over any single track, but it’s been running through my head on repeat since I first heard it over a month ago. Song of the year nominee in my opinion. Now that I got that out of the system, let’s address the rest of the album. After being completely blown away, the dilemma becomes the fact that (1) I had the highest of hopes that this would somehow continue for the next forty minutes, but (2) I also knew that once you’ve reached the top things inevitably have to head downhill. The next track, “Work,” is actually very good as well, and for a minute I thought they really were going to make consideration (1) a legitimate possibility. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case, but that didn’t stop the remainder from being a very solid attempt. The best way to describe this album as it progresses is that it is good, yet not exactly memorable. The first few

Photos from uulyrics.com

times through, I thought “well that was a really good CD,” but subsequently had the revelation that I couldn’t name any of the tracks as being particularly distinct standouts besides the first two. Don’t get me wrong – I really liked this album, but when all was said and done it was almost too coherent. Begone Dull Care is thoroughly pleasant, but lacks the hooks and elements mentioned above that really made So This Is Goodbye stand out right after that first listen. The other tracks become more distinct amongst themselves; they just aren’t as forward from the start. It’s also good to hear some more optimistic undertones here (see “Bits & Pieces”) rather than post-breakup depression (see “When No One Cares”). So progress is a good thing to a certain extent, but also a fair warning to the uninitiated – this is admittedly not their best album to start with, and some tracks do run a bit long. Five of the eight tracks come in at over six minutes, and the necessity of a few of those minutes is certainly up for debate. Ultimately, this is a really good album that doesn’t have any distinct weaknesses, but I feel as though it could have been better if they took a riskier, bolder route on some of the tracks. This album also strikes me as one that has the potential to be a real grower over time, and I’m a generous guy so I’m willing to give it that chance, but I’m still doubtful that it tops So This Is Goodbye overall. But hey, after putting out three consecutive albums this solid, I will continue my campaign to covert Postal Service listeners into Junior Boys fans. Give Canada a chance, people. Try: “Parallel Lines,” “Work” 8/10 Begone Dull Care is out April 7 on Domino.

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MARCH 26, 2009

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

“As Seen on TV” series Part II: The Snuggie Paige Roland STAFF WRITER

If you have seen one infomerical this year, then you probably know allabout the Snuggie. A simple enough concept, the Snuggie is basically a blanket with sleeves, but it has become enough of a cultural icon for Facebook bumper stickers, YouTube videos, and the nightly news to take notice. Does the Snuggie earn the hype it has created? In a word, no. The Snuggie is essentially a cross between a blanket and bathrobe. It opens in the back, comes in one large size, and has sleeves. The claim is that the Snuggie allows you to keep warm while being able to use your hands, unlike blankets which can “slip and slide,” according to the infomercial. The Snuggie comes in a few strange color choices: burgundy, royal blue and sage green, not providing a lot of options to choose from. According to the Snuggie

website, the material is a “super soft, thick, luxurious fleece.” In reality, the material was probably the most disappointing aspect of the product, as it is far from what the description depicts. In actuality, it was a light, thin, uncomfortable fabric that felt a lot like the free blanket you would receive on an airplane and was uncomfortable to wear. In regard to size, they say “one size fits all,” when it reality it is more like one size fits none. The Snuggie is huge on any grown adult, falling to the floor when standing. To actually walk around in the Snuggie would mean dragging it across the floor, most likely picking up a lot of dirt and dust. However, one of the few positive claims the Snuggie actually follows through on is the fact that it’s machinewashable, but it seems counter-productive to wash it after every wear. The product is actually recommended for kids as well, but

the average child would be completely swallowed up by the Snuggie. The main function that the Snuggie claims is the convenience to move around while staying warm. They claim a “freedom to use your hands,” but first you have to find your hands in the enormous sleeves. Even after pulling back your sleeves, the Snuggie tends to get caught up in your feet the moment you try to move around. Another huge problem with the Snuggie is the appearance. Any person, whether it be a man, woman or child, is guaranteed to look ridiculous in the Snuggie. The fit and form of the Snuggie give a monk-like appearance to the wearer. The Snuggie company actually suggests wearing their product outside the home, to cold sporting events or in “drafty dorm rooms,” but the guarantee of embarrassment should stop most people from following that advice.

For $19.95, plus an additional $7.95 in shipping and handling, you can buy the Snuggie, and get a second Snuggie as well as two book lights. The product is absolutely not worth the price. I might feel differently if the material was actually comfortable and came in sizes that fit regular people. In that scenario, people

might be able to overcome the ridiculous appearance and wear the Snuggie for warmth, as well as be able to move around comfortably. However, that is simply not the case. My recommendation for anyone looking to buy a Snuggie: get a blanket, buy a bathrobe, or just turn up the heat a few degrees. Rating: 1/10

Photo from www.getsnuggie.com

Do you believe in magic? Well now, with this paint, you should

Photo from www.otherlandtoys.co.uk

Lauren Valerio STAFF WRITER

How cool would it be to have a magnetic wall? Just think of how useful a magnetic wall could be: hang reminders, small magnets, pictures, et cetera. The possibilities for such a paint are endless, which is exactly why I got some magnetic paint to test out; to see if it held up to its claims. A company called Magnamagic, based in Mendon, Massachusetts makes a paint which they call Active Wall. The way it works, is the Active Wall paint has tiny magnetic particles inside the paint which helps magnets stick to it,

once the paint has dried. Upon opening the quart of paint, you notice a consistency similar to that of regular paint. A nice bonus for this product is that the application process is identical to that of regular paint, and even slightly easier, as the Active Wall paint doesn’t require a primer to be painted on the wall before the Active Wall paint. The magnetic paint is applied directly to the wall using normal rollers or paint brushes exactly like any other regular paint. The company suggests a minimum of five coatings for the wall in order to make the magnetic power of the wall

stronger. And although they suggested waiting one to two hours between coats, each coat dried quickly in around ten minutes and was ready for the next coat. I often found that in my five foot by four foot painting area, when I painted from the top to the bottom, by the time I got to the bottom, the top portion was already dry and ready for another coat. The great thing about the Active Wall paint is that it makes walls magnetic but unfortunately it is not a highly magnetic paint. The wall holds magnets and other things held by magnets, but like most vertical magnetic surfaces, each magnet can only hold so much weight. I would assume that with more and more coats of the paint, the wall would become more magnetic, but in our five coats, our test magnets couldn’t hold much more than a few sheets of paper against the wall. Overall, I would say that the Magnamagic Active Wall paint was an enjoyable product, especially because you can paint over it with any color paint by any paint company you choose. The easy

application process made painting easy for anyone, and could certainly make a fun art project for a rainy day. Furthermore, the quickdrying properties of the paint made for an easier and faster time to paint. Also, a small bit of paint got on a shirt and with a quick rinse, the paint did no damage to the clothing. On the other hand, a spot of the paint got on a pair of jeans and went unnoticed until after being washed, at

which point it was too late, and the paint couldn’t come out. Magnamagic claims that each quart will paint a five foot by five foot area with five coats of the paint. In my tests, I found that I was able to paint a similar sized area and still had a significant amount of paint left over. Unfortunately, at $29.99 for a quart and $89.99 for a gallon, the Active Wall paint is quite expensive, and you’ll want to take care to use every last drop of the paint.

Photo from www.otherlandtoys.co.uk

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MARCH 26, 2009

THE VANGUARD

OROSCOPES

Brian Ceci Vanguard Staff Aries (March 21 - April 19): Things may seem a little rusty now, but the gateway of communication is key to saving a lost relationship. Taurus (April 20 - May 20): Try a new challenge this week to lose that feeling of complacency. Maybe you could try being nice or a vegetarian. Gemini (May 21 - June 21): Go to the zoo. Petting animals will heighten your immune system and get you ready for the warmer weather. Cancer (June 22 - July 22): Turn on the romantic charm on the 27 and you will be rewarded with a great date. Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22): Show your friends how much you care by painting them pictures. Try a dinosaur or a brown paper bag. Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): Challenge your routine this week and take more time for yourself, or insert more me-time. You’ll drop the weight of the world. Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): Your mood swings are throwing your friends for a loop. Try to tame the Jekyll and Hydeness to avoid potential conflict. Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21): Toning down your obsessive nature will allow you to secure sunlight this week and enjoy life. It gets easier from here. Sagittarius (Nov. 22- Dec. 21): Acknowledge the fact that yellow vegatables will lead you to buried treasure, and seriously try them. Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19): The messages you’ve been sending to your love interest has beenmisconstrued. Being upfront and honest will help out. Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18): Clean out your phone book. Deleting the numbers of previous lovers or ex’s will help you reestablish yourself. Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20): Listen to what your parents have to say and the connections they offer you. They just may get you an unexpected job.

The columns found in this newspaper are written by individual authors and do not reflect the opinion of The Vanguard, its Editorial Board members, or Bentley University. Comments resulting from the columns can be directed to the author and/or The Vanguard.

COLUMNS Mistress of Issues

Let the Mistress help you! Dear Mistress of Issues, I know that people have written to you about having a pet in the dorms but I wanted to get your advice about having a pet after graduation. I plan on moving out of my parent’s house shortly after graduation and I don’t want to be lonely, so I was thinking about getting a small dog or cat. I think it would be fun to have another living thing around. I don’t really care what kind of breed it is, so I’m not worried about having to pay for an expensive pet. What do you think? ~Possibly a Pet Dear Possibly a Pet, A pet can be a great solution to loneliness after you move out of your parent’s house for an apartment that will possibly lack the social atmosphere you may be use to from living on or near campus. I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you that a pet is lifetime responsibility; this animal is yours to take care of for its entire life.

The initial costs of this pet may not be that high, the fee for adopting an animal at a local shelter is fairly reasonable. A shelter animal may be the more cost effective option as well as a way to help an animal in need of a permanent home. However, there are other costs to consider, such as food, veterinary bills, and possibly housing fees. When choosing a place to live, consider the cost of housing that will allow your new furry friend, and if there are additional costs involved. Often having a pet will require a larger deposit or even a separate fee. Don’t be surprised if you must also bring your pet to a “pet interview” to see if your pet is suitable to the landlord and other tenants. There is also the possibility that you will not be moving out of your house right away, will your parents be willing to have your new pet stay with them? Consider too the possibility that you may not be able to afford an apartment or place of your own right away, your new roommates may not like the idea of having a pet. There

By: Nicole Darvirris is, of course, the work associated with this animal, whether it be changing the litter box or taking it out for a walk. Your job may have an impact on your ability to care for this pet as well. If you will be traveling or working long hours you may not have the time to devote to taking care of this animal and giving it the attention it deserves. Once you have weighed all of these factors you will be able to decide if it is feasible for you to get a pet immediately after graduation. It may make more sense to get settled in your new apartment and with your new job, before making the commitment to a pet. Have a question? Email the Mistress at MistressOfIssues@gmail.c o m You can also Instant Message a question to the screenname MistressOfIssues on AOL Instant Messenger. Names have been changed to protect privacy. This column is for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to replace professional advice.

THE VANGUARD

MARCH 26, 2009

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NOTES FROM ABROAD Question # 8: What new perspectives about the U.S. have you gained during your semester abroad? What major differences have you noticed? Katy Hoover ROUEN, FRANCE

The most insightful perspective I have gained while abroad is that there are two ways of doing things: the American way and the wrong way. I’m just kidding, of course. However, living abroad has given me a great appreciation for the way things are done at home. For example, I have come to realize the value of an American education. At ESC Rouen, and at other programs abroad from what I’ve heard, the level of the work is somewhat similar to the level of work I was completing in high school. While a light course load fits nicely with my travel schedule, I am bored with my education because I’m not being intellectually challenged.

Despite what I consider to be easy classes, it is not uncommon for French students at ESC to retake a class three or four times before they finally pass it. Our education system, at Bentley anyway, is built on the foundation that if you take a class, you’re only going to take it once. Retaking a course is an option but it is an option most students consider only if they are having severe troubles with the subject matter. While there are few positives to an expensive education, this is one of them. When you are paying a lot of money to take a class, you are going to take it seriously. With a heavily subsidized education system, it doesn’t cost the students much to take and retake courses, causing the students to take the courses less

seriously than if they were paying a lot of money for them. Obviously taking a class several times is not the most efficient way to get an education either, which brings me to my next point of efficiency. France has a reputation for being a notoriously inefficient country and in my time here, they have lived up to that reputation entirely. It has really made me appreciate the ease with which things are done in the U.S. At ESC, for example, rather than holding a class in the same room every week, class rooms change on a weekly basis. The class rooms are posted weekly and students must refer to the list to see where their class will be. Given, it is not a huge inconvenience but it obviously makes little sense and creates unnecessary effort.

Mike Stewart BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

There is a technique that every Bentley student should master before studying abroad; call it simply “the art of not looking American.” Even before arriving in Brussels, I was given advice on when it was and was not acceptable to give away the fact that I am a US citizen. Brussels is a relatively safe city, of course, but there are times when it is better to blend in than risk being discriminated against. While most of the people I have met here are openminded and accepting of individuality, there are a select few whose perception of the typical American is less than favorable. From the money-hungry businessman whose ear is glued to his cell phone to the ignorant and boisterous college student drinking on the streets, stereotypes are just as prevalent as they are in the United States. That being said, there are Europeans who welcome Americans into their cities with

Stacie Henry PAMPLONA, SPAIN

From my time I’ve spent abroad, I’ve noticed that much of the world has a lovehate relationship with the United States. Even in a developed country such as Spain, I know a lot of people who would love to be in the United States. During orientation, one of the orientation leaders, from Italy, asked me why I would want to come to Spain to study, when his greatest wish was to go to the United States. He was

A castle in Antwerp, Belgium.

Photo provided by Mike Stewart

open arms. These individuals are more than willing to learn about American culture while simultaneously sharing their own views and experiences, and often offering advice on how an American can better integrate him- or herself into European society. For example, I learned almost immediately that baseball caps, white socks and sneakers were not very European. Martijn, a friend of my host family, put it most eloquently when he said “you will never get a date wearing white socks.” Overt displays

of wealth or class are generally frowned upon by Belgians, who place an emphasis on humility. While common in the US, pulling out a laptop or iPod in public is distasteful and may attract some nasty looks. Language is another obvious difference between the United States and Belgium, but the fact that these two groups of people speak different languages isn’t what stands out. It’s the difference in how the two cultures value language education that is remarkable. I speak English, a bit of Spanish that I struggle to

expecting an answer, but I didn’t really know what to say. For me, the US is old and boring, and I wanted something new. However, like my orientation leader and many others, the US is a beacon of prosperity and excitement and the fact that it can be difficult for some of them to get there only adds to the allure. As much as people here in Europe want to visit the US, there is a degree of animosity in some people. George Bush is generally despised,

and a lot blame the US for the economic problems here and in the rest of the world. Since Spain is one of the worst off economically in Europe, those feelings of animosity can be a little strong. Generally, people love Barrack Obama, though, and hope that by helping the US recuperate, he’ll help other countries in the world. One thing that I’ve come to realize by being here is the Americans really stand out. When meeting new people, I’m often asked where

As I mentioned, I was joking when I said the American way was the right way because living abroad, I have noticed a few things that Americans could learn from the French. The best example is the difference in the way we eat out. Although French waiters and waitresses do not work on a tip basis, they are much more customer friendly than U.S. restaurants. They never rush you and normally do not even bring you the bill until you ask for it. French restaurants allow their patrons to take time to enjoy their meals unlike restaurants in the U.S. which try to get customers in and out quickly so they can earn more money. The quality of food in restaurants is also so much better, it is like getting the food from a five star restaurant at a TGIF price. I’ll

definitely miss the French dining experience when I return home. Before coming abroad, I had grand expectations that life in another country would be so much better than life in the U.S. I thought that the differences in the way of life I would encounter would prove my expectations. While some of the differences I have encountered have shown some aspects that are better than the U.S., other differences I have encountered have shown me things I should appreciate about the U.S. Living abroad, I have come to the conclusion that there is no right or wrong way to live. No culture has the formula for a perfect life; there are advantages and disadvantages to the way that each culture lives.

recall from high school, and a small bit of French that I’ve learned in the past two semesters. By contrast, my host mother speaks English, French and Dutch fluently. She also speaks Spanish and German at a very high skill level. Granted she has studied language more than most Belgians, it is not uncommon for the typical Brussels citizen to speak two or three languages. Children begin learning English and other languages at a very young age, while many Americans do not take a language until high school and, even then, continuing a language course is usually not required past a certain point. There is also a notable difference in how Americans and Belgians establish their national identities. In the US, American flags are displayed prominently in every neighborhood. The election of Barack Obama back in November united a great number of Americans in celebration, who extolled the value of the country’s democrat-

ic system and its ability to produce the first African American president. In Brussels, you would be hard-pressed to find a national flag displayed anywhere save the EU headquarters. As pointed out by my host family, Belgian politics are more often shunned than debated at the dinner table. There is no prominent figure, political or otherwise, that unites Belgians. Identity is associated more with French or Dutch ancestry than with a common Belgian heritage. When I mentioned to a Dutch native of Antwerp that I was studying in predominantly French Brussels, I received a look of contempt. ‘Belgian nationalism’ isn’t a term you’ll hear too frequently in this country. While the differences in American and Belgian culture are certainly not clear-cut, they become more apparent the longer one studies here. Needless to say, it is the cultural and political contrast that makes studying abroad worthwhile in the first place.

Churros con Chocolate.

I’m from. When I reply that I’m from the United States, a lot of the times they say

Photo provided by Stacie Henry

they knew that, but wanted to know where in the U.S. (continued on Page 14)

PAGE 12

MARCH 26, 2009

THE VANGUARD

BUSINESS The Recession: is this a solvency crisis or a crisis of confidence? Francisco Olivera Dubon STAFF WRITER

The media, economists and financiers all have different opinions as to what caused the financial crisis we face today. Many of their assertions are valid, others are flawed; however, the most important judgment is the federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, because it appears to be the only institution left with the power to alleviate the crisis. If government officials know what caused the collapse, their policy remedies should return our economy to prosperity. If they are wrong, their actions will cause unintended consequences, and likely prolong the recession. So the question is: what caused the crisis? There are two broad explanations to our current dilemma; our financial system faces a solvency issue or a funding (insolvency) issue. The simplest way to explain each issue is by seeing it from a bankerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perspective, after all, a financial system is essentially banks and institutions lending and borrowing from each other.

The federal governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desicions will play a huge role in where this recession goes.

Banks operate on leverage: they borrow money from depositors, investors and others banks and lend out the money to make a profit. The loans a bank makes are its assets and the borrowings it makes are its liabilities. A typical bank will have on its books about twelve dollars of debt for every one dollar of equity (equity = assets minus liabilities), which means that banks tend to operate on a tight leash. If the value of its

loans decline, its total losses are magnified. For example, if ABC bank has $65 of assets, $60 of liabilities and $5 of equity and the value of its assets declines by $3.25, a 5 percent decline, the equity would then be worth $1.75, a 65 percent decline! When a bank runs into a solvency crisis, it means that the value of its assets has declined so much that its equity is no longer worth

Photo from businessweek.com

anything. If the value of ABC bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assets were to fall by as much as 15-20 percent, the bank would be rendered worthless as a result. If you argue that American banks loosened their lending standards and increased their debt to historically high levels, then you probably believe that our financial system is facing a solvency crisis. A bank could also run into trouble if its lenders lose confidence in the institution. If

ABC bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lenders wanted $10 worth of loans to be repaid immediately, ABC would have to sell some of its assets to fund the payment. Finding a quick buyer for those assets could be a difficult task in the short term, even if the loans or investments are performing well. The only way for ABC to find a quick buyer would be by selling its assets at a discount. If a bank has to continue to sell assets at a discount in order to pay creditors, insolvency may be difficult to avoid. Many believe that our financial system has entered into a panic mode with banks selling many of their assets at fire-sale prices in order to repay scared lenders. These fire-sales have then forced many banks into insolvency. If you agree with that assessment then you probably believe that our financial system is facing a funding crisis, which is also referred to as a crisis of confidence. So what crisis does our financial system face today? The answer cannot be pre(continued on Page 14)

This year, Ernst & Young has 53 reasons to celebrate. ÂŠ2009 ERNST & YOUNG LLP 0/.-,+*+)('.&+/%$%/-+,(+,#%+&"(! "+(/& . , (.+($+ % !%/+ / -+($+0/.-,+*+)('.&+ "(! "+ ,% + % #+($+ # #+ -+ +-% / ,%+"%& "+%., , +0/.-,+*+)('.&+ + -+ + " %., -%/ .&+ % !%/+ / +"( ,% + .+,#%+

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THE VANGUARD

MARCH 26, 2009

PAGE 13

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PAGE 14

MARCH 26, 2009

THE VANGUARD

NOTES FROM ABROAD / BUSINESS Question # 8: What new perspectives about the U.S. have you gained during your semester abroad? What major differences have you noticed?

Spain (continued from Page 11) Coming from Maryland, I also saw myself as not having an accent, but apparently here I do. There was one situation last week where I thought to myself “Wow, this would get handled a lot differently back at home.” My friends and I were at a busy restaurant that is famous in Pamplona for the fact that Ernest Hemingway use to eat there. While we were waiting for our food, there was a man in his early twenties, it seemed, walking around and just stopping and staring at customers. A lot of the customers, my table included, were creeped out by him, but when the waiters and manager asked him to leave, he just cursed at them and continued meandering around the restaurant. He ended up taking a tip from a table and walking slowly out. The customers caused a commotion,

and he was cornered by waiters until the police could arrive. Even then, the police were surprisingly gentle (although I was fairly certain there was something mentally wrong with the guy.) I thought there would have been a lot more of a fuss, like what would happen at home, rather than calmly dealing with the situation. I’ve noticed that as far as lifestyles go, Americans are much too work-oriented. Here, it’s all about “working to live, not living to work.” Siestas and meal times are usually much longer than in the US, and people have time to rest and to be with their family and friends. Here, everyone comes home for lunch and dinner, and we all eat together as much as possible. I also don’t know how I’m going to survive at home without my mid-day nap. As far as I’m concerned, this type of lifestyle should be adopted by the US.

Lauren Bocskocsky BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

When you chose to study abroad you make these plans to visit other countries and are excited to learn about other cultures around the world. Surprisingly, living abroad not only allows you to walk away with new understandings about other cultures, but also a new perspective of your own. Being in Hungary has given me the opportunity to look at the United States from afar. It is hard to truly understand the United States’ unique culture when you have nothing to compare it with. I knew that the U.S. had its own culture, but it is hard to determine what it exactly is when we are a melting pot of many different backgrounds. My International Marketing class has really opened my eyes to how others view America, and also what makes us different than other countries around the world. Although we hear stories about how other countries look down upon us, many still look at the U.S. as a place

to be desired and the epicenter for culture and business. It is interesting that the Europeans are willing to listen to music, read books, watch televisions shows etc that are not their own. But what does the United States (a place that is made up of so many cultures) listen to, read and watch? Only American produced media. In addition, Europe’s newspapers are filled with world news, while American newspapers are filled with mostly national events. Americans are therefore forced to seek out European sources, like BBC, to get world information. Everyone knows that Obama is our new president (and are thrilled that he was elected), but how many foreign leaders can we name? I don’t know if it simply our egocentric way of thinking or because we are secluded geographically, but I can see that it is something that is becoming substantially unbeneficial to our economy and social image. Another interesting realiza-

Heroes' Square in Hungary.

tion is that for a country that prides itself on freedom, it is amazing how many governmental rules regulate our everyday life. There is more of a police force in the U.S. and more rules, but crime still seems to be higher. We also take less personal responsibility and that is demonstrated by the number of lawsuits that come about every day. In Europe people aren’t as afraid of getting sued so the media is freer to be more provocative, pharmacies don’t make you wait to fill prescriptions and drinking laws are rarely enforced. If this is a positive thing, that is for you to decide, but it seems to be working well. Overall I have seen many beautiful cities and wonderful countries, but I am still proud and happy that America is my home. People are excited to hear about my culture when I tell them I am from New York or go to school in Boston, and I am just as excited to share my culture as I am excited to learn about their’s.

Photo by Lauren Bocskocsky

Photo from www.spain-flag.eu

The Recession (continued on Page 14) -cise. As home prices have fallen and the unemployment rate has increased, many of the investments made by these financial institutions have lost a considerable amount of value. The banks that took more risk now face solvency issues, as many investments have become worthless. As more bank failures have occurred, confidence in the system has been lost. The loss of confidence hurt even more banks because many of them lost short term funding, forcing them to sell assets at a low price. Many financial institutions hold the same assets on their balance sheet, so if one bank is forced to sell many of its assets at depressed prices it could hurt other banks that

did not face any solvency or funding issues. Our financial system is delicate; it has been hurt by both solvency and funding issues, but in order to solve the problem, the government must be careful. The government appears to believe we face a funding, or confidence, crisis. Their latest plan, announced on Monday, involves a partnership with private investors to buy “toxic” banks assets. Toxic assets are those that have lost the most value for the banks. If the reason for the lost value is because these assets have not or will not perform (such as a loan that defaults and is never paid back to the bank) then the tax payer will lose money and the financial crisis will not be solved. If these toxic

assets lost value because many banks were forced to sell them at fire-sale prices, then the taxpayer should make a profit from the government plan. Banks will also appear stronger because the government probably won’t buy the toxic assets at depressed levels. All of these actions should be able to restore confidence in the system as institutions will be more willing to lend to each other. The U.S. government should approach its plan on a case by case basis. If they treat all banks as if they are facing confidence issues, then the tax payers could be in for a ride. The tax payer should not be entirely skeptical of the government’s current actions, though. As part of its plan, the

government will conduct stress tests on the largest banks to see which of them would be insolvent under a harsher economic environment. Insolvent banks will probably be nationalized briefly by the FDIC in order to keep the system flowing and sol-

vent banks will probably be given funding to further secure their operations. Those actions should return lending and borrowing to the system. As long as the stress tests are performed conservatively, America’s financial system should return to prosperity.

Photo from www.newsmediaspan.com

THE VANGUARD

MARCH

26, 2009

PAGE 15

SPORTS Falcons open season 9th in national rankings Dan Ryaboy MANAGING EDITOR

As the winter sports seasons wind down, it was business as usual for the basketball teams as they both qualified for the national tourney with the men making an unprecedented third straight run into the Sweet 16. Meanwhile, the Men’s hockey team enjoyed a resurgent year ending in a semifinal loss to Air Force, who would go on to win the AHA and advance to the national tourney. It is time for the spring to roll around and it seems as though the lacrosse team is ready and willing to carry on the winning tendencies. The USILA recently released their first rankings of the season and the Falcons find themselves ranked ninth in the nation, while NE-10 powers Le Moyne and Merrimack are ranked second and fourth respectively. The Falcons are poised to challenge Le Moyne and Merrimack for the NE-10 crown as they field one of the most talented squads that they have had in years. The Falcons return their top seven scorers from last season along with their starting goalkeeper, senior Kris Dambach, who played every second in goal for a competitive team last season. Last season, in his first year as the Falcons goalie, Dambach was fourth best in the NE-10 with an 8.35 goals against average. The Falcons best offensive returnee and one of a five man co-captain squad, Andy Curtis, will look to build off his team best 28 goal, 18 assist season a year ago. Fellow attacker junior Kevin Gould, senior defenseman Doug Logan, senior midfielder Andrew Smulligan and Dambach are Coach Jim Murphy’s other four co-captains. Gould was the Falcons second leading scorer last season netting 23 goals while amassing 17 assists. Smulligan is a second year co-captain, and has started every game in his Falcon career. The Falcons put this talented squad on the field against some stiff competition as they opened the season with a showdown against number three in the nation C.W. Post. The Falcons were not able to solve the Pioneers, as they dropped the decision 18-7. The Pioneers had a distinct advantage in the game, as they had already played four games prior to challenging the

Falcons, allowing them to be much more accustomed to game speed and execution. The Pioneers were led by a sensational performance by Greg Cerar, who poured in a team-high five goals in the win. The Pioneers wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard, as Cerar scored his first of the game just 1:05 into the first quarter. A goal by junior Joe Meo put the visitors up 20 with 10:21 gone in the period, and that was followed by a tally from freshman Eddie Plompen a little more than three minutes later. The Falcons trailed the game by the score of 5-0 before NE-10 player of the week Wyatt Couture tallied his first goal of the season, putting the Falcons on the board. The visitors went into halftime with a 12-1 lead, but Bentley tied Post 6-6 in the second half, with five of those goals coming in the fourth quarter. Five different players scored for the Falcons in the second half, with Grant scoring his two in the final 2:11 of the game. Junior Kevin Gould assisted on both of those goals and scored one of his own early in the fourth quarter for a team-high three points. The Falcons did not have much time to dwell on the sea-

son opening loss as they were set to square off with the number five team in the nation, Adelphi, only a week later. The Falcons would prevail in this contest in comeback fashion by a score of 11-10. The Falcons trailed 10-8 with 10:13 remaining in the game before scoring the game’s final three goals to defeat Adelphi in stunning fashion. Senior attack Andy Curtis scored the game-winner with 5:31 left as the Falcons upset Adelphi 11-10 on Saturday night. Junior Wyatt Couture had a team-high three goals, including two of Bentley’s last three. The Falcons fell behind by two goals at the 13:07 mark of the second half as Kevin Kemp scored for Adelphi, after that though Couture went to work, scoring two unassisted goals with 10:21 left and 8:50 left to tie the score. Curtis then scored the winner for Bentley, with the assist from junior Kevin Gould. With the win against Adelphi, the Falcons already have a signature win on their résumé before NE-10 play has even commenced. Now look for the Falcons to be a force all season long, challenging to add some hardware to the already full Dana Center trophy case.

RECENT RESULTS Baseball (9-9, 1-1 NE-10) Saint Rose* (3/21) at Saint Rose* (3/22)

L 8-6 (11 inn.) W 4-3

Hockey (19-17-2) vs. Air Force (3/20) Atlantic Hockey Semifinals

L 3-0

Men’s Basketball (26-7) at No. 2 C.W. Post (3/17) NCAA Regional Final

L 82-76

Men’s Outdoor Track Northeastern Invitational (3/21)

No team score

Men’s Tennis (7-5, 4-0 NE-10) AIC* (3/22)

W 9-0

Softball (7-5) at Post (DH) (3/22)

W 4-3, W 10-1

Women’s Lacrosse (1-4, 0-1 NE-10) at No. 8 New Haven* (3/21) at No. 2 Adelphi* (3/22) Women’s Outdoor Track Northeastern Invitational (3/21)

L 11-7 L 18-4

No team score

Women’s Tennis (6-6, 5-1 NE-10) at Stonehill* (3/17)

L 8-1

* Northeast-10 Contest

UPCOMING SCHEDULE March 26 Men’s Tennis vs. Stonehill* Baseball vs. Merrimack* Women’s Lacrosse vs. Saint Michael’s*

3:00 3:30 7:00

March 28 Baseball vs. UMass-Lowell* (DH) Men’s Lacrosse vs. Saint Michael’s*

12:00 1:00

March 29 Softball vs. UMass-Lowell* (DH) Women’s Lacrosse vs. Dowling

12:00 12:00

March 31 Softball vs. Assumption* (DH) Baseball vs. Stonehill* Women’s Tennis vs. Southern N.H.* Men’s Lacrosse vs. AIC*

3:00 3:30 3:30 7:00

April 1 Baseball vs. Stonehill*

3:30

April 3 Women’s Tennis vs. Saint Anselm*

3:30

* Northeast-10 Contest

BEAUTY AND WELLNESS Spring Rain DaySpa (Award winner " Best facial/waxing of 2007/2008) Acnes, Skin problems, Botox alternative skincare. Brazilian wax . Cellulite reduction. Couple’s massages. Organic cosmetics products . Great Gift Certificates. Special promotion in progress. 27B exit of route128. Waltham 781 895 0010 www.springrainspa.com. Book on line-save.10% Curtis will be a force for the Falcons this season.

Photo from Sports Info Office

PAGE 16

MARCH

26, 2009

THE VANGUARD

SPORTS Men’s hockey season comes to an end against Air Force Robbie Labrie SPORTS EDITOR

The Bentley Men’s hockey team put up one of their finest seasons in recent memory in 2008-09, but in the end, it was one of the greatest teams in the country that got the best of the Falcons and ended their run. Bentley managed to lock down fourth place in the competitive D1 Atlantic Hockey conference, one of their best finishes in a number of years. Freshman goalie Kyle Rank and senior forward Dain Prewitt led the team through the long season to earn their high finish. Two weekends ago was the start of the Atlantic Hockey tournament and things got really interesting. Bentley drew the number five seed Canisius in the quarterfinals. The teams were slated to play an exciting two out of three game series in Watertown, and it was about as much of an up-and-down weekend as you can get. Game one was closer than the score indicated, but in the end it went to Bentley. The Falcons looked sharp, putting out a complete team effort and watching five players score in the 6-3 win. Prewitt was the only Falcon to score twice, as he netted the second and third goals of the night for the Falcons. After Bentley sophomore Erik Peterson put away an early goal, Prewitt expanded the lead with his own goal. With a 2-0 lead late in the first period, Rank finally surrendered one up to Canisius. Then about halfway through the second period, they slipped one more puck past Rank to tie the game up, 2-2. But two power plays for Bentley turned into two goals, one apiece for Prewitt and senior Anthony Canzoneri, and the Falcons wouldn’t need any more after that. While Canisius did manage to bring the game within one early in the third period,

sophomore Justin Kemmerer put it on ice with a goal later that period and junior Brendan Harrison sealed the deal with an empty netter with 15 seconds remaining. It was a good start for Bentley, but the next night, Saturday, brought something much different. Canisius was not ready to go home yet and they scored early and often in game two. Prewitt’s second night in a row with two goals was really the only bright spot for the Falcons in this 7-3 loss. Kyle Rank had one of the roughest games of his short career so far, as Canisius had their way with him. After a scoreless nine minutes to open up the first period, Canisius scored three goals in a little over four minutes, making it seem to Falcon fans that they were in for a long night. Prewitt notched his first goal of the night just at the end of the first period, looking as if perhaps there was a glimmer of hope, but a little way into the second period, Canisius found themselves in a 5-on-3 advantage and scored again to make it 4-1. The Falcons never really were able to get a grip on the momentum and had to look ahead to the next night. Bentley was not about to let the series slip away, however, and they really came out and set the tone in the third and final game. Senior forward Jeff Gumaer led the Bentley charge, scoring a hat trick in the 4-2 win for the Falcons. 14 seconds was all it took for Bentley to get on the board, as Gumaer buried a rebound after a Canzoneri shot. The Falcons quickly gave one back though about three minutes later. But the tie didn’t last long, when Marc Menzione beat the Canisius goalie with a shot from the left wing, grabbing a lead for the Falcons that they would not surrender.

Bentley scored their third goal of the night only nine seconds into the second period, making it 3-1 and that really seemed to sum up the game for the Falcons. They may have had a hiccup in game two, but there was no way they were going to just roll over and give up the whole series just because of that. So the win propelled the Falcons into the conference semifinals, where they got to face the top seeded Air Force. It was a battle of the Falcons, but the Air Force Falcons were the ones who tied for the best record in Atlantic Hockey and were nationally ranked high in division I all year. Air Force had won the Atlantic Hockey championship the last two years. It was a one game, winner take all matchup in Rochester, New York. The Falcons played good defensive hockey most of the night, keeping the game scoreless until the second half of the second period, when Air Force finally broke the deadlock. Air Force then scored again on a power play later in the period. Then in the third, Air Force went into lockdown mode and the Bentley opportunities were few and far between. A power play goal by Air Force late in the third was the dagger for Bentley and the Falcons’ season came to a close. In the other Atlantic Hockey semifinal, Mercyhurst defeated RIT, 5-4 in overtime. Air Force then went on to win their third straight Atlantic Hockey title by taking down Mercyhurst in the final, 2-0. So while we have the same winners in Atlantic Hockey, Bentley really emerged this year as a new threat in the conference. They made a good run in the tournament in 2006, but this year, the whole body of work seemed to indicate that they are ready to take the final step to become a real contender in the confer-

This past Tuesday, junior guard Jason Westrol was named to the Division II All-American team. Did you know Westrol becomes the third Falcon in the last five years to be named to that distinct honor following Tim Forbes and Nate Fritsch?

Prewitt enjoyed a sensational senior season.

ence. At the Atlantic Hockey Awards Night, Bentley head coach Ryan Soderquist was named Nike-Bauer Atlantic Hockey Coach of the Year, while three of his players were honored as well. Anthony Canzoneri was named Best Defensive Forward and took home the Turfer Athletic Individual Sportsmanship Award. Dain Prewitt was chosen for the All-Conference second team,

Photo from Sports Info office

and Kyle Rank was selected to the All-Conference third team and the All-Rookie team. Rank hopefully will have another three years to grow with the team and , while losses like Prewitt, Canzoneri and Gumaer will certainly hurt, there is a good core of young players that could be ready to take the next step in the coming years. We’ve already got a good grip on basketball, perhaps hockey is next.

FALCON OF THE WEEK Ritchie Named Falcon of the Week Senior midfielder Alyssa Ritchie of the Women’s lacrosse team has been named the Falcon of the Week. On March 21 at No. 8 New Haven, Ritchie scored four goals to break the program’s record of 144 career goals that was held by Kellyn Riccitelli. Ritchie now holds Bentley’s three major career scoring records with 146 goals, 105 assists and 251 points. The former Division II All-American had five points, seven ground balls and seven caused turnovers in Bentley’s two games over the weekend at New Haven and at No. 2 Adelphi. She’s currently tied for eighth in the Northeast-10 in goals per game with 2.80, and she leads the team in goals (14), assists (4), points (18), ground balls (11) and caused turnovers (13).