October 2013 by The Campus Magazine at CCNY

Over a Century of Service to CCNY & the Harlem Community

October 2013

Ditching Addiction

One Studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Epic Battle with Alcohol

Future of Petraeus

Why the Anger Towards General Petraeus is Misguided ccnycampus

ccnycampus

SOphie davis turmoil

Students Skeptical of Sophie Davis Politic @ccnycampus

ccnycampus.org

Table of Contents 4 News

The Turmoil at Sophie Davis Anika Islam

10 VOICES

Editorial Team

On the Rocks Anonymous

6 OPINION

Leave Petraeus Alone Rachel Mines

12 FOOD

Diaries from Fast Food Rehab Ashlee Schuppius & Natalie Renteria

8 POLITICS

Talking is Cheap Voting is Action Jose Porreti & Isabel Jenkins

14 HEALTH

Editor in Chief Louis Oprisa Managing Editor Rochelle Sterling Opinion & Feature Nikeeyia Howell Arts Eitan Negri Copy Chief Hannington Dia

Executive Staff

Business Manager Ashlee Schuppius Ad Sales Ryan Wallerson

Design Team

Work It

Designers Roberto Guzmán & Liz Fonseca

Hannington Dia

Faculty Advisor Professor Linda Villarosa

Editor’s Note

As September comes to a close, The Campus has seen an overhaul in its design layout and website. Mindful of the importance of versatility between journalistic mediums, we are striving to broaden our coverage from print to online and video so that we can offer

you as many perspectives as possible. Our goal is to have an ever-expanding array of print, web, and video content that keeps you informed and intrigued. In this issue we take a look at recent interactions between CUNY administration and student groups that

START BECOMING A LEADER.

have featured tension and at times even open hostility. We conclude by honoring the memory of late political science professor Marshall. Berman, a beloved and influential figure to student activists that came after him.

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START building leAdeRShip. START CHALLENGING YOUR STRENGTHS.

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Congratulations to The City University of New York! Army ROTC is now available to all CUNY students! To get started contact LTC Juan Howie at jhowie@york.cuny.edu. Or in the Army ROTC office at The City College of New York at 212-650-6478 ©2008. paid for by the united States Army. All rights reserved.

October 2013

Flat Broke? From the looks of our preliminary budget, CCNY needs an extreme money makeover. By Rachel Mines │ Illustration: Roberto Guzmán For all those concerned about recent tuition hikes, neglected facilities, or club finances –last month’s preliminary budget briefing in the Great Hall would have been a good time to voice any relevant questions. President Lisa Staiano-Coico led the meeting alongside senior vice President for finance and administration, Jerry Posman, and his associate, Felix Lam.

administration and recommended increasing summer courses to make up for a slight decrease in enrollment and a drop in the number of credits students are taking in spring and fall semesters.

The college’s money situation looks bleak: CCNY is faced with a $4.1 million budget gap, a decrease in enrollment, $9 million less from the State of New York, and a 3.5% increase in expenditures.

Still, many in the audience, mainly faculty, remained skeptical. Several vocal critics worried that the school will no longer be able to offer an affordable education if it continues on this path. Others complained about extravagance at the top—including the high salaries paid to deans and vice presidents—and the kind of misguided advisement to the students that often leaves them in financial trouble.

President Lisa and her team presented their plan to eliminate this $4 million gap but despite her enthusiasm, their ideas seemed less than adequate. They suggested measures such as funding through philanthropy, cuts to security and reductions in central

In the end, Posman reassured the audience that City College is still one of the most inexpensive schools in the country and he and his staff intend to keep it that way. We will provide a more detailed look at the CCNY budget and its shortfalls in a future issue. n

The college’s money situation looks bleak: CCNY is faced with a $4.1 million budget gap, a decrease in enrollment, $9 million less from the State of New York, and a 3.5% increase in expenditures.

News

The Campus

The Turmoil at Sophie Davis Angry students question whether the new director of our medical colleges is the best person for the job. But that may not be the real reason for the continued outcry. By Anika Islam │ Photo: hofstra.edu & change.org

Nationally, students of color account for only 18.9% of all physician assistants.

ast month, Theresa Horvath began her term as the acting director of the well-respected physician’s assistant program at City College’s Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education. However, many people aren’t happy she’s there. A coalition of angry students, faculty, staff and community members have joined with an advocacy organization called the People Power Movement to protest Horvath’s appointment. They have organized Tumblr and Facebook campaigns and last month presented President Lisa with a petition asking her to “save the Sophie Davis PA program.”

Sandra Beysolow, one of the nominees, refused the position citing timing conflicts.

Students like Stephanie Martinez see the appointment as evidence of increasing gentrification at CCNY. “It’s not an allegation that CUNY adopted a gentrification agenda; it is fact,” says Martinez, who is part of the People Power Movement. “This isn’t only occurring in the PA program,” she adds. “The ROTC program is coming back… criminal David Petraeus is teaching at CUNY, financial aid is gradually becoming more and more difficult to receive. These are all connected.” What happened at Sophie Davis? When the former director of the program resigned last year, following City College’s hiring guidelines, the college put together a search committee of faculty members and students to nominate candidates for the newly opened position. The committee

advanced two names. Sandra Beysolow, one of the nominees, refused the position citing timing conflicts. The other nomination was Dr. Pablo Foster, a professor at the CCNY PA Program for over twenty years. Many students believe that Dr. Foster should have then been chosen as the program director. However, the recommendation fell on deaf ears. According to critics, Dr. Maurizio Trevisan, the dean of Sophie Davis and Provost of City College, skirted the findings of the committee and appointed Ms. Horvath director. Racial politics dominate this controversy: Ms. Horvath is white, Dr. Foster is an Afro-Cuban American. Nationally, students of color account for only 18.9% of all physician assistants. The goal of the CCNY Physician Assistant Program, from its origin, has been to train students specifically from under-served communities to become physician assistants. The vast majority of the program is comprised of students of color. “Ms. Horvath should be aware of the importance of a person of color becoming the director of the CCNY PA program,” says Jose Alfaro, a CCNY PA program alumnus. Dr. Trevisan denies any foul play. “The search for a new director of the Physician Assistant Program unquestionably followed appropriate CUNY and CCNY recruitment and affirmative action standards,” Dr.

October 2013

Theresa Horvath

Dr. Pablo Foster

Trevisan says. “A campus-wide survey was conducted among students, faculty, and staff to ensure their voices were heard and represented. Based on broad participation and broad feedback from multiple constituencies, Ms. Horvath emerged as the top candidate.”

a City College senior and a member of the People Power Movement, speculates that the PA program, as it currently stands, might be eliminated in the process. He and others worry that admission standards might be raised and lower the number of underrepresented students accepted into this program. This would be a tragic turn for a crucial program that boosts a 100% graduation rate.

Indeed, Ms. Horvarth has more experience as a PA program director than Dr. Foster. He directed the PA program at Bronx Lebanon Hospital for two years while she founded and directed the PA program at Mercy College in New York for over a decade. Additionally, before this appointment, Horvath directed the PA Program at Hofstra University. “I am a proud alumna of the [CCNY] PA Program, and have embraced its mission for all the years since I graduated,” says Ms. Horvath. However, students point out that it is Dr. Foster, also a graduate of the CCNY PA program, who has lead a career that falls more in line with the program’s mission. He has provided medical care in poor and working class African American and Latino communities for more than two decades. His passion and devotion to this program and its mission, students argue, cannot be paralleled. Students also fear that Ms. Horvath’s lack of strong ties to the program jeopardizes its future. The administration is currently attempting to transform the Sophie Davis School into an MD granting medical institution. Alvaro Franco,

Both Ms.y Horvath and Dr. Foster are graduates from the CCNY PA program.

Dr. Trevisan insists that Sophie Davis is safe. “The [school] continues to focus on its established and unique mission to recruit underrepresented minorities into the health care field, increase medical services in historically underserved areas, and increase the availability of primary care providers especially in underserved areas of our State,” he told The Campus. However, some students are not convinced. “We need this program, and we, as people of color, cannot afford to lose these opportunities that can uplift our communities,” says Martinez. “This isn’t going to end. The gentrification of the PA program is the beginning of what can happen at City College if students, faculty, staff, members of the community don’t organize and fight against this.” “It’s not impossible to do this,” she adds. “It’s difficult, but it’s not impossible.” n

Dr. Foster directed the PA program at Bronx Lebanon Hospital for two years while Ms. Horvath founded and directed the PA program at Mercy College in New York for over a decade. She also directed the PA program at Hofstra University.

Opinion

The Campus

Leave PEtrAeus Alone

We cannot let loud, ignorant bullies harass our newest adjunct and squelch intelligent discourse. By Rachel Mines │ Photo: AP Photo After a long debate over salary and conditions, General David Petraeus began teaching a class at CUNY called “Are We on the Threshold of the North American Decade?” at the beginning of the semester. But when the General, paid $1 for the semester, left the building on his first day, a group of students followed him. Carrying signs, they yelled, “war criminal,” “murderer,” “piece of shit,” “there is blood all over you–I can smell it,”and “why are you teaching at CUNY?” As the General kept his gaze forward and walked in silence, one student trailed him–his red shirt raised over his protruding potbelly. A second protest in front of the Macaulay Honors College on September 16th, organized by adjunct professor Sander John, turned violent. Six students were apprehended and accused the NYPD of police brutality. The bigger issue is this: Why are we, CUNY students, driving away and even threatening those we disagree with? Is this how we allow ourselves to be represented–by bullies exposing their bellies? We are not an institution that thwarts dialogue and debate. CUNY has long championed academic freedom, defined as “the freedom to teach and do research in any area without constraint, to discover and promulgate new ideas no matter how controversial.” Without

it, institutions such as ours would not be able to produce a diverse-thinking group of people. Debate and argument keep people on their toes, well read, and encourages them to think critically. CUNY students should welcome Petraeus, if anything as a means for debate. Those supporting the anti-Petraeus group, the Ad Hoc Committee Against the Militarization of CUNY, claim the four-star general represents U.S. imperialism and is a threat to their education. Before Petraeus became famous for his extramarital affair, and issues at CUNY, he was the man who brought Iraq back from the brink of disaster. Peter Bergen, CNN’s national security analyst, wrote: “Historians will likely judge David Petraeus to be the most effective American military commander since Eisenhower.” He was a champion of reconciliation for the Iraqi people. He schooled soldiers in cross-cultural communications, urging them to exercise care in their operations to ensure minimal civilian casualties and collateral damage. His soldiers probably paid a price for that, leaving them open for more attacks. But he believed it was the right thing to do and yield better outcomes in the end. When Petraeus was reassigned to

run the U.S. Army’s Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 2006 he rewrote the country’s counterinsurgency doctrine, which had not been looked at since the Vietnam War. He recruited the top minds of the country and reworked the core strategy. To simplify, the approach changed from seeing the Iraqis as the enemy to people who needed protection. He was commander in Afghanistan as well, and civilians were killed. But again, his policies always leaned in the direction of respect for human life and caution in the interaction of soldiers with Iraqi and Afghani hosts. On ther side, many look at Petraeus as part of a near criminal administration that has generated conflict destruction to innocent lands. They see the entire post 9/11 enterprise as misguided, and call the loss of civil liberties at home and innocent civilians killed in the wars abroad unconscionable. And there is something to be said for this. The debate will likely go on for decades and may never be settled. However, it would be dangerous not to have a debate. So, to return to the topic of protests, where does respect fall into this debate? I imagine that most of my peers side with the anti-Petraeus faction. But others, like me, think that the protestors are rude and disrespectful. One student called the harassers a “bunch of rowdy young people harassing and heckling an old man, and who appear to be uneducated with random slogans and profanity. Protests are organized, controlled, and stay on message. This display was none of those things.” Another student called them “faux-revolutionaries [who] are guided by their understanding of their halfread Chomsky articles…”. These students have been caught on camera threatening to follow Petraeus until he resigns from his teaching position. Macaulay’s dean Ann Kirschner was correct in her criticism of the protest. This university must be a safe place for complex issues to be debated as a means to find solutions. If history has taught us anything, suppressing discourse leads to not good. We should be arguing, debating, and challenging each other, instead of shouting down intelligent discourse. n

October 2013

Politics

The Campus

Talking is

Cheap ACTION

Voting is

A new survey points to political apathy among CCNY students. A look at why so few of us care. By Jose Porreti & Isabel Jenkins │ Photo: Louis Oprisa

esearching candidates, keeping track of confusing policies and wading through distracting media coverage, why is voting in the mayoral election even worth it for a busy college student? According to a recent Campus survey that asked students about their voting habits and political views, 80% of students reported that they were registered voters. Compared to the average voter registration rate for New York City college-age students (roughly 50%) and even the general CUNY population (60%), City College’s level of political involvement is quite impressive. However, despite this feat, about 68% of our sample size reported that they had not voted in the September mayoral primaries. If 8 out of every 10 CCNY students are registered voters, why are

almost 7 of them withholding their civil right to vote? Is it pure laziness, or something more sinister? Revealing comments littered the survey, some of them more pessimistic than others. In response to the question “Do you think voting for members of your local government is important?” one student wrote:

“ Voting only gives people the illusion that they have power. No, it’s not important to me at least.”

It appears that CCNY students have gotten sucked into the mindset responsible for immobilizing college students throughout the city: that their opinion simply doesn’t matter that much. I’d like to argue the contrary. According to The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, the most politically inactive class in all of America is comprised of voters between the ages of 18 and 29. Although 60% of this age group attends a higher education institution, only about 42% of them were registered to vote for the 2012 Presidential election. These numbers should act as a wakeup call to the young people in this country. Whether it’s right or not, politicians will not respond to young people’s interest if voting rates among young people continue to be so poor.Political

October 2013

Your voice and vote matters. The young people in this city hold the power to change things around, not only in this city, but in the country as a whole. So, get registered, read the information that’s available to you, and get involved!

candidates try to appeal to large voting groups, campaign on that group’s interests, and demonstrate that he or she will make a difference for them. A lack of young voters at the booths on Election Day tells politicians to disregard them as an irrelevant political sector of society. Consequently, young people’s interests are undermined, which then creates the idea among the youth that their vote does not really count. Every election year that young people refuse to vote, perpetuates this vicious cycle. If young people want Washington to address their concerns, such as the increasing rates of college tuitions and loans, they must make their voices be heard in the political arena. They must let politicians know that young people are there, that they can vote in massive numbers, and will vote

for the candidate who pleases their needs the most.

Voters by the Numbers

As to the idea that one’s vote does not make a difference; that it the real illusion. Take for instance the current mayoral candidates’ stance on the controversial “stop-and-frisk” law. Republican Lhota plans to stand by said law, as he considers it to be a fair and useful way of keeping the city clean of illegal substances. Democrat De Blasio, on the other hand, plans to repeal the law, stating that it promotes racial profiling as well as a wrong, authoritarian response to the issue of drugs in NYC. Your vote for either one of these candidates will count towards or against this policy. n

CCNY Students

Registered 80% Average New Yorkers

Registered 50% -/+ CUNY Population

Registered 60% politically Inactive CLASS Voters 18 – 29 yo

60% attend college 2012 Presidential Elections

42% voted

Voices

The Campus

On the Rocks By Anonymous │ Photo: Eitan Negri

Lost in liquor at what is supposed to be one of the country’s most sober schools. The true story of an undercover alcoholic.

Hi, I’m anonymous, and I’m an alcoholic. I used to abuse other substances along with alcohol, but as I weaned myself off of the others I lost myself in liquor. Earlier this year, I decided to stop using cocaine, Adderall, and Xanax for good. But then I began to fill those voids with several vodka tonics a night at my local bar. Eventually, I ballooned from having a casual relationship with alcohol to needing it all the time. Starting last semester, I was drinking to get drunk every day. I visited different bars, took part in happy hours, and never went to the same place often enough for them to recognize me. Eventually, I began working in a bar, which became my excuse for the selfdestructive behavior. Daily hangovers became a way of life. Until recently, I believed that heavy drinking was simply the thing that people my age did. In fact, having several mixed drinks and shots on a weekday is rare for most of my peers, let alone every weekday. For the last few months, I worried that my drinking was spinning out of control. A few incidents in particular made me realize this. The first event occurred while lying in bed with a lover of mine. It was around two in the morning and he was asleep next to me. Tossing and turning, I eventually decided to get up and look for something to drink. After checking the freezer, the refrigerator, and the

October 2013

cabinets I realized he didn’t have anything. I decided to call a cab and go get a drink somewhere, but I didn’t want my still-sleeping mate to know the truth: that I’d left in the middle of the night just to go get drunk. To cover my tracks, I woke him up, picked a fight and eventually convinced him that I was too upset to stay. I left, got drunk, and was late to work the next morning. The second event was related to my health. I noticed spots on my inner thighs and worried that they were the sign of something terrible; my illness ended up being vitamin deficiency and urinary tract complications. I’d wake up to go to the bathroom every two or so hours, unable to ever empty my bladder, eventually my urethra burned from constant expulsion. One morning I woke up in a daze and spotted urine on my comforter and in the trashcan next to my bed. I went to the hospital and had them run tests on me all night. The doctors thought it was an STD, so I was treated for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis with a large dose of several antibiotics and a shot of penicillin in my buttocks. My symptoms never changed, but I found out the cause: alcohol induced incontinence. I was shaken up and went to Student Health Services on campus to get help. In my hour with a counselor, three times I inquired about group substance abuse sessions. I asked about an affiliation with Alcoholics Anonymous, hoping that this woman could send

me somewhere to find a sponsor or a support system that understood my plight. But no, the session ended without any arrangements made, though I made an appointment for next week. That weekend, I began to bottom out. On Saturday, I went drinking with a group at a bar in midtown. Over the course of a few hours, I had a total of around nine mixed drinks and several shots of tequila and whiskey. I left the bar and sat on a stoop nearby. Thankfully, one of my close friends found me drunk, almost asleep and took me home with her. In the morning, I woke up with a bucket next to me, my shirt and jacket on the floor, covered in spit and vomit. The rest of the day I was having trouble keeping anything in my stomach. Severely dehydrated, I was throwing up every glass of water I tried to drink. My friend recounted my behavior and told me that she could hear me choking on my vomit while she was lying in her bed, which means that if she hadn’t heard me, and turned my head or worse, if she’d let me go home alone, I might be dead right now. That was when I thought I’d had enough. My sobering brush with my own mortality should have been actually sobering, not to mention the accompanying hangover, but not quite. The next evening I was up until six in the morning getting drunk again. I continued attending sessions at the

health center, but they were of little help. I had to make the decision to get sober on my own. I finally decided to go to AA. Alcoholics Anonymous is open to anyone who wants to quit drinking. At the meeting I went, I was greeted by friendly faces and I was never pressured to say a word. I had a cup of coffee and we celebrated the 25th year of sobriety for one of those recovering. The veterans all gave each other hugs and several people told their stories. Each person shared their struggles, their joys and everyone seemed to care about each other’s journey. I was terrified about finding myself there, but there are few places I’ve felt more at home. Yes, alcoholism seems to run in my family, but I’ve seen it become a crutch for many of those around me even without a family history. I don’t want to lose any of the good things that I have going for myself, so I’m trying to give myself small goals that can eventually turn into greater goals. As of right this second, I am 26 hours sober, which is the longest I’ve been without drinking in a long time. I had a bit of trouble sleeping last night, but it was worth it to wake up this morning without regret. I’m hoping to make it to my next session at the Counseling Center and the next AA meeting without compromising myself, but I’m living hour-by-hour, day-by-day. There was a poster on the wall in the gym last night that read ‘keep it simple.’ So far, so good. n

Food

The Campus

Diaries from Fast Food Rehab By Ashlee Schuppius & Natalie Renteria │ Photo: Natalie Renteria

Overview

Ashlee: In the midst of juggling school, work, all while keeping up with the fast pace of New York City, it can be difficult not to fall prey to the convenience of a fast bite. According to a cumulative forum on collegeconfidential.com, students spend approximately $150-200 a month on fast food and beverages. These eating choices are not healthy or cost effective. As a self proclaimed fast-food addict who spends way over the average, I opted for a change. And so, The Campus’ healthy and cheap eats guru, Natalie Renteria, steer-headed a healthy eating and spending trial-week for me. Natalie: I planned a week of healthy eating to serve as a guide for fellow students facing tight budgets and growling stomachs. Ashlee was a perfect candidate as she spends most of her money on eating out. My friend and health food connoisseur Gabrielle and I planned different meals we could prepare throughout the week for Ashlee to try. Although making a week’s worth of meals in one day can be pretty time consuming, we were up for the challenge! Ashlee came and met me at my local supermarket in Staten Island so we could begin the trial.

Day 1

Ashlee: “Why would she tell me to meet her in Burger King before we begin my health rehab?” I thought. Figuring I had about 5 minutes before Natalie and Gaby picked me up to go to the store, the No.5 Bacon cheeseburger seemed like a last hoo-rah before my journey progressed. Just as the cashier asked, “May I take your…” -the phone rang. Frantically leaving the line, regarding that this was fate, I dashed out of Burger King. Natalie: We spent around an hour grocery shopping. We got lucky and bought 6 pieces of salmon that were on sale for about $6. Normally salmon is at least 6 dollars the pound, so we got a deal! If we had bought the salmon at regular price those six pieces would have come out to $12+. We ended up getting so much stuff for $50: 2 lbs of tilapia, 2 lbs of salmon, 3lbs of chicken breast fillets, fresh spinach, broccoli, green beans, corn, a big bag of Idaho potatoes, rice, black beans, peaches, tomatoes, avocado, oatmeal, yogurt, honey and the list goes on.

DAY 7

Ashlee: I struggled throughout the week to maintain my healthy eating habits. The first day felt luxurious. I embarked on a journey of homemade mashed potatoes, honey glazed salmon and a side of green beans and corn. Then my week started its rambunctious schedule; I tried to pack my food, reminiscent of days of middle school and managed to do that for only two days. This healthy eating regimen wasn’t for me. On what was supposed to be the last day of my rehab, I was standing in line at Shake Shack. Although appreciative of the journey, I realized what works for me even though it was kind of a failure. I realized that I saved money and became more disciplined in other healthy habits. I started working out, which was a surprise to me. My biggest advice to other students: do what works for you. Whether it is making sandwiches, salads and fruit salads, or preparing meals on your off days from school and work. This started a desire to take care of my health and pay closer attention to what I consume and spend. Once the regimen ended, I semi-binged on fast food but realized the desire to eat it had declined significantly.

October 2013

Three easy-to-follow tips that will improve your health and lifestyle. TIPS

Natalie: Starting to save money and eating healthy can begin as easily as bringing breakfast from home. Instead of buying a coffee and bacon, egg, and cheese bagels, bring some Greek yogurt, fresh fruit, and almonds. I particularly enjoy cooking so I find time throughout the week to cook meals to bring to school. I really enjoy making burgers. Instead of using beef I use ground turkey or ground chicken. Turkey and chicken burgers contain far less fat than their beef brethren and are sometime even tastier. If you don’t know how to cook or don’t have the time, you can buy pre-made sauces and meals from Trader Joes. I love TJs! They have organic everything for a much more affordable price compare to other sameminded stores like Whole Foods. Ashlee: Going to Google and typing “how to eat healthy as a college student”, seems sufficient enough but turns out to be wildly unhelpful Everything I read seemed quite the cliché and disappointingly unrealistic. Although here are some quick final tips that seemed helpful.

Grocery shopping

1. Check what’s on sale! 2. Fresh produce is usually cheaper in bodegas. 3. Buy supermarket branded food. Eat Breakfast

According to healthyeating. sfgate.com and webmd.com students who eat breakfast grades improved, concentration increased and maintained a healthy weight.

Suggested College student cookbooks • Where’s Mom Now That I Need Her: Surviving Away from Home • The $5 a Meal College Cookbook: Good Cheap Food for When You Need to Eat • The Everything College Cookbook: 300 Hassle-Free Recipes For Students On The Go • The Healthy College Cookbook: Quick. Cheap. Easy • The College Cookbook: An Alternative to the Meal Plan • The College Student’s Cookbook: Reluctant, Nervous, Lazy, Broke, Busy, Confused • Tray Gourmet: Be Your Own Chef in the College Cafeteria

Source: Ask.com

Drink lots of water

According to health.usnews. com, “students lose more water than they realize, raising the risk of dehydration. Plus, water promotes fullness, helping to stave off hunger.”

Health

The Campus

Work It

The improvements of the Wingate Fitness Center have students and faculty alike excited–and for good reason. By Hannington Dia │ Photo: Xaisongkham Induangchanthy

f you’re a fitness buff attending CCNY, you have probably noticed the new machines adorning the Wingate Fitness Center. Installed during the summer, this new equipment is a byproduct of a referendum that increased student activity fees last year

With the fitness industry mirroring the tech industry in terms of the latest upgrades, Rahman and company chose Technogym to keep with the times. “It was a fantastic opportunity to get some new state of the art equipment in there,” he said.

Rahman said. “Free-weights and things of that nature, which are good, probably most effective, they do have a long term effect on wear and tear of the joints and cartilage. Also we have some plateweight loaded equipment that is more like squats or things of that nature.”

The increased revenue allowed CCNY’s Department of Recreation & Campus Fitness to renovate the center. After careful consideration, a committee of CCNY’s recreation staff and one member from the CCNY IT Department selected Technogym to install the next-gen equipment. The Italian manufacturer comes with a high pedigree: it was the fitness vendorfor the 2012 Olympics.

To that end, the equipment is already miles ahead of its older brethren. The cardio machines feature Internet access, OnDemand TV, music videos, and movie trailers. Students can also use virtual reality screens featuring worldwide exercise trails, access WI-FI, and even create user profiles to track their workout history. However, the IT people who installed the tech have to work out a glitch between their server and the gym’s server.

Rahman partially credits the new equipment with improved attendance for September. “[In the] fall, we get an increase because there’s new students,” he said. “Second of all, we did a pretty good job advertising. We had a ribboncutting ceremony. So the word of mouth of the new equipment went out.”

“I would say probably about 75-80% of the gym has been totally renovated, brand new,” said Dr. Kevin H. Abdur-Rahman, CCNY’s Associate Athletic Director. “We hadn’t had any new equipment in probably over 10 years,” he said. “A piece here and a piece there, but not a substantial part of the gym.”

Even better, the machines are Kinesisbased, designed to offer students the same benefits as working with free weights, but without added stress on the joints, which can cause arthritis and tendonitis down the line. “The industry has moved towards more joint-friendly weight equipment,”

The new additions feature nine treadmills, three stationary bikes, four elliptical machines, three combination elliptical/StairMasters and two hip abductor machines. And the best part is that 25% of the old gym equipment is still due to be replaced with newer models. So what are you waiting for? Get in there and start sweating! n

October 2013

The new equipment features Internet access, WI-FI, OnDemand TV, music videos and movie trailers.

Marshall Berman

1940-2013

he Campus honors the memory and legacy of the late Dr. Marshall Berman. Born in New York City, Berman led an illustrious career as a philosopher, Marxist Humanist writer, and political science professor. Despite being a graduate of Columbia and also receiving his PHD from Harvard, he passed up cushy Ivy League teaching gigs to instead teach at City College. CCNY students and faculty alike are grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from, and with him.