Etownian Issue 12 - 02/03/2011

Supernova creates two suns?

Super Bowl preview

News, pg. 2

Campus Life, pg. 6

Controversial “Skins” rocks television sets

Opinion, pg. 11 February 3, 2011• Volume 107, No. 12

One Alpha Drive • Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2298

On the Web: www.etownian.com

off campus

Undercover cop busts off-campus house during party A

Peter S. Northrop Assistant Editor

national news

llegedly, on January 29, Elizabethtown College students living near College Avenue and Market Street were caught selling alcohol to an undercover police officer associated with the state Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement (LCE). Other houses have been implicated, but no official confirmation has been made as of press time.

Although the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board could neither confirm nor deny any of this information, Officer John Mathias, a supervisor at Pennsylvania Bureau of LCE had this to say: “If you’re selling alcohol at your house and you do not have a license, you are operating a speakeasy and breaking the law.” No official citations have been issued by the Pennsylvania State Police as of press time.

The investigation is ongoing.

Senior Keith Fogel lives next door to the house in question--yet somehow he was implicated in Saturday’s bust.

“I was contacted about this on Sunday morning by the dean of students,” Fogel said. “She had said that my address was the

one that had been busted, but it was next door. [That house] has a different address, and it’s obvious which door is which.”

Fogel was allegedly the only person in his house contacted by the College. “I assume because I’m an athlete, they assumed it was all my fault,” Fogel said.

Fogel feels that this incident is the latest in an ongoing string of slights against specific houses and people that the school is targeting. “The main thing I want to say out of all this is that the school — not the police — are definitely behind this,” Fogel said.

Fogel cited odd occurrences to back up these claims, including several times when police showed up at his doorstep when there were less than ten people at his house.

However, Dean of Students Marianne Calenda denies this. “The College did not alert or consult with LCE or the Elizabethtown Borough Police Department; this was an independent action taken by the LCE,” Calenda said. In fact, the College isn’t even being given much information on these alleged busts. “At this point the College has not received official notification from LCE about the weekend incidents,” Calenda said. “Individual students have see RESIDENCE, page three

Image: Matthew P. Butera

127 arrested; FBI executes largest mob bust in history Nancy C. Briscoe Managing Copy Editor

A

fter 30 years of hard work, FBI agents sucYork metropolitan region, including leaders of cessfully completed the largest mob bust the Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese, Bonanno and in history on Thursday, Jan. 27. Beginning early Colombo families, as well as those associated with that morning, NYPD officers and U.S. Marshals, New Jersey’s DeCavalcante family. along with the FBI, participated in a multi-state Former boss of the New England La Costra sting operation spanning four districts in New network Luigi Manocchio, age 83; street boss of York, New Jersey and Rhode Island. the Colombo family 76-year-old Andrew Russo; “This is one of the largest single-day op73-year-old Benjamin Castellazzo, underboss for erations against the mafia in the FBI’s history,” the Colombo family; consigliere of the Colombo Attorney General Eric Holder announced at family Richard Fusco, age 74; Joseph Corozzo, the a news briefing Friday morning. According 69-year-old consigliere of the Gambino family; to LATimes.com, the total number of arrests and 61-year-old Barolomeo Vernace, a member of reached 110 by the end of the day. the Gambino family administration were among Charges were brought against 127 individuthe senior mob members charged. Sentence als, with five of the indicted already in prison. lengths vary for each crime, with maximum time Holder described some crimes as “classic mob faced amounting to life in prison. hits” aiming to eradicate perceived adversarRemote officers spanning the East Coast added Image: sbs.com ies, while other illegal activities brought to to the effectiveness of the operation. While FBI The 2008 record for the largest mob bust in history was surpassed light include mob-like operations such as il- when 127 suspected mafia members were arrested last Thursday. agents in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., captured Luigi legal gambling, racketeering and murder.

Manocchio, suspected-head of New England’s Depicted above are the convicted suspects.

One instance in particular truly baffled Patriarca family, others simultaneously appreHolder. A double-homicide took place in 1981 at the Shamrock Bar in Queens, hended his mob associates in Rhode Island. Last week’s mob bust surpassed 2008’s N.Y., an incident that he described as “truly senseless murders.” mafia round-up in which 80-plus suspected mafia members were arrested. While Originating in Sicily, Italy, today’s Italian-American gangsters have been at organized crime in the Northeast took a large hit, FBI officials stated that it is still the forefront of American pop culture since the 1970s when the mob movie “The heavily active in New York’s construction industry. Along with loansharking, labor Godfather” was released. America’s love for the gangster grew more over time with union corruption and gambling rank high on the list for mob schemes. classics like “Goodfellas,” “A Bronx Tale,” and HBO’s hit series “The Sopranos.”

And in similar circumstances, while the seemingly traditional Italian-American But in a real-life event that puts even Martin Scorsese’s writing skills to shame, 800 mafia may be losing momentum, other up-and-coming organized gangs from officers were able to apprehend a list of mob members whose names read like movie Asia, Mexico and Albania make their move on the U.S. credits: “Johnny Pizza, “The Bull,” “Meatball” and “Jackie the Nose” to name a few.

FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III, said in a statement, “Some believe orgaAccording to NBCNewYork.com, law-enforcement agents were able to nab nized crime is a thing of the past; unfortunately, there are still people who extort, members and associates from the five outstanding mafia families in the New intimidate and victimize innocent Americans.”

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news

the Etownian

in the universe

The

Jayded

Peter S. Northrop Assistant Editor

Brianna E. Wiest News Editor

C

onspiracy theorists are buzzing over the supposed supernova phenomenon that is Betelgeuse. Being the eighth brightest star in the sky with a relative proximity to Earth, Betelgeuse’s gradually decreasing mass may seem like a cause for concern. However, the rumors have been greatly exaggerated. Betelgeuse, like all stars that follow a life cycle, will self-destruct... eventually. It’s almost impossible to say when the event will occur. It is possible that this extra-solar phenomenon could occur during our lifetime, which would mean two light sources for Earth.

Contrary to what theorists are hypothesizing, a star going supernova would shower Earth with harmless particles, nothing that should cause concern. In fact, Dr. Brad Carter, a senior lecturer of physics at the University of Southern Queensland, stated to news.com.au that “99 percent of the energy in the supernova is released in these particles that will come through our bodies and through the earth with absolutely no harm whatsoever.” So contrary to what many would like to believe, this could actually be beneficial, supplying Earth with “elements necessary for survival and continuity,” as Carter put it.

Elizabethtown College physics professor Dr. William Stuckey explained the general life cycle of a star and the normalcy of one reaching the supernova phase. He explained that stars begin with hydrogen, and as their electrons morph together, the stars become helium. A star will continue to convert into the entire spectrum of elements until it reaches iron and nickel. At this point, the life cycle is complete, but the continual energy and heat radiating from the star will eventually dissolve it; that’s when a supernova takes place. Stuckey said that although the idea that the Earth could have two suns is probable, it depends where Earth is in its orbit. The Earth could potentially have another light source as bright as a full moon, but it all depends on where it is in rotation.

He explained that the idea of this happening sometime in 2012 is nothing but a speculation; it’s almost impossible to make an educated assumption as to when an event like this could occur. However, he concluded with comforting words: “Don’t be afraid — be excited if something like this phenomenon were to happen in your lifetime.”

Etown students seem bewildered by the idea of a visible supernova as well: “I’m speechless. I think that’s fascinating, it sounds like a sci-fi movie. I can’t imagine something so obscure actually happening,” junior Sarah Poulle said. Complex it is, but extraordinary nonetheless. Although conspiracy theorists are turning this event into yet another doomsday prediction, it shouldn’t taint the awe of having such a spectacular phenomenon occur right before our eyes.

Operation Spiderman Thirty-seven-year-old Stephen Koppler of Germany pled guilty to mailing 247 live tarantulas to the United States on Tuesday. He mailed the pile of arachnids to Los Angeles after undercover FBI agents offered to buy them, and was promptly arrested.

Twenty two of the spiders were rare Mexican red-kneed tarantulas, which are protected by international law.

The investigation into Koppler’s tarantula smuggling ring began back in March, when mail clerks accidentally opened a package Koppler was sending and discovered upwards of 300 live tarantulas inside. The FBI’s investigation and arrest of Koppler was dubbed ‘Operation Spiderman’ by authorities.

Porn star dies during sixth breast surgery Carolin ‘Sexy Cora’ Berger was just 23 years old when she died last Thursday. She had been in a medically-induced coma since January 11 due to complications from her sixth breast augmentation. She was trying to increase her size from a 34F to a 34G. Berger had risen to fame as a star in German adult films, and also appeared on the reality show “Big Brother.” Her heart stopped beating while she underwent the surgery, and she was placed in a medically-induced coma in an attempt to save her. However, she had also suffered brain damage and was subsequently allowed to pass last Thursday. Recent reports state that the surgeons operating on Berger are being sued for her death.

News

in brief

As the students of Elizabethtown College huddled for warmth while waiting for PP&L to restore power, America’s favorite groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, made the ultimate prediction: an early spring. Failing to see his shadow amidst a stage covered in ice, Phil’s immense knowledge of weather patterns will hopefully make skeptics into believers come March.

Supernova; truth about Betelgeuse

edge

Scandinavians lack a sense of irony Only a few months after being declared ‘Norwegian of the Year’ by a national Norwegian magazine, Madina Salamova, 25, is being deported from the Scandinavian country. Salamova came to Norway in 2003 and somehow evaded deportation. She managed to entrench herself in Norwegian society, working under the table and even finding a Norwegian boyfriend.

She entered the national spotlight last year when she published a book about her experiences as an illegal immigrant in the country.

The magazine that declared her ‘Norwegian of the Year,’ Ny Tid, did so because she “enriched public discourse.” Despite this, eight immigration officers arrested Salamova last Wednesday, and she is now facing deportation back to her home country of Russia.

February 3, 2011

Image: Dawid Michalczyk

in the community

Masonic Village: plans for going solar Brian F. Boring Staff Writer

E

lizabethtown’s Masonic Village decided on Dec. 20, 2010, that they would build a $4.5 million solar energy system with the help of Elizabethtown Solar Electric Partners LLC, based in Mechanicsburg, Pa. The solar energy system will be constructed in midFebruary, producing 200 kWh (kilowatts per hour), and will be fully operational in April, producing the remaining 800 kWh. With a total of approximately 1,200,000 kWh of electricity per year, the Masonic Village would save between $40,000 and $60,000 annually. Also, Masonic Village will pay 1 to 1.5 cents per kWh less than what they currently pay for electricity.

According to it’s website, with all the money the Masonic Village will be saving, the community will be able to reduce its electric bill and carbon footprint. Cost savings will in turn be directed to the continuing care of the retirement community, the children’s home and the community service organization.

The state is giving a grant worth $1,176,000 to the Masonic Village to help out with the cost of the equipment worth $4.5 million. This will help accelerate the construction of the solar energy system.

“Even with the amount of money being spent on the solar energy project, this will help out Masonic village in the long run,” sophomore Dino Kotsakis said.

Elizabethtown Solar Electric Partners, managed by Solar Renewable Energy LLC, has been given the opportunity to own and operate the solar energy project because the Masonic Village has no expertise in solar energy. The Masonic Village also signed a 30-year deal to buy energy produced by Elizabethtown Solar Electric.

The Masonic Village has decided to build on a five-acre plot in a field behind the Village’s marketing office and Bleiler Caring Cottage, a home for adults with mild to moderate developmental disabilities. This solar energy system will be the largest Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)-related solar project in Pennsylvania.

Founded in 1910, the Masonic Village is now serving over 1,700 residents, and has been updating their energy-efficient technology for well over ten years. According to the Masonic Village’s website, microturbines currently generate eight to 10 percent of the electricity for the campus. The heat created as a by-product, in turn, heats water for a portion of resident apartments and the Masonic Health Care Center, reducing the use of gas boilers. Installed in 2002, upgraded in 2007 and with a sixth added in 2010, the turbines reduce emissions by as much as planting 1,000 acres of forest per year.”

Image: earth4energy.com

The Masonic Village is investing in a solar energy system in an attempt to save money and reduce their carbon footprint.

February 3, 2011

news

the Etownian

on campus

continued from page one

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Residence caught selling alcohol Scholarships, grants provide opportunities informed me that the LCE shut down one off-campus party and that some students expect to be charged with violations of the Pennsylvania Liquor Law.” Calenda pointed out that since this is an ongoing investigation, it may take several weeks for students to be charged with any violations. According to the Pennsylvania Liquor Code, the penalty for selling alcohol without a license is a fine proportional to the amount of alcohol being sold. However, if it can be proven that residents of this house sold to minors, then that can make things a lot worse.

“Students have been warned on multiple occasions by me, Dale Boyer, Chief of Police Jack Mentzer, and by John Mathias of the Bureau of LCE, that undercover agents routinely monitor activities and respond to complaints received from Elizabethtown residents,” Calenda said.

So instead of being targeted by the school, it is possible that student houses throughout the community may be getting in trouble because of Elizabethtown residents calling in complaints. However, Fogel still feels it was no coincidence that he was contacted unnecessarily and that none of his non-athlete housemates were. He neither confirmed nor denied his presence at the party in question Saturday night.

on campus

“Ice, ice baby”: sleet blankets all

Senior Benjamin Toland slides through campus.

Photos: Peter S. Northrop

Above, the Dell covered in snow and ice. Left, a campus tree’s frozen branches.

world news

WikiLeaks 2.0: OpenLeaks debuts Andrew S. Herm Staff Writer

“W

e want to act as a middleman,” Daniel Domscheit-Berg and Herbert Snorrason, both former spokesmen for WikiLeaks, explained.

They are currently pushing the newest whistleblower website and organization, their personal project named OpenLeaks. The work they helped promote with WikiLeaks led to a slew of spin-off websites: BrusselsLeaks (aimed at misdoings of the European Union), BalkanLeaks, and PirateLeaks of the Czech Republic, to name a few.

Both Domscheit-Berg and Snorrason expressed their desire to keep their newest project a neutral organization, especially after WikiLeaks came under fire for being “anti-American” when it released information pertaining to the United States Department of State. Many critics believed that WikiLeaks was a threat to national security.

One reason for the OpenLeaks middlemangoal is due to the fallout its founders had with founder and CEO of WikiLeaks Julian Assange, who was quoted by globalpost.com saying, “I am the heart and soul of this organization ... and all of the rest. If you have a problem with me, you can piss off.” Snorrason, who had a confrontation with Assange after Domscheit-Berg was suspended from operations, said too much power was consolidated under Assange, who currently resides in England facing extradition to Sweden due to sexual assault charges.

“One person is always weaker than an organization,” Domscheit-Berg stated in hopes that OpenLeaks will not fall prey to the same fate as WikiLeaks and its former leader.

Claiming to be learning from WikiLeak’s mistakes, OpenLeaks will approach its business as a whistleblower organization with one major difference in its procedural workings: at no point will it publish, or even lay eyes on, any of the documents passed on to them by leakers. Both founders claim

that their experiences with WikiLeaks has led them to believe that an organization charged with both receiving and publishing leaked documents has both too large a responsibility and ultimately too much power. WikiLeaks had a certain amount of political power, Snorrason says, that was only within Assange’s hands.

OpenLea ks’ role in t he publication of leaked documents is seemingly simple. Leakers first designate the media outlet or nongovernmental organization they wish to receive their documents. Documents are then placed in OpenLeaks’ dropbox (think Blackboard’s digital dropbox). OpenLeaks will never read or open documents; they are immediately passed on to the destination selected by the leaker.

Once sent, it is the media outlet’s responsibility to make any edits and then deem whether they wish to release it or not. This process should help protect OpenLeaks from any legal issues, like those the U.S. wishes to bring against Assange. One potential problem could be that OpenLeaks is accused with shrinking responsibility for whatever damages the released documents cause; too little power may be in OpenLeaks’ hands.

OpenLeaks’ own website describes the founders as a “well-intentioned bunch of people with an idea.” Their mission statement declares that they only wish to support whistleblowers and to make information more widespread through leaking.

They started testing their system in midJanuary, and their goal is to have operations running halfway through 2011. In response to being asked what effect OpenLeaks will have on governments and corporations, Snorrason said, “It’s quite hard to know. This is still history in the making.”

Patricia A. Cangelosi Copy Editor

R

oe and Penny Stamps, through the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation, are providing Elizabethtown College with its first ever full scholarship in a 112-year history. Roe Stamps, a Florida philanthropist, and his wife will cover four years of tuition for up to five first-year students entering the College this fall.

In addition, each Stamp Scholar will receive a $4,000 stipend for cocurricular experiences such as travel, educational conferences, leadership programs, international study, research, internships and service opportunities. Each year, the College will nominate five students who have been accepted. Criteria for consideration include leadership, overcoming obstacles, scholarship, service and innovation. Those selected will be informed each February.

“This is a great opportunity for Elizabethtown to attract a number of very high achieving students,” Vice President of Enrollment Paul Cramer said. “The benefit of these students will be felt across the campus as they elevate the conversation and raise the bar in each of their courses and contribute as we would hope in the campus community.”

According to Lesley Finney, Etown’s executive director of foundation and government relations, the program may soon expand to provide scholarships for up to 20 students every year. Roe and Penny Stamps recall the enriching experiences they enjoyed in college and hope to help others find the same fulfillment.

As tuition rises, the Stamps Scholarship will rise to compensate.

The best way for students to increase their chances of receiving it, according to Cramer, is to “present themselves sincerely and without embellishment.” He added that it helps to visit the campus and sign up for an interview with an Admissions counselor.

“The expectation, as with all of our scholars, is for [Stamps Scholars] to continue to be productive and exemplary members of the Elizabethtown community,” Cramer said. “Elizabethtown hopes to instill a drive to become a bigger part of the world around them — taking full advantage of the opportunities, challenges and benefits of an Elizabethtown education.”

Meanwhile, New York City’s Charles Engelhard Foundation and the American Association of Colleges & Universities are sponsoring a grant for a specific initiative: the Bringing Theory to Practice Program – or the Calling, Career, and Civic Development Program.

The $10,000 project will last for two years and allow 100 students (50 per year) to engage in volunteerism and workshops geared toward personal and professional reflection on their experiences.

Chaplain Tracy Wenger Sadd, director of Etown’s Called to Lead Program, is in charge of planning the program, with assistance from Director of Career Services Jane Nini and Director of Civic Engagement Nancy Valkenburg. The idea behind the grant is to remind students of their roles and responsibilities in the bigger world. They are encouraged to engage in service learning as much as possible, and faculty members are encouraged to incorporate it into their classrooms. Learning goals pertain to life calling, career development, ethical action, civic engagement, citizen leadership and social change.

Finally, the College was awarded a $1 million grant through the Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation. The grant will provide hardworking students with need-based aid, which recipients are asked to repay after graduation; the Stabler Foundation refers to this as a “debt of conscience.”

“Each alumnus of a private college or university owes a considerable debt to his or her alma mater … [and] should be encouraged to form the habit of making annual financial contributions to the college in accordance with his or her means,” Donald Stabler indicated in his will.

“This wonderful pledge is an additional commitment to an existing scholarship endowment fund. So we already have Stabler Scholars,” Etown’s Vice President of Institutional Advancement David Beidleman said. He explained that the pledge will bring the total commitments to the Stabler Scholarship Endowment Fund to $2 million. “Historically as the endowments grow over time, more funds become available. The Stabler Foundation has already given $1,250,000 to build the endowment,” Beidleman said.

He emphasized that the request for recipients to repay the money is a way of paying it forward, and the money they return will assist other students with financial need. Students who hope to be considered for the Stabler Scholarship should, according to the description outlined by the Fund, “give indication of their eagerness for a college education, do not expect a free education and recognize the virtues of working for what they receive.”

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features

the Etownian

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February 3, 2011 town events • facts & figures• business

on campus

Michael Hollinger’s play ‘Red Herring’ opens tonight D. Tyler Drolet Staff Writer

T

onight, the play “Red Herring” comes to the Elizabethtown College campus and will bring laughter to its audience. The production will premiere at 8 p.m. in the Tempest Theatre, located in the BSC. The play “Red Herring” is a spoof on the popular spy film-noir movies of the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s. The story takes place during the Cold War in a nation filled with fear and secret agents, hot on the trail of the Russians. The story follows two agents named Maggie Pelletier and Frank Keller, both from Boston, Mass. They are on the lookout for a Russian spy by the name of Andre Borchevsky, whose initial mission to America is to find plans for the construction of a hydrogen bomb. Things start going awry for Borchevsky when he has an affair with his contact’s wife, and the wife kills her husband so they can be together.

The agents, Maggie and Frank, while discovering the love they have for one another, become suspicious and start to search for Andre, but are deceived when Andre pretends to be the husband of the contact’s wife.

The writer of “Red Herring” is Lancaster-born director and playwright Michael Hollinger.

Hollinger came from a very theatrical background, starting with his parents who worked

for the York Little Theatre. said about his writing techTerri Mastrobuono, proHollinger spent most of his nique. He believes it is perfectly duction director, believes it is childhood in York. He started fine to start a play idea in a very important to keep pushing her out doing smaller jobs at the disorganized fashion. He said actors and actresses and puttheatre, such as stage prep and that he usually starts with a ting pressure on them, while lights, while he was just a boy. bunch of ideas and continually still keeping an environment He continued his theatre en- asks himself questions about that is open to “free space.” deavors through high school, whether or not those specific “I feel like I am a mom and a but focused mainly on music in ideas might work. He then re- mayor of a city all at once,” she college. Hollinger first became moves those ideas and replaces said of the process a serious actor after college at the Children’s Theatre Comp a ny. S o m e of his life experiences had a big impact on the writing of “Red Herring,” including how his parents met and their unusual wedding ceremony.

Both words in the title “Red Herring” have their own Photo: Peter S. Northrop meanings.

Michael Hollinger speaks about his film-noir spoof “Red Herring.”

Hollinger reElizabethtown’s production of the play premiers tonight at 8 in the marked that “Red” stands Tempest Theatre. for the Red Scare during the them with better ideas. AltoMastrobuono anticipates Cold War, while “Herring” gether, 14 separate drafts were that the audience will have stands for the fishing commu- constructed for Red Herring. a lot of fun with the perfornity where the story is set.

Hollinger describes his pro- mance and find it entertainMichael Hollinger is a very cess as a combination of ar- ing. She also hopes the auditalented playwright and di- chitecture and archeology, ence will appreciate the three rector with unique views and meaning that he may plan out relationships in this play and techniques on writing. “No chef an entire script but then find their complexity. ever cooks to keep the kitchen things that can be changed To help prepare herself for as clean as possible,” Hollinger within the script itself. directing “Red Herring,” Mas-

trobuono said she watched many old film-noir movies, listened to the music of that time period and also tried to get a sense of the typical Boston-type accent which is used by most of the cast in the play. According to Mastrobuono, Hollinger is one of the kindest, most accessible and approachable people she has had the pleasure of knowing.

Besides his great sense of humor and gentle nature, she said that Hollinger has some of the most valuable input while putting on a production. Since first working together in Lancaster, Mastrobuono has discovered that there seems to be a very kindred spirit between her and Hollinger which makes the production of “Red Herring” even easier and will help the success of the show.

One of the reasons why “Red Herring” was chosen by the play committee because the last few productions have been on the more serious side, and it was thought that it was a good time for a comedy and more of a “crowd pleaser.”

Opening night for “Red Herring” is tonight at 8 at the Tempest Theatre in the BSC. Other showtimes will be Feb. 4, 5, 10 and 11 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 13, at 2 p.m. Tickets are open to the public and can be purchased for $6 at the Theatre Box Office at 717-3611170 or online at boxoffice@ etown.edu.

love in the air

Jake, Nancy engaged following one-year relationship Keel. Yes, their last names are quite similar. Jake likes to tell Nancy that by taking ancy” is the name his name, she is becoming given to the couple more “Keel” than ever, alJake Keeler and Nancy though she claims she is the “original.”

Jake came to Elizabethtown College as a first-year from Mt. Pleasant, a tow n r i g ht outside of Pittsburgh. He worked for the Office of Admissions, was a peer mentor, was on the board of Courtesy Photo directors for Jake Keeler and Nancy Keel are ECTV-40 and engaged after a year-long relationship.

They were introduced by mutual friend interned at the Office of Ryan Kasyan.

Erika C. Surock Asst. Features Editor

“J

Marketing and Communications. Although Jake graduated in 2009, he soon found his way back to Etown, first as an Admissions counselor and now as assistant director of Alumni Relations.

“Jancy” came into existence a year ago when Jake’s friend Ryan Kasyan, class of 2009, introduced the two. Nancy was training Kasyan to take over her position as an AmeriCorps VISTA. Jake began hanging out with Kasyan and his coworkers, forming a good group of friends; however, Jake joked, “a certain two friends started spending more time with each other than the group.”

Tw o m o nt h s a f t e r the couple began dating, Nanc y moved to

Boston, Mass. Although the couple was a little skeptical at first, their relationship continued to thrive. “With the help of public transportation like Megabus, we have been able to see each other every weekend — it has been a Godsend for us,” Jake said.

The best way to describe the couple’s relationship is “adventurous.” No matter what errand the two go on, they always find a way to make it exciting. The two view their marriage as the next step in life’s big adventure.

The Keel-Keeler engagement was, of course, another memorable day to add to the list. Jake surprised Nancy with dinner

in Boston, and then took her on a scavenger hunt to places that were meaningful to them throughout the city. Their final destination was a bridge in the Public Gardens, where Jake popped the question.

“Jancy” had their TV debut on the news during Christmas break.

Jake was at the airport awaiting Nancy’s arrival and noticed a reporter struggling for interviews, empathizing with him because of his time on ECTV. Jake approached the reporter and pitched his engagement story.

The reporter sneakily caught the couple’s reuniting hug on camera without Nancy noticing.

Jake has heard that proper wedding planning

can be accomplished by the magic words “yes, dear.” The couple is working together on planning the wedding, looking at it as another big KeelKeeler adventure. They both enjoy the planning process, and as of now all they know is that the wedding will be this summer in Nancy’s hometown in Virginia.

The couple is very excited and a bit anxious for the big day. There is a lot that goes into planning a wedding, and at times stress levels are high.

However, Jake remembers with a smile, “We remind each other that at the end of the day we are going to be together, and that is what we are most excited for.”

features

February 3, 2011

the Etownian

specialty of the week

5

Sepp shares passions for singing, playing piano, writing Katie A. Bamberger Staff Writer

F

or sophomore Carolyn Sepp, music has always come naturally. Despite the chaos her rigorous schedule brings, she speaks of music in the most relaxed way.

Sepp has played music for much of her life, beginning piano lessons at seven years old. “Most kids want to play an instrument,” she said, explaining how she got her start.

Although some children are interested in playing an instrument, most don’t usually continue on with as much dedication as Sepp did. She said her upbringing has positively impacted her love for music.

From Hollidaysburg, Pa., Sepp grew up as an only child. She credits her parents and family history for nurturing her passion for music. Sepp’s grandfather performed in a band when she was young, and her mother also played piano from a very young age. “My mom was a big influence on me in sticking with the piano and progressing,” Sepp said.

Along with piano, Sepp also began voice lessons when she was about eight years old, as well as participating in annual recitals. In high school, she was part of district and regional choruses. It was during high school, she said, when the decision to pursue music in college became clear.

Sepp said she chose Elizabethtown College over universities like Penn State because of the small-town feel and atmosphere. Sepp also spoke highly of the music program here at Etown. “I feel very blessed to have such talented and knowledgeable professors,” she said, adding that all of her professors really want their students to succeed.

She credits lecturer in music Debra Ronning and assistant professor of music Dr. Sarah Daughtrey as incredibly talented musicians who really aid in her learning. “I am extremely lucky to have them as

teachers and couldn’t have asked for a better match,” knowledged the challenges of being a teacher as opposed Sepp said. to being a student, Sepp said she really enjoys teaching.

Ronning spoke similarly of Sepp. Having known Sepp She currently has five students, including a six-year-old for two years as an applied piano student and advisee, who she said is very fun to work with.

Ronning said, “Carolyn is definitely a wonderful role When asked about future career plans, Sepp said she model for other students.” She also said that Sepp is knows that music will somehow be involved. While she always prepared with her practicing and assignments would love to pursue music performance, she recognizes and takes an enthusiastic and that the music business is positive approach to learning. extremely competitive. Be“Carolyn is talented as a cause Sepp is also majorpianist and as a singer,” Roning in professional writing, ning continued. She said that she hopes to combine her Sepp not only excels as a solove of music and writing loist but also in collaborative to perhaps write for a mupieces. Sepp is known for her sic periodical or magazine performance of the piano solo in the future.

“Toccata” by Robert Muczynski, For now, Sepp continwhich Ronning said is a very ues to work hard. When difficult contemporary piece asked why she never quit that requires a great deal of playing piano and singing rhythmic mastery. According throughout the years, Sepp to Ronning, Sepp possesses a at first simply shrugged unique set of musical talents and said that it has always which will provide many future come easy. In a more seriopportunities, especially in ous tone, she said, “It’s combination with Sepp’s excelalways been a big part of lent academic record. my life.” Sepp said that she Currently, Sepp’s studies keep could not imagine her life her very busy. She is majoring without music. in voice and piano performance For those who may be as well as professional writing. thinking of starting music She works hard, committing lessons, Sepp’s only tip is to about three hours of piano to go for it. As the paspractice and about half an hour sionate student, teacher Photo: Matthew P. Butera and talented musician of voice each day.

Not only does Sepp play Carolyn Sepp has played the piano since she pointed out, “You might piano, but she also teaches piano was seven years old. She started taking voice discover something you here at Etown. Although she ac- lessons at eight years old. really enjoy.”

new students

Transfers immerse selves, thrive in new environment A.J. Discianni Staff Writer

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he process of transferring from one school to another can be a very unique experience, and Elizabethtown College has had its fair share of transfer students join its community. Five of the students who transferred in this semester are: first-years Lauren Eltringham, Lauren Kaminsky, Alyssa Vasaturo, and sophomore twin sisters Megan and Sarah Dodson.

There is much to learn about the new students, how they are acclimating and what made Etown so different from their previous schools. Even though these students are new to the College, they transferred for many of the same reasons current students chose Etown.

The transfer students traveled from all over to attend Etown. Students came in from such schools as Alvernia University, Pennsylvania State University, West Chester University and Neumann University. They also brought in a variety of majors, such as social studies education, chemistry education, political science and early childhood education.

Etown has its well-known attractive qualities such as great teacher-to-student ratios, nationally accredited programs, a constant flurry of activities coordinated by numerous student-run groups, great food and the infamous “chocolate days.” Transfer students cited many of these as their reasons for coming.

“I chose Etown because of its friendly atmosphere and its location,” Megan Dodson said. “I also really liked the education program. There is also a variety of clubs, activities and sports to participate in at Etown.” Her sister, Sarah, also appreciates the school’s closeness to home, the activities on campus and how well the education program is run. Vasaturo added that she loved the “atmosphere of a small school,” and that “it feels like community.”

The first week of classes of any semester is always an adventure, but for these students it was their first week at a new school as well. All of the students expressed a fondness for their professors and shared a fairly positive look at their first weeks. Only Eltringham expressed concern when she said,

“The first week was good except for a few classes.”

In addition to academics, Etown is known for its sports teams, clubs, organizations and surrounding cities and activities. All five students showed an interest in joining some sort of extracurricular activity and seeing what else the surrounding areas have to offer.

however. “I’m just taking it as it goes this semester, seeing what’s around,” she said. “I’m just sticking my feet in the water and seeing how things happen.”

What makes the College unique for the new transfer students? “It’s kind of funny, but I love the food!” Vasaturo said.

“I also really love the set-up of campus. It’s the perfect size and

around campus and see people she knows, which was not a frequent thing for her at Penn State.

Sophomore Samantha Peters is one of the peer mentors helping the new students transition into becoming Blue Jays. “Being a peer mentor is a lot of fun, but also a lot of work,” she said.

“A disadvantage to having students from all different types of colleges or universities “I believe all the students have done a is [that] every place is different,” Peters said. “Some great job of making new friends and ad- students transferred here justing. I can already tell you that most, from big city schools, and a problem we ran into was if not all, of these students will succeed those students finding something to do in a small town here.”

Samantha Peters, like Etown.” However, Peters showed a lot of optimism. “I peer mentor believe all the students have done a great job of making “I plan to get involved with everything is easy to find. Also new friends and adjusting. I intramural soccer this coming the faculty—I’ve never met any can already tell you that most, spring. I also would like to be a faculty who are willing to help if not all, of these students will part of the cross country team in with absolutely anything you succeed here,” she said. the fall of 2011,” Megan Dodson need. It makes you feel right These new students will be said. Sarah plans on staying busy at home.” great assets to a growing and as well: “I am part of the Blue Jay Kaminsky agreed. “Everyone changing school. There is much softball team here at Etown and is really friendly. In a way, some to learn about them, and it is part of Newman Club [and the of the other colleges I visited, great to see that the reasons for education organization], and [the students] just went to class their transfer are the same qualiplan to get involved in other and that was it,” she recalled. El- ties Etown students hold near clubs if possible.” Kaminsky tringham’s favorite thing about and dear in their attachment to is taking a different approach, Etown is that she is able to walk this institution.

6

the Etownian

campus life

movies • music • television • humor • travel

sports

February 3, 2011

lifestyles • arts • advice • college issues

Super Bowl XLV Sara F. Neumann Staff Writer

F

ebruary could possibly be called the most boring month: no breaks for Elizabethtown College students, no great holidays aside from the hallmarked Valentine’s Day, and a constant onslaught of snow that slowly buries the campus in silence. There is one event, however, that could possibly be called Christmas for football fans: the Super Bowl.

On Feb. 6, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers will kick off for Super Bowl XLV at the Cowboys Stadium in Texas. The teams will be cheered on by supporters crammed into living rooms and basements across the country, holding plates buckling under the amount of food piled on them, screaming and cursing at the television.

So how does Etown celebrate the Super Bowl?

This year, as before, it depends on which team you’re supporting.

Junior Amanda Shank and her family are all football fans, so they usually have a party for the Super Bowl no matter which teams are in it.

This year, however, they are even more excited than usual.

“Since the Steelers are in it this year, it will probably be a lot louder and crazier. I’m sure everyone will be waving – or throwing, depending on the outcome – their terrible towels,” Shank said.

This year’s Super Bowl is even more rousing for Shank and her family because they attended a Steelers vs. Packers game last year. “It’s really cool to see the two teams meet up again,” Shank said.

Fellow Steelers fan junior Chuck Rubis will also be watching the game but he may have to keep his Steelers pride in check. “I think all the friends who I’m watching the Super Bowl with hate the Steelers,” he commented.

Sophomore Katlyn Speary also shares a lessthan-friendly attitude toward the Steelers. “I’m a Patriots fan, so I hate the Steelers — I’m rooting for the Packers,” Speary said. However, even though her team isn’t in the Super Bowl, she’ll be watching the game with her family, who always has a big party for the game.

Senior Abbey Kramer is also supporting the Packers, but, like Speary, only because her team — the Eagles — aren’t in it. “I despise Pittsburgh,” she said. “I’m rooting for the Packers because I do support their quarterback.”

But, while Kramer is going home to watch the game with fellow Eagles fans, she doesn’t feel the Super Bowl is an easy game to watch. “I find it hard to watch a game where the teams’ real fans aren’t even there,” she said. “I respect that a lot of people who don’t traditionally watch football watch this game because there are a lot of different aspects, but personally I find it hard to watch because the game itself is downplayed,” she explained.

Kramer isn’t mistaken by thinking

Images: homedepot.com, shoponline2011.com, gamedaysuitessuppy.com

the game doesn’t take top priority during the Super Bowl; many people watch solely for the new and funny commercials so that they can be up-to-date on pop culture references. In past years, while the outcome of the Super Bowl was raved about, commercials were talked about even more. Many people remember the Budweiser commercials with the donkey dreaming of becoming a Budweiser Clydesdale and the launch of Betty White’s cameo in a Snickers commercial last year.

Yahoo! estimated that in 2008, about 57 percent of Americans who watched the Super Bowl tuned in with an equal or greater interest in the commercials than the game itself. Websites exist just to preview the new commercials before they air. But while it is disappointing that the game isn’t paid more attention to, people who turn on the Super Bowl just for the commercials are still providing some support for the teams playing.

Senior Travis Lucas admits that he usually doesn’t have a team to cheer for. “I cheer for the team with the best colors,” he said, and adds that he watches the commercials just like he does the game. However, just like the other football fans at Etown, he either has people over or goes to a Super Bowl party.

So, like the rest of country on Feb. 6th, Etown students will be piling food onto plates and parking themselves in front of the television to watch the Steelers and the Packers battle it out – and maybe watch a few commercials in between, too.

campus life

February 3, 2011

the Etownian

heathly eating

Freedom may facilitate poor choices Joelle E. Atkinson Assistant Campus Life Editor

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resource for students to learn how to stay healthy while living, learning and working on campus.

“The WELL will be doing the Wellness Challenge. This program challenges students to gain points while completing different types of exercises,” Bonvicino said.

“For every type of exercise that is completed, points will be rewarded.”

Bonvicino also said that The WELL offers brochures to help students make

s college students, young men and women have a fair amount of freedom. They can go out when they want, watch television and do homework on their own time, and perhaps the most dangerous of all, eat cafeteria and processed foods without the watchful eye of parents.

Students are no longer guided by the healthy and nutritious homecooked meals their families make. Instead, we are free to choose to eat whatever and whenever we want.

With the introduction of E-fit and several other healthconscious initiatives popping up, not just on campus but across the entire United States, it seems as though students are much more likely to choose produce and healthy grains over ice cream and processed cheese. However, this isn’t always the case.

Senior and SPARC (Students Promoting Awareness of Responsible Choices) Student Assistant Felicia Bonvicino Image: lakesidemusing.blogspot.com states, “We make healthy food un- healthy choices, as well as a Biomeahealthy by adding preservatives, extra sure, a scale-like device that allows stusugar and salt, along with other un- dents to come in to check their weight necessary ingredients,” she said. “These along with their body mass index.

While students may have mastered things can include putting excessive amounts of creamy dressing on salad, the task of eating healthy here at glopping extra cheese on pizza and Elizabethtown, it is often the special occasions, or the quick McDonald’s or putting cheese on our vegetables.”

The WELL, located in the Thomp- Wendy’s snack trips, that can be horson wing of Brossman Commons rible on the waistline. The Eat This! Not near the swimming pool, is a great That! website could come to any hun-

gry student’s aid. The site, inspired by the popular book franchise, is hosted by the Men’s Health magazine website and includes tips on eating healthy at several types of places, from burger joints to diners.

In addition, it offers healthy tips for everyday eating and swapping out high calorie meal options for healthier ones. The most useful feature of this website, however, is the Restaurant Swap feature. The tab at the top of the page labeled “Restaurant” includes 82 popular chains and their cumulative grade based on the nutritional analysis. If a student clicks on a restaurant of choice, it reveals breakdown of why the restaurant received the grade that it did.

The website gives total calorie numbers, descriptions and grades of several dishes. While viewers must be a member to see further details of menu items, the site does reveal the best options for the consumer in the grading of the item.

When Etown students are looking to stay trim and fit, there are several healthy options available. Bonvicino said the biggest reason she has unhealthy eating habits is due to stress, and she believes the same is true for most college students. “When I am stressed or doing homework, I am always tempted to eat chips and ice cream, along with other unhealthy options,” she said. But with the Etownian’s help, students can make the right choices and stay health conscious throughout the semester.

7

Compiled by Campus Security and Melanie R. Giardina Campus Life Editor • A n a m b u l a n c e was requested on Jan. 27 to pick up a student from Counseling Services.

• That s ame day, Campus Security responded to a student complaining of tooth pain. Officers then took her to Health Services. She had been to the dentist recently.

• On Jan. 28, the banner welcoming our new president was stolen. Presently there are no suspects.

• Campus Security was called to Ober Hall after a student reported smelling marijuana. Officers responded and located the cannabis.

• On. Jan. 29, two students were found visibly intoxicated in Myer lot. One student admitted to officers that there was more alcohol in his dorm.

• On Jan. 31, a student called Campus Security concerned about the welfare of another student. When officers followed up on the request, they found that there was no issue.

The student was asleep and simply did not want to be bothered that night.

• Dale’s parking tip of the week: There is a 72hour ordinance on the streets surrounding the College, so clean off and move your cars at least once every three days. If not, with all the snow, it will be very clear who hasn’t.

winter blues

Cabin fever: activities help counteract seasonal woes Kelly R. Frace Staff Writer

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aby, it’s cold outside. That one simple line from Dean Martin’s classic holiday song says it all. This time of year the weather is absolutely, extraordinarily and utterly cold. It seems that as the temperature plummets outside, so does the morale of all who are forced to remain cooped up indoors, resulting in what has been dubbed the “winter blues.”

According to WebMD, the winter blues is a type of seasonal depression known more specifically as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD, a condition in which an individual feels particularly down in the dumps during the winter months but feels perfectly fine in the spring and summer months. This unusual change in mood may be due to the lack of exposure to sunlight in addition to all the time spent inside.

Symptoms can include sadness, grumpiness, feelings of stress, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities and excessive drowsiness during the day.

People between the ages of 15 and 55 have the highest risk of getting seasonal affective disorder.

The deep freeze may have just started, but it appears as though Etown students are already feeling the effects of the winter blues. The chilly temperatures and blustering winds really seem to put a damper on students’ spirits. Sophomore Donte McCrary-McClain dreads leaving the comfort of his warm and cozy dorm room. “It’s such a pain to go outside when it’s cold,” he said. “You have to bundle up with coats and hats and scarves and gloves.” Other students say that they just don’t feel like themselves during these colder months.

“I feel so lazy and unproductive this time of year, which is not normally like me,” first-year Joe Kirchner said.

Sandy Spayed, director of student wellness and campus health, is worried by what she is hearing from students as well as faculty members as the semester gets underway. “Spring semester is always much more stressful for everyone than fall semester,” she said. “We haven’t even been back that long, and I’m already hearing everyone talk about how stressed out they are. I’m concerned.”

If you are feeling down as a result

of the winter blues, the good news is that you don’t have to feel that way!

There are plenty of activities and services around campus that can help you de-stress and relax. SWEET plans a wide range of free and low-cost things to do both on and off campus like movies, dances and trips to local sporting events. SWEET calendars listing all the month’s events can be picked up at the Hub. A visit to the WELL, located between Thompson Gym and the Baugher Student Center can also help calm your nerves. There you will find the Stress Relief Center full of crayons, coloring pages, small toys and games that can help you blow off some steam after a long day of classes.

Sophomore WELL student assistant Brian Booker suggested being active as a way to combat stress. “As a student, you get two free E-fit passes to the Etown Fitness Club a week, so you might as well use them,” he said.

E-fit offers a variety of classes like Spin, ZUMBA® and Body pump. “If you want to stay on campus, go to the gym with a friend or take a swim in the pool,” he added. A more detailed

listing of E-fit offerings can be found online at www.etown.edu/osa. More information about services offered through the WELL can be found at http://www2.etown.edu/thewell.

On campus Counseling Services are also available to full-time students free of charge. Counseling Services is located in the Center for Student Success in BSC 216 where counselors are readily available to help students deal with a plethora of issues from academic pressures to homesickness to low self-esteem.

Available mental health services include individual counseling, group counseling, psychiatric consultations and an assortment of workshops.

All information is kept confidential.

Counseling Services can be reached directly at (717) 361-1405 or on the web at www.etown.edu/counseling.

As you brave your way through the winter blues, try to enjoy the season while it’s here. Winter isn’t all bad.

You can make hot chocolate, build a snowman or make a snow angel.

Winter doesn’t last forever; just hang in there and spring will be here before you know it.

Images: www.wallpapergate.com

8

the Etownian

campus life

Ryan J. Mitchell Staff Writer We live in a time where anyone can become a celebrity.

No I don’t mean that you will become a movie star, the next music idol or even a household name. Thanks to YouTube. com you can post a video of yourself doing any normal activity, and get thousands, maybe even millions, of hits. Viral videos are becoming the next big thing in our society because people find these short movie clips funny or applicable to life, or they are just plain simple. Is there any intellectual reason for a video of a baby biting his brother’s finger, the now famous Charlie, to get over 200 hundred million views? Probably not, but it is funny and quotable, and that is what helps make it popular.

Word of mouth is a powerful thing because chances are if five people find a video funny, there are 10 more people who haven’t heard of it and would like it as well. It happens all the time. One friend is at lunch and starts talking about this new internet sensation he saw last night and how great it was. Now everyone else in that group is going back to their computers to look it up to see for themselves how great, or terrible it really was. Another thing about these videos is that they don’t have to be good to be popular. They can be so bad it’s funny, and millions of people will watch it just to get a laugh.

Think about it: overnight you can become a YouTube sensation by recording a daily activity that can be funny or out of the ordinary. You can alter your voice and tell a story about your life, and people might find it funny. You can sit on your bed and play an instrument while singing and become the next big music star. In this new technological world that we live in, you can be found by a music agency from a viral video that you made, no matter how good or bad the quality of the filming may be: think Justin Bieber. If someone finds your song good and starts to spread the word, you could become a star overnight and get recognized. Who would have thought that something as simple as singing a song for fun on camera could make you a star?

Or perhaps you were interviewed for a news broadcast and something you said was funny that made your video clip a hit. On the other hand, what if someone took what you said and played it through an auto-tune device to make it into a song. That’s what happened to Antoine Dodson when he was interviewed by the news, and his comments became extremely popular, eventually they were used as lyrics for a song. On the other hand, someone can also take your YouTube video and edit it to become a music video. Dodson’s original comments received just under 400,000 views; however, a music video of his comments received just under 69 million views. How does the original video that explains the actual story only get a mere 400,000 views when an edited movie can get millions more views? YouTube has the power to boost you to a new level of stardom. It can happen that easily with the proper editing. Thanks to YouTube, anyone can be a celebrity.

Now let’s say that you want to become the next big thing. Are there similarities between the YouTube giants? In some cases there are. In the few musical success stories out there, such as Greyson Chance, the individuals have actual talent singing or playing an instrument. Chance is a 13 year-old boy who posted videos of himself singing and playing piano, and now his music video has gotten nearly two million views. The young star is so popular now that he even played in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. However, every person who makes a video like this doesn’t always become a star. It’s by chance and really depends on who sees the video, but at least you would have people listening to you. Now for the rest of us who can make silly voices and tell stories, perhaps we can find some good luck and get a nice amount of views, but probably not. A good amount of the videos that are popular today are funny little clips that show the innocent joys of real life. It could be something as simple as two brothers playing and one of them has a funny laugh. Or a little boy gets interviewed for the local news and tells the world that he likes turtles, and the video gets 27 million views. Did the little fact about turtles have anything to do with the story? No, but it was funny and people have been quoting it ever since it came out. The little live air mistakes or things that shouldn’t be said, but get by, are hilarious and usually are worth the time spent watching. Any of these Internet sensations start from small ideas that were caught on tape or were smaller clips in a large movie.

Have you heard of “the Golden Voice?” If not, you are missing out. How often does a homeless man get an opportunity to become a radio personality? In this case it happened when a man making a YouTube video found Ted Williams, the homeless man, and had him record a few short sayings for a little cash. Internet sensations can come from any situation and can hit it big. So there is hope out there for all who want to become the next big web celebrity. You don’t need to go to Hollywood or Nashville or even a talent agency.

Those places might work, but for the most part, all you have to do is video tape yourself doing a normal daily activity and try it in a funny voice. Chances are you’ll hit it big.

February 3, 2011

February 3, 2011

campus life

the Etownian

9

Jennifer A. Orlando Staff Writer

YouTube stars come in all shapes and sizes. There is Antoine Dodson, the star of “Bed Intruder Song,” Fred and the makers of Auto-Tune the News.

Others are young children, such as David of “David After Dentist,” Charlie and Harry of “Charlie Bit Me!” and Zaylee Jean of “The Yippity Yo Cooking Show,”. There is some debate about these young YouTube stars and the effects of stardom on their lives. Do parents have the right to put videos of their kids on sites such as YouTube? Is the recording and posting of children’s videos merely for exploitation? Should the parents profit off these videos? What about privacy for the children and their families? Lastly, how about the future for these kids? Will early fame cause problems later on in their lives?

Take a well-known example: David of “David After Dentist.” His father, David DeVore, videotaped his boy after a visit to the dentist. Young David was still under effects of the anesthetic because of a dental surgery. In the video, David questions whether this is really happening. “Is this real life?” is one of the most recognized lines of the video.

Some critics were alarmed, saying it was wrong to videotape David when he was vulnerable and still under effects of the anesthetic. Others were charmed, laughing along at David’s questions and actions. DeVore explained in a CNET.com article that if David was not an outgoing kid, or if David did not give his permission, the video would not have been taped or posted on YouTube. The video’s original purpose of the video was to show David that the dentist is nothing to be scared of, and for his wife who was unable to be there for her son that day.

Instead, the video rapidly gained views on YouTube even though DeVore made it for friends and family. Now, it has over twenty million views. In a deal made with YouTube, DeVore does profit off the ads used with his video. In addition, he started a blog based on the video, and opened up a clothing line featuring David’s quotes. The money is divided between a college fund for David and charities such as the American Dental Association’s Give Kids A Smile Foundation.

In another case, Charlie and Harry of “Charlie Bit Me!” are more private about their fame. For instance, their last name is kept under wraps. Their father, Howard, posted the video on YouTube in the summer of 2007, after filming the two boys relaxing on a chair. The video stayed within friends and family for about five months. He even debated deleting the video, but instead it was used on CollegeHumor.com, and became an overnight sensation.

Howard agrees with DeVore that it is not exploitation of their children, and it is not wrong to make money from the videos. Howard also uses the money to invest in his children’s futures. The parents almost have a second job in managing their children’s fame, from responding to reporters to deleting inappropriate comments on their videos.

Privacy issues also come into debate. Parents post videos of their children on YouTube for their friends and family to watch, not intending for or considering of the possibility of sudden fame. To have a video truly be private on YouTube, viewers must sign in and have the option to enter up to 25 email addresses that are allowed to watch the video. Also, parents are unaware that just removing a video from YouTube does not necessarily mean that it is gone forever on the Internet. Some feel that the privacy option is too inconvenient.

What bothers parents of child YouTube stars is the open criticism of their parenting techniques and skills. In “Charlie Bit Me!” and “David After Dentist,” nothing illegal is done or said. The parents are insulted that the critics do not know them personally, but still try to tell them how to raise their kids. DeVore said that David handles the attention well, and even wants to put up a video explaining that his parents did nothing wrong by putting up the original video.

While the early fame’s impacts on the YouTube stars’ later lives are unknown, experts and other speculators are making their own predictions. Dr. Gwenn Schurgin O’Keeffe, executive committee member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Communications and Media, states in a babble.com article about YouTube’s children stars, “I don’t think it’s going to scar a child for life, but I do think it’s going to cause bumps down the road.” She further explained, “Later on [the children] may feel privacy violations by their parents and also a sense of humiliation when they get older and find out these videos were broadcast to the entire world.”

Jeremy Scott, in his “Are Parents of YouTube Stars Exploiting their Kids?” article, finished up with, “Newsflash: some folks have different ideas on parenting than you do, and that doesn’t make them wrong. While people who put their child in a viral video may be bad parents according to some, they aren’t doing anything illegal or immoral… making this much ado about nothing, as most similar ‘controversies’ are.”

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the Etownian

campus life

February 3, 2011

website review

Funny or Die entertains, pushes limits with humor Patricia A. Cangelosi Copy Editor

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hippo’s skin is bulletproof. It can, however, be removed with a zipper located underneath the torso of the animal. If you plan on shooting a hippo, your best bet is seducing it first.” This “completely true” fact about hippos, along with seven others, has been rated 40 percent funny after 8,246 views on www.FunnyorDie.com. Other items on the site, such as a video entitled “Kangaroo Kicks Man into Lake,” were given higher ratings (92 percent funny). Users of the site can browse hundreds of videos and photos and select either “Funny” or “Die,” hence the name of the website.

One video currently featured on the home page is a social commentary about recent controversy surrounding the TV show “Skins”: “Teenagers thank the Parents Television Council.” Several teens assert that they are so glad parents brought the show’s existence to their attention because they cannot stop watching it now.

Navigating the site is fairly simple, with headings such as Home, Videos, Pictures & Words and More across the top. Scrolling down, users can see surveys, caption contests, popular videos and photos and a Hall of Fame displaying the most highly rated items on the site – including classics such as “Lindsay Lohan’s eHarmony Profile,” “Green Team” and “Good Cop, Baby Cop.” The site also has links to the Funny or Die Blog and the Funny or Die Store, the latter of which sells everything from baby bodysuits and drinkware to thongs and greeting cards pertaining to the most popular videos. “Green

Team,” for instance, features three rabid, deluded environmentalists who gang up on passersby for offenses such as driving a hybrid (“It still uses gas!”) and eating candy from plastic wrappers. “Make love to Mother Earth,” they advise, going into detail about how to physically do so.

Many well-known celebrities are featured on Funny or Die, including Ben Stiller, Emma Stone, Eva Longoria, Jack Black, James Franco, Justin Bieber, Michael Cera, Zac Efron and more. One can find amusing collections of photos as well, such as “The 14 Most WTF Moments from Foreign TV Shows” (65 percent funny), “11 Pop Culture Tattoos Gone Wrong” (77 percent funny) and “17 Animals Looking Stoned” (92 percent funny).

Elizabethtown College students have discovered Funny or Die and spend quality time exploring all it has to offer. “My friends and I constantly find funny videos on the site,” first-year Chris Pionegro said. “My favorite part of the site has to be the videos.” Pionegro recalls one of the first videos he saw on the site, “The Landlord,” in which Will Ferrell argues with his landlord: a precious, screechy toddler (played by Ferrell’s daughter) who

demands the rent money so she can buy booze. (It’s the top video on the Hall of Fame list.)

“Some of these videos and pictures are not meant for younger kids due to the vulgar language in some of the skits,” Pionegro pointed out. On the default page alone, one sees words and images that are hardly family friendly. However, he and many other students still find the videos entertaining.

Actor Will Ferrell and writer/producers Adam McKay and Chris Henchy, all of Gary Sanchez Productions, collaborated with “a bunch of Silicon Valley dudes and ladies” to create the site. A young comedian named Michael Kvamme convinced his father to provide funding, and an entrepreneur named Randy Adams joined the team to design and execute the site.

According to the “About” portion of the site, “Funny or Die has offices in Japan, Madagascar and Bahn, nine full time lobbyists in Washington and an elite private security force consisting of 400 soldiers and six attack helicopters.”

(And if you’re like me and have to read that sentence five times, scratching your head before you detect the sarcasm, this site might not be for you.)

television

‘Skins’ dangerous for teens

Melanie R. Giardina Campus Life Editor

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Conflict Resolution International Peace and Conflict Resolution Apply now for Fall 2011 master’s degree program.

Get started with an online course this summer.

www.arcadia.edu/peace

he most dangerous show for children that we have ever seen.” According to NewsWeek.com, this is how the president of the Parental Television Council described the new MTV show “Skins.” Even before its Jan. 17 premier “Skins” had already generated quite a buzz.

“Skins” is a scripted drama about the real lives of teenagers. The series puts “Jersey Shore” to shame with content filled with alcohol, drugs, sex and partial nudity portrayed by 15-19 year old actors.

Skins has been modeled after the British TV show of the same name. However, according to NYTimes.com, its counterpart is much more explicit than the American version, which has earned itself a TV–MA rating. Senior Heather Robertson has seen both verisons of the show and agrees that the British version is more intense than its U.S. adaptation.

In an interview with Psychology Professor Dr. T. Evan Smith, he noted that he has not seen the show, but that its content could have a negative effect on underage viewers. “...lack of consequences can really be a problematic,” he said. MTV has openly stated that the show is geared toward adult viewers, however, according to NYTimes.com one million of the 3.3 million viewers who watched the pilot were under the age of 18.

Robertson will not be tuning in to any more episodes in the future. “I’ve been told that the show is trying to exaggerate American culture, and although I do believe the characters are not positive role models for teenagers, I might also deter some due

to how outrageous the situations are,” Robertson said.

According to Smith, a show displaying this kind of behavior as a norm may lead teens to think that it is, in which case they will be more likely to express the behavior themselves. Shows such as “Skins” have the power to change what teenagers think is normal.

The show’s content has even been questioned on whether it has violated child pornography laws. This has lead MTV to discuss editing future episodes. According to NYTimes.com, the law states the show must be “sufficiently sexually suggestive.”

Smith noted that MTV does have great shows such as “Teen Mom” and “16 & Pregnant,” which show the consequences of certain behaviors. When asked about the perception teens will have in both watching a show such as “Teen Mom” and a scripted show such as “Skins,” he replied, “Scripted shows tend to be further from reality of what the average teenager is thinking.” He also mentioned that teenagers have a very different ability to manage information than adults.

One positive is that shows such as these, and possibly even “Skins,” could provide a way for parents to open the discussion of sex, drugs and alcohol to their kids. Parents can address the problems that these shows may create and have realistic conversations with their children, Smith pointed out.

To Professor Smith, the show does have the potential to be harmful to its underage viewers but whether or not it should be shown on TV is a different question. After all, “Skins” is not the only show teens are watching with sex, drugs and alcohol at its core.

February 3, 2011

opinion

campus controversies • letters to the editor

the Etownian

11

national debate • our take • guest columns

television

MTV show controversy; Is America ready for ‘Skins’?

Melanie L. Weyant Asst. Copy Editor

are much more conservative than U.K. laws. The original “Skins” contains strong language, significant nudity and an almost absurd amount of illegal drug use, not to mention underage drinking. To be honest, the only U.S. networks I could see airing will be the first to admit it: I’m addicted to bad television teenage drama. In the original, unedited “Skins” are the premium cable networks like Showtime or high school, I compulsively watched “The O.C.” every Thursday night with a HBO; needless to say, it is not appropriate fare for MTV. I watched the premiere episode of “Skins” at a friend’s house with a large group of peoguy friend (we both swore not to tell anyone of our viewing habits). In college, I ple, some of whom were fans of the show started watching the ABC Family show already, and some who had never seen it “Greek,” which follows the members of before. The format for the first episode the Greek system at a major university. of American “Skins” was simple – they It’s not that I really care what happens recycled the British script (allowing for on these types of shows, it’s more that I name changes and slang, of course) and prefer my drama on screen rather than edited out much of the juicy goodness. in real life, and where better to get that The original episode has one of the most than on teenage soap operas? I have no memorable opening scenes I’ve seen in desire to live in Orange County or to a long time, and while the MTV writers join a sorority, but I am fascinated by did a decent job of reinterpreting it, they the fictional characters who do. just didn’t capture the intensity that is I first watched “Skins” last January as I apparent right off the bat with the U.K. was preparing to leave for Derry, Northshow. Of everyone I watched the show ern Ireland. Knowing of my secret love with, only those who hadn’t seen the for indulgent, over-the-top television, a show before seemed to really enjoy it. friend recommended that I watch it to get Despite efforts to keep the show a taste for U.K. culture since I would soon fusedfilm.com network-friendly, the toned-down be living there. I watched one episode on version still gained a lot of negative Netflix Instant (my favorite time-waster), attention. The well-known conservative media watchdog and I was hooked. “Skins,” which takes its name Parents Television Council was so offended by the show’s from the British slang for cigarette-rolling papers, content that they asked the Department of Justice to stage is a huge hit in the U.K., and even developed a an investigation into the show’s content. Following the scancult following in the U.S. Within a period of a dal, Taco Bell decided to pull their commercials from being aired few weeks, I had caught up on the series, and I during “Skins.” I wonder if Taco Bell is still planning on running ads watched the fourth season while I was abroad. I during “Jersey Shore” or “Teen Mom”? I personally find those real-life antics knew several people in Derry who also loved “Skins”; I even met a few guys who loved nothing more than dismtv.com far more offensive and possibly harmful to teenage viewers.

I’ll give the new show a few more chances, but unless some changes are made, secting the weekly drama.

You can imagine how thrilled I was to find out that MTV was re-making the I can honestly say I won’t be adding “Skins” to my television lineup. Maybe once show for U.S. viewers. There aren’t many British shows that have made the success- the controversy dies down, the writers will be able to have some fun with the show, ful transition to U.S. networks, but hey, “The Office” worked, right? However, my but I’m not getting my hopes up. Thank you, American conservatism, for ruining excitement quickly diminished when I remembered that American broadcast laws something else I love.

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Action-news.org

health and well-being

Ethics behind psychological treatments questioned Kristen N. Lacaillade Staff Writer

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ruel and unusual punishment? You can find that in the Netherlands. Recently, a documentary about a mentally ill and potentially dangerous 18-year-old in the Netherlands has alarmed lawmakers worldwide. Amid national outrage, many countries are re-examining the treatment of those they have currently admitted into psychiatric care.

The documentary in question followed Brandon van Ingen, a patient in a mental institution in Ermelo. Since first being admitted in 2007, van Ingen has spent part of his days tethered to a wall, due to the danger he poses to others. Van Ingen’s issue is so serious that he must be restricted in his freedom for the sake of his own safety and that of others, fastening himself with a band when he is in the presence of his attendants and other visitors. In response to the documentary, the country’s political parties held emergency meetings Wednesday, Jan. 26, to discuss care for the mentally ill.

The facility caring for van Ingen swears that all measures being taken to assure both Brandon’s and his caretaker’s safety are within the guidelines for restraining mental health patients. However, State Secretary for Public Health Marlies Veldhuijzen van Zanten-Hyllner claims that the facility is open to an examination as to whether or not these guidelines should be changed. Van Ingen’s mother compared his care to that of a “caged animal” and claims that “he feels like a dog on a line.”

What did van Ingen ever do to deserve such treat-

ment? He didn’t commit murder, he never robbed a bank; van Ingen has never done anything to remotely justify his cruel and unusual treatment. Mental institutions in the United States do not go to such extreme lengths to restrain their patients.

Somewhere along the line, this teen fell through the cracks. The reason that van Ingen is in an institution to begin with is beyond his control. He did not ask to be put in a room and strapped to a wall for 99 percent of his day.

Not only is van Ingen being dailymail.co.uk treated unfairly, he has never posed even a remote threat to either himself or the staff members who care for him at the facility. Although his mental impairment was not clearly stated, it is clear that this teen is being treated like nothing short of a wild animal. Not only does the Dutch government need to take a step back and re-evaluate their guidelines for caring for patients like van Ingen, but this story should prove to be an example and open the eyes of lawmakers across the globe to the treatment of their mentally impaired citizens.

Many patients like van Ingen are admitted into facilities that specialize in the care of the mentally ill. Their

families, friends and doctors are hopeful that these institutions will aid in the care and overall well-being of their loved ones. How is being treated like an animal helpful to one’s care and overall health? If anything, the cruel punishment of these patients is only hurting them in the long run and may even worsen their condition.

The families and friends of these patients are put through more anguish and heartache seeing their loved ones being treated so unfairly. Van Ingen’s story should serve as a wake-up call to lawmakers around the world. Give a voice to some people who may not have the ability to speak for themselves.

12

opinion

the Etownian

d n u

S o Off

Who is your favorite professor and why?

by Matthew P. Butera

Nikki Koyste Class of 2013

“Dr. Smith because he genuinely cares about his students.”

Alexandra Conte Class of 2011

“Dr. Finley-Bowman.

She has inspired me to be the best educator I can and not settle for anything less than I deserve.”

a lesson learned

Horror movies, more snore than gore Kate M. Walsh Staff Writer

so much scared as I am dumbfounded by just how stupid these movies have become.

Maybe it’s because I’m older, and now the here are few things in this world that only thing that truly scares me is winding I hate more than scary movies. Some up homeless with nothing but my diploma of these would include bowling, the color that I eventually try to sell for food scraps.

I don’t care how “scary” these movies orange and Glee — yeah, I said it. I think it all stemmed from being terrified by one claim to be; if you’ve seen one story about particular scary movie when I was little: a possessed plant or crazed serial killer then “Leprechaun.” That might sound silly, being you’ve seen them all. It’s as if the writers scared of something usually associated with think by changing one minute detail, the green beer and marshmallow cereal, but let entire film will become this completely me tell you right now that I will never look original idea. “Okay, so we’ve done the whole ‘crazed serial killer’ thing, but, and at a pogo stick the same way again.

In one scene, a man ventures down to hear me out on this, what if this time he’s not the basement (clearly a good idea in these just a psycho-killer but a psycho-killer who situations), and what does he find? An evil is also an avid gardener and buries his vicleprechaun waiting to attack him with a tims under his prize-winning hydrangeas? pogo stick, and when I say “attack” what I We could call it ‘The HyDREADgea Killer.’”

What’s worse is that even if they do tweak really mean is HE POGOED THAT GUY TO DEATH. Do you know how terrifying some small details, the actions of the charit is to be that little and watch someone die acters still make no sense. It’s the middle by what used to be your favorite afternoon of the night, and you’ve got a flat tire. You activity? Ever since then, I’ve never really probably should just call AAA and wait given scary movies a second chance. Why for some roadside assistance but hey, that do I want to willingly sit through an expe- abandoned, battered house in the distance isn’t too far away. And since you don’t have rience I don’t enjoy? That makes as a phone on you (because apparently it’s the much sense to me as paying to 1800s) you figure you’ll go check it out. ride a roller coaster. When Of course, when you get to the door I’m on a roller coaster, I literand ring the bell, it not only doesn’t ally feel like I’m going to die. work but nobody’s there to answer. No So in a sense, I’m paying for matter, just walk right in like you own a preview of death. Yeah, no the place, because that seems like a solid thank you. idea. Once inside you start to realize The thing is, as hard as I try that perhaps nobody has lived in to avoid scary movies, this house for years, maybe even one or two will still decades. The furniture’s covered slip in and yet, as I’m glamourvanity.com in dust, half of the keys on the sitting there, I’m not

T

“Dr. Fritz. He is funny, keeps us attentive and is engaging.”

Sam Wingrove Class of 2012

“Dr. Wennberg because he cares about his students outside the classroom.”

Make sure to check out the Sound Off poll and the latest issue on our website: www.etownian.com

piano are missing and there seems to be a painting that, no matter where you stand, is staring you down. Then you hear a noise coming from the attic, and instead of turning around and getting the hell out of there while you still have a reasonable chance of surviving, you decide that all those episodes of “CSI:NY” and “Hawaii Five-0” have suddenly qualified you as a trained detective.

As you slowly enter the attic, it doesn’t seem to dawn on you that not only do you have zero training in defending yourself, but you haven’t even brought a weapon. That’s alright, though, since the ghost/poltergeist/ spirit/demon that suddenly appears behind you as you’re (conveniently) looking in a mirror can’t be killed anyway. Then there’s the screaming, the bloodshed, the poor bastard police officer that comes looking for you and credits. You could have just waited, you could have just brought your phone, but you just had to go wandering. Now you’re dead. Smooth move.

I should cut these writers some slack; writing for an audience now who’s become so desensitized to violence and gore can’t be easy. Yet I feel like there must be some kind of loophole, some kind of deep-seated fear that all of us share, something that will shake us to our very core — I’ve got it! A movie where you invent a time machine, but the time machine has a mind of its own, and the only time period you can go back to is the exact moment where your parents are consummating their marriage. And no matter how many buttons you press, you just keep going back. Now, if that’s not scary enough for you, well then, you are just one sick individual.

on campus

Alcohol violations handled ineffectively Joelle E. Atkinson Assistant Campus Life Editor

Owen Howson Class of 2014

February 3, 2011

It’s a student’s worst nightmare: going to an on campus party, nearing the exit, opening the door to leave — and there is Campus Security, swooping in and taking names. So what comes next? Supposedly, students should be contacted by the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities within a few weeks to receive their penalty, and sometimes a meeting with Kat Matic, director of Student Rights and Responsibilities, if the student so desires.

However, there never seems to be a consistent protocol.

Does the letter informing of the chosen punishment come in e-mail form, or will it be delivered to the campus box?

And how long does it normally take for the initial contact to take place? Some say a week; others say a month.

I am a 21-year-old senior who had one of those unfortunate “wrong place, wrong time” situations during Homecoming weekend, back in October of 2010, when I was written up by Campus Security. I

was of legal drinking age, and the residence was not mine.

Several friends of mine, also of age, were there, and none of us had been in that situation before. We didn’t know what came next.

One of us had heard that if we didn’t receive notification from the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities within a month of the infraction, then we were off the hook. Clearly, that was not the case. In early December, I was notified of my punishment: two points and a mandate to complete E-Chug, “a brief self-assessment that provides you with accurate, detailed and personalized feedback on your use of alcohol, and specific information and helpful resources in the Elizabethtown College community.” I was the only one of my friends who had received this e-mail.

Everyone else was seemingly in the clear.

I decided to appeal the two points – I proceeded to contact Kat Matic and received no response. I sent a second e-mail to check in and make sure my first e-mail was received —

and still was not given any confirmation that my appeal had been processed. I had previously heard of students who had flown through the appeal process with positive experiences, and I was hoping for the same. However, this was not the case, and I went into winter break without any knowledge of the status of my appeal. I forgot about it, chalking it up to the fact that I was a senior, and two points really didn’t matter too much.

This past Thursday, the incident once again clogged my inbox. I received an e-mail with several apologies, saying that this case was no longer under Matic’s rule. Instead, a fellow student would be handling the case, and the e-mail stated that a simple resolution e-mail would be sent, if it had not been already. With no progress made, I just laughed, figuring that this was a formality and it would be forgotten about.

I was semi-pleasantly surprised when I received a follow-up e-mail on Friday, indicating that my case had been resolved, and no points would be attached to my re-

cord. Though everything was resolved, it almost seemed too-little too-late. This was especially true for one of my friends who had graduated.

She received an e-mail stating that she would be receiving points. Clearly, the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities is far behind the times.

Student alcohol incidents are handled by Campus Security every weekend, and while they may not always be the most pleasant situations, it is the latter part of the process that leaves the impression on us, the students. Yes, I know that I was in a place where I was not supposed to be that Saturday night of Homecoming, but the way the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities handled it was beyond unprofessional. It was handled irresponsibly, leaving students waiting and hoping for a resolution. I hope these issues can be fixed in the future, or else students will start to believe that they can get caught all semester without penalty and there will be no consequences for their actions – until the end of the semester rolls around.

opinion

February 3, 2011

the Etownian

sexual satire

Peaches versus leeches: relationship roles Samantha T. Phillips Opinion Editor

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like to believe that much of my wisdom comes from the mindnumbing hours I spend in front of my tiny television screen. I can’t imagine what kind of sick individual I would be without shows like “Seinfeld” or “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” I might be selling my body or even worse, reading books! Everything I know I learned from television.

Bear Grylls taught me what to do if I’m ever dropped by helicopter into the rainforest (it helps to be an attractive wildlife expert with an adorable accent who eats lizards and drinks the watery run-off of elephant poo). Michael Scott taught me how to survive the corporate world and all of the cotton-headed ninnymuggins who run it. Steve Irwin taught me to stay away from sting rays (too soon?). Yet, when it comes to love, I turn to one show: “How I Met Your Mother.”

The show focuses on Ted, a middle-aged man telling his children the story of how he finally landed his dream woman. Yet, it begins years and years before the event and outlines all of Ted’s dating hurdles that led him to his eventual marriage. It’s hilarious and reinforces my belief that Jason Segal is about as close as you can get to godliness without experiencing the second coming of Christ. But that’s beside the point. There is one episode of “How I Met Your Mother” which introduces a crucial fact about dating that I would like to elaborate on. Allow me to enlighten you on the truth about the reacher and the settler.

By their titles you can probably guess what roles they play in most relationships. The settler, naturally, is the girl who is saying to herself, “I can look past the large Africa-shaped mole on his upper lip and the striped pair of knee-high socks he wears every day with sandals,” or “He’ll change eventually,” or my favorite, “He loves me enough for the both of us.” She’s the one still holding on because this is one small school and the ratio is not in her favor. The settler is the guy who is clinging desperately to the hope that Ms.

Thumbs Up

Good-Enough-For-Right-Now will eventually stop using so many emoticons in her text messages and won’t actually get that tattoo of his name on her danger zone. But she will, Mr. Settler, she will.

And when you’re sitting in the tattoo parlor getting that guy’s name covered over with an obnoxious purple lotus flower, that’s when you’ll know that you were … DUN DUN DUN … the reacher.

The reacher, guy or girl, is the one in the relationship who is, as the bartenders say, “picking from the top shelf.” The settler is that expensive bottle of scotch collecting dust all the way up there, and the reacher is the stout, balding, somewhat hairy man who can’t really afford it.

And don’t think these geniosity.co.za roles are always distinguished by looks. There have been plenty of those mysterious cases of what I like to call “psycHOTics.” They’re darn fine to look at, but they will not hesitate to carve your name into their skin with a rusty paperclip or call all your exes and threaten to boil their pets. On the contrary, the other exceptions are those gettyimages.com who might not be the gettyimages.com prettiest pony i n t he p ag eant but are so unbelievably awesome that they inst ant ly e ar n settler status.

Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be much of a solution to this problem of “dating rating.” It does help, though, to remember that every relationship is a compromise. Every person has his or her own flaws, and looking past them can be beneficial, to a point. If the thought of them coming within three feet of your bedroom makes you want to regurgitate your dinner, it’s probably time to end that love affair. But, it can’t hurt to try to look past the little things because everyone’s got their baggage. Really the only perfect person out there that I can think of is … well, me.

And maybe Jason Segal.

Thumbs Thumbs DOWN

UP

Janelle K. DeAngelo Asst. Opinion Editor

1,000 ft. Cliff Diving On Sunday, Jan. 30, experienced climber Adam Potter fell 1,000 feet down the side of the steepest ridge in the Highlands and suffered only minor injuries. He got up after the fall and opened his map while he watched his rescue chopper fly away because they were looking for a dead or seriously injured man.

Although most people might not want to live after falling 1,000 feet head first into a boulder, Potter stood up as if he was just embarrassed at having tripped down the stairs.

“I’m sorry officer; it doesn’t say anything about not wearing pants … I have my shirt and shoes on …”

Carlisle police arrested a 22-year-old man last Tuesday morning because he was walking down North Ha n o v e r Street with his pants around his ankles. Although wearing your pants under your ass is in style these days, this guy took it a bit too far.

Beating Women Keeps Chris Brown From Award Shows On Friday a judge denied Chris Brown’s request to have the fiveyear restraining order due to his assault on Rihanna in 2009 lifted.

Brown claims that the order makes it hard for him to be at award shows. While I’m sure Chris Brown wouldn’t beat her up in such a public forum, I’m not sure he has a reason to be at award shows to begin with. I would think the fact that he was convicted of domestic violence would be a bigger reason for him not to attend those shows.

MTV takes “Jersey Shore” to Italy Not only is the Jersey Shore not in Italy, but I’m not sure sending those people out of America is in the country’s best interest. It’s bad enough that these people exist inside our own country, but we really shouldn’t make the rest of the world experience them as well … it will only add legitimacy to the already crappy opinions the rest of the world has about Americans.

pensionpulse.blogspot.com

13

the Etownian the board

Editor-in-Chief Ross M. Benincasa Managing Editor Khouri E. McGrann Assistant Editor Peter S. Northrop News Editor Brianna E. Wiest Features Editor Tara B. Hayes Campus Life Editor Melanie R. Giardina Opinion Editor Samantha T. Phillips Sports Editor T. Gavin Nevill Photography Editor Matthew P. Butera Copy Editor Patricia A. Cangelosi Managing Copy Editor Nancy C. Briscoe Online Editor Zachary T. Johnson Layout Editor Allison A. Gower Assistant News Editor Jamie L. Bartolino Assistant Features Editor Erika C. Surock Asst. Campus Life Editor Joelle E. Atkinson Assistant Opinion Editor Janelle K. DeAngelo Assistant Sports Editor Ashley N. Kufera Asst. Photography Editor Jacqueline E. Quidort Assistant Online Editor Andrew R. Sides Assistant Copy Editors Samantha M. Alleman Danielle B. Cantor Elizabeth A. Enwright Rachel L. Jesten Melanie L. Weyant Assistant Layout Editor Agnetha C. Serrame Business Manager Benjamin L. Frey Asst. Business Manager Your name here Advertising Manager Chelsea A. Benson Assistant Ad. Manager Brooke S. Wachtel Faculty Adviser Kelly L. Poniatowski

The Etownian is the student newspaper of Elizabethtown College. All editorial decisions are made by the student editors. With the exception of editorials, opinions presented here are those of quoted sources or signed authors, not of the Etownian or the College.

The Etownian is published most Thursdays during the academic year

by Susquehanna Printing.

Submissions to the Etownian are always welcomed. We will make every effort to print submissions, but we do not promise publication. Submit letters to OPINIONEDITOR@etown.edu.

14

sports

the Etownian

February 3, 2011

swimming

women’s basketball

Women’s team edges Alvernia Jays topple Monarchs Ashley N. Kufera Assistant Sports Editor

“We had very good defense, especially in the second half. We were able to make smart substitutions, which really wore down Alvernia’s post, and there were a couple of players who stepped up their game,” Kauffman said.

Saturday was not only victorious for the Jays as a team, but it was a milestone in one senior’s career. Snyder was named Commonwealth Conference Player of the Week for the first time in her career. The senior captain has brought her “A” game these past few weeks, earning a double-double four out of the past six games.

The Jays have vastly improved as a team from the beginning of the season. According to Kauffman, the offense and defense are working hard on their aspects of the game. In order to keep momentum up and to maintain wins in the stats, the Jays need to keep improving. Kauffman stated, “If we continue to play great defense and are able to not only score our three pointers, but defend them as well, we will be successful.”

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T. Gavin Nevill Sports Editor

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he Blue Jays women’s basketball team he Elizabethtown College swim team sent their seniors off in style with had a big win over the Alvernia Crusadthe men’s and women’s teams scoring victories over King’s College in ers last Saturday in Thompson Gymnasium. their final home meet of the season last Saturday.

After an intense back-and-forth battle for the Seniors Courtney Kelly and Stephanie Hellman were honored during the lead, the Jays (11-7) grasped a drastic 57-52 meet for their four years of dedication to the team. Both were also key conwin over the Crusaders (11-8), placing them tributors to Etown’s 125-61 shellacking of the Monarchs on the women’s side. one game away from the fourth and final Kelly picked up a win in the 200 yard backstroke, finishing in 2:30.63. playoff spot.

Hellman’s victories in the 200 yard individual medley and the 100 yard free Entering the game with high energy, the were key to the Blue Jays’ dominance.

Blue Jays took an early 10-5 lead. The CruThe team improved its record to 5-4-1 overall and 5-2-1 in the Middle saders quickly fought back, claiming the upAtlantic Conference. per hand with a 25-19 lead at halftime. The The men’s team picked up its first home victory of the season, cruising constant switch of runs through the rest of to a 94-59 win. Sophomore Nathaniel VanderWerff played a big part in the the game forced the Jays to play hard until team’s success by posting top times in the 50 free, 100 free and swimming the final seconds. in the team’s win in the 200 medley relay.

“Basketball is a game of streaks. It conEtown received a complete team effort as all seven members of the men’s stantly goes back and forth,” Head Coach team won an individual race or as part of a relay on the afternoon. The triYvonne Kauffman said. “We had our streak umph also helped the men’s squad improve to 3-6 overall. In the conference, early on, and then they came back and had Etown swam its way to a 3-5 record in the regular season. theirs. Fortunately, we played great defense so The Blue Jays have a break to get ready for the Middle Atlantic Conference we did not allow them to get too far ahead.”

Championships, which are scheduled to begin Feb. 11 in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. After the team’s initial run that put them ahead, they could not put any points on the board. Shots were just short of going in, which was a big contributing factor to their fallback.

With five minutes to go in the first half, the Jays scored five very crucial points. “The points scored in the last minute were key in winning,” Kauffman said. “They brought us down to a six-point deficit as opposed to our eleven point lag.”

The Jays finally overcame their problems with scoring. Heading into the second half, the Jays allowed anxious fans some breathing room when junior Stephanie Ellwood had her first double-double of the season.

Senior Kaity Snyder then added her seventh double-double of the year.

Junior Kelly Sauerzopf, senior Megan Strohman and sophomore Nadine Yunginger also contributed points, leading to the Blue Jays’ victory.

Kauffman was pleased not only Photo: Matthew P. Butera Photo: Matthew P. Butera with the outcome of the game, but Junior Stephanie Ellwood recorded her first double-double Kaity Snyder dribbles through traffic in Etown’s win over the way the team played as a whole. the Alvernia Crusaders on Jan. 29 at Thompson Gymnasium.

of the season with 13 points and 10 boards against Alvernia.

Wolf Field

Turf pronounced unplayable after inspector’s findings T. Gavin Nevill Sports Editor

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hen the Elizabethtown College men’s and women’s lacrosse teams kick off their seasons later this month, they will have a new field to call home.

The teams’ old home turf, Wolf Field, was deemed unplayable by an outside company that inspected the turf.

“I wasn’t surprised to learn that the turf was no longer playable,” Men’s Lacrosse Coach Terry Corcoran said.

In an e-mail sent to students on Jan. 17, Athletic Director Nancy Latimore said the field had “reduction/loss in synthetic fiber resiliency due to fiber breakdown and wear.”

Director of Facilities Management and Construction Joe Metro said the Facilities Management Department arranged for ELA Sport, an athletic facilities consulting company, to inspect the field. The NCAA does not require evaluations like these, but

Metro said athletic representatives from the College Safety Committee asked that the field be tested. ELA inspected the field on Nov. 10, 2010, Metro said.

“The inspection found that ... the field has essentially lost some of its ‘shock absorbency,’” Metro explained. “It was recommended that the field not be used until the surface could be brought into conformance with current impact standards.”

Latimore said that the turf could no longer hold the proper amount of sand and rubber fill and was worn down in “high traffic areas,” like where the lacrosse goals are set up.

Women’s Head Coach Mike Faith said that when his team went on the road to play teams with newer turf, his players could see a difference.

“I was concerned with how hard the turf [on Wolf Field] was in spots and how there was divots and regular wear and tear on the turf … since we’ve been playing on it every year, it’s gotten worse and worse,”

said Faith, whose team played its way to an 8-3 record at home last year.

The teams are scheduled to play their home games inside the soccer stadium at Ira R. Herr Field.

“It’s not an ideal plan, as men’s lacrosse can be hard on a field; however, we have no other choice this spring,” Latimore said.

The change in playing surface could help the women’s team’s gameplans this spring, however.

“I’m looking at it as an advantage to play on grass because every team we play has turf,” Faith said. “So when they come here, it will be a real slow track, and we’ll get used to it.”

Corcoran, whose team was 7-3 on Wolf Field last season, expects his team to bring a certain amount of energy to the table and wants to see how they respond to the slower grass surface.

“I expect that we will be mentally tough enough to bring forth a positive energy in regards to playing on the grass,” Corcoran

said. He noted that he and his team “appreciate the opportunity” to play in the stadium this spring.

The one concern about the unplayable turf is where the teams will train. For February, both lacrosse teams will practice at In The Net, a complex in Palmyra, Pa., that features indoor and outdoor synthetic turf surfaces, Latimore said.

“Following spring break, both the men’s and the women’s lacrosse teams will conduct a majority of their practices on the grass field east of Wolf Field,” Latimore said.

The grass field inside the track is another option, according to Latimore.

As far as fields in the future, Latimore said the school is looking into the possibility of replacing Wolf Field’s turf or just starting over with a new field in a different location.

“Naturally, we are looking at the costs for each option,” Latimore said. “We are considering current and anticipated field needs.”

sports

February 3, 2011

the Etownian

track and field

15

Unlikely teammates make mark on track record books Alexis L. Morris Staff Writer

I

n college, the workplace and athletic teams, the rankings of “newbies” and veterans are usually clearly defined. However, throwers on the Elizabethtown College men’s track and field team, first-year Lucas Dayhoff and fifth-year senior Keenan Schaeffer, are blurring those lines.

Dayhoff, a five-year veteran of throwing, and Schaeffer, a rookie to the event, have both contributed to Etown’s success in their indoor track competitions so far this season.

This past weekend at the Seamus McElligott Invitational, Schaeffer’s shot put throw of 36’ 11-1/2” placed him at seventh on Etown’s all-time indoor list. Dayhoff’s 40’5” throw was Etown’s longest distance of the day.

Despite this odd relationship between the two, their pairing has a positive effect on their throwing techniques.

Photo: Tom “Drac” Williams

First-year Lucas Dayhoff throws 38’81/4” at the Navy Invitational, proving he’s no rookie. He threw Etown’s longest distance of the day at the Seamus McElligott Invitational last weekend.

well. “The weight adjustment from high school [up from 12 to 16 pounds for the shot put] is rough the first few weeks,” Dayhoff explained. “The hammer and weight steps are also very challenging; it is the only sport that involves the first motion of your foot to be on your heel, and it’s very hard to get the steps just right.”

Although Schaeffer has not had experience with throwing at the collegiate level until this year, he threw the shot put and discus in Photo: Matthew P. Butera Senior Keenan Schaeffer (left) and first-year Lucas Dayhoff eighth grade. He also sprinted for his help each other in and out of track. school’s track team. and in the throwing circle, we are always He stopped competing in high school, trying to outdo each other. Both of us however, since baseball was during the want to be the best throwers, so it brings track’s spring season, and his high school a dimension of competition I have never did not have an indoor track team.

“I had always wanted to start up track had before.” again,” Schaeffer said. “I just never had Schaeffer agreed, stating, “When it comes to the world of track and field, the chance to because I was involved in [Dayhoff] is a savvy veteran, and I am other college sports and activities.”

Schaeffer got his lucky break after the young pup doing things wrong left and right. As the year goes on, I learn talking to friend and 2010 Etown gradumore and more from him, the other ate Wyatt Eaton about participating in throwers [Sarah DeGeorge, Eileen Kro- track again. He stopped at a practice szner and Dan Obold] and our fearless last year and watched for a few minutes leader, Coach Lawrence Nawa, about the before heading to the quads.

“Shortly after starting, I heard a voice world of track and field.” call my name, whom I would soon come Dayhoff ’s throwing experience comes from his time at Walkersville High to know as Coach Nawa,” Schaeffer said.

School in Keymar, Md. He was per- “After talking to him and Coach Straub, suaded by his football coach to join track I decided that I didn’t want to graduate in order to stay in shape. “Never would I college with any regrets, so I trained all have dreamed then that I would be doing summer and tried out for the team.”

Despite the different throwing experitrack and field in college,” Dayhoff said.

Dayhoff ’s achievement as a state ences of Dayhoff and Schaeffer, the two champion for a Maryland 2A school have already proved that their training adds experience and excellence to and technique lead to their success in Etown’s throwing program. As much meets. As Dayhoff said, “Keenan and I as he loves competing in Division III will be a force to be reckoned with at the throwing, it has been a challenge as MAC championships.”

“For some reason, it works really well for us both. [Schaeffer] can give me a lot of advice about school, and I try to help him throw and achieve goals in throwing,” Dayhoff said. “We also push ourselves very hard in the weight room,

Photo: Tom “Drac” Williams

Rookie Keenan Schaeffer competes in the weight throw at the Navy Invitational.

He threw a 36’11-1/2” at the Seamus McElligott Invitational last weekend, good for seventh on Etown’s all-time indoor list.

Sports by the Numbers

3

Number of women’s track and field athletes who moved onto Etown’s top 10 lists at Haverford (Monica Loranger, Allie Gold and Eileen Cody).

wrestling

Katzaman, Bentley shine in team’s trip to Illinois Jordyn M. Howe Staff Writer

T

he Elizabethtown College wrestling team, led

by Head Coach Eric Walker, competed in the Pete Willson Wheaton Invitational in Wheaton, Ill., on Jan. 28 and 29. The team placed 15th out of 32 teams with an overall score of 37 points.

Graduate student Tim Katzaman was the top performer at the invitational; starting for the 285-heavyweight class, he came home with a 5-1 record for the weekend, ending strongly with a third place win. Katzaman is now the leading team winner of the season; his 24-5 season record surpassed the previous leader, first-year Nick Grimm, who came in with 20 wins.

“The team, as a whole, had a strong showing at the tour-

nament,” Katzaman said. “We tournament. He was seeded were able to come away with third and was defeated in the two top-four finishes at one semifinals by Riki Reynolds of the toughest wrestling tournaments in the country.

T h i s t ou r ny shouldn’t be taken lightly, and our guys filled in very nicely against some of the top competition in the country.”

The ot her notable performer of the Junior Will Bentley weekend was on the team’s trip to Wheaton, Ill. j u n i o r Wi l l Bentley. At the 125-pound weight class, Bentley came of Mt. Union, who was seeded home with fourth place in the second. Bentley put up a fight,

“I love going on long trips with the team. It definitely adds to team chemistry. ”

but Reynolds just squeaked by with an 8-7 decision. He then went on to win his next match over eighth-seeded Mack Drees of Wisconsin-Platteville in the consolation match.

This competition was a significant distance for the Blue Jays to travel, but the team did not seem to mind. “Long trips like this really have a lot of down time that we use to relax and mentally prepare for matches,” Katzaman said. “In the meantime, we really learn a lot about each other. It helps build our relationships as teammates as well as provides the opportunity for us to expand our knowledge of wrestling, whether it be new techniques or watching quality wrestlers from other schools that we don’t typically see in our region.”

“I love going on long trips

with the team,” Bentley said. “It definitely adds to team chemistry. It may sound boring, but long van rides and plane rides are usually a good time when the team is together.”

The Etown Blue Jays now have bragging rights over rival Messiah College, who placed 16 out of 32 in last weekend’s tournament. Walker is optimistic about his team’s chances for the rest of the season. “I think that we have an opportunity to rebound from this tournament and really prove to ourselves that we belong with the best in the country,” he said. “We will have some challenges coming up with three ranked teams; however, that is why we train.

I look forward to seeing how they respond.” The Blue Jays are on the road today at 7 p.m. to take on King’s College.

16

the Etownian

sports

February 3, 2011

etown athletics • pro sports • ncaa coverage

athlete profiles • commentary • analysis

men’s basketball

Fans motivate Jays to conquer Crusaders

InsideSports

Christian V. Sammartino Staff Writer

Wolf Field

As they have throughout the season, fans helped to lift the Jays to victory. An estimated 1,000 laying in Thompson Gym- fans showed up last Saturday.

“You always want to please nasium has given the Blue Jays a decisive upper hand this the home crowd. I would say season. Last weekend, the Jays that is the biggest pressure you displayed their home-court ad- feel,” senior guard Keith Fogel vantage with a compelling win said. “When you play in front of over the Alvernia Crusaders. a good crowd, you don’t want to The Jays crushed the Crusad- disappoint them.”

The energy that fans have ers 80-59 and served the squad their first conference loss of the provided this season has brought season. The Crusaders’ 59 total out the best in the veteran squad. points is the second fewest the In their last two games, the team Jays have allowed at Thompson has won by 20 points or more.

In addition, the unit has not this season. allowed more than 68 points.

“We haven’t lost a game [at home] and we have had some toug h games here,” s enior guard Joe Flanagan said. “Especially toward the end of the game when it might be close, having your fans here can really push you to get those extra points that could win you Photo: Matthew P. Butera the game.”

The Jays have Junior Dan Silver drives to the basket in the Blue Jays’ 80-59 win over Alvernia on Jan. 29 at brought the fire Thompson Gymnasium. Silver is averaging three consistently on points and three rebounds a game this season. their home floor

P

this season. They have been able to focus on executing their game plan and playing hard.

“Overall at home, we have played complete games whereas on the road sometimes we only show up to play just the second half,” junior forward Dan Silver stated. “At home it seems like we are able to put together full 40-minute games.”

During road games, the team has to contend with travel and opposing crowds. Games that are played at venues such as Lycoming College may require a few hours on the road. Focusing for such games can be difficult, which is especially true if the players have to go from the classroom to the bus and then to the court. Once the team arrives, players must energize themselves even in front of fans who believe their home court is sacred.

Players on the bench have to generate energy and motivation for the team away from Thompson. With their training and closeness, the players can create the energy that it takes to win games in the most inhospitable gyms. The fact that the team keeps things light and loose helps them deal with bad bounces. “This time of year it’s just winning,” Fogel stated.

“Winning on the road is really tough in our conference. We don’t really need a whole lot of motivation other than that.”

Page 14 Women’s Basketball Page 14 Swimming Page 14 Wrestling Page 15 Track and Field Page 15

Sports Recap Men’s Basketball Etown 80, Alvernia 59 Women’s Basketball Etown 57, Alvernia 52 Photo: Matthew P. Butera

Senior guard Mark Vogel finishes a layup in Etown’s win over Alvernia on Jan. 29.Vogel scored seven points in the contest.

With their goal of earning the MAC Championship in mind, the Elizabethtown College Blue Jays know they need to play with intensity. “I think from here on out we have to view every game as a playoff game,” Flanagan said.

“Coming into each game we really have to realize that we are going to get the best game from the other team, so we have to bring the fire and bring our best game as well.”

the etownian’s

Athlete of the Week

Joe Flanagan

Q&A

Photo: Ryan G. Follweiler

Senior Joe Flanagan became just the 32nd player in school history to reach the 1,000 career point plateau in the team’s 80-58 win over Alvernia on Jan. 29 at Thompson Gymnasium. The Lancaster Mennonite grad is second on the team in scoring, pouring in 15.4 points per game.

Track & Field Penn State National No Team Score Seamus McElligott Invitational No Team Score Men’s Swimming Etown 94, King’s 59 Women’s Swimming Etown 125, King’s 61 Wrestling Wheaton (III.) Pete Wilson Invitational Day One: 17th/32 Day Two: 15th/32

Schedule

of Sports

Men’s Basketball Februar y 5: Albright Women’s Basketball Februar y 5: Albright Women’s T & F Februar y 4: New Balance Collegiate Invitational Men’s T & F Februar y 4: New Balance Collegiate Invitational

Major: business administration Favorite Jay’s Nest item: turkey pretzel melt made

by Bob Utzinger Favorite sports team: Pittsburgh Steelers Favorite athlete: Andrew Corrigan Biggest fear: becoming Andrew Corrigan Song currently playing on my iPod: “Corrigan Diss”

Men’s Swimming Februar y 11-13: Middle Atlantic Championships Women’s Swimming Februar y 11-13: Middle Atlantic Championships Wrestling Februar y 3: King’s College Februar y 5: Hunter College EtownBlueJays .com Photo: Matthew P. Butera