Etownian Issue 20 - 4/21/2011

Mock Car Crash Preview Features, page 4

Special Redesign Issue

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April 21, 2011 • Volume 107, Issue 20

See page 10 for more info.

One Alpha Dr. Elizabethtown, Pa 17022

On the Web: www.etownian.com

Elizabethtown College’s Student Newspaper since 1904 on campus

Redesigned website debuts Website launch to revamp aesthetic appeal

on campus

Is social media credible?

Research yields interesting results

Author Title

Lauren E. Stine Staff Writer

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n experimental research study conducted by Dr. Kirsten Johnson of the Communications Department, along with student assistant Jamie Bartolino, yielded surprising results. The study, entitled Let’s Tweet About It: The Impact of Twitter Posts on Students’ Perceptions of Instructor Credibility, and implemented at Elizabethtown College, was designed to separate participants into three groups: one viewed only scholarly tweets, the second, only social tweets, and the third consisted of a combination of scholarly and social tweets from a professor. After viewing, each participant used Likert scales to rank the professor’s credibility depending on the tweets they read.

“We thought the combination of social and scholarly tweets would be seen as more credible,” Johnson stated, but the end results showed otherwise: students who viewed only the social tweets perceived the professor as being the most credible.

“If you think of how Twitter is used, it’s social networking,” Johnson explained, “Those students who perceived scholarly tweets from professors as less credible perhaps believe the professor is promoting his or her own agenda.” Also, Johnson stated that since the College is a small, private college, there might be more emphasis on relationships than at a larger university.

The idea for the experiment stemmed from Johnson’s fascination with social media networks.

“I’ve always been into [them], particularly how professors can use social media,” Johnson stated. She has a social media page and sometimes wonders what her students think about her posts. A group of

researchers had done a similar study with Facebook and when Johnson saw it the wheels in her head started to turn: “I said, ‘Hmm, I wonder if that would translate to Twitter?’”

Johnson and Bartolino asked 120 students at the College to participate in the study. Even though less than 2,000 students attend the College, the pair did not struggle to find participants to complete the Survey Monkey questionnaire.

“I believe it is a testament to what a nice community of learners we have here [at Elizabethtown],” Johnson stated. “I think it also helps that we go to the classrooms and explain our study. It makes the students feel more involved and gives a face to the researchers.”

Johnson believes the study definitely would not have run as smoothly without Bartolino. “She’s fabulous,” Johnson said. Bartolino is currently employed as Johnson’s student assistant and could not be more enthusiastic about her job.

“Working with Dr. Johnson is an extremely rewarding experience because she puts so much trust and responsibility [in me]…

“Working as her student assistant has been incredible because she allows me to do so much more than I imagine any other professor would.” Johnson has been extremely impressed with the caliber of Bartolino’s work in the study. “Jamie helped to present this study at the PCA Convention; everyone there thought she was working on her doctorate,” Johnson said, smiling. The study has been published in Volume 36, Issue 1 of “Learning, Media and Technology.” Dr. Johnson hopes to explore other avenues of research within her field of study.

on campus

Mapp joins editorial board

Professor joins social work journal of Baccalaureate research

Allison M. Rohland Asst. News Editor

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lizabethtown College plans to launch its redesigned website this May. The launch of the new website is part of the College’s efforts to elevate the professionalism and cohesiveness of its branding.

Throughout the past several months, members of the web redesign team, consisting of staff from the Office of Marketing and Communications, Admissions and Information and Technology Services, collaborated with academic and co-curricular departments to complete this endeavor. Additionally, they hired a web design company, mStoner, that specializes in the design of higher level education

The featured screenshots of the website are courtesy of the Office of Marketing and Communications. Please note that they are not finalized and still contain filler text.

Kelly R. Frace Staff Writer

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web pages to tailor the website’s design to the College’s needs.

The redesigned website contains new features that appeal to a large variety of audiences. One feature is tailored “audience gateway pages” that give recent and targeted information that a visitor, student, faculty, staff or parent is seeking. Specifically, the website utilizes Recent Site Summary (RSS) feeds for news and events happening on campus, which help to filter out items that may not be of interest to the distinctive audience.

In an effort to make the website more interactive, the team used simple elements such as sliders, rotators and videos to bring motion to the web pages. In addition, a new campus map, which uses Google maps application

lizabethtown College social work professor Dr. Susan Mapp was recently appointed to the editorial board of the Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work for a three-year term. The Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work (JBSW), which is published twice a year, is a scholarly publication that contains faculty submissions from all over the country about anything related to undergraduate social work education. The journal is published by the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors. Mapp also assists with the annual national conference of this organization. It is now Mapp’s responsibility to ensure

that only quality pieces of writing make their way into the journal.

Mapp’s appointment is beneficial for social work students here at the College.

“It really is an honor to be chosen,” she said. “It helps Elizabethtown College become more well-known.” Mapp uses her status as a member of the editorial board as an important networking tool when communicating with graduate social work programs at other schools. Seeing her name in the JBSW helps people from those graduate programs make a connection to Elizabethtown College and become familiar with the school.

Mapp was previously a consulting editor for the JBSW, evaluating and suggesting changes to the articles submitted for publication in the journal as needed.

programming interface, plays a huge role in the interactive aspect of the website. As well as providing a new medium for interaction, the new campus map can be easily updated if there is a change on campus.

The Office of Marketing and Communication staff is collaborating with the academic departments and various offices on campus to enhance the content for the redesigned website. A novel feature on the departmental pages is a new stories section that will inform a multitude of visitors about recent events or accomplishments within a specific department. Digital design manager and web redesign committee member Danilo Yabut said, “For the initial launch we are focusing on getting a strong foundation of content for most departments and offices.”

In March, the web redesign committee held three information sessions to show faculty and community members the development of the website. Yabut said, “They [the information sessions] went well and we received positive feedback... most people were excited about getting training, which will happen over the new few months.” According to Yabut, the website is scheduled to launch in late May after the 2011 commencement occurs, in order to avoid disruption to the campus community. The web redesign team is excited for the long-awaited launch and is excited to see the reactions of the community. “All throughout the process we’ve had groups of students, faculty, staff, visitors and parents participate in testing, so we believe most users will be happy with the changes — but change is difficult and something of this magnitude can be quite disrupting,” Yabut said. “So we’ll be looking closely at feedback and reviews that are sure to be out there, and making changes that are necessary to a great user experience.”

It is her job to assess the originality of concepts and appropriateness and timeliness of the subject matter as well as the quality of research design and methodology. In addition, she must comment specifically on the relevance, appeal and readability of the articles.

In addition to her position on the editorial board, Mapp has also published an article in the JBSW. Specifically, her article about the impact of short term study abroad programs to Ireland on students’ cultural competence published in the scholarly journal. Mapp keeps a copy of the current JBSW on her desk and reads it regularly to learn about what others are doing in the field of social work and to keep up with new teaching trends. “The purpose of the

journal is to share thoughts, and I like seeing what other people have to say,” she said.

This is Mapp’s eighth year teaching at Etown. She is currently an associate professor of social work, and she is in her second year serving as chair of the social work department. Mapp received her Ph.D. at the University of Houston, and her areas of research include threats to children’s well-being globally, a topic which she recently published a book.

Originally from New York, she moved to Texas to attend college. She chose to pursue a career at Etown because of the close-knit community. Mapp teaches courses including First-Year Seminar, Social Work Research Methods and International Social Development.

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on campus

Woessner publishes academic inquiry Research negates blame for lack of development

April 21, 2011

on campus

Senate candidates speak Coverage of Senate election; prospective leaders campaign Andrew S. Herm Staff Writer

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Photo: The New York Times

Rachel L. Jesten Asst. Copy Editor

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olitical science professor Dr. April Kelly-Woessner has recently published an article with her husband, Matthew Woessner, for a symposium on the book “Academically Adrift” by Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa, which discusses the low rate of cognitive development in college students from enrollment to graduation. Kelly-Woessner and her husband were approached about the article because of their familiarity on the topic of politics within higher education; the couple recently published a book entitled “The Still Divided Academy: How Competing Visions of Power, Politics, and Diversity Complicate the Mission of Higher Education.”

Kelly-Woessner’s and Woessner’s article, entitled “Promoting a ‘House of Study,’” considers the argument of Arum and Roksa’s book through a careful consideration of their own and other studies. Both the book and Kelly-Woessner’s article come to the conclusion that an academic institution’s success ought to be rated based on an objective measure of its students’ cognitive growth, specifically through the Collegiate Learning As-

sessment (CLA). But Kelly-Woessner and her husband disagree with Arum and Roksa’s argument as to who is to blame for the decided lack of cognitive development in college students.

“We argue that the authors mistakenly assert that faculty research is to blame for poor student learning on college campuses,” KellyWoessner said. “We demonstrate that the evidence they cite actually points to the opposite conclusion.”

To achieve higher developments in student learning, Kelly-Woessner recommends a higher emphasis on rigorous courses.

“Students don’t spend enough time reading, writing, and studying,” reads Kelly-Woessner’s article. “They learn the most when professors set high standards.”

Arum and Roksa argue that faculty researchers contribute to poor student development because the time they spend doing research detracts from the time they spend in the classroom, and that their engagement in other activities makes them feel inaccessible to students. Kelly-Woessner and Woessner, on the other hand, argue in their article that research-oriented

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professors are more likely to “[encourage] student learning and academic rigor,” engage students in scholarship, and are “less likely to succumb to pressures to appease students.”

Furthermore, frequently published professors are likely to have stronger reasoning and critical thinking skills, due to their frequent interaction with a rigorous peer review process.

Many argue that a student’s level of success in college should be expanded to include aspects of students’ development in social and political beliefs; Elizabethtown College’s own mission statement includes a desire to “affirm the values of peace, non-violence, human dignity and social justice” – hardly pure academic pursuits. But despite many universities’ desire to produce social change as well as economic growth, studies show that college students rarely experience dramatic changes in their attitudes toward important political and social issues during their four years at an undergraduate institution. Furthermore, Kelly-Woessner and Woessner cite a number of studies in their article which show that extracurricular activities, group study and volunteer

work do not contribute positively to students’ CLA scores.

“Faculty who are engaged in research are more likely to promote scholarship and intellectualism,” Kelly-Woessner said, “and are less likely to promote the type of extracurricular activities, group work and volunteerism that Arum and Roksa show are a distraction from studying and have a negative effect on student learning.”

“Arum and Roksa show us that students who take the most demanding courses, especially in the liberal arts and sciences, have markedly better critical thinking skills, analytical skills, and writing skills than their peers,” KellyWoessner said. “These are the same skills that employers say they evaluate when hiring and promoting people.

These are also the skills that help you solve problems in your own life and in your community. Students need these skills to be good citizens.”

Ultimately, Kelly-Woessner said, her findings in this review won’t change her teaching style, but rather this research confirms her beliefs about truly effective teaching: “students learn best when they are challenged in the classroom.”

ith Student Senate elections recently completed, the Elizabethtown College student body had the opportunity to take power into their own hands by voting for the candidates they want in office for the fall 2011 semester.

Seeking the president position were juniors Hannah Desmond and Brian Frantz and sophomore Sean Flanagan. Each of the other three positions are uncontested: Laura Farnish asVice-President, Keelyan Sheeley as Secretary and Samantha Wideman for Treasurer.

Frantz explained that his interest in the role of president stems from the leadership aspect: “I want to be a positive leader.” He also hopes that, if elected, he will be able to further promote Senate’s motto of “Advocating for Students’ Rights” as the organization’s primary function across campus.

Frantz explained that student government is in place to act as a buffer between the students, administration and faculty — something he hopes to make more visible across campus, “I hope that the Senators can both continue the strive to provide a fair environment for students while also making their work known amongst Campus,” he said. “Each Senator spends a lot of time working to better the school and I would like each of them to get the recognition they deserve by having the campus see what Senate has accomplished.”

Desmond, also a rising senior, was one of Frantz’s competitors vying for president.

Desmond explained that she is “a student like everyone on campus… passionate about Elizabethtown College and the surrounding community.” Her plans were based around a proactive approach to student concerns: “I will address concerns quickly and efficiently.

I will listen to the campus.”

She proposed a new weekly event: “My first initiative will be Spotlight Senate, a weekly event focusing on a specific issue on campus, i.e. diversity, tuition dollars, etc. I will invite guests to meetings every week, including student groups and administrative members and discuss the issues directly with the people whom they surround.”

Although her bid for vicepresident will be uncontested this year, Farnish remarked that her involvement in senate for nearly four years, including her roles as class representative and treasurer, motivate her toward further participation in student government; she is driven to use her experience to help tackle next year’s issues.

All three candidates agree that next year’s Senate will strive to become a more public, active service for the students of the College and to bridge the gap between the campus community and administration. They hope that through their efforts, the campus will be a happier, more cohesive unit moving forward into the future.

Congratulations to Brian Frantz, the newly elected president of fall 2011 Student Senate.

on campus

‘Tea’ controversy arises Kitchen honored by House of Representatives

‘Three Cups of Tea’, new collective Accomplishments, service, academic input honored by government reading; controversy surrounds book Katherine G. Pebley tors, staff, faculty, students and facilities, putting Peter S. Northrop Assistant Editor

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little over a week after Elizabethtown College announced that it would be using Greg Mortenson’s “Three Cups of Tea” as the collective reading experience for the incoming class of 2015, a firestorm of controversy has erupted around the book. Allegations about the book’s honesty abound — with several sources citing that some of the most integral and most inspiring stories in the book may be complete fabrications.

“60 Minutes” aired an exposé on the piece Sunday night and Jon Krakauer, a writer and former supporter published a scathing 25,000 word essay titled “Three Cups of Deceit.”

“Three Cups of Tea” opens with Greg Mortensen stumbling into remote Pakistani village of Korphe after failing to reach the summit of the K2 mountain.

According to Mortensen, the villagers there helped him and nursed him back to health.

This inspired him to build schools all throughout Central Asia and to start the Central Asian Institute: a charity that builds schools and advocates

for education rights throughout the world.

However—it has come to light that Mortensen did not go to Korphe until a year after he said he did. In addition — some of the most poignant and integral stories in Three Cups of Tea are being called into question. Mortensen even took a picture with his guides during one visit to Afghanistan and allegedly used it to claim he was kidnapped by the Taliban for eight days.

On top of all this, Mortensen is being accused of using his Central Asian Institute charity “as his own personal ATM” during the “60 Minutes” exposè.

However, with all this in mind, Jon Krakauer had this to add: “He’s not Bernie Madoff. I mean, let’s be clear. He has done a lot of good. He has helped thousands of school kids in Pakistan and Afghanistan... He has become perhaps the world’s most effective spokesperson for girls’ education in developing countries. And he deserves credit for that... Nevertheless, he is now threatening to bring it all down, to destroy all of it by this fraud and by these lies.”

Staff Writer

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rofessor of Music Emeritus Otis D. Kitchen has been honored by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania House of Representatives for his service during the Korean War, for his outstanding achievements in the musical world, and for his dedication to Elizabethtown College.

Kitchen is not certain why he is being honored for his time in the Korean conflict, considering that he believes there are veterans who are more deserving than he is.

There was a recent article about Kitchen in a Lancaster, Pa., newspaper, which he thinks led the Honorable John C. Bear of the 97th district to submit Kitchen’s name. “I am surprised and humbled to receive this honor,” Kitchen said. He was also recently honored for his lifetime of outstanding achievements by the American Bandmasters Association during its 77th Annual Convention.

In regards to the Korean conflict, Kitchen said, “I was assigned to the Adjutant General’s corps as Director of the United States Army Band Training Unity, organist and Chaplain’s Assistant.”

Kitchen graduated from Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Va., studied at the United States Navy School of Music and earned a master’s degree from Northwestern University. He also received an honorary Doctor of Music from the National Conservatory of Mexico. As an accomplished conductor, he became a member of the American Bandmasters Association in 1986.

Kitchen conducted in a command performance

Photo: fiestaval.com

Professor Otis D. Kitchen is being honored for his contributions to the musical world, his service in the Korean war and his dedication to Elizabethtown College through his 45 years.

in Rome, Italy, for Pope John Paul II and at the Vienna Music Festival.

Kitchen came to Etown in 1965 and served on the faculty in a few different positions before leaving and becoming Professor of Music Emeritus in 1996. “I came to Elizabethtown College primarily because I wished to work with young adults who were open and responsive to advanced ideas and scholarly challenges,” he said. The campus has changed dramatically since he first came to Etown, which he attributes to quality administra-

the College in a prestigious category.

His time here provided many opportunities for professional development and supported his involvement in professional activities in 35 states and 15 foreign countries, but Kitchen explained, “I haven’t accomplished any more than anyone else.” Having been so influenced by the College, he believes that his professional life and personal life are all one, and that they have both been successful.

In 1987, a scholarship was created in his name, The Otis Kitchen Scholarship, by the Auxiliary of Elizabethtown College, who enjoyed a good relationship with him during his tenure. Kitchen worked with the organization from 1977 until 2002, hosting the annual Pops Concert to raise support for financial needs at Elizabethtown, including student scholarships and campus facilities.

The scholarship provides assistance to up to three members of the band who demonstrate financial need and are in good academic standing, with preference given to the first chair in each section of the band.

Kitchen truly cares about the College community and how it functions today. To current students, he said “be proud of the remarkable achievements that are the result of teamwork and mutual respect at all levels. There is no doubt in my mind that my successful career was a direct result of the opportunities that Elizabethtown College provided for me to grow professionally and personally during my tenure.”

While there will not be a formal event recognizing Kitchen’s accomplishments, he received a bound copy of the citation from the PA House of Representatives.

Etownian

The

Spring Special

April 21, 2011

D. Tyler Drolet Staff Writer

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mmediately after the cold winter comes one of the most anticipated times of the year for many students here at the College: springtime. Springtime means different things to various people. It is the rebirth of everything after a long winter filled with snow, ice and the freezing cold. This type of weather can get very old for many people fairly quickly, and that is probably why springtime is the most popular time of the year.

There are specific signs that are apparent when spring approaches Etown. One of the most recognizable of these signs is when one starts to see students laying out in the Dell and other open, grassy spaces on sunny days. This is when students are usually doing homework, tanning, or throwing around a baseball or Frisbee. Another sign is when students appear on the BSC patio eating lunch outside and doing homework out on the tables. In addition, people have traded their heavy jackets and longs pants for shorts and short-sleeve shirts.

“I love not having to bundle up to go outside and being able to wear flips-flops and even sometimes no shoes,” sophomore

Sarah Kittle said. Flip-flops are a very popular reason why students here love spring.

Sophomore Kelsey Walck said that her most favorite part of spring is being able to wear flip-flops anywhere.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the spring is, of course, the sunshine and the increasing warmth of the weather. Students here at the College seem to think that the sunshine and warmer weather is one of the most important signs of spring and two of the things they look forward to the most.

It means the end to the cold weather, so that students can to go outside and enjoy the warm weather. “I love the sunshine and being able to sit outside with friends and being able to take naps outside as well,” sophomore Chelsea Payne said. Yes, there may be sunshine in the winter and other seasons but sunshine in the spring has a different meaning: it is “melting away” the dark and gloomy winter.

Sports are also a big reason to look forward to spring. “It means that summer vacation is close and that baseball season is starting,” sophomore Matthew Frutchey said. Around the school, the baseball and

Alexander J. Discianni Staff Writer

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ith Easter right around the corner, many classic traditions come into play. Millions partake in egg painting, marshmallow-Peeps-eating, and, of course – Easter egg hunting.

However, there is a question many people ask but never actually take the time to find out: “How did Easter eggs come into existence, and why does a giant rabbit hide them?”

These plastic eggs, many of which are filled with small change or candy, have origins from different ethnic and religious groups.

The most common origin for the symbolism of eggs at Easter is that the eggs represent new life, as a chick arises from an egg. Easter is a Christian holiday, which takes the aforementioned explanation and ties it into Jesus’s rebirth, also represented by the egg. The Easter egg’s roots are tied to the resurrection of Jesus in that the egg is said to symbolize the boulder that sealed Jesus in his tomb.

The egg also holds significance in the Jewish holiday, Passover, which

lacrosse seasons are starting. In the major leagues, spring training is over and the MLB teams begin the long journey to the championships.

Some say love is in the air around springtime and that is apparently true for some students as well. “One of my favorite parts of spring is seeing the shirtless guys around campus as they run past me and also seeing double rainbows,” said an Etown student who asked to remain anonymous. So, there seem to be a very wide range of reasons why Etown students love spring.

falls near Easter. During Passover, hard-boiled eggs are dipped in salt water. This symbolizes the “Qorban Chagigah,” the festival peace offerings sacrificed at the Temple in Jerusalem to be eaten on Erev Pesach.

The Spanish dish “hornazo,” which is traditionally consumed around Easter, contains hardboiled eggs as the main ingredient.

In England, near Easter, a traditional game is played in which hard-boiled pace eggs are given to everyone, and those people become players. Each player hits the others’ eggs with his or her own egg. This is known as egg jarping. To win this game, a player must be holding the last intact egg. The losers get to eat their eggs after being eliminated from the competition.

Due to the increasing commercialization of Easter, the Easter egg hunt has become extremely popular. To accommodate those with visual impairments, beeping Easter eggs have been developed that emit sounds, clicks and other noises to help children find them. Some of these eggs

There is, however, one event that most Etown students look forward to in the spring and that is TGIS, the annual weekend spring celebration at the College. This years TGIS weekend is entitled “Rumble In The Jungle.”

Keep a look-out for the schedule of the entire weekend. OSA is planning plenty of activities for that weekend, and hopefully there will be plenty of sunshine. Whether it is baseball, flip-flops or sunny days that you look forward to the most in spring, everyone can agree that springtime is one of the most anticipated and positive times of the year.

play songs and some just make sounds; they are a good invention to help spread the holiday cheer.

The Easter bunny’s origins are not widely known. Senior Ryan Follweiler said, “I love Easter. I always make sure I beat all my five and six year-old cousins in collecting the most eggs. I just want to know how the Easter bunny has to do with eggs; to me that makes no sense.” Sophomore Holly Bubb also has no clue where the Easter bunny’s origins stem from. She, like Follweiler, is a fan of Easter egg hunts. “When I was younger, I had the advantage of being taller and being able to get the most eggs. I don’t understand what a rabbit has to do with eggs, though,” Bubb said.

The Easter bunny has no roots in the Bible, nor do rabbits lay eggs. So where does it come from?

Studies at the University of Florida’s Center for Children’s Literature and Culture concluded that the origin of the bunny could be traced back to pre-Christian Germany in the 13th century. During that time period, people worshipped multiple

gods and goddesses. The deity Eostra was the goddess of spring and fertility, and there was a feast held to honor her. Her symbol was a rabbit because the rabbit has such a high reproductive rate, which ties in with fertility and spring.

The first rabbit tales were recorded in the 1500s. The first stories of a rabbit planting eggs are believed to have been published in 1680. According to the University of Florida’s Center for Children, it was about this time when German immigrants moved to Pennsylvania Dutch country, bringing their stories of egg-laying rabbits with them.

After this fable spread, a tradition of leaving “nests” or baskets for the bunny to leave eggs for the children became prevalent. These baskets included small gifts, small amounts of change and numerous types of candy as the years went on.

Many people do not know these origins, or just how important the egg is in many spring holiday celebrations. Be sure to share some trivia over Easter break. Happy holidays!

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Profiles • Academic Events • Monthly Series • Culture • Storytelling

alcohol awareness

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April 21, 2011

Get ABSURD sponsors realistic mock car crash before TGIS weekend Event held annually to raise awareness of drunk driving, consequences of getting caught, effect on victims Katie A. Bamberger Asst. Campus Life Editor

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lanning on getting absurd during TGIS weekend? How about joining Get ABSURD (Get A Better, Safer Understanding of Responsible Drinking) on campus to view the realities of irresponsible drinking? Next Thursday, April 28, the club will hold a mock car crash to demonstrate the consequences of drinking and driving. The crash will take place on campus in front of Ober loop from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., when three to four students will play roles throughout the crash.

“First and most important, it is to raise awareness of the potential hazards of alcohol, which is timely considering TGIS coming up soon,” Sandy Spayd, director of student wellness and campus health, said. “Second is the benefit of working with the local agencies in Etown.”

The event will facilitate a direct connection with the surrounding community, as the Elizabethtown Borough Police, EMTs and the fire

department will respond to the mock crash. Junior Tess Lutz, vice president of Get ABSURD, echoed Spayd. She said that the group hopes to raise awareness about responsible drinking — especially about not drinking and driving.

“We want students to see that while you might not think you’ve had too much to drink, getting behind the wheel is a bad idea,” she said.

Lutz described what will be happening, and said that at the start of the crash, the audience will see the aftermath of the actual impact. The crash will essentially be paused. Later, medical personnel will handle the drunken driving incident as if it were real.

“We are not saying that students don’t realize not to drink and drive, but we just want them to realize the importance of making smart decisions,” Lutz said. “I think it will leave a lasting impact because it’s something shocking and makes students rethink some of what they’ve done or what they are going to do.”

also attended last year. “I only hope for it to be even better this year,” she said. In fact, Masano will be documenting the entire crash for ECTV-40.

“I hope this is going to defin ite ly m a ke a lasting impact on students and their awareness of drinking and driving. I know it did [on] mine last year,” Masano said. “It is scary to see students you know get all Courtesy Photo mangled up, and Get ABSURD sponsors the annual mock car crash to raise awareness of the dangers see how realistic involved with drinking and driving. it can all become Students are gearing up for high school did not hold events after a night of drinking. You the simulation. “I hope to see like this, although she felt it would never know what might happen.”

Senior Julianne Keys also really cool effects and make-up have been beneficial. being used,” sophomore Alexa Masano is looking forward weighed in. “I’ve never attended Masano said. She noted that her to the event, which she

before but have seen pictures from friends from past years, and the make-up used to create the injuries is very realistic,” Keys said. “I hope the event increases awareness on the campus of possible consequences of driving under the influence.”

Immediately after the mock crash, the Chaplain’s office will hold a candlelight vigil in honor of all those who have actually been affected by drunk drivers and to respect the lives lost. Get ABSURD warns that the event may be emotional, but the group believes it will carry a very serious message.

Get ABSURD members hope that students attending will think twice about getting in a car with a drunk driver after witnessing the crash and seeing first-hand how a situation can quickly turn dangerous and result in fatal consequences.

For more information on the mock crash or about Get ABSURD contact getabsurd@etown.edu.

LOOKING FOR A SOLID FUTURE?

film festival

EVEFest honors, rewards exceptional films

Communications department hosts annual festival to judge videos Katherine G. Pebley Staff Writer

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n April 29, the Communications Department VW & Audi have just had one of the largest year-to-year of Elizabethtown College will host their annual student film sales increases of almost any auto manufacturer. competition, the Elizabethtown Increasing volume requires us to increase our sales team!

Video Excellence Festival.

EVEFest, as it’s otherwise We are a family-owned dealer representing three of the world’s known, is a communicationslargest and most financially sound European manufacturers. Our sponsored student film festival franchises are all solid. Many of our employees have been with us that started in 2001. Though it for over ten years. Don’t have much experience? We’ll train you. is a communications event, any If you’re a go-getter, make us your new home. and all students at Etown are IDEAL FOR COLLEGE GRADS. encouraged to submit works, • Excellent pay plan with monthly/quarterly/annual bonus regardless of their major. Many • Factory incentives • Benefits communications professors require that their video classes enter something in the contest.

There are different categories in which to submit, including Image: Chelsea Decker Music Video, Short Feature, EVEFest gives Elizabethtown College students of any major the opportunity to News Package, iMovie Multi- showcase their work in video and multimedia production. Submissions are judged by media, Commercial/Promo/ members of the WGAL Channel 8 staff in seven categories.

Sales • Service • Leasing • Parts • Accessories • Bodyshop Advertisement, WB Video and work they do.” In this arena, it is While Gaul won last year, Center for Business on April Since 1964, Lancaster’s only German-exclusive automotive technology center.

Documentary. Members of the more than professors who com- he also doesn’t think that his 29 with an old Hollywood WGAL Channel 8 staff will be ment on the students’ works it is trophy was the most important theme, including a red carjudging the submissions. also professionals working in the part of the event. “Having ev- pet, trophies, stars and more.

Junior Kaitlyn Miller is a field, other faculty, peers, and eryone applaud while you walk Johnson encourages everyone communications major and community members. up to the front of the room to be on campus to attend this opbusiness administration miSenior Dillon Gaul is a mass acknowledged for your achieve- portunity to recognize outnor. She is also an assistant to communications major who ment is a great feeling. The cash standing student work. the communications departsubmitted a video last spring be- prize didn’t hurt, but what ment and the news director cause of a class requirement and was more important was of ECTV-40, Etown’s 24-hour ended up winning. “I would spending an evening with leased access cable station have entered a video despite the all my friends and rejoicowned and operated by the class requirement,” Gaul said. ing for everyone’s hard Consider the KU Master of Social Work “Family-in-Environment” communications Department.

“All my life I’ve been a face in work. That’s the most She is organizing the competiBecome a licensed social worker in as few as 4 semesters the crowd watching someone rewarding part as a contion this year along with Carrie Learn to help others in a variety of roles: else’s film, but making my own testant: everyone walks Chapman, another communivideo let me switch roles. I got away a winner.”

Therapist, legislator, advocate, agency director cations department assistant, to play producer and director, Miller recognized that and Dr. Kirsten Johnson, chair and I got to share my creativ- since EVEFest falls durof the department.

Program is affordable and accessible ity for a change.” His winning ing the weekend of TGIS, “EVEFest is a video festival Two schedules: video was called “Mr. Etown students may be busy with that allows us to recognize out2010,” and it was submitted in other activities. However, One traditional 7am to 10am MTWF standing student work in the the News Package category. she assured students, “It’s areas of video and multi-media Sophomore Alli Ward was going to be a lot of fun, production,” Johnson said.

PLUS- New Executive Program required to submit a piece for and viewers will see some “It is a way for the departFriday morning and Saturdays only EVEFest this year. She didn’t do pretty amazing document to give credit to the stuher project with winning in mind, mentaries that are very to accommodate work schedules dents who do exceptionally well stating, “I just hope that I affect inspiring.” and put a lot of effort into their someone. This is an opportunity Gaul added, “It’s someprojects; this is a way for them to Advanced Standing available for BSW’s for me to produce something that thing everyone should show off all of their hard work,” could change someone, and I re- experience at least once Miller said. “So many video ally hope that I can get feedback during his or her time Call (610) 683-4235 to speak with a projects are done in the departand make something I’ll remem- here at Elizabethtown.” ment that are just graded and faculty member ber and hopefully that someone EVEFest is being held returned. Students can get more else will remember, too.” in the James B. Hoover recognition at the festival for the

Send resume to rforster@autohaus.com

1373 Manheim Pike, Lancaster PA 17601 717-299-2801 • autohaus.com

Seniors: Want a career, not a job?

Features

staff achievements

Etownian

The

April 21, 2011

annual award ceremony

Donna Talarico launching online Winners recognized, literary magazine: Hippocampus awarded for successes pocampus will reward one article or story per issue with a “Most Memorable” badge. The contribunew online literary magazine tor whose story or article receives founded by Elizabethtown the most Facebook shares and College’s website content editor, likes, Twitter tweets and retweets, Donna Talarico, will be launched comments, controversies, etc. will May 1. Talarico came up with the receive this badge in addition to idea for Hippocampus Magazine a $25 gift card from Amazon or while working on her MFA at iTunes. More than one winner Wilkes University. can be awarded the prize for some issues, but each article or story can only be considered for the month after its issue was published.

“Anybody with a story to tell” should submit to the magazine, Talarico said.

Submissions are accepted in six categories: memoir, personal essay, reviews, interviews and craft articles. There is also a miscellaneous category for any creative nonfiction piece that doesn’t fit into any of the other categories.

While there are no restrictions on the topics of the articles or stories, there are guidelines for Image: hippocampusmagazine.com submission. Memoir exHippocampus Magazine is an exclusively online literary magazine that will feature creative nonfiction. It was founded by Donna Talarico and will officially cerpts and personal essays may be up to 2,000 launch May 1. words, while memoir The assignment was given in What makes the magazine and nonfiction craft articles may one of her classes within the pub- unique is that it is designed to be “a be up to 1,000 words. Reviews of lishing track; the students were to venue for encouraging writers like memoirs or nonfiction craft books come up with any kind of project [Talarico] to get published.” Anyone may be up to 800 words. in small groups. can submit their creative nonfiction Before writing an interview “I said, ‘Well, I want to start an work to Hippocampus regardless of piece, the idea must first be pitched online literary magazine about whether they have been published. to the magazine. The pitch should creative nonfiction,’” Talarico said.

Hippocampus’ mission state- include which notable writer or As the group worked on the proj- ment is to educate, engage and literary industry individual will be ect, Talarico came up with the name entertain readers and writers of profiled and why the writer chose Hippocampus. She got the idea creative nonfiction. By reading that person. Ideas that don’t quite fit from the part of brain that holds others’ creative nonfiction pieces should be sent to the miscellaneous long-term memories, which has or learning from their mistakes in department for approval. the same name. It was not used for their own pieces, readers and writAfter submission, each piece is the final product, but the idea stuck ers will learn more about the genre. read blindly by about 20 volunteer with her. She bought the domain for According to Talarico, the enter- readers to decide what will be rewww.HippocampusMagazine.com tainment comes from reading the jected or accepted. in 2009 but didn’t do anything with stories. The magazine will engage Submissions are accepted on a it until a few months ago. readers by encouraging them to rolling basis with a typical turn“After a few years of always comment on articles. around time of six to eight weeks. If thinking about it, I realized it won’t “I want to make it a two-way the magazine accepts a submission, do anyone any good in my head,” magazine,” Talarico said. “That’s the writer will be told in which issue Talarico said. very different from other online his or her article will appear.

Talarico got to work on Hippo- magazines and definitely print A launch party will be held on campus Magazine in January 2011. magazines.” the magazine’s website May 1. Go She wanted a long enough launch To further the readers’ par- to HippocampusMagazine.com for period to make sure she was able ticipation in the magazine, Hip- more information.

Tara B. Hayes Features Editor

A

to adequately prepare for the debut.

The first issue will feature 12 articles including memoirs, essays, miscellaneous pieces, one interview article and one book review; however, the total amount of articles will vary from issue to issue. After its launch, the magazine will be published monthly but, according to Talarico, “to keep it fresh, I might do blog posts in between.”

Patricia A. Cangelosi Copy Editor

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oward the end of each academic year, students, faculty and staff of Elizabethtown College gather to honor those on campus who have gone above and beyond expectations. Several of these individuals will be recognized at the student awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 27, in Leffler Chapel at 11 a.m. The campus life council must choose award recipients from a pool of qualified candidates, and it is no easy feat.

Dr. Kurt Barnada, associate professor of modern languages and chair of the council, explained that a minimum of one member from each class receives an award.

If two candidates from the same class display equal qualifications, they may both win. In addition, the Points of Distinction Award is given to a senior who exemplifies the values of the College.

Particularly, applicants must demonstrate successful integration of four major attributes of the College’s philosophy: relationship-centered learning, international and intercultural understanding, purposeful life work and experiential learning. These broad categories could include a number of activities, including working with a professor on a project, studying abroad, participating in service, completing an internship, etc. The goal is to recognize students who have become bigger parts of the world around them and who have changed that world in a positive way.

“It’s a culminating award for seniors. It’s the highest honor a student can get at this ceremony,” Barnada said of the Points of Distinction Award. The deadline to apply was shortly after spring break. Candidates were asked to fill out a form listing all of the activities they were involved in, on and off campus, and then to write an essay explaining how they had demonstrated the four major attributes above.

Once the applications had been submitted — 34 in all — each member of the campus life council read them, and the council gathered to discuss thoughts and opinions. “I am always in awe of all of the applicants’ achievements,” Paula Orenstein, associate director

of Admissions and council member, said. “Not only are they good students academically, but they are all extremely well-rounded individuals.”

Senior Tom Hagerty, who serves on the committee for the first time this year, decided to abstain from voting on the winners. “The identities of those nominated were concealed, but I was still able to identify more than half of the applications. I did not want to vote for any of the awards because of that,” Hagerty said.

The council has already decided on winners, and the students will be notified before the ceremony to ensure their attendance. Also, families frequently like to attend to watch their loved ones with pride — but families are not the only audience members who are excited.

“It’s great for first-year students to see what some of the upperclassmen have been able to achieve. It might be an inspiration for them to take advantage of all that Elizabethtown has to offer,” Barnada said. “Many of us [faculty members] have had these students in our classes, and we are proud to see them earning such high honors.”

Academics is one component of life at Etown, and an important one, but it is not everything. Many extracurricular activities at the College help to shape students and their experiences here.

“The ceremony is really a time to honor the students and others, so it is great to be a part of it,” Hagerty said. “We honor those extraordinary students and staff, and it is always good to gather for a celebration of the positive things in life.”

“All of the students who have been nominated are outstanding,” Orenstein added. “They are all actively engaged in our college community in a variety of areas, and I am also impressed by the many different types of service opportunities they have each experienced.”

At the ceremony, various groups on campus will present other awards as well. Barnada emphasized the importance of attending the ceremony, even for those who are not in the running for an award. “I hope there is a large turnout,” he said. “It’s wonderful to have your peers there when you are granted an honor like this.”

faculty achievements

Haines’ music, knowledge celebrated in lecture-recital Devon P. Geduldig Staff Writer

T

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Graduates consistently pass licensure examinations and secure jobs.

he Music Division of the Fine and Performing Arts Department hosted a lecture-recital of the composer James Haines, professor of music, on Monday, April 11, in the Zug Recital Hall. His music has been performed all over the country in a variety of concert and academic settings.

This lecture-recital was part of Elizabethtown College’s Monday Series. Performers included faculty members Alison Mekeel, soprano; Jill Marchione, oboe; and Debra Ronning, piano. Others included were current and former composition students of Dr.

Haines’ performing solo piano pieces. The program included songs by Ralph Waldo Emerson and English department faculty members Carmine Sarracino and John Rohrkemper.

Pa r t i c ip at i n g i n t h e lecture-recital was important to contributors like Rohrkemper. “I have long admired Jim Haines’ intelligent and evocative music, and I also was impressed with how he featured the work of his students in his recital,” he said. “It’s typical of Jim to highlight the work of others. It’s a large part what makes him a good teacher and a wonderful collaborator.”

Rohrkemper and Haines collaborated on a new opera called Las Madres de la Plaza. It premiered at the College on March 14th and 15th, 2008, with a cast, crew and orchestra of students,

faculty and other professional singers and instrumental musicians.

Ronning was excited to perform in the recital and thought it went very well.

She performed “Gerbungalo” by alumnus Jacob Hines ’00. “It was exciting to perform with Mrs. Mekeel and Ms. Marchione. They are wonderful musicians and I enjoyed collaborating with them,” she said.

She was asked to participate in the recital personally by Haines last year and believes the recital was a result of his sabbatical work.

Ronning worked directly with Haines to decide which pieces would be chosen and who would be selected to perform them.

“Since Dr. Haines and I work very closely with the composition and performance students in the Fine and Performing Arts

5

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 Allison M. Rohland Assistant Features Editor Jordyn M. Howe Asst. Campus Life Editor Katie A. Bamberger 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 Alexis L. Morris Melanie L. Weyant Assistant Layout Editor Katherine E. Dyer Correspondent Agnetha M. Serrame Business Manager Benjamin L. Frey Asst. Business Manager Amy M. Berdanier Advertising Manager Chelsea A. Benson Marketing Manager Joelle E. Atkinson Assistant Ad. Manager Jennifer A. Hughes 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.

program, it was a logical outcome for us to choose student compositions for recital performance,” she said. “When Dr. Haines has a student complete a composition, he will often ask them to come and see me. The next step is for me to give them a live performance of their work. By doing this I can often ‘feel’ on the keyboard and ‘see’ by the notation if the composition is making sense musically.”

The lecture-recital had a great outcome and received positive feedback. “The student reaction to the concert has been very positive,” Ronning said. “A number of students are eager to work on character pieces for next year’s composition class with Dr. Haines.”

The

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Etownian

ampus Lif E C

April 21, 2011

Campus Events • Reviews • Advice • Culture • Food and Drink

technology

events

Cloud Computing: network accessibility available for all Panel experts New advancement takes our insitution to new heights advise eager students T

Images: www.blogspot.com, www.fatwallet.com

Lauren E. Stine Staff Writer

he technological Cloud Nine is now in reach for anyone with a computer and Internet connection. Cloud computing is stepping forward as a new way for computer users to access files from anywhere with Internet access. According to the article ‘What is Cloud Computing?’ by Rivka Tadjer, this technology ultimately allows users to access files such as music downloads, word documents or email. “Cloud computing is many different things, really,” Ron Heasley, Executive Director of ITS said. “The cloud is basically the Internet.”

Heasley stated there are two main uses for clouds: one is to have the ability to reach personal files, and the second is to run software. Currently Elizabethtown College uses cloud computing for its Alumni Portal. “The alumni can use this site to sign up for reunions or keep in touch,” said Heasley. Although it is an Etown Web page, it is run through a contracted company’s

servers. This type of business is called Software for a Service, or SaS. Heasley stated that Etown utilizes this service because it saves money. “We don’t have to hire people to design the website, and we save time because this process is very time consuming,” he said. The company contracted by the College is also specialized in designing alumni websites, so they are quite qualified to create our alumni Web page.

The other use for cloud computing is to store files, which some colleges use, according to Heasley: “What some colleges do is they look to cloud computing for email or possibly file storage because it provides more space.” Some colleges even back up their files via web using cloud computing. Etown relies on another means of storage. “We keep files on our 90 servers, but these servers are backed up every night using tapes. Files are kept in multiple locations such as the library and a specific vault for backup tapes,” he revealed.

Elizabethtown even hires a company to take tapes to a storage facility in Phila-

delphia. “The goal in backing up files is to have a distance in between where they are stored.” For example, Heasley explained if a tornado or other natural disaster hit Etown, the College would lose vital data such as admissions and financial information. “I feel if we lost all files to Elizabethtown College, it would stop operation for quite some time,” Heasley stated.

One downfall to keeping email on the college servers is the lack of the available space.

While Etown has 90 servers, corporations such as Google, who contract out space, have approximately 250,000; so why has Etown chosen not to keep email on Google-owned servers? “We’re a little hesitant because Google is a large security target for hackers. The issue with placing email on a site like Google is confidentiality of emails,” Heasley said.

“Hackers are less likely to hack Elizabethtown College because we’re small, but Google is a global business which hackers target much more frequently … Administrative emails tend to contain a fair amount of confidential information, and we feel like we manage our security well here at Elizabethtown.” Although the switch has not been made, Heasley stated the ITS department is constantly evaluating and considering the idea.

Benefits to cloud computing include its easy accessibility. Ever get frustrated because you cannot access the network drives off-campus? If you save your files to a place such as Dropbox, a company which provides personal cloud storage, it is possible to access them anywhere you have Internet access.

Heasley also offers another solution: Virtual Private Network. Due to the fact that most commuter students need to access the drives from off-campus places more often than residential students, most commuter students sign a form to have the school install software on their computer which will enable them to access the Elizabethtown College Network as long as they have Internet access. “Although most commuter students are aware of this feature, other students are able to receive this software as well,” Heasley confirmed.

The form can be signed at the ITS desk in Nicarry. “The software is a little complicated at first, but once it’s installed, it is very helpful,” Heasley stated. With the advancements in the tech world, those of us who are not so computer savvy can enjoy the convenience of having the cloud at our fingertips.

careers

Health Services event unites recruiters, job-seekers As pressure mounts, potential employees explore post-grad options

Patricia A. Cangelosi Copy Editor

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hroughout their years of schoolwork, internships and other activities, scholars are increasingly haunted by the J word. Seniors, especially, face the unwelcome question every day: “Do you have a job yet?” Those majoring in occupational therapy, social work, psychology or music therapy may be closer to an answer than they think. Each spring, Elizabethtown College Career Services sponsors a Health Services job fair to bring employers and job-seeking students together. This year’s fair was held on Monday in Leffler Chapel, and the OT department cosponsored the event. Recruiters from 21 companies attended; several Etown graduates were among them.

Lauren Rowe, a music therapist from Living Unlimited, Inc., found a job in her field shortly after graduating from Etown. Living Unlimited, Inc. assists people with cognitive and/or physical disabilities to maximize their ability to

thrive in their surroundings. The company is looking to hire an entry-level rehabilitation specialist and a music therapist.

Erin Ensminger ’10, an OT, works for Pinnacle Health.

Pinnacle offers rehabilitation services and was voted among the best places to work in 2002 through 2009. “I think a lot of the field experience really helps to prepare you,” Ensminger said. “It’s a very smooth transition from being a student at Pinnacle to being an employee at Pinnacle. The education that you receive there and at Etown is priceless.”

Colleen Tonkin, ’05, of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia said that CHOP is seeking those interested in psychology, behavioral health, lab positions and social work.

Meanwhile, Shauna Witmer ’10, of Wellspan Health, works as an OT at an acute care hospital in York, Pa. When Witmer was a senior at Etown, she sent her resume to Wellspan online the night before the Health Services job fair. The next day, she followed up in person with a recruiter from the company. The strategy worked. She was hired in May ’10 and began in August, after her final fieldwork ended.

Witmer offered advice to current students in the field: “Look. Start now, even before your fieldwork. Make sure you have a contact person. Try to get a name rather than just sending your resume.” Witmer’s colleague, Deanna Schwalm, added, “The jobs are out there; they just get taken very quickly.”

Lancaster General Health representative Sue Martin noted that “OT students from Etown come very well prepared.” Lancaster General Health includes an accredited stroke center, an orthopedic center and a level II trauma center and offers opportunities for many positions. According to Martin, clinical experience with an organization is “the best interview you can have.” The company gets to know students who complete fieldwork and may be more willing to hire them after they have proven their skills.

Students in the health services fields are not the only ones who can benefit from such events. Career Services hosts several job and internship fairs per year. These opportunities can be found at www.etown.edu/careerservices.aspx.

Katie A. Bamberger Asst. Campus Life Editor

T

he April meeting of IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) Harrisburg took place at Elizabethtown College last night. The theme was slated to surround resume development and creating a personal brand in order to stand out as a job applicant.

Interested students registered beforehand either directly through IABC or through the Department of Communications.

The program was titled “Interviewing and Personal Branding – Standing Out in an Over-Saturated Job Market.”

Junior Chris Tjaden described the event as dinner-oriented and geared toward learning to set yourself apart in the job market. The focus was on personal branding through a variety of means. Prior to the event, Tjaden predicted, “It should serve as a very good insight to all students who seek to successfully enter the job market in the next few years. I expect it to be interesting and successful.” According to junior Jamie Miller, “Not only will it offer students, professors and professionals new perspectives and advice, but it will be a result of the hard work our class has put forth to make the event a success.”

Miller said IABC serves as the first major event for her class.

After the dinner, panelists Robert Manbeck, Melissa Fitzgerald and Marie Prichard spoke. The panelists’ specialties were particularly relevant to the discussion: Manbeck serves as public affairs manager for United Water Pennsylvania, Fitzgerald works as assistant director of career services at the College and Prichard represents the Lancaster Unemployment Office. Tjaden noted that because of these various panelists, a broad range of topics would most likely be covered, in turn providing a wealth of information for attendees. “I’m expecting a variety of insightful responses to questions based on each speaker’s range of experience within their individual field,” Tjaden said. “Hopefully the event’s content should provide students with the tools they need to go out and be successful in the current job market.”

Tjaden also highlighted that it was the first time in several years that such a conference was held on campus at Etown.

While Tjaden was not directly involved in this event, he is co-managing a separate event with Miller which will take place on Friday, April 29. According to Tjaden, this particular program, known as the Student Media Workshop, is designed to educate high school students about the importance of applications of media and communications in current times. Held in Steinmen Hall from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., the event will be free.

So far twenty students are scheduled to attend, which will allow them to further explore their interests in communications and to interact with individuals on campus. High school students need to register by submitting a form by Thursday, April 21 at noon.

Tjaden emphasized the positive impact this might have on prospective students.

“Through activities centered on the industry of communications, visiting students will gain insight into the role of media in society and those who work in it,” he said.

A number of representatives will also be present at the event. TPN Marketing, WGAL News and The Lancaster Intelligencer are all slated to attend and will facilitate discussion alongside professors and students in the communications discipline.

These events represent the Department of Communications, demonstrating the importance of the program here at Etown.

Over the span of these events, the personal and academic drive of students is visible as they continue to work hard to organize programs that feature relevant and interesting representatives.

Campus Life

Melanie R. Giardina

Campus Lifeby Editor Compiled Campus Security and Melanie R. Giardina Campus Life Editor

• April a staff member called Campus Security a water balloon OnOn April 15, 15, a staff member called Campus Security after a waterafter balloon hit their vehiclehit a vehicle while driving past Royer. while driving past Royer.

• On April 17, an unidentified individual pulled a Schlosser fire alarm. Campus Security responded to the call and reset the alarm.

On April 17, an unidentified individual pulled a Schlosser fire alarm. Campus Security

• That same student responded to theday, call aand reset thereported alarm. to Campus Security that a bike had been stolen from Founders A. Officials later found the student’s bike outside of Founders C and D. • same Onday, April 19, areported professor called Security Campusthat Security request a counselor for a A. student.

That a student to Campus their biketohad been stolen from Founders OfficialsSince later

Elizabethtown College is such a small community, Security noted it was not uncommon for

found the student’s bike outside ofassistance Founders Cfor andtheir D. students. professors to request

vices

Bad behavior has positive benefits Negative habits like stress have an upside

Agnetha C. Serrame Correspondent

W

e have all heard of the quote “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger,” and many use it to their advantage. There are specific activities or things we avoid because we are taught that they are bad for us. On the contrary, sometimes there are benefits we can get from these vices.

When you were little, do you remember your dentist telling you that chewing gum will destroy your teeth? Reader’s Digest magazine interviewed 25 dentists for their July 2009 issue, and they said that chewing gum prevents cavities.

The sugar sweetener xylitol in gum reduces bad bacteria and helps change the chemistry inside your mouth. They recommended chewing six to seven pieces of gum per day to help prevent cavities; plus it will also reduce stress.

Another myth is that listening to loud music will impair your hearing in the long run. The inner part of the ear, called the sacculus, is being stimulated and responds to the music. The sacculus has a connection in a part of our brain that is responsible for hunger, sex and the feeling of pain. When they are satisfied, the brain sends out a signal that tells the body to release hormones that make us calm and happy. So turning up any kind of music on a stressful Monday will help to make the week bearable.

Another unhealthy thing that we avoid is drinking soda. The truth is that fizzy drinks fight dementia, aid in preventing Alzheimer’s disease and increase memory by 20 percent for those who consume two cans a day. For all those out there who like to sit in front of their Xbox or PS3 all day, playing video games can increase your metabolism and handeye coordination. During a recent

study published in Archives of Surgery, surgeons who played video games for more than three hours each week operated better during their training exercises. They made 37 percent fewer mistakes and got the job done 27 percent faster in comparison to those who never played video games.

Another activity added to the list is sex. Aside from obvious reasons, sex has numerous health benefits. Thirty minutes of sex burns about 85 calories or more, which means that 42 half-hour sessions can burn 3,750 calories, just enough to lose a pound. Sex reduces stress, pain and prostate cancer risks. It also boosts immunity, improves heart functions, boosts self-esteem, strengthens pelvic floor muscles and helps release oxytocin which promotes good sleep, according to research.

A common problem in a college setting is stress. Whether it’s a math exam, a lab report or drama with friends, college students are always stressing about it. Coping with a lot of stress actually helps us perform better.

“I tend to do my papers the last minute, and it helps me concentrate more on the topic,” first-year Olivia Cesar said. She thinks that doing her papers closer to the due date increases her chances of finishing them. When we are stressed, the hormone cortisol is produced and it affects the part of our brain that manages learning and emotion. Acute stress increases the transportation of glutamate, a substance that passes messages to the brain, which enhances our working memory.

Another addition to the list is drinking beer. In moderation, consuming beer has been known to reduce the risk of heart and vascular disease and stroke.

Beer contains vitamin B6, which prevents the buildup of an a m i n o acid called homocysteine that has been linked to heart disease. It helps reduce stress, promotes better sleep and blood vessel dilation and is a great ingredient when making food.

One of the most surprising vices that is actually beneficial is being lazy. Sitting around or taking a nap is better than stressing out and always doing something. People who get up early and have a busy schedule every day are more likely to have a shorter life span in comparison to those who sleep in and take naps on a regular basis, according to a public health expert.

“I take naps whenever I can because I usually stay up late at night to do homework. I think that it is necessary for college students to take at least a 30-minute nap every day because we don’t get enough sleep anymore,” first-year Kirsten Barone suggested.

All of these vices were studied and proven by researchers and scientists, but it is up to us to decide whether they are good for us or not. Moderation and self control are key to a healthy lifestyle and a longer life, so be the judge and see what is right for you.

Etownian

The

April 21, 2011

5

safety

Jay Security: behind the scenes Campus Security measures to protect students

Tara B. Hayes Features Editor

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pril 16, 2007.

To some that date will never be forgotten, while for others, the memory of that day has already begun to fade. This was the morning Seung-Hui Cho opened fire in an academic building on Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University’s campus.

After the Virginia Tech massacre, many colleges and universities began to tighten security on their campuses. Student newspapers published opinion articles about safety on campus. While this incident, as well as others similar to it, was not the sole reason for improvements in security, it has served as an influence, even after the fourth anniversary.

“While it was a horrific occurrence, there were some positives in that it caused all of us in this profession to do some soul searching,” Assistant Director of Campus Security Dale Boyer said.

Even though Elizabethtown College has never experienced an incident as catastrophic as these shootings, it is always important to be prepared. The College also must be ready to handle the incidents that aren’t as massive.

“We have a team on call 24/7 to provide safety and security after hours,” Dean of Students Marianne Calenda said. “Residence assistants are trained to respond as well as Campus Security.”

Campus Security provides many services to keep students safe in addition to the work they do with other departments. One of the main services is the separate number students can call in case of an emergency. It works much like 911 except the number is (717)-361-1111 and it goes directly to Campus Security. A non-emergency number is also provided for less intense situations.

Boyer, Calenda and Director of Campus Security Jack Longenecker emphasize the importance of detail and timeliness when reporting an incident.

“The sooner you get to me, the better the chance of me getting them,” Boyer said.

“Don’t wait two weeks,” Longenecker agreed.

For students who feel unsafe walking around campus at night or during the day, Campus Security provides escorts.

“If you don’t feel comfortable with walking alone, don’t,” Longenecker said. He reminds students that while Etown is private property, it is an open environment that is available to the general public.

“Ninety-nine percent of the time, common sense will keep you a lot safer,” Boyer said. Boyer and Longenecker agree that they would rather go check out a report and have it be nothing than for a student not to call when the situation is real and/or serious.

To keep students safe while they are in their rooms, Residence Life and Campus Security are working together to use a card access system in four residence buildings: Schreiber Quadrangle, Hackman Apartments, Founders and Brinser. The other dorms will eventually use the card system instead of keys.

This system increases safety in dorms through the ability to better track who was in the building during an incident. A log is kept of all the swipes for future reference, if necessary. It also sounds as if the door is propped open too long to encourage students to keep all outside doors closed. Using cards instead of keys also gives Campus Security and Residence Life better control over who can access the buildings.

“We all work together as a team,” Calenda said of the relationship between Campus Security and Residence Life.

To better protect students’ personal property, Boyer has created a proposal to provide safes for students to rent during the academic year. Depending on whether the proposal is approved, the safes could be available as soon as next semester. They would be big enough to fit multiple items. The safes would come with a key and require a $25 deposit. The process will be very similar to that of renting microfridges on campus. If you would be interested in renting a safe, let Boyer know at BOYERA@etown.edu.

Photo: Matthew P. Butera

Elizabethtown Campus Security works to keep students as safe as possible during the academic year.

dance

Emotion members prepare diligently for end of the year showcase Dancers provide insight on upcoming performance

Jordyn M. Howe Asst. Features Editor

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he spring Emotion show will take place on Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7 in Leffler Chapel at 8 p.m. at Elizabethtown College. The doors will open to the public at 7:15 p.m. The show features 24 dances of various styles. Audience members can expect to see every genre of dance: lyrical, modern, ballet, hiphop, tap and even Irish step dance.

There’s something for everyone at this semester’s show.

The theme of the show is currently being decided, but junior Nikita Wigoda, secretary of Emotion, promises that it will not disappoint. “The audience should expect an amazing show with a ton of talent. This should be one of our best yet. It will keep the audience entertained and on the edge of their seats the whole time!” Wigoda

said. A member of Emotion since the fall of her first year, Wigoda has grown to love the club and her involvement has introduced her to many life-long friends. Her favorite aspect of Emotion is that it is lead and choreographed by a studentbased committee. “I must say that I really love show week,” Wigoda commented.“Even though it is hectic, it feels amazing to perform in front of an audience and show off all of your hard work from the semester. It gives you such a rush!”

This semester’s show will include a Company number which is a modern take on the classic “Romeo and Juliet.” Any member of Emotion, from beginner to advanced, was eligible to audition for this piece, and it is choreographed by dance adjunct faculty and dance instructor Kristen Pontz. Playing the roles of Romeo and Juliet

are sophomores Ryan Stadel and Lauren Hoffman, respectively.

Sophomore Kim Welker, member of the Company number, stated “the choreography is really intense and unique, and I believe we have been challenged a lot this semester.

The company rehearses once a week for three hours, and I know every member involved has been putting a huge amount of effort into the piece.

I think it is really awesome that we are dancing a familiar story with a modern twist, and I hope the audience enjoys it!”

The dancers are very excited about their upcoming performances and cannot wait to get on the stage to show off their work. Sophomore Laura Price, Emotion member, stated, “In relation to the upcoming show, I am most excited about being able to perform the dances

that we all have worked on and practiced so hard for this semester.” Her favorite thing about the club is that she gets to learn new styles of dance.

“Before Emotion I was only trained in ballet, pointe and jazz. Now I have been able to try and experience numerous other styles which is always fun to do,” commented Price.

Many Etown students attend the Emotion show in hopes of seeing what interesting pieces the choreographers have conjured up during the semester. Sophomore Johanna Goslin plans to attend the spring semester

show: “My favorite parts are seeing my friends dancing, admiring the choreography that I could never do, and listening to the music.”

Sophomore Ashley Butenewicz also plans to see this semester’s performances. She has been to every Emotion show since coming to Etown and has enjoyed each of them. “My favorite part is watching my roommate, Laura Price, and so many of my other friends in their dances! I know they attend so many practices and put in so much hard work and dedication that I am thrilled when it’s finally time to see what they have been perfecting for so long,” Butenwicz stated. She added, “They all love what they do and it is obvious on stage, which makes for a beautiful show. I always look forward to the Emotion showcase at the end of each semester!”

A student committee, full of passionate dancers, runs the Emotion club. Those club members include senior and Emotion President Maria Dziecichowicz, junior Vice President Hayley Mazzur, Secretary Wigoda and sophomore Treasurer David Kirchner. Other members of the committee include senior Historian Kortni Smith, Fundraiser Chairs senior Brittany Kuperavage and junior Ashley Huttenstine, as well as junior Michelle Hare who is in charge of Public Relations, Costumer senior Emily Knitter and junior Club Representative Laura Farnish.

Tickets for the spring show can be purchased in the BSC May 2-6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. They can also be purchased the night of the show in the lobby. The cost for general admission is $4, while the cost for Etown students is $3. For more information, contact Wigoda at Emotion@etown.edu.

Images: gpiab.se, www.Idigames.com, www.123rf.com

The

8

Etownian

pinio O N

April 21, 2011

Campus Issues • Columns • Op-Ed •Letters to the Editor

letter to the editor

Pro-life statements cause further anguish

Plea for campus understanding; one girl’s experience Maggie L. Stromoski Guest Writer

I

have a relatively positive view of Elizabethtown in the time that I’ve been here. Everyone has their bad days when they wish they could have gone somewhere else but it was my choice to come here, and I’ll stand by it.

Walking around campus in the spring is one of my favorite pasttimes. I love the smell of the freshcut grass and that beautiful tree blooming over by Zug. So imagine my surprise when I walk up to the BSC and read this in chalk: OVER 3,500 HEARTS ARE STOPPED BY ABORTION EACH YEAR. Ah yes. On such a lovely day I want to feel intense guilt about an action most people have no conception of. No idea how difficult or painful it is to make that decision, no idea the circumstances that led up to that point and, in some cases, don’t even have the parts necessary to understand it.

Look, I can throw out old statistics with no sources, too.

But I’m going to assume that the people who wrote all that were women. I would hope at least it was — we are the ones that feel the brunt of this debate.

What right do these people have to scrawl such messages and not even have the courtesy of signing their names? I’m in support of free speech, but why hide behind some asphalt and chalk? Why not open this topic up to everyone?

This is a college campus, right?

A place of free speech and free discussion on all topics, no matter how controversial?

For that matter, what right do I have to bring this up in the first place? What right do I have to challenge these individuals’ pro-life stance? Well, this is America. I also do have a right to free speech.

And I have had an abortion.

And I know firsthand how difficult this decision is.

It’s never easy being pregnant, from the little I know and the lot I hear. Even when you’re planning on it, it can be terrifying. Now imagine how terrifying it is when you weren’t planning on it. Imagine how terrifying it is when you think all the failsafe ideas and methods of

protection that you’ve been using end up failing.

I’m sure you can.

But it’s nothing like actually living it.

I have never been more afraid in my life.

My situation was simple – a college student (no degree yet), with not enough worldly experience to put the bit I’ve learned for the degree to good use, thousands of dollars in debt, a part-time job and a loving boyfriend in the same financial and academic situation. Neither of us were prepared for this. Neither of us knew what to do. How were we going to tell our families?

This is the essence of pro-choice: we considered all the options. The two most important words in that sentence are WE and OPTIONS. How could I not consider what he wanted to do? He’s a part of it. It takes two to tango. Men have a place in this debate. They should be listened to – it’s incredibly heartbreaking to hear of stories where the man would do anything to keep the child, but the woman decides otherwise.

It’s terrible, and it happens, and men should have at the very least a say in the decision-making process. I can throw out all the bumper sticker signals that state, “It’s my body and I can do what I want,” but at the end of the day, while you may be the one making the decision, any decision, your actions will affect more than just you. And we as women need to not only consider this fact, but we need to remember it. Pro-choice is more than that, and we’ve forgotten it. Essentially in this situation, everyone is pro-choice – you will think about all the options you have, even if some of them make your heart roll over in your chest. But in the end, it’s your choice.

We seriously considered going through with the whole process and giving it up for adoption. We seriously considered aborting. We seriously considered keeping it and raising it ourselves, as difficult as the situation could be. But the most important part of this is that we made the decision together. I wasn’t alone – I had his support for whatever I decided from the moment I found out. He would stand by me through thick and thin, deciding to keep or not, and I am incredibly lucky

Thumbs UP

Thumbs

Samantha T. Phillips Opinion Editor

Instructional bath towel created A graphic designer living in New York City recently created an instructional bath towel. Now when I say instructional, I mean that the towel literally has labels for the separate areas of the bather’s body.

It is decorated with the male figure used on the generic restroom sign. The idea is to alleviate that pesky problem of wiping your face with the same part of your towel that you used to wipe your ... feet.

This genius creation is featured on aol. com and coupled with a photograph of a nude woman sitting next to the instructional towel on a bed. Yes, because THAT is the demographic customer who’s looking for an instructional bathing towel. But regardless, the creation is hilarious, useful and will keep everyone’s face from getting butt ... I mean feet ... germs.

to have met a man like that. Most women aren’t that lucky.

This was not an easy decision.

I talked with my parents and my siblings, asking what sort of effect this pregnancy would have on our family. I talked with some very close friends on how it could affect our friendship. I talked with counselors and my most trusted professors, asking how it would affect my academic life. In the end, no matter what I chose there was going to be a negative stigma attached to it – a woman having children out of wedlock or a woman who chose abortion.

Pro-choice does not mean proabortion. Pro-choice is the advocation of all choices for a woman, be it adoption, abortion or keeping it yourself. No one is in favor of abortion, no one wants to harm something that we have been brought up to define as precious and sacred.

I have little to no religious background and even I wondered how it would affect my chances in the various traditions of America. What if there is a hell and I’m going to it?

What if the law of karma does exist and I’m going to pay for this horribly in the next life? More importantly, what’s going to happen in the afterlife for my child? What’s going to happen to him or her?

This debate cannot be summed up in a bumper-sticker or a clever sign like America seems to think.

This is intensely personal, and women choose this option for a variety of reasons. But I can tell you with full confidence that this decision does not come easy. This decision is not flippant, this is not a decision made on a whim or the spur of the moment. This decision is the culmination of circumstances – your present and future options, what possibilities may lie ahead and deliberation on if you think you’re strong enough to handle it. Maybe I wasn’t strong enough. Maybe I didn’t consider all the options as carefully as I could have. Maybe I could have kept it and things would have worked out. Maybe I could have given it up for adoption.

But I didn’t.

I chose another path.

I can’t change what happened.

It was my decision to act, and no one else’s.

DOWN

Lady Gaga refutes “Born This Way” Parody In response to Weird Al Yankovich’s request to create a parody of the song “Born This Way,” Lady Gaga was opposed. The song was to be titled “Perform This Way” and would poke fun at Gaga’s extravagant and sometimes outrageous publicity stunts. Although the artist refused the request, Yankovich released the song anyway.

Now, I’ve grown up worshiping Yankovich and other comedic geniuses who create beautiful satirical parodies.

Even Lady Gaga has to admit to rocking out to “Eat It” back in the day. In my opinion, it’s an honor to be publicly humiliated by Weird Al. And c’mon, Gaga.

If you’re going to go on stage donning a dress made of left-over pork chops, you’re just asking for knocks.

d n ou

S Off

What would you like to find in your Easter basket?

by Matthew P. Butera

And I’m standing by it.

I don’t expect everyone to understand – we are a nation with different racial, ethnic, religious and political “Nothing but backgrounds. There’s bound to be someone chocolate.” out there that will shout Zakiya Fulton-Anderson at the top of their lungs Class of 2013 that I’m a baby killer and I deserve to go to hell, and there’s bound to be someone shouting at the top of their lungs that I’m advocating “A Christmas women’s rights. There’s present.” going to be people that Jon Gabriel will say I was plainly irClass of 2013 responsible and copped out. And there’s going to be people that will say I destroyed a gift from God. “A new video Some pro-life adJeff Teal vocates seem to be game.”

Class of 2013 under the impression that when a woman has an abortion, she goes about her merry way to do whatever the hell she “One thing: a plane wants with absolutely no guilt whatsoever. A ticket to Sydney, woman who does that, Australia.” in my opinion, is comCaitlin Carroll pletely heartless. I’m Class of 2012 sure a few of you would Make sure to check out the agree with me.

Sound Off poll and the latest issue I am still dealing on our website: with guilt, and I am www.Etownian.com still dealing with heartbreak. I think about what you will do. I’m saying that is there that you will be ready when what could have been every day of my life. I wonder what pro-choice and pro-life isn’t as easy it happens and you will never be it would look like, if she would have as scrawling some words in front of put in the situation I was.

I am not sharing this to garner my eyes or he would have had his the BSC. It goes deeper than that, far smile. But I cannot change that now, deeper than probably anyone you sympathy or advocate this stance, I’m sharing this because the things and it would be foolish to wallow in know or could even consider.

You can hear about it all you want, that some people say about someguilt and not take something from see all the pictures you want – you thing without experiencing it for this experience and move on.

The simple fact of the matter was will never know until you experience themselves has a tendency to hurt that I was a scared woman in col- it yourself. And perhaps when you’re other people. I am dealing with lege who wanted a future, a better in that situation you will choose dif- this, and regardless of how moral future than I would have had if I had ferently than me. And that’s alright. or ethical my decision may have continued my pregnancy. I wanted, That is the beauty of it – it’s your been, I do not deserve to have it and still want, to be able to provide choice. But I have made mine, and as thrown in my face on a whim. I for the children that I could have in difficult as it was, I am dealing with it. at least hope that now you know But I can tell you this with abso- where I’m coming from the future.

And when I have children, So to those anonymous individu- lute certainty – I accept it. I am not als with a penchant for chalk: I’m proud of it, but I am not regretting when I am ready, I’m going to just saying that until you’ve been in it. I feel guilt at times but I am not love them more than I could ever that situation, you truly have no idea ashamed. I hope to whatever deity dream possible.

sexual satire

Insecurity, every woman’s worst enemy Physical imperfections cause unnecessary stress

Samantha T. Phillips Opinion Editor

M

y friend hates her ankles. Now, she has extremely normal ankles. There’s no grotesque, pussseeping obtrusion on them, they aren’t plagued with some rare skin disease or decorated with a birthmark resembling Ron Jeremy.

Yet, she stands in front of her fulllength mirror all the time examining her ankles from different angles with a concerned crinkle between her eyebrows.

She even admires and comments on the ankles of others. I catch her sometimes staring yearningly at my exposed ankle bones. I’ve attempted to reassure her countless times.

“Your ankles are as beautiful and elegant as a ballerinas,” I say.

“The curve of your ankle is like a gentle slope of a hill from ‘The Sound of Music.’”

It means nothing. She still insists that they’re “frumpy” and “shape-

less.” Where does this strange distaste come from? Was she bullied in middle school for the shape of her ankles? Doubtful. Did her greatest rival in childhood grow up to be a shoe model? Nope. I asked.

This self-doubt, which I have named “shy ankle syndrome,” came from a horrible troll-like creature who resides within the confines of her brain. His name? Insecurity. His quest? To point out the physical flaws of women like a vengeful sorority sister. My friend is far from alone.

Insecurity, the grotesque and critical troll, rents an ocean-view condo inside the minds of all women. It’s not the media and it’s not our mothers and it’s not the trauma inflicted on us by our male counterparts. It’s raging, unstoppable insecurity.

The funny thing is that it’s the strangest physical qualities on which women focus their negativity. I’ve heard all variations of the wrath of Insecurity. “My big toe is too long.” “My elbows are ashy.” “My one butt cheek is bigger than the other.”

These seemingly meaningless imperfections become glaring disfigurements when Insecurity is at its worst. Beautiful women are looking in the mirror and wishing they had longer eyebrow hairs or bonier knees. The problem is out of control.

Somehow we must band together and stop this terrorist troll before he swallows all the self esteem left in the world. Soon enough Megan Fox will start referring to herself as a “porker” and Natalie Portman will shave off all her hair (whoops, that already happened ... and she STILL looked hot). I say it’s time for a change. It’s time for a revolution!

Stop covering your ankles, ladies.

Stop getting surgery. Because one day you’re going to be a somewhat wrinkled, menopausal 50-year-old staring at a picture of your college years and you’re going to want to punch her in her perfect, beautiful, youthful face. And possibly break her ankles.

Opinion

Etownian

The

April 21, 2011

9

election excitement

a lesson learned

Unemployment blues Trump’s abilities prove valuable in campaign

Fourth-year’s hopeful job search Business experience and knowledge are useful tools to rebuild economy Kate M. Walsh Humor Columnist

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y fingers tremble as I slide my hand forward. A shiver colder than winter’s icy breath runs down my spine. It’s now or never, the moment of truth. With one final breath, I narrow my eyes on the target and pull the trigger.

Yet nobody, not even my parents, could have prepared me for what happened next. The words suddenly appear in front of me, cutting me like a thousand knives: NO JOB LISTINGS IN YOUR AREA. So maybe the job searching process isn’t exactly that dramatic, but when you’re a senior with only a handful of weeks left to graduation and no job offers in the near future, things start to get real scary, real fast.

I feel like we were dealt a bad hand. Remember when they changed the SATs? Who was the class that was expected to be the guinea pigs for that little experiment? Yeah, that’s right, Class of 2007. Now with this recession and the economy only inching its way back to health, finding a job feels like digging a hole in the sand when the tide’s rolling in.

I guess I shouldn’t paint the entire job-seeking process in such a doom-and-gloom kind of way.

I should also say that although I currently don’t have a job after graduation, I have had one or two offers that I’ve turned down. Let me clarify: these positions were in sales, in which I would be expected to not only sell things to the general public, but also to interact with them. No, no, this is not for me. I’d rather be selling pencils on the sidewalk for 5

cents than become a door-to-door Verizon salesman.

If you can get yourself on a good website like Monster, CareerBuilder or Indeed, then you can find some pretty interesting jobs. I once saw a job offer to be a personal assistant to this highly regarded criminal lawyer in Reading, Mass. I imagined being the sassy, fashionable kind of assistant that gets to sit on the corner of the boss’s desk and make snarky, well-timed jokes. That is, until I went on the actual website of the lawyer and realized that he was 105 years old. Yeah, I’m not about to change out this guy’s catheter or mush up his food. I also wasn’t qualified for the job at all, but I couldn’t concentrate on that when my mind was plagued with images of old men in diapers.

Once you’ve plugged in your key words for your job search, (hopefully) a long list of job headlines will pop up on your screen. These headlines can tell you more about the job than the actual description. For instance, if the job headline says something like SENSE OF HUMOR REQUIRED!!!! what it means is that you’ll find it funny how little they’re planning on paying you. There also shouldn’t be any emoticons or asterisks of any kind; you’re looking for something simple like MARKETING COORDINATOR NEEDED, or if you’re trying to start off with something a little less demanding, then maybe MANAGER OF MCDONALD’S FRANCHISE. The best advice is usually the most obvious: just keep trying. Is finding a job going to be hard? Yes. Are you going to feel like you’re not accomplishing anything? Probably.

Will you get turned down a majority of the time? Most likely, but when you do finally get that one phone call you’ve been waiting for, you’ll realize that all the hard work and the painful nights of writing what seems like 3,000 cover letters paid off. And I mean that in the literal sense; if any of you become millionaires, please remember me and all the laughs we’ve shared. I’ve only planned a three-year model for this pencil selling business and time’s running out.

graduation

Ryan J. Mitchell Staff Writer

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or this upcoming presidential election there are many key topics or problems that the potential candidates must address.

First, anyone who is running for president must have a plan to begin to fix the economy. It would be nearly impossible for any administration to completely fix the economic problems this country is facing right now, even with two terms. Second, the candidates must have a plan on our military involvement, such as a schedule to either get out of Iraq or further ideas about any war in which we are involved. Thirdly, healthcare is still a gigantic problem in America today.

Out of the potential candidates running for the Republican representative, I think Donald Trump is the most interesting. Usually anyone running for president is a proven politician; however they aren’t required to be. For example, Ronald Reagan was a Hollywood actor before he ran for governor of California and, eventually, president of the United States.

Everyone should know who Donald Trump is, either from his major business success with his real estate empire, or simply from his television show “The Apprentice.” Also known as “The Donald,” Trump has been very successful in using his business genius to build major real estate projects and turn them into high financial successes.

I think that Trump has the

W

hen graduation season rolls around, various newscasts are dominated by stories about the latest in commencement speakers at colleges and universities across the United States. Active political figures, musicians and actors often grace the stages of their alma maters and take to the podium, telling stories of hope and “oh, the places you’ll go…”

Now, it is unlikely that Elizabethtown College, with a population of not even 2,000 students, would see the likes of President Obama or Hillary Clinton.

However, each year we await the decision of who will be the commencement addressor, eager to see how his or her speech will differ from the one before it. It is something that factors into the final experience for seniors at the College and the message that Etown hopes to send to those who are leaving the foothills of Lancaster County and venturing off into the real world.

Image: makemoneyhomebusinesscenter.com

Bussiness mogul Donald Trump will allegedly be running in the 2012 presidential primary

I think that Trump could apply some aspects of the business world to this country as a way to begin to help the economy. When I say he could apply business concepts to the country I don’t mean that he should run the country like a business; I simply mean that he is a business genius and has to have

tial candidates will be faced with is the United States’ military involvement in current wars.

I think anyone running should have a plan to get out of Iraq and any other war we are in right now. They would need a timetable to gradually get out of these wars, because if they removed all the troops at once then

the initial problems would start again. I think Trump would be a logical military leader because he understands the monetary cost of war. Human life is very important and every day that we remain in Iraq, or any where else, the United States is losing more and more money. I think Trump would have a logical plan to remove the troops and get them back home.

Last but not least I think that Trump would have a plan to better the current healthcare situation.

There has been a lot of talk about the healthcare problem during Obama’s term in office, but how can it get any better?

Trump understands the practical matters of money and how it can be applied to the situation. Healthcare is a very expensive topic that has been a hot button issue for years now, yet there still hasn’t been a solid solution as to what should be done to fix it. Trump would most likely have a good solution on how to provide for each citizen in a way that could financially benefit the individual and still work for the medical companies. That even balance would be key in fixing this problem.

Now there are a lot of possible presidential candidates out there right now. However, Trump has been a very successful business tycoon who knows and understands the economy. I think that Trump could begin to set up plans to fix the economy, safely bring our troops home and set up a healthcare plan on which a majority of the U.S. could agree.

CCEDL program cheapens, devalues degree Potential consequences of continuing education for adults Peter Cellini Guest Writer

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college degree represents four years of hard work and dedication to learning viable skills for our adult life. For many of us, it signals to potential employers that we are willing and capable participants in the labor force. There is an inherent value within that sheet of paper you receive upon graduation, one that we rely on in order to take our first steps into life after school. Without that value, the four years we’ve spent cramming for exams, writing reports and presenting group projects have all been for naught. Unfortunately, at Elizabethtown College we face are magnified and oftentimes we that very fear that our degree hear of the journey of how they will be devalued. got to where they are — someAs I am sure many of you thing that is essential to those know, Etown runs a continuwho have no idea what life will ing education program for hand them next (like me). By adults. It is designed for those selecting President Long, it is alwho cannot attend the regular most as if the school is reminding residential school because of us that we are always bound to work or other factors.

Etown, no matter where we go. It I am not against allowing is as if we are never leaving what those adults to complete their many call the “Etown Bubble.” college degree by taking night Additionally, this selection has classes at Etown. What I am me questioning whether or not opposed to is the type of degree this ceremony will be more of a which the adults receive upon homage to the departing presitheir completion of the condent. It is the last time that Dr. tinuing education program.

Long will grace the stage of the The adults of continuing Dell and the final time he will adeducation (CCEDL) will wear dress the campus community. Is the same cap and gown, walk bestowing him with this honor a across the same stage and reway for the College to pay tribute ceive the same Elizabethtown to his achievements? And will the College degree as those of us seniors be neglected as the spotwho complete the four-year light is shed on another figure? program. They can attain the As I have previously stated, I same degree we have been am in no way bashing our curworking toward these last four rent president. But it is times years by enrolling in the conlike these that make me question tinuing education classes and whether or not Etown has made completing the same requirethe right decision about the way ments in half the time at half to send us off. the cost. However, there is a

2011 graduate confused by College’s choice This year, it was revealed that the commencement speaker would be none other than the beloved current president of our institution, Dr. Theodore Long.

This decision has seniors unsure of how to react and questioning what this actually means for our graduation ceremony.

Don’t get me wrong, I do love President Long. He has been a vital contributor to why I find Etown adorable. President Long has been an institutional figure in the development of our campus over his tenure and his achievements are wide-ranging and significant. But his selection as the commencement speaker has me slightly confused.

After graduation, students are encouraged to spread their wings and fly, to see what the world has to offer. The commencement speaker is sometimes seen as the person who will jumpstart this process — someone who is supposed to say that there is a life outside of Etown, and a darn good one at that. Their achievements outside of what we have seen in our quaint community

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some possible ideas on how to fix the economy. Out of all the potential candidates, I think that Trump has the most experience in the business world and has the biggest potential advantage to begin to fix this country’s financial woes.

The second topic that all poten-

letter to the editor

Commencement speaker concerns Joelle E. Atkinson Marketing Manager

knowledge and ability to create a plan that could begin to help our economic problems, in this country and the world. Now, it would be nearly impossible for any one administration to completely fix the current financial problems, but any forward progress would be good.

Image: etowndegrees.com

vast difference between the standard of education between the CCEDL program and the residential program.

For one, only four of the faculty members overlap, all four of whom do not teach a section during the daytime, and only one of whom has an advanced degree. The level of expertise offered to the residential college is significantly higher, which results in a higher quality education than the continuing education program. Academically, the residential students face a much tougher course-load than those of the CCEDL program.

Secondly, enrollment into the CCEDL program is not through Etown’s main website. There is a second site, etowndegrees.com, which houses the information for the continuing education program. It is not a .edu, the typical address suffix for an educational site, which means our degree has been commercialized by our school. It makes it seem as though our degree can be bought and sold like a stock rather than through actually learning material and passing exams.

Finally, the adults who complete the CCEDL program represent the residential students in the labor market to employers if there is no distinction in the degrees earned. With no continuity between the programs, there is no way of determining if what the residential students learn is the same as what the CCEDL adults learn. Yes, there might be the same course description and textbook, but as I alluded to earlier, none of the daytime faculty partake in the instruction of these CCEDL students.

Our degree has the potential to be diluted by these adults who falsely represent the residential students in the labor force. An employer may be less inclined to offer us a position or we may be offered a lower wage upon graduation, all because our degree has been cheapened by the CCEDL program.

I would like to reiterate the fact that I am not opposed to adults continuing their education. I am opposed to the school making money off of the name our predecessors built up through hard work and determination by passing off a cheapened degree to others. The school speaks of integrity but shows little by these very acts of deception. We have worked for four years to earn our degree, our only distinguishable feature upon graduation. The school has made its priorities clear; we should make ours. We should not let them diminish our accomplishments. We should not let them devalue our degree.

Sports

Etownian

The

10

sports psychology

April 21, 2011

women’s lacrosse

Understanding Upcoming MAC games important for playoff standings athletes’ thinking Blue Jays determined to win remaining conference games to earn high seed Competitors faced with mental tests every day Rachel A. Marsteller Staff Writer

W

hen most people think of athletics, they think of physically strong people who run fast and jump high.

Behind the physical demands of the sports, there is a greater challenge each and every athlete faces: staying mentally tough.

Games are stressful environments and with stress can come increased errors.

Sports psychology is a field that focuses on athletes’ mental responses to stressful situations. By better understanding how athletes deal with this stress, coaches can develop better techniques to deal with it.

Dr. Andrew Wolanin, assistant professor of psychology at Kean University, defines sports psychology as “the application of psychological principles to athletes. This covers a broad range of areas from clinical psychology (ex. depressed athletes), performance psychology (enhance performance), I/O psychology (coaching skills or leadership), to quantitative (pre-draft selection of athletes).”

The 4 Cs are some of the most well-known practices in performance psychology: concentration, confidence, control and commitment.

Concentration varies by sport; tennis or distance running involves sustained concentration, whereas golf or lacrosse involves short bursts of targeted concentration. Increasing concentration, or “getting into the zone,” is personal to each athlete and consists of a routine.

“I understand the zone as a period of time when physical, cognitive and emotional states are at an optimal level when an opportunity arises to perform,” Wolanin said. “An athlete’s physical skills need to be over-learned so that the body’s response is essentially automatic.”

Through his research, Wolanin has found a disconnect between the context of thoughts, emotions and performance.

“The reality is that the relationship the person has with their thoughts and emotions determines their performance and not the content,” Wolanin said. “You can think anything and perform well, you just can’t be having too many thoughts.”

Players all have different “You can think anyapproaches to t h i n g a n d p e r f o r m getting to the well, you just can’t place where it be having too many is just them and the game. thoughts.”

Junior Sarah Poulle, an Eliza-Dr. Andrew Wolanin of bethtown ColKean University lege women’s tennis player, said “[concentration] is when I am focusing in on just the point and the ball. I know I am there when I am thinking about nothing; when my mind is clear.”

Confidence is crucial to the way an athlete approaches each game. Etown wrestling Head Coach Eric Walker saidconfidence is one of the toughest components in wrestling.

“A lot of things affect confidence ... good practices, bad practices, girlfriends, diets, sleep habits and school pressures,” Walker said. “I don’t know if we ever overcome all of it; rather, it is more dealing with it and hitting those pressures head on.”

If players get angry or anxious, they begin to lose concentration, which can affect their confidence and ultimately lead to the slippery slope of failure.

“Control what you can control,” Walker said. “Don’t worry about what you can’t control and just have faith in what you have prepared for. If you have done everything in your power to prepare, there is no reason you should not walk out of that gym a winner.”

Having a strong grip on their emotions will allow athletes to be much more successful. Senior Wayne Leonard, starting pitcher for the Blue Jays’ baseball team, said, “It’s important to have a short memory. If you make a mistake, act like you meant to make it; you can’t worry about it.”

Commitment is one of the most important mental components of sports. If a player no longer gets enjoyment from the sport or feels that he or she is not performing well, his or her dedication to the sport may dwindle.

First-year Joey Seremula, a pitcher for the baseball team, said, “To stay positive during a bad game is almost impossible to do by yourself. You really have to count on your teammates.

They are always there to pick you up.”

Discouragement is one of the most dangerous emotions for players because if the love of the game is gone, the motivation to excel goes with it.

“If negative appraisal dominates an athlete’s thought process, it blocks them from being in the zone, and often leads to less quality practice, less attention to the task at hand and ultimately, a decline in performance. Successful appraisal helps, but too much positive thinking may also block the zone.

But successes are key because it will keep the athlete motivated for practice and competition,” Wolanin said.

The mental component of athletics is sometimes overlooked when it comes to developing an athlete’s potential, yet is one of the most important aspects to the success of the game.

Sports psychology is about getting athletes disconnected from their thoughts and emotions and letting muscle memory and learned skills take over.

Ashley N. Kufera Asst. Sports Editor

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h e E l i z a b e t ht o w n College women’s lacrosse team is looking forward to an important week of Middle Atlantic Conference competition.

The Blue Jays, 8-1 in the conference, will battle against the Lycoming Warriors (2-6) today, April 21, and the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen (6-3) April 26.

Lycoming and Lebanon Valley are both competitors within conference play and are teams that Etown may see again in the upcoming MAC playoff tournament.

It is important for the team to make a solid first impression for the season.

The Blue Jays already have a spot in the playoffs, so their current goal is to earn the top seed.

“These games mean a lot

“These games mean a lot for seeding in playoffs. We want to be the number one seed with home field advantage, so we have to win all of our conference games to do so.”

-Head Coach Mike Faith

for seeding in the playoffs.

We want to be the number one seed with home field advantage,” Head Coach Mike Faith said, “so we have to win all of our conference games to do so.”

Playing teams within the conference, however, does not change the Blue Jays’ outlook on these games.

Faith said that they approach every game, no matter who they are playing, with the same mindset.

“We want to out-work and out-hustle every team we play for 60 minutes,” Faith said. “My feeling toward these games is simple: we have to continue to improve, and both of the games will be an opportunity to do so.”

After a week of preparation, the Blue Jays are

softball

golf

Bulldogs bite hard, putting Jays on tight leash

Samantha L. Peters Staff Writer

ready to make their way to Lycoming. According to junior midfielder Katie Scheurich, Lycoming is a very strong team. “They aren’t afraid to push and go hard,” Scheurich said.

Knowing this, Etown must come out ready for a rough game. “We need to make sure we make good passes and play strong,” Scheurich said.

While the Warriors are strong physically, they are, according to Scheurich, an up-and-down team. “If they are losing then they get very down on themselves and it shows in their play; however, if they are playing well, they have high energy,” she said.

As long as the Blue Jays are consistently focused, they will not surrender to the Warriors.

After Thursday’s game, Etown will have a few days off for Easter break before returning to practices on Monday.

“I think this break will help us rest our bodies,” sophomore attacker Melanie Hartman said. “We will come back and work hard on Monday to prepare for Lebanon Valley the next day.”

Last year was the Dutchmen’s first season, falling 21-2 to the Blue Jays, but this cannot be taken as an easy game. According to Scheurich, this year they have begun to mesh and are a stronger team.

The big gest concer n about the Dutchmen is not knowing what to expect.

As Scheurich said, “We just have to come out and do what we do.”

Jays fall to DeSales, Team prepares for Messiah bout try to bounce back Jays ready for final test before MACs Jasmine P. Dawkins Staff Writer

T

he Elizabethtown College softball team went head-to-head against the DeSales Bulldogs Thursday afternoon.

The Blue Jays started out leading with a score of 2-0 in the top of the first inning. They continued to hold their lead for most of the game until the Bulldogs came back with three runs, bringing the score to 3-2.

“In the first few games our defens e was re a l ly [good] and we hit really well,” sophomore outfielder Nadine Yunginger said.

That defense kept the Bulldogs from scoring the majority of the game.

With the combined efforts of junior pitcher Julie Sebastian, first-year Shayna Perella at third base and sophomore infielder Lindsey Cooper, the Blue Jays gained the lead with two runs.

In the bottom of the sixth in the first game, DeSales made their comeback.

The Bulldogs’ pitcher Jen Lococo played a hard game, striking out seven players.

“Along with pitching, she’s a good hitter,” firstyear Lauren Lundquist said about the DeSales pitcher.

S e b a s t i a n s t ay e d on top of her game until the end. “She’s a solid player,” Amanda Sheckard, firstyear outfielder said.

The team gave as well as they received in the first game trying to hold off the Bulldogs.

“They stringed a lot of good hits together,” Lundquist said of the turnabout of the game.

Sebastian kept pitching a good game but DeSales came out with four hits, including a homerun which brought the score to 3-2 in DeSales’ favor.

The start of the second game proved to be tough

with the Bulldogs attaining a 5-0 lead in the first two innings.

The Blue Jays continued to work hard with both Sebastian and sophomore pitcher Emily Vogel working to strike out batters.

Etown was able to get their first point in the top of the fourth with two hits and a run by junior outfielder Heather Peluso, bringing the score to 5-1.

DeSales went on the attack again and acquired four runs in the bottom of the fourth.

After sophomore Courtney Comstock gained one more run for the Blue Jays, the second game ended with another DeSales win.

The doubleheader ended with a victory for DeSales.

All is not lost, though.

Sheckard said “It’s a good learning experience.”

The team intends to keep working and going farther.

There are still three conference doubleheaders in which the Etown softball team can show their skills.

Head S oftball C oach Kathy Staib said that the team “fully intends to compete well against Lebanon Valley” and to “hit well and play solid defense.”

T h e g i r l s s t i l l h av e their chance at the playoffs and aim to work hard to get there.

“We have to go out there and play our game and not worry about anyone else,” Staib said.

“Play as a family” is one of the team’s mottos, according to Yunginger.

The team will continue to work and play hard for as Yunginger, Lundquist, and Sheckard said, “Never say never.”

On Sunday, the Blue Jays will take the field again for a doubleheader against the Messiah Falcons at 3:30 p.m.

T

he Elizabethtown ColThrough recent matches, the roster for MACs, as well. lege golf team is gear- the Blue Jay golfers have One player who is pushing up to compete at the learned “to keep a cool head,” ing for his spot is senior Middle Atlantic Conference according to senior team Alex Catalano.

Championship on April 30 captain Geoff Quinque.

The Selinsgrove, Pa. naand May 1, but before they He also said the team tive was Etown’s top findo, the team will compete has learned not to dwell isher at the Misericordia against Messiah College at on the past and to instead Invitational on April 18, the Messiah Spring Invita- focus on future shots. shooting a six-over 78. tional on April 26.

That bit of advice will Junior Ben Katz was just This season, Messiah proved to be a top rival for the Blue Jays, as has Albright College, who will als o be at the Spring Invitational.

Getting ready for a match up with two of their top competitors has helped the t e a m p re p a re f o r t h e M AC Championship.

“Most of the team has recently started to hit Photo: Thom Swarr | EtownBlueJays.com their high points for the season,” Senior Alex Catalano led the way at Monday’s Misericordia senior Dan Sen- Invitational by shooting a six over-78. kler said.

The team reached the be very important as the two strokes behind Catapoint of the season where team prepares for the lano with an eight-over 80 to help the Blue Jays everyone is becoming com- MAC Championship.

The Messiah Spring In- capture third place in the fortable with their game and vitational will be the team’s six-team field. playing hard.

The Messiah Invitational The team also believes second-to-last match of the will take place at the Blue that, when it comes to the season.

Etown is not just trying to Ridge Country Club. Etown next match, it is not about playing well, it is about beat the Falcons but is com- took eighth in a tournament beating Messiah. peting internally for a spot on there Oct. 11, 2010.

Special issue overview Like our redesign? Hate it?

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Please go to www.etownian.com/feedback and give us your opinion about our changes.

We value your feedback at the Etownian, and it was this very feedback that prompted us to give this test issue a shot. We realized the need to adjust our focus to more news-oriented issues on campus this semester, and now we’ve adjusted our layout to match the stories inside.

The fate of our redesign will be up to you, the readers, so please take five minutes to offer us your suggestions and comments so we can move the Etownian in the proper direction.

Sports

Etownian

The

April 21, 2011

baseball

men’s lacrosse

11

Blue Jays gear up for playoff push Squad ready for local professional team With three games left, Etown holds sixth in MAC The Jays will play the Lancaster Barnstormers soon Alexis L. Morris Asst. Copy Editor

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ith only three Middle Atlantic Conference games left, time is running out for Elizabethtown College’s men’s lacrosse team to clinch a tournament berth.

Currently, Messiah College and Widener University lead the standings, with the Blue Jays coming in at sixth place.

Only eight of the 12 teams in the conference will advance to postseason playoffs.

With a conference record of 4-4, Etown needs wins against its next two opponents, Lycoming College and Lebanon Valley College.

“Winning these games would definitely help with the playoffs because we want to get the highest possible seed,” sophomore Sean McGraw said.

The Lycoming Warriors rank above the Blue Jays with a 5-2 conference record, falling only to Eastern University and Widener.

In last year’s match against Lycoming, Etown won 11-8, and junior Shawn Corcoran tallied four goals in the victory.

His success will be vital again this year, as the Warriors currently average 8.46 goals per game.

Offensive threat Stephen Romano, a sophomore, leads Lycoming with 31 goals and 16 assists this season.

He has been named the MAC Player of the Week three times so far.

Also, the Warriors are under new direction this year with Head Coach

Todd Hodgson, who came to Lycoming after coaching “Winning these games for three years at Manhat- would definitely help tanville College.

Sophomore Kyle Squires with playoffs because we thinks that Lycoming will want to get the highest be more competitive com- possible seed.” pared to LVC. -sophomore Sean McGraw “They’re huge smacktalkers,” he mentioned as he remembered last year’s and 33 caused turnovers. Lanigan meeting between the Blue Jays is also a previous MAC Defender and the Warriors. “They would all of the Week. scream ‘goal’ when Coach Corcoran To prepare for these two would make a shot while warming teams, the Blue Jays are not reup the goalies.” ally changing anything about McGraw agreed, stating that their practice itinerary; they are Lycoming is a more solid unit than simply taking the lessons learned LVC. “LVC is such a young team, from their close losses to Messiah and we have seen a scout on their and Widener and applying them exact game,” he said. to current games.

Although the Dutchmen’s la“There is a lot to learn from crosse program is only two years these games; we are playing hard old, they are not to be taken lightly. but coming up short. I believe that This year they are only 3-5 in these losses will make us stronger the conference, but that is a huge and help us get better,” senior improvement considering they went Mike Kenneally said.

0-11 in the MAC and 2-13 overall in “Basically, we just fell apart at the 2009-2010 season. the end of both of those games.

The team is led by Head Coach We need to play a full 60 minJohn Haus, who has coached the utes and not just three quarters,” men’s teams at Johns Hopkins Uni- Squires added. versity, the University of North McGraw feels that it is imporCarolina and Washington College. tant not to get down about these Haus knows how to build up losses. “There are still games to a team into a successful lacrosse play, and anything is possible in program, so LVC is most likely the play-offs,” he said. on its way to becoming a better The Blue Jays play Lycoming conference contender. today at Hersheypark Stadium Etown’s attackers will have to at 7 p.m. maneuver around Dutchmen deMcGraw encourages everyone fender Ryan Lanigan, who leads to support the team because “we the team with 65 ground balls do better when everybody comes.”

wolf field

School plans to fix turf by this fall Current project forces teams to practice elsewhere

Christian V. Sammartino Staff Writer

T

he Blue Jay baseball team will receive a rest from Commonwealth Conference action when they play the Lancaster Barnstormers on April 25.

The game will be played at Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster and will allow the Jays to experience professional quality baseball.

“I think it is a great opportunity for us to play with some big league quality players,” sophomore catcher Dillon Tagle said. “It’s really fun to hit against pitchers with such great stuff which we couldn’t see without the opportunity to play [the Barnstormers].”

In preparation for their regular season, the Barnstorms play local college teams.

Head Coach Cliff Smith is a former Barnstormer and has connections with the organization.

This is the third season the Jays will battle the Barnstormers. “ The games have been close but none of our pitchers throw in the game,” junior catcher Steve Motika said. “These games are more of a tryout for guys trying to make the independent league team so we see a lot of their best pitchers.”

Competing with professional caliber players changes the stakes of the game. The players realize that they have to bring their best while having fun on the diamond.

is too wet or muddy. Also, when it rains, we can either try to practice in the gym or attempt to run through the mud on Brinser or the practice fields,” Morris said.

“Either way, we are not getting the quality practices that we would like to get.”

She also pointed out that the senior game had to be held at Manheim Township Recreation Center. “I’m sure Photo: T. Gavin Nevill the seniors were bummed Wolf Field, the former home of the Elizabethtown College men’s and women’s that they couldn’t play their lacrosse teams, sits waiting for a facelift. Director of Facilities Joe Metro said, last weekend home game at “The goal is to have the field ready for use this fall.”

Etown,” Morris said.

Despite the inconv niencof the field, but nothing has are not happy with the way es of the project, athletes unAbigail R. Kramer been done since. Before any their season is turning out derstand that fixing the field Staff Writer further construction is done, because of the construction. will greatly help the school.

“We understand it is behe spring athletic season Facilities must decide what Many did not even find out at Elizabethtown College firm to choose to complete about the project until they ing fixed for our safety and that it is an expensive projread Campus Connections. has been much quieter in 2010 the construction.

“We are conducting a preBoth teams have had to ect, but it is a necessary one,” than in previous years. At first glance, it would appear as if bid meeting this week for take different measures to Morris said. “The field hocksome of the sports teams were four firms that construct turf practice and play games ey and both lacrosse teams not even playing. There have fields,” Director of Facilities while the field is inactive. use it for games, soccer been a few sightings of wom- Joe Metro said. “The goal is “In January and February, might practice on it if they en’s lacrosse home games on to have the field ready for use the men’s and women’s la- are playing an away game on crosse teams practiced at an turf, and intramurals use it campus but no men’s games, this fall.”

Director of Athletics Nancy indoor facility in Palmyra,” for soccer games. Also, stuleading spectators to ask: Latimore added that they plan Latimore said. “Both teams dents like to throw around a what’s going on?

The answer is simple: the on starting the construction have played a majority of football or play catch on the teams have no field to play on, the day after commencement their games off-campus. field as well, so it is obvious We’ve played a few games at that many people on camso all of their home games are and finishing by August.

Because the field is 11 years Hersheypark Stadium and pus benefit from using the held elsewhere. Both lacrosse teams used to play and prac- old, Facilities expects to re- others at Manheim Town- field. We just hope it can be tice on Wolf Field, the turf place the field with a new one. ship’s new sports complex.” fixed soon.”

“The testing of the turf Not having a turf field According to sophomore field next to the apartments.

But if anybody has walked found that it had reached the lacrosse captain and Etownian this spring has put a damper by it recently, it is clear that end of its useful life,” Metro assistant copy editor Alexis on both lacrosse teams, esthe field is not usable. There said. “The expected outcome Morris, the women’s lacrosse pecially since it has been a team has been drastically af- rainy season. Hopefully the is currently a huge hole in the is a new turf field.”

While a new turf field fected by the changes. “We new changes will fix the curfield where Facilities ripped it up to fix the drainage problem would greatly benefit the ath- have barely had any home rent problems and alleviate and evaluate the condition letics program, some athletes games because the grass field them in the future.

T

Photo: Courtesy of Lancaster Barnstormers

The Elizabethtown College baseball team will take on the Atlantic League’s Lancaster Barnstormers at Clipper Magazine Stadium for an April 25 exhibition game at 3:30 p.m.

“When facing professional ball players, it’s important to have an open mind. It’s good to be confident but we aren’t facing college athletes,” Motika said. “Some of the Barnstormers have and will pitch in the minor and major leagues.

We try to have fun while being competitive.”

The game is also a way to keep the baseball tradition of barnstorming alive.

That tradition includes players traveling to smaller cities to spread the enjoyment that baseball brings.

This tradition died out when the game became more of a business. Major league owners protected their investments in players by not allowing them to barnstorm.

“It’s difficult for a lot of the teams involved in the tradition because it’s hard

to make a living when the publicity, media and fans aren’t there to fuel salaries,” Motika said. “It’s not that people don’t love these teams, there just aren’t as many following the small town clubs as there are following major league organizations. It would be a shame to eliminate the tradition due to the influence from the business side of the game.”

Participating in this tradition allows the squad to have conversations with professional players, which lets the Jays pick up a few tricks of the trade during these conversations.

“I will have the opportunity to talk to some of the pitchers in the bullpen, and often they will give advice as to how to get seen and what you need to do to give yourself the best chance to take your

game to the next level,” Tagle said.

The advice the players receive could help them reach new levels of the game in the long run.

In the short-term, the players will enjoy the moment and then get ready for a conference clash against Lebenon Valley College.

“The game will be influential in keeping us playing good competition before the series, but we have to keep a short memory from the Barnstormer game to the LVC game,” Motika said. “[The game against the Barnstormers] gives us a look at some quality pitching and also kind of refreshes the team and helps clear our heads before a big series between LVC,” Tagle said.

track and field

Bison Classic provides strong competition on track Athletes make top 10 at Bucknell’s event Joelle E. Atkinson Marketing Manager

B

ucknell’s annual Bison Outdoor Classic, held last weekend, was not necessarily the highlight of the Elizabethtown College’s track teams’ seasons.

The day was hampered by rain and wind as the Blue Jays tried to best personal records and continue in what has been a successful season. Several of the Jays’ athletes who are usually in fighting form suffered setbacks as the weather worsened, though sophomore Katy Fogel was able to best the weather in the 100m hurdles. Her time, 16.95 seconds, was better than her 17-second race last weekend.

However, there were four women who did make the top 10 in their events that weekend. First-year Megan Tursi posted an 18 out of 32 finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, and sophomore Megan Patton moved into the top 10 in school history the same event, placing 20th in the race.

The Bison Outdoor Classic also saw the debut of two first-year women, Traci Tempone and Eileen Cody, in the 10k event.

Junior Colby Miller was impressed with the performances that they gave.

“They handled the new situation with poise and maturity and had fantastic races,” Miller said.

On the men’s side, the fielders also fell short of their goals. First-year shot putter Lucas Dayhoff admitted, “Well, it wasn’t my best throw ever, but with the 45-degree weather and the rain, it wasn’t a bad showing.”

Despite his off week, the first in five straight competitions, Dayhoff is still optimistic about his performance this past weekend.

“This outdoor season [I] have thrown farther than any of my indoor meets, so things are finally starting to click,” he said.

Sophomore Luke Rotenberger expressed his main desire for the remainder of the season.

“I hope that everyone just keeps from injuries and that we can get some top MAC performances under our belts with the coming meet,” he said.

On Saturday, though the men did not have the strongest showing all-around, senior Chris Heisey finished 24 out of 42 competitors in the 10,000-meter steeplechase and boasted a new high score among the Blue Jay athletics.

Despite the tough conditions and lessthan-ideal results, the ultimate prize has not strayed from team members’ thoughts. “ These next few weeks are really important for our preparation [for the conference meet], and the team is taking it seriously while keeping the atmosphere light,” Miller said.

The Bison Classic was one of the best training tools for the upcoming MAC conference meet and allowed many of the athletes to push their limits in their events.

“Throwing against better competition always ignites a fire for me to train harder and become a better thrower,” Dayhoff said. “Throwing at a high competition meet like Bucknell makes MACs just seem like any other meet.”

The

12

Etownian

port S S

April 21, 2011

Game Recaps • Previews• Commentary • Bios

Sports

Recap

Men’s Lacrosse (6-5, 4-4 MAC) Etown 9, King’s 6

Women’s Lacrosse (11-3, 8-1 MAC) Etown 19, King’s 3 Etown 9, McDaniel 7 Track & Field Bison Outdoor Classic No Team Score Mid-Week Invitational No Team Score Baseball (12-15, 5-7 CC) Etown 6, Messiah 7 Etown 3, Messiah 6 Etown 2, Messiah 1 Softball (14-15, 3-5 CC) Etown 0, Susquehanna 3 Etown 5, Susquehanna 4 Etown 2, DeSales 3 Etown 2, DeSales 10 Men’s Tennis (11-5, 6-0 CC) Etown 8, King’s 1 Etown 9, Alvernia 0 Etown 9, Messiah 0 Women’s Tennis (10-5, 5-0 CC) Etown 3, Salisbury 6 Etown 7, Lebanon Valley 2 Etown 9, Messiah 0 Etown 8, Alvernia 1

Schedule

of Sports

Softball April 21: Lebanon Valley (DH) April 25: @ Messiah (DH) Baseball April 21: @ Albright April 22: Albright (DH) Women’s Lacrosse April 21: @ Lycoming April 26: Lebanon Valley Men’s Lacrosse April 21: Lycoming April 26: @ Lebanon Valley Track & Field April 22: Larry Ellis Invitational Women’s Tennis April 27: Commonwealth Conf.

Semifinals Men’s Tennis April 26: Commonwealth Conf.

Semifinals

EtownBlueJays.com

tennis

Miles from home, Arrea finds comfort on tennis courts The junior from Costa Rica has the Jays thinking Commonwealth title or bust Brian F. Boring Staff Writer

T

housands of miles away from his home in Costa Rica, junior Manrique Arrea remains a steady presence for the Elizabethtown College men’s tennis team.

Since the beginning of his freshman year all the way through to his junior year, Arrea has been the No. 1 singles player and has had to deal with many cultural changes.

“It was and is still tough going to a school so far away from home, but at least I get to go home every winter and summer,” Arrea said.

At the age of eight, Arrea picked up his first tennis racquet and had his first tennis lesson. After learning how to play, Arrea had to make the biggest decision in sixth grade: choosing between soccer and tennis.

Arrea’s family loved soccer and everyone in his family has played soccer before. His decision made him the first person in his family to play tennis.

Even though Arrea doesn’t play organized soccer anymore, he still plays with his friends.

“It is a lot easier to get a game of pickup soccer with your friends than to try and find someone to play tennis with,” Arrea said. “There are more of my friends that play soccer than tennis.”

Arrea went to school in Costa Rica from preschool all the way through high school. Costa Rica uses a similar setup as the United States’ education system. In Costa Rica, the preschool, elementary school, middle school and high school buildings are all located right next to each other.

The high school that Arrea went to taught all the students in English.

So before Arrea came to the United States, he knew how to speak English.

His high school didn’t have a tennis team, so he had to play club tennis. Instead of playing other schools, Arrea would play in international and national tennis tournaments.

Arrea wanted to go to college after high school, so he decided to go through an exchange company.

The exchange company sent Arrea a list of colleges that might interest

him. He knew he wanted to go to a small college where he could play tennis, and Etown happened to be one of the colleges on the list given to him. After looking at the College website, he knew exactly where he wanted to go.

After already being in college for two years, Arrea has adapted to the cultures of Etown and the U.S. Some of the changes Arrea had to get used to included the four seasons, temperature change, food and not seeing his family as much as he would like to.

In Costa Rica, instead of having four seasons, they only have two seasons, and in those two seasons the temperature stays consistently around 80 degrees all the time.

So far this year the men’s tennis team is undefeated in Commonwealth Conference play and has wrapped up the top seed in the conference tournament, which gets underway next week.

Photo: Matthew P. Butera The past two years the men’s tennis team came up short in the Behind junior Manrique Arrea’s 12-5 record at No. 1 singles championship but is looking to this season, the Elizabethtown College tennis team is the top seed in the Commonwealth Conference playoffs. make a change this year.

sports injuries

Taking a look at athletes’ safety risks in contact sports Can helmets really protect competitors from concussions and other head injuries? supposed to be protective, and they think that ‘I can’t get hurt because I have a helmet on,’ which is not true,” Miller said.

Concussions occur when a person’s brain moves and hits the side of his or her skull, Miller explained.

The brain sits in fluid within the skull. If it stays in the liquid, Miller said, you’re usually fine.

“What they’re finally coming to realize is that it doesn’t matter how much you protect out here,” said Miller, pointing to Photo: T. Gavin Nevill her head. “What is the biggest Helmets, like the ones worn by the Elizabehtown College men’s concern is what’s happening to lacrosse team, have to be approved for safety before they can the brain inside.” be used in game situations.

That’s where helmets come into play.

When a defender delivers a sions.

When it comes to contact T. Gavin Nevill sports like football and men’s booming hit (see seniors Dustin Sports Editor lacrosse, Elizabethtown College Mulcahey and Mike Kenneally of he National Football League Head Athletic Trainer Tanya the men’s lacrosse team), the plastic, has made it a point to make Miller said helmets can create a metal and padding on their oppoadvances in helmet safety in an false sense of safety. nents’ helmets might protect their attempt to cut down on concus“People do put a helmet on that’s head, but not necessarily their brains.

T

“[Helmets] are more protective for the skull, the bones, the not rearranging your face or anything like that,” Miller said. “But one thing that helmets can’t protect is the way the brains move inside the skull.”

According to a concussion fact sheet produced by the NCAA, which is available in the training room, symptoms of concussions include headaches, delayed reactions, dizziness and memory problems, just to name a few. Dealing with the symptoms takes time, Miller said.

“I think the consensus is the longer you wait, the better it is for the person … If there’s an issue, if there’s anything suspected, they have to sit for the remainder of that day,” Miller said.

Athletes with symptoms typically miss at least a week, if not two, according to Miller. Only

physicians or athletic trainers can clear concussed individuals to return to the field. The more a person can lessen the use of their brains, the quicker they can get over a concussion.

“If they can sit in a dark room, sit there and do nothing, the brain would heal so much faster than if there’s a lot of stimulus,” Miller said.

When it comes to preventing concussions, Miller said responsibility falls on many shoulders.

Athletes need to hit properly, coaches must teach proper technique, referees are responsible for enforcing rules on hitting and trainers are to educate athletes and treat injuries.

The topic of protecting Etown athletes from concussions is something Miller takes seriously.

Miller said, “It’s obviously a big concern because it’s going to affect the rest of their lives.”

Athletes of the Week Matt Ruth Becky Porter

the etownian’s

Q&A

Major: Occupational therapy Favorite Jay’s Nest item: Jay Fries Favorite sports team: Philadelphia Phillies In 10 years I want to be ...

Married, an OT working with children and possibly coaching lacrosse.

Childhood hero: My dad I started playing my sport: At age 6.

Favorite athlete: Roy Halladay

Favorite musician: Joshua Radin Favorite movie: “Despicable Me” Favorite TV show: “Criminal Minds” Song playing on my iPod: Any Nicki Minaj song Hardly anyone knows that...

I used to be a synchronized swimmer for six years.

Greatest athletic accomplishment: Winning the MAC championship last season I’m a sucker for...

Soccer players.

Biggest fear: Close spaces. I’m claustrophobic.

S o p h o m o re M a t t R u t h k n ow s a l l a b o u t c l o s e games. His last three outings on the mound have been decided by one run each. In game two of Monday’s doubleheader against Messiah, the York n a t i ve t o s s e d h i s f i r s t c a re e r c o m p l e t e g a m e in Etown’s 2-1 win. Ruth gave up just four hits while stiking out four in the seven inning affair.

Photo: EtownBlueJays.com

Etown sophomore Becky Po r ter h as sc o red 30 goals this season for the second-highest scoring offense in the Middle Atlantic Conference for women’s lacrosse . On April 15, in a 19-3 Blue Jay win over King’s, Porter poured in five goals to go along with her one assist for her first career sixpoint game.

Photo: EtownBlueJays.com

Q&A Major: Business Favorite Jay’s Nest item: Chicken ranch cheesesteak and mozzarella sticks Favorite sports team: New York Yankees In 10 years I want to be...

Owning my own business.

Biggest fear: Being buried alive Childhood hero: My two older brothers

Favorite musician: Wiz Khalifa Favorite athlete: Derek Jeter Favorite movie: “The Dark Knight” Favorite TV show: “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” Song playing on my iPod: “No Sleep” by Wiz Khalifa Hardly anyone knows that...

I have been to every MLB stadium.

Greatest athletic accomplishment: Receiving Most Valuable Pitcher for the York/ Adams County Legion Tournament