Etownian Vol. 108, Issue 3 - 9/22/2011

Features, Page 4

Inauguration Fun Run Campus Life, Page 6

townian E Elizabethtown, Pa. 17022-2298 On the Web: www.Etownian.com

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Elizabethtown College

September 22, 2011

Since 1904

Volume 108, Issue 3

on campus

Diplomats discuss educational prospects

Representatives from Kurdistan explore possibilities for Iraqis Emily M. Reigart Managing Editor

Photo: Emily Reigart

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on campus

Center launches global initiative Katie G. Pebley Staff Writer

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new academic initiative which will provide students a higher level of international opportunity is set to be implemented this year.

The Center for Global Citizenship aims to globalize the small town environment at Elizabethtown College in order to provide students with opportunities to gain multicultural knowledge. The Center has many programs, including studying, interning or volunteering abroad; guest lectures; and student discussions. In an attempt to extend its reach to more of the student body, the Center is creating a more academic program.

John Craig, ambassador-in-residence and director of the Center, worked with Jennifer Hughes, junior international business and Spanish major, to implement this program. As director, Craig will assist with many of the events.

Hughes was named head student coordinator because of her initial involvement. She is organizing the program from Spain where she is currently studying abroad.

“The program, in a sense, will be very similar to the Called to Lead program, in that students will earn points or credits for attending different seminars, discussion groups and activities outside of their class schedules,” Hughes said through Internet correspondence. Called to Lead is a personal development program in which students can explore leadership in the context of the meaning of life, ethical concerns and personal values. It involves facultyled discussions, networking dinners, service-leadership, workshops and academic courses, according to the College’s website. “However, instead of focusing on leadership skills, this program will focus on international peace and conflict issues,” Hughes explained.

The program’s events will pertain to topics such as international current events. Participation is the basis for the program, and students can also receive points for studying abroad and international internships. Those who want to study abroad can choose from 50-plus academic programs offered by nine affiliates and faulty-led programs, or students can work, volunteer or intern overseas. Volunteer work in the region and similar endeavors may also count for points, as long as they are strongly related to the goal of the program. After reaching a certain number of points, members will receive a certificate at graduation.

Since the program is new, the focus is currently on bringing people to the campus who will interest students.

Craig has many contacts, and he may ask some of them to speak . In the past, he brought Dr. Ebadi, a Nobel Prize winner, and Terry Waite, English humanitarian and author, to the campus. Though Craig has individuals in mind, he wants to make sure that they offer unique contributions.

Special opportunities to meet with speakers will be available to program participants, including private discussions and meals which promote informal discussion.

“Because this is a brand new program, there is a great deal of room for modification and expansion,” Hughes said. “My biggest challenge right now is getting students on campus involved.”

Any questions, comments or suggestions about the program can be directed to Craig at CRAIGJ@etown.edu.

More information will be available in the future regarding upcoming events and further program developments.

lizabethtown College alumna, president and founder of Healing Tree International, Abby Abildness hopes to connect Etown with the Middle East. As part of her work as director of Healing Tree, Abildness has been to Iraq on numerous occasions. Throughout her travels, she came into contact with Iraqis who had a desire to learn and to encourage positive international relations.

Abildness recognized the College as a venue capable of promoting this goal and contacted the Center for Global Citizenship in order to discuss the possibility of beginning an educational partnership with universities in Iraq.

On behalf of the Center for Global Citizenship Dr. Oya Dursun-Ozkanca of the political science department hosted a luncheon to allow faculty, staff and students from Ozkanca’s model United Nations course to interface with the guests from Kurdistan, an autonomous political region in the north recognized by the Iraqi government. Attendees Elizabethtown College alumna Abby Abildness promotes global understanding and service through Hershey-based nonprofit Healing Tree International. Pictured left to right: Al included the First Lady of Shekh Amed Mulah Huseen, Paul Cramer, Zakiyah Saleh, Shireen Ameedee, Abildness and Kurdistan Shireen Ameedee Mohammed Amin Tawfiq, participants in the lunch hosted by the Center for Global Citizenship. and Kurdish Democratic Parliamentary member Zain-residence Dr. Gail Bossenga, as well as it occurred on International Peace Day. kiya Saleh. The women were accompanied faculty from the social work, history, math After brief introductions, Ameedee

by Al Shekh Ahmed Mulah Huseen and and political science departments. and her colleagues explained their goal of Mohammed Amin Tawfiq, who acted as the President Strikwerda greeted the ambas- greater educational opportunities for Iraqi translator. Representatives from the College sadors from Kurdistan with the observa- students.” We want to open doors. We want included President Strikwerda, Vice Presition that their visit to Elizabethtown Col- our students to come here to study, to learn dent for Enrollment Paul Cramer, scholarlege carried a special significance because about you,” Tawfiq translated for Ameedee.

New committee provides more opportunity Shana M. Mihovics Asst. Campus Life Editor

plan. The last full plan was in 1998, and all colleges have to think ahead to respond to changes in education, student interests and changes in the marketplace.” The appointing of a new he winds of change will be blowing president also made for a natural time of transithrough Elizabethtown College’s campus tion. As President Carl Strikwerda indicated, this fall and it will be a while before they stop “My joining the college gave us the opportuswirling. Think pleasant breezes, not destrucnity to assess our recent history, examine the tive gale forces, as the College embarks on a farchanging external Photo: Matthew P. Butera environment and set new directions for progress.”

It is no secret that the country in which we live faces seriously sobering economic, political and social challenges, which have intensified in the last few years.

As employment remains stagnant and college graduates are defaulting on their student loans in record numbers, the media has reported questioning on the part of some of the value of a liberal President Strikwerda addresses members of Student Senate on Thursday, Sept. 15 in Hoover 212. He arts degree. answered questions regarding the College’s new strategic planning initiative being implemented this fall.

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sighted strategic planning initiative that will lay the groundwork for future sustainability and excellence consistent with the College’s rich traditions, while embracing new opportunities.

The time could not be more right to engage in this critical initiative. Dr. Thomas Murray, a biology professor at Etown, points out that, “Now is the perfect time to pursue a strategic

The

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News

Etownian

September 22, 2011

new development

The

Jayd-ed edge

Huntley C. McGowan News Editor

All that just for a free burger?

A Cleveland burglary went seriously awry when suspect Edward Lawson got stuck in a restaurant’s rooftop air conditioning vent while trying to flee the scene of the crime.

Lawson scaled the new Burger Haven restaurant rooftop on Broadway Avenue when police say he got trapped in the vent after allegedly stealing burgers.

“They ripped it off and got halfway in the store and they couldn’t go anywhere else. So he was just hanging there,” owner George Nakhle said.

A bystander spotted Lawson on the rooftop of the restaurant and called 911. When officials arrived on the scene they were unable to locate Lawson. They then saw his legs dangling from the vent and he was rescued, arrested and taken to prison. As a result of this crime, Burger Haven will be putting a new surveillance system into place. They will also be adding a more secure cover to the vent.

Of course everybody wants a pet alligator Two men from Sumter County in Jacksonville, Fla., were confronted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission when they came off Lake Apopka with several buckets full of newly-hatched alligators.

Robert Duval, 32, and Christopher Scroggins, 22, were taken to Lake County Jail for the felony of possession and capture of hatchling alligators. They were also charged with misdemeanor conspiracy.

“Unfortunately, there is an illegal market for hatchling alligators, and people who participate in this type of poaching have no regard for our resources or the laws that protect them,” FWC Officer David Straub said.

No need to worry about the 260 baby alligators, as they were all returned safely to the lake.

Duval and Scroggins posted bail at $13,000 and $3,000 bonds, respectively. The incident is still under investigation.

You earned it…except not Steven Nichols, the superintendent of Staunton. Va. schools, mistakenly gave 31 teachers a pay raise.

“It is human in that no one caught it as a payroll matter. All payroll is generated by computer, and spot checks did not reveal an issue,” Nichols said. “For not catching it sooner, I’m very sorry.”

These 31 teachers received $16,000 combined after experiencing a pay freeze for three years.

Initially, teachers were not required to pay back the money. Instead there were plans of simply forgoing future pay raises after the pay freeze ended. The school board has now decided, however, that the teachers must repay the money within the next 24 months.

Because who doesn’t want to be Arnold Schwarzenegger?

A highly-respected university in Ireland received a major shock when a student posted an academic profile of a new professor in the English department. Officials describe the profile as “a certain Conan T. Barbarian, complete with Hollywood mug shot of a shirtless, sword-clad Arnold Schwarzenegger in his maiden film role.”

The university was quick to react by promptly removing the fake site; however, many students had already taken matters into their own hands and archived the site. The Web page is now an Irish viral sensation.

This is the first time that the university has ever had its website disrupted, and spokeswoman Caoimhe Ni Lochlainn said they are certain it was an inside job, not the work of a hacker. According to reports, Dr. Barbarian’s Trinity profile contains a “warrior’s feast of references to the arcane plot of the 1982 film, which was critically panned but a box-office hit that launched Schwarzenegger’s movie career.”

Ni Lochlainn remarked that the prank posting is being viewed as “quite humorous.” However, university investigators are attempting to identify the culprit. Ni Lochlainn said punishment would depend on “the full facts of the case.”

Compiled from msnbc.msn.com

Harvard scientists link pesticides to ADHD

New discoveries alter perceptions of this life-altering disorder Joseph S. Klinger Asst. News Editor

agricultural and residential settings. These pesticides affect both our drinking water and food sources, leading to inevitable exposure.

Consuming organic foods and scrubbing them with a brush greatly reduces one’s exposure. However, as long as these pesticides are used, we will continue to be exposed.

Dr. Russell Barkley, the internationally recognized authority on ADHD in both

curate diagnoses and effective treatments of this disorder.

Lynne Davies, director of Learning Services and Disability Services, shared that ost parents try to ensure that their “[this study] does not mean an increased child consumes the greatest amount incidence [of ADHD]; we have just become of fruits and vegetables possible. Although better at diagnosing it.” Davies supports the the benefits of vitamins, like those found in view of Harvard scientists. The researchers fruits and vegetables, are unending, has this of this study write that “[the findings of produce secretly been poisoning our youth? this study] support the A recent study pubPhoto: Abby Kautz hypothesis that organolished in Pediatrics: phosphate exposure, at Official Journal of the levels common among American Academy U.S. children, may of Pediatrics by sevcontribute to ADHD eral PhDs from Harvard prevalence. Prospective University and of the studies are needed to University of Montreal, establish whether this Canada conducted a association is causal.” study of over 1,100 chilDavies added that, dren aged eight to fif“individuals with attenteen. This representative tion [and attention-like] sample “showed that disorders are held to a children with higher level of accountability urinary levels of organoindividuals with most phosphate metabolites other disabilities are were more likely to meet not. We often expect the diagnostic criteria people with attention for ADHD [AttentionDeficit-Hyperactivity- Even freshly picked organic strawberries must be washed thoroughly before consuming. disorders to overcome Recent studies have shown that pesticides increase the likelihood of developing ADHD. the symptoms of the disDisorder].” The article further explained that “exposure to organo- children and adults, states the ability to resist order in a way we would not expect of somephosphates has been associated with adverse distraction assists us to persevere to accom- one with, for example, a visual disorder or effects on neurodevelopment, such as behav- plish our goals and to complete our tasks. anxiety disorder. I think some people harbor ioral problems and lower cognitive function.” “This distractibility is not on the sensory side a bit of blame toward this population.” This This national study focused on children of our brain [like other attention-disorders disorder, when properly diagnosed, does not because “children are generally considered are]. The ADHD person hears and sees affect an individual’s motivation, intelligence to be at greatest risk from organophosphate everything that you see and vice-versa. The or ability to process information. Individuals toxicity, because the developing brain is difference is that they react to that distracting with ADHD respond and react differently to more susceptible to neurotoxicants and the event. The inability to repress responding to the same reality that everyone faces—except dose of pesticides per body weight is likely irrelevant events is this distractibility,” Bark- they are unable to sustain that response. ley continued. “The distracting event has, for Sophomore Alex Ochs, a social work to be larger for children.”

What are these organophosphate metabo- an ADHD individual, destroyed their ability major, studied brain development and stated that from what he learned in class, lites and how do we avoid consuming them? to keep the goal in mind.”

ADHD deals with working memory, one “this makes biological sense.” He continued, According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), they are among the most of the five executive functions of the brain, “parents need to be more educated about the widely used pesticides in North America, not just attention like it was thought in past risks that affect childhood development and with 73 million pounds used annually in both years. This realization has led to more ac- how to effectively respond to [those risks].”

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in the community

Hersheypark in distress after tropical storm

Natural disaster plagues the Sweetest Place on Earth, ZooAmerica Jackie E. Quidort Asst. Photo Editor

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Christmas festivities, which will begin on Nov. 18.

“We have several employees who have been here for more than 40 years, so they were witness to Hurricane Agnes in 1972 [until last week that was the benchmark for flooding in Derry Township] and Tropical Storm Lee last week. We heard from them that last week’s flooding was the worst they’d ever seen here,” Bianca wrote.

Hersheypark is still assessing the flood damage. Damage to the park includes some structural damage to buildings, eateries and merchandise sold in stores. The park was inspected by Hershey’s inspectors and by a third party, according to Bianca.

Due to the prompt and adequate response of the crew, Hersheypark

ersheypark, The Sweetest Place on Earth, and a popular destination for Elizabethtown College students, experienced major flooding on Sept. 7 and 8 due to Tropical Storm Lee. The flood resulted in the death of two of ZooAmerica’s bison, according to USA Today, along with some damage to the park.

“The flood that affected Hersheypark and ZooAmerica was the result of Spring Creek, which usually meanders peacefully through our properties,” Mindy Bianca, public relations director at Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company wrote.

Image: Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Co. Tropical Storm Lee rushed into the Derry Township amusement park, open only on weekends in September, and caused the park to be closed for one weekend, Bianca added.

Along with the death of the two bison, a few prairie dogs were killed as a result of the flood, Bianca said.

The park had a full evacuation plan in place that went into effect on Monday.

They knew heavy rains were coming, but were surprised by the magnitude of the flood.

According to Bianca, the bison were transferred to higher ground, but could not be saved due to the water that increased from inches of water to feet of water in minutes.

This was an unprecedented situation, and an amazing team of personnel worked to help the animals, Bianca said. Of ZooAmerica’s 200 animals, all were saved but the two bison and a few prairie dogs. USA Today reported Hersheypark received massive amounts of water from Tropical Storm Lee. Comet Hollow, shown above, was completely engulfed by water as a result of the flood. The park that one bison was shot and the other reports all rides are currently intact while a few minor issues are still being resolved. drowned.

“Before the flood waters had completely receded, the Hersheypark was prepared to greet visitors last weekend. A $14 coupon for the park team had mobilized into action to assess damage and begin a stagger- was available on Hersheypark’s Facebook page. With the exception of ing clean-up job,” wrote Public Relations Director Kathy Burrows in a the superdooperLooper and Tidal Force ride, all rides that are normally press release. Only essential personnel were present during the flood, in operation at this time of year are open, Burrows wrote.

First–year Luke Wilson, a commuter from Hershey, reports that as Derry Township was in a state of emergency. As the flood subsided, mud can be seen on the trees, a result of the high floodwaters. Additionthe clean-up grew larger, Bianca said.

Hershey’s crew “pulled together, figured out what needed to ally, he said he has seen National Guard personnel driving in the area.

Hersheypark is open for business even though Bianca is still shocked be done and did it– without complaint. Tropical Storm Lee gave us a lot of obstacles, but –as always –we took on the challenge by the power of water: “In my walk–through this week, I’ve seen the together and are the stronger for it, I think,” Bianca wrote. No results of the power of the rushing water. If I hadn’t seen it with my interruptions are expected for annual events like Halloween own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed that water could do some of the in Hershey, scheduled to begin in mid-October, and Hershey’s things it did here,” she wrote.

News

national news

Etownian

The

September 22, 2011

on campus

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U.S. poverty level worst in history, future darkens Recent ITS Uncertainty lingers over students’ heads, will job market turn around? updates installed O Rachel Barr Staff Writer

ver the past few years, the American economy has fallen into a recession, plaguing the country and not looking to let up anytime soon. The poverty level and the U.S. housing market are the worst they have been in decades, gas prices continue to rise, and, despite many efforts by the government, the unemployment rate has not changed in months. Although many are working on fixing these ever-increasing problems, economists are predicting the worst is yet to come.

A major indicator that the economy is not getting any better is the current poverty level. According to the Census Bureau, the poverty level has risen to 15.1 percent. The last time the level was this high was in 1983. Being at this level means 46.2 million people in America are in poverty. Although many thought the recession from 2007-2009 was the worst it could get, it seems that there is still a long way to go before the U.S. economy hits rock bottom.

Another record-breaking number is the drop in value of the U.S. housing market. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), prices fell 35 percent in the past few years, which has not happened in a century. Prices have risen 1 percent, but it will take hard work and time to get them to where they used to be.

Paul Bishop, an economist for the NAR, explained,

“What’s pushing the housing market is low mortgage rates, high housing affordability and some economic growth.”

The market has changed with the times, lowering prices to accommodate the increasing number of buyers who have been turned down for loans.

Rising gas prices have not helped the situation either. Prices have risen drastically this summer, resulting in consumers staying at home rather than vacationing and boosting the economy. According to a ‘Smart Spending’ article on Time Magazine’s website, experts had called for a $0.30 decrease in average gas prices this summer.

Instead, prices have gone up to a national average of $3.65 per gallon, almost a dollar higher than it was at this time last year.

Although gas prices had begun to decrease in the spring, they started increasing again by the end of August. This happened because of several factors. First, oil refineries in California are having some technical difficulties, which is making it harder to get the oil ready as quickly as needed.

Second, difficulties in Libya, a major area where oil is drilled, are making it difficult to attain access to much-needed oil. Finally, the recent hurricane assisted in the climbing prices. The experts are now saying that, because of all of these problems, it is impossible to predict the gas prices for the next few months.

Experts across the board seem to agree on one thing: uncertainty of the future. According to the most recent survey by the National Association for Business Econo-

Benjamin M. Simms Staff Writer

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Image: hypervocal.com

The United States poverty level has risen to 15. 1 percent, making it the highest it has been since 1983. 46.2 million Americans are now in poverty and 9.1 percent of Americans are currently unemployed.

for the failing economy, but the main one was this: even Americans who have jobs worry about job security, which erodes confidence and dampens consumer spending.

Dmitriy Krichevskiy, visiting lecturer of economics here at Elizabethtown College, had another insight into the economy and how it could be fixed. “Our government needs to play an active role in reshaping the labor force of today into a labor force that will be demanded tomorrow.” He explained that many manufacturing jobs are going overseas, and that low-skilled workers cannot compete against “their foreign counterparts.”

Even highly-skilled Christina Savage workers, who are junior business administration major in high demand in Ame r i c a’s work force, are losing mists, 86 percent cited a higher their jobs. According to Krichevslevel of uncertainty in the economy kiy, America needs to train workrecovering. This is very different ers for jobs that won’t be sent from earlier surveys in which most overseas to keep workers up to economists thought that the econ- date with skills needed for jobs in omy would strengthen soon. The technical fields; that is where the Economist listed several reasons increase in demand is. He finished

“When you go to apply for jobs it’s harder these days. I had to have connections to just get a summer job at Target.”

by stating, “Neither foreign completion nor technological progress are going away. We, individually and as a society, have to adapt to those changes.”

Many experts are calling for change for America to adapt to fix the failing economy. Some things are getting better, like the housing market; some have yet to change, like the job market. The one thing Americans know is that everyone is affected in some way by the recession, even students at Etown.

Hannah Blecker, a first-year international business major, said, “My dad lost his job a few years ago because he’s in banking. He had to work from home doing freelance work, and my lifestyle changed significantly.” Christina Savage, a junior business administration major, stated, “When you go to apply for jobs it’s harder these days. I had to have connections to just get a summer job at Target.” Experts are saying that they are uncertain about the future, just like many Etown students. The main thing students want to know is whether they will be able to get a job when they graduate. However, the future is looking as uncertain as ever.

continued from page one

Strategic planning initiative promotes ideas Some colleges have slashed majors like philosophy and others have even tried to promote the myth that the expense of a college degree might not be worth it at all.

These perceptions sometimes take hold even though, according to U.S. government statistics, a person with a college degree earns almost one million dollars more over a lifetime than a person without one. However, while many might attribute questioning the value of higher education sentiments to meaningless noise, Etown is planning ahead to make sure it remains vital and is delivering top-notch learning, that prepares graduates to think critically in their post-graduate work.

Playing an even greater role in the decision

to engage in a major strategic planning initiative are the changing demographics in the United States. These prompted Strikwerda to feel the need for this initiative and to ask and answer five big questions related to: modes and outcomes of learning, size and mix of programs, outreach and advancement, infrastructure and campus community. The prestigious institutions of higher learning re-assess where they have been, where they are and where they need to go often to stay relevant and competitive in all of these areas.

Each of those questions are broad and farreaching and so the Etownian will explore them in greater depth in a series of short articles in the coming weeks. Junior Rachael Waldman

hopes any future changes would never affect what she has always found to be Etown’s greatest strength, “the close connections, personal education, lasting bonds and homey feeling found on this campus.”

A college is not formed overnight nor would anyone suggest it be transformed overnight.

A steering committee comprised of some of the greatest talent within the college has been working from August and will continue through next August on this initial important fact-finding and recommendation phase.

As Murray said, “the President’s process as being able ‘to help the College take advantage of our current strengths and be an even stronger institution in the years to come.’”

News in Brief NFL ups security detail

Online poker company sued by authorities

In order to improve fan safety this season, The National Football League (NFL) is looking to change the way it conducts security measures. Current procedures mandate that fans go through a pat-down process from the waist up only, while security personnel look for alcohol or banned weapons. The NFL is now requesting that fans go through a more extreme security screening by allowing the guards to conduct pat-downs from the ankles up.

“The enhanced security procedures recommended by our office before the start of the season will further increase the safety of fans but will require some additional time,” spokesman Brian McCarthy told USA TODAY. “We encourage fans to come early, enjoy their tailgating tradition, and be patient as they enter the stadium.”

These new security procedures will affect the 16.6 million fans who are expected to patronize the NFL stadiums this season. Officials now recommend that fans arrive earlier to games to avoid the long lines and frustration while trying to enter to the stadium.

Full Tilt Poker, an Internet poker company prohibited from operating in the U.S. this past spring, was “not a legitimate poker company, but a global Ponzi scheme,” federal prosecutors told Fox News, Tuesday.

Justice Department lawyers from New York claim that the gambling website “illegally raided player accounts to fund operations and make lavish payments to its owners.” Investigators said that, over a four-year period, Full Tilt Poker used $444 million to pay its board members. The website allegedly used player money to help pay well-known professional players such as Christopher Ferguson and Howard Lederer.

Authorities say that in March, Full Tilt Poker had only $60 million left in its bank accounts to cover the $390 million it owed to players. Federal authorities sued Full Tilt Poker in April as part of an attempt to manage some of the more popular poker websites in the U.S. The company’s two top executives, Nelson Burtnick and Raymond Bitar, also had criminal charges filed against them. These charges are currently pending, but Burtnick and Bitar claim the allegations are “unfounded.”

ecently, Information and Technology Services (ITS) sent an email to Elizabethtown College students, faculty and staff regarding a new email system update.

The College will be upgrading to the newest version of Microsoft Exchange 2010. This upgrade will bring many new benefits to the table such as more efficient message handling, a higher availability platform and other features like mobile device integration.

The email update will be happening the week of Sept. 19th and will be going on behind the scenes so it will not affect any students, faculty or staff.

Randall Kreider, the system/ network administrator of ITS at Etown, provided insight on how the system update will happen and the reasons behind it. When asked what was going to change specifically with the coming update, he said, “We have installed a completely new Exchange 2010 platform which includes five servers. Two of the servers act as Client Access Servers. The remaining three servers participate in a single Database Availability Group (DAG), which supports the mailboxes for all college constituents. We are currently in the process of migrating accounts to the new platform.”

So what’s the point of all this you may ask? Well, with more servers and newer software, the system will be more fault-proof, faster and more efficient.

“Everyone will immediately notice the changes in webmail (OWA). OWA is now more browser agnostic and includes new features such as conversation view,” Kreider said. “Additionally, Exchange 2010 is more tightly integrated with Outlook 2010 so faculty and staff will see enhancements from their perspective.”

The new features such as conversation view will show the email history between the sender and receiver. This makes it easier to go back and see information in older emails.

Lastly, Kreider mentioned a few additional updates for the Etown community. “We are always planning for the future. The migration to Exchange 2010 is obviously our major electronic initiative at the current time.”

Additional plans for email may include increased storage space, ‘in-platform’ archiving and moderated distribution lists. So with the new updates and some plans in the future it looks like ITS continues to keep Etown technologically up-to-date.

Members of the campus were asked if they had ever run into problems with the email systems or have had any technological problems in the past. It seems as if everyone has had smooth sailing with the new updates, which will make things better for all of Etown.

The Office of Communications and Marketing also updated their site to make it more user-friendly.

Remember the new update is going to be happening this week, so check to your email accounts for any changes.

Anyone with questions about the changes or anyone that needs help can email helpdesk@etown. edu or call (717)-361-3333.

Etownian

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Profiles • Academic Events • Monthly Series • Culture • Storytelling

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eature F

September 22, 2011

Going the Distance with Dr. Strikwerda on Inaugural Weekend 3K run to promote activity and tree planting ceremony in Dell to honor new president Strikwerda

Ginette Slaughter Staff Writer

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uring the first weekend of October, Elizabethtown College’s Inaugural Weekend for President Carl Strikwerda will take place. As October approaches, the Inauguration seems to be building itself up to be the college’s biggest event this semester. While smaller events will be scattered throughout the inaugural weekend, there will be a special event involving students, employees and the President himself: Going the Distance with Carl.

The reason for the event’s title is both motivational and literal because students, faculty and staff will have an opportunity to participate in a 3K run/walk throughout campus with the new President himself.

However, before the run, there will be a traditional tree planting ceremony taking place that will be a part of the Going the Distance with Carl event. Two students on the Transitions committee; junior Nick Clemens and senior Alysa Poindexter, and the Dean of Students, Marianne Calenda are three of people who have been working to put this active event together.

“We know a little bit about the President. We know he’s interested in fitness so we thought maybe this is a way for students to connect with him,” Calenda explained about why the 3K run was chosen to be an event for the Inauguration. “We also know that students at Etown like to be active and I always thought there’s something special about getting to know someone through their interests.”

Going the Distance with Carl is meant to provide the President a chance to get to know the students in a way so that he is among them and having conversations with them. “The hope of the event is to have the students, who haven’t already, go out and meet the President and show that we’re ready to start our relationship with him and have it grow and prosper,” Clemens said.

The focus of these inaugural events is to be student oriented, building the relationship between the President and students.

“Instead of having an uncomfortable meet and greet, you can be walking or running around and have a chance to say hi to the President,” Calenda noted. As relationship building is a big focus, there is a specific reason as to why an active event for the students was chosen. Calenda mentioned, “I think [Strikwerda] wants to encourage people to be more active and this is a way to convey that.”

While the main activity for Going the Distance with Carl will be the 3K run, it will follow a special tree planting ceremony for President Strikwerda that will take place in the Dell. However, he will not be the first to have this done for him; President Long had a tree planted in his honor 15 years ago. Dean Calenda added, “The idea behind the tree planting ceremony is to commemorate the beginning of President Strikwerda’s presidency.”

Clemens, who is in charge of advertising and programming for the event, commented on the tradition: “The tree planting idea was very symbolic and seems to be a reoccurring thing for presidents to do when they

Photo: Elizabethtown College

President Strikwerda is going the distance at Elizabethtown College in October by way of a 3K run as an event at the Inauguration. There will also be a tree planting at the Dell as a ceremonius event that is symbolic of Etown’s new president.

first come to the College.” It is a tradition Clemens hopes to see still here at Etown when President Strikwerda walks out the door years down the road.

Strikwerda’s inauguration is an official to start his presidency and the tree planting ceremony will symbolize his legacy. As Strikwerda will develop his leadership style and expand his relationships with students and employees, the tree will grow and expand its branches and leaves. The tree will be a metaphor for growth within the Strikwerda presidency.

The tree planting ceremony will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Oct. 2, the Sunday of the inaugural weekend. Students are encouraged to arrive in the Dell dressed casually in active gear because the 3k run will begin immediately after tree planting ceremony.

The 3k run will be all throughout campus, a route which is approximately 1.6 miles long. Although the run is not a competition, Dean Calenda commented on President Strikwerda’s one requirement for Going the Distance with Carl: he is not to come in last place.

in the community

Folklore Coffee & Co presents: Make Memories and Music Concerts featuring famous and local musicians showcase talent, offer caffeine and baked goods Sarah M. Knight Volunteer Writer

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Photo: Matthew P. Butera

Folklore is a center of comfort and coffee for those in the Etown community, offering an environment filled with art, music and delicious baked goods. This past weekend, prominent musical artist, including Jon Walker, formerly of Panic! At the Disco, visited visited Folklore and played a set.

Illustration: Sarah Knight

t really came to be out of a number of extraordinary events,” says Ryan Bracken explained the creation of Folklore, the hip, warm coffee shop he and his wife, Dawn, own and operate in the heart of Elizabethtown’s center square. It’s the middle of another overcast day, and yet the café hums with activity: young girls laugh in the corner, the coffee grinder drones away, a man in a suit reads his paper. Ryan, laid back and friendly, sips coffee out of a well worn mug and laughs. The couple looks more like coffee shop regulars than small business owners, but they know their stuff.

“We weren’t planning on opening a business,” he explained. “We both had worked in coffee shops, so we had the experience. I always wanted to run a business, so I had the passion… one thing kind of led to another. And here we are.”

Folklore aims to create a comfortable, inviting experience for all those who need it. “Etown is such a unique place,” he says. “We really wanted to add to that.”

Ryan and Dawn have created an amazingly unique place for their customers, whomever they may be.

“High schoolers, students from the College, Masonic Village residents, busy moms, whatever…” Ryan explains. “We don’t really try to choose a demographic.

We just try to be as genuine as possible.”

The shop, housed in what once was Elizabethtown’s pharmacy, has a welcoming, artistic aesthetic that is clearly a labor of love for the couple. Local artwork adorns the brick walls and patrons have plenty of space to work, chat or mellow out while surrounded by books and great music. The place has a handmade quality to it, and the care that goes into the food, drink and décor is evident. Folklore mugs and t-shirts will soon be available, which is just a hint of how Folklore aims to keep things fresh.

It is that passion for the local environment that has established Folklore as a social hub for residents of the community and college alike. The café stands as an event space and a popular musical venue. This September, they’ve hosted such artists as Lucas Carpenter, a Folklore favorite, along with Jon Walker (of Panic! at the Disco) Mark Rose and Talain Rayne with other exciting, innovative performances to come.

“We’ve had Lucas in before. He’s a riot,” says Ryan.

“He’s been touring with Jon Walker, and called us about coming through the area and doing a show. It should be really great! Mark Rose, Talain… they’re all great. We’re really excited.”

Ryan and Dawn are clearly devoted to introducing talented musicians to new audiences and try to host an event every month. Details of upcoming events can be found on their Facebook

page and on their website, folklorecoffee.com, along with photos and menu options.

The shows provide a great opportunity to get off campus, discover your new favorite indie artist and chill with friends (with the rather convenient ten percent student discount, as if extra incentives were necessary).

Folklore continues to build its art scene, working with local artists from the area as well as the College, and aims to contribute to a better sense of a supportive, creative community in Etown. Pages, the independent book shop only a door away, was opened this August by friends of the couple.

“We’re so glad something that made sense came to the square!” Ryan gestures vaguely to their own vibrantly green bookshelves with a smile. “It seems like in Etown, so many things randomly pop up, but they don’t tie in with one another.

This just flows so well, and we hope he does really good.”

Patrons go about their business, scattered around the shop while working on laptops, reading and laughing.

Quiet music plays. Ryan and Dawn sit quietly for a moment, surveying the scene.

“The whole idea about Folklore is the story.” Ryan sets his mug down and nods at Dawn. “Folklore was stories that people passed from generation to generation, to teach a lesson or portray history. We really liked that concept of remembering and nostalgia. We tried to tie that all in.”

Features

required classes

Etownian

The

September 22, 2011

5

Explore the Core offers fresh insight into core curriculum Huntley C. McGowan News Editor

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hirty-five percent of the total credits that students at Elizabethtown College need to earn in order to graduate are made up of core classes. These 44 credits needed to fulfill the Core Program requirements allow students to choose from courses in eight different areas of understanding (AU) outside of their major or minor.

Jean-Paul Benowitz, assistant director of Academic Advising in the Center for Student Success, explained that the new Explore the Core initiative was created in an effort for prospective and current students to understand what the Core curriculum actually entails. “If you think about the word ‘core,’ it means the center or the foundation,” Benowitz said. “Explore the Core is a way for students to understand that, yes, they have a major, and they have a concentration within a major, but no matter what their major is, the foundation or the core of their education at the College is the Core Program.”

Through the Core Program, students take a wide variety of courses in many different disciplines in hopes that these Core classes will complement their major. It is designed to help students see the connections between the 14 different academic disciplines offered at the College.

Almost all of the Core classes offered are 100 and 200 level courses. Ideally, students take these classes within their first two years of study at Etown; then devote the rest of their time to the requirements of their major field of study.

“You want to explore all the academic disciplines, all the different majors and all the different programs and faculty,” Benowitz said. “Then determine what it is you want to major or minor in.”

The Explore the Core Program now en- different way. It may even allow for you to see compasses many new and improved features, your own major in a different way that may help including the Open Book discussion, Diversity you to understand it better.”

Film Festival, Explore the Core Speaker Series, In contrast to Burton’s view, senior corporate Fantabulous Fridays, Scholarship and Creative communications major Samantha Wingrove Arts Day (SCAD) and OSA Step Up program- believes that while the core program does help ming and field trips. Each of these features al- make her college experience more well-rounded, lows students to learn outside the classroom but it also causes her to take classes that she deems within the core curriculum. unnecessary for her future career. “While I have The newest addition to the program will take no intention of using the knowledge I gained place this spring during the Wednesday at 11 time slot before advising sessions begin. There will be an Explore the Core fair held in the KĀV, and each department that offers core courses will be represented. Students will have the opportunity to meet and talk with professors who teach core classes, as well as view the reading list and syllabi. “Now it’s not just going through the list and not knowing what these courses are really about,” Benowitz explained. “We’re letting students understand what these areas mean and what departments offer courses for these areas.”

Because the Core Program holds such a significant weight in terms of total credits, there are very mixed reviews on campus toward this issue. Jessica Burton, a junior biology/Allied Health major, really enjoyed coming in as a first-year and having the chance to try out different subjects. “In high school you are limited to the topics you can take, but college allows for specialization and more specific areas Photo: Matthew P. Butera of study,” Burton said. “I think that you The Core Program’s requirements encourage become a more well-rounded individual students to take classes outside their major. The because taking different classes allows new Explore the Core program will allow students you to open your mind and see things a to find out about core classes in other departments.

from some of my core classes, I could always end up finding it useful somewhere down the line,” she said.

Wingrove believes that, in her case, class time could be spent focusing more on communications-specific classes instead of on certain Core classes. “Let students choose four other majors they want to explore. Take one class in each, and maybe they will even find a discipline they are interested in and pick up a minor,” she said.

Many students on campus view the Core Program as a checklist of courses that they are required to take. As a result, the program is not taken seriously by some. Benowitz urges students to recognize that it is a very serious and significant part of every student’s education at the College. “This is their core and their foundation,” he said. “It’s what [students are] going to use to find out what their strengths and interests are.”

Benowitz notes that the Core Program is a great marketing tool for admissions because it distinguishes the College’s curriculum from the general education curriculum of other colleges: “The Bower’s Writers House, the Center for Anabaptist Studies and the Center for Global Citizenship all come together in this idea that there’s a reason that these connections are here.”

Benowitz’s overall hope for the Explore the Core Program is that it will help students make a better-informed decision about choosing core classes. “You don’t choose your major classes and then choose whatever core fits into your schedule. You want to give some thought to this and see how these courses relate to each other,” he said. “It’s really about exploring the liberal arts and sciences. A person can major in anything but they can also have this knowledge of other disciplines.”

on campus

Tuesdays with Carl: chance to meet, converse with president Tara B. Hayes Co-Features Editor

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n “Tuesdays With Morrie,” Mitch Albom tells the story of his teacher and mentor, Morrie Schwartz. When Albom graduates and Morrie retires, the younger man visits his former teacher every Tuesday to discuss life lessons or just to chat. The pair has such an intense bond that it lasts years after graduation.

Elizabethtown College students don’t have the opportunity to spend Tuesdays with Morrie, but they do have an opportunity to spend one with their new president, Dr. Carl Strikwerda. He is hosting Tuesdays with Carl: Lunch with the President each month of the academic year. He has set aside one Tuesday a month to have lunch with up to eight students in the Marketplace.

“I’d like to find ways to talk to as many students as I can, and I’d like to do it informally,” Strikwerda said. “Meeting students for lunch sounds like a way where I can find out about their lives and the College and hear their concerns and give them a chance to ask me questions.”

Each lunch is limited to eight students to create a personal, informal feeling for the group. Strikwerda wants to be sure each student has a chance to contribute to the discussion.

According to Dean of Students Marianne Calenda, who helps with the planning of these lunches, the main objective is to introduce Strikwerda to the student body.

“I think the best way for people to get together and to learn more about each other is to have a meal together,” Calenda said. “I think it’s great

that the president is making time in his schedule to meet with students over lunch.”

The discussions are set in the Marketplace because of its social tendencies. Most Etown students eat there at least once a day so they will see the new president at the lunch listening to their ideas or general discussions. According to Calenda, it is important for students to see that Strikwerda, as their president, is seeking their input on the College.

To further the informal, personal feeling, the lunches will be only Strikwerda and the eight students. “I just thought it would be easier to have good conversations in small groups,” he said. “Students have a lot of other opportunities to talk to faculty and staff.

A president sometimes can be very involved in a lot things off campus, with a lot of meetings,

and I don’t get as much chance to talk to students as I’d like. So this is just one other way for me to spend some time with students and really just talk with them informally and get to know them as a person.”

During these lunches, students will have the opportunity to bring up any ideas or suggestions for the College.

Strikwerda is open to any improvements involving any aspect of the College, like student life or providing more opportunities on campus.

“It’s a chance for me to find out if there are student concerns about any issues.

Obviously, then I can be more in a position to act on those concerns and find out what can be done about them,” Strikwerda said. “I hope it’s also just a way for more students to meet me and to get to know the leadership of the

College and what my direction for the College is.”

The idea for this monthly discussion came from Strikwerda himself while he was brainstorming ways to connect with the students, which is his primary objective. As the new president, he wants to find out what makes Etown, Etown. He also wants to get to know his students on a personal level and allow them to get to know him.

“I’m mostly just interested in first of all just finding out what the students’ experience at Elizabethtown College is: their reactions to their courses, finding out what teams they’re on, what clubs they’re involved in and what they like about things at Elizabethtown,” Strikwerda said.

Students can sign up for this discussion through their JayWeb account. The lunches

are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. If they are chosen, they will receive an email informing them that there will be a spot reserved for them at the lunch they chose. If they do not get into the lunch they selected, they will receive an email to notify them that the spots filled up and to encourage them to select another date.

Strikwerda is looking forward to the monthly lunches.

“I’ve really enjoyed the conversations I’ve had with students so far during orientation and various receptions that I’ve been to,” Strikwerda said.

The next open lunch is Nov. 1. There is no deadline to sign up, but a three-day notice is appreciated. If you do not have a meal plan, contact Calenda at CALENDAM@etown.edu, and she will make arrangements to cover your lunch.

future employment

Occupational and physical therapy jobs in demand, low supply

Brianna E. Wiest Asst. Editor

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ccupational and physical therapies are two medical fields that strive to utilize rehabilitative treatment for patients whose way of life has been compromised by the inability to complete day-today functions and maintain general well-being. Rehabilitation within these fields has become standard for patients who face mental, physical, developmental or emotional disabilities. Despite the significance of this work, occupational and physical therapists find they are facing issues in terms of post-graduate employment and compensation.

Because the clinics in which most occupational and physical therapists practice are nonprofit, students feel the burden of the loans that accrue from five to six years of schooling with a salary that is compromised due to the nature of the marketplace.

However, the current state of the economy and job market has students who feel called to a medical profession opting against a career in occu-

Photo: Matthew P. Butera

In the classroom, occupational therapy majors use equipment they would use in their careers after they graduate.The lack of funds nonprofit health organizations experience could affect their future careers.

pational or physical therapy because of the lack of opportunities available.

The Wall Street Journal reported that “there are 64 open jobs in occupational therapy for every 100 practitioners working in the field.” Students are beginning to feel as though OT and PT services should be expanded to mainstream government-funded

or for-profit facilities, both for the necessity of the practice as well as for the sake of the therapists who have to support themselves and pay their loans. The American Occupational Therapy Association stated that “occupational therapy jobs have high demand, but low supply.”

As a popular major at Elizabeth-

town College, students often hear peers in the OT program lamenting the difficulty of their coursework.

However, for most students, it is apparent that the nature of the work does not affect them negatively enough to alter their career path because they feel as though they are called to the profession. “I have seen the results that one occupational therapist can produce. I would love nothing more than to spend my adult life helping children of all abilities succeed and be happy,” junior OT major Amanda Latshaw stated.

The majority of the clinics in which these to-be therapists will one day practice are nonprofit.

Because OT and PT programs are seen as “rehabilitative” as opposed to a medical necessity, they are only marginally integrated into public and government-funded medical centers.

In theory, the goal of a nonprofit organization isn’t to accrue a particular amount of revenue, but rather to provide a service for those in need.

An organization such as this would be ideal for the student who feels as though they are pursuing a passion,

not a salary. However, realistically, there are unavoidable finances that any medical student has to deal with.

For example, here at Etown, five years of paying a $43,630 comprehensive fee will amount to $218,150 in educational costs. The investment is worth it, but that is only because it is assumed that a student’s postgraduate profession will allow them to pay for the loans.

“In the coming years, OT jobs will be more important than ever, as the Baby Boomers reach retirement -age, veterans return from war and the incidence of autism increases.

Occupational Therapy will continue to enable people to live their lives to the fullest,” Heather Slifko, a junior OT major, said. “In order to provide these high-quality services, advocacy for the profession is critical.”

Supporting the idea that OT and PT practices need to be mainstreamed into government-funded health facilities is crucial to supporting hard-working professionals as well as ensuring that these programs are available for those who truly need to utilize them.

Etownian

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ampus Lif E C

September 22, 2011

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

inauguration info

Strikwerda’s race for higher education Brittany V. Daiutolo Staff Writer

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ct. 1, we will officially welcome new President Carl J. Strikwerda to Elizabethtown College and begin a campus-wide celebration.

For the students of Etown and many of the faculty and staff members, this is their first experience of the inauguration of a new college president, so understandably, many do not know what to expect.

“The inauguration is a time to celebrate the new president, but it’s also a time to celebrate the College faculty and education,” said Provost and Senior Vice President Dr. Susan Traverso.

Traverso detailed the events that will take place over the four-day period, beginning Sept. 29. The first is a “mini-scholarship day” on Sept. 29 at 5 p.m.

This event will celebrate student and faculty collaboration on campus. Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m., there will be a faculty music recital in Leffler Chapel. The recital will not only celebrate and welcome Strikwerda but will also celebrate Etown’s music program.

Oct. 1, there will be two roundtable discussions in the High Library with faculty members. The first, beginning at 9 a.m., will feature a moderator and three faculty members. This discussion is titled “Global Perspectives in Teaching and Scholarship.” The second discussion, “Peace, Justice, and Conflict Transformation through Teaching and Scholarship,” begins at 10:30 a.m., again featuring a moderator and three faculty members.

“The discussions are going to highlight our faculty and signature themes we celebrate at Etown,” Traverso said. “The new President wanted to make sure he included the entire campus in his inauguration.”

“These discussions are to enlighten the President on how we do things at Elizabethtown College,” said Dr. Elizabeth Coyle, who will be participating in the second discussion. “The panels have already met and have begun to prepare. Each person will be sharing something related to the theme of their discussion.”

The inauguration of President Strikwerda will be held Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. in the Dell. It will be a traditional inauguration , according to Traverso, and will include delegates sent from colleges around the country to march in commencement and celebrate higher education.

“President Strikwerda wanted the inauguration to be held in the Dell because he wanted students to feel welcome. If we had the inauguration in Leffler, only a limited number of people would have been allowed,” Traverso said.

To begin the inauguration, President Strikwerda will be greeted in the Dell. The Board of Trustees will then officially mark the beginning of the new presidency. A guest speaker, Dr. Nicolas Wolstertorrf, a friend of the new president and a professor at Yale University, will take the stage. Wolstertorrf’s speech is entitled “What’s a College for Anyway?”

President Strikwerda will then be presented with the presidential medallion. Afterward, he will give his speech, titled “Lead. Inspire. Serve.” Dr. Theodore Long, the thirteenth President of Elizabethtown College, will also be present at the inauguration to welcome the new president.

“The inauguration ceremony is fairly formal,” Dr. Hossein Varamini said, who will be a participant in the first roundtable discussion. “Attending students will have the chance to observe the formal inauguration of President Strikwerda as the fourteenth President of Elizabethtown College. The ceremony is an opportunity for the College to become familiar with the new President and learn about his vision for the future of our institution.”

Following the inauguration, there will be a campus-wide reception on the terrace outside of Brossman Commons.

The celebration doesn’t stop with the reception.

There will also be a “Fun Run” Oct. 2. This is a 3K race in which the new president will be participating alongside students. The run will take place around Etown’s campus. Following the run, a tree planting will occur in the Dell.

“The tree planting suggests the beginning of something new. The tree will always be here in honor of President Strikwerda. It is symbolic. The tree will flourish just like both the President and the campus will,” Traverso said.

Varamini added, “Etown has started to develop a new Strategic Plan that will help us identify our institutional priorities in a highly competitive and dynamic environment of higher education, sharpen our commitment to our students, and provide a road map for the direction of the college for the next five to ten years under the leadership of President Strikwerda.”

President Strikwerda is going above and beyond to get to know the students, faculty and staff members of Etown and celebrate the campus as a whole.

Dr. Long did many great things for our college, and it seems his successor will continue this trend.

on campus

Involvement fair highlights unique organizations Students gain knowledge on lesser-known, special interest groups Alexis L. Morris Asst. Copy Editor

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he beginning of the school year is a time to start fresh, a time to try new things.

Elizabethtown College encourages students to grasp those opportunities and gain invaluable experiences during their college career. For many students, that opportunity presents itself in the form of student clubs and organizations.

Etown’s student organizations represent a spectrum of interests, from dancing to writing to volunteering. The sheer number of clubs can be overwhelming for students with a tight schedule. The Office of Student Activities (OSA) alleviates this stress by hosting the annual Student Involvement Fair. A majority of the clubs send representatives to hand out information and recruit new members. For those who were not able to make it to the fair, here are some of our smaller and newer clubs on campus.

Link Link began about five years ago, with the mission to connect college students to the autistic community. Under the leadership of Link’s president, junior Rebecca Kremer, students can build meaningful friendships with children with autism.

According to Vice President Katie Evans, students are paired up with a buddy from the local area and spend time developing a relationship with them throughout the year. The program provides for a variety of different ages, (buddies range from very young to 16 years old) as well as intensity of conditions.

Link participants are required to spend at least four hours a month with their buddy.

Sometimes, students and buddies meet weekly; it depends on the buddy’s family situation and his or her availability. Evans, a senior, said that last year she visited her buddy every week because of the close friendship they developed.

Link also hosts several activities on campus for their buddies to attend, such as sensory nights and a fall festival. The club also sponsors Autism Awareness Week at Etown. Students involved with Link even have the chance to be trained and certified

around town

through the Youth Advocate Programs Autism Institute.

Although Link tends to appeal to students from the occupational therapy and education departments, all majors are welcome to join. “It’s good for anyone to join because there is a lot of need for people to be exposed to working with children with autism,” Evans said.

If you are interested in this opportunity to volunteer in the community as well as work with national autism organizations, contact link@etown.edu.

First-Year Fellowship The First-Year Fellowship is still going through the process of becoming an Etown organization. This new club will work in tandem with Young Life, a non-denominational Christian organization that works with Photo: Allison M. Rohland kids. It is an outreach program for While attending the Involvement Fair, students middle and high school students, had the opportunity to examine clubs, new and old. focusing on building relationships pate in more devotional activities, such as and sharing the gospel.

Bible studies. Young Life leaders can even Here at Etown, First-Year Fellowship work at a Young Life camp over the summer. aims to get college students involved with Other Etown students that are Young the Young Life program, specifically as a Life leaders are senior Jessica Impellizzeri, Young Life leader. According to younglife. junior Courtney Warlick and sophomore org, “Young Life volunteer leaders parEvan Vinciguerra. Danny Sullivan, the loticipate in a full range of activities that help cal regional Young Life area coordinator, them build these significant relationships mentors these students. Currently, these with kids.”

Etown students work with high school stuSenior Dan Henricks, a Young Life dents from Hershey High School, although member since high school, is actively inHenricks is hopeful that, with the formation volved with recruiting other members of the of the First-Year Fellowship club, they can campus to be Young Life leaders. He feels expand their program to the Elizabethtown his primary mission as a leader is to “build area. Once the club becomes official, the relationships with the kids first and then leaders will hold weekly meetings. If you share the gospel instead of the other way are interested or want more information around.” According to Henricks, by putting about Young Life, visit their website www. the relationship first, Young Life appeals younglife.org or email Sullivan at yl.dan. to kids that are not necessarily inclined to sullivan@gmail.com. attend church.

For those students who have not yet To build these relationships, Young Life found a club to meet a specific interest, leaders spend a lot of time simply hanging contact OSA about forming a new group. out with their students. It might involve a With a few friends and a faculty adviser, game of Frisbee, or an outing to the mall. you too can add to the vibrant student life The leaders simply organize the events that on Etown’s campus. their kids want to attend. They also partici-

Local eatery provides warm atmosphere T.J. Rockwell’s serves delicious food with fun environment Lauren A. Kirschner Staff Writer

seafood.” For seafood lovers everywhere, this is the place to go.

One negative quality is that the service can sometimes leave something to be desired. Brooke Ward, a 2011 graduate, said it can be “a hit here’s not much the average college student loves more than not or miss.” The problem seems to be that some of the employees are not having to pay for food at school. Students can often be found at exactly happy to serve college students. First-year Meghan Sarik and the Marketplace all day with their books and homework, trying to save Etownian assistant sports editor, agrees with this opinion. When she money and meal swipes. However, students can treat themselves to some complained about her fries beoff-campus dining as well, and ing too greasy, the woman she one of the most popular places to spoke to “seemed to be denying do so is T.J. Rockwell’s, located on that they didn’t like their food.”

Mount Gretna Road.

Sarik is willing to give the restauRockwell’s is known as the rant another try because it has place to go when you’re off such a good reputation. campus. With features such as More often than not, the serlive music and close proximity vice is much better than Sarik’s to campus, Etown students have experience and the workers are been calling Rockwell’s restauhappy to accommodate people’s rant one of the best places to go eating preferences. With the for years. vast array of meals and choices, Started in 1997 by brothers there seems to be something for Steve and Jeff Heckman, the everyone to enjoy at Rockwell’s. restaurant began only seating Image: tjrockwells.com/ T.J. Rockwell’s seems read80 people. Over the past decade This local college dining scene supplies students with a comforting ily able to accommodate large and a half, the restaurant has environment as well as delicious eating options. groups and parties as well. grown significantly and is now Amanda Calabrese, another capable of seating 300 hungry 2011 graduate, celebrated the end of her senior seminar presentaguests. First-year Briene Coleman said, “Rockwell’s is a restaurant that tions with 14 others at Rockwell’s.

They bought drinks and received is always filled with people, but still one that you can go to without having to wait very long for a table.” Coleman recently celebrated her a free appetizer.

T.J. Rockwell’s does seem to be the place to go for dinner when parbirthday at T.J. Rockwell’s and said that the special for birthdays is to ents come to visit, or to celebrate the end of exams with a large group give the birthday guest the World’s Second Smallest Sundae, which is a great gift for those who don’t like to share their desserts, as this of no-longer-stressed friends. Just be prepared to wait longer if going in sundae is served in a shot glass and good for only a spoonful or two. the winter, as seating is limited when it’s too cold to be outside.

T.J. Rockwell’s is a restaurant that college students love to go to The obvious choice when students and families go to T.J .Rockwell’s are the Rhino Fries served on a large enough plate to share with four when they are tired of eating on campus and would like to indulge a or five friends. Rhino Fries are considered quite delicious by first-years bit. When they take their families, they can show them the town they and upperclassmen alike. This one is a must-have for anyone who likes now call home, and when they take friends, they can unwind away from campus. It’s a fun place to go where everyone seems to enjoy cheesy french fries.

Other popular choices also seem to fall into the appetizers category, themselves and get the chance to order their favorite foods. It is, on a such with the crab dip. First-year Class President Ryan Serdenes said whole, a much-needed place to go as a student or family member of a that he can attest to its good quality: “T.J. Rockwell’s is known for its student who calls Elizabethtown their home.

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Campus Life

on campus

Etownian

The

September 22, 2011

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on campus

Ober facilities, layout recently refreshed Recruiting events Residence hall receives much-needed renovations, updates offer unique insight S Kristen N. Lacaillade Staff Writer

ome long awaited Ober Residence Hall renovations are finally complete. Many people were extremely curious to see just how updated these bathrooms are. No one really expected them to be as amazing as they truly are. Many Ober residents and other Elizabethtown College students consider these bathrooms to be on the level of a “five star hotel.” Overall, the bathrooms have been received extremely well and all the hard work and dedication put into them was worth the wait.

Not only was each and every bathroom in the building redone, but the entire main lounge of the residence hall was completely gutted and remodeled. New furniture, a new television and a fresh coat of paint all complete the updated look to show off the true personality of the building and those living in it. Additionally, these changes altered the perspective that many people have of this residence hall and gave it a much needed facelift.

The Ober renovation project is being done in three phases. The first phase, which was completed this past summer, included brand new bathrooms and a remodeled lounge. Ober was the last residence hall to receive a new lounge. In the past two years, all other traditional residence halls have had their lounges redone to the extreme satisfaction of their residents. In the second and third phases of the project, the rooms will be given new furniture, closets, and the laundry room will be moved to the unfinished hallway area connecting A and B wings of the building. If these renovations to come are anything like the ones done this past summer, Ober will be one of the most updated buildings on campus.

When it comes to the bathrooms, junior and Ober Resident Assistant Bob Utzinger explained that his residents are very pleased;

they’re happy that the bathrooms are clean received well by the students. Although and new. “Many people this year really like some feel that the color could have been the new, updated bathrooms and seem to be rethought, the functionality and atmosphere respecting them quite a bit,” Utzinger said. that the lounge brings is one in which that Most of the campus community hopes that many can feel relaxed. Junior and Ober RA with these updates, students will respect the Megan Patton explained, “The lounge seems property and not take the new bathrooms really livable compared to previous years for granted. Both money and time were put and has a real homey sense to it. It’s clear into these renovations and thus far in the that people actually want to spend time there school year, there have not been any issues now, and every time you walk through there concerning the is always someone there.” bathrooms beThe new set-up and ing mistreated. furniture in the lounge Some resihave a lot to do with the dents, howway in which the lounge ever, feel that is perceived. Chairs a few small and couches of various changes could heights cover the floor. have been The television is in the made, namesame position, but the ly the sink viewing area is expanded knobs. Ober so that more people are resident and able to interact with one junior Kate another and socialize in Stull feels that larger groups. The idea the sink knobs of movable furniture, as are somecan be seen in many of times difficult the other traditional resito use, but dence hall lounges, makes Photo: Katie J. Brumbach it easy for students to cusunderstands that they were Ober residents now have the luxury of new tomize the space. Havchos en for and improved bathrooms. The remodeled ing the ability to move good reason. bathrooms, along with a new lounge, were these pieces facilitates “They’re the finished during summer break. their interaction, whether kind of knobs watching a movie, studyyou have to constantly push down, and ing or simply making conversation. they don’t stay on long. I really wish they Overall, the time, effort and money put were the ones that you lift and leave it on into this lengthy project has paid off. Despite as long as you need,” Stull expressed. Other minor disappointments with the results, a than that detail, many, like Stull, are very majority of students are extremely pleased pleased. It is clear that much time and effort with the long overdue update. Ober Resiwas put into the planning efforts of these dence Hall is no longer in need of an update: bathrooms and that each element was care- the first phase of this project was completed, fully considered. to the satisfaction of both the students and The lounge, like the bathrooms, was administration.

on campus

Local tradition slides Into the Streets

Program offers opportunity to voluntarily assist community discuss and reflect within their own group and other groups.

The events will be held in a number of different places: Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mount Joy and, of course, Etown. One activity is Fall Fest, a time in which students get together at the or the past eighteen years, Elizabethtown College students Etown Fair Grounds and lead activities for the children in the have been doing their part by getting involved in the com- community. If anyone is interested in taking part in Fall Fest, munity. Into the Streets has been gathering students and faculty contact Tess Lutz at LUTZT@etown.edu. members for nearly two decades in order to demonstrate comRaking and winterizing for the Etown community is also one munity. Many of the College’s clubs and sports teams, such as the of the programs which takes place during the day. Students go Student Occupational Therapy Association, Alpha Mu, Noir and the to houses of the elderly and disabled to prepare for the changEducation Club, are involved in the day’s activities. If you feel the ing of the season. need to give back to the A few more organicommunity but are not zations that are particiinvolved with a group on “I am excited for this year’s Into the pating are Capital Area campus, Into the Streets Therapeutic Riding Assoc. can still be an option for Streets rally and to see more students (CATRA), Cornerstone you. If you want to take get involved with the Elizabethtown Youth Ministries, the Wapart in Into the Streets, ter Street Rescue Misyou can get a group to- community.” sion, the Schreiber Pedigether and either email atric Center, the Lend-A -Lorin Mellinger INTOTHESTREETS@ Hand Program and Grace etown.edu or stop by the Church at Willow Valley.

Center for Community All of the events give stuand Civic Engagement office in Nicarry 237. Sign-ups are being dents and faculty a chance to venture out of their everyday lives accepted now so do not hesitate. to help those in need and grow as individuals.

The main events will take place Oct. 22. Student CoordinaThe simple Into the Streets mission statement states: “A program tor Lorin Mellinger stated, “I am excited for this year’s Into designed to introduce more students to thoughtful community serthe Streets rally and to see more students get involved with vice and to provide a learning experience that will challenge them to the Elizabethtown community. The theme this year is ‘Sliding volunteer on a regular basis. The ongoing goal of ‘Into the Streets’ is Into the Streets’ and its animal is a penguin.” With a new theme to strengthen students’ capacities to help solve the problems we face and conscientious staff, this year’s Into the Streets is bound to as a society. We recognize that this goal will only be accomplished be a good one. through sustained and persistent action and in partnership with The Into the Streets events will begin on Friday, Oct. 21. From many different individuals and institutions.”

7 to 8 p.m. there will be a rally in the KĀV. The main purpose of Into the Streets has set organizational goals as well. Stated in the rally is to get everyone that is involved excited and ready for the Team Leader Manual, the first is “Providing opportunities to the following day’s activities. Ice cream sundaes and music will develop student leaders,” the second one is “promoting critical elebe provided. Emotion will be part of the entertainment of the ments of service-learning methodology to always include: communight, as well as Illumina and Chris Tjaden and Sean Deutsch. nity voice, orientation and training.” The next three are “meaningful Ryan Stadel will be the host. action, reflection, and evaluation.” The last goal is “creating a more The actual event and community service will begin Oct. 22 at accurate image of students as active, concerned and caring citizens 8 a.m. and will continue throughout the day. There will be pizza who demonstrate their commitment through service.” served in the KĀV from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, as well as Into the Streets is a program which brings Etown students and the opportunity for those involved with Into the Streets to sit down faculty members together and shows them the importance of and comment upon the day’s events. In years prior, a leader from giving back. There is no monetary reward for doing these good each group of students would distribute reflection questionnaires deeds, just the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped to their groups. Instead, this year the Into the Streets committee someone in need. This tradition has seen eighteen years and decided it would be more effective to offer pizza to all of those who will continue for many more to come in order to uphold Etown’s took part while the participants fill out reflection papers as well as motto of “Educate for Service.”

Jessica M. Sassani Staff Writer

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Jamie N. Thurmond Staff Writer

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hroughout the months of October and November, several of the academic departments will be hosting recruiting events. Prospective students will have the opportunity to meet with faculty members and participate in student panels and overnight visits with a student from their department of interest and learn about the major. The prospective students will be able to learn about their majors in a hands-on and interactive way. Prospective students will have the opportunity to meet current students, alumni and representatives from the financial aid and admissions offices. The Department Days are designed to give prospective students information on communications, actuarial science, math, computer science, physics, engineering, business, English, theatre and dance.

Oct. 10, the communications department will be hosting Communications Day. Students will be introduced to the faculty, the department and current students. According to Kaitlin McCaffrey, an admissions counselor for the College, “Students will get to see how the equipment works and actually do some hands-on learning.” They will learn about the equipment used in the audio and video classes, such as the soundboards, cameras, switcher, microphones and light board.

The curriculum will also be discussed and current students will talk about projects they have completed and internships they have participated in, such as MTV, ESPN and the White House. Alumni will be invited back to discuss their current jobs and how the communications department helped them. “Students can expect a true day-in-the-life experience. They’ll get to see the many facets of the communications field and hopefully start envisioning how their experience here could lead to their dream career,” McCaffrey said.

Oct. 24, Actuarial Science, Math and Computer Science Day and Physics and Engineering Day will take place. Students in the physics and engineering departments usually work “on state-of-the-art research projects with faculty and intern with organizations such as Lutron Electronics, Frito Lay, and Phoenix Contact, and High Steel Structures, Inc.,” and prospective students can learn about these programs. According to Sarah Deysher, an admissions counselor for the College, “The students will be invited to participate in competitive activities, sit in on classes, stay

overnight, take a tour and have an interview.”

Vice President of Enrollment Paul Cramer will welcome the students and participate in the student and faculty activities. Students attending Actuarial Science, Math and Computer Science Day will be able to engage in interesting activities related to mathematics and computer science. Participants will compete in small teams to solve challenging problems. “The goal is to give prospective students as much insight into these departments so they can see what it might really be like to be a particular major here at Elizabethtown,” Deysher said.

Oct. 31, the business department will host a “Business Expo.” According to the College website, “The expo is an opportunity for high school seniors who are considering majoring in accounting, business administration, international business or economics to explore everything Elizabethtown College has to offer.”

There will be a formal presentation, that is designed to “distinguish Elizabethtown’s Business Department from our peer institutions and offer a glimpse into the many benefits and strengths of our programs in the disciplines of business.” Prospective students will have the opportunity to attend student and alumni panels and learn more about the business department. There will also be a presentation by financial aid and admissions, followed by the opportunity to take a campus tour and have an interview with admissions, a coach or a mentor.

According to Jeremy Matula, an admissions counselor for the College, “Prospective students who participate [in the Business Expo] will get an up-close-and-personal feel to life as a student at Elizabethtown, and specifically as a student in business.”

On Nov. 4, English Day, students will learn about the concentrations, such as literature, professional writing and secondary education. The prospective students will have the opportunity to meet faculty and current students and learn more about what the department has to offer.

They will also take a tour of the Bowers Writers House, which is used for showing presentations of writers’ work.

Theatre and Dance Day with take place on Nov. 4 and prospective students will get a unique view of what shapes the Etown theatre program. “Students will be able to study the craft of acting or directing—or the craft in scenic, lighting, costume or sound design.” The theatre department is also home to the largest club on campus, Emotion, a dance club in which students can choreograph and perform dances to their favorite songs. Prospective students will also be able to participate in a basic acting class with adjunct professor Terri Mastrobuono, where they will practice physical and vocal work. Students will have the opportunity to meet the dance instructor, Kristin Pontz and participate in physical exercises on stage.

Etownian

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September 22, 2011

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

diversity

Sophomore challenges definition of diversity Ideological, moral acceptance just as valuable Andrew S. Herm Staff Writer

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unbelievably extensive experience (nudge, nudge) on campus leaves me deflated at times after social interactions. Etown, as far as I’m aware, has a fairly clean-cut reputation, at least among college counselors at high schools who advise students to visit and tour. We have a small, close-knit campus with plenty of opportunity for every and anyone to get involved, and we’re all encouraged to pursue our passions; we’re like a family! A family who will support its members in all of their endeavors unless they differ from Etown’s socially acceptable norms. Therein lies the problem.

fter only having been here for a year and a handful of weeks littered with three-day weekends and states of emergency, I’ve noticed the topic of diversity at Elizabethtown College is on the borderline of inside jokes and tongue-in-cheek conversation, and often geared towards racially inclined statements. Noir, a club I recently signed up for, is for the black kids (all of them), the international Asian students hang out in the Founders lounge, and wait—do we even have any Latino/ as on campus? But that seems to be met with a shrug of the shoulders, a “that’s just Etown,” and a reassuring promise that diversity is something we’re working on, which statistics could confirm Admissions has been, at least in terms of racial diversity.

S o m e t h i n g Image: courtesy photo that’s often overlooked during this conversation is that diverse people From what I can see, the aforehave more to them than their skin mentioned clean-cut image goes color: I’m white, but I would ven- hand- in- hand with a few criterion: ture to say I’m a fairly diverse guy, a predominately rural upbringing is whether it be in terms of social favored (central PA being the best), identity, beliefs (moral and philo- though exceptions may be made for sophical), and so on and so forth. certain suburbs, so long as you err The issue of lack of diversity is a far away enough from a dirty city, multifaceted one, but at the very and good, homegrown conservative core of its manifestation at Etown, values, most noticeably acceptance I believe ideological differences, or of heterosexuality, Christianity, the complete lack thereof, should be and a knack for whipping out a looked to as our greatest shortcom- disapproving look with a side of ing in our drive to provide a both snide comments geared towards diverse and welcoming community. those whose lifestyle doesn’t fall in Don’t get me wrong, I love Etown. line with yours; that makes them It was my first choice, and come No- immoral. vember of senior year, I was already Being a student, I can’t claim sharing the fact that I was committed to understand the workings of the to coming here with everyone who administration, or whichever group would listen and even those who oversees the perpetuation of this wouldn’t. With that being said, my particular image at Etown, but I

believe if diversity is something that we genuinely want to improve upon, maybe there is a way to branch out, or at least stop blindly nodding along with, “We prepare our students to lead rich lives of purpose and meaning, while advancing independent thought, personal integrity and social responsibility.” We, the student body, don’t.

Granted, I can’t claim to be perfect; I’ll be the first to reassure you I’m not. I have my own set of viewpoints, of moral codes, personal beliefs and whatever else you deem worthy of having, but I’d like to believe I’m fairly open to experimenting with the fact that I may be wrong, or that someone who is extremely different from me, may have something worthwhile to say, so I should listen. I know for a fact I’m not the only one who notices the smirks and not-so-muffled laughs when kids see something regarding ALLIES, the GLBT awareness group on campus, or if someone, like a former professor, comments on the lack of students involved in Hillel, and people use it as comedic fodder for the next week. I think my favorite conversation starts like this: “Listen, I’m not trying to be a jerk/bigot/ racist, but why do [insert minority group here] ALWAYS do that [thing that literally any person in the world could do]?”

So, in a roundabout way, maybe the solution shouldn’t be overemphasis on racial diversity, because over time that will definitely happen; perhaps we should first work on building up a foundation of open-mindedness, so Etown is a place that can guarantee a spot for everyone it welcomes. Let’s just promise we’re working on it.

The

Sound Off What do you think of the new food truck?

[

Very delicious...good night snack.

]

Masaaki Kobayashi Class of 2013

[

I think it’s a really good idea; it’s nice to have something move around campus.

] Jane Szybist Class of 2012

[

I think it’s a good option for stduents on the weeknds, other than just having the Jay’s Nest.

]

Rebekah Frischkorn Class of 2012

[

I don’t see myself actually using it...it doesn’t strike me as something valuable.

] Sven wilson Class of 2015

Compiled by Jaqueline E. Quidort

careers

Who’s to blame for high rate of post-graduate unemployment?

Lawrence W. Weiss Staff Writer

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here are many factors that go into finding a job after college. Is it really the graduate’s fault he can’t find a job? Or is it the College’s? “It has a lot to do with expectations…they are set by not only you but your parents and professors,” Jennifer Besse of Career Services said. I do agree with her on this point, but the graduate does have a lot of responsibility in finding a job. Graduates are the ones who can be picky or want the dream job right out of college. The truth is that it won’t happen that way. When entering the work force, you have to work your way up, so the best way to attack the job world is to start out at a lower level job that may not make you happy, but working your way up is the way to do it. It is highly unlikely to find a dream job without doing some sort of work beforehand.

The jobs are out there for the graduates.

Career Services has plenty of programs and offers help on how to do interviews and résumés, and not to mention they know people that could use employees. If students took advantage of this they would have a better chance of finding a job right out of school, although according to Jane K. Nini, director of Career Services, “graduates tend to settle into jobs 3-6 months after graduation.”

Back to the expectations part of the argu-

ment. With all the expectations placed on you as a student, we feel pressure to do well or get a good job after school, so that’s what is going through our mind when we start looking. This makes it harder to find a job as well.

If you are open to more possibilities, then you have more opportunities available to you. I mean, any job is better than none.

Many argue that the job market is down

there is no blame to place on anyone because of the expectations, which make things hard.

Talking to Career Services, did make my decision on what I thought is harder because I got to thinking of what expectations are placed on student. But if they use the help available to them and go out there and keep searching and not get down on themselves they can get a job, even if it’s not the perfect

Image: illinois.edu

but according to Career Services, there are many jobs out there; we just have to find them and be open to working our way up. I will clarify that Career Services did not blame either the students or the school because

job right away; they can always work up the ladder to that management job that they always wanted.

Another factor that can play into college graduates not finding jobs is that they could

also not listen to the advice given to them.

The younger generation does not listen to others; they always think they are right. If you are not open for advice you aren’t open for new experiences, and everything will always go back to the idea that you must be open to working in a lower level job and working your way up. That’s what you have to be open to. If not, it makes it harder.

Graduates can place the blame on colleges, but the truth is that, with all the programs and opportunities that colleges offer, it is hard to say it is the school’s fault. Some colleges have upwards of 50,000 students, and the school isn’t responsible for finding jobs for everyone. Therefore, the responsibility falls on the graduates. You can’t depend on someone else or your school finding you a job; that’s what you have to do. You’re given the tools to go out into the real world to find the job so you do not depend on the school. Colleges educate you and give you the knowledge you need to compete in the work world; now it’s up to you to decide what you want to do with it. Some people aren’t as privileged to attend college and have all the opportunities given to students, so you can’t blame the school. More responsibility is placed on the students.

I know people who have graduated and who still don’t have jobs. So I am not sure if I could place blame, but if forced to choose a side I would have to place more fault on the student rather than the college.

international

Etownian

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Opinion

September 22, 2011

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The

Sexual education begins for kindergartners

China displays detailed genetalia on children’s dolls Jared M. Schultz Staff Writer

and officials are experimenting with teaching kids at a younger age so as to give pubescent and curious kids a base of knowledge on such a sensitive topic before they are faced with making their own decisions about sexuality.

In a study conducted by the Associated Press, two-thirds of Chinese kids and young adults “had very limited levels of sexual reproductive health knowledge,” a startling figure considering that nearly a quarter of those surveyed had already had sex

about the birds and the bees may be considered inappropriate by some, but in a world full of advertisements, celebrities and young adults flaunting sexuality to sell more albums, fast cars, etc., it is important that kids understand the human anatomy and its impact. It is far better to have a young child who understands the gravity of sexuality than a child that is still unsure of what goes where and why, who might make a life-changing mistake when he/ she is put into a sexual situation.

ty, when such topics will begin to be applicable to students’ personal health and safety. Having ex Ed—just the topic makes background knowledge on basic kids giggle and parents cringe. sexuality does, however, put Recently, an elementary school in these students at an advantage as China began conducting a sexual compared to students who have a education program using explicsingle sexual education program itly graphic textbooks and dolls later in life. Every student’s body to teach kindergartners — yes, is different and cultural norms kindergartners — about where are constantly shifting; by the babies really come from. At a time some students reach their time in life when American kids sex education program, it may are still unwittingly stripping already be too late. their Barbie and making her kiss Despite the sensitive topKen, students at Yaolan ic, the teaching styles Kindergarten, in Zhengused for China’s new zhou, in central China, sex education program are playing with a family are age-appropriate of anatomically correct and straightforward. plush dolls.

Teachers use the dolls T he s e d ol ls , and and textbook, “Growing the sexual education Steps” or “Footsteps of program in general, Growth,” loosely transare naturally drawing lated, as visual models mixed reviews from to help the kids identify parents, school boards each body part and difand safe sex advocates. ferences in sex. The kids While the importance also do exercises like is focused on accurate moving their hands in and timely education a tadpole-like motion to about sexuality and demonstrate how sperm safe sex, when is the swim. These classes are right time? Kids in this also giving kids practinew sexual education cal knowledge on how program range in age to protect themselves Image: huffingtonpost.com from four to six years In response to its ever-growing population and rising abortion rate, China is from sexual abuse. All old, and that has some experimenting with its sexual education programs.The new programming supports in all, China’s new sex people asking if that is sexual education for kindergarteners through the use of dolls. education classes are too young to be exposproviding a lot of entrying children to such exand more than 50 percent of Unfortunately, the students level information, and, while plicit material. For most Ameri- them did not use any form of in these new sexual education these kids may not need it for a can students, sexual education contraception or STI protec- classes may still be too young to few years, it cannot hurt to have programs happen around fifth tion their first time. According grasp the intricacies of human already been introduced to such grade when students are about to state-run newspaper China sexuality. Further instruction a sensitive topic. In an attempt 10 or 11 years old.

Daily, women aged 20 to 29 ac- on sexuality, things like STDs, to keep kids informed and safe, With China’s ever-growing count for almost two-thirds of and proper use of contraception maybe it is time to step out of population, and furthermore, a total abortions in China. should be readdressed as the kids parents’ comfort zones to protect rising abortion rate, educators Teaching such young children get older and start hitting puber- their kids’ futures.

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roommate issues

Should homosexual couples cohabitate in dorms?

Heterosexual couples deserve same opportunity Beth A. Koren Staff Writer

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hen going away to college, one of the first worries to cross many first-year students’ mind is whether their roommate will be their best friend or their worst enemy.

Going away to college can be a scary experience, but what makes it even scarier is having a roommate with whom you have nothing in common and who you are stuck living with for the next year. For some people, the roommate from hell could be someone who is too loud, studies too much or goes to parties every night. Living in that tiny space can really bring out the worst in a person. What if he has a long-term significant other who ends up being your third roommate? What if she feels so liberated being away from home that she decides to come out of the closet?

At Elizabethtown College, students are not given the choice to house with the opposite sex. But the question arises: how does Residence Life know homosexual couples aren’t taking advantage of the option to live together? If this is happening, why shouldn’t

heterosexual couples have the same choice?

According to the Christian Science Monitor, some colleges with more progressive reputations, such as Swarthmore and Sarah Lawrence College, allow co-eds to not only live in the same residence hall, but also in the same room. This may solve the problem of students being “sexiled”(exiled from your room when your roommate is being intimate), but most students who take advantage of this option are just friends.

But, if you are living with someone with a long-term boyfriend or girlfriend, wouldn’t it be easier to just let them live together so you are not stuck with a third roommate in your tiny dorm room? With these modern changes in some college dorms, many wonder if couples do choose to live together.

The issue of homosexual couples rooming together also becomes a question: haven’t homosexual couples always had the option to live together in same-sex dorms?

At Etown, there is no specific rule regarding same-sex couples who live together. Although same-sex room assign-

ments assume heterosexuality, this may be an old-fashioned rule that ignores the possibility of homosexuality.

Everyone is different, and there needs to be more options out there for students.

So many get stuck rooming with someone who is the complete opposite of themselves, which can cause enormous problems. I was stuck with roommates who had absolutely nothing in common with me—twice! I personally know why many first-years wonder whether or not the College actually uses the results from the mandatory compatibility survey for incoming students.

As for men and women choosing to live together, I believe it should be up to students to make their own decisions on whether or not they want to live with a roommate of the same gender. College is about responsibility and getting ready for life as an adult. In the real world, there is no mandatory gender discrimination when going out and finding an apartment. So shouldn’t heterosexual and homosexual couples have that option in college?

Thumbs UP

Editor-in-Chief Ross M. Benincasa Managing Editor Emily M. Reigart Assistant Editor Brianna E. Wiest News Editor Huntley C. McGowan Features Editors Tara B. Hayes Vanessa L. Andrew Campus Life Editor Jordyn M. Howe Opinion Editor Allison M. Rohland Sports Editor Jill A. Norris Photography Editor Matthew P. Butera Copy Editor Elizabeth A. Enwright Online Editor Zachary T. Johnson Layout Editor Craig H. Meaney Asst. News Editor Joseph S. Klinger Asst. Campus Life Editor Shana M. Mihovics Asst. Opinion Editor Agnetha C. Serrame Asst. Sports Editor Meghan M. Sarik Asst. Photography Editor Jacqueline E. Quidort Asst. Online Editor Andrew R. Sides Asst. Copy Editors Joanna Gruber Jaclyn E. Light Shannon E. McNamee Alexis L. Morris Business Manager Benjamin L. Frey Asst. Business Manager Amy M. Berdanier Advertising Manager Chelsea A. Benson Advertising Reps Trevor N. Bower Megan N. Leppo 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.

Thumbs Down

Elizabeth A. Enwright Copy Editor

Lady Gaga appears in harper’s bazaar

Lady Gaga is the cover girl of the October issue of Harper’s Bazaar.

What did she do this time to shock and disgust the people of the world?

Absolutely nothing. That’s right, she appears on the cover au naturel. Donning very little makeup and a socially acceptable hairstyle, Gaga looks less like an alien and more like a human being.

While I’m no “little monster,” I do enjoy Lady Gaga’s songs, and I support her right to wear whatever she wants, whether it is a dress made of photos of Kevin Bacon, head to toe black lace, or a coat constructed with Kermit the Frog dolls. It is nice to know that there is a real person under all of those costumes.

Or maybe she’s just a really normal-looking alien.

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Nurses outraged over Croc Ban

British nurses are irate after hearing of the U.K. National Health Service’s ban of Crocs. The NHS banned the popular footwear from British hospitals for safety reasons, claiming that the hole-y nature of the shoes makes it possible for sharp objects, like scalpels and syringes, to pierce the feet of hospital personnel. The NHS ban follows similar bans in the United States, Canada, Sweden and Austria.

Let’s face it: Crocs are ugly. Nurses swear by them, though, for the durability, support and comfort they offer. I would like to know the actual probability of a syringe falling so precisely into one of the holes in a pair of Crocs so as to pierce a hospital worker’s foot; it can’t be very high. If the NHS wants hospital employees to be fashionable, they should just come out and say it.

The

10 Etownian men’s soccer

Sports

September 22, 2011

First-years contribute to Blue Jay’s early season success Young players make necessary contributions to men’s soccer program achievements Alexis L. Morris Asst. Copy Editor

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he Elizabethtown College men’s soccer team is off to an auspicious start for the 2011 season. With a current record of 4-1 and a recent championship win in the Brothers Pizza Blue Jay Classic tournament, the Blue Jays continue to prove that they will be top contenders in the Middle Atlantic Conference.

After defeating key opponents like Washington and Lee University, the team is feeding off of the early season success.

“It’s always good for morale to have a positive start,” senior Zach Wendler said. “It gets everyone’s confidence up and gives us a foundation that we can build on for the rest of the season.”

“So far our current early successes have been a great sign of our hard work during preseason,” sophomore Luis Devia said, “but as always we do not plan to stay complacent and are determined to continue to work hard and continue improving daily.”

Head Coach Skip Roderick agreed, stating, “We’re just

happy that each game we’re getting better.”

After graduating several key seniors from last year’s starting lineup, the Blue Jays worked on filling in their roster this preseason. “At first it was rough losing so many key guys, but a lot of people have stepped up and filled in really well,” Wendler said.

“Every year we face this same challenge of finding the right players with the right chemistry to fill in for key players from the last season,” junior goalie Eric Carr added.

However, it seems that the Blue Jays have found success in several of the team’s first-year players. “We had an excellent freshman class come in, who have proved to not only be very talented and skilled, but who also play very mature and smart. A few have already earned starting roles, which is great,” Carr said.

First-year Zach Hollinger currently leads the team in terms of points, tallying two goals and two assists in his first five games as a Blue Jay. Two other first-years, David Boretti and Tyler Norton, have also contributed goals to the team’s total.

Photo: etownbluejays.com

The Elizabethtown College’s 2011 men’s soccer team, led by Skip Roderick.The returning and first-year players have been working together to improve their skills.

Also, the coaching staff has worked on adjusting some of the team’s strategy. “In the past we were a full attacking team; this year we’re a little bit more conservative so we’re not attacking as many numbers that we usually do,” Roderick said.

This conservative attacking style is proving to be successful for now: Etown outscores its opponents 10-4, and those ten goals have come from nine different players.

According to sophomore Andrew Fetterman, goalie Carr and center-back Wendler are outstanding on the defensive end of the field. Devia has also noted Wendler’s superb play. “He is an unsung hero that plays unselfishly for the team, and his actions on and off the field show great leadership,” he said.

However, Etown cannot become complacent, for the team faces another tough test in their upcoming game against the currently 6-0 Drew University Rangers. The Blue Jays are prepared to make their mark on the Rangers’ season; through scouting reports and tough practices, Etown is ready to capture another win. As Carr stated, “I guess they won’t be undefeated too long.”

The 2011 men’s soccer team currently has a 6-1-1 season record. Preseason practices have helped the team improve immensely as individuals and as a group. Coach Skip Roderick is satisfied with the team’s progress, but hopes the team will continue improving as the season progresses.

They have proved to be top contenders in the Middle Atlantic Conference.

Sports

cross country

Etownian

The

September 22, 2011

11

Jays recognized for stellar performance on track, in classroom Cody, Heisey, Speiden, Tempone win coaches association All-American track Meghan M. Sarik Asst. Sports Editor

F

inding out that you’ve won an award is always exciting, but discovering the news online before anyone told you would surely add some confusion. Four Blue Jay cross country and track and field runners felt this way when they found out via Google, Facebook, and the athletics page of the Elizabethtown College site that they had won the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All American Track Award. Russell Speiden, Chris Heisey, Eileen Cody and Traci Tempone all met the requirements: a 3.3 GPA and a provisional qualifying time for indoor or outdoor track.

However, Heisey graduated in the spring of 2011 and therefore will not be returning this season.

“My dad actually told me I got it. He got an email from Google letting him know a family member was talked about in an article… Dad emailed everyone in the family,” Speiden said.

Speiden participated in the indoor mile and outdoor 1500 meter run. His best times were 4.10 minutes and 3.53 minutes, respectively.

Tempone ran the 10K, which is equal to 25 laps around the track and Cody participates in the 10K run with a time of 36:36 minutes.

Speiden is a mechanical engineering major who hopes to go to graduate school for bio engineering, hopefully at Penn State University, The University of Michigan or Clemson University. Ideally, he would like a job that allows him to travel across the country.

Tempone is an art education major who said that in ten years she will “pretty much be [working] my dream job to teach middle school art and coach track.”

Cody, studying Occupational Therapy, is thankful to be able to participate in the sport while still balancing a rigorous workload.

Each member knows the hardships that come with balancing a sport, a social life and being a full-time student. “My teammates always make fun of me. I try to get work done as much as possible and stay a week ahead.

You just take it day by day. The team has study hours. You get used to it – school and running,” Cody said. Tempone said that she tries to utilize the free time she has during the day before practice in the evenings.

The team also often has meets on Saturdays and long runs on Sundays to keep them in shape. Speiden added, “I have to sacrifice a little bit of a social life, but you can socialize at practice. Like going on a ten mile run, you can talk and bond with the team.” He also said that one of his favorite memories was being in Emotion his first year, but he did not have the time to keep up with it between schoolwork and running. Thanksgiving dinner was on the top of the list of memories for both Tempone and Cody.

Tempone and Cody agree that they enjoy cross country over track and field because the team atmosphere is more cohesive. The cross country team went to nationals for the second consecutive year and came in 11th place in the nation, two highlights of both women’s careers. With track, the team is often split up, going to different events based on the individuals. Speiden, however, said he likes track better because it highlights his strengths in short distances. He prefers to do 8K runs, which are 5 miles rather than the cross country course which is much longer.

Each of the interviewed runners agreed that they appreciate the family atmosphere of the teams. “Everyone eats breakfast, lunch and dinner together. You hang out outside of practice, and everyone is really close. That is what makes this team so much fun to be on,” Speiden said. Tempone added, “[I love how] we can all support each other. Every person builds off of one another.”

Photo: Matthew P. Butera

Traci Tempone, Russell Spedien and Eileen Cody are recognized for their outstanding achievements in academia and on the track. The Etown student-athletes met the provisional qualifying time and hold a 3.3 or higher GPA.

Speiden, Tempone and Cody would all like to coach track and field or cross country in the future. Since it is such an instrumental part of their lives now, they do not think they will be able to stop running.

Community races every now and then as well as some competitive races could be in their not so distant futures. Cody is very much going to miss the team when she graduates. “As soon as you join the team, you have 40 plus new friends, and they’re your life,” she said. College years go by so fast, and the team has learned to cherish every minute they spend with each other.

Cody is currently mending an injury but feels the team is better than ever this year.

She also urges fellow students and faculty to come and support them in their meets.

To Russel Speiden, Eileen Cody and Traci Tempone, being a part of the cross country and track and field program is bigger than just being a part of a team; it is a family.

They get to support each other just as a family does and witness first-hand that they are a part of something bigger than themselves. They push each other to meet their goals and that is one of the reasons why Etown’s runners are successful.

golf

women’s tennis

Veterans pose threat Athletic fundraiser reaches milestone Jays shows positive season outlook Tournament aims to raise $100,000 for sound systems Christian V. Sammartino Staff writer

W

ith the warmth of t h e s u m m e r m ont h s f a d i ng , t he E l i z ab e t htow n College women’s tennis team is firing on all cylinders. The players are poised and ready for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Tournament this weekend.

“I think in general everyone on the team is just really excited to start competing,” junior Allison Burkhardt said. “I think everyone is working really hard, so we can do the best that we can and hopefully implement the things we’ve been working on in practice.”

The players displayed their diligence to achieve excellence during the first week of practice.

Their sharp execution of the fundamental aspects of the game showed little rust, even with the summer vacation.

“When you don’t play for a while, the first thing that goes is your footwork and that affects everything else,” head coach Matthew Helsel said.

“I have been happy to see everyone moving their feet and being in good bounce position for all of their shots. It was definitely clear to me that a lot of players played over the summer,” he added.

“They have been ready and eager to hit with whomever and play full blast against seniors,” Helsel said. “I think there is a chance that two or three of them might go to our tournament this weekend.”

While first-year and veteran players are set to excel next w e e k e n d , t h e re a re a f e w players who may have standout

Kyle P. Schutz

performances. Those players are Burkhardt, Pipkin and junior Alena Marani.

“Any of those three are very dangerous. Burkhardt played number three for us last year, but she came back to campus in great shape,” Helsel said.

“Marani and Pipkin already were playing great tennis at the end of last year. They are more than capable of making a strong appearance.”

Burkhardt will make her return to ITA tournament this season after an injur y that sidelined her last fall.

“Since I had shoulder surgery last summer I wasn’t able to play last year, so I am really excited to be able to be back and playing,” Burkhardt said.

Each of these players has experienced the success the B l u e Jay s e nj o y e d i n t h e Commonwealth Conference.

Their experiences during last season’s conference victory will help them duel elite players from the region. “ The fact that they were able to perform well [in the conference championship], and then go and play well in the national tournament, certainly gives us a glimpse of the caliber of our players,” Helsel said. “It also gives us some confidence that we can perform under those kinds of conditions.”

These experiences forecast a powerful showing for the Jays at the ITA tournament this season. The team has many stand-out returning players and promising first-years as well.

With this combination, the women’s tennis team has the right amount of energy and preparation to post strong results.

doing so well. By bringing in the right sponsors, and

Staff Writer

T

2010 NCAA Division III cross country rankings

he 15th Annual Poole B l u e Ja y O p e n G o l f Tournament will b e held Oct. 10 at Heritage Hills golf resort and Springwood golf course. This tournament has been a staple in helping the Elizabethtown College athletics department for 15 years and has done the athletic department a great deal of good. If all goes well, the department hopes the tournament will make $100,000.

In past years, the money went to things like buses for the teams or new furniture for the offices, but this year the money will go to something that even fans of the college can enjoy. The proceeds will go to new sound systems for athletic events and the leftover money will go to the Blue Jay Hall of Fame, located throughout Thompson Gymnasium.

“It’s an exciting event that everyone can get behind.”

The tournament started as a golf marathon with one goal in mind: to raise enough money to buy a bus so the athletic teams could be transported to games. In its inaugural year, the tournament did well and brought in enough money to buy half of a bus.

The next year, the tournament saw continued success, and the athletic department was able to afford the cost of the entire bus. With this money the deparment bought a 24-passenger bus for the teams.

Despite this success, the tournament started off a bit slow. In the beginning, the signature sponsor was only $3,000 and the company that was sponsoring the tournament was not contributing as was deemed necessary.

The directors of the tournament decided to change it to a scramble and to solicit multiple sponsors, and the format has stayed the same since then.

Today, the Poole Blue Jay Open is bringing in more money than ever thanks to Yonnie Kauffman, a director of the tournament and head coach of the Etown women’s basketball team.

Kauffman is a big part of why the tournament is

- Yonnie Kauffman

making the tournament a fun time, she was able to raise the profit from about $25,000 to over $100,00 last year.

The tournament includes a great course and fun events. As soon as the participants arrive, they compete in a putting contest on the putting green. From there, the contestants play a round of golf, while enjoying a lunch of hamburgers and hotdogs that are served to them on the course.

There are huge prizes available throughout the day as well. For instance, a player has a chance to win $1,000,000 or even a car if he or she can get a hole-in-one on a specific hole.

There is also a helicopter ball drop that gives the players an opportunity to win $500, which is Kauffman’s favorite part of the event. “People are like ‘Wow this is like Christmas!’” Kauffman said, regarding the extravagant prizes that they offer. After the day of golf is through, people can enjoy a nice dinner and the name of the overall winner of the tournament is announced.

“It’s an exciting event that everyone can get behind,” said Kauffman. The Annual Poole Blue Jay Open Golf Tournament is an event that corporate sponsors, alumni, parents and even students can enjoy, and one that serves the athletic department well.

The directors of the tournament welcome all

The

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Etownian

port S S

September 22, 2011

Inside Sports

Game Recaps • Previews• Commentary • Bios

cross country

Cross country, track and field director debuts

Men’s Soccer Page 10

Jill A. Norris

Cross Country

Brian Falk begins first season after being promoted from coach to director Sports Editor r i a n Fa l k w a s r e c e nt l y promoted to Elizabethtown College’s new director of cross country and track and field. The former women’s cross country coach started his new position at the start of the 2011 fall semester.

After former director Christopher Straub resigned last year, Falk was thrilled to hear that he was selected to be Straub’s successor.

Falk does not plan to make many significant changes to the already successful program. He believes that the program was well-run and organized under Straub’s leadership, and Falk is grateful to be a part of continuing his legacy. “The smartest thing I can do is to change as little as possible,” admitted Falk. He plans to make a few adjustments to the men’s cross country training, but he thinks that they will adapt quickly to the changes. Unlike the previous director, Falk plans to coach both the men’s and women’s cross country teams.

Despite not planning to make any major changes, there are still expectations that he must meet. Last year, the women’s cross countr y team finished 11th at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, and the men’s team was not far behind, finishing in the 14th slot. This year, Falk wants to beat those records and would like each runner to beat their personal times as well.

Falk considers the women’s cross country 11th place victory to be his greatest accomplishment during his time at Etown so far.

“The women’s team last year was not expected to do much. We went into the meet ranked 29th

B

Photo: etownbluejays.com

Brian Falk is the new director of the cross country and track and field program. Falk is looking forward to coaching both teams this year.

and came out 11th. It was more of the girls’ accomplishment, but we share it,” Falk explained.

The new director never knew that cross country and track and field teams would impact his life as much as they have. He always thought there would be a possibility that he would end up coaching at the college level, but didn’t think it would happen at Etown. He describes it as “one of those lucky things that happen

that you don’t plan on.” He is happy to be a part of the program because of his genuine love for the sport. “It’s fun to help people get faster and watch them improve.

It’s fun to have a team where people are focused on a goal and work hard for it,” Falk added.

Cross cou nt r y and t rack and field have always had a big presence in Falk’s life. He coached cross country at the high school level for 10 years, while coaching

distance events for the Dickinson College track program. He then coached at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for one year before coming to Etown in 2007.

Running is also what brought Falk and his wife together. They met while they were working as assistant coaches at Dickinson College. He said that because his wife shares his drive for coaching cross country and track and field, she is very supportive of his career and was excited about his recent promotion. The couple currently has two boys in preschool and another child due in four weeks.

Falk graduated from Temple Un i v e r s i t y i n 1 9 8 8 w i t h a bachelor’s degree of science i n p hy s i c a l e d u c at i o n a n d eventually earned his masters of science in exercise science from McDaniel College in 2003.

Before working full-time as the new cross country and track and field director, Falk had a job as a middle school health teacher for the Carlisle School District. He taught there for four years.

His recent promotion led to the resignation of his teaching job, and he stated that he misses the teachers and students that he used to work with. “You don’t miss everyone because that’s just not human nature, but I really enjoyed working there,” he added.

Although his days of teaching health are behind him, he still has the chance to teach his teams at Etown and, of course, his children Falk embraced his promotion to Director of Cross Country and Track and Field and the students and staff could not be more supportive. With Falk as director, they are sure to have another record-setting season.

the Etownian’s

Athlete of the Week

Jill A. Norris Sports Editor

Aaron Focht

Women’s Tennis Page 11 Golf Page 11

Sports Recap Women’s Volleyball Etown 3, Moravian 1 Etown 3, Susquehanna 0 Etown 3, Albright 0 Men’s Soccer Etown 2, Wilkes 0 Etown 1, Drew 0 Women’s Soccer Etown 1, F&M 0 Etown 2, Eastern 1 Etown 2,York 0 Etown 3, Moravian 0 Golf T-12th/17 (342) Field Hockey Etown 5, Wilkes 2

Schedule

of Sports

Women’s Volleyball September 23-24: Days Inn Blue Jay Classic Men’s Soccer September 24: @ Misericordia September 28: Neumann Women’s Soccer September 24: Haverford September 28: Misericordia

Q&A Major: Biology Allied Health Hometown?: Etters, Pennsylvania Favorite musician: Matt Costa Hardly anyone knows that….

I have less than the average size ears.

Favorite Jay’s Nest item: Italian Chicken Wrap In 10 years, I want to be…

Making a difference.

Biggest fear: Mannequins

Page 11

Favorite movie: “How to Train Your Dragon” I’m a sucker for…

Chocolate Greatest Etown accomplishment: Switching between three majors and still managing to graduate on time.

Favorite place to visit: Anywhere with an amazing view.

Favorite Etown memory: Founders fire alarms Favorite holiday: Thanksgiving

Golf September 26: Franklin & Marshall Invitational Field Hockey September 23: @ Widener September 27: @ York

Photo: etownbluejays.com

In 2010, junior Aaron Focht ran on the National Qualifying Team and hopes to win All-American at the Cross Country Nationals this year. Focht is currently ranked 12 for the Elizabethtown College men’s cross country team and has been titled the Mid Atlantic Conference Runner of the Week. Focht led the men’s team in their first meet of the season and finished 3 for the Jays, resulting in a victory for Etown.

Cross Country September 24: Dickinson Long-Short Invitational Women’s Tennis September 24-25: Southeast Regional Championships