Etownian Issue 9 - November 19, 2009

On the Web: www.etownian.com

One Alpha Drive • Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2298

November 19, 2009 • Volume 106, No. 9

in the nation

Fort Hood recovers Kara M. Luzik Staff Writer

T

hirteen were killed and 42 injured when U.S. Army Major Nidal Hasan opened fire at Fort Hood military base in Texas Thursday, Nov. 5.

After being shot four times, Hasan, 39, was taken into custody. He is in stable condition, according to Army hospital officials.

The shooting occurred in the late afternoon, 30 minutes before a graduation ceremony was set to take place.

Hasan opened fire in a medical center where last-minute exams are given to personnel before deployment. He used two weapons, including a semi-automatic.

The base broadcasted an emergency announcement over its loudspeakers and precautions were taken to secure the area. The theater where the graduation ceremony was to take place was sealed as well as the schools on the base.

First-year Joanna Davis heard about the shooting in her O.T. class. “I was shocked. A military base is supposed to be a safe place,” she said.

Hasan, a military psychiatrist, is a U.S.-born Muslim. Those close to him said he was unhappy about his imminent deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan and took steps to resist it. He recently hired a military attorney to help him get out of the Army.

Many witnesses claim Hasan yelled “Allahu Akbar!” before he began shooting. This Arabic term translates to “God is great” and is a battle cry used by Islamic terrorists.

Hasan’s family members say racial harassment may have been a factor in the shootings.

In 2007, Hasan fought to allow Muslims in the military to be “conscientious objectors” to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Hasan is a devout Muslim who attended daily prayers, according to his former religious leader.

He was searching for a wife with common religious values but had not succeeded.

Prior to being stationed at Fort Hood in July, Hasan worked at Walter Reed Army Hospital, where he treated soldiers returning from combat zones.

the Etownian

Images: Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Thirteen soldiers were killed at Fort Hood Nov. 5. President Obama addressed the grieving familes, as mother Teena Nemelka mourned the loss of her son, Pfc. Aaron Nemelka.

A memorial service for the victims was held Tuesday, Nov. 10 on the base. President Obama attended with his wife, Michelle.

The president offered consoling words to families of the fallen. “Your loved ones endure through the life of our nation," Obama said.

Located outside of Killeen, between Austin and Waco, Fort Hood is the largest U.S. military base in the world. It is home to 40,000 troops and employs a large number of civilians; its daytime population can reach 80,000. The base is virtually self-sufficient, encompassing schools, a hospital, a convenience store, two museums and a lake.

Like Fort Hood, Elizabethtown College also has detailed steps to enact in an emergency situation.

In 2008, Etown implemented the EC Alert system.

This system gives the College the ability to send

Former Editor-in-Chief

putting out the news ... for over 100 years

The Etownian is a weekly n ews p a p e r p u b l i s h e d Th u r s d ays d u ri n g t h e academic year.

Former Etownian editor-in-chief recalls “groovy” times. Read about his memories.

Features, page 4

eBooks take over From the Kindle to the nook, readers are taking a whole new look at books.

Centerfold, pages 8 & 9

emergency alerts to students, faculty, staff and parents through text messages, e-mails and phone calls.

First-year Janis Umberger feels more secure knowing EC Alert is in place. “I can’t think of a better way they could contact us than through text messages,” she said.

According to the College’s Web site, messages are only sent in “life-threatening and potentially catastrophic situations.”

All students are automatically enrolled in the EC Alert system at the beginning of the school year.

Students are given the option to enroll two other contacts, such as parents, in the system.

Students are also given the chance to opt out of text message and off-campus e-mail notifications.

Prior to EC Alert, the College only sent emergency notifications through campus e-mail.

Movember Guys are letting it all grow out for cancer awareness. See what this entails and how it’s helping.

Campus Life, page 10

Political Correctness

How far is too far? One student explores societal standards and how they may be going overboard.

Opinion, page 13

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news

the Etownian

November 19, 2009

on campus

The

Jayd-ed edge

Rachel A. Marsteller News Editor

Turkey Trot Authorities have stopped trying to capture a wild turkey that calls the New Jersey Turnpike home.

The bird has been causing havoc for toll collectors and motorists as it runs in front of toll booths, plays in traffic and sits atop toll collectors' parked cars.

Turnpike Authority spokesman Joe Orlando said weekend efforts to catch the turkey were unsuccessful, and, for the time being, the bird will be left alone.

Collectors will have to continue putting cones on their parked cars to keep the turkey from jumping on the vehicles, and motorists will continue dodging the bird.

Epic Fine A high school librarian in Phoenix, Ariz., says a former student at the school returned two overdue books checked out 51 years ago, along with a $1,000 money order to cover the fines. Camelback High School librarian Georgette Bordine said the two Audubon Society books checked out in 1959 and the money order were sent by someone who wanted to remain anonymous.

Bordine said the letter explained that the borrower's family moved to another state, and the books were mistakenly packed.

The letter said the money order was to cover fines of 2 cents per day for each book, which would total about $745. The extra money was added in case the rates had changed, according to the letter.

Bordine said the money will buy more books, and the overdue books will be returned to the shelves.

Ticket Revenge Police said a Long Island man upset about a speeding ticket tried to get even with a state trooper by making a prank phone call to the trooper’s mother. Authorities said Lawrence Demaio called the woman about a month after the ticket was issued and told her that her son had been badly hurt in a car accident.

Police didn't think it was funny.

They used phone records to trace the call to Demaio's cell phone.

The 54-year-old was arrested last Thursday and charged with seconddegree aggravated harassment.

Compiled from myway.com.

Autism awareness seminar to be held Kaitlyn S. Miller Staff Writer

I

magine for a second that you are devoid of all your communication skills and that the slightest touch, loud noise or bright light would make you so uncomfortable that you would have to scream out loud.

As a child, you don’t want to participate in average childhood games like peek-a-boo and are unable to communicate with other children your own age.

At times your outbursts require you to be restrained by a teacher or other adult, many of whom do not understand your behavior.

These are all symptoms that some children with autism have to deal with on a day-to-day basis.

Autism is a communication disorder that is very broad, meaning that a child could have low-functioning or high-functioning autism.

Each case varies significantly, and no two cases are exactly the same.

Some doctors say the disorder is inherited; the National Institute of Neurological Disorders says that there is a “genetic disposition” to autism.

The disability disrupts normal brain function; this organ is one of the most complex in the human body.

To spread awareness and to help future teachers and other students who want to work with people who have autism, the Elizabethtown College club LINK will sponsor a training program on how to communicate with people who have autism Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Hoover 212.

LINK works to spread more knowledge of the disability. It is a mentoring program that helps children on the autism spectrum. Members of the club meet with children who range from ages 1 to 15 for at least four hours every month.

“We are hoping to start a social skills group in the near future for older individuals with autism [ages 16 to 22]. We also hope to spread autism awareness on the Elizabethtown College campus,” senior and club president Leighanne Spitzer said.

Spitzer’s brother has a developmental disability which contributes to her ever-increasing passion to help children with autism.

At this month’s training, both verbal and nonverbal communication will be discussed. Many experts say the best way to improve the communication skills of a child with autism is to use lots of visuals to strengthen his or her vocabulary.

The training is sponsored by Youth Advocate Programs. At the last session, a teen who had been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome came and spoke to the group.

“Most members said this was one of the most beneficial parts of the presentation,” Spitzer said.

“I hope that students will get useful information and tips to bring out into their occupations after graduation or even during fieldwork. This training is also great because it is right before most of us start fieldwork, allowing us to bring what we learned to practice,” junior Felicia Bonvicino, who works at a special needs camp over the summer, said.

Autism has become a mainstream part of our society, perhaps because more and more children are diagnosed with it every year.

Jenny McCarthy, famed former Playboy model and MTV star, is speaking out about autism and releasing her fifth book, “Healing and Preventing Autism,” which is co-authored by autism specialist Dr. Jerry Kartzinel.

With her book, she is looking to make parents more aware of the vaccinations that their children are receiving at birth.

Vaccinations are another possible cause of autism that many parents are beginning to question.

“I'm not saying it's only the vaccines, but children

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a r e given so many shots from the moment they're born. They get multiple injections all at once, a n d if they fall behind, doctors put them on a catch-up schedule,” McCarthy told TIME magazine.

Autism is still unfortunately a disorder about which little is known.

There is no known way to cure autism, but parents can do their best to find therapy and help for these youngsters.

Teachers, parents, psychologists, and even working adults can be trained to learn how to assist children with the disorder.

At Etown, our motto states, “Educate for Service.” By attending the autism training, students are able to gain a wider understanding so that they are able to go out and help others.

Spitzer said, “If we, as educators, as therapists and even as citizens learn how to communicate effectively with children and adults with autism, we will be much more likely to help them live in this society, as well as to help them be heard.”

news

November 19, 2009

on campus

the Etownian

3

Registration proves difficult for education majors Ashley S. Perry Staff Writer

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s the fall semester slowly dwindles down to its last essays and projects, a new semester arises.

For Elizabethtown College students, this means going through the usual hustle and bustle of trying to get into classes they need to graduate. However, education majors may have it harder than most during this process.

It is rumored that they have to wake up at such early hours as 5 a.m. or before just to get to Nicarry to sign up for RBI (Register by Instructor) classes.

There are differing opinions on this, however. Is it really that hard to get into classes or are the students themselves the ones who are causing unnecessary stress? Administrative Department Assistant Debbie Peterson thinks it’s the latter.

“Unfortunately, many students don't take the advice of faculty and advisers; they listen instead to the rumors of upperclassmen and believe that if they

don't secure an early spot in the line you do. I have gotten there at 6 a.m. and ment and the entire education departto register for courses, they won't get have still had about 20 people ahead of ment are incredibly helpful and always what they need and won't graduate on me. It is absolutely crazy. I think it is do everything they can for us to help out time. That thinking on the part of the because majors are required to take so with schedules and registering.” underclassmen is far from the truth,” many courses and you need to squeeze In addition to the education departPeterson stressed. ment being a helpful source “In fact, we work during this stressful time, there diligently with our is also a campus-wide advismajors to make sure ing meeting that the Dean of they achieve their Faculty asks the academic dego a ls wit hin t he partments to hold for first-year time they need to students. achieve them, and The last session was held Image: etown.edu to my knowledge, Wednesday, Oct. 21 in Nicarry no student has ever The education department is rumored to have one of the toughest 106 for education majors-tohad to stay an extra registration systems on campus. Education majors have so many be, but there will probably be semester because classes that they have to fit in before graduation. many more sessions like this she or he didn't get in the future. a course requested The education department also in their freshman or sophomore years.” them all in before you graduate.” does its best to notify first-year advisers of Junior Andrea Lynch disagrees with “Registering for classes is an experi- what intended education majors may need this. “Registering for classes for majors ence,” junior Elizabeth Corrigan adds. and how to deal with them accordingly is extremely stressful,” she said. “There “It is a little stressful trying to figure when it comes to the 100-level courses. is so much competition in order to get out if you are going to make it into the They also encourage advisers to ask what classes you need. The department classes you need, or whether they will be questions if they are unsure how to stresses that you do not have to get to filled up even before you get a chance to handle a student so that future problems Nicarry extremely early, but in reality, register. But Professors Peterson, DeAr- can be avoided.

on campus

Dean of faculty Holiday festivities ring in the season newly appointed Rachel A. Marsteller News Editor

D

r. Fletcher McClellan, professor and chair of political science, has been appointed as the new dean of faculty. McClellan will follow Dr. Christina Bucher as dean effective July 1. Bucher has been dean since 2005.

McClellan was unanimously backed by the dean of faculty search committee. In addition, Provost Susan Traverso and President Theodore Long agree that McClellan is an excellent selection.

He boasts a breadth of leadership experience for the position, including serving as department chair, faculty assembly president, associate dean and interim provost.

The search committee, chaired by Dr. Conrad Kanagy, worked hard to make the search process run smoothly by completely assessing the candidates’ qualities and offering their recommendations to the board.

The five other faculty leaders who were candidates for the Dean’s position all possessed impressive qualifications and are essential assets to the College.

Congratulations to Dr. McClellan on his achievement. The Etownian wishes him the best of luck as the dean of faculty over the coming four years.

Images: Matthew P. Butera Image: users.etown.edu

From the Thanksgiving dinner to the tree-lighting ceremony, the holidays are marked by these simple traditions. Students enjoyed turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie during the special dinner provided

by Dining Services.The Etownian wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

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the Etownian

features

profiles • monthly series • campus events

November 19, 2009 town events • facts & figures• business

epic alumni profile

Former editor-in-chief shares campus views, war stories Jamie L. Bartolino Editor-in-Chief

S

cene: it’s 1969. The United States President is Lyndon B. Johnson, a democrat.

Men both young and old are in Vietnam, drafted to serve in a war now in its 10th year. Liberalism is on the rise among the hippie generation. Somewhere between the cafeteria in Myer Hall and the old hamburger joint (roughly located near today’s Birdcage,) students carried pickets to protest the war and government corruption.

Personal computers did not exist, nor did cell phones. Without the Baugher Student Center, the Blue Jays visited the Back Door Bakery for homemade desserts. Can any of those things be seen on campus today?

Alumnus Gary Mantz, ’69, can testify to the changes Etown and the rest of the country have experienced in since that time.

“Life isn’t as rosy as it used to be,” Mantz said. “There was a very different mood in the country than there is today.”

Mantz also served as the editor-inchief of the Etownian in his senior year, which provided him with a unique perspective on campus life during that time.

While life was simpler then without the clutter of technology and modern obsessions, most citizens, especially students, had concerns about national matters and voiced them frequently.

Here at Elizabethtown, students were very open and active with their opinions during Mantz’s time on campus; some of them wrote letters to the Etownian and protested campus issues. Mantz himself wrote an article during his senior year against “the Establishment;” his was just one of the dozens of letters found in Etownian archives from the decade written by students hoping to enact change.

“If you were to categorize me in one word, rebel would be a good word,” Mantz said. “I tend to challenge authority. I only go around once in life and I have to be who I am.”

This attitude was shared by many oth-

ers in Mantz’ generation, those of whom After graduating from Etown and comactively participated in history. Students pleting graduate school, Mantz entered today take a noticeably different approach the professional world of journalism as to conflict discussion, voicing their opinions a reporter for the Reading Times from through the Internet but often failing to speak them aloud. “I think people get so used to just hitting buttons and playing video games that it’s a lot easier than carrying picket signs around,” Mantz said. “The passage of democracy in America is fairly unique. I think students are wise to use it.”

An English major and self-described “thinker,” Mantz appreciates the written word and bravery in self-expression. He remembers a time at the Etownian when typewriters and carbon paper Courtesy photos were the most intricate forms Mantz poses with a presidential limousine in West of technology in the newsroom.

Point, N.Y., in spring 1971.

He was stationed at West Editors would manually assemble Point for the final seven months of his tour of duty. the layout with paste and submit the final product to the Elizabethtown 1972-76 and for the Morning Call, based in Chronicle for printing.

Allentown, for 11 years following. He was “We were like dinosaurs,” he said. “Com- able to report on a wide range of topics and puterization is much better for the paper.” interview public figures, including former In his time as editor-in-chief, Mantz presidents Jimmy Carter and George Bush changed the face of the newspaper, begin- Sr., Muhammad Ali and Ted Kennedy. ning with the front page logo. He designed Throughout his time in journalism, a psychedelic image, which he describes as Mantz has seen two eras: the precomputer similar to Aladdin’s lamp. He recalls how age and the Internet era, where computers the nature of reporting in the Etownian has have evolved the industry beyond anything changed since he was a student. he could have imagined. However, Mantz firmly believes that the three cardinal rules of journalism have remained constant. He describes these simply: “Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy. If you’re writing fiction, you’re not going to make it.” Mantz commented that many national news organizations have “When I was an edidiverted from this path of truth over the tor, the Etownian tended to reflect the ten- years. “I have more respect for mainstream sions of the time,” he said. “It might have neutral journalism,” he said. been more emotionally oriented.” Mantz In addition to developments and changes noted that student news at Etown today to everyday life, some very important points is somewhat different. “The paper is more of contention that existed in the ‘60s are professionally laid out and balanced. It’s not parallel to modern issues. But times have as hard-hitting, but that reflects the times.” changed, and so has the nature of those con-

cerns. Both then and now, the nation was in the middle of a significant and controversial war. Unlike today, however, young men in the 60s were drafted left and right for the Vietnam War. Mantz was among those who were drafted to the army. He served for two years after graduating from Etown.

“I was tempted to go to Canada,” he admitted. “But my mother told me that there would be no place at home for me if I didn’t go into the military.” In what Mantz describes as one of the most traumatic experiences of his life, he spent a year and a half at Fort Dix, N.J. “I was going through a conscience crisis,” he said. “I wanted to be on the hippie side of the fence, not on the military side.”

Ironically, one of the reasons Mantz went to Etown was because it was a peace college, sponsored by the Church of the Brethren.

In Mantz’s time, “you were called gutless if you didn’t go to the war.” Today, men are free to choose whether or not they become involved in the war in the Middle East. Mantz attributes this fact to the lack of physical activism in today’s college generation.

“You don’t have the draft hanging over your head,” he said. “That alleviates cause for immediate protest. If there were one, all of the nice silent people at Etown College would suddenly not be so silent.”

In a general observation, Mantz notes that the federal government is “much more involved” today than it was in his youth, partly because of the current financial crisis. As a person who has served in both managerial and non-managerial positions, Mantz says that big business controls America today.

“Wherever there’s power or money, there’s going to be corruption,” he said.

“Wherever there’s opportunity for greed, sadly, someone is going to abuse it.”

While it’s interesting to note the differences between Mantz’s years as an Etown student and current times, Mantz acknowledges that people and their concerns remain the same no matter the times.

“People are people,” he said. “We all have the same basic needs.”

trip preview

Chaplain’s office announces new spring break trip to LA Michael D. O’Connell Staff Writer

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to work with Bittersweet Ministries, a ministry directed by Gilbert Romero, pastor of the Bella Vista Church of the Brethren.

Karen Hodges, the coordinator of religious life programs, was more than happy to speak on what she says is definitely the biggest event the Chaplain’s Office is planning this year.

“The 25 students who will be going to Los Angeles will be given an opportunity to learn first-hand about homelessness, drug addiction, gang violence and urban poverty,” Hodges said.

“They will be given various community service-oriented tasks, such as working in food kitchens, help-

sk almost any student here on campus, and they’ll likely tell you that of all the problems we have here at Elizabethtown College, things like drug abuse, poverty, gang violence and homelessness are probably ranked at the bottom of our very short list.

With that said, it is important to keep in mind that there are other communities in our country which aren’t as fortunate as we are, and it is vital that we take the necessary steps in helping those areas as often as we possibly can.

With groups like the Office of Religious Life and Faith and om Action, it’s good to know that Etown of.c ikh n n is playing its part in lending a hand. mo ge: This upcoming spring semester, Ima the Office of Religious Life and the Faith in Action student group are co-sponsoring a service trip to Los Angeles over spring break, March 6 through 13. The trip includes plans

ing to hand out food for School on Wheels [a program for homeless children], sorting shelter donations and much more.”

“This upcoming Spring Break will mark my fifth [community service] trip,” Hodges said. “We took two trips down to Mississippi to do some Katrina Relief work, and during another trip we went to the mountains of Kentucky to help some of the less affluent communities there.”

“The purpose of the trip is more than just providing social charity, but to go beyond the familiar road of social society and take us out of our comfort zones so we can spend a week in someone else’s shoes,” Hodges explained.

“It’s really just to give the students an opportunity to learn something different and to experience something they’ve never experienced before.”

The 25 students who will be going on this trip to Los Angeles should feel very proud of themselves — not only for being great role models for Etown but also for acting on an honorable desire to help others.

features

November 19, 2009

the Etownian

faculty profile

5

Lorenzen promotes Spanish ed, community involvement Nicole M. St. Pierre Staff Writer

A

mong the many new developments on campus this year, one of the more prominent is the announcement of a new major in Spanish education. To find where the program began, one has to look no further than Professor Charla Lorenzen, whose involvement and interest in the lives of her students and the community extends far beyond classroom walls.

Lorenzen, who has been a member of our campus community for nearly four years, says that one of her favorite parts of being an educator is watching the students discover something new. “As a professor, I have the opportunity to be very influential in a positive way,” Lorenzen said. As someone whose interest in her profession arose from the positive educational influences of a high school Spanish teacher, Lorenzen knows firsthand what it is like when a student begins

to explore the world around her and finds the path she wants to follow. For many students, as for Lorenzen, this can begin with a teacher. One of the reasons she chose to come to Elizabethtown College as a professor was because she loved the size of the community. Having seen schools with much larger student bodies, Lorenzen saw the need for individuals to develop strong connections with their professors—and how a small, close-knit campus allows for t hat to happ en more often.

Her own decision to pursue Spanish education occurred in a way that could nearly be described as accidental. She initially planned to become a school psychologist, but a summer spent studying abroad was the catalyst for Lorenzen’s Spanish minor, developing into a major

and leading to an enjoyable and exciting career. Now, Lorenzen is striving to help today’s students further their interests in the language through the creation of Etown’s new major in Spanish education.

The Spanish education program, which allows students to graduate with a degree in Spanish and a certification to teach,

This is where Lorenzen entered, striving to develop the program and bring it to fruition. “It’s a rigorous program. It was something the students wanted, and there’s a need for good educators,” she said.

Not only is Lorenzen deeply involved in teaching Spanish here at Etown, but she also participates in a variety of other activities both on- and offcampus. Tuesdays at 9 p.m. you can find her teaching yoga to students in the M&M Mars Room in Leffler Chapel. She is also prepping to take Courtesy image part in a Couch is a new addition to our school’s to 5K marathon for employee academic listing and an attrac- wellness, an activity led by feltive prospect for students inter- low Etown community memested in languages. In order for ber Steve Rutter. Off campus, the new major to come about, Lorenzen enjoys knitting and the college needed someone to reading as well as spending time write the proposal and build the with her family. Her husband program from the ground up. is a local artist, and they have a

young daughter. “She’s a ball of fire,” Lorenzen said, describing her daughter’s creativity and free-thinking attitude.

In addition to these activities, Lorenzen volunteers with preschoolers and finds that their methods of learning and discovery are very similar to those of college students — learning and absorbing as much as they can about the world around them.

Serving others is one idea which Lorenzen has brought into the classroom as well; she strives each semester to get her students involved with volunteer work off campus. There are a surprising number of people in the Etown community who speak Spanish, and she sees ser vice learning as an opportunity for more student involvement. “It’s a great way to make Spanish meaningful,” Lorenzen said.

Students with questions about the Spanish Ed major can contact Lorenzen at LORENZENC@ etown.edu or extension 1996.

event preview

CAC sponsors Great American Smokeout this week

Alanna J. Delfino Staff Writer

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ovember is here, the leaves have t ransfor me d, and t he Gre at American Smokeout (GASO) event has arrived. Elizabethtown College’s very own Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) chapter hosts special events around campus.

The advocacy committee has worked diligently to plan the events that will take place in hope of raising awareness among all college students. Alongside Student Senate, CAC has been working on a plan in the expectation of keeping the campus smoke-free and safe for everyone. They hope to enforce the rule that prevents smoking within 20 feet of any building, which is stated in the Student Handbook.

To help smokers with this regulation, CAC has come up with an arrangement that will make it clear to students when they have reached the 20-foot range. They will place markings 20 feet from the nearest building, anticipating that the people who choose to smoke on campus will help to create a safe environment by paying attention to these indicators.

Throughout the month, there will be many ways in which students and faculty can participate in this initiative.

Monday, Nov. 16 and Wednesday, Nov. 18, CAC asked people sign a banner stating “I Pledge Not to Smoke” at a table in the BSC. CAC looked for all types of supporters, including both smokers and nonsmokers. This pledge is not designed to single out people who don’t smoke at all. CAC aimed to have as many

people as possible sign this pledge in hopes of a more significant outcome.

“We want[ed] people to sign who do currently smoke, but eventually will want to quit or at least cut back on the amount they smoke,” CAC Sponsorship Chairperson Laura Krieger said.

Thos e w ho sig n t he pledge will be receiving “Kiss me, I don’t smoke” stickers

In addition, during this month CAC will be selling black T-shirts that read “Peace, Love, Smoke Out” on the front with images underneath of a pink heart and a red smoke out symbol. The back states, “And you should too.” They cost $10 and will continue to be sold until Thanksgiving break.

Raising awareness of the different types of cancer

Image: netfiles.uiuc.edu

and Hers h e y Kisses. Also, for t hos e w ho were previously unfamiliar with GASO, CAC provided pledgers with more information and hopefully inspired those who are uninformed about the major problems that smoking can cause.

caused by smoking was one of GASO’s main purposes. Many people tend to think that smoking will only cause lung cancer; however, most are unaware of the other types of cancer it can cause.

These include cancer of the mouth,

throat, bladder, kidney, cervix and stomach. GASO was not just a day to hand out free goodies and to express information but also to demonstrate us eful techniques for thos e w ho decide they want to quit smoking.

CAC is a guide for those looking for answers and this event was the perfect time for people to reach out, become aware of their addictions and make an effort to change their lifestyles for the better.

Together with the Etown C ollege community, recruitment for the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network, the advocacy affiliate of the ACS, was a major goal for GASO. In the midst of increasing awareness, this is an extraordinary way to become locally involved.

“ACS CAN empowers regular people, like us, to be part of the growing national movement that is fighting back against cancer,” Krieger said.

Cancer issues are no longer merely in the hands of local awareness groups; they are now handled at the government level.

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act is just one of the many legislative acts ACS CAN is known for promoting. Signed by President Obama in June, the act is a major achievement.

CAC suggests that students and faculty who would like to increase cancer awareness or are interested in the topic should do anything they can to help. One way to get involved is to assist with campaigns to help officials pass necessary laws for the years ahead. It is important that people stay involved and support the safety of other people’s lives.

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campus life

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November 19, 2009

lifestyles • arts • advice • college issues

study tips

End of semester tip: study, study, study?

Laura E. Kuserk Staff Writer

W

ith finals week quickly approaching, Elizabethtown College students find themselves frantically cramming all the information they should have been learning gradually over the past few months. With friends, parties, club activities and SWEET events, some students find that this time of year has more diversions than usual.

To combat these distractions, students have found quiet havens to brush up on their readings and write their papers. Below are the top 10 places to study in Etown.

10. In a tree. It’s quiet, you have a great view, and you can people watch when you get bored. The only drawback is that climbing trees on campus is frowned upon by Campus Security.

9. Outside. If you enjoy the great outdoors but do not want to get yelled at for being 10 feet up in the air there are other places you may study and still revel in Mother Nature’s glory.

When the weather is nice, students are often found sitting at the tables in front of BSC studying for tests. And

by studying, I really mean that the book is open on the table, but most of the time they are just people-watching.

8. Off-campus. S ome students find that they just cannot study on campus.

Many choose to pack up their books and laptops and head over to Conewago Coffee. They say that the coffee as well as the quiet atmosphere helps them study.

7. Study rooms in Learning Services. Most people just think that Learning Services is a place to go to get help; few realize that you can go there to simply study in quiet rooms. The added benefit is that if you need any help, assistance is waiting right outside.

6. A study lounge. The BSC and each academic building offers quiet room for students to study. In the BSC students can do work in the academic lounge. An advantage to this study spot is the availability of computers. However, most of the time, each working computer is already occupied.

5 . T h e Ma r k e tp l a c e.

Some students prefer to study while eating. Firstyear student Elizabeth Rick-

etts is just one of the many students opening her books in our cafeteria.

“I prefer to study in the smaller section of the Marketplace. It’s the only place I don’t fall asleep,” she said.

4. The Blue Bean. This is a favorite spot for many students. These students realized that they do not have to drive off-campus in order to study and be close to coffee. The Blue Bean offers many of the same perks as Conewago and Folklore in a more convenient location.

3. An office. A few students, including senior Kevin Smith, choose to work in a club office. “Study?

That’s funny,” Smith said, laughing. “But when I do, I barricade myself in an office. Usually it’s the Senate office, the OSA office or the Yearbook office.”

2. The High Library. Senior Emily Grove said, “I’ll go to the quiet study rooms in the basement of the library in the morning if I actually need to study for a test.” Senior Kristina Psitos agrees. “If I want no distractions whatsoever, I really like studying in the library on the top floor in that circle room…in the tower,” she said.

1. Your room. The most popular place for people to study is in the comfort of their own rooms. Grove, before studying in the library, typically tries studying here first.

“I usually study in my room with the music on while I’m at my desk. But I usually don’t get any work done because I’m on StumbleUpon.com, so I disconnect my Internet when I need to get stuff done!”

Senior Katie Bonnar also enjoys studying in her room. “[I study] in my bed under the covers with my desk lamp on so I can see the book. I’ll normally cuddle with my favorite teddy bear, too,” she said. “[Or I study] on the couch in my living room while watching either Full House or Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Normally when I do this, though, I’m reviewing right before a test, before I leave for the class, so I’m not really studying full-out, just reviewing.”

No m at t e r w h e re w e study, we can all agree on one thing: next semester, we’re going to actually keep up with our readings, so we do not have to stress ourselves out cramming before finals week. That is, as long as we don’t get too busy.

Photo: Matthew P. Butera

campus life

November 19, 2009

the Etownian

music review

Girls: Sugar, spice, everything nice?

Matthew A. Wagener Layout Editor

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aired with holy devotions of resurrecting “Pop-Up Video,” executives at Vh1 hopelessly pray that San Francisco-based duo Girls will be the next Hall & Oates. The network hasn’t wished for something more in a couple of girls since Pumpkin’s projectile mucus became one with New York’s eyelash extension.

However, their desire for Girls’ (who are actually both boys) success has nothing to do with their music. With a story too crazy to be fabricated, a “Behind the Music: Girls” episode would make Lil’ Wayne’s installment appear like a straight-up braggadocio bore.

Girls’ front man Christopher Owens was born into the twisted arms of the Children of God cult, an extreme ecclesiastical system infamous for accounts of religious prostitution, child sexual abuse, murder and suicide.

Owens’ older brother died of pneumonia because his mother abided by the cult’s tenet against hospitalization and medical attention. His brother’s death drove his father to abandon the family before Owens’ birth, and his mother was forced into prostitution.

O wens toured Asia and Europe with the evangelistic troupe, never attending school or hearing a note of secular pop music. After receiving his first guitar from an ex-Fleetwood Mac guitarist (and former cult member), Owens escaped the confines of the cult.

Living as a penny-buskin’, guitar-playin’ urchin at the age of 16, Owens saved enough change for a one-way ticket to Texas. While surviving in the gutter, adopting a punk attitude and a prescription

drug habit to match, Owens was rescued by a millionaire philanthropist benefactor.

With monetary and emotional support from his only mentor, Owens relocated to the West C oast’s most alternative-lifestyle-and background-accepting city. In San Francisco, he finally began to experience everything he had been denied in the cult: the good things in life.

Like many gimmicks and shticks used in the music industry to sell artists, a good story usually overshadows the music.

With a story of this anecdotal magnitude, Girls’ songs should be eclipsed behind the towering shade of their saga.

How e v e r, o n t h e i r d e but, simply titled “Album,” 12 schizophrenic yet captivating songs share the role a s t h e s t o r y ’s r a c o nt e u r.

Following the counterculture advice coined by 1960s psychedelic drug advocate and Harvard professor Timothy Leary, Girls have already “turned on, tuned in and dropped out” for their premiere.

Despite some heartbreaking lyrical themes, most of “Album” sounds as if it has been filtered through a pair of Polaroid lenses staring at the hazy California sun. Built around spiked guitar progressions, the opener “Lust for Life” is a sarcastic ode to pursuing ambitions that are out of reach.

Within his malleable and damaged warble, Owens admits “I wish I had a father / Maybe then I would have turned out right / But now I’m just crazy, I’m totally mad / Yeah I’m just crazy / I’m f****d in the head.”

“Big Bad Mean M**********r” sounds like an early Beach Boys tribute — that is, if Brian Wilson’s hallucinations were stimulated by fentanyl transdermal

patches instead of LSD blotter papers. “Headache” finds Owens adopting a different vocal timbre that’s comparable to Morrissey amorously crooning on top of a cocktail lounge’s baby grand.

The record’s centerpiece, “Hellhole Ratrace,” is an epic 7-minute hipster kumbaya full of discordant guitars that build throughout its mantric chorus.

Visually, the song illustrates an Urban Outfitters catalog’s worth of ragamuffin-chic burn-outs and their odyssey toward an agreed upon mecca: a beach bonfire. The other Girl, Chet “JR” White, garnishes both “Summertime” and “Lauren Marie” with rich sonic production that amalgamates the echo chamberderived “Wall of Sound” and lo-fi technical flaws.

Upon your first hearing of “Album,” you can’t help but assume that you have been listening to a bohemian mix-tape for the past 45 minutes.

Taking cues from rock ’n roll maestros of the last five decades, each song represents a specific influence of the past.

From the vulnerable chirp of Buddy Holly and syrupy sneer of Elvis Costello, to the stoned-but-euphoric gospel of Spiritualized, “Album” is a pastiche of 20th centur y reverberations, reinterpreted and recorded for the 21st (or, perhaps, Girls just want to have fun).

Although they victims of the music journalism pundits of hype, a Girls video will never be a part of “I Love the New Millennium: Part Deux.”

No matter how compelling and profitable their story is, a third season of “Tool Academy” is guaranteed to fill their slot.

However, that doesn’t mean Girls can’t be your (indie) “Rock of Love.”

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Ross M. Benincasa Assistant Campus Life Editor Compiled by Dale Boyer and Campus Security

• Two people were found soliciting outside of the BSC this week. They claimed to be from Abercrombie & Fitch and were asking for students’ personal information, apparently for job applications.

Campus Security proceeded to escort them off campus.

•

An alcohol violation was reported in Ober Residence Hall this weekend. An RA cited students and confiscated the alcohol paraphernalia.

•

Numerous bicycles were reported stolen around campus this week. Campus Security advises students to lock their bikes up wherever they leave them. The culprit has yet to be identified, though it is believed that his or her preferred mode of transportation is by bike.

•

Environmental Services was called to unclog a men’s restroom toilet in the Marketplace this week. The culprit for this crime appears to be Taco Day.

•

A suspicious act in one of the residence halls was reported to Campus Security. Two students were found to have climbed out of a window and were on the roof of the building when Security arrived.

•

Three harassment calls were made to Campus Security this week concerning roommate conflicts. Problems with roommates become a big issue this time of year, as the stresses of finals and long breaks coming up compound the struggles of living in a tight space with others.

•

A suspicious, intoxicated Etown resident was reported to be yelling from the street corner of Cedar Street and Mount Joy Street toward the Cedar House SDLC. Ironically, the Cedar Street Block Watch was nowhere to be found.

• A concerned father called about a burnt-out bulb in one of the Blue Light Phones near the Chapel this week. Campus Security submitted a work order to have it replaced.

•

An RA called in a harassment complaint as he or she was trying to talk to two students about an alcohol violation. Apparently, the discussion became heated, and one student verbally attacked the RA.

beauty column

Try it yourself: get professional look without the pro Lindsay D. Goldsmith Staff Writer

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very girl lives in an endless search for her perfect makeup products. When you are lucky enough to have found some staples that you love, you probably emit a sigh of relief. Your troubles are over; you can look amazing every day! You go to put on all of your fabulous finds and then… you realize you have no idea how to properly apply your new acquisitions. Crap.

Fortunately, today, you are going to read about some tried and true methods that have been discovered through years of trial and error. You’ll be able to apply makeup like a pro so you can go out on the town looking like you’ve got your own personal makeup artist in your dorm.

First and foremost, a question that has baffled scientists and fashionistas alike since the beginning of time: which comes first, the foundation or the concealer? I

am here to tell you today that I have the answer! Brace yourselves ... drumroll please ... FOUNDATION! By putting the foundation on first, you cover any minor imperfections that don’t need the heavier coverage of a concealer. Think of it this way: if you’re building a house, are you going to paint before you even have any walls built? Of course not! You need to build the foundation of the house before you decorate it.

It is the same with your face; the foundation builds a first layer to which you then add. After putting on foundation, you will clearly see the true trouble spots that need more intense coverage that comes from concealer.

Some women fear that if their concealers do not match the color of their faces perfectly, people will notice if they use it after foundation. To remedy this problem, just go over the area again with a small amount of foundation and blend into the surrounding skin. Not only will this prevent you from having a spotty looking face, it will also set the concealer more firmly, and it will stay on longer.

The next step? Lips. Whether you’re a lip gloss or a lipstick girl, we all encounter the same problem: the color does not stay just on your lips. Often, whatever you have will smudge, making you look like the Joker.

To prevent smudging, take a small brush and apply concealer around the edges of your lips. This builds up a wall which keeps lip color in its place, and no one will know how you got such perfect shape. Another tricky spot? Your eyes.

Many a girl has fantasized about the perfect smoky eye, but most see it as an unattainable dream. Wrong! Always start with eye shadow, if you are going to wear any, and then follow with eyeliner.

After you have the colors blended to your satisfaction, take your eyeliner and draw an even line on top of your lashes from the inner corner of your eye to the outer, making it a little thicker towards the outer corner.

Hopefully these tips have helped make you feel like a master with your makeup brushes so you can go out every day looking your best.

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the Etownian

campus life

November 19, 2009

web site review

Farming brought straight from plantation to desktop

Samantha R. Wingrove Staff Writer

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chicken coop?! WOW! And a chicken?! YES! My mom and my cousin sent me gifts,” sophomore Stephanie Smith exclaimed. “And I expanded my farm!” To the outsider, these words may sound as though there is a true farmer at Elizabethtown College, but in reality, there is no farming happening at all; instead, Farmville, Facebook’s interactive farming game, is causing all of this commotion.

Farmville, which was released June 2009, has blown creators away by quickly becoming the most popular application on Facebook with over 63 million registered farms by early November, according to the Facebook Web site. Students all around Etown are no different; they, too, have caught the farming bug and cannot seem to resist playing. “My strawberries are ready to be harvested at 12 a.m., so I’ll have to stay up until then,” sophomore Jackie Armstrong explained. “If I miss when they finish growing, they could go bad overnight, and then I’ll have to buy more seeds.”

The Farmville game allows players to make their own character to run their farm, as well as plant, grow and harvest various crops. Aside from just the crops, farmers can also have animals on their farms.

“I have more elephants than chickens!” junior Nancy Briscoe said. “Too bad I don’t have a turkey; they’re really cool. But, I do have an alien cow. He’s in my house, though; you can’t see him. I have cats, too.”

Talk of turkeys, alien cows and elephants on the virtual farms is sure to leave non-Farmville players’ heads spinning, but to other Farmvilleians, the com-

petition is fierce and jealousy ensues. “I can’t even believe Nancy got an alien cow. It’s one of the coolest animals you can get on your farm. I’m jealous,” Armstrong said.

Aside from just the thrill of raising crops and animals, virtual farmers have the chance to make profit from their plants and animals. The players start small with only a few plants that they can grow, but as they harvest more and keep up with their farms, they increase not only in Farmville coins but also in experience level.

By increasing experience, the pseudo-farmImage: ehow.com ers not only unlock new plants to grow and new animals, but also gain more Farmville coins, allowing them to buy more items or to expand their farm.

“I’m currently on level 22, and I have a few different animals, but I am growing raspberries, corn, grapes and tomatoes since that’s where most of the money is at anyway,” Armstrong said.

Because Facebook was originally created as a social networking site, Farmville was created with the same intentions. As players work on their farms, they can invite friends to join them in the game and place their farms near theirs. By acquiring neighbors, the players can gain money, experience points by helping neighbors out with farming, harvesting and other tasks with which real farmers may need help.

“My mom is one of my neighbors on my farm,” Smith explained. “We help each other out all the time. I can go look at her farm and see how she is doing. I’m pretty sure she’s actually more advanced in Farmville than me. That is so unfair!”

One of the key ideas behind Farmville is that there

is no specific age range that will play the game. “I play; my mom plays; my aunt plays; most of my cousins play. One of my mom’s friends got a Facebook just so that she could play Farmville,” Smith said.

Farmville has exploded around the campus. A poll of 25 people in the BSC proved just that when 17 of the 25 admitted to playing Farmville to some extent. Farms surround Etown, located in the heart of Amish Country, and students are often reminded of that when they walk outside their dorms to be greeted with the smell of cow. However, very few students on campus actually have any real farming experience. Farmville seems to unearth their hidden desire to be farmers.

“I guess it’s cool to get to pretend to be a farmer and have real animals and plants that depend on me,” Briscoe said. “I love playing and making money and getting my friends to play and be my neighbors, too.”

At this point, the Farmville lines have been clearly drawn. Students at Etown are either Farmville farmers or they are not; there is very little middle ground of students who think they may still want to start a farm.

“I don’t like any Facebook applications. I don’t want to start playing them. I hardly have any free time to begin with, and adding a new Facebook addiction wouldn’t help that much,” senior Autumn Metcalf said. “Plus, I don’t want to be a farmer in real life, so why would I want to be a farmer online?”

As students around Etown continue the debate as to whether Farmville is worth their time, others remain quiet. These bystanders do not play Farmville, but instead, they partake in the dozens of other virtual employment games such as Farmtown, FishVille, YoVille, Restaurant City or Café World.

“Farmtown rocks. It is so much better than Farmville; I would never play that one,” sophomore Tim Goldkamp said.

As the semester wears on, students at Etown are writing papers, taking exams, completing class projects and making presentations. However, Smith said, “There is always time for Farmville. Actually, my raspberries are ready to be harvested now; I should go do that. Bye!”

noteworthy causes

Movember: changing the way cancer is seen at colleges

Ross M. Benincasa Assistant Campus Life Editor

Foundation. The foundation then divides the money and donates it to the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the LIVESTRONG s your upper lip feeling especially chilled Campaign, anchored by bicycling champion Lance Armstrong. in this crisp, NovemThe original ber air? Is your desire to intention still regrow facial air thwarted mains the same by the theory that girls today; however, simply will not find you the participation attractive? Have you alhas grown enorways wished that your mously since 2003. whisker-growing skills In the first year, the could be put to good use?

Movember FounMustache aficionados redation had a total joice. Movember is here. of 30 registrants Movember, whose around the globe name is derived from helping to raise a combination of Mo’ money toward (mustache) and Novemmen’s health. In ber, began in 2003 with 2009, the foundathe intention of soliciting donations to help fund Image: ahardmantofind.com tion currently has 236,242 particimen’s cancer research. pants around the world; 26,175 of them in To help encourage philanthropy, men are encouraged to start clean-shaven Nov. 1 the United States. In total, they have curand grow their mustaches throughout the rently raised $12,840,635 to fight prostate remainder of the month, grooming them as and testicular cancer this year.

The campaign that Movember uses for they please. At the end of the month, there are celebrations across the globe honoring funds often compared to the very popular the Mo’ Bros (men) and Mo’ Sistas (women) Relay For Life, held by the American Cancer who raised money for the Movember Society. Members who sign up can ask fam-

I

ily and friends to donate to their cause, either by taking donations online or by sending in cash and checks to the Movember Foundation. At the end of the month, Gala Parties are sponsored around the world, celebrating the money raised along with the month-long growth of the participants’ mustaches.

With all these donations coming in from Movember, the Prostate Cancer Foundation couldn’t be happier. Executive VP Howard Soule said in a press release, “Movember supplies fuel for hope for prostate cancer victims.” He also mentioned that 100 percent of the funds they receive due to Movember go toward research in an attempt to find a cure for prostate cancer. Currently, it is one of the fastest growing cancers among adults, on average one man is diagnosed every eight minutes worldwide.

The biggest challenge that the Movember Foundation seems to face is simply encouraging participation among the male population. Although some men become very excited about growing their ’staches, many are worried about what their female counterparts will think. However, many female students here at Etown feel that

Image: ahardmantofind.com

mustaches enhance a guy’s overall appearance. Sophomore Krystal Talley said, “It is very distinguished. Plus, you get a little something extra when you kiss them.”

First-year Alena Marani also chimed in, “I like mustache scruff. Something about mustaches is just really sexy on certain guys.” Although it may be wise for men in a relationship to seek counsel with their significant other before partaking in mustache growth, most girls will not have a problem with it, especially considering the cause that it is helping.

Overall, Movember is a cool way for men to raise funds to fight testicular and prostate cancer and is a fun competition to have among your college dormmates. It brings friends together and pushes them to fight for a good cause — while bettering a man’s face, one mustache at a time.

November 19, 2009

opinion

campus controversies • letters to the editor

the Etownian

national debate • our take • guest columns

close commodities

Experiencing Darrenkamp’s grocery Jonathan S. Gamble Staff Writer

some high-quality cheese, meat or organic selections. But I don’t usually need those things. With the reduced prices in the meat and vegetable sections at Darrenkamp’s and arrenkamp’s is a small chain of grocery stores located in frequent sales on cereals, I find myself looking forward to Lancaster, Mt. Joy and Elizabethtown. I get there by taking grocery shopping every week. My roommate and I split the Campus Drive past the Quads, turning at the first left and then cost of groceries and usually spend between $20 - $30 each taking another left when I see an open field of corn stalks. This week. Multiply that by five, and you get $150 each month. is important for those of us who, until recently didn’t know Dar- Multiply that by the eight months we are in school, and you renkamp’s even existed, or for those who have yet to be informed. get $1,200 per academic year. Now, divide that by two, and you’ve got a $600 meal plan I always thought that Giant that rolls over each semester. and Weis were the only grocery I’ve always felt the food and stores available for us to shop service at our Marketplace within reasonable distance was astounding compared to of the College. Now that my other schools. I think it gives means of getting around exstudents a great selection of tends beyond my legs, I have foods to encourage healthy discovered Darrenkamp’s as a eating, and I know that my favorite place to purchase food. freshman and sophomore “[Darrenkamp’s has] much year I appreciated having the better customer service than ability to walk in at any time Giant,” senior Sara Brown during the day for a meal or said. It is less crowded and snack. Yet at the same time, doesn’t take as long to go shopping, which is great bePhoto: Jonathan S. Gamble if I were a student that was cause I’m always busy! Plus, Senior accounting major Mike Ruzzo walking to the financially strapped and takfree sample bar at Darrenkamps grocery store. ing out many loans, I would free Tootsie Rolls!” have been eager to sacrifice Not only do they have the original Tootsie Rolls, but they also have fruit Tootsie Rolls, that $2,050 convenience if all it meant was an early journey through the kitchen and a potential savings of $1,450 each which are wicked tastier.

“Darrenkamp’s has great discounts on day-old bread and year. Of course, not everyone would do that, but I think other things that are not nearly expired but that the store has having the choice is of great import.

It is probable that the current economic climate will create to get rid of,” Brown said. “They run promotions and have free samples and lots and lots of specials. Giant has more selection a demand among future college students and their parents for and has more coupons, but who cuts those out when we have frugality instead of convenience. Many families that feel this demand the greatest are probably not even considering the highpapers to write?”

Kristine Beck is an employee at Darrenkamp’s. She sees my quality and personal education of Elizabethtown College if they friends and me almost every Friday and is always giving out the can influence their kids into cheaper state schools.

I think that giving students the option and freedom to cook best free samples in town. Last week was bread pudding and a small cup of soup. And there’s always a basket of pretzels to be for themselves is an excellent feature for this school to advertise to such families. It is my impression — not my knowledge — that dipped in special mustard.

Another great thing is that Darrenkamp’s gives discounts the majority of students who attend Etown are from the middle to college students. If you combine that discount with their to upper-middle classes. If Etown is truly committed to increasstore “Gold Card” discount, you might save between $2.00 and ing overall diversity, then it must also find ways to increase the $8.00 each shopping trip, depending on the foods you select. variety of student’s financial backgrounds. And yet — in the end The only reason I would go to Giant instead is if I needed — all that will matter with regard to diversity are impressions.

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on campus

English department emanates warmth Samantha T. Phillips Assistant Opinion Editor

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he first time I came to this campus after receiving my acceptance letter, I experienced a bit of culture shock. I’ll admit, at first it was frightening. From registering for classes to creating an accurate works cited page, college academics were completely foreign to me. While some students enter into their college careers armed with an excessively academic background, my high school experience left something to be desired. I had pretty much skated by in high school, remaining just under the radar of my teachers, and when I was accepted into college I felt as if I had somehow cheated the system. It wasn’t until that first day of classes that I realized I had found my place, and that landing at this school was an act of destiny.

One of the most widely-spread college horror stories told to high school graduates is that of the evil, stone-hearted college professor. I entered my first class, horrified that I was going to find the Teacher from the Black Lagoon, clad in a starched suit,

scribbling foreign formulas on a blackboard with one hand and striking a ruler against a student’s knuckles with the other. Yet, once the class was completely settled in, the man who sat at the head of the table smiled and introduced himself, and within the next few minutes, we all found ourselves doubled over in laughter. This was no evil gremlin ready to kick me out of class for not knowing the fundamentals of rhetorical theory. No, this was Dr. David Downing, the fun-loving and witty novelist who always goes out of his way to aid a troubled student or to boost a student’s success. In that semester I learned more than I had in four years of high school English. But there was still the looming fear of the English professors to come. I was convinced it was only a matter of time before I encountered Dr. Death-by-D.H. Lawrence.

It’s been two years now and I no longer live in fear of this dreamt-up demon professor, as each English professor I encountered was more helpful, knowledgeable and dedicated to their students than the last.

Each course I’ve taken has increased my appreciation for the art of literature and my

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passion for writing. And I can lay the blame for that on no one else but the professors of Elizabethtown College’s English department. Dr. Carmine Sarracino, through his soft-spoken in-class discussions, opened my eyes to the many facets of modern poetry and continues to be an extremely helpful adviser. Professor Jesse Waters never fails to inspire me to pick up a pen and silence my inner critic. Dr. Rebecca Olson, with whom I haven’t taken a class since my freshman year, always makes a point to say hello and ask how everything is going in my life. Of course, there’s also Dr. Louis Martin, who I have dubbed “the father of the English department,” and who has dedicated a lifetime to helping his English majors succeed.

While there are countless others who have contributed to the amazing experience I have had at this college, the faculty of the English department have played a vital role in my budding future. They have encouraged me to pursue my writing dreams and

romance column

When good love goes bad Samantha T. Phillips Assistant Opinion Editor

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e have all met this couple: those once-upon-a-time lovers who are clinging desperately to the shreds of their tarnished romance, like a child refusing to trash the slivers of his popped birthday balloons. They are that couple who changes their relationship status on Facebook nearly every week, that couple who continues to call their significant other even though every conversation ends in a fight, and that couple that makes a scene, without fail, at every party they attend. For the sake of the story, let’s call them Joe and Jane. There they are, surrounded by an eager audience of friends and acquaintances, silently awaiting the next move. Poor Joe stands there while the remains of Jane’s whiskey sour drench his new button-down shirt. Jane is unable to compose herself, spitting profanities at Joe like sharp darts. And they used to be so normal. They used to be as simple as the cover of college brochures: happy, smiling students clad in their college sweatshirts, their heads buried in a book. It was all a page out of a storybook until this destructive relationship came tearing through their lives like a rabid dog. Now, they never smile, their grades are falling and their friends would rather endure a slumber party with Jigsaw than be around them.

Joe and Jane (you know who you are), listen to an outsider’s perspective. If you spend the majority of your relationship secretly wishing that your significant other would catch some fatal disease or mysteriously take a long walk on a short pier, something isn’t right. While no relationship is perfect, and a good fight is always a healthy way to hash out the inner rage, the good times should always outweigh the bad. Jane, I know at one point it seemed like the only thing Joe was missing was a white stallion to come riding in on, and that maybe at the beginning you even dared to use the word “love,” but things change.

And Joe, I know that Jane may look very good in those black spandex pants that are somewhat see-through, but, in the game of poker and in the game of love, sometimes you just have to fold.

Image: Wordpress.com

have helped me to mold my passion for creative writing with their expert knowledge and their dedication to what they do. While I may not always remember the papers I wrote in college or the grades I received, I know that I will never forget the English professors who helped me to grow as a student, a writer and an individual.

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opinion

the Etownian

d n ou

S Off What are you thankful for?

by Melanie R. Giardina

Andrew Scheid Class of 2012 “Breaks from school to spend time with my family.”

Liz Vinciguerra Class of 2012 “My friends.”

November 19, 2009

common culture

Careful expression:‘love fades; tattoos don’t’ Leigh N. Ontiveros Assistant Copy Editor

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hat were you thinking? You know that stuff is permanent, right?” This cry of outrage is one frequently heard from the parents of college students who have chosen to tattoo themselves.

According to the New York Times, a report from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that over 45 million Americans have tattoos. And tattoos are not a new phenomena either; they have even been found on Egyptian mummies. Tattoos have had significant meaning in many cultures and have been used in rituals, to denote social standing and even to treat arthritis.

Yet, modern society has attached a new stigma to such permanent body art.

Once, tattoos were mostly seen on deviants and criminals. Everyone knows the images: a muscled man with arms covered in ink, riding a motorcycle at 80 mph down the Interstate; criminals with crudely drawn gang signs on their shoulders; the “white trash” woman with wings across her lower back. But today, you’re likely to see tattoos on celebrities, popular TV characters, the cute cashier at the grocery store or the kid you sit next to in class.

Or maybe you won’t. After all, many students who get tattoos prefer them to be in discreet, easily concealed locations.

But why must we hide our tattoos and, therefore, who we are?

For centuries, people have been persecuted because of their looks, their beliefs, their gender or even the color of their skin. In an age when “all men [and women] are created equal,” and there are laws against discrimination, why are tattoos viewed as taboo and not as a sign of self-expression? For that is what they have truly become: a way to share a piece of your personality with the rest of the world.

Tattoos are not self-mutilation any more than wearing makeup is;

they’re just more expensive and last a lot longer. Religious drawings, words of wisdom and mythical creatures all can have meanings associated with them. Junior Kayne Neugebauer said of his phoenix tattoo, inked soon after his father’s death, that “it just made sense …

We used to joke that he was immortal, and the phoenix represents the fact that our existence goes beyond death.”

You might be thinking to yourself, “Yes, I’d get a tattoo, but when I’m 75, am I really going to want that turquoise camel on my hip?” There are laser removal treatments, but these are costly, time-intensive and ineffective, as they often do not remove the tattoo completely.

According to the FDA, 17 percent of people don’t like their tattoos in retrospect. That may seem like a lot, but look at it inversely: 83 percent of people do still enjoy and appreciate their body art, even when they are older. Chances are, if you come up with a design, and you like it one year from now, you’ll like it 20 years from now as well. And even if you don’t, you can still look at it, fondly remembering those foolish days of your youth. However, I wouldn’t recommend getting the name of your one true love inked permanently into your skin. Love fades; tattoos don’t.

For those of you who are considerPhoto: Emily M. Reigart ing your parents’ reactions (after all, they might just be the ones paying for your college education), here are some words of wisdom: it’s your body. Deep down inside, your parents are always going to love you and accept you, regardless of what decisions you make. And you can tell them, in the words of Saving Jane, “It’s part of who I am, and that’s for sure.” Just one piece of advice, if I may be so daring: do not pay for your tattoo using Daddy’s credit card. He may not like that so much, and you might not want the first time your parents find out about your tattoo to be through a bill.

If you’re debating whether to get a tattoo, you’re not alone. million others have indulged and expressed themselves, why shouldn’t you?

campus curriculum

Liberal arts education enriches future Alexis L. Morris Staff Writer

David Gerhart Class of 2011 “I’m thankful for that guy’s beard.”

Amelia Moon Class of 2011 “I’m thankful for David quitting smoking.”

Make sure to check out the Sound Off poll and the opportunity to comment on articles on our Web site: www.etownian.com

A

s scheduling times for the spring semester are quickly approaching, many of us are flipping through college catalogs, and trying to pick classes that fill our core while avoiding the dreaded 8 a.m. classes. Those who cringe at phrases like “My non-western cultural heritage is writing and research intensive!” and “One natural and physical sciences course must have a lab!” are probably wondering if the purpose of the core curriculum is just to make sure you are not having too much fun in college.

However, students should be well aware that Elizabethtown is a liberal arts college, which means that it will not let one get away with taking all math courses if one is a math major.

The idea is that, as a student in a liberal arts program, one will gain greater knowledge, insights on the world and an advantage over fellow job applicants.

Obviously, by educating ourselves in many different academic areas, we are going to gain greater knowledge.

We will start to make connections between different subjects, form independent opinions and analyze writing on a critical level. Dr. Robert Harris,

who holds a Ph.D. in English and has written several books, advocates the many benefits of a liberal education.

According to http://www.VirtualSalt. com, “Good judgment, like wisdom, depends upon a thoughtful and rather extensive acquaintance with many areas of study … Exercise in various areas builds brainpower for whatever endeavor you plan to pursue.”

Also, one gains a greater insight on the world through a liberal arts program. With our core of non-western cultural heritage, social sciences, humanities and western cultural heritage, we have many options to choose classes that will teach us about foreign cultures, history and society. In addition, the power of language core for modern or ancient language will teach us about the countries in which people speak the language we are learning.

With greater knowledge of a broad variety of topics and the world, we will have a leg up against others pursuing the same jobs as we are. Not all colleges require students to take a foreign language, and even if we just take a 100-level course, it will add a positive attribute to our résumé. By studying multiple topics in various fields, we are showing our versatility and flexibility.

Also, the WRI classes will improve our

ability to write, which is an extremely desirable trait for employees in most professions. With these ingredients, we increase our chances of landing that dream job that pays well and is enjoyable.

However, as much as we say our liberal arts program is guaranteed to have the aforementioned benefits, there are always the slackers who will find ways to take those core classes that are not as challenging or are closely related to their majors. For example, math for liberal studies is a popular escape for English majors. Also, one can take the 100-level of French instead of taking a fifth year of Spanish.

The liberal arts program here at Etown will reward us if we take the time to challenge ourselves with harder classes. The education we receive here will enrich our lives and our careers, if we let it. Put the thoughts of difficulty and hard work aside; take those classes that will benefit you in years to come.

As Harris says, “While a liberal arts education may not teach you how to take out an appendix or sue your neighbor, it will teach you how to think, which is to say, it will teach you how to live.

And this benefit alone makes such an education more practical and useful than any job-specific training ever could” (http://www.virtualsalt.com).

opinion

November 19, 2009

on campus

Political correctness: how far is too far?

Patricia A. Cangelosi Assistant Copy Editor

I

n these times when political correctness is shoved down our throats, it is natural to want to rebel. We’re not allowed to use common sense and traditional phrases that have long been integral parts of society.

Why do we need to replace “freshman” with “first-year?” If anyone is offended by the word “freshman,” this individual is in the slim minority. Why must the U.S. be the only country in which the minority is given such immense power over the majority? Why must we change a word that has been so much a part of the high school and college culture for decades?

Today, everything has to be gender-neutral (at least, everything with any masculine association). For the generic singular person, we are no longer permitted to say “him” but are now forced to say “him or her.” Instead of “mankind,” we must use “humankind;” instead of “chairman,” we must use “chairperson.” As a woman, I am insulted — appalled, even — by the notion that any woman would actually be offended by the word “mankind.” Do we seri-

ously have nothing better to do than sit around and seek out so-called sexism and oppression in every mindless thing?

The more we convince ourselves that we are oppressed, the less empowered we will be to take action regarding things that actually matter. If women really want to fight against sexism, they should work hard to combat the stereotypes associated with them instead of striving to change “spokesman” to “spokesperson.”

As an English major, I am irked by the familiar pangs of Orwellian manipulation.

Yes, I am referring to Newspeak, the painfully limited language that citizens of Oceania are forced to adopt in George Orwell’s novel “1984.” In the story, the less people say, the more the government Image: Wordpress.com rewards them. On the other hand, if people actually express themselves or convey opinions other than those dictated by the government, they are kidnapped and drained of all recognizable life. While America still allows its citizens free speech, current trends are definitely taking us in the direction Orwell predicted.

If there is any benefit to political correctness, it’s that it makes for some decent humor; http://www.bored.com is just one of many

Web sites that parodies the absurdity of political correctness with nonsensical replacements for everyday terms. For example, cannibalism shall be called “intra-species dining,” a corpse is a “permanently static post-human mass,” and a frog must be referred to as an “amphibianAmerican.” Instead of being short, you are “vertically challenged;” instead of being lost, you are “geographically disabled.”

This being said, there is one aspect of the political correctness movement that really should be taken to heart. You hear it in the Marketplace, the dorms and even in class sometimes.

It often slips by without any acknowledgement.

Phrases such as “that’s so gay” and “you’re retarded” have become mainstream among young people today. The obvious argument against these phrases is that “gay” and “retarded” touch on very sensitive topics and are by no means acceptable synonyms for “stupid.”

However, what many people overlook are the implications for those who use these words in such contexts. These people, much like the ones who curse in every sentence that comes out of their mouths, look dumb. They look uneducated and ignorant, possessing vocabularies that are pitifully limited. If “that’s gay” and “you’re retarded” are the only comebacks you can think of, you need to go back to fourth grade and learn some adjectives.

on campus

Don’t let stress keep you from your best Brittany L. Kuperavage Staff Writer

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lass. Class. Lunch. Lab. Practice.

Dinner. Meetings. Study. Sleep.

Wake up. Repeat.

It seems as though our lives are spinning out of control sometimes.

With days jam-packed with stress, how do we deal with it all? Faculty, staff and students all notice the amount of stress experienced on a day-to-day basis by students at Elizabethtown College.

Kari Slater is one of the counselors here, and she definitely notices students experiencing a great deal of stress.

“We see an increase in the number of students coming to Counseling Services, beginning around the time of midterms and continuing through finals. Many students are experiencing academic stress as well as family conflict, grief and loss and relationship concerns,” Slater said.

Stress can also affect other aspects of a student’s life as well. Sandy Spayd, Director of Student Wellness and Campus Health, works with those students who complain of chronic headaches, stomach pains, anxiety and depression. Stress compromises the body’s immune system, which makes it easier for students to catch illnesses. Students reach a point of helplessness, where they become immobile, and they shut down completely.

Sure, we all stress out about things, but it’s important for us to take control of the stress and not let it get the best of us. Whether it’s taking a dance class or watching an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy,” I make sure to take time for myself every week. If I didn’t give myself a break from school work, I know I would go crazy.

Kristin Sagun is a licensed psychologist and the director of Learning and Disability Services for Etown. She also sees the daily stress caused by busy schedules and coursework, offering advice to students who feel like they are worn out from their hectic lives.

“If students manage their time well and organize and prioritize their responsibilities, this will provide some assistance to daily stress.

It is also very important for students to get enough sleep. Students should eat balanced meals during the day, get exercise, and have fun and laugh,” Sagun said.

First-year student Samantha Neidig practices some of Sagun’s

suggestions in her own life. “As a biology major, I do experience the stress of a rigorous class-and work load. To relieve stress, I exercise and spend time with friends,” Neidig said. “Laughing usually helps me relax and feel less stressed.”

Two major academic stressors are test anxiety and writing papers.

When asked, most students will tell you that they get more nervous for tests than for writing papers. They claim that for papers you have more time to work on them and can seek help and advice from others, whereas a test is timed, and you are on your own. I personally enjoy writing and think that papers are less stressful Image: i.ehow.com than taking tests. But some people wouldn’t jump right to that conclusion.

“It really depends on the student. Some are really strong writers and plan their schedules well to prepare for longer papers. Other students procrastinate and wait until the night before the paper is due to write it. Each approach brings about a different kind of stress.

In the case of exams, I think the same holds true. If students prepare well in advance for exams, they tend to feel less stressed,” Sagun said.

As far as the overall wellness of the Etown community, Spayd felt very positive. With the success of E-Fit and other programs, students are more aware and health-conscious than ever before. People are taking advantage of the services offered and seeking them out.

When it’s all said and done, there is only one way to look at stress. It’s inevitable, but we can make it a minimal problem with the right attitude.

Spayd looks to a favorite quote of hers for inspiration to help manage stress. “Manage change or change will manage you’ helps me to keep a positive attitude. I’ve learned it’s important to know there are some things we just can’t change. We just need to do our best at controlling the things we can,” Spayd said.

In the end, I feel that we need to look at the big picture to really put our problems into perspective. There have been times where I felt completely overwhelmed. I had a to-do list a mile long and no time to do it in. So I went for a walk and took a good look at the world around me, and realized that I was one person with one little set of problems.

I realized that I had many things to be grateful for, and that in the grand scheme of things my problems weren’t really that bad. I think that if people took a few minutes to do the same thing, they might be more relaxed and approach their problems and stresses differently.

the Etownian

13

the Etownian the board

Editor-in-Chief Jamie L. Bartolino Managing Editor Aimée M. DiMichele Assistant Editor Aidan E. Bauernschmidt News Editor Rachel A. Marsteller Features Editor Peter S. Northrop Campus Life Editor Joelle E. Atkinson Opinion Editor Craig H. Meaney Sports Editor Sara E. Crimmel Copy Editor Emily M. Reigart Photography Editor Matthew P. Butera Layout Editor Matthew A. Wagener Online Editor Zachary T. Johnson Assistant News Editor Allison M. O’Boyle Assistant Features Editor Laura A. Farnish Asst. Campus Life Editor Ross M. Benincasa Assistant Opinion Editor Samantha T. Phillips Assistant Sports Editor Janna M. Richards Assistant Copy Editors Samantha M. Alleman Patricia A. Cangelosi Rachel L. Jesten Leigh N. Ontiveros Asst. Photography Editor Melanie R. Giardina Assistant Layout Editor Huntley C. McGowan Assistant Online Editor Andrew R. Sides Business Manager Brittny E. McLaughlin Asst. Business Manager Marc C. Weber Advertising Manager Katie L. Bornholdt Asst. Advertising Manager Jennifer R. Malik Faculty Adviser Kirsten A. Johnson 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. Submissions may be printed anonymously at the discretion of the editor. Submit letters to EDITOR@etown.edu.

14

cross-country

Men’s ECXC, VanDenHengel to compete at Nationals Shawn M. Cotton Staff Writer

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sports

the Etownian

his past Saturday, Nov. 14, the men’s and women’s cross-country teams traveled to Lehigh University to compete in the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Championship. The trip was a definite success, as the men’s and women’s teams finished fifth and sixth respectively. The men’s fifth-place finish was enough to earn them an at-large bid to NCAA Division III Championships, while women’s senior captain Megan VanDenHengel earned an individual entry at the meet.

The men’s competition consisted of 314 runners, seven of whom represented Elizabethtown College. All seven Blue Jay runners finished in the top 80, with one finishing in the top five. Sophomore Eric Reichert finished fourth overall with a time of 25:12.9 to earn an automatic berth to the Championship meet but will travel with his team rather than as an individual competitor. Junior captain Chris Heisey finished 47th with a time of 26:29.5; sophomore Colby Miller took 50th place in 26:32.7, followed by sophomore Charlie Larsen in 51st place in 26:33.0. Sophomore Russell Speiden came in 72nd with a time of 26:51.6, and senior captain Myles Lund rounded out the Blue Jay team in 80th place with 27:00.3. This is the second year in a row that the team has finished in the top five at the regional championships, and the ninth time in the program’s history.

"The race didn't unfold the way we expected it to,” Heisey said of the meet. “Even though some us of were having a bad day, other guys stepped up really big and carried us. Making nationals is extremely exciting because the men's program hasn't been there since 2004, and no one on the team currently has qualified before. Our team this year is so young; we are predominately sophomores and only have one senior, so that is a great sign for the future of our program."

“As far as my race, I'm just thankful that I could represent the ‘E’ displayed on my chest,” Reichert said. “I may have raced tactfully or put some distance on runners when it counted, but what got me through my race was knowing that all my brothers were racing beside me.”

The women’s cross country team also represented Etown well. VanDenHengel and first-year Taryn Shank both earned All-Region honors at the meet. VanDenHengel finished eighth overall at 21:59.9 and Shank finished 19th with a time of 22:43.5. Senior Sarah Merusi finished 52nd overall for the Blue Jays with a time of 23:45.4, sophomore Kathryn Howser was 66th with a time of 23:56.3, and junior Teresa Beshore had a time of 24:39.4 to finish in 114th place.

VanDenHengel’s eighth place finish was short of earning her an automatic bid to nationals, but because Haverford College received an at-large bid, taking regional runner-up Emily Lipman out of the individual pool, VanDenHengel received one of the seven slots available for individual runners.

"The race this weekend was a great one for our team,” VanDenHengel said. “Although we didn't quite accomplish our goal for regionals, we had a solid performance and really did show so much improvement from the beginning of our season. We raced to the best of our abilities and that is all we could've asked for."

Although the team obviously has hard work and dedication to credit for their success, when you talk to any of the runners, they acknowledge it’s much more than that. Reichert summed up the team’s personality and appreciation: “I would just like to let everyone know how thankful our team is for everyone who has supported us through thick and thin. We are very appreciative of all the support from our alumni, coaching staff and fellow Elizabethtown students.”

Saturday, the men’s cross country team and VanDenHengel will compete at the 2009 NCAA Division III Championships, which will be held in Highland Hills, Ohio.

November 19, 2009

women’s basketball

Lady Jays lose to Pacers, Greyhounds Janna M. Richards Assistant Sports Editor

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he women’s basketball season started with a rough opening game against Moravian College and a close game against Marywood College.

Last night the Lady Jays took on Marywood, which proved to be a great game up to the final buzzer. The Lady Jays had a 21-8 lead within the first 9 minutes of play, with four three-pointers including three from senior guard Courtney Kofeldt alone. The Pacers weren’t ready to give up and brought 13 points in a 3-minute span. After the first quarter, the Jays trailed by two with a score of 37-35 as Mariah Schaeffer of Marywood made a two point shot with 3 seconds left in play.

With 2 minutes left in the second half the game was still close, with Marywood leading 66-64.

Schaeffer then made a two-pointer but junior forward Kaity Snyder answered back, making two foul shots and bringing the score to 66-68. Sophomore forward Teanna Ziegler then tied the game at 68-68 with 17 seconds left. With a foul called on the Blue Jays, Schaeffer went to the line and scored two foul shots, giving Marywood the lead. With 2.9 seconds left in the game, junior guard Megan Strohman passed the ball to Kofeldt from halfway down the court. Kofeldt then shot a three-pointer that just missed, leaving the score 70-68 with Marywood on top. The team ended the game with 28 turnovers, two blocks and six steals. Strohman had a career high 22 points, while Kofeldt had 18 points and five rebounds. Sophomore Elizabeth Ellwood had a career high 10 assists, as well as four points.

After the close game Head Coach Yvonne Kauffman had only good things to say about her team.

“We have great team chemistry. They are meshing as a team and that is one of the highlights that I look forward to.”

Taking a 79-44 defeat against Moravian College

last Sunday, the team is prepared to recover and get ready for the next game against Brooklyn College.

Strohman had a game high of 17 points, while Snyder stayed close behind with 12 points. Ellwood had a game high nine rebounds, while Ziegler had seven rebounds. Snyder finished the game with five rebounds. The team had strong offense, but the defense just was not up to Moravian’s caliber. Early in the game, the Greyhounds were ahead 19-11 which increased to a 39-13 lead by the end of the first half.

During the second half, the Greyhounds didn’t drop below a 26 point lead as they edged the Lady Jays on, capturing a 78-37 lead with less than 5 minutes left in the game. The Jays went 14-60 on shots with a 23.3 percentage. They also had 29 turnovers when Moravian shot 18-29 with a 62.1 percentage.

Predicted to be seventh in the Commonwealth Conference women’s basketball preseason coaches’ poll, the Lady Jays followed Messiah College, Widener University, Lebanon Valley College, Alvernia College, Albright College and Lycoming College.

After last year’s finish of 11-14 in regular season play and 4-8 in the conference, the women welcome back two of last year’s starters. Kofeldt made a team high of 55 three-pointers last season and averaged 8.8 points per game. Also returning is Strohman, who had 30 three-pointers and averaged 7.0 points per game.

Kauffman returns as well this year for her 40th season on the sidelines in hopes of increasing her already impressive 651 victories. Assistant coaches this year are Cathy Cieslinski and Royal Travitz.

The team welcomes two first-years, guard and forward Katy Fogel and guard Nadine Yunginger.

This year’s captains include Kofeldet, senior forward Ali Jury and Snyder.

The Lady Jays will travel to Franklin & Marshall College this weekend, where they will compete in the Franklin & Marshall Tip-Off Tournament. The Lady Jays will face Brooklyn College Saturday and either Goucher or Franklin & Marshall Sunday.

wrestling

Wrestlers place at Ursinus Brawl Sara E. Crimmel Sports Editor Kelly P. McCormick Staff Writer

S

aturday, Nov. 14, the Elizabethtown College wrestling team showed that their practice had paid off. At the Ursinus College Fall Brawl that afternoon, six Blue Jays placed in their respective weight classes.

“Our competition was definitely stronger this weekend, and we had some guys out due to injuries and illness.

But I think the overall effort was there this weekend, and it is a great building block for the season,” Head Coach Eric Walker said. Walker is certain that after Saturday’s effort, the season can only look up from here.

Sophomore Tyler Erdman won the 125-pound weight class, keeping his record for the season at 8-0 after earning three victories by two wins and one fall. In the final, he defeated Ursinus sophomore Ben Garelick by technical fall 16-0 at 3 minutes.

Although Erdman was the only Blue Jay with a victory, many of the other Etown wrestlers stood out as well. Walker gave credit to many of his athletes but gave special recognition to sophomore Will Bentley, who earned himself a third place finish in the same weight class as Erdman. “I think Tyler Erdman looked good, along with Will Bentley. Bentley defeated a conference runner-up whom he lost to last year. He was very dominant,” Walker added.

Bentley’s efforts have become apparent after beating the conference runner-up and finishing the day with a 4-1 record. His only loss was to his own teammate, Erdman.

The Blue Jays also had four fourth-place finishes. “I

think [sophomore] Kyle Deeds and [first-year] Max Barsky, while young, displayed some great effort this weekend as well. [Senior] Eric Rhoads and [junior] Bill Meaney did well too, and, hopefully, they can keep improving each week,” Walker said of those who earned fourth-place finishes.

Barsky took fourth place in the 149-pound weight class. After earning three wins by decision and one by fall, he was put in the third place bout, which he lost 4-2 to University of Maryland sophomore Chris Stinnett.

Deeds finished fourth in the 165-pound weight class.

After losing his first bout, he won two by decision, one by fall and one by major decision. In his final match, he was pinned by Maryland first-year Andrik Cruz.

Rhoads earned fourth place in the 141-pound weight class. After losing in the opening round, he won three straight matches and received a medical forfeit to reach the third-place bout but left the match after taking his own medical forfeit.

Meaney took fourth in the 197-pound weight class.

He won by fall, decision and medical forfeit before losing 3-1 to TCNJ junior Adam Koziol.

Walker is pleased with the team’s performance this weekend and so far this season. “I feel better this year than in previous [years]. I feel as long as we can stay away from injuries this year, we can be right there with the best in the country. We certainly have one of the toughest schedules in Division III, but it is a good test for the guys.

They really want to do well this year, and their work ethic is definitely coming through.”

The Blue Jays will travel to Doylestown Tuesday, Nov. 24, where they will face Kutztown University and Delaware Valley College in a tri-match.

sports

November 19, 2009

the Etownian

swimming

15

Jays outswim King’s College; defeated by Lycoming Alexis L. Morris Staff Writer Janna M. Richards Assistant Sports Editor

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ednesday, the Elizabethtown College men’s and women’s swim teams traveled to Wilkes-Barre to take on the Monarchs of King’s College in a Mid-Atlantic Conference meet. The teams made a splash as the women finished with a score of 130-54 and the men won 99-18.

On the women’s side, the 200 medley relay team, consisting of senior captains Lindsay Riley and Danielle Hopkins and juniors Courtney Kelly and Stephanie Hellman, won with a time of 2:05. Senior captain and Etownian Sports Editor Sara Crimmel won the 1,000 freestyle (11:56.01) as well as the 500 freestyle (5:47.03). Hellman won the 200 freestyle (2:12.54) and the 100 freestyle (1:09). Riley won the 50 freestyle (26.41) as well as the 200 backstroke (2:25.71). Kelly won the 400 individual medley (5:17.82), and sophomore Amanda Martin won the 200 fly (2:39.11). In the 200 breaststroke, Hopkins took the win (2:47.90), and the 200 freestyle relay team won with Kelly, Crimmel, junior Molly Goldrick and first-year Jennifer Malick (1:52.73).

On the men’s side, the 200 medley relay team won with a time of 1:54.17 with senior Kevin Smedman, senior captains Matt Drob and Dan Provence and first-year Shaun Martin. First-year Ryan Hannon won the 1,000 freestyle (11.52.59) as well as the 200 backstroke (2:19.41). Provence triumphed in the 200 freestyle (2:01.12) and the 100 freestyle (53:96). In the 50

freestyle, Smedman took the win (24.96), and Drob was victorious in the 200 butterfly (2:23.05). Martin won the 400 individual medley (5:03.25) as well as the 200 breaststroke (2:37.16). First-year Chris Nelson won the 500 freestyle (6:39.25).

Saturday, the Blue Jays traveled to Williamsport to swim against Lycoming in a conference meet. The men’s team lost 69-149, while the women’s team was defeated 95-162.

Provence captured the only victory for the men’s team, winning the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:57.17. Several of the men placed second in their events, including Hannon in the 100 backstroke (1:02.10), Smedman in the 200 backstroke (2:20.89), and Martin in the 400 individual medley (5:09.42). The men’s 200 freestyle relay team placed second as well, but earned first-place points when the Warriors chose to swim the race as an exhibition event. Provence, Hannon, Smedman and first-year Chris Nelson finished the race in 1:43.84.

The women’s team lost to the Warriors 95-162. Kelly earned the only win for the Lady Jays, placing first in the 1,000 freestyle with a time of 11:44.91. Second place finishes came from Hellman in the 200 freestyle (2:09.74) and 100 freestyle (1:00.47), Kelly in the 200 backstroke (2:26.34) and 400 individual medley (5:18.87), and Riley in the 100 backstroke (1:06.68).

Like the men, the Lady Jays took second in the 200 freestyle relay but were awarded first place points because the Lady Warriors swam the race as an exhibition. Hellman, first-year Chelsea Lorenz, Malik and Riley finished in a time of 1:50.84.

“We swam well against Arcadia and Messiah,but not well at Lycoming,” Head Coach Dan DeHass said. “At Lycoming, we had some good individual swims, but overall as a team, we did not perform well.

“We need to continue to train hard on a consistent basis and sharpen our technique. In swimming, when you are training as much as we do and the swimmers are tired, they have a tendency to be sloppy with technique,” DeHass said. “I believe you get good at what you train. So, I want our athletes to learn to hold good technique throughout each practice.”

DeHass attributes the team’s losses to multiple factors. “Overall, we have more

depth, but we are not as strong as last season,” he said. “We lost some quality swimmers due to graduation and transfer, so we are looking to some others to step up and fill those roles this season.”

Riley is confident that the team will compete well in their remaining meets, stating, “The team is looking really great this year. We have a lot of freshman that have come in and added a lot to the team.”

Saturday, the Blue Jays will host Farleigh Dickinson University in a Mid-Atlantic Conference matchup for a 1 p.m. start. The Devil men are 1-3 so far this season, while the Devil women are 1-4.

Photo: EtownBlueJays.com

Senior captain Dan Provence swims breaststroke during a previous meet. Provence and the Blue Jays defeated the Monarchs of King’s College 99-18 Wednesday.

men’s basketball

Jays defeat Chargers; lose season opener to Valiants Tara B. Hayes Staff Writer Janna M. Richards Assistant Sports Editor

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Photo: Matthew P. Butera

Senior Mike Church dunks the ball during Sunday’s game against Manhattanville College. Church scored 11 points in the season opener against the Valiants.Manhattanville defeated the Blue Jays 73-63.

ednesday, the Elizabethtown College men’s basketball team traveled to nearby Lancaster Bible College for a nonconference matchup.

The Blue Jays (1-1) held off the Chargers (0-2) and allowed the entire 16-player roster to see game time in the win. After just 3.5 minutes of play, junior Joe Flanagan scored eight straight points, making the score 10-0. After another 2 minutes, however, the Chargers raised the score to 12-10. With 9:33 left in the first half, the score was 27-13 with Etown ahead. The Blue Jays went into halftime with a lead of 55-22. Flanagan had scored 17 of his game-high 22 points, and junior Mark Vogel added 11, bringing his career high to 13 points. Senior teammate Mike Church also added 11 points.

During the first half, the Blue Jays shot 21-39 for a 53.8 percentage but cooled down in the second half and shot 9-for-32 for a 28.1 percentage. The men finished the game with a score of 82-52, bringing home the win.

Sunday, the Blue Jays hosted Manhattanville College in their season opener. Although Etown led 40-39 at halftime, Manhattanville defeated the Blue Jays 73-63.

Junior Keith Fogel led the Jays with 15 points. Flanagan added 12 points, and Church contributed 11.

The Blue Jays were 11-for-22 at the free throw line.

The team was chosen to finish first in the Commonwealth Conference men’s basketball preseason coaches’ poll by the league’s eight head coaches. The team is

thrilled to receive this honor, but they are also wary about the challenges it will bring in upcoming games.

“It’s definitely a good thing, but you have to kind of look at it as a target on our backs,” senior cocaptain Josh Houseal said.

“Generally, we would be picked out of experience,” Head Coach Bob Schlosser said. “No matter where we’re picked, we’re expected to be in the hunt.”

The team’s most crucial game will be against Widener University, who was chosen second in the preseason poll. However, the team does not like to get ahead of itself and takes each game as it comes.

“Going into conference play at the end of the year is definitely most exciting because it brings out the best in every team,” Houseal said.

The team has a lot of experience on the court with four returning starters: Church, Flannigan, Fogel and Houseal. Sophomore Kyle McConnell will come off the bench to be this season’s fifth starter.

For each season, Schlosser has two main goals for his team: “to play harder than our opponent and to play as a team.”

“There’s no one component to make us win or lose.

When one play isn’t [going] well, we have other players to pick them up and carry out what is necessary to win a game,” senior co-captain Chris Jones said.

According to Houseal, “We are a very close-knit group, and this is easily shown on and off the court.”

Later this week, the Blue Jays will travel to Selinsgrove, Pa., for the Pepsi/Weis Markets Tip-Off Tournament, where they will face Wilkes University Friday and either Susquehanna University or Penn College Saturday.

16

sports

the Etownian

November 19, 2009

etown athletics • pro sports • ncaa coverage

high school football • olympics • analysis

volleyball

Four named All-Regional, All-Conference Sara E. Crimmel Sports Editor ast Thursday, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced the selection of senior Kayla Deats to the AVCA All-Mid-Atlantic Region team. Deats, along with three of her teammates, was selected to the All-Commonwealth Conference team, which the Middle Atlantic Conference also announced last Thursday.

Deats and fellow senior Paige Tanner earned first-team honors,

while junior Crystal Agnew and first-year Lindsay Palm were selected to the second team. Palm was also honored as the Commonwealth Conference’s Rookie of the Year.

Lebanon Valley junior Joelle Snyder was recognized as the Commonwealth Conference’s Player of the Year, while the Dutchmen’s Wayne Perry took Coach of the Year.

The Etownian congratulates Deats on her selection to the AllRegion team and congratulates Deats, Tanner, Agnew and Palm on their selection to the 2009 All-Commonwealth Conference teams!

Kayla Deats

Paige Tanner

L

Sports Recap Men’s Basketball (1-1) Manhattanville 73, Etown 63 Etown 82, Lancaster Bible College 52 Women’s Basketball (0-2) Moravian 79, Etown 44 Mar ywood 70, Etown 68 Men’s Cross Countr y NC AA Division III Mideast Regional 5th of 45 (175 points) Women’s Cross Country NC AA Division III Mideast Regional 6th of 44 (259 points) Men’s Swimming (2-2) Lycoming 149, Etown 69 Etown 99, Kings 18 Women’s Swimming (3-1) Lycoming 162, Etown 95 Etown 130, Kings 54

Deats is the first Blue Jay to be named to the All-Region team since 2007. She led the Commonwealth Conference in blocks per set average (1.07, 114 total) and had the second-highest hitting percentage (.323). She was second on the team in kills (249) and third in service aces (25).

Tanner was second in the Commonwealth Conference and led the Blue Jays with 334 kills. She also led the team in digs (344). She averaged 3.09 kills per set, earning the fourth-highest percentage in the conference. She concluded her senior season ranked second in Blue Jay history in career kills (1,446) and digs (1,538).

Crystal Agnew

Lindsay Palm

Wrestling Ursinus Fall Brawl (event unscored)

Schedule

of Sports

Men’s Basketball Nov. 20-21: @ Pepsi/Weis Markets Tip-Off Tournament Nov. 24: @ Delaware Valley Nov. 30: @Neumann College Dec. 2: Alvernia Dec. 5: Messiah Dec. 9: Wilkes Women’s Basketball Nov. 21-22: @ Franklin & Marshall Tip-Off Tournament Dec. 2: Alvernia Dec. 5: Messiah Dec. 8: Dickinson

Agnew was second in the Commonwealth Conference and first on the Etown squad in assists (923). She also contributed 68 kills and 260 digs. She is currently ranked eighth in Blue Jay history with 1,665 career assists and second with 7.82 assists per set.

Palm is the first Etown player to be named Commonwealth Conference Rookie of the Year since 2004. Her hitting percentage (.294) was the third-highest in the conference, and she was the third-highest blocking Blue Jay with 56.

Photos: EtownBlueJays.com

the etownian’s

Athlete of the Week Courtney Kelly

Sara E. Crimmel Sports Editor Janna M. Richards Assistant Sports Editor

T

he Etow n i an is d e lighted to name junior swimmer Courtney Kelly as Athlete of the Week!

Wednesday, Kelly won the 400 individual medley in the Lady Jays’ meet against King’s College in a time of 5:17.82. She was also on the winning 200 medley relay team (2:05.61) and the 200 freestyle relay team (1:52.73).

S atu rd ay, Ke l l y t o o k home the Lady Jays’ lone win against Commonwealth Conference opponent Ly-

coming when she won the 1,000 freestyle in 11:44.91.

She also took second in the 200 backstroke (2:26.34) and the 400 individual medley (5:18.87) and was part of the fourth-place-finishing 200 freestyle relay (1:54.72).

Photo: Sara E. Crimmel

So far this season, Kelly has individually earned six firstplace finishes and two secondplace finishes. In relays, she has earned four first-place finishes and one fourth-place finish.

Last year at the Middle Atlantic Conference Championships, Kelly took eighth in the 200 backstroke, ninth in the 200 freestyle and 12th in the 200 individual medley.

She was a part of the fourthplace-finishing 200 medley relay, the fourth-place-finishing 800 freestyle relay and the fifth-place-finishing 400 medley relay.

Congratulations to Courtney on her swimming success and for being named Athlete of the Week!

Q&A

Major: Psychology Favorite Jay’s Nest item: Cheese quesadilla Favorite sports team: Elizabethtown College men’s swim team Favorite TV show: “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant” Favorite movie: “Aladdin” Favorite song to listen to before a race: Dan Provence’s rendition of “A Whole New World” I can’t live without ... oxygen.

Men’s Cross Countr y Nov. 21: @ NCAA Division III Championships Women’s Cross Country Nov. 21: @ NCAA Division III Championships Men’s Swimming Nov. 21: Farleigh Dickinson University Nov. 24: Lebanon Valley Dec. 5-6: Franklin & Marshall Invitational Women’s Swimming Nov. 21: Farleigh Dickinson University Nov. 24: Lebanon Valley Dec. 5-6: Franklin & Marshall Invitational Wrestling Nov. 24: @ Delaware Valley College Dec. 5: York Invitational Dec. 9: @ Johns Hopkins

Image: EtownBlueJays.com