Etownian Issue 04 - October 01, 2009

the October 1, 2009 • Volume 106, No. 4

Etownian elizabethtown college

One Alpha Drive • Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2298

On the Web: www.etownian.com

on campus

Athletic funding decrease leaves sports sans wheels Melanie R. Giardina Staff Writer

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his year Elizabethtown athletes came back to school and discovered major changes in the athletic department. The athletic department has had to cut its budget by 7 percent.

Originally, the cut was supposed to be 10 percent, but such a large decrease was impossible without stopping one sports program completely.

Director of Athletics Nancy Latimore looked at the bottom line when she decided how much money each sport was allotted this year.

Latimore evaluated what was absolutely necessar y for each sport and then went from there.

She stated that men’s and women’s sports were examined, and an equivalent amount of money was given to each men’s and women’s sport teams.

However, there are a few exceptions, such as men’s versus women’s basketball. The men’s team is given more money because men’s basketball includes a JV team, whereas women’s does not.

“I take a lot of pride in Elizabethtown College, which has such an equal program,” Latimore said.

Paige Minka, a junior on the women’s soccer team, stated that the women’s soccer team was not able to attend or host a soccer tournament this year because of budgetary issues, yet the men’s soccer team was able.

In some ways, it may appear that men’s sports are favored budget-wise over women’s, but, in fact, the opposite is true.

Though it is a very slight difference, proportionally, more money was given to women’s sports than to men’s. Latimore explained that 47 percent of women attending Etown are involved in sports, while 53 percent of the male population is involved.

In the end, 52 percent of the budget was given to men’s sports, while 48 percent was given to women’s.

Latimore states that though

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she finalized the sports budget, the team’s head coach does have some wiggle room as to how the money is allocated. Some will spend more on meals; others will focus on equipment.

When looking at cutting the budget, Latimore tried to eliminate expenses as a whole before moving to individual teams.

First, she evaluated transportation methods. Instead of traveling to away games on roomy coach buses where everyone gets his or her own seat, teams now travel to local games in College vans and mini buses.

“It’s harder to play a game 45 minutes after getting off a cramped bus for two hours,” Minka said.

Different transportation was not the only change made to team budgets across the board.

The meal budget for away games has also been cut. Minka explains that the there is a noticeable difference between her first year and this year when it comes to meals.

There was also a contrast when it came to preseason.

Sports coaches were asked not to invite as many firstyears and walk-ons to preseason, thus cutting down t he cost of meals for all sports teams.

According to Latimore, there was talk of creating travel teams for away games, which would cut down food costs and travel costs for every sport.

Most head coaches disagreed with this idea.

They did not want to separate the teams and felt all members should be present at every game, whether they play or not.

Latimore based cuts on the needs of the individual sports making sure that all men’s and women’s sports were looked at equally and that no one sport was put above the rest.

Need a Job?

Web design debut

SIFE offers valuable tips to help you secure a job in this rocky job market.

Etown recently updated the home page to make it more appealing. Read all about the new design.

Features, page 5

Campus Life, page 6

Disney’s Diversification

Courtesy Photos

Diversity plan?

Not only does Disney specialize One professor expresses views in cute talking animals, but also on the new diversity plan that is in the works. Read about it! wedding dresses and chandeliers.

Centerfold, pages 8 & 9

Opinion, page 12

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news

the Etownian

October 1, 2009

on campus

The

Jayd-ed edge

Rachel A. Marsteller News Editor

High-flying birthday A 92-year-old New Hampshire woman has celebrated her birthday by sky-diving from a plane at 13,000 feet.

Swanzey resident Jane Bockstruck told The Keene Sentinel she didn't know what overcame her when she decided to take the parachute jump.

With a group of friends and relatives watching, Bockstruck leapt Sept.

19 at the Jumptown sky-diving club in Orange, Mass., west of Boston. She said she doesn't remember jumping from the plane, but tandem partner and jump instructor Paul Peckham Jr. said she had perfect form and landed without a hitch.

He said she's the oldest person he's taken on a jump. The second oldest jumper was 78.

Bockstruck said she's been married seven times, has traveled the world and has had jobs ranging from hotel desk clerk to seamstress for the John Wayne movie "True Grit."

Plane Stalker Police have arrested a California pilot who allegedly stalked his exgirlfriend by repeatedly flying his plane low over her house.

Concord police Sgt. Tiffany Leftwich said Tom Huey made several low passes over a residential neighborhood Wednesday evening.

A dozen residents called police to complain. Huey was arrested shortly after landing the Beech single-engine aircraft.

His ex-girlfriend filed for a restraining order last year, but he was not served until Wednesday afternoon.

He is being held on $155,000 bail on suspicion of the felony of stalking and violating a restraining order.

Bug Business In June, Obama now famously swatted and killed a fly that intruded on an interview at the White House.

President Barack Obama had his fly; now Pope Benedict XVI has his spider.

A large arachnid appeared on the pope's white robes as he addressed politicians and diplomats in Prague Saturday afternoon.

It disappeared from view for a moment but then was seen crawling up the right side of the 82-year-old pontiff's face.

When it reached his ear, Pope Benedict gave it a swat. But it didn't go away — it reappeared on the pope's left shoulder and scampered down his robe.

In June, Obama now famously swatted and killed a fly that intruded on an interview at the White House.

Compiled from myway.com.

Marketplace sanitizer lends helping hand Erin M. Hensel Staff Writer

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un isn’t the word most people use to describe washing their hands. But once they try the new CleanTech hand-washing machine in the Marketplace, students might begin to think otherwise.

In response to the increasing occurrences of H1N1 and other illnesses on college campuses, Elizabethtown College is working to combat the spread of infections through various hand-sanitizing methods. The new CleanTech 400 hand-washing machine will aid in this process by giving students another opportunity to clean their hands before touching serving utensils in the Marketplace or eating.

Unlike other automatic hand sanitizers, the CleanTech actually washes your hands for you. The CleanTech consists of a sink with two cylindrical spaces into which you place your hands and forearms. The machine recognizes your hands using an infrared photo-optical sensor, and the 10-second cycle begins. Tiny bristles rotate around your hands, lightly brushing them as the machine sprays your skin with a sanitizing soap and water mix. You then remove and dry your freshly cleaned hands.

All Dining Services workers already have access to these automatic sinks, located in the Marketplace kitchen. Within the week, students will be able to use another machine, which will be installed below the clock in the main Marketplace dining room. Eric Turzai, director of Dining Services, explained that management chose to place the CleanTech in the busiest area of the Marketplace because the risk of cross contamination from self-service is much greater than the risk from the full-service system of the Jay’s Nest.

This installation furthers the College’s goal of curbing illness on campus by helping to maintain general sanitation, so the idea received unanimous approval from management. The idea was introduced last spring by Bob Kelchner, Dining Service’s equipment representative from Clarks Food Service Equipment in Lancaster.

According to Turzai, the idea received positive administrative support right off the bat. The only difficulty associated with the Clean Tech sinks was where they should be placed, Turzai said.

Once put into use, management hopes the CleanTech will become a big hit with students. Although the Marketplace rest-rooms contain regular sinks for public use, Turzai noted that few students wash there unless they actually use the bathroom. Many students also ignore the sanitizer bottles on the desk as they enter and exit the Marketplace.

“We figured that an automatic hand-washing sink would appeal

more to students because it’s unique and, in a weird sort of way, fun,” Turzai said.

Because the washing cycle takes 10 seconds plus hand-drying time, not every single person will have time to access the new sink, especially during busy mealtimes. However, Turzai said that between the CleanTech and the bottles of hand sanitizer located by the door, “we hope students will take advantage of what we have provided for them to help curb the H1N1 virus.”

Sandy Spayd, director of Student Wellness and Campus Health, also stresses the importance of student initiative when it comes to keeping illness in check. She thinks the CleanTech will help to improve overall health on campus if students utilize it.

“Especially during this time of year, anything we can provide students with helps,” Spayd said.

Hand-washing is the most effective method for preventing illness. Washing your hands with soap and water or liquid sanitizer keeps contamination to a minimum, preventing you from spreading whatever germs your hands pick up.

The CleanTech sink provides students with yet another opportunity for hand sanitizing, and that should help to raise student awareness and encourage action.

Another key to cutting down on illness is the manner in which you wash your hands. According to Spayd, “most people don’t wash long or hard enough.” When washing, you must use a lot of friction and water as hot as you can stand and continue washing for 20-30 seconds. Most students don’t take the time to do it properly, defeating the purpose.

The CleanTech is much easier; it does everything for you, cutting down the time it takes to wash, as well as avoiding water waste and preventing skin damage from heat and friction. The sink also contains 40 nozzles for precision cleaning, which “reduce pathogen transmission by 99.97 percent” according to the manufacturer’s description.

Even with the benefits of the CleanTech, Spayd notes that “we have to be realistic. We’re not going to be 100 percent safe from germs, and we shouldn’t live in a sterile world. That doesn’t help our immune systems.”

Although we can’t be completely clean, she encourages students to recognize the value of sanitizing their hands and get into the habit of doing it in order to prevent illness on campus this season. Turzai also expressed hope “that Dining Services’ changes will help to promote health and keep H1N1 at bay, but students must ultimately decide how much the new CleanTech will help.

on campus

Drinking escalates; Boyer suggests caution Kara M. Luzik Staff Writer

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oin’ 90 in a 65. Rapper Akon’s music blasted through the speakers, reaching every corner of the first floor. The lights in the Quad were dim and the room stuffed with a majority of first-years and two kegs was heating up — so was the action at the pong table. Hey-ey-ey, I’m so — suddenly the music was cut off and a small group of Campus Security officers were standing inside the front door.

This scene is typical of many parties underage students attend on Etown’s campus almost every weekend. At Etown, like other colleges, many students are binge drinkers.

Assistant Director of Campus Security Dale Boyer wouldn’t categorize Etown as a party school. “There’s a fair amount of partying,” Boyer said, “but not an outrageous amount.”

According to a 2008 study by Harvard University, 51 percent of college males and 40 percent of college females binge drink.

For Etown that means close to 400 males and about 600 females are binge drinkers.

However, the highest demographic of binge

drinkers is white students under the age of 21. Considering Etown’s student population is over 90 percent white, the number of binge drinkers on campus is most likely higher. Binge drinking is defined as excessive drinking with the goal of getting drunk in a short period of time. On average, this on average is more than five drinks for males and more than four drinks for females in one sitting.

These statistics do not surprise a nowsophomore who attended the busted party.

Drinking underage has become socially acceptable — not just at college, but in other situations, too.

Boyer warns that no matter how socially acceptable drinking may be, it still has consequences.

“When you’re at a party and drinking to the point of getting drunk, you have no control over your body and what happens to you,” Boyer said.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports binge drinking each year to result in 1,400 deaths; 70,000 sexual assaults; 500,000 injuries and 600,000 assaults. Alcohol is involved in assaults, injuries and van-

dalism every year on Etown’s campus.

Already this semester, two first-years jumped out a second-story window of Quad in an effort to avoid Campus Security.

One of the two suffered an ankle injury.

The same weekend, a group of intoxicated students vandalized two lamp posts near Brinser Field.

Although Etown hasn’t experienced any alcohol-related deaths, there have been some close calls. Campus Security has found students passed out lying outside in below freezing temperatures, unconscious students behind the wheel of their cars with their keys and students who needed to be hospitalized for severe cases of alcohol poisoning.

According to Boyer, cooperation with Campus Security is key in the outcome of your judicial hearing. The first time a student is caught violating the alcohol policy, the consequence is mild.

“They’ll usually get a judicial review and maybe a point or two,” Boyer said.

Boyer advises anyone underage to avoid being in the presence of alcohol. “If you go to a friend’s place and alcohol is there, turn around and walk out.”

news

October 1, 2009

the Etownian

in the nation

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FOX snubs Obama’s address for popular dance show Ashley S. Perry Staff Writer

Kelly-Woessner was not the only one who had those thoughts; several students also expressed this opinion.

“America just seems like it’s going toward a more entertainment-based culture,” first-year Tamara Catanach said. “I mean, when I was on Comcast the other day, f President Obama were to dance while giving all of his speeches, would you watch? That was one students suggestion when presented with the news of who was wearing what was the top news, and Bin Laden’s new message was second.”

Is it true that our society is changing into one that chooses entertainment over Fox network’s refusal to broadcast the president’s speech to Congress Sept. 9. news? Several students thought so, saying that “DancInstead, the network chose to air the new season ing with the Stars” was much more interesting than a of “So You Think You Can Dance,” followed by the political debate and that not many people even tuned in popular “Glee.” to the speech.

However, Fox did not completely snub the speech; So, did Fox not air the speech due to ratings or was the broadcast included a message to direct viewers there something deeper than just show ratings and what to a sister channel if they really wanted to watch the the public wants to see driving its programming schedule? president’s speech.

“Obama and the Fox network are not on good terms, “News networks have periodically declined to broadcast presidential speeches — sometimes one network, Image: files.wordpress.com for obvious political and ideological reasons. Obama has gone out of his way to exclude Fox News, for example as in the case of Fox and Obama's health care speech; sometimes several networks, and sometimes all the Obama’s speech was bumped for the popular not calling on Fox reporters during news conferences,” dancing show “So You Think You Can Dance?”

McClellan said. “So, Fox's refusal represents perhaps an networks except the cable news networks,” professor escalation of animosity with the White House, to which of political science E. Fletcher McClellan explained.

Most students were appalled by this. How could such a highly-rated channel Obama responded last weekend by granting interviews to all the Sunday news talk simply ignore an important attempt to iron out some of the major problems shows except Fox.” Therefore, it is probably a mix of the increasing hostility and the need for viewer America faces today? ratings that caused Fox not to air important presidential speeches.

“I like that show, but that’s just wrong,” says first-year Vanessa Andrews.

According to junior Shaday Festus, “Fox airs whatever they want,” meaning, if the “This happens all the time,” April Kelly-Woessner, associate professor of political science, said. “Networks are in the business of making money and respond, network does not find that something is important enough to show, it will not be shown.

If there is tension between the White House and Fox Networks, do not expect ultimately, to you, the viewer. If more people were interested in watching a them to air anything from the Obama administration anytime soon. presidential speech than a dance show, it wouldn't happen.”

I

e t a n e S s t e p Snip L

ast Thursday, Student Senate continued in its effort to resolve campus concerns and organize future activities.

Student group budgets were presented and debated last week. Further discussions will be continued and voted on today.

During tonight’s meeting, a discussion of off -campus relations will also be held. The meeting will start at 3:45 p.m. with the budget allocation discussions first. The off-campus relations discussions will begin at 5 p.m. All students, faculty and staff are welcome to attend.

Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 5:30 p.m., Student Senate will discuss and vote on the student body’s endorsement of the Diversity Plan. All students, faculty and staff are also welcome to attend and participate in this discussion.

Senate will also sponsor a Homecoming week photo hunt. Students in teams of four will receive a disposable camera and a list of different people, items and places on campus.

The hunt will begin Monday, Oct. 12. Teams can pick up their camera that day at the concourse table by the steps in the BSC. Cameras are due by noon Friday, Oct. 16 to mailbox 1979.

To enter the photo hunt, turn to page seven of the Etownian and cut out the registration form along the dotted lines!

Information about the hunt is available on the Student Senate Web site at http://www.EtownSenate. com. Any questions should be directed to senate@ etown.edu.

in the community

Chocolate industry plans for merge Rachel A. Marsteller News Editor

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he smell of chocolate often perfumes the air in Elizabethtown. This “brownies-fresh-out-of-theoven” scent is frequently attributed to the large chocolate companies in the area.

The chocolate industry has a changing atmosphere with Cadbury, a British-owned chocolate company, up for grabs. Recently, Kraft Foods made a $16.9 billion bid for the popular chocolate company. Kraft now has until Nov. 9 to make a reasonable offer to Cadbury for a takeover or it must back away for six months, according to The New York Times. The deadline was set at the request of Cadbury executives to see if Kraft will increase its bid and make it official. The Hershey Co. has also been mentioned as a possible bidder in the war for Cadbury.

Hershey currently carries a brand of Cadbury.

They are responsible for the popular crème-filled eggs that appear every Easter. Die-hard original Cadbury fans scoff at the Americanized version of their beloved chocolates, and some chocolate fanatics go to great measures to get the original European version. Some request family and friends bring it back for them on their trips abroad or seek out specialty stores that carry the real Cadbury.

Hershey has been manufacturing Cadbury eggs and candy bars for 21 years. In 1988, an agreement between Cadbury and Hershey allowed Hershey the right to produce and sell the Cadbury brand in the U.S. The trademark Cadbury packaging is very similar to the packaging that Hershey uses for its Cadbury products.

If you have never tasted the U.K. version, you may be asking, “why is this such a big deal?” A food science professor at Penn State points to the different ingredients used in making this delicious chocolate. In the U.K., condensed milk is used rather than powdered, leading to a huge difference in the consistency and taste of the chocolate. In addition, vegetable fat is banned for use in the U.S. by the government, whereas the European Union permits its use in commercially-produced foods. Because the U.S. cannot use the vegetable fat, they use more cocoa powder is used to attempt to create a similar

product. By adding the additional cocoa powder, the chocolate tastes harder and is not as enjoyable, chocolate enthusiasts say.

Kraft Foods is the main bidder at this point, but Hershey has been trying to see what kind of deal they could possibly broker with the British Cadbury company. As of now, Cadbury plans to stay as its own, independent company.

A statement released by Cadbury earlier this month said, "The board is confident in Cadbury's stand alone strategy and growth prospects as a result of its strong brands, unique category and geographic scope. The board believes that the [Kraft] proposal fundamentally undervalues the group and its prospects." Cadbury is not turning its back on merger talks, but they did not see the Kraft offer as substantial enough.

Kraft has not given up yet; a statement made last week said, “Kraft Foods is committed to working toward a recommended transaction and to maintaining a constructive dialogue and is announcing this proposal as a means to encourage and further that process.”

If the merger is successful, it would make Kraft a “a global powerhouse in snacks, confectionery and quick meals." Kraft would be able to get up to $50 billion in sales with the acquisition of Cadbury according to CNN.com.

Only time will tell if Kraft will sweeten its deal with Cadbury or if Hershey will step up and gain full control of the company with which they have already partnered.

CORRECTION In the past article, “Masters funds academic quad facelift,” it was stated that Masters received a degree from both Cornell University and Lehigh University. He only received a degree from Lehigh University.

The Etownian apologizes for the mistake.

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the Etownian

features

profiles • monthly series • campus events

October 1, 2009 town events • facts & figures• business

student profile

Students from Iraq, Kazakhstan, tell stories of home United States citizens do; however, Ata “We are under military control, but Marc C. Weber described a tradition that is “Christmas” they look at the bigger picture instead Assistant Business Manager to him. “We celebrate Ramadan where we of individuals,” Ata said. “If a five n the United States, college students fast for a month and spend time in prayer. year-old wants to buy cigarettes, he generally follow the same routine: After a month, we celebrate Eid ul-Fitr can get away with it without getting wake up, go to class, do some home- where we celebrate, feast and visit family in trouble. They are more concerned about protecting everyone as a group work, eat dinner, hang out with friends, and friends.”

Here at Etown, we have campus se- than dealing with little issues.” watch TV and go to bed. While this Minin, an economics major origiroutine may deviate slightly from per- curity and the local police to protect nally from Kazakhson to person, it is typical of an stan, gives additional average Elizabethtown College insight into life in student. So how do the daily another middle-eastroutines and customs of people ern country. “I think living in different countries that the basic famcompare and contrast with ily structure is the those of America? Sophomores same, whether you’re Abdullah Ata and Maksim in Kazakhstan, Iraq Minin offer insight into life in or America,” Minin foreign countries. said. “We live with Ata, or A.J., is a political parents and siblings science major who is originally and spend meals from Iraq. Although Iraq is and holidays togeththousands of miles away from er like families do the U.S., the daily routines of here.” Minin points Iraqis and Americans do not Photo: Peter S. Northrop out that in Kazakhdiffer too much from each other.

Sophomores Abdullah Ata (left) and Maksim Minin discuss life in their “In Iraq, I would wake up, go to respective homelands. Ata hails from Iraq and Minn was born in the stan however, there is school, do homework and then go former soviet nation of Kazakhstan. Both countries are relatively more respect toward parents from their hang out with my friends. Ata said misunderstood, yet similar to each other and the United States. children. “I hear kids “It’s pretty much what I do here in the welfare of students and community disrespecting their parents with ‘yo the United States.”

Iraq is an Islamic nation and, therefore, members, but the protection in Iraq is mama’ jokes, but we don’t do that in Kazakhstan. Even if the joke isn’t meant does not celebrate Christmas like many noticeably different.

I

to be taken seriously, we still think that it’s very disrespectful.”

Kazakhstan’s style of living is quite different from that of the United States. “There’s not really a need for cars at our age. Public transportation is provided by the government. Also, middle and upper class people live in the cities while the poor live in the suburbs, which is very different than in the United States,” Minin said.

Although Minin and Ata are from very different societies, they both left to get a better life. One of the reasons Ata left Iraq was because of safety concerns caused by the Iraqi-American War; one reason why Minin left Kazakhstan was because his father took a job opportunity.

Minin and Ata agreed that although they could have received an equal or better education in their home countries, an American bachelor’s degree is more widely recognized than international bachelor’s degrees.

For those who associate Iraq and Kazakhstan with endless sand, warfare and scenes from “Borat,” think again.

There are striking similarities between these countries and the U.S., such as daily routines and family structures, that should dismiss some of the misconceptions and stereotypes people give Middle Eastern countries.

on campus

Organic Garden provides fresh produce, unique lesson Kelly P. McCormick Staff Writer

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“ The whole thing is an experiment,” Seldner said.

The College had no previous experience with agriculture of any kind.”

Once the project is in full bloom, the College hopes to earn money by actu-

ally selling the products to the Marketplace to make a profit.

This will help the garden to stay afloat financially.

Not only does the organic garden benefit anyone who is interested, but everyone on campus. Health-wise the campus is now experiencing

f you are a fan of the salad bar in the Marketplace, you will be happy to hear that what you are eating this year is all organic produced. Elizabethtown College is moving toward providing not only organic but locally grown produce. The College plans to do this through its new on-campus organic garden.

Alumna Jess Hargest, an environmental science major, is credited with starting the organic garden. After hearing about and researching a garden project at Dickinson College, Hargest decided to make attempts to better our very own Etown College and plant the seeds of an organic garden here.

Wit h help f rom E r i c Turzai, the director of Dining Services, the organic garden was on its way. “ T he org an i c g ard e n gives any student an outlet on campus to explore,” Photo: Katie A. Bamberger Senior Elliot Seldner said. Captain Tripps, Etown’s friendly scarecrow, looks out over the Seldner helps maintain the school-run organic garden. Located across the street from the garden, and tended to it over Ober dormitory, this garden will provide locally grown produce summer break. for the College. However, getting to this point took a lot of effort.

organically grown food, and linking it with “hands-on educational experience,” as Seldner put it. The garden grows many different fruits and vegetables including potatoes, tomatoes, green beans, squash, carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, pumpkins and watermelon.

“I never really thought about organic food until I heard and learned more about the organic garden,” Junior Amanda Calabrese said.. Students are becoming more interested in this experiment, and it is showing across campus.

The organic garden is located across the street from the Ober loop. It is a half acre in size.

The first organic plants were originally bought in close vicinity of the College.

All organic products, such are organic fertilizers, are used to maintain the garden and no pesticides are allowed.

The garden is kept and maintained by the school.

Specifically, the Elizabethtown College Environmental Group continuously maintains the land and plants.

Seldner kept the garden over summer because, for

him, it was a good way to earn money and stay at school for the summer. Also, he got the opportunity to become involved with a new, blossoming project on campus.

Of course, starting the garden wasn’t easy. The soil was not of the best quality so Seldner had to fertilize it heavily.

With hands on educational experience, those running the garden are learning and growing through agricultural experience and helping the whole campus by offering new options in the Marketplace.

“The organic garden has inspired me to eat healthier, and become more familiar with organic foods,” junior Hope Salisbury said. She likes the idea of knowing where her salad products are grown, and knowing they are coming directly from good hands on campus.

Given the circumstances, the garden is doing relatively well and will continue to grow and become even better. Through the hard efforts of the environmental club, and it’s work with the marketplace, the Etown campus community should be grateful for a wonderful experiment that is taking place right before our eyes.

features

October 1, 2009

monthly series

SIFE Sense: Getting a job today S hould we just sit back and let the current economic climate prohibit a person from attaining the career he or she deserves? Students in Elizabethtown College’s Students in Free Enterprise (EC SIFE) are taking the initiative to help members of the Greater Elizabethtown Area “get smart” about getting a job.

Working in partnership with Elizabethtown Public Library, SIFE has developed “Get Smart about Getting a Job”— a seminar designed to teach essential résumé and interviewing skills to people in the community.

The seminar will take place on two separate dates, Monday, Oct 19 and Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 5:308 p.m. at Elizabethtown Public Library. “The goal of this project is to help people help themselves,” said project coordinator Amy Smith, EC SIFE vice president and senior said. “We want to provide the tools they need to go out there and find a job.”

The seminar will begin with a 45-minute session on résumé writing followed by another 45-minute session on interviewing skills. After a short break, attendees will participate in mock interviews to practice what they have learned.

The seminars will also feature two prominent professional guest speakers. Carolyn Haskell, director of Human Resources for Hershey North America at The Hershey Co., will focus on what employers are looking for during an interview. Robert William, Director for International Student Services/ Program Manager for BCA Study Abroad, will provide

tips on how to write a “winning” résumé. His prior experiences including executive editor of Pennsylvania Labor-Management News, career development specialist at the Harrisburg Area Community College and managing editor for Pennsylvania Career Guide, make him uniquely qualified to speak on this subject.

Sign-ups will began Sept. 23 at Elizabethtown Public Library (phone: (717) 367-7467 or email: information@etownpubliclibrary.org). This event is free to the public and there is limited seating: attendees will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Everyone in the community is welcome to attend. For more information please contact EC SIFE at SIFE@etown. edu or Elizabethtown Public Library.

Elizabethtown Public Library is one of the fifteen Lancaster County Public Libraries with a special collection of business reference materials, including online reference tools available at no charge with your Library card. County Library services also include the Duke Street Business Center, located at the Duke Street Library in Lancaster, PA. Elizabethtown Public Library is located at 10 South Market St. (near the Square) in Elizabethtown. Parking is available behind the library, off of High Street, as well as on street parking in front of the library and in various local and municipal lots.

If you would like more information about the upcoming event, please call Amy Smith at (631)332-6892 or Bethleen Bradford at (717) 3677467 or via e-mail at SIFE@etown.edu.

time for poetry!

Stephen Cramer reads in Gibble William J. Blatchley Staff Writer

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oetry has been fighting a losing battle since the kids of Generation Y entered school in the ‘90s. The “texting generation” has become more inclined to video gaming and watching movies than to reading and writing poetry. Stephen Cramer, nationally acclaimed poet, arrived at Elizabethtown College last Thursday hoping to lead the revival of poetry among American youth.

In a world of television and computers, cell phones and PDAs, poetry seems to have become all but nonexistent. The groans and sighs that escape students’ mouths when a professor even says the word are becoming more common every year. However, literary figures such as Cramer are trying to change those sounds of woe to excitement.

“I just don’t really understand it. I never know if it is supposed to have a deeper meaning or something,” sophomore mathematics major Frank Arnold,said. “Some poems make absolutely no sense.”

Arnold is not alone in his distaste for poetry. Many kids are turned off by the thought of

writing poetry, but why? What started this downward spiral of a once beloved composition? When students think of poetry, many think of poems written in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries

by Shakespeare and other writers.

Cramer brings a new life to poetry that he hopes will inspire students to take a second look at verse. He writes about contemporary topics in which students would actually be interested. With so much ground to cover, Cramer hopes to have an immediate impact on his audience.

Eric Capece, first-year biology major, was among those in the audience in Gibble Auditorium last Thursday. While he was required to attend because of his first-year seminar, Capece says that he would have gone anyway.

“He was really funny. I thought it was great how he used comedy in his poems. You don’t usually read poems that make you want to laugh. Most of the poems I read in high school were always depressing or went way over my head. It was great to finally understand them and at the same time be entertained,” Capece said.

The thoughts among the student audience seemed to be pretty consistent. Junior communications major Stephanie Couch had nothing but accolades for the visiting poet.

“I absolutely loved him. I have always liked poetry for the most part, but he was one of the best poets I have heard. I don’t know if

the Etownian

5

Campus Security Blotter Ross M. Benincasa Assistant Campus Life Editor

• Sept. 25, a Carbon Monoxide detector set off an alarm at a Student Directed Learning Community. However, carbon monoxide levels were not found to be high in the SDLC, and it was determined that the detector was simply tripped accidentally.

• Also on Sept. 25, Environmental Services called Campus Security to clean up vomit found on the third floor of Myer, believed to be caused by alcohol.

• Vandalism was found within the Hackman South Apartment hallways Saturday, Sept. 26. Students ran through the halls, knocking down exit signs and ceiling tiles.

• An apartment on the first floor of Hackman South was busted Sept. 26 on alcohol distribution charges. Taking notes from our previous blotter, it is believed several students fled the scene through the window.

• There was a hit and run in the Ober

it was his story that interested me Parking Loop Sept. 26. Several Etown or the way he got into his readings, students were in the assaulting car but he was great,” Couch said. when it struck a Bloomsburg student’s Cramer told students that he vehicle, however, the victim has defell in love with poetry in the clined to press charges. seventh grade and he knew right away that it was what he wanted to • On Sunday, Sept. 27, marijuana could do for the rest of his life. He hopes be smelled around a Founders floor, that students will begin to see that however, no determination has yet poetry does not always involve been made about the source of the such somber topics and can be fun smell. if they let it.

Cramer has the credentials • A female student came forward claimthat students will notice, too. ing she was being sent harassing text His works have appeared in messages from another student on “Atlanta Review,” “Partisan campus. Because both students are Review,” “Poetry,” “Triquarcurrently enrolled at Etown, Campus terly,” “Cimarron Review” and Security does have the jurisdiction to “Green Mountains Review”. take action against the culprit.

He won the 2005 Honor Book in Poetry by the Massachusetts • As a result of the Health Center beCenter for the Book, earned ing closed down this year, there have the Massachusetts Artists been numerous calls to Campus SecuFoundation Fellowship and he rity asking for transport to the Penn received the National EndowState Hershey Medical Group throughment for the Arts Fellowship. out the year.

He has taught at Bennington College, Boston University, Massachusetts Institute of Te c h n o l o g y (MIT) and • Pregnancy tests with immediate results Tu f t s U n i • Education on all options versity. Cra• Limited ultrasounds when indicated mer currently • Confidential & free teaches at the We care and we’ll listen.

University of Lancaster Pregnancy Clinic Ve r m o n t i n 717-291-1800 Burlington Columbia Pregnancy Center where he lives 717-684-3400 with his wife A Life-Affirming Organization www.pregnantwecare.com and two darDay and evening appointments available ling children.

Wondering About Abortion?

6

the Etownian

campus life

movies • music • television • humor • travel

October 1, 2009

lifestyles • arts • advice • college issues

tech specs

Improved site unveils fresh image amid tough times Kara M. Luzik Staff Writer

O

pen up your favorite Internet browser — Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome or Internet Explorerand type www.etown.edu into the address bar. If you haven’t visited it lately, you will be looking at a different page than you would have a few weeks ago.

Elizabethtown College has recently updated its online presence. The College has given the homepage a makeover and completely revamped its athletics Web site (www.etownbluejays.com).

The College’s homepage is, among other things, a tool to attract prospective students. When its leaders found that this tool wasn’t working to its potential, they decided to make some changes.

Last spring, the College created focus groups of current Etown students close to the age of prospective students (17-18 years).

The focus groups were left alone in a room - with cookies and milk - where they discussed what they like and dislike in Web sites.

They agreed on their top five favorite Web sites. The characteristics the groups liked best included predomi-

nance of graphics and large pictures, functionality that allowed quick movement from page to page and the inclusion of advanced technology such as video and hot links to popular sharing Web sites.

Looking at the homepage, you can see the focus group’s input was taken into consideration.

The page includes a slide show of the campus, quick links to easily navigate the site, embedded YouTube videos and hot links to Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.

“What you see is exactly what the kids asked for,” Claire Madden, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at Elizabethtown College, said.

Among the homepage’s large topcentered slide show, visitors will notice a change of color. Yes, the Web site still features Etown’s blue and gray, but now the shades are brighter than before.

The blue has moved from a navy blue on the older site to a lighter, royal blue on the new site.

Madden explained this color change was necessary for the college to compete on the web.

“The web is more important now than ever,” Madden said. “The color selected five years ago doesn’t work in

a digital world. When you convert a color to the web, it needs to be bright.”

However, not everyone is impressed with the homepage’s makeover.

“It doesn’t look that different,” sophomore Autumn Phillips said. “I don’t see the point of changing colors just so the Web site looks a little better.

It seems like a lot of wasted time and effort for a little change.”

Madden, who started working at Etown in January, was hired to lead a branding initiative for the college aimed at refining the expression of Etown.

“This is the brainchild of President Long,” Madden said. “He wants to tell more people what Etown is about and expand the reach of the message.”

Madden said the imaging process is a lot of hard work, but she believes it will increase the number of prospective Etown students.

“It’s a challenge to put Etown’s uniqueness into words and graphics,” she said. However, she reasons, “If more people knew what Etown was about, don’t you think more people would come?”

Phillips agrees that capturing Etown’s essence in graphics will help to get the College’s message spread. However, she thinks Etown is doing fine without having to go through a branding process.

“We have a huge freshman class this year,” she said. “I don’t think we have a problem getting students to come here.”

The Web site isn’t the only place the brighter color will appear. “It’s all part of a bigger initiative,” Madden said.

The college’s athletic teams will also soon don the brighter shade of blue showcased on the athletics site.

The men’s soccer team is already wearing this shade.

Other changes that can be expected include a total makeover of the rest of the college’s Web site.

Soon every page will be recreated to better correspond with the new homepage.

Ma d d e n e x pl ai n e d t h at t h e homepage and athletics web site were high priority changes because they are seen by so many prospective students.

The sports Web site was considered a high priority because 30 percent of first years are affiliated with the college’s athletics programs.

Another important aspect of the Web site’s makeover was that these pages were able to be implemented in a short amount of time and at a relatively low cost.

Image: etown.edu

October 1, 2009

dating dangers

campus life

the Etownian

Emily Fund gives others hope Rebekah V. Arbogast Staff Writer Patricia A. Cangelosi Assistant Copy Editor

H

and in hand, they strolled along the winding pathways of Gettysburg College campus together. They smiled; they laughed.

They were in love, and no one knew that he would murder her until it was too late. During April of this year, in Gettysburg, Pa., a 19-year-old girl’s life was taken by her ex-boyfriend in a horrific case of dating violence. An activist for

Photo: Katie A. Bamberger

peace, the college sophomore was strangled and stabbed. Emily Rachel Silverstein was a skilled artist and writer. She was an anthropology major and English minor who made the Dean’s list and had a passion for helping others. Silverstein was involved with spreading peace awareness and other social justice activities. She touched so many lives, but her time was cut short.

There were many other things she still wanted to accomplish.

Silverstein’s family has set up the Emily Silverstein Fund Web site (www.emilyfund.org) to continue her legacy of hope for a better world. The Emily Fund awards scholarships to students who are active in volunteering as well as mentorship and education to stop dating violence.

Dating violence occurs when one is caught up in a controlling, abusive or aggressive relationship.

This includes verbal, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Dating violence is a serious matter that should not be taken lightly. Just because few people talk about it does not mean it is not happening.

Most people think that only women are victims of dating violence, but this is a myth. Men can also be victims. This is not just a problem that occurs with adults; teens and young adults are actually at a higher risk. It can happen to anyone at any time, and its effects are often devastating.

The National Center of Statistics and Crimes created a Campus Dating Violence Fact Sheet. It has calculated that 32 percent of students report dating violence by a previous partner, and 21 percent report violence by a current partner. It also reported that 39 percent to 54 percent of dating violence victims remain in physically abusive relationships; one in five teens in a serious relationship reports having been hit, slapped or pushed by a partner.

In one year, more than 13 percent of college women indicated they had been stalked, 42 percent of whom were stalked by a boyfriend or ex-boyfriend. According to the fact sheet, 51 percent of college males admit perpetrating one or more sexual assault incidents during college.

Here at Elizabethtown College, the matter of dating violence is not taken lightly. The College advises concerned students to contact Campus Security as soon as possible if any sort of dating violence occurs. They would then conduct an investigation and sort out medical procedures if necessary.

Reporting the matter is the first and most vital step to taking action against dating violence.

Many victims remain in their abusive relationships for multiple reasons. Victims sometimes have a fear of the perpetrator or just do not understand or recognize dating violence. “If a girl really loved

the guy, she would be scared and wouldn’t want to get him in trouble,” senior Zak Miller said. “I do know of a physically abusive relationship that went on here. I think that if this happens you should tell a friend and get some help.”

Here at Etown, there are counseling services available for all students. “I don’t think I would go; it would be kind of embarrassing,” Miller said.

“Yes, I think there is dating violence on campus, but I don’t think a lot of people go to counseling services,” senior Katie Caprinolo said. “I would say one out of 20 would.”

The counselors here are always willing to help and feel students should not be embarrassed to come seek help if needed. There are also other options if one does not feel comfortable enough to visit counseling services. Crisis hotlines can offer immediate assistance and can refer callers to dating violence programs and support groups, which may be very helpful for victims. There are also some legal options, including protective orders and prosecution if needed.

For those who are insecure about talking to others on campus, it is important to connect with someone who can help.

For more information or for help with dating violence, visit the Dating Violence Resource Center’s Web site www.ncvc. org/dvrc or call the National Domestic Hotline at 1-800799-SAFE. Silverstein’s father, Robert Silverstein, began www.datingpledge.org, an initiative through the 501c (3) nonprofit organization We, The World, Inc. His goal is for one million students to sign the Dating Pledge by the one-year anniversary of his daughter’s death: April 9, 2010 Sign the pledge at http://www. datingpledge.org/index-2.htm.

Dating Safety Tips • Consider a double date the first few times you go out with a person.

• Before leaving on a date, know the exact plans for the evening and make sure a parent or friend knows these plans and what time to expect you home. Let your date know that you are expected to call or tell that person when you get in from the date.

• Be aware of your decreased ability to react under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• If you leave a party with someone you do not know well, make sure you tell another person you are leaving and with whom. Ask a friend to call and make sure you arrive home safely.

• Assert yourself when necessary. Be firm and straightforward in your relationships.

• Trust your instincts. If a situation makes you uncomfortable, try to be calm and think of a way to remove yourself from the situation from the Domestic Violence Advocacy Program of Family Resources, Inc.

TEEN DATING BILL OF RIGHTS I HAVE THE RIGHT TO: • Always be treated with respect.

• Be treated as an individual.

• Be in a healthy relationship, one that is not controlling, manipulative or jealous.

• Be in a relationship that involves honesty, trust and communication.

• Not be hurt physically or emotionally.

• Feel safe in my relationship at all times. Abuse is never deserved and is never my fault.

• Resolve conflicts in a peaceful and rational way.

• Refuse sex or affection at anytime.

• Not have sex; A healthy relationship involves making consensual sexual decisions.

• Refuse sex for any reason, even if I have had sex before.

• Have friends and activities apart from my boyfriend or girlfriend.

• Spent time by myself, with male or female friends, or with my family.

• End a relationship for any reason I choose. I should not be harassed, threatened, or made to feel guilty for ending an unhealthy or healthy relationship.

Dating Pledge I PLEDGE TO: • Always treat my boyfriend or girlfriend with respect.

• Never hurt my boyfriend or girlfriend physically, verbally,or emotionally.

• Not be controlling or manipulative in my relationship.

• Accept responsibility for myself and my actions.

http://www.datingpledge.org/index-2.html

7

10

campus life

the Etownian

October 1, 2009

boredom buster

Web site reminds many of their own awkward moments Joelle E. Atkinson Campus Life Editor Nicole L. Deeley Staff Writer

7

17: So I woke up this morning and on their fridge, the first item on the shopping list was my virginity.” For college students, waking up to these text messages like these on Saturday and Sunday mornings is not at all out of the ordinary.

The inappropriate, the awesome, the bad and the horrendous events from the previous night all come rushing back in one short sentence. And now, because of the sheer boredom that many of these same students face, these texts are now all compiled together on one Web site for the public’s viewing pleasure.

TextsFromLastNight.com (TFLN) is a Web site that keeps many students both amused and confused. Texts such as “(216): What’s wrong with me? I have a coffee mug of wine in the library and I’m doing homework” might remind students of adventures they have encountered in class and in the dorms. But, most importantly, it chronicles weekend adventures.

Texts such as “(717): He just asked me if he could show me what he wanted to do to me using his action figures.

Where do I find these freaks?” help students reminisce about how similar their own stories are, and instead of the phrase FML being dropped everywhere,

college kids realize that they are not alone in their misfortunes — or triumphs.

Elizabethtown College students are gearing up their cell phones in an attempt to be accepted onto the TFLN Web site.

Why not let other cyber surfers see the absurd conversations people share through text messaging? Senior Kait McCaffrey has yet to prove that to the TFLN people, though. “I think the first way to improve the Web site is to start accepting my texts,” she said.

Although the site can, at times, be graphic and suggestive — many topics include examples of sexual excursions and drunken moments; that is what makes it so appealing to students like McCaffrey. “As long as you take the site for what it is — a forum for hysterical and usually borderline vulgar texts — I think it’s amazing,” she said.

Senior Kevin Smith also enjoys the humor that the TFLN Web site brings.

“I believe the site is an excellent idea.

Everyone who sends text messages usually has a good conversation, and this site helps everyone see that they are not the only ones who have funny and inappropriate conversations.”

Texts are not only displayed chronologically but can also be displayed by area code. So now everyone can officially see that they are not the only ones in their hometown who experi-

ence awkward situations. Also on the Web site, people’s “Best Nights” can be viewed. “(781): I was just told by a cop that my party was the most epic party they ever crashed.” This is not only an example of someone’s best night, but a dream that many college students only wish they could experience. Others encounter sex-

are texts such as: “(843): Happy Early Fathers Day!!! (829): I’m not a father (843): About that ...” and remind many of an awkward experience which they may have had that they just want to forget.

McCaffrey sums it up perfectly: “I don’t think anybody has ever gone on [TFLN] and not found at least one text that left them saying ‘been there, done that.’ I think as long as you’re comfort“(717): He just asked me if he able with the realities of life, even the could show me what he wanted to less desirable ones, do to me using his action figures. it’s a great site.”

Both McCaffrey Where do I find these freaks?” and Smith are frequent visitors of textsfromlastnight.com the site, as are many ual explorations that can only be viewed students on the Etown campus. in movies such as “American Pie” and However, there are others who are new “Old School”. to this Web site.

The small, awkward moments in New visitor and junior Kelsea Corrado life that many students here at Etown said, “It’s funny and usually can make experience on a daily basis can be me laugh, but I didn’t even know about attributed to the likeness of one of it before this year.” these epic text messages. Then, there According to Junior Caitlin Booth, are the bad nights, or what TFLN “It’s like FML but text-style.” calls “Worst Nights.” These texts are Yes, TFLN is an interesting Web site characterized as such because, well … that can remind many undergrads of who wants to drunk text their mom as their current lives. Through the funny this text says: “(212): I want you now and the frank, in each of these texts, (916): You need to stop dating girls one can find a bit of themselves. with the same name as your mother TextsFromLastNight.com is the ul... or stop drinking so much ... I don’t timate boredom buster that will surely want to see this.” make anyone laugh out loud in inapAnother example of a worst night propriate glory.

beauty column

Passport to fashion: How one card can earn big savings Lindsay D. Goldsmith Staff Writer

L

uckily for students at Elizabethtown College, Etown Student Senate gets us discounts at all sorts of places when we show our student IDs, but there are a few places you might not know about where flashing that little card can get you big discounts.

Yes, ladies, I am talking about clothing stores! I know it’s a scary thought to show even more people that awful picture you were totally unprepared for on your orientation day, but trust me, it’s worth it.

I’m going to share with you one of my biggest shopping discount secrets stemming from my rule never to buy anything full price (a rule anyone can follow and still look fabulous). Prepare to get excited, girls.

1. J. Crew— Yes, that glorious store filled with clothes that seem to make you look preppy (but not too preppy), put-together (but not like you tried too hard) and amazing overall offers a discount to students!

Simply show the sales associate your student ID when you check out and receive 15 percent off your entire purchase. This includes everything: clothes, jewelry, shoes, bags and even fantastic hair accessories. Now, take a deep breath, and put down your car keys and credit cards; I’m not done yet. If J.Crew doesn’t have an item you want, each

store has a red phone you can use to call their warehouses and have whatever you want shipped to you- with the 15 percent discount off. Just have a sales associate confirm to the J. Crew employee on the phone that he or she has seen your student ID. 2. Juicy Couture— Sadly, this amazing discount was not a permanent one but get excited for next year! During the back-to-school shopping season, Aug. 5 to September, Juicy held a “Smart Ass Juicy Girl” promotion to give college students incentive to buy their merchandise.

We all love Juicy: that gorgeous, sparkly store that practically oozes with overthe-top girliness and fabulousness, and at the same time, makes terry cloth look luxurious. It continues to amaze girls and makes them lust after any piece of Juicy they can get their hands on. I hope some Image: juicycouture.com of you were fortunate enough to take advantage of this amazing promotion, but if you weren’t, start marking your calendar with a countdown for Aug. 5, 2010!

3. Madewell— If you haven’t heard of this new store you are missing out. Everything Madewell sells has that cool bohemian vibe that every girl wishes she had.

Add any of their amazing scarves to jeans and a T-shirt and you instantly look like Lauren Conradif not better! They sell fantastic leather and suede boots and have the most fabulous jeans; I am hyper-

Image: jcrew.com

ventilating just thinking about them. The best part of this awesome store? It offers 15 percent off on all merchandise when you show your student ID! To check out their stuff go to www.madewell1937.com 4. Plato’s Closet— The greatest part about this unknown gem? Everything is on sale! Plato’s Closet is a clothing store that sells gently used name-brand clothes at a huge discount. Junior Allie Gower found some fab Abercrombie and Fitch jeans at the store that look amazing on her!

Not only can you buy clothes at Plato’s Closet, but if you have some gently used clothes you want to donate, you can also sell them to the store for some extra cash.

According to the Plato’s Closet Web site they’re “looking for an array of styles and brands to suit our wide variety of shoppers—from basic to fancy, casual to club wear, we carry it all.”

Now that you are fully equipped with all of this information, get out there and boost the economy!

After all, you’ll be getting an amazing discount, and who can resist that?

11

the Etownian

opinion

campus controversies • letters to the editor

October 1, 2009 national debate • our take • guest columns

global perspective

Snow and icebreakers: an international perspective Munimah B. Ahmed Staff Writer

that there was no one else to cook it. I crash-landed onto American soil again.

This surprises most people, but back in Bangladesh we have servants working in every household that can afford to keep them. We are basically spoon fed everything, which nticipation surged through me as I sat in the airplane. We were supposed to reach the by no means do I think is the right thing. However, it is unimaginable to start a new life JFK airport within twenty minutes. Overcome with fear and excitement, I still failed where you basically have to do everything on your own. Starting from making our beds to come to terms with the fact that I had actually left Bangladesh. And with Bangladesh, to cooking our food, the servants carry out all the tasks. When the servant is not there for something, your mother is always there to fill in, which may sound wrong, but that is the I had also left my family and friends — I had said goodbye to home.

Upon my arrival the Elizabethtown College campus, I was greeted by three friendly way it is. Normally when I wake up at home, I just go outside to the dining table to find faces — Suren, Amber and Ashley, my International Peer Ambassadors. As it wasn’t re- my favorite breakfast waiting for me. Now I was in a different world altogether, where not ally possible to do much sightseeing at that hour, they took me to the room where I was only did I have to make my breakfast, but also clean up the dishes afterwards. Back home everything pretty much easily flowed for me like the to spend the next year. Mild disappointment set streams in a deserted valley. Even to go somewhere, in when I first stepped into my room. On one side my car always waited for me with a chauffeur opening of the room there was a bed, a dresser and a study the door. Here, to go to the nearest supermarket, I had table for me. The word “claustrophobia” suddenly Elation, pure elation surged through me to put on my shoes and walk the unfamiliar roads. bore new relevance in my dictionary. Bare white Adrenaline pumping I ran, ran to a whole new world Four months later, while I walked to meet my walls and minimal walking space screamed out the And lifted my fingers to the sky and opened my eyes friends, Caroline and Esther, I realized how easily word “suffocation” like ringing bells in my ear. SeeBreathing in fresh air, new air I had adapted to the surroundings and people in ing my abrupt change in mood, Ashley asked me Remembering the last time I’d experienced such sheer exultation.

Etown. Almost every third person whom I came what was wrong. Hearing my worries about such a Familiar felicity forced through every vein in my body across while walking the campus paths was a familiar small room, she broke out in laughter, saying that Reminding me of the first time I held Sherry. face. As a shiver ran down my spine, chilling me to I was one of the luckiest people in college to have Sherry with her perfectly arched eyebrows, her hair like spun gold the bones, I realized it would still take some time for gotten an apartment in my first year. I was shocked Sherry, my first Barbie, my most cherished possession of childhood. me to get used to the unbearable weather, though. to hear that most students live in smaller rooms Trembling with ecstasy, bereft of all grief, all sorrow Being from a country that is located almost on the without a kitchen and attached bathroom, until I remembered it all to every minute detail, to all the countless joys. equator meant a lot of sunshine and warm weather they are seniors.

Joy I had experienced never again till now throughout the year. I was excited to see snow as I The next morning, I woke up and quickly got Till now when the soft white cotton melted in my hand was still bereft of the experience of nature’s white cotdressed to attend my international orientation. I Till now when I breathed in fresh air, fresh life, first frost. ton candy melting in my hands. This was precisely was pleasantly surprised at the sight that met my

-Munimah B. Ahmed why I was meeting my friends. The weather forecast eyes upon leaving my apartment building. I was awestruck by the photogenic beauty of the school Image: Wordpress.com had said that it would snow that night, and my best grounds. There was no garbage lying on the streets creating trash all along the roads, a sight friends thought it was appropriate to celebrate my first snowfall by seeing it together on that I had gotten very accustomed to in Bangladesh. Even the air smelled fresh and pure, one of the big fields. Two hours later, we decided to return home as the cold was unbearand I was quite sure that this was not my mind playing tricks on me, as there seemed to able, and there was still no snow. While we were walking, I suddenly felt little droplets of be no vehicle pollution — another event that I had become used to growing up in Bangla- mist on myself. I cursed the weather reporter, saying he should get his facts straight and desh. As I quickened my pace to reach the orientation on time, I realized I was whistling not tell people that it is going to snow when it will actually rain. My friends smiled at this remark of mine. When I retorted that it was not even remotely funny that I was getting to myself in giddiness. This realization made me feel even giddier.

After a long and eventful day with my fellow international first-years, I had to head back wet in the rain instead of marveling at magical, white flakes, they burst into laughter and to the 4x4 that was supposed to be my new home. Thinking about the word “home” made told me that it was snowing. As I turned my head up to the sky, I realized that what was another creep up into my mind, “homesick.” I had felt that before, but suddenly the mean- making me feel misty were actually the magical, white flakes that I had eagerly anticipated.

My eyes turned big in amazement. It was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. ing of the word gushed into me with a new level of intensity. When I walked in through my door that night, I felt isolated and scared. It felt like I was in a whole new world where Thousands of white feathers showered all around. I lifted my hand to feel nature’s miracle. Cushy, miniature white balls melted against the warmth of my fingers. The no place called Bangladesh existed, and I would be alone for eternity.

I decided to call it an early night as I was missing home so much. I got up the next day snow lay spread out all over the grounds, looking like a beautiful, lush white carpet. I with a good night’s sleep and was ready to start my new endeavor in an unknown world. couldn’t help the tears of joy that sprang to my eyes. Suddenly it was all worth it — it I headed for the kitchen, not realizing the challenges that lay in front of me. I had stocked was worth being away from family, friends and home; it was worth slaving away every up my cabinets and refrigerator with food the day I came. But subconsciously I was still day to do all the household chores. It was worth it all just for a moment of such gloriback home as I entered the kitchen, all set to order my favorite breakfast, only to discover ous, picturesque beauty.

A

First Frost

on campus

Institution fosters sense of community, belonging Christie Ann Caldwell Staff Writer

A

fter graduating high school, I decided to attend Albright College. I didn’t realize I would only spend my freshman year there, a miserable year at that.

I joined cheerleading.

That was actually the first thing I had ever quit. I didn’t go to college to cheer, so I wasn’t about to make it a priority over my studies.

I checked out the dance team, but they were mostly lyrical dancers, and I am not that graceful.

I signed up for the step team spring semester. That was fun, but I refused to do one of the more sultry dances and to wear booty shorts as an outfit for the end-of-theyear show. I guess they weren’t too happy about this because when I missed a single practice for being sick, they replaced me in every line-up.

There was Greek life, which made

the campus abnormally “cliquey.” I wanted no part in that. I believe you should be friends with people for who they are, not what organization they belong to.

Academics have always been my priority, unlike most of the Albright students I had met. It was clear I did not fit in. I needed less Greek and more geek.

My high school boyfriend Matt was a first-year at Elizabethtown College, so I visited the campus on multiple occasions. It was a completely different atmosphere for me. I felt like I was in the right place for once; like I belonged here.

I applied and was accepted to Elizabethtown before freshman year at Albright was even over.

I was happier in just the first month at Etown than I had been all year at Albright. I found the people friendlier, more approachable and accepting.

The clubs and activities seemed more diverse, and the campus just looked brighter and more colorful.

For me, the worst part about the transition into college, and this applies to both Etown and Albright, was trying to make friends. Everyone talks about the lifetime buddies they made throughout their college years, but, apparently, not everyone is so fortunate.

I would have felt very out of place if I had had to go through orientation with the first-years fresh out of high school, but thank goodness Etown is smart enough to put transfers together into one peer group.

There were only a couple of things that I think could have been improved about the experience.

First, it would have been nice if our Peer Mentors were previous transfer students, as well, so they had a better understanding of where we were coming from.

Also, a lot of the transfers were bothered by being associated with the incoming class.

Technically, we were all first-years at the college, but we would have preferred being separated from the group a bit more, like at Convocation and the first-year walk.

As a freshman at Albright, I never declared a major. I started out at Etown as a social work major, but after the first semester, I switched to communications with a minor in human services. It was as if Etown made me more lucid to make those important life decisions.

I did join Blue Jay Cheerleading, Emotion and ECTV-40. For the first time since high school, I found my identity.

All of us Blue Jays have our own interests, our own experiences and lives, but on top of that, we are all related through this one spectacular community: Elizabethtown College.

12

opinion

the Etownian

d n ou

S Off

What do you think of the new academic quad?

by Melanie R. Giardina

Heather Robertson Class of 2011 “I think that the construction on the quad has been an inconvenience.”

Noelle Babilya Class of 2011 “The construction is taking too long.”

David Kirchner Class of 2013 “It is going to be more sensible but it should have been done over the summer.”

letter to the editor

Questions raised regarding diversity plan April C. Kelly-Woessner Associate Professor of Political Science

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uesday, Sept. 22, 2009, the Faculty Assembly voted to endorse the College’s new plan for improving campus diversity. I and nine other members of the faculty voted against the plan. Some people will mistakenly assume that all those who voted against the plan are opposed to diversity on campus or somehow fail to recognize and appreciate the needs of our underrepresented students.

Nothing could be further from the truth. I voted against the plan because I believe it fails to recognize and address the difficulties we face as we try to build a more welcoming environment for all of our students, faculty and staff. To be clear, one can be supportive of the notion of diversity and oppose a specific plan for achieving it.

I have several objections to this plan.

First, I argued to the Diversity Task Force on several occasions that their review of the research on diversity was incomplete, even inaccurate. The research on diversity in higher education is quite rich. There have been a great number of studies that address the difficulties we face in trying to bring together different groups of people with the goal of achieving common educational objectives.

The plan fails to acknowledge these difficulties. Instead, the report relies on the contact hypothesis — the idea that if you simply bring people together, they will naturally learn to appreciate one another.

This is a nice idea, but somewhat naïve, and wishing this will occur will not make it so. If groups are brought together in a manner that emphasizes competition for resources, then conflict is more likely than friendship. Yet, if groups can work on mutual goals, we are more likely to see positive relationships develop. These sorts of research findings are never discussed in the report. Without a better understanding of the sociological and psychological dynamics of group relations and the large body of research in this area, I worry that we simply are not prepared to address the

“I think it’s a good idea. It’s well worth it.”

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issues that arise on our campus. In short, I wanted a more thorough research report — one that didn’t merely try to sell the faculty on diversity but also prepared us to address the complicated issues involved in achieving it.

Second, as a social scientist and survey researcher, I had reservations about some of our own data on campus harassment and discrimination. For example, I objected to the fact that we used a question about “glances” as a measure of “harassment” and “discrimination.” The fact that people on campus believe that they are being glanced at by others in a negative manner is, in fact, a concern. It demonstrates an underlying discomfort and tension. We need to address this discomfort and awkwardness, but we need to do so in a way that does not unnecessarily portray students as discriminatory or harassing. Some discomfort with new and different people is natural, and there are ways that we can work together to alleviate some of this discomfort. But glances are not by any definition a form of harassment or discrimination. We need to be honest, objective and truthful as we attempt to approach sensitive issues on campus.

Finally, there were parts of the report that I thought might produce negative effects for the very students we aim to support. For example, I was concerned about the amount of emphasis on simply recruiting minority students. With the goal of just getting more diverse students on campus, I worry that we might engage in practices that would mislead prospective students and misrepresent the campus. The plan calls for highlighting our diversity more in campus brochures and recruiting materials. If we merely demonstrate the accurate composition of the campus, this will be great. However, if we highlight certain groups of people in a way that implies there are larger groups of them on campus than is actually the case, and we do this merely to trick others into coming here, then we have a problem. The plan calls for setting specific goals for minority enrollment, and I am concerned that this will create pressure to recruit people in

a dishonest manner.

Ultimately, faculty members voted to support this plan because they believed in the purpose and intent behind it. Several said as much at the Faculty Assembly meeting, referencing our commitment to diversity and social justice. Yet good intentions do not always lead to positive outcomes.

In several of the student focus groups on diversity, students illustrated this concept well. For example, one student spoke of the fact that she was frequently called on in her social work classes to explain the views of her minority group, and she mentioned that this made her uncomfortable. I know the social work professors on campus and honestly believe that there are few people more committed to diversity and inclusion.

But this case demonstrates that we cannot merely rely on our good intentions. There are parts of the diversity plan that I think will have favorable results; there are others that I am unsure about, as I think they continue to promote practices that single out groups of people in a way that might make them uncomfortable. There are also parts that I think will emphasize competition between groups and create unnecessary conflict and resentment.

The faculty members voted for this plan, despite these problems, because they supported the “intent” behind it. However, let me ask students this: If you turned in a paper for a course, with an incomplete or weak review of the research, faulty data analysis and questionable conclusions, would an argument for your good intentions be sufficient to save your grade? This is an institution of higher education. We evaluate work on the value of the evidence and the logic of the claims. Yes, we have an educational mission that emphasizes a commitment to discovering different perspectives. But we also have a commitment to reason, analysis and critical thinking.

We have an obligation to pursue truth and intellectual honesty. For those reasons, I continue to welcome and encourage diverse perspectives but oppose the current plan by which to achieve them.

curriculum critique

Popular fiction lacks academic merit Samantha T. Phillips Assistant Opinion Editor

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Ryan Stadel Class of 2013

October 1, 2009

s an English major and the English department’s number one fan (I say that with not even a hint of sarcasm), I’d be the last person to bring criticism of our English department to the table. Yet, the thought had recently occurred to me that there are no English courses based solely on the discussion of “contemporary literature.” Contemporary literature is the writing done by living authors who discuss issues and events of the modern world in their work. While there are some literature courses that discuss pieces written by living authors, there is not a course that has a curriculum containing only these works. On the other hand, there are several English courses which center around aspects of the literature of the early 1900s. I began to wonder why it seemed so important to further educate English majors on literature that discusses issues of a past, forgotten world instead of discovering new writers and teaching their works. Yet, Dr. David Downing of the English department helped me to see the subject from a very different perspective.

According to Downing, “Faculty feels that students don’t need as much help to read contemporary fiction. They feel you can read it on your own without the assistance of a professor.” I hadn’t considered the fact that the majority of popular literature

written by living authors is less complex than a lot of literature of the past. After this realization, my opinion on the subject completely changed. A class in which today’s literature was taught would end up simply becoming a book club, and while it would certainly be intellectually stimulating, it may not be academically productive.

Downing also made an interesting remark that, as of the last fifty years, literature has taken on two extremes. Authors are either pumping out accessible, plot-driven novels such as Dan Brown’s religious mysteries or the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer, or they’re publishing academic literature that’s only read by scholars and those in a collegiate environment. “I am concerned about how literature has become bifurcated,” he said. “In the 19th century everyone was reading Dickens and the Brontës, and there was a shared cultural experience in that.

Today, we have plot-driven novels with very little literary merit or beautiful academic novels that are intellectually challenging but not widely read.”

It would be hard to distinguish which would be a better route to take in a class based on the study of contemporary literature: the academic literature or the popular, widely read novels of our generation? These two prospects have convinced me that there is no need for the addition of a contemporary literature class to our English department.

opinion

October 1, 2009

the Etownian

romance column

student response

Samantha T. Phillips Assistant Opinion Editor

Laura E. Kuserk Staff Writer

Dating under the influence Advocate safety

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his weekend, as I mingled among Etown’s finest students and future leaders, I had an epiphany. Watching the mating ritual of the 20-something party-goers weekend after weekend for two years now, I decided that romance, as we know it, is dead. To tell you the truth, my beloved readers, the closest we’ll ever get to romance is a guy toweling off your dress after projectile vomiting six beer pong games worth of alcohol all over the back of it. Okay, maybe that’s not fair. The male race does have a lot of pressure on them when it comes to wooing women, and let’s face it, it’s not always their forte. While I understand that men are perplexed by the complex goings-on of the female brain (to be honest, I don’t think even we have any idea what we want), I am still disappointed by the lack of effort men seem to exert while pursuing a young woman today. Before you male readers start chasing me across campus with pitchforks and torches, I must admit that the men can’t take all the blame for the savage murder of romance.

In all honesty, even we women have gotten so caught up in the routine of drunken college romance that we have lowered all our expectations and settled for paying half of the dinner check, opening our own car doors and pulling out our own chairs. While I find most of the aforementioned dating rules to be slightly old-fashioned and outdated, I feel that we’ve lost this aspect of courtship completely. Men rarely even take women out on dates anymore. It seems that “I’d like to take you to dinner sometime” has been replaced by “I’d like to get drunk and dry hump your leg sometime.” Why have we abandoned the whole idea of being “courted” by men and accepted that “a love life” is one long string of dating-under-the-influence mistakes? Another question for the great cosmos: would we be happy with a love life full of flowers and princes riding in on horses, or would we be insulted by the idea of playing the part of the damsel in distress? Either way, I think it’s time that we found a happy medium: ladies, stop settling for a cut in the keg line as a display of male affection, and guys, as the wise Otis Redding once said, Try a little tenderness. Take her out. Wine her, dine her. Wear a nice outfit. Shower before she comes over. We can revive romance once and for all!

It’s all up to you, reader.

As for my number one suspect in the Death of Romance case, I blame the feminists. They went and ruined it for everyone with this “men and women are equal,” mumbo-jumbo. Said alumnus Jameson Rohrer, “People are, at their worst, horrible, and inequality is all that made romance worth having.” That was a joke. To my feminist readers, please don’t take it to heart and burn all my bras in the middle of the night.

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s a senior, I knew exactly what to expect when attending a college dance. I knew it would be hot; I knew people would be sweating. I knew I would hate myself for wearing pants; I knew the floor would be wet. I knew this because it happens at every Etown dance, but, this time, someone actually got hurt.

What struck me the most about the opinion article Sept. 24 was the fact the author claimed that “trying to advocate for better safety measures for dances is a big waste of time.” I believe advocating for better safety measures is never a waste of a time. We as students, nay, as human beings, have a right to be kept safe from harm. If this requirement is not being met, we most certainly can ask for change.

A girl broke her ankle at this dance and missed a week of school. It infuriates me that the author equated asking for better safety standards at dances to complaining about makeup running. Getting clownface at a dance is not going to send you to the hospital.

Also, said injured person was not doing “crazy dance moves.” She took two steps in and slipped.

I believe that the Kàv needs better ventilation.

Whether that means installing large ceiling fans like many clubs have or actually letting us open the doors, something needs to be done to keep people safe. I understand there may be a security issue with opening the doors, so perhaps someone on Campus Security could stand there to make sure no one is sneaking into the dance.

I would hate to see someone else get hurt, but I would also hate to think that someone believes I am wasting my time by caring about our safety.

common culture

Headphones facilitate anti-social tendencies Jonathan S. Gamble Staff Writer

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good pair of headphones is hard to come by this day and age. I remember that in middle school, you were an ubercool kid if you sported the ones that circumnavigated the back of your head and clamped onto your ears like earmuffs. Girls said, “Oh my God, she can wear that super cute headband and listen to music, uh whatev!” Guys didn’t say much, but it was understood that you had a good Christmas.

In high school, the DJ headphones made a comeback. I certainly hopped onto that bandwagon; nothing like miniature speakers pulling a Princess Leia on the sides of my head. I jumped off because I couldn’t hear anything except the music.

Good thing, right? Not in 11th grade when you’re biking down the middle of a country road without noticing your neighbors behind you, honking.

Every so often I’ll be surfing the Web and come across those Sennheiser HD-280 Professional headphones for $150.00.

Or I’ll drop by a music store and see those V-MODA Bass

by If Jillprice Hugus ear buds for $60.00. and quality weren’t taxing enough

variables, headphones have another in comfort.

Once upon a time, I had the perfect pair of headphones. If I went for a run, they didn’t fall off or get tangled in my legs.

Their high-quality sound didn’t drown out someone talking to me, someone honking at me… the high school secretary announcing that soccer practice is cancelled just before my bus left. I could wear a hat or hood with them. And those gems didn’t even mold the backs of my ears so that, after taking them off, I looked like Dumbo for a couple of hours. Here’s where they failed me: the cord started to fray. The cord went behind my head and the frayed part lay on my neck. The wires itched and pricked and made everything seem much warmer that summer. I might have salvaged them with electrical tape, but I waited too long and soon the fray spread and the itch, warmth and neck hair prickling was exacerbated.

Anyhow, they’re in some landfill now — like everything else with which we Americans get fed up. I suffered through last semester with those free ear buds some airlines gave out before the recession; now they’re like $10.

JetBlue also gave me one of those sleep masks rich people use in movies with big fluffy beds and uber-ornate penthouses, but I digress. The buds were too big for my outer ear and so hung by a thread unless I jammed them in sideways. If exercising, I had to wear a winter beanie to press them securely to my ear. The cord never frayed, but it was never long enough either. If walking, I had to keep my iPod in my jacket breast pocket instead of by the hand pockets. Ultimately, they made listening to music uncomfortable and exasperating.

Now I sport basic Phillips earclip headphones. They mold to my ears, but not to the extent of Dumbo. A more accurate depiction is the tender aching they leave on the backs of my ears if worn for more than a half hour.

But they were a gift; and free headphones are always the best college headphones.

You might wonder why I’m marveling at headphone minutiae. Well, to be frank, I’m concerned. I’m concerned that people consider them friends.

It doesn’t happen very often, but when I need to ask a question of a man or woman wearing headphones in very public places, I always feel as though I’m rudely

interrupting a conversation.

They’ll look up from their seat with bothered eyes for a second or two, labor into their pocket to press pause on the iPod and slowly unfix their headphones before a quick, “Yes?” to reinforce that everything they went through cannot be worth what I have to say.

Coming from Maine, I’ve used all forms of public transportation to and from Etown: bus, plane, train, taxi. No person with headphones, especially in the cities, wants to help you with directions. No person with headphones wants to know where you’re from or where you’re going. And no person with headphones is open to small talk (let alone big talk). Sometimes I wonder if people who wear headphones in very public places are even listening to music. More than once I’ve asked such people a question about the bathroom or whatnot and they respond immediately and quite summarily without even taking an ear bud out for a drawn out, “Whhaat?” or “Huuhhh?”

Headphones — not iPods, not music — have become anybody’s excuse to not talk with anybody.

I wish boom-boxes would make a comeback already.

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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 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 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.

SubmissionstotheEtownian 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.

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the Etownian

sports

October 1, 2009

volleyball

Jays defeat Alvernia, finish second in Blue Jay Classic Janna M. Richards Assistant Sports Editor

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he Lady Jays put another conference win under their belts when they travelled to Alvernia to defeat the Lady Crusaders 3-0 last night, winning by scores of 25-12, 25-10 and 25-11.

All 14 players on the Lady Jays’ roster saw part of the action. First-year Lindsay Palm lead the Lady Jays with six kills. Junior Kara Burkholder had 13 assists and sophomore Katie Gantz added a team-high six digs. Gantz also lead the team with six of the Lady Jays’17 service aces.

The Lady Jays got very little rest this past weekend as they hosted the Blue Jay Classic volleyball tournament Friday and Saturday. Playing a total of four games over the two-day weekend, the players faced a unique and grueling challenge.

Friday, the Lady Jays took a pair of victories as they faced Gallaudent University and Wentworth Institute of Technology. Gallaudent was their first opponent for the day, and, with final scores coming to 28-26, 25-14 and 26-24 the Lady Jays were not prepared to give up any sort of win. Senior Paige Tanner ended

up with 14 kills while senior Kayla Deats followed with 13. Junior Crystal Agnew and junior Amanda Ritchey had a total of 18 digs each, and Agnew finished with 38 assists.

Wentworth (3-10) didn't put up the same fight on the court that Gallaudent did, and it was apparent to all. The Lady Jays took that advantage and turned it into yet another win for the match with final scores 25-11, 25-12 and 25-14. The team had 11 aces against the Leopards while sophomore Kelsey Hayes made seven kills. Burkholder had 28 assists and four aces, while senior Kathy Perry had a total of 10 digs.

With two wins from the day before, no one knew what to expect from the women on Saturday. For a bright and early 10:00 a.m. start, the women finished off their pool play against Neumann University. The first game of the match seemed too easy for the Lady Jays, but Neumann started to play better and the Jays’ winning streak almost didn’t continue.

The Jays stepped up their game and made it known that they were there to make it to the finals, winning the match with scores of 25-16, 25-22 and 25-23.

Tanner again led the team with nine kills, 13 digs and four blocks. Agnew finished the third game with 31

assists and nine digs, while Perry ended with 19 kills.

In the finals the Lady Jays really had to step up their game. Against Eastern University (14-1), Etown (11-5) didn't know what to expect for the outcome.

While the Lady Jays played a great game, the Eastern Eagles won the tournament with final scores of 26-24 for the first game and 25-16 for the remaining two games. During the game, Tanner had 12 kills and 13 digs while Deats had nine kills and four blocks.

Sophomore Andrea Weaver had a game high of 18 digs, and Agnew finished with 27 assists.

Two of the Lady Jays were named part of the All Tournament team: Paige Tanner and Kayla Deats.

Both had amazing statistics for the four games played and were honored along with three other women; Maria Horning (Eastern), Justine Jeter (Gallaudet) and Katie Chefalas (Catholic). Eastern University sophomore Courtney Reinhold was named MVP of the tournament.

Saturday, the Lady Jays will travel to St. Mary's City, Md., to take on St. Mary's College of Maryland for a 1:00 p.m. match. The Jays will compete in their next conference match at home Oct. 6 against the Falcons of Messiah College with a 7:00 p.m. start.

cross country

women’s tennis

Kristy N. Castellini Staff Writer

Patricia A. Cangelosi Assistant Copy Editor

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Jays ready to run at Lehigh Lady Jays off to 2-0 start en’s cross country head coach Chris Straub has been with the Elizabethtown Blue Jays for 12 years now. The men’s cross country team won eight MAC titles in a row until the year 2006. They are the most successful team in school history; men’s soccer comes close with six titles. Coach Straub is hoping to make this year the start of their new winning streak.

The men’s and women’s cross country teams have only had two meets so far.

The men’s team finished seventh out of nine teams at the Navy Invitational in Annapolis and brought home a first place finish at the Dickinson Long/Short Course Invitational.

There are many goals for the men’s team this year, but the most ambitious is to win the conference. Also, there are 580 schools in our division and in order to make the New England South Regionals; the Jays need to be in the top 32.

Of this season’s prospects Straub said that this year’s team is very young and, unusually, has only one senior runner, which means that the dynamics are very different from last year.

Straub made a point of saying who stood out on the team and who is really doing a great job. He made it clear that sophomores Colby Miller and Eric Reichert were holding up the team well with their first and second respective places between the Navy and Dickinson meet.

Senior Myles Lund, who is also a captain, is their number three runner, I joined a very talented and Straub said he is doing a great job team whose will for as well. Newcomer, first-year Aaron success is phenomenal. Focht, is a standout and is really stepping up and adjusting and transitionAaron Focht ing well with school and cross country, First-year according to Straub. Junior Chris Men’s cross country team Heisey, another captain, has a foot injury. “We have been ailing without him,” Straub said.

“I am really excited for this season, and I joined a very talented team whose will for success is phenomenal,” Focht said. He also explained how it is all about finding a balance and how taking care of his body is the most important thing. Heisey spoke of his frustration with not being able to compete due to his injury. “I would rather lead by example and just be out there running and training with the team, as opposed to sitting around watching everyone,” he said.

The women’s cross country ran well at the Lebanon Valley College Invitational, finishing second out of seven teams, and at Dickinson, finishing fifth of 24. Straub is the assistant coach for the women’s team and said that Megan VanDenHengel, a senior captain, is doing great this year and is really standing out.

Straub thinks that “this is a great decade of fantastic athletes that came through the program here at Elizabethtown.” He also mentioned that between men’s and women’s cross country, there has been an individual who has made it to Nationals since 1999, and he hopes to keep this tradition alive for many years to come.

Both the men’s and women’s cross country teams will race in the Paul Short Run Friday at Lehigh, where they will compete against more than 100 other schools.

he women’s tennis team is off to a dynamic start this season with a 2-0 record after soundly defeating Arcadia University Sept. 19 and Messiah College Sept. 24. The Lady Jays, led by head coach Matt Helsel ’07 and assistant coach Jessica Long, parin a Southeast Regional As the season goes on, ticipated Tournament this past weekend in it will only get better. Fredericksburg, Va. This included tournaments with other We have a lot of talent individual teams in the region. and I know we can go Like many other athletic teams on campus, women’s tennis has recently far ... As long as we experienced a significant turnover play our best tennis, of players. The Lady Jays lost Alice though, I see us doing Yu, a runner-up in last year’s Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic very well.

Corporation Championships, and Erika Belletti to graduation. The Lady Jays have found depth, howJess Russell ever, as five new first-year players Senior and captain have joined the team.

The eight Lady Jays on the team Women’s tennis team currently include two seniors, one sophomore and five first-years. The seniors, Jess Russell and Emily Swarr, are the team’s co-captains; Russell plays #2 singles and #1 doubles, while Swarr plays #1 singles and #1 doubles.

Russell and Swarr were both named to the first-team All-Commonwealth Conference women’s tennis team last season, while sophomore Sarah Poulle was named Rookie of the Year and was a second-team selection.

Russell is grateful for the energy that the new players have brought to the team. “To have a team of mostly freshmen is definitely interesting,” she said. “So far, they have made a huge positive impact on our team and contribute to our success. The chemistry is great.”

Swarr agreed. “We get along great, even though a majority of us have only been playing together for a short period of time. We support each other during matches and work well together as a team,” she said.

Not only are the team captains impressed, but they are also excited for the Lady Jays’ future. “As the season goes on, it will only get better,” Russell said. “We have a lot of talent, and I know we can go far, but with such a young team, it’s hard to have any expectations. As long as we play our best tennis, though, I see us doing very well.”

“We take our matches one at a time … one point at a time,” Swarr added.

“This season is shaping up well.” She believes the team members are all optimistic and look forward to playing together this season.

The Lady Jays’ match against Albright College, originally scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, has been postponed. The Jays will host Albright Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. start.

sports

October 1, 2009

the Etownian

women’s soccer

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Jays save face with last-minute goal against Cougars Alexis L. Morris Staff Writer Sara E. Crimmel Sports Editor

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enior Ellen Parr secured the Elizabethtown women’s soccer team’s second consecutive win last night when she scored on a ball that had just bounced off a defender’s face. Parr’s goal came with just under five minutes left to play in a non-conference match against Misericordia.

The Lady Jays finished with a 13-8 advantage in shots over the Cougars.

The Jays also took 15 corner kicks while the Cougars only took one. Junior goalkeeper Kristen Kelly made one save to record her first shutout of the season for the Lady Jays.

Monday, the Lady Jays ended their three-game losing streak with a conference victory against Alvernia University. After more than 100 minutes of tough play, the Crusaders scored against themselves to give the Lady Jays the win.

After the first five minutes, senior captain Christina Sheppard attempted a shot on goal. This set the pace for the whole game as the Lady Jays continued to dominate the Crusaders’ half of the field. At the end of the game, Etown registered 24 shots, while Alvernia only had four. With one save, first-year Jess Manchak was able to post her second shutout this season while Alvernia goalkeeper Kirsten Kelley recorded nine saves.

This is the fourth game so far this

Photo: EtownBlueJays.com

Junior Kelly Fisher kicks the ball during a game against Moravian earlier this season. Fisher and the Lady Jays are 1-0 in conference play this season.

season that has gone into overtime.

Most recently, the Lady Jays suffered a 2-1 overtime loss against the Mustangs of Stevenson University Sept.

26. Only five minutes into the game, Mustang Stephanie Eyler scored on Kelly. Stevenson kept up the lead until almost twenty minutes into the second half, when junior Kelly Fisher netted a goal for the Lady Jays, evening up the score.

The tie held until time ran out, forcing the game into overtime. At 96 minutes, Eyler scored another goal, ending the game Stevenson 2, Etown 1.

“We didn’t come out strong enough at the start of the Stevenson game,” Sheppard said. “They scored within the first five minutes of the game, and then we had to play catch up.”

Parr agreed, saying, “We had a difficult time finding the net. We had many shots on goal, but they just didn’t go in.”

“Finding the net” has been a problem for the Lady Jays so far this season.

With an overtime record of 1-3, it is crucial that the team focuses on finishing the ball. According to Parr, they are working hard on being more aggressive in practice, as well as playing with more chemistry. Also, the women are finetuning their defense in an attempt to prevent early goals.

Sheppard agreed with this aim, pinpointing early goals as a crucial problem. “Letting up goals in the first few minutes has caused us some problems in previous games,” she said.

“We’re constantly reminding ourselves

We’re constantly reminding ourselves to come out strong in the first few minutes.

Christina Sheppard Senior and captain Women’s soccer team

to come out strong in the first few minutes, so we don’t have to constantly play catch up. We did well with this at York, scoring early. As a team, we need to capitalize on our scoring opportunities early and often.”

The practice strategies have obviously worked. Winning their first conference game was a vital goal for Etown.

Both Sheppard and Parr agreed that the time for making errors in games had passed.

“We need[ed] to take what we [had] learned from our previous games, both the positive and negative aspects, to get a win,” Sheppard said.

The Lady Jays’ next conference game will be at home against Albright College Oct. 10. Albright’s record so far yields 1-5-1, so hopefully Etown can continue with its winning streak in the Middle Atlantic Conference.

The game against rival Messiah College is not until Oct. 31, but with no losses acquired yet, the Falcons are sure to be a tough team to beat.

field hockey

Jays continue six-game win streak with Pride defeat Sarah R. Latimore Staff Writer Sara E. Crimmel Sports Editor

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enior Katy Boone scored an unassisted goal with just over eight minutes left to play to give the Lady Jays a 3-2 win over conference opponent Widener on Tuesday.

Senior Brenna Noon scored the first goal of the game just six minutes in off an assist from sophomore Caitlin Grimes. Widener answered back with two goals to make the score 1-2 at the end of the half.

Grimes tied the game ten minutes into the second half off an assist from junior Liz DeMatteis.

The Lady Jays finished with 10 shots and seven penalty corners over the Widener Pride, allowing just three shots and three corners. Senior goalkeeper Liz Hannegan made one save to continue the Jays’ six-game win streak.

The Lady Jays’ field hockey game scheduled for last Saturday at Eastern Mennonite University in Virginia was cancelled due to poor weather conditions.

Head coach Brandy Michael attributes much of the team’s success this season to heart and hard work, saying that the players are dedicated and have a clear sense of what they want to accomplish.

She cites confidence as a key factor in determining the outcome of upcoming matches with conference opponents. “As a coaching staff, we tell [the team] that they have to walk on to the field and expect to win,” she said.

Michael and the Jays “plan to play our game. We

constantly stress that if we play our game, we will win.

We need to come out hard and play with intensity for a full 70 minutes.”

Michael identifies Lebanon Valley College and Messiah (currently ranked #8 and #1, respectively, in the Kookaburra/National Field Hockey Coaches As-

sociation poll) as strong opponents in a field of tough teams. “We can’t take any game lightly,” Michael said.

The Lady Jays are on a roll and hope to keep their winning streak going strong. They will travel to Reading this Saturday to take on conference opponent Alvernia at 1:00 p.m.

Photo: Matthew P. Butera

Sophomore Caitlin Grimes attempts to stop a McDaniel player during a game last week. Grimes scored a goal and had an assist in the Lady Jays’ win over the Widener Pride Tuesday.

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sports

the Etownian

etown athletics • pro sports • ncaa coverage

October 1, 2009 high school football • olympics • analysis

men’s soccer

Blue Jays defeat Greyhounds, Mighty Macs Laura T. Robbins Staff Writer Sara E. Crimmel Sports Editor

J

unior Taylor Helsel scored twice in just three minutes to lead the Blue Jays to their ninth win of the season when they defeated Moravian 4-0 in a non-conference game Tuesday night.

The Blue Jays and the Greyhounds were scoreless at the beginning of the second half, and it was not until twenty minutes into the half that junior Tony Pacella broke the when he scored off We are still growing tie a free kick by first-year as a team, and with Giovanni Correa.

Helsel added an ineach game we grow surance goal off a pass a little more. from Pacella and extended the Blue Jays’ lead when he scored off Skip Roderick a cross from first-year Head Coach Ross Withrow. Withrow Men’s soccer team finished off the scoring with just over two minutes to play when he took a pass from first-year Guilherme Sousa and beat Greyhound goalkeeper Tim Dollarton in a one-on-one.

The Blue Jays dominated the Greyhounds’ half of the field, making 21 shots and allowing only two. Sophomore Andy Barnes played all 90 minutes of the game to record the shutout but did not need to make a single save.

Last Saturday, despite the miserable weather, Blue Jay fans donned their raincoats, grabbed their multicolored umbrellas and headed out to watch the men’s soccer team play Immaculata University. They were not disappointed as they cheered the Jays to an 8-2 victory.

The Blue Jays’ record had been spotless this year until Drew University recently beat them 1-0. That close game was upsetting to the team, but they came back strong against Immaculata.

Despite the rain, the late start (caused by the other team’s late arrival) and the waterlogged CD player that prevented the playing of the national anthem, the Jays’ energy was high as they played through the insistent rain. Junior Cameron Gettel scored the first goal of the game within the first ten minutes. Gettel scored

again later in that half, as did senior Luke Mitchell.

At halftime, the Jays led 3-2, but they were not satisfied. In the second half, the Jays scored again and again, thanks to sophomore Geoff Cochrane, first-year Javeim Blanchette, sophomore Dan Featherer and first-year Michael Andrei. Then, as the game was ending, Sousa got one final shot in for Etown, cementing the Jays’ win at 8-2.

The Blue Jays made 28 shots, holding the Mighty Macs to just six. First-years Eric Carr and Dan Saint-Pol each took a turn in the goal but did not record any saves for the Blue Jays.

Clearly, the Jays have bounced back from any frustration the game against Drew may have caused. Featherer, a top scorer for the team, commented on the satisfaction that came with the win: “After that loss we had the other day, it feels good that we could come back and work together.” He went on to say that he was sure the team could continue to do well if they kept playing consistently.

First-year Alvaro Martinez agreed with Featherer, saying, “We’re playing really well. Everybody expects us to do better than last year.”

Head coach Skip Roderick shares in his players’ positive attitude. “Obviously we are very excited about this season. It’s our best start since 1982, and we have gained a lot of confidence in our abilities.”

Roderick presented a unique view on the team’s strengths and weaknesses: “I think our strength is also our weakness,” he said. “It’s our youth and inexperience. First off, we have a lot of young players in positions they have never played before, so they still have a lot to learn. However, it also gives us our tremendous enthusiasm, which carries into the team unity and spirit. We are still growing as a team, and with each game we grow a little more.”

Roderick also says that this season they are doing things a bit differently. “Our motto this year has been ‘one game at a time.’

In the past we have worried too much about the end result or the ‘big game.’ Now, we are just taking things as they come.”

This strategy seems to be working quite well, as one can clearly see from the success the soccer team is experiencing.

Finally, Roderick asks fans to come out and support the team.

“It really makes a difference having the fans there. The players and the coaching staff really appreciate any support we can get.”

The Blue Jays will travel to Reading Saturday where they will take on Commonwealth Conference opponents, the Crusaders of Alvernia, at 3:30 p.m.

the etownian’s

Athlete of the Week Paige Tanner Sara E. Crimmel Sports Editor

T

he Etownian is thrilled to name senior volleyball player Paige Tanner as Athlete of the Week!

Tanner was selected to the All-Tournament team of last weekend’s Blue Jay Classic, where she led the Jays to a second-place finish, posting 39 kills and 40 digs over the course of four games.

Tanner currently leads the Lady Jays in kills with 181 and digs with 195.

Last season, Tanner was a first-team selection to the All-Commonwealth Conference volleyball team.

Tanner and the Lady Jays will look to continue their winning season when they travel to St. Mary’s College of Maryland Saturday for a nonconference competition.

Congratulations to Paige Tanner for her outstanding offence and for being this week’s Athlete Image: www.etown.edu/sports of the Week!

Q&A

Major: Corporate communications, minor in business Favorite Jay’s Nest item: Chicken quesadilla Little-known fact about me: I floss every day Favorite athletes: Misty May Treanor and Kerry Walsh Favorite movie: Fo r g e t t i n g S a r a h Marshall I can’t live without: My friend Ed

InsideSports

Etown Sports: Volleyball

Page 14 Cross Countr y

Page 14 Women’s Tennis

Page 14 Women’s Soccer

Page 15 Field Hockey

Page 15

Sports Recap Field Hockey (7-2) Etown @ Eastern Mennonite postponed Etown 3, Widener 2 Golf Susquehanna Invitational 8th of 14, 331 points Men’s Soccer (9-1) Etown 8, Immaculata 2 Etown 4, Moravian 0

Women’s Soccer (4-5) Stevenson 2, Etown 1 (OT) Etown 1, Alvernia 0 Etown 1, Misericordia 0 Women’s Tennis (2-0) Etown 9, Messiah 0 Etown vs. Albright postponed Volleyball (12-5) Etown 3, Gallaudet 0 Etown 3, Wentworth 0 Etown 3, Neumann 0 Eastern 3, Etown 0 Etown 3, Alvernia 0

Schedule

of Sports

Cross Countr y Oct. 2: @ Paul Short Run Oct. 17: @ Oberlin College Field Hockey Oct. 3: @ Alvernia Oct. 7: Gettysburg Oct. 10: Messiah Oct. 13: @ York Oct. 17: Arcadia Golf Oct. 1: @ Messiah Invitational Oct. 5: @ Franklin & Marshall Invitational Oct. 7: Blue Jay Classic Men’s Soccer Oct. 3: @ Alvernia Oct. 7: @ Franklin & Marshall Oct. 10: Albright Oct. 13: @ Lycoming Oct. 17: Widener Women’s Soccer Oct. 3: @ Millersville Oct. 7: @ University of Scranton Oct. 10: Albright Oct. 14: @ Lycoming Oct. 17: Widener Tennis Oct. 3: Albright Oct. 14: @ Lycoming Oct. 17: Alvernia Volleyball Oct. 3: @ St. Mary’s of Maryland Oct. 6: Messiah Oct. 8-9: @ San Juan, P.R. Oct. 14: @ Lycoming Oct. 16: Wesley www.EtownBlueJays .com