Etownian Spring 2013 Issue 13

ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

The Etownian

www. etownian.com

Vol. 109. Issue 13

Thursday, February 14, 2013

INSIDE OPINION

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE CLASSROOM: HOW LEGITIMATE ARE THEY?

INSIDE FEATURES

INSIDE OPINION

GROSECLOSE VISITS CAMPUS, DISCUSSES MEDIA BIAS

SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR SPEAKS OUT FOR DAVIS

on campus

recognition

Photo-a-Day Challenge returns by demand Milligan publishes in two journals

Jill A. Norris News Editor

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Photo: Snanovic

The first Photo-a-Day contest gained so much popularity that the Office of Marketing and Communications decided to create another, but with slightly less Etown-specific themes.

SEE PHOTO PAGE 2

s of Feb. 1, Elizabethtown College began its second photo challenge after receiving numerous requests by current students and past participants. Unlike the fall 2012 photo challenge, the 28-day “Photo Fun in February” event includes challenges that are not campus-specific, encouraging students on campus, studying abroad and even alumni to participate.

“The photo challenge is a fun way for students to get creative and express themselves via social media, while engaging with the College and each other,” Integrated Marketing Manager Donna Talarico stated.

“Etown benefits because we’re increasing our social media following and interaction level, while also promoting the personalities of students, alumni and employees.”

Participants who submit a minimum of 15 photos could also win various prizes, compliments of Dining Services, the College Store and the Office of Alumni Relations.

The Office of Marketing and Communications would also like to remind participants to set their social media accounts to public and tag their photos with #etownphotoaday or #etowncollege to ensure acknowledgment.

Abigail Piskel Staff Writer

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r. Amy Milligan, religious studies and women and gender studies professor at Elizabethtown College, signed a contract with Rowman and Littlefield Publishers to publish her work “Kallah’s Choice: Hair Covering Practices of Orthodox Jewish Women.”

She will also be published in the fall edition of the Journal of Lesbian Studies in a special topical issue involving religion and sexuality, with her essay entitled, “Expanding Sisterhood: Jewish Lesbians and Externalizations of Yiddishkeit,” which corresponds to her recently published article, “Colors of the Jewish Rainbow: A Study of Homosexual Men and Yarmulkes” in the current edition of the Journal of Modern Jewish Studies.

An edited version of her dissertation, “Kallah’s Choice: Hair Covering Practices of Orthodox Jewish Women,” is an ethnographic analysis of the Jewish female cultural negotiations and adaptations. “I look particularly at how Orthodox Jewish women in Lancaster, Pennsylvania use their hair and hair covering to explore cultural meanings and practices,” Milligan said.

After two years of participating in services at Lancaster’s only orthodox synagogue, Degel Israel, attending community events and speaking with women in safe private spaces, Milligan was able to compile all of the knowledge that she gained for this piece, which will be published in 2014.

SEE MILLIGAN PAGE 3

charity

SIFE holds off-campus food drive to aid U.S. refugees Kelly E. Enterline Staff Writer

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his semester, the Elizabethtown College Students in Free Enterprise (EC SIFE) has expanded Etown’s food drive off campus by collecting food from local places in town.

This drive, “Rice for Refugees,” gives food to refugees in hoping to ease their transition into the United States.

Millions of refugees from countries such as Nepal, Myamar, Iraq, and Cuba have lived in refugee camps around the world for years, barely able to survive under desperate conditions.

The United States government has provided homes and food banks, like Rice for Refugees, for these people coming to America. However, the food provided is in minimal amounts and is not culturally familiar to these people. Many of them are also unfamiliar with canned food, so most of them will not eat it and go hungry.

Rice for Refugees is a program that is addressing this issue. It was first started at Etown through the Chaplain’s Office to be of service and hospitality to the refugees living in Lancaster County. Each year, a box was set up in the BSC to collect culturally familiar food such as rice, dry beans, cumin, nuts, vegetable oil, flour, salt, tomato paste, instant coffee, black tea, and regular noodles for these refugees.

The historian of SIFE, sophomore David Nagel, saw this as an opportunity for them to partner up with the Chaplain’s Office and try to expand this food drive beyond campus. He began planning early in December 2012. Not Photo: David M. Nagel only did he feel that this charity would impact This semester, Elizabethtown College’s Students in Free Enterprise hosted “Rice for SIFE as a team and for what they stand for Refugees,” a food drive to benefit immigrants and improve their transition into the U.S. socially and environmentally, but he also felt it was important to help the Chaplain’s Office, said. “The food drive was only taking place in awareness around the community. People just since they were not receiving much money on the College, and they were not getting many needed to know about it.” donations. I really loved the idea of helping the campus.

SEE SIFE PAGE 2 “I was inspired, yet disappointed,” Nagel refugees and I thought that this project deserved

political science

Jays attend one of largest political science conferences in U.S.

Research topic discusses Presidential Medal of Freedom in Orlando, Fl. Sarah R. Wertz Asst. News Editor

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eniors Jillian Casey and Julia Ward and assistant professor of political science Dr. Kyle Kopko presented an original research paper, titled “And the Medal Goes to….: The Politics of the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” at the Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla. on Jan. 4th.

The paper was the first empirical analysis of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. As part of their analysis, Casey,

2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and if we could include new observations in our analysis for submitting the manuscript for peer-reviewed publication, I think that would be ideal.

~ Dr. Kopko

Ward and Kopko assembled the complete database of all Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients since the award’s inception in 1963. They collected data up to the most recent award ceremony in 2012. They also collected data from the achievements that presidents recognized when awarding the Medal as well as the systematic differences between Democratic and Republican presidents.

Casey, Ward and Kopko presented their paper at the Southern Political Science Association’s annual meeting, which is one of the largest political science conferences in the country.

SEE CONFERENCE PAGE 2

News

page 2 PHOTO PAGE 1

February 14, 2013

CONFERENCE PAGE 1

Media-based photo Coauthoring presented at conference challenge begins again Contributors work toward publishing research Casey, Ward and Kopko knew each other well before getting started with the project and knew that they would work well together.

“For this particular project, there really weren’t any negatives in the coauthoring experience,” Kopko said.

The research paper was the end result of a long process of

performing data analysis and writing. Dean of Faculty Fletcher McClellan thought of the research question and approached Kopko about the idea of working on the project. In June 2012, the group started the data collection process and performed the data analysis.

Although the paper was presented to the conference in January, they

plan on continuing to work on the project to include any new Medal recipients for 2013. “2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and if we could include new observations in our analysis for submitting the manuscript for peer-reviewed publication, I think that would be ideal,” Kopko said.

SIFE PAGE 1

SIFE raises food for ‘Rice for Refugees’ Organization takes charity beyond campus

Photo: etowncollege

About two weeks ago, SIFE memb ers b egan setting up boxes at local churches and the Sam’s Club in Lancaster. Two churches have already reached out and helped this organization. Etown’s Church of the Brethren has currently donated 30 items.

These items will be taken to the Chaplain’s Office to be delivered to the agency in Lancaster, who will then distribute the food to refugees. They are hoping to receive more items from five other churches and expand to the Sam’s Club in Harrisburg by the end of this semester.

As advisor for SIFE, Dr. Kristen Waughen discussed why the group chose to work with this charity. “Enactus (SIFE) is worldwide and I think it’s good to remember that it’s not just us in our little

day-to-day community,” she said. “It’s important to realize that people are coming to our country to start a new life with the freedoms that Americans have, and that can be a d i f f i c u lt t r ans it i on beginning with food. So, we’re hoping to make that transition a little bit easier for them as far as food is concerned.”

Wau g h e n h a d a l s o stated that this charity is helping to teach Etown students about a different culture. “For the students, I think they are learning what the refugees’ culture is concerning food. We take for granted canned food and we don’t understand that some people have never seen canned food before because they’re used to going to open markets. Things are packaged differently,” she said. “I’m hoping the

students will learn more about the world around us and other cultures.”

SIFE is hoping to

seniors involved with it now will go a lot smoother so that we can continue it.”

If students would

“The food drive was only taking place in the College, and they were not getting many donations. I really loved the idea of helping the refugees and I thought that this project deserved awareness around the community.”

continue t his proje c t with “Rice for Refugees” after this semester. “We are hoping the cabinet members will be able to take this over,” Waughen s a i d . “Ho p e f u l l y t h e transition f rom any

~ David Nagel

like to get involved and work with SIFE and/or the “Rice for Refugees” food drive, they should talk to the SIFE Advisor, Kristen Waughen, or a board member to help get them started.

Photo: mmols

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News

February 14, 2013

MILLIGAN PAGE 1

STUDENT SENATE Senators work to solve residential issues, discuss proposal from Safe Ride program, welcome new members Kristen N. Lacaillade Executive Cabinet Vice President of Student Senate

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he past two weeks have brought about much progress from Senate as a collective governing body.

Our meeting two weeks ago provided answers to many questions regarding offcampus housing for next year’s senior and junior classes.

Residence Life interim Director Susan Asbur y a t t e n d e d l a s t w e e k ’s meeting to answer many of the questions students had on their minds regarding the housing situation for next school year. Although many of the answers could not be given definitively, due primarily to the uncertain number of next year’s incoming first-year class, Asbury did her best to put students’ minds at ease and to explain how these release and lottery processes work.

Asbury said that Residence Life does not h av e a ny i nt e nt i on of looking to the rising junior class to offer them the opportunity to apply to move off campus. However, this may change based on Admission’s class size and the retention rate of current students who will return to the College in the fall.

Students who have any further questions about this process are encouraged to email Susan Asbur y at A S BU RYS @ e t ow n . edu or Residence Life at RESLIFE@etown.edu.

This week we are hearing a proposal from our Safe Ride committee regarding whether or not it would be

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feasible to implement such a program on Elizabethtown College’s campus. This committee has been doing months worth of research into other institutions and discovering how they provide such a service to their students. The Safe Ride program, if implemented here, wou ld provide a voluntary sober ride for those students who wished to be picked up. The program would be completely student run, and a “no questions asked” policy would be in effect. More information about this program and its feasibility will be presented with the committee’s findings at this afternoon’s meeting.

Senate would like to welcome and congratulate three new senators who have been elected to representative positions within their classes. New to the Class of 2016 are Karley Ice and Colleen Taylor. The Class of 2015 welcomes Maddie Magill as well. Please remember to vote on Blackboard for those candidates who run to represent your class when elections are in progress.

These individuals play a vital role in expressing your opinions to College administrators, and you want to be sure you’re voting for the right people to get the job done.

Senate meets at 3:45 p.m. in Hoover 212 every Thursday. Please come to us with any ideas you may have, no suggestion is insignificant. Have a great week, Blue Jays!

Professor publishes in journals for Modern Jewish, Lesbian Studies In her essay “Expanding Sisterhood: Jewish Lesbians of Externalizations of Yi d d i s h k e i t ,” M i l l i g a n acknowledges the yarmulke as a representative of Jewish gender hierarchy. “I look at how the feminist movement impacted Jewish women and apply queer theory to assess gender and sexuality in relation to the traditionally male external marker of the yarmulke.” When a woman chooses to wear a yarmulke, she is making a religious and political statement about her place within the Jewish community.

Her research of the use of the yarmulkes by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community is part of a larger project that she is currently working on that reflects how Jewish lesbians use their bodies to not only communicate, but to also express their identity through statements such as T-shirts, jewelry, tattoos, hair, head coverings and so on. “I have been very lucky that my research pool has snowballed. I started with a group of individuals that Photo: Katie J. Brumbach I knew, and asked them to Dr. Milligan’s essay, “Expanding Sisterhood: Jewish Lesbians of Externalizations,” introduce me to others who will be published in the fall Journal of Modern Jewish Studies. might be able to help. At this research is a reminder of the richness When Milligan graduated from point I have interviewed close to and complexities of religion and Etown in 2004, she was told that doing eighty people across the US.” She has gender and sexuality, and how they research in both gender and sexuality conducted many different interviews work to shape each other. She also and Judaism was too interdisciplinary through emails, Skype sessions and feels very rewarded on a personal and there would not be a market for face-to-face inter views. In each level to meet the many interesting a combination of those two types of conversation, Milligan has been told people she has encountered and study. The discouragement did not many different stories, and learned appreciates the trust they have put stop her though. “I found some great more about the issues of religion and in her by telling their stories. mentors who really believed that my sexuality that the people of the Jewish Whi le attending Etown as a ideas had merit and encouraged me community faced. student, Milligan double majored to continue with my ideas. Seeing my The goal of her work is to draw in German and religious studies work in print is a reminder that if you attention to an aspect of religious with a minor in women and gender believe that something is interesting culture and ritual that is often studies. She shared her excitement and worthwhile, eventually others overlooked, such as the hair on top in her return to Etown to teach will come around and realize that of one’s head. Milligan stated, “There courses in both the religious studies different ideas aren’t necessarily bad!” is great symbolism and significance and women and gender studies She followed her instinct and was in head and hair covering – yet it departments, especially in courses able to be published more than once, is something which has garnered such as “Women of Faith,” where which is a great accomplishment for little attention from academics.” Her both topics overlap. anyone.

renovations

Swimming locker rooms spark athletic dept. renovations Kristen J. Hain Staff Writer

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he Facilities Management staff at Elizabethtown College recently worked on benches in the men’s swimming locker room. The maintenance project, which included replacing the rusted bench bases and sanding the wooden bench tops, began Feb. 1, and was completed Feb. 12. According to Joe Metro, director of Facilities Management and Construction, the bench bases will cost the college about $90 each and are a necessary replacement because some of them were starting to fail. The Facilities Planning and Construction Committee is in charge of establishing the priorities of renovations funding. Joe Metro, who is a member of the Committee, said “the locker rooms are only one area on campus where renovations are needed.”

The College sponsored 10 varsity sports programs when Thompson Gymnasium was first built in 1969.

The College now sponsors 22 varsity sports programs, yet Thompson Gym continues to be the only indoor athletic and recreational facility. “Needless to say, it is a challenge to accommodate all of the Blue Jay teams, as well as visiting teams and officials. When teams are in their non-traditional season, they do not have access to a locker room, and it is not unusual for an in-season team to give up their locker room for a day so that a visiting team can use it. There simply is not adequate space,” said Nancy Latimore, director of athletics and physical education.

According to Latimore, the College brought in a consultant from SportsPLAN three years ago to evaluate the locker rooms in Thompson and make recommendations for renovating and reconfiguring them. The College hopes to use this plan to take better advantage of the existing space and provide the teams with locker rooms that are more enjoyable

to use. Senior Jennifer Malik, a member of the women’s swimming team, believes these renovations are greatly needed and said that some of the locker rooms are in “bad shape.”

During the summer of 2011, two locker rooms, one male and one female, were renovated. All renovations except the flooring have been completed in these locker rooms. Either carpet tile or rubber flooring will be installed sometime this spring. The men’s locker room that was renovated is used by the men’s soccer team in the fall, the wrestling team in the winter and the men’s lacrosse team in the spring.

The renovated women’s locker room, one of the largest locker rooms in Thompson, is used by both the field hockey and cross country teams in the fall, the women’s basketball and indoor track teams in the winter and the outdoor women’s track team in the spring. As soon as more funding is available from the College budget or donors, more locker rooms will be renovated. Until this funding is available, the College will continue to make minor improvements in the old locker rooms.

Planning is currently underway for a new center for sports, fitness, and wellness. “The center will include new locker rooms that will be available for both varsity sport teams and campus community members using the facilities for recreational purposes,” Latimore said. It will still be several years before that building project is complete, and even when it is, the locker rooms in Thompson will continue to be utilized. There’s no saying when the locker rooms will be completed but Latimore assured that “renovating the Thompson Gym locker rooms is a top priority.” She believes that “it is important for our teams to have a clean and comfortable space Photo: Katie J. Brumbach to retreat to after practices and contests to shower Each bench that was replaced in the men’s swimming locker room cost and dress. And, a locker room is a valuable space for the College around $90. This is the first of many renovations foreseen teams to use for team meetings and team bonding.” by the Athletic Department.

Features

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February 14, 2013

bowers writers house

Author Jay Varner presents workshop, public reading; offers advice on writing Corey Aspril Staff Writer

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Photo: www.etown.edu/writershouse

Author JayVarner encourages students to develop stories that can grab and hold readers’ attention. During his workshop, he explained that a story should work much like a film: a conflict must be introduced early in the plot to pique readers’ interests, followed by a steady stream of Varner stressed the importance of developing a well-rounded and compelling character. To view a list of upcoming author visits at the Bowers Writers House, visit www.etown.edu/writershouse.

ast week, Elizabethtown College students, faculty and staff were fortunate enough to be able to spend time with and learn from author Jay Varner as he presented a workshop and public reading at the Bowers Writers House. Jay Varner is a local author, from the central Pennsylvania area.

Varner attended UNC Wilmington and received his master’s degree in creative nonfiction. When Varner was looking into undergraduate schools, he actually took a tour at Etown and considered attending the institution. After college, Varner decided to become a reporter for a local newspaper in his area. One of the articles he wrote was about a man collecting one million pennies. This article was eventually referenced in a joke on the well-known comedy show “Saturday Night Live.”

Best known for his memoir “Nothing Left to Burn,” Varner had much to share about his experience as a writer.

The book was originally intended to be a fictional tale, but it eventually became a nonfiction memoir. This work took him approximately six years to write before it was published and released.

Varner’s memoir was not well received by many of the people in his hometown. Due to the residents’ negative perception of the book, they (ironi-

cally) had thoughts of having a collective book-burning of this piece. Even his mother and grandmother did not encourage him to release it, and they wrote a review of the book on Amazon when it was released. After finishing his memoir, Varner decided to begin writing a historical novel, which he is still in the process of creating.

Varner was very interested in what Etown students had to say. He asked students what they were interested in writing and what kind of work they are currently undertaking. Each student made conversation with him, and he was able to give both constructive and helpful advice to assist the audience in gaining more knowledge and improving their writing.

One student explained that she was in the process of writing a book but was having difficulty with character development. Varner’s answer was helpful and insightful: “When making a character in a book, you have to know exactly what kind of character you’re making,” he said. “Ask yourself what the background of the character [is] and how [they] act.”

Varner also explained that a person needs to know how a character would feel if they were to pick up a certain object, like a water bottle, and what the character’s thoughts would be while handling the object. If a writer is developing a character that is nonfictional and is a legend from somewhere, he or

she would have to look at other writings to find out why this person was a legend and how he or she became one.

When asked about the overall experience of the workshop, sophomore Kaitlyn Pellegrino said, “I really enjoyed it. Being able to hear him really helped me understand where I need to start.

How he said to think like the character helps me to build my character.”

Writers at the workshop were also given advice on editing what they write.

When he first began writing, Varner wrote and then looked back after every chapter, but he soon found that it was a waste of time. He lost thoughts and ideas on what he was going to write next. He explained, “It’s okay to make a first draft that isn’t good. A writer just needs to get down their ideas and then edit later to make it look nicer.” Being lucky enough to have such a helpful, generous author come to Etown to offer his advice to help aspiring writers succeed is what makes the College so unique. Being able to learn from some of the best and most talented writers helps students to be one step closer to their own personal writing goals. “It’s just the kind of thing we offer at the Writers House,” Bowers Writers House Director and English Professor Jesse Waters explained. “It’s casual, intimate and personal.”

For more information on upcoming events at the Bowers Writers House, visit www.etown.edu/writershouse.

media and politics

Tim Groseclose gives lecture on liberal bias in mass media Allison M. Rohland Assistant Editor

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here would we be if we didn’t have the media? Dr. Tim Groseclose explored the answer to that question in his lecture based on his book of the same name, “Left Turn: How Liberal Media Bias Distorts the American Mind.” The lecture took place at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 in Gibble Auditorium as part of the Lefever Lecture series — named for Dr. Ernest Lefever ‘42, who founded the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. Dr. Groseclose is the Marvin Hoffenberg Professor of American Politics at UCLA. Previously, he has held positions in the political science and economics departments at Caltech, Stanford University, Ohio State University, Harvard University and Carnegie Mellon University. Groseclose earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematical and computational sciences from Stanford University in 1987 and later earned his doctorate from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1992.

In preparation for his book, Groseclose developed a system with “Freakonomics” author Steven Levitt and Harvard professor James Snyder that can determine how liberal or

conservative Americans vote. This system allows Americans to compute their own political quotient (PQ) — how liberal or conservative they are, based on their political views. The PQ scale ranges from 0 to 100, 0 being conservative and 100 liberal.

Through his research, Groseclose has determined that the average American voter votes 50.4 on the PQ scale, therefore rather moderate. However, Groseclose believes that the media distorts this number and sways the typical American voter to the left by 20 points on the PQ scale. Without the media, Groseclose’s research finds that the average American voter would be a 31.5 on the PQ scale; in other words, rather conservative. This is due to the media’s effect on our political views: 70 percent of these influencing forces come from the media, while only 30 percent come from our own natural views.

During his six years of research, Groseclose discovered his distortion of theory bias. “The bias in the media does not come from false statements, but rather from the stories and issues reporters do not cover or loaded political phrases,” Groseclose said.

Additionally, he stated that it is not possible for reporters to completely separate themselves from their personal political beliefs. In a typical presidential election, Washington correspondents vote 93 to 7 Democrat. In the typical newsroom, liberal reporters outnum-

ber conservative reporters 90 to 10. Groseclose quoted journalist and political pundit Bernard Goldberg, “If just about everybody in the newsroom thinks the way [journalists] do and shares the same political views as they do, then their views aren’t really liberal, are they? Of course not. They’re moderate … middle of the road … and yes, reasonable. Right. And fish don’t know they’re wet.”

While it would be easy to solely blame the liberals in the media, Groseclose stated that Americans affect the way the media reports, which causes a double causality. For instance, the Los Angeles Times has an extremely liberal readership; therefore, they will consciously or subconsciously put a liberal slant on stories. This liberal slant further feeds the liberal tendencies of readers and affects the tendencies of conservative voters in that area. However, Groseclose commended liberal reporters on their attempts to write unbiased journalism. They manage to bring their stories’ bias down from their personal beliefs, on average, to a 58.5 on the PQ scale.

A self-proclaimed liberal, I was apprehensive about attending this event — afraid of a liberal bashing session. However, Groseclose tactfully presented his ideas founded on reputable research and reminded me, as an aspiring journalist, to keep myself in check.

Next time I watch world news or peel open a newspaper, I’ll be more aware of the media’s slant on political events.

faculty panel

Bucher, Martin, Webster host panel on King James Bible exhibit Alexis C. Herrick Staff Writer

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faculty panel titled “Shakespeare, Literature, and the Language of the King James Bible” took place at 4 p.m. on Feb. 6 in the High Library.

The audience, completely engaged in the discussion, could be found raising hands, laughing, and interacting with panelists in a unique and thought-provoking way. The panel included discussion topics pertaining to the recent addition of the traveling exhibit, “Manifold Greatness: The Creation and Afterlife of the King James Bible.”

The panel was composed of three Elizabethtown College faculty members: Dr. Christina Bucher, professor of religious studies; Dr. Louis Martin, professor of English; and Dr. Suzanne Webster, associate professor of English.

Webster began the discussion with the trials and tribulations that led to the creation of the King James Version of the Bible. She brought up a somewhat controversial topic, discussing the use of difficult translations as a means of asserting authority over people in the past. Popes and members of higher religious authority wanted to limit the amount of translation that the common person could understand in order to have more control over the thoughts of their people. Though more and more of the popula-

tion became privileged enough to understand the language of the Bible, the words were still archaic and difficult to understand.

Webster also spoke on whether or not marginal notes should exist in the Bible. During the formation of different translations of the Bible, this was a much-discussed issue. The problem was that all people would not have understood certain common words translated in the Bible.

Putting synonyms for words that people may not understand could preserve the original text and just serve as an aid in the margins. However, many people felt this was destructive to the word of God, and it led to new translations.

Additionally, Webster used a PowerPoint presentation as a visual aid to show some of the different translations she discussed throughout her presentation. She informed the audience that the King James Version was created to be understood by all people and made worshiping God a far less difficult task for those who were less intellectual. “Such language speaks to all, even the vulgar,” Webster read from one of her last slides.

“I hope this presentation has provided some food for thought about the translations process,” she said. She concluded by highlighting the importance of this topic and its effect on religion. According to Webster, translators throughout history

changed their minds about the importance of exact translation of the Bible. They realized that by using a simpler translation, they could encourage more people to read the Bible and strengthen their faith.

Martin spoke next about Biblical influence on the literature of Shakespeare. He informed the audience that Shakespeare very frequently used the Bible in his works. Martin said that the Bible “derives the central ideas and images that run all of his plays.” Shakespeare frequently included allusions to the Bible, and his great tragedies are inspired by the stories of God, sinful behavior and forgiveness. He presented many examples of these connections to the audience, reading directly from the Bible and from different works of Shakespeare.

He also emphasized the fact that Shakespeare did not actually use the King James Version, but rather the Geneva Bible. It was the most popular and accessible Bible version in England during his time. Martin spoke about the importance of this text being relatable to the common person, just as Webster did. He then read passages from the Bible or from the works of Shakespeare, in which a common phrase was used. One example of this was the phrase “a two-edged sword.” The phrase “dead as a doornail” had the panelists and audience laughing in unison.

Bucher spoke of her own experiences with the

King James Version and of what translations she felt were most accurate. She informed the audience that she had grown up learning from the King James version. She displayed a few pictures of some elaborate Biblical illustrations from other versions of the Bible that she may have enjoyed better as a child, since the version she’d grown up on had bored her. When she finally purchased the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, she started to become more interested in studying the Bible itself. She spoke of the marginal notes that had previously been discussed and informed the audience that they invaluably aided in her understanding of the text.

She displayed a number of Greek and British translations and showed the audiences the differences between them. Bucher compared the historical books and the prophetic books of the Bible and showed the audience how varied the accuracy of these works was.

“There is no single translation that is perfect,” Bucher told the audience. She believes that exact translations are better for studying, but “functional equivalence is better for actual understanding.” She believes that the King James version is not the best Bible for the purpose of studying, but that no person should ever limit himself or herself to one translation of a work of literature.

Features

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Valentine’s origins, world celebrations Kelci J. Scannapieco Staff Writer

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ewelers, candy companies and greeting card companies anticipate a skyrocketing sale increase every February for one reason: Valentine’s Day. The average amount of money that an American consumer spent on Valentine’s Day in 2012 was $126.03 with the number expected to rise for this year’s consumer spending amount, according to a recent article on www.time.com.

Many people understand that Valentine’s Day is a special occasion recognizing love, but most people are unaware of its origin. February has been celebrated as a month of romance dating back to both Christian and ancient Roman traditions.

However, the exact origin of this holiday remains a mystery.

Some people claim the Christian Church decided to hold a Valentine’s Day feast in the middle of February to “Christianize” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to the Roman god of agriculture.

One legend from the Catholic Church suggests a priest by the name of Saint Valentine served in the course of the third century in Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Claudius outlawed marriage for young men after he determined single men unquestionably made for the best soldiers. Valentine disagreed with Claudius’ decree and continued wedding young lovers in secrecy. When Claudius discovered Valentine’s illegal actions, Claudius sentenced Valentine to death.

Another story suggests Valentine was killed for attempting to help Christians escape Roman prisons. During Valentine’s imprisonment, it is said he fell in love with a young girl who visited him during his confinement. Before being put to death, he wrote her a letter signed, “From your Valentine,” an expression still used in cards today.

Even though Valentine’s legend is uncertain, one common element which can be pulled from these stories is that he was a heroic, sympathetic and romantic figure for all of mankind to emulate.

Along with the United States, other countries around the

globe celebrate Valentine’s Day with their own unique traditions. Unlike the United States, Valentine’s Day in these countries involves more commitment and less commercialism.

Imagine celebrating Valentine’s Day with a complete stranger. In Scotland, the tradition of “The Search of the Valentine Date” involves seeking the first man or woman one sees on the street and declaring that person their date for the day.

In Japan, Feb. 14 is a day when women buy chocolate strictly for their lover, or “Hom-mei.” Women must wait the entire month of February to receive their gift, which is traditionally white chocolate.

South Africans hold a week-long celebration where young girls celebrate Lupercalia. This tradition requires girls to pin the name of their lover on their sleeve.

Valentine’s Day is a relatively new tradition in India. The day is covered by exciting newscasts, interesting newspaper articles and a week-long festival.

Italians celebrate the holiday by exchanging minor gifts along with more extravagant gifts such as diamonds and perfume.

In the United Kingdom, the exchanging of cards and candies is a tradition. Couples write sonnets, and young children participate in the holiday by singing love songs.

The Chinese Valentine’s Day falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month on the Chinese calendar. Young couples travel to the temple called the “Temple of Matchmaker” to pray for happiness and future marriage while single people pray for luck in finding love.

Many different celebrations of love and romance take place in countries besides the United States, and all of these traditions are derived from the legends of St. Valentine.

On average, there are 220,000 marriage proposals each Valentine’s Day, marking this holiday as one of the most memorable days of the year for couples, according to www. time.com. “Valentine’s Day is another way of keeping happiness in the world,” said first-year Gabby Genuario when asked about her thoughts on the holiday. “It’s about spreading love and joy to that special someone.”

2010 grad founds entertainment firm Vanessa L. Andrew Features Editor

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here’s no business like the music business. Chelsea Kempchinsky, a 2010 graduate of Elizabethtown College with a degree in business, agrees wholeheartedly. Now an office manager for Loretta Lynn Enterprises and the founder of 12th Street Management, an entertainment management firm in Nashville, Tenn. Kempchinsky has utilized her passion for music and her time at Etown to make her goal of working in the music industry a reality.

As a young adult, Kempchinsky was very enthusiastic about music, enjoying a variety of genres and trying to listen to as much music as possible. “I knew I wanted to work in the music industry ever since the age of 13,” Kempchinsky said. “At every concert I went to I would always ask everyone there how I could get a career working in music. I always asked them, ‘Where did you go to school? How did you get your job? What do I need to get a job like yours?’”

While at Etown, Kempchinsky was a part of the FBLA – PBL chapter. Not only did she compete in several competitions and attend conferences within the chapter, she was also heavily involved with Students Working to Entertain Etown (SWEET)— an organization she joined her first semester. While in SWEET, she started out as the SWEET Sounds Assistant Chair and was promoted to SWEET Sounds Chair. “If you ask anyone in my class, they knew how passionate I was about music and how much I talked about wanting to be a manager and work behind the scenes in the industry,” Kempchinsky said. “If you couldn’t find me during the day, all you had to do was come to the SWEET office because I was always there working on programs and thinking about new ones.” Kempchinsky’s time with SWEET reassured her that she was “actively pursuing” the right path. This drive led her to aim to have a major concert at the College. “During my last year on the board, we managed to book Safetysuit just as they were starting to get their major start,” Kempchinsky said. “I just remember landing the concert and hanging out and talking with them about wanting to move to Nashville and they were giving me tips and advice.”

Kempchinsky is confident that her choice in major was the best option for her. A business major with a concentration in management and marketing, Kempchinsky worked hard to ensure that her time at Etown would provide her with a “strong stand” for post-graduation plans. “I will say that those classes within the business program heavily assisted me in landing a job,” Kempchinsky said. “Throughout Etown [College], I worked as many internships as I could in different facets of the entertainment industry.”

After graduation in May of 2010, Kempchinsky moved to Nashville, but not before she took an unpaid internship at The Press Office with Jim Della Croce in Pennsylvania. A native of Nashville for over 25 years, Croce has worked with acts such as The Beach Boys, Martina McBride and many others. Kempchinsky learned the tools of the trade from Croce, taking jobs like tour press, publicist, production assistant and anything else she could. “This internship was the first

February 14, 2013

Ask Sarah

Sarah M. Knight Illustrator

Dearest Darling-est Readers,

It is safe to say that, by the time this lovely issue of the Etownian hits stands, you will already be well aware of what day it is. Valentine’s Day, the day dedicated to celebrating love, is one of the most polarizing of all holidays we have. Some use it as an opportunity to treat their special someone, others would rather shoot Cupid down with his own stupid arrows — but no matter how you feel about V-tines, it’s hard to escape. Even at Etown: talk of Anti-Valentine’s parties or romantic plans abound, the school store is decked out in pink and red, and candy-grams are poised to be sent. It feels like a magical time to be in love and an awful time not to be. Love is everywhere: wonderful and awful and sweet and sour. Thank goodness we have this one day a year to fully express every romantic dream!

And that’s what gets me, guys: I’ve grown to the point where I’m neither aggressively against Valentine’s Day nor whisked up in the ambiance, nor even particularly inclined to rant against the consumerist nature or the fact that Valentine is no longer recognized as a saint — but something about today still gets at me. Apparently, as greeting cards, Cosmo and candy sales tell us, today is the only acceptable day to tell someone you love you love them. The only day that counts, anyway, and only for the person you “romantically” love — which, to me, really limits what “love” is supposed to be. We love our families, our friends, our children, our pets … and so much of Valentines is focused on the bling and dozen roses style of romantic love for reasons I can’t fathom (well, okay, I can, but I promised not to rant about consumerism this year). I love my friends, and working on the Etownian, and even you, dear readers, in a completely non-creepy, enjoy-writing-to-you-and-helping-you-out way. So, as my Valentine to y’all: a big heart-shaped box of advice!

Peeps with romantic partner(s) this Valentine’s Day:

Okay, first of all, calm down. No matter what pressure you feel to make today (or tonight WINKWINK) special, hopefully you and your honey don’t consider today the end-all of romantic things. Some of you might do the romantic-dinner-dozen-roses deal, and that’s fine.

Some might want to eat leftovers and study for a test; that’s cool. Some might want to listen to The Cure together and paint moody portraits of each other; that works too. Just remember, you should be showing the love you feel every day. Do what y’all want today; just don’t drive yourselves crazy, you know?

Peeps rockin their own dang selves this Valentine’s Day:

real taste of the industry because I was dealing with Listen, I’m going to make a kind of blanket statement here (you many different things on a daily basis,” Kempchinsky can let me know if I’m wrong): there are a lot of singletons here at said. “I am blessed he took this opportunity and gave Etown. I myself am included in this statement, and realize that the me a shot.” After only two weeks of being in Nashville, V-tine time isn’t always the most fun when you feel excluded from Kempchinsky heard through contacts at her internship the above-mentioned “romantic love” that is really pushed this time about an opening at Loretta Lynn Enterprises, applied, of year. Eros is just one type of love, y’all. Spend today celebrating all and got the job. Having now worked there for almost that love you do have, because it is valid and wonderful and worth three years as an office manager, Kempchinsky is grateful celebrating! Everybody should just love everybody every day anyhow. for all the opportunities she’s received.

Be kind to people you don’t know. Tell your friends and family you “I’m so blessed because through this love them. Eat some chocolate. office, I’ve learned to do many differGuys, can I be all of your Valentines? I mean, if elementary school ent things from office management to kids can get away with it, why not? No matter what your Facebook inventory control, to tour managing to relationship status says, remember: being a personal assistant, and anything You gotta love yourself. they will allow me to get my feet wet in,” Because if you don’t want to make out with yourself, who will?

Kempchinsky said. “I will always keep trying and learning.”

Regular submissions resume next week; keep the questions coming!

Two months ago, Kempchinsky also took a leap of her own and started her PS: If you don’t want to make out with people, that’s cool. The own entertainment firm, 12th Street point still stands.

Management. “[12th Street Management] all started as a dream and a passion when I first knew I wanted to work in the music industry. I knew right from the start that I wanted to do artist management,” Kempchinsky said.

“I drive on Music Row on a daily basis Courtesy photo and imagine which one will eventually be the future of 12th Street Management.” An artist manager’s job includes everything from developing an album, tour preparation, interviews with the media and planning the “big picture” for the artist’s future. “One thing you have to keep in mind is if you do not have heart and passion for the artist you are working with, Illustration: Sarah M. Knight you should not be working with them because people can tell when you don’t passionately talk about their music or career,” Kempchinsky said. industry because of their ability to connect with the listener. Both Two of Kempchinsky’s clients include Jeremiah, a Christian rock artists are genuine and Kempchinsky believes that they’re relatable to artist, and Jeff Radford, a pop/rock musician. “I met Jeremiah through the public because people “can recognize themselves” in the music. a mutual friend in 2011 and again when he was beginning to talk to “Jeremiah is a mixture of Sidewalk Prophets with a hint of Switchfoot different individuals about doing his solo album in Nashville dur- and his song, ‘Like A Star,’ is a perfect story of how people can connect,” ing the summer of 2012,” Kempchinsky said. “Our manager/artist Kempchinsky said. “Jeff is something that hasn’t been heard before. relationship came about when I mentioned he should meet with my His voice has an influence of Miles Davis with John Mayer lyrics and friend [music artist and producer] Shay Watson and talk about the Gavin DeGraw vocals.” project with him and that’s where our process began.” Kempchinsky An advocate of communication and jumping out of comfort zones, then assisted with “planning the release date of the album, the photo Kempchinsky urges post-graduates to take risks. “When I came to shoot for press photos and album shots.” Kempchinsky met Radford [Nashville], I wasn’t afraid to cold call people and ask them to coffee through Musicians on Call, a nonprofit that brings live and recorded to learn about their career. I moved here knowing nobody, which is music to the bedsides of medical patients at no cost. A volunteer something I would have never thought I would have the guts to do, guide, Kempchinsky took Radford around to each room, wanting but I knew I had to try and achieve my dreams.” to hear music at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “As soon as Though always a Blue Jay, Kempchinsky still resides in Nashville I heard him sing acoustically, I knew he had talent,” Kempchinsky and is building 12th Street Management up from the ground, as well said. “His voice was one that anyone who heard it stopped to listen as becoming involved with SOLID, the Society of Leaders in Developand take note.” ment, and WMBA, the Women’s Music Business Association, taking Kempchinsky has a passion for the work of her clients, insisting a leadership position with the WMBA as the Events and Education that Etown students would enjoy both Radford and Jeremiah’s music co-chair to plan workshops, network and learning opportunities, and because their musical styles and lyrics are unheard of in the music community service projects.

, XOXO arah S

Opinion

February 14, 2013 politics

page 7

education

Corbett proposes The legitimacy of gender differences: do they go as far as the classroom does? new budget, liquor sales fund education revenue Karley R. Ice Staff Writer

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overnor Tom Corbett delivered his 2013-2014 budget address to the General Assembly Feb. 5. Corbett plans to tackle three big areas: transportation funding, pension reform and the privatizing of liquor sales to raise revenue for education.

The Pennsylvania House and Senate gathered to hear the $28.4 billion plans that have been expected since the beginning of his term in 2011. “I believe Pennsylvania’s best days are ahead … Pennsylvania has unlimited potential,” Corbett said. Although his ideas have a favorable outlook due to Republicans holding the majority in the Senate and House, they are very complex issues that people have strong concerns about.

A prevalent aspect of the governor’s plan includes raising funds for transportation improvements including repairing roads, bridges and mass transit. This plan would generate $5.3 billion over the next five years by removing the cap on the wholesale gas tax, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Corbett also proposes a 17% reduction in the flat liquid fuels tax. These actions do not guarantee an increase for gas at the pump, but the change would raise the public’s attention.

Corbett also wants to take action regarding pension reform. His plan to resolve the pension crisis seems controversial to many in that he suggests changing the calculation of future benefits for current workers such as dedicated teachers and state employees. The governor wants to create a new 401(k)-style retirement benefit for future employee.” Through this reform, $140 million will be provided in pension savings across the state,” Corbett said. However, the plan pays too much attention to the future and ignores the existing liabilities and the state’s reputation for underfunding this system.

The governor’s plan also focuses on raising funds for education. “My budget works to provide our public schools with enrichment funding to help them achieve academic excellence at all grade levels,” Corbett said. $6.4 million will be allocated to Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental Assistance programs that give 3,200 children the opportunity to participate in academic programs. Corbett’s plan also allocates $1.58 billion for state and state-related universities to keep tuition reasonable.

He wants to add $90 million overall, which will raise the total amount for education funding to $5.5 billion.

The plan for education also includes the first-time “Passport for Learning” block grant valued at $1 billion to enhance public schools for the next four years. This grant focuses on four areas. The first is funding for beneficial kindergarten programs that concentrate on reading and math through third grade. The second provides customized learning plans, taking into consideration that every student learns differently. The third includes funding for programs and equipment to support sciences and mathematics in grades six through 12. The fourth aspect invests in the safety of schools in that it will provide necessary security measures.

Corbett proposes that funding for education should come through the privatization of liquor business.

Liquor sales will transfer from government control to private enterprise, eliminating the monopoly currently in place. There have been mixed emotions about associating liquor purchases with funding for education.

“That’s inappropriate. We should not be tying our kids’ education to wine and spirits shop explosion across this commonwealth,” said Senator Jay Cost, the Democratic Minority Leader. First-year Collin Davidson disagreed, “I think it sounds logical. It’s still good revenue.”

The thought of using liquor privatization as a source is actually irrelevant. “The suggestion of privatization of state stores would only offer about $200 million more, but not until the 2014-2015 fiscal year,” said Dr. Rachel Finley-Bowman, Associate Professor of Education and Chair of the Education Department. Although Corbett wants to add $90 million to education, this amount and funds expected from liquor privatization struggle to replace the $900 million that has been removed over the past two years. “A true tax on Marcellus shale, not just an impact fee, and a reexamination of loopholes in the corporate tax structure might be more suitable alternatives,” Bowman said.

Governor Corbett has ambitious goals. He has decided to deal with some big issues. His plans for transportation are needed to improve our roads, bridges and mass transit. Although it is a tax increase, it is happening for the right reasons. His plans for pension reform are perhaps the most controversial aspect. This area will most likely be tied up in court and legislature to reach an agreement. Although Corbett is adding to funds for education, his efforts fall short of the serious needs of schools across the state. Governor Corbett’s plans are headed in the right direction, but they may need reform to be as effective as possible.

Photo: www.thelearningcommunity.us

Recent studies have questioned the significance of gender roles in the classroom. Behavior and socialization differences between boys and girls have been the focus, particularly the correlation between boys’ behavior and test scores.

Jill A. Norris News Editor

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ecently, article topics such as gender roles and what it means to be male or female have been making headlines as more research is completed to try to explain this complex phenomenon. The New York Times, a current example, published an article on Feb. 2 discussing a recent study that examines why boys tend to earn lower grades than girls, even though both genders score equally on standardized tests.

The answer, according to a study published in the Journal of Human Resources, is that teachers factor behavior into a student’s overall grade. After reaching this conclusion by analyzing data from more than 5,800 students between kindergarten and fifth grade, it’s hard not to wonder whether boys are at an academic disadvantage simply because of their male genetics and whether or not they should be accommodated for it.

Dr. Amy Thomason, assistant professor of education, does not believe that behavior should affect a child’s grades. However, she is still able to see why it frequently is. “All aspects of development are interrelated; a lack of self-regulation skills is likely to contribute to lower grades,” she said. “Grades in coursework often assess different skills than standardized tests do.”

I agree with Thomason’s statement explaining that grades and standardized test scores illustrate different skills and mental capacities. However, this is exactly why I disagree with her general feelings about grade calculations. While state and federal exams display a student’s intelligence, I believe that overall grades should demonstrate a child’s life skills, such as behavior and working well with others. Therefore, poor behavior should be reflected in a student’s grade, whether that student be male or female.

Despite senior early childhood education major Samantha Blewitt’s agreement with Thomason’s opinion that behavior should not affect a child’s grades, Blewitt also shares my idea that boys should not be seen as unfairly graded simply because they are more likely to act out in the classroom. She feels that additional elements in a child’s life influence his or her behavior.

“There are many factors that could affect a child’s behavior which

include: divorced parents, abuse, chemical imbalances, no support at home, death in the family and many more,” she stated.

Blewitt has also experienced first-hand the study’s findings that boys act out more frequently in class. “I do believe that more young boys have behavioral problems in school,” she said. “Boys tend to handle their problems in a more physical and verbal manner than girls tend to do. Emotional/behavioral problems do go hand in hand, but girls tend to deal with their problems mainly in an emotional way.”

Thomason has also had similar experiences with working with young students during her career. “There is also evidence that young girls are socialized from a young age to be more compliant and to have the behavior skills needed for success in school,” she stated.

While the study explains that boys are more likely to exemplify poor behavior, both Thomason and Blewitt believe that behavior can be modified and altered as a child grows up – thus illustrating that boys can break from their apparent genetic disadvantage. “It is like having a bad habit; you can work on stopping that habit, but it may come back around,” Blewitt explained. Perhaps if teachers continue factoring a child’s behavior into his or her grade, the student will be more likely to improve behavior in order to be rewarded rather than punished.

To accommodate a young boy’s grade simply because of his gender seems like a new way of expressing the old “boys will be boys” mentality. While I am not a genetics wiz nor understand the complex workings of a human’s genetic code, I do believe that students should be held to equal standards in the classroom, no matter their differences in gender, race, ethnicity or any other influential factor.

To say that boys should be helped because they tend to display worse behavior than girls is like unjustly passing girls in gym class because they are stereotypically not going to be as athletic as a male classmate. Anybody could say that they are at a disadvantage, which is why accommodating everyone for every trivial setback that they face seems monotonous. If men have been able to live successful lives, despite their newly discovered handicap, then there must be exceptions to this rule, as I am sure there is in the well-behaved label of young girls.

To accommodate a young boy’s grade simply because of his gender seems like a new way of expressing the old “boys will be boys” mentality

The

f f O d Soun

Compiled by Leah E. Nissley

What would be the best Valentine’s Day gift?

“A horse!”

-Lindsey Pekurny ‘16

to ates and a trip “Box of chocol Australia.” ulke ‘16 -Jacqueline Fo

cun trip to Can e re -f se n e “Exp ak.” spring bre ula ‘14

-Joey Serem

for

Opinion

page 8

career

hot topic

Boy Scouts exclude gay members: controversy in rebuttal of policy

Alumna offers tips for landing a job post-grad Patricia A. Cangelosi Alumna, Class of 2011

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Image: cbsnews.com

The Boy Scouts of America currently hold a controversial policy against allowing gays membership.

Obama recently expressed disagreement with the policy, which focuses solely on sexual orientation.

Kyle D. Fowler Staff Writer

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ast week in the news, the truth was revealed about both the White House and Obama’s opinion towards the Boys of America’s ban on gay members. While Obama expressed his disagreement with the policy, the issue was not settled. It was not until last week that the White House issued a definite yes in disagreement.

I think that it is only fair that members of the gay and lesbian community have the same opportunities and upbringings as heterosexuals have. Their sexual orientations do not change who they are as people. It is possible for people to group gays and view them instantly as molesters. Upon researching this topic, I was curious about how members of my own generation felt about the matter. Travis Light, a sophomore at Lebanon Valley College, was open to sharing his opinion on the matter. His view on this issue was intriguing to me due to the fact that he is an Eagle Scout.

Light said, “I feel like having gay troop leaders could be a bad idea.” When asked to elaborate, he explained that he felt he would be uncomfortable leaving his kids with a gay troop leader. I was also curious as to how women would feel towards the matter.

First-year Stephanie Pierce was willing to share with me her view on the admittance of gay members into the Boy Scouts of America. Pierce said, “I would feel fine about it. I feel like it would be the same thing as having a female teacher teaching your son in school. Everyone has the right to be treated equal and sexual orientation should not be a factor in how they are treated.” Some said they would not like leaving their son out in the wilderness with a gay troop leader or in general. Regardless if they were “joking” or serious about what they said, the message was clear. In society today, stereotypes have formed that have affected the way we view the LGBT community.

I believe that allowing members of the gay community to join the Boy Scouts of America will have a great impact on the future of our society as a whole.

February 14, 2013

Being a part of something special and sharing the bond that boys create with each other and their troop leader will allow for some of these stereotypes to be broken. It will allow parents to interact with gay troop leaders by forming trusting relationships with them, allowing them to look after and teach their kids skills they will need not only in the wilderness, but later in life. Also, it will give gay partners the opportunity to interact with other parents, helping them form friendships and understanding towards each other. Boy scouts will not be afraid to talk or interact with their troop leader while camping out in the wilderness or other various activities. It will allow for learning through experience rather than learning soley from stereotypes and opinions of peers. Boys will create and form friendships that will last a lifetime regardless of the sexual orientation of their troop members or troop leader.

Not only will it be a positive step for the heterosexual community, but for the LGBT community as well. Being responsible for a troop will allow them to learn to be comfortable with who they are. They will be able to interact with parents and not be afraid to be judged and based on stereotypes. It will make living and succeeding in today’s society as a member of the LGBT community easier, knowing that parents have enough trust in them to allow them to have an impact on their children’s lives.

I myself have never been a part of the Boy Scouts of America which may have an impact on how my opinion differs from someone who has been a member. Personally, I would not mind letting gay members join and be a part of Boy Scouts of America. I would feel comfortable knowing my kid is being taught important lessons for the future from a different perspective. It would allow him to grow and become comfortable interacting with members of a different sexual orientation. People deserve to be treated the same no matter what race, religion, or sexual orientation they are. My mother always told me as a child, “Treat others the way you would like to be treated.” That statement has stuck with me to this day and I plan on passing it on to my children for them to live by as well.

eniors: I’ve been in your shoes.

Two years ago I was an Elizabethtown senior, pulling my hair out and searching every job website known to man. I was determined to prove my parents wrong (“English majors don’t get jobs”) and beat the odds, because unfortunately, a lot of college grads are unemployed.

If you’re facing the same challenges and applying to virtually every job posting you see, it’s easy to avoid thinking about the interview process.

You might feel relieved and excited when you receive that coveted request, and you should be proud of yourself for scoring an interview!

But there’s work to do before you walk in the door of your prospective employer’s company (or answer the phone if it’s a phone interview).

Below are 10 real-life questions that employers ask candidates – I’ve personally been asked all of them – that you need to be prepared to answer.

Why should I hire you? Here’s where you outline your experience and what makes you a good fit for the position, based on the job description. Go into detail as though the interviewer has never read your résumé (even though he or she probably has).

Do you have any experience with [fill in the blank]? Regardless of what the blank is – Photoshop, swing dancing, writing a sonnet – don’t automatically say no. Even if you have no experience, demonstrate an eager willingness to learn, and if there’s any way you can think of to learn before starting the job, indicate that as well (“My English professor wrote a book about Shakespearean sonnets. I’ve been curious to learn how to write one, so I’m planning to ask her to teach me”). It may sound cheesy, but you’re showing interest and being proactive, and that goes a long way.

What is your desired salary? This is a tricky one, especially if you’re applying for your first post-college job. Sites like Indeed.com and CareerBuilder.com can estimate the average salary of a particular job in a given geographical area, so you can get an idea of an appropriate range.

What’s your greatest strength and your greatest weakness? Don’t be afraid to brag a little about your abilities; confidence is a quality that most employers seek. When you mention a weakness, immediately counteract it with something positive. For example: “Throughout college I struggled with time-management skills, but I’ve worked on

it and have gotten a lot stronger in that area.”

Where do you see yourself in five years? When answering this question, don’t commit to any particular company or job title. A broader response is the best way to go. List job responsibilities you’d like to have, tasks you’d like to take on, and an ideal work environment for you.

Tell me about a time when you faced a significant challenge, and how you overcame it. Think about your experiences in various jobs, classes, projects, etc. Choose a scenario in which you succeeded as a direct result of your hard work, dedication and creative problem solving.

If money were not an issue, what would you spend your time doing?

Your interviewer is trying to find out about your character and personality.

“Volunteering” is a good answer to this question – for instance, if you love animals, you could say “volunteering full-time at an animal shelter.” Or if you have a favorite hobby, maybe that’s your response. Just keep it productive – don’t say “sitting on the couch all day eating Doritos.”

In your own words, tell me what my company does. Yikes! This is a scary question to encounter if you haven’t done your research. Look up the company online and be ready with a one- or two-sentence summary of what it does. Employers want to see that you’re genuinely interested in them and not just playing the field, so to speak.

What was your favorite thing and least favorite thing about your last job? If you’ve had more than one job simultaneously during your college years, pick one to talk about.

Never say anything negative about a former boss, coworker or work environment. Your “least favorite” should be presented as a challenge and a learning experience. For instance: “My boss was very serious about getting every task done perfectly. It was challenging to please him at times, and that drove me to work harder; I learned to be more focused and detail-oriented.”

Do you have any questions for me? YES YES YES. Always be prepared with at least three questions for the interviewer. Examples: “What is the corporate environment like here?” “Is there a dress code?” “How many people work here?” “What do you think is the best part about working here?”

Questions? Want more job-seeking tips? Feel free to contact the author at Patricia.Cangelosi@gmail. com. Also, don’t forget that Career Services is there to help!

on campus

Policy for cell phone regulation during work begins debate Katherine G. Pebley Staff Writer

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lizabethtown College’s Phonathon recently implemented an office rule regulating the use of cell phones while at Phonathon. Employees must now leave their cell phones in a basket on the manager’s desk during their shift, and they are only allowed to use their cell phones outside of the office during a 15-minute break. Is this an issue?

If you’re like me and you didn’t know that Phonathon existed, it’s a division of the College’s Annual Fund, which provides scholarships and financial aid for more than 90 percent of the student body who receives financial support. Phonathon’s goal is to raise awareness and support from graduates, parents and friends of the College. The student program operates during the fall and spring semesters with phone calls typically made Monday through Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m.

Students are the lifeblood of the program, acting as Phonathon’s callers. Kaitlyn Miller, assistant director of the annual fund, likes her duty of managing Phonathon and its employees.

She believes in working side-by-side with students to help them develop the skills necessary to be Phonathon callers. “These are skills that they can use now and throughout their careers,” Miller said.

Last semester, cell phones became a problem in the Phonathon office, which can’t be a surprise to anyone. With texting

and all the applications you can download, it’s hard not to check your phone at least once every five minutes.

The management of Phonathon is implementing this cell phone usage rule in an effort to regain efficiency and make more calls per person per shift. “Rather than take a more aggressive approach, like releasing employees for cell phone usage during work hours, the Office of Advancement has worked with student managers to develop a way to alleviate cell phone distraction,” Miller said. “Given the unpleasant alternative, I fully support holding our employees accountable for the work for which they are being compensated.”

Each employee places his or her phone in a basket on the manager’s desk, including the managers and Miller. “Etown’s rules are like those found in most professional business environments,” Miller said. “When employees are paid by the hour, we expect a commitment to completing the work that employees are asked to do.” While I doubt most professional offices ask their employees to place their cell phones in a basket, I believe that cell phone usage in the workplace is required to be as minimal as possible.

Student caller Amanda Gruenbaum, a sophomore, understands why the rules have changed. “While we’re working, we should be focusing on what we’re doing and trying to call as many people as we can in the three hour time span we have,” she said.

Gruenbaum’s only concern with the new rule is that having everyone’s phones in the same basket could spread germs with

the flu going around. If the flu and similar illnesses are of concerns to Phonathon employees, they could leave their phones in their dorm rooms, avoiding exposure to at least some germs in their daily lives.

Student caller Chelsea Destefano, a junior, said that everyone in the office respects Miller and they are all willing to follow her rules. Another student refused to talk to me out of respect for Miller and her job at Phonathon, saying that this rule is not an issue worth fighting against.

Destefano generally agrees with the new regulation. “When you’re interacting with somebody on a call, you should not be on your phone,” she said. However, she doesn’t think the rule needs to be official as long as it doesn’t interfere with calls and numbers, though clearly it has or the rules would not have changed.

“No cell phones in the workplace isn’t that weird of a concept,” student manager Elizabeth Rall said. “Besides, it’s three hours.”

Rall realizes that student workers may have issues with the new rule and urges that anyone with a problem to talk to her or Miller.

“We are happy to take this more lenient approach of addressing what was becoming a problematic and regular occurrence of phone usage during work hours,” Miller said. “We are pleased with the results thus far and are equally pleased that we have not had to release any employees.”

Should student workers at Phonathon be allowed to use their cell phones during office hours? “It’s not okay to be paid to sit around and text,” Rall said. I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Opinion

February 14, 2013 letter to the editor

Professor pleased with critique, controversy Dr. Rita Shah Asst. Professor of Sociology

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wo years ago, I was hired on as an assistant professor of sociology here at Elizabethtown College. While there are many things that drew me to this campus, the desire to truly advocate for social justice and have open and honest conversations about what that means and the various (and sometimes contradictory) ideas of how to achieve it were key.

Therefore, I was thrilled when we brought Dr. Angela Davis to campus as the keynote speaker during Martin Luther King, Jr. Week.

I was excited for a variety of reasons. For one, the topic of her talk is precisely a subject that we should be discussing if we are to truly understand issues of peace, violence and social justice. The prison-industrial complex is a far-reaching and incredibly impactful part of society. It is also, sadly, a part of our world that is woefully under-discussed and often ignored. Dr. Davis is incredibly knowledgeable about all of the issues that surround the PIC, including the connection to slavery, the impact on race relations, the connection to private enterprise, and the impact it has on achieving real reform within the criminal justice system. Yes, Dr. Davis uses this knowledge to fight for decarceration, but she does not hide her position. Rather, she uses what she knows to advocate for what she believes is what is best for society, to achieve peace, and to fight for a better world. Dr. Davis’ talk raises an interesting argument and a fruitful point of conversation of what’s possible and what’s desirable in the quest for social justice.

What has really excited me about her talk, however, is its far-reaching impact. Much to my delight, Dr. Davis sparked numerous conversations all over campus. I have heard from faculty members who were enthused by her visit and the discussion points she raised.

I have had some wonderfully critical and thoughtful conversations with students both inside and outside of my own classes. I, and

Photo: politicalfailblog.com

Angela Davis, a political activist, recently spoke on campus as part of the College’s MLK week of events. Davis’ speech about the prison industrial complex brought controversy.

others, have seen and read some fascinating feedback as evident in the Etownian articles covering the event and the Twitter feed during her talk. Even more amazing, she sparked conversation beyond our campus boundaries, reaching students from neighboring campuses such as Dickinson and Harrisburg Area Community College, and community members from as far away as Philadelphia.

One of the remarkable things about institutions of higher education is that they provide an avenue to develop critical thinking skills, expose the community to diverse ideas and perspectives, and provide the means by which to question the very world in which we live.

The fact that so many of us are discussing Dr. Davis’ talk—whether to praise or criticize it— is a testament to Elizabethtown’s commitment to the goals of a liberal arts college. It is also a testament to the members of our community for so willingly engaging with these topics and putting their liberal arts education to use.

To quote Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York, “The freedom to discuss ideas, including ideas that people find repugnant, lies really at the heart of the university system.” We are fortunate that the College offers the space for such varied conversations.

I hope Elizabethtown College continues its tradition of bringing thought-provoking speakers to campus, especially those who bring members from the College and the community together and promote life-long and truly critical conversations about the state of our world and how to take what we discuss within the campus barriers to the world at large. Doing so not only accomplishes our goal of “Educating for Service,” but it also takes us one step closer in meeting our mission on a daily basis. And that is a truly beautiful thing.

Dr. Shah is an Assistant Professor of Sociology who specializes in criminology and the sociology of law.

PUT YOUR RECORDS ON On the Turntable: Fall Out Boy Genre: Pop punk/Alternative Rock

he first time I ever heard Fall Out Boy it was the summer of 2005, back when MTV was actually Music Television (sort of). I remember seeing the music video for “Sugar, We’re Going Down,” where the main character had these bizarre deer antlers. Regardless of the surreal videography, the song stuck with me, and the more I listened to Fall Out Boy, the more I liked them. Fall Out Boy is a band that got me through those angsty teen years, and I’m excited to see them back together and making music.

Fall Out Boy was started by friends Pete Wentz and Joe Trohman back in early 2001. The two regularly played together with hardcore punk bands, but were looking to strike out on their own. Patrick Stump, whose distinct vocals have made Fall Out Boy so recognizable, then a highschooler, overheard Trohman discussing his musical interests in a Borders bookstore, and decided to introduce himself. Stump originally auditioned as a drummer, but the discovery of his impressive vocal range soon had him performing as the band’s lead singer. Current drummer, Andy Hurley signed on soon after, and Fall Out Boy began to perform in earnest.

The Etownian Editor-in-Chief Brianna E. Wiest Managing Editor Elizabeth A. Enwright Assistant Editor Allison M. Rohland News Editor Jill A. Norris Features Editor Vanessa L. Andrew Opinion Editor Katie A. Bamberger Sports Editor Alexis L. Morris Photography Editor Katie J. Brumbach Copy Chief Tara B. Hayes Webmaster Evan J. Todd Illustrators Zach M. Link Sarah M. Knight Asst. News Editor Sarah R. Wertz Asst. Features Editor Kaitlin M. Koons Asst. Opinion Editor Samantha B. Weiss Asst. Sports Editor Adam N. Moore Asst. Photography Editors Leah E. Nissley Asst. Copy Editors Hannah C. Blecker Brighid T. Flynn Kaitlin E. Gibboney Joanna P. Gruber Sarah B. Kennedy Emily E. Vasas Reporter Austin M. Whitlock Business Manager Benjamin L. Frey Advertising Manager Trevor N. Bower Advertising Reps Calla M. Heathman Jennifer A. Hughes Brooke S. Wachtel Faculty Adviser Kelly L. Poniatowski The Etownian is the student newspaper of Elizabethtown College. All editorial decisions are made by the student editors.

With the exception of editorials, opinions presented here are those of quoted sources or signed authors, not of the Etownian or the College.

The Etownian is published most Thursdays during the academic year by Susquehanna Printing.

Alexa N. Viscardi Columnist

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Fall Out Boy has released five studio albums: Fall Out Boy’s Evening Out with Your Girlfriend (2003), Take This to Your Grave (2003), From Under the Cork Tree (2005), Infinity on High (2007), and Folie à Deux (2008). F.O.B.’s latest album, the first to be released since their 2010 hiatus, during which time the band members explored solo projects, is Save Rock and Roll (2013). The highly anticipated album will debut in May, and their concert tour is already sold out in numerous cities (Philly included, darn it).

Fall Out Boy’s single off their new album, “My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark (Light Em Up)” gives both new and returning fans a glimpse at the band’s return to pop punk glory. Filled with F.O.B.’s classic guitar riffs, danceable beats, and Stump’s signature vocals, “My Songs” reminds audiences why they fell in love with Fall Out Boy in the first place.

The band states on their website: “when we were kids, the only thing that got us through most days was music. It’s why we started Fall Out Boy in the first place [….] We needed to plug back in and make some music that matters to us. The future of Fall Out Boy starts now.” With passion like that, F.O.B is sure to go farther than before.

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

Connect with us: Facebook: Etownian Twitter: @Etownian

page 10 men’s basketball

Sports

February 14, 2013

Jays trump Mustangs 64-50; look to end season on high note Matthew Davco Staff Writer

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he Elizabethtown College men’s basketball team beat the Stevenson University Mustangs 64-50 in the Blue Jays’ second-to-last game of the season.

Junior Andrew Mantz registered a double-double on the evening with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Ben Cable also put up significant numbers, leading Etown with 21 points. The Blue Jays also stifled two of Stevenson’s key players: Christian Thomas and Brett Burrier. Thomas has had a breakout rookie season and Burrier dropped 25 points on Etown in the last meeting of the Blue Jays and the Mustangs.

Last week, the team suffered losses against Widener University with a score of 81-77 and to Hood College with a score of 69-52. While the Jays put up an admirable performance in the second half of the Widener game, which resulted in tying the game and sending it into overtime, they were ultimately unable to maintain their edge as numerous fouls by the Jays were capitalized on by the opposition.

The opposite case occurred in their game against Hood, during which the Blue Jays initially came off strong with a quick 8-7 lead against the team they had formerly beaten earlier in the season. However, Etown performed poorly in the second half. “Our biggest issue is consistency,” remarked Head Coach Bob Photo: Robert I. Graham Schlosser after the game, an issue Senior Joe Renzi tries to get over a defender and score. Although the Jays that has unfortunately plagued the did qualify for the conference tournament, the team is still playing hard. Jays throughout the entire season.

Fortunately, in the first half of the Widener game there were some impressive performances from senior Joe Renzi, Cable and junior Joe Schwalm, who each scored two 3-point shots while Mantz dominated with seven baskets. However, the overall attempt made by Etown during the first half was lackluster, as they only made 35 percent of their attempted shots while a weak defense allowed the opposition to score multiple shots against the Jays, resulting in a 10-point lead for Widener going into the second half.

The Jays performed even worse in the first half of their game against Hood, with only a 32 percent success rate among the multitude of shot attempts. Despite the fact that Mantz managed to score a quick lead early in the game, there was still a 10-point lead in favor of Hood going into the second half.

Luckily for the Jays, they were able to stage a massive comeback in the second half of the Widener game. Within a couple minutes the gap was rapidly closed by Renzi and Mantz, who scored a 3-pointer and a layup just moments apart, and the team as a whole made 50 percent of their attempted throws, showing a 15 percent improvement from the first half. Even the defense sprung to life as the ball was skillfully maneuvered away from Widener and even stolen away on three occasions. With 17 seconds left, junior Will Schlosser scored two free throws, bringing the Blue Jays within two points, and just as the opposing team took the ball back to score, Renzi stole the ball

and passed it to Will Schlosser, who made a spectacular jump shot, tying the game at 70-70 with only one second left on the clock to go into overtime. “It was such an amazing comeback!” said Etown first-year Anna Podoletz as the fans around her were invigorated at the prospect of a potential win.

Unfortunately, the win just wasn’t meant to be as foul after foul occurred and Widener sunk almost every single free throw, which led to the four-point loss.

The second half of the Hood game did not fare as well for the Jays as the Widener game. While the Jays were able to mount a solid defense to delay any scoring from Hood for six minutes of the second half and improved their shooting percentage by 12 percent and 3-point shooting by 30 percent, it was simply not enough to beat Hood. Over a four minute span, Hood went on an 18-2 run, which led to a massive 1- point lead with only seven minutes and 56 seconds remaining. In the end, the Jays could not recover from the pointscoring onslaught and lost by a wide 17-point margin.

D e s pite t h e l o s s e s , C o a ch Schlosser was proud of his team, declaring that “we don’t ever really quit. Some teams don’t do that and fold up tent. We don’t and I don’t expect we ever will.”

The Blue Jays will finish their season Saturday, Feb. 16 against Albright University at 4 p.m. at home. Although the Jays are out of the playoff run, the team still looks to end its season on a high note.

swimming

Men finish ninth, women tenth at MAC championship meet Both teams secure eighth place in 400 freestyle relay; Hannon, Supplee perform well

Lauren N. Fredericks Staff Writer

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he Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Swim Championships is a big event for the Elizabethtown College men’s and women’s swim teams. The 2012/2013 season MAC championship swim meet took place Feb. 8 to 10 and was held in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The teams had three days full of events, competing against ten other teams all hoping to be the conference champions. The women’s team entered the MAC championships with an overall record of 2-10, and in conference 2-7.

The men’s team ended their season with an overall record of 3-9, and in conference 3-6. At the end of the MAC championships the Etown women’s swim team finished in tenth place, while the Etown men’s swim team finished in ninth.

First-year Rachel Engelhardt said before the meet, “Coming in as a freshman, I don’t really know what to expect. I am nervous but really excited because we trained hard all year for this.” According to Engelhardt, senior captain Chris Nelson told all the underclassmen “to swim fast and enjoy it.”

The team was ready for an exciting and competitive weekend.

Head Coach Mark Wilson wanted his swimmers “to drop times and swim best times.” He also wanted “everyone to have a great taper and enjoy the weekend.”

On Friday, Feb. 8 the women’s team competed in three different events: the 200 freestyle relay, 50 freestyle and 400 medley relay. The 200 freestyle relay team, which consisted of senior Jennifer Malik, sophomore Becki Lane, first-year Elizabeth Finnegan and Engelhardt, started the day off strong, receiving fifth place. Jennifer Malik also swam the next event, the 50 freestyle, and placed 12th.

Sophomores Tara Deisher, Hunter was the 800 freestyle, and Etown’s coming in 15th and Supplee right nifer Malik, senior Chelsea Lorenz, Smith and Lane and first-year women’s team of Deisher, Engel- behind in 16th. The last event for Engelhardt and Lane came in 8th Bonnie Lisk competed in the last hardt, Lane and first-year Joni the Etown men’s swim team for place. The Etown women’s team event for the day, the 400 medley Fleming finished the race in ninth the day was the 800 freestyle relay ended the MACs in 10th place relay, coming in ninth place. At the place. The Etown women’s team in which Andrew Malik, Hannon, overall with a score of 119. end of the first day, the women’s finished the second day of events Capria and Suplee competed. The The Etown men’s team had a team was in tenth place. in 10th again. four men swam a good race and more event-filled day, participatThe men’s team also competed The men’s swim team had four ended up in eighth place. At the ing in four events on Sunday. in three events at that first day of events in which they competed end of the day though, the team Capria and Nelson swam in the the championships: the 200 free- on Saturday: the 200 medley re- fell to ninth place overall.

1650 freestyle, with Capria coming style relay, 500 freestyle and 400 lay, 400 individual medley, 100 The final day at the MAC Cham- in 12th place and Nelson in 25th. medley relay. The 200 freestyle breaststroke and 800 freestyle pionship consisted of two events In the 200 breaststroke, Supplee relay team was made up of seniors relay. Hannon, Martin, Nelson in which multiple Etown women came in 10th followed by Martin Nelson and Nathaniel Vander- and VanderWerff, swam a 1:44.31 swimmers participated. In the 100 in 15th. The last event for the men Werff, junior Andrew Malik and in the 200 medley relay to finish freestyle, Lane came in 10th, fol- was the 400 freestyle relay, swam sophomore Ryan Supplee. They in eighth place. Martin swam the lowed by Engelhardt in 13th, and by Andrew Malik, VanderWerff, finished their relay in seventh 400 individual medley for his next Jennifer Malik in 16th. The second Hannon and Supplee. The relay place. Sophomore Frank Capria event and ended the race in 16th. event for the women’s team for the team finished in eighth place. With swam the 500 freestyle, placing Martin and Supplee then swam day was the 400 freestyle relay, for this final day the men’s team ended 15th and finishing the race in 5:05, in the 100 breaststroke, Martin which the team, made up of Jen- up in ninth place with 148 points. coming close to his goal of breaking five minutes. The last event for the men was the 400 medley, where seniors Ryan Hannon and Shaun Martin, junior Michael R ents ch ler and Suplee came in seventh place. At the end of the day, the men’s team was in eighth place.

Saturday, Feb. 9, the women’s team swam in another three events: the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle and 800 freestyle relay.

C oming in tenth pl ace in t he 200 medley relay was the team of Lisk, Deisher, Smith and Jennifer Malik, finishing the race in 2:04.55. Engelhardt had a tough race in the 200 freestyle, Photo: Middle Atlantic Conference coming in 15th. The Fans from many different schools cheer as swimmers race against each other in the Middle Atlantic Conference last event for the day Championship meet.The Blue Jays competed well at MACs, placing ninth for the men and tenth for the women.

Sports

February 14, 2013

S T R SPO BUzz

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track and field

Invitational prepares Jays for MACs

THIS WEEK’S TOP SPORTS HEADLINES in Etown athletics...

Senior Jenna Niedermayer was named this week’s Middle Atlantic Conference Women’s Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week after her phenomenal showing at the Susquehanna Invitational Feb. 9. At the invitational, Niedermayer broke records in the triple jump and in the 60 meter dash. She broke her own triple jump record with a length of 11.35m (37’3”), and she broke the school record in the 60m with a time of 8.24.

in the NCAA...

The University of Kentucky Wildcats’ rookie star Nerlens Noel is now out for the season after tearing his ACL in his left knee in a game against the University of Florida Gators.

Noel was chasing down a fast break, jumped to block the shot, landed awkwardly on his knee and slammed it into the basketball support. Although Noel is just a freshman, he was having a breakout season for the Wildcats, averaging 10.5 points per game and 9.5 rebounds.

Four freshmen players from the University of Alabama are facing charges for beating two students into unconsciousness, robbing them and then using one student’s credit card to purchase food. Eddie Williams, Tyler Hayes, D.J. Pettway and Brent Calloway were the Crimson Tide players suspended from the team for these charges. Head Coach Nick Saban said of the incident, “This behavior is unacceptable for any student-athlete at the University of Alabama and not representative of our football program.”

in the pros...

Baseball fans everywhere are excited now that pitchers and catchers have reported for their spring training schedules. The other players will be reporting soon to participate in drills for conditioning, fundamentals and more. As Tim Kurkjian from ESPN The Magazine wrote about spring training, “It is a time to practice bunts, rundowns and cutoff plays, situations and drills that are very difficult to work on during the season; the repetition done in spring training usually has to last the entire season.”

With basketball legend Michael Jordan’s 50th birthday right around the corner, sports networks are filling air time with in-depth looks at one of the greatest basketball players of all time. However, Miami Heat star LeBron James has been stealing the spotlight away from MJ; James has scored at least 30 points in the past six games and shot better than 60 percent. He is the first player in NBA history to achieve such a feat, and with that new accolade, the endless MJ v.

James debate tirelessly drags on. James decided to make his own statement in the debate Tuesday with a tweet stating, “I’m not MJ, I’m LJ.”

Photo: Thom Swarr

Junior Brian Layng races through the hurdles. Layng finished seventh at the Susquehanna Invitational in the 60 meter hurdles.

Marissa C. Peduto Staff Writer

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he Susquehanna Invitational has moved the Elizabethtown College track and field team one step closer to winning a Triple Crown for the year as the end of the indoor track season quickly approaches.

There are only two weeks left until the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Championships. The invitational is the last stop before the championships and is split into two separate meets, with the next meet held Friday, Feb. 15 at Susquehanna University once again. Etown will compete against other Division III schools as well as DI and DII schools at the Invitational.

The extra competition proved to be no match for Etown. Junior Kevin Brady finished first after he vaulted a new personal record of 4.50 meters (14’9”). Not only did Brady’s incredible vault earn him second place on the College’s men’s track and field indoor top ten list of all time, but it also tied him for this year’s best mark in the MAC. Brady also finished eighth in the 60 meter hurdle with a time of 9.14.

According to Joel Hoffsmith, head coach of the track and field team, the track and field team is on their way to completing their goal for the year: winning a Triple Crown. To win the crown the team needs to win the cross country title in the fall season, indoor in the winter season, and outdoor in the spring season. The Triple Crown is “unofficial but Elizabethtown official” Hoffsmith said. The Blue Jays were successful with the first leg of the Triple

Crown, placing first in cross country and are now one step closer to winning the crown for the fifth time since 2003.

Not every member of Etown’s track and field team went to the Invitational. Most of the distance runners took the week off.

“Their training dictates that they don’t race every week,” Hoffsmith said. Out of the few distance runners who ran, senior Jake Blanton finished the 800m with a time of 2:02.31 and first-year Ryan Conway ran the 5000m and finished with a time of 17:00.29.

Junior Brian Layng was another Blue Jay who established a new personal record. On top of setting a new season-best record for vault at 3.80m (12’5-1/2”), he also improved his record third-place time by 0.06 seconds on Etown’s indoor top ten list. Layng also competed in the 60m hurdle and finished seventh with a time of 9.12 making it a close finish with teammate Brady.

Along with their teammates Brady and Layng, numerous Blue Jays performed exceptionally well at the meet. Senior Cameron Aregood placed third in the high jump with 1.83m (6’0”). While he was somewhat unhappy with his overall performance Saturday, he stated, “I’m confident that I’ll be ready for the Championship.”

Sophomore Andrew Khela and junior Stephen Smith topped their personal records and upped their season bests in the shot put and weight throw. Smith anchored for a 4x200m relay team and set his personal best with a shot of 8.46m (27’9-1/4”). Khela joined Layng on the

College’s indoor top ten list in the weight throw category at sixth place due to his 10.95m (35’11-1/4”) throw. This was a great opportunity for Khela as “some places don’t have that. Susquehanna does, so it’s a good meet for those guys who get a chance to throw there,” Hoffsmith said.

Junior Lucas Dayhoff, a name that has frequently appeared in the news for breaking personal and school records for throwing two weeks in a row, placed third with a throw of 15.17m (49’9-1/4”). Overall he finished ninth in the shot put with a throw of 14.20m (46’7-1/4”). While he is not in the headline this week, Dayhoff said that the invitational was just as successful as any other meet. “I have had some awesome meets the past two weeks but at some point you have to slow down and work on the basics of technique,” he said. “A consistent meet like this weekend is a good sign to show that I can throw far anytime.”

Senior captain Luke Rotenberger ran the 400m dash with a time of 53.29, the eighth fastest time of the invitational.

Sophomore Ricky Sturz finished the mile with a time of 4:41.70.

The women on the team also had a successful weekend. Senior Jenna Niedermayer had a standout meet after breaking the school’s 60m record and setting a new personal best in the triple jump. Niedermayer raced to a 8.25 60m time and jumped to 37’3” in the triple jump.

Junior Monica Loranger finished second in the pole vault with a 2.9m (9’6-1/4”) jump. This was Loranger’s season best in the pole vault. Many other women set new personal bests at Susquehanna.

editorial

Media coverage of signing day takes spotlight off athletes Alexis L. Morris Sports Editor

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ast Wednesday, Feb. 6, was national signing day for the Class of 2013 Division I football prospects. ESPN and other top sports outlets have a ball with signing day, providing minute-by-minute updates about which top recruits surprised the nation and signed with Auburn University instead of the University of Alabama. After the big names have signed, analysts begin discussing which team has the strongest class and producing draft after draft of their “2013 Way-Too-Early Preseason Top 25.” With so much hype surrounding the signing, am I the only one who thinks the sports media has run away with this yearly event?

I am not trying to discredit the importance of signing day for the athletes. Young men are making one of the most important decisions of their lives – what school they will attend, what team they will spend the next four years of their life with and more. The signing of the National Letter of Intent (NLI) is no joke; according to the NCAA, the NLI is an official binding statement in which the student agrees to attend that university for one academic year and the university agrees to provide some sort of financial aid for that academic year.

Signing day is also important for the 120 DI football programs across the country. Months of hard recruiting efforts are finally wrapped up (well, recruiting efforts for the Class of 2013 at least), and the guesswork is over. Although many recruits verbally commit to their institutions before signing day, until the signature is on the letter, no commitment is binding. With the smoke cleared, coaches can finally begin their strategizing for the upcoming season.

So yes, signing day is a big deal for future DI football play-

ers, their families and the schools they plan on attending.

However, it seems that this life-altering decision is made too rashly. Sure, recruits are contacted by coaches more than a year before signing day, which should mean they have plenty of time to consider their options before signing. Add in the last-minute decision flipping and it seems that these future collegiate athletes have done a quality job in choosing a school. While I am sure there are many athletes who do take this process seriously, I am pretty sure quite a handful take the wrong approach to one of the most important decisions in their life.

At Elizabethtown College, all of our teams are Division III, meaning that signing letters of intent are unnecessary because athletes do not receive any scholarship money to play for the Blue Jays. Still, it can be hard for some prospective student-athletes to keep the allure of athletics from being their primary reason for choosing Etown. When I made my decision to attend Etown, playing lacrosse was a factor in my choice, albeit not the main factor. We are not even offered scholarship money and free athletic gear, but it can still be hard to keep in mind that our athletic success at Etown will be more of a personal victory, not something that will be talked about for generations. Therefore, I can see why it is hard for DI football prospects with a shot at a professional career – an extremely slim shot I might add – to consider their school based on the football program.

The media’s portrayal of signing day is perhaps one of the biggest culprits to blame. With their instantaneous updates of the day, it can put pressure on recruits who have yet to sign. The No. 1 recruit Robert Nkemdiche signed his intent to the University of Mississippi Rebels rather early in the day, and sports analysts all agreed that this was good news for Ole Miss. Other top recruits choosing between Ole Miss

and other top schools could be more likely to commit to play for the Rebels with Nkemdiche locked in.

Other athletes succumb to the pressure of reporters who are so desperate to break the story of new commitments first.

This desire to catch the attention of the media prompts rash decisions from students. One top recruit, Reuben Foster, was verbally committed to Auburn and decided to display his choice by tattooing the Auburn logo on his arm. It would have been okay except Foster withdrew his commitment, ultimately signing with Alabama. Although Foster’s bad decision in body art is a different story in itself, incidents like this are products of the extreme hype surrounding athletic commitments to universities.

With months and months to make pros and cons lists and evaluate the many different aspects colleges have to offer, do athletes really take the time to critically think about what school will help them most in their life after college? Do you really think that 17- and 18-year-olds are looking at attributes beyond whether Nike or Under Armour sponsors the athletic teams or what the team’s chances are of making it to the BCS Championship Bowl? I don’t think so, but how can you blame the athletes?

They are only high school seniors, dreaming of careers in the NFL and not of getting a degree in a program that matters to them. However, analysts and sports journalists are solely concerned with how a signing will affect a team, taking away the focus from the students. While the media should be more concerned with the objectivity of “if this five-star rated right tackle goes to University of X, that will help their running game,” their mentality is dripping down to the minds of high school coaches and students’ families. Signing day has become such a spectacle that, unfortunately, the best interests of prospective student-athletes have become a footnote among the glitter and glamour of athletic scholarships and school-themed tattoos.

Sports

February 14, 2013 women’s basketball

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Win over Stevenson solidifies playoff berth for Blue Jays Sam Ceron Staff Writer

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he Elizabethtown College women’s basketball team will face Lycoming College next week in the first round of Commonwealth Conference tournament play. After beating the Stevenson University Mustangs Tuesday night 66-43, the Blue Jays secured the fourth seed in the postseason standings. First-year Rachel Forjan led Etown with 16 points, and junior Taylor Alwine collected 12 rebounds in the win.

Last Wednesday, the team played against the Widener Pride, who was one spot ahead of them in conference play and had already clinched a postseason berth. After the Blue Jays took a 34-31 lead at the half, it was the Pride who came back hard in the second half.

With 11 minutes left in the game, the Pride scored ten unanswered to put them up 54-44 with less than ten minutes remaining. With under six minutes remaining in the game, the Blue Jays made it very interesting with eight answered points of their own to cut the deficit and make it 65-61 with four minutes left in the contest.

However, the deficit was too much to overcome for the Blue Jays as free throws in the final few minutes

sealed the victory for the Pride with a final score of 75-69. Although junior Kendra Biettel was spectacular with a game high 24 points on 10-17 shoot-

17-8 on second chance points and 3517 from the bench.

The team turned their luck around on Saturday against the Hood College

half. The Jays could not get the baskets to fall in the first half as they went 1024, shooting under 30 percent from the field and only making one 3-pointer.

the second half with the help of Beittel, senior Katy Fogel, and junior Taylor Kreider. Sophomore Erika Ferro had a fantastic all-around performance off the bench for the Blue Jays as she finished with seven points, six rebounds, and four steals on the night. Free throws were key in the victory for the Blue Jays in the second half as they went 13-17 from the line.

Since their loss at York (Pa.) to start off 2013, the team has gone 9-4, including a seven game winning streak, highlighted by their win at fifth-ranked Messiah on Jan. 23. With a win in one of their last two conference games, the Blue Jays will have earned a postseason berth for the second straight season.

The team has made major strides over the course of the season and a large part is due to the way the team played as a whole in order to improve in conference play. “At the beginning of the season it took us a little bit to get to know each other. We got an all new coaching staff and new players as well.

I believe that is why it took us a little bit to get going,” Kreider said.

Photo: Thom Swarr Beittel feels the same way as Kreider.

Senior Nadine Yunginger and junior Kendra Beittel double-team an opponent.The Blue Jays’ recent win over “One of the biggest changes that we Stevenson clinched their trip to the postseason. made was just the idea of playing as a whole. That in order to turn the season ing, free throws were costly as the team that was last in the conference.

In the second half, it was all Blue around we really had to come together Blue Jays finished 4-14 on the night. Even with their record, Hood played up Jays as the team turned it up a notch. as one and trust in each other to get The Pride also outscored the Blue Jays to the Blue Jays, as it was tied at 24 at the The team went on a 15-2 run to start the job done,” Beittel said.

The Etownian’s

wrestling

King’s hands team close loss

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Will Schlosser

Alexis L. Morris Sports Editor

Photo: Athletics Department

Senior Colin Sheridan grapples with his opponent. Sheridan was the sole Blue Jay to pin his opponent against King’s College.

Taylor N. Kreider Staff Writer

F

ive wrestlers won their matches, but it was not enough to secure a victory for the Jays against King’s College Wednesday, Feb. 6. King’s College defeated Elizabethtown College in Wilkes-Barre by a final tally of 24-19, setting the Jays back to an overall record of 4-3 for the year.

The wins for Etown included senior brothers Colin and Zack Sheridan and sophomores Zeke Zimmer, Phil Landis and Jeremy Rieth. Colin Sheridan (149) had the lone pin of the night for the Jays, coming at the 4:24 mark. This pin got Etown on the board, after King’s took an early 16-0 advantage. Zack Sheridan (157) then immediately followed with a 3-1 victory over his opponent. Zimmer (174) put up a career high in points, beating his opponent 22-10. Landis (197) and Rieth (285) closed the match with two solid victories at the respective scores of 16-9 and 4-2.

Rieth’s win was especially satisfying for him, as it came against an opponent that had beaten Rieth in all three of their previous meetings.

Head Coach Eric Walker believed the team could have done better. While he noted the strong matches of the winning wrestlers, he thought they let a few matches get away from them as a team. He believed that with some more fight in those losing matches, the final results could have

been different. “I think we have an extremely talented team but yet very young, so last night was where we were making some youthful mistakes,” Walker noted. Those youthful mistakes will decrease with experience, so Walker believes the future is bright for the young Jays.

Etown had a disadvantage from the start of the match, as three wrestlers were unable to compete.

Junior Kyle McNulty (125), first-year Chad Lammer (133) and first-year Jesse Meaney (141) all sat out on Wednesday evening. The rest of the Jays were unable to make up for this setback.

However, morale is still up for the remainder of the season. Sophomore Corey Aspril stated, “If the team has the full lineup at our disposal, I’m confident that the team is tough enough to compete and beat any team out there.” Missing those three wrestlers definitely played a role in the loss, but the team’s high spirits are definitely a good sign. Hopefully, this confidence reflects positively on their performance for the rest of the season.

Etown’s match against eighth ranked Delaware Valley College scheduled for Friday, Feb. 8 was cancelled due to inclement weather. Their next match will be against Messiah College and York College this coming Friday evening at 6 p.m. in Thompson Gymnasium. It is senior night, so come show your support at the final home match of the season.

Feb. 14

Feb. 15

Feb. 16

Susquehanna Open

Men: Albright

Messiah

Women: Albright

Hood

Junior Will Schlosser has been a steady force for the Blue Jays this season. Although Etown fell to Widener last week, Schlosser kept the hopes of the team alive with his buzzer beater that sent the game into overtime. Schlosser is a threat from outside and from the foul line as well; his 85 percent free throw percentage is a team best.

Q&A

Photo: Rachel Forjan

Major: Business Administration Hometown: Elizabethtown, Pa. Favorite athlete/sports team: Allen Iverson Favorite musician/band: Dave Matthews Band Favorite Jay’s Nest item: Chicken tenders Favorite movie: “Remember the Titans” Biggest fear: Losing my first argument Hardly anyone knows that ...

I am a clan elder in the Dean Squad.

Feb. 17

Feb. 18 Women: Lycoming

Favorite place to visit: Citizens Bank Park In 10 years, I want to be … coaching college basketball.

Favorite Etown Memory: The basketball picnic Greatest Etown accomplishment: Hitting the game winner versus Scranton at home last year Greatest basketball accomplishment: Winning the district championship senior year of high school I started playing basketball ... while I was in the womb.

Feb. 19

Feb. 20