'Propelling' into the future

ROSEMARIE GoNZALEZ STAFF WRJTER

There is a new hit on the market. No, it's not a new song. No, it's not a movie. Definitely not a new book or musical. And no, it's not a new trend of clothing. It's Propel: Flavored Fitness Water by Gatorade.

Everyone has heard of Gatorade. That's the drink that comes in all of the possible different colors you can think of and that many athletes swear by. Well, the reason that mostly athletes drink Gatorade is because they are constantly in motion and they need something to replenish themselves with. It is a great thirst quencher and good for obtaining energy too.

Annie Nguyen, sophomore, cross-country runner said, "I tlrink Gatorade when I work out because of the good taste and it helps me to get the energy I need."

Gatorade was specifically created for the Florida Gators as an aid to their needs while playing football. "It is used to replace electrolytes lost in sweat when you do some physical activity," Dr. Tony Verde of the Exercise Science department said. "It became very popular down South after the Florida·Gators were using it, and it just caught on everywhere."

But the new product, Propel, is designed to be even better than Gatorade. It is a much lighter beverage than Gatorade and is designed for people who want to work out, and are tired of just drinking plain old water. Propel also contains vitamins B, C and E, which are essential in your daily intake but best of all they come in four different flavors so you can choose to try whatever suits you. Flavors included are lemon, orange, berry and black cherry. So pick your favorite.

"I think I tried it once. It's pretty good. I just drank it because it was something new," Matt Dietrich, sophomore, Elementary Education major who coaches sports at his old high school, said.

Propel is proven just to be the better choice over Gatorade because it is intended to not only quench your thirst, but help you drink more and more to keep you well hydrated It is a fact that lighter flavored drinks are proven to give you the motivation to drink more than something artificial or more heavily flavored. The flavor of Propel is a plus and it includes the vitamins necessary to live a completely healthy lifestyle that every active person should have.

Jennifer Howitz, junior, lifeguard at the Dixon Center said, "It's really good. It's light like water, not as heavy as Gatorade, yet it does replenish you better than water would after a workout."

Since it is a fairly new product, Propel is not as popular as Gatorade yet, but it is getting there. Some people have yet to try the new driajc and see what the big deal is, but until then we will have those few who still prefer water or the ever-popular Gatorade.

Kristen Boone, freshman volleyball player said, "I think I tried it once. It's not bad, but I can only drink water when I work out. My friend had it, and I thought I would like it. For a drink it's not bad It seems like it would be light enough to drink when working out, but I personally like water."

And water may be all you need anyway. Aside from the claims that Propel is better than water or Gatorade, Dr. Verde continued to say, "It is a marketing scam. Just as Gatorade did well, then it is expected that KATIEREING/PHoro EDITOIIPropel will. It is just flavored water. All you need to replace what your body has lost during a workout is water. Your body will nat- urally take care of itself if you drink just water. That is good enough."

;eems to have a different childhood memory of Kool-Aid. Lemonade tea, cherry, ue just some of the feature flavors of the powdered beverage. How many years smiles have you had!

Do not trust the trust policy, protect your safety

You really ought to count how many public documents include your social security number. The col· lege uses it for student identification instead of a randomly generated student ID number.

We are talking about the one number that can urlock your identity, making you vulnerable 10 identity theft, which the Federal Bureau of Investigation has called, "the fastest growing white-collar crime.''

The college's use of social security numbers is contributing to the risks of students being victims of identity theft. Even if not a single student were to actually fall victim to identity theft, if college practices contribute to even the perception of danger, they should be changed.

Our privacy is too frivolously handled by the college. Social security numbers can be found on student identification cards, professors' class lists, stu• dent schedules and even the commonly over1ooked second piece of paper printed by Registrar after you have already grabbed your freshly printed schedule

...a thousand words

and left the room.

For the moderately motivated criminal, stealing a student's identity could be easier than snagging a sandwich from the cafeteria for later consumption. Social security numbers are too easy to come by on campus.

Still not scared? Two words to frighten the unconcerned: trust policy.

Currently, the information that is used more and more by criminals to steal identities is protected only by the judgment of college employees. Last week, staff writer Jana Fagotti shared her experience with identity theft in Perspectives. Once her case was settled, she asked Charlie Shaffner, Director of Public Safety, what would happen if someone picked up her ID card and called the college, claiming to be a paren,, looking for her financial information. "There is a trust policy when a person calls on the phone claiming to be a parent," he said. "Most times we ask the person to come in if possible. Otherwise we trust that the person is a valid parent or guardian and give them the information." Of course Shaffner is the just the person who spoke of the policy. Although he has asked at least two students to call out their social security number in class when he did not find them on his roster, Shaffner is not the creator of the policy - he just follows policy.

Before the whole college accepts its largest fraudulent class, the administration had better reassess its trust policy and how it identifies its students. It wouldn't cost much to take the extra precautions to protect the campus from identity theft. At least offer another randomly generated student ID number for those students who feel uncomfortable with their social security number being tossed around unprotected. No matter the cost or efforts, it's a very small price to pay to assure the safety of some vulnerable college students. The college shouldn't wait until a tragedy forces it to do the right thing

Vince DeFruscio

Leanne Pantone

Ryan Mulloy

Shannon King

Catharine Hernson

Alexis Strizziere

Cheryl Wagstaff

Katie Reing

Paul Wi11i ams

Dr. Jerome Zurek

Christina Piselli, Amanda Snow. Anne Marie White

Staff Photographers Mary Adam, Beth Beswick. fwy Chan, Kim Clayton, Kristina Cooper, Michelle Crowley, Kit Dewey, ,enna Lewandowski, Stephanie Moritz,