Friday, Oct. 6, 2006
C a b r i n i
C o l l e g e
The Loquitur Y o u S p e a k, W e L i s t e n
Radnor, Pa.
www.theLoquitur.com
Vol XLVIII, Issue 5
Unprepared students force colleges to compensate
Many students in high school are being inadequately prepared for their college careers. ASHLEY RANDAZZO FEATURES EDITOR
AAR722@CABRINI.EDU
Graduating high school seniors applying to national colleges should be concerned with one thing; hitting the books, a study conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute said, according to The Golden Gate, San Francisco State University’s weekly newspaper. “Often maturity is an issue,” said Dr. John Brown, associate professor of the mathematics department. “Some students are more interested in a healthy social life and don’t put enough
WHAT’S INSIDE
time into the academic portion of college,” Boyd said. The study found that 40 percent of professors consider their students to be lacking the proper preparation and skills for satisfactory performance in class, according to The Golden Gate. Dr. Kimberly Boyd, associate professor of biology, believes that Cabrini College has a healthy concern for their student’s academic performance. “Some students do get placed in more remedial courses to help them gain skills they did not bring to college, and while students might be upset with such placements, we do that to help guarantee their
DAN SQUIRE/PHOTO EDITOR
academic success.” In a joint effort to help track high school junior’s progress, the California Department of Education and the State Board of Education are now conducting tests that are all part of the Early Assessment Program. The EAP is being used by many colleges to determine firstyears student placements. On the website for the California Polytechnic State University, it goes into detail about the EAP and how it is being used for all California State schools.
STUDENTS, page 3
CONTRA COST TIMES/MCT
After students graduate from high school, some are not prepared for classes on the college level, therefore forcing them to enroll in remedial courses.
Smoking ban to hit Philadelphia in near future DAVE DAMIANO STAFF WRITER
DMD724@CABRINI.EDU
A&E BMFI Page 10
Sports Lacrosse Page 16
On Sept.14, Mayor John Street signed a bill to eliminate smoking in public areas in Philadelphia. The bill is expected to take full effect in January of 2007, but Street said the law would start to be enforced as soon as possible. The new law bans cigarette smoke in all restaurants and bars. Many sidewalk café’s and private clubs are not liable. According to Mary Claire Dale of the Associated Press, “The Philadelphia law will exempt sidewalk cafes, tobacco stores, private clubs and so-called local taverns places where drinks alone constitute at least 90 percent of gross sales.” If caught violating this law, a person could face fines rang-
SMOKING, page 3
Smokers will be forced to ʻbutt outʼ once the smoking ban takes full effect in Philadelphia.
DALLAS MORNING NEWS/MCT
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2 | NEWS
EDITORIAL
Friday, Oct. 6, 2006
Students escape by helping others KAITLIN BARR
SAT scores decline while value of education drops While first-year college students spend a lot of energy finding the most trendy selection of school supplies, the real worry these freshmen should have is whether they are prepared for college in the first place. In a recent national study, close to half of high school students who enter college need remedial courses, according to the New York Times. Also, the 2006 ACT scores indicated that only 21 percent of students applying to four-year colleges are ready for college-level work in the areas of reading, writing, math and biology. The question is, who is at fault? Are high schools not preparing future college students well enough, or is education “just not that important” to America’s youth? The value of education today is being taken for granted by many students. After a high school education, the price of a college education rolls around. The majority of the time, a college education can only be given once, if given at all. Whether you’re a commuter dishing out $25,950, or a resident paying $35,850, education at the college level should be valued and a priority. Stepping into a classroom, prepared for the beginning of a day’s enrichment of the mind, is progression toward the future. If colleges have to keep making up for what students should have learned in high school, all students in college can be impacted. Students who take remedial courses won’t get a strong education and students who are prepared may also receive an inferior education because they are in the same classes with poorly prepared students. Due to the growing trend of students falling behind, Cabrini continues to offer remedial courses, including 11 sections of remedial math and three sections of remedial English. Out of the 11 math sections, five classes are full, and the remaining classes are close to maximum capacity. Also, the three remedial English sections are full. Cabrini students receive college credit for the remedial courses. Since students are receiving college credit for what is probably high school work, they will never take a full complement of college courses, even if they graduate National testing is also an indicator of how well students are prepared for a college career. Although the average SAT scores for Cabrini’s first-year full time students entering in 2005, the current sophomore class, are 990, a 27 point jump 2004, Cabrini is still 40 points under the national average. However, this jump only puts the college back to the average of two years ago, 2003, when the average score was 984. The scores plummeted to 963 in 2004, so really, the college is back where to where it was, not improving. Maturity is also an important factor. As a freshman, it is difficult trying to find a balance between the social and academic aspects of college life. If you are coming from high school unprepared for what college has to offer you, many temptations will make it difficult to do the extra work needed to catch up. After coming from the structured high school environment, it’s easy to get swept away by the freedom that college has to offer. If students come in academically behind, it’s going to be harder to prioritize. Students might not realize that they have to work even harder if their skills are low. Also, there are just some people who don’t care or who aren’t motivated. Some students may be behind upon entering college, but they work extra hard to excel. Whether the standards are lowered in high school because the students aren’t trying or because they aren’t being challenged, the fact is, many students entering college are not prepared.
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STAFF WRITER
KMB738@CABRINI.EDU
Service immersion trips are available to any Cabrini student who loves the idea of getting away from their normal everyday life, to lead a simple lifestyle, while helping people in need. There are three different service immersion programs at Cabrini College. They include Project Appalachia in West Virginia, the Rostro de Cristo Experience in Ecuador, and the New York City Immersion Experience. Project Appalachia sends 15-18 students to West Virginia to help homeowners refurbish or help rebuild their homes. Campus minister Laura Gorgol said this year Cabrini College will continue to collaborate with the West Virginia Ministry of Advocacy and Work Camps. These students who have the opportunity to travel to West Virginia will truly be able to experience life in a different part of the country. Junior English and communication major, George Post, said, “Being able to make a difference in the lives of those people was a great experience. It was honestly the best week of my life so far,” about going on Project Appalachia his freshman year. This year, he is a student leader for this trip. When asked if he recommended students go on this trip, he said, “Yes! I recommend
everyone to go on this trip. It’s a great experience what the people give you is greater that what you can ever hope to give them,” Post said. The Rostro de Cristo trip is meant to help students have a truly religious experience. “The program invites participants to be in a relationship with the Ecuadorian people and reflect on the face of Christ in their joys and struggles,” Gorgol said. Students will experience leading a simple lifestyle as well as building an
together and spending a lot of time together.” When asked if he thought students would enjoy this trip, Nicolo said, “Who doesn’t love Christmas in New York! Everyone should go on this trip because it’s always a fun time.” According to Nicolo, students will have time to do some Christmas shopping, as well as get to visit Ellis Island and Ground Zero. Both Nicolo and Post are leaders for these trips. They both loved these trips and believe every student who would happen to go on these trips would absolutely It was honestly the best love it. The people who went on these week of my life so far. trips were truly great and they connected with all of them. -George Post, junior They have so many memories and look forward to going back on these intentional Christian community. trips, according to Nicolo and The New York City Post. Immersion Experience is a Project Appalachia will be unique immersion trip, in that it over spring break, from Feb. 25 follows the footsteps of Mother to March 2. The Rostro de Cristo Cabrini to learn about past and Experience will occur over spring present day immigration issues. break as well, this will happen Students get to explore New York from Feb. 24 to March 4. The City while partnering up with the New York City trip is over Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Christmas time. Applications are Heart of Jesus. This also helps located in the Wolfington Center. students understand the mission Loquitur welcomes your comof Cabrini College as well as its ments and questions on this story. patroness. Please send your comments to: “I had a great time on the Loquitur@googlegroups.com. NYC trip last year,” senior, soci- The editors will review your comology major, Phil Nicolo, said. “I ments each week and make corconnected with the people on the rections if warranted. trip since we were all living
2006-2007 Loquitur Staff Editor in Chief Managing Editor Copy Editor News Editor News Editor A & E Editor A & E Editor Features Editor Perspectives Editor Sports Editor Sports Editor Photography Editor Web Editor Events Editor Writing Coach Adviser
Editorial Staff
Amanda Finnegan Elizabeth Brachelli Stacey Turnbull Katherine Brachelli Brittany Liberatore Matt Donato Nicoletta Sabella Ashley Randazzo Daina Havens Jason Radka Patricia Sheehan Dan Squire Shane Evans Yadira Toledo Meghan Hurley Dr. Jerome Zurek
Staff Writers
Kaitlin Barr Monica Burke Jessica Chesko Christina Cimmino Katherine Clark Ashley Cook David Damiano Jennifer Davis John Fennell Leigha Giglio Ryan Grugan Jessica Hagerty Jamie Hufnagle Elizabeth Kerstetter Brittany Lavin
Elizabeth Lavin Colin Mason Pat McGowan Kasey Minnick Karli Morello Nicole Osuch Vickie Papageorge Megan Pellegrino Jillian Smith Brittany Such Jackie Turchi Grayce Turnbach Diana Vilares
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The Loquitur is Cabrini’s College weekly, student-run, campus newspaper. It is widely respected as the voice of students, staff, faculty, alumni and many others outside the Cabrini community. The Loquitur has earned its position by advocating for self expression through freedom of speech, and by serving as an outlet for readers to effect change on campus and off. Founded in 1959, the Loquitur has thrived and greatly expanded its readership. The paper now has 4,000 online readers and 1,500 print readers on a weekly basis. Our mission is to provide readers with an opportunity to voice their opinions freely, in an environment where their voices are effectively heard and respected. The Loquitur: You Speak. We Listen
Loquitur is a newspaper written, edited and produced by the students of COM 353, 352, 250 and 251. Subscription price is $25 per year and is included in the benefits secured by tuition and fees. Additional copies are $1 each. Loquitur welcomes letters to the editors. Letters to the editor are to be less than 500 words. These are usually in response to a current issue on campus or community area. Guest columns are longer pieces between 600 and 800 words and also are usually in response to a current issue on Cabrini College campus or community. Letters to the editor and guest columns are printed as space permits. Submissions may be edited for length, clarity and content. Name, phone number and address should be included for verification purposes. Personal attacks and anonymous submissions will not be printed. Letters to the editor and guest columns can be submitted to loquitur@googlegroups.com or to the newsroom mailboxes in Founders Hall 264.
Friday, Oct. 6, 2006
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Professors work to put students on track STUDENTS, page 1 “EAP provides an early signal to high school officials, students, and families as to whether the 11th grader will be exempt from taking the English and mathematics placement tests upon admission to a CSU campus. Currently more than half of the first-time freshmen need remediation.” Although statistics are scary for some, Cabrini students don’t find them hard to believe. Kerrin Monahan, a freshman liberal arts major, knows that many students are not ready for college on different levels. “I think it definitely has to do with the different backgrounds we all have. I know that all high schools are not the same, and some are not as concerned with higher education as others, but if a student wants to do well in college, they will,” Monahan said. Other students find it hard to be around all the temptations on campus, but realize that they are at college to learn. Greg Scott, a freshman business administration major, said, “I think one of the hardest things for me to do is adjust to being by myself.
SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS/MCT
A new study shows that many first-year students are coming to college lacking basic skills.
Although I have fun with my friends and doing the social side of college, I know what I am here for, and that is to get my degree.” Cabrini offers many different supporting classes,everything from more generic courses like English and math, to more difficult classes for foreign languages. “I treat the English communication department’s English 100 course as more of a support for the English 101 course,” Dr. Seth Frechie, associate professor of English, said. “The reasons for poor writing skills are many, but for some, the declining emphasis of writing on a secondary level is a factor.”
Frechie and Boyd both believe one thing in common, Cabrini is meeting the needs of its students. They believe that Cabrini is doing everything to help students with special needs through their writing center, tutors and disability support services. Boyd has a positive outlook for any student that wants to graduate. “Even though it might take a few extra classes or an extra semester or year of study, I think all of our students can achieve their ultimate education goal of graduating with their Bachelor’s degree.”
NEWS | 3
Breast Cancer Awareness Quiz As we all know, October is breast cancer awareness month. Following the upcoming article about breast cancer, take The Cabrini College Health Service’s quiz for a chance to win... 1 of 4 gift baskets worth up to $50
Quiz forms are available at health services secretary’s office. Return all completed quiz forms to health services in Founder’s Hall
Sponsored by The Cabrini College Health Service
gan
Smoking in public areas will soon result in fines SMOKING, page 1 Every offense following starts at ing from $25 to $300. The first offense is a written warning.
$25 and will continue to escalate to $300 per event. From an economic standpoint, this law could affect many bars throughout the Philadelphia
KANSAS CITY STAR/MCT
The smoking ban could affect many bars throughout the Philadelphia area, leaving the possibility of bars losing bussiness.
region, as people feel very comfortable smoking a cigarette while having a few drinks with their friends. Matthew Burge, senior political science and philosophy major, works part time as a server for Maggiano’s restaurant in King of Prussia. Burge said, “The problem is that this is a slippery slope argument. It isolates a group of people that pay a fair amount of taxes to do what they enjoy. Yet, it could be potentially harmful to a person’s health. It is hard to draw the line on what people can and cannot do, however a line needs to be drawn somewhere.” This law, if brought into effect in Philadelphia suburbs, is
viewed as an advantage to those without a nicotine addiction. There is no doubt that some Cabrini students will be affected by this law, but most say it will be a good thing. Nicole Corinchock, a senior marketing major, said, “I am in favor of it, because I think it will improve the general public health concerns. There is no reason for people to be irritated by that lingering second-hand smoke, and it will hopefully improve the atmosphere for many places.” Andrea Domacinovic, a senior marketing and political science major, said, “The real reason that people go out to restaurants is to eat and drink, not to smoke. The
ban on smoking is a good thing, and it should not effect businesses.” Burge, who is a recovering smoker, feels that the ban is interfering into personal rights. He said, “It started with seatbelts and moved to smoking. If a line is not drawn, I fear prohibition is near.” Loquitur welcomes your comments and questions on this story. Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com. The editors will review your comments each week and make corrections if warranted.
4 | NEWS
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Friday, Oct. 6, 2006
Mission integration focuses on community MONICA BURKE STAFF WRITER
MCB727@CABRINI.EDU
Mentally ill inmates find it extremely difficult to follow with prison rules.
DETROIT FREE PRESS/MCT
Prisoners mental state worsens behind bars CHRISTINA CIMMINO STAFF WRITER
CMC737@CABRINI.EDU
According to recent studies, it has been shown that as many as one in six United States prisoners are mentally ill. In fact, the mental illness rate in prisons is three times higher than in the general population and are more common in females rather than males. In recent years, this problem has come to the surface and has gained the public’s attention, while most prisons have been aware of the problem as early as the 1980s. The Human Rights Watch study shows that while many state hospitals have closed, the Unites States prison system has quadrupled over the past 30 years. Dr. Jeffery Gingerich, professor of sociology and criminology, said, “This problem has been an issue for awhile but the public is just becoming aware of the issues
involved. No one knows what quite to do.” According to the Human Rights Watch, jails and prisons have become the default mental health system. This is due to an incompetent and under funded mental health services. When it comes to mental health facilities and prisons, Gingerich says, “They need to start working together a lot more,” while behind him a picture on his wall states ‘A Peaceable Kingdom.’ However, many prisons are designed to punish people not to provide treatment for the inmates that they hold. Most mentally ill inmates find it extremely difficult to act in accordance with the prison rules. Most get in trouble for destroying state property and fighting with guards. However, it is not known whether or not the prisoner has control over their own actions due to their mental state. Others are more prone to be taken advantage of by other inmates. Some
are abused, raped and have their belongings stolen. Mostly this problem lies within the amount of services that are offered and that are available to these mentally ill inmates. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Mental Health Services, there are five Mental Health Units provided in prisons in Pennsylvania that are located in Graterford, Frackville, Cresson, Rockview, and Muncy. Even though there are units available, that doesn’t necessarily mean that there are enough for every ill prisoner. Gingerich, who has had an internship in prisons before, said, “Prisons are understaffed and overpopulated,” which makes it difficult to treat every patient. He encourages and tells his students, “One of the most important jobs is working with mentally ill prisons.”
“The mission of Cabrini is rooted in the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. This office focuses on bringing that mission into life and action by involving the Cabrini student body in service to the community,” Christa Angeloni, an Americorps/Vista member, said. Angeloni is completing a year of service to the Cabrini campus. She describes the mission of Americorps as a dedication to the war on poverty. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Compact, which sends an Americorps volunteer to a college campus in order to organize students in service. Here at Cabrini, service is focused on the diverse population of nearby Norristown. Also organizing service in Norristown is Tammy Fritz. Tammy completed her year of service with Americorps last year. She works creating after school programs for children ages four through eight. These programs introduce kids to a college environment. Some of the activities the children participate in are campus tours and science experiments. One of the most innovative programs is called Acclamo. This program focuses on aiding the Latino children’s population. This program is an afterschool homework program for Spanish speaking children. Fritz described a typical situa-
tion that occurs in a largely Latino area, such as Norristown. Often times the children are fluent in English, however, their parents are not. This creates a problem for the children in completing homework assignments and studying for tests. Acclamo strives to see the scholastic success of all Latino children. Fritz was placed here at Cabrini and has been enacting her expertise with direct service and organization ever since. During her Americorps year she worked in Norristown with many after school programs such as Acclamo and another called Twenty-First Century. She also worked with the hospitality center and the Police Athletic League. Upcoming events include Homeless and Hunger Awareness week which focuses on raising funds and awareness here on campus. Fritz and Angeloni are enjoying the experience at Cabrini. Angeloni described her Americorps time at Cabrini, “It is a positive working environment, a constant network of support. Americorps provides a source of resources and ideas.” Tammy Fritz and Christa Angeloni both have offices in the Wolfington Center. Loquitur welcomes your comments and questions on this story. Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com. The editors will review your comments each week and make corrections if warranted.
CAROLYN QUINN/PHOTO STAFF
Tammy Fritz, coordinator of service learning resources, creates after school programs for children in Norristown.
Global warming raises environmental concerns among Americans MONICA BURKE STAFF WRITER
MCB727@CABRINI.EDU
The Gulf Coast is still reeling after last year’s Hurricane Katrina. This leads us to wonder why America’s coastlines are receding and ultimately disappearing. Some experts attribute this phenomenon to global warming. According to a report from ABC News, the glaciers of Antarctica and Greenland are melting at double the speed of recent years. This increase in water volume could lead to a
steady rise in the oceans, ultimately somewhere from 13 to 20 feet. Harvey Ruvin, an expert and leader of a team tackling the problem, has several ideas for a solution. Ideas that were suggested for a fix to the problem were things such as desalinization plants or moving oil plants. One thing is certain, any solution will be costly. Despite the millions or even billions that will be needed to fix the issue, scientists say doing nothing will cause an even greater price to be paid. Tim Flannery, author of “ T h e
Weather Makers,” stated, “There is no point in waiting until we’ve reached that tipping point. It’s too late then, it really is.” Freshman business administration major, Erin Rafferty, said, “If this keeps happening the result could be tragic. So many areas of the world’s economy could ultimately be affected. The livelihood of so many people will be destroyed.” The Dutch are no strangers to this problem. Holland is 50 percent below sea level and the government has already invested 8 billion in protecting their coastline. The system employed by
the Dutch creates a structure 50 times more sturdy then what was in use in the city of New Orleans. With the impending threat of another Hurricane Katrina-like event we wonder how important global warming is to American citizens. Megan Smith, a sophomore elementary education major, said, “I just don’t understand why the government can’t do more. Other countries realized the impending threats. Why did the government just ignore the problem?” Alicia Purrier, a junior social work major, said, “This matter deserves immediate attention.
The public is acting on environmental issues, but we must do more. People need to be aware of their contribution to the depreciation of the environment.” Loquitur welcomes your comments and questions on this story. Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com. The editors will review your comments each week and make corrections if warranted.
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Friday, Oct. 6, 2006
School supplies take on a new image JESSICA CHESKO STAFF WRITER
JNC722@AOL.COM
College students doing their back-to-school shopping are no longer spending the bulk of their money on paper and pencils, but rather on high-tech electronics. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2006 Back-toCollege survey, college students spend an estimated $36.6 billion and of that amount, $10.46 billion is spent on electronics. Marketingvox.com says that “college students will spend more than twice what parents of K-12 students will spend on back-toschool shopping this year…” Laptops, iPods, PDAs, Xboxes and flat screen TVs are just a few examples of the electronics that are flying off the shelves this season. Many students on Cabrini’s campus buy these electronics simply for their entertainment purposes. “I have an iPod,” said Danielle Ferrari, a sophomore biotech major. “It’s not for school use, just to pass the time.” Jen Daily, a sophomore psychology major, said that she does not have an iPod yet. “If I was to get one I wouldn’t spend more than $110 on it.” Not all of these items are just for entertainment purposes. Some are actually necessary for college students to have. “…My TV has a built-in VCR which I use to view my public speaking speeches because it is part of the class,” a sophomore English and communication major said. Other students at Cabrini also find many of these electronics to be necessities. “Before I came to school I didn’t have a cell phone,” graphic design major, sophomore, Christina Mastro said. “Since I got one it is easier to contact people in clubs and my classes.” Laptops are another college essential. They are quickly taking the place of notebooks and pens as the best way for note taking. “I still have notebooks but, you know, you have to email professors the majority of your work,” Bill Monahan, a freshman English and communication major said. Monahan added, “I still think we’re in the paper/pencil era but if you don’t have a PC you’re not going to get far in college, not just for school work but for com-
NEWS | 5
School shooting kills five girls CHRISTINA CIMMINO STAFF WRITER
CMC727@CABRINI.EDU
Three girls were shot and killed in an Amish schoolhouse on Monday before the alleged killer turned the gun on himself in Paradise, Pennsylvania. Thirty-twoyear-old Charles Carl Roberts IV, the shooter who also wounded eight other girls in the attack, was not Amish and also has not committed any other crimes to date. Roberts, who was a truck driver, blocked himself inside the school with six hundred rounds of ammunition. The crime was supposedly committed to get revenge for an incident that happed twenty years ago. Victims who survived were taken to local hospitals, where to more died the following day.
Representative Foley checks into rehab
NICOLE CORINCHOCK /PHOTO EDITOR
Many college students are spending an increased amount of money on the latest forms of technology.
Republican House Representative Mark Foley announced that he had checked himself into a treatment center regarding alcohol and behavior problems. Foley, who represented south Florida, resigned from office on Friday unexpectedly during an interview, where he was questioned about alleged e-mail messages that were exchanged in 2003 between him and teenagers. Foley is no longer running in the current elections but his name will be kept on the ballot. National Intelligence estimate leaks to New York Times The New York Times published an article on Sept. 24, that the National Intelligence Estimate concluded that terrorism and threats to the United States have increased since Sept. 11, 2001. President Bush responds that the war in Iraq has not contributed to these threats. That National Intelligence Estimate conducted their research and gave it to president Bush in April 2006, but was never released to the public. Now, only one tenth of the document is available.
Spinach declared safe to eat
THE RECORD/MCT
Last week the Food and Drug Administration determined that it is safe for customers to buy and consume spinach despite the recent outbreaks of E. coli that has sickened about two hundred people and killed one. The state of California relies on spinach as a crop that is estimated to bring in $258.3 million. The warning now only applies to Natural Selection Foods, which is located in San Juan Bautista, Calif.
College students today want to keep up with the latest technology such as palm pilots, iPods and cell phones.
munication purposes.” “I just got a Mac Book Pro and that cost me about $1,800.00,” Kathryn Roper, a junior graphic design major, said, “Although I have to wait for software compat-
ibility for the laptop, I know it is going to be worth it even after I graduate college.” Despite today’s high prices, none of the students seem completely deterred from buying these electronics. Some felt it necessary to pay the high prices in order to get better quality. “They are only expensive if you are going to the wrong place to purchase them and don’t have the appropriate knowledge on the piece of technology you are purchasing,” Roper said. Whatever their reasons may be for purchasing these gadgets, college students today seem to need and want to keep up with the latest in technology. Loquitur welcomes your comments and questions on this story. Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com. The editors will review your comments each week and make corrections if warranted.
Iraq parties attempt to unite The Shiite and Sunni parties in Iraq are attempting to come together to end an ongoing feud of opinions to hopefully stop future deaths of citizens. The plan consists of four points in hopes of an effort that will allow both parties to voice their beliefs on local violence. Committees in local communities will be formed that consist of representatives and religious leaders of both parties. The goal is to raise certain issues that they feel are not being defended and then the committee as a whole will work with the army to fix the problem.
Woodward’s book catches readers attention Bob Woodward recently released his third book, ‘State of Denial.’ The book analyzes President Bush’s defense mechanisms for the war in Iraq. Woodward’s last two books have also exposed the White House and President Bush’s Administration. This book suggests that President Bush has misled the public about the purpose of the United States in Iraq. It is also trying to gain the attention of the American people to question their leader even further.
6 I PERSPECTIVES
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Perspectives
Friday, Oct. 6 , 2006
Plans for new student center raise costly questions
KATIE CLARK STAFF WRITER
KAC729@CABRINI.EDU
The talk around campus is that a new student center is being planned for the near future. This new center will be built where the walkways are between Founder’s Hall and the Widener Center. The estimated cost for this new project is between $22 million to $25 million. There is still no set date on when this construction process will begin. “The President has indicated, however, that the ca mpus center and the colabo r a t o r y (improvements to the Library) are the next two maj
or construction projects,” said Dr. Christine Lysionek, the vice president of student development. Is a new student center necessary and worth the money that Cabrini will be putting out? There are many different mixed feelings around campus about the new project. A new student center sounds neat, sure, but is it needed? Aren’t there more issues around campus that need more attention than a newer student center? These are the kinds of questions I asked myself and to my fellow classmates. Cabrini has some great qualities about its campus. However, there are many things that still need to be improved or created. For instance, I know a big issue that a lot of upper classman are talking about is the parking situation. There is not enough parking for everyone in the houses, East and West Residence halls. “Every night I come back onto campus, and I drive around for at
DAN SQUIRE/ PHOTO EDITOR
Cabrini is rumored to be making plans to build a student center between Founderʼs Hall and Widener Center, taking out the walkway.
least a half hour looking for parking, hoping a spot will open up and I will not have to walk back from Dixon,” a sophomore Nicole Pirolli education major said. There should be alternative parking places besides the dreadful walk from the Dixon Center. Another issue that concerns some freshmen is the oldest residence halls they are placed into. All the students who once lived or are living in Rooyman’s and Woodcrest can all agree that it wasn’t the
Letter to the editor
best living conditions. I lived in Woodcrest last year and every double room had three freshmen squeezed into it. There is no air conditioning, no decent lounges and the bathrooms are horrible. Before we spend $25 million on a new student center, we should look at all the issues surrounding our campus life and realize what is more important. There are some pros towards the new student center. Of course, it will be nice to
Future of schools begins in Philly
Failed parking plan at President’s Convocation infuriates alumna NINA SCIMENES ALUMNI
’06
Everything that took place in the Dixon Center for the President’s Convocation on Tuesday Sept. 26 was professionally planned, from the seating accommodations, the honored guest, Elie Wiesel, to the recessional. What went on outside of the Dixon Center was another story, complete chaos. The parking situation is something that needs to be addressed! By eliminating the problem of traffic on campus, eliminate the cars completely…that seemed to be the philosophy. This was utterly ridiculous. Having people park their cars at Radnor Financial Center and offering transportation should have been run much smoother. After the event, I sat on a trolley for one hour going back to my car, or
so I thought. The driver took the longest route to the Radnor Financial Center by the Radnor Hotel…and then REFUSED to make a second stop at the other lot on King Of Prussia Road where the remaining of our cars were parked. I tried to even reason with the driver at first by telling him that it was only one turn away, on the way back to Cabrini. But he was not having it! I stayed seated on the bus because I refused to walk during rush hour back to my car. Staying as calm as I could, I politely said that I understood that his boss’s orders were to go directly back to the College but we really needed a way to our cars. He rudely said, “These are not my boss’s orders, these are the directions of my client.” That is when I snapped and said, “Well sir, we are not your client, we are the people you are serving and we deserve good service.” Myself, and four staff
members remained on the trolley at Financial Center near the Radnor Hotel. Among the four staff members was a woman who was four months pregnant, and she nicely brought this fact to the driver’s attention and still he refused to take us to our final destination! We were taken back to Cabrini College, the only place he would drive us. This means that we were on a trolley for one hour to be brought back to the same place we started! When we arrived at Cabrini, I brought this situation immediately to public safety officers, and they kindly offered to drive us to our cars. Garret, Thank you for the ride! These issues should be resolved for upcoming special events held on campus. If this same trolley company is hired again, please be sure that Anthony, the driver of trolley number 115, is not welcomed back!
Please send letters to the editor to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com
have somewhere students can just hang out. However, is that what the new student center is going to be like, or is it just going to be another lounge type area with a few couches and televisions? According to Dr. Lysionek, this center is not going be just another boring lounge. They are planning for it to have lots of different qualities to accommodate both the students and faculty. “I know some schools have pool tables, stores and food
in their student centers, if ours is going to be like that, then yes, I am all for it,” said sophomore criminology major Lisa Romano. Most people are saying this center will be good for the commuters; however, most of my friends who are commuters usually hang out in the library, Founder’s main lounge, or in a friend’s dorm. “I’m a commuter and I usually always find somewhere or something to keep me busy during the day. I don’t think a new student center is worth all that money,” Sarah Codd, a sophomore early childhood education major said. Most of the people I have talked with about the new center were all for it, until I told them how much money Cabrini was planning on spending on it. That is when mostly everyone got turned off by it. I can agree with that. I believe Cabrini needs to spend this money on more important things around campus than another lounge.
KAITLIN BARR STAFF WRITER
KMB738@CABRINI.EDU
Remember the feeling in high-school of walking down the halls with what felt like one hundred pounds of books in your school-bag? For the kids enrolled at the brand new “School of the Future,” the weight of books on their shoulders is the furthest thing from their minds considering there are no books at this school. That’s right, no books are necessary for this brand new West Philadelphia School. The School of the Future opened its doors to students on Sept. 7, hoping the new technology would be embraced and welcomed throughout the community. The idea for the school was actually thought of by Microsoft, in the high hopes of aiming students in the right direction in school. The company wanted to incorporate enough new ideas
and technology into this school, hoping that in the future, all new high schools will be built this way. High school to me was remembering my locker combination, getting lost going to classes, taking pages upon pages of notes, fighting for a spot in the computer lab and searching through thousands of books in the library, trying to find that one that had the information I needed. At the School of the Future, they don’t have anything that our generation was used to. Things such as smart-card accessible lockers, a PC tablet for every student, virtual teaching assistants and no library are just the beginning of what this school is offering to its students. Call me old-fashioned, but I liked high school just the way it was. I liked learning about the library and having the option of sitting there to study. I enjoyed taking notes by hand and highlighting in my textbooks. In my opinion, I think the School of the Future is taking away from everything we ever knew about school and coming around way too early. Although I feel like the world isn’t ready for high schools such as these, I do think that Microsoft is doing an amazing thing for the children in West Philadelphia. 99 percent of the stu-
dents enrolled in the School of the Future are of minorities and 85 percent come from low-income families. The school is open not to just the students, but to the community as well. It is available for them to host education activities there as well as community meetings. The wireless internet also runs a few miles in each direction from the school, which allows anyone in close proximity to access the internet. It was not easy for these kids to just enroll in the school, however. They had to enter a lottery last year with thousands of kids who wanted to be a part of this new idea. For those who were chosen, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. The kids that are attending this new school are also receiving something that they may never have in their lives. Hopefully with opening this school, Microsoft is incorporating the thought of college into these children’s lives which is desperately needed in places like West Philadelphia. I may not be ready for all of this new technology to enter into high-schools, but I’m sure that when I’m old enough to have kids and send them into high school, I’ll be glad that there are high schools such as these to teach them all about the world of technology.
Friday, Oct. 6, 2006
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PERSPECTIVES I 7
The battle between private and public schooling CHRISTINA CIMMINO
MEGAN PELLEGRINO
CMC737@CABRINI.EDU
Going to a public high school was probably the best experience I could have ever had. Pearl River High School, in Pearl River, NY, was a place where I met the best of friends and got an amazing education by having small classes and extremely dedicated teachers. There was never a time where I was scared to ask for extra help or meet a teacher before or after school. They were always willing to help and teachers went above and beyond to make sure that every student succeeded, which is most likely why there is a 97% rate of students who go to college after high school. The thought of going to a private or catholic high school scares me. I don’t feel as if I could deal with the structure and the dress codes that most of those schools have. I’m glad I was able to feel like my own person and still be able to succeed. KAITLIN BARR
KMB738@CABRINI.EDU
Catholic school to me is all I know; having said that, I would not change having gone to Catholic school for fourteen years, for anything in the world. I had about forty kids in my graduating class and I knew every single one of them very well. Our families were great friends, and still are. No matter which Catholic school you went to, you always have a mutual love and respect for anyone else who went through everything you did. From talking about nuns, or sex talks from old priests, laughter is always a common reaction in a room where a bunch of people who went to Catholic school are hanging out. JEN DAVIS
JED724@CABRINI.EDU
I am from Cheshire, Conn. and attended public school
MRP727@CABRINI.EDU
DAN SQUIRE/PHOTO EDITOR
Staff writers battle it out for their high school alma mater.
for 12 consecutive years. The education I received from public school is superior to any Private or Catholic, whether a Primary and/or Secondary institution. When I say education, many immediately refer to literacy, the results of my SAT scores or perhaps my ability to complete an assignment. Public schooling prepared me for college by strongly enforcing education, athletics, and by simply allowing me to find myself through involvement within the school. Cheshire Public Schools provide a public school system unlike any other. I do not believe I would have received the same education from any other private or Catholic school. JACKIE TURCHI
JTT723@CABRINI.EDU I attended St. Maria Goretti Catholic High School for Girls located in the heart of South Philadelphia. Going to an all-girl Catholic institution I feel I have been able to better myself in many different ways. Educationally, I have been able to learn how to use advanced technology, learn different languages, participate in community service and was taught many subjects by the best teachers Philadelphia has to offer. Socially, I have met many diverse girls who have made a great impact on my life. My freshman year of high school I walked in not know-
ing that by the time I was a senior I would walk out belonging to a family. VICKIE PAPAGEORGE
VP724@CABRINI.EDU Public schools account for 90 percent of the students in America. That’s a lot. It has been argued that public schools do not have the advanced academic reputation that private schools have and they seem to be stereotyped and pushed into a category that qualifies them as good enough but not as rigid and goal oriented as the private schools. I beg to differ on this subject. Attending public school (Sun Valley High School) for my entire academic career, I never felt inferior to the kids who were attending O’Hara and were paying tuition every year. I always felt that it was my job to do well in school despite where I am and who was teaching me. I had a goal and that was to succeed. Cabrini accepts students from public and private schools every year. The students who had been spending money on tuition to private schools are at the same school I am attending and we are all collaborating together with no differences being made evident. JILLIAN SMITH
JKS724@CABRINI.EDU
Public schools are able to express a student’s uniqueness more than a Catholic/private school.
My high school, Triton Regional High School, in Runnemede, NJ, was selected as the best public high school in South Jersey, by the number of votes sent in by the community. It was a great place to learn and make friends and express individuality. At a Catholic/private school, you really can’t do that with those ugly, stiff uniforms that show no uniqueness or personality at all. At a public school, we were able to express our individuality in our clothing, such as jeans, tee shirts, shoes and even jewelry. Also, public schools don’t require a religion class or having to go to Mass. We were able to spend that time having elective classes that were fun, and what we wanted to do, not what the school forced us to do. Public will always be better than Catholic/private. End of Story. JOHN FENNELL
JF737@CABRINI.EDU I spent ten years at Episcopal Academy, six months at Upper Merion Area High School and three years at Church Farm a boarding school. It was my last stop at Church Farm, affectionately known as the Farm, that I received the best education. By education I do not just mean what was learned in the confines of a classroom, but the skills needed to negotiated life. When student and faculty
live within close proximity to one another everyday formality is not forgotten but more like suspended often. Being able to talk with a professor in an informal manner often times helps to grasp concepts you can not get in a class setting. KASEY MINNICK
KM735@CABRINI.EDU
I’m sure all you facebook users heard of the group called, “Ha! I went to a public school.” Yeah, I’m one of those people in that group. I’m a 2005 graduate of Weatherly Area High School in PA and graduated with a whopping 62 kids. I grew-up in a sports-driven town and if you were to ask any athlete in our school who our rivals were, they would reply, “All those Catholic schools.” I know I can speak for all of us when I say we didn’t like them too much. A small, public school like us had to work for the wins with this kids we had, but then you have the “special treated” Catholic schools who can recruit kids from the surrounding areas. There was actually a school that we played against that drove to NY to pick-up kids to come play basketball for them. Let me tell you how fair that is. Don’t get me wrong. I love some kids that went to Catholic schools, but if I could repeat my education over, put me in a public school any day!
Private schools are definitely better than public schools. The main reason is the classroom environment is smaller than that of a public school. When the number of students is smaller, the teacher has a greater opportunity to pay attention to each individual student, instead of one large class as a whole. Private school classrooms will always remain smaller. Therefore as the applications arrive into the schools, the admissions has every right to chose the better students, leaving the misbehaved or those who would bring the class down to have to find another option. This leads to only the best applicants to be at the private school. The better the students, the faster the classes can move, leaving the students to be able to learn greater than the amount that the average student will learn. Private schools lead to a personal experience of education, instead of just being a number like one would be at a public school. ELIZABETH KERSTETTER ELK722@CABRINI.EDU
I thought about why public school is better than private school for awhile, and then I realized it does not matter! We are all here together at Cabrini right? We are all going to end up with a degree from Cabrini College. So in my opinion, those who went to private school will have spent over $40,000 more than I did for my degree! Public school is obviously good enough to get us all into the same college as kids who went to private school. So why spend the extra money when public school does the job? As long as the public school in the area is up to par and meets state standards and regulations, it is definitely the way to go.
Pope Benedict XVI owes Muslim community apology
ASHLEY COOK STAFF WRITER AAC722@CABRINI.EDU Pope Benedict XVI’s purpose of his Sept.12 speech at Regensburg, Germany was to address the issue of the relationship be-
tween faith and reason, not to offend the Islamic culture. Benedict cited a 14th century Byzantine emperor’s remarks stating Muhammad, the Muslim final prophet of God and model of Muslim life, “spread by the sword the faith he preached.” Not only is this statement completely false considering Muhammad defended Islam from the Meccans who threatened and attacked Muslims, but also Benedict’s statements concerning the Qur’anic passage were also incorrect. Benedict, being a distinguished Catholic theolo-
gian, may need to brush up a little on the Islamic heritage before he makes such false accusations aloud again. The Muslims had every right to be angry and insulted by Benedict’s latest speech because not only did Benedict speak wrong information, but he also opened a wider door to discrimination against Islam, Arabs and Muslims. Many Muslims feel under siege since the attacks of 9/11, and with the statements Benedict spoke, the Muslims deserved nothing less than a heart-felt apology, hoping to rightly justify Muslims from their
comparison of being “evil and inhuman.” Benedict’s actions thus since have been made in hopes to bring peace to Muslims and Catholics. Benedict does indeed need to apologize to Muslims, stating his citing of the Byzantine emperor did not reflect his personal views. “In a world marked by relativism and too often excluding the transcendence and universality of reason, we are in great need of an authentic dialogue between religions and between cultures, capable of assisting us, in a spirit of fruitful co-operation, to
overcome all the tensions together,” the pope said. “Christians and Muslims must learn to work together, as indeed they already do in many common undertakings, in order to guard against all forms of intolerance and to oppose all manifestations of violence,” he also added. There must be more that can be done. Perhaps Benedict should invite Muslim religious leaders and scholars to meet and discuss the issues that his statement raised and hear their concerns and responses to his specific comments about Islam. Benedict, known to
have visited Islamic countries very scarcely, should take it upon himself to make more of an appearance to these countries and show them he is not an enemy but a friend. Though Benedict has first class scholars of Islam at the Vatican to serve him, he must make absolute certain that his addresses are 100 percent truth. Now is the time to move on. Benedict has made his apology and the two religions must now work to overcome ignorance and hostility, as well as the treats of violence and intolerance.
8 I FEATURES
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Oct. 6, 2006
Special K Bars impress taste buds and help cut calories JILLIAN SMITH STAFF WRITER
JKS724@CABRINI.EDU
Looking for something tasty, yet healthy to eat? At 90 calories per bar, Kellogg’s Special K Bars are a hit on Cabrini’s campus. According to the box, the Kellogg’s Special K Bars are “a blend of wholesome rice and wheat flakes topped with a drizzle of lightly sweetened toppings.” Around campus, students tried either one of the blueberry, chocolate drizzle or vanilla crisp flavored bars. However, Kellogg’s Special K Bars come in three other flavors: cranberry apple, peaches and berry and strawberry. Amanda Degan, a sophomore psychology major, was impressed by the “different options” that the Kellogg’s brand had, and that it wasn’t just one plain flavor. With only 90 calories, these bars seem like the perfect health food snack. Laura Sauerteig, a sophomore elementary and early childhood education major, said, “They’re low in calories, yet they fill you up!” Most students who tried the Kellogg’s Special K Bars were skeptical at first,
but after they tried them, they were pleasantly surprised by the end result. “Though nutritious, a delightful surprise to the taste buds” said Julie Miller, a sophomore elementary education major, said, “I would recommend these to a health nut and a couch potato…chip!” Each student was asked to try one of the three samples. Out of all three samples, chocolate drizzle was by far the favorite. Freshman undeclared major Emily Madera was surprised that they weren’t “too chocolately.” Kara Schneider, a sophomore English and communication major, said, “The chocolate bar tastes like a cookie, but a healthy cookie!” Blueberry bars were second in the students’ favorites, most agreeing with sophomore English and communication major Mike O’Rourke that the bars “actually taste like blueberries!” “Out of all three, the blueberry bar was the best,” Hector DeArce, a freshman pre-nursing major, said. Most students didn’t want to try the vanilla crisp flavor. “Most vanilla flavor products don’t interest the
ASHLEY RANDAZZO/FEATURES EDITOR
Students feel that Special K Vanilla Crisp Bars are geared towards a more adult crowd.
younger, college crowd,” Michele Joy Fitzgerald, a sophomore early and elementary education major, said. “I think of it as a more adult appealing flavor.” Michael Balka, sophomore English and communication major, was witty with his response. He said “vanilla is horrible,” but had a huge smile on his face, and then grabbed another bar. After tasting the bar, most students agreed with
Tara Robertson, a freshman English and communication major, said, “the bars taste just like candy!” Some students also stated that the bars taste just like Rice Krispies Treats. Most students agreed that these bars tasted similarly to the breakfast bars and cereal bars that are out on the market now. Cabrini students also said that they were much better than regular granola bars. Renee Roff, a sophomore elemen-
tary and special education major, said, “These bars are lighter and not as chewy as other granola bars.” Out of all the students asked in East Residence Hall, only two students complained of the taste of this healthy snack. Greg Matzarazzo, sophomore biology major, said that the chocolate drizzle Special K Bar “tastes like crap and marshmallows.” However, after trying the blueberry Special K Bar, his perception changed, saying that he liked the blueberry, not the chocolate. Rober Kallwass, a freshman English and communications major said, “The vanilla flavor isn’t very good.” Students really liked the fact that the bars were so good and easy to throw in a backpack before class. “I think these Special K Bars are fantastic,” Angela Savasta, a sophomore English and communication major, said, “I would grab these on the go, or while I’m going to class.” Dina DiTaranato, a sophomore studio art major, said, “I don’t feel bad for eating it!” And most students agreed with her. Like Sarah Egan, a sophomore elementary education
major, who said, “it doesn’t taste like health food!” Daniella Rende, a sophomore elementary education major, said, “I feel healthy and it covers my sweet tooth.” Most students said they would choose these over other fatty, junk foods that they had in their dorm rooms. The Kellogg’s Special K Bars were such a hit on campus that most students agreed with sophomore biotechnology major Laura Goodfield. “I’d probably go buy them now,” she said. At Acme, the Special K bars are $2.79, and at that price, any student can go pick up a box or two. At 90 calories, the Kellogg’s Special K Bars are a great and healthy treat to have for breakfast or anytime on the run. Dan Baron, a freshman undeclared major, said it best, with his mouth full, a quirky smile and two thumbs up. These bars truly are a scrumptious treat on campus. Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story. Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com. The editors will review your points each week and make corrections if warranted.
Students focus on personal issues of weight gain
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER/MCT
Students who exercise regularly balance their weight better and do not gain as much weight their first semester at college. JACKIE TURCHI STAFF WRITER
JTT723@CABRINI.EDU
The change in lifestyle which consists of constant stress, lack of active movement and poor sleeping and eating habits all play a major role on our waist line. Consumption of alcohol also plays a major role in
college weight gain. Everyone entering college has the dreaded “freshmen 15” on their mind. Wondering why they might gain some extra baggage during their first year at school and how they can keep it off. Researchers at Cornell University found that college freshman gain about 4.2 pounds during their first
three months of school. Increase in calories and decrease in activity causes your metabolism to fluctuate. Cornell University researchers feel freshman weight gain could, in fact, be the same phenomenon that is contributing to the epidemic of obesity among all Americans. Tom Heigh, a freshman liberal arts major, said, “Guys gain weight because they get thrown off their sleep schedule. Therefore they need more food to stay energized.” When students realize that they have gained weight Tom Heigh said, “They freak out, try to lose weight the wrong way and actually gain more.” Having more freedoms in college such as; no one telling you what time to go to bed, or eating a balanced diet throws your body out of sync. Some students feel they can not get the same nutrition that their parents could provide them with if they were home. Also, the temptation of ordering food is elevated, causing student to pack on the pounds with greasy, fired take-out. Liz Zimmer, a freshman undeclared major, said, “People at night have nothing to do and they get bored so they order out all the
time.” Jenna Chiavoroli, freshman, undeclared said, “Freshmen don’t have cars so they don’t have the opportunity to leave campus so they order out.” As an employee of the Dixon Center Chiavoroli has noticed a change in the clientele since the beginning of school. Chiavoroli said, “More students are now working out and before it was just community members.” Also, problems with
having night classes and working a late job mean you miss the times which the cafeteria and Jazzman's are opened. These are the times were you go back to your dorm room order out, or pig out on the foods that you brought with you to school. John Yuro, a freshman English and communication major, moved into school with chips, popcorn and pretzels. Since the beginning of school Yuro said, “I have drank four cases of
Snapple, two cases of soda and a half a case of water.” One way to stay away from the dreaded “freshmen 15” is to be responsible with your diet. Don’t order out late at night and be aware of your alcohol consumption. Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story. Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com. The editors will review your points each week and make corrections if warranted.
FEATURES
Oct. 6, 2006
Mission Corps welcomes new director DIANA VILARES STAFF WRITER
DVV722@CABRINI.EDU
Gina Pultorak is the new director of the Cabrini Mission Corps, one of Cabrini’s best-kept secrets. Pultorak attended Landsdale Catholic High School and went on to major in biology and political science at Rosemont College before attending the University of Pennsylvania for graduate school. After UPenn, Pultorak worked three years in management consulting, but wanted something more out of life. “I felt like I had achieved a certain success, but it was separate from my faith life,” she said. To try and fill the void, Pultorak took a seven-month leave of absence to learn Spanish and went to the Dominican Republic to do some volunteer work with the Holy Child Sisters. Feeling as if she had found something she loved, she resigned from her job and went back to the Dominican Republic for two more years. Pultorak says that she’s happy to now be connecting people through service work. “I’m the connector that finds people who desire to work along side the Cabrini Sisters,” she said. Before Pultorak applied for the position at Cabrini, she was doing community organizing, however, she felt right at home after her interview. “When I came to interview at Cabrini, it just flowed, everything came to-
gether,” Pultorak said. When asked what she thought about Cabrini, she said that she loved the fact that people know about Mother Cabrini and her values and that everyone is very welcoming, especially when she started. Located on the second floor in the mansion, the Cabrini Mission Corps office is one many don’t know much about, if anything. Cabrini Missions Corps is
an organization founded by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus whose mission is to connect people who, after graduation, want to take one to two years doing service in their backyard or overseas. In their Fall 2005 newsletter, there are articles on what the mission is all about and some of the good messages it wholeheartedly spreads. Some who are active in the mission corps are
involved in healthcare outreach programs and financial assistance for children in impoverished countries, amongst other things. Cabrini Mission Corps is in the middle of recruiting students for next year. Pultorak is visiting local colleges and is making a trip to Chicago this week to see who is interested in volunteering. Volunteers have the option of serving in New York, Philadelphia, Denver,
To day Today STAFF WRITER
GRT722@CABRINI.EDU
Soda is one out of many ways that students can put on unexpected weight.
“You are never given a wish without being given the power to make it come true.” - "Bridge Across Forever,” Richard Bach
Oct. 6 may seem like just another ordinary day to most, but there has been numerous historical occasions that have taken place on Oct. 6 in past years. On this day in 1781, Americans and French began the blockading of Cornwallis at Yorktown which was the last battle of Revolutionary War. 206 years ago George Westinghouse, the founder of Westinghouse Electric, was born. Formerly known as Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, it is now owned by Viacom, Inc. For all the Chess fans
out there, you’ll be happy to know that in 1857, the American Chess Association organized the first major United States chess tournament which was held in New York City. A few years later in 1863, Dr. Charles H. Sheppard opened the first public bath located at No.63 Columbia Street, Brooklyn Heights, New York. In 1866, the Reno brothers, Frank, John, Simeon, Clinton and William, stole 13,000 dollars during the first train robbery in the United States. Bringing it a little closer to home, in 1876, the American Library Association was organized in Philadelphia. According to The ALA website, it is the oldest
and largest library association in the world, with more than 64,000 members. 122 years ago in 1884, the first Naval War College was established in Newport, R.I. This naval war college is the oldest continuing institution of its kind in the world. For film lovers, you’ll be interested to see that in 1927, “Jazz Singer,” the first film with a soundtrack, premiered in New York City. With temperatures fluctuating recently, you can now see that it isn’t abnormal. In 1946, the highest temperature ever recorded for Cleveland, OH was 90 degrees. Syria & Egypt attacked Israel in 1973 on Yom Kip-
“Keep an eye out for us if you’ve ever felt drawn to service and feel comfort in Cabrini’s charism - this is the place to do it.” Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story. Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com. The editors will review your points each week and make corrections if warranted.
Need advice?
...In History
GRAYCE TURNBACH
Chicago and internationally in Swaziland and the Philippines. This year’s application due date is April 1. Anyone interested can pick up an application at the Cabrini Mission Corps’ office or can apply online at w w w. c a b r i n i - m i s s i o n corps.org. Pultorak also wants Cabrini students to know that they’re welcome to stop by and learn more.
DAN SQUIRE/PHOTO EDITOR
Pultorak is happy to be creating community service through her faith.
Oct. 6, 2006
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTENINEL/MCT
FEATURES I 9
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pur, the holiest day in Jewish tradition, which started the beginning of the Yom Kippur war. The war lasted 6 days and Israel was victorious. In the year 1979, Pope John Paul II met Jimmy Carter during the first Pope’s visit to the White House. Ordinary days aren’t so ordinary. Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story. Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com. The editors will review your points each week and make corrections if warranted.
Introducing:
“Ask Ashley” Troubled love life? Family problems? School worries? Ashley is here to help! All names will be changed to protect identity.
Send all questions to:
Loquitur.Ask.Ashley@gmail.com
10 I A&E
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Friday, Oct. 6, 2006
BRADENTON HERALD/MCT
Illustration of person absorbing sounds and music.
Students prefer music over silence when studying MEGAN PELLEGRINO STAFF WRITER
MRP727@CABRINI.EDU
Movie magic is kept alive with the help of tthe Bryn Mawr Film Institute.
DAN SQUIRE/PHOTO CREDIT
The love of film drives local venue KARLI MORELLO STAFF WRITER
KRM723@CABRINI.EDU
Classic films, independent films and new releases are only a few choices that movie lovers have when they visit the Bryn Mawr Film Institute. The BMFI is a non-profit community theater located on Lancaster Avenue in Bryn Mawr, Pa. The Institute shows movies, old and new, offers classes about many genres of cinema and has a lot of history. The BMFI was formed in 2002 by the region’s academic, business and civic leaders according to Brynmawrfilm.org. But the building itself goes back a lot further than that. The theater was built in 1926 and was originally known as the “Seville Theater.” The name changed to Bryn Mawr Theater in the ’50s and finally in 2005 the theater needed major renovations but did not have enough funds to cover what needed to be done. At that time, the name was changed to Bryn Mawr Film Institute where classes could be taught which would bring in
funds for the needed renovations. BMFI had fund raisers and began offering classes in film such as The Language of Film, Science Fiction and other genres and Politics in the ’50s and ’60s and how film reflected this. Andrew Douglas is the Education Director at the theater. Dr. Paul Wright, assistant professor of English, taught a class over the summer at BMFI called “The Asian Masters,” which covered Chinese and Japanese films. Wright said that in class, they would view clips of movies from China and Japan and discuss them in a comfortable setting rather than a classroom lecture. Obviously, there are many people in the world who enjoy film, some more than others, so BMFI has set up membership plans for individuals and for families. Membership benefits include discounted movie tickets and invitations to private screenings of certain films. Classes at BMFI go on for a month at a time with four meetings during that month. The fee is $100 per
class and is not only limited to members of BMFI but the general public as well. “Classes are becoming extremely popular especially among the age groups of graduate students and senior-citizens,” Wright said. For more information about classes at BMFI visit brynmawrfilm.org. Wright also co-taught a class with his wife, Hailin Zhou, a professor at Villanova University. “Teaching at BMFI is different than teaching in a classroom because it is more discussion rather than lecture.” Wright is working with student activities and is trying to start a film society at Cabrini. The group will plan to screen a number of film clips and full-length features and then discuss and critique them. For more information contact Paul.Wright@cabrini.edu. BMFI shows a large variety of cinema and are always switching up the genres. Upcoming new releases include but are not limited to “Hollywood Land” and “The Illusionist.” “Holiday,” a 1938 classic will also be showing in the upcoming
week. BMFI offers midnight movies as well on Friday and Saturday nights. Midnight movies coming this fall are “Being John Malkovich,” “Serenity” and “Animal House.” And who could forget the kids? Every Saturday afternoon, BMFI shows a children’s matinee. This week: “Wallace and Grommit” according to brynmawrfilm.com. Wright is very passionate about film and the theater and said, “[BMFI] is a combination of unique offerings and its educational opportunities are great. It is something students should take advantage of.” Cabrini Film Sociey's first screening will be on Sunday Oct. 15 at 8pm in the Widener Lecture Hall. They will be showing the original version (1973) of "The Wicker Man" followed by discussion. Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story. Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com . The editors will review your points each week and make corrections if warranted.
While walking around a college campus or dorm, one is bound to either see a student wearing headphones or hear music playing in a dorm room. It almost seems as though music has become a part of life. Today, some students feel that listening to music while studying is an essential and keeps focus, while others seem to feel that studying with music is a distraction, So who is right in this debate? According to surveys given by the Washington Post, whether one chooses to listen to music while studying or to study in silence, the material will be learned and comprehended. The catch is that the “brain systems involved in were different.” Those who listen to music while studying will learn the material, but will have less flexibility in applying the information. On the other side, those who do not study with music will learn the same information, but will be able to applying the knowledge to other situations other than the classroom and retain the information. The reason for this is due to the part of the brain called the hippocampus. While listening to music or multi-tasking, it becomes split, making the focus 50 percent in the music and 50 percent on the work. Meanwhile, studying in silence keeps the hippocampus 100 percent focused on the work. So what is the “correct” way to study with music? It is said that if one must study with music on, the best way is to listen to music with no words, like classical, or even music that is familiar so that there is no longer thought involved. Studying this way with music keeps the
focus on studying and not on the words or the beats of the music. It will in turn become the background of studying and no longer in competition. At Cabrini, it seems as though the majority seem to listen to music while they study or do work. There are still some who prefer silence, while for others depend on the subject or how hard the work is that is being worked on. Sophomore business majo, Andrea Mory said that she prefers it to be quiet while studying, but at the same time, she says that when studying for a long time, or for a major test she does like to listen to classical music because, “it makes her feel smart.” On the other side of the question is sophomore early childhood and elementary education major Michele Fitzgerald, who always listens to music while studying. That music is mostly Indie Rock because it is her style and keeps her focused. The one in the middle of these two is freshman English and communications major Becky Scull, who feels that music “must always be played, but it must be mellow like Dave Matthews Band or Coldplay.” Overall, its seems that each has their own way of studying with or without music. Each preference is different and no two answers are alike, but in the end, who is truly the better student? Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story. Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.c om . The editors will review your points each week and make corrections if warranted.
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Black Dahlia’s big stars fail to shine NICOLE OSUCH STAFF WRITER
NAO722@CABRINI.EDU
Since the gruesome murder of Elizabeth Short on Sept. 15, 1947, nearly six decades ago, the unsolved murder has been captured by James Ellroy’s best selling novel and now on the big screen. “The Black Dahlia” is an adaptation of James Ellroy’s sensational tale of the murder of the attractive, aspiring actress, Elizabeth Short, a 22 year old in the Hollywood hills. The case has all the components of a successful Hollywood blockbuster: sex, love triangles, beauty, violence, mystery and political corruption. Except that Director Brian De Palma, whose extensive resume of past films includes “Carrie,” “Blow Out,” and “Dressed to Kill,” miscast a few of the lead roles causing there to be a disconnect and did not execute the last scene well. Detectives in the homicide department for the Los Angeles Police Department, Lee Blanchard and Dwight “Bucky” Bleichert played by Aaron Eckhart and Josh Hartnett share a passion for boxing among other things. Their supervisor hands over the investigation of the brutal murder of Elizabeth Short. Short’s body was found cut in half, drained of blood, with a cut from the side of her mouth to her ear on either side, scars on both her wrists and ankles which insinuates that she was tortured and placed nude in a vacant property in a Los Angeles town. Blanchard and Bleichert uncover Short’s sketchy past bringing special attention to Short’s numerous boyfriends, random films, appearances in pornographic films and affair with Madeleine Linscott, played by Hilary Swank. Mia Kershiner captures the essence of Elizabeth Short with her dark black hair, blood red lips, fair skin and alluring blue eyes. The detectives become obsessed and consumed with the case so much that Blanchard’s relationship with Kay Lake played by the stunning Scarlett Johansson begins to become more distant as she falls more often into the company of Bleichert. Bleichert gets tangled up in sexual encounters with Madeleine who eerily resembles the dead girl. Bleichert is introduced to Madeleine’s wacky, yet famous Hollywood family, including her father and drunken mother whose face reveals an unshakable clue to the murder.
MCT
Officer Dwight “Bucky” Bleichert, played by Josh Hartnett, and Madeleine Linscott, played by Hilary Swank, converse during a scene in “Black Dahlia.”
During Blanchard’s, absence a love triangle blossoms. Bleichert begins to fall for Blanchard’s girlfriend, Kay. When the murder mystery is solved by Bleichert, audiences are left in shock at who the murderer turns out to be. Viewers were drawn in by the stunning appearances of the leading ladies which included Oscar Award Winner for “Million Dollar Baby,” Hilary Swank and Scarlett Johansson, who has received four Golden Globe nominations and appeared in films such as “In Good Company” and “Match Point.” There seemed to be a disconnect in casting. More time was spent noticing the acting jobs of the performers that, as a result, took away from the film.
So much that Swank’s role seemed forged. It was difficult to picture her in the role of a manipulating seductress. Hartnett’s performance seemed weak as well. It seemed that he was too innocent to play the part of an ex-boxer and intuitive detective who gets involved in such scandalous business for insistence having an affair with a woman who has information imperative to the case. Movie goers may have been expecting to get a glimpse into the life of Elizabeth Short and her dreadful murder, but instead they got more of a love story. Throughout the film, it was difficult to decipher between what scenes were important to the story line and what were just placed in the
film to give it more oomph. The performances in the last scene of “The Black Dahlia,” when the murderer is revealed seemed confusing and exaggerated on the actor’s parts. Clues were sloppily worked into the film that originally seemed like insignificant occurrences in the film, until the murderer was accused. Overall, the movie was entertaining but hard to follow at times. Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story. Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com . The editors will review your points each week and make corrections if warranted.
Batik exhibit showcases Indonesian artwork VICKIE PAPAGEORGE STAFF WRITER
VP724@CABRINI.EDU
An array of colorful and interesting Batik artwork is currently being displayed in the Grace and Joseph Gorevin Fine Arts Gallery in the Holy Spirit Library until Oct. 15. The artwork is by Philadelphia artist Laura Cohn. Batik art is the process of dying cloths while using substances such as hot wax to avoid the penetration of the dye onto certain parts of the fabric. By doing this, the artist can create designs before dying the cloth with the hot wax and then afterwards adding the dye to fill in where the wax was not spread. This process creates a colorful and beautiful result. Laura Cohn was introduced to this form of art while she was living in Indonesia for six years. While there, she studied Batik art with an experienced artist and, after some time, grew to love the art form. Cohn said, “I like the process of the art because I have to give up control and be open and flexible with the dyes to see what turns out.” She incorporates contemporary methods while using the Batik art form to make it her own which displays itself beautifully in the second level of the Holy Spirit Library. Describing her technique, Cohn said, “I use a traditional method and give it a contemporary feel.” The various shades of light browns, lavenders, mauves, light blues and pale oranges make your head spin from one piece to the next. Batik art is immediately eye catching but it also portrays Indonesian and Muslim culture artistically as Cohn explained. In addition to Cohn’s artwork, she has been traveling back to Indonesia for almost 20 years now and
passionately reaches out to teach and introduce people to the Indonesian culture and spirit. The earliest traces of Batik art were found in Egypt and the Middle East almost 1,500 years ago. There are traces of dyed textile patterns on statues and in temples dating back to A.D. 800. Although the origin and use of the intricate dying process is not precisely recorded, many believe that the process was used as ornamentation for Javanese royalty many years ago. It is also believed that the Javanese helped in the creation of this art form because of their great support for the arts. Today, the islands of Indonesia have perfected this art form and have popularized it as well. According to ww.expact.or.id, said that Batik has become so popular and modernized that it has even made a mark on the “world fashion scene.” Classes on the technique of Batik are taught by Cohn out of her studio and she has an annual show, “From Bali to Bala,” displaying her art work and many pieces she has imported from Indonesia. Her goal is not only to express her ideas through art but to spread the spirit and ideas of a beautiful culture that this country is not entirely familiar with. Cohn’s passion for the Indonesian culture and her Batik art was as amazing as the beautiful pieces that surround the fine arts gallery. Cohn spoke of her hopes and said, “Hopefully through my small exhibit at Cabrini, I can reach out and show people parts of the Indonesian culture.” Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story. Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com . The editors will review your points each week and make corrections if warranted.
JESSICA MCDERMOTT/PHOTO STAFF
One of the many pieces showcased in the Grace and Joseph Gorevin Fine Arts Gallery.
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Philadelphia welcomes back the college community YADIRA TOLEDO EVENTS EDITOR
YRT722@CABRINI.EDU
Concert Beats PAT MCGOWAN STAFF WRITER
PVM722@CABRINI.EDU
Chameleon Club 10/6 Brooke Hogan Brooke Hogan will be performing at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster, Pa. She is going on tour for her first album, “Undiscovered.” Brooke Hogan has been using the popularity of her father, Hulk Hogan, to advertise her first pop album through WWE. Tweeter Center at the Waterfront 10/6 James Blunt At 8 p.m. James Blunt will be performing at the Tweeter Center in Camden, N.J. The English pop singer is most known for is “You’re Beautiful,” and other slow melodies. 10/7 Iron Maiden The highly popular metal band will be playing at the Tweeter Center at 7:30 p.m. They are going on tour for their new album “A Matter of Life and Death.” Their tour started on Sept. 27 for this album. The album has also had great chart success. Penn’s Peak 10/6 The Machine The Machine will be performing at Penn’s Peak on 8 p.m. The Machine is a band that covers Pink Floyd songs. They are going on tour for their new album, “The Machine Unplugged,” which is an acoustic version of many of Pink Floyd’s songs. House of Blues Atlantic City 10/7 Social Distortion Social Distortion will be performing in the House of Blues in Atlantic City, N.J. at 7 p.m. This punk band started in the ’60s and was surrounded by controversy. Boardwalk Hall 10/7 Elton John Sir Elton John will be visiting the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. at 8 p.m. The British pop singer is a pop culture icon. Songs such as “Tiny Dancer,” have launched him to the top of the charts many times. The Electric Factory 10/10 Evanescence Evanescence will be performing in the Electric Factory in Philadelpia, Pa. at 8 p.m. This band is going on tour for the debut of their new album, “The Open Door.” Evanescence gained fame after their Emmy winning song “Bring me to Life.” Wachovia Center 10/9 Eric Clapton The ’60s rock and blues icon, Eric Clapton, will be performing at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pa. at 7:30 p.m. Eric Clapton struggled with addictions in the early ’70s, but he bounced back and is still going strong. Theatre of Living Arts 10/6 Jane Monheit Jane Monheit is going to perform at the Theatre of Living Arts in Philadelphia, Pa. at 9 p.m. Jane Monheit is a classic/jazz singer with a beautiful voice. Her latest album “The Season,” is made of classic Christmas songs.
Hundreds of college students spanning the Greater Philadelphia region ventured to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway as the city warmly welcomed them back to school with its annual Campus Philly Kick-Off free concert and festival on Saturday, Sept. 30. This year’s concert showcased the musical styling of two industry headliners, Saves the Day and Fat Joe; it also included a performance by an emerging group from the west coast. Campus Philly Kick-Off Week is more than just a festival and free concert, according to Campus Philly’s press release, it is intended to connect college students to activities in the Philadelphia community. At 2:55 p.m. The Procussions, an up-and-coming group of progressive hiphop artists were the first to take the main stage. With the infectious sounds blaring from the speakers, the energetic group quickly converted a scattered gathering of listeners into a crowd. “I was at one of the booths registering to win a spring break trip to Europe, when I heard music coming from the main stage. I didn’t know who they were. I just knew I had to be wherever they were,” Tom Fury, a prospective student at Holy Family College, said. For approximately thirty-minutes The Procussions ruled the stage; their unique sound, undeniable stagepresence, and determination to knock down musical stereotypes transformed passers-by into fans, as the first-time listeners immedi-
ately lined-up to purchase the groups second CD, “5 Sparrows for 2 Cents.” “Buy our CD because we make good music. Buy it because you like us, not because of whose label we are on. Support independent music. Support musicians that don’t have a big marketing machine behind them,” Mr. J. Mecleiros, exclaimed as he and his group-mates prepared to leave the stage. Only 15 minutes after The Procussions left the stage, the number of people in the crowd multiplied; fans drew in from all corners of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway taking up nearly an entire city block and spilling out onto the lawn, all united by their love of veteran alternative rock band Saves the Day. Like true rock gods, the moment they set foot on stage and announced their presence, Saves the Day thoroughly commanded the attention of hundreds upon hundreds of fans. As the band began to play, it immediately became apparent that they were in control. Almost instantaneously, their music inspired heads to bang back and forth, fists to pump high into the air, and bodies to surf above the sea of people. Throughout the duration of their free concert, Saves the Day kept their fans entirely entranced and completely entertained with their music. In conjunction to the day’s events and festivities, college students in attendance were also permitted to visit some of the areas most treasured museums entirely free of cost with a valid school identification card. This spectacular cultural treat began in 1987 with the Philadelphia Museum of Art and has since been
MEGAN WESTERBACH/PHOTO STAFF
Saves the Day performed in front of the Campus Philly crowd.
tagged “College Day on the Parkway.” What began as an attempt by a single museum to introduce area college students to the amount of culture available in Philadelphia has sprouted into a citywide effort. There are now twelve participating museums and cultural centers, including the National Constitution Center, the Eastern State Penitentiary and the innovative Franklin Institute. “I am a native Philadelphian and like so many I take for granted the historic treasures and the variety of culture that this city has to
offer. Today thanks to Campus Philly and College Day on the Parkway, I was able to reach outside of my comfort zone and experience the city from another perspective. And, I am in love,” Sloan Harrison, a junior psychology major, said. Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story. Please send your comments to: Loquitur@googlegroups.com . The editors will review your points each week and make corrections if warranted.
Got a student band and want to get some free publicity? If so, we here at Loquitur, have just the thing. Loquitur is presenting the first ever Peanut Butter and Jam Fest 2006. We are giving you the chance to have your music heard. The winning band will receive the star treatment with an interview, podcast and a live performance. Send us a copy of your best work (CD ONLY), a short bio and pictures of your band to: PB&J Fest 2006 610 King of Prussia Rd. CAC 203 C Radnor, Pa 19087
All applications must be in by Oct. 15. For more information contact: LoqAE@googlegroups.com
SPORTS I 13
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Volleyball posts .500 record
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER/MCT
Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels hurls a pitch to an opponent.
RYAN CONKLIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The womenʼs volleyball team has a record of 7-7 so far this season. LIZ LAVIN STAFF WRITER
EAL723@CABRINI.EDU
The women’s volleyball team is well underway on their new season and hoping for as much success as they have seen in previous years. During the weeklong preseason, the team spent nine hours a day together, which meant time for major bonding. “It was a hard transition because it’s my first year at college, but by the end of the week I’d found my place on the team,” Kate Conahan, a freshman prephysical therapy major, said. All of the players agreed they have already become a very close-knit team. Head coach Tricia Arnold is entering her fifth year as coach of the team. During her five years here, she has brought the team’s Pennsylvania Athletic Con-
ference ranking from eighth to third. Assistant coaches Lou Becht and Alex Reid have also been with the team since 2002. With a record so far of seven wins and seven losses in the 2006 season, the Lady Cavaliers are confident they have what it takes to make it to the top of the PAC. “We just have to focus on each individual game and stay relaxed and confident,” Danielle Finnegan, a sophomore elementary and special education major, said. The season opener against Washington College showed just how promising the new freshmen are. Alyson Kuchinski and Lizzie Williams led the team with their aces against Washington; Kuchinksi with five and Williams with six. Traci Beltz, Alecia Weaver and Katie Frinfrock set the bar with their combined 27 kills.
Cabrini defeated Washington 3-2. The freshmen are bringing an undeniable amount of new skill to the Lady Cavs, but the returning players are bringing their own accomplishments to the table this year as well. Sophomore Lindsay Martin was an all-conference pick last year and senior Amanda Murphy made the conference all-sportsmanship team. The toughest competition this year, according to the team is Eastern, Neumann and Gwynedd-Mercy, all fellow top contenders in the PAC. Eastern University has been the PAC Champions since 1997. The Sept. 5 match against Eastern ended in defeat for the Lady Cavs, losing 1-3. However, Cabrini took one game from them, something that has not been done in almost 10 years. Cabrini played Neumann College, ranked fourth in
the PAC, on Sept 7. It was another defeat for Cabrini, losing 0-3. They did not go down without a fight and in the third game pulled ahead with a 26-25 lead until Neumann came back with five straight points to win. The match against Marywood, number six in the PAC, took place on Sept 26. Marywood lost the opening game to Cabrini, 15-30. They came back in the second game to win 30-18. The yo-yo effect continued with Cabrini winning the third game with a close 30-25 and Marywood dominating the fourth game 30-11. Cabrini ended the fifth and final match, winning 15-10. The 3-2 game gained another victory for Cabrini. Martin and Weaver led the team with their 11 and 12-kill achievements. Sophomore Michelle Mola and Lizzy Williams showed their skill with 19 assists each.
New athletic website unveiled PATRICIA J. SHEEHAN SPORTS EDITOR
PJS723@CABRINI.EDU
Cabrini’s new Athletic website is scheduled to be unveiled to the public this week. The site includes new features and gives fans upto-the-minute highlights of their favorite Cavalier teams. Matthew Holmes, Webmaster of the marketing and communications department, said that the development of the new website was a joint effort between the athletics and the marketing and communications departments. “Elliot Tannenbaum was a driving force for the proj-
ect and Dr. Leslie Danehy contributed ideas and information,” Holmes said.
to thank our Sports Information Director, Elliot Tannenbaum, for his passion,
Exciting things are happening in Cabrini athletics. -Elliot Tannenbaum, sports information director The newly made over website includes stories, schedules, and an animated scoreboard. Photography and interactive player statistics and biographies can also be found on the site. “I would personally like
creativity and hard work that went into creating the new athletic website. I believe he has helped us launch a website that is one of the best in the nation among Division III institutions. My coaches, student-
athletes and staff are very proud of it,” Danehy, director of athletics said. Students are encouraged to send any ideas or suggestions for the website to Danehy or Tannenbaum. The website can be accessed from Cabrini’s homepage. “Exciting things are happening in Cabrini athletics – new Sprinturf field, new Hall of Fame, teams on the rise or already at the top. Finally, we’ll have a dynamic site that conveys that sense of excitement to students, alumni, fans and high school athletes who might be comparing Cabrini to other schools,” Tannenbaum said.
Phillies give up playoff bid JOHNNIE FENNELL
WRITER JF737@CABRINI.EDU STAFF
The Philadelphia Phillies’ bid for a playoff bid officially ended Saturday, Sept. 29 when the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2. Despite beating the Florida Marlins 4-3, the Phils ran out of games and will end out of the playoffs for the 13th straight year. Since the All-Star break the Phillies had the third best record in the Majors. By the trade deadline Aug. 1, the team’s front office had given up making the playoffs. General Manager Pat Gillick even went so far as to say the team might not even be competitive till 2008. His comments did not sit well with the fans. While at the time they were true they sounded like the general manager was giving up on the team. Then something strange happened. After the trade deadline, they started to win. The team traded its best player right fielder Bobby Abreu, to the New York Yankees for minor league players as well as four other players from the opening day roster. Second baseman Chase Utley got hot and went on a 35-game hit streak. Correspondingly the team went from 5 and one half games behind the Cincinnati Reds for the wild card lead to leading the wild card going into the final week of the season. What is now becoming a common occurrence, the city of Philadelphia began to believe that this team might actually make the playoffs. To many there seemed to be something different this year. When asked even students who
do not usually follow the Phillies knew about their surge toward the playoffs. Senior Matt Caso has attended 35 games this year and thinks the difference is rookie starting pitcher Cole Hamels who, after the All-Star break went 7-4 with 101 strikeouts in 87 2/3 innings Utley’s hit streak and Hamels maturation were not the only things to help the Phils make a playoff push. First baseman Ryan Howard has followed up his rookie of the year season with one that has him in serious contention for Most Valuable Player. He is hitting .313 with 58 homeruns and 149 runs batted in. He is first in the majors in homeruns and RBIs by large margins. During the month of August he had his best month while keeping his team in the playoff hunt, he had 14 homeruns 41 RBIs and batted .348. Manager Charlie Manuel said “He's tremendous. The only thing he's got to do is do the same thing he's been doing every day for the four years I've seen him, and he'll keep on getting better." Utley, Howard and Hamels helped the Phillies get close to the playoffs as well as make names for themselves this year. The Phillies end up three games out of the wild card but they did when everyone else had written them off. This year is over and once again we end up saying wait till next year. The Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story. Please send your comments to Loquitur@googlegroups.c om. The editors will review your comments each week and make corrections if warranted.
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William Penn statue curses Philadelphia JESSICA HAGERTY STAFF WRITER
JH729@CABRINI.EDU
MCT
The curse of William Penn is a superstition of Philadelphia sports fans.
The curse of William Penn is an apparent curse that some Philadelphia sports fans use to explain the losses of their professional sports teams since 1987. Since then, the Philadelphia Phillies, Eagles, Flyers and Sixers have not been able to win a championship. The bronze statue of William Penn, stands atop Philadelphia City Hall. After the construction of City Hall in 1901, the government decided on an informal agreement, a “gentlemen’s agreement”, that it would remain the tallest building in the city. Because there was no legal agreement, contractors broke the tradition. One Liberty Place was built in March of 1987, exceeding City Hall’s height by over 500 feet. Its sister building, Two Liberty Place, was quick to follow in construction. This second skyscraper also dwarfed City Hall by towering a near 400 feet over. It was just before these two buildings when Philadelphia sports had seen their last run of success. The National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers had won backto-back Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975. However, they proceeded to lose the Stanley Cup Finals in 1987, a mere two months after
One Liberty Place was built. They failed to win the Stanley Cup in the finals again in 1997. The National Basketball Association’s 76ers had also just won a championship in 1983; however, their luck was also about to change. It was in 2001 when the 76ers again made their way to the NBA finals but lost. Major League Baseball’s Philadelphia Phillies had won the 1980 World Series and it was until 1993 when they again made it to the final game and lost. It wasn’t until 2005 when the National Football League’s Philadelphia Eagles made it to Super Bowl XXXIX and also fell to the New England Patriots. "Sure, the Eagles went to the Super Bowl and fell short, but I don't think it had to do with any curse. The Patriots were a wellcoached team and the Eagles' comeback simply fell short,” said Philadelphia Eagles website/publications coordinator, Chris McPherson. The fans of Philadelphia are also known to dress Penn in sports attire when the team is doing well. For instance, an Eagles jersey was put on the statue when the team went to the Super Bowl in 2005. Forcing the statue to wear such attire is an aspect of the apparent curse. Since the dressing of the statue, some sports fans are in complete opposition because of the obvious
lack of league championships. Philadelphia sports fan and junior secondary English education major, Michael Pio said, “The curse is a lot of superstition that gets into people’s heads, just don’t touch the stature and we’ll be fine.” McPherson believes the curse is just another excuse for the losses. “The fans in this city are extremely passionate and are starving for a championship. They are looking for an explanation as to why a city with four professional sports teams has not won a world championship since the Sixers in 1983.” Whether the curse is a superstition or just a well-known excuse for the unsuccessful Philadelphia sports, Philly fans still have the future teams to look forward to, such as this year Eagles team according to McPherson. “The Eagles boast an explosive offense and have a lot of key players who returned from injuries last season, most notably Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb. If there is any time to silence fears of a curse, the best time might be now.” The Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story. Please send comments to your Loquitur@googlegroups.com. The editors will review your comments each week and make corrections if warranted.
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SPORTS I 15
Extreme Sports
MotoGP champ to be crowned COLIN MASON STAFF WRITER
CHM724@CABRINI.EDU
It has been an exciting and different season in the world of motorcycle racing, particularly in MotoGP, which has two races left before it wraps up for the season and the world champion is crowned. Since 2000, Valentino Rossi has been the MotoGP world champion, and previously as the 125 and 250 class world champion before making the switch to the premier class. The season kicked off Sunday, March 26 in Spain and surprisingly, Italian Camel Yahama racer Rossi, who usually earns a podium finish every race, came in at a surprisingly low 13th place. The opening race winner was Italian Marlboro Ducati rider Loris Capirossi. The next race at Qatar saw Rossi come in with a first place finish, much to his fans’ delight. Usually a top finisher, Rossi’s results this season have been very mixed, with only a handful of actual first place wins. He came in at the top of the podium only in Italy, Spain, Qatar, Germany and Malaysia. The rest of his results are lackluster at best and he did not even finish the races in China, France or the United States. One of those non-finishes was due to mechanical problems with his motorcycle. Lets hope that he picks it up in the last two races in Portugal and Spain. He was fifth in the points lead with 2,474 points, and American Repsol Honda rider Nicky Hayden was in first position with 2,949 points. But, the Sept. 27 race at Motegi in Japan, Rossi moved up to second in the points lead with Hayden being bumped to fifth. Loris Capirossi is currently first. It is difficult to stay on top forever, but with Rossi’s young age, everyone thought that he was unbeatable, or so his fans would like to think. Other supporters of different teams and riders cannot wait for him to
MotoGP has two races left before it wraps up for the season and the world champion is crowned.
leave MotoGP and move on. It was rumored that the 2006 season would be his last when he was seen test driving Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari F1 car; but, he re-signed for the 2007 season with Camel Yamaha. The rules have been changed for next season to lower the engine size of the GP bikes for safety. The fact that the tracks they race on are not originally designed for bikes with as much power as they’re putting out today. Race officials decided that the speed the bikes were reaching with their 990 cubic centimeter motors were too great. Capirossi
This week in sports BRITTANY LAVIN STAFF WRITER
BLL722@CABRINI.EDU
Tiger Woods continues to win Tiger Woods had his longest PGA TOUR winning streak at the World-Golf Championships-American Express Championship. Though he was slowed by two rain delays, it never obstructed his path to a 4-under 67 for an eight-shot victory. This was Woods’ eighth victory for this year. He is the first player in history to win at least eight times in three seasons. He has now played seven out of the last nine weeks, which included a two-day trip to Ireland to prepare for the Ryder Cup. Shaquille O’Neal searching for 5th championship After coming off the 4th championship last June for the Miami Heat, O’Neal is optimistic regarding his team’s ability to capture No. 5. O’Neal averaged 20 points and 9.2 rebounds last season. In the finals, O’Neal averaged 32.6 points and 13.7 rebounds in five previous title-series trips. He commanded great defensive attention even with “un-Shaq-like” numbers. O’Neal is entering this season with the same attitude he had during his first Miami campaigns, declaring that his numbers are inconsequential. To him, it’s all about winning more titles. “Numbers are overrated,” O’Neal said, “There’s a lot of guys in this league who can say they’ve got great numbers. But they can’t say they’ve got four rings in the last six years.” Giants manager Felipe Alou leaves team The San Francisco Giants cut ties with their manager Felipe Alou after finishing their second straight losing season. Alou replaced Dusty Baker after the Giants lost the 2002 World Series. The 71-year-old Alou’s contract was set to expire in 2007. Though the team won 100 games and the NL West in 2003, the Giants did not make it to the playoffs during Alou’s last three seasons. “I’m proud of my behavior, my respect for the game,” Alou said. “Even though I will not be the Giants manager next year, I will always be a Giant.” State Farm signs with National Football League On Oct. 2, State Farm and the NFL announced a three-year sponsorship agreement. The agreement units the nation’s largest insurer of homes and automobiles with the nation’s favorite sport. It also presents State Farm with many motivations for advertising. “This sponsorship of the NFL allows State Farm to communicate through a channel that reaches millions of people and has an incredibly loyal fan base,” Mark Gibson, assistant vice president of advertising for State Farm, said.
set a speed record on a bike in 2004 when he was testing his Ducati Desmosedici GP4 and was clocked at 215 mph. A decision was made to change the weight limits of the bikes and restrict the maximum engine size to 800cc. Grand prix motorcycles are not available to the general public at all, and even smaller GP teams have to pay at least a million dollars just to get a year-old GP bike to use for a season and then return to the manufacturer. It is a class for companies to basically show off and test all of the latest technology they are developing within the rules of grand prix motorcycle racing. The good
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part, though, is that over time, the technology trickles down to the production motorcycles that anyone can buy. Riders can essentially purchase bikes that, 10 years ago, were on the cutting edge of race technology. It is going to be exciting to see who can blast through the pack and win the 2006 MotoGP world championship. With two races left, every team is going to be taking part in some cutthroat racing. It is now down to Capirossi, Rossi and Hayden, so the fans will have to wait and see who comes out on top this season.
SPORTS I 16
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Friday, Oct. 6, 2006
SPORTS Campus Announcements YADIRA TOLEDO EVENTS EDITOR
YTR722@CABRINI.EDU
Brazilian Duo Minas Brazilian Duo: Patricia and Orlando bring Brazilian music to stateside audiences. During their career they have performed at the Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and the Academy of Music among other places. Now, on Sunday, Oct. 8 this Brazilian duo will perform at Cabrini College in the mansion at 3 p.m. For more information on please contact Adeline Bethany at (610) 902-8380. Attention freshmen The office of admissions needs 1520 freshmen to meet with on Thursday, Oct. 12 at 12:30 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. in Grace Hall’s boardroom. This meeting will take approximately 45 minutes and will include free pizza. Those interested in attending should immediately contact Peter Schauster at (610) 902-8551 or via e-mail at peter.schauster@cabrini.edu. Up ‘Til Dawn letter writing party
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Junior Katelyn Penrose blocks Villanova sophomore Justine Feinman.
Women’s lacrosse falls to ‘Nova 10-16 in pre-season scrimmage ELIZABETH KERSTETTER STAFF WRITER
ELK722@CABRINI.EDU
Cabrini’s women’s lacrosse team thrived in Monday night’s scrimmage against Villanova University played under lights at Dixon field. Cabrini, who scored a total of 10 goals, is a division three team and they faced a division one team who totaled 16 goals. Last season, the Lady Cavs finished with record of 13-7 and 10-0 in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference. Ranked second in the PAC for the 2006 season, the team wants the first spot in the PAC this year. Before Monday night, the women of Villanova lacrosse had never ventured across the road to face the lady Cavaliers. Both Cabrini coach, Jackie Neary, and Villanova coach, Jebb Chagan, thought an early off-season scrimmage would be a good experience for both sides. Neary said that under nor-
mal, in season play, a division one school would not play a division three school but, due to the close proximity of the schools, neither coach could pass on the chance to see their 2007 team in action. Monday night’s game was an untraditional three periods of 20 minutes. Normal Pennsylvania Athletic Conference regulation games are two halves of 30 minutes each. Neary said, “The Villanova coach and I decided prior to the scrimmage that three shorter periods would give us the best chance to try new things and test different groups of people together.” Both teams were pleased with their performance in Monday’s scrimmage and grateful for the opportunity to play competitively in the offseason. Chagan was pleased with the laid back nature of the scrimmage. Even though he has a large number of recruits trying out this year, “I got to play every
kid,” he said. The scrimmage was important to both teams in that it provides the coaches with a chance to see freshman prospects in a live-action game, and the ability to see the new dynamics among the women on the team. Neary said to her team after the second period, “We need fighters, people who will chase [the ball].” The scrimmage proved that off-season practices are great for testing skills and stamina, but there is nothing like live action that can show a team’s true potential. The goals scored were not recorded by either team because the scrimmage was unofficial and the atmosphere was relaxed. Both teams seemed to be enjoying themselves. Chagan said in a team huddle after the game, “That was a lot of fun.” Chagan was pleased with his teams’ performance and also said he was impressed with the caliber of play his
team saw from the Cabrini women. “They have a lot of speed and some very good finishers,” he said. Nearly too, was very proud of her players, “especially those who play a fall sport, and still came out ready to play” she said. Neary was also very satisfied with the performances from the eight freshmen going out for the team this year. As the coaches talked together about the scrimmage afterwards, both decided it was something they wanted to do next year. The main purpose for the scrimmage was, “to bring two neighboring schools together and play some quality lacrosse,” Neary said, “And we did.” The Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story. Please send your comments to Loquitur@googlegroups.com. The editors will review your comments each week and make corrections if warranted.
On Tuesday, Oct. 17 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. all Cabrini students are welcome to come to Grace Hall and help raise money to benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Participants will have food and fun while writing letters. Interested students must register by Tuesday, Oct. 10 and remember to bring fifty names and addresses; the registration forms are available on the second floor of the Widener Building in the office of student activities. Register for flag football The flag football league will begin the afternoon/evening of Sunday, Oct. 22. There will be men’s, women’s, and co-ed division. Registration is a must; the proper registration forms can be found in the Dixon Center at the front desk. For more information please contact Orlin at (610) 225-3909 or via email at orlinj@cabrini.edu. Senior Yearbook Portraits Seniors are urged to sign-up for their senior portraits. The portrait schedule is as follows: Casual outdoor portraits: Monday, Oct. 23 and Tuesday, Oct. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Formal indoor portraits: Wednesday, Oct. 25 through Friday, Oct. 27 from 10a.m. to 5 p.m. Seniors can sign-up for their private appointment with Spencer studios on the sign-up sheets in the student development office. The portraits will be taken on campus; there is a $10 sitting fee for each type of portrait. For more information please contact the student development office located in the Widener Center at (610) 902-8416.