2008-09 Issue 22 Loquitur

Thursday, April 2, 2009

YOU SPEAK, WE LISTEN

Radnor, Pa.

CABRINI COLLEGE

Pacemaker Winner Vol L, Issue 22

www.theloquitur.com

Andrew McConnell/crs

Fifty-year-old Getrude Kawidi signs for a loan of $6 during the weekly meeting of the Kyaseemu Tweteran Saving and Internal Lending Community at Katooke village in western Uganda. Getrude will use the loan, which she has taken on a month-long agreement with an interest rate of 10 percent, to buy coffee beans.

Micro banks improve lives of poor andy stettler

asst. news editor

ads725@cabrini.edu

When most American college students think of an African town, they think of a remote village in need of U.S. dollars. But under thatched roofs in Fort Por-

tal, Uganda, people have formed their own savings and loan systems to help them save as little as 10 cents a week.

On a recent visit to Cabrini, Guy Vanmeenen, Catholic Relief Services’ senior technical advisor for microfinance in Africa, told the story of hundreds of commu-

nities that are experiencing greater financial stability because they founded and maintain what are called saving and internal lending communities. The program is known as SILC. CRS volunteer Mary Oldham wrote in her blog that she has seen success in Fort Portal,

Uganda through SILC members like Kamuthoghera Wilfred, a Ugandan brick-maker who was able to increase his business’ production because SILC loans.

In Oldham’s blog posted on the CRS Web site, Oldham is seen with a large group of widowed African women and a few

men, advising the group’s supervisor on how best to record their lending program onto a ledger.

The group is a SILC and they have saved the equivalent of $505 over the span of one year. People

MICROFINANCE, page 3

IRA dissidents recur violence in Northern Ireland christine graf deputy editor

acg724@cabrini.edu

Peter Morrison/Associated Press

Update: Monday, March 30 a series of burning vehicles caused security alerts in Northern Ireland. These events are blamed on dissident Republicans linked to the killings of two soldiers and a policeman.

Fear was resurrected in Northern Ireland when the Irish Republican Army dissidents killed a police officer and two British soldiers, within a 48-hour time period.

Two former Cabrini exchange students from Northern Ireland, Paul Lilly, a Catholic, and Kelly McKee, a Protestant, have little in common when it comes to government rule in their province, but completely agree that violence is not the answer.

After more than 10 years of peace in the Northern Ireland between the IRA and the British government, a group of dissidents from the IRA has taken action into their own hands and have admitted to the recent killings with no intentions of stopping the attacks.

Northern Ireland is divided between Roman Catholics Na-

tionalists seeking a united Ireland, and Protestants Unionists committed to keeping Ulster, six counties still run by British government, a part of Great Britain.

“The recent killings have certainly created a tension in the province, which I had hoped not to feel again,” McKee said.

McKee, 25, remembers fear from the “dark days,” being evacuated from her house while the British army detonated a bomb on her street, seeing a young man shot in both kneecaps in the city and regularly checking the store she had a part time job in for suspicious packages.

Lilly, 22, also remembers fear, once having his own town bombed in 1998 by the Real IRA, a bomb which killed 31 civilians in a Nationalist town.

“Ten years ago it would not be uncommon to find a British soldier in your back garden in full

IRELAND, page 3

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2 NEWS

EDITORIAL

Identifying noble causes: government aid programs

We’re constantly being urged to care more about others and help those in need. Give this, give that.

Give your time, support and give your signature on a fat check.

Organizations like Relay for Life, Walk for the Cure, Alex’s Lemonade Stand and countless others are always seeking support. When we hear of these worthy groups, typically we’d think of ways to help. What we tend to lose focus on is why. Why does this cause need money?

This isn’t to say that these issues like cancer research or hunger aren’t important. They are extremely worth caring about, but what this question really is asking is why is it left to the private citizens to make a difference and fix a particular crisis.

It’s not like there are bake sales to fund military weapons. The point to think about is why does X amount of government dollars go towards something like nuclear submarines and less towards finding a cure for cancer.

Why does the government leave funding worthy causes up to private charities rather than shifting funding to this important causes in order to make the change a reality? After all, the government has the power to make an impact on a more monumental scale than the people can produce.

This isn’t to say that the government doesn’t fund important causes. The National Cancer Institute is funded by tax dollars, $4.8 billion a year. Sounds like a pretty nice sum. On the other hand, taxpayers pick up the bill, for example, for nuclear submarines. There are 78 owned by the U.S. and each ring in at $2.6 billion. That $4.8 billion sounds measly when you look at it that way.

It’s not so cut and dry. Sure, the government has the power to pass a bill worth a large sum. It can put a sufficient amount of money toward the recent expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program so that poor uninsured children are covered. That is the kind of change that we mean can’t be addressed by charity. But other essential causes need to be debated as well.

There are so many charities and nonprofits that have a noble cause worthy of support, but only so much to go around. It’s just not possible for the government to help everyone.

Different organizations host runs, walks, food drives and other charitable events. These aren’t just about raising funds. Sure, financial support is vital for these groups to function, but it’s about raising awareness and drumming up support.

Relay for Life is coming up in the area and is hosted in numerous locations around this time of year. Supporters walk, raise money and even grieve with a candle-light vigil. There’s an emotional connection to causes. It brings people together and helps them overcome tragedy. Not only do these people support a cause, but support each other. It’s a positive outlet for a not so positive situation.

These nonprofits may not have the means to raise finances for their cause as quickly as the government can, but they do make an impact. The top 10 participating colleges in Relay for Life together raised just under $37 million in 2008. The government can, however, intervene and lend more financial support. Especially in tough economic times, advocates may not have the means to donate money. A balance between government and private individuals lending a hand is the balance needed to make a substantial change.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

LIFE workshop educates on dress code gillian davis

asst. a&e editor

gbd722@cabrini.edu

The Center for Student Engagement and Leadership and the Office of Co-Curricular Programming sponsored another LIFE series event on March 19.

The program was conducted in the Iadarola Center and focused on dress code.

The Business Casual vs. Business Professional Workshop was the fifth program in the LIFE series. The LIFE series focuses on preparing students for common situations they will encounter as they prepare to graduate and enter the world of work.

Anne Filippone, director of Student Engagement and Leadership, was in charge of the event and informed the participants about career dress code by handing out articles and showing a video.

“Students came with specific questions and they commented on some of the things we discussed or that were included in the video,” Filippone said. “It was a nice group of students and they were interactive, which helped keep the workshop moving.”

Alongside Filippone, Richard Gebauer, coordinator of Co-Curricular Programming and co-instructor of the LIFE series, spoke to the crowd about proper dress code for men. Filippone took the task of educating women on how to properly dress for work.

“I have been to a few of the LIFE series workshops,” Shannon Santangelo, senior math and finance major, said. “Since I will be graduating this spring, I am taking every chance to learn about the working world and applying it to my future career.”

While a slideshow was put on screen about what is appropriate dress, handouts were passed around. The sheets were printed off the Web sites, gettingdressed. com and collegegrad.com.

“” “It was a nice group of students and they were interactive, which helped keep the workshop moving.”

-Anne Filippone, director of SEaL

Always being wrinkle free, no gum, no piercing and no tattoos were some of the obvious advice that the worksheets offered.

However, tips such as no purses or always wearing a silk neck tie, were not so apparent.

“I have attended many of the

LIFE series events on campus and find them to be highly interesting,” Patrick Trencansky, junior finance and accounting major, said. “Even though I am a junior, I feel as though going to these workshops will benefit me now before I start the job search.”

Students took down notes and asked questions to Filippone and Gebauer pertaining to appropriate dress code.

“I think most of the participants had a good understanding of what’s appropriate or inappropriate, but I hope we offered some more specific details about how to improve their dress for the work environment,” Filippone said. “The students also had some examples of interview or work attire that they’ve seen and felt was inappropriate, so that helped when they were able to share their own stories of what they’ve seen.”

There are eight LIFE series programs and are offered weekly.

The next workshop is on Thursday, March 26, at 3:30 p.m. in the Iadarola Building, 118. The topic of discussion will be “Transition to Off-Campus Life.”

Loquitur welcomes your comments on this story. Please send your comments to Loquitur@ googlegroups.com.

2008-2009 Loquitur Staff/Editorial Staff Editor in Chief Deputy Editor Managing Editor News Editor News Editor A & E Editor A & E Editor Features Editor Perspectives Editor Sports Editor Sports Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Copy Editor Web Editor Multimedia Editor Multimedia Editor Graphic Designer Graphic Designer Adviser

Mallory Terrence Christine Graf Meghan Smith Liz Garrett Christopher R. Blake Christina Michaluk Jake Verterano Britany Wright Jessie Holeva Danielle Feole Nicholas Pitts Shannon Keough Brittany McLeod Diana Trasatti Megan Pellegrino Kara Schneider Brittany Mitchell Jake Verterano Anna Scholl Dr. Jerome Zurek

Asst. Managing Editors Brian Loschiavo Jen Wozniak Asst. News Editors Megan Bernatavitz Amanda Carson Andrew Stettler Asst. Features Editors Sami Godowsky Gianna Shikitino Asst. A & E Editors Gillian Davis Arielle Friscia Megan Kutulis Asst. Sports Editors Jill Fries Melissa Mariani Mike O’Hara Jessica Wegelin

Asst. Persp. Editors Sam Bokoski Katie Engell Morgan Miller Asst. Copy Editor Molly Kearney Staff Writers Christine Adolf Justin Bostwick Charles Bush Kerry English Janene Gibbons Kirk Manion Erin Nollen Eric Povish Tina Vitanza Candice Wojnarowski

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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 affect change on campus and off.

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Thursday, April 2, 2009

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NEWS 3

Expert says saving changes lives of poor MICROFINANCE, page 1 in groups like these were at one time living on a dollar a day. Now using a steady savings and loan method, entire communities in developing countries are feeling more secure.

“I was impressed with the savings groups because the people are running the program entirely by themselves,” senior English and communication major Grayce Turnbach said.

“They are working for it and they’re earning it and they’re saving it because they want to. They want to build that stability for themselves,” Turnbach said.

These savings and internal lending communities are what CRS sees as another form of local economic development in addition to microfinance. While microfinance connects profitdriven banks to people living in poverty, SILC is completely community based.

A SILC will begin as a group of about 10 to 12 people who have one cashbox and a ledger. Each week each member adds a specific amount of savings to the bank.

When a member of the group needs a loan, the group decides as a group if they wish to make the loan. The money is shown to all members of the SILC in order

andy stettler/asst. news editor

Catholic Relief Serivces’ senior technical advisor for microfinance in Africa, Guy Vanmeenen, speaks with students, junior Jessica Wegelin and junior Shannon Keough following his talk on microfinancing. to keep the lending transactions completely transparent.

At every meeting, each member must put in a specific amount of money into the cashbox as a form of community savings.

Over time the savings grow and the resources increase as the loans are paid back.

Transparency is also important in SILC programs. “They all have to remember how much they all put in that week, by the next

week and if they don’t then they have to pay a fee,” Vickie Papageorge, senior English and communication major, said.

“It just blows my mind that this actually goes on without an organization or somebody coming in from the outside and giving these people the money,” Turnbach said.

Success stories in Africa and Asia, such as these savings communities are sending a new mes-

sage to U.S. college students, who may feel that the problems of poverty in Africa can be solved by simply sending money.

Instead, these lending communities are earning their own consistent income. People in developing countries are saying they can work together instead of worrying about aid that may never come.

He spoke recently to a class of Cabrini students studying pov-

erty in Africa and around the world.

The students in Seminar 300: Working for Global Justice and accounting students were caught off-guard to hear of the successes of SILC programs throughout Africa and Asia.

“There is almost [a] political aspect to it. These people are getting together and seeing that they can make a change outside of their personal lives with building a better home for themselves, but also if they want to see a change in their community as a whole they realize that they can do that as well,” Turnbach said.

“Now we see people from different tribes coming to work together,” Vanmeenan said. While the U.S. is looking for ways to prevent conflict, these savings communities bring people of conflicting views together because they can help each other economically.

“There is also an advocacy aspect to it. If they don’t like something that is going on within the community, then they all get together and they talk about it.

So it’s not just independently but they’re working together. They’re all talking. There is communication,” Papageorge said.

IRA kills 3 in Northern Ireland IRELAND, page 1 and that makes me proud of how

camouflage with an AK47 pointing at you,” Lilly said.

Times have change drastically since the signing of the 1998 Good Friday agreement, brokered by the U.S. which denounced violence.

“They [the killings] make me very nervous, as I don’t want things to go back to the way things were. We have come a long way and many families have suffered greatly,” Maureen Gormley, 50, a Catholic and citizen of Tyrone County, Northern Ireland, and a mother of three children in their 20s, said.

Gormley was 11 years old when “the troubles” started in 1969. Catholics were discriminated against in employment and housing.

“It was very rare for a Catholic to hold any top jobs,” said.

As a teenager she remembers harassment from British soldiers at checkpoints on the roads, particularly of young men. Teenage boys were hauled off for interrogation and questioning at holding centers, which she described as very frightening for them.

“I do not want my children or future generations to have to live through what we have in the last 30 years,” Gormley said.

Lilly and McKee both speak of peace movements among many young Catholics and Protestants their age.

“Thousands of people are joining together in condemnation

far we have come as a country,” McKee said.

The vast majority of citizens want to keep the peace, according to McKee and Lilly. Even former leaders of the IRA and Ulster Defense Association, a Protestant paramilitary group, which in the dark days would choose to retaliate, have instead joined together for peace.

“Like every country which has been torn by war there will always remain some extremists who will not give up their fight,” McKee said.

Overall, the country is still divided in the sense that Catholic Nationalists would like to see Northern Ireland united with Ireland’s other three provinces.

“It’s an unnatural boundary [between Northern Ireland and Ireland] that divides the people of Ireland and has caused years of bloodshed,” Lilly said.

On the other hand, Protestant unionists like McKee, who considers herself a British citizen, feels it is important that Northern Ireland remains a part of Great Britain.

McKee feels that the best way to describe growing up in Northern Ireland as a Protestant is that even today when she sees the Irish flag, tricolor, around town she feels intimidated, and so does her partner, who is Catholic, when he sees the Union Jack flag.

“I hope that as so many people are uniting against these killings, retaliation will not occur. I hope that these people will be caught

and reprimanded. I hope, but I fear,” McKee said.

4 NEWS

Thursday, April 2, 2009

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Online courses prove popular nationwide mike o’hara

asst. sports editor

mto722@cabrini.edu

Everything is online these days: shopping, social networking, newspapers and even classes. Cabrini offers several online classes to students, and the immense popularity of the Internet has resulted in an increase in the popularity of online courses.

Nationwide, the number of students taking at least one online course jumped by nearly 70 percent between 2002 and 2007, from 1.6 million to 3.9 million, according to a study released in November by the Sloan Consortium, a nonprofit advocacy group for online learning.

“Online classes are beneficial for the student because it allows students who aren’t on campus to take those classes and not have to worry about housing or traveling to campus,” Dr. Darryl Mace, assistant professor of history and political science, said.

Mace teaches several history classes online. Mace estimated that he had about 15 students in each of the classes he teaches online.

Online classes can also be beneficial for students who reside on campus and are involved in activities or sports. Diipali Figgles, sophomore international business and political science major, who takes one of Mace’s online classes said, “I really enjoy my online class because it really gives me a lot of extra free time and it doesn’t interfere with practice. As long as I keep track of what things are due, it’s definitely not hard to keep up with the work.”

As with any other class, the way online classes are run are

molly enos/staff photographer

Dr. Darryl Mace, assistant professor of history and political science, sits in his office while explaining his online courses offered at Cabrini.

Nationwide, the number of students taking at least one online course jumped by nearly 70 percent between 2002 and 2007. left to the discretion of the teacher. Mace’s classes revolve around using discussion boards and chat rooms online to discuss and analyze the course content. The online discussion plays a crucial role in the grade students taking Mace’s classes receive.

“It’s just like a class discussion, but it’s electronic,” Mace said. Tests are also held online.

The discussion boards are open at all times and students can post in them at their convenience. “A lot of online classes have a set time; I don’t do that because a lot of my online students are working adults,” Mace said.

Even though many students enjoy the advantages of online

classes, they are not for everyone. Greg Lusty, senior business administration major, said, “I didn’t like my online class because I kind of had to rely on myself and I had a lot of other responsibilities and I had to teach myself the material. It’s easier to fall behind.”

“It is for students who are self-motivated. They have to be driven to do all the work; if they don’t they can easily fall behind,” Mace said.

Mace said there was a “huge difference” between the classroom and online teaching.

“There’s a misconception that from a student and faculty standpoint that online is easier,” Mace

said. Mace pointed to technical problems as one example of a difficulty that can arise when teaching online. “I have to deal with technology, if there is a problem with BB Vista, I have to work to go try and fix it. If I set up something in the class wrong, I get emails from panicked students,” Mace said.

Mace also talked about how face to face classroom interaction is missing from online courses.

“I don’t really get to know the students,” Mace said.

Mace feels that offering more online courses would benefit not only Cabrini students, but students from schools all around the area. “If someone from Cabrini

wanted to take German, they could take the online German class that Rosemont offers, and if someone from Neumann College wanted to take a class that Cabrini offers and Neumann doesn’t they could,” Mace said.

Like it or not, online classes are here to stay. They may not be for everyone, but they can benefit those who can’t fit a scheduled class into their schedule or those who just need a break from the classroom.

“I definitely think taking an online class is a good choice,” Figgles said.

Professor teaches through experience molly kearney

asst. copy editor

mwk723@cabrini.edu

molly kearney/asst. copy editor

Chemistry professor Dr. Melinda Harrison sits at her desk. Dr. Harrison is in her first year at Cabrini and has a strong background in forensic science .

Not many professors at Cabrini would consider wine-making and forensic science, essentials.

However, Dr. Melinda Harrison, associate professor of chemistry, would. “When I was in school unfortunately I did not have the best teachers to teach me certain subjects so I thought as I struggled through it maybe I could teach students who couldn’t be reached before,” Harrison said.

Harrison has a background in forensic science. Her interests vary from running, reading, wine making and gardening to a professional interest in forensic science. One would never expect those interests upon meeting any professor. Harrison came to Cabrini from Duquesne University, where she earned her doctoral degree.

Harrison said she never really wanted to be a teacher. She wanted to be a forensic scientist. Harrison fell into teaching when she was assigned to teach a freshmen

chemistry course during graduate school and “had never even written a lesson plan.”

Harrison realized she could relate to the students, and that is how she found her calling to be an educator. Her greatest influence was an undergraduate research mentor who she interned with. He is why she is where she is today.

Harrison wants students to know she uses real-world examples in her teaching and tries to talk about chemistry in the real world everyday. She feels that if you show students that science is in the world around you, then it will become more relatable.

Harrison wants to be established as a “good, solid teacher and instructor” and wants Cabrini students to know that “I’m going to be here and I’m not going to go anywhere, and want to be here to help as many students as I can with chemistry.”

Harrison wants Cabrini students to understand that even though her class may be a core she tries to make it fun. “I bring in examples. I do demos so it’s

not just some boring typical lecture.”

Harrison wants to reach out to students and make a difference in their learning experience and by coming to Cabrini she thinks she will be able to do just that.

“I can relate to the students because I was them. I struggled and really had to work hard to get where I am today. I think that my ‘Ah’ moment was getting the opportunity to teach when I wasn’t really even wanting to do it in the first place.”

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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Thursday, April 2, 2009

NEWS 5

‘Pharm-Parties’ on the rise kerry english staff writer

kme724@cabrini.edu

Adolescents, now more than ever, are attending and hosting ‘pharm-parties,’ a gathering of friends where they bring prescription drugs they stole from their parents or the medicine cabinet and mix them all together in a large bowl. After all the pills are combined, kids reach in and start swallowing whatever they pick up.

The rate of teenagers abusing prescription pills has sky rocketed, and anti-drug campaigns that target young people such as “Above the Influence” are beginning to target pill abuse in their commercials. Due to the fact prescription pills are legal and a few pills taken out of a bottle could go unnoticed, the issue of teenagers mistreating prescription pills isn’t going anywhere.

jen wozniak/asst. managing editor

Dr. Maya Gordon, assistant professor of psychology, presents her research on the effects of AfricanAmerican stereotypes to students and staff in the Mansion on Cabrini’s campus.

Professor highlights stereotypes within the media in presentation jen wozniak

asst. managing editor

jlw729@cabrini.edu

Stereotypes litter the media and one must be critical to prevent themselves from adopting distorted views of what the world is like.

This message was stressed

by Dr. Maya Gordon, assistant professor of psychology, in her presentation, “The Obama Family: Hope for a Change in Media Representations of AfricanAmericans,” held on Wednesday, March 18, at 6 p.m. in the Mansion.

Gordon presented her research on the effects of African-American media stereotypes to a group of students and faculty. Those in attendance learned that there are seven categories of stereotypes linked to historical images of black people.

These categories have names such as “Mammy,” “Tom/Uncle Tom,” “Sambo/Coon,” “Jezebel,” “Black Buck,” also known as the “Baby Daddy,” “Brute” and “Sapphire.”

The characterizations portray black women as cheery house servants, black men as loyal, obedient servants and all black people as lazy, dumb, silly, hypersexual and promiscuous. The last two categories portray black people as violent, aggressive and loud-mouthed.

Characters that fit these stereotypes can be found in all aspects of the media, from TV shows to advertisements, movies and music videos. Gordon gave examples of characters for each stereotype, such as black women in music videos being portrayed as sex objects.

Gordon’s research shows that people of color make up only 16

percent of characters on primetime television. African Americans are mostly limited to comedic roles and are represented as the laziest, least respected group, often as criminals or as having low-paying jobs.

“Positive images occur too infrequently, and it is the stereotypical images that dominate media portrayals of African Americans,” Gordon said. “In terms of media effects, the argument is that we imitate the behavior of media personalities and we are more likely to model people who are similar to us and whom we identify with.”

Black youth are at risk when they are impacted by these exaggerated images. When black children believe they are supposed to be like the people they see on TV, then they don’t try as hard in school, focus more on their body and being appealing to the opposite sex and may have lower confidence and self-esteem.

“The media is extremely influential on children, no ifs, ands or buts about that,” Dr. Anthony Tomasco, professor of psychology, said. “Shows are made to make money; nobody oversees the message of the show.”

Shannon Winters, junior English and secondary education major, said, “I think the media is a powerful thing and it definitely influences you, but not in conscious ways. There have been times where you watch something and you think how untrue it may be, but because it’s a sitcom or movie, it’s easy to dismiss it.”

Gordon’s hope is that President Obama will change the stereotypes, and being a real life example, perhaps he will be even more meaningful and influential than a character in a show.

“I am hoping that the Obama

family will serve as a counterimage to the stereotypes, meaning that African American youth will see them as a real life example of what they can do or who they can be, rather than defining themselves in terms of the stereotypes,” Gordon said.

“I also hope that the media executives will see the Obamas, and their great popularity among the American public, and realize that there is a market for images of an intelligent African-American leader who loves his equally intelligent and dynamic AfricanAmerican wife and is actively involved in their children’s lives. I hope these executives will realize that they can create TV programs and movies and promote music artists who present on non-stereotypical messages about black people and still be successful.

The American people are interested and it is long overdue.”

Those in the crowd had the opportunity to voice their opinions on what they see when they view the Obama family in the media.

Some answers included a loving, hardworking and successful family, and also seeing Michelle Obama as a good role model of a smart and respected working mother.

The presentation concluded with how parents can prevent children from adopting stereotypes by limiting how much and what media they consume, teaching them to be critical of the media and discussing that what they see is not always how things are in real life.

Winters said, “Just by letting kids know that not everything they see or hear should be taken as the standard or the norm could be a step to help shape their conceptions of themselves and the media in general.”

Furloughs could be economic answer Due to the nation’s economic crisis, people are being laid off from their jobs left and right. With bosses and employers losing sleep over their payroll, it’s hard to not resort to cutting back employees. The traditional two-day weekend would become a threeday weekend. This plan would benefit employers by saving money and employees would be able to hold onto their jobs. Although employees would not receive pay on their designated furlough day, they would still maintain full medical care and benefits.

Democrats call healthcare ‘universal’ The Democratic alternative budget was revealed recently and left many confused. Not only did it lack figures, the phrase “universal access to affordable healthcare” was noted in the document at least seven times. What the Democrats are calling for under their universal policy is for Americans, whether they want health care or not, to be covered. However, this would force those who don’t want insurance or can’t afford it to pay for their coverage. The Republican party, however, has a different view on what should be considered universal healthcare. Under their “universal access,” anyone can buy insurance if they would like to, but they wouldn’t be forced by the government to do so.

Obama re-drafts Afghanistan plan President Obama announced changes he is preparing to make with the United States presence in Afghanistan.

Just last month he ordered 17,000 soldiers and hundreds of additional U.S. civilian officials to the torn country. In an effort to further minimalize aggression, Obama is sending 4,000 additional troops to Afghanistan in the fall. The thought of putting a new command in Afghanistan has been passed through Washington. While our existence in the Middle East will be sure to bury us farther down in the economic hole, Obama’s concern is fixing the Afghanistan and eventually bringing our troops home.

GM and Chrysler nearing bankruptcy The head of General Motors, Rick Wagoner, was forced to resign recently due to their failed re-construction plan. GM and Chrysler were informed they would not be receiving any more federal aid money until they have re-worked and strengthened the plan to rebuild their company. Obama has announced the companies will receive more time to re structure, however, this time it will be under stricter conditions. Obama’s administration has stated they are prepared to let these companies fall into bankruptcy.

6 PERSPECTIVES

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Thursday, April 2, 2009

Pro-opinion abortion IN MY O P INIO N

amanda carson asst. news editor arc726@cabrini.edu

Nick pitts/sports editor

Cheerleading takes more dedication than many may think. The competitive sport of cheerleading involves intense practices and phyiscal fitness.

Cheerleading: Sport & way of life spring floors at competitions where girls fell the wrong way and bones have come out of their skin. I competed with and against girls who have broken a bone during a routine in front of judges and kept on going until the music stopped. I’ve been in the emergency room when a TINA VITANZA girl twisted the wrong way tina vitanza out of a stunt and broke my staff writer nose. nmv722@cabrini.edu The chipped teeth, black eyes, swollen faces Cheerleading is a sport and contusions. No joke.

I like to define as fun, Cheerleading is one of the thrilling and dangerous. most dangerous sports out Many people think of there. the sport as a bunch of girls Seeing how high a girl in skirts running around can be thrown in the air cheering for the guys, but and to what limits you for me, my life growing up can tumble on that floor being a cheerleader was is something that tests out not like that at all. I’ve ex- how hard you can go and perienced the wins, losses, how strong you can be. trips to the hospital and the I have done every type drama behind the scenes. of cheerleading imangible Since I was little, I was from Catholic elemenalways into cheerleading, tary school cheerleading real competitive cheerlead- to making varsity all four ing. Starting in elementary years of high school— school when I was in the for an all-girl school— to fourth grade, one competi- Penn State University tion that brought me home cheerleading and now to a first place trophy made all-star cheerleading. me want to excel more as The intense practices, an athlete in the gym as I gymnastic classes, condigot older. tioning and going to the Seeing how hard you gym everyday in between. can push yourself to lift Every year the requiregirls, fly as high as you ments for making the team can before you hit that get tougher. The permistoe-touch and tumble until sion forms and who to call your face and the spring in case of injury or possifloor are your best friend. ble death forms get harder I have seen the bloody to sign knowing the stunts

I N MY O PINION

are harder and so is the tumbling combined.

How high can your jumps go? What tumbling do you have to make the team? Can you fly or base?

Can you dance and chant so that an entire stadium can hear you as clear as crystal?

Cheerleading is not what people assume it to be. People don’t see the practices, the runs, exercise workouts to follow, the 250 pushups if we’re late or drop a girl. The precision and dedication that if a girl falls, it is not just one person’s fault—it’s the team’s.

All people see is the hair and makeup, the smiles of 15-30 girls and one hell of a performance.

Knowing where to put your hand or foot to make that stunt hit solid and knowing your flyer so well that when she goes up in the air you know exactly where she will go, and what to do to make sure she lands in your arms and not on the floor is something a cheerleader is trained to do. Everyone on that team puts their life in another person’s hand, literally.

Cheerleading is my life and it can show someone just how intense a sport can be: a two minute and 30 second routine that would blow someone’s mind.

It seems recently that in response to Obama’s controversial activity, a prolife versus pro-choice war has evolved.

The Obama administration has been flooded with personal feedback in the ultimate church vs. state debate.

My standpoint? Let’s just say I’m pro-opinion.

If you have been struggling to understand the logistics of Obama’s actions, which have brought our government and the varying religions to a dead-on clash, don’t worry you are not the only one.

I summarized the basics so you can understand.

Obama lifted the “Mexico City Policy,” which banned distribution of federal money to international groups that either provide or offer information on abortions. Ronald Reagan established the policy in 1984 for Bill Clinton to revoke it in 1993 for Bush to reinstate it. Well, you get my point.

Obama also reversed limits on stem cell research in order to advance the fight against Alzheimer’s, diabetes and Parkinson’s disease.

Finally, Obama is supposed to revoke the Conscious Clause, which has

allowed those in the medical profession to deny care that conflicts with their religious views.

Pretty heavy-duty stuff, huh?

I’ll admit I’m still not completely sure how I feel about Obama’s actions.

Growing up in a Catholic and Republican household, I only ever knew and believed in pro-life.

As I have ventured into college, I have still kept my pro-life views for my own personal reasons. I basically believe that all, even tiny embryos, should be given the opportunity to live.

I have come to this bizarre conclusion, however, that Americans should not formulate an opinion about Obama’s actions based merely on their religious views. I know I’m crazy, right?

I’m completely prolife, yet, I’m not sure I completely believe in the “Mexico City Policy,” and I add emphasis on the word completely.

Yes, I believe that taxpayers should not have to support international groups, whose morals and belief systems go against their religion. I believe that is entirely unfair.

While I don’t support a lot of these international group’s actions, mainly abortion, consider the following statement. Five hundred thousand women die in developing countries from pregnancy-related issues and eight million suffer from serious complications.

I would not by any means want these women to abort their children, but I would be in favor of funding medical assistance so

that they can survive and live to raise their child.

Maybe I’m just an optimist but I would like to believe that each of those 500,000 or eight million women wanted to keep their child. They couldn’t, however, due to the financial instability of their country.

When I say that I am pro-opinion, I’m saying that all should be entitled to their own opinions. No, I don’t believe all taxpayers should have to support these international groups, but I believe the ones that want to should be able to.

I’m not hypocritical, don’t worry, I have not finished my argument yet. I know I still have yet to address another issue.

Along with my proopinion standpoint, I believe that Obama does not have the right to revoke a bill that keeps those in the medical profession from denying care, which goes against their religious views.

I believe that each medical professional is providing a service and they therefore have a right to deny procedures.

Why should someone be subject to giving an abortion if they are in opposition to it? Furthermore, why would anyone want an abortion from someone who opposes it?

Please do not by any means take my argument out of its context.

I just don’t believe this religious vs. governmental debate should be purely fought on the basis of religious values. After all, I am pro-opinion!

do you poop out at parties? do you love being bored? is going broke fun? if so, stop reading.

cabrini funny fest

When : Friday A pril 3, 2009 8:00 p. m . to 10 p. m .

Where : Jazzman ’s C afe

visit WYBF.COM

Thursday, April 2, 2009

PERSPECTIVES 7

www.theloquitur.com

Hidden crisis in West Virginia

I N MY O P I N I ON

ARIELLE FRISCIA arielle friscia asst. a&e editor af728@cabrini.edu

Over my spring break this year I went back to West Virginia. This time it was a little different because instead of just seeing poverty first hand, I saw something else; crisis that is unheard of by many people called mountain-top removal.

Mountain-top removal is when coal mining companies go on top of the serene Appalachian mountains and get coal. Coal companies have caused destruction to the top of the mountains.

A group of Cabrini students and I met with a man by the name of Larry Gibson. Gibson is one of the biggest known names in human rights activism. He has been against mountaintop removal ever since this disaster started.

I got to drive with him to the top of mountain. He is a man of many stories; he could go on for hours and hours about the issues that are going on in West Virginia.

When on top of the mountain, I was walking through “the hollow,” which is known as the neighborhood in West Virginia.

The houses were like huts and were incapable of living in. The water is no clean enough to bathe in or

Rob Stoop/submitted photo

Over spring break, a group of Cabrini students traveled to the Appalachian mountains and realized the negative effects of coal mining on local neighborhoods. Inhaling polluted air is a major effect that can potentially lead to lung cancer. drink from, because it is so acidic.

Coal mining companies don’t care about human beings living up there. They are tearing apart towns.

While driving up, Larry was showing us that there was a town almost every few miles apart from each other. As he pointed to the towns, there was nothing there, just dirt and bareness.

The hardest part I would say for me was to actually stand up there and see them

blowing up the mountain just to get coal. The poisonous air was going straight into the neighborhood.

The worst part about this whole situation is that the people down the mountain do not realize that they are inhaling poison into their bodies.

Cancer is one of the deadliest illnesses in West Virginia. There are so many people suffering from cancer because of the air flying above them. The children who are innocent-

ly playing outside are just breathing the bad air and not realizing it.

Down on the mountain, we went to a grocery store.

It amazes me how people in West Virginia do not even realize the harm that coal companies are starting by mountain-top removal.

In the grocery store, the cashier was talking and the one thing she said to us was, “As long as they aren’t removing the cemeteries, then I don’t care.” I wish at that point I would

have said, “Well they are ruining cemeteries up the mountain.”

They don’t care about destroying the memories of the people or their loved ones that have been put to rest. It is all about money to them.

This crisis is destroying the beauty of West Virginia. Students that have traveled to West Virginia have seen this crisis first hand and I am just one out of 26 who have seen this crisis. This is just one of the

many stories that need to be heard.

This is a crisis that not many know about but with the stories we have formed, mountain-top removal is disgraceful and ruining the beauty of America while killing innocent lives as well.

Did we pinpoint your viewpoint? Please send your thoughts and opinion to Loqperspectives@googlegroups.com

Pay up AIG or prepare for a lawsuit IN MY O PI N I ON

CHRISTINE ADOLF christine adolf staff writer cna722@cabrini.edu

Americans are deeply disturbed that their taxpayer dollars are being handed over to American International Group to give out bonuses that are owed.

AIG was bailed out with $170 billion at first and then received an additional $30 billion on top of the original amount. After receiving the bailout money, they were told to pay up.

The government was hoping that the insurance giant would use the bailout money to put some type of surge of loaning back into the economy.

AIG gave out tens of millions of dollars in new bonuses to workers. The company is legally and contractually bound to pay executives their bonuses.

They are paying out the bonuses to meet a dead-

line given to them, but the insurance group agreed to administration wishes to restrain future payments.

When AIG received the money, there wasn’t a contract or paper saying that they had to use it for this or use it for that. There was no definition of what they could use it for, so they used it for bonuses they owed.

The executives of AIG also have contracts with the company. The executives’ contracts say that they will be given a certain amount of pay with benefits and bonuses on top.

Should AIG be allowed

to do this? The country is in turmoil and people are losing their jobs left and right.

Shouldn’t we be stimulating the economy with that money?

Aren’t the executives and workers just going to save it and put it away?

What is that stimulating?

I understand that legally and contractually they are bound to give their workers their bonuses. I get that. But is anyone going to check into this and make sure these are bonuses that should be given out?

Believe me, I want the workers to receive their bonuses and pay because they

probably did earn it, but not at the taxpayer’s cost.

The government should be stepping in and telling them that this isn’t allowed, but I guess it’s too late at this point since they’ve given millions of it out already.

All these big companies that are needing bailing out are hush hush about the situations they are in, but isn’t it their fault that they are in the situation? Being conscious of your surroundings was one thing I was taught growing up.

Don’t be so free with giving away your money.

Pay attention and use the

company’s money where the company needs it most.

AIG needs its best people to keep its healthy businesses profitable until it can sell them and the company will have to sell 65 percent of its businesses to repay its federal loan and get back on track.

The stimulus bill and stimulus money is to stimulate the economy, not to pay people their bonuses.

The insurance giant needs to get their heads on straight and focus on saving their company instead of bailing out their employees and executives that may not need so much money.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

www.theloquitur.com

8 FEATURES

Biodegradables reinforce going green christine adolf staff writer

cna722@cabrini.edu

The cleaning aisles at local supermarkets and local stores are starting to look like an Earth Day extravaganza.

Many cleaning products now say organic, biodegradable or environmentally friendly on their labels.

“Biodegradable means that the substance breaks down in nutrients just as any other biodegradable products, such as food waste that gets composted and the nutrients can get recycled by nature through the various nutrient cycling pathways such as how a dead animal or plant decomposes and enters the nutrient cycle,” Dr. David Dunbar, associate professor of biology, said. “Hence, biodegradable products are environmentally friendly.”

Besides keeping the environment healthy, it keeps dorm rooms clean too.

Students are not only doing a benefit to their health by having a clean room, but when they clean their rooms they are helping the environment by not spreading harmful chemicals.

“Compounds that are considered not to be biodegradable typically degrade over much longer periods of time so they can build up in the environment.

And if the compound is toxic, not only is it in the environment

for a very long time but can find itself in our water systems and pose a human threat,” Dunbar said.

“I do buy biodegradable products since my mom is really sensitive to strong smells and harsh chemicals just as some

students are,” Gina Mulranen, junior math secondary education major, said.

Could Cabrini help the envi-

britany wright/features editor

The growing trend of going green continues among college students. A few Cabrini students believe that the cleaning staff should follow the cafeteria’s example of being more eco-friendly.

ronment by asking if the cleaning company hired to clean on campus could use biodegradable or organic products on campus?

“I think that would be great in order to fit into Cabrini’s new ‘green-thumb’ we have been hearing about more often these past couple years. The cafeteria has gone eco-friendly with silverware and to-go products as well as the recycle bins that are everywhere. So I think this would be another thing to add to our already earth-friendly environment,” Mulranen said.

“Given the amount we pay for tuition and the campus’ initiative towards wildlife and preserving the ‘natural’ look of Cabrini, I think they should be required,” Joe Cahill, sophomore communication major, said.

“Biodegradables are being marketed to younger adults; I can only guess that being environmentally friendly is now considered hip. That, and younger adults seem to be more passionate about environmental issues. Why that is, I’m not sure, but I suppose it could be a generational thing,” Dunbar said.

If being environmentally friendly is generational, the world will hopefully have a facelift over time as the younger generation starts to pitch in. Using biodegradable and organic cleaning products are just one way to continue to help save the world.

Twitter: new online networking epidemic liz garrett news editor

egg722@cabrini.edu

The Twitter phenomenon is quickly finding its way into the professional as well as social lives of Cabrini students. Cabrini seniors are posing the question of whether Twitter’s popularity has defeated the Facebook frenzy, which has been an object of obsession in social networking for years. Students are claiming that Twitter’s appeal is mainly due to its ability to help students in publicizing themselves to the outside world.

“Employers can see what you’re twittering since so many people in the corporate world are using it,” Andy Stettler, senior English and communication major, said. “Students are really looking to get their names out there to future employers.”

The benefits of Twitter greatly outweigh those of Facebook, according to Cabrini seniors. There is no limit to what people can do when using their Twitters.

“There are definitely many seniors using Twitter,” Stettler said.

“They like to advertise their multimedia pieces and articles.”

Nicole Osuch, senior English and communication major, is

also finding herself caught up in the advantages of having a Twitter. She enjoys how Twitter gives her the opportunity to see what is going on at any moment with the Tweets she follows.

“It is our generation’s obsession for checking up on what others are doing whenever you want,” Osuch said. “When I tell my friends outside my major about Twitter, they think it is ridiculous.”

Stettler points out that he follows teachers’ Tweets because they tend to post information to do with classes he is taking. He also follows politicians such as Barack Obama, John McCain and Joe Biden.

“Twitter filters out all of the nonsense of Facebook,” Stettler said. “It is a simpler way to communicate with politicians and celebrities. They take Twitter much more seriously than Facebook.”

Osuch considers Twitter to be great for communication students trying to keep up with news. She recalls reading newspaper Web sites, now she just goes to Twitter because the newspapers update their posts constantly. “It changed the way I read my news,” Osuch said.

“I also follow the Tweets of a few public relations and advertis-

ing industry experts, which is a good way to keep up with industry trends,” Osuch said.

According to Stettler, Twitter is useful for posting whatever people are interested in, such as YouTube videos and news stories.

“There are no rules with Twitter,” Stettler said. “The people following you are interested in what you have to say, and that’s what makes Twitter useful.”

Osuch also uses SEPTA’s

Twitter page to look up train schedules for her commutes. She says that Twitter gives people the chance to post about more serious and personal ideas, unlike Facebook statuses.

Megan Pellegrino, senior English and communication major, feels that Twitter must be used properly in order to get the most out of it. She points out how her mother disagrees with her use of Twitter because of how simple it is for people to abuse the net-

work. Pellegrino argues that some people who use Twitter do not understand the concept of it, and that there is both a proper and improper way to use it.

“I look at it as a very professional tool,” Pellegrino said. “I went to conference sessions that taught me how to use Twitter right, which is to network with people in your field. It is about posting what you know, what you found out and then what you are doing.”

andy stettler/asst. news editor

Twittering amongst college students has opened the door for them to network with professionals and promote their work online by creating statuses that can be read by possible future employers.

FEATU

URES

Thursday, April 2, 2009

www.theloquitur.com

FEATURES 9

Campus chief engineer details accomplishments janene gibbons staff writer

jmg727@cabrini.edu

Working for the motion picture industry in Hollywood, designing rides for Disney Land and Disney World and making it into the “Guinness Book of World Records” are three of many trades, hidden talents and achievements that Bob Iodice, the chief engineer and theater technical director of Cabrini College, has accomplished. Many people in the theatre affectionately call him the “Dumbledore” of Cabrini as he leads by the example he sets.

“Bob knows everything, whether it’s why you shouldn’t touch a light bulb or the history of basically any object you can name and he’s more than willing to tell you about it,” senior chemistry major Erin McCole said.

“Bob is the one person on campus I would go to if I need a problem solved or if I have a question no one else can answer,” Joe Kimpflen, junior political science and history major, said.

Iodice also worked for a company called Ride and Show Engineering that made a lot of rides for Disneyland and Disney World.

Some of the rides Iodice has personally worked on and helped build were Disneyland’s monorail and Disney World’s Jaws ride (Universal Studios) and Norway Pavilion (Epcot).

Iodice is a Temple University graduate. He majored in design and technical direction with a minor in engineering. He is also a pilot and knows how to operate hot air balloons.

One of the many careers Iodice has enjoyed thus far was working in the motion picture industry in Hollywood. His movie credentials include “Jurassic Park,” “Bugsy,” Frank Coppola’s

“Dracula,” “Hook,” for which he did cloud special effects, “Star Trek: Next Generation,” which he did color consulting for and “Children of the Corn,” for which he built the entire church set.

He muses here and there about different projects and people he’s met, throwing out remarks such as, “Robin Williams is a nut job and a great guy. He is always firing on all cylinders all the time. I can’t figure out how he does it,” Iodice said.

Iodice also made it into the “Guinness Book of World Records,” while he was still in college. In 1979, Iodice was a sophomore going on junior and took a trip to Scotland over the summer.

He got a job as a scenic director on a show called “The Warp.”

“The Warp” was directed by Ken Campbell and was also being featured at the largest theater festival in the world called the ― Edinburgh Festival.

The show made it into the “Guinness Book of World Records” for having the longest running time of any show ever.

It was 22 hours long and done in segments. Iodice remembers actors rotating on and off the stage a lot of them he said were from British comedies.

Iodice also worked his way into Penn Communications and talk radio. At his interview he handed the general manager 52 weeks of programming for a three-hour talk show. He was a guest on another person’s show for one month and then he took it over.

“Life is full of opportunities; you should take all of them,” Iodice said. When asked where Iodice got some of his more random interests, considering his major in college, Iodice talked about his family roots.

“My grandfather was a direc-

tor of an Italian melodrama and my mother and her siblings had a Saturday afternoon radio drama back in the 1930s,” Iodice said.

Never ceasing to be larger than life, surprising and interesting, Iodice reveals his proudest accomplishment. “My family is my proudest accomplishment and I don’t take full credit for it,” Iodice said.

Iodice met his wife Caroline in 1981 in a scene shop. “She was a painter and I was a master carpenter.”

He followed up his description of their already romantic meeting by complimenting his wife and with a look of complete sincerity in his eyes he said, “my wife is the smartest person I have ever met in my life.” They have two children; Annie, 16, who is the youngest student ever at Cabrini and Robert, 20. Robert has recently received the congressional nomination from Rep. Joe Sestak, D- Pa., to West Point.

When asked what drew Iodice to Cabrini, he explains that it was serendipity and that he didn’t know ahead of time what Cabrini would be like.

He said that at first, “I thought it was like the ‘Stepford Wives’ everybody was so nice I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.” With time, he realized everybody really is just that nice at Cabrini. He even goes as far as to say that “these are the nicest people you will ever meet.”

Iodice gives some advice for those entering the work field and describes his work ethic.

“Americans are aspirants. We believe that if we work hard we will be able to further ourselves in life,” Iodice believes this American work ethic. “Anything you want to do you can do.”

jake verterano/a&e editor & graphic designer

YouTube videos can be accessed in court rooms for potential evidence of various cases.

YouTube videos in question as effective evidence in courts christine adolf staff writer

cna722@cabrini.edu

In a recent study, YouTube was the main subject and whether it should be allowed to be used in the supreme court.

The videos show what is either unspeakable police brutality or a measured response to an arrested man’s stubbornness.

In a study according to the Harvard Law Review, the truthfulness that is possible in videos have the possibility to unsettle the way appellate judges do their work.

“A person can describe the events all they can, but it will never be as accurate as the event itself on film,” Joe Cahill, sophomore communication major, said.

The study suggests that justices could be less prone to defer to factual findings of jurors on the case and to the conclusions of lower-court judges.

“Seeing things for yourself is different from hearing about them from other people. It allows you to interpret the situation for yourself rather than going off of how someone else perceived it,” Jackie Ozzimo,

junior history and political science major, said.

So far this has been the only study or case where YouTube has been used for jurors and justices observations.

Now that Facebook is being used by employers to “check out” their potential employees, why shouldn’t YouTube be used in court?

Students from many colleges post videos on YouTube of events they may participate in with friends either on campus or off campus.

Would lawyers be allowed to search YouTube for this specific person to take on more charges if in this video they possibly were doing something illegal?

Many other rules and laws would have to be put in place if YouTube was to be allowed in court.

Another question posed is whether YouTube would actually help promote justice in the world.

“If the videos on YouTube is something that could be used as evidence, then I don’t see why not. If a video of an event can help justice, I’m all for it,” Cahill said.

Cabrini College Theatre Presents: Once On This Island March 24, 26-28 and April 2-4 at 8 p.m.

March 29 and April 5 at 2 p.m.

janene gibbons/staff writer

Bob Iodice, chief engineer of Cabrini’s facilities department and technical director for theater productions, contributes to a myriad of projects. A few of the projects include designing attractions at Disneyland and Disneyworld and hosting a college radio show at Penn Communications.

Tickets are free in the Center for Student Engagement and Leadership Center (SEaL)

10 A&E

www.theloquitur.com

Thursday, April 2, 2009

christina michaluk/ A&E editor

The HBO series “No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” officially aired on March 29. People gathered at the Prince Music Theatre, in Philadelphia for a special sneak preview.

R&B singer stars in hit HBO series christina michaluk a&e editor

cmm736@cabrini.edu

People crowded together from all across the Philadelphia area to the Prince Music Theater for a special preview of HBO’s newest series “No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.”

HBO and the Weinstein Group have partnered together to bring the books to life.

A special appearance by author Alexander McCall Smith started off the evening.

Before beginning the preview, Smith explained his involvement with the show.

Smith also explained his search for the perfect strong woman to fill the shoes of his main character. Philadelphia native Jill Scott, landed the role.

Smith extended his respect and appreciation for Scott, who couldn’t be there and honored Scott’s mother who was in attendance with the rest of the Scott family.

This is Scott’s first starring role since beginning her acting career.

Akika Noni Rose, from “Dreamgirls” plays the other starring role.

Scott will play Precious Ramotswe, the owner of the titular detective agency.

Rose plays her secretary Mma Makutsi. Lucian Msamati plays Precious’s love interest, JLB Matekoni.

Music from native Botswana fills the theater as the preview started.

The story of Ramotswe takes place in Botswana. The filming focuses on highlighting the beauty of the community in which it is being filmed. Most scenes are filled with brilliant eye-catching colors that make each shot visually appealing.

The episode begins with Ramotswe and how her search for justice and watchful eyes lead her to wanting to become a detective.

She is the only female detective in her town.

Her character is charming and upbeat even when the situation looks bleak. The viewer can’t help but be on her side.

The plot is very well-written and the storyline is clever.

‘Once On This Island’

Some of the different scenarios that Ramotswe finds herself in have predictable endings.

The writer surprises the viewer by throwing in plot twists that are intriguing.

Hints are given, but you’re left guessing what the outcome will be.

The cases that she solves range from everyday problems such as unfaithful husbands to possible kidnappings.

Another good aspect of the show is the chemistry between the cast members.

The interactions between Ramotswe and her secretary Makutsi is enjoyable to watch.

They have many moments that you can’t help but want to laugh.

This is a show filled with laughs as well as emotional highs and lows making it a show that is easy to enjoy.

HBO has signed on for 13 more episodes, which will also be filmed in Botswana this summer.

The series officially aired on March 29. Check your local listings for information on show times.

MCT

Jill Scott stars as Precious Ramotswe in HBO’s “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.”

EVENTS: April 2-9 Musical performance

Dr. Joseph Romano

Rock climbing

Cabrini’s theater department presents this unique twist on “Once On This Island.”

Join flutist Mimi Stillman and pianist Karl Middlemen for a once in a lifetime performance.

Join Dr. Romano for a speech on race and what divides us.

Come on out and try rock climbing, it’s free! Transportation provided.

Contact Orlin Jespersen.

Thursday, April 2 - Sunday, April 5 8:00 p.m. in Cabrini Theater

Sunday, April 5 7:30 p.m. in the Mansion

Monday, April 6 6:00 p.m. in the Mansion

Wednesday, April 8 7:00 p.m. at Philadelphia Rock Gym

A&E 11

www.theloquitur.com

Thursday, April 2, 2009

‘Deal or No Deal’ comes to Cabrini candice wojnarowski staff writer

cmw726@cabrini.edu

A mix of students gathered in the Widener lecture hall on Tuesday, March 24, for CAP Board’s version of the hit game show “Deal or No Deal.”

Anticipation was in the air as students entered their names into a raffle, hoping for a chance to play. “This is actually the first event I’ve attended on campus,” Danielle Gordon, freshman chemistry major, said. “I’ve watched the show a few times, and I always have luck picking the cases,

so hopefully it helps me out up there!”

As the games start, the contestant stands face to face with the smiling models, each grasping a sealed brief case containing anywhere from $0.01 to $1 million.

He or she then selects a briefcase to be set aside until the end of the show, at which point they can choose to keep it.

Next, using nothing but intuition they must work through the remaining 25 cases, eliminating the ones they believe to hold the least amount of money.

With each elimination, the pressure builds as the stakes be-

come higher; the likelihood of eliminating the $1 million is just as great as eliminating the small amounts.

Hidden above the studio, watching intently, is a figure known only as “the banker.” He periodically offers settlements to the contestants in the hopes of saving some money. But due to the changes occurring with every case that’s eliminated, the banker’s offer can easily diminish.

Cabrini’s version, which was scheduled to start at 9 p.m., began about 20 minutes late due to some technical difficulties. The stress didn’t seem to affect the 26 smil-

ing models from the dance team and cheerleading squad, nor did it bother CAP Board’s own Howie Mandel, played by junior Robbie Cunningham. Senior Shannon Santangelo was the mystery banker.

The game consisted of three rounds in which three contestants were picked at random from the raffle to stand before the models.

While none of their cases contained $1 million, the contestants were playing for real prizes.

“The player with the most money gets $100 Visa gift card, the second gets a $75 card and the third gets a $50 card,” Felicia

Neuber, senior education major, said.

This opportunity to finally have some “gas money,” as many of the students referred to it, had everyone eager to see whose name was drawn next.

“I saw the little signs they have posted and thought, well, I’m broke maybe I can win some of that money,” Gordon said.

Even for the audience members who didn’t win it big, the evening was an entertaining one. The coy banter between Howie and the models, along with the shrouded banker’s attempts at intimidating the contestants, was enjoyable.

mct

“Deal or No Deal” includes 26 models who display the briefcases. The Cabrini version of “Deal or No Deal” had its own models, which included dance team and CAP Board members.

Budding bromance at movies eric povish staff writer

efp722@cabrini.edu

For all the guys in the world that have been nauseated by all the chick flicks they have been drug to with their girlfriends, and for all those that feel ashamed at having to endure “Confessions of a Shopaholic” and “The Devil Wears Prada,” now is your time to rise up and be ashamed no more. There is now a movie for you, the perfect bromance flick for you and your best guy friend.

That movie is “I Love You, Man.” “I Love You, Man” stars Paul Rudd as Peter Klaven, who just got engaged to his girlfriend.

When planning the wedding, he realizes that he has no close male friends to make his best man. He decides to go on a series of man dates looking for the perfect friend and best man to stand with him.

After a series of dates gone wrong, and with the guidance of his younger gay brother Robbie, played by “Saturday Night Live’s” very own Andy Samberg, Peter eventually runs into Sydney Fife, played by Jason Segel.

But as this new relationship starts to blossom, it soon puts strain on Peter’s own relationship with his fiancée.

“I Love You, Man” is a laugh fest. Even though the movie is tailored for guys and their friends,

it is a good date movie. It is riddled with little sappy moments to make any girl sigh.

It takes the chick flick clichés and turns it around to provide a movie that we haven’t seen in awhile.

The term “bromance,” which revolves around two best male friends, is something that has recently exploded into popularity. It only makes sense that Hollywood would jump on it, and jump on it they do.

The movie has laughs and jokes in all the right places and guys will find themselves seeing scenarios and situations that mimic their real lives with their friends.

The movie is rated R for language and sexual references.

Viewers will compare this to “The 40 Year Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up,” films made by Judd Apatow.

Even though this film is not one of his, both Segel and Rudd pop up in many of his films.

Apatow’s works are known for their very crude and graphic dialogue and jokes, and it’s nice to see an adult themed picture that isn’t riddled with graphic scenes and language.

So for all you guys out there, be sure to grab your best and tell him, “I Love You, Man.”

MCT

Jason Segel and Paul Rudd star in the comedy “I Love You, Man.” The film is presented by the same creators of the hit movies “Knocked Up” and “The 40 Year Old Virgin.”

12 A&E

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Thursday, April 2, 2009

‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’ sami godowsky

asst. features editor scg726@cabrini.edu

mct

Khloe Kardashian began this season of the show by going to prison. The youngest Kardashian violated her probation for a D.U.I. arrest.

Nudity, jail time, shopping interventions and Pussycat Doll performances are what you can find in the latest season of E!’s hit reality show “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.”

Just when you thought the three sisters could not get any more wild, they are back with their third season. The dramafilled reality show is produced by American Idol’s Ryan Seacrest.

If you are unaware who the Kardashians are, here is some background information.

Their late father, Robert Kardashian, was O.J. Simpson’s attorney during his trial for the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson, and their mother re-married Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner.

So what sets the Kardashian girls’ reality show apart from other reality shows?

“Even though they all live crazy lifestyles, it is nice to see an Armenian family spend quality time together. Whether it’s photo shoots or family meetings in the living room, they stick together,” junior elementary education major Ali Ashjian said.

The opening episode of the season showed Khloe, the youngest sister, going to jail for violating probation for a D.U.I. Her 30-day sentence at Los Angeles County Jail, was cut down and she was released just

three hours after being admitted because of overcrowding.

“That is what makes the show so popular. They deal with real issues, they show not everything is perfect,” Ashjian said.

This season has continued to be controversial with Khloe posing naked for PETA’s, “I’d rather go naked, than wear fur” campaign.

The show also showed Kim having an addiction to shopping.

The family had an intervention to help solve her problem after she spent almost $20,000 in one store.

The upcoming episode shows Kim performing with the Pussycat Dolls, but has minor complications with her eyes and does not want to perform, even though she signed a contract stating she would perform.

However, the show must go on.

“The show is funny and it is never boring. I really like theclothing they wear on the show too,” Marina Issac, senior exercise science and health promotion major, said.

If you admire the Kardashian’s style, you can purchase their clothing at their online store at shopdashonline.com See what trouble the girls get into next, every Sunday night at 10 p.m. on E!

Zombies and Shakespeare share the stage eric povish staff writer

efp722@cabrini.edu

On Friday, Feb. 13, there was a zombie outbreak in Philadelphia.

The outbreak was started by Plays and Players, one of Philadelphia’s oldest theater’s. It is currently in its 97th season, in celebration of the east coast premier of “William Shakespeare’s Land of The Dead,” by John Heimbuch on March 13.

The outbreak, which has been advertised as Zombiedelphia, had a handful of events in February to help promote the play.

The Zombie Makeup Workshop painted up its participants as zombies.

The Zombie Bar Crawl had guests march their way over to five local bars in the city where they were treated to their choice of a free drink or appetizer for their visit.

“Zombiedelphia was formed to promote ‘William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead,’” Daniel Student, actor, said. “We wanted to create a unique event that celebrated the zombie culture that inspired this play, and claim another time of year (February/ March) to be the realm of the undead outside of Halloween.”

Zombiedelphia’s month long celebration concluded on March 13, when The Plays and Players

Theater opened it’s curtains “William Shakespeare’s Land of The Dead.”

The play, staring Daniel Student as William Shakespeare himself, had Shakespeare and company trapped in the Globe Theater in the great zombie outbreak of 1599.

Others, such as Queen Elizabeth, Francis Bacon and Richard Burbage, join the fight with Skakespeare as they try to survive the night in the Globe Theater, the last safe place in the city.

Fans of Shakespeare’s work will find many references to many fan favorites.

Whether it be a line or a pose, they are riddled throughout and it makes the experience even more enjoyable.

Any fan of classic Zombie films will feel right at home with the story, which mixes all the right elements of horror, drama and comedy.

Also, a special treat awaits the audience in the first three rows, which come equipped with plastic ponchos, free of charge.

The play won best sell show of the 2008 Minnesota Fringe Festival and was written by John Heimbuch, co-artistic director of Walking Shadow Theatre Company in Minneapolis.

jamie grace-duff/ submitted photo

Daniel Student stars as William Shakespeare in this unique performance. Zombiedelphia won best show at the 2008 Minnesota Fringe Festival.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

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SPORTS 13

Lady Cavs stay perfect in CSAC brian loschiavo

asst. managing editor bl726@cabrini.edu

The Cabrini women’s lacrosse team is off to a convincing start as they stay unbeaten in the Colonial States Athletic Conference.

The Cavs took on Marywood University on Wednesday, March 25, at the Edith Robb Dixon Field.

The women topped Marywood 19-8 led by senior attack Amanda Alexandrowicz with five points on four goals and one assist.

“Considering we have played back to back games coming into this contest I am very pleased with the results,” Head Coach Jackie Neary said.

To start off the game, Marywood went ahead 1-0 in the second minute of play.

Just one minute later, Cabrini’s junior attack Lynda Kaufmann scored off an assist by sophomore Kristen Vernon and never looked back.

Vernon ended the day with three points on three goals.

Alexandrowicz was followed by the scoring of sophomore attack Jamie O’Hanlon, with four points on three goals and one assist. Junior attack Danielle Rothermel posted three points on three goals.

“Everyone has been working hard and we need to stay focused to continue this winning streak,” special education major O’Hanlon said.

Less than a minute after Kaufmann’s net, freshman attack Jacqueline McDermott scored her first goal followed by another from midfieldere Vernon, two from junior mid Kellie Levy and three from Alexandrowicz.

Levy and McDermott both found the net twice, senior defender Christina Romano and junior attack Erin Nollen both tallied one a piece.

Nollen went into this contest coming off a season-high of four goals, and one assist against

cabrini athletic department

Junior communication major Erin Nollen sprints past a defender and looks to shoot during a game played earlier this season. Nollen had a goal in the double-digit win over Marywood University.

Scranton while tallying five points.

The Cavs lead 11-3 at the half taking an impressive 34 shots on goal.

“The hard work and conditioning in the beginning of the season has really paid off now that we are in the thick of the season,” Neary said.

Ten minutes into the second half the women went ahead and stretched the lead to 12 with a

goal from O’Hanlon, Nollen, Alexandrowicz and two from Rothermel.

McDermott notched her second goal with just minutes to spare until the final horn.

With the loss Marywood falls to 2-5 on the season and 0-1 in the CSAC, while the Cavs improve to an overall record of 4-2 and 3-0 in the conference.

The Pacers were lead by freshman attack Taylor McKeown

who tallied three points on three goals.

“When we play together we are unstoppable, no one can take us down,” senior education major, Christina Romano said.

Senior defender Chrissy Regan the senior defender tallied a team and game high four ground balls for the Cavs, while Kauffman came away with a team-high four draw controls.

Junior net-minder Kate

Schmid totaled 47 minutes between the pipes with three saved shots and only four scores allowed.

“At this point things are going well. We are really excited to get further into the season where we hope to come up big,” Neary said.

The lady Cavs have outscored their opponents 58-17 in CSAC play.

Colfer expects banner year for Grugan jessica wegelin

asst. sports editor

jw729@cabrini.edu

Eight points shy of becoming just the third Cabrini men’s lacrosse player to reach the 200-point plateau, junior business administration major Casey Grugan looks to lead his team as far as possible in the post season, and try to capture a national championship.

“We have to play as a team and work hard throughout the season in order to make this dream reality,” Grugan said.

Grugan, who has been playing lacrosse since third grade for the Folsom boys club in Ridley, Pa., enjoys playing the sport because it is so fast-paced

cabrini athletic department

and full of contact. Grugan went on to play varsity lacrosse for all four years at Ridley High School in Pa.

“Since Casey was a little boy he always worked diligently on and off the field. Many of Casey’s good qualities are apparent when he plays lacrosse; he is determined, unselfish and a true team player—always working hard and doing what is best for the team,” his mother, Joyce Grugan, said.

“I knew I was going to play in college because so many people who graduated before me in high school went on to play in college and succeed as a student athlete. I really admired what they had done and knew it was something I wanted for myself,” Grugan said.

Coming off a successful 2008 lacrosse season, where he won numerous awards

including Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Player of the Year and United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association All-America Third Team, Grugan was recently named to the Colonial States Athletic Conference Honor Roll for men’s lacrosse. He also has been named the Inside Lacrosse Division III National Player of the Week.

“He’s a phenomenal player that’s so fundamentally sound that you can learn a lot just by watching him play,” senior business administration major Kevin Fahey said.

Grugan extended the nation’s second longest-running point streak to 46 games with seven points on two goals and

three assists when the men’s lacrosse team won their game at Centenary College 21-8 on Saturday, March 8.

“Casey is an extremely hard worker. He is a strong leader on and off the field which has made him well liked by all of his teammates and coaches,” head men’s lacrosse coach Stephen Colfer said.

“Grugan is always looking for ways to improve his game as well as the teams. He is always on the field practicing his shot and looking for ways to improve,” senior teammate Mike McFarlane said.

“Casey is having a great season so far but my belief is that the best is yet to come,” Colfer said.

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14 SPORTS

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Men’s lacrosse cruises past Centenary megan bernatavitz asst. news editor

mmb722@cabrini.edu

It was another win for the Cavaliers on Saturday, March 28, when the men’s lacrosse team defeated Centenary College.

The No. 15 team outshot Centenary with a 21-8 win.

So far this season, Head Coach Steve Colfer has lead the team undefeated in the Colonial States Athletic Conference.

In the nine years Colfer has been coaching, the team has won 67 straight contests in the regular season.

Leading the team in scoring on Saturday was junior attackman Casey Grugan.

He had seven points, scoring

two goals he paired with five assists.

“I try to create situations as much as possible so I can get my teammates to become more of a scoring threat. There are a lot of talented players on the team so it does not matter who I am passing the ball to, the whole team really pulls together on the field,” Grugan said.

Grugan is in need of just eight points to reach the 200-point achievement in his career and second this season.

“It feels great to know that I am closing in on 200 points for my career,” Grugan said. “Im not going to let that get to my head though, so I am just going to play one game at a time and if it happens, just let take place.”

If he accomplishes this, he will be only the third Cabrini player to do so, senior Scott Reimer is one of them.

Reimer and sophomore midfielder Paul Skulski each had five points.

Skulski scored two goals and three assists, while Reimer had five goals and increased his program-best mark to 187 in 62 career games played.

The net minders shared duty in the win. Senior goalkeeper Kevin Chenoweth totaled two saves in just over 30 minutes. Senior goalkeeper Bobby Chambers had three saves.

Winning 10 of his 12 draws was senior face-off specialist Kevin Fahey.

“I feel bad for other CSAC

teams when we embarrass them on their home field,” senior business administration major Fahey said.

The men’s lacrosse team held a 22-5 advantage versus Centenary and has won more face-offs than their opponent for the eighth time in nine games this season.

“It was our best shooting day we had the whole season,” junior elementary education major Mark Hamilton said.

Freshman attackman Brian Hill and sophomore midfielder Dan Terenick each gained two points on two goals.

Senior midfielder B.J. Kletcheck, sophomore midfielder Jordan Coeyman and freshman midfielder Joe Arrell each scored one goal and one helper.

The Cavaliers were winning 11-2 at halftime, part of the reason was because of a 7-0 run in the second quarter.

“Our goal as to get better throughout, some areas still need work and other areas we did well,” assistant coach Brian Felice said.

By the middle of the second half the men had a 15-point lead.

Giving freshman defenseman Conor Martin the opportunity to score his first career goal in the fourth quarter.

“It was great to get a second in-conference win,” Felice said.

“Centenary has a good up and coming program, I’m happy the guys didn’t look past them.”

cabrini athletic department

Senior midfielder Scott Reimer looks to shoot on goal past a defender from Gwynedd-Mercy College last Wednesday, March 25. Reimer scored five goals against Centenary College and ranked his program-best mark to 187 in 62 career games played.

This week in sports

jill fries

asst. sports editor

vjf722@cabrini.edu

Elite Eight turns into Final Four Villanova University, University of Connecticut, University of North Carolina and Michigan State University made it to the final four after defeating those in the Elite Eight. The UConn Huskies defeated the Missouri Tigers 82-75 on Saturday in the first game of the Elite Eight and have earned their trip to Detroit to face Michigan State. The Villanova Wildcats played a physical and defensive game against the Pittsburgh Panthers Saturday with a 78-76 victory. Villanova will enter the Final Four for the first time since 1985 and will face UNC. The UNC Tar Heels overpowered the Oklahoma Sooners with a 72-60 win Sunday afternoon.

The final Elite Eight game on Sunday between the Michigan State Spartans and the Louisville Cardinals ended with a Spartan win of 64-52. The Final Four takes place Saturday, April 4, and the championship game on Monday, April 6.

Tiger Woods is back Tiger Woods wins the Arnold Palmer Invitational for his first victory since knee surgery. At Bay Hill, Woods putted a 15-footer for a birdie on the 18th hole. He ended with a three-under 67 for a one-shot victory over competitor Sean O’Hair.

In celebration, Woods turned and ran to his caddie who lifted him off the ground.

Woods has not been on the top of the leader board since last June’s 19-hole U.S. Open. He missed the next eight months from knee surgery. There are no more questions about Woods being ready for the Masters in two weeks.

Moats held up by cop on way to hospital Texans running-back and ex-Eagle Ryan Moats was on his way to a Dallas-area hospital to see his mother-in-law who was about to die when he was pulled over for running a red light. The unsympathetic police officer took his time issuing a ticket despite pleas from Moats, his wife, father-in-law and aunt. By the time they arrived at the hospital, his mother-in-law had passed away. The officer threatened to arrest Moats and he even drew his gun. He is now on administrative leave while the incident is under investigation. The Dallas Police Chief is apologizing for the actions taken by the officer and is disappointed and embarrassed. The ticket has been dismissed. Moats said he did not care if he was issued a ticket, but just wanted to get his family to the hospital to see his dying mother-in-law.

Upcoming Games Thursday, April 2 No games Friday, April 3 Men’s Golf @ Moravian College Invitational @ 12:30 p.m.

Softball - home vs. Rosemont College @ 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 4 Softball - home vs. Gwynedd-Mercy College - 11 a.m.

Men’s Lacrosse @ Drew University @ 1 p.m.

Men’s Tennis @ Marywood University @ 1 p.m.

Women’s Lacrosse - home vs. Centenary College @ 1 p.m.

Track & Field @ University of Pennsylvania - all day Sunday, April 5 Men’s Tennis @ Stevenson University @ 2 p.m.

Monday, April 6 Men’s Golf @ Lebanon Valley College Invitational @ 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 7 Softball - home vs. Kings College @ 3 p.m.

Men’s Tennis - home vs. Gwynedd-Mercy College @ 3:30 p.m.

Women’s Lacrosse @ Ursinus College @ 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

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SPORTS 15

Zimmer tosses no-hitter in sweep morgan miller

asst. perspectives editor mlm737@cabrini.edu

The softball team continued to dominate last weekend by gaining its first two-game sweep over a Colonial States Athletic Conference competitor.

On Saturday, March 28, the women’s softball team crushed Baptist Bible College in a 10-0 victory with junior pitcher Liz Zimmer holding a no-hitter in game one.

Zimmer pitched five innings, striking out three batters.

This boosted her season ERA to 4.18 and overall record to 4-5.

Zimmer acknowledged that while her no-hitter was a feat, it was not the sole reasoning for the team’s victory.

“The no-hitter is more of a team thing considering if the team didn’t play such great defense then it would have been a different outcome,” Zimmer said. “The team had some really hot bats, which makes it easier on everyone in the field, because it lets us play more relaxed. All around everyone played a key role, which makes winning games a lot more fun.”

The offense added to the victory by providing a nine-run lead after three innings. Zimmer and freshman Angela Shookster each contributed two runs.

“Our offense was able to string hits together and our defense was able to play a strong game with little errors,” Mary Kate Smith, junior criminology major, said.

Sophomore Susan Schmidt contributed a bases-loaded RBI single in the second inning.

Freshman Sammy Thompson also had an RBI single in the third, when Zimmer stole home causing the lead to reach 9-0.

Shookster gained her third homerun of the season in the fourth inning in her first season with the Cavaliers. Junior exercise science major Cheri Johns pitched game two when the girls earned a 7-4 win, striking

cabrini athletic department

Pitcher Liz Zimmer threw a no-hitter during the game against Baptist Bible College on Saturday, March 28. The team earned their first sweep of the season. out seven. This marked her fourth win of the season.

Freshman Ryan McDonough, senior Kristie Sandefur and Shookster each contributed doubles causing the team to lead 2-0 after the first inning.

“Ryan, who has really come together as a key player at second, had a great day in the field,” Zimmer said.

Also contributing to the victory was Thompson’s run with an RBI single, sophomore Leslie Farrell stealing home, senior Melissa Benedetti pushing home a run with a single and sophomore Pam

Mechling driving in two runs with a double to left field.

“These games showed how we are able to play together as a team,” Smith said. “Hopefully we can use that in future games.”

“I think that we are going to be able to come out stronger [from now on] considering we now know what happens when we do come out at our level,” Zimmer said. “It shows other teams how strong our defense really is and that we are a strong team.”

The team earned a split againt Philadelphia Biblical University on Friday, March 27.

After dropping the first game by a score of 6-3, the Cavaliers dominated the Colonial States Athletic Conference opponent 12-4 in the second game.

“There were a lot less errors in [the second] game,” Kerri MacNeal, junior psychology and history major, said. “Everyone contributed to the win. It was a big win and we definitely needed it.”

The team’s victory was helped by senior Kristie Sandefur’s three RBI and nine other players collecting at least one base hit.

“This game shows that we are

capable of winning the second game,” Sammy Thompson, exercise science major, said.

“There’s no reason that if we play the way we did that we can’t take two.”

Shookster dominated at the plate going 3-for-3. Shookster also gained two RBI and one run for team.

“Ange had an awesome day at the plate,” Ryan McDonough, freshman graphic designer major, said. “[She] hit another home run.”

Benedetti and McDonough expanded the team’s win by two runs each.

Not only did freshmen Thompson and Lauren Alessi each score two runs, but the pair also each drove in another.

“You can’t win if you don’t score,” Johns, said. “So it’s definitely reassuring to have the bats to be able to help out the strong defense we typically have.”

Johns pitched seven innings and struck out two batters.

She went 2-for-2 at the plate, scoring two runs.

“Cheri pitched an awesome game. They had a tough time hitting her,” MacNeal said.

“When they did, our defense was behind her and made the outs.”

Zimmer pitched six innings in game two, striking out five batters.

“If we play every game the rest of the season the way we played the second game today, we will do great,” McDonough said.

“We just need to stay focused on winning one game at a time.”

MacNeal agreed.

“These games were proof that with teamwork and confidence we can take two from any team.

We just need to keep our game up from the first pitch of the first game continuing into the last pitch of the second game,” MacNeal said. “[We fulfilled] our goals that we set before the first game and being able to say we reached our goals was great.”

Women’s track earns 4th at Widener sam bokoski

asst. perspectives editor scb728@cabrini.edu

The Cabrini College men’s and women’s track team opened their 2009 outdoor season at Widener University on Saturday, March 28.

Saturday was Widener University’s Danny Curran Invitational. Cabrini women’s track finished fourth after a day’s effort.

Cabrini men’s track completed their day finishing in fifth.

“The remainder of the season looks promising because we have a lot of freshmen runners that are peaking right about now,” Chris Catagnus, sophomore biology and pre-med major, said.

Assembling Cabrini’s women’s

“A” team is Christiana Taylor, Leslie Williams, Quiana Volney and Shakeya Singleton-Ladson.

Together they posted a time of 4:08.81 in the 4x400m relay.

The day started with Singleton-Ladson placing second in the 100m dash posting a time of 12.47. Singleton-Ladson also placed third in the 200m dash posting a time of 25.47.

Taylor clocked a time of 26.21 in the section one 200m dash, which placed her second. Not as lucky as the 200m dash, Taylor posted a time of 12.53 in the section two 200m dash, placing her in forth.

Continuing with the “A” team Williams posted a time of 1:06.51, placing her second in section one 400m hurdles.

Nardello finished fourth

in section two 800m hurdles, tallying the time up to 2:24:37.

“The vibe that I have been getting from everyone, our future is shining bright,” freshman undecided major Anthony Girolamo said.”

Both Catagnus and Girolamo expressed the high hopes by the team and are hoping their tight knit “family” will pave the way for success this upcoming season.

Catagnus commented on the consistency from meet to meet needing improvement, however, “The seniors on the team are looking to finish the season strong,” Catagnus said.

The Cabrini men and women’s track and field team will resume again Saturday, April 4, at the University of Pennsylvania.

cabrini athletic department

Senior Leslie Williams earned a second place finish in the 400m hurdles to help the women’s team finish in fourth overall on Saturday, March 28, at Widener University.

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Thursday, April 2, 2009

SPORTS 16

Varsity blues continue for baseball club nick pitts sports editor

ndp722@cabrini.edu

matt wittmer/staff photographer

TOP: Junior Steve Klappy warms up with a teammate before practice on Monday, March 30.

BOTTOM: Junior Eric Desantis looks to relay to the infield during practice on the Edith-Robb Dixon field.

matt wittmer/staff photographer

As the sun sets on the EdithRobb Dixon Turf Field and the lights warm up, a player attempts to field a routine pop fly ball when it seemingly disappears, then drops to the turf.

“I lost it in the lights,” he explained as the rest of his teammates laughed.

Seven p.m. is not the most ideal time to start a practice, but for the Baseball Club, it is a way of life.

The club is entering its sixth year of existence, and is still in an uphill battle for official varsity status.

“When I was a freshman, I thought definitely by junior year, we would be considered varsity,” senior club president and human resources management major Bill Bacovin said.

“Now that I am a senior, I have to be realistic and say, maybe in five years, maybe in 10, but who really knows?”

With only a “club” tag, the team faces serious disadvantages.

“If we were varsity, we would have a group of coaches who are on us all the time,” Bacovin said.

“We do not have an organized gym schedule where we go in the gym and lift, because we have no one specialized in that area.”

The club has gotten quite used to not having a field to call home.

“We play our home games mostly at Valley Forge, Upper Merion and Eastern,” Bacovin said. “Eastern is by far our favorite place to play because our fans can just walk across the street. It is a pretty good atmosphere, but we can’t play there for every home game because Eastern actually has a varsity baseball team that we compete with for time on the field.”

They settle for the obscure practice times of either 7 p.m. or 9 p.m. on the turf field, in the gym or at Radnor High School, depending on what is available.

The club must fend for itself to coordinate practice fields, as well as home game times and locations.

“We struggle so much with just having a constant field,” Bacovin said. “You don’t even know how stressful it is for me as club president to never have a field booked.”

The club’s home opener was to be played against Hofstra at Eastern, but was unfortunately rained out.

Rainouts seem to do everything short of giving Bacovin grey hair.

“I pray that we dont have rainouts,” Bacovin said. “I work real hard to get a field locked down for a weekend, and when it rains out I have to go through that whole process over again.”

“This is something that would not be done by me if we were a varsity team,” Bacovin said.

The club dreams of having a

true home field.

Former president and alum Anthony Vellutato went as far as mapping out a diamond on the upper field on campus, currently used only as a practice field, but to no avail.

“It would be nice even to have a field somewhere off campus that is rented out just for Cabrini baseball,” Bacovin said.

Bacovin was sure to mention the shortcomings in the sheer number of players, mentioning that varsity teams on campus do have a type of recruitment process in place.

“If you recruit and you have people that want to come here just to play baseball, you’re going to have a much better team. We are just a bunch of guys who happened to have come to Cabrini and have some baseball talent.”

“We do the best we can, but a real team recruits.”

The club plays in the National Club Baseball Association and goes up against school club teams from giant division one universities including Hofstra, New York University, Rider University and the University of Connecticut.

“Those teams have about a hundred guys to pick from, when we have trouble just fielding a team some years,” Bacovin said.

Bacovin has taken great strides in order to create as close to a real varsity experience as possible.

“We have a contract now, which enforces our new 24-hour drinking policy, very similar to several other teams on campus. I don’t want to see my teammates drinking near a game. The contract also includes rules like how many times you are allowed to miss practice so this way the guys take this more seriously as the years go on.”

Despite the ever allusive varsity status, this club has still come a very long way from pickup games on the softball field.

“When I first came here we were just a group of guys, we did not play in an organized league,” Bacovin said. “We didn’t have any games scheduled, we just went out there and played and thats how it started. “Just a bunch of guys that wanted to start a baseball club got out there and scrimmaged against each other.”

Of the schools competing in the Colonial States Athletic Conference, Cabrini remains the lone school not to offer a varsity baseball program.

“There is a thought that if we win, we’ll be closer to making it, but we were semifinalists last fall and the athletic department didn’t approach us and say, ‘oh you guys are close to becoming varsity now.’ It just doesn’t work that way,” Bacovin said.

“It would even be nice to get just a letter or a ‘hi’ from the athletic director once in awhile just to recognize us. I never got that.”

For more information on the Cabrini Baseball Club, log onto clubbaseball.org.

matt wittmer/staff photographer

TOP: Junior Chad Qureshi looks to turn two during a practice.

BOTTOM: Senior Kirk Manion awaits a fly ball during practice.

matt wittmer/staff photographer