Ramapo News - November 12, 2009

A&E: WRPR hosts annual Dark Room Series ~ page 8

SPORTS: Dance team aims even higher this year ~ page 13

THE RAMAPO NEWS

Student Leaders Provide Mariachi Osorio New Perspective on Serenades J. Leeʼs African History, Culture THURSDAY, November 12, 2009

A publication by the students for the Ramapo College community

By AMY FEZZA Staff Writer

An authentic Mariachi singer came to Ramapo to teach the history and culture of his profession, but due to an error on the advertisement, hardly anyone was there to watch. Fortunately, the students who did show up enjoyed the extra-intimate mood in J. Lee’s last week.

“I definitely felt more connected with the speaker since there wasn’t that many people in the audience, it was a very relaxed atmosphere,” sophomore Colleen Steel said.

Just because he’s from Colombia, Juan Carlos Osorio said that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love Mexican music.

“Colombian people listen to more Mexican music than their own, that’s just the way it is.”

Osorio came to Ramapo to talk about the history of how Mariachi came about and why he believes it is so beautiful.

“I’m a Spanish major and I thought it would be interesting to learn more about the culture outside of a classroom,” sophomore, Melanie Orinski said.

Osorio started his presentation by singing a Mariachi love song, which quickly got the audience’s attention.

“Mariachi is about telling stories and filling yourself with happiness and joy,”

XL No. 9

Osorio said. “For example, any time anyone breaks up in Mexico or South America, men will send out Mariachi’s to their exgirlfriends in order to get them back, the songs and the performer of the Mariachi tend to fix a broken heart and make everything better.”

Osorio explained that three centuries ago a priest came to teach Catholicism to the Indians through music in Mexico. This is how the Mariachi came about; Indians mixed their music with the Spanish, he said.

Most of the instruments were made out of animals.

“The instruments were made out of some wild things, for example an armadillo’s top and intestines were used to make a bass.”

Osorio also passed around clothing worn by a Mariachi singer.

“The hat was much more heavy than I expected,” Steel said.

The clothing was all black with a couple embellishments and a majestic black hat to complete the outfit.

“The wardrobe, the style of singing, and the presentation are all very key to how a Mariachi truly comes to life,” Osorio said.

Throughout Osorio’s lecture, he used a PowerPoint presentation to accompany him with each historical Mariachi figure he see TELLING on page 6

photo by Keri Ann Flaccomio

Members of BMAD and Omega Phi Chi at Going Back to Africa.

By KERI ANN FLACCOMIO Staff Writer

Brothers Making a Difference sponsored Going Back to Africa on the evening of Nov. 5, in an effort to provide a fresh perspective on the continent’s history and its influences on the modern-day culture of the United States.

Going Back to Africa, co-sponsored by Omega Phi Chi, Inc., was one of many events held as a part of Black Solidarity Week, which gave African American students the opportunity to come together and reflect upon the contributions made by their ancestors, and to see how the past and present have correlated to carry them to where they are today.

Anthony Harris, senior advisor for BMAD, believes that it is essential for people to understand African history and move

past the common misunderstandings in order to appreciate their own ancestries and societal traditions.

“The oldest fossil link that was found came from Africa, so somehow, we are all, in a sense, linked to this continent,” Harris said. “I think it’s important to start deconstructing those myths, those stereotypes that in a sense kind of scare people away. I think it’s very sensationalized over there—people say everyone’s sick and that there’s so much poverty, and while certain factors of what people say may be true, in its entirety, Africa is just as industrialized, just as functional, just as politically, economically, socially and culturally strong as any other continent.”

The night began with refreshments, including ethnic selections of chicken, see GOING on page 6

photo by Amy Fezza

Juan Carlos Osorio talks about the history and traditions of Mariachi.

Students Unhappy with Weekend Dining Hours

Page 2 The Ramapo News

Thursday, November 12, 2009

By SAMANTHA ULLRICH Staff Writer

more expansive hours on the weekends, we cannot do so without adding significant cost,” Cammarata said.

Studies have shown that campus dining halls are open during the busiest eating times for students.

The hours of operation are well thought out, Cammarata said, and are based on counts done to accommodate the most popular eating times throughout the day.

Dining services and SGA representatives declined comment on this issue.

Chang, who has lived on campus with his wife for 25 years, agrees more cafeteria hours would be convenient for students.

“When they introduced Late Night, we all thought that was great. But I do agree with the students that there should be a place to eat on campus with more hours during weekends,” Chang said.

There are about 3,000 residents on campus and over 2,300 have a meal plan, but Cammarata said Ramapo needs to look at how to meet student needs and stay on budget.

Students without cars also find it difficult to accommodate rides to go off campus to eat when dining services are unavailable. Even those with means of transportation are unhappy with gaps between cafeteria openings throughout the weekends.

“They didn’t give us a say whether it would be okay for us to have limited time,” Fezza said. “I don’t want to have to go home every weekend to get a good meal. I mean, I’m paying for it, so I feel like I should get it here.”

The limited weekend cafeteria hours on campus are forcing students to eat out, students complain.

Of the two main dining halls on campus, the Atrium is open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday and closed Sunday, and the Birch Tree is open from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 5 p.m.-7 p.m. and 9 p.m.-1 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The Convenience Store is only open from 4 p.m.-11 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. As a result, students who reside on campus are forced to accommodate their eating schedules around the hours that the cafeterias are open for business.

“I try to have a good college experience even though I live close. I have the Sensible 6 plan, so I’m pretty limited to eating at the cafeterias. I try to go at least once a day,” student Amy Fezza said.

photo by Kim Ciocon

The Birch Tree Inn dining hours, which some students want changed.

photo by Kim Ciocon

Students enjoying Late Night dining Wednesday night in the Birch.

School officials say that it has always been a commitment to keep students on campus on the weekends, in order to dispel the notion that Ramapo is a “suitcase” school - where students go home on weekends.

Pat Chang, associate vice president for student affairs stated in an email, “Previous dean Nancy Mackin had Public Safety conduct occasional car counts in the residence halls to determine how many residents stayed over the weekends and found out that actually a majority stayed.”

Ramapo students who do choose to stick around on the weekends argue that they don’t have flexibility to eat when they want.

“There are times when my friends and I are walking back from the gym or some-

thing and want to grab a sandwich or salad. But if we want food during the time gap that Birch isn’t open, we have to wait until it reopens or go off campus to get a real meal,” student Colleen Steel said.

According to Miki Cammarata, associate vice president for student affairs, there will be no increase in dining hours as long as there are enough seats during the current hours.

Cammarata said there is actually a fair amount of assessment that goes into determining dining hours. The current hours for the Birth Tree Inn and Pavilion, in effect for the past few years, were determined based on the academic schedule and consultation with students.

“Existing volume and traffic patterns are also taken into consideration. While it is unlikely that students would object to

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Learning That Can’t Occur in a Classroom

By COURTNEY CERRETA Staff Writer

The School of American and International Studies (AIS) presented “An International Evening” on Nov. 9 in Friends Hall. This presentation involved Fulbright Scholars coming from all over the world to talk to the students at Ramapo College about the countries they came from and their native cultures and languages. The countries discussed included Mali, Brazil, Croatia, France and China.

Dr. Hassan Nejad, the dean of AIS, explained his thoughts on our country, saying that we have “a wonderful group of people in this country.” This presentation, he thinks, we cannot learn about in a classroom. They come to us so we can learn about their contributions and customs.

Rosetta D’Angelo, coordinator of this event and Italian professor at Ramapo College, said, “We should do it as many times as we can. Hopefully, twice a semester. We want to have a symposium on world languages next semester.”

Aissata and Oumou Diawara are sisters who come from Mali, Africa. They gave a presentation about Africa; even though their

government is similar to that of the United States’, Africa is known as “The Dark Continent.” They talked about the Islamic Democracy and how there are very few countries that are both Islamic and democratic.

The main religion in Africa is Muslim, which makes up about 90 percent of the population, while the rest is 5 percent Christian and 5 percent other.

Gabriela Serrano spoke about Brazil. She is from the city of Rio de Janeiro, which she referred to as “a marvelous city,” compared to California because of all the famous people and beaches. Sugar Loaf Mountain, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is located in Rio. Brazil is known for its music, dancing and legendary carnival. They created the Samba, an upbeat and famous Latin dance.

Martin Ivankovic spoke of his homeland Croatia, a country in southeastern Europe.

He grew up in a historic coastal city named Dubrovnik. Ivankovic compared Dubrovnik to Greece, pointing out that Croatia has 1,100 islands. Some of the ethnic cuisine includes dishes such as stuffed peppers, shrimp scampi, seafood, and peppers and onions, which he served to guests after the presentation.

An “International Evening” featured speakers of different countries, food and music.

Cait Burns, junior at Ramapo, said it was exciting to learn about Croatia. She said she would be interested in learning more, adding, “That’s not a place I really know much about.”

Laura Nicolas, a Fulbright professor,

the UN? Is the UN doing an excellent, fair, or poor job in its work? What kind of a budget does the UN have?”

The two former questions elicited positive reactions from the audience as a whole, with many audience members raising their hands for the “excellent” option. Audience members failed to come up with an answer to the last question, however. One woman thought the budget was $50 million.

In reality, the UN’s budget is a sizable $1.9 billion, though only 4 percent of New York City’s budget, to put the number in perspective. Peterson explained to the audience a reality of UN’s goals; they can only be accomplished through adequate funding.

“Look at the organization’s goals, and compare them to the resources. One must evaluate the UN’s successes and failures in that context.”

Another limitation the organization faces is sovereign Nation States pursuing their own national interests.

“It’s impressive that they’ve accomplished as much as they have,” Peterson said.

Though general consensus of the UN was positive, there were some disparities.

Senior Marie Murray agrees that the UN is doing a good job.

“I think they’re doing a good job in terms of all the fields they’re trying to reach.”

In contrast, Ramapo student Bryan Edgecomb feels the UN is doing a fair job.

“They’re doing a fair job because I don’t feel

they are doing enough. Also, there is not enough news on the UN in the United States.”

A major success of the UN Peterson recalled was when the organization eradicated and eliminated small pox during the 1970s.

“Using a modest budget, the UN assembled doctors from various countries, who cooperated to find a cure,” Peterson said.

On the flip side, a major frustration of Peterson’s regarding the UN is the organization’s failure to respond to genocide in Darfur.

In the future, he hopes the UN to accomplish its millennium development, which strives to reduce global poverty by 50 percent by 2015, and to reduce infant mortality rates.

As of right now, however, the budget to accomplish the millennium development is limited.

“Is there enough money pledged? No, but we’re moving towards these goals, and we’re moving in the right direction,” Peterson said.

Peterson also spoke about the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). As its name suggests, UNESCO is a body of the UN devoted to the international collaboration of education, science and culture, all while fostering cooperation and peace between nations, according to Peterson.

“The ultimate goal of UNESCO is to increase dialogue between cultures,” Peterson said.

His lecture provided the audience with several different theories about globalization,

photo by Stefanie Mauro

Thursday, November 12, 2009

spoke about France and its liberty, equality and diversity. She said France is very diversified, from the landscapes to the food and music. The landscape consists of seas, mountains and plains covered in different monuments. France is the largest country in Europe. The French are well known for their different types of wines, cheese and bread.

Zhu Yige, a visiting scholar from China, gave the final presentation. China has 5,000 years of history and has the largest population of any country in the world - 1.4 billion people.

Yige spoke about the Chinese flag and its meaning. The red background of the flag symbolizes the blood of the heroes who died during the revolution and the yellow color symbolizes the glorious history and culture.

The night was concluded with a sampling of the different ethnic foods brought by the presenters. The presenters mingled with the crowd, giving the guests an opportunity to ask them questions about their countries and cultures. “An International Evening” was a huge success, giving those in attendance a reason to look forward to future cultural presentations.

Peterson Delivers UN: the Good, the Bad and the Future

By MEGAN ANDERLE Staff Writer

Though there are many facets of the UN and what it accomplishes, Peterson’s lecture, “Diversity and Similarity: The United Nations’ Culture,” focused specifically on “how the UN deals with culture and values in the context of controversies today, concerning globalization and civilization.”

A mouthful.

Peterson began his presentation with a pop quiz, to assess the audience’s general opinion of the UN. “How many of you have a positive view of

photo courtesy of Ramapo.edu

Professor Clifford Peterson firmly believes in the UNʼs effectiveness.

which ranged from global culture in transition, to global ethic, to there being a clash of cultures, as a reaction to globalizing trends perceived to be threats, causing conflicts.

The theory he most aligns himself with deals with the global marketplace.

“We’re moving into a global culture, but it’s a very slow process, and we’ll see more intercultural influences going on. I think there will be a hybrid of several major cultures emerging in the years to come. This will be a preliminary step before global culture. We can see basic principles in common now as a result of modernization,” Peterson said.

Overall, the feedback from the presentation was positive.

“Peterson conveys a positive and progressive viewpoint of the UN,” said Walter Popiel, vice president of the Culture Club.

“I’m happy about the way he expresses the importance of the UN on modern culture.”

There will be another presentation on Monday, Nov. 16, in Friends Hall at 1:00 p.m., featuring Dr. Gerardo Pina-Rosales, a professor at the Graduate School and Lehman College, C.U.N.Y who is the president of North American Academy of the Spanish Language.

His lecture, “Culture and Society: The English Influence in the Spanish Language,” is presented by the Culture Club. Food and refreshments will be served.

Page 4 The Ramapo News

Roving

Reporter

Thursday, November 12, 2009

“If you could only live with the Internet, a cell phone or TV, which would you pick?”

Question and Photographs by Erica Buchman

“Internet”

“Cell Phone”

-Jonathan Saitzyk Junior

“Internet”

-Kristen Oblosky Sophomore

-Robert Bolejszo Sophomore

“Cell Phone”

“Cell Phone”

-Mohammad Bidas

-Keble McDermoth Junior

Financial Planner Helps Create Budgets, Manage Expenses

By KERI ANN FLACCOMIO Staff Writer

The Department of Human Resources hosted a financial workshop with ING Financial Advisers on Nov. 6 to counsel employees on budgeting and managing expenses.

Jeanne Weaver, a certified financial planner since 1984, led the workshop roundtable style, using a PowerPoint presentation and working off the feedback from the participants—six members of the Ramapo faculty.

Weaver said that the function of the workshop was mainly to develop skills that are useful in the current economy, specifically for managing expenses.

“I’ve seen every form of a budget,” she said, beginning the presentation, “or lack thereof.”

Walking the participants through the steps of planning out a successful personal or family budget, Weaver explained that the most important factor is exercising control, and being able to find the “black holes.”

“We speak in big terms,” she said, “but I think it’s the little things that kill us.”

The first step in planning a budget is figuring out what one’s expenses are, the second step is comparing those expenses against income, and the final step is creating a plan to cut back on the expenses in order to have a decent sum of money remaining.

To provide a realistic example, Weaver ref-

photo by Keri Ann Flaccomio

Jeanne Weaver lectures faculty on managing budgets during her workshop.

erenced the post-Depression era, during which many families budgeted by separating money for food, gas and other necessities into envelopes stored in their kitchen drawers.

“You need to know where the money is going before you can plug any holes,” Weaver said.

She also cautioned against automatic deductions, saying that people tend to stop looking

closely at them, even though there are mistakes.

One participant agreed, describing how wireless telephone companies often put additional charges on their monthly bills, which can lead a consumer to pay extra unless he or she makes a call to dispute the fluctuating costs.

Throughout the presentation, Weaver offered

suggestions for cutting back on everyday expenses, such as: cut out one restaurant meal per week, make your daily coffee at home, use coupons at the grocery store and rent a DVD rather than going out. One participant also mentioned that going to the library can be an effective way to cut costs.

Weaver concluded the presentation by providing useful Web sites such as www.debtfree.org for information on credit counseling and annualcreditreport.com for a free credit report each year.

All six faculty members who were present declined to comment on their reasons for attending the workshop and what they gained from the presentation, due to the sensitivity associated with financial circumstances.

After the workshop had formally ended, the participants were entitled to meet individually with a financial planner for a complimentary consultation.

In these difficult economic times, Weaver says the most important thing that people can do to secure their finances is to manage out-ofcontrol debt, especially through credit cards.

For those trying to plan a budget for the first time, she recommends conducting a threemonth analysis of one’s check book, credit cards and cash usage.

“It’s a way to prepare yourself,” Weaver said, “so you don’t get stuck.”

Obama Mourns Those Lost in Fort Hood Shooting Page 5 The Ramapo News

By ANN GERHART The Washington Post

Each blow against America has seemed unimaginable: When 220 soldiers died in the shattered Beirut barracks. When the fertilizer bombs blew apart a federal building and its workforce in Oklahoma City. When the hijackers brought down shining twin towers and more than 3,000 lives.

Each time, the president has stepped from the wings to face a sea of his citizens, shocked, angry and suffused with grief.

On Tuesday, that heavy task fell to President Obama. At a memorial service five days after the largest mass killing on a U.S. military base, he reached for words of sorrow and solace, then summoned determination.

"Neither this country, nor the values that we were founded upon, could exist without men and women like these 13 Americans" who died in a hail of bullets, Obama said. "Their life's work is our security and the freedom that we too often take for granted. Every evening that the sun sets on a tranquil town; every dawn that a flag is unfurled; every moment that an American enjoys life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — that is their legacy."

He faced a crowd of several thousand soldiers dressed in desert camouflage fatigues and dusty combat boots. Their black berets formed a rippling acre of funereal bunting under a blue sky. The soldiers are practiced at this ritual; 545 from Fort Hood have died in the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan, so many that new granite tablets keep being added at each company's memorial.

Yet those being mourned Tuesday, as the

Thursday, November 12, 2009

president noted, "were killed here, on American soil. ... This is the fact that makes the tragedy even more painful, even more incomprehensible."

What made it unimaginable, Obama left unsaid: The man accused is one of the Army's own, a major, a psychiatrist, scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan and to help those buckling under the brutality of war. That, said Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the Army's chief of staff, was "a kick in the gut." Obama did not mention Nidal Hasan by name.

Many of the dead and wounded also were warrior therapists, called to treat emotional wounds. Obama eulogized each fallen soldier individually.

He spoke of the Eagle Scout who decided to defuse bombs, and the guitar player who could make up songs on the spot, the retired veteran who returned as a physician's assistant and came back to work right after a heart attack, and the immigrants, a Mexican, a Thai, one middle-aged, one young, who saw opportunity in volunteer military service.

Casey noted they were "newlyweds, single moms, immigrants, teenagers and 50-somethings — all bound together" by the common desire to serve the country. Among them, they had 19 children, and one on the way.

Their family members sat in the front rows, their faces a tableau of the most personal grief, hands twisting hands, heads bowed or rigidly straight. Near them were the soldiers who had survived, some on crutches, some in wheelchairs. Several remain hospitalized around the region.

Farther back were Sen. John McCain, RAriz., Texas Republican Gov. Rick Perry and the state's two Republican senators, John

Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison. From the Pentagon came Defense Secretary Robert Gates; Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Casey.

The service was open to the public, and the mourners began coming several hours early.

Companies marched in formation to the large grassy field, carrying their flags. Army wives lowered babies off their hips to go through metal detectors, then swooped them up again. The ones whose husbands are deployed came together, in twos and threes, passing around communal bags of animal crackers. The ones whose husbands were still in garrison came glued to their sides. The couples dotted the field, arms wrapped tightly around each other's waists.

There were flashes of sardonic wit. An officer told some staff sergeants guarding a visitor entrance, "If anybody comes to you and says he's a Killeen VIP," referencing the Texas town that sprawls around the post, "No. 1, he's probably not, and No. 2, he's certainly not."

Everywhere were signs of what Casey calls resilience, the Army's sturdy ability to ignore the surreal and just hup two. A little boy wandered over and banged away on the instawalls of the open-air memorial ground. The same steel canisters that create military fortresses against insurgents overseas now hastily served as a fortress for a president and a shattered community. But they did make a snappy percussive sound in the hands of a kid.

Samuel Fleming Jr., who lives in Killeen, said he showed up "to reflect, to mourn with them a little bit today."

"You're losing people who had their whole

lives ahead of them. They were randomly gunned down," Fleming, 45, said as he waited in the parking lot of the Ghost Warrior Lanes bowling alley. "That hurts."

Heather Guerra, 22, drove an hour from Moffat, Tex., and sat on a curb in the bright sun with her infant son Jeremiah on her knees. She saw the attack as a "mini-9/11" and said her presence was "the least I can do."

The picnic atmosphere ended abruptly when a bagpiper began his keening.

The Army has perfected a traditional ceremony, piercing in its simplicity — a single bugler, a three-gun salute, the final roll call, a powerful and painful finish. Its intention is to end the period of shock and denial and to summon the troops back to their mission.

The president was delivering his first eulogy after the tragedy. Two weeks earlier, at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, he had stood silently in the middle of a cold night to salute the return home of soldiers killed in a bloody week in Afghanistan.

"So we say goodbye to those who now belong to eternity," Obama said Tuesday. "We press ahead in pursuit of the peace that guided their service. May God bless the memory of those we lost. And may God bless the United States of America."

As the final notes of taps faded away, the president, joined by his wife, Michelle, stood and walked along the 13 memorials at the stage, pausing to take in the photographs, the dog tags, the empty boots and the M-16s topped by helmets. Obama placed a commander-in-chief coin at each. They then left to meet the wounded, and the family, friends and fellow soldiers began the long, sad procession.

Always Greener: Green Facts Challenge Underway

By BRYAN KAMINSKY Staff Writer

The Green Facts Competition urges students to compete to see which residence hall can conserve the most energy. It has had noticeable results in the past and saved the college over $50,000 to date.

The competition is judged in four categories: electricity use, natural gas use, recycling compliance and sustainable attitude.

Electricity and natural gas use are monitored by looking at data and using formulas to calculate the amount of energy saved.

Recycling compliance involves calculating the percentage of rooms in a residence hall which put their recycling out each week.

The competition started in April 2008, and has continued successfully in November 2008 and April 2009.

The following are the statistics from the competition last November. By showing the results, the goal is to do better than last year.

The winner of the November 2008 Green Facts Competition was Oak Hall with 250 residents.

Oak Hall conserved electricity usage of 258 values per student and a natural gas use of 11 values per student, as well has having a 33 percent recycling compliance.

In second place there was a tie between the Village and the CPAs. The Village, with 528 residents, conserved

electricity usage of 239 values per student and a natural gas use of 25 values per student, as well has having a 53 percent recycling compliance.

The CPAs, with 500 residents, conserved electricity usage of 159 values per student and a natural gas use of 18 values per student, as well has having a 37 percent recycling compliance.

In fourth place was Laurel Hall with 432 residents. Laurel Hall conserved electricity

photo courtesy of Bruce Trail

usage of 485 values per student and a natural gas use of 18 values per student, as well has having a 52 percent recycling compliance.

In fifth place there was a tie between the Maple Hall and the Overlook.

Maple Hall with 360 residents, conserved electricity usage of 186 values per student and a natural gas use of 11 values per student, as well has having a 22 percent recycling compliance.

The Overlook with 295 residents, conserved electricity usage of 180 values per student and a natural gas use of six values per student, as well has having a 51 percent recycling compliance.

In seventh place was Pine Hall with 500 residents. Pine Hall conserved electricity usage of 107 values per student and a natural gas use of 7.1 values per student, as well has having a 15 percent recycling compliance.

In eighth place was Linden Hall with 240 residents. Laurel Hall conserved electricity usage of 228 values per student and a natural gas use of 28 values per student, as well has having a 14 percent recycling compliance.

The anticipated prize this year for the residence hall with the highest overall score is a Green Facts Party. This will offer organic pizza, beverages, music and some raffled prizes. The residence hall with the highest score also gains the pride of being the Green Facts winner for the semester.

Participating in the Green Facts Competition is a great way to be green and more sustainable while setting a good example for the rest of the campus community. .

Green Fact of the Week: Keep your tires inflated to their desired pressure to maximize your car’s fuel economy

Going Back to Africa Dispells Myths, Enhances Knowledge Page 6 The Ramapo News

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Continued from page 1

beans and couscous, as well as cookies and assorted drinks.

Professor Karl Johnson, the faculty advisor for BMAD, shared a PowerPoint presentation entitled: “Africa in the Ancient World,” along with pictures of African architecture and modern-day Ethiopia.

Encouraging everyone to keep an open mind, Johnson said, “You have many perceptions of current Africa, but not many people know about the past.”

He went on to point out that Africa is four times the size of the United States— not including Alaska—and that Sudan alone is larger than Spain, France and Germany put together.

“When you look at Africa, you have to start with geography to develop an understanding.”

Showing examples of exquisite works of art produced on a consistent basis, such as the Nubian Queen Malakaye, Johnson explained that these are representations of a high-end, well-ordered civilization, where people are sufficiently fed and have a reasonable amount of leisure time.

Throughout the presentation, Johnson plugged humor to keep the audience interested.

photo by Keri Ann Flaccomio

Professor Karl Johnson presents a PowerPoint on the history of Africa.

While displaying images of African architecture from over 1,200 years ago to counter the myth that all Africans lived in huts, he said, “Come on, I’d live there 1,200 years ago—in fact, I’d live there now! I’m old enough to remember that people in America still had outhouses in the 60s.”

Another point that Johnson stressed was how the misconceptions created an

Telling Stories and Filling Yourself With Joy: Osorio Continued from page 1

wanted to cover.

“First off, I want to say that the word ‘Mariachi’ means ‘festival’ and that’s what we’re going to do tonight, we’re going to celebrate.”

Osorio sang, conversed, made key points and even joked around. Osorio wanted the atmosphere to feel very light and wanted the audience to learn all that he knew through having fun.

Osorio went on to talk about all the men who were the “founding fathers” of the Mariachi and said he would try to be as descriptive as possible on their many talents as both, singers and performers.

“My English isn’t that good, so I want to show clips of the actual performers so you know exactly what I am talking about.”

Osorio covered all the greats: Jorge Negrete, Pedro Infante, Javier Solis, Antoni Aguilar, Vincente Fernandez, Alejandro Fernandez and Pepe Aguilar.

All were very unique singers and were well-known for the different characteristics of which they held.

Through each person, Osorio would describe their strengths and weakness, as well as how they helped form the Mariachi.

“The Mariachi singer that I love and look up to the most is Pepe Aguilar,” Osorio said. “He was my hero because we are the same age and when I saw him perform at age 8, I thought to myself ‘this is something that I could do too!’”

Through Osorio’s presentation, he spoke

with passion regarding the history of the Mariachi and how much it meant to him.

“When coming to America, I began listening to all the different genres of music that it has to offer. I was able to see that country music is much like the Mariachi because it tells stories and is very expressive.”

Students who previously never dreamed they would be interested in Mariachi music, left much more open to the idea.

“I love music and I have a wide variety of a music in my collection. I thought it would be good for me to go and see what the Mariachi was all about and maybe find something new to add,” sophomore Ken Rodenheiser said.

photo by Amy Fezza

Juan Osorio shows the crowd at J. Leeʼs traditional Mariachi wardrobe.

excuse for slavery by making people believe that Africans were primitive people who were at least being provided with better housing and living conditions in America, which was completely false.

Julissa Candelario, president of Omega Phi Chi, explained that it is important for people to understand the variations of the different countries and cultures, because each one is so different.

“People should take away respect for the diversity of the African people and cultures,” said Alecia Phillips, secretary of Omega Phi Chi. Following the presentation, participants were directed to different stations set up around the room for the African countries of Egypt, Sierra Leone, Kenya and Nigeria. Each station had an informational poster providing background information on its country, and a cultural activity set up for people to take part in.

The most popular activities included writing hieroglyphics at the table for Egypt and face painting at the table for Kenya.

Those running the event hoped that people would leave the presentation being able to analyze African culture from a more informed, objective standpoint.

“I think that, so much of the time, we tend to assume that we are disconnected from the continent, but I think when people come here and they see the different countries, I think they realize how much of modern society is so heavily influenced by Africa,” Harris said. “It’s in knowing more about these countries that we can know more about ourselves and our futures.”

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VIEWPOINTS

A Good Education vs. a Good Image

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Turning Forty Never Looked So Good

Campus views are the sole opinion of their respective authors, submitted to The Ramapo News and in no way reflect the views of either The Ramapo News or Ramapo College of New Jersey.

By CORTNEY COLLINS Editor-in-Chief

With Founder’s Day approaching, I want to commend Ramapo College on the great job they have been doing educating students for the last 40 years. I might complain about the school a lot, but I can never complain about the quality of the education I’m receiving here.

And while I’m still receiving a great education, Ramapo’s latest public relations policies are interfering with that education more than they should.

As a journalism student, my homework assignments often entail writing articles about events on campus. I usually seek out faculty, staff and administrators for interviews. Lately, I’ve been stonewalled

by the people who have been charged with educating me. At every turn, I’m told to contact public relations for answers to my questions.

The reason for this was revealed to me in a recent meeting with marketing.

Apparently Ramapo is looking to cultivate its brand image. Meaning, they want to have a positive public reputation.

They want to provide cohesive brand messaging. While that is an important goal especially in this economic climate - it shouldn’t come at the expense of students seeking information about their college.

As a student, I don’t want the answer that makes Ramapo look good; I want the truth.

I didn’t choose Ramapo because of the way they were perceived in by the public.

I came to Ramapo because I liked the campus and I knew I would get a quality education.

However, in their desire to brand themselves as New Jersey’s Public Liberal Arts School, Ramapo may have forgotten that their number one priority shouldn’t just be public perception, but providing top tier education.

Got an opinion?

Come and be heard.

Monday and Wednesday nights in SC 218

By TOM NG SGA President

Once a year, students gather in the student center to cut a big cake with a picture of the arch on it and get free cotton candy. Year after year students eagerly await these free gifts, often never knowing the historical significance behind the celebrations.

These festivities are inspired by Founders’ Day, a Ramapo-specific holiday celebrating the anniversary of the founding of our school. This year marks the school’s fortieth birthday and I hope students come out to celebrate this momentous occasion.

There are several reasons to participate in this college-wide Rama-party.

For starters, it is a wonderful way of commemorating how far our campus has come over the years. Ramapo started as a response to the state’s demands for more open seats in higher education institutions in order to support growing graduating high school classes. It also served to meet the needs of students looking for a nontraditional college experience focused heavily on individual student growth.

These founders established Ramapo on scenic land in the heart of the Ramapo mountains, with only the CPA’s to house students, an academic building (A, B, C, D and E wings), a smaller version of the student center than we have today and a large parking lot. There were also a lot of trees.

Clearly Ramapo has transformed from

its humble roots to become a respected and a premier college in Northern Jersey.

As much as Founders’ Day is a celebration of how far our college has come, it is a celebration of all those that helped to make Ramapo the place it is today and keep it relevant despite an everchanging world.

One of these major influences on Ramapo was our Founding President, George T. Potter, who passed away just last week. President Potter was best known for his efforts to establish Ramapo College, as well as create the academic structure of the institution.

His efforts were recognized when the library was named in his honor.

One of the biggest complaints I hear from students regularly is that there is not enough spirit or pride on our campus. Founder’s Day provides a perfect opportunity to come to a daylong event and experience “Ramapride” at its finest.

Festivities will commence on Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in the Student Center, with the cake cutting ceremony occurring at 1:30 p.m. The celebration will move to the Birch Tree Inn at 9 p.m.

If celebrating our college’s past is not enough for you to come out for the Founders’ Day festivities, there are other incentives to show your Ramapo pride.

Namely, free commerative t-shirts, goodie bags, prizes, tie-dye shirts, photo booths, balloon artists, magicians and (as always) cotton candy.

Whether you come to celebrate Ramapo’s past, recognize those that spent their careers transforming Ramapo into what it is today, or simply to line your pockets with tons of free stuff, don’t forget to take part in Ramapo’s fortieth anniversary next Wednesday.