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2.24.2011
RAMAPO NEWS
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A Publication by the Students for the Ramapo College Community
SPORTS
XLI No. 16
Libyan Violence Concerns U.S. and European Nations SGA Officials
Debunk Claims Posted in Anonymous Flyer
By ELYSE TORIBIO News Editor
Mayan Village Wants Your Business, Not Charity
photo courtesy of Steve Stearns
Libyans protest against the government of Moammar Gadhafi and President Obama reacts. See full story on page 2. By MIKE JAGENDORF Staff Writer
Towards the back of Ramapo College’s bookstore is a rack of colorful woven products, from handbags to headbands. Like most garments found in retail stores they were made by poor people in a developing country. However, these poor people are a group of empowered Mayan women in business for themselves, taking the initiative along with the help of some people at Ramapo, to make a living and improve their lives by selling their handmade crafts in the United States. In 2009, then Ramapo accounting student Mariya Bistrina went to Guatemala for an Alternative Spring Break trip. There she met the indigenous Maya Mam population of the rural agricultural town of Cajola. She immediately sympathized with the women there and wanted to do something to help them out of poverty. A group of them, noting they
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needed a source of income to improve their lives, had formed a company they called Maya Mam Weavers, and taught themselves to weave textile products inspired by traditional designs. Bistrina and her friend Radina Dimitrova were members of SIFE, Students In Free Enterprise, a group that encourages students to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to better communities through educational outreach projects. Together they came up with an idea to raise money for the Maya Mam women based on business and the free market instead of charity – they would sell their products at the Ramapo Bookstore. “Since weaving is the only way they can earn money on their own, we decided the best way to help them was to facilitate the sale of their products,” Bistrina said at a SIFE conference in New York last year. “By cresee MAYAN on page 6 ating flyers, posters, and through
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Unauthorized yellow flyers alleging improprieties with the Student Government Association budget and elections were posted on doors across Ramapo’s campus this week. The flyer, which had no author listed, referred to SGA members as a “pack of elitist tyrants” and claimed that unnamed SGA members used “racial slurs.” “There was no truth in them at all,” SGA President Jason Krisza said. “We need to keep doing what we’re doing, and we have to prove that these claims are untrue. The organization has done a great job.” The flyer alleges that a recent election was not open to all and that SGA’s budget does not benefit students. “One of the things that really struck us as slanderous and completely untrue was the claim that there was an election that wasn’t open to some students,” Krisza said. “All students were made known, and 19 people came out for two positions.” Krisza also said that the budget is used for a variety of events that benefit students. “We put forth a great Octoberfest that took over half of the $100,000 that they mentioned in the flyer,” he said. “We had a great Founders’ Day and we’re undertaking Higher Education Awareness Week...It’s these types of things that will show that we do do things for students.” Pat Chang, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, said the unauthorized flyer lacked legitimacy.
see SGA on page 6
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Page 2 The Ramapo News
THE RAMAPO NEWS Robert A. Scott Student Center 505 Ramapo Valley Road Mahwah, NJ 07430
(201) 684-7842 rcnjnews@ramapo.edu Megan Anderle Editor-in-Chief
Amy Fezza
Managing Editor
Nicole Alliegro Elyse Toribio News Editors
Diana Stanczak A & E Editor
Andrew Gould Sean Ritchie Sports Editors
Stefanie Mauro Photo Editor
Matt Giuliari
Creative Director
Samantha Ullrich Web Editor
Adam Panella
Business Manager
Dan Sforza
Technical Advisor
Danielle Reed Keri Ann Flaccomio Contributors
INSIDE
Around the Arch Page 3
Viewpoints Page 7
A&E Page 8
Sports Page 13
POLICY
Whenever necessary, The Ramapo News will publish corrections or clarifications in the following issues. All corrections must be brought to the attention of the editor as soon as possible. The Ramapo News strives for accuracy. In keeping with journalistic standards, pre-publication review of any article, quote or editorial is not allowed. Viewpoints may be dropped off at SC-218 or e-mailed to rcnjnews@ramapo.edu. The Ramapo News reserves the right to edit viewpoints for content, style and space. Anonymous viewpoints will not be accepted. Paid advertisements are accepted at the sole discretion of The Ramapo News staff and are due no later than the Monday of that weekʼs issue. Rates are available by contacting the editorial staff by phone or e-mail.
Obama Reacts to Violence in Libya Protests
Thursday, February 24, 2011
By SCOTT WILSON Washington Post
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama on Wednesday sharply condemned Libya’s violent crackdown against a widening antigovernment movement, saying the “suffering and bloodshed is outrageous and it is unacceptable.” In his first public comments on the Libyan revolt, Obama echoed his earlier written statement on the protests in the North African nation, urging the embattled government of Moammar Gadhafi to refrain from violence and respect the rights of Libyans to demonstrate. But Obama neither called for a change in Libya’s autocratic government nor announced a set of specific sanctions that the United States would support to punish it for actions he said “violate international norms and every standard of common decency.” “Like all governments, the Libyan government has a responsibility to refrain from violence, to allow humanitarian assistance to reach those in need and to respect the rights of its people,” Obama said from the Grand Foyer of the White House, with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at his side. “It must be held accountable for its failure to meet those responsibilities and face the cost of continued violations of human rights.” Obama delivered his statement amid mounting criticism of his muted response to the violence, and a growing sense that, as the Arab Middle East and North Africa churn through a period of abrupt change, the White
House remains behind events and overly cautious in responding to them. He announced that Clinton would travel to Geneva Monday where a group of foreign ministers plan to gather for a meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council. Also, Obama said, Undersecretary of State William Burns will travel to Europe and the Middle East “to intensify our consultations with allies and partners about the situation in Libya.” “This is not simply a concern of the United States,” Obama said. “The entire world is watching. And we will coordinate our assistance and accountability measures with the international community.” Hundreds of people have already been killed in Libya, according to various human rights groups and witnesses, while thousands more are fleeing for refuge in other countries. The concern over Obama’s tepid response has been expressed across the political spectrum, and it has put the administration in the position of following its European allies, traditionally more comfortable speaking out against such abuses than taking direct action against them. But administration officials are concerned about the safety of hundreds of Americans still inside Libya, whose security Obama said remains his “highest priority.” Many of them prepared to leave Tripoli on Wednesday aboard a U.S. government-chartered ferry, but bad weather and high seas prevented its immediate departure. In an appearance Wednesday with her visiting Brazilian counterpart, Clinton said, “In any
situation, our foremost concern has to be for the safety and security of our own citizens.” She added, “We’re encouraging Americans to leave Libya. . . . We urge Americans to depart immediately.” French President Nicolas Sarkozy called Wednesday for the European Union to adopt immediately a set of sanctions against Libya, saying the “international community cannot stand idly by in the face of these massive human rights violations.” France has a larger diplomatic and economic footprint in Libya, and several human rights advocates in the United States say the Obama administration’s real leverage with Gadhafi lies through its European allies. Sarkozy said sanctions might include “the possibility of bringing [Libyan officials] to justice, to prohibiting access to EU territory, and to monitoring financial transactions.” Obama said he has ordered his staff to assemble a range of possible options. Those include re-imposing the sanctions against Libya that the United States lifted seven years ago - a step Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., has recommended. “The change that is taking place across the region is being driven by the people of the region,” Obama said. “This change doesn’t represent the work of the United States or any foreign power. It represents the aspirations of people who are seeking a better life.” Staff writer Mary Beth Sheridan contributed to this report.
see LIBYA EDITORIAL on page 7
‘Day of Action’ Will Address Funding Crisis
By KAITLIN McGUINNESS Staff Writer
On Monday, the Higher Education Committee kicked off Higher Education Week with a dinner in the Trustees Pavilion. Lauren Hahn, Student Trustee on the Board of Trustees and Co-chair of the Higher Education Committee, and Erin Kaplan, Alternate Student Trustee, spoke about the financial crisis New Jersey and Ramapo College are facing. While New Jersey is ranked in the top ten percent in the nation for funding of kindergarten through twelfth grade education, it is in the lowest ten percent for funding of higher education. State funding of schools like Ramapo has gone steadily down over the last decade, from 43.4 percent in 2000 to 25.4 percent in 2010. State schools like Ramapo receive a certain amount of funding from Trenton and are responsible for making up in the difference. Ramapo College received 15 percent less from the state this past year than it did the year before, and as a result tuition costs rose $1108. If this trend continues, Ramapo will have to take measure like continuing to raise tuition prices, fundraising, petitioning for endowments, cutting operations costs and possibly going into dept, although Ramapo has always run a balanced budget in the past. The cost of tuition is set on a year-by-year basis, and students who paid a certain amount
photo by Louis DiPaolof
President Mercer and the Higher Education Committe, a committee of SGA members, held a dinner to discuss funding issues. The week will raise awareness about the Collegeʼs financial state.
as freshmen may be paying much higher tuition as seniors. Currently New Jersey state prisons receive almost twice as much funding as New Jersey state colleges like Ramapo. Governor Chris Christie commissioned a Higher Education Task Force in May to examine the
state of higher education in New Jersey which was scheduled to be released in December. Ramapo College receives no capital funding from the state and instituted a Capital
see FUNDING on page 4
Thursday, February 24, 2011
THURSDAY’S CHILD
Macintosh genius Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc., turns 55 today.
TODAY IN HISTORY
Mahatma Ghandi was released from pison today after conspiring to overthrow the government in 1924.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Scott Walker on workers who wonʼt give up collective barganing rights “Probably about 5-6,000 state workers will get their layoff notices. We might ratchet that up a little bit, too.”
Literary Magazine Continues to Grow Since Established 40-Year-Old ‘Trillium’ Hopes to Carry On Founders’ Legacy
By GARRET IVINS Staff Writer Some students may not be aware of how the “Trillium” magazine first started, or that Ramapo students even produce a literary magazine for that matter. “Trillium” is a collection of poems, short stories, photographs, and art submissions by students and some faculty members. “Trillium” began in the 70s, the brainchild of Ramapo students, one of which was David McClintock. The magazine began with a loan of $1,000 from President Potter. The name, chosen by the students, means “a wildflower in danger of going extinct,” what they felt was an appropriate name for a magazine with little support and a questionable future. After production of the first issue, McClintock and the other students involved returned to Potter to pay him the first installment of the loan. However, looking at an issue of the “Trillium” in his hand, Potter refused to take the money. He then offered to loan the team more money for future issues. Ed Shannon, professor of literature and the current “Trillium” adviser, provided direct quotes from McClintock’s journal. “The literary magazine that I work on has completed its format and the printing process has begun,” he wrote. “A long, hard struggle with unbelievable achievements and vast amounts of knowledge imparted to all of those involved. I
loved it more than anything I’ve ever done in my life. It took up all of my free time and I thrived on it.” Today, the magazine is carrying on McClintock’s legacy. Shannon is at the helm of the effort, but the work of producing the magazine and picking submissions is still done by students. Trillium now has a yearly budget and is printed every spring. Ramapo also offers a magazine workshop
By S TEPHANIE de RUITER Staff Writer
Center, said. “I just think in terms of a population that needs this type of awareness, college students are really high up there.” Eating Disorder Awareness Week consists of several events focused on the different aspects of eating. First, the Women’s Center and Feminists United held a screening for the documentary Thin in J. Lees on Monday night. Thin, directed by Lauren Greenfield, is an exploration of the Renfrew Center , a facility in Florida for the treatment of women with eating disorders. A sold-out luncheon held on Tuesday in Friends Hall featured Dr. Joel Ingersoll, Associate Director of Counseling Services, presented general information on eating disorders and helpful information on healthy nutrition. Delta Phi Epsilon cosponsored this event, as the sorority does philanthropy for anorexia nervosa. Yesterday, the “Love Yourself Campaign,” cosponsored by Active Minds and the Yoga Club, held activities all around campus. Students could partake in Zumba and yoga classes as well as free massages. “It’s just to bring a focus onto the awesome things your body can do and feeling good in your body,” said Grimaldi. “Even if you can’t access treatment right now, or you can’t afford it, or even if you’re not comfortable going for it yet, this is something you can focus on and it’s something that helps everybody whether or not you have an eating disorder.” The week will conclude with a Mind of an Eating Disorder display in Friends Hall, a walk through maze type display that will take students through what it’s like to suffer from an eating disorder. This event, cosponsored with Theta Phi Alpha, is open to students on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students involved with the Women’s Center hope that the week will encourage those who may struggle with an eating
class, and these students produce the “Trillium,” although any student can submit work to the magazine. “When I was a student in 1981 to 1985, the school had no magazine,” Shannon said. “It wasn’t until I graduated that Trillium came back and I submitted a short story in 1986.” Shannon hopes to gain more support from the school in the future. “It’s difficult to gain support because the school lacks the infrastructure,” he said. “No magazine racks were available for distribution until 2006, when the magazine first earned its annual budget.” The 2011 issue of Trillium should be available in May and can be found on magazine racks around campus. Shannon also hopes to have a launch party for the issue. Shannon said students are always welcome to submit works to the Trillium for the 2012 issue or others in the future. Students should contact the magazine at trillium@ramapo.edu with any submissions or questions. givins@ramapo.edu
photo by Stefanie Mauro
“Trillium” literary magazine was started more than 40 years ago by student David McClintock.
Eating Disorder Awareness Week Promotes Healthy Lifestyles
Students and young adults are constantly bombarded with subliminal messages about their bodies. With the world constantly telling young adults that they not pretty enough, or their bodies aren’t good enough, some become susceptible to changing their bodies through extreme measures. This is why the Women’s Center has joined with several associations to bring eating disorder awareness to Ramapo’s campus. Eating Disorder Awareness Week began February 21 and will feature several events and presentations set up for the cause of informing students on eating disorders and the dangers they cause. “I and another co-worker, Becky Garrabrant, started working here our freshman year and we noticed that the Women’s Center specifically didn’t really have events or really any education out to the campus community about eating disorders or body image,” Michelle Cresci, office manager of the Women’s Center, said. “We saw that there was a gap in that education and we wanted to make sure especially this age group was getting the education and were being able to talk about eating disorders and kind of learn about them.” According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), as many as 10 million females and 1 million males struggle with eating disorders in the United States alone. Many scholars agree that eating disorders are a huge problem among college students. “[Eating disorders are] an issue that I feel like a lot of college students especially are at risk for, because when you think about it: you’re going to college, you’re probably living on your own for the first time and you’re probably taking care of yourself for the first time in terms of food and exercise,” Jill Grimaldi, the publicist for the Women’s
photo by Peter Gad
The Healthy Luncheon, a sold-out event, provided healthful food option for students who attended Dr. Joel Ingersollʼs presentation on eating disorders and nutrition.
disorder to get help. The Center’s doors are always open for peer counseling and Health and Counseling Services is another great resource on campus for students dealing with these types of disorders. sderuite@ramapo.edu
New Video Show Airs To Keep Campus, Students Connected Page 4 The Ramapo News
Thursday, February 24, 2011
By NICOLE ALLIEGRO News Editor In an effort to raise awareness for the events on campus, three students write and produce an original video show which is updated weekly and broadcasted by RC-TV and on the Ramapo website. The video show is filmed, directed and edited by Dan Poeschl, junior, assisted by Lauren Ospala, senior, and hosted by Amy Fezza, junior. “The weekly update was originally Amy’s idea,” Poeschl said. “Working with the SGA and Student Development, she wanted to have a video update to inform everyone of the events on campus.” Fezza, the Secretary for Student Affairs in SGA, said she wanted to start the video show “to make a big impact.” “Obviously, the lack of social activity on campus, particularly on the weekends, definitely stood out to me,” Fezza said, “so by partnering up with the volunteers from my committee and Pat Chang, we were able to come up with a video show that would notify the students that there are things to do.” Her idea was well-received by Poeschl. “There is only so much a poster can do; a video grabs more attention,” Poeschl said. Poeschl pointed out that the updates will be even more valuable to students next semester, especially the freshmen who won’t be allowed to have their cars on campus. The video show outlines both on and off campus activities for the week and encourages students to get out and participate. In order to be effective, Poeschl said that the show “has to reach everyone.” The update can be seen playing on repeat in the Fishbowl and in other popular lounge locations on campus. Because of this, “most students have seen it,” Poeschl said.
“Obviously, the lack of social activity on campus, particularly on the weekends, definitely stood out to me, so by partnering up with the volunteers from my committee and Pat Chang, we were able to come up with a video show that would notify the students that there are things to do.” -Amy Fezza, junior
photo courtesy of ramapo.edu
Amy Fezza, Lauren Ospala and Dan Poeschl created a video update in order to keep the student body informed of the weekʼs activities.
Lauren Ospala assists by helping me set-up and [by] coaching Amy on her delivery.” The show is usually filmed on Sunday in the school’s TV studio. The next day, Poeschl devotes another two hours to editing the video so that it can be aired Tuesday or Wednesday morning. “All in all, the reason why I did this was to promote social activity and promote that there is fun on campus,” Fezza said. So far, Poeschl said, “The video has been a great success. Even if [students] don’t listen, they still get the message, and that’s the important part.”
“The video seems simple to make,” Poeschl said, “but underneath it’s a bit more complicated.” A lot of work goes into making the show, around two days, he said. “To shoot the video, it normally takes about two hours to set up the lighting and shoot Amy’s part,” Poeschl said. “Amy prepares and writes the script ahead of time. I direct and
nalliegr@ramapo.edu
Higher Education Committee Seeks Support from Students continued from page 2
Improvement Fee in fall of 2009 to offset costs of improvements like new science labs, HVAC in the Student Center and new roofs on the academic building. By fall 2011 this Capital Improvements Fee will amount to $500 per semester for students. Recent improvements like the Center for Nursing Excellence, the Salameno Spiritual Center, the
photo by Louis DiPaolo
President Peter Mercer participates in Higer Education Awareness Week by giving a speech.
Sharp Sustainability Center and Anisfield School of Business were provided for by donations that must strictly be used for the purpose specified by the donor. This year the student government at Rutgers University formed NJ United Students, an alliance of New Jersey student governments, to join forces to advocate for increased funding. The NJ United Students are coordinating an upcoming Day of Action which the Ramapo Higher Education Committee is planning to take part in. Rutgers students are staging a walk-out, but Ramapo students will focus on raising awareness. Hahn explained that Ramapo students will not be having a walk-out because they do not have the strained relationship with their administration that Rutgers students do. “President Mercer will answer anything we ask,” Hahn said, explaining that Mercer is always available to the Student Trustees. “I can’t say that students have that same relationship with administrations at other schools,” said Kaplan. They both added that President Mercer is students’ number one advocate in Trenton. Danielle Mascio, co-chair of the Higher Education Committee, encourages more people to get involved. “We’d love more support,” she said. “More support means more people listen, more people listening means change.” The Higher Education Committee is commissioned by the Student Government Association but it is not necessary to be on the SGA in order to join. Students can also get involved by registering to vote, writing to their representative, signing up online to receive information from the NJ College Promise Action Network and signing their online letter to New Jersey State Legislature and taking part in activities like Higher Education Week and the upcoming Day of Action.
“Remind [your local representatives] that you are one of their constituents,” Hahn said. Higher Education Week festivities continued with a screening of “The Social Network” in Laurel Hall on Tuesday and a Higher Education-themed Late Night at Birch Tree Inn on Wednesday. Information about higher education was displayed on napkin holders and distributed inside fortune cookies. A roundtable discussion will be held today to discuss the state of Higher Education and lack of funding in New Jersey, moderated by Laura Hahn and attended by the chair of the Ramapo College Board of Trustees. Friday will be “Fundless Friday,” and the Higher Education committee will be highlighting changes that could result from less funding for the Ramapo community with a poster campaign, such as having to pay for laundry and printing. On Tuesday Governor Christie’s State of the State address was screened on the projector in the Student Center. He did not discuss the findings of the Higher Education Task Force, but he did comment. “I propose to keep funding steady for higher education. After several years of cuts to operating support to colleges and universities, there will be no further reductions in this year’s budget. At the same time, I propose to increase support for student aid programs by $20 million.” “I think we can see this as a great start,” said Mascio. “Christie recognizing that higher education needs to start being a priority in New Jersey is a huge success for students statewide.” kmcguinn@ramapo.edu
Page 5 The Ramapo News
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Mayan Women Craft for Cash Page 6 The Ramapo News
continued from page 1
online advertisement, we fostered the interest of many students at Ramapo.” “SIFE forms partnerships between business and higher education to try and make the world a better place,” Kathryn Yeaton, accounting professor and the group’s manager said. “The goal is to sell the products and send the money back to the women.” “Mariya was moved by the good and friendly nature of the people in Cajola,” Dimitrova, senior, said. “[She] told us the touching story of Mayan people who have been treated unfairly by the government for more than a hundred years. Most of the parents are very poor and they cannot afford to send their children to school.” Public schooling is theoretically free in Guatemala, but individual students are charged hundreds of dollars in fees per year for things like books, use of a copy machine, educational materials, and transportation for their commute. Families who can’t afford to pay these fees can’t send their children to school. Cajola suffers from extreme poverty and 69 percent illiteracy. Maya Mam Weavers is
giving the women of Cajola an opportunity to support and educate their families. “We were very excited and inspired to make a difference in the life of these women,” Dimitrova said. “We contacted the bookstore manager, Terry King, with the idea of promoting the products at store. She was more than happy to get involved. So for more than a year, we’ve been selling the beautiful Mayan items in our bookstore.” 95 to 100 percent of the profit goes directly to the Maya Mam women. Activist and businesswoman Caryn Maxim, who helped the Maya Mam Weavers come up with their business plan, acts as their translator and liaison. Maxim and SIFE work together in this initiative. Besides their stand in the bookstore, Maya Mam Weavers also has a sophisticated online presence on social media sites that Leigh Robin, a recent Ramapo graduate, helped to develop, and Maxim maintains. They have a Facebook group, a Flickr gallery with photos of their crafts, an Etsy.com storefront where products can be ordered, and a Twitter account to communicate with customers is currently in the works.
“It taught me a lot about business development, plus it felt good to help these women,” Robin said. “They want to expand their business to better their lives,” Heather Schrepel, a senior who interned with Maxim last summer said. “Social marketing enables this to happen.” “We have tried to design contemporary products using the designs and techniques of our ancestors,” reads Maya Mam Weavers’ profile on Etsy, where one can find modern woven products like cell phone or eyeglass cases featuring spiritual art and symbols. “We would like to share with you some of the wisdom of our ancestors, and so we have woven or embroidered traditional symbols into our products.” “Last year, the Maya Mam Weavers business raised $190,” said Yeaton. “That doesn’t sound like much, but it’s enough to feed a family of five for two months.” SIFE aims to improve their revenue this year by improving advertising, raising awareness, and finding more places to sell the crafts. mjagendo@ramapo.edu
SGA Reacts to Flyers On Campus “It doesn’t iden-
continued from page 1 tify who’s saying
any of this stuff,” Chang said. “People are entitled to express their opinion, but there are appropriate forums for this.” Still, Chang said SGA should work to address the complaints. “I think they should take it seriously,” Chang said. “You would want to address it as objectively as possible, just like when students complain about certain things, we want to engage students.” Most students on campus focused more on the way the issues were addressed rather than what was actually said.
“Politics is a very fragile game. I’m sure it’s probably a disgruntled student that feels we don’t do enough for them.” -Jason Krisza, president of SGA
“I don’t know what else they could have done, but this probably wasn’t the best idea,” Marissa Steinberg, freshman, said. “It just seems sort of childish.” Krisza said SGA welcomes students who voice their concerns – but in the proper way. “Any opportunity for someone to voice their concern is always welcome, but [doing it] in that fashion was very unprofessional,” he said. “Not putting a name on [the flyer] is completely ridiculous. However if anyone wants to come and say something about it, we’d be more than happy to entertain the commentary. All
Thursday, February 24, 2011
photo by Stefanie Mauro
Handmade products from the MayaMam Weavers are now being sold in the bookstore to raise money for the Mayan women.
of our meetings are open to the public, and we have an open forum at the end of the meeting where any student and administrator can speak their mind.” Sophomore Sara Gordon said SGA members should address the concerns head on. “I definitely think that SGA representatives should come out, and let people know that this isn’t their attitude,” she said. Freshman Caitlin Bradley said the claims seemed vengeful. “It almost sounds like they were scorned on a personal level,” Bradley said. Krisza agrees. “A personal vendetta against someone is a sure reason,” Krisza said. “Politics is a very fragile game. I’m sure it’s probably a disgruntled student that feels we don’t do enough for them.” Brandon Martin, former SGA senate president, said that the entire issue could be handled if the person who made the flyer confronted SGA personally. “If someone were to come and claim responsibility, we would be very open to have a conversation about why people feel this way and seeing if there are any issues that we can help assist with,” Martin said. “That’s what we’re here for.” etoribio@ramapo.edu
photo by Stefanie Mauro
The SIFE organization are helping impoverished Guatemalan women sell homemade crafts to generate funds for the indigenous village.
VIEW POINTS
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Libya: Why You Should Care
By DAN LOUGHREY
Let’s say that one man has ruled the country you live in for more than 30 years. He claims to be democratically elected and have popular support. In reality, he’s the guy that essentially owns the country due to fixed elections. He kills his citizens, destroys a potentially lucrative economy and grossly violates human rights on almost a daily basis. Cool guy, huh? Hosni Mubarak is the villain responsible for these events in Egypt which the Middle East as a whole has been affected by. Peaceful protests began in Tunisia in late January, and then spread to Egypt in early February. People are fed up with oppression and are now demanding rights and democratic elections. Until now, these protests have been peaceful, and militaries have stayed out of the way or sided with citizens. Now, however, things have started to change. In Libya, the government is using attack helicopters and fighter jets to bomb anti-government protesters who gather in public spaces. The reigning dictator, Colonel Muammar Qaddafi, who has ruled Libya for 40 years, vowed in a rambling speech on Tuesday to execute anyone caught protesting or otherwise disrupting public order. This has been the latest and one of the more thoroughly covered revolutions in the Middle East, and it’s likely to have huge repercussions for U.S. foreign policy. You might be wondering, “What do I care?”
or “This doesn’t concern me.” These protests are going on across the Atlantic in places most of us have never been to or even heard of. What harm could it cause us? We’re safe here, right? Sure, we’re safe, in terms of physical distance. Libyan helicopters aren’t going to ruin your chicken sandwich in the Atrium. All in all Americans are physically secure but could be facing economic problems. One of the problems for us is a more monetary one. Libya is an oil-rich state that the US does business with. Because of the protests in the region, oil production has slowed, bringing prices up to roughly $99 per barrel as of yesterday (up from $86.20 on Friday). Rises in oil prices have traditionally meant higher gas prices, which is painful. Local stations have been hovering in the low $3/gallon range lately, and any further hikes will likely make it worse. There is a less materialistic side to this whole “how it affects us” question. Most people on this campus and in the U.S. are supportive of human rights and the idea that people should be treated equally. Newsflash: people aren’t being treated equally. People are getting killed for something they believe will be better for them, better for their kids, better for their future. Human rights are being violated, and we stand by idly watching. If nothing else, care because you’d want the same freedoms Libyans are pursuing. man. dloughre@ramapo.edu
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photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
Libayans have been rallying for freedom, as many nations in the Middle East have been surging with protests.
1stGiG Will Jumpstart Your Career
By MEGAN McHUGH
Finding a career for recent college graduates is becoming more and more competitive in today’s economy. Employers are no longer looking for just college degrees on applicants’ resumes. Even more vital to an applicant’s resume is their extracurricular involvement. Activities are what set you, the ambitious college student, apart from the next student who is vying for the same spot. The best extracurricular activity that a college student take part in an internship. With an internship, students are able to get the real world experience that employers are looking for during the hiring process. This hands-on experience is invaluable; it simply cannot be gained inside the classroom. Internships can usually be found here at Ramapo through the Cahill Center, but it may be hard to find your dream internship when only looking in one spot. A great alternative is 1stGiG.com, a revolutionary career matching website that was created just for college students. 1stGiG uses a precision matching system
that links your interests, qualifications and career requirements with those of employers. You are able to create a profile that goes beyond the information on your resume and are guaranteed service for up to three years after graduation. The web site is currently extending a free membership to those who sign up using the free promotion code: 1stGiG. What’s great about internships is that they come in all different shapes and sizes. They are offered any time of the year: during fall and spring semesters, during the summer or even winter break. They can also be found in locations both on and off of your college’s campus. After you’ve found your dream internship, the next step is to make the most of it. Internships serve as stepping stones for a future job, so make sure to make connections. And once you’ve completed one internship, don’t stop there! Many college students have had up to three internships by graduation time. It is the only place you can get real world work experience before actually entering the real world. mmchugh@ramapo.edu
Bieber’s New ‘do
‘Unknown’ Review
Diana Stanczak discusses the buzz about the pop starʼs haircut Page 9
Jeremy Kelly reviews last weekendʼs top box office hit Page 10
Local Symphony Brings Beethoven to Berrie Center 2. 24. 11
BY DANIELLE REED Assistant A&E Editor On Sunday afternoon, community members and Ramapo students watched and listened to the Hawthorne Symphony give a performance at 3 p.m. in the Sharp Theater in the Berrie Center. The Hawthorne Symphony was organized in 2000 by conductor John Minkoff. Minkoff studied composition and orchestral conducting in Berlin, Germany and holds a Bachelor of Science from the Julliard School in New York. He has directed musical pieces such as “The Magic Flute,” “Un Ballo in Maschera” and several other operas. The Hawthorne Symphony includes musicians from New York and New Jersey. Many have played with members of the Metropolitan Opera, the Julliard School and the Manhattan School of Music. This Sunday marked the Symphony’s tenth performance at Ramapo. “We are doing Beethoven’s only opera, ‘Fidelio’,” Minkoff said in his introduction. This opera, which takes place in two acts, tells the story of Leonore, a woman who disguises herself as a man in order to save her husband Florestan, who has been imprisoned by Pizzarro. Changing her name to Fidelio, Leonore begins work for Rocco in hopes of saving her husband. After finding her husband, she reveals her identity and risks her own life as Pizzarro attempts to kill her husband. Pizzarro is unable to kill Florestan
photo by Sandy Stucki
The Hawthorne Symphony performs Beethovenʼs only opera to be written, “Fidelio.”
and in the end is exposed to be the criminal that he is. Act 1 consists of about eight separate musical selections and Act 2 includes about seven. The first includes a powerful aria by soprano Alison Bolshoi who plays Leonore and portrays the sadness and anger that
Leonore feels towards the loss of her husband. Each of the seven soloists convey the emotions and struggles of the characters through their motions and expressions. “The voices were excellent,” audience member Cheryl Svoboda said.
The music also helped to set the tone and mood of the action of the opera. The sound of the music shifted as the singers portrayed emotions of anger, sadness and joy through the songs. “We [Franco and Svoboda] loved it,” audience member Nick Franco said. “I wish there were more classical concerts [at the Berrie Center].” The final song of the second act was sung by all of the soloists and expresses the anger at the beginning felt by Pizzarro towards Florestan and then the joy at his rescue. “Every soloist was excellent [and the] orchestra was superb,” Franco said. “It’s just a shame there weren’t more people here.” Many audience members enjoyed the play, but did agree on the need for more advertising. “I have seen 90 different operas [and] I have truly enjoyed this afternoon,” one audience member said. “This is the fourth time I’ve come and if they [the symphony] came tomorrow, I would be in attendance. I don’t understand why there is not more advertising done.” Next week the Berrie Center will be bringing the Artie Shaw Orchestra to perform. For more information on future performances, check out the Berrie Center’s website online.
Students of Caribbean Ancestry Host Trivia Event
BY N ICOLE M AZEWS KI Staff Writer
Students walking down the hall into JLee’s last night may have heard some upbeat island music pouring out from the lounge because the Students of Caribbean Ancestry hosted their Coconut Trivia event from 9:30 until 11:30 p.m. About 25 students turned out to compete in the trivia contest which featured questions based on the Caribbean islands. Questions included identifying flags, instruments and food and topics like music, sports, celebrities, geography, cities, language and culture. Attendees were greeted with raffle tickets to win prizes throughout the night and Caribbean themed food from Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery and Grill. A lively bunch of participants took part in the trivia contest, all eager to be the first to answer correctly. The competition even had to end in a double question tie breaker to determine the winners. Students had a fun
night challenging their friends and meeting new people. “There was a lot of energy coming from the people who ran it. They asked a lot of good questions that kept the crowd interested,” junior Kim Schwabe said. Students of Caribbean Ancestry, better known as S.O.C.A, organized and sponsored the event. “When you think of the Caribbean, people don’t really know a lot of facts about it. We decided this event would be a fun way to provide some knowledge about the islands,” S.O.C.A President junior Sabina Ulysse said. S.O.C.A. is open to everyone; students don’t have to be from the Caribbean to join. The club’s main goals are to promote awareness and education about the region. Students from Jamaica, Haiti, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and other islands are involved in the club. Unlike last year, the club’s main focus is
dreed1@ramapo.edu
photo by Nicole Mazewski
Students gather in J. Leeʼs to answer trivia questions about Caribbean culture about music, sports, celebrities and food, and compete for prizes. not directed toward relief in Haiti. When the Jazz” at which awareness of the tragedy was earthquake devastated the Caribbean country, promoted. S.O.C.A. was also involved with Ulysse took it upon herself to help out, the Haiti Relief Benefit Concert put on last though she wasn’t directly involved with the March. organization. She read a personal reflection nmazewsk@ramapo.edu at an event S.O.C.A. sponsored, “All That
Don’t Stop Beliebin’: New Haircut, Same Heartthrob Page 9 The Ramapo News
By DIANA STANCZAK A&E Editor Beliebers everywhere will forever remember the date Feb. 21. On this monumental day, 16-year-old singing sensation, Justin Bieber chopped off his signature locks, and fans everywhere are still talking about it. On Monday, the teen heartthrob tweeted “yeah so it’s true...i got a lil haircut...i like it...and we are giving all the hair cut to CHARITY to auction. Details coming soon.” Cue fanatic fan girls. Upon his announcement via Twitter, it is rumored that about 80,000 people unfollowed the Biebs, who currently has 7,565,068 followers. Yesterday morning, Bieber guest starred on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, where he spoke out about his new ‘do. “[People were freaking out], but I was like, ‘I don’t really care,” Bieber said of his fan’s mixed reactions. However, Bieber does plan to use the spotlight on his hair for a good reason: he presented Ellen with pieces of his hair, and instructed her to donate it to a charity of her choosing. “Yes, it’s really my hair, but there’s a perk. I wanted to do something good. I’m giving pieces of it to different people,” Bieber said. “The thing is, we’re doing something special. We want you to donate it to whatever charity you want,” he added. Ellen put the hair up for auction on ebay.com and announced that the proceeds will be donated to the Gentle Barn, a California-based non-profit organization that provides shelter for abused farm animals and children. As of yesterday there were 33 bids for Bieber’s locks, with the highest bid being $1,225. The auction will continue until Mar. 3. Despite Bieber’s good intentions, some feel as if his haircut’s timing is part of a publicity stunt. Randy Sosin, a former executive at MTV and Interscope
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Sosin’s comments may not be completely unwarranted. Currently, Bieber is promoting the rerelease of his documentary “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” this Friday, which has been in theaters since Feb. 11. The re-release has 40 extra minutes of footage and, according to an mtv.com press release, a glimpse of the pop star shirtless. Ramapo students have mixed feelings about Bieber’s recent time in the limelight.
“I think there’s a problem when more people know about Bieber’s haircut than events in Libya.” -Will Betts, sophomore
photo courtesy of teen.com
Justin Bieber caused a lot of buzz on Monday when he tweeted about his new haircut.
records, called Bieber’s haircut “A calculated move,” in an interview with “The Wall Street Journal.” “His hair is not that different, he’s not changing it that much, but he’s making it more of an event. Everything he does is something,” Sosin added.
“I like him, but who cares [about Bieber’s haircut],” sophomore Gary Miuccio said. Some feel as if the star’s image is now completely transformed. “I feel like the hair made him who he is,” commented sophomore Clare Peragine. Others believe that the amount of publicity surrounding his image is excessive. “He’s a good distraction from world events, but do we really want to be distracted?” said senior Carly Dobrin. Sophomore Will Betts felt similarly. “I think there’s a problem in America when more people know about Bieber’s haircut than events in Libya,” Betts said. For those who are completely distraught over Bieber’s makeover, don’t worry – Bieber mentioned that he won’t be cutting it anytime soon again. dstancza@ramapo.edu
‘I Am Number Four’ Ranks Number Two at Box Office Page 10 The Ramapo News
BY NICOLE MAZEWS KI Staff Writer
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Sci-fi’s latest thriller, “I Am Number Four,” nearly topped the box office this weekend, grossing $19.5 million, according to RottenTomatoes.com. Starring Dianna Agron from “Glee” and newcomer Alex Pettyfer, this action-filled movie is about the life of a teenage alien boy just trying to stay alive. Pettyfer plays John Smith, one of nine fugitive aliens from planet Lorien living on Earth, whose only goal is to run away from those who are trying to kill him. The opening scene shows Number Three being killed by a mysterious creature. The evil Mogadorian is set to kill all nine, in order, placing John next on the list. The story unfolds as John tries to live a normal life, attending school and making friends. However, his protector Henri, played by Timothy Olyphant, insists he remain “invisible” for his safety. Henri and John find themselves in Paradise, Ohio, where John meets Sarah, played by Agron. Their relationship has its complications, specifically involving her ex-boyfriend Mark, played by Jake Abel. John also befriends Sam, the stereotypical misfit, played by Callan McAuliffe, whom he later develops a connection with. Throughout his struggle for invisibility, John also undergoes a tremendous emotional struggle as well. After he falls for Sarah, he realizes that he doesn’t want to leave her. His transient condition allows him only a short time at every new place, in order to hide from the Mogadorian. The audience feels a connection to his emotions throughout this painful process. John discovers his legacies, or powers, and learns to channel them. The supernatural elements of this movie are quite similar to those in “Twilight,” and the love story between a non-human and human is also a recent trend in sci-fi flicks. Teresa Palmer stars as Number Six, who helps John in his battles. Together, they face the Mogadorian in sever-
al gruesome battles. The Mogadorian’s costume and makeup were unexpectedly disturbing. These fights are noteworthy; the characters’ special powers heightened the violence. There is great tension during these fights because the audience feels John’s pain and wants him to succeed.
Although there are some obvious flaws, the final scenes are worth complimenting. The suspense element was completely there; the last portion of the film picks up bonus points for originality and action.
Although there are some obvious flaws, the final scenes are worthwhile. There was palpable suspense towards the end of the film and the last portion gets bonus points for originality and action. Director D.J. Caruso has also directed “Eagle Eye” and “Disturbia” both starring Shia LaBeouf. Pettyfer also stars in “Beastly” which comes to theaters March 4. “Beastly” is based on the book by Alex Flinn. “I Am Number Four” is also based on a book of the same name by Pittacus Lore. It’s part of the Lorien Legacy series. “I Am Number Four” is sure to spark interest in younger teenage girls, especially in the scenes starring Pettyfer sans shirt. Guys who prefer action-packed thrillers with sci-fi elements will enjoy this movie as well.
photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
Timothy Olyphant plays Henri in the latest sci-fi thriller “I Am Number Four.”
nm azewsk@ram apo.edu
RATING:
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Dramatic Thriller Takes Viewers on Complicated Journey
you may forget the fact that he has memory loss and this finally becomes more significant towards the end of the film. The final scenes feel slightly rushed and choppy, but they don’t take too much away from the film.
BY JEREMY KELLY Staff Writer
In recent years, Liam Neeson has become one of the most popular action stars in the film industry, showcasing his skills in movies like “Taken,” “Clash of the Titans” and “The A-Team.” Neeson’s latest film, “Unknown,” was released in theaters Feb. 18 by Warner Bros. and even though it’s completely implausible and the plot goes off in a million different directions, it’s mostly good, cheesy fun. Based on the French novel “Out of My Head” by Didier van Cauwelaert, the film puts Neeson in the role of Dr. Martin Harris, a botanist who travels to Berlin with his wife Liz (January Jones) to speak at a summit. When they reach Hotel Adlon where they will be staying, Harris realizes he left his briefcase at the airport. Hopping into a taxicab, he heads back to retrieve it; however, on the wet, snowy roads, the car swerves into a river, and Harris is knocked unconscious by the impact. Four days later, Harris wakes up in a hospital with a damaged memory. When he is able to track down his wife at the hotel, she claims not to know him and is with another man (Aidan Quinn), who claims to be Harris, complete with driver’s license, passport and family photographs. At this point, the movie becomes a long sequence involving Harris going around Berlin looking for a way to prove who he is,
Though it gets a little too complex for its own good, “Unknown” is still a fun film to watch.
photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
“Unknown,” starring Liam Neeson, was the box officeʼs top contender last weekend. without any identification and with no way to reach his colleagues. While this is a fascinating string of events, it goes on a little too long and it suffers from a few too many coincidences. Eventually, Harris starts to doubt what he believes and wonders if his scattered memories are merely fantasies, but when he is suddenly followed and attacked while in the hospital, he knows that something is definitely amiss. At this point, he enlists the help of the cab driver Gina (Diane Kruger) and a former Stasi agent Herr Jürgen (Bruno Ganz) to
try and discover what has become of his life. This would be enough of a premise for the entire movie, but “Unknown” repeatedly gets sidetracked by sub-plots and plot twists including when Gina tries to earn enough money to leave Berlin and another botanist named Bressler makes a key presentation. Believe it or not, that’s still only about half the story. While the film exhibits good cinematography in scenes like the one where viewers look through Harris’ memories, it’s not paced particularly well. As the film goes on,
“Unknown” was directed by Jaume ColletSerra, whose previous directing credits include “House of Wax” and “Orphan.” Though it gets a little too complex for its own good, “Unknown” is still a fun film to watch. It finished number one at the box office in its opening weekend with $21.7 million.
RATING:
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jkelly7@ramapo.edu
Capcom Battles for Virtual Supremacy with Game’s Release
Page 11 The Ramapo News
Thursday, February 24, 2011
By VINNY PARIS I Staff Writer
their own in battle, instead of being restricted to simply staying on the bench and helping from the sideline. “There are more characters that can be used as starters as opposed to just being assists,”
After more than a decade of waiting, wanting and wishing on a star, video game developer Capcom has finally given gamers one of the most anticipated sequels in history. The game is “Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds,” or MvC3 for short. It fits into the genre of the fighting game and pits players in direct competition with one another in a street fight-type scenario.
“There are more characters that can be used as starters as opposed to just being assists.” -Vache Naljian, sophomore
Every character is strong enough to hold their own in battle, instead of being restricted to simply staying on the bench and helping from the sideline.
photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
The origins of the MvC franchise date back “Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds” adds new twists but players can to 1996 when the first game to combine also find aspects of previous games. these two separate universes was released. ly positive. MvC3 adds its fair share of new Previously in the series, fans have critiqued Originally beginning as “X-Men vs. Street twists to the series while still managing to the game for having balance issues, meaning Fighter,” the series has exploded in popular- keep the core mechanics intact. Players still some characters were indisputably better ity and thus evolved to encompass all of the get to choose from a variety of characters, 36 than others, and casual players complained Marvel and Capcom characters. This past in total, with more to come via download- about a steep learning curve. However, week’s release of MvC3 marks the fifth time able content after release. They can also par- Capcom has looked to correct these concerns the companies have joined forces to deliver a take in 3-on-3 tag team battles; hyper com- and the feedback from players has been posfighting game . bos, which allow all three teammates to itive. So, how does the new game measure up attack at once using super moves and assists, “The game is a lot more balanced,” junior against its predecessor? And is it good momentary aid from partners not currently in Roberto Guzman said about the new characenough to compete with the other popular direct combat, are still a major part of the ter lineup. fighting games of this generation? game. Every character is strong enough to hold Fortunately for fans, the answers are most-
A Skylit Drive Finds Identity
BY TOM VAN HOWLING Staff Writer On the fourth record “Identity on Fire,” A Skylit Drive chants the lyrics, “We are the lost, ones unspoken. We are the few, who carry the broken.” This post-hardcore sextet has found their place in a scene that seems to be dominated by a plethora of A Day To Remember clones. The album features aggressive rock songs with lots of double bass drum, guitar licks, keyboard and synthesizers in addition to lead singer Michael “Jag” Jagman’s high pitched melodic vocals, Brian White’s harsher vocals and Cory La Quay’s death metal growls. The lyrics deal predominantly with betrayal and heartbreak. This is the band’s first album since 2009’s “Adelphia” and it shows the band is finally figuring out who they are. Songs like “Ex Marks The Spot” and “Too Little Too Late” are very high energy and show a mix of hardcore influences. “Last summer shouldn't be over. Why can't it last forever,” Jagman sings heartbreakingly to an ex-lover in the song “500 Days of Bummer.” The emotion and passion of this song make it an album highlight. Another highlight of the album is the song “The Cali Buds.” This song is a passionate tribute to the band’s friends back in California and contains lyrics like “I hope you’re ready. I hope you’re ready for the fall and what's to come. Live fast and break it all. Through all we see. California, waiting for you.” The song is the band’s way of saying that even though they
can’t be at home with their friends, they will still be there for each other once they come home from being on tour. There are no songs on the album that are bad, unlike the band’s last album that became boring and monotonous to listen to for the second half of the disc.
photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
A Skylit Drive combines aggressive rock and high energy in their new CD.
The band’s instrumentation has never sounded so smooth and well produced. Every drum beat and every guitar chord sounds flawless. In addition, lead singer Jagman’s voice is not as whiney and high pitched as on their previous records. His voice is getting better with age and he tackles some of the trickiest notes with ease, getting his emotions across to the audience. One can tell that this album came from a very personal place for the band. They truly seem to have written it out of a place of pure emotion. In a world where music lacks emotion, this makes A Skylit Drive a band to watch. tvanhowl@ramapo.edu
sophomore Vache Naljian said. Casual players need not worry either, as the game supports both a “Simple Mode,” where usually hard to perform maneuvers can be done with the simple tap of the same button, and a new control setup that makes MvC3 more accessible. The new addition to the gameplay comes in the form of “X Factor,” which is a temporary power boost that could potentially help players turn the tide of a battle by granting increased strength, speed, durability and health regeneration. In short, “Marvel vs. Capcom 3” is a welcome addition to the franchise and is sure to delight both fans of the series and newcomers alike. The game is available now for both the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3 platforms and currently retails for $59.99. vparisi@ramapo.edu
‘Big Momma,’ Big Comedy BY EILEEN TRACY Staff Writer Director John Whitesell, known for films such as “Malibu’s Most Wanted” and “Deck the Halls,” has recently released his newest movie, “Big Momma’s: Like Father Like Son.” This movie is a comedy that features music, action, suspense and lots of laughter. The movie stars Martin Lawrence and Brandon T. Jackson as father and son. Malcolm Turner (Lawrence) is an FBI agent who risks his life for his job and often works on cases that are classified and very dangerous. Although he and his son do not always see eye-to-eye, he wants nothing more than his son to get a good education.
Trent and his father must go undercover as Big Momma and Charmaine and are forced to live at an all girls school.
Trent (Jackson) is a handsome, charming and talented teenager who wants nothing more than to become a rapper. He thinks that he has it all and can achieve everything, and although he got accepted to college, wants to throw it away in order to make it big in the
music industry. One evening, he follows his dad to work to ask him something about his future and he witnesses a murder. Trent and his father must go undercover as Big Momma and Charmaine and are forced to live at an all girls school. At first, Trent likes the idea of living with girls until he finds out that his newfound friends are not as nice as they seem to be. Lawrence plays this part of Big Momma well; he is funny, charming and hysterical. This is his third movie playing Big Momma and he is flawless at playing the part. Jackson was also an excellent choice for the part of Trent and Charmaine and he brings excitement to the movie. According to latimes.com, the movie grossed $19 million.
RATING:
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etracy@ramapo.edu
Page 12 The Ramapo News
Life & Culture
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Zumba: Taking Dance-Fitness to a Higher Level
BY LAUREN MENNEN Staff Writer Loud, exhilarating music, a workout room filled with 100 people, one dynamic instructor and a whole lot of energy. This perfectly describes Rebecca Ramos’ Zumba class at Ramapo College. The routine she does is similar to the same type of dance-workout classes reaching millions of people in 110 countries. Zumba is a type of aerobics class that has become increasingly popular across the globe. It’s different from other typical workout classes because it uses upbeat Spanish and hiphop music and fun dance moves instead of utilizing exercise equipment and routines. “The main focus is connecting with the music and feeling the rhythm, and that’s where all the movement comes from,” Ramos said. Zumba traces back to 2001 to a very fortunate mishap. Zumba’s creator, Alberto “Beto” Perez, was an aerobics instructor in California in the 1990s. One day he forgot his music to his aerobics class he was teaching and played the salsa and meringue tapes he had with him in his backpack. It turned out to be a tremendous hit in the class, and from there he created a new dance-fitness class, one that focused on letting the music move you instead of counting reps over the music. Zumba is now the world’s largest and most successful dance-fitness program and Ramapo College shares some of that success. Ramos’ classes are ususally filled with over 100 people. She said she gets a similar crowd every week, and wouldn’t be able to fit many more people. “Typically for aerobics classes there’s basic commands like ‘everyone to the right, everyone to the left,’ it’s very based on numbers, being equal on each side and making sure
you’re working every single muscle. Zumba’s different in the sense that it’s all about dancing and just about how the music runs,” Ramos said. Although this class does not use traditional exercises, an average one-hour class burns 400 to 600 calories, while the average amount of calories burned for running one mile is only 200. “You don’t even realize how many calories you’re burning,” Ramos said. Ramos is a sophomore at Ramapo double majoring in political science and international studies. She has been teaching Zumba at Ramapo for over a year now, but has been an aerobics instructor for three years prior and was a certified kickboxing instructor and personal trainer While this workout does differ from other aerobics classes such as kickboxing and step aerobics, it does possess some similarities that make it successful. There’s still a warm-up, a basic section, a peak and then a cool down, but the music makes it stand out. “You really get into it, you feel like you’re in a club. You’re dancing in front of the mirror just being yourself. You don’t feel like you’re putting on a show or that you have to have to be perfect, you’re not concerned about how you look like. You’re concerned about enjoying yourself and enjoying the way your body moves,” Ramos said. Junior Amanda Harrington has been attending Ramos’ Zumba and claims that it has enhanced her dancing. “I don’t dance, but once I went to Zumba it helped me learn some dance moves,” Harrington said. The music is a major reason for why this class works so well and why it is so popular. Some of the songs that were played on Tuesday were “Lo Que Paso” by Daddy Yankee, “Hella Decale” by DJ Mam’s and “Maldito Alcohol” by Pitbull.
Magenta’s Meals
BY LAUREN MAGENTA Staff Writer
The last thing a college student should do is skip breakfast. This meal is in charge of kickstarting your mind and body for the rest of the day. It needs to carry you through class, papers, extra-curricular activities and potentially a trip to the gym. You can’t mess up this meal because it has a big responsibility; a Pop-Tart or sugary cereal just won’t do. There are plenty of healthy options to start your day with, but this week I have a few quick and easy recipes for Goldilocks’ favorite meal: oatmeal! Oatmeal is a wonderful way to start your day. It’s a hearty and healthy meal that will keep your mind and body satisfied until you can sneak your next snack or meal in during your busy day. If you live in the CPAs or the Village you have two ways to cook up some oatmeal before class. Your first option is to buy Quaker Old Fashioned Oats Oatmeal that comes in the 42-Oz. canister. Follow the instructions on the package and cook it on the stovetop. Since the oatmeal will be very plain, you can pour some milk and sprinkle some brown sugar on it, or you can get a little more fancy and dress it up! Adding some peanut butter, honey, or fresh
Photo by Lauren Mennen
Students warming up before Zumba begins.
Harrington uses Zumba as her weekly workout and plans to keep on going because she feels like she is getting in shape from it. “It’s a fun activity to do with a few friends. I don’t go to the gym that often, so going [to Zumba] gets me up and active,” Harrington said. The Zumba class meets at the Bradley Center every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m.
Horoscopes
Ari es (March 21-Apri l 19) Inspiration has found you and is now settling and sinking into your being. We are about to see more of the real you.
Taurus (Apri l 20-May 20) Resist the temptation to fall back on old habits. Innovation mixed with determination is the secret ingredient for your success.
photo courtesy of Flickrʼs Creative Commons
Oatmeal is simple to make and a great idea.
or frozen fruit will transform your oatmeal into a delicious treat that will help get your tastebuds ready for spring. If taking out a pot and cooking oatmeal seems like a stretch, there are dozens of companies that make microwavable oatmeal, like Kashi, Quaker and Country’s Choice just to name a few. Remember, breakfast is key. Even if oatmeal isn’t for you, be sure to eat something else – after all, it’s the most important meal of the day! lmagenta@ramapo.edu
Gemi ni (May 21 - June 20) Slowly, surely and progressively there appears to be a method to the madness. If you keep your eye on the goal and your head in the game, you will hit the jackpot. Cancer (June 21-Jul y 22) It has been a period of necessary maturing in a certain area of your life. You have all the vital energy you need to rise up and fly. Leo (Jul y 23-August 23) Before any true revelation can enter, it requires an inner surrender. A seemingly effortless move is about to make your day and lighten your load.
Vi rgo (August 24-S eptember 22) There is a time to push beyond any and all insecurities and let your light shine. Surround yourself with the right people and it will take your life to new heights. Li bra (S eptember 23-October 22) The current times are forcing you back upon yourself and forcing you into your faith. Trust in what you have to give and trust in
lmennen@ramapo.edu
the efforts you are now making.
S corpi o (October 23-November 21) When the emotions are weak, the body tends to follow. Do seek and you will find what you're after. S agi ttari us (November 22December 21) Take some time to pause and observe where you are and where you are destined to go. Once you are firmly rooted, direct your wave of desire and before your very eyes all will begin to take form. Capri corn (December 22-January 19) Avoid over thinking and overdoing and you will get a great deal further with a process or a certain person. The most natural way to sell yourself this week is to simply relax.
Aquari us (January 20- February 19) Life is a balancing act and you are learning the true art of this now. Trust in those spaces in between where the unknown lives. If you listen carefully and closely, all that you need to know can be found there.
Pi sces (February 20-March 20) You go from feeling powerless to powerful this week and this creates a feeling of being back in the game. Give it your best shot this week and your sincere and spirited efforts will make a meaningful difference. Horoscopes courtesy of madalynaslan.com
SPORTS
Ramapo Falls to Montclair in NJAC Tournament 2 . 24 . 11
Men’s Basketball Loses to Redhawks 67-64 in Barn-burner
By RYAN BUCHANAN Staff Writer
photo by Mike Jagendorf
Anthony LoRusso drives to the basket in a losing effort against Montclair.
Ramapo College men’s basketball suffered a tough 67-64 loss at the hands of NJAC rival Montclair State. The Roadrunners were up by nine at halftime, but the lead deteriorated throughout the second half. With 21 seconds left in the second half Montclair State’s top scorer for the game, Rodney Freeney, hit a 3-pointer from the left corner of the arc. Ramapo had an opportunity to tie the game in the last possession but could not convert a 3-pointer. The Roadrunners were up by 14 points with 4:56 left in the first half, holding Montclair State to only 22 points in the first half. Montclair State made up for it with 45 points in the second half, outscoring Ramapo by ten. “We came here to see some high-level basketball, we didn’t really get what we’re used to seeing from Ramapo,” former Ramapo guard Amin Wright, who came a few hours away for the game with his former teammate, Derek Holley, said. “We wanted to see more ball pressure and hardnosed defense and I don’t think they played their hardest,” Holley said. “This is what playing hard gets you.” Winning the NJAC Tournament would have meant that Ramapo secured a bid into the Division III National Men’s Collegiate Basketball Tournament, but those hopes were shot on Tuesday in front of the eyes of the 1,000 fans in attendance. The Roadrunners will find out if and where they are seeded in the tournament in between Sunday evening and Monday morning. Their
fate is up to the national committee in Indianapolis.
“We missed free throws, we missed lay-ups and we missed easy baskets. We should have had at least a 15-18 point lead at the end of the first half.” -Chuck McBreen, Coach
Senior and NJAC Second Team player Elgin Brown led the team in points and rebounds with 16 and 11, respectively, and Anthony LoRusso led the team with five assists. He also had seven turnovers, but he wasn’t the only one turning the ball over. “We missed free throws, we missed lay-ups and we missed easy baskets,” coach Chuck McBreen said. “We should have had at least a 15-18 point lead at the end of the first half. The Roadrunners of Ramapo and the Red Hawks of Montclair State produced quite an entertaining match-up in the Bradley Center on Tuesday. It was definitively the most hyped match of the year and the game did not disappoint. Check ramapoathletics.com for updated information on their NCAA tournament status. rbuchana@ramapo.edu
Women’s Lacrosse Anticipates Strong Season Ramapo Looks to Overcome Losing Key Graduated Players
By KATIE BRUNO Staff Writer
The Women’s lacrosse team is ready to take the field after battling a brutal winter and losing some of their key players from last season. At the end of last spring, the Roadrunners had a 10-8 overall record and took second place in the Skyline Conference.
“Expectations are very high for us because of how well we did last year.” -Concetta Valerio, coach
This season the Roadrunners face the struggle of losing a lot of starters from last season. Graduated seniors Cassie Hartline, Angela Belotta and goalie Meg Tierney were all starters and important players on the field. The Roadrunners also lost Christina Cigolini, Brittney Harraka and Jessica Long, all of who were starters. Adrianna Tepedino, senior, has a lot of faith in her team and has a positive outlook for the
season. “We lost a lot of girls, but there is a lot of heart on our team this year,” Tepedino said. “We made a name for ourselves in our conference last year. The chemistry is there and I only expect another successful season.” Kristen Jakubik, senior, also expects great results for the upcoming season. “Although we did lose a lot of players from last season, I still think we’ll be able to be a winning team,” Jakubik said. “Everyone is putting in a lot of effort and I really think we will be successful.” Coach Concetta Valerio also has high hopes for the season. After taking the Roadrunners from a 4-10 season in 2009 to a 10-8 record in 2010, Valerio hopes to keep going up from there.
“We lost a lot of girls, but there is a lot of heart on our team this year.” - Adrianna Tepedino, junior
“Expectations are very high for us because of how well we did last year,” Valerio said. However the loss of a lot of players is still a concern in Valerio’s mind.
“Everyone is putting in a lot of effort and I really think we will be successful.” - Kristen Jabubik, senior
“It is going to be a struggle for us. We are losing ten people from last year’s squad, but the girls are working hard and improving everyday.” The Roadrunner’s will test their team’s ability on their home opener on March 9 vs SUNY New Paltz. kbruno2@ramapo.edu
RAMAPO SPORTS THIS WEEK
Friday:
Men’s Volleyball at Lancaster Bible College at 7 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Track and Field - Armory Collegiate Challenge
Saturday:
Men’s Volleyball at Eastern Mennonite University at 7 p.m Women’s Track and Field - USA Track and Field Championships
Sunday:
Women’s Track and Field - USA Track and Field Championships
Wednesday:
Men’s Volleyball at SUNY New Paltz at 7 p.m.
Track and Field Run Strong at NJAC Indoor Championships Page 14 The Ramapo News
Thursday, February 24, 2011
By REBECCA PENHAKER Staff Writer
The strength of the women’s team is that they are able to have multiple women score in the same event. “In some events we got four people to score which shows how much depth we have this year, a big difference from previous years,” Maura Burke, junior said. “A lot of the girls stepped up and we had a lot of personal bests in many events.” Burke took home third in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.70, while her teammate Taylor Furman snagged second place in 8.69 and set a new school record for the trials. Jackson wants to keep pushing his athletes to the limit while keeping sane and focused for the next task at hand. The team will compete at the Armory Collegiate Challenge Friday, where many athletes hope to qualify for Nationals. However, the Roadrunners will have to do so without their coach. Jackson will be in New Mexico with Rogers so she can compete in the USA Track and Field Championships Saturday. Jackson has no doubt his athletes will perform to their highest potential. “They don’t run for me,” Jackson said. “They run for one another. I’m sure they’ll hear my voice, though. Our team is good at responding. You may run fast, but then we are going to run faster.” Jackson looks forward to traveling with Rogers and showcasing her talents in another time zone. “This is giving people an opportunity to know us. Where we are. Who we are. This is our study abroad program. They’re going to be studying us.”
The Ramapo men and women’s indoor track and field team placed third and second, respectively, in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Indoor Championships at the Armory Track and Field Center Sunday. The men’s side tallied 103.5 points and the women recorded 170.5 points in the meet. Coach Mike Jackson was thrilled with his team accomplishing personal and team bests throughout the day. “There is not enough ink or paper to write about all the good things these kids did,” Jackson boasted. “We maximized everything. The guys really stepped up and competed as a team. The women had another solid performance.” The men had two athletes claim NJAC Champion in the pole vault and weight throw. Craig Van Leeuwen was crowned NJAC Champion in pole vaulting for clearing 5.20-meters. This is the second time in his indoor collegiate career he was crowned champion; he also set a new NJAC Indoor Championship meet record, NCAA automatic mark and Eastern Conferene Athletic Conference Qualifying mark. He broke his own school record and ranks first in NCAA Division III this season. Brandon Melchoir was named NJAC Champion and set a new school record in the weight throw with his mark of 16.23meters, an ECAC qualifying mark. Jackson sees much bigger futures for both these men in their respected events. “Craig is number one in the pole vault,” Jackson said. “Our plan is for him to win Nationals and he is on track to do that.
photo courtesy of Ramapo Athletics
The womenʼs track and field team recorded a total of 170.5 points in the NJAC Indoor Championships at the Armory Track and Field. Melchoir keeps getting better every week. pionship here May 7,” Jackson said. “Our He has a great shot to make Nationals. His mentality is no one is going into our house mentality is there.” and destroying what we have.” Sean Ellis, Colin English and Isaaic The women’s side, not to be outdone by the Patterson had strong times for the men in men, had two NJAC Champions as well. the 400-meter dash, mile run and 4x200- Anita Rogers was crowned NJAC Champion meter relay, respectively. in the triple jump with a mark of 11.69 Although the men’s side was unable to cap- meters. It was a season’s best, and an ture first place in the NJAC Championships, NCAA provisional and ECAC Qualifying they are using it for motivation for the out- mark. Lauren Riley was named NJAC door championships in May. Champion in the pole vault, clearing 3.72“Obviously we would have liked to win meters. Her jump was a personal best, an NJACs this year because TCNJ has won NCAA provisional and ECAC Qualifying every year since the conference started having mark. an indoor track championship,” Van The team of Rogers, Sophia Davis, Amber Leeuwen said. “For the most part, we did Updike and Alexandra Jacob won first place very well. I think we only had 22 people when they crossed the finish line in 1:42.60, competing and we still scored 103.5 points. an ECAC Qualifying time and the fastest There were a few events that we did not have time in the ECAC this season. anyone competing in and to still put up that “They impressed me and everyone else,” many points is impressive.” Jackson said. “It was fun to watch. The race Van Leeuwen’s coach has the same mindset was done after the first 60 meters. I could when it comes to defending their turf. have closed my eyes and gotten a sandwich. “We are really eyeing the conference cham- They showed we were the best.”
Women’s Softball Ready to Make Their Mark This Season
rpenhake@ramapo.edu
Roadrunners Hope to Become Tournament Contenders
By REBECCA PENHAKER Staff Writer
Who wants to be the bridesmaid when they can be the bride? The women’s softball team believes this is their year to make a statement not only in their conference but in the College World Series. “We are focusing on one goal,” coach Ben Allen said. “Let’s be the bride and win this thing.” With 17 players returning to the roster and eight of nine starters returning to the diamond, the expectations for the Lady Roadrunners are very high. The team finished 29-17 overall and was second in the NJAC finishing 14-4 last season. “Is there a lot of pressure with that? Absolutely,” Allen said. “But we have great senior leadership. When these girls were freshmen they were in the NCAA Championship tournament. Now their goal is to go out participate in the NCAA tournament.”
“Our team is good. We’re talented. As long as we work hard we’re going to make it far.” -Jaclyn Giangrande, infielder
Senior leader Jaclyn Giangrande wants to be able to end her rewarding collegiate career like she started it, in the Division III World Series. “Our team is good,” Giangrande said. “We’re talented. As long as we work hard we’re going to make it far. And I want to go out with a bang and win something this year.”
Being one of the top teams in the conference and having four returning players receive NJAC All-Conference honors, Allen is aware they are going to get every team’s best game. “Every game we play we are the hunted,” Allen said. “We are that strong of a program. Every time we play, we are getting the other team’s best effort, their best pitcher. We have to match that and be one step ahead.” The girls have been preparing for this challenge since September when they were playing fall ball. Now that the season has officially started, they have a vigorous training schedule: 6 a.m. conditioning sessions every day - except Wednesday on their day off - followed by their regular practice from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Even with the intense practices, the team chemistry has been solid with the younger players feeding off of the seniors’ enthusiasm. “We have 21 players that all get along,” Allen said. “It makes my job easy.” Allen is excited to have such a well-rounded and skilled team to work with. The biggest concern for this team is to focus on the little things. “We definitely have the talent to reach our goal, but we have to do the little things,” Allen explained. “We need to make those routine plays, get the bunt down in the right situation, have productive one out at bats, select the right pitch - we need to do the little things.” Allen credits his girls to knowing what they have to do this season, and that is to not overlook any opponent they face. “We can’t have any bad losses,” Allen said.“ There is never a good loss, but a bad loss is when you lose to a team you shouldn’t lose to.” Last year, the Roadrunners were swept by the College of
Staten Island and Montclair State University. This season the girls want to strike with vengeance.
“When these girls were freshmen they were in the NCAA Championship tournament. Now their goal is to go out and participate in the NCAA tournament.” -Ben Allen, Coach
“We want to put them to shame,” Ashley Schirripa, sophomore outfielder, said. Allen emphasizes the importance of winning when it matters. Because in order to be considered for an at-large bid for the NCAA championships, teams selected have at least 30 wins on the season. “We cannot fall asleep against teams in our conference,” Allen explained. “Our conference is too strong for that. And we have to win our Independent games, as well. We need to take that next step and win it all.’” Allen and his Roadrunners are ready to make history this season and hope the Ramapo Rowdies will make their presence known in their double-header home opener against Polytechnic University March 23 at 3 p.m. “Ramapo is supposed to win,” Allen said. “So let’s win.” rpenhake@ramapo.edU
Knicks Trade for Carmelo Page 15 The Ramapo News
By DAVE JONES Staff Writer
After months of rumors, speculation and discussions, the New York Knicks have finally landed their man, acquiring All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets in a blockbuster deal. Anthony, a Brooklyn native, will join fellow All-Star and friend Amare Stoudemire in the Big Apple to form on of the league’s most prolific scoring duos. If the move goes down as expected, Anthony will sign a three year, $65 million contract extension. The move does come at a hefty price though. As part of the deal, New York will send Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov and a 2014 first-round draft pick to Denver. In return, the Knicks will get Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman. In addition, the Minnesota Timberwolves will send swingman Corey Brewer to the Knicks in exchange for the expiring contract of Eddy Curry, Anthony Randolph, and cash. This secondary deal allows the Knicks to become salary cap compliant after the Anthony trade. Stoudemire, who signed his own mega-deal with New York this past summer, was excited to add a player of Anthony’s caliber to an already competitive squad. “Every team needs a 1, 1A punch,” Stoudemire said after news of the deal broke. “And so with the ways that we both can score .... we’re very versatile, so it’s hard to guard us.” The move also comes at the expense of
the Knicks local rival, the New Jersey Nets, who attempted to trade for Anthony since the preseason. With New Jersey slated to move to Brooklyn in two seasons, acquiring an All-Star like Anthony, who is also a local, would have been the marquee addition that owner Mikhail Prokhorov would have loved to open his new billion dollar arena with. Prokhorov, who has gained attention for his deep pockets and willingness to spend on the franchise, took solace in the fact that the Nets were able to drive up the price the Knicks had to spend to acquire the All Star forward. “I think we made a very good tactical decision to force [the] Knicks to pay as much as they can,” Prokhorov said. “So it’s very good, it’s very interesting, it’s very competitive.” While fans in the Big Apple may be clamoring over the Anthony-Stoudemire combination, the Knicks will have to gel quickly after trading away three of their top players in the deal. They will also have to compete with the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, two favorites to claim the NBA title. Whether the team can claim the Eastern Conference title this season remains to be seen. Anthony in New York though, regardless of who is around him, is music to the ears of Knicks fans and suddenly makes The Garden the place to be once again. djones@ramapo.edu
photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
Carmelo Anthony will join Amare Stoudemire on the Knicks.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Nets Acquire Deron Williams photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
The Nets surprised the league by trading for Deron Williams.
By ANDREW GOULD Sports Editor
Not to be outdone by their rivals across the Hudson River, the New Jersey Nets made a splash of their own by trading for All-Star point guard Deron Williams. The Nets traded point guard Devin Harris, rookie power forward Derrick Favors, two first-round draft picks and cash to the Jazz to acquire Williams, a 26-year-old All-Star point guard averaging 21.3 points and 9.7 assists per game this season. After trying for months to acquire Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets, the Nets fell short when the New York Knicks completed a deal to obtain Anthony on Monday. After failing again to draw another star to play in New Jersey, the Nets waited less than two days before obtaining a different star player. While sophomore Howard Yeung was skeptical of the Nets trading for Anthony, he feels that Deron Williams is a multi-dimensonial player who will be better for the team. “Carmelo scores for you, but Williams can make everyone else better,” Yeung said. At 17-40, the Nets are nine games behind the Indiana Pacers for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot with less than half the season remaining. Yeung believes the Nets have a shot at reaching the postseason next year. “I think the Nets could be a playoff contender if they have a good offseason,” Yeung said. “A lot of it relies on the progression of Brook Lopez.” Yeung also welcomes the possibility of the Nets following the Knicks and Miami Heat in their efforts to build a cast of elite talent. “Hopefully Williams will be able to draw in another star player like Amare (Stoudemire) and (Dwyane) Wade did.” The Jazz currently hold a slight lead of the eight seed in the West over the Memphis
Grizzlies, but they could struggle to maintain a playoff spot without Williams, the team’s scoring and assists leader. Tension between Williams and former coach Jerry Sloan was believed to be the reason for Sloan resigning from the position he held for 22 years. While Williams claimed he held no resentment toward Sloan or Utah’s management, many saw the feud as a sign of Williams’ growing displeasure playing for the Jazz. Williams’ contract is set to expire at the end of the 2012 season, and he has not signed an extension or committing to doing so. The major roadblock in the Nets’ acquiring Anthony was the star’s unwillingness to sign a contract extension to stay with the franchise, but the Nets did not let similar complications stop a trade for Williams. Despite averaging a career-high 7.6 assists, Devin Harris has been at the center of several trade rumors as the trade deadline approached. Harris, who averaged 21.3 points per game in his first season with New Jersey, has grown frustrated with coach Avery Johnson. Although Harris influenced New Jersey to sign Johnson, he experienced similar conflict with Johnson when they worked together in Dallas, who was rumored to be interested in bringing back the speedy guard. Drafted with the third overall pick of last year’s draft, Favors showed glimpses of potential in limited minutes with the Nets. The 20-year-old rookie averaged 6.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in less than 20 minutes, “Favors could have been something,” Yeung said. “But they needed a change before moving to Brooklyn.” agould1@ramapo.edu
SPORTS 10 . 7 . 10
Upset! 2 . 2410. 11 . 7 . 10
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Men’s basketball suffers tough loss against Montclair State in NJAC Tournament
Page 13
photo by Mike Jagendorf