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Japan Devastated by 9.0 Quake, Tsunami and Nuclear Disaster

3.24.2011

A Publication by the Students for the Ramapo College Community

XLI No. 19

Prank Causes Students Distress

photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

Over 125,000 buildings were decimated by the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan last week. Nearly 10,000 deaths have been reported as of March 23.

By MIKE JAGENDORF Staff Writer

On March 11, a triple catastrophe struck northern Japan as a magnitude 9.0 offshore earthquake rattled the island nation, and generated a tsunami that caused massive damage and destabilized nuclear power plants.

The extremely destructive tsunami, which was up to 30 feet high, was responsible for most of the devastation in the coastal Tohoku region, in which over 125,000 buildings were damaged or completely destroyed. As of yesterday, the Japanese National Police Agency confirmed 9,523 deaths, and more than 16,000 people are still missing. Millions of survivors lack food, water, electricity, gas, and heat. It is the worst disaster in Japan since World War II. Four nuclear power plants along the coast of the hard-hit Fukushima prefecture were critically affected by the tsunami. Although they were built to withstand earthquakes, they were unprepared for the ocean surge that crashed over seawalls and destroyed the diesel-powered backup generators used to cool the reactors’ cores. Heat and pressure in the reactors grew out of control as the cool-

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ing water boiled away, and a series of fires, explosions, and partial nuclear meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi plant caused a dangerous yet still unknown level of radiation to be released into the water and atmosphere.

The Japanese authorities established a 12mile evacuation zone around the power plants, but it is unclear if the evacuation zones were large enough, or how many people were able to get away in time. The region’s transportation infrastructure was destroyed – the airport in the city of Sendai was flooded for days, and highways and railroads cracked in the earthquake and were swamped by debris.

“A small amount of radiation has leaked,” Prime Minister Naoto Kan said as he visited the affected areas. “We will brace ourselves to protect people’s health. It is our mission to protect people’s lives and fortunes, and I want to make all-out efforts.”

“I hope from the bottom of my heart that the people will, hand in hand, treat each other with compassion and overcome these difficult times,” Emperor Akihito said in an

see JAPAN on page 6

EATHER FRI

Alert-Me-Now Reports Police Emergency

RAMAPO NEWS STAFF

At 12:09 a.m this morning students received an Alert-Me-Now message from Ramapo College stating that there was a police emergency and a reported shooting on campus. Rumors were being spread among students as early as 11:30 p.m. By 12:26 a.m., Public Safety notified students and informed them that there was, in fact, no emergency on campus and that a shooting had not taken place.

Chief Vincent Markowski of Public Safety described the confused state of affairs early this morning.

“The alert went out because there was a call from Mahwah police that there was a shooting on campus…we had no information, where, anywhere, anything else, nothing, not even that anybody was shot.”

Markowski went on to explain that the information came from an outside source and could not be immediately confirmed.

“The call wasn’t received directly by

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Mahwah, it was received by another police agency, and then it was forwarded to Mahwah.”

After the other police department contacted the Mahwah Police, they then alerted Ramapo College.

Ramapo waited for more information before sending out an alert. Markoswski stated that it was important to confirm information.

“You can’t just throw information out there without information to support it, then you become a false reporting agency for somebody…you wouldn’t want to do something without some kind of information to back it up.”

Markowski added: “We put our plan into place. The alert went out telling everybody just to stay in place, there was no info available.”

The person responsible for making the call is currently in police custody.

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Page 2 The Ramapo News

THE RAMAPO NEWS

Ramapo Student Films Record-Breaking Kiss

Thursday, March 24, 2011

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 Maria Sallustio

Creative Directors

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.

photo by John Gallino

Ramapo student John Gallino directed a documentary about two TCNJ studentsʼ attempt to break a world record for longest kiss.

By GARRET IVINS Staff Writer

Ramapo film student John Gallino has recently gained national attention with his documentary “Our Lips Are Sealed,” a film that follows Matty Daley and Bobby Canciello, two gay New Jersey college students as they attempt to break a world record for longest kiss. Gallino initially set out to make the documentary for a class.

“I was looking for something unique and outside of the norm when I heard about Matty and Bobby’s upcoming attempt to break the Guinness World Record for longest kiss and be the first homosexuals to do so,” Gallino said.

“It was just a few days away so I found out about it just in time. I sent them an email asking if it would be okay with them if I filmed it for a school project and they were happy to oblige. The timing was perfect.”

Matty and Bobby are both students at The College of New Jersey, the center of all the media attention during and after the event. The two were kissing under a canopy behind police tape the entire time, and were supported by much of the TCNJ campus as well as family and supporters in a live, online stream of the record breaking event. The previous record of 32 hours, 7 minutes and 14 seconds was surpassed

by Matty and Bobby by over twenty minutes.

During the event many of those who passed by were supportive of the couple, asking what was happening under the canopy. There were only a few incidents and altercations, all of which were captured on film. Gallino was surprised by the overall positive reception of the record attempt.

“None of us expected the response that it received,” Gallino said. “It was almost entirely due to the live Internet stream we had running during the whole event. By the final few hours,

our own stream had peaked at around 9,000 viewers, but duplicate streams were set up so even more people could watch. Not to mention the event was all over Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and major gay blogs like The Advocate and Queerty. It received attention from Senator Jared Polis and [comedian and actor] Hal Sparks on Twitter as well.”

The couple was also mentioned by Stephen Colbert on Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report.” Despite all the growing attention, the couple and Gallino were ignored by major mainstream media outlets, save for light coverage on CNN days after the event took place.

Gallino works with his production team called “Shoot the Freak” to shoot his films. The name he says comes from his desire to “shoot” or film the marginalized and extreme side of society. The organization has no fixed member list.

Gallino explains that anyone who helps make a film is a part of the crew.

“We invite anyone with a creative talent that

“I was looking for something unique and outside of the norm when I heard about Matty and Bobby’s upcoming attempt to break the Guinness World Record for longest kiss and be the first homosexuals to do so.”

-John Gallino, director of “Our Lips Are Sealed”

is looking to be a part of a team. It’s about connecting one starving but talented artist with another, and we’re always looking for people who want to contribute whatever skill they have,” Gallino said. “I believe with a few passionate people working together we can make some incredible things.”

The production team also runs a blog at weshootthefreak.com. Gallino is hoping to have a test screening of “Our Lips Are Sealed” at the LGBT Community Center in New York City in April. This will provide him with feed-

“None of expected the response it received. It was almost entirely due to the live Internet stream we had running during the whole event.”

-Gallino

back to improve the film, and give him a good starting point to submit the film to festivals.

While Gallino could not confirm for sure if the film will be screened on campus, he did say he wants to show the film at both Ramapo and TCNJ. He also mentioned he would like to have both Matty and Bobby there afterwards to do a Q&A about their experience.

The film will continue to be tweaked before being submitted to film festivals. Afterwards, Gallino hopes the documentary will help shape people’s views about same-sex couples.

“I can only hope that it reaches far enough to make a real impact. The repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was a small victory, but a Gallup poll taken May of last year showed that 53 percent of Americans are still opposed to the legalization of same-sex marriage,” Gallino said. “If you look back at history, you know it’s going to happen eventually anyway. Progress cannot be stopped.” givins@ramapo.edu

Thursday, March 24, 2011

THURSDAY’S CHILD

Magician Harry Houdini would have turned 137 today, if he was prepared for the blow to his stomach that was ultimately fatal.

TODAY IN HISTORY

This day today in 1989, Exxon Valdez spills 240,000 barrels of petroleum in Alaskaʼs Prince William Sound.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France, in light of Liyban unrest: “The Arab people have chosen to free themselves from the enslavement in which they have been trapped too long.”

1STEP Helps Ramapo Go Green With April Competition

By NICOLE MAZEWS KI Staff Writer

Attention Ramapo residents: prepare to go green. The on-campus organization 1STEP (Students Together for Environmental Progress) is holding their annual month-long event, the Green Facts Competition that promotes sustainable activity as a campus-wide initiative.

Residents living in each of the eight areas on campus are encouraged to live as energy efficient and “green” as they can for the entire month of April.

Residence halls will be encouraged to get the lowest amount of energy costs per person, which includes both heating costs and electricity usage. Recycling efforts made by residents and participation of the organization’s sustainability events will be taken into consideration for winning the competition. Residence areas will earn points for all of these activities, and winners for first and second place will be named at the end of the month.

Freshman Eric Thompson and treasurer of 1STEP explained the importance of raising sustainability awareness on campus.

“College students tend to be wasteful and absent-minded when it comes to using electricity and energy,” Thompson said. “We want to give them the opportunity to be aware of the situation so they can change their behavior.”

Thompson explained that the event is also a money-saver for the school.

“In the past, the competition has been known to save the college about $50,000 in one month across all the residence halls,” Thompson said. “Our goal is not only to save money, but also to change the attitudes of students.”

After all the points are counted, the winning residence hall will receive a pizza party from Pizza Fusion, a sustainable restaurant that serves both vegetarian and vegan pizzas, and tshirts, all sponsored by 1STEP.

“College students tend to be wasteful and absent-minded when it comes to using electricity and energy.”

-Eric Thompson, 1STEP treasurer

The organization is the student working group of President Mercer's climate commitment task force. Noah Luogameno, junior and president of 1STEP, explained the club’s message.

“Along with the task force, we work on educating the campus community about sustainability as well as work together with other clubs and organizations to implement campus sustainability through projects and events,” Luogameno said. “We represent the students involved in working to reduce Ramapo College's environmental impact.”

photo courtesy of ramapo.edu

After the devestating earhquake in Haiti, Ramapo is reaching out to offer services to helpless students.

One of the organization’s missions is to take small steps that turn into big results in reducing carbon emissions, college costs and preserving the environment.

Students can look forward to several upcoming campus-wide Earth Week activities all surrounding Earth Day, which is April 20. 1STEP is planning on co-sponsoring several events with the newly formed organization, NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Film screenings and concerts are all in the plans of the organization.

In addition, 1STEP is co-sponsoring a “Careers in Sustainability” Networking Roundtable on April 11 from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m. in the Trustees’ Pavilion with the Cahill Center, NJHEPS, and the Sustainable Living Facilities Program.

The organization welcomes any students who may be interested in joining. Meetings are held on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Thursdays at 9:15 p.m. Both meetings are held in A-106. nmazewsk@ramapo.edu

As Food Costs Rise, Prices on Campus Remain Constant

By TOM VAN HOWLING S taff Writer

Despite the raising prices of food around the country, it seems as though prices at Ramapo College have stayed the same.

“I buy food on campus pretty much every day,” Virginia Sherwood, junior, said. “I can't start my morning without my coffee from the atrium. I think the prices are pretty fair and normal for the food that we're getting and seem like they're pretty accurate. I didn't really notice that the prices have gone up.”

According to David Carreras, operations manager for meal services, prices have not gone up in years. Carreras says that each year, increases are presented to Ramapo to be approved.

Included in these increases are Dining Service Meal plan pricing and the Resident Dining Hall individual meal door rates.

“Retail pricing increases are done as needed,” says Carreras.

“The last increase was done two years ago for Sub Connection and Sky Ranch Burgers. This increase was very minimal to cover rising pricing costs. Prior to this, the last retail increase was over four years ago. Again, all increases are proposed to the college for approval.”

Despite the fact that prices are not on the rise, some students say that current prices could use some changes.

“I think they’re a little high,” says senior Alecia Phillips.

Sodexo, a French corporation that is one of the largest food services companies in the world, with just under 380,000 employees stationed in over 80 different countries, providesthe food made in all the dining halls.

“Several factors dictate price increases regarding food costs,” said Carreras. “Currently, weather is a major problem influencing crops in the southwest, southern California, and Mexico. Weather damaged crops shorten the supply and drive prices up. As of [Tuesday], the price for cucumbers from one of our main suppliers was $69.93 for a 50-pound case. Other affected produce includes lettuce, green squash and bell peppers.”

“I think the prices are pretty fair and normal for the food that we’re getting and seem like they’re pretty accurate.”

-Virginia Sherwood, junior

Other issues, according to Carreras, that could cause prices on campus to increase are a decrease in wheat production and the high prices of oil, which will make transportation of products more expensive. Another factor is corn production.

“Corn production for ethanol has increased, which created a

major swing in the production of corn for feed,” says Carreras. “This influences the costs of meats, fish, and poultry.”

Students are outraged at the thought of prices going up.

“I think it is wrong to increase food prices for college students because it is difficult enough for them to afford tuition,” said senior Jessica Alexander, “let alone having to worry about not having enough flex money or cash to pay for food.”

Despite fear over a price increase, Carreras states that prices at Ramapo are lower than at most schools.

“Current year pricing comparisons puts Ramapo lower than many New Jersey state colleges, including Montclair, William Paterson, Rowan, and Rutgers,” says Carreras.

“Although meal plan structures do not match identically to other colleges, the pricing for similar plans is lower.”

Carreras added that if prices do go up, they won’t increase until next semester, but it is unknown whether they will or not because the increases are still being reviewed by the college. tvanhowl@ramapo.edu

Student Development Keeps Students Involved, ‘In the Loop’ Page 4 The Ramapo News

Thursday, March 24, 2011

By NICOLE ALLIEGRO

News Editor

The Office of Student Development, in an effort to increase school spirit in the Ramapo community and rebrand the school’s overall image, is currently promoting two new ideas: “In the Loop,” a weekly newsletter detailing all of the events and meetings on campus, and the College Programming Board, a student-run organization in charge of planning “socially and educationally engaging” events.

According to student Erin Hallock, who is in charge of compiling and distributing the “In the Loop” letter on a weekly basis, Director of Student Development Rick Brown proposed the idea, as he had seen its success at Montclair State University, where he used to work.

“A lot of times, students don’t really know what’s going on,” Hallock said. “We have advertisements all over the place, but [the newsletter] was really just an effort to put all the information in one spot and be able to give it to the students so they knew what was going on.”

Eddie Seavers, Associate Director of Student Development, was also involved in starting the project, and said that “In the Loop” also has added benefits for club and organizations.

“In addition to events, it’s an opportunity for clubs and organizations to promote their meetings,” he said. “The goal is to provide another way for students to know what’s going on and to be involved and invested in the Ramapo community.”

So far, Seavers said that clubs and organizations have been the most responsive, providing plenty of material for “In the Loop” to promote their meetings and events. Hallock said that “club presidents were really excited” about the newsletter, and although she’s not sure if other students are embracing it, she said she is willing to adapt and make changes as necessary.

“Right now, [the letter is] on the Student Activities website, which is also great, but I don’t know how many people go there. The format of the newsletter and everything is going to be changing once we figure out how it’s the most efficient [and] the most organized,” she said.

Hallock hopes “In the Loop” will popularize events both on- and off-campus and encourage more students to get involved.

“We’ve had a lot of interest in our events but people don’t

really come out to them, because they don’t know where they are or when they are, so this just kind of puts everything in one spot, and then we can send it out and the students can look at that for all their information,” she said.

On a similar note, the College Programming Board hopes to expand event planning on campus, and is beginning to hire students for the nine primary positions (six committees with chair members, two of which have co-chairs, and a president). Other students will have the opportunity to participate in the committee roles and what Seavers calls a “street team” to promote these events.

“The goal is really that we’ll have people who want to get initially involved and maybe do some advertising, and then move up into the committee role next year, and then move up into the executive board positions,” Seavers said. “So it’s going to take a few years for that to take place… we’re building it from the top down.”

As of right now, senior Mellissa Louissaint, Program

“All we’re looking to do is play our part in giving students options and opportunities to be involved, interact with others, and really get as much as they can out of their time here.”

-Eddie Seavers, Associate Director of Student Development

Coordinator for Student Development, reports that only five of the executive board positions have been filled. Although this alters their initial timeline slightly, she said that Student Development will soon be interviewing the candidates who applied on time, all the while keeping in mind that they hope to draw in more students later on.

“Our target is to have [the Board] instilled for next semester,” she said.

Seavers said the Board will be instrumental in expanding campus programming as a whole. Currently, Student Development tries to offer events to students on some Tuesdays and Thursdays and various weekends. But, Seavers said, the goal for next fall is to book events and programs for every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

“On those four days, we want to provide opportunities for

the Ramapo community to be involved with something on campus,” he said.

Hallock hopes the Programming Board can plan more oncampus events, because right now, she said, the ratio of oncampus and off-campus events offered by the school is 30 percent to 70 percent.

“We want to boost programming on campus, period,” she said. “The ratio between on-campus and off-campus trips right now is really unbalanced. We want to flip that number.

We want to have more events on campus and less events off campus.”

Both Louissaint and Hallock believe the Board will help get students involved by diversifying the programming on campus and popularizing the events. In doing so, they hope to encourage students to show more school spirit.

“We want to get more people from campus involved… The events are really successful [now], but we want to get more opinions from more people in the student body… It would give us a bigger population at the events,” Hallock said. “I know that there’s been a lot of talk about the lack of school spirit that’s here, and I think the Programming Board could do a lot of positive things toward working to remedy that.”

Louissant referred to an earlier event on-campus that she helped plan, Culture Shock, which she said was extremely successful in bringing together different groups of students, one of the goals for the Programming Board.

“This is what I want to bring out more…everyone bringing their ideas together,” she said.

“I was at Culture Shock, and it was amazing to see all those people together. It was awesome,” Hallock said. “I think having all that different representation [on the Board] is really going to bring people together and have more of a sense of community on campus. That’s something that lacks on this campus, is a sense of community and togetherness…

You never see that here.”

Seavers said, “I think a huge part of the college experience is being involved and connected on your campus, and [Student Development] plays a role in that… All we’re looking to do is play our part in giving students options and opportunities to be involved, interact with others, and really get as much as they can out of their time here.”

New Catholic Organization Hosts Lecture on Faith vs. Reason

nalliegr@ramapo.edu

“We need charity today more than ever. The ability to live with each other [is necessary], even though we disagree about the most fundamental things. This can’t be reached through reason alone. Faith and reason, friends or foes? Well let’s put it this way, they’d better be friends.”

-Monsignor Stuart Swetland, guest speaker at lecture hosted by Newman Catholic @ Ramapo College

Monsignor Stuart Swetlands’s Top 10 List: Why Reason Needs Faith

photo by Elyse Toribio

Newman Catholic @ Ramapo College welcomed Monsignor Stuart Swetland, a professor at Mount St. Maryʼs University to give a lecture on the relationship between reason and faith in modern times. Attendees included Father Bill Sheridan, advisor to the Ramapo chapter of Newman Catholic, Theresa Salameno, and Anthony and Theresa Padovano.

The lecture, titled “Faith and Reason: Friends or Foes,” was organized by the newly formed chapter in an effort to engage their faith on a more collegiate level. The lecture is the first in a series of events throughout the semester, including weekly trips to Newark to feed the homeless and Living Stations of the Cross on Good Friday.

1. Achieving completion and wholeness 2. Intellectual development 3. Understanding history 4. Necessary for philosophical debate 5. Integration

6. Correction 7. Understanding ethical codes and discussions 8. Understanding cultures 9. Encourages free marketplace of ideas 10. Invokes charity and mercy

etoribio@ramapo.edu

Page 5 The Ramapo News

Thursday, March 24, 2011

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Ramapo Community Responds to Devastating Japan Disasters Page 6 The Ramapo News

Thursday, March 24, 2011

continued from page 1

Despite assurances by the government and the Tokyo Electric Power Company, which owns the Fukushima plants, that the situation is stable, many believe the nuclear problem is being understated. TEPCO has a history of falsifying safety reports, and a US cable released by Wikileaks in 2009 warned that Japanese power plants could not withstand powerful earthquakes. They delayed the last-ditch cooling attempt of dumping seawater on the reactors as long as possible, because it meant rendering them permanently inoperable.

It is unclear how far the radiation has spread or will spread, and what the long term effects will be. Yesterday, health officials in Tokyo said radioactive iodine-131 had been detected in the capitol city’s tap water, and it is too dangerous for babies to drink.

Izumi Osawa-Minivech, a unit secretary at Ramapo’s Study Abroad office who was born and raised in Fukushima where her parents still live, had to convince them to evacuate to southern Japan.

“They were in a sort of safe zone, according to the Japanese government,” Osawa-Minivech said. Their house is 25 miles away from the Fukushima Daiichi plant, but the American government was advising people to stay 31 miles away. “It’s better to be safe than to trust them,” she said.

Osawa-Minevech said there exists a sort of bias against the potentially irradiated region.

Relief workers and people bringing supplies are afraid of radiation and some refuse to come near, although survivors badly need food, water, and shelter.

“People don’t want to carry supplies to the areas affected by the nuclear plant. Truck drivers don’t want to go there,” she said.

Ron Hayashida is a Ramapo professor who teaches a variety of politics and history courses about Japan and Asia. His mother's side of his family lives in the mountains of the Fukushima prefecture.

“I don't know what happened to my relatives there,” said Hayashida, who hasn't heard from them since the disaster and worries about their safety.

“They will have to do a very thorough survey of the radiation before they rebuild. It’s up to the younger generation.”

-Ron Haysahida, Associate Professor of Comparative Politcs

Hayashida said a lot of the residents of the rural Fukushima area are elderly, and younger people have left to the cities, so he doesn't know if the Japanese will see it as worth rebuilding their houses, especially if there's lingering radioactivity from the nuclear disasters.

“They will have to do a very thorough survey of the radiation before they rebuild,” he said. “It's up to the younger generation.”

Kyohei Nishino, a visiting Fulbright Scholar who teaches Japanese at the school of American and International Studies, has many friends from the Sendai area.

“I read their comments on Japanese Facebook. I see their pictures of all these big ships more than one kilometer away from the ocean sitting on top of buildings,” he said.

Nishino said his friend in Tokyo called her family in Sendai during the earthquake and warned them of the tsunami.

“They evacuated to the second floor of the house. After that, the phone was dead, she tried many times to reach them,” Nishino said. “She didn’t hear from them for four or five days because there was no electricity.”

Osawa-Minivech said the American and international relief effort was very prompt and efficient.

“I was very grateful, that was very encouraging news” she said. “Especially that even New Zealand helped out, and they just had a big earthquake there.”

She said she is optimistic about recovery because Japan has a strong and resilient spirit towards rebuilding from disaster, and noted they had lots of experience after suffering two atomic bombings and many other earthquakes.

photo courtesy of the Australian Red Cross

Japanese American faculty and staff at Ramapo, although worried for their relativesʼ safety in Japan, said they are pleased with the global relief efforts to provide aide to the desperate country.

There are plans to raise money at Ramapo to aid the survivors. The Community Service Center will be holding a bake sale at the second floor B-wing entrance to the Student Center today. All of the proceeds will go to Operation Shelter Box, a charity which builds shelters for disaster victims who have lost their homes.

“It was Student Development’s idea to kick off a series of events for Japan,” Lauren MacDonald, student coordinator for the event said. “Hopefully we can raise around $200 with this bake sale.”

Other events are currently being planned by other clubs and offices, according to MacDonald.

Masae Hori, junior, is the president of the United Asian Association at Ramapo. The UAA, together with the pre-med club and Nishino’s Japanese class, is planning a number of events to raise awareness and funds.

“The first [event] would be to make 1,000 origami paper cranes,” Hori said, “which we would then sell at a table in the Student Center for a suggested donation of $1 each.” They will be selling the cranes and raising money at a table outside the bookstore starting tomorrow (Friday) and continuing throughout the week.

Folding 1,000 paper cranes is said to bring good luck or to grant a wish in Japanese legend. Hori and Osawa-Minivech both say the best way for Americans to help out is to donate money to either Operation Shelter Box or the Red Cross. mjagendo@ramapo.edu

HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? WE’RE HERE TO LISTEN SUBMIT YOUR LETTER TO THE EDITOR: editor.rcnjnews@gmail.com Follow us on Twitter @RamapoNews and friend us on Facebook

photo courtesy of the Japanese Red Cross

Ramapo plans to hold a bake sale for Operation Shelter Box, a charity that will help the survivors who have lost their homes. Student Development, along with other clubs and organizations, will also sponsor more events.

VIEW POINTS

Thursday, March 24, 2011

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.

A Preventable Bankruptcy in the Gulf of Mexico

By RANDY STILLEY The Washington Post

Last month, Seahawk Drilling declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced the sale of its assets to shallow-water driller Hercules Offshore. This devastating decision was the culmination of a long period in which we found our customers unable to secure permits for work in the Gulf of Mexico despite the fact that both our industry and our company have excellent safety records. In the 11 months after the Deepwater Horizon accident, it became clear that Seahawk’s greatest rival was no longer our industry competitors but the U.S. government.

The government’s drastic slowdown in the issuance of permits for shallow-water drilling operations — in which companies work in familiar geological formations, typically in less than 500 feet of water, mostly seeking to produce natural gas — has all but crippled the industry. The survivors (for now) like Hercules are staying afloat largely thanks to revenue from operations outside U.S. waters. Put another way, a once-proud industry born in the gulf during the Truman administration can no longer survive on operations in its own back yard.

The state of the industry is hardest on those who live along the Gulf Coast and chose to dedicate their careers to developing America’s energy resources. Seahawk’s bankruptcy risks the jobs of more than 500 loyal employees, a number already diminished 50 percent from pre-spill levels because of attempts to save the company by cutting payrolls since last April. Our workers had stuck with us through the recent recession and downturn in commodity prices and during the freeze on all Gulf operations that the government imposed after the Macondo blowout. They held on, hoping that if and when the moratorium on shallow-

water operations was rescinded, everyone would get back to work.

Yet since the moratorium on shallow-water operations was lifted, the government has acted, and continues to act, as if it were still in place.

Our government cannot claim in good conscience to hold up shallow-water permits out of an abundance of caution.

The shallow-water industry relies on proven and straightforward methods honed over decades of use. Our record speaks for itself: In the past 15 years, 11,070 shallow-water wells have been drilled in the Gulf of Mexico, with a grand total of 15 barrels of oil spilled as a result of well-control incidents.

The state of the industry is hardest on those who live along the Guld Coast and chose to dedicate their careers to developing America’s energy resources.

Those numbers no longer seem to matter. The only numbers that count today are the following: As of this writing, a mere 37 permits for new shallow-water wells have been issued since April — an average of just three per month.

Before April 2010, an average of 7.1 permits were approved each month during the year before the incident. The historical numbers are much larger even in the aftermath of the financial crisis.

The fundamental problem our companies face is that regulators at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement insist on painting the entire offshore industry with a broad brush, ignoring key distinctions between deep- and shallow-water drilling in their new

SGA Strives to Improve Leadership Within Organization

By JASON KRISZA SGA President

Over the past few weeks, our organization has conducted a self study in order to evaluate our performance. We are constantly looking at ways to improve the organization and better the student body.

Just last week, members of our organization visited Montclair to compare and contrast our structure in comparison to theirs. In conjunction with the Director of Student Development, Rick Brown, we are working on methods to better serve you.

Additionally, one of the most important aspects of higher education is civic engagement. I would like to personally commend Matthew Kobza and Danielle Reed for their leadership in the planning and implementation of our community service projects

this semester. On April 8th and 9th Student Government will be sending representatives to Habitat for Humanity and we welcome the rest of the community to join us. If you are interested do not hesitate to contact me.

Finally, we always welcome student concerns and criticisms. Please come to any of our general meetings, which are at 1:00 pm in the Pavilion every Tuesday. If that is not convenient for you our office is usually open from 9:00-5:00 every day in the Student Center.

Elections are also around the corner and voting is the best way to have your voice heard and shape the Student Government of the Future. jskrisza@ramapo.edu

requirements and standards.

Director Michael Bromwich has expended significant effort reorganizing his agency, but it has come at the cost of fulfilling the agency’s statutory mandate to develop U.S. offshore resources. Continuing along this route will only drive more companies out of business, or at least out of business in the United States — an outcome we naively believed our government would make a concerted effort to avoid.

Let’s hope that the unfortunate — and avoidable — fate of Seahawk at the very least offers an important lesson to regulators: It is entirely possible to change the approach to permitting operations in the Gulf. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement needs only to begin applying graduated risk analysis based on a tiered evaluation of permits to achieve the safest and most efficient continuation of energy production in the Gulf. A tiered approach would allow the bureau to direct its limited resources toward higher-risk drilling while maintaining an elevated standard of safety for all permits.

It might even avoid more unnecessary job losses in the already beleaguered Gulf region.

The day after the November midterm elections, President Obama expressed significant interest in expanded natural gas drilling. “We’ve got . . . terrific natural gas resources in this country. Are we doing everything we can to develop those?” he asked. The fate of Seahawk Drilling makes clear that the answer is a tragic, resounding no.

Sing Me to Sleep

‘Paul’

Tom Van Howling reviews Avrilʼs latest album.

Page 10

Eileen Tracy reviews an out of this world comedy.

Page 11

Spring Fashion: Think Light, White and Bright 3. 24. 11

BY JULIANNE BRANDA Staff Writer With a stubborn winter finally drawing to a close—almost—it’s time to start planning our summer wardrobe at long last. Every woman on Earth looks forward to the day when she will finally be able to trade in her Uggs for flip flops and her sweaters for tank tops.

While the snow is not exactly encouraging, flipping through an issue of Elle or Vogue will surely brighten your mood, as fashion editors are always prepared for spring about four months before everyone else. The bright and flowery editorials now being plastered all over magazines are a sign of what trends to expect when the unrelenting snow finally leaves us alone.

The spring runways brought no shortage of color, and the harshness of this winter will surely be matched by the brightness of the summer ahead. Neon colors made a huge comeback in makeup, nails and clothing.

Models at Diane Von Furstenberg sported a neon pink lip, while color-blocking was a mainstay in Milan, particularly at Jil Sander’s show. To replicate these couture

photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

Forget the little black dress. This spring, its all about the LWD - Little White Dress.

looks, you could pair your favorite neon pink or yellow tank with some neutral colored shorts or vice versa. Or you could pick out a sexy striped dress with neon hues of orange and pink; H&M currently has one just like this on their racks for your spring wardrobe.

In addition to color, the 1970s were resurrected for spring and summer. Marc Jacobs did a very disco-era inspired collection, with models wearing big floppy hats, bright floral prints and loose fitting dresses and blouses.

The 1970s are perhaps the perfect decade for summer in terms of fashion: the clothes are breathable, tropical and flowy – a timeless look you’ll never want to leave behind. A maxi dress, a bohemian top or some bellbottoms will transport you back to a time of effortless chic. To complement your retro style, buy some espadrilles with straps or ribbons. Not only does the wedge invoke the ‘70s perfectly, but it will also add height and define your legs.

Come spring, we will also be seeing a lot of white clothing. A white pair of shorts or the “LWD” (little white dress) will be more popular than ever. Dolce and Gabbana showcased an entire collection of white, lacy, yet very sexy garments, which have also influenced the collections of more budget friendly retailers like H&M. For spring, H&M produced an entire collection of white clothing, including vests, dresses, tunics, and skirts, entitled the “Conscious

Collection.” By shopping at H&M for your spring wardrobe, you will not only be trendy and financially secure, but also environmentally savvy, as all the garments from the “Conscious Collection” are made from renewable materials, such as organic cotton and recycled polyester. The collection hits stores in mid-April.

Ramapo students shared what they will be wearing for spring. After all, trends are merely suggestions, and there is no fashion police ready to give you a fine if you deviate from what Vogue tells you to wear.

Freshman Esther Plaza said, “I like to wear light and comfortable clothing that can also be fashionable, like a tank top with a short jacket that hits the waist. I also wear a lot of sandals, like gladiators. Sundresses, bright colors, like greens, purples, blues, are also staples of mine.”

Whether you enjoy channeling hippie chic or ancient Greek styles, the summer always guarantees experimentation with clothing, as the warmer climate rids us of the bondage of heavy coats and itchy sweaters.

America Falls Victim to the (Rebecca) ‘Black Plague’

BY DANIEL GAGLIARDI Staff Writer By now, most Americans within a certain age range have an involuntary familiarity with “Friday,” the debut single from Rebecca “That Little Girl Who Sings That ‘Friday’ Song” Black. Still, there’s a chance you’ve been vacationing under a rock—a beautiful, blissful, rock—so here’s a quick rundown: Black’s performance of the tweenpop tune “Friday” is the forty-second most downloaded song on iTunes, and her video has been viewed more than 38 million times on YouTube. Like any good viral video, it has inspired countless parodies and landed its star a few interviews on news programs that just can’t be bothered with that whole Libya thing.

In every respect, the song follows the proven formula for four-on-the-floor prom DJ fodder, but in such a way that’s just a bit off. None of its banal lyrics rhyme, and at one point in the video there’s an adult man driving by himself, presumably to Black’s party, rapping about school buses.

Who is that adult man, so eager to kick it with some barely-pubescent girls? He’s one of two spearheading the Ark Music Factory, which charged Rebecca Black’s mother

$2,000 to have her daughter sing and make a video for the label-written tune.

This isn’t the first time a piece of “entertainment” has become famous for being extraordinarily bad: the awful film “Troll 2” has a following large enough to warrant a documentary being made about it, and the “Star Wars Holiday Special,” aired only once on TV, lives in mythological infamy among fans of the original trilogy.

Unlike these past examples of golden garbage, the song/video/performer went from unknown to in-your-face at a Bieberesque speed. Additionally, it’s probably making much more money: “Forbes” estimates Black’s earnings from YouTube’s revenue sharing program alone to be around $20,000—a 1,000 percent return on her investment.

And while that old aphorism says money can’t buy happiness, it should at least buy desensitization from the eternal onslaught of the YouTube comment section. Black, however, seems to have allocated her funds elsewhere, as she claims she’s been cyberbullied since the video started exponentially accumulating hits.

Ramapo students had mixed feelings about Black’s reaction to her newfound fame.

“People on the internet can be genuinely cruel to excesses that most people never

jbranda1@ramapo.edu

photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

Rebecca Black became an instant celebrity last week when her YouTube video for “Friday” attracted more than 38 million viewers.

reach in real life, so…she’s probably been receiving some fairly hateful comments,” senior Ruby Corman said.

Others, like Lauren Santaniello, note that while “Black may claim that she’s a victim…she is certainly milking this attention for all it’s worth.”

Black may be getting bullied, but that doesn’t change anyone’s feelings about the song or what its popularity might be saying about pop culture.

Santaniello believes “[YouTube] should be used as a means to discover talent but good

talent should be found and celebrated, not bad.”

At any rate, her fame is probably close to its end: “[‘Friday’] stopped being funny in record time,” freshman Abby Garner said, and Corman gives it a “couple weeks, tops” before this is all over.

There it is, folks: all signs point to Black falling out of fashion faster than you can say “Charlie Sheen.” dgagliar@ramapo.edu

Tani: The “Ultimate Pan-Asian Dining Experience” Page 9 The Ramapo News

By KAITLIN BOLUKBAS Staff Writer Despite having been open for almost a year, Tani, an Asian sushi grill located in Glen Rock, is just now gaining great recognition and creating hype amongst the locals of Bergen and Passaic counties. In constant competition with nearby Ridgewood and Paramus eateries, Tani has set an innovative, high standard in the area, and visitors agree that the restaurant is truly a hidden gem.

Customers are ensured a combination of “fresh ingredients” and “high quality food products.” With so many appealing options to choose from, Tani offers a “culinary tour” of Thai, Chinese and Japanese cuisines in the most sophisticated and tasteful of settings.

From the moment customers enter Tani, they are welcomed to an environment that instantly relaxes the mind and pleases the eye. The dim glow of modern lampshades illuminate the entire dining area in a subtle manner, while the sushi bar shines brightly in the heart of the restaurant. Hues from the wine red booths and the dark navy blue chairs work perfectly with the rich wooden surfaces and tabletops scattered throughout the eatery.

Extensive assortments of sushi and sashimi constitute about half of the Tani menu.

Selections range from basic rolls (like the California or Spicy Yellowtail) to more complex, intricate alternatives (like the Tropical Roll, which consists of spicy salmon, tempura crunch, fresh tuna, mango, avocado and

Thursday, March 24, 2011

ripe banana).

Classic Chinese gourmet creations like the Crispy Sesame Chicken and the Beef Lo Mein can be ordered for a reasonable $10 to $15 per entrée. Thai dishes like the Chicken Coconut Curry and the Vegetable Pad Thai are just a few of this restaurant’s other satisfying, delicious meals, offered at refreshingly practical prices.

Dessert options like the traditional cheesecake and the Exotic Bombo (mango, passion fruit and raspberry sorbet covered in white

Customers are ensured a combination of “fresh ingredients” and “high quality food products” to enhance their eating experiences.

chocolate) are two menu items that are in demand on a daily basis. While the restaurant does not possess a liquor license, guests are encouraged to B.Y.O.B. Located on Rock Road in the center of Glen Rock, Tani provides a modern, chic and enjoyable environment suitable for any crowd, on any occasion. The menu offers a wide-ranging list of selections to suit each customer’s particular palette accordingly, with prices starting at $2.50 (the Seaweed Wonton Soup) and escalating up to $21.95 (the Five Flavored Thai Chilean Seabass).

Tani’s lunch combination platters are a cost-efficient way for students to eat great

An Acting Legend Dies

By NICOLE MAZEWSKI Staff Writer Elizabeth Taylor, beloved actress and AIDS activist, died yesterday at the age of 79.

Taylor entered Cedars-Sinai Hospital about six weeks ago for congestive heart failure and passed away yesterday morning surrounded by friends and family.

She was born on February 27, 1932 in Hampstead, London to Francis Lenn and Sara Viola. She later became a dual citizen of the UK and the United States.

She debuted in 1942’s “There’s One Born Every Minute.” In 1963, Taylor appeared in the title role of “Cleopatra” opposite future husband Richard Burton, who played Mark Antony.

Taylor, who won two Academy Awards for her roles in “Butterfield 8” in 1960 and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” in 1966, was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She appeared in over 50 movies including “National Velvet” and “Father of the Bride.”

Second only to her acting career, Taylor was most known for her many and frequent marriages.

“I am a very committed wife,” Taylor, married eight times, once said. “And I should be committed too--for being married so many times.”

In her extravagant life, she married hotel heir Conrad Nicholson Hilton Jr.; actor Michael Wilding; producer Michael Todd; singer Eddie Fisher, whom Taylor was rumored to have stolen from Debbie Reynolds; actor Richard Burton, whom she

married twice; former Senator John W. Warner; and construction worker Larry Fortensky, who she met in a substance abuse program.

She also dated George Hamilton and was close friends with Michael Jackson.

Taylor was not only a successful actress but a businesswoman as well. Taylor had her own line of perfume, White Diamonds, and mutliple jewelry lines. “I never planned to acquire a lot of jewels or a lot of husbands,” Taylor said.

She began her work as a spokesperson and fund raiser in the struggle against AIDS in the early 1980s when her friend and former co-star, Rock Hudson, died from the disease. Taylor was the founding national chairman of the American Foundation for AIDS Research. She also started the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in October 1991, and since its creation, it has provided over $12,000,000 to organizations preventing the spread of AIDS, the treatment and care of those affected by HIV/AIDS, and for research to fight the disease.

Her weight fluctuations and multiple illnesses garnered her much publicity. Taylor appeared on the cover of “Life” magazine 14 times, and on “People” magazine’s cover more than 25 times Taylor is survived by four children, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

nmazewsk@ramapo.edu

photo courtesy of taniasiangrill.com

Tani, an Asian sushi grill in Glen Rock, is gaining popularity among residents of Bergen and Passaic counties.

food without overspending this semester, served in-house-only Monday through Friday between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Take-out and delivery options are also available by contacting the restaurant directly.

RATING:

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kbolukbas@ramapo.edu

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‘Red Riding Hood’ Takes on the Big Bad Box Office Page 10 The Ramapo News

By JEREMY KELLY Staff Writer

Chances are, you grew up listening to fairy tales that involved talking animals, fairies and magic spells. As children, we probably wouldn’t have expected one of them to one day be transformed into a PG-13 two-hour film.

“Red Riding Hood” was released in theaters on March 11, and while it is a very artistic endeavor, it plays out more like an unintentionally funny melodrama in the same style of the “Twilight” films. In other words, while it’s entertaining to watch, its nearly impossible to take seriously.

The movie stars Amanda Seyfried as Valerie, who is essentially Red Riding Hood.

She lives in the medieval village of Daggerhorn, where the people make a monthly animal sacrifice to a werewolf.

One day, Valerie’s sister Lucy is killed by the wolf, and the townspeople journey into the forest to put the wolf to death. They find a wolf and manage to behead it, but upon the arrival of witch hunter Father Solomon (Gary Oldman), he informs them that they didn’t kill the real werewolf, because a genuine werewolf would have reverted back to its human form. At this point, the film’s main conflict arises, as everyone in the village is a potential candidate for the monstrous creature. Valerie is able to communicate with the werewolf, causing her to be a top suspect.

A love story subplot also develops in “Red

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Riding Hood.” Valerie falls for a woodcutter named Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), but her parents have arranged for her to be engaged to Henry (Max Irons), the son of a wealthy blacksmith. This has potential to become an interesting storyline, but neither of these boys make a genuine impression; they mostly go through the motions, as do most of the actors in this film. Gary Oldman acts unwisely over-the-top, and makes for a weak supporting character.

As for Seyfried, she has become one of the more popular young actresses in recent years. She made her first appearance in the 2004 hit “Mean Girls,” and has proven herself to be able to play prominent roles in many different movies, from horror (“Jennifer’s Body”) to romance (“Dear John”). Her performance in “Red Riding Hood” is average, and you may find yourself wishing that writer David Johnson had given her more to do than make dramatic faces or speak garden-variety dialogue.

As far as the dialogue is concerned, it gets cringe-worthy at times. Johnson’s only other writing credits are that he did the screenplay for “Orphan,” which, at least, had a decent story behind it. The writing in “Red Riding Hood” just doesn’t work; the characters aren’t developed enough, and the plot is overwhelmed with details. While the movie does manage to fit in the classic, “Why, Grandma, what big eyes you have…” dialogue, it feels incredibly forced.

“Red Riding Hood” was directed by Catherine Hardwicke, who also directed the

photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

Amanda Seyfried plays Valerie in “Red Riding Hood,” a remake of the childrenʼs fairy tale. first“Twilight”film.

Naturally, there are many well-executed scenery shots. The film’s aesthetics are appealing, even if the opening shots look like they could have been recycled from “Twilight.”

In its opening weekend, “Red Riding Hood” finished number three at the box office with $14 million, finishing behind “Battle: Los Angeles” and “Rango.” It then dropped to number six in its second weekend, grossing $7.1 million. While this movie is fun to watch, it’s a mistranslation of a classic fairy tale.

RATING:

##$$$ jkelly7@ramapo.edu

Avril Sings Audience to Sleep on ‘Goodbye Lullaby’

from her fragrance commercials, and “Push,” a song about making relationships and love work and how she feels as though her lover is not putting in any effort. Both are midtempo songs that feature the sincere emotion of Lavigne’s early ballads.

By TOM VAN HOWLING Staff Writer

While Avril Lavigne’s music is fun, catchy and all around enjoyable, that does not automatically make it good.

Lavigne is always the one to listen to for a fun boy-bashing song to help get you through a breakup or for a cheesy ballad to slow dance to at a middle school dance.

For her fourth studio album, “Goodbye Lullaby,” Lavigne decided to fill her songs with acoustic ballads about love gone wrong and simple day to day troubles, despite the fact that her label wanted her to go a more urban-dance route that has been very popular as of late. This decision may have come after her divorce from Sum 41 singer and guitarist Deryck Whibley.

Lavigne seems to want her lyrics to speak for themselves.

This idea is fine and dandy, but when your lyrics are as cheesy and cliché as Lavigne’s, you need to distract the audience with a fast paced melody and catchy chorus.

The album was introduced with the single “What The Hell.” This song is classic Lavigne: fun, poppy music with rock influences and lyrics about independence after a breakup.

“So what if I go out on a million dates/yeah yeah yeah yeah/ You never called or listened to me anyway/ yeah yeah yeah yeah/ I’d rather rage, than sit around and wait all day.” Lavigne sings confidently during the second verse, telling her ex-husband that if he can’t love her, she’ll have to try every man she comes across until she finds one that will.

Another stand out single is the upbeat, “Smile.” The song is a curse-fest and full of guitars during the verses. In the song, Lavigne sings about finding somebody to make her lose control, something it seems like she has not done since her divorce.

“Last night I blacked out I think/ What did you, what did

Lavigne has said that on this record she wanted to use her voice as the main instrument on this album; however, her vocals are more lackluster than ever.

photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

Avril Lavigneʼs latest album, entitled “Goodbye Lullaby,” has a mellower sound than previous albums. you put in my drink/ I remember making out and then/ I woke up with a new tattoo/ your name was on me and my name was on you,” Lavigne sings cheekily during the second verse.

Lavigne’s album received neither stellar nor awful reviews.

“It’s not my kind of music, but I like her voice. It’s 1000 times better than Justin Bieber, and she looks pretty on the CD cover,” junior Connor Binko said.

Other songs that are decent are “Black Star,” the jingle

The second half of the album gets very boring because the songs all blended together. It’s impossible to listen to songs like “Darlin,” “Everybody Hurts,” or “I Love You” and try to tell them apart. They all seem to have the same music and concept.

The only other ballad that is worth a listen is the closing track, “Goodbye.” This tearjerker talks about Lavigne saying goodbye to a lover that she still loves deeply.

Lavigne has said that on this record she wanted to use her voice as the main instrument on this album; however, her vocals are more lackluster than ever.

Hopefully for her fifth record Lavigne will return to the fun feel of her previous works and regain some of the fans that this album is going to cause her to lose.

RATING:

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tvanhowl@ramapo.edu

Penny Arcade Expo Showcases Games, Offers Good Time

Page 11 The Ramapo News

Thursday, March 24, 2011

By VINNY PARISI Staff Writer

The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center is home to a variety of activities throughout the year, but for a single weekend every March it becomes more than that. From March 11 to 13, it turned into a shining beacon that attracted a dedicated fan base of gaming and entertainment enthusiasts.

The Penny Arcade Expo, or PAX for short, is a convention based off a popular web-comic (similarly titled “Penny Arcade.”) But since its humble beginnings, Penny Arcade has grown into a brand, playing host to a variety of merchandise and even scoring its own downloadable arcade game on Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. The main convention, called PAX Prime, takes place in Seattle and it is only recently that a second convention was added to the Boston area, dubbed PAX East.

PAX was built upon the simple idea of uniting people with a common interest and having a good time.

For those who think PAX is just another video game convention that holds little interest for the average person, consider this: whereas most conventions are conceived as a way for developers to market their new products to the press and “interested enthusiasts,” PAX was built upon the simple idea of uniting people with a common interest and having a good time. What this adds up to is a laid back and impressively welcoming atmosphere that encourages people to get together and have fun. There is even a dedicated corridor of the convention hallways filled with beanbag chairs for people to hang out, play some portable games and socialize.

Other such social activities available were the “Free-Play” console and PC rooms, which allowed people to walk in and play games on Xbox 360s, PCs and PS3s provided. Gamers were encouraged to bring their own games and controllers but were allowed to borrow some as well. There was also a “Classic Arcade” so nostalgic-ridden retro gamers could get their fix of such notable classics as “Donkey Kong,” “Dragon’s Lair,” “Burger Time,” and “Galaga” among many others. PAX East is also home to a variety of in-house concerts, impromptu tournaments and a tabletop game area where attendees can gather to play boards games.

photo by Vinny Parisi

PAX, or Penny Arcade Expo, is an annual convention highlighting popular games and gadgets. This yearʼs PAX took place from March 11 to 13 in Boston.

However, at its heart PAX East is still a convention, so the highlight of the event happens in the heart of the Exhibition Hall where developers gather to show off their latest games and gadgets. The two major venues within the main hall that drew the biggest crowds were Nintendo’s 3DS booth and Bioware’s “Star Wars: The Old Republic” booth.

The Nintendo 3DS is a highly-anticipated portable system that offers users a glasses-free 3-D gaming experience as well as being capable of taking 3-D still images. “Star Wars: The Old Republic” is a role-playing game from popular developer Bioware that allows players to choose a class, such as Jedi or Sith, and take part in a massive online community to accomplish tasks.

It should come as no surprise that 3-D is a rapidly increasing fad in the entertainment world. What started in movies and TVs has rapidly spread to the gaming community as well. Computer company Alienware was on hand to unveil

their latest computers and laptops that take full advantage of the growing trend. Their latest desktop, the Area-51 ALX, is the most powerful computer they’ve ever built, and it’s 3-D capable. Showing off the just-released first-person shooter Crysis 2, the company ran the game in full 3-D with “surround screen,” which when combined with 3-D means the game was displayed across three monitors giving the player a sense of depth and scope unlike anything else.

Whether you’re a gamer, a techie or just someone who enjoys hanging out with a large crowd of sociable people who share common interests, PAX is a place where anyone can enjoy the experience. There’s plenty to do, plenty to see and plenty of fun to be had. The next convention, PAX Prime 2011, takes place from August 26 to 28. vparisi@ramapo.edu

Audiences Fall for a Little Creature Named “Paul”

By EILEEN TRACY Staff Writer

“Paul” starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Seth Rogan, directed by Greg Mottola, is a comedy that is out of this world.

Graeme (Pegg) and Clive (Frost) are two sci-fi buddies from England visiting America to attend Comic-Con. The two decide they want to take a trip through the country to all the famous spots of rumored alien encounters. After finishing a meal at a diner, they are forced to run from some unfriendly locals. While they are driving, they witness a car crash. They stop to help, but little do they know, they are about to meet a creature that goes by the name of Paul.

Although Paul is from outer space, he seems more like a human than an alien.

photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

“Paul” is a comedy about an alien who befriends two men and teaches them how to let loose and live.

At first, Clive is a little unsure of this creature, while Graeme immediately becomes friends with Paul. Paul needs to get home and the two agree to help take him there.

Everything seems to be going fine until the government catches on that Paul has befriended humans.

Although Paul is from outer space, he seems more like a human than an alien. He is able to teach Clive and Graeme how to relax, how to have fun, and shows them what aliens are really like. Everything seems to be going fine until the government catches on that Paul has befriended humans. The race is on to see if they can help Paul get home before the government can stop him.

Paul, Clive and Graeme become friends as the movie progresses and learn a lot about each other. Paul is able to show them what he has done for the human population and brings the comedy to the movie. His character is funny, intelligent and can even bring animals back from the dead, even if it’s only to eat them. Paul shows the guys how to live their lives and ends up showing them the time of their lives.

The director, Greg Mottola, has directed movies like “Superbad,” “Adventureland,” and the television show “Arrested Development.” Other famous actors starring in “Paul” are Jason Bateman, Jane Lynch and Sigourney Weaver.

According to Yahoo.com, the movie grossed about $13,155,390 in its opening weekend.

RATING:

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Page 12 The Ramapo News

LIFE & CULTURE

Thursday, March 24, 2011

With Springtime Comes Cleaning Time

BY CLAIRE CHAPEL Staff Writer

Spring is in the air! (minus Monday and Wednesday’s unexpected flurries.) As the weather gets warmer, students are coming out of their dorms and spending more time outdoors on campus. But not so fast Ramapo students! Before going outside to tan, play basketball or volleyball, run or hike, answer this question: Have you done your spring cleaning yet?

Spring cleaning is definitely a mandatory activity to do in a dorm. Let’s face it: the closets and drawers are not big enough to fit our spring AND winter wardrobes (especially for the ladies). Also, it’s a good idea to open up the windows and let some nice springtime fresh air in to kill any lingering wintertime flu or cold germs in your room. No one wants to be stuck inside sick when the weather is sunny and beautiful!

However, for those of us who absolutely cannot stand cleaning, it’s hard to find the energy to do so. Just figuring out where to start can be an overwhelming task.

It’s also difficult to find the time to do a big springtime cleaning. Most of us are juggling classes, homework, midterms, projects, work, clubs and sports. Where on earth are we supposed to find time to sleep, let alone sanitize and organize our dorms?

Not to fear, Ramapo students; here is some advice from other Ramapo students in your shoes sharing how they managed or how they are planning on cleaning their dorm for the springtime. These students have tips and also know of ways to save on cleaning supplies so you won’t spend all your paychecks on supplies.

Cleaning is a necessary aspect of dorm life.

“I really hate cleaning. It’s not my thing, but you have to

photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

Spring cleaning is an important task for college students who want to avoid a messy dorm.

do it,” junior Amber Wiseburn said.

When asked how she goes about the chore, Wiseburn explained that she had a tried-and-true method.

“My roommates and I always try to make it fair. We make a list and everyone checks what part they will do. For exam-

Magenta’s Meals

BY LAUREN MAGENTA Staff Writer

Ah, the power of wheat thins. Nabisco has created a healthy and convenient cracker that college students should be taking advantage of. When students are on the run from class to class, lunch can sometimes slip through the cracks. Wheat Thins are the perfect fix to a lost lunch.

These tasty crackers come in all different flavors, but Low-Fat and All Bran should be on the top of the list if you’re looking at the nutritional labels. Sixteen crackers are the average serving size and a sufficient snack when you’re on the go. With a couple dips and spreads, you can make eating on the run that much easier. Here are some ideas on how to turn these healthy crackers into a filling snack or meal.

All Natural Peanut Butter is a healthy spread and compliments the All Bran Wheat Thins. This is also a protein packed lunch because the Wheat Thins alone have six grams of protein per serving. Smuckers Natural is a highly recommended peanut butter when discussing all natural. Add a little jam, not jelly, to the mix and you’re set.

Just like Peanut Butter, natural is best. Jelly often has added and extra sugar. An all-natural jam helps to add fruit to you diet.

Making your own jam is something you should put on your summer to-do list.

Tuna is another great spread for Wheat Thins. Tuna is quick to prepare and can easily be done in your dorm room. If the fat in mayonnaise is too high for your liking, don’t let it turn you away. You can substitute the mayo for low fat Greek yogurt or four teaspoons olive oil and two teaspoons of wine vinegar.

Cheese and crackers is a great snack throughout the day. This infamous appetizer works wonders when your hungry. A brie cheese is great for dipping, or you can slice squares of any kind of cheese and pack them into a zip lock for later. Then you can take this snack one step further and add meat. Small slices of ham or turkey for example, stacked with cheese on a Wheat Thin makes for a filling meal.

Packing snacks and meals for your day away from your dorm room is an easy way to eat healthy while living on campus.

Wheat Thins are the kind of snack that can go with you anywhere, and with the couple ideas above for spreads and dips you’ll never have to skip a meal again.

lmagenta@ramapo.edu

ple I chose the kitchen, [my roommate] has the common room…you get the idea.”

Once you figure out how to divide the task, you need to figure out where to start.

“I usually start with the most tedious part and for me that’s my closet. I take out all the bulky winter clothes and bring them home and then hang up and fold all my cute new spring clothes. I think of it as my method of working from the inside then going out and doing my desk and bathroom and stuff after the closet because those are a lot easier and much less time consuming,” sophomore Joanna Rosado said.

Of course, there is still one important topic left to be covered about spring cleaning, and that’s budget. How do students keep a reasonable budget when buying all the cleaning supplies? The easiest way is to steal some money from mom or dad if they live close enough, but for those who don’t live close by it can be a little overwhelming.

Junior Julia Verno had some insight on this topic: “My roommates and I go to the store together, pick out all the supplies we need, figure out the cost of it all, and then evenly split the payment. I think it’s the fairest way.”

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be all that tedious. Do it with your roommates together while blasting some music, and you probably won’t even feel like you’re cleaning.

Instead, it’ll feel more like hanging out together. Then make sure after all your hard efforts you all reward yourselves with some ice cream, a movie night, or a trip to the mall-you’ll deserve it.

Happy spring cleaning, Ramapo students, and enjoy the nice weather soon to come!

Horoscopes

Aries (March 21-April 19) All you have to do is look at the world events to witness a piece of this intensity. A better world is waiting on the other side of this mountain.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) No one knows how much time they have left and because of this every breath is a gift. “Be the change” and the magic will follow.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) Energy is everything and when it is directed for good, it can take a dire situation and turn it right side up, putting you back on your feet again.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Life can feel to be so much easier to manage when you are in charge or in control of how it all goes, that way there are no surprises. This week, let go and trust!

Leo (July 23-August 23) Life would indeed get dull if everything were perfect. You will be pushed to grow this week, you may feel stretched, but the reward will be priceless.

Virgo (August 24-September 22) You can expect to feel more vulnerable in the next few weeks. Your sensitivities to everyone and everything are heightened now.

Libra (September 23-October 22) This week, if you can find a way to go after

cchapel@ramapo.edu

something on your own, if you let go of an old way and tackle this thing solo, a little miracle may meet you in the process.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) We all have those days or weeks when we feel we have not done enough, and we beat up on ourselves a bit. Head up and faith will find its way in!

Sagittarius (November 22December 21) There is no turning back around. This is where you are and this is exactly where you now need to be in order to make a strong stride forward.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) You may be forced to look at something one last time this week but you can be sure that this go around will offer a healing finale to an old drama.

Aquarius (January 20- February 19) Everything we go through in life is in place to push us along the path. You are going to find out this week just how far you have come.

Pisces (February 20-March 20) You love to dream because in those invisible spaces, there are no limits, you can have all that you dare to. But this week, you find either a way to escape or a gift from on high that turns your life around.

Horoscopes courtesy of madalynaslan.com

SPORTS

Men’s Volleyball Muscles Out Victory Over Kean 3 . 24 . 11

Roadrunners Defeat Cougars to Improve to 15-9 Season Record

By REBECCA PENHAKER Staff Writer

“Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence.”

This Vince Lombardi quote that hangs in the locker room for the men’s volleyball team is a mantra they live and die by. The Roadrunners’ confidence was tested by Kean University Tuesday night in the Bradley Center. Ramapo’s 3-2 victory was a hard fought and gritty battle that they were not expecting against the Cougar’s first year volleyball team.

“To beat a team handily in the first set, we got complacent,” coach Don Vanderbeck said.

“This is a game of momentum. And when you lose that, it’s hard to get back.”

The Roadrunners started out the match in a demanding fashion with a 25-10 game one win. Andrew Brown, Paul Konopacki and Brian Colobella had three kills each. Rookie setter Andrew Balint had ten assists and Brown led the defense with three digs. The Roadrunners looked calm and collected on the court, completely suffocating the Cougars’ attempts to comeback.

In the second game the Cougars proved to be more of a challenge, but the Roadrunners still managed to win with ease in a 25-18 outcome. Konopacki added three kills and Kevin McNerney had four digs. Although the score was closer, Kean never posed a real threat to pulling out a victory. However, Kean’s Steve

photo by Mike Jagendorf

Ramapo has won six of their last seven matches to improve their regular season record to 15-9.

RAMAPO SPORTS THIS WEEK

Thursday:

Baseball vs. Drew University at 3 p.m.

Women’s Lacrosse at The College of New Jersey at 7 p.m.

photo by Mike Jagendorf

Freshman Brian Colabella looks to record a spike against Kean University during Ramapoʼs 3-2 win over the Cougars on Tuesday.

Vahalla, a Ramapo transfer, began to find his rhythm, quickly demonstrating that he was going to be Kean’s go-to player.

“I can only be as pumped as my teammates. I’m losing my voice after every game, but it’s worth it.”

- Jeff Jones, outside hitter

The Cougars captured their first victory in the third set, 25-22. Ramapo played from behind throughout the majority of this game, but they were relentless in their efforts to comeback. Konopacki, Jeff Jones and Colin McNeill’s energy and enthusiasm on the court gave the Roadrunners bursts of greatness during the game, but not enough consistency to ensure a win.

“I can only be as pumped as my teammates,” Jeff Jones said. “I’m losing my voice after every game, but it’s worth it.”

The fourth game was Ramapo’s to win; they were outplaying Kean up until those final clutch points, where Kean was able to squeak out a 26-24 victory. The Cougars were led by Vahalla’s seven kills and two digs. Ramapo’s Konopacki had four kills; Balint had two digs and 12 assists.

The final game of the match-up was the most energized and most vocal, spanning from the bench, the court and to the stands. The bleachers roared with each point scored, feeding off of the power and energy from the players. Ramapo was able to close the match 1512 with Konopacki and Joel Castro having three kills each. Balint dished nine assists and Brown picked up three digs. Vahalla added three kills for the Cougars.

“It should’ve been three and out,” Vanderbeck explained. “We have to get back to the intensity we had against Stevens. It’s tough to come out of spring break having a few days off. Our focus and serving wasn’t there.”

The Roadrunners were able to take down top ranked #9 Stevens Institute of Technology 31 March 9 in the Bradley Center.

“We came out with a lot more energy [against Stevens],” Konopacki said. “Stevens came in cocky, and we had something to prove. It was our first win against a ranked opponent.”

McNeill credits some of the team’s struggles had to deal with their confidence on the court; that although they started off the first two games strong against Kean, they let their complacency get the best of them. McNeill, Konopacki and Jones stressed how important it is to breathe life and confidence into teammates when feeling defeated. Their boisterous attitudes help keep the team morale up when it is needed most.

“Stevens came in cocky, and we had something to prove. It was our first win against a ranked opponent.”

- Paul Konopacki, outside hitter

With Tuesday’s win, the Roadrunners are 159 overall and 9-2 in the conference, dropping Kean to 10-22 overall and 4-7 in the conference. Ramapo’s next home match is Saturday at 2 p.m. against Bard College.

McNeill hopes the Roadrunners regain that momentum they had going up against Stevens before heading into spring break.

“We need to focus on keeping our composure, maintaining our intensity and just taking care of business.” rpenhake@ramapo.edu

Men’s Volleyball at Philadelphia Biblical University at 7 p.m.

Friday:

Men’s and Women’s Track and Field -- Dick Shea Open

Saturday:

Men’s Volleyball vs.

Bard College at 2 p.m.

Men’s Tennis vs.

St.Thomas Aquinas College at 4 p.m.

Sunday:

Softball at Allbright College at 1 p.m.

Men’s Tennis at Polytechnic University at 1 p.m.

Monday:

Men’s Volleyball vs.

City College of New York at 7 p.m.

Tuesday:

Softball vs. Moravian College at 3:30 p.m.

Men’s Tennis vs.

Rutgers-Newark at 4:30 p.m.

Men’s Volleyball vs.

Rutgers-Newark at 7 p.m

Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track Caps Off Great Season Page 14 The Ramapo News

By REBECCA PENHAKER Staff Writer

Ramapo’s indoor track team had one more statement to make this season with their closing competition in Bexley, Ohio, for the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championship March 11.

Four of Mike Jackson’s top athletes competed in the event- Anita Rogers, Michelle Favre, Lauren Riley and Craig Van Leeuwen - two of which were able to bring home some hardware.

Craig Van Leeuwen was crowned National Champion clearing a season’s best in the pole vault landing 5.32-meters.

“It was an outstanding competition and performance,” Jackson said. “But it’s always that much more fun when you’re standing at the top of the podium.”

Van Leeuwen’s National crown was no easy feat. It was a tough mental grind, but Van Leeuwen had prepared himself for that.

“Before the meet, I was just trying to visualize myself throughout the competition,” Van Leeuwen recalled. “I wanted to picture what it would be like winning just so the seed could be planted in my mind so that I wouldn’t be too nervous while I was competing.”

Van Leeuwen’s cleared 5.12-meters on his first attempt; a mark in years past that could win first place.

However, with four other vaulters clearing the same height with their first try and two more on their second attempt, Van Leeuwen focused on the adjustments he and his coach had been working on throughout their practices together.

Clearing the second bar of 5.22-meters on

Thursday, March 24, 2011

his first attempt, Van Leeuwen thought for a moment that he may have sealed the deal.

However, two others were able to clear the mark on their first try, and one accomplished it on his third. Nevertheless, Van Leeuwen’s confidence never wavered, and going into the third jump he felt as strong as ever.

“It was an outstanding competition and performance, but it’s always that much more fun when you’re standing at the top of the podium.”

-Mike Jackson, coach

Van Leeuwen cleared the third bar of 5.32meters on his first attempt, once again thinking he had the victory locked in.

However, Peter Geraghty of North Central College was able to clear the bar on his first attempt as well.

“After he cleared, I remember joking to myself ‘what else do I have to do to win?’”

Van Leeuwen said.

Once they both missed the mark on their third attempts, Van Leeuwen was finally able to claim victory and be named National Champion.

“The competition itself was just so mentally draining that I didn’t really process the fact that I had won until the next morning when I was congratulated by a coach I had coached with at a vaulting summer camp at Kutztown University,” Van Leeuwen explained. “When he told me that it was the best competition he had ever seen, I was just proud to not only win, but to just be a part of it.”

This achievement has been a long time in the making for Van Leeuwen and Jackson.

“It has sort of been a season of redemption for me,” Van Leeuwen said. “When I emailed coach Jackson this past summer about coming back to Ramapo after spending a year at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, Calif. I told him I would like to win the National Championship that we both expected me to win when I first came to Ramapo in 2009.

And to be able to do that is just a feeling that words cannot describe.”

Adding to Van Leeuwen’s giant bulls-eye on his back for the outdoor season, he was also named the Atlantic Region Men’s Field Athlete of the Year.

“I have a target on my back for winning indoors. I am just looking forward to trying to win outdoor nationals as well,” Van Leeuwen said. “Personally, I would like to qualify for the USA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships. Other than that, I just want to help do my part and score points for the team to help put us in a better place to win some meets.”

“It has sort of been a season of redemption for me.”

- Craig Van Leeuwen, pole vaulter

Michelle Favre was able to represent the women’s side, setting a new school record in the pole vault, clearing 3.87-meters. Favre placed fifth overall in the competition.

“I take the meet as another learning experience,” Favre said. “Each meet I reflect on how I can do better for the next one. I know that I jump best when I am more relaxed and calm.”

Favre’s teammate and fellow vaulter,

Lauren Riley tied for 12th place with a jump of 3.52-meters.

Unfortunately, running all-star Anita Rogers was unable to perform like she and Jackson had hoped, since she was still suffering from a leg injury she obtained from the ECAC Championships March 4.

“We felt sorry for ourselves for about two hours,” Jackson said. “Then we got over it by eating a lot of food and making jokes...I was able to learn some things as a coach, and her as an athlete.”

Now that the indoor season is officially over, Jackson will be able to devote all his time and energy to his outdoor athletes.

“I have seen the light to knowing what it takes to winning a National Championship,” Jackson said. “It’s not a lot. It’s just talent. And we need to carry out our goals.”

Jackson knows his outdoor team will be able up to turn up the notch to work harder, execute better, and have a clearer mindset.

“We’re at a crossroads,” Jackson explained.

“Do we want to be a team that’s good on paper, or do we want to be able to close and finish? My kids will think I took a trip to the dark side, but we need to do more work to get what we want from our teams. I’m looking forward to each person to doing their part so that we’ll win.”

The outdoor season begins this weekend at West Point. The Roadrunners first home meet is April 2. rpenhake@ramapo.edu

Lady Roadrunners Return to Ramapo Ready for Action Softball Team Wins Nine out of Ten at Rebel Spring Games in Florida

By DAVE JONES Staff Writer

The Ramapo College softball team will return to the diamond this weekend after a successful showing at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. over spring break.

During their annual trip, the team went 9-1 and posted several big wins, including a 5-4 win over Illinois Wesleyan, the #22 ranked team in Division-III softball. The team also showed a knack for winning close games, picking up five one-run victories during the week while averaging over four runs scored per contest.

Over the competition, the Roadrunners were able to outscore their opponents by a 4723 margin.

“The purpose of the week is to come home with an idea of what to work on.”

-Stephanie Malgeri, catcher

Among the leaders so far this season has been senior captain Stephanie Malgeri.

Malgeri, a Montville native and a 2010 All-Conference performer, is entering her fourth season on the team and third as a starter. Through the first 10 games of 2011, Malgeri has shown that she is one of the better offensive weapons in coach Ben Allen’s lineup, posting solid numbers offensively. Currently, she is second on the team with .429 batting average, leads the team with a .556 on-base percentage and six walks, and has also contributed five runs

scored, three RBIs and two doubles. The senior backstop has also been solid defensively, not making an error in 58 defensive chances while also gunning down three runners attempting to steal.

“Any NJAC game is always exciting.”

- Malgeri

When asked about the team’s recent trip, the senior was pleased with the results.

“Pleasantly surprised,” Malgeri said. “As a team we did amazing. We went 9-1, which is a great way to start off the season. Personally, I thought I did well, and there’s always room for improvement and things you wish you could have changed at the moment, but the purpose of the week is to come home with an idea of what to work on.”

Ramapo will certainly have their work cut out for them this season in a conference loaded with talented teams. In a preseason poll amongst coaches, Ramapo was picked to finish third in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) behind traditional powers The College of New Jersey and Rowan, but ahead of defending champion Kean. William Paterson rounds out the top five teams in one of the most competitive conferences in the country.

As far as important games are concerned, Malgeri pointed out the contests against league favorites TCNJ and Rowan among the biggest.

“Any NJAC game is always exciting, but typically any game against Rowan or TCNJ is a good match up,” Malgeri said. “TCNJ is big this year, it’s our senior day; it’ll be an

emotional game.”

The Roadrunners will be looking to make their 10th straight NJAC Tournament appearance after finishing 14-4 in the conference last season en route to a 29-17 overall record and #1 seed in the ECAC post-season tournament.

Allen, who has compiled a 346-149 record over his 13-year tenure at the school, leads the team. In addition to Malgeri, the team returns three more All-Conference performers (senior pitchers Lyndsay Buehler and Deanna Giordano and junior Danielle Rothenberger), which is the most among schools in the conference.

“You can feel it how badly we all want to win the whole thing. It would be a great way for us seniors to go out and set the ball rolling for the years to come.”

-Malgeri

While it will not come easy, Malgeri is confident that this year’s squad could compete for the school’s first conference title, a feat very important to this year’s senior class.

“Our biggest goal this year is to win the NJAC and overall just improve from last year,” Malgeri said. “You can feel it how badly we all want to win the whole thing. It would be a great way for us seniors to go out and set the ball rolling for the years to come.” djones@ramapo.edu

March Madness Surrounded by Upsets and Controversy Page 15 The Ramapo News

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth Earn Spots in the Sweet Sixteen

By JAKE EDINGER Staff Writer

photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

Kemba Walker continues fiery Big East pace into the Sweet Sixteen.

The 2011 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I basketball tournament has brought excitement and a new meaning to the word upset. Teams like Richmond, Morehead State, and Virginia

Commonwealth University have made splashes in the tournament, defeating prominent NCAA basketball programs.

The Morehead State Eagles from the Ohio Valley Conference defeated Louisville in the opening rounds of the tournament. During the game, senior center, Kenneth Faried moved ahead of Tim Duncan as the NCAA all-time leader in rebounds. Despite the exciting upset, Morehead State lost in the next round to another Cinderella team, the Richmond Spiders.

Richmond beat Vanderbilt in the opening round and advanced past Morehead St. to set up a game against #1 seed Kansas in the southwest bracket. Richmond guard Kevin Anderson has scored under 20 points per game, but the Spiders still remain a long shot to beat the Jayhawks, one of the favorites to win the championship.

VCU defeated Georgetown and Purdue, showing great composure entering the Sweet Sixteen. VCU has seen exceptional play by their bench, which has given them the ability to beat top ranked programs such as Georgetown and Purdue. They look to advance tomorrow night against the tough defense of Florida State University.

Many of the top teams have lived up to expectations this tournament. The Ohio State Buckeyes have destroyed teams so far in the tournament, but they have not been fully challenged facing teams such as UNSan Antonio and George Mason. Although

photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

Jimmer Fredette leads BYU deep into the tournament with hot shooting.

they have yet to face top competition in the tournament, Ohio State is shooting an amazing 55.8 percent from 3-point range and continue to light up the score board. They face Kentucky tomorrow night in what should be an interesting match between two teams playing very well.

Last year’s runner up Butler has turned heads once again as they knocked off top seed Pittsburgh with a last minute foul call which allowed them to advance to the sweet sixteen. Butler’s experience from last year has proven valuable as they are making another run at the championship. Butler will play Wisconsin tonight.

Brigham Young University’s Jimmer Fredette and University of Connecticut’s Kemba Walker have played some of the best individual basketball ball in the tournament

and have solidified themselves as top performers at the collegiate level. After leading UConn to a championship in the Big East Tournament, Walker scored 51 points in two games and played as well as anyone in the country in the month of March. Fredette has also played exceptionally well and has begun to make plays by passing rather than scoring.

As we advance past the first couple rounds the competition is heating up and March Madness has become one of the most exciting times of the year and this year has been no different. jedinger@ramapo.edu

NFL Owners and Players Still at Odds, Lockout Begins

By ANDREW GOULD Sports Editor

After failing to reach a new collective bargaining agreement, the 2011 National Football League season is in jeopardy of being shortened or cancelled.

Labor talks between NFL owners and player union officials broke down, leaving the league without a new deal as the March 11 deadline, which was originally scheduled for March 3, passed. The owners locked out the players, which prevents teams from practicing and making roster moves in the offseason in addition to threatening the upcoming season.

“The players want to play.

We’re not striking.”

-Tony Richardson, New York Jets fullback

Following the lockout, the players’ union filed for decertification to break up the union. This cleared the way for players to file an antitrust lawsuit against the league with ten plaintiffs including star quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees.

“The players want to play, we’re not striking,” New York Jets fullback Tony Richardson said at an NFL Players’ Association Board of Directors meeting. “We decertified because we want to get back to playing football.”

The owners and players quarreled over how

photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

31 NFL stadiums might turn into ghost towns when September rolls around.

NFL owners are determined to lockout players for a more lucrative CBA. to divide the additional $9 billion in revenue the NFL earned last year. A report by the Associated Press stating that players receive 53 percent of the incremental revenue contradicts previous claims by the NFL that players receive 70 percent of the extra revenue.

Players also disagreed with the league’s proposal to expand the regular season from 16 to 18 games, but league officials insisted

that they agreed to keep the current format for at least the next two years. However, they made progress on reaching a new wage scale for rookies before talks fell apart.

Despite the safety concerns of an expanded regular season, NFL negotiator Jeff Pash insisted that the league worked hard to reach a deal that protected the players’ safety.

“We agreed to implement wide ranging health and safety changes, passed reducing

the offseason program by five weeks, reducing the practice time in the preseason, reducing the practice time and contract drills during the regular season and expanding the number of days off for players,” Pash said in a statement after the deadline. “Evidently not good enough.”

Despite the lockout, the NFL Draft will still take place as scheduled on April 28.

However, players are attempting to disrupt the draft by encouraging the top draftees to not attend the televised event.

The NFL has not had a work stoppage since 1987, where replacement players were used until an agreement was reached. However, Roger Goodell stated on Tuesday that the league will not consider seeking replacement players this season.

If an agreement is reached, the NFL will return with a rule change with potential to alter the way the game is played. On Tuesday, league owners agreed to a rule change that moves the start of the kickoff from the 30 to the 35-yard line in an attempt to create more touchbacks. League officials believe this move will eliminate injuries that occur on opening kickoffs.

Several players have explored other sports to fill the void left by the absence of football. Cincinnati Bengals’ wide receiver Chad Ochocinco tried out for Sporting Kansas City, a Major League Soccer team and Ravens’ safety Tom Zbikowski has pursued boxing. agould1@ramapo.edu

SPORTS 10 . 7 . 10

3 . 2410. 11 . 7 . 10

SPIKE!

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Men’s volleyball continues their hot streak with win over NJAC rival Kean

Page 13 photo by Mike Jagendorf