Ramapo College of New Jersey Student Newspaper

The Ramapo News 04.05.12

XLII NO. 19

A PUBLICATION BY THE STUDENTS FOR THE RAMAPO COLLEGE COMMUNITY the rundown

arts

HEART 1 CAMPAIGN

Senior students organized “Heal a Heart,” an event featuring a survivor of relationship abuse, for their senior project in their majors. Page 3

&

entertainment

sports

SPRING CONCERT

BUMP, SET, SPIKE

This year’s concert featured three artists: Chris Webby, Streetlight Manifesto, and Porter Robinson. Page 8

The men’s volleyball team beat Sage College on Tuesday, and it was just announced that the Roadrunners made the Skyline Championship Tournament. Page 13

Relay for Life Takes Olympic Leaps for ACS

Ramapo Moves to be Sustainable, Charitable with Water

By ASHLEY INTVELD Staff Writer Ramapo has long strived to establish the importance of sustainability on campus. In an effort to maintain that ongoing goal, the College, with help from Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and 1Step, unveiled a new hydration station outside the second floor of the Student Center this morning.

Students Rachel Frank and Alysa Ochoa proposed the idea last semester, and Brianna D’Amato, Caitlin Bragg, and Matthew Pontone picked up where they left off. After SIFE received the “Brand Women for Less Waste Grant” of $1,500, the Reduce Bottled Water campaign was launched.

The new hydration station was designed to eliminate the need for students to use bottled water, instead offering filtered water straight from the spigot.

“The water fountain has a counter

Ramapo College’s annual Relay for Life was Olympic-themed this year. Though the committee fell short of reaching its fundraising goal of $75,000, the event was supported by numerous donors and four local sponsors: Sharp Electronics (with $2,500), Charles Ritter, Inc., Steven Willand, Inc., Franklin Lakes Police Department, and Mahwah PBA Local 143 (all with $250). Theta Phi Alpha raised the most money with an on-site fundraiser, at about $600, selling purple hair extensions. Photos by Katie Lee and Kelly Vitale

see WATER on page 6

New College Master Plan to Look 30 Years Ahead

By NICOLE ALLIEGRO News Editor As Ramapo College prepares for the development of a new master plan, an assessment of the College’s needs and potential future projects, the Master Plan Steering Committee is evaluating something new this time around.

Instead of drafting a proposal with a typical seven to 10 year outlook, the hired master planners, Urban Strategies, Inc., are hoping to examine the College with a 30year view.

According to Richard Roberts, associate vice president for administration and finance, this lengthened timeline is one that “makes sense.”

The College has made three previous master plans before this one, which have all been comprehensive 10-year projections, Roberts said, going along with the state-mandated capital budget requests that are usually seven-year spans. But this year, when Urban Strategies, Inc.—a “highly recommended” consulting firm that Roberts called

weekend weather

F RID AY

“very good with 21st century master planning”—proposed a longer horizon for the plan, the steering committee considered the idea.

“When you think about it … we’re doing [a capital project] right now—the Adler Center for Nursing Excellence—[and] that building will probably be around for the next 30 to 50 years,” Roberts explained. “The Phase-I Academic Building was built in 1971, so we’re talking [about] a 42-year-old structure. So, it makes sense, given the life of buildings,

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S AT U R D AY

that you look in those timings. The world is changing so radically.”

Though Roberts said this type of longer scale is new to him, he feels confident in the work of the master planners to guide the College through this extensive undertaking.

“We’ll take their lead on it,” he said. “They’re the master planners, and they’ll probably raise questions that will kind of steer us in that direction.”

Right now, the master planners, who are working with Rickes Associates (in charge of space see PLAN on page 6

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The new hydration station, located outside the second floor of the Student Center, was unveiled today. Photo by Stefanie Mauro

SU N D AY

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Page 2 The Ramapo News

The Ramapo News Robert A. Scott Student Center 505 Ramapo Valley Road

Thursday, April 5, 2012

for RELAY LIFE 2012 Committee Goes for Gold in All-Night Fight against Cancer

Mahwah, NJ 07430

201 - 684 - 7842 rcnjnews@ramapo.edu Elyse Toribio Editor-in-Chief Nicole Alliegro News Editor Danielle Reed Arts & Entertainment Editor Andrew Gould Sports Editor Stefanie Mauro Photo Editor Matt Giuliari Melissa Piombo Creative Directors Kaitlin McGuinness Web Editor Ashley Jade Beasley Business Manager Dan Sforza Technical Advisor

★

INSIDE: the rundown Page 3

Viewpoints Page 7

Arts & Entertainment 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. Rates are available by contacting the editorial staff by phone or e-mail.

Ramapo’s Relay for Life had hoped to raise $75,000 for the American Cancer Society, but will continue working toward hitting their goal by August 31. Photos by Katie Lee, Ally Selvaggio, and Kelly Vitale

Thursday, April 5, 2012

The Ramapo News Page 3

the rundown Heart 1 Campaign Raises Awareness for Relationship Abuse

By ERICA BUCHMAN Staff Writer On Tuesday night, the Heart 1 organization, a group based in Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY, paid Ramapo College a visit, seeking to raise awareness about dating violence and relationship abuse. Its founder, Danielle DeZao, a senior at Marist, started Heart 1 in 2010 after her own experience in an abusive relationship during her freshman year.

The event idea, “Heal a Heart,” originated from seniors Ross Balassone, Sami DeVries, Tiffany Fischer, Matt Pontone and Christina Watson, who are all currently taking their capstone course for their majors, Global Communication.

“We collaborated with Danielle—[Fischer] knows her from high school,” explained DeVries. “Danielle went through her abuse freshman year of college, and Tiffany mentioned it to us, and we thought it would be a good idea to bring it to Ramapo.”

DeZao, accompanied by Heart 1’s board members, shared her story and the importance of looking beyond the surface of a relationship.

“It is in our nature to be quick to make judgments,” DeZao said to her audience. “We don’t take the time to look deeper and

understand. We find comfort and security in distance--contentment in making our shallow observations from afar--while in reality we could all benefit from opening our eyes.”

DeZao discussed the birth of Heart 1 from her own experience.

“I had zero intentions of starting this, but when I was telling people what had happened to me, they couldn’t believe it,” DeZao recalled. “As if there was only a certain type of girl who could become a victim of dating violence, and I didn’t fit the profile. One out of every three young adults is involved in an emotionally or physically abusive relationship. No one in this world is worth the sacrifice of yourself.”

Additionally, “Heal a Heart,” also sponsored by the Women’s Center, aimed to educate students about abuse as part of the College’s annual Day to End Sexual Violence.

“People don’t realize that control is a sign of abuse. I think Heart 1 has opened people’s eyes to what dating violence really is,” said DeZao. “People think dating violence means a guy is going to punch you in the face on your first date. But dating violence is not always physical.”

Indeed, dating violence is not always physical, and it is not gender specific. Tom Nicholes, the graduate assistant for the

From left, Sami DeVries, Tiffany Fischer, Danielle DeZao, Ross Bassalone, Matt Pontone and Christina Watson, coordinated the “Heal a Heart” event, which raised money and awareness for DeZao’s campaign against dating abuse. Photo by Christina Watson

Women’s Center, said that it’s not only important to raise awareness about relationship abuse, but microagression as well.

“It’s important to get the male perspective on dating violence, because otherwise it’s too onesided, and when it’s too one-sided, a stigma develops,” Nicholes said. “It’s necessary to reinforce the male perspective on dating violence and to make people more aware of microaggression. In other words, a guy who says, ‘Oh man, that test today raped me’ is being microaggressive, even if he doesn’t realize it.”

These types of comments, according to Nicholes, are made

all too often, especially on campus.

Nicholes said he tries to do his part to reduce microaggression.

“I try to steer people away from it, but it’s important not to be accusatory. Often, people who use the word ‘rape’ casually aren’t malicious,” Nicholes explained.

“They’re just misusing the word.

It’s essential to make people more aware of the power and value of their words.”

While some males might feel stigmatized when participating in a discussion of dating violence, others feel nothing of the kind.

Sophomore Matthew Kobza, who attended the Heart 1 event, maintained that dating violence

is non-discriminatory against gender.

“It’s upsetting that [abuse] can happen to any human being, regardless of gender,” said Kobza.

“I’ve attended workshops on dating violence, and it’s talked about in my community—my high school, my church—and this event reminds me of all that I’ve learned, and it’s more personal because we have a victim speaking very passionately about it. I don’t feel stigmatized because dating violence is something I would never do, but I can see why men might feel marginalized.” ebuchman@ramapo.edu

Women’s Center Opens Dialogue on Sexual Violence through Art

By CANDACE MITCHELL Staff Writer The Women’s Center and the YWCA of the Bergen County Rape Crisis Center teamed up to organize an art show featuring work created by survivors of sexual violence. Ramapo College students were able to view the art in a gallery on Tuesday in J. Lee’s.

“People get to experience [the gallery] in their own time and in their own way,” said Katherine McGee, coordinator of the Women’s Center.

According to McGee, the gallery served two purposes: the survivors were able to express themselves through their artwork, and viewers could relate to or understand the

impacts of sexual violence.

“The survivors get to make the art, and the art brings up a taboo topic in our society,” she explained. “It can be therapeutic to not use words. It’s an art therapy for the survivors.”

While the setup of the gallery is similar to last year’s exhibit, some of the art on display may vary.

“They have so much stuff—a warehouse full of it—[so] some will be familiar, and some will be new,” McGee said.

The gallery included poems, short quotes and 3-D and 2-D art. Some of the art promoted messages against sexual violence.

For instance, one piece depicted several toxic waste bottles with words like “violence” on them,

sending the message that sexual violence is toxic.

On the other hand, a majority of the art was positive and empowering. It expressed how survivors overcame sexual violence and are now trying to stop it and help other survivors through their art.

“The art was high quality and very powerful,” said freshman Erika Viggiano. “You feel their pain.”

McGee agreed that a lot of the art helps the survivors take back power.

“The message is: you don’t control me, you don’t have the right to say how I feel,” she explained.

The goal of debuting the art

gallery on campus was to get these messages recognized and discussed.

“One of the reasons [the gallery] is allowed to happen and continue is that we are surrounded by a culture of silence, so this allows [sexual violence] to be brought up,” said McGee. Students note that the gallery brought to light the idea that sexual violence can—and should—be discussed, so society can take steps to end it and help those who have already been affected.

“Hopefully, the more we talk about sexual violence, the more likely people are to begin coming forward and talking about it and reporting it,” explained Viggiano.

According to McGee, sexual

violence is something that needs to be addressed at the College because it affects the campus community. Through a survey conducted by the Women’s Center, it was found that, at Ramapo, 25 percent of females and 5 percent of males are survivors of interpersonal violence, which includes sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking.

“One in four, that’s huge, even 5 percent is huge,” said McGee, “and the prevalence of sexual violence is nationwide.” cmitche3@ramapo.edu

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

THURSDAY’S CHILD

TODAY IN HISTORY

joke of the day

“It sounded like a bomb hit. And we hit the floor, and everybody was praying.” - Patti Gilroy, resident of Arlington, Texas, on the tornados that blew across North Texas on Tuesday

Happy Birthday to former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who turns 75 today. We hope his raging birthday bash has a clear exit strategy.

In 1969, antiwar demonstraters rallied to demand the U.S. to withdraw from Vietnam. Over 20 years later, abortion rights supporters drew several hundred thousand people to Washington, D.C.

Why did I quit my job crushing cans?

It was soda pressing.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Page 4 The Ramapo News

Students Recognize Dangers of Driving while Distracted

By ALEJANDRO HERNANDEZ Staff Writer

· NATI O N A L NE W S · Despite knowing dangers associated with driving distracted, many teens and young adults still report that texting or using other electronics while driving is popular behindthe-wheel behavior.

“I always see reports in newspapers and online: ‘teenager crashes while texting’ or ‘teenager loses control of car due to Twitter or Facebook,’” sophomore Danielle Burke explained. “It scares me, because I see my friends talking on the phone or updating

their status on Facebook while driving. I tell them all the time that it’s not okay, but they don’t listen.”

A University of Utah study found that using a cell phone while driving, either handheld or hands-free, delays a driver’s reactions in the same way as having a blood alcohol concentration at 0.8 percent.

“I wouldn’t have ever imagined that people compared drunk driving to texting and driving, but I guess it is really the same thing. It impairs your functionality, delays your reactions and puts your life in danger as well,” said Tahima Ahmed.

Similarly, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, drivers using

RCN Web Poll

DO YOU TEXT AND DRIVE? 30% 50% 3% 3% 14%

Never Only at red lights or stop signs I only read them, not write them Only short ones All day every day

In a Facebook poll, 50 percent of the 31 students who answered, reported that they text only at red lights or stop signs, while 30 percent said they never do. Despite laws banning using a cell phone while driving, the New Jersey State Police cite record-high levels of accidents and deaths due to distracted driving in 2011.

electronics are three times more likely to take their eyes off the road, and, when engaged in different distractions, were 2.5-times more likely to look away.

In 2011, these threats caused record-high levels of accidents and deaths, according to the New Jersey State Police.

“There were 594 fatal accidents on the state’s highways, main streets and back roads resulting in 635 deaths last year, the most since 2007,” said an NJ.com article.

Further, the Department of Transportation cited that 5,474 people were killed in crashes caused by distracted drivers and estimated another 448,000 people were injured in 2009.

One problem, according to students, is that their peers don’t take into consideration the possibility of harming others by their distracted behavior behind the wheel.

“People are selfish,” said sophomore Amalia Maldonado. “What kids don’t seem to understand is that it’s not only their life they are putting in danger, but also the people around them as well. It’s not fair for them to take the risk of putting either their passenger’s life in danger or the cars around them.”

Junior Krista Salinardi agreed.

“There are things in life you can’t take back; people need to think about it that way,” she said of texting while driving.

“When you are in an accident and someone is hurt or killed, you have to live with that. It is ridiculous that people are still so careless.

It is unbelievable and irresponsible. I didn’t know how serious this was until I saw

someone I was close to die this way.”

There are several laws in place nationwide to prevent teens from being distracted behind the wheel. In New Jersey, for example, all cell phone use is illegal, whether it is a handheld or wireless device.

Nevertheless, 40 percent of American teens report being in a car when the driver is using a cell phone “in a way that put people in danger,” the Department of Transportation reported.

The Department recently set up a website, www.distraction.gov, to promote awareness and provide information on distracted driving.

The site uses videos and personal stories to put faces to the dangers of using electronics while driving.

“Statistics don’t lie,” said recent Ramapo graduate Yaslie Pared. “I have lost people due to the recklessness of people who decided it’s okay to drive and use technology at the same time. I don’t understand why people would take that risk.” ahernand@ramapo.edu Clarification The results of a March 15 Facebook poll regarding online job sites used by students were not statistically significant. Only 12 people responded to the question. This information was not included in the description of the poll.

The Ramapo News regrets the omission.

New Site Helps Students Buy, Sell Books at Cheap Price COLLEGE GRAD TARGETS PEERS WITH SERVICE SIMILAR TO CRAIGSLIST, EBAY

By RACHEL WINTERMUTE Staff Writer Help is on the way for Ramapo students struggling with financing textbooks and other classroom necessities.

Flierguy.com is a new website created by a New York-area college graduate who wanted to provide college students with a cheap and easy way to buy and sell classroom materials.

Jason Navallo, a recent graduate of Baruch College in New York City, launched flierguy.com in October 2011 to his own campus to encourage simple textbook trading among students. After finding startling success at Baruch, Navallo decided to expand the site and launch to colleges and universities around the country, now including Ramapo.

“Throughout my time at Baruch, I realized I was spending way too much [money] on textbooks than I needed to,” Navallo said.

The finance major turned this frustration into a business opportunity. With flierguy.com, students set their own negotiable prices for the textbooks and electronics they wish to sell, making prices considerably lower than those at a typical campus bookstore.

Unlike other similar sites, there are no listing or shipping fees. In fact, flierguy.com was designed not to include shipping at all.

At Baruch, students who used the site arranged their own in-person meetings to trade material. Though the site has broadened its coverage to other campuses, students are still required to arrange their own means to distribute and acquire the materials sold on the site.

Navallo himself described the site as a combination of Craigslist and Ebay. However, there is one simple

component that separates Flierguy from the rest.

“We’re geared specifically to college students,” Navallo explained.

Nevertheless, some Ramapo students are skeptical about this advantage.

“I don’t think that I’d be comfortable trusting someone, college student or not, to send me a textbook or electronic,” said sophomore Emily Moore. “I think that it makes sense to have a website like this that is specific to a campus though, because then you can just meet up on campus and exchange.”

Ultimately, Moore said she would consider using the site.

Jason Navallo launched a new website, Flierguy, to allow college students to buy and sell textbooks, electronics, and look for jobs and internships. Photo courtesy of flierguy.com

“The textbooks on flierguy.com are ridiculously cheap,” she said. “I think that if the price was low enough, and I had time before the semester, that I may take the chance and try out the website.”

Since the site is relatively new, Navallo and his team are dedicated to improving its features and functions.

Presently, the team is working on implementing a sorting feature by location to accommodate students who wish to only purchase products from other students in their area.

The site currently has more than 500 users and more than 800 textbooks. Electronic items listed include numerous cameras, cell phones and gaming devices. Navallo is excited to continue to expand the site’s scope and save more students money.

“We’ve got a lot of positive responses so far,” he said.

“There are a lot of students who believe in the idea.”

The site also features a section of various internship and job opportunities, searchable by job category and location.

“The job and internship listings are wonderful,” said junior Joseph Minniti. “I will definitely be using the site to search for an appropriate internship to apply for in the next year.”

Students interested in posting a listing must register with the site, provide details of the product and list a price, indicating whether or not it is negotiable, all without any fees. Job searches, on the other hand, do not require any registration through Flierguy.

To post or view listings, visit flierguy.com. rwinterm@ramapo.edu

Thursday, April 5, 2012

The Ramapo News Page 5

New Club Cooking Up Ideas to Provide for Local Communities STUDENT PROJECT INSPIRES GROUP TO JOIN CAMPUS KITCHENS ORGANIZATION

By RACHEL WINTERMUTE Staff Writer The Ramapo College Kitchen Club originated when three Ramapo students turned a simple class assignment into a large-scale community service project.

Sophomores Christina Coviello and Lindsey Stevens and junior Megan Bhargava have spearheaded the initiative to develop the Kitchen Club, dedicated to supplying unwanted but intact food to those in need.

The club is modeled after the national Campus Kitchens Project (CKP), which partners with 31 high schools, colleges and universities in the country to provide food for and build communities. The leaders of the Ramapo Kitchen Club are patiently awaiting approval to officially affiliate with CKP.

“I THINK WHAT REALLY GETS STUDENTS INTERESTED AND EXCITED IS THE COOKING ASPECT. IT’S A REALLY FUN WAY TO DO COMMUNITY SERVICE. -Christina Coviello, club president

Last spring Coviello, Stevens and Bhargava were assigned to complete a basic community service project in their social issues class. When Assistant Director for

Student Involvment Karen Booth pitched the Campus Kitchens Project, the girls were hooked.

“During the semester, we got so much done that we thought it would be silly to stop,” said Stevens, the club’s vice president. “So we just kept going with it.”

Thus, the Ramapo Kitchen Club began.

Coviello, now the president, said that the executive board is busy planning events for the future and working on affiliating with the national organization. While there are many ways to use a college campus to abate hunger in local areas, she said the board is narrowing its focus in the early stages of development.

“We’ve determined that one of our main goals is to get food donations from grocery stores,” Coviello said, which could include expired foods that are safe to eat but not sell. “Basically, it’s taking wasted food and giving it to those in need.”

Club members can then use the donated food to cook meals in their own kitchens on campus. The club is also negotiating the potential use of kitchen space in the Trustees Pavilion after dining hours.

The first campus cook is set for some time during the next fall semester. Until then, the club must determine what local areas to serve.

Coviello said the club is considering alternating between supplying food to local apartments with families in need and food pantries in neighboring Paterson and Hackensack.

Though the club is not fully underway, Coviello said it is still gaining momentum

through social media and word-of-mouth.

Coviello added that she has already been approached by multiple students inquiring about the club.

“I think what really gets students interested and excited is the cooking aspect,” she said.

“It’s a really fun way to do community service.”

For Stevens, the ability to volunteer is more so the value of participating in the club.

“It’s just a good opportunity to help people,” she said.

The club is discussing events and fundraisers for the fall to raise money to

help the cause. Coviello hopes the club does not raise just money, but awareness as well. It is this aspect that has inspired her.

“Through Campus Kitchens, I’ve really discovered a passion for helping people,” Coviello said. “It’s always been there, but this brought it out.”

For more information or to get involved, visit the club’s Facebook page at facebook. com/ramapocampuskitchens or email ccoviel1@ramapo.edu. rwinterm@ramapo.edu

Three students are starting up a new club and hope to be affiliated with the national Campus Kitchens Project, which cooks food for local organizations in need. Photo courtesy of Campus Kitchens

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Thursday, April 5, 2012

Page 6 The Ramapo News

PLAN continued from page 1

planning and programming) and Stantec (transportation and utilities planning), have just begun the project to evaluate the 300-acre campus. From March 6 to 8, a consulting team started the data-gathering process through series of extensive interviews on campus.

Roberts said the consultants met with student leaders and student government representatives, deans and various heads of departments, and other College administration, visionaries and stakeholders.

“They’re well underway,” he said, adding that the committee, made up of consulting architects, a construction manager, Chief Planning Officer Dorothy Echols Tobe, Special Assistant to the President Brittany WilliamsGoldstein, and soon to be a student representative, is also beginning to be put to use.

They are charged with filling the firm’s various requests for specific

information, such as drawings of the campus, breakouts of spaces in each building, and other relevant statistics.

“The most important thing is that the master planners understand the mission and goals of the College and interface with the members of the campus community— students, faculty, and staff—to develop their plan,” Roberts said.

Then, the consultants and the steering committee will create reports of their findings and assessments to present to the campus community, the senior staff, the president, and finally, to the Board of Trustees for approval.

These final recommendations “should set the stage for capital planning and construction, in line with the College’s strategic plan that’s going to be finalized this year,” Roberts said.

Among many initiatives, this year’s master plan will look at academic planning, space inventories, personnel and staff (both academic and administrative), some of the

WATER continued from page 1

on it that will tell you how many water bottles you’re saving each time you use it,” Bragg explained. “We took the water fountain that was there and replaced it with the hydration station. Some people get nervous drinking water straight from the tap, so this offers filtered water instead. The filters get changed, much like a Brita filter, after a certain amount of time.”

With the intended success of the new hydration station, Bragg said she hopes that using renewable water bottles will become a campus-wide transition.

“Ramapo is a good school for moving toward sustainable approaches,” she said. “They’re open about what’s going on with the environment. I think a lot of it is getting the student body aware, which is difficult because sometimes people are stuck in their ways, especially for Americans.

College’s organizational charts, scheduling, building audits, library collections, energy and infrastructure, landscaping, and even enrollment management.

Roberts said the master planners may even need to work more closely with Mahwah Township for some projects.

“THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THE MASTER PLANNERS UNDERSTAND THE MISSION AND GOALS OF THE COLLEGE AND INTERFACE WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY...”

-Richard Roberts, Master Planning committee

Amid all of these areas, Roberts said Urban Strategies, Inc., which is also currently designing Cornell University’s first master plan, will help identify and define the College’s most important needs.

“To have the plan tells you as much what you’re not going to do versus what you’re going to do,” Roberts explained. “To me, that is very important. People have all kinds of ideas, but we need to see where those ideas fit in with the strategic vision and the mission of the College, and where… it fits with the accepted master plan.”

Roberts also likened the master plan to a “roadmap” that creates a vision for the future of the College.

After this step has been taken, the administration will be better able to analyze the proposals suggested for improvement and figure out where to go next.

“It helps us prioritize,” Roberts said of the master plan, “because funds are always scarce [for projects].”

While Roberts said the funding for the master

We have so much access to everything that it’s easy just to toss [plastic bottles] in the trash.”

According to an online documentary, “Story of Bottled Water,” 80 percent of plastic bottles end up in landfills for thousands of years, or are incinerated, releasing toxic pollution.

But, issues regarding water are not just specific to the United States. International researchers report that over one billion people do not have access to safe drinking water.

With that statistic in mind, Ramapo students involved with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and Alpha Chi Rho organized the “Walk for Clean Water” on Tuesday. The walk was a fundraiser to help install wells in nations that do not have access to safe water.

To participate, each walker was asked to donate $2 to Charity: Water, a non-profit organization developed to raise awareness and support the issue of water internationally.

Further, a $20 donation would supply someone in need of

The Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and Alpha Chi Rho members joined together in a “Walk for Clean Water” around campus Tuesday. The groups raised money for Charity: Water, which provides developing nations with access to clean water. One well can serve an entire community and costs $3,000 to build. Photo courtesy of Ashley Intveld

planning—$270,000—hasn’t been completely laid out yet, the price for this kind of extensive project is “very reasonable, given other proposals.”

“It’s money very well spent,” he added, especially compared to about $80 million being spent on capital improvement and other construction projects around campus currently.

President Peter Mercer also recognizes the benefits of master planning in his recent President’s Post.

“This is a major undertaking,” he wrote of the project, “and will be a significant milestone in the College’s evolution. To build on its reputation for academic excellence, the College must plan its facilities comprehensively, innovatively, and sustainably.” nalliegr@ramapo.edu

Charity: Water raises money to build wells in developing countries to help villages access clean water. Photo courtesy of news.eastvillagers.org

clean water for an entire year’s supply.

“It’s our responsibility, especially as college students, to care about people around the world and our neighbors, and not only help people who are in our immediate surrounding area, but also people across the world who are facing this injustice,” said Rachael Trover, president of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, who organized the event with the support of Alpha Chi Rho. “Something like water is just so simple to us and a necessity to life, and yet it sustains us throughout the day. To imagine that people don’t have that privilege is just crazy.”

Other students who participated in the walk agreed.

“I believe this cause is so important because it allows us to help the lives of many people by just building one well,” explained Valerie Picinich. “If you built one well, which requires $3,000 to be raised, you can save a whole village.

Not having clean water is the cause of many diseases…

What’s a minor sacrifice for us is a huge help to them.”

After a walk around the extremities of the campus, beginning at the Arch, with a group of about 30 students, Alpha Chi Rho member Ryan Lackay announced that the participants had raised $235—$35 more than was initially predicted.

“By donating to this walk, you’re helping to build a well for people in developing nations who don’ have access to clean water. Once they get clean water, their lives totally change,” Lackay told the group.

Jaime Castañer, another donator, said it is important for the community to come together for this type of charity.

“We have so much here and such easy access to [water] that it’s just inconceivable that there are people just like us who don’t have it,” Castañer said. “I mean, why wouldn’t we do something? We can, so we will.”

The Walk for Clean Water’s overall goal is to raise $3,000 to build a well. Interested donors are encouraged to visit mycharitywater.org/ramapocollege and contribute to this cause. aintveld@ramapo.edu

Thursday, April 5, 2012

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.

The Ramapo News Page 7

VIEWPOINTS ‘Obamacare’ Is Not Perfect, But Neither is the Constitution

By JAKE HYMAN Staff Writer Two months from now, the United States Supreme Court is expected to make its decision on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare.

Speculation from those with direct knowledge of the court proceedings expect the bill to be struck down, thus destroying President Barack Obama’s hopes for health care reform in this country.

One of the main issues at hand for those who are opposed to Obamacare is the idea of an individual mandate which would require those who are not insured by their employer or the government to purchase health care. Adversaries of the bill, which consist widely of conservatives, Republicans, and Tea Partiers (all the same if you ask me), insist that this individual mandate infringes on Americans’ personal liberties.

The idea that someone must be required to buy health insurance or face an increase in taxes seems crazy and unconstitutional to the Michelle Bachmans, Sean Hannitys, and Mitt Romneys of the world -- even though Romney fashioned a bill eerily similar to Obamacare while governor of Massachusetts. The fact of the matter is that they believe Obamacare doesn’t match perfectly with a document written over 225 years ago.

To them, the U.S. Constitution is perfect; it has no flaws. It is sacred and cannot be changed, even though it has been amended many times. By ignoring history and other important facts, the opposition uses this document as their primary attack missile against Obamacare.

But I am here to show you that the Constitution, after

The United States Supreme Court held hearings and is currently deliberating the constitutionality of Obama’s controversial health care reform. Protests have been held both in favor for and against the act.

Photo courtesy of Neil Parekh, Flickr Creative Commons

being amended, actually supports the health care reform designed by the Obama administration.

In 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution was ratified. Section one of the revision reads: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property,

without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Call me crazy but doesn’t denying health care because of a preexisting condition sound kind of like denying a person of life?

This amendment proves a vital point: the Constitution has been and can be changed so that the right thing can be done to benefit our country and its people. The Constitution in its original form allowed for slavery, denied voting rights for everyone but white males who owned property, and sure as hell did not permit an African American to be President of the United States. I know the whole idea of a black guy being President scares the crap out of Republicans, as is evidenced by their attempt to repeal and destroy anything Obama does. The sad thing is, they almost always get their way.

Go ahead, abolish Obamacare and check off another snaky victory for the GOP. I’m sure the college students buried in loan debts will love to try to purchase their own health insurance, rather than staying on their parents’ plans until the age of 26.

I’m positive that those with pre-existing conditions won’t mind fighting and losing battles with their insurance companies over treatment. And of course, those 49.9 million people, who in 2010 according to the U.S. Census Bureau were uninsured, will continue to thrive knowing that any illness or injury will most likely cause them to go bankrupt.

What is the reason for repealing Obamacare? This is a rhetorical question. Don’t answer it, because there is no logical reason. That makes for a good GOP slogan, come to think of it: “Vote Republican in 2012: There is no logical reason.” jhyman@ramapo.edu

Response: Barack Obama’s Shortcomings Cannot be Ignored

By MIKE MCILRAITH Staff Writer President Theodore Roosevelt warned about the use of rhetoric without following through on one’s goals: “Rhetoric is a poor substitute for action, and we have trusted only to rhetoric. If we are really to be a great nation, we must not merely talk; we must act big.” This raises a vital question in discussing politics: Do politicians mean what they say, or are they trying to sell themselves off for your vote?

In a Viewpoint piece last week by Ramapo College Democrats member Danielle Corcione, she outlines a list of accomplishments to prove why President Barack Obama should be re-elected.

While this is an admirable promotion for the Democratic candidate in the 2012 presidential election, the major fallacy of Corcione’s viewpoint is in the first sentence, where she says, “[the] media is constantly covering the differences between the four Republican candidates, but there’s one candidate in this year’s presidential election that has not gotten enough attention lately: President Barack Obama.”

The problem is not that Obama hasn’t received any attention during the campaign; he has. The short documentary “The Road We’ve Traveled” received plenty of attention and outlined what is assumed to be his chief victories: helping the auto industry and increasing health care to Americans. However, what is not being discussed in mainstream media are his major flaws--negative qualities which only derail progressive voters.

Corcione is right to point out his contributions to the LGBTQ community, including the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” and declaring the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. However, on an issue like same-sex marriage, the president has said that his position is “evolving.” While this could be because of pressure within the party or a fear of disrupt voters who are uncomfortable on LGBTQ rights, is his position a gradual evolution or a swift change?

The Affordable Care Act, which was of public attention again last week due to Supreme Court rulings, is a catastrophe for progressives. Instead of either a singlepayer system or a health care plan with a

public option, this health care legislation, according to figures done by Physicians for a National Health Plan (PNHP), will leave at least 23 million people without insurance and at least $447 billion in taxpayer subsidies will be handed to insurance firms.

Lest we forget, “Obamacare” as conservative media ironically calls it, was based off of Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s state-wide plan in Massachusetts, thanks to the conservative think-tank the Heritage Foundation.

Perhaps Obama’s detrimental field is on foreign policy. The most apparent start to this is Obama’s empty promise to close Guantanamo Bay made on live television.

Indeed, the war in Iraq ended during Obama’s first term, but the war in Afghanistan has been stretched out with disastrous results, with the killings of Afghan civilians allegedly by Sergeant Bales.

Obama has also, as Jeremy Schaill in “The Nation Magazine” points out, increased the presence of Special Forces from 60 to 75 countries during his term, including in Yemen and Pakistan. If Obama is the anti-George Bush, why the necessity for a large, global military presence?

Letters to the Editor (Viewpoints) should be brief and must include the name and contact information, including a phone number of the writer. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Letters with multiple signatories must provide proof that every name listed agrees to the content of the letter. If one name does not agree, the letter will not be printed. For this reason, letters must be submitted by 7p.m. on Monday to allow for verification. Letters containing obscenities, profanity or libel will not be published. The Ramapo News reserves the right to edit letters of clarity, content or space purposes.

E-MAIL: RCNJNEWS@RAMAPO.EDU

Lastly, the National Defense Authorization Act, signed by Obama last year after he almost didn’t do so and with full compliance from the House and Senate, has not deserved the media attention it deserves. A continuation of similar draconian legislation thanks to the Bush administration, the NDAA, particularly Title X, Subtitle D, authorizes the indefinite detention of any U.S. citizen without trial for suspicion of being a terrorist or associated with terrorism. Any rational democrat would be frightened by the idea of the Obama administration affirming an Orwellian law while attacking civil liberties.

Corcione is right to say that the Democratic Party relied on young voters to get Obama elected; it is said that they are hoping for the same this November. However, what young Americans should do is think objectively before acting in the voting booths. Do Obama’s accomplishments outweigh the numerous negatives that leave the more progressive base antsy, or is he the prime example of Roosevelt’s warning on rhetoric? mmcilrai@ramapo.edu

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Page 8 The Ramapo News

Arts & Entertainment Diverse Set of Performers Come Together for Spring Concert

By KRISTINE DONOVAN Staff Writer Three different artists brought down the house at the Center for Student Involvement’s Spring Concert. Rapper Chris Webby, the punk-rock-ska combination of Streetlight Manifesto and DJ Porter Robinson all hit the stage this past Saturday.

“The idea was is we, behind the scenes come up with a list of names that we feel would be most appropriate for our student body, who they would enjoy the most,” senior and co-chair of music and comedy for the College Programming Board, Evan Straley said. “So that’s how the poll gets developed, the poll that gets shot out to everybody.

We come up with the names that are within our budget and that we think would do really well.”

CPB worked hard to cater to the diverse styles that students had requested through the poll on Orgsync.

There’s three different genres of people that are coming out so we’re getting a bigger crowd,” senior Melissa Louissaint said. “So last year we had one specific genre so it was one specific crowd, where as this year we have three different genres. We have rap, we have a Ska band and we have electronic which is a really hot market right now.”

Webby opened up the performance with an hour long set that included songs from his old mix tapes and some of his newest from “There Goes the Neighborhood.” DJ Semi and drummer, Ryan Sasloe dropped beats that the crowd automatically bounced to.

Growing up in the suburbs of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Webby’s passion for hip-hop started at the age of 12. Currently unsigned, Webby says that it won’t get him down, and that he is here because of his fans.

The moment the beat dropped and the lights went up the crowd grooved along to the hip-hop sound that Webby brought. His set included the tracks of “What I Do,” “Skyline,” “Bounce,” “Through the Roof” and “There Goes the Neighborhood,” among many others. Webby’s performance did not disappoint his fans, and several

1200 tickets were sold for the Spring Concert, featuring Chris Webby, Streetlight Manifesto and Porter Robinson. Photo by Stefanie Mauro

instances of coming out to the audience and throwing his shirt to one lucky fan, left the crowd pumped up the rest of the concert.

Punk rock band Streetlight Manifesto took the stage after Webby and fans came from all over the Tri-State area to check out their performance. This seven piece band, consisting of front man, Tomas Kalnoky (lead vocals, guitar), Mike Brown (vocals, alto and baritone saxophone), Jim Conti (vocals, alto and tenor saxophone), Pete McCullough (vocals, bass guitar), Matt Stewart (vocals, trumpet), Nadav Nirenberg (trombone) and Chris Thatcher (drums) sent dance waves throughout every audience member.

They rocked the Bradley Center’s stage with song including “Failing, Failing,” “A Moment of Silence” and “The Big Sleep and “We Will Fall Together.”

The Spring Concert finished up with an electrifying performance by DJ Porter Robinson. Robinson began producing at age 12, and his success sky-rocketed soon after. At age 19 he has already been signed with a new label, OWSLA, which is operated by the DJ Skrillex. His first EP, “Spitfire,” hit the charts on iTunes, and became one of the hottest on the dance charts.

“He is my idol,” said Andreas Prodromitis. “His

CW: Got another mixtape coming out and then probably another studio album. We got a lot of stuff, like, boiling, we just had to kind of push it to the side so we could do the tour and make some money. You know, being an independent artist, the touring is how you make your money so you know that was important. It was a great experience you know, but it’s time to get back to work. It’s good to be home.

W H AT D O Y O U

Q&A HA

VE

T O S AY ?

The Ramapo News got the chance to sit down with rapper Chris Webby for a Q&A session. Photo by Stefanie Mauro

Ramapo News: Who are your influences?

Chris Webby: Growing up, obviously somebody like Eminemn [and] a lot of rappers of that time period. I grew up listening to a lot of classic rock and regae so once I discovered hip hop in like sixth grade, fifth or sixth grade, I really got into that. So, Eminem, Drey, Xzibit, DMX, Method Man, Wu-tang and General they were just few of the many rappers I started listening to.

RN: What’s in store, what’s your next the “There Goes the Neighborhood” tour is wrapping up?

EvAenMtPsUS

oN C

performance was great, and I was so ecstatic to see him. I loved it.”

Robinson featured tracks from “Spitfire,” and some single remixes that included, “Less Go,” and “Language.” His hour long set left audience members dancing and sweating from head to toe.

“Overall, I am very pleased with last weekend’s concert. We had a 1,200 people come out and enjoy the tunes, and I’m glad the student body received each artist well,” Straley said. “It’s not easy managing the demands of the student body, but I’m proud to have been able to organize a concert with three different headliners from three different genres.”

The great turnout of Saturday’s concert also gives insight into the way future concerts may be organized.

“I think offering a variety of artists will definitely be on the table for future concerts,” Eddie Seavers, assistant director to CSI said. “We will also need to weigh [the] costs of a festival style show with a traditional show. In addition to the money it costs to pay for artists, a three and a half hour show versus an hour and a half hour show actually costs $3,000 more in overtime so there are a variety of factors to weigh.” kdonova2@ramapo.edu

project,

now

that

RN: If I were to turn on your iPod right now, who would I hear?

CW: I think we were just listening to Action Bronson, who’s a really dope dude. I’ve been listening to a lot of reggae today. I’ve been listening to like hip hop artists, Topson is another dope dude, Emillio Rojas. Those are like three dudes you might not even know, that are really dope. I do not listen to the radio, just so you know. Not to say there aren’t any good artists on the radio For example, J. Cole is a really good rapper, but for the most part. Not really underground in it’s truest form, but just necessarily not popular in the mainstream. Cause I think mainstream hip-hop these days and for the last few years, has been pretty s#*!!%. You know it just is what it is.

RN: If you could collaborate with another genre of music, what would it be and do you have a specific artist?

CW: Well, I love having the live band vibe. Like I have drums with me now and I have my dad on part of the tour and he plays guitar. So I love having that added into the hip hop recipe cause it just adds so much to a live show. So anything from you know some form of rock to reggae, you know something with instruments. We had these kids opening for us on the tour, “Kids These Days” and they were like a full band and I dig that s#*!, I grew up on it.

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

“Make Your Own Fishtank” @ 9pm, SC 217

Passover

“Egg Hunt Volunteering” @ 10:45 am, Weis Ecology Center (off campus)

Good Friday

Thursday, April 5, 2012

The Ramapo News Page 9

did you know?

APRIL 2-6 is registration week

Prior advisement mandatory for first-year students Last day for schedule adjustments: Summer Session I – May 29, 2012

Summer Session II – July 10, 2012 Fall 2012 – September 12, 2012

Online resources for students and faculty advisors: www.ramapo.edu/myadvisor/ www.ramapo.edu/myadvisees

make your appointment now!

Contact the Center for Academic Advisement and First-Year Experience (CAAFYE) D-207 | 201-684-7441 | caafye@ramapo.edu | ww2.ramapo.edu/admissions/caafye

Sunday Easter

Monday

“How to Get a Career in a Human Rights NGO” @ 1pm, Pavillion “Working on the Ground in the Middle East” @ 3:45pm, Pavillion

Tuesday

“The Other Mark Miller” @ 9:15pm, Friends Hall

Wednesday

“The Amazing Race” @ 9pm, J.Lee’s

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Page10 The Ramapo News

TNL Speaker Uses Comedy to Bring Different Perspective to Issues of Acceptance

By KRISTINE DONOVAN Staff Writer This week’s Tuesday Night Live Series had a fun and educational twist. Comedian D’Lo presented a personal side to his performance, and treated the audience to his stand up comedy. D’Lo is a queer American, political theater artist, director, comedian and music producer all in one.

Comedian D’Lo spoke about his childhood and the importance of identity at this week’s Tuesday Night Live event, sponsored by the College Programming Board. Photo by Donna Elazar

In the past, D’Lo performed at several workshops both in the United Kingdom and America. He is also the creator of “Coming Out, Coming Home,” a writing workshop series that focuses on Immigrant Queer Organizations.

In honor of Asian Pacific American month, D’Lo’s performance focused on his childhood as a queer Tamil “Sri L.A.nkan,” and facing his family and his life with coming out as a transgender. D’Lo’s personal touches to his performance caught audience’s attention, and it brought a completely different aspect that they did not expect coming.

D’Lo based his stand up off of his childhood experiences. A

large majority of his act was targeted towards the way that his parents brought him up, and their reactions to his true identity.

Coming from the city of Los Angeles, D’Lo encompassed many different ethnic and gender identity communities.

“I tell folks to just except who they are,” D’Lo said.

D’Lo started his performance at Ramapo with a stimulating standup comedy act. He not only told jokes, and look for laughs, but he also talked a lot about his childhood which added a personal touch. He continued on to tell the crowd that his parents were not huge fans of the fact that he was transgender, but as time went on they accepted their son for who he truly was.

“My parents have learned to accept me and those within my community,” D’Lo said.

Halfway through his performance he read aloud a poem that he wrote that related to the recently proclaimed case of Trayvon Martin. His poem highlighted the perks and flaws of being a cop in a big city, in this case Los Angeles. The poem was about a man who was arrested by the cops, and according to this specific cop the man in custody was acting up. This gave enough reason for the cop to shoot him directly in the back. The poem showed a political activist side of D’Lo. As a comedian and queer speaker, D’Lo has to face audiences all around about his past and his true identity as a transgender. He said that at times it does get difficult or awkward he is trying to explain who he is because you cannot fully explain being transgender in just an hour.

“MY PERFORMANCE OF ART, SPECIFICALLY THEATER, HELPED ME LEARN MY IDENTITY. ART IS A VERY HEALING TOOL.” - D’Lo, comedian

Art Show Brings Awareness, Offers Hope

By LARISSA LOHMAN Staff Writer The traveling art show entitled “‘A Work of Healing: An Exhibit of Survivors’ Artwork and Poetry” sponsored by the YWCA of Bergen County Rape Crisis Center, made its stop at Ramapo on Tuesday, to highlight victims of sexual violence.

The show, cosponsored by the Women’s Center, shed light on the experiences of sexual violence victims, using art as a form of therapy to cope with their past.

“It was very sad,” sophomore Jessica Napolitano said. “The stories they shared were powerful.

I give them a lot of credit for sharing them.”

The exhibit was set up in J.Lees and featured artwork, photographs, drawings, small sculptures and poetry from survivors.

The poetry featured survivors’ feelings of guilt, despair, neglect, sadness and anger over what happened to them, providing for some of the most powerful pieces there.

Their courage to relive what they unwillingly experienced through words is a part of their healing process, working to make them stronger and believe they did not “deserve” what happened to them.

“A lot of the poetry was about girls being raped by their family members. It was very disturbing,” Napolitano said.

The photography presented at the exhibit was accompanied with descriptions, explaining the prominence of the photographer to the victim. Most of the photos reminded them of their violent experience, and others saw hope in their recovery.

One drawing of a cartoon dog showed the range of emotions one victim had from being upset and angry to finally laughing and smiling, exclaiming, “I am a good

Throughout his performance, D’Lo worked to teach people that being themselves is extremely important. Photo by Donna Elazar

Not only is D’Lo a comedian and queer speaker, but he is also very familiar within the theatre scene. “My performance of art, specifically theatre, helped me learn my identity,” D’Lo said. “Art is a very healing tool.”

D’Lo’s performance was insightful, educational and fun for all of those who attended. The President of the United Asian American Organization and the Public Relations associate of the U.A.A. here at Ramapo enjoyed D’Lo’s performance.

“We saw D’Lo last semester in New York. We thought it was a good idea to bring him to our campus, so we paired up with the College Programming Board, and brought him to our school. He not only talks about his transgender journey, but he also discusses his cultural background which is a real treat,” juniors Janet Namkung and Garret Surie said.

Stay tuned for more Tuesday Night Live performances this semester. kdonova2@ramapo.edu

Fooligans Perform at Sharp Theater

person!” at the end of her personal journey.

A small portion of the exhibit featured drawings from children ranging from the ages of 5-15, explaining how they felt and what they experienced.

“A LOT OF THE POETRY WAS ABOUT GIRLS BEING RAPED BY THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. IT WAS VERY DISTURBING.”

- Jessica Napolitano, sophomore One of the most disturbing of the children’s collection was a five year old girl’s interpretation of what she experienced at such a young age.

While most of the work was fairly recent, some of the earliest works dated back to the early 1990s, showing that sexual assault and violence are not a new phenomenon.

According to the FBI it is estimated only 1 in 10 rapes are reporting, making sexual violence one of the most underrated crimes in the nation.

Most victims, approximately 70-80 percent know their victim, the YWCA’s website states, a fact evident in the inhabitation.

The YWCA’s crisis center is a confidential resource for sexual assault victims and their families to provide assistance and help them out in any way possible.

While the exhibit stopped at Ramapo, it will continue to travel around the Bergen County area, shedding insight and educating about sexual violence and abuse. llohman@ramapo.edu On April 2, Ramapo’s improv troupe, the Fooligans, performed their show, “This Show is Not Yet Rated” at the Berrie Center. Photos by Steve Fallon

Thursday, April 5, 2012

The Ramapo News Page 11

Country Music Awards Entertain and Inspire Viewers

By KELLY RUSSELL Staff Writer The Academy of Country Music Awards brings together some of the industry’s best artists and honors their achievements in country music throughout the year.

This year’s 47th annual ceremony held in Las Vegas had a huge presence of young country stars, compared to previous years. The ceremony was exciting and unpredictable, but the talent was absolutely incredible.

Miranda Lambert won Album of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year at this year’s award ceremony. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

Carrie Underwood kicked off the evening with a sultry performance of her new song, “Good Girl.” Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire, both huge country superstars, hosted the ceremony packed with audience members. No one was safe from their jokes and playful digs; they even took a stab at presidential nominees. Shelton later won Male Vocalist of the Year. The awards show wasn’t all country though -- the rock band KISS and U2’s Bono made appearances.

THERE WAS NEVER A DULL MOMENT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SHOW. A COUPLE EVEN GOT MARRIED DURING THE LIVE TELECAST. The first award of the evening went out to the Eli Young Band, who won Song of the Year for “Good Girl.” Their win was surprising, as they beat out country heavyweights like Lady Antebellum and Kenny Chesney.

Lady Antebellum, who are no stranger to awards, quickly picked up Vocal Group of the Year for the third year in a row.

There was never a dull moment throughout the entire show. A couple even got married during the live telecast. They were wed as Martina McBride and Train singer Pat Monahan performed “Marry Me.” Taylor Swift made headlines as she

was expected to bring a New Jersey teen who is sick with cancer as her date to the awards show. This was his big wish but, unfortunately, he was too sick to come. Taylor vowed to make it up to him as she attended dateless. She went on to win perhaps the most honorable award, Entertainer of the Year.

Miranda Lambert humbly accepted the awards for Album of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year, a top honor for country artists. Kelly Clarkson and Mark Aldean won Single Record of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for their song, “Don’t You Wanna Stay.” Clarkson graciously accepted the award and thanked fans for embracing her from the pop world to the country music world.

Krista Salinardi, a junior, enjoyed the show and appreciated the numerous surprises throughout the evening.

“I really liked the show, the performances were great and so were the hosts, they did a good job of keeping the viewers entertained,” Salinardi said.

“It was exciting that a lot of the artists and groups that were expected to either win or lose didn’t, so it was unpredictable.”

Kelly Clarkson wasn’t the only American Idol alum to strike gold at the ceremony. American Idol superstar Scotty McCreery was awarded Top New Artist. The young country artist hasn’t even graduated high school yet.

Jessica Russell, a music major, didn’t find the awards show anything special. In fact, she thought it was repetitive of past shows.

“It just seems like the same thing every year.

I would have liked to have seen something different or really exciting. Instead, it was kind of a bland evening,” Russell said.

Taylor Swift won the award for Entertainer of the Year. Swift attended the ceremony without a date, previously planning on attending with a sick New Jersey teen. Photo by David Shankbono, Wikimedia

Country music’s men shined at the ACM awards. Tim McGraw, Keith Urban and Brad Paisley all performed throughout the evening.

The Academy of Country Music Awards brought all of country’s most talented artists under one roof. The ceremony was electrifying with thrilling performances from an eclectic mix of the genre’s singers.

The winners and losers were, for the most part, unpredictable, which proved to be an exciting evening for viewers. krussel1@ramapo.edu

Controversy Surrounds Ending of ‘Mass Effect’ Trilogy

By ELIZABETH ODERMATT Staff Writer

would end one its most popular titles in such a way.

Warning! Spoilers Ahead!

March 6 will be a day that goes down in gaming history.

It brought the end to one of the biggest trilogies in gaming, “Mass Effect.” One might say that it is the final “Harry Potter” of the gaming world. Since late 2007 gamers have been fighting alongside Commander Shepard in their fight to stop the Reapers, a dreaded alien race that is bent on wiping out all life in the galaxy.

Fans have been gearing up for the final installment way before the game began development since the first two

“I FEEL AS THOUGH THEY DIDN’T PUT MUCH CREATIVITY IN THE DECISION CHOICES...I WOULD BE AS BOLD TO COMPARE IT TO THE “FALL OUT 3” ENDING IN TERMS OF DISAPPOINTMENT.”

- Davon McClam, senior

installments had been gearing up to an epic battle against the Reapers. Fans were overjoyed when the final installment was released and they could finally see this battle to the end.

That was however, until they actually got to the end.

Anyone who plays video games or even just watches movies or reads will know that some endings to stories are not that good and can be very disappointing. The ending to “Mass Effect 3” and the overall ending to Commander Shepard’s saga will most likely go down as one of the most controversial issues in gaming history. The Internet has completely erupted with fans that are extremely angry and disappointed that a famous company like Bioware

Since the release of “Mass Effect 3,” controversy has formed over the ending of the game. Photo by Sobcontrollers, Flickr Creative Commons

Fans have a right to be upset, from the first few moments of the ending to its credits, the entire scene is full of confusing plot holes that are left unanswered. The scene with the illusive man left many fans scratching their heads in confusion as to what was going on. In the scene with the child, players discover the Reapers are actually trying to save them by killing them, which added more confusion and disappointment. The fate of The Normandy, while it varies, left many fans lost, as no one is quite sure as to how the squad they were fighting with on earth made it to the ship.

And of course the question as to whether or not Shepard is really alive. Many fans have speculated that the entire ending is either a dream Shepard is having or a hallucination due to Reaper indoctrination. You know someone screwed up when fans around the world are actually hoping for ending that turns out to actually be a dream.

One of the biggest let downs about the ending was the matter of choice. Since the first “Mass Effect,” fans have been making choices with their Shepard based on personal preference that have then carried over to the next two titles.

This ability to make different choices is one of the most important aspects of the series. However, no matter whom

a player decided to save or kill in the renegade or paragon options, the choices at the end remain the same no matter what. Furthermore, even if one chooses ending B over ending A, the differences between the two are so minor it maybe hard to notice them. Fans were hoping for an epic conclusion based on the choices they had been making since game one, but Bioware greatly failed in this department.

The anger over the ending is felt here at Ramapo. Many students’ similar feelings towards the games ending.

“I feel as though they didn’t put much creativity in the decision choices. Either way the Mass Effect world as we knew is over and led to such an anti-climatic end. I would be as bold to compare it to the “Fall Out 3” ending in terms of disappointment,” senior Davon McClam said.

Junior Matthew Vaccaro, who has been with the series since game one, was also severely disappointed with the ending.

“The whole series immerses you into this in-depth story of relationships, friends, backstories and in the end of the game its just kind of like here you go, the end,” junior Matthew Vaccaro said. “You don’t know what happened to anyone else, you don’t get to see anyone else, you don’t even know if any of your friends or companions survived, it doesn’t end anything. It is almost like knowing your friend for eighteen years and then waking up one day and they’re just gone.”

Bioware has heard the fans outcry about the games ending and has promised to address the ending sometime in April with some form of downloadable content. There are mixed stories however, on whether or not the company will actually change the ending or just modify it. We can only hope that was whatever Bioware decides to do will go over better than the games first ending. eodermat@ramapo.edu

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Page 12 The Ramapo News

l iv in g B e v e r a g es w i t h Be ne f its

By AMANDA DALY Staff Writer When many people think about red wine, coffee and green tea, they don’t really think about any health benefits of these drinks. But believe it or not, red wine, coffee and green tea have many health benefits, according to articles on “The Huffington Post” and WebMD.

Red Wine

In moderation, red wine is beneficial to your health. New research studies show that drinking a glass of red wine before bed actually helps sleep. Red wine contains melatonin, which helps regulate the body’s internal clock.

Red wine also can help increase lifespan.

Resveratol, a compound in red wine has been shown in studies to increase your life span and also help prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. It has also been revealed that red wine can help reduce the risk of heart disease and lung cancer. For men, about four glasses or red wine a week can help prevent prostate cancer by up to 50 percent. For women, in moderation, red wine can lower the chance of getting breast cancer. Red wine can lower the number of colds you get per year by about 45 percent.

Coffee

Most people drink coffee to for the benefits of caffeine, but coffee does more than just wake you up every morning. As with red wine,moderation is key, but coffee can actually make you proofread better. Studies have shown that that drinking coffee can help you spot grammatical errors in your writing, which is pretty important especially for college students.

Another study showed that coffee can help lower depression in women.

Women that drink two or three cups of coffee per day have a lower risk of depression by 15 percent because caffeine modulates the release of mood transmitters.

Coffee also may reduce the risk of

Alzheimer’s Disease. Coffee boosts GCSF, a growth factor, which fights against the disease. Like red wine, coffee may also reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men.

Men who drink about six cups a day are shown to have a 60 percent decreased risk of prostate cancer. The most common cancer in the world is also no match for coffee; drinking around three cups of coffee a day can help prevent skin cancer by about 20 percent in women and 9 percent in men. Coffee also can protect from type 2 diabetes. For every extra cup of coffee a person drinks a day it can reduce the risk by 7 percent. Finally, coffee can lower the risk of getting Parkinson’s Disease by 25 percent by drinking three cups a day.

D uches s o f Des s erts

By LAUREN SANTANIELLO Staff Writer It’s that time of year again. Easter is only a few days away, which means baskets of goodies, colored eggs and chocolate bunnies will soon be in abundance.

Every year, my family breaks Easter bread, a colorful, fruit filled dessert that tastes wonderful with butter. This is an easy recipe, but it does take a few hours to make. So, make sure you have some time to spare before you begin, but I promise you the effort is well worth it for this traditional Italian bread.

Many people drink green tea but don’t really know what it does. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants, which help find anything that damages the DNA causing cancer and blood clots. It also contains EGCG, which regulates and inhibits the growth of cancer cells.

Drinking green tea helps fight against breast cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, and lung cancer. Green tea is also really good for the heart. Green tea is also great for weight loss which also lowers your risk for heart disease and high cholesterol. Green tea supplements to help lose weight, but the best way to lose weight as well as prevent diseases is to drink green tea straight up.

These are just a few beverages that are full of healthy things for every body. Who would have ever thought that these drinks that people take for granted could do so much for health? adaly@ramapo.edu

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5.

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What you’ll need:

Green Tea

This dessert is a perfect dish to add to your holiday traditions. Photo by Lauren Santaniello

8.

1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup butter 1/4 cup sugar 1 tsp salt 1/4 cup warm water 1 package active dry yeast 2 eggs, beaten 3 cups flour 1/3 cup raisins 1/4 cup dried candied fruit 1/4 diced roasted almonds 1 tbsp grated lemon peel

9.

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Directions: 1.

2.

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Scald milk on stove and then remove from heat and cool to lukewarm Cream butter, sugar and salt In a large bowl, add warm water.

Sprinkle yeast over water and stir until dissolved Stir in milk and creamed mixture

14.

Add beaten eggs and half the flour and beat until smooth Blend in fruits, almonds and lemon peel Add remaining flour and mix until dough is very soft Place dough on a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic Place dough in a greased bowl and brush with butter Cover with a towel and let dough rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk (about 1 1/2 hours) Punch dough down and place on a lightly floured surface Cut dough in three long strips and braid them together, then fold into a circle Let dough rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk (about 1 hour) Preheat oven to 370 and bake in the oven for 50-60 minutes *Note: If you’re not accustomed to braiding dough, there are numerous YouTube videos that can show you how it’s done.

lsantani@ramapo.edu

yo ur wee kly h or osco pes Aries: This week, there is plenty of pent up emotion trying to make its way out yet you are still inwardly working things out. You are finding a way to access the usual confidence and courage you were born to express.

Leo: You may still be feeling plagued by a certain sort of indecision but a breakthrough feeling will find you. Something will finally click into place and you will know there is no other way to go but forward.

Sagittarius: It is uncertain now which way the road will take you and yet you also know that you have been granted free choice and free will. What raises real question now is knowing certain things still need to unfold before you know when and how to proceed.

Taurus: It may feel like it is now or never, that this chance won’t come around this way again and yet it also feels very much like it is your time and your turn. It is all or nothing now and in the coming weeks.

Virgo: You have uncovered what needed to be dealt with and you can start confidently communicating these decisions knowing you cannot move forward until certain talks are taken to heart.

Capricorn: The fastest way to feeling better is to do something for someone who needs it more than you do. It helps take the focus off of your own worries and woes and the perspective shift can have you seeing your life with a far more objective lens.

Gemini: You may be feeling like you could use a little levity and ease in your world. Life may have felt chaotic at best, but there is light at the end of a certain tunnel and hope on the horizon as you will begin to feel this week.

Libra: You will be deep in the heat of something and even if it initially feels as if you have been let down, a certain coming event will ultimately have a way of setting you free. Your dependency on a key other is about to shift and this invaluable reliance you come to know is a gift you have never considered you’d find.

Aquarius: It is all about who you know not what you know. Someone from your past is going to get you in the door and back in the game. This can equal a sudden unexpected pay off or a surprise meeting with someone that can help move you forward in your life.

Scorpio: There is great benefit to energizing the ideal relationship for it will always have you working toward a better connection. This week does have you craving what you don’t or can’t have, but you will be surprised by what comes knocking down your door.

Pisces: This week it is this light that shows you where you may have gotten off track and what still needs to be purified on the path. You will be shown what needs your undivided emotional attention.

Cancer: This week, take advantage of this window of opportunity and directly address whatever has been swept under the rug. The current will guide you well if only you would dare to travel its course. Honesty is best in the end, even if it hurts, for it will always create the right result.

horoscopes courtesy of http://www.madalynaslan.com

Thursday, April 5, 2012

The Ramapo News Page 13

SPORTS Men’s Volleyball Earns Second Seed in Skyline Tournament RAMAPO EXPANDS WINNING STREAK TO FIVE, REMAINS UNDEFEATED AT HOME and 25-21. After defeating Lehman College 3-1 yesterday, the Roadrunners improved their overall record to 18-11 and their Skyline record to 13-1. Following a prolonged road trip, the Roadrunners have won their last five games, all at home, where they are 8-0 this year.

The win also helped Ramapo to land a second place seed in the 2012 Skyline Championship Tournament at Kean University on April 14, where they will take on New Jersey City at 3:30pm.

By KATIE BRUNO Staff Writer The Ramapo College men’s volleyball team defeated Skyline Conference rival Sage College this past Tuesday.

“Sage was a lot stronger of a team than the program has been in the past, which did lead to an interesting match,” senior Colin McNeill said.

In three matches, the Roadrunners recorded 35 kills on 85 attempts. Sophomore Chris Sidnam stood out for the Roadrunners, recording 11 kills on 19 attempts. Senior Paul Konopacki also tallied nine kills, four digs and two blocks, while Colin McNeill picked up five kills, two service aces and three blocks.

“WE ARE EXCITED AND MORE THAN ABLE TO GET THE JOB DONE. IF WE STAY FOCUSED AND KEEP OUR HEADS IN THE MATCH, THIS TEAM WILL BE ABLE TO GO FAR. I AM PROUD TO BE A PART OF IT.” - Colin McNeill, senior

Sophomore Jeff Jones led the team with a total of four service aces. Sophomores Andrew Balint and Aaron Kerschner were also key players in the Roadrunners victory against Sage. Balint recorded a match-high of 34 assists, while Kerschner got a team-high of 12 digs.

“Tonight’s match was energetic. We came in with a

“SINCE OUR RETURN FROM FLORIDA, OUR BENCH HAS STEPPED IT UP AND KEPT BOTH THE TEAM AND THE FANS ENERGIZED WITH OUR COMEDY FUELED CHEERS AND SHENANIGANS.” - Colin McNeill

The men’s volleyball team will face Kean University in the opening round of the Skyline Championship Tournament on April 14. Photo courtesy of Ramapo Athletics

business attitude, and got our job done,” McNeill said.

“We came out swinging, and kept our momentum for the duration of the match. It helped us a lot to have energy coming from both on and off the court. Since our return from Florida, our bench has stepped it up and kept both the team and the fans energized with our comedy fueled cheers and shenanigans.”

The final scores of the three matches were 25-21, 25-11

“The way we carried ourselves against Sage will be what our fans can expect in the Skyline Tournament,” McNeill said. “We are excited and more than able to get the job done. If we stay focused and keep our heads in the match, this team will be able to go far. I am proud to be a part of it.”

kbruno2@ramapo.edu

Ramapo Splits Softball Doubleheader with William Paterson ROADRUNNERS LOSE LEAD IN FIRST GAME, SHUT OUT PIONEERS IN SECOND MATCH

By RICHIE SORCE Staff Writer The Ramapo softball team suffered an extra-inning loss to the William Paterson Pioneers on Tuesday afternoon before winning the second game of the doubleheader.

Ramapo jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning when freshman outfielder Jaclyn Lima smacked a leadoff double and later scored on an error. Junior infielder/ catcher Lisa Orlando then reached on a fielder’s choice and moved to third on a double by junior infielder Janet Brown.

Orlando scored the second run on a wild relay throw to third base.

The Roadrunners looked well on their way to a successful first game of their doubleheader. Ramapo’s senior starting pitcher Lauren Shaw dominated through her first three innings of the first game.

Shaw ran into some trouble in the fourth inning when the Pioneers’ starting pitcher Kelsey Hand provided her own run support with an RBI.

The Roadrunners’ bats cooled off after a strong first inning, and they were unable to find a way to score for the rest of the game. Ramapo had an opportunity to do some damage with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning, but they could not capitalize.

“SOPHOMORE PITCHER NICOLE SCHNEIDER FINISHED THE GAME IN RELIEF, STRIKING OUT TWO AND GIVING UP ONLY ONE HIT TO EARN THE WIN AND RAISE HER RECORD TO 4-0.”

The Pioneers tied it up in the top of the sixth when outfielder Raquel Roder doubled to center field, and infielder Jessica Maciolek lined a two-out single, allowing Roder to tie the game.

Both teams could not break the tie, so the game went into extras. With Shaw still on

THURSDAY

RAMAPO

sports

Baseball vs. Montclair State University at 3:30 p.m.

the mound to try to keep the Roadrunners alive in the top of the eighth, the Pioneers took a 3-2 lead on a passed ball.

Looking for the tie, or even the win, Ramapo had a runner on third with two outs, but were unable to get the run across, dropping the first game to the NJAC squad.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Ramapo again jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first, but this time the end result was in the Roadrunners favor, as they won 3-0 to split the series with the Pioneers.

Ramapo’s sophomore starting pitcher Harley Masiello gave up five hits and recorded three strikeouts through three innings. Sophomore pitcher Nicole Schneider finished the game in relief, striking out two, and giving up only one hit to earn the win and raise her record to 4-0.

Ramapo’s next game is Saturday at 1 p.m. at NJAC rival Rowan University.

FRIDAY Baseball at Montclair State University at 3:30 p.m.

Men and Women’s Track and Field - Roadrunner Invitational Men’s Tennis at Rutgers-Newark at 4 p.m.

rsorce@ramapo.edu

The Roadrunners are 15-3 this season after winning the second game of a doubleheader with the William Paterson Pioneers on Tuesday. Photo by Steve Fallon

SATURDAY

WEDNESDAY

Baseball vs. Rowan University at 11 a.m. (doubleheader) Softball at Rowan University at 1 p.m. (DH) Men and Women’s Track and Field - Roadrunner Invitational

Baseball vs. St. Joseph’s College (LI) at 3:30 p.m.

Men’s Volleyball vs. New Paltz at 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Page 14 The Ramapo News

Kentucky Tops Kansas in Men’s Basketball Title Game

By JAKE EDINGER Staff Writer

Led by head coach John Calipari and AllAmerican Anthony Davis, the Kentucky Wildcats won their eighth title, their first since 1998, beating the Kansas Jayhawks by a score of 67-59.

Anthony Davis, who led the Kentucky Wildcats to a national championship in his freshman campaign, averaged 10.4 rebounds and 4.7 blocks per game this season. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

The Wildcats, powered by Davis’ six blocks and three steals, neutralized the Jayhawks’ offense throughout the night. In a game full of athletic plays and hard fought defense, Kentucky sophomore Doron Lamb scored 22 points and Kansas junior power forward Thomas Robinson scored eight points and grabbed 17 rebounds.

Calipari won his first national championship in his 19 years as a collegiate head basketball coach. Throughout his

entire career, Calipari received criticism for not winning when it matters. After turning the University of Massachusetts basketball program around and leading University of Memphis to the championship game in 2008, many questioned Calipari’s ability to win a championship with teams full of “one and done” players.

Although Kentucky consisted mostly of freshmen, Calipari finally reached the promised land this past Monday, coaching arguably the most talented college basketball team since the University of Michigan’s “Fab-Five” to a championship.

Kansas edged out the Ohio St. Buckeyes by two points in the Final Four semifinal. The Wildcats defeated their fellow Kentucky rival, the University of Louisville, 69-61.

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino formerly coached the Wildcats, leading them to the 1996 championship. After beating Pitino, Calipari and the Wildcats were poised to face a Kansas team that played tough interior basketball that could challenge Davis.

In the championship game, Davis remained a strong defensive presence.

Davis earned the Naismith College Player of the Year, the first player to do so from the Southeastern Conference since “Pistol” Pete Maravich 42 years ago. Many analysts expect Davis to enter the NBA next season as the first pick in the upcoming draft.

The Wildcats fulfilled the expectations bestowed on them as preseason favorites to win the championship by playing hard-nosed defense and team offense.

Athletically, they could be considered one of the best college basketball teams of all time. jedinger@ramapo.edu

Baylor Finishes Perfect Year

By JEREMY KELLY Staff Writer The Baylor University Lady Bears cruised throughout the entire season, and it was no different on Tuesday night, as they won the 2012 NCAA Women’s Division I Basketball Tournament with an 80-61 triumph over the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.

The win marks Baylor’s second national championship; they also became the first team in college basketball history (men’s or women’s) to finish with a record of 40-0, defeating opposing teams by an average of 26 points per game.

Junior 6’8” center Brittany Griner, the Associated Press Player of the Year, led the way for the Bears with 26 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks.

She was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player as Baylor dominated Notre Dame in rebounds (46-27) and field goal percentage (50 percent to 35.5 percent).

The Fighting Irish trailed most of the first half but kept it close into the second half, trailing 54-48 around nine minutes into the game. But Baylor went on a 21-2 over the next six minutes to put the game out of reach. Junior guard Skylar Diggins led the Irish with 20 points, while senior guard Natalie Novosel scored five points while going 0-11 from the field. Notre Dame has yet to win a national title since 2001.

Baylor was the first seed in the Des Moines region, and they won comfortably over UC Santa Barbara, the University of Florida, Georgia Tech and the University of Tennessee to reach the Final Four.

On Sunday, they played the Stanford University Cardinals, who had gone 35-1 up to that point. Although Griner was held to only 13 points on 3-9 shooting, Terran Condrey contributed 13 points off the bench and had a great advantage in free throws (19-26 to Stanford’s 5-7) en route to a 59-47 victory.

Baylor’s last national title came in 2005, when they won over Michigan State. They advanced to the Elite Eight in 2011 but lost to Texas A&M, who topped the Irish in the championship game.

Notre Dame also finished first in the Raleigh region and won easily against Liberty University, UC Berkley, St. Bonaventure University and the University of Maryland. They faced the University of Connecticut Huskies in the Final Four in a rematch from last year. They also beat the Huskies twice during the regular season; however, they lost to them in the finals of the Big East tournament on March 6.

Behind Diggins’ 19 points, the Irish led by six with less than three minutes to go, but the Huskies came back with eight straight points to take the lead.

After Diggins missed a runner, Novosel hit on a put-back lay-in to tie the game with 4.6 seconds left. With Notre Dame leading 73-72 with 1:30 remaining in overtime, guard Brittany Mallory—who had been 0-4 from 3-point range going into overtime, knocked down her second 3-pointer of the extra session, extending their lead to four. Notre Dame went on to win, 73-65. jkelly7@ramapo.edu

Knicks Season on the Brink of Disaster Due to Key LIN-juries NEW YORK FIGHTS TO KEEP FINAL PLAYOFF SPOT WITHOUT STOUDEMIRE, LIN

By RYAN HOHNER Staff Writer The New York Knicks’ playoff hopes hang in the balance with an injury-stricken roster that appears to be crumbling with 12 games remaining in the regular season.

On March 26, the Knicks released a statement that starting power forward Amare Stoudemire would be out indefinitely with a bulging disk in his back.

Since the announcement, things have begun to spiral downhill for the Knicks.

“THE KNICKS CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY AT THIS POINT. A LATE RUN CAN HAPPEN.” - Matt Derienzo, junior

Five days after announcing Stoudemire’s injury, Jeremy Lin was diagnosed with a tear in his left meniscus. The Knicks starting point guard and media sensation will most likely miss the remainder of the Knicks season, including a possible playoff berth in late April.

The Knicks currently reside in the number eight spot in the Easter Conference, sitting with a .500 record of 27-27. The injuries of Stoudemire and Lin, as well as role players Jared Jeffries and Bill Walker, have resulted in losess.

This past Tuesday, the Knicks led the Indiana Pacers, entering the fourth quarter with a commanding 87-72 lead. The fourth quarter box score, however, tells a different story. Indiana came storming back into the game, outscoring New York 40-17 in the final quarter of play.

Indiana’s big men Danny Granger and Roy Hibbert contributed to outscoring the Knicks 54-38 in the paint during the game.

The Knicks weren’t out-rebounded despite a great size differential with Chandler and Anthony playing the forward and center position, but frustration played a key role late in the game.

Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith both committed flagrant fouls late in the game that aided the Pacers in staging a lategame comeback victory, 112-104. Moving forward into the final 12 games of the season, the team’s composure will be key to making the final spot in the playoff picture.

After rejuvenating the New York Knicks earlier in the year, Jeremy Lin is likely to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia.

The Knicks trail the Philadelphia 76ers (29-24) by 2.5 games for the seventh spot in the conference while the Milwaukee

Bucks (25-28) are on the coat tails of the Knicks, behind 1.5 games. New York’s performance in their remaining schedule will prove critical to their playoff chances, but fans still remain optimistic.

“The Knicks control their own destiny at this point, and if we can just finish strong with the return of Jeffries and maybe Stoudemire come late April, a late run can happen,” junior Matt Derienzo said.

The Knicks remaining 12-game schedule features five games at home, where they are 18-10 on the season. Among those games, only four are against teams below .500 such as Washington, New Jersey, Cleveland and Charlotte. The other eight include two against the number one team in the Eastern Conference, Chicago, as well as key matchups against Miami, Boston and Milwaukee.

The road ahead is by no means an easy one for the Knicks, but their next test will be tonight in Orlando against the same team they embarrassed on March 28 at home by a score of 108-86. rhohner@ramapo.edu

Thursday, April 5, 2012

The Ramapo News Page 15

Yankees Look to Bring World Series Title Back to New York BRONX BOMBERS BOOST ROTATION BY ADDING KURODA, PINEDA AND PETTITE

By BILL PIVETZ Staff Writer The 2012 MLB season is underway, and the New York Yankees’ quest for their 28th Championship begins on Friday.

Despite not signing any marquee names during the offseason, the Yankees made some key moves to bolster their roster. In late January, the Yankees signed former Dodgers starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda and traded top catching prospect Jesus Montero for young Mariners pitcher Michael Pineda.

The Yankees added both starters to help Sabathia and Nova in the starting rotation.

Pineda, however, will start the season on the disabled list due to tendinitis in his right shoulder.

Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia round out the Yankees list of starting pitchers. They traded the struggling A.J. Burnett to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash and two minor league players. Andy Pettitte announced that he come out of retirement and signed earlier this month. Although he is not ready for Opening Day, Pettitte has his eye on a mid-season return to the mound.

With Sabathia and Kuroda secured spots in the rotation, the rest was still questionable at the end of spring training.

Hughes is likely to grab the third spot in the rotation after his performance during spring training, pitching 13.1 innings with eight strikeouts. Nova and Garcia are left with

Second baseman Robinson Cano, who hit .302 with 28 home runs and 118 RBIs last season, will play a key role in the middle of the New York Yankees’ batting order this season . Photo courtesy of Chris Ptacek, Flickr Creative Commons

the fourth and fifth spots, and Pettitte will compete for a starting spot once he is back.

Closer Mariano Rivera looks to be ready for the regular season, regardless of talks about his retirement. He allowed one run and four hits during his eight innings pitched in the spring. The Yankees bullpen will operate without reliever Joba Chamberlain, who injured his ankle while playing on a trampoline with his son, for

most of the season. But with support from David Robertson and Rafael Soriano, the bullpen still contains plenty of viable options.

Alex Rodriguez is performing at the level Yankees fans are used to seeing after he received surgery in Germany on his knee during the offseason. In 43 atbats, Rodriguez is hitting .279 with 10 RBIs, two home runs and four doubles.

Granderson, Jeter, and Teixeira also posted good numbers during Spring Training. The Yankees lineup is always a dangerous one for opposing pitchers to face, and this year should be no different with the addition of Raul Ibanez as the Yankees designated hitter.

Cano and Granderson showed fans why they should be considered among baseball’s elites with their performances last year, each contributing over 115 RBIs. If they continue to hit the ball hard and drive in runs, then the Yankees will have nothing to worry about.

After a record-breaking season last year, the Yankees plan on continuing that success this year. Jeter entered the record books with his 3,000th hit and Rivera became the all-time saves leader.

The Yankees’ road to the World Series will be a tough one this year. The Angels made a huge splash in the offseason by signing AllStar first baseman Albert Pujols and pitcher C.J Wilson. The Tigers also made news by signing former Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder. With the combination of Fielder and Miguel Cabrera, the Tigers are a championship contender as well.

The American League became that much tougher over the winter. Yet, with the players on the Yankees’ roster, they have a great chance to win their 28th title in 2012. wpivetz@ramapo.edu

New but Not Improved Mets Face Uphill Battle This Season ‘AMAZINS’ COULD STRUGGLE TO LIVE UP TO FRANCHISE MONIKER WITHOUT REYES

By DAN GEARY Staff Writer The New York Mets finished last season with a 77-85 record, haven’t had a winning season in four years, lost their best player in the offseason and are in last place in the National League this preseason. All signs point to the New York Mets not being a World Series contender, at least for a few more seasons.

The recent loss of shortstop Jose Reyes really sets the Mets back. He decided to leave and signed a six-year contract worth $106 million with the Miami Marlins.

The four-time All-Star is the Mets all-time leader in runs scored, stolen bases and triples after playing nine seasons with the team.

“IT’S REALLY TOUGH BEING A LIFELONG METS FAN. THE TEAM ISN’T EXPECTED TO HAVE A WINNING RECORD AGAIN THIS YEAR AND WE HAVEN’T WON A WORLD SERIES SINCE 1986, BUT THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE SOMETHING CRAZY AND UNPREDICTABLE CAN HAPPEN.” - Bill Lidell, junior

The Mets did not manage to sign any big name players following the loss of Reyes, so much of their team remains the same as last season. Offensively, they will rely heavily on the bats of third baseman David Wright, left fielder Jason Bay and right fielder Lucas Duda.

Ace pitcher Johan Santana will return to the mound when

the Mets open their regular season today. Santana missed the entire 2011 season due to the repercussions of surgery from when he tore the anterior capsule in his left throwing shoulder. Santana went 16-7 in 2008, 13-9 in 2009 and 11-9 in 2010 as a Met. Mike Pelfrey, Jon Niese, R.A. Dickey and Dillon Gee will make up the rest of the rotation with Frank Francisco handling closer duties.

The rest of the starting lineup consists of catcher Josh Thole, first baseman Ike Davis, second baseman Daniel Murphy, shortstop Ruben Tejada and center fielder Andres Torres.

Even with the new playoff structure this season, the Mets are still a long shot to reach the postseason. Instead of only four teams (three division champions and one wildcard team) reaching the playoffs, there is now an opportunity for a second Wild Card team to compete in the postseason.

The two teams with the best records in each league that didn’t win their respective division will now play one game to determine which advances as the fourth seed.

The Mets will have to compete directly against tough National League East opponents such as the Philadelphia Phillies, who have won the division for five straight years.

The Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins make up the rest of the Eastern Division. Last season, the Mets finished in fourth place.

“It’s really tough being a lifelong Mets fan,” junior Bill Lidell said. “The team isn’t expected to have a winning record again this year and haven’t won a World Series since 1986, but there is always a chance something crazy and unpredictable can happen in baseball.”

The Mets open their regular season this afternoon at home against the Atlanta Braves. dgeary@ramapo.edu

Starting pitcher Johan Santana will return to the New York Mets today, playing for the first time since 2010 after recovering from left shoulder surgery. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Page 16 The Ramapo News

SPORTS

LET’S PLAY TWO

The Roadrunners split a pair of games with William Paterson University on Tuesday to place their record at 15-3.

Photo by Steve Fallon