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9.15.2011
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SPECIAL EDITION
A Publication by the Students for the Ramapo College Community
Ramapo Observes 9/11 Ten Years Later Students Remember Anniversary of Attacks in Three-Part Ceremony
photo by Stefanie Mauro
New York City commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Twin Tower attacks with events at Ground Zero as well as throughout the area. As night fell, beams of Tribute in Light shone over Lower Manhattan. By JULIE CANDIO SEKEL Staff Writer
Ramapo College students assembled in the Salameno Spirtual Center on Sunday night to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Twin Tower attacks in a threepart ceremony. Approximately 40 students attended the prayer and reflection service in the center before proceeding to the on-campus walk and candle vigil, which took place between the Berrie Center and Laurel courts. Students were invited to participate in a Catholic mass held simultaneous to the memorial
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events. The evening began with a welcome speech from Pat Chang, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, who posed this question: “Ten years ago – where were you?” Many students said they asked themselves this question throughout the day, especially while attending the evening remembrances hosted by the Office of Campus Ministries, the Student Government Association, and Zeta Beta Tau. These services, however, left some students mulling over a different question: why the atten-
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dance was not what they expected? “For a college that’s so close to the city, how can so few people show up?” senior Maggie Rogers asked. Rogers, a campus leader active in Ramapo’s Relay for Life, compared the huge turnout of the “cure for cancer” event to the on-campus commemorations of the 9/11 tragedy. With the final count of these services reaching just over 100 students, Rogers attributed the lack of participation to apathy and the student body’s skewed priorities. “When you go to Relay for Life, you get free gifts and free food,”
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Rogers said. “All you get here that’s free is the feeling in your heart.” Rogers was not the only student who felt the attendance was “embarrassing for Ramapo College.” Junior Kim Arico asked friends to attend the services, but could only get two friends to agree. “People didn’t feel it was important enough,” Arico said. “They think they have more important things to do.” About 6,000 undergraduate students attend Ramapo, but only a
see 9/11 WALK page 6
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XLII No. 1
Sept. 11 Memories Still Vivid a Decade Later
By JAKE HYMAN Staff Writer Everyone has a story. The memories from it never fade; will never be forgotten. The details from it are vivid. It is a moment in history that, for most, made time stand still. Here at Ramapo, residents, teachers, and other faculty alike have their own unique, emotional tales. On September 11, 2001, America was attacked and blindsided by a series of hijacked planes carrying innocent passengers which were then crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. People were glued to their television sets, watching the unbelievable footage of the Twin Towers enveloped in flames. At 8:46 A.M. the first plane hit
photo by Karen Rivera
Thousands attended New York Cityʼs 9/11 ceremonies.
see DECADE on page 6
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Page 2 The Ramapo News
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(201) 684-7842 rcnjnews@ramapo.edu Megan Anderle Editor-in-Chief
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Ground Zero: A Mourning Site for Grieving Americans
Thursday, September 15 2011
By KAREN RIVERA Former Editor-in-Chief It might have been ten years ago, but for many the wounds are still fresh. Thousands of loved ones gathered at Ground Zero to remember the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001 this past Sunday. Televised around the world, former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush attended the ceremony quietly alongside President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Both Bush and Obama read short passages, protected behind bulletproof glass. This 10-year anniversary also marked the opening of the highly anticipated memorial, as families gathered by the fountains, doing rubbings of victims’ names and leaving flowers in the engraved letters. Sal Lucchese, 45, the brother-in-law of victim Michael Andrew Bane, spoke positively about the memorial—having visited prior to Sept. 11. He was flanked by family members to commemorate Bane, who worked for Marsh & McLennan on the 100th floor of the north tower. “They put a lot of thought into the memorial [and] you can see that it was not rushed,”
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Lucchese said. For one victim’s mother, the building construction was simply too much. “I’m really here in honor of my son, but I really don’t like the building,” Marina Arevalo said. “Since what happened, I hate tall buildings… no matter what, big buildings are not safe.” Her son, Kenneth Lira, was a computer engineer marooned on the 110th floor of the south tower. But for many, the day was also a reminder of the tenuous relationship between the tragic loss and the political aftershocks that pushed America into fighting two wars in the Middle East, as marches and protests were held all throughout downtown. Fights broke out between family members and protesters who vocalized political dissent. Debra Sweet, the director for World Can’t Wait, set up political displays commenting on the lives lost after 9/11. “There was virtually no memorial planned for all the other people killed beside the ones at the World Trade Center,” Sweet said. Empty boots were placed alongside each other, some with the names of the soldier who lost his or her life in Iraq or Afghanistan. A man covered by a black hood and an orange jumpsuit brought
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Whenever necessary, The Ramapo News will publish corrections or clarifications in the following issues. All corrections must be brought to the attention of the editor as soon as possible. The Ramapo News strives for accuracy. In keeping with journalistic standards, pre-publication review of any article, quote or editorial is not allowed. Viewpoints may be dropped off at SC-218 or e-mailed to rcnjnews@ramapo.edu. The Ramapo News reserves the right to edit viewpoints for content, style and space. Anonymous viewpoints will not be accepted. Paid advertisements are accepted at the sole discretion of The Ramapo News staff and are due no later than the Monday of that weekʼs issue. Rates are available by contacting the editorial staff by phone or e-mail.
photo by Karen Rivera
New Yorkers remembered those lost at at Ground Zero. 5:45 HIJACKERS PASS SECURITY
8:14 FLIGHT 175 TAKES OFF
7:59 FLIGHT 11 TAKES OFF
Where were you on Sept. 11th, 2001?
8:42 FLIGHT 93 TAKES OFF
8:20 FLIGHT 77 TAKES OFF
photos by Ian Mauro
kprivera@gmail.com
Memorials in Bergen
Valerie Canubas
Sports
back the images of torture in Abu Ghraib and Bagram. A little further on, a group coalition formed by the International Action Center, rallied against the anti-mosque protesters. Speakers from all walks of life, from Islamic cultural centers and antiwar coalitions, came together to form this “anti-anti-Muslim rally.” “When we found out they were going to do this other rally this year, we decided to come out again,” said Tony Murphy, an organizer for the International Action Center. “So this is against racism and anyone else who is anti-immigrant, anybody who is being scapegoated or blamed for the economic problems that we’re having.” Whatever the political polarization of Sept. 11 that spilled out on the streets of downtown New York, for families, it was yet another day, another year to keep going. “After ten years, it’s still upsetting,” Jennifer Nilsen said. “The change, ten years go by, you learn to live with it. Never fades away, it’s always in your heart.”
9:03 FLIGHT 175 HITS SOUTH TOWER
8:46 FLIGHT 11 HITS NORTH TOWER
“My brother went to school in the city and I remember we couldnʼt contact him for a few days. It was the first time I saw my dad cry.” -Lizzy Thomas, junior
-Al l endal e: a 5-foot by 4-foot granite marker bearing the words “We Remember,” with a bronze American flag draped over one side and a bronze eagle on top. The town lost one resident. -Frankl i n Lakes: a 6-foot stone slab carved with the names of three residents who died on 9/11, as well as one town resident who died on hijacked Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988. -Ramsey:a small memorial at a prep school in town. -Upper S addl e Ri ver: a plaque on a gazebo at its Reflection Pond honoring the town's four residents who died on 9/11. -Paramus has four memorials; a 4-foot high stone memorial at Garden State Plaza, waist-high walls with the names of all of the 9/11 victims that is surrounded by benches at the Bergen Regional Medical Center, a memorial with beams recovered from Ground Zero at a sports complex and a memorial grove within a park that has plaques honoring local victims.
9:59 COLLAPSE OF THE SOUTH TOWER
10:03 9:37 FLIGHT 93 FLIGHT 77 HITS PENTAGON CRASHES IN P.A.
“My dad was in the subway under the towers when it happened. I just remember looking out and seeing a cloud of smoke. It hit pretty close to home.” -Lori Blum, junior
10:28 COLLAPSE OF THE NORTH TOWER
8:30 GEORGE W. BUSH ADRESSES THE NATION
Source: National911Memorial.org
“I remember playing and heard a plane fly really loud over our school. My mom had to tell me. It was devastating.” -Tarik Ragland, freshman
Thursday, September 15, 2011
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REMEMBERING
SEPTEMBER The Ramapo News
Muslim Students, Professors Weigh in on Issues a Decade Later By MEGAN ANDERLE Editor-in-Chief
It was September 2004 when Jannatur and Hazzatur Rahman, 16 and 17 at the time, were taken into a room at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York where they were searched and interrogated for over four hours. “They were literally harassed by officers, unlike anyone else there, just because we have a Muslim last name,” recalls their brother, Salatur Rahman, a junior at Ramapo who emigrated from Bangladesh in 2004 with his family. For Sarah Shidid, a first-year student at Ramapo who prays at mosques regularly, a similar moment came when TSA searched her father en route to the Mecca to make pilgrimage in November of 2009, one of the five pillars of Islam. “There are certain places where you know you are going to be targeted for ‘looking’ Muslim, especially in very crowded places where security is an issue,” Akhlema Haidar, a Muslim student at Ramapo who is a sophomore, said. “I think airports are number one on that list.” Islam, a monotheistic religion that follows the religious text the Qur’an, is based on the teachings of Muhammad, who is considered to be the last prophet of God. Islamists believe the purpose of existence is to worship God and follow five pillars.
“We are portrayed in the media as looking dirty and unhappy...I remember a teacher asking me if Muslims were allowed to wear deodorant.” - Sarah Shidid, freshman
As many Muslims living in America like Rahman and Shidid have come to realize, strides towards a diverse and tolerant nation have regressed in a post-9/11 world. According to CNN, one in four people worldwide is Muslim, and there are about 1.6 billion Muslims in the world. Time Magazine estimates that by 2030, there will be 2.2 billion Muslims worldwide. A poll conducted last month published by The Washington Post finds that most Muslim Americans are optimistic about the future, and two in three Muslims said their standard of living is improving. Since 9/11, some Muslims have been stereotyped. Some Muslim students at Ramapo have seemingly heard it all, from rigorous security searches at the airport, to getting weird looks when a professor reads their foreign name aloud ,to classmates asking obscure or absurd questions such as, whether it is against their religion to wear deodorant. On a national level, Muslims have seen increased scrutiny, such as opposition to a mosque near Ground Zero and personal attacks for praying. Now that it’s been 10 years since 9/11, however, the question at hand is whether America has moved past these stereotypes that have made so many Muslims feel uncomfortable over the years. But where do Muslim college students, who were in middle school at the time of the attacks, weigh in on these
important issues – Osama Bin Laden’s death, the mosque that was considered being built near Ground Zero, how society or their campus views their religion? The answers to such questions are complex, emotional and above all else, varied. “I think sometimes as a society we have conditional amnesia; we forget certain events, the wars being fought and economy isn’t in the best shape,” Mohamed El Filali, an Imam at the Islamic Center of Passaic County, said. “People need to realize that it’s not just affecting Muslims, it’s affecting all of us.”
Bin Laden’s death
While some Muslim students were able to breathe a sigh of relief after Osama Bin Laden, the notorious Al-Qaeda leader behind the 9/11 attacks, was declared dead in April, others find it hard to believe it ever happened. Haidar said he thinks Bin Laden’s death should have been belabored and torturous. “I honestly feel that even though his death was a victory, it was a shallow one,” Haidar said. “It would have been better to capture him and make him suffer for all that he did.” On the other end of the spectrum, Risa Ahmed, a junior who was born in Bangladesh, said she doesn’t think Bin Laden was ever killed. “There’s no real proof that he’s dead,” she said. “It happened at too random a moment.” Shidid said she concluded that Bin Laden justified his actions in his own way before the terrorist attacks. “In his mind, he might have had a good intention, but in the Islamic religion, killing humans is flat out wrong,” Shidid said. Tahmina Ahmed, a sophomore at Ramapo who is Muslim and prays five times a day, said it did not affect her when Bin Laden was declared dead. “While it didn’t affect me, I believe other Muslims felt relieved,” Tahmina Ahmed said. Ahmed Ferwana, a professor at Ramapo who teaches Arabic, echoed that sentiment. He is from the Ghaza Strip and came to the United States in August. Some in Ghaza, which is a notorious hotbed for Muslim extremists, celebrated Bin Laden’s death at the time, Ferwana said.
How others view the Muslim religion today
Shidid said she feels that people are still the same today as they were 10 years ago with stereotyping Muslims. “We are portrayed in the media as looking dirty and unhappy,” she said. “I remember a teacher asking me if Muslims were allowed to wear deodorant.” Rahman said he feels Americans have become more and more tolerant. “A lot of people became curious about the religion of Islam and have educated themselves about it,” Rahman said. El-Sayed Elzahy said he has come to accept that certain peoples’ views will always be unchangeable about the way they feel towards Muslims.
see MUSLIMS on page 6
Mosque near Ground Zero
Some Muslims are understanding of why many Americans oppose the mosque, while others are in favor of it. The building of worship was proposed two blocks away from the ruins of the World Trade Center last summer, and caused controversy across the country. Risa Ahmed, a practicing Muslim, said she doesn’t think a mosque should be built near Ground Zero. “It just kind of looks like a mockery,” Ahmed said. Shidid agrees with Risa Ahmed; she said it’s “asking for” controversy between Muslims and Americans. “There are lots of other places for mosques to be built,” she said. In contrast, Rahman said the distance of the proposed mosque is far enough from the original site of the towers, as the location would be two blocks away.
photo by Elyse Toribio
Due to be completed in 2013, the Freedom Tower was still under construction as the nation commemorated the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11.
Toll Increases Pose Problems for Students, Commuters
Page 4 The Ramapo News
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Fares Go Up on GW Bridge, Lincoln & Holland Tunnels, PATH Train
By DANIEL MORRELL Staff Writer
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has recently announced that tolls to cross the Hudson River will increase this month. The plan calls for tolls to rise from $8 to $9.50 for E-Z Pass riders during peak hours for the George Washington Bridge and Lincoln and Holland Tunnels. The fees to travel the Goethals Bridge and Outerbridge Crossings will also undergo the same increase. Riders who choose to pay with cash will be facing even steeper hikes. The toll for cash payers will increase by 50 percent from $8 to $12 during peak hours. However, the inflation will not stop there. The tolls will increase by 75 cents for E-Z Pass and will be rounded to the nearest dollar for cash procurers per year until 2015. The PATH train, an underground subway system that travels from New Jersey to New York, will experience increases as well. Fares will rise from $1.75 for a single ride to $2 and will continue to escalate by 25 cents for the next three years. These increases could be devastating to financially struggling college students with internships in New York City. “I will be interning in the spring in New York City,” Katie Curl, junior, said. “The prices going up are extremely inconvenient when working for free. It's a sacrifice I have to make. This fall, I did not take the internship in order to work and save money to commute.”
photo by Daniel Morrell
Commuters will soon face price increases in local tunnels, bridges and transit systems.
Fortunately for students who live in residence halls, Ramapo College offers discounted bus trips at various times of day into New York City. Despite increases elsewhere, the cost of transportation services on campus will remain unchanged for the time being, according to Eddie Seavers, assistant director for the Center for Student Involvement (CSI).
“As far as I know there are no increases on bus tickets.” Tickets can be purchased from Roadrunner Central, which is located on the second floor of the Student Center, across from the Bookstore, and are $6 for students and $8 for faculty each way. Commuters, however, are faced with a difficult decision. “As a student traveling to the city twice a week for an unpaid internship, I feel that the toll increase will definitely make a dent in my wallet,” Diana Stancza, junior and commuter, said.. “I think its great that Ramapo offers students discounted bus tickets, but as a commuter, what I would be saving in bus fare I would be paying in gas fare driving back and forth to school.” The toll increases come as a result of the finical struggles that face the Port Authority due to “fiscal mismanagement,” according to an official statement released by governors Chris Christie and Andrew Cuomo, of New Jersey and New York respectively, shortly after the Port Authority’s announcement. Luckily for students, Ramapo College alumnus, Jahfre Harris, offered his insight how to beat the rising toll prices. “It’s simple. Take a swimming class.” dmorrell@ramapo.edu
One Year Later, Controversial Policies Receive Mixed Reviews
By ALEXIS LOPEZ Staff Writer
Students Debate Effectiveness of Changes at Ramapo
The alcohol and guest policies underwent serious changes last year, which led to much talk and controversy on Ramapo’s campus and in the media. Policy changes included hiring desk attendants to secure the residence halls from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.; requiring guest passes be submitted before 6:30 p.m.; closing the south gate of campus from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. and programming a 15 minute delay into I.D.s to prevent re-swiping; banning the popular alcoholic beverage Four Loko; and doubling alcohol related fines, among several others. Incidents that prompted policy revisions involved underage students who were found to have had a blood alcohol content of .3 and .4 (.08 is legally intoxicated), and bursts of vandalism from non-Ramapo students that occurred on campus. Now that the dust has settled on these issues, results of the new polices are emerging. “The new policies haven’t cut down on underage drinking; we’re just going to adapt and find ways around them,” Adam Gambutti, junior, said. While some students don’t feel phased by the updated regulations, other students disagree. “I think they’ve kept a lot of the wrong people from visiting our campus and getting into buildings that they shouldn’t be in,” Ryan Yaiser, another junior, said. According to officials, there were many factors that led to the changes of the policies. “Near-death experiences due to severe levels of intoxication were our biggest concern,” Pat Chang, Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, said. Chang also explained how he understands that alcohol is prominent among college campuses but knew something had to be done.
“Every senior, in order to have a wet dorm, must undergo TIPS training, where they learn how to responsibly serve,” Chang said. TIPS, which stands for Training for Intervention Procedures, is a three part program which teaches students intervention skills to prevent alcohol-related problems, such as intoxication, drunk driving and underage drinking, according to Ramapo’s website. While in the program, students will learn information, skills training, and partake in role play exercises that will help them to become better hosts and create safer environments to other students. “We want to make sure that we’re creating a safer campus,” Chang said. “I don’t feel safer because kids drinking in their dorms doesn’t affect my physical safety,” Gambutti said. Some students are wondering if they should be expecting even more changes to the policies in the near future. “Nothing is set in stone, so we will continue to dialogue with students about what works,” Chang said. A new edition to the rulebook this year is the “no car” ban for freshmen, a policy other colleges have already instated. “I kind of think it’s good and bad,” Rachel Guzzo, a freshman, said of the ban. “Now you have to get to know people and branch out more, but it’s bad because the campus doesn’t have much night life.” Students seem to have varied opinions when it comes to this new rule. “Honestly, it’s good because now there will be more parking spaces on campus,” Pat Jarron, a senior, said. “Last year it was impossible to find a parking spot.” “I think it’s good because now freshmen are forced to be more involved on campus with clubs and activities,” Sarah Martin, a sophomore, said. Most students agreed that freshmen not having their cars on campus will enrich their first-year experience, but that may
not be all that matters. “It’s bad,” Omar Keita, a freshman, said. “Some freshmen might have jobs at home and not having their cars is a problem.” “It’s really hard not having my car. I have to [make] plans with my mom or plan to take the shuttle around,” Guzzo said. “I miss my car.”
To register for a fall 2011 TIPS course, please visit the Health and Counseling Services webpage at:
www.ramapo.edu/students/chc /tips.html alopez3@ramapo.edu
Mercer Discusses State of College Affairs, Achievements Page 5 The Ramapo News By NICOLE ALLIEGRO News Editor
President Peter Mercer gave his 13th State of the College address on Wednesday, outlining for faculty, staff and students not only the more positive aspects of Ramapo College, but also “some warning signals.” Money and funding have been central to Ramapo College’s discussions and new initiatives this past year, and Mercer spoke of some of the actions being taken to help alleviate deficits and cuts to federal aid. “Because of the way in which we are funded, we’ve had to become the source of our own salvation, and take money back to the center [of profit] in order to delegate again… for strategic purposes,” Mercer said. In order to do this, the College is introducing a zero-based budgeting exercise, where over the next three years, each of the College’s units will be required to analyze ways to “find some money.” Mercer said that the President’s Office budget will be one of the first to complete this exercise in the hopes of “budgeting different than we have in the past.” Another factor that will motivate more careful money management is a noticeable increase in students who have withdrawn from housing this year. “This is the first time we’ve seen elasticity in demand” for on-campus housing, Mercer said, citing that the College is reaching the 5 percent mark for empty resident beds. “We’re going to have to reckon that that trend will continue,” Mercer added. “There are parents of our prospective students who’ve been without work not for a few months, but often for more than a year, sometimes longer than that. Those folks are making a fundamental readjustment in their
Thursday, September 15, 2011
thinking. They’re looking at their children commuting, if they can go to college at all.” Keeping this in mind, Mercer speculated that the College will not be able to increase tuition and fees “beyond the rate of inflation for the foreseeable future,” though for the past decade these costs have been raised on an average of eight percent. “We are going to have to be price-conscious in a way that we have not been in the past,” Mercer said. “That is going to be somewhat difficult for us, because we are going to con-
“Because of the way in which we are funded, we’ve had to become the source of our own salvation.” - Peter Mercer, President of Ramapo College
tinue to run a deficit…for about another three years, as we smooth out our enrollment [and] our debt payments.” If that happens, Mercer said the College has two options: cut expenses or increase revenues. The College may actually end up working out a combination of the two solutions, Mercer said. Aside from budgeting, Mercer informed the audience that the College will also need to “focus much more heavily on marketing,” particularly because Ramapo recently fell in the U.S. News and World Report college rankings, dropping in the listing of best regional universities in the north. This standing is important to the College because many
prospective students, parents, and high schools greatly consider the “America’s Best Colleges” ranking, Mercer said, and the College plans to take action. “We have to ourselves examine why it is that we haven’t done better,” he explained. “We actually exceed our peers… in every category but one, and the category in which we are deficient is peer assessment. In other words, we’re not well known. And indeed, our own recent marketing survey suggests that we’re not known at all.” Though using marketing practices in a college setting is a controversial practice, Mercer said it is necessary to improve Ramapo’s brand and image, and also to help rectify another one of the ways he reported the College could improve: in increasing applications to the school. “The applications to the College haven’t increased appreciatively in breadth,” Mercer said. “We are still essentially a state college; we haven’t attracted enough applications or the breadth of applications that we might have wished.” Marketing strategies, according to Mercer, will help Ramapo do so. “Our marketing dollars are going to be especially needed for enrollment management, for attracting the sorts of students that we need to attract. We need to proclaim our virtues… if we expect people to make a choice to come to Ramapo,” Mercer said. Nevertheless, Mercer wasn’t shy of praise for the College’s current students, despite the outstanding areas that still need attention. Mercer called the newly accepted Class of 2015 a “terrific group, full of enthusiasm and vitality.” The freshman class has an average SAT score of 1169, and
Fair Showcases Clubs, Encourages Student Involvement
see SPEECH page 6
By COURTNEY RENZ Staff Writer
Ramapo College of New Jersey held its yearly club fair on Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m. outside the Student Center. Freshmen and upperclassmen alike came out to see what clubs and activities they could get involved in, from 1Step and Relay for Life to the Student Government Association and the Yoga Club. The clubs spread out around the Arch in alphabetical order and lined the sides of the academic buildings. Club representatives sat or stood by their tables, not afraid to pull people over and tell them everything that their club had to offer. The Social Justice Coalition, like many other organizations attending the event, shouted questions at passersby to see who was truly interested in their cause. Other tables handed out fliers and allowed curious students to ask questions. While many club representatives tried bringing people toward their table, the Ramapo Board game Club took a more laid-back approach by doing what they do best, playing some games. When asked if she was unhappy with her spot at the end of the line of tables, Yoga Club member Kelly Payne, a junior, said, “It doesn’t really bother me; in fact, I’m the first person many people will see when they walk out of the Atrium.” She also said that coming out and telling people about the Yoga Club is a very “beneficial” way to get “our name out and have people join.” Senior Noah Luogameno caught the attention of many students with his no-holds-barred way of telling it like it is. A member of 1Step, the environmental organization at Ramapo, Luogameno said, “We care about the environment and the people of Ramapo. We want let everyone know that everything that is going on in the world is not necessarily in the interest of people today.” Greek Life, another major part of the Ramapo experience, also came to get the word out to freshmen about their organizations. The Greeks took up nearly half of the tables designated to getting students involved. Sororities decorated their tables with bright colors and balloons to try and catch people’s attention. Lauren Wolf, a junior and member of Theta Phi Alpha said, “The club fair is a great way to start and meet the girls early.” She claims that it “will make it less awkward when they are pledging” because “we already know their faces and names and they know ours.” Scott Mangieri, a sophomore and member of Alpha Epsilon Pi, the second oldest fraternity at Ramapo, felt that while being at the club fair was “a good way to get our name out,” it is more beneficial to attend the Meet the Greeks event. Clubs surrounding the archway seemed to be more spread out than those under the overhang. These clubs also had an advantage because they were out in the open, where they pass more easily noticeable, rather than in the shade all cramped together. “A more open space would work out in favor of all the clubs in the future,” Renee Bruno, a freshman, said.
photo by Katie Didonato
Students mingle at the Club Fair on Tuesday, held from noon to 2 p.m. outside the Student Center, to learn about the on-campus groups and activities offered at Ramapo.
Alyssa Cullere, also a freshman, went to the Club Fair to get more involved. She decided to join Donate Life, Student Government and College against Cancer. While she found and joined the clubs she wanted, she also felt that “there are more clubs at Ramapo that didn’t show up.” Kelsey Duffy, another freshman, claims she “expected more” and that the club “Ramapo Readers was no where to be found.” Overall they both said it was a good way “to get more involved.” Freshman Sarah Quiles knew that the Club Fair was happening, but was not sure about the location or time. She stumbled upon it after “grabbing a bite to eat in the Atrium and then I walked outside to see the event occurring.” She was very excited that she was able to take part in seeing what Ramapo had to offer in getting involved. “It was exactly what I expected,” said Quiles. crenz@ramapo.edu
Page 6 The Ramapo News
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Ramapo Walks to Reflect on 9/11 Where Ramapo Was 10 Years Ago continued from page 1
Sept. 11 ceremonies. Residents peered out the Laurel, Pine, and Linden Hall windows to observe the participants circling the quad. Walkers continued to the Laurel Courts for a PowerPoint presentation and the opportunity to share their experiences of the 2001 event with the college community before signing a memorial banner and mingling with other attendees. “Ten years,” one speaker said. “For me, that’s half of my life right there.” Most of the speakers provided personal accounts of the day in middle school they learned the United States was under attack and would soon be entering into war. They also provided words of encouragement for others. “Keep in mind all the loved ones lost, all the heroes made that day, and all the memories that live on after,” SGA Vice President Frank Levering said. Levering was one of a handful of students who spoke during the march and subsequent service. The interfaith memorial also provided attendees with optimistic words from Chang, President Peter Mercer, Joe Prentice, president of Newman Catholics at Ramapo, and Campus Minister Matthew Higgins. Higgins stressed the importance of remembering 9/11 to prevent future acts of terrorism and mold the minds of college students who will serve in military positions and “venture into influential careers.” “You need to remember the tragedies that
happened and the things that brought us together,” Higgins said. But some attendees believed the poor participation does not coincide with “remembering.” They wondered if college-aged people are ready to forget and now feel secure enough living in the U.S. “We’re not nervous to live on campus or in this country,” junior Christina Long said. “We can’t live in fear it will happen again, but that doesn’t mean students should just forget what happened.” Walkers felt the event was publicized well through students’ Ramapo e-mail accounts, the school’s website, and social networking sites such as Facebook, and saw no reason for those interested not to attend. “I don’t understand why people looking out their windows at the service wouldn’t just come down,” Rogers said. Still, Arico expressed her hope that the memorial will take place in future years. Higgins too confirmed his desire and plan to make the event annual. But attendees like Rogers, who will have graduated before next September, left the commemoration questioning the integrity of Ramapo students. “Is the Jets game that important?” Rogers said. “DVR it!” jcandios@ramapo.edu
What Sept. 11 Means to Muslims continued from page 3
Ramapo’s reaction to Muslims
Because some Muslim students feel that the community has a lack of understanding of what Islam stands for and how it is practiced, they felt education was necessary to bridge the gap. Rahman said he felt Ramapo students didn’t know enough about Muslims, so he created a Muslim Student Association last semester and is in the process of recruiting members, to spread accurate information about the religion and create a safehaven for other Muslims.
“Terror has no religion.”
-Ahmed Ferwana, professor of Arabic
Shidid, who went to public high school in upstate New York where there were few minorities, said Ramapo is a more tolerant environment than that of her high school. “I think Ramapo is open to diversity – I can walk into a class and see all sorts of different people,” Shidid said. Shidid said she has connected with a few Muslim students who wear hijabs, which has made her feel comfortable in a new environment. Kayaalp said she has found Ramapo students to be “a breath of fresh air” when it comes to being tolerant to Muslims. “They’re very open-minded and inquisitive,” Kayaalp said. “They do not feel com-
fortable with making sweeping generalizations and like to learn. I’ve found that Muslim students feel that way too. It’s actually one of the reasons why I chose to work at Ramapo.”
Are we safer?
Since 9/11, officials have taken steps to create a safer nation, realizing that terrorism is a threat and there is a need for constant preparedness. Taking such steps has shown that these officials have recognized that anyone could be a threat, rather than a particular religion or race. Clifford Peterson, a professor at Ramapo who is a specialist in terrorism, said that as a whole, America is safer now than it was before 9/11. He also said that Al-Qaeda is not as powerful as it was years ago. “There is some evidence that Al-Qaeda has had greater problems recruiting since 9/11, because the violence was against other Muslims too,” Peterson said. “They’ve metastasized.” Muslims like Ferwana want to get across the message that the religion propagates peace and compassion, and he is eager to shed the incorrect, terroristic notions many Americans have about Muslims. “Terror has no religion,” Ferwana said manderle@ramapo.edu
continued from page 1
the North Tower. The first thought was that it was probably a very unfortunate accident. People watched the news and saw the image of the North Tower burning, hearing eye witness reports from those who saw the collision. Then, 17 minutes later, another aircraft crashed into the South Tower. This was caught on live television as most networks had their cameras fixated on the World Trade Center. It was clear: America was under attack. “I was in my fifth grade classroom,” Justine Encinas, junior, said. “I remember thinking how much I wanted to go home. It was a surreal feeling.” Most students shared the same feeling upon hearing the news. Others, like Victoria Grey, sophomore, reacted to the attacks with disbelief. “I pretty much dismissed it right away since I had been to the Twin Towers the week before,” Grey said. Faculty who were working at Ramapo the day the events occurred gave their own take on the events. Dr. Pat Chang, associate vice president for Student Affairs at Ramapo, was on campus on the day of the attacks. After seeing the initial report of a plane crashing into the North Tower, Chang remembers thinking, “Can you believe some dope just flew into the World Trade Center?” Then, as news of the second plane hitting
the South Tower broke, Chang and many others at Ramapo that day were overcome with shock. “Oh my God, that wasn’t a mistake,” Chang recalled. “How did we know we were safe right here? It felt apocalyptic-like.” That night the student government at Ramapo organized a vigil service in the bandshell. Many turned out to honor those who had lost their lives earlier that day. They were there also to pray for survivors, and those who had lost someone. They needed to be together. Dr. Anthony Padovano, professor of literature and philosophy at Ramapo, recalled the student body taking the tragedy in an “exceptional, mature manner,” despite the events surrounding that day. Just like the United States of America, Ramapo is now a difference place today because of the events of Sept. 11. The idea for a spiritual center was thought of to give students a place to go to reflect on the events, their lives, and whatever else may be on their mind. The center also paved the way for the discussion on religious and cultural diversity, which had been in a state of flux after the attacks. Padovano described the spiritual center as a place to “… bring together Muslims, Christians, Jews, and all other systems of belief into one spot to dialogue together…to bring peace.” jhyman@ramapo.edu
President Details Plans for Future Ramapo Bass Fishing Club, which sent
continued from page 5 two teams of two students each to the
with close to 30 percent diversity among the students, the group has allowed the College to achieve two of its goals of improving diversity and academic standing simultaneously. He also detailed a list of successful initiatives supported by the Strategic Priorities Incentive Fund (SPIF) which have been up and running this year, including the recent AACSB accreditation for the Anisfield School of Business, the newly expanded adult degree programs, the Center for Innovative and Professional Learning, the Diversity Action Committee, and the full funding of the first year costs for EOF students. “Because we have attracted students of higher academic standing with [this funding], and because we have made it possible for them to attend college without having to work, we have attracted better students and they have performed better,” Mercer explained. “This is a great achievement and I’m very proud of it.” Finally, Mercer commended the College’s “outstanding” faculty and staff, who over the summer were also recognized in the competitive “academic workplace” survey accumulated by The Chronicle of Higher Education, which named Ramapo as “one of the best colleges to work for.” Mercer concluded his address on the same positive note. “We have every right to be optimistic,” he said. He then told the audience of the
National Guard FLW College Fishing Northern Division Championships, where the students placed first and fourth, bringing back a $50,000 top prize and a $5,000 one. The team will now be eligible to win $100,000 in the national championships. The Bass Fishing Club illustrates one of the mottos of sorts for Ramapo College, according to Mercer. “We may be young, but we’re good.”
What Can S tudents Do to Hel p? 1. S pread the word “Talk up Ramapo College as a potential destination point for those of your friends and relatives who are contemplating going to college.” 2. Make suggesti ons “Challenge the administration and the faculty when you see what you consider to be waste, or when you can identify ways you can save money.” 3. Donate “Participate in alumni giving [upon graduation], even at its most modest level. What we really need is for our graduates from the get-go to be supportive of us.” 4. S peak up “Make sure that within your own confines, your own program, you participate in the decisions about what needs to be streamlined, because of course, there’ll be some cuts. But don’t stand idly by.”
nalliegr@ramapo.edu
VIEW POINTS
Thursday, September 15, 2011 Campus views are the sole opinion of their respective authors, submitted to The Ramapo News and in no way reflect the views of either The Ramapo News or Ramapo College of New Jersey.
Why Paul Krugman Should Lose His Job, Leave America The Economist Calls the Nation ʻShamefulʼ on 9/11 in NYT
By MEGAN ANDERLE Editor-in-Chief
In an editorial published on Sept. 11, “New York Times” Columnist Paul Krugman, a Nobel Prize-winning economist who gave a lecture at Ramapo last fall, said that Americans’ observance of the 10year 9/11 anniversary was “deeply shameful.” Krugman did not allow comments, but readers’ reactions were apparent as they suggested Krugman should be fired. Donald Rumsfeld, former United States secretary of defense, ended his Times subscription just because of Krugman’s offensive post. I’m an avid Times reader, and I can see why Rumsfeld would unsubscribe. “The atrocity should have been a unifying event, but instead it became a wedge issue,” Krugman penned in his column. Krugman goes on to criticize the political figures like former President George W. Bush who were in power at the time as “fake heroes.” A day later, he wrote a second post on the subject.
First of all, saying that Americans’ observance of 9/11 was shameful and publishing it on the 10-year anniversary, a day when many Americans are mourning is deeply insensitive. If he really felt compelled to publish such strong viewpoints, he could have done it a week or two after the 10-year anniversary. And while I understand the importance of timeliness in journalism, publishing it on that day was, frankly, inappropriate. The fact that Krugman generalized that all Americans’ actions were “deeply shameful” is extremely inconsiderate. What about the families of the victims, or the survivors? Did these people use the anniversary of 9/11 as a political pulpit, or to gain publicity? Were they out there trying to exploit the situation for media attention and get their 15 minutes of fame, making attention-grabbing statements? Absolutely not. These survivors and families were grieving, and remembering the great qualities of friends and family members who fell victim to atrocious terrorist action. It would be naïve to say that the Iraq War and issues surrounding the U.S. military didn’t divide Americans, but to say that
America as a whole ONLY focused on the politics is completely inaccurate. More than any other day, this past 9/11 was the least political; the anniversary was commemorated even more this year than last year or two years ago. After Krugman’s post received considerable feedback in letters to the editor and in other media outlets, he wrote a follow-up post in the Times the following day. “Now, I should have said that the American people behaved remarkably well in the weeks after 9/11: There was very little panic, and much more tolerance than one might have feared,” Krugman said in the post. What is he trying to say here? What he should have done was swallow just an ounce of his astronomical pride and apologize for all the people he offended in his first post. Instead, the Times gave him full editorial discretion and published that pointless statement. The damage was already done, and nothing apologetic was published in the second post the following day. The second part of his editorial, published on 9/11, was an attack on political figures who were in power at the time: Bernie Kerik, Rudy Giuliani, and President George W. Bush.
“Fake heroes like Bernie Kerik, Rudy Giuliani, and, yes, George W. Bush raced to cash in on the horror,” Krugman said. Not surprisingly, Krugman made another exaggerated, judgmental claim. These individuals acted in the best way they knew how, under pressured circumstances. It’s not easy to make decisions like whether to go to war. Even those who are opposed to war can agree that these leaders made tough decisions. The way in which Krugman criticizes these leaders without having any political background or leadership experience of his own is ignorant and unsubstantiated. I’d like to see how well he would have done if he were faced with such a situation. And if Krugman is so dissatisfied with America, he can move out of the country. To say that his blatant disregard for both the victims and victims’ families and the 5,000 lives lost in the Iraq war is egregious is an understatement. He acknowledges that his post was inflammatory to the brave men and women who gave their lives in the Iraq war in his Sept. 12 post. “It was a time when tough talk was confused with real heroism, when people who made speeches,
Journalists Inspire During Tragedy
By KAREN RIVERA Former Editor-in-Chief
10 years ago, I was an impressionable 14 year old, having just started high school. An avid reader, my nose was usually in the pages of “The Star Ledger,” if not “The New York Times.” However, the week after 9/11, my head and eyes were swimming with the words and images of a day where the world remembers exactly where it was. The magnitude of these events was incomprehensible. I was struck by the courage of all the firefighters and policemen, and the shock of such carnage less than 30 miles away from my sleepy suburban town. The more images and articles I read, the more I thought of the eyes and ears that captured all these images and firsthand accounts that put together the story. Sometimes I laugh at people when they ask how reporters and photographers can throw themselves on the front lines. At only 24 and a novice reporter at best, I don’t know that I can even hold a candle to what some of these veter-
ans have done for an entire world. Instead of running or looking away in fear, these photographers and journalists were looking through their viewfinders and snapping pictures of terrorism in my backyard. Instead of leaving the city, they were on the phone with the people who had no escape. They were among the last people these victims ever spoke with. 10 years later, I stood alongside them covering the memorial ceremony. I spoke to a columnist from “The Record” who told me that he was on a tugboat headed to the World Trade Center when thousands were clamoring to leave the island, right next to other photographers who captured pictures of the billowing smoke escaping the two towers. The Monday when the memorial plaza opened to the public I snapped pictures alongside David Handschuh, who broke both his legs when the towers started to fall. Literally snapping pictures until he could feasibly no longer do it. Jim Dwyer, James Nachtwey, Richard Drew, Tom Franklin. I stood in the shadow of their
work, these picture makers and wordsmiths whose coverage of a devastating event changed the way I viewed journalism. To help contribute and stand next to them 10 years later was humbling and inspiring. Without a doubt, I can say that these words, pictures and reporting defined a generation. Matthew Reed, a friend from Ramapo College would have grown up to be an American History teacher had it not been for those events and the images that changed the way we viewed the world. Now he’s in Washington, D.C. as a Middle East expert for a consulting firm. He says that Sept. 11 showed him there was a “whole world worth understanding.” 10 years later, he lent me his expertise on a story about homegrown terrorism. It’s amazing how one day changed the paths of two young impressionable teenagers. kprivera@gmail.com
then feathered their own political or financial nests, were exalted along with – and sometimes above – those who put their lives on the line, both on the evil day and after,” he said. Again, a statement like this in a follow-up post is too little too late. He had already insulted the military at that point, and shouldn’t even bother with this half-assed sentence. Just leave the U.S. if you’re that unhappy with the people here. He’s a coward for not allowing comments; he knew the statements he was making were absurd. If he were to stand by his convictions, he would have allowed readers to respond. “The memory of 9/11 has been irrevocably poisoned; it has become an occasion for shame. And in its heart, the nation knows it,” he wrote on Sept. 11. Rather than making a substantive, logical argument, Krugman established what a complet liberal asshole he is. Stick to your day job, analyzing the nation’s economy. No one's asking for your take on contemporary issues. manderle@ramapo.edu
Have something to say? Submit your letter to the editor: editor.rcnjnews @gmail.com
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Volunteers Help Local Families in Hurricane Irene Aftermath
Page 8 The Ramapo News
Thursday, September 15, 2011
‘Mahwah Elves’ Take Part in Outreach for Residents with Home Damage
photos by Stef Mauro
The Civic Engagement Center reached out to the Ramapo College community in an effort to help local Mahwah residents who were severely affected by Hurrican Irene, which destroyed thousands of homes and will cost the state tens of billions of dollars. On Sept. 9, a group of students visited local families to assist in the clean-up of homes that suffered flooding and other damages. The success and overwhelming response of the relief effort has resulted in another outreach, which will take place on Sept. 17 between 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. To sign up, contact CEC staff member Lauren MaDonald via email at lmacdon1@ramapo.edu.
Were you affected by Hurricane Irene?
“We couldnʼt access our road because both bridges washed away...We had no power for two days.” - Caitlin Vogel, junior
photos by Stef Mauro
“My basement flooded at home. Thatʼs where my bedroom is. I woke up to a lake.” - Britney Jones, senior
“We lost power for two days...cable, Internet for four days. [Freshman move-in] was annoying.” - Steve Katz, freshman
Artist Write Songs to Honor September 11th
Page 9 The Ramapo News
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Other S ongs that Honor 9/ 11 Alan Jackson Song: “Where were you (when the world stopped turning)” Album: “Drive” Velvet Revolver Song: “Messages” Album: “Libertad”
Paul McCartney Song: “Freedom Oct. 20, 1991” Album: “Back in the USA”
Bon Jovi Song: “Undivided” Album: “Bounce”
Melissa Etheridge Song: “Tuesday Morning” Album: “Lucky”
Bruce Springsteen Song: “The Rising” Album: “The Rising”
Toby Keith Song: “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” Album: “Unleashed”
Tori Amos Song: “I Can’t See New York” Album: “Scarlet’s Walk”
My Chemical Romance Song: “Skylines and Turnstiles” Album: “I Brought You my Bullets You Brought me Your Love”
Black Eyed Peas Song: “Where is the Love” Album: “Elephunk”
Chiddy Bang Concert Rocks the Ramapo Campus
All photos courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
Photo by Sandi Stucki
Ramapo students attended a free concert by Chiddy Bang sponsored by the Center for Student Involvement on September 3 at the Sharp Theater at the Berrie Center.
The World of Art Goes Beyond Expectations
Page 10 The Ramapo News
Thursday, September 15. 2011
Fashion Designers and Museums Honor Victims of 9/11
By ADRIANNA CAPPELLI & MAUREEN S CULLY Staff Writers
This past Sunday, people across the nation came together to remember those who lost their lives in the tragedies of 9/11. Not only remembered through news reports and documentaries, the fashion industry and museums throughout New York also sought to honor the memories of victims on the 10th anniversary of the attacks.
Fashion Week
The world’s fashion capital welcomed the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week as well as remembering those lost ten years ago. However, this year’s show was different; fashion week was not just about the latest runway trends, but also about encouraging the city to adopt a positive outlook despite tragedy. The terrorist attacks touched countless amounts of lives, and the people behind Fashion Week were no exception. A decade later, well-known American designers such as Tommy Hilfiger and Diane Von Furstenberg decided to extend their influence beyond the runway and donate money to the new National 9/11 Memorial and Museum. During this new transition, Von Furstenberg’s inspiration for her new collections is called “Beginnings.” “It is all about light and luminosity, hope and happiness…it celebrates a nomadic vitality, strength and resilience in an infinity of variation,” Von Furstenberg said. As Steven Kolb, executive director of the Council of Fashion Designers of America said, it was “a day of positive action.”
Museums
Many New York City museums and galleries debuted exhibits focusing on 9/11, its victims and its aftermath. Paintings, photography, artifacts and media clips are all part of the way dozens of museums are paying tribute. Professor Skrzynski, professor of Drawing and Painting, believes these shows can be healing. “Art can help someone understand or at least feel that someone else does too. When you see something that feels very genuine and soulful, especially about something so terrible, it
Photo ourtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
The MoMA along with other museums throughout New York worked to add exhibits that commemorate 9/11.
can be cathartic,” Skrzynski said. To others, like art major Kelly Rennie, these exhibits speak volumes about the art community at large. “It’s nice to see all of these museums focusing on one, national theme,” Rennie said. “It creates a sense of unity for artists as well as anyone who remembers 9/11.” Here is only a sampling of the museums that are honoring the anniversary, and the exhibits mentioned vary in content and concept, but the sentiment of memorializing Sept. 11 is the same. Museum of the Ci ty of New York (S ept. 3 - Dec. 4) The contrasting work of two artists make up the entirety of this exhibit. While one artist, Romain del Plas, has a collection of abstract depictions of Ground Zero from the attack until 2002, the other, Camilo Jose Vargara, creates a timeline of the Twin Towers from the 70s through 2011. Brookl yn Museum (S ept. 7 - Oct. 30) This exhibit includes work from Michael Richards, an artist who died during the attacks. One of the smaller 9/11 galleries, it also includes a jigsaw puzzle and reflections on 9/11 from past visitors to the museum. New York Hi stori cal S oci ety (S ept. 8 - Apr. 1) This artifact-heavy display includes objects from Ground Zero as well as some from memorials around the city. Combined with amateur and professional photographs, this gallery reflects on the history made that day. MoMA (S ept. 11 - Jan. 9) The most conceptual 9/11 tribute, this exhibit contains mostly work that predates 2001. Other pieces are direct responses or interpretations of the day itself, all meant to speak to the viewer about how the attack changed our day-to-day lives. acappel2@ramapo.edu mscully@ramapo.edu
Photo courtes of Flickr Creative Commons
Though often not seen as a place of rememberance, members of the fashion community came together, donating money to the 9/11 Memorial.
Networks Seek to Capture Audiences with Fall Premieres
Page 11 The Ramapo News
Thursday, September 15, 2011
By ELIZABETH ODERMATT Staff Writer
With the fall season fast approaching, TV networks are preparing to release a variety of shows for viewers to enjoy. From romantic comedy to medical drama, there are shows for everyone to get hooked on this fall season.
“Person of Interest”
The latest show to be added to long list of crime dramas is CBS’s “Person of Interest.” An illusive billionaire by the name of Mr. Finch develops a computer program with the ability predict the identities of anyone connected to a violent crime in the future. With a daunting task ahead of him, Finch hires a former CIA agent, John Reese to aid him in stopping the crimes. Students who are generally interested in crime shows such as “Law and Order” will be interested in the program. “Person of Interest” premieres September 22 and will air Thursdays at 9 p.m. on CBS.
with three single men: Nick, a bartender; Schmidt, a well-mannered ladies man; and Coach, a former athlete and now trainer. Alongside her new roommates, Jess has her canny model friend Cece and together this unlikely group helps Jess learn about life, love and herself. “The New Girl” premieres on September 20 and airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on Fox.
“Terra Nova” is a show about a distant future where the world is on the brink of destruction. In an effort to save humanity, scientists develop a time machine to send people back to prehistoric ages. The five members of the Shannon family opt to travel back in time and join the 10th pilgrimage of settlers to Terra Nova, the fist human colony on the other side of the temporal doorway. Unbeknownst to the Shannon’s though, the colony is right in the center of a group of dinosaurs. “Terra Nova” premieres September 26 and airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on Fox.
“The Secret Circle”
“The New Girl”
Fans of the popular movie “500 Days of Summer” will recognize the start of Fox’s new comedy “The New Girl.” Actress Zooey Deschanel makes her TV debut as Jess, an energetic, popular young girl looking to move on from her recent break up with her model boyfriend. She soon finds a new home
“Terra Nova”
Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
Zooey Deschanel stars as Jess in Foxʼs new comedy “The New Girl” airing this Fall.
“The Secret Circle” is based off a novel with the same name that follows a teen from California who learns that she comes from a family of witches. The main character, Cassie, is recently orphaned who moves to a new town and quickly makes new friends, learning about her secret family history along with the history of all the town’s witches. Cassie believed her mother’s death to be an accident, but while researching an old paper she finds reveals that may not be the case. “The Secret Circle” premieres tonight and airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on the CW.
“Whitney”
in the relationship and show the joys of first getting together, “Whitney” takes place five years into a relationship. Whitney and her long time boyfriend have both decided not to get married, but she begins to wonder how committed they actually are to each other and starts to fear that they will suffer “relationship boredom” based on what she has heard from other couples. With the help of her friends, she tries to find new ways to keep their relationship going. “Whitney” premieres September 22 and airs at 9:30 p.m. on NBC.
“A Gifted Man”
The latest series to be entered in the list of late night medical dramas is “A Gifted Man.” Michael Holt is a surgeon at a wealthy New York Medical clinic and lives a life of materials and luxury due to the high class customers. Despite his wealth, he is rather distant and cold towards others, until one night he is visited by the ghost of his recently deceased wife Anna who asks him to continue running the free clinic she worked at when she was alive, leading him to be exposed to poorer clients. “A Gifted Man” premieres September 23 and airs at 8 p.m. on CBS. eodermat@ramapo.edu
Tuesday Brings Comedy ‘Contagion’ Infects Theaters By JILLIAN CENER Staff Writer
On Tuesday, Ramapo’s College Progamming Board welcomed comedian Drew Thomas to Sharp Theater as the second entertainer in their weekly event series.
Judging by the amount of laughter from the audience, the student body seemed to welcome Thomas’ show
Thomas entertained the crowd for an hour, incorporating the issues of college, partying, television and Twitter. Additionally, he brought race into nearly every bit, coloring his jokes with a touch of cringe-worthy, yet enjoyable, humor. Thomas was not afraid to mention differences between blacks and whites, ranging from the way they spend their money to how they party. Thomas definitely felt at home on Ramapo’s campus. “I like the fact that I can still connect with college students” Thomas announced. His jokes were relevant and relatable; everyone has dealt with embarrassing parents or the problems that come with choosing a major. “I liked how he connected with the student body,” freshman Joey Banes said.
Judging by the amount of laughter from the audience, the student body seemed to welcome Thomas’ show. Thomas was humble and warm, making it easy to listen to what he had to say. The audience seemed mostly receptive to his jokes, even when he touched upon controversial subjects like marijuana, sex, and binge drinking. Sophomore Jacquie Guhl thought the show was “really nice, a little awkward” but said she would attend more events like this hosted by the CPB. Unlike last year, freshman are not allowed to have cars on campus, but the Board aims to plan on-campus events that are free of drugs and alco-
“I like the fact that I can still connect with college students” -Drew Thomas, comedian
hol, and entertaining for students of any grade. “We will have a comedian, spoken word, or band every Tuesday,” said senior CPB member Mellissa Louissaint,
While most romantic shows start out early
By JUAN S ALIBA Staff Writer
“Contagion” tells the story about a disease so deadly, that a simple touch of an infected person can trigger it immediately. Since the disease is so contagious, no one is safe, people are dying, and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is trying desperately to find the vaccine. At the start of the film Beth Emhoff (Gwyneth Paltrow), a businesswoman, arrives home feeling sick from a business trip in Hong Kong. Assuming it is just jet lag, she brushes it off, but as days by she becomes sicker until she suffers multiple seizures and dies. Her husband, Mitch (Matt Damon) is told by the doctors that she died and there isn’t anything they can do. Meanwhile, all over the globe, people are dying rapidly and the disease spreads so quickly, doctors are unable to create a vaccine. As with every disaster, there are people trying to make some extra money out of gullible people desperate to be healthy again. Alan Krumwiede (Jude Law) is a blogger set out to discredit the CDC and the government for trying to cover up the pandemic and the eventual vaccine as a hoax. I thought it was a nice touch to see people rioting and going slightly insane as they became sick-
er. It’s a fight for survival against a disease and people became desperate enough to kill to get better again. What I really liked about “Contagion” was how director Steven Soderbergh used the camera to follow a sick individual and how they go from a healthy human being to deathly sick and eventually dying in the process. The music also sets the tone for the film, it is very ominous and the film keeps you in suspense as to what’s going to happen. I highly recommend this movie. Even with the star studded cast, “Contagion” holds its own and maybe serves as a warning that we need to better our hygiene habits just in case. jsaliba@ramapo.edu
RATING:
####$
jcener@ramapo.edu
Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
The movie “Contagion” follows the affects of a deadly disease as it spreads across the globe.
Page 12 The Ramapo News
LIFE & CULTURE
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Have a Healthy Start with Berrie Center Workouts
BY S AMANTHA MUCHA Staff Writer
Want to hold onto that hot beach bod you’ve been working on? Being back at Ramapo doesn’t mean it’s time to let that hard-earned body go; there are a number of classes and fitness options to help you stay looking your best. Whether you want to sweat it out in a challenging spin class or dance it off in a fun-filled Zumba session, there is sure to be something available to keep you in shape or help you to get in shape if you’re just starting out.
Photo by Stephen Fallon
Cardio Sculpt works to keep you moving and tone your entire body.
One option is Cardio Sculpt on Mondays at 6pm with Laura Perry. This class is designed to keep you moving, but tone your entire body, focusing on your core. It’s a total body workout in an hour session. You
will use weights, yoga balls and yoga mats, as well as your own body to get your heart rate pumping. “I am open to any suggestions as to what body parts to be worked out and music selections,” Perry said. On Wednesdays there is the option of kickboxing at 7 p.m. Beginners, do not fear, you will learn everything you need to know in the class. This class is a traditional kickboxing class designed to work your entire body. “It’s a good alternative when you are bored of your regular gym workout,” junior Aisling Melillo said. Offered on Wednesdays and Fridays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. is the ever-popular Zumba class. Be ready to work up a sweat and have a blast. Expect to hear loud, fun, energizing music in a packed room. You will be dancing away the pounds in this high energy class. “I really like Zumba here because it’s a fun way to work out,” junior Brittany DiChiara said. “The instructor teaches you dance moves to music that are easy to follow. You don’t even realize that you are working out.” Last but certainly not least is spinning. It is offered on Sunday evenings at 4 p.m. with Pat Chang, the Vice President of Student Affairs. The class was full of beginners; therefore there is nothing to be shy about if you have never done spinning before. Because the training will change weekly,
Magenta’s Meals
BY LAUREN MAGENTA Staff Writer The school year has officially begun again; the days of sleeping until lunch and relaxing all day are over –– at least until winter break. With early mornings and days filled with classes and extracurricular activities, you need to give your body the fuel to get yourself through. You’ve heard it before: breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but often enough sleep takes priority. Here’s a recipe for microwaveable scrambled eggs that takes no longer than three minutes to make, including both preparation and cooking time. While cooking eggs in the microwave may sound a bit unappetizing, this recipe will leave you with a mug full of fluffy and delicious scrambles. Ingredients: Eggs (one to three) Milk Butter Optional: Pepper, cheese, vegetables To begin, take a coffee mug and microwave a small pad of butter for 20 seconds. Make sure it is enough butter to cover 3/4 of the mug once melted. Next, combine and whisk together milk, eggs and pepper into your mug. Crack open the desired number of eggs to scramble and add a splash of milk and pepper for addition-
Photo by Stephen Fallon
One workout option that students have is the Cardio Sculpt class, offered Mondays at 6 p.m.
you will always be challenging yourself to reach a new level of fitness. “[Spin is] the ability to endure,” Chang said. “[It is] not a stationary bike group, but a simulation of an actual mountain bike ride, that includes flat, hills, and jumps. [Remember to] bring at least 24 ounces of water.” Next time you are bored with your regular workout, or are ready for a new challenge, grab some friends and come out to the
Horoscopes
Ari es (March 21-Apri l 19) Recent challenges have made you stronger. Use both sides of your brain and look both ways before you leap. Listen to your heart and just be.
Taurus (Apri l 20-May 20) You make a breakthrough this week when you find a solution to an old problem. Once the revelation occurs, then it will be time to start energizing those personal dreams.
Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
Scrambled eggs provides a nutritious meal and is quick and easy to make.
al flavor. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. You can whisk the ingredients again and put the mug back into the microwave and repeat twice, whisking in between. Or you can add a pinch of cheese or vegetables and continue to whisk and heat the ingredients. To create a complete breakfast, toast a piece of 100 percent whole-wheat bread and pour a glass of milk. A side of fruit wouldn’t hurt either. Enjoy your time sleeping in! lmagenta@ramapo.edu
Bradley Center for some fun fitness classes. All classes take place in the dance rooms in the Bradley Center and towels and water are recommended to all, as well as proper footwear. The full schedule of intramural activities can be found online or at the front desk of the Bradley Center.
Gemi ni (May 21-June 20) Having higher support or assistance just when you need it most can create the feeling that you are not alone. This week you have an opportunity to take something further. Cancer (June 21-Jul y 22) Your ideas this week will prove to deepen your level of devotion surrounding your personal pursuits.
Leo (Jul y 23-August 23) Something in your life is about to sparkle like never before. There is no telling what’s specifically in store but something good is headed your way. The sky is the limit! Vi rgo (August 24-S eptember 22) This week, you’ll spend time counting your blessings as it reminds you of all that is right in your world. You can count on you!
Li bra (S eptember 23-October 22) Recently, it seems that your very best and nothing less is being asked of you. Relief is here. Take some time to celebrate the dis-
smucha@ramapo.edu
tance you have traveled.
S corpi o (October 23-November 21) This week, doors of opportunity open to expand your reach and your trust within your relationships. The key is to recognize the opening and then to capitalize on it. S agi ttari us (November 22December 21) This week will generate a refreshing optimism, minimizing any shadowy thoughts. Prepare for new elements of your journey to be unveiled that reveal your strengths. Open your heart to love.
Capri corn (December 22-January 19) Prepare for some immediate inner emotional shifts that help to accelerate your place on the path. The next two weeks will serve as a cosmic tuning fork aligning your ego with the intentions of your Soul. Aquari us (January 20- February 19) This week remember that anything is truly possible. The way this all gets set in motion is a generous spirited gesture on your part.
Pi sces (February 20-March 20) You may be feeling a tad bit wobbly as we begin this week and this may be causing your emotions to be all over the place. But this week you will be able to channel all of that emotion and energy productively. and Horoscopes courtesy of madalynaslan.com
SPORTS 9. 15 . 11
Women’s Tennis Starts Season on Right Track Roadrunners Win Three Straight Matches to Start Year at 5-1
By VICTORIA AHLERS Staff Writer
photo by Ian Mauro
Stephanie Abrecht won her single match against Kristina Swyryt of Mount Saint Mary College on Friday.
After starting the season with a win over the City College of New York on Sept. 1, the Ramapo College women’s tennis team continued to win with a 6-3 victory over Mount St. Mary College on Friday. Seniors Jywel Almirante, Brittany Pitts and Nicole Pitts all earned points for Ramapo by winning in the singles category, while Laura Strandberg and Hayley Dowling teamed up along with Almirante and Pitts for doubles victories. Last year the team went 8-3 overall, finishing with a 4-1 record in the New Jersey Athletic Conference and a second place overall finish in the conference. There is no conference tournament for women’s tennis, so the team that has the best overall record in the conference will win the championship. Ramapo was picked to finish second in the NJAC this year. The Roadrunners are led by Coach Raza Baig, who is coaching both men’s and women’s soccer in his second year at Ramapo. This year, the team has four seniors on its roster who each held winning records in both the singles and doubles categories last season and are continuing down the same road so far this season. With four strong seniors leading the team, they look poised to continue to suc-
ceed. This week was packed with matches, as they beat William Paterson University on Monday, topped Rutgers Newark on Tuesday and edged out St. Thomas Aquinas College on Wednesday. The team remains undefeated in the NJAC at 20 and has a 5-1 overall record. The Roadrunners will look to continue their success on Friday against NJAC rival Stockton College.
She has been playing since seventh grade. Barretta said that she wants to make this year count the most, which is fueling her strong start. “Since it is my last year playing, I have to go all out, and it is scary to think that I won’t be playing field hockey anymore once I graduate,”
plishments she remained humble. “She is really easygoing off the field, she knows she has talent, but will never brag about it,” Penhaker said. “On the field, she will talk to you, considering we are an offensive geared team, we have confidence to score with Amanda in the goal circle.” Barretta’s drive and stamina has helped the team win three consecutive games at the start of the season. Coach Concetta Valerio sees the talent in Baretta growing everyday and said she believes that Amanda’s speed is what makes her the incredible athlete she is. “Amanda’s best attribute has to be her speed, not only is she a fast runner, but she is quick with the ball up and down the field,” Valerio said. With Barretta’s speed, determination to score, and love for the game and the team, the Roadrunners are striving for an undefeated season. Even in tough games and situations, Barretta is able to prevail to help bring home a victory. Valerio has seen great potential in Barretta since she has been at Ramapo and compliments her ability to play the game. “Amanda is growing every day. She is already an amazing athlete, but she always takes it to the next level and always supports her teammates,” Valerio said.
Last Three Games:
Ramapo 7, William Paterson 2 Ramapo 8, Rutgers--Newark 1 Ramapo 7, St. Thomas Aquinas 2
Next Three Games:
Saturday, 3 p.m. vs. Stockton Sept. 29, 3:30 p.m. vs. Kean Sept. 30, 4 p.m. vs. FDU--Florham
Schedule courtesy of Ramapo Athletics
Barretta Scores Goals, Athlete of the Week
By MELIS S A FALCONE Staff Writer Kicking off the fall season for the women’s field hockey team, Amanda Barretta earned first New Jersey Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Scoring 16 points in a 3-0 opening week, Barretta has begun a successful start to her senior season. At the season opener, the team earned a 4-1 victory against Eastern Connecticut State University. Continuing forward, Barretta scored two goals against Delaware Valley, bringing in a 7-2 victory. Barretta now leads the NJAC with 22 points and 10 goals, both conference highs. She is on her way to surpass her goal record last year of 14. Barretta is a starting forward and transferred from Rider University.
NJAC Goal Leaders:
1. Amanda Barretta (RCNJ) - 10 2. Olivia Triano (Kean) - 9 3. Rachael Dix (Rowan) - 8 4t. Devin McNamara (MSU) - 5 4t. Brittany Carroll (MSU) - 5
Statistics courtesy of NJACsports.com
“We were excited to get a Division I player with a competitive spirit. Amanda wants to win and cares about the team succeeding together,” Becky Penhaker, a team member said.
“Amanda [Barretta] is growing every day. She is already an amazing athlete, but she always takes it to the next level and always supports her teammates.” - Concetta Valerio, coach
Barretta said. When Barretta began at Ramapo last year, she found it important to be a huge supporter of her teammates, and she appreciates all of the friendships she has made. “Amanda’s drive to score is one of her best attributes, when she gets the ball, she has confidence, and puts us in a great position to score,” Penhaker said. Aside from being one of the top scorers on the team, the senior forward also shows her talent off the field as well. Barretta’s aspirations include possibly working for a fashion magazine with her degree in Psychology, which she will receive when she graduates Ramapo in the spring of 2012. Even as she listed her accom-
vahlers@ramapo.edu
mfalcone@ramapo.edu
RAMAPO SPORTS THIS WEEK
Thursday:
Women’s Volleyball vs. Rutgers--Newark at 7 p.m.
Friday:
Women’s Soccer vs. New Paltz at 4 p.m.
Saturday:
Women’s Tennis vs. Stockton College at 1 p.m. Men’s Soccer vs. TCNJ at 1 p.m.
Women’s Soccer @ TCNJ at 1 p.m.
Field Hockey vs. FDU-Florham at 4 p.m. Women’s Volleyball Quad Matchup: John Jay College at 11 a.m. Lehman College at 1:30 p.m. St. Joseph’s College-LI at 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday:
Field Hockey vs. Rowan University at 4 p.m. Women’s Volleyball vs. New Jersey City University at 7 p.m.
Wednesday:
Women’s Soccer vs. New Jersey University at 4 p.m. Men’s Soccer @ Western New England College at 4 p.m.
New Coach Looks to Kick-Start Women’s Soccer Program Page 14 The Ramapo News
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Higgins Hopes to Transfer Passion for Soccer from England to the United States
By BECKY PENHAKER Staff Writer
Walk into one of Matt Higgins practices and it feels like you’re in the movie “Miracle,” watching him push his players to the brink as he demands greatness. His English accent resonates through the air as he shouts words of encouragement to his athletes: “You guys are one team – push each other. We all need to make it as one team.” “If you’re not going to give 100 percent, don’t bother coming.” The new women’s soccer coach is looking to breathe fresh life into a program that hasn’t had a winning season since 2007. And although he knows it’s not going to be an easy task, he believes this team is more than capable of shocking their school and conference.
“I know this school has given me a big opportunity and I won’t let them down.” - Matt Higgins, coach
“I can see the hunger in these girls,” Higgins said. “They’re doing fantastic. But I don’t tell them that. They have energy, heart. They’ve really responded.” Growing up in England, soccer wasn’t just
a sport for Higgins; it was a way of life. He can always remember kicking the ball around with his dad at his grandpa’s house. “[England] is brutal with soccer. It’s your life,” Higgins, a former goal keeper, said. “There’s a lot of pressure at an early age -very demanding.” By 16 years old, Higgins was already a professional player for Macclesfield Town F.C. He was even scouted by Manchester City by ex-England National team coach Kevin Keegan. Higgins played with five professional and semi-professional clubs during his career. However, timing would play a big part in his arrival to the United States and to Ramapo. One morning, he and his dad were having coffee while reading the write-up in the paper on the previous day’s game. It was in that edition that he and his father saw a big advertisement for a coaching opportunity in the United States. “I had always wanted to come to the States,” Higgins said. “I just didn’t think it would come this early.” At just 20 years old, Higgins left behind his playing days, all his family and friends, and pursued a new passion: coaching. Higgins now has his own training companies, English Pro Soccer and F.C Jersey Girls’ Soccer Academy, both of which he
started in 2007. In late April of this year, he was at his friend’s house, who is the catering manager at Ramapo. While visiting, Higgins was telling him how much he would love to work at the school. The next day, a client of Higgins told him how Ramapo was looking for a new head coach for the women’s soccer team. “It was meant to be,” Higgins said sitting at his desk, draped in his Ramapo maroon and black soccer jacket, shirt and shorts. “I was talking about it to my girlfriend’s brother-in-law and the next day the job opened up.” Once he was officially hired June 1, it was focus for him and his players, even meeting with them over the summer. “He had so much confidence in us already,” Alyssa Krall, senior goal keeper, said. “He wanted to turn the program around, and it made us become closer as a group.” Not only have Higgins players become addicted to his positive and passionate coaching style, but so has the Ramapo Athletic community. “He has a lot of excitement,” Kathleen Finnegan, acting Athletic Director, said. “He loves soccer -- that’s what his world is. He brings a lot of spirit to the team - very positive.” Higgin’s professional and optimistic
photo courtesy of Ramapo Athletics
After playing and coaching soccer in England, Matt Higgins moved to the U.S. to coach for Ramapo.
demeanor has helped him transform a bunch of individual athletes into one team, and ultimately, one family. He believes this season will be one in which these athletes will be counted for. “I know this school has given me a big opportunity and I won’t let them down,” Higgins said. “I love what I do. I’m happy to be here. “I hope and pray for a good year, but it’s only the start. I have a good feeling we’ll get the program off of the floor. This is a real community, everyone is together.” rpenhake@ramapo.edu
Ten Years Later: Sporting Community Remembers 9/11 By RYAN BUCHANAN Staff Writer
It was 8:46 a.m. on Sept 11, 2001 when the people of the city of New York were launched into a state of shock and utter disbelief. Fear and curiosity ran rampant throughout New York and the rest of the world. The world soon learned that the emotional and physical damage brought upon all of us by the attacks that day were premeditated and ill-conceived, and action was promptly taken. Many events and everyday happenings were cancelled nationwide and a worldwide grief process began for the people who died that day. Bridges and tunnels to Manhattan were closed both ways. The New York Stock Exchange was closed, along with many other everyday essentials in New York City. There was no professional baseball for six days. On Sept. 11, 2011, 10 years later, the entire sports world paid its respects to the heroes and victims who died and were affected by the tragedy.
On Sept. 11, 2011, 10 years later, the entire sports world paid its respects to the heroes and victims who died and were affected by the tragedy.
The Jets had their hearts set on victory on Sunday, defeating the Cowboys in dramatic fashion at MetLife field, 12 miles from Ground zero. Fans were advised to come early because they would be experiencing
photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
An American flag was displayed across Citi Field in a ceremony before the Mets game on the night of Sept. 11.
advanced safety measures. FDNY, NYPD, and PAPD had bagpipers on the field for pregame ceremonies playing the song,“Amazing Grace.” The Redskins defeated the Giants in front of their home fans in Washington, D.C. For pre-game ceremonies, the teams brought 150 family members affected by the attacks in New York and the attacks on the Pentagon onto the field. General Colin Powell flipped the coin. The Yankees lost an away game, and the Mets played at home in a game that they lost in extra innings. An American flag draped across the entire outfield was on display for
the moving pre-game ceremony that featured an appearance by long-time Met John Franco throwing the first pitch. Ramapo student Mike Drury attended the game along with other Ramapo students, courtesy of Roadrunner Central. “They dimmed the entire ball park and had a moment of silence,” Drury said. “It was very well put together.” Perhaps Mike Piazza is best known for his performance on September 21, 2001, which was the first professional sporting event held in New York after the attacks. He hit a game winning home run in the seventh inning against the rival Atlanta Braves. Although
the game had no impact on if the Mets would make the playoffs, Shea Stadium erupted into a frenzy. Piazza propelled the baseball over the fence with the help of everyone in attendance that evening. Damaging events tend to carry impact throughout the sports world. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, LA in 2005, a great percentage of the city was affected, including the Superdome. The New Orleans Saints played their home games away that year, four of them at Tiger Stadium, home of the LSU Tigers, one at the Alamodome in San Antonio, and one at Giants Stadium. Many residents in New Orleans lost their homes. The New Orleans Saints attributed greatly to the psychological revitalization of the entire city by winning the Super Bowl in 2010. This year in Japan, the women’s national soccer team became the first Asian team to win the Women’s World Cup. The team dedicated their win to victims of the earthquake and tsunami of March 11 that killed 25,000 people. Perhaps the most wonderful and far-reaching component of professional sports is when the game being played is perceived as more than just a competition that affects the season record, but with the belief that victory will rejuvenate the spirits of its fans. The teams, in a sense, are not only playing for their fans and for themselves, but for conclusion, justice and a glimmer of light to illuminate the darkness. rbuchana@ramapo.edu
Weekly Debate: Did Michael Vick Deserve New Contract? Page 15 The Ramapo News
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Eagles Were Right to Sign Star QB
By NICK BOWER Staff Writer
Whether you are a Giants or Jets fan or swear your allegiance to another team, you most likely have watched Michael Vick play amazingly on the football field. He is one of the most polarizing figures in the NFL, which is why the six-year, $100 million contract the Philadelphia Eagles signed him to this offseason was a no-brainer. Maybe it was Eagles' coach Andy Reid's coaching or just being away from the game for two years that changed Vick's game, but he is now playing the best he ever has. In 2010, he finished with a completion percentage above 60 percent for the first time in his career and threw for over 3,000 yards for the first time. He combined for 30 total touchdowns while only throwing six interceptions. Despite missing four games due to injury, Vick still finished second in the MVP voting. He led the Eagles to the NFC East Division title and they were the closest team to beating the Super Bowl champion Packers in the playoffs. According to Sports Business Journal, as of Aug. 30, Vick has the fourth highest selling jersey in the NFL, which could mean people are either starting to forget or forgive him for his past mistakes. And he is coming off his best season of his career. Like him or hate him, people will watch Eagles games on Sunday to watch Michael Vick play. The
Eagles showed their fans they are committed to winning now by their free agent spending, and locking up Vick long term was a must. Vick came out of nowhere last season to win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year, taking the NFL by storm and dazzling fans week after week, from his electrifying performance on Monday Night Football against the Redskins when he threw for four touchdowns and ran for two more, to leading the comeback against the Giants on December 19, which was dubbed the, “Miracle at the Meadowlands II.” With his contract up after the year, what was Eagles' management supposed to do, let him sign with another team? And with Kevin Kolb forcing his way out of Philadelphia, the Eagles had no choice but to resign Vick. Although Vick is 31, he is only entering his ninth season. There is a clause in the contract that says if Vick plays in 35 percent of the Eagles' offensive plays, the sixth year of the contract is terminated. In all likelihood, the contract is for five years and $81 million and only $35.5 million of that is guaranteed money. So, in the fifth and most likely final year of the contract, Vick will be entering his 13th season in the NFL, a commonality for NFL quarterbacks. nbower@ramapo.edu
Injury-Prone Vick Not Worth the Risk
By ANDREW GOULD Sports Editor
Anybody hoping to read an indictment of Michael Vick for his past actions will be disappointed. Vick committed a crime, served his jail time and made the most of his second chance in the NFL last year, finishing second in the MVP voting after dominating opponents in 11 games. Good for him. He has every right to play in the NFL after serving 19 months in prison for organizing a dog fighting operation. There are still many people, especially dog lovers, who will never forgive Vick and will always view him as a horrible human being who has no right to earn a living for his family by playing in the NFL. Nothing anyone could say will change their minds. Oddly enough, the rest of society is far on the other side of the spectrum. ESPN halted their bashing of Vick to lavish him with praise once he succeeded on the field for the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, he is presented as a hero with an incredible redemption story that washed away his past mistakes. There has to be a reasonable ground somewhere. Based off last year’s numbers, it is hard to argue against the Eagles locking Vick up (no pun intended, okay maybe it was) to be their franchise quarterback. He posted career bests in passing yards per game (251.5), completion percentage (62.8) and passing touchdowns (21) in slightly less than threefourths of a season while turning the ball
over nine times. His statistics were incredible, but are they repeatable? Vick always displayed dynamic playmaking ability with his legs, but his passing numbers in Atlanta were below average. His previous career high in completion percentage was an anemic 56.4 percent and he showed similar glimpses of inaccuracy Sunday when he completed 14 out of 32 passes. In his last seven games, including their playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers, Vick turned the ball over eight times. His low turnover rate was more of a fluke than a significant improvement in skill. The 31-year-old quarterback is also a major injury liability due to his style of running out of the pocket, making him fair game to take a licking from opposing defenders eager to lay a hit on the coddled quarterback. He missed four games last year and will probably miss some more this year until he is too hurt to stand up. Don’t be surprised if Vick’s scrambling style will force the Eagle to scramble for a new quarterback well before his contract expires. As a man who now earns more money than every quarterback other than Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, Vick is expected to play a vital role in winning the Eagles’ first Super Bowl in team history. That is a tall order to hand a player after 11 games. agould1@ramapo.edu
Quarterbacks Start NFL Season with Big Passing Days Brady Sets Career High in Passing Yards, Newton Impresses in Debut
By JEREMY KELLY Staff Writer
The NFL offseason was plagued with doubt that the 2011 season would even take place. Labor negotiations and contract disputes kept the players locked out for more than four months. But last weekend, it was back to football, and the games did not disappoint. The season began last Thursday night with the last two Super Bowl champions facing off at Lambeau Field. Behind Aaron Rodgers’ three touchdown passes, the Green Bay Packers outlasted the Saints in a 42-34 shootout. Last season’s Super Bowl losers, the Pittsburgh Steelers, came out flat against their divisional rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. Ray Rice ran for 107 yards, Joe Flacco threw three touchdown passes and the Ravens defense forced seven Pittsburgh turnovers as they rode to a 35-7 victory. Peyton Manning was inactive for the first time in his career and his absence showed as the Indianapolis Colts were walloped by the Houston Texans, 34-7. Kerry Collins, signed out of retirement to fill in for Manning, threw for 197 yards and lost two fumbles. The Philadelphia Eagles had a very successful offseason and have been picked by many to be a favorite in the NFC. Despite struggling early, the Eagles won over the St. Louis Rams, 31-13. Stephen Jackson ran 47
photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
Sebastian Janikowski celebrates after hitting a 63-yard field goal in the Oakland Raiders win over the Denver Broncos.
yards for a touchdown on the Rams’ first offensive play, but then left due to an injury; he is expected to miss Monday night’s game against the New York Giants. Quarterback Sam Bradford also got hurt but is expected to play Monday. There are six new head coaches this season, not counting last year’s interim head coaches who were given the permanent job. The two victories came from Jim Harbaugh’s San Francisco 49ers over the Seattle Seahawks, 33-17, and Hue Jackson’s Oakland Raiders in the late Monday night game over the Denver Broncos, where John
Fox was also coaching his first game with his new team. Sebastian Janikowski’s 63yard field goal before halftime was the difference in the 23-20 win. Pat Shurmur’s Cleveland Browns erased a 13-0 deficit to the Cincinnati Bengals and led 17-13 in the fourth quarter but gave up two late touchdowns and lost at home, 27-17. Days after cutting quarterback David Garrard, the Jacksonville Jaguars played Luke McCown at quarterback against the Tennessee Titans and their new head coach, Mike Munchak. Despite a late charge by the Titans, defensive back Dwight Lowery
ensured a 16-14 victory for Jacksonville with a late interception Ron Rivera led the Carolina Panthers and first overall draft pick Cam Newton against the Arizona Cardinals. Newton set a rookie record with 422 passing yards in his first start; however, he was unable to lead Carolina to a tying touchdown with less than two minutes left as Carolina fell, 2821. The Giants struggled in all three phases of the game as they lost to the Washington Redskins, 28-14. Rex Grossman threw for 305 yards for the Redskins as he repeatedly found holes in New York’s depleted defense. The New York Jets fared better on Sunday Night Football at MetLife Stadium, benefitting from two Tony Romo turnovers in the fourth quarter and a blocked punt to achieve a come-from-behind 27-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The early Monday night game featured Tom Brady throwing the most passing yards in the history of Monday Night Football. He threw for 517 yards as the New England Patriots won over the Miami Dolphins, 38-24. It was 31-17 midway through the fourth quarter before New England’s defense made a goal line stop, and then Brady hit Wes Welker for a 99-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown to put the game out of reach. jkelly7@ramapo.edu
SPORTS 10 . 7 . 10
9 . 15 10. .11 7 . 10
Y ou G o t S e r v ed !
Ramapo Women’s Tennis won their last three matches. Story on Page 13 photo by Ian Mauro
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