A&E A&E
10.20.2011
RAMAPO NEWS
Field Hockey Page 13
One Act Plays Page 8
THE
A Publication by the Students for the Ramapo College Community
Teachers, Students Rally Near Arch
SPORTS
XLII No. 6
Protesters Voice Contract, Salary Concerns
By ALEXIS LOPEZ and JULIE CANDIO SEKEL Staff Writers
Members of the Ramapo teaching community rallied at the Arch on Monday to gain support for the reinstitution of their contracts. The American Federation of Teachers organized the protest -which consisted of professors, students and staff -- to demonstrate against what the union says are unfair wages, a decline in benefits, the discontinuation of sabbaticals and the perception of adjuncts as inferior to full-time faculty. Chants and drums sounded in the background as faculty voiced their concerns about working without an agreement since July. “This is our Ghandian moment,” Wayne Hayes said. “Let us seize it.” Hayes, 10-year union member, suggested that professors strive to rework their contracts and stop providing free services, such as attendance at open houses and extracurricular activities. He stressed the continuance of faculty and staff serving the students, but said this is the time for people to rise up and create
change. In this educational environment, according to President Peter Mercer, satisfying all parties’ economic needs is difficult and people become frustrated. “When people are frustrated,” Mercer said. “They look at ways of acting out that frustration.” Ramapo has 220 adjuncts and 236 full-time faculty. Kathleen Shannon, vice president for adjuncts, spoke out against what she said was poor pay for adjuncts. Some professors pursue higher education for eight or more years only to be paid low starting salaries with little increases, she said. In past contract, from September 2007, adjuncts were paid $1,050 per credit. Those who were at Ramapo for 16 or more semesters received an additional $50 per credit. By the end of the contract, in June 2011, adjuncts were making about $1200 per credit, and it has been the same since then. “For four classes a year, it totals a little over $19,000 per year,” Shannon said. “That’s how I live such a lavish lifestyle.” For freshman Jason Tancer, this came as a surprise.
“The people actually helping students and the people making a difference are making hardly anything,” Tancer said. Shannon spoke about the struggle of professors trying keep their heads above water. “Most of us are scrambling to make a living wage, and on top of that we’re getting nothing,” Shannon said. Shannon asked students in attendance if they would accept less than $20,000 as a starting salary post-graduation. As laughter coursed through the crowd, Shannon said these issues will affect students as they enter the workforce. Rachel Wintermute, a junior, said she was impressed by the support of students who attended the rally. Previously, she was not aware these issues significantly impact students. “I know that my past professors have been unhappy with their pay here,” Wintermute said, “but I didn’t know these were the conditions.” Mercer said the situation was not unusual following the expiration
see EDUCATION page 5
Student Hit by Car on Campus, Hospitalized By THE RAMAPO NEWS STAFF
photo by Stefanie Mauro
The windshield of a Papa Johnʼs delivery car was shattered after the driver struck a Ramapo student crossing the street.
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photo by Dan OʼLeary
Faculty members demonstrate on campus on Monday to express grievances with the Collegeʼs administration.
A 23-year-old Ramapo student was struck by a Papa John’s delivery vehicle while using the crosswalk near the Anisfield School of Business building shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday, police said. The Mahwah Police Department did not release the name of the male commuter student who was struck. The student sustained serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, police said. It was the victim’s birthday, police said. The student has undergone tests and is in stable condition, said Debra Marshall, public relations representative for Good Samaritan Hospital. He is being kept for 24 hours for observation, she said. Mahwah Police did not identify the driver, who was charged with careless driving and failure to
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yield at a crosswalk, police said. The student was struck while crossing the crosswalk towards the ASB building. A car coming from the direction of the security gate stopped at the crosswalk to let him pass. While the student was crossing, the Papa John’s delivery car -- coming from the opposite direction -- struck him, police said. The driver stopped the vehicle when he felt the impact, and the student rolled off the windshield 86 feet from where he was initially hit, police said. The driver told police that he never saw the student, said Sergeant Tim O’Hara. O’Hara also said that the student was wearing dark clothes and walking in the rain. There are streetlights and signs posted to yield to pedestrians at the crosswalk. Public Safety declined to comment.
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THE RAMAPO NEWS
Page 2 The Ramapo News
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(201) 684-7842 rcnjnews@ramapo.edu Megan Anderle Editor-in-Chief
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Faculty Working Without Contracts Speak Out
Thursday, October 20, 2011
continued from page 1
“It’s not unusual in other jurisdictions to have a contract expire and not have a new one signed for sometime thereafter,� Mercer said. “That occasionally happens.� Mercer said employees and staff of the college still have a “contract of employment,� but do not have a “newly signed collective agreement with the union.� The literature handed to those on campus the morning of the rally states that “faculty (full-time and adjunct), librarians and professional staff have been working ‘WITHOUT A CONTRACT’ since July 1, 2011.� Even when adjuncts had an agreement, many of them said they felt their salaries were not adequate and hindered their teaching capacities. Shannon said many adjuncts hold multiple jobs, worry about their incomes and are not paid to sched-
ule office hours with students. With split priorities and many distractions, they cannot fully dedicate their time to teaching, she said. “If I’m worried about paying my mortgage this month, I’m probably going to be more concerned with that than getting my papers graded,� Shannon said. Being an adjunct is a full-time position, according to Jim Clark, adjunct union representative. Between office hours, grading papers, and teaching classes, adjunct professors dedicate much of their time to this profession despite low pay. Still, many feel their positions are expendable. “I always say adjuncts are as replaceable as the teenage fry cooks at McDonald’s,� Shannon said. “At any time they can be given the boot.� For full-time professors, the concern is not about being replaced, but about the current suspension of
Kaitlin McGuinness Web Editor
Valerie Canubas Business Manager
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Technical Advisor
INSIDE
Around the Arch Page 3
Viewpoints Page 7
A&E Page 8
Sports Page 13
POLICY
Whenever necessary, The Ramapo News will publish corrections or clarifications in the following issues. All corrections must be brought to the attention of the editor as soon as possible. The Ramapo News strives for accuracy. In keeping with journalistic standards, pre-publication review of any article, quote or editorial is not allowed. Viewpoints may be dropped off at SC-218 or e-mailed to rcnjnews@ramapo.edu. The Ramapo News reserves the right to edit viewpoints for content, style and space. Anonymous viewpoints will not be accepted. Paid advertisements are accepted at the sole discretion of The Ramapo News staff and are due no later than the Monday of that weekĘźs issue. Rates are available by contacting the editorial staff by phone or e-mail.
photo by Daniel OĘźLeary
Students and professors joined together to rally on Monday to raise awareness of the facultyĘźs contractual issues.
sabbaticals, which are professional leaves by full-time faculty.
During the rally, Irene Kuchta, president of the local AFT, told attendees that the state cancelled sabbaticals even though institutions privately fund them. The purpose of sabbaticals is for professors to obtain new research in their fields and then “teach their students the latest and greatest,� Kuchta said. Shannon said the lack of sabbaticals hurts students “because it’s that much less that they can get from their professor,� and wants the Ramapo administration to advocate for sabbaticals “in the interest of scholarship.� Because the state determined sabbaticals should no longer be granted, Mercer says he cannot allow professors to apply for them. “The language of the collective agreement which expired caused the provision of sabbaticals to expire with it,� Mercer said. “And it can only be resuscitated with a new collective agreement. So my hands, I believe, are tied.� If this situation lingers, a strike could not be ruled out, union officials said. “It would have to be pretty intense for there to be a strike,� Shannon said. “It would not be something we’d rush into by any means.� Shannon said a strike would not create good feelings among members of the college. Likewise,
Mercer said a strike “wouldn’t be productive of anything but disruption. Mercer said it may take time to reach an agreement, but negotiation “in good faith� is key. Professors, however, have suggested alternate means to alleviate their concerns. Todd Barnes, an adjunct professor, suggested students speak with their faculty members about tuition increases and budget cuts. Clark also said he recommends students voice the issues at home. “Talk to parents,� Clark said. “Try to rectify the misinformation coming out of Trenton.� Kaitlin Hand supports the union movement by faculty and professional staff members, and hopes more students will attend rallies and meetings in the future, especially because the faculty is so supportive of students. “They’re always there for us,� Hand said. “It’s the least we can do.� AFT members at Ramapo believe Monday’s encouraged people to participate in the student-faculty coalition meeting on Oct. 26 to further address these issues. Overall, Shannon said she was pleased with student participation at the rally, and believes it will generate more effects than what is currently evident. “I think it [the rally] was effective, if not immediately, then by ripple effect,� Shannon said. jcandios@ramapo.edu
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Like Ramapo, Rowan University and Richard Stockton College protested on Monday. Other New Jersey state schools are also affected by contract changes and could potentially rally. Colleges and universities across the nation have held protests to advocate for less budget cuts, lower tuition and other higher education issues.
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graphic by Matt Giuliari
Results of student poll conducted on the Ramapo News Facebook page.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
THURSDAY’S CHILD
Tom Petty, who has sold more than 60 million albums in his career, still sells out shows at age 61. Dude can rock.
TODAY IN HISTORY
The Beatles received a Gold Record for “Yesterday” back in 1965 today. They twisted and shouted to that.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“This is like Noahʼs Ark wrecking here in Zanesville,” said Jack Hanna, former director of the Columbus Zoo in Ohio, after bears, tigers, lions and wolves escaped from the Muskingum County Animal Farm this week.
Students Debate Participation in Health Services’ Clinic
By JULIE CANDOIO SEKEL Staff Writer
Health Services offers an on-campus flu shot clinic for students every October. But, some students’ past experiences with Health Services cause them to question the College’s ability to administer flu shots. While Human Resources sponsors a flu clinic for faculty and staff, Health Services supplies immunizations to approximately 150 students each year, according to Debbie Lukacsko, nurse practitioner and associate director of Health Services. To many students, the process is simple: They receive a general e-mail from the College, call the office to schedule an appointment, visit the center for their vaccines, and are charged a $25 fee, billed directly to their Ramapo accounts. Some students refuse to attend the clinic, however, not because of the process or price, but because poor experiences with the medical services on campus left them with a bad taste in their mouth. Sophomore Nicole Triola said Health Services misdiagnosed her with a sinus infection last year when she had mononucleosis, and did not want to waste time going there this year because she “already felt they were inadequate.” “I only went after my mom made a big deal about how I should give it a chance,” Triola said. “I was pretty much waiting to tell her ‘I told you so’ when they were useless.” Triola’s symptoms were a cough and pressure in her chest. After explaining that an allergist told her in a previous appointment she did not have allergies, Triola said the health attendant diagnosed her with allergies or “a virus that just had to run its course.” The woman apologized for not being able to help. After a day, Triola’s symptoms had not subsided. Since she lives too far to go home to her regular doctor, she made an appointment with a doctor nearby. This doctor provided a different diagnosis.
“The doctor off campus took me a lot more seriously than Health Services and immediately said I had bronchitis,” Triola said. “But, he had me go for a chest x-ray just in case it was worse, and I ended up having pneumonia in both [of] my lungs.” Triola was relieved this doctor took a “proactive” approach, which is one reason she would return there for a flu shot before visiting Health Services. “I wouldn’t go to Health Services for a flu shot because I don't think they’re genuinely interested in what they’re doing,” Triola said. Kristen Lapinski, sophomore, had a different experience with the center, especially when attending its flu shot clinic. She said her appointment was easy to schedule and raved about the help of her practitioner. “The nurse was so nice and talkative, and I literally didn’t even feel anything,” Lapinski said. She said her visit to Health Services was convenient, which Lukacsko believes is one of the perks to students staying on campus. Since freshmen are not permitted to have their cars
photo courtesy of Ramapo.edu
Some students, who have had bad experiences at Health Services, question whether they should go to Health Services for a flu shot this season. These shots cost $25.
on campus this year, this service is especially important. “Not all students have the availability to get off campus to a community provider,” Lukacsko said. According to Lukacsko, other benefits include direct billing to a student’s account, “so the student does not have to have the money readily available as they would off campus,” and documentation on file. The cost in comparison to off-campus clinics, she affirms, is also an advantage. “Compared to the community, we believe that this is still less expensive and a competitive price,” Lukacsko said. Regardless of her favorable experiences with Health Services, Lapinski is not returning to the clinic this month solely because of the cost. “My mom wants me to go somewhere else because she doesn’t feel like paying 25 dollars if I can go to the doctor at home and get it for free,” Lapinski said. Pharmacies in the Mahwah area, such as CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid, administer flu shots with no appointments necessary. While the cost of flu shots in most pharmacies is about $30, it is usually covered by a person’s insurance plan, another benefit to going off-campus. Students should not be concerned about making appointments on campus, Lukacsko said, because all students who request flu shots are seen by Health Services. Those who are sick during October should not feel apprehensive because the clinic runs simultaneous to the center’s daily appointments. “The flu clinic is run as a separate entity, so it does not interfere with a student who is ill needing to be seen,” Lukacsko said. “Different staff members handle each area.” And as for student emergencies concurrent to the clinic? “All true medical emergencies are seen immediately or sent to the hospital if needed,” Lukacsko said. jcandios@ramapo.edu
Fee-Based Reserved Parking System May Affect Commuters College Hopes to Raise Profits With New 2012 Measure
By ADRIANA CAPPELLI Staff Writer Due to the lack of financial support from the state, Ramapo College’s administrators have opted to look into more options to reduce expenditures and boost profits. Their recent initiative has been to allow commuters to park closer to the school at a cost. The A-4, Bischoff and Mackin Hall lots have been identified for reserved parking. Full-time faculty and staff will be provided first priority to park in those reserved lots for the annual fee of $266 for employees on 10-month contracts and $350 for employees on 12-month contracts. Commuter students will be charged an additional $150 for reserved parking. These changes, formally called the Reserve Parking Plan, will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2012, according to the Daily Digest. Administers decided to create a new fee-based reserved parking area after speaking with faculty and staff members. They wanted to improve parking for faculty, staff, and even commuter students, according to the Chief Planning Officer Dorothy Echols Tobe.
“Many commuter students have complained that there are not enough spaces for them,” Echols said. “As of Jan. 1, the B lot will be merely designated to the commuter students.” Although the plan is not active yet, it has already created questions among the Ramapo community. Some students believe reserved parking is a good idea, but want to be informed about the cost before they commit to a space. “I think this is a decent idea, [as long as] they don’t bring it into a different level and start charging us extra,” Amanda H., a senior commuter said. On the other hand, other students believe the new-reserved parking plan would affect the commuters in a drastic way. “When all those reserved parking spots are taken, they won’t have any other choice then to come to the public parking lot and take our spaces away,” Steve M., a senior commuter said. Part-time employees and commuter students will be offered open spaces after the deadline for full-time employees has passed, based on availability. With the new reserved parking plan, employees who have designated parking spaces that are reserved 24 hours per day will have an annual permit fee of $500 per year. Moreover,
any designated reserved parking spaces left will be available in the general pool on a first come basis for employees only. The new plan would not affect those employees with governmental issued handicapped parking plates. These employees will not be charged extra to park in handicapped spaces in a reserved lot, but they must register their vehicles and provide documentation to the office of Public Safety. Under the new-reserved parking plan, the A1, A2 and A3 lots will continue to be free. The overflow faculty and staff parking will be available in the C and D lots. Some students believe this also has the potential to affect commuter parking. “It is hard finding parking under normal circumstances,” Kelly S., a junior commuter, said. “I don’t have a problem with the reserved parking plan, however, if it were [to] begin to flow into our parking lots because all the reserved parking are taken, it would be a big mess,” commuter Sophia Richards, senior, said. acappel3@ramapo.edu
NJ Anti-Bullying Law Considered Strongest in the Nation
Page 4 The Ramapo News
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Ramapo College Revises Student Handbook to Reflect Changes in Policy
By ELYSE TORIBIO News Editor
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed the “AntiBullying Bill of Rights” into law on Jan. 5, officially making the legislation the strictest of its kind in the nation. A major portion of the law is dedicated to making sure that public schools across the state establish and maintain bullying prevention programming. In accordance with the law, policies at Ramapo College now reflect a stricter definition of bullying. While Ramapo College has had an established code of conduct and policies against violence for years, the new bill of rights has inspired administrators at the College to revise the Student Handbook. Miki Cammarata, associate vice president for student affairs, explains how the school policy now looks at bullying more closely.
“When you’re dealing with legal matters, it’s taken a lot more seriously. These kids are suffering, and that can’t go untreated.” -Sara Gordon, junior and founder of “You’re Not Alone”: Anti-Bullying Club
“If you look at the anti-harassment policy, which we’ve had as long as I can remember, bullying would be covered under that,” Cammarata said. “So it’s not that we’re suddenly addressing bullying and we didn’t before, but we’re separating it out as a particular discussion, which is important and actually a good thing.” Cammarata also noted that anti-bullying policies aren’t new to the state, either. “The law’s been around since 2002, but after the Tyler Clementi incident, New Jersey took another look at it and strengthened the language, with particular attention to the timeliness of a response and the definition of bullying,” Cammarata said.
She refers to the suicide of Rutgers student Tyler Clementi, who jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge late September 2010 after he discovered that a roommate had videotaped him having an intimate encounter with another man. The public outcry following the tragedy resulted in new policies and anti-bullying programming nationwide. New Jersey, home to Clementi and the state in which the incident occurred, took the issue all the more seriously. “These high-profile cases have caused legislators as well as institutions to say, 'We know that we don't condone this behavior, but how do we define and describe it separate from general bad behavior?'" Cammarata said. These new policies will help victims of bullying feel validated and supported, Cammarata said. Organizations on campus like the “You're Not Alone”: Anti-Bullying Club are also committed to raising awareness and educating students about bullying. Sara Gordon, junior and president of "You're Not Alone," founded the club last spring with Bob Sproul, assistant professor of social science. Since then, the club has garnered 128 on its Luminis group, and its active members have helped to develop programming with schools in the area. "We have a number of people who are very committed to doing whatever they can to eliminate bullying and make it a thing of the past," Gordon said. Gordon says she thinks the revised legislation is fantastic. “Whether it's because they know they're going to be held accountable or whether they really care about their students, or whether it's a mixture of both, as long it gets done,” Gordon said. “When you're dealing with legal matters, it's taken a lot more seriously. These kids are suffering, and that can't go untreated.” With schools now being held accountable for incidents of bullying, "You're Not Alone" is in high demand. The club is in close communication with Fieldstone Middle School in Montvale, a school that Gordon says is very proactive and wants to be involved in educating its students on anti-bullying. A panel of club members will lead a discussion at the middle school next week and in November, the club will
host a training program for the middle school's peer leaders on campus that will consist of role plays and informative workshops. Both Gordon and Cammarata note that while middle schools and high schools are great targets for bringing awareness to bullying, it is an issue that doesn't end when students go to college. “I believe that people think bullying stops after middle school,” Sara Gordon. "A lot of it probably goes unreported. There's bullying by teachers, in the dorms. People may not even recognize that it's bullying.”
ers reported generally that they plan on hiring 9.5 percent more graduates from the class of 2012 than they did the previous year. At the Communication Arts Roundtable, organized by Eileen Quaglino of the Cahill Center, there were more than a dozen representatives who came to talk to students. They included Cablevision, NBC Universal, The Record, Musicplayer.com and Success Communication. The representatives advised students to search strategically for internships throughout the year, especially in television and newspapers, which are becoming increasingly competitive. Lauren Ricci-Horn from NBC Universal advised students to apply early. She recommended applying a semester ahead. Summer months are the busiest at companies while fall semester is usually the slowest. During junior and senior year, it is crucial for students to complete an internship. At Ramapo College, Communication Arts students are required to obtain one in order to graduate. With the harsh economy and competitive fields, this can prove to be a difficult task.
Experience is crucial for communications students, and one of the best ways to get some is by landing an internship. Here are some tips from recruiters: 1. Local newspapers are a great stepping stone Interns at small papers have a greater chance of reporting stories and pitching ideas to the editor, therefore gaining more hands-on experience. 2. Know your stuff If you are assigned work, be familiar with the field. Interning at a music website means being well-versed in music, production, and instruments. 3. Have a personality A resume can only take you so far. Be enthusiastic about what you want to do.
“...It’s not that we’re suddenly addressing bullying and didn’t before, but we’re separating it out as a particular discussion, which is important and actually a good thing.”
-Miki Cammarata, associate vice president for student affairs
“If you Google 'workplace bullying, you'd be surprised by how much you find,” Cammarata said. “It changes its look and feel, but it's still the same.” The College continues to bring attention to the issue, from the workshops that first-year students are required to attend during their first week, to the "Green Dot" events presented by the Women's Center. This and several organizations on campus are committed to eliminating the prevalence of bullying, sharing the same goal as the newly enacted anti-bullying bill of rights in the state. “The bill of rights is there for them,” Gordon said. “Every child, every adolescent, every adult in the school environment deserves the right to be safe, to feel comfortable, to not feel like they're going to be attacked for being who they are.” etoribio@ramapo.edu
In Hard Economy, Recruiters Share Tips with Students at Career Event By JAMIE BACHAR Contributor
The job market can be unpredictable, but today communication arts majors can find opportunities with the right strategy, employers told Ramapo students at a career event last Thursday. Finding jobs in the communications field is bittersweet, company representatives said. There are jobs available; however it’s a matter of starting entry level based upon your background and qualifications. “The job market is challenging like anything else,” said Kurt Preschak, executive director at Success Communications in Parsippany, N.J. “It’s determined by how hard you look, your resume, people you know and internships.”
“You may find that what you get yourself into may not be what you were looking for. You will find out what you really want to do through your time interning.” -Frank Boley, representative from Cablevision
In a survey by The National Association of Colleges and Employers, which tracks college career placement, employ-
jbachar@ramapo.edu
Student Refund Checks Bounce Due to Bursar, Bank Errors Page 5 The Ramapo News
By NICOLE ALLIEGRO News Editor
About 160 student refund checks from the College bounced, causing some students to incur high bank fees. Students, who did not receive notification from the Bursar’s office, began questioning staff earlier this month. Refund checks were cut on Friday, Oct. 7 and all the paperwork was filed to move the correct amount of money into the College’s proper bank account, but confusion ensued due to the College holiday for Columbus Day, which was Monday, Oct. 10, according to Controller and Assistant Treasurer August Daquila. The correct amount of money in the College’s account for student refunds wasn’t posted in TD Bank until two days later, Wednesday, Oct. 12, and by that time, students were already attempting to deposit their checks because most banks were not closed for Columbus Day. Melissa Harris, a senior, said when her bank returned her refund check for $330, she doubted the College’s financial situation. “Where’s my tuition money going if it’s not going into this bank account?” she questioned. Daquila, on the other hand, stressed that the College’s mix-up was the sole cause of the confusion.
“I don’t understand why all these people’s checks bounced. I want [the money] back in my back account [in] no later than two weeks; it’s totally unacceptable for a huge institution to be bouncing checks.” -Katelyn Ward, sophomore
“Ramapo College has plenty of money,” he said. “It’s not an issue of funds.” Regardless, while the College is not “100 percent innocent,” according to Daquila; TD Bank, where Ramapo holds several different accounts, is also at fault. “It’s kind of a dual error on both of our parts,” Daquila said of Ramapo and TD Bank. He explained that while the College has in place an accident safeguard, which allows TD to transfer sufficient funds into Ramapo’s various accounts so that checks do not bounce, this precautionary measure also unintentionally failed because of the miscommunication. Daquila said that transferring money between the Ramapo accounts is a common practice. “Every time we run student refunds, we put that much money into that account, similar to what we do with payroll. We only put in as much money as we need,” he said. This “dual error” occurred at an unfortunate time for the Bursar’s Office, according to Daquila, because this round of about 1,000 checks “just so happened to be one of the biggest check runs of the year.” “We’re quite sorry it happened,” Daquila added, “and we’re trying to make it as painless for [the students] as possible.”
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Ramapo and TD Bank agreed that they were each equally at fault, so the two parties will be splitting the cost of any miscellaneous bank fees students may have incurred due to the bounced checks. So far, Daquila reported that 20 students have filed to be reimbursed, a total of $321. In order to get the refund money back now, students must redeposit their bounced checks. Daquila said students will either get the paper check back, in which case they can bring that back to the Bursar’s Office to be reissued a new check, or their bank will deposit it again naturally. “It’s just inconvenient for some,” Daquila said. “I would hope that all the students now have redeposit their money and gotten it back; [but] I can’t guarantee that.” Sophomore Katelyn Ward is one such student who hasn’t gotten back her refund check that bounced, worth $820. After attempting to deposit her refund in her Bank of America account, Ward realized her check didn’t go through because she had an account overdraft. She accumulated $36 in bank fees because the check bounced. “I was technically in the negative,” Ward explained. “I was left with zero dollars in my bank account.” Harris said that while she did not overdraw her account, she was charged $12 for the bad check, which was a refund for $330. “It was tough, because I was spending money as if I was going to have this extra money in my bank account,” she said. “I didn’t expect it.” “Unfortunately for the students who were very diligent and rushed to the bank with their check right away, they’re the ones who got slammed,” said Daquila. “The ones who sat around and waited a day or two, [their checks] went through fine.” The Bursar’s Office told Ward that they were having a “technical difficulty” and that she could expect to see her refund credited back into her account in about a month. Ward, however, wasn’t happy with this agreement. “I don’t understand why all these people’s checks bounced,” she said. “I want [the money] back in my bank account [in] no later than two weeks; it’s totally unacceptable for a huge institution to be bouncing checks.” At the time of publication, neither student knew if they got their money back from the school. Ward said that currently, her account only has $85 in it, which is money from another Ramapo paycheck she just deposited to return her account to a positive balance. Harris, after recently re-depositing the refund check, is checking her account to make sure there are no other problems. “Let’s see if Ramapo transferred the funds into the correct account now,” she said. nalliegr@ramapo.edu
photos by Stefanie Mauro
The InterVarsity Christian Fellowship hosted an event called “Be Trafficked” yesterday, which invited stutdents to learn about human trafficking and how to stop with in several interactive activities.
Visiting Scholars, Filmmaker Discuss Afghan Women’s Rights Page 6 The Ramapo News
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Panelists Seek to Raise Awareness about Ongoing Struggles
By ELYSE TORIBIO with JEREMY KELLY and ERICA BUCHMAN News Editor Staff Writers
“It’s replacing one set of terrorists with another set of terrorists,” said an Afghani human rights activist in the film “Afghan Women: A History of Struggle” about the presence of the American military in the Middle Eastern country and their efforts to eliminate extremism. The 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 saw countless memorials, television specials and reporting in the media. Still, in the decade since the United States declared war on Afghanistan following the attacks, there has been little commentary on the people of the Middle Eastern country, according to Schomburg scholars who were panelists in a special program entitled “From Revolution to the Taliban to the War on Terror” at the College on Oct. 17.
“We wanted to show that women do believe in their rights and fight for their rights.”
-Fahima Vorgetts, women’s rights activist and director of the Afghan Women’s Fund
Fahima Vorgetts of the Afghan Women's Fund, professors Shafiuddin Khan from Pakistan and director Kathleen Foster were panelists in the special program, "From Revolution to the Taliban to the War on Terror." With much of the focus on the Taliban and the presence of Al-Qaeda in the country, little attention has been paid to the groups that have been deeply affected by the changes in power of Afghanistan over the years, one of them being Afghan women. Despite the efforts to pull troops out and allow Afghanis to self-stabilize, the rights of women are still few and far in between, no where near what it used to be like before the Taliban took over. Director Kathleen Foster pursued this under-reported issue with her 2007 film “Afghan Women: A History of Struggle,” and was joined by two visiting international scholars from Afghanistan and Pakistan to present her work during the program. “I made this film because I had been in Afghanistan before the war and I was very troubled when the U.S. invaded,” Foster said. ”I want to help people understand what is going on there.” The documentary follows the impact that war has had on the people of Afghanistan, from the Soviet invasion in 1973 to the domination by the Taliban and finally, the influence of American troops since the U.S. declared the war, which is now in its eleventh year.
The chaos today and yesterday
Foster screened scenes from her documentary following a brief introduction by Pat Keeton, professor of communications and coordinator of the School of Contemporary Arts’ Cinematheque film series. The film begins with President George W. Bush announcing the new freedom for women living in Afghanistan post 9/11. However, according to commentators in the film, approximately 80 percent of women in Afghanistan will say that they don’t feel liberated. Ninety percent of women still can’t read or write; they have no education and no job. Women are be placed in prison just for running from their abusive husbands, and some will even pour cooking oil on themselves out of sheer helplessness. One of the scholars present in the panel, Fahima Vorgetts, is featured in the film as an advocate for women’s rights and is the director of the Afghan Women’s Fund. She explained that even today, women in Afghanistan continue to fight a different war, a war for freedom and equality. “The war is going on, the struggle is still going on, and women are looking for their rights,” Vorgetts said at the
photo by Daniel OʼLeary
Kathleen Foster presented her film as part of a special program titled “From Revolution to the Taliban to the War on Terror.” She was joined by Fahima Vorgetts and Shafiuddin Khan, who are at Ramapo College for the fall 2011 semester as visiting Schomburg scholars.
event. ”The women are in the forefront. Women are still captive. Actually, it’s getting worse and worse still after 10 years and with 40 other countries still there.” Prior to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1973, the constitution that was passed in Afghanistan in 1964 gave men and women equality, stating, “The people of Afghanistan, without any discrimination or preference, have equal rights and obligations before the law.” Women did not need to wear burkas until the coup de’etat in 1973. Now, despite the departure of the Taliban, they still do not have complete liberation. It simply opens the door to potential liberation. “We wanted to show that women do believe in their rights
“Women are still captive. Actually, it’s getting worse and worse still after 10 years and with 40 other countries still there.” -Fahima Vorgetts
and fight for their rights,” Vorgetts said in an interview. “If you want to bring peace to a country, education is a must. The people would like the U.S. army to get out. We should be in anti-war movements.”
What happened?
In 1964, King Zahir Shah gave women equal rights under the constitution. After he was overthrown by his cousin, Mohammed Daoud, women’s rights were taken a step further with the opening of schools, allowing more women to be educated. Afghanistan was declared a republic, and Daoud its first president. From 1973 to 1978, Afghanistan’s government was secular; the country itself was religious, but not fanatical. When the Soviet Union invaded in 1979, Mujahideen, a fundamentalist Islamic group began to form an alliance against Soviet forces. The United States, hoping it would help drive the USSR out of Afghanistan, began supplying Mujahideen with stringer missiles, allowing the fanatical group to fight back and subsequently seize power over Afghanistan. The Soviets ultimately left in 1989, but civil war among Mujahideen and the Afghan government continued to rage until 1992.
In 1992, the Taliban, a faction of Mujahideen, ultimately seized power. The rise of the Taliban signified the end of women’s rights in Afghanistan. In 1996, the Taliban renamed Afghanistan the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, took control of Kabul, and introduced a hard-line version of Islam, banning women from work and school; Islamic punishments were also instituted, including stoning to death and amputations.
Working to improve
Today’s struggle is for survival for basic daily life. Afghan women are determined to not be victims. They want free-
“People need to know the truth.”
-Kathleen Foster, director of the film “Afghan Women: A History of Struggle”
dom, the right to work, to make decisions and not be controlled. “We need international solidarity to achieve that,” Vorgetts said. “People are really hopeful with their minds, bodies and souls that they will do whatever it takes.” In 2003 organizations were looking to rewrite the Bill of Rights to show that women want equal rights and that the best way to fight terrorism is education. “People need to know the truth,” said Foster in relation to her cause to raise awareness of the issue. Students interviewed after the event said they learned much about the struggles of Afghan women, facts that they didn’t know about before or saw in the mainstream press. “I’ve learned that Afghan women have gone through a long struggle of trying to gain their rights as compared to other women of the world,” Ryan Buchanan, senior. “It’s demeaning that they have to wear a burka per laws of the Taliban and I don’t think it’s fair.”
etoribio@ramapo.edu
VIEW POINTS
Thursday, October 20, 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.
Tattoos: A Wrongly Stigmatized Art Form
Tattoo Art is a Means of Expression, Should Be More Socially Accepted
By DAN O’LEARY Staff Writer Growing up in modern day America entitles me to speak and act however I want, while staying within the confines of the law, including changing or decorating my body until I am satisfied. Tattooing has grown from a taboo practice reserved for sailors and freaks to one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. According to a study done by the Pew Research Center in 2006, 36 percent of 18 to 25-year olds have tattoos. And for 26 to 40year olds, this number is 40 percent. When most people hear statistics like this the first thing that comes to mind is how they have no idea what they are doing to themselves and their bodies. “The only thing holding the tattoo industry back from total acceptance are the endless misconceptions,” said Rich Calascibett, tattoo artist of 20 years at Starlight Tattoo in Rochelle Park, New Jersey. Having difficulties in the work place because of one’s tattoos couldn’t be any big-
ger of an urban legend. I have had zero problems ever getting a job with a tattoo from my shoulder to my wrist, and I am not the only one who hasn’t had a problem with employers judging my appearance. Stephen Jablonsky, Professor of Digital Media at Ramapo College, agreed that the stigmas surrounding tattoos needs to change. “I’ve never been negatively affected by any of my tattoos in the workplace,” he said. “The acceptance of tattoos has come such a long way, I don’t think it matters much anymore.” When it comes to public exposure of your tattoos, the worst thing that can happen is you might get a few dirty looks or a stinkeye, but that’s about it. “It’s still funny when people look at me weird in places like the grocery store, and when I talk to them they are totally taken back because with all of my tattoos they were expecting a thug, when I’m the total opposite.” Calascibett said. “It doesn’t even bother me anymore.” I think if there is any aspect large enough to overshadow the hypothetically negative
repercussions of getting tattoos, it would have to be the issue of how “dirty” people perceive the tattoo industry to be. If I hear one more person ask me if I’m afraid of getting Hepatitis from all of my tattoos, I’m going to go crazy. As people get so caught up in their fancy 3-D televisions and cell phones, I’d like to remind you that there have also been a few advances in the tattoo field, in terms of safety. Calascibett explained how state laws are evolving to regulate tattoo parlours more stringently. “Every state in the United States has different laws when it comes to tattooing,” he said. “As of right now only the shop has to be certified to tattoo but soon it’s going to be every artist will need certification, just like Florida, and Vegas.” In addition, tattooing has become one of the cleanest and safest body modification practices. Even in 1996, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that only 12 cases of Hepatitis were associated with the tattoo industry, when over 40 cases were associated with dentist offices.
Since then, what was already a clean business has progressed in an attempt to free itself of all incorrect judgments. Before every tattoo session, the station is cleaned thoroughly from the chair to the light, and the artist thoroughly sanitizes himself. Though it may be more costly, artists are now using more disposable tattoo equipment than ever before. The needle and tube make up the entire tattoo gun, short of the motor. Because these parts that touch the skin are disposable, the gun is much more sanitary as compared to years past. Nothing is being reused as artists transition from tattoo to tattoo. We can’t force outsiders to change their views about the industry that we love, only hope for open-mindedness. When asked what he wishes he could say to all those who oppose the tattoo industry, Calascibett said it best. “Do some research and don’t be so quick to judge; we’re not all misfits. Art and culture have a lot to do with our business.”
Occupy Wall Street Protesters Nothing Like Tea Party
By JAKE HYMAN Staff Writer
I have seen a disturbing trend emerging among my peers on social networking sites, especially Facebook. Recently, I have witnessed status after status referring to the Occupiers on Wall Street as lazy, unemployed, incompetent, spoiled hippies. This is frightening to me, as these Occupiers that my peers speak of reflect what our generation should be pushing for. We should be pushing for a fair economic system, universal healthcare and equal opportunity for all Americans to succeed. Being a college student and opposing the Occupiers is flat out counter-productive and sets the premise for you to vote against your own interests. And we do not need another generation of misinformed Americans voting against their own interests. Almost as equally disturbing, some people have likened the Occupiers as the “Tea Party” of the left wing. Admittedly so, I once thought this because I believe that two opposite extremes can meet in the middle. But after doing extensive research on the Tea Party, I came to the conclusion that these two causes are completely different. One cause is progressive and asks for complete change in the way our country works. The other is regressive, and stresses that we go back 200 plus years and interpret the Constitution in its original form. Let’s see who you relate to. According to TeaParty.org, the non-negotiable core beliefs of the Tea Party include: “gun ownership is sacred,” “government must be downsized,” “English as a core language required,” and that “Bail-out and Stimulus plans are illegal.” In a nutshell, the Tea Party strives for no increases in taxes, enforces that English be the dominant language even though America is a country who prides itself on diversity of cul-
ture, and wishes to interpret the Constitution in its original form as evidenced by this statement on their website: “Common sense Constitutional Conservative SelfGovernance is our Mode of Operation.” We cannot forget that this Tea Party received their name from the Boston Tea Party, a group of colonists who protested the British tax on tea in 1773. On paper this sounds like a true American cause, which it was, but it was also extremely hypocritical. This movement was the product of the desire for freedom among colonists who felt as if they were being economically and socially oppressed by the British Empire. What makes this interesting is that these same colonists, who claimed they were so mistreated, were oppressing another group of people: African Americans. It does seem kind of odd that these people demanded freedom from the British and threw around the idea that all people are equal, yet they kept slaves of their own. In fact, once the Constitution was written, “such persons,” were counted as three-fifths of a person. You see why we cannot go back to the original interpretation of the document. Now let me stress I am not saying today’s Tea Party wants to bring back slavery, but what I am saying is that the same type of hypocrisy still exists. As I have said before, the core belief of the group is the lowering of taxes and a reduction in government regulation. These two beliefs seem to coincide with what most Americans would want, as people want to keep their hard earned money and not have the government touch it. Most Americans, or the 99 percent, have made their way down to Wall Street to protest the terrible, unbalanced, economic system that plagues our country today. So why has the Tea Party denounced the Occupiers? The Tea Party acknowledges some taxes need to be paid, but instead of rais-
doleary@ramapo.edu
ing them, they suggest to broaden the tax base. Essentially this means increasing the taxes on the poor, a group of people who cannot afford to pay taxes. This is the real class warfare. The fact that some people do not pay taxes angers conservatives, but if these people are rich, it’s OK because they are job creators. Wrong. Broadening the tax base will only increase the gap between rich and poor in our country and that is why, in regards to Tea Party candidate Herman Cain’s plan of “9-9-9”, I say no, no, no! The Occupy Wall Street movement is growing whether the Tea Partiers like it or not. This is the left wing finally stepping up and asking for real change in our country. The Tea Party can continue to bash this movement and call them hippies, but hopefully their cries fall on deaf ears. Political and social movements come and go in this country, and hopefully the Tea Party comes and goes without completely destroying America. As for the Occupiers, we as college students can only hope it stays, and creates a new wave of change that our generation can look back on and be proud of. jhyman@ramapo.edu
Have something to say? Submit your letter to the editor: editor.rcnjnews @gmail.com
Page 9 The Ramapo News
Staff Chews Over Mahwah Pizza & Pasta
Thursday, October 20, 2011
By NICOLE ALLIEGRO News Editor
Long, late nights in front of computers and reading copy in the newsroom makes “The Ramapo News” staff experts on cold pizza. When it comes to Italian food, our editors are looking for something out-of-the-box (pun intended) but something that can still remind us of mom’s comfort food. Our editors ordered dinner from Mahwah Pizza and Pasta, an Italian establishment on MacArthur Boulevard that has been in the community for more than three years. The restaurant features specialty pizzas, gourmet pastas and traditional Italian dishes and desserts. While the larger meals seem to be on the expensive side, at about $15, most sandwiches, salads and personal pizzas cost around $6 or $7. The editors tell you what to pick and what to skip from Mahwah Pizza and Pasta. “I had some of the penne vodka, but I thought the pasta was a bit overcooked. I thought the shrimp pizza was greasy. I figured they would have used a lighter sauce, but they didn’t.” — Megan Anderle, editor-in-chief: S KIP IT “It’s all in the honey mustard. The dipping sauce can make or break a chicken tender, and the honey mustard made my chicken tenders. That said, the marinara sauce definitely didn’t do wonders for that limp fried calamari. I was
hoping to get my hands on one of the garlic knots, but when I came in there was only one left, and it was burnt and stuck to the bottom of the box.” — Elyse Toribio, news editor: S KIP IT “It was average.” — Matt Giuliari, creative director: S KIP IT “I had some pasta and a slice of pizza. I’m a fan of pasta, so I liked it.” — Danielle Reed, arts and entertainment editor: PICK IT “The chicken fingers were the dining equivalent to recently acquired Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer. They were pretty good, but not special enough to save an NFL franchise.” — Andrew Gould, sports editor: PICK IT “I didn’t think it was anything special.” — Stef Mauro, photo editor: S KIP IT “I stole a few of the hot garlic knots from Elyse, but I thought they were really greasy. The pasta was good though; penne vodka is my favorite.” — Nicole Alliegro, news editor: PICK IT “I liked the pizza, but I’ve had better garlic knots. They were kind of dry.” — Kaitlin McGuinness, web editor: PICK IT “If this food was more cost-effective, I’d pick it.” — Alexis Lopez, staff writer: S KIP IT nalliegr@ramapo.edu
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Page 10 The Ramapo News
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Remake Doesn’t Measure Up to Favorite Classic Film By MAUREEN S CULLY Staff Writer
Fans of the 1987 cult-classic “Footloose” may find this year’s remake hard to swallow, but a fun soundtrack and some campy antics give it an enjoyable edge. When Ren (Kenny Wormald) moves from the dance-friendly streets of Boston to the small town of Bomont, he realizes his kind,
photo by Rob Rich, Flickr Creative Commons
Julianne Hough plays Ariel, the reverendʼs daughter, in “Footloose.”
dancers, are not welcome there. After a tragic accident years before, the town – led by Rev. Moore (Dennis Quaid) – bans the kind of frivolity that they believe will get their kids in trouble. In true teenage fashion, the kids do find ways to act on their wild impulses, but nothing that compares to what happens once Ren comes around. In true movie fashion, Ren falls for the reverend’s daughter, Ariel (Julianne Hough), and makes friends with a good ol’ boy, Willard (Miles Teller). Trading tractors for school buses—a less blatant nod towards the Kevin Bacon version than anything else in the film—director Craig Brewer makes the fatal flaw of movie remakes by staying too close to the original plot. Cee Lo Green, Smashing Pumpkins and Zac Brown are all on the movie’s soundtrack and the across the boards feel of the music is a nice touch. Blake Shelton was brought in to do a remake of the title song and takes it from a guilty pleasure track to a country rock dance anthem. Shelton’s cover adds to the overall southern atmosphere that Brewer gives to the film. Bacon played Ren in the original; the role was considered his breakout performance. Wormald will likely not find the same fate. His skill on the dance floor is undoubtedly impressive, but that is all he brings to the
table. The films dichotomy of dancing versus everything else may be its biggest downfall. Foot-tapping will be undeniable and Teller’s awkward moves will give you a laugh, but everything else falls flat.
The dancing is supposed to seem organic and innate, but you can almost see them counting steps during some of the more elaborate numbers.
The original buzz revolving around this remake was that casting talented, seasoned dancers would allow big-budget dance scenes in ways the original could not, but these scenes are some of the hardest to get through during the course of the film and are more “High School Musical” and less “Dirty Dancing.” The dancing is supposed to seem organic and innate, but you can almost see them counting steps during some of the more elaborate numbers. Unfortunately for the film’s stars, they are dancers and not actors and even the extra boost of dancing to “the devil’s music” could not help the awkward chemistry-free pairing of Hough and Wormald.
Depending too heavily on dancing abilities and not showcasing them properly forced the film away from its campy original and the film did not have leads with acting chops to make it soar. The shinning beacon of hope in “Footloose” is Teller. With only one previous feature film under his belt (2010’s “Rabbit Hole”) Teller provides the film with much needed laughs. The film was intended to be fluff; nothing more than 113 minutes of fun and on a grand scale it did just that. It provides a good time, but when you redo a beloved trashy cult movie like “Footloose”, you need something more than that. Even though Teller’s boyish charm and his goofy mannerisms make him a name worth remembering, it doesn’t make the film more memorable.
RATING:
##$$$
mscully@ramapo.edu
Even with All-Star Cast, ‘Trespass’ Has Repetitive, Boring Plot By CHRIS TINA FERRANTE Staff Writer
Director Joel Schumacher’s “Trespass” is one of those thrillers reminiscent of “The Panic Room,” but with a plot that is a little more cliché and predictable. The story revolves around a rich couple and their daughter who become the victim of a brutal home invasion. The script by Karl Gajdusek is so by-the-numbers that you can practically foresee what’s going to happen next. The film stars two actors who once upon a time would have killed it at the box office: Nicole Kidman and Nicolas Cage. They play Kyle and Sarah Miller, a married couple who live
in a sprawling modern mansion so secluded and cold looking it could double as a white collar prison, as the work crazed diamond dealer Kyle ignores his docile wife Sarah. They have a teenage daughter, Avery (Liana Liberato), who sneaks out of the house on the evening in question to go to a party her parents have forbidden her from attending.
It seems Cage will take any acting job he can get, causing some to feel that Cage cannot be taken seriously as an actor.
Then, the burglars disguised as cops arrive at their door, and the nightmare begins. The leader of the bad guys is scary Ben Mendelsohn (“Animal Kingdom”), and the group also includes Dash Mihok and Cam Gigandet. Convinced that Kyle has a fortune in uncut stones and cash in his home office safe, they threaten Kyle and Sarah with death unless Kyle turns over the goods.
“I’m not sure if I’ll be seeing ‘Trespass.’ He [Cage] tries to deliver these serious lines and everyone ends up laughing.” - Ni chol as Grant, seni or
photo by Kevin Spencer, Flickr Creative Commons
Nicholas Cage settles into his role as Kyle Miller in this not-so-exciting thriller.
The rest of the plot becomes a repetitive negotiation. With much of the movie devoted to Kyle’s frantic sessions of bargaining for his and his wife’s lives with the invaders’ sarcastic leader, a tough but not unintelligent fellow who appears to know a great deal about the security system of Kyle’s house and the expected contents of Kyle’s safe.
Despite physical and verbal abuse, Kyle refuses to open that safe, fearing, with plenty reason, that as soon as the intruders get what they want, they’ll kill him, his wife and, after she returns from the party, Avery. It seems Cage will take any acting job he can get, causing some to feel that Cage cannot be taken seriously. “I’m not sure if I’ll be seeing [Trespass]. He [Cage] tries to deliver these serious lines and everyone ends up laughing,” senior Nicholas Grant said. But thankfully Kidman credibly conveys everything from trembling terror to being smacked around with a pistol. All in all, the plot makes pathetic twists and there’s really nothing too exciting to be found in this psychological thriller- just a lot of screaming. It really makes you wonder what could have inspired Cage and Kidman to sign on for this flick. Is it worth the ticket price of a theater visit? Unless you’re a die-hard Nicholas Cage fan, I’d wait until it’s available on demand or to rent. “Trespass” is 85 minutes long and is rated R.
RATING:
##$$$
cferrant@ramapo.edu
Not ‘The Thing’ to Waste Time and Money Seeing
Page 11 The Ramapo News
Thursday, October 20, 2011
one character from another. We know who Mary Elizabeth Winstead is; she’s an established actress from films like “Death Proof,” “Live Free or Die Hard” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.” Almost everyone else may as well be credited as “bearded Norwegian guy.” We’re left trying to remember who these characters’ names are and what exactly they do when we should be concerned with whether or not they’ll survive. As is the case in too many films nowadays, the star of the film is the special effects. For horror films, any kind of effects that we see should be frightening or awe-inspiring, but in “The Thing,” they’re just grotesque and cringe-worthy. They were also grotesque in the 1982 film, but that had a theme of isolation and genuine tension to complement them. Here, the effects take center stage, which really weakens the rest of the movie. It’s unnecessary for this story to be told again; we don’t even realize that it’s supposed to be a prequel until the final scene of the movie because it’s so needlessly similar. There are some good aspects to it, but it doesn’t improve on anything that we’ve seen before. “The Thing” grossed third at the box office on its opening weekend with $8.7 million, behind “Real Steel” and “Footloose.”
By JEREMY KELLY Staff Writer
No matter how impressive or grotesque special effects are, they don’t amount to much in movies if you don’t care about what’s going on. Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. directs the latest version of “The Thing.” It started as a 1938 novel called “Who Goes There?” and was first adapted into a 1951 film called “The Thing from Another World.” Then in 1982, John Carpenter (“Halloween,” “Escape from New York”) directed “The Thing,” which followed the novel more faithfully.
As is the case in too many films nowadays, the star of the film is the special effects.
Officially, this film is a prequel to the Carpenter version, but there’s almost nothing distinguishing it as a prequel; it’s just a re-hash done more poorly. The film takes place in Antarctica, where a Norwegian team of scientists discover an alien spacecraft buried in the ice, containing a frozen specimen nearly 100,000 years old. They hire paleontologist Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) to assist them; however, besides her expertise with excavating the specimen, it’s not made clear exactly what they need her for. Not long after they get this creature back to their camp, it escapes and kills one of them. The rest of the team discovers that it can absorb and imitate whatever it kills. Instantly, there’s tension because now no one is sure of who’s really human and who’s been infected. If you’ve seen the Carpenter version, you’ll have an idea of where the story’s going to go. But in some cases, it’s way
photo by Chris Jackson, Flickr Creative Commons
Mary Elizabeth Winstead is the only recognizable actress in this remake of the 1938 novel “Who Goes There?”
too easy to tell. There are times when you can guess who is “the thing” without having to think too much about it just based on certain body language and dialogue. Not that it matters, because it’s very difficult to distinguish
RATING:
##$$$
jkelly7@ramapo.edu
Apple Takes a Bite Out of Personal Assistance with Upgrade By DANIEL MORRELL Staff Writer
On Oct. 4, Apple unveiled its latest iPhone model, the 4S, an upgraded version of the iPhone 4, much like when the 3GS was released to improve the iPhone 3. This is not the iPhone 5, which is rumored to be released sometime next year, however, the 4S is unique in its own right.
photo by Brett Jordan, Flickr Creative Commons
The new iPhone 4S offers users with upgrades to make life more organized, giving people with everything they need, right at their fingertips.
The 4S features a faster processor, the Dual Core Apple A5 and a new processing system, the iOs 5. The new system offers several new advances from Apple, which are showcased on apple.com. The iCloud, Apple’s new web-based storage and syncing service, gives users a free 5GB to store contacts, calendars, reminders, bookmarks, documents, data and photos. It also syncs information across multiple Apple devices, making it easy to have everything you need at your fingertips wherever you are, regardless of what device you’re using.
The Notification Center has been upgraded as well. Users can now view their emails, texts, calendars, friend requests and other notifications such as weather and stocks in one area, a large step forward in efficacy. Perhaps the most innovative feature of iOs 5 is Siri, which is designed to be the user’s personal assistant. Siri is a powerful voice-recognition program in which you can do everything from send texts and emails, find restaurants, get directions and weather all by simply stating your request. Another improvement the 4S offers is its enhanced camera, which has been beefed up to eight megapixels with flash and f/2.4 aperture, a significant improvement from the previous camera’s five megapixels. Video recording has also been elevated from 720p to 1080p. Battery life has improved as well, jumping from seven to eight hours while using an active 3G connection. However, the standby time has been reduced from 300 hours to 200. The technological advances made with the new iPhone 4S, especially Siri, has left mixed reviews as to whether society has become too digitally dependent.
“I think that it [Siri] is great. It will be especially helpful for those who are new to touch screen phones so that they don’t have to type everything out.” -Hannah Bernstein, senior
“I think the new technology is becoming more advanced for individuals and it is allowing them [to] rely on technology for just about everything,” senior Molly Rothberg said. “Specifically, the new iPhone Siri capability is a perfect example on how this is becoming true.” Junior Maureen Scully agrees with Rothberg’s view. “Society is definitely becoming co-dependent when it
comes to technology. Most people don’t know how to function without it. But for a lot of people, myself included, it isn’t out of a desire to always be linked in,” Scully said. “I am a full time student, an intern at a magazine, and I run youth organizations for my church. I need to have access to my phone and computer, whether I want it or not. That’s the way the world is moving now.”
“Society is definitely becoming codependent when it comes to technology. Most people don’t know how to function without it.” -Maureen Scully, junior
However, senior Hannah Bernstein feels that Siri is a positive and helpful tool for iPhone users. “I think that it [Siri] is great. It will be especially helpful for those who are new to touch screen phones so that they don’t have to type everything out,” Bernstein said. Compared to the iPhone 4, the 4S is without a doubt a superior model. However, there is debate as to whether it is the best phone on the market. Its less than impressive 3.5inch display and inability to connect with 4G will surely leave some tech-junkies in doubt as to its progressiveness but also has digital conservatives weary of its advanced capabilities. dmorrell@ramapo.edu
Page 12 The Ramapo News
LIFE & CULTURE
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Should I ‘Eat This’? Foods with Hidden Benefits
BY KATIE CURL Staff Writer
Associating certain foods with negative or positive opinions is something a lot of people can relate to. Choosing whole grain options over regular breads and pastas or refusing yourself the opportunity for dessert is an event that happens more frequently than ever in this health obsessed world. “Eat This, Not That” is sometimes considered a bible to those who love great tasting food that want to busy away unwanted fat and at the same time have an improved nutritional intake. Here are a few myths about food that can help fulfill a craving while still remaining healthy.
“Bread makes you fat”
Simply not true, if you choose the right types. Whole grain is ultimately going to always be better than your standard wheat bread. Whole grains are a source of fiber and are also proven to slow digestion, which keeps you fuller for longer. A study conducted by the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” proves that those who skip whole grains are more overweight than those who include them in their diets. According to “Eat This, Not That” author, David Zinczenko, “True whole grain bread products will have ‘whole wheat’ or ‘whole grain’ flour as their first ingredient. If you see anything else, your “wheat” bread is an
imposter.”
“Snacking makes you fat”
Naturally, one can conclude that by eating more, you will gain more weight, but now it is just another myth that can now be busted. Spanish researchers have evidence that says by eating more high protein and lowsugar snacks, you can trim inches from your body. Consistent snacking helps maintain blood-sugar levels, which in turn prevent your body from storing unwanted fat. For example, both Kashi and Kind Bars contain a high amount of fiber and protein, while remaining low in calories.
“Coffee is bad for you”
Surprisingly, this information is false, which comes as great news to all the students on campus with 8 a.m. classes. In 2006, “Diabetes Care” featured results to a study showing that those who drink coffee are less likely to develop diabetes. Research in the past has linked coffee drinkers to have a reduced risk of much more, including depression, Parkinson’s disease and stroke. Coffee is also proven to contain plenty of antioxidants.
“Desserts should be left for indulging”
If you love sweets, then this myth buster is especially great for you. Studies prove that if you continue to keep yourself from eating what you daydream about, it leads into binge eating which consequently is
Magenta’s Meals
BY LAUREN MAGENTA Staff Writer
Whether it is to fill a warm loaf of pumpernickel bread, to dip pita chips into or as a spread on any number of sandwiches, this spinach dip is cheap, simple and requires no cooking whatsoever. Making the perfect dish for a group of friends coming over to watch your weekly show or to keep a healthy snack in the fridge for the busy week to follow, spinach onion dip is simple recipe to fix up for less than $5 in under five minutes. Ingredients Sour Cream (Reduced Fat) 16oz Frozen Spinach 16oz 1 packet onion dip powder Pepper Parmesan cheese (optional) Before you start, let the spinach thaw on the counter for a few minutes. To start, grab a mixing bowl. Mix all of the above ingredients into a large bowl and stir until all ingredients are combined. The parmesan cheese is optional and any form of this cheese will do, if you use shaved parmesan it helps to add another texture to the dip; any kind will bring a strong flavor into the mix. Finally, you can pepper the dish to your liking. That’s it, mixing a bunch of ingredients and you have a wonderful dish. Buying a round italian or pumpernickel loaf is a party friend-
photo by Tim Boyd, Flickr Creative Commons
Although often thought of as being unhealthy, coffee actually has nutritional value, including reducing the risks of diabetes and depression.
worse. Not by any means is doubling your sugar intake safe or healthy, but by either doing portion control on your dessert or trying an alternative is very reasonable and even does one good, especially mentally. If you don’t know of any dessert alternatives, try these examples included in “Women’s Health Magazine:” sweet shot red velvet cake contains only 250 calories, while Chili’s Molten Chocolate Cake contains over a thousand. “Uno’s Chicago Grill Mega-Sized Deep Dish Sundae” contains nearly 3,000
calories while a homemade brownie sundae will only contain up to 400. These are just a few food alternatives that students can eat to stay healthy. Students can find more on food alternatives by visiting Zinczenko’s page on www.yahoo.com or by simply purchasing one of his many books all including the title, “Eat This, Not That.”
Ari es (March 21-Apri l 19) There is a true part of you that is dyin' to get a move on, aching to break the chain of tradition. You are making some big decisions which requires forethought.
way. However, there will be a need no matter how crazy things get to simply turn it all off and steady the engines.
Horoscopes
Taurus (Apri l 20-May 20) There will be an active inner preparation surrounding your personal expansion. Let whatever emotion that is rising up move you there.
Photo by Jake Spurlock, Flickr Creative Commons
Spinich dip is easy to make and can be a great addition for sandwiches or snacks.
ly way. First, cut the center of the loaf of bread out and use the centerpieces as dippers. Then, you’ll want to fill the bread with your spinach onion dip. Remember, you will want to keep the dip refrigerated until it’s needed. This is also an ideal dip to set out with corn chips or a tray of vegetables. For $5 you are all set, so enjoy. lmagenta@ramapo.edu
Gemi ni (May 21-June 20) Your higher self is waiting for you to tap into its well of plenty. It is not time to over think. It is time to tune into some timelessly valuable insight!
Cancer (June 21-Jul y 22) Life is forever going to be riddled with twists and turns, ups and downs and taxing trends. You will be reminded once again who has your back versus who is in it for themselves.
Leo (Jul y 23-August 23) Life is full of surprises and this week is potentially one of those weeks. It won’t be a lay around lazy sort of week unless you want to miss a golden opportunity. Vi rgo (August 24-S eptember 22) Your faith is high and your footing is all heart. The road ahead is opening up and will soon invite desirable options.
Li bra (S eptember 23-October 22) Everyone needs a place to rest along the
kcurl@ramapo.edu
S corpi o (October 23-November 21) This week, you can trust your self even if you are not feeling conficdent. The truth comes spilling out wherever it needs to. S agi ttari us (November 22December 21) It’s not so much the destination that counts, but the process in getting there that is important. This week, part of the everyday grind will trip you up along the way.
Capri corn (December 22-January 19) There is support amidst the chaos everywhere you look this week. The truth this week, in many ways will not only set you free, it will fill you all the way up!
Aquari us (January 20- February 19) This week, if you put your heart into the search, and you look in every dark corner, you could surely experience a little universal kickback. Far more than your eyes can see is within your reach.
Pi sces (February 20-March 20) Prepare to find something you have either been looking for, something you gave up on and are returning to, or a clear road sign that just about saves the day. Speak up and speak simply. Horoscopes courtesy of madalynaslan.com
SPORTS
Field Hockey Starts Home Stand with 3-1 Win 10 . 20 . 11
By JONATHAN GONZALEZ Staff Writer In the words of recently deceased NFL owner Al Davis, “Just win baby.” The Roadrunners did just that. After coming off a tough loss to Kean University, the Roadrunners overtook the Elmira College Soaring Eagles, 3-1. After a strong start in the opening minutes, the Roadrunners were able to get their chances off well-timed penalty corners. While changing possession in the beginning of the match, Roadrunners senior forward Amanda Barretta was able to become a thorn in Elmira’s defense, creating attempts that led to the fourth of 11 penalty corners in the first half. Off the corner, Ramapo set up the pass which led to an outside shot and goal from defender Rebecca Penhaker, her second the season. A shot that trickled passed the Soaring Eagles goalie placed them in the lead until Elmira College Shannon Nelligan nailed a score minutes after the Ramapo goal. Through 26 minutes, both sides managed to hold their ground and take advantages before the half. Opportunities are what made the second half for both side. With increasing winds, the Roadrunners came out of the half with great urgency, which built up their attack. Pushing the issue in the opening minutes, Victoria Ahlers took a fortunate bounce pass from Katie Bruno on the far side, leaving Ahlers on a oneon-one situation against the goalie.
fun, receiving an assist from Samantha Gardner (her second on the day), then took a beautiful shot from outside the circle that rattled in the net. Coach Concetta Valerio said that the Roadrunners showed up strong when it mattered late in the game. “It’s nice that we started to play the second half, because the second half of [Sunday’s] game is what made or broke us and we came out on fire ready to go,” Valerio said.
“It’s nice that we started to play the second half, cause the second half of [Sunday’s] game is what made or broke us and we came out on fire ready to go.” -Concetta Valerio, coach
photo by Sandy Stucki
Ramapo is 9-5 this season after winning their last two home games.
“I can’t miss, I can’t miss, but I can just remember what we do in practice for that situation and followed it up with what I knew how to do,” Ahlers said. With momentum on their side, no more then two minutes later Bruno was able to join the
While establishing a quick lead coming out of the half, the Lady Roadrunners were able to hold tight for a well deserved in conference victory. A victory on Sunday put the Roadrunners on track for their incoming 5-game home stand to wrap up the season, and they continued their winning streak with a 4-2 win against NJAC foe William Paterson on Tuesday. jgonzal7@ramapo.edu
Roadrunners Serve Bard College in 7-2 Victory Womenʼs Tennis Roar over Raptors to Improve Record to 9-2
By MELIS S A FALCONE Staff Writer
The women’s tennis team beat Bard College on Saturday to increase their record to 9-2. The Roadrunners began the match in doubles where senior Laura Strandberg and senior captain Brittany Pitts mastered an 8-2 victory. “I feel the team went into the match with confidence,” Pitts said. “As a team, we had never played them before, so it was exciting and new for us.”
“I feel the team went into the match with confidence. As a team, we had never played them before, so it was exciting and new for us.” - Brittany Pitts, captain
Moving forward in the match, second doubles consisted of seniors Jywel Almirante and Nicole Pitts. The girls took the lead with an 8-6 win over the Raptors. Junior Hayley Downing and sophomore Stephanie Abrecht dominated Bard with an 8-0 victory to conclude the doubles match. “The team’s best attributes this season include our strong leadership skills that our captain,
Brittany Pitts, and co-captain Laura Strandberg have shown on and off the court as well as our shared, successful vision and desirability to pursue a winning record,” Nicole Pitts said. For first singles, Strandberg took a 6-4 and 61 win. Then, Downing gained another winning score of 6-3 and 6-4. Brittany Pitts finished singles with a shutout of 6-0 and then 6-3. Finally, Abrecht took sixth singles with a victory of 63 and 6-0. The Roadrunners have strived to their 9-2 record this season with hard work and dedication. The teamwork shows as the Roadrunners continue to bring home home victories. “Cheering each other on and supporting one another definitely boosts our confidence when playing,” Brittany Pitts said. As Ramapo began their season early this year, they have now succeeded to 4-1 in the NJAC. With the exception of The College of New Jersey, the Roadrunners have beat every conference team they have played so far this season including, William Paterson University, Rutgers-Newark, Stockton College and Rutgers-Camden. “The team worked well on communication this year. Also, the fact that we started decently early, Sept. 1, helped us improve as we went on with our season,” Brittany Pitts said. “Along with that, our coach, Raza [Baig], helped us and
motivated us during the season.” Coach Raza Baig directs both the men and women’s tennis teams at Ramapo College. Baig was named head coach after he held the position of interim head coach for the fall 2009 and spring 2010.
“I feel our team strategy to keep going strong for this fall season against the upcoming teams is to remain positive when going into a match and to support one another.” - Brittany Pitts
The Roadrunners’ season is coming to an end with one more NJAC team to face. Ramapo’s last match is against Kean University before the regular scheduled season ends. “I feel our team strategy to keep going strong for this fall season against the upcoming teams is to remain positive when going into a match and to support one another,” Brittany Pitts said. mfalcone@ramapo.edu
RAMAPO SPORTS THIS WEEK
Thursday:
Women’s Volleyball vs. Kean University at 7 p.m.
Friday:
Women's Tennis vs. Kean University at 4:30 p.m.
Field Hockey at Mercy College at 1 p.m. Men’s Soccer at Stockton College at 1 p.m.
Saturday:
Women's Soccer vs. Rutgers--Camden at 1 p.m. Men’s Soccer at Rutgers--Camden at 1 p.m.
Women's Volleyball TBA
Monday:
Men’s Soccer at New Jersey City University at 1 p.m. Women's Soccer at Rowan University at 7 p.m.
Field Hockey vs. SUNY New Paltz at 4 p.m.
Wednesday: Women’s Soccer at Montclair State University at 3 p.m. Men’s Soccer vs. Montclair State University at 3 p.m.
Men’s Soccer Team Welcomes Past Players for Alumni Game Page 14 The Ramapo News
By VICTORIA AHLERS Staff Writer
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Annual Event Cancelled for Women’s Soccer Alumni
The men’s soccer team held their annual alumni game and family day on Saturday on the turf field. The alumni game featured former players from the men’s soccer team and the current ones. There were three 30-minute halves that took place. The first half was alumni against thecurrent team, the second half was old alumni vs. new alumni and the third half consists of the top alumni players facing the current team. The game ended in a 2-2 tie. The alumni game and family day has been held every year since 2004, and it is a great way for the current team to meet former players and catch up with their old teammates. After the game, all players and their families wenr to Mahwah Bar and Grill for free, where alumni and new players bonded over wings, quesadillas and sliders.
“The only way the alumni knew about the game was through a Facebook invite and that was not enough.” - Kimberly Bruno, alumna
“It was a great day overall. It was nice to play against the guys who graduated last year because the competitive spirit is always there. Bragging rights are always on the line, especially with the older alumni,” junior Rob Santianello said. “Alumni day is just a good way to bring all the old and new players and their families together for one day, where stories can be shared and fun can be had.” The women’s soccer team was supposed to have their alum-
ni game on Saturday as well, but was cancelled due to a lack of advertising the game to the alumni. “The only way the alumni knew about the game was through a Facebook invite and that was not enough,” said Kimberly Bruno, a former women’s soccer player who graduated last spring.
Men’s Soccer Schedule:
Saturday at Rutgers-Camden at 1 p.m. Monday at New Jersey City University at 1 p.m. Wednesday vs. Montclair State University at 3 p.m.
Women’s Soccer Schedule:
Saturday vs. Rutgers-Camden at 1 p.m. Monday at Rowan University at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Montclair State University at 3 p.m.
Another contributing factor to the game’s cancellation was the fact that it was scheduled shortly after the women’s soccer team played NJAC rival Stockton College earlier in the day. “I was upset in the sense that it was my first game as an alumni, and I wouldn’t get to see friends,” Bruno said. “But at the same time, I hoped it would make a statement that as alumni we deserve more.” There are currently no plans to reschedule the women’s soccer alumni game.
photo courtesy of Ramapo Athletics
Junior Rob Santianello, who is currently chasing Ramapoʼs record for most career goals scored, participated in the alumni game on Saturday.
vahlers@ramapo.edu
Rangers Return to World Series to Challenge Cardinals Freese Heats Up for St. Louis in NLCS; Cruz Cruises for Texas in ALCS
By JEREMY KELLY Staff Writer
In this corner, we have last season’s World Series runner-ups. In the other corner, we have a team that was nearly left for dead less than two months ago. The Texas Rangers became American League champions for the first time in franchise history in 2010; however, the San Francisco Giants defeated them in five games. Despite the offseason departure of ace pitcher Cliff Lee, they made big acquisitions with third baseman Adrián Beltré and catcher Mike Napoli. Thanks to an 18-9 record in July and a 19-6 record in September, the
Rangers again won the AL West as they set franchise records in wins (96) and earned the most shutouts in the AL. For the St. Louis Cardinals, their trip back to the postseason after a 2010 absence was far more difficult. Injuries to third baseman David Freese and first baseman Albert Pujols led to St. Louis falling 10 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central in August and falling 10.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves for the Wild Card spot on Aug. 24. But the Braves collapsed as the Cardinals finished the season going 23-9; they clinched an improbable playoff berth with an 8-0 win over the Houston Astros while the Braves lost 4-3 to the Philadelphia
photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
Nelson Cruz hit six home runs in the ALCS, including a walkoff grand slam in the 11th inning of Game 2 to beat the Detroit Tigers.
Phillies in 13 innings. The Cardinals faced the Phillies, the early season World Series favorites, in the fivegame National League Divisional Series (NLDS). Despite losing Game 3 at home, they forced a winner-take-all Game 5 with a 5-3 Game 4 victory in front of the secondlargest crowd in Busch Stadium history. Chris Carpenter pitched a complete game, three-hit shutout as St. Louis won 1-0 at Citizens Bank Park to advance. The Rangers squared off with the Tampa Rays in the ALDS, who were a Cinderella team after overcoming a 9-game deficit to the Boston Red Sox to make the playoffs. Although Tampa Bay drew first blood with a 9-0 victory in Game 1, the Rangers came back with three straight wins thanks to three home runs by Beltré in Game 4. In the NLCS, the Cardinals faced the Brewers, who were making their first NLCS appearance since they moved to the National League in 1998. After a 9-6 win by the Brewers in Game 1, the Cardinals won Game 2 in blowout fashion by the score of 12-3. With the series tied at two wins after four games, St. Louis won two more blowout victories, 7-1, in Game 5 and 12-6 in Game 6, to move onto their first World Series since 2006. As for the Rangers, they rode on six home runs by right fielder Nelson Cruz as they dispatched the Detroit Tigers in six games in the ALCS. After a Game 1 win, Game 2 went to 11 innings, where Cruz blasted a grand slam with no outs for a 7-3 win, offi-
cially marking the first walk-off grand slam in postseason history. Detroit won Game 3 at Comerica Park, but when Game 4 again went to 11 innings, Cruz hit a three-run shot to lead to a 7-3 win for the Rangers.
2011 World Series Cardinals Lead Series 1-0
Game 1 - Cardinals 3 Rangers 2 Game 2 - Tonight Game 3 - Saturday Game 4 - Sunday Game 5 (if necessary) - Monday Game 6 (if necessary)-Wednesday Game 7 (if necessary) - Thursday All games are scheduled for 8:05 p.m.
After the Tigers won Game 5 to shave off elimination, the Rangers scored nine thirdinning runs en route to a 15-5 series-clinching victory in Game 6. The World Series began last night at Busch Stadium, where the Cardinals defeated the Rangers by the score of 3-2. Game 2 takes place tonight at the same location at 8:05 p.m. Colby Lewis will be on the hill for Texas while Jaime García will pitch for St. Louis. jkelly7@ramapo.edu
Packers Only Undefeated Team Fantasy Football: Start/Sit Page 15 The Ramapo News
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Giants Stand Tall; Jets Fly High
By RYAN BUCHANAN Staff Writer
Last week, the New York Giants defeated the Buffalo Bills in the battle of New York that ended with the 4-2 Bills surrendering to the 4-2 Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. The final score settled at 27-24 on a field goal kicked by Lawrence Tynes in the last two minutes. Ahmad Bradshaw propelled the team to victory, scoring three touchdowns and racking up 104 yards. The New York Jets also came out victorious in their Monday night game in Miami versus the Miami Dolphins, 24-6. Miami’s quarterback Matt Moore stood in for first-string quarterback Chad Henne, who is out for the season with a separated left shoulder. Moore completed two passes to Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, who returned one of Moore’s passes to the opposite end zone for 100 yards and the touchdown. Miami fumbled the ball five times, losing possession twice. In the most anticipated game of the week, Jim Schwartz’s unbeaten Detroit Lions squad were beaten by a revived San Francisco 49ers club, 25-19, under the command of new coach, Jim Harbaugh. The win equalized both teams’ records to 5-1. After the game, tensions rose between Harbaugh and Schwartz. Harbaugh ran onto the field in excitement after the victory, lifted his shirt for a chest bump with his right tackle, Joe Staley, and went to extend a handshake to Schwartz, and then slapped him on the back. Schwartz did not take kindly to the slap and ran after
Harbaugh to address the matter. There were no punches thrown, but the two had to be separated. In other notable games around the league, the Packers remained undefeated at 6-0 by beating the Rams 24-3. Aaron Rodgers passed for 310 yards and three touchdowns. The Colts remained winless by losing to the Bengals, 27-17. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton completed almost 80 percent of his 32 passes. The Eagles avoided more ridicule this week by intercepting Rex Grossman four times and winning 20-13. This was the first week Eagles defense played to their potential. Tom Brady and the New England Patriots increased their home winning streak to 20 by defeating the Dallas Cowboys, 20-16. The Steelers escaped completely falling apart against the 1-5 Jaguars and won 17-13. The Raiders went to 4-2 by defeating the Browns 24-17 in a game that was highlighted by a pass from Raiders punter Shane Lechler to former Giants tight end Kevin Boss on a fake punt. The Buccaneers defeated the Saints, 26-20, despite Drew Brees passing for the league high in yards for the week with 383. The Ravens beat the Texans 29-14, with Anquan Boldin achieving the league high in reception yards for the week with 132 yards. The Falcons beat the 1-5 Panthers, 31-17. In the Sunday night game, the Chicago Bears destroyed the Vikings, 39-10, in what may be 6-time Pro Bowler Donovan McNabb’s last game as a starting quarterback.
NFL
Andrew Gould
Last Week (3-3) Season (15-9)
SD @ NYJ ATL @ DET CHI @ TB HOU @ TEN WAS @ CAR DEN @ MIA
7
Jeremy Kelly
Last Week (5-1) Season (17-7)
Sit
By NICK BOWER Staff Writer
Start
QB Ben Roethlisberger – Don’t expect the same numbers as last week, but Roethlisberger seems to be hot and is playing against the Cardinals and will have perfect throwing conditions in a dome. RB Ryan Mathews – The New York Jets have allowed opposing running backs to run wild this season. With Mathews getting healthier from his bye week and emerging as a dual threat racking up the receiving yards, look for him to do major damage this Sunday.
RB Michael Bush – No matter who is under center for Oakland on Sunday, the Raiders will be cautious with their quarterback, which means both Oakland running backs will get extra carries this week against a below average Kansas City defense.
WR Dez Bryant – The Dallas Cowboys are desperate for a win, and starting running back Felix Jones is hurt. Luckily for Bryant and the rest of the Dallas receivers, they’re going up against the Rams, who have given up the most points to opposing wide receivers this season, according to Yahoo! Sports.
QB Josh Freeman – Don’t be fooled by Tampa Bay’s upset win over the Saints last week. Freeman has thrown for more interceptions (six) than he has touchdowns (five). He’s going up against a talented Chicago defense that is desperate to keep pace in the NFC playoff race.
RB Adrian Peterson – The Packers run defense is the strength of this defense, which keeps getting better every week. If, and likely when, the Vikings fall behind early, expect them to abandon the run, as they occasionally do, and air it out to try to keep pace with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense. If you have another reasonable option, roll with that.
WR Reggie Wayne – He hasn’t done much since his week one performance, as Pierre Garcon has emerged as Curtis Painter’s favorite target. Also, don’t expect Painter to play well under the Sunday night lights in the Superdome. WR Brandon Marshall – Without the motivation from playing in prime time, expect Marshall to take this game off in a match that no one would care about if it wasn’t for Tim Tebow. Also, he will be most likely blanketed by Champ Bailey, making it a tough match-up either way. nbower@ramapo.edu
STAFF PICKS
rbuchana@ramapo.edu
WEEK
Start Matthews Against Jets; Sit Marshall
Ryan Buchanan Last Week (4-2) Season (16-8)
Nick Bower
Last Week (3-3) Season (13-11)
Nicole Alliegro Last Week (4-2) Season (4-2)
K. McGuinness Last Week (2-4) Season (2-4)
SPORTS 10 . 7 . 10
10 . 20 10 .. 11 7 . 10
NO FLY ZONE
Field Hockey tops Elmira College Soaring Eagles, 3-1. Page 13
photo by Sandy Stucki
X
Footloose
iPhone Upgrades
Maureen Scully reviews the remake of this favorite.
Daniel Morrell gives all the information about the new iPhone update.
Page 10
Page 11
Ramapo Students ‘Star’ in Two One Act Performances 10. 20. 11
BY DANIELLE CORCIONE Staff Writer
The fall theatrical production, a combination of two oneact cynical comedies, “Laundry & Bourbon” and “Lone Star,” opened on Friday, Oct. 14 in the Adler Theater at the Berrie Center. Cat Miller, who has professionally directed several productions including “The Power of Duff,” and “Ghost Girl,” directed the play. “Laundry & Bourbon” stars three women, Elizabeth, Hattie, and Amy Lee, and is set in 1973. All three characters went to high school together, but Amy Lee is divided from Elizabeth and Hattie because of her distinct personality. The past then begins to unfold over causal drinks of bourbon, and “Lone Star” takes off from the ending of “Laundry & Bourbon” with Elizabeth’s husband, Roy.
During the night, he encounters his younger brother Ray and acquaintance Cletis. He eventually discovers that his wife had an affair with
“I really enjoyed watching the students perform Lone Star. I thought the acting and set production was well done” -Donna Elazar, freshman
“Lone Star” is centered around the angry protagonist, Roy. Outside the back of a bar, he chain-smokes and drinks an endless amount of beer. He is a war veteran that suffers from severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and his disordered personality is revealed once others around him disappoint him.
photo by Sandy Stucki
The Ramapo Theater presents two one act comedies, “Laundry and Bourbon” and “Lone Star” this month.
Ray, and Cletis destroyed his precious pink Thunderbird car; Roy then loses the most important person and most important possession in his life, and he does not know what else to fall back on. “I really enjoyed watching the students perform Lone Star. I thought the acting and set production was well done,” Donna Elazar, freshman, said. Ramapo Theater students casted are freshmen Sam Simone as Amy Lee, sophomore Lexi Lapp as Elizabeth, and Caitlin Montenero as Hattie. Freshman Brian Petty was cast as Ray and Cletis is played by freshman Nick Walsh. “This experience was fantastic because it helped me mature as an actor and as a person,” Simone said. “I learned how much more disciplined rehearsals are in the real world and college, how to work with a very professional group of people and [it] helped me raise the bar of my own abilities to meet those of my fellow actors in the cast.” Other Ramapo Theater students involved in this production were stage manager, Allie Polan-Clarke and sound designer, Andrew Sundstrom-Smith. Audience reactions varied, but the feedback was primarily positive for both acts. “It was easy to follow along with the plot and I enjoyed the bits of humor in it as well,” Elazar said. “Nick Walsh had a wonderful performance and I look forward to seeing him and other students in upcoming productions.” The play will continue until Oct. 22. For more information and show times, visit the Berrie Center’s website.
Students Show Colors for Breast Cancer at Pink Tie Formal
dcorcion@ramapo.edu
Photos by Stefanie Mauro
On Friday, Colleges Against Cancer hosted their annual Pink Tie Formal to educate students about breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The dance was held in the Alumni Lounges and attendees were encouraged to wear pink, from ties to shoes. Appetizers were served and music was provided by WRPR. Information about screening for breast cancer and statistics were displayed on a projector screen during the dance. Proceeds from ticket sales went to support the American Cancer Society.