A&E A&E
RAMAPO NEWS NCAA Page 14
Chocolate Show Page 9
THE
SPORTS
G-Wing Renovations Will Move Labs to Parking Lot A Publication by the Students for the Ramapo College Community
11.17.2011
By JULIE CANDIO SEKEL Staff Writer G-wing renovation plans are in the design development stage and the floor plans are almost complete, according to Richard Roberts, associate vice president of Facilities Management and construction contracting officer. But now that the project is in its advanced stages, some students are wondering where their classes will be held in the coming semesters and how it will affect courses within their programs.
Started almost a year ago, plans for the G-wing have been relayed to students since the initial phase of the project. Students who belong to the School of Theoretical and Applied Science and School of Social Science and Human Services will be affected most by the renovation, as many laboratories are located in this building. Roberts said students should not worry, however, because relocation arrangements for temporary facilities devised by school deans, faculty, and staff, along with the Registrar’s Office, will ensure the plans are “minimally disruptive” to
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Ramapo’s educational environment. “The spirit of cooperation has been most productive, and will help assure that the maximum amount of available project funding can be dedicated to the long-term improvements rather than on temporary facilities,” Roberts said. The temporary facilities, as Roberts reported, will include the relocation of “faculty offices, classrooms, one psychology lab, and one animal research lab” to the Mackin and Bischoff Halls parking lots. Space for biology and other sci-
see TRAILERS on page 5
Nineteen-Year-Old Student Arrested on Campus, Faces Drug Charges
photo by Kim Andela
Justin Brownstein, 19, is charged with possesion of marijuana, possession with intention to distribute, and possession of drug paraphernalia. By KAITLIN McGUINNESS Web Editor A Ramapo College student was arrested and charged with drug possession after police found approximately a pound of marijuana when they executed a search warrant at his Linden Hall residence and his car. Justin Brownstein, 19, was charged Nov. 7 by Kinnelon Police officers with possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled
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EEKEND
dangerous substance with intention to distribute, and possession of drug paraphernalia, including packaging materials and scales for measurement. Lieutenant Jon Schwartz of the Kinnelon Police Department said the penalties for those charges could be enhanced because they occurred on school property. Brownstein could be fined up to $5,000 and face jail time. Schwartz said that during the
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course of an independent investigation, the Kinnelon Police received information that an individual at Ramapo College was dealing drugs out of his dorm room and car. Kinnelon Borough is located in Morris County, and the department obtained a warrant from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office to search Brownstein’s dorm in Linden Hall as well as his automobile.
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The police worked with the cooperation of Mahwah Police and Ramapo College Public Safety, and found a quantity of marijuana. Brownstein’s laptop and cell phone were also seized, and it was determined that his roommate was not involved, police said. Anna Farneski, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, said that Ramapo College will not comment on the situation because it is the subject of an ongoing
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police investigation. “As a rule, however,” she said, “Ramapo College does not tolerate illegal activity of any kind.” According to the Student Handbook, students convicted for the possession or sale of a controlled substance can lose eligibility for federal student aid. Also, penalties imposed by Ramapo College for drug posses-
see DRUGS on page 5
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THE College Celebrates 42 Years With Launch of Brand RAMAPO ‘Pushing Boundaries’ Officially Announced on Founders’ Day NEWS
Page 2 The Ramapo News
Robert A. Scott Student Center 505 Ramapo Valley Road Mahwah, NJ 07430
(201) 684-7842 rcnjnews@ramapo.edu Megan Anderle Editor-in-Chief
Nicole Alliegro Elyse Toribio News Editors
Diana Stanczak Danielle Reed A & E Editors
Andrew Gould Sports Editor
Stefanie Mauro Photo Editor
Matt Giuliari
Creative Director
Kaitlin McGuinness Web Editor
Valerie Canubas Business Manager
Dan Sforza
Technical Advisor
Thursday, November 17, 2011
By CANDACE MITCHELL Staff Writer The celebration of Ramapo College’s 42nd birthday on Wednesday coincided with the launch of a new marketing communication plan, adding to the usual annual festivities with a presentation on the campaign. Typically, Founders’ Day has elements of a birthday celebration and a historical overview of the College. Students interact and celebrate with professors who were here when the college was founded and learn and discuss how things have developed at Ramapo College. “Students and faculty see the transformations the College has gone through over 42 years and celebrate the positive changes,” Steven Wiltbank, president of the Student Government Association, said. SGA is responsible for hosting the birthday celebrations. This year students enjoyed 300 free t-shirts, raffles, cotton candy, caricatures, a photo booth, and a balloon artist. SGA also cosponsored a Late Night dining event in honor of Founders’ Day. The birthday celebration also included the annual cake-cutting by President Mercer, who led onlookers in singing happy birthday to Ramapo College. President Mercer also officially introduced the new integrated marketing plan, noting that the anniversary of the College’s inception is also an opportunity to commemorate the school’s vision over the years. “Founders’ Day reflects on our history and our
planning for the future,” said President Peter Mercer. The new marketing communication plan focuses on externally advertising what Ramapo College has to offer. Its slogan is “Pushing Boundaries.” The brand includes billboards, which have already been put up on the New Jersey Turnpike, as well as outside of the Lincoln Tunnel, and advertisement on three different radio stations in New Jersey.
“Ramapo College is new, neat, and nice. It is young and refreshing.” -Steven Wiltbank, SGA president
Chris Romano, associate vice president of Enrollment Management, explained the four key points to Ramapo College’s new brand. The first is faculty who teach and mentor. The second is hands-on learning and professional development that prepares students. The third is a strong foundation for a lifetime of achievement and the fourth point is the advantage of a small elite college at an affordable price. “It is a commitment from within to live up to and promote those qualities that we know are most important and most palpable to our audiences,” Romano said. The brand also advertises the stories of alumni and students whose experiences at Ramapo College have helped them learn and prepare for their futures.
Founders’ Day is a day where students can celebrate their school. Every student attending Ramapo chose it for a reason; something about Ramapo College was unique to every student that chose to go here. For Wiltbank, it was its youth. “Ramapo College is new, neat, and nice. It is young and refreshing,” he said, “and we clearly have the nicest residence halls ever.” For Zipporah Moultrie, a junior, it was Ramapo’s landscape. “The scenery is beautiful and peaceful,” says Moultrie. The location is what appealed to Amanda Pantone and Kelly Krisza, both freshmen. “Ramapo’s location provides easy access to New York City and the College offers tickets at good prices,” Pantone and Krisza said. As Ramapo College celebrates its past 42 years it also looks forward with a marketing communication brand hoping to better the college in future years. “Ramapo is New Jersey’s best kept secret,” Romano said. “Or as one first year student put it last week, ‘We are a hidden gem within New Jersey.’” Students can send an email to pushingboundaries@ramapo.edu to share the opportunities and experiences they have had during their time at the College.
cmitche3@ramapo.edu
INSIDE
Around the Arch Page 3
Viewpoints Page 7
A&E Page 8
Sports Page 13
POLICY
Whenever necessary, The Ramapo News will publish corrections or clarifications in the following issues. All corrections must be brought to the attention of the editor as soon as possible. The Ramapo News strives for accuracy. In keeping with journalistic standards, pre-publication review of any article, quote or editorial is not allowed. Viewpoints may be dropped off at SC-218 or e-mailed to rcnjnews@ramapo.edu. The Ramapo News reserves the right to edit viewpoints for content, style and space. Anonymous viewpoints will not be accepted. Paid advertisements are accepted at the sole discretion of The Ramapo News staff and are due no later than the Monday of that weekʼs issue. Rates are available by contacting the editorial staff by phone or e-mail.
photos by Ashley Jade Beasley
Yesterday, Ramapo College celebrated its 42nd birthday with Foundersʼ Day. During the day, SGA hosted activities on the top floor of the Student Center, including a balloon artist and a photo booth. Chis Romano, associate vice president of Enrollment Management, also used the day to introduce the Collegeʼs new marketing plan, called “Pushing Boundaries.”
Thursday, November 17, 2011
THURSDAY’S CHILD
Director Martin Scorsese and actor Danny DeVito turn 69 and 67 today, respectively. Letʼs hope these two goodfellas have a sunny day.
TODAY IN HISTORY
On this day in 1973, President Nixon told a group of reporters “Iʼm not a crook” in the midst of the infamous Watergate scandal.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I shouldnʼt have showered with those kids.” Jerry Sandusky, former Penn State football coach, claiming that while heʼs innocent of sex abuse charges, he did “horse around” and touch children
Plagiarism During Finals: What Students Needs to Know
By JULIE CANDIO SEKEL Staff Writer As final papers and exams are quickly approaching, students are increasingly concerned about being able to designate enough time to end-of-semester assignments. For many professors, finals serve as a culmination of all the materials students have learned in their courses and an opportunity for students to exhibit their newfound knowledge. While students deal with the stress of a heavy workload, some professors are experiencing a different type of anxiety: the concern over student plagiarism. With an increase in technology, students have access to a broader range of information and can even purchase full academic papers online. But the Internet also provides resources for professors to detect plagiarism through paper submission websites like turnitin.com. Professor Cherie Ann Sherman uses turnitin.com in her Ethics and Business and Computer Law and Ethics classes. She said the site is “very effective” because it ensures “that students are submitting their own work.”
It is important students submit original work and learn the rules of plagiarism now, Sherman explained, because when students enter the workforce, the consequences for plagiarism will be even more severe. “Plagiarism at work might lead to an individual being fired or prosecuted legally,” she said. But few students know that academic dishonesty cases in college can be grounds for legal matters. These consequences are discussed in the College Catalog, posted on the Ramapo website, under the “Academic Policies” section. Legal rights provide only one example of what current students may not be aware of regarding the College’s policies on academic integrity. With this in mind, students may want to ask themselves how much they know about Ramapo’s rules on plagiarism.
Did You Know… … Faculty members are responsible for instructing students on plagiarism? According to Ramapo’s academic policies, faculty mem-
bers “are responsible for educating their students about the importance of academic integrity and for communicating to students their expectations with respect to academic integrity in course work.”
…You cannot submit a paper to more than one class without both professors’ consent? The school’s regulations state that academic misconduct includes “submitting written work (in whole or in significant part) to fulfill the requirements of more than one course without the explicit permission of both instructors.”
… The college expects full disclosure of any knowledge you have regarding classmates who plagiarized? As the website reads, “To ensure due process, any member of the Ramapo community who is aware of violations of the College’s academic integrity policy is expected to report the
Relay for Life Kicks Off Fundraising Efforts with a ‘Blitz’
By ALEXIS LOPEZ Staff Writer Ramapo College’s Relay for Life committee held its first “Blitz Week” celebration, beginning Monday, to raise awareness about cancer, provide information, and get participants signed up for the March event. In past years, the committee has only organized a one-day event, called “Kick-Off,” but this year’s festivities have been expanded to a weeklong series of events on campus in order to reach out to as many students as possible. “With the extended week of events, we are trying to show the students of Ramapo College all the facets of Relay itself: games, survivors, fundraising, purple, and a whole lot of fun,” said senior Alexis Salim, spirit sub-committee chair for Relay for Life. “With only the one-day Kick-Off event, we weren’t able to try and capture the attention of the whole student body, whereas with events all week all throughout campus, we are able to get the word out to more people,” she said. Senior Brendan Flanagan, publicity sub-committee chair for Relay, agrees, and said he is looking forward to seeing how the added events will help the committee reach its future goals. “Moving from just a day of Kick-Off to Blitz Week has definitely given us a better chance to celebrate our victories as well as further our new goals,” he said. Blitz Week isn’t just about getting people signed up for Relay, however, according to committee members. They have many other important goals in mind that they are hoping to achieve, including getting the word out about Relay and the American Cancer Society, said Flanagan. “Yes, we hope that people sign up for Relay, but we also hope people take something away from Blitz Week, whether that is a new understanding of how Relay contributes to the fight against cancer or even a greater understanding of what life with cancer is like,” he said. Other Relay committee members have their own goals for this year’s event. One of the committee chairs, senior Jackie Katz, said her hope is to “expand Relay spirit even more than it has been in the past, get people pumped for Relay, and make Relay a part of Ramapo culture.” “Blitz Week” started with “Kick-Off” in the Student
photo by Joshua Wanger
In years past, the Relay for Life committe has held a one-day fundraising event. With a full-fledged “Blitz Week” this year, the goal is set to $75,000.
Center, where information was passed out to students and professors about the event, and a special Relay late-night at The Birch Tree Inn. At both events, computers were also set up, which allowed students to register for the event online and join a team. According to Flanagan, Tuesday’s “Mission Relay” and “An Evening with Cancer” events were more about raising awareness of the disease itself than spreading information about the College’s Relay. At “An Evening with Cancer,” Margaret Valenti, an oncology nurse, spoke about her experiences with cancer patients,
see PLAGIARISM on page 5
and a panel of three cancer survivors gave insight, answered questions and shared their personal experiences with the disease. Maggie Rogers, senior and sub-committee chair for survivorship, and cancer survivor herself, supported this event’s cause. “Besides the handful of student survivors on campus, most students forget how lucky they are to be healthy,” she said. Blitz Week concluded with a Team Captain Recognition Dinner took place yesterday night, and tonight’s annual “Smash the Habit” volleyball tournament, sponsored by Colleges Against Cancer. All of the proceeds from the tournament will also go to the American Cancer Society. “We tried to appeal to different student’s interests by incorporating a sporting event, as well as a late-night and speaker,” said Christina Urciuoli of Blitz Week, the team development sub-committee chair for Relay for Life. All of these interactive Blitz Week events are just a preface to the actual Relay for Life event that will take place on March 30 to 31. Relay is an all-night event dedicated to celebrating survivors of cancer and their caregivers and remembering and honoring those who lost the fight. Last year, Relay for Life surpassed their goal of $69,000 and raised $72,000 in total for the American Cancer Society. This year’s goal has been set at $75,000. The committee has just announced the event’s Olympic theme this year, and members are hopeful that with the continued success of Blitz Week, this year’s Relay for Life will be better than in years past. “We work hard each year to make Relay bigger and better than the year before,” said junior Ashley Beaton, mission sub-committee chair and president of Colleges Against Cancer. “With all of the enthusiasm and passion amongst the 75 or so of us on committee, it would be impossible for this year’s Relay to be anything but spectacular.” Salim is adamant that working together is the only way to face this disease. “Although Relay is in the name, the only race we are running is the one against cancer, which we can only beat by working together,” she said. alopez3@ramapo.edu
Group Uses Sports to Help Fight Homelessness in US
Page 4 The Ramapo News
Thursday, November 17, 2011
By JULIANNE INNAMORATO Staff Writer
The Annual Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week started on Nov. 12, and many events and activities were held on campus to help Ramapo students become more aware of homelessness in the United States and across the globe. On Tuesday, a Hunger and Homelessness Panel, featuring Street Soccer USA took place at 2 p.m. in Friends Hall. The mission of Street Soccer USA, an organization that aims to end homelessness through sports, is to “aim to get homeless men, women, and youth off the streets, scoring goals on the field, and achieving their goals in life.” Street Soccer USA helps homeless men, women, and children to help further their education and find jobs and housing. Through their 20-city league non-profit organization, they try to make a difference in the world by using soccer to give homeless people a chance for a fresh start, believing that “a ball can change a life.” Becoming part of a street soccer team helps the group create ties and learn to communicate with people of different levels. There are approximately 50,000 individuals involved in the Street Soccer USA movement, and on average, they help 75 percent of the players move off the streets and onto a team, where they learn to improve communication skills, mental and physical health, and self-confidence. Three volunteers from Street Soccer USA, Chris Sarosick, Donny Nickelson, and Melanie Rivasmujica, answered questions at Ramapo’s panel and spoke about their experiences, how they joined shelters, overcame their obstacles, and became a part of the organization. “Kicking around the ball helps me to concentrate on the situation at hand and look towards a resolution at the same time,” said Rivasmujica. “I’d like to see how much further we can take [the organization]; aside from adults, maybe children could get involved in the program as well.” Aside from playing pick-up games, the Street Soccer USA participants compete in the SSUSA Cup every year. Of the championship, Sarosick said, “It gives me something to do, and I love sports. It’s fun when you compete—
photo by Julianne Innamorato
Street Soccer USA, an organization which hopes to help the homelessness epidemic through sports, members led a panel on Tuesday as part of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.
that’s when I really want to play.” The group’s teams have competed with several others in different countries and play in such places as Charlotte, North Carolina, Washington D.C, and even Paris and Milan. “I learn every time I come to practice, whether communicating with others, or improving my skills,” said Nickelson. Stephanie Gonzales, a freshman, said, “I thought the panel was really interesting, and it opened my eyes to the effects of homelessness on people around the world.” Kerry Duda, sophomore and one of the Community Service Center’s hosts of the panel, said she feels a panel discussion is more apt to impact students. “I went to the panel last year as well, and I love the set up, where you can have open dialogue instead of a lecture,” she said. “I feel like people get a lot more out of the discussion.” All in all, the panelists stressed that homelessness, while a pervasive problem in the country and around the world, can
be solved with the community’s help. “Everyone in this room has either been, knows someone, or has heard of someone who is homeless. It affects everyone,” said Nickelson. Ramapo students can get more involved with the movement to put an end to homelessness by attending community service projects hosted by the Community Service Center. Many of the trips have, and continue to, promote helping the homeless, including “Second Mile,” which will take place tomorrow, where students make and hand out sandwiches at Newark Penn Station to the homeless. To learn more about Street Soccer USA, visit the organization’s wesite, at www.streetsoccerusa.org.
pedagogy courses and their degree requirement courses, they have to take the licensing exam, Praxis II,” Urbiel explains. New Jersey state law requires that all teachers pass the Praxis II, according to Urbiel, a content knowledge exam, in order to become certified. But specific to the College’s Teacher Education program, a student must pass the Praxis II before they are considered a candidate for student teaching. “We do that because that gives us leverage with the school districts,” Urbiel said. Peter Dmitrieff, also a senior math major, reports that although he began searching for student teaching at the end of September, he, too, still has not been placed. He said he got no response from Mahwah High School and was denied by Monroe High School in New York. “I was not late at all in fulfilling the requirements for student teaching, but nevertheless, I have found the whole process to be frustrating,” he said. While this requirement may be one cause for a delay in student teaching placement, as some students may not pass the Praxis exam the first time around, both Urbiel and Russo agree that it is viewed as an advantage in the field. “It’s very competitive out there,” Urbiel said, especially for elementary education teachers, a field that has an overabundance of young graduates. Russo said that in Bergen County, it is not uncommon for one teaching position to receive 1,000 applicants, so the College encourages students to intern in a district where they’d ideally like to live and work. This could cause extra delay in negotiations, because the College has less contact information with these school boards than it does for local area schools.
But, especially because of the Teacher Education program’s demanding requirements, Russo said almost half of his students choose to go back home to complete their semester of student teaching. This allows them four years to finish all of their classes and field experience observation components, rather than rushing to complete the program in three-and-a-half years to allow one semester for student teaching. “Many students graduate, get their degree, and then, they come back for an additional semester of just student teaching,” Urbiel said. However, for the students who choose to graduate in four years, “a crunch” to do so, according to Urbiel, they must be wary of all the additional factors which can delay their last semester of student teaching. Students must not only appropriately plan to complete their coursework in a reduced timeframe, but also leave time for school boards to process their student teaching application, and even be prepared for rejection, said Russo. “It isn’t like I’m sitting here chewing on my fingernails, worried [students] are not going to be placed,” Russo added. He said he is in constant discussions with various Boards of Education considering applicants from a variety of areas and backgrounds. De Peri recognizes the College’s efforts in getting all of the eligible students placed. “I think the Teacher Education department at Ramapo is doing their part,” he said. “I feel that the fault is with the cooperating schools.” De Peri touches upon a major factor in student teaching assignment delays, according to Russo and Urbiel. Some teachers and school districts, regardless of the qualifications
jinnamor@ramapo.edu
Few Seniors Not Yet Placed in Student Teaching Assignments
By NICOLE ALLIEGRO News Editor For some seniors in the Teacher Education program, plans for their last semester of college are still up in the air, as they have not yet been placed in their required student teaching assignments for the spring. “The clock is ticking,” Peter De Peri, senior, said. “It is the middle of November, and I still do not have a placement.” De Peri, who hopes to become a math teacher, said he is on his third student teaching application, after being denied by Glen Rock High School and Verona High School. While this uncertainty is causing anxiety among students, the program’s faculty assures that everything will be settled in as timely a matter as possible. “We place, every semester, between 70 and 90 students,” said Richard Russo, the Teacher Education coordinator and trainer. “It’s not easy, [but] they will definitely be placed.” Russo, who works directly with students and school districts to organize student teaching positions, suggests that not many of the students he has managed for the spring semester have yet to be assigned to a school. “I would say out of maybe 80 students that we have going now…probably pretty close to 70 have been placed,” Russo said. “We’re so far ahead of other colleges, it’s indescribable.” Alexander Urbiel, assistant dean of Teacher Education, said that the College works to place student teachers as early as possible because there are many opportunities for delay with each case. He said that the program works with seniors a full semester before their student teaching is to begin, so long as the students have all of their requirements met. “When the students are finished with all [of] the education
see TEACH on page 5
Seniors Stress Over Teaching Spots
Page 5 The Ramapo News
continued from page 4
of the student, are more resistant to accepting student teachers due to the state’s new teacher assessment regulations. “Teachers now in New Jersey are being assessed on how well their students do,” explained Urbiel. “So there’s resistance to take student teachers because that’s giving up some of [a teacher’s] control.” “Overall, we get more rejections today than we did ten years ago, because teachers are just simply too nervous to take on an intern,” Russo added. De Peri and Dmitrieff both attribute their struggles to these factors, which influence schools not to admit student teachers. “I think that there should be more collaboration between high schools and Ramapo College to ensure that student teachers aren’t rejected,” Dmitrieff said. “Unfortunately, the schools decide whether or not they wish to accept a student teacher, so if they choose to
turn away applicants, you end up with a situation like this: too many students and not enough teachers.” All in all, placing students in student teaching positions is an “ongoing process,” Russo said. Though it may take a while depending on the student’s circumstances, Urbiel said the College has continually seen good results and gotten positive feedback. “School districts love our student teachers,” Russo said. “They’re very strong in content, they have good dispositions [and] they’re out there acting very professional.” Russo urges senior students who have not yet been placed for their student teaching to meet with him, in order to make sure everything is still on track with their applications. “I’ve never had a student who was not placed in a timely fashion, ever,” Russo said. “It’s definitely going to happen…even with the students that are [interning] far away, and even with the students that go into areas that are overloaded. There’s
Student Caught with Marijuana on Campus
continued from page 1
sion on campus can include suspension, loss of campus housing, parental notification, a $300 fine, 20 hours of community service, being referred for formal drug assessment through Counseling Services, and loss of activities privileges. A second violation will result in parental notification and possible suspension or expulsion, and distributing drugs with intent of financial gain will result in parental notification and expulsion after the first violation. Attempts to contact Brownstein were unsuccessful. Louie Di Paolo, president of the Ramapo campus chapter of the National Organization of the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), said the arrest brings attention to the seriousness of the issue of whether marijuana should be legalized. “Police allocate so much time towards prosecuting people for a substance that’s relatively harmless,” he said. According to Di Paolo, the pound of marijuana that was seized from Brownstein could be sold for at least $5,000. Di Paolo feels that drug dealing is dangerous, and will continue as long as there is a demand, and that the sale of marijuana should be legalized and legitimized. “[If it were legal] people wouldn’t have to risk their lives and reputations selling it because it could be bought in a controlled environment, like we do alcohol,” Di Paolo said. “He’s going to be in prison now with violent criminals for selling a harmless plant.”
kmcguinn@ramapo.edu
no question about that. It just takes time. It might not be until the middle of December, but they’ll definitely be placed.” As of press time, De Peri is waiting to hear back from Westwood High School, whose district is “doing a poor job of…something as simple as making a phone call,” he said. “I’m so close to graduation, but now I just feel that I’m being held up.” Similarly, Dmitrieff has his application submitted to Pine Bush High School in Orange County, New York, his alma mater. “Hopefully I will have better luck there,” he said. “I am afraid of what will happen if I don’t get placed.” Urbiel, on the other hand, remains confident. “I’m sure that’s incredibly anxiety-provoking, but it’s a process,” Urbiel said of student teaching assignments, “and like any other process, sometimes, it takes longer.” nalliegr@ramapo.edu
G-Wing Construction Nearly Finshed
Thursday, November 17, 2011
continued from page 1
ence labs will be created within areas of the G-wing that are not under construction when they are needed. The project is divided into two parts, based on floors. According to Roberts, the third and fourth floors will undergo reconstruction from summer 2012 to August 2013. Upon completion, work will begin on the first and second floors, which should conclude by the start of the fall 2014 semester. Although the plan for G-wing is rather complete, some biology and psychology students are skeptical. For Christina Talarico, senior biology student, one major question exists: “Why am I paying tuition to have class in a parking lot?” From Talarico’s perspective, the issue is not just about the temporary relocation of classrooms and labs, but rather what this relocation will mean for course registration, students staying on track for graduation and freshmen admittance into the biology program during the two-year renovation period. “I can’t imagine how you can keep expanding if the number of classes are limited, especially labs,” Talarico said. While biology labs will be relocated to other areas in the G-wing, as stated in Roberts’ plans, Talarico explained that each lab is set up differently to fulfill different
needs in science courses. As Talarico said, “A dissection lab is not the same as a physics lab.” Psychology majors like senior Mariana Posada, are concerned that relocating professors’ offices will cause an “inconvenience” and that the school is discounting the actual size of the psychology program. “I feel like they’re overlooking the number of psychology students, despite the fact that it’s such a big major,” Posada said. “If students feel their needs are being overlooked, they won’t be as motivated.” Roberts stressed that the relocation is temporary. The length of time classes will be held outside of the G-wing, he said, “is dependent on the discipline and when its permanent facilities will be available.” “Some will be dislocated for one year, others for two,” Roberts said. But one or two years is too long, according to Talarico. “If I were a freshman coming into Ramapo College and heard I’d have class in the parking lot, I’d probably look into other schools,” Talarico said.
jcandios@ramapo.edu
Students, Professors Review Little-Known College Plagiarism Policies in Time for Final Exams continued from page 3
incident to the Office of the Provost.”
…Faculty members are not required to report cases of plagiarism? As the policies in the catalog state, “Faculty members have the option of resolving the charges with the students themselves, or they may refer the matter to the Vice Provost.” …Plagiarism offenses could be in violation of state laws? If the Office of the Provost arranges a hearing with a student, and the student is found guilty of the allegations, various sanctions may be imposed. These can include “an official warning, a failing grade on the assignment, a failing grade for the course, and/or disciplinary probation.” Other sanctions may be enforced at the discretion of the College, but additionally, New Jersey Public Law 1977-C-215, which prohibits the sale of academic work for school credits and can carry a $1,000 fine, may apply.
…A student can hire an attorney to observe his or her proceedings with the Office of the Provost? Students may invite an adviser to their hearings with the Vice Provost or mem-
bers of the Committee on Academic Standards and Procedures (CASP). The adviser, who can be an attorney, according to school policy, “may provide counsel to the student but may not speak on the student’s behalf nor appear in lieu of the student.” If an attorney will be present during the proceedings, the Office of the Provost must be contacted at least three business days prior to the meeting.
…Students found guilty may appeal the verdict, but only within a specified time period? “An appeal must be submitted by the student in writing to the Provost within five (5) business days from the date of the letter of finding,” the site reads. “Failure to appeal within the allotted time will render the original decision final and conclusive.” … Records of plagiarism are held on file even after a student graduates? The regulations on academic integrity state that “case files will be retained in the Office of the Provost until five years after graduation or termination.” While information on the average number of plagiarism cases at Ramapo each year is not available, according to
Eric Daffron, vice provost for Curriculum and Assessment, Sherman supplied a statistic that provides insight into the frequency of this issue. On average, Sherman said she catches one or two students plagiarizing per year of the approximately 200 students she teaches. According to Daffron, Ramapo students can avoid plagiarism by reviewing the College’s policies on academic integrity, “and, among other things, review suggestions about plagiarism that are given in [Diane] Hacker’s ‘Rules for Writers.’” Sherman advises students to learn the difference between original content and plagiarism, because some students are unaware of the various ways plagiarism can be defined. “It is important to make sure the students understand what constitutes plagiarism and why it is a problem,” Sherman said. jcandios@ramapo.edu
Page 6 The Ramapo News
Thursday, November 17, 2011
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Thursday, November 17, 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.
PSU Students Behave Shamefully after Scandal To Students, Football Takes Precedence over Coachs’ Actions
By ANDREW GOULD Sports Editor Sports, at its best, can be a great way to bring people together. The ideals of sports are realized when players come together to achieve a common goal, and fans are united in the process by bonding over their beloved teams. Unfortunately, we are witnessing a horrifying mindset that fans can also have. Sports can bring out a bitter, ugly side that robs people of their ability to think and behave rationally. Some people grow so attached to their favorite teams that they lose their grasp of reality. Students at Pennsylvania State University are so devoted to their prestigious football program that they were distracted from the real story. Former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was caught sexually assaulting a 10-year-old child in the school’s showers, but students directed their anger to the firing of head coach Joe Paterno. Sure, Paterno won a lot of football games for Penn State. His name was synonymous with the school for 62 years, and he was one
of the most successful coaches ever to walk on the gridiron. Right now, none of that matters. Football is just a game. It’s fun to get caught up in the heat of competition and leave behind serious problems for three hours, but none of Penn State’s victories can undo the lifetime of damage inflicted on the defenseless child. Most of these kids chose Penn State because of the school’s esteemed tradition and moral integrity. All of that has now gone down the drain. To think that Penn State was willing to ignore a horrifying incident in order to maintain its public image is appalling, but it’s just as bad to see that students were willing to ignore it as well so they can keep winning football games. Did anyone at Penn State actually think Paterno, who said he would resign at the end of the year before the school fired him, would be allowed to keep his job after failing to tell authorities about Sandusky’s appalling crimes? The NCAA, which has come down hard on many schools for violations of much lesser significance, would have lost all its credibility as an organization devoted to pro-
tecting the sanctity of college football if they had let this one pass. Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel, who led the team to a National title win in 2002, resigned from his position in May after details surfaced of some of his players selling merchandise and receiving free tattoos from a local tattoo artist. How trivial does selling merchandise and receiving free tattoos seem now? As someone who eats, breathes and sleeps sports, it was sad to see misguided Penn State fans riot after Paterno’s firing. It was almost as painful as watching Jerry Sandusky eliminate doubt that he is guilty of his crime during a phone interview with Bob Costas on NBC’s “Rock Center” Monday night. Somewhere along the way, students at Penn State forgot that football is just a game. Hopefully we can all learn a lesson from their mistake. agould1@ramapo.edu
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Why Tim Tebow Gets Bad Press for No Reason Media Should Start Bashing Rex Ryan Instead of Tebow
By JAKE HYMAN Staff Writer
Tim Tebow and Rex Ryan: Who is truly the bigger man? On Thursday night, the two starkly different personalities will square off on the gridiron in Denver, Colorado when the Denver Broncos face the New York Jets. Tebow is the starting quarterback for the Broncos while Ryan is the head football coach for the New York Jets. Each one has had their fair share of media coverage throughout their professional, and in Tebow’s case, collegiate careers. At times this treatment has been brutally negative toward Tebow and Ryan, but the reasons for criticizing them are not the same. Tebow, 24, has had a great deal of success in football from high school onto college, and now in the early stages of his professional career. One of the most highly touted recruits coming out of high school in 2006, Tebow attended the University of Florida where he did nothing but win. He was the recipient of 2007 Heisman Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding player in college football, and won two National Championships. In 2010, he was drafted 25th overall in the first round of the NFL Draft by the
Denver Broncos. Since taking over as starting quarterback during week seven of this season, Tebow has led the Broncos to a 3-1 record and given them a shot to make the playoffs. However, all of Tebow’s success has been met with harsh and undeserving criticism. Tebow isn’t a criminal or a highly flamboyant loud mouth that normally would fit the mold of an athlete who receives negative media attention. What makes him controversial is his faith. Tebow is an
openly devout Christian who was homeschooled as a child and did missionary work in the Philippines. He has not been shy to discuss his beliefs, and in a 2009 interview with sportswriter Clay Travis, Tebow revealed he is still a virgin. He has often been made fun of and mocked by other players for his tendency to kneel down and pray during the game, causing an Internet sensation now known as “Tebowing.” In a game against the Detroit Lions, Detroit players mocked Tebow by “Tebowing” after sacking him.
It is amazing to see how much negative attention has swirled around [Tim] Tebow when he has done absolutely nothing wrong in the public limelight.
It is amazing to see how much negative attention has swirled around Tebow when he has done absolutely nothing wrong in the public limelight. I’m not saying Tebow is a saint or “the Chosen One” (which he has also been called), but give the guy a break, especially when there are other prominent sports figures doing actual inappropriate things. Rex Ryan was caught on camera Sunday night cursing at a fan after the Jets’ embarrassing loss at home to the New England Patriots. Ryan, known for his press conference antics and generally pompous behavior, was yelled at by a fan to which he replied, “Shut the —- up.” Is that the way for a professional football coach to act toward the fans that pay to come see
his team play? Look, I understand Ryan was upset with the Jets’ performance and he had all the right in the world to be mad at a fan who was taunting him, but a head football coach of a professional sports team should walk away and hold your dignity. The sad thing is this is not the first time Ryan has negatively interacted with fans who taunted him. In early 2010, Ryan was fined $50,000 by the Jets for flipping off a group of Miami Dolphins fans at a sporting event in Florida. Ryan is 48 years old; when is he going to grow up , shut his mouth and do his job? Advice for Rex: Stop cursing at fans and making obscene gestures towards them, and actually win something for the Jets. While Rex continues to gloat in his faux success, Tebow can hold onto something that is much more meaningful: his morals. Regardless of whether he is a Christian, a Muslim, or an Atheist, Tebow is a good role model for all aspiring athletes to follow. Thursday night might result in a win on the scoreboard for Rex’s Jets, but Tim Tebow will leave the field as the better man. jhyman@ramapo.edu
Chocolate Heaven
Take Care
Jillian Cener writes about the New York Chocolate Show Page 9
Ready, Set, Shop!
Alejandro Hernandez reviews Drakeʼs new album Page 10
11.17. 11
Retailers Offer Discounts on Biggest Shopping Day of the Year
BY S AMANTHA MUCHA Staff Writer
Black Friday is just days away and stores are gearing up for some of the most epic sales yet. With some stores opening up as early as 9 p.m. on Thursday, here is a list of all the places you will want to be Thanksgiving night.
Most stores are starting their online sales Thursday night. Along with all the great deals you’ll be able to find, free shipping is the icing on the cake.
Wal -mart will be having three events. At 10 p.m. on Thursday, toys and more will be on sale; at midnight, electronics will be on sale; and at 8 a.m. it will be electronics and more. There will be digital cameras on sale for as low at $24.99. Macy’s will be opening at 12 a.m. and everything in the store will be on sale. On top of that, all sale and clearance merchandise will be an extra $10 off after spending $25. It gets better; on top of all the super low prices, 20 percent off coupons for almost everything in the store are available too. You’ll be able to grab a new set of pajamas for the whole family for less than you can ever imagine. Best Buy will be opening at 12 a.m.,; however they will start handing out their doorbuster tickets two hours prior to
that. So get on line early if you want a new 42” LCD television for only $200 or a free Verizon wireless thunderbolt. Besides the amazing doorbusters, Best Buy has all of its great products on sale, including the iPad 2, however the price has not been released yet. Toys ‘R’ Us is one of the stores opening at 9 p.m.
Thursday night. Almost everything in the store will be 50 percent off. Toys ‘R’ Us will also be offering doorbusters, such as $100 off a Fur Real Friends life size ride-on horse or a $50 gift card when you buy an iPod touch. The sale continues through Saturday as well, so if you’re too busy at another store on Friday, don’t worry – you can still make all your younger brothers and sisters happy and save loads of money. Another popular Black Friday option is to shop online. It’s always open, and you don’t even have to move from the couch after all that turkey tires you out. Most stores are starting their online sales Thursday night. Along with all the great deals you’ll be able to find, free shipping is the icing on the cake. The only downside to shopping online is missing all the doorbusters, and the excitement of Black Friday. However, it is the smartest and most convenient way to take advantage of all the sales. Students at Ramapo have favorites of their own, as well as Black Friday traditions. “Target is my favorite. I go super early, get all my gifts for people all at once, and then go out to breakfast. I love it,” junior Kelly Craig said. After your Thanksgiving feast take a quick nap and get ready to save. smucha@ramapo.edu
Black Friday: Fueling Americaʼs Spending Frenzy Since 1869
BY LIZ ODERMATT Staff Writer
It would seem that fall has finally graced us with its presence and not a moment too soon Thanksgiving is around the corner. It’s time for turkeys, family and sales, sales sales. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, has always been know as the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Big name stores open early and close late in order to push all of their door busting deals. The day following Thanksgiving has always been one of the biggest shopping days as it marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. The tradition originated from the different parades celebrated on Thanksgiving that always ended with the appearance of Santa. The term “Black Friday” has been used in multiple contexts throughout history, dating all the way back to in 1869 when the U.S. was suffering from financial crisis. It did not begin to start referring to the holiday shopping season until Thanksgiving 1966 when police officers used it to refer to the massive traffic jams and overcrowding as the down-
Photo by Tshein, Flickr creative commons
Every year, shoppers flood stores like Best Buy in hopes of snagging great deals. The Black Friday tradition dates all the way back to 1869.
town area became mobbed. This madness still occurs to this day as consumers around the nation rush to their favorite stores at insane hours in order to get
the best price. Ramapo College is no exception and many students are willing to take the risk and venture out to big name stores on Black Friday, each with their own plan of
action. Some prefer to go the safe route and cut their losses “I go later in the day and risk not getting everything I wanted in order to avoid the crowds,” junior Melissa Pepe said. Others go for the best price. “I go at midnight even with all the madness in order the best deals,” said junior Michelle Perez. Others just try to avoid big name stores. “I go to malls because they are less populated than stores like Best Buy. I also try to avoid electronic stores since that’s where the most madness is,” junior Mandy Leach said. No matter the plan of action though, shopping on Black Friday is always a risk and is never an easy task. Nevertheless, our nation and students alike make the risk every year in order to get the most for their money. eodermat@ramapo.edu
2011 Chocolate Show Brings Sweets to the Big Apple
Page 9 The Ramapo News
Thursday, November 17, 2011
By JILLIAN CENER Staff Writer
Imagine a place completely dedicated to chocolate. One with booths, exhibits, shows and games all revolving around this sweet treat. No, it’s not Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, and yes, it does exist.
The 2011 New York Chocolate Show was underway this weekend in the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City. The 14th annual show, created by French entrepreneurs Sylvie Douce and Francois Jeantet, calls itself the “largest show completely dedicated to chocolate in the United States.” With tickets ranging from $30-$35 for adults, the show took the city by storm from Thursday to Sunday. Upon entering the show, people were greeted with a voucher redeemable for a small chocolate Lincoln car, but that was only the beginning. Walking further revealed more than 65 booths, exhibits, tables and demonstrations. Fine chocolatiers from all over the world had set up their best displays of chocolate bars, truffles, fondue, drink mixes and even wine. The labyrinth of walkways in the pavilion allowed for a
Upon entering the show, people were greeted with a voucher redeemable for a small chocolate Lincoln car. But that was only the beginning. Walking further revealed more than 65 booths, exhibits, tables and demonstrations.
new chocolate surprise at every turn. “When I walked in I was bombarded with the sweet smell of chocolate,” freshman Amanda Sambucini said. Most stands had generous amounts of free samples, ranging from 100% unsweetened chocolate to vegan chocolate to chocolate-covered potato chips. There was even a chocolate fountain where you could pay $1 to dip a pretzel, graham cracker or marshmallow in. The show also offered a display of dresses made out of
chocolate, demonstrations in two theaters featuring chocolate-based recipes, book signings and a kids’ corner. My personal favorites were the Jacques Torres and No
Most stands had generous amounts of free samples, ranging from 100% unsweetened chocolate to vegan chocolate to chocolate-covered potato chips.
Chewing Allowed! stands. The Jacques Torres stand featured a giant chocolate pig. While interesting to look at, it was certainly not affordable at $90. No Chewing Allowed! featured truffles made in France that, as the name suggests, melt in your mouth. The truffles were the perfect consistency and taste - not too sweet, but not too bitter either. “My favorite stand had lots of kinds of fondue,” Sambucini said. For those interested in attending the show next year, or other shows like this one, it is important to remember a few key tips. Always eat a good meal before arriving. You’ll be tasting lots of samples of different kinds of chocolate, and doing so on an empty stomach could lead to stomach pains. “Bring milk,” Sambucini said, who found herself looking for a gallon of it around every corner. Now that the Chocolate Show has left New York, the show plans to bring its chocolate displays around the world to major cities like Tokyo, Paris and Bologna. With so many different varieties of chocolate to offer, the show will surely find satisfied crowds wherever it goes.
Fraternity Sponsors Gallery to Promote Arts Photo by Jillian Cener
The New York Chocolate Show offered attendees a variety chocolate related food and drinks.
jcener@ramapo.edu
Photos by Dan OʼLeary
On Tuesday, Ramapo students got the chance to attend the Gamma Art Gallery in J.Leeʼs, sponsored by Gamma Xi Phi Professional Arts Fraternity. This event displayed membersʼ artwork to help promote the importance of visual arts.
Black Sabbath Continues to Rock On
Page 10 The Ramapo News
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Legendary Kings of Metal Reunite, Despite Age
By DANIEL MORRELL Staff Writer
Legendary metal titans, Black Sabbath, have announced that they will be reuniting for a new album and world tour in 2012. It will be the first time the group will be recording with its original members, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Tony Iommi, since their 1978 release, “Never Say Die,” and the first time touring since the 2005 Ozzfest. Guitarist Iommi told the “Birmingham Mail” that he is “really looking forward to it and the stuff we’ve been writing is really good. [It’s] the old Sabbath style and sound.” The reunion, which comes after about ten years of rumors, is a long awaited dream come true for Sabbath faithful. Junior John Bennet, devout Black Sabbath fan, said, “I’m so stoked. I didn’t think that I was going to be able to ever see the original Black Sabbath but I’m going to spend
however much it takes so I can be at this show. I also think the new albums going to be good. I liked Ozzy’s solo stuff so I have faith that they’ll pull through.”
The timing is especially curious for this reunion, considering that the last time Osbourne and Iommi saw each other was in court a year ago...
The timing is especially curious for this reunion, considering that the last time Osbourne and Iommi saw each other was in court a year ago to fight over the rights to the name “Black Sabbath.” Butler, bassist, put out a press release just six months ago saying, “I would like to make it clear, because of mounting speculation and rumours, that there will be definitely no reunion of all four original members of Black Sabbath. Whether to record an album or to tour.” There are some concerns, however, if the
Drake Overly Confident on Sophomore Album
By ALEJANDRO HERNANDEZ Staff Writer
When Aubrey “Drake” Graham’s first album “Thank Me Later” dropped, people were intrigued. Listeners were quick to label him the new voice of hip-hop. Over the past two years, Drake has taken the music industry by storm. In his debut album, Drake’s opinion of the opposite sex was quite apparent on multiple songs. The “Miss Me” rapper has taken a different approach on his newest album. This time he not only continues ranting about how many women he can get, but shows how cocky he has gotten, by saying “I think I killed everybody in the game last year, man.” On Nov. 6, Drake’s sophomore album, “Take Care,” leaked, but Drake wasn’t phased. “I am not sure if the album leaked. But if it did thank god it doesn’t happen a month early anymore,” tweeted Drake after news broke out about the leak. Hours later he returned to Twitter and said, “Listen, enjoy it, buy it if you like it...and take care until next time.” When listening to the whole album in its entirety, a trend emerges. All the songs have similar words; one can say it’s almost like listening to the same song multiple times. The album has tracks featuring The Weekend, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Andre 3000, Kendrick Lamar and even Stevie Wonder. “Over My Dead Body” is the opening track of the album, and Drake did exactly what everyone expected: he speaks about being number one. At this point, he thinks that he is the new king of hip-hop. The 2011 Drake is nowhere near the 2007 Drake; he has found some sort of magical swagger that
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia
transforms him from a humble man into a pompous, self absorbed individual. His recent hit “Headlines” has certainly been overplayed, but due to its catchy tune and addicting rhymes, the song has not gotten old yet. There are times that albums come out and people will find themselves skipping over a certain single because it has been played out. However, this is not the case with “Headlines.” The song that is arguably the best on the album has to be “Marvins Room.” This song dominated the summer. When it comes down to it, this may not be the best album ever, but it is certainly not the worst. At the least, it’s worth a listen.
Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
band will be healthy enough to make it through a full tour. With all members in their sixties, there are obvious physical setbacks. Some would say that it’s a miracle Ozzy can still stand, while drummer Ward has a long history of health issues that have had him on the sidelines for a while, including a surgery just a few months ago. The band that defined heavy metal is sure to give it their all no matter what. There has
to be at least a year of adrenaline left in their aged bodies. This might be the last encore for the legendary band, so anyone who is interested in seeing the tour should check blacksabbath.com
By KATIE CURL Staff Writer
ideas we do not see often translated simply into music. Last year, when Florence Welch hit the music scene, she created a new wave of music that included many elements. Spirituality, darkness, personality and whimsy are the obvious qualities “Ceremonials” offers. The reason why this new album is noteworthy is because it has major potential to appeal to many music listeners, including Ramapo students. For those who appreciate edgier themes and sounds, tracks like “What the Water Gave Me” and “Remain Nameless” illustrate a deeper side of the band the world has never seen until now. “[‘Ceremonials’] is a different side to the band that I like because it shows their range and capability as performers,” junior Kristine Donavan said. “Ceremonials” also explores themes of the Renaissance period by relating the songs to nature, religion, folklore and art. If an artist can incorporate all of those basic ideas and still have an album that makes you dance, isn’t it worth a shot? The growth this band has made since “Lungs,” their junior album, is clear as day and listeners can understand the personality and identity of Welch and her collective.
dmorrell@rampo.edu
Florence + The Machine Wins Over Listeners with ‘Ceremonials’
People willing to listen to a new artist this week should purchase “Ceremonial” by Florence + The Machine. Not only is their sophomore album more clever, it is inspiring, catchy and haunting all at the same time. Florence Welch delivers stunning and impressive vocals throughout the 12-track CD, along with lyrics motivated by original
Spirituality, darkness, personality and whimsy are the obvious qualities “Ceremonials” offers.
RATING:
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RATING:
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ahernand@ramapo.edu
Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons
kcurl@ramapo.edu
‘Lucking Out’ Looks Into the Life of a New Yorker
Page 11 The Ramapo News
By MAUREEN SCULLY Staff Writer
Vanity Fair contributing editor and author of “The Catsitters,” James Wolcott just released a new book, “Lucking Out: My Life Getting Down and Semi-Dirty in Seventies New York.” Wolcott—who came to New York after dropping out of college to write for the “Village Voice”—does not pull any punches when it comes to his memoir of coming to the Big Apple. Wolcott speaks about himself as a leapbefore-you-look kind of guy and that is how he writes. Each story Wolcott weaves throughout the book is interesting, but unfortunately is also bogged down with intricate details. You come out the other side forgetting what the original point was and how it related to the story before. He does
Thursday, November 17, 2011
manage to break up some of the wordier parts by adding dialogue and even personal letters from his past, but there are times that the book feels slow.
I was never a fan of reading books that have extreme runon sentences, so maybe “Lucking Out” is just giving me flashbacks to “A Tale of Two Cities” in high school.
I was never a fan of reading books that have extreme run-on sentences, so maybe “Lucking Out” is just giving me flashbacks to “A Tale of Two Cities” in high school, but I found it to be a slow read.
However, Wolcott’s book is far from all bad. He writes with passion and when you rake through all the details, you find his voice; that of someone who remembers, fondly, feeling alive in New York. It reads like a letter from a lover scorned, but still tethered to a first true love. Wolcott writes like a true New Yorker and the book reflects everything that the city is; seedy, glamorous and buzzing. He does what any memoir worth reading will; he lets us look behind the velvet curtain. Discretion is not in Wolcott’s language and it makes for a juicy book. The book’s real saving grace is the little attention Wolcott puts on himself. The book is not about his life in New York, but rather the lives of people in New York that were going on while he was living in it. The book feels like a history text with an attitude.
For fans of: “Almost Famous,” “The American Night,” “Sid & Nancy: Love Kills” and “The Village Voice,” “Lucking Out” is a perfect read. At times there seems to be an almost melancholy feeling on the pages, nostalgia for even the grittier daysof-yore. It is that retrospective awe and snakebite attitude that makes “Lucking Out” a worthy read for someone ready to invest the time.
become his teacher, and unknown to them that old man is actually Zeus, god of Lightning. Theseus has been to chosen to kill King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke), a ruthless king who would stop at nothing to release the Titans and rule the world. Theseus wants no part in this war until King Hyperion’s rage hits too close to home and this starts his thirst for revenge. King Hyperion is a nasty human being who will stop at nothing and kill anyone who gets in his way. He is delightfully evil and you can tell Mickey Rourke is having a blast playing the King. He gets creative with his torture methods and while he enjoys getting his hands dirty, he lets other people finish his enemies off. “Immortals” is in 3D, and while the technology isn’t used to its full advantage, it does make everything more vibrant and at times it feels like you’re right there fighting alongside Theseus. This a particularly gory
movie, which I wasn’t expecting, but it adds to the movie, so if you’re particularly squeamish, then see this movie with caution as it can get graphic. I enjoyed this movie even though I wasn’t sure what to expect. The pacing is right and the battle scenes are really well done. The 3D effects used in “Immortals” enhance the quality of the film and make everything look sharper.
RATING:
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mscully@ramapo.edu
Humans and Gods Come Together in ‘Immortals’
By JUAN SALIBA Staff Writer
When previews came out for “Immortals” it looked like it was just one constant battle. Set in ancient times, where the gods looked down on humans and watched their every move, only providing help when it was absolutely necessary.
Immortals is in 3D, and while the technology isn’t used to it’s full advantage, it does make everything more vibrant and at times it feel like you’re right there...
In “Immortals” Theseus (Henry Cavill), a peasant who lives with his mother and refuses to believe that there is a higher being, is set to become Superman in the upcoming
photo by David Shankbone, Flickr creative commons
Mickey Rourke plays King Hyperion in “Immortals.”
year. Much to the horror of his mother, however, there is on old man that has
RATING:
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Page 12 The Ramapo News
LIFE & CULTURE
Thursday, November 17, 2011
How to be Healthy this Thanksgiving Holiday
BY ADRIANA CAPPELLI Staff Writer
Thanksgiving is around the corner and many people are ready to welcome this special celebration by cooking traditional delicious meals and desserts. However, many also want to substitute dishes that are high in calories and fat with healthy food. There are several ways to make this Thanksgiving’s menu healthier and more appealing to every person’s lifestyle, including vegetarians, vegans, or meat-lovers.
Feel free to help yourself to a little taste of everything, but if you limit your portions, you won’t feel the guilt of extra pounds leading into the holiday season.
In most cases, the traditional Thanksgiving meal is actually very healthy, since turkey is one of the healthiest meats that you can eat. Turkey is low in fat and high in protein, and is also a great source of iron, zinc, potassium and multiple vitamins. However, once extra ingredients, such as sugar, marshmallows, sour cream and other high fat ingredients, are added to a recipe, the nutritional value of the meal disappears. This is when
the calorie count, and pounds, rise as well. Reducing calories in side dishes is a good way to make Thanksgiving healthier. One of the most common side dishes for many families is the sweet potato. When we hear potato, many of us immediately associate it with fattening content, even though it has a tremendous health benefit to it. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) compares the nutritional value of sweet potatoes to other vegetables. Considering fiber content, complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins A and C, iron and calcium, the sweet potato ranks highest in nutritional value, according to the CSPI. With all these benefits, people can add a little bit of brown sugar and marshmallows and not feel guilty about it. In addition to the potato, you can use other vegetables as side dishes, including beans, cauliflower and broccoli. These green vegetables are rich in nutrients and very helpful for digestion.
In most cases, the traditional Thanksgiving meal is actually very healthy, since turkey is one of the healthiest meats that you can eat.
For those who are vegetarian or vegan, there are plenty of options when it comes to celebrating Thanksgiving. Most food stores
Magenta’s Meals
BY LAUREN MAGENTA Staff Writer
This is not only a seasonal treat but also a treat that embraces all seasonings. As we dive further and further into fall, the flavors of apple, pumpkin and nutmeg fill our homes. Now as it’s getting closer to Thanksgiving break and people are itching for a homemade apple pie, here is a simpler, shorter, faster recipe: a dorm room friendly apple dessert. To start, rather than heading down to an available oven outside the comfort of your dorm room, just leave your slippers on and wash a green apple because this recipe requires a short list of ingredients. Ingredients: Granny Smith Apples Cinnamon, Nutmeg or Pumpkin Spice Vanilla Ice Cream Believe it or not, that is all you will need. Make sure you wash the apple well before you begin to slice and core it. Skinning the apple is a personal decision; leaving the skin on will help add texture and flavor to this snack. Then, slice the apple any way. Try to keep the slices under ½ inch thick. Next, lay all pieces out onto a microwave friendly plate. Grab your favorite fall seasoning and sprinkle away. Using cinnamon is a great way to
Photo by Lori Ann, Flickr Creative Commons
Although Thanksgiving is often not seen as the healthiest holiday, there are plenty of healthy and enjoyable food options.
sell premade tofu turkey that is delicious and only take about 45 minutes to cook in the oven. I actually tried it last year since my cousin is a vegan, and it is very delicious and tastes just like real turkey. Pies and desserts provide a taste of sugar to complete a Thanksgiving dinner menu. Having a piece of pumpkin pie is a healthy choice, so if you’re hosting Thanksgiving, be sure to include this crowd-pleaser on your table. Just remember, portion control is key.
Feel free to help yourself to a little taste of everything, but if you limit your portions, you won’t feel the guilt of extra pounds leading into the holiday season. Choosing healthy dishes this year will truly make this a Happy Thanksgiving.
Ari es (March 21-Apri l 19) The stress you have been feeling is soon to be a distant memory and will be replaced with an unshakeable certainty.
Li bra (S eptember 23-October 22) Don’t allow fear to rear its ugly head. Prepare your requests and then ask with your whole heart. The greater the investment, the greater the return.
Gemi ni (May 21-June 20) The most effective way to get your message across to the ones you love is to live by example. Find your inner balance point and move from there, naturally and soulfully while not attaching to the actions of others.
S agi ttari us (November 22December 21) Something may have yanked hard on your chain causing you to feel temporary uncertainty but you are reconnecting now and finding your own inner song.
Horoscopes
Taurus (Apri l 20-May 20) You are bumping up against a certain ceiling of potential. This week, life is evolving and certain things are falling away so new life can begin. Inevitable adventure is yours.
Photo by Lauren Magenta
This cooked apples dish will bring you the taste of a homemade apple pie without leaving your dorm room.
have a dorm room friendly version of an apple pie. Microwave the apples on high for 1 minute and 45 seconds. Meanwhile, take the vanilla ice cream out of the freezer. This part is not required, but is a great way to turn the apples into a complete dessert. With or without the ice cream, as the temperature starts to drop, this is a warm andfast fall friendly treat. Enjoy.
lmagenta@ramapo.edu
Cancer (June 21-Jul y 22) This week you have a stellar opportunity to alter a certain inner dialogue you have been having with yourself that has been bringing you down. Don’t let anyone tell you that being sensitive is a bad thing.
Leo (Jul y 23-August 23) A little humbling on the road of life is necessary. Any number of things may have tested your faith and your courage recently but this week is about going back in and after what you came here to do and be. Vi rgo (August 24-S eptember 22) You are not only traveling with a natural compass, you are in charge of the direction. It is your job to recognize what needs to be eliminated so you can make room for greater health in all things.
acappel2@ramapo.edu
S corpi o (October 23-November 21) No matter what’s come up or gone down, it is about to get a whole lot better. It is time to act and leave unwanted things behind.
Capri corn (December 22-January 19) There is never a question whether you deserve what’s coming to you. Remember this week, it is never about beginner’s luck,
Aquari us (January 20- February 19) This week is about pushing the limits of your own known capacity. What the world wants from you now is engagement, which will require vulnerability. Pi sces (February 20-March 20) A recent turn of events may have had you beginning to feel as if you didn’t have the fight left in you What you gain this week is a clear understanding of your part in a certain process. Horoscopes courtesy of madalynaslan.com
SPORTS
Ramapo Concludes Season at Atlantic Regional 11 . 17 . 11
English, Schofield Lead Cross Country in Last Meet of Fall Season
By MELISSA FALCONE Staff Writer In Canton, New York this weekend, the Ramapo College men’s cross country team finished in 22nd place and the women’s team placed 16th in the NCAA Atlantic Regional. The men recorded 643 points while the women tallied 477 points. “With every student athlete working hard and the help from assistant coach Ken Goglas, there is improvement from the team every week,” head coach Mike Jackson said. “This was the first time we ran as a team and in meets like this, we look to improve.” For the men’s team, sophomore Colin English finished 24th overall and was the first one to finish for Ramapo. English’s time was recorded at 26 minutes and 11.4 seconds, a personal best. “Colin has had an outstanding season,” Jackson said. “In his first few performances, we saw he could qualify for nationals, and he still has two years to accomplish that.”
“With every student athlete working hard and the help from assistant coach Ken Goglas, there is improvement from the team every week.” - Mike Jackson, head coach
“Colin [English] has had an outstanding season. In his first few performances, we saw he could qualify for nationals, and he has still has two years to accomplish that.” - Mike Jackson
Junior Tim Paziora finished in 26:47.4, landing 61st place. Freshman Kyle Mahoney placed 182nd with a time of 28:45.8, and Peter Tuohy was not far behind with 28:52.8, finishing in 186th place. Finally, junior, Dan Sewing got 190th place in 28:59.3. The women’s team stepped up from placing 33rd in last year’s regional. Sophomore Courtney Schofield finished first for the Roadrunners and placed 71st place overall with a time of 23:54.4. Junior Taylor Shanley then finished in 74th place, clocking in at 23:56.7. Freshmen Erica Colavito and Kristen Gray placed 95th and 112th place, respectively. Colavito crossed the line in 24:23.6, while Gray finished at 24:40.3. Finally, sophomore, Lindsey McKee finished in 125th place in 25:02.4 overall. “Going into Saturday’s meet, we were extremely excited and had great conversations the night before about what we were going to do,” Jackson said.
According to Jackson, the NCAA Atlantic Regional is the toughest meet of the season. Jackson and his coaching staff are now reviewing this season as well as taking some downtime before the indoor track season begins. “While we were trying to win championships for cross country, we also have to start the indoor season for track,” Jackson said.
Ramapo’s Top Runners at NCAA Atlantic Regional Men: 1. Colin English 2. Tim Paziora 3. Kyle Mahoney Women: 1. Courtney Schofield 2. Taylor Shanley 3. Erica Colavito
As the track and field season approaches, the first meet for the team will take place on Dec. 4 at the CTC Relay Carnival. “We create a foundation of understanding to set up success and focus on the fundamentals of our sport,” Jackson said. mfalcone@ramapo.edu
Green Dot Hosts Kickball Game to Boot Violence By VICTORIA AHLERS Staff Writer
On Tuesday, Nov. 15, the public sociology class led by professor Kristin Kenneavy held a “Green Dot” kickball event on the North Field. The event was hosted by her class, along with the Women’s Center. Green Dot is an organization that has been at Ramapo for less than a year. Their goal is to change students’ attitudes around power-based personal violence including partner violence, stalking and sexual violence. Through Green Dot, students learn intervention skills that could help them or someone they know out of a potentially dangerous situation.
“It’s a really beautiful medley of students putting data together to make a difference at Ramapo.” -Kristin Kenneavy, assistant professor of sociology
The kickball game was not the program’s first event of the fall. Earlier in the semester, they held a Green Dot trivia night at Ireland’s Restaurant and Pub in Suffern, NY. Kenneavy was very enthusiastic about what her students
RAMAPO SPORTS THIS WEEK
Friday:
Women’s Basketball vs. Medgar Evers College at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday:
Women's Basketball Consolation at 1 p.m. (if they lost Friday) or championship at 3 p.m. (if they win)
Men’s Swimming vs. New Jersey Institute of Technology at 2 p.m. Men's Basketball vs. Yeahiva University at 8 p.m.
Sunday:
Men's Basketball Consolation at 1 p.m. (if they lost Friday) or championship at 3 p.m. (if they win)
Tuesday: photo by Victoria Ahlers
The “Green Dot” ran a kickball game on Tuesday as part of the clubʼs program to raise violence awareness at Ramapo College.
were doing. “It’s a really beautiful medley of students putting data together to make a difference at Ramapo,” she said. She explained that, according to their data, students who had heard of Green Dot were more likely to intervene in violent situations. The students had been working and organizing the event for quite some time. “They got donations from local businesses,
designed and ordered t-shirts; a lot of hard work went into it,” Kenneavy said. The class is also working on a larger project that consists of preparing abstracts to be presented at the Eastern Sociological Society Annual Meeting in New York City this February. vahlers@ramapo.edu
Women’s Basketball vs. College of Staten Island at 5 p.m.
Men's Basketball vs. Manhatanville College at 7 p.m.
Players Reject Owners’ Offer for New Labor Agreement
Page 14 The Ramapo News
Thursday, November 17, 2011
NBA Season in Jeopardy; Games Cancelled Through Mid-December
By ANDREW GOULD Sports Editor
Talks between NBA owners and players have deteriorated, putting the entire 2011-2012 season in jeopardy. The National Basketball Players Association rejected the latest offer from the owners to resolve the labor dispute and end the lockout, which has lasted 138 days. The NBA announced Tuesday that games will be cancelled through Dec. 15, erasing a totsl of 324 games, which makes up 26 percent of the season’s schedule. Had a deal been reached over the weekend, the league could have potentially salvaged a 72-game season. Like the NFL players’ union did during the NFL lockout over the summer, the NBA player’s union decertified, allowing them to pursue legal action against owners. Locked-out players, led by New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, filed a class-action antitrust lawsuit against the league on Tuesday. One of the main issues that has created a drift between the owners and players is the distribution of basketball related income. The league’s last offer, which they presented as a “take-it-or-leave-it” deal, proposed a nearly 50-50 split of the NBA’s revenue. The owners said that they would change their offer to a 52-47 divide, in favor of the owners, in any following proposals. Under the previous deal, the union received 57 percent of the revenue. The league claimed that it has been losing around $300 million a year. However, the players unanimously rejected the offer due to other concerns about the deal, particularly restrictions
photo by theseoduke, Flickr Creative Commons
The National Basketball Players Association refused to accept an ultimatum from league owners to solve the labor dispute in time to play a 72-game season.
placed on free agent movement and a hard salary cap. Many of the owners’ proposed guidelines were formed in an attempt to present another situation where a team can sign multiple superstars, like the Miami Heat did with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Commissioner David Stern said that the league is “about to go into the nuclear winter of the NBA” in a grim interview with ESPN. Union president and Los Angeles Lakers point guard Derek Fisher said in a press conference that the players have too
much on the line to accept an unfair offer. “This is the best decision for the players,” Fisher said. “I want to reiterate that point, that a lot of individual players have a lot of things personally at stake in terms of their careers and where they stand.” agould1@ramapo.edu
Miss the NBA? College Basketball Season Set to Tip Off By RYAN BUCHANAN Staff Writer
Coach Krzyzewski Passes Knight as All-Time Wins Leader
Basketball fans everywhere, rejoice. While this November may not feature LeBron James and the Miami Heat matching up against Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks in front of a sold-out Madison Square Garden crowd, you can still go to a highly competitive basketball game, with meaning, and watch the future stars of the NBA.
photo by bryangn, Flickr Creative Commons
Harrison Barnes leads the top ranked North Carolina Tar Heels.
There are 27 total Division-I basketball teams in New York and six in New Jersey. While the household superstars of the NBA are locked out and only can be found in pick-up games or somewhere in the Twitter universe, it is college basketball’s best opportunity to flourish and stretch its viewership to all basketball fans. The luster of college basketball in the past two decades has been centered upon the Duke University Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels. Both schools have their own feature story. Duke’s recent claim to fame is their recent 903rd win undr head coach Mike Krzyzewski, eclipsing former head coach Bobby Knight as the winningest Division-I basketball coach of all time. Kyrie Irving, the heralded leader of Duke last year, left Duke to be drafted first overall in the NBA Draft to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Duke’s new leader, Austin Rivers, son of current NBA head coach Doc Rivers, is widely considered to be the top high school recruit in the country. Duke basketball will also feature three brothers from the same family, Miles, Mason and Marshall Plumlee. Duke has a young team, and even so, they are still ranked sixth in the country. The North Carolina basketball program is currently ranked first in the country. With returning sophomore small forward Harrison Barnes, the Tar Heels have the player many say is the best college basketball player in America. North Carolina also filled a roster spot with James McAdoo, the nephew of NBA Hall of Famer, Bob
McAdoo. Led by coach Roy Williams and anchored by center Tyler Zeller, the Tar Heels are prepared to give their Duke Blue Devil rivals, and the rest of college basketball, a run for their money. The third seeded Kentucky Wilcats will equip their stadium with a sea of fans wearing blue as well, featuring the top high school center in the country, Anthony Davis, this year. Point guard Marquis Teague is expected to duplicate his superb performance from last year and once again dominate the Southeastern Conference. College basketball is all basketball fans really have this year, pending a breakthrough with the NBA. Unlike college football, college basketball has the most exciting tournament of any collegiate sport with the March Madness tournament, which is only getting more and more popular. With the absence of the NBA this year, expect the collegiate game to grow in popularity. As with every year of collegiate sports, there are key departures of big-name players, who are supposed to be showcasing their talents in the NBA this year. While we wait to see what John Wooden Player of the Year Jimmer Fredette, NCAA Champion Kemba Walker, Pac-10 Player of the Year Derrick Williams and all-time Division-I leading rebounder Kenneth Faried do for their respective teams, basketball fans everywhere will need to rely on college and high school basketball to fill the void. rbuchana@ramapo.edu
courtesy of AP sports
The Huskies are ranked fourth after winning the Division-I title last year.
Pats Bounce Back Against Jets Packers, Steelers Best in NFL
Page 15 The Ramapo News
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Falcons Gamble on Fourth Down and Lose
By JEREMY KELLY Staff Writer
If teams can’t capitalize on a golden opportunity, they won’t win many games in the NFL. Week 10 games featured several teams that had chances to tie or win the game late, but couldn’t finish. It began on Thursday night when the San Diego Chargers cut a 17-3 deficit to seven against the Oakland Raiders in the fourth quarter. With the ball in Oakland territory and less than four minutes remaining, Phillip Rivers threw an interception. The Chargers lost their fourth straight game, all by seven points or less, while the Raiders are now 5-4 and first in the AFC West. At home against the NFC South-leading New Orleans Saints, the Atlanta Falcons rallied from a 10-point deficit to send the game to overtime. Faced with fourth-and-inches at their own 29-yard line, Atlanta head coach Mike Smith opted to go for it rather than punt. Running back Michael Turner was stopped short, and kicker John Kasay kicked the game-winning field goal for the Saints on the ensuing drive, leaving the final score 2623. After a stunning loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Pittsburgh Steelers used two fourth-quarter interceptions to hold off the Cincinnati Bengals. Down 24-17, quarterback Andy Dalton led the Bengals to Pittsburgh’s 25-yard line, but his seconddown pass was picked off by William Gay, enabling the Steelers to regain first place in the AFC North.
A slugfest in Cleveland ended in a 13-12 triumph for the St. Louis Rams over the Browns, thanks in part to Stephen Jackson’s 128 rushing yards. Disaster struck Cleveland on fourth down when a bad snap resulted in a missed 22-yard field goal by Phil Dawson. The Browns drop to 3-6 with the loss. Quarterback Kevin Kolb did not suit up for the Arizona Cardinals, but the Philadelphia Eagles blew another late lead. Down 14-7 in the final quarter, John Skelton threw two touchdowns, including the game-winner to Early Doucet with 1:53 left as the Cardinals won their second straight game, 21-17. The New York Giants suffered from missed opportunities as they lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 27-20. An onside kick in the second quarter helped turn the tide for San Francisco, who increased their winning streak to seven. Down 27-13 in the fourth quarter, Eli Manning threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Hakeem Nicks and converted two fourth downs on New York’s next drive. However, his final fourth-down pass attempt was batted down by Justin Smith with under a minute to play. On Sunday Night Football, the New England Patriots avoided their first threegame losing streak since 2002 with a convincing victory over the New York Jets. Tom Brady threw three touchdowns, including two to Rob Gronkowski. The Patriots won, 37-16, to regain sole possession of first place in the AFC East.
NFL
Andrew Gould
Last Week (5-1) Season (30-18)
NYJ @ DEN NYG@ SF CIN @ BAL SD @ CHI TEN @ ATL SEA @ STL
11
Jeremy Kelly
Last Week (2-4) Season (31-17)
With half of the NFL season already gone, now is an appropriate time to look at power rankings and playoff positioning. With that being said, here are the top six teams in each conference.
NFC 6. Dallas Cowboys – They are loaded with talent and have a soft schedule remaining. Expect the Cowboys to make a push for the NFC East in the coming weeks. 5. Chicago Bears – They’ve won four games in a row after defeating division rival Detroit and still boast one of the league’s best defenses. 4. New York Giants – There is nothing wrong with losing a close road game across the country to a very good San Francisco team. Eli Manning is still statistically the best quarterback in the fourth quarter. 3. San Francisco 49ers – They have the league’s best run defense. They would be higher if not for the lingering Frank Gore injury and the whole “Alex Smith as their quarterback” thing. 2. New Orleans Saints – They have scored the second most touchdowns in the NFL and Drew Brees continues to rack up passing yards. Jimmy Graham is blossoming into the best tight end in the NFL. 1. Green Bay Packers – The top three reasons why the Packers are still undefeated are Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Rodgers.
AFC 6. Oakland Raiders – If Carson Palmer can continue to improve and complement one of the league’s best running back tandems (Darren McFadden and Michael Bush), the Raiders will win the AFC West easily. 5. Cincinnati Bengals – You can’t argue with a 6-3 record. If rookies Andy Dalton and AJ Green can get the Bengals through their remaining schedule, we will see three playoff teams come from the AFC North. 4. Baltimore Ravens – They boast impressive wins against the Steelers (twice), Texans and Jets. They have also lost to the Titans, Jaguars and Steelers. 3. New England Patriots – We know about Tom Brady and Wes Welker, but was their defense’s performance Sunday night proof that they’re turning it around, or was it a product of poor play from Mark Sanchez? Probably the latter. 2. Houston Texans – They would be first, if not for Matt Schaub suffering a seasonending injury, but they still have a toprated defense and the best running back tandem in the league with Arian Foster and Ben Tate. The best wide receiver in the game, Andre Johnson, will return after their bye week. 1. Pittsburgh Steelers – Ben Roethlisberger is third in completion percentage, second in passing yards and tied for second in passing touchdowns in the AFC. Mike Wallace is a scary deep threat, and their defense is coming around.
STAFF PICKS
jkelly7@ramapo.edu
WEEK
By NICK BOWER Staff Writer
Ryan Buchanan Last Week (6-0) Season (32-16)
Nick Bower
Last Week (3-3) Season (26-22)
Nicole Alliegro Last Week (2-4) Season (19-11)
nbower@ramapo.edu
K. McGuinness Last Week (1-5) Season (10-20)
SPORTS 10 . 7 . 10
11 . 17 10 .. 11 7 . 10
S T RI K E O U T V IO LE N C E
The “Green Dot” Initiative hosted a kickball game on Tuesday. Page 13
photo by Victoria Ahlers
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