Ramapo Newspaper

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THE RAMAPO NEWS

Relay for Life 2010 A publication by the students for the Ramapo College community

THURSDAY, April 1, 2010

XL No. 19

Event Raises Over $57,000 for American Cancer Society

By AMY FEZZA WITH JOHN SANDFORD Staff Writers

With more than 800 participants, students and other members of the Ramapo community participated in Relay for Life for the fourth consecutive year, which required both a physical and emotional commitment.

Participants included both cancer survivors as well as supporters.

“So many people came together tonight.

This is when the campus becomes united and that is truly rare to see,” Theta Phi Alpha team captain Mandy Saffer said.

An event that had gathered 700 participants and 60 teams the year before gave incentive for veteran relay participants to strive toward an even greater turnout.

This year, 90 teams signed up and about 1,000 participants got involved. Mostly all of the teams were made up of Greek organizations, sports teams and clubs on campus, all of which looked to get involved and help out for a good cause.

The president of Colleges Against Cancer, Laura Hahn, knew she wanted to get involved before she came to Ramapo.

“I knew two things when before I got here: to become a member of SGA and help with Relay for Life. I made a vow to make sure that Relay was something that was going to become well-known,” Hahn said.

The teams that participated created T-shirts in advance in order to distinguish themselves. Participants were able to connect with fellow team members while making team shirts.

“During spring break, my team decided to make tie-dye shirts for the event so people could distinguish us better. Also it was a chance for our team to bond and really get to know each other before the event,” lacrosse player Colleen Steel said.

Relay for Life turned the Bradley Center gymnasium into what seemed like a county fair. Games and food lined the gym, and the gym floor was a track of remembrance. Mini white paper bags formed a circle in the middle of the floor, creating a pathway for participants to walk around during the night to either fight or honor a loved one who has battled cancer.

“This is my second time coming to this event and just like last year, I forgot where I

was. Someone had to remind me I was at the Bradley Center - this isn’t something you see at Ramapo all the time,” sophomore Ken Rodenheiser said.

In 2005, alumni and founder of Colleges Against Cancer Sarah Costello brought this

Mini white paper bags formed a circle in the middle of the floor, creating a pathway for participants to walk around during the night to either fight or honor a loved one who has battled cancer.

successful charity to Ramapo when she was only a freshman student. Costello was looking to get the college involved in a way that most students don’t think about.

“It’s crazy how all of this started as nothing in my Pine dorm room. I never imagined that it would be this big. I participated at the Relay held at Don Bosco Prep and knew we

photo by Amy Fezza

had to get it here,” Costello said.

Costello, now a grad assistant in the Women’s Center, said that she will always come back to show her support.

“I’ll always come back to this; I know that this is going to be something that will be here for a long time,” Costello said.

Ramapo has come a long way in only four years and major sponsors such as Pantene took notice. Pantene created a table called “Pantene Beautiful Lengths,” which allowed participants to donate eight inches of hair to create free wigs for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

“I participated in the event on an impulse.

I didn’t plan cutting my hair, but it was long enough and I decided that people with cancer could use it more than myself.

Afterward, I felt good about donating my hair but I was shocked at how short it was. I would definitely do it again once my hair grows out,” senior Kerry Rindt said.

Team captains rallied their team members to get involved at the event and do as much as they could to help people in need.

“This is my first time being the team capsee RELAY on page 6

Latin Cinema Night Teaches Tango History

Page 2 The Ramapo News

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Films Seek to Disprove Media Distortions

By HUMA MUNIR Staff Writer

To promote Latino culture through the perspectives of professional Latino documentary filmmakers, Ramapo featured two screenings and discussions.

The purpose of the screenings was to promote different perspectives on Latino culture in order to avoid media distortion.

“Our Latin Thing” is a documentary made by Jerri Massuci that highlights Latino culture across the United States.

The film documents the everyday lives of Latinos living across the country.

The documentary also plays music in the background, as Latinos live in New York in 1970. The film depicts their impoverished living conditions, after emigrating to the United States.

“Music is used as an expression of the culture,” Paiva said.

He uses the youth - kids at the beginning of the film - to impose that idea.

He discussed the style of documentary and different ways to represent the every-

Before clips from “Our Latin Thing” were shown and analyzed, Florencio Paiva went over basic differences between a musical and a documentary. He also highlighted some of the stereotypes propagated by the television and cinema.

Paiva is a senior writer-producer at HBO Latin America.

“Instead of just centering [on] one single character, we get to see two different characters. The traditional musical is usually a male and female,” Paiva said.

upon the hardships immigrants face in a new country.

The documentary specifically highlighted the tango, a dance that is a cultural symbol for Argentinean immigrants, like Bautis.

The tango stems from the rich and deep history and politics of Argentina.

“It tells of how our culture was formed,”

“We have a responsibility of showing not only the romanticized aspects of one thing but also the harsh reality of it.”

- Jerri Massuci, professional filmmaker

“Music is used as an expression of the culture.”

- Jerri Massuci, professional filmmaker

unbiased way.

“We have a responsibility of showing not only the romanticized aspects of one thing but also the harsh reality of it,” he said. “This might make it more difficult for a documentary to gain exposure if it

photo by Huma Munir

Professional filmmakers and Ramapo professors Jerri Massuci and Marta Bautis screened two films on Latin heritage and dance.

day lives of ordinary people through the fluid movement of Salsa and Latino music.

“Music is no longer just an expression of the culture but music is also part of the culture itself,” Paiva said while examining clips from the documentary.

Students were asked questions pertaining to the film’s style.

Paiva answered a question regarding the filming of illegal events. Filmmakers must present their topic in a balanced,

does have illegal stuff.”

Paiva also discussed how gender roles are depicted in the media, based upon socially-defined roles. For instance, a male is depicted as tough and brawny, while a female takes on a delicate, pristine role.

Marta Bautis, communication arts professor and professional filmmaker, is the producer of “Global Tango,” which is just under an hour and seeks to shed light

one of the artists in the documentary said.

The documentary also highlights the culture shock and language barriers that most Latino immigrants face while emigrating from Argentina as a result of political and economical crises. The tango was an outlet for many of the immigrants depicted in the film.

“Your source of inspiration is the reality you are in,” a tango instructor living in the United States said.

“I thought it was kind of interesting,” student Christopher Card said.

“I see it more as a representation of their lives and what they had to go through in Argentina,” Card said, in reference to the downfall of economy in Argentina from 1999-2002.

To watch documentaries by Bautis, visit: www.tiempoazul.com.

THE RAMAPO NEWS: STAFF, CONTACT & POLICY A publication by the students for the Ramapo College community

Charlie LaPlaca & Joey Lewandowski Co-Editors-in-Chief

Megan Anderle

Morgan Balog

News Editor

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Technical Advisor Staff: Erica Buchman, Krysta Daniels, Angela DiMari, Amy Fezza, Keri Ann Flaccomio, John Fraze, Andrew Gould, Jill Grimaldi, Lauren Haag, Julianne Ilaria, Michael Jagendorf, Kevin Johnson, Bryan Kaminsky, Jeremy Kelly, Tara LaFemina, Michele McKenna, Sharon Meyer, Huma Munir, Tom Ng, Diana Stanczak, Matt Thompson, Marissa Torr, Amanda Valenti, Melissa Veloz

Contact us at:

The Ramapo News Robert A. Scott Student Center 505 Ramapo Valley Road Mahwah, NJ 07430

Telephone: (201) 684-7842 Advertising: (201) 684-7842 Fax: (201) 684-7939 E-mail: rcnjnews@ramapo.edu

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 emailed to rcnjnews@ramapo.edu. The Ramapo News reserves the right to edit viewpoints for content, style and space. Anonymous viewpoints will not be accepted.

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AROU N D THE

Study Abroad: An Experience You’ll Never Forget

By SAMMY ULLRICH Staff Writer

Two Ramapo students are currently enjoying their spring semesters abroad, in China and in Spain. Dave Shulim and Chris McKenna have engaged in this abroad experience, earning their semester credits away from home.

Shulim is a junior psychology major currently studying in Barcelona, Spain. He is taking four classes abroad.

“All the teachers here try to incorporate Catalan culture into the material,” Shulim said. “Barcelona is the capital of Cataluña and people that live in Barcelona are called Catalans, they do not consider themselves to be Spanish.”

Chris McKenna, one of seven Ramapo students, returned back on Monday from a weeklong trip to China. McKenna is a sophomore pursuing a major in political science and a minor in anthropology.

“China is portrayed in a certain light by the US media, and unfortunately, it is very antiChina. I had done a lot of research before the trip, talked to people I knew that had traveled there recently (Both US nationals and foreigners) and was told to keep an open mind,” McKeena said.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

McKENNA: “The hotels we stayed in were much more like European hotels in the sense that they use space more efficiently but other than that they were comfortable. The one in Beijing had a great location, across the street from the Olympic Bird Nest.”

Language Barrier:

photo by Dave Shulim

Dave Shulim, a psychology major, is currently studying abroad in China.

Every country has its own culture, language, and way of living that are a lot different from the ways of the United States.

Shulim and McKenna share their first-hand experiences.

Housing:

SHULIM: “I’m staying in an apartment in the Saints neighborhood in Barcelona, Spain. The apartment is beautiful I have a beautiful view of Plaza España.”

SHULIM: “Most people do not speak English. Catalan is the official language of Barcelona, it’s a mixture of Spanish and French, but everyone speaks Spanish. I can’t speak a word of Catalan other than formalities such as thank you and good bye. The hardest part of the language was increasing my confidence in my Spanish. I still don’t get all the verb tenses correctly, but I get by just fine.”

McKENNA: “I was surprised by the amount of people who could speak English. I knew that they had a massive campaign before the 2008 Olympics to have the population of Beijing speaking English, at least basic English. It did take a short while to adjust to the language barrier, but after picking up a few basic words communication got much easier.”

SHULIM: “The monarchy of Madrid kept Catalunya from becoming a separate nation

The Battle Against Obesity: Is Ramapo on Board?

By MICHELE MCKENNA Staff Writer

The college lifestyle can be hectic. From classes, to meetings, to parties, college kids often skip the gym and opt for quick, often unhealthy meals. The poor diet choices young adults make in college paired with a lack of exercise are contributing factors to a disease that affects almost one-third of the U.S.: obesity.

“I feel like the number of obese people is even higher,” junior Joe Skarzynski said.

“America is full of obese people because of our unhealthy lifestyle.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 60 million adults in the U.S. are obese. Obesity is defined by Body Mass Index (BMI.) For example, a healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24 and an obese BMI is photo by Michele McKenna Sue Larson is a fitness instructor at Ramapo. She teaches pilates, spin and 30 or greater.

Obesity can lead to cardiovascular disease, fitness and conditioning classes. certain types of cancer, asthma, high blood students. Also drinking alcohol and eating pressure and type II diabetes. In the past, classes at Ramapo.

“I think kids come to college and are free junk food late at night while studying is type II diabetes was know as a disease for to make their own choices and if they don’t pretty common,” junior Stephanie Dispoto parents and grandparents, but now it is have that foundation from their childhood said. affecting young adults and obesity is the to be healthy, then they are at risk,” Larson According to the CDC, only 25 percent of main reason. said.

U.S. adults get the recommended five or “I think obesity affects everybody. It In the past 20 years, there has been a great more servings of fruits and vegetables. diminishes the quality of life of a person,” increase in obesity in the U.S. One of the Ramapo is making an effort to help students Fitness Instructor Sue Larson said. most understudied groups is young adults eat healthy with its “The Balanced Way” Larson has seen how weight issues can from 18 to 25.

In this group alone, obesity program. affect students first-hand. She teaches This program, supported by Ramapo’s pilates, spin and fitness and conditioning rates have tripled in the last three decades.

“Eating on-the-go is a major problem for food supplier Sodexo, strives to teach stu-

see ABROAD page 6

dents how to eat a variety of foods in the right portions. “The Balanced Way” reaches out to students through text message to make them aware of healthy meals featured on campus.

Although Sodexo claims to be fighting the battle against obesity, unhealthy options like french fries and pizza still remain on the menu, tempting students to indulge in fatty foods over fresh.

“The food is horrible in the cafeteria here.

I can see why people gain weight after living on campus here,” Freshman Julia Tuzio said.

Students like Tuzio have witnessed students eating caloric foods that include excessive sugars and fats. These types of food are usually readily available, cheap and quick; all of which may appeal to college students.

“What may seem like an overabundance of unhealthy foods is just Ramapo catering to what the students want to eat. If we started demanding fresher, raw, balanced foods, I’m sure Ramapo would provide. It’s just a shame that the staples in a college student’s diet are so unhealthy,” Senior Thomas McDonnell said.

“I’m actually impressed with the healthy options on campus. I think the grilled chicken, yogurt and salad bar are all great. I just wish there was better quality fruits available,” Larson said.

see OBESITY page 6

Page 4 The Ramapo News

Roving

Reporter

Thursday, April 1, 2010

“What are your thoughts on Ann Coulter coming to Ramapo?”

Question and Photographs by Erica Buchman

“I think that she's an extremely hateful person and I don't want her here.”

-Kevin Cable Senior

“I think that she has no business being here.

This is a liberal arts school!”

-David Lancelloti Junior

“I think that we should give her a chance and hear what she has to say.”

-Gabrielle Tracey Senior

“I feel people are mad that she's been invited, but there's not much we can do about it.”

-Corey O'Connell Senior

“I feel that it reflects poorly on the school for allowing her to come here.”

-Emily Zupkus Senior

Always Greener: Earth Hour Promotes Sustainability Fourth Annual Event Shows People Care About the Planet

By BRYAN KAMINSKY Staff Writer

People across the world turned off their lights for the hour when the time reached 8:30 p.m. in their time zone on March 27, for the sake of sustainability.

The reason for this? Earth Hour.

According to the innovators page on earthhour.org, the event invited “people, businesses, governments and organizations to switch off their lights for one hour and the chance to do their bit for the environment.”

Earth Hour has taken place since 2007. Beginning in Sydney by the Australian chapter of the World Wildlife Fund’s idea caught on internationally.

“Earth Hour is a significant achievement, especially with buy-in from cities, communities, companies, governments and individuals around the world,” said Paul Coraggio, member of 1STEP (Students Together for Environmental Progress).

Edward Norton, Gisele Bundchen, Tom Brady and Steve Nash all participated in Earth Day 2010.

The movement is not just about cutting emissions during the hour, but it is focused more on making a statement; people care about this planet and they want to take a stand against climate change.

“It is my understanding that Earth Hour itself does not directly influence our emissions as a human species in a large fashion. Even if power consumption is reduced, generation may not have been curtailed much at all.

Indirectly, the possible behavior changes, increased awareness, and other benefits of Earth Hour produce a powerful statement,” Coraggio said.

On Monday, a press release posted on myearthhour.org stated: “Individuals, businesses and government officials in 4,000 cities across 125 countries turned out for Earth Hour, calling for a cleaner, safer and more secure future for the planet.”

The 50 states in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and the District of Columbia were some of the locations that participated. The New Jersey legislature passed Resolution 82, which supported Earth Hour 2010.

Earth Hour encourages people to turn off their lights for one hour.

It reads: “The Legislature of the State of New Jersey recognizes that significant and detrimental consequences may result from unfettered climate change, and the Legislature supports the World Wildlife Fund’s efforts to encourage widespread national and global participation in Earth Hour 2010 and to thereby increase awareness of, and promote beneficial responses to, the problem of global warming.”

Some celebrities made their own efforts in supporting Earth Hour 2010.

Contributing celebrities included: Edward Norton (actor), Gisele Bundchen (supermodel), Tom Brady (NFL star) and Steve Nash (NBA star).

Each celebrity made a video approximately 30 seconds long, which they put up prior to March 27. The video asked people to join the World Wildlife Fund and the rest of the world during to make a difference.

Certain landmarks around the United States shut off their lights during Earth Hour. These landmarks included the Empire State Building, Mount Rushmore, the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Niagara Falls, PepsiCo (Illinois), the Space Needle and the St. Louis Arch. The United Nations also participated in Earth Hour.

According to a press release put on the World Wildlife Fund Web site on January 19, Goddard Systems, Inc., the HandsOn Network, the American Federation of Teachers, NAACP and the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation all pledged their support to Earth Hour.

One way to be greener and practice sustainability is by supporting various campaigns that share similar goals to stand against climate change. The participants of Earth Hour have done just that since it began four years ago and will continue to make a difference through its efforts.

Green Fact of the Week:

People across 125 countries particpated in Earth Hour 2010.

SGA Welcomes New Student Trustee Page 5 The Ramapo News

By ANGELA DiMARI Staff Writer

The Board of Trustees, a group that focuses on long-term initiatives of the college, has a new addition: Alternate Student Trustee Erin Kaplan-Burns.

The Board of Trustees consists of between eight and fifteen members, and the group deals with policies concerning the finance, governance, operation and administration of the college.

Kaplan-Burns, the new alternate student Trustee, is a sophomore studying International business with a minor in accounting.

The responsibilities of her new position are “academic, physical and things of that nature,” Kaplan-Burns said.

Student Trustees are among the most significant student positions on campus. They sit on the Board of Trustees and are able to make and second motions, attend sessions and can cast a full vote. The student Trustees have the same goals as the Board.

“There is a misconception that we are the voice of the student body” Student Trustee Laura Hahn said. “Our main objective is to advocate for more state funding.”

Hahn is able to convey her first-hand knowledge to the students.

“We create a link between students, administration, and the Board,” Hahn said.

Student Trustees have the ability to vote on such things as tuition, building projects and capital projects.

“We try to get people to register and vote and increase awareness of why tuition

prices are going up,” Hahn said. “People need to speak up though.”

In order to apply, one must be a freshman or sophomore, have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and be a full-time student and citizen of the United States. The student Trustee must attend board and committee meetings and other functions, as well as student government meetings.

“I watched the budget come down. I wanted to get involved.”

-Erin Kaplan-Burns, new student trustee

Student Trustees are not paid. The interested participant must fill out a packet and is interviewed in front of a panel and presents a speech. The SGA Senate then votes on who receives the position.

“I always looked for leadership, even as a child,” Hahn said. “I always wanted to get involved in student government.”

Hahn calls her position a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“Not many people have this opportunity,” she said.

Hahn is currently mentoring Kaplan-Burns and showing her the ropes.

Kaplan-Burns was the secretary of financial affairs in student government and.

“I watched the budget come down,” Kaplan-Burns said. “I wanted to get involved.”

Students Gain Insight Into Health Disparities

Thursday, April 1, 2010

By MARISSA TORR Staff Writer

Dr. Margaret Greene, a nursing professor, gave a lecture to raise awareness on the disproportion in regards to health care access among marginalized populations.

Nursing student Lauren Finaldi introduced the Keynote speaker.

Health care disparities represent a variety of different issues. This includes: the quality of health care, differences in demographics and access to health care and in the end health outcomes.

“I think that more students should be aware of the health care bill,” Junior Yanisa Daniels said.

Dr. Greene gave an overview of health care disparities and what New Jersey can do.

Greene explained that inequalities involving demographics. Health care providers do not

take the time to deal with language barriers.

Also, it is not right that the entire population that is receiving the same level of health care.

Students were eager to express their ideas.

“I like certain parts of the health care reform bill, like students receiving health care. I’ve been struggling for a year and a half to get health care,” Daniels said.

“It’s important for people to learn about these issues and to reduce health disparities,” Senior Megan Russell said.

“It’s great information and it’s needed especially for the urban community,” James Crockett, junior and president of Brothers Making a Difference said.

In the end, the point of the program was to educate students on how doctors should treat patients from all different walks of life.

Dr. Greene stressed going the extra mile for patients and how students have the power to make a difference in the system.

Students Exchange Ideas For Sustainable Living

photo by Msrissa Torr

Greene outlines ideas to improve health care disparities.

By SAMMY ULLRICH Staff Writer

Student leaders from New Jersey colleges gathered to discuss and share ways to improve environmental programs on their campuses at the Student Sustainability Summit last Friday.

The NJ Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability (NJHEPS) and 1Step (Students Together for Environmental Process) hosted the event.

Paul Coraggio, director of 1Step and Jessica Roffe, co-director of 1Step and senator in SGA, led the discussion and focus groups for the event.

Students, professors and environmental group leaders from various schools such as Ramapo, Dominican College, Bergen Community College and Rider University shared their school’s efforts to make changes within the environment.

Events and programs had the goal of motivating students on campus to become more involved with sustainability efforts.

“The overall purpose of the NJHEPS conference was to bring together student leaders of environmental groups from all over the state,” Roffe said.

The event’s goal was to combine everyone’s ideas.

photo by Jess Roffe

Students Pete Carson (left) , Bryan Kaminsky and Alex Sim discussed ways in which Ramapo can practice sustainability.

“It was not only to share what we’ve been doing at Ramapo and what we’re hoping to do in the future, but to get ideas from other schools to help envision them where it is they need to go,” Roffe said.

Starting off the event was Keynote speaker, Mona Mosser, a Ramapo graduate who currently works for NJBPU (New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.)

Mosser spoke of incentive programs for residents, businesses and campuses to buy into clean energy. She also shared followup information as to what the state of New Jersey had been doing in relation to this.

Coraggio and Roffe spoke about the events that 1Step has been using to draw sustainability efforts to students on campus. The Green Fact Competitions among dorm buildings and Give & Go annual donation drives are just a few ways Ramapo encourages students to actively participate.

Other schools ]shared their strategies, such as an Alternate Transportation Day, in which everyone walked to their destination rather than using cars. One audience member was eager to suggest the idea of making sustainability course a general educa-

tion requirement.

1Step has also joined with NJHEPS to start the NJSSC (NJ Student Sustainability Coalition,) which is a student network created by students for students.

“We lack cohesion. If we all came together we would have so much power. What we really need to do is establish a network of students working toward a common cause and to empower them to keep going,” Roffe said.

Towards the end of the Summit, the audience broke into two focus groups to discuss ways Ramapo can reduce waste and save energy in our daily lives. An audience member suggested passing out reusable, stainless steel drinking containers to break people’s water bottle habits.

1Step convinced President Mercer to sign the American College and University President’s Climate Committee (ACUPCC) in November of 2007.

“About 10 years ago, we started NJHEPS and we got all the presidents in NJ colleges and universities to commit to reducing their green house gases on the campuses by 3.5% below 1990 levels by 2005. We helped the colleges to achieve that,” Senior Advisor for NJHEPS Donald Wheeler said.

Obesity Plagues Abroad and Beyond: Sample Foreign Culture College Kids, Too Page 6 The Ramapo News

Continued from page 3

even though it was so much more advanced than Madrid, because Catalunya is so close to Paris, which was the center of culture for years. Then Franco took over, and didn’t allow anything, so Barcelona just wants to do its own thing.

Once I learned the history of Barcelona and Spain, I understood Barcelona.”

McKEENA: “My favorite part of the trip was the learning about the culture, especially the business culture. It is also hard to describe the feeling of walking into Tiananmen Square realizing how much had happened there over the years, from Mao in 1949 to the 1989 Massacre.”

To day ’s Cul ture: SHULIM: “At around 2-5pm a lot of things close for siesta. Siesta means nap, but people rarely actually nap at that time, they usually just take a long lunch break. There are two types of clubs here: ones that open at 10pm and close at 2:30am, and ones that open at 3am and close at 7am. And in the clubs Catalans are never throwing up/stumbling because of alcohol. It is only the Americans, which is pretty embarrassing.”

Students who take advantage of the

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Roukema Center’s Study Abroad programs here are able to experience and take part in different cultures around the world. The center has also been working over the summers with high school students, presenting international studies workshops, where students come to campus and receive lectures on international studies opportunities.

The Roukema Center is located in ASB123, and offers students opportunities ranging from two weeks to a full academic year abroad in over 45 countries around the world.

“Within study abroad, we work with over 200 programs run by Ramapo faculty, foreign institutions and study abroad program providers. In addition, students may participate in a program called the National Student Exchange, in which students have the opportunity to participate for 1-2 semesters in academic programs at member institutions in the US, Canada and a number of other destinations,” Ben Levy, Director of Study Abroad and Off-Campus Programs, said.

Continued from page 3

Diet is only half the battle with obesity; staying active with exercise is the other half. According to the CDC, 50 percent of American adults don’t get the recommended physical activity to provide health benefits.

“I think college students think they are too busy to work out,” Dispoto said.

In fact, one-third of people in their 20’s are not exercising at all, according to the American College of Nutrition.

“Obesity is preventable, but you need to work hard. You really need to sweat five days a week, whether it’s in the gym on the pavement or on the stairs,” Larson said.

There are plenty of opportunities at Ramapo for exercise, with over 30 sections of conditioning courses including swimming, pilates, aerobics and tennis.

There are two gyms available for students with extended hours in addition to 18 division III sports team and several intramural

teams.

“Ramapo has really good facilities and even the reservation across the street, but of course it’s up to the individual to actually use these,” McDonnell said. “I’m healthy because I’m active, and I’m active because of my engagement in activities in and around campus.”

Some students complain that there are not enough exercise courses available and that the gym times are inconvenient.

“I think the courses are great but they are always closed by the time I register,” Tuzio said.

The bottom line is that no matter what Ramapo offers in terms of diet options or exercise, student must take some personal responsibility to live a healthy lifestyle and not be another statistic.

“This school is very proactive and progressive. I’m so proud to represent the athletic department here. It is an honor to carry out our mourned athletic director, Mike Ricciardi’s, dreams to keep Ramapo students active and healthy,” Larson said.

Relay for Life All Through the Night Continued from page 1

tain for my sorority, Theta Phi Alpha. I was the first one to sign up on our team and I just fell in love with it,” Saffer said. “We were able to rally up three teams within the sorority and that was a big deal for us.”

Organizations, such as Colleges Against Cancer, helped make the event a success. An organization composed of roughly 40 students have volunteered their time around the clock for months. Raising money and getting the event heard throughout the year is a main priority of the committee.

Sophomore and co-chair of the committee, Devon Hippeli, personally rose up to 4,000 dollars for the event by sending out emails and form donations to as many people as she could.

At the opening ceremony, members of the committee introduced the event and said why the event makes a difference.

“Giving people more of their most precious resource: time. More time with their family and friends, more memories, more celebrations and more birthdays,” Hippeli said, while introducing the event to participants.

Throughout the night, Ramapo students told personal stories about why they chose to participate.

The first speaker, Dr. Arthur Felix, a cancer survivor and Ramapo professor talked about his encounter with Prostate cancer.

Felix went into detail about how his life, from his childhood to now, has drastically changed. In the 1940s, cancer was rarely discussed. Few people sought help or passed along the message that they had the life threatening disease.

“The best decision I made through my can-

cer experience was telling my friends and family that I had cancer. I was able to learn from other people and make a decision as to what treatment I should use,” Felix said.

Following Dr. Felix, sophomore, Maggie Rogers’ slide show made many participants tear up. Pictures showed her experience with cancer; she overcame this difficult battle.

Music corresponded with pictures of her journey.

“I don’t cry because I had cancer, I cry because of the tremendous support that there is for a cause like this,” cancer survivor and co-chair of Colleges Against Cancer Maggie Rogers said.

However, possibly the most emotional part of the night was the Luminary. This event occurred late into the evening and required participants to share their story.

The annual silent walk occurred soon after, which consisted of a single lap to be done, where everyone can reflect on the stories.

Purple glow sticks illuminated the room as participants walked along the track and cracked a bright purple glow stick that was handed to him or her at the beginning of the event.

Relay for Life saw a large the turn out. At the same time, the committee has even bigger plans for next year.

For starters, the committee wants more faculty members involved. Part of the event for next year is hoped to be held outside.

Overall, the committee feels that Ramapo has shown its true colors of leadership and commitment through an event such as this.

“I refuse to believe that there isn’t a cure,” said Hahn.

VIEWPOINTS

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Coulter Misquoted, Misunderstood by Fem U

Monetary Motivation to Mingle With Mahwah

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.

By LAUREN SCIROCCO

In last week’s Ramapo News, Feminists United made a dismal attempt to sound nonpartisan in an article they wrote entitled: “Is Conservative Coulter Coming to Ramapo a Good Thing?” Judging by the title, one could presume that the group was about to present the reader with objective information about the event. Maybe they were going to talk about both the positive and negative aspects of Ann Coulter speaking on campus. Sadly, but not surprisingly, they did nothing of the sort.

What these “feminists” did manage to do was compile a handful of Ms. Coulter’s quotes from Wikiquote.org (Come on now, we’re in college—haven’t your professors told you that Wikipedia isn’t a valid source?) and present them to readers in a manner that was mostly out of context.

Shouldn’t feminists be proud of a fellow woman for breaking through that “glass ceiling” they’re always complaining about?

One quote from Coulter included in their article is: “So for those of you who haven’t read any of my five best-selling books: liberals are driven by Satan and lie constantly.” The campus group responded to her quote by saying, “Could it really be possible for her to generalize liberals any more? Liberals are not perfect, but neither are conservatives. To say they are ‘driven by Satan’ is a bit unnecessary.”

Unfortunately, if Feminists United actually took the time to read the entire column from which this quote was taken, they probably would not have used it to get their point across in the first place. In this particular column, Coulter was expressing her frustration with the mainstream media (which is comprised of

mostly liberals) after they continuously reported lies that she had called for a terrorist attack on John Edwards. She then jokingly writes that liberals are “driven by Satan.”

Another quote that the “feminists” took out of context is: “I’m not a big fan of the First Amendment.” Do you really believe that Ann Coulter, of all people, would say that seriously?

Of course she was joking. She makes a living expressing her beliefs through the First Amendment. She also uses a lot of sarcasm, which Feminists United clearly does not pick up on.

Halfway through the article, the group wrote, “In the spirit of free speech, we have decided to provide the readers of the Ramapo News with some choice quotes from Coulter’s repertoire and let you draw your own conclusions about her presence on this campus.” Sadly, they did not give the reader the opportunity to form an opinion of Coulter—all they did was manipulate everything she has said in order to get the reader to agree with the group’s own negative feelings towards Ms. Coulter.

Speaking of negative feelings, isn’t it a little contradictory for a group called “Feminists United” to be outraged and prepared to protest a woman who graduated with honors from Cornell University, received her J.D. from University of Michigan Law and sold over three million copies of New York Times bestselling books? Who cares what her political affiliations are? Shouldn’t feminists be proud of a fellow woman for breaking through that “glass ceiling” they’re always complaining about?

The “feminists” argue that Ann Coulter says “hateful” things. That is where they are mistaken. Most of the time, Coulter uses satire to get her point across. If Feminists United wishes to find some real examples of “hate speech,” they need not look any further than the Facebook event page entitled, “Ann Coulter at Ramapo College”, which was riddled with profanities and degrading messages written by intolerant Ramapo students.

Want to sound off?

Here is your chance.

Wednesday nights at 7:15 in SC-218

By TOM NG SGA President

Ramapo students, I have some bad news and good news for you. Which would you like first?

The bad news: the town council of Mahwah, in order to cope with the state budget cuts, has considered instituting a tax on students to support town initiatives and help compensate for some lost funds. This tax would essentially charge Ramapo for our use of town facilities (police, fire, parks, etc.).

Most Ramapo students would have a hard time stopping this. As Ramapo students, we have little pull in Mahwah politics because most of us are not registered to vote in Mahwah, and the town does not believe that we have done much to visibly help the community.

The good news: rumor has it that there isn’t a lot of support for this policy in the town council. In addition, we students have a chance to increase our voice and our pull in the community for the future.

My reason for writing is not to criticize the town’s decision (although I really hope they reconsider and do not pass this proposal). Rather, I want to make the student body aware that this should serve as a wake-up call to Ramapo students to become more involved in the community.

I am not suggesting you rush to town hall to get a petition to run for a Mahwah council position (although that would be awesome). I am, however, suggesting that we find ways to engage the town of Mahwah more than just crossing Route 202 to use Continental Field. Here are some

quick and easy ways to do it: 1) Register to vote and/or change your voting district to Mahwah. It takes about three minutes to complete the form (available in the SGA office) and it will allow you to vote on all issues related to Mahwah. This will ensure that Mahwah council candidates listen to our concerns, as we will have a say in their election.

If you are concerned about voting at home, remember you can simply switch your voting district back to where you reside after college. In addition, it will also make voting in statewide and nationwide elections a lot more convenient – you can just vote here!

2) Get involved with town events.

Whether it’s a town fundraiser, Fun Run or Mahwah Day in September (a town-wide festival), show your Ramapo pride and remind the community we help to define the town and make it a better place.

Also, you can use your club’s mission to run outreach programs to the town. For example, if your club advocates informed decision-making or raises awareness about a disease, disability or issue, do not let your voice be confined to Ramapo.

Engage the larger community!

SGA has already started discussing becoming involved in Mahwah Day, but it is up to next year’s SGA administration and student body to see it through.

3) Participate in community service. While this is always a worthwhile endeavor, helping in the Mahwah community would ensure Ramapo’s presence is felt. All clubs have to do community service and it would be a great idea to check out the Mahwah Township website for ideas that you could help with. Don’t forget to wear your Ramapo gear – it will remind them that we are good for the community and will be a great conversation starter.

Whether or not the town council passes a “student tax,” it is time we took a proactive stance on addressing this issue. Let’s show the town why it is good for them to have us here and to encourage them to reward us (rather than punish us) for being active in the community.

ARTS

&

E N T E RTA I N M E N T

Girls! The Musts and Maybes for Fashion This Spring

Thursday, April 1, 2010

look at her for any inspiration.

A homemade knitted look will complete an outfit.

Perhaps add a knitted belt to a solid dress to make it pop.

Knitted hair accessories will add a bit of unusualness to your look. Be sure to stay away from anything that is found in the granny section.

Leggings were a huge hit in the 80s. They made a comeback a few years ago. Due to their comfort ability and that they easily match anything, they are still around. But 2010 is taking them a in new direction. This is the year of the jegging. Yes, that is an actual word! Jegging is a combination of legging and jean. They are generally made of a denim material. They are intended to be versatile, either to be worn as leggings or jeans.

This could be a bit of a tricky look and if worn incorrectly, disastrous results could happen. Something as tight as leggings leaves a potential for the whole world to see everything. That could be unfortunate but here is how

ly, the look could be romantic inspired.

Many sheer tops have extra fabric so you do not have to worry about wearing anything underneath. This is the safest way to wear a sheer top.

If you find a top that you love, but it is completely sheer there is an easy way to fix it. Wear something underneath it. If you really want to be daring, wear a shirt that is close to your skin color. For the less daring, wear something a little darker.

Try to keep the shirt underneath, similar to the sheer shirt. Anything too vibrant will make the outfit look silly.

This trend is about a soft, feminine look.

Of course, it’s not the time to go broke to fit in with the trends. It is best to wear one trend at a time and be careful how you put them together. The most important thing to remember, make your own style. Do not be afraid to stand out. Be the starter of these trends.

photos courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

This Spring, dresses and bright, vibrant colors are going to be all of the rage.

BY TARA LAFEMINA Staff Writer

Spring is around the corner, a time for blooming flowers, warming weather and new clothes. This season will be filled with contradictions. Outrageous prints of revealing fabrics will be all the rage. For women, this upcoming season will appeal to all senses.

Military trends were big last year and continue to flow into this year. Military wear is no longer just casual; coats and formal wear are adding hints of this style.

Dresses are also taking in this trend. Subtle camouflage and various shades of green and brown are wildly popular.

The ripped grungy look of pants is taking the military style a step further. Keeping this as a throwback to 90s grunge is key. With this style, there is a fine line between trendy and trashy. Britney Spears has tried this, do not

to pull this new style of leggings off.

Jeggings have to fit properly. Just as most jeans, a dark wash would be the most wise to buy. They are more form-flattering and easy to match with. Due to them being made of denim, you could pull off a T-shirt with them.

Usually, T-shirts and leggings do not work well together. Feel free to wear them with anything else such as a long shirt, dress or sweater. They also work well on a casual day in flats or dressed up a bit with heels.

If you have gone to the mall in the last few weeks you would have seen that bright colors and sheers are very popular.

This season it is not just going to be a bright dress. It will be a bright dress with a print. The trick is to not overdo the brightness and not distort your complexion. If you mix a bright color with something neutral, it will achieve the best look. Try not to wear a daring color close to your face; it will wash your complexion.

If brightness is too much, you can cover something bright up with a neutral jacket. You can also just wear some vibrant colored accessories. As with any accessory, less is more.

Sheers are a new hit this year. It is a tricky look, if done wrong it will lead to unwanted exposure. If done correct-

Happy April Foolʼs Day!

The Ramapo News Wants You For The Ramapo News You Should Come Write If You Can, Then.....

Can You Read This?

Mathewʼs Diner Offers a Wide Variety for a Bargain Page 9 The Ramapo News

By AMANDA VALENTI Staff Writer

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Mathew’s Diner is located 15 minutes away from Ramapo.

This is a great place to get a quick bite on the go, or to sit down and enjoy food with some friends.

The refurbished entrance welcomes customers into a normal-everyday diner atmosphere. Mathew’s Diner offers a large area of booths along with more chair seating on the left side.

Seating tends be a little too close for comfort. When eating, customers might feel like they are eating with the people on either side of them rather than a personal experience.

It can hinder the dining experience, but wait staff will be happy to move customers to a different area if it is not too busy.

During dinner time and on weekends, Mathew’s Diner gets very busy and customers wait in the entry-way for a table. It moves along quickly, so do not abandon the diner too quickly.

The atmosphere could use a little updating. Though it is filled with large windows, it still has dark feel that almost looms over customers as they eat. The surrounding certainly adds nothing to the experience, so the food has to speak for itself.

Once inside, a man dressed elegantly in a suit greets customers as if he has known them for years. A smile on his face, gel in his hair and menus in hand, he walks people to their tables and sings the words, “Enjoy your meal,” as he smiles again and heads back to the door to greet the next crew.

Service is decent, though there are time the wait staff is hard to find for a refill or a doggy bag. Once the food arrives and drinks are filled, customers will not be let down.

The menu boasts a large variety of foods, from American,

to Mexican, to Greek. No one will walk out dissatisfied with their meals.

A great section of the menu to turn to is “Breakfast Anytime”. Fresh pancakes, thick French toast, large waffles; any one of those is sure to please. The option of crispy bacon or sausage is offered as a side for a slight increase in price.

The thick French toast is actually creamy on the inside. It is served with a fluffy mound of butter melting over the edges from the warmth. The crunchy crust surrounds the soft creamy center waiting to soak up the syrup.

A delicious addition to any meal is the root beer float with vanilla or chocolate ice cream. Presented in a tall glass and a dish on the bottom to catch the over-flow, the root beer float quenches thirst and satisfies the sweet tooth.

The ice cream will crystallize as it rests in the pool of soda.

At the end, the long spoon allows the customer to get out every bit of creamy crystallized ice cream from the bottom.

Hamburgers are also a specialty on the menu. With toppings such as grilled onions, different kinds of cheeses, bacon, and other accoutrements for all taste buds to enjoy.

Cooked to the customer’s specifications, the burger comes out on a plate filled with fries and a pickle. The first bite is always the best after seeing the juicy inside for the first time.

The crunchy fries hold up the thick ketchup making for an ideal bite. The fresh pickle on the side adds just the right amount of crunch, flavor, and tang to the succulent meal. For the pickle lovers, the diner will be happy to give a side order of pickles for all to enjoy.

The portions sizes are generous, but anyone who is past the point of hungry can easily polish off any of their scrumptious offerings.

Some cakes and pastries are available for dessert with coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. The desserts are not truly nothing to write home about. They are the typical diner desserts

where going out for an ice cream cone would be a better option.

The prices are not too steep. Two people can eat for around $15 to $20 depending on the meals and drinks.

Overall, the dining experience is decent because of the mouth-watering food, which is what it is all about. The atmosphere may not be the greatest, but the welcoming staff and quick service makes up where it is lacking. Order that cheeseburger and enjoy!

photo by Amanda Valenti

OVERALL GRADE: B

Meyer’s Music: Ok Go Makes Risky Business

By S HARON MEYER Staff Writer

OK GO is featured on the front cover of Billboard’s magazine this week where they discuss their departure with EMI, and the launch of their own record company “Paracadute,” Billboard reports.

“Paracadute Recordings, in a dig at what the band considers a tail spinning record industry, ‘paracadute’ is Italian for ‘parachute,’” according to the Billboard article.

The overall basis of the article mentioned the band’s “amicable” parting with EMI, and that there were no harsh feelings involved, but some wonder how the band that is known mainly for their innovative videos rather than their music will make any sort of money without backing from a major label, Billboard reports.

For now, OK GO will continue to rack up the number of YouTube hits as well as storm up some new ideas for their next video. They also stated that for now they will not be signing outside artists to their new label.

Ricky Martin, best known for his single “Livin‘ la Vida Loca” or his old group, Menudo, officially came out as a “fortunate Homosexual man,” as reported by numerous Web sites and blogs posted on March 29, 2010. If this is news to anyone, well, SUPRISE. For those of you who knew all along, confirmation is granted.

For those of you wondering about Eminem’s promised Relapse 2 release, Rolling Stone reported that “Eminem made a rare appearance on Twitter yester-

day to give fans a message — ‘Don’t worry. Some big news is coming. Soon’ — perhaps hinting that there may finally be some movement on the Relapse 2 front.”

Did your parents ever make you listen to oldies (and I mean real oldies) like The Supremes, Four Tops, and The Temptations? Then you many know Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Maestro, who is known by many for his hit “Sixteen Candles” died last Wednesday at the age of 70 from cancer. He started his career singing in NYC subways and streets just for fun.

Maestro was not so much into the spot-

light like most musicians are today. His voice, distinct and strapping, led him to captivate audiences nation wide.

I felt it necessary to mention this artist, although many of you may not know who he was, for the simple fact that he and many other artists of this time were innovators of music. They were the stepping-stone for many of the artists I mentioned in previous articles.

Head over to wherever you obtain your music from, and download some of his music even if it is only the song I mentioned above.

Bringing back the collaboration topic from last week, I ran into a song by Wale featuring John Mayer called “Letters.” Wale rhymes about the new president and his “changes” that he promised.

“If not I’m hoping that this letter could convey how I’m feelingAnd you could find interest/First off congratulations on the win/It’s time for some change to commence/I gotta question for you man/From an African American stance/Are we expecting to much from your four year plan,” Wale said.

It is one of the more controversial songs I have heard in a while. You should give it a listen, just for a different perspective, plus John Mayer is on the track.

Another interesting event this week, Billboard is featuring Matisyahu, a Hasidic rapper (Grammy nominated), took a stab at Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” single. The video can be seen on Billboard’s Web site on the ‘Mashup

Mondays’ section. It honestly was awkward in the first few minutes, until he starts beat-boxing. Then the song starts to get somewhere.

Paramore has done a rendition of the Kings of Leon song, which rocked (enter devil horns here), but Matisyahu put a spin on the tune and took it to a different but fun level. Who knew this Reggae artist could take this song and bring R&B soul to it.

Wrapping up, some upcoming concerts to look out for on Ticketmaster.com are Dave Matthews Band, Jimmy Buffet, Pearl Jam, Kings of Leon, and much more. Go to Ticketmaster.com for dates and prices. Until next week, make sure you check out ‘Letters’ by Wale featuring John Mayer.

Page 10 The Ramapo News

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Atom Egoyan’s Chloe is Seductive But Beyond Sensible

Page 11 The Ramapo News ByJULIANNE ILARIA Staff Writer

If you are looking to see a movie that is both titillating and creepy as hell, Director Atom Egoyan’s, Chloe should definitely be on the tip top of your list of films to see. It is only playing at select movie theatres and after the first few minutes you will realize why, but it is definitely worth the drive.

Perhaps you will be that obnoxious person laughing at all the wrong parts, but that is the only beauty of the film, but I assure you it will either keep you laughing, in shock, embarrassed, or hell, all three!

This film tells once again the tale of a presumed idyllic marriage and family full of prosperity. Catherine, (Julianne Moore) a doctor, seems to have it all: a beautiful mansion, an established practice, a handsome husband who is a college professor that is admired and praised by his students (yeah, that’s real life), and a son who has a musical mind.

But just how all picture perfect scenarios unfold, their lives are in fact far from perfect.

Something starts to smell a little fishy when Catherine plans this lavish soiree for her husband’s birthday and he never shows up. Humiliated, standing in front of a sea of guests, she receives a phone call saying he missed his flight by only a few moments.

At this point she is severely suspicious and feeling completely rejected after many attempts to spice up their marriage. As a result, Catherine turns to desperate measures. She coincidentally meets a beautiful escort (Amanda Seyfried) who she entrusts in trying to lure her husband to see what his reaction would be.

Afraid to know the truth, she still chooses to go through with the plan, as her heart is breaking in anticipation. A relationship that has formed because of a simple business transaction between the two women now blossoms into a whole shit storm, which actually

Thursday, April 1, 2010

forced more than a few people to abandon their seats and toss their ten dollar tickets into the wind, but rather a few die-hards stayed to watch this annoying, underdeveloped, bizarre and painful plot unfold even further.

You will be asking yourself as the time ticks away “Could this get any worse?” and alas, it does.

I found myself wanting to place toothpicks in my eyes to hold them open a few times and then luckily, something interesting happened. Maybe it was disgusting but at least it was something. Flash-forward to a surprise sex scene (or two, or three…) that definitely made the

whole movie, I would have to categorize this as a pornography more than anything else.

A word of advice: For those who bring children to rated R films anyway, leave them home for this one time. This film includes a lot of graphic sex and is borderline distasteful. Sure it was a drama, in fact, it was probably more of a melodrama, but that’s beside the point.

This was one of those films that is living proof that movies can have excruciatingly horrendous plots, but as long as you throw an A-list actress in the mix, a sexy young starlet, and a million scandalous encounters, it will make it to the box office, nonetheless, and most likely, do really well.

Throw in a surprise ending, which is actually more of a relief than a surprise, and there you go, you’ve got the movie Chloe. Moral of the story: Don’t become a doctor, or any other profession that is serious, because you will lose your sex life, then marriage and then lose your mind.

I would encourage everyone to go see this film and draw upon your own opinions, because if not for anything else, it will at least be a good conversation piece, and you’ll see a whole bunch of people sitting next to you in the theatre pretending not to feel uneasy. Now that’s entertainment.

And for film students: remember how at one point in your life some teacher said to you “No idea is a stupid idea”?, well that’s definitely the mindset of this film, but not the reality.

OVERALL GRADE: D

Hot Tub Time Machine: A Big Tub of Stupidity

By MATT THOMPSON Staff Writer

The Hot Tub Time Machine brought a whole other level of stupid to Hollywood.

First and foremost, who would ever think of making a

movie based around this story? Three best friends and one of their nephews get in a hot tub (of all places) in 2010 and travel back in time to 1986.

For all the great scripts and film ideas out there, this is the one that got through the ropes and hit the big screen.

And not surprisingly so, there weren’t many people at the theaters to see the film. There were few laughs from the audience during the movie, making it borderline pathetic for an opening weekend of a heavily marketed movie. Anyhow, let’s get down to the facts.

The movie did have a respectable cast — which at least let you digest the movie. The three best friends and main characters were Adam (John Cusack), Lou (Rob Coddry) and Nick (Craig Robinson). The fourth character, Jacob (Clark Duke) is introduced as Adam’s mid 20’s nephew who is living in his basement.

The four friends are stuck in their dead-end lives and go back to the place their favorite weekend occurred. It’s called the Kodiak Valley Ski Resort, which is deserted. After much drinking, they travel back to 1986 in the hot tub time machine. Ugh. They find themselves at the same ski resort, which at the time was the place to be and they relive their lives 24 years before.

There was much of the Judd Apatow “raunchy” humor incorporated into the film, which should not be a surprise because Craig Robinson and Clark Duke are products of Apatow’s system.

To me, the only two ironic and funny parts of the movie happen to be the storyline around Jacob and a running gag throughout the film. The year of 1986 was right before Jacob was born, so it’s interesting to see him living before he was actually alive. The running gag throughout the entire film revolves around another character, Phil (Crispin Glover), and it’s quite entertaining. Running gags usually always end up intriguing, if the writer is talented enough. But everything

else just seemed so stupid.

The ending was flat out wacky but I am glad they acknowledged that they shouldn’t mess up the timeline throughout the film.

The movie was a bomb in the box office. For a movie that was produced for a budget of $35 million and marketed like crazy, it only pulled in around $13 million. That’s right — $13 million, nearly a third of the budget.

It’s easy to see why the movie bombed, because it was such a random concept in the first place. It just seemed as though someone pulled different ideas from a few different places and plopped them all together for a movie. We got ski resorts, hot tubs and time machines – let’s make a movie!

It’s times like these when you feel even you could do better than the executives up at MGM and 20th Century Fox when choosing what movies will go into production.

Reviews were heavily mixed on this movie.

I really don’t think there would have been any other outcome to this movie. The plotline was just so ridiculous that it wasn’t appealing to the masses. Maybe they could cater to the little niche audience that would love to go back in the past and change their future.

I will give it the benefit of the doubt though, that “How To Train Your Dragon” and “Alice and the Wonderland” took a chunk out of its box office earnings. But that could have been any movie.

I’m giving this movie a D. Keep your $12 dollars. Spend it on lunch, maybe a used video game or use it for gas money.

Use it on anything but this movie.

OVERALL GRADE: D

Page 12 The Ramapo News

Thursday, April 1, 2010

RAMAPO SPORTS

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Menʼs Tennis Team Fell in Fall, Ready for Better Spring

By MARIS S A TORR S taff Writer

The men’s tennis team is glad that spring has sprung because it will give them a chance to redeem themselves.

They had a rough fall finishing 1-3. The team started off with an 8-1 win against Misericordia University, but unfortunately it was downhill from there.

“Paul Baluyut was our only graduating senior so we had an abundance of strength from our returning players.”

- Nani ne Gal l o, head coach

Their next game found them on the wrong end of the same score this time against Drew University. In October, they lost 0-9 against both Manhattanville C ollege and East S troudsburg University of Pennsylvania.

“Last season as a whole was challenging and actually turned out to be a “catch up” season for us,” said Head

Coach Nanine Gallo. “We have moved to a dual season schedule with the bulk of our matches still played in the spring season and approximately five matches played in the fall.”

Gallo recognized that there was an adjustment period for everyone coming back to campus and getting involved in the pre-season/tryout session. Most of the matches were against teams that were very good and the Roadrunners held their own, though they came up short. They feel that this is a good way to see that they will have a strong spring lineup.

There are a few changes in the roster this year, but there are returning veterans as well. “Paul Baluyut was our only graduating senior so we had an abundance of strength from our returning players,” said Coach Gallo. Only one freshman made the team this year, Matt Giulliari, and junior, Doug Gromack is back on the squad, further adding to the depth of the team. Senior Matthew Soos is the captain of the men’s squad and deserves the designation 100 percent. He has led this team through some rough patches and is always ready for a challenge.”

When asked about potential key players she was looking at, Gallo said, “I am not looking for any one key player to shine, but the entire team to shine.

photo by Stef Mauro

The men kicked off the spring with a 2-7 loss to Hunter College.

photo by Stef Mauro

The Roadrunners hope to improve upon their record of 1-3 from the fall and win their only conference match.

They have a challenging season ahead and have taken their conditioning and development very serious this winter leading into the spring season. I am very proud of all of the guys and their dedication to their technical development on court.”

Despite two players not being able to compete, Gallo is optimistic that they can be successful. “Looking ahead to this season it is basically the same as last season. We are operating at a deficit due to one academically ineligible player and one player on medical leave. This leaves us with just enough healthy players for a team. We still maintain a great deal of depth so I am hopeful that we will even out our win/loss ratio again just as we did last year,” Gallo said.

“Our big matches will be Hunter College and Neumman College this spring. We have already had to reschedule these matches due to weather and the conference schedules of our opponents. I hope we will be able to play both and even more so, I hope that the men’s tennis program will be able to participate in a conference with more than one opponent. Right now the only other men’s tennis programs in the

NJAC conference is Rutgers Newark, so when all of your competition is nonconference, most coaches are not trying to make up a match date if they don’t have to,” Gallo said.

The Roadrunners won’t be staying true

“We still maintain a great deal of depth so I am hopeful that we will even out our win/loss ratio again just as we did last year.”

- Nani ne Gal l o, head coach

to their name, as all but one of their games this season will take place at home. Their only away game is against Neumman College on Sunday, April 18 at noon. Their penultimate match of the season will be their only NJAC conference game, taking on Rutgers-Newark on Monday, April 26 at 4 p.m. They kicked off their season against Hunter College with a 2-7 loss.

Yankees, Red Sox Kick Off MLB Season Sunday

Page 14 The Ramapo News

Thursday, April 1, 2010

By JEREMY KELLY Staff Writer

It feels like a matchup that has been around since the dawn of time. It’s probably the most documented rivalry in the history of Major League Baseball. A vast number of names come to mind: Babe Ruth, Billy Martin, Lou Piniella, Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, etc. If you love one team, you’re almost guaranteed to despise the other.

Regardless of whatever opinions you may have, the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox open the 2010 MLB season in prime-time this weekend at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass.

The three-game series between these two American League East rivals begins on Sunday at 8:05 p.m.

Currently, the Red Sox have ace pitcher Josh Beckett scheduled to start, while the Yankees have not yet divulged their starting lineup.

Coming off the 2009 season, both teams face different degrees of expectations. The Yankees, of course, have plenty to live up to. They are defending World Series champions, with last year’s triumph over the Philadelphia Phillies, the 27th in their illustrious history and their first since 2000. They had to overcome a slow start to reach that point though. They struggled out of the gate as All-Star Alex Rodriguez was on the Disabled List photo courtesy of Creative Commons with a hip injury.

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia hopes But they went on a hot streak after the All-Star Break, to lead his team deep into October. winning eight consecutive games. The momentum went along the rest of the season, as they went 52-22 after the began the year smoothly, winning 11 straight games in All-Star Break, resulting in a MLB-best record of 103-59. late April and having a three-game lead in the AL East They then defeated the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS and heading into the All-Star Break. They also won their first the Los Angeles Angels in the ALCS, respectively, before eight meetings with the Yankees, an almost unprecedentdispatching the Phillies. ed feat.

The Red Sox, on the other hand, were known in 2009 But in the second half of the season, they started comfor having something of a late-season collapse. They ing apart. The Red Sox went on losing streaks of five, six

and six games. In addition, after going 8-0 against the Yankees to begin the year, Boston lost nine of the last ten meetings, breaking even with New York overall. They finished 95-67, and were then swept out of the ALDS by the Angels.

In the off-season, both teams have made major, if not always popular, transactions. In December, the Yankees traded Melky Cabrera, Mike Dunn, and Arodys Vizcaino to the Atlanta Braves for pitchers Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan. They later signed outfielder Randy Winn, and South-Korean-born veteran pitcher Chan Ho Park, who pitched for the Phillies in ’09.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, signed shortstop Marco Scutaro, the latest in a long line of replacements for Nomar Garciaparra. They would later sign Angels’ pitcher John Lackey, center fielder Mike Cameron, and third baseman Adrian Beltre. This third move would occur after it was made official that Boston would not bring back left fielder Jason Bay. The remainder of the MLB teams open on Monday. The Phillies, two-time defending National League champions, begin in the nation’s capital to play the Washington Nationals. Much-hyped off-season addition Roy Halladay is set to start on the mound for Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the New York Mets open at home against the Florida Marlins. Johan Santana will start at pitcher for the Mets, the fifth opening day start of his career, and his third with the Mets.

If you reside in the northeast, and you’re a baseball fan, there’s a chance you’ve had something to cheer about in the last couple years. Since 2007, the World Series champions have resided in Massachusetts, Philadelphia, and New York. Here’s hoping that another local team will be champions by season’s end. Here’s to America’s pastime, and here’s to baseball’s most famous rivalry.

Iverson’s Enigmatic Career Likely Finished

By ANDREW GOULD Staff Writer

After a long and bumpy ride in the NBA, Allen Iverson appears to have come to a finish after the Philadelphia 76ers announced in the beginning of March that he will not return this year.

Iverson left the team to attend to his 4-year-old daughter’s illness. She is one of five children who Iverson is locked in a custody battle with his wife, who filed for a divorce shortly after Iverson left the 76ers.

After being drafted by the first overall pick by the 76ers, Iverson played in Philadelphia for 11 years. After short days in Denver and Detroit that did not go as well, Iverson signed with the Memphis Grizzlies, a young team going through growing pains. Although he signed with Memphis under the agreement that he will come off the bench, Iverson quickly complained about his lack of minutes. After playing three games for the Grizzlies, they parted ways, clearing the way for Iverson to return to his original club.

Iverson’s decorated career can be considered the success story of an underdog warrior or a precautionary tale of everything wrong with athletes. Standing at 6 feet tall and weighing 165 pounds, Iverson was considered a small NBA player, yet he always played larger than his size. While most scoring guards that size would likely rely on a jump shot, Iverson fearlessly drove to the basket and aggressively met his larger counterparts. Averaging 26.7 points per game through his career, Iverson will retire as one of the best scorers to ever step on the hardwood. Finishing with four scoring titles, Iverson tied George Gervin for the most behind Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.

The highlight of Iverson’s playing career occurred in 2001, when he managed to carry the 76ers on his back all the way to the NBA Finals. Although they lost to the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers, Iverson scored 48 points in a surprising victory. They lost the next four games, but

photo courtesy of Creative Commons

Iverson fired up the crowd during his tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Iverson got at least 35 points in three of the four games.

Will this be what everyone remembers Iverson for? As skilled a player as Iverson was, he clamored for the spotlight rather than being a team player. It worked for the 76ers since there were no other stars to complement them, but his flaws were highlighted when the Denver Nuggets acquired him in 2006.

The pairing of Iverson and star scorer Carmelo Anthony never worked, as Iverson never embraced being the second option behind Anthony. This prompted Denver to trade Iverson to the Detroit Pistons for point guard Chauncey Billups. While the trade signified the beginning of the end for Detroit’s reign of dominance in the Eastern Conference, the Nuggets thrived because of Billups’ unselfish play.

Even in Iverson’s glory days as a 76er, he never fully got along with head coach Larry Brown. Rather than remembering Iverson for his persistence and tenacity on the court, a large part of his legacy will be his rant to reporters that shows the length of his selfishness.

After being asked about Brown’s criticism of Iverson’s tendency to miss practices, Iverson said “I’m supposed to be the franchise player, and we’re here talking about practice.”

This was one of 14 times he said “practice,” completely dismissing its importance.

Iverson still remains a fan favorite, as he was almost voted into the 2010 All-Star game despite only playing 25 subpar games before the voting ended. While fans can obviously understand his desire to be with his daughter, he reportedly also is dealing with gambling and alcohol addictions that are keeping him from the game. If he didn’t care enough about the game to practice with the team, why should the game care about protecting his image?

Page 15 The Ramapo News

Thursday, April 1, 2010

March Madness Tournament Continues to be Unpredictable

Virginia and competing for the National Championship. The matchup between Michigan St. and Butler looks to be more interesting and competitive. Michigan St. led by senior Raymar Morgan comes into the Final Four with experience and determination to win.

The Spartans coach, Tom Izzo, is very poised and knows how to channel his player’s talent into production. Michigan St. is just coming off of an intense battle against Tennessee and are hitting their stride as they take on Butler.

By JAKE EDINGER Staff Writer

This year’s NCAA March Madness Final Four includes the Michigan St. Spartans, Butler Bulldogs, West Virginia Mountaineers, and Duke Blue Devils.

The Blue Devils are the only one seed to make the Final Four and defeated Baylor in a very close game that exposed Duke’s weaknesses. The Duke players must assert themselves defensively early in the game versus West Virginia. Duke must also defend against quick drives to the basket.

Consistency is also another problem with the Dukies. Kyle Singler was 0-10 from the field and 0-5 from three.

In order for Duke to have success, Singler must be able to score and exploit West Virginia’s defenders.

Above all Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has been under much criticism after he considered taking the Los Angeles Lakers head coaching job in 2004.

While Duke has been constantly overlooked this postseason, first for 2008 winner Kansas and then Kentucky, many still view Duke as a powerhouse.

Many have claimed that Coach K has lost motivation in college basketball, however this is untrue and the Blue Devils will prevail against West Virginia.

The Mountaineers squeezed into the Final Four when many believed that they wouldn’t have the experience and talent to do so.

West Virginia knocked off Kentucky by targeting Kentucky’s role players and containing John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. Forward Da’Sean Butler has been the go-to option for West Virginia and scored 18 points versus the Wildcats.

I lean towards the Spartans beating the Bulldogs and advancing to the championship facing the Duke Blue Devils.

photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons

Senior Jon Scheyer hopes to win his first NCAA tournament with the Blue Devils.

Last game. West Virginia’s Joe Mazzulla left the game with a left shoulder injury and is not going to participate in the rest of the tourney. This injury will not affect West Virginia completely but it will affect the Mountaineers’ bench depth.

I see the Duke Blue Devils advancing past West

Predicting a Successful Season

By KEVIN JOHNS ON Staff Writer

Roadrunners baseball enters the 2010 NJAC regular season after a successful spring trip to Florida.

The Roadrunners finished the trip with a 5-5 record for the second straight year. The last game of the trip against Worcester State College is currently under review as the umpire controversially called the game early.

The Roadrunners returned to Ramapo to play their first home games of the season at Jeff Maund Memorial Field on March 27. The Roadrunners battled the University of Maine Presque Isle in the afternoon, and St. Joe’s.

The Roadrunners jumped out to an early lead against Maine, scoring four runs in the first inning. Sophomore Jeremy Paster collected two RBI’s in the inning, along with RBI’s from freshman Michael Hansford and sophomore Dan Moreno.

Defense became the theme following the second inning, as both teams went scoreless until the sixth inning. Junior starting pitcher Tim Hannes kept Maine off the scoreboard with a dominant two hit performance through five innings.

The offense reemerged for Ramapo in the sixth with a two run home run from sophomore Nick Romano.

Maine scored their only run of the game in the seventh inning on an unearned run to make the final score 8-1.

The Roadrunners picked up where they left off in their second game by jumping out to a quick 7-0 lead through the second inning.

Senior Joey Cacchiola and Moreno both had stellar numbers in their second game of the

day. Cacchiola went three for four in the game, scoring two runs and driving in four more. Moreno padded his stats with a two for three performances, scoring one run and driving in three.

Senior starting pitcher Michael Murano also had a strong outing for the Roadrunners, allowing eight hits over five innings, surrendering only one run. Freshman Frank Baldini relieved Murano. His first appearance was very impressive as he pitched the last two innings of the game, striking out four of the batters he faced, and sealing the 11-1 victory.

“We obviously want to win it. It’s going to be tough, but if everything comes together we should be fine,” said junior catcher Mike McGuckin. “The NJAC is a very prestigious conference; teams like William Patterson, Kean, and TCNJ are some of the toughest competition.”

The team feels confident about their starting pitching. “Our number one through three is practically all number ones,” McGuckin said.

“We got Mike Murano, Tim Hannes, and John McNeil… We have great depth.”

This year’s team also feels experience is one of their greatest assets. Players returning from injuries last season also hope to make an impact for the team this year.

“We’ve gotten a couple guys back from injury, specifically John McNeil wasn’t able to play last year, and Mark Ruggiero who had a problem with his shoulder,” said Head Coach Rich Martin. “We also had a good recruiting class of freshman who are helping us out immediately.”

The Roadrunners are on the right track to perform this season, and look to contend with the power teams in the conference.

The Bulldogs just beat favorites Kansas St. who many believed, including myself, was a lock for the Final Four. Butler is led by sophomore Gordon Hayward who can be a legitimate offensive threat in the low post and the paint. Many are viewing this Final Four as a home court advantage for Butler because the school is located just five miles away from Lucas Oil Stadium,which is where the games are.

I lean towards the Spartans beating the Bulldogs and advancing to the championship facing the Duke Blue Devils.

RAMAPO SP RTS ACE IN THE HOLE

Roadrunners start the season with a win.

The women始s tennis team kicked off the 2010 spring season against Hunter College with a 5-4 victory.

photo by Stef Mauro