The Reporter, Vol.1, Issue 9 by Lazaro Gamio

Miami Becomes A Haven For Freedom Seeker

New Feminine Product Dispensing Machines

Entering The Digital Age, Reporter-style

New Standards For College-level Bats

An oppressed writer from Zimbabwe is granted a program that gives him a safe place to live and work for two years.

All first-floor women’s restrooms at Kendall Campus are now equipped with feminine product dispensers.

The Reporter brings you our first video game review, critiquing the sci-fi adventure game Dead Space 2.

Aluminum bats are being manufactured to generate the same batted ball speed as wooden bats at the collegiate level.

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TURN TO NEWS, PAGE 7

TURN TO A&E, PAGE 11

TURN TO SPORTS, PAGE 12

‫نع عفادن‬ ‫كقوقح‬

4VOL. 1, ISSUE 9—FEB. 28, 2011 VISIT US ONLINE: WWW.MDC.EDU/THEREPORTER

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Film Frenzy Comes To Town Twenty eighth annual Miami International Film Festival will run from March 4 to 13 throughout all South Florida. By Monique O. Madan monique.madan001@mymdc.net

MARK PULASKI/ THE REPORTER

Cultural Landmark: The Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts opened in 1926 as a theater for silent movies. Now, the theater serves a key role in the Miami International Film Festival— hosting the opening night celebration and many of the festival’s more prominent films.

Presented and produced by Miami Dade College, the 28th annual Miami International Film Festival will run from March 4 to 13. “These 10 days of world cinema will truly inspire students,” said MIFF Executive Director Jaie Laplante. “There is an intangible magic when you have the chance to meet someone who works in what you work for.” Movies from Israel, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Cuba, Spain, Israel, Argentina, China, and more will be featured. Included in the festivities will be movie screenings, documentaries and seminars. “This event has a way of reaching people,” said Juan Mendieta the College’s director of communications. “The workshops help aspire

LADY SHARKS BASKETBALL

By Hector Gonzalez hector.gonzalez012@mymdc.net The Miami Dade College women’s basketball team has clinched a spot in the Florida Community College Athletic Association state championship tournament to be held on March 2 to 5 in Marianna, Fla. The Lady Sharks started the season with a 2-10 record, but fought back to get into contention for the state tournament. The team ended the regular season with a loss to Indian River Commnity College, on Feb. 19, but secured their spot in the tournament with a 71-64 playoff win against Brevard Community College on Feb. 22, to finish

INDEX: PLEASE RECYCLE

BRIEFING

the season (12-14) and (6-3) in the Southern Conference. “We feel great about it,”said Lady Sharks Head Coach Susan Summons. “The journey started rocky but with a tough schedule, you take the bumps and bruises. That’s how you learn to play as a team.” Sophomore for wa rd Ka nd is Frederick credits her team’s desire to make it to states. “Our point guards (Tory) Stephens and (Melanie) Ducott did a great job keeping us together on the court,” Frederick said. “No one was lazy and there wasn’t any attitude; we listened to our coach.” The Lady Sharks will try to continue taking their Cinderella story into states. “We made it a goal to start a new season once the Southern Conference games started,” Ducott said. “Our team has to continue playing good defense, hustle and play together.”

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NEWS

TURN TO PREVIEWS, PAGE 11

Armando Guzman takes the position of chief of public safety at Kendall Campus. By Jose Prado jose.prado001@mymdc.net

GREGORY CASTILLO / THE REPORTER

Secure Selection: Armando Guzman, 53, a 1978 graduate of Miami Dade College, was selected to fill the position of public safety chief for the Kendall Campus. Guzman, a former major in the special operations section at the City of Miami Police Department, brings more than 30 years of law-enforcement experience to Kendall Campus.

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See our staff selections of prominent movies from the upcoming festival.

Kendall Campus Gets New Chief

A&E

Got News? Let Us Know. Contact Us:

Film Previews

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Women’s Basketball Fight Their Way Into States After a lackluster regular season, the MDC Lady Sharks basketball team snuck their way into the FCCAA state tournament.

new film writers such as our very own students.” Andrea Olabarria, 29, is one of them. “[The festival] was a place to see many different things from different point of views,” Olabarria said. “It enhanced my love for editing, planning and shooting.” Olabarria graduated from MDC in 2003. Her first feature film, Rough Winds, premiered at San Sebastian in 2009. She was a panelist last year at the MIFF for the REEL Seminar “Making Your First Film” series. “It w i l l cha rge a nyone up,” Laplante said. “Film in general can have a counter effect on their own art.”

(305) 237-1253

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Veteran law enforcement officer Armando Guzman has been tabbed as the new chief of public safety at Miami Dade College Kendall Campus. Guzman, 53, has worked at the City of Miami Police Department for more than 30 years. On Feb. 14, he accepted t he top public safety position at Kendall Campus. TURN TO NEW CHIEF, PAGE 5

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BRIEFING

FEB. 28, 2011

THE REPORTER

// BRIEFING Monica Suarez, Briefing Editor //

T (305) 237-1254

B monica.suarez006@mymdc.net

Earth Ethics Institute Holds Photography Competition The Earth Ethics Institute at Miami Dade College is accepting submissions for its Visions of Nature in South Florida Photography Challenge. The contest hopes to encourage students to observe the natural world in South Florida and to communicate through their photographs. Categories include mounted prints of color, black and white, infrared, film or digital shot in any format. The photos must be at least 8X10 inches to a maximum of 11X14 inches. Also, they must be mounted and matted and the dimensions of the outside border of the window mat must be 16X20 inches. Miami Dade College students enrolled in the Spring 2011 semester can submit their photos. Each participant can only enter two photographs for the contest. The entry form and pieces are to be submitted by March 9 to any campus’ Earth Ethics coordinator. —Vanessa Martinas For more information, contact: Christopher Migliaccio T (305) 237-3269 B chris.migliaccio@mdc.edu

F.S.A.S.E. Scholarship Available For MDC Students The Jeanette Rankin Foundation is offering MDC students a scholarship for business administration. The Florida State Association of Supervisors of Election Scholarship awards three students with $1,200 each.Students interested in applying must be in their junior year of college, submit an application, a resume and two letters of recommendation from the college or university of graduation. Students must also be U.S citizens

MARK PULASKI / THE REPORTER

Honoring The Fallen: (From left) Ana Alejandre Ciereszko, Miriam de la Peña, and Mirta Costa, family members of the victims of the Brothers to the Rescue tragedy in 1996, took time to answer questions from the audience after screening an excerpt from the film Shoot Down.

MDC Honors Cuban Martyrs Shot Down By Fighter Jets M ia m i Dade Col lege Nor t h Campus, 11380 NW 27 Ave., presented, “Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied,” at the William and Joan Lehman Theatre on Feb. 17. The presentation was a tribute to the four Brothers to the Rescue volunteer pilots shot down by Cuban jets in internal airspace Feb. 24, 1996. The families of the four men were present during the presentation highlighting the event through eligible to vote, Florida residents for more than two years, maintain a ‘C’ average or above and must demonstrate financial need after completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.To access the application students must log on to http:// www.mdc.edu/scholarships. All applications must be submitted by March 18. —Yesenia Iglesias For more information, contact: Yesenia M. Codina T (305) 237-0384 B ycodina@mdc.edu

Hallmark Cards Internship Available To MDC Students

Kendall Campus Students Win Banner Contest

Hallmark Cards Inc. is offering Miami Dade College students an opportunity to take part in a 10 to 12 week creative summer internship program in Kansas City, Mo. Students interested may participate in internships with a focus on editorial and writing, print and graphic design, web design, 3D design and rendering. To apply, students must submit an application, a cover letter, a current resume, and a portfolio that may vary by position. The applicat ion deadline is March 1. All applications must be submitted online.

The ladies of Lambda Omicron Delta, a sorority at Miami Dade College, won a campus-wide banner competition at Kendall Campus on Feb. 5. The competition is part of a series of contests the Student Government Association created to motivate clubs and organizations on campus to be more active. The contests that the clubs win earn them a series of points and perks that include more funding, cubicles and trophies, among other prizes. Aside from being titled Club of the Year, LOD also won a certificate and a trophy. The winning banner was made in support of the men’s basketball team and depicts one of the sorority’s core values of school spirit.

—Marvin Pineda

—Isabelle Anadon For more information, contact: Erin S. Roebuck T (913) 980-3801 B eroebu4@hallmark.com  HALLMARK.COM/CAREERS

For more information, contact: Zuzel Gonzalez T (305) 608-6737 B zuzeleg@yahoo.com

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excerpts of the documentary film Shoot Down. The families also presented four MDC students with $1,000 scholarships in the name of the four pilots; Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña and Pablo Morales. Two additional scholarships of $600 each were also awarded. —Ralph Tur For more information, contact: Yesenia M. Codina T (305) 237-0384 B ycodina@mdc.edu

Kendall Campus Commemorates Cotton Club Miami Dade College Kendall Campus, 11011 S.W. 104 St., will host Cotton Club, an event based on the 1920s club in Harlem, on Feb. 28 at the McCarthy Theatre in Room 6120 at 7 p.m. Students, faculty and administrators w ill ser ve as singers, dancers, musicians and spoken word artists. The event, which has been ongoing for the last six years, was created by professor Deborah Powell and Director of Retention and Transition Ser v ices Vanya Albury in remembrance of the famous night club. “It was particularly popular during the Harlem Renaissance a cultural movement among Blacks during the 1920s and 1930s,” Albury said. “Some historians state that the work of w riters, playwrights and other artists during this movement helped to lead to a new social consciousness among African Americans.” According to Albury, those attending the event will learn about jazz musicians, singers and other artists that emerged during that time period. —Crizalida Suero For more information, contact: Vanya Albury T (305) 237-2884 B valbury@mdc.edu

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THE REPORTER

FEB. 28, 2011

BRIEFING

Kendall Campus Hosts Invisible Children Screening Students Aiding International Disaster is hosting an Invisible Children screening at Kendall Campus, 11011 SW 104 St., on March 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. in Room 6120. Students Aiding International Disaster is working with the organization Invisible Children, which works to make documentaries about war-affected children in east Africa. “By having this screening, it will promote awareness of [Invisible Children] and people can understand what is happening in Africa rather than turning their cheek,” said Emily Dominguez, 18, a SAID member and mass communication major at Kendall Campus. The organization’s goal is to have more than 200 people attend the screening where they will see a documentary, TONY, which follows a Ugandan boy named Tony, who is fighting to stop other young kids from being forced into becoming child soldiers. —Melissa Adan

1 JULIO VELEZON / THE REPORTER

Disney Internship Available To MDC Students The Disney College Program is offering Miami Dade College students a paid internship in Orlando, Fla. and Anaheim, Calif., for the fall semester. According to Eduardo Torres, the program provides students with an opportunity to live on a Disney property as paid campus representatives and alumni. Disney is also providing participants with transportation to the grocery store, the park and malls. During the internship, students will be able to study at the Disney University as well as work at the Disney Park. There is no grade point average requirement, but participants must be 18 years or older, must be a enrolled in college and must attend a presentation where a code will be given to access the application. Applications must be turned in within 72 hours of the presentation. —Keith Gonzalez

2 ALEXANDRA DALPE / THE REPORTER

For more information, contact: Eduardo Torres T (786) 543-4140 B eduardo.torres007@mymdc.net  WDWCOLLEGEPROGRAM.COM

Photobriefing

3 ANNA CARABEO / THE REPORTER

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Cultural Display: The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China held their 2011 Chinese New Year’s Festival at Kendall Campus. The theme for 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit. Hundreds gathered on Feb. 20 to view different performances based on Chinese culture and tradition.

Bull Run: InterAmerican Campus SGA set up a small rodeo in hope of raising funds for this year’s official theme “Helping Animals in Need.” Since the beginning of the spring semester, the attraction has raised more than $600 for the cause.

Round Table: First female Secretary of State Madeleine Albright spoke to students as part of a Leadership Round-table series at Wolfson Campus on Feb. 23. She addressed what students can do to help the nation and the importance of global awareness. Albright also shared with students the issues she faced as the first female secretary of state.

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THE REPORTER

FEB. 28, 2011

HELPING HANDS

// NEWS Monique O. Madan, Editor-in-Chief //

T (305) 237-1253

On-Campus Service Learning Option B monique.madan001@mymdc.net

Student Life Helping Hands program at Wolfson Campus offers a hands-on approach to service on campus. By Monica Kelly monica.kelly002@mymdc.net

ALEXANDRA DE ARMAS / THE REPORTER

Freedom: Chenjerai Hove has lived an oppressed life as an author in Zimbabwe for more than 30 years. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Miami To The Refuge Chenjerai Hove, a Zimbabwean writer, is now given the freedom to write what he chooses without the fear of attack due to a program called Miami: City of Refuge. By Alexandra de Armas alexandra.dearmas001@mymdc.net Living a nomadic and fear-filled life for 10 years led Chenjerai Hove to Miami: a City of Refuge. “To be able to sit alone in a café in France without thinking the guy next to me is spying on me with a tape recorder in [his] pocket is frightening,” Hove, a Zimbabwe native, said. “All of a sudden I have all this vast space to drink [my] coffee and just relax. You can’t believe it. It’s like a dream.” Hove, an author, essayist, human right activist, playwright and poet in Zimbabwe for more than 30 years, is now in Miami as a “writer-in-residence” with the program Miami: City of Refuge. “The premise of the Miami: City of Refuge is to identify a writer whose life is being threatened due to their work and moving them to a ‘refuge city’ for two years, where they can live and work free of oppression and censorship,” said Alina Interián, executive director of the Florida Center for the Literary Arts. The man who now walks the streets of Downtown Miami in a vibrant-colored shirt with a black messenger bag hanging on his left shoulder, was once a constant target of attack. “[The police] use to break into my house and steal my computers and things in Zimbabwe,” Hove said. “Now I can sleep without

NEWS

even locking my door and relax, wake up and work and know that no one is going to steal my computer.” Searching for the freedom to write, he fled his country in 2001. Hove then went from London to France, where he stayed for two years. When the French Government asked him to leave, he fled to Norway where he lived from 2005 to 2010. “I never stopped writing,” Hove said. Miami: City of Refuge was founded by prominent authors who wanted “to provide a safe haven for writers living in rogue nations through out the world,” according to Interián. In 2009, the International Cities of Refuge Network was founded, creating various participating cities for the program. Through the efforts of former Mayor of Miami Manny Diaz, Miami Dade College President Eduardo Padrón, the Florida Center for Literary Arts and a community grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Miami became the first city in the United

Meet Chenjerai Visit us online for exclusive information about Hove’s experiences in Zimbabwe and see what students have to say about meeting him.

States to be part of ICORN in 2009. Hove was identified through PEN International Writers in Prison and Amnesty International; both organizations serve as advisers to help identify prosecuted writers. Miami: City of Refuge provides Hove with a place to live close to Wolfson Campus and a work permit for two years. “People don’t realize the importance of freedom until the time they’ve lost it,” Hove said. “When they’ve lost a leg, then you know how important the leg is.” According to Michaela Tomova, chairperson for the communication, arts and philosophy department at InterAmerican Campus, Hove brings a new point of view each time he speaks to students. “He brings to the College an international perspective and also the awareness of the rest of the world,” Tomova said. “We forget to stop and think that the problems that we are facing are probably very minor compared to what goes on in other countries, where people fight for their rights but also fight for just survival.” Students say they find Hove’s courage inspirational. “Just hearing his story of him coming from his native land and being prosecuted as a writer for the very same things that I have the freedom to do, it was just heart-felt,” said MDC alumnus Hakeen Rome. “It was truly a blessing to meet him, such a humble person. The spirit in his heart, it reflects someone who has been through some things but is appreciative to where he is at now. It just touched me intellectually, emotionally and spiritually.”

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Jheanelle Gilmore was a freshman at Wolfson Campus when a friend tricked her into thinking they rented beds at Student Life. When she got there, Gilmore found no beds, instead she saw students volunteering for school events and activities. “A bed brought me here,” Gilmore, a 19-year-old public relations major said, “now I have volunteered about [200] hours.” Gilmore was one of the first people to participate in Student Life Helping Hands, a volunteer program. The program, which started in Fall 2010, is a volunteer project that allows students to gain service learning hours on campus while gaining hands-on experience. Program director, Gabriela Narvaez said it’s completely different from other volunteering opportunities. “The Student Life Helping Hands program came about because a lot of students want to do volunteer work but their schedules don’t allow it or they just want to have somewhere where they can gain work experience,” Narvaez said. “When the [recession] hit and a lot of people were let go and positions closed, we thought maybe since we have so

many students willing and eager to help—let’s give them the opportunity to learn and gain experience on campus.” The program allows students to work as volunteers at nine different departments on campus. To apply for the program students have to fill out an application that can be found at the Student Life Department. Then they are placed in a department that best fits their interests. “A lot of people think that you only do service learning outside of school. However, some of the students that are part of the Student Life Helping Hands program will tell you we have a pretty much hands-on experience,” Narvaez said. The program also helps students get an upper hand if a job opening becomes available in the office that they are volunteering at. Gilmore now works part-time at the Student Life Department for pay. She said that the program helped her learn patience and how to behave professionally on the job. “Anyone who can do it should jump at the chance because it is a whole new experience. It’s a really great opportunity to meet people with different angles and different points of view,” Gilmore said.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

New Public Safety Chief Starts At Kendall Campus FROM NEW CHIEF, COVER

Carlos Tinoco had ser ved as the interim chief of public safety for the past 18 months. He will remain as the assistant chief of public safety. Guzman rose through ranks to become a major in the special operations section at the City of Miami Police Department. “I wanted to work [here] because I feel that I can bring my background and experience,” Guzman said. “I can enhance the level of protection and service to both student and faculty members. ” Guzman, who graduated from MDC in 1978, also wanted to return to his roots. “If my father were still alive, he’d have said I wanted to be a police officer ever since I was a child,” Guzman said. “Of course when you’re a child, your idea of what it means to be an officer is very different from the reality. Eighty five percent to almost 90 percent of what it is to be a police officer is just helping people with regular problems, like giving them directions. Only a small percentage of time is dedicated to combating crime.” During his time as an officer, Guzman answered many 911 calls including some from people claiming to have been followed by the

CIA, others said they saw aliens, or spoke to God. At MDC, Guzman said he wants to make the public safety office more efficient, specifically with keeping students safe and serving their needs. “To a regular person, a thing like graffiti is just graffiti. But to an officer it is a code, it can say a number of things,” Guzman said. “An officer knows how to use this knowledge in keeping people safe. That’s what I would like to bring to Miami Dade. But it’s still too early to say what will or won’t be implemented.” He said he is still introducing his ideas to campus officials. “We had a strong pool of applicants,” said Kendall Campus President Lourdes Oroza. “But [Armando Guzman’s] experience and commendable work record is what made us choose him.”

“If my father were still alive, he’d have said I wanted to be a police officer ever since I was a child.” —Armando Guzman

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NEWS

FEB. 28, 2011

THE REPORTER

Florida International University College of Law invites you to attend

1 Annual “Bridging the Gap” Minority Pre-Law Conference st

March 26, 2011

8:30am to 4:30pm

In its efforts to promote better access to the legal profession, The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors hosts this one-day event with the goal of increasing the number of minority applicants to Florida law schools. Participants will have the opportunity to attend workshops, play an active role in a mock class, and hear from legal professionals as well as law school admissions administrators. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for participants.

R.S.V.P for this event using the online “Bridging the Gap” link at http://law.fiu.edu or by e-mail: lawadmit@fiu.edu.

GREGORY CASTILLO / THE REPORTER

Breaking Ground: (From left) Kendall Campus SGA President Luisa Santos, Kendall Campus President Lourdes Oroza, Board of Trustees member Armando J. Buscelo and College President Eduardo Padrón attended a ceremonial ground breaking for the new academic support center, at Kendall Campus, on Feb 18. The new five-floor building will house the Student Services department among many others. 11200 SW 8 Street. Rafael Diaz-Balart Hall. Miami, FL 33199 th

STUDENT ORGANIZATION

MDC Pride Student Club Expands to North, Kendall Campuses Miami Dade College Pride branches off of Wolfson Campus, educating students on sexual orientation and homophobia. By Kirsten Rincon kirsten.rincon001@mymdc.net Miami Dade College Pride, an organization at Wolfson Campus aimed at encouraging students to educate each other about issues such as gender identity and sexual orientation, is expanding to the North and Kendall Campuses. The organization has committed itself to providing a place where students can let their guard down and be completely open without feeling judged or discriminated against. “We don’t want it to be your normally structured organization,” said MDC Pride President Jamesly Louis. “We want to create a social environment where people can feel open and comfortable enough to talk about absolutely anything.” MDC Pride currently holds 80

members and functions as a support group that provides safety and confidentiality to students struggling with their identities such as being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning (LGBTQ). “This club provides a really inviting atmosphere and it’s nice to know there’s a place where I can be completely open and feel comfortable,” MDC student Ruth Gonzalez said. “I’m not gay, but I am a huge supporter of equal rights so I’m definitely proud to be a member of this group.” Pridelines Youth Services, a nonprofit organization that began in MDC in 1982 and was created by gay youth in support for the LGBTQ, has teamed up with MDC Pride to provide a comprehensive system of services for the club. “In exchange for a certain number of community service hours, we have been able to provide our members w ith complimentar y tickets to shows at the Arsht Center, the Lady Gaga concert, picnics, proms and many more events all thanks to Pridelines Youth Ser-

vices,” Louis said. The organization’s most recent activity was promoting safe sex practices in affiliation with Care Resources, which is part of the Miami-Dade County Health Department. In March, the organization will start fundraising in a Mardi Gras-themed event that will help toward building a new school in one of New Orleans’ most damaged areas. “Before it is my time to depart from MDC Pride, my goal is for all campuses to have MDC Pride and for it to be the biggest and mostknown organization within the school,” Louis said. MDC Pride meetings are held every Wednesday at the Wolfson Campus, 300 N.E. Second Ave., Room 2313 at 12 p.m. A schedule for meetings at the North and Kendall campuses has not been set yet. For more information, contact: Dr. John Frederick T (305) 237-7495 B jfrederi@mdc.edu

KENDALL CAMPUS RESTROOMS

HER STUDENTS HEAR FROM OT er e & m ad e it .

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Feminine Product Dispensers Installed In Ladies’ Restrooms Kendall Campus women’s restrooms were equipped with feminine products this past semester term. By Melissa Adan melissa.adan001@mymdc.net

10/18/10 6:27 PM

The women’s restrooms at Kendall Campus are now equipped with feminine product dispensers. The machines, which have tampons and sanitary napkins, were installed on all first-floor restrooms last semester. The items cost 50 cents each. Former Student Government Association Senator Marla Fistel and former vice President Gabriella Rodriguez created a petition to get the products placed in the women’s restrooms. With more than 100 signatures, the project was approved. “I think it’s important to have

feminine products in the bathroom just in case of an emergency, so that girls don’t have to leave to go buy them,” Fistel said. “Ultimately, it can protect women from embarrassing moments.” Fistel first thought of the idea when a friend of hers unexpectedly got her menstrual cycle. She was forced to go home to retrieve feminine products. Biology major Amanda Valdes said she considers herself fortunate that other women advocated for the machines. “Usually this is something in your body that can come at anytime and it’s important to have feminine dispensers to provide for students,” Valdes said. According to Kendall Campus Dean of Administration Gloria Baez, the College’s maintenance

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department installed the machines and the money collected from them goes toward replenishing the products. “SGA came to me requesting the installation of these machines and I believe it is important to provide services and amenities to students that need them whenever possible,” Baez said. Although Fistel and Rodriguez were not able to see the project through during their time at SGA, current Kendall Campus SGA President Luisa Santos and Vice President Camila Silva continued to advocate for the project. “Accessibility of feminine products for MDC female students is something we should have had available for the student body a long time ago,” Silva said. “It was a need that we identified.”

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FEB. 28, 2011

NEWS

A Lesson In Preparedness: The training pool features a submersible car prop which is used by various agencies as a waterborne rescue training aide. The training pool also possesses a underwater observation room where the trainees can be supervised.

Grand Entrance: Eduardo Padrón, president of Miami Dade College, made a red-carpet appearance at North Campus for the inauguration of the new Aquatic and Fitness Center on Feb. 14.

North Campus Inaugurates Aquatic And Fitness Center

Taking A Plunge: The event featured special presentations; including a synchronized swimming display, and a demonstration from a police dive team in a simulated water rescue.

Now Open: North Campus President José Vicente, Chair of the Board of Trustees Helen Aguirre Ferré, North Campus SGA President Hafeeza Rahman and College President Eduardo Padrón were on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

PREPARE TODAY TO LEAD FOR A LIFETIME. What do you need to succeed in today’s climate? You need to START STRONG.SM In Army ROTC, you’ll do just that. While attending college, you’ll gain strength, character, and unmatched leadership skills to lead the most well-trained individuals in any field. And when you graduate and complete Army ROTC, you can be commissioned as a U.S. Army Officer. Plus, to help pay for your education, you can earn a full-tuition, merit-based scholarship. ROTC will give you strength for a lifetime of success. There’s strong. Then there’s Army Strong. For more information, visit goarmy.com/rotc/startstrong.

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On Feb. 14 the North Campus inaugurated its state-of the art Aquatic and Fitness Center. The Center has a competition pool, a diving pool with an underwater observation pool, over 80 exercise machines, a locker room with showers and an aerobics room. The facility will serve as a Homeland Security training center. The facility is located in Building 500. The administration is still negotiating whether students and employees will be charged to use the facility and its hours of operations, and when it will open for students and employees. —Alexandra de Armas PHOTOS BY MARK PULASKI / THE REPORTER

A&E

FEB. 28, 2011

// A&E Mark Pulaski, A&E Editor //

T (305) 237-1254

B mark.pulaski001@mymdc.net Log on for exclusive online reviews of the comedies Just Go With It and Hall Pass.

THE REPORTER

Just Go With It stars Adam Sandler as a plastic surgeon who convinces his assistant—played by Jennifer Aniston—to pretend to be his soon to be ex-wife. —By Brittany Esquijarosa ———————————————————— Hall Pass is a comedy about a couple of buddies who get a week off from marriage in hopes of getting their sexual frustrations out. —By Mark Pulaski

DOG SEES GOD: PLAY REVIEW

Students Go Nuts In New Kendall Production

COURTESY OF ELECTRONIC ARTS

Horror In Space: Building upon the success of the original, Dead Space 2 adds a deeper storyline, a greater arsenal of weapons, and a brand new multi-player mode. DEAD SPACE 2: VIDEO GAME REVIEW

Survival Horror Game Sets Higher Standard For Franchise Building upon the success of the original, Dead Space 2 has a deeper storyline, a bigger arsenal of weapons, and a brand new multi-player mode.

By J.C. Urbina juancarlos.urbina001@mymdc.net In 2008, the world was introduced to what video game developer Glen Schofield described as “experiencing a terrif y ing and deeply personal fiction.” This was the sci-fi/survival horror thirdperson shooter Dead Space—a tale of 26th centur y spaceship system specialist Isaac Clarke battling grotesque extraterrestrials aboard an abandoned interstellar mining ship. After much carnage and psychological trauma, Isaac is back.

Dead Space 2 introduces Isaac to t he cit y of Sprawl—built on Tita n, one of Sat urn’s moons. Hav ing lost his memor y, Isaac relea r ns about a tower i ng a rtifact called the Marker. Aside from causing human insanity, the Marker’s infection can transform human corpses into monstrous “Necromorphs.” Isaac also discovers his role as the human species’ savior. With the help of various characters, Isaac prepares for the battle of his life. Dead Space 2 is played by strategically dismembering Necromorphs with a variety of weapons, such as the Plasma Cutter and the Ripper. Isaac can also use modules like “stasis” (to slow down time) and “kinesis” (to lift and fire objects) during combat. Another feature is Isaac’s abilit y to nav igate through zero-G env ironments. Failure to f ight off the Necromorphs often ends up with Isaac being gruesomely slaughtered in wonderf ul cinematic fashion. Dead Space 2 has all the elements of a superb horror stor y:

By Jessica Medina jessica.medina008@mymdc.net

a tormented protagonist, a terrifying atmosphere, and nonstop thrills. The player’s ner ves are never given a break since there’s always something waiting to rip you apart in every corner. As opposed to t he f irst Dead Space, Isaac Clarke is no longer faceless and voiceless. He’s also given a much deeper story as he fights his own guilt-ridden demons. Dead Space 2 ’s combat a nd multi-player are top-notch and make for a heart-pounding experience. The Necromorphs are scarier than ever and even the humans can be chilling. After inspiring two video game prequels, two animated movies, a comic book series, and a novel, both current and potential fans of the franchise won’t want to miss Dead Space 2—possibly the greatest addition to the series.

4.5 out of 5

Dead Space 2—Playstation 3, XBOX 360, Microsoft Windows —From Visceral Studios—Rated M

Under the direction of theatre veteran and off-Broadway performer Matthew Glass, the community was treated to a brilliant production—Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead— at the Kendall Campuses Studio Theater. The play ran through Feb. 27. With an uncanny resemblance to our favorite childhood gang, their white beagle, and a peculiar little yellow bird, Dog Sees God takes us down memory lane only to spring us forward once again. T he pl a y fol lo w s t he l i v e s of eig ht teenagers as t hey go through a difficult stage of self growth, taking us to the heart of high-school—stereotypes and all. The entire cast was far better than expected, fantastic even. Jaromir Garcia did a stellar job play ing sexually-conf used a nd socia l ly-tor n protagon ist CB, whose acronym can be safely assumed to be that of a familiar childhood TV character. A not her t r u ly outsta ndi ng per for ma nc e w a s t hat of A ngel Dom i ng uez por t ray i ng Beethoven, a classically-alienated music virtuoso who happens to be a homosex ua l. Dom i nguez—possibly my favorite actor in the play—lit up the stage and

stole the show, warming the audience’s heart with his tragic story. The antagonist, Matt, played by Richard Pizarro was another noteworthy performance. An actor playing such a cruel and ignorant antagonist should strive to evoke a key emotion from the audience: hate. By the end of the play, I loathed Pizarro for what he had done. Although Jacqueline Garcia— playing Van’s pyromaniac sister who happens to be in jail—rarely makes an appearance on stage, it was evident her stage-presence was remarkable. Garcia was bathed in a luminous glow t hat is usually only found in veteran actors. It would have been a pleasure to see her in more scenes. Sean Michael Haas, play ing Van, is more than believable as a teenage pothead, even when one considers he smokes the ashes of his blanket. Haas was not the only comic relief, Samantha Llanes as CB’s d ist ressed a nd ever-cha ng ing little sister, takes command of the stage with her eccentric personality. Rounding out the cast are Yonettsy Santos as the fierce Tricia York and A ndrea Lopez as t he intellectual Marcy, with decent performances from both. All in all, Dog Sees God was a great play. Dog sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead—Jaromir Garcia, Angel Dominguez, Andrea Lopez, Samantha Llanes, Yonettsy Stantos, Richard Pizarro, Sean Michael Haas, Jacqueline Garcia

UNKNOWN: FILM REVIEW

Nothing Is What It Seems In New Neeson Flick Liam Neeson loses his identity in this action packed thriller, featuring a complex and somewhat confusing plot.

By Laura Vargas laura.vargas003@mymdc.net Unknown, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan, House of Wax), is the latest thriller starring Academy Award-nominee Liam

Neeson (Schindler’s List, Batman Begins). After being in a car accident while on a business trip to Berlin, Dr. Martin Harris (Neeson) awakens from a coma to discover that his entire identity has been lost. His wife doesn’t recognize him, he has no form of identification, and random memories spark in and out of his mind. He is left alone, confused, and constantly chased by mysterious assassins. He partners up with a local girl, Gina (Diane Kruger), to get to the bottom of his ordeal. Even though the story develops in an interesting and intriguing manner; the way it unravels may leave the audience confused. The sudden twists that predominate

the film confound the senses and may defeat the entertaining purpose of the movie. Car crashes, high-speed chases, and fight scenes add some action; but most of them are very unrealistic. The special effects overall could have been taken to a higher level. Neeson’s character is reminiscent of his previously celebrated performance in the movie Taken. The supporting actor’s performances can only be described as flat and ordinary, making Neeson’s character the only strong force in the cast. On the positive side, the film fits well into the thriller genre and keeps the audience in anticipation. The pieces of the puzzle distrib-

uted throughout the film eventually come together—although with great difficulty—and make some sort of sense at the end. The total shift the film takes, and the discoveries Neeson’s character makes about himself and the characters, come as a great suprise. Despite some shortcomings, the film serves the audience with suspense, mystery, and emotion. Its perfect for a Friday night escape from reality.

3 out of 5

Unknown—Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones —1 hour 53 min—Rated PG-13

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COURTESY OF DARK CASTLE ENTERTAINMENT

Identity Crisis: Liam Neeson’s character wakes up from a coma to find that nothing in his life is quite how he remembered.

THE REPORTER

FEB. 28, 2011

——————————————— Tower Theatre Saturday, March 12, 2011—9:30 p.m.

Must-See Films At This Year’s Festival

MARK PULASKI / THE REPORTER

Celebration: The Gusman Center will be hosting many of the MIFF’s major events. Including the opening night celebration, career achievement tribute, and awards night wrap party.

TEXT: JESSICA MEDINA, MARK PULASKI —ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE PARTIES

The Whistleblower

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The Miami International Film Festival returns for it’s 28th year. This year’s festival features 100 films from around the world, as well as a series of seminars hosted by industry professionals. The following are our selections for must see films at the 2011 MIFF. For more info, visit MIAMIFILMFESTIVAL.COM

A&E

The true story of Kathryn Bolkovac—Nebraska cop turned U.N. peace keeper in post-war Bosnia— and her disturbing findings is brilliantly illustrated with a dazzling Oscar-winning cast featuring the likes of Rachel Weisz and Vanessa Redgrave. Larysa Kondracki makes her directorial debut with this astonishing drama about the sex trafficking scandal uncovered in Bosnia, the outing of fellow U.N. workers partaking in the sexual enslavement of young girls, and how the U.N. tried to keep it silent. An account of a very real, very cruel fact of today’s world is a sobering must watch in this year’s festival.

In a Better World

——————————————— Gusman Center Sunday, March 6, 2011—7:00 p.m. Cu r rent Osca r nom inee Susanne Bier directs another international hit, which happens to be the current Oscar contender for Best Foreign film. Already winning the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film, In a Better World probes the hardship of two young men, Elias and Christian, who

find refuge in each other’s pain. Christian—forced to move back to Denmark with his withdrawn father after his mother’s death— is silently grieving when he meets the perpetually bullied Elias—a fragile boy whose father is performing missionary work in Africa. They begin to channel their feelings of abandonment and betrayal in increasingly violent acts. Bier pushes t he envelope a nd brutally depicts the emotional destitution of a tragic youth.

Things Fall Apart

——————————————— Gusman Center Saturday, March 5, 2011—9:45 p.m.

Chico & Rita

——————————————— Gusman Center Friday, March 4, 2011— 7 p.m. For the first time in it’s 28-year history, the MIFF will be opening with an animated feature—Chico & Rita. The film follows the stories of Chico, an up-and-coming piano player, and his love-interest Rita,

a beautiful singer with a heavenly voice. Fueled by their love of music—and each other—the couple embark on a journey that spans across multiple continents and decades. Featuring a unique visual style and music from jazz legends Thelonious Monk, Cole Porter, Dizzy Gillespie and Freddy Cole; Chico & Rita promises to be a great way to kick off the 2011 MIFF.

R a p p e r/A c t o r C u r t i s “ 5 0 Cent” Jackson underwent a drast ic weig ht loss—shedd i ng 5 4 pounds— for his role as Deon Barnes, a cancer-stricken college football player with dreams of going pro. 50 Cent also co-produced and co-wrote the screenplay for the film. Directed by Mario Van Peebles and co-starring Ray Liotta, this drama will be making its world premiere at this year’s festival.

Beyond

——————————————— Regal South Beach Wednesday, March 9, 2011—9:45 p.m. Friday, March 11, 2011—9:30 p.m.

The Piano in a Factory

——————————————— Regal South Beach Friday, March 4, 2011—6:15 p.m. Saturday, March 5, 2011— 9:45 p.m. Mak ing its U.S. debut, Piano in a Factory is not only a tale of a fathers unwavering love for his daughter, but a comedic stor y of friendship and loyalty. Single father, Chen, struggles daily to take care of his daughter. His life becomes slightly more difficult when his estranged wife emerges not only asking for a divorce, but for custody of the single most precious thing he holds dear—his daughter. To solve the custody battle, the little girl declares that she will live w ith whoever can prov ide her a piano. Fac ed w it h t h i s c ha l lenge, Chen goes on a journey to acquire a piano before finally resolving to build his own out of scrap steel with help from a gang of misfits. The piano may not have classical sound, but Chen will surely play a melody of the heart.

Potiche

——————————————— Gusman Center Saturday, March 5, 2011—6:45 p.m. Potiche, starring Oscar nomine e s G e r a r d D e p a r d ie u a nd Catherine Deneuve, is a French comedy featuring a housew ife turned businesswoman coming to her husbands aid in his time of need. Deneuve is forced to take control of her husbands umbrella business after he suffers a nearfatal heart attack. She proves to be a popular and lovable boss, even with the mayor and union leader (Depa rd ieu). A heated battle of the sexes surfaces once her husband has a smooth recovery and wants to return to work. Will a 70’s era housewife conquer a stubborn chauvinist? Check out Potiche to find out.

Mamma Gogo

——————————————— Regal South Beach Friday, March 11, 2011—6:15 p.m. Sunday, March 13, 2011—7:00 p.m. A semi-autobiographical, humor ou s , a nd c om p a s s ion at e jou r ney of a n Icela nd ic f i l mmakers experience as his charismatic and quick-witted mother, Mamma Gogo, descends into the treacherous disease that is Alzheimers. Fridrik Thor Fridriksson portrays an unstable period in his own life, when his film Children of Nature flopped in theatres and his last salvation was its nod from the Oscars. The uncertainty of his public life mirrored that of his private life as Mamma Gogo lost her sanity before his very eyes.

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British Academy of Film and Television Arts award nominee Noom i Rapace (Girl w ith th e Dragon Tattoo) plays Leena, a young mother of two whose abusive childhood comes knocking at her doorstep, or better said, ringing through her telephone. After receiving a phone call from her hometown’s hospital about her alcoholic mother’s severe illness, Leena is faced with a life-altering decision. Going back and reopening deeply rooted wounds is a painful process, but is it worth the healing and retribution?

Incendies

——————————————— Gusman Center Saturday, March 12, 2011—7:00 p.m. In c en di e s —cur rent ly nom inated for an Oscar—is the fictional tale of Arab-Canadian twins Simon and Jeanne and their quest to unravel the secrets kept by their mother. After her death, they embark on a voyage to the Middle East to find that their father who they thought was dead, is actually alive. They also discover a brother they did not know existed. A compelling plot adapted from Wajdi Mouawads play of the same name, is sure to deliver a memorable cinematic experience.

THE REPORTER

FEB. 28, 2011

SPORTS

T (305) 237-1254

New Bat Regulations Aim To Improve Safety, Performance

B hector.gonzalez012@mymdc.net

The National Collegiate Athletic Association has set new bat standards for college baseball this season. By Hector Gonzalez hector.gonzalez012@mymdc.net

GREGORY CASTILLO / THE REPORTER

Rocky Start: Coming off a championship winning season, the sharks have started with a dissapointing record. LADY SHARKS SOFTBALL

Lady Sharks Face Unfamiliar Grounds Early In The Season Miami Dade College women’s softball team, the defending 2010 national champions have run into early trouble and are off to a 7-9 start. By Maloha Acevedo maloha.acevedo001@mymdc.net The Miami Dade College women’s softball team (7-9) is off to a rocky start, a year after capturing the 2010 national championship. With the loss of players like pitcher Erika Bennett, who was 26-2 last year, the MDC softball team is counting heavily on younger players this year. “Sometimes when you lose games you can learn and benefit from them,” Lady Sharks Head

Coach Carlos Caro said. “This game is about failure and how you deal with it. We are really young and most of the time we have seven freshmen on the field.” Last year’s team sported a .359 batting average; this year’s squad has a .313 batting average. Freshman outfielder Cynthia Takahashi leads the team with 12 RBI followed by sophomore outfielder Veronika Fukunishi, who has 11 RBI. But power has been an issue. Sophomore first baseman Kristen Exposito provided the power hitting with 12 home runs last year. This year, she has yet to hit a home run. Freshman pitcher Rachel Meagley, like many of her team-

mates, said she feels the pressure of being the defending national champion. “I was really nervous because I know how much these games mean,” Meagley said. “Mainly it was because of last year’s record and always having to outscore our opponents.” The team has also dealt with several close defeats. On two occasions, the losses were a result of walk-off home runs in the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs, Caro said. Fukunishi, the team captain, said everyone must contribute for the team to turn things around. “It’s not just me, they are nine players,” Fukunishi said. “I need eight more to play.”

College baseball and softball players hope to slug home runs might be in for a disappointment this year. The National Collegiate Athletic Association has set new bat standards that became effective Jan. 1. In a memo sent by the NCAA to all athletics directors, conference commissioners and head coaches throughout the nation including Miami Dade College, the new bats must meet the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution rating of 0.5. Unlike the wooden bats used by Major League Baseball, bats at the collegiate and high school levels were typically aluminum, metal and composite, but the new bats are being manufactured to generate the same batted ball speed as wooden bats. The NCAA must approve all bats before they can be allowed for use in competition. Cameron Schuh, the associate director for public and media relations for the NCAA said in a statement via e-mail that the new rule would allow the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee and battesting labs to better predict field performance. “The goal is for non-wood bats to meet the new bat testing standard to perform similarly to wood bats,” Schuh said. “The new formula provides a better measure of a bat’s performance.” The new regulations could also reduce on-field injuries due to balls

GREGORY CASTILLO/THE REPORTER

Schedule

Men's Basketball ————————————————————

Women's Basketball ————————————————————

02/09-02/22 FCCAA Southern Conference Games vs Palm Beach State College @ Lake Worth, Fla., 76-94, loss vs Brevard Community College @ Titusville,Fla., 76-90, loss vs Broward College @ Davie, Fla., 107-92, loss vs Brevard Community College, 90-93 ( 3 OT), loss vs Broward College, 94-91 (3 OT), win vs Brevard Community College @ Titusville, Fla., 70-76, loss SEASON ENDS

02/09-02/22 FCCAA Southern Conference Games vs Palm Beach State College, postponed vs Brevard Community College @ Melbourne,Fla., 79-74, win vs Indian River State College, 63-79, loss vs Brevard Community College., 71-64, win BREVARD WIN EARNED BERTH IN STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

03/02-03/05 FCCAA State Championship, Marianna, Fla. vs Santa Fe College, First Round vs TBA vs TBA

MDC MEN'S BASKETBALL: 21-11, as of 02/25/2011 7-5 in Southern Conference

Men's Softball ————————————————————

Takedown: (Above) Moises Paulino takes down a student during a judo class at Miami Dade College’s North Campus. The non-credit class is taught by professor Jack Williams, a seventh dan (black belt). The class was first offered at the North Campus in the early 1960s.

coming off bats at a high rate of speed. One such incident involved 16-year-old Gunnar Sandberg, a Marin Catholic High School pitcher from California, who was hit in the head during a scrimmage last March. Doctors had to remove part of Sandberg’s skull to reduce brain swelling. He was in a medically-induced coma for two weeks. At MDC, the new rules are being greeted differently by the baseball and softball teams. “They are giving us a headache because before games we are given these long lists of approved bats to look at,” Head Softball Coach Carlos Caro said. “The problem with that is after it goes through the umpires, anybody can change them without us knowing.” Last year the Lady Sharks hit 38 home runs. This year, through 12 games played they have managed just three home runs “I think it kind of hit me good,” Head Baseball Coach Danny Price said. “It kind of reflects how baseball should be played which is pitching and defense.” A pitching duel is the kind of thing sophomore pitcher Derek Law doesn’t mind hearing. Law said that compared to last year, baseballs aren’t jumping off bats nearly as much as now. “It’s a great thing for our pitchers,” Law said. However, everyone agrees that safety is paramount. “It is imperative to note that the student-athlete safety and well being is of the utmost concern for the NCAA,” Schuh said. “That’s one of the core principles the NCAA is founded upon.”

Batters Up: NCAA has issued new bat standards regulations, taking effect Jan. 1, 2011.

Scoreboard

AKEEM BRUNSON / THE REPORTER

NCAA BAT REGULATION

// SPORTS Hector Gonzalez, Sports Editor //

02/13 South Florida College, Avon Park, Fla. Game 1: 1-0, win—Game 2 : 7-8, loss 02/15 St. Thomas @ St. Thomas, 8-1, win 02/16 St. Thomas JV, 8-0, win 02/19 Seminole State College of Florida @ Sanford, Fla. Game 1: 2-4, loss Game 2: 5-6, loss MDC MEN'S BASEBALL: 10-4, as of 02/25/2011

MDC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: 12-14, as of 02/25/2011 6-3 in Southern Conference

Men's Baseball ———————————————————— 02/23 Northwood JV 02/25 -02/27 Chipola College ( Double Header), Marianna, Fla. 03/01-03/02 MercyHust North East 03/04-03/05 Brevard Community College @ Melbourne, Fla. 03/06 St. Clair Community College ( Double Header)

Women's Softball ———————————————————— 02/12 State College of Florida Tournament, Brandenton,FLA vs Santa Fe College, 2-1, win vs Palm Beach State College, 6-1, win vs St.Petersburg State College @ Clearwater, Fla. Game 1: 12-6, win Game 2 : 5-6, loss 02/18-02/20 Georgia Perimeter Invitational @ Covington, Ga. vs Spartanburg College, South Carolina, 6-5, win vs Tallahassee Community College, 3-6, loss vs Wallace State Community College-Hanceville, Ala., 1-3, loss vs Georgia Perimeter, 0-2, loss MDC WOMEN'S SOFTBALL: 7-9, as of 02/25/2011

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Women's Softball ———————————————————— 02/25 Daytona State College ( Double Header) 02/27 State College of Florida ( Double Header) 03/04-03/06 NFCA Lead Off Classic, Panama City, Fla. 03/09 Palm Beach State College ( Double Header) 03/12 Brevard Community College ( Double Header) 03/19 Indian River State College (Double Header)

THE REPORTER

FEB. 28, 2011

SPORTS

MENS AND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Going & Gone THE LADY SHARKS EXTENDED THEIR SEASON into March with a birth in the FCCAA tournament, after going on a hot streak in the southern conference playoffs. After 3 games in 4 days, 6 overtime periods and 2 losses by a combined 10 points the MDC Men’s basketball Season came to a close with a playoff loss to Brevard. —Photos and text by Gregory Castillo 1

Floating Up: Sharks forward Kendal Jennings hits a floater over opponents from Brevard College during the end of regulation. The Sharks lost their regular season closer, 93-90, in triple overtime, at Kendall Campus on Feb. 19.

Acrobatic Endeavor: Sharks guard Xavier Munford drives to the rim for a layup attempt against a defender from Brevard Community College. The Sharks went on to lose to Brevard again, on Feb. 22, to end their season in a southern Conference playoff game at Brevard.

Driving Past: Lady Sharks forward Smiljana Cuk drives against an opponent from Indian River Community College. The Lady Sharks lost their regular season closer, 79-63, on Feb. 19, at Kendall Campus, but will extend their season into March during the FCCAA state tournament from March 2 to 5.

Making Way: Lady Sharks forward Ashley Wilkes drives against a defender from Indian River Community College, on Feb. 19, at Kendall Campus. After beating Brevard Community College in a playoff game, on Feb. 22, the Lady Sharks secured a birth in the FCCAA tournament. The tournament will be from March 2 to 5 in Marianna, Fla.

Put Back: Sharks forward Kendal Jennings dunks over opponents from Brevard Community College. The Sharks lost their regular season closer, 93-90, in triple overtime, at Kendall Campus on Feb. 19.

Up And Over: Sharks guard Kandis Frederick attempts a layup over a defender from Indiana River Community College. The team will take their talents to Marianna, Fla from March 2 to 5 for the FCCAA state tournament.

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THE REPORTER

FEB. 28, 2011

FORUM

NATIONAL POLITICS

Playing The Presidential Blame Game ILLUSTRATIONS BY MANUEL PALOU

Examining the double standard Americans hold toward commanders-in-chief.

Social Networking And Its Impact THE RECENT ABDICATION of the Egyptian presidency resulted from the country’s outcry for reform and desperate change. The facts are plastered on any news channel right now. These organized protests became possible through social networking and are symptoms of the Internet’s still unclear and rapid evolution. Social Networking has become a prime part of our generation, even simple human interaction is being out-sourced. Unfortunately, we are doomed to the likes of Facebook as we will not be able to step back from such an evolution of media anytime soon. My suggestion for the future: think organic and hoard ammo.

By Rafael Tur rafael.tur001@mymdc.net LAST NOVEMBER, American voters hit the voting booths and delivered a crippling and historic shellacking (in President Barack Obama’s words) to the president and his party. American voters re-elected Republican senators across the nation, letting our commander-in-chief know that his policies were not in America’s best interest. Surely total control of the House and Senate would have been enough for Obama to operate as the Robin Hood he claimed to be without any ridicule. But in a time of recession and war, Obama has failed to recognize the losses Americans suffer each day. A ridiculous eight-year-long presidential spending spree, among other things, has wounded our rightful way of life, constantly putting our country’s future at stake. We have blamed former President

Quickfire

ADRIAN CARDONA / THE REPORTER

George W. Bush for two years, but Obama has only escalated the government spending spree by adding $4 trillion to the nation’s deficit and another $1.5 trillion in the year 2011 alone, in comparison to Bush’s $10 trillion spending deficit. Even though former President Bill Clinton handed Bush a surplus deficit, Obama spends four times as much as Bush; and the extension of unemployment and welfare along with the monstrous health care reform is sure to add higher numbers into the sum.

Make no mistake, if the unemployment rate was at 4% and my part-time job paid my rent, then I would thank Obama. But that is not the case. Americans are finding themselves in the same piggy bank we were in when Bush was in office. Much of media has focused on blaming the state of affairs on Bush but I believe that it’s time hold Obama accountable for his own negligence and disconnect from the American people. The loss of power in his cabinet from November’s election is a realization of this.

—Rafael Tur

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Reporter’s Abuse In Rebeling Egypt ON FEB. 11, the day Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down during a celebration in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, a journalist was attacked and sexually assaulted by a mob of people, making her another victim of the chaos that has taken hold of Egypt. The reporter is CBS chief foreign correspondent Lara Logan. It is a sad day when someone who is simply doing their job is brutalized. Logan, reporting on the protest, was made a victim. It only goes to show the current, barbaric state of the world, where someone who is doing their job is attacked as if they were part of the problem. World, I am unimpressed. —Rachel Rosenberg

THE REPORTER

FEB. 28, 2011

FORUM

// FORUM Mark Pulaski, Interim Forum Editor //

T (305) 237-1254

Vox Populi VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

B mark.pulaski001@mymdc.net

Do you think the recent events in Egypt will influence other countries facing similar problems? —By Reporter staff

Student Voices Find out how MDC students think the protests in Egypt will influence the rest of the world.

“I think it’s a big shift in the way the world is erupting. I guess it’s mostly because of the widely available media information there is being flooded around the world. It’s going to let people get more involved in ways to better their lives.”

“I think it’s about time that democracy has finally spread to Egypt after all this time of having a dictator in power. It’s about time that they’re finally starting to see the light. Yemen and Egypt were the first to blow and then everything else will just fall in place, and all these other countries will finally start to rebel against their oppressors.”

“I think it might cause another war because it’s going to put other countries against each other and it’s going to put people on different sides and eventually it’s just going to get out of control. I mean, Libya is also going through the same stuff so eventually it’s just going to get crazy.”

“I think Egypt is the starting point for a peaceful, organized, youthful revolution as we are seeing. I think it’s a really amazing movement for democracy and the freedom to rebel and fight for everybody’s rights.”

“I think it might inspire some more Democratic reform or something. Look at whats happening in other parts of Africa in other countries like Libya and Tunisia; these things happened even before Egypt.”

Tony Kimenyi, 24, finance

Leonardo Gordo, 23, business administration

Nicolas Roldan, 19, nursing

Gabriel Giganti, 21, political Science

Alberto Alvarez,18, pre-law

The Reporter is the free biweekly student newspaper at Miami Dade College. All content is produced by MDC students. The opinions in this newspaper do not necessarily represent those of the administration, faculty, or the student body.

Editorial Board Monique O. Madan Editor-in-Chief Alexandra de Armas North Campus Bureau Chief Gregory Castillo Kendall Campus Bureau Chief Lazaro Gamio Interim Wolfson Campus Bureau Chief Monica Suarez Briefing Editor Mark Pulaski A&E Editor, Interim Forum Editor Hector Gonzalez Sports Editor Anna Carabeo Multimedia Editor

Art Department Lazaro Gamio Art Director Akeem Brunson Multimedia Producer Manuel Palou Deputy Art Director

Issue Staff Maloha Acevedo, Melissa Adan, Isabelle Anadon, Brittany Esquijarosa, Keith Gonzalez, Saeli Gutierrez, Yesenia Iglesias, Monica Kelly, Vanessa Martinas, Julie McConnell, Jessica Medina, Andrea Orellana, Marvin Pineda, Jose Prado, Kirsten Rincon, Rachel Rosenberg, Crizalida Suero, Rafeal Tur, J.C Urbina, Laura Vargas

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Chasing The Pursuit Of Knowledge How the childhood sentiment of “following your dreams” has regressed into “following a job.”

By Andrea Orellana andrea.orellana001@mymdc.net WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I wanted to be a psychologist. I thought ink blots looked funny and I enjoyed the idea of hearing what others thought about all day long. Later on, I decided I wanted to be a psychologist-teacher hybrid because I watched that movie Matilda where the girl with the telekinesis has a teacher with a name as sweet as she: Ms. Honey. I dropped the idea when I realized I’d have to actually work with kids and went back to dreaming of a career in social sciences. One day, though, well into my teens and long after my grade school musings, I thought, maybe I should

not be chasing a job, but a life. “What are you studying now?” “What will you study next?” “Where are you transferring?” “What colleges have you applied to?” The worst part of being a second year student at a two-year college is being a second year student at a two-year college; if only because I have to endure these questions on a daily basis. Two years ago when we graduated from high school, the onlookers in our lives assumed it was the perfect time to pounce; to ask for the first instance in our young years, “So, like, what are you going to do now?” It’s only natural that they’d ask. Graduating from high school is a rite of passage, after all, just another ceremonious hymen-breaking of sorts (except that it’s set to the tune of Pomp and Circumstance, a.k.a. the only song graduation bands ever know.) W hen you decide you’ll be a transfer student, a second round of interrogation is expected. Too bad these hemorrhage-inducing questions are designed to expect only certain answers. In terms of average yearly incomes, statistics say that having an associate’s degree is the same thing as having nothing but a

high school diploma. It seems that having an associate’s degree is only seen as a stepping stone and therein lays the issue. Having an associates degree is not just two years into getting a bachelors. It’s two years worth of classes taken and knowledge gained. Getting an education in this day and age only means you’re on your way to chasing a good job; valuing an education for education’s sake is an antiquated perspective in a time where having money is all anyone aspires for. We know without a doubt that knowledge, like the terrible cliché goes, is power. But the only form of power students are taught to acknowledge is the kind that comes from a bi-weekly company check and a soul-killing daily work routine. And that’s no way to a fulfilling life; maybe a rich life, maybe a life

“...I thought, maybe I should not be chasing a job, but a life.”

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of status in the community, multiple assets to your name and power in the markets but who wants that? (What side am I arguing again?) The objective of going to school should not be so that you are able to add a few lines of credibility to your resumé but to simply become educated. Education is a privilege and that no one ever sees it that way is a travesty to our depth as a society. Education is only seen as the means through which we may hope to acquire what the American standard deems significant: a pretty house, a respectable job with perks, a bank account the ladies will fawn over. Despite all the different ways people have asked the question, “what now?” upon hearing that I am approaching my final semester at Dade, I am not any closer to knowing the answer. I am not chasing my career. I’m not dreaming of a 401k. I just aspire to be happy. For now, I imitate the responses I’ve heard others use, even when I know the only thing I plan on doing once I take off the toga is to ditch the heels on the way to the car, degree in hand.

Gregory Torrales gregoryj.torrales001@mymdc.net (786) 237-8414

Letters to the Editor The Reporter welcomes letters to the editor. All submissions should be 300 words or less and must be typed. Writers must include their full name, contact number, campus, student number, and e-mail address. Faculty and staff should include the title, department, and extension. All letters are subject to editing for purposes of brevity and clarity. Letters can be sent via e-mail to mdc.thereporter@gmail.com, with the subject “letter to the editor.”

Bureaus North Campus Bureau 11380 NW 27th Ave. Room 4209 Miami, FL 33167 (305) 237-1254 Kendall Campus Bureau 11011 SW 104th St. Room M239 Miami, FL 33176 (305) 237-2157 Wolfson Campus Bureau 300 NE Second Ave. Suite 1610 Miami, FL 33132 (305) 237-3368

Manolo Barco Media Adviser mbarco@mdc.edu (305) 237-1255 (305) 237-2323 (305) 237-3477

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