Opinion:
Entertainment:
Hit shows dance their way to the television screen
Features:
Presidential candidates continue to beat around the bush
Cultural del Lobo arrives at MDC in October
Voting can change the fate of the United States
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THE FALCON TIMES THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MIAMI DADE COLLEGE NORTH CAMPUS SINCE 1961 THEFALCONTIMES@HOTMAIL.COM
OCTOBER 15, 2008
VOLUME 46, ISSUE 4
Elections in the hands of students
North Campus ready to weather the storm Yamel Lora Staff Writer
Time is ticking. In only a matter of weeks, the next president of the United States will be chosen. But this decision lies in the hands of the country to vote for the most appropriate candidate. According to Young Democrats of America, by the year 2015 the young population will make up one third of the electorate. But in order to make this happen, students need to start now. One organization available to Miami Dade College students is Generation Engage, a non-profit and non-partisan organization that gets young people involved in politics and voting.
GO TO ELECTIONS , PAGE 2
Initiative may lower legal drinking age Theodore Karantsalis Staff Writer
Rachel Santos/Falcon Staff
Being called “one of the major achievements of the North Campus this year” by meteorology professor Dr. Arturo Rodriguez, a new weather station has just been opened on campus on top of building one. The weather station, installed by national weather network WeatherBug, provides the campus and South Florida with atmospheric information as the humidity, pressure, temperature, heat index, dew point, sunrise, and moon phases, to name a few. The station was acquired in the summer term, but officially started functioning this fall. The instruments and equipment of the facility make observations of atmospheric conditions in order to provide information to make weather forecasts and to study the weather and climate. The station provides live feeds of local weather conditions to CBS channel 4. Science professor Michael Boulos said the weather station brings an essential tool to not only the meteorology, oceanography and geology students, but also everyone else on campus whoʼs interested in the weather conditions. “We donʼt realize how much we use the weather information on our daily basis,” said Boulos. The station provides the campus a daily weather report that is
accessible online at “www.mdc. edu/north,” and then clicking on “weather at north.” The Web site was created following the format of the U.S. Congress Country Club weather Web site. It also has a webcam that makes observations of the sky. The weather station was an idea of Rodriguez himself, who thought it would be “a complement to the studentʼs learning experience.” The idea of the weather station was presented to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and they provided the school with a grant to begin the project. The grant also funded the trip of Rodriguez and four of his students to the 88th Annual Meeting Of the American Meteorological Association (AMS) in January 2008 at New Orleans, Louisiana. Another addition to the project is to install monitor screens around campus that will provide weather information at all times, as well as weather alerts. “The weather has a great influence at the time we are planning our schedules,” said Boulos. Some of the future plans for the station include opening a weather club in the spring semester. “I think a weather club will be a great opportunity for us to get involved and to gain more knowledge on the atmosphere, environment and weather.” Said Nayvis Lopez, an elementary education and child psychology major. “I honestly canʼt wait to see more of this.”
Belkis Perez Staff Writer
TODAY’S FORECAST: MDC’s new weather station is located at the top of building one at the North Campus.
A group of 130 college presidents from schools like Duke, Dartmouth, and Johns Hopkins universities, are supporting the Amethyst Initiative, an effort to lower the legal drinking age to 18. Supporters say the initiative will help curb binge drinking and overindulgent drinkinig among young people. The initiative can be broken down into two main issues. First, supporters say that setting the drinking age at twenty-one, doesnʼt work. According to the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, states that set the drinking age below twenty-one are subject to a 10 percent penalty: This amount is subtracted from any federal highway appropriations.
GO TO DRINKING , PAGE 3
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October 15, 2008
NEWS
Club Rush helps students get involved on campus ʻItʼs a great opportunity to see what your school providesʼ Titiana McMurray Staff Writer Hundreds of North Campus students participated in Club Rush earlier this month. The purpose of Club Rush is for students to gain information about the college and become involved with different organizations. It gives organizations the
opportunity to market themselves, practice their communication, time management, and recruiting skills. The 15 student organizations that participated included Tropical Beat, History Club, International Language Club, Student Government Association, Phi Theta Kappa, The Falcon Times, Phi Beta Lambda, Business Club, Biology Club, Axis Magazine,
Anahi Cortada/Falcon Staff STUDENT PARTICIPATION: Club members and students interact during Club Rush on Oct. 8.
Anime, and Haitian IBO Club. “Club Rush is very important to MDC students because they get the opportunity to see clubs all at once,” said PTK vice president of scholarships and international relations major Veronica Correa. Each organization had at least six active members at their table with applications and items to recruit members. During the event, hot dogs, ice cream, popcorn, and sodas were served to students. Students were provided Amendment 8 buttons and were able to make their own candles at the candle making booth. “Itʼs a great opportunity to see what your school provides. Itʼs great to join clubs when you transfer so the college can see your involvement,” said student organization coordinator of the Student Life department Evelyn Rodriguez. “Club Rush is a part of making sure students have a memory, helps students belong to an organization, make friends, and it serves the campus better.” “I enjoy seeing students come, getting involved, and making a difference instead of going home after class,” said SGA public relations director Juliette Llado. “Club Rush is a beneficial event and itʼs worth it.” The event also gives new and returning students the opportunities to see the different clubs on campus. “Some organizations travel, receive training they normally will not receive in a class, network with people from other states, and participate in community service,” said Rodriguez. Sry Florencio, International Language Club President, said
Anahi Cortada/Falcon Staff CANDLE CRAZE: Students were able to make their own candles made out of sand during Club Rush.
the event is interesting because people of different cultures can share and be apart of this beautiful activity. Paul Marsh, a business
administration major, said he also benefited from the event. “Club Rush was a success because I learned about each club,” Marsh said.
Young generation has opportunities of getting involved Generation Engage and Students Working for Equal Rights among these groups FROM ELECTIONS, FRONT PAGE Ali Ingersoll, South Florida Director of Generation Engage, said a good way for students to get involved with the election is by talking with others. “Create a conversation or group and discuss the upcoming issues in the election so they can become more informed voters,” said Ingersoll. Students involved with this organization have the opportunity to speak to elected officials one on one. This organization uses i-Chat technology, which allows students to have video conferences with high ranking leaders. Also, Generation Engage gives students the chance to get involved in the community at the local level in order to affect change. “Generation Engage aims to keep young people politically active year round,” Ingersoll said. Many students feel that it is difficult to get involved with these organizations
“Raul taught me that the truth can exist in politics and words can be equivalent to actions.” - MDC North alumni Stephanie Lugo
because time is limited with school. “Iʼm not involved because I donʼt have the time,” psychology major Demara Kelly said. “But if I could I honestly would.” Studentsʼ Working for Equal Rights (S.W.E.R.) is another organization available to students. This organization dedicates itself to getting students involved in areas such as immigrant and education rights, as well as fighting for disenfranchised communities. This activist group has
involved themselves in the upcoming election by setting up a campaign known as “Vote For Me.” Through this campaign, they aspire to register 1,000 people to vote for the upcoming election while mobilizing 3,000 people to vote. “We already have exceeded our number of registrations by 121 more than our goal,” said Diana De La Rosa, director of the “Vote for Me” campaign at the North Campus.
There are other ways students can get involved outside of school. For instance, being a poll worker during elections, or just taking part in a candidateʼs campaign. Stephanie Lugo, the Hialeah field organizer for Raul Martinezʼs campaign and MDC alumni, is one of these students. Lugo went from being an unpaid intern to an employee for the Raul Martinez campaign. Lugo said students need “to be hard working, polite, and professional.” She added that by taking part in this campaign the volunteers enhance their networking skills, build their resumes, take part in service learning, and get event planning experience. “Raul taught me that the truth can exist in politics and words can be equivalent to actions,” Lugo said. Students can also become informed of the elections and vote to make a difference. “By voting, I will contribute,” nursing major Jeremie Desrosiers said. “Every voice counts.”
October 15, 2008
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NEWS
College receives more donated sculptures Shelby Contreras Staff Writer A total of 79 art pieces, with a price of nearly $2 million, have recently been donated to the North Campus. The art pieces, 34 of them being sculptures, can be found on campus throughout the sculpture park, buildings six, two, and five. The new batch of sculptures are mostly figure sculptures, whereas the prior sculpture donations were more geometric. “It is wonderful,” said dean of administration Cristina Mateo. The sculptures were donated by various artists including Mario Felipe Almaguer, Rafael Consuegra, and William King, but the primary donator was Alfredo Halegua. Halegua is an innovative sculptor and master woodcarver who lives in Washington D.C. with his wife, and has previously donated sculptures to the North Campus in 2007. All the sculptures were made of different materials, including steel and wood.
Laura C. Morel/Falcon Staff
Laura C. Morel/Falcon Staff
SCULPTURES: Some of the 79 art pieces donated to the North Campus will be placed in the entrance of building two.
Tamika Mompremier, a prebachelor of arts major, likes the design of the artwork. “I find the new sculptures to be very eccentric and bring a new “dark” flavor to the scenery of North Campus,” she said. The date of the second phase
art donation inauguration has yet to be set because administration is waiting for the contractors to finish setting up the art pieces. The first phase inauguration took place in February 2007. “The sculptures are really nice,” said political science major
College presidents unite to lower legal drinking age FROM DRINKING, FRONT PAGE
Second, supporters argue that students aged 20-and-under can join the military, vote, and legally bind a contract. But they canʼt legally drink alcohol. From coast-tocoast, through the initiative, college leaders are rethinking the drinking age. Supporters say that the federal minimum drinking age contributes to our countryʼs binge-drinking epidemic. “This is not a college vs. university issue,” said Richard H. Brodhead, president of Duke University. “It affects any school with an undergraduate population.” Supporters say that students will be less tempted to over-indulge with alcohol if the drinking age is lowered to 18. “Itʼs a good idea,” said Anthony Bell, 24, a student at the Carrie P. Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center. “Teenagers are out of control with that stuff.” On the radio, students hear namechecked products in the lyrics. For example, Usher sings, “take a shot of this here Patron and itʼs gonna be on.” Jay-Z sings,” You canʼt even drink Cristall on this one. You gotta drink Crist all.” “I was a cop for twenty-years,” said Glenn Rice, a funeral sciences major. “If you let these kids drink at 18, youʼd better get the body bags ready.” Supporters of the initiative say that itʼs the prohibitions – the laws on the books – that promote over-indulgence. By treating college students like adults, supporters believe they will make more responsible decisions. “Setting the legal age at which people may purchase and consume alcohol at age 18 simply makes good sense,” said L. Baird Tipson, president of Washington College.
“Whether we like it or not, alcohol is part of student socializing.” The opposition says the initiative will needlessly cost lives. “It is a terrible idea,” said University of Miami president Donna Shalala. “Current law saves at least a thousand lives a year.” A nationally renowned personal injury attorney also opposes the initiative. “Alcohol is a dangerous and addictive drug,” said Spencer Aronfeld, 43, a board certified trial lawyer in Coral Gables. “In the hands of kids in the emotionally charged environment of college campuses is a recipe for disaster.” Bill Durden, president of Dickinson College, who helped draft the initiativeʼs statement, says itʼs a call to engage in a national conversation. “Has it worked? Is it working?” asked Durden, as he reflected on the governmentʼs decision to set the legal drinking age at 21 more than two decades ago. Mark G. Yudof, president of the University of California, is against the proposal. “The chancellors and I are not persuaded at this time that enabling legal alcohol use by those aged 18 to 20 years is the correct solution,” said Yudof. As the initiative seeks to promote a national debate to lower the drinking age, one college leader seeks common ground amidst the bifurcated haze. “I am truly torn on this issue,” said Dr. Jose Vicente, president of Miami Dade Collegeʼs North Campus. “We expect students to be adults at age 18.” Vicente said that our society places serious demands on students when they reach 18 that include “serving in the military.” But he still said he is concerned about traffic fatalities and the corresponding link to alcohol consumption. “Itʼs important to educate students about their values,” said Vicente.
Diana de la Rosa. “I just think the campus should take better care of them.” According to Mateo, there is a huge possibility that even more artwork will be donated to the North Campus. “I think because we have a
sculpture park here on campus that it attracts artists,” said Mateo. Jessica Alonso, a biology major, said she wants to see the new art pieces around campus. “Iʼm looking forward to seeing the new art pieces,” she said.
In Short...
By Laura C. Morel Editor in Chief
Nursing future brightens with Mitchell Wolfson Sr. donation Miami Dade College received a donation from the Mitchell Wolfson Sr. Foundation of $11 million to address the nursing shortage. The money will help create 600 new nursing jobs in the following four years. It will help develop
student scholarships, technology development, and prepare students for their licensure exam. The foundation has donated $90 million to MDC, resulting in nearly 145,000 scholarships that were created from the funds.
North Campus’ SGA to begin collecting cans for food drive The North Campusʼ Student Government Association is now accepting canned food throughout October at the Student Life
department, Room 4208. For more information, contact the Student Life department at (305) 2371250.
Pearson Publishing launches Website where students may get published Pearson Publishing has launched a new website called Sparrow, where students can submit artwork and photography for publication in their products. Students who send submissions will automatically receive a 25 percent discount off of their Pearson textbooks and other products. If their work is chosen for
publication, the students will receive a free copy of the product they were published in. Pearson has also opened a contest to find a logo for Sparrow. The winner will receive $250. For more information, visit “pearsonstudents.com” or e-mail your questions to studentrelations@pearson.com.
w e i v e pap ers R
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The downfall and uprising of T.I.’s Paper Trail Emerson Fertil Music Review
T.I.ʼs Paper Trail Ever since Clifford Harris, Jr. came out with his hit single “Whatever You Like” on July 29, people have been anticipating his next album release. On September 30, 2008, Harris (also known as “T.I.”) delivered to his fansʼ requests with Paper Trail. T.I. had a rough road while creating this record due to the fact of pleading guilty to U.S. federal weapons charges after the 2007 BET Hip-Hop Awards. During his time on house arrest, the inspiration for the title soundtrack came when T.I. started composing lyrics on pieces of paper, thus naming the album Paper Trail. With songs like “Swagga Like Us,” “Live Your Life,” and the Billboard Top 100 chart hit “Whatever You Like,” T.I. has all radio stations and underground stations playing his latest musical compositions repeatedly. Rumor even has it that Paper Trail might be dubbed as “Hip-Hop Album of the Year,” surpassing the likes of Trilla (Rick Ross), Tha Carter III (Lilʼ Wayne, and The Recession (Young Jeezy). T.I.ʼs latest musical collection Paper Trail is the best album next to Young Jeezyʼs The Recession. This record is a must-own for all hip-hop lovers and it will make all T.I. haters come into his fanbase. So letʼs all enjoy his new sounds from his most recent composition; we will never know when the next time we will hear T.I.ʼs music again.
Provided by 24hourhiphop.com
ENTERTAINMENT
October 15, 2008
Hit shows dance on the T.V. screen Veronica Nuñez Staff Writer Whatʼs keeping people today on the edge of their couch when watching television? Is it an intense, dramatic show that people reveal the truth about their deepest secrets publicly, or a twisted medical show? According to Nielsen ratings, Dancing with the Stars seems to be at the top primetime television. Nielsen estimated about 21.338 million viewers tuned in for Dancing with the Stars this past week. Whether it is a fierce NFL football player sweeping the dance floor gracefully or an old, respected actress strutting her stuff, Dancing with the Stars always gets the viewersʼ attention. Entering its seventh season, 13 new celebrities from all walks of pop culture will get the chance to show America how they can dominate the dance floor. ABC believes this season will keep viewersʼ eyes glued to the television because of its variety of competitors this time around, ranging from the young of age to the oldest living beings. Dancing with the Stars airs on ABC on Mondays at 8 p.m. Adding to the charts, Greyʼs Anatomy is ranking just under
Dancing with the Stars with 18.469 million viewers. ABC is at the top of the game with two of its shows being in the top two on Nielsenʼs ratings. Currently in its fifth season, the Seattle Grace Hospital in Seattle, Washington has all the high school drama that one could ask for, even though these are adults who graduated with doctorate degrees. Can the fact that these staged surgeons facing the same life problems as your typical average Joe be the main attraction to this television program? Although these two shows are viewed by the American public; North Campus students seem to have other favorites as well. Julio Rodriguez, criminal justice major, said that Family Guy on Fox Sundays is his favorite show. This cartoon series starring the Griffin family makes humorous and sometimes offensive jokes about politics, modern culture, and family values which will stir interest and controversy among the viewers nationwide. “[Family Guy] is entertaining to watch because of its humorous approach to popular culture,” Rodriguez said. “Also, it is ironic in itʼs portrayal of family values.” Straying from the cartoon aspect, Kevin Bosch, film production major, said that
Provided by impawards.com
The Office is one of the most entertaining shows out now on NBC on Thursdays. The show is a half an hour comedy based on the typical nine to five job starring Steve Carell, Golden Globe winner and Emmy nominee. Kevin Bosch said that this particular show is a different type of sitcom. “[The Office] tells
stories that donʼt end in one episode,” Bosch said. “The silly characters are the main characters; sometimes you hate the main character, and sometimes you love them.” No matter what your taste is, dance, drama, laughter, sympathy, and reality are the main ingredients that people get hooked on this fall season.
Teen struggles portrayed in Towelhead Evelina Arzanova Movie Review
Towelhead (*** ) What do you do when there is no one to turn to for guidance? This harsh reality is faced by adolescents in our present-day society and is recreated in the following film: Towelhead. Towelhead is a Warner Independent flick based on the self-titled novel written by Alicia Erian. The story starts off with a 13-year-old Lebanese-American girl named Jasira (Summer Bishil, first motion picture appearance) who struggles with many of lifeʼs harsh realities while on her way toward adulthood. Realizing that she is reaching sexual maturity, Jasira starts to attract a wide variety of men that come across her path. Her mother Gail (Maria Bello, Thank You for Smoking) chooses her boyfriend over her own daughter after she catches her boyfriend shaving Jasiraʼs private areas, thinking that her daughter put him up to this task. As punishment, Gail sends Jasira to live with her authoritative and abusive father,
Provided by comingsoon.net
Rifat (Peter Macdissi, HBOʼs Six Feet Under.) Not only does Jasiraʼs life turn around by living with her father, but she now live next to a pedophile named of Mr. Vuoso (Aaron Eckhart, Batman Begins), who begins to have a morbid obsession with Jasira. With all these difficulties coming at her at a very young age, Jasira is basically left alone to deal with the desertion of her mother, the abuse of her father, the fixation of Mr. Vuoso, the racist prejudice she faces in the real world, and to top it all off, finding herself as a woman at the very same time.
Jasiraʼs character shares many striking similarities with Sue Lyonʼs character portrayal in Lolita. Towelhead and Lolita both depict teenage girls reacting to the changes inside of them as well as adapting to the new changes that are occurring in their lives. Even though the obstacles that Jasira faces in this movie are cruel, this motion picture really allowed me to dig deep inside of myself and interact with the emotions that I tend to ignore on an everyday basis. Adam Fallick, a business administration major from Broward Community College,
said that as soon as he finished watching the motion picture, he noticed (through the characters) real life aspects that people face in our everyday society. “It did show real racial profiles amongst every American citizen; it was pretty harsh how people are treated based on their ethnicity, and as far as Jasiraʼs experience, it emotionally and mentally disturbed me to see her go through what she went through at such a young age,” Fallick said. Towelhead is not your usual fairy tale, in which it would invoke feelings of compassion, concern, pity, and appreciation to those in the audience. Thus, this flick deserves three out of five stars simply because Allan Ball, the director and screen writer of Towelhead, went outside of Hollywoodʼs typical expectations and put it all on the big screen. “Ball throws out so many provocations in Towelhead that itʼs no surprise a few land with a thud,” said Peter Travers, a movie critic for the Rolling Stones magazine. Unfortunately, nothing in life is as easy or favorable as one expects it to be, and that is exactly what Towelhead displays on the big screen.
October 15, 2008
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OPINION
In times like these, where do we turn? Erik Steinhardt Opinion Editor
O
ur economy is in a rut, the politics of our country have decayed, and I am completely disillusioned by the world at large. Laissez-faire is dead, or at least being slowly cooked alive over a fire of oppressed souls. So maybe I donʼt believe in socialism, communism and capitalism as a sole political philosophy which is to monopolize a certain territorial state. How could I? All three systems have time and again proven that both good and bad can come from each. I donʼt claim to have the answers to anything. After all, I am a jack of hearts but master of nothing. What am I to do, a star-crossed political amateur, in times like
these? The second presidential debate is passed and these poster boys of change have nothing to show for it. The difference this time is that it was in front of a visible audience rather than behind the shadows of their own egos. The candidates have repeated their same old speech. McCain and Obama continues to take low stabs at the other, each of which only nicks a piece of skin off Obamaʼs proverbial lips. McCainʼs campaign is on the offense. With an ad attack, McCain is able to strike fear into the hearts of the ignorant. His more recent ad about Obamaʼs affiliation with a domestic terrorist comes at a time when he is certainly at his most desperate. But wait, Barack Hussein Obama is rubbing elbows with a terrorist? Thatʼs a new one I havenʼt heard from the McCain campaign, at least not for a few weeks now. A closer look will reveal the terrorist to be William C. Ayers, a former member of the yippie [sic] cultureʼs infamous the Weather Underground Organization (WUO). The WUO was a catalyst in the late 1960ʼs of the yippie and hippie movement which
sought to change the fundamentals of a corrupted society. They were responsible for a number of bombings in New York, Chicago and Washington D.C., as well as the prison break of LSD guru Timothy Leary. All of this was subsequent to the assassination of Black Panther member Fred Hampton by FBI agents. A non-violent faction of the WUO was quoted as saying, “we oppose oppression in all its forms including racism, sexism, homophobia, classism, and imperialism. This system cannot be reformed or voted out of office because reforms and elections do not challenge the fundamental causes of injustice.” If injustice was the reason for such a violent outbreak, how is the war in Iraq any different? If our reasons for taking out Sadam Hussein were because of his injustices to his people, than does that mean the American military is a form of international terrorism? In times like the ones we are living in, we donʼt have time for partisan politics. While evil swine like Karl Rove are roaming the streets with the blood lust for power, we must ask ourselves… where do we turn?
THE FALCON TIMES 11380 N.W. 27 Avenue, Room 4209 Miami, FL 33167 (305) 237-1253 (305) 237-1254 Fax: (305) 237-8262
Editorial Board
Editor in Chief Laura C. Morel Managing Editor Anahi Cortada Greg Torrales Advertising Manager Daniel Masip Entertainment Editor Opinion Editor Erik Steinhardt Features Editor Jessica Tejeda
Staff Akeem Mayers Danyelle Carter Emerson Fertil Rachel Santos Belkis Perez Evelina Arzanova Veronica Nunez Yamel Lora Shelby Contreras Theodore Karantsalis Titiana McMurray
Manolo Barco
Adviser
The Falcon Times is published by the students of Miami Dade College North Campus. Decisions regarding content are made by student editors.The opinions in this newspaper do not necessarily represent those of the administration, faculty, or the student body.
Advertising Information By Akeem Mayers
Voting can make a difference in our nation Savanna Stiff Contributing Columnist
W
hen the presidential election finally rolls around, I will be nine months shy of the age of eligibility to vote. While I am crushed that I cannot cast a ballot for my candidate of choice, there will also be thousands of people who, on Nov. 4, will not bother exercising their right to vote. My goal is to encourage people who can vote, to practice their valuable and sacred right
to vote. Ever since this countryʼs inception, disenfranchised parties have been fighting for the right to vote in America. First, it was non land-owning white men, then it was African-American men, then it was women. Less than 100 years after women gained the right to vote, young men and women alike treat voting with a casual indifference. Many of these people like to complain about whatever they feel is currently “wrong with the government in America,” whether it is taxes or the drinking age, but freely admit, “I am not even registered to vote.” Others deny that their votes count, “so why bother voting at all?” In a way, they are right; rarely will one vote decide an election.
However, about 500 votes can and did make the difference in the 2000 presidential election, and that is enough proof for me. Voting is the one way every citizen can be a part of government. The men and women who run for office will go to Washington D.C. and make decisions that could change your life, for better or for worse. Those who are elected are those who represent us, the citizens. If I were of age to vote, I would show up on Nov. 4 and exercise my right and voice to vote. Savanna Stiff is a 17-year-old student in the School for Advanced Studies at Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus.
For ad information, contact Laura Morel, editor in chief, at (305) 237-1253, or Anahi Cortada, managing editor, at (305) 237-1254.
Letters to the Editor The Falcon Times welcomes letters to the editor. All submissions should be 300 words or less and must be typed. The writer must sign their full name, phone number, address, student number, and e-mail address on the letter in order to be considered. Faculty and staff should include the title, department, and extension. All letters are subject to editing. Letters can be sent via e-mail to thefalcontimes@hotmail. com, with the subject “letter to the editor.”
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October 15, 2008
OPINION
English language suffers from technology boom funny. Now ʻlolʼ is sort of funny, ʻLOLʼ is moderately funny, and ʻROTFLOLʼ is definitely funny. But come on, seriously, are you laughing out loud when you write that? You may be, but when was the last time you actually rolled on the floor and laughed out loud? If the overuse of the “words” wasnʼt bad enough, consider this. In a recent poll taken by MSNBC, about two-thirds of the teens interviewed admitted to using emoticons and informal speech in school assignments. Two-thirds! In an assignment at Columbia Union College in Maryland, a teacher had to specifically say that “cutesy acronyms such as ʻlolʼ” were not allowed. The real problem at hand is not that people are using these things when they chat, which I think is just fine. The problem is that these bad habits are spilling into the rest of their lives, and few people are trying to stop it. A whole generation of Americans is growing up without the decency to use English properly. If the only ones who will stand up to these rule-breakers are the ʻuncoolʼ: professors, “old” people, and the like; then the future is not looking very bright, I would say it looks more like dimwitted. If this continues, will things like newspapers one day cease to exist? I mean, who will have time to read a bunch of real words on a piece of paper, let alone type and print them? Will English be replaced by Textese? This next generation needs to step up and stop these foolish attacks on the English language. We need to return to what we learned in grade school. R U ready 4 da fight? ;-)
Joel Gray Contributing Columnist
T
hereʼs a battle going on right now, even as you read this. The war in Iraq may come to mind, or possibly some other fight, but the battle I speak of is not being fought with weapons on a battlefield. Itʼs a battle fought in our homes, our schools, our malls, and many other places. This battle is being fought with pencils, computers, and cell phones, through letters, e-mails, and text messages. We fight for the English language. It all started in the late 1600s. At this time in history, the English language was strong and free, but people began to wonder if it was too free. There were rules for speaking and writing Latin, so why not make some rules for English? At this time, the battle was mostly just to capture and tame the language, but that would soon change as the scholars realized that many of the rules were not reasonable. For example, one rule was that a sentence should never end with a preposition, but people use phrases that end in prepositions all of the time. People say, “What are you getting at?” or, “He didnʼt know what he was up against.” But now the battle has changed. Our language has been tamed. It is now being threatened by a terrible foe. Many people are abandoning formality, as well as once common practices. The comma before the ʻandʼ in a list of three or more items has long been neglected and is al-
By Akeem Mayers
most dead. Abbreviations such as BFF and LOL have sprung up like weeds and are choking out old words and phrases. These
abbreviations are being so overused that they have begun to lose their meaning. ʻLOLʼ used to mean something was
? k n i h T u o Y o D t a Wh
Joel Gray is an 18-year-old mechanical engineering major at Miami Dade College North Campus.
Photos and interviews by Veronica Nunez
What is your opinion on the presidential elections?
Arlette Parrado, 32 North Campus academic adviser “This years election is probably one of the most important elections of the century. Not only are we making strides to encourage more voter participation, but we are seeing a tremendous amount of young voters getting involved in the voting process.”
Steve Carpenter, 18 Music Business Major “I think the republicans are flip-flopping on their policies and agenda. Every time Barack speaks, the republicans change their policy to accommodate Obama’s.”
Kristin Dillard, 26 Business Major “It is good that more people are voting and they better vote for Obama because he is the best candidate.”
Phillip Bouillon, 18 Physical Therapy Major “I think this election is very important and it will have a big impact on the United States.”
October 15, 2008
FEATURES
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North Campus celebrates Hispanic Heritage Shelby Contreras Staff Writer The unveiling of the Hispanic Heritage Month commemorative stamp took place at the North Campus on the building five Lakeside Patio where more than 1,000 students attended. North Campus President José A. Vicente, the United States Postal Servicesʼ (USPS) Ernesto Cintado, and CBS weather anchor Lissette Gonzalez all joined to reveal the Latin Jazz stamp designed by Michael Bartalos. The U.S. Postal Service has issued more than 50 Latin stamps. “It came out stupendously,” said Vicente. Gonzalez briefly spoke about Hispanic pride and higher education. “Itʼs a time to celebrate where you come from,” she said. Everyone participating in the event, which was organized by the Student Life
department, got a taste of real Latin food, paella and arroz con pollo. “The food was good,” said Kevin Bosch, a film major. “It was a nice surprise.” The event also consisted of a performance by Latin pop/rock band Origen. There were also performances by the Barbara Goleman Senior High School marching band and the Hialeah Senior High School Salsa Club. “Itʼs more open to the community than I thought,” said band member and Barbara Goleman High School junior Analee Tapia. The Barbara Goleman Senior High School marching band was also a part of the parade held at the beginning of the event in order to showcase local high school talent. “It was well organized, good music, good food, and a good way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage,” said Alexander Barrios, a mathematics major.
Rachel Santos/Falcon Staff
Rachel Santos/Falcon Staff
HISPANIC HERITAGE: (Left) Students sit by the North Campus lake to enjoy the event. (Right) Students take part in the parade that commenced before Meet the President Day began.
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Tips for this season’s fashion craze Danyelle Carter Fashion Critic
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October 15, 2008
ashionably fall in line with this seasonʼs fiercest wear and accessories. Strut the campus to introduce and declare your identity. A timeless style expressed in jeans, polo, and jewels to justify your personality through various hues and tints of purple. Are you casual, glamour, punk or a random trendsetter who canʼt find anything to wear this fall? Jeans are the solution to your dilemma. This autumnʼs iconic comeback is jeans, ranging from denim to distress, fitted to flared, and low rise to hip huggers suited for your frame. Whether you dress your jeans in a blouse, button-up, or blazer, youʼre sure to have a crisp image. Color, patterns, and layers are in and the little black dress is out, according to Fashion Fiesta. A lavender T-shirt over a dark popping purple collared polo or a white polo under a lilac tee-shirt will give you a classic assurance to impress and radiate sophistication. Accessories are subtle yet riveting this Fall. Charm bracelets and oversized rings are the rage this season. Pick up a large oversized bag that straps across your chest to state success. Channeling the 90ʼs grunge era: the knit beanie is back! Wear it tight, loose or lopsided to become fashion forward. Finally, itʼs all about working with the wardrobe you have to personalize your image, Creating a force to be reckoned with when strutting the halls at Miami Dade College.
Dance company shakes school The annual Cultura del Lobo series begins in October Rachel Santos Staff Writer
The Inbal Pinto Dance Company from Israel presents the dance theater piece, Shaker, the first performance of the Cultura Del Lobo series scheduled to take place Oct. 25 at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts. What started off as a lively lunchtime series where students would enjoy dance, music, and theater performances while eating lunch at Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus expanded into what it is today. Cultura Del Lobo gives students and South Florida residents the opportunity to view artistic and cultural performances by nation wide and international artists and groups. “We focus on contemporary works,” said artistic and interim director of MDCʼs Cultural Affairs Department Gregory Jackson. Past performances have included groups such as the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Score! Expressions Dance
Eyal Landesman/Media Relations CULTURE AT ITS FINEST: Performers dance during a segment of the Cultura del Lobo performance series.
at the William & Joan Lehman Theater at the North Campus. Marissa Chibas tells the story about her father who co-wrote the manifesto for the Cuban revolution with Fidel Castro. She also talks about her uncle, mother, and her own neardeath experience. The Objectification of Things is part art, ritual, and techno. Michelle Ellsworthʼs performance shows the importance and impact that mere objects have in peopleʼs lives and encourages to give something back to them. It will be held Nov. 21-22 at the Byron Carlyle Theater in Miami Beach. The break/s presents HipHop in the form of dance, film, and verse. Poet Marc Bamuthi Joseph expresses the ideas of cultural identity, manhood, and the struggle against stereotype. Performance also features DJ Eyal Landesman/Media Relations Excess percussionist Tommy IN A TRANCE: A dancer from the Inbal Pinto Dance Academy Shepherd and will be held at performs during “Shaker.” the William & Joan Lehman Company from Australia, and NEA Jazz Master Ron Carter & Musicians. This year marks the 18th season of the Cultura Del Lobo performance series and will run six performances through April 2009. Daughter of a Cuban Revolutionary is the second performance of the series and will take place on Nov. 14-16
A Thousand Words
Theater at MDCʼs North Campus on February 20-21. I Land brings traditional Hawaiian hula, story, spoken word, and Hip-Hop to the stage through acclaimed actor and hula dancer Keo Woolford. Woolford looks at the tradition of the hula and its influence upon individuals who still apply it today. It will be held March 20-21 at the Colony Theater on Lincoln Road. An Evening with Branford Marsalis & Musicians presents saxophonist, instrumentalist, composer, and head of his own music label Branford Marsalis and his trio group who are known to play hard-core jazz. They are the last performance of the 2008-2009 Cultura Del Lobo series scheduled to take place April 4 at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts. For more information you can contact MDC Cultural Affairs Department at (305)237-3010 or visit “www.mdc.edu/culture” to buy tickets online.
Is advertising on your mind? Then advertise your business with The Falcon Times! For more information, contact The Falcon Times office at (305) 237-1253.
Anahi Cortada/Falcon Staff The Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. is always filled with flowers in memory of those that gave their lives to defend the United States.