Wilson Celebrates Black History February 26, 2006
An Energy Debate:
Ethanol Wilson College
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International News Section See page 3
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
Readers Respond See page 4
Vol. XXXVII, No.5
THE
WILSON BILLBOARD Ice Fest in July?
An ice sculpture slowly melts in warm February weather. Photo by Joanne Bolling
By Joanne Bolling When I arrived early Saturday morning, I noticed crowds were already forming. I had never been to the Ice Fest, so I didn’t know quite what to expect. There were ice sculptures lined up and down the streets of downtown Chambersburg. They were placed in front of many stores and side streets. Each ice sculpture had a sponsor, some of those included Patriot Federal Credit Union, White Rock Inc., Penn National Golf Community, Wogans Uniform, Valley Quarries, Inc., Franklin County Democratic Party, Public Opinion, and the Central Presbyterian Con’d pg. 2, See ICE
Wilson’s New Look Well Underway By Robin Herring Students returning to campus from the holiday break found a new look in Norland Hall and renovations in Edgar Hall. The Norland/Edgar Project, which was approved by the Wilson College Board of Trustees using funds earmarked for strategic initiatives, will consolidate departments to better serve students. In the fall of 2005, renovations began in Norland Hall, the precursor to relocating the College for Continuing Education offices there. Vice President of Enrollment, Kathie Berard, and her staff, who have worked with the Admissions staff in Norland Hall, were relocated there in midDecember 2005. Wilson now enjoys one Admissions Office, where College for Women and College for Continuing Education staff can work more cohesively without the physical separation of the buildings. The consolidation also offers the opportunity for cross-training of staff and better communications with students. In mid-January 2006, the Information Center, more commonly known as the “Switchboard” was relocated to Lenfest Commons along with the Campus Safety Office. Since Lenfest Commons is a hub of activity for campus, the move centralizes these services and provides visitor’s with a more recognizable point of entrance to the college. Meanwhile, renovations
W HAT ’ S I NSIDE News.................................................Page 1-3 Classifieds............................................Page 2 Editorials..........................................Page 4-5 Features............................................Page 6-7 Style.......................................................Page 8
Security’s new location in Lenfest, more open and inviting for students. Photo by Heather Burke
continue in Edgar Hall. The third floor renovations are scheduled to be completed by the end of February, when the Financial Aid Office will move there temporarily. The first floor of Edgar Hall, which was home to the Information Center and the Campus Safety Office, are now under renovation and are scheduled to be occupied by the offices of
the Vice President of Academic Affairs during the month of March. The Learning Resource Center is scheduled to relocate to the former Financial Aid Offices in March as well. Renovations to the former Learning Resource Center are scheduled for March and April in preparation to relocate the Office of the Registrar, tentatively sched-
uled for June. Renovations to the second floor of Edgar Hall are scheduled to begin in June. The Financial Aid Office and the Business Office are scheduled to move to the second floor of Edgar Hall during July. The Office of the President of Wilson College is scheduled to relocate to the third floor of Edgar Hall in June as well. The final move of the project will relocate the Conferences Office from Lortz Hall to the former Office of the President in Thomson Hall. This move is scheduled to take place in September. The project, when complete, will provide better services for students, better communications between offices, and will address deferred maintenance issues to both Norland and Edgar Hall. Overall, the project will continue toward one of Wilson’s highest priorities, better service to students.
Wilson’s Own American Idol By Kim Allen, guest writer The funny thing about me is I have a terrible case of stage fright. Though I know I am talented, there is always the question of can I be the best? Am I good enough to make it? Do I have what it takes? My whole life I’ve been made to feel as if nothing great could ever happen to me. I’m not special enough to shine they say. I decided to audition for American Idol, a national singing competition and reality television show. Maybe this would be my chance to show the world that I could do something great, that I could shine. I wanted to show the people who didn’t believe I was good enough that I
could work hard to be the best, and I could win American Idol. So, I auditioned for American Idol, and let me tell you, it was an experience. If you don’t like big crowds and weird people, an American Idol audition is not the place to be. I auditioned in Chicago, Illinois at the famous Soldier Field Stadium. Over 15,000 people came to audition. People of all different ethnicities and ages came out for that one chance to prove themselves to the producers of American Idol. There were people who could actually sing. These people were very serious and focused. There were people who knew they couldn’t sing but would do anything for a chance to be on television.
These were the ones who kept the people who could sing laughing so they wouldn’t get too serious. Then there were the ones who couldn’t sing but really thought they could. Those people you just plain felt sorry for. There were also people there just to support their friends or family. Day one, September 15: We stood outside for about six to eight hours just waiting to receive our wristband (luckily the weather wasn’t too bad that day). The wristband is what allowed you to audition. There was a red wristband for the people auditioning and a green one for the supporters. Con’d pg. 7, See IDOL
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26 February 2006
Cow Power
Students get a lesson in ecology By Debe Clark With all the talk about alternative fuel sources, it is intresting to see some new examples. Recently, environmental students accompanied Dr. Wells on a trip to Mason Dixon Farm, located in Gettysburg. This facility turned out to house a lot more than a possible alternative fuel source. Mason Dixon Farm is a dairy farm that has about 2300 cows with an additional 1700 replacement hefers. The farm grows all of its feed for the cows, rotating the land used between alfalfa, corn, and a grass. While not a freerange operation, the cows are kept in large quarters and are free to use a special ‘robot’ to be milked at their lesiure. By doing this, the cows are shown to live longer and to produce more milk. The cows are kept in seperate facilities determined by their age. Each building is situated in a manner so as to recieve the maximium amount of sunlight in the winter and optimum shade in the summer. The cows that are producing milk are kept in a structure where the climate is stablized at an optimum temperature that is suitable for both the machines and the cows. Temperature is also regulated by the building’s stuture, but also by ventalation that allows wind to cool and fans when neccessary.
To avoid disease and extend the life cylce of the cows, this is a closed herd that uses artificial breeding methods and allows for a higher female population. The cows are also washed about three times a day and their feed differs with their stages in life to make them as healthy as possible without the use of hormones. Yet the point of this trip wasn’t to see all this. What we want to see was the alternative energy source. This farm is running a cycle. It grows food to feed the cows. The cows grow and as they do they create natural waste products -- manure. The manure is used on the feilds, but this is after all the usefull methane has been extracted. The methane is channeled into a renewable source of energy rather than released into the atmosphere, contributing to global climate change. These gasses produce the electritiy that runs the whole operation. There is even extra electritiy that is sold back to the ‘grid,’ so Mason Dixon gets a check rather than a bill each month. Mason Dixon Farm is taking a waste product and making it into a resource. They are a self sufficient operation that is also highly unique. Since this was a tour, any negative associations were left out of the informative trip, yet this does seem like a
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ICE Church. My favorite was the ice throne. It was large and inviting. There was even a pillow to Of entice photographers. course, I had to try it out. There were vendors selling everything from popcorn and cotton candy, to sausages and even scarves. There was also a clown there to greet the children and make animal balloons. Every kind of sculpture you could imagine lined the streets of Chambersburg. Some of the kids were so excited by the ice sculptures, they were touching and kissing some of those which looked like animals. By mid afternoon it was getting cloudy and it began to rain. Despite the weather, many people stayed and wandered the streets with their umbrellas in hand.
Olympic Snowtubing Anyone? By Patience Cady What is more fun than playing in snow on a brisk January evening? Not much if you are with a crowd of wild Wilson women! Even the ride to Mercersburg to the snowy hills of Whitetail is fun – the 15 passenger vans were crowded with cheery people. The trip to Whitetail was quite uneventful, though one happening was slightly amusing. As we were traveling the last few miles, signs directing to Whitetail were along the road and we all went down the road in the opposite direction as the arrow pointing to Whitetail. The van drivers were extremely talented at turning around in a tight spot however, and the brief excursion added some excitement to the trip. Despite the fact that there was no snow to be seen elsewhere, the hills at Whitetail were thickly packed with slick crisp snow – perfect for very fast tubing! Getting into your tube at the
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tube lift could be a challenge – as Ann Wendel found out when she flipped out of her tube and had to go catch it (nearly all of the Wilson crowd must have been watching when that happened!). However, once you finally managed to make it safely to the top of the hill, the spinning ride back down was very rewarding. The friendly Whitetail staff makes your time there quite enjoyable – they will spin, twist, or push you off ensuring that you get a very thrilling ride. You can go single, or to have twice as much fun, go double, hooking two tubes together. The two hours of tubing slipped by incredibly quickly, and as we stood around the fire warming ourselves and drying our very wet butts off before soaking the van seats on the return trip, we decided the wild Wilson women must make a return trip to Whitetail for some more winter fun before the season is over. If you didn’t go for this trip, make sure you join us next time!
• Afternoon workshops beginning at 1 p.m. • Orr Lecture 7:30 p.m., Alumnae Chapel Becoming a Model Community: The Future of American Muslims Dr. Jamillah Karim Spelman College
For more information, visit www.wilson.edu/orrforum or contact Dr. David True at 717-264-4141, Ext. 3396 or via email to dtrue@wilson.edu
26 February 2006
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World News
News
By Youkyung Jin
Spotlight On : CharmainFernando By Youkyung Jin
Late night at during the 2004 Christmas break, while with her host family, Charmain Fernando’08 received a phone call from Sri Lanka. Her mother kept saying that Charmain didn’t need to worry about her family and that they are alright. Charmain stopped her and asked, “Mom, what’s wrong?” That night, when the Tsunami hit South-East Asia, Charmain Fernando was in Chambersburg, PA, which is 20,000 km away from home. Triggered from the world’s most powerful earthquake in more than 40 years from deep beneath the Indian sea, the Tsunami struck Indonesia, Thailand, India, and her country Sri Lanka. Four months had passed since Charmain came to Wilson and began her biology study with the ambition of becoming a phyworship was similar to what I think about religious minorities in sician. She said she realized that practice, Greek Catholic,” she United States? Are they discrimi- she could be one person who said, as she talked about similari- nated in certain way or guaran- could deliver hope to her counties between religions. Dr. David teed to practice their religions? try. It didn’t take long to begin True, religious studies professor, Some people claims. What do you fund raising as well as to receive a warm response from the Wilmentioned that he was surprised think? son Community. to see students’ active participaDr. True: Well, that’s a long With assistance from Elisa tion for the trip. conversation involving legals/conBelow is an interview with stitutional issues and social atti- Hunt, Assistant Dean of Student and International programs, Dr. True. tudes. Like many things, there is Charmain has raised over You Kyung: You have been $1,300 to help the Tsunami survivors in her country and funds wired to her neighboring temple in order to get the money directly to people in need. She was pleased to become a messenger between two groups of people who don’t know each other: the Wilson community and Sri Lankans affected by the disaster. Now that the disaster is over, this experience still remains in her heart and has strengthened her long-term goal. Ever since she began to go to school, she dreamed about Elizabeth Clever ‘07 participates in Hindu ritual Photo by Youkyung Jin becoming a physician. Charmain teaching religious studies class at a diversity of experience on these was one of the gifted students Wilson. So far, did student inter- questions. In general, I like to in her school and she first conested religions like Hindu, or Bud- think that people enjoy a great sidered studying in India. Howdeal of freedom to believe and ever, she decided to study at dhism? Dr. True: The student re- practice. Unfortunately, in some Wilson College since Wilson sponses vary, but generally the cases those in the minority are guaranteed her a scholarship. students are very interested in discriminated against in subtle and She is planning to go to medical these religions. They find fasci- not so subtle ways. school after she receives her Anyone interested in visit- bachelor’s degree in biology, nating for both their differences ing other religious places can join which means she will study very and their similarities. You Kyung: What do you World Religion class’ upcoming hard for more than six years. field trips this spring.
Her name is often on the Dean’s list. And she is of the in the library. Her dormmate recall seeing her in the kitchen, cooking dishes to energize herself before getting back to studying, sometimes as late as 2 or 4 in the morning. As president of Muhibbah, the International Students Club, at Wilson College, she successfully held Muhibbah dinner in spring semester of 2004. More than 300 people were invited and tasted 50 kinds of international food prepared by inter-
Field Trip to Hindu Temple By Youkyung Jin 13 Wilson students went to Hindu temple on Feb 11, under the guidance of David True, Associate professor of Religious studies. Originally this field trip was for students in ‘World religion’ class, but Dr. True invited other students to come since many students showed interest in participating. Hari Hindu temple, located in New Cumberland, PA, is 40 minutes from Wilson. Hinduism is a cultural, religious, and philosophical system of India that is mainly practiced in India and South Asia. More than a billion people are practicing Hinduism in the world, and it is one of the most popular religions in the world. Priest Seetharanaswamy Srimattirumalapeeddinti gave a small lecture about gods and goddesses of Hinduism. He came to America to work as Hindu priest 5 years ago. “There is no caste discrimination. Hinduism is open to anyone regardless of race, or original beliefs,” he replied to a student’s question. Students had a chance to participate in a Hindu worship. “I’m Presbyterian, and of course I’ve never been to Hindu temple. I am so excited to be here,” said Elizabeth Clever ‘07, an English major. Iryna Machkur, an exchange student from Ukraine also said that it was eye-opening experience to her. “Part of Hindu
Charmain Fernando ‘08 Photo by Alumnae Quarterly
national students from 7 different countries. They entertained the audience with traditional dance, songs, musical performances, and a presentation. Charmain supervised this event, which included budgeting, cooking, and promotion. “Muhibbah is meaningful to me,” she said. “I gained knowledge from my study in the US, and at the same, I learned the value of cultural diversity from my friends, who come from all over the world.” She also talked about some of the obstacles that international students face. She says that it was not that easy to adjust to American college life and understand cultural differences in the beginning but she has adjusted to Wilson by sharing ideas about cultural differences with her international friend in Muhibbah club. Biology books and budgeting paper for Muhibbah dinner still dominate her table, and the light is always on in her room all night. What makes her live life with such passion? First one would be her parents back home who lovingly support her, she said. The other would be helpless people in the street with no medical treatment. No doubt she will achieve her goals at Wilson, as well as in life.
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26 February 2006
EDITORIALS Outside Looking In Cartoon Controversy By Naureen Ali, Guest Writer While the controversy over printing the handful of cartoons in the widely circulated Danish Jyllands Posten (and subsequently other European) newspapers has spiraled out of control, I am left wondering what is my own reaction. The reaction of the vast majority of the Muslim world is an apt reflection of the very dichotomy that face Muslims today. It is undeniable from a Muslims’s viewpoint that it is unacceptable to depict any images of any prophets. It is equally appalling that the Muslim world has remained relatively passive as depictions have been made of other prophets throughout history. If God does not distinguish amongst His prophets (Sura 2:285, 4:152), who are humans to make that distinction? To be a Muslim implies recognition and acceptance of all prophets. Yet, Muslims by and large have by silent consent allowed depictions of Jesus, Moses, and other prophets to go unchallenged. But then again, would the non-Muslim world accept the real concern of Muslims’ objections when they do not consider Muslims part of their belief-world. Nevertheless, Muslims and upholders of faith from across different belief platforms are reacting to this event — why? Reaction over the cartoons is two-fold (interestingly an important detail left out in most reports) – depiction of the prophet and offensive caricature that aims to insult. If it were only depiction of the prophet (such as Jesus in Passion of the Christ or Moses in Ten Commandments), the upheaval would probably have been different, undoubtedly more contained in nature. It behooves us not to recognize that the content reeks of satyre and ridicule, hurting the very core of human dignity. Freedom of expression has to come with an urgent sense of responsibility to have credibility, even when protesting against injustice. Even as the cartoonists themselves jeopardized their own legitimacy, so does emotional chaotic outburst, manifested in holding all Danish companies and citizens responsible for the thoughtless act of a marginal group of people, take away from the integrity of protest. For so
many, the immediate onslaught of reaction has resulted in confusion. On one hand, they can perceive the transgression of civility; on the other hand they are alarmed by the reactionary outburst. Expression is of paramount importance in a world where the communication gap seems ever widening between different belief structures. Let’s take a minute and think of how Muslims and non-Muslims alike would react to a racist cartoon against an African American or Jewish American published in this century. The world would find it unacceptable. The Muslim world finds itself operating on the margins of being considered part of that world. Why that is so is a discussion beyond the scope of a cursory blurb. For now, it is a truth that one simply cannot ignore that this recent event has mustered more support for freedom of expression, at the expense of transgressing the very essence of human dignity that freedom of expression is meant to uphold, than what the 21st century would want to claim in retrospect. Does that then mean that torching down Danish embassies, boycotting their products, and holding counter-competitions calling for cartoons that ridicule other faiths the optimum reaction? Is this merely a game of action-reaction? What does it take to give us pause and truly ask ourselves, what are we really accomplishing here? Where do we draw the line and say “enough” of mud slinging – this is where it ends ‘insult for an insult’. So, it’s a catch-22. Question is, is there an end to this convoluted vicious cycle of blatant hypocrisy. Perhaps, its human nature to stagnate when challenging oneself inconveniences one’s sense of false security. For believers and nonbelievers (by that I mean theists and atheists and the entire spectrum that lies therein) alike, it is a situation that can only keep getting worse. Let us then continue with this “you did, I did, you did, I did” chronic syndrome of apathy … and twiddle our thumbs for the end of the civil world, boxed in the narrow confines of our socio-religious-economic identities.
By Heather Drumm I know I’m a little late in reading this editorial that was published on November 11th, but I had to smile as I read the piece written by Darwin Jackson. As a new staff member at Wilson, I have noticed exactly what was written… students segregate themselves. I have seen this on every campus I have attended or visited… large or small, public or private, in PA and outside. Most campuses, including Wilson’s, are set up in some ways to segregate, but to some degree that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Women with Children are housed together to provide a support system for each other. First and second year students are housed together, mostly in double rooms, again so that hall programming is accessible and the social aspect of college life can be developed for those encountering the next step in their lives.. .being a college student and developing self-reliance and independence from parents. Upper class students have earned the privilege of single rooms, or at least more private rooms, as I have come to understand the housing process
here at Wilson, again fostering increased self-reliance and independence as graduation and the world of work approach. While I certainly am not in favor of segregation, I can’t help but ask why the groups identified in the piece sit together? The answer seems to be obvious: people who are alike and can identify with one another stick together. I think it’s pretty logical. When I look back on my first year of college, I stuck with those people who were on my residence hall floor. Dinner, programs, movies, shopping -- everything was done with the same group, a group that had basically been randomly chosen for my by housing. I guess we could have been labeled as Vedder Fourth Floor. My floor at Bucknell, being all “white” women, our commonality wasn’t as visible from the outside as those mentioned in the editorial. Even now, I eat lunch with the Student Development staff since I know them more than others on campus. Many people have stopped in to see me or introduced themselves to me, but I can identify most easily with these women in my office. I have met many
students on campus, but have watched many of them walk right by me in the dining hall as if they don’t know who I am. I’m not a part of their peer group and let’s face it, eating is a very social activity. I sat down with an international student who I have worked with through my office at dinner a few weeks ago. She was sitting alone and the rest of the staff was gone for the day. I had to laugh to myself at her surprise but even more so at the greater shock shown by other international students as they eventually joined us. I took a risk and joined students at their table. The conversation was wonderful and the women shared some foods that they were enjoying with me. It was a great dinner! The challenge is taking the risk to sit with someone who normally isn’t at your table. How would you react if someone not normally in your dinner group sat with you? It may only be dinner, but it’s a great place to start and establish a foundation for more interaction among the many groups on campus.
THE BILLBOARD STAFF Advisor Peter La Chapelle Editor-in-Chief Heather Layman ‘06
Copy Editor Heather Burke ‘07
WC Style Editor Martine Bourque
News Editor Caryn Watson ‘08
Features Editor Des Arnold ‘07
International/ Editorials Editor YouKyung Jin ‘07
Staff Writers and Photographers Jin Young Na ‘09
Joanne Bolling ‘08
Patience Cady ‘09
Robin Herring ‘07
Debe Clark ‘07.5
Shanda Welte ‘09
Iryna Machkur ‘07
Jess Elser ‘09
Business Managers: Darwin Jackson ‘07.5 and Sara Kann ‘07
Mission Statement The Wilson Billboard is a tri-weekly student-run newspaper serving the Wilson College community. Its purpose is to relay important information to the campus and provide a forum for democratic discussion. The Billboard strives to encourge communication between student, faculty, staff, and administration.
26 February 2006
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EDITORIALS Ethanol: Energy Source of the Future, or A Look at the Pros and Cons of Ethanol Environmental Disaster? as a renewable fuel source for the U.S. By Debe Clark Since President Bush claimed leadership of our country, in each Presidential Address he has discussed our addiction, as a country, to petroleum oil, and possible alternatives which his office plans to implicate. In his past address in January, Bush mentioned the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel source. Ethanol is derived from plant matter. Corn is the primary source of ethanol in the United States. Most of the corn the U.S. grows is harvested as a monoculture crop. Monoculture farming is horrible for the environment. It depletes the soil of nutrients, causes erosion, and increases the use of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. Corn is said to “use more herbicides and insecticides than any other crop produced in the United States, thereby causing more water pollution than any other crop…[as well as]…uses more nitrogen fertilizer.” Ultimately, ethanol is not a sustainable solution to our energy crisis. Large amounts of water are used to process ethanol. For every one liter of ethanol produced, there are thirteen liters of waste water. This water goes to an evaporation pond. The water evaporates cleanly into the air, but leaves behind hazardous matter. This matter is costly and dangerous to “dispose” of. Ethanol is typically used in
our cars as a blend with petroleum gasoline. This alternative method is still relying on petroleum oil. Not only is it used in the blend, but also to run the tractors at the farms where corn is grown. It is also used in the trucks that ship the corn, as well as to run the processing plant and ship the final product. While an ethanol blend can do all the above, it is more expensive, and therefore, unpractical. A 100 percent ethanol fuel could be used, but because of its properties, the engines in our vehicles would have to be modified or replaced, increasing costs to us, as well as increasing waste. One estimate states that the true cost of ethanol is $7.12 per gallon. This is partially because ethanol uses high quality fuels in its conversion process from corn to fuel. There are also currently three billion dollars in federal and state subsidies towards ethanol. An estimate of $8.4 billion is projected to be necessary to supply the United States with the large amount of ethanol that the government is hoping to produce. These subsidies come from our taxes. Another issue with ethanol is that although it is a high power fuel (which is why NASCAR plans to begin using it next year), it gets lower mileage. With a 100 percent blend, one can only get one mile per gallon with regular driving. This proves why
ethanol can never be successful. Cost analyses of ethanol production differ greatly. Optimists state that there is a positive energy gain of 67%, while others say there is a net energy loss of 29%. These percentages include things such as the production of the corn and the energy used to ship it to the plant. Even when considering dry distiller’s grains as a valuable, high protein concentration animal feed, the net energy loss is still around 20 percent. Corn is one of the most popular crops in the United States and is sold as a food crop. We export a large amount of food. Therefore, theoretically, other countries will be denied this crop from the United States because it will be used for fuel. Food is already scarce in other countries. How ethical would it be to increase this shortage? Although the production of ethanol is threatening to our environment, we are still relying on petroleum. Ethanol is not the answer and can hardly even be considered as a step in the right direction. With the use of ethanol as a fuel we are not moving forward, but instead, this could be seen as a possible step backwards. Why are we investing all of our energy and time into a bad alternative when we could be working at bettering solar or wind power, something that is truly beneficial and would decrease our addiction to oil?
Wilson Makes Black History By Caryn Watson Wilson College, one of the few colleges in the country which accommodates the residence of women and their children on campus, is making Black History. Offering the opportunity for single mothers to live on campus while attending college, the majority of Wilson’s African American population living on campus is enrolled in the Women with Children Program. No other college in the country can boast this, and before 1996 Wilson couldn’t either. This is not to say that only African American students are benefiting from the standards that Wilson is setting in support
of the single parent in her educational journey. Of the twenty eight mothers enrolled, one third is of African American decent. What it does say is that Wilson continues to keep stride with the modernly peculiar circumstances that women face in becoming educated; especially African American women. To be included,Wilson hopped on the bandwagon in the 1950’s when, during that period, the nation was indecisively considering whether blacks had the right to attend the same public schools that whites attended, as in the case of Brown vs. Board of Education. “Ironically, the first African American student to graduate
from Wilson matriculated the same year as the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education decision,” said Wanda Finney, archivist for Wilson College. According to the court case 347 U.S. 483, the 9-0 decision handed down by United States Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren stated in part that, “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal.” History shows us that equality cannot be mandated. It must be nurtured and sought after by those who want it on both sides of the glass: by those looking in and those looking out. Even after the 1954 decision it took another 18 years of fighting for and against integration for
By Heather Layman As an environmentalist, I am always on the lookout for the next great technology to come along and fix our energy problems. With the population constantly increasing, and more and more people relying on automobiles as a primary source of transportation, air pollution is rapidly becoming a threat to our health and the environment. With issues like global climate change, caused by the release of gases that deplete the o-zone, finding an alternative source for gasoline should be of utmost urgency. Ethanol, a.k.a. grain alcohol or ethyl alcohol, is becoming the source of many heated debates among politicians, big businesses, and environmentalists. On the flip side, many environmentalists oppose ethanol production, which burns cleaner than gasoline, because it too has several flaws such as producing more carbon dioxide and polluting ground water. It also promotes conventional farming methods, which can rely heavily on fertilizers and rapidly deplete the land. On the other hand, Americans alone consume more than 25% of the world’s petroleum, an astounding 140 billion gallons in 2004. We feed it to our SUVs and cars with little thought to the damage it causes our environment. Ethanol reduces carbon and sulfur emissions and carbon monoxide levels. It is a renewable source of fuel because it comes from plants. Farmers can profit from selling their corn to ethanol plants, and the distilleries themselves provide jobs for the community. The fuel is biodegradable and does not contribute to the greenhouse effect. Byproducts of
the ethanol are distiller’s grain, which is a high quality cow feed, and biochemical, which can be used as an industry solvent or raw material for the production of chemicals. Paired with a Hybrid car, ethanol can greatly reduce emissions caused by exhaust. Our need for foreign oil could by decreased by about 30%. Even today, there are 5 million cars in the U.S. that run on an 85% blend of ethanol. And regular cars can run on a 10% blend, reducing foreign oil dependency by about 2%. Some studies show that it actually takes more energy to make ethanol than it actually gives us, but a lot of that data is from the 80s. With newer technologies, ethanol plants are becoming more and more energy efficient. There are few recent studies, but the updated findings tend to show that ethanol no longer takes more energy to make than it gives. Ethanol may not be a perfect solution to our energy problems, or the environment, but it is better than gasoline economically and environmentally. It pollutes less and keeps money in local communities, rather than over seas. With the ozone in peril, ethanol may be crucial in reducing toxic gases that deplete the atmosphere. Little by little, step by step, we will find the necessary means to a better energy source. Maybe in the future more cars will run on ethanol, and we’ll find ways to make it more sustainable. Maybe ethanol will serve as a stepping stone for better, more efficient energy in the future. And perhaps, one day, we will see the bigger picture and find a way to lessen our dependency and addiction to cars and oil.
states to accommodate blacks in schools which were closed to them before. In the mean time, more and more African American women matriculated to the all white women’s college in soutwestern Pennsylvania to earn degrees along side their white counterpart’s. 1954 was only a half century ago; a lifetime for some. Enough time has passed to look at the black history that was made by African American women here at Wilson.
In the next issue of Billboard we will begin a four part series, looking back at some of the black women who sang the alma mater, presided over WCGA, were odds or evens and who donned the royal colors of the phoenix. They are not just women with children. They are the offspring of Sarah Wilson.
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26 February 2006
FEATURES Sociological Perspectives of Dr.Raulli By Iryna Machkur Julie Raulli – the new sociology professor – came to Wilson College at the beginning of the fall semester. Although Dr. Raulli has been at Wilson only for a couple of months, students enjoy taking her sociology courses. Her enthusiastic and energetic manner of presenting material, and her strong willingness to cooperate with students turns every sociology class into a fascinating and constructive experience. Dr. Raulli not only gives the information to students, but also tries to show them how to look at our society from different perspective, to realize its most vulnerable issues and bring about changes. “I want you to think about this,” is a commonly heard statement Dr. Raulli makes at the end of class. Iryna: What is your experience as a sociologist, not just as a university professor? What is your particular sphere of interest as a sociologist? Dr. Raulli: My sphere of interest is inequality, especially inequality in poor counties, particularly in Central and Latin
America. Sociology helps me to understand those kinds of issues. I’m also interested in gender and social class inequality. My own research is about consumptions, what people buy, and how it is related to social class. Iryna: Why did you decide to teach in the university? Dr. Raulli: I really like to teach and to work with students. Before starting my teaching experience, I was a community educator, providing people with the information about such issues as domestic violence. I worked in a center which dealt with women who survived domestic violence. I was communicating with different groups and doing presentations about these issues. Then I got back to school. It was something I always thought I would do. I had a wonderful experience studying in college. I felt like the world opened up for me there. The college experience was a real gift for me, and I wanted to be part of that for other people. That is particularly the reason why I am here now. Iryna: You came to Wilson from a large university. How was
it different from Wilson? Dr. Raulli: I came from Colorado State University. There I worked as a faculty member, which put me at a different level in the organizational structure. I wasn’t involved in a lot of things at that university. Some of the experience is the same as it was; I was fortunate enough to teach small classes there. But usually in such universities classes are large, for example, the Introduction to Sociology course I teach at Wilson which has 30 students, could have 350 students. It is very impersonal when a class is that large. That is not the kind of experience I wanted to have in a classroom. Here at Wilson, some classes are 12-15 students and I really like that. I like to get to know students and their interests. I love doing group presentations, to let students share their thoughts and work together. It is possible to establish a real collaboration between faculty and students. Iryna: I see you have made a really good impressions at Wilson.
Dr. Raulli: Sure. Students have been really great; I’ve had a really good experience so far, although I was very busy last semester. Iryna: I remember an event you organized last semester – the showing of the movie “Crash” that was followed by a discussion. Do you plan on some other projects like that this semester? Dr. Raulli: One of the things we’ll do is related to Women’s History month. Students in the Social Movements class will do some research on the Women’s movement and write essays. Then we will display them letting everybody get familiar with the topic. It is the idea of “students educating students”. I would like students to bring new ideas for projects I can participate in. For example, the movie “Crash” was not just my idea. Students decided to show it, and they asked me to participate. I would like also to show some other films, probably related to gender issues. I like to think about the film from the sociological perspective.
Inside A Doll’s House By Shanda Welte A Doll’s House is a story of romance, heartbreak, lies, and deceit. A young wife, Nora (played by Meg Oldman), borrows a large sum of money to save her husband, Trovald (played by Emili Danner) from illness. Without knowledge of the loan, Nora pays back the amount with her household spending money. Trovald thinks she is child-like and careless, making her seem more like a child’s doll than a person. When Trovald is appointed manager of the bank, he must release Krogstad (played by Sarah Shetter). Knowing he is about to loses his position at the bank, Krogstad goes to Nora. It was from Krogstad that Nora had borrowed the money. With secret information about the loan, Krogstad decides to try and blackmail Nora, so that he can keep his position at the bank. Con’d pg. 8, See PLAY
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26 February 2006
FEATURES MySpace Addicts
Job Fair Preparation
By Des Arnold Hello, my name is Des and I am a MySpace-aholic. I have been a user for about two months. For those of you who don’t know, MySpace is sweeping the country. It is a website where you can set up a profile that gives information about you, and is viewable by the public. In this profile you can state what schools you have attended, both high school and college. You can post blogs (web logs) and add pictures. You can search for friends by name, email, or school. Your friends can send you messages or post public comments. You can join groups according to your religion or lack thereof, your political party, hobbies, or even sexual orientation. Your MySpace profile is a reflection of who you are. You can change the background of your profile with an effortless copy and paste of a simple “html code” during the editing process. You can take quizzes on sites such as www.quizgalaxy.com and post the results for everyone to see. The quizzes range from “What Spice Girl are you?” to “What Alcoholic Drink are you?” and “What Kind of Kisser are you?”
Iadmit; I have taken all of these quizzes, but I don’t always post the results. I’ve learned that I’m Geri from the Spice Girls, am a Vodka drink, as well as a romantic kisser. You can also adopt virtual pets. Mine is a spider named Scooter, and my friend has a tiger named La Fawn Duh. “MySpace is great,” Shanda Welte, a Wilson freshmen told me. “It is a unique website. You can get on chat, listen to music, play games and search for a job. Yeah you can do that on Yahoo too, however, on MySpace, you are more linked with your friends than Yahoo.” You can make your MySpace rain hearts or snow and you can add glittery text and graphics by visiting one of the MySpace editing sites. My favorite is mysup.com because at this site you can get a scroll marquee that is programmed to say whatever you want. Others include myspace.nuclearcentury.com, where you can get a new “comment box” and mygen.co.uk, where you can get a new mouse cursor. Your options are endless. I have logged many hours on MySpace making my profile re-
Career Corner:
flect my personality and searching for friends. Sometimes I simply look through schools I went to, but sometimes I look for specific people I used to be friends with. I check my MySpace at every given opportunity. I check it in the morning, in the afternoon, before bed, and in between classes. The sad thing about this is there is not much to check. I have only acquired 17 friends. I do not get too many messages. It is like a drug…and I am addicted. When asked, Shanda Welte agreed with me, stating, “MySpace is very addicting.” Lacey Mackintosh, a junior at Wilson, said, “MySpace is an easy distraction, and an addicting distraction. It definitely distracts me from getting work done.” I started my MySpace account out of pure, innocent curiosity, but now I have a serious addiction on my hands. Now that I have admitted my addiction and found a support group, all I have to do is find a rehab. What would be the opposite of MySpace? NoSpace?
By Heather Drumm The foul spring weather that leaves us damp and withered as we walk around Wilson’s campus is an indicator that JOB FAIR SEASON is upon us! Here are some tips to ensure that your Job Fair experiences are the best they can be. Preparation-Get a list of participating employers and research the ones with whom you want to interview. Visit the CDC for a resume critique and mock interview. When you get to the fair, look at the physical locations of the companies with whom you want to speak. Start in the back of the facility if you can. Supplies-Several copies of your resume, references and transcripts, paper and pen, water, band aids, safety pins, breath mints (NO GUM!!!), comb, lipstick, etc. Dress-Appropriate length skirts for women (remember they get shorter when you sit down), tie and jacket for men, polished shoes, comfortable shoes. Be careful how much perfume or cologne you wear. Keep accessories, make up, hair styles, and clothing colors and patters on the conservative side.
Demeanor-Act professionally the entire time, not just when speaking to recruiters—you never know who is watching! Don’t forget to eat and to stay hydrated. You may want to start with companies which are not your favorites so that you can do some “warm-up” interviews. Interviewing-Good posture, a firm handshake, and a good attitude go a long way! Be honest and be positive while maintaining good eye contact. Ask pre-prepared questions. Follow-up-Send ThankYou notes shortly after the interview and let them know how excited you are to obtain employment with them. Follow up with phone calls to those companies you don’t hear from, but don’t be overzealous. Wilson is a member of the Cumberland Valley Consortium and the Central Pennsylvania Employment Consortium whose fairs will be held on February 15 and February 23, respectively. As students at a member institution, there is no charge to attend, however professional dress and resumes are required to register. Vans will be going to these fairs as long as a sufficient number of Con’d pg. 8, See JOB
IDOL After receiving the wristband, we then had to wait for another 3 hours just to sit through a five minute orientation of how the audition process was going to take place. Day 2, September 16: They gave us the option of sleeping overnight in the stadium, or you could go home and come back at six o’clock the next morning. Since it was cold, and windy I decided to go home so that I wouldn’t get sick. The next morning when I returned to Soldier Field, it was storming and I had to wait in line another three hours just to get back in the stadium and find my seat. At about nine o’clock I finally got into the stadium. There were people singing everywhere. Some in corners, some in the bathrooms, some were in groups, and some had formed choirs. Some were standing around looking nervous. Some were showing off, but everybody had one thing on they’re mind... They were going to be the next American Idol. Well, we waited… and
waited… and waited. Another 3 hours passed before they even started the audition. Now it’s about 12 noon, and there were more than twenty thousand anxious, nervous, and outright scared people waiting to become a star. People were bundled up in coats, hats, scarves, and gloves, (some in mini skirts and tube tops) waiting in a stadium where the temperature is 40 degrees or lower. The wind was blowing, it was raining, and now it was time to perform. It’s time to audition and the process is moving very slowly. Everybody is broken up into sections of about five thousand. The producers of the show take us section by section. It took a little over 2 hours for each section to complete their auditions. They would take us down to the field and line us up in front of two producers five at a time. Each person would step up and sing a verse and a chorus then they would step back. After listening to all five people sing, the producers would tell you if you were going on to the next round.
Throughout the day, I didn’t practice a lot. I practiced enough to get my voice warmed up. I practiced just enough to get my voice to reach the ranges that I needed it to reach. I tried to stay warm and I drank a lot of hot chocolate. I let my voice rest, and I took care of it. While everybody else was singing and screaming at the top of their lungs, I pampered my tool. I cherished by gift and I thanked God for it. So when it was time for me to audition, I was ready. I was the fourth person in my group of five to audition. While the others were singing, I was praying. I was praying to God to give me the strength that I needed to overcome my stage fright and do what I knew I could do. When it was my turn, I stepped up and I sang, “Heat Wave” by Martha and the Vandells. People let me tell you, I tore that song up! I belted that song out like it was the last time I was ever going to get the chance to sing. I looked those judges in the eye and I told them who the next American Idol was
going to be. Ya’ll I jammed! When I was done, I was shaking. My palms were sweating and I had butterflies in my stomach. I dropped my head and started praying. After the last person sang, I lifted my head. I stared the judges in the face and was ready to go to Hollywood. The judges pulled us in and they said… “I’m sorry but none of you are what we are looking for.” Once again I wasn’t good enough. Imagine standing outside for two days in forty degree weather, in the pouring rain, just to have one chance at being a star. Would you do it? Would it be worth it to you? Most people would say no; but for me, it was my one chance at a shot to do something that I have a real passion for. I love to sing. All I’ve ever wanted to do is sing. But do you know what I
realized after that audition? I did do something great. I challenged myself; I looked fear dead in the face and I conquered it. So not only did I show the world that I had what it takes, I shined too. Was it worth it? Oh yeah. And it won’t be the last time I audition either. I would do it a million times. Why, you say? If I don’t, I’d be giving up. I know that I can do anything if I put my heart and mind to it. This audition was just phase one. God wanted to know if I could handle the rejection, and by auditioning again, I’ll be showing him that I can. I’m not afraid anymore. I’m 22 years old and I’ve got six years left to audition. So mark my words Wilson College. Within those six years, I will win the title of American Idol.
Please Recycle This Billboard
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26 February 200
Style
Bittersweet Chocolate Memories By Martine Bourque As long as I can remember, food and books have been a comfort for me. With books, I discovered independence. I remember the exact moment I learned to read. My uncle was reading me a bedtime story and I was following with him when the letters started making sense. I could decipher words: I could read! The joy and elation I felt is still very powerful to me. I claimed my ticket and never looked back. I was traveling the world in print, experiencing thousands of lives, exchanging emotions with characters: sometimes trading in my sadness for joy, sometimes being moved to tears, always enthralled for the next installment. Food was and still is the drug of choice in my household. Sounds like a terrible thing, but it was also a marvelous adventure. I learned really young to appreciate good food. My mother was a wonderful cook; her ease and creativity in the kitchen were equal to the mastery of the best chefs. I was privileged to inherit her talent and passion. The downside of this is not to over-indulge in the exquisite creations that I concoct; an endeavor that I have yet to attain. I got my first cookbook for Christmas when I was 8 years old. It was “Cooking with Carnation’s” and it featured a young girl learning all there was to know about cooking with Carnation milk with the help of her mother. I poured over the pages for months making scenarios about the shared moments, the laughter and the success of my creations. I agonized over which recipe would be the best to start with, all the while letting my fear get the best of me. I got the nerve to ask about some of the cooking terms that I was not sure I understood. I timidly asked when would be a good time to start, always getting vague answers about sometime soon. The reality in my house was that my mother was a “working mother” before it was the norm. She supported the family working full time as a teacher and did all the housework and cooking.
My father was ill, plagued with a chronic lung disease that left him gasping for air after the smallest effort. Though as an adult I can understand all the intricacies and demands of this particular situation as a child they were lost on me. Saturdays were the days she did the wash and the ironing (yes it was very much necessary back then); she would then clean the house and prepare food for the up-coming week. Sunday morning was reserved for church and Sunday lunch which had to be elaborate. She would leave the dishes in the sink and retreat to her much deserved time off from the week: the Sunday afternoon nap. She would lock the door, maybe read a bit, but not long after her snores would fill the house as we tip-toed around. That is how I got started: I timidly closed the kitchen door and decided to surprise her by doing the dishes. Then I got bold and decided to get the cookbook out and try something. I don’t remember exactly how my efforts were received but I’m pretty sure it was good because I continued.I think the first thing I made was fudge. My passion was ignited. This anecdote in the form of an introduction will serve to tell you what I would like to address in this column. Food and cooking are an integral part of our everyday life. Food serves as the fuel to our bodies, the celebration of happy events, a demonstration of love amongst many things. I would like to use this venue as more than just a sharing of good recipes and good books, but also as a reflection of our values and our concerns. There is more to eating than feeding the body, and there is more to reading than feeding the mind. Feeding the soul is of the essence, connecting to others by sharing experiences of joy and sorrow. What is the use of developing the best recipes or writing the best books if you can’t share them with anyone? E-mail me at mbangel@eartlink.net with your questions, comments or requests for specific recipes.
By Robin Herring Legal maneuvers, personal tragedy, stereotypes, and political agendas combine to thrust the reader into Conviction, by Richard North Patterson. The novel takes the reader on a journey to the dark side of the American judicial system and provides a whole new level of understanding of post conviction litigation. Set in the state of California, Rennell Price and his brother, Payton are convicted killers facing death by lethal injection. Having spent fifteen years on death row, Rennell finds himself just fifty-nine days from the death chamber. The Italian-American attorney, Terri Paget, believes that Rennell may be innocent. Appeal after appeal has failed to save Rennell from the death sentence. Now Terri, in a final attempt to save Rennell, finds new evidence that strongly suggests another man committed the crime. Paget also has her own
Book Review: Conviction demons to battle, Rennell’s case bringing to light terrible memories of a crime committed against her young daughter. The violation of her daughter will be used by a heartless criminal in an attempt to stop Terri from defending Rennell in his final hours. The case wanders its way through the California appeals court and eventually to the United States Supreme Court, where politics rear their ugly head. There the Justices, some with an agenda of revenge for colleagues, turn the focus of the case of Rennell Price into a huge political gamble that will surely cost him his life. Patterson, a former attorney himself, has thoroughly researched California and federal law, and gives the reader a wonderfully informative ride through post-conviction litigation. He not only provides the reader with relevant legal background, but with social and economic commentary that sparks interest and challenges the reader’s own beliefs about capital punishment and its application. The book holds the reader in suspense along a trail of emotions: hurt, anger, guilt, innocence, melancholy, and deep sadness. Up until the bitter end, Patterson keeps the reader glued to every
Readers Respond
Here is an all time favorite, easy to make and sure to please all the chocolate lovers. As a special treat enjoy while reading Chocolat a novel by Joanne Harris. (Or watch the movie staring Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche). THE WORLD’S BEST BROWNIES 1 ¼ cups flour 1 cup sugar ¾ cup packed light brown sugar ¼ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans) ¾ cup butter softened 3 eggs 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla 2 cups of bittersweet chocolate chips ½ cup powdered sugar 1. Preheat oven at 350F. Lightly grease a 13X9-inch baking pan. 2. Mix first six ingredients in a small bowl. 3. Beat butter in a large bowl until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla until blended.(mixture may appear curdled) Add the contents of small bowl to butter mixture; stir until well blended. 4. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Add chocolate chips evenly on top of the batter before cooking. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until brownies spring back when lightly touched. Do not over bake. Cool in pan on wire rack. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top. Makes 2 ½ dozen
page. Not only do we feel the pain of the convicted and the family of the victim, we are treated to a rare look into the psyche of the defense attorney. Conviction, while using some stereotypical images of life, does cause the reader to confront their views on poverty, the American judicial system, the appeals process, and the ultimate punishment: the death sentence. A good read, but definitely not for the beach! Conviction. Richard North Patterson. New York: Ballentine, 2005. 519 pp.
PLAY Dr. Michael Cornelius, Drama Club Advisor, says that everything is going well. It is wonderful that this year’s production can be directed by fellow student, Erika Raines, a senior at Wilson. Along with Dr. Cornelius, Erika says “I have been blessed with an amazing cast that has an incredible chemistry together on stage.” C a s t : Torvald Helmer - Emili Danner Nora Helmer - Meg Oldman Dr. Rank - Rebecca Heston Mrs. Linde - Ashley Barner Nils Krogstad - Sarah Shetter Helmer’s Children - Chelsea Dittman and Sarah Eyd Anne - Dorothy Malinowski Maid - Shanda Welte Porter - Kate Welteroth A Doll’s House will be showing March 3 and March 4 at 7:00 p.m. in Larid Hall. The cost is $5.00 per person, and tickets can be purchased at the door. For more information, contact Dr. Michael G. Cornelius at 717-264-4141 ext. 3308
JOB students signs up to ride to each one. Sign up on the CDC door. Wilson students are also able to attend, at no charge, Penn State’s fairs held at the University Park campus. Teacher Recruitment Day will be held at Millersville University on March 4,also at no charge and requiring resumes as well as professional dress. Make sure you read the biweekly Ebulletins sent by the CDC to read about other fairs in the area. You can also view the Ebulletin via a link on the CDC webpage.