TheYoungtownEdition COUNTY COLLEGE OF MORRIS AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER
VOL. 84, NO. 6
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 03, 2013
RANDOLPH, N.J.
Gold Medalist, 2012 Columbia Scholastic Press Association • First Place General Excellence, 2009 NJPA
“The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year.” -Mark Twain
Supreme Court debates same-sex marriage CCM students voice opinions on the controversial issue
BY JORDAN BARTH Layout Editor
The Supreme Court heard arguments on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage based off two statutes with hundreds of people waiting both inside and outside the United States Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on March 26 and 27. According to the Pew Research Center, “there is slightly more support for same-sex marriage than opposition to it with 48% in favor and 43% opposed… In 2001, Americans opposed same-sex marriage by a 57% to 35% margin.” It can be clearly inferred that views on same-sex marriage have drastically shifted in the past 12 years. “I think it’s a big step,” said Brian Weismantel, journalism major at County College of Morris. “It shows how far the topic has come. It’s definitely come a long way.” First heard by the Supreme Court was an issue dealing with the constitutionality of Proposition 8, voted on by California voters in 2008. This statute defined marriage in California as between a man and a woman. Unique to this case was the methodology in which the law was presented to California voters - never before has a ballot initiative come before the highest court in the land. Supreme Court Justice, Elena Kagan posed a hypothetical ques-
tion to the supporters of Proposition 8 regarding the state’s interest in regulating marriage for the interest of procreation amongst couples over 55 years of age. “I can just assure you if both the woman and the man are over the age of 55, there are not a lot of children coming out of that marriage.” Two probing questions were confronted by the court in this case: Do the petitioners have the right to file a lawsuit under our Constitution in this matter? Also, does the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits states from denying its residents protection under the law, prohibit California from defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman? Joe Somma, liberal arts major at CCM said he hopes that the Supreme Court rules that it’s not the government’s business to intrude in the citizens’ personal life. “Nobody can be held for what they do in their private life,” he said. “It contradicts the idea of freedom.” The other constitutional issue heard by the Court was the constitutionality of a law signed by President Clinton in 1996. This federal law denies federal benefits to gay and lesbian couples. Making this issue more complex, on Feb. 23, 2011, the president and the attorney general announced that they would not defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), according to the
U.S. Supreme Court Media. At issue in this case are three essential legal questions. First, does Section 3 of DOMA violate the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection of the laws as applied to people of the same sex who are legally married under the laws of their state? Next, does the executive branch’s agreement with the ruling handed down by U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit that DOMA is unconstitutional deprive the Supreme Court of the right to decide this case? Finally at issue was whether the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group of the United States House of Representatives has Article III standing in this case. The Bipartisan Legal Advisory Committee are a group of House representatives who support the upholding of DOMA. After the President and the Attorney General announced that they would not defend the act in front of the Court, the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group filed a petition to intervene in defense of DOMA and motioned to dismiss the case. Questions thrown at the attorneys from the bench included the potential social and political implications resulting from this policy change, the questions of standing and injury, and many others. The Supreme Court will make a ruling on these two cases before they leave for summer re-
DAVID MCNEW / GETTY IMAGES NEWS / GETTY IMAGES / UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP
Attorney Gloria Allred holds a petition on behalf of her clients, Robin Tyler and Diane Olson, the first two women to be legally married in Southern California, at their ceremony to renew their wedding vows. cess in June. Whichever way the Court leans will have an enormous impact on the future of gay marriage in this country.
“I’m not against it,” said Faye Hunt, human services major at CCM. “People do whatever makes them happy.”
Asian Students Association hosts cultural dance show PHOTO BY: ASHLYN MAURER
From left to right: Elisa Green, Rachael Santos and Jean Gloria.
Features 5, 7 Opinions 2 Entertainment 6
News 3, 4 Roving Reporter 2 Technology 8
Today’s Headlines
Index
On Wednesday, March 27, the Asian Students Association hosted a cultural Asian dance show. The show included dancing, food and games, such as a chopstick challenge and karaoke. County College of Morris students were also exposed to Bollywood dances and Dance Dance Revolution. Students seek success
CCM students search for success in achieving higher education. Page 4
Driving options for commuters
Cost effective driving options for CCM students. Page 5
Page 2 The Youngtown Edition
OPINIONS
April 3, 2013
The actors’ guilty pleasure BY MATT ALT •
photographer Steve Jerkovich
What is your favorite summer activity? Chris Conehar 20 Undeclared “Waking up late.”
Renata Mauriz 20 International Relations “I live for the sunny days, being outside is enough for me.”
Brian Boettger 18 Liberal Arts “Being able to play video games all day.”
Cindy Levine 52 Humanities “Sleeping in, my kids don’t have to get up.”
Ulises Prudencio 21 Liberal Arts “Playing soccer.”
Erin Anders 18 Business Administration “I go to the beach a lot.”
The Youngtown Edition The Student Newspaper of the County College of Morris County College of Morris • Mail Station SCC 226 214 Center Grove Rd., Randolph, NJ 07869-2086 Phone #: (973) 328-5224 Fax #: (973) 361-4031 E-mail: youngtwonedition@gmail.com Editor in Chief..............................................................Khushbu Kapadia Managing Editor.........................................Carol Bermudez Enamorado Managing Editor .........................................................Melissa Dellacato Managing Editor ............................................................Colin Gallagher Business Manager..................................................................Bianca Iuso News Editor.......................................................................Brian Capriola Features Editor......................................................................Kelby Clark Entertainment Editor........................................................Nicole Darrah Sports Editor...................................................................... Tony DeMaio Photography Editor..............................................................Lisa Palacio Layout Editor....................................................................... Jordan Barth Copy Editor...................................................................... Katie Londono Communications Manager.......................................... Jacob Winterfield Technical Adviser...............................................................Wilma Martin Webmaster................................................................................ A.J. Watts
Staff: Matt Alt, Steve Jerkovich, Daniel Akpatsu, Ashlyn Maurer, Taylor Holmes, Jonathan Dolan, Brian Weismantel Adviser: John Soltes The Youngtown Edition is printed every other Wednesday during the fall and spring semester. Unless specified, the opinions of the editorial page are those of the editorial board. Signed letters to the editor of 250 words of fewer are welcome and should be dropped off on a disk in the Youngtown mailbox in SCC 226 or e-mailed to theyoungtownedition@yahoo.com. All students are welcome to contribute articles to The Youngtown Edition either in person or via e-mail. However, students cannot receive a byline if they belong to the organization on which they are reporting. Writers must include a telephone number where they can be reached. The deadline for submission is the Wednesday prior to the date of publication.
Backgammon is the game of kings BY TIM CUTLER Staff Columnist
What do Mick Jagger, Hugh Hefner, Tobey Maguire, Lindsay Lohan, and Leonardo DiCaprio all have in common? Backgammon. Not just casual Saturday afternoon games with friends and family, either - they are all avid players, internationally ranked competitors, and frequent entries at regional and national tournaments. The list of celebrities who play backgammon is endless, and one of the basic requirements for a movie set is that backgammon boards be included in the actors’ trailers. One of the biggest complaints that movie directors level against their stars is that they play too much backgammon and cause costly filming delays. Backgammon is considered the oldest game on the planet, supposed to have originated in Persia more than 3,000 years ago. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans played their own similar versions. The first book on the subject was published by Edmund Hoyle in England in 1743, which laid down the official rules and settled various disputes about etiquette and protocol. As a result, everyone in the world now plays by the same rules. Almost everyone has a backgammon board somewhere at home (it’s the back side of the chess- or checkerboard). The long triangles are called “points”
and the round pieces are usually called “men.” The object of the game is to move all your men to your side of the board and take them all off. Of course, your opponent is trying to do the same thing, and that’s where tactics and strategy come into play. Rarely does a game last more than twenty minutes and match usually consists of three to five games. Backgammon became wildly popular among the Jet Set in the 1970s, mostly due to the flamboyant leadership of Prince Alexis Obolensky, the founder of the International Backgammon Association. “Obe” was a marketing genius; by tying the game to royalty, wealth and exclusivity, it became almost unthinkable not to be a member of the IBA. Since then, the game has become a permanent feature of virtually every private club in the world. After a round of golf at Morris County G.C. or after lunch at the Union Club, your boss is going to expect you to play a few games. If you can beat him, he might sponsor you for membership; if you don’t know how to play, you’d better polish up your resume. You can play backgammon online, either against a live opponent or a computer program. Some Internet venues keep your statistics, and the most sophisticated pay sites will perform a forensic review of your game to identify exactly where you made a fatal move.
SGA and YOU!
Hello all, I along with the other standing members of Student Government Association (SGA) hope you all had a productive first few weeks after returning to from spring break. We know you are all looking forward to summer, as are we. However, before the semester comes to a close there are a number of issues we are trying to address and events we still have planned. The Walking Taco and International Week both took place at the end of March were successful, we received a great turn out, so thank you to all who came by. At the Walking Taco we sold out of meat and beans an hour before the scheduled end time. Throughout International week events ranged from the Biology Club’s New York City Subway Show, to the Hospitality and Management club’s
Playing at home, at the club, or online all leads to tournament events. In our area, the New York Metropolitan Backgammon Club hosts the annual NY Metropolitan Open every January. Backgammon celebrities from all over the world play in one of three divisions: Championship, Intermediate or Beginner. And yes, there’s money involved. Farther afield, big tournaments include the Ohio State Championship (March 22), Los Angeles Open (June 7), Wisconsin State Championships (August 9) and the Carolina Invitational (August 29). Several international backgammon associations sponsor European tours with over a million dollars in prize money. This year, the Mediterranean Open will be held in Turkey (late May). Getting started on the tournament circuit begins with the monthly “PairO-Dice” event at Lincoln Center in New York. Usually the third Sunday of the month, Intermediates pay an entry fee of $50 and have a good chance of winning it back. Bring your own board. And binoculars to watch the celebrities. You might even be paired up with a movie star! By the way, March 21 is “World Backgammon Day.” A backgammon league will be forming at CCM this Spring. More information and sign up sheet is at the Office of Campus Life.
“La Cantina” French Café, to the Asian Student Club hosting Bollywood dancers, a chopstick challenge and food sale. Black Student Union hosted a Sankofa African Dance and Drum Ensemble, while United Latino Organization’s ended the week with an empanada sale and a salsa dancing showcase. Be on the lookout for more SGA events in April, we will be looking forward to another great turnout before the semester ends. As for student issues, the SGA is looking into ways to improve the campus Wifi and issues surrounding academic advisement. We are also working with the Department of Public Safety to become aware of many safety issues on campus. As solutions are discussed more thoroughly we will be sure to inform you. -- Kelby Clark
NEWS
April 3, 2013
The Youngtown Edition Page 3
CCM students question freedoms before next census BY KELBY K. CLARK Features Editor
Various groups of people throughout the world still face severe inequality in their countries and struggle for their voices to be heard. While many nations remain stagnant in their approach to solving this issue, there are countries in South Asia, such as India and Nepal that have been making tremendous progress. “India’s 2011 national census . . . includes not just the usual two gender categories, but for the first time a third one, called ‘other.’ The national census in Nepal, to be conducted in May, will include three gender options, prompted by a ruling by that nation’s highest court ordering greater protections for the rights of LGBT citizens,” according to the Pew Research Center, a nonprofit research group. “The change on the census form has generated many stories in the Indian press.”
The rhetorical change made by the Indian and Nepali governments causes American citizens to examine and scrutinize the quality and inclusivity of their own country’s census. For many County College of Morris students there is overwhelming concern as to whether the U.S. census contains the necessary variety of word options for members of the LGBT community and other minorities to accurately define themselves. Kacie Elms, president of the CCM Gay Straight Alliance, said there is not much “leeway” when it comes to defining gender on the census form. “Most applications I’ve seen use gender, but they mean born sex. Gender is something you feel inside and what feels right; sex is what you are born with,” Elms said. “It does not give a lot of room for interpretation, just like you can put down you’re a Christian, but that can mean a thousand different things.”
The presence of a third sex option has been discussed and, in certain countries, has been implemented, hoping that it would eliminate the exclusion of the transgender or intersex groups in legal documents. “I feel as though the majority of documents that Americans are required to fill out do not provide options for transgender people when defining gender,” said Lori Fredrickson, graphic design major and vice president of the Gay Straight Alliance at CCM. “It should be a major issue for all people. Gender identity does not have to be a rigid, cut and dry thing. To omit options for transgender people is to invalidate their existence.” The third sex option is not a recent concept in many parts of the world. It actually appears in historical references at least as early as second century B.C.E; however, the inclusion of a third option for sex on a traditional census form is new, according to
a blog post on the Population Reference Bureau site. The third sex option on censuses and many other documents is often listed as “other,” and although many people see this as a solution to the exclusivity of transgender and intersex groups, many others view it as offensive and the start of another problem. “Personally, to think that I’d have to select ‘other’ for something basic like that, it just doesn’t feel right,” Elms said. “It’s weird that we’re still in that homophobic and transphobic state as a country, and it is holding us back.” “The people who create these documents need to speak with transgender advocacy groups to get advice on how best to word them so that they are inclusive in the broadest possible way,” Fredrickson said. Many experts like Serena Nanda, an author and cultural anthropologist has commented on the homophobic and transgender
phobic mindset of the U.S. in an interview with the U.K. morning newspaper, The Independent. “Many other cultures have similar roles, including indigenous cultures who value gender bending and blending. Or, even if they do not value them, they make room for them,” Nanda said. “The question I would ask is why Western culture, especially in the U.S., is so transgender phobic.” Some CCM students agree with Nanda. They believe that the limited options on the U.S. census form are clear evidence of the country’s attitude toward sex and gender identity. As a result, many feel it is time to address this issue. “When dealing with an incredibly broad sampling of people,” Fredrickson said, “consideration must be taken so that no one group of people feels isolated or excluded.”
Students, Voice Your Technology Needs through a National Survey Students, you have the opportunity to influence the technology decisions County College of Morris (CCM) makes that impact you and future students … but only if they complete an important national survey.
On April 1, current CCM students received an email linking to a survey conducted through the EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research (ECAR) that asks them to give feedback on how they use technology as well as what is currently available to them at CCM. For your opinion to impact the technology your college provides, it is vital to complete the survey. Information ECAR provides CCM will help inform the decisions your college makes moving forward when it comes to the technology you use in your education every day on and off campus.
Your response might be the source of the change you wish to see. Don’t miss your chance! EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association that, through its wide-reaching research and analysis, fosters better decision making regarding information technology in higher education. You will only have until April 12 to follow the link in the email you received on April 1 to complete the survey. Don’t miss your chance to help influence the technology decisions your college makes. Follow the link and take the survey. CCM needs your voice!
Page 4 The Youngtown Edition
NEWS
April 3, 2013
More students seek success in higher education
BILL SANFILIPPO Staff Writer
The United States has seen an increase in young adults graduating from high school and college, according to a recent study conducted by The Pew Research Center. More students are attending a higher education institution because of the poor economy of the past few years, an increase in educated immigrants and because young Americans are seeking success. “57% of Americans over the age of 25 have completed at least some form of education, compared with 22% of adults in 1971,” according to the data. The U.S. has seen an all-around increase in students attending schools of higher education as well as higher education graduation rates. Researchers thought there would be a decline in students enrolled in a higher education institution because of the increasing cost, according to the study. “The number has most likely increased because in this generation young adults are entering a more competitive world,” said Karissa Przyhocki, a humanities and social sciences major at County College of Morris. “Without a certain level of education, oftentimes employers aren’t interested in hiring people with a lack of education.” The Pew Research Center gathered its findings based on several primary reasons. The poor economy has forced young people to return to school because they are having difficulty finding a job. The survey
Cristian Caporallini, a County College of Morris student, gets ready for graduation. states that people are more inclined to earn a college degree because it will help them obtain a job and achieve success in life. “Less people may be going into the workforce simply because there is a lack of job opportunities,” Przyhocki said. Today’s tough economic times can lead to many not having an option other than to go back to school and become more educated.
“When I graduated high school in 1978, I did not feel pressure to go to school, none of my friends were going to school,” said Cindy Levine, a humanities and liberal arts major. “There weren’t any incentives for school because of my lack of caring about grades. My counselors pushed me to take classes geared towards secretarial work.” Levine mentioned she remembers be-
PHOTO BY ASHLYN MAURER
ing encouraged by school counselors to take on skills like typing, book keeping and key punch. “Because of economic and work related changes in this country,” Levine said, “the only way to make enough money to support yourself, let alone a family, is a job that requires, at minimum, an associate’s degree.”
April 3, 2013
FEATURES
The Youngtown Edition Page 5
Best driving options for commuter students BY JACOB WINTERFIELD Communications Manager
The steady increase in gas prices could make commuting difficult, especially for some students at commuter colleges. The Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic are the best bang for your buck, according to Scott Tomson, Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified technician of The Garage NJ in West Orange. Commuter college students are on a budget and should look at buying a used car, Tomson said. The Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic have an average of 30 mpg or better for the past ten years, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Tomson works on many Corollas and Civics and has owned two Corollas himself. Tomson suggests selling your old car privately because a dealership will typically give you less than the actual value of your car. The websites www.kbb.com and www.nada.com can be used to find the suggested retail value of your car by inserting the year,
make, and mileage, according to Tomson. “If you are a college student and see a cheap Mercedes or BMW, do not purchase the car,” he said. “The parts on those higher end cars are expensive and break very often. If you cannot afford to replace the parts, you cannot afford the car.” Students who do not want a used car should consider leasing a car because it provides reliability without the expensive down payment of buying a car, Tomson said. If you do not lease a car, you should avoid taking your car to a dealership because they will charge you a premium price for all parts and labor. “When taking your car to a new shop, you should always start with something small, like an oil change, before jumping into a big repair job,” he said. “If you do not trust what the mechanic is telling you, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion.” If you are having a lot of work done on your vehicle, it is possible to negotiate the price of labor, but make sure to negotiate
PHOTO BY JACOB WINTERFIELD
prior to the repair job, Tomson said. A local shop can keep an old car running for a long time, at the fraction of the price that a dealership will charge. Tomson’s shop will typically give people who are low on cash the wholesale price for parts. “The best way to keep a car running efficiently is to change the oil around 3,000 miles and have the break changed before they start making squeaking nois-
es,” Tomson said. “If you change the breaks before they completely wear down you can avoid buying new rotors, which would double the cost of the break job.” Tomson suggested that people avoid getting gas from stations in flood areas because the large underground tanks can become compromised with water. An engine that gets too much watered down gas can lead to rust build up and eventually engine
failure. If a car does not call for premium gas, you will not get better gas mileage, but you will just end up wasting money. “In my opinion, the Toyota Camry is the most American car on the market right now, all the parts and labor is done on U.S. soil,” Tomson said. “The Camry is more American than Ford’s and Chevy’s and all of them, but if they want to look American they should buy the Ford Focus.”
Young adults manage debt amid financial turmoil BY BRIAN CAPRIOLA News Editor
While current Federal Reserve assessments of the economy suggest hard times are over, substantial personal debt acquired during the Great Recession noticeably lin-
gers. Yet evidence of a positive economic trend among young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 has emerged according to a recent Pew Research Center study, which showed the demographic shed substantially more debt during and after the recession than older adults.
“I have been completely debt free for about two weeks now,” said 20-year-old County College of Morris student Kyle Raymond. “Between food and travel, my credit card bills went as high as $1,500, which was scary.” Credit card balances have historically been the main source of debt attributed to young adults, as roughly 50 percent of young adults carried credit debt of more than $1,300 in 2001, according to the study. The median amount owed among young adults with balances has fallen over the decade from $2,500 in 2001 to $2,100 in 2007 and further diminished to $1,700 in 2010. Shifts in the debt profile of younger adults can be linked to social patterns of the demographic’s asset ownership, as the Pew report analyzed. The decision of younger adults opting to live at home with parents rather than form households of their own has resulted in a less extreme
and more manageable debt accumulation, as the study suggests. “I’ve never been in any type of debt,” said Allison Economou, a 19-year-old CCM student. “Fortunately my school has been paid off by family, and I don’t pay rent living at home. So really all I have to worry about is paying for gas, food and haircuts.” Life is perhaps easier among the younger population, as home mortgages and car payments are not an issue. However, some of the older CCM students offer a much different outlook on budget managing and the difficulties presented throughout the course of adulthood. “Everything costs more now and it’s harder to save,” said Kathleen Kohaut, a 50-year-old CCM student from Mount Olive, N.J. “My husband works 6 to 7 days a week, and I’m paying out of pocket to attend CCM part-time so I can also work to lower our credit debt.”
ENTERTAINMENT
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April 3, 2013
Will there be a stampede for the Playstation 4? BY SEAN LOBINS Contributor
On Feb. 20, Sony held a press conference unveiling its plans for the Playstation 4. Sony revealed that the Playstation 4 will have specifications that will resemble a high-end computer. Some of the hardware includes a higher CPU, better graphics processing unit, 8GBs of unified memory and local storage hard drive. “Visually the graphics look stunning, but I don’t know anything about what the system looks like or runs like. It’s too early to tell,” said Ronnie Kumpf, a selfproclaimed gamer. “The graphics look great so I’m pretty excited for it.” Despite being excited for the Playstation 4, Kumpf is unsure whether he will get one when it’s released. “I want to see the price and what the hard drive is like. If they both look great then yes. If not, I can wait a year.” Another reason for waiting is that the Playstation 4 will not be backwards compatible, meaning it will not be capable of playing games made for earlier versions of the Playstation. Sony announced that there will be four titles available at launch including: Killzone: Shadow Fall, Knack, The Witness, and Infamous: Second Son. “It’s too early to tell, but
PHOTO BY ASHLYN MAURER
Michael Kumanowski and Jeremy Whitehead play video games in the Student Community Center. from what I have seen so far I am loving them,” Kumpf added. “Remember too if this is releasing in the fall you’re going to get more launch titles such as FIFA or Madden.” However, some like Tom Decker, an avid Xbox gamer, are not as sure about the Playstation 4.
“I don’t want to put my money down on it until I see more that they can offer,” Decker said. When it comes to the issue of backwards compatibility, Decker said he feels that Sony is disrespecting the fans. “I think it’s kind of an insult to the fans. If it was backwards compatible you could sell your
Playstation 3 and just buy the Playstation 4,” he said. “Basically I don’t like it.” Despite all this Decker said he would eventually buy a Playstation 4. “I’m more of an Xbox guy, but I like the entertaining games and experience that Playstation offers,” he said. “I’m not that impressed,”
said Jessica Gaydick, a Gamestop manager. “The streaming thing is cool, but it’s not something I would use. The touch screen on the controller is cool. There is only so much they can do graphically, but until I see more, I’m not hooting and hollering for it.” Gaydick said she feels that Sony will announce more launch titles as the Playstation 4 gets closer to release. “It’ll be a really crappy launch if they don’t have more titles, especially since it isn’t backward compatible,” she said. With regards to backwards compatibility Gaydick said she felt that some people would not get it right away because of not being backwards compatible. “I think it’s definitely going to cause some people not get it right away,” Gaydick said. “I never really played my Playstation 2 games on my Playstation 3 when it was backwards compatible, but I would wait to upgrade since I have a library of games to play.” Only time will tell if backwards compatibility will delay gamers from buying the Playstation 4 right away.
How does reality TV affect young women?
BY CAROL BERMUDEZ ENAMORADO Managing Editor
Over the past decade reality TV has become extremely popular. “Going back to 2000, reality television was but a mere programming indulgence used to somehow represent elements from modern society through the use of ‘real’ people,” according to screenrant.com. Certain shows on TV portray an image to young female demographics that can be seen as negative. Popular shows, like “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” “Keeping up with the Kardashians” and shows found on MTV are predominantly female
based. This genre of television programing can leave an impression on young women that cause them to act like the women they see on TV. “I think the female demographic is affected in a negative way in reality shows,” said Khushbu Kapadia, communications major at County College of Morris. “Most reality shows portray women as ignorant and aggressive people. For example, the Jersey Shore portrays all the women as senseless, immature and irresponsible people.” “Jersey Shore does nothing but validate drinking to the point of blacking out, acting sleazy for attention, and getting into awful brawls in order to settle simple
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misunderstandings,” said Annie Bostick, a criminal justice major at CCM. “Should the audience continue to hold this behavior so highly, we will continue to have victims of other people’s lack of respect for the law, and most importantly respect for themselves.” “Keeping up with the Kardashians” is a show of women who received fame yet no one has a true talent, said Bostick. Some would say leaking out a sex tape was the predominant reason for Kim Kardashian’s fame, stated Bostick, adding that if young girls mirror what they see on TV for fame, we will get a young group of women that believe fame and fortune should be handed to them without having to work hard for it.
Students at CCM have strong opinions on reality TV being negative. Some students say that it shouldn’t be taken that serious and it’s just a form of amusement. “I think it’s just for entertainment,” said Larissa Juliano, 23, nursing major at CCM. “Teen mom has girls doing positive things with their lives after having a baby.” Juliano said she watches reality shows because they are entertaining and she thinks “The Housewives of New Jersey” is fake and scripted. “I don’t think there’s a point,” said Nube Gomez, 20, nursing major at CCM. “The shows don’t really teach you anything.”
April 3, 2013
FEATURES
Keek, a new way to communicate to the world KHUSHBU KAPADIA Editor in Chief
As Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and many more social networks become more popular, some competitors are also on the rise. One such competitor is Keek, a quick method to share video updates with friends. Keek allows a maximum of 36-second video updates via webcam, iPhone, Android and Blackberry. Not only does Keek allow users to upload 36-second video clips, the system also allows users to post “keekbacks”. This feature allows users to respond to a post. “Simply press the ‘Keekback’ button underneath a keek and record your video comment. Add an ‘@mention’ in the caption and they’ll be instantly notified that you posted a keekback for them,” stated keek.com. Keek also provides the freedom to send private keeks. “If you and another user are following each other, you can send them a private keek. Go to your Dashboard → Keekmail → Private keeks and click the ‘New private keek’ button. Simply enter your friend’s Keek username and record
your message,” stated keek.com. On March 14, 2013, Keek unveiled its new account verification program to meet increased demand from many high-profile celebrities and other notable figures. Keek also began marketing select accounts with a verified symbol to help individuals and businesses at high risk of impersonation authenticate their identity. According to keek.com, “The Keek community is growing rapidly with millions of people signing up monthly. Keek’s account verification feature is used to authenticate the identity of users. The “verified” icon helps establish trust and makes it easier for users to find you and your content.” Keek’s utilizes the features of many popular social media applications.. For example, Keek’s verification program is similar to Twitter’s verification program. Twitter provides a verification icon for high-profile celebrities and influencers. Apart from the verification program, Keek utilizes hashtags,a symbol engrained in pop culture.. In addition, Keek shares some qualities with Instagram as well. The use of hashtags is also present in Instagram as it
is on Keek and Twitter. Furthermore, Instagram provides instant photo updates, whereas Keek provides instant video updates. Keek is combination of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The only difference is that Keek allows users to communicate via videos only. The origins of Keek come from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where Keek Inc. is located. Keek was launched early 2011, but just recently became popular when celebrities, such as the Kardashians, started using the app. According to sfgate.com, Kim Kardashian, a famous celebrity, is quite fond of this interactive app. “Keek is a fun new way to interact with my fans and I really can’t believe how fast it’s grown,” says Kim Kardashian.’” Keek is also known as a microvideo blogging app. With the rise in technology, most home videos are captured through the use of smartphones. However, as the number of apps continue to rise, it’s possible that microvideo blogging can be the next new thing. The application is free to download. To learn more about Keek please visit Keek’s official website.
The Youngtown Edition Page 7
The struggles of the single mother CANDICE SACCO Contributor
The consequences of a casual sexual encounter can be vastly underestimated. In August 2001, Katie Pennachio, then a 20 year-old woman, had a one-night stand with a young man she had just met. The encounter would result in the birth of twin boys nine months later and her being a single mother to the present day. “I was in complete denial when I first found out I was pregnant,” Pennachio said. “I couldn’t bring myself to believe it.” Many women find the notion of being a single parent intimidating. It’s a more common situation than one may think. As of 2011, 85.2 percent of families in the United States were headed by a single-female parent, according to research conducted by singlemotherguide.com. A single mother’s struggles include poverty, homelessness and worrying about the impact of an absent father on the child stated the website. “I worry about them not having a consistent father in their life,” Pennachio said. “I feel like they’re missing something.” Pennachio’s fears may not be unrealistic. James LaRoche, a 32 year-old forklift operator from Brooklyn, N.Y., grew up in a single-mother household. He said his life would be drastically different if his father had been present. “Fathers are a good source of security and guidance,” LaRoche said. “I would’ve made better choices in my life had I had a father to guide me.” More than one-half of all youths incarcerated for criminal acts lived in singleparent families when they were children, and 75 percent of adolescents in chemical dependency hospitals are from single-parent families, according to singleparentsuccess.org. Sometimes not having a father figure in their child’s life isn’t the only struggle single mothers face. Some feel the sacrifice of their personal time is also a struggle. Samantha Karnis, a cashier from Dover, N.J., and single mother of two, said she neglects herself. “My biggest struggle is not having time for myself,” Karnis said. “It’s like I had to put my life on hold.” Karnis figured out a way to incorporate her children into activities she would normally do alone. “When I get my nails done… I bring my oldest daughter with me,” said Karnis. “She gets her nails done too and she loves it.” Karnis is one of many single mothers ignoring statistics and balancing the struggles of everyday life and raising children. “It was the shadow of statistics and stereotypes that helped to weigh me down,” stated Sandy Banks, a writer for the Los Angeles Times and single mother. According to Banks, explaining she was a widow would open the door for people’s criticism and judgment. Some people believe that having a child out of wedlock deserves condemnation. After years of experience and successfully raising three children, she realized that her children thrived not in spite of what they lacked, but because of what they had.
Page 8 The Youngtown Edition
FEATURES
Film Club launches blog for CCM clubs, college’s most talented students BY KELBY K. CLARK Features Editor
Student clubs and organizations at colleges and universities all across the United States have found creative ways to use the Internet and social media to their advantage by promoting their agendas, activities and events. County College of Morris is no different. The community college now has a more active presence on the Internet than ever before. In addition to Twitter pages and a number of Facebook groups, CCM has now expanded its online presence with the launch of a blog with contributions from more than 40 active student organizations can use to engage with fellow students and Internet users, informing them of the latest events and opportunities offered at the college. The blog was launched at the beginning of the spring 2013 semester and is designed and operated by Rick Burchfield, coordinator of communications and college relations. The members of the Film Club make videos for all the clubs that post to the blog, adding to the interactivity of the website. “We wanted to get out the idea that we’re a club that makes videos, and we wanted to promote other clubs as well,” said Jack Siberine, co-president of the Student Film Club and broadcasting major at CCM. “We wanted to do a blog because everyone has Facebook and that’s all great, but there’s no real way to connect the clubs . . . This was a way to connect the clubs.” Siberine and Co-President Nick Sangiacomo discussed their desire to promote their club and other CCM clubs, but did not come up with the idea of creating a website right away. The two later spoke with Kathleen Brunet Eagan, the director of communications and college relations, and together the three of them eventually came up with the idea of creating a blog. It was decided to use WordPress. com, a popular, free blog web hosting service provider. The blog allows students and other readers to interact with the clubs that post onto the site by allowing readers to leave comments on all posts. Additionally, the website contains features such as a Facebook widget and a sidebar that shows updates from the official CCM Twitter page. Members of New Social Engine, Student Activities Programming Board and Young Entrepreneurs of America have been active on the blog ever since its inception. At New Social Engine’s most recently events, Free Bowling Night at Rockaway Lanes, members of the Film Club made an appearance and attained some footage of the activity to later put on the website. “NSE is really taking advantage of it,” Siberine said. In addition, there are other student organizations active on campus at CCM that believe the blog can help promote their organization and sponsored activities as well, like the Student Government Association. “A lot of people don’t care to know what we have to offer, they don’t want to become invested in CCM . . . I think it’s a good idea for SGA to use the blog . . . I think if it becomes popular it will help,” said Marianna Borrero, nursing major and president of the Student Government Association at CCM. “I really hope it
does well. I’d like to see it succeed for the sake of [the] Film Club and CCM.” The Film club has expanded its inclusion of student organizations even more by collaborating with the editors of CCM’s award-winning student newspaper, The Youngtown Edition, to write, produce and film news broadcasts to be posted to the blog on a monthly basis. “I think the news show will be good for the Youngtown because it will showcase our talents not just on paper but from a visual aspect,” said Khushbu Kapadia, editor in chief of The Youngtown Edition. “When people actually look at the blog, they will know that the Youngtown does other things than the newspaper . . . I think the blog is the best way to showcase the Youngtown’s talents.” The blog already has 10 posts, a few of them posted by the Film Club itself, and as the semester continues, the members of the Film Club are hopeful that there will be many more posts and many more clubs that participate. “We’ve been proactive, talking to a lot of clubs,” Siberine said. However, members of the Film Club want the student body to be aware that the website is not solely club-oriented. The Film Club plans to add more to the website, such as a “spotlight section,” said Siberine. The spotlight section will showcase talented individuals such as musicians, comedians, magicians, or members of a band who attend CCM. If the goals that the Film Club has for the website remain the same throughout the next few semesters, the blog will be an outlet of expression for not only club members, but for all CCM students. “If you participated or organized a certain event, that’s awesome and people should know that, but my main hope for the blog is to highlight specific students. I haven’t heard CCM’s view on this, but I think it would be awesome for students to use the blog to promote extracurricular activities they are involved in,” Sangiacomo said. “Bands, singing, dancing, art, I feel like a lot of that richness that is generally on college campuses is missing at CCM only because there’s no place to advertise it. That’s what I really want this blog to be.” The County College of Morris Student Clubs blog can be found at: http:// countycollegeofmorris.wordpress.com/
April 3, 2013
Women are poorly represented in high-tech industries KHUSHBU KAPADIA Editor in chief
America’s competiveness in a global economy depends excessively on the ability to innovate. With technology becoming increasingly significant, more people lean toward job placements in high tech, or technology that is cutting edge. However, today the economy, not only in America, but also in other countries, is shutting out many valuable employees who could contribute new ideas to the company. These employees mainly occupy the category of women. Although some women are placed in high-tech job companies, many women are represented poorly in high-tech industries and companies at the executive level. One such example is of Silicon Valley. Although you would think that a place such as Silicon Valley, in the southern region of the San Francisco Bay area, would have rare occurrences of outright sexism in the tech world, for women the narrative unfolds quite differently. According to the Silicon Valley Watcher, “Silicon Valley is running hard to maintain its position as the global innovation engine, against competition with dozens of fast growing innovation centers around the world.” Which is why it’s perplexing that Silicon Valley has such a large gender gap in key roles such as, entrepreneurs, engineers and other executive roles. This raises the issue of gender inequality. However, this gender inequality and sexism does not simply exist in Silicon Valley, but also across the U.S. According the United States Department of Labor, one out of ten employed engineers was a woman, while two of ten employed engineering technologists and technicians were women. Why is it that this unfairness for women in high-tech industries exists in such an industrialized and modern time? Perhaps the thought process behind such companies in Silicon Valley and other places has to do with the fact that most women are to become mothers and wives sometime in their life. Women are often hampered with traditional, feminine roles. Furthermore, not only motherhood and family responsibilities factor in, but also the fact that research portrays that gender exerts a powerful influence on where the money goes in Silicon Valley. For example, a re-
JOHN LUND / BLEND / LEARNING PICTURES / UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP
Business professionals shake hands on a deal
search conducted by Kauffman Foundation concludes that venture capital firms with senior female investors are more likely to attract and close deals with women-led companies and start-ups. “Seventy percent of women venture capitalists were in partnerships that had closed deals with women-led companies,” according to a Kauffman Foundation study. This may conclude that men might be reluctant to invest in women-led companies. Often times, women seem to trust women and men seem to trust men. Therefore, the thought that women have other responsibilities separate from work and that people are more trusting working with people of their own sex, may be some of the reasons as to why women are poorly represented in high-tech industries at the executive level. However, is that a reasonable excuse for women to be underrepresented in high-tech companies at top positions? Hillary Schnatter, a student at County College of Morris, sides with the thought that women and men should be treated equally in the workforce. “I think that men who work in high-tech industries feel superior to begin with. Once men see that women can be a potential threat or competition, they become little and undermine the success that women bring in order to maintain dominance and superiority,” said Hillary. In addition, if companies continue to exclude women from high-tech jobs at the executive level, then America’s ability to create and innovate will suffer, including the economy. The resolution for this issue of women suffering in high-tech jobs, rests with the actions of women in our society. The ability to speak out and take action can provide great solutions and paths to the future of working women.