Dec0711

TheYoungtownEdition COUNTY COLLEGE OF MORRIS AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER

VOL. 87, NO. 6

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2011

RANDOLPH, N.J.

Gold Medalist, 2009 Columbia Scholastic Press Association • First Place General Excellence, 2010 NJPA

“To create more positive results in your life, replace ‘if only’ with ‘next time’.” -Author Unknown

New fountains aim for a more sanitary school MICHAEL TARANTELLA Contributor

Faculty members at the County College of Morris call them “Hydration Stations.”

These new water fountains can be found all throughout CCM’s Cohen, Demare, Sheffield, and Henderson halls. The trick with these new fountains, however, is that it’s difficult to impossible to drink from them without a bottle.

In fact, these machines are custom made to count just how many plastic bottles have been saved by people who fill their own bottles using the machines, even going so far as to count just how many times the machine has been used.

Most have them have exceeded far into the thousands within the first few weeks into the fall semester.

Vice president of business and finance Karen Vanderhoof explained why these new fountains were installed and why they are superior to the previous fountains.

“Water fountains can be kind of gross…” she said. Compared to the previous older water fountains, the hydration stations make for a “cleaner, neater looking fa-

cility.” The older machines were going to be replaced anyway, as they protruded up to two feet into the hallways. These new machines are not only cleaner but take up almost no hallway space, being built inside the wall rather than protruding out from it like the previous models. This allows more walking space for students in many of the busier hallways.

The stations are also hygienic due to lack of mouth contact, sturdy and sustainable by design, and produces chilled filtered water, which is the main reason why they are so favored by the faculty.

Most students seem to be adapting to these stations well and have had relatively positive opinions on them, and the sheer numbers shown on the machines themselves as to how many water bottles have been saved goes to show how many students and faculty members use them regularly.

“I like them,” says one passerby in the student lounge. “The water is very cold and they help the environment.”

One major issue however is the use of disposable plastic bottles with these machines. By nature, the machines encourage recycling, so one would think that

Learning to adjust

would mean to reuse the plastic bottles of drinks that are sold in vending machines throughout CCM, but students should give a second thought about possible bacteria build up from the lid and even the bottom of the ANTHONY TOBAR bottle.

Two of the new “hydration stations” located on campus here at CCM. E v e n Karen Vanderhoof agreed when the subject of disposable water bottles was brought up “Those are not recommended for use” she said. “It is best to use water bottles that are used for refilling minutes. After the students doMARY HERNANDEZ and BPA (Bisphenol A) free.” She Contributor nated their blood they received mentioned specifically using steel snacks and juice which the bottles.

The County College of BCNJ provided. They were also Morris was the blood center of These new hydration stations given a free BCNJ T-shirt which Morris County on November 29. are a clean and more satisfying showed they supported.

The college provided accommoalternative, but it seems students The Blood Center of New dations for ten staff members of will have to invest in reusable Jersey is a non-profit organizathe Blood Center of New Jersey bottles if they want to get a free in the Library Reading Room tion based out of East Orange. refreshing swig of water at CCM. The donations go to the various from 8a.m. to 4p.m.

Jeff Ochital, the Account hospitals and medical centers Representative for the BCNJ, whom they work with throughsaid that the first two hours of out New Jersey. The blood can the blood drive was slow but be used in various situations, quickly picked up later in the such as: premature babies in rest. One day her son came home afternoon. BCNJ had a goal to from school as she was getting up intensive care, trauma victims, collect a total of 60 donations. from napping and she told him he Meanwhile 47 CCM students organ transplant patients, cancer better get his homework done beregistered, but only 40 donors patients, burn victims, surgery fore the morning. could actually donate blood. Of patients, children and adults Griffin’s world went black. the 40 donors 15 had never do- with blood disorders, such as heHer son told her that it was 2 p.m. nated with the BCNJ. and still bright out. The realizamophilia, anemia and sickle cell tion came like a flood.

The entire process from filldisease. The BCNJ is always in “I’m blind,” Griffin said with ing out the forms until the recovfear. ery took about 30 to 35 minutes, need of blood; to find informaToday Griffin is determined while the actual drawing of the tion on how to donate, go to their not to let her visual impairment blood took about ten of those website, www.bloodnj.org. define her. She wants to graduate with a degree in Nutrition.

Griffin loves books. Movies are still entertaining, though she can’t be as quiet in the theatre because she has to have her son describes the scenes to her.

In the classroom sometimes it can be hard to pay attention as a headache comes on or as her hands and limbs go numb. Life is difficult and much slower for Griffin, but she keeps her head up and pushes through the pain.

CCM students donate blood close to home

Lori Griffin’s struggle to overcome her blindness Business manager

Index

Lori Griffin clips the leather leash around her seeing-eye dog, gives him a command to get up, and he begins to lead her to the door. The driver pulls up to take Griffin with her Labrador by her side and they begin the day at CCM. The crowded hallways, filled with students walking and sitting on the edges, waiting for class, immediately turn their attention towards Griffin as she makes her way to her next class.

Every person is a shadow and sunsets only last for a second.

“I miss the sunset so much. I loved driving home from work on the highway and watching it go down,” Griffin said, riding in the passengers seat as we cruised the highway at dusk.

Tests are challenging. As I read the test to Griffin, she does

Features 6, 7 Opinions 2, 3 Entertainment 4, 5

her best to imagine what the questions look like and gives me the answer to write down.

“I hate this life,” she says in frustration.

Daily chores take hours instead of minutes. Griffin waits for a family member to take her to the laundromat and grocery store every week or so. Griffin will be the second one in her family to graduate with a college degree with her eldest son Tyquan being the first.

Five years ago Griffin moved to Georgia in hopes of starting a new life. She was working three jobs while living as a single mother.

The headaches got worse and her face started to swell around her eyes. Griffin ended up in the emergency room where they told her she had a severe stroke. She had not yet lost her sight.

As she returned home from the hospital, all she could do was

News 8 Roving Reporter 2

Today’s Headlines

LAUREN NELSON

Attention:

The Youngtown Edition is on Facebook and Twitter.

Search for us on Facebook or follow us @theyoungtown

Familiar faces hit the silver screen

The Youngtown Edition reviews the recent Muppets movie Page 5.

Spotlight on studentrun clubs

Find out what the Gourmet Club and CCF are all about Page 6.

OPINIONS

Page 2 The Youngtown Edition

BY ANTHONY TOBAR •

photographer

How would you feel about CCM having a football team?

Sebastian Castillo 20 History “I think the question is would it be successful?”

Jorge Sanchez-Bugallo 25 Visual Arts “When you say football you mean American Football right? I could care less.”

Alex Castro 20 Excercise Science “The level of talent would be incredible here and it would be hard to compete against us.”

Manny Udoh 19 Mechanical Engineering “It would benefit some people and bring more school spirit”

Jeffrey Valeus 20 Accounting “It would be good for the players that don’t play other sports. It would give people options.”

Theresa Carnevale 18 Exercise Science

JOSEPH POHL

What the Frack?

Acting managing editor

If you have not heard the term fracking yet, you will hear about it in the near future.

The process called hydraulic fracturing, also referred to as “fracking,” is happening more and more across the US. It involves injecting huge amounts of water, sand and chemicals at high pressures that in turn fracture shale formations and unleash gas that is buried thousands of feet below earth’s surface.

Fracking has already been going on in states such as Texas, Ohio, Wyoming, West Virginia, Colorado and Pennsylvania just to name a few. Residents from these states have already started to blame this process for polluting their underground drinking water supply, which the industries doing the drilling maintain the practice of fracking is safe.

Environmentalists and doctors disagree.

The Environmental Protection Agency released test results a few months back from environmental monitoring wells in an aquifer in Pavillion, Wyoming.

The results revealed that the aquifer contained high levels of cancer-causing compounds and at least one chemical commonly used in the fracking process.

In Pennsylvania, a similar case happened. Drilling began in small Pennsylvania town called Brockway because unfortunately, Brockway Municipal Authority did not possess their own mineral rights. So the Supreme Court in 2008 ruled that because the watershed in Brockway was owned by private owners the town has to

DANIEL CHARDON Contributer

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: theyoungtownedition@yahoo.com Editor in Chief................................................................... Alice Peterson Managing Editor.............................................Eddie Villabon, Joey Pohl Business Manager.............................................................Lauren Nelson News Editor.................................................................................... OPEN Features Editor............................................................................... OPEN Entertainment Editor.........................................................Lauren Bozzi Sports Editor.................................................................................. OPEN Photography Editor....................................................................... OPEN Layout Editor................................................................................. OPEN Copy Editor.................................................................................... OPEN Communications Manager................................................Jospeh Felano Technical Adviser...............................................................Wilma Martin

Staff:

Daniel Chardon, Mary Hernandez, Matthew Wille, Charlie Cathcart, Jordan Kalmowitz, Jack Anzul, Sandra Pledger, Katalina Marin, Nick Sangiacomo, Peter Shearer, Michael Tarantella, Vincent Yango, Lioulas Apostolis, Jose Pinales, Shawn Paterson, Kelly Romlein, Lauren Nelson, Alex Naspo

Adviser: Mindy Drexel 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.

let the drilling begin, according to www.sej.org However, during a recent inspection, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection found methane leaking through the gas well, which could eventually runoff into the surrounding watershed in Brockway.

Sounds like this process is not 100 percent safe does it?

Another strange thing about the situation is that the EPA is finally doing an investigation on the fracking process now but why so late.

One source said that it is because of the Bush Administration.

He said when they gave the go ahead to these industries to start using the process of hydraulic fracturing, the Bush administration let them drill with absolute freedom from any EPA regulations. (This source chooses to remain anonymous but is a teacher at CCM) True or not, this drilling has been going on for years and who knows how much these industries polluted nearby watersheds and underground water supplies.

Nobody will know until the EPA investigation is finished, which is estimated to be completed in a year or more.

But hasn’t enough damage already been done to these people living near these fracking sites?

President Obama supports the gas drilling as part of his energy plans but has now added promises to make sure the process is safe for the people of the US. Unfortunately, these companies are not doing enough to protect the environment and the people, according to www.sej.org The current issue is the de-

bate whether these fracking companies can start drilling in the northeast—particularly near Delaware River. The Delaware River Basin Commission is charged with voting on whether or not drilling can take place.

The heads of this commission are the governors of New York—Andrew Cuomo, New Jersey—Chris Christie, Pennsylvania—Tom Corbett, and Delaware—Jack Markell. Currently the votes are split 2-2, according to an article posted on www.sej. org.

But there is one more seat on the commission left to vote and that’s the seat held by the federal agent, Colonel Christopher Larsen of the Army Corps of Engineers. Environmentalists activist are currently pressuring the president to have Larsen oppose the development.

If hydraulic fracturing is to take place in these states without investigation of the safety of this drilling process the effects could be potentially hazardous.

First of all, New York City gets their water unfiltered from the Catskills. If these drilling wells are to leak, you are talking about the whole city being affected by these potentially harmful chemicals.

Also if certain chemicals from the fracking process were to leak into the Delaware River, drinking water for 16 million people—including a large part of New Jersey—will be affected.

So this issue comes down to—should we be more concerned with money and jobs or should we be concerned for the health of the people?

You choose.

School of disgrace

“I would paint my body!”

The Youngtown Edition

December 7, 2011

On November 4 Penn State University changed forever. On that day, former football assistant Jerry Sandusky was indicted on 40 counts of sex crimes against young males.

The scope of everything that has transpired since this story has gone national is almost unbelievable. The actions of one man have affected an entire community and shook the moral fibers of a revered university to its foundations. In light of recent events, it’s now a fair question to ask where our children can go to be safe.

Jerry Sandusky was an assistant coach at Penn State under legendary head coach Joe Paterno for 32 years. In 1977 Sandusky started The Second Mile, a charity to help troubled young boys in State College, Pennsylvania.

There was an investigation into Sandusky’s actions in 1998 when he was accused by a mother of showering with her son who was in his program. District Attorney Ray Gricar decided that there would be no criminal charge and the case was dropped.

The following year, Sandusky retired from his position on the Penn State football staff, but he remained as a retired coach with access to all football facilities.

Another formal investigation

began in 2008 after a mother of a different boy accused Sandusky of sexually molesting her son.

It was during this investigation where this case took a turn for the worse.

Assistant coach Mike McQueary goes before the grand jury to testify in December of 2010 of an incident he witnessed in 2002.

McQueary testified that on March 1, 2002 at 9:30pm he walked into the locker room at the Lasch Football building at Penn State and noticed that the showers were running. McQueary then said he heard the rhythmic sounds of someone having sex and looked into the showers and saw Sandusky sodomizing a young boy.

McQueary said that he left the locker room and proceeded to call his father, asking what to do.

The following day McQueary reported the incident to Joe Paterno who then informs Athletic Director Tim Curley. The only action taken against Sandusky by Curley and Gary Schultz, head of campus police, was to ban him from bringing any young boys around the football facility anymore. This action was also approved by Graham Spanier, president of Penn State University.

Regardless of what happens from here on out the question remains why wasn’t more done to stop this sexual predator? On two separate occasions the actions of

Sandusky were made known to authorities and both times they were brushed aside.

The actions of Jerry Sandusky are indefensible and yet for all of the terrible things he’s done he’s not the one with the spotlight on him. Penn State and Joe Paterno are the individuals being held accountable for these terrible crimes. Two questions arise from this situation. Is it fair that they are receiving a bulk of the blame and does fairness even matter anymore?

They knew of Sandusky’s actions and did nothing to stop him.

Imagine that situation happening at CCM. You have a younger brother or sister on campus in some youth program and they are being abused by a faculty member you know. Now envision other faculty members knowing and not doing anything stop it. It’s a scary scenario.

Penn State is guilty of breaking a trust between itself and the public. It knowingly allowed the sexual abuse of minors go on within its walls. A school is supposed to be a place of safety for children, not a nightmare. Paterno, Spainer, Curley and Schultz may all be gone, but the university is going to have to do a lot more to get back in the good graces of the public.

OPINIONS

December 7, 2011

The Youngtown Edition Page 3

Why student loans? The absence of football at given after 20 years.

KATALINA MARIN

These student loan initiatives

Contributer

are intended to help push young

As every other college student many have come across worrying about student loans. Loans are extremely expensive and the interest rates on them are quick high. Thinking about going to law or med school but afraid of the tab you’ll end up with? Well now there is no worries about going to these schools or and university you desire.

Obama is moving to ease student loan burdens. Making just one payment a month, with only 10 percent interest. This ease will end up benefiting up to about 1.6 million Americans.

With this new program Obama will authorize through executive order, “pay as you earn” will reduce payments as much as a couple hundred dollars a months. Remaining debt on federal loans will be completely for-

Americans to keep their studies or to motivate education. Education secretary Arne Duncan said, “These changes could make a big difference in the lives of current college students and recent graduates as they enter one of the toughest job markets in recent memory.” Many graduates get frustrated knowing they have a big tab to pay, just as well young adults get discouraged to even begin school due to the high rates.

Now knowing this makes applying to any university an easier task and not such a drag from just thinking of the loans that would

CCM hurts them overall

LIOUTAS APOSTOLIS

contributor

If you walk around County College of Morris Monday morning you will see many people wearing football jerseys, one jersey you will not see is a CCM Titans football jersey.

These days it seems that college and football go hand in hand.

Many colleges throughout the United States have well developed sports programs that show case football as their main sport.

It’s not just the four year schools that have football teams, many community college also have teams.

CCM sports teams compete in the National Junior College

Athletic Association in a conference called Region XIX. This conference includes teams from New Jersey, Delaware and Eastern Pennsylvania. Community Colleges such as Nassau Community College and Erie Community College both have football teams that compete in this conference.

CCM currently has every major sport represented in this conference except football. Ice hockey, soccer, basketball and baseball are all sports currently available at CCM. Sports can benefit colleges in many ways. If a school has a good sports program enrollment could increase considering athletes often choose what school they want to go too based on that schools

sports program. “Many people who don’t get offers from bigger schools, would want to come play for CCM,” sophomore Tim Purcell said.

Other students believe that a football team would be good for school spirit and bring students together. “I am a huge football fan; there are so many other teams for baseball and soccer so why don’t we have football? I feel like it would bring a lot more school spirit and bring many students together” CCM student Emily Ciervo said.

Only time will tell whether CCM decides to add football to the list of sports they offer. It could be a possibility sometime in the future.

add up.

County students feel free to apply to that school you desire so much because costs will go down and your dreams can come true.

Lose Something??

The following items can be claimed in the Lost and Found located in the Public Safety Building, 973-328-5550: Clothes, Phones, Jewelry, Books, Purse, Ipod, Calculators, Dictionary, CDs, Cassette Recorder, Art supplies, Radio and Stealth cam

Career services offers a wide variety of opportunities to help students MATT WILLE Contributor

The “broke college kid” stereotype may be alive and well at some colleges, but it certainly is not at County College of Morris.

Most of the students attending classes here are young adults who are just learning how to make a living for themselves. The process of finding a worthwhile, enjoyable job can be intimidating, so the Career Services and Cooperative Education office is here to help.

Located in Cohen Hall’s Room 203, Career Services offers a wide variety of solutions for students and alumni alike. A quick stop into the office can be the first step towards a new job.

One opportunity offered by the office is the Campus Student Employment Program. Students who take part in this program are referred to various depart-

ments in CCM for employment during the summer and the academic year.

A little-known, but incredibly helpful, service offered by Career Services is their job listings. Hundreds of employers submit postings to the office each year, all of which are compiled into a database that can be accessed online or in the office itself.

“Even a part-time job can connect to a student’s major,” said Denise Schmidt, the office’s director.

The office also assists in finding cooperative education experiences (better known as “co-ops”) and internships, both of which help students start on a career path before they have even graduated. Participants in these programs receive academic credit while also gaining work experience.

Career Services offers free resume critiquing, a service that is open to both students and alumni. A pol-

ished resume is crucial to the process of finding an employer, so this service is truly valuable to any one looking for a job.

Schmidt wants students to know that she and the rest of the office’s staff are here to help students gain experience in order to help them decide if they’re traveling on the right career path.

The office even offers one-on-one employment counseling.

Career Services and Cooperative Education also helps CCM graduates in connecting with potential full-time employers in the area. An alumnus can always come back to use this service, no matter how long ago he or she graduated.

Don’t be too worried about finding a starting position in your dream field; Career Services is here to help, even after CCM is long behind.

Are you lost and stressed? Do you need tutoring in Biology or Chemistry?

Come and see us in the Science Center DH 156 Monday-Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. & Friday: 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

ENTERTAINMENT

Page 4 The Youngtown Edition

December 7, 2011

MUSIC REVIEW

Dream Theater releases a new album PETER SHEARER Contributor

New York progressive metal veterans Dream Theater released their 11th studio album, A Dramatic Turn of Events, on September 13, 2011.

The album was arguably the most controversial release of the band’s career. As it was the first released after the departure of original drummer and founding member Mike Portnoy, who was replaced by former Annihilator drummer Mike Mangini.

In addition to Mangini, the lineup consists of vocalist James LaBrie, guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung, and keyboardist Jordan Rudess.

The album opens with the lead single, “On the Backs of Angels,” which opens with an ominous intro with a clean guitar riff before transitioning to a heavier guitar riff coupled with a calland-response of sorts between the guitar and keyboard.

Another highlight of the album is “Bridges in the Sky,” which has a sound echoing Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, the band’s 2002 release. Beginning with the bellowing chant of

a shaman, it then blasts into riffs and drums echoing “The Glass Prison” from the aforementioned album.

“Lost Not Forgotten” has a throwback sound to the band’s classic “Under a Glass Moon,” from their 1992 album Images & Words. It begins with a piano intro before segueing into a hightoned guitar riff from Petrucci followed by a heavy riff and a harmony between the guitar and keyboard. The bridge section towards the latter half of the song features solos from both Petrucci and Rudess.

“Breaking All Illusions” is the longest song on the album, tracking in at 12 and a half minutes. It begins with a melodic harmony between Petrucci and Rudess, before mellowing out into a slower paced verse. This proceeds into a soaring chorus followed by a melodic guitar solo that transitions into a shred-esque section. This, as most of the guitar solos on this album, is followed by a keyboard solo. It ends with one last chorus repetition before fading into an atmospheric outro.

The album closes on a lighter note, with the ballad “Beneath the Surface,” which is one of the

shorter songs at around six minutes. Featuring clean guitars and atmospheric keyboards and LaBrie singing full of soul throughout, the ballad closes the album on soft and triumphant notes.

There is but one aspect of the album that is weaker than the rest of its traits.

The drum mixing is much lower than the band’s previous release, 2009’s Black Clouds & Silver Linings.

Even with that said, the rest of the instruments are well mixed, clear, and audible and each contribute its own touch to the album’s sound.

To conclude, A Dramatic Turn of Events is a worthy addition to the Dream Theater cata-

GAME REVIEW

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

BY JOSE PINALES Contributor

In a season of already amazing sequels, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception comes out on top as the best single player experience of this year.

From a purely visual standpoint Uncharted 3 is the best looking game to come out this year. It blends cut scenes and gameplay seamlessly to the point where various times throughout the game, I wouldn’t notice that the cut scene ended and the game began.

Continuing the adventures of Nathan Drake and

Victor “Sully” Sullivan this entry in the series has them searching the Rub’ al Khali desert in an effort to find the Iram Of the Pillars, a mythical city that once thrived in the dessert but was lost in a massive storm.

This is the most character driven storyline the series has seen, exploring the relationship of both Nate and Sully. We also see the return of reporter Elena Fisher, Nate’s main love interest since the first game along with Chloe Frazer second appearance in the franchise.

Once again, Naughty Dog, the developer of the game, managed to capture

Go to a museum

FREE! The Office of Campus Life holds memberships to the Whitney Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Students wishing to gain free admission to any of the above museums must come to the Information Window with their valid CCM student identification card.

Passes are issued on a firstcome, first-served basis for a one day or one weekend period.

the essence of a blockbuster movie and give it to audiences in game form. Throughout the games roughly eight hours of gameplay, you play through various stages of one of the best storylines to come out in years, regardless of its entertainment medium.

Returning to the franchise is also the inclusion of online multiplayer, which, while not as addicting as its counterparts, it is a very solid inclusion to the game and adds several hours of replay value to one of the best entertainment experiences this year.

logue. They were able to deliver even in the face of doubt following Portnoy’s leaving of the band.

Longtime fans will easily be able to enjoy the release, and able to

spark an interest for people who are unfamiliar with the band.

Fans of progressive rock will also be able to find something to like about this album.

December 7, 201

ENTERTAINMENT

THEATER REVIEW

The Youngtown Edition Page 5

MOVIE REVIEW

‘33 Variations’ comes alive at CCM ‘The Help’: A movie that KELLY ROMLEIN Contributor

The Lights dimmed and the stage went dark, the notes of the piano rise out of the colorless stage and then we are drawn back to reality with the scene of a mother and a daughter arguing in a doctor’s office. There is stress on their face and fear in their voice. A terrible disease cuts between the semi foreign relationship of a mother and her daughter and a women’s life works.

The mother, who is played by Katherine Le Fevre, a CCM student who has performed in many of our productions, is going away to Bon, Germany. She is there to study Beethoven’s obsession with Diabelli’s mediocre waltz.

The Daughter, played by Audrey Gieseman , is fighting against her mother to keep her home due to her encroaching illness, Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Their time together is fleeing, both aware of the situation, they make very meaningful and hard decisions.

Then we fall back down the time line where we actually see Diabelli, he is a music publisher and wants to commission the 50 greatest composers in Vienna to write their own variation to his waltz. This waltz he expects the greatest composers of time to mimic was called at best a “less than stellar waltz”. Diabelli invites Beethoven to join the cluster of masterpieces for his book,

but Beethoven didn’t even care enough to deny it himself, instead he sends his friend, Schindler, to do his bidding for him.

Quickly changing his mind, Beethoven requests to meet with Diabelli himself, and takes on the commission. Not much time had passed before Schindler was telling Diabelli that Beethoven was not only going to write one variation, but six or seven. To Diabelli’s amazement that his own waltz could have created such a stir with such a renowned composer, he grants the genius more time to produce his work despite the high price of his commission.

Breaking back into the present we see a very awkward love starting between Clara and her mother’s nurse Mike, played

by Anthony Paglia. The performance between these two was amazing, pin pointing every embarrassing moment when a new love buds and young hearts are confused. This couple definitely sent out some laughs among the crown. Mike and Clara open up to the audience about the odd interactions with inner monologues that are more than funny, they are the moment we all have had. At the same time Clara is a young woman trying to live out her own life separate of her mother’s but is overwhelming brought in while her mother tries to keep her out.

All the while as the story unfolds in beautifully performed scenes, Dr. Robert Cioffi plays

one by one Beethoven’s Variations that coincide with the acting, something actually paring the notes directly with the conversations. The music is more than just background, it becomes a part in the story - it is the story.

Dr. Cioffi, who works at CCM as a professor of English and the drama coordinator, directed the play. Between the pianist and the acting, the 200 year old story really came alive.

Beethoven didn’t just write six or seven variations, he put off his other impending works to only compose the waltzes. As the music takes over him, you see the slow distress of an old man which is paralleled by the crippling of a woman. Beethoven loses his hearing, his most important sense, and Katherine Brandt, the mother, loses her ability to speak, her most important sense.

The two stories come into parallels more than just once, but it’s never too overwhelming. The whole performance was overall beautiful, very well directed, thought out, acted, and staged.

The audience loved the performance and the characters were easy to connect to, one story carrying realistic baggage and another living the past and offering many laughs. A tale of a timeless masterpiece was given light by the entire production, offering a historical legend another chance in the 20th century.

add their own flavor to the band.

As the EP is a prequel to a forthcoming concept album, Waggoner explained in an interview, “The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues will introduce two human characters who live in different planes of existence, separated by millions of light years. We find that each is confronted with similar personal issues that they need to reckon with. Both characters make decisions that will change their lives, and perhaps the course of the universe, forever.”

The first track, entitled “Specular Reflection,” begins with a dark piano and orchestral intro. After about 50 seconds, it blasts into harsh vocals and intense guitars and drumming. This combination of intense vocals and instruments continues until about 3 minutes in, where the chorus shines with Rogers clean singing alternating with his harsh vocals. This is followed by a technical section showing the band’s influence of extreme metal and progressive rock, riddled with melody and intensity.

The second track, called “Augment of Rebirth,” begins with a frenzy of technical guitar riffs and frenetic drumming, followed by Rogers’ harsh vocals.

This pattern continues for the next several minutes, with snippets of Rogers alternating his clean voice. After more technical riffs, it alternates in a ragtime sec-

tion juxtaposed with the intense moments. The track is easily the heaviest and most technical song on the EP. The final track, called “Lunar Wilderness,” is the shortest and most melodic song on the EP. Picking up from the mellow ending of “Augment of Rebirth,” it begins with a clean guitar intro with a jazzy bassline. But it picks up in the heaviness, with a lot more emphasis on Rogers’ clean singing being alternated with his harsh vocals. This then transitions into a more technical section, featuring polymetric drum fills from Richardson, and multiple solos from Waggoner, including a sweep picking lick followed by a lead played under Rogers’ harsh vocals. All this is ended with a melodic section which ends on a “to be continued” note.

The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues contains lots of diversity and creative song structures which influences from various music genres all packed into its 30 minute running time. While it is not something that fans of more mainstream genres will take immediate pleasure in, it is has lots of musicianship that music listeners seasoned in musical knowledge and techniques will be able to appreciate. Fans of progressive metal, and possibly progressive rock, will be able to find enjoyment from this release.

stays true to the novel MATT WILLE Contributor

Touching, intensely satisfying, and at times laugh-out-loud funny, Kathryn Stockett’s “The Help” succeeds where most bookto-movie adaptations fail—in living up to the high expectations set by the novel.

The story revolves around the lives of the citizens of Jackson, Miss., in the early 1960s as the racial equality movement is just beginning to become a reality. One watches in wonder as the town’s status quo is overturned by the most unlikely of sources: a white woman by the name of Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan.

From the very first scene of both the book and movie, it is plain to see that Skeeter is nothing like the other white residents of Jackson. While her friends are out playing bridge and gossiping, Skeeter slaves away at a project designed to reveal the suffering of the black maids in the town.

It is nearly impossible not to get attached to the vivid characters that “The Help” depicts.

Readers and movie-goers alike will root for the quiet, strong maid Aibeleen Jackson, while at the same time loving to hate the villainous Hilly Holbrook.

The movie adaptation follows the same sequence of events as the novel, only changing a few minor details throughout it. By staying true to the original plot, director Tate Taylor was able to create a movie that is just as heartwarming as Stockett’s novel.

The acting in the movie is also top-notch, with Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis and Emma Stone playing the story’s heroines. Bryce Dallas Howard rounds out the cast as a delightfully despicable Hilly Holbrook.

The novel was first published in Feb. 2009 and has since been printed in 35 countries and three languages. As of Aug. 2011, the book had sold five million copies and had spent more than 100 weeks on the The New York Times Best Seller list.

In the three and a half months since its release, the film has grossed nearly $170 million.

It was released on DVD Dec. 6 in stores across the United States.

If you’re looking for a book to keep you occupied over the holidays, look no further than “The Help.” When you finish it and are aching for more Southern drama, go out and purchase the film version. You won’t be disappointed.

MOVIE REVIEW

‘The Muppets’ does just Between the Buried and Me uses diverse what it sets out to do techniques in its first EP album release MUSIC REVIEW

PETER SHEARER Contributor

North Carolina progressive metal band Between the Buried and Me released their first EP, The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues, on April 12, 2011 through Metal Blade Records. The EP is their first release through Metal Blade, following their departure from Victory Records.

The release is the band’s first EP, featuring three songs clocking in for a total of about 30 minutes.

It is slated to be a prequel to the band’s next full-length album, which the band is hoping to release within the next year.

The band lineup is consisted of: vocalist and keyboardist Tommy Giles Rogers, guitarists Paul Waggoner and Dustie Waring, bassist Dan Briggs, and drummer Blake Richardson. Each member is technically proficient on their respective instrument, and all are very much audible in the mix and

VINCENT YANGO Contributor

Writer and T.V. star Jason Segel absolutely loves the Muppets, and after watching his new movie you will too. After a sub-par movie in 1999 called “Muppets in Space,” the Muppets went out of the public eye, only arriving in commercials and maybe the occasional TV movie with Ashanti (yes, that happened). Segel propositioned Disney, who had bought the rights to the property, to make a new Muppets movie. With a fantastic marketing campaign utilizing many of Disney’s ABC properties “The Muppets” hit theaters Thanksgiving weekend.

The Muppets tells the story of super Muppets fan Walter, who along with his brother Gary (Segel), and Gary’s long-time girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) team up with Kermit and the gang to

save their beloved theater from being torn down by evil tycoon Tex Richman, played by a very colorful Chris Cooper. The Muppets constantly breaks the fourth wall with many sight gags, and refers to old film clichés and previous Muppet films and features a ton of cameos from Sarah Silverman to James Carville.

It’s obvious from watching this movie that the people making it really care about what The Muppets mean to us. The movie has big laughs throughout and many scenes that are really touching. The musical numbers, with a few exceptions (“Me Party” in particular), are all catchy, fun and sentimental.

It’s rare that you see a movie with this much positive energy and happiness. If you’re getting finals blues, take two hours to yourself and go see The Muppets.

You won’t regret it.

FEATURES

Page 6 The Youngtown Edition

REVIEW

Not-so-very Harold and Kumar JOSE PINALES Contributer

Every generation has its stoner heroes, and in 2004 we got ours in the form of “Harold and Kumar go to White Castle”.

For those not familiar with the franchise it deals with two stoner friends, the hard working Harold Lee (John Cho) and his slacker best friend Kumar Patel (Kal Penn), as they smoke up and try to reach their desired destination, whether it is White Castel or Amsterdam. The third film in the series “A Very Harold and Kumar 3D” Christmas is unfortunately the weakest of the three films and its also arguably the raunchiest.

One of the biggest problems is that the characters grew up, or at least Harold did while Kumar merely regressed into a bigger slacker then he was in the first movie. Instead of focusing on two best friends and their misadventures, the third film focuses on Harold trying to retrieve the perfect Christmas tree to appease his wife’s father (after he set the first one on fire). While the plot doesn’t sound that bad the fact that Harold had gone straight-

edge for almost the entire movie made it feel like it wasn’t part of the same film series.

Despite some major hiccups there were a few moments in the movie that made it entertaining. In his third outing as a womanizing version of himself Neil Patrick Harris once again steals the spot light and provides some of the biggest laughs in the movie as well as the best song in the movie. His appearance

wasn’t only the best part of the movie; it was his best cameo in the series.

In his first appearance in the series Thomas Lennon Played Todd, Harold’s new “best friend” and along with Ava, Todd’s daughter helped gives Neil a run for his money as the best character in the movie.

While far from the best, this sequel still delivered enough laughs to warrant a rental when the movie gets released on video.

Getting to know God

SHAWN PATERSON Contributor

What is CCF? There are many clubs and organizations a student can join on campus, and I’m sure we can all name a few. But do you really know what those clubs do?

One of CCM’s active clubs is Campus Christian Fellowship. Campus Christian Fellowship (CCF), according to their Facebook group, is “just a group of students who meet up to grow in our journey in getting to know who God is.”

But what does that really mean?

Members of CCF gather weekly to hang out, study the bible, and plan outreach events. Their goal is to grow as individuals in their faith, and at the same time reaching out to others in the community with charity and love.

There is no checklist one must fulfill in order to join the club. It is a very inclusive club open to any student from any religious background, and even students who do not believe in a god or are unsure.

CCF member Marissa Bovill says, “I joined CCF three months ago because I wanted to be around people who shared the same beliefs as me. CCF has become a big part of my life and has given me opportunites to connect with students in Christian clubs at other New Jersey colleges as well.”

So if you are a Christian seeking fellowship or a curious student seeking the opportunity to explore the faith, Campus Christian Fellowship is open to you.

Stop by at one of their meetings on Thursdays in the Student Center across from the cafeteria between 12:45 and 3:15 p.m.

The Gourmet Club bake sales Why eating brownies helps a good cause DANIEL CHARDON Contributor

Every now and then when you walk into the student center you might be bombarded by requests to buy some cookies, brownies, or the best of the baked goods family, pie! All of these delicious treats are brought to you by the CCM Gourmet Club.

I recently sat down with Gourmet Club president Shalimar Luizza to talk about what exactly the club is all about.

Luizza became involved with the club at the suggestion by her professor Alicia Harris, the advisor of the club.

This past Halloween the club held a sale in order to raise money for autism, Luizza said. Neighbors of one of the club

members have children with autism so the club decided to help out and raise some money to donate to a charity for autism.

They raised $200 to donate. Most of the sales are aimed towards raising money for charities.

Typically the club tries to plan the bake sales around holidays but the events are left to the discretion of the advisor. The next bake sale is tentatively scheduled for Valentine’s Day. So if you’re ever in the student center and you’re getting asked to buy some cookies or cakes, help out and buy something if you can. Not only will the profits go toward a good cause but everything being sold is homemade. It’s like having our own little bakery on campus.

December 7, 2011

December 7, 2011

FEATURES

The Youngtown Edition Page 7

The need to conform A higher education And higher tuition

Celebrity influence over teen image KATALINA MARIN Contributer

Many teens become curious about their own image when they see their favorite celebrities and singers in magazines, films or TV shows. What teens see are beautiful people with perfect bodies and a starlet life. Seeing these stars as role models they start to want to act, look and dress like them.

However, not all these celebrities are cultivating the best body image for society. Its almost scary how incredibly skinny these girls are which makes normal sized girls look “over weight.”

Viewing all these super thin celebrities makes any one self conscious about the weight and how they look. When teens look for a quick way to lose

weight fast the first thing that comes to mind is starvation or binging. These things lead to serious eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Many girls fall into this category every year because of how celebrities are portraying themselves and the examples they are giving to teen girls with their ideal body.

Based on a recent Newsweek poll, 77 percent of Americans believe that celebrities have too much of an influence on young girls. With celebrities becoming thinner and thinner, much self-confidence is lost and images of television stars or models have been connected to body displeasure.

There is no need to follow the footsteps of a TV star especially because of their body image. Be your own persona, develop uniqueness and be confident.

A sense of security Fire alarms and safety on campus SEAN PATERSON Contributer

It was a very rainy Fall day.

Much of the pre-class chatter in the hallways consisted of stories of the rain pouring down as students scrambled from the parking lots into the buildings. And then the fire alarm rang.

It startled students, and promptly professors began to herd them outside. There were many grumbles about the rain, but all went smoothly.

As I stood outside, I thought about the level of safety at County College of Morris. Personally, I feel very safe at school. We are

located in a town with police and fire departments, and campus security is somewhat prevalent.

Interested in what my fellow peers thought, I began to ask: How safe do you feel in regards to health, security, and peers?

“I feel very safe,” said Corey O’Donnel. Cory went on to say that the only area of the campus where he feels intimidated and uncomfortable is outside of DeMare building where students often retreat to smoke. But it should be noted that security is often there, for that precise reason.

“I feel alright being on campus thanks to the supportive peo-

ple that are around me,” another student said to me.

“I feel very safe. They have security driving around all day and the professors care about you,” said student Marissa Bovill, “Also the school is very productive in preventing illness because of the many anti-bacterial gel dispensers throughout the campus.”

So although we all felt annoyed by loud alarms and standing in the cold rain, we should be thankful that the college we attend does the best it can to provide a safe environment for our education and growth.

MARY HERNANDEZ Contributer

All over the nation, from California to New York, college students are taking stands against tuition rates. Could the County College of Morris be next? The Vice president of student development and enrollment, Dr. Bette Simmons says the students of CCM don’t need to start planning protest just yet.

Dr. Simmons said the CCM board of trustees work very hard to find other ways to collect funding to keep the college from going to the students to make up the difference. The average tuition for an in-county full time student in the 2012 spring semester will be about $1,575. Now imagine a $300 increase per semester; for the students of CUNY and many other colleges and universities

around the United States this is becoming a reality.

Just over the weekend students gathered outside of Baruch college in Manhattan against the $300 tuition raise. With the already high cost per semester the raise will make it difficult for students to make ends meet. Students of California’s Berkeley College and University of Southern Florida are among the many protesting to keep tuition fees down.

“Colleges should encourage social activism” Dr. Simmons said. She agrees with freedom of speech and student right to protest as long as it doesn’t involve any kind of violence. “I think its wonderful students are taking action about something that is important to them.”

Read CLU: Campus Life Update!

This bi-weekly newsletter is both informative and entertaining.

“CLU” is designed to keep the CCM community “CLUed into” what’s happening on our campus, especially in the areas of athletics, the performing arts, campus events and activities, and our many student clubs and organizations.

Stay informed. Find out what’s going on. Most importantly, get involved: join a club, try-out for a drama or a musical, get on an intramural team.

Don’t be one of the “CLUeless” CCM students!

Page 8 The Youngtown Edition

NEWS

Popular game banned in Iran LIOUTAS APOSTOLIS Contributor

In Iran they have banned something that has sold over 8 million copies and is very popular with today’s youth.

Iran has recently banned the popular video game Battlefield 3 in their country.

In the game, you play as American soldiers who fight against the People’s Liberation and Resistance which is a fictional Iranian insurgent group. During the game you end up in Northern Iran where a fictional invasion of Tehran takes place.

It was this scene in the game that has angered some people in Iran which eventually lead to the game being banned. A petition has been started online and singed by 5,420 people in Iran who believe the game is a poor representation of their country

and their people.

Many stores in Iran chose not to sell the game even before the ban and reports are surfacing that police are cracking down on any store in Iran that tries to sell the game.

Many people in the gaming world are asking if this ban is justified. “I think it is a bit of an overreaction to ban the game,” student Tim Purcell said. “It’s not a real scenario taking place, it’s fictional.”

“It’s their right to ban the game but they should take it as a work of fiction because that’s what it is,” student Jose Pinales said.

It seems that the Iranian government will continue its ban of the game that has sold millions of copies worldwide. Only time will tell if it will ever be re-released.

December 7, 2011