Internships Page 3 Welcome Bash Page 5
TheYoungtownEdition COUNTY COLLEGE OF MORRIS AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER
VOL. 92, NO. 3
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014
RANDOLPH, N.J.
Gold Medalist, 2013 Columbia Scholastic Press Association • First Place Layout & Design, 2012-2013 NJPA
“A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.” -Carl Reiner
Senator invites college media outlets to Trenton
PHOTOS BY RACHEL NIDER
Top Photo: Youngtown editors participate in a discussion with state Sen. Stephen Sweeney. Right Photo: Sweeney gives Youngtown editors a tour of the Statehouse. BY JORDAN BARTH Managing Editor
On Feb. 7, editors of County College of Morris’ The Youngtown Edition were invited to participate in a roundtable discussion with New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney of Gloucester County on college affordability at the Statehouse in Trenton. The discussion also included students from Rowan University, RutgersCamden, Rider University and other community colleges from around the state. Sweeney is currently the President of the New Jersey Senate, one of the legislative houses in the state Legislature. The state senator has firsthand experience with the college affordability issue. His son is a recent graduate of The College of New Jersey, completing his master’s degree. However, Sweeney himself did not personally attend college, so he has “a different point of view” on the issue. He admittedly said, “I am one of the luckiest people in the world because it worked out for me, but no one should ever leave life to luck.” Specific aspects to increasing access to higher education included; the Tuition Equality Act, with
the importance of name recognition in student collegiate selection, expanding seat capacity of colleges and universities statewide, the NJ STARS program, his “College Affordability Study Commission” bill, the rising cost of books and student supplies, and the financial feasibility of attending graduate school. These topics touched the surface of the conversation taking place among the group. “This isn’t the end all to be all, but we have to start talking about how this [referring to state higher education] does not work,” Sweeney said. The financial benefits of supporting higher education are numerous. New Jersey ranks 48th in the nation for higher education funding, but first in K-12 funding. “The reason it is so important to focus on higher education and affordability is so that only the wealthy don’t go to college,” Sweeney said. “I mean we need the middle class. We need the working poor. We need to create opportunities.” In addition, New Jersey loses approximately $7 billion in revenue from students leaving the state for schooling in tuition dollars and dispensable income. Since the state senator is
from Gloucester County and through his involvement in education reform, he has a strong working relationship with Rowan University. He recently discussed ways to decrease the insurmountable costs associated with higher education with the president of the university, Dr. Ali A. Houshmand, and the President of Gloucester County College, Fred Keating. “We matched up with our county college. We changed our county college’s name from Gloucester County College to Rowan College [of Gloucester County], and the agreement we have with Rowan is [the] first two years, you are a Rowan student at county college rates. If you stay the last two years at Rowan College, you’ll graduate with a Rowan degree at a 15 percent discount each year.” “Now, 15 percent is a lot of money,” he exclaimed. “And that’s just one little idea.” According to NJ.com, starting in July, students who want to take advantage of this option can enroll in classes at the county college on a track to a four-year degree at Rowan. On the same day, Rowan College of Gloucester County students can enroll to attend Rowan University; if the student maintains a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
“We talked about creating this study commission, not just to study things, to actually look what’s going on around the country and taking the best ideas and implementing ‘em here,” Sweeney said. The state senator was referring to his bill, establishing a “College Affordability Study Commission” to examine issues and develop recommendations to increase the affordability of higher education in New Jersey.
This bill was influenced by a landmark bill recently passed by the Oregon Legislature. According to USA Today, The Oregon program allows students to attend public and community colleges tuition and feefree, as long as they promise a fixed portion of their yearly salaries after graduation to their alma mater.
Please see STATEHOUSE on Page 4
Page 2 The Youngtown Edition
FEATURES
February 19, 2014
CCM student wins gift card for eating 15 buffalo wings BY BIANCA IUSO Contributor
New Social Engine, a CCM club, found out which student could eat the most hot wings Thursday, Feb. 6 at 3 p.m. in the student center lounge. NSE is a club that hosts events, like wingeating contests, to creating fun social options for students. “The goal of New Social Engine is to be able to show college students and others that you are able to have fun without the use of drugs or alcohol,” said Jeremy Forrester, President of NSE. The wing-eating competition was open to CCM students with no registration fee. The 700 hot boneless wings were provided by Rockaway’s Buffalo Wild Wings. There was no deadline to register for the competition, so students could enter all the way up until the start. Students who were not interested in participating were welcome to look on as
PHOTO BY JOSEF LUFTMAN
Members of New Social Engine prepare for wing-eating contest. the 16 contestants indulged. Annelies Oggier, won the competition by eating 15 wings. “I was ecstatic that I won,” Oggier stated. “It came as a surprise actually. I felt very accomplished.” She received a $25 gift card to Buffalo Wild Wings. Oggier
had never been to an NSE event before the wing eating contest but said “I love the family and fun that this club has to offer. Everyone seems like family.” In the past, the club members have visited: movie theaters, Six Flags Great Adventure, Apple-
bee’s and Buffalo Wild Wings. Their list of planned events for this semester continues to grow. NSE is planning a bowling night, a night at Funplex and movie premieres such as “Captain America,” “Winter Soldier” and “The Amazing Spiderman 2,” according to Forrester. NSE meets every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. on the second floor of the student center, SCC 228. These meetings usually last an hour. They consist of planning new events for the students of CCM and other schools. NSE is interactive with the nearby colleges: Fairleigh Dickinson University and Drew University. The club leaders are Jeremy Forrester, as President, Ryan Chmura, secretary and Gabby Borrero, treasurer. The club often uses Facebook to communicate and coordinate schedules to get together. You can visit their page at www.facebook.com/groups/ nseccm.
“I just want to say how awesome it is that the group has grown, continued to thrive and do cool things,” said Will Birdwell, the original founder of NSE at CCM. Birdwell, created the group in the spring semester of 2010 with help from his Vice President, Aly Ahmed, and Dan Manton as Secretary. “We also had an outside liaison from the nonprofit Morris County- Prevention is key, which was Dave Bratton,” Birdwell said. During the beginning stages of the club, there was no faculty involvement and it was strictly students meeting together for a cause they all felt strongly about. Birdwell is so proud of the students at CCM who dedicated themselves to the group and helped it grow. “It was an honor to be part of something so unique and engaging at CCM and hopefully [we] have made an impact in opening students’ eyes to the fact that they can enjoy life free of substance abuse.”
Spotlight: Professor Pallant BY KAITLYN ALEGRIA Managing Editor
VISIT www.youngtownedition.wordpress.com
For four years, David Pallant, a professor in the communication department at County College of Morris, has brought his experience from working at Google as a consultant and being a staff member for the Howard Dean presidential campaign to his classes for CCM students. “I came here for teaching because of the smaller atmosphere,” Pallant said. “When I was working at Bergen Community College, our typical classes [were] ... 34 to 37 students. Having that smaller ratio is better for the teacher and the students.” According to Pallant, the smaller teacher to student ratio allows students to break through and explore deeper issues. “Pallant is a joy and an inspiration,” said Michelle Altieri, a professor in the communication department. “His enthusiasm for the major and the department is contagious. Pallant is someone that makes everyone excited to move forward.” He teaches Introduction to Public Relations, Introduction to Mass Media, Speech Fundamentals and is working on an advertisement course that will hopefully be ready for the fall semester of 2014. Pallant uses tools such as advertisements, Youtube clips and commercials to make his courses more entertaining for students. “Professor Pallant, always has a lot of energy in class,” said Stephanie Brady, a communication major at CCM and one of Pallant’s students. “He always is in a good mood and tries to make every class interesting.” Pallant was inspired to pick his career by one of his teachers during his time as an undergraduate at Amherst Community Col-
lege. The teacher envisioned that everywhere individuals looked there would be ads, according to Pallant. Advertisements, corporations, media and public relations would get desperate to get citizens’ attention. “My teacher predicted where a lot of technology and media was going,” Pallant said. “When I looked back, he seemed insane, but it all kind of came true.” The new department of communication for CCM students is one of the benefits to being a teacher on campus, according to Pallant. “We outgrew our numbers in the English department,” he said. On the CCM website, there is a wealth of information for communication students. This helps keep students aware of department courses, scholarships pointed toward majors involved with the department and useful information for students looking to advance themselves. “I just recently updated, with faculty, the web page. We really cleaned it up a lot and are open to more suggestions for the site,” Pallant said. “We are hoping to get students really engaged. You can find information on there for the new honor society for communication majors.” Pallant is the community college representative for the New Jersey Communication Association, an organization dedicated to the open exchange of ideas, information and research about communication. “The organization is having a conference on April 12, at Kean University,” Pallant said. “We are looking to bring students to the conference.” He said, “When you can break through to a student, it’s an amazing feeling,” Pallant said. “Being a teacher isn’t easy but I love it.”
February 19, 2014
FEATURES
It’s your turn to intern
The Youngtown Edition Page 3
BY MELISSA DELLACATO Editor in Chief
In 2013, approximately 48 percent of intern and co-op students were retained by their employers, according to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, an organization that researches the employment of the college-educated. “Make sure before you graduate from a four-year college that you have participated in an internship,” said Denise Schmidt, director of Career Services and Cooperative Education at County College of Morris. “It will give you confidence, it will give you connections... [and] it will give you great information for your resume.” Students typically participate in internships or cooperative education, either in their final semester at CCM or when they transfer to a four-year school, according to Schmidt. The terms “internship” and “cooperative education,” commonly known as a “co-op,” are defined differently by many higher education and professional institutions. CCM defines an internship as an unpaid position where the student puts in 150 hours in a semester, while a co-op is a paid position for 300 hours during the semester. There are currently 18 degree programs at CCM that offer an internship/co-op option, according to the CCM website. Schmidt cited the NACE survey when describing the benefits of completing an internship. According to the survey, many employers said more than a third of future new hires will come from internal internship and co-op programs. Schmidt said there is no good reason not to do an internship before graduating from college. “There really is no drawback,” Schmidt said. “I just think that sometimes students are reluctant to take that first big step out into the real world... I think it’s usually a fear thing that keeps them from doing it.” Schmidt said many students think they don’t need to visit career services until graduation time. However, career services can help students as early as their first collegiate semester. For example, career services can assist students with finding a part-time job that is relevant to their major or that will help the student build valuable skills that they may need in the future. They can also help students with their resumes and getting the resumes into the hands of employers. “Actually, when students come around for their orientation tours here... I tell them about it on their orientation tour,” Schmidt said. “Now that’s a little overwhelming, probably because they haven’t even started classes yet, but my point to them is really bigger than internships.” Schmidt said that after com-
PHOTO BY STEPHEN A. GAUTHIER
Denise Schmidt and Rosemary Grant, of CCM Career Services, help students find internships and cooperative education. panies hire their own interns, their next step is to look at interns from other companies. They want someone who has “tested themselves.” “When you do graduate and you’re ready to apply for jobs in your field... you will be competing with graduates from your own school [and] other schools who have participated in internships and cooperative education experiences,” Schmidt said. “You will be at a disadvantage if you didn’t and you’ll likely be asked why you didn’t.” According to the survey, of those who did an internship or a co-op and were hired by their employers full time, 89 percent are still there after a year. After five years, 75 percent of them are still there. “That’s big for an employer because training people costs money,” Schmidt said, when referring to the statistics. “Losing people is money going out the door... So a lot of employers look at this as their recruitment strategy. ‘Let’s bring in interns and co-ops, keep those that we like, train them [and] invest in them,’ and they’re very happy when they can see after five years that those employees are still with them.” At CCM, interns and co-ops are supervised by a faculty member in the appropriate department. “You know how you go into a class and every time you come out of the class, you’ve learned something you didn’t know before? We want that kind of learning to go on in the workplace as well,” Schmidt said. “We don’t want the student to learn something and then repeat that activity for the next 12 or 13 weeks. It’s all about structuring the experience, providing learning, and that mentoring relationship, so that the student is being guided and taught by someone who knows more than they do in their field.” Professor Bonnie Murphy, chairperson of the information technologies department, is currently mentoring two co-op students and one intern. Murphy said she is responsible for making sure the student is completing tasks related to his or her major. Additionally, she makes an onsite visit once during the semester to see what the
student has been working on and to meet with the supervisor(s). In turn, students are responsible for keeping a log of tasks they perform while on the job. Since Murphy mentors interns in the information technologies department, many of the samples of work she sees are electronic, such as web pages or databases. The interns and co-op students are also required to take a one-credit course with their internship. The textbook that accompanies it is called “Your Attitude is Showing” and deals primarily with human relations in business. Murphy said that overall, an internship is a positive experience for the student and a great way to network and gain some realworld experience. “The thing to really emphasize is that it is a wonderful learning experience. If students can fit it into their schedule, it really is helpful to them,” Murphy said. “And it’s not only good for them, it’s good for the college and it’s good for the programs to make sure they are on track as to what’s happening.” Murphy said that some past internships have included developing a web page for a small business, scheduling and financials for a company, or working in a graphic design environment. “The most profound experiences I’ve had are to see a student go from wearing jeans and flannel shirts, or jeans and Uggs, to dressing appropriately for a business office,” Murphy said. “So the transformation is very, very interesting and always rewarding for them as well as for me.” Murphy said that the ideal internship will help students realize whether or not the career they’re planning on pursuing is right for them. “It gives [students] a good indication of what to expect once they graduate and start a career. And oftentimes they’ll find ‘this isn’t for me. This isn’t what I want to do.’ And so it’s a very, very nice way to test the waters,” Murphy said. “And for those people who have found it is what they want to do, oftentimes it will lead to a full-time job.” Two students are currently
completing cooperative work experiences under the supervision of Murphy. Chelsea Thompson, a 26-year-old digital media technology major, is completing a co-op at UPS in Mahwah, N.J. as a strategic communications intern. Her responsibilities include: updating websites with internal news and event coverage, taking photos of events and video editing. “I remind people that [UPS is] a good place to work, and [I] keep the employees informed,” Thompson said. “I make people aware of what other people are working on because sometimes people get isolated with their own projects.” Thompson said she found it difficult to work with the “soft deadlines” at first. “My managers would give me three or four projects without hard deadlines. I was expected to prioritize,” Thompson said. “They gave me a bunch of things and basically said, ‘Finish as soon as possible.’” Thompson said she didn’t learn many hard skills while interning, but rather she learned other workplace skills that cannot be taught in class. “[I learned] relations with other people in the department [and how] to be aggressive when I need something,” Thompson said. “It was important to constantly communicate with my managers about what I’m working on… if they give me something new, I need to tell them how it’d affect my current projects.” Thompson hopes to be hired full-time at UPS after she graduates from CCM. “They’re pretty good about hiring their interns,” Thompson said. “I’ve seen, like, 10 other interns get hired there... The girl that hired me was a co-op [at the time] and now she works there full time.” Overall, Thompson describes her co-op experience as “really good.” “It meshed with how I learn,” Thompson said. “[On] my second day, they threw me into an event with a camera. I’m the odd person who learns by being thrown into something... It prevents me from getting bored.”
Another student under Murphy’s supervision is Michael Kucinski, a 19-year-old computer science major. He found his internship online on CCM’s career services job listings and currently has a co-op at AGO Insurance Software. Most of his responsibilities are related to web applications. Thus far, he has designed reusable user interface components, converted old web pages to newer standards... [and] researched possible technologies for future use within the new project platform. Kucinski said that, while he was taught many valuable technical skills by interning, he learned much more than that. “I have learned how to express my ideas and give presentations to communicate them effectively,” Kucinski said in an email. “I have learned how to listen to the ideas of others... [and] how to work as a member of a team. And finally, I have learned the importance of caffeine.” Similar to Thompson, Kucinski said the hardest thing to adjust to was the “lack of immediate direction.” “You are not always expected to finish a project in an hour, a day, or even a week,” Kucinski said. “It may seem silly, but I found myself stressed at first due to the amount of freedom I had.” Kucinski said that without this co-op, he would be “entirely unprepared for the real world.” “I think interning is a lot like driving for the first time after getting your learner’s permit; your classes have made you aware of the necessary steps involved, but actually doing it is drastically different,” Kucinski wrote in an email. “I am treated not like a student, but more as if I was a professional who has had experience. I believe that, just like getting a learner’s permit, an internship or a co-op is essential.”
Page 4 The Youngtown Edition
NEWS
February 19, 2014
Statehouse: Sweeney invites collegiate media outlets to Legislature CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Programs like Rowan’s are being done throughout the country. One notable example, is the Pennsylvania State University system. When students look up “Penn State,” they’ll run into “Penn State: Altoona campus” or “Penn State-Wilkes Barre campus.” The satellite campuses all used to be county colleges subsi-
dized by the state of Pennsylvania then that got rebranded and given the widely-known Penn State name. Sweeney alluded to the notion that “when you talk to young people [referring to attending a community college], its just not viewed as college.” “Another idea we have… instead of exporting jobs, importing jobs. Creating job opportunities for students so that you can work 800 hours a year, minimum wage,
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE YOUNGTOWN EDITION
Editors, from left to right, Rachel Nider, Jordan Barth, Josef Luftman, Giovanna Romazini
for a company like AT&T… They [the companies] put the money [earned wages] into a foundation. The corporations get a tax cut because it’s a foundation, the money goes towards paying your education so you work when you graduate, you are not ‘going to have any bills because they are paid for that way.” “Lets look at the world dif-
PHOTO BY RACHEL NIDER
Sweeney illustrates his point.
ferently and how can we make it work better…” Studies have shown that people who attend higher education earn $1 million dollars more than someone who did not attend over their lifetime of employment. The increasing cost of college is not limited to financial stress, studies have shown personal harm has come from it as well. Sweeney described one example. “I know a young lady who
just recently tried to hurt herself because she got so depressed when she got out of college, she couldn’t pay her bills, and she couldn’t find a job, you know, in her field, and did something very bad because she was so depressed,” he described. Stories similar to the one described by the State Senator are becoming increasingly common and are only expected to increase without action to decrease cost.
PHOTO BY RACHEL NIDER
Sweeney answers a question posed by a military veteran and current college student.
Academic integrity holds sway in the CCM community BY LAUREN FORNINI Business Manager
Academic integrity is not something that is taken lightly at County College of Morris. The college established an entire board of faculty members set aside for handling these issues. The Academic Integrity Review Board (AIR) does its best to motivate students to be successful in an honest manner. The AIR board consists of faculty members who review accusations against students who may have violated the college’s academic integrity policy. The board has a variety of six faculty members representing each academic division, an academic dean and the vice president of student development and enrollment management.
“Members of the AIR board review the written complaints that are submitted by faculty members,” said, Dr. Bette Simmons, Vice President of student development and enrollment management. “They meet with each individual student who is accused of violating the college’s academic integrity policy. Based upon the evidence provided, along with the student’s testimony, the AIR board determines whether or not the student violated the college’s policy.” Students who are accused of an integrity issue are notified immediately and face a difficult challenge of trying to prove themselves innocent. This is not an easy thing to do, according to Simmons. Students take a big risk when they decide to cheat on an assignment.
“Once the hearing date is set, the student meets alone with the AIR board to explain his [or] her version of what he [or] she did,” Simmons said. “This is the opportunity for the student to either admit to what he [or] she is being accused of or to explain what he [or] she did and why it should not be considered a violation. During this hearing, the student is questioned by the AIR board in an effort to have a better understanding of the student’s actions and to determine if there is cause to support the complaint of an integrity violation.” It is important to note that AIR board meetings are immensely uncomfortable for students. Students get grilled by the six faculty members and are challenged to defend their actions and their understanding of aca-
demic integrity, Simmons stated. “Once the student has concluded his [or] her testimony, he [or] she departs and the AIR board deliberates to make a determination of innocence or guilt,” Simmons said. “If guilty, the board will submit a disciplinary recommendation to me.” Simmons warned that making a rebound from such a penalty is not easy. A violation on file could haunt one for the rest of their academic and professional life. “While information about it is not released unless there is a written request from the student to do so, the violation may resurface at any time in the student’s life,” Simmons said. “There have been situations in which CCM students who were found in violation did not receive employment opportunities as a result of the in-
tegrity violation. It could also affect a student’s ability to transfer to a four-year school of choice.” AIR is known about all throughout campus. Students and teachers alike are aware of the purpose and possible consequences of the board. “In principle [AIR] is good and necessary,” said Paul Voltmer, sociology professor at CCM. “It is good to have outside representation for ethical challenges. Having a third party come in can help bring equality to the issue between a teacher and student.” Cheating is something all professors are aware of. They know it goes on in classrooms all over the world and that it could happen in their classes as well. Each professor has a unique way of handling it. “I try to handle any integrity issue in my classroom between myself and the student,” Voltmer said. “I feel if we can reach an agreement I would like to leave it at that.” Students are also well aware that cheating could taint their entire future. Steering clear of cheating is not even an ethical dilemma, according to one student. “The fear of the consequences from the Academic Review Board keeps me from plagiarizing,” said Liza Cook, an occupational therapy assistant major at CCM. “The idea of being expelled is scary enough, but knowing there is a board watching definitely makes me more aware of the problem.” “Even without a board set aside to handle integrity issues, cheating is easy to spot. Professors can pick up on it right away,” according to Cook.
February 19, 2014
The Youngtown Edition Page 5
Congratulations Youngtown photo contest winners! Sophie Hayed Hayes Sophia Restaurant and Culinary Management and
Kellina McConnell Kellina Humanity and Social Sciences
Welcome Back Bash Spring 2014
Photos by Rachel Nider, Assistant Photography Editor
Page 6 The Youngtown Edition
FEATURES & OPINIONS
February 19, 2014
Library under renovation, set to open this spring BY HALEY BECZA Contributor
The Learning Resource Center at County College of Morris has been under construction since last spring. As some students are aware, it has been temporarily located on Route 10 East. According to Heather Craven, the director of Sherman H. Masten Learning Resource Center, she and the other librarians are excited to return to the renovated building. “The new library will be entirely on the second floor, making the space more user-friendly and easier for us to assist students,” Craven said. Students who use the walkway that goes past the construction zone can see the changes in exterior décor. “So far, the library is really modern looking from the outside,” said Barbara Vanderhoof, an exercise science major at CCM. “I’m glad that it’s opening before I graduate.” Craven was able to reveal some details about what the décor will be like inside of the building once the project is completed. The overall interior of the building will now include a lighter col-
PHOTO BY STEPHEN A. GAUTHIER
Newly renovated library is set to open this spring. or pallet that could create a more open and inviting feel. The newly installed heat, ventilation and air conditioning system will create a more comfortable atmosphere
for the students and visitors occupying the building. There will be study rooms added to provide students with the option to study and work together in groups more
Column: Undocumented students finally eligible for in-state tuition BY SANDRA RIANO Opinions Editor
Governor Chris Christie signed into law, the Tuition Equality Act (S2479) on Dec. 20 in Union City. This law allows undocumented students to pay a significantly less expensive tuition rate so that they can afford their education. New Jersey became the 17th state to allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates as long as they attended a New Jersey high school for three or more years, graduated or passed a General Education Development test (GED), and filed an affidavit that states that they will seek immigration status as soon as it’s available to them. New York, Texas, California and Oregon are some of the other states that already have similar legislation in effect. Christie’s only stipulation with the bill was that the section allowing state financial aid be removed. Even without financial support from the state, this bill is a great accomplishment and will grant undocumented students the opportunity to achieve the goals they never imagined possible. To put into perspective the massive difference between in-state and out-ofstate tuition rates, consider a three-credit course at County College of Morris, which costs $414 at the in-state tuition rate for the upcoming summer semester, according to the CCM website. For an undocumented student, that same three-credit course would cost $1,074, which is more than 2.5 times more expensive. A student that pays their tuition at the in-state rate can take five three-credit courses at a cost of $2,070
while an undocumented student would pay $2,148 to take only two courses. Undocumented students are considered “international students” and therefore qualify for the extreme outof-state rates. The harsh reality of this is that the majority of undocumented students have lived here for most of their lives and consider themselves to be New Jerseyans. The state has supported them through their K-12 education and it’s senseless to cut them off from their dreams at a higher education. Unfortunately, due to the timing of the bill, near the holiday break, the CCM board could not meet in time for a policy to be put into place for the beginning of the spring semester. According to the Office of Student Development, the policy is now in place and CCM will be refunding the differences in tuition paid for the spring semester by undocumented students. In order to receive the refund, a student must bring in their high school transcripts, a work authorization card (if applicable) and must sign the aforementioned affidavit. The first draft of this bill was introduced in 2003. Christie’s decision finally puts an end to the decade-long battle for tuition equality. The slogan of the United Negro College Fund accurately summarizes this issue of minorities being unable to continue their education: “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”
privately. Spring 2014 is currently the set opening date for the library. “I’ll still get to see and use the new building, but I wish that
they had finished it sooner,” said Christine Tregoning, a student at CCM who is currently in her fourth semester. “I’m definitely going to try to get there a few times before I graduate in May.” To some students, one of the most exciting features of the new LRC will be the coffee shop, which will have available seating for students and visitors. The area will also have a great view overlooking the campus. “The shop will be a nice addition. I like to enjoy coffee or a snack while working, and I’m sure, students do too,” Craven said. “We will be asking visitors to bring only covered drinks and small, tidy snacks into the library area, to keep the space clean and protect the books and computers.” Adding quite a few new features to the building could make it more appealing to students and visitors. The changes could potentially attract more foot traffic in and out of the LRC. “I’m hoping it’s going to be a really nice, laid back place to hang out and get some work done,” Vanderhoof added. “It will be like the best of both worlds.”
TACOS!
PHOTOS BY STEPHEN A. GAUTHIER
Student Government Association serves helpings of taco meat, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, refried beans and salsa to County College of Morris students. They wanted to bring recognition to their club and inform students about CCM’s exciting campus life.
ENTERTAINMENT
February 19, 2014
The Youngtown Edition Page 7
Jazz it up in New Orleans with Collins
BY GIOVANNA ROMAZINI Assistant News Editor
This spring students at County College of Morris will be able to earn three credits toward a college degree while experiencing jazz music and exploring the history of New Orleans. The class, conducted by music professor Todd Collins, takes place during CCM’s first summer session held June 6-16 and is open to all students at CCM. The trip, a special topics class, is not a regular course. Students who participate in this opportunity will be able to complete a humanities elective or a diversity course, according to
Collins. “New Orleans is one of the greatest musical cities on earth,” Collins said. “It is a great and affordable opportunity for students to feel, hear and discover the story behind the music that makes up that culture.” Students will step aboard a cruise on the Natchez Riverboat, attend the Louisiana Cajun Zydeco Festival, where they can taste New Orleans cuisine, and take a bike tour into various parts of the city. “We will visit the Presbytere, Cabildo and the United States Mint State Museums, along with the Backstreet Cultural Museum, which is located at the Tremé
neighborhood,” Collins said. “The Tremé neighborhood is a known place because a lot of great musicians came out of that area. It is an important part of the culture of New Orleans.” On the bike tour, students will head uptown to the Garden District, Sculpture Garden, and check out the famous Tiptina’s club, where jazz artist Professor Longhair performed in his late years. The students will watch a concert at Preservation Hall in which Collins is hoping, he can secure the Paulin Brothers Brass Band to perform a private concert for the students again. “Students called the [concert
the] highlight of the trip,” Collins said. “They are one of the famous musical families of New Orleans. Their father, Ernest Paulin, started a band in the 1920s and he played until his death. His sons are carrying on the tradition.” Chelsea Carlson, aspiring singer-songwriter and early childhood education major at CCM, stated that her experience in New Orleans was unlike any other. “If you think New York City is a melting pot of cultures, you definitely have never seen New Orleans,” Carlson said. “What I liked was that the trip didn’t cover only jazz, but all kinds of music, as well as the music business.” Carlson’s favorite moments
included visiting Café Du Monde, the Oyster Festival and Bourbon Street. “The entire city seems stuck in another time,” Carlson said. “I learned so much about music, art and culture. It really gave me insight to creativity. As a musician myself, it really opened my eyes on how to share music with people and really appreciate each other’s work.” Collins encourages students to register early; as there are only 10 student spots available. The deadline to sign up is Feb. 29. Any interested students are asked to contact Professor Collins at tcollins@ccm.edu.
Students weigh in on Oscar predictions, Ellen as host BY JASMINE I. DAVIS
Assistant Entertainment Editor
Ever since the first televised ceremony in 1953, the Oscars has evolved into an astounding experience for viewers at home each year. Nominees in the categories of acting, directing, editing, screenwriting, films, foreign films, music and visual effects have been presented the “Academy Award of Merit”, ever since the first awards banquet on May 16, 1929. Marcus Raman, a 22-year-old business administration major at County College of Morris, said that he doesn’t watch the Oscars and probably will not be tuned in this year. “I don’t really care too much for the
Oscars,” Raman said. “I don’t watch a lot of TV and never had an interest in the show.” According to Raman, there are two nominees that he would like to see win an Oscar. He believes these two actors should be recognized for their work ethic. “Even though I haven’t seen the movie,‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’ I’m familiar with Leonardo DiCaprio’s work and he is a phenomenal actor who deserves to receive his first Oscar,” Raman said. “‘12 Years a Slave’ was a very emotional movie and I think that Chiwetel Ejiofor, did an outstanding job as the leading actor and deserves an award.” “For me, I like the Oscars. I think that
Attention Psychology Majors (or students interested in psychology)
PSI BETA WANTS YOU! We are inviting students to join our new CCM chapter of Psi Beta, the National Honor Society in psychology for community and junior colleges. Psi Beta membership is a nationally recognized honor, an excellent addition to any college application or job resumé, and a great way to meet peers and faculty with similar interests. Requirements: Overall GPA of at least 3.25 B or higher in college psychology course Taken at least one intro psychology course 12 units of total college credit A one-time $50 membership fee Interested? Make an appointment to speak with Professor Kristin Nelson in the Psychology and Education Department by calling 973-328-5631.
Visit www.psibeta.org for more information.
the hosts are always very good and that the whole show is put together very well, but I also feel that it isn’t special because there are so many award shows,” said Tiffany Griff, an 18-year-old TV broadcasting student at CCM. “I don’t really watch the Oscars to see who gets the awards, I mainly watch to see what the actors and actresses are wearing.” For best picture, Griff added that ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ should win an Oscar. “This movie was in the process of being made for a long time and it turned out to be worth the wait. It is an important movie based on true events.” Marcus Raman and Tiffany Griff said they are expecting a lot of good humor
again this year because Ellen Degeneres, a television icon, is going to be the host for the second time. “I’m so excited to be hosting the Oscars again for the second time,” Degeneres said in an advertisement on the ABC Television Network. “You know what they say -- third time’s the charm.” According to the Academy President, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, in “The Oscar Blog,” states she’s “Looking forward to an entertaining, engaging and fun show.” The Oscars is a time when the nominees are appreciated and recognized for their hard work and ambition. This year’s 87th Academy Awards will broadcast live on Sunday, March 2 at 7 p.m. on ABC.
Page 8 The Youngtown Edition
SPORTS
February 19, 2014
Titans lacrosse hopes to have winning season BY JOHN GOLDFARB BY MIKE DICOLA
What are your plans for Valentine’s Day? Kai Taro Saito 19 Business “I’m getting chocolate covered strawberries and we will be going ice skating. And we got a room at a classy hotel.”
Mia Manubag 19 Nursing “I’m going to go get Asian food with my friend, playing with my baby brother until my boyfriend gets back from court.”
Nick Kassner 20 Business “I’m either going to a friend’s party or staying at home.”
Christian Bolcar 20 Mechanical Engineering “I’m going to a bay overlooking the bay at New York.”
Sports Editor
With spring only one month away, the County College of Morris Titans Lacrosse season is ready to start the season up with a game against the Northern Virginia Novas. Titan Lacrosse coaches and players expect to improve their 4-13 record from the previous season and make it to the playoffs. Dan Pasquariello, a first-year exercise science major and Titans Lacrosse player, said he hopes to have more than .500 season for the Titans this year. “I mean we got a good squad,” Pasquariello said. “We got a bunch of returning kids. A lot of kids are stepping up, showing they are leaders of this team, working together, and we’re still trying to find out our chemistry with each other. But we’re looking forward to having an over .500 season this year.” Pasquariello expressed how he would like to see the team develop strong chemistry. “My main goal I’d say is that all of us are trying to get our team together and have everyone be on the same page,” Pasquariello said. “We don’t want any selfishness this year; we want everybody to work together, we want everybody to get along with each other cause when that’s not going right, we don’t have chemistry with each other, then we have a lot of problems... then everything
just goes downhill from there.” Pasquariello finally and most importantly mentioned how this season, he hopes the team will get to experience playoff time and improve from last season’s record. “Last season wasn’t too successful, but hopefully we’re looking to turn things around this year,” Pasquariello said. “We have a good squad this year; we’re really looking to get a lot of work done and hopefully see some playoff time.” Matt Thompson, a mechanical engineering major and red shirt freshman, also hopes to win games and craft a better record for the 2014 Titans Lacrosse season. “My expectations for the season are just [to] win games,” Thompson said. “That’s the only expectation I have. Win games, get better.” Thompson, also expects to make the final game in the playoffs. “I want to have is to have a guaranteed spot in the final game in the playoffs,” Thompson said. Thompson talked about how the first lacrosse game of the 2014 season is against Northern Virginia Novas in Maryland and he hopes to get a win from that first game. “Our first game of the season is Feb. 22 against Nova down in Maryland,” Thompson said. “Should be a good game, I’m not going to preview anything
because you’ll never know, but I hope it to be a win.” Titans Lacrosse coach, Todd Cieri, explained how the playoffs are very easy and that he is also expecting to make the playoffs for the 2014 season. “Our playoffs are very easy,” Cieri said. “There’s only five teams in our region and we’re making it like a five team tournament. So we’ll make our tournament in the end of the year, we’ll make playoffs that guaranteed.” Coach Cieri, talked about how the young lacrosse players need to have a schedule that works with lacrosse practices. “The young guys need to learn a little more responsibility, getting their schedules straight, and making time for lacrosse this season,” said Cieri. “The returning guys are already aware of the expectations and their responsibilities of the team; so they’re usually here a little bit more often, but there are a few kids who are here; dedicated every day no excuses, and those are the kids we want on this team.” Coach Cieri mentioned how scrimmages with conference rivals differ from scrimmages with club teams from four year schools, he also mentioned that there will not be any scrimmages leading to the first game of the season against Nova due to the winter storms this February. “Once you start with games, you have to continue with games,” Cieri said.
PTK Spotlight: Phi Theta Kappa’s Member of the Month Walter Yurcik, Member
Derek Volta 19 Chemistry “Getting breakfast. And I think I’m going to have dinner with my girlfriend.”
The Youngtown Edition The Student Newspaper of 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: youngtownedition@gmail.com
Editor in Chief..............................................................Melissa Dellacato Managing Editor.................................................................. Jordan Barth Managing Editor..............................................................Kaitlyn Alegria Managing Editor.................................................................... Daniel Eng Business Manager............................................................ Lauren Fornini Assistant Business Manager...........................................Michael Scalice News Editor........................................................................Josef Luftman Assistant News Editor.............................................. Giovanna Romazini Features Editor......................................................................Kelby Clark Entertainment Editor....................................................Danny Gonzalez Sports Editor......................................................................John Goldfarb Opinions Editor...................................................................Sandra Riano Photography Editor.............................................................Mike DiCola Assistant Photography Editor............................................ Rachel Nider Layout Editor........................................................................ Derek Allen Copy Editor........................................................................Marisa Goglia Assistant Copy Editor........................................................ Whitley Horn Online Editor.................................................................. Chelsea Cattano Social Media Editor...........................................................Nicole Darrah Circulation Manager.....................................................Cassandra Kadel Technical Adviser...............................................................Wilma Martin Staff..............Tamara Curovic, Amanda Murphy, Tayah Grace Swedland Vienna Brooke Castrignano, Stephen A. Gauthier, Bill San Filippo, Haley Becza Faculty Adviser: John Soltes The Youngtown Edition is printed every other Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters. Unless specified, the opinions of the editorial page are those of the editorial board. Signed letters to the editor of 250 words or fewer are welcome and should be e-mailed to youngtownedition@gmail.com. Students are welcome to contribute articles. However, students cannot receive a byline if they belong to the organization on which they are reporting. The deadline for submission is the Wednesday prior to the date of publication.
BY KELBY CLARK
ing member meetings. He was officially inducted in November 2013, and he has since volunWalter Yurcik is a calm, colteered at many of the chapter’s lected hard worker with an infecon-campus events. tious sense of humor. These qual“I enjoy being part of the ities have allowed him to stand Alpha Kappa Kappa chapter due out among his fellow members in to the amazing, talented, diverse the Phi Theta Kappa Alpha Kappa Kappa chapter and earn the and academic-excellent stutitle of “Member of the Month” dents,” Yurcik said. “During my PHOTO COURTESY OF WALTER YURCIK for January. Walter Yurcik is an active free time, which is limited, I usuYurcik enrolled in County Col- member of Phi Theta Kappa. ally think about how I can spread lege of Morris as a computer scithe word about Phi Theta Kappa ence major with the intent of learning more about his field of study and achieving a higher level of around campus, as well as to potential students who might be interested in attending CCM.” education. Yurcik aspires to become president of the AmIn October 2013, Yurcik became involved with the Phi Theta Kappa organization, regularly attend- bassadors Club and obtain an associate degree. Features Editor