TheYoungtownEdition COUNTY COLLEGE OF MORRIS AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER
VOL. 91, NO. 5
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 06, 2013
RANDOLPH, N.J.
Gold Medalist, 2013 Columbia Scholastic Press Association • First Place Layout & Design 2012-2013 NJPA
“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” -Martin Luther King Jr.
CCM soccer team finishes off strong BY GIOVANNA ROMAZINI Assistant News Editor
The men’s soccer team at County College of Morris had a strong start this fall. As part of the New Jersey State Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Program, the team competed in region 19 and Garden State Athletic Conference, making it to the playoffs. The team lost against Sussex County Community College by a score of 0-1. With an overall rate of nine wins and seven losses, CCM athletic director Jack Sullivan said the team was in great shape. “CCM men’s soccer team has a tradition to be very strong,” Sullivan said. “We have a very young team this fall, not a lot of returning sophomores, which gives us the opportunity to rebuild every year.” Head coach Aaron Balber was a longtime assistant coach at CCM and a player himself. “He is very experienced in club soccer as well as junior college athletics,” Sullivan said. “He has been with us for about eight years now.” Balber is also a regional sports adviser at SportsWorx, a program that teaches students how the recruiting process works and gives them step-by-step guidance throughout all four years of high school. “When knowing all the players on their way out, it helps the recruiting and it can possibly bring new players to CCM,” Sullivan said. The athletics department at CCM holds a budget for teams that make it to postseason games. “This budget is separated from our operating budget,” Sul-
PHOTO COURTSEY OF CCM DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
CCM men’s soccer team goalie, Branden Stevens, puts the ball back in play. livan said. “This money is set aside for the specific purpose for paying for postseason play.” CCM soccer teams have competed at nationals three times in the past six years, but no wins yet. CCM is Division III in soccer, which does not offer scholarships. “Students who come to CCM come because they love to play the sport. We have a good reputation not only on the field but academically, which is more important,” Sullivan said. “Students who stick with the program and do well go on to four year schools to play, whether the division is II or III.” Games were scheduled for Tuesdays, Thursdays and Satur-
days. Attendance was good, considering CCM is not a four-year institution and does not include dormitories, where students are constantly on campus. The games had the support of a lot of family members and friends. “It always depends on how the team is doing, and we are doing pretty well,” Sullivan said. “So the turnout is pretty good for our level overall, but we could always use more student support.” Jordan Marsh, an engineering science major at CCM and the soccer team captain, said it can be hard to handle classes and daily practices at the same time, but luckily there are many people connected to athletics who can help students whenever they need. This is Marsh’s second year
playing for the team. “As a captain, I try to be a good example of how to be both a student and an athlete,” he said. “Since the majority of the team is first-year players, I try to give them advice from what I learned from last year’s captain and try to pass on my personal experiences.” The regionals was putting a lot of pressure on the team. “Last year we got knocked out in the first round of regionals,” Marsh said. “It is more pressure especially knowing that if you lose at any point the season is over. When it comes to handling the pressure, we just have to believe we can do well and then show it on the field and hope for the best.”
“It is great to be able to represent the school you attend,” Marsh continued. “Mentally and physically it is also beneficial for me. If I didn’t play soccer, I would never be in as good of shape as I am now. It also gives a good way to relieve stress and meet new people.” Michael O’Keefe, a liberal arts major at CCM, played his first season on the soccer team and is still exploring his opportunities at the school. “I purposely took all morning classes, so I have a gap between class and practice every day where I can do my homework and study,” O’Keefe said. The thought of possibly qualifying for nationals was exciting for O’Keefe, who has some experience when it comes to competing at regionals. “I’ve played in a youth national tournament in high school in Tampa, so I’ve been through the process, but not on the collegiate level,” O’Keefe said. “We prepare by practicing hard every day and having a lot of team bonding. Sometimes we go to a teammate’s house or go to dinner together after practice, but the more we interact off the field, I believe the better we play on the field.” Being an athlete could have many benefits to the mind and body, but no team will be successful without partnership and effort. “It doesn’t matter how many good players you have, you must work together,” O’Keefe said. “I love the team atmosphere, and I know after the season ends, my teammates will continue to be my best friends here.”
Cheating in academia presents problem for schools
BY JORDAN BARTH Managing Editor
Features 2, 7 Opinions 4 Entertainment 8
PHOTO COURTSEY OF HILL STREET STUDIOS / BLEND / LEARNING PICTURES / UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP
Girl looking at classmate’s work.
the author references two major studies on cheating. In a 2011 study of high
News 3, 6 Roving Reporter 8
Today’s Headlines
Index
More than half of the college presidents featured in a recent study said that they had seen an increase in student plagiarism, according to a 2011 study by the Pew Research Center, an online research resource and The Chronicle of Higher Education. In a widely used textbook among County College of Morris students, “Sociology: The Core,”
school science fair participants, 60 percent admitted to some form of cheating. In addition, a 2006 study researched the prevalence of cheating among graduate students. It found that approximately half of all graduate students have cheated in some form. Last year, a major cheating scandal broke out at one of the nation’s leading higher education institutions, Harvard University, according to news reports. Nearly
half of the class’s 279 students were suspected of cheating, and approximately 70 were forced to withdraw from the Ivy League university. Cheating in academia, sometimes called academic dishonesty, is a major problem facing institutions in higher education today. According to CCM’s student handbook, academic dishonesty includes cheating on an exam, lying about the location of the information being referenced, plagiarizing, working with others
on a graded assignment or exam, submitting someone else’s work as one’s own or allowing someone to copy an assignment. Cheating, according to Tara Jenkins, a liberal arts major, includes “taking someone else’s work and not giving them credit or having notes, [having] your phone out and looking at your neighbor during a test to get answers.”
Walking Dead
Reading Habits
Page 8
Page 2
CCM students bring life back to ‘The Walking Dead.’
Please see CHEATING on Page 2 The use of e-books has increased.
FEATURES
Page 2 The Youngtown Edition
November 6, 2013
Reading habits shifting in new direction BY KAITLYN ALEGRIA Copy Editor
Americans’ reading habits over time seem to be shifting. Individuals ages 18 through 35 increased their use of e-books from 16 percent in December 2011 to 23 percent in November 2012. The number of individuals who read printed books fell from 72 percent in 2011 to 67 percent in 2012, according to the Pew Research Center, an online research resource. At County College of Morris, some students and teachers would rather read printed books instead
of e-books. The feel of a real, physical book in hand may give pleasure that an e-book might not be able to achieve, according to a few students. “I prefer paper books to ebooks,” said Stephen Chauha, a math major at CCM. “I don’t read that often, but usually in the summer I like to pick up a book.” Buying an e-book can be expensive, according to Chauha. He said if an individual does not read that often, it would be better to read a printed copy of a novel instead. “In this day of age, while it’s really nice to have physi-
cal books, we feel strongly that students want access to online books,” said Regina Cannizzaro, the coordinator of technical services at CCM. “So, [the library] started to buy e-books for students.” Cannizzaro works in the library and catalogues the books. The library started to buy e-books in 2002. Individuals seem to read printed books more for leisure and e-books more for school assignments, according to Cannizzaro. “I rather have a physical book instead of an e-book. I’m more old fashion,” Cannizzaro said. “I
noticed my daughter and son-inlaw tend to use both. When they need information, they tend to go more for online resources.” Some students believe that ebooks are easier to access rather than going to a library or a bookstore. Once an individual finishes a book, he or she might buy another one right after. “I rather have an e-book,” said Abigail Lengyel, a communication major at CCM. “I have a Kindle … It’s so much easier to carry around.” Lengyel was gifted her Kindle last Christmas and has not used a printed book since. Having
an e-book can be better for reading at night or outside because of the lighting, according to Lengyel. Any individual can change the lighting setting on an e-book. Whether or not a student at CCM uses a printed book or an e-book, the shift is growing. The number of people with devices like Kindles and Nooks has grown to 24 percent, according to the Pew Research Center. “We would love some suggestions at the library to make your life easier,” Cannizzaro said.“We are here to help the students, and it would be nice to get more feedback [on this topic].”
CHEATING: Problem present in many schools CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Kevin Laudenbach, a music major, defined cheating as “getting the answer from an outside source… getting information that’s not in your head.” The handbook goes on to state, “The Vice President of Student Development & Enrollment Management will refer the Report submitted by the faculty member to the Academic Integrity Review Board.” The board determines whether academic dishonesty occurred, and what consequences the student should face. “Students are advised that faculty will have the ability to submit student work to Turnitin. com to determine if plagiarism has occurred,” as stated in the fall 2013 college student handbook. The biggest source of cheating happens when students are writing papers and might have
not read the material. Often the online resource, SparkNotes, is misused. The student might copy the material from the website, and the words are changed around to avoid getting caught. In partaking in this activity, not only is their personal integrity compromised, but also the author is not getting credit for his or her hard work. Many moral and ethical questions are associated with this hot-button issue. Why do students cheat? Why is cheating considered unethical? These questions skim the surface of the reasoning behind the controversial practice. “I feel that people cheat because they don’t know the material because it hasn’t been presented well or the information is just too much,” Jenkins said. “Cheating is bad because you’re not gaining anything. If
you cheat, that doesn’t prove that you’ve learned anything. All it proves is you’re sneaky and don’t give a s*** about learning,” Laudenbach said. Jenkins provided a different point of view on why “cheating” is “bad.” “I can understand… taking an article and calling it your own… could be disrespectful to the actual author, but as far as cheating on a test, I don’t really have an answer,” she said. “If I want to look at my neighbor or my phone... that’s my problem not the teacher’s.” Professors on campus are doing their best to combat this epidemic. Dr. Jack Bernardo, professor of political science, is a virulent supporter of academic integrity. On quizzes he gives to his sections of American Government, he creates different forms of the quiz and places them on different colored paper. If he finds that two
PTK SPOTLIGHT
Lucina Simonian BY KELBY CLARK Features Editor
Throughout October, Lucina Simonian has been an active member of CCM’s Phi Theta Kappa, Alpha Kappa Kappa team. Simonian has aided the Alpha Kappa Kappa chapter by attending a number of their sponsored events. She has also promoted leadership and scholarship among other members of the organization through her creative ideas and strong sense of self. Simonian was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa in spring 2013. Simonian enrolled in CCM as a business administration major, even though she was originally unsure of what she wanted to study. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study in college and I wanted to be close to home,” she said. She became involved in CCM student life and in addition to being an active member of Phi Theta Kappa, she is also the treasurer of the Student Government Association. In the near future, Simonian would like to transfer to a four-year university and earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting. In her free time, Simonian likes to
PHOTO COURTSEY OF LUCINA SIMONIAN
Lucina Simonian is an active member of Phi Theta Kappa.
watch cartoons and read. She enjoys Shakespeare and has seen and read almost every Shakespeare play.
colors are next to each other after verbal warnings before giving out the quiz, both quizzes are thrown out with students receiving no credit for their exams. Another such example includes the administration of final exams. They are given in a secure location with a proctor looking at a central monitor connected to the screens of all computers being used. Also, any scrap paper or brainstorming used during the exam session is collected and discarded once the student is finished. Can this epidemic be stopped from spreading? “It has the potential to be stopped... I feel that it could be fixed by maybe having more professors that are better at presenting and helping the students understand,” Jenkins said. “I find that I do… not feel the need to cheat when I know I studied the right things. I can’t tell you how many times I… just skimmed
through the information that was more important.” Laudenbach provided an interesting solution as well. “I think it can be reduced if professors take the right initiative like collecting cell phones before a test,” he said. “Professors at CCM at the beginning of each semester go off on tangents with cheating and how no form of it is tolerated,” Jenkins said. “I mean I know students do it and I’ve seen cheat sheets and phones, but the teachers seem to not catch it. So I guess with some of the classes I’ve had; yes, it is somewhat of a problem.” “Personally I don’t think cheating has been a huge issue at CCM,” Laudenbach said. “However, I believe it exists and I do believe it is prominent in other campuses.”
November 6, 2013
NEWS
The Youngtown Edition Page 3
Ouch, that hurts: Stereotypes affect students on a deeper level BY KHUSHBU KAPADIA Editor in Chief
The use of stereotypes, which is generalizing a particular group of people, has been carried on throughout the world for many years. However, according to news reports, when most people think of stereotypes, groups such as these may come to mind: elders, teens, Jewish community, Muslims, Christians, Asians, Hispanics, women, black people, white people, the gay community, blonde women and wealthy people. Since there are students on campus with various backgrounds
and ethnicities, stereotyping happens quite often. Alison Riehl, communication major at County College of Morris, strongly sides with the viewpoint that stereotypes have predominantly negative effects on individuals. “I think that stereotypes are still very present in today’s society,” Riehl said. “Most of them are used negatively and can be hurtful toward that specific group.” “As much as stereotypes can hurt people, I don’t believe they are ever going to go away because it’s a quick way for people to make judgments without having all the details and knowledge about a person,” she continued.
According to Leslie Aguilar, a speaker, author and workshop facilitator, some examples of phrases of stereotypes that are most common are: “Asians are good in math,” “African-Americans are good at sports,” “men are good leaders,” and “women are good nurturers.” However, what happens when, for example, a woman becomes a “good leader” and a man becomes a “good nurturer?” When people see something out of the norm, it can catch people off-guard. Nathan Peterson, president of the Black Student Union at CCM, works with his team to not only bring awareness to the
African-American culture, but also performs community service programs and special projects to help out people in need. “Just because you heard certain things about a particular race, or the way someone is dressed, you shouldn’t judge among that,” Peterson said. “You should judge among what these individuals bring to the table and their actions.” According to some statistics by Survelum, an online software for surveys, a majority of people stated African-Americans have the most “negative” stereotypes associated with their race. In addition, Caucasians have the most positive stereotypes associated
Popularity of fantasy sports has students questioning future of football KELBY CLARK Features Editor
As the 2013 NFL season progresses and the anticipated 48th Super Bowl championship game slowly approaches, football fans across the U.S. are becoming more a part of the game than before. Millions of Americans take part in fantasy sports. The most popular sport is football with a total 24 million American participants, according to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association. IBISWorld analysts predict that fantasy sports will bring $1.2 billion in revenue for 2013, with the majority coming from football. Brandon Holmes, a 20-yearold business administration major, is one of the millions of Americans that play fantasy football. Holmes finds the online game engaging and acknowledges its potential for growth. “The real sports will always be more popular because you need them to create a fantasy league, but I believe that as years go by, fantasy football will be-
come more and more popular,” Holmes said. “I like it because you never know what’s going to happen during the game and how it will affect your team.” Fantasy sports are onlinebased games in which contestants attempt to put together a winning football franchise. Participants draft NFL athletes to be on their virtual teams and compete against other virtual teams on a weekly basis. The players’ real-world performances during the week control a contestant’s fantasy point total and overall success. Websites such as NFL.com, Yahoo.com and ESPN.com are only a small number of host sites for fantasy sports, but most fantasy sites are operated by third parties that are unaffiliated with the NFL such as FootballGuys.com and FantasyPros.com, according to Slate magazine. Much of the appeal could come from how fantasy football fans can act as the coach or general manager of a team of professional athletes without ever leaving their homes.
Although he is not a fan of football or play fantasy football, Jeremy Jacob, a 21-year-old biology major at CCM, said he believes he has an understanding of why people find fantasy sports engaging. “I’d imagine that people would probably go into fantasy football for many reasons … they love the sport, but probably don’t play it well and they try and make up for that by making these leagues,” Jacob said. “I would think that most of these people won’t even be able to tell the difference [between fantasy sports and real sports] anymore because they’re so involved. [If] their team wins, they win money and are rewarded so it’s very real to them.” Over the years, gambling has become strongly associated with the fantasy sports arena. Although many participants profit off of their virtual wins, there are issues surrounding the legality of gambling in the game. Much of the confusion over the legality of operating and par-
ticipating in fantasy sports stems from gaming laws clashing with federal policies, according to FoxNews.com. In addition to fantasy sports being strongly associated with gambling, the games are also strongly associated with men, demographically. Men claim 80 percent of the fantasy sports fanbase, according to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association. However, as with live sports, that does not imply there are no female participants. Amanda Edelman, liberal arts major at County College of Morris, loves football and is an active player in fantasy sports gaming. “I got into fantasy football out of curiosity,” Edelman said. “A lot of my friends were into it, so I wanted to see what they were always going on about.” With a following of more than 30 million Americans and a continually growing fan base, fantasy football has made a permanent mark on sports franchising.
with their race. When it comes to race, most people considered Asians to be more intelligent than other races. The use of stereotypes has a profound effect on individuals. Although some would say stereotypes may have both positive and negative effects on an individual, Aguilar said she believes otherwise. “Many of the negative stereotypes are brutal,” Aguilar stated in an article. “What may surprise you is that even so-called positive stereotypes can have a negative impact.”
Transfer Information Session for Business Majors November 13th 12:30pm to 1:45pm CH 210 Are you a business major getting ready to transfer? Attend this workshop and learn about transfer requirements that are specific to prospective business majors. Bring a printed copy of your program evaluation and your transfer questions. Kari Hawkins Transfer Coordinator
Sponsored by the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program & Career Services and Cooperative Education
Page 4 The Youngtown Edition
OPINIONS
November 6, 2013
Student Government Association sends message to student body The Student Government Association at County College of Morris has been working hard on the kickoff of the fall semester. The SGA has met multiple times since its first meeting on Sept. 10. The Association, to those unfamiliar with the organization, is the governing body for all students enrolled at CCM. It functions to further the well-being of
Cops ‘n’ Kids Book Drive From Nov. 1 through Dec. 20, Educational Opportunity Fund is promoting children’s literacy through the “Cops ‘n’ Kids” program. Please donate new or lightly used children’s books from pre-kindergarten to middle school aged children. The drop off sites include the EOF office in Cohen 211 (by the front doors of Cohen) and the Campus Life office in the Student Community Center. Cops ‘n’ Kids is an international program started by Police Officer Julia Birney Witherspoon of Racine, Wis., in 1997. Having been awarded funding by Oprah Winfrey in 2000, she opened the first reading room with other 40 reading room centers now in existence throughout the U.S., South Africa, Venezuela and the Phillipines.
the student body, while also representing students on various college committees. The association is divided into three branches, with the executive, the legislative, as well as the judicial. It acts similar to the federal and state government, promoting ideals of democracy. The executive branch consists of the President, Vice Presi-
dent, President Pro Tempore, Treasurer, Secretary and Chairperson of the Inter-Club Council. This branch is made up of students elected for a one-year term. The legislative branch is a body of 15 representatives known as the senate. This branch has voting rights on matters that come forth during official business meetings.
The Judicial “branch,”or Judicial board, consists of five student representatives elected as well to a one-year term. These branches come together to report and conduct business at meetings held Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m. During these meetings, events across campus such as “The Walking Taco” were discussed and eventually put to action. Senators also meet for their
very own meeting held Tuesdays at four p.m. Student issues remain one of the major concerns to the SGA. Meetings have been steered in the direction of parking issues, Internet productivity and phone reception. The SGA has seen past issues resolved such as pavement imbalance and the ongoing safety practices at the college.
November 6, 2013 The Youngtown Edition Page 5
NEWS
Page 6 The Youngtown Edition
November 6, 2013
Students share future plans after CCM BY MARINA DISTASI-GRAY Contributor
County College of Morris prepares students for their future endeavors. “CCM has definitely prepared me pretty well for transferring to a four-year school,” said Priyanka Gajjar, an accounting major at CCM. “I learned more about the whole transferring process here than I did in high school.” Students can ask for guid ance from professors during specified office hours. “My professors are readily available whenever I have a question about anything regarding schools,” Gajjar said. “They really help you choose the right schools to look into, and they all give useful advice.” CCM has the best transfer rate among the 19 community colleges in New Jersey, according to the U.S. Department of Education. “I plan on transferring to a school in Florida after my two years here,” said Samantha Burns, a broadcasting arts and technology major at CCM. “I want to enroll in the Disney College Program, and I believe CCM will help me get there.”
PHOTO BY STEPHEN KONOPKA
CCM students have the opportunity to transfer to four-year universities around the country. Students have taken useful knowledge from CCM and applied it to their future education. “CCM really gives the college experience,” Burns said. “Now, when I transfer to a fouryear school in Florida, I will be prepared. I can’t wait to use what
I’ve learned here at my new school.” Local colleges and universities are also popular among prospective transfer students. “My goal is to transfer to Ramapo [College of New Jersey] after I graduate from here,” said
Dena Kasabri, a business major at CCM. “It is relatively close, and the education system is amazing there.” Public four-year colleges and universities in New Jersey are required to accept all credits from county colleges under the
New Jersey Statewide Transfer Agreement. “I think this law really makes the stressful process of transferring a lot easier on students,” Kasabri said. “My dream school is a part of this law, which eases the stress a little.” A predominant obstacle of continuing education is the tuition prices. Tuition prices at New Jersey schools such as Rutgers University and Montclair State University are more than $20,000 per year when the student lives on campus. Tuition at CCM is a fraction of the cost. “I think a county school really helps students financially, especially if they don’t even know what they want to major in yet,” Kasabri said. “CCM helps you figure out your major without spending a crazy amount of money.” Commuters might have the benefit of saving money and the opportunity to hold a job. “Having a job while attending school is really helpful for everyone, and I think it teaches kids to be independent,” Kasabri said. “Since we do not dorm at a school by ourselves, it is important to learn independence while we still live at home.”
Peer Mentors Association welcomes high school students BY JOSEF LUFTMAN Layout Editor
On Friday, Oct. 25, the Peer Mentors Association organized a special orientation for high school students interested in applying to County College of Morris. PMA is geared toward helping students with learning disabilities adapt to a new college environment. In her orientation speech, Jane Rufino, PMA adviser, spoke to 15 curious high school students and gave examples of types of accommodations. Including extra time on tests, using a digital recorder to record a lecture and using a basic calculator for math
tests. She also shocked them by saying that regardless of age, students taking courses at the college level are responsible for keeping track of their academics, accommodations and schedules. “When you come to college, nobody’s going to stop and say ‘Where’s your pass?’ ‘Where [are] you supposed to be?’” Rufino said. “If you are missing classes, no one is going to call home and say … ‘Tommy’s been out of class for two days, where has he been?’” Razi Franchi, PMA president, explained the objective of the association, describing it as “an outreach program for cur-
rent and future college students with disabilities as well as a social outlet for CCM students. We also mentor current college students by giving advice – mostly from personal experience – regarding attending college with a disability.” Rufino said that it helps to teach ways to handle certain situations “by getting them to see that they’re not alone” by giving suggestions on how other students have handled situations successfully. “It’s open to any student in the college, so anyone who would have an interest in gaining support or giving support to other people
is able to join the club,” she said. “We have had students who don’t have a disability who have been interested in it as well.” Sharing one success story about a new CCM student, Franchi described a student who was “not completing homework, not using his accommodations and not showing up to class.” “The student was at risk of failing his first semester,” Franchi said. “We gave it to the student straight; we didn’t sugarcoat it.” Franchi said they told the student he would fail if he did not start using the accommodations available or start talking to his professors. They explained
that he needed to stop making excuses. “Lying about a disability is lying to yourself about who you are,” Franchi said. “[He was] only hurting [himself] and no one else.” They told the student that he was not alone and they gave him the support he needed. “We are happy to say that the student did complete the semester and many after that,” Franchi said. “[He] received a B in the class with the professor that referred [him] to us. It is students like this that we love to see prosper.”
William Paterson professor visits CCM, discusses oligarchy in America BY JOSEF LUFTMAN Layout Editor
On Thursday, Oct. 17, Michael Thompson, a political science professor at William Paterson University, spoke to a group of students and faculty at County College of Morris about his belief that the rise of the current political, cultural and economic problems in this country is due to a rapid expansion of inequalities of income and wealth. He sees the United States as an oligarchy, where the wealthy few are the main decision-makers for the country. For students attending community colleges like CCM, the effects of this financial inequality are evident. Students with fami-
lies that are financially stable can more easily pay for their children’s college than those from lower-income families. “I think that this increase in inequality has an enormous impact on students going to community college,” said Dr. Jill Schennum, chairperson of the sociology, economics and anthropology department. “We are seeing that tuition rates are going up at colleges all across the country.” Thompson also spoke about his desire to see greater redistribution of wealth among the middle and lower classes. “Taxation systems… don’t redistribute wealth to public institutions that serve the public good and if that isn’t being redistributed, then students are being asked
to pay [an] increasing percentage of tuition cost which puts a huge burden on young people,” Schennum said. “Our political elites, the political classes, seem to not be highly concerned about the increasing burden that middle and working class Americans are taking on.” Students forced to work full-time or part-time jobs and take out student loans in order to pay for college tuition may come to class exhausted, lack the ability to concentrate and may not have time to properly complete homework assignments. “This definitely affects me as a CCM student,” said Dylan Williams, a high school senior who is taking courses at CCM. “It just kind of makes you question
if you’re wasting your time… is it worth taking out all the loans? It affects my view of my future and it skews my perception of what I could become.” Thompson sees evidence that the rise of the “oligarchy” may have sinister consequences. According to Thompson, the top 1 percent of households have seen a rise in income from $500,000 to almost $2 million from 1997 to 2007. Meanwhile, the bottom 80 percent have not seen any change. “There has been an explosion in inequality of incomes,” he said. “The wealthiest 1 percent have… the ability to control your actions… to direct your behavior [and]… to shape your consciousness.”
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FEATURES
November 6, 2013
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College students join LinkedIn community BY NICOLE DARRAH Social Media Editor
With more than 200 million users and two new users joining per second, LinkedIn is taking over the social media landscape. LinkedIn was founded in 2002 and continues to grow each day. With more than 74 million users in the United States alone, LinkedIn appears to be the world’s strongest professional network. The website, which boasts activity in more than 200 countries, in 19 languages, encourages users to build an online profile to connect with colleagues and classmates, helping them discover professional opportunities and “get the latest news, inspiration, and insights you need to be great at what you do.” According to a study published by the Pew Research Center, the website is used by 20 percent of adults who are active online as of August 2012. However, it is not just adults who use LinkedIn to connect online. Thirty million students and recent graduates are active in the LinkedIn community, as well. Gary Grumbach, a broadcast journalism major studying at Elon University, believes LinkedIn is important when searching
for student internships and jobs. “I dislike it, but I know I should like it,” Grumbach said. “I think it is a huge benefit professionally. It gives the employer a snapshot of what the applicant views as important. It is also the first step to seeing what an applicant’s online persona looks like.” Other college students agree that LinkedIn serves as a professional benefit. “LinkedIn is the next generation of a resume,” said Jordan Barth, a public administration major at County College of Morris. “I love it because you can really put yourself out there for Fortune 500s, and for higher education institutions.” Barth also said he believes LinkedIn will become just as popular as Facebook within the next couple of years. The website is based upon using “six degrees of separation.” All connections are labeled as first-degree, second-degree or third-degree connections. This includes one’s groups based upon shared interest on the virtual network. The first-degrees are the people a member is directly connected to. The second-degrees are the connections within connections,
or the mutual friends. Third-degree connections are those who are connected to a member’s seconddegree connections. Although many students believe LinkedIn serves as a positive online profile, others believe it’s not meant for the college generation. “I just don’t think it’s for our generation,” said Chelsea Ritschel, student at Pace University. “Right now I think it’s mostly for people who are working and networking, not students in college.” Barth, a supporter of LinkedIn, also sees negatives with the website. “I wish we didn’t have to pay to see more of people who have viewed our profiles so I can target them and ask, ‘Well why did you view my profile?’ ‘Did you find anything interesting?’ That’s what I would really change,” he PHOTO BY STEPHEN KONOPKA Jennifer Holst works hard at the student center on her computer said.
Facebook indecisive over violent video policy BY MELISSA DELLACATO Managing Editor
It is a typical Monday evening. You have nothing better to do, so you decide to waste some time scrolling down your Facebook news feed. You see status updates, pictures and Internet memes. Then, you come across a video and you are horrified by what you see. The video shows a woman being beheaded by a masked man. It is so graphic that you can never forget it. Many Facebook users experienced this exact situation in May when this video was posted to the social network. The video went viral and after many complaints, was finally taken down. In October, the video reappeared. Soon after, Facebook came out explaining why they had not immediately removed it when it resurfaced.
“People are sharing this video on Facebook to condemn it. If the video were being celebrated, or the actions in it encouraged, our approach would be different,” Facebook claimed, according to BBC News. Again, Facebook changed its decision and took down the video on Oct. 22. According to Mashable, “Facebook will consider each report on a case-by-case basis,” rather than just banning all graphic and violent videos; but some CCM students disagree with that. “I think it’s not pleasant, they really should have a ban on violent videos,” said Alex, a 19-year-old student at County College of Morris, who preferred not to use his last name. “Who wants to see that on their feed? I sure don’t.” On its website, Facebook writes, “We do our best to keep Facebook safe, but we cannot guarantee it.” What makes this such an issue is the
young age of some of the Facebook users, according to USA Today. Some are as young as 13 years old, and seeing a graphic video, such as the beheading video, could have negative psychological effects. “They could put a warning on the page,” said Melissa Hinchman, 20. “Like a disclosure so they can’t be held reliable.” “It doesn’t really bother me,” she said. “If I don’t like something I’m not going to follow that page.” Eric Goldman, the director of the High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University, told ABC7 News that this is also an issue of Internet privacy and free speech. “The beheading videos are something I personally would not want to watch,” he said, “but they might also be an important part of a robust discourse about very important social issues.” Other content that is not allowed on Facebook includes nudity, hate speech, and spam.
On its site, Facebook gives suggestions for the user who does not want to see certain content on his or her news feed. These suggestions include hiding it from your news feed, confronting the person about it or blocking the person altogether. “Facebook has long been a place where people turn to share their experiences and raise awareness about issues important to them. Sometimes, those experiences and issues involve graphic content that is of public interest or concern,” states Facebook regarding community standards on the site. “In many instances, when people share this type of content, it is to condemn it. However, graphic images shared . . . to celebrate or glorify violence have no place on our site.” “To me it’s a matter of what should be shown and what not should be shown,” Alex said. “It’s fine to get a message to the public, but sometimes people go too far with it.”
PRESS RELEASE: CCM student newspaper wins prestigious press award u Premiere journalism association honors publication with fifth gold medal RANDOLPH, NJ — The Youngtown Edition, the County College of Morris (CCM) student newspaper, is golden once again. For the fifth time, the publication has garnered Gold Medalist Status from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) in recognition of its overall excellence. The award is one of the highest honors given by CSPA, the nation’s premiere journalism rating system for college newspapers. “The recent gold medal from the CSPA is a great accomplishment for the student
editors of The Youngtown Edition,” says Youngtown advisor John Soltes, instructor of Communication and an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, New Jersey Monthly and The Hollywood Reporter. “The staff, which has grown each semester in the last year, is dedicated to bringing the best news product to the CCM community. They work tirelessly on reporting, writing, designing, photographing and editing. It’s great to see their excellence awarded by such a prestigious organization.”
The honor was awarded for editions produced during academic year 2012-13. Included among the many awards presented to the paper, Youngtown in 2010 was awarded All-Columbian Honors for Writing and Editing, Graphic Presentation and Business Operations. All-Columbian Honors are given when a publication is ranked in the 95th percentile or higher in each category. The publication also won seven awards from the New Jersey Collegiate Press Association in its 2012-2013 College Newspaper Contest.
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ENTERTAINMENT
November 6, 2013
Students bring life back to ‘Walking Dead’ BY STEPHEN KONOPKA BYJONATHAN COOK
What is your favorite thing about Thanksgiving? Joel Barrios 21 Business Administration “Spending time with family. That is the most important part because some people don’t have contact with their own.”
Carolyne Tonojan 21 Psychology “I’m from Sweden. I’m most excited to be part of an American tradition.”
Constantine Shevchuk 19 Public Administration “Spending time with family.”
Pathy Val’le 18 Business Administration “Being with my family and the food.”
Keriann O’Boyle 18 Biology “My gradmother’s stuffed marshmallow potatoes.”
Contributor
Humanity is on the brink of total extinction from the legions of the undead. The AMC series “The Walking Dead” has entered its fourth season running out of the gates, amassing more than 16 million views in one night. However, not everyone who watched the season premiere felt it lived up to the hype. “I think that for a season premiere, it could have been better,” said Jeremy Forrester, County College of Morris culinary arts and science major. “I thought there would be more action,” said Diane Fleischman, CCM nursing major. “I still enjoyed it though.” Since the show has been running for more than three years, viewers could have grown attached to certain characters such as Rick Grimes, former sheriff and designated group leader played by Andrew Lincoln, and Daryl Dixon, played by Norman Reedus, who has turned from a lone wolf to protector of the pack. Armed with his crossbow, Daryl protects his fellow survivors with his life. Alongside him is Glenn Rhee, played by Steven Yeun, a quiet man who is the voice of reason. His brains have saved the group on many occasions. “Daryl is definitely my favorite,” Forrester said. In a world surrounded by hungry zombies, the audience knows that any one of the characters could die at any moment. “Glenn, hands down is the
PHOTO BY STEPHEN KONOPKA
John Sami walks dead on Halloween in DeMare Hall. next to die,” said Robert Robinson, CCM history major. “I think Glenn will die,” Forrester said. In the last season, the group of survivors faced off against a man known as the Governor, played by David Morrisey, a psychotic man with a smile that could charm anyone into doing almost anything. After his supposed defeat, he seemed to have vanished from the group’s lives. “He’s plotting another attack,” said Erika Gowe, CCM
exercise major. “He’s just hiding right now,” Fleischman said. “He has no one to turn to, but he will come back with a bang.” The members of the group are held up in an abandoned prison where they are sheltered and have started to rebuild their lives. Everyone knows that nothing lasts forever. “They’ll head to D.C.,” Robinson said. “They’re gonna have to leave eventually,” Gowe said.
‘Pokémon X and Y’ release impassions County College of Morris students BY CARLOS HERRERA Contributor
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..............................................................Khushbu Kapadia Managing Editor..........................................................Melissa Dellacato Managing Editor.................................................................. Jordan Barth Business Manager............................................................ Lauren Fornini Assistant Business Manager...........................................Michael Scalice News Editor.......................................................................Jonathan Cook Assistant News Editor.............................................. Giovanna Romazini Features Editor......................................................................Kelby Clark Entertainment Editor....................................................Danny Gonzalez Sports Editor....................................................................................Open Opinions Editor...................................................................... Daniel Eng Photography Editor.............................................................Mike DiCola Assistant Photography Editors...............Nicole Versandi, Rachel Nider Layout Editor.....................................................................Josef Luftman Copy Editor......................................................................Kaitlyn Alegria Online Editor....................................................................... Toni DeMaio Social Media Editor...........................................................Nicole Darrah Circulation Manager.....................................................Cassandra Kadel Technical Adviser...............................................................Wilma Martin
Staff: Angela Cardona, Keith Bremer, Stephen Konopka 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.
Students at County College of Morris waited in line at midnight Friday, Oct. 11 to get their hands on a copy of the Pokémon franchise’s latest video game for the Nintendo 3DS, “Pokémon X and Y.” “Honestly, it is midterms week and I have a lot of studying to do, but playing my Pokémon game is all I can really think about,” said Tiziana Pontoriero, a visual arts major at CCM. Forbes reported that 4 million copies were sold in the first two days of the game’s release, one of which landed in Pontoriero’s hands. This is the first PHOTO BY DANIELA BRUZZESE 3DS game to surpass 4 million copies being sold. Students play “Pokémon X and Y” in the game “Pokémon X and Y,” like most other Pokémon room. games, is a role-playing game, also known as an RPG, were a player controls a character in his or her playing Pokémon and now he said he cannot stop. “I am in college and play for hours on my DS,” attempt to catch all of the Pokémon in existence. The Plotnick said. “This game really takes me back to game follows a familiar plot to that of past games when everyone used to be into Pokémon.” in the series and ultimately leaves the character to The Pokémon franchise first hit shelves in Unitbattle its way to becoming the champion. ed States stores Sept. 1, 1998, with its initial release Pontoriero said she began playing Pokémon of the games “Pokémon Red and Blue.” Imagine when she was 10 years old and has been enamored by the franchise since. She bought and completed Games Network rated the game a masterpiece with a score of 10 out of 10 back in 1999. every game thus far in the series. “I came with my best friend to buy it Friday “‘X and Y’ are a whole new game altogether,” she said. “Everything about this game made my wait night, and we saw little kids and their parents in line,” said Alicia Pagan, a music recording technolin line at Walmart well worth it.” The Pokémon Company created its two new ogy major. “I thought it was the coolest thing, esgames exclusively for the 3DS console. The releas- pecially when this line has older people, little kids, ing of “X and Y” for the 3DS is the company’s first boys, girls, you name it.” The number of fans at CCM for Pokémon is not attempt to fully utilize the console’s graphical capabilities, such as higher definition. The differences surprising, seeing how students have grown up with between past games and the newly released one are characters like Pikachu their whole life. “‘X and Y’ are talked about in almost every one evident by gameplay alone. “I literally bought a 3DS just to play this one of my classes,” Pagan said. “Everyone is so open game,” said Seth Plotnick, business administration about playing Pokémon in college that if someone dares knock it down, you know they are probably major. Recently, his friends convinced him to start the biggest closeted fan.”