VOL. 96, NO. 4
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
RANDOLPH, N.J.
The Youngtown Edition COUNTY COLLEGE OF MORRIS AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER
Active shooter prep shows when to ‘Run, Hide, Fight’ BY DEREK ALLEN Editor-in-Chief
PHOTOS BY AMANDA ALLER
CCM students admire the photography on display at the CCM art gallery in the LRC.
Jersey-wide photography showcased at CCM BY DEREK ALLEN Editor-in-Chief
Landscapes, portraits, and graphic art are all on display at the County College of Morris art gallery. The CCM art gallery, located near the library in the Learning Resource Center, is hosting a photography exhibition showcasing artwork from various New Jersey artists. 15 members of the New Jersey Photography Forum (NJPF) will display their work. “We are very pleased to be partnering with one of the largest photography groups in New Jersey to present this special exhibit in our gallery,” said Todd Doney, professor of visual arts and curator of the CCM gallery. The exhibit, titled “Dimensions: A NJPF Invitational,” features work from artists all over New Jersey encompassing a broad range of subjects, ranging from traditional portraits and landscapes to abstract photography. Art featured will have been captured in a vari-
ety of ways, using traditional film photography, digital photography or even cell phone photography. “This exhibit will not only be a visually exciting event for the viewer, it will also be instructional and inspirational for the young student photographer who is just starting to explore the art form,” said Nancy Ori, co-curator for the exhibit. “We are very happy to be partnering with the County College of Morris with this special project. As an organization, we are dedicated to developing the art form of photography and assisting artists to grow and develop in the field.” Giovanni D’Amico, a visual arts major, said he thinks the artwork on display is amazing. “It’s great to see new things curated by the school,” said D’Amico. “They rotate it frequently, so there’s always something new to see.” All works presented in the exhibit will be available for sale. The next show presented in the gallery will be a student best-in-show, planned to start on April 17.
PHOTOS BY AMANDA ALLER
‘Workin’ It’ by Nancy Ori, right, and other works of art are being displayed at the exhibition.
PHOTO CREDIT: FACEBOOK
The nightmare scenario of facing an active shooter roaming The County College of Morris has prompted officials to urge the campus community to know when to run, hide or fight. The prevalence of shootings happening in schools, movie theaters and other public places have sent shockwaves throughout the country. Two months into 2016, ten mass shootings have occurred at schools ranging from K-12 to high school, according to everytownresearch.org. Here at the County College of Morris, the “active shooter” scenario has faculty, staff and students concerned. In response to those concerns, the department of public safety hosted an Active Shooter Forum, open to staff, students and faculty. “Morris County is not immune to this,” Deputy Coordinator of Morris County’s Office of Emergency Management Jeff Paul said at the forum.“We don’t know where the next event will be, but there will be an event. The time is now to change that mindset and put resources to where they need to be so that we are, as one community, ready to respond to this event.” The forum was attended by mostly faculty and a handful of students. Critical Infrastructure Coordinator for the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Alfonse Imperiale showed data on mass shootings from various sources and clips from a Run, Hide, Fight instructional video. According to a survey done by NYPD from 1992 to 2012 presented in the seminar, surveying 67 incidents: 96 percent of attackers were males between the ages of 13-19, 42 percent of attacks took place in the morning hours, and all shootings - except for Columbine - had one shooter acting alone. (CONTINUED IN ‘FORUM’ ON PAGE 3)
Shooting hoops to ‘Kill Cancer’ BY BRETT FRIEDENSOHN Sports Editor
The women’s basketball team at the County College of Morris dedicated its final game of the 2015-16 season as a “Kill Cancer Night” and a “Sophomore Night.” The team donated the proceeds from its final game of the 2015-16 season to the Hackensack University Medical Center to help alleviate the medical bills of one of the hospital’s leukemia patients, the father of a player on the team. The team raised money by charging attendees admission and accepting donations. “I was pleased that [the players] were doing a community service,” said Brenda DeNure, head coach of women’s basketball. “I think it’s important that the girls understand what it means to be a part of the community.” Some players on the team spoke about the effect that the event will have. “[The patient] loves basketball; he loves watching his daughter play, so I think she thought it was pretty nice of us to get something like that together to do that for him,” said Pamela Hun, nutrition major. “We had matching socks, we made bows for each other for the game, and
we all got together for a cause to play basketball and raise money for her father. “ Brielle Bolgero, exercise science major, said the event accomplished a lot. “Us donating it really helped a lot of people,” Bolgero said. Bolgero said she admired the generosity people on the men’s basketball team showed who attended the event. “Even though we didn’t charge the boys any money to watch, all of them did donate money,” Bolgero said. “That was a nice thing to hear.” To show their support, about 50 to 60 people attended the game. “We raised awareness that we have a CCM basketball team, and people came to support, so maybe next year, the girls will have more supporters and fans to come out for them,” Hun said. “It keeps you positive when people are watching and cheering for you, so I feel that it will be better for the team next year.” Monica Kulelcki, an exercise science major, said she was impressed with the turnout. “It was our last game, so I was hoping a lot of people would come out and support us,”
Before the game, DeNure gave her sophomores a speech and several gifts, including a cake with pictures of their faces, basketball shaped cookies with their names on it, balloons, and flowers. “I really enjoyed it,” said Michaela Piserchia, a hospitality management major. “I wasn’t sure if they were gonna do anything like that. Last year we were kind of in between coaches, and so they weren’t really sure what to do. It was really nice that they recognized the sophomores.” DeNure said the sophomores, who will not play for CCM next season, played their hearts out in their last game. “They gave everything they had,” said DeNure. “I said, ‘It was the last game you will play here. Give it everything you’ve got.’” Hun, a sophomore, said it might be her last game in general. “I mean, for me, I’ve been playing my whole life, so it was just sad to realize that I’m never going to play on an actual team again,” said Hun. Bolgero, another sophomore, said they went into the game trying to get a win against their tough competitor, Manor College. “We all played really hard and gave it our all,” said Bolgero. According to DeNure, the team lost 69-40 to Manor, but managed to raise $130 for their cause.
ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 2 THE YOUNGTOWN EDITION
MARCH 9, 2016
“Deadpool”: Merc with a mouth a must see DiCaprio’s Crucible BY JASON FITZSIMMONS Contributor
It is a new dawn for the comic book film genre with the release of Tim Miller’s “Deadpool.” Ryan Reynolds stars as the titular hero Wade Wilson, a merc turned mutant on a quest for revenge against the notorious Weapon X program. On his journey to settle his vendetta, “Deadpool” kicks butt, takes names, and makes bad jokes - which are all a delight. By the end of this origin, “Deadpool” has taken his place in the Marvel pantheon. In regards to the cinematography of the film, it delivers on an exceptional precedent. The particular delights are the action sequences with slow motion and montages that showcase the scenes. At the same, the high energy action is intensified with quick cuts of “Deadpool” dispatching “the bad guys.” Another technical element the film uses well is the music, with various tracks that are appropriate (as well as hilarious) in the scenes they are incorporated in. The story is standard fare when it comes to an origin story, showing how the hero gets their powers and what they choose to do with them. However, unlike most films in the genre, the origin is fleshed out but not excessively focused on. When the film had run its course it was refreshing to see a story that was not entirely sequel baiting - like most comic book films - and was a narrative that stands on its own. With all the technical and story elements aside, the real highlight of the film is “Deadpool”. Reynolds triumphantly captures the quintessence of the character. A character who if he were a side character in another film (such as the perverse
rendition of the character in the rotting carcass of a film that was “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”) would be mostly seen as a tragic character. However, with the film being Reynolds’s vehicle, he plays down Wade Wilson’s depressing predicament with humor and pop culture references. Reynolds goes for the silly antics and crazed humor of every situation that arises, and in doing so he masterfully captures what people love about the character. Although “Deadpool” steals the show for the most part, the supporting cast is exceptional. The X-men, Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) make an appearance with both contributing their superpowers to the great action in the film and hilarious comedic banter (particularly the innocent Colossus). Other notable members of the cast include “Deadpool’s” friend Weasel (T.J. Miller) and his curmudgeon, elderly roommate, Blind Al (Leslie Uggams) who both add humor to the film. Several characters in the supporting cast are not up to par. This includes the main villain Ajax (Ed Skrein) who is no match for the Merc with a Mouth and is consistently bested by our hero in the action as well as conversation. The other being “Deadpool’s” love interest Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). “Deadpool’s” romance with her essentially equates to: “Deadpool” is crazy, and she’s crazy, so they’re in love. Although, this is only one of many drives for “Deadpool” in the film it would have benefited to film to develop their romance more. This is only a minor gripe as the main reason anyone should have to go see the film is to see “Deadpool”. If you went for that reason, you got it and then some.
PHOTO CREDIT: FACEBOOK
for Oscar Gold
BY JASON FITZSIMMONS Contributor
“The Revenant,” is director Alejandro G. Inarritu’s foray into the contemporary western genre. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as the heroic frontiersman Hugh Glass, who is left for dead in the 19th century American frontier by the sadistic John PHOTO CREDIT: FACEBOOK Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) after being mauled by a bear. From the wilderness, Glass emerges from near-death driven only by revenge. In this epic quest he must survive nature and man as he makes his trek back to civilization. In retrospect, the masterful cinematography of Emmanuel Lubezki is a transportative experience. Lubezki’s wide panning shots of the American wilderness evokes the grand scale from a time that was, and is, long gone. Particularly captivating are the action sequences (such as a high octane chase by Native Americans) but these are rare moments. This is a slow burn of a film as the beginning takes a lot of time to set up characters and integral plot points that establish the motivations for the core narrative. Consequently, the film does not become an engaging cinematic experience until 45 minutes in. Another detriment is how dialogue scenes between characters are filmed. Rather than cutting to a close up of the character speaking, the camera pans from character to character. Some of these scenes go for several minutes continuously having the camera rolling, similar to Inarritu’s “Birdman” which netted several Oscars last year. It is evident that it is part of the director’s artistic vision to his cinematography, showcasing the background details in each of these scenes in a theater-esque style. However, as a viewer, I found this distracting and became disengaged. Thankfully, this is less prevalent as the film continues. Though there are some pacing issues and cinematic blunders, the real draw to the film is the performances. DiCaprio’s Glass is a complex protagonist, a man whose past is characterized by death, murder, and a little mystery. It is through his journey struggling to survive, he grows on the viewer as his ordeal intensifies and he is pushed to his breaking point. Equally as interesting a character is Hardy’s Fitzgerald, the main antagonist,who although commits reprehensible acts gives justification for his villainous disposition. The rest of the supporting cast including Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter and Forrest Goodluck who all give solid performances for the limited screen time allotted to them but this is clearly DiCaprio and Hardy’s vehicle. Overall, this is film is an incredible journey that must be seen to the end.
“Fantastic Beasts”: A new chapter for J.K. Rowling BY BREE STOPPER Contributor
Growing up in the late 90’s to early 2000’s was the time to be alive — mainly because this was when magic was created. J.K. Rowling released “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” on July 26, 1997 and from that point on the imagination of children expanded. With the series finally reaching it’s end with the book released in 2007, and the shocking realization that the series was actually ending, with the 2011 “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” movie release, fans couldn’t help but feel their age — and an end to their childhood. But the magic will live on. In 2001, J.K. Rowling released a collection of books called “The Hogwarts Library”, three books that are prequels to the beloved book series. This collection included the books “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”, “Quidditch Through The Ages”, and “The Tales of Beedle the Bard”. These books gave a sort of history to the beloved series, and made fans feel like they were a part of Hogwarts. The upcoming release of the movie “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” has breathed new life back into the already ex-
plosive Harry Potter fan base. Since it has been nearly five years since the end, fans are excited to know that the magic is still there “I think it’s fantastic that they’re continuing the film version of the Harry Potter mythology” said Eli Benson, a psychology major at CCM. “Not just for the sake of additional content for longtime fans, but to also serve as an introduction into the mythos for new viewers. The beauty of Harry Potter conceptually, is that it’s a timeless tale that speaks to all of us about finding your calling in life, or in some cases having your calling find you and rising above our personal plights to reach or even exceed our maximum potential. I very much look forward to Fantastic Beasts.” A long time problem that fans have had with the Harry Potter movies is they felt some of them didn’t follow the book. Rowling announced that she would be a screenwriter for this movie, and future movies to come of the Hogwarts Library trilogy. “Well I’m literally counting down the days to the new movie. It’s going to be fantastic. I can’t wait to see how a movie comes out that comes directly from Rowling because yeah the original films
were great,” said Katie Schmid a student at Montclair State. “But Steve Kloves also messed up a lot so this time they have no choice but to do exactly what she wrote which I hope is going to really show. The fanbase has always been there laying quietly but it’s great to see people getting excited about HP again. The fanbase is as strong as ever really and pretty excited for more.” That fanbase appears to be as ravenous for new material as ever. “I’m very excited to see the new schools that are going to be in it,” said Chris Wahler, a criminal justice major. “It’s going to be interesting to see everything from years before Harry, Ron, Hermione. I can’t wait to see what ‘beasts’ are chosen to appear onscreen, and I’m sure the effects will be insane. I hope that there will be some creatures that will be new to us fans — something new and crazy that we can awe over.” The stakes are high and the expectations are even higher as the start of a new Hogwarts adventure beings, one predating Voldemort. While the fan base is still laying low on social media and no leaks are found, excitement can still be seen oozing from the anxious muggles.
PHOTO CREDIT: FACEBOOK
MARCH 9, 2016
NEWS
Forum (CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE) Imperiale said there were 13 shootings in 2013, 15 shootings in 2014, and 23 shootings in 2015 in the U.S. The video, from the Universities of Georgia and Alberta, asked students what they would do, with one student saying they would probably just freeze up. Students have so much to focus on, an active shooter situation is low on their list of priorities to think about. The video said people with a pre-set plan in mind are more likely to survive. Imperiale said he recommends improvising with what is available. Backpack straps, belts and door stops can be used to keep doors closed. Desks and chairs can be used to barricade doors. Improvised weapons such as pens and scissors can be used to defend against a shooter. A backpack filled with thick textbooks might be enough to stop a bullet. The video said to scan and assess the situation, consider your options, and act. Choose a safe exit, and do not attract the shooter’s attention. “Knowing your environment and the room you are in helps,” said Imperiale. “If you see an exit but it’s down a hallway, don’t risk it. If there’s an empty classroom that’s closer, it’s better to go in there and hide.” Imperiale said to turn off the lights, barricade the door and be quiet in the event of an active shooter. Call 911 as soon as the room is secure. Hide behind tables, mute phones, and wait for police. Fighting, the video said, is a last resort if all other options fail. If forced to fight, disarm and incapacitate the shooter. “Mentally prepare” yourself to fight for your life, and decide ahead of time what each person will do if the shooter enters the room. Imperiale said the first and foremost goal law enforcement has arriving on the scene is finding the active shooter and stopping them. “That means when they come on to the scene, they’ll be moving towards gunshots,” said Imperiale. “Everyone in the building will be considered a suspect, because they don’t know [what the situation is]. When teams of officers do make contact with you, do not run towards them. Make sure your hands are visible to them. Hands are dangerous for law enforcement That’s what they’re looking at all the time.” Imperiale said if you are forced to fight and are holding down an individual, keep your hands visible and cooperate with
officers once they arrive. “Any injured people they will bypass immediately,” said Imperiale. “They are looking for the threat, trying to neutralize it. Once the shooter has been contained or neutralized, the officers will begin treatment and evacuation.” Chief of Randolph Township Police Department David Stokoe said he supports the principles behind the Run, Hide, Fight program. “You are far more likely to survive a violent encounter by making decisions based on what you’re encountering at that moment,” said Stokoe. “They are dynamic, rapidly changing situations. That decision to either run, hide or fight is going to change based on what you’re facing. You have to be able to think on your feet and make those decisions very quickly.” Stokoe said pre-planning will help foster immediate action that could potentially save lives. Planning for this kind of situation anywhere, not only at school, can also potentially help save lives. “The time to think about it is not when it’s happening,” said Stokoe. “The time to think about it is now.” Stokoe said since the Randolph Police are located just up the road from CCM, the response time should anything happen would be no more than 5 minutes. Officers from the Randolph Police Department have toured the campus to better understand the layout of the college in terms of entrances and exits. Officers can also communicate to Public Safety directly via radio. “We encourage [our officers] to have that visible presence,” said Stokoe. “I hope you see them on a routine basis. We work very well with Public Safety. We’re all working towards improving and enhancing our abilities in response to these types of situations.” According to Director of Public Safety Harvey Jackson, procedures are in place to evacuate each building in the event of an active shooter. Each building has three to four faculty members trained to assist public safety in an evacuation, called fire marshals. When a building is evacuated, fire marshals check each room to make sure no one is left behind. Students and faculty are ushered to staging areas, usually in front of the library or to lot eight. Depending on the situation, the staging area may change. Students and staff would be notified by maintenance staff, who carry radios on them at all times and would be in contact with public safety. Titan Alert would also be used in the event of an evacuation to communicate
RUN ∙ Have an escape route and plan in mind and run only if it is safe to do so ∙ Leave your belongings behind ∙ Keep hands visible ∙ Do not run in a straight line and use trees, vehicles and other cover to obstruct your view from potential or active shooter ∙ Warn others once you escape from immediate danger ∙ Once a safe area is reached, follow recommendations and remain in place until police arrive with further instructions
THE YOUNGTOWN EDITION PAGE 3
quickly with students and faculty. “Titan Alert is the method for which a student will be notified about school closures and other campus related emergencies,” said John R. Hurd, assistant professor of criminal justice. “Since it seems most students have cell phones, even when on campus, that may be a preferred method to receive emergency messages.” For an evacuation, the paging system would also be in use. In the event of an active shooter, depending on where the individual is, the paging system would not be activated in the area the shooter would be in. Maintenance is also on call in that situation if power needs to be cut to a building occupied by an active shooter. “Personally, I feel no one can be prepared for this,” Jackson said. “We’re prepared as well as we can be. A community college is one of the hardest places to defend. Everything is public.” Since CCM is a county college, most of the campus is legally public space. Anyone can walk onto campus, which makes it difficult to keep the campus secure. CCM now has an upgraded camera system, able to follow anyone on campus in real time. Another upgrade coming soon is an electronic panic button. Computers in classrooms will be equipped with a clickable button that, when activated, displays a graphic of a red button with a ten second countdown and an option to cancel the call or continue. Jackson had a working version of the electronic panic button in his office, and demonstrated what would happen if it was activated. Once pressed, the button disappeared from his computer and an alarm sounded in the public safety main office. The panic button can also be programmed to alert other staff in the area once it has been activated, letting others know an incident may be in progress. The phones in every classroom can function as a panic button as well. Any phone picked up automatically dials public safety, so if a phone is picked up and left dangling that immediately raises a red flag and elicits a response from public safety. However, if it is safe to do so, it is better to call 911 directly in the event of an emergency. According to Vice President of Business and Finance at CCM Karen VanDerhoof, training for the possibility of an active shooter will begin in March of 2016. FEMA will do a two day training session with staff on campus. “It will basically run us through how to assess our emergency operations plan,
HIDE ∙ If you are unable to run, hide in an area out of the shooter’s view ∙ Do not huddle together if you are in a group ∙ Avoid hiding where you can be trapped if noticed
communication strategies and how to identify and deal with situations,” VanDerhoof said. “How to deal with the aftermath of a situation, grief counseling, all of those types of things.” VanDerhoof said a camera drill is being planned involving Public Safety, the Randolph Township Police Department and the Office of Emergency Management. “They’ll bring their command bus here and they’ll have connectivity to our cameras on campus,” VanDerhoof said. “It will be like a pursuit drill, where we might have an individual on campus who might not belong here and we’ll be able to track, pursue and hopefully apprehend that person. That’s the first drill that will be happening later this fall.” The next drill, planned for sometime in the fall of 2016, will be a full on active shooter drill. The drill will involve students, faculty and emergency responders, testing the college’s response to the possibility of a mass shooting. “We are planning to do an active shooter drill on campus in the future,” said Paul. “I can’t give you a timetable on that yet, but it’s in the works. There’s a lot in the works, but it does take time. What we need to do with an active shooter event is give you your options, train with your options, have observers and evaluators there, have after-action reports. There’s a lot we need for a drill of this kind. We’re going to build on that and work from there.” Director of the Sherman H. Masten Learning Resource Center Heather Craven said the forum was a good review of options available in the event of an emergency. “It was really good to get first hand answers to our questions. We feel more prepared and we’ve put more thought into what we’d do,” Craven said. Edward Yaw, CCM President, said there is no universal response to an incident, and that procedures change depending on the situation. The main focus of these preparations is communication and rapid response. “God forbid it ever happens,” VanDerhoof said. “The odds are not great, but you never know. Very fortunately, we have very little issues on this campus, with any type of crime. But you can’t assume that it would never happen here...Unfortunately, it happens everywhere. You can’t have the mindset that it can never happen here, you have to assume it could and just be as prepared as possible for it. And that’s what we’re moving towards.” For more information on the Run, Hide, Fight program and a full emergency response guide, visit ccm.edu/publicsafety.
FIGHT ∙ Fight only as a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger ∙ Coordinate a plan with others you are with
∙ Do not sound the fire alarm since that may put others in danger
∙ Act with physical aggression and throw items at the intruder/shooter
∙ If in an open area, seek an office, closet or room to hide in
∙ Attempt to incapacitate the intruder/ shooter
∙ Block entry to your hiding place by locking or tying doors shut and using furniture to block entryway ∙ Silence cell phone and all audio equipment ∙ Turn off lights and close door shades/ curtains ∙ Stay low to the floor and away from windows
In the event of an emergency, call 911 directly or dial 5550 on any college telephone. Information taken from the County College of Morris Emergency Response Guide.
PAGE 4 THE YOUNGTOWN EDITION
STAFF
THE YOUNGTOWN EDITION The Student Newspaper of the County College of Morris County College of Morris • Mail Station SCC 226 214 Center Grove Rd., Randolph, NJ 07869-2086 Phone #: (973) 328-5224 Fax #: (973) 361-4031 E-mail: youngtownedition@gmail.com Editor-in-Chief............................................................................................. Derek Allen Managing Editor..............................................................................................Beth Peter News Editor............................................................................................... Amanda Aller Features Editor................................................................................... Samuel Guglielmo EntertainmentEditor................................................ Victoria Pignatelli, Laura Calderon Sports Editor.......................................................................................Brett Friedensohn Senior Opinion Editor............................................................................... Sandra Riano Opinion Editor.............................................................................................. Emily Betz Copy Editor................................................................................................Marisa Goglia Senior Layout Editor........................................................................... Drew Notarnicola Paginator.......................................................................Frank Eaton, Stephanie Dechart Technical Adviser..................................................................................... Wilma Martin Faculty Adviser....................................................................... Professor Russ Crespolini Circulation............................... Preeti Manekporia, Tanna Holzworth, Jason Robinson
Contributors: Gina Fico, Alex Pochettino, Jason Fitzsimmons, Natasha Griffith, Bree Stopper All students are welcome to contribute articles to The Youngtown Edition either in person or via e-mail. However, students cannot receive a byline if they belong to the organization on which they are reporting. Writers must include a telephone number where they can be reached. The deadline for submission is the Wednesday prior to the date of publication.
MARCH 9, 2016