Youngtown 11/4/15

VOL. 95, NO. 6

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015

RANDOLPH, N.J.

The Youngtown Edition COUNTY COLLEGE OF MORRIS AWARD-WINNING STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Author shares Hurricane Katrina tales

BY BETH PETER Managing Editor

On Oct. 15, students filled the Davidson Rooms in the Student Community Center to listen to Josh Neufeld, New York Times Best Selling author, as he shared his Hurricane Katrina reporting with the County College of Morris Legacy Project.

His piece of comic journalism, “A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge,” was the topic of his talk.

Chair of the Department of Communication Dr. Matthew Jones introduced Neufeld and recounted the impressive pieces of work in his portfolio. Jones stressed the legitimacy of comics as an artform and method of journalism, saying that “Comic art is a serious medium for the development of culture and history.” Neufeld expanded on Jones’ words .

“I don’t perceive comic art to be a lighthearted, silly art form.” Neufeld said.

The subject matter of A.D. is certainly

not lighthearted, following six main characters through their Hurricane Katrina accounts. Neufeld spoke to six individuals who had unique accounts dealing with the hurricane and created characters that each exemplified a stage of the storm. The characters provided separate viewpoints, that Neufeld could use to address the varied situations in the storm. An uncommon medium, the style in which Neufeld creates often makes a piece on such a serious topic more approachable.

“I thought his idea of using comics instead of writing articles in journals and magazines was a neat idea,” said Natasha Griffith, a communication major.

“I thought it was cool how he took a group of people’s stories and turned them into comic adaptations.”

The style of Neufeld’s work allows the information to spread to a wider audience.

The Legacy Project is designed to give students the opportunity to recollect on im-

PHOTO BY DEREK ALLEN

Author Josh Neufeld appeared at CCM to discuss his journalistic comic about Hurricane Katrina and the experiences of New Orleans.

portant moments in history. Hurricane Katrina affected many lives, but most CCM students were not personally afflicted.

“I think some people don’t know enough about Hurricane Katrina - myself included - so his way of showing what really happened through comics was a great way to inform people,” said Melissa Malrechauffe, a communication major.

She further touched on points Neufeld raised as he explained to the audience that the media coverage at the time of the hurricane was often inaccurate, portraying horrors that simply never happened.

“He said the hurricane and what was going on in New Orleans was made out to be different through the media than it actually was, so it’s amazing that through his work we get to know the truth and what really occurred.” Malrechauffe said.

John Soltes, co-chair of the Legacy Project, said he was pleased at the end of the function.

“I think the event went great, and I was impressed with Josh Neufeld’s presentation on the important issues that surround Hurricane Katrina. From talking about his process as an artist to his quest to find survivors to offer their narrative, his lessons and stories were quite instructive and revealing.” Soltes said. “I’m so glad he was able to meet our students and faculty, and share with them his stories of ‘A.D.’ and his other artistic work.”

When asked about future Legacy Projects, Soltes emphasized that nothing was yet finalized, but the issue of prison reform is a potential topic for the spring.

IN THIS ISSUE Professor Profile: Kenneth Shouler Features, page 2

Democratic Debate: Youngtown’s View Opinion, page 3

Fall Sports Wrap Sports, page 5

‘Mary Poppins’ drops into campus

BY LAURA CALDERON Entertainment Editor

Winner of five Tony Awards, Mary Poppins has captured millions of hearts on Broadway and is now scheduled to take stage on the County College of Morris campus as students prepare to take on the award-winning musical.

Working long and intense hours, three times a week since mid-September, the cast is eager to debut their hard work to audiences beginning Tuesday, Nov. 3 until Saturday, Nov. 7.

With more than 45 cast members, costume advisors and producers, Maryann Hannoa said that one of the most challenging tasks working with such a large cast is “blocking, getting everyone together, and getting them dressed.”

With so many students in multiple scenes, Hannoa said layering costumes help to save time with quick wardrobe changes.

“We layer the second and third outfit underneath the original first outfit, so they are prepared beforehand,” Hannoa said.

As far as Mary Poppins’ signature look goes - a long red coat, black hat and famous bird umbrella - Hannoa was determined to supply the iconic pieces and has gone as far as renting them.

Many moving elements have been put in place to bring the 1964 film to life.

“The most difficult part of production is the varied array of talent,” said Colleen McArdle, a choreographer for the play. “Some people are really great tappers, some are really great ballet and overall dancers.”

Working in what McArdle describes as a “rapid pace to pull everything off,” the play has the same number of songs as the movie, but without any reprises.

Dealing with one of the most iconic songs from the film, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” McArdle has chosen to stick to tradition.

“The wonderful thing about it is that the original Broadway choreographer’s partner was hearing impaired,” McArdle said. “So when they do the letters that is from British sign language. The letters are in a manual you get when you rent the show, and I wanted to keep it pure. We did it on the first day, and everybody was helping each other learn. It has been a real bonding experience for the kids.”

After 39 years and 78 shows, director Maryelaine Mammon has not lost her love of directing or her passion for theater.

Mammon said her biggest issue was cutting the length of the show down.

“The show was originally three hours, and ours isn’t,” Mammon said. “However, every song is still represented and sung.”

The famous scene where Mary Poppins flies, Mammon has every intention of providing audiences with the enchanted scene with the help of Flying by Foy, a worldwide theatrical flying service.

“She’s not nervous, she wants to fly,” said Mammon when asked whether she believed the star of the play, Noelle Cappuzzo, was nervous regarding the idea of flying.

“I am so excited for the well-known flying scene,” Cappuzzo said, “It is like the icing on top of the cake,

PRESS RELEASE PHOTO

adding a whole new level of excitement and magic to the show.”

Being her first lead role in a CCM musical, Cappuzzo, a double major in musical theatre and dance, said she feels so honored to have been given such a wonderful opportunity.

Eager for opening night to arrive, Cappuzzo said, “I am so excited to be playing a character that is so loved, well-known and admired by so many.”

Describing the role as an opportunity to bring a character to life, Cappuzzo said she is thrilled to give a new interpretation on an iconic character.

“My version of Mary Poppins is more loving and sweet, with a little bit of silliness at times, while still being prim and proper.”

Mammon said the play feels like it’s full of magic.

“It gives you that feeling, She flies into the stars. It’s magic we’re making.”

FEATURES

PAGE 2 THE YOUNGTOWN EDITION

NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Students scare up ‘do-it-yourself’ costumes

BY MARISA GOGLIA Copy Editor

Editor’s Note: Youngtown went web first with this story 29. We hope you can use these get a good start on next year’s planning.

Edition on Oct. tips and costume

It is estimated that more than 157 million Americans will celebrate Halloween, according to the National Retail Federation’s Halloween Consumer Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics and part of that celebrating usually entails costumes.

For County College of Morris student Stephanie Zelazo, a liberal arts major, coming into her own character this time of year takes on a “Do It Yourself (DIY)’’ component. Zelazo stopped buying generic costumes when she was 14.

“I was disappointed by looking at a cheap costume,” Zelazo said. “The whole point of dressing up is to do it right, have fun and to bring the person to life.”

This year Zelazo is going to transform into Chell, whom is seen in the video games Portal and Portal 2. Equipped with her portal device, Chell creates portals that help her solve puzzles in order to escape an underground facility. To assemble this costume, Zelazo purchased orange cargo pants, a light blue tank top and adorned the costume with sewn-on fabric for arms to complete the look.

After Halloween night, one might confine their costume to a hanger in a closet, eventually neglecting it. However, Zelazo liberates her creation by giving it a photo shoot send off with the help of her friend.

“If I’m going to do it, I want to remember it,’’ Zelazo said.

Elizabeth Spencer, an interior design major, elevates her costumes to another platform by doing cross over patterns by combining two character elements into one costume.

Spencer said her mother always craft-

ed her Halloween costumes.

“One year she found a pattern of a witch’s skirt and did a crossover from Cinderella turning me into a southern belle,” Spencer said.

With experience to do it on her own, last Halloween Spencer emerged as the younger sister in the box office smash Disney’s “Frozen.”

“Everyone was Elsa, so I wanted to give Anna some recognition,” Spencer said.

Adding originality, Spencer accentuated Anna’s signature magenta cape into a longer burlap rustic style, almost identical to the one worn by Michonne in the hit AMC TV show “The Walking Dead.”

Spencer, who is an interior design major, used those skills in her costume creations. For the indecisive, Spencer had advice.

“In the design field we’ll do something called a throw-up sheet when you’re coming up for an idea for something. It’s like free writing, you let your mind run wild,” Spencer said. “You can either draw or write it. If you are creative enough and have the willpower, you can do anything.

If you wanted to be pizza with ketchup, you can do that. Especially in this digital age you can do anything and Pinterest it.’’

A costume at Party City may range in price from $15 to $50 or more, according to former CCM student and Party City employee, June Wyeroski.

“A DIY costume can be anywhere from $200-$400, depending how authentic you want it to be,’’ said Zelazo.

Spencer finds herself cutting corners by going to a thrift store.

“It’s a little less expensive than buying a costume,” Spencer said. “Besides, you’re more of an individual than following the crowd.”

The Halloween season may be coming to a close, but with costume parties and cosplay convention year-round, DIY dress-up options may be the way to go.

PHOTO BY BRETT FRIEDENSOHN

Youngtown staff members Derek Allen and Beth Peter as Axe Cop and a witch.

A cosplayer of Chell, from “Portal 2.”

PHOTO CREDIT: FACEBOOK

Professor Spotlight:

Dr. Kenneth Shouler

BY ZAHIR JALALLAR Contributor

Alma Mater: St. Bonaventure University and The Graduate Center of the City University of NY Birthplace: Queens, NY Kenneth Shouler, a tenured professor of philosophy, started teaching in 1981. He has written 12 books in philosophy, sports, business, and politics and is working on another entitled “Thinking About Death.” He’s written more than 500 articles for Philosophy Now, ESPN.com, Cigar Aficionado, New York Daily News, Forbes, and many more.

How did you get interested in philosophy?

“I was 18 when I took my first course at St. Bonaventure, and I was hooked. I felt I had to answer all of philosophy’s fundamental and profound questions such as ‘Does god exist?’ and ‘Is the will free or determined?’ and so on. I ended up doing my doctorate work in ethics.”

What do you like about teaching?

“I like when I get someone who has the intellectual curiosity to ask questions, because that’s what philosophy is all about. But, even if a class lacks that, the philosophy is worthwhile in itself.”

PHOTO BY ZAHIR JALALLAR

Why is philosophy important?

“Philosophy raises questions that other fields don’t: Why are we here? Does god exist? What does death bring? These are questions of fundamental importance for living. Not that you get final answers, but it’s important to raise the questions.”

Dream job: author, and to teach philosophy Favorite food: steak, medium-well Sports teams: NY Yankees, NY Giants Artists: The Beatles, Beethoven, The Rolling Stones Hobbies: playing pool, basketball, spending time with family, watching Woody Allen and Betty Davis movies Dream Car: 1953 Corvette If you could meet anyone dead or alive, it would be: Socrates

NOVEMBER 4, 2015

OPINION

THE YOUNGTOWN EDITION PAGE 3

PHOTO CREDIT: FACEBOOK

First Democratic debate puts Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders in spotlight

BY EMILY BETZ

Acting Opinion Editor

The first Democratic debate for the 2016 preliminary elections was held on Oct 13, 2015. The candidates present were former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders. Also making guest appearances were former Governor Lincoln Chafee, former Senator Jim Webb and former Governor Martin O’Malley.

If there was a prize at the debate for “most whining,” it would’ve gone to Jim Webb. He spent his first 5 minutes listing off the names of all his children and their professions and the rest of the time complaining about not being allowed to speak. On Tuesday, Oct 20, he dropped out of the race for the Democratic nomination.

O’Malley did not do badly, but that is the best you can say for him. He outlined his strict view on gun control, clearly and concisely, explaining his plan for reform. But, there was no standout “wow” moment, nothing that would push him out of the bottom 1% of the polls.

Chafee’s most memorable moment was floundering to explain to Anderson Cooper why he voted on a bill to make banks bigger in 1999 after his stance was firmly the opposite. His only explanation was an uncomfortable, half-hearted excuse about how it was his first vote, his dad had recently died, and everyone else was voting for the bill anyways. He stumbled trying to tell Cooper he was a block

of granite when it came to the issues. Anderson countered: “Must be pretty soft granite. You have been a Republican, an Independent and now a Democrat.” Chafee also chose to step out of the race for the presidency.

Finally, what the whole debate really came down to: Clinton and Sanders. Sanders came out strong with his usual speech about big banks, Wall Street, and the 1% being the evils plaguing our country. When asked by a college student whether “black lives matter or all lives matter,” he without hesitation answered “black lives matter”.

He went on to back up his reasoning with Sandra Bland, the controversial death of a black woman who was found hanging in her cell after being arrested on a routine traffic stop. Many have speculated this was a planned move on his part to make a push in the polls for minority votes, where he has not been doing well. He was a little shaky when Clinton was attacking him for voting against a bill to mandate background checks on gun owners and voting for a bill that gave gun manufacturers immunity. Sanders defended his actions “it was a large and complicated bill,” whereas Clinton was sure to let us know she voted against the very same bill. Sanders’ shining moment was more a win for Clinton than it was for himself. When Clinton was getting grilled on her recent email scandal, the controversy in which Clinton had sent classified emails from a private email account, Sanders stood up for her “The American

people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails.”

Clinton came out of this debate the clear winner. In a league all her own, she effortlessly fielded tough questions thrown out by Cooper, while simultaneously attacking Sanders on his gun control policies. When Cooper asked her if she was a moderate or progressive, she said “I’m a progressive. But I am a progressive who likes to get things done.” She made clear her stance on gun control, her plans for paid leave, a woman’s right to choose, and breaking down discrimination based on gender, race, and sexual orientation. She highlighted her plans for Wall Street, education reform, and her years of experience foreign policy shone through. One of the things Hillary did differently from the other candidates was admit to her mistakes. Where other candidates stumbled over trying to defend their actions, Hillary wasn’t afraid to say she had messed up or changed her mind, as people sometimes do.

However her most memorable moment of the night was just a two letter response when confronted by Chafee for her email scandal yet again, Cooper asked if she wanted to counter and she simply said “No.” For some of the candidates, the campaign trail is over. For Bernie Sanders and Clinton, there are many debates ahead before we know if we will have the first woman or first socialist president in 2016.

School shootings bring to light recurring problems behind gun culture

BY SANDRA RIANO Opinion Editor

On Oct. 1, Umpqua Community College lost ten lives to on-campus gun violence. This tragic event resonated with students across the country, specifically Community and County Colleges with the Association of Community College Trustees calling for a nationwide moment of silence on campuses, including the County College of Morris.

In response to this massacre, gun rights activists began to say that if everyone or anyone on that campus had a gun then they would have survived. However, while Umpqua Community College is considered a “gun-free zone,” Oregon law allows anyone with a concealed firearms permit to bring guns onto campus. On the day of the shooting some students like John Parker, an Army Veteran, had their licenses and guns with them on campus, but didn’t intervene with the shooting for fear of being mistaken for the shooter and being killed by the police. Clearly more guns on college campuses are not the answer to these consistent school shootings. Five of the nine victims were 20 years old or younger, eight died on the scene, and one died at the hospital, while eight others were injured.

According to a Mass Shooting Tracker, since the beginning of 2015 there have been 315 mass shootings, which at least four people have either been killed or in-

jured. From Jan. 1, 2015, to Oct. 10 there have been 52 school shootings across America. With an average of more than one per week, we would expect legislation on this issue to be priority.

“Gun homicides are seven times higher in the U.S. than in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom” according to the Washington Post. Guns are ingrained into American culture and are mentioned within our Bill of Rights as a personal right, but the amendment has been misinterpreted as technology advances. The guns the founding fathers had in mind were muskets that took several minutes to reload, not automatic weapons with hundreds of rounds of ammunition. They also intended for a “well regulated militia,” presumably to help defend themselves from an attack from the government back in the 1780’s. More important than the right to bear arms is the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for everyone. Students shouldn’t be living in constant fear of public spaces because of lax gun control.

If gun owners were as responsible as they claim to be then there wouldn’t be weekly news stories about toddlers and children shooting and killing friends and relatives.

While no one has come up with perfect legislation yet on this issue, there are some regulations that have to be put into place, including universal background checks which would prevent those with a criminal record or a history of

domestic abuse from legally purchasing guns, videotaping gun sales in gun shops, and finding a system to track guns more effectively, as well as requiring rigorous training and permit renewals. The Oregon shooter’s guns were all legally acquired under his mother’s name. We can’t be devastated by a mass shooting, do absolutely nothing to prevent the next one, and then act surprised when ten more innocent college students are killed.

Regulation is the answer to this problem, but there has not been any indication of how legislation will regulate black market gun sales, gun thefts and other paths criminals use to acquire guns. Liberals do not want to take guns away and conservatives don’t want everyone to have a gun. A “good guy” with a gun doesn’t cancel out a “bad guy” with a gun, it just increases the chances of someone getting hurt.. Instead of discussing how we can rationally stop these massacres, gun rights activists blame these incidents on mental health. Research shows that those with mental illness are actually less likely to be violent and more likely to be victims and linking gun violence to mental health perpetuates the stigma behind mental illnesses.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has research that shows there are approximately 31,672 gun related deaths every year. Insteading of scapegoating innocent people, gun rights activists need to realize that their right to own a gun has to be restricted in order to protect everyone.

PAGE 4 THE YOUNGTOWN EDITION

NEWS

NOVEMBER 4, 2015

CCM settles into new grading system

BY GINA FICO Contributor

The County College of Morris has aligned their grading system to match the vast majority of two to four year colleges state and nationwide, and according to students and administrators the benefits are already being felt on campus.

“It will be [very] beneficial to students here,” said Christina Herbst, a CCM student.

Herbst said she is used to a plus and minus system, as she came from a liberal arts college in New York State and had that method of grading there.

Starting this fall semester, CCM students can expect plus and minus letter grades, according to Kim Andriani, liberal arts division administrative assistant.

Matt Mancuso, a Phi Theta Kappa member, agreed that this would improve the overall student experience at CCM. “Students would get a little more satisfaction in knowing exactly how they did, sometimes just a letter grade is too vague,” Mancuso said. “I feel that the 99 [percent grade] should carry more weight than the 90 [percent grade], there’s a whole nine [percent] difference. It’s not as if you’re downgrading someone’s A, you’re just showing where on the 90 to 99 scale they scored.”

Some students said they were frustrated with the grading system at CCM saying that with so many colleges having pluses and minuses and did not understand why CCM had not switched over sooner. One benefit is that students will clearly know where they stand in class. Instead of obtaining a B and knowing the grade was somewhere in the 80’s, the new system gives a clear indication of how progress was made. Some students may also feel it is unfair to obtain the same letter as someone who did not work as hard.

“Overall people would improve with the new grading system,” said Jefferson Castano, a CCM student.

Castano said accuracy is more defined with this system. He said accuracy is a positive component, but with

Midterm Grading

the new grading system representing hard work students deserve.

Student’s grades can now better reflect with a plus the hard work they did during the semester. Furthermore, Castano said that adding pluses and minuses to grades brings a greater impact on a student’s GPA. Student Stephanie Coulman said she is not overly concerned about the changes in the grading system, although she said it makes more sense to have the plus and minus system, not having it would not affect her either because she had it at high school before coming here.

“It shouldn’t matter so much about the plus and minus, ‘B’ is still a ‘B’ and an ‘A’ is still an ‘A’,” said Coulman. Coulman said that by giving students a letter grade, they know what range they are in and that is enough.

Some high schools participate in number grading and students prefer this way of grading because it is the most accurate of the ways a student can be graded.

CCM, which is treated by many as a stepping stone for future academic endeavors, offers a lot of help for stu-

dents looking to transfer. Many students are convinced that transferring might be easier if we used the same grading scale as other two and four year schools.

“I believe this system would be beneficial to me as a transfer student ,” Student Abby Lengyel said. “I feel that some schools will look at my transcript and only see that I got a certain grade, when really I could’ve been the top of my specific class and would be deserving of a higher grade. In reality there’s a difference between an 83 and an 89.”

Getting a B or a B+ could make all the difference for a transfer student.

“The grades are generalized,” said Reed Schetlick, a communication major.“I would assume that a school that I’m transferring to - if they had a plus or minus system - that they would want to see a plus or minus system because its more specific. “If I’m getting an 89 it would obviously look better to them, but they don’t see that, they just see that I got a B.”

NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Fall sports finished for season

BY BRETT FRIEDENSOHN Sports Editor

According to Region XIX’s website, the men’s soccer team finished 4-10, 14 out of 19 in its division, and the volleyball team finished last at 3-8. While neither of them have qualified for a playoff, the volleyball team participated in a tournament last Saturday at Delaware Technical Community College, losing to Delaware Tech Terry. The women’s soccer team had the most successful season of CCM’s three non-scrimmage fall teams this year.

Finishing their regular season 6-6, they advanced to Region XIX’s playoff tournament. However, they were defeated 1-0 on Oct. 24 to Sussex County Community College. “[Sussex has] some good players. They didn’t get the second seed and wind up two or three in the region without having had a lot of good performances,” said Roger Stephens, assistant director of athletics and head coach for women’s soccer.

Meanwhile, staff in the Health and Physical Education department have been anxious most of the semester.

“For the last two years, we’ve experienced an unbelievable amount of turnover in staff, construction projects, abatement situations,” said Jack Sullivan, director of athletics. “We’ve kept the ship steady, but full time staff retiring, building construction, coaches resigning and not coming back...There’s so many things for the last two years, it just seems maddening. I think that we’re in a better place, better facility, and the future’s looking brighter, and new energy with the new staff, so sometimes you have to take a step back before you can take a step forward.”

The final addition to the renovations of the HPE building that have occurred over approximately the past year has been completed. On Monday, Oct. 26, the pool opened with its new roof and air conditioning unit, both added with an effort to reduce the humidity in the aquatics building.

Men’s and women’s basketball will open their regular seasons on Nov. 7 at Manor College; the women will begin at 1 p.m. and the men at 3. CCM will host the annual Turkey Hoop Shoot Tournament, consisting of men’s and women’s basketball teams from CCM, Orange Community College, Rowan College, and Cecil Community College, on Nov. 20, 21, and 22.

SPORTS

THE YOUNGTOWN EDITION PAGE 5

PAGE 6 THE YOUNGTOWN EDITION

ENTERTAINMENT

NOVEMBER 4, 2015

‘Netflix Original’ changing entertainment

BY VICTORIA PIGNATELLI Entertainment Editor

With more original and independently produced shows, streaming video services like Netflix is changing the way American society is viewing and receiving entertainment.

Within the last three years, the television industry has seen a large number of growth in the online, ondemand, and personalized means of obtaining one’s entertainment. Viewer trends have shown a shift in the way that the public is obtaining media has had an effect on the way the industry advertises and earns from its properties.

The effects may not be known or understood for some time, however it is apparent that the on-demand era of arts and entertainment is definitely here and thriving.

Netflix is the strongest of the internet-based providers of on-demand viewing of both television programs and films. Hulu and YouTube do offer similar means of viewing, however Netflix remains the most popular and accessible throughout the United States. Just a few years ago, before “Orange is The New Black” had its premiere on Netflix, there did not seem to be a real impetus behind it.

It was already grounded in its mailorder DVD by 2006, and its online streaming by early 2010. Netflix changed the game of what the conventional media considered great television when in 2011, “House of Cards” premiered, launching the entire season for any and all of its subscribers to take part in. What consumers didn’t

know then, was how much the advent of the Netflix original would change many watch television programs.

Now, in 2015, Netflix has presented its subscribers with over 50 original films and television shows that have revolutionized and revitalized Netflix and the streaming medium. From “Orange is The New Black“ to a relatively new comedy, “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” the varieties in genre within the Netflix originals are limitless.

What Netflix does, launching its shows all at once instead of the conventional broadcast channel method of once a week, is dramatically shifting the way that television shows are viewed and shared among social groups. No longer does a show have to be watched piece by piece, only talking to one’s co-workers about last night’s episode of whatever show the broadcast networks have been trying to get the public to watch. There is choice now. Of course there always has been a form of choice, but now there is much more that consumers are able to choose from with their Netflix subscriptions. The notion of personalized choice and instant gratification that comes with using Netflix is something of a novelty now. Netflix is mentioned everywhere, the shows that are original from them and come out on their website are getting nominated for Emmy awards.

The advent of Netflix has raised questions in what the next iteration in entertainment will be. Can there be yet another development beyond the Netflix Original, or is this all that the public can expect for now, as the tech-

nology is perfected?

These are many questions that television and media analysts must be asking themselves and their colleagues. From several interviews conducted here at The County College of Morris, varying opinions and usage style of Netflix have been explored.

Kelsey G., a teacher education major says that she doesn’t use the service all that much.

“Sometimes I watch Netflix, but not as often,” Kelsey G. said. “I don’t binge watch either.”

Kelsey G. said that she primarily watches Japanese anime.

“Because I bond with my older sister through it,” Kelsey G. said.

“It isn’t as frequent now that school started.”

Social work major Margarita stated that she only really watches TV shows on Netflix, like “The Walking Dead.”

“I don’t do it often, but when I do it can be for 12 hours, which I completely relax in,” Margarita said.

However, a duo of students perpetuated the popular belief those media scholars declare. Francis, an electronic engineering major, and Christian, a Digital Media major both are active binge watchers on Netflix.

“Netflix is way better than TV, and ‘Orange is the New Black’ is the best show on it,” Christian said.

The changes mean traditional broadcast television may need to offer more on demand services to stay relevant. Each channel has applications for most smartphones and smart devices, but they don’t run nearly as smooth as Netflix.

Ellie Kemper appears as Kimmy Schmidt in Netflix’s original show, “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” created by Robert Carlock and Tina Fey.

PHOTO CREDIT: FACEBOOK

‘The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ captures audience

BY VICTORIA PIGNATELLI Entertainment Editor

The way Netflix releases its original content is a bit shaky to get used to as a consumer. Unless you’ve kept up with press releases and know the exact dates when new shows will be launched, they’ll all be a surprise to you.

This is what happened with “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” March 5, 2015 began a very weird, contemporary look at the sitcom. In its thirteen episodes, “Kimmy Schmidt” displays a carefully crafted comedy, viral ability and the impact of the Netflix original.

The plot surrounds the titular character “Kimmy Schmidt.” Her story is told through her adventures in New York City after she and four other women escape a cult of “mole women.” Kimmy Schmidt is played by Ellie Kemper, whom viewers may recognise as Erin from “The Office.” In essence, this premier season explores Kimmy reentering the real world, learning about things she’d missed since the 1990s, and re-adjusting to a semi-normal life. Of course it wouldn’t be a comedy without mishaps and oddities, especially coming from writers Tina Fey and Robert Carlock.

The show was originally made for NBC’s comedy block that has now lost its heavy hitters like “Parks and Recreation,” “Community” and “30 Rock.” However network execs didn’t option it for last fall’s premiere season, so to Netflix it went. This seems like a trend now, but instead of newer shows, cancelled fan favorites are making their way to Netflix to have another life outside of their network failure.

The show initially has a very “30 Rock”-esque feeling to it, as is evidenced by Tina Fey’s work on that project.

The viewers are presented with a wide array of characters that seem to symbolize the very strange world that Kimmy has come from and the world she has entered. Kimmy, after being stuck underground for nearly 15 years has virtually no concept of much of popular culture, which other main characters continually present her with. Aside from Ellie Kemper, the show stars Titus Burgess as Kimmy’s best friend Titus Andromedon, Carol Kane as their eccentric landlord, and Jane Krakowski portraying Kimmy’s socialite employer. The main cast works together in creating an oddly uncomfortable yet aware piece of entertainment.

Of course that just scratches the surface, as Kimmy

isn’t simply exploring the new environment that she’s placed in. Her role towards the end of the season is to testify against the Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne (portrayed by Jon Hamm), her captor. That segment creates a rather long dull point in the season’s final 5 episodes.

However, in a general sense, the series has proven to be a decent comedy. It isn’t without its uncomfortable jokes or questionable moments and parts that don’t quite have a place. For instance, there is a point within the series that Jane Krakowski’s character, Jaqueline has a flashback to her childhood. It is revealed that she is a Native American. This caused some stir with viewers, as Jane Krakowski is not Native American herself. The series proves itself to be funny, which is the goal. If the writers can work out some kinks in the plot, and characters, it may just be the next “Parks and Recreation.” It is easily accessible, the jokes hit spot on, and the characters interact in a wonderfully weird way, creating a sense of exciting comedy that Netflix hasn’t worked with yet.

Netflix has already ordered a second season, which shows how powerful the on-demand market for television is.

NOVEMBER 4, 2015

ENTERTAINMENT

THE YOUNGTOWN EDITION PAGE 7

Changing games one episode at a time

BY SAMUEL GUGLIELMO Features Editor

Over the last few years video games have gone through many changes. One of them has been the addition of episodic games.

An episodic game is when one buys the game one episode at a time, with episodes coming out between 2-4 months between each other. Each week it seems there’s new episodic games coming out, like Telltale’s recent “Minecraft: Story Mode”. Yet when did this start, and how will it change gaming going forward?

It’s arguable where the first episodic game came from, but one of the earliest examples would be the 1979 roleplaying game series “Dunjonquest”. While it doesn’t quite fit the modern definition, they chose to release several short connected games rather than one big one. Likewise, the 1981 roleplaying game series “Wizardy” had a similar release. While both series didn’t start the big trend that we see today, they are the earliest examples of a company releasing smaller “episodes” rather than full games.

The first real episodic game came from space sim series “Wing Commander,” with the 1998 release “Wing Commander: Secret Ops.” The first episode would be sent free to anyone who wanted it, and then Origins System would put up more episodes to buy. Unfortunately, the experiment failed as the game was hampered by a 120mb download size which was, for its time, massive.

After this, episodic games were a relative rarity that few companies were willing to try.

It wasn’t until 2006 that the attempt was made again, by two different companies: Valve and Telltale. Valve’s effort was an expansion pack to its revolutionary game “Half-Life 2”, called “HalfLife 2: Episode 1”. The idea was to keep releasing shorter episodes instead of making a full game so there would be a quicker turnaround time on new content, but after the second episode, despite good reviews and sales, Valve decided to delay the third episode several times eventually cancelling the idea. Telltale’s attempt was in the form of “Sam & Max Save the World,” an episodic adventure game that would write a few of the basic rules that Telltale would go on to follow.

A surge of horror games would be the catalyst for the popularity of episodic games. Games like “Alan Wake,” “Alone in the Dark,” and “Siren: Blood Curse” would separate their chapters into episodes that would start with recaps of the last episode and end with previews of the next, similar to a TV show. It seems funny that “The Walking Dead” would become such a massive hit in both comics and TV and then would go on to be one of the most influential episodic games. While Sam and Max made a small impression, The Walking Dead would become the big episodic game that would show people how to properly utilize the idea, and it would be the inspiration for many

future games.

There is both a good way and a bad way to make an episodic game, and it is noticeably changing how the game industry works right now. Some of the ways aren’t for the better.

Capcom released “Resident Evil Revelations 2” in the form of four episodes, but since they released one episode a week there was a feeling that there was no reason for the episodic release other than being able to slap “episodic” onto the game to quickly cash in on a popular trend.

Sometimes the wait between episodes becomes a little absurd.

Telltale got into trouble with the long wait time between the first and second episodes of several of their games, including “Tales From the Borderlands” and “The Wolf Among Us.” Smaller independent developers are more vulnerable to this problem, with games like “Majestic Nights,” “Kentucky Route Zero” and “The Detail” having episodes that are between 7 to 13 months apart.

Sometimes, episodes are used to ship an unfinished game.

After a massive Kickstarter success, “The Broken Age” had millions of dollars for its development. Yet, halfway through development, Double Fine realized they had run out of money.

Their solution was to release the first half of the game as “Act 1” and use the money they got from that to fund the second half of the game.

Other games have tried this too, which leads to the biggest

downfall to episodic games: getting canceled before all the episodes are out. Similar to “The Broken Age,” “Woolfe - The Red Hood Diaries” was broken into two halves after a successful Kickstarter. Unlike “The Broken Age,” the first half reviewed very poorly and received little money.

Months later the developer canceled the second half and shut down, leaving this story unfinished. Games with similar fates include “SiN Episodes” and “Insecticide.” Even large companies aren’t immune to this: Telltale themselves abandoned the unsuccessful “Bones: Out from Boneville” after the second episode, while Sega’s plans for “Sonic the Hedgehog 4” to be 3 episodes was canceled after the second episode underperformed.

But a lot of good can come from episodic games as well.

By producing shorter “episodes” rather than full games, developers have the ability to have faster turnaround time in releasing the next part. They can easily try elements out and adjust them on the fly. If something doesn’t work for one episode, it’s more than easy enough to tweak or change it for the next.

It also allows developers to be more experimental. Most episodic games are on the cheaper end, nearly every game I’ve listed before charges $5 for one episode, meaning it’s easy for gamers to justify buying something new. Telltale really brought episodic games up using old adventure games as a model, a genre

that we really haven’t seen much of in current years.

Each episode can also change how the next one goes, something that hadn’t really been done in games until recently. Decisions made in one episode can have consequences somewhere else down the line. An episodic format isn’t required for this, but by planning ahead of time and keeping the engine similar it’s much easier to avoid problems, like Bioware’s “Dragon Age: Inquisition” being incompatible with save games from earlier entries to the series.

By using some similar tactics to TV shows it’s also easier to get people involved in the series. A lot of the episodic games end episodes on cliffhangers, dramatic scenes, and other gripping moments. By spending episodes developing characters rather than feeling the need to squeeze in new gamepaly segments, getting to care about the characters becomes easier and there’s a better retention rate between episodes rather than between two different games.

However you feel about episodic games, it’s something that is happening and is changing how games work. There are both good and bad things about them, and even if episodic games fizzle out one day other games are going to learn and adapt from them.

Games are still looking to Hollywood for inspiration, but it seems TV is also working its way into the format.

New survival-horror game keeps players up ‘Until Dawn’

BY BETH PETER Managing Editor

Game developer Supermassive Games released an adventure/thriller game on Aug. 25 that has since taken the gaming community by storm. A PlayStation 4 exclusive game, Until Dawn follows the story of eight friends trapped in a mountain cabin and their struggle to survive the night. Players are forced to make decisions throughout the game that determine who will live and who will die - and any combination of survivors is possible, including all or none. This presents a “butterfly effect” scenario, where choices that seem insignificant can influence the plot overall.

With an impressive 79 out of 100 on Meta-

critic, based on the reviews of 101 game critics, Until Dawn promises remarkable replayability, as players will start the game over multiple times attempting to save their favorite characters. According to the NPD Group, a market research company, Until Dawn was the seventh best-selling title of August 2015, and the only PS4 exclusive title to make the top ten list. This is impressive for a new title, as every other game in the top ten is a part of a series.

Until Dawn is an exceptionally well animated game, and while not an entirely immersive experience, the plot-driven gameplay invests users in its characters. It is an ideal game for those new to PlayStation or to video games in general, as the tasks presented to the player are not overly

complex, yet they also don’t seem inane to video game pros. The only critiques to game control confront the optional motion controls the player can select in lieu of traditional button operation. The motion controls do not work as well as they should in an otherwise well crafted game. They feel akin to a gimmick, disturbing the immersive storyline. The game’s realistic animation, compelling characterization, and thrilling soundtrack nonetheless combine to create an enjoyable game with immense replay possibilities.

Until Dawn follows in the footsteps of impressive predecessors such as Heavy Rain, a 2010 Quantic Dream game that also relies on player choices that influence the plot. Heavy Rain has a 4.5 out of

5 on Metacritic, following the hunt for a serial killer that targets children. Another horror game, the genre consistency raises the question of the compatibility for butterfly effect games and the horror genre.

Does the fact that players are directly responsible for the characters’ futures create a more intense feeling of guilt should tragedy fall? I think so. When I lost a character in Until Dawn due to choices I made, I was legitimately upset. When I lost another child to the Origami Killer in Heavy Rain, I felt painfully guilty. The responsibility on the player for the futures of the characters emphasizes the stress of a horror game and creates a tense atmosphere.

PHOTO CREDIT: FACEBOOK

NOVEMBER 4, 2015

Healthy eating at Cohen Café

BY KRISTEN URBAN Staff Writer

How County College of Morris students can eat healthier It’s 12:45p.m. and students are hungrily looking for something to satisfy their appetite in fifteen minutes. Students can come into the Cohen Hall café and get some chicken fingers and fries, or go to a vending machine and decide if they want a bag of chips or candy. Students have a lot of difficulty maintaining a healthy lifestyle with these options.

“I’m totally wary about what I eat and it’s definitely a challenge,” said Brian Pereyra, a communication major. “The healthier items that the café has to offer are more expensive. A cup of pretzels and hummus is more expensive than a plate of fries.”

Pereya said that the food offered at the café is fast and cheap, but it’s not the healthy choice for students. He proposed that bringing food from home would be a better choice because a student would be able to plan to bring healthier items knowing what the café has to offer.

“The food provided is very sub-par and I think the staff even knows that,” said Deric Volta, a chemistry major. “The little healthy options are too expensive. If I’m in a rush I’ll usually fill up on black coffee and some kind of carb, like a bagel to fill me up fast and keep me full.”

Volta said that to save money, he would also recommend bringing in food from home.

“A big basic is to get enough

FEATURES

THE YOUNGTOWN EDITION PAGE 8

water,” said Dr. Michael Paul, assistant chairperson of the department of health and exercise science.. “The water refillers around campus are a big benefit for a student to stay hydrated all day.

It’s always better to brown bag it, bring anything from home. If you get at least five fruits and vegetables a day that would be the best benefit to eating healthier.”

Paul also explained that eating in moderation will help college students stay healthier.

“If you’re going to eat a doughnut and you’re still hungry, have a whole wheat bagel. Don’t eat another doughnut.”

Kelly Miniter, assistant professor in exercise science, said students should look locally around the campus for healthier options, avoiding the school cafe.

“I know A&P has a fresh salad bar and also prepared sandwiches that are reasonably priced,” said Miniter. “Little snacks like trail mix to bring around with you would be good, it keeps you full and also energized throughout the day.”

Miniter said that the vending machine in the Health and Physical Education building has better choices than the rest of the vending machines on campus. A healthy lunch that would be good every day would be a soup and salad if the campus has that to offer.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Oops!

Dr. Michael Paul is the Assistant Chairperson of the Health and Exercise Science Department at CCM, his previous title was a misprint.

Friday, November 13, 2015 CCM Bus Trip to NYC’s Body Worlds at Discovery Times Square

Using actual human bodies and individual organ specimens, Body Worlds allows you to look deep inside the systems of your body: skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive, circulatory and the treated body. Must have a valid Fall 2015 ID Cost: $21 CCM students, $26 Guests. On sale at the Office of Campus Life Information Window in the Student Center. A ‘Hold Harmless Form’ must be completed by all bus trip participants. Bus leaves CCM at 9 a.m. and leaves NYC at 2:30 p.m. Sponsored by: The Biology and Chemistry Club.

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 Features Editor.................................................... Samuel Guglielmo Entertainment Editor................Victoria Pignatelli, Laura Calderon Sports Editor....................................................... Brett Friedensohn Opinion Editor............................................................ Sandra Riano Acting Opinion Editor.................................................... Emily Betz Copy Editor................................................................ Marisa Goglia Senior Layout Editor............................................ Drew Notarnicola Paginator........................................................................ Frank Eaton Technical Adviser......................................................Wilma Martin Faculty Adviser........................................ Professor Russ Crespolini Circulation...............................Preeti Manekporia, Nick Bougades, Justin Bencivengo Staff: Kelly Brown, Kristen Urban, Gina Fico, Zahir Jalallar, Mark Profaca 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.