Youngtown 10/7/15

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VOL. 95, NO. 4

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015

RANDOLPH, N.J.

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

Welcome Back Bash breaks down barriers BY LAURA CALDERON Staff Writer

On September 22, clubs across the County College of Morris campus participated in the school’s annual Welcome Back Bash in hopes of recruiting new members. With food, free giveaways, and an ice cold water dunk tank, students were scattered all along the event enjoying the festivities – learning more about their school community, and all it has to offer. One club in particular did an extraordinary job of grabbing students’ attention – the United Latino Organization (ULO) played fiery, energetic music, while pulling multiple individuals from the crowd, and encouraging them to dance along. “The purpose of our club is to draw attention to and spread knowledge about Hispanic heritage,” said ULO member Byrn. “We also do a lot of work with scholarships, and fundraisers.” Andres, ULO president, said you don’t have to be Latino to join. The club is open to anyone who wants to learn new things and have fun. While ULO played by the strengths of music, the Diversity Organization used a different strategy: rewarding whoever signed up with a delicious cupcake.

Being one of the largest clubs on campus, the organization is focused on learning, as well as embracing the various cultures and races that make up our society. Diversity Organization member and Music Major Melanie said the purpose of the club is to bring different ethnicities together, and to try to better the community as a whole. Another club that made an impression on students was Active Minds, and their strategic use of the one thing everybody loves most – ice cream. When individuals first arrived to collect a sweet treat they were given the basic understanding of what the club stands for, and were forced to yell “I scream for ice cream!” before being allowed to enjoy their frozen snack. When they’re not cheering on others to laugh at themselves, Active Minds is a club devoted to bringing awareness about issues surrounding the symptoms of mental health disorders, and available resources to such diagnostics. Active Minds member Alejandro said the main focus of the club is to raise awareness of the stigma surrounding mental health. While clubs were focused on spreading their general message to all individuals, students were also focused on appreciating all that the day had to offer. From enjoying

PHOTO BY LAURA CALDERON

The Asian Student Association displays a Chinese lion puppet. the candy offered at every table to playing Dance Dance Revolution by the DJ booth, the Welcome Back Bash was a tremendous hit.

“The bash was an amazing thing to do in between classes,” said CCM freshman Lawlah. “I wish this could happen every Tuesday!”

PHOTO BY RICK BURCHFIELD

County College of Morris Trustees gather with county officials for a celebratory groundbreaking of the Music Technology building. From left: Trustee William Schievella, Freeholder John Krickus, Trustee Laurie Bogaard, Trustee Paul R. Licitra, Trustee Barbara L. Hadzima, CCM President Edward J. Yaw, Deputy Freeholder Director David Scapicchio, Trustee Emeritus W. Thomas Margetts, Trustee Chair Stanley T. Omland, Trustee Joseph Weisberg, and Trustee Jeffrey M. Advokat.

Construction commences on new Music Technology building BY DEREK ALLEN Editor-in-Chief

Performing arts students will soon be free of cramped DeMare hall classrooms. The County College of Morris Board of Trustees held a groundbreaking ceremony Sept 9 for the Music Technology building, the newest addition to the CCM campus. The $8.5 million facility will be an extension of the Student Center, housing two recording studios, an electronic music lab, an aural comprehension lab and a piano lab. The building will also hold a less than traditional type of theatre, a theater in-the-round, where the stage is the center of the room with approximately 125 seats surrounding it. “Since 2007, enrollment in our music technology programs has grown 36 percent,” said Dr. Edward J. Yaw,

CCM president. “This new facility not only will address that growth but allow CCM to build upon the strengths of its music and performing arts programs.” Some students have been questioning the new building being built, with recent budget cuts affecting CCM programs and staff. “They don’t realize that that pot of money was given to the college specifically for the new building,” said professor Marielaine Mammon, chairperson of the music, dance and performing arts department. “Which didn’t come from the college. It didn’t come out of our salaries or tuition.” Funding for the new building came from the state of New Jersey, and from Morris County through the Building Our Future Bond Act, which provided $750 million for New Jersey colleges. Mammon said the money could have gone to other

community colleges, but CCM possessed the need. “The way it happened, our Dr.Yaw was actually very instrumental,” said Joe Bilotti, a music theory professor. “The state said there’s money available for the building to the first people who could get to the front of the line with the plans in their hand who could promise a completion date. We were all engaged and the college went to bat for that.” Mammon said that out of the 19 community colleges in the state, CCM is the only college with degreed music programs. While other colleges offer only music courses or options, CCM attracts students from Warren, Passaic and Sussex all for the musical theatre and music degree programs. Once completed, the new building will house classes for digital media technology, media technology, music, drama and music recording.


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