215 15 4134 https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/1776df3c8dfffc7b386841b2280f75d4.pdf f0fc648d478796e1856b7be4665eeb6f PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 In This Issue... Rx’s Risky Side Effects Page 7 .&iilff fiJMtance !RJati.OJM fitp~ Page 9 ~Rl1PEcf Or u/Rl1T!I www.wilkesbeacon.com Volume 60 Issue 3 Student shaken after Terrace Street shooting BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon Managing Editor Melisa Bracone had just fallen asleep before being awakened by the startling ‘pop’ of a gunshot and cries of ‘bloody murder’ in the street below. Crouching down beside the window for ten minutes to observe the situation, she called 911. “I was scared,” the junior English major said. “My heart was beating so fast I did not know what to do.” According to a Wilkes-Barre police report, on September 13 at approximately 4 a.m., a victim stated that two men, whom he asked to leave his premises, returned for a cell phone. When the victim opened his door, one of the men greeted him with a black revolver and yelled, “This is the way you want to play,” before pulling the trigger twice, but the gun did not fire. The suspect then pointed the barrel towards the victim’s dog and killed it with one shot before screeching off in a black four-door sedan with tinted windows. The victim’s sister described the suspect as “a dark skinned black male, 5’8” with cornrows and a thin build; 19 years of age.” “These people that shot that dog the other day, they were people that they knew,” said Manager of Public Safety Gerald Rebo. “Basically, where Wilkes students are living is generally a good area, but like any other area you could have one or two persons in there who have guns.” The shooting, which occurred at 22 Terrace Street, was just one of such incidents to occur over the past few months involving illegal use The T Beacon/Cara Koster of firearms. This summer, a person was fatally wounded after sustaining gunshot wounds outside of the White House Café on Hazle Street. On September 3, a shooting on Madison Street left an 18-year old critically injured. And just last week, a man was reportedly walking at East Northhampton and South Hancock streets in broad daylight with what appeared to be a supposed rifle; however, no charges were expected to be filed after police learned he was simply hunting squirrels with a pellet gun. The Beacon/ Jenna Stephens But Wilkes-Barre Police Chief Gerald Dessoye does not necessarily see the illegal use of firearms as a major issue in the city. Workers at the APlus convenience store on Academy Street work from behind bullet proof glass to ensure their safety. See TERRACE page 5 Jersey natives bring Cooltura to downtown Page 13 , Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 BY NICOLE FRAIL & Beacon Asst. News Editor PAT ZEIGLER Beacon Correspondent Two sisters recently relocated from New Jersey plan to open the door of their brand new business to the public this week. Cooltura, which is a play on the Spanish word for “culture,” is located on the second block of South Main Street near Flaming Star Tattoo, Café Metropolis, Top of the Slope, Inc., and the Wilkes-Barre Rock Climbing Gym. Though the large sign above the main entrance reads “Cooltura: Accessorios, Musica, Phone Cards,” the Trelles sisters insist that the new store is not exclusively Spanish-based. “It’s open for everyone no matter who you are,” said Cooltura’s owner, Nancy Trelles. Along with the merchandise noted on the sign out front, Main Street’s newest addition will offer a wide variety of items. Walking into the store can easily be compared to entering six different stores in the Wyoming Valley Mall simultaneously. A majority of the space displays CDs and DVDs by Spanish artists, but the assortment of merchandise doesn’t stop there. Hair accessories, purses, and jewelry cover an entire wall while key chains, bumper stickers, stuffed animals, greeting cards, and other trinkets also fill the shelves. There’s even a gothic inspired collection towards the back of the store that consists of clothing and other accessories. Andréa Trelles will be helping her older sister get the business up and running and is excited about the opening this week. Because the store is “not for one specific type of person,” they hope to draw attention to a diverse crowd of both college students and Wilkes-Barre residents. See COOLTURA page 3 �NEWS SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 2 W-B Chamber’s patience Saving history Beacon News Briefs SG Notes 3 4 4 5 First Lady of Wilkes brings Midwest green thumb to campus BY LINDSEY WHITE Beacon Correspondent passion has translated to her influence across the campus. Gilmour grew up in a rural area where she developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors. Her love for nature and preserving the environment is reflected throughout the Wilkes university campus. She has been integral to the landscaping around the Darte Center and has also consulted on the greenway expansion project that was Mrs. Patty Gilmour, wife of Wilkes University president, Dr. Joseph Gilmour, is no shrinking violet. An avid reader, landscaper, and lover of the outdoors, Mrs. Gilmour is far from the typical first lady. After living in Kansas City for thirty years, she relocated to Wilkes-Barre with her husband when he was I went from working by hired as the university president. myself all of the time to living “It was a lot more of a transition than I thought in a fishbowl. it would be. I had just -Patty Gilmour entered a new marriage... and assumed a new public role. I went from working by myself all of the time started in the fall of 2006. As a volunteer, Gilmour is not to living in a fishbowl,” she said. She found that at times it was of- paid for her work in the landscapten difficult to take on the role that ing area. “I am not rewarded for the typical first lady assumes. She doing this, other than emotionally. acknowledged, “As the president’s I absolutely love to do it and I feel wife, I had this preconceived no- that it is my way to make a differtion that I should be the entertain- ence,” she explained. One of the biggest tasks she has er that is always perfectly dressed. I enjoy entertaining, although it is undertaken at the university is not my principle focus, but I do the greenway expansion project. not like dressing up. I realized Although she was not part of the that in order to be happy I had to Master Plan development, Gimour was asked to offer her input as to be true to myself.” As a rewhat should be included in the sult, she chose to devote greenway design. She chose her time and energy to a variety of native plants to something that she was create a habitat truly passionate about, for birds and landscaping. That butterflies, as well as something Photo Courtesy of Patty Gilmour that the community could enjoy. Gilmour also plans to have the Pergola, the structure made of columns donated by the Karambelas family located near Evans Hall, covered with different vines. The Pergola will be used as an outdoors theatre or gathering place for individuals. Gilmour explained that the last part of the expansion project will consist of a labyrinth, a place designed for spiritual reflection and meditation. The concept is based on balancing two sides of the brain and will incorporate grass and stone. Gilmour noted that she hopes it will be completed by the end of the school year. In addition to the landscaping she does for the university, Gilmour and her husband have participated in Wilkes community life on variety of levels. For example, after former Secretary of State Colin Powell delivered his speech to the Wilkes community last year, he and the Gilmours had dinner together. Gilmour said that Powell later wrote to them about how much fun he had. She added, “I think he even enjoyed the fact that I had the nerve to eat his dessert.” Along with this, the Gilmours host a holiday party each year for the faculty and staff, as well as a Wilkes Family Picnic over the summer. Interacting with the student body at the university is one thing Gilmour said she would like to become more comfortable with. Activities such as “a picnic to welcome the incoming freshmen, an environmental committee, movie nights, and chat sessions at her home” are some of the activities she would like to pursue with students as she becomes more comfortable at the university. Monica Turner, a sophomore communication studies major at (LEFT) Patty Gilmour stands with her husband Dr. Tim Gilmour, President of Wilkes University. Wilkes is one student who has become close with the president’s wife. “To me Wilkes-Barre is a big city because I’m from a very rural area. I feel like she understands how I feel when others don’t because she is also from the country. She’s definitely someone I can bond with on that level.” Executive members also believe that she has become an important part of the Wilkes community. Both Michael Frantz, Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing Communications, and Paul Adams, Vice President of Student Affairs, believe that Mrs. Gilmour has become a goodwill ambas- sador for the university. Frantz stated, she is a “vibrant, energetic, and a gifted individual who has the university’s best interests at heart.” BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andee Scarantino Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Alison Woody Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �NEWS SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 3 Chamber urges patience while search to fill storefronts continues BY JAMIE GWYNN Beacon Staff Writer Representatives of the Greater WilkesBarre Chamber recently denied rumors it will need to cut jobs because of the drain on funds from ten empty storefronts surrounding Movies 14 on East Northampton and Main Street. In response to whether the rumors were accurate, Lawrence Newman, Vice President of Economic and Community Development for the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber, emphatically stated, “No, absolutely not.” He added that there is a misconception among the community that the ten remaining storefronts suffer from a lack of interest from businesses. “The foundations that we are building today have to be foundations that last for us to build long-term success for downtown, and you don’t do that by just sort of running out and grabbing the first places that [are interested],” Newman said. “We have to systematically get the right mix of business into the right places of downtown.” But the original plan, which was announced in 1996, only included a movie theatre. Due to various obstacles, the plan started to fizzle. This is when the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber decided to step in. In 2003 Mayor Leighton approached the Chamber about salvaging the original plan. When Newman sat down with officials from RC Theatres and discussed what the city could do in order to complete the project, the only solution was to revise the original plan to include other ideas which would become part of a larger revitalization plan for Wilkes-Barre. One of the ideas, named “The Northamp- mark two months ago. “In that first year of operations we’ve had over 540,000 people go to that movie theatre; that’s over 10,000 people a week,” said Newman. He added, “Those are real Courtesy Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry Over 10,000 people visit the RC Theatre 14 every week. Movies 14 is one of the downtown area’s greatest success stories, according to the W-B Chamber. ton & Main Theatre/Mixed Use Project,” numbers that demonstrate real demand that includes twelve storefronts, two of which we are now out and able to talk to the kinds are currently leased to Quizno’s and Jan- of tenants we want in that project and want in downtown.” nuzzi’s Pizza. Gabrielle Lamb, Economic DevelopNewman detailed how credited tenants want to see at least a years worth of full op- ment Specialist for the Chamber, explained erations before reaching a long-term com- that although the Chamber gets numerous mitment. The theatre passed the one year requests from businesses to lease out the empty storefronts, it’s about finding the right tenants. “We are just as eager as everyone else and want nothing more than to see downtown filled with a variety of new businesses; however, we need to take it one step at a time and focus on bringing the right tenants to this project.” Lamb added, “We want this to be a premier destination in downtown Wilkes-Barre and this is one part of the process.” President Gilmour, Chair of the Chamber of Business and Industry board, expressed the same concern. “I do believe that we want to be very careful in terms of who we ultimately have as tenants in the Northampton Project because you certainly don’t have want to have a tenant who doesn’t represent the kind of quality and perspective that you want [for downtown Wilkes-Barre]. What you want is the highest quality,” he said. And in order to have the highest quality, patience is the key. But how long can a city, which has endured much criticism for its lack of excitement, be patient? “This is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. This is not something that can be won overnight,” said Newman. “Realistically, we don’t expect to have full occupancy in these storefronts until 2009.” Gilmour has higher expectations for the project. “I think it’s going to come within the next year and if we’re lucky, maybe the next six months.” But Gilmour added, “Patience is the [key].” COOLTURA from FRONT PAGE After being in business for 36 years, Mike Miscavage, owner of Top of the Slope, Inc. and the Wilkes-Barre Rock Climbing Gym, recognizes potential when he sees it. According to Miscavage, Wilkes and King’s students don’t frequently venture far enough from their respective college campuses to discover what the second block of Main Street has to offer. “People don’t even know that [Top of the Slope is] here.” Though he advertises in the colleges’ bulletins and even offers a ten percent discount to all college students with valid school identi- fication, Miscavage, along with other business owners in the area, still struggles to bring students in. While the Trelleses and Miscavage await Cooltura’s opening to see if it turns a profit, Wilkes students are also looking forward to it, it could be something really great. It’ll be good to have another [store that sells music] in Wilkes-Barre, especially so close to a venue like Café Metropolis,” said Wilkes freshman Matt Duffy. Though there is no grand opening planned for Cooltura, Nancy and Andréa Trelles do intend to rip down the brown t paper from their front windows this week. If everything goes well, they also plan to expand their selection of merchandise and provide The Beacon/Cara Koster jobs to those who finding out what the new store has to offer. may be interested in helping them run their “I think it’s awesome. If kids actually use new family business. ura,Jnc. acccso r Ios u.si ca bone €.arbs “If [Cooltura] will get kids to walk over here, it’d be great,” he said. �SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 NEWS Beacon News Briefs Local (Wilkes University) According to an incident report from Public Safety, dated September 21, early Friday morning public safety officers were called to the second floor of University Towers for a noise complaint. When the officers arrived they found two students and another man fighting in the hallway. The Wilkes-Barre Police and a resident assistant were called after the public safety officers made several attempts to break up the fight with no success. The police cleared the scene, and one person suffered an abrasion to his head but refused treatment. The Wilkes-Barre Police did not file charges. (Wilkes University) Dr. Anthony Liuzzo, prepared his yearly Holiday Retail Forecast on September 13, 2007. This year Liuzzo predicts that technological goodies will be the popular item found under most trees this year. Liuzzo, who directs the MBA program at Wilkes University, has been featured in USA Today and the New York Times for his annual forecast. (Northeast Pennsylvania) The federal prosecutor for northeastern Pennsylvania announced his resignation effective October 12. U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Marino, said he will be moving into the private sector after his departure. Marino also noted that his resignation is not related to an ongoing investigation regarding local businessperson, Louis DeNaples. Marino and DeNaples are said to be acquaintances and DeNaples used Marino as a reference on an application for a slot machine casino currently under construction. 4 illegal aliens would soon be able to obtain a drivers license in his state. The new guidelines overturn a 2002 decision put in place after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. New York Governor, Eliot Spitzer, says that the new guidelines will decrease insurance cost and promote public safety. (New Orleans, LA) Episcopal National bishops are meet( Wa s h i n g ing in New Orleans ton, DC) As with the goal of the February 1, forming a response 2008 expiration to an ultimatum set date draws near by Anglican leaders. on the “Protect The ultimatum requires America Act,” Presthe Episcopal bishops to ident Bush is pushing o pledge that they will never to make the law permaz iuz again consecrate another honent. J. Michael McConD r. A n t h o n y L mosexual bishop or hold samenell, the United States director sex prayer services. The Archbishop of of national intelligence, said in a testimony before Congress that the law is not Canterbury says the goal is to compromise. only necessary but does and will continue International to save countless American lives. (New Delhi, India) A TV news channel (Albany, NY) On Friday, September 21, the governor of New York announced that has been taken off the air for a month af- ter the Indian government decided that the channel aired a misleading program. The program in question showed a sting operation where a teacher was accused of persuading her students into prostitution. (Tehran, Iran) One day before flying to the United States, the Iranian president said that economic sanctions imposed by the United States will not stop them from advancing technologically. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said this at a parade featuring fighter jets and radar-avoiding missiles on Saturday, September 22. Ahmandinejad will speak in front of the United Nations in New York. (Yangon, Myanmar) About 500 monks were permitted past police barricades to hold anti-government protests. The monks marched past the gate of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest for being an “opposition leader.” San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for the past 11 years greeted the monks at her gate. Photo Courtesy of Marketing Comm Campus building with historic treasures saved from demolition for now BY AMY FUSCO Beacon Correspondent Ever noticed a quaint house to the north of the Arnaud C. Marts Center, Wilkes University’s gym? The little brick house at 256 South Franklin Street occupies the property with a spacious yard filled with a variety of plants and a pathway leading to the white front door. Very few students are aware of the MinerMoat House, though it houses some important historical artifacts. Built in the 1950’s, the Miner-Moat house was donated in 1999 to Wilkes University as a gift from Mr. Harry Moat and Mrs. Stella Miner-Moat. Paul Kaspriskie, Project Manager, explained, “It was previously the Human Resource office, which worked at the time, but no longer is useful as an office because the use is limited,” such as handicap accessibility. The Human Resources offices were relocated to the University Center on Main (UCOM) last year. Currently, the house is temporarily occupied by Petra Carver, Vice President for Finance and Support Operations. Last year, Wilkes officials acknowledged that the plan was to tear the building down for other necessary uses of the property, such as expansion or a parking lot. Carver commented, “We [Wilkes University] have a master plan, a work in progress,” but this plan was Judge William Sterling Ross (1802-1868), put on hold in order to preserve the Miner- and Mrs. Charles Abbot Miner. After the death of Mrs. Miner in 1931, the house on Moat house for the time being. Additionally, Carver stated, “The location 130 South Main Street was torn down. Forof the building is very convenient, since it tunately, the mantelpiece was is right on campus.” She believes Wilkes removed before the demoliUniversity put the Miner-Moat House to tion. About thirty years later, good use by allowing her to temporarily in 1960, the mantelpiece was live there and she hopes in the future, the installed in the Miner-Moat house could be occupied by other profes- house. Along with the distinction sors. The Miner-Moat House is also significant of its historic mantelpiece, Dr. Anthony one of the rarest trees in as the home to a very old, historic mantel- Liuzzo piece. According to the plaque installed Pennsylvania has grown on next to the mantel, it is ‘elaborately and the property. A white chestnut beautifully decorated with urns in central tree is located on the left side, and corner panels, and festoons of roses near the fence closest to the in connecting panels.” The history of the road. Unfortunately, the tree mantelpiece dates back to the time period is slowly deteriorating, but of 1786-1788 when Colonel Timothy Pick- Wilkes has agreed to keep it ering owned it. In the past, the mantel was preserved until the end of its in Pickering’s house located at 130 South life. According to Kaspriskie, Main Street. Upon leaving Wilkes-Barre to reside in the Miner-Moat house is well Philadelphia when he became Postmaster built and requires little mainGeneral in President George Washington’s tenance and “as long as [tearcabinet, Pickering sold his house to General ing the building down] does William Ross in 1796, leaving the mantel not bother anyone,” Wilkes behind with it. Throughout the years, oth- University will demolish it er people have lived in the house, such as only if it is necessary. Fur- thermore, if there was a need to tear it down, Wilkes will certainly remove the historical mantelpiece before doing so. STSTRAVEL.COM Join America’s #1 Student Tour Operator Sell Trips, Earn Cash & Travel Free CANCUN, ACAPULCO, JAMAICA, BAHAMAS PUERTO VALLARTA, SOUTH PADRE FLORIDA, CRUISES www.ststravel.com STUDENT TRAVEL SERVICES 1-800-648-4849 / www.ststravel.com �NEWS SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 TERRACE from FRONT PAGE “It’s not a significant amount of numbers only because we don’t have a real lot of shootings compared to areas like Philadelphia or New York,” Dessoye said. “Yes, we occasionally see someone carrying a firearm who has a concealed weapon involved in illegal activity and we notify the Sherriff’s Department to pull the concealed weapon permit.” According to the Luzerne County Sherriff ’s Depart- ment, 2,974 concealed weapons permits were issued by the end of 2006, though Dessoye noted that while it occasionally does happen, having someone illegally use a weapon with a license to carry a firearm is a rarity. “Most people who have a concealed weapons permit are legitimate, law abiding 5 individuals who can stand up to the criteria that the Sherriff’s Deparment sets to issue that permit,” Dessoye said. “Our problem with firearms are illegal firearms illegally carried.” The chief explained that fire- said. “Quite honestly, that’s been going on forever.” Dessoye and Rebo both cautioned students living in the city to keep their wits about themselves, and not to stick their noses where they don’t belong. They urged students to stay away from areas that seem to be trouble, avoid groups or individuals who seem to be involved in illegal activity, check under (and inside) their cars before entering, and travel in groups, especially females, whenever poshens na Step n e J / sible. n aco The Be “ T h e world has changed,” arms are obtained Dessoye said. “It’s not the mom and pop of illegally through the 50’s. There are bad people out there and b u r g l a r y, drug trade, and they travel in all geographic areas and dewhat he referred to as a “straw purchase,” mographics.” in which a legitimate person will buy a gun So does Bracone still feel safe after her legitimately and trade it to somebody who traumatic experience? wants drugs. “Sometimes. When I’m on campus I “That’s pretty much old school,” Dessoye feel safe. This kind of stuff shouldn’t hap- pen. Everyone is so worried about underage drinking and, there’s people carrying around guns and shooting dogs at four o’clock in the morning, and everyone in the school is worried about people drinking underage. They’re not even sending anyone down here,” she said. Beacon Correction On page 3 of the September 18 issue of The Beacon, the story “New faces in President’s cabinet offer individual expertise to team” mistakenly lists Petra Carver as a native of Essen, Germany. Carver is a native of Worms, Germany The Beacon strives for accuracy and good sourcing in all of its stories and regrets the errors in the past issue. Editors are grateful for readers who take the time to point out inaccuracies. Andrea Breemer Frantz, Faculty Advisor Andee Scarantino, Editor-in-Chief SG Notes September 19, 2007 Treasurer’s Report All College: $23,620.72 General: $5,672.59 Special Projects: $3,500 Spirit: $2,000 Leadership: $5,000 Conferences: $12,500 Start-Up: $1,500 -l#lKfS llNIVfRSJTV- Club Reports Programing Board - Remarked that there was a comedian on Monday, September 17. Just over 100 people attended. New Business Personal Finance Club - The Personal Finance Club was granted club status Medieval Renaissance Club - The Medieval Renaissance Club came to SG seeking club status (this is a two week process) SPAN - The Student Peace Action Network (SPAN) came to SG seeking club status (this is a two week process) Frisbee Club - SG heard revisions to the Frisbee Club’s constitution Mascot Allocation - SG allocated money for a new mascot costume to be worn at various events. Fall Elections - Justin Balint, Student Government parliamentraian, gave an update on SG elections. He commented that all is going well, and there was a slight problem with the e-mail voting system, which was fixed quickly. Homecoming - The budget for homecoming was dicussed. Tickets sale are estimated to bring in about $2,700 bringing the cost of homecoming down to $12,293.26. Events Party on the Square - September 20, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Homecoming - October 4 - 7, 2007 IN I .P. n up I nt 665 .. C J fo - (570) 823 - ma ,· d y.. th! n .. , t 9 �Opinion RX drugs worth the effects? 7 Angry Rant-Drinking 7 2008 election & troops 8 SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 6 Jena 6 case shows that roots of racism run deep BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD Jena, Louisiana: Thousands of people on September 20 poured into the streets to participate in one of the largest civil rights marches since the 1960s, according to the Associated Press. Jesse Jackson was there. Al Sharpton was there. College students were there, and about 20,000 others were there, protesting for civil rights and equality, as six residents of this small southern town, often referred to as “The Jena 6,” face criminal charges. One of the accused, Mychal Bell, remains in jail awaiting an appeal by prosecutors. The events that led to Bell’s original conviction and charges filed against five others, trace back to 2006. Nearly a year ago a black student at the primarily white Jena High School asked a member of administration if he could sit under a tree. The tree was known as “The White Tree,” and all of the students who sat under it during recesses were exactly that: white. An administrator told the young man that there wasn’t a problem with his sitting under the tree, but it is telling that the black student felt compelled to ask permission at all. A few black students, reassured that sitting under the tree was acceptable, decided to do so. Much to their surprise, the next day three nooses were found hanging from the tree. The white students responsible were expelled, but quickly allowed to re-enter the school, after the superintendent dismissed the act as a “prank.” Following the noose incident, racial tensions among the students continued to escalate. A few days after the noose incident, a black student was assaulted by a few white students. Fights began to break out, climaxing with an attack on a white student, Justin Barker, allegedly by the accused six. Barker was knocked unconscious and treated at a local hos- remains in jail, is currently awaiting an appeal, and has been denied bail. The other five defendants are currently free on bail. Perhaps the most important issue with this case is the fact that the court that convicted Bell was all white in a county with history of racial disharmony. Who says justice is blind? How are these charges warranted? Some of the explanations given for Bell’s conviction were that his “shoes were a deadly weapon.” Conveniently, school officials overlooked the warning signals, such subtle statements as the nooses hanging from the tree and later, at the height of the tension, people setting the school on fire on November 30. According to CNN, the school handbook states that a fight in school yields a three-day suspension. Apparently, Courtesy of: weblogs.elearning.ubc.ca the injuries that Barker His charges were reduced to ag- has as a result of this fight were gravated second-degree battery, so severe, that during the school but he was still found guilty by function he attended that night, an all-white jury and judge. De- administrators determined that the spite the reduction in charges, Bell Jena 6 wanted to kill him. There is no other way to exstill faced 15-22 years in prison. On September 13, however, the plain the lack of justice in this case Third Circuit Court of Appeals other than racism. This incident overturned his conviction noting happened well over a year ago, that the young man should not and until the trials approached, the have been tried as an adult. Bell voices of the people were quiet pital for cuts and abrasions. However, he was released the same day and attended a school function that very night. The accused six students, all black, were arrested. Five were charged with attempted seconddegree murder. The sixth was charged as a juvenile, as he was only 14 at the time of the attack. Bell, who was 16 at the time of the attack, was first to be tried in court and was tried as an adult. from Jena, Louisiana. Clearly, any publicity always held the potential for public relations backlash for the community. It made sense from the Jena Chamber of Commerce point of view to keep this under wraps as long as it could. But cases like Bell’s are tough to keep quiet for long. To “make it go away,” after Bell’s charges had been modified, the school had “The White Tree” cut down. Unfortunately, the roots of the tree of racial inequality grow deep, as evidenced by the fact that the first young black student even felt he needed to ask permission to sit there to begin with. The nooses remain a symbol of racial threat, despite the many years since KKK-initiated public lynchings of the south. While it should not be surprising, given the division evidenced in Jena, we are shocked that there are some who side with the District Attorney in this case. While there are many groups supporting the Jena 6, as well as nationwide petitions, there are Facebook groups that actually state they support the convictions of the young men. When will justice be served on this case? When is America going to cut out its racist roots that through places like Jena? Apparently, we have already started to speak, once again, like we did in the 1960s and 1970s, as people marched through the streets for justice in the land of the free, and the home of the brave. A Sight for Sore Eyes by: Aleksander Lapinski Beacon Poll Results Americans have a lot to worry about. The ongoing Iraq war, stock market and housing investThe following are results of a ment instability, drug busts, AIDS, poll that The Beacon conducted and environmental concerns domonline this past week. The poll inate the nightly news reports. Is was unscientific, and does not it any wonder that with such boldclaim to reflect the overall atface headlines other issues fail to titudes of students on campus. capture our attention? Seemingly Results are based on 104 re“less important” social problems sponses. like homelessness, poverty, and the growing deficit tend to make inside pages, if that, because of The Beacon asked: the pressing nature of the other stories. Following graduation, how that One of those sidebar issues much debt will you be inonto for the only occasionally squeaks your radar college public is education? animal cruelty. Recently animal cruelty has become • mainstream $10,000-$20,00019% a more issue with ma• $20,001-$40,00015% jor corporations, football players, 13% and •even$40,001-$60,000local people stirring up • $60,001-$80,00011% the issue. Animal cruelty involves • Nothing-I take and anything from dogdidn’t fighting, loans to - 11% shooting out whales, killing aniMore mals• for fur andthan animal testing. $100,00011% The problem isn’t awareness; it • more $80,001-$90,0006% is that people appear to be6% lieve• that $90,001-$100,000it’s okay to hurt animals • I don’t know-my for personal benefi t or enjoyment. parents Worse, there is a took smallout contingent loans-who 4%believe that the in the country • of Less than cruelty $10,0004%be practice animal can excused because of age-old cultural practices. Next Week’s Question: Just two weeks ago the Makah tribe thethink wirewill over Whomade do you winthe theissue of whaling. ago the Nabaseball WorldYears Series? tive American tribe legally killed whales something of a sport. • asBoston Red Sox The •tribeNY suspend its practice beYankees cause• theNY grey whale was placed Mets on the species list and • endangered Philadelphia Phillies federal government prohibited • Cleveland Indians whaling. However, in 1994, the • San Diego Padres grey•whale came off Brewers of the endanMilwaukee gered• list.Chicago Cubs The• tribe obtained a permit in Arizona Diamondbacks 1999• to LA kill Angels a whale outof which Anaheim raged animal rights groups. After a court hearing it became necessary Visit www.wilkesbeacon.com for receive a waiver to the cast tribe your tovote. Results will in order to hunt in whales. Recently, be published next week’s members of of theThe tribeBeacon. shot a grey issue whale repeatedly with a rifle before they were due to receive their waiver. The five men involved are all facing fines of up to $20,000 �SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 OPINION 7 Blindly addressing medical problems can lead to other issues BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Opinion Editor When you recall the fifth grade, what memories surface? The early stages of puberty and hormonedriven emotional highs and lows? An undying love for the Backstreet Boys, ‘NSYNC, Spice Girls or any other pop culture group you’re now too embarrassed to admit publicly? Trying nearly anything to fit in at school? All of the above? For some, fifth grade is a very forgettable year. For me, fifth grade was a life changing experience that I will never forget. When I was in fifth grade I was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, ADHD, and an anxiety disorder. Though I outgrew the symptoms of these The Beacon/ Cara Koster disorders, and learned to deal with them in a more effective way, I was heavily medicated from 5th grade until the end of my sophomore year in college, a total of nine years. In an article published September 7 by the Medscape Medical News, the misuse of prescription drugs by young adults is on the rise, according to a new national survey. I learned the hard way that prescription drugs are also just a temporary fix, and can cause long-term health effects. Over-zealous prescriptions and a general attitude among the public that drugs can solve all issues is becoming problematic to the least powerful voices in our society: children. During the nine year period in which I attempted to deal with the diagnoses with drugs, doctors put me on many prescription medications including Risperdal, Clonazepam, and Adderall XR to name a few. Some of the side-effects that these medications caused included weight gain, depression, and diabetes. Because of the side-effects, doctors prescribed yet other medications to counterbalance them, like Metformin to help with the diabetes and Effexor XR to help with the depression. This resulted in very high prescription drug bills totaling almost $1,800 a month, and thank God we had insurance to pay for them. Because I didn’t like the way these drugs made me feel, and the doctors weren’t doing anything to help me get off of them, I gradually decreased my dosage, and ultimately stopped cold-turkey. Despite the fact that doctors and pharmacist argue that doing this isn’t the best course, something I believe is true for many, stopping these harmful drugs actually benefited me in ways I never imagined. While the first two weeks after stopping by meds were hell, I told myself that the end result would be worth it. Since I stopped the medications, I have been healthier physically and mentally. I no longer feel like a zombie, and can be myself. My confidence and vitality has gone up, and I have gone from the unhealthy weight of 286 lbs. to my now a very appropriate and healthy size of 170 lbs. Stopping these medications increased my energy level, and I had an easier time exercising. It was at this point that I learned how to deal with my emotions when I was upset. I no longer binged on food, but exercised instead when I was down. This approach did more than build my muscles. It helped with my mood tremendously. I went from a pant size 42 to a 32 paint size. I no longer have to take Metformin for my diabetes because it is controlled by The Angry Rant: Underage Drinking BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor In the past few weeks, there has been lots of talk surrounding the issue that is underage drinking, mostly coming on the heels of recent alcohol related busts that have involved students. First, the fact that there is even debate about this is laughable to me. Underage drinking is illegal, and it’s not exactly an elaborate secret that the Masons or the Illuminati have been keeping from everyone. It’s beaten into our heads from an early age that drinking is a no-no until you’re 21, and a lot of us probably signed a piece of paper in high school that said we wouldn’t drink on prom night. In other words, everyone knows that drinking at a young age is going to come with consequences. Despite that, there are still the drinking parties in high school at a friend’s house when his parents are gone, or the friend who had a flask on him when you are at the movies, or even the parents who let your close friends have a few beers at their house because it was under their supervision and that no one would be driving. Whatever the case may be, college is a completely different ballgame, seeing as how most students are 18 and therefore considered adults, along with the fact that there are no parents and the students no longer have a safety net. That said, I think it’s high time that college students start accepting responsibility for their actions, and for the blame to stop being placed on the laws and those who enforce the laws, whether it’s the University or the police. One complaint that I’ve heard from a number of students is that Wilkes has always had a policy regarding underage drinking; however, this year authorities are more stringent about its enforcement, and as a result, there are more busts on campus. My question is: what’s there to complain about? It’s been known that Wilkes has a policy in place, but it somehow turns into a problem when they enforce it? That’s like saying: “I’ll willingly break the law, but it’s not my fault when I get caught.” Along with that, there has been the argument that the legal drinking age should be lowered to 18. After all, you can join the military or get married without parental consent at that age. Honestly, that is the most overused excuse when it comes to the legal drinking age. Keep in mind that neither military service nor marriage are required by law. No one is forcing you to join the military or get married, just like no one forces you to go to a drinking party where you could get caught. If you want to have a few beers with your friends, fine. I’m not condemning that. However, you have to realize the danger that is inherent when it comes to alcohol. At the end of the day, college students need to start accepting responsibility for themselves. You’re adults, and you need to realize that no one is going to be holding your hand anymore. my exercising and eating healthier, and no longer need my Effexor, because I no longer suffer from depression. The fact of the matter is that although the doctors wanted to help me by giving me those medications, they actually caused much harm to my physical and mental wellbeing. I wish the doctors had offered me other options and alternatives to help with these disorders other than prescriptions, but the tendency to prescribe away the problem is far easier than the answers I finally came to on my own. I have chosen what I believe to be the healthier route and rely on natural remedies, exercise, talk out my problems or I learn to figure things out on my own. This has worked much better for me. Perhaps more importantly, I took control of my own health and began to assume the responsibility for research and decision-making. This is tough for a 5th grader, but when a young person is diagnosed with things like depression, ADHD, or other common ailments, parents need to take responsibility for asking tough questions and investigating all options. Side-effects can cause long-term harm. Check out webmd.com or other solid resources online and educate yourself! What do you think? -- ■ The Beacon wants your voice to be heard. Your Voices is the opportunity for students to voice their concerns. If you want your voice to be heard, please contact The Beacon with the following information: 1 Contact information including your email address and a phone number where you can be reached 2 Your name, major, and year 3 Your opinion thebeacon.oped@ gmail.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for space and content. �SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 OPINION 8 Predictions for 2008 all hinge on troops coming home John McCain… we can leave it at that. This election, I am sorry to say, is not about the Republican candidates. It is about the We are about 13 months away from the Democrats. This administration has obliter2008 presidential election and I think we ated any chance the Republican candidates should just give up know more about the candidates than we had; they really now and save themselves the could ever want. And we still have a year embarrassment. to go... T h e only true candiLast February, I wrote an editorial prodates for 2008 jecting Hillary Clinton as the winner are: Hillary, and I stand by that decision. HowObama, and I ever I think there are some factors will also throw in that have come into play that I did Edwards. not take into account before. Obama is an First of all, when I look at the Reinteresting charpublican pool of nominees, I just acter; I cannot shake my head. Rudy Giuliani’s really even 9/11 shtick is just old already, explain him. “9/11 this, 9/11 that.” The man has I think he nothing else to talk about. Then we would make have Mitt Romney, the Mormon. a great I truly believe that the Repubp r e s i d ent lican party would implode but I think if it nominated a Catholic, too many let alone a Mormon. Fred people are Thompson is also in there, saying that he but he missed his bandwagon is not ready, and by a few months, and as for Photo Courtesy www.jeremyinc.com that he will have BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor another shot in four or eight years. Then we have Edwards the Democrat’s “secret weapon.” I say that because he is going to be the last nail in the coffin for the Republican Party. Hillary or Obama on a ticket as president with Edwards as vice president is an election clincher. You have a non-traditional candidate paired with the most stereotypical candidate ever, and that is magic. Then there is Hillary. She played this election smarter than anyone else, she distanced herself from Bill the past few years while she has been in the Senate, and she went into this campaign with the attitude that “I am the candidate. If you don’t come with me now, you are going to be left behind.” People believed her and still do. Another thing that amplifies her sustainability as the leading candidate is the fact that her one backer has been accused of fraud, among other things and she hasn’t experienced too much backlash from that. But there is one thing the Democrats have to do before they can consider the election won (and as a result I would tell the Republicans to hold onto their towels a little longer). The Dems need to show some sign of progress that they are going to be bringing home troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. I consider this the “great race,” because we have the Bush administration saying that it will be bringing home some of the troops, while the Democratic majority is just sitting there saying they want to bring the troops home. It is simple. The person who brings the troops home first wins. How hard is that to understand? The Democrats were handed Congress for a reason and everyone knows what that reason was: to bring home the troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. So far the Democrats have done nothing, and yes, before you say anything… I know they have taken votes and pulled an “all nighter,” but those have been meaningless. They need to take action or the Republicans could very easily turn this situation around by bringing some troops home first. As the election stands now though, I see Hillary being called “Madame President” in 2009, but the Democrats really need to bring some of the troops home before they become the objects of the country’s anger. Because if the Republicans beat them to it, I may have to write another editorial evaluating the election again, and no body wants that. The Baghdad question becomes ‘what now’? decision to go to war with. We practically mopped the floor with the Iraqi army in the Gulf War, and after all, Saddam was still a bad guy, right? His government had provided aid to the terrorists in Afghanistan and was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction. Or so we were told. I find myself now wondering whether or not our current war with Iraq was justified. ‘Mission Accomplished’ banner was proudly displayed on the USS Abraham Lincoln, yet we’ve witnessed a summer troop surge and day after day we still hear nothing but reports detailing sectarian violence in the ethnically divided country. As such, it is difficult to imagine a timely and happy ending for the American mission in Iraq. Recently, President Bush’s September low the comparison to Vietnam through to its logical conclusion, history shows that abandoning the Iraqi people could have disastrous consequences. Instead of reading about the fall of Saigon, we might be readAs a senior, I have now viewed over three ing about the fall of Baghdad. years of political twists and turns through If we, as a nation, are truly committed to the lens of a political science student inthe goal of ensuring the vitality of a demotent on studying the history and layout of cratic government in Iraq, we must stay the the contemporary American political landcourse and maintain some sort scape. In those three years, I’ve witof presence there, rather than nessed the first Presidential election completely abandoning the of my adult life, partisan scandals, and controversy erupting over every- My realist education in foreign policy leaves me contemplating the balance of Iraqi people. So I am truly torn. I am disthing from weapons of mass destruc- power in the Middle East following a dramatic American withdrawal from the tressed over the prospect of tion to immigration reform. war-torn state. seeing more American lives However, in the glow of the everlost, yet the rising threat of Iran shifting political spotlight, one issue and radical Islam in the Middle has remained constant and ever-present: the war in Iraq. While I’m confident I am truly torn because yes, I think it is ter- backing of a proposal for a limited troop East in general seems to dictate a need for we all have strong opinions on the war, it rific that the people of Iraq now have what withdrawal has given cause for celebration a strong counterweight aside from Israel in is evident that the nature of these opinions at least appears to be a functioning demo- to anti-war elements in America. I see this the region. I do believe that American solstems from the answers to two fundamen- cratic government, yet following the revela- as a good thing, but I have my own reasons diers should be headed back home to their tal questions. First, was it right to go to war tion that there were no WMDs in Iraq, the for not supporting an abrupt and total with- loved ones, but I also believe in the need for in Iraq? Second, what do we do next? Like question persists: did we have the ‘right’ to drawal of American troops from Iraq. My a stable Iraqi government in the power vacsome people, I find that my position on the dislodge Saddam from power in his own realist education in foreign policy leaves me uum which we created in dethroning Sadcontemplating the balance of power in the dam Hussein. With the Iraq War maintainIraq War has shifted over the past several sovereign state? Whether you believe we did or did not Middle East following a dramatic American ing its prominence as a front-running issue years in response to my personal answers to have a justification for going to war in Iraq, withdrawal from the war-torn state. Many in the 2008 Presidential election campaign, these questions. Still reeling from the devastation of the we must all now deal with our current di- have characterized the war in Iraq as our I suppose only time will tell us how we anattacks on September 11, 2001, I was a lemma: what do we do now? More than four generation’s Vietnam, and advocate a com- swer the question: what now? firm supporter of President Bush’s initial years have now passed since a triumphant plete American withdrawal. Yet if we folBY JUSTIN RICHARDS Beacon Correspondent �LIFESTYLES SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 Blogging: everyone’s doin’ it 10 Student of the week 11 9 Long-distance bonds face social, practical challenges ship. How much or how little they contact each other depends on each unique relationship, but it should be an amount that is agreed on by both parties. For Bible, communication ranked high on the list of reasons why her relationship thrived. “Talk about everything,” she said. “Let them know why you’re stressed.” That’s a lesson Dehaut learned in the first few weeks of his long distance relationship. Before they both left for college, getting into little disagreements was no big dealit was easily fixed by a short visit or some flowers. “When you’re really close to someone, you get into petty fights,” he said. “Now you have to be careful with what you say, because she’s an hour away.” Strengthening the line of communication is only one benefit long distance relationships can bring to college students. The sacrifices and difficulties test the bond, and, if it survives, the couple becomes that much closer. “It makes you know if that truly is the person you want to be with,” said Bible. Courtesy of Krystal Bible on/C ara Kos te r Krystal and Jonathan Bible were married in December 2006. They have maintained their relationship through telephone calls and emails since February 2006 due to Jonathan’s deployment with the United States Coast Guard. Bea c Last year at this time, Russell Dehaut was just a 30-second walk down the block from seeing his girlfriend. Now, the pair is separated, each located at different schools, and face an hour long drive to see each other. Dehaut, a freshman electrical engineering major, is one of many college students involved in a long distance relationship. According to the Center for the Study of Long Distance Relationships, 20 to 40 percent of college students currently report being part of a long distance relationship. Leah Peters, a graduate intern at the campus counseling center, counsels a growing number of Wilkes students involved in long distance relationships. Although it is a common issue in college, this type of relationship can affect each person differently. “They can serve as a source of support for some, and a source of stress for others,” she said. “But most people fall somewhere in the middle.” Long distance relationships can become overwhelming when they take up all the students’ free time, or if they are constantly preoccupied by them. Focusing all of their attention on a relationship miles and miles away can force students to miss out on defining experiences of college life. “While you want to make your relationship a priority, you have to open yourself up to social and academic activities on campus,” Peters said. Dehaut admits that leaving the campus on weekends to visit his girlfriend, Jessica Drago, at Bloomsburg University, makes it difficult for him to foster friendships at his school. “It does affect your social life,” said Dehaut. “I’m shooting for visiting once a week. But I want her to spend as much time at school as she can so she can make friends, too.” Dehaut and Drago were dating for three years before they had to decide on their college choices. Drago was set on the education program at Bloomsburg, so Dehaut limited his choices to schools within a two hour radius of Wilkes-Barre. That way, they could visit each other more frequently. Although Dehaut is only a month into the long distance aspect of his relationship, he believes his relationship can survive the test of the miles. “From what I’ve heard, the biggest reason long distance relationships don’t work is because people cheat on each other,” he said. “I’m not going to cheat on her, and I know she’s not going to cheat on me.” Krystal Bible, a senior psychology major, has been involved in a long distance relationship since February 2006. She started dating Jonathan Bible when he was stationed in Virginia with the United States Coast Guard. They were married in December 2006. Like Dehaut, Bible believes that one of the reasons her relationship survived was trust. “Trust is key,” she said. “I know my husband would never do anything to hurt me.” Bible also agrees that her long distance relationship has affected her social life at Wilkes. “It changed who my friends were,” she said. “They understood when he’s here, I have to spend my time with him, because I don’t get to see him that often.” She said being part of a long distance relationship makes her more conscious about how she spends nights with her friends. “I’m not saying I feel like I’m 40,” she said, “but I do need to consider what he’s going to think. It is a marriage.” For Dehaut, the hardest part of maintaining a long distance relationship has been not being included in his girlfriend’s new experiences. Before college, Dehaut and his girlfriend spent time together every day. They went to the same high school, had the same classes, and saw each other after school. Now, they are each developing a new circle of friends unknown to the other. He tries to close the gap by staying involved in the everyday aspects of his girlfriend’s life. He e-mails and calls every chance he gets, and continues to act as her wake up call even though he is miles away. “I’ve always been her alarm clock,” he said. “It gives us a chance to talk a little before we go to our classes.” Peters, who is working toward her master’s degree in counseling, believes that communication between the two partners is vital to sustaining a long distance relation- The BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor �LIFESTYLES 10 SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 everyone,s Slogging: BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-In-Chief In the past, the best way for non-journalists to get the word out about issues that were important to them was through a letter to the editor in a traditional newspaper or magazine. But letters to the editor are nearly always edited for length and sometimes content. These days, though, writers are gravitating to a less mediated means of connecting with others on pet issues and even personal experiences. They are blogging. First off, a “blog” is a fusion of the words “web log,” and can be used as either a noun (which names the actual site or column) or verb (to blog is to write and publish online). Blogging is quickly becoming a vibrant and growing part of media and culture. While not a particularly new thing, blogging is now part of all aspects of the media. For example, editors at newspapers often use blogs as an informal way to communicate about issues, and add a personal note to the paper. The New York Times supports several blogs. A few are opinion. Many are not, but it seems blogs are a bit easier to work through than fiddling through a 20-inch broadsheet. Often, editors also blog to offer a touch of humanity to the voices that speak the stories on each of their pages. Take Michael Lello, editor of The Weekender, for example. According to Lello, The Weekender is launching its new website, and blogging will be a key feature. “We plan to launch the blogs when we launch the new website... Each member of our editorial staff and our marketing associate will have a blog. It’ll be up to each individual how often they’d like to update their blogs... I think it’s also an important tool for us to interact with our readers on a more personal basis -- many blogs are written in the first person. Also, as a weekly paper, a lot of things happen between each issue,” explained Lello. Lello acknowledged that blog readership has increased over the years not only because of the personal voice the blog gives to the writer, but because they contain information that you can’t get in a traditional print format. Also, Lello said that blogs allow for newspapers to publish breaking news a bit faster than on their actual print website. However, he added that this can be dangerous. According to Lello, some publications will print information in blogs that cannot be verified, and then use the fact that it was printed in the blog, and not the paper, as a way to avoid liability. Lello strongly disagrees with this approach taken by some publications. Traditional publications aside, blogs have also emerged as a means of furthering personal growth. Take Donna Talarico, for example. A freelance writer and 2007 Wilkes graduate, Talarico is an avid blogger. She has worked in various areas of the media, from Froggy 101 to a correspondent for the Times Leader and The Weekender, Talarico knows what’s up and has personal blogs she updates regularly. “First, as someone who is trying to make a career out of doin, it! writing, blogging keeps me, well, writing. Even though it is casual and off the top of my head usually, blogging allows me to keep in the writing habit. Also, I guess it is a nice escape from the more structured writing of journalism and the material for my creative writing class,” said Talarico. “Second, I have more casual acquaintances than close friends, so blogging is kind of a way to share myself with more people, keeping them up to speed on my happenings and opinions.” Talarico also says she blogs for PR reasons. She keeps links for two of her books--an Amazon associate account, and a Google Adsense account--in her blog. Talarico acknowledges that she uses her blog to promote, sell, and keep readers up to date on them. There are many options for up and coming bloggers to get their material out there onto the web. Talarico particularly enjoys Blogger.com, which is owned by Google. In addition, there are other blog development sites like Livejournal, Xanga, and even MySpace. Each blog has a different feel and “scene” to it, if you will. Often, more artistic blogs will be displayed in the Xanga realm, whereas Blogger will give you more real faces and personal accounts. There are also sites like Deadjournal. com, but those sites require an invitation from an existing member, or a payment of a small fee. Talarico recommends blogging as a great tool for networking and displaying your writing and ideas. ecial t3 2 Large Piz7.:as Bue et 30 Wmg-iii $.24,.'99 ST DE T Ht)USI G FO ' TH 21st · .ENTURY -_ .eddl2 · rge Pizza + 1 Dozen W'1, igs. . 1: 95 {ib]lil.! ~~ ~t:f :1 ~nday S ttnt W:mg.s wt .a. . :soda: __ td} Jue~ · , . r, ·mcl i;,iD S l 114 ] L~ Piz7..a 6 Wmgs 2 Liter -•·oda ~-7-99 .· a p111n:ha~ of a :5oda Wedlnesday Affy bw- _: e r l ~ ::imdwim . 95 w/ pur~e of :31 :oru11 �SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 LIFESTYLES Student of the week: Courtney Zawatski 11 BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor Courtney Zawatski, a junior nursing major and Air Force Reserve Officers Training (AFROTC) cadet, had the unique opportunity to spend one month this summer shadowing nurses at the military hospital on Laflin Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. She also spent one day working in the burn unit of Fort Sam Houston, an army base. Zawatski, along with just five other nursing majors from around the country, was able to experience the life of a military nurse firsthand during the month of June. Zawatski recently sat down with The Beacon to discuss the many ways in which she learned and served during her time in Texas, and it is because of this that she has been named “Student of the Week.” Courtney Zawatski, a junior nursing major and Air Force Reserve Officers Training (AFROTC) cadet, had the unique opportunity to spend one month this summer shadowing nurses at the military hospital on Laflin Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. She also spent one day working in the burn unit of Fort Sam Houston, an army base. Zawatski, along with just five other nursing majors from around the country, was able to experience the life of a military nurse firsthand during the month of June. Zawatski recently sat down with The Beacon to discuss the many ways in which she learned and served during her time in Texas, and it is because of this that she has been named “Student of the Week.” The Beacon: What was a typical day like on the air force base? Zawatski: Basically I spent most of my days in the hospital. It was kind of laid back. It was a really nice environment and everybody was really helpful. They were willing to teach us. We got to do a lot of things in the military hospital that I can’t do when I’m on clinical here, like I got to start I.V.s and stuff like that. Sometimes, we’d get up at 4:45 a.m. and then we wouldn’t be done until like, 2 or 3 p.m. Then the rest of the day was ours. We’d have the weekend. That’s when we went and did stuff. The Beacon: What was the best part of this experience? Zawatski: I’d have to say the burn unit and we got to go see the flight school for flight nurses. They took us through the whole thing. That’s what I want to do, so for me that was one of the best parts. The Beacon: What was the hardest part of the experience? Zawatski: Probably the burn unit. The patient I helped take care of was nineteen years old and he had come straight from Iraq. They’re burned so badly. That was kind of hard to be able to see that. But at the same time, you knew you were helping them. That’s why it was one of the best parts, but it was one of the hardest parts, too. The Beacon: What did you learn from being at the base? Zawatski: I guess basically that there are so many different ways that you can help people. I’m looking at the nursing career in general. There’s so much you can do to help others. Also, I met new people. There were six nursing majors all together that went down from different states all over the place. There was one from Colorado, one from Virginia, one from Illinois. They were from all over the place and we all went and did the same thing. It was really nice to meet them. “The patient I helped take care of was nineteen years old and he had come straight from Iraq. They’re burned so badly. That was kind of hard to be able to see that. But at the same time, you knew you were helping them.” The Beacon/Cara Koster The Beacon: How did this experience affect your future plans? Zawatski: I’m so motivated and pumped to just go and do it now, because after doing this for a month I was so excited and so happy that this is what I’m going to be doing after I graduate. So I left really motivated. If you would like to nominate someone for student of the week, please e-mail beacon.lifestyles@ gmail.com. �A&E SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 12 Grapes of Wrath Comedian Q&A Crossword/Website 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 A, Beginner's Guide to [Z ines BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor September will soon draw to a close, and in addition to all of the horror, pumpkins, and candy corn we can anticipate with the new month, there’s also the arrival of the Philly ‘Zine Fest. Readers open to something a little different will be able to find table after table lined with a wide variety of ‘zines to peruse, compare and purchase October 7 at The Rotunda in Philadelphia. But, exactly what is a ‘zine? If you can’t answer that question, you’re not alone. While the definition varies according to the source, generally a ‘zine is an independently produced publication. While not a requirement, they’re usually created and sold inexpensively, have a small circulation, and readers would be hard-pressed to find one sitting on a rack next to Glamouror Newsweek. The question then might be, since ‘zines are more difficult to seek out, why not just settle for the books and magazines you can easily pick up at a chain bookstore? The quick answer is the variety. Readers who think there is already a wide array of magazines readily available can delight in the fact that the sheer volume and variety of ‘zines extends even further. For every topic or you can’t find on the local newsstands, chances are you can find at least one ‘zine on the subject. There are ‘zines ranging from the common (fashion, food, politics), to the controversial (anarchy, sexuality issues, activism), and the bizarre (spoon hatred, zombie punks, tampons). For those who have yet to pick one up, here’s a list that just begins to scratch the surface of what’s available out there. Cometbus Cometbus is indisputably one of the best ‘zines produced. From the 1980s issues, up to the most recent issue this year, the zine created by Aaron Cometbus continues to be an essential read. The ‘zine has multiple things to offer: comical reviews, off-the-wall vignettes, and highly personal letters to the author, but the strongest parts are the personal stories offered by the author and his friends. Most of the stories are written from the viewpoint of an inconsistent, self-effacing cynic, yet Cometbus is uncommonly perceptive, and offers brutally honest insight. While the subjects of the stories really run the gamut (from masquerading as a college student and being mistaken for a convict, to first loves and losing friends) the author pulls off an impressive feat, and somehow manages to make them relatable to any reader. Pick up any issue, and it’s certain to be a quality read. Better yet, pick up a Cometbus Omnibus, which is a collection of the best issues, as decided by Aaron Cometbus himself. The Inner Swine The defining points of this ‘zine are its wit, self-deprecation, and hilarity. The Inner Swine is written primarily by Jeff Somers, and he offers fiction, scathing social commentary, personal accounts, and brutal self-analysis. The visuals in the book basically consist of internet rip-offs and shoddy MS paint projects, but it purposely contrasts with the high quality of the Croq Croq is a craft ‘zine for people who don’t have endless amounts of money for supplies, and haven’t been blessed with the impeccable skills of Martha Stewart. It also tries to bridge the gap between male and female oriented craft magazines (a solid effort, though doesn’t entirely pull it off). Each issue offers a wide variety of content. They’ve offered “How Tos” on cooking, clothes altering, self-publishing, weaving and soap-making, to name a few. They also include beneficial articles on topics like preventing crafter’s block, finding inexpensive materials, converting a hobby into a business, and protecting creative works. It extends beyond hobby craft magazines, and approaches crafting as more of a lifestyle, which is puts a whole new spin on things. Brains Unlike the other ‘zines on the list, Brains consists of one fiction story, continued through each issue. The subject matter may not have universal appeal, but out of the many fiction ‘zines out there, it’s one of the more entertaining, and it’s a quick read. The story is well developed, and mixes humor, horror, subculture references, and irony. Think, a zombie attack happening at a rock venue, and the chaos that would ensue after hoards of spike clad, mohawked teens tear through the town in a search for, well…brains. It’s worth mentioning that the illustrations included are a definite plus. Stolen Sharpie Revolution This is a ‘zine about ‘zines. It may sound a bit redundant but it’s an indispensable tool for anyone looking to create their own ‘zine, or anyone who just wants to better understand ‘zine creation, distribution, and what it is that sets them apart from mainstream publications. It serves as a “how to,” a fact sheet, and it basically functions as the yellow pages of the ‘zine community. It offers websites and addresses of where to get ‘zines and related materials all around the globe. Local Zines Most people likes to read about what they know, or things that directly relate to them. Readers may not have come across them, but there are numerous ‘zines that are created and distributed right in Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding towns. In Scranton there’s The Antenna, which highlights the local art scene and features poetry and personal stories. There’s also Catalyst, which has a few issues that can be found downtown. It’s a more politically motivated ‘zine, which promotes local activism. Stop into Gallery of Sound or Café Metropolis and more likely than not they’ll have one or two stacks of zines made in the area. Readers who have interest in seeing what other titles are out there, or picking some up, some of the more extensive ‘zine selections can be found at www.microcosmpublishing.com, www.eyecandyzine.com, and www.valiantdeath.com. The Beacon/Marissa Phillips Reglar Wiglar A fun alternative to mainstream music magazines, Reglar Wiglar offers loads of interviews, reviews, comic strips, and entertaining randomness in between. The great part about the music reviews is that they go on for pages, but the format periodically changes. In one issue they start off with standard reviews, then switch things up with one-word reviews, haiku reviews (damage has been done/with crunchy, distorted chords/control is not lost), fake celebrity reviews, and a guest reviewer. As for the randomness in between, one issue features an interview of the publisher, by the publisher, and two pages of screenshots of fruitless google searches (for example, “Friends of Snuffalaffagus”). writing, which just makes it all even funnier. The author is unashamedly silly, but offers impressively delivered, intelligent humor. �SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 ‘Grapes of Wrath’ to recreate struggles of Depression era BY SHANNON CURTIN Beacon Staff Writer The first theatrical performance of the school year probably won’t leave viewers warm and fuzzy--maybe dry and thirsty, but definitely not warm and fuzzy. The Wilkes University department of visual and performance arts is kicking off the 2007-2008 year with the stage adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath. The Grapes of Wrath chronicles the plight of thousands of midwestern farmers in the 1930s when a severe drought caused huge agricultural failures throughout the Great Plains. Add to that the immense economic disaster of the Great Depression, which made it impossible for farmers to invest in industrial equipment or pay their mortgages. The result of such converging calamities led to the agricultural population of midwestern America being forced to leave the land. In hopes of finding employment in California, thousands of farmers packed up their families and moved. Unfortunately the farming lands of California didn’t prove to be an improvement for many families. The mass exodus of the dust bowl region caused California to quickly become overcrowded. There wasn’t enough food or jobs to go around and the newcomers were often treated with hostility from the locals. The Grapes of Wrath chronicles one family’s story as its members attempt to survive in the devastating conditions. The upcoming Wilkes production of The Grapes of Wrath will focus on the desperate conditions of the time period, not only in the content of the play, but in the setting and props used as well. The play is intended for a full size stage, but the Wilkes performance will be held in the Black Box Theatre in the Dorothy Dickinson Darte Center, a much smaller venue. Not only does this limit the size of the performance area but it also decreases the space available for backdrops and large props; thus, there won’t be many. Director and Chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department, Joseph Dawson said that the minimalist approach will “create an atmosphere where the audience fills in the environmental details.” Dawson hopes that the “original concept” of the production will generate a “positive response” from the campus community. Junior Greta Kleckner is also hoping for a good turnout. She’ll be playing the role of Ma Joad, the matriarch and glue of the Joad family, “I hope to bring out Ma’s character traits. She is so passionate about family and so full of love. My biggest challenge will be truly capturing her nature and bringing that to the stage.” Kleckner encourages the campus community to show their support via attendance. “The VPA department at Wilkes works extremely hard to be true to art, and the university as a whole should recognize, appreciate, and enjoy all of the blood, sweat, tears, and laughter that the department puts not only into this production, but every production. It is impossible to have theatre without an audience!” Of course, just because the space and setting is minimal, don’t expect the cast to be tiny. In fact Dawson noted that The Grapes Photo Courtesy of Marketing Communications of Wrath, the only drama of this season, includes “plenty of opportunities for about twenty cast members to play sixty one roles.” Additionally audience members can expect to be treated to what Kleckner deGrapes of Wrath is the tale of midwestern farmers through the scribed as the agricultural failures and the Great Depression of the 1930s. both the best and worst part of the production, the chal- in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center. Alterlenge of “learning the dialect.” Indeed, nate dates are September 28, 29, October 5, the trials and tribulations of a midwestern and 6 at 8:00 p.m. with afternoon shows on American family could not be complete September 30 and October 7 at 2:00 p.m. without the signature accent of the Dust Tickets are free for students, faculty, and staff with ID, non-Wilkes students and seBowl area. The show will open on Thursday, Septem- nior citizens are $7, and general admission ber 27 at 8:00 p.m. in the Black Box Theater is $15. The Beacon/James Rosato - RE - - HOl,Y : ER HOR. Il ~ AN I CORIA l!VI! · A.. SCHEIN P . 'I B EMEROm Y P IDDrrl . AL, n' Wilkes students rehearse for Grapes of Wrath. The show opens on September 27 at 8:00PM. It will be performed in the Darte Black Box Theater. �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 Comedian reflects on own brand of low-budget humor it and I just haven’t stopped. BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor Last week, comedian Michelle Buteau tried to lighten the mood on campus with her own brand of ‘low-budget’ laughs. Buteau began performing in the comedy circuit six years ago, and has been featured on Comedy Central’s “Last Comic Standing,” VH1’s “Best Week Ever” and is currently featured in the October 2007 issue of Glamour magazine. She recently spent time in London and is presently performing on the national college circuit. Following her performance, Buteau sat down for a few questions with The Beacon. The Beacon: How did you get started in comedy? Buteau: I was like the funny friend, like the funny co-worker. I used to write really funny e-mails, people started to forward them to other people. I just basically started because people told me I should. They said, ‘You’re really funny, you should do comedy.’ I used to go to comedy clubs. I noticed there was no women at shows and I was like, ‘Where are all the women?’ So I tried The Beacon: What inspires your comedy? Buteau: People usually. It’s all about interacting with the audience. The Beacon: How would you describe your comedy? Buteau: I would describe my comedy as funny, but if I had to, I’d say ethnic, single girl, city humor. It’s like Sex in the City but low-budget and ethnic. The Beacon: Where is your favorite place to perform? Buteau: I think...Wilkes University. The Beacon: What kind of crowd do you prefer to perform in front of? Buteau: I just like people, usually ones that are alive. I have done shows where there is like over 500 people and it feels like there is 10. So if you have like 20 people it can feel like 100. I have done shows in hospitals, London, Dublin and Jamaica, people who barely speak English, but funny is funny, ya know? It think it’s like music, it’s a trend. . THIS'\ "the ftve percent" "live Acoustic.Mu iciW/ Wednesday~ Sept ember 26th nigbt in our cafe ! 1 •~able mpt"'' every Tlle'&M!f :night · rom 7i!0-8:30pm. ~ for· . dry & Ao(-m11'1ic: · wid Jltomd by )lim'Wamu every .,I.Mt Thesd;q of the montlf ~ g T~day, Sepk tr1ber 25th. from 'i'.00-sS:JOpm '(Movie GMrS Spedd from 6:00pm to close every evening ... pre-sent yom- movie sru.b f rom "'.M!ovicsi 14"' and. gd 25% off ill itemJ .in our S adm ' call. Dom:{ ·folfg« w pic'k wp a .. Fn:::q_umit Ru~r Cw"'wdar- .· 1iiii\: ~ tu me your The Beacon: Have you ever Beacon/Cara James Rosato performed in front of a crowd you knew would be very hostile? Buteau describes her comedy as “ethnic, single Buteau: You never know be- girl, city humor.” cause comedy is so hit or miss, you Buteau’s untitled CD will be available on Photo can courtesy Cathy Alaimo know what I mean? People not like you October 1. The CD can be found on CDfor any reason. It could be because they Baby.com, her MySpace page and her webdon’t like your shoes, your look, that you’re page. a female, that you’re not a female anything. Buteau often performs with fellow coI try and change people’s minds. median Eric Andre, also known as the Caveman in the Geico commercials. The The Beacon: What do you do to prepare Programming Board has booked Andre at for a comedy performance? Wilkes for October 22 at 9:00 p.m. in the Buteau: How do I prepare? I don’t really. old bookstore on the first floor of the Henry I just do it. The more shows the better. Student Center. Schedule of Events . AT YOUR •UO · ·. M 'C · . 6 - The Beacon: In your performance you mentioned attending college. Where and what did you study? Buteau: I went to Florida International University. I studied TV production and I minored in business advertising. I used to be an editor and I can make really cute flyers. That’s what a degree gets you. FLEX :DOI.LARS m The -- here in. ,u m stuff.! · i Beacon/Nick Zmijewski Tuesday, September 25 Open Mic Night at Mainstreet Barnes and Noble at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 26 - So You Think You Can Dance tour at the Wachovia Arena at 8 p.m. - Film: Evening at the Kirby Center at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. - Go Go Gadjet performing at The Woodlands at 11 p.m. Thursday, September 27 - Marc Ford Band performing at the Jazz Cafe - “The Grapes of Wrath” theater production in the Black Box Theater at 8 pm - Go Go Gadjet performing at Slainte - Dance Gavin Dance, To Outlive the Beginning, Auxilia and Mayella performing at Café Metropolis at 7 p.m. Friday, September 28 -Billy Hector performing at the Jazz Café - The Northeaster PA Philharmonic performing at the Kirby Center 8 p.m. - “The Grapes of Wrath” theater production in the Black Box Theater at 8 pm - Lipservice performingn at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. - The Number Twelve Looks Like You, See You Next Thursday, At the Throne of Judgement and I Hate Sally performing at Backstage at 8 p.m. Saturday, September 29 -”The Grapes of Wrath” theater production in the Black Box Theater at 8 pm -Mayella, Trophy of Your Anatomy, Aesthetic, Murf and the Maggots and Monu mental Slaughter performing at Backstage at 7 p.m. - Lip Service performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. Sunday, September 30 -”The Art of Shredding” guitar clinic with Bill Hoffman at Backstage at 3 p.m. -Trophy Scars, The Finals and TBA performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. Goodbye Soundscape, Dino-sores and 7 Story Farewell performing at Café Me tropolis at 7 p.m. �Kudracross SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 21 23 25 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 35 36 40 42 48 49 50 51 55 56 “Happily _____ after” Done to show reverence Allen Ginsberg, for example New Jersey basketball team DOWN Edgy “Men in Black” cat CPA’s sign What bullies do “Sleepless in Seattle” actress ____ Ryan Church symbol Monopoly piece Poisonous Pennsylvania snake Eyeglasses type Acknowledge boldly “All ___ Need is Love” “____ City,” starring Bruce Willis Abnormal possessive pronoun Bonnet, for example Bean type Fragrant conifer Exhaust Sacred song Handwriting What you do to plates Fleur-de-_____ Music exercise Maliciously start a fire Forever Tail motion Cooking activity Walk casually Neckwear Fishing devise Eden, for example Charming Eight singers 57 58 59 60 62 63 64 66 Approaches Child sound on a swing Type of list Part of a shoe Squid defense Wear Madison or Lexington (abbr.) Garfield to Jon Arbuckle DontDateHimGirl.com BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-chief Well, this week’s site got off to an odd start. As soon as I tried to log in (after the confirmation e-mail went to The Beacon’s spam folder,) my Trend Micro Internet Security gave me the ever so pleasant pop-up, “You have attempted to open a dangerous Web site.” Great. What was even better was that I got the pop-up approximately 60 times throughout my browsing of the site. This didn’t bode well in terms of my final verdict. It also listed the site as “Spyware,” and it made me regret I used my PC to view it. Moving on, DontDateHimGirl.com claims it is a “social networking site where women from around the world can share their dating experiences with each other.” That is listed under the “About Us” section of the site, but it took me about three full minutes to get that info into this paragraph, as I was interrupted six times; three times for a Wal-Mart ad with annoying music, and three additional times for an E-Harmony ad. Wow. E-Harmony. That is only furthering the advancement of blue-collar couples and poverty across the nation. (I may review it in upcoming weeks.) I’m so glad I know the demographic that utilizes this site. While I browsed through the tabs, with the Spyware warnings, EHarmony ads, and various other distractions worked their way in front of my mouse, I discovered that there was really nothing to this site. They have a section called “He said, she said” which is apparently a forum where people can have it out, so to speak. It only had two little blurbs from an alleged ex couple, and a way to vote for whom the user thinks is “right.” Now, here’s another thing: their search engine. I tried typing in names, and apparently, real people and real names came up. Check this one out. I won’t list the full name because I understand the meaning of libel. *** Billy He threw his wife and kids out to the curb and lied Courtesy Lackawanna County Library System BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer ACROSS 1 Burial chamber 5 Random folder abbr. 9 “Why, because I _______”. 14 Port in NW Pennsylvania 15 Reflected sound 16 Keep away from 17 Pinta companion 18 Sticky wet viscous substance 19 Located 20 Civil war side 22 Pugsley to Fester (Adams Family) 24 Follows 26 Chew and swallow 27 “Tin ___,” starring Kevin Costner 30 Without belongings 34 “___ Antonio, TX” 37 Slang OK 38 Concept 39 Eaten when proven wrong 41 Adds to the pot 43 First king of Israel 44 Away from shore 45 Castle defense 46 Tach readout 47 Resilient 52 Discontinue 53 Tenth anniversary symbol 54 Explanation 58 Takes away by force 61 Armistice 62 Boise location 65 Basketball goal 67 Android officer on the Enterprise 68 1984, for example 69 Not active 70 71 72 73 Answers 9/18 15 compulsively about why. Well he got caught! He’s a homewrecker,COMPULSIVE liar, thief (stole my narcotic prescriptions) and an adulterer! He abondoned his family and left us homeless to have an affair and not feel guilty about it. His beautiful 5 yr old daughter and 3yr old son..... kicked them to the curb...left us with NOTHING~ Beware, he is a good liar...COMPULSIVE liar! (Reviewer’s Note: I left all spelling in tact.) *** OK, I can see girls who have not yet turned into women finding this a great novelty, but that’s <i>libel</i> any way you look at it. I hate to abandon the feminist that I deny I am, but men, you should go to the site, look yourself up, and sue them for defamation of character. Make sure you have great anti-virus protection, and a tolerance for E-Harmony ads. This site is terrible. I give this site an “L” for LAWSUIT. �16 SPORTS Aces High SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 Lady Colonels looks to mimic last year’s performance v. Kings BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor It was September 12, 2006, and Katie Buckley was on the road for the Lady Colonels as the sixth and final player for the team to step onto the court in single match play. As they do before every game in an attempt to inspire their daughter, Buckley’s parents said, “Go get ‘em.” For an amateur tennis player, Buckley needed every ounce of encouragement she could get. Once she stepped on the court, that dreadful feeling of nervousness took over. It was just the second conference match in her freshman campaign and Katie Buckley was next up to play in one of the biggest matches of the season for the Lady Colonels tennis team. Standing on the other side of the net ready to squash the little freshman was King’s College four-year veteran Jaclyn Dunn. Prior to facing Buckley, Dunn had already cooked three of her first four opponents and was hungry to eat another, especially a newcomer to the Lady Colonels roster. Buckley, timid as she is before every match, would strike first, and as a result, the butterflies in her stomach eventually flew away. It wasn’t easy, but the first set would go in favor of Buckley by a score of 6-4. At this point, Buckley was in the driver’s seat and all she needed was to win one more set to pull away from King’s soil with an upset under her belt. The next set wasn’t even close. In only her fourth match as a Lady Colonel, Buckley spanked Dunn in the second set 6-2 and that was all she wrote. “It (winning) was a good feeling because I know it’s a rivalry,” said Buckley. “The whole team was happy since we won and I and two in the doubles competition leaving the final score at 6-3. Buckley and freshman Victoria Bybel won singles matches for the Lady Colonels. “We’ve beaten Division II schools before, but we know Bloomsburg is the top one in this whole region,” said Leicht. “We knew that would be a step up in competition. But it definitely helps with (other) competition to know that we could compete with that team.” The following game for the Lady Colonels would prove Leicht right when it comes to playing higher divisions to gain the upper hand against competition around Division III. The Lady Colonels matched-up against FDU-Florham Park on the road on Sept. 15 in Madison, NJ. This would be the first conference game of the season and the Lady Colonels went to town on the Lady Devils. None of the matches were forced into a third set. The Lady Colonels shut-out FDU in seven of the 12 sets to move to a record of 3-1. “It’s nice to win 9-0 when everybody contributes to the team win,” said Leicht. “It definitely gives us confidence. We’re strong but it’s still nice to get those kind of wins where not only the teams wins but when every individual part wins.” After clipping the Lady Monarchs last season in all nine games, the Lady Colonels will look to repeat that effort. But even though a whole season of tennis with the Lady Colonels is in the bag for Buckley, she still can’t shake the butterflies. “I still feel the pressure, but it goes away once I start playing. Once I feel the person out and how they play, then I feel better about myself,” said Buckley. Maybe the butterflies in her belly will prove to be positive once again for Buckley and the Lady Colonels as they go for their third consecutive victory against the Lady Monarchs at home tomorrow at 3:30pm. how we played.” doesn’t say much about it.” “I’m not remotely concerned with the Sumoski went on to make a goalie change The Lady Colonels played brilliant socafter 24 minutes into the game substituting cer after they weathered Clark’s storm, but loss, because we’re playing against regionBerkey for senior goalie Liz Pauly. Pauly needed to hold her to one less goal to poten- ally and nationally ranked teams that are caught four saves in 66:38 of play to hold tially force an overtime game; maybe even getting us ready for conference play,” added Sumoski. Stevens scoreless for the remainder of the another win. contest. After 35 minutes into the first half, senior Bethany Head scored the first goal of the game for the Lady Colonels off “I’m not remotely concerned with the loss, because we’re playing a pass from Georgina Robinson. Robin- against regionally and nationally ranked teams that are getting us son followed with a goal of her own at ready for conference play.” the 67:04 mark to close the Lady Colonels losing gap to just one goal. “We played our hearts out in that In the first round of the 2005 national game,” said Robinson. “We lost 3-2 but “One positive way of looking at it is that they scored all their goals in the beginning we had a lot of good soccer that game,” said playoffs, the Lady Colonels played on the and they were all on free kicks for them. We Sumoski. “We had 60 to 70 minutes of real- road against Stevens and lost 5-0 after beatplayed very well that game but the score ly good soccer that I was very pleased with ing Drew University (NJ) 1-0 in the MAC Freedom Conference Championship. Last year Wilkes played Stevens for a second time and lost at home 1-0. Robinson, senior forward from Kreamer, PA, tops the Lady Colonels in scoring with two goals on the season after improving multiple aspects of her game during the offseason. Julissa Reed, Melissa Polchinski and Bethany Head combine for the rest of the team’s goals with one apiece. The Lady Colonels take on Eastern University (PA)at home Wednesday at 4pm. Conference play begins for the Lady Colonels Saturday October 6 at home against FDU-Florham (NJ) at 4 pm. Soccer from PAGE 20 felt really good that I could contribute with a win and keep going from there.” Buckley wrapped up last year with an impressive record of 10-3. Last season, it took the Lady Colonels two hours and 35 minutes to complete a nine match sweep over King’s. Wilkes defeated the Lady Monarchs in all six singles games and won all three matches in the doubles competitions. That win put the Lady Colonels at 4-0 and King’s dropped to 1-3. Fast forward a year and two weeks from the day the Lady Colonels faced King’s College last season. They meet again tomorrow at Ralston Field. After being crowned MAC Freedom Conference champions last season with an 18-2 record, the Lady Colonels are currently 4-1 overall, most recently beating DeSales University on September 20. Wilkes has a 1-0 conference record start under the leadership of back-to-back Freedom Conference Coach of the Year Chris Leicht. If you were to ask the humble coach about his outstanding awards, he’ll tell you, “No comment; it’s about the girls.” Last season, Leicht led the Lady Colonels to a record breaking season in the win category with 18 and took the team to their first NCAA D3 national tournament bid before falling in the opening round to Hunter College (NY)in Amherst, MA. Five team competitions have been played and the Lady Colonels have fallen short only once to Bloomsburg University, a Division II program that was nationally ranked last year. The Lady Colonels went on the road to face Bloomsburg on Sept. 13, Leicht’s alma mater, and lost four of the six single matches The Beacon/James Rosato The Lady Colonels are currently 5-1 after beating Lebanon Valley 7-2 on Thursday in Annville, PA. �SPORTS SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 Men’s Soccer 17 from PAGE 20 One of the major problems for the Colonels has been consistent aggression in the first half on shot attempts. Prior to their game on Saturday against Elizabethtown College (PA), the Colonels racked up 39 goal attempts in the first half compared to 58 in the second. Team co-captain Andy Curry leads the team this season in goals with three. The Colonels squared off against Elizabethtown at home. Both teams showed their stingy side on defense in a game with only one goal scored. Luckily for the Colonels, it belonged to them. The sophomore from Mountaintop (PA), Arthur Jankowski would boot one in from 35 yards out after a whole 77 minutes was played. The Colonels had enough of being shut-out and dished out one of their own moving them to a record of 4-4. Senior goalkeeper TJ Baloga had four saves on the day as Elizabethtown dropped to 5-2. The Colonels take on Baptist Bible at home on Thursday at 4 p.m. as they continue their quest to make a dream out of a young team. “Our goal is definitely the Freedom Con- ference playoffs and to capture that”, said Wingert. “I don’t think we’re a nationally ranked caliber team but all you got to do is win your conference to make the NCAA (tournament). No soccer team at Wilkes has been able to do that in the past. It may be a young team but we would certainly have reached our identity as a NCAA team.” Who’s Next? * 9/ 27 vs. Baptist Bible *10/1 @ Lycoming *10/3 @ Rowan *10/6 vs. FDU *10/10 vs. DeSales *10/13 @ DelVal *10/16 vs. King’s *10/22 vs. Scranton The Beacon/Gino Troiani Wilkes senior Jimmy Thomas slides for the ball against Elizabethtown on Saturday, September 22. Wilkes defeated Elizabethtown 1-0. CHE.C K OUT Qu1znos~ DASTY. M M ■■ I■ 72 South .· -, ain St. Wilkes-Barr _·. or _ - onday-Thursday 10- lH- - Dil . iday - · Sa rday 1.0anI-lOpm. S . nd yl2•Dt1-Gp1a (570) 208-SUBS OUR FEATURED s ·_: B �SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 SPORTS 18 Commentary National League MVP to be decided in final week of season National League East Rivals among the players in the hunt BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor This season, the National League MVP race might literally come down to the wire. With less than a week left to play in the regular season, there are four legitimate candidates, all of whom are on teams that have a shot at the playoffs. The New York Mets’ stranglehold on the NL East has loosened, allowing the resilient Philadelphia Phillies to sneak in, while they simultaneously keep pace in the Wild Card race. They trail the San Diego Padres, who have a tough remaining schedule, including games with the Colorado Rockies, as well as the Milwaukee Brewers, who are vying with the Chicago Cubs for the NL Central crown. Among the MVP contenders is Jimmy Rollins, the veteran shortstop on the Philadelphia Phillies, whose leadership on the team outweighs his statistics. During spring training, Rollins made a bold statement and said that the Phillies were the team to beat in the NL East, a statement that didn’t go unnoticed in New York when fans showered Rollins with boos and catcalls when the Phillies made their first trip north for the season. Despite their 4-11 start, Rollins stood by his statement, and similarly showed it on the field, helping the Phillies regain their footing after a horrible start. It also didn’t hurt that he was putting up the best numbers of his career, either. Rollins, who has never been known for his power, had a breakout season last year in which he hit 25 homeruns, 11 more than his previous career high. This season is proving not to be a fluke, as he has 29 homers and 90 RBI, while having 202 hits and scoring 132 runs, all career highs. In spite of those numbers, Rollins has done more for the team than hit. In a season that saw the Phillies lose last years MVP Ryan Howard, All-Star second baseman Chase Utley and speedy Shane Victorino for long MVP, as he is leading the Mets in batting average (.320), and has been steady throughout the season, when teammates like Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado have gone through slumps. To be sure, Wright is a huge part of the Mets’ success this season, and will certainly be in the MVP talks in the future. Joining the ranks of the MLB youth movement is Prince Fielder, the 23-year old power hitting first baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers. Fielder, in his second full season, is following in the footsteps of his father, Cecil, a tremendous power hitter in his own right. Prince Fielder is leading the NL in homeruns with in impressive 47, is leading the Brewers in RBI (112), and he is quickly turning into one of the best power threats in the National League, which no doubt has helped Photo courtesy reid.mlblogs.com Milwaukee sit atop Jimmy Rollins looks to win his first MVP award. the NL Central for stretches of time, Rollins has proved to be most of the season. the constant, playing in every game this Typically, there is one player each season season and being the unspoken leader of the that sneaks in the back door when no one is club. looking and very quietly turns into one of In addition to his offense, Rollins is also the best players in the league. having a great defensive season, and is a This season, that player is Matt Hollivery likely candidate to win his first Gold day, the left fielder for the Colorado RockGlove award. ies. Holliday, who has always been a good Rollins isn’t alone in his division, how- player, has gone unnoticed while playing in ever, as rival New York Mets third baseman Colorado, but is having a season that could David Wright is making his own strong case very well put his team in the playoffs. for the coveted title. Despite the Rockies having more than a Wright, in his third full season is proving four game deficit in the NL West, Holliday to be a leader both on and off the field for is leading the charge toward the postseason the New York Mets, as he is one of the best by leading his team in average (.337), home young players in the game. runs (36), and leading the league in RBIs He recently hit a milestone in his young (131). career by having both 30 homeruns and 30 Four candidates, four teams with a shot at steals in one season, joining the ranks of the post-season, and only one MVP award Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Alex Rodri- up for grabs. guez. It’s going to be a wild week. Wright is certainly making his case for STATISTICS Thru 9/22 Jimmy Rollins, SS Philadelphia Phillies Average: .294 HR: 29 RBI: 90 David Wright, 3B New York Mets Average: .320 HR: 30 RBI: 104 Matt Holliday, LF Colorado Rockies Average: .337 HR: 36 RBI: 131 Prince Fielder, 1B Milwaukee Brewers Average: .288 HR: 47 RBI: 112 AL Batting Title Race: 1.C. Jones(ATL), .341 2. M. Holliday(COL), .337 3. C. Utley(PHI), .335 4. Edgar Renteria(ATL), .333 5. H. Ramirez(FLA), .333 6. D. Young(WAS), .323 7. M. Cabrera(FLA), .323 8. Albert Pujols(STL), .322 9. D. Wright(NYM), .320 10. D. Lee(CHC), .317 �SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 Athlete of the Week: Sean Vona SPORTS dously in his role with the team from his freshman year to this season., and we look When a team graduates a great deal of tal- to he and our other younger players to conent and leadership, many younger players tinue to play a large role in leading us in the are often looked upon to step up their roles right direction.” While the colonels started the year with to help bridge the gap. For the Wilkes uni3 straight losses, they subsequently turned versity men’s soccer program, sophomore things around with a three-game win streak midfielder and pre pharmacy major Sean that has Vona has exempligiven them fied that philosotremendous phy as a young but momenpromising Wilkes tum. “The squad continues to first goal establish it’s idenwe scored tity in the early part against Miof this season. sericordia, A native of Vestal, in the first NY, Vona is part of game of that a young, talented streak, has group of midfieldreally proers that looks to pelled us” control possession Vona said of of the ball and set the team’s up the Colonels recent sucoffense for mulcesses. tiple scoring op“That game portunities. While he Photo courtesy prosportsofficialteamsites.com gave us trehas already tallied one goal on mendous confi dence that we get quality the season, Vona is quick to put his role in perspective and credit his teammates with opportunities to score more goals than we stepping up their games to contribute to the had been getting.” With several more qualColonels recent three-game win streak. “As ity opponents on the upcoming schedule, a center midfielder, my main objective is to Vona and the colonels will be looking to get the ball and help get our offense in gear keep things rolling into the MAC freedom to score. We have multiple playmakers on conference portion of the schedule. Congratulations to Sean Vona on being this team, and when we are all clicking our named this week’s athlete of the week! potential is tremendous.” 19 BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer Head Coach Phil Wingert, who has just three seniors and no juniors on his roster for this season, has looked for Vona and his younger teammates to shoulder a heavier amount of responsibility than would normally be asked of a first or second-year player. “Sean has done a great job for us, both on the field and in the classroom.” Wingert said recently. “He’s grown tremen- 16 Number of aces by the Wilkes University volleyball team in a 3 set win over Manhattanville on Tuesday, September 18. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Wilkes sophomore, Sean Vona, has emerged as a leader on the men’s soccer team. Vona, a midfielder, was pivotal in helping the Colonels turn their season around with a three game winning streak. Congratulations on being named Athlete of the Week! WEEKLY RECAPS Men’s Soccer Dickinson College remained unbeaten and posted its sixth straight shutout win with a 5-0 victory over Wilkes University in a non-conference match on Wednesday afternoon. The victory improved the Red Devils to 7-0, while the Colonels saw their three-match winning streak come to an end and fell to 3-4. Women’s Volleyball The Wilkes University volleyball team copped their first Freedom Conference win of the season by scoring a 30-10, 30-11, 30-16 win at Manhattanville College on Tuesday night. The Lady Colonels improved to 6-7 overall and evened their conference mark at 1-1. Manhattanville fell to 1-7 overall and 0-1 in conference play. Women’s Soccer Stevens Institute of Technology raced out to a 3-0 lead less than 20 minutes into the match and then withstood a Wilkes University rally to earn a 3-2 non-conference women’s soccer win on Tuesday night. The Ducks ran their overall record to 5-1-1 with the win, while the Lady Colonels saw their overall mark fall to 3-4. NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 1 Number of goals that Wilkes Sophomore Arthur Jankowski scored en route to a 1-0 victory over Elizabethtown on September 22. 2 Number of goals scored by Wilkes junior Devon McKay to lead the field hockey team to a 4-0 win over Marywood on September 20. 5 Number of goals scored by the Wilkes field hockey team in a 5-2 victory over Cabrini College on September 22. �Sports SEPTEMBER 25, 20 Young Colonels soccer team surges with senior leadership In the midst of 23 soccer players kicking balls around during last Friday’s practice just over the Market Street bridge at Ralston Field is a hardworking veteran that has quickly claimed his part of the spotlight. Jimmy Thomas, senior from Myerstown (PA), stood in one of the two lines during a soccer drill in which the objective was to sneak a goal in past the team’s goalie T.J. Baloga. Thomas waited patiently in line to get his turn from the right side as the scorching postnoon sun beat down onto the red hairs of his flamboyant goatee. He watched as a few of his teammates missed. Then it was Thomas’s turn to kick. Thomas passed the ball to his partner in the drill. His teammate returned it to him placing a soft pass to allow Thomas to kick one past the goalie. He made contact and Baloga couldn’t stop the ball from reaching the net. The drill came to an end and one of the players screamed in response to the goal as he ran back to the huddle “All right J-Bomb”, short for Jimmy Thomas. If you ever wondered if an athlete’s practice effort is demonstrated on the field during a game, it is, especially for “J-Bomb.” On September 8, the Colonels hopped on the bus to go on the road to face Misericordia University in front of an estimated 200 fans for their fourth game of the season. The first three opponents of the season were Montclair State University (NJ), William Paterson University (NJ) and Muhlenberg College (PA), and each team shut the Colonels out combining for a She is a 5’11 junior from George Bush’s old stomping grounds, and unfortunately for the Lady Colonels soccer team in the first 20 minutes of the game, the addage that ‘everything from Texas is big’ held true and they couldn’t stop her from scoring goals. On September 18 the Lady Colonels traveled to Hoboken, NJ, to face Audra Clark and the Stevens Institute of Technology, the team with the longest winning-streak at home in the country. Clark, a native of Dallas/Texas, has been blessed with a mountainous figure that stands out like colossal obstruction on the soccer field. The Lady Colonels felt every inch of this beast’s head. The reasons that the panel of judges from the Skyline Conference chose Clark to be part of the first all-conference team during her freshman and sophomore year, showed in just 02:18 of the game when she scored the first goal of the game off an assist by teammate Sara Roeder. Only a dozen minutes later, the enormous woman bolted down field as teammate Salme Cook dropped off a pass to her. Clark picked up the pass off her head for another goal to put the game at 2-0 in only 14:17 of the first half. For the Lady Colonels, who only scored one goal in each of their three wins before playing Stevens, down by two in the first 15 minutes, it began to look as if like the fat lady was getting ready to sing early in this one. But not before Clark blasted in one more. Before smokers could even put down their cigarettes, Clark would score again four minutes later from her second goal leaving her with three goals in the first 18:57 of the game. At this point, head coach John Sumoski could attribute Clark’s goals to a couple key things. “It kind of felt like marking tightly in the box is one of our downfalls so we can’t give up too many corners,” said Sumoski. “Our keepers need to improve at getting off their line punching and catching balls.” total of seven goals. After leaving all three games without putting goals on the board, senior Andy Curry managed to score the first goal of the season before halftime against Misericodia but the Colonels still trailed 2-1 leaving sour thoughts in their minds. “I was frustrated,” said Thomas. “I was scared, man.” Nine minutes after returning to the field for the second half sophomore Bret Osswald scored for the Colonels to tie the game at two goals apiece. A tie in this game wouldn’t help the Colonels in the win department after losing the first three games. They were in desperate need of another goal to give them their first win of the season and that opened the floor for someone to steal the spotlight for the Colonels. The goal would come at the 77:00 mark similar to the one scored by Thomas in practice. But this time, it was from the left side. “I looked up. Greg Miller gave me an amazing ball off a corner kick, after he had an amazing cross,” said Thomas. “The ball came right across the net right to my head and I literally had to take two steps (to score the goal).” That game-winning goal gave the Colonels their first win this season and would drive the team to a three-game win streak after beating Widener (PA) and Moravian (PA). “For the first time, everything we worked on in practice came to motion and it just clicked,” said Thomas. The leadership of this year’s young Colonels soccer team is in the hands of head coach Wingert, now in his 26th year. In the past 17 of those years, Wingert has taken 11 different Wilkes teams to the postseason. He has a 237-201-36 career record which leads the history of the Wilkes soccer program and looks to continue, developing on this year’s unique bunch of Colonels. “This team is so young that it’s just trying to find it’s identity,” said Wingert. “The seniors have been a good group, but it’s a small group so it’s almost impossible to compare this team with other ones just because it is such a young team. It’s talented, but it’s young.” See Young on PAGE 17 Women’s soccer makes positive out of Stevens loss The 5’2 junior goalkeeper from Johnstown/PA, Jessica Berkey, tried to protect the net to limit Stevens’s chances at beating the Lady Colonels for a third consecutive time but to no avail. After Clark’s final of her three-goal stretch, the Lady Colonels would go on to shut out the 15th ranked team in the nation for the rest of the game before dropping to a 3-4 record. Stevens improved to a record of 5-1-1. “Two years ago when we got beat up there pretty good 5-0 the same thing happened. We just got shelled early,” said Sumoski. “The difference between this team and that team is, this team is capable of fighting back a little better and that’s what we did.” See Soccer on PAGE 16 The Beacon/Gino Troiani Wilkes sophomore Ashley Deemie goes for the ball during the 2-0 loss to NYU on Sunday. The Lady Colonels saw their record fall to 3-5. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 September 25th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 September 25 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/cb7cb69c47ae24c63fa8441a22972c30.pdf 8d6ecb6a7c410439b3115d7fe7d32b00 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW Volume 60 www.wilkesbeacon.com OCTOBER 2, 2007 Brown exercises veto on SG club vote In This Issue... BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor VO TE!'·~ Matt Brown, Student Government (SG) President, shook up the organization’s regular weekly meeting last Wednesday, when he decided to exercise his presidential veto power after a motion to grant the Student Peace Action Network (S.P.A.N.) club status failed a general board vote. Brown said, “I never thought that I was actually going to have to veto, just because I have a lot of trust in all the members on my board.” A veto is a somewhat unusual move for SG presidents. He explained that in his opinion the board was split with 10 members favoring a motion to make S.P.A.N. a club, while 11 members opposed the motion and 12 abstained from voting. Brown explained, “The board was basically split because we had a lot of abstaining votes from freshmen who weren’t at the previous meetings.” Page 6 Freshmen and Senior SG members work together to solve the murder mystery exercise that is meant to build teamwork and leadership. Former SG President and the director of the Sidhu School of Business PPD program, Matt Sowcik. See VETO page 4 The Beacon/Andrew Seaman MyWilkes spelled out Offices Relocate T Page 9 1Ao· BB'4 h>lovo, ..;t· ' ; . ~ I The Beacon / Cara Koster Asking residents to recycle and clean up campus grounds helps Wilkes RAs meet Residence Life requirements. Page 14 , Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 \. Issue 4 BY NICOLE FRAIL requirements Resident Assistants Beacon Asst. News Editor (RA) must meet every semester. Last April, Brenda Stanley as“Residence Life has always been sumed the leadership of the Wilin the business of having a strucCourtesy of Valerie Martinez kes residence life office as its new tured programming model of how director. She did so with a num- to get students involved. As the new ber of ideas to get students more director, I wanted to find a way to involved with the campus and the add my spin on getting the RAs on city of Wilkes-Barre. These ideas, board about what it truly means to which were also influenced by get students involved and be sucpast experiences from her time cessful while here at Wilkes,” Stanas Area Coordinator at Salisbury ley said. University in Maryland, have resulted in modification of the See MY WILKES page 4 h BY CANDICE HALLIDAY eBeacon Staff Writer The doors of Passan Hall are open once again. On Monday September 24, the office of Student Affairs began its move from Conyngham Hall across campus to the second floor of Passan Hall. This marked the beginning of Passan’s reopening after the Registrar’s Office, Financial Aid and Financial Services all relocated last academic year to the University Center on Main (UCOM) to become part of the consolidated student services. Dr. Mary Beth Mullen, Student Affairs Coordinator, explained that Barbara King, Associate Dean of Students; Mark Allen, Dean of Students; and Ms. Judy Wienckoski, Student Affairs Assistant, are the only three members of the student affairs staff moving from Conyngham to Passan. The remaining offices are part of University College and will remain in Conyngham. Dr. Paul Adams, Vice President for Student Affairs moved to the UCOM last year at the time that all administrators relocated. Allen explained, “Student Affairs moving from Conyngham to Passan allows space for University College to consolidate its operation by, eventually, moving Career Services to Conyngham from Max Roth. All the moves are being initiated to improve the coordination of services for programs that significantly impact students.” The Student Affairs offices are not the only offices moving to Passan. Beginning Monday October 1, Residence Life will occupy the first floor of Passan. In addition, Allen also explained that Student Leadership Director Phil Ruthkosky will also move to the second floor of Passan and will work out of the Student Affairs office suite. Ruthkosky’s old office in the Henry Student Center will be occupied with the Coordinator of Student Development. �NEWS OCTOBER 2, 2007 2 Student Government My Wilkes SG Veto News Briefs 3 4 4 5 BY AMY FUSCO Beacon Correspondent Most students have seen the movie or read the book. The young woman--usually in a dimly lit space--begins to sense she’s being watched. Her skin prickles and she turns around to gaze into the murk. But the stalker expertly fades into the surroundings, biding his time until he makes contact and the plot takes off. Sound like a scene that could be replayed at Wilkes? Technically, according to Christopher Bailey, Director of Campus Support Services, the university has formally handled only two or three complaints of stalking in the past five years; however, college students across the nation should be aware of the issue. Last spring’s Virginia Tech shooting put the spotlight on stalking when it became public that the shooter, Seung Hui Cho, had previously been accused of stalking behavior. According to a survey of 223 college and university campuses conducted by the National Center for Victims of Crime, 13% of the college women surveyed reported having been stalked. Reflecting on the law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Bailey defined ‘stalking’ as the act of a person who initiates “continued unwanted contact or attention” with another person. Stalking can occur through various forms of communication, such as phone, email, text messaging, harassment in social networking sites such as Facebook or MySpace, or being physically visible. Experts also note that the more personal information offered on social networking websites, such as posting schedules or social plans, the easier it is for a stalker to follow or harass. Although there has not been any major issue of stalking at Wilkes University, the most typical stalking has been caused by an ex-boyfriend or an ex-girlfriend, who could not accept that their relationships were over. Bailey notes that if any student-male or female--experiences unwanted attention and is made uncomfortable by it, the student should immediately report it to Public Safety. Public Safety only has control over Wilkes University’s campus, so if the stalking issue reaches beyond the campus, the student should report it to the Wilkes-Barre police department. Dr. Paul Adams, Vice President for Students Affairs, explained that students should also bring any problems related to stalking to the attention of family members, friends, RAs and anyone who they feel comfortable talking to about it. People who are being stalked may visit the Victims Resource Center for additional help. Adams also advised students to “terminate all contact with the stalker” in order to prevent being continually stalked. Furthermore, if a student is emotionally damaged from the stalking situation, he or she may utilize the counseling center and psychological services at Wilkes University to receive help. Neglecting to report a stalker could result in catastrophic consequences like those that occurred at Virginia Tech. The perpetrator, Cho, consistently communicated with a few people by e-mail, but Christopher Bailey believes that this “stalking was a symptom of a deeper issue for that individual.” Although stalking may have been a symptom, statistics indicate the students at universities and colleges are more likely to experience stalking that leads to violence. According to the Nationalk Center for Victims of Crime, 76% of women who are killed by their intimate partners were stalked by these partners before they were killed. There are support systems and networks to help identify students who are troubled and if this occurs, there is a way to intervene in order to make that student and others safe. David Lewis, a sophomore at Wilkes University, stated that, “Stalking emphasizes the fine line between love and obsession... stalkers are nothing but sadistic diplomats who take love and cripple its good name.” Many students are conscious of what stalking consists of and how it could affect people. Even though it is a rare occurrence at Wilkes, university officials advise that students, faculty and staff should still keep it in mind to ensure that this campus is a safe place. Watch Beacon News on Wilkes World LIVE at 12 p.m. on Tuesdays and again Wednesday through Friday at 7:30 p.m. or at http://www.wilkesbeacon.com Photo Courtesy of Patty Gilmour The Beacon / Jenna Stephens Stalking sense: students urged to act on unwanted attention In the past five years, Wilkes University has formally handled few complaints of stalking on campus. Stalking can occur through many forms of communication including text messages and social netweorking sites. BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andee Scarantino Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Alison Woody Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �OCTOBER 2, 2007 NEWS SG Notes September 26, 2007 Homecoming Candidates Treasurer’s Report All College: $11,120.72 General: $2,672.59 Special Projects: $3,500 Spirit: $ Leadership: $815.00 Conferences: $11,000 Start-Up: $1,200 New Business New Members - New Members accepted their positions and received their SG binders (see winners on page #) Matt Sowcik - Matt Sowcik organized SG’s team bonding and leadership exercise, a murder mystery (see page 1) SPAN - The Student Peace Action Network (S.P.A.N.) came to SG seeking club status, after a motion to grant the students club status failed, SG President, Matt Brown vetoed and the item was tabled until next week (10/03/07) (see page 1) Medieval Renaissance Club - SG granted club status to the Medieval Renaissance Club. Homecoming Update/Charity Decision - 15% of students have already voted on a homecoming king/queen, the new mascot costume is on schedule, and the donation this year will go to St. Judes. SG Mentors - New SG members were assigned a mentor to help them understand the organization better. King Queen Mark Congdon Kate Baas Andrew Curry Meghan Badach Kevin Homa Angela Dellafortuna Michael Lewis Dana Lehman Blaine Madara Danielle Namiotka Events Homecoming - October 1 - 6, 2007 Casino Night - October 19, 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. SG members bond BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor Student Government (SG) members sought to bond and promote leadership with a unique exercise during the meeting. The exercise was led by a former SG president and the director of the Sidhu School of Business PPD program, Matt Sowcik. The exercise challenged members to solve a murder mystery by discovering the murder weapon, where the murder took place, motive, and the time of death, and of course the murderer. Matt Brown, SG President, explained that there is always a bonding exercise held by SG to introduce the new members to veterans. Last year’s bonding and leadership exercise was at the ropes course and rock wall. “This year I decided to stay in the Miller Room and bring in a guest,” said Brown. Brown also added that he decided to invite Sowcik to the Student Government (SG) members sought to bond and promote leadership with a unique exercise during the meeting. The exercise was led by a former SG president and the director of the Sidhu School of Business PPD program, Matt Sowcik. The exercise challenged members to solve a murder mystery by discovering the murder weapon, where the murder took place, motive, and the time of death, and of course the murderer. Brown explained that there is always a bonding exercise held by SG to introduce the new members to veterans. Last year’s bonding and leadership exercise was at the ropes course and rock wall. “This year I decided to stay in the Miller Room and bring in a guest,” said Brown. Brown also added that he decided to invite Sowcik to the meeting after he participated in the murder mystery exercise in class. Jeff Bauman, SG Vice President, said, “I felt that it was a unique opportunity to bond. Being a mentor and an Resident Assistant, I know how important it is to kick the feelings of anxiety out the door, and to make everyone realize how important team work is.” Bauman suggested that the exercise could have been done at another time though, “SG meetings are about business, and I feel that the activity would have been much more beneficial to the whole board at a different time,” he said. s n io so r e n n i W G S f t c e El Sophomores Representative Lacee Wagaman FreshmEn President Benjamin Beidel Vice President Megan Dickinson Secretary Jessica Gen Treasurer Laura Perkins Representatives Tiffany Andrews Brittany Burns Katherine Gallagher Stephen Gruver Thomas Markley Katherine Munchel Seniors Representatives Kevin Homa Jason Narcoonis Jordan Padams 3 �NEWS OCTOBER 2, 2007 MYWILKES from FRONT PAGE “There’s more than just going to class, and if we can provide [students] with those alternative social opportunities, then they are more connected to the university.” Stanley contends that a strong connection with the university will not only increase the retention rate, but it may even help with recruiting. Stanley’s spin on residence life has brought structure and creativity to the RA’s requirements and the My Wilkes Residence Life Programming Model was formed. Each letter of My Wilkes reflects a portion of programming for the RAs to focus on when they interact with their students: Multicultural (Diversity); You (Self Identity Development); Wellness (Health/Counseling Services); Involvement (Student Development); Life Skills (Career Services); Kindness (Community Service); Educational (Academic); and Social. “I personally like the model. I feel that it really helps RAs look and find programs to complete. Also, I think it is great to stress the programs that can go along with model really expand options, but can really show students the resources that we offer,” said Jessica McMahon, a sophomore secondary English education major and RA for Waller North, located on West River Street. To meet the requirements, RAs can choose to do a variety of different things like invite a guest speaker to lecture on an important topic like how to handle depression (W); show movies and hold discussions afterwards (M); or run a workshop to help students learn the do’s and don’ts of searching for an apartment if they are thinking of moving off campus in the future (L). Depending on the RA’s residency, a certain number of requirements must be met each semester. For example, a freshmen RA must meet four of the eight requirements and an apartment RA must meet five. However, no matter where an RA is located, the K (Community Service) and I the M (Diversity) requirements must be met. “Despite the differences that we try to see, we’re actually more the same than we are different. I want to challenge [the RAs] to think beyond what they would typically do for a diversity program,” Stanley noted. McMahon has all of her bases covered for her residents this semester. “I am currently holding a sem e s t e r- l o n g program that has the students recycling plastics and cans. I also asked the students to collect their soda tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. I feel that this program fit well into Wilkes’ theme of Sustainability. I also am currently planning a Halloween social with Waller South (the connecting residence hall) and I am hoping to do a mul- Join America’s #1 Student Tour Operator www.ststravel.com STUDENT TRAVEL SERVICES 1-800-648-4849 / www.ststravel.com at the national level. A member of S.P.A.N. assured SG members that the group is not interested in the political side of the organization. Another reason Brown said he exercised his power to veto was, “…I personally invested a great deal of my time investigating the differences and the similarities between S.P.A.F. and S.P.A.N. …I do believe that these groups are different. Fundamentally... they cannot work together as one unit on everything that they want to accomplish as club.” Jeff Bauman, SG Vice President, said “I applaud Matt on his use of power to veto. He, as President, has the power to employ the veto on a matter that he felt should have went another way. But also, the board did vote. In a close decision and I don’t see how the veto changed anyone’s opinions or ideas. We just indefinitely pushed off mak- ing a decision about S.P.A.N. becoming a club.” SG representatives decided to table the vote on whether or not S.P.A.N. would be made a club until the October 3 meeting, after the general board failed to overturn Brown’s veto by tw-thirds of the present members. You w eUn.eu I~ L!P~ K~ E~ Sodal VETO CANCUN, ACAPULCO, from FRONT PAGE JAMAICA, BAHAMAS Another factor contributing to split was the board’s confuPUERTO VALLARTA, the sion on whether or not S.P.A.N. SOUTH PADRE is any different from the Student Action Forum (S.P.A.F.), FLORIDA, CRUISES Political which was granted club status in Sell Trips, Earn Cash & Travel Free studios are,” said Dr. Paul Adams, Vice President of Student Affairs. “There’s an awful lot of life that goes on in those residence halls and a lot of life lessons are learned. That’s why we treat them like any other educational environment on campus. It’s a place for students to learn about themselves and learn about others.” Though neither Stanley nor Adams anticipate this semester’s RAs to run into any problems while meeting their requirements, they still take into consideration the fact that they may need time to adjust to getting into the habit of planning. “As much as they are in my eyes an RA, I have to recognize that they are a student, as well, so sometimes I have to allow for their academic planning to come before that of the RA job. I completely understand that. That’s probably the only challenge that might come up, that paper work,” Stanley said. While Diehl notes that the most difficult part about being an RA is being available to his residents at all times, McMahon struggles with another issue. “Sometimes the hardest part of this job is the lack of privacy. As an RA, you are put out there, especially when you consider that we are doing rounds and students recognize us. However, I think students need to realize that we are here to protect them, not to hurt them and that can also be another hard boundary to juggle.” To some students who resided on campus last year, it may seem that there is more required of them this semester, but Stanley assured that that’s not the case. Beyond a bit of organization, the only thing that’s really been changed is the name. “The easiest way to capture an audience is semantics,” said Stanley. Mtdtiadtunu STSTRAVEL.COM September of 2004, and focuses on educating students about political issues while getting them involved in the process. Members of S.P.A.N., said that they are different from S.P.A.F., because they do not focus on politics. However, after reviewing documents handed out by S.P.A.N., SG members argued that S.P.A.N. does have a political bias 4 ticultural event that promotes students to research their heritage and come together and make something from their culture.” Junior pharmacy (P1) student Brian Diehl is an RA on the fourth floor of the YMCA and is also attempting to plan ahead. “So far, I have a pot luck dinner planned for October 2 and I would like to carve some pumpkins towards the end of October.” Through the programs the RAs plan and hold, their residents should become more involved with not only the people on campus, but also those with whome they live. “If you can convince your residents to become actively involved in what you do as an RA in those first [few] weeks, they’ll come to every other program you do thereafter,” Stanley believes. “It’s my hope that [residents will be] less likely to disrupt the community. We’ll see less judicial, less policy violations, and less misbehaviors than we’d like to see in our residence halls.” “You have to look at the residence halls as another learning environment on campus, just like the classrooms and labs and �NEWS OCTOBER 2, 2007 5 Beacon News Briefs Local (Wilkes University) About 15 students turned out for a self-defense workshop sponsored by the women’s studies program and the Women’s Interest Society Empowering the University Population (WISEUP). The students who attended the class were taught basic self-defense skills by Dr. Ed Schicatano, psychology professor and 2nd degree black belt. (Wilkes University) Wilkes University will be providing flu shots at the cost of $15. The vaccine will be given in the middle of October and they can be reserved by calling (570)408-4730. (Harrisburg) On Friday, a state judicial board heard its last testimony from witnesses testifying against Judge Ann Lokuta. Lokuta, a Luzerne County judge, risks losing her job after she was charged with judicial misconduct after witnesses chronicled a long list of interpersonal abuses. The trial will begin again in Philadelphia on December 10, when the defense will have a chance to call its witnesses. (Washington, DC) In the next 15 months, officials expect almost 30 applications for nuclear power plants. This past week, the first application in 30 years was filed and regulators say that they expect a boom in applications as the need for power increases. (Durham, NC) Duke University formally Dr. Ed Schicatano, Associate Professor of Psychology, apologized to the lateaches students how to defend themselves in a workshop crosse players and their spondered by WISEUP. families who were involved in the highly publicized rape scandal last year. The presiNational (Washington, DC) Newt Gingrich, former dent of Duke, Richard Brodhead, said that Speaker of the House, announced he would they should have reached out to the players not run for the presidency in the 2008 elec- and their families in their time of need. tions. This anouncment comes after GinInternational grich found that he could not legally explore (Madrid, Spain) A series of commercials the possiblitly of running and remain as the funded by the government of Spain, aims to head of his non-profit organization. Courtesy Marketing Communications dissuade immigrants from coming to Spain. Over the past year 31,000 immigrants from Africa have braved a 10 day journey on wooden rafts to seek opportunity in a new country. The government’s ad campaign which cost $1.4 million, encourages people to stay and be the future of Africa. (Wellington, New Zealand) An earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale hit off the coast of New Zealand Sunday afternoon, in open water. No tsunami warnings were issued by the New Zealand government. (Yangon, Myanmar) An U.N. envoy in Myanmar was working with the militaristic government to reach a compromise after the military shot into crowds of peaceful protesters. The envoy was also meeting with Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest for being an “opposition leader.” San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for the past 11 years was allowed out of house arrest to meet with the envoy. 02) ~ .f.QJ!l)CD - i liihl'£fo _-_~--inJI pi;r,- h-p 1!1F 4e'livt1')'' WWWrJ - ~-Bc11rn: S~· Ni -:- .- lt=J-i~ :::.iS.i~;f~fi~..:.l:.!!~;;.j . - .st. B ~PA.18'1lU 570\..825 5 6.6 I 125. 5037 2 11.1 - - 'J-'i ff" ~ lhu;;s 10:3l11A.M - i i PM ti S t 10: 39 ~ 12~ :O.AM' S -- P: P.M We Accept On Delivezy We Abo Ac~ept Debit Cards - i!i:i -- . D ~ Dm ,- ~76.-.U.B'...:36'7 I! �Opinion Paper questions free speech UN is a waste Angry Rant: MTV OCTOBER 2, 2007 6 DeVOTE yourself to voting in November BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD We are constantly told that as America’s young citizens, we should do our patriotic duty and vote. However, the 18-29 year old voting bracket has the lowest turnout rates, despite recent increases in the 2004 and 2006 elections. According to The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, 18-29 year olds only made up 13% of the voting electorate, and only had 24% of a turnout rate. Our age group is largely affected by the issues that are occurring within our local and federal governments like crime rates, revitalization of downtown Wilkes Barre, Iraq, social security, the deficit, and taxes to name a few, but we are not voting in large enough numbers to enact and effectively make change. This election is important, as all are, because change has to happen on a local level first in order to make effective alterations at the federal level. As we all know, November is approaching, and with it comes Election Day on the 6th. Since many A,J...,,,., 1.-J \',k.io ;..,lrr-o.i.,u.. H,"' ,_,."'~ <'rt-.:J.e,..-t of ~0 "" ) ¾,.._ Ll ,_ ;kl) ',\-..,\.e4 ,J A..,er:u.J, of us are not close to our homes, we may not be able to go home to vote, if we’re even registered. To fix this problem, what college students can do is change your voting address to that of your college address, or you can request an absentee ballot. For those who may not be registered to vote, there are many websites including rockthevote.com or justvote. org that illustrate how to register to vote or how to change your address or anything else, like your party affiliation. Also, rockthevote.com explains that when going to vote for the first time in your new district, make sure to bring a photo ID with your current mailing address or some type of bill that you can show proof of where you live. However, if you make a copy of your photo ID or bill and send it in with your voting registration, you do not need to bring these when going to the polls. If you are unaware of the stances the political parties take on issues, and you’re not sure which to support, there are many websites that offer a quiz to help you decide which political party you share similar views with such as people-press.org, ontheissues.org, or theadvocates.org. So, are you tired of the way our city, state, or country is being managed? Are you pleased with the continued progress of our downtown? Could our elected leaders do more to make us safer? Do you endorse the laws, policies, or issues that our elected officials are supporting and passing or not passing? Are you pleased with our country’s current situation in Iraq, the economy or even the government’s stance on social issues like civil unions or the decreased funding of college aid? Are you happy with our elected officials? Do you want things to change? If your answers to any of these questions show that you want change, then take action and register to vote and vote on Election Day on November 6. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result.” Take action and DeVOTE yourself on Election Day. A Sight for Sore Eyes by: Aleksander Lapinski Things that go bump in the night Keeping yourself safe while walking alone at night BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor After receiving the call from public safety about the girl who was raped near Kirby Park early in September, I was afraid to go anywhere alone at night. I have a job that generally doesn’t allow me to be back at Wilkes until approximately 9:30 p.m. You’re probably wondering what the problem is then, because the shuttle runs until 10. Well, I live in University Towers and that is quite a walk from any place that the shuttle could possibly drop me off. The shuttle stops 7 7 8 at the Henry Student Center and at Evans upon request. Both of these locations are just about equidistant from where I need to walk. In the dark, it feels like a long, scary walk back to my apartment. Most would prefer to avoid walking alone at night if possible, but if you have no choice, there are a few things that you could do to keep yourself safe. One thing would be to carry pepper spray. It tends to be hard to find in stores anymore but my mom got mine on Ebay, you can find it for $3 or less. If you can’t find pepper spray, you could hold your keys in between your fingers pointing out of a clenched fist. I also always make sure I have my cell phone on me. Perhaps most important, and what some do not know, is that anyone walking alone at night can also call Public Safety for a ride. They will pick you up or walk with you anytime between dusk and dawn. All you have to do is call 408-4999. You don’t have to feel silly calling them even for short distance walks; it’s their job. An even better solution would be to get another bus stop on campus. Since University Towers is on campus there should be a bus stop after dark at University Towers or at least in the parking lot behind the UCOM. It’s unnecessary to have a stop during the day because the walk from the Student Center isn’t very long during the day. The stop could be made upon request. The shuttle stops by Evans upon request and when it does it drives right past University Towers, it wouldn’t be that far out of the way. If the stop were behind the UCOM, the shuttle wouldn’t have to stop on Main Street and University Towers residents would only have to walk a short distance. I urge all of you to be careful. Try not to walk alone, but if you do, be very cautious of your surroundings or give Public Safety a call. Beacon Poll Results Americans have a lot to worry about. The ongoing Iraq war, stock market and housing investThe following are results of a ment instability, drug busts, AIDS, poll that The Beacon conducted and environmental concerns domonline this past week. The poll inate the nightly news reports. Is was unscientific, and does not it any wonder that with such boldclaim to reflect the overall atface headlines other issues fail to titudes of students on campus. capture our attention? Seemingly Results are based on 104 re“less important” social problems sponses. like homelessness, poverty, and the growing deficit tend to make inside pages, if that, because of The Beacon asked: the pressing nature of the other stories. Whoofdothose you think willissues win the One sidebar that baseball World squeaks Series? onto the only occasionally public radar is animal cruelty. Re• animal Boston Red Sox12% cently cruelty has become • mainstream NY Yankees28% a more issue with ma• NY Mets13% players, jor corporations, football and •evenPhiladelphia local people stirring up the issue.PhilliesAnimal 23% cruelty involves • Cleveland anything from dogIndiansfighting,7% and • San DiegotoPadresshooting whales, killing0% aniMilwaukee mals•for fur and animal testing. BrewersThe problem isn’t1% awareness; it • more Chicago Cubs2%to beis that people appear lieve• thatArizona it’s okay to hurt animals Diamondbacks12% for personal benefit or enjoyment. • there LA Angels of contingent Worse, is a small Anaheim2% in the country who believe that the practice of animal cruelty can be excused becauseQuestion: of age-old culNext Week’s tural practices. Just two weeks ago celebrity the Makah Who is your favorite tribe made the wire over the iscriminal? sue of whaling. Years ago the Native •American tribe legally killed Paris Hilton whales something of Jr. a sport. • asRobert Downey The •tribeLindsay suspendLohan its practice because• the50cent grey whale was placed on the species list and • endangered Hugh Grant federal government prohibited • Paul Reubens (Pee-Wee whaling.Herman) However, in 1994, the grey•whale Lilcame Kim off of the endangered• list.Johnny Cash The• tribe obtained Nicole Richiea permit in 1999• to Mike kill a Tyson whale which outraged animal rights groups. After a court hearing it became necessary Visit www.wilkesbeacon.com for receive a waiver to the cast tribe your tovote. Results will in order to hunt in whales. Recently, be published next week’s members of of theThe tribeBeacon. shot a grey issue whale repeatedly with a rifle before they were due to receive their waiver. The five men involved are all facing fines of up to $20,000 �OCTOBER 2, 2007 OPINION 7 You can’t spell ‘unhelpful’ without UN BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor I really can’t say that I completely understand the purpose of the United Nations (U.N.). Maybe at one time it was a useful body, but right now it is nothing more than an international annoyance. I have felt this way for awhile, but after reading about the protests in Myanmar over the past week, I am more convinced than ever. The Buddhist monks in Myanmar, who are revered by the locals, joined in on the protests over high fuel prices which later turned into protests over the militaristic government and the way it oppresses its citizens. Anger is actually the best way to describe what I felt after reading articles on how a U.N. envoy traveled to Myanmar looking to help solidify a compromise between the military rulers and the pro-democracy opposition. What would have happened during the revolutionary war if the U.N. had been around? Would they have stepped in and tried to get the mother country and colonies to “compromise?” Such a move by an outside entity such as the U.N. actually inhibits a pro-democracy push from the citizens of the country. I know that people will say that democracy at the U.N. they only see the United States. does not work everywhere, and once again, Last year when sanctions were placed on a I really can’t say that I know whether that is right or wrong, but if the people of a country are repressed by a junta, they deserve the chance to say, “No, I am not going to put up with this anymore.” The residents of Myanmar made a statement with their protest. They said they wanted to be able to talk and converse freely. They wanted to be able to live in peace without the fear of imminent death hanging over their heads. I just don’t see what business the U.N. has stopping that. The protesters were peaceful; it was the military that randomly shot into the crowd, and it was the military that arrested thousands of people. That sounds like an opposition that is at least looking for a diplomatic resolution to their problem. Another thing that is wrong with the U.N. is that it does not have its own identity. Instead, United Nations headquarters in NYC. Courtesy of when international bodies look http://sixu.wordpress.com/category/wales/ country, the leader threatened America, not the U.N., with nuclear war. In my mind the U.N. needs a gigantic overhaul if it wants to once again be a force in the world. This is rather interesting because the U.N. was originally created to replace the failed League of Nations. In general the U.N. tries to prevent the outbreak of wars. U.N. leaders need to leave the U.S. and find their own territory. Another thing that is crucial for the U.N. is to rethink their international system of law, because it is not effective if only three or four countries follow them. Yes, some people can find points to argue that the U.N. has been effective in the past, but I think the cons outweigh the pros in all of this, and the whole organization is as effective as its predecessor. If citizens of the world want to be free to live in a democratic society, the U.N. should not try to inhibit their actions by trying to find a compromise. They should be doing all they can to create a democratic government for those people.should not try to inhibit their actions by trying to find a compromise. They should be doing all they can to create a democratic government for those people. Rocky Mountain Collegian pushes at free speech limits Editor’s dismissal would be blow to 1st Amendment BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Opinion Editor The United States Constitution guarantees all American citizens the right of free speech and freedom of the press. However, according to a CNN.com article published on September 25, a recent opinion piece published by The Rocky Mountain Collegian, the student newspaper at Colorado State University, is sparking much debate on the limits of the first amendment of free speech and press. The article, written by the student editorial board, contains only four words and reads “Taser this: F**k Bush,” but spells out the F-word. In response to the offensive editorial, the College Republicans at this University have started a petition calling for David McSwane, the editor-in-chief, to resign for allowing the opinion piece to be published. In addition, since the piece was published, The Rocky Mountain Collegian has reportedly lost over $30,000 in advertising. The newspaper is self-supporting through advertising revenue and does not receive financial support from the university or student fees. The four word editorial was in response to a highly publicized incident at the University of Florida where UF student Andrew Meyer was tasered by campus police at a forum with John Kerry for asking him the question, “Why has no one impeached Bush?” The student was arrested for trying to incite a riot. However, the videos on YouTube clearly show that no riot was about to take place. Moreover, the incidents at Florida and Colorado universities bring the first amendment right of free speech to the forefront yet again. Though I believe that it was poor professionalism of the newspaper to run this piece, as a registered Republican and co- founder of the Wilkes College Republicans, I do not at all support the Colorado State College Republicans’ petition to have McSwane resign as the editor-in-chief. Op-ed pieces are written to get the public and community to talk and bring to light issues that are of importance. This article clearly accomplished this goal of getting the conversation flowing about the limits and rights of free speech and the press, which most likely wouldn’t have been achieved if McSwane wrote a typical op-ed piece of 500 or so words. It appears that the College Republicans’ motives behind this petition seem to be more political because it targets President Bush. However, limiting the rights of free speech and press because you don’t agree with what someone publishes or says about a political leader or party, the First Amendment has clearly been violated. If trends like this continue, our rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution are in jeopardy of being restricted or becoming extinguished. The First Amendment states that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” If the Colorado State College Republicans are successful with their petition, it will be a slap in the face to the First Amendment. Whether readers agree with McSwane’s article or not, should the rights of speech or press ever be limited based on political motives? Are we willing to lose some First Amendment rights because people don’t agree with what’s being published in the media? What has happened to our forefather’s dream of free speech and press and the American democracy? �OPINION OCTOBER 2, 2007 The Angry Rant: MTV is ruining America BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor MTV has done it again. And I don’t mean yet another show about rich, snobby kids from Southern California who are devoid of personality. No, they are instead unleashing another evil upon the world: a reality show starring Tila Tequila (real name Nguyen), a “celebrity” who has yet to do anything of note except parade herself around in varying states of undress on the cover of magazines, car shows, or while hosting a television show on some obscure cable network. Her biggest claim to fame comes from her having over 1 million friends on MySpace. Holy crap! You have a lot of friends on a website that hasn’t been popular in two years! But, anyhow, is having over 1 million “friends” really an accomplishment? Especially when over half of those people are horny 17-year-old guys from Connecticut who says things like “Hit me up if u wnt 2 chat, yo!” Of course, she has all the elements in place to be a model-turned pop star: Good looks, a nice body, songs with names such as “Suga Mama” and “Whattup,” and of course, the lack of any discernable talent, including a voice that sounds like someone is running sandpaper over a cheese grater. Seriously, she sounds like she smoked a pack of Lucky Strikes and chased it with a bottle of rubbing alcohol. Of course, in true MTV style, her mediocrity (that’s an understatement) is being rewarded with her very own TV show. And no, it’s not about people throwing batteries at her. Believe me, I looked it up. It’s called A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila, and here’s the plot: Tila is looking for love, but she’s bisexual, so she doesn’t know if she wants her true love to be a man or a woman. She is introduced to ten men and women, one of whom she will choose at the end. Really, is the person she chooses truly a winner? Think about it: She’s going to be spending a lot of time(um, doing time?) with a lot of these people, so is the one she picks really getting a good deal? It’s like eating a ham sandwich after 19 other people have spit on it. But here is the kicker: The men and women don’t know about her bi-sexuality until the end! It’s like “The Crying Game,” ex- cept for finding out that a woman is really a man, you find out that a talentless girl with a myspace page is, in reality, a talentless girl with a myspace page who somehow managed to get her own television show. Of course, you have to hand it to MTV, who seems to always be at the forefront of pioneering a new genre of television shows. MTV was one of the first major networks to have a reality show when it debuted The Real World in 1992. With “A Shot at Love,” MTV sashays into an entirely new genre of television in which one person chooses between multiple people to find true love, a concept that hasn’t been done yet, except for The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Average Joe, Flavor of Love, Joe Millionaire, Boy Meets Boy, I Love New York or Rock of Love... In the end, Ms. Tequila is nothing more than a typical product of the “quasi-celebrity” scene; the type that offers nothing of substance or value to the entertainment industry (but then again, who really does), but who still manages to be famous anyway. It’s really a sad scene, MTV. I guess I’ll go check out her MySpace page. No turn on red! Weekend traffic faux pas in downtown Wilkes-Barre BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief What do you think? ■ The Beacon wants your voice to be heard. Your Voices is the opportunity for students to voice their concerns. If you want your voice to be heard, please contact The Beacon with the following information: 1 Contact information including your email address and a phone number where you can be reached 2 Your name, major, and year 3 Your opinion thebeacon.oped@ gmail.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for space and content. ! Some interesting challenges arose this weekend for law abiding pedestrians and drivers in Wilkes-Barre. But sometimes it’s best to let pictures tell the story... Photos: The Beacon/Andee Scarantino 8 Some interesting challenges arose this weekend for law abiding pedestrians and drivers in Wilkes-Barre. But sometimes it’s best to let pictures tell the story... Don’t be an ass! At least, don’t be one if you’re moving along in traffic. In fairness, these donkeys were part of a promotion for the Kiwanis Club of Wilkes-Barre’s Heritage Festival & Coal Car Race. Still, what the heck? The donkeys did not move quickly (when they did move) and clearly caused a disturbance in traffic. Perhaps more disturbing, this car at the intersection of Northhampton and River St. was the source of some morning double takes and undoubtedly choice words Saturday. Notice how the car is trying to make a turn (a left-hand turn, if you were won- dering) from a ONE WAY street, going the wrong way! The car nearly caused nearly five accidents and contributed to some serious air pollution and it belched smoke from under its the hood (not visible in photo.) To all Wilkes-Barre pedestrians: look both ways. �LIFESTYLES OCTOBER 2, 2007 9 Dr. Redmond Oktoberfest Student of the Week 10 11 11 Shopping outside the box...of the mall, that is The Beacon/Gino Troiani BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Lifestyles Editor w For most students, shopping for new 1s clothing means a trip to the mall. Sure, it is easy and convienent, but for those who are re fashion forward, mall shopping oftens lacks -s the most up-to-date styles. Often people think that to find the latest st trends one has to travel to New York or Jr another big city, when in reality, there are numerous boutiques and apparel shops in and around Wilkes-Barre. Just over the Market Street Bridge, there are three very distinctive boutiques that bring New York shopping options closer to home. Panache, located at 503 Market Street, has been open for two years. While there may not be any widely recognized designer labels, owner Jennifer Rushton has successfully integrated high1 fashion with reasonable le prices. The options range ie from party dresses !S from n Monaco, Monaco, to to Plastic jeans and .stic jeans and button-up tton-up shirts shirts that perit are are per;t for fect for work. rk. The shop also offers varieties of hats, legg i n g s , shoes and h a n d bags. Rushton explained that she gets a shipment in once a week, thus lS allowing her her clothing collection ction to change constantly. stantly. She also only offers 1:ffers each each piece in a small, tall, medium medium and large and once once it it is is gone gone from the racks, not ks, she she does does not reorder it. Rushton said, “You cannot buy a shirt for less than $3040 at the mall. I try to keep price points good, but keep a line of nicer clothing.” rur lllU~t; students ~LUUC:lll~ For those Koster Cara / who think evevwho think n aco erything erything e Be Th at at aa boutique is 1s over over boutiaue $100, they need look no further than Rampel, located at 511 Pierce Street in Kingston. Rampel offers a very small selection, but the prices are afforable even to the student on u11 a i:1 tight ug1n budget. uuugc:L. There 111c;1c; is 1~ nothing in the ilie store store over over $70 $70 and and the majority ity of of clothing clothing is i between $20-30. $20-30. Also, Also, all shoes are $1 are only only $15. Carmen Jones, Carme owner of Rampel, said that she gets all of her clothes from Miami and New aJ y York and makes it a n ppoint to offer fi cheaper versions of Vt what wl is in the fashion magazines. According to Jones, sequins, Jones, metallics, metallics, jeweled necklines, sweater necklines, dresses pants dresses and and wide-leg wid, are what is are what is hot hot right right now. Rampel pel carries carries all all of of the the above, above as well as some some men’s men's clothing. cl For For those thos who can afford to Showroom 56 to splurge, splur at located in the at Prestige, Pres United Unite Penn Plaza in Kingston, provides a Kini wide selection of designer labels for both men and women. Showroom 56 at Prestige offers a variety of jeans, BCBG and William Rast clothing, as well as Sam Edelman and Charles David shoes. The majority of items are a $100 or above. In addition to these three boutiques, Tara’s Men’s Clothing is located in Midtown Village; Buka, an accessories cessories store, stor can be found in Shavertown; Shavertown; and and Envy, a locally run online-only online-only clothing clothing line that showcases aa more more edgy edgy look. look. While While Wilkes-Barre Wilkes-Barrenmay not be known as the fashion capital of the East, residents can rest assured that at least we can dress the part. �LIFESTYLES 10 Switching roles: from professor to student For Dr. Brian Redmond, college means giving lectures, assigning projects, and grading exams. It also means sitting at a desk and taking notes with the same students he teaches in his classes. Redmond, a professor in the environmental engineering and earth science department, has continued to further his education by taking college classes while teaching at Wilkes. For over 20 years, he has balanced being both a professor and a student. Throughout that time, he has completed three additional majors: physics, chemistry, and English. Wilkes University offers free tuition for all full-time faculty and staff members. There is no cap on the number of courses they can take per semester. “The University provides tuition remission benefits because of its strong belief in lifelong learning,” said Brigid Peet, the benefit coordinator at Wilkes. “This includes developing our faculty and staff to enrich their personal and professional lives. There is a positive correlation between employee satisfaction and the service provided to our students.” Redmond usually takes one course each semester. Over the years, he has taken a wide variety of classes, and has noticed similarities between seemingly different subject fields. For example, he noticed an overlap between an Eng- lish course he was taking and the astronomy class he was teaching. He thought it was interesting to read Edgar Allan Poe’s works on astronomy, though Poe’s scientific knowledge was found to be lacking. “There are surprising carryovers between some very different courses,” Redmond said. Making the transition from professor to classmate can be awkward, but Redmond says he doesn’t have a problem switching roles. “It’s not uncommon that I’ll be in a class with a student and have that same student in a class I’ve been teaching,” he said. “It’s never been a problem. They seem to like it.” Redmond says that student life has changed a great deal since he began working on his first bachelor’s degree over forty years ago at Michigan State University. Not only do students have the advantage of technological advances--computers and calculators weren’t available during Redmond’s Michigan State days--but they also enjoy a more laid-back atmosphere. “College life has become less formal,” he said. “In our dorms, we wouldn’t even eat dinner without a coat and tie.” He points out that students come to class wearing hats, sweatpants, and flip-flops. Even other professors don’t dress as formally as they once did. “It’s not necessarily better, not necessarily worse,” Redmond said. “It’s just different.” Redmond says that taking so many courses over the years has introduced to him many different teaching styles. Often, what he has experienced finds its way into his own classroom. “I’ve picked up some teaching tricks from my colleagues,” he said. Redmond describes his teaching style as grounded more in reality than in abstracts. He prepares his students for lives after graduation in which they will need to know how to utilize sources for information, not memorize facts. He teaches all his courses open-book. Although Redmond is not taking a class this semester because of a “teaching overload,” he plans on starting right up again in January. After earning his English degree last semester, he is unsure what his next major will be. “I might not know for a few years,” he said. “It could be anything--history, philosophy, mathematics, who knows?” Dr. Brian Redmond The Beacon/Cara Koster BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor OCTOBER 2, 2007 165 North Wilkes-Barre Blvd Wilkes-Barre, PA (570) 825-8459 IN Sunday Home-style dinner specials $1 .50 Miller Lite ca ns Monday Dozen clams/ wings for $4.99 $1.50 Miller Lite cans lives! D n up to nt 665 sma t d Y+ non th! m In . c · .r· k, : - , , (570) 823- ·... 9' t Tuesday (College Night) $1 Yuengling Lager Drafts $3.95 Bar Pizza Wednesday (Mexican Night) $1 off Coronas & Corona Lights ½ Off Mexican Apps 5 p.m. - 9p.m. Thursday Dozen clams for $4.99 Featured Beer Night Friday Martini specials "After Work" Happy Hour Monday - Friday 5 - 7 p.m . $ 1.00 off all Mixers & Import Drafts $1 .50 Domestic Drafts �OCTOBER 2, 2007 LIFESTYLES Student of the week: Zachary Bremmer 11 BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor Last year alone, Zachary Bremmer, a senior double major in international studies and philosophy, spent about 250 hours participating in community service. Bremmer became interested in working to help others when he became a community service coordinator through the work-study program at Wilkes University. Although Bremmer no longer does work-study, he has chosen to remain heavily involved on his own time with helping those who are less fortunate. Bremmer has participated in a wide variety of community service programs such as Alternative Spring Break in New Orleans; Habitat for Humanity; Reach; and Urban Plunge Weekend. This semester, Bremmer has already helped with beautification in Forty Fort through the Shady Trees Commission, and is currently assisting in the planning of Homelessness and Hunger Awareness week, which will take place in November. On campus Bremmer is also an active member of WISE-UP and S.A.V.E. For his hard work to benefit our community, Bremmer has been named “Student of the Week” and he recently sat down with The Beacon to share more about his experiences. The Beacon: What have you learned through your work helping the community? Bremmer: I learned kind of hope, I guess, because you never realize how many people are involved with it, or how many people are willing to give a whole big chunk of their time to help out other people. For example, the ASB [Alternative Spring Break] trip, there were 36 of us and I mean we had weekly meetings, we had a ton of fundraisers to just raise all the money to buy the airline tickets and everything else. Then everybody, you know, obviously had to give up their spring break...not go to Cancun or whatever, [but] go down there to actually work. So it’s just really hopeful when you realize how many people are actually willing to give part of themselves to helping other people. The Beacon: Why do you think community service is so important? Bremmer: I think it’s just a lot of people don’t have the ability to get out of the situations that they’re in...if we give a couple hours of our life, it’s not really going to hurt us…I think a country’s only as rich as its poorest people. If you have a lot of people who don’t have a lot of quality of life, then I think that’s a big reflection on the country as a whole. The Beacon/Cara Koster The Beacon: What is the most difficult thing you’ve seen or experienced in your work with community service? Bremmer: It would have to be New Orleans...When we would go through these houses…you’d have to take out all of the stuff from the people that was still there. One group...found wedding dresses, like two of them. Another group found a folded up American flag that we assume was from the funeral of a veteran. Just seeing these personal things really made it real…that this was actually somebody’s house and they didn’t even have enough time to grab photographs…Their whole lives were still here in this muddy, gross waste from the flood. So that was hard to deal with. The Beacon: What are your plans for the future and how has your work with community service affected them? Bremmer: I would like to work with economic development, but I’m having a hard time finding jobs in that area...so my job search is slowly turning into grad school search. Community service has directly affected that. I mean, my first semester I was a nuclear engineering major, and now I’m not anymore. I just really want to work with people, helping people, building people up. So I think if I wouldn’t have had the experiences that I’ve had with community service, I wouldn’t be looking in this field at all. IIf you go: The Lion Brewery’s Oktoberfest BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Lifestyles Editor B The Lion Brewery will celebrate its 3rd Annual Oktoberfest on October 5 and 6. The event begins at 5 p.m. with a “tapping of the keg” celebration. Friday night will also include live entertainment and fireworks. On Saturday, the brewery will open at 11 a.m. and will offer tours and beer samppling. Four different bands with perform throughout the day, and a wide selection of German food vendors will also be on hand. Caricature artists, magicians, rides and, of course,, beer for those of age g will highlight g g to festival. The tradition of Oktoberfest began in Germany in 1810 when Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese in Munich. As German immigrants began to enter America, small Oktoberfest celebrations began to emerge all over the country. Bridget O’Connor, public relations coordinator for The Lion Brewery and 2006 Wilkes alumna, said, “We are dedicated to holding an annual Oktoberfest in celebration of Charles Stegmaier’s German heritage and legacy... Last year’s celebration was close to 10,000 patrons.” What: The Lion Brewery’s 3rd Annual Oktoberfest Dates: Friday, October 5 & Saturday, October 6 Times: Friday from 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Features: Live entertainment, fireworks, food, beer, rides, games, etc. The Beacon/Cara Koster �A&E OCTOBER 2, 2007 12 Black Deserts/Welsh Tips Local Band Spotlight Crossword/Website 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 Reading marathon planned for Banned Books Week BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee are all books commonly read in high schools across the nation. These three books, along with many more, have been banned or challenged in the United States during the 20th century according to the American Library Association. Banned Books Week runs from September 29 to October 6. Sponsored by the American Library Association, the week aims to create a public awareness of the censorship of books. Many books that have been banned or challenged are regularly read throughout the country. The Wilkes chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the English honors society, sponsors a marathon public reading during Banned Books Week. The aim of the public reading is to establish a presence in a heavily trafficked area to raise awareness in the college community of books which have been banned or challenged, according to Professor Thomas A. Hamill, Assistant Professor of English and Faculty Advisor to Sigma Tau Delta. This year, the reading marathon of banned or challenged books will take place throughout the day on October 5 on the first floor of the Henry Student Union. “We [Sigma Tau Delta] read books that are great classics, books you would be surprised at,” explained Kacy Muir, a senior English major and also a member of Sigma Tau Delta. Hamill added, “We want to create a ‘town crier effect’ where there is a very public presence of our reading.” Where the Sidewalk Ends, a collection of poetry by Shel Silverstein is one book on the list for this year’s marathon. Where the Sidewalk Ends is commonly read by young children but was challenged. “Silverstein...I read him and I am just so surprised. You read that as a child and you’re not even fazed by it. It’s funny but when you actually dissect it, you think this is very profound and very adult,” Muir explained. and magic.” Harry Potter topped the ALA’s list of most Books that have been banned or challenged are on dis- challenged books in 2002. play during the reading marathon. Many of the books read As Hamill explained, a lot of books that have been during the marathon are books familiar to students on the banned or challenged were commonly read books in high campus. school for many students. To Kill a Mockingbird, a book Hamill explained, “[In past readings]...a lot of students often read in junior high, was challenged in Oklahoma in recognize books they read in high school or as children… 2001 because of “racially charged words and innuendoes,” As students saw these books they were both shocked at according to an article by the Associated Press entitled the fact that these books had been banned and curious to “School systems across U.S. challenge books on reading know more.” lists” on freedomforum.org. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, a book commonly “Our main objective is to raise awareness of the issue read by high school students, is another book that has been and get students on campus and community members to regularly censored. Ironically, Fahrenheit 451 is actually think about the importance of not only books but the freeabout censorship and book banning, according to Hamill. doms that books allow for, freedom of intellectual expresThe reading marathon tries to spark interest in what books sion, freedom of intellectual curiosity,” Hamill said. have been banned or challenged and why they have been Muir added of the marathon reading, “We are actually banned or challenged. Muir noted that most of the books expressing are freedom to read.” that are banned do not contain overtly sexual references, The marathon will run throughout the day this Friday, but offer themes or ideas that are shocking or unpopular. In October 5 on the first floor of the Henry Student Union. short, they take risks and deviate from the norm. Hamill explained that banning books not only shuts down ideas but also stops access to ideas. Part of Banned Books Week is to alert the community that First Amendment rights need to be protected. Both Hamill and Muir encourage the entire Wilkes campus to get involved in books Tuesday, October 2 banned week. Hamill mentioned other stu- The Morning of, Yearling and Livingston performing at dents show a notable amount of respect to the Backstage at 7 p.m. students who read during the reading maraWednesday, October 3 - Film: Dr. Strangelove in Stark 101 at 7 p.m. thon, but encourages all other students to par- Islamic Interest Society “Ramadan Iftar” in the Henry Student Center Grand ticipate by reading their favorite banned or Ballroom at 5 p.m. challenged book. Thursday, October 4 Surprisingly, the popular Harry Potter se- The Kinsey Report performing at the River Street Jazz Cafe ries has been challenged. According to the - Dr. Bernier book signing and reception at Barnes on Noble at 7 p.m. ALA, the entire Harry Potter series was chal- “The Grapes of Wrath” theater production in the Black Box Theater at 8 p.m. lenged because the book “drew complaints Friday, October 5 from parents and others concerned about the - Homecoming events all day: alumni golf tournament, wine tasting, BUJC La books’ focus dies Luncheon - Monacy and Wood Brown Project performing at the River Street Jazz Cafe on wizardry Schedule of Events - A Different Breed of Killer, Ghost of a Fallen Age, The Plague of Ruin and TOYA performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. - “The Grapes of Wrath” theater production in the Black Box Theater at 8 p.m. Saturday, October 6 - Homecoming Events all day: football game, tailgate tent, 5th quarter at Fuse, George Ralston memorial event - Arts Madness at the Mansion at Arts YOUniverse - The Pietasters w/ King Django performing at the River Street Jazz Cafe - “The Grapes of Wrath” theater production in the Black Box Theater at 8 pm - River City Rebels, Three Man Cannon, Sleep Spent and Awkward Silence per forming at Café Metropolis at 8 p.m. Sunday, October 7 - Homecoming events all day: Hall of Fame reception and luncheon - “The Grapes of Wrath” theater production in the Black Box Theater at 2 p.m. - “The Art of Shredding” guitar clinic w/ Bill Hoffman at Backstage at 3 p.m. Monday, October 8 - Half price night karaoke w/ Scott Stevens at Slainte - The Black Dahlia Murder, Goatwhore, The Red Chord and the Absence per forming at Backstage at 6 p.m. The Beacon/Marissa Phillips �OCTOBER 2, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 ‘Black Deserts/Welsh Tips’ highlights landscape similairities Exhibit emphasizes mining impact on environment BY MATT GOGAS Beacon Correspondent Through the lens of one photographer, the Wyoming Valley and South Wales landscapes are strikingly similar for one very important reason: human abuse. Acclaimed photographer and Wilkes alumnus, Ray Klimek’s exhibit “Black Deserts/Welsh Tips” opened at the Sordoni Art Gallery September 22. The exhibit offers a collection of 25 photographs Klimek took from 2001 to 2005 that compare mining landscapes in both Northeastern Pennsylvania and South Wales. A reception and discussion with the artist opened the show. “It was really great having this here on a professional level because it is my work, but also on a personal level because it gave me a chance to come back and visit some old friends,” said Klimek. After graduating from Wilkes in 1987, he attended the International Center of Photography and received his Master’s degree in photography from Rutgers University. “Black Deserts/Welsh Tips,” depicts the similarities in both the coal banks of the Wyoming Valley and valleys in South Wales, United Kingdom. These areas have shown striking similarity in both history and geography. The 19th century saw many Welsh immigrants come into the WilkesBarre/ Scranton area. These Welsh immigrants left the mining areas in Wales for the mining industry in the Wyoming Valley. In the 20th century, both Pennsylvania and South Wales had similar mining disasters with the Knox Mine disaster locally and the Aberfan disaster in the Welsh valleys of Wales. Both of these disasters left the land and the industry destroyed. Klimek’s 25 photograph collection, fifteen in the Wyoming Valley and ten in South Wales, illustrates the desolate land that the mining industry has created in the areas and the global community. “These places have value because we use them. We see them everyday and it’s our historical background. There is a lot of history in this area and in Wales that people are just not aware of,” said Klimek. A native of Exeter, Pennsylvania, Klimek thought it would be a great idea to bring some of this area’s history and geography to light and connect them to other areas such as South Wales in an attempt to point out the international landscapes caused by industry. The exhibition was held in accordance with Wilkes University’s 20072008 theme, “The Year of the Environment.” The theme’s purpose is to educate the campus and community about environmental issues, such as global warming, the human impact on the environment, and other related issues in terms of the global and local environment. The Beacon/Nick Zmiejewski “We thought that this would be a great idea for our theme because it’s Klimek’s art shows the mining landscapes right on our doorstep. We hope that of Northeastern PA and South Wales. organize the event. the exhibition will open discussions about The exhibition is currently on display in these issues and Mr. Klimek is from this area which is really important to this project the Sordoni Art Gallery now through Sunas well,” said Dr. Ronald Bernier, the Direc- day, October 7, 2007. It is open to the Wiltor of the Sordoni Art Gallery, who helped kes campus and the general public. .- ' AT YOUR . THIS'\ day t. 6-30-&,~ Steve Husted from (' live · mk: : rich:, . . •ht Op· ti~ *MiddJl~ W"c:dnc& Ff 'Th11« r~n~· ff ,.~ 7~31 JfkJOpm &!Ill •!Opm STUDE -THOUSI ·cc; .H 2stCENTURY cvtty ~day mg t ··mm. ?:00-8:30pm • "'Poetry CmllJ· ,,,. b o • d111b di:scu.ssion 7. , 0-i.:O -_pm Jun Warn.en.book l'!'foo Bad. ~~s .P.41)m . ~ ~ ..--krabblc ~ .•IGm G~ Sp«id"' £ om 6.00pm to close ~.ry ¢Veru.ng ... p tteanit yC>W' movie: stub f:t-!:'.ml "'.Movies 14'" :and get 25'% u.H' ill itt::m in QUr · · arb -~ cafc:. ~ Do:n\·fwgct to, pit:'k u:p. a Fn::q~t Buyt:r Cud todarFLEX lDOLL.AR8 .. - he.re in ,o c· �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 OCTOBER 2, 2007 LOCAL BAND SPOTLIGHT: These Elk Forever BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor Gregory Gover is the one and only official member of These Elk Forever, formerly known as Gr. Glacier, Gregory Glacier, and Little Glaciers (never underestimate a good name change). At times he keeps it simple with just a keyboard and a guitar, but other times he’s been known to have a guest contributor, or two, or three. He employs a vast selection of instruments in his music, which makes it difficult to pin down an exact genre, but the band has definite folk roots. Recently The Beacon met up with him for an interview, right as the Friends theme song came onto the radio… Gover: Make sure you say that the Friends theme song is on right now, and Greg’s eyes lit up, and then he clapped along. The Beacon: I definitely will. So, describe what the band sounds like - give us the simple version, and then the more descriptive one. Gover: I guess it starts off as just folk songs, but I like noises a lot, so I add noises. Folk songs that sometimes have electronics and noises. And then sometimes they’re not at all like that. That’s what it’s like, but it’s not like that at all. That sounded pretentious… It’s hard to explain. The Beacon: So it’s mostly just you, right? Gover: Yeah, except live it’s more people. But with recording, up until this point, every other record that I made was just me. But now actually, the one I’m making there are a lot of people contributing. The Beacon: Why did you choose to be a one-man band? Gover: It’s easier that way. I’ve always recorded at home. I didn’t start performing my songs like until this year, but I always made CDs and recordings and I’ve always helped other friends out,. I figured, I’m not going to wait for somebody else to do something else for me to jump on, and best thing would be to go out and play shows because then I have complete control over it. The Beacon: So what are you working on now exactly? Gover: I’m working on an EP now, but it might be a full length, I don’t know. I’m working on that now, but I’m always recording. I write when I record and record when I write, so it’s the same thing always. The Beacon: So how long have you been doing this? Gover: I’ve been doing the same thing under different names for about eight years. The Beacon: So what’s with all of the glaciers in your past names? Gover: Actually, it was stupid. Do you want to know why? The Beacon: Yeah, I do. Gover: I was watching the Discovery Channel or something and there were all these dead fish in a big barrel that were used to feed sharks and their white heads were bobbing up and I thought they looked like little glaciers, so I thought that was real funny. But nobody else gets that that’s funny. So that was that, but then I didn’t like the word ‘little’ anymore, because that’s a weird adjective to use for anything. Then I changed it just to ‘glacier’ and my name, then I changed it to the ‘Gr.’ because I got sick of my first name but people wouldn’t know how to pronounce it. And then I was afraid someone was going to write ‘Dr.’ one day, and that’s terrifying to me. So then I changed this like two months ago because nobody could pronounce it and I wanted something people could pronounce. The Beacon: Are you planning to go to tour? Gover: Yeah, in February and March I did, but I was only out for a week with this project. I have two more shows lined up later in the month at Test Pattern on October 11, and Bennet St. in Kingston on October 20. The Beacon: Any good stories from the tour? Gover: I don’t know. Nothing that I can think of that’s good story-wise. I didn’t kill anybody or anything. I have better, funnier stories from other tours with other bands I was playing in. The Beacon: Like what? Gover: When I was in a band called Strand of Oaks. We were on tour with our friend Jason Anderson and we were leaving Wilkes-Barre and we were driving through upstate New York and we stopped at a gas station and we were getting ready to go and this guy came up to us and he was like, ‘Can you give me a ride to my car?’ And we said okay. And then he said ‘hold on a second,’ and he brought out two pails of gasoline, and we’re like ‘okay…’ So we’re driving him and he’s telling us all these stories and miles and miles are going by and there’s no car in sight. Then we dropped him off on the side of the road, and we were just kind of weirded out, because we were like ‘if there’s no car, why do you have gasoline?’ And as he was getting out of the car he said, ‘Alright fellas, if you can’t be good, be bad.’ That became the tour motto for the next week and a half. The Beacon: So describe your live performance. Gover: Sometimes I play by myself, but sometimes I have up to six people playing with me. It depends. Occasionally it’ll just be me and a guitar and a keyboard, and other times it’ll be me, guitar, keyboard, banjo, electric guitar, sometimes a cello, sometimes a violin, sometimes a saw, sometimes a marimba. There are many different ways the songs have been played. They’re all the same songs but sometimes they’re faster and sometimes they’re slower. The Beacon: And do you want to say anything about the lyrics you write? Gover: Well, I write lyrics for the songs because I don’t play cover songs - that’s weird. I write words about people The Beacon/Nick Zmijewski I knew a long time ago, and they’re usually bad, creepy stories about things people have done to them. That’s what’s hip, and that’s what gets the ladies, said the married guy with the cigarette and the beer, and the weird beard. Gregory Gover, of These Elk Forever, sends out an invitation to any and all musicians to contribute to his new album currently in the works. No, but really, I usually write the words first, and then I’ll write the music to it. They’re more important to me than the music because I’m not a very competent player musically, and I don’t have a very good singing voice. But I figure if I talk a little lower it’ll sound like I’m singing, and people sometimes get fooled by that. The Beacon: Do the people care that you write about them? Gover: They don’t know. I don’t know them anymore. I played at the Test Pattern in August and a friend came up to me, and he said to me that the whole time I was playing he kept looking over at my wife and feeling bad for her, that I was saying the things I was saying. And I was like, “No, they’re not about my wife.’ And then he was like, ‘Well, then I feel worse.’ And then I was like, ‘No, if they’re nice, then they’re about her.’ But they’re usually not nice, although they’re not cruel or misogynistic. I’m not mad at anybody, I just like telling other people’s stories and hope that they’re okay with it, but they’ll never know. It doesn’t matter; they’re my stories now. Isn’t that what people say? People say that, right? The Beacon: Any last words you want to throw in? Gover: I’m recording a record, and if anybody who reads this wants to play anything on it, get in touch with me and you can. Please do because that would be really neat, even if just one person wanted to do that. I’m accepting any people, even if they can’t really play instruments, just to do something. If they want to they can contact me at http://www.myspace.com/grglacier. Photo and art courtesy Greg Gover �Kudracross OCTOBER 2, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer DOWN 1 Junk e-mail 2 Computer tune 3 Part of a school’s curriculum 4 VIP’s transport 5 Not as much 6 World power (abbr.) 7 Lightening attractors 8 Fast plane 9 Type of clock 10 Pre-existent 11 Type of tea 12 Southeast Asian 13 Type of natural fiber 19 Verbalize 21 Within 25 Junkie 56 Masticate 27 Wasn’t built in a day 28 2, 4, 6, 8….. 29 “The Divine Comedy” author 30 Given a hint 31 Post or support 33 Goodyear products 34 Avoid 35 Between bass and alto 39 Bright or promising 42 Boulder Dam lake 43 Motor bike 46 Type of synthetic fiber 50 Pertaining to nerves 52 Sun output 54 FTC part 56 Masticate 57 Butterfly in cocoon 58 In the middle of 60 Survey briefly IBILA BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-chief Ever wonder how you could possibly pull off an impossible excuse to get out of doing one thing, so you could really do another? Imagine planning “an event” you’ll attend for work, when in reality, you may be sipping wine in a chateau with your mistress/mister for the weekend. Thought it was unrealistic, that you couldn’t slip away for fun without getting caught? That’s where my web site of the week comes in. Ibila, your generator of alibis, is located at www.alibila. com It’s a French service, but from my understanding, they provide services elsewhere. What you need to do is locate the site in Google, and have Google translate the page if you do not speak French. Upon doing so, you’ll see something truly extraordinary. This site claims to provide users with an alibi for everything. It will make phone calls to your boss, saying that you have urgent family problems. The service provides either a male or female voice, depending on the alibi you want to create. They claim to be able to create an alibi for every situation, and even serve as a means for making purchases, as to avoid a track record. They create professional documents, justifying that you were at conferences, meetings, lectures, etc. They even give you false e-confirmation of flights, as in, they say you’re flying to a certain destination when you aren’t. The site makes “products derived from an event to which you were supposed to assist: cap, tee-shirt, pen, etc.” Now, 62 Nat King ____ 63 On the Atlantic 64 Word with wear or room 65 Attention-getter 67 King topper Courtesy Lackawanna County Library System ACROSS 1 Scent 6 Astral bear 10 Accompanying 14 Fairy 15 Before long 16 Advil target 17 “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” author 18 To a sickening degree 20 Orange juice and champagne 22 Riverbed component 23 Brief swim 24 Large flightless bird 26 Camp bed 27 Humanitarian organization 32 Move towards 36 Racetrack shape 37 After taxes 38 Colorado, for example 40 PC list 41 Fairy tale publisher 44 Las Vegas’ rival 45 Type of key 47 August baby 48 Greek god of love 49 Automobile body type 51 Wall hanging 53 Up to now 55 Animal abode 56 Auditor 59 Yours and mine 61 Bus line 66 People collectively 69 Red flowers 70 Homer’s Iliad, for example 71 Abel’s father 72 Small valleys 73 Roe vs. ____ 74 Ocular part 75 Leavening agent Answers 9/25 15 that’s just cool. With the translated version, only some links are available. I looked at the actual site, and saw that there are price ranges for different services. They work closely with you, also, giving you a proposal for alibi before they act. Here’s my take on this: I don’t agree with lying. I despise lying, cheating, adulterous people. However, I think this site is just cool. I’m sorry. It goes against all of my ethics. It really does. I think that it’s a disgrace to the human race. However, I just love the concept. I think the person who created this service is seriously a genius. End of story. I give this site a “B” for Brilliant! �16 SPORTS OCTOBER 2, 2007 PREVIEW OF THE WEEK BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor Now that the Lady Colonels have successfully made improvements from a season ago when they posted 6-24 record to 8-11 midway through this season, the next question for the volleyball team is will it return to the Freedom Conference playoffs like the good ‘ol days of 2004? The Lady Colonels are boldly staring in the eyes of the postseason with an early 1-1 conference record leaving the team fourth in the MAC and two and a half games behind first place DeSales. But a home win tonight at 7p.m. against DeSales could possibly set the tone for their final three conference matches against King’s College, Delaware Valley College, and Arcadia University. The Lady Colonels are in control of their own playoff destiny and a performance facelift may be all this team needs. “I just think we need to play more consistently as a team,” said second year head coach Alicia Orlowski. “We’ve kind of been an up and down team where we will play really well and then we’ll fall apart alittle bit. But I think we need to get that consistency and that will put us over the .500 mark. When we’re playing well, we’re pretty unstoppable.” The last time the Lady Colonels saw the .500 mark was Sept. 1 after a tournament loss to King’s College. The Lady Colonels fell short to a three-game sweep by the Lady Monarchs and never could seem to balance the win and loss column since. In the Lady Colonels first conference outing against FDU-Florham (NJ) on Sept. 12, the team lost 3-0 in just their second home match after beating Lycoming College at home two days before. Wilkes has a 1-1 home record. Although the volleyball team has struggled to keep its head above the waters of the .500 sea, the players believe they have a fight that may have them swimming come postseason. On Sept. 22, the Lady Colonels went on the road to face Lycoming College for a second time this season at the Elizabethtown Tournament in Elizabethtown (PA). In one match, the referees appeared to be “picky” about the Lady Colonels ball control putting the team at an emotional disadvantage after Wilkes opened leading two games to none. Needing one more win to seal the deal, Lycoming would take the third game 30-25. The heated battle would end in the fourth game when the Lady Colonels wrapped up their night with a 33-31 win. “I’ve never seen them jump so high,” The Beacon/Gino Troiani said Orlowski. “The adrenaline was just there, that they were not going to let the refs take that game away from them.” That win would put the Lady Colonels at a 7-10 record. On Saturday, the Lady Colonels split two games on the road by winning against Brooklyn College (NY) 3-0 and losing by the same margin to Vassar College(NY). With 10 games left prior to the playoff picture the Lady Colonels need to start winning games if they wish to have a shot at being crowned conference champions. Freshman Marissa Harrison leads the Lady Colonels in kills (points) with 162. Junior Katherine Harrington follows with 158 and leads the team in blocking with a total of 34. Harrington, the lone junior, along with seniors Katherine Simone and Kristen Linhart will look to apply their veteran leadership to retain a spot in the postseason that begins with a pivotal game tonight against DeSales. “We are a young team but we are definitely coming together,” said Harrington. “The communication is really starting to click a lot more, so we’re are really starting to gel more as a team. It’s still early in the season so we’re definitely trying to make a run at the playoffs.” DeSales is 3-0 in the MAC Freedom Coonference and will be joining the Lady Colonels at the Marts Center tonight in a game where the end result may begin painting or possibly erasing a playoff picture for the Lady Colonels. Freshman Allison Kelleher prepares for clutch conference games during practice. The Lady Colonels have ten games remaining and will hope to be dancing into the MAC Freedom Conference playoffs that will tip off Wednesday Oct. 31. The Beacon/Gino Troiani �SPORTS OCTOBER 2, 2007 17 COUPON CLU# 1854 SAVINGS! Supermarkets RECEIVE $5 OFF ONE PURCHASE OF $25 OR MORE WITH THIS COUPON! Limit 1 coupon per customer. $25 is after the deduction of AdvantEdge savings, coupons and gift certificates. Offer excludes alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, gift cards and lottery tickets. Offer effective Sun., Sept. 30 thru Sat., Nov. 3, 2007 in all Price Chopper stores. ------ ■Iii 16.9 oz. Bottles Price Chopper Desert Spring Water 30 Pack liiM We’re Smart To s e m o C t I n e Wh ! e g e l l o C t a Saving Maruchan Ramen Noodles 6 Pack Save With the ! AdvantEdge Card Your Receipts! See The Savings Onunts will automat- The AdvantEdge disco m your shopping ically be deducted fro ttom of your bo total. Just look at the AdvantEdge and al tot the receipt to see on/offer discount. manufacturers' coup EXCLUDES RECYCLED 8 1/2"x11"•92 Brightness been g! 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Limit 1 coupon per customer. Cannot be combined with any other offer or sale. Offer effective Sun., Sept. 30 thru Sat., Nov. 3, 2007 in our In-Store Photo Labs Only. OFFERS EFFECTIVE SUN., SEPT. 30 THRU SAT., NOV. 3, 2007 IN ALL PRICE CHOPPER STORES. �OCTOBER 2, 2007 Seahawks v. Steelers SPORTS COMMENTARY Double Take Stepth examines the facts that truly matter... BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Opinion Asst. Editor BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Two seasons ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahwaks faced each other in the SuperBowl, with the Steelers being victorious, amid a sea of bad calls and questionable officiating. Last season, the Seahawks returned to the playoffs with a 9-7 record, but lost to the Bears in the divisional playoffs. The Steelers were not as successful following their championship season, as they were without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for a portion of the season. Now both teams are making a run for the playoffs, and will be facing off against each other this weekend. Pittsburgh(30), is a m u c h d i ff e r e n t team than in 2005, as it is without running back Jerome Bettis, who retired after the SuperBowl, and head coach Bill Cowher, who resigned after last season. Despite this,the team is having a good season in their absence, due to success on both sides of the ball. The Steelers’ offense is averaging over 30 points and 350 yards during their first three games, while their defense has been stellar, holding their opponents to an average of 8.7 points. The offense has been the result of a solid passing game that is being engineered by Roethlisberger, whose 563 passing yards and 6 touchdowns have helped establish a solid running game by Najeh Davenport and Willie Parker. But the real reason for Pittsburgh’s success has been its defense, which is ranked number one in the AFC in points per game(8.7), and number two in yards per game (244.3). The defense is anchored by linebackers 18 James Farrior and James Harrison, who are leading the team with 17 total tackles. On the other side, the Seahawks(2-1) will be relying on their offense to get a win, as that has been their main method of attack so far in this young season, ranking 7th in the NFC with 21.3 points per game. Offensively, the Seahawks are led by running back Shaun Alexander, who has averaged just over 90 yards per game on the ground, with two touchdowns so far. Seattle’s quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck, has been solid, throwing for 250.3 yards per game so far, with 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. His favorite targets have been wide receivers Bobby Engram, who has 197 yards on 13 receptions with 1 touchdown, and newly acquired Deion Branch, who has 199 yards on 13 receptions and 1 touchdown. The Seahawks’ offense isn’t overpowering; however, their defense has been making up for it so far, allowing only 16.7 points per game on average, despite allowing 375.7 yards per game, which is ranked second worst in the NFC. Seattle’s defense is led by linebacker Lofa Tatupu, who leads the team in total tackles with 23 to go along with one interception, as well as linebacker Julian Petersen, who has 20 total tackles and two sacks. Offensively, the advantage goes to the Steelers, who have a number of offensive options to complement Ben Roethlisberger’s abilities. The determining factor in the game is the defense, however, as the Steelers have shut down the opposition so far this season, while the Seahawks have been less successful in stopping opposing offenses, especially their passing game. Expect to see Pittsburgh exploit Seattle’s defense, while shutting down their passing and running game. Da pick: Pittsburgh Steelers: 38 Seattle Seahawks: 13 As I sat down to write this I had already made up my mind. The Steelers are definitely going to win. I mean, I have never even heard of the Seahawks, and I think it’s kind of lame to name your team The SEAattle SEAhawks. On the other hand, there’s no way I wouldn’t have heard of the Steelers. They are the Pittsburgh Steelers, as in Pennsylvania. I have to support the home state. Plus if I didn’t pick the Steelers I think my dad might kill me. I came to the conclusion that I needed another factor to decide which team I wanted to win besides “my daddy told me so.” That’s when I went on their websites. I wanted to choose the team that had the cooler website. The Seahawks won that without a doubt. They have far better colors and a more creative layout. This left my decision up in the air. I have to pick a winner. That’s the whole point of this column. Well, it became clear to me who the winner would be with one scroll down a webpage. As I glanced over the Seahawk’s official website, I noticed something that was cheesier than their team name. The Seahawk’s cheerleaders are called the Sea Gals. While a play on words tends to work for some things, this is not one of them. I wonder if they teach their kids to write the alphabet A, B, SEA, D. Maybe they call their coaches and other sideline people the Sea Guys. Clearly, trying to use “sea” in all different ways doesn’t even work if you aren’t taking it seriously. I don’t know about you, but I think it’s pretty obvious that the Steelers are definitely going to take this one. They are from Pennsylvania, my dad likes them and they don’t have a cheesy name for their cheerleaders, they don’t even have cheerleaders. So, the Steelers can say SEA ya to the Seahawks Quick Hits... Who? Pittsburgh Steelers v. Seattle Seahawks When? Sunday, October 7th Tube? FOX56, 10:00 a.m. �SPORTS OCTOBER 2, 2007 Athlete of the Week BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor Before grabbing her stick to prepare for a Lady Colonels’ field hockey game, sophomore Jennifer Keegan, a farm girl from Shohola (PA), finds motivation in one thing: rap music. After the sounds of Soulja Boys’ famous hit “Superman” boost Keegans’ adrenaline to get her pumped up for the game, it’s time for her to put on an offensive show for the Lady Colonels. Now that she has started all ten games and is leading her team in the scoring category, it’s safe to say that Soluja Boys’ lyrics have Keegan wearing the “S” on her chest for the Lady Colonels. Ever since the first game of the season, Keegan has proved that she is a vital part of this year’s Lady Colonels squad. “Jen is a very aggressive forward and what’s great about her is that she is really scrappy in the circle (the only place on the field a player can score),” said head coach Sarah Miller. On Sept. 1, the Lady Colonels “cranked up” their sticks and took a trip to Bethlehem (PA) to face Moravian College in front of approximately 150 field hockey fans. With only 25 minutes left to play, Keegan and the Lady Colonels found themselves down two goals to none. Being down by two goals seemed to frustrate Keegan, but that same anger lit a much needed fire under her after a team huddle with one of the captains. “Kristina (Naveira) had given us a big pep talk and it really pumped everyone up, especially me, because when I get angry I guess I play better,” said Keegan. “I just took it down field and scored it. Three minutes later I scored again. Then, I set Alyssa (Koncelik) up because she was open and I 169 The Beacon/James Rosato wasn’t.” “It was just team worked, we all talked to each other and wanted it really bad and it just came together,” Keegan added. Keegans’ two unassisted goals in three minutes and a pass to Koncelik for the final goal of the game led the Lady Colonels to a 3-2 win in their first game of the season. Keegan tops the team in goals scored with five while accounting for three of the teams 12 assists. Keegan and senior Lindsay Thomas share the Lady Colonels lead in assists. After posting a team overall record of 99 record last season to go along with three goals in her freshman campaign, Keegan believes this year she and the 4-6 Lady Colonels can turn things around en route to a MAC Freedom Conference title. 19 Football from PAGE 20 defensive back Darius Harrison. Harrison took one of his interceptions to the house for the Colonels’ initial touchdown in the first quarter off an 85 yard return down the sideline leaving him gasping for air as he ran back to his teams side of the field. “I was dying at the end,” said Harrison. “I was tired, but I knew I had to score to help the team in whatever way I could to help win the game. It (the touchdown) gave the defense a little energy and a swagger to come out and play like we know we can.” Despite Harrisons’ early interception touchdown return to set the tone for the Colonels defense, the team managed to give up 304 passing yards of a total 426 yards by Lebanon Valley. Lebanon Valley had possession for 38:16 of the game on 87 total plays called. The Colonels rallied for 293 total yards of their own in which 178 of those were on the ground. Karaffa finished the day by completing 11 of 26 passes and two touchdowns passes, one to senior tight end Kyle Regner and sophomore tight end Drew Letcavage. The Colonels are currently 1-3 overall and 1-0 in the MAC Freedom Conference. The homecoming game this Saturday will feature FDU-Florham (NJ). FDU has lost two and won two games so far into the season including a win against William Paterson, a team that beat the Colonels at home. WEEKLY RECAPS Women’s Volleyball The Wilkes University volleyball team split a pair of matches at a tri-match hosted by Vassar College on Saturday. The Lady Colonels posted a 30-14, 30-12, 30-17 win over Brooklyn College in their first match of the day. Wilkes then dropped a 30-20, 30-19, 3021 decision to the host school in the nightcap. Men’s Tennnis The Wilkes University men’s tennis team cruised to a 9-0 win over Susquehanna University on Sunday afternoon at the Ralston Complex. The Colonels ran their record to 2-1, while the Crusaders slipped to 0-3. Women’s Tennis Wilkes University won a pair of matches on Saturday in a rare women’s tennis doubleheader at the Ralston Complex. The Lady Colonels fashioned a 9-0 triumph over Keystone College in their first match of the day, before scoring an 8-1 victory over Susquehanna University in the nightcap. The two wins improved Wilkes to 9-1 overall. NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 9 25 19 Number of yards rushing yards Both women’s and men’s tennis Total number of attacks (points) Number of tackles by senior by freshman running back Alex sweep their opponents this past by junior Katherine Harrington All-American Kyle Follweiler on Pearson in the Colonels victory weekend. Six of the matches were in the Lady Colonels victory over the road against Lebanon Valley. over Lebanon Valley on SepBrooklyn College this past SaturTen of his tackles were unassingles competitions and the tember 29. day. The team won 3-0. sisted. other three were doubles. �Sports OCTOBER 2, 2007 20 Finally! Beacon Archives/Todd Weibel Freshmen help Colonels to first win of the season BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor After a brutal three-game manhunt, the Colonels have finally found what they’ve been searching for during their fourth outing. Not only did they pick up their first win of the season in their conference debut against Lebanon Valley (PA), but the team has found themselves a shining new face in the backfield in running back Alex Pearson. Sophomore Corey Carter started the game against Lebanon Valley just as he did the first three games, but suffered an ankle injury after a seven yard run in the first quarter. “(Being injured) was crazy, because we worked so hard during our bye week and everybody stepped their game up,” said Carter. “Coach told us it’s finally time to start winning, the offensive line did better, and everyone went down for extra film so the feeling of being injured hurt me. But I’m happy that we won because that’s more important than my individuals stats.” Carter stated that even when he injured his ankle in practice and in previous games, he usually returns to the field after he shakes it off. Unfortunately, he couldn’t return to the field to finish the game and that’s when the stage opened up for Pearson. Two plays after Carter’s injury, on first down and 10 to go, Pearson took the handoff from senior quarterback Al Karaffa for a 12yard run and the rest was history. The Colonels opened the fourth quarter on Lebanon Valley’s four yard line and were close to pulling away from being deadlocked at 22 a piece. Karaffa and the Colonels would use all four downs before he missed the target on a pass to senior wide receiver Rocky D’Anconti from the two yard line leaving that offensive series scoreless. Just as Lebanon Valley’s defense shut down their offense, the Colonels defense would get a little payback of their own. During the seven minute mark of the fourth quarter, Karaffa completed one of his two interceptions to Russ Destafano for an 18-yard return at Lebanon Valley’s 30 yard line. Lebanon Valley used 17 plays in 06:43 to make it to the Colonels one yard line, but was stopped short after three attempts at punching in a touchdown. Senior All-American middle linebacker Kyle Follweiler stopped Lebanon Valley’s running back, Bryan Lynch, for a loss of four yards. Follweiler put on an phenomenal performance racking up 19 tackles after totaling 20 in the Colonels previous game against Rowan University (NJ). After getting seven shots to score inside the Colonels 10 yard line, Lebanon Valley sent their field goal unit to end the game with 01:13 but to no avail. The kick by Dan DiBona would miss off the left upright sending the Colonels to their first overtime game since September 16, 2006 when they beat Delaware Valley at Ralston Field. The Colonels struck first in overtime beginning with a 17 yard pass to junior wide receiver Jason Prushinski for. Three yards away from glory, Pearson would finish off Lebanon Valley with a touchdown leaving the final score at 29-22. The 5’9” freshman from Lawrence (NJ) carried the load for the Colonels rushing attack posting a team season high in yards with 169, the most rushing yards in a game by a running back since last year’s Tom Andrepoulos put up 186 against Susquehanna on November 4, 2006. Lebanon Valley had one more shot to tie the game during overtime from the Colonels 25 yard line, but Follweiler snatched away that opportunity with an interception of third down off a pass from freshman quarterback Caleb Fick. The Colonels defense capped Saturday with three total interceptions including two by freshman See Football on PAGE 19 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 October 2nd Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 October 2 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/5c784f7b77a454e2faf91cdc435005a6.pdf 67f55571e569bff96b7961e3e8b3a725 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW OCTOBER 9, 2007 In This Issue... Going Green? Page 6 ~ Pages 10-11 www.wilkesbeacon.com S.P.A.N. organizers change course Volume 60 Issue 5 After three week struggle with SG, students gain club status BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor After a three-week battle and a push online to get students to come to a Student Government meeting in support of their cause, the group of students who were seeking to create a Wilkes’ chapter of the Student Peace Action Network (S.P.A.N.) decided instead to seek club status as an independent body, free from any national organization, under the title of Wilkes in the World. The club recognition comes after three weeks of discussion, a split vote in the general board and a presidential veto that set SG members to the task of trying to overturn the veto. The division in SG centered on the question of whether S.P.A.N. would be any different from the current Student Political Action Forum (S.P.A.F.). The group of students, who insisted their main concern was raising money for humanitarian aid across The Beacon/James Rosato About 10 people representing the group of students wanting to create a Wilkes chapter of the globe decided to change their affiliation. the Student Peace Action Network spoke in front of SG on Wednesday. The group later decided to disassociate themselves from the national organization and create a new club, See SPAN page 4 Wilkes in the World. The Beacon/Cara Koster New interim Interfaith Coordinator named Diocese of Scranton sends temporary replacement BY AMY FUSCO Beacon Correspondent The Beacon / Cara Koster Page 12 , Courtesy of Valerie Martinez Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 The Beacon/James Rosato Cheryl Cavalari, the new interim Interfaith Coordinator, was introduced to the university at Wednesday’s SG meeting. The Wilkes Interfaith office is currently in need of a permanent coordinator, and the Diocese of Scranton, the local governing body for the Catholic church, is leading that search. In fact, the Wilkes position is funded by the Diocese, despite the fact that the university is technically independent of specific religious affiliation. The position is designed to lead students of all faiths. Angela Hermes, vacated the Interfaith Coordinator position last academic year. The process of hiring someone involves the Diocese selecting a few finalists out of the applicants. After this selection process, the finalists are interviewed by Wilkes University to decide which one best fits the position. Temporarily, Wilkes has hired Cheryl Cavalari, the Director of Northeast Campus Ministries, to fill in the position. According to Philip Ruthkosky, Director of Student Development, Cavalari will “meet and discuss matters of faith,” such as morals and values, with anyone who would like to participate. Every Tuesday at 5:30 PM, Cavalari will offer a session called the “Feast of Faith” where students, faculty, or staff, are invited to come and converse about faiths and enjoy a meal cooked by volunteer students. See FAITH page 3 �NEWS OCTOBER 9, 2007 New Dean of Library Sciences announced BY YOHANNA DE LOS SANTOS MARIA Beacon Correspondent Shaddy is a professional in this After a long search, the Far- area. He possesses a Master of ley Library will finally welcome Arts in Library Sciences from the a new Dean of Library Sciences University of Missouri-Columbia, later this semester. May 1986; Doctor of Philosophy, Dr. Robert A. Shaddy was se- History from the University of lected by the library search com- Missouri-Columbia, December mittee to occupy this new position. 1990; and also completed gradu“It was a highly selective process ate study in English from the Unithat lasted from February to July versity of Toledo, 1996-1998. of 2007,” said Dr. Frederick SulIn addition, Shaddy also has livan, who was the chairperson of plenty of experience in library the search committee. leadership. Some of his previous Linda Chishlom from CEO Re- jobs include Associate Professor sources worked with a committee of library administration and Diof Wilkes University members to rector of The Ward M. Canaday research candidates who were pre- Center for Special Collections at qualified for the position. Inter- the Library of the University of views were then conducted among Toledo, Associate Professor and more than five candidates to deter- Chair, Interdisciplinary and Spemine who was “the best leader,” cial Programs at University Colaccording to Sullivan. This job lege of University of Toledo, and requires great leadership skills University Librarian and Chair because it will take the library to at the Department of Special and new heights. Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries of the University of Florida. He is currently Professor of Library and Chief Librarian at Queens College Libraries. The Dean’s role at the Farley Library will include ensuring that the library is up to date in every aspect. “We want a new direction for the library. We want to modernize and keep on with technology so that we can teach students to become more involved,” said Dr. Reynold C. Verret, Provost. Shaddy will present a plan to the Provost’s office after studying the library and later will work to develop proper funding for changes. Some of the changes expected are: new ways of accessing information and more print sources becoming online sources. Sullivan said that the importance of the new Dean of the Library is clear, “The library has been neglected and we want to revitalize 2 Capital Campaign SPAN changes course News Briefs 3 4 5 it; that is the purpose [of this role].” Verret described Shaddy as an “Excellent choice, we believe he has the qualification for this job.” Shaddy will assume his role at the Farley Library in November. (RIGHT) Dr. Robert A. Shaddy will fill the role of Wilkes’ Dean of Library Sciences. Courtesy Dr. Robert Shaddy BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andee Scarantino Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Alison Woody Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz The Beacon/Andrew Seaman For the past few weeks, the basement of Stark has been plagued by numerous leaks that are capable of filling garbage cans to the brim with water in a day. Some of these leaks come from the hot water and have caused the ceiling tiles to disintagrate. At one point during the week, there were at least three receptacle being used to collect the water. Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support Services, was unavailable for comment. For a video of the leaks in Stark, please visit www.wilkesbeacon.com Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �NEWS OCTOBER 9, 2007 3 Capital campaign moving ahead despite absence of Williams BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor Despite the absence of the Vice President of Development, Marty Williams, Wilkes University is moving forward with its planned capital campaign. Williams suffered a stroke on Easter Sunday last spring, and there is no comment as to if, when, or in what capacity he may return. Dr. Tim Gilmour, Wilkes University’s president said, “Although Mr. Williams’ leadership is very much missed, the development and alumni offices are doing as well as can be expected under the able leadership of Sandra Carroll, [Director of Alumni Relations], who also serves as the interim VP, and Mike Wood, the Executive Director of Development.” Williams has been recovering since the stroke and Dr. Paul Adams, VP of Student Affairs, said, “Whenever I see Marty, he seems to be improving. He’s come so far.” Gilmour agreed, “[His] recovery to date from his stroke is nothing short of remarkable and a true blessing.” Sandra Carroll explained how her position has transitioned. “Mr. Williams hired me in 2005. As staff transitions took place in the division, my position transitioned from strictly Alumni Relations to include Annual Giving Programs. Through this transition, Marty and I worked very closely to find new ways to meet the challenge to raise more funds to grow [the] endowment, fund scholarships and other institutional priorities. “Our team began the planning for the campaign, Leading to Greatness. As our leader, Marty shared his thought process and strategic vision, which probably prepared us better to continue the work before us than anything else might have. Our collective experience, pockets of institutional memory and excitement for what is Wilkes keeps us moving forward,” Carroll added. Adams echoed Carroll and suggested that the smooth transition can be attributed to Williams, “I think because of Marty’s leadership, they’ve been able to really carry on without missing a beat. Marty created a staff of people who were professional, capable, and have the will to carry on.” Also, both Carroll and Adams said that the Development staff would be expanding to meet the needs of the new campaign. “When you do a capitol campaign, you always ramp up your staff because it’s such an intensive effort… Certainly the leadership, Sandra Carroll and Mike Wood were here prior to Marty’s absence, but since that time it was always planned that new folks would be coming on board and would be added to the staff to do all of the work that needs to be done in a campaign. There’s so much that has to be done,” said Adams. “The addition of two new staff members, soon a third, assures that we will continue to meet the challenges of doing a good job for Wilkes,” said Carroll. See CAPITAL page 4 Courtesy Marketing Communication Wilkes’ VP for Development, Marty Williams is still recovering from the stroke he suffered on Easter Sunday. The Wilkes community is moving on with a new capital campaign. Live - lit: Wednaday Nlghi,Od. :Huh PauJMa.i:tio "Si.gnel' Sonrgwriter Bnng youc stndc.nt JD th.c- night of th.tpe:rfumi:m« mdl ge:t 25% off your ~fe ffi'der. ecialt3 2 Large Pizzas + Bucket 30 Wings 2 Lairge·P 'zzas $1.5.99 1 $24,.99 -_ .eddl2 1 rge Pizza + l Dozen Wings, 1 . 14. 95 _ , · Iii.! ~ t . ! (blil.e ~ & t · S ulal#4 ] L~ Piz.7.a + 16 Wmgs 2 Liter Soda ],7.99 &r ttlety i ~ t d} Monday 35 eent W:mg.s wt .a pwd1 !lie of :sod-ai ~ ttirt try m1;:h:d~ :ilias. w/ a. pm-dia!'le: of a :sod (in. house·,on.1.y) \-Ve.alne.sd Aff.y bw-gcrldu~ ~dwim -$4. ( 5 w/ a pur~e of :ai soc:h tio ttit: · ...•illsc,nbhl-e ru_gh.t" eve,ry Tuesday m,ght from 7::®0~8:JOpm •'"AubJr ~ r ' Diya Du Satunfay, Oc:tob r 131h 1:00-3:00pm Autiho.r o:I "'In M:ind" .and] •th_c .Bvolu.tio.n. of .m Idt:nti.ty' .A Se.Di~ i.t ¥fY(nn.if11 Semmaq Ptq,~tciit.}• ScliJJol Come ,c.cldbratc our tt:1 · cu Annive Tucsdq, OCW\b~ 16th! .D o ~fuirgct to pic'k UJ a >RF~q,u..c;ri:t Buyer Curl. ' t odi'.}4 Hl'l•Jl...-v.u't forgd to,nse yo 'iFLF..X DOLLARS Bil:' . ,t i!!l!I . r.al - ■ l llill Ii- ■ I 1 • 1 ■■■ UI . �OCTOBER 9, 2007 SPAN from FRONT PAGE The Beacon/James Rosato Andy Julian, junior class representative, talks about how the Wilkes based group’s goals and the national organization’s contradict each other. NEWS SG members confronted them with the fact that the national organization’s website took a strong political stance with comments like, “…Peace Action has been dedicated to the principles that every human being has the right to live without the threat of nuclear weapons; that war is not a suitable response to conflict; and that because America has the resources to both provide for and protect its citizens, our economy must focus on priorities like education and health care rather than excessive Pentagon budgets.” Throughout the meeting, SG members tried to convey that they felt that the goals of S.P.A.N. did not coincide with the goals of the students seeking to form the club. Ellie Galiatsatos, SG Corresponding Secretary, told the students, “I love your idea, and I love what you guys stand for, and I love what you guys are going after, but personally I don’t see the correlation with the national organization that you guys are trying to become affiliated with.” Andy Julian, junior class representative, echoed Galiatsatos’s comments, “Everyone respects the fact that you want to do humanitarian [aid] and bring it all in. But what we got from the website was a lot different... I got on, read what they want to do and then we got on, me and another member, got on to the events. Every single one of them was political protest, every one,” Julian added. Galiatsatos read a mission statement from S.P.A.N.’s website and then noted, “I don’t know about anybody else, but from what I got from that, S.P.A.N., the national organization, just seems very United States based… It is very political.” Elizabeth Clark, a junior english/ education major, was one of the main spokespeople for the students speaking to form the group. She explained to SG, “We discussed the idea of Wilkes in the World, making it into a different group… and it wouldn’t be national… but it would be that central idea of humanitarianism.” Galiatsatos immediately replied with a smile, “I don’t know whether to clap or not.” After, a short discussion, SG decided to grant Wilkes in the World club status, with a vote of 29 in favor, 9 opposed and 2 abstaining from the vote. The club status was granted under the condition that the club comes before SG before they join any national organization. For SG NOTES, check online at www.wilkesbeacon.com. CAPITAL 4 from PAGE 3 President Gilmour told The Beacon that the campaign is on schedule and added, “We began work on the capital campaign this summer. Because we are in the early stages, however, we cannot provide information on funds raised to date. Early indications are that the campaign will go well.” As for when or if Williams will be returning to his position, Carroll, Adams and Gilmour couldn’t say. “Everybody would love to have Marty here and engaged in the work that he had been doing,” said Adams. Gilmour also declined comment saying, “These are questions that, because they are personnel matters, I really can’t speak specifically to.” Carroll also couldn’t comment on when or if Williams would return, but added that they will continue to work towards the vision of the university. “As for when Mr. Williams returns-that is something I really can’t answer. I don’t know-all I know is that each day, we set out to make a difference for Wilkes, try to honor the high standards Marty set for us as he hired us onto the team and set our sights on the vision for the University and how we will travel from where we are now, to where we plan to be in 2010,” said Carroll. ST·UDENT: IN·TRNSHP 4 NXT SEMEST·ER? CO-OP OFFICE: GO 2 INTRN FAIR ON 10/25! INTERNSHIP FAIR OCTOBE'R 25, 2007 11AM--1PM BALLROOM, 2ND FLOOR SUB CONTACT; SHARON .CASTA,NO@.\VJLKR5-EDUJ' 4.08 -2950 - GAIN ACADEMIC CREDITS - RECEIVE t-::J\.fPI OVMENT REFERENCES - NETWORK WITH POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS - ENI-L\NCEYOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS - DECIDE WI IAT CAREER PAT·J I IS RIGI IT FOR YOU - GAIN HANDS ON EXPERIENCE BEFORE GRADUATION �OCTOBER 9, 2007 Beacon News Briefs NEWS 5 Local, National, and International Snippets Local (Wilkes University) The winner of the James Jones First Novel Fellowship will be awarded in early November to Robin Oliveira, who beat out over 600 other entrants with her novel, The Last Beautiful Day. Oliveira will be award $10,000 at the 2007 James Jones Literary Society (JJLS) Symposium. The winning novel introduces readers to Mary Sutter, a midwife at the time of the Civil War, who, thanks to a variety of social and personal issues, is prevented from becoming a physician. The award is co-sponsored by the Graduate Creative Writing Department at Wilkes University and the JJLS. (Wilkes-Barre) As of late Friday, October 5, Melvin Stuart, the suspect in a stabbing at 375 South Franklin Street was still at large. The victim, Albert DeHaven, 43, was stabbed multiple times and was robbed of $32. There is no word on DeHaven’s condition. (Wyoming Valley) U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, announced that $20 million will find its way to the Wyoming Valley to help cleanup the polluted Susquehanna River. Most pollutants enter the water during heavy rains and snow falls when these pollutants overflow and find their way to the river. National (Richmond, Va.) U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Da- vis died Saturday morning, October 6, after long battle with breast cancer. Davis, who was a Republican, was diagnosed with ise Ogborn $6.1 million in punitive and compensatory damages and expenses on Friday, October 5. Ogborn, was forced to gravated assault, robbery and firearms offenses. The victims, William Widmaier and Joseph Alullo, were retired police officers and friends. International (Islamabad, Pakistan) State run television in Pakistan reported on Saturday, October 6, that President Pervez Musharraf was elected for a third term. However, there are currently challenges against the election in Pakistan’s Supreme Court, and the court can still overturn the decision plunging the country into a political quagmire. (London) After many brushes with death crossing the globe, Jason Lewis, a British adventurer, crossed the Meridian Line completing his expedition that began in 1994. Along the way the 40 year-old was hit by a car, attacked by a crocodile, captured, and capsized in the Atlantic Ocean. The Beacon/Andrew Seaman U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, announced that $20 million will find its way to the Wyoming Valley to help cleanup the polluted Susquehanna River. breast cancer in 2005. Her cancer then reappeared again this year, and she was receiving treatment at Duke University. Despite positive and encouraging reports, this week Davis’ health became worse and the 57 year-old congresswoman died at her home in Gloucester. (Bullitt County, Ky.) A jury awarded Lou- strip and was then sexually assaulted in the back office of a McDonald’s restaurant in 2004. (Philadelphia, Pa.) On Saturday, police in Philadelphia arrested and charged Mustafa Ali with the execution style killings of two armored car security guards on Thursday. Ali, who lives in Philadelphia, has been charged with two counts of murder, ag- (Yangon, Myanmar) Houses and temples in Myanmar are being searched for monks suspected of leading the largest anti-government protest since 1988. So far, “truckloads” of people have been detained and monks have fled to the Thai border. There are also reports of monasteries being abandoned and monks being forcibly disrobed. STSTRAVEL.COM Join America’s #1 Student Tour Operator CANCUN, ACAPULCO, JAMAICA, BAHAMAS PUERTO VALLARTA, SOUTH PADRE FLORIDA, CRUISES The Beacon/Jenna Stephens Career Services offered an informational session on graduate schools during club hours on Thursday. They will also be offering a practice GMAT, GRE or LSAT to those interested on October 20th. Those interested should register with Career Services by Oct. 14, careers@wilkes.edu. Sell Trips, Earn Cash & Travel Free www.ststravel.com STUDENT TRAVEL SERVICES 1-800-648-4849 / www.ststravel.com llam-5:15pm .- · B~tikows]sy Jewelers 141 South,MainSt Wilkes-Barre 570 823-7111 www.bartikowfi<J;.com *Limitedtofirst1oo curtomers �Opinion YouTube could give you fame 7 Angry Rant: Bad Parents 7 R-E-S-P-E-C-T 8 OCTOBER 9, 2007 6 Go Green campaign admirable, but needs consistency BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD Wilkes University has made a commitment to further improve its environmental friendliness, and for the most part, many parts of the campus are making significant gains in the right direction. Despite the positive strides Wilkes is taking to ensure a greener campus, there are a few black and blue splotches. For example, in the newly developed green areas, hiding among the flowers are “bug bags.” At a first glance, the bags look like they’re filled with chemicals, or possibly water. In reality, the bags are filled with hundreds of dead wasps and bees. Understandably, this is eliminating a number of pests, but there are also hundreds of dead blackeyed susans and other flowers around the bags. Several studies reported recently by National Public Radio and National Geographic acknowledge that honeybee populations are dwindling due to mites and parasites. While we do not know if the dead bugs in the bags include honeybees, even the chance that we are contributing to the problem is worrisome. We also wonder whether there is a chemical that draws the bugs that is simultaneously bad for the plants around it. We’re just not sure what the bug bags are really supposed to do. Another problem with the landscape is the new sidewalks. Yes, they are quite interesting to look at, but they’re sprayed with a form of lacquer. Not only does the lac- quer seem to not fit the mold of “environmentally friendly,” but the sidewalks are constantly slippery because of it. Taking careful notice, many students walk around the outside of the serpentine sidewalks for traction. As a result, the grass runs the risk of being trampled and damaged. Moving inside to the Rifkin Café, staff is still giving students the options of “for here” or “to go.” That wouldn’t be a problem, except that the “to go” option yields receiving lunch in a biodegradable container. The “for here” option gives you a styrofoam plate. If we’re going to commit, really commit, to using environmentally friendly materials that can be recycled, we really need to do so 100% We encourage getting rid of all styrofoam on campus and especially at Rifkin. Many of the residence halls still lack recycling bins. This can prove to be quite a problem, as most beverages in plastic bottles or aluminum cans are consumed there. Each building needs the recycling bins placed in prominent places and we need to be vigilant about making sure that the recycling goes to recycling centers. We support the university’s efforts to make this a greener campus, but it is important to notice the minute details that undermine the course of action. Wilkes students, faculty, and staff need to pay attention to things like bug bags, sidewalks, and consistent application of new greener practices. The responsibility lies with everyone to pay attention and ask questions when things don’t add up. Slippery sidewalks make walking hazardous to ask most administrators at this university what their primary concerns are, I am sure they will say their students. That is why these sidewalks should be done away with. There is a good possibility that students could be injured while walking on these sidewalks after a rain or the sprinklers have just gone off, because walking on the sidewalks after a drizzle is like walking a sheet of ice. The danger of the wet walkways is only magnified after someone looks at the design of the sidewalks. The design clearly has small depressions in the concrete that inadvertently trap water and BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor Walking to The Beacon office has now become the most dangerous part of my day. This is in no way due to the countless people that may want to put a hit out on me, because of the articles I write. Instead, it’s because of the new sidewalks that have been installed around the newly renovated part of the greenway. A quick show of hands in any classroom around this university can attest to what a safety hazard these sidewalks are. I personally can’t say how many times I have fallen on these new, KMvJ, 'j<llJ. ~,,.J('f sko~\,t:t shiny, troublesome walkv,.b.\~ On 1'h,e, s -~e,wc,.U¼ he.re. ways. I admit that part of the problem rests with the students. If they fall and choose not to report it, administrators do not know that there’s a problem. But there are many reasons as to why these new sidewalks should be done away with. First, safety. I say this is first, because if you were '!ou. ~) . cause slippery little pockets on the concrete. Adding to that, the water trapped in these small depressions easily freezes and traps the ice to create small ponds of ice all over the new sidewalks. This trapped ice, may also be the cause for the cracks we are seeing in the new sidewalks by Conygnham Hall and elsewhere. How do we remedy this situation? The first step is admitting there’s a problem. The second step in the process is to replace the troublesome sidewalks with new ones, which allow students to get traction and will not end in broken bones and torn ligaments. The only problem will be the cost of these replacement sidewalks. Where will the money come from? Personally, I think that the university should be able to find a few donors that would gladly help the them pay for these much needed replacements. I know I would greatly appreciate it. In the end, it is up to administrators as to whether the sidewalks are replaced, but I strongly encourage action. Winter is right around the corner and by being proactive, it is the smart, ethical, and responsible choice. q_( A1-J. wk 'f'6 \ lcA ~ ~ ( A Sight for Sore Eyes by: Aleksander Lapinski Beacon Poll Results Americans have a lot to worry about. The ongoing Iraq war, stock market and housing investThe following are results of a ment instability, drug busts, AIDS, poll that The Beacon conductand environmental concerns domed online this past week. The inate the nightly news reports. Is poll was unscientific, and does it any wonder that with such boldnot claim to reflect the overall face headlines other issues fail to attitudes of students on camcapture our attention? Seemingly pus. Results are based on 50 “less important” social problems responses. like homelessness, poverty, and the growing deficit tend to make inside pages, if that, because of The Beacon asked: the pressing nature of the other stories. Whoofis those your favorite One sidebar celebrity issues that criminal? only occasionally squeaks onto the public radar is animal cruelty. Re• animal Paris cruelty Hilton-16% cently has become • mainstream Robert Downey Jr.-8% a more issue with ma• Lindsay football Lohan-3% jor corporations, players, and •even50cent-8% local people stirring up • Hugh Grant-4% the issue. Animal cruelty involves • Paul (Pee-Wee anything fromReubens dog fighting, and shooting Herman)-16% whales, to killing aniLil and Kim-0% mals•for fur animal testing. Johnnyisn’t Cash-32% The• problem awareness; it • more Nicole Richie-0% is that people appear to beTyson-3% lieve• thatMike it’s okay to hurt animals for personal benefit or enjoyment. Worse, is aQuestion: small contingent Next there Week’s in the country who believe that the practice animal Which of the sevencruelty deadlycan sin be excused becausethe of most? age-old culdo you commit tural practices. Just• two weeks ago the Makah Pride tribe• made Lustthe wire over the issue of • whaling. Envy Years ago the Native •American Sloth tribe legally killed whales something of a sport. • asGluttony The •tribeWrath suspend its practice because• theAnger grey whale was placed on the species listofand • endangered I don’t commit any federal the government prohibited sins whaling. However, in 1994, the • I commit multiple grey whale came off deadly of the endanor all of the sins gered list. The obtained a permit in Visittribe www.wilkesbeacon.com 1999 to your kill avote. whale whichwill outto cast Results raged rights groups. After a be animal published in next week’s court hearing became necessary issue ofit The Beacon. for the tribe to receive a waiver in order to hunt whales. Recently, members of the tribe shot a grey whale repeatedly with a rifle before they were due to receive their waiver. The five men involved are all facing fines of up to $20,000 �OCTOBER 9, 2007 OPINION 7 YouTube: From Romania to Wilkes Internet celebs redefining the mainstream BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor Over the years the internet has become a huge part of the lives of Americans and people all over the world. I, for one, could absolutely not live without it. We use it for research, banking, e-mailing, blogging, and endless other tasks. My personal favorite is for the videos. Amateur directors, actors, singers, dancers etc. are making a name for themselves by posting their videos on the World Wide Web. Honestly, what could be an easier way to get your talents seen or heard than just posting on a website such as YouTube? People everywhere have access to such websites, people from all different networks and industries. If they see something they like, they can message the user who posted it and from there anything could happen. The band OK Go started by shooting a video for their song “Here it Goes Again” and posting it on YouTube. Their video showed the band members doing a choreographed dance on treadmills to their song. They soon got recognition and had a hit single and a live performance of their treadmill act on the MTV Video Music Awards. They also won a Grammy for Best Short-form Music Video. With over 59,903,928 views on just one copy of the video The Evolution of Dance is the most viewed video on YouTube. I am a contributor to that huge number and I have to say that it is impressive. Judson Laipply, the dancer in the video, danced for six minutes going through over 30 styles of dance with a different song to accompany each style ranging from Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog” to *NSync’s “Bye Bye Bye.” Since the video surfaced on the web, Laipply has appeared on CNN, MSN, E!, USA Today, Good Morning America, The Today Show, and AOL and has spoken at schools performing his Evolution of Dance. There are also the not-so-talented, but still entertaining internet celebrities. One of the first online videos I ever saw was “The Numa Numa Dance” starring Gary Brolsma dancing to “Dragostea din tei” by O-Zone. It’s a love song in the Romanian language and I personally don’t find it amusing, I think it’s irritating, but too many people like it and talk about it for me to not mention it. Video bloggers are also becoming a huge phenomenon. Anyone with a webcam can do it and so many people do. I’m sure everyone remembers seeing or hearing about Britney Spears’ atrocious performance on the MTV VMAs. Soon after the performance, a video was posted depicting a boy with long blonde hair and wearing make-up hysterically crying and ranting about how Britney is going through so much and “ALL YOU PEOPLE WANT IS MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE!” I was in shock to find out that the young man, Crocker, has since signed a deal for his own reality show. Last year I came across a video series on YouTube that follows the lives and adventures of “The Dormies.” The videos star Joe Castiglia, Kyle Cortright, Todd Culbertson, Zack Depew, Lori Kratz, Nick The Angry Rant: Irresponsible Parents BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Note to parents: This is directed at you. Specifically, those of you who aren’t good ones. If you’re like me, you tend to notice when a parent isn’t using common sense when dealing with a child. I’m not trying to be holier than thou, but nothing bothers me more than when I’m out somewhere and I witness a parent doing something that just makes me wonder if the government shouldn’t impose some sort of screening process for people interested in taking on the job. Some of my favorite poor parenting moments: The Midnight Shopper: You know the type: the parent who takes his or her children to Wal-Mart at two in the morning (I’ve had someone try to defend that, but guess what: It’s 2a.m., and your kid should be sleeping…at home). The Ignorer: This is the parent who ignores the children when they are screaming and crying in a public place. I understand that sometimes you need to let them cry, but when you’re in a crowded restaurant or a movie theatre, you need to take them outside. The Yeller: We’ve all seen them: the parents who constantly yell at their kids (again in public places), regardless of whether or not it’s warranted (“Hurry up! Stop chewing so loud! Eat your bananas!”) Someone should let them know that yelling is annoying to everyone else and that their children will eventually ignore them. But then there are some parents who seem to transcend all of the others in terms of sheer common-sense-less-ness. Case in point: I observed a young mother (mid 20s) with her young child (an infant) in downtown Wilkes-Barre. She was pushing him (or her) around in a stroller that looked like it was meant to be a toy that a child would use to push around their dolls. It was literally shaking as she was pushing it across the street, much like a rickety car would shake moments before it broke into a thousand pieces. Aside from the fact that the stroller was terribly unsafe, the infant wasn’t wearing socks or shoes, not to mention that he wasn’t wearing a hat for protection from the sun, which is kind of a big deal, considering it was a sunny, 80 degree day. So let’s recap: Infant child in a poorly made, ten dollar stroller, with no socks, shoes or a hat. Did I mention it was a hot day? But wait, there’s more! After crossing the street in what may as well have been a rickshaw made of balsa wood, the genius of a mother thought it was wise to light up a cigarette, and began to puff away, right next to her infant child. I’ll pause so you can think about that for a moment. Endangering her child in her poorly made stroller wasn’t enough, so she was going for broke with the cigarette, I guess. I’m not here to stump against smoking, but I think that a common sense approach needs to be applied to the issue of smoking laws. Say what you want about smoking in public places; those are certainly murky waters, but we can all agree that the issue of smoking around children, especially infants, needs to be addressed. Wouldn’t it make sense to enact some sort of law that could protect infants and young children from the dangers of second hand smoke? For instance, you can’t smoke in a residence, restaurant, or in any public place within 10 feet of a child, 12 years or younger, or in the presence of pregnant women. Naturally, it should be illegal for pregnant women to smoke or drink, too. Think about it, an adult can make the conscious decision to smoke a tobacco product, just like they can ask someone to Metrus, and Kacy Muir who are all Wilkes University students. The videos take place on campus and cover issues ranging from trying to learn chemistry to a “cure for the itch.” You can find the videos online at www.youtube. com/user/Dormies. With the number of talented people who become famous through the internet as well as the number of untalented but amusing people who become famous online, it’s safe to say that anyone could do it. The internet has not only become a social, educational tool but it’s become a center of all types of entertainment and its overnight, everyday sorts of ‘celebrities’ are redefining the mainstream. stop smoking if it’s bothering them, or if they so choose, they can leave the room. A six-month-old child doesn’t know about tobacco, nor does it have the reasoning abilities to recognize that their health is in danger when someone is smoking around them. Just like they can’t say: “Excuse me, but can you please stop smoking around me? I have a feeling that the chemicals that you’re exhaling aren’t good for my stilldeveloping lungs.” Yes, that sounds ridiculous. An infant couldn’t possibly form complex sentences. But is that any more ridiculous than having a law that protects children from the dangers of secondhand smoke? There are lots of ways in which irresponsibility rears its ugly head in the area of parenting, and I’m sure at some point or another almost any new parent screws up. Children don’t come with a manual, after all. But there’s something to be said for applying some common sense and general courtesy to the child and everyone else. Consider that the decisions parents make today--whether it’s attending a child’s baseball game, teaching them to be kind to others, berating them for not having legs as long as the parents so they can keep up in the grocery store, or lighting a cigarette and giving the gift of second-hand smoke--have repurcussions tomorrow. �OCTOBER 9, 2007 OPINION 8 Tobacco companies may need to think of new audience BY LAUREN SALEM Beacon Correspondent The feud between tobacco companies and the law continues to prosper as the House and the Senate passed a bill that will raise the federal tax on cigarettes to over 100 percent directly targeting low-income people, which are currently tobacco companies’ largest group of consumers. By targeting low-income people, tobacco companies may need to find a new demographic of consumers. According to government statistics, nearly one-third of all U.S. adults living in poverty are smokers and 35 percent of people with less than 11 years of schooling are also smokers, which creates a problem for tobacco companies unless President Bush vetoes the bill. In the past, tobacco companies have managed to respond successfully to the challenges presented by the government by marketing to a new demographic of consumers and by creating a new product. Since it is illegal to smoke before 18 years of age, tobacco companies came out with candy and toys that were shaped to resemble tobacco products to market to kids, because kids who play with candy cigarettes are more likely to become smokers when they get older. Products such as candy cigarettes, chocolate cigars, and bubble gum shredded to resemble chewing tobacco was banned by North Dakota in 1953, but the ban was lifted in 1967, and reconsidered again in 1990. Recently many states including: California, Delaware, New York, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, South Carolina, and Washington, have banned smoking in restaurants, bars, and in some cases workplaces. Business owners like Anne-Marie Adams, executive director of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and Hilton Head Area Hospitality Association, predicted a loss in business, but said in an article posted by the Associated Press, that months after workplace smoking bans were passed, little has changed. The Beacon/Cara Koster In southern BeauWoodbridge, a central New fort County, the Island Jersey township, barred vendors it licenses Packet newspaper surveyed 13 bars and for public events from selling candy and toy restaurants and reported that nine of them tobacco products for the first time in Sep- said that business was good or even better tember 2007. Even though these products than before the smoking bans went into efdo not contain any tobacco, an article post- fect. In addition, this ban made workers’ ed by the Associated Press indicates that the jobs slightly easier, because they no longer township might ban all shops from selling had to scrub the walls to get rid of the yelthem just to make it harder for children to low tobacco stains. On the other hand, resobtain them. taurants that could not provide an outdoor “R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Find out what it means…” Judgements you make on others could have consequences catching, should be applauded. Considering our university isn’t in a huge metropolitan city, it potentially could be harder and take much strength and courage to comfortably Since we were small, most have been express yourself, especially if it’s obvious taught to treat others as you want to be treatthat you will stand out. ed. Be respectful. Try not to judge others Though I should have said something based on their physito those students cal appearance. Don’t about their childish stare because it is rude and ill-mannered. The fact that someone wasn’t afraid to be themselves and not conform behavior, I thought the more appropriRecently, though, I to traditional styles of clothing, in a way that was different, unique, and ate response was was surprised to witeye-catching, should be applauded. to write an article. ness this impolite beImagine for a havior by three Wilkes moment if we upperclassmen. thought about the The other day when I was eating in the cafeteria with my friends, rude and disrespectful the upperclassmen, potential consequences of our thoughts and I noticed three upperclassmen who were who are supposedly “role-models and men- actions we have on others before we put them into motion. Imagine if we changed gawking at a freshman because this indi- tors” to the new students, were being. Personally, I thought the freshman’s choice our attitudes about those who are differvidual was wearing unconventional clothing and had a hair style that is different than of attire was nicely done. The fact that ent, and truly realize that we are not all the someone wasn’t afraid to be themselves and same. Imagine if we just limited or made an most. Even more astonishing was that when I not conform to traditional styles of clothing, effort to stop judging others based on their sat down, which incidentally was behind in a way that was different, unique, and eye- physical characteristics. BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Opinion Editor them, they were smirking and snickering about this individual. One said, “Oh my God, look at that kid! Can you believe what they’re wearing? Gross!” The freshman could have been making some type of statement for whatever reason. Fortunately, this person didn’t notice how space to accommodate smokers suffered a 30 percent drop in business. In response, tobacco companies created a new smokeless tobacco product called snus to give smokers an alternative to cigarettes, so they can still smoke where smoking is banned. Snus is nearly undetectable, because it is a refrigerated packet of tobacco that is stuck inside the mouth and requires no spitting. By passing a bill to increase federal tax on cigarettes, tobacco companies’ current largest group of consumers will no longer be able to afford to smoke, so it is likely that tobacco companies will loose money, because people will smoke less than they did before due to the cost of cigarettes. So how will tobacco companies respond to this new bill? It is possible that they will come out with a new tobacco product that is more appealing to people with high-incomes. The increase in tax on cigarettes will not have as much of an effect on people with high-incomes like it would on people with low-incomes, which is why this may be a possible group of consumers that tobacco companies might want to market to next. What do you think? ■ The Beacon wants your voice to be heard. Your Voices is the opportunity for students to voice their concerns. If you want your voice to be heard, please contact The Beacon with the following information: 1 Contact information including your email address and a phone number where you can be reached 2 Your name, major, and year 3 Your opinion thebeacon.oped@ gmail.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for space and content. �LIFESTYLES OCTOBER 9, 2007 Homecoming montage 10-11 9 Student of the Week: Ellie Galiatsatos BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Lifestyles Editor Ellie Galiatsatos, junior pharmacy major, recently completed planning and executing Wilkes’ annual Homecoming events. However, this year Galiatsatos wanted to make it more meaningful and exciting. Therefore she turned Homecoming into a week-long event for the first time. There was a Pumpkin Carving contest, Trivia Night that focused on facts only about Wilkes, a carnivallike pep rally with a lot of entertainment, and lastly the initiation of a Spirit Squad that attended all sports events this past Saturday. Galiatsatos is very involved in extracurricular activities and is passionate about giving back to Wilkes. She is an active member of Student Government, serves as a biology and chemistry teaching assistant, and is the Resident Assistant at Chesapeake and Delaware. Galiatsatos has been named this week’s Beacon Student of the Week. The Beacon: How did you get to plan Homecoming? Galiatsatos: I was given the opportunity to plan Homecoming because I was chosen as Corresponding Secretary of Student Government. My responsibilities include planning Homecoming and, also, Spring Fling which will happen next semester. The Beacon: What has planning Homecoming meant for you? Galiatsatos: When I first found out that I was going to be Corresponding Secretary, I was really excited because I knew that planning Homecoming was very important and that they were going to be my responsibility. The best thing that I have gotten out of this is that my goal was to make it a full week of events and that was completed. The Beacon: What was your biggest obstacle in planning Homecoming? Galiatsatos: I think the biggest obstacle for planning any large event is having thirty minds come together and put in their input. Also, to be able to weed out the successful ideas from those that maybe won’t go over as well... sometimes it’s counterproductive. By having a Homecoming committee for just this reason, I was able to cover the challenge. The Beacon: How did you get to enjoy Homecoming with all of the stress? Galiasatos: My favorite part of Homecoming was actually getting to see the fruits of my labor. Although it was very stressful and there was a lot going on, I think that my final relaxation point was at the game when I realized that everything was over. The Beacon: Why do you think current students should want to connect with alumni? Galiatsatos: Obviously there is a big benefit because our alumni are very successful and I don’t think our students know this. I think that students don’t realize that there are alumni now that are heads of large corporations or working in the pharmaceutical industry... they are in every single career path that our students want to embark upon. They don’t realize that a lot of times it’s who you know that will get you that in or that opportunity that you may have missed otherwise. Our alumni are very willing to support Wilkes students. They would do anything for us... “My favorite part of Homecoming was actually getting to see the fruits of my labor. Although it was very stressful and there was a lot going on, I think that my final relaxation point was at the game when I realized that everything was over.” If you would like to nominate someone for Student of the Week, send an email to beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com The Beacon/ Gino Troiani �LIFESTYLES 10 . -----------------_ LIFESTYLES OCTOBER 9, 2007 OCTOBER 9, 2007 ion Photos Courtesy of Gino Troiani, Cara Koster, Mark Congdon n eu R ys 11 Tailgate Tent o B Fly HOMECOMING 2007 2007 Homecoming C ourt Harvest Ball rcent e The Five P Trivia Night arving Pumpkin C �A&E OCTOBER 9, 2007 12 Renaissance Club Book Review Crossword/Website 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor out brawl on skates. The basic mechanics of the game are simple. There are three positions: jamThe names of their events say it all: “Red, mers, pivots and blockers. The pivots set White, and Bruised,” “Give ‘Em Hell,” the skate pace and the blockers prevent the “Shock and Scream Fright Fight.” jammers from scoring. Then there is one Simply put, roller derby can be a brutal jammer whose goal is to skate around the event, for both the participants and the track and keep passing as many members crowd. of the opposite team as possible during the “I’ve seen girls get thrown off the track “jam session.” Every member of the opcompletely when trying to get blocked. And posite team passed is worth a point, and the people get their fingers run over. Roller team with the most points after the set time derby competitions are a lot like watching wins. a UFC fight or a wrestling match, except The blocker is in charge of preventing you’re dealing with people on skates,” said jammers to score, and they use their bodroller derby fan and former King’s student, ies as their weapon, but their methods of Alisha Turull. defense do have restrictions. They can use A lot of people have heard about roller derby, but really have no idea what the their shoulders or push off with their whole sport entails. There are national leagues, bodies, but no fists are allowed. Also, they and countless male and female teams. In aren’t allowed to hit about the shoulders. this area alone there are at least three active However, even with these restrictions, teams. There are the Coal City Rollers, Di- there’s room for injury. amond City Scream Queens, both of which Tia Adams, a former Wilkes student, who are entirely female, and the Death Kings, used to skate for the Diamond City Scream which is entirely male. If anything, the sport has become notorious for its brutality. Queens under the name “xMoshensteinx” And while there is a high level of physical- explained that she’s witnessed bruising, ity involved in the game, it’s far from an all broken legs, and a broken nose, among other injuries. In fact, she had to stop competing Tuesday, October 9 recently after she - Annual Flea Market and Rummage Sale at St. Luke’s United Church of fractured her foot Christ due to a bad fall. from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. - Masters and Me art exhibition at Marquis Art and Frame from 10 a.m.-5 Despite the physp.m. icality involved, - King’s College presents “The Comedy of Errors” on the King’s College once a competiTheater at 7:30 p.m. - David Crosby and Graham Nash performing at the Kirby Center at 7:30 tion is complete, p.m. the in-game battle Wednesday, October 10 rarely carries over. - Scott Erickson and DJ Venom X at Old Tyme Charley’s at 6 p.m. - Korn, HELLYEAH, Five Finger Death Punch and Droid performing at Adams explained the Wachovia Arena at 7:30 p.m. that everyone Thursday, October 11 knows the na- Batik art reception at the Tudor Bookshop at 4 p.m.. - “Queen: It’s a Kinda Magic” tribute event at the Scranton Cultural Cen ture of the sport, ter at8 p.m. and so everyone Friday, October 12 is understanding - Spancerd, Reptilian Dream, Krunk Chocula and Arsenal Mayhem per forming at Backstage at 6 p.m. of what goes on, - Mad Agnes performing at St. Stephens Episcopal Church at 8 p.m. and puts it behind - Fighting Zero performing at the Woodlands at 11 p.m. them afterwards. Saturday, October 13 - Pumpkin painting at Arts YOUniverse (BYOP) If anything, peo- New Atlantic, Between the Trees, Liam and Me, Holiday Parade and ple might get mad My Ticket Home performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. about referee calls, - Young Livers, Blackjaw, Stay Six and Curtis Irie performing at Café Metropolis at 8 p.m. but afterwards evSunday, October 14 erything is fine. - Middle Eastern Food Fest at St. Anthony’s Maronite Church from 11 In order to keep a.m. - 7 p.m. - “Remebering Keith Haring” event at the Wyoming Valley Red Cross competitions more center at 3 p.m. orderly, and pre- Eleven/11 performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. vent the possibility Monday, October 15 - DJ Godfather performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. of any fight escaTuesday October 16 lation, certain as- Academic Majors Fair in the Old Bookstore from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. pects of the game Schedule of Events The Beacon/Jenna Stephens The Diamond City Scream Queens are one the all-girl roller derby teams in the area. The practice with the Death Kings at Skateaway every Mondy and Wednesday and invite anyone over 18 to become a part of the team. are discussed and pre-planned. Although, by no means is it one big farce. Adams explained, “It’s actually not staged, but we know what’s going to happen because we don’t want a full-on fist fight during it. Basically, the overall outcome of the game is unknown, but sometimes there’s discussion as to who will be pitted against who, just so that they all have a heads up. It makes things a little less chaotic for the players and generates more crowd interest. Even though the sport can prove dangerous, Adams explained how much fun she had when she was involved. When she first joined the team she said she “couldn’t stay on skates for five minutes,” but through the weekly practices she improved. Aside from the drills and mock bouts that take place during the weekly practices, members of her roller derby team would work at Skateaway on weekends, which is also where they compete. Adams said that some of her best practice came from skating among the little kids and learning how to dodge. Adams explained the other enjoyable aspects that came with being involved n the sport. Teams compete once a month and every competition has a specific team. Roller derby organizers and teams put a lot of time planning and promoting each event; locating venues and campuses around the area. Also, each skater comes up with their own nickname. Take a look at the Coal City Rollers’ lineup and you’ll find members Lickety Whip, Kill Joy, Zombettie, and Corie Cutthroat, just to name a few. Though there is a men’s roller derby team in the area, the Death Kings, often the sport is perceived to be exclusively female. When Turull explained why she enjoys roller derby she said, “Because it’s chicks coming together to throw down, and it’s awesome,” leaving out a whole other area of the sport. She said she aways thought of it as a female sport. Adams has actually practiced with the Death Kings, and knows about the men’s side of the sport. She described it as “more brutal. There are less rules for the guys.” Maybe the sport isn’t for everyone, but it goes a step beyond mainstream athletics. While onlookers always seem to be itching for a good hockey fight, at a roller derby game it’s basically guaranteed. Many people would be content just staying entertained from the sidelines, but teams in the area are open to new members. However, if you consider getting involved, make sure to equip yourself with some good health insurance… �OCTOBER 9, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Renaissance Club aims to educate on historic period Graphic courtesy of gutenburg.org BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Correspondent Student Government recently granted club status to the Wilkes University Medieval Renaissance Club. Although still in the building stages, the club hopes to eventually hold a Renaissance fair and dinner on campus. According to its constitution, the Renaissance Club’s purpose is to “foster an understanding and appreciation of the historical significance of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and to further the education of its members, the University and the public at large in these periods of history.” Heather Chulick, a junior communication studies major and the president of club, explained the purpose of the club is achieved through its meetings where various Renaissance ideas are brought up by members and a Renaissance Fair and Renaissance dinner which will be eventually held on campus. “The Renaissance Club is basically training in a way to have our own fair on campus,” explained Chulick. Matt Gogas, a junior communication studies major and the herald of Renaissance Club added many members are not necessarily historically accurate or informed about the Renaissance time period but the club encourages learning. “What we plan to do is have “university weekends” where we have classes on building a Renaissance persona, making your own clothes, and making your own weap- ons,” Gogas said. The Renaissance Club does not feel like work for its members, because everyone is passionate and loves the Renaissance time period itself, according to Gogas. Chulick explained, “The things that really set it apart from, well, any other time period is it is the period of Enlightenment... This club can encompass anything from art to music to dancing.” The Renaissance Club, currently in the early stages of development, is approximately fifteen students strong. At the weekly meetings, all the members bounce ideas off each other for the eventual Renaissance Fair. According to Gogas, some of the ideas for the Renaissance Fair include a log fight, tarot card readings, a rope ladder and a human chess game. Chulick explained Renaissance Fairs are very much about interacting with the audience versus a performance from the stage. The interaction occurs while dressed in historically accurate Renaissance “garb” 13 through speeches and direct talking with audience members. To make the public better aware of the Medieval Renaissance period, the Renaissance Club hopes to perform mini Renaissance Fairs in public schools, Gogas said. For the Wilkes students who know little or nothing about the Medieval Renaissance, both Chulick and Gogas encourage checking the group out. “I think they [Wilkes students] should take an interest in it [the Renaissance] because it can encompass anything you enjoy, anything in the humanities or the arts,” Chulick said. The Renaissance Club is planning a field trip to the Pennsylvania Medieval Renaissance Fair on October 27. The club meets Wednesdays in Kirby 108 at 5:00p.m. Everyone is encouraged to come and bring new ideas. “If one day you want to build a catapult, we would gladly welcome it,” Chulick said. Movie Review: Resident Evil: Extinction BY MIKE WILLIAMS Beacon Staff Writer Five years ago, horror fans and video gamers alike rushed to the theater to see Resident Evil, expecting the classic survival horror video game to burst onto the big screen in a magnificent explosion of gore, guts and ghouls. Unfortunately, what they found was a sci-fi movie that shared little more than the title with the beloved game and had more action coming from laser beams and guys in white bio-hazard suites than from the living dead. Two years later, Resident Evil returned to the theater with Resident Evil: Apocalypse, and thankfully, someone remembered to bring along the zombies. Chock full of blood and bullets, the second installment of the series was a major step up from the original, packed with over the top action and several characters and plot lines stemming from the game series; and even though it is far from Oscar worthy, Apocalypse was everything that the first should have been, leaving disillusioned fans with a spark of hope for the franchise. So now here we are, two years later and the spark has gone out… The film begins roughly five years after the conclusion of Apocalypse, which ended with Alice, the main character of the series who has no tie to the game, escaping a high security building owned by the evil Umbrella Corporation, creators of the horrible T Virus, capable of reanimating dead tissue and causing grotesque mutations in the living, apparently infected with the virus and gifted with strange new psychic powers. The sequel was immanent. Now, after the virus has apparently destroyed the world (this is explained in two sentences), and we find Alice (Milla Jovovich, The Fifth Element) traveling by motorcycle through the Nevada desert, slowly discovering her newly found powers, which are, unfortunately, never explained in any way. After a few minutes of random, senseless violence she eventually comes across a convoy of vehicles led by video game alumni Claire Redfield (Ali Larter, Final Desination), and wouldn’t you know it, her pals Carlos (Oded Fehr, The Mummy) and L.J. (Mike Epps, Next Friday) are along for the ride. So, as Alice attempts to help the wayward travelers concoct a plan for survival in a world crawling with the living dead. The Umbrella Corporation, remaining active even after the zombie apocalypse, is watching her from a series of highly sophisticated series of underground facilities. Apparently, they are aware of her new powers and have plans to use her blood in a diabolical plot to blah, blah, blah…Who cares!!! Now, we here at The Beacon typically try to be fair and balanced when reviewing motion pictures, especially ones dealing with the living dead; however, there are exceptions to every rule. Resident Evil: Extinction is that exception. First off, this film serves up dozens of questions essential to understanding the plot, and offers almost no answers, leaving the viewers scratching their heads through most of the film’s 94 minute run time. One example of this is the Umbrella Corporation, which is obviously up to something to do with the zombie plague; unfortunately everyone spends so much time trying to seem sneaky and devious that they forget to clue the viewer in on what exactly their evil scheme is. Another major problem with this film is that there is absolutely no character development. With both returning and new characters to the series, back story and dialogue is kept the absolute minimum. Even the most intriguing and interesting characters are limited to basically a simple introduction before falling victim to the living dead. Even the action, which is always a highpoint in this series, is a let down in this film. The universally accepted method of dispatching a zombie, a bullet to the brain, has been toned down, replaced in part by broken necks and slit throats (since when does that work on walking corpses?). The gore is also horribly lacking when it comes to attacks from the living dead, leaving splatter fans with little more than a quick spray of blood in situations that could have desperately benefited from a nice dismemberment or evisceration. Rated R for violence, gore and language, Resident Evil: Extinction is technically a horror movie; although some parts come off more like a sci-fi flick crossed with a half-hearted rip off of a real zombie movie. It is disappointing when a film like this comes out, full of promise and good ideas, that goes absolutely nowhere, taking unsuspecting fans along for the ride. Had they spent as much time on the plot as they do on the special effects, Resident Evil: Extinction could have been an above average action/horror film. Regrettably for the movie going public, this is little more than another in a long line of special effects driven snooze fests, designed to do little more than set up for another sequel. Unless those in charge of this series shape up their act, let’s hope that the franchise takes a tip from its latest installments subtitle, and goes they way of the dinosaur. Grade: A very generous D Photo courtesy of cinemagazine.ch �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 OCTOBER 9, 2007 Book Review: Nicholas Sparks’ The Choice How far should you go to keep the hope of love alive? BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Staff Writer Warning: some spoilers in this review I believe that New York Times best selling author Nicholas Sparks is one of the only men in the world who could make cheating in a relationship sound like a romantically fantastic idea. Unless, of course, the act of infidelity inevitably resulted in a nine month long coma. From the very beginning, Sparks’ latest novel, The Choice, seemed vaguely familiar and a couple of chapters in, I immediately felt as if I’d read it all before. The new book follows a young man and woman living next door to each other in the only state Sparks’ novels ever take place: North Carolina. Main character Travis Parker (not Barker) is similar to all other Sparks’ protagonists simply by being perfect in every way. He’s attractive and quick-witted, strong and great with kids, and is even wealthy enough at the age of thirty-two to have traveled the world, own two boats, his own house on the water, and a small-town veterinary business. He’s dat- ed many women in the past, but now he’s realized that he wants what all of his other friends have: a wife. That very night, his new neighbor, Gabby Holland, happens to burst through the bushes, ranting about his dog getting her dog pregnant and from that moment on, Travis’s sights are set. I had some hope for the character of Gabby when he described her eyes as being “a little too wide set” and her nose as “just a bit too big,” but as with all of Sparks’ stories, the next hundred pages or so were spent with the thoughts of how beautiful or attractive each person realized the other was every time they merely glanced in their direction. Despite being in a four year relationship that’s about to turn into an engagement, Gabby spends ample time with Travis over the course of one weekend and true to Sparks’ form, they’re in love within seventy two hours. Predictable? I would say so, especially since that’s the way his previous efforts Message in the Bottle and Nights in Rodanthe turned out, too. Even though I am not a fan of affairs, I . · Rs HE I . . . - · .. Ir P .. v- . rv _. ma ,: d Y+ ·~ · TI- t u ·- In 11 6 5 1 .,1 . .· a 1 k - The Beacon/Nick Zmijewski (570 8 3- . 9• found myself cheering for Travis and Gabby’s relationship. He’s (almost too) sweet and understanding, and she’s suddenly realizing that she’s not as happy as she thought she was with her boyfriend. So why shouldn’t the two of them be together? Eleven years later, Gabby’s choice to stay with Travis, get married, and have kids comes back to haunt her when he crashes their car during a thunderstorm. He wakes up after the accident, but she doesn’t stir for a couple of months. The days go by and Travis is now faced with his choice: does he honor the promise he made to her so many years ago and order the feeding tube to be removed or does he disregard their written agreement and keep the hope of love alive? There is some slight suspense and a sarcastic undertone to The Choice, but aside from that, the book didn’t grab or hold my attention for too long. It’s not one of those books that you don’t want to put down. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t horrible or boring. It was simply unoriginal. I understand that it’s difficult to write something totally original today, but The Choice wasn’t original in that someone else had already written it. Sparks, himself, has already conjred these same characters and plot lines. Too many times, I picked up on things that happened almost the same way in his other books. The pigeon on the window sill in the hospital reminded me of the swan in The Wedding. Gabby ending up as more a damsel in distress than anything else (her life and her happiness was in his hands) made me flashback to A Walk to Remember and possibly even The Rescue. And leaving Travis alone to care for their children, heartbroken and afraid, was At First Sight-ish. The ending, though, was exactly what the rest of the story needed. If you haven’t read anything else by Sparks, all of this won’t bother you and I believe that you’ll definitely enjoy it. If you have, you may just want to keep your reading shallow and not dive as deep as I did. Grade: C+ �15 Kudracross OCTOBER 9, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 21 23 27 28 29 30 32 33 34 35 36 38 39 43 45 46 48 53 54 55 56 Cookie type Daily Planet reporter Suspicious College big shot Advantage DOWN Rowdy bunch Border on Child building block “Iron Mike” Largest city in Scotland “____ are my sunshine” Babble on and on Not fooled by Star trek distance Be in the red Bring home the bacon Factual Conveyed Not now Skirmish Dehydrate Proprietor Reporter’s query Filled with anger Mexican food items I as well Dissuade Idolize French painter Claude “_____” Adolescence Sin, Cos, _____ Barbecuer’s need Archipelago member Doctor type Done without much effort Arthur’s was round Performs “If the _____ fits wear it” Franklin flier 58 59 61 62 64 66 68 XXXChurch.com BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief Noelle is a “pastor’s kid.” She grew up in a good Christian family. She went to a good Christian school. She remembers the first time she saw porn. Actually, she remembers it in great detail, and repeatedly said she will “never forget it” in her confession on XXXChurch.com. Naturally, Noelle did not describe the image she saw on the porn site. That disappointed me. I was looking for something other than Jesus on a Saturday night. I don’t know what to make of the site XXXChurch.com. Clearly, its creators fundamentalist Christians who dislike porn. The entire site is about sex and porn, but then again, every website I review includes sex in some way. I think you’re all beginning to expect it. This site is not trying to teach you how to kick it with Jesus. No, they’re just telling you not to watch porn or masturbate. They do it in odd ways, though. They sell T-shirts that say “Jesus Loves Porn Stars,” but contrarily, really condemn masturbation. The site also offers blogs, places to give and receive advice, and various other venues to help people stop watching porn. They don’t teach Christian doctrine. They just want visuals of fornicating people to disappear completely. The contributors also go around the country, doing various features and making videos to place on the site. One feature was called “porn and pancakes,” in which people would go, eat pancakes, and hear issues about pornography. There was even a little FAQ about “porn and pancakes.” *** Is Porn and Pancakes R rated? No. Should I bring my son? Yes. Should my son be 11 years or older? Yes. Can I bring my dad? Yes. Should my dad be ready to talk afterwards? Yes. Why just men? That’s how we started. Will there be nudity? Ahhh, no. Will we have to wear name tags? No. Do you use Grade A or Grade B syrup? Whatever is cheapest. Will you talk about masturbation? Yes. Clump of dirt Weight of a vehicle without cargo Abbey ___, Beatles album Daddy ___ Legs Young man Crumpet’s accompaniment Ball rest Answers 10/2 Courtesy Lackawanna County Library System BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer ACROSS 1 Brewer’s need 5 Sandwich type 9 Frost and Poe 14 Listen to 15 Bank offering 16 Sentient 17 Looney Tunes character 18 Em, to Dorothy 19 Monotonous TV 20 Awl and hammer 22 Fling 24 Common fishing tool 25 Henpeck 26 Liveliness 28 Night bird 31 Toddler 33 Black top 37 Rapids 40 Make changes 41 Definite no 42 Felix, for example 43 Why Shakespeare needed a stage? 44 Buffalo’s waterfront 45 Uppermost part of the atmosphere 47 Flush 49 Yours and mine 50 No longer working, for short 51 Cape Verde island 52 Spoil 54 Inquire 57 Religious denomination 60 Wood knot 63 Cowboy dinner 65 Behind schedule 67 Footwear type 69 Entire 70 71 72 73 74 Can I bring my men’s group, youth pastors, lead pas tors? Yes. Will we learn about personal accountability? Yes. Is porn a $57 billion a year business worldwide? Yes. *** May I remind everyone that, according to Murphy’s Law, celibacy is not hereditary? Porn is just images of people having sex. That’s how we all got here. I’d feel so inappropriate talking about porn with my dad and a religious leader. And, I really don’t like pancakes. What’s wrong with porn? If you are really Christian and hate it, just ignore it. I personally have no problem with porn. If you can’t avoid it, use it as a guide for what to do when you want to reproduce the good old fashioned Christian way. As for porn being a $57 billion a year business, more power to the film makers. Clearly they’re doing something right. I give this site an “A” for “Agnostic Andee is Annoyed!” �16 SPORTS OCTOBER 9, 2007 Colonels move to 2-0 with homecoming pounding BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer Since the start of the 2007 season, Wilkes head coach Frank Sheptock was looking for a game in which his team would come together as one cohesive unit and prove to fans and opponents that they could defend their 2006 MAC championship with pride and enthusiasm. This weekend, after three non-conference losses and an overtime win last week, Sheptock and his Colonels have apparently found their missing swagger. Kyle Follweiler collected 10 total tackles, Jason Prushinski and Gil Flores each hauled in touchdown passes and the Wilkes offense racked up a season-high 468 yards in total offense as the Colonels posted a 47-0 shutout victory over the Devils of FDU-Florham on homecoming Saturday afternoon at Ralston Field. The win improves Wilkes to 2-3 overall, while allowing the Colonels to remain undefeated in MAC conference play with a 2-0 league record. After struggling on offense in previous games this season, Sheptock and the coaching staff changed things up a bit coming into the week. “We’ve worked to put everyone on offense on the same page this week,” Sheptock said after the victory. Soccer from PAGE 20 game past FDU goalie Danya Morales who collected eight saves throughout the duration of the game. The Lady Colonels defense gave up just two attempted goal shots during the second half. Freshman Melissa Polchinski native of Yorkstown, NY and Taryn Hallowell from Belvidere, NJ scored the final two goals for the Lady Colonels. The Lady Colonels homecoming defeat over FDU proved to be the team’s third consecutive win. “We dominated the game,” said Sumoski. “We showed a lot of really good soccer (Saturday) and it’s just gotten better the last three games.” “I think it sends a message to the rest of the conference that we are for real and we’ve taken our lumps in the schedule in the beginning and this is now when it’s paying off.” The Lady Colonels are currently 6-6 overall and each of the teams’ wins have come by way of shutout including their 2-0 road victory over Susquehanna University (PA) last Wednesday. “We’ve simplified things so that we’re doing less with our playbook, but it ends up with more production in the end. It makes us a much more balanced, yet proficient offensive unit.” On defense, the Colonels came into the game wanting to get more opportunities out of their standard defensive scheme, and the results paid dividends for the team on Saturday. “As we get to the midpoint of the season, we’ve started to really grasp what all of our kids can do best, and that allows us to put them in the best positions to make plays on defense” Sheptock said of his defensive effort against the Devils. “We wanted to get the players thinking less, and reacting more in what they do out there on the field.” Senior quarterback Al Karaffa reaped the benefits of Sheptock’s trimmed-down, more aggressive approach Saturday. On the second play from scrimmage in the third quarter, Karaffa handed the ball off to running back Alex Pearson on what appeared to be the same exact play twice in a row. Except this time, Pearson pitched the ball back to Karaffa, who then found Jason Prushinski downfield for a 60-yard touchdown strike. The ensuing extra point pushed the lead to 27-0, and helped to slam the lid shut on any comeback the Devils may have attempted to muster. “We could see things starting to come together last week,” Karaffa said. This afternoon at 3:30pm the Lady Colonels will go on the road to face DeSales University (PA) for their second conference game of the season. The Lady Bulldogs are currently 3-8-1 overall and 0-1 in the Freedom Conference. Last season the Lady Colonels defeated DeSales on the road 2-1 and will be looking to mirror that performance. The Lady Colonels opened the first half with two goals and held DeSales in check giving up only one goal in the second half. The Lady Colonels continue conference play on Saturday on the road against the 57-1 Delaware Valley (PA) Lady Aggies. Candice Halliday contributed to this report. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Quarterback Al Karaffa fires a pass down field during the Colonels 47-0 blowout against FDU-Florham Park (NJ) on Saturday. The Colonels take on Lycoming College on the road next Saturday at 1:30pm. PACKAGE HANDLERS Lady Colonels Remaining Schedule: 10/9 @ DeSales 10/13 @Delaware Valley 10/18 vs. King’s 10/21 @ Rochester 10/24 @ Mahattanville 10/27 vs. Arcadia 10/30 Freedom Conference playoffs 11/3 Freedom Conference Playoffs Think fast ~ think FedEx. FedEx Ground. Thinking about some fast cash and help with college? Join the fast-paced FedEx® team as a part-time Package Handler. You’ll work up a sweat and, in return, get a weekly paycheck, tuition assistance and more! SORT OBSERVATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO APPLICATION. Part-time PACKAGE HANDLERS QUALIFICATIONS: • 18 years or older • Able to load, unload, sort packages • Part-time, 5-day week, early morning hours STOP IN OR CALL TO SCHEDULE A SORT OBSERVATION. FEDEX GROUND 220 Armstrong Road Centerpointe Commercial & Trade Park (follow sign) Pittston, PA 18640 Phone: 570-654-1362 FedEx is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer (M/F/D/V), committed to diversifying its workforce. Visit www.fedex.com/us/careers ~ ® Ground �OCTOBER 9, 2007 SPORTS 17 Wilkes’ mens basketball names new assistant coach BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Lifestyles Editor Assistant coaches may come and go, but this one hopes he is here to stay. Neal Biscaldi, a New Jersey native, has been named new men’s basketball assistant coach. He has over 13 years experience at all three division levels. Prior to coming to Wilkes, Biscaldi has coached at Rowan University (NJ), St. Francis University (PA), Bloomfield College (NJ) and Gettysburg College (PA). While Biscaldi has been numerous places, he explains that it is common practice for assistant coaches. “Usually with assistant coaching positions a lot of times to get in the business... most of the time you do like a two year stint. It just seems to be the nature of the business,” he said. Biscaldi said that this new position is the best one he has been in for a long time. “Coach [Rickrode] is a good person and a good guy, and is with a program that is known and respected.” Biscaldi, who has previously worked at a Division-I school [St. Francis University] prior to Wilkes, said that his biggest challenge is getting used to the level of play again. He said, “Not to say that this level is not good--it is. We have great guys on the team, personally and play-wise. It’s just that the level is different.” Biscaldi said that the main reason he chose Wilkes is because of “the tradition from the kids [Rickrode] has brought in to the basketball on the court.” Jerry Rickrode, head men’s basketball coach, explained what he looks for in his assistants. “You try to hire an assistant who has passion for the game, has a good knowledge base, and has some experience at the college level,” he said. Rickrode said that his main goal when a new assistant enters the program is to get him involved in every aspect of the game so that “they are prepared when they leave to be able to run a program.” He said, “You try and hire people you feel will be able to move on from this and do well in a head coaching position or another assistant position at a high level.” In his past five years, he has helped assistants prepare for jobs such as the Director of the Hoop Group Company, an assistant coach at Rider University, and a head coaching job at St. Peter’s College. Biscaldi added, “One of the things that attracted me to Wilkes is that [Rickrode] has placed people at all different levels. He always says that it has nothing to do with him, but it has to to have all these guys out there.” Biscaldi is now Rickrode’s fourth assistant in five years. While it may seem challenging for a team to go through so many different coaches in such a short period of time, Rickrode explained that he likes his players to be involved in the hiring process. He said, “This job is a full-time position where the assistant must develop a good relationship with the players and can act as sort of a buffer between me and the guys.” The men’s basketball season begins on November 19 against Baptist Bible College. The Beacon/James Rosato C ub -.•- -....ting? :ir ______ ay Part.y? Ofllc ting? oo Pa y? to a ·1 -t es Qu1znos~Q M MM •• TOASTY! 72 South Main Sit. ii _. s Bar -e Ho· rs. onday-'11'hu .sday lO _-- -8 DI - ," 'day · · Sa· day l.OaH1.-JOpn:1. S ._ ndayl2p -Gp , (570) 208 SUBS Ca· - r·. g t -ays -_ t:arti ga ·•9.9 Call for details-~ �OCTOBER 9, 2007 SPORTS 18 Commentary M ARCH OF THE PENGUINS The puck drops here! Penguins this season is in goal. Ty Conklin, who won only three games for Syracuse last season, will have to overcome vercom inconsistent play. Backing king hhim up will be either journeyman ym ggoalie Karl Goehring, currently ur with the team on a try-out ry basis, a David Brown, or John J Curry. ur Brown and Curry aare coming n off stellar college careers, s but will their skills translate an to the pro ranks? Fans can watch th the he Wilkes WilkesBarre/Scranton Penguins in their quest for the Calder Cup on television if they can’t make it to the Wachovia Arena. Every Saturday night home game will be broadcast on WQMY, including this week’s battle against the Philadelphia Phantoms. BY MICHAEL CIGNOLI Beacon Correspondent The Wi Wilkes-Barre/Scranton kesPenguins opened their e ninth nth season in the American Hockey League e wi with a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Hershey e Be Bears last Wednesday. If the game m was aany indication of what’s to come this h season, on fasten your seatbelts Penguins fa fans, it’ss ggoing to be a remarkable ride. The Penguins g ns were in an interesting situation this is su summer. Last year, they had a roster filled with prospects from both the Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins. However, as a result of an affiliation swap, the Oilers prospects will not be returning to Northeast Pennsylvania. A number of other players left the Penguins via free agency. Only ten players from last season’s team, which put up a league-best 51 wins and franchise record 108 points are returning. The rest of the roster is composed of rookies and the Penguins’ own free agent signings. Up front, the Penguins have more talent than they could possibly ask for. Tyler Kennedy (TK) is back in black and gold for another season. As a rookie, TK tied the franchise record for points in a single game when he put up five against the Hershey Bears in January. Look for him to add to the 37 points he scored last year during an injury-shortened season. Jonathan Filewich is coming off a 30 goal season, and could score more than that if he’s not called up to the NHL for an extended period of time. The speedy duo of Connor James and Joe Jensen are also back and they played well together during preseason games. Tim Wallace, Kurtis McLean, and Mark Letestu add much needed grit to the Penguins shut down lines to keep their opponents’ top players in check. Newcomers Nathan Smith, Tim Brent, Jeff Taffe, and Chris Minard are also expected to score goals and provide some words of wisdom to the team’s younger players. The quartet scored a combined 87 goals last season while playing for Manitoba, Portland, San Antonio, and Lowell respectively. Leading by example, Minard scored a natural hat trick in his first game in a Pens uniform and Taffe added a goal later in the game. In what will be his 15th and final pro season, Dennis Bonvie is expected to stick up for his teammates the way he has so well in his multi-decade career. Watch for him to teach rookie heavyweight Aaron Boogaard a thing or two about dropping the gloves throughout the season. The Penguins’ lone returning defenseman is Ryan Lannon. He’ll be joined by two defensemen with extended AHL experience, Mark Ardelan and Deryk Engelland. Ardelan ranked 14th amongst AHL blueliners with 38 points last season and was brought in to fill the void left by captain Micki DuPont’s departure. Look for him to quarterback the powerplay while Engelland plays a physical defensiveminded game. Rounding out the Penguins’ defense is a solid crop of rookies who paced Pittsburgh’s prospects to a first place finish in the Kitchener (Ontario) Rookie Tournament this summer. Kris Letang, one of the final cuts from Pittsburgh’s roster, has the potential to be one of the best defensemen in the league if he keeps up his solid play. Jon D’Aversa recorded 60 points with Sudbury of the Ontario Hockey League last season. While he might not get to 60 points with the Penguins, he and University of Minnesota standout Alex Goligoski should make an immediate impact on both defense and the scoresheet. Dartmouth product Ben Lovejoy looked solid during preseason contests. The biggest question mark plaguing the ST DE FORTHE 21st CENTURY CAll: BILL HENRY at 2.15-71H619 OR ( HEeK 11HE WEB SmE FOR INFORMATION �SPORTS OCTOBER 9, 2007 19 Athlete of the Week Kyle Follweiler BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer When Kyle Follweiler looked ahead to his senior season of football at Wilkes University, the all-American linebacker knew he would need to show leadership by example for a defensive unit that lost eight of eleven starters to graduation. After stellar campaigns in each of his first three seasons, Wilkes coaches and fans expected him to rise to the occasion. Now, at the midpoint of the season, Follweiler has fans at Ralston Field- and across the country- sitting up and taking notice. In this weekend’s Homecoming rout of FDU-Florham, Follweiler led the Wilkes defensive efforts with 10 tackles, eight of which were solo efforts and one sack. A business administration major from Slatington, PA, Follweiler has been turning in a performance on the gridiron that is nothing short of phenomenal. In the first five games of the 2007 season, he has collected 73 total tackles- including 50 solo stops- as well as three sacks and two interceptions. While the four-year starter and 2007 team captain has been on the radar screens of opposing offenses for several years, Follweiler has certainly found his most productive gear at a time when his team can most use the veteran leadership he provides. Follweiler credits his intense preparation and attention to detail as major factors in his accomplishments on the football field. “It’s very important to know what your opponent is going to throw at you. The coaches do their best to get us all ready, and we each need to follow through on our end for everything to come together on Saturdays,” said Follweiler about the approach he takes to getting ready for each week’s opponent. “Kyle is a player who brings a great deal of passion to the program,” said Wilkes head coach Frank Sheptock about Follweiler’s impact this season. “Even with all of 6 the individual success he has had, he remains a dedicated student of the game. He brings vocal leadership to his teammates, but also goes out and backs it up in practice and on game day. It is invaluable to our program to have a player and leader of that caliber.” Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Follweiler continues to put the success of his team above himself, while also taking each game as one more step towards the goal of a second straight MAC title. “We need to stay focused and take it game-bygame. Every opponent is tough and you can’t afford to overlook anyone.” Follweiler said of the outlook for the remainder of the 2007 campaign. “We’ve seen a lot of progress each game, and now we’re really starting to turn it on.” Congratulations to Kyle Follweiler on being named this week’s Beacon athlete of the week. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Freshman Kiara Midkiff tossed the ball in-play while performing a front-flip during the Lady Colonels homecoming win against FDU-Florham (NJ). Midkiff and the Lady Colonels will be traveling to DeSales University (PA) today for their second conference match of the season. The team will wrap up this week’s conference schedule on the road Saturday against Delaware Valley (PA) before hosting King’s College on October 18. WEEKLY RECAPS Wilkes Hall of Fame The 15th class was inducted into the Wilkes University Athletics Hall of Fame in a ceremony on Sunday, October 7th on campus. Members of the Class of 2007 include Mike Gundersdorf ’97, who was football standout; wrestling star Alan Zellner ‘75; three-sport standout Ellen Van Riper ‘83, who played volleyball, basketball and softball; field hockey star Angela (Polny) Vivian ‘95; and the Middle Atlantic Conference champion 1975 men’s lacrosse team. Women’s Tennnis Wilkes University extended their women’s tennis winning streak to nine straight matches with a 9-0 Freedom Conference win over Arcadia University on Saturday afternoon. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Volleyball DeSales University remained unbeaten in Freedom Conference volleyball action by netting a 30-17, 30-23, 30-22 win over Wilkes University on Tuesday night in the Marts Center. The Bulldogs ran their overall record to 13-4 and moved to 4-0 in the conference. The Lady Colonels are now 8-12 overall and 1-2 in conference play. The team will march down the street to King’s College on Wednesday for their fourth conference game. NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 276 Number of saves collected by Total number of passing yards by Lady Colonels field hockey senior quarterback Al Karaffa goalie Julia Smith. The team during the homecoming game moved to 6-6, 1-0 in the conferagainst FDU on Saturday. ence with their win over Mahattanville (NY) on Sat. 17 Total number of goal attempts by the Colonels soccer team during their 2-0 win over FDU on Saturday. Sean Switt and Todd Helwig scored goals for the team. 11 Number of wins by the Lady Colonels tennis team. Their only loss was against Bloomsburg University on September 13. They are currently 5-0 in the Freedom conference. �Sports OCTOBER 9, 2007 20 Not In Our House The Beacon/GinoTroiani Second half performance stumps FDU in homecoming game BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor Ever since the beginning of the season, he knew a huge part of his teams’ success rested on his shoulders. Aside from losing graduating seniors from last years’ Lady Colonels roster, at the beginning of this season, head coach John Sumoski unexpectedly lost veterans forcing him to design another successful season by integrating the freshman with the veterans who still remained. At this point, Sumoski knew in order for his team to win games, he had to put the right team on the soccer field by mixing play- ers that would produce as a whole. In attempting to do so, developing team chemistry was a problem for the Lady Colonels. After battling against nationally and regionally ranked teams during the initial 11 games while dealing with unexpected issues, Sumoski and the Lady Colonels seem to have found their mojo. “The last couple games we’ve started to gel as a team,” said Sumoski. “We’ve found our niche formation wise and player wise. We’ve eliminated problems with the team early on and the team chemistry has gotten much better in the past week. I think we’re really starting to play for each other.” After winning five of their initial 11 games (all were non-conference contests), the Lady Colonels put together a 5-0 shutout against FDU-Florham Park (NJ) during their homecoming game on Saturday. That game was the first Freedom conference contest of the season for the Lady Colonels. Senior defender Bethany Head scored the first goal of the game for the Lady Colonels at the 10:11 mark in the first half off an assist from teammate Rebecca Duttry. That goal proved to be the only goal for the Lady Colonels during the first half after nine attempts. FDU took a shot at three goals but none of them would even reach any of the three goalies that played for the Lady Colonels. Senior Liz Pauly, junior Jessica Berkey and freshman Anne Miller all played the goalkeeper position for the Lady Colonels but none walked away with any saves due to their stifling defense. “I have a hundred percent confidence in our defense,” said senior defender Briana Bertoni. “We’re all working together and willing to back each other up. It’s not just about the defense, it’s our whole team because we defend as a team.” In the second half of play, the Lady Colonels continued to apply defensive pressure while lighting up the scoreboard. Only two minutes passed following the 45:00 halftime break and freshman Casandra Valentin from Haskel, NJ was set to score the second goal of the game for the Lady Colonels. Senior Georgina Robinson would dish out the assist to Valentin. Eight minutes later, with 55:11 on the clock, Head scored an unassisted goal, her second of the See Soccer on PAGE 16 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 October 9th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 October 9 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/9082b44763a6883f12792c578d6a1255.pdf 96eb443796d3a80d54bd9d7beab12511 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW s AGGRAVATION Page 8 The Office Convention BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor Last spring, Wilkes University’s Admissions and Financial Aid Committee began discussing the possibility of making SAT scores optional for student admission to the university. Even though the topic received little support from faculty last year, the admissions and financial aid offices have presented the idea to the committee again this fall. “The committee has been discussing a proposal to offer the opportunity for students who meet a certain minimum high school requirement to apply for admission without the SAT as a portion of their application,” said Melanie Mickelson, Director of Admissions. “This was a response basically to what’s going on at the national level.” When the College Board extended the time needed to take the SATs to 3 hours and 45 minutes and added the 25 minute essay in the March 2005, many colleges across the nation chose to no longer require SAT scores on their applications. In July of 2007, The New York Times reported that “More than 700 colleges will consider your application without a peek at that [three or] four-digit number.” While many of the colleges that have turned away from the SATs are religious, technical, or open-admission schools, twelve of the top fifty liberal arts colleges rated by U.S. News & World Report have chosen to go SAT-optional, as well. These include Bowdoin College (ranked 6), Middlebury (Vt.) College (8), and Hamilton College (15). “There are a lot of reasons behind it, one of which is that there’s been very clear evidence that the SAT is a test that’s coachable,” said Mickelson. “If you take a class in prepping for the SAT then you’re likely to do better on the SAT, which of course implies that the SAT is not truly a measure of your aptitude or intelligence.” Page 11 See SAT page 3 Arrest made in Ralston Field attack The Beacon / Jenna Stephens Wilkes assistant football coach stabbed October 10 Skate Park BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer Page 12 , Issue 6 Committee discusses SAT-optional proposal In This Issue... ~ Volume 60 www.wilkesbeacon.com OCTOBER 23, 2007 Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 ... An arrest has recently been made in the ongoing investigation into an assault and stabbing of an assistant football coach at the Ralston Field Complex just before fall break. The incident occurred on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 10 at approximately 2:30 p.m., when assistant football coach Mike McCree exited the Munson Fieldhouse building through a side door. As he emerged into a parking lot, McCree said he noticed a man rummaging through the interior of his vehicle, approached him and asked the intruder what he was doing there. The intruder then turned around and lunged at McCree, stabbing the football coach in the stomach with an unknown object. McCree then collapsed to the ground in pain, while the attacker ran off in the direction of Kirby Park, located behind the Ralston Field Complex. Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support Services, said that the university public safety department was notified of the incident at approximately 3PM. Officers then notified the Edwardsville police department, who responded to the scene along with an ambulance. Public Safety officers quickly arrived at the fieldhouse, along with members of the Wilkes University administration, to fully investigate the incident. McCree was promptly taken to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries. Local police departments immediately began a search of Kirby Park and the surrounding area, and a campus-wide alert was issued to the Wilkes University community soon thereafter via the cell phone/website emergency notification system. After being treated and released from the hospital, McCree was asked by police to examine a photo lineup, and subsequently identified a photo of 47-year old David Parrish as the man who attacked him. An arrest warrant was then issued for Parrish, who was apprehended the following day in Wilkes-Barre’s Public Square, Bailey said of the aftermath of the incident. According to a report in the Citizens’ Voice, the alleged assailant, Parrish, was arraigned before a local Magistrate District Judge, and was committed to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility in lieu of $10,000 bail. Bailey also added that Parrish has been arrested numerous times in recent years by local law enforcement, and that several police departments quickly recognized the physical description provided by McCree to investigating authorities as fitting Parrish’s physical appearance. Bailey noted that there has been an increased amount of police activity in recent months in the Kirby Park area. He added that area police departments have taken a more proactive stance in fighting crime in the area where Ralston Field is located, and that these measures have led to an increase in arrests as part of preventative measures taken by local police departments. While a suspect is in custody and awaiting trial, Bailey stressed the importance of students, faculty and staff remaining alert and tak- See ATTACK page 4 �NEWS OCTOBER 23, 2007 2 The Dean Declines SG Notes Nantucket Nectars News Briefs 3 4 4 5 Growth and safety highlight forum dialogue BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor A forum made up of 17 Wilkes University officials and local leaders answered and asked questions at the October 10 Student Government meeting. The forum was comprised of President Tim Gilmour, his cabinet members, support staff, the general manager of Barnes and Noble on Main Street and the Mayor of Wilkes-Barre, Thomas Leighton. The forum sat through SG’s executive board meeting and then the new business during the general board meeting before asking and being asked questions. SG President, Matt Brown, who had the idea for the forum opened the discussion by asking what members had questions for the panel. The topics ranged from safety and security to sports. This first question came from the sophomore class asking if there was any way to get a students meal plan balance, including dining dollars, on the portal. Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support, said that the school is already looking into that specific idea and hoped that it would be up and running by the end of the semester. Another question dealt with the concern over the new sidewalks and that some students believe the walkways are slippery when it rains. Bailey said the school is aware of the problem and admitted that he has personally witnessed students having difficulty walking on the wet sidewalks. He said the school is taking action by putting down test strips of an epoxy resin with grit in it to allow better traction when the sidewalks get wet. Petra Carver, Vice President of Finance, said that they would keep the students posted on their progress. Jef Bauman, SG Vice President, asked if Wilkes has room to keep growing at the rate it currently is with residence halls and classrooms. Mike Frantz, Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing, explained, “Our goal for the last fall student enrollment was 572 freshmen and 130 transfer students. It came roughly in at 620 freshmen and about 110/112 transfer students… it is an inexact science. And frankly what happened last year was that we had fewer applications and fewer accepted students and a much, much higher percentage of students who ultimately chose to attend the institution.” He added that it is not the university’s goal to keep growing exponentially. “Our goal is to cap at 577 freshman, 123 transfer students.” He also outlined proactive measures the school will be doing to help predict class sizes and distribution. Dr. Paul Adams, Vice President for Student Affairs, talked about how residence halls can adapt to meet the institution’s needs. “We have a plan to grow our residence hall population to about 1,200… Right now we are at 1,047… When we get to that 1,200 it will most likely be a different configuration of buildings than what we currently have.” He also mentioned that as other residents leave University Towers, the school can put more and more students in that building and someday it can hold up to 400 students. In addition Adams talked about the creation of “residential clusters” around campus and moving out of the 300 block of South River Street. SG President Matt Brown asked if, overall, the university is moving too quickly. Gilmour responded, “The fact is that it is very fast, particularly for a higher education institution of this size and history. On the other hand, the whole higher education industry or business is changing substantially and very rapidly. These changes present significant opportunities and the fact that we have been an institution that is really focused on our students frankly makes us an institution that probably has the best capability to be an institution that has real strength in the future.” He also touched on the creation of a law school and the school’s plan to bring in someone to coordinate that effort. Other SG members raised ques- tions about safety and whether or not the area was seeing a crime epidemic. This question was punctuated by an incident that happened earlier in the day when assistant football coach, Mike McCree was stabbed at Ralston Field when he confronted a man allegedly stealing from McCree’s parked vehicle. Bailey sought to reassure students. “I don’t think this is any major crime wave… What you are seeing is some activity on the periphery now. They are going after the easy targets… you’ve got to be aware of where you are, who you are around, and take care of each other.” He also added that he does not believe there is a need to add any additional security officers, mentioning all of the security the school already has in place. Other members of SG brought up the problem of cars not stopping for pedestrians at crosswalks. Some members even mentioned police cars do not stop. Mayor Leighton said he would talk to the police chief and suggested that students take license plate numbers down and report them to Public Safety who will then pass the See GROWTH page 4 BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andee Scarantino Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Alison Woody Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. The Beacon/ Andrew Seaman SG members asked and were asked questions at their weekly meeting by Wilkes and local officials. Topics brought up included safety, the new sidewalks, growth, and much more. SG President Matt Brown considered the forum a big success. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �OCTOBER 23, 2007 SAT from FRONT PAGE Mickelson also added that between the cost of taking the test once or twice, enrollment in an SAT prep course, and the cost of books or audio CDs designed to help prepare students for the test with sample questions and vocabulary, taking the SATs may come with a steep price tag. “That puts students in a unique [situation], because if you can’t afford to take an SAT prep course, you’re kind of automatically at a disadvantage,” added Mickelson. The apparent inequity is born out in some of the numbers released by the College Board. According to College Board, high school students who have taken the SAT in 2006 and have a family income of $80,000-$100,000 have an average score of 523 Verbal, 534 Math, and 514 Writing, while students who have a family income of $10,000-$20,000 received average scores of 445, 465, and 440 respectively. NEWS “Secondly, there is also a clear bias racially. Students who are... Hispanic and African American students have an average SAT score 200 points lower than their Caucasian and Asian counterparts,” said Mickelson. The switch to SAT-optional will eliminate both socioeconomic and racial biases. Many people ranging from concerned parents to admission directors also worry that the SATs don’t realistically represent a student’s potential for success. Kevin Welles is a teacher of English and Language Arts at E.L. Meyers High School in WilkesBarre who also teaches an SAT-prep course designed to aid students in the verbal and writing areas. “I don’t think that you can accurately predict a student’s success in college or life from merely the SAT test,” said Welles. “As a teacher, I get to appreciate not just the depth of a student’s understanding or ability, but the breadth and width that that student has to offer as far as motivation, which isn’t tested on the SAT, creativity, which isn’t really tested on the SAT, the ability to work independently and collaborately, which isn’t tested on the SAT... There are so many elements that are important to being a successful student and a successful person that aren’t tested.” According to Mike Frantz, V i c e President of Enrollment and Marketing, Wilkes generally focuses on five main aspects when making its 3 decision about accepting a student into the university: high school transcripts, motivation, performance in the classroom, high school rank, and SAT scores. If Wilkes were to go SAT-optional, there is still uncertainty as to what would replace the test score. While Mickelson would like to see a mandatory interview, admission essay, and more “subjective measures,” Dr. Robert Tuttle, Chair of the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee, pointed out that that part of the proposal is still being researched and there is always the possibility that no change will occur at all. “If you’re going to use the SATs, all three parts will play a role,” said Tuttle. “The estimates would be that 20-25% of students would choose not to [submit their scores]. There’s a whole range of possibilities as to alternate policies and that’s what we’re discussing right now.” In order to opt out of submitting an SAT score, an applicant would have to rank in the top forty percent of their high school class. Anything below forty percent would require a score. Class rank will also weigh in for financial aid and scholarships if an applicant chooses to not submit their score due to a new either-or scholarship scale. “The National Association of College Admission Counselors has mandated to us that no scholarships be solely at the discretion of an SAT score… [For example], you have to have an 1800 or top five percent of the class,” explained Frantz. In order for Wilkes University to join the growing list of SAT-optional colleges, the Admissions and Financial Aid Committee has to first put together another proposal for the faculty. If the faculty does not reject the proposal, a pilot study will be preformed for a couple of years. If the university does switch its admission criteria, some programs may be excluded, such as some of the sciences, nursing, pre-med, and pharmacy. “We will still require SAT, because in our program we get so many applications, we have to have a methodology to be able to differentiate students. We find SAT to be a very good predictor of how well they’re going to be doing in the science courses as well as in the professional courses. We would find it very difficult to screen out hundreds of applications to get down to the 75 students we want to accept for the prepharmacy program,” said Dr. Bernard Graham, Dean of the Nesbitt College of Pharmacy and Nursing. While there is speculation as to which departments will not be in favor of the proposal and which will, John Carey, a sophomore electrical engineering student, recognizes the potential the switch could have. “I think some people will definitely benefit. If they do poorly on the SATs and they get to hand something else in that better demonstrates their ability, then that will definitely help them.” Frantz agreed. “I believe in student options to put the best foot forward in terms of a college application and would like certainly for us to go through a trial to see if this is beneficial to the institution and more importantly beneficial to student success in college.” There is no confirmed date as to when or even if the committee will make its second proposal to the faculty, but Mickelson is certain that if it is rejected, it won’t be the last attempt. She fears that as more colleges become SAT-optional, Wilkes will be at a disadvantage if the standards aren’t changed. “I think that we’re at a point where there is a lot of resistance and obviously I think that maybe more time [needs to be] spent educating people as to what the rationale is behind doing this. The perception of the faculty who are resisting it is that we’re trying to dumb down the standards, which is not the intent at all.” Search recommences BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Lifestyles Editor The Beacon/Andrew Seaman and Nicole Frail A fire burns early Sunday at the old Murray complex on the corner of Darling St. and Courtright Ave. At 11:00 a.m. the building was fully involved. For more pictures of the fire check online at www.wilkesbeacon.com Dr. Robert Shaddy, who was to assume the role of the Dean of Library Sciences beginning November 1, has unexpectedly chosen not to come to Wilkes University after being offerred the position. Shaddy currently serves as the Professor of Library and Chief Librarian at Queens College in New York. He was selected to serve as the Dean of Library Sciences from a search committee that had been reviewing candidates since February. Dr. Frederick Sullivan, associate professor of mathematics and computer science, was the chairperson of the search committee. In response to Shaddy’s sudden decision, Sullivan said, “I do not think that we were given very clear reasons as to why he is not coming.” Shaddy was not able to be reached for comment at Queens College. The new Dean was to present a plan to the Provost’s office after studying the Farley Library and also aid in developing funds for proposed changes. Provost Reynold Verret, who was not available for comment, described Shaddy in an October 9 article of The Beacon as “an excellent choice.” When asked for reaction to the departure of Shaddy, a member of the library staff chose not to comment. Shaddy’s decision has prompted the beginning of another search. Linda Chishlom of CEO Resources, who initially researched candidates who were prequalified for the Dean of Library Sciences position, is “already at work identifying new candidates,” said Sullivan. He added, “The next step is to reform the search committee and start again.” �NEWS OCTOBER 23, 2007 Nantucket Nectars, Plum TV founder emphasizes passion as key to success BY LINDSEY WHITE Beacon Correspondent TV Tom Sc lu m ot t, of P co O -f o CE u Wilkes University welcomed Tom Scott, Scott stated, “The notion of having fun is co-founder of Nantucket Nectars and CEO central to me. I focused on enjoying myof Plum TV, as guest speaker for the Allan P. self and trying to create a life around it.” Scott believes that it is not the profit that Kirby Center Lecture Series last Wednesday, should create the drive in people, but inOctober 17. Scott, an entrepreneur, offered his story of stead, the passion for the type of product the the rewards and challenges he faced as his company produces. “If you want to make a small business, Nantucket Nectars, became a ‘same as,’ why would anyone want to buy multi-million dollar franchise. Scott’s story, it? You have to make ‘a better than.’” The solution to make the product they “The Journey of the Entrepreneurial Spirit” tells of “two ordinary guys in an extraordinary created stand out among others was called, The Quality Juice Evolution Solution. situation.” “I think he has a compelling story to tell. He Their goal was to make their juice “as good fell into being an entrepreneur, was good at it, as the juice you drank from the fruit of the and loved it. He’s very vocal about being pas- tree you sat underneath.” The end result of sionate with the product he created, and I think this solution was over thirty types of juices, teas, and lemonades, all made with he will be able to capture the attention a ntuck et N ect a r high quality all-natural inof students by letting them know N f sa ro n e that a young person can be d gredients. The company nd quickly grew from a successful,” said Dr. Jefsmall business to a frey Alves, professor of multi-million dollar entrepreneurship and franchise. free enterprise. Nantucket NecTom Scott, and his tars was hailed by partner, Tom First, Inc. Magazine as entered the juice one of the top 20 world after they atfastest growing tempted to recreate a private companies juice with a peach necin America and now tar flavor. After mixing employs more than different combinations 100 people. Several of peach juice and water, awards were also granted the two men developed a deto Scott because of the enorlicious recipe. Within ten years, mous success he achieved as Scott and First developed their juice into a successful company with no business, co-founder of Nantucket Nectars. These marketing, or beverage industry experience. include the Mercury Award for AdvertisDespite the enormous success of the company, ing, Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award, several leadership and design it was not always an easy journey. “Winning in business is like getting a 96, awards, and a feature in the documentary [but] if you get a 92, you lose,” Scott said. It film Lemonade Stories. However, Scott and his partner began to took several years before Nantucket Nectars even turned a profit. At first, the business was lose interest in the company. Instead of actually losing money because its primary waking up each day to the excitement and focus was to create a quality product for the challenge of something new, Scott realized consumer, not to make a profit margin. How- that he wasn’t having as much fun. “I fell ever, when the partners were in danger of los- out of love and the day came where it was ing their line of credit, and subsequently their time to stop.” The two partners sold Nanbusiness, something had to be done. Scott ex- tucket Nectars to Cadbury Schweppes for plained, “We knew we had to run the business an estimated $100 million. After the two men sold the juice company a new way. I said I wouldn’t shave my beard, the CFO said he would ride his bike to work, to Cadbury Schweppes, Tom Scott went on and a woman who worked for the company to launch Plum TV, a lifestyle television agreed to workout everyday until we turned a channel created in 2002 produced largely profit. In March of that year, we succeeded. It in vacation communities, marketed toward seemed like it happened when we gave it ev- residents and tourists of the area. Scott stated, “I don’t know where this is going to erything we had.” For ten years Tom Scott and his partner kept go. I could be out of business in a year or Nantucket Nectars prospering. However, it flying high in the air. Stay tuned.” wasn’t the profit that drove them to success. GROWTH 4 ATTACK from PAGE 2 from FRONT PAGE information on to the city. At the end of the question and answer session invited guests at the forum were invited to ask questions of SG. Frantz asked the students whether or not they felt that there was enough privacy at the desk in UCOM. Also, the GM of Barnes and Noble, John Chaump, asked how the store could get more people downtown. The meeting concluded with Brown telling the general board how happy he was with the turnout. He mentioned that he did not plan on that many officials showing up, and Bauman mentioned that students should feel free to go to the administration anytime they want, and that they do not have to wait for an SG meeting to do it. and taking simple precautions to minimize the chances of a break-in to vehicles in the future. Such steps include “locking all doors, rolling up the windows on parked vehicles, and not leaving valuables exposed.” He also noted the vital importance of notifying police or public safety of any suspicious activity, rather than having members of the university community taking matters into their own hands. “We would rather chase down 99 nothings, than miss that one incident where we could have prevented the crime from occurring.” McCree, a 1994 graduate of Wilkes, is in his eighth season coaching the linebackers for the Colonels’ football program. McCree, along with various members of the university administration and athletics staff, were unavailable for direct comment on the situation at press time. SG Notes October 17, 2007 Treasurer’s Report All College: $10,120.72 General: $2,188.30 Special Projects: $3,220 Spirit: $815.00 Leadership: $3,525.04 Conferences: $9,500 Start-Up: $600 Club Reports The following clubs presented reports to SG: Programming Board Fencing Club Psychology Club Bacchus Club New Business New Member - A new senior class representative, Kaitlin Taber-Miller, was appointed to replace a member currently on sabbatical, Joe Scala. Wilkes-Barre Christmas Parade - Members discussed their plans for the Wilkes-Barre Christmas Parade that included souvenir photographs with various characters. Two-Way Radios - SG decided to table an item that would allow them to purchase two-way radios to help during their events. The item was tabled to allow more research on products. SG members said that they borrowed public safety’s radios in the past but they often failed and lost their charge. Casino Night Budget - SG Treasurer, Greg Castelli, talked about prizes, drinks and the budget for Casino Night. He mentioned that they did not have to spend as much this year because of SG’s purchase of their own gaming tables last year. The budget was set at $10,157.30. Weekly Office Duties - SG Secretary, Kathy Dalton, talked about the importance of members completing their required office hours. Events Alcohol Awareness Week/Walk - October 23 at 11 a.m. Th eB e a co n / A ll is o n R ot h �OCTOBER 23, 2007 Beacon News Briefs NEWS Local, National, and Local (WILKES-BARRE) Area residents may soon have another Starbucks where they can grab a cup of coffee. That place however is right across the street from another Starbucks located inside the Barnes and Noble on Main Street. The new Starbucks will be located between the old Campus Billiards and Club Mardis Gras buildings. (WILKES-BARRE) Due to a lack of repairs and utilities after a deadly fire in July that ripped through the second floor of the building, the Osterhout Library’s satellite site on George Avenue closed its doors. The library is currently seeking a new location and is planning on reopening. (WILKES-BARRE) A woman was surprised when she came across a Vietnam War era mortar shell while inspecting a house on Hazle Avenue on Friday October 19. Streets surrounding the home were closed off as the shell was transported to Ashley where it was detonated in the Huber Bunker. Local officials claim that there is no way of 5 International onal Snippets knowing if the mortar was active or not. National (NEW YORK) After an appearance at Carnegie Hall in New York City, the author of the famed Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling, announced that one of the central characters in the series is gay. The announcement came after a teenager in the audience asked if Professor Dumbledore ever finds “true love.” After a pause Rowling answered the young woman with, “I always saw Dumbledore as gay.” The author gave some more background information and then mentioned that while reading a script for an upcoming Harry Potter movie she notated in the margin that “Dumbledore is gay!” (NEW YORK) After and appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, satirist Stephen Colbert announced he would run for the presidency of the United States on his own show, The Colbert Report. The host said he would seek nomination in South Carolina, his home state, on both the Republican and Democratic tickets. Colbert’s announcement comes shortly after the release of his book, I Am America (And So Can You!). (WASHINGTON) The FDA has announced that it does not recommend the use of cough and cold medicine for children younger than six. The announcement comes after experts concluded that the medicines simply do not work. International (TEHRAN, Iran) Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, resigned leaving Saeed Jalili in charge of talks. Many people consider this a victory for Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The shift in power could bring a tougher stance in negotiations because Larijani is considered to be more diplomatic in his approach to a solution. (LONDON) In the past few weeks Great Britain’s national healthcare system has experienced some problems in a few places. The “Nurse of the Year” is leaving the universal healthcare system because according to her, the paperwork involved in the system takes them from their patients. It was also released that over 1,200 patients were stricken ill over a two-year period because of “super bugs” living in dirty hospitals, about 350 of those patients died. (YANGON, Myanmar) The junta that controls the country of Myanmar lifted a curfew and ban on assembly after recent pro-democracy protests by the country’s highly respected monks. The Bush administration considers the ease in regulations as “cosmetic” while President Bush announced new penalties against Myanmar’s current government. STUDENT: INTRNSHP 4 NXT SEMESTER? CO-OP OFFICE: GO 2 lNTRN FAIR ON.10/25! l 'N TERNSHIP FAlR OCTOBE'R 25, 2007 11AM 1PM BALLROOM, 2ND FLOOR SUB CONTACT; SflARON .CASTl\1'0®'.VTLKES-EDU:r 408 2.950 - GAIN ACADEMIC CREDITS - RECEIVE F.....M:PLOYMENT REFERENCES - NETWORK WITH POTENTIAL EMPI~OYERS - ENHANCE YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS - DECIDE \\lJ--IAT·CAREER PAT·H ]S RIGI1T FOR YOU - GAIN IIANDS ON EXPERIENCE BEFORE GRADUATIO - FIND OUT WHAT YOU :I IKE! �Opinion OCTOBER 23, 2007 6 Matthew Shepard Act The American Dream Faculty Mentoring Wilkes Portal Is lying in political campaigns acceptable? Washington State Supreme Court believes so law that “bars political candidates from deliberately making false statements about their opponents.” This law was brought to the forefront when in 2002, Marilou Rickert, a Green party candidate running for State Senator, distributed flyers that accused the Democrat said he could have done more to prevent the closing of the camp. As a result of Rickert’s assertions, Senator Sheldon filed a complaint with the state Public Disclosure Commission (PDC), which ultimately imposed the maximum fine of $1,000 on Rickert. At this wrote that, “The majority opinion advances the efforts of those who would turn political campaigns into contests of the best stratagems True or false: candidates runof lies and deceit, to the end that ning for political office in the state honest discourse and honest canof Washington have the right to didates are lost in the maelstrom.” deliberately make false statements The dissent went on to argue that (lie) about their opponents the “U.S. when campaigning? Answer Supreme True Court... According to the First has made it “U.S. Supreme Court...has made it absolutely clear that the deliberate lie in absolutely Amendment Center, the Washington State Supreme Court political debate has no protected place under the First Amendment because clear that ruled on October 4 that candithe delibsuch lies do not advance the free political process but rather subvert it.” dates running for public office erate lie in can lie about their opponents political dein political campaigns because bate has no it’s protected speech. The protected court argued that by the govpoint, Sheldon had effortlessly place under the First Amendment ernment controlling what they can State Senator Tim Sheldon of vot- won re-election as a state sena- because such lies do not advance and can’t say violates their First ing to shut down a state institution tor. When this issue was brought the free political process but rather Amendment right of freedom of in his district. He didn’t vote to to the Superior Court’s attention, subvert it.” speech. The court was narrowly close the institution, but did vote it agreed with the PDC’s actions, Thus, it is alarming to know that against a budget that included but that decision was overturned candidates running for public ofdivided with a close vote of 5-4. The issue all started in 1999 shutting down the “Mission Creek by the Court of Appeals. fice now appear to have a constituwhen the state legislature passed a youth camp.” However, critics The majority’s opinion written tional right to manipulate the pubby Justice James Johnson wrote lic by lying about their opponents, that, “The notion that the govern- all in the name of free speech. ment, rather than the people, may Many Americans have a hard time be the final arbiter of truth in po- trusting their political leaders as litical debate is fundamentally at it is; will allowing candidates to odds with the First Amendment.” openly lie help build politicians’ The majority added, “The best trust and credibility? Could this remedy for false or unpleasant ruling ultimately lead to much speech is more speech, not less more negative campaigning? speech. The importance of this If advertisers can’t lie and maconstitutional principle is illustrat- nipulate the public when advered by the very real threats to liber- tising for their products, political ty posed by allowing an unelected candidates shouldn’t be allowed government censor like the PDC to either. Considering our current to act as an arbiter of truth.” political situation and governHowever, Chief Justice Gerry ment leaders’ credibility, is alAlexander, who also joined the lowing public figures to lie when majority rule, but wrote a concur- campaigning going to help garner ring opinion, said that: “the major- public support and trust for politiity goes too far in concluding that cal candidates and politics in genany government censorship of po- eral? litical speech would run afoul of Is the Washington court’s ruling the United States and Washington taking the First Amendment guarconstitutions,” but still argued that antee of free speech to far? Are we the law was overbroad and there- truly comfortable with allowing fore unconstitutional. candidates running for an elected The dissenting opinion written office to lie? The Roberts court by Justice Barbara Madsen and needs to re-evalutate what sort of joined by Justices Tom Chambers, message its sending to the people. Mary Fairhurst and Bobbe Bridge, A Sight for Sore Eyes by: Aleksander Lapinski BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD 7 7 8 8 Beacon Poll Results Americans have a lot to worry about. The ongoing Iraq war, stock market and housing investThe following are results of a ment instability, drug busts, AIDS, poll that The Beacon conductand environmental concerns domed online this past week. The inate the nightly news reports. Is poll was unscientific, and does it any wonder that with such boldnot claim to reflect the overall face headlines other issues fail to attitudes of students on camcapture our attention? Seemingly pus. Results are based on 81 “less important” social problems responses. like homelessness, poverty, and the growing deficit tend to make inside pages, if that, because of The Beacon asked: the pressing nature of the other stories. Which the sidebar seven deadly One of of those issuessin that dooccasionally you commit the most? only squeaks onto the public radar is animal cruelty. Re• animal Pride-10% cently cruelty has become • mainstream Lust-23% issue with maa more • Envy-11% jor corporations, football players, and •evenSloth-3% local people stirring up • Gluttony-9% the issue. Animal cruelty involves • Wrath-6% anything from dog fighting, and • Anger-12% shooting whales, to killing aniI don’t any of mals•for fur and commit animal testing. the sins-7% The problem isn’t awareness; it • more I commit is that peoplemultiple appear to beallokay of thetodeadly lieve thatorit’s hurt animals sins-19% for personal benefit or enjoyment. Worse, there is a small contingent inNext the country believe that the Week’swho Question: practice of animal cruelty can be excused because of superhero age-old culIf you could be any tural for practices. Halloween, which one Just two would youweeks be? ago the Makah tribe made the wire over the issue of Years ago the Na• whaling. Wonderwoman tive •American tribe legally killed Superman whales something of a sport. • asBatman The •tribeSpiderman suspend its practice because• theHulk grey whale was placed on the • endangered Catwomanspecies list and federal government prohibited • Wolverine whaling. However, in 1994, the • Elektra grey•whale came America off of the endanCaptain gered• list.Storm The tribe obtained a permit in 1999 to www.wilkesbeacon.com kill a whale which outVisit raged animal to cast yourrights vote.groups. ResultsAfter will a court it became necessary be hearing published in next week’s for the issue tribeofto The receive a waiver Beacon. in order to hunt whales. Recently, members of the tribe shot a grey whale repeatedly with a rifle before they were due to receive their waiver. The five men involved are all facing fines of up to $20,000 �OCTOBER 23, 2007 OPINION 7 Matthew Shepard Act will expand definition of ‘hate crimes’ Recognizing sexual orientation as target of hate an important step forward as an addition to already existing hate crime The Act would merely use the words as BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Seriously!? laws if passed. The existing law is the Hate proof once the crime has been committed, Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor It has been almost ten years since the shocking incident and the ignorance that served as its catalyst still exists. Matthew Shepard was a student at the University of Wyoming. After midnight on October 7 1998, Shepard purportedly met two men in a bar and asked them for a ride home. Later, the men tied Shepard to a fence, robbed and pistol whipped him. He was found several hours later alive but unconscious. Five days later Matthew Shepard died in the hospital from the fracture from the back of his head to the front, brain stem damage, and several other lacerations. This senseless death occurred all because he was gay. Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson pretended to be gay in order to gain Shepard’s trust to rob him. The pair’s then girlfriends testified that the two men had planned to rob a gay man and Shepard happened to be the unlucky target. In March of 2007, the United States House of Representatives passed the Matthew Shepard Act, formerly known as the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 and it would serve Crimes Statistics Act and it prosecutes criminals who committed crimes based on race, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. The Human Rights campaign states that the new act’s purpose is to insure wider, more comprehensive punishment for crimes that affect a “whole community or category of people and their families.” The act would add crimes committed based on gender and gender identity. This Act could help change the way an ever growing group of people is treated, and it is widely supported. Why, then, would President Bush threaten to veto it? It is well known that President Bush will veto or ban anything relating to support of gays or lesbians and he is in very strong opposition of the group as a whole. The House had a strong vote in favor of the Matthew Shepard Act at 237 to 180, I think that says something for what the people want. But, just as with the stem cell veto, Bush thinks too much about his own beliefs and doesn’t care enough about what is good for the people. Those against the Matthew Shepard Act say that it could threaten our First Amendment rights. I find this to be untrue. not prosecute people for expressing their hate against a group of people, even if it is verbal abuse. If the Matthew Shepard Act is threatening to our First Amendment rights then so are the existing hate crime acts. The Hate Crimes Statistics Act punishes criminals based on what they have said about their victims based on sex, race and religion. Why not add gay and transgendered people as well? If hate driven crimes against people based on race, religion, and sex require specific legal punishment because they cause harm not just to the victim, but to a whole class of people or community, then so should hate driven crimes against gays and transgenders. If we already have laws prohibiting hate crimes, then what is the big deal about adding a few more groups of people? I urge you to go online and sign the Erase Hate Petition and help show some support for the Matthew Shepard Act and the many who have already been victims of such hate crimes. Go to: http://www.matthewshepard.org/ site/PageServer?pagename=Erase_Hate_ Crimes_Erase_Hate_Petition “Be the change you want to see...” The Beacon/Cara Koster A lonely beer nestled in a tree on the greenway. At least it was, ahem, Keystone Light. Classy. Have you seen anything around campus that has made you think Seriously!? The Beacon wants your strange pictures. Here is all you have to do. 1 Take a picture of something that makes you think Seriously!? (Please no contrived pictures.) 2 E-mail where and when you took the picture, your name, graduation year and major to thebeacon.oped@gmail.com. Apathy yields the decline of those chasing ‘The American Dream’ BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief I think a big part of living life is taking risks. I was asked recently about the difference between television in the US and the UK (where I lived last spring.) Besides the social aspects, I could only think of one distinct difference in the UK: the absence of The American Dream. I think it is not often enough that one gives credit to such a wonderful thing. The American Dream, essentially, is being able to rise up and do as you will with your life, with the ultimate goal of achieving premium happiness. For some, that is financial wealth. For others, it is fame. Regardless, we are born into a society that allows us to prosper from our own hard work, and not from being born into a high class in a rigid class structure. Take Alberto Gonzales, for example, who came from a family of migrant workers, and rose to become to Attorney General of the United States. The values his parents instilled in him made him want to succeed, to prosper. He is living proof that such things aren’t impossible. What got me thinking about this? Well, I think it started the other day on the Staten Island Ferry, heading into Manhattan. My best friend, with whom I’ve been through everything, had a job interview in the city, and I went with him. I sat thinking of the ride in; thinking about the traffic and remembering the Paul Simon lyric “Counting the cars on the New Jersey turnpike/ they’ve all come to look for America.” My best friend and I never had much money, but he and I have worked diligently, and both of us made a trip to New York City within that 8 day period because of prospective work. We, along with so many other vagabonds piling into that ferry that day, were chasing The Dream. I feel like my generation does not pay enough attention to The Dream. There is an overwhelming apathy among my generation, not just with the American Dream, but with every minute factor that ties into it. I see it in classrooms, when, instead of engaging, students let out subtle grunts at their professors with the hope that they can B.S. a 3.0. I see it on College Publisher, when students choose to read primarily about underage drinking, and sidewalk construction, and complain about the topics at hand, but never once write us letters. I see it with friends and loved ones dropping out of school, and people lacking any direction to move forward in the world. You don’t have to have a lot of money to chase The American Dream. You just have to have the will, and minimizing your life goals and accomplishments will lead further down a road of destruction than prosperity. Don’t settle. You’ve been very fortunate to have been born into a society much of the world sees as classless. It isn’t going to always be easy. Failure is easy. Don’t settle for being a TSS worker when you want to be a psychiatrist. Don’t settle for writing for a local newspaper when you want to write for a magazine. Don’t settle for being a teacher when you really want to be a publisher. Don’t allow a newspaper to write something you don’t agree with. Challenge it. So often, I see people, just moving about, finding activities to fill their lives and the time that they have to waste, because at my age, they did not actively chase the American Dream. Don’t have your life reduced to that. Live the life you’ve imagined, and when there are obstacles, jump over them. This is America, and while I do not believe it is an invincible country, or even a stable one, I believe our people, if they choose to be, can be nothing short of invincible… And, our government can’t stop us from succeeding. Please, cut out the apathy. Go out, vote, write us letters, apply for that dream job, question authority. I once had a class with a professor who said “Any time some expert or authority figure says something, interrogate it.” Immediately following, a student said “Why?” Be that student. We live in the land of opportunity, and it’s about time we start exercising ourselves to reach our goals; chase our dreams. I think it’s about time we stop letting the American Dream die. �OPINION OCTOBER 23, 2007 WILKES 8 portal: aggravation outweighs convenience BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor email or get something off of the portal, but shouldn’t this ‘new and improved’ system be able to support that? It’s awesome that everything we need is in one place, but when that single site is down for a certain amount of time, I don’t just lose access to my courses. I also can’t get into my financial information, my email, my groups, and so on. To be thought of as convenient, the portal first needs to be functional. If I had been [g)[i) [g) President's Corner in a hurry or if it Error Report was before class Ch annel ID: u1111n446 and I had forgotMes sage: encountered problem wh ile trying to complete rendering ten to print out Error type: General error (code 0) the lecture notes Problem type: Error me ssage: General channe l rendering f ailu re, and had to wait alrn Im Iii l most fifteen minutes to get them, I Group Studio Activity Channel II)IZ][g)[il [g) would’ve been late Error Report for class, the proChannel ID: u1111n364 fessor would have Message: encountered problem wh ile trying to complete rendering been annoyed, the Error type: General erro r (code 0) class would have Problem type: been disrupted, Error message: General channel rendering failure, and by that time I rn Im Iii would have probably smeared the [g)[i) [g) Bookmarks ink on the recentError Report ly printed pages Cha nn el ID: ulllln63 before I was finally able to access the pages for my courses. What should have been a two minute process ended up taking almost fifteen and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t completely irritated when I was finally able to print my assignment out and leave the lobby. I understand that it was the start of club hours and probably half of the students at Wilkes ran to a computer to check their The Beacon/Nicole Frail For once in my life, I was ready to start my psychology homework the day it was assigned. Right after class ended at 10:45 last Tuesday, I headed to a computer in Stark and attempted to log on to the MyWilkes portal to get the assignment and print it to take home. In my first attempt, I couldn’t even log in. “HTTP Status 503 - There are too many simultaneous logins jg@ [g) Personal Announcements Problems Accesing Outlook Web and WebCT CE6 - please wait and try again.” I tried this three times (with a minute or so wait in-between) [g)[i)[g) Temporarily Links before I finally got to my home Error Report Channel ID: u11 11n4 71 page. Relieved, I clicked on Message: encountered problem while trying to My Courses and the name of complete rendering Erro r type: General error (code 0) my psychology course and Problem type: was greeted with this wonderError message: General channel rendering failure . ful gray and red box: rn Im Iii “External System Error. CPIP Notification: The sys[g)[i) [g) What's New in MyWilkes tem ‘webct’ is responding too Error Report slowly, please try again after a C hannel ID : u11 11 n3 69 short wait.” Message: encountered problem while trying to complete rendering Waited a minute, tried again. Error type: General error (code 0) Nothing. Waited three minutes, Problem type: Error message : General channel rendering failure . tried again, still nothing. I even m Im Iii signed out and signed back in (with no trouble, surprisingly) When logging into the portal before Fall break, an error page was shown. and had to try twice after that Mentoring outside the classroom: faculty key BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Opinion Editor “Wilkes University, wants to become a great institution dedicated to academic excellence through a mentoring culture that engages, challenges, and supports our students in extraordinary, ways,” wrote President Tim Gilmour in the February 2006 issue of University Business. President Gilmour’s vision of Wilkes is partially born out by stories of faculty interactions with students outside of the classroom. More so than in past years, one can observe that many faculty have become increasingly involved with student activities. For instance, many faculty members turned out for the recent majors fair and casino night. This not only fosters the mentoring atmosphere that Wilkes is known for, but it also helps break down the barriers between professors and students and can make the classroom experience more enjoyable and less timid. Moreover, it shows that faculty care about their students outside of the classroom. However, it seems that the faculty members who help out with such events are the same faculty regularly help out every year. For example, those who helped out with the majors fair and casino night, and many of the science professors who help out with Adventures in Science, offered in the spring semester, are the same who do it every year with few new faculty members joining in. It’s great that many of the faculty continues to come back and help outside of the classroom, but it would be great to see new faces out there. This will create a better community atmosphere at Wilkes, and could help foster the mentoring atmosphere that Wilkes is creating. Additionally, professors will get a better perspective on what their students do outside of the classroom, which could ultimately create a more positive learning environment. The faculty who continue to go above and beyond to help out with student run events should be applauded, and more should be encouraged to do the same. Perhaps, to create an incentive to get new faculty involved outside of the classroom, the University could offer some sort of recognition like a certificate of appreciation or Faculty Member of the Month award. Though Student Government does recognize one faculty and staff member who go above and beyond at the end of the academic year, students need to offer more recognition across the board. In order to continue to foster a mentoring environment that distinguishes Wilkes, more faculty should get involved with their students outside of the classroom, not just the same third who regularly go above and beyond. This can happen in both formal and informal ways. Sit down and have a cup of coffee with students between classes, attend a recital or play in support of the students on stage, help plan a diversity event, or work with a team of students on a research project. By offering more recognition to faculty and staff for student involvement outside of the classroom, Gilmour’s vision could become even more of a reality. while I frantically raced across campus so I wouldn’t miss even more class time. And yes, I know a simple response to this situation would be “Well, you shouldn’t forget to print the notes in the first place,” but even if I wasn’t running late or hadn’t forgotten something, the point is still that I should be able to access what I need when I need it. This isn’t the only problem that I (and possibly many others on campus) have run into with the MyWilkes portal. Some students are listed as the wrong major or the wrong year. Some of them don’t see some of the classes they are taking on the My Courses page. Some can’t even access their email through the portal at 10:00 in the morning. Even some professors have had problems with submitted assignments completely disappearing after only being posted for 24 hours. As I said earlier, I understand that some of these problems may be encountered during high traffic hours like club hours or lunch time (or 11:55 when some of us are trying to post homework or papers before the midnight deadline). I also understand that it’s a brand new system and there are still bugs to be worked out, but the semester is already half over. When will these aggravating technicalities finally be done away with? What do you think? -- • The Beacon wants your voice to be heard. Your Voices is the opportunity for students to voice their concerns. If you want your voice to be heard, please contact The Beacon with the following information: 1 Contact information including your email address and a phone number where you can be reached 2 Your name, major, and year 3 Your opinion thebeacon.oped@ gmail.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for space and content. �LIFESTYLES OCTOBER 23, 2007 Cheap tickets for students “The Office” comes home 10 11 9 Importance of international study grows amidst global changes Study abroad informational seminar offered this week perceived, but she be- University offers to students who want to lieves that for the most go abroad, Bianco says, “Wilkes really part Europe is very safe. doesn’t have much…” The main programs The Wilkes University Mission She also said, “Most of are in Spain and Latin America which pristates that the goal of the university them [students] never marily focus on Spanish language courses. is “To educate our students for lifeleft the area. They want However, the Study Abroad Office does long learning and success in a conto do their four years, help students who find their own programs stantly evolving and multicultural graduate, and get a job not affiliated with Wilkes to arrange their world…” in the area and work trips. One way the University works to here. So the idea of “The process wasn’t that hard, if you meet the objective of teaching stugoing away, I think it find a program, that’s the biggest struggle, dents about the “multicultural world” scares them.” finding a program and deciding where you is by bringing many international stuConcerns about want to go,” says Testa. dents to the University. However, as having too many reDespite apprehensions or difficulties that Dr. Paola Bianco, Associate Professor sponsibilities and not they may have had at first, Testa, Phillips, and Study Abroad Coordinator, notes enough financial re- and Trovato all feel that studying abroad holas Testa ic N “Diversity does not only come by havsources are why Dr. offered them an once-in-a-lifetime opy es rt ou C ing minorities at the university…diMaria Suarez, Special portunity to be immersed in another culum ay from the Colosse aw s versity also comes when we leave our Assistant to the President ture. “There is no other time in your life ile m e re th ed Nicholas Testa liv in Rome, Italy. e nc comfort-zone for once and go abroad for Diversity and Community that you can spend five months away from rie pe ex ad ro during his study ab and learn about ourselves…” Affairs, thinks that only a few students go your family, friends, everything, be in anCurrently, Bianco estimates that about overestimate the difficulty of the process abroad. However, Suarez believes that hav- other country…and it makes you grow up, 15-18 students from Wilkes take courses or be scared of traveling to another country ing “international experiences” like taking it makes you mature…it’s one of the most abroad every year, most of them partici- alone. courses in another country is more impor- incredible things I’ve ever done,” says Tropating in programs that take place over the However, Elisa Phillips has a different tant now than ever before. vato. summer. This number has increased from opinion. Phillips is a senior English and “In almost every field, you will be lookThose who are interested in studying between two and four students five years secondary education major, who studied ing at international con- abroad should attend the Study Abroad Inago. and traveled in New Zealand for six months versation…if formational Seminar,an open house “We should definitely have much more,” last February through August. She noted you want to be which will be said Bianco. that “the word needs to get out more” about c o m p e t i t i v e Those who are familiar with study abroad the study abroad program in order to en- in the work think there are several different reasons courage more students to take part. force, I think why only a few students take advantage of Paul Trovato, a senior business major who it’s really imthis experience. Nicholas Testa, a senior spent five months at a university in New p o r t a n t … ” psychology major who spent four months Castle, Australia, agrees with her. Suarez also last semester learning Italian in Rome, Italy, Testa mentioned, though, “There are dis- noted that believes that some students may plays and there some uniare signs. Wilkes v e r s i t i e s actually does a are even really good job. beginning Those things a movecaught my eye, ment toand I realized w a r d s that Wilkes does m a k i n g support this, it a rethat they will q u i r e - Paul Trova to spent Courtesy five mon help you do it ment for graduaPaul Tro ths study vato in g and trav and that made tion. eling in A ustralia. my decision a Phillips had a suggestion for how to en- held this Thurslot clearer.” courage more students to take advantage day, October 25 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Bianco feels of the study abroad experience, “…invest in Fenner Hall. The programs that Wilkes that with the in programs, so that it’s easier for kids who University offers will be discussed along current war are looking to do it, because you have to get with financial aid and credit transfer. Stuillips in Iraq, some special permission when you go through dents who have studied abroad will also be Courtesy Elisa Ph students are a program that’s not connected with our present. y of Otago in afraid of how school…” sit er iv Un e th at s ) took three course on Harbor. Americans are In terms of specific programs that the Elisa Philips (right d. This picture overlooks Wellingt an New Zeal BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor �LIFESTYLES 10 OCTOBER 23, 2007 Students’ weekend plans bolstered by free or cheap tickets Wilkes University gives its student body the opportunity to get involved in social activities to have fun, gain cultural experience, develop leadership skills or to build on academic strengths. Most would assume that movies, the Wilkes-Barre Little Theater, major speakers, or even Broadway tickets would put a major strain on students’ wallets. However, thanks to careful management, planning and promotion most of these opportunities are offered to Wilkes students at a significantly reduced cost. “Discount tickets are something that we are giving back to the students from the activity fees they pay as part of their costs at Wilkes,” said Margy Sromovski, Office Coordinator for Student Development. Some of the activities students can participate in at a reduced cost range from movie tickets to trips to NY Yankees games, Hershey Park, bus tickets to New York City, Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, miniature golf, and horseback riding to name just a few. The University follows a process to be able to purchase these tickets, “A student committee of around 10 students gives us suggestions on what they think is an attraction to the students and at that point we explore the possibilities,” said Philip Ruthkosky, Director of Student Development. Later, they go to the places where they purchase the tickets at full price or group rates. Thanks to student activities fees, the university can provide some tickets for free and others at reduced rates. Cheap tickets are given publicity around the University through pamphlets, the dry erase board, and the scroll located at the Henry Student Center. James Crenshaw and Jarod Marino, who both work at the information desk on the first floor of the Henry Student Center, said that different people go there every day to ask or to take advantage of the affordable tickets. These tickets are offered to the students at a discount price or at no price at all. The most in demand tickets are to Movies 14. “After half a day there are no more tickets,” said Ruthkosky. The tickets that are perhaps second in popularity are for ice skating at The Ice Box, and bowling at Stanton Lanes, “To take advantage of these tickets students have to plan what they are going to do within the week,” explained Sromovski, because tickets are limited in quantity. These tickets are a great chance of having new experiences and a way of taking advantage of opportunities that many haven’t be able to take advantage of before. The tickets can be obtained at the Student Development Office on the first floor of the Henry Student Center. tl Tickets still available for events this semester are: •••••••••••••••••••• •••Movies 14 ticket- $3.00 (1 per week) •• •••Bowling at Stanton Lanes- Free •• • • •••Ice Skating at The Ice box- Free •• •••New York City Show “How the Grinch•• Christmas”, and dinner at Carmines •Stole Dec 2- $25.00 (Tickets avail-• ••Restaurant, •• able by lottery) •••Little Theater of Wilkes-Barre “The Diary•• Anne Frank” November 10,11,16,17,18• ••of- Free • •• •• Kirby Center “An evening with Colin• •••F.M Mochrie and Brad Sherwood from Whose• ••Line Is It Anyway” Oct. 26- $5.00 •• •••••••••••••••••••• The Beacon/Cara Koster BY YOHANNA DE LOS SANTOS MARIA Beacon Correspondent 165 North Wilkes-Barre Blvd Wilkes-Barre, PA (570) 825-8459 IN Sunday Home-style dinner specials $1.50 Miller Lite cans Monday Dozen clams/ wings for $4.99 $1.50 Miller Lite cans llclp ·. . ma · d y L! In. nt 665 .· k :a 1 (570 823- Tuesday (College Night) $1 Yuengling Lager Drafts $3.95 Bar Pizza Wednesday (Mexican Night) $1 off Coronas & Corona Lights ½ Off Mexican Apps 5 p.m. - 9p.m. Thursday Dozen clams for $4.99 Featured Beer Night Friday Martini specials "After Work" Happy Hour Monday - Friday 5 - 7 p.m . $ 1.00 off all Mixers & Import Drafts $1 .50 Domestic Drafts �LIFESTYLES OCTOBER 23, 2007 11 “The Office” and its stars come home to Scranton BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor Fans of NBC’s hit sitcom “The Office” may feel like they know the characters after watching them on the small screen each week. But this weekend, the show’s diehards will have the opportunity to actually meet the show’s stars face-to-face during a three-day extravaganza. The city of Scranton will host the first “Office” convention Friday, October 26 to Sunday, October 28. During the convention, fans will come together to celebrate all things “The Office,” through meet and greet events, question and answer sessions, and cocktail parties and receptions with the stars. “Having the cast of a hit TV show in its heyday come to the town where it’s filmed never happens,” said Gene Padden, the commission organizer and entertainment chairperson of the convention. “It’s unprecedented.” Now in its fourth season, “The Office” has earned critical acclaim, a wide fan base, and a spot in NBC’s must-see Thursday night lineup. The half-hour sitcom follows the exploits, hang-ups, and neuroses of various office workers at the fictional Dunder Mifflin paper supply company in Scranton, Pa. It stars Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, Josh Krasinski, and Jenna Fischer. Tickets for the convention, which are available online at www.theofficeconvention.com, range from the $25 to $250. The $25 “Intern” tickets include week-long access to the convention activities as well as one limited-admission cast appearance. Many of the higher-priced tickets, including the $250 “Corporate” tickets, have already sold out. Despite the tickets’ popularity, Padden assures that there will still be tickets available in the lower price ranges the week before the convention. “We’ve been selling tickets literally world-wide,” said Padden. “The first hour we put tickets on sale, we made $55,000 in sales.” Fans have purchased tickets from as far away as Ireland, Australia, and England, where there is a popular British version of the sitcom. Padden noted that they have sold more tickets out of state than locally. The convention will kick off at 7.00 a.m. F r i d a y, October 26 with Al Roker broadcasting live from the University of Scranton for “The Today Show.” That night, the university will also host a student block party. Kayla Betacchini, a junior communications major at the University of Scranton, will be performing on “The Today Show” with a campus dance group called Urban Beats. “We just found out about it last week, and everyone’s really excited about it,” she said. “We’re not sure how much airtime we’ll get, but we know it’ll be fun.” A street festival will be held in downtown Scranton on October 27 and 28, with open admission. It will feature food, live music played on open-air stages, and vendors selling Scranton and Dunder Mifflin merchandise. “Estimates for parade day are about 100,000 people in Scranton,” said Padden. “For this convention, we estimate a similar number of people in the downtown. The police department is preparing for at least 50,000.” Limited-admission events include question and answers sessions with the cast, a character look-alike contest, a VIP cocktail reception, and a discussion with the writers of the hit comedy. Because of the great interest in many of these events by college-age students, Padden says that administrators changed some of the regulations to make them more agefriendly. Cocktail parties that were once limited to those 21 or older are now accessible to those of all ages. A wristband will be worn by those under 21. The convention has received attention throughout the country, thrusting Scranton into the national spotlight. Articles on it have appeared in The New York Times and The Washington Post, and Steve Carell has mentioned it in national interviews. “This convention should do nothing but better people’s perceptions of Scranton,” said Padden. “Scranton will be ready for it.” Betacchini, who is a fan of “The Office” believes that the crowds will get a more truthful view of Scranton by actually experiencing the city. “I think seeing it will change how people feel about the area,” she said. “I hope they see that people from Scranton aren’t neces- CONFIRMED CAST APPEARANCES •Leslie David Baker (Stanley) •Andy Buckley (David Wallace from Corporate) •Brian Baumgartner (Kevin) •Creed Bratton (Creed) •Kate Flannery (Meredith) •Melora Hardin (Jan) •Mindy Kaling (Kelly) •Angela Kinsey (Angela) •Paul Lieberstein (Toby) •Oscar Nunez (Oscar) •Craig Robinson (Darryl from the warehouse) •Bobby Ray Shafer (Bob Vance - Vance Refrigeration) •Phyllis Smith (Phyllis) sarily as crazy as they seem on show.” Padden also says that places mentioned in “The Office” are likely to be packed the whole weekend by fans wanting to rub shoulders with the stars. “Cast members are saying they can’t wait to go to Poor Richard’s or Cooper’s,” he said. “I don’t think you’ll be able to get a seat in Poor Richard’s all night.” Up-to-date information regarding tickets for the convention, a full list of confirmed stars who will be in attendance, and a listing of events and times are available at its official website, www.theofficeconvention. com. All photos The Beacon/Christa Sgobba ------------------------------------They were on “The Office,” but are they really in Scranton? YES 701 N. Washington Ave. NO The Hooter’s franchise hasn’t made it to Scranton YES McCarthy Flowered Cabs 132 Cedar Ave. NO There are no passenger trains in Scranton YES 300 Lackawanna Ave. �A&E OCTOBER 23, 2007 Lo ca I sk ate boa rd e rs d em o n st rate tenacity in fight for skate park BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor In some areas, skateboarders stay off the streets and can hone their skills at a skate park, but in Wilkes-Barre and its surrounding areas, skaters are left crafting makeshift ramps in abandoned lots and dodging the cops as they make use of the area’s signs, walls, and rails. “We were kicked out and cops would tell us to quit skateboarding and do more productive things with our lives….The thing is in Wilkes-Barre, they kind of just do it for themselves. It’s a whole different scene. We made something out of absolutely nothing,” explained skater Jon Borthwick. The local skate scene is a unique one, because while it is seriously lacking in resources, there’s absolutely no stopping the determined. With the majority of the skaters there’s no focus on fame or money, and it’s all simply centered around a love for skateboarding. Borthwick explained, “Wilkes-Barre became this breeding ground for kids skating amazing. I lived in Philadelphia and Colorado, and I see that the kids in Wilkes-Barre are on some other level. Everyone out in Colorado, if there’s a kid really pushing himself, it’s because he wants to go pro. The thing is in Wilkes-Barre, they kind of just do it for themselves.” There are a lot of positive aspects to the NEPA skating scene, but conventional thinking among local residents presumes that the young people are “bad news” or “up to no good.” This is where the NESC (North East Skate Crew) comes in; to bridge the gap and show the public some of the more positive aspects of the skating community. The actual name of the group came about around 1996, brought on by a constant war between the football players and skateboarders in a Dallas middle school. One person came up with the idea to get a group of kids together to defend against the football players, and they thought of the North East Skate Crew. For a while it was just a title used among a few friends. Years later, local skater, Kevin Pizzano, was trying to come up with a name to unite all of the skaters in the area. The name NESC was known among a few people, mostly as a joke, but it just seemed to fit. As Borthwick put it, it was a name used mainly among “just a little group of kids that turned into like, the spirit of skateboarding in NEPA.” Since its inception, Pizzano has had a key role in the NESC. He got different groups of skaters to come together and together they were able to initiate certain projects. Along with the NESC he recently started the NEPA Free Skate park Association, who are working towards the goal of getting a free, public skate park in the area. He and Borthwick have also worked with members of the NESC to release numerous skate videos over the years. The videos demonstrated what each new skating generation had to offer. Each video featured separate sections for different local skaters showcasing their talents. A new video came out annually for a few years, with the exception of this past year. However, currently the NESC has a larger project in the works. Borthwick has relocated to Colorado, but he is still working with the NESC to create a new film, starting back at the group’s inception, and documenting their progression up to the current time. Although the video will offer a bit of the history of the group, there will be “not too much talking, mostly letting the skating talk for itself,” explained Borthwick. The video will obviously receive most appreciation from skateboarders, but it will continue to focus specifically on the local scene, and can be appreciated by those who grew up in the area, and who may have heard of the NESC. Although the movie will most likely remain in the works for about another year, a promo for it should be available by the end of November. The movie itself is slated to come out somewhere around the end of 2008, and besides sharing information and history about the NESC, the film will also be used to raise money for the skate park. While the documentary is one large project the NESC has in the works, the group is continuing to put forth every effort possible to improve the local skating community. Pizzano and other members of the NEPA Free Skatepark Association have been in a constant struggle to get the city to help them build their skate park. Members have been talking to commissioners, and media outlets, and attending city council meetings, all in the hopes of getting people to take notice. Pizzano explained that “We need them to want to go for this. They say they’re for it, but they aren’t doing anything to make the city to help us out to get a park. We’re not going to give up.” Lack of support and resources hasn’t discouraged the local skateboarders in the past, because as they’ve proven, they’ll find their own way to get things done. Before the release of the documentary Pizzano also has a music compilation, an art show, and a film festival in the works. He, Borthwick and the NESC are proving through their films, fundraising efforts, and general dedication that while they may currently lack city support and proper practice space, they’ll still find a way to progress. “If you grew up skating here you’d understand how hard it was to keep it going,” says Borthwick. But they did. Photos courtesy JDK 12 Haunted Houses CD Review: Siouxsie Crossword/Website ~~~~~ 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 �OCTOBER 23, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 Local haunted houses offer affordable scare BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor With Halloween approaching, students might be looking to add a good scare to their weekend activities. Northeastern Pennsylvania offers several haunted house experiences designed to send even the most stoic off to the corner whimpering. But with many options, college students on a tight budget rarely have the option to ‘shop around’ for the right thrill. In addition, as the semester’s academic pressures mount, who has time to explore the area looking for the excitement of the area’s best haunted house? Two popular local haunted houses are Night Terrors in West Pittston and Horror Hall in Nanticoke. I visited both to compare how each meets the overall goal of a haunted house: to scare the people brave enough to enter. The Beacon/Alissa Lindner Night Terrors Night Terrors, like most local haunted houses, is open every Friday, and Saturday from 6:00-11:00 p.m. and Sunday from 6:00-10:00 p.m. throughout October. The Night Terrors website attracted me, claiming that “Thrills, chills, screams, and amazement are waiting within the dark halls of ‘Night Terrors’ thanks to three full-time professionally-credited designers on staff, and just the right blend of computer control and live action.” I visited Night Terrors on a Sunday evening with a few friends. Tickets for Night Terrors were $10.00, which makes this haunted The scare starts immediately at Horhouse an affordable option for college students in search of some fun. ror Hall with haunted figurines in the When first entering the building, thrill seekers are greeted by a skeleton figure pointing upstairs to where tickets can be purchased. The staircase that follows is actually quite creative. A black light illuminates the staircase which is painted to create a “spooky” effect. lobby. The lobby featured various haunted figurines including a headless horseman and another skeleton. My friends and I were led to an auditorium, where we were seated to wait for the haunted experience to begin. The room was dark, but everyone inside was talking about the impending adventure. One girl even apologized in advance to those around her because she shrieks loudly and is scared easily. After waiting about fifteen minutes, a movie began to play on the big screen in front of us. We were greeted by a Madame-like lady. She explained the rules: no lights, no cell phones and no smoking. The Madame also gives us the most important advice: follow the moon on our self-guided tour. Each group consisted of about seven or eight people. As we first entered, we were greeted by another Tuesday, October 23 woman, who informed us of the dangers of continuing on. Not everyone comes out alive, she warned, but - “The Language of Comics” exhibition begins in the Sordoni Art we all decided to continue on and take our chances anyway. Gallery Walking through Night Terrors offered equal amounts of mechanical scares as well as live action. The - Will’s Power: Conquering Mountains, Reaching Poles and Managlive action was definitely the source of several screams within my group. The people were not afraid to get ing Diabetes at the F.M. Kirby Center at 6 p.m. in your face to make sure you were the one scared. Without spoiling the experience, the middle offered a - Dr. J. Michael Lennon book signing at Barnes and Noble at 6 clever surprise which will definitely give thrill seekers the fright they are in search of. p.m. For the best scare, I recommend being in either the front of the group or the back. In the front, people - McGlynn Halloween Party in the SUB ballroom at 6 p.m. jump at you first offering the best scare. In the back, you never know if you are being followed... and you Wednesday, October 24 will be followed. - Billy Rogan performing at Barnes and Noble at 6:30 p.m. Although a slightly disappointing ending, Night Terrors lived up to its website description. This hauntThursday, October 25 ed experience gave me chills and left me checking my back for someone following me. - Mindy Davis Sterling Silver Jewelry in the Roth Concourse from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Horror Hall - 2nd Annual Internship Fair in the Henry Student Center Ballroom Similar to Night Terrors, Horror Hall is open every Friday and Saturday and every Sunday. Located in from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Nanticoke, Horror Hall is a little more of a drive but their website drew me in claiming, “Horror Hall is - Open Mic Night at Tudor Bookshop at 7 p.m. Northeast Pennsylvania’s biggest and best all indoor haunted attraction with approximately a ¼ mile walkFriday, October 26 through that will take you 20 hair raising minutes to complete.” - Senior Theater Capstone (Jared Roberts): “Fading Joy...A Night of On the Friday evening when I visited Horror Hall with my friend, the place was surprisingly busy. After Absurdist Theatre” in the DDD blackbox at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. buying my ticket for $12.00, everyone waited in a line in a lobby much less scary than Night Terrors. With - Punk show with bands TBA at Backstage at 6 p.m. the exception of a hunchback walking around, the only scary items were spiders and skeletons hanging - “Power of Truth”, lecture and book signing in SLC 101 at 7:30 from the ceiling. Like Night Terrors, Horror Hall also offered a small concession stand to satisfy pre-scare p.m. cravings. - Held at Gunpoint, The Naked Faces and TBA performing at After waiting about fifteen minutes, we were guided into an auditorium where Michael Jackson’s “ThrillCaf&eacute; Metropolis at 8 p.m. er” video was playing extremely loudly. Upon the completion of the video, we were greeted with a bang of - “An Evening with Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood” at the F.M. light and a vampire appeared, ready to inform us of our impeding journey. Like the Madame from Night Kriby Center at 8 p.m. Terrors, the vampire informed us of the rules and to follow our tour guide throughout the attraction. - Picture Perfect performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. Small groups of seven or eight were brought in to begin the haunted experience. Each group was enSaturday, October 27 couraged to get their picture taken, which could be purchased at the end of haunted house for $10.00. - Mystical Night (Tarot readings, hypnosis, reiki) at Arts Youniverse Our tour guide was not particularly enthusiastic about the journey, often barking orders at us to “Watch at 7 p.m. your step!” or “Don’t jump!” as we crossed a makeshift bridge. - Disco Biscuits performing at the F.M. Kirby Center at 8 p.m. Horror Hall offered mostly mechanical scares, with the live action not beginning until the end of the - Halloween Show featuring Tgier’s Jaw (as Blink 182), Dinosores tour. For me this was a downside because the in your face action is what scares me the most. (as Led Zeppelin), and Dirt Vultures (as CCR) at Caf&eacute; MeThe end of Horror Hall did outshine the end of Night Terrors. Although I was not checking my back tropolis at 8 p.m. when I left, I definitely got the good scare I came in search of. Night Terrors did not live up to the “20 hair - Picture Perfect performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. raising minutes” the website claimed, possibly five minutes would have been more accurate. Sunday, October 28 Overall, both haunted houses offered a thrilling experience. I also learned a few things while traveling - 1st Annual Black Tie Affair featuring Captain We’re Sinking, Last through the dark hallways: always go with a friend you can hold onto when someone gets in your face, and Words, Dinosores and BTA at Backstage at 6 p.m. second, I am deathly afraid of chainsaws. - Ghost Chasers event in the SUB Ballroom at 7 p.m. Winner: Night Terrors Monday, October 29 Schedule of Events �14 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT OCTOBER 23, 2007 CD Review: Siouxsie’s MantaRay BY MATT GOGAS Beacon Staff Writer After a formidable career as the voice and face of Siouxsie and the Banshees, Siouxsie released a solo effort, MantaRay, this October in the United States. She is better known for her success in the mid 70’s with Siouxsie and the Banshees and her side project in the 80’s called Creatures. At the age of 50, Siouxsie Sioux shows that she has not lost a step with MantaRay. The album shows amazing solo potential and some relevance to a current generation that may not be inclined to listen to the punk rock ramblings of a more than middle aged woman. The positive aspect of such an artist releasing a solo album like this in the twilight of her career is that surely she has by now perfected her musical craft. This holds true with MantaRay. The album opens with the beating heart single “Into a Swan.” The periodically off-key distorted guitar is reminiscent of her earlier work, but lyrically the song shows a sense of maturity. She illustrates that she has finally come into her own as a solo artist with lyrics like “I feel a force I’ve never felt before.” The second song, “About to Happen,” picks up the pace somewhat from “Into a Swan.” This song catches the listener’s attention with a catchy beat, a sexy attitude, and a steady even flow from start to finish. The music itself smacks of her punk rock roots, but it also quite pop-like, which is a change from her earlier days. The combination of the two blends flawlessly. The same holds true with the third song on the album, “Here Comes That Day.” The song is sexy, catchy, and relevant. With all the pros of this work, there are of course, the cons. MantaRay starts to lose steam towards the middle. Songs like “One Mile Below” and “Drone Zone” carry on for what seem to be an eternity with very little progression, even though both are just over three minutes. It seems as though they were put on the album to fill empty space. These few songs in the middle hold almost no significance to the continuity of the album. They lack the pop-like guitar riffs that are so prevalent towards the beginning of the album. This clustering in the middle makes the album flow a little less evenly. It does, however, begin to pick up again towards the end with “They Follow You” and ends on a solid note with “Heaven and Alchemy.” All in all, Siouxsie has done well with MantaRay. It has everything someone who enjoys rock and roll could want: a chick singer, good beats, and a few droning, emotionally heavy songs to show musical range. I would recommend giving it a listen. Grade: BPhoto courtesy www.nnpromotions.co.uk ''Live Aooustk Music" Wednesday Night October 24th BillyRogan "Topping Guitarist'' Bring your student ID that night & get 25% off your c.afe order. ST FOR THE 1rst CENTURY JRII.MittllBrl» ..... utlwl' S ~ arul hetry hading'-' Tows.day Night Ocrobu 25th Jim.Wumrr 100 Bad it's Poetry"' • LiR Aoou..a~ Mm (: Frida:, Ni~ Ocita~c,r 26th. 7:30'-9.30 Ch'llllff Baim-a •l!s.gner $cmprritecr"' ~aahhle . ·fi Th.e;su 1y night. :&om 7il0•-lt30pm •4 CAl!.L: Bl LL ti ENR\f at 2.1 S-761-4619 OR CHE(jK iliHE WEB Slil'IE FOR IN FORMA.'FIONI The Beacon/Nick Zmijewski .Dmri't forget to pidc up a °'F.-cq11e11it Bu~.- C:mi tod:i}'1 FLEX DOLIARS an; . heff :in ()ur, st:o .e! I -· 1 �15 Kudracross OCTOBER 23, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 22 24 25 27 28 29 30 32 33 36 37 38 40 41 44 45 46 48 BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief Does size matter? No, seriously, does it? It seems that as Americans, we have this preoccupation with size. We like big houses, big cars, big credit card limits, big breasts... How far would you go for a new set of breasts? You know, the kind that don’t droop, but rather just sit, firm and upright? Would you post pictures of yourself on the internet? Would you solicit men to give you money toward breast implants? Would you post naughty pictures that men would have to pay to see? Would you flirt shamelessly? Well, I’ve got some spectacular news for you. You can do all of these things and get free breast implants in return at MyFreeImplants.com. Here’s how it works. These women sign up for the site, and post pictures, blurbs, etc. about themselves. Then, gents who sign up can buy credit to speak with any particular woman. Basically, it’s like having head-sex with these women; men paying to get their rocks off while women get money toward free fake breasts. The site works with various cosmetic surgeons that per- form breast augmentation for “free,” pending the client acquiring the necessary funds from interested males. What the heck is this? Honestly. I looked at the site, and apparently it has some rave reviews from various media outlets and personalities. But, it’s crap. This site does nothing more than give women a false sense of what is beautiful. We’re shifting more and more toward a culture where we have to look and act like cookie-cutter people. That’s simply not right. Needless to say, there are so many human beings in this country who are homeless, starving, or both. Heck, taking it to a smaller level, I have three dollars in my bank account. Nobody is going to donate to a site to help me pay that 5 figure debt I have in student loans, but if I wanted saline shoved into my chest, all I’d have to do is hit on randy men and solicit for donations. You know, I don’t know where I fit when it comes to selflessness, but I think this site is just disgraceful. Just the idea that strange men are so passionate about getting women a free set of boobs says something to me about this culture I live in. I give this site a “D” cup for “Disgraceful!” 49 50 52 54 55 57 58 59 62 63 64 Large Nebraska city Got up Narrow street Poplar, for example Electric swimmers Hints Roger Rabbit, for one France currency Undergrad degrees Travelers abbreviation Tailor Mail Room THE CITIZENS’ VOICE PART TIME Inserting Flyers Into Newspaper Day and Night Shifts Available NIGHT SHIFT 12am to Approx 3:30am FRIDAYS - 11:30am Start SATURDAYS - 12 Noon Start Must be 18 years or older Applications may be filled out at front desk of THE CITIZENS’ VOICE 75 N. Washington St. Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18711 Courtesy Lackawanna County Library System MyFreeImplants.com Make very happy Skin opening John McClane nemesis Composition TV interference DOWN Soak up That’s alternative English teacher’s no-no Lion’s sound Flotation devices “____ Souls’ Day” Sony competitor Make changes Historical periods Proclamation Behavior principle Make into law Trails Poker necessity Cooking abbr. Rats, for example New Mexico Native Americans Brandenburg Concerti composer Fishing tackle Fe Doze off Become less severe Beethoven’s “_____ to joy” Jean type Useful metals Camping abode IRS abbr. Mel Gibson role Dignified Church offerings Canada neighbor Baby premiere Answers 10/07 BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer ACROSS 1 Constellation part 5 British politician “Isaac _____” 10 Profound 14 Columbus is its capital 15 Stomach ailment 16 Italian volcano 17 Island spirit? 19 AIM activity 20 Go off course 21 Emu kin 23 Inviting letters 26 Religious bodies 27 Birdwatcher shelter 31 Old world 34 Emanations 35 Mouthpiece of wind instrument 36 Wife changed into a pillar of salt 39 “Cream of the _____” 40 Stroll 41 Barely adequate 42 Chick’s mom 43 Mound 44 Poe’s bird 45 Flip a switch? 47 Have being 48 Bullwinkle foe 51 Bachelor 53 Ape 56 Starbucks offering 60 Skin ailment 61 Insubordinate 65 “My country ‘tis of _______” 66 67 68 69 70 �SPORTS 16 OCTOBER 23, 2007 Field hockey team shooting to score in post-season BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor At the end of every field hockey season, she’s always cleaning out her locker early because another conference team stole her postseason dreams. Facing a similar scenario this season as she did in her previous three as a Lady Colonel, senior Lindsay Thomas refuses to miss another bus ride headed to the Freedom Conference playoffs. “What’s running through my mind is these are the last games of my career,” said Thomas as she gracefully pedaled on one of the bicycle machines after watching game film with the team on Friday. She plans to make them count. After the Lady Colonels posted a 4-2 victory over Arcadia University on Saturday, Thomas is a few steps closer to punching in her first ticket to the Freedom conference playoffs. All fans could hear in the first half were a bunch of players in maroon and black jackets screaming on Arcadia’s sideline. The Lady Knights entered the game 5-11 overall, 0-4 in the conference and were excited to be winning two goals to one on the road. For the Lady Colonels, it was all silence. A loss to Arcadia would have put the Lady Colonels on a four-game losing streak. Head coach Sara Myers stressed the team’s inability to capitalize on golden opportuni- ties in practice last week. “We need to put the ball in the cage,” said Myers. “We have been really stressing scoring in the past few practices. We are dominating games but not getting the outcomes we want.” If anyone listened in practice, it was certainly junior Diana Wright. With less than 30 seconds left in the first half against Arcadia, junior Diana Wright scored her second goal for the Lady Colonels to tie the game at two off an assist from sophomore Amanda Tilley. The Lady Colonels came out firing in the second half by attempting 15 shots on goals. That would be the team’s secondhighest number of attempts in a half all season. The Lady Colonels scored on two of those attempted goals while holding Arcadia scoreless in the second half. Sophomore goalkeeper Julia Smith had four saves of the day as the Lady Colonels moved to 2-2 in the conference, 7-9 overall. Wright fired in three of the Lady Colonels four goals leaving her with a total of seven goals on the season. On Saturday, all of Wright’s three points were off assists from Tilley who entered the game with only one assist on the season. Junior Alyssa Koncelik accounted for the Lady Colonels final goal of the game off a pass from Wright The Lady Colonels are currently in fourth in the conference with two games remaining against third-place DeSales and fifthplace Delaware Valley. The Lady Colonels face both teams this week. King’s College leads the conference, while FDU sits in the second spot. Since the top four teams are selected to compete in the Freedom conference playoffs, the Lady Colonels are in position to make it. If the team wins out this week, the highest they can potentially be seeded is third. Next week will determine what teams will be dancing into the postseason and the Lady Colonels believe they have all the moves to get there. “After playing King’s (two weeks ago), we are definitely the team to beat,” said Thomas. “It would be an amazing feeling especially my senior year to go into the playoffs. We have the potential, we just have to execute on it.” The Beacon/Todd Weibel Lindsay Thomas, seen here in a picture from the 2005 season, has started every game this season, and has contributed to the team with 1 goal and 3 assists. The Lady Colonels are 2-2-0 in conference play and 7-9-0 overall. Preview of the Week: Football readies for Mayor’s cupclash BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer While the Wilkes University football team has fallen from the top of the Middle Atlantic Conference standings, their 2-5 overall record has done little to dampen the enthusiasm surrounding the upcoming Mayor’s Cup clash between the Colonels and the Monarchs of nearby King’s College. The two MAC teams have met each season since King’s reinstated varsity football in 1993, with Wilkes holding an 11-3 lead in the series during that time span. The teams battle for the right to host the Mayor’s Cup-a silver trophy presented to the winning squad by the mayor of Wilkes-Barre. Both teams traditionally gather at midfield as a sign of respect for each other’s programs, while the victors take possession of the cup for another season. “It’s a great rivalry game, enhanced a great deal by the closeness of the schools” Wilkes head coach Frank Sheptock said recently regarding the upcoming clash. “I think the respect that the coaching staffs have for both programs has spread to the point where the players on each side have a great deal of respect for the opposing team.” While King’s comes in with an 0-7 record and having suffered several key injuries, it may have found some young leaders in freshmen quarterbacks John Cuiffo and Blaine Fox. Both signal-callers have seen action in recent games with senior starter Jeff Searfass out with an injury. The Monarchs have also gotten a boost with the return of a big, fast target to their lineup in junior receiver Bob Cirko. The offense will be tested against a Colonels defense that is led by linebacker Kyle Follweiler, who brings 98 total tackles into the contest. When the Colonels have the ball, they will need to be keenly aware of King’s standout linebacker Tore Alaimo. The 6’0”, 240-pound senior has been a force for the Monarchs after missing all of last season with an injury. Alaimo is a veteran leader for a King’s defensive unit that has adjusted to seeing young players and new faces in many spots on the field this year. His presence and abilities will present a major test for the young and developing running backs and offensive line of the Wilkes offense. While other games in the series have had more suspense and greater conference implications, the 2007 Mayor’s Cup clash promises to be another memorable chapter in this heated rivalry. Kickoff is set for 1:30 this Saturday at Betzler Fields in Wilkes-Barre. STSTRAVEL.COM Join America’s #1 Student Tour Operator CANCUN, ACAPULCO, JAMAICA, BAHAMAS PUERTO VALLARTA, SOUTH PADRE FLORIDA, CRUISES Previous Mayor’s Cup 2006: Wilkes - 28 Kings - 7 2005: Wilkes - 36 Kings - 13 Sell Trips, Earn Cash & Travel Free www.ststravel.com STUDENT TRAVEL SERVICES 1-800-648-4849 / www.ststravel.com �SPORTS OCTOBER 23, 2007 17 Football stumbles in MAC chase with loss BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer After getting out to a hot start with a 2-0 record in MAC play this season, the Wilkes University Colonels football team has seen their quest for second straight conference title cool off in the past two weeks. Albright quarterback Tanner Kelly threw for 352 yards and four touchdowns--including three to receiver Steven Asay--as the Lions posted a 35-25 win over Wilkes at Ralston Field on Saturday. With the loss, Wilkes sees its league record fall to 2-2. That puts the Colonels two games behind the conference leaders in the MAC, with just three games remaining. “We know these tough times will pass, because we’ve got a great group of kids here,” Wilkes head football coach Frank Sheptock said following the Albright loss. “But right now, we’re in a bit of a learning curve. We always have great expectations here at Wilkes, and we will certainly rebound from this situation.” The Colonels entered the game minus a number of key players, as 26 players on the roster were suspended for the contest as a result of an unspecified violation of team rules. The list of players included starting quarterback Al Karaffa, many of the team’s top defensive backs and several of the Colonels’ most productive return men on special teams. While neither team scored in the first quarter, the two teams exploded for five touchdowns in a productive and exciting second stanza. Kelly would throw for three Albright touchdowns, while Wilkes would get rushing scores from tailback Alex Pearson and Quarterback Johnathan Stroup to stay in the fight. The game would swing early in the third quarter, as Albright scored two touchdowns just minutes apart. Following a Wilkes fumble, Kelly threw a 29-yard touchdown strike to Asay on the Lions first play from scrimmage. On the Colonels’ next possession, Matt Christ would pick off a third down pass from Stroup and take the ball back untouched for a touchdown. The ensuing PAT pushed the Albright lead to 35-13, and despite fourth-quarter touchdowns from Sean Madden and Rocky D’Aconti, Wilkes was unable to recover. Sophomore Rob Johnson took over at quarterback on the next possession, and completed 11 of 18 passes for 103 yards with a touchdown and interception over the remainder of the game. Pearson was the leading rusher for Wilkes with 155 yards on 33 carries, with Jason Prushinski catching four passes for 90 yards. Kyle Follweiler led the defensive effort for the Colonels with 11 total tackles. Todd Weibel/Beacon Archives Wilkes Senior Linebacker Kyle Follweiler is leading the defense in tackles with 67 solo tackles in 7 games played. BmaadPin . ri11d ll:.a:i;illl1.ii (~} M~ S tki! {S) l2:"'Mi;Qii,m1 'Fi=_ ~ ,6.. l..iuga pi.rz:l!I 12" l'aiii. l'w:.!1 Taoo {12) Mini 'P.Dil'l:0 ~ C E OT.I b.Lnp-mg f.gpllCI! 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Mi Ld,, a 11d1C' n Mus'llil'd &: !lilHO By tlit h i.: {ii B~ · I) B ~ SO Ill] e'f Jlllt:ill.ll Tuim & C~i! Ham. Clcc ·. t...b .ub. ~ R.0 - Ohccsc. 11!1 ccf Chci:se Cblcke;n,Cn.Mar H01 Orilhd c.ltlelli'!tti ensw Clhk:h"fi '.FMI Pr;li Mr;I Cl!r:e ~ Su!nk Meatball 'fll-1 dloo!l.!!I fl11.38gc: ¼air; T . r:.'f Ciu'b ctiee ~ CiIUfhn:i.Ia Ohc .. s CaC acoo · (1]c1:csc ·i : m ~ B.uif11l.i1l Chide~ Cbr:.e Cliid?e.111 alwt.c!llil 5 · I. 'Su!nk �SPORTS 18 OCTOBER 23, 2007 COMMENTARY 2007: A Year in baseball A season of no-hitters, comebacks, and broken records BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor For complete World Series coverage, visit us online at: http://www.wilkesbeacon.com voters wanting the ball to be sent to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown branded with an asterisk, 34% voted for it to be sent to the Hall of Fame without an asterisk, and 19% voted to have the ball shot into space. It seems to be a fitting end for the chase that captivated baseball fans for the better part of two seasons, as the asterisk will forever be a reminder of one of the most notorious baseball players of all-time. Despite the circus that surrounded Bonds and his quest for the record books, baseball writers and fans alike were honored to be present at the Hall of Fame inductions for two of the greatest: Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn, who are going to forever be remembered among the greatest players in history. Ripken, the longtime shortstop and third baseman of the Baltimore Orioles, is best known for being baseball’s “Iron-man,” after he broke Lou Gehrig’s 56-year-old record of consecutive games played on September 6, 1995, when Ripken played in his 2,131 consecutive game, a record which will not likely be broken again. Ripken also finished his career with over 3,000 hits, 431 homeruns, and 1695 RBIs. Gwynn, the lifetime San Diego Padre, is going to be remembered as one of the greatest pure hitters of his generation, collecting eight batting titles over his 20-year career, while ending up with a career batting average of .338. Gwynn never once hit under In the grand scheme of things, 2007 might go down as one of the better seasons in baseball history, but it might also go down as the last season of the steroid era. On the eve of the revelations from the George Mitchell investigation, in which the former Senator spent nearly two years investigating the on-going problems concerning the use of banned performance enhancing substances in the game of baseball, we are all left wondering which big-name players are going to be listed as abusers. Last week, it was announced that Mitchell was planning to reveal the list of players that had been involved with steroids, along with the rest of the findings of the investigation, so that Major League Baseball can have a better idea of how to handle the problem going forward. It should come as no surprise then, that on the same year that the steroid era might have significant closure, that Barry Bonds, the most controversial character in this play, would have broken the all-time homerun record of 755 that was previously held by Hank Aaron. It was a big story, to be sure, one that Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig refused to give any credence to by stating early on in the season that he was unsure of whether or not he would be in attendance when Bonds broke the record. Selig would eventually commit to following Bonds on his journey, and was present when Bonds tied the record, however he was not present on August 7th, when Bonds would hit number 756 at home in San Francisco, dethroning Hank Aaron as the new homerun leader. Aaron, who has remained quiet about the chase, appeared on a pre-recorded video just moments after Bonds thanked the fans, congratulating him on his new record. The homerun ball, which was purchased for over $700,000 by fashion designer Mark Ecko, had its fate decided on by fans via Photo courtesy google.com an online vote. Over ten million Barry Bonds captivated the fans this season on votes were tallied, with 47% of the way to hitting homerun number 756. .300 in a full season, and hit over .350 in seven seasons, with a career high batting average of .394. Their inductions weren’t all that happened, as there were plenty of memorable moments in the 2007 baseball season. HEAVY HITTERS Alex Rodriguez, who has been known for not being a clutch player by the fans of New York, had two game-winning homeruns in April, on his way to one of the best months in history, hitting .355 with 14 homeruns and 34 RBIs. A-Rod would finish the season with a .314 batting average, 54 homeruns, and 156 RBIs, on his way to his third career MVP award. Magglio Ordonez, the right-fielder for the Detroit Tigers, would lead the American League in batting average, finishing the season with a career high .363 batting average. In the National League, Matt Holliday of the Colorado Rockies took home the batting title with an average of .340. YOUNG HURLERS Justin Verlander, the hard-throwing pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, threw his first career no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 12, walking 4 and striking out 12. Boston Red Sox rookie pitcher Clay Buchholz followed suit, throwing a not hitter against the Baltimore Orioles in only his second career start on September 1. Jake Peavy, the ace of the San Deigo Padres, is likely the Cy Young winner for the National League, finishing the season with 19 wins, 240 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.54, all of which are tops in the National League. ROOKIE DOMINACE Troy Tulowitski, the shortstop for the Colorado Rockies, is leading the race of NL rookies, by having a spectacular year defensively, while hitting .291 with 24 homeruns and 99 RBIs. Milwaukee Brewers third baseman, Ryan Braun, was by far the best offensive rookie of the year, hitting .324 with 34 homeruns and 97 RBIs, however his lackluster defense at third base, committing a leagueleading 26 errors in 112 games. Dustin Pedroia, the second baseman of the Boston Red Sox, is likely to win the American League Rookie of the Year award by leading AL rookies with a .317 batting average and stellar defense, despite starting the year off with a .182 batting average in April. COMEBACKS GALORE The Colorado Rockies, looking to miss the playoffs yet again, won 14 of their last 15 games, including a one-game playoff against the San Diego Padres that led to them clinching the Wild Card for their first playoff berth since 1995. They would go on to sweep Philadelphia and Arizona in the first two rounds of the playoffs, extending their streak to 21 out of 22 games. The New York Yankees, the perennial winner of the American League East, found themselves 12.5 games back of first place to the Boston Red Sox and six games behind the Detroit Tigers in the Wild Card race on June 1. Thanks to timely hitting and clutch pitching, they found themselves the winner of the American League Wild Card at season’s end. The Philadelphia Phillies, after a 4-11 start to the season, would mount a comeback at the hands of the New York Mets, by sweeping them twice down the stretch, including a memorable 9th inning win off of Mets’ closer Billy Wagner. The Phillies would win the division on the last day of the season with a win over the Washington Nationals after the Mets lost to the Florida Marlins, completing one of the the biggest collapses in baseball history by blowing a 7 game lead with 17 games remaining. 2007 League Leaders PITCHING Wins AL: Josh Beckett (20) NL: Jake Peavy (19) ERA AL: John Lackey (3.01) NL: Jake Peavy (2.54) Strikeouts AL: Scott Kazmir (239) NL: Jake Peavy (240) HITTING Average AL: Magglio Ordonez (.363) NL: Matt Holliday (.340) Homeruns AL: Alex Rodriguez (54) NL: Prince Fielder (50) RBIs AL: Alex Rodriguez (156) NL: Matt Holliday (137) �SPORTS OCTOBER 23, 2007 19 Athlete of the Week Xiaoqiao Zhang BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor For Xiaoqiao Zhang, tennis has become a stress release for the everyday pressures of college classes and work. She also happens to be 12-1 on the season, most recently coming off a win over East Stroudsburg University’s Katie Dambrosia on Tuesday October 16. Zhang’s only loss of the season was against Torie Cunningham of Division 2 Bloomsburg University. The Bloomsburg match was also the third match of the season, and both Zhang and head women’s tennis coach Chris Leicht feel her performance has improved. “She [Zhang] has definitely improved from day one. Everything I think, her footwork, movement, she is just a little more patient with her play,” Leicht explained. Zhang added, “In the beginning I was hurt. These days I feel good and more confident.” Zhang finished the season with a 12-1 record. She swept all of her opponents two games to nothing and none her contest were forced into a third game. Out of 26 total games played, Zhang shut-out 13 of them 6-0. Last year Zhang was named Freedom Conference Player of the Year and was selected to first team all conference. Although she wasn’t named conference player of the year, this season Zhang she joined the rest of the players on the first-team conference list for a second straight season. In her first two seasons as a Lady Colonel, Zhang has a 31-3 record. As the end of the fall season approaches, Zhang has placed an importance on improving her training. “She [Zhang] is very serious about tennis. She is very competitive. She has a strong desire to win and keep improving,” Leicht explained. For Zhang, the motivation is her own desire to win and her love of the sport. Despite her own success this season, 14 Zhang places a strong importance on the team as a whole doing well. She explained the team is always cheering each other on and everyone cares about the team’s results over their own. Zhang said, “The team is like a family. We win as a group, as a whole instead of winning individually.” Leicht agreed, “She [Zhang] is a big team player. On top of her individual results she is always cheering and cares more about the team results.” With the MASCAC Tournament this past weekend, Zhang plans to approach it just as she would any regular season match. “I treat every match equal but I still want to play best because it’s at the end,” Zhang explained, “I want a beautiful ending.” The Beacon/Gino Troiani Wilkes freshman Victoria Bybel, seen here during practice last week, has a 4-1 conference record, helping the tennis team to a 12-1 overall record this season. RECAPS Women’s Soccer The Lady Colonels will be heading to the postseason for an eight consecutive time after last Thursday’s 2-0 win over King’s College. That win would be the eighth shutout in nine wins for the Lady Colonels. The team is currently 4-0 in the conference and tied for first place along with Manhattanville College (NY). Both teams square off Wednesday in NY to determine who will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Lady Colonels will wrap up their season at home Saturday against Arcadia University. Volleyball The Wilkes University volleyball team split a pair of matches at a tri-match hosted by Albright College on Saturday. The Lady Colonels posted a 30-14, 30-27, 30-15 win over Marywood University in their first match of the day, before suffering a 30-26, 29-31, 3020, 30-20 loss to host Albright in the nightcap. The split moves the Lady Colonels overall record to 11-15. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Men’s Soccer Greg Miller and Kyle Dukmen tallied goals to lead Wilkes University to a 2-1 Freedom Conference men’s soccer victory over rival King’s College last Tuesday afternoon at Ralston Field. NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 26 Total number of kills by junior Total number of football playKatherine Harrington in the ers that missed Saturday’s home Lady Colonels volleyball win game against Albright due to over Marywood. Harrington violation of team policy. Albright also posted eight digs and three won the game 35-25. blocks. 3 154 Total number of conference Number of rushing yards by wins by the men’s soccer team. running back Alex Pearson on The Colonels are currently 3-1 Saturday. The team totaled 194 in conference play and rushing yards on the day. are 8-6-1 overall. �Sports OCTOBER 23, 2007 20 The Beacon/Gino Troiani Lady Colonels Snatch Four Titles at MASCAC Tourney Tennis team brings home the gold in singles and doubles competition BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor For the past five years under head coach John Leicht’s leadership, the Lady Colonels have slowly morphed into the team to beat around the league. In 2005, Leicht led the team to a record breaking season with 12 victories and has been on a roll ever since. In 2006 at the MASCAC Tournament, Leicht led four Lady Colonels to semi-final contest. Of all the matches, freshman Xiaoqiao Zhang was the lone winner to walk away with a champion. This season, Leicht was named Freedom Conference coach of the Year for the third consecutive season. This year, the Lady Colonels finished with 12-1 overall with their only loss coming to D-II Bloomsburg University. The Lady Colonels were 5-0 in the conference. The team’s conference performance during the fall semester solidified homefield advantage for the Lady Colonels for the Freedom Conference playoffs held in the spring semester. But first the Lady Colonels had a scheduled date with the 2007 MASCAC Tournament on Saturday and Sunday and the team certainly scored in this one. “The good thing about this weekend was that everyone did well,” said Leicht. “It’s fun to get four champions out of nine especially with 11 teams (in the competition). That’s really exciting for the program.” Former Freedom Conference Player of the Year from a season ago, Xiaoqiao Zhang took home the number-two singles champi- onship in three sets over Elizabethtown College’s Emma Smith. Zhang opened the finals with a 6-4 win over Smith. For the first time this year, Zhang was forced into a third set after Smith stole the second set 6-3. The game was forced into a super-tie breaker that would go in favor of Zhang 10-2. “I think I played very well (during the tournament),” said Zhang. “In the second set I was a little shaky but in the third (set) I felt more confident and I was motivated.” “I did it (won), so I’m happy” Last year Zhang won the championship at the number-one position. Zhang teamed up with senior Alison McDonald to win the doubles championship 8-1 over Sara Guza and Kristen Hunter from crosstwon rival King’s College. McDonald advanced to the finals after beating Hunter 6-1. 6-3 in the semi-finals. Freedom Conference Player of the Year from DeSales University, Courtney McClurkin put an end McDonald’s run with a 6-2, 6-0 win. McDonald ends the fall half of the season 11-2 and first team All-Conference. Sophomore Katie Buckley finished the day withs a championship trophy at the number-six position. Buckley took on Kristin Paula from Arcadia University and posted a 6-1, 7-5 in the semi-finals before taking on Lebanon Valley’s Sara Wagner. Buckley struggled against Wagner losing the first set 6-1. Buckley would go on to win the second set 6-3 and capped off the day with a 10-7 tie-breaker to win the title. The Lady Colonels number-two duo, Kristin Wilt and Victoria Bybel, won their championship game over DeSales Liz Guidon and Jess Smith. Last Saturday the Lady Colonels breezed through all six singles matches and scored wins in two of the three doubles competitions. McDonald was named first team All-Conference for a third consecutive season. Zhang also received first team All-Conference honors after posting a 12-1 record in singles competition. Wilt, a junior, earned a All-Conference berth for her third straight time as a Lady Colonel. Victoria Bybel was selected second team All-conference along with Freedom Conference Rookie of the Year. The Lady Colonels return to the court Mar. 30th for the second half of their season. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 October 23rd Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 October 23 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/9c26374e1df81c1877d0b752d94b9f99.pdf e2fc954a3a8b357c896cda4929f27d39 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW OCTOBER 30, 2007 In This Issue... Traffic Ticket$ page 6 Sexy HaHoween CosttJ-mes www.wilkesbeacon.com Volume 60 Issue 7 SLC 166 not conducive to learning, faculty say Age, initial design cited as causes of technical problems BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor According to a December 2006 2-FIX log, facilities officials received a complaint about cooling issues in Stark Learning Center, Room 166. Bob Swetts, Manager of Capital Assets, said a team addressed the issue, but complaints from Wilkes faculty and students about cooling and a number of other issues have continued. SLC 166, known as the Novartis Amphitheater to some and “the pit” to others, was last renovated in 1998. “During the renovations, SLC 166 received new desks, new computer wiring, floor coverings, lighting improvements, painting and the latest smart classroom... The AC units were part of the renovations or added shortly afterward,” said Paul Kapriskie, Manager of Capital Projects. Despite upgrades to the smart technology this past summer, there have not been any major updates since ‘98. Members of Wilkes faculty who hold classes and meetings in SLC 166 are not satisfied with the current The Beacon / Gino Troiani state of the classroom. Students sit elbow-to-elbow in SLC 166, also known as “the pit.” See SLC page 5 Portal deemed success, despite limitations page 9 BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor HALLOWEEN MOVIE SPECIAL .----:---,'[ NOTHI JfPA IN ' r l/Fa :1 t-C' ~ .~:J r~, ~~~ ~,.. ✓• • ~-=-::.~ page 12 ,. Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 The MyWilkes Portal fully launched on the first day of August this year as a way to provide single login access to online resources for the University community. Now that it has been in operation for half a semester, the campus has had a chance to form assessments of the Portal’s performance so far. Mike Salem, Chief Information Officer of IT, and Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support Services, both feel that progress with the portal is going well and at the level they expected it to be at this point. However, Salem said, “[There have been a] couple of bumps here and there. We’re fighting a performance bug in the software right now.” One of the hurdles Salem mentioned occurred recently when the email link on the Wilkes University website was redirected to connect through the portal, but within a few days was changed back. “That had an issue with how many people were hitting the access point at the same time…” said Bailey. Once this problem is fixed, students can expect the link to once again connect to the portal. The redirecting of the email is part of a gradual transition that will move the University towards exclusive use of the portal. Christine Seitzinger, Associate Director of Marketing Communications, said, “The old way of doing things…is still live and will remain so at least until the end of the semester…For now we’ve created this transition period to a new system to eliminate any of that hesitancy to change.” However, even a gradual change seems undesirable to some. Richard Read, a senior business administration major, who uses the portal mainly to check his practice schedule said, “I got used to separate logins, and I guess people are creatures of habit…It’s just, it’s something new and I don’t really want to use it.” Despite these feelings, he did think the concept will be beneficial in the long run. Several other students liked the idea of the portal, but were frustrated by technical problems. “I guess it’s good, except when it doesn’t let you log on to check your mail,” said Megan Judge, a freshman elementary education major. Jeremy Weinstock, a sophomore accounting major, thinks that the portal is a good change overall, but said, “I’ve tried to log on to my email and it gives me an error sometimes and usually I have to refresh it three or four times…” Faculty have also experienced difficulties while using the portal. Michael Elias, math/ computer science adjunct professor, posts quizzes, review information, and a link to his website on the Portal. “I would say about half of the time, it’s too slow...The part that really gets me is when I get a message saying ‘Too many log ons, try again later.’…In my quiz this morning, there were four in the first class that couldn’t get in the normal way and had to go in through WebCT on the original Wilkes homepage.” However, like the students, Elias is enthusiastic about the convenience the portal has the potential to offer. In response to comments about many technical problems with the portal, Bailey said, “I don’t know if I would agree with ‘a lot’ [of technical problems]… with any new technology tool you are always going to have certain See PORTAL page 4 �NEWS OCTOBER 30, 2007 2 Another Starbucks in town Search for SHE building Fire on Main St. Portal 3 3 4 5 Class podcasting offers students new options for learning BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief At some point in the future, teachers may simply be able to provide their students with a special electronic file that instantly downloads what they need to know into students’ brains. But until that day, innovative teachers will simply experiment with the latest technology can offer to enhance their students’ experiences with class materials. Take Dr. James Culhane, Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, for example. Culhane, who was the recipient of the 2007-08 Carpenter Award for excellence in teaching, has been making strides to enhance the classroom learning experience since he started at Wilkes. First, he developed a concept of integration in the classroom with his innovative Pharmacotherapeutics class. Culhane describes the class as an integration of pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, pathophysiology and therapeutics, which are taken as separate, three credit courses in more traditional programs. With student retention rates over a year period, this class has been integrated at Wilkes to help students better understand the material. However, course integration is not the only thing that helps student retain information in this flagship course. Culhane also utilizes podcasting to better convey information. A podcast is a digital audio file distributed usually online or to be downloaded onto an MP3player. The use of podcasting in classes to enhance lecture and/or demostrate new techniques in a variety of fields is becoming a new means of reaching students on different levels. “There has been a relatively moderate campus-wide movement to utilize podcasting to help supplement classes that professors offer. Podcasts have been very useful for a number of reasons for me personally. I’ve used podcasts to help supplement classroom mate- rial, particularly difficult material, that students tend to have trouble with. Over a period of years you kind of get a sense of... what areas students tend to have trouble with. After I identified those areas I did podcasts on them so that students could, after the lecture, download a podcast onto their MP3 player or sit at their computers and listen to a kind of alternate explanation of Beacon Podcast online at: wilkesbeacon.com the material multiple times if they needed to,” said Culhane. The other thing Culhane uses podcasting for is to cover information that he doesn’t have a lot of time to go over in class. Because an array of new drugs are introduced each year, but class time does not necessarily get longer, Culhane will do a Podcast to get the information out to students. “Dr. Culhane uses podcasts to help explain confusing topics that students might not fully understand in the time he has in class. They are used to explain complicated topics like the coagulation cascade. It is nice because you can now study in a situation where you would not be able to study with books,” said Todd Weibel, P3 Pharmacy student at Wilkes. Culhane isn’t the only one using innovative methods of teaching in the classroom. Dr. Daniel Longyhore, Assistant Professor of pharmacy practice, uses his very unique website to provide services to students. Since P4 Pharmacy majors do not have access to WebCT, which is the platform that many professors use to share podcasts with their students, Longyhore uses his website to essentially “fill the gaps.” He also holds online office hours, and using a platform called “Meebo,” can chat with his students online. Dr. Thomas Hamill, Instructor of English, also uses podcasting to help his students get a better sense of the material he covers in his classes. Hamill will produce audio files of himself reading text in Middle English, particularly Chaucer and Medieval English Literature, to give his students a better understanding of the texts. “When my students who are working with Chaucer in the Middle English, as they’re reading for the class, they can sit down with their text book and read the texts that are assigned for the class while they listen to me reading it in Middle English. They get a sense for what Middle English sounded like, and they get some reinforcement in their reading for pronunciations I want them to learn, or basic features of Middle English that I want them to pick up and acquire as part of taking the class,” said Hamill As Wilkes moves into a more technological era, Provost C. Reynold Verret seems quite optimistic. “I think in some cases podcasting may be useful, especially for things where the student may want to be able to review. In some of our online instructional modes, podcasting is a perfect mode,” said Verret. According to Verret, Wilkes is making efforts to get professors up to speed with current technology. “There are some workshops that are of help, for example, there was a recent workshop where a representative from Apple’s educational division came and gave a workshop to the faculty,” said Verret. “Also, Russel Dively, who is an instructional designer, visits departments to give a clear idea of what the common program objective [is]. He’ll meet with an academic department and visit them and act as a resource for them,” Verret added. According to the Provost, pod- casting may also be useful to University College. “I could envision podcasting being useful, for example, because much of University College involves academic support, or supplemental instruction modes. Having access to the course to review with a mentor or a tutor, to actually understand what we did not understand, may be useful.” But as with any new use of technology, some have struggled with See PODCASTING page 5 BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andee Scarantino Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Alison Woody Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �OCTOBER 30, 2007 NEWS New Starbucks slated to locate across from existing Starbucks 3 Wilkes/King’s Barnes and Noble already offers franchise cafe BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor Starbucks Coffee has applied for a zoning permit indicating that it has plans to put a new store in downtown Wilkes-Barre - directly across the street from the Wilkes/ King’s Barnes & Noble, which already sells Starbucks coffee. One question that looms over this proposed business plan: can the business survive right across the street from another business that sells the same product? Diana Hess, project manager for Starbucks in King of Prussia applied for the zoning permit and said that she is new with the company and didn’t know a lot about the project. John Chaump, who manages the Wilkes/ King’s Barnes & Noble, acknowledged that a new Starbucks across the street from the first in downtown Wilkes-Barre could cause a loss of business to the original. “I think you might have some customers that are going to go over there, that would normally come here, but really, ultimately, I think it is going to help the whole downtown, which is going to help my business.” Dr. Anthony Liuzzo, professor in the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business, explained that the project Starbucks is venturing into is unusual but not shocking. He noted that while it is unusual for the same company selling the exact same product as another, to place a second cafe across from another within the same company, it is also common. “Like-businesses tend to operate very close to one another… and so under the economic theory of locational decision making, it is a smart move, actually, to open up a restaurant near one of your competitors. So again it is kind of usual and unusual... in this par- business around them because that’s a type of business that you want walk-in customers and if you are driving all the people away, how are you going to be successful? So I would like to think that Starbucks knows BARNES&NOBLE ~ r 'Prrnully Brew IUCICS COFFEE • The Beacon / Cara Koster ticular situation.” Chaump echoed Liuzzo’s thoughts, “I would have to imagine that a huge corporation like Starbucks is going to make smart business decisions.” He then added, “They’re not going to put themselves in a place that is going to ultimately fail quickly, and they are not going to put themselves in a position where they are going to hurt the what they are doing.” Another point that Chaump stressed is that the Barnes & Noble bookstore business is different than Starbucks. For example, Wilkes/King’s Barnes & Noble has a Barnes & Noble Cafe, which serves Starbucks Coffee. “It’s the same product, the quality of the drink that you would get here or there should be exactly the same.” Chaump added that he believes his store can offer a wider variety of items. “We have Pepsi and Coke, we have Herrs and Frito and every kind of chip imaginable... in our store,” he said and also pointed out that at Barnes & Noble, students can use their flex dollars on their student ID. Liuzzo agreed that Barnes & Noble and Starbucks could be going after two different customers. “Maybe Starbucks feels that the Barnes & Noble Starbucks doesn’t have enough draw to it to persons outside the college community. And they want to draw in consumers that are not college students, and the Barnes & Noble feels, ‘Well the college students are looking to come here because they are buying their coffee mugs and tshirts, and they are going to want to have their coffee right here.’ So that is probably a good way of justifying it.” As for the students, will it be worth traveling across the street to the new Starbucks? Jackie Butwinski, a psychology major, said, “I would probably rather go to the Barnes & Nobles Starbucks, because I will be there more often anyway.” Erin Sweet, who is studying integrated media and business administration, agreed, “I would probably, most likely, go to Barnes & Noble, just because I could use my flex dollars there and when I go to Barnes & Noble I am not just stuck buying coffee.” A representative from Starbucks and the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber did not respond to The Beacon’s request for comment on this matter. Search continues for SHE building location, design BY AMY FUSCO Beacon Correspondent The quest for the location of a new health sciences building on Wilkes University’s campus is underway. For the past few years, administrators have acknowledged they are in the process of developing a plan for the anticipated Science, Health Sciences, and Engineering building, alternately dubbed the “SHE” building. According to Michael Wood, Executive Director of Advancement, there has been a “feasibility study underway with the architects to determine how to accommodate the faculty and students of all the sciences.” Along with Wood, there are a number of members of the project team, including John Pesta, Director of Capital Projects; Dr. Bernard Graham, Dean of the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy and Nursing; Dr. Ken Klemow, Professor of Biology; Dr. Marleen Troy, Associate Professor of Environmen- tal Science; Dr. Dale Bruns, Dean of the College of Science and Engineering; Dr. Deborah Zbegner, Associate Professor of Nursing; Dr. Art Kibbe, Chair of Pharmaceuitical Sciences and Dr. Reynold Verret, Provost. Furthermore, Becky Mullens, an architect from Sabatini Architects, is aiding in developing building design ideas. However, right now there is no concrete location for the planned building. One option would be to build it facing South Franklin Street behind the Henry Student Union building. Another option is to renovate a section of the Stark Learning Center building and add new labs to it. Bruns explained that a possibility would be “the combination of a new lab complex in place of Stark, but nothing is on the map as of now.” In selecting a location, student and faculty opinions are key components because it gives the project team an educational perspective. Justin Balint, a sophomore pharmacy major, commented, “The building should be located near the student union building because it’s a nicer location and it expands the campus.” Nick Koch, also a pharmacy major, believes “the location doesn’t matter as much as the quality of the building itself.” In order to select the location, the design of the building is taken into consideration. Pesta explained that a few of the project team members “take field trips to other institutions of similar size as Wilkes University.” Several colleges they visited were Drexel University, Swarthmore, and Dickinson. Traveling to these different institutions enables the committee to expand on their ideas and form new ones about design specifications. One design idea involves the concept of sustainability of the environment on Wilkes campus. The project team wants the new SHE building to be “green,” which means it will be energy efficient and less harmful to the environment. One “green” feature could be a solar-paneled roof. Troy, an environmental engineer, and Klemow, a plant ecologist, are key consultants in achieving sustainability within the new building design. An environmental committee consisting of students is also there to aid in the development of a “green” building. The Capital Campaign, which is currently underway and aiming to raise funds in part for this major project, is in its early stages. �NEWS OCTOBER 30, 2007 4 Fire under Main St. knocks out power PORTAL from FRONT PAGE issues with deployment. This is the first semester we’ve had it so we didn’t really know what the use patterns were going to be… Hopefully it’s not enough to scare people away.” Late last week, Salem sent a message to campus on today@wilkes acknowledging, “The technical difficulties recently experienced by some portal users could be attributed to several different factors but most likely was caused by an increase in the average number of portal users. Because the software was recently released and interfaces with numerous university systems, it would have been hard for engineers to anticipate what these problems would be.” He continued that software engineers are continuing to work on the problems with intermittent “error” messages users receive during high traffic times. Both Salem and Bailey mentioned that the majority of feedback they have received about the portal has been positive. Bailey also noted that two senior students even told him they were upset the portal had not been available earlier in their college careers. In the future, students can expect work on the portal and the rest of the website to continue. “There will continually be enhancements, small ones, but there will be this continuous maturing of the portal site. Then the biggest thing the students are going to see is starting in the spring when we take a significant look at the website and how that is redeveloped,” says Bailey. BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor A part of downtown Wilkes-Barre lost power for most of the day on Saturday, October 26, when an underground electrical cable fire started mid-morning under South Main Street in front of University Center on Main and University Towers. Public Safety officials said, “This was a small electrical fire in a transformer under South Main Street this morning. This fire impacted electric service to the UCOM Garage, University Service Center and Public Safety Office.” Witnesses say they saw flames and smoke coming from beneath the street through a manhole, the cover of which blew off, struck a Wilkes Public Safety vehicle, and left a dent. Main Street between Northampton and South Streets was closed Saturday. Graduate classes held in the UCOM on Saturday were dismissed early because of the smoke and threat of power loss. Because of the location of the buidlings on the power grid, some lost power and some did not. Students living in University Towers did not lose power as of Saturday late afternoon; however, the Public Safety building next door, Bart & Urby’s and downtown traffic lights were all out. Workers continued to try and restore power into Sunday. More pictures and video online: SSOHJ JOI/ 0011//J JJ/JOd www.wilkesbeacon.com The Beacon/ Andrew Seaman Clu -_ Birt 0111: ■■ 72 South Main St. W ..-I _ s- B arr __ 0 '.1'°'5· onday-TI1.u sd .Y l Dill .'"day . - a .d y 10am-1 · p ayl.2 - p 1 1 . ..,. ---~tmg~ar ? eting? P .a r _? sw r · o al these - a 1znos" Q SSJHJJP# PD q -- -- - t "II' o . ·- • •• ZNOS CAT -· NG t : rill g tr: ays. ". a 1:•ng · t I9~ 9 Ca �OCTOBER 30, 2007 SLC from FRONT PAGE The cooling system, which is comprised of two air conditioning units mounted on the back wall of the room, is at the heart of many of the faculty’s complaints. “I teach in there the first three weeks of the semester so I can only speak for my experiences… [but] that classroom is unbearably hot,” said Dr. James Culhane, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences. “I know that I am soaked when I am done lecturing after two hours and the students are uncomfortable.” Dr. Dan McCune, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, agreed. “It’s almost always too hot in there, even during the winter months.” Another issue with the cooling system in SLC 166 is the noise level of the units when they are turned on. While Culhane compares the noises to being on the “business end of a 747,” Payal Patel, a P3 Pharmacy student, claims that the vibrations “sound like someone’s doing construction work and, of course, it takes months to get used to.” McCune pointed out that if a professor is soft spoken or doesn’t realize that the students seated in the back of the room can’t hear, students may struggle in class. SLC 166 is typically used for classes of 30 to 70 students so if hearing is difficult, switching seats is often not an option. In addition to complaints about the cooling system, it is also uncertain if the thermostats work properly. When checked, one device was turned completely off and another was flashing a message of “P-6,” that even puzzled Swetts. “I know one issue we often find in [166] is that people turn the air conditioners off PODCASTING from page 2 various aspects to podcasting, such as students neglecting to take notes, assuming they can hear the lecture again later to study for exams. Verret said that while podcasting does present information to students, students have to choose to listen to them. The podcasts do not learn for the students, but rather, the students learn for themselves. Just as students select important information from in-class lectures to write down, they must do the same with the podcasts. “I think you’ll always have people that will take a look at technology and see the negative side of it. I think it’s important for professors to take a look at technology, find out what they can use to help facilitate student learning, and use that,” said Culhane. Hamill also agreed that technology can be NEWS [with the] switches on the walls,” said Swetts. “The reason we don’t lock those switches is that some professors don’t like the noise from them.” Swetts also added, “Those are two independent units and if people mess with the position on the thermostats, you can actually get into a situation where you will run simultaneous heating and cooling… They can start fighting each other so that’s why the lock boxes [on the thermostats] are there.” In addition to issues with cooling and noise levels, Dr. Arthur Kibbe, Chairman and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, noticed that the outlets for power and internet hookup have never appeared to work. In addition to the technical issues, the white boards are now gray and “completely destroyed [with a] residual ooze on them,” said Culhane. In addition the podium is placed too close to the front wall, the steep set up of the room enables students to easily see down below them which is a concern when giving tests, and the accessibility of the seats is almost nonexistent. “The seats are incredibly hard to get into if someone is sitting next to the seat you want to [sit in],” said Jeff Niemiec, a sophomore mechanical engineering student. “Also, people stretch their feet out from rows behind you, and I’ve been kicked in the head a couple of times.” The slope of the classroom and the distance from the students makes Culhane feel as if he is a vendor in a baseball stadium, while Dr. Liuzzo, Professor of Business and Economics, said, “You almost have this feeling that you’re in a Roman Forum Coliseum and that people are going to give you thumbs up or thumbs down and the lion’s going to come out.” In the past, both McCune and Culhane helpful in the classroom, if used correctly. “I’m somewhat skeptical of technology in the classroom to certain level. I think it can be very useful, transformative, illuminating, and often profoundly transformational. My concern with technology as a vice to education in the classroom is when it’s used [as] some sort of functional replacement for the classroom. My sense of technology is fundamentally supplemental. I would never ever work to use technology as a replacement for some type of work that we do in the classroom,” he said. 5 have called 2-FIX about the cooling and noise issues. They claim that facilities has always responded, but the work they accomplish never appears to endure. “I’ve called facilities throughout the years multiple times, but I don’t know what the real problem is. I’ve come to accept the fact that it’s going to be miserable in that classroom, but I deal with it,” said Culhane. “It’s just not very conducive to learning.” Because faculty members aren’t reporting any problems, Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support Services, said that there’s no way of knowing that something needs to be addressed. “The building itself is difficult because of the age of it. It does continually need maintenance,” he explained. “Are we going to put large amounts of money into it to address a comfort issue? Probably not, given that we will be taking the building down at some point in the foreseeable future… [But] we’re not going to ignore or neglect the building and we will address facilities issues as they are raised to us. A lot of the times people will make certain complaints about things, but if they don’t use the 2-FIX system, then we don’t have the opportunity to address them.” Swetts agreed and also added: “When a work order is called in, the more informa- tion the better. The more detailed and specific information will help [workers] know what needs to be fixed.” Until this past week, the last noise complaint facilities received was earlier this month, but the last cooling call was made nearly a year ago. Having been presented with the complaints by the faculty and students on Monday, October 22, Swetts took immediate action. “I met with Dr. Kibbe this afternoon [Monday] and set the fan speeds on the air conditioners to low,” he said Monday evening. “I also put in a work order for one of our technicians to check the operation of both air conditioners. He will also look into the P-6 code [seen] on the thermostat. As for the outlets on the tables, we are going to have our electricians verify operation of the receptacles and possibly install labels indicating 120 Volt Laptop Receptacle. Currently this room is not wired for Ethernet connectivity at the desks but the lobby of Stark does have wireless access.” While issues with the slope of the room, seating, and stairs will most likely not be addressed in the near future, technical and mechanical problems should always be reported using 2-FIX. “We can’t fix it if we don’t know,” stressed Swetts. ST DE~H U I G FORTH - 21 tCENTIJR'Y CAll: BILL tlEN Y at 2.15-768-4619 OR ( HE(jK THE WEB SmE FOR IN F-mtMATION 1 �Opinion OCTOBER 30, 2007 6 Chewing in class Angry Rant Colbert for President? Your Voices Should Halloween decor be politcally correct? BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD Imagine for moment that you’re a junior in high school, and there was a rift between the boys and girls on the homecoming committee as to whether or not the class float’s theme should be “Ghostbusters” or “Peter Pan.” Outraged by the overwhelming number of votes “Peter Pan” received, one of the class officers suggested that dissenters hang “Mr. Pan” from a noose. Though this idea may seem quite humorous to some, the concept could be offensive to others. Was this class officer guilty of committing a hate crime against a Disney character? As silly as this may sound, it is just another testament as to how politically correct this country has become. Currently, in the suburbs of Chicopee, Illinois, a semi-realistic looking witch dangles from a tree in a man’s front yard by a noose in recognition of Halloween. Harmless decoration, right? Wrong. According to Kelly Lynch (yes, that is her real last name), who happens to be a practicing witch, the display constitutes a hate crime against her religion. And while neighbors laugh at her ridiculous plea, she plans to protest in front of the man’s house if it is not taken down immediately. According to the Anti-Defamation League website, a hate crime is defined as “an attempted act by any person against the person or property of another individual or group which in any way constitutes an expression of hostility toward the victim because of his or her race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, gender or ethnicity.” The Supreme Court has also ruled that one may put a symbol in their yard because it’s their right of freedom of expression, though there is some gray area when it comes to neighbors who may feel threatened by the symbol. Wicca is a legitimate practice and form of religion in United States and around the world, but this scenario is a far cry from the Jena Six. The symbol is disturbing, granted. And we can understand how Wiccans would be offended by the caricatures of witches during the holiday. However, it’s important for people to remember that the caricatures of witches are in no way representative of the real thing. Practicing Wiccans most likely do not dress up Stevie Nick’s style with long, pointed hats and leather trench coats, as the witch hanging in this man’s yard portrays. They most likely don’t have green, wart-covered skin and curved, parrot noses either. Political correctness, which takes into account who may be offended by a particular public statement and to what degree, ultimately seems to limit too much in situations like these. Soon, trick-ortreaters will need to first interview folks in the homes where they will be begging for candy to make sure that their pirate, devil, or ladybug costume won’t offend seafaring, Christian entomologists. In the end, some images may push at the bounds of taste, certainly, but Ms. Lynch needs to talk to her neighbor and learn whether his motivation really was meanspirited. In Puritan times in Salem, Massachusetts, witches were “burned at the stake” because of religious prosecution. At that time, there was no such thing as freedom of speech. Ms. Lynch should be grateful for the fact that she can profess her faith freely, just as her neighbor can also freely express his celebration of Halloween. Traffic tickets = Big business and revenue BY GINO TROIANI Beacon Staff Photographer Gino Troiani/The Beacon I would just like to say that the ludicrous values and percentages that I discovered while writing this piece made me sick to my stomach. Traffic tickets have become a main source of revenue for both local government and big business. According to the National Motorist Association, between 25 and 50 million tickets were issued last year, and at an average of $150 a pop, that ads up to around $3.75 to $7.5 billion in generated revenue. For many small towns and cities, traffic violations are a quick and easy way to accumulate money for the annual budget. I honestly cannot recall how many parking tickets I’ve received since moving from the sticks to the big city of Wilkes-Barre, but in the larger picture, it seems that big business- stay up for the next three years. So es have also jumped on the band- why wouldn’t the insurance comwagon as well. panies want to donate radar guns? Last year Geico insurance com- This multimillion-dollar industry pany donated $20 million to police whose initial goal focused on pubdepartments in the form of new la- lic safety is now one of the most ser and radar guns. Certainly they corrupt money making scams in are looking out for the welfare the United States. of the people, right? Wrong. It is For those less fortunate who a simple equation. More tickets have already experienced the grief equal higher insurance rates, and of a speeding ticket, it is a well higher rates equal more money. If known fact that if you plead “not an average driver gets two speed- guilty” and attend a small hearing tickets ing at the over a threecounty year period, courttheir prehouse, mium is exmost of pected to rise the time by 75%. the judge To make will let things worse, you off of once the the hook, drivers’ rates dependgo up, ing on they will An unlucky student recieved 2 parking tickets! y o u r prior driving record. But you still have to pay for the court costs, which usually add up to a substantial sum. This means that the only benefit of pleading not guilty is avoiding possible points on your license, which in the long run still provides money for the local government. Today there are so many laws that pertain to driving that an officer can pull you over for virtually anything. Now, I am certainly not trying to condemn the efforts of local police officers who put their lives on the line day in and day out. I am condemning the out of control ticket writing practices whose sole purpose is to generate revenue. Face it. The numbers do add up, and this problem needs to be addressed as soon as possible for the better welfare of the citizens of Wilkes-Barre and the general population of the United States. 7 7 8 8 Beacon Poll Results Americans have a lot to worry about. The ongoing Iraq war, stock market and housing investThe following are results of a ment instability, drug busts, AIDS, poll that The Beacon conductand environmental concerns domed online this past week. The inate the nightly news reports. Is poll was unscientific, and does it any wonder that with such boldnot claim to reflect the overall face headlines other issues fail to attitudes of students on camcapture our attention? Seemingly pus. Results are based on 45 “less important” social problems responses. like homelessness, poverty, and the growing deficit tend to make inside pages, if that, because of The Beacon asked: the pressing nature of the other stories. If you any superhero One ofcould those be sidebar issues that for occasionally Halloween, which one only squeaks onto the wouldradar you is be? public animal cruelty. Recently animal cruelty has become • mainstream Wonderwoman-7% a more issue with ma• Superman-18% jor corporations, football players, and •evenBatman-13% local people stirring up • Spiderman-9% the issue. Animal cruelty involves • Hulk-2% anything from dog fighting, and • Catwoman-18% shooting whales, to killing aniWolverine-7% mals•for fur and animal testing. • problem Elektra-4% The isn’t awareness; it • more Captain America-7% is that people appear to believe• thatStorm-15% it’s okay to hurt animals for personal benefit or enjoyment. Worse, is aQuestion: small contingent Next there Week’s in the country who believe that the practice of animal crueltyold can be What was your favorite excused because of age-old school Nickelodeon show? cultural practices. Just• two ago the Makah Areweeks you Afraid of the tribe made the wire over the isDark? sue of • whaling. Double Years Dare ago the Native •American legally killed Salute tribe your Shorts whales something of a sport. • as Hey Dude The •tribeLegends suspendofitsthepractice Hiddenbecause theTemple grey whale was placed on the species itlist • endangered Clarissa Explains Alland federal government prohibited • The Secret World of whaling.Alex However, Mack in 1994, the grey•whale All came That off of the endangered• list. The Adventures of Pete The tribe a permit in and obtained Pete 1999• to Doug kill a whale which outraged animal rights groups. After a court hearing it became necessary Visit www.wilkesbeacon.com for receive a waiver to the cast tribe your tovote. Results will in order to hunt in whales. Recently, be published next week’s members of of theThe tribeBeacon. shot a grey issue whale repeatedly with a rifle before they were due to receive their waiver. The five men involved are all facing fines of up to $20,000 �OCTOBER 30, 2007 OPINION 7 Classroom is no place for spit cans: it’s not allowed BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor Few things are more disgusting than sitting next to someone while they fill their clear, plastic bottle with dark, brown, chunky spit. The chewing tobacco itself smells, the bottle’s contents aren’t exactly appealing to the eye, and if the tobacco isn’t scented, the chewer’s breath smells god-awful. And of course the incessant sound of spurting into the bottle or cup gets irritating. According to Wilkes student handbook, “Chewing tobacco use is prohibited in all classroom buildings, as well as labs and offices. It is also prohibited in the Marts Center, UCOM, Munson Field House, the Farley Library, the Center for Performing Arts, the Student Center and University shuttles and vans.” If this is the case, why are some students armed with a bottle/cup and half a can of dip tucked behind their bottom lip or cheek when they settle down at computers in the library or at desks in classrooms? It’s not like the professors don’t notice the huge bulge in their students’ mouths when they answer their questions. I was in class about two weeks ago when I heard someone behind me spit. I glanced over my shoulder and one of the guys in the back row had a white Styrofoam cup in his hand and a rather large chunk of tobacco in his mouth. I watched the student raise his hand and respond to one of the professor’s questions and after his response, he dribbled into his little cup. First of all, I’m not ridiculing those who chew. All I’m asking is that you be mindful of the people around you. It’s bad enough that some people work up loud, thick, gross mouthfuls of mucus and spit them out while you talk to them, but now the spit is dark brown and sometimes has chunks of the tobacco in it. Either way, it’s gross. And some people who may sit next to chewers in classrooms may not want to hear and see the process for fifty minutes or more. Sure, those people could always move, but why should they when the chewer is the one doing something wrong? Chewing tobacco is not allowed in classrooms. That’s the end of it. When professors see it, they should ask them to get rid of it. If someone on the library staff sees it, they should do the same. And so should workers at Rifkin Cafe; or the women behind the help-desk in the UCOM lobby. No one is going to follow the rules if they aren’t enforced. Oh, and when I say “get rid of it,” I don’t mean take the entire chunk out of your mouth with your pointer finger and shove it in your spit-bottle or cup. I mean get up, leave the classroom, and throw it away. This behavior has to be stopped dead in its tracks. The argument is already out there: if he can chew during class, then she should be able to smoke. Smoking isn’t allowed in most buildings on campus, either, and the majority of smokers don’t have a problem following that rule, so why is it so hard to monitor your chewing? The Angry Rant: The Theory of Chuck BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor In the course of history, all great men leave their mark. Newton had gravity. Einstein had relativity. And I have the Theory of Chuck. The Theory of Chuck states that any motion picture with the name “Chuck” in the title will inevitably be awful. No ifs, ands, or buts; it’s going to be terrible. For proof, I present to you two of the “comedies” that were released by major motion picture studios: I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry and Good Luck Chuck. Not only were they awful, but they weren’t even close to being mediocre. But I digress. Chuck and Larry had all the potential in the world to be a good comedy. It starred two comedians with a track record of success: Kevin James, fresh from “The King of Queens,” and Adam Sandler, whose comedy resume is a mile long. Here’s the thing: It was terrible. Despite the pedigree of comedians in the movie, it somehow managed to elicit fewer laughs than Schindler’s List. Here’s the plot: Chuck and Larry (Sandler and James, respectively) are two New York City firefighters who are best friends and polar opposites. Chuck is a ladies man, and Larry is a widower with two children. It turns out that Larry’s life insurance benefactor was his wife, and because he didn’t do the appropriate paperwork in a certain amount of time, he is unable to have his children be the new benefactors. So he and Chuck launch a scheme so his kids can be taken care of when he dies, and that scheme is to get married to each other…or something like that, but you get the point. In a nutshell: Two straight men pretend they are gay for some reason, in hopes that humor ensues. It’s an awful plot, but it’s a comedy, so it shouldn’t matter. Not only is the movie not funny, but it is offensively not-funny that it’s almost painful to watch at some points. The first problem lies within the main characters: Sandler is supposedly a modern-day Cassanova, which is not believable for two reasons: 1. It’s Adam Sandler. 2. It’s Adam Sandler Kevin James plays a firefighter. Really? You expect me to believe that you can carry that hose on your back for ten flights of stairs? That’s less believable than you being married to Leah Remini on “The King of Queens.” Not only that, but he is a dolt of a father at home who is unable to make spaghetti for his kids, but is somehow able to hatch an elaborate scheme in which he marries his friend to get his benefits. The supporting cast doesn’t fair much better, as Jessica Biel plays a lawyer - You know what, I’m going to stop there, at the part where I said “Jessica Biel plays a lawyer.” That should give you an idea of where I’m taking this. Dan Akroyd (remember when he was funny? You remember, the 80s?) plays their boss, and Ving Rhames is another firefighter who turns out to be gay. I feel bad for Ving, he starts off playing a steely, tough, firefighter who lapses into a caricature of homosexual stereotypes at the end. He hasn’t taken it that badly since Pulp Fiction. Rob Schneider even shows up playing the most offensive Asian character since Mickey Rooney’s take in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. That of course, brings up the following question: Rob Schneider is still making movies? Anyhow, some other stuff happens that’s supposed to be funny, like Larry’s son acting really effeminate by singing show tunes and dancing, or Chuck going on a “girl’s day out” with Jessica Biel, even though he secretly likes her, or Ving Rhames dropping the soap in the shower and then singing “I’m Every Woman,” or the filmmakers laughing to themselves because they just suckered $8 out of people. At the end, there is a big scene in a courtroom where Chuck and Larry tell the truth and that people shouldn’t make fun of homosexuals. So you’re telling me that you just spent the entire movie doing that very same thing, and now you’re telling us not to? Really? How about everyone else you made fun of? Like Asians, or Italians, or AfricanAmericans, or Irish people, or straight people, or lawyers, or firefighters…you get the point. In the end, this was nothing more than a poorly executed “comedy” that turned preachy at the end, even though no one got the point because most everybody had walked out of the theatre. In Good Luck Chuck, we are treated to a similarly bad plot, wherein Charlie Connor (Dane Cook) finds out that he is a good luck charm for women who want to meet their true love. In short: get with Charlie, find true love. This plan goes awry when he meets Cam Wexler (Jessica Alba), and must make a choice about whether or not he wants to sleep with her, in fear of her meeting her true love. I had prepared a whole review of this movie and why it is awful, but in the interest of space, I’ll leave you instead with a small piece of dialogue from a scene in the beginning of the movie, where Charlie and Cam first met at a wedding. Charlie: Seriously, what do you do? Cam: Seriously, I’m a serial killer. My passion is killing people I meet at weddings. What do you do? Charlie: F.B.I. You’re under arrest. Your run is over, Ms. Wexler, if that’s your real name. Yes, it’s that bad. That dialogue might have been decent in the hands of two capable actors, but in this case, you’re cringing at the screen, vainly hoping that it’s just an elaborate hoax and that the real movie will start any second. The real issue here is that Dane Cook is still somehow popular. Two years ago, he was a somewhat well known comic who had semi-funny jokes, but now it appears that he peaked in that time and is currently on the downside of his career after releasing a mediocre-at-best HBO special and starring into two awful movies with girls named Jessica. (Employee of the Month, Good Luck Chuck) Furthermore, he has somehow become the spokesperson for Major League Baseball and is doing all of those stupid commercials that you see every three minutes. To recap: The Theory of Chuck proves to be scientifically accurate, and The Theory of Dane is well on its way. I’ll be expecting for my Nobel Peace Prize nomination any day now. �OPINION OCTOBER 30, 2007 8 Stephen Colbert for President? It’s your vote. For a while there was a rumor going around that Stephen Colbert, of The Colbert Report, would run for president. Colbert danced around the question on Larry King Live and Good Morning America. On The Daily Show on October 16, Colbert said, “Tonight I, Steven Colbert, am officially announcing that I have decided to officially consider whether or not I will announce that I am running for President of the United States.” Fifteen minutes after refusing to announce it on The Daily Show, he announced his candidacy on his own show, The Colbert Report. He only decided to run in South Carolina, meaning his name will only be on the ballot there and he is running as a “Republocrat” or Democrat and Republican. Stephen Colbert running for president is a funny thought, but who will actually vote for him? According to a survey on Comedy Central’s Indecision2008.com asking “Would you consider voting Colbert into the Oval Office?” out of 27,362 votes, 81% of the voters said, “Yes! Finally a candidate who understands how ridiculous he is.” But, a Comedy Central website is kind of biased since Colbert’s show is on that station. Facebook is targeted towards college students and there are plenty of political groups to join on the site. Barak Obama supporters created a group called “1,000,000 Strong for Obama,” with 2,391 members in his group he doesn’t touch the support that Stephen Colbert is receiving from college students. As soon as Colbert’s announcement was made he dominated the world of Facebook. His group, “1,000,000 Strong for Stephen T. Colbert” has well over one million members and they all joined within ten days of the group’s formation. While Stephen Colbert’s presidency is absolutely ridiculous there has to be something positive to come out of it. I think that he will be the reason for an increase in registered voters. Already, over 1,350 people have registered to vote due to a rockthevote. com link on “1,000,000 Strong for Stephen T Colbert.” It’s not a bad thing that people are registering to vote because of a familiar face. Years ago, there was a huge movement started to get those of age to vote called Rock the Vote. It is still being used to date Rock the Vote gets so many young people to regis- ter, through familiar faces such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, Madonna, P. Diddy, Justin Timberlake and The Ramones to name a few. There is no difference between the way Rock the Vote gets people to register and the way that Stephen Colbert is getting people to register except that Colbert is running for president and Rock the Vote isn’t a person, therefore can’t. The process is difficult and if Colbert doesn’t get enough support in South Carolina and doesn’t choose one party to be associated with his name won’t be on the ballot. It’s important to exercise your right to vote, but it’s even more important to know what’s going on. This isn’t the Robin Williams movie Man of the Year. The funny guy probably won’t get voted into office but it’s your choice. If you think that Colbert is an idiot or you think that he should be president I urge you to go to beavoter.org or rockthevote.org and register to vote. YOUR VOICES Dear Editor: Allow me to begin by saying that I respect an appreciate satire aimed at American culture and public policy. It’s funny. Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart are funny. Part of me understands why many people get their news from Comedy Central. It’s light, it’s fast and it’s on the same channel as cartoon children making gay jokes. In general, I don’t think the news should be drawn-out and pointlessly complex to cloud the understanding of the average viewer. It should be, as they say, “just the facts.” Though the absolute hero worship aimed at Colbert and Stewart is quickly becoming utterly ridiculous. After Colbert announced his mock presidential run, an announcement that should have reached no further than the avid Colbert Report fans, I was shocked to read about it on MSN.com. Okay, I get that it’s all a huge joke that he is running for office, but should our entire electoral process be treated like a gag? Especially with an obvious endorsement from Jon Stewart, who eagerly interviewed the former “Daily Show” correspondent the same night he announced his candidacy. Forgive me, Mr. Stewart, I realize that you like to be funny and serious on your own terms, but please pick one and go with it, because otherwise you come off like a total hypocrite. On the now infamous episode of “Crossfire,” Stewart decided it was appropriate to turn off the funny and reveal his stone serious side, specifically to make Tucker Carlson look like an even bigger jerk than the bow tie already does. He scolded the debate show for not providing real, honest and bipartisan debate for American viewers. In the same breath, he deflected criticism of his own program by continuing to promote himself as a newscaster on Comedy Central. In other words, he feels he has no need for any form of journalistic integrity since his show is meant to be purely for laughs. However, he has decided to mock the entire presidential process, along with Colbert, instead of doing his part to help clean up the mess of partisan reporting. True, he may not be required to have credible reporting on the “Daily Show,” but how about a little personal integrity? Perhaps even the courage of one’s own convictions? Stewart chooses to deny his show’s need for honest reporting, saying that if people are getting their news from Comedy Central, then we do have a problem. The reality is that some people, at least of the younger generation, are getting their news from the “Daily Show,” though I have no idea why. If Stewart feels so strongly about how the current news media is hurting America, then he should stop mocking the system Courtesy of serendipit-e.com/blog and promote his own partisan thoughts. Then again, it’s easier to cast the burden of truth and well-researched reporting on other people while you get to say what you want and go to sleep at night content in thinking that you are not a complete fraud. Your show reaches people, Mr. Stewart. Wake up and stop pretending it doesn’t. Either you are in absolute denial or you are an idiot. You cannot hide behind the thought that people shouldn’t get their news from your show and it’s every other news caster’s problem. If partisan politics in the media is such an issue today, then quit your show and start doing your part for honest and responsible journalism. Sincerely, Kristyn Ostman Wilkes University, Class of 07 A Sight for Sore Eyes by Aleksander Lapinski �LIFESTYLES OCTOBER 30, 2007 Student of the Week Tattoos 9 ‘Sexy’ adult costumes now more popular than ever tain celebrities like Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan, even though they have been in some trouble, a lot of girls look up to them for Media in entertainment has sparked a what ever reason they might find appropri“sexy” trend in adult Halloween costumes, ate.” “I’ve worked for Party City for eight years which has become a booming business over and I would say we’ve probably doubled in that past few years. Villain themed costumes including sexy adult sales in that time, because of parties pirate costumes, sexy mobster costumes, and more bars are having parties,” Flannery and sexy police costumes seem to be this said. On an average store basis, last year’s adult season’s popular picks according to Forcostume sales grew about 42% since 2001, play, a leading designer of according to an arsexy costumes. ticle posted by the “We look at a lot of difUSA Today, which ferent movies and films to means that adults see what’s out there,” Houare celebrating man Salem, CEO of Forplay, Halloween more said. “Pirates of the Caribthan ever before. bean not only increased the “It goes back sale of our pirate outfits, but to Halloween beoverall the villain theme in ing the one night general.” of the year where Stockingstore.com, a you can step out of popular hosiery and lingeyour own skin and rie website, was also one be anything that of many retailers to release you want to be for a new “lingerie look” to its one night and it’s 2007 Halloween collection. okay,” Salem said. In an article released by the “People have fanPress Release Newswire, tasies, dreams, or “The costumes feature garwishes that maybe ters, stockings and petticoats in their everyday and range from traditional course of life they costume themes like, cops, can’t experience, pirates, nurses, and gangster but one night of girls to Fairytale costumes, the year where like the Queen of Hearts, it’s universally Mad Hatter, Rag Dolls, and accepted and toeven a Bumblebee.” tally cool for you ti “Anything that’s short or to drawing in sex appeal we are t< go out and be The Beacon/Cara Koster aa naughty nurse, having a difficult time keepaa sexy devil, or ing that in stock,” said Kelly Flannery, the manager of Party City in Wil- whatever the costume may be.” Forplay’s store in Hollywood opened in kes-Barre Township. “We haven’t had to reorder a regular pirate, but we’ve gotten 1986 and was one of the first companies to three or four shipments of the two sexy pi- invest in the sexy costume business. Before Forplay opened, Salem said that girls who rate costumes.” Party City has sold over 42 Jack Sparrow wanted to dress sexy were restricted to buycostumes this year as well as six costumes ing their costume from a small Mom and from the movie 300, which were wiped off Pop kind of specialty store, or they mixed and matched outfits from their own closets. the shelves immediately. “Sexy isn’t really size, height, breast “It’s mostly movies. Any big blockbuster movie is going to have people wanting to size, and waist size; sexy is really a state of mind,” Salem said. “So if you think you’re dress up like that,” Flannery said. “A lot of people when they have certain sexy, if you feel sexy, then whether you celebrities that they follow or like, they trust wear a sexy costume or not for Halloween, to a larger degree what these celebrities like just really go out there and enjoy yourself, and what they endorse,” Salem said. “Cer- because that’s what it’s all about.” BY LAUREN SALEM Beacon Staff Writer 10 11 �LIFESTYLES 10 Student of the Week: Raquel Wheby BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Lifestyles Editor Raquel Wheby, senior communication studies major, is currently spending her fall semester at American University in Washington, D.C. The Washington Semester program gives Wilkes students the chance to spend an entire semester in D.C. studying subjects such as journalism, American politics, and international business. Wheby has been spending her time studying journalism, as well as doing a full-time internship at America’s Promise Alliance which was founded by Colin Powell. Her success so far in Washington D.C. has influenced The Beacon in our decision to name Wheby Student of the Week. The Beacon: Why did you choose to attend the Washington Semester Program? Wheby: I came out here to improve my writing skills and spend some time with my sister, who lives in Washington, D.C. At Wilkes, my concentration is public relations, and I knew I needed to improve my writing, so I enrolled in the journalism program at American. The Beacon: What are some of your internship duties and responsibilities? OCTOBER 30, 2007 Wheby: I work at America’s Promise Alliance, which was founded by Colin Powell and is dedicated to the well-being of children and youth. More specifically, I have been working with the 100 Best Communities for Young People campaign. My duties include coordinating a national forum, taking photos and registering new community members. I also organize panel discussions and do a lot of mailing invitations. The Beacon: How has living in Washington, D.C. differed from your experiences at Wilkes thus far? Wheby: I definitely use a lot more public transportation. However, the best thing is that seeing every opportunity is more accessible out here. There are a ton of opportunities to see stuff such as art shows and plays. D.C. has a lot of people coming from everywhere in the United States and they are more conservative. It seems like everybody out here acts like they are running for President. They look flawless and act perfect all the time. The Beacon: Why do you think other students will benefit from the Washington Semester Program? Wheby: You get to meet so many different speakers and you get a lot of different views from various areas of communication. You also meet people who are interested in what you want to do and it is not in a competitive environment. It’s a good experience, especially if you are not from a big city. Courtesy Raquel Wheby l .·...· . .' lE . ER . dty t r ~ ) ( 5 - 70 823- · _9 C Ii O - . · A. " VI! �LIFESTYLES OCTOBER 30, 2007 11 Tattoos ink their way into mainstream society workplaces, Kossa says that placement is key for professionals choosing a tattoo. Many choose easily coverable locations, such as the upper arm or back. Lynsey Peters spent four years waiting “For people in a professional environfor the time she could finally get a tattoo in ment, especially if it’s their first time, they remembrance of her grandfather, who she usually get one they don’t want to show to called Papa Pineapple. Three months after everyone and one they have an option of her eighteenth birthday, she got a pineapple covering up,” Kossa said. tattooed on her right shoulder. Peters agrees that placing a tattoo in a “I have no regrets. I really like them, hidden place is important in the and I would recomjob world. She chose to place her mend getting them,” second tattoo, a large tiger symsaid Peters, a sophobolizing strength, on her back so it more psychology mawouldn’t affect her future career. jor. “Memorial pieces “There’s a social stigma,” she especially are a very said. “If you show a tattoo in a healing thing.” job interview, they’ll think you’ll Peters is one of the be rebellious and you won’t be increasing number of a good worker, that you’ll start college students joinfights.” ing the ranks of the Courtesy of Lynsey Peters When Kossa was younger, he tattooed. Many are said it was common for potential Lynsey Peters chose her tiger tattoo as choosing to permaemployees to be turned down for a symbol of strength. nently ink their boda job solely because they had taties in remembrance toos. While employers aren’t as ing them. Right now, she doesn’t plan on of a loved one, a lifeblunt now, Kossa still believes tat- getting any other tattoos, but she likes the changing event, or a toos can affect job placements. permanence of her two. symbol of importance Lisa Mulvey, a career consultant Kossa explains a shift in the line of to them. at Career Services, says that while thinking he has observed over the last five The Beacon/Jenna Stephens According to U.S. times are changing, tattoos are still years, one that puts more of a premium on News and World Report, the tattoo busi- A tattoo artist at Marc’s Tattooing inks up a customer. Tattoos are be- unacceptable at job interviews and permanence. in the workplace. College students “Since 9/11, it seems like people have ness was one of the coming more and more popular among a variety of age groups. interested in business, accounting, a lot less of the sitting-on-the-fence attisixth fastest growing People’s perceptions of tattoos have also teaching, or nursing should be especially tude,” he said. “Live your life today. Have retail ventures of the 1990s, coming in right behind the internet and cellular phone changed over the years. Fifteen years ago, careful to avoid noticeable tattoos and to something permanent because there’s not much in life that is.” service. The American Academy of Der- Kossa said people who didn’t have tattoos cover up the ones they have. “Certain recruiters who are older and matology found in a 2004 survey that 24 looked down on those who did, and failed to see the art involved in it. Tattooed wom- don’t see them as socially acceptable may en in particular garnered a lot of view the students as rebels,” she said. “It depends on the person interattention. “People would be saying, ‘look viewing you and the culture of at her, she’s so young, she’s so that organization.” Students who have tattoos pretty, what’s she going to do when she’s married?’” Kossa should cover them up on interInkin’ the Valley views, preferably with clothsaid. “It’s a lot different now.” In recent years, tattoos have ing, but, if they are on uncovWHAT : M ARC ’S TATTOOING 14 TH moved from beyond the stereotyp- ered skin, they can be toned ANNUAL TATTOO CONVENTION ical tough guys into mainstreamed down with special high-coverWHERE : T HE W OODLANDS society. With an increasing num- age makeup. For students with WHEN : N OVEMBER 2-4 ber of college students opting for noticeable tattoos, Mulvey r, FEATUR ING : TATTOO AR TISTS , BODY the ink, tattoos are finding their suggests using other aspects of appearance to present a more way into a corporate world. PIERCERS , TATTOO CONTESTS , ~JI ~/'- Show Sped.al: Kossa says that his shop tattoos mainstream image. CLOTHING VEN DORS , NOVELTIES “Dress ultra-conservatively, a large number of professionals Buy 4Beads or Clips & Get ENTER TAINMENT : CAR NIVAL AND each year. He counts a prominent and keep your hair and makeup aFree Sterlmg Silver Bracekt* CIRCUS SIDESHOW PER FOR MERS FROM local surgeon as one of the regu- to a minimum,” Mulvey said. ALL ACROSS THE COU NTR Y “Try to distract attention away lars. “We’re tattooing from A to Z, from it and present yourself COST : $13 FOR ENTIRE WEEKEND , all kinds of people,” said Kossa. very professionally.” INCLUDING SIDESHOW GATHER ING *Limitedto.first 1oorustomers Jewelers Although she has only had her “It’s from the granddaughter to AND TATTOO CONVENTION tattoos for a couple years, Pe141 SouihMainSt Wilkes-Barre the grandmother these days.” Because of restrictions in many ters has no regrets about choos570 823-7111 www.bartikowf.ky.com BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Asst.Lifestyles Editor percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 50 have at least one tattoo. Franco Kossa, the manager of Marc’s Tattooing in Wilkes Barre, has seen an increase in the number of college students getting inked up. He estimates that around 30 percent of his clientele is college students. “When I started out, we were skewed to the male side,” Kossa said. “Now, just as many women are getting big tattoos.” uG If Yo 11.J ··~} llam-5:15pm .- "·BMtikows~ o �A&E OCTOBER 30, 2007 12 La Tolteca Common People Crossword/Website 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 Beacon Halloween Movie Special The Good, The Bad, and the Gory in 1959, it unleashes a worm like creature that leaps into it’s victims mouth, and turns them into blood thirsty zombies as it multiplies within their brain. Twenty seven years later, a victim of this creature is found cryogenically frozen in the basement of Corman University by a group of fraternity-pledging freshmen, who, as a prank, unfreeze the body and unleash the zombie plague on their community, bringing together a pair of geeky students, a sorority babe and a detective with a dark past to end the madness (with heavy fire power, of course). With great action and effects and just the right amount of horror and humor (not to mention what maybe the nerdiest hero in movie history), this is one of the best B-horror movies to come out of the 80’s. 4.) Blood Feast - In this 1963 splatter-fest, evil caterer (yes, evil caterer) Fuad Ramses murders and mutilates various dim-witted Miami women in order to resurrect a long-dead Egyptian goddess. This is not a film to watch for quality entertainment, unless you consider a horrible story and worse acting entertaining. When a potential victim asks Ramses “You’re not going to sacrifice me are you?” to which he replies, with a machete hiding behind his back, “Of course not. Now lay down and close your eyes.” However, if you like gore, and plenty of it, and you can appreciate just how funny acting this bad can be; you’ll love this one. 5.) Fright Night - When teenager Charlie Brewster notices that the big, creepy house next store has just been bought by a mysterious new caretaker, he can’t help but begin to snoop around. What was in that big, long, coffin shaped box? Why do people go in, but never come out? Why does his new neighbor only come out at night? Well, to anyone who’s ever seen a horror movie, the answer is obvious. Charlie’s new neighbor is a vampire. However, try getting anyone in Charlie’s hometown to believe that. So what’s a guy to do? In Charlie’s case, he gets some hired help in the form of Peter Vincent, a skeptical, washed up actor, posing as a vampire hunter. Will Vincent’s knowledge of vampires pay off enough to save Charlie and his friends, or will this be his final performance? 6.) Dead Alive - This gore-fest, directed by a pre-Lord Of The Rings Peter Jackson, is not one for fans of bloody horror to miss. When the legendary, evil Rat-monkey bites Lionel’s mom, she quickly becomes a blood thirsty ghoul, attacking anything and everything that crosses her path. Unfortunately, mama’s boy Lionel doesn’t have the heart to dispose of her properly. So, after his attempt to hide her away in the basement fails (duh!), an unholy plague of the living dead on his peaceful New Zealand hometown. What follows next is a symphony of splatter including a kung-fu priest, a monster baby and a man who, when faced with an army of the living dead, finds a new, grisly use for a lawn mower. 7.) Killer Klowns From Outer Space - What else can we say about this movie that the title doesn’t? Evil aliens, that just so happen to look like deranged clowns, come from outer space, land on earth ~ and begin to kill people in wacky ways. An absolute must for all t NOTHING ! 4PPAL fans of B-level horror. 1NTHE 8.) Night of the Living Dead \ ANNAL (1990) - Though most horror fans, I or fans of film in general, have .... seen the classic 1968 original, the remake is often overlooked. With f/x guru Tom Savini filing George Romero’s role as director, NOTLD ‘90 does much more than just pay homage to the classic original, as Savini cranks up the effects, the gore and the scares as he masterfully uses the viewers knowledge of the original to catch them off guard, again and again, as they watch the band of survivors once again hold up in an a old farm house, doing all they can to fend off the horde of zombies attempting to get inside and satisfy their hunger for human flesh. 9.) Silver Bullet - In the screen adaptation of Stephen King’s novella Cycle of the Werewolf, a string of brutal murders in a small New England town leads a young wheelchair bound boy to discover that the killer is a werewolf after he narrowly escapes becoming a victim himself. Naturally, no one believes him until it’s too late, and it’s up to the young boy, his sister and his alcoholic uncle to find the monster and destroy him before it’s too late. 10.) C.H.U.D. - When a bizarre series of ghastly murders begins to plague New York City and unfortunate homeless people begin to go missing from their local outreach shelters, a rag-tag group including a photo journalist, a cop whose wife has gone missing and an eccentric bum, set out to solve the mystery. What they find is a secret conspiracy, codenamed C.H.U.D. (Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers), to dump radioactive waste into the NYC sewer system, exposing the hundreds of homeless living in the tunnels to the deadly chemicals. Those infected go through a horrific mutation, turning them into slimy, bug-eyed, razor clawed creatures with a taste for blood. Can our heroes find a way to stop the bloodthirsty mutants, or will the entire city fall victim to the C.H.U.Ds? .. ~ 1 Graphics courtesy www.users.globalnet.co.uk, www.impawards.com, and www.nzvideos.org BY MIKE WILLIAMS Beacon Staff Writer Okay, it’s that time of year again. You’ve got your costume. You’ve got your candy. You’ve got your trusty meat cleaver lookin’ shiny and new and your chainsaw is all gassed up and ready to roar. You’re only missing one key ingredient to kick your Halloween into high gear: a few flicks to add a few scares and a boost to your holiday spirit. Just as you have a choice about what candies to toss to the kiddies this All Hallow’s Eve (or which power tools to use on your latest victim), you have a practically limitless choice of fright flicks. Just take a stroll down the horror section of your local video or electronics store. It all comes down to a matter of taste. So, what are you looking for? A good scare? A good splatter? Or maybe you want to mix a few chuckles in with your chills. Well look no further, as The Beacon again offers a way to satisfy all of your morbid movie needs with a collection of lesser-known films so good it’s scary, so bad they’re funny or just so gruesome that you’ll wish you had extra hands to cover your eyes. So, for your holiday viewing pleasure, may we present….The Good, The Bad and The Gory? 1.) Dawn Of The Dead (1978 version) - One of the biggest debates amongst horror fanatics, pits those in favor of the original 1978 George A Romero classic and those partial to the updated, 2004 remake. Honestly, you can’t lose either way. However, it seems that film fans not well versed in their horror history have overlooked the original. How sad. In the second (and possibly the best) of Romero’s Dead quadrilogy, a group of four survivors steal a news helicopter to flea zombie plagued Philadelphia, winding up at the Monroeville mall, where, after dispatching the dead within, the survivors set up camp. However, their new home soon changes from a well stocked safe haven to a death trap, as cabin fever, the living dead and a band of marauding bikers force them into a brutal final showdown. 2.) Monster Squad - In what may be the most violent children’s movie ever made, a group of monster obsessed pre-teens notice some strange happenings in their quiet suburban neighborhood. After finding the diary of Dr. Van Helsing, they discover that Dracula, The Wolfman (played by a pre-Napoleon Dynamite Jon “Uncle Rico” Gries), Frankenstein, The Mummy and The Gillman are attempting to bring about the end of the world, right in their own backyard. Though the plot may seem a little juvenile, there’s nothing childish about the broken necks, crushed skulls and exploding bodies left in the wake of the rampaging creatures. It also answers a few very important questions, like how many ways are there to kill a werewolf? Does garlic really work on vampires? And most importantly, does the Wolfman have “nards?” (spoiler: He does.) 3.) Night Of The Creeps - When a terrible alien experiment escapes it’s space ship and crashes to earth �OCTOBER 30, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Restaurant Review: La Tolteca 13 BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor College students on a tight budget are often in search of a restaurant with affordable prices but satisfying food. For tasty Mexican food, the cheap prices at Taco Bell come to mind for most; however, Wilkes-Barre Township offers an alternative to the fast food option: La Tolteca. La Tolteca is located on at 200 Mundy Street near the entrance to the Wyoming Valley Mall. Electric palm trees and a colorful building alerts any diner to the fiesta found inside. Once inside, the Mexican theme is obvious, offering colorful decorations and fiesta music playing throughout. A friendly host directed us to our table and almost immediately another brought homemade tortilla chips, a salsa dip and a spicy cream dip to the table. The homemade tortilla chips offer quick satisfaction to any diner’s hunger--they come warmed and salted in baskets. The salsa dip was a delicious, spicy hot alternative to the normal salsa of choice for college students, Tostitos. La Tolteca’s salsa is a smooth concoction with just the right balance of peppers and tomatoes. The flavors in the cream dip, although hard to place, offered a spicy and creamy addition to the homemade chips. For an additional option, a cheese dip can be ordered from your server. The menu offered a variety of traditional Mexican dishes. From enchiladas and fajitas to the traditional nachos and tacos, each can be found on La Tolteca’s menu. Almost every Mexican dish comes made with chicken, beef, shrimp or vegetarian style to satisfy everyone walking through the door. After browsing the menu, my guest and I decided on the Quesadilla Rellena and the Quesadilla Veracruzana. The Quesadilla Rellena is a chicken and cheese quesadilla served with beans or rice. Brought to the table on colorful plates, the presentation almost makes the food look too good to eat. The two large quesadillas are stuffed with chicken, cheese, tomatoes and onions on a platter with lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, and a large tomato slice. The beans are served on another plate, topped with melted cheese. The Quesadilla Veracruzana is a beef and cheese quesadilla also served with either beans or rice. The presentation of the Quesadilla Veracruzana is similar; however, the rice was served on the same platter as the quesadillas. The flavor of both the Quesadilla Rellena and the Quesadilla Veracruzana will satisfy anyone looking for a Mexican delight, offering just the right amount of spice. The amount of food served with each dish is enormous so when visiting La Tolteca bring your appetite. The service at La Tolteca was excellent. Although we visited on a weekday, our food arrived in approximately ten minutes and we never waited when something was needed. At approximately $9.00 each, the quesadillas offered a very affordable option to satisfy our hungry. With a couple non-alcoholic drinks, at La Tolteca two people can easily dine for under $30.00 and leave with extra food for later. Grade: A Bonus: Margarita Review BY WILFREDO MERCADO Beacon Correspondent For those 21 and older who wish to explore what the bar at La Tolteca has to offer, there is a wonderful assortment of flavored margaritas. Margarita lovers can choose from the traditional lime or get a little more inventive with strawberry, pina colada, peach, and raspberry to name a few. Margaritas are served either frozen or on the rocks, with a salted or sugared rim and garnished with a lime wedge to add a special tart twist. Any combination can be a great choice for a special sweet treat along with a savory meal. The margaritas are served in a hefty glass, offering an ample serving size for the fair price of $5.50. For a flavored margarita add $1.25. The attractive presentation of the drink is enough to smile about, until the first sip when the real celebration begins. The blended fruit, tequila and ice make for a delightful chilled refreshment that pairs wonderfully with the spicy and robust flavor of their homemade salsa dip. Overall, this Mexican beverage delight is one of the highlights of the dining experience at La Tolteca. Its wide variety of flavors will leave you intrigued and wanting to try them all, but they are not to be underestimated with their alcohol content. Just one of these cocktails can be enough to satisfy anyone’s craving for a margarita and a good time! The Beacon/Alissa Lindner Schedule of Events Tuesday, October 30 - Wilma Carroll, Tarot card reader in Roth Concourse from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Kappa Delta Pi interview workshop for all future teachers in the SUB at 5:30 p.m . Wednesday, October 31 - Whooz Playin’? performing at Bart and Urby’s - Boscoe and the Storm performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. Thursday, November 1 -Book Discussion: Skinny Bitch, sponsored by Wyoming Valley Vegetarians at the Tudor Bookshop at 6 p.m. - Dr. Chud’s X-Ward and Lugosi’s Morphine performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. Saturday, November 3 - Banjo Workshops at Arts YOUniverse at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. - Vegetarian cooking discussion from The Vegetarian Way at the Tudor Booksop at 1 p.m. - The Language of Comics opening reception and Matt Madden artist presenta tion from 4:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. in SLC 166 - Tokyo Rose, National Product, Before Their Eyes, Inferis and TBA performing at Backstage at 7 p.m. - The Led Zeppelin Experience performed by Hammer Of The Gods at the Kirby Center at 8 p.m. Sunday, November 4 - Strength For A Reason, Reign Supreme, Steel Nation and Hard Response per forming at Backstage at 6 p.m. Monday, November 5 - Vicente Fox, former President of Mexico, “Outstanding Leaders Forum” at the Kirby Center at 8 p.m. �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 Common People brings the party to Plains From the time it starts, crowd energy and interaction at Common People party has a gradual but significant buildup. At 10 p.m., everyone is settling down with their drinks, by 11 p.m., people begin to saunter onto the dance floor, and by 12 p.m. the place becomes one large, unified dance floor. Common People is a free, 21+ dance party that takes place once a month at BAR, located at 279 S. River Street in Plains, running from about 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. Organized by DJs Robair and NFM (who prefer to be referred to by their professional names), it’s a fairly recent addition to the area, where each night they feature multiple DJs and a new out-of-town band. NFM explains that the parties were started up because “if you’re trying to go out and don’t want to sit in a corner bar and play darts and you’re not trying to go to some big, obnoxious club, there’s no middle ground, and that’s where we come in.” The aim of Common People is to offer people a different experience than what’s offered at other local dance clubs or bars, such as the Woodlands, or the former Mardi Gras. NFM explains that not only does he want to offer people a good time, but also a safe environment. “People shouldn’t feel like every dude in the room is eyeing them up or trying to get advantage or them, and guys don’t need to fear getting beat up,” he explained. In terms of differences, NFM explains that there’s no specific format that’s enforced for the parties and they’ll do “whatever we’re in the mood for that makes people have fun. If we want to place dance or hip hop or dance hall music on, we’ll do that. It’s really anything that encourages having a good time that isn’t cheesy top 40 or bad jersey shore spring break trance music.” First timers to the event should expect to “hear amazing music and they should expect to get wild and get real,” said NFM. After his first time attending, Kingston resident Donald Hosey explained, “I’m still not sure whether it’s a joke or not, but in the end it doesn’t matter...because if it’s a joke then it’s hilarious, and if it’s serious then there is nothing wrong with being serious about having fun.” Even since their first event, the event has attracted significant turnouts. “The first was incredible. We had people come in from New York and Philly. There were probably 150 at our first party. That was just with Robair and I and a local band,” says NFM. The most recent Common People party, on October 26, was vampire themed and guests came in undead costumes, while vampire bartenders served them as classic horror films set the scene in the background. This was the fourth party and they have them planned up through December. In November, they will be featuring the band Spanish Dancer and getting two New York DJs to the party. While Common People brings in a number of out-of-town acts, they are trying to promote community DJ Robair kept people dancing until the early involvement as well. They are cur- morning hours during the most recent Common rently talking to a local photographer People. There are multiple DJs at each event so and would like to set up a photog- there’s always a unique music variety. raphy show prior to a future event. They would like to work with a number of into the dance party afterwards. As NFM local artists and set up a place for them to explains, whether it’s on or off the dance display and sell their work and then segue floor, it’s all about “community building .” The Beacon/Marissa Phillips BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor OCTOBER 30, 2007 Photo courtesy www.nnpromotions.co.uk .'I' AT YOUR . THIS'\ "Halloween Night" ¥.e dne$d.a1f October 311 MaryBaktt "&::lly $1: ory teller and muici.an" 7:30-8:30pm RoseStone '1'arot card rea&:r'' 5:30- 7:30 •c, e~• T- •H ! UIHlpIUH"f 'v7• Frtd_ay,, November 2nd i':30 10:30pm. Llve· Ar:. ·U-¥tic ~usk 25~ all cafe i.tam during it&e- , ow "1th dmlc11t ID -k . - ~pt for &:,ow ,i t Mus.k aiml.. ._ dey1• Monday, October 30th 7:00-8;30pm Hosted by fam 'Warn.er •.«sc:tabbl¢ ni!gh.1:"' I1J11:5il~ ncight fmm 7!(W-8:30.,pm , edd#'l 2 luge· Pizn.s The Beacon/Nick Zmijewski ·:DOLLARS anprhcl'e in Olli' sto!'~! Bucket JO Wi:ngs $15.99 $24 ..'99 J.y.e ~ & t · ery- "ind"Ydcd) - .sdd#2 rge Pizza .+ l Dozen Wi igs. S u1al#4 ] large Pizza + 16 W'mgs. . 14..95 2 Liter Soda (ibllll! ~~ 1£ ~ i~tdl) ~7.99 In-House Specials ~ °'Opm Don't forget to, pick up a "'Freqmrut Bl ye.r Card"' ·tooar, . ecial fl 2 Lug£ Pizzas Monday 35 cent Wmp t .a. pwd:l' se: of :soda 1'hesd if 50 ttnt :illus. wl a pmdlas fa :soda (in hoo:se,(ln.ly) Wednesday Any bw-_gerl -'h, ken s.and'Widt -$4.95 w/ a puurui,s· -of :31 :god:3J �BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer ACROSS 1 Microwaved, slangly 6 Merit badge holder 10 Attention-getter 14 Antipasto garnish 15 Mention 16 “You, Me, and Dupree” actor ______ Wilson 17 Tributary 18 Billy, of rock-and-roll 19 Uncluttered 20 Latin-American music 21 Unnatural structure 23 No antithesis 24 Half of VI 26 Elongated fish 27 “____ the season” 30 First half of the bible 33 Avoid deliberately 36 Corn unit 37 “___ Ana, CA” 38 Breathe heavily 39 Type of arrangement 42 Shore bird 43 Criminal’s cover 45 Quarter of four 46 Walked on 47 “World of war craft”, for ex ample 51 clairvoyance 52 Bilbo Baggins portrayer 53 Lanka lead-in 54 Corn holder 57 Beginner 60 Took the wheel 62 Grow faint 64 Type of ski lift 65 Cuts vegetables 66 Eating regimen 67 As well 68 Make amends 69 Put two and two together 70 Paper unit 71 Fermentation agent DOWN 1 Clamorous 2 Bone of the forearm 3 Executes 4 Holiday preceders 5 Military duty 6 Curved sword 7 Elton John play 8 Mick and band 9 Head protector 10 Frog’s milieu 11 Sugar 12 Baltic, for example 13 Alfred Nobel invention 22 Sigher’s word 25 Basis of an invention 28 MC’s lead-in 29 Rise to one’s feet 30 Draft Beer? 31 Blunder 32 Dull surface 33 Final frontier 34 Angel toppers 35 Without obstruction 40 41 44 48 49 50 54 55 56 58 59 61 62 63 Å Calendar cycle Clubs, for example Tooth film Permit Noon Hot drink made on a cold day Baker’s needs Attack from all sides Butterfly catchers Space-exploration org. Ceremonial practice Government health org. Provide support LastNightsParty.com BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief If you think about the concept of “Last Night’s Party,” it has the potential to be relatively inventive. Parties come in all shapes and sizes and can involve some pretty odd happenings. Birthday parties, wedding celebrations, even end-of-life parties can involve everything from oddly shaped cakes to bridal rages to really great toasts. They can involve drunken relatives, clumsy moments, and really bad fashion choices. Parties are great microcosms of human social behavior. So when I went to this page, and I only saw a bunch of people in bars, clubs, and various other hotspots, I was little disappointed. Granted, there were the sexy, not so sexy, and a man vomiting on the ground with the caption “Converse Ad (Outtakes).” But all in all, this site had more potential for fun than it actually realizes. The site: LastNightsParty.com. The Concept: People post pictures of themselves, partying. That’s pretty much it, really. Some of the photos are a bit abstract, and have some larger, unappar- 1 S 2 T ~ A 4 14 □ Answers: 10/23 Kudracross OCTOBER 30, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 15 . e~ I H T N A I M I A N H A T I C H R ••r ••H STSTRAVEL.COM Join America’s #1 Student Tour Operator ent meaning, such as the photos entitled “I love America.” I think there’s a meaning there. Maybe the woman in the photos really is exploring America for the first time, or maybe she just realizes that she is 30 pounds underweight and wants to show the world that. Who knows? I have absolutely nothing to say about this site, except they should come to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and witness those who party here. Could you imagine? A whole section would be dedicated to women who go out in jeans and Aero hoodies! It would be so cool! Saturday night fashion faux pas at their finest. I wonder if the site is looking for a humor section. Seriously, though, this site is just a collage of pictures of people having a good time in various cities throughout the country? World? I’m finished. I give this site a “B” for “Big Boring waste of time.” CANCUN ACAPULCO JAMAICA BAHAMAS FLORIDA Sell Trips, Earn Cash & Travel Free www.ststravel.com STUDENT TRAVEL SERVICES 1-800-648-4849 / www.ststravel.com �SPORTS 16 OCTOBER 30, 2007 Football captures fifth straight Mayor’s Cup Defense forces five interceptions in 35-0 rout BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer In what has proven to be a challenging season for the Wilkes football team, the Colonels certainly needed a shutout victory for the books. In a season that has been even more trying for King’s College, the need for a good showing against the Colonels was perhaps even greater. On a chilly, wet Saturday, Wilkes got what it needed, but King’s is still seeking that elusive thrill of victory. Quarterback Al Karaffa threw for 132 yards, tailback Alex Pearson rushed for two touchdowns, and the Colonels defense forced five interceptions in a 35-0 rout of rival King’s College on Saturday afternoon at Betzler Fields. The win improves the Colonels to 3-5 overall, and gives Wilkes possession of the Mayor’s Cup Trophy for the fifth straight season. From the opening series of the game, the Wilkes defense set a tone that would propel the Colonels to a dominating performance in the clash for bragging rights among the neighboring schools. With the Colonels holding a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter, cornerback Corey Gilroy would step in front of a Jeff Searfass pass and run it back 28 yards for a touchdown. David Grega would follow up with two picks, with Darius Harrison and Augusto Lombana hauling in one interception each. “I tried to get good position on the play, and just looked up and saw the ball coming to me,” Gilroy said of his interception. “Our defense wanted to get out of the gate on a tear, and we certainly did that today.” The Wilkes defensive effort was so effective that it limited the Monarchs to only 7 total yards of offense for the game. Junior defensive end Tim Yeagly was named the most valuable player for Wilkes after collecting eight tackles and two sacks on the day. Grega added five tackles, while Kyle Follweiler picked up eight stops to go over the 100-tackle mark on the season. Offensively, Karaffa completed 8 of 14 passes to lead the offense, including a 21yard touchdown to Rocky D’Aconti. Gennaro Zangradi and Kyle Regner hauled in two and three passes respectively, while Pearson piled up 72 yards rushing on the day. The Colonels will head to Doylestown this Saturday for a clash with the Aggies of Delaware Valley College. The Colonels will then wrap up their regular season with a home contest against Widener University on November 10. The Beacon/Jenna Stephens Wilkes sophomore defensiveback Corey Gilroy (10) celebrates with junior Ryan Holmes (26) and and senior Kyle Follweiler (42) after returning an interception for a touchdown in a 35-0 win over King’s College in the Mayor’s Cup. MAYOR’S CUP STATISTICS WILKES KING’S 133 PASSING YARDS -35 140 RUSHING YARDS 42 273 TOTAL YARDS 7 12 FIRST DOWNS 5 Wilkes University Key Players The Beacon/Jenna Stephens Wilkes sophomore Corey Gilroy takes a 28-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Mayor’s Cup on Saturday, September 28. (RB) Alex Pearson 23 carries, 72 yds, 2 TD (WR) Rocky D’Aconti 1 rec, 21 yards, 1 TD (QB) Al Karaffa 8-14, 132 yards, 1 TD (DB) Corey Gilroy 1 INT, 1 TD Mayor’s Cup MVP Junior Linebacker Tim Yeagley 8 tackles, 2 sacks �SPORTS OCTOBER 30, 2007 17 Change Yourrt· Life Cha ge Yo -e and an Your o Future F re with from ti aa Graduate Grad a _e Degree D from ESU ~•A Students earning a graduate degree at East Stroudsburg University are among the most qualified, best educated candidates for today’s job market. Learn more about ESU’s 21 master’s degree programs and 22 post-baccalaureate certification programs on our website, www.esu.edu GRADUATE PROGRAMS Master of Arts Degree Programs History Political Science Master of Science Degree Programs Athletic Training Biology Clinical Exercise Physiology Computer Science Exercise Science Health Education Management and Leadership „�Public Administration „�Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management „�Sport Management Speech-Language Pathology Sport Management Master of Education Degree Programs Biology Elementary Education Health & Physical Education History Instructional Technology Political Science Reading Secondary Education Special Education Master of Public Health Community Health Education PREPARE TO SERVE Over 150 paid graduate assistantships are available for students in graduate programs. Call ESU’s Graduate Studies Office at 570-422-3536 or 866-837-6130 or apply online at www.esu.edu. EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY FOUNDED 1893 EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY A member of the Pennsylvania Pe Higher Education State System of High www.esu.edu �SPORTS 18 OCTOBER 30, 2007 Commentary G AME OF THE WEEK New England Patriots v. Indianapolis Colts Good versus evil in the battle of the AFC Double Take BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor *Note: This article was written prior to the week eight games: Indianapolis at Carolina, Washington at New England. What happens when you pit the two remaining undefeated teams in the NFL against one another? These are the same two teams that are ranked number 1 and number 2 in points per game and yards per game. This is coupled with the fact that one of the teams is the squeaky-clean reigning SuperBowl champions, while the other has been one of the most dominant football teams in this century while simultaneously coming under attack under allegations of cheating. Why, you have week nine in the NFL, of course! This weekend, the football equivalent of the movie Heat takes place, as the New England Patriots (Robert DeNiro) bring their perfect record into Indianapolis to face Peyton Manning and the Colts (Al Pacino). I’ll give you all a moment to google that movie reference…ok, welcome back. Last season, Peyton Manning shook off all the critics who said he wasn’t a clutch performer when he led the Colts through the gauntlet of the AFC by defeating the Baltimore Ravens, the New England Patriots, and the NFC Champion Chicago Bears en route to their first Super Bowl since 1970, when they were still the Baltimore Colts. Manning has followed up his Super Bowl MVP season with much success, leading the Colts to victories in all of their games so far, despite the fact that he isn’t as dominant as he has been in the past. Through six games, Manning is ranked 7th in the NFL in touchdowns (11), passing yards (1,578), and completions (138), while only having 3 interceptions with a quarterback rating of 103.5(4th in the NFL). Despite the fact that his numbers aren’t as solid compared to his previous years, Manning has still been able to lead the Colts to the top of the AFC South standings, and well on their way to another playoff berth, which is also due in part to the success of their running game, which has been solid throughout the season. On the ground, the Colts are leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 10, and are led by Joseph Addai, whose 98.4 yards per game is 3rd in the NFL, while his five touchdowns are ranked 2nd behind San Diego’s LaDaininan Tomlinson. On the opposite side of the ball, the Colts have been decent, despite holding opponents to an average of 15.8 points per game. However, the statistics don’t always tell the story, as four of their six opponents (New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, and Denver) are ranked in the bottom ten in the NFL in points per game, averaging just 17.5 points per game. Whatever opinion you have of their defense, it will unquestionably put to the test against the New England Patriots, who are ranked number 1 in the NFL in total points (279), points per game (39.9), and passing yards per game (299.4). The juggernaut that is the Patriots’ offense is the result of the brilliant play of Tom Brady, whose 27 touchdowns, 303.6 yards per game, and rating of 137.9 are tops in the NFL, while also being ahead of the pace to break the single season touchdown record of 49, set by Peyton Manning in 2004. In other words, Tom Brady is having a good season. Brady, who is regarded as one of the best quarterbacks of the generation, has led the Patriots to three Super Bowl victories in 2001, 2003 and 2004, while picking up two SuperBowl MVPs, cementing him as one of the greatest clutch quarterbacks in recent memory. This year, however, Brady is on pace to have one of the most dominant seasons in NFL history. If he continues at this current pace, Brady will end the season with 386 completions in 523 attempts with 4,857 yards, 62 touchdowns and five interceptions, giving him a quarterback rating of 137.81. Despite the fact that they are just projected statistics and will more than likely not end up as an accurate depiction of Brady’s season, it serves as a tool to measure just how good he has been this year. One of the reasons for his success this season has been the addition of Randy Moss, which gives Brady a legitimate superstar receiver, something that the Patriots haven’t had in their recent years, in which they put together a solid receiving core without one dominant receiver. When the Patriots traded for Moss in the off-season, they added one more tool to their arsenal, and it has paid off big-time, as Moss is having one of the best years of his career, and is leading all wide-receivers in touchdowns (10) and receiving yards (732), despite having ten fewer receptions than Baltimore’s Derrick Mason, who leads the NFL with 56. With Moss getting most of the attention from opposing defenders, it leaves the door open for the role players of the team, such as wide receivers Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth, who have a combined 8 touchdowns on the season. On the ground, however, the Patriots have had less success, ranking 11th with five rushing touchdowns and 7th with 133.4 yards per game, while leading the NFL in rushing attempts with 224. Defensively, the Patriots are solid, having allowed only 17.1 points per game in seven games, against opponents who have averaged 26 points per game, including three teams that are in the top 10 in points per game (Dallas, Cleveland, Cincinnati), and two others (Miami, San Diego) that have averaged over 20 points per game, while holding the New York Jets (19.4 PPG) and the Buffalo Bills (14 PPG) to under their average points per game. Despite that, the Patriots have come under fire after their week one win over the New York Jets, in which they were caught videotaping signals on the sidelines, resulting in several fines and the loss of draft picks in the 2008 draft. The allegations of cheating haven’t stopped the Patriots, who would go on to win their next six games by a combined score of 241-205, which brings us back to week 9, in which the nefarious Patriots are set to take on the likeable Indianapolis Colts. And with that, the biggest game so far this season is almost at hand, as the unstoppable force takes on the immovable object, except, unlike in Heat, don’t expect Peyton Manning and Tom Brady to share a cup of coffee before game time. The Pick: New England Patriots: 35 Indianapolis Colts: 24 Steph examines the stats that truly matter... BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon A&E Editor Picking a winner between the New England Patriots versus the Indianapolis Colts is a no brainer for me. Because I’m quick on the draw with this one, some might assume that I am a fan of one of those teams or maybe my dad is. Neither is true. But obviously, the Colts are going to win. The reasoning is simple and it all goes back to my childhood. One year at Christmas, my mom’s friend Lisa came over to exchange gifts. I was pretty excited because Lisa gave some really good gifts. But this year was different. Lisa got me an Indianapolis Colts sweatshirt. As a child I looked at that stupid blue sweatshirt with the silvery grey writing and wondered, “Why would she get me a Colts sweatshirt? I’m 7 years old, I don’t like football. I like Power Rangers!” On top of the ugly grey lettering, the sweatshirt was a men’s large. At the time, I was a children’s size medium. I think she was trying to get me to watch football or like the Colts or something, but eventually I gave in. I wore the massive sweatshirt that came down past my knees. It did keep me warm and I wore it every winter until it almost fit. That sweatshirt was stained and torn apart on the inside. The stitching around the letters was starting to pull and the ends of the sleeves were all tattered. I found out one winter that my mom had finally thrown it away. So, making a decision between the Patriots and the Colts was easy. I chose the Colts in loving memory of my ugly, stained, torn and tattered, too large, blue and grey sweatshirt that kept me warm for years. �SPORTS OCTOBER 30, 2007 19 Athlete of the Week Andy Curry BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor An examination of the offensive chart that outlines, among other things, who’s scoring goals for the men’s soccer team, shows that that 12 different players have contributed in the points department. That’s because, this year, emphasis has been placed on team growth rather than focusing on a couple of key players to carry the load for the Colonels. After starting the season 0-3, all the Colonels had to rely on was each other as pesky doubters believed the Colonels were due for an unsuccessful season this year. Throughout the team’s early struggles, senior Andy Curry remained grounded and a solid leader for the Colonels. So much so that despite all the negative speculation about the team, this season the Colonels are making their 12th trip to the postseason out in the past 17 years. “I feel like the team chemistry this year is through the roof,” said Curry. “Everybody is best friends on and off the field and it’s just a great experience to be part of.” “Last year was supposed to be our year and this year has turned out to be one of the most exciting years we’ve had.” On Halloween of 2006, the Colonels were spooked out of the playoffs by a 4-0 firstround home loss to DeSales University finishing with a 12-6-1 record. This year the Colonels hold a similar record of 10-6-1 (prior to Sunday’s game against Arcadia University) and will start the playoffs tomorrow at home against FDU-Florham. The Colonels beat FDU on October 6, two goals to nothing at home. Curry has helped the Colonels to their recent four-game winning streak in an effort to build team’s intensity going into the playoffs. He leads the team in the goal department with six on the season on 37 attempts while topping the Colonels with 18 points. 7 Total number of offensive yards by King’s College. The Colonels posted 59 tackles on Saturday to hold their rivals to the lowest number of offensive yards in Mayor’s cup history Curry is also tied in leading the team in the assists with teammate Greg Miller. Sophomore Bret Osswald believes Curry epitomizes an effective yet humble leader who focuses on the well being of his teammates. “He is a strong leader on the field and he’s always giving spiritual talks before the game,” said Osswald. “Anytime there’s a play, he’s there to tell the player good job even if he does something wrong. He’s got the brains, the overall athleticism He’s a good player.” Photo courtesy of Marketing Comm. Members of the Wilkes University football team celebrate on Saturday after winning the annual Mayor’s Cup against King’s College. The win marks the fifth straight win over the Monarchs in the Mayor’s Cup. Pictured, from left to right: Jordan Purdy, Dave Grega, Rocky D’Aconti, Augusto Lombana, Kyle Regnar, Erik VanGilst and Chris Applegate RECAPS Volleyball The Wilkes University volleyball team concluded its 2007 campaign by posting a 16-30, 30-24, 30-9, 33-31 win over Kean University in a non-conference match on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Colonels cap their season with an overall record of 12-17, while the Cougars saw their overall record slip to 9-19. Men’s Soccer Greg Miller scored a goal and had two assists as the Wilkes University men’s soccer team earned a berth in the upcoming Freedom Conference playoffs with a 3-0 win at Manhattanville College on Thursday afternoon. Women’s Soccer Manhattanville College scored a goal early in the second half and made it stand up as the Valiants notched a 1-0 win over Wilkes University in a key Freedom Conference women’s soccer match on Wednesday, October 24. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Field Hockey Wilkes University took a major step towards claiming a Freedom Conference playoff berth by scoring a 4-2 win over DeSales University on Thursday afternoon at Artillery Park. MAYOR’S CUP NUMBERS -35 Number of rushing yards totaled by all five running backs for the Monarchs. The team gained 80 yards on the ground but lost 115 yards due to six sacks by the Colonels. 5 Number of interceptions by the Colonels. Senior David Grega picked off the Monarchs twice while Darius Harrison, Augusto Lombana and Corey Gilroy each had one apiece. 4 Total number of passing completions in 23 attempts by four King’s College quarterbacks. �Sports OCTOBER 30, 2007 20 No Time to Relax The Beacon/Allison Roth Lady Colonels kick their way to eighth consecutive playoff appearance. BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor In the beginning of the season, the fate of the Lady Colonels shot at a playoff berth was up in the air like a frisbie and the team had no clue where it was headed. Players were quitting unexpectedly, the team cohesiveness was at stake and trying to stay above .500 was a true struggle for the team. After stumbling early on the field with a 3-6 record overall, the Lady Colonels will be playing the first round of the Freedom Conference playoffs today for the eight consecutive season. “More or less we played a really tough pre-conference schedule,” said senior Bethany Head. “By playing that schedule and losing those games, we have become closer as a team because we’ve had to get through those hard times. I think overall, as a team, it’s made us stronger.” The Lady Colonels clinched this year’s playoff berth on October 8 at home against King’s College. The team entered the game against the Lady Monarchs having won five straight and were flawless in the Freedom Conference with a 4-0 record. Sophomore Julissa Reed struck first for the Lady Colonels in the opening half on a goal from teammate Alison Weidman. Bethany Head scored the final goal of the game in the second half. The Lady Colonels held King’s to zero goals on three attempts all in the second half. That win would be the eighth by shutout for the Lady Colonels as they solidified a playoff berth with a win over cross-town rival. On Sunday, the Lady Colonels suffered a 2-1 double overtime home loss to Arcadia University. The game was initially scheduled for Saturday afternoon but was postponed due to heavy rain. By losing to Arcadia, the Colonels will be entering the playoffs as the third seed and will be on the road throughout the postseason. Had the Colonels won on Sunday, they would be representing the second seed in the playoffs that now belongs to Arcadia. Both the Lady Colonels and Arcadia will square off today in Philadelphia. First seeded Manhattanville University will host Delaware Valley for the first round. The winner of both contests will be scheduled to play on Saturday, November 3. If Manhattanville wins, the Lady Colonels will remain on the road throughout the playoffs pending a win today. If Manhattanville loses today, then the Lady Colonels will have home field advantage against Delaware Valley on Saturday. The Lady Colonels have played both teams. The Lady Colonels posted a 2-1 win over DelVal on October 13 while losing to Man- hattanville 11 days later. That would be the Lady Colonels first conference loss of the season. Head coach John Sumoski has led the Lady Colonels to a championship win over Drew in 2005 and has enough returning players to have “dejavu” two seasons later. “We have nine players that won the conference in 2005 that played in that game,” said Sumoski “We just need someone to make big plays just like any other sport. The team that comes out and makes big plays is going to win the game and that’s what we’re looking for.” � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 October 30th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 October 30 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/a3d0b8aef390d901c3db8b79c2796d26.pdf f7722256a35795fbc93997906166dcde PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW NOVEMBER 6, 2007 In This Issue... Movie Ticket Woes Page 8 Volume 60 www.wilkesbeacon.com Former Mexican President to speak in W-B Issue 8 Immigration issue sparks protestors to assemble BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor On Monday, November 5, Wilkes University will host the former President of Mexico, Vincente Fox, as the Outstanding Leaders Forum keynote speaker. Christine Seitzinger, Associate Director of Marketing Communications, said that she has been part of a “ten or twelve member core team that has been meeting once a week for about six to eight months to plan everything surrounding this event.” She acknowledged that local plans for protest of the event have been discussed. The protest was in response to President Fox’s views on immigration. He is against illegal immigration, however he feels that natives of other countries should be able to come and go between the U.S. and Mexico on a guest worker pass. “We don’t really know what we are in for because we do expect protestors. And given what happened at Syracuse, with the bomb threat, we are running through a number of contingency plans for what we are going to do,” said Seitzinger. Recently, Syracuse University was forced to abruptly cancel a speech to be delivered by Fox because a bomb threat had been called in. Seitzinger also mentioned that the school is aware of the grassroots organization, Voice of the People, based in Hazleton, that organized the protest outside the F.M. Kirby Center on the night of the lecture. On its website, the group offers a call to action: “Stand up for America!!! This is about pride in our country, respect for our country, and standing up to those who blatantly disrespect and bad mouth our country. It is time to draw the line in the sand!!!!” See FOX page 4 MRSA @ Wilkes Courtesy Marketing Comm. Page 9 Whooz Pfa3in '?/ Page 13 , Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 \. BY JAMIE GWYNN Beacon Staff Writer Local and national reports of antibiotic-resistant staph infection cases have schools and athletic facilities taking extra precautions to reduce the risk of multiple cases and minimize public concern. There have been two confirmed cases of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) within the past year at Wilkes, according to university officials. Diane O’Brien, Director of Health Services, confirmed one case this semester involving a student, which has since been contained. “Yes, we did have a confirmed case, and we had a confirmed case last year also,” she stated. Joe Giunta, senior athletic trainer, confirmed the other case last fall involving a coach from the football team. “[The] football coach this past fall was diagnosed with MRSA in his leg,” said Giunta. “He came to the athletic training room with what presented like a spider bite and was seen by the staff and we noticed it right away as a potential infection. We instructed him to go to his doctor the next day, and the next day his doctor diagnosed it as MRSA,” said Giunta. “It was a case where if he didn’t bring it into us he might have been in some serious trouble with the infection of where it spread.” According to a special report last month by PaperClip Communications, “MRSA is a staph bacteria that, in healthy people outside of hospital settings, typically shows up as skin infections, such as pimples and boils that can be treated with antibiotics. However, staph bacteria can also cause serious infections, such as those within surgical wounds or bloodstreams, or pneumonia.” Dr. Karen Beth Bohan, Assistant Professor in the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy, is leading an ongoing grant-funded study to determine the number of MRSA reports in the Wyoming Valley. Bohan explained that there are primarily two different types of MRSA, hospital acquired (HA-MRSA) and community acquired (CAMRSA), and they are both genetically different. She initially thought those who were locally affected primarily had hospital acquired staph, but has discovered an uptick in the communityacquired incidents. “It’s important because one of the main things is that [community-acquired staph] produces a toxin more often than the health care associated one,” Bohan said. “In the health care setting, the organism only produces a toxin about 5 percent of the time, but the community-acquired See MRSA page 5 �NEWS NOVEMBER 6, 2007 2 Residencey Increase Fox News Briefs MRSA 3 4 4 5 Studio 20 offers IM students new co-curricular opportunity BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor Since its introduction as a major in the fall of 2005, Wilkes University’s Integrative Media (IM) program has grown significantly. Class sizes are larger, the quality of equipment is better, and sudents have begun to participate in a variety of internships. Although IM students are receiving more chances to study offcampus through internships with companies like the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, E!, and Digital Deluxe, they can also now gain real world experience through a new co-curricular organization called Studio 20. Formally created this past September, Studio 20 is “a design firm run by students,” said Darin Fields, Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. “It’s where the students going through Integrative Media get their first opportunities to do real world projects that are within the areas that they want to work on.” The IM suite’s location played a key role in the creation of Studio 20. Located in the basement of Breiseth, the IM suite is neighbor to the Writing Center and Zebra Communications, a student run public relations firm that serves as a co-curricular experience. “It’s built on the Zebra Communications model… It can complement Zebra and work with Zebra on projects,” said Fields. The Zebra Communications firm links students studying aspects of public relations such as design, event coordination, and fundraising with actual clients. These clients are often non-profit organizations or individual business owners who need help developing and managing specific public messages or campaigns. “Studio 20 was a deal we discussed because we were getting requests from multiple areas [internal and external] to do work,” explained Eric Ruggiero, Director of Integrative Media. According to Ruggiero, the firm was designed to take requests for productions from Wilkes departments or individuals on campus and also from non-profit organizations or start-up businesses that may not yet be able to afford an expensive production. “For example, we’re working with the pharmacy department taping lectures, editing the lectures and putting in textual elements so students can receive it on DVD. We’re also working with the PPD program in the business department and making a promotional piece for them. We’re a lot like Zebra, but we do more graphical work,” said Geoff Forman, a senior IM major and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Studio 20. Alongside Forman, the Board of Directors is comprised of four other students and Ruggiero. Travis Davis is a freshmen IM student and is also the Underclassmen Coordinator on the Board of Directors. “[Studio 20] is a good opportunity for freshmen to get their foot in the door. It’s good for them to work with the upperclassmen and help seniors do projects that they might need help with. Even though we have classes right now, it gives us an opportunity to work more with all of the equipment,” said Davis. “It’s a way to give us an idea of what we’re getting into.” Although participation is on a volunteer basis, students are encouraged to take part in the projects presented to the firm. “Every project that we work on is portfolio material for anyone who worked on it… Anything they do, they can put in a portfolio and say what they did with it,” said Forman. As Studio 20 and the Integrative Media program both continue to grow, equipment in the IM Suite will also continue to advance and expand to meet the needs of the increasing number of students. Currently, the studio boasts video equipment, cameras, microphones, green screens, animation software, a variety of 2D, 3D and effect software, and also seven Macs and three PCs in the IM Suite. “We’re trying to add a few more [computers] to fulfill the needs and the growth of the department… We’re on a three year life cycle turn around anyway, so since we’re coming up on three years next year, the hope is that we’ll get some new machines to get us up to capacity of the students we have in the program,” said Ruggiero. BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andee Scarantino Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Alison Woody Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. The Beacon / Gino Troiani Senior Integrative Media student Geoff Forman hand-draws his animations using the department’s most recent purchase, a light table. Various pieces of equipment such as software, high-tec computers, and video equipment aid members of Studio 20 in their productions. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �NEWS NOVEMBER 6, 2007 Master Plan to evolve as on campus residency increases 3 Conyngham and Pearsall likely to become residence halls YOHANNA DE LOS SANTOS MARIA Beacon Correspondent Within the next five to seven years, on campus residents who are currently separated by some distance, may find themselves physically closer to one another. Moving all residents closer to the heart of the campus is part of the master plan, Petra Carver, Vice President for Finance and Support, said. “[The master plan] is a plan that on an annual basis states what kind of project and capital decisions we will be making.” The master plan is part of what will be changed at Wilkes, and it has to be revised in order to take action. At the moment University Towers has a population of nearly 250 students, and the rest of the apartments are inhabited by people who lived in the building before its purchase by Wilkes. However, original community residents have begun to move out. As those apartments become available, Wilkes will populate more and more of the building eventually occupying it 100% with approximately 400 students in the Towers. Of course this depends on the other people that live there, Paul Adams, Vice President of student affairs, said, “We are not forcing those people out.” Those who have left the building have done so of their own accord and the process is seen as a natural progression. The student population in- crease at the University Towers will also depend on other projects. One of the planned projects is, “To sell the 300 block Wilkes buildings located at South River Street to move students near campus,” said Adams. It will also have to do with the increase of the student body. He added that Wilkes administrators do not want more than 1,200 students living on campus. The challenge of huge growth in residential students is that it requires growth in a variety of other services beyond simple residential space. For example, with more on campus students, Wilkes would need to axpand dining space. Dining locations in diverse areas would need to expand so that the Henry Student Center doesn’t become overcrowded. Adams also said that the 1,200 on campus student population can be expected within the next three to four years. The University is also planning to establish a residential cluster which is a student neighborhood, a community composed mainly of students. For the student cluster to take place, “The University is planning on making Conyngham and Pearsall Hall [into] residence halls,” said Adams. Therefore, the offices previously offered at Conyngham and Pearsall Halls will be relocated. The offices of Student Affairs, previously located in Conyngham Hall moved to Passan Hall on South Franklin Street two weeks ago. This in a longer-term project that is likely to take between five to seven years, “[It] depends on how quickly we can get out of the 300 blocks of South River Street, how quickly we acquire the apartments, convert Conyngham to residence halls and what the future is for Pearsall Hall,” said Adams. The main reason to make these changes possible is because the buildings located Fried Ravioli (6) M02Zarel1~. Slim (.5) 16"" Lq'=' Pizza 12; an Pizza PIZZA " WINOIJ - - - SALAINI Fried Si c:ffiam . Vlhiw Cut B'foc-oo.li Cut The Beacon/ Cara Koster At the moment University Towers has a population of nearly 250 students, and the rest of the apartments are inhabited by people who lived in the building before its purchase by Wilkes. Fried Mru moo:m R.ound Pies 12,,., ·· ediwm Pilla . at South River Street are outside campus. 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Dallu 67 " 77-77 Tlma �NOVEMBER 6, 2007 FOX from FRONT PAGE The founder of the group, Daniel Smeriglio, talked with The Beacon about what his organization has planned for Monday evening’s event. “We are hoping everything goes good on Monday as well… We are going to be at the Ramada Inn from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Tiffany Ballroom… we are going to have a meet and greet with the speakers and give little speeches. Then from 7 p.m. until the time Mr. Fox is done speaking is when we are going to be in the square, in active protest, and after the speech the people who were inside for the speech are going come over, back to, the ballroom and tell us what Mr. Fox had to say.” Smeriglio also noted that his organization has confirmed Steve Urban, Luzerne County Commissioner; Peter Gadiel, Bruce DeCell, Joan Molinaro from 9/11 Families for a Secure America; Carmen Morales, Miquel Cruz from You Don’t Speak for Me; Gayle Kesselman, John Rucki from New Jersey Citizens for Immigration Control as possible speakers for its alternative event. The organization has also reached out to Mayor Lou Barletta from Hazleton, representatives from the Minutemen Civil Defence Corps and many other people NEWS to speak at the protest event in the Tiffany Ballroom. Seitzinger acknowledged, “We are preparing for the protestors to be very visible and very vocal right outside the Kirby Center perhaps on Public Square. We’re hoping the event itself is not disrupted because we see that as a disruption in the learning process. As an educational institution it is our responsibility… to provide a forum for these discussions and whether they are controversial or not, to have a foreign head of state to come to this area, we are very proud of that.” Smeriglio commented that his group plans for peaceful protest and there will be representatives from different organizations in the event to ask questions. Dr. Jane Elmes-Crahall, Professor of Communication Studies at Wilkes, will moderate the question and answer part of the forum with former President Fox. “I help them decide what is the best format to be fair and still control what can be a pretty loud audience and make sure we still give President Fox a chance to answer the questions,” she said. Elmes-Crahall explained how the questions for the session would be addressed and handled. “The format we are using is a pretty common one in a public forum in politics, where everyone, as they come in, they will be given cards and pens, and instructed that at any point during the lecture they can write out a question and submit them to people who will be available in the aisle… who will screen them, not really in terms of content as much as in duplication. While the lecture is going on, they will hand me… five or six to start and that way we will have an opportunity to get things rolling… Others may be submitted while he begins answering the first or the second question... “I think part of it is as moderator, me just not looking ruffled. If someone does get loud I will remind them that that is not how we are taking questions; it is disrupting the other people. There will be a security presence visible. That is not really done to intimidate the audience as much as it is to protect a head of state,” Elmes-Crahall said. Seitzinger also addressed the topic of ticket sales for the event. “I think tickets are not selling as quickly as we had hoped. I think name recognition has something to do with that; however, once President Fox began his national press junket to promote his book, people became more aware of who he was,” said Seitzinger. “He has been in the national media quite a bit lately… So I think that has 4 impacted ticket sales, but certainly they are not selling as quickly as more recognizable figures like Colin Powell and Rudy Giuliani.” Former President Fox, recently released his memoirs Revolution of Hope: The Life, Faith, and Dreams of a Mexican President. The day’s events include a question and answer session with area high school students, a luncheon, press conference, banquet dinner, and the lecture. Please visit www.wilkesbeacon.com on Tuesday, November 6 for The Beacon’s coverage of the former president’s visit. Editor’s Note This story was written in future tense due to the fact that it was released online Sunday, November 4th . For an updated version of the story and pictures from the various events please check www.wilkesbeacon.com. Andrew M. Seaman Beacon News Editor Beacon News Briefs Local lapsed during the United States Olympic (WILKES-BARRE) Wilkes-Barre offi- trials in Central Park. The runner was cials awarded later pronounced a contract to a dead at Lenox Hill wrecking comHospital. The winpany from Durner of the trial, Ryan yea to demolHall, and Shay were ish the Murray close friends. complex building gutted by International fire in Octo(ISLAMABAD, ber. The city Pakistan) Televiawarded the sion and telephone $306,500 conservices were taken tract after allotdown, barricades ting $250,000, and military forces while the surround parliamenstate awarded tary buildings, offi$750,000 in aid cial’s homes and the for the demoliSupreme Court in tion. The conPakistan after Gen. tract awarded Pervez Musharraf to LAG declared a state of Wrecking only emergency throughThe Beacon / Andrew Seaman provides for out the country. By Remains of the Murray Complex fire. the demolition doing so, Mushof a portion of arraf suspended the the complex, the rest of the buildings will be country’s constitution and independent demolished at a later time. media. Musharraf said this decision was made after he saw a rise in Islamic exNational tremism. (NEW YORK) At the five-and-a-half-mile For more News Briefs, read online at mark Ryan Shay, a 28-year-old runner, col- www.wilkesbeacon.com. �NOVEMBER 6, 2007 MRSA from FRONT PAGE MRSA produces probably an excess 90 percent of the time.” As reported in the October 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), MRSA caused more than 94,000 life-threatening infections and nearly 19,000 deaths in the United States in 2005, most of them connected with health care settings. Those numbers approximate about 1 death in every 5 cases. But O’Brien is convinced that students should not worry. “If [students] have something that may look like an infection come see us, but really, there’s no need for panic,” she said. “We have staph on our skin all the time, so if you cultured any healthy human being they would have staph on their hands and on their body. “I think a lot of it is blown out of proportion, but really it’s all in culturing because what we do is culture it and then it will identify 10-12 antibiotics that will absolutely kill that bug,” O’Brien added. Christine Seitzinger, Associate Director of Marketing Communications, agreed with O’Brien that students should not panic. NEWS “I think [the JAMA report is] where this story took on a life of its own and people became very sensitized to it,” said Seitzinger. “And any time you have a healthy individual, an athlete or young person become so sick that their life may be threatened because of a staph infection, many people find that unacceptable and become scared by that.” Bohan noted that, “Where there are actual deaths involved, it’s people who have underlying immune problems that weren’t recognized before.” “You can have it on you right now and [you] wouldn’t know it, but as long you don’t get a cut or get it into your skin or something, you’re going to live just fine with it and not be a problem. What happening is so many people are getting it on their skin that when these people get cuts, it’s causing infection,” Bohan explained. What concerns Bohan most is the high risk for student athletes at Wilkes. “Any athletes who are in really close physical contact are at higher risk.” But as far as student-athletes are con- 5 cerned, Giunta noted that during his six years he hasn’t had any such cases of MRSA. “Athletes-wise, no we haven’t had MRSA. We haven’t had any staph infections, per se.” Addy Malatesta, Director of Athletics, highlighted the process of avoiding an out- break of any type of infection. “The cautions that we’re well aware of in terms of laundering here, we’re attentive to that, particularly with sports like wrestling where there’s a lot of contact between student athletes in the wrestling program,” Malatesta said. “We disinfect wrestling mats twice a day, minimally.” Students don’t seem to be worried about a possible outbreak in MRSA. Justin Jones, a freshman English major and a former football player, said he believes Wilkes has solid protocol for dealing with the health issue. “Since I’ve been here there hasn’t been any medical scares, and I’m sure Health Services would go through every precaution to avoid a major outbreak,” he said. Tim Jones, a sophomore political science major, agreed. “I can’t say I’m concerned about it now, but after hearing about it, I do have a bit of a concern about what Wilkes is doing about the situation.” “I don’t see that it should be any real cause for concern in this community setting,” said O’Brien. “I think education is key and I think it’s really basic common sense things that kids don’t do.” O’Brien is referring to common sense things such as reporting anything that looks suspicious. “If you have a healthy individual that has a staph infection that we can keep confined and find out what the proper treatment is, their chance of recovery is excellent,” said O’Brien. Watch �Opinion Identity Crisis Movie Tickets Angry Rant NOVEMBER 6, 2007 6 America’s freshwater is in jeopardy Conservation and planning are vital BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD Picture this: a neighbor sneaks out of her own house in the middle of the night to water her garden so that the tomato plants don’t die. A second neighbor hears the spray of the hose and looks out his window to witness the crime. He immediately calls the police, who arrive quickly and arrest the culprit. The charge? Unlawful and excessive use of water. The scenario may sound farfetched, but places like Atlanta,GA may soon face something similar as water restrictions are tightened, and businesses like car washes are threatened, should they not recycle water on the premises. Moreover, Orme, Tennessee, a town of 145 residents, has run out of water due to the drought that’s occuring in the Southeast. The nation’s freshwater sources are depleting as droughts threaten water reserves, the population booms, sea levels rise, and the Sierra Nevada snow-pack melts. Despite all of this, the latest U.S. Geological Survey released in 2000 reported that Americans still used about 500,000 gallons of freshwater per person. This adds up to more than 148 trillion gallons of water used by the U.S. alone. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations network of scientists, estimated that freshwater will become a scarce resource for up to 2 billion people worldwide by the year 2050, which is why people need to start conserving water now. A recent article posted by the Associated Press even stated that over the next five years, the government estimates that 36 states will face water shortages. Such shortages are already a reality in California, Georgia, and Florida. The problem is two-fold: Americans, and indeed people all over the world, use too much water, and widespread climate change is manifesting as drought in many regions. Drought conditions that fed the flames of the 16 wind-blown fires in California are becoming more common according to an article in The San Francisco Chronicle. Additionally, an entire reservoir was used to put out the fires in California. Due to the unusually hot conditions, the Sierra Nevada snow-pack is melting prematurely, which is jeopardizing the future supply of freshwater. California uses 23 trillion gallons of water annually, most of which comes from the Sierra Nevada snow-pack. On October 20, Georgia’s governor, Sonny Perdue, declared a state emergency in 85 counties and ordered utilities and water systems to reduce their water consumption by 10%. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates that Lake Lanier, a reservoir in Bloomberg, GA, will run out of clean water in about 110 days. So far this year the area has received only 25 inches of rain, which is approximately half of what usually falls. Unlike California and Georgia, Florida’s supply of freshwater is not threatened by drought, but by the rising sea levels that are caused by melting ice glaciers, which push saltwater into underground sources of freshwater. Florida reuses about 240 billion gallons of water annually, but Michael Sole, Florida’s environmental chief, said in an Associated Press article, that “it is not nearly enough” to quench the thirst of Florida’s booming population. By 2025, the population will increase 34 percent and the annual use of freshwater will jump from 2.4 trillion gallons a year to 3.3 trillion gallons a year. Students at Wilkes University can help reduce the demand for freshwater by simply conserving water. By conserving water, less pressure is placed on sewage treatment facilities, because there is a greater number of people using the same amount of water instead of more. It also saves energy and saves students money. According to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, there are many ways people can save water in the bathroom and the kitchen. One of the best places to cut back on water usage is in the bathroom. About 300 gallons of water could be saved every month by placing a plastic bottle filled with pebbles in the toilet tank, which causes less water to be used with every flush. If you turn off the water while shaving and brushing your teeth you can save six gallons of water a day. By shortening your showers one or two minutes you can save up to 700 gallons of water per month, and if you install a water-saving shower head or flow restrictor, you can save an additional 500-800 gallons per month. By washing your dishes by hand you can save anywhere between 200-500 gallons of water in the kitchen by just filling one side of the sink up with water that you will use for rinsing dishes. You can reduce the amount of water used to rinse off detergent by using a smaller amount, which will save 50-150 gallons of water. If you do use the dishwasher or even the washing machine, only wash full loads, because you can save 300-800 gallons of water per month. When preparing a meal you can save 150-250 gallons of water per month by filling up a bowl and dipping your vegetables in it instead of letting the faucet run over them. You can also keep bottles of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of getting it from the tap, because it saves 200 to 300 gallons of water a month. By following the tips provided by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Wilkes University students can do their part in saving what is left of our freshwater resources. Your Voices Dear Editor: Concerning “Be the change you want to see…” Whenever I hear people preaching that “anybody can achieve whatever they want if they just work hard enough,” my stomach cramps up. Can anybody seriously be that naive? Sure, if you were born into an American middle class family, 7 8 8 chances are you can get very far if you work hard. But to believe that anyone, no matter what their circumstances are, can do the same, is buying into an oversimplified ideal. Maybe Alberto Gonzales is a nice example for the American Dream, but to argue that because he made it, anyone else can too, is faulty logic. It is also an excuse for people to say that anybody who does not make it must be lazy and therefore to be blamed for their own position in society. What a convenient lie! Wouldn’t that make the world so much easier and so just? I agree that ambition and hard work can get you a lot further than apathy and laziness, but unfortunately, some people cannot “rise up and do as [they] will” - even if they are ambitious and work hard- er than anyone else. Even though the US has a high degree of social mobility compared to other countries, it is not a classless society. Your place of birth and the conditions that come with it make a difference, and for many people, the American Dream is nothing more than a dream. Felixa Wingen Junior, English Ed. Major Beacon Poll Results Americans have a lot to worry about. The ongoing Iraq war, stock market and housing investThe following are results of a ment instability, drug busts, AIDS, poll that The Beacon conductand environmental concerns domed online this past week. The inate the nightly news reports. Is poll was unscientific, and does it any wonder that with such boldnot claim to reflect the overall face headlines other issues fail to attitudes of students on camcapture our attention? Seemingly pus. Results are based on 100 “less important” social problems responses. like homelessness, poverty, and the growing deficit tend to make inside pages, if that, because of The Beacon asked: the pressing nature of the other stories. Whatofwas your favorite old that One those sidebar issues school Nickelodeon show? only occasionally squeaks onto the public radar is animal cruelty. Re• animal Are you Afraidhas of become the cently cruelty Dark?-13%issue with maa more mainstream • Double Dare-3% jor corporations, football players, Shorts-14% and •evenSalute local your people stirring up • Hey Dude-7% the issue. Animal cruelty involves • Legends of the Hiddenand anything from dog fighting, shooting Temple-8% whales, to killing aniExplains it mals•for Clarissa fur and animal testing. All-11% The problem isn’t awareness; it • more The Secret is that peopleWorld appearofto beMack-9% lieve thatAlex it’s okay to hurt animals • All That-6% for personal benefit or enjoyment. • there The Adventures of Pete Worse, is a small contingent and Pete-4% in the country who believe that the • Doug-25% practice of animal cruelty can be excused because of age-old cultural practices. Next Week’s Question: Just two weeks ago the Makah tribe made wirething over tothe isWhat’s thethe hardest sue of whaling. Years ago the Naconserve? tive American tribe legally killed whales something of a sport. • as Water The •tribeGas/oil suspend its practice because• theElectricity grey whale was placed on the species list and • endangered Paper federal government prohibited • Time whaling. However, in 1994, the • Money grey•whale cameconsumption off of the endanCalorie gered• list. Anytime minutes The• tribe obtained a permit in Other 1999 to kill a whale which outraged animal rights groups. After a Visit www.wilkesbeacon.com court hearing became necessary to cast your itvote. Results will for be thepublished tribe to in receive a waiver next week’s in orderissue to hunt whales. Recently, of The Beacon. members of the tribe shot a grey whale repeatedly with a rifle before they were due to receive their waiver. The five men involved are all facing fines of up to $20,000 �NOVEMBER 6, 2007 OPINION 7 My name is Andee, and I’m having a “Senior Identity Crisis” BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief Over the past few weeks, I’ve been sluggish. There once was a time when I was sleeping 10 hours a week, and just pouncing on every project I could possibly take on, because I could. I did it because being a college student fascinated me beyond belief, and I wanted to be the absolute very best I could be… And I was. But like many people I know, I am having the “Senior Identity Crisis,” which essentially means I’m in an “in-between phase of life.” I’m ready to move on; ready to conquer bigger and better obstacles in life, but because of the way my path has been structured for me, I am stuck in college, meshed in a pool of students searching to find themselves, when I already have. Here are some symptoms of the Senior Identity Crisis: Classes are just not interesting anymore. Well, when you’re taking 300 level courses for the third year in a row, or even the second year in a row, it may be hard to engage. Some of you may have also taken courses at other universities that have a lot of overlapping material. Two years ago, you may have rushed in a flare of excitement to jump on that project, hoping to impress the heck out of your professors. Now, they already know what you can do, and you already know you’re more capable than some of the wide-eyed sophomores in your classes to complete the projects/assignments sufficiently. Therefore, you wait until the last minute, and face hours of stress. Your friends are a bore. Well, let’s face it. You’re the oldest out of all of them. If you’re a traditional student, you’re in your early 20’s, and you’re going to the bar with people your age, or much older. You’re generally stuck with those people you’ve known for years, and they may be getting on your nerves. However, people younger than you seem to be lighthearted and naive, these days. You can’t find common ground with them. You can’t discuss what classes you may take in the future, or what trips you may go on, because you’re “Seeyabye!” You used to solve the world’s problems all night in your phone conversations with friends. Now, you’re reminiscing about the “good ol’ days,” which is always depressing. You’re getting rejected. Your GREs suck. You have to take them again. Your LSATs suck. You’re not going to law school. David Letterman doesn’t want you as an intern, and you already burned your bridges at the local TV stations. Oh no! What do you do? “If I have to spend another month with my parents, I’m going to die! And I’m gaining weight! Can I sell my eggs to pay for rent in New York City!?” You’re lonely. Your significant other is a waste. You’re going to be a college graduate, and they aren’t. You don’t want to date someone older, because you might not be here in a year. You can’t find a mate on campus that doesn’t make you feel like a pedophile! You’ve decided to buy a stuffed animal from Wal-Mart, name it Henry Kissinger, and cuddle with it on a nightly basis. Pathetic. Well, I’m here to help. Take a deep breath. That’s the first thing you need to do. Tomorrow morning, after you read this article, go to the gym, because you’re not eating right anymore. Those rejection donuts went to your hips. Go see your advisor and plan out your life. Try to take on an independent study, and work through those issues of boring classes. Maybe you are too smart, or maybe your major just doesn’t have enough to offer you. Your advisor is there to help. If you’re like me and haven’t seen your advisor in two years, go visit a professor you trust, and work through your schedule. They’re there to help, whether it be with courses, resumes, internships, or job opportunities. Be productive in the time you spend reminiscing with friends. The past is full of memories, but only that. You can’t cling to memories anymore. They’ve passed, but in order to make new memories, you need to move forward. So, you got rejected. So did I. My way of dealing with it was to print out a banner in 300 point font that said “Sh*t Molasses” and tape it to the wall of my office. Once I did that, I ate a bag of chips and moved on my life. You need to do the same. Don’t let rejection paralyze you. Find other options. And finally, if you’re lonely, my email address is on the second page of The Beacon. I’d be glad to tell you a story to cheer you up. For anything more intimate, you may want to consider EHarmony.com. Hang in there seniors. You’re going to be fine. Fashion truisms: leggings are out and other facts Leggings may seem like the answer to all your fashion problems; you can wear them with that skirt that’s just too short, along with keeping the dresses and skirts in your wardrobe in rotation until at least early winter. Leggings are not pants. I cannot stress this point enough. All they are in reality is a thicker version of tights, and you wouldn’t just wear tights and a t-shirt now would you? When you wear a short shirt, dress, tunic or skirt with leggings, we can all see everything. The leggings may be be physically covering, but they are not blocking our view of anything, which I believe is the intended purpose of clothes. Since leggings tend to be on sheer side, meaning that yes we can indeed see your underwear (God willing you’re wearing any). Furthermore, most wear leggings in an unflattering manner; they’re pretty unflattering to begin with but when you wear them all the way down to your ankles you just make your legs look even bigger. Leggings should stop mid-calf, no higher, no lower. The color of leggings is also extremely important. White leggings do not, and I repeat do not, look good on anybody, all they do is accentuate any imperfection. Also the bright colors and patterns should be left in the 1980’s or to eight year-olds. Horizontal striped leggings, and ones with stars or leopard prints, make legs look enormous, and often look suspiciously like last year’s Halloween costume. Leggings aren’t even in this season; tights are, so let’s just ditch the leggings. More fashion observations: Should sweatpants or pajama pants be worn in public, either to class or in general? I have no issue with either; anyone who has seen me on a Tuesday or Thursday knows that I wear sweatpants. They’re very comfortable and when you’re sick, (whether it be alcohol induced or not) it’s amazing to be able to be in your comfy clothes all day. However, if you’re awake and feeling well enough to put on make up and do your hair, then you are well enough to at the very least put on a pair of jeans. This new trend of sweat pant-chic must stop. Sweatpants are not sexy, no matter how much money you spend on them, how much glitter they have on them, or what choice word plastered across the butt. The worst error in fashion has to be the VPL, better known as the visible panty line. It breaks my heart to see a woman dressed up in nice dress pants or a beautiful dress for it to only be ruined by the sight of her underwear line. The answer to this problem used to be thongs, and they are an answer, except for when they’re too tight or you’re pants are too tight and the underwear in question is still visible. Also, there is a giant misconception that if you’re wearing jeans then you are free from the fear of the dreaded VPL. I have witnessed many women on this campus, other cities, and other countries with this problem. Ladies, if you have jean VPL then your jeans are too tight! Now, onto the issue of the “muffin top.” Muffin top is when either your pants are too tight, or the rise is too low and your stomach hangs over. Even thin girls can suffer from muffin top. Ladies, check the waist band of your jeans. If there’s skin hang-over, buy bigger pants or put the ice cream down. So let’s recap: leggings are out, tights are in, we can all see through your leggings so remember to wear underwear and underwear that matches the color of your leggings (but nude is always a good option). Sweatpants are not sexy but are sometimes necessary and always remember to check for VPL, and a good friend will always tell you when you have it. The Beacon/Andrew Seaman BY CARA KOSTER Beacon Photo Editor �NOVEMBER 6, 2007 OPINION 8 Movie tickets: only 7% of students can buy weekly BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Opinion Editor How many of us have actually purchased a $3 movie ticket this year from the school? My guess is, not many. According to Vashty Vazquez, a junior criminology major, who works at the information desk at the SUB, the school only has 150 movie tickets to sell weekly. Considering there are thousands of students at Wilkes, is it any wonder the tickets usually sell out around 12 every Monday? The 2006-2007 Wilkes University Fact Book reported that there are 2,245 undergraduate students total. After the recordbreaking freshman class enrolled this fall, I assume there are even more undergraduates on campus than last. When last year’s enrollment figures are calculated with the number of movie tickets, it appears that at best only 7% of the undergraduate student body is able to obtain a university-subsidized movie ticket. Students pay a $340 General University ment is up, such figures are likely also to Fee, $30 for a Recreation Fee, $110 for an be higher. Now, it’s quite clear that student activities Activity Fee, and $25 for a Student Center Fee. Considering all the students pay the fees go to many different things. Obviously, activity fee, shouldn’t a majority if not all, it’s not just movie tickets the university purchases with that money, be able to obtain a and I am not suggesting movie ticket? that we should prioritize Using last year’s movie ticket purchase enrollment figures, over, for example, bus the university makes Movie trips to New York or a $763,300 from the Tickets concert. But, because General fee, $67,350 Sold the $3 movie tickets are from the Recreation sold out so quickly in the Fee, $246,950 from Out week , I think we need a the Activity fee, and new process. $56,125 from the 1. Wilkes should conStudent Center fee sider purchasing more with a grand total of than 150 movie tickets $1,133,725 from all so a greater percentage these fees. of the Wilkes population That’s a substantial can participate in this amount of money. The Beacon/ Gino Troiani activity. And if overall enroll- Once again, another Halloween has come and gone with the usual array of costumes, cheap candy, and tacky work-parties playing their role in this “holiday” that seemingly gets far too much attention. Not that I have anything against Halloween, mind you. Maybe it’s just because I’m not a kid anymore, and that certain part of me that enjoyed knocking on my neighbor’s door and asking for candy has moved on to bigger and better things--like earning money to pay for my tuition, perhaps. One thing with Halloween that I never understood was the fact that we were encouraged by everyone; parents, neighbors, friends, teachers, to go to a complete stranger’s house and ask for candy. I guess its OK to get candy from a stranger when you’re wearing a flimsy, plastic mask, but not when you’re all alone on a playground. I don’t know who makes up these rules. Personally, I think that the kids get their candy far too easily. I remember being asked for a joke or a song in order to get the goods. No song - no candy. True story: I once had to perform the entire first act of “A Streetcar Named Desire” to get a bag of caramel creams. No joke… OK, maybe a little joke. The point is that nowadays kids knock on the door, dressed up like God-knowswhat, and demand candy. They don’t even say “trick-or-treat.” They just hold out their bag while they are dressed like The Cheetah Girls or Teletubbies or some other reprehensible television show character. And guess what? If they don’t get candy, they end up covering your house with toilet paper or giving your car a nice coat of soap or wax. Which brings me to my point: Can college students celebrate Halloween without feeling like they are breaching some unwritten rule that states that you can’t go trick-ortreating after a certain age? Come on, it only makes sense. Instead of candy, they can just give out thinks like gas cards, resume building tools, or packages of ramen noodles; you know, anything that a 22-year-old college student needs. When we were young, we’d dress up like something that we wanted to be one day. The girls dressed like a princess or Barbie or something, and the guys dressed like G.I. Joe or Superman. Jerry Seinfeld once said that Halloween costumes weren’t just costumes; instead they were career options. Now that we are older and somewhat wiser, our costumes would need to change based on our career plans. For instance, a pharmacy major could wear a white coat and give out fake antibiotics, a philosophy major can wear a tunic and just ask “Why?” when the door opens, and theater majors can wear a hairnet and a What do you think? - The Angry Rant: Halloween Hangover BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor 2. Students should only be able to buy a movie ticket every other week, so those who were unable to buy one on a given week have an opportunity to in the next. I feel both options would be conducive to eliminating the problem at hand. If Wilkes’s enrollment continues to grow each year, 150 price-reduced tickets will seem fewer and fewer, and the percentage of students who are able to buy a movie ticket will also appear to dwindle. I urge movie lovers who haven’t been able to get the cheap tickets to voice their concerns to their Student Government leaders. McDonald’s uniform. Anyway, Halloween is taken far too seriously by some people, the ones that build elaborate gravesites in their front yard, complete with strobe lights, cobwebs and the tombstones that are emblazoned with names like “I.B. Dead” or “Bonsey Nolife” or “Glen” or something. It’s just an awful lot of work for a day that has no staying power. Thanksgiving gives you leftovers for a week, and Christmas perpetuates itself with multiple gift-giving days. Halloween doesn’t have any big feast, it just has one night of low-quality candy and a costume that you spent far too much time or money on. The moral of the story? Forget the fancy costume; stay home, and when kids knock at your door, ask them for candy. Boo. ■ The Beacon wants your voice to be heard. Your Voices is the opportunity for students to voice their concerns. If you want your voice to be heard, please contact The Beacon with the following information: 1 Contact information including your email address and a phone number where you can be reached 2 Your name, major, and year 3 Your opinion thebeacon.oped@ gmail.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for space and content. A Sight for Sore Eyes by: Aleksander Lapinski �LIFESTYLES NOVEMBER 6, 2007 Taste of Home History Film Series Student of the Week 10 11 9 Fifteenth Annual Taste of Wilkes will be held on November 8 BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor The Beacon/Cara Koster Students, faculty and staff don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving for a huge, home-cooked family meal this year. The 15th annual Taste of Wilkes luncheon promises to satisfy that need for home cooking as Wilkes University family members create and share their favorite kitchen concoctions. Taste of Wilkes, which will be held on November 8 from 12-1 p.m. in the Henry Student Center Ballroom, highlights students, faculty, and staff as chefs for a day, and participants share their creations of everything from pierogies to salsa. The theme this year for the event is “Lunch in the Pumpkin Patch.” “I think it’s just a really great opportunity for us to get together and celebrate the family atmosphere. I don’t think that’s something you can get at other campuses, especially the larger campuses,” said Megan Boone, Community Service Coordinator and first time planner of Taste of Wilkes. Boone also believes that the event provides a unique opportunity for people to step out of their usual campus roles and see each other in a whole new light. “I think Taste of Wilkes is a really nice way just to kind of level the playing field, so to speak, and break down some of those barriers.” The cost to attend the lunch is $6.00 for faculty and staff and $3.00 for students. A silent auction w i l l also take place at the event for items donated by local businesses such as Starbucks and Target. According to Boone, the auction can get fairly intense, especially towards the end. “It gets pretty heated so there’s also maybe a comedy show for students…it’s pretty hilarious.” Proceeds from Taste of Wilkes will benefit the United Way of the Wyoming Valley. Boone thinks that this is a worthy charity because the United Way not only arranges their own charitable services, but supports local programs like “REACH” of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church as well. Last year, Taste of Wilkes raised approximately $700 for the organization and according to Boone; this year’s goal is to raise even more. “Our goal always is to do just a little bit better than we did last year, so of course I would love to have $800 or $1000, but in reality I think any amount that we can donate and any awareness we can give to the United Way is good.” Although no one seemed to be able to remember the exact details of how it got started, Margy Sromovski, office coordinator for Student Development, said that someone heard about a similar event and liked it enough to bring it to Wilkes. Sromovski is assisting in the planning of the event and also cooks for it every year. According to Boone, Sromovski is well-known for making one of the most popular dishes at the event, a broccoli and cheese casserole. Sromovski said, “It was brought into the family from a friend…and my mother started making it and then I just kind of kept up the tradition.” Her favorite part about this event is watching the faces of people as they enjoy what she cooks. “The home cooking makes it fun, and there’s that little taste of different foods,” she said. Students living in the community service house are also planning to submit several dishes according to Resident Assistant, Valerie Martinez, who is a junior communication studies and political science double major. “A lot of my residents like to cook. So I think as house we’re going to bring a couple of things…” Martinez also thinks that Taste of Wilkes has an important underlying lesson to teach members of the campus community. “I just think it’s so essential to building a community where people can embrace one another’s culture and learn from one another…It’s like you have your own ideas, your own ideologies, and your own tastes and literally you’re getting a taste of my tastes. That’s basically what it is. You’re just enjoying each other’s lifestyles for a day.” The Beacon/Gino Troiani Sodexho chefs will also contribute to Taste of Wilkes, including a butternut squash soup. �10 LIFESTYLES Film lecture series teaches world history BY YOHANNA DE LOS SANTOS MARIA Beacon Staff Writer The academic discipline of history has long been associated with dusty, old books and documents. But in the digital age, some professors are using movies to spark student interest in key historical happenings. Dr. Michael Davidson, assistant professor of history, encourages every student who wants to learn more about history to attend the History and Film Lecture Series. It is free and open to the public. The series kicked off on October 3 and will continue through April 8. Although some of the movies presented at this event offer a historical view on American society, other deal with questions of world history, “The best example of that is the film which is coming up next Wednesday which is the film called The Vikings about early medieval European history. So a number of the things there deal with things outside of American history,” said Davidson. The series is designed to tie in with certain events on campus. One of the things Davidson did before setting the schedule was to have several meetings with Dr. Maria Suarez, Special Assistant to the President for Multicultural Affairs and Community Relations, to ensure a purposeful tie in with cultural events in each of those months. “November, for example, is Native American history month so we have a film dealing with the indigenous people of South America,” Davidson explained. He added that films pertaining to Black history month in February, and Women’s history month in March are also planned. One goal of the project is to explore the social mix that is going on in the area and how that is evolving. “Last month, for example, the film we did was And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself which was a film dealing with the Mexican revolution,” said Davidson. Students involved with the History Club were also involved in the selection of the movies. Davidson suggested a number of movies and students discussed how they could work. Steve Felter, junior history major and President of the History Club, said, “I think the [series] is a great idea because it brings history to life. By incorporating recent movies, it will give students the chance to understand history better.” In December the movie 300 will be presented. It is a film “dealing with ancient Greek and Persian history,” said Davidson, and it met with critical acclaim for technical effects when it was released. Students are becoming involved in the “lecture” component of the series as well, and for this movie there will be a student presenter. At the beginning of each presentation there is a speaker who talks about what was going on in that period of time. Dr. Davidson said that the Pancho Villa movies has been so far the most accurate perhaps, “There is a portion of it that they get wrong, sometimes the filmmakers didn’t do research that is good enough, often is because they have two hours to get their message across they have to simplify things” said Davidson. One side purpose of the series is to illustrate how filmmakers can misinterpret and even manipulate public perception of history. This is why there is an introductory talk before each of the movies. The next event is on Wednesday November 7, Davidson encourages the students to go because, “It is entertainment, it is free, there are free refreshments, and also it is just a way to broad your education.” NOVEMBER 6, 2007 Upcoming Dates Wed., November 7 The Vikings Wed., November 14 The Mission Ill IRONS N Wed., December 5 - TBA Wed., January 23 Mississippi Burning Wed., February 20 Glory Wed., March 12 The Crucible �LIFESTYLES NOVEMBER 6, 2007 11 Student of the Week: Michael Lewis BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor The Beacon: What was involved in planning the Halloween Bash? The Beacon: How were the Christian Fellowship Club members involved? Lewis: The Christian Fellowship Club is unique because we really try to bring forth leadership roles in our members. We really get the members involved. The officers act as the overseers, but the members are who bring it all together. The Beacon: What aspect of the event were you most proud of? Lewis: The turnout was good. We had over 50 people at the midpoint, around 9:00. It was great just seeing everyone there having a great time, seeing them smile. That fellowship is just really important in building friendships and relationships. The Beacon: What prompted you to start the Christian Fellowship Club? Lewis: When you get to college, it’s hard for a student to keep focus on morals, or the church, or God. We just allow an opportunity for students to come together to worship, make friends, and have support. College is hard, and people need help, they need guidance. The club lets us worship together, have fellowship together, and have fun together. The Beacon: What are your leadership duties in the Air Force ROTC? Lewis: I’m the cadet major squadron commander in the Air Force ROTC. I oversee two training flights which are composed of freshmen and sophomores. I oversee that their supervisor is training them properly, effectively, and efficiently. All photos courtesy of Michael Lewis Michael Lewis, a senior mechanical engineering major, has used his talent for leadership to help the Wilkes community throughout the last four years. In 2006, he co-founded the Christian Fellowship Club, which officially achieved club status last October. The club offers an active, supportive atmosphere for students interested in Christian activities to join together with like-minded individuals. Lewis is also president of the Running Club for students interested in keeping in shape and training with those who have the same goals. He is also a cadet major squadron commander in the Air Force ROTC. As co-president of the Christian Fellowship Club, Lewis organized and executed the Halloween Bash on October 30. Because of his leadership abilities in a wide range of activities, The Beacon chose Lewis as our Student of the Week. Lewis: We started out with five committees, and delegated responsibilities to leaders in each committee-candy and drink, decorations, games and prizes, setup, and advertising. We had a Tang-pong tournament-that was a big hit-and bobbing for apples, a donut-eating contest, and costume contests. The Beacon: What appealed to you about the Air Force? Lewis: I just had a desire to serve my country, and take the responsibility to carry on the great freedom we have in America. I’ll be going to pilot training after graduation. THE RS IN I Ile p : stna · d y.. ·0 1 t ! ·v n k ·all (570) 823vc Inc. , ·( '9 Top: Students dress in costume at the Halloween Bash; Left: Lewis and other Christian Fellowship members enjoy their trip to the corn maze. �A&E NOVEMBER 6, 2007 12 Whooz Playin’?! Guns Babes Lemonade Crossword/Website 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 The Language of Comics offers new comics perspective BY SHANNON CURTIN Beacon Staff Wrtier This season’s exhibition at the Sordoni Art Gallery features a genre it has never included before; the artistic work of graphic novelists. The new exhibit, entitled The Language of Comics, features the work of Jessica Abel and Matt Madden two prominent graphic artists who currently teach at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Both artists have had several graphic novels published, and have received critical acclaim for their work. The Sordoni exhibit will feature original drawings from Abel’s La Perdida and Madden’s 99 Ways to Tell a Story: Exercises in Style. Kramer explained that officials at the Sordoni decided to feature The Language of Comics after seeing it at the Richard F. Brush art gallery at St. Lawrence University and the “wonderful response it received from the campus community” there. Due to the nature of the exhibit, gallery coordinator Brittany Kramer hopes that there will be a large student turn out. “We are hoping to have a lot of student interest in this exhibition and hope to interact/collaborate with the Wilkes University Comics club. In recent years there has been a lot of interest in graphic novels because many graphic novels have been made into big budget Hollywood films such as 300 and 30 Days of Night. Though the exhibit officially opened on Saturday, some students have already planned to check it out. Senior mechanical engineering major and artist for the comic book club Aleksander Lapinski said he plans to visit the exhibit. “I did hear about the exhibit, but haven’t gotten a chance to visit it yet,” he said. According to Lapinski, graphic novels function as a unique form of art, “It takes a considerable amount of skill to combine a storyline and drawings to make an interesting and engrossing story.” Madden and Abel’s graphic novels definitely fit the bill. Madden’s 99 Ways to Tell a Story was inspired by Raymond Queneau’s Exercises in Style, where 99 different versions of the same story were created by varying the tense, style, voice, etc. of the narrative. Madden’s book features the same narrative portrayed in a multiple ways by a selection of different comics, varying by point of view, style of drawing and of course, interpretation. According to a previous statement made by Madden, “It’s exciting to consider how many different ways a story can be told, how art and text interact, and how these comics relate to other visual and narrative media.” Abel’s comic, La Perdida follows the adventures of Carla, an American woman with Mexican roots who travels to Mexico City in search of her true self. Carla’s time in Mexico City leads her on an interesting adventure as she reconnects with an old lover, befriends two unsavory individuals with their own character flaws and catches the interest of a drug lord. And it was for this interesting adventure that Abel was awarded the 2002 Harvey Award for Best New Series. The Language of Comics exhibit provides an interesting and unique perspective on narratives and according to Kramer, “a legitimate topic for scholarship and exhibitions...and can be assimilated in the curriculum of many classes, such as literature and integrative media classes in particular.” The exhibit will continue through Sunday, planation,” Baker said of the plot theme. In the Wilkes production, Charity will be played by Deirdre Lynch, a senior musical theater major. Lynch explained, “[Sweet Charity] centers around Charity, a dance hall hostess. It is just [about] what happens to her, random things. She meets a movie star and hangs out with him for a night and then she gets stuck in an elevator.” “Because it is set in the sixties, which is when the whole sexual revolution started, there was more sexual freedom for women. There was a real tension between the loose sexual morals of the time period and Charity, who has a real innocent quality about her,” Baker added. Lynne Mariani is choreographing Wilkes’ production of Sweet Charity. Mariani danced for the original choreographer, Fosse, many years ago, according to Baker. “This is the first show we have done that has a lot of dancing in it. It is very high energy,” explained Lynch. She added the theater department recruited students to specifically dance for the show. Other leading roles in the Wilkes production of Sweet Charity include Dan Pascoe as Oscar, the male lead, Jessica Krupski and Greta Kleckner as Charity’s best friends, and Stacie Gogo as a featured dancer play- $7.00, and $15.00 for the general public. A ing several roles. senior citizen discount is also available. “It is essentially a love story, but... I don’t want to give anything away, but Tuesday, November 6 it’s more about a - “An Evening of Dubstep” at the Jazz Café person’s happiness - An Albatross, The Dinosores and Ultra Dolphin performing at doesn’t necessarily Café Metropolis at 7 p.m. Wednesday, November 7 come from anyone - Film: ‘The Vikings’ in SLS 101 at p.m. else. That all sounds - M-80 performing at the Woodlands at 9 p.m. real deep, but it’s not. Thursday, November 8 It’s a really happy, - Willie Waldman project performing at the Jazz Cafe fun show,” Baker ex- Friday, November 9 - Clarence Spady performing at the Jazz Cafe plained. - $3 Show at Backstage featuring Death’s Cure (more bands need Sweet Charity will ed) at 6 p.m. take the stage Novem- - “Sweet Charity” musical theater performance in the Darte Cen ber 9 and 10, 16 and ter at 8 p.m. 17 at 8:00 p.m. and - Groove Box 6 performing at the Woodlands at 9 p.m. Saturday, November 10 on November 11and - Ritter, A Golden Era, Losing Caulfield and Stay Six performing 18 at 2:00 p.m. in the at Café Metropolis at 8 p.m. Dorothy Dixon Darte - “Sweet Charity” musical theater performance in the Darte Cen Center. For all Wil- ter at 8 p.m. kes students, faculty - Groove Box 6 performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. Sunday, November 11 and staff, admission - “Sweet Charity” musical theater performance in the Darte Cen is free. For students ter at 2 p.m. from surrounding Monday, November 12 colleges and univer- - Michael Bolton performing at the Kirby Center at 7 p.m. sities, admission is December 9, 2007. For more information please contact Brittany Kramer at 570-4084325. The Beacon/Allison Roth The opening reception of the show took place on Saturday. Prior to the opening, Matt Madden offered a slideshow and answered questions about his artwork. VPA to perform Broadway musical Sweet Charity BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor The Wilkes University Visual and Peforming Arts department is set to perform the Broadway musical Sweet Charity Novermber 9-11 and 16-18. The play is directed by Naomi Hatsfelt Baker, an assistant professor of theater arts at Wilkes, and is based on an Italian film, Le Notti di Cabiria, by Frederico Fellini. American choreographer Bob Fosse saw the film and, with some assistance, created the musical Sweet Charity. The original musical featured music by Cy Colemen, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and choreography by Fosse. Sweet Charity was originally performed on Broadway in the 1960s. In 1969, the movie was released featuring Shirley MacLaine as Charity. It returned to Broadway in 2005 with Emmy award winning actress Christina Applegate starring as Charity. The musical is currently on a national tour featuring Paige Davis as Charity, who recently replaced Mollie Ringwald in the leading role. “Sweet Charity is the story of a girl who wants to be loved. That’s the simple ex- Schedule of Events �NOVEMBER 6, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 LOCAL BAND SPOTLIGHT: Whooz Playin’?! BY MATTHEW GOGAS Beacon Staff Writer The chemistry is always important in having a successful band, andWhooz Play in’?! are no strangers to good chemistry. They are a local band gaining a steady fol lowing in the Wilkes-Barre and NEPA area. Two of the members are formerly from the band Crus, but decided to leave and start their own band. The Beacon recently spoke with one of the band’s founding members and lead singer, Krysten Montgomery. agree… It was the Office Convention. We played on the biggest stage we’ve ever been on and the sound was fantastic! The Beacon: What was the worst show you have ever played? Krysten: (Laughs) I would have to say the worst show I’ve played wasn’t with Whooz Playin’?! I’m going to be nice and leave it at that. (winks) The Beacon: How did each of you meet? Krysten: Joe and I were in the band Crush together for about four years… We became the best of friends! Joe’s friend bought a house next to our guitar player, Mikey. He in troduced us, we auditioned him… and that was it! He was in after the first song he played. When we told Mikey that he was in, we asked him if he knew any bass players and that’s where Ronio came into the picture… The same thing happened. He played one song, and he was in! Then we started talking about a rhythm guitar player. My cousin Del came immediately and auditioned! He was also in on the spot. The Beacon: What are your biggest musical influences? Krysten: Robert Plant, Billy Joel, Steve Perry, Aretha, Ann Wilson, and of course Mariah and Whitney Joe: Carter Beauford, Thomas Lang, Dave Grull Del: Elvis, and Dave Matthews Ron: Jaco Pastorious, Jack Bruce Mikey: Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Miles Davis, Jack Bruce Photos courtesy The Beacon/Andee Scarantino The Beacon: What type of music do you play? Krysten: Rock & Roll, Punk, Pop, a nice mix of almost everything! The Beacon: What is the story behind the name Whooz Playin’? Krysten: HA! Abbot and Costello?? We wanted an attention grabber! I think it worked. I love walking into a club and hearing a customer say “Who’s Playing to night?” And the club owner says “Whooz Playin’?!” and so on… That’s where we got it. The Beacon: Do you have a cult following, those few fans that take it to the extreme? Krysten: (laughs) I would never refer to our fans as a cult, but we have a cool crowd that likes us. The Beacon: What types of television shows do you each watch? Krysten: The Golden Girls, Desperate House wives, Law and Order CI & SVU, Danc ing with the Stars, The Bachelor Joe: South Park, King of the Hill, Law and Order, Family Guy, Mikey: Captain and Casey Show, and Fuse TV Ron: Mostly Movies and Baseball…. Del: Dr. Phil, Any Sports The Beacon: Do any of you play more than one instrument in the band? Krysten: Yes. Ron plays the Bass, Guitar, and the Drums. Mikey plays everything! The Beacon:Do you often, if ever, disagree with the way a song should be written/per formed? Krysten: Sometimes, but not too often… It’s the artist who has actually takes time to think, “Hmmm… I’ll do this here, put that note there; and yes, I’ll sing it this way. Stage presence is all in the performer. If the guy stage left wants to jump up and down, then so be it. If the guy stage right wants to smoke a cigarette and bob his head, it’s the same thing. Diversity is a good effect in this industry. The Beacon: What was the best show you have ever played? Krysten: Hmmm... I would have to say, and I know the band would most definitely The Beacon:What kind of performance or antics could someone typically expect at a Whooz Playin’?! show? Krysten: Great music! Amazing talent and a great time!! Oh yeah, did I mention alcohol? The Beacon What is the funniest moment that you could think of from one of your shows? Krysten: There’s been so many funny moments. I can not decide which one to choose from… Come and see us! You’ll find out! The Beacon: Do you have anything that you would like your fans to know? Krysten: Yes! If you want to hear a special song, tell us at a show or Myspace us at www.myspace.com/whoozplayin. We’ll do anything! Any song you want to hear! �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 NOVEMBER 6, 2007 CD Review: Muscles’ Guns Babes Lemonade BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor Photo courtesy www.grandmasfrenchcafe.com Aside from hip hop and oversexed diva pop tracks, there isn’t much attention paid to the dance quality of most new music. While numerous techno and electronic dance tracks made their way into the mainstream in the 90s, these days popular songs are more conducive to grinding than versatile dance moves. A lot of the fun has been lost in dance music. Although there are some people out there such as Spank Rock and Girl Talk who remix and resample songs with high quality results, it’s more satisfying to find a band with good delivery and original material. Muscles, a light-hearted electronic band from Australia, manage to freshen up and redefine dance music with their undeniably catchy beats and playful lyrics. With their first album Guns Babes Lemonade, they remind listeners that music can actually be fun. Lyrically, Muscles seems almost innocent. “Ice Cream” is a song about remedying a dangerous situation by bringing ice cream into the equation. “He could have a knife/stab me in the gut/bleeding on the floor/should have kept my mouth shut/and I don’t know how to react or if I should fight back/Ice cream is going to save the day.” Then there’s “Sweaty,” which is a frantic, upbeat love song with lyrics so simple, they almost veer into the realm of cheesy. “My hands slipped into your hands/and it was awesome/and diculous, sincere, and genuinely fun album that shows a you were special.” great deal of inventiveness currently lacking in American Musically, Guns Babes and Lemonade almost feels like dance music. In “Ice Cream,” Muscles sing, “I don’t want a bizarre mish mash of cheesy workout techno, 80s synth no other/I just want to dance,” and clearly dance in its pop, and European techno. The odd thing is, it works en- simplest and most carefree form was in the forefront of tirely. And it’s not just that the songs become embedded their minds when they produced the album. in your mind, (because they do). It’s more that the deep Grade: A+ (honestly) bass and shrill electronic beats are paired together so effectively. Music inevitably produces some sort of visual response in the mind of the listener, and in that realm, this album delves a bit into the absurd. It’s a bit hard to listen to a song without conjuring up mental images of one or more of the following: neon spandex, street break dancing, running in place with a sweatband, embarrassingly awkward and exaggerated dance moves. The thing that makes Guns Babes Lemonade work so incredibly well is the fact that Muscles is lighthearted, and abandons any and all pretense, which is almost impossible to escape in most cases. It’s as though they get away with their playfulness (almost silliness) just because their execution is so well-coordinated and infectious. I thought it was impossible, but somehow this If nothing else, the one thing that will inevitably stay with somealbum is executed flawlessly. It is an overall ri- one after listening to this album is the undeniable truth that ice cream has, and always will, save the day. AT YOU . -· TI-IIS "Steve Husted" Wedne sda1f.. N ovemkr 7th 6:30- 8:30 25% all cm items during the show TNith student ID ''Champion Sali' .starting N 01.i'3m~ 12th until N ovemkr 25th 2 5% olf all me.n's) women's) and clti1dren's sr.-watshirts and swea:tpants! I. il,B ll Gra Mu ·c• F'e· lurlng Tim.Yi Fridca}•, No¥tmbet t1i 7:3:0-10:30pm 25 ·items dJ · c·:1 o with mdcDtt ID ""Poetry Cmle: 7.00-,i: ·. ·• . ·· Hosted by Jen md Dan from ~per Kite Press Do-.n'tforge:t to, pi · up 1 ••Frequent Bi rre.r Carct"todl}1 1J anywhcIC in,Olli' st:o1"i1:! - ' _ER ~ VE · A. �BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer 1 4 8 12 13 14 15 16 18 19 20 21 22 26 28 30 31 32 33 38 41 42 46 49 50 51 53 54 ACROSS Air pressure Measurement Castle defense Military command Desert like Renter’s necessity Medicinal plant Heavy weights Star Trek vessel Business degree Embarrassed Cereal type Fashionable resort Domain Walks pompously Steal goods Harass “Matrix” character Insult, slangly Astounded Alias letters Old English ending Creepy looks Fine jeweler Bicycle type Insert Storage structure Common contraction Smart person 57 58 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 17 21 23 24 25 27 28 29 31 34 35 ____ Aviv Stephen Colbert satirical term Improper contraction Hillary to Bill Area of activity Swampy areas Foul scent Oct preceder WSW opposite DOWN Certify a will Ol’ Blue Eyes Freud concerns High-IQ club Sworn statements With Magellan Contract stipulation Coagulate A.K.A. Clay LAPD part Ball rest 36 No more than 37 Bounds’ partner 38 Lima’s land Meat and vegetables dish 39 40 Recipe word 43 Maui neckwear 44 Mr.’s mate 45 World power (abbr.) 47 ___ Capita 48 Costello or Gehrig 49 Utmost degree 51 Hallow ender 52 Filthy abode 55 56 58 59 60 61 MyFirstTime.com BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief I didn’t lose my virginity in an exciting way. I decided I was tired of being a virgin, because even at 17, I was intimidating and men just avoided me. I also had blue hair. I digress. It was awkward, typical, and in no way interesting to anyone but me. Even I wasn’t interested. However, there are thousands of Americans who are interested, as evidenced by the anecdotes on MyFirstTime.com. The site is rather simple, but ingenious! People write in, saying their sex, where it happened, and the language they are writing in, as to allow people to know the language to translate the text into, should it not be in their native language. Then, they write blog-like anecdotes about their first time… and people read them. I read them. The stories are really fascinating. The first one, on the day I accessed the site, was “Sharon,” who, at 14, slept with her married 28 year old music teacher. There was also a really interesting story of a guy who had sex in a photo booth in a Goergia amusement park. Priceless! There are other stories, too. Take this one, for example: *Note: No spelling was changed for the purpose of this article. Dressed in Barbie’s boyfriend Consumed Brethren Nautical direction Version Retribution Refines metal Gomez Addams brother Architectural feature Brief and to the point Land of Nod Common contraction Snake sound Fairy-tale opener Duce Banish Area 51 find Lincoln for short ”I know this happaned a while back. But im still pissed at what you did to me, because of what you did to me, I cant have a normal relationship thanks, to what happened in the relationship with you. I dont feel like talking to The PRINCIPAL, The POLICE, My PARENTS, and then Having to tell them everything in exact detail.” Yeah, apparently this girl cried rape and the poor spurned man cannot manage to have relationships anymore. Such a pity. The site is simple, but incredibly compelling. The stories range from mundane to down right erotic, and I won’t lie when I say I actually enjoyed reading them for this review. As you know from reading my reviews, I do not embrace celibacy. I think something like losing your virginity is an act that happens to almost all of us. We ALL have sex, even simply for reproductive purposes. Why not share with one another? OK, so maybe some of the anecdotes are a bit graphic, but fully entertaining, and a great way to spend an idle afternoon. I give this site an “H” for “Hornifying!” Answers: 10/30 Kudracross NOVEMBER 6, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 15 STSTRAVEL.COM Join America’s #1 Student Tour Operator CANCUN ACAPULCO JAMAICA BAHAMAS FLORIDA Sell Trips, Earn Cash & Travel Free www.ststravel.com STUDENT TRAVEL SERVICES 1-800-648-4849 / www.ststravel.com �16 SPORTS Lady Colonels shrug off players departure BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor After three years of shooting hoops together for Wilkes University, they had become like a family. Last years’ leading scorer Randi Corbo, all-time block leader Karyn Perestam, multi-position threat Lacey Andresen and smooth-playing Katie Cappelloni, were a tight-knit group, that was supposed to be entering the most anticipated year of their career, their senior season. But the foursome was not destined to make it the end together. Cappelloni’s dedication to the end is what drives her to continue competing, even after her friends’ departure. “I have one more year left, I’m not going to throw the towel in now.” Corbo transferred. Perestam left for personal reasons. Andersen has a lingering back injury. And Cappelloni is still performing, like Nick Lachey after a 98 Degrees break-up. Now she’s the lone senior on the Lady Colonels roster and will be leading her team for the 2007-08 basketball season. Problem is, there are only seven other players on the team. That leaves the team with only three substitutes; five members of the roster are freshmen. Other players have dropped off the boat for the Lady Colonels, but for unspecified reasons. According to third-year head coach Rachel Emmerthal, who has to suit up in practice to help the team have enough bodies, the Lady Colonels are content with the change. “They made choices for their own reasons and they have to do what’s best for them,” said Emmerthal. “Most of the time even in the workforce they tell you get out of it. If you’re not happy with what your doing in the workforce find a new job.” Same thing on the court, if you’re not all in, sometimes it’s better to step away.” In fact, Emmerthal finds convenience in having a limited roster. Rather than twiddling their thumbs while waiting for numerous teammates to finish in drills, the players this year get more reps allowing them to quickly understand the routines and plays. The Lady Colonels began practice October 20 after wrapping up last season on a seven game losing streak. Emmerthal believes her players are hungry to do well this year and although they are relatively inexperienced, they are making strides towards improving. “We’re catching on to things,” said Emmerthal. “Some days are better than others which is normal for every team. They’re are starting to be able to move and counter what their teammates are doing. Things start to fall into place.” The Beacon/Gino Troiani The Lady Colonels run through plays during practice last Friday to prepare for their road scrimmage against East Stroudsburg last Sunday. The Lady Colonels played well against East Stroudsburg. Cappelloni stated the team made key defensive stops and gelled more so in the second half. Three Wilkes teams drop in opening round BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor Good seasons in three sports abruptly came to an end last week. Three fall teams have quickly fallen out of the Freedom Conference playoffs, in the first round. Field Hockey After missing a postseason bid last year, the Lady Colonels field hockey team sneaked on-board as the third-seed with a 8-10 record. The team went on the road to take on FDU-Florham, the second-seed (NJ) on Halloween and left without any treats. The Lady Colonels were held scoreless while FDU punched in two early goals. Four minutes into the game, Christty Barbetto scored for the Lady Devils at home in front of an estimated 234. Lady Devils senior defender, Kaitlyn Dudzinski scored on a penalty goal nearly two minutes later. Lady Colonels conference foe, King’s College won this years’ Freedom Conference playoffs after beating FDU (NJ) in the championship round, one goal to nothing. Penalty Kicks Booted Them Both Out Women’s Soccer For returning Lady Colonels from the 2006 season and head coach John Sumoski , this season has been a mild case of dejavu. The Lady Colonels went on the road to face second-seeded Arcadia University (PA) last Tuesday and dropped in the first round for the second consecutive season. Instead they lost 3-2 on penalty kicks rather a 1-0 loss to Scranton like the year before. Both teams fought hard throughout the game and played through two overtime periods. Arcadia’s Kat Kraemer closed the game shut by scoring the final penalty kick after both teams were locked at two. Sumoski believed the Lady Colonels had their chances but just couldn’t capitalize on opportunities to “finish them off.” The Lady Colonels attempted seven shots on goals compared to the Lady Devils 13. The Lady Colonels finished their season with a record of 9-9-1. Manhattanville (NY) beat Arcadia 4-3 in the championship round. NOVEMBER 6, 2007 Men’s Soccer Conference rival King’s College beat the Colonels at home on Halloween 4-3 on penalty kicks to move championship round. The game was forced into double overtime which resulted in penalty kicks as the deciding factor. Sophomore goalkeeper TJ Baloga had nine saves on the day. DeSales spanked third-seeded King’s 2-0 at Center Valley for their third straight conference title. �SPORTS NOVEMBER 6, 2007 17 Change Your Life and Your Future with a Graduate Degree from ESU Students earning a graduate degree at East Stroudsburg University are among the most qualified, best educated candidates for today’s job market. Learn more about ESU’s 21 master’s degree programs and 22 post-baccalaureate certification programs on our website, www.esu.edu GRADUATE PROGRAMS Master of Arts Degree Programs History Political Science Master of Science Degree Programs Athletic Training Biology Clinical Exercise Physiology Computer Science Exercise Science Health Education Management and Leadership „�Public Administration „�Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management „�Sport Management Speech-Language Pathology Sport Management Master of Education Degree Programs Biology Elementary Education Health & Physical Education History Instructional Technology Political Science Reading Secondary Education Special Education Master of Public Health Community Health Education PREPARE TO SERVE Over 150 paid graduate assistantships are available for students in graduate programs. Call ESU’s Graduate Studies Office at 570-422-3536 or 866-837-6130 or apply online at www.esu.edu. EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY FOUNDED 1893 EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY A member of the Pennsylvania Pe State System of High Higher Education www.esu.edu �SPORTS 18 NOVEMBER 6, 2007 Commentary G AME OF THE WEEK Dallas Cowboys v. New York Giants NFC east rivals battle in midseason rematch Double Take BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor These days, Tony Romo has reason to smile. And it isn’t because he’s dated American Idol-winner Carrie Underwood, actress Sophia Bush, or that he is currently being linked to pop-star Britney Spears. No, it’s much more than that. Romo, the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys who has been rather successful since his debut last season, was recently rewarded by Dallas with a six-year, $67.5 million dollar contract after leading the Cowboys to wins in 12 of his first 17 starts. Romo, who became the starter last season after Drew Bledsoe struggled with the position, led the Cowboys to the playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks, where he nearly led Dallas to a game-winning drive, before fumbling the snap on a go-ahead field goal attempt. The Cowboys would lose the game, 21-20, and Romo went into the off-season with a cloud of infamy above his head. It appears that Romo has put that moment behind him, as he has led the Cowboys to a 6-1 start this season, including a dramatic, come-from-behind victory against the Buffalo Bills that began with 18 seconds on the clock and ended with a game-winning, 53yard field goal from Nick Folk. This season, Romo appears to be primed for another appearance in the Pro-Bowl, as he has been one of the top quarterbacks in the NFC, where he is leading in quarterback rating (95.6) and touchdowns (16), and is second in passing yards (1,984), where he is trailing only Brett Favre, who has 2,046 yards. As a result, he has led the Cowboys to the top of the NFC East, where they lead all of the NFC in points per game (32.4) and yards per game (402.0), where they also rank in the top five in passing yards per game (271.6) and rushing yards per game (130.4). Romo is aided by his solid group of widereceivers, including Terrell Owens (34 rec, 556 yards, 5 TD), Patrick Crayton (26 rec, 400 yards, 4 TD), and tight-end Jason Whitten, who is leading all NFC tight-ends in receptions (42) and yards per game (77.1), while ranking second in touchdowns (4), behind only Washington’s Chris Cooley (5). On the ground, the Cowboys have been solid; averaging just over 130 yards per game, with eight total rushing touchdowns on the season, due to the contributions of running-backs Marion Barber (84 carries, 479 yards, 5 TD) and Julius Jones (78, 296, 1 TD). The one-two punch of the passing and running game has been the key to success for Dallas all season, and they will need to keep it going on Sunday against the New York Giants, whose 6-2 record puts them in second place right behind the Cowboys in the NFC East. The two teams met earlier this season during week one, in a contest that saw over 300 yards passing and 4 touchdowns from both Tony Romo and Eli Manning, which ended when the Cowboys held off a late-rally from the Giants to win the game, 45-35. The Giants, who suffered that loss to the Cowboys earlier this season, have been playing great as of late, winning their last six games by a combined score of 152-79, including three games in which they held the opposing offense to ten points or less. Their offense is anchored by the young Eli Manning, who has yet to solidify himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the game. His 13 touchdowns trail only Tony Romo, but his completion rate of under 60% and his 9 interceptions (3rd most in the NFC) still leave doubt in the minds of many. However, that hasn’t stopped the Giants’ offense from being one of the Steph examines the stats that truly matter... BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor most effective in the NFC, scoring 25.0 points per game, which ranks behind only the Dallas Cowboys. The best weapon in New York’s arsenal has been wide-receiver Plaxico Burress, who leads all NFC receivers in touchdowns (8), while ranking in the top ten in receptions (37) and yards (564). Along with Burress, the Giants have turned to the tandem of Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward, who have combined for 898 yards and four touchdowns this season. Another key in the Giants’ offense is the presence of tight-end Jeremy Shockey, whose 358 yards and two touchdowns this season have put him in the middle-of-thepack among NFC tight-ends, but a big game from Shockey could tip the scales in New York’s favor. The real strength for the Giants this season has been their ability to slow down their opponents passing game by allowing just 197.5 yards per game this season. The key to the game will be whether or not the Giants can successfully stop Tony Romo’s passing game. The Giants will be able to put pressure on Romo, as they lead the NFC in sacks with 28, while having two cornerbacks in Aaron Ross (23 tackles, 3 INT) and Sam Madison (39 tackles, 2 INT), who will be able to slow down the Cowboys downfield. In the end, look for Romo and company to struggle early against the Giants, but a strong second half should lead the Cowboys to victory. The Pick: Dallas Cowboys: 22 New York Giants: 13 This week when I got the e-mail telling me which teams to write about, I noticed something a bit odd. Tim gave me three teams instead of two. The part that is even stranger is that he gave me three FAKE teams. Instead of e-mailing him back telling him “I am not that stupid, I know fake teams when I see them and I know that only two teams play at once” I decided to humor him and go with his suggestions. The first team I was given was the “Houston Oilers.” What a joke. Who would name a team after people who oil things, a type of ship, or a worker in an oil plant? I mean at least the Steelers are named after workers who work with a tough, durable material. The Oilers are named after workers who work with a liquid. Honestly, I would assume they would lose because of their slippery hands. Next up is the “Oklahoma City FrameMakers.” The first thing I think when I hear that type of name is that they weren’t even good enough to create the artwork or photography in the frame. They just got to make the ignored part around the outside of the artwork. They sound like a second rate team to me. I would imagine they would name their cheerleaders the Frame-Hangers or something equally as ridiculous. The team that stood out to me was the Arizona Alliterations. As an english major, I may be biased to this team. I love words and alliteration makes reading things aloud so much easier because of the flow. Read this sentence out loud: “Steph seems to be a spectacular sports writer.” All of those S’s are like music to one’s ears. Arizona Alliterations has a nice ring to it and I think this is the perfect way for a team to win, intelligence. It seems to me that the Arizona Alliterations are always aimed for another victory. �SPORTS NOVEMBER 6, 2007 19 Athlete of the Week Jason Prushinski BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor For two years, Jason Prushinski has taken notes from the lower portion of the Colonels depth chart while the more flashy receivers hit the field and performed their jaw-dropping plays. Graduation has pushed those snazzy players off the field making Prushinski the number one receiver and the show has certainly continued. In the beginning of the season, the coaches had different plans for the 6’4” target from Wapwallopen (PA) by giving him the cold shoulder when it came to starting Prushinski at wide receiver. But a small conversation with head coach Frank Sheptock, along with coming up with big plays down the stretch earlier in the season, has turned things around for him. “I went up to coach before one of the games and I was like, ‘even though I’m not starting I still feel like the guys are coming up to me for advice,’ said Prushinski. “I feel like I have embraced that.” His work ethic in practice, following a much-needed chat with the head coach, has garnered him a starting spot ever since. “The biggest challenge has been going from a role player to someone to who has to make the big play,” said Prushinski. “The past couple years, everybody has been looking at Jimmy (Jordan) and Stephon (Burgette), because they know they’ll make the big play. Now it’s the reverse role and everybody is looking at me to make the big play.” Prushinski, proud member of the “Chea Squad”, leads the Colonels pack of wide receivers with 641 yards on 46 catches. He also leads the team with three touchdowns this season. On Saturday, Prushinski was the main recipient of Karaffa’s outstanding performance by hauling in seven catches for 100 yards in the Colonels 27-24 win over Delaware Valley. 322 Number of passing yards thrown by senior quarterback Al Karaffa. He completed 28 passes on 47 attempts in the Colonels Saturday win over DelVal. The Colonels opened the fourth quarter with possession trailing DelVal 24-20. The team would later score seven points on that same drive with the help of a 31-yard reception by Prushinski from Karaffa to put the Colonels at DelVal’s 15 yard line. It has been similar plays to his 31-yard reception that has Prushinski leading the Colonels in receiving. Although Prushinski has focused on becoming better, he still has time to joke around. “The biggest part about him is that he makes playing fun,” said junior wide receiver Gennaro Zangardi. “He’s a funny guy and if you need a big play, he comes out and makes a big play for you.” The Beacon/ Gino Troiani Sophomore mid-fielder Sean Vona tippy-toes around the ball as senior Andy Curry darts down field in the Colonels Halloween home loss to King’s College. WRESTLING Courtesy of Jason Prunshinski Aside from hard-hitting tackles in football, wrestling is arguably the most physical sport out there. Two viciously aggressive men seeking to power-slam their opponents to the mat, square off in a circle with no ropes to escape under. No acts. No gimmicks. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin won’t be crashing any beers together, nor will “Degeneration X” be crossing their arms to direct attention to their private parts to offend their foes. Just grab the man across the circle, slam him, pin his back to the mat, let the referee do his job and raise your arm in glory. Speaking of wrestling, the Colonels will begin their season with a tournament hosted by King’s College this Saturday at 11am. Be there, or be square. Sports Editor/Carlton Holmes NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 13 Total number of saves by senior goalie Liz Pauly in the Lady Colonels first round loss to Arcadia University (PA). Pauly snatched 65 saves during her final season as goalkeeper for the team. 115 2 Tackles by senior All-AmeriTotal number of can, Kyle Follweiler, this seawomen’s soccer players son for the Colonels. Of all, named to the ESPN The Mag81 are unassisted. Follweiler azine Academic All-District II scans the field from the middle Team, senior Briana Bertoni linebacker position. and junior Catherine Simone. �Sports NOVEMBER 6, 2007 20 Football builds momentum with big road win The Beacon/Gino Troiani Karaffa sparks the charts against Aggies with strong passing performance BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer Heading into Saturday’s road contest, the Wilkes University football team was looking to pick up a victory against a program that it has battled for MAC conference supremacy during much of this decade. At the end of the day, the Colonels left for home having claimed another chapter in this fiercely-contested series. Quarterback Al Karaffa posted a career high in passing yards with 322, while throwing two touchdowns and running for another, as Wilkes picked up a 27-24 victory over the Aggies of Delaware Valley College Saturday at James Work Stadium in Doylestown. With the win, Wilkes sees its overall record improve to 4-5, while moving to 4-2 in MAC play. “I’m extremely proud of the total team effort our players put forth today,” Wilkes head coach Frank Sheptock said after the victory. “We’ve grown and matured tremendously as a program in the past few weeks. I’m proud of the young men we have in this program who have stayed focus through the difficult times for us this season.” After receiving the opening kickoff, Wilkes would put together a 16-play, 89-yard drive that concluded with Al Karaffa’s one-yard scoring run on fourth down to put Wilkes on top 6-0. After a Delaware Valley field goal, running back Sean Madden would take a third-down screen pass from Karaffa for a 52-yard touchdown and a 13-3 Wilkes advantage. “I just caught the ball and no one was in front of me” Madden said of his touchdown jaunt. “Our offense kept it rolling even when things got tough today.” Delaware Valley used several big plays to take the lead in the second quarter. The Aggies started by scoring on a third-down touchdown strike from the Wilkes 10yard line. On the ensuing Wilkes possession, Karaffa was hit while throwing and the ball which was intercepted and returned for a touchdown, putting the Aggies on top 17-13. However, the Colonels were able to regain the lead when Drew Letcavage broke several tackles and found the end zone from 14 yards out. The PAT gave Wilkes a 24-20 lead at halftime. Early in the second half, Delaware Valley pieced together an 8-play, 72-yard drive that allowed them to retake the lead when Matt Cook picked up an 8-yard touchdown run. The PAT pushed the Aggies lead to 24-20, but Wilkes responded to move in front for good on the next possession. Karaffa found Jason Prushinski for gains of 13 and 31 yards to set up Alex Pearson for a 6-yard touchdown run and a 27-24 lead. The Wilkes defense held off the Aggies on each of their last three possessions to secure the victory. Karaffa finished the afternoon connecting on 28 of 47 passes, with Prushinski hauling in seven catches for 100 yards. Madden caught five passes for 81 yards, while Pearson picked up 57 yards rushing on 27 carries. Kyle Follweiler led the defensive charge for Wilkes with 11 tackles and two sacks, while David Grega and Rex Harris had five tackles each. Wilkes will look to finish the 2007 campaign on a high note when it hosts Widener, who clinched the 2007 MAC title last week, for a 1:00 showdown on Saturday at Ralston Field. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 November 6th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 November 6 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/728f52ca98e4e77db3b1b305b4fca167.pdf e6568b4092a5f636080ab134fe2b9d43 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW Volume 60 www.wilkesbeacon.com NOVEMBER 20, 2007 Issue 10 I In This Issue... I Frantz appointed interim VP of Advancement PeTA Page 7 BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief Wilkes University is currently taking new strides in the progress of their multi-million dollar capitol campaign, as Dr. Tim Gilmour, Wilkes University President, has just appointed Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing Communications, Mike Frantz, Interim Vice President for Advancement. Frantz will be replacing former VP, Marty Williams, as he suffered a stroke on Easter Sunday, last Spring. According to Gilmour, the position is not currently a permanent one. Frantz will be serving in both positions for a six month trial period, where there will be an assessment at the end of the academic year to evaluate whether the arrangement is conducive to the needs of Wilkes University, the capitol campaign, and others dealing with enrollment and development. A feasibility study by a national consultant indicated to Gilmour that Frantz truly would be the best fit for the position, currently. Gilmour personally agrees, stating, “Mike is truly an exceptional leader. What he brings is a real passion for higher education. He cares about what he does, and he cares about other people. And [he] obviously understands what it takes to get a message across. And that’s why we’ve been so successful in our student improvement. He’s also realized that in higher education, we can’t continue raising costs and we’re going to address that issue.” Gilmour also illustrated that the appointment of Frantz into the VP for Advancement position will give former VP Williams time to continue to recover, and see where he is best fit in the constant growth of the organization. See FRANTZ page 4 Page 9 The Beacon/Andrew Seaman Mike Frantz, Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing Communications, will also be serving as Interim Vice President of Advancement. Lamb assumes new role as SD Coordinator BY AMY FUSCO Beacon Staff Writer II (Jl1(~11 I(~ I{ ll()(~l{S !! Page 12 Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 The search for a new Student Development Coordinator has come to a successful conclusion. Last week, Gabrielle Lamb, 2004 Wilkes alumna, began her new post as the chosen candidate to help lead student development efforts. Lamb returns to her alma mater after several years as an economic development specialist at the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry. As the Student Development Coordinator, Lamb will work on student activities, advise the Programming Board, direct and shape student leadership programs, among many other tasks. Philip Ruthkosky, Director of Student Development said, “There are four aspects of Gabrielle’s background that are really going to allow her to make a nice transition to higher education.” First, he explained, she was a student leader at Wilkes. Ruthkosky noted that Lamb has a great sense of campus culture and understands attending Wilkes University, Lamb was the News Editor for The Beacon and was involved with the PR agency Zebra Communications. Second, as an economic development specialist with the Chamber, Lamb worked with a diverse range of clients. She explained that while she was a specialist she worked on “downtown development and marketed the area as a sensible place to do business, to live and play.” Another attractive aspect of Lamb’s background was her engagement in the community. She is involved in different committees within the community and has participated in many community services. Last, and most importantly, Ruthkosky feels that Lamb is very passionate about working with students. Ruthkosky said he is “very pleased that we are going to have another person in the department who is passionate about their role and working with students and who is going to reinforce our whole philosophy of mentoring.” Lamb knows how important it is to have role models and to this day, she still has mentors here support system to Wilkes students. Lamb said, “I had a very positive experience here at Wilkes as a student and I wanted to repeat that as a professional.” She likes the environment on campus, which has a “great source of energy.” Lamb expects her new career will be an extremely rewarding experience for her due to being passionate about working with students and having good people surrounding her on campus. Erin Sweet, a sophomore and publicity chair of Programming Board, said, “It will be neat that we’ll have a fresh mind on the board. Since she graduated only a few years ago, she seems young enough to know what we like.” Lamb is very excited about meeting everybody, hearing people’s different perspectives, interacting with students and people on campus, and the leadership development part of the Student Development position. Ruthkosky said, “It will take time for her to get a sense of the office culture and get a sense of our programs and sustain what we have �NEWS NOVEMBER 20, 2007 2 Is social networking good? 3 Frantz 4 SG Notes 5 Wilkes 75th anniversary anticipated in 2008 BY JAMIE GWYNN Beacon Staff Writer In 1933, Prohibition was repealed, FDR became President, and Billie Holiday was discovered singing at Monette’s club. And the Wyoming Valley saw Bucknell Junior College--the precursor to the modern Wilkes University--begin. Though planning for Wilkes’ 75th anniversary is still in early stages, according to university officials, the celebration will likely extend into the entire community. “The [Wilkes anniversary] is a stepping stone, a platform, a diving board to jump, and I don’t know that we ever, as an example, really celebrated our presence, our relationship with the city,” said Mike Frantz, Vice President for Enrollment Services and newly appointed Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations. Dr. C. Reynold Verret pointed out that in 1933, when Wilkes was known as Bucknell University Junior College, Wilkes became a foundation for good things to come into our region. “The planting of this educational institution in Wilkes-Barre, and a lot of the [city’s growth], is coincidental with the formation of this University,” said Verret. “The University provides some important things for development of the region, economically and socially in many ways. [Perhaps] the biggest thing that we provide, beside the creation of talent, is creating an environment that is open to the larger world.” Wilkes’ integral role in the city for nearly 75 years is a reason why Frantz hopes to get the city involved in the celebration. “This is a way to plan a function or series of functions that really celebrate.. and help cement that partnership, that association in the minds of not only students and faculty and staff here, but also those residents of Wilkes-Barre who don’t necessarily have an educational connection right now with Wilkes,” said Frantz. “Does this give us the chance to build on that, to springboard in ways we’ve probably haven’t even imagined yet?” The only two celebrations that ,. •. - ·- .. ' ~- ·: ., '; 1• ~. ,r' . ' Dr. Harold Cox, the University’s archivist, had official files for were the 50th and 60th anniversaries. “The sixtieth was far bigger and more spectacular than the fiftieth,” said Cox. “They did a good job on that.” Both events were similar in what they included: seminars, theatre performances, concerts, lectures, special films and a dance, to name a few. The feature event during the 50th anniversary was an alumni symposium. The 60th anniversary featured a seminar series; five lectures in which former faculty, staff, trustees and students reflected upon the early history of the institution through recollections, anecdotes, and written histories. When asked about a possible timeline for the university’s 75 birthday celebration, Frantz noted that it’s still too early in the planning stages, but there will be a lot going on with the celebration. “There will not be a singular event,” said Frantz. “I think celebrating a milestone such as a 75th anniversary encourages us to think and plan for a series of events and how then we might interconnect them around the theme of our (LEFT) A picture of Conyngham Center before the flood of 1972. During the flood, the Center experienced 4-feet of water throughout the first floor. The building was damaged again months later when fire damaged some of the walls inside. Almost $350,000 was spent to reconstruct the building to make it usable. It was reopened for use in 1979. (BELOW)The Beacon/Jenna Stephens (ABOVE) Courtesy of Dr. Harold Cox (RIGHT) Conyngham Center, as it stands today contains University College, The Beacon Office, the Commuter Lounge and various other administrative offices. The building is celebrating its 110th anniversary this year. birthday, and everything is in very much a discussion planning stage right now. I think the options are almost limitless.” Verret, who witnessed the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia’s 185th anniversary, commented that students should be just as excited as he is for the upcoming events. “Students should get excited because the celebration for students is that they become part of an important tradition,” said Verret. “Think about how many of the leaders, the political and social leaders in this area and beyond, are Wilkes graduates... Being involved in the 75th anniversary is saying you are part of that tradition.” Students agree that a celebration for Wilkes is important for the institution and the community. “It’s definitely important for Wilkes University because it shows that we care about our history,” said David Ramil, a senior political science major. Even though Frantz stated that the project is still in its early planning stages, he said, “Like lots of good birthdays that people have enjoyed over the years, there are surprises,” said Frantz. “Stay tuned for surprises.” B E ACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andee Scarantino Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Alison Woody Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �NOVEMBER 20, 2007 NEWS 3 Online social networking benefits youth, study says BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor In the most recent volume of the Journal of Adolescent Research, Dr. Brendesha M. Tynes’ article “Internet Safety Gone Wild? Sacrificing the Educational and Psychosocial Benefits of Online Social Environments” indicates that online socialization through networks like Facebook and programs such as AIM are more beneficial to the development of adolescents than they are harmful or dangerous. “Many internet safety and parenting experts suggest that parents prohibit their teens from social networking sites and other online spaces where predators may lurk… [But] banning adolescents from social networking sites - if this were even feasible - as well as monitoring too closely might close off avenues for beneficial cognitive and psychosocial development that are available to young people in the online social world,” claims Tynes, Assistant Professor of African American Studies and Educational Psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. According to Tynes, while socializing in chatrooms with other teenagers located all over the world, adolescents learn valuable perspective-taking, argumentative, decision-making and critical thinking skills. Playing online games may also help adolescents “develop cognitive skills such as spatial visualization, analog representation - the ability to read images - and divided visual attention, that is, being able to manage multiple components in a visual field at once.” “I would like to see more research… [But] I think that it does provide those opportunities and unfortunately today, the education that we give teenagers does not allow many opportunities for critical thinking, because it’s so based on testing and memorization of answers for standardized tests that they really need opportunities to develop these critical thinking skills because it is at this age that they are able to do this. A huge problem with school is that it often sacrifices that in the name of mass testing,” said Dr. Jennifer Thomas, assistant professor of psychology at Wilkes University. Teenagers may also benefit from databases such as YouTube. In her article, Tynes mentions research by Sonja Baumer of the University of California at San Diego centered around how adolescents learn global and political information through videos and dialogue on YouTube and various social networking sites. “Educationally, the strongest point made by [Tynes] is that users of the social networks are more globally aware since they have immediate access to global issues, and the chance to read about global events from people in those settings,” said Dr. Jane Elmes-Crahall, professor of communication studies. “That means at least on the surface, today’s media-savvy young people know world events. And, emotionally, they can be moved to be caring.” “I don’t think the average teenager thinks of anything from a political standpoint,” said Erin Koolman, a senior at E. L. Meyers high school in Wilkes-Barre. But if adolescents had a special interest in political affairs or global concerns, they could certainly find the information that they were the school district will not allow access to network sites due to bullying, slander and solicitation/pedophilia, confirmed Patrick Peters, Dean of Students at Meyers High. Alongside educational and psychological development, Tynes’ research suggests that teenagers can also benefit emotionally and socially. Networking can aid adolescents as they explore their identities and can also “fulfill the need for social support, intimacy, and autonomy.” Through perspective taking and racialized role taking, Tynes says that teenagers can become educated on racial and cultural issues while speaking with peers located on the other side of the Courtesy of Kerri Frail Students at E. L. Meyers High School in Wilkes-Barre sit at computers during class where social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace remain blocked despite studies that emphasize the benefits of online socialization for adolescents. looking for online, Koolman added. While Tynes believes that the benefits of online communication “can far outweigh the potential dangers,” area high schools haven’t seen anything that proves social networking sites can be used not only safely, but also for educational purposes. However, even if local high schools are outfitted with computer labs and internet access, according to the Wilkes-Barre Area School District website, “the [use] of networked resources for non-academic purposes is not permitted.” Websites such as Facebook and MySpace and also programs like AIM and Yahoo Messenger are blocked on all computers throughout the district. Despite research suggesting the benefits of online socialization and data from the Youth Internet Safety Surveys arguing that there has been a decrease of unwanted sexual solicitation from 1 in 5 adolescents ages 10 to 17 in 1999-2000 to 1 in 7 in 2005, country or even across seas. “I believe that teens can be more open online because they are in the comfort of their own homes. I agree that they can get a diverse picture of current issues online, but nothing compares to face-to-face contact,” said Sean Deats, sophomore psychology major. “I don’t think that online communication eliminates racial or sexual stereotypes, but it certainly helps.” “I think the internet can only go so far and one-on-one interaction is different… I think it’s going to take a lot more than just interacting with people on the internet to break stereotypes that are so engrained,” said Thomas. “Social psychologists would say that to reduce stereotypes and prejudices, you need to interact with people different from you so you can see how similar they really are.” The internet can also provide a safe place for teens to talk about sensitive or personal issues such as romantic relationships or sexual health. “If we look at websites that are geared toward teenagers, the sites they most often go to are sites having to do with sex. They have lots and lots of questions about sex. The way that we educate kids about sex today, the overwhelming majority of schools are abstinence only or abstinence based…” said Thomas. “Teens have lots of questions and lots of misconceptions, so they go to these online chatrooms to find out what the truth is… We just have to hope that they are going to sites with the right information.” Depending on location and a teen’s own background, socializing with peers online and learning about different races, religions, and cultures may make a smoother transition from high school to college, where many vibrant cultures are brought together on a single campus and many forms of online socialization continue. According to Mike Salem, chief information officer of IT Services, “Wilkes does not block any websites. Higher ed is a very open environment and to date there has not been any compelling reason to even consider doing so.” Without restrictions, Wilkes students can continue to use network sites such as Facebook whenever and wherever they would like. Nicole Zastko, a senior communication studies and integrative media double major, is currently researching college students use of Facebook. “I’m expecting to conclude that most college students see Facebook as something beneficial to their college careers and something that serves as a helpful tool in their social lives,” said Zastko. While Tynes brings to light many benefits of online socialization, many parents are still focused on the negative aspects portrayed by the media. Although Tynes offers alternatives to banning social online environments for concerned parents and educators, she says that “the first line of defense should be teens themselves. Increasingly, tech-savvy adolescents are aware of the risks in online socializing and are developing their own strategies for staying safe in cyberspace.” “All adolescents can benefit as early as the age of twelve from having parents sitting down with them and explaining to them the consequences of being on the internet,” said Thomas. Although the positive aspects of online socialization may be growing, Elmes-Crahall believes that communicating in person is still vital for interpersonal relationships. “Every hour spent on social networks is one less hour spent learning how to effectively communicate face-to-face.” �NEWS NOVEMBER 20, 2007 FRANTZ from FRONT PAGE “We have the former vice president, Marty Williams, coming back with us on a part time basis, really recovering in remarkable ways from a very serious stroke, and we felt, at least for a while, that one of the key factors in recovery is hope, and a sense that you really can get back and make a difference. Obviously for somebody that as been a vice president, that’s very important that we really shouldn’t close off that option for Marty,” said Gilmour. Frantz feels he is knowledgeable in taking on the new position, in addition to his current VP role. “Certainly as a cabinet we know where we stand with the capitol campaign. It’s a common and frequent topic in our meetings, and I have been learning daily, and will continue to learn daily. I hope that we all do that in whatever job we’re in. There are a lot of similarities between enrollment and advancement work. It’s building relationships with those that we wish to be associated with the institution, cultivating those relationships to the point that, from a student perspective, this is what they see as best fit for their enrollment; from a fundraising perspective, this is an institution that’s best fit for their philanthropic dollars. And in many ways it’s making the same case,” said Frantz. Sandra Carroll, Director of Alumni Relations, who formerly served as interim VP, along with Mike Wood, have both brought much to the table in assisting Frantz with his efforts in acclimating to the VP role. “Mike’s recently brought on two additional people on his part of the house, and they’re just going gang-busters. Sandra, likewise, has a team, and she’s just added an immediate di- rect report who will start in February on that team, and she certainly wants to help that person acclimate to the institution, and to build her squad. There’s a third component, who is Rebecca Van Jura, who does special event planning,” said Frantz. Carroll is also confident in Frantz’s ability to fulfill the new position. “I think, having been a VP, he has all the raw materials already,” said Carroll. “I prompt him for alumni events, put him with the right people… do things like explain budgetary, ongoing initiatives, things we’ve undertaken and hope to undertake.” Carroll finds that Frantz filling the new VP role will help her in continuing projects she was working on before she filled the interim VP role. For example, many projects take several years to be completed, such as the Annual Giving Program Carroll is currently directing a lot of attention toward. “Basically, the whole time I was filling in as interim, I couldn’t concentrate all my energies on alumni relations. Adding on responsibility, I had to set aside my natural priorities,” said Carroll. Gilmour feels that if the arrangement works, it is possible to become permanent in the future. He stated that people like Melanie Mickelson, Director of Admissions, and Jack Chielli, Executive Director of Marketing Communications, would probably be working closer with Frantz in the areas of enrollment and marketing. As for Frantz, he is generally pleased with the new position. “I’m honored, thrilled; it’s a fun challenge,” he said. 4 Wilkes University Leadership After Mike Frantz’s transition to Interim Vice President of Advancement, the following is the current Wilkes Leadership according to Wilkes.edu. President Dr. Tim Gilmour Provost Dr. C. Reynold Verret Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Paul S. Adams Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing Interim Vice President for Advancement Mike Frantz Vice President for Finance Petra Carver Vice President for Human Resources and Organizational Development Maggie Lund Special assistant to the president for multicultural and community affair Dr. Maria Suarez STSTRAVEL.COM Watch Beacon News on... CANCUN ACAPULCO JAMAICA BAHAMAS FLORIDA Wilkes World Join America’s #1 Student Tour Operator Channel 15 Service Electric Cable Sell Trips, Earn Cash & Travel Free ~ ~ www.ststravel.com STUDENT TRAVEL SERVICES 1-800-648-4849 / www.ststravel.com Monday - Friday 7:30 p.m. Tuesday 12:00 p.m. LIVE! �NOVEMBER 20, 2007 NEWS 5 SG Notes November 14, 2007 Treasurer’s Report All College: $1,220.96 General: $1,220.96 Special Projects: $2,040 Spirit: $815 Leadership: $3,525.04 Conferences: $9,500 Start-Up: $600 Club Reports The following clubs presented a report to SG. Programming Board Anime Club Student Alumni Association SAM New Business Climbing Club - granted club status; motion passed 33-2-5, but stipulation includes editing a minor detail in their constitution and must get approval through student development for all outdoor activities Com 362 - Mass Communication Law - motion passed 24-14-2 on a $200 donation for their First Amendment Week; stipulation is that Courtesy of Ashish Javia all unused monies must be returned along with receipts. On Saturday, November 10, Wilkes University celebrated Diwali, in the second floor ballroom of the Rock Wall Training - discussed training availability for next seHenry Student Center. Diwali, one of the biggest festivals of Hindus, is enthusiastically celebrated for mester five days. On the fifteenth day of Kartika, homes are cleaned, windows are opened, and candles are lit to Widener Leadership Conference- motion passed 21-12-3 on a $600 symbolize knowledge, encourage reflection and welcome Laskmi, the goddess of wealth. On the third day, allowance for SG members to attend the conference; a stipulation the main Diwali or “Festival of Lights” is celebrated with fireworks. Gifts are exchanged throughout the was placed that members interested must sign up by Friday and place festival between friends and family. a $10 deposit to be reimbursed the day of the conference. CAll: Bl LL HENRY at 2.15-71H619 OR ( HECK THE WEB SITIE FOR IN FORMATION �Opinion Dueling Rants Free Holiday Gift Your Voices NOVEMBER 20, 2007 6 Free and independent media ensure democracy Wireless communication can undermine power grabs BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD When Pervez Musharraf, Pakistani President, decided that is was for the good of the country that he take complete and absolute control of all government operations, like most dictators, one of his first actions was to close down or control the country’s independent media. Musharraf realized that his country’s supreme court was not going to allow him to serve as president and military leader for another term. Therefore he declared the Pakistani constitution invalid and placed the country under marshal law, his law. He also shut down his nation’s independent media outlets and barred certain people from return- ing on air. Some reports from inside Pakistan says that broadcast outlets were warned by military officials that if a broadcaster says anything negative about Musharraf or his army the person will face three years in jail and a $70,000 fine. Musharraf said that his actions are justified; he gave the country independent media and they reported negatively. As history shows us, one of the first things that dictators do is take control of the independent media. Most recently we can look at Hugo Chavez and his attempt to create a dictatorship in Venezuela. One of his first actions was to shut down independent media outlets, but unfortunately for Chavez and Musharraf, it is not as easy as it once was to shut the door on com- munication. With smart phones, pocket PCs, PDAs, laptops, and all of the other wireless devices available to the public, there will always be open windows of communication when the door is closed. In fact one of the best things for Pakistan’s drowning democracy is Facebook. On Facebook there have been postings between Pakistani university students for “flash protests” to ensure that the military will not have any prior knowledge of an assembly. Young people have also been communicating through cell phones and text messaging. This is a repeat of what happened in Venezuela a short time ago. After Chavez shut down broadcast stations and took control of print media, people rioted in the streets and the entire protest was orga- nized on the internet. The protesters would then communicate the location of police and other dangers through text messaging and other media. Fortunately, this all means that would be dictators cannot gain supreme and absolute control over a country as strongly as they once did, because the control is not there to have. The internet creates a social network that can deliver news from all over the world and help protesters organize in a safe environment free from government control. We encourage the protesters to continue to organize in Pakistan for reestablishment of their independent media outlets, because when there is no free and independent media, there is no democracy. said, “We will not be silent.” When Jarrar asked why he was not allowed to wear the t-shirt, authorities explained that some people were offended by its message. Jarrar said that he never meant to offend anybody, and he also said that he knew that wearing a tshirt was within his constitutional rights. The authorities tried to convince him that it was not within his rights. Unfortunately, since he wanted to go back home he agreed to wearing another shirt over the one in question. Later, he contacted the media and ACLU. The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press…” By looking at what the courts have ruled on what’s free speech, I believe this man’s right of speech was violated. Previously, the courts have ruled that speech is protected if it’s free of fighting words--offensive speech designed to provoke a reaction, usually violent, among those who read or hear the message. The courts have ruled that speech must be free of incitement because, as Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) illustrated, the government is able to regulate speech if it presents a “clear and present danger to the security of the nation.” Finally, protected speech must be free of obscenity. As defined by Miller v. California (1973), obscenity can be defined as speech that “(1) the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find, taken as a whole, to appeal to the prurient interest; (2) depicts or describes in a patently offensive manner specifically defined sexual conduct; and (3) lacks as a whole serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.” Clearly, Jarrar’s rights to free speech were violated. There was no obscenity involved in the message communicated on his t-shirt, nor were there fighting words present designed to incite. I believe it is time for everyone to start thinking how important free speech is. As long as it does not present a threat to the nation, being able to express what we think of others and of the government is vital to democracy. I invite each one of you to think about what does free speech mean to you? How can this right be respected and protected? Should I be punished if I wear a t-shirt that says something someone doesn’t agree with? Can a t-shirt message threaten a nation’s security? BY YOHANNA DE LOS SANTOS MARIA Beacon Staff Writer If you were told that you couldn’t wear a specific piece of clothing because it could offend others, what would you do? Would you respond to whoever told you this and change, or would you refuse to conform because you believe it’s your right to express yourself in the way you feel comfortable? A recent court case, Jarrar v. Harris, deals with such censorship of expression. Raed Jarrar, a resident of the United States, was going to board a Jet Blue plane when he was denied access. He was told that he could not wear a t-shirt that A A Sight Sight for for Sore Sore Eyes Eyes by: by: Aleksander Aleksander Lapinski Lapinski 7 8 8 Beacon Poll Results Americans have a lot to worry about. The ongoing Iraq war, stock market and housing investThe following are results of a ment instability, drug busts, AIDS, poll that The Beacon conductand environmental concerns domed online this past week. The inate the nightly news reports. Is poll was unscientific, and does it any wonder that with such boldnot claim to reflect the overall face headlines other issues fail to attitudes of students on camcapture our attention? Seemingly pus. Results are based on 86 “less important” social problems responses. like homelessness, poverty, and the growing deficit tend to make inside pages, if that, because of The Beacon asked: the pressing nature of the other stories. Withofonly onesidebar year until the that One those issues 2008 presidential election, only occasionally squeaks onto the what radar candidate do you support public is animal cruelty. Reat thisanimal time? cruelty has become cently a more mainstream issue with ma• Ron Paul-17% jor corporations, football players, Clinton-20% and •evenHillary local people stirring up • Rudy Giuliani-21% the issue. Animal cruelty involves • Barack Obama-16% anything from dog fighting, and • Mitt Romney-7% shooting whales, to killing aniEdwards mals•for John fur and animal-5% testing. John McCain-6% The• problem isn’t awareness; it • more Bill Richardson-0% is that people appear to believe• thatOther-5% it’s okay to hurt animals • None/don’t care-3% for personal benefit or enjoyment. Worse, there is a small contingent in the country who believe that the practice of animal cruelty can be Next Week’s Question: excused because of age-old cultural Whopractices. has been the most domiJust two weeks agoorthe Makah nant sports athlete team in tribe made the wire over the isthe past ten years? sue of whaling. Years ago the Native •American tribe legally killed Tiger Woods whales as something • Jeff Gordon of a sport. The •tribe suspend its practice beVenus & Serena cause the grey whale was placed Williams on the endangered species • Michael Phelps list and federal government • Roger Federer prohibited whaling. However, in 1994, the • Lance Armstrong grey•whale came off of NY Yankees the endangered• list. LA Lakers The• tribe obtained a permit in NE Patriots 1999• to Other kill a whale which outraged animal rights groups. After a court hearing it became necessary forVisit the tribe to receive a waiver www.wilkesbeacon.com intoorder to hunt whales. Recently, cast your vote. Results will members of the tribe shot a grey be published in next week’s whale repeatedly with a rifle beissue of The Beacon. fore they were due to receive their waiver. The five men involved are all facing fines of up to $20,000 �NOVEMBER 20, 2007 OPINION 7 The Angry Rant: Turkey and PETA BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor It’s Thanksgiving season, and do you know what that means? Turkey. Lots and lots of turkey: turkey on Thursday, turkey sandwiches on Friday, Turkey salad on Saturday, and, inevitably, turkey vomit on Sunday. Just like every other Thanksgiving, it’s going to be a sea of leftovers, an ocean of turkey-related dishes, and a deluge of tryptophan (the natural sedative in turkey - or as I call it: “Poor man’s methyl trichloride”), resulting in yet another sleepy, bloated four-day weekend that ultimately ends in stomach pain and tears. In other words: It’s going to be awesome. Let’s face facts: Turkey is great. So is ham, bacon, beef, pork, chicken, fish and venison. Actually, anything that at one point had a face is delicious. Except for Panda bears - they’re very fatty. All joking aside, meat is a way of life. It’s delicious, it’s essential, and it’s been used for special occasions throughout history dating back to when Ogg and Slar would kill a Tyrannosaurus-Rex for their cousin’s Bah-mitzvah. However, some will argue that eating meat isn’t an essential part of life, nor is it delicious or beneficial to your health. Fair enough. I’m all about respecting someone else’s opinion; so if you don’t like meat, that’s your prerogative. What I am not all about is when people ram their own opinions down your throat or otherwise engage in activity to make you feel like you’re being intimidated or bullied into behaving a certain way or changing the way you act around them, out of fear of retribution. Like wearing a fur coat in the presence of PETA protestors, for example. Yes, this is a rant about PETA, (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) an organization who has done a lot of good in the field of animal cruelty, forming in 1980 with the goal to promote education and awareness of the suffrage of animals on farms, laboratories, and other areas. Sounds simple, right? What their mission statement doesn’t tell you is that PETA members frequently engage in unethical behavior which results in property damage, personal harm, and other criminal and hypocritical behavior. Some examples: PETA is supportive of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), an extremist group whose sole existence is to cause “abolish institutionalized animal exploitation,” through means such as arson, breaking and entering, and theft. PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk once said “Even if animal research resulted in a cure for AIDS, we’d be against it.” That’s funny that she would say that, seeing as how she recently broke her wrist, and subsequently blogged about the event, saying “Thank goodness for IV (intravenous) drips,” referring to the painkiller or other such drug that helped her through her pain; apparently unaware that IV drips were initially tested on animals during their creation. Rod Coronado, a member of the Earth Liberation Front and former member of the ALF, has been convicted on more than one occasion, including charges for arson, felony conspiracy, and felony charge of demonstrating the use of a destructive device, among others. In a speech at American University in Washington, D.C., Coronado told students how to make an incendiary device out of a “simple plastic jug that you fill with gasoline and oil.” While he isn’t a member, PETA donated $45,000 to the “Rodney Coronado Support Committee.” The hypocrisy doesn’t stop there, as PETA has come under scrutiny for its policies and practices regarding euthanasia, including one such campaign that pitted Michael Vick against PETA, with the headline “Who’s Killed More Animals?” Vick’s total was 8, PETA’s was 14,400. (No, I’m not supporting Michael Vick) There’s more where that came from, as PETA and its members has been involved in several incidents in which they revel in their own hypocrisy. Don’t believe me? Do a search for “PETA hypocrisy” and see for yourself. So, what am I saying? Is animal cruelty acceptable? Of course not. Should it be policed? Of course. Should someone firebomb a building because they are testing animals in trying to create a cure for cancer inside? You know the answer to that one. Gobble, gobble. The Angry Rant Part 2: Forced Celebrations BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day. ~Robert Caspar Lintner I begin with this quote as to say I am thankful for many things. As I am in my 22nd year of life, I’m thankful for my health (despite my smoking habits and poor eating.) I’m thankful for the success I’ve had thus far. I’m thankful for the relationships I have with my parents, my brothers, and my friends. As a matter of fact, every single day I express thanks for all the gifts I’ve been given. So, with pleasure, I will express my thoughts on Thanksgiving guilt-free, as I feel my way of expressing thanks (on any random day at any given time,) is sufficient. I hate Thanksgiving. I hate the idea that we Americans, unlike many places in Europe, only get about two weeks of vacation time a year, as opposed to the typical six weeks in many places overseas. We work long days, yet we get about two weeks to spend our time how we wish. Yet, America seems to choose for us what days we have to sit, and not work, and theoretically spend time with people we, again theoretically, should love, respect, and be thankful for. America dictates that this day, of all days, should be a happy day, spent gorging on enormous feasts, and in modern day, watching football. I find it awkward that when someone says they don’t eat turkey and cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving, they receive strange glances. Why should America tell us we have to eat turkey! I hate turkey! And, I hate cranberry sauce. I’d be happier eating steak, and drinking gin and tonic. I don’t want to devote a day to gluttony. I really can’t stand that people look at this day as a “blessing.” “Oh, we don’t have to work,” they say. Hmm. Right. You don’t have to work. Wouldn’t you rather have free will to choose what days you didn’t work, instead of a cold November day, where society has told you you should probably try to get along with your extended family that you never call during 97% of the year? (Rough estimation on that figure, naturally.) Oh, and by the way, I really hate football. I’m so tired of America forcing their traditions on me! I am. This all stems from the idea that this is a country based on freedom. Our entire society is based on the idea of being free, and the freedom we once sought was primarily “religious freedom.” I say this because on this past Easter Sunday, I was not in America. Now, I am part of the 20% of America that is secular. I was not born with a religion, nor do I attend church. I proudly did not have to celebrate Easter, because where I lived, nearly every business was open, and people were going about their daily lives. Needless to say, in America on Easter Sunday, much like Thanksgiving, businesses are closed, and people tend to stay cooped up in their homes eating food they don’t like. Maybe I don’t want to do that! Why should I suffer? I’m a work-aholic. Maybe I’d rather be at school, doing my work, with access to resources I need! No, I can’t do that either, because I’m forced to move out of my dorm room, and go stay with my parents in a place I don’t like for a select number of days. I can’t really complain that much. I only live 20 minutes away, but I think it’s ludicrous for poor college students to have to drive (and waste gas money) back to, I don’t know, New Jersey, to go spend a holiday they may or may not enjoy, only to waste more gas money to travel back to Wilkes-Barre. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe my bitterness and distaste for the entire thing actually clouds the point I’m trying to make, but generally, before I rant, I consult with people on how they feel about the holiday traditions, and I have a lot of consenting opinions on this matter. I don’t like Thanksgiving, and I wish society would stop making me feel guilty for not spending a gluttonous day with extended family that I’ve had about 2 hours of cumulative conversation with in the past 10 years. I guess it all really boils down to freedom, and the fact that I can’t express my yearning to be free from these mundane traditions without sounding like a hateful, heinous person! Maybe we should all be a little more grateful, and give thanks all year round, instead of pretending to care on one certain day of the year. Also, maybe we should have a little respect for people who don’t want to celebrate, instead of acting like they’ve committed some type of cardinal sin. Happy Holidays. �OPINION NOVEMBER 20, 2007 “All I want for Christmas is…” 8 What do you think? Ask those you love to register to vote for your holiday gift BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Opinion Editor So, the holidays are right around the corner, and as college students, we may have a limited budget to spend on our holiday gifts. Well, if you’re in need of a gift that’s completely free, is thoughtful, and is contributing to the betterment of society, then I have the solution for you. When I graduated high school in 2004, I asked all my friends and family to register to vote for my graduation present. Not only that, every year since 2004, I have asked all my family and friends to do this as my Christmas present. As a result, all of my immediate family members are registered Seriously!? to vote, and many of my extended family and friends are as well. Nine of my closest friends and family now participate in the democratic process, and these were people who didn’t before I asked them to register to vote. Not only was this gift free, but by asking my family and friends to do this, they were able to become educated on the voting and political process of our country, and they do go out and vote on Election Day. Moreover, if you’re tired of our political leaders not listening or valuing your opinions, then by voting yourself and having your family and friends vote, will empower you to feel as though you are acting on the issue. How many people can actually say that all they want for Christmas, Hanukah, their birthday and graduation presents are to have the ones they care about register to vote? There are many websites that provide needed forms to register and educational materials to understand the political process. Many websites also provide information about stances that political parties and politicians take. Some of these websites include: rockthevote.com, declareyourself.org, lwv.org, and justvote.org to name a few. Even more important, is that after you ask your family and friends to register to vote, you must make sure to encourage them to vote on Election Day. So, if you’re tired of the fact that many politicians don’t listen to our generation, the 18-29 year olds, and don’t value us as American citizens, then I encourage you to give and ask for the gift of the vote. Ask your family and friends to register to vote, and encourage them to vote on Election Day for your holiday gift or any other celebration throughout the year you may observe. If we all do this, we will have a very powerful voice and vote in the 2008 presidential election and those thereafter. If you’re a poor student or on a limited budget for the holidays, like myself, I encourage you to give the greatest gift of all, ask them to register to vote and vote on Election Day. • The Beacon wants your voice to be heard. Your Voices is the opportunity for students to voice their concerns. If you want your voice to be heard, please contact The Beacon with the following information: 1 Contact information including your email address and a phone number where you and be reached 2 Your name, major, and year 3 Your opinion thebeacon.oped@ gmail.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for space and content. Your Voices Dear Editor: The Beacon/Mark Congdon Jr. On Sunday, Nov. 18, a trash can on the 2nd floor of Breis in the student lounge was disocvered that contains an inappropriate saying on it. Have you seen anything around campus that has made you think Seriously!? The Beacon wants your strange pictures. Here is all you have to do. 1 Take a picture of something that makes you think Seriously!? (Please no contrived pictures.) 2 E-mail where and when you took the picture, your name, graduation year and major to: thebeacon.oped@ gmail.com The 2008 Presidential campaigns are underway and in full swing. Many of the candidates on both sides are well qualified. But there is one candidate who is the worst possible choice to be the next Commander-in-chief of our country and that person is former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. Having him occupy the Oval Office would be just as bad, if not worse, than having George W. Bush in the Oval Office. When President Bush first took office, he inherited an estimated $160 billion surplus from the Clinton administration. In a matter of two years he turned the budget from a historical surplus into a historical $374 billion deficit. This occurred after his budget director Mitch Daniels said that Americans “will see a second historical budget surplus.” Similarly, mayor of NYC Giuliani increased the city’s spending and left current mayor Michael Bloomberg with a multibillion dollar deficit and opposed what could have been one of the city’s largest tax breaks. Foreign policy under President Giuliani would be a complete disaster. First, he has the least amount of foreign policy experience than the other candidates. Just like President Bush, Giuliani would not do any- thing to diminish the worldwide disgust for the United States. The next president should be dedicated to mending fences with the international communities, especially our allies, instead of treating them like rubbish. Also like President Bush, Giuliani believes that everyone should have rights except Americans. That is why he supports expanding government’s powers to eavesdrop on Americans without warrants and the government’s right to torture anyone, including Americans. He is critical of the Democrats’ desire to negotiate with Iran. On the other hand, if Giuliani were president, he would support military action against the Iranian government. Giuliani takes this particular stand despite the fact the U.S. military is fighting on two fronts, is stretched too thin and war in Iraq would cost this country an estimated $2 trillion. Another war would be completely devastating to this country, its people, and economy. Like President Bush, Giuliani doesn’t live in the real world. Finally, Giuliani’s foundation for his campaign… 9/11. He mentions 9/11 in every topic including why he answers his wife’s phone calls during speeches. Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden of Delaware summed it up about Giuliani. At the last Democratic debate Biden said, “Rudy Giuliani (is) probably the most un- der-qualified man since George Bush to seek the presidency…there are only three things he mentions in a sentence: a noun, a verb and 9/11.” Giuliani brags about his leadership during and after 9/11. What he does not want the public to know is that the New York City Council is considering investigating Giuliani for giving FDNY equipment that was determined faulty after the first WTC bombing. Also part of the investigation is why Giuliani allowed a vital emergency radio transmitter to be left on top of the WTC after the first attack. If anyone is happy with the current administration, which is full of broken promises, huge deficits, backdoor corrupt deals to corporate interests, large secretive expansion of government powers, trampling of American rights, a 28% approval rating ect. then Giuliani is your man, because he promises more of the same. If anyone is like me and believes in a responsible government while preserving the Constitution then one should know Giuliani is the absolute worst person to be the next president. Robert Donahue Senior, History major �LIFESTYLES Student of the Week Namorah Bryd NOVEMBER 20, 2007 9 ... ... ... ... Black Friday bargains lure shoppers out of,.bed BY LAUREN SALEM & YOHANNA DE LOS SANTOS MARIA Beacon Staff Writers “I think that with us having Best Buy next door, it’s going to be very enticing for the customer, because electronics are definitely great gifts,” Kane said. “Old Navy is also offering a lot of great gifts, too, so I think we’re going to see a lot of traffic where the customer is going to be spending at Best Buy and here and vice versa.” The line at the checkout inside Best Buy For American consumers, shopping for Christmas gifts the day after Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday shopping season, but among businesses “Black Friday” is known as the day their losses finally turn into profits. “[Black Friday] is not the biggest shopping day of the year, and is also not the biggest shopping day of the holiday season, but it is the biggest traffic day,” said Anne Heineman Batory, professor of marketing. Several local stores are using special promotions and longer hours to take advantage of the large number of people who will be out shopping. The doors of the Old Navy in Wilkes-Barre will open at 5:00 a.m. and the The Beacon/Jenna Stephens first 200 customers that make a $20.00 purchase will receive a free MP3 player. usually stretches from the front of the store “The door busters that we are running all the way to the back on Black Friday acand the MP3 players that we’re handing cording to Melissa Brewer, store manager. out, we’re expecting that to generate a lot Best Buy will be giving out free AT&T of business earlier in the day,” said Jennifer Nokia N6555 Cell Phones with two year Kane, the store manager of Old Navy. agreements early on in the day. Throughout Black Friday, three-quarters “I look forward to Black Friday every of all items in the store will be on sale. year,” Brewer said. “I come in at 2:00 a.m. Kane predicts that a lot of the sweaters, out- I’m supposed to work a split shift because erwear, sleepwear, and robes will constantly I’m a manager, but I’ll stay all day.” need to be restocked. Best Buy will open at 5:00 a.m., but employees come in to work between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. and work eight to ten hour shifts as needed. They also attend two meetings called “Green Day” prior to Black Friday to prepare for the day. Chuck Sullick, the operations manager of Best Buy, said, “If you think about Best Buy, we’re going to do ten times more business on Black Friday-look at Wal-Mart-they’re probably going to break one million, two million dollar days, so we’re talking about a lot of money on Black Friday. “ Wal-Mart is typically open 24 hours a day, but will not open until 5:00 a.m. on Black Friday. On Thursday evening, everything will be set out onto the floor so all the associates have to do Friday morning is take the black plastic off the merchandise, according to Amy Bencoster, store manager of WalMart. Cashiers come in to work at 4:30 a.m. and the overnight employees work until 6:30 a.m. Bencoster estimates that costumers would ~ probably spend around $200-$300 on Black Friday. The most popular merchandise of the season is electronics and items from the toy department like Tickle Me Elmo. People have different reasons for waking up early to face the huge crowds on Black Friday. “I think it’s just tradition. So many people have done it for so many years and there is a lot of great buys out there and like anything else, people just can’t pass up a great buy,” says Bencoster. “If what I’m purchasing is absolutely worth it [I would definitely stay in line for hours],” says Erin Sweet, a sophomore integrated media major. “Any kind of software I would like to see on sale. Typically they are around $600, so I’d be willing to buy it at around $200.” Although large numbers of shoppers are expected to be out on Black Friday, at least one manager is worried that rising gas prices might have an affect on sales. “I would say the weather would be a big part of it, the price of gas, if the weather gets really cold people are going to be trying to decide whether they actually want to shop or pay their heating bill,” Bencoster said. 10 11 ..... I \ . . ~--\ \ \ \ \ --~ .. ---- \ �10 LIFESTYLES NOVEMBER 20, 2007 Student of the Week: Alisha Cain BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor sibly next year to fit the needs of University Towers. Alisha Cain, a fifth year senior (P3) pharmacy and English major, knows the meaning of the word busy. In addition to her double major in two subjects at opposite ends of the academic world, she is involved in a plethora of extracurricular activities. She is the founder and president of the Equestrian Club at Wilkes and also the founder of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. Along with being an officer in both Sigma Tau Delta and Rho Chi, she is a member of Alpha Chi, Christian Fellowship Club, and serves as an E-mentor/Orientation Leader and a pharmacy mentor for P2 students. This year, Cain took on the new role of Senior Resident Assistant, which was created to better serve the increased number of students living in University Towers. She is also starting a project as historian of the pharmacy honor society to create a sort of practice book for pharmacy majors. For all her efforts to serve the Wilkes University community, The Beacon chose Cain as this week’s Student of the Week and sat down with her to learn more about the activities she is currently participating in. The Beacon: Can you explain the pharmacy book you are helping create? Cain: In pharmacy we have what we call our modules. They are our really big drug classes. For example, right now we’re in cardiovascular, so we learn about every single cardiovascular disease and what you would treat those with. On the test we’re actually required to apply what we know…Some of the teachers are really good with providing cases for us to practice with… Some other modules, they don’t really have a lot of cases. What we’re trying to do, is put together a book that is going to have cases for every module. It will just give students the chance to practice more, or they can save it to look back over right before they take their test to get certified. The Beacon: What does the position of Senior Resident Assistant entail? Cain: My RA job is kind of a new role this year. With acquiring University Towers and having more students in there, it is kind of a similar situation to Evans Hall, where we have a lot of students in one particular building. I’m essentially there as a go-to person for the other seven resident assistants in University Towers. So, if they’re having roommate conflicts or any sort of problem that they don’t know how to deal with, or if they need ideas for programming, I’m kind of a point person in between them and Brenda Stanley, Director of Residence Life. It’s a spot they created at least for this year and pos- The Beacon: What are your future plans? Cain: After completing pharmacy school, I’m interested in going for a residency…Ideally when I enter the workforce, I would love to be able to work 20 hours a week in some field of pharmacy. Then, [I’d like to] have the rest of my time devoted to a home office with either writing for medical journals or possibly teaching…I’d also like to have a little farm and a little dressage (a type of horseback riding) business on the side. Courtesy Alisha Cain The Beacon: What made you decide to double major in two such very different subjects? Cain: I’m fascinated by the medical world. My mom, aunt, and grandma are all nurses or respiratory therapists, so I have a lot of family members that are involved in the medical world. Pharmacy itself sounded very interesting because you could break down the body, learn all about it, and how different drugs affect it. But then, with English, that was my strongest subject in high school. I work with a pharmacist a few hours a week, and she actually has kind of created her own job definition. She teaches the Hershey Medical School students, works a couple hours a week in a pharmacy, has a clinical practice, and writes for medical journals. She was the person who, through talking with her, I got the idea of how I could intertwine pharmacy and English. The Beacon: How do you handle your workload? Cain: Time management is huge. I actually enjoy doing both curricula because if I start getting frustrated in pharmacy, I can go and work on my English. As for all the extracurricular activities, I think you have to keep in mind that school is why you’re here and that’s the most important thing. Something I’ve always struggled with is saying no and not getting involved. So this year, I’m kind of realizing that a little bit. Finally, I think you have to have that selfish time. So I actually ride my horse five times a week. He is kind of my sanity. 1 IG '- I - ~I_· ...------·I)~ m - 9 1P ~ ., on of · rurd -y - Sanday . .3 P.M. -5, p ·· . . 'S �NOVEMBER 20, 2007 LIFESTYLES 11 Native American singer, storyteller enlightens audience BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor for multicultural and community affairs. “When we learn about heritages and communities within the U.S., we learn different With a few somber beats of a drum ac- perspectives about life and environment companying a haunting, wailing chant, and different cultural traditions.” Namorah Gayle Byrd can take an entire Wearing a traditional buckskin outfit audience back to the funereal songs of her with fringe and turquoise beading, Byrd Native American ancestors. sang welcome, battle, and funeral songs. But before the mood becomes too mo- Her many silver bracelets caught the light rose, Byrd switches to quick, firm taps on as she beat her traditional drum or shook the drum and starts a rhythmic, confident rattles that came from all across the chant that grows louder and louder. Americas. Suddenly, the audience can feel the preShe explained to the audience battle excitement of the first people of that the songs were made up America. of sounds and syllables Byrd, a Native American strung together to cresinger, dancer, and storyate meaning. Verteller, came to Wilkes on batim translations November 14 to share her were not possible, cultural traditions and but the meaning talents with the Wilkes for each could community in honor of be understood Native American Histhrough the mood tory Month. Nearly 30 transferred to the students, faculty, and listener. staff members turned out “When she sang, to hear her sing traditional I wanted to stand up songs, tell time-honored stoand dance. I closed my ries, and share personal experieyes to listen,” Suarez said. ences of her culture. “There’s something very spe“It’s not only important for students, but cial about the songs. I felt at peace, even for faculty and staff as well,” said Dr. Maria though the room was noisy.” Suarez, the special assistant to the president Byrd was raised in a family where Native American traditions were PACKAGE HANDLERS taught implicitly. She grew up in a Westernized world, attending Catholic schools throughout elementary and high school before going on to Temple University. FedEx Ground. Thinking about some fast cash and There, she earned her bachhelp with college? Join the fast-paced FedEx® team elor’s and master’s degrees as a part-time Package Handler. You’ll work up a sweat and, in return, get a weekly paycheck, tuition in English literature. assistance and more! A standout debater and SORT OBSERVATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED animated storyteller, Byrd PRIOR TO APPLICATION. later shared these talents with her children, telling Part-time them lengthy, detailed bedPACKAGE HANDLERS time stories each night. As QUALIFICATIONS: a child, her favorite stories • 18 years or older were fairy tales, which she • Able to load, unload, sort packages passed on to her children. • Part-time, 5-day week, early morning hours “I wanted to entertain STOP IN OR CALL TO SCHEDULE my children, to keep them A SORT OBSERVATION. happy, and laughing, and FEDEX GROUND also in bed,” she said. “But 220 Armstrong Road because I was in competiCenterpointe Commercial & Trade Park tive speech, I learned how (follow sign) Pittston, PA 18640 to make my voice express Phone: 570-654-1362 FedEx is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer (M/F/D/V), emotion. I began to read committed to diversifying its workforce. Visit www.fedex.com/us/careers them as if the animals were alive, as if the characters were real.” Ground Soon, her storytelling Think fast ~ think FedEx. ~ ® prowess caught the attention of administrators at her children’s schools. They asked her to tell stories in classrooms, and later during assemblies. As her reputation grew, schools from all over the area were clamoring to book her for events. When she began telling stories, she stuck to fairy tales and mainstream children stories. It was not until a life altering event prompted her to throw herself into the depths of her ancestral culture. In 1991, Byrd was living in Philadelphia when she came across an ad for a Native American powwow in the Philadelphia Inquierer. Curious, she persuaded her parents to accompany her. Although Byrd knew she was part Cherokee and part Chitimacha, she had never actively practiced the culture. When she arrived at the celebration, she was drawn to the drums and the sacred circle where the dancers performed. Leaning against a tree in blue jeans, a red blouse, and a baseball cap, she heard a voice call from behind. “I was just standing there watching and I heard a voice behind me Courtesy of Namorah Byrd say, ‘Why aren’t you dressed for dancing?’” she recalled. “I ig- Namorah Byrd, who took the Native American nored it, and then the voice said name of Spirit Keeper, travels to colleges and unilouder, “Why aren’t you dressed versities to share her culture through songs, dances, for dancing? You have ten min- and stories. utes.’” ly 15 years, and would often drop by the Byrd turned around and realized the voice center after work to listen to different stowas coming from an Apache chief, and he ries and hear all kinds of songs. was addressing her. Dancers in beautiful, Soon, she began dancing, drumming, and beaded buckskin regalia and men in full singing. She traveled to different reservafeathers passed her in a flurry. tions where she learned unique songs and He asked her if she celebrated her Native dances of each nation. Then she started to American heritage, and she told him she share her culture with non-Natives in coldid not. He told her that was a shame, and leges and universities throughout the area. handed her a brochure for the United AmerBalancing the Native American lifestyle ican Indians of the Delaware Valley. in a Westernized world has proven difficult The brochure lay on her dresser for for Byrd. But the values and wisdom she months. has learned from her culture make “I just stared at it. I was really nerit worth the struggle. vous, and I didn’t know what to think “The West does not reinforce about it,” she said. “But the brochure tranquility, adequate time for kept calling to me. I kept walking over contemplation, and it doesn’t to it and looking at it.” nurture the vision and views of Finally, Byrd attended a meeting, and balance,” she said. “In order to was astonished at what she saw. practice the traditions that require “It was just packed. There were peace, harmony, and tranquility, hundreds of people there from 52 nait’s necessary to ignore many of tions across the United States,” she the distractions of the West, and said. that is not always easy.” She began to learn the traditions of her culture. She attended meetings once a month for near- �A&E NOVEMBER 20, 2007 History professor recalls rock and roll days BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon Managing Editor As a child growing up in the small western Pennsylvania town of Monongahela, historian Dennis Hupchick remembers watching would-be pro football Hall of Famer, Joe Montana. But while the other children may have emulated “Joe Cool” at the time, Hupchick’s idol was Mick Jagger, frontman for the Rolling Stones. At the age of 16, Hupchick and his friends formed their first band and latched on to the expression, “a rolling stone gathers no moss,” to come up with the name The Mossy Rocks. “We were the ones that didn’t roll,” Hupchick joked. Comprised of a singer, drummer, bass player, and guitar player, The Rocks were led by Hupchick’s vocals and harmonica playing. The group played mostly blues/ rock covers like the early Rolling Stones, but they drew the line at The Beatles, who didn’t exactly fit their playing style. “Our bass player was the lone Beatles’ fan in the group,” Hupchick said. “The Beatles were OK, but ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’ just didn’t fit ‘Let’s Make It, Pretty Babe.’” But when Hupchick’s cousin convinced him to join a band called The Rogues, who were in need of a lead singer, Hupchick’s real musical career took off. He and his newfound band would eventually go on tour for four years using Hupchick’s 1960 Chevy station wagon. Their main stomping grounds included the western half of Pennsylvania; Akron, Ohio; Morgantown, West Virginia; and “the arm” of Maryland. The Rogues played six nights a week. The group even landed a gig at Geneva on the Lake, Ohio, where they served as the house band, and made $1,000 a month. “That was pretty amazing pay for that time since it was the sixties,” Hupchick said. “An average worker was making ten thousand a year, and we stayed there for two months and were making quite a bit of money.” One of The Rogues’ most popular songs was Van Morrison’s “Gloria,” in which Hupchick would shout out the letters ‘G-LO-R-I-A.’ Their manager actually released the song as a single, and the crowd thought it was a Rogues’ original, though they never took credit. “‘Gloria’” wasn’t making it big on the radio at the time, and people demanded we play it,” Hupchick said. “We actually did a cover of Robert Johnson’s ‘Crossroads’ before Cream put it out.” After completing grad school, Hupchick joined another band comprised of for- Photo Courtesy of Dennis Hupchick “Like a Rolling Stone...” 12 My Ghost, My Vengeance 13 Empty Bowls 14 Crossword/Website 15 mer Rogue members and friends, called Uncle John, a reference to the Grateful Dead’s “Uncle John’s Band.” “We had a really crazy, eclectic mix; some people in the band liked to do country western, so we did sort of rock/country thing, usually with some satirical content in the lyrics, you know. I don’t hold it as the best. The Rogues were really…that four year stretch with The Rogues was the highlight of my rock career,” he said. Though staying a loyal devotee to music throughout the 80s and early 90s, Hupchick admits that music does not play as an important role in life as it once did, though he still likes to rock out from time to time, especially to the likes of Dr. Hupchick live on stage in Bulgaria (Summer German electronic bands such as 1975) Tangerine Dream, Rammstein, and The Armageddon Dildoes. matter if it’s head-pounding rock or classi“Over time, it became repetitious. What cal music,” Hupchick said. people think is new today…I heard it. The only music that Hupchick does not There’s very little new that has come along enjoy, though, is main-stream country and in rock music, I hate to say it, that isn’t hip-hop. repetitious to me. However, I still consider “I guess I just never acquired a taste for music important. I find it to be one of the it,” he said. most enjoyable ways of relaxing. It doesn’t Dinner Review: Norm’s Pizza and Eatery BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor Not being from the area, I usually stay safe choosing chain restaurants over the smaller, locally owned dining areas. A friend of mine recommended Norm’s Pizza and Eatery, on Sherman Street, so I decided to give it a shot. Upon first entrance, the restaurant appeared more like a hotel than a dining area; however my guest and I decided Norm’s was still worth a shot. The menu offered little variety from other classic Italian restaurants. Everything from regular Sicilian pizza and wings to calzones and submarines could be found on the menu. I also immediately noticed the prices, which were extremely reasonable for a college student on a budget. Most of the menu items were priced at approximately $5.00. A large round pie was $7.95, with specialty pies ranging anywhere from $6.50 to $14.50. My guest and I both decided on a slice of Sicilian pizza for $.99 and half dozen wings for $3.00. A topping can be added to the pizza for an additional $.15. The Sicilian slices were brought to us first. At about two inches by six inches each, the slices were definitely only worth the the money. Although the crust was just right thickness, the sauce was extremely chunky and lacked the right amount of cheese. My guest ordered his slice with mushrooms and bacon, which added substance to the pizza; however, he still commented on the lack of cheese. About ten minutes later, our wings were delivered. My wings were cajun style and my guest ordered mild. The wings were much better for their value. The outside of every wing was The Beacon/Alissa Lindner crispy and each wing offered a substantial amount of meat. The cajun style offered a little more spice than the mild; however, neither left your mouth burning. We visited Norm’s on a Saturday afternoon. For the few people at the restaurant, our service was definitely lacking. To begin with, our server seemed pushy, not giving us much time to look over the menu. Upon delivering our food, the server never checked back with us to make sure everything was all right. My guest even had to stop her for a refill on his drink. Maybe because I am a server myself, I am highly critical but I believe she could have been more attentive. At approximately $10.00, our bill was reasonable. Despite the small size of the Sicilian slice, the perfection of the wings definitely was worth their money. With tip, dining at Norm’s Pizza and Eatery was $15.00. If you are searching for a local place to dine out with friends at a reasonable price, Norm’s is a great option; however if your hope is to impress a date you might want to stick to a pricier chain Italian restaurant. Grade: C+ �NOVEMBER 20, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 Local Band Spotlight: My Ghost My Vengeance BY MATTHEW GOGAS Beacon Staff Writer My Ghost My Vengeance is a metal-core band currently based out of Wilkes-Barre, PA. The band originally started in 2004 under the name Drain the Life. After a series of member changes, a record label signing, and a name change, the current nucleus is stable and most importantly, successful. My Ghost My Vengeance frequently plays in NEPA at venues such as Backstage Enterprises in Kingston. They have also played in Allentown, East Stroudsburg, and Lancaster. The Beacon recently spoke with the band’s bass guitar player, Jim Conlon. Although Jim is not the original bassist, he joined in 2005 and is considered irreplaceable by all of the other members. The Beacon: How did you join the band? Conlon: The lead singer, Rob, and I were formally in a band together called Snakes Among Us with Tom Cawley and Angelo Parente who became the drummer for Motionless in White. After Snakes spilt up, Rob asked me to join Drain the Life when things didn’t work out with their original bass player and the guy they got after him. The Beacon: What are your greatest influences? Conlon: Let’s see…Botch, In Flames, Unearth, Metallica of course. Jason Newsted is my idol. Brian really likes Botch, Jay likes Unearth, Dave likes All that Remains, and Rob likes Evanescence…..seriously he does. I’m not kidding. The Beacon: How do you define the genre that you guys play? Conlon: Well, we don’t like to define ourselves, but I guess metalcore, which is a cross between metal and hardcore. The Beacon: What is the difference? Conlon: Metal is more just really fast guitar and the vocals are pretty much just all screaming. Hardcore is more like fast drums, constant guitar riffs, not so much soloing, and more breakdowns. The Beacon: Does My Ghost My Vengeance play many shows in the area? Conlon: Not really. There are not many places to play around here except for Backstage, which is closing down by the way. We play in Stroudsburg, Allentown, and pretty much anywhere. The Beacon: Do you think My Ghost My Vengeance has a big fan base in the area? Conlon: Yeah, we have a lot of friends here. They always come out when we play. Photos courtesy http://www.woodbrass.com www.zingseducation.co.uk The Beacon: Tell me about the other band members. Conlon: Brian Gildea is a stand up gentleman and great guitar player with Lego hair. His hair looks like a Lego person’s hair. Rob Fulletta and Dave Kenderdine are very good fathers and they are both talented musicians. Jay Smith is a very good drummer and loves Mountain Dew a lot. The Beacon: Why did you change the name of the band from Drain the Life to My Ghost My Vengeance? Conlon: Well, we got signed to a record label and they didn’t think the name was really marketable, so we changed it. The Beacon: What record label does My Ghost My Vengeance play on? Conlon: We play on East Coast Independent. The Beacon: What type of record label is East Coast Independent? Conlon: It’s an indie label. The Beacon: Do you guys feel like you are building a name for yourselves? Conlon: Yeah, they’re going to put us on tour over the summer. We are going to play some Warped Tour dates. They are funding us well; they’re helping us out a lot. They’re good guys getting our name out there and stuff...We cut two records; one of them with our label and one of them on our own. The one on the label is self titled. You can pick it up on iTunes and all those internet download sites or you could just buy it at one of our shows. The Beacon: Are there any interesting or funny stories about the band that you want to share? Conlon: We were going to play a show in Allentown and we got a little lost and just kept driving around singing lines from the song “Allentown” by Billy Joel. We just kept driving around singing “Well we’re driving here in Allentown.” It was pretty funny. When we finally got to the show, we ended up not playing and driving home and I was pissed. Another funny story is when Dave tried to flip his guitar around his body and dropped it. He put a huge chip in the side of it and we laughed at him for so long. The Beacon: What does My Ghost My Vengeance want their fans to know about them? Conlon: We really appreciate our fans coming out to see us and support us. For those that do not know us, add us on Myspace.com because we’re really cool guys. Schedule of Events Tuesday, November 20 - The Art of Betsy Havira at Beer Deli in Forty Fort from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, November 21 - Theives and Villians, Riot Like Words and TBA performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. - The Menzingers, Title Fight, The Big Green, Captain We’re Sinking and Curtis Iria performing at Cafe Metropolis at 7 p.m. - Go Go Gadget performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. Thursday, November 22 Happy Thanksgiving! Friday, November 23 - The Doodlebops Live! At the Kirby Center at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. - The Mad Conductor, The Stupid, Stupid Henchmen, Below Me and Chee performing at Cafe Metropolis at 7 p.m. - The Five Percent and 39 Mariner performing at the Woodlands at 9 p.m. Saturday, November 24 - Endless Mike and the Beagle Club, CD and the Broken Strings, The Washer Dryer Combo and The Naught Naught Nurses performing at Cafe Metropolis at 7 p.m. - Bootleg Slumber Part #4 premier at Backstage at 8 p.m. - Sweetwater performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. Sunday, November 25 - Kirby Park birding event in Kirby Park at 8 a.m. Monday, November 26 - String Ensemble Concert at the Darte Center at 6:00 p.m. - Religious Rights Roundtable in the Henry Student Center Ballroom 6:30 p.m. �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 NOVEMBER 20, 2007 Empty Bowls auction serves area’s needy and other bowls were hand-crafted by local artists as well as student, Amanda Zerfoss. Once they had created the bowls, local artists, as well as student and faculty were asked to paint a bowl for the auction. Some of the people who took part in painting a bowl included Mrs. Patty Gilmour, Dr. Chad Stanley, and Dean of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences Darin Fields, students such as Matt Armstrong and Amanda Zerfoss. There were also local artists involved such as Georgiana Cray Bart. In reaching out to the local artists for this project, Pearce contacted artists who had either done projects for, or had a connection with the Cultural Council, which was founded in 1989 and is a volunteer-based organization supporting local artists and the arts. Pearce explained, “The Cultural Council’s home has generously been offered by Wilkes since 1999, and members of the council are thrilled to be able to collaborate with Wilkes University in a project to help this cause.” Organizers of the Empty Bowls auction raised $1,226 for charity. The price range of the bowls ran the gamut; some going for $12, while others went up to $80. The money will support the St. Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen, which Boone explained “serves hundreds of homeless people every day” and is part of the Wilkes community service partner network. Some of the money will also be donated to Ruth’s Place, a women’s homeless shelter in Wilkes-Barre. Although the event served as a showcase of local art on one hand, the main focus in the end came back to serving the needy in the area. Adams stated that she wants to see the event improve each year. “We would like to see it grow because of the incredible need.” Beacon/Gino Troiani BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor When the presenter explained the auction rules as “bid with cards, and stand up, and make animal sounds,” the room went silent. No one expected a charity auction to include making a public spectacle… Luckily, it was just a playful way to begin the night, and the auctioning rules remained fairly standard: a simple raise of a colored, number paddle placed a bid on one of the hand-crafted, hand-painted bowls up for auction. The Empty Bowls auction was organized by Jean Adams, Wilkes ceramics instructor, Megan Boone, Community Service Coordinator, Shelley Pearce, the Director of the Conservatory and Chair of the Cultural Council, and student Zach Bremmer. The event was the second of what is hoped to be an annual occurrence and was arranged as a part of Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week and the money that was raised will be going to aid those in need in the area. Last year the event was organized by Angela Hermes, former director of Campus Interfaith, along with Adams. This year there was much more time to organize the event, which paid off. There was about a 30% increase in the money raised for charity this year. The bowls themselves were a combination of functionality and fine art. Adams crafted all of the larger bowls for auction, intending to “give artists a canvas to paint on,” 'Ihmksgiving Holiday the Bookstore will be closed on 'Ihanksgi.ving Day! ''Open Mic Night" For Poetry :and Acoustic Music Hosted by Jim Warner TuesdayNo.-..em~ 27th 7:00-8:30pm , IN T IE ·R · "On-going Champion Sale" Huny in Now! Sale ends November 25th 25% off all :men's, women's, and children's swe atshi:rt.s and sweatpants! NE1fl ITEMS: Cluistmas Ornaments and Toddler T-Shirts ! Don't f-Ol'ge:t to pid up a ••Fre.qu,ent Buye.r Card,"tooat■ · Dontt foq:ct to me yow: 'FJLEX :OOIJ.ARS a.np.rh.erc in ,o ur stot"ie.' . . H Ip · ave lives! D asma t d y.. a n up to mo th! n tc st t ·m Inc. 665 a y vc ·ilfo . -Bar· , a . a I (570) 823- 1 9 I �15 Kudracross NOVEMBER 20, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 14 15 17 21 23 25 26 27 29 30 32 33 35 38 42 45 47 49 50 51 52 Shock Uttered by the mouth Hang down unevenly See at a distance Exchange for money DOWN Cooking measurement Fixed charge per unit Teheran’s Country Country between The Netherlands and Poland Large orbiting bodies Period Presidential time period Bubbly beverage More Land devoted to agriculture Oak, for example _____ of the Lost Ark Opposed to Hairless Starts over, in a video game Delivered a speech Support people Lubricated Opposite of what occurs in school Upright To free from obstruction Nonresonant sound Borders Metal worker Desensitizes Popular pizza chain Symbol of a country Slender double-reed instrument Anguish Gears Length x width Move upward 53 55 56 57 60 Small social insects Become exhausted And others Move by revolving Equal to 8 fluid ounces I 0 ! ., s L "o L . H A .. 0 R' A .. 'i, u ~, I S " R ~S A 0 0 "K u A ■ • v• T .. 0 0 • " "A L p E ·" 0 s "E I p p I R 0 0 R p E s ~, s s R A y R 0 " -·,. •ps "e R E 0 -■ E "s ■ ■ ::,so R " " - e s 0 W A p o ■ 'o u T A G E s s ■ •v o L I( 0 u o ■ s L y ■ H A A ■ l!N " I "s ~ C T I o I *e T 0 "I ~ ~c u R ao R E E ,. . . D E N G L J;... H V E A U'E H9 O L M M-S HC ItA • M A 9 A p "M P I E 1· ' T p ""o s" s W H 0 E I ■ ~, I B E T c ■ 0 s A L "• ■ 0 H "L E s Answers 11/13 BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer ACROSS 1 H.S. math course 5 One of two NYC baseball teams 9 Toward the stern 12 Without covering 13 Hydrox competitor 14 A means of location 16 Right-hand side of a ship 18 ____ the Giant 19 A writer or author 20 Pertaining to the sea 22 Along with 24 Revise 25 Noise 28 Apply again 31 Frosty substance 34 Miniscule 35 Time ____ Inc. 36 Ancient 37 Total 38 Abhors 39 Harass 40 Payment for services 41 Chooses by votes 42 Native of Denmark 43 Food and drug org. 44 Increase the amount 45 Family 46 Carried along on 48 Tropical tree 50 Capital of Australia 54 Leather covering for the ankle and lower leg 58 Contains Betelgeuse and Rigel 59 Disguised 61 Physical units of heredity 62 63 64 65 66 OverheardInNewYork.com BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief Ever since I was 14, I’ve done this really innovative thing. I’ve written down quotes in these little notebooks. Yes, everything that I found really amusing that people have said, or I’ve overheard, I’ve written down. Pretty genius, right? Wrong. Turns out, there’s a web site that does this: OverheardInNewYork.com. The site is what it sounds like. People write down things they hear in New York, whether it be on the street, at work, on trains, or at the various universities. They submit them, and the quotes are displayed on the site. The site even does special features, like “Wednesday OneLiners,” and blurbs dedicated to Subway train drivers. Here is what you can expect to find on the site: White mom:Which kitty is your favorite? Little girl holding book of baby animals: The black one! Mom: The black one? He sure is a cute kitty. Little girl, loudly: Once you go black, you never go back! Passing thug, flashing her a thumbs-up: Word! White mom: I don’t care what your father says, we are so moving to Westchester. *** Nerdy hipster to friends: You want nerdy? You know what I did today? I worked on this robot helmet I’m making on my floor. Yep, a robot helmet complete with LED lights -- for my girlfriend. See? That’s love right there. Girlfriend, explaining: I told him we could have butt sex. Nerdy hipster, emphatically: But not until I finish the helmet! *** Black guy with clipboard: Anyone? A minute of your time to save the children! Anyone! ‘Scuse me, pretty miss! Excuse me! [Pretty girl ignores him.] Oooh! I’m too flyyy fo’ da children. I’m too hot fo’ da children. [To old lady] Ma’am, do you wanna save the children? Old lady: I hate children. *** So, you see, this site is purely entertaining. I think my opinion, here, is that I just want to get the word out to everyone. If you want a laugh, go visit Overheard In New York. However, I totally give this site an “S” for “S”tole my idea, you jerks! Ma ,· 1 Room ~HE CITIZ us~ VOICE PA Rl T IM I!: 1 1 ni1 t<l· · ln roN NIGi IT HI T ~ 2.um lo Approx 3:3 0mm FIR.IDAV. - 11 : Orun • Lant K . . RD.AY - I~ Noon Llll1. Mim.oo I .Ap lic.E1mio may I frn11L I .HI: . oo mw out k af • vo1:c Loo Sit. 11 �SPORTS 16 Commentary NOVEMBER 20, 2007 The biggest sports turkeys of all-time Overpriced and underperforming athletes headline a holiday tribute BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Since it’s Thanksgiving season, the sports staff here at The Beacon decided to do a tribute to our favorite sports turkeys, which can be defined as any professional athlete who consistently failed to come up in the clutch, live down expectations, or has otherwise engaged in behavior that diminished their stardom. And now, in no particular order: the biggest sports turkeys of all-time. Ryan Leaf: After being picked as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy in his junior year in college, Leaf was the second overall pick of the 1998 NFL Draft, where he was drafted by the San Diego Chargers, who traded two first-round picks, a second-round pick, and two players to the Arizona Cardinals to get the second spot in the draft. The result? 26 games, 317-655 (48.4% completion rate), 3,666 yards, 14 touchdowns, 36 interceptions with a quarterback rating of 50.0. David Beckham: One of the most popular soccer players of all-time, Beckham also established himself as one of the best footballers of his era, as well as one of the wealthiest. In 2007, Beckham signed a five year, $250 million contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy, in what would be one of the most notorious multi-continent free agency moves in the history of sports. At the end of the 2007 season, an injury-laden Beckham would play in only five games with 2 goals in 252 minutes. As a result, the Galaxy missed the playoffs with 7-14-9 record. Photo courtesy www.smh.com.au David Beckham doesn’t understand why he is on this list. The National Hockey League: Seriously, do they even play hockey anymore? I could swear that they were broadcasting their games on Lifetime this season. ending his career. He would play for tional League Championship Series. He the Cincinnati Bengals, the Washington was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, and then Redskins and the New Orleans Saints. to the New York Yankees, where he would He finished his career with 319 carries win a World Series in 2000, but signed as a free agent with the Colorado Rockies in for 1144 yards and 20 touchdowns. Rashaan Salaam: Salaam, who beat 2001, to a lucrative contract worth $51 milout Ki-Jana Carter for the Heisman Tro- lion dollars over five years. Over the next phy (under much debate), would see a three seasons, Neagle would go 19-23 with much less successful career than Carter, an ERA of 5.57. He missed the entire 2004 after being selected in the 1995 draft season due to injuries, and would run into legal troubles, which included a drunk drivPhoto courtesy www.themightymjd.com by the Chicago Bears. 31 games, 470 attempts, 1682 yards, 13 touchdowns and ing arrest and a guilty plea to patronizing a Ryan Leaf is also confused. several dime-bags (see also: Marijuana) prostitute. Mike Hampton: After six years with the Sidd Finch: 28-year-old Hayden “Sid- later, Salaam found himself on the outside Houston Astros, including the 1999 seadhartha” Finch was a reclusive young man looking in, and would end up playing in the son when he went 22-4 with a 2.90 ERA. who was being recruited by the New York XFL and the AFL, where he wouldn’t find In 2000, he was traded to the New York Mets in 1985, despite the fact that he has any further success. Mets, where he would go on to lead them never played baseball in his entire life. Roger Clemens (2007) and Freddy Garto the World Series before signing with the Finch, whose adopted father died in a plane cia: “The Rocket,” who was resigned to Colorado Rockies crash in Nepal, briefly attended Harvard playing for the highest bidder in for $121 million University before leaving to study in Tibet, his later seasons, joined the New dollars over eight where he claims to have discovered his true York Yankees in May of 2007, years. Hampton calling: A Major League Baseball pitcher signing a contract that was worth would fall prey to whose fastball topped out at 168 miles per over $28 million dollars. Clemthe thin air of Colohour- yes, you read that right - 168 MPH. ens failed to prove his worth for rado, where he was Just one week after a training session with the Yankees, as he went 6-6 in 18 21-28 with an ERA the Mets, Finch would announce his retire- games with an ERA of 4.18. of 5.76, before bement from baseball so he can concentrate When the Phillies traded for ing traded to the on his other true calling: The French Horn. Freddy Garcia in December of Atlanta Braves folSam Bowie: A 7’1” center and phenom 2006, it appeared that the Phillowing the 2002 throughout high school and college, Bowie lies cemented themselves as the season, where he was named to two All-American teams, best team in the National League was rather sucwhile also being selected to represent the east, as he solidified their already cessful, despite United States in the 1980 Olympic basket- sound rotation. It wouldn’t come injuries. Hampton ball team. Bowie would enter the NBA draft to pass, as Garcia ended his seaPhoto courtesy www.partmule.com would miss the enin 1984, where he would be drafted second son with a shoulder injury after The Rocket is furious of his intire 2006 season to before future Hall-of-Famers Michael Jor- only 11 starts, in which he went clusion among this mediocrity. have Tommy John dan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton. 1-5 with a 5.90 ERA, while costsurgery, and would go on to miss the entire Bowie would end his career after 10 years ing the Phillies $10 million dollars. 2007 season after having further surgery due to numerous injuries, finishing with Their combined stats: 29 games, 7-6, 4.82 performed on his left elbow. 10.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. ERA at $38 million dollars. Special mention goes to the Florida Mar(In all fairness, Bowie wasn’t a complete Similarly, Kyle Kendrick, who was called lins, who acquired Hampton from the Rockturkey. It’s only after he is compared to Jor- up from Double-A in early June to replace ies on November 16, 2002, only to trade dan, Barkley and Stockton that his turkey- Garcia, went 10-4 with a 3.87 ERA in 20 him the next day to the Atlanta Braves for ness is revealed.) games. His salary? A paltry 400 K. pitcher Tim Spooneybarger. Hampton never Ki-Jana Carter: Widely regarded as Carl Pavano: Originally drafted by the pitched in a game for the Marlins; he barely one of the greatest running backs in col- Montreal Expos, Pavano found his best had enough time to put their uniform on, but lege football history, Carter was part of the success with the Florida Marlins, with his they still ended up paying $38 million dolundefeated 1994 Penn State football team best season coming in 2004, when he went lars of his salary in the trade to the Braves. along with Kerry Collins, Bobby Engram 18-8 en route to a World Series championI don’t know what’s funnier: The fact that and Joe Jerevicius, who would go on to win ship. In 2005, Pavano signed with the New they paid him enough money to finance the the Rose Bowl over Oregon. (Most people York Yankees with a four-year contract movie Garden State 40 times over, or that will tell you that Penn State should have worth $39.95 million dollars. In his first two they traded him for a guy named Spooneygone to the National Championship Game seasons in the Bronx, Pavano pitched in 19 barger. What is this, Fraggle Rock? that season…but that’s another story for games, with a 5-6 record and a 4.78 ERA There you have it, the biggest sports turanother day.) Carter would win co-MVP of amid several injuries, including Tommy keys of all-time. We’re sure we’ve missed the Rose Bowl, and would later finish sec- John surgery, which will likely sideline him some, and perhaps even some were unfairly ond to Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan for most of the 2008 season. Salaam. Carter was the first overall pick in Denny Neagle: In 1997, Neagle (then included. But the great thing about sports is the 1995 draft, but he would tear his ACL in with the Atlanta Braves) went 20-5 with a that there can always be discussion. Happy Thanksgiving, to you and yours. his first NFL pre-season game, essentially 2.97 ERA, helping the Braves to the Na- �NOVEMBER 20, 2007 SPORTS 17 Lady Colonels Fall Twice In Boston BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor The Lady Colonels suffered two losses last weekend in Boston at the Endicott College Tournament that featured three other teams. The team fell short in their opening game on Friday against Endicott College (MA). The Gulls went on a 17-2 run in the first half en route to an 84-34 win over the Lady Colonels. Endicott out-scored the Lady Colonels 43-18 in the first half. Freshman guard from Spinnerstown (PA), Sam Lynam, led the Lady Colonels in scoring with 13. Senior Katie Cappelloni followed with seven points while snatching six boards. On Saturday, the team took on Rhode Island College at 1 PM for the consolation game and ended up losing to the Anchorwomen 81-55. The Lady Colonels trailed by eight entering into the second half but couldn’t produce enough points to stay in the game. Cappelloni led the team in scor- PIZZA ltomull'iN 12"Medium Pizza 16" La:cac Pizza ll"PmPizza ing with 15 points as the Lady Colonels dropped to 0-2. Lynam scored 11 off the bench and junior Chelsey Gosse dropped in 10 points for the Lady Colonels. The Lady Colonels hit 42 percent of their shots in the second half but couldn’t weather the Anchorwomen’s storm. RIC shot 58 percent from the floor as six of players scored double figures. Jennifer Knott led all scorers with 19 points and Sara Coughlin chipped in with 10 points and dished out 10 assists for RIC. “One thing I could never fault the players for is if they play their hardest, that’s all I could ask for,” said head coach Rachel Emmerthal. “There are going to be nights where the ball doesn’t go into the basket, but if you continue to play, you gain confidence.” The Lady Colonels go on the road to face Marywood University on Tuesday, November 20 at 6PM. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Wilkes sophomore Nicole Quick and freshman Sam Lynam run drills during practice last week. The Lady Colonels went 0-2 during the Endicott College Tournament in Boston on November 16 and 17. .-i\PPETIZERS FrlcdMus1nooml Pried,Ra,rio1i(6} MmzanllaStiab(S) MlmTacos(12) Mini Pumtu Pam:abs (12) �SPORTS 18 NOVEMBER 18, 2007 Commentary GGreen AME OF THE WEEK Bay Packers v. Detroit Lions NFC rivals battle it out on Thanksgiving Day Double Take BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Every year, on the fourth Thursday of November, families and loved ones gather to take part in one of the most celebrated of all holiday traditions; a time-honored tradition that supercedes race, creed, sex, and age. Of course, Thanksgiving Day football. Since 1934, the Detroit Lions have hosted the Thanksgiving Classic, a game which originally began in 1934 as a gimmick by the Lions in an attempt to increase attendance during the seasons. The fans took to it, and the Lions have hosted a game on Thanksgiving Day each year since then, except during World War 2 from 1939-1944, and have a 35-31-1 record in that span. However, unlike most seasons, the Lions are going into this game with a legitimate shot at the post-season, tallying up a record of 6-4, which is good enough for second place in the NFC North behind the rival Green Bay Packers. Detroit, which hasn’t had a winning season since 1993, has been one of the perennial losers in the NFL in recent years, including a 2-14 season in 2001, followed by a 3-13 season in 2002. Their turnaround comes as a surprise to most, as they haven’t made any key additions to their roster since last season, nor has the organization had any significant internal changes which could have resulted in such a shift. One key difference for the team is the performance of their quarterback John Kitna, who is having a remarkable season in comparison to his previous work, including last season, in which he threw 21 touchdowns and 22 interceptions, resulting in a rating of 79.9, resulting in a 3-13 finish on the season. This year, however, Kitna is looking like a completely different quarterback; passing for 2,296 yards through 9 games with 12 touchdowns and 8 interceptions; with a completion rate of 67.8% and a quarterback rating of 92.9, which ranks him 4th in the NFC. His main targets this season are former first-round draft pick Roy Williams (49 receptions, 613 yards, 5 touchdowns) and newly acquired Shaun McDonald (44 receptions, 519 yards, 4 touchdowns). Not to be outdone, however, are the tan- dem of wide-receivers Mike Furrey and 2007 first-round pick Calvin Johnson, who have quietly helped the offense, putting up a combined 781 yards with three touchdowns. On the ground, the Lions have been far less successful, as their running game is one of the worst in the NFL, having gained only 744 yards, despite only having 186 attempts, ranking them last in the NFL in that category. When they do run the ball, they turn to running backs Kevin Jones (339 yards, 5 TD) and Tatum Bell (182 yards, 1 TD), combining for one of the worst running back combos in the NFL. While it can be argued that the Lions have been successful this season, a further look at their schedule reveals games against seven teams with a combined record of 27-36, resulting in a rather easy schedule. Their real test is going to come in the second half of the season, where they will be pitted against the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and a second game against the Green Bay Packers on the final day of the season. Their first game against the Packers comes in the form of the Thanksgiving Day Classic, which will be their third game against Green Bay in the last 10 years, in which they will be looking to break the 1-1 tie of the previous two games. The Lions will have their work cut out for them, as the Packers are being led by a young, tough defense, and a grizzled veteran who is finding the fountain of youth while leading the team to their best start (91) since 1996, which was the last time they won the Super Bowl. The Green Bay Packers, who finished with a 4-12 record two seasons ago, are among the great storylines that the NFL has going this year: A young, upstart team with an ageless quarterback is defying the analysts and the odds in defeating their opponents in a rather convincing fashion, while simultaneously making it look as fun as a pick-up game on a Saturday afternoon. The Packers realized that statement three weeks ago, only minutes after the Denver Broncos sent the game into overtime on a last second field goal, when Brett Favre, on the first play in overtime, threw and 82-yard touchdown pass to win the game, sending the team into a frenzy. After the game, Favre would say: “That was fun. I can’t wait to watch the tape.” Indeed, that has been the mantra of the Packers this season, who are currently leading the NFC North, after three straight wins against the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants, and the San Diego Chargers to start the season, culminating in a 34-0 slaughter against the Minnesota Vikings during week 10; a game that saw Favre go 33-46 with 351 yards and 3 touchdowns. That game gave the Green Bay faithful another reason to smile, as it added another “W” to the column and also saw Favre join Dan Marino to become only two quarterbacks in history to pass for 60,000 yards. Favre, at age 38, is one of the biggest reasons that the Packers are atop the NFC North, as he has passed for 2,757 yards (1st in the NFL), 16 touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 96.2, which would rank him as one of the best quarterbacks this season. He is helped out by veteran wide-receiver Donald Driver, who leads the team with 48 receptions and 602 passing yards, while second-year receiver Greg Jennings is putting up good numbers with 27 receptions for 517 yards, while leading the team with six touchdowns. On the ground, however, the Packers have struggled mightily, as they have the worst production out of their backfield in the NFL this season; running for only 697 yards and scoring only six touchdowns from their running backs. However, the Packers have shown some life on the ground in the last three weeks, as rookie running back Ryan Grant has put up more than 100 yards in two of the last three games. Defensively, the Packers have excelled this season, holding their opponents to 306.2 yards per game (10th in NFL), while holding their opponents at bay with 92.9 yards per game on the ground. With the playoffs looming on the horizon, the Packers will turn to Brett Favre once again to lead them to victory on Thanksgiving Day. The Pick: Green Bay Packers: 28 Detroit Lions: 13 *The player stats are through week 10 Steph examines the stats that truly matter... BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor In wake of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I planned on deciding the winning Turkey Day Game team by looking at some biographies and finding out which team had more players that chose Thanksgiving foods as their favorites. Unfortunately, upon trying to do some research I found that finding that type of information on football players is not like finding that information on singers and actors. I can find out Paris Hilton’s weight, (115lbs) and Britney Spears’ shoe size, (6) but I can’t find out what the players of football teams like to eat. Instead, I decided to settle for going on wikipedia.org, searching each team and looking for familiar words. The Detroit Lions were first. I found out that Marvin Gaye tried out for the team in 1970 and two of the team players sang back up on his song “What’s Going On.” I recognized this because of the remake of “What’s Going On” in 2001, featuring Britney Spears and P. Diddy. It’s probably sad that I’ve only heard the remake version and think that it is pretty sweet. Looking at the Green Bay Packer’s Wikipedia entry the only word I really recognized was cheese. Packer’s fans are called “Cheese Heads.” This stood out because as a big fan of Full House I remember Michelle calling Uncle Jesse a Cheese Head. I actually continued to read after this one and saw that the Packers have one of the longest wait lists for season tickets with a wait time of 35 years. Some fans leave their tickets to family members in their wills or put their newborns on the waiting list. I’ve decided that while Marvin Gaye is pretty cool, “Cheese Heads” are way better. They are crazy enough to put newborns on the waiting list for tickets and they were even mentioned on the show Full House. The winner of this game will be the Green Bay Packers because as Michelle Tanner would say, “You’ve got it dude!” �SPORTS NOVEMBER 20, 2007 19 Athlete of the Week Felipe Queiroz BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor Two solid seasons in the 125-pound weight class is the reason he’s ranked sixth in the nation among Division III wrestlers and after manhandling Scrantons’ Scott Puglisi last Tuesday, he may be on his way to another. At the 4:10 mark of the Colonels home match against the Royals, Felipe Queiroz slammed Puglisi to the mat to score a second period pin over Puglisi. Queiroz efforts in the opening match gave the Colonels a 6-0 lead en route to a 41-7 victory over Scranton. “This year when I go out there, I’m looking to pound people,” said Queiroz. “I’m looking to stuff their face in the mat.” After placing second in the King’s Tournament a week prior to their match with the Monarchs, the Colonels were looking to do some damage in their first dual match of the season and Queiroz provided the spark they needed. Last year, Quieroz finished the season with a 19-7 record and went 2-2 in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. He was the lone wrestler from the Colonels roster to compete in national’s, but still manages to think he posted a bad season. Now Quieroz is in his junior season at the 125-pound weight class and believes his opponents should be wellprepared before they step onto the mat with him. “I feel like last year, I wasn’t that focused because it was coming off a good freshman season,” said Queiroz. “I’m hungry now so I’m more focused and ready to go.” In Queiroz debut season as Colonel in 2005-2006, he posted a 26-9 overall record, 10-2 in dual matches and won by way of 11 falls. He took home first-place 15 Total number of points scored by senior captain Katie Cappelloni on Saturday against Rhode Island College. in the King’s Tournament during this season in the 125 pound weight class. In the MAC Championship, Queiroz won first place as the Colonels placed third out seven teams. He wrapped up the 2005-06 season as one of two Colonels representing the team in the NCAA Tournament and placed sixth. After posting back-to-back successful seasons, Queiroz believes the pressure for him to do well lingers on. “There’s always going to be pressure to do better,” said Queiroz. “You have a bullseye on your back and everybody is looking to take you down so there’s pressure on everybody.” Queiroz and the Colonels will be back in action on the road, December 1 for their RIT Tournament. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Freshman center Mackensey O’Hara preparing to make a move on one of her teammates during practice last Friday. CROSS COUNTRY Runners, start your engines. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Wilkes junior wrestler Felipe Queiroz is 6-2 this season, following a 19-7 record last season. For the first time since 1994, Wilkes University will sponsor both men’s and women’s cross country varsity sports in the fall of 2008. Both teams will compete in the Middle Atlantic Conference. Due to lack of players in both sports 13 years ago, Wilkes could no longer sponsor cross country. Nick Wadas will serve as head coach and is in the process of recruiting students and local talent. NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 50 Number of Division III players representing the U.S. against the Mexican National Team on December 8 in Chihuahua, Mexico. Senior All-American Kyle Follweiler will be joining the team. 41 2 Number of points scored by Days remaining until the all wrestlers combined in their Thanksgiving Classic between home bout against Scranton Green Bay and Detroit. The on Tuesday. The Royals were Packers are 8-1, second in the held to seven points. NFC, while the Lions are third with a 6-3 record. �Sports NOVEMBER 20, 2007 20 Colonels Explode 41-7 Over Former Conference Foe BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor The Colonels home performance a week ago might pose as a sign for another successful season for the nationally ranked team. In their first dual match of the season, the 19th ranked Colonels dominated former conference rival, The University of Scranton, en route to a 41-7 win over the Royals. Junior Felipe Queiroz opened the night for the Colonels by pinning Scott Puglisi at the 4:10 mark. The Colonels went up 6-0 after Querirozs’ win. At the 133-pound weight class, freshman Ryan Wilson from Manasquan, NJ, added six more to the scoreboard when he pinned Jeff Kapica after tussling for only 2:10. Three matches later, nationally ranked junior Justin Barowski would take on Mike Guenther at the 157-pound weight class. Barowski, ranked 9th in Division III, spanked Gunether in a 15-1 decision. The Colonels would win four of the last five matches against the Royals following the great start by Quieroz, Wilson and Barowski. Jon Laudenslager received his 44th win in dual matches as Colonel head coach in the teams’ win over Scranton. “The Scranton win was good to get under our belt in front our home crowd,” said the fifth-year head coach. “Seems like we’re getting better everyday. The guys were aggressive, they went after (Scranton) and I thought they wrestled well.” Senior Ryan Feldman put the finishing touches on a successful night for the Colonels with a victory by way of pin after 3:59 against Neil Slocum. “We’re looking tough for how early it is,” said Feldman. “(Winning) gave us confidence although Scranton is not really a powerhouse. But it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. Every year we start good but the finishing has been hard for us.” Last year the Colonels won eight of their initial ten matches before dropping six of their last eight. The Colonels concluded their season at the Metropolitan Conference Championships. The team finished fifth. Queiroz continued wrestling in the NCAA Division III Championships and finished with a record of 2-2. The Colonels wrestled in the East Stroudsburg Open on Saturday. The tournament featured teams from all NCAA programs, such as, Duke, Virginia Tech, Maryland and many others. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Two Colonels getting busy during practice last Friday. The team was preparing for their tournament at East Stroudsburg University the next day. The team combined for a record of 24-25 throughout 10 different weight classes. Freshman Chris Smith from Wantage (NJ) reached the quarterfinal round, the farthest of all of all Colonels. Follweiler Selected to Represent United States BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor Although the curtains closed two weeks ago on the Colonels 2007 football season, Kyle Follweiler has one more scene left on his script. Follweiler was recently selected to play for the American Football Coaches Association’s Divison III All-Star Team. He will be suiting up on December 8th to represent the United States in this years’ Aztec Bowl against the Mexican National Team. Follweiler will be one of 50 Division III seniors on the team. Follweiler, senior All-American from Slatington (PA), was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year for the 2007 season. This is the third season in a row he was chosen for the postseason award. He finished the season with 131 tackles, six sacks and four interceptions. Follweiler finished his career with 434 tackles, a conference championship ring in 2006 and First-Team Defensive honors each season. He was also named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2004. The Aztec Bowl serves as a season-ending game for Mexico’s college football season. This year will be the 11th consecutive year the AFCA created a team to take on Mexico’s top players. The United States is 9-1 alltime against Mexico. Former Widener, Delaware Val- ley and LaSalle head coach, Bill Manlove will coach this year’s team. Manlove was also an assistant coach in the 2002 Aztec Bowl. Estadio Olimpico Universitario , a stadium that seats 22,000 fans on the campus of University of Chihuahua in Mexico, will host the contest. Chitwood Sports Media of Jefferson, Texas will provide a live webcast of the Aztec Bowl. Announcers Charlie Chitwood and Ned Frantangelo will provide commentary for the game on December 8 along with 90-minute preview shows on December 5, 6 and 7. The preview shows begin at the hotel of Team USA each night at 6 p.m. on CST. The game webcast and preview shows can be accessed on afca.com or aztecbowl.com. The Sports Information Department contributed to this report. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 November 20th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 November 20 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/545d5454dd3a2cc95cad6a6ff7fcd77c.pdf c5a17de08f79c31b053f37a86e6b0ab7 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW In This Issue... Issue 11 Special Investigation Bumper Stickers 4 Out Of 3 People Volume 60 www.wilkesbeacon.com DECEMBER 4, 2007 I] Have Trouble With Froctions Page 8 Stressful Finals Page 9 A black and white issue in shades of gray An examination of race in the local community BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor; CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor; MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor; ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief; ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor Editor’s Note After hearing complaints from Wilkes University students of color about treatment they have encountered at local businesses, The Beacon initiated an investigation into the role of race in local customer service. “I went to CVS and was stopped at the door and told to put my school book bag down. And there were other people walking in [the store] with their hand purses. The manager is the one that told us to do it. When that happened, I felt on the outside of society,” said Paul Vaughan, senior criminology major and an African American. The Beacon formed a team of six students - three Caucasian, one African American and two Hispanic - who became customers and prospective job seekers and tested policies and practices at local businesses. The following article reflects the issues that emerged alongside both positive and negative experiences. No backpack policy Nationally, the move to prohibit backpacks at large public gatherings, as well as in businesses, is gaining ground. In a post9/11 world, erring to the side of caution has now become common practice, though some businesses have also adopted no backpack policies in an effort to curb shoplifting and even trade secret theft. Citing security reasons, some schools have moved to prohibit backpacks. For example, Tennessee State University has received criticism for requiring its own students to leave backpacks at the door in its cafeteria (ostensibly to cut down on food theft). Locally, according to representatives at a variety of downtown businesses, policies about backpacks are up to the individual stores. But are such policies uniformly enforced in a race-neutral manner? Based on a tip from a student who observed at a local business that white students were allowed to retain their personal belongings, while See INVESTIGATION page 4 Memorial for Simonis dedicated at Wilkes BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor S'eason 's 13eafin_Js Friday, November 30, friends, family, classmates and Wilkes officials dedicated a bench in memory of Jake Simonis. Simonis was killed on August 1, 2006 in a motorcycle accident outside of Evans Hall the summer before his junior year. Immediately following his death, members of Simonis’s class began raising money for the memorial through the raffle of sports tickets and memorabilia that were donated. From the raffle about $1,300 was raised and given to the class. Many of Simonis’s friends and family spoke at the ceremony. Simonis was known by many for his white Del Sol and his love of country music, and the fact that he “couldn’t walk around campus without saying ‘hi’ to people he knew,” according to close friend Laura Hanna. Page 12 Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 The Beacon/ James Rosato �NEWS DECEMBER 4, 2007 Fire destroys home on New Frederick St. 2 Internet2 First snowfall WB investigation 3 3 4-5 BY JAMIE GWYNN Beacon Staff Writer The fire that gutted 44 New Frederick St. and damaged the second floor of 42 New Frederick St. began at approximately 10:08 p.m. November 26, according to Wilkes-Barre Assistant Fire Chief Jim Clarke. There was no one in the house at the time the fire began. “One of the residents living next door heard what she thought was an explosion, and then she was checking her house and she saw flames...” said Police Sgt. Joseph Novak. Rod Petrovich, who lives on New Frederick St., mentioned that the previous owner allegedly planned to sell the house after the health department shut down the building and that he is currently in a nursing home. “We were kind of figuring this [house] was going to go down. That’s the way this neighborhood is.” When asked about the intentionality of the fire last Monday night, Clarke had no further details. The New Fredrick St. fire is the fourth fire in the area within the past month under investigation. Novak could not confirm if the four fires are related. BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. The Beacon/Jamie Gwynn SG Notes November 28, 2007 BY JAMIE GWYNN Beacon Staff Writer Treasurer’s Report All College: $1,220.96 General: $1,303.30 Special Projects: $1,256 Spirit: $815 Leadership: $3,525.04 Conferences: $9,500 Start-Up: $600 Club Reports The following clubs presented a report to SG. Programming Board Ultimate Frisbee SAVE History Club New Business Winter Weekend Theme - narrowed down to three main themes in no specific order: Movies, Occupation and Superheroes. Survey System for Programming Board - motion passed to renew the system from programming board; takes care of a variety of surveying events for the University. Student Government Meetings - next week is the last Student Government meeting of the semester. Events Winter Weekend - February 22-24 Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Andee Scarantino Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Alison Woody Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �NEWS DECEMBER 4, 2007 3 Internet2 opens new doors for Wilkes BY CANDICE HALLIDAY Beacon Staff Writer provide capabilities that are 3-5 years ahead of the commercial Internet. Like email and the World Wide Web, Internet2 designers hope to expand and capitalize on the posEmbarking on virtual field trips and videoconferencing sibilities of a broader internet. from a desk at home are two of the many things users can Salem explained, “The fascinating thing about it is that do with Internet2. it’s invisible. You do not know you are using it when you In 2006, Wilkes officially became a member of inter- are.” net2, a high speed internet connection providing all stuAside from the web and e-mail, new technologies offered dents and faculty with a broad range of beneficial internet by internet2 allow people to network in a different way. It tools. It allows the Wilkes community to make connec- opens the gate to digital libraries, virtual laboratories, and tions between what is going on here at Wilkes and independent distance learning. Schools can also receive at other schools equipment from other universities. oF,r-.~ around the President Tim Gilmour ex~ nation. plained, “My ~,s;---------i Accordthought was ing to that having Michael such capacity Salem, would proChief Invide faculty formation and students Officer at access to a Wilkes, powerful tool “ Wi l k e s to connect with has a concolleagues across nection the nation. Interwith more net2 is like the interthan 45 state highway network research and provides more rapid and educationtransmission of very large al networks across the messages. This includes globe.” two-way video transmission With these connections, students and that requires significant, constant faculty have access to special databases, distance bandwidth that the internet cannot learning programs and current initiatives of member in- provide.” stitutions. Wilkes is the first University in the Wyoming Valley to offer Internet2 services, but Wilkes receives its connection from the University of Scranton. “This benefits their ability to do research, collaborate, and teach,” explained Salem. Internet2’s main goal is to . ... ,zr-----.J!!l~ ,;~ Join America’s #1 Student Tour Operator CANCUN ACAPULCO JAMAICA BAHAMAS FLORIDA A Wilkes University employee removes snow outside of Capin Hall on Sunday morning following the first snowfall of the season. The inclement weather resulted in Wilkes’ postponement of the Masters of Business Administration weekender final examinations, which were set for Sunday afternoon. Despite last year’s Valentine’s Day storms, approximately 70 percent of PaHomePage.com visitors were not worried about the next winter storm on Sunday afternoon. AccuWeather predicted 2 to 4 inches of snow to fall before the storm was expected to switch to sleet and freezing rain Sunday afternoon and into the evening. On November 28, PennDOT released a new winter weather driving guide and online traveler information section in order to help drivers prepare for the 2007-2008 winter season. The new section includes traffic cameras, real-time weather conditions and advice on how to get your car ready for the winter conditions. Mai.l Room ~HE CITIZE S' VOICE PA I lil!in~ Iii ' NIGi IT FRIDAY K . RD Approx 3:J0 ru 0nm • L:irrt N n La:rt mny be- lillcd. Olll k of Sell Trips, Earn Cash & Travel Free www.ststravel.com STUDENT TRAVEL SERVICES 1-800-648-4849 / www.ststravel.com wilkesbeacon.com STSTRAVEL.COM The Beacon/Jenna Stephens �DECEMBER 4, 2007 NEWS A black and white... INVESTIGATION from FRONT PAGE students of color were not, The Beacon investigative team tested policy by dispatching two Caucasian reporters with backpacks into businesses, and mere moments later, sending a team of one African American reporter and one Hispanic reporter into the businesses, also armed with backpacks. In all cases, the reporters made sure they passed by the front registers and employees and then browsed through the aisles for about five minutes before making a purchase. The first business tested was Boscov’s, located on Main St. just off Public Square on September 20 at approximately 11:30 a.m. Both teams of students wandered through the business with their backpacks on and neither group was approached by employees asking them to remove their backpacks. However, the experience was different at the CVS on South Main St. When the team comprised of students of color entered the business with their backpacks, an employee immediately approached and asked them to remove their backpacks. The male employee said that by taking their backpacks off, it would be “easier for them to shop.” When the group of white students entered the location a few moments later, they passed by the same employee who had asked the first team to remove their backpacks, but this time, the Caucasian team was able to keep their backpacks on while they walked through the aisles. This incident occurred on September 27 at approximetly 12:00 p.m. Members of the investigative team spoke with local employees and were referred to the corporate headquarters for comment. Reporters attempted to contact CVS management at the corporate level on several occasions to ask about the policy and its enforcement; however, no messages were returned. Other businesses tested included Rite Aid, Barnes & Noble, and Walgreens. In each of these cases, the teams of students were treated the same and all were allowed to retain their backpacks while shopping. In none of the aforementioned local businesses is there a visible policy or sign that mandates customers remove backpacks before fully entering the store. In addition, in a search of the websites for each business, there are no stated policies regarding backpack removal. After The Beacon contacted the corporate offices of all businesses they were told that it is generally up to each individual store. Employment applications Team members also sought to garner employment applications at local businesses. In the case of CVS, RiteAid, and Walgreens the students were routinely referred to the national websites for application materials and told they needed to initiate the process there. There was no reported difference in the treatment of the students when they were referred to the websites for applications. However, on September 20 at approximately 12:00 p.m. the African American reporter asked for an employment application at Boscov’s. He was told by a Boscov’s employee that the store was not hiring and was not given an application after asking for one. When a white male reporter asked for an application from the same female employee shortly after the first reporter was turned down, she said Boscov’s was not currently hiring but told him that he should apply during the seasonal period and gave him an application. A short time later a Hispanic female went to the same woman and experienced hesitation when asking for an application. When the female asked for the application, the woman told her, “Yes. We have applications but we are not taking them until late October- November. You might want to come then.” After much persistence, another employee of Boscov’s urged the woman who had spoken to all three reporters to give the Hispanic female an application. Laurie Langan, a representative from Boscov’s, said that historically 17% of Boscov’s employees have been minorities. Langan also mentioned that Boscov’s is an equal opportunity employer and the incident involving the reporter of color with an application “will be dealt with.” Langan added that when a person comes into Boscov’s asking for an application, they should be directed to the human resource office during the day, and she assured The Beacon that officials would reiterate the company’s policies to their employees. 4 �DECEMBER 4, 2007 NEWS 5 issue in shades of gray Further evidence Unfortunately there are no up-to-date statistics that illustrate the breakdown of ethnic population in the city of WilkesBarre; however The Beacon was able to obtain figures from the 2006 American Community Survey, which states that 5.3% of the total population of Luzerne County self-defined as being of race other than “white.” Also, Wilkes University’s Fact Book for the 2007-2008 school year states that 10.9% of the total student population at Wilkes listed themselves as an ethnicity other than “Caucasian.” But the U.S. Census figures suggest that the nation as a whole, and NEPA specifically, will continue to see dramatic increases in ethnic minority populations in the workforce, schools, and suburban neighborhoods. Ron Felton, NAACP local chapter president and long-time Wilkes-Barre resident, said that he predicted incidents like these occurring in the area. “I think there have been greater challenges for the majority community with the... influx of minorities in the city of Wilkes-Barre and surrounding areas. I knew as the number of minorities increased, there would be growing pains for them,” he said. Felton used an example from this year’s Wilkes-Barre Christmas parade to illustrate that racism remains alive and well in the community. “There is racial tension. They [African-American students from Meyers High School Step Team] were invited to the annual Christmas parade. They were in the parade on November 17 and there were yells from bystanders using racial slurs… These young people were exposed to the words that we hoped to lay to rest.” Local police and school officials have acknowledged they are investigating the reported incidents. Vaughan also recalled an incident when he encountered racial slurs. “I was just walking [from A Plus on Academy Street] and two men opened their car windows and screamed out ‘nigger’ as they drove by. I was just thinking about what year it was and how long ago the word ‘nigger’ was accepted in society but it’s nothing you can do about it,” said Vaughan. Several months ago, Felton and other local leaders held a public ceremony that officially aimed to “bury the n-word.” Taking action Dr. Tim Gilmour, Wilkes University President and Chair of the Chamber of Business and Industry Board, said, “I don’t think that anyone should accept mistreatment. That said, sometimes you need to be fairly sensible to what kind of confrontation you have. My feeling is that if I had [encountered] the situation, let’s say, at CVS, I would bring it to the attention of the manager forthwith and say, ‘is this your policy?’ If it’s not, the Chamber has a diversity committee and it certainly should be reported to the Chamber.” Dr. Maria Suarez, Special Assistant to the President for Multicultural and Community Affairs, also commented on what students can do when encountering these types of scenarios. “I would tell the student to first of all let us know. Part of our responsibility is to be an institution that serves this community.” Suarez also suggested that students should seek support from the university through the support offices or on campus student groups. “As a person of color I can say that when these things happen, it can affect the way you feel about yourself in a setting... and [let them] know that they are not alone…” she said. “It is important for [students] to participate in the activities that we have, because sharing those feelings of not feeling welcome or feeling that this is just a little bit different than where we came from, can by itself be comforting. So I encourage them to just seek us out…” Jane Ashton, Director of Workforce Development for the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, said that when the Chamber hears of incidents where discrimination is involved, they “have an internal discussion,” she said. Then depending on the scenario they will choose their next course of action. One reason for this, Ashton said, is that “it is hard when the legal system is involved.” Ashton added that the Chamber tries to get local employers to “embrace diversity,” and that the chamber was “key” in the formation of Luzerne County’s Diversity Task Force. Suarez also noted that the community should want to be known as a welcoming place, because the way the WilkesBarre area is perceived by others affects its economic development. “This is a vibrant community that is actually much more diverse than people think,” she said. After numerous attempts to contact Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton, he refused comment on the investigation. In an area where only 5.3% of the population is not Caucasian, students are bound to run into individuals who do not treat them as equally as other people. Felton said the best thing for the students is to tell them what to expect. “When you come into an area where you are the racial minority, don’t be surprised if you meet people who are not as welcoming. There are a few good people, but then there are some knuckleheads. There are businesses that might focus on you because you stand out, and you’re different, and that makes us a target in many places. And, if you feel that they’re watching you, let them know that you know that they’re watching.” * Valerie Martinez contributed to this story �Opinion Meat Industry Hazards Bumper Sticker Dilemma Angry Rant: Christmas DECEMBER 4, 2007 6 \. Is online social networking all its “poked” up to be? BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD Over the past few years, there have been an alarming number of stories reporting that online social networks are where predators hide. As a result, parents limit the amount of exposure their kids have to cyberspace. Of course, any parent would be interested in protecting their child, but is preventing a child from visiting online social sites the right way to handle it? According to Dr. Brendesha Tynes, a psychology professor at the University of Illinois, the answer is no. In fact, she argues that allowing adolescents to get involved in an online social network may offer benefits such as “enhancing cognitive skills and promoting positive social skills.” But online social networks are not just for kids. An overwhelming majority of college students also actively engage in social sites such as MySpace, Friendster, and Facebook. One study conducted in California noted that 85% of college students have a Facebook profile and 60% of them log into their account on a daily basis. We contend that online social networks offer not only the opportunity to enhance social skills, but are also a way to create important connections that can lead to internships, jobs, and even advance academics. Yes, Facebook and MySpace can help users to locate the hot parties, but connection with others using these vehicles can also help the user find apartments for rent or buy a used textbook. However, some caution is advisable, particularly as parents consider online social networks potential effects on younger teens and adolescents. While experts like Tynes have offered compelling arguments that online social networks can be beneficial, there are also vehement rebuttals among equally respected sources. Of greatest concern is that, just as in all face-to-face social interactions, the reality is that people can be cruel and abusive to one another. This is especially true among young people. According to a recent CNN article, over 1,500 children between the ages of 10 and 15 were surveyed in a recent study and the results indicated that an alarming 34% of those surveyed said that they had been verbally harassed online at least one time in the past year. How can social networks break down social ties? Well, in one disturbing case, online harassment led to a 13-year old’s recent suicide. The teen, Megan Meir, engaged in cyber conversations with someone she believed to be her new 16-year old MySpace friend “Josh Evans.” But inexplicably, “Josh” ended the cyber relationship after six weeks, telling Megan that he had heard she was “cruel” and didn’t want to be friends with her as a result. A distraught Megan committed suicide on October 16. Following Megan’s death, her parents learned that “Josh Evans” had been fabricated by one of Megan’s girlfriends and her 7 8 8 girlfriend’s mother. Their intent was to find out what Megan would say about her friend online. In response to Megan’s death, the small town of Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, passed an ordinance making online harassment a misdemeanor violation punishable by a monetary fine and jail time. Granted, the Missouri case is extreme, but it aptly illustrates that there is no clear answer to the “benefits or drawbacks” conversation on online social networks. As is the case for all social interaction, face-to-face, telephone conversation, non-verbal signals or written interaction, humans are just that, human. This means that great leaps may well be made forward to advance individuals and groups. But it also means that abuses will occur and sometimes lead to tragedy. It is therefore necessary to be vigilant in our efforts to punish the abusers and celebrate those who are creative enough to advance us using this technology. Beacon Poll Results The following are results of a poll that The Beacon conducted online this past week. The poll was unscientific, and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on campus. Results are based on 60 responses. The Beacon asked: Who has been the most dominant sports athlete or team in the past ten years? • Tiger Woods-28% • Jeff Gordon-3% • Venus & Serena Williams-2% • Michael Phelps-5% • Roger Federer-5% • Lance Armstrong-17% • NY Yankees-13% • LA Lakers-3% • NE Patriots-13% • Other-10% Should the drinking age be determined by age or maturity? BY GINO TROIANI Beacon Photo Staff The other day I couldn’t help but overhear two students from Wilkes discussing the weekend they had out at a party. As I listened, one of the kids began telling a story about how he drank too much and spent the whole night throwing his guts up. I laughed to myself, but that’s not the funny part. Instead of stopping there, this big shot kept talking about throwing up, and it almost seemed like he was actually trying to glorify his actions, acting as if everyone would be impressed with himWhat? I’m sorry, did I miss something? Is it now cool to drink to the point that you throw up, and then brag about it? Now I’m definitely not trying to condemn going out and having a good time. God knows that I do it just as much, if not more than the average college kid. But I get the impression that a large number of young adults are both uneducated and tremendously immature when they are thrown into a ‘party’ environment. In America we grow up with the government and a majority of parents harping about how alcohol consumption is a big no-no for anyone under the age of 21. To me, this silly law makes no sense to say that as soon as someone reaches a certain age, they are automatically mature, and the consumption of alcohol is magically accepted. My perspective is that because the government and our culture has instated a drinking age, as soon as underage citizens get their hands on this forbidden potion that has been kept from them for so long, the majority of them act out and do not know how to pres- In today’s society, I think the ent themselves in a respectable ily Italian family, alcohol wasn’t and mature manner--much like the that big of a deal for me. If I problem is that parents don’t want fool I overheard bragging about wanted to sample a drink, I was to be parents. They don’t realize allowed. Isn’t it logical that if we that explaining about alcohol usdrinking too much. The average European is ex- forbid young adults to do some- age can be more beneficial than posed to beer, wine and hard liquor thing, they are going to want to do restricting their children while growing up. from a young age. The consump- it more? tion of alcohol is publicly legal at the ripe age of 16 in many countries. It is not uncommon to see someone have a glass of wine at the dinner table regardless of their age. Since alcoholic beverages are nothing more than just another drink in this culture, young adults grow up without the negative connotation that America stamps on alcohol, and instead are taught respect and moderation for the substance. The Beacon/Mark Congdon Jr. Growing up in a primar- Wilkes University students drinking on South Street. �OPINION DECEMBER 4, 2007 7 Meat industry poses health risks to consumers & animals BY LAUREN SALEM Beacon Staff Writer The meat sold in school lunches, purchased by consumers in grocery stores, and ordered from fast food restaurants comes from a massive rectangular, storieshigh, gray building, with no windows called the slaughterhouse. According to Eric Schlosser, author of the book Fast Food Nation, 5,000 cattle enter the slaughterhouse every day, never to see light again. Prior to the “final journey,” though, animals are kept in feedlots and exposed to unbearable weather conditions according to the article “Health” posted by the sustainabletable.org. They are often closely packed together, have short ropes tied around their necks, and are forced to sit in their own manure receiving little sunlight or fresh air. Such pre-slaughter practice has promoted the spread of disease, which makes meat industry highly dependent upon antibiotics. The Union of Concerned Scientists estimated in the article “Health” that 4.5 million pounds of antibiotics are used in human medical treatments, while 24.6 million pounds are used in animal feed. Experts have suggested that the overuse of antibiotics in animal feed may be the cause of human drug resistance, among other things. Systematic mutilations like de-beaking chickens and cutting off cow tails is another way meat industry maintain animal health. Animals like cattle are fed high-calorie grain food as well as dead pigs, horses, and chickens to fatten the cattle while keeping the cost down according to Schlosser. Dairy cows are injected with rBGH, which is a growth hormone that causes the cattle to produce mass quantities of milk. “Health” argued that the present methods of animal mistreatment result in poor quality meat. Crowded feed lots cause animal stress, which lowers lactic acid in the muscles producing dark firm and dry meat (DFD). DFD meat has poor taste, dark coloration, short shelf live, an abnormally high pH value, and may carry bacteria and E. coli that cause food poisoning to humans. The antibiotics given to animals do not treat diseases, because the bacterium becomes resistant to the antibiotics and according “Health,” 14,000 American die every year from drug resistant infections. Growth hormone traces found in dairy products, which put people at greater risk for developing breast, colon, and prostate cancer, due to IGF-1 (a natural growth factor), are why growth hormones were banned in Canada. The alternative to factory produced meat is all-natural meat from independent family farms, which is “meat with benefits” according to Kate Clancy, a prevents diseases. Family farmers permit their animals to carry out their natural behaviors in their natural environments and do not use antibiotics, growth hormones, or systematic quality meat that is tender, flavorful, and less likely to carry harmful bacterium. It’s time the meat industry changes and sets higher standards for a better quality of meat, and adapts a system that isn’t as cruel as the current one. I urge consumers to contact federal representatives and senators and encourage them to pass laws that will help eliminate these problems. In addition, consumers have a choice and can purchase meat that is specifically labeled “antibiotic-free,” “organic,” or “family farm raised.” If consumers take The Beacon/Jenna Stephens a stand and refuse This cow was saved and is now on a petting farm. to purchase beef, pork, and poultry without such labels, the industry will mutilations to promote animal health. This be forced to review its practices and make decreases animal stress resulting in better change. What do YOU think? The Beacon/Jenna Stephens nutritionist who spoke to Time magazine. Independent farmers feed their cattle grass, which is low in starch and what they naturally eat, instead of dead animals that transmit deadly diseases like BSE. Grass fed meat is low in saturated fat and high in Omega-3 fatty acid, which is the healthy fat found in salmon that prevents heart disease and strengthens the immune system. It also contains linoleic acid, which prevents breast caner and diabetes and is also high in vitamins A and E, which l"I,..;:; :s r,J;,ul O\,ls.11..,~e "'""'-+ .\-\-,_ \-e.J .<:; °' ~e"'-v~o· wL..os<..o"Ll c~;,..e wo.S \., JI ow kec- c.k"" -to """"' e"'" s'.\-S~eJ loe.c.,.c f'l.,~.,_ ... .,...J. j->e<>f\e. ~ ~~e The Beacon wants your voice to be heard. Your Voices is the opportunity for students to voice their concern. If you want your voice to be heard, please contact The Beacon with the following information: 1 Contact information including your email address and a phone number where you can be reached 2 Your name, major, and year 3 Your opinion thebeacon.oped@gmail.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for space and content. ~o'"- A Sight for Sore Eyes by Aleksander Lapinski �DECEMBER 4, 2007 OPINION 8 BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor It’s Christmas time again, and you know what that means: Humane organizations peddling for money and volunteer work to help those who are “less fortunate.” Whatever. You also hear people say that people need to put the “Christ” back in Christmas, because the real meaning of Christmas is lost in the materialism and mainstreaming of the holiday season. Fair enough, that’s all well and good, and I’m all about things being real. However, this season, I’m taking a different approach. I say let’s put the ‘Mas’ back in Christmas. Mas, meaning “more” in Spanish, meaning: Let’s put the more back in Christmas. That’s right, this season I’m all about the getting. More trees, more presents, less sentimental Christmas shows that the television networks try to cram down our throats, trying to teach us what the real meaning of Christmas is, despite hocking the very products that speak directly against the real meaning. So this season, I’m foregoing the “It’s not the getting… it’s the giving” approach, and taking the “Give me that…and that…and that.” Simple, right? So, in honor of my recent loss of values and subsequent addiction to materialism, I present to you My 2008 Christmas Wish List. 1. A Faberge Egg: I don’t know what they are or what their purpose is, I just want to be able to say that I own one. 2. A solid gold toilet: I want a crapper that’s constructed out of 24 carat gold, with Evian water in the tank and a diamond encrusted flushing handle. Also, the same guy who did K.I.T.T. on “Knight Rider” will provide the voice of the toilet, which will hurl insults at unsuspecting users: “Whoa, what did you eat?” or “You might want to get checked out!” or “So…you want to hang out sometime?” 3. Maroon 5’s It Won’t Be Soon Before Too Long: I don’t really want this, I just needed a forum to say that Maroon 5 sucks. Seriously, Adam Levine sounds like Haley Joel Osment when he was going through puberty. 4. Season five of “The Golden Girls” on DVD: Oh yes, the season where Dorothy and Sophia enter a mother-daughter beauty pageant at Shady Pines. That one was hilarious! Don’t judge me. 5. Scarlett Johansson: Yeah, you know what’s up. 6. The Godfather starring Christopher Walken: How awesome would it be to see the greatest film of our time as a one-man show starring the greatest actor of our time? The answer: VERY awesome. 7. Dane Cook’s Vicious Circle on DVD: You know…the version that was actually funny. 8. A real version of Optimus Prime: Honestly, how hard can it be to get a Peterbilt 379 truck to transform into a giant robot who is leading an army of other robots against another army of evil robots because their home planet got destroyed? Someone needs to look into this. 9. A Universal Remote…THAT ACTUALLY CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE! 10. A free college education: Hint, hint, Wilkes University administrators. 11. Peace on Earth: Honestly, I know we like to have fun here in The Angry Rant, but if there is one thing that I can wish and hope for all people of this world, regardless of sex, creed or race…it’s Peace… HA! Just kidding. Actually, I want a Yo-Yo. Courtesy: www.spamula.net The Angry Rant: Ho-Ho-Holidays Happy Christmas. What is your bumper telling people? BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor Ever since cars were invented, people have put stupid things on them to dress them up. Drivers hang bandanas, leis, and fuzzy dice from their rear view mirrors. They stick mini football helmets and spherical smiley faces on their antenna. And some even put stickers on their windows that look like bullet holes or as though a baseball has been thrown through the glass. But the thing that really bothers me most is bumper stickers. People put bizarre quotes, labels, offensive messages, and blatantly obvious statements on their bumpers, up the back sides of their cars and sometimes on the sides. Ah, a true testament to the mobile literate. So what have we become proud to announce on our cars? One type of bumper sticker that I see most often is what I call the “useless statement” bumper sticker. For example, “War is not the answer” is a useless statement. Through such a bumper sticker, people articulate their lack of support for the war, and it’s fine that they don’t believe in war. That’s their prerogative. But such a message is simply preaching to the choir. A lot of people don’t support the war, but a bumper sticker isn’t going to change anything. George Bush isn’t going to see that sticker and think, “Wow, that guy is right. I am going to outlaw war.” The next category of bumper sticker is what I call “the demands.” If I read something on the back of someone’s car, chances are that I’m not going to obey whatever the bumper sticker demands I do. One of my favorite demanding bumper stickers says, “Have a happy childhood.” Really? I wasn’t aware that I was in control of that. And I am an adult now. Chances are that any children in the vehicle are sitting in the back where they can’t see the stupid bumper sticker, nor are they able to read it if they could see it. “Hang up and drive” is another stupid demand. I don’t think that laws preventing driving and cell phone use actually stop people who drive and talk on their phones. Honestly, I think that listening to the radio in the car is just as bad. I know that every time I’m driving my car, I am blasting my music and singing at the top of my lungs, sometimes even doing a little car dancing. You never see a bumper sticker that says, “Stop singing and dancing and drive.” While bumper stickers that label the driver as “Vegan” or “Peacemonger” are nonthreatening, when you see one that says “Insane,” it is a cause for concern. If the person were actually insane, they probably wouldn’t be driving. If they think that they are insane they probably shouldn’t be driving. Finally, there are the bumper stickers that no one should display on their vehicle. A person with a sticker that says “Drugs lead nowhere, but it’s the scenic route,” is just begging to be pulled over on grounds of suspicion. If drivers are going to do drugs, that sounds like a personal problem and something that should probably be kept private, not announced on the back of a vehicle for police, children and any sane human being to read. “White trash” is another great example of something that should never be displayed on the back of a vehicle. Why would anyone be proud to be poor and uneducated? If that were the case for me, I would probably try to hide that as best as I could, not announce it. Regardless, cars that are covered in bumper stickers just look trashy. It is just sad that people are willing to display their hatred, intolerance and stupidity on the back of their cars. Even though some bumper stickers are not bad, do the world a favor and refrain from displaying them. They only ruin the paint anyway. �LIFESTYLES DECEMBER 4, 2007 Student of the Week Yellowstone experience 10 11 9 Surviving the stresses of the end of semester crunch BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor For nearly four months, that physics textbook may have sat peacefully undisturbed on your desk, its plastic wrapping still intact. Or maybe it’s holding up the wobbly side of your bed. Whatever its function may have been, if you weren’t using it to study throughout the semester, you’re probably feeling a little panicky now. Finals week is fast approaching. The official starting date for final exams is December 11, but students are already feeling the burden of a packed schedule. The last few weeks of the semester and finals week bring exams, papers, presentations, and more than a little stress. “Stress is our response to any situation or event that requires adjustment or change,” said Susan Biskup, a counselor at the Wilkes counseling center. “If we are not prepared to handle that adjustment physically, emotionally, psychologically, and behaviorally, we will affect the outcome. Such is the case with grades.” A survey of over 500 college students conducted by the Wrigley company in March found that nearly half the students reported feeling more stressed by finals than by choosing a major or by conflicts with friends or roommates. Forty-four percent of students consider themselves last-minute crammers, while only three percent said they never procrastinate during finals. Finals week can be especially stressful to freshmen who are unaware of what to expect. T h e transition to a new school, new friends, and a new way of life can be stressful enough, and the addition of a week-long period of high-stakes exams only adds to it. Woody Covington, a freshman elementary education major, said that he is not overly worried about his exams, but he is anxious to get through them. He believes they will be different from what he experienced in high school. “Finals were like a large chapter test,” he said. “I never stressed over them. I studied about a couple hours for each.” For his first experience with college finals, Covington plans to increase the time he spends studying to days rather than hours. He intends to study about two days for each final, depending on the amount of information he remembers for each course. “I am worried about how hard my math final will be, because we learned so much new information in a short amount of time,” Covington said. “My math final will be one of the tougher ones.” Procrastination and the following period of cramming can cause stress for students, which can subsequently make it difficult to keep their minds on task. Biskup believes it is important for students to learn effective ways of managing stress, since stress is a necessary part of life. “We cannot and would not want to eliminate all sources of stress, as that is what moves us forward,” Biskup said. “Learning positive ways to cope with stress by employing effective physical, cognitive, and behavioral coping strategies is something we could take with us for the rest of our lives in various environments.” Positive ways students can deal with stress include relaxing breathing exercises, learning how to meditate, and employing a rational way of looking at problems. Students should set achievable goals and try to maintain a balance between academic, social, and work commitments. During times of intense studying, students shouldn’t be afraid to put the books down for awhile, get a change of scenery, and interact with friends. “I usually manage my stress by just taking a break and chilling out,” said Covington. Physical exercise is also important because it can relax the body as well as the mind. Engaging in 30 minutes of enjoyable exercise a day can release tension and put students in a better frame of mind to hit the books. Another way students can reduce stress is by getting the right amount of sleep. Biskup The Beacon/Jenna Stephens Forty-four percent of college students admit cramming regularly for final exams, while only three percent say they never procrastinate. said that most college students function best with nine hours of sleep, but the amount necessary is different for each person. Covington intends to keep his sleep schedule as uninterrupted as possible, as not to add to the stress of finals week. “I plan on getting the same amount as usual, about six to seven hours a night,” he said. However, getting too little sleep can make focusing on studying difficult. When exams loom near, many students choose last-minute studying over sleep, and end up pulling all-nighters. Biskup acknowledged that it may not be realistic for students to get the recommended nine hours of sleep each night, especially during finals week. Instead, she said energy drinks and supplements are acceptable if used in moderation. Naps can also be beneficial if they are not used as a mode of procrastination. Biskup recommends students nap less than an hour, so they can wake up reenergized without feeling groggy. “I do not recommend taking a nap without setting an alarm because this can sabotage our study plans, leading to more stress if we end up sleeping much longer than planned,” Biskup said. “Be aware of what has worked for you in the past and use those strategies.” Students can make the most out of study time by eating a balanced diet. When they feel stressed and lack sleep, their bodies crave sugary, starchy foods like chips and candy. “These foods give us more short-term energy, but they ultimately make us feel more tired,” said Biskup. Students can often be sucked into negative coping strategies that they believe to be beneficial. Negative strategies include smoking, using drugs, and partaking in other addictive behaviors. One of the most popular--though detrimental--strategies is drinking alcohol to relieve stress. Although students drink to reduce stress and forget about problems, alcohol produces physiological stress in the body that mimics the response of other stressors. “It is paradoxical to engage in an activity that produces effects similar to those we are trying to relieve,” Biskup said. “They get the false impression that alcohol is relieving their stress, when in fact it is producing more stress on their bodies, impairing their ability to cope and study effectively.” The best way students can deal with the stress of finals week is to avoid negative coping strategies and employ positive behavior modifications and ways of thinking. “Keep a sense of humor through it all,” Biskup advised. “Remember that grades are important, but we are so much more than our grades.” �LIFESTYLES 10 Student of the Week: Melissa Bugdal BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Staff Writer When most students decide on an academic major and minor, their choices often tend to be in similar field of study. But for Wilkes junior Melissa Bugdal, her love of two decidedly different subject areas carried over to her college career. Now, the English major (with a minor in biology) is putting her varied skill set to work around campus in a number of extracurricular activities. In the English field, Bugdal was one of the founding staff members of “The Inkwell,” the quarterly newsletter of the English department, which debuted last school year. In addition to serving as co-managing editor for the publication, she is also a writing mentor for English 101 classes at Wilkes. While working with the freshmen students in the classroom to improve their writing, she also works as a consultant in the writing center. On the biology side, Bugdal has spent a chunk of time working as a research assistant with Dr. Michael Steele, professor of biology at Wilkes and an internationally-recognized expert on squirrels. She spent the better part of last summer working on a research team led by Steele to study squirrels in the Wilkes-Barre area. In addition to her writing and research, Bugdal also serves as an orientation leader/e-mentor for incoming freshmen, and an ambassador for the English department. DECEMBER 4, 2007 For her ambitious slate of extracurricular activities, The Beacon chose Bugdal as this week’s Student of the Week. The Beacon: When you came to Wilkes, what made you want to study two subjects as different as English and biology? Bugdal: I’ve always loved English; even from the time I was very young and would write short stories all the time. When I got to high school, I took an avid interest in science and biology, and I thought it would be neat to combine them in my college education and try to prepare myself for a career involving both subject areas ~ -f h~ f!nkwitll """"llll\<"""'p'"2'an\ The Beacon: You were one of the Courtesy Melissa Bugdal founding staff members of the English department newsletter, “The Inkwell.” How did you get in- worked on a project in the local area for the duration of volved with the publication right from the start? my break. Our team is actually starting a new project next Bugdal: Dr. Herbert-Leiter, one of our faculty advisers, week, and over the summer we’ll probably continue the approached me last year and told me about the concept. She research we started last summer. It’s been a great way to said I may want to get involved, so I attended the first meet- work with the instructors and other students in a real-world ing, and I’ve been on board ever since. It’s been a really setting. neat process- all the staffers have learned a lot since the beginning, and it’s been a lot The Beacon: Can you tell us some of the benefits for of fun along the way. students of working on a project such as this? Bugdal: It’s a great way to get out into the community ·. E . AT Y OUR The Beacon: How has “The and meet new people, and get hands-on learning experi. TIIlS . Inkwell” grown and devel- ence that isn’t always possible in a classroom. It also helps oped since its start, and as greatly in learning how to manage your time and get all co-managing editor, what ex- your work done as an undergraduate. actly are your responsibilities for the publication? The Beacon: You talked earlier about being a writing Bugdal: The managing edi- mentor for English 101 students, what exactly do you do ''Live Ai:oustic Music" tors are responsible for mak- in that role? Wednesday night in our cafe~ ing the final edits on pieces Bugdal: I spend time in an English 101 class, where I that are sent along to us by work with the students in their classes to improve their ~ cemlxr 5tl-i the copy editors before they writing. I also have designated hours that I spend in the 6:30 -8:30pm are placed in the layouts prior writing center to meet with those students and help them ''Dealers in W:ares:' 1 to the publication of each is- one-on-one with their assignments. Since every student sue. At first, we only pub- takes that class, it allows me to see a broad range of writlished one issue per semester, ing skills and help students of all skill levels improve their ''Three Imaginary Boys'' but now we realize that we’re writing. Friday, November 2nd capable of doing two issues per semester, so that is our The Beacon: You also serve many incoming students as 7 :30-10 :30pm current output. both an admissions ambassador and an e-mentor/orientaLive Acoustic music tion leader. How have you enjoyed working in those roles The Beacon: On the sci- with both prospective and incoming students? NEW ITEMS: ence side, you’ve served as a Bugdal: I really enjoy my time at Wilkes, and going 3X5 PORCH FLAGS WITH MASC OT research assistant to Dr. Mike back to my own days in those roles, it’s really rewarding to Steele, an expert on squirrels. be able to showcase the school to prospective students and IN FULL COLOR AND CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT~ Can you give us some insight their families, and to help incoming students adjust to life on that? here on-campus in their first year. Bugdal: I fi rst became inDoo't forget to, pid 1.1ip a ••Fre.qutut Bi ycr Cac(r at, volved with the research The Beacon: In the future, what direction do you see · DOLLA · a:npr~l'C in,,o ur stoi-~! . through one of Dr. Steele’s yourself headed in after graduation? classes, when he asked for Bugdal: I’m keeping my options open, so we’ll see what some volunteers on a research happens further down the road. At this point though, I’d project. My involvement grew really like to look into some form of scientific writing and a lot this last summer, when I editing. ·.·.o s too �DECEMBER 4, 2007 LIFESTYLES 11 Students broaden perspectives in Yellowstone geologic investigation BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Lifestyles Editor From June 16-27, six Wilkes University students had the opportunity to “work on one of the most potent volcanic centers on the planet,” Dr. Sid Halsor, professor of geology and leader of this specific research project, said recently. The exotic destination that Halsor described is, of course, Yellowstone National Park. The group of students traveled to Bozman, Montana, to survey and measure small shifts in the land surface as part of an annual study conducted by Eastern Illinois University. Halsor explained, “The survey is conducted on an annual basis and is the type of survey used by geologists to monitor active volcanoes… Our team also explored the geology of Yellowstone by way of long hikes into the back country, including several ascents to the summits of high peaks.” Yellowstone National Park became the world’s first national park in 1872. It spans an area of 3,472 square miles and is comprised of lakes, canyons, rivers and mountain ranges. Halsor justified the importance of Yellowstone to this type of geologic research. “Yellowstone is the site of one of the largest super-volcanoes in the world and there is no reason not to expect that the past colossal eruptions will be repeated in the future,” he said. The team from Wilkes led a high-precision global positioning system (GPS) to measure the movement of land in response to the passage of heat through the earth’s crust. According to Halsor, this is the same heat that drives geothermal features such as Old Faithful. Students who participated on the research team expressed overwhelming enthusiasm about the experience. They also characterized the experience with such words as “amazing and unforgettable.” Emil Helfer, senior environmental engineering major, described his first encounter with scenic Yellowstone. “The thing that really blew my mind was that when we landed [in Montana], we were at a startling altitude of over 5,000 feet. [The tallest mountain in our local region is barely 2,000 feet.] To see these huge mountains around you, and know that you’re already twice as high as you were back home, it was like ‘Wow!’” “Getting to go to Yellowstone was an amazing experience. The area is so different from anything I have seen around here on the east coast. The mountains were so massive and the surrounding area is so flat that all you can see around you in the distance is these huge, dark-colored mountains,” added Helfer. Drexel Siok, junior earth and environmental sciences major, said, “Having never left the east coast, I learned a lot about the western United States and its geology. I learned of the significance of Yellowstone and its impact over time. I had heard so much about Yellowstone and Old Faithful, but I never thought that I would actually get to visit them and… see parts of it that most tourists do not get to see.” Helfer explained the students’ roles in the research. “We set up three GPS units running simultaneously to gain data over four hour intervals. We took the data and then packed up to move to the next location,” he said. He added that the atmosphere of Yellowstone made the research fun, rather than tiring. “After doing this for two straight days, through the night and everything, you would imagine that the whole team would be rather tired. For me, though, it was like there was something in the air out there because, after a short nap, I was totally refreshed.” Photo Courtesy Katie Ambrose Six Wilkes University students traveled to Yellowstone National Park over summer break to research and monitor active volcanoes. Pictured from left to right are: Emil Helfer, Katie Ambrose, Dustin Biondi, Professor of Geology Sid Halsor, Jen Turney, Drexel Siok, and Joe Wilde. The annual survey measured small shifts in the land surface as part of an annual study conducted by Eastern Illionois University in conjuction with Wilkes. Both students also understood that the benefits and knowledge they received as participants in this research would impact their studies upon their return. “I benefited a lot from this experience, being an earth and environmental science major,” said Siok. “I was able to see how technology is being applied to [these] areas of geology. Being able to participate in this research project opened me up to an entire new field of geology and GPS.” The research project was funded by a mentoring grant and Wilkes was granted special permission to study within the park, which is “extremely hard to get,” according to Helfer. “Being selected to go out and work for this project is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me… The project itself is special because there is no one else attempting to study the yearly movements of Yellowstone National Park as we are,” added Helfer. Halsor agreed that the students who went to Yellowstone were able to apply concepts they learned in their courses at Wilkes to one of North America’s premiere geologic localities. “They learn how GPS technology is used to monitor active volcanic systems, which is an experience usually reserved for graduate level students,” said Halsor. “They also develop leadership skills while mentoring other undergraduates during the survey. “Furthermore, they got to experience the pristine wilderness and wildlife away from the crowds while hiking and climbing in the rugged backcountry,” Halsor added. Helfer described the itinerary of one of those hikes. “The trail starts in the woods and after awhile turns into switchbacks, which seemed to last forever. Then, there would be a huge bolder field where you would have to make your own trail. Suddenly, you are then surrounded by snow… After we reached our final point, we would turn around and slide down the snow bank, where I would sit on the snow and push off, using an ice axe to slow my descent,” he said. Siok acknowledged, “Although it was hectic at times, being able to participate in the survey was a lot of fun, especially with the constant threat of wildlife around every corner. I had an amazing time while at Yellowstone, not only participating in the research project, but with the other students that went… I will never be able to thank Dr. Halsor enough for giving me the opportunity to go to Yellowstone.” Helfer added, “I learned so much about what can be accomplished with hard work and dedication to an idea. I was able to see things that I may never see again, things that a picture will never do justice and things that need to be preserved so that people a hundred years from now can go out and enjoy it themselves.” �A&E Manuscript/Chorus Game thing Crossword/Website DECEMBER 4, 2007 13 14 15 SEASON1S BEATIN6S A simple offering of alternative holiday flicks BY MIKE WILLIAMS Beacon Staff Writer Plug in the lights and decorate the tree, wrap the presents and hang the mistletoe, and make way for those flying reindeer and the jolly old fat man in the red suit. ‘Tis the season, and with it comes all of the same old, beloved, tried and true holiday traditions that we hold so dear. Just as we have become accustomed to all of the aforementioned Yuletide activities, there are some movies that have become so deeply engrained in holiday traditions, that the season just wouldn’t be complete without them. How could we let the holidays go by without listening to that little kid talk about what happens to angels every time a bell rings? It just wouldn’t be Christmas without seeing Ralphy walk down the steps, head hung low, in the “Pink Nightmare” bunny suit. And we can’t forget to watch Clark Griswald trudging his family through the snow in order to find the perfect tree or a bathrobe clad Cousin Eddie emptying his RV’s toilet into a storm drain and exclaiming to a stunned, yuppie neighbor “Merry Christmas! S***** was full!” Yes, these films are certainly as important to the holidays as presents and eggnog; however, after watching them, year after year, viewers may be looking for something new, something with a little more action. Maybe a little dirty language? And hey, what about a little seasonal bloodshed? Well, if that’s the case, maybe we can be of service, as The Beacon presents to you Season’s Beatings: 1.) Die Hard - In this 80’s action classic, hard as nails NYPD officer Lt. John McClane (Bruce Willis) is on a little holiday getaway to L.A. to visit his estranged wife and kids. But wouldn’t you know it, as McClane attempts to reconcile with his wife (Bonnie Bedelia) at her office’s Christmas bash, a group of heavily armed terrorists, led by the always awesome Alan Rickman, decide to crash the party. So, what’s a guy to do? Most people would sit back and hope that the LAPD can save the hostages and solve the situation with as little violence and bloodshed. Lucky for us, unlucky for the terrorists, Lt. McClane isn’t most people. You’ll forget the Ho, Ho, Ho’s; this one will have you saying Yippee-Ki-Yay in no time. 2.) The Ice Harvest- It’s an icy Christmas Eve, and all through the town of Wichita Falls not a creature is stirring, except for crooked mob lawyer Charlie (John Cusack) and sleazy pornographer Vic (Billy Bob Thorton). As freezing rain pours down in this hilarious mixture of black comedy and gritty crime drama, these two wanna-be ciminals are in the midst of fleeing the town with $2 million of the mafia’s money. However, the combination of winter weather, slick roads and sleazy criminals may prove to be lethal, as it seems that everything and everyone, including each other, is out to try to take their loot and their lives. Who’s lying? Who’s cheating? Who’s doublecrossing who? And who will make it out of Wichita alive? 3.) The Ref- Everyone knows that the holidays can prove to be a little trying to everyone. However, for veteran burglar Gus (Dennis Leary), the term “Blue Christmas” will have a whole new meaning come New Years. After bungling a high profile Christmas Eve robbery of a wealthy estate, Gus must flee the scene of the crime, taking a bickering Connecticut couple, played by Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis, hostage in the process. Now, if Gus can just find his wheel-man partner, he can make it out of New England, loot in tow. Unfortunately for him, he has taken hostage the world’s most dysfunctional family. As Gus waits for his chance to flee, he must play referee to the constant squabbling of the couple, their delinquent son, and their seemingly never ending stream of Christmas Eve guests, including a hilarious confrontation with Spacey’s mother and a fight with a drunken local man dressed as Santa Clause. 4.) Reindeer Games - Car thief Rudy Duncan (Ben Affleck) is down on his luck. Its Christmas; he’s alone and in jail. To make things worse, his cell mate and only friend Nick (James Frain) has just been shanked to death. However, as Rudy is set free only a few days before Dec. 25, he meets Ashley (Charlize Theron), his cell mate’s pen pal sweetheart. So, deciding to assume Nick’s identity, Rudy sweeps Ashley off her feet, as they check into a local motel, hoping to spend the holidays with one another. However, the two lovers XXXmas love fest is soon interrupted by Ashley’s gun-running trucker older brother Gabe (Gary Sinise) and his all star gang of thugs (Donal Logue, Danny Trejo and Clarence Williams III), who, under the assumption that Rudy is actually his deceased cellmate, hope to force him to use his prior knowledge of an Indian casino in order to pull off a daring heist. And what better way to perpetrate a bloody casino stick up on Christmas Eve than doing it dressed as Santa Claus. 5.) Santa’s Slay - Forget all the stories you’ve heard about jolly old St. Nick. It turns out that he’s not happy and he’s not jolly, in fact he’s actually a demon who lost a bet to an angel, forcing him to spread joy and toys to the entire world for 1,000 years. However, when the bet is up, Santa, played by pro wrestler Bill Goldberg, returns to his evil ways, going on a bloody Christmas rampage, hoping to raise a little holiday hell. What more can we say? 6) Gremlins - Don’t feed them after midnight. Don’t get them wet. No bright lights. If only Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) could follow these three simple rules he could have just enjoyed the holidays cuddled up with his cute new pet Mogwai, Gizmo, and his girlfriend, 80’s babe Pheobe Cates (what could be more fun). But unfortunately for him, and fortunately for movie goers everywhere, he just can’t help but let Gizmo have a little post-midnight snack. As if you didn’t know what happens next, out pop the small, scaly, monsters of mayhem that we all love, the Gremlins. So, it’s up to Billy and Gizmo to put an end to the half-pint horrors reign of terror before they destroy their picturesque hometown. Remember, nothing says Christmas like vicious little imps, hell-bent on creating a little holiday havoc. maybe it’s the only movie about that, but that doesn’t change the fact that Willie (Billy Bob Thorton) may be one of the funniest, and dirtiest, characters every committed to film. Willy, a professional safe cracker, and his pint-sized partner, Marcus the Elf (Tony Cox), have a sweet gig, finding work in department stores every holiday season, only to rob it blind on Christmas Eve. However, as this year’s heist draws near, Willy finds himself questioning his career choice. Maybe it’s the new love in his life (Lauren Graham), or the down on his luck little kid (Brett Kelly) who he has taken up residence under the guise of being the real Santa. Or maybe it’s just the booze talking. 8.) Black Christmas - With this classic of Christmas carnage, you actually have two choices to pick from. Originally made in 1974, and then remade in 2006, this seasonal splatter fest tells the story of a house full of female college students, opting to stay on campus rather than going home for the holidays. Unfortunately, a killer is lurking in the shadows, planning on being much more naughty than nice. Simple formula: Pretty young girls + psycho killer + Christmas Eve = Happy Holidays. 7.) B a d Santa - Possibly the best movie about a safe-cracking, foul mouthed, chain smoking, midget punching, alcoholic mall Santa. Okay, Graphic courtesy Marissa Phillips �DECEMBER 4, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Chorus to perfom holiday favorites Friday BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor Not in the holiday spirit yet? The Wilkes University Chorus and Chamber Singers will perform Christmas favorites at St. Stephens Episcopal Church on South Franklin Street, Friday December 7, at 7:30 p.m. in an effort to change all of that. A small reception at the church will follow and admission is free. According to the Director of Choral Activities at Wilkes, Dr. Steven Thomas, the concert will feature a variety of Christmas themed music dating back to the 15th century. Some of the more popular titles include arrangements of “Silent Night,” “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “White Christmas.” The chorus has been preparing the entire semester for the concert. The Chamber singers, which is a smaller, more selective group, has also been preparing; however, according to Dr. Thomas they perform more frequently. Kaitlin Taber-Miller, a senior music theater major is the chorus manager. Her favorite performance pieces this semester include the arrangement of “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Little Tree,” which features lyrics by e.e. cummings, and “Gaudete.” She also commented 13 that the concert will feature common songs everyone will know alongside non-traditional pieces audience members may have never heard. Taber-Miller is the primary communication link between the Thomas and the choral members. Both noted that any student is welcome to join chorus and auditions are held at the beginning of each semester. Chorus is considered a credit class; however a zero credit option is available for students already at 18 credits. For those who do not usually attend choral events, the holiday concert may well be the experience that educates unfamiliar audiences best. “It’s especially good for people who are wondering whether they’d like to join chorus or not. Our concert is a really good preview of what material we’ll cover and what rehearsals would be like,” explained Taber-Miller. “It’s wonderful stuff. People may not realize they like it until they come. I hope students are The Beacon/Cara Koster looking for new experiences when in college. If they don’t have experience in this, it might be The Chorus and Chamber singers will deliver Christmas classics at something they are interested in,” Thomas said. their concert at St. Stephens Episcopal Church on December 7. The Manuscript offers new format, strengthens content BY MATTHEW GOGAS Beacon Staff Writer The Manuscript will unveil itd fall edition on Tuesday December 4 at 11:00 a.m. to the Wilkes University campus. The unveiling will take place in the Sordoni Art Gallery. The Manuscript is a literary publication that consists of art, photography, prose, and poetry. The English Department publishes an edition every semester here at Wilkes. Over the years, there have been numerous changes to the publication with each edition. However, this semester’s issue is a complete departure from anything that had been done with The Manuscript before. The pages were produced in a landscape format using Adobe InDesign, whereas all previous issues were laid out in a portrait format. The publication itself was actually hand bound with hemp as well. The motivation for using hemp is that it is a long lasting material and will hold up especially well as binding. Though last semester’s Manuscript was extremely successful, the editors really wanted to make this one better and correct some criticisms people had with it. “We had some criticisms last year that it was too busy, so I took that into effect and I said let’s do it with InDesign. So we did it on InDesign and it came out very professional, but we still had the artistic elements that we wanted, so we were happy with it and it ended up taking us much less time,” said Kacy Muir, the executive editor and senior English major. In addition to the design changes, editors aimed to enhance content. There was a much stricter screening process for what went into The Manuscript in this edition. “It’s a smaller issue than our last few issues and I like that. We were much more selective, we’re always selective, but this semester we were highly selective. We have done a lot with the art submissions and how they are presented. We really wanted to tone it down,” said Dr. Mischelle Anthony, Assistant Professor of English and advisor to The Manuscript. This edition was arranged thematically as well, which was not evident in the last issue. It is arranged under the overarching theme “Industry versus Nature.” There is a nature/nurture theme going throughout the publication. The pieces are arranged in a continuous order of positive and negative and ends on a positive note. According to Muir, everyone had a great time working on it and is pleased with the way it turned out. Staff members are especially pleased that this issue took far less time than the last one to compile especially the executive editor. “Last semester’s Manuscript took us an incredibly long time. When I say there is blood, sweat, and tears, there literally is. I have cut myself so many times that there is blood on it. It was absolutely time consuming. This semester’s edition however was not because we had learned. It’s all about a lesson,” said Muir. Schedule of Events Tuesday, December 4 - Clay Aiken’s Christmas in the Heartland at the Kirby Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 5 - Tim Reynolds performing at the Jazz Cafe at 8 p.m. Thursday, December 6 - Murder Junkies, 21 Rounds, Corndogs and TBA performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. - Wilkes University Jazz Orchestra concert at the Darte Center at 8 p.m. Friday, December 7 - Northeastern PA Philharmonic at the Kirby Center at 7 p.m. - Wilkes University Chorus and Wilkes University Chamber Singers Christmas performance at St. Stephens Church at 7:30 p.m. - Unwed Sailor, This Will Destroy You, Strand of Oaks and Jewish War Veterans performing at Cafe Metropolis at 8 p.m. Saturday, December 8 - Holiday Craft Fair at Arts Youniverse at 11 a.m. - Dharma Talk: Eight Verses on Training the Mind at SLC 101 at 2 p.m. - Book signing and Talk with Bathsheeba Monk - Now You See It…Stories from Cokesville, PA at the Tudor Bookshop at 2 p.m. - The Graveyard Rumblers, The Deadneks and TBA performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. - Chelsea Handler performing at the Kirby Center at 8 p.m. Sunday, December 9 - Holiday Craft Fair at Arts Youniverse at 12 p.m. - Booksigning with Jim Rising, Then Again I Could Be Wrong: The Book of Rants at the Tudor Bookshop at 1 p.m. - Book signing with David Fleming, <i>Breaker Boys: The NFL’s Greatest Team and the Stolen 1925 Championship at the Tudor Bookshop at 2 p.m. - Wilkes University’s Civic Band concert, location TBA at 8 p.m. - Pull The Pin, Balance and Composure, Arden and TBA performing at Cafe Metropolis at 4 p.m. Monday, December 10 - Monumental Slaughter, Jerk Reaction, By All Means and a Sixth Shot Ending performing at Backstage at 6 p.m. - Driving East, Crash Romeo, I Am The Pilot and Springline Driver performing at Cafe Metropolis at 7 p.m. �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 DECEMBER 4, 2007 FYF class competes in Gettysburg gaming convention Original ‘Oh Behave!’ board game keeps players under lock and key BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon Managing Editor Imagine being trapped inside an underwater lair, where the only means of escape entails navigating through 20 rooms, each with its own distinct puzzle to solve in order to advance to the next. Now imagine that Scott Evil, son of Dr. Evil from Austin Powers fame, is the madman running this base, and the people trying to escape are Austin Powers characters. No, this is not the script for the latest Mike Myers shag fest; it’s the premise behind a class project designed by Dr. Anthony Kapolka’s freshman foundations class Constructed Pastimes, a board game entitled “Oh Behave! The Next Generation.” “Everybody took their own little room, built it, decorated it as such, and came up with a challenge that you have to do in the room,” said freshman Michael Cignoli, member of the class. The game, which is designed for six players divided into two teams of three, places characters such as Dr. Evil, Foxy Cleopatra, Mini Me, and of course, Mr. Powers in various modules around an underwater base. Each features its own unique puzzle to complete in order to receive a letter that will eventually contribute to a pass code at the game’s end to evacuate the base. “It’s a race against time,” Cignoli said noting that some of the rooms that include poisonous gas, or walls that close in, require its puzzles to be completed within a certain time frame, or players are knocked unconscious for two minutes. “In two minutes the other team can advance significantly,” he said. Courtesy of Mike Cignoli Students play ‘Oh Behave!’ in FYF class. Cignoli’s face appeared on an LCD television screen as Scott Evil, directing his captives on what and what not to do in order to escape each room without becoming toast. After much play testing and tweaking, the class made a field trip and showcased Oh Behave! at the Fall In! 2007 gaming convention in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, which attracts gamers from all around the world to play original games and buy gaming goodies like metal miniatures, scales, terrain, dice, markers, and even flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz. “You could easily spend three or four hours browsing. I had students who were hurrying me because they wanted to leave, and I was still shopping,” Kapolka laughed. Though the competition was stiff, Oh Behave! was generally well received. “There was a lot of attention paid to the physical construction of our secret underwater base because it’s unusual. Usually people will throw a green cloth down and they’ll get little trees and get buildings, or if they’re playing a naval game they’ll throw a blue cloth down and then put some islands and some boats, but we had a physical building which attracted attention by just its appearance. And these are serious gamers,” Kapolka said. The freshmen who participated in the FYF class were able to conclude their first semester with not only a final product they could be proud of, but also a sense of team work. “It was a learning experience,” Cignoli said. “The goal of the project was to get everybody working together as a team…something that we hadn’t done before.” PA . · . R , edd#'l 2 luge, Pizns Tl--lE IN I . . . .· . ecial fl 2 Lug£ Pizzas Bucket JO Wi:ngs $15.99 . $24 ..'99 J.y.e ~ & t · ery- 'in~Ydcd) . · .sdd#2 rge Pizza .+ l Dozen Wi igs. S u1al#4 ] large Pizza + 16 W'mgs. . 14..95 2 Liter Soda (ibllll! ~~ 1£ ~ i~tdl) ~7.99 In-House Specials lclp · ave lives! D sma ·od y a n up to Oflth! n tc st t · a ·m Inc. 665 a-cy ve ik : -B a I (570) 823- Monday :3,5 cent Wmp t .a. pwd:l' se: of :soda 1'hes.d if ~ ttnt :illus. wl a pmdlas fa :soda (in hoo:se,<iru.y) Wednesday Any bw-_gerl .'h, ken s.and'Widt -$4.95 w/ a puum.s· · of t1. 8odtl. �BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer 1 5 10 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 23 26 27 31 34 35 36 39 43 44 45 46 48 49 52 54 57 61 ACROSS In the middle of Secret hiding place Fishing activity Santa ____ Organism’s specialty Cowboy necessity Builder for hire Geometric term Male bovine Teacher item Teenager’s room Shows the way High energy wave Oyster products Defendant’s excuse Against Watson’s concern Large cultivated plant collec tion To place Greek cheese Friar’s Club event Affectionate gestures Bottomless pit Kitchen attire Ticket piece Camouflaged Rice dish Carry 62 66 67 68 69 70 71 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 22 24 25 27 28 29 30 32 33 36 Canadian province Italian volcano Operate a vehicle Midwest product Lawn starters Shooter’s sport Meaningful sign DOWN Circle part Sounds from the pasture “Say it ____ so” International ___ Line Hunter trap Repetitive movement Play activity Mall activity Protagonist Marsh birds Blood conveyer Andretti’s concern Shreds Stay behind Sick Areas between words Governing bodies Babbles Medicinal plant Baseball glove Business degree Finally Semi WWII invasion 37 38 40 41 42 46 47 49 50 51 53 55 56 58 59 60 63 64 65 Lake monster Aardvark’s diet Chancy things Middle east language Steal Australian tree-dwellers Rorschach’s medium Flu feelings Greek philosopher Ball-shaped Sadden Book supporters Nerd Crazy Bohr’s concern “Ring of ____” Johnny Cash Song Challenge Intersects a st. Columnist _____ Landers PassiveAggressiveNotes.com BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Editor-in-Chief In a place I may or may not currently live, someone who shares a bathroom with me has less than adequate feminine hygiene. It has bothered me all semester. Once, I was with my hairdresser, and the woman in the next chair said that perhaps I should place a basket with feminine hygiene products in the bathroom with a sign saying “feel free to use.” She also said perhaps I should buy a book on the matter, and highlight the appropriate paragraphs. I could do that, but I guess that, and this whole introduction, would be considered passive aggressive. PassiveAggressiveNotes.com is a fabulous web site that shows notes from, well, passive aggressive people. It seems that people take pictures of little notes, memos, and screen shots of e-mails, and send them into this blog-style web site. You really have to see the notes. They’re hilarious. Here are some examples. *** (In a screen shot of an e-mail with the subject line “MY LUNCH” sent to an entire office) To the person who ate my sandwich today, the turkey was starting to rot and turn green, and the pepper-jack cheese was starting to form giant mold spores. Hope you enjoyed! *** (Taped to a door) HelloI usually try to avoid intruding on my neighbor’s personal lives, so I apologize in advance if this embarrasses you. Since I’ve moved in to 3C, I’ve been woken up several times very early in the morning by you and your girlfriend having sex. I’m glad the two of you have such a great time together, but I’d appreciate it if you could keep the noise level to a minimum. I need my REM time! Thanks, Nancy *** So, as you can see, the site is humorous and very real. Send them pictures of passive aggres- Answers: 11/20 Kudracross DECEMBER 4, 2007 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 15 sive notes that you find. I heard awhile back on Ed2010 that they were looking for interns. Hmm. Oh, there I go being passive aggressive again. I give this site an “A” for “Aggressively Passive Aggressive.” �SPORTS 16 DECEMBER 4, 2007 Lady Colonels Endure Six-Game Skid Injuries and inexperience makes winning tough for Lady Colonels BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor If there was any speculation as to whether or not the Lady Colonels would have a difficult time getting off to a hot start for the 2007-08 season, Saturday’s road loss against Lebanon Valley answered those questions definitively. The Lady Colonels have lost all of their first six games on the schedule, the teams’ worst start since the 2005-06 season. During that season, the Lady Colonels started 1-5 and ended the season 6-19. At the beginning of this season, the team started out with nine players on their roster, but played with eight due to injuries. The Lady Colonels have five freshmen on the team which makes trying to find their mojo even more difficult. “We are working on our confidence right now because we’re real young,” said third-year head coach Rachel Emmerthal. “We make some of the simple mistakes, when once they get they get the experience and once they get going, they won’t be making those mistakes.” After becoming accustomed to the players they have, while patiently waiting for the return of standout forward Lacey Andresen, another hurdle has been through into the mix. Senior Katie Cappelloni recently suffered a stressed fracture on her left leg which left her inactive for the Lady Colonels match-up against Lebanon Valley. Prior to Cappellonis’ injury, the 5’10 guard from Scranton (PA) led the team in scoring with 13.3 points per game, including a season-high 16 point performance on the road against Marywood University (PA) on November 20. “With both our seniors out with injuries, we have two juniors, two sophomores and a bunch of freshmen,” said Emmerthal. “We’re young and sometimes it shows.” Last Saturday, the Lady Colonels were on fire throughout the first half and trailed by only four, 36-32, entering the locker room. During the first half, the team shot 56.5 percent from the floor. That would be the teams’ best shooting percentage in a half through the first six games. The Lady Colonels even enjoyed a 9-0 run led by junior Chelsey Gosse, which gave them a 24-22 lead. But thanks to a 6-0 run by the Lady Dutchmen, the Lady Colonels were forced to enter the second half with a four-point deficit. Following halftime, the Lady Colonels returned to the floor with a vengeance. The team out-scored Lebanon Valley 10-5 to go up one point with 15:38 remaining in the second half but that would be the last lead they had. Freshman guard Lori Lidlow from Toms River (NJ) scorched the Lady Colonels for 11 points during a 13-2 run by the Lady Dutchmen. Lebanon Valley went up by 10 with 11:26 remaining in the second half. Freshman guard, Sam Lynam, scored a basket while earning a trip to the free throw line for a three point play. At this point, the Lady Colonels trailed by only seven. Later in the half, three Lady Dutchmen scored field goals to complete another 6-0 run and the Lady Colonels saw the scoreboard read, 60-47. Gosse, 5-11 forward from Allentown (PA), had a Kevin Garnett-like day from the floor with 21 points and 14 rebounds, including five offensive boards. Gosse shot 10-14 from the floor and knocked down her only three point attempt. Lynam complimented Gosses’ performance with 21 points of her own. Lynam netted eight of her 14 attempts while making 2-5 from downtown in 30 minutes played. While Gosse and Lynam combined for 42 points, the rest of the team scored 18 points combined. Sophomores Nicole Quick and Ashley Makarczyk scored six a piece. Overall, the Lady Colonels shot well from the floor. The team made 25 of their 48 attempts. They went four for nine from behind the three point line. All season, the category that has killed the Lady Colonels chances of winning has been turnovers. Thus far, the team has committed 153 turnovers including 27 against Lebanon Valley leaving them with an average of 25 turnovers per game. Even though they are struggling to win a game, the Lady Colonels were close enough to win three games but fell short by 10 or less. “For the most part, we’re concentrating on what the game plan was in the beginning and trying to complete that for a full forty minutes,” said Emmerthal. “We’re playing great blocks of minutes but we’re not playing buzzer to buzzer. But this group is resilient. They’re going to keep fighting. Right now, the biggest emphasis is starting the game where we want to finish the game. ” The Beacon/James Rosato Sam Lynam (21) and Chelsey Gosse run drills during practice last week. The Lady Colonels are 0-6 to start the season. In their next contest, they are on the road at Elmira College in New York on December 4 at 7p.m. ST DE FORTHE 21st CENTURY CAll: BILL HENRY at 2.15-71H619 OR ( HEeK 11HE WEB SmE FOR INFORMATION �SPORTS DECEMBER 4, 2007 17 Two Colonel wrestlers claim titles at RIT tournament COURTESY OF JOHN SEITZINGER Sports Information Director Juniors Josh Pauling and Erik Smith won individual titles to lead 18th-ranked Wilkes University to a second-place finish at the Rochester Institute of Technology Wrestling Tournament on Saturday. The Colonels amassed 117 points to finish just behind team champion Rhode Island College (121.5). Williams College was third with 96 points. Pauling, the third-seed at 133 pounds, posted an 8-4 win over Josh Wildes from Wesleyan College in his quarterfinal match. He advanced to the finals by topping #2 seed Aljamain Sterling from Morrisville, 10-5. In the final Pauling scored an 8-1 win by decision over top-seeded Adam Pizzurro from John Carroll. Smith won all four of his matches to claim the 149-pound crown. Seeded fourth, he opened with a 4-2 victory over Charles Hoeg from Wesleyan in the opening round. In the second round he took on fifth-seeded Kevin Sutherland from Rhode Island, who came in to the tournament ranked eighth in Division III, and earned a 2-0 win. Smith then took out the topseed, Dan Mizener from John Carroll by a 2-0 count in the semifinals. Smith would earn the championship with a 10-0 major decision over Luke Baum from RIT in the championship match. The second-seeded Heffernan gained entry into the final at 165 pounds with three straight he wins. He posted an 18-2 technical fall over Zach Feador from RIT and disposed of seventh-seeded Colin Boyle from the Coast Guard, 7-4, in the quarter finals. After scoring a 5-1 win over #3 seed Cameron Mills from Oswego in the semifinals, he lost a 7-2 verdict to the number-one seed and third-ranked wrestler in Division III, Gino Russo from Baldwin Wallace. Shaun Farnham was the #2 seed at 125 pounds but suffered a 12-4 loss to eventual champion Rob Miller from Thiel in the quarter finals. He was able to bounce back to win four straight matches, including a 52 victory over Dan Bloom from Wesleyan in the third-place bout. Adam Penberthy gave Wilkes a pair of place-winners at 149 pounds by finishing third. The number-seven seed won his first three matches, including a 5-4 quarterfinal win over #2 seed Nic Miragliuolo from Williams. After losing to Baum in the semifinals, he topped Sutherland, 7-4 in the consolation semifinals and posted a 10-4 win over Mizener in the third-place match. Justin Barowski was the number-two seed at 157 pounds, but had to settle for a fourthplace finish. Barowski won his initial three contest, including a 3-1 win in the quarter finals over seventh-seeded Zach Rolfe from Wesleyan. However, he suffered a tough 54 loss to the number-three seed, Mike Martini from Rhode Island in the semifinals. Barowski would bounce back to top Kyle Borne from Oswego, 12-3 in the consolation semifinals, but dropped an 8-5 decision to Nathan Klingensmith from Case Western Reserve in the third-place bout. Third-seeded Zach Pizarro placed fifth at197 pounds. Pizarro earned a berth in the semifinals with a 3-2 victory over #6 seed Joe Silverman from MIT in the quarter finals. He then dropped a 2-1 decision to #2 seed Kevin Davis from Rhode Island in the semifinals, and was beaten by a 7-4 count by eight-seeded Ray Moore from Rhode Island in consolation semifinals. Pizarro would earn a 3-1 win over Scott Marhofer from John Carroll in the fifth-place match. Josh Ballan was the number-two seed at 174 pounds, but he had to settle for a sixthplace finish. Ballan notched a win by fall in 5:16 over John Carroll’s Travis Hammer in the opening round and posted a 5-3 win over Jared Teal from Oswego in the quarter finals. However, Ballan suffered an injury in that match and was forced to medical forfeit in his remaining bouts. Release Date: Saturday, December 01, 2007 Clu · M .· t· g? • ·· h · -ay Party? Orne - Meet·og? oot.ba.11 P .a r · -? 1znos~Q •• TOASTY. 72 Sout. . Main .S ·t . Wil . es B . rre o , rs ·. onday-Thurrs d .Y 10 · -8 1n ~day · at:urd y 10amu.-l0pma ~u,naiia y l2_p - p The answe to all Lhese u tion · ·••• ZNOS C -A T R 'N G Ca· rin,g t ays start:· g at $19~ __ Call for detai ,s .. �SPORTS 18 Commentary GAME OF THE WEEK NBA Doubleheader Boston looks to continue its run; Showdown in Texas BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers Just over a year ago, the Boston Celtics were well on their way to having one of the worst records (24-58) in the NBA, while the fans wondered, “Where did our beloved Celtics go?” Several months later, the Celtics found themselves to be the front-runners of the Atlantic Division after making two blockbuster trades in which they received shooting guard Ray Allen and forward Kevin Garnett. The trades worked out as expected, as the Celtics jumped out to a 13-2 record to start the season, easily shooting the team to the top of the division. As promised, they are led by the trio of Garnett, Allen and Paul Pierce, who have helped the Celtics to an average of over 100 points per game, while holding their opponents to just over 90 points per game. Pierce, who has been with the team since he was drafted in 1998, leads the team in scoring with 22.0 points per game, while Garnett’s 20.1 and Allen’s 20.1 rounds out an offense that has been great so far in the young season. Also along for the ride are guard Rajon Rondo (8.3 PPG) and Center Kendrick Perkins (8.1 PPG) who have helped to supplement the big three with timely offense and defense. The Celtics hope to continue their stellar run this week when they take on their division-rival Philadelphia 76ers, who are currently sitting on the bottom of the barrel, after a 5-10 start. After trading Allen Iverson and buying out Chris Webber’s contract last season, the 76ers were on their way to rebuilding a once great organization. This season, however, might be another losing one in what seems like an uphill battle for the team. After a 2-1 start to the season, Philadelphia would go on to lose five of its next 6 games, including a dramatic 100-98 overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors. In Iverson’s absence, 2004 first round draft pick Andre Iguodala has stepped up to lead the team with 17.7 points per game and 5.5 assists per game, alongside guards Willie Green (11.7 PPG) and Andre Miller (14.8 PPG), while 6’11” center Samuel Dalembert leads the way with 8.1 rebounds per game. Despite a solid defense and young talent, the 76ers still have one of the worst offenses in the conference, putting up 91.5 points per game, ranking them 12 out of 15 in the Eastern Conference. Expect Boston to take control early, putting the game out of Philadelphia’s reach by the third quarter. The Pick: Boston Celtics: 98 Philadelphia 76ers: 82 Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs Last season, bad-boy billionaire Mark Cuban nearly had one of his dreams realized, as his Dallas Mavericks finished the season with a dominant 67-15 record, en route to winning the Southwest division. The Mavericks stormed into the playoffs as one of the favorites to win the NBA Finals, but were booted in the first round after losing in six games to the Cinderella-like Golden State Warriors. It was a tough loss for Dallas, who one year earlier let a 2-0 series lead slip away in the finals against the Miami Heat, who would win four straight to win the series in six games. Cuban and Co. would like to forget about the last two seasons, as they look to make the playoffs for the eighth straight season. They will do so by rallying behind Dirk Nowitzki, as he looks to follow up his 2006-2007 MVP campaign with another impressive season. He is well on his way to doing that, as he leads his team in several categories, including scoring (21.1 PPG), rebounds (8.4 RPG), and assists (4.0 APG). He is flanked by a solid supporting cast of role-players, including guard-forward Josh Howard and guard Jason Terry, both of whom were part of the past two playoff campaigns. Howard is another cog in the Dallas of- fense, as his 20.7 points per game is right behind Nowitzki, and his 6.8 rebounds per game rank him in the top three on the team. Rounding out the offense is Jason Terry and Devin Harris, who are both averaging over 15.0 points per game so far this season, while logging over 30 minutes per game. The Mavericks are going to need all the help they can get from Nowitzki and the rest, as they are going to have to keep pace with the high-scoring San Antonio Spurs, who are averaging just over 101 points per game this season. The defending NBA champions, who made quick work of the Cleveland Cavaliers in last years finals, are helmed by the three-headed monster of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and finals MVP Tony Parker. The Spurs, who have won three NBA titles in the last four years, are looking to make it two in a row, and have so far made quick work of their opponents so far by jumping out to an impressive 14-3 start. They are led by team captain Tim Duncan, whose arrival in 1997 would signal the beginning of the greatest ERA in team history. So far this season, Duncan is averaging 18.5 points per game, behind Parker and Ginobili, and his 9.3 rebounds per game are leading the team. Behind Duncan is Tony Parker, who is capitalizing on his finals MVP award by leading the team with 20.3 points and 7.0 assists per game, while also leading the team in beautiful wives, as his bride Eva Longoria cheers him on during the games. Rounding out the offense is Argentinaborn Manu Ginobili and his 19.9 points per game, ranking just above Duncan and just below Parker for the team lead. It is going to prove to be a high-scoring contest, as both offenses are nearly even in points per game this season, with a slight edge going to Dallas. In the end, San Antonio’s defense is going to come out ahead, as they are allowing over five points less per game than Dallas. The Pick: San Antonio Spurs: 102 Dallas Mavericks: 96 *Statistics are current through 11/30 DECEMBER 4, 2007 Double Take Steph examines the stats that truly matter... BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor This week we have a double header. Well, I’m not really sure why they call it a double header. I mean it’s not like they are working together because two heads are better than one. They are still trying to beat each other, so the term “double header” is kind of stupid. Anyway, all that “double header” means to me is that I need to pick two winning teams instead of one. Hmm, this week let’s play a game called, “Pick the winning teams for this week by re-arranging letters to spell different words.” Let me tell you, this sounded like a good idea at the time but it did take me about 45 minutes to find words in these team names. First up we have the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks. I have never heard of the Mavericks and I’m not sure what one is, but that is not the point. Arranging the letters in San Antonio Spurs, I came up with “Santa no soup, sir.” I did leave out the N but I couldn’t figure out what else to do with it, so I find that perfectly acceptable. Dallas Mavericks turned into “Vac skills are mad.” By saying “vac” I either mean vacation or vacuuming. Either way the Mavericks take this round, they have mad skills while the Spurs are just trying to boss around the jolly, big man. The other game I have to choose a winner for is the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers. I was super excited to make the word Beacon out of Boston Celtics but the two other words are what kill the team. “Beacon is lost” is not exactly the way to win there, Celtics. Things got tough when I got to the 76ers. I mean there is a number in the name. I had to stretch this one a bit and I came up with “I hhid 76 real apples.” I added the extra H to “hid” because I didn’t want to throw away another letter. So the 76ers win this one because they did not say anything negative about The Beacon With that said, the Mavericks and the 76ers are my picks for the winners this week. And just in case you were wondering yes, I realize that I have officially found the worst way to pick a winning team. Well, there’s always next time. �SPORTS DECEMBER 4, 2007 19 Athlete of the Week: Chris Gulla BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor After battling in the most intense game so far this season, the Colonels nearly fell short two points in front of 600 fans at home to Susquehanna University during the closing seconds. But the sophomore guard from Berlin (NJ), Chris Gulla, had other plans. The Colonels trailed by two after Crusaders guard, Bryan Majors, cashed in a pair free throws. With only 15 seconds remaining, head coach Jerry Rickrode signaled a time-out to the three men in zebra-print shirts. In the huddle, Rickrode designed a play that was intended for Gulla to come off a screen at the top of the three point line to either tie the game or pop in jump-shot to win by one. The buzzer went off for the Colonels to return to the floor. The once ecstatic fans in the student section, went nervously silent hoping the Colonels would respond. After in bounding the ball, the play intended for Gulla faltered because the Crusaders denied him the ball, which forced senior guard Matt Gould to pull up for a the three pointer. “I thought it was good once it went up but it ended up popping out,” said Gulla. “I went in for the offensive rebound, got the ball and was able to make the layup to put the game into overtime.” “When I saw it hit the back off the rim and Gulla flying in for the rebound, I knew there was enough time for him to get a good shot off,” said Gould. “When he made it, I was excited.” Gulla darted in from the right side with four second remaining on the clock. The ball bounced off the rim and into his hands for the game-tieing basket. The Crusaders desperately launched a shot from half court but to no avail. After- 5 Number of players who scored double figures in the Colonels home win over Susquehanna last Tuesday. Gulla, Kline, Kresge, Gould and Gabriel all scored 11 or more. wards, he turned to the hundreds of fans screaming in relief and let out a roar of his own as his teammates patted his head to get ready for overtime. “It felt great, man. Everybody was going crazy. It was good,” said Gulla. The Colonels finished off the Crusaders in overtime 74-72 after junior forward Steve Kline muscled his way to a game-winning lay-up with 0.4 remaining on the clock. “I knew we were going to win in overtime because there was so much momentum going our way,” said Gulla. Had it not been for Gullas’ hustle on the offensive glass, the Colonels might have fallen to a 2-1 record, but instead, they’re undefeated through three. Gulla finished the game last Tuesday with a career high 19 points on a 5-8 shooting day. He went 7-11 from the free throw line along with hitting two out of three from downtown. He also snatched seven rebounds and played 40 out of the total 45 minutes. But prior to the game, his mind wasn’t focused on completing a memorable offensive game but rather shutting down senior Josh Robinson, a former division 1 player. “I went into the game knowing that I had to stop him,” said Gulla. “I wasn’t worrying about being on the (offensive) end, because I know my teammates could make plays. My main role was to shut him down.” Robinson scored 22 points after shooting 5-8 from the floor and 4-8 from the arc. Last year the Colonels played the Crusaders on the road and Robinson netted 24 points on the Colonels. As for Gulla, he approached defending Robinson relatively well considering he’s a sophomore. After the Colonels win over the Crusaders, Gulla is now the sixth leading scorer on the team averaging exactly 10 points per contest. The Beacon/James Rosato After a career day against the Crusaders, sophomore Chris Gulla was all smiles. Gulla finished with 19 points including a game tying basket at the end of regulation. SOCCER Wilkes men’s and women’s soccer earn accolades The Wilkes University men’s and women’s soccer teams have been awarded the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award. The award is presented to any team that maintains a grade point average of 3.00 or better on a 4.00 scale during the year. The list of teams includes NCAA Division I members, NCAA Division II members and NCAA Division III members. The women’s soccer team posted a 3.45 grade point average to rank 43rd among 295 women’s teams that garnered the honor. The Lady Colonels grade point average is the 14th highest among Division III schools that were selected. The men’s team fashioned a grade point average of 3.12 to also earn the honor. The Colonels were one of 111 men’s teams from throughout the country that achieved the award. The men’s team fashioned a grade point average of 3.12 to also earn the honor. The Colonels were one of 111 men’s teams from throughout the country that achieved the award. The Colonels also had three players earn honorable mention NSCAA/adidas College Men’s Scholar All-East Region accolades. The list includes 2007 graduates Bryan Riley and Matt Foreman, and current Wilkes senior Jimmy Thomas. NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 21 Number of points apiece scored by junior Chelsey Gosse and freshman Sam Lynam in the Lady Colonels loss to Lebanon Valley on Saturday. Gosse also grabbed 14 rebounds. 293 56 Number of career wins by Days remaining until the Colonels basketball head next Beacon issue is released. coach Jerry Rickrode through Remember to check wilkes.edu 16 years. Rickrode holds the for your latest sports coverDivision III record for the fast- age. Happy Holidays from The est coach to reach 200 wins. Beacon Sports Staff! �Sports DECEMBER 4, 2007 20 The Beacon/James Rosato A Lay-Up to Remember Colonels Cruise Past Crusaders with 0.2 left in OT BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor Even though last Tuesday’s home game against Susquehanna was only the third of the season for the Colonels, it certainly felt as if the playoffs started a little early this year. Over 600 fans filled the Marts Gym to watch both teams collide in a much anticipated nonconference bout. Lucky for them, every second was worth the price of admission. After sophomore guard Chris Gulla rescued the Colonels from their first loss of the season by snatching an offensive rebound and kissing a layup off the glass at the end of regula- tion, the team entered overtime with a swagger that sent the Crusaders home in style. During the final seconds of overtime, senior guard Matt Gould made one of two free throws that would put the Colonels up by two. Consequently, the Crusaders called a time-out with 29 seconds remaining in overtime. Susquehannas’ senior guard, Josh Robinson, drove down the right side of the Colonels 2-3 zone to hit teammate Hunter McKain on a pass for a chip shot. McKain capitalized on the opportunity to tie the game at 72. The Colonels inbounded the ball with 19 seconds on the clock without any desire to call a timeout of their own to set up a play. Instead, they pushed the ball down the floor, passed it to junior Steve Kline standing on the block and the rest was history. Kline held the ball for a couple seconds before making his move. Surrounded by two Crusaders, Kline would sneak his way past one, while bombarding over the other to cash in the lay-up that would put the Colonels up 74-72 with 0.2 seconds remaining. “I had to get the shot up quick,” said Kline. “ Matty (Gould) got me the ball in the post and I knew I had to get the shot up. And then, it was the game-winner from there As head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, Avery Johnson would say, the entire game was a “dog fight.” Both teams were in double penalty foul situations early in the second half, at approximately the 11:00 mark. The Crusaders were charged with over 32 fouls as they saw their record drop to 3-2. The Colonels committed 22. In a seesaw battle that went right down to the wire, there were over 10 lead changes in the game. Five Colonels scored double figures. Gulla led all scorers with 19. Gould and Kline each had 12 while last years’ MAC Rookie of the Year, Tom Kresge, scored 16 on six of 18 shooting. Sophomore Anthony Gabriel contributed with 11 off the bench. Crusaders’ guard Josh Robinson led all scorers with 22 points. “I think this (game) was a gut check, because they’re (Susquehanna) very talented,” said head coach Jerry Rickrode . “It’s good to be able to play a close game like that and pull it out.” For the second consecutive season, the Colonels and Crusaders fought all the way to the closing seconds. Last year, the Colonels visited the Crusaders in front of 650 fans and left with a 87-86 victory to improve to 3-1. The Colonels return to action tomorrow on the road against William Paterson (NJ). � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2007 December 4th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2007 December 4 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/b9289eaa457345e7f7487c1baeaf1724.pdf 21ba62cfe7d62b008f87fd380acd3690 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW JANUARY 29, 2008 In This Issue... <:/few 3(eat: ~olu.tio,u: #,ettin.9 <fit Page 9 Some for Me, Some for You Page 12 Super Bowl XLII Pages 18-19 r Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 Volume 60 www.wilkesbeacon.com Issue 12 Bailey to leave Wilkes post for Diversified Vice Presidency BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon Editor-in-Chief The irony of the songs playing on the Einstein Brother’s Bagels sound system-- “If You’re Gone,” by Matchbox 20 followed by Sarah McLachlan’s “I Will Remember You” was not lost on the occasion. Last week, Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support Operations, sat down with The Beacon for perhaps his last interview. Bailey recently accepted a position as the Vice President of Quality Assurance and Training at Diversified Information Technologies Incorporated. His last day as a Colonel is slated for February 7. “I didn’t buy into the whole ‘Wilkes family’ [thing] when I got here,” Bailey said. “But I recognize now, having the opportunity to work with such an incredibly diverse set of people here with unique personalities, talents, and good humor…yeah…that’s going to be one of the hardest things…leaving the people,” he admitted. Bailey will be the third Wilkes administrator in approximately two years to join Diversified, an information processing company that boasts 18 national and four international locations. Bailey will join over 600 employees at Diversified’s Scranton headquarters, which was founded in 1982 by former Wilkes University Board of Trustees member Cliff Melberger. Bailey will join former Wilkes colleagues Josephine Panganiban [formerly Vice President for Human Resources] and Scott Byers [former Vice President for Finance Operations and General Counsel]. Byers assumed Diversified’s presidency late last year. “Chris has a wide range of skills... from general management skills to his ability to analyze or process situations and challenges,” said Byers. “He’s a very strong manager who thinks critically and has the ability to act and solve problems.” Despite repeated efforts by phone and email to contact VP for Finance and Support Operations, Petra Carver, she could not be reached for comment; thus, the status of Bailey’s replacement remains unknown as well as whether he or she will come from Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support Operations, answers questions at an SG Administration forum. Bailey announced that he will be leaving Wilkes to take a position at Diversified Technologies, in Scranton. See BAILEY page 4 Andrew Seaman/The Beacon Focus the Nation program to advance environment discussion Wilkes one of 1,000 schools to participate in national event BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor This week, Wilkes University will join over 1,000 colleges and universities across the country in Focus the Nation, a major environmental summit designed to educate participants about global warming. “Focus the Nation is a nationwide teach-in in which schools from across the country will take a day out to examine the issue of global warming and specifically to teach students about what global warming is and to raise consciousness among people,” explained Dr. Kenneth Klemow, professor of biology and environmental sciences. The activities associated with the program will take place January 30-31. “They’re asking individual schools to tap into this national event, to televise it locally and to organize activities around [the event],” explained Klemow. In order to plan and orchestrate the two-day event, Wilkes faculty and students worked together to form a Focus the Nation Committee chaired by Dr. Mike Case, professor of environmental engineering and earth sciences. Dr. Jeffrey Stratford, assistant professor of biology, Dr. Ellen Flint, professor of performing arts and Klemow were also committee members. Neil Kresge, senior environmental science major, also worked alongside the committee to brainstorm, present, and develop the committee proposal to Wilkes faculty. “The reason for concern for Wilkes-Barre residents and Wilkes University is that global climate change is likely going to be one of the largest, if not the largest, issues facing this and the next generations. It simply will not be [limited] to one geographic range or one culture of people. We must all be involved to make a difference,” Kresge said. A true believer in the cause, Kresge already recycles, uses energy efficient light bulbs and has started a compost at home. To launch the event, Winona LaDuke, an Anishinaabekwe (Ojibwe) member of the Mississippi Band Anishinaabeg in Minnesota will visit the Wilkes campus January 28 and 29 to openly discuss environmental and human rights with students, faculty and staff. LaDuke is the program director of the Honor the Earth Fund and in October 2007, she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. On Wednesday, January 30, Wilkes will offer a live web cast produced by the National Wildfire Federation and aired by the Earth Day Network at 8:00pm in both the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts and Stark Learning Center, Room 101. The teleconference, titled “The 2% Solution,” will offer information about global climate change and solutions to the problem. The web cast will be immediately followed by a question and answer session with a local panel of experts. The event is open to the public and admission is free. During club hours (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) on Thursday, January 31, organizations related See FOCUS page 5 �NEWS JANUARY 29, 2008 2 SG Survey Results Analysis: Election Update Diversity Awards Dinner 3 3 4 Student hit by car crossing River Street BY MEGAN KRISANDA Beacon Correspondent “Jump.” This was Joseph Stoffey’s immediate reaction when coming face to face with an oncoming vehicle on South River Street on January 14 at 11:52 a.m. Witnesses saw Stoffey attempt to cross South River Street from behind a parked van. A passing Lincoln towncar hit Stoffey and he flew onto the windshield and landed on the street. Stoffey, an 18-year-old psychology major, remained conscious and suffered injuries to his left leg and arm, and a contusion above his right eye, according to the Public Safety report. Despite the fact that there was a crosswalk and a light at the corner, Stoffey’s effort to cross South River Street was down the street away from the light. “I saw someone crossing in The Beacon/Jamie Gwynn front of me in between some parked cars and I kind of figured it was clear. It was my mistake. I ran out between two parked cars and I glanced to my left and saw a car coming at me, just before it hit me I jumped,” said Stoffey. His decision to jump may have saved his life. “Did you ever, in your imagination, go over terrible situations in your head and imagine what you would do? If I ever thought about getting hit by a car, I figured I would jump,” said Stoffey. Stoffey acknowledged he doesn’t have a clear memory of what happened after being hit by the vehicle. “I was kind of tumbling around for a bit, I couldn’t see much. Eventually, I was on the pavement and I got up because I didn’t break anything. People were telling me to lay down on the sidewalk until the ambulance came and that sounded like a good idea,” said Stoffey. Public Safety officers responded immediately to the accident and were on scene before Stoffey was transported by ambulance to Geisinger North, according to Chris Bailey, Director of Campus Support Services. “You’ve got to be especially careful, knowing how fast traffic moves along South River Street, particularly in that area. You have to be vigilant any time you cross a road, even if there’s a crosswalk. Unfortunately in this place, there isn’t a crosswalk,” said Bailey. It’s not unusual to see a fleet of students crossing South River Street from the Dorothy Dickson Darte (DDD) Center between classes. Proposing the idea for a crosswalk was brought to the city’s attention a few years ago by members of Temple Israel, the Jewish synagogue located next door to the DDD. However, the state will not allow it because it is too close to an intersection, according to Jerry Rebo, Manager of Public Safety. “I think any street you go down that is as busy as River Street, you got to take precaution. Don’t anticipate a vehicle is going to stop. Because a lot of time that vehicle driver is looking forward, looking for other vehicles, and not really seeing you come between cars or behind a car,” said Rebo Rebo added that this was not the first incident in which a student was hit in the same area. Last year, a young man tried to outrun an oncoming vehicle while crossing but was hit. “You’ve just got to make sure those cars stop before you cross. I don’t want to see anyone get hurt, and you’re not going to beat a car,” added Rebo. Stoffey described his current condition as pretty much recovered, suffering some broken blood vessels in his eye and a few bruises on his hand and knee. SG Notes January 23, 2007 Treasurer’s Report All College: $25,000 General: $10,000 Special Projects: $3,500 Spirit: $2,000 Leadership: $5,000 Conferences: $12,500 Start-Up: $12,500 Club Reports The following clubs presented updates on their events. Programming Board Islamic Interest Society Dance Team Delta Epsilon Chi New Business New Members - The follow ing students were introduced as members of SG: Anthony Do- runda for the class of 2011, Chris Papayannakos for the class of 2009, Jonathon Lazarchick for the class of 2008. SAE Mini Baja Fund Request Members of SAE came to ask SG for funds to complete their mini baja car that they use to compete in several national competitions. This is a two-week process. Chemistry Club - A representative from the chemistry club came to SG asking for funds to travel to a convention. This is a two-week process. Vagina Monologues Donation Request - SG approved a donation of $750 for Wilkes students to attend the performance. The donation covers $5 per student. Movie Tickets - SG purchased 1,000 movie tickets to allow for 150 more tickets to be distributed per week. Class Events - Discussion and updates were presented to SG by each class to improve their service and image to the student body in response to an electronic survey that went to SG’s constituents. *Due to the length of the meeting and a motion for adjournment, SG voted in favor of adjourning early. The Beacon/Andrew Seaman On Monday, January 14, Wilkes University student Joseph Stoffey was struck by a vehicle on South River Street after stepping out from between two parked cars into oncoming traffic. BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Alison Woody Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Christa Sgobba Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �JANUARY 29, 2008 NEWS 3 SG survey results offer array of responses for how to improve BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor In an effort to better serve Wilkes students, Student Government (SG) members posed a question to constituents over winter break through an electronic survey and has spent the majority of the past two SG meetings discussing the results and finding ways to improve its relationship with students. Students were asked this essay style question, “Do you have any suggestions on how Student Government can improve your college experience for next semester?” The majority of the approximately 210 responses were “No,” but some did take the time to answer the question and offer suggestions for improvement. One answer read, “Yes they should have a fashion show, talent show, dance offs, and more fun things like club night, not playing games like dancing a mini club. Also things should not be on the weekday. They should give things on Friday and Saturday more often. The things they throw were pretty fun.” The majority of the answers that went into detail did offer suggestions, like the one above, for activities, such as: dorm games, free copies of the New York Times, more bands, giveaways, discounted ski lift tickets, and several suggested purchasing more movie tickets. However, not all of the suggestions were material things or social events. Some respondents suggested and requested more access to their SG representatives and officers, more knowledge on what’s going on, and some asked if SG would market itself to the entire spectrum of students. Some also wrote they do not like the attitudes of some SG members. After the results of the survey were determined, the majority of the first SG meeting of the semester was spent discussing how to talk to people and see what can be improved upon. In an effort to get information out to the students, another idea was to put a coupon in the SG newsletter in an attempt to The Beacon/James Rosato SG members have spent the majority of their last two meetings discussing the results of the electronic survey they sent to the student body. All members were also assigned suggestions in the survey to see how plausible and effective they would be. make the students happy. Many of the solutions proposed by SG members were taken directly from the survey responses. SG members were then divided into classes and asked to investigate the ideas to see if they were a plausible and suitable solution. Some of the solutions SG members discussed included: SG Cares Day, where members of SG would wear their shirts and make the newsletter more popular. Other ideas to get information out included letters to the student body about how SG were allocating money, and an all class social. Other events that SG members discussed included a game night, a New York City day trip, a rock band competition and a charity bowling game. A topic that several student respondents News Analysis: Beacon Election Update raised -movie tickets- was handled at the second SG meeting of the semester. Jason Narcoonis, President of the Programming Board discussed the need for more tickets. “Last semester… we had no real set times on the movie tickets… and they were gone within the first hour,” said Narcoonis. Narcoonis also mentioned that SG currently sells 150 movie tickets a week, 75 during two time slots. The change in distribution was meant to ease the problem with the tickets; however there are still long lines for the tickets at the new designated times. Narcoonis elaborated and said, “just for example, [Wednesday] those 75 tickets were gone in 15-minutes.” Programming Board purchases the tickets for $6.50 each, for 150 tickets a week. Therefore Programming Board spends about $14,000 a semester on movie tickets. Programming Board does make a certain percent of that back though; assuming they sell all of the tickets, $6,300 comes back to the budget. Narcoonis proposed that SG purchase additional tickets to meet the rising demands. After several minutes of deliberation SG decided to purchase 1,000 additional tickets, which means an additional 150 tickets available for sale a week, for $6,500. SG members then deliberated on what type of system would be the most efficient and fairest for the student body. However, due to the length of the meeting the members decided to give the first wave of tickets to the Programming Board for it to distribute. Matt Brown, SG President, also urged other SG members to continue to work on their investigations into the events and suggestions from the survey for more discussion next week. Making sense of the election, candidates and issues BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor Like puppies in a pet shop window, the frontrunners for the 2008 presidential election are all jumping up and down, barking “Pick me, pick me!” Each is looking for his or her party to ensure that the White House becomes “home” in November. On January 26, Illinois Senator Barack Obama got a big boost from South Carolina, where he decisively won the Democratic primary with 51% of the vote, beating New York Senator Hillary Clinton and former Senator John Edwards. The win puts Obama in the Democratic driver’s seat, for now. However, on January 29 the tides can turn again when Floridians go to the polls. In both major parties, pundits have acknowledged there is no clear, predictable winner at this stage of the journey. Even analysts who previously predicted that Super Tuesday (February 5, when 24 states hold their primaries or caucuses) would determine the nation’s choice in both parties, are hedging bets and now saying the nation’s choices may well be up in the air until the summer conventions. The next primary, which will be held in Florida on Tuesday, is crucial for all, but one candidate is depending on it more than the rest, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani’s political gamble was to put all of his resources into Florida-the nation’s biggest early contest- and as a result, he has had very little attention or success in the contests to date. If Guiliani does not decisively win Florida this week, he can practi- cally kiss his viability goodbye. Tuesday’s battleground actually takes place in the most populous state to this point in the primary season. With a population of 18 million, one-sixth of whom are over the age of 65, a demographic that has not yet taken the spotlight in the races will become pivotal. Alongside the candidates, the economy will also be in the spotlight in this primary. Right now, Washington is furiously trying to work on a bipartisan stimulus bill that will give the economy a boost. This bill could put an extra $600-$1,200 in Americans’ pockets come June. The purpose of the primary/caucus process is to determine which candidate a party and its constituents want to endorse. So for the next several months, or at least until there is one clear nominee, everyone is subject to hearing about the number of delegates each candidate has. These delegates translate into who will win their party’s nomination. The more delegates a candidate has, the better chance they have to get the nomination. Then the real fun begins. The Beacon has made a commitment this semester to carefully follow the contests and offer analysis where necessary to encourage more student engagement with the process. �JANUARY 29, 2008 NEWS 4 Diversity advancements celebrated at awards dinner Members of the Wilkes community honored for leadership efforts BY SAMANTHA BARTOLOMEI Beacon Correspondent On January 18, Wilkes held its first multicultural award ceremony and dinner in the Henry Student Center Grand Ballroom to honor those who have gone above and beyond to advance the cause of diversity on campus. Dr. Tim Gilmour, Wilkes University President, offered opening remarks and highlighted the exciting changes he expects will result from the Center for Global Education and Diversity proposed by the Diversity Task Force last semester and approved by the Board of Trustees in December. The Diversity Task Force was tasked last year with researching and analyzing current campus climate, Wilkes University’s needs, and national best practices in the area of diversity. The result was a comprehensive proposal for a new Center for Global Education and Diversity that addresses both domestic diversity issues alongside global education challenges. The Center was “unanimously approved” by the board of trustees and aims to serve as a tangible cornerstone for expanding the multicultural perspective at Wilkes University. Following the dinner, members of the Diversity Task Force and Diversity Ambassadors were recognized and awarded with colorful stoles representing their ongoing dedication. In addition, four individuals were honored for leadership in the area of diversity. An independent awards committee comprised of faculty and staff was formed to evaluate nominations. Mark Congdon Jr., a senior communication studies major, Diversity Ambassador, co-founder of the Straight/Gay Alliance and Young Republicans club at Wilkes was acknowledged as the outstanding student leader for diversity. on the Diversity Task Force and recognized with the Board Member Leadership Award in Diversity. Dr. Andrea Frantz, Associate The Beacon/Andrew Seaman Diversity Ambassadors were awarded colorful stoles by Dr. Paul Adams and Dr. Reynold Verret. In recognition of their ongoing dedication to diversity issues. The Agent of Change staff award was presented to Amy Mbye, engineering department administrative assistant. She was honored for helping international students more easily transition to Wilkes. She is advisor to the Indian & Muslim Student Association, and helped organize events such as the Diwali and Ramadan celebrations. Board of Trustees member, Marjorie Marquart, was honored for her leadership Professor of Communication Studies, was also recognized for her leadership of the Diversity Task Force as chair. Dr. Joseph Francisco, an award winning, distinguished African American Professor of Chemistry and Atmospheric Sciences at Purdue University, served as keynote speaker for the event. In his introduction of Francisco, Dr. Reynold Verret, Wilkes University Provost, noted Francisco’s many achievements “wanted to do the right thing,” but lacked proper support from the administration. “We had security here, but they actually weren’t productive in what they did,” Manager of Public Safety Gerald Rebo said. “I think the system was, ‘be seen, not heard,’” he explained. Under Bailey’s leadership, Public Safety officers were newly clad in sharp new uniforms, required to engage in basic training, and encouraged to assume a high profile image on campus. “Perception is everything. You go out. The officer looks good, the equipment looks good [and] you get the training for the officers. I think we’re one of the top Public Safety departments in the area, and Chris is a large part of it,” Rebo said. Bailey is also credited for establishing a 26-line, 24-hour university service center, and for turning around the school’s parking program. During his tenure, Bailey was promoted to the Director of Campus Support and Services, and became responsible for the bookstore, campus grounds, campus safety, custodial, environmental health and safety, facilities, the insurance program, Sodexho, shuttle services, and parking. His latest accomplishments include the text message notification system in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings in April, 2007 and the placement of heart defibrillators in nine locations on campus. Bailey attributed most of his success to his most capable staff. “I was basically handed a loaded deck. These individuals [Jerry Rebo, Matt Yencha, Mike Malkemes, and Justin Kraynack] were some of the most capable and hard work- in academia. Among many other things, Francisco is President of the National Organization of Black Chemists & Engineers, and Verret jokingly included the fact that Francisco was dubbed one of the nation’s “sexiest scientists” by People Magazine. In his address, Francisco told of his love for history as a learning tool, but also revealed his frustration with it. He found it disheartening that “very few [biographies] about scientists of color” existed. Francisco provided a biographical sketch of pioneering African American scientist, Percy Julian, a man of “personal fascination” to Francisco. Francisco commented that amidst racial prejudice and lynching in late 1920s America, “this man earned a Ph.D. in that environment.” “Small but significant steps in opening the doors for others [are crucial],” Francisco said. There are some “challenges that are really not new. But knowing our history... sets the stage” for the new generation to know they can achieve as much as their historical counterparts, Francisco added. The evening was also marked with several performances by “Angeles en la Tierra,” a musical trio of Cuban nationals currently attending Marywood University. The group of women performed a mix of their own compositions and traditional Latin American songs. The mandolin, classical guitar, and clarinet players hail from Havana, Cuba, and came to Marywood about two years ago. BAILEY from FRONT PAGE within the University. Bailey’s role at Diversified, according to Byers, will require him to supervise a new unit that manages the quality aspect of Diversified’s operations and associated training and auditing of its production facilities. “At some point, I want to be in higher education,” Bailey said. “I think higher education is a genuine good. My eventual career goal in higher education would be at a vice president or higher level. But I recognize that there are certain areas of my expertise that are lacking, and I don’t know if I would have the opportunity to do the types of things (at Wilkes) that I’m going to have the opportunity to do at Diversified.” The former Fire Protection Specialist for the University of Pittsburgh, Bailey said he was hired by Wilkes in 2002 as the Director of Public Safety to whip a program into shape that ing people I’ve ever met. I believe you would be hard-pressed to find people of equal caliber anywhere else, and I don’t say that lightly. I really do believe that each in their own way, bring such strong talents and a Protestant work ethic. Not finishing a job is not acceptable to them,” Bailey said. Though Bailey will be gone, he has left his mark on the Wilkes University community. “What he did was build an organization that has the capability to go on and do very well [even] without his leadership,” said Wilkes University President Tim Gilmour. “While we’re losing him, we’ve really built a fantastic organization.” �NEWS JANUARY 29, 2008 FOCUS from FRONT PAGE to carbon neutral and alternative energy activities invited to the Green Fair will set up booths for interested students on the first floor of the Student Union Building. According to Klemow, one organization with a station will be the Earth Conservancy, a nonprofit organization based in the Wyoming Valley that works with the local community and is dedicated to reclaiming land formally owned by coal companies. Globa l Warm i ng While students are encouraged to attend both Wednesday and Thursday’s events for both useful information and extra credit, approximately 25 Wilkes professors are also bringing Focus the Nation into their classrooms this week. “Wilkes believes in this event to raise awareness about global climate change and becoming a solution to the problem. It also hopes to raise the awareness of faculty and students outside science and engineering majors on issues such as global climate change and environmental sustainability,” said Kresge. While Dr. Kyle Kreider, assistant professor of political science, plans to use his Law and Society class to explore questions such as “How law can respond to the global warming crisis?” Dr. Diane Wenger, assistant professor of history, will discuss “how human acts in the past and present - most obviously industrialization - have affected the environment and climate change” in her American History course. Dr. Nandita Das, assistant professor of finance and accounting, will be looking at global warming from a financial standpoint, specifically carbon finance. “I think this is a very good opportunity to educate the students on the ‘new’ cost of doing business in a world that should be rightly concerned about the effect of our actions on the environment.” 5 Dr. Jennifer Edmonds, assistant professor in business administration, will also be dedicating the entire week to the issue. “We do know that there is a lot of skepticism associated with the whole issue of global warming and whether humans are at all causing this,” said Klemow. “We certainly welcome anybody and everybody. If you don’t buy into this at all, that’s fine. Come and let’s discuss it.” Despite possible skepticism on campus, Klfor America emow is expecting 800-1,000 students to come out to the Focus the Nation events. In a recent survey of 105 Wilkes students, approximately 30% of those polled plan on attending the web cast Wednesday night. “I want to attend this event because I feel that my generation has within its grasp the ability to abolish the leading proponent of environmental danger: ignorance. Truly, this is a change to become aware of ourselves and how we affect our world,” said Lauren Mannion, sophomore English major. Among the 70% who checked that they won’t be in attendance, many claimed that they would have been involved in the event if they didn’t have work or night class. While many showed interest, numerous students also stated that they do not currently believe global warming is an issue. “It is not imperative to go to [Focus the Nation] and I will most likely have other things to do,” said Chris Hopkins, undeclared freshman. According to Klemow, Focus the Nation is only the beginning of things to come, “one cornerstone” in environmental initiatives that Wilkes has planned to adhere to the Green campaign on campus. Future events may include a formal dedication of the on campus Institute for the Environment and hosting of The Ecological Society of America MidAtlantic Chapter in April. THE NATION So l utions • · HAPPE ·. AT Y OU R BOOKSTO · _,. TI-IIS , .. c'LiYe A£Dust:i.c Music'' care! Wednesday night in our January 30th at 6 J 0- 8 :0 Opm c,Ou:r .After ,, ''Titree Imaginary Boys'' Friday, November 2nd 7 :30-10 :30pm Live Acoustic Music ffearen.owa • .. Provided By H'ealtih Seiniices .. (The< BACCHUS Netwo €2006}, Jw · Fae; - fmpafrw Driving, jirochure ) Don't fo.rget to pick up Justgo t.o: "U7BFREE" J ··Frequent Bt yc.r Card" too~ ~ - - ·~en\ ·!liwgi::t ta DR y,mu-" ~ Cam,'" :atnywh-c:liC mi -mm;- .s,m «, · �Opinion “I Have a Dream” Olympic Boycott Donating Blood Policy JANUARY 29, 2008 6 \. 2008 presidential election is a vote for history It’s time for youth to unite and make voices heard BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD Imagine running for president. What issues would you address? What political party would you run under? What would you aim to change? How would you want to make a difference and impact American history? What would be your legacy? Well, the candidates running for president in 2008 in both the Republican and Democratic parties have definitely changed the course of history as we know it. The Republican party is breaking ground by forwarding the nation’s first Mormon candidate for President, Governor Mitt Romney, as well as a Baptist preacher, Governor Mike Huckabee. On the Democratic side, we have the nation’s first viable woman Presidential candidate, New York Senator Hilary Clinton, and <; 0 o... c,...,..l_.,. the first viable African American presidential hopeful, Illinois Senator Barack Obama running for the presidency. Moreover, there have also been records broken for primary and caucus voter turnouts, campaign fundraising and spending. According to the Washington Post, Republican candidate, Congressman Ron Paul holds the record for the most money raised, $6 million, on a single day in a primary season. Even more astonishing is that this presidential campaign will be the first $1 billion election and may set a precedent for future presidential candidates, reports USAToday.com. Which of these candidates will win their party’s nomination and the general election in November? Only time will tell. Regardless, the race for the White House in 2008 has made a huge impact on our history. With history happening before wo-,,,.,, A.fr;c.c.....,,-Aw.c.f';<.,o,."l'> Mor.,..•"' h-~c- .,,,,......___.~ ro.'I,; c. ... ~._,J J.c--.+;-/ =<-<- ... \ A Sight for Sore Eyes by: Aleksander Lapinski our eyes and candidates attempting to appeal to the Y Generation by launching online campaigns, creating Facebook and MySpace accounts, and having debates on YouTube, it’s hard to come up with an excuse for remaining uneducated. All of us need to get involved with this election. The Beacon staff urges all eligible Wilkes students to pay attention and educate themselves and others about this election, its candidates, and its historical impact. We would love to see the Wilkes University campus be the first in the nation to be able to claim that 100% of eligible voters on campus actually did so. Such a claim to fame would not only put Wilkes in the record books, but it would send a significant message to Washington that we are watching and we’ll pull the ripcord if we don’t approve of the decisions elected leaders are making. The issues that Presidential and Congressional candidates are addressing greatly impact youth. For example, we are paying into Social Security, and we may never see its support later in our lives. Issues that should concern us include: education (how many of us will owe thousands upon graduation?); taxes (how are our taxes actually being spent and does it reflect our priorities?); health care (all of us face the challenge of affording health insurance after college, but beyond that, we may also find ourselves supporting parents as their health declines); or the Iraqi war (how many of us have friends or siblings who will eventually be veterans and may not see benefits?) If college is meant to be a time when we explore what it is to be adults, it’s necessary that we do our best to listen and pay attention in this election. You can make an impact and become part of history by Is 'v,.JC.<>.I", '"'-~" 1.... .... J. be lfe.r ..,,,+ getting involved. This \;ie...__\~"'-Jl ~" for So""le. is your chance to make a difference. So...if you were running for president, how would you want to make history? ....... By educating yourself and becoming involved now, you can have your say. Make this one for the record books. ~·'~(,- I want my primetime TV back BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor What, another rerun? Where are my shows? I want my Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives. As just about everyone knows, the writers’ strike has put a damper on prime time television for the past 12 weeks. This left scripted television fans with only reality show upon ridiculous reality show. The Writers Guild of America initiated its strike on November 5 against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The AMPTP is an organization cover- ing CBS, NBC, Fox, Sony, Walt Disney and Warner Brothers to name a few notable corporations. Writers are striking over negotiations for a new basic contract. The main issues include DVD residuals, union jurisdiction over animation and reality program writers and compensation for media placed on the internet. Basically they are just fighting over money. In short, the writers want more. If all the writers want is more money, I say give it to them. So far, the strike has cost over 1 billion dollars which covers the lost wages of cast members, crew, janitorial workers, caterers, and prop and costume rental companies. If the Alliance of Motion Picture and television Producers officials had come to an agreement with writers in November when the strike actually began they could have avoided paying all of these people for doing nothing. Television shows are nothing without a script, and the Writers’ Guild understands that. The residuals writers are asking for would cover them in times of unemployment receiving money for 7 7 8 their previous work. The AMPTP argues that the money received for such media is needed for the rising costs of producing a movie. All that I know is that the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers better give the Writers Guild of America what they are asking for. If they can afford to throw away $1 billion dollars for which they receive nothing in return, they can afford to give the writers a small percentage of DVD sales and part of the income received from internet media. Beacon Poll Question This weeks question: What was your favorite book series as a kid? • Harry Potter • Goosebumps • Hardy Boys • Babysitters Club • Bernstein Bears • Calvin and Hobbes • Captain Underpants • Animorphs • Boxcar Kids • Other What do you think? The Beacon wants your voice to be heard. If you want your voice to be heard, please contact The Beacon with the following information: 1 Contact information including your email address and a phone number where you can be reached 2 Your name, major, and year 3 Your opinion thebeacon.oped@ gmail.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for space and content. �JANUARY 29, 2008 OPINION 7 Boycott 2008 Summer Olympics in China; free Tibet BY GINO TROIANI Staff Writer/Photographer In 1949 the peaceful nation of Tibet, which is located northeast of Nepal and India, was invaded by the Chinese military and exploited for its rich natural resources. After ten years of war and conflict, the Dalai Lama along with Tibetan governmental leaders were forced to leave the country and flee to Dharamsola, which is a city in northern India where they have resided in exile ever since. For over fifty years the Tibetan people have lived under oppression. They are imprisoned, beaten, tortured, raped, and even killed for voicing opinions against the Chinese government or expressing any form of nationalism for Tibet. A Buddhist monk reportedly spent 49 years in a Chinese jail for leading a simple Tibetan rights protest. It is reported that over 1.2 million Tibetans have died as a direct result of China’s occupation. the ancient Greeks that has found its way My reason for writing this piece into our modern day society. If ecrettibet.rsfblog .org is to raise awareness about rtesy of s you take a close look, u Co the genocide and the equation doesn’t oppression that is add up. If the being inflicted Olympic games on the Tibetan represent the people by basic values the Chinese expressed government. above, This year, than why the 2008 are they s u m m e r being in Olympics a country are scheduled that does to be held in not? To me, Beijing, China, the whole beginning August 8. thing is one big Traditionally the oxymoron. Olympics have represented All around the world friendship, humanity, teamwork, activists have been uniting to fight freedom, achievement, and most importantly for Tibetan rights and protest the Beijing nationalism. It is a tradition passed on from Olympics. According to Giovanni Vacallo, President of Committee 100 for Tibet, “China is advertising the fact that they want to bring the Olympic torch to a piece of Tibetan territory, the top of Mt. Everest… By doing that, we believe that China is using the Olympics to help legitimize this illegal occupation.” If you want to become active in the protest against the 2008 Olympics, and support Tibetan rights, make sure to check out “Freetibet.org.” There you will find information about upcoming campaigns, news on Tibet, and learn how to make a donation for the Tibetan people. And remember, as the famous political theorist and philosopher, Edmund Burke once wisely said, “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.” “I Have a Dream” that Wilkes will have MLK day off BY JOSHUA WALKER Beacon Correspondent "I have a dream ... " all federal holidays. Since Wilkes is a small private school, it is nowhere near as diverse as the previously mentioned institutions. But should that matter? Does how diverse the surrounding area is have an effect on what holidays are recognizable? My argument is not just about celebrating Martin Luther King Day; it is about being able to celebrate any holiday we wish, and respecting federal holidays. Wilkes prides itself on creating diversity awareness and growth. However, when this institution of higher learning gives us a full day off for Labor Day but doesn’t even give a compressed schedule for Martin Luther King’s birthday, something isn’t right. I understand that Wilkes is a private university, but does that mean we can’t celebrate and have a compressed schedule or off for a holiday when other universities both public and private do? In order for diversity awareness and appreciation to grow and have sustainability at Wilkes, I propose that next year, and years after, Wilkes at least have a compressed schedule on Martin Luther King day if not have that day off. By having a compressed schedule more students and faculty most likely would be able to go to the program Wilkes offers in the morning since there are no classes. To change the status quo, I encourage all students, faculty and staff to express this concern to our Student Government leaders and to the Deans and administration of this campus. Let’s follow Dr. King’s dream and spread his message on his and all days! The Beacon/Gino Troiani On federal holidays all public buildings are closed, including public universities. However, private schools can remain open just like private businesses. On Monday January 21, schools around the country celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Many schools held ceremonies commemorating his lifetime achievements. Here at Wilkes, a number of students, including me, along with faculty and staff attended a program held in the Grand Ballroom of the Henry Student Center. A vivid speech was given by guest speaker Dr. Russell Davis, Interim President at Gloucester County College. The program then concluded with the reading of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech by the Multicultural Student Coalition. It was a stimulating program and it produced a decent turn out. Nevertheless, not every student, or faculty for that matter, had a chance to make it. The program was held at 4 p.m. and some students had class. Last year the program was held in the morning and all morning classes ran on a compressed schedule making it possible for every student to attend the ceremony if they wished. King’s College had a similar compressed schedule where morning classes were finished before ceremonies that were scheduled in the late morning began. Upon researching, I discovered that for Rutgers and Temple, the first day of classes for the spring semester began on Tuesday January 22, giving students January 21 off. I even checked USC’s online schedules to see if the west coast differs at all, and they declared a university holiday as they do for Dr. Russell Davis, Interim President at Gloucester County College, spoke to the Wilkes community on MLK day about the importance of accepting others and seeing each other as equals. �OPINION Your Voices Dear Editor: Ashley Filipek Sophomore, English education major Here’s to you... Mr. Shirt too small guy BY GINO TROIANI Staff Writer/Photographer Drawing by: Matt Vital Presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, fought to choke back tears on a recent campaign stop in New Hampshire. Tears filled her eyes as she said, “I have so many opportunities from this country; I just don’t want to see us fall backwards.” I never imagined there could be such a backlash from what I saw as genuine tears of a woman in desperation. Now the nation, in their campaigning fever, is questioning Clinton’s tearful plea. Are they just crocodile tears, Hillary? Here we are faced with a dilemma. Is a woman just too emotional to be our nation’s next future President? Clinton tells Fox News, “Maybe I have liberated us to actually let women be human beings in public life.” She continues, “You know, we are. Let’s be that.” I ask her critics, where would faking it get her? She has revealed her soft side. Yes, she is a woman. Yes, she is a presidential candidate. And yes, she cries. What we don’t see in the repetitive newcasts is what Candidate Clinton goes on to say in her address to New Hampshire. She expressed that, “Some of us put ourselves out there and do this against some pretty difficult odds and we do it, each one of us, because we care about our country.” Clinton adds that, “When we look at the array of problems we have and the potential for it getting, really spinning out of control, this is one of the most important elections America’s ever faced.” She is aware that our country is in need of some major “revamping” and very much understands voters are in a difficult position to choose who is best, especially in 2008, to get us out of this mess our country is in. Clinton concluded, “I just believe so strongly in who we are as a nation, so I’m going to do everything I can to make my case, and then the voters get to decide.” That’s what we need; a candidate who believes in our nation. You have my vote, Hillary. Not just because you’re a woman, and I am too. Not just because you’re willing to admit our nation needs help and even shed tears in your willingness to be the one to change it, but because I believe you’re the one who will make the change. I encourage all to consider voting for Hillary Clinton in the upcoming election. 8 Courtesy: www.spamula.net JANUARY 29, 2008 Here’s to you, Mr. Shirt-too-small-guy. You spend all of your free time on the bench press machine “getting your swell on,” making the rest of us look like sissies. You walk around with your chin up, collar popped and chest out. Your motive? To buy that Baby Gap t-shirt that’s three sizes too small so that everyone can see your monstrous pecs. Keep on, keeping on! Equality isn’t in the equation when donating blood BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Opinion Editor “Donate Blood-Save a Life!” This is the message the American Red Cross constantly bombards us with as a persuasive tool to try to get people to donate blood. Over break while I was visiting my family in upstate New York, the local VA was sponsoring a blood drive. So my cousins and I decided to do our civic duty and go donate. I haven’t donated blood in about four years and figured it was time. Everything was going all peachy until I came upon a question during the screening process. The question read something like “Are you a man who has had sexual contact with a man, even once, since 1977?” Since I am a gay man, I answered yes. After I was finished answering all the questions, I met with a Red Cross volunteer. Upon looking over my answers, she told me that because I have had sex with a man, I wasn’t eligible to donate. I was in disbelief when she told me why. She said that it’s illegal for men who’ve had sex with other men to donate because of the HIV/AIDS virus. I was mortified. First of all, I do not have HIV/AIDS. Secondly, my blood type is O+, ing and we had left, I decided to do more and since about 40% of the population has research on this ludicrous law. this type of blood and there’s always a need I discovered that the FDA created a policy for type O donors because their blood may in 1983 that men who have had sexual conbe transfused to a person of any blood type tact with men can’t donate blood. The polin an emergency, I could have icy was created due to the increased really helped, if not acturisk of contracting AIDS during ally saved someone’s transfusions. The Seattle life. Post Intelligencer recently Not only was reported that in May of I prevented 2007 the FDA re-evalfrom donatuated and affirmed its ing blood, policy, despite imbut I also provements in testfelt humiliing and an increased ated when I susceptibility of hethad to get up erosexuals to HIV. and take a seat According to the . . in the waiting American Associaarea. My coustion of Blood Bank’s ins then asked why (AABB) website, when I couldn’t donate, the FDA was reviewing its and it felt as if I had policy in May, the AABB, done something Courtesy of calscme.blogspot.com the American Red Cross wrong and was beand America’s Blood Cening punished for no ters all testified that the particular reason. This incident was one of ban “is medically and scientifically unwarthe most degrading experiences I’ve ever ranted” and that “it does not appear rational had. After my cousins had finished donat- to broadly differentiate sexual transmis- . •.o ~ - - 0 ~ · a,0 1,0 sion via male-to-male sexual activity from that via heterosexual activity on scientific grounds.” FDA officials stated that that the restriction is to protect the national blood supply from HIV. However, the AABB disputes that claim and argue, “Current duplicate testing using NAT and serologic methods allow detection of HIV- infected donors between 10 and 21 days after exposure. Beyond this window period, there is no valid scientific reason to differentiate between individuals infected a few months or many years previously.” If the medical community disagrees with the FDA’s policy and believes it should be overturned, since they are the “experts” in this field, it should be overturned. Imagine how many people could be saved if this policy were overruled. The implications of this policy for our community, family and friends are huge. Contact your federal legislators to let them know you believe this law is unjust. After all, if we’re healthy don’t we all deserve the right to give life by donating? �LIFESTYLES JANUARY 29, 2008 Student of the Week Campuses that Care 10 11 9 Fitness resolutions fizzle as New Year progresses BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Lifestyles Editor Long after the last present is unwrapped and the last vat of eggnog guzzled, the holidays have a way of sticking with you throughout the year. Like on your stomach, arms, and thighs. According to a 2000 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Americans only pack on a little more than one pound during the holiday season. However, the gain is not reversed during the following months, so the one pound increase could add up over the years. To stave off the weight, many Americans pledge exercise, strength training, and a healthy diet for their New Year’s resolutions. They flock to the gym the first few weeks of the year, only to dwindle greatly in number as February and March roll around. “January is really crazy here,” said Linda Reilly, the wellness director at the WilkesBarre YMCA, where Wilkes University students receive free membership. “Everyone comes back in January because they all have these New Year’s resolutions. It’s really crowded, and people have a hard time getting machines.” David Wrobel, the manager of Uno Fitness in Scranton, counts January as the biggest month for the health club. Normally, Uno Fitness signs up around 100 new members each month. In January, that number grows to 200 to 250. “People make New Year’s resolutions that they want to eat better and lose weight, and then they end up lasting six weeks,” s a i d Wrobel. A poll c o n ducted The Beacon/Gino Troiani in December 2007 by Marist College and WNBC showed that weight loss was the number one New Year’s resolution for women, and the third most popular for men. But 40 percent of those surveyed who made resolutions did not stick with any part of them. One of the main reasons people have difficulty sticking with an exercise routine is they tend to make unrealistic goals, and become discouraged when they don’t achieve them. Reilly says people come to her thinking they can take off 30 pounds in two months. “I think it’s important for trainers to help them come up with a realistic goal, something they will succeed in,” said Reilly. “And then if they do better than that, that’s an even better benefit.” Tom Nallon, a certified personal trainer at the YMCA, sees clients who expect to transition directly from their pre-gym body to their ideal form with no middle ground. “They want to achieve too much too quickly, and it takes awhile to get into the shape where you are able to lose weight,” he said. “The first thing they have to do is to get to a fitness level, and then they can work on achieving more of their goals.” While people may hope for the pounds to melt off quickly, the healthy goal is to aim for one or two pounds of weight loss each week. This should be achieved through an exercise program in conjunction with a more nutritional diet. Using fad diets or skipping meals to achieve a more drastic weight loss not only can cause health problems, but also the likelihood of regaining the pounds. Instead, people should try to eat three to five small, balanced meals each day. “The biggest mistake I think people make is that they don’t eat breakfast. They don’t get their metabolism burning in the morning,” said Reilly. “It’s a lifestyle change. You just can’t come in here and work out, but you have to change your nutritional habits, too.” Another reason people drop out of a fitness regimen is they may feel self-conscious mixing with diehard fitness buffs who have the bodies to prove it. Fitness novices may be worried that misusing the machines or doing exercises incorrectly can garner unwanted scrutiny from the regulars. To become more confident, they can ask staff members to demonstrate how to do cer- The Beacon/Gino Troiani According to a poll conducted by Marist College and WNBC, weight loss was the top New Year’s resolution for women and the third most popular for men. But only 60 percent of Americans kept even a part of their resolution. tain exercises, or they can sign up for personal training sessions so they can get oneon-one help. David Wrobel, the manager of Uno Fitness, believes that knowing how to work out correctly separates those who stick with the program from those who drop out. “They have to get educated on how to get results,” he said. “A lot of them are too afraid to ask for help. Then they get discouraged and stop showing up.” People can also stop showing up because of sheer burnout. Hoping for quick results and eager to prove their dedication, fitness novices can overwork themselves, leading to physical effects like shin splints, torn ligaments, and fatigue. In order to stick with a fitness program, the new members should develop a set schedule to follow every week. An ideal program depends on each person, but healthy individuals should shoot for two to three days of strength training, two days of cardiovascular exercise, and two days of rest. “Some people come in and they’re working too hard. They’re defeating the purpose of working out,” said Reilly. “They’re overdoing it, and they’re not going to see the results they want because the body needs to rest.” After noticing results for a few weeks, fitness novices may feel discouraged when they reach a plateau with little or no muscle gain, strength increase, or weight loss. In Nallon’s personal training sessions, he often sees his clients struggle with reaching plateaus, which occurs when the body adapts too well to the exercise program. “They need to add something in or take something out,” he said. “Add intensity or weight, because once your body has adapted to it, you need change.” Reilly recommends beginners join a few of the classes that are geared towards those just starting out. Classes in water aerobics, Pilates, and yoga are good choices because they are challenging and fun, but gentle enough for beginners. The best way to stick with an exercise routine is to make sure that it is enjoyable. People who find running on a treadmill boring may only last a few weeks if that is their only source of cardio, but if they switch that with racquetball or basketball, they may be more likely to continue. “You have to find something you enjoy. If you don’t enjoy it, you’re not going to do it,” said Nallon. “Exercise should be fun, and it shouldn’t be a stressful thing. You should enjoy doing it. �LIFESTYLES 10 JANUARY 29, 2008 Student of the Week: Ben Beidel BY LAUREN SALEM Beacon Staff Writer Ben Beidel, freshman class president, learned about leadership in what some might call an unusual place: a barn. Beidel grew up on a dairy farm where he fed and milked 120 cows, threw hay bales, and unloaded about 2,000 hay bales every day. As anyone who has ever spent time on a working farm can tell you, the work ethic requires time management and a tireless attention to meeting all needs. A pre-pharmacy major, Beidel has aplied that ethic to Wilkes. He has helped Student Government (SG) plan events like last semester’s Casino Night and the homecoming dance, while simultaneously holding down a part-time job at CVS. Because of the leadership he has shown as class president and throughout his other activities, The Beacon has chosen him as our Student of the Week. The Beacon: How did working on the farm help develop your work ethic? Beidel: I believe that I can easily apply anything that I learned on the farm, be it dealing with crops or animals, to issues that I run into now and can use my experience to deal with it. One of the things I’ve learned on the farm was that when you have the opportunity to get something done, get it done, because with field work you never know if it’s going to rain the next day. The Beacon: Why were you interested in being freshman class president? Beidel: I was interested in being c l a s s president because I wanted to help make Wilkes more enjoyable for students. I feel that there is room for i m provement to help the students stay occupied and excited. The Beacon: What would you accomplish as freshman class president? Beidel: I’m hoping to get a feel for what students want from SG and I’m hoping to work with my board to put together some fun socials for all classes to enjoy. We want to try and get activities together for the students to get people to stay here on the weekends and have something fun to do. like The Beacon/Gino Troiani ·N··· . ·, to The Beacon: How did you become inspired to run for freshman class president? Beidel: I was inspired to run for class president by my grandmother. Like most other freshman, I struggled with homesickness in my first few weeks here and she urged me to go out and meet people and told me to think about running since I had filled leadership positions in the past. The Beacon: What other leadership positions have you filled in the past? Beidel: I swam for the high school relay team for four years and every year I was a district qualifier. As I got older, I knew that everyone that was younger than me was counting on me to make a difference and to prove to them that I believed in them and they believed in me. I was president of a bunch of clubs like FFA (Future Farmers of America), Chemistry Club, and Mountain Biking Club. The Beacon: What do you see yourself doing after you graduate from Wilkes? Beidel: I’d like to climb the ranks at CVS and fix a couple problems that I’ve seen. I’m planning on getting my MBA as well. At the same time coming from a farming background, I would like to have a small ranch one day to show cows or beef cattle. I want to try to give back what I learned as a child and teenager and show it to other people who maybe don’t have that. THE , · . . R ' . STIJDE · ' FOR TH I e p •. a t d( nth! ·m In . . t n up to . k,. . 70 s-3- ~ . 9 ,.+ 21st CENTUR\ �JANUARY 29, 2008 LIFESTYLES Wilkes and King’s collaborate to help community 11 Campuses that Care Week kicks off February 11 BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor Typically, the only interaction that takes place between students from Wilkes University and students from King’s College involves sitting across from each other at athletic events or standing in line next to each other while wondering how textbooks could possibly cost so much. This is not exactly conducive to bonding between rivals. However, for one week this semester students from the two city schools will have the opportunity to work together in a cooperative way to benefit Wilkes-Barre. This unique annual event is called Campuses that Care Week and will kick off on February 11. Megan Boone, Community Service Coordinator at Wilkes University, describes the project as “a way for the community to know that both the schools care about the community that we live in, that we work in, and that we go to school in.” During Campuses that Care Week, students will have the opportunity to go on transportation-provided Kelley and Leader both enjoyed the experiences they had last year and plan to volunteer at the event again this year. Angela Nicolosi, a sophomore psychology major, liked the time she spent volunteering at the SPCA during the last Campuses that Care Week so much, that she continued to volunteer there two times a month all of last semester. All three students said they recommend participating in this event to their classmates. “I think that a lot of times we kind of get too wrapped up in school and don’t really take time to help other people. I feel really grateful for what I have and being able to get an education like this. I think we should share that with others,” said Kelley. Anyone who would like to participate in Campuses that Care Week will be able to sign up for specific projects and hours the week of February 4 on the first floor of the Henry Student Center. In addition to the trips to outside organizations, there will be a blood drive held at Wilkes University on February 11. Students will also have a chance to relax while helping the community by enjoying a movie night at Movies 14 which is free with the donation of a canned good. The Beacon/Christine Zavaskas Courtesy Megan Boone The Beacon/Christine Zavaskas trips to volunteer at local nonprofit organizations such as the SPCA and St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen. Students from both schools will work together at each location. “When I describe it, often I talk about the goals of it, which are to raise awareness about the different agencies at which students can volunteer, to show our support for those agencies…and also to foster a spirit of cooperation and camaraderie between the two campuses,” said Dr. Bill Bolan, Community Outreach Coordinator at King’s College. In past years, Campuses that Care Week has been successful in meeting its goal of creating cooperation between the two schools. Megan Boone witnessed bonding between students who might have not otherwise met. “I can recall last year when we were making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for VISION [a homeless shelter for men] and it was so messy. We had these huge jars of peanut butter and plastic knives and it was just hilarious. The students definitely bonded over some of the antics that happened…” The week’s events also connect students with the surrounding community. Nicole Leader, a senior double major in sociology and political science, has participated in this event several times and noted, “There are people in Wilkes-Barre that we sometimes ignore as students, the homeless and the elderly for example…We don’t really get to sit down and talk to them. That’s what you get to do when you participate in Campuses that Care Week... If you sit there and listen to their stories, you get just as much out of learning about their experiences as they do from your being there listening.” Caitlin Kelley, a sophomore pharmacy major, was able to spend time with veterans when she volunteered during last year’s Campuses that Care Week to play bingo with residents of the WilkesBarre VA Medical Center. “All of the older gentlemen were saying we were good luck charms. They would have us come over and stand by their card to bring luck to them. It made me feel kind of important, like we were helping them win,” she recalled. Angela Nicolosi volunteered at the SPCA during last year’s Campuses that Care Week. “There was this cat that I absolutely loved...it was the most loving cat, and all I wanted was it to get adopted. That was my favorite experience,” said Nicolosi. �A&E Poogie Bell Band Thai Thai Review Crossword/Website JANUARY 29, 2008 13 14 15 Aptekar's Some for Me, Some for You speaks to audiences BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Assistant A&E Editor The works of internationally acclaimed artist Ken Aptekar kick off the 2008 season for the Sordoni Art Gallery. The exhibit, entitled Some for Me, Some for You: Paintings by Ken Aptekar, features 15 works created by Aptekar between 1992 and 2006. Of Aptekar’s works, Sordoni director, Ronald Bernier, explained, “He selects a particular painting [from art history] and he repaints them. He repaints fragments of them.” Bernier added Aptekar never repaints a whole painting and often changes elements of the original such as color, orientation or scale. His replicas also feature text which is etched in a piece of glass and then bolted to the painting. “I always try to use a text that will spin the image in an unexpected way, in order to get other people to imagine what they might say or think when looking at the painting. In other words, my text responses are both subjective and provocative,” Aptekar said. For example, in the piece, “People All Over are Starving,” Bernier explained that Aptekar repainted a classic painting by Pieter Claesz which expressed opulence and plenty and added text which may bring to mind of an individual who would not ordinarily view high art. Bernier noted that the text in Aptekar’s pieces can range from blatant or obscure in meaning to funny and witty or possibly serious. Despite being nationally and internationally known, with previous exhibits everywhere from the Palmer Museum at Penn State University to an exhibit in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Aptekar chose Wilkes University because of the intelligence and expertise of the Sordoni staff. Aptekar added, “I was impressed by the quality of the exhibitions that preceded mine.” Raised in a family of creative minds, Aptekar’s father was a musician and his mother was an art teacher. He regularly attended concerts and explored museums as a child. S09rffE, < O(J(<MCE, SO'JvlC£ rf'O~ <Pfl_J!Jfl_J. >-S<Brf 1\_c;E~ / (J!JfE?('A Beacon/Jenna Stephens Ken Aptekar’s exhibit, “Some for Me, Some for You” opened on January 14. In the exhibit, Aptekar pairs classic imagines with meaningful text in order to create a new meaning for the audience. He explained, “There was a sensitivity to how one’s life experiences can be transformed into art, even though to become an ‘artist’ was a rather crazy thing to go and do.” Both Bernier and Brittany Kramer-DeBalko, the Sordoni Coordinator, agreed Aptekar’s work is created to make specific meaning for the audience. The pieces displayed in the Sordoni exhibit are easily viewed by someone who might not be as well versed in art or art histoy, according to DeBalko. One of Aptekar’s favorite artists to use is Francois Boucher. The title piece, ‘Some for Me, Some for You,’ is partially inspired by a piece by Boucher. Several of Aptekar’s pieces feature multiple images and fragments of different paintings in art history. Some for Me, Some for You: Paintings by Ken Aptekar will be in the Sordoni Art Gallery until Sunday March 2, 2008. The gallery, located in the Stark Learning Center, is open daily from noon to 4:30 p.m. with free admission. Bernier and DeBalko encouraged anyone interested in viewing Aptekar’s work but unable to visit during open hours to call 408-4325 Schedule of Events Tuesday, January 29 Wednesday, January 30 - Winona LaDuke Q&A at 11:00 a.m. in the SUB - Alternative Spring Break Spaghetti Dinner at 4 p.m. in the SUB - Winona LaDuke community presentation at 5:30 p.m. in the SUB - TLC Author Event - Kate Morgenroth, They Did It With Love at the Tudor Bookstore - DJ Godfather at 9 p.m. at the Wood lands - Mike Glabicki performing at 10 p.m. at the River Street Jazz Cafe - M-80 performing at the Woodlands at 9 p.m. Thursday, January 31 - Meet President Tim Gilmour coffee hour at 8 a.m. in the Weckesser Hall Board Room - DJ Kev the Rev and Redbull Ron at 9 p.m. at the Woodlands - Comedy night at Donahue’s at 10 p.m. Friday, February 1 - Regional Entrepreneurship Institute Meeting at 1 p.m. in the SUB - Writing January, The Life to Come, The Loyal and Far From Honored performing at 8 p.m. at Cafe Metropolis - 40 Lb. Head performing at Brews Brothers - The Five Percent performing at 10 p.m. at the Woodlands Saturday, February 2 - New York cultural theater trip at 8 a.m. - Lacrymosa, Bob Alumni and Marcelle Reinecke performing at Test Pattern at 8 p.m. - YGGR, Passion, Anthracite, The Early Birds performing at 8 p.m. at Cafe Metropolis - Dimensions performing at 10 p.m. at the Woodlands Monday, February 4 - Campuses That Care Week begins �JANUARY 29, 2008 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 Music Review: Poogie Bell Band delights at Jazz Cafe BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon Editor-in-chief On average, I’ll usually spend around $35 during a night out on the town in Wilkes-Barre, wasting my cash on greasy appetizers, mixed drinks, and monster ballads on the jukebox. But after seeing a flyer in the newspaper offering a 14-16 oz. lobster tail dinner for $24.95 and $1 bottle Lions’ Heads at the River Street Jazz Cafe, I realized that this was an offer I could not pass up. However, I didn’t go to the Jazz Cafe last Friday night for the lobster tail dinner. Nor did I go for the $1 bottle Lions’ Heads. I was there to take in an evening of “A Funk Jazz Show” with The Poogie Bell Band. Poogie (rhymes with fugee) is a world class jazz, R&B, and hip-hop drummer who has worked with the likes of David Bowie, Chaka Khan, Marcus Miller, Roberta Flack, and Erykah Badu, just to name a few. The New York native was exposed to music since he was born, due largely in part to his father being a jazz musician and music teacher. Poogie’s early appearance on The Mike Douglas Show with Pearl Bailey at the tender age of five sealed the deal. Needless to say, as an aspiring drummer myself, I could not wait to see what Poogie could do behind the kit…and I was not disappointed. Joining his fellow band members, sax player Jacob Yoffee, keyboardist Howie Alexander, guitarist Chris Parker, and Kevin Barefoot playing the low notes, Poogie emerged stage right through a curtain and sat behind a modest drum set, cast in a purple hue from the lighting on stage. He’s a big man, resembling an aged ?uestlove from The Roots, and after a quick holdup from a fan who hopped on stage to engage in a conversation with the drummer at the most inopportune time, (you gotta love Wilkes-Barre natives), Poogie addressed the crowed with his high, playful voice. “Hello, Wilkes-Barre! Thank you for coming out on this cold winter’s night.” Then, with a few clicks of the sticks, Poogie and his crew opened up their first show of the New Year with a nice little funk number as the heads in the crowd bobbed in unison with the big man. When Poogie plays, he seems so happy, closing his eyes and nodding his head back and forth to the groove. Perhaps my friend put it best when he described the band’s sound as “the score to a seventies cop flick and an adult film.” Perfect! Poogie kept things interesting, switching between full-bodied rim shots on the snare to calming rim clicks, and often wowed the crowd with short, but powerful, mid-song solos, from furious drum rolls across the kit to John Bonham-esque triplets with a thundering bass drum. The band especially shone in a tune called Redd Foxx, dedicated to the late comedian, as Parker let loose on the guitar in a slick solo while Alexander transformed the sound of the keyboard into a deep chuch organ chirp…very cool. Other highlights included a cover of Herbie Hancock’s “Actual Jam,” and Poogie’s very own song about his hometown New York Knicks, titled “Knickerbocker Bling.” The only hitch during the evening occurred when Poogie lost one of his sticks during the first song, but he kept time with his hi-hat and quickly retrieved a new one from his bag to finishing the song in style. Poogie will return. Grade: B+ Michael Glabicki from Rusted Root to play at the Jazz Cafe tomorrow Michael Glabicki, the lead singer and guitarist from the Pittsburgh jam band Rusted Root, will perform live at the River Street Jazz Cafe this Wednesday night with Mike Mizwinski, guitarist from Morning Pride and Tripping On Nothing. Cover is $5 at the door. Show starts at 10:00. Courtesy http://www.artdrum.com Tudor Bookstore to close BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor 4T-SHIRTS.COM YOUR 11 SGURGE F'O R SCREEN PRnNlilNG EM BROJ DERY, .AN I PROMOTIONAL ITEMS! PERfECilf FOR BUS1Nll:SSE RSS,TAURANl · [jOlliEGESi MIil HIGl-t SCHOOLS. M CARRY ALL BRAJilDS AND SlYLES Of l!ES, SWEA.'llSHIRfSi GWJF SKIRJ5. Mil UllilfOFUtS. PLUS, A WIDE VAmEff OF MOIIOTIOJ\IAL ITBfS S\l'Oli AS Pad, MUGS, MOLJSEPADS\, COOLERS KEY,CttAI S, AHD. MCfilE. GREA'J PRICES AND AKNO\WED6EABLE ART STAAF. 570.823.9272 NEW LOCATION 146 Soua Pe nylvania Ave. across fr-om Noly Redeemer· Nigh School n ar Domino s , nd Corb Bevera Although change is often a good thing in new, developing areas, it can come with a price. As “progress” ensues, smaller, locally owned stores often are forced to step aside to make way for larger chain stores. In March, Kingston will say goodbye to the last independent and locally owned bookstore in the area, The Tudor Bookshop and Cafe. The recent addition of Barnes and Noble to the area has made it difficult for the Tudor to stay in business. Stacy DeAngelo, assistant manager of the store explained, “It’s hard for an independent to keep going when you have to compete with the internet and big chain stores.” Although the store will close in March, there is not a specific date set at the moment. DeAngelo also explained, “As soon as a good portion of inventory is gone we’re going to start closing up. It depends on how long it takes things to sell out.” In order to get their inventory sold, the bookstore is currently running a sale on everything in the store through January 31. Some residents are clearly upset to see the end of a long-standing independent bookstore. One former Wilkes student, Eric Shatrowskas said, “It’s pretty unfortunate because it was a really good bookstore.” Student and Effort resident, Justin Hall, explained the value that he sees in independent book stores as well as chain stores. “They’re valuable in different senses. Independent bookstores are good for finding old, out of prints and lesser known works from good authors. Chain bookstores are good, because if there’s a book that just came out that you want, you can access it with ease. They have two different functions in my mind.” Tudor was founded in 1976 by Barbara Shaffer and over the years has offered a variety of services to the public. According to its website, nearly 1,000 authors have come to the valley because of the Tudor bookstore. Also, the Tudor has hosted monthly book club meetings, held art and literature contests, and published a book of poetry, Got Verse. In addition, the cafe has become a popular “regular” spot for coffee and sandwiches for many. Despite the fact that the closing is fast approaching, the Tudor will still hold its January and February events, including author visits with Kate Morgenroth and Anne Easter Smith, as well as a gallery exhibit with “The Amish Prints of Don Fatzinger.” �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 JANUARY 29, 2008 Restaurant Review: Thai Thai BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor I really didn’t know what to expect from one of downtown Wilkes-Barre’s newest additions, Thai Thai. I heard good things from my co-workers, but since I have little experience with Thai food, I wasn’t entirely sure what the menu or atmosphere of the little restaurant would be like. Dressed in simple jeans and a hoodie, I felt underdressed in Thai Thai and secretly hoped that my guest and I would be seated in a corner. I quickly realized, however, that Thai Thai consists of one, large room. No sections, no barriers, just you and everyone else. If you like to have private conversations in booths with high walls, this may not be the place for you. On the other hand, if you enjoy hearing about how there isn’t enough chicken in your neighbor’s salad multiple times, you’re in luck. I ate at Thai Thai on a Monday night just before the dinner crowd arrived. My guest and I were seated beside the window in front of the restaurant. After taking our drink order and delivering it less than two minutes later, the first thing I noticed was the constant, cold draft coming through the windows. There was a space heater off to the side of our table, so I knew that the restaurant was trying to address the problem. At the same time I acknowledged the attempt, I still had a hard time convincing myself that the old space heater was aesthetically pleasing. c 1....,.1> Thai Thai’s menu is exhaustive and almost overwhelming.They offer 102 dinner choices (13 vegetarian), plus sides, desserts, and a lunch menu. They gave us ample time to look over the entire menu and I finally decided on Pad Thai while my guest chose Panang Curry. Between placing our orders and receiving them, I listened to the traditional Thai music playing overhead and the occasional sounds of pots and pans banging and clanking in the kitchen. I was distracted when one of the waitresses became engaged in conversation withofthe women at the table Courtesy Mike Cignoli beside us. They spoke of Thailand and its restaurants and hotels and at one point, the waitress even did a little dance. She was pleasant and funny and came back to check on our area of the room frequently. While I have very little experience with Thai food and am not even sure how Pad Thai is supposed to taste, I was indifferent toward it. The noodles were a little too soft for me, the chicken and shrimp were limited to three pieces each, but the portion was huge. My guest’s curry was spicy, warm, and full of chicken and we both thoroughly enjoyed the coconut rice we ordered on the side. For two entrees, two drinks, and a side, the bill came to roughly $36.00 with tip. While the price of the entrees ran between $10.95-$12.95, I wasn’t really phased considering I sometimes pay close to four or five dollars for six inches of hoagie and about two dollars for a hotdog on campus. We’re college students on a budget and it’s hard to go somewhere .r ■ .· nice where things are cheap. If it’s date night and you’re willing to spend the money, Thai Thai’s dim lighting, soft music, and close seating might be fitting. All in all, I probably wouldn’t go back. If someone really wanted to go, I’d accompany them and try a different dish. The service was Thai Thai’s best feature and the atmosphere was enjoyable, but I just don’t think Thai food is my thing. Grade: B- - rllcl___ > NO FOR SP -~ -- ····. :P .· Photo Courtesy of http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Workshop/7676/food.JPG NTI G .G 20 8 I I C ,ci lf"'lCY A p, - . I' ntm _,l y - - 1rr n w<J.:::o N - S Enl:lfrY ,V · ·t o . undry .· - \IV1 -F 1 n r t - . _ ·_ ilke · 57 · wvvw. cu •· Street "1 ·· 7 ·. 2 22 0 ndl v n · ~co �15 Kudracross ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer 1 6 10 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 25 26 30 32 35 37 38 41 43 44 46 47 50 53 54 55 60 61 63 64 65 66 67 68 ACROSS Nothing but net Catatonic state Fraudulent scheme Columbus ship Asian ethnic group Cincinnati location Captain Kirk craft VIP’s transport Barrel maker After sep. Pub offerings Money, slangly Group of lions Missile type Courageous Mathematical rule 1970s Wilkes-Barre flood causer Broke divine law Kings, for example Actor’s arena Substitute one for another Deliver a sermon Narrow strip of wood “Winner ______ all” Skeet activity GI offense Meadow Lethal ___, starring Mel Gibson Hindu garment Fight of flight hormone Birch, for example Drinking glasses Date gift Twenty-six fortnights Imitates Fermentation agent 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 33 34 36 39 40 42 43 45 47 48 49 51 52 54 56 57 58 59 62 JANUARY 29, 2008 DOWN Blueprint detail Blush addict “____the wild blue yonder” Dance movement Group of wives Ford, for example Baltimore baseball player Cosmetic substance Aid Alternative energy devices Pepper variety Targeted Bullwinkle, for example Big-leaguer Electric resistance unit Tailor action Possessive pronoun 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet Affleck and Franklin Vermont capitol Fairy-tale monster Takes care of a child Sharp side of the blade Marine mammal Sony competitor Tennis term Relaxed 17th Greek letter Bill for services Flavorful Sentient MASH setting BYOB part Watery eyed Buddhist monk Medicinal plant Leaning Tower city Washington is on them Avian abode One of Four in Massachusetts Fannypackantics.com BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor We rarely see them in NEPA, but when we travel to Philly, New York City, Washington D.C. or any other major city in the world, they are all over the place. No, not taxis or subway systems…I’m talking about tourists. While most have played the role at one time or another, it is hilarious to spot blatantly obvious tourists and laugh at their stupidity. Fannypackantics.com is the first ever tourist humor blog and it has made an art out of spotting tourists and poking fun at their silly habits. Clearly, the website tends to focus on “fanny packs,” those fashionably questionable, ultimate-in-pragmatic tourist tools that allow a hands-free approach to shopping. Fanny packs are pouches that are strapped on around the waist and can serve as purse, wallet, or backpack. Fannypackantics.com offers pictures of men, women and children wearing fanny packs in the front, to the side and in the back. The site hails such fashion disasters as the number one way to spot a tourist. Possibly my favorite part of the site is the “Fanny Pack of the Week.” A guy wearing his fanny pack backwards was described as “trying to avoid looking like a lame tourist” and compared to someone wearing a backwards baseball hat which “can look really douchy, too.” But wait! There’s more. Not only does this website poke fun at fanny packs, but it also finds other funny ways of identifying tourists from cameras worn around the neck, to absurd fur coats and hats to suits worn with sneakers. There are also pictures of tourists that ask the viewer to comment on whether or not you would mug the tourist. The site even pokes fun at those who mispronounce the names of streets, cities and landmarks. While this site is written by jaded city dwellers who bemoan having to deal with tourists crossing their path every “80.3 seconds,” it’s entertaining to see what these city people see daily. It’s even funny to see the site poke fun at a few things that maybe we have even done ourselves. I give this site an L for laugh-out-loud at out-of-towners. Go to this site, take a few notes and deal with fewer disdainful townies. �16 SPORTS JANUARY 29, 2008 After semester hiatus, intramural games back on Students teams will compete in variety of sporting contests BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor In August of 2005, sophomores Steve Nesgoda and Tom Modugno formed the X-Colonels, an intramural team originally comprised of 12 former varsity football players that saw minimal field time in a Colonels uniform. The players quit the team after their freshmen season and picked up a new hobby, intramural flag football. After winning two consecutive intramural championships, it was clear the X-Colonels were unstoppable. The team posted two perfect regular season records because the other flag-pulling junkies just couldn’t measure up. But in August of 2007, two years after the team’s inaugural season, a monkey-wrench was thrown into the X-Colonels plans to go for the trifecta. According to players, numerous calls to sign-up for their senior season faltered because there was no intramural director available to answer the phone. A month passed and the team began to grow restless until one day, their call was answered only to learn flag-football would be cancelled for the fall semester. “I was upset. We wanted a three-peat,” said Modugno. “We were looking forward to this season especially after winning (championships) the past two seasons.” The tale of the X-Colonels represents other disappointed intramural teams who had their respective sports cancelled during the fall semester. Normally, the full-time assistant men’s basketball coach serves as director of all intramural sports, but when the Colonels hired a new assistant for the 2007-08 season, Neal Biscaldi, the intramural schedule suffered during the transition period. Lucky for all participants, those days are finally over and intramurals are back. “I personally would like to thank you (the students) very much for your patience with the intramural schedule this year,” Biscaldi stated. “I understand that it will be limited this spring but we will come back stronger than ever in 2008-09.” Six intramural sports will be available during the spring semester including: billiards, dodgeball, basketball, flag football, softball and beach volleyball. Biscaldi explained that he will consider student and faculty suggestions for other sports not yet listed such as, wiffleball, ultimate frisbee, tennis, ping pong, etc. Intramurals are open to all members of Wilkes University with the exception of students who play on a varsity team. Players who have completed four years of eligibility are allowed to participate in intramurals. “I’m happy that intramurals are back,” said Nesgoda, relieved co-captain of the X-Colonels. “A couple of my buddies who completed their four years on the football team will be joining us this season. That makes it easier for us to three-peat.” 2006-07 Intramural Champions Flag Football: X-Colonels Basketball: The Shocker Squad Billiards: Bill Young Volleyball: Team Bunjay Men’s Indoor Soccer: Team Nick Co-ed Basketball: Tony Scarnato Co-ed Soccer: Team Crew 2008 Schedule Billiards League, Feb. 4 Sign up by Feb. 1 Dodgeball, Feb. 13 Sign Up by Feb. 11 Basketball, March 12 Sign Up by Feb. 29 Flag Football, March 17 Sign Up by March 10 Softball, April 2 Sign Up by March 31 Beach Volleyball, Apr. 18-19 Sign Up by Apr. 11 Wrestling from PAGE 20 It’s kind of a grind where the guys have to make weight two days in a row, but you have to do that in the national tournament and we plan on taking guys, so it’s good experience. Jon Laudenslager “He [Laudenslager] says to make sure I wrestle my match, not to just go out and try for the pin. Wrestle my style and it will eventually come,” Feldman explained. The Colonel wrestlers were also in action Friday, January 25, at No. 4 Delaware Valley. The Aggies won the first five bouts of the night and eventually took the win 35-6. Pizarro and freshman Ryan Wilson notched wins by decision for the Colonels. With two matches in two days, the Colonel wrestlers were forced to make weight back to back. Laudenslager said, “It’s not easy. It’s kind of a grind where the guys have to make weight two days in a row, but you have to do that in the national tournament and we plan on taking guys, so it’s good experience.” With the Metropolitan Championship just under a month away, Laudenslager believes the team does have some areas to improve on as it enters the postseason. “They have to continue to work hard in the next month. We have to get in better shape,” Laudenslager explained. He added the team specifically needs to work on their conditioning and toughness. From the wrestler’s perspective, Feldman explained of the next month, “Keep working the way we are, working hard. You have to peak at the right time, hopefully it starts now.” The Colonel wrestlers will be busy in action again this week. Wilkes visits the College of New Jersey at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday January 29. The Colonels will also wrestle a quad-match at Franklin & Marshall College Saturday February 2 at 12:00 noon. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Sophomore Joshua Lamb performs a headlock maneuver on Ephs freshman James McCarthy during the Colonels match against Williams College on Saturday. �SPORTS JANUARY 29, 2008 17 Women’s basketball still seeking conference win BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon With the first half of MAC Freedom conference play nearly complete, the Wilkes Lady Colonels basketball team remains in search of their first league win after dropping a 77-64 decision Saturday afternoon in James Work Gymnasium at Delaware Valley College. The loss drops Wilkes to a 1-16 overall record, and the team remains winless in conference play after five contests. The Lady Colonels were also playing without the services of senior Lacey Andresen, who suffered an injury in the team’s loss to Manhattanville last week and was not in the lineup for Saturday’s game. “We picked up our defense after the opening few minutes, but we didn’t keep it up,” Wilkes senior Katie Cappelloni said of the loss. “Delaware Valley has some really excellent shooters, and no matter how good the defensive effort is, we needed to score more to keep up with them.” While Delaware Valley jumped out to a 8-point lead just a few minutes into the first half, Wilkes rallied back to bring the score to 18-17 with eight minutes remaining in the period. However, the Aggies ripped off a scoring spurt in the last few minutes of the period and outscored Wilkes by a margin of 14-3. The run also allowed Delaware Valley to take a 40-23 lead heading into halftime. Despite a 14-5 scoring run by Wilkes midway through the second half, the Lady Colonels were never able to threaten the Aggie lead. Cappelloni continued her recent strong play by racking up 18 points and pulling down eight rebounds. Freshmen guard Sam Lynam contributed 13 points, while fellow freshman Brittany Ely tossed in 11 points. The Lady Colonels will close out the first half of league play by hosting the Devils of FDU-Florham on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. in the Marts Center, before traveling to DeSales University on Saturday afternoon to begin the second half of MAC-Freedom competition. With both of the conference co-leaders coming up next on the Lady Colonels’ schedule, the week will prove critical to their chances of climbing back into con- tention for a conference playoff berth. “We’re excited about the upcoming games. 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Bulff__,ailo Obie ffl C.'S MillD& heese . · ·npto - Jll~r.:s· MOB - lihun lJ AM - JI PM P.ri . S.-i l.l AM - 12: 10AM" Su .. IZP.M- .IJ M reeWi- i AND aai~ Pa ND 1006 .i 'CO 'r3687 474-6669 To.s ~ w / ~. U::;.ss d w/ Tun IP.a m w/ Ohe e: !!livrry.O.n.ly 82-S-iOIJ. Dallu 67 -7777 AilM,ip lo C - sar Chef · ~lad Greek Crispy Chlckr:o. Cruck,e n C esa:r Cbiclce_n CaesaJi' Grilled Ch~ _ken C.rmpy C.bick,c.n Cati ·(rlmia Che · t for 5p -- tlivmyOnly "ng Bread. Sti.ch Che.es Steak Ve ··e Tmk,cy Club Steak T'tlfMl �18 SPORTS JANUARY 29, 2008 GAME OF THE WEEK The New England Patriots play for perfection BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Four months ago, the New England Patriots were the talk of the football nation. But the talk wasn’t about Tom Brady or Randy Moss. It wasn’t about the record books or their chances at another title. It was about their integrity. In the wake of “Spygate,” the Patriots’ ethics were called into question for questionable (see also: illegal) tactics after they were caught videotaping the New York Jets’ defensive coordinators on the sidelines during week one of the season. The outrage from fans and fellow players alike was deafening, and the NFL acted swiftly, including fines for the team and coach Bill Belichick that totaled $750,000, as well as the loss of a first round draft pick if the Patriots were to make the playoffs. In response, the Patriots didn’t fight the ruling. Instead, they embarked on a season long act of vengeance against every naysayer that argued that their previous championships were ill-gotten. Over the course of the next 16 weeks, the Patriots would go 15-0, by outscoring their opponents 551-260, in what would be one of the most dominant regular season performances ever by an NFL team. How dominant were the Patriots? Their 589 total points set an all-time record, surpassing the previous record of 556 (1998 Minnesota Vikings), including 12 games in which the team scored over 30 points, with eight of those games occurring consecutively to begin the season; a streak where they averaged 41 points per game. So how did they manage to put together the greatest offense of all-time? Two words: Randy Moss. While most of the credit is being heaped upon quarterback and 2007 MVP Tom Brady, the real credit belongs to Moss, whose arrival prior to the season had many critics wondering if they would be seeing the Moss of old (111 receptions, 1,632 yards, 17 touchdowns in 2003), or the Moss of late (42 receptions, 553 yards, 3 touchdowns in 2006.) Those questions were answered early on in the season, after Moss had 31 receptions for 505 yards and seven touchdowns after the first four games of the season, en route to a record breaking campaign in which he set an NFL record with 23 touchdown receptions, edging out Jerry Rice’s previous record of 22. (Caveat: Rice set his record in only 13 games during the strike-shortened season of 1987.) Not only did his arrival to the team give them a true game-changing receiver for the first time in Tom Brady’s tenure, it also allowed fellow wide-receiver Wes Welker to take advantage of the coverage on Moss, who was frequently the target of more than one defensive player. That setup often resulted in big plays from Welker, who set a team record with 112 receptions for 1,175 yards and eight touchdowns. One can debate whether or not Moss was more v a l u able than Brady, but is it a coincidence that Moss’ arrival happened the same year that Brady would set personal records for rating, completions, yards and touchdowns? However, an enormous amount of credit has to be given to Brady, who anchored the offense throughout the season, while having one of the greatest seasons ever for a quarterback: a rating of 117.2, 398 completions (at a 68.9% completion rate) for 4,806 yards, while passing for a record setting 50 touchdowns, with only eight interceptions. While Brady & Co. were setting offensive records, the Patriots’ defense was doing its job by holding opponents to fewer than 20 points and 290 yards per game, while leading the AFC with 47 sacks. The New England defensive line is anchored by a bevy of veterans, including Junior Seau (73 tackles), Tedy Bruschi (92 tackles), and Mike Vrabel (77 tackles, 12.5 sacks), with the rest of the field covered by the likes of Rodney Harrison (70 tackles, 1 interception) and Asante Samuel (46 tackles, 6 interceptions). The Patriots defense quietly became one of the best in the AFC; however, the bigger story was the success of their offense, which propelled them to win after win throughout the season, despite some close calls against the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens. The Patriots swiftly put an end to the Jacksonville Jaguars and the San Diego Chargers in their first two games of the playoffs, as many predicted, and they once again find themselves in familiar territory, the SuperBowl. But they find themselves also on unfamiliar hallowed ground as well: the chance at a perfect season, from start to finish. The Patriots are only 60 minutes away from achiev- ing football immortality, t o join the ranks of the 1972 Miami Dolphins as one of the only teams to ever win every game during the season, and walk away holding the Lombardi Trophy. Now, all the New England Patriots have to do is beat the resurgent New York Giants, a team they bested twice during the regular season, including a week 17 battle that nearly saw the perfect season come to an end in a nail-biting, 38-35 contest. Leading the charge for New York, the NFL’s biggest postseason surprise, is a rejuvenated and suddenly unflappable Eli Manning, who could finally be turning into the player that everyone thought he would be. Manning, who snubbed the San Diego Chargers after he was chosen as the number one overall pick in the 2004 draft, has yet to live up to the expectations set forth by his father Archie and his brother Peyton. After a four touchdown performance in a loss against the Cowboys during week one, followed by a tough loss against the Packers in week two, Manning and the Giants would go on to win their next six games, and finished their season with a 7-1 record on the road. During week 17, the Giants were handed the unenviable task of having to derail New England’s chances at a perfect season, who entered the game with a 15-0 record, needing just one more victory to make history. New York shot out to an early lead, but succumbed to the Patriots in the end, despite Manning’s four touchdown performance and gutsy plays. Many analysts thought that head coach Tom Coughlin should have New England Patriots Record (Road): 16-0 (8-0) Points Per Game: 36.8 Yards Per Game: 411.2 Passing Yards Per Game: 295.7 Rushing Yards Per Game: 115.6 Team Leaders Passing: Tom Brady - 398-578, 4,806 yards, 50 TD, 117.2 rating Receiving: Randy Moss - 98 receptions, 1,493 yards, 23 TD Rushing: Laurence Maroney - 185 attempts, 835 yards, 6 TD Interceptions: Asante Samuel - 6 Tackles: Tedy Bruschi - 92 Sacks: Mike Vrabel - 12.5 Playoff Leaders Passing: Tom Brady - 48-61, 471 yards, 5 TD, 105.7 rating Receiving: Kevin Faulk - 13 receptions, 118 yards Wes Welker - 16 receptions, 110 yards, 2 TD Rushing: Laurence Maroney - 47 attempts, 244 yards, 2 TD �SPORTS JANUARY 29, 2008 19 SUPERBOWL XLII that head coach Tom Coughlin should have pulled the starters after half-time, but his decision to let them play the full game may have led to their momentum heading into the playoffs. Behind solid outings from Manning, the Giants defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the playoffs, followed by a stunning upset of the Dallas Cowboys on the road in which Manning showed flashes of brilliance and poise, something he hasn’t shown with much consistency in his short career. The most noteworthy performance of the Giants’ season came in the NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers, in which New York overcame sub-zero wind chill temperatures to defeat the heavily favored Packers with a game-winning field goal in overtime. And so the Giants are, once again, called upon to face the New England Patriots. This time, they are not only looking to ruin New England’s perfect season, but more importantly, to give New York its first Super Bowl victory since the 1990 season. The Giants are led by Eli Manning, whose less-than-spectacular regular season numbers are moot after having thrown for 599 yards and four touchdowns with a rating of 99.1 so far in the playoffs, coupled with his newfound resilience and leadership. Manning’s main targets will be wide receivers Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, both of whom came up big in the championship game against Green Bay, adding to what has been an already solid season for both of the receivers. On the ground, the Giants will be attacking with the two-headed monster of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, who have rushed for a combined 318 yards for four touchdowns in the playoffs. On the other side of the ball, the Giants will be sending out one of the best pass-rushing lines in the NFL this season; a line that includes Osi Umenyiora (13 sacks) and Micheal Strahan (9 sacks), who helped lead the Giants defense to a league leading 53 sacks during the regular season. They say the best offense is a good defense, but there isn’t an overwhelming favorite in this contest as far as the defenses are concerned. New York Giants Record (Road): 10-6 (7-1) Points Per Game: 23.3 Yards Per Game: 331.3 Passing Yards Per Game: 197.1 Rushing Yards Per Game: 134.2 Team Leaders Passing: Eli Manning - 297-529, 3336 yards, 23 TD, 73.9 rating Receiving: Plaxico Burress - 70 receptions, 1,025 yards, 12 TD Rushing: Brandon Jacobs - 202 attempts, 1,009 yards, 4 TD Interceptions: Gibril Wilson, Sam Madison - 4 Tackles: Antonio Pierce - 103 Sacks: Osi Umenyiora - 13 Playoff Leaders Passing: Eli Manning - 53-85, 599 yards, 4 TD, 99.1 rating Receiving: Amani Toomer - 15 receptions, 196 yards, 3 TD Plaxico Burress - 16 receptions, 194 yards Rushing: Ahmed Bradshaw - 39 attempts, 163 yards, 1 TD Brandon Jacobs - 48 attempts, 155 yards, 3 TD Both teams have done great jobs during the postseason in controlling their opposing teams’ offenses, but at the end of the day, it comes down to which team is going to put the points on the board. The Giants are going to come out with momentum and motivation behind Eli Manning, as they are once again the underdogs in the last game of the season, going up against the greatest offensive juggernaut ever assembled in the history of the NFL. David and Goliath? Not quite, but New Yorkers love to be underestimated and prove everyone wrong. The Patriots are one victory away from the perfect season, a season in which t h e y h a v e been labeled as villains for their actions during week one. This week, it’s all about vindication for New England, as they face off against the NFC’s best team and Cinderella-story in the New York Giants. In the end, the New York Giants feel-good story will end abruptly at the hands of the New England Patriots, whose season is going to roll to a historic finish with a win in Super Bowl 42. THE PICK: 40 24 Double Take Steph examines the stats that truly matter... BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor From what I understand, it is surprising that the New York Giants are in the Super Bowl. My cousin also tells me the New England Patriots haven’t lost a game in a while. A normal person without a doubt would therefore wager that the Patriots are going to win this year’s biggest football contest. I am nowhere near normal. I am going to root for the Giants. Let’s play make believe. Imagine both of these teams are what their team names describe. The Giants are actually humongous versions of human beings. They have massive hands and feet and over-sized bodies. The Patriots are soldiers with guns and formal uniforms and silly hats. The football field is only so big; thus, the Giants would be able to take four steps and be across the field. The Patriots would have to run and dodge the massive feet. They could try to shoot the Giants with their guns but it would probably be like throwing Tic-Tacs at them. Take, for instance, the movie “Cloverfield.” You have one humongous moster versus soliders with guns and tanks. I don’t want to spoil the movie or anything, but the monster took a bigger beating than Apollo Creed in “Rocky IV,” and he barely had a scratch on him. Now, if they were playing the Colts they would definitely win…but then they would have to take up the results with PETA. The disadvantage for the Giants would be their inability to find the tiny little football. I don’t really know the rules of football, but I think that the Patriots would have to forfeit due to the number of inevitable casualties. This would allow the Giants to win by default. While my vision for this game may be slightly absurd, I still am a sucker for the underdog. My vote is for the Giants. �Sports JANUARY 29, 2008 Men’s Basketball keeps pace in conference chase 20 Colonels look to continue MAC winning streak BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Asst. Sports Editor As the first half of league play in the MAC Freedom Conference winds down this week, the Wilkes University Colonels continue to stake their claim as a force to be reckoned with in the conference standings. After drubbing Freedom Conference newcomer Manhattanville earlier in the week, the Colonels withstood a heated last-minute rally to hang on for a 71-67 win at Delaware Valley College Saturday afternoon. The win moves the Colonels’ overall record to 9-7, while improving their conference mark to 4-1. Saturday’s win also snapped a 3-game losing streak for the Colonels in James Work Gymnasium on the Delaware Valley campus. “It’s a huge conference win and a huge road win for us,” senior point guard Matt Gould said in the Wilkes lockerroom following the victory. “We faced tremendous adversity down the stretch out there, and coming away with a win took a complete team effort today. We need to continue that dedication to be successful.” The Colonels would lead by a double-digit margin at several points in the game before the Aggies began their run by embarking on a 13-0 spurt with three minutes left in the game. Raheem Wiggins powered the run for Delaware Valley by scoring seven of his 27 points during that stretch. Though the Aggies cut the Wilkes lead to a single point several times in the final minute, Chris DeRojas went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the closing seconds to seal the win for Wilkes. DeRojas continued his standout freshman campaign with his third straight 26-point scoring effort to lead Wilkes. Anthony Gabriel, Steve Kline and Gould each finished with ten points in the win, with Gabriel posted a double-double by pulling in ten rebounds. The Colonels will welcome the Devils of FDU-Florham to the Marts Center on Wednesday to conclude the first half of conference play. While the freshmen-heavy and inexperienced Devils have only posted two wins on the season, they are sure to bring a determined style of play to Wilkes this week. “We know every game is a battle in this league, and we can’t overlook anyone,” Gould said when asked about this week’s contest. “We need to come out on all cylinders from here on out.” Wrestlers defeat Williams College in final bout of the day BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor The 27th-ranked Colonels wrestling team sweated out an 18-15 come-from-behind-win against Williams College on Saturday, January 26 in the Marts Gym. The Colonels won the match in the final bout of the day with a pin by sophomore Andrew Feldman in the 285 lb. weight class. The win brings the Colonels overall record to 15-5-1. The Williams College Ephs started out strong, winning the first three matches of the day. Junior Ethan Cohen won an 8-3 decision over Colonels junior Shaun Farnham in the 125 lb. weight class. Ephs freshman Corey Paulish defeated Wilkes junior Josh Pauling 7-2 at 133 lbs. and Wilkes freshman Brandon Prentice lost a 6-0 decision to sophomore Dylan Rittenburg at 141 lbs.. Junior Erik Smith gave the Colonels its’ first win of the day in the 149 lb. weight class. Smith scored two takedowns and added an escape for a 5-3 win by decision over Williams senior Nic Miragliuolo. Smith’s win brought the overall team score 9-3 in favor of the Ephs. Wilkes senior Adam Penberthy lost a close 4-2 decision against Carl Breitenstein in the 157 lb. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Sophomore Anthony Gabriel dunks one in during the closing minutes of the Colonels home game against Manhattanville last Tuesday. weight class; however, the Colonels would go Colonels to within six, defeating ing match of the day in the 285 lb. on to win four of the last five Ephs’ sophomore Nathan Shippee weight class. Feldman scored four in the 184 lb. weight class. Brad- takedowns before pinning Ephs’ bouts. Sophomore Frank Heffernan ley scored four takedowns and freshman Tim Kiely with 1:30 left improved his individual record added a point for riding time to in the third period. The win gave the Colonels their first lead of the to 24-8 with a strong 6-1 decision win a 9-4 decision over Shippee. Wilkes sophomore Zach Pizarro day and an 18-15 overall win over over Ephs’ senior Doug Washington at 165 lbs. Heffernan’s win continued to perform well for the the Williams College Ephs. Going into the 285 lb. bout, brought the overall team scores Colonels. Pizarro notched his 21st win of the season with an 11-5 Feldman knew he was in a must 12-6 in favor of Williams. Ephs’ freshman James McCar- win by decision over Ephs’ junior win situation; however, Coach Jon thy gave Williams its final win of Kyle Ayer. The win in the 197 lb. Laudenslager encouraged him to the day. McCarthy defeated Wil- weight class brought the overall wrestle his style. kes’ sophomore Josh Lamb 6-0 team scored to 15-12 in favor of in the 174 lb. weight class. Fresh- Williams. Cont’d on Page 16 Feldman brought the most excitman Shawn Bradley brought the � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2008 January 29th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008 January 29 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/8ee826655d2b1e0b04e2726a73b6361c.pdf e486f84d72ba3f8f1968a12bb719a86a PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW FEBRUARY 5, 2008 In This Issue... Winona LaDuke Page 9 www.wilkesbeacon.com Surge of internet activity causes outages nationwide BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor The build-up had worked. Hundreds of students, faculty and staff crowded into the Dorothy Dickson Darte (DDD) Center theater last week to participate in the nationwide effort to develop solutions to the worldwide environmental crisis born of greenhouse gas emissions. And when the appointed hour came, the screen remained blank. The nationwide webcast of the “2% Solution” turned out to be not so nationwide when many of the participating 1,750 locations could not access the program. According to a spokesperson at Focus the Nation headquarters, the problem was that so many people and institutions tried viewing the site at the same time that they were basically turned away by the computer. In a message sent to Wilkes University from Minna Brown, Focus the Nation organizer, she stated, “The downside of doing a live broadcast online on a hot topic like global warming solutions is that more people than even we expected wanted to view it.” , Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 The Beacon/Andrew Seaman Dr. Prahlad Murthy, Lee Rinehart and Ed Shoener sit behind the table before the start of the webcast in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center. Search for Dean of Law School Initiative Intensifies BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor Page 16 Issue 13 Webcast problems plague would-be viewers See FOCUS page 4 Page 14 Volume 60 In approximately two weeks, Wilkes University plans to begin scheduling campus visits for finalists of the Dean of Law School Initiative Search, according to Dr. Reynold C. Verret, Provost. The search committee, comprised of eleven members, along with Verret and President Tim Gilmour, held neutral site interviews with candidates in New York City on January 19 after advertising the position and screening applications. The committee consists of chairperson Dr. Paul Browne, Dean of the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership; Dr. Vee Ming Lew, associate professor of math and computer Sciences; Dr. Mary McManus, associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences; Dr. Anthony Liuzzo, Esq., professor of the Sidhu School of Business; Dr. Kyle Kreider, assistant professor of political science and pre-law advisor; Dr. Ellen Flint, professor of performing arts; Attorney Joseph Cosgrove; Attorney Marc Levey; Attorney Eugene Roth; and senior pre-law majors Dana Zlotucha and Justin Richards. Levey is a Wilkes alumnus, Cosgrove is a member of the Luzerne County Bar Association, and Roth is both an alumnus and a Board of Trustees member. The committee is also assisted by Dr. Theodore J. Marchese of Academic Search, Inc., a search firm located in Washington, D.C. Over the next two months, an undetermined number of candidates will be invited one at a time to the campus to speak with the search committee, the dean’s council, members of the president’s cabinet, the provost, members of the Board of Trustees, members of the Luzerne County Bar Association, faculty and students. “The search committee is pretty excited about the people that we’ve talked to. I think we have some prospects who would be a pretty good match for our needs and the expectations that we have,” said Browne. “At this point, we must protect the confidentiality of the candidates; thus, I cannot share names,” said Verret, who will be the hiring officer for the position. According to the prospectus for the Dean of Wilkes Law School Initiative, “[l]ate last spring [2007], after preliminary studies and consultations, the faculty and the trustees endorsed a recommendation from the Provost to move the law school initiative into a final phase.” The “final phase” essentially consists of three parts: a detailed academic plan, a financial plan and a dean to aid in the creation and presentation of both plans. “We’re looking for someone who can help the university re-examine all of the issues involved in the law school idea, who can bring professional experience of starting a law school, who knows the processes for accreditation… So we’re really looking for someone who has been in a law school or has run a law school before, but also who has creativity and energy,” said Browne. The prospectus also stresses the importance of being able to communicate, plan, budget and manage effectively and willingly embrace diversity. See LAW page 5 �NEWS FEBRUARY 5, 2008 2 Political news analysis February ice storm SG Notes 3 4 5 Lifesaving defibrillators purchased, to be installed Wilkes just became a little safer. The university recently purchased nine automated external defibrillators (AEDs). These devices are used to restore normal heart rhythm to patients in cardiac arrest, according to www.fda.gov. University officials had discussed adding the machines to campus for a few years and questioned where the devices would be placed and how many to purchase, according to Director of Health Services, Diane O’Brien. “I think now that we’re expanding and there’s a lot more buildings with big concentrated areas of people, we felt that it’s prob(RIGHT) Philips HeartStart Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) will soon be placed in popular areas of campus. According to heartstarthome.com, “Philips is the market leader in innovative defibrillation technology.” Once the cartridge handle is pulled, a calm voice guides the user through the process of analyzing the heart rhythm and decides whether an electric shock is necessary, making the AED easy to use for anyone. Not only is HeartStart designed to help the patient, but the user will also receive any additional aid needed. The AED adapts to your actions so if you’re moving quickly, the voice delivering will speed up with you. The slower you go, the more detailed the instructions become Awards Philips HeartStart Defibrillator has won date back to 1996 and include Fortune Magazine, “Best Products of the Year” (2004), Popular Science, “Best of What’s New” award (2003) and Medical Design Excellence Award (2003). ably time we made this purchase. It makes sense,” said O’Brien. In cases of sudden cardiac arrest an AED may save someone’s life. An AED is applied to the outside of the body and it analyzes the person’s heart rhythm and whether or not a shock is needed to restore a normal heart beat, according to www.fda.gov. “If you intervene with an electric shock delivered at the appropriate time, your chances of survival go up significantly within the first five minutes of a cardiac event,” said Chris Bailey, director of campus support services. Bailey is familiar with AEDs thanks to his part-time work as a paramedic in the Pittsburgh area before his career at Wilkes. Bailey says AEDs have always been a part of athletic programs since there is more potential of a cardiac event occurring. “There have been cases where a ball hits someone in the chest at the appropriate time, and there’s enough energy to disrupt the electrical circuitry of the heart,” said Bailey. Kammie Studley, head coach of women’s lacrosse, is trained to use an AED and is happy to hear about the addition of the life saving devices. “I think it’s really beneficial to have them on the field, because if an athlete gets hit in the chest you have those two minutes to save them. I think it’s one of the best things Wilkes could have done,” The Beacon/Andrew Seaman BY MEGAN KRISANDA Beacon Staff Writer AED AUT OMATIC EXTEftNAL DEFIBRILLATOR DEFIBRILLATOR said Studley. The AEDs will be placed throughout campus in public accessed buildings such as Stark Learning Center, UCOM, Henry Student Center, and other surrounding buildings. “Basically, they are going to be secured to a wall. You open the AED and turn it on and it talks you through the whole process. It is made for a ‘lay person,’ [though] certainly it will appear a lot less strange if you have taken a CPR test,” said O’Brien. The AEDs were part of the university’s budget and all nine devices totaled $15,000. The AEDs were purchased thorough Philips Medical, according to Petra Carver, Vice President of Finance and Support Operations. The devices have become more commonplace, appearing in airports, malls, and at sporting events. AED training has become a part of many CPR training sessions. Students or faculty interested in being trained to use these devices should contact Public Safety. “We have a community to protect, and when you need these devices, you need them close by and you need to be trained on how to use them. We want to give the right training and the right tools,” said Bailey. B EACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Alison Woody Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Christa Sgobba Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. ALARM WILL SOUND 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �FEBRUARY 5, 2008 NEWS 3 News Analysis: Beacon Election Update Making sense of the election, candidates and issues BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor When the Mamas and the Papas sang, “Monday Monday, so good to me/Monday mornin’, it was all I hoped it would be” they obviously weren’t singing to presidential candidates. Monday pales in comparison with the excitement, anticipation, and in some cases dread of “Super Tuesday.” That may be a slight exaggeration, but there is a lot riding on this election, and February 5, may be the day that decides who goes on and who is left in the dust. This Tuesday, February 5, is a big day for both parties, but maybe a little more for the Democrats. Over 50% of all of the Democratic party’s delegates will be awarded on Super Tuesday, while 41% of all Republican delegates will also be awarded. On Super Tuesday, 22 states go to the voting booths, and most national polls have the remaining Democratic candidates in a race that is simply too close to call. Following his wins in Florida and South Carolina, Senator John McCain has emerged as the Republican frontrunner, which is in complete contrast from where he was only a few weeks ago. Even McCain remarked on the Tonight Show that he “no longer has to carry his own bags.” Propelling McCain forward is his one-time rival, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. Following his disappointing and distant third place finish in Florida, the state where he has spent so much time campaigning that some joked about his suntan, Giuliani saw the handwriting on the wall and dropped out of the race. He quickly endorsed McCain, alongside California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and even accompanied him on The Tonight Show. Despite McCain’s favorite son status, Governor Mike Huckabee and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney both campaigned actively last week. Romney scored a win in Maine on Saturday, with 52% of the vote and claimed that voters would see more of the same on Tuesday. As for the Democrats, the field is down to two, as Senator John Edwards bowed out of the race last week. Edwards has so far not endorsed any of the remaining candidates; however, has urged the remaining candidates to focus on poverty--his key campaign issue. Pundits agree that his influence in this area will likely spur the remaining candidates, New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Illinois Senator Barack Obama, to do so in an effort to swing Edwards supporters their direction and possibly win his endorsement. So what can everyone expect to happen on Tuesday? First, candidates are likely to hit issues relevant to the states at stake this week including health care, the mortgage crisis, gun control, and the war. Obama and Clinton can expect to take home most of their base states. For Clinton, this means those mostly northern states that do not have open primaries, meaning that the state does not let independent voters vote. Obama’s base states include southern states and some in the Midwest. Obama will also likely get a boost out of those states The Beacon/Andrew Seaman ABOVE: The dark shaded areas represent the states that will be voting on Super Tuesday. On that day over 50% of all the Democratic delegates will be awarded to the winning candidates, while 41% of all Republican delegates will be awarded to their winning candidates. RIGHT: A list of all the states participating in Super Tuesday. West Virginia and Montana are only voting on the Republican side of the ballot, while Idaho, Kansas and New Mexico are only voting on the Democratic candidates. As of right now the only Democratic candidates sill left in the race are: Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama, Sen. Mike Gravel. The only Republicans left are: Sen. John McCain, Gov. Mitt Romney, Gov. Mike Huckabee and Rep. Ron Paul. that allow independent voters to vote in the primary. The bigger unknown for the Democrats on Super Tuesday are some key delegate states, like California or Georgia. This also holds true for the Republicans. California and Georgia are the prize. So what happens after Super Tuesday? Well, in the off chance there is not a clear nominee after Tuesday, there is “Fantastic Friday,” February 9. There will be two primaries and one caucus for each of the parties that should help separate the candidates from one another, and then for the Democrats the Maine caucus will be held the 10. ** * Super Tuesday States ** * Alabama primaries R 48 D 60 Alaska caucuses R 29 D 18 Arizona primaries R 53 D 67 Arkansas primaries R 34 D 47 California primaries R 173 D 441 Colorado caucuses R 46 D 71 Connecticut primaries R 30 D 61 Delaware primaries R 18 D 23 Georgia primaries R 72 D 104 Idaho caucuses D 23 Illinois primaries R 70 D 185 Kansas caucuses D 40 Massachusetts primaries R 43 D 121 Minnesota primaries R 41 D 88 Missouri primaries R 58 D 88 Montana caucuses R 25 New Jersey primaries R 52 D 127 New Mexico primary D 38 New York primaries R 101 D 280 North Dakota caucuses R 26 D 21 Oklahoma primaries R 41 D 47 Tennessee primaries R 55 D 85 Utah primaries R 36 D 85 West Virginia convention R 18 0 �FEBRUARY 5, 2008 NEWS 4 FOCUS from FRONT PAGE During the assembly at Wilkes University it was clear shortly after 8PM that something was wrong, when the webcast never showed up on the large projection screen. At that point Dr. Mike Case, Wilkes professor of environmental engineering and earth sciences and organizer of the event, made the announcement that they were not able to pick up the feed and had another plan. Case said that they were prepared for the prospect that technology might fail, and Dr. Ned Fetcher, Coordinator of the Institute for the Environment Science and Sustainability, who has been educating the faculty on global warming through a slideshow presentation, would provide the lecture to those assembled at the DDD. At that point several members of the audience were seen leaving the auditorium. However, many opted to stay to listen and discuss the issues at hand. Fetcher offered detailed scientific analysis of the causes of the earth’s warming trend and the impact such warming may have on a variety of issues such as climatological change. Garett Reiss Brennan, Director of Media & Public Relations for Focus the Nation, told The Beacon during the assembly, “It’s a small problem, it’s an unfortunate problem, but it’s a severe problem.” Brennan also said they were prepared for something like this, but nothing of this magnitude. After the event concluded the national organization, Focus the Nation apologized for the failure by posting, in large green and red letters, “Big Sorry! Too many hits on the ‘2% Solution.’ Some sites experienced technical difficulties. We truly regret the difficulties this has caused…” The apology was signed “The Focus the Nation Team,” however the apology was quickly taken down. The evening concluded as it was supposed to with a panel of experts offering their thoughts on the evening and then taking questions from the audience. The panel consisted of Dr. Prahlad Murthy, Wilkes professor of environmental engineering; Lee Rinehart, a sustainable agriculture program specialist; and Ed Shoener, an authority on the design and deployment of wind technology. In his address to the audience, Shoener challenged college students to take control now. While generations before have created the existing situation, Shoener suggested, the solutions needed to come from those who will be living with the mess. “This is going to be your problem...good luck.” The evening also began as normal with a welcome from Case and Dr. Tim Gilmour, Wilkes University President, who stressed the steps Wilkes is taking to be a green campus and a leader in environmental awareness in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Beacon/Andrew Seaman “The Focus the Nation event, is the Wilkes first public forum on global climate change… I hope it’s one of many,” Panel of experts address audience members on the issue of global warming as part of Focus the Nation last Wednesday. said Gilmour, hinting that there may be more events like Focus the Nation in the future. . E 0 S .A'.I YOUR -·lHIS "Live .AJ:ousti.c Music" We.Jnes:day night in our February 6t.h at 6 JO -8 :0 Opm care! Jay I.u:ke from ~•The :Mess" "Live Acoustic Music" Friday, February 8th 7 :30-10 :30pm Adam Burke Uearenowa The Beacon/Andrew Seaman Wilkes University was closed on February 1, due to an ice storm that moved across the area. The Henry Student Center parking lot was covered with about a half-inch of ice in the morning, which later turned to slush. Originally Wilkes was listed as a compressed schedule but was later changed to a closed status. Wilkes was one of over 200 schools, colleges and universities to either delay or cancel classes on Friday. Justgo to: '' U?BFREE" .·oJif ill cde i~ems during free live shows with yoW" s~tdent ID! ' .Do:n't ·fm,get to, pi't:lk up a Fn:1w:nt Buy:c~ C:ud · today! on" fo~d to s,e. mu''· �NEWS FEBRUARY 5, 2008 5 SG Notes January 30, 2008 Treasurer’s Report All College: $25,000 General: $10,000 Special Projects: $3,500 Spirit: $2,000 Leadership: $5,000 Conferences: $12,500 Start-Up: $1,500 Club Reports The following clubs presented updates on their events. Programming Board Spanish club Chemistry club Math/CS LAW from FRONT PAGE Responsibilities of the dean would include creating a “compelling, marketable vision for legal education,” developing a five-year financial and academic plan for the law school, assisting in the final decisions about the school and inevitably becoming and acting as the founding dean of the school if and when it is approved and launched. “We are on track in our plan for a law school that will distinguish Wilkes and address issues for legal education outlined in a recent report by the Carnegie Foundation (Education Lawyers: Preparation for the Profession of Law, 2007),” said Verret. Paying close attention to the Carnegie report, which addresses the criticisms of legal education, the prospectus states that Wilkes has the ability and opportunity to rise above any “inattentions,” such as practitioner concerns or ethics and civility within the pro- New Business New Members - The Faith Wyrda introduced as member of SG for the class of 2008. SAE mini baja fund request - Members of SAE came back for the second week seeking $3,702 to build a new car. After a discussion about fundraising, SG granted SAE $3,000. Chemistry Club - Representatives from the chemistry club came to SG asking for funds to travel to a convention for the second week. SG granted the full request of $3,000. However, if they receive a mentoring grant they must return the equal amount of money. AFROTC - Robert Bireley came to SG asking for funding for a conference in Colorado Springs for AFROTC. SG granted him his full request, paying for his flight, up to $450. Wristband allocation - OCC asked if SG would purchase an additional 400 wristbands for block party, but after discussion about a business class selling wristbands SG decided not to allocate the money for the wristbands. Food allocation for open forum - Next week there will be a forum instead of a meeting and all SG members must present for an hour. fession. “Wilkes has a concept of not creating what is being called a ‘me too’ law school, but one that has a distinctive curriculum. We’ll be perceived in the marketplace as innovative, so one of things that we’re looking for is someone willing to think outside of the box and willing to create the current model of law school education and has ideas of how to do it better,” said Browne. Following the success of Wilkes’ Graduate Teacher Education Program, the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership, and the Pharm.D. program, the Wilkes University Law School is expected to attract attention due to location and demographics. With the nearest Pennsylvania law schools in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, it’s possible that 75-100 graduate students will enter the program in the first year. “We know that people in criminology, communications, sociology, psychology, political science and economics are all tracks that often have people who choose to go on to law school… Business, pharmacy, and nursing students may also find this possibility to be of interest,” Browne explained. “One of the things we would like to see is a stream of Wilkes students that go on to the law school.” With aid from the dean, Wilkes will also determine where the possible law school will be located. Browne stressed that it is important that they figure out approximately how many students they will be accommodating before they begin designing and constructing a building. The current plan for the building of the school is scaled on a minimal size. “The [early] studies done on a preliminary basis were to test the feasibility of running a small law school. As the dean comes in HIDDEN COSTS OF DRIVING UvlP.AJRED PANDORA ,7t r Customer Appreciation Event l~ February i ,a~C 8th 9th . & 'how Special: $75 ofPandoraJewel &Rece-fve a $25 gift card for anyfature purchase. · "Bfiltikows~ Jewelers 141 SouthMainSt Wilkes-Barre 570 823-7111 www. barlikowskyrom *Limitl per aistomer• WhileSL!JPlieslast Old Business Vagina Monologues donation Movie tickets purchased -WILKfS llNIVfRSITY- and leads us through the final stage of studies, there may be a determination that the school should be slightly or significantly larger, so how many students we expect to have are really critical issues for us to know before we make a commitment of what kind of a facility will be most appropriate.” If all goes according to plan, the dean of the law school will be chosen by this summer. The dean’s plan should be approved by spring of 2009 and the first class of law students at Wilkes University may begin their first semester in the fall of 2010. According to Browne, “a definite decision has not been made to start a law school,” but choosing a dean to lead the decisionmaking process brings the university one step closer to doing so. LOWER LEFT: The statue of the Authority of Law in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington D.C. An arrest for driving under the influence of a I coho I can be expensive. Costs include: paying the mini mum fines, penalty assessment, state restitution fund, alcohol education cl asses, j ai I fees, Ii cense reissue fee, attorney fees, and auto insurance increases. A DUI/DWI can cost between $7K-$11K. This total does not include loss of pay, personal injuries, medical costs, vehicle damage or penalties for causing a crash or a death. Provided By Health Services (The BACCHUS Netl\lo rk (2006). Just the Facts: Impaired Driving. [Bro ch u re].) http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/print/aol.html �Opinion TMI Away Messages Here’s To You... Angry Rant FEBRUARY 5, 2008 Step Two: focus the university BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD global crisis. Focus the Nation encouraged participants to see Pennsylvania in a harsh, new light. Did you know that Pennsylvania produces 1% of the world’s heat-trapping gasses, which is more global warming pollution than 101 countries combined? Did you know that Pennsylvania is the third worst polluting state in the country, behind only Texas and California? With these shocking and disturb- 6 Another common sense action we can take is to keep all our apThis past week Wilkes Universipliances clean and running as efty was one of a thousand colleges ficiently as possible. On a monthly and universities across the nation basis, we should try to change the to participate in Focus the Nation, heating and air conditioning sysan environmental colloquium detem filters monthly, clean our dryer signed to educate contributors vent and hoses, and keep the coils about global warming and its imunder our refrigerators clean. pact. By sealing up the cracks in winNow, unfortunately, the national dows and doors in one’s home, webcast, “The 2% Solution,” met apartment, dorm room, and camwith an untimely (and major) pus buildings with weather stripglitch, which prevented Wilkes ping and caulking, heat and monUniversity students, faculty ey will both be saved. Not only and staff, nestled in their new, will cold February nights be made sustainable wood seats in the more comfortable by trapping Dorothy Dickson Darte Center heat indoors, but energy bills will from seeing the webcast at the be reduced. With technology conappointed time. However, a stantly improving, there are many link to the national broadcast appliances available that consumcan now be found at the website ers can purchase that are much www.earthdaytv.net. In addimore energy efficient. Buying tion, Wilkes faculty quickly ralproducts like these, will not only lied and turned the opportunity help to save the environment, but into an impromptu teaching also save money. moment for which many in the Those who are tired of the risaudience chose to stay. ing gas prices and feel the need Despite the problem with the to lose a few pounds, should try webcast itself, the planning and The Beacon/Matt Gogas walking instead of driving short excitement that went into the Wilkes University students become educated about global warming at distances. Cleanyourair.org reFocus the Nation event gar- the Green Fair that was held in the Henry Student Center on Thursday, ported, “You’ll save 1 pound of nered community and campus- January 31 during club hours. carbon dioxide for every mile wide support. Students, faculty, you DON’T drive.” Carpooling staff and community members and taking public transit can also participated in a variety of ways ing facts, sustained concern and hours a day consumers could save help cut down on air pollution. Of including class assignments and response needs to happen. course, the fringe benefit to this nearly $10 in the first year alone. discussions and participation in We applaud several important A second way to limit global strategy is that the stress of findthe Green Fair in the Henry Stu- initiatives Wilkes is currently tak- warming is to limit hot water us- ing a parking spot on campus will dent Center. As a result, Wilkes ing to assess its own energy con- age. Cool Pennsylvania reports, also be reduced. community members became bet- sumption and pollution levels. “Hot water accounts for 15% of Finally, support environmental ter educated about what steps we Last Wednesday evening, Presi- your utility bill…wash clothes in friendly legislation at both the fedcan take--both individually and dent Tim Gilmour noted that Wil- cold water, take shorter showers, eral and state levels. Vote for politinstitutionally-- to address this kes is currently engaging in such and fix leaking faucets.” ical candidates who care about the environment, and write letters to the editor of No V"\<>.~Gr your college and local w~ ... \newspapers that aim to educate the public and r <l,GO\<A jo influence legislators. I By taking these act,.. k.e ... tions as individuals and as a University, we can and will help Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the United States, and the world become more environmentally A Sight for Sore Eyes By Aleksander Lapinski friendly. r self-assessment and the university’s ongoing plans to build a new, completely green health sciences building hold great promise. But we can do more... For example, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, we should always use compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) in desk lamps as opposed to incandescent lights because they give off 90% more heat than light. By switching bulbs on two lamps that burn four 7 7 8 Beacon Poll Results The following are results of a poll that The Beacon conducted online this past week. The poll was unscientific, and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on campus. Results are based on 35 responses. The Beacon asked: What was your favorite book series as a kid? • Harry Potter-17% • Goosebumps-17% • Hardy Boys-14% • Babysitters Club-11% • Bernstein Bears-11% • Calvin and Hobbes-3% • Captain Underpants-3% • Animorphs-3% • Boxcar Kids-7% • Other-14% Next Week’s Question: What country would you want to study abroad in? • • • • • • • • • • Greece Japan Peru South Africa China New Zealand Russia Germany France Other t Visit www.wilkesbeacon.com to cast your vote. Results will be published in next week’s issue of The Beacon. �FEBRUARY 5, 2008 OPINION 7 Too much information in online away messages BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor realized something: they had all moved past to keep themselves organized, but buy a supposed to be? And to whom? Either way, this is not the type of thing that simple “I’m not here, leave a message” bulletin board or a planner or write it down The function of away messages is supposed approach and now offered way too much on a loose piece of paper. Tiny little lists that should be in an away message in the to be simple: they’re meant to tell people information. that say “Work at 5, Homework, Bed” are first place. All we want to know is if you’re that you are away from your computer. Who needs to list out every single move straight and to the point, but some details there and when you might be back. Not However simple this idea may seem, people they’re going to make for the next two truly can be left out. how bad your day was and everything that have come up with truly complex ways of days? Location, times, who’s going to be While technical details can and should be went wrong and that you’ve locked yourself doing it over the years. with them, etc. Is that really necessary? cut from the messages, so should extremely in your bathroom and would like to be left You could put up the default message of Who really wants alone. If you don’t “I am away from my computer right now” to know that WilR,s TMI 4ever2008: .A.uto Response from Wilkes TMI 4e-..erXI03 (10:::8:42 am): long want to talk, don’t sign or you could personalize your own with you’re online. Or if you need going ~ay ... different font faces, colors, and symbols. to to talk to someone, go psychology Eng 101: 9am-9:50am Hist. 101: 10am -10:S0am You could include where you are or what at 10:00, then for it. It’s easier and PS 298: llam-11:S0am you’re doing or you could leave a phone English at 11:00, quicker than waiting Lunch with m y girl from 12pm -1 pm number where you can be reached. An away then for them to come to probably Work- study from 1pm -4pm message is essentially an online answering going to lunch you. G~1m : 4 :30pm -5: 30pm machine. Leave the message, you may get and ordering a Song lyrics, popular DinnEf@ 6pm a reply. quotes, and “Out to salad and a Cherry Busv dav. .. ca!! cell if u need me/© When AOL launched its instant Pepsi with Katie at dinner, call the cell” This is an example of an obnoxious TMI away message. messenger in May of 1997, away messages noon, then going are all cool and all were intended to be a quick and easy type to the gym around 1:00 to work serve their purpose, but when of answering service. That’s it. Nothing on your biceps and triceps, and you decide you want to confess more, nothing less. With a limit of 1,024 finally working from 5:00-10:00? Oh - and personal ones. Away messages are not your feelings or write about your day, start characters (including any unseen HTML then doing homework at 11:00 and going journals and they’re not blogs; therefore, a blog or start keeping a diary. Writing can markup), there’s not a whole lot more you to bed? The example might be slightly a message like the following really isn’t be therapeutic and empty notebooks allow could or should do with them. for more than 1,024 characters in any shape exaggerated, but it’s pretty close to some of necessary: But while in the midst of reading all of my the things I’ve seen recently. I understand “This life seems pointless. All it has or color that you want. And buy a planner buddies’ away messages the other night, I that people sometimes need to make lists been is misery to me. The day started off that breaks the days down into hours if you well, finding out that I’m being promoted truly need to know where you’re going to @ work to supervisor once I train the new be every second of the week. Lists make cashiers, but then I come home and find for boring reads, anyway. that the one person I thought I was close enough to be friends w/ forever apparently can just dispose of me like I’m nothing. I BY GINO TROIANI love life...not. So now I’m around being my Staff Writer/Photographer depressing self that I’ve been for the past 2 weeks. Maybe I’ll do some cleaning and ■ then sleep. Leave messages... don’t feel like talking on the phone and my texts for the month are kinda low right now. =(“ Unlike my last example, this is exactly The Beacon wants your voice to be what I found in an away message last heard. Your Voices is the opportunity week. My eyes nearly rolled out of my for students to voice their concerns. head when I read it. Since I know the user If you want your voice to be heard, and know what their personality is like, I please contact The Beacon with the immediately knew that they were simply following information: seeking attention. They want “that one person” to message them and tell them that 1 Contact information includit’s all okay. They want their other friends ing your email address and a to read it, respond sympathetically, and tell them that life’s worth living. phone number where you can This person wants to be rescued, in a be reached sense. But when I read something like this, 2 Your name, major, and year I’m always skeptical of if they actually need 3 Your opinion the help. It’s reminds me of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. How do you know when it’s Drawing By: Aleksander Lapinski real? Where do you draw that line between attention-craving and something serious? Here’s to you Mr. Socks-With-Sandals Guy! Always prepared for that freak summer Is there a real problem or do they just want chill, you somehow manage to defy conventional style while sporting those pasty white The Beacon reserves the right to edit a hug? Is it a real cry for help? socks. Are you lazy, unique, or fashion-challenged? We just don’t know. You prance submitted pieces for space and content. I don’t know the solution to this problem around with no shame, while the rest of us can’t help but wonder, “What the heck is he and I’m not in the position to suggest one, thinking?” Keep on keeping on! but I’m sure I’m not the only one who has run into this before. How sensitive are we Here’s to you... Mr. Socks-With-Sandals Guy What do you think? thebeacon.oped@ gmail.com �FEBRUARY 5, 2008 OPINION 8 The Angry Rant: America has gas BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor America. Say it again. America. The United States of America. Our past, our present, and our future. There is no doubt that America is one of the greatest countries on earth in terms of wealth and power. So why is it filled with the homeless from coast-to-coast? More to the point, why does the United States keep pumping money into foreign countries while our very own citizens die in the streets? How many billions of dollars have been shipped to the Middle East, South America or Africa in the form of foreign aid in an attempt to help a country or region get on its feet, even though the money changes very little over the long run? How much money has been raised to give to Africa to help stave off the AIDS epidemic, despite the fact that our own high school students are receiving an insufficient education on that very same topic? How much money has been given to American citizens in their time of need? For instance, how many have lost their homes because of rising interest rates on mortgages? To me, it seems that we are more than willing to sign a bill to send money everywhere else in the world, yet we are reticent to offer the same helping hand to the American people, when there are so many opportunities to do so. In other words, it’s high time for America to be a little selfish and give back to its own people. President Bush recently announced his grand idea for a tax break designed to provide most Americans anywhere from $600 to $1,200 in an attempt to stimulate the economy. While that idea is well and good, a onetime gift of $600 isn’t going to help the average citizen enough for the economy to turn itself around. It’s a quick fix that is going to have little to no effect, and the notion of the act itself is going to have more impact than the perceived financial boost. It is almost embarrassing that I am even writing something about this. This isn’t a holier-than-thou manifesto; it’s just a common sense approach to the state of things. Look at it this way: Running a country is just like running a business. You keep yourself in the black, and you keep your employees happy. You pay them well, give them good benefits and opportunities, and you keep the downsizing to a minimum. Too simple, right? Right now, the United States is a Fortune 500 company that is on its way down the corporate ladder because of faulty leader- ship and Congressional shortsightedness that dates back over two decades. And the employees are getting antsy. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I don’t much like paying over $3 for a gallon of gas, especially as a commuter who needs to travel over 20 miles one-way each day to school. I find myself dropping over $60 a week on gas, and let me tell you: it’s not much fun. But the government seems to be doing very little about it. So this is a problem. And with every problem, there is a solution. Here is mine: Congress passes a law that gives a separate government agency (FGOC - Federal Gas and Oil Commission) complete control over the regulation and price of gasoline and oil in this country. It does this to prevent the price of a gallon of gas from spiking fifty cents over the course of a month, especially during travel seasons and the winter (when people use more oil. What a coincidence). By doing this, it keeps the gas prices low, with limited price movement based on supply and demand, which will also drop because the FGOC is going to pour money into the oil companies to maintain the existing refineries while simultaneously building new ones so that the oil can be processed faster. Furthermore, this also allows the U.S. to safely and harmlessly drill for oil within its own borders, lessening the need for foreign oil. This also lowers the price of gas. All the while, there will be ongoing research into alternative fuel sources for the future. Abracadabra: There you have a reason- able solution to a problem that is getting increasingly worse. The oil companies can no longer hold the market for ransom, which means they are only making billions in profit every year instead of trillions. The gas prices stay low, and there is no longer a false sense of supply and demand due to the new refineries and domestic drilling. This cuts the price in half for most consumers, who will in turn have more money in the long run, meaning they can buy more houses, cars, land, etc, which will then stimulate the economy. Hooray, problem solved! America is awesome. For all the naysayers (and there are a lot of you) that think this can’t be done: why not? The government controls everything else, why not oil? Is there a better idea out there? It is completely reasonable for us to pay less money for gas, and for “Big Oil” to make a ridiculously large profit. So that’s my rant for the week. If you don’t agree with me…then I really don’t care, you’re wrong. BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor The dark can be a scary place. Young people are taught that they should be afraid of the monsters hiding under the bed or around dark corners. And even as adults, it’s tough to shake that quickening of the pulse when faced with the unknown in the dark. That is why I find it odd for a city like Wilkes-Barre to have so little light on the streets around the local college campuses. I noticed this when I was walking to the movies last year. Looking up and down Northampton Street I was amazed to not see any light provided by street lights. The only light was residual from the parking lot and the giant movies marquee. At the time, it disturbed me, but I eventually forgot about it. But I was reminded of my original feelings this year when I came out of my internship recently on South Franklin Street. Again, I was disturbed by the fact that there were very few lights on the street and the ones that were there provided very little illumination or none at all. For those who have been to State College, I look at that town as the ideal “college town.” The main street can provide a student with almost any necessity, whether in the afternoon or at night. But the nicest thing about the main street, and those surrounding it, is that the streets are bright on the darkest of nights. Those lights are inviting to the 20-yearolds, elderly, and middle-aged people who wish they were 20-year-olds again. Obviously State College is a much larger community than Wilkes-Barre, but I am not suggesting that they put a smoothie palace on every corner. What I am suggesting is to illuminate downtown and create a warm and inviting area at night. This will not only cause a surge in the number of students who head downtown on foot, but subsequently more businesses may move in because there will be the promise of sustainability. The city could always use the old “we don’t have the money” excuse, but I think it would be a wonderful idea for Wilkes University, King’s College, and Wilkes-Barre to purchase more lights jointly. Think about it. The city does not have to worry about the colleges going anywhere. The schools cannot just pick up and leave, nor would they want to. But the students can opt to attend school in cities that offer well-lit, inviting, safe downtowns. Why should students wander around in the dark? City and school officials should install more lights around the colleges and downtown, or they can expect to lose students and businesses as a result. All Photos: The Beacon/Stephanie Gerchman Wilkes-Barre, wake up and see the light �LIFESTYLES FEBRUARY 5, 2008 Student of the Week 10 ESL Partners 11 9 Activist brings experience to environmental crusade they asked me to do this research paper on it, and, being really nerdy, I said yes. Someone had to present it, so I presented it.” After she presented her paper at the UnitSince her teen years, Winona LaDuke ed Nations forum, LaDuke started working fought for the rights of her Native Ameriat the Navajo reservations. Her main job can people and lobbied for reform of enviwas to translate government documents. ronmental regulations. She wrote numerous Many Navajos on the reservations did not books and organized countless protests on speak English, but even the ones who did these issues. had difficulty understanding the governBut she still balks at being called an acment documents, which were written in a tivist. scientific vernacular. LaDuke believes that “I’m considered to be an activist, but I using that kind of language prohibited the consider myself to be more of a responsible residents from having clear knowledge of parent and a responsible human,” she said. what was happening in the uranium mines “We live in the richest and most powerful where they worked. country in the world, and that should have “We have an individual responsibility to certain responsibilities along with all those understand things, but we also have a rerights.” sponsibility to hold institutions accountable, LaDuke visited Wilkes University from not to get to the point where only they have January 29-31 as part of Focus the Nation, a full knowledge,” nationwide program aimed at teachLaDuke said. ing students the information, civic We live in the richest and most powerful country in “We’re talking responsibility, and leadership needed like the Middle to fight global warming. Along with the world, and that should have certain responsibilities Ages, where only a formal lecture to the community, along with all those rights. some people have LaDuke also met with students in Winona LaDuke the knowledge.” their classrooms and hosted an inLaDuke said formal question and answer session environmental and human rights activist that working on with students, faculty, and commuthe Navajo resernity members. At her informal discussion, LaDuke talk- own actions,” Bush said. “Her entire pre- vations was an epiphany for her. It made ed about civil responsibility, and the need sentation jumped into two words for me: her aware of the control corporations have over communities, especially ones where for Americans to become active participants common sense.” LaDuke, 48, grew up watching her An- English is not predominantly spoken. in their own lives. She said the duty of re“How could you make an informed decisponsible citizens is to learn what they can ishinaabekwe (Ojibwe) father and Jewish about where their water, food, and resourc- mother speak out on racial and environ- sion like that? How can you send a Navajo es come from and how that can affect their mental issues. She discovered her own down to an underground uranium mine passion for the issues as a high school stu- when there isn’t even a word in Navajo for well-being. dent arguing national energy policy on her radiation?” she asked. “How can you get Peter Bush, a informed consent?” debate team. freshman pharmaShe began testifying at hearings and conWhile studying at Harvard University, ceutical science LaDuke worked on researching the injus- ducting research on companies before they major, decidtices in Navajo uranium mines, where min- moved into communities. She organized ed to attend ers were exposed to unhealthy amounts of demonstrations in nuclear power plants L a D u k e ’s across the United States. radiation. discussion As a way for her message to reach a In 1977, LaDuke was asked to present session afher research at the first United Nations fo- greater number of people, LaDuke began ter seeing rum on the rights of indigenous people. At writing as a journalist on the issue of invideo 18 years old, LaDuke traveled to Geneva, formed consent. While writing for magaclips Switzerland, to represent indigenous people zines described as “politically progressive,” o f LaDuke discovered they weren’t covering throughout the Western hemisphere. “Indigenous people went to the United the kinds of issues she believed necessary. “I remember saying I wanted to write an Nations and said, ‘We believe that we have rights to determine our destiny, article on the Navajo uranium mines, and basic human rights to speak our they told me, ‘We covered Indian people language, not to be sent to board- last month,’” she said. “Do they have some ing school, not to have our land kind of quota, like Indian people get covtaken away, and not to have ered once a year?” After conducting research, organizing our economy controlled by Courtesy of Wilkes Univesityy someone else,”’ she said. “So protests, and writing articles, LaDuke deBY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Lifestyles Editor her past lectures online. Interested in both her cultural and environmental work, Bush thought her take-charge, no-nonsense approach to these issues reflected his own beliefs. “For me it’s a moral issue, and it should be common sense,” he said. “We have to take an active part in it because it affects our lives and who we are.” Bush was hooked right from LaDuke’s opening when she likened personal responsibility for environmental issues to being a good parent. Just like parents want to know what additives are included in their children’s cereal, they should also question what chemicals are in their drinking water or their food. “I really loved how she immediately started talking about being a mother, about how we need to take responsibility for our The Beacon/Gino Troiani Winona LaDuke spoke with Wilkes community members from January 29-31. cided that her next form of action would be running for public office. In the 1996 and 2000 presidential elections, LaDuke ran as Ralph Nader’s vicepresidential running mate for the Green Party. “You don’t necessarily need to be in office for things to change, but you do need to engage,” she said. At her home on the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota, LaDuke devotes her time, energy, and skills to help better the quality of life. She describes the reservation as troubled, with two-thirds of the residents living below the poverty level, one-third afflicted with diabetes, and “arrest and abuse rates through the roof.” One of her main goals for the reservation is to make it more self-reliant. She encourages using wood from the abundant trees on the reservation for heat and energy, and growing food locally. Her latest project on the reservation was to revamp school lunches. Obesity is a big problem on the reservation, and the breakfasts and lunches filled with corn syrups, fats, and dyes students eat every day at school don’t help. LaDuke worked for federal grants and donations to serve organic, locally-grown food at the school. “We now serve a chili with locally-grown kidney beans, tomatoes, and buffalo meat,” she said. “We have to get these kids to decolonize their tastes. A corndog doesn’t have to be their future.” �LIFESTYLES 10 FEBRUARY 5, 2008 Student of the Week: Neil Kresge BY MATTHEW GOGAS Beacon Staff Writer In only his first year at Wilkes University, Neil Kresge has already made an impact on the campus, and it’s starting to look a little greener. Kresge recently served as a student coordinator and helped execute the Focus the Nation campaign alongside environmental science faculty and other staff members. Kresge, an earth and environmental sciences major (EES), also minors in political science and sees a logical connection between the two, as evidenced by the political, social, and scientific messages of the nationwide campaign to address global warming. A transfer student from the Pennsylvania College of Technology, Kresge left there nearly three years ago to take some time off to work. Recently, he decided to go back to school and chose Wilkes. Because of his active role in educating fellow students and Wilkes community members about environmental problems, The Beacon has chosen Neil Kresge as its Student of the Week. The Beacon: Why did you decide to come to Wilkes out of all the other schools you looked at? Kresge: I decided to come to Wilkes because they specifically tailored a program that let me major in environmental science while taking a political science minor. The Beacon: How do you feel about your work on the Focus the Nation campaign? Kresge: This is my first big rallying objective here at Wilkes. It kind of blends political activism with the growing science accomplishments Wilkes is making, so I feel like that’s a big one right off the bat. 500 students at the event. We had overflow in Stark 101. The Beacon: What are some other plans you would like to tackle? Kresge: Well, I would really like to get involved with more political activism and get Wilkes University signatures and emails to try and guide Governor Rendell towards his environmental plan that has been sitting on the back burner for about two years. So I think that is maybe going to be one of our next challenges to get legislation passed that is going to make quality of life better here in Pennsylvania. The Beacon: So Focus the Nation was one of your primary goals at Wilkes? Kresge: Well it’s not just the Focus the Nation as a specific event. It’s the whole idea of educating people on global climate change and just showing people that there’s ways to reduce their normal waste day in and day out. That’s going to help in the long run because this problem is going to impact our generation the hardest and our kids’ generation. The Beacon: Were you happy with the way Focus the Nation turned out? Kresge: I was. We probably had 400 to The Beacon: What do you want to do when you graduate? Kresge: Right now I am kind of in between. I’m thinking about graduate school. Either graduate school or I would like to get involved with activism. I want to apply science objectivity to policy, you know, political leadership in this country. Beacon/Matthew Gogas IE ST DE T IN . .·. Rs . . .· I I . P .· n CAU.: Bl LL ti EN lV at 115--761-4619 0R CHEOK iliHE WEB SIIIE FOR 1'111 POB:MA11ONI 1 'v t 665 sm a t dty nt ! ~- In . ve . 1:' 1kr . - ·a ·· , aU (570 · 823- ·_1- 9' 't �LIFESTYLES FEBRUARY 5, 2008 Students cross borders through conversation 11 Conversation partners needed for international students BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor Mary Opalka, a junior mechanical engineering major, wanted to help her conversation partner from China learn more about American culture. So, she took her to WalMart. “She needed to get groceries... and she wants to learn about the culture, too. What’s more American than Wal-Mart? Sad, but true,” says Opalka. While a trip to Wal-Mart may or may not seem like an educational experience, Opalka is actually providing her partner, Jiajia Peng, with an invaluable opportunity to practice English with a native speaker. This is especially important to Peng, who just arrived in the country last month with plans to get a Masters degree in education. Peng, who is from Fujian, China, is a scholar in the Intensive English Program (IEP) which operates in Hollenback Hall. According to Kimberly Niezgoda, ESL Coordinator, this program functions separately from the rest of the University and provides 30 hours a week of English language instruction for international students who would like to eventually study at Wilkes or another American university. In addition to teaching these students English in a classroom setting, the IEP also coordinates the conversation partner program, which matches Wilkes University students who speak English with international students. The pairs then are asked to meet for at least an hour a week for a semester so that the international students can practice their It’s a big deal to them,” says Opalka. Unfortunately, only ten pairs of students this semester are currently engaging in this kind of language and cultural exchange with each other because of a lack of American volunteers. There are 22 international students that are still in need of partners. “They (international students) keep saying, ‘…Please find me a conversation partner!’ Eventually I wish I could pay people to do this, but the program is so new, that we just haven’t gotten to that point yet...If I could find a conversation partner for every student, then I’d be thrilled, but it hasn’t happened yet,” says Niezgoda. Vigen Kadysewski, who is from Yerevan, Armenia, and Archer Zhu from Tianjin, China, are both students still in need of conversation partners. Although Kadysewski and Zhu mostly want to have the opportunity to practice English with a native speaker, they also both spoke about wanting to share parts of their own culture with future partners. “If somebody was interested, I know most of the history of the Caucasus and Russia and Europe. So if somebody is interested in history, I am good at it. Also I can teach Russian,” says Kadysewski. Zhu also noted that he thinks the conversation partner program should be an exchange of knowledge and not just one way. “China is one of the oldest countries in the world, so we have lots of traditions. Also I am good at history, not only Chinese history, but also countries in Europe and America. So we could talk about these cultures…We should help each other,” said Zhu. Niezgoda provided some insight as to understanding why having a conversation partner is so valuable to an international student. “The example I tend to give is imagine if you went to Spain or Germany or another country. You have no family, no friends, and you’re Beijing Tianjin Fujian Yerevan trying to learn the language completely by yourself. How much would it mean to you to have someone from that country be willing to take an hour a week and spend time with you, just helping practice the language,” says Niezgoda. Felixa Wingen, a junior English major and secondary education minor, has volunteered to become a conversation partner this semester, and knows firsthand how hard it can be to transition to another country. Wingen, who is originally from Germany, says, “I know what it’s like to learn English, and how difficult it is. I can’t imagine trying to learn English if I was just surrounded by people who speak German all day. So I think it’s important to have the opportunity to speak to English speakers.” Wingen said that she would recommend becoming a conversation partner as a “cool” way to learn about another culture and help someone else at the same time. Opalka also recommends this program to other students and highlighted another benefit she has gotten from her partnership. “You make a new friend, too. She’s not just my conversation partner, we get along well… She didn’t know anyone when she came here, but she came here to study. That speaks severe dedication to me. I admire her,” says Opalka. Any student interested in becoming a conversation partner should send an email to kimberly.niezgoda@wilkes. edu. From left: Jiajia Peng, Archer Zhu, Vigen Kadysewski All photos The Beacon/Christine Zavaskas China new language skills and also to provide an opportunity for cultural exchange. Students participating in the program can meet whenever they choose, and there are no guidelines for what they have to talk about. They are not relegated to just conversing either. In the past Niezgoda noted that students have even gone bowling together and taught each other how to cook ethnic dishes. “It’s not so much about teaching and tutoring. It’s about getting a chance to share your culture and learn about somebody else’s culture…My international students, they have 30 hours a week of intensive English language instruction. By the time they get to the conversation partner, they just want to say, ‘Hey what’s up, how are you doing?’ and learn the way American students talk,” says Niezgoda. Peng, who is at level five (the highest level of English proficiency) in the IEP, has several things that she wants to share and learn through her conversation partner, “[I want to share] my culture, my language, and of course your culture and your language. Also, the knowledge and the different ways of your education system because I just came here and need to get used to your education style.” According to Opalka, Peng is not the only one learning something from the time they have spent together so far this semester. “[I’ve learned] a lot, actually. Chinese New Year is next week…It’s kind of a combination, from what she told me, between Christmas and New Year’s here because they get money from their elders. �A&E FEBRUARY 5, 2008 Rambo Dan Aykroyd Music Kudracross/Website 13 14 15 Visual and Performing Arts courses offer hands-on learning BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Assistant A&E Editor an interest in the arts through courses,” Dawson said. He added, “There has always been an interest in the arts because you could address history and culture from an arts perspective but students now seem to be interested in processes through self expression.” The performing arts, such as dance and theater, offer a kinesthetic or hands-on experience for students while the visual arts offers self expression through the use of materials. It is these aspects of the arts classes which attract students from a normal lecture style classroom. Wilkes offers a variety of art courses. Among the most popular, according to Sharon Bowar, an associate professor of Art, are Experiencing Art and Ceramics. “Our art courses provide a dynamic setting where students are immersed in creativity, communication, visual literacy, and develop a stronger sense of aesthetics, and social values,” Bowar explained. Bowar and Dawson agreed students will often take additional art classes once fulfilling their required credit hours, possibly even becoming an art minor during their time at Wilkes. Dawson explained, areas within art, such as painting and computer graphics offer a beginner level course but also a second level for those who wish to continue the development of their skills. Jean Adams, an adjunct art faculty member and the ceramics professor, believes one Photo Courtesy of Marketing Communications The Beacon/Cara Koster reason for the increased enrollment in ceWilkes University requires all students ramics is due to to complete three credits within the Visual the new facility and Performing Arts (VPA) department in in Bedford Hall order to graduate; however, over the past on River Street. few years, students are taking more than “It’s [the new the required single class within the defacility] quite partment. obvious on According to statistics from the Wilkes campus, a lot of University Fact Book provided by Joe people see it so Dawson, Chair of the Visual and Perall of a sudden forming Arts department, VPA course there is a betenrollments have steadily increased over ter understandthe past few years. Since the 2002-2003 ing that there school year, credit hours in the art coursis a ceramics es have increased nearly 300. The dance class on camcourses have also seen an increase of pus,” Adams about 300 credit hours, while theatre arts explained, “It’s courses increased 200 credit hours and [the new facilmusic courses increased about 100. ity] a room we Dawson explained the increase in credit built for a purhours within the department could be due pose.” to several factors, including increased Adams, who enrollment across the university and the has been teachcreation of new sections to already existing ceramics at ing courses. Wilkes for 22 Throughout Dawson’s time at Wilkes years explained there has always been steady interest in that for the cur- Students in the beginner ballet class practice their form in the classes with the arts department; however rent semester, a dance studio located in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center. recently students’ interests seem to have mester may be the dance recital at the end new section of ceramics was added. All changed. of the semester which features each level three sections of the course filled; howev“What’s different, I think, is traditionof the different dance forms. er, each class only allows for ten students ally students had an interest in the arts Although Wilkes does not offer a dance because of the limited pottery wheels and through clubs, and I think now they have major, Lawson is completing the program the need for hands-on instruction. through an independent study. Currently, As with the visual arts courses, she is the only dance major at Wilkes. the dance courses also offer difStudents who come to Wilkes with a sigferent levels of performance and nificant amount of dance experience can instruction. According to the enroll in higher levels of performance-oriWilkes website, DAN 100, Dance ented courses such as ballet, modern, tap Appreciation, is a beginner course and jazz with instructor permission acwhich introduces students to varicording to Dawson. ous forms of dance including He explained that the dance courses apballet, modern, jazz and theatripeal to students, specifically athletes, becal. However, each form can be cause each teaches agility through a kineslearned more extensively as four thetic experience. ability levels are offered. All the courses within the Visual and Kara Lawson, a senior dance Performing Arts department teach students major, explained the dance proa variety of skills they may not learn in a fessors make the courses, spetraditional lecture classroom. Dawson said cifically DAN 100, appealing to the courses within the department teach students by offering hands-on self expression and self discovery, kinlearning which gives you a taste esthetic knowledge and discipline along of all dance forms. with organizational skills. “The classes fill up particularly in the spring,” Lawson said. AddStudents work on the pottery wheels in the ceramics facility located in Bedford Hall on ing the appeal of the spring seSouth River Street. �FEBRUARY 5, 2008 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 Movie Review: Rambo BY MIKE WILLIAMS ever he wants. So, brace yourselves trash involved in the rescue. Without giving too of battle with grim realism, at some points Beacon Staff Writer talkers, because Stallone’s going to do it much away, rest assured that what follows making Saving Private Ryan look tame. In 2006, naysayers of the world united again…and this time it’s gonna hurt. One scene in particular, in which the Buris some of the most intense and powerful in order to pre-pan Sylvester Stallone’s Two decades after we last saw Rambo, scenes ever committed to film. mese military commits brutal atrocities sixth entry in the Rocky series, Rocky Bal- we catch back up with him, living a simple, against a war torn village, results in some Aside from the nostalgia of seeing Stalboa, criticizing everything from Stallone’s peaceful life working in Thailand. How- lone once again tie on the red bandana and of the most vicious and traumatic visuals age and physical ever, the fires of pick up his trusty trademark compound bow, ever in cinema history. After seeing this, appearance to war which have Rambo is a powder keg of a film, not only audiences will no doubt be squirming in the overall problaid dormant in for its scenes of intense action, but also for their seats, waiting for Rambo to do his ability the story, the mind of the its compelling story and acting. Most notething, and when he does, it’s a messy masbefore the poor grizzled Vietnam worthy is that of Stallone, who gives a powterpiece of blood and gore. ol’ Italian Stalveteran are once erhouse performance, portraying our hero Rated R for language and graphic scenes lion even got a again reignited, as a man who has absolutely nothing to live of war violence, Rambo is definitely not a chance to lace as a group of for, torn by his haunted past, iron will and film for the kids; however, if you do have up his gloves. Christian mis- unbreakable convictions. Still, once Rambo an age consisting of two digits, and are in F o r t u n a t e l y, sionaries, led by learns of the plight of the missionaries and the mood to see an action movie that will fans of the series Paul Shulze (Zo- he once again prepares for war, movie goers leave you breathless, then Stallone’s latgot a front row diac) and Julie will no doubt feel their adrenaline begin to est entry to the series is for you. So, in the seat to watch Benz (Jawbreak- kick in as the legendary action hero rides end, what’s the verdict? Do the doubters pessimists take a er), seek him out into battle, for what may be his final misand naysayers of Rambo have anything pounding as Stalto guide them sion. to back up their criticism? The Beacon lone served up a up-river into war But The Beacon would be negligent if it says no; they don’t have a leg to stand hell of a combo, torn Burma in or- didn’t underscore the action, which most on…probably missing an arm or two as delivering a film der to administer fans of the series have been foaming at the well…and a good chunk of torso. You can which not only aid to villagers, mouth for for nearly twenty years. The sethank Rambo for that. held the numwho, for over quences that Rambo has to offer are nothing Grade: A ber one spot for fifty years have short of breathtaking, showing the ferocity weeks, grossed suffered millions of dola vicious, lars, received tyrannirave reviews and cal rule by showed every- Photo Courtesy of moviesonline.ca the brutal Tuesday, February 5 one that even at 60-years old, Sylvester Burmese military. Now from here, - An Evening of Dubstep featuring: Conscious Pilot, Guerilla, Gaje and Kai lo at the River Stallone can still probably shatter faces if everything went smoothly, we St. Jazz Cafe like grandma’s good china. wouldn’t have much of a movie to Less than two years later, the doubters discuss; but, as expected, the misWednesday, February 6 have recovered from their beatings and sionaries are soon taken captive by - “Tune In” Game Show in the SUB at 9 p.m. have once again begun to criticize Stal- the sadistic local military unit. Upon lone for once again donning the headband receiving news of this, Rambo volThursday, February 7 in order to reprise another one of his leg- unteers his services to guide a team - The Breakfast featuring FMO performing at the River St. Jazz Cafe endary characters, John Rambo. But wait! of mercenaries back into Burma, in It’s been twenty years since Rambo III. order to rescue the surviving misFriday, February 8 He’s almost 62. How can he do it? Why sionaries. However, it isn’t long - NY Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs N.Y. trip at 2:30 p.m. would he do it? The answer is simple: before Rambo abandons his posi- Poetry reading at the Arena Hub Plaza Barnes & Noble at 7 p.m. He’s Sylvester Stallone. He’ll do what- tion as guide and becomes actively - The Towntown Harvest and Dirty Water performing at the River St. Jazz Cafe - Northeastern PA Philharmonic performing at the Kirby Center at 8 p.m. - Awkward Silence, Three Man Cannon and The Window Shoppers performing at Test Pattern at 8 p.m. Schedule of Events No more contacts. No glasses? NO WORRIES! Butler Eyecare has special Student Pricing! 20% discount on Frames $49 eye exams 822-8727 yecare for everyone www .butlereyecare.com 34 S. Main St. Across from SUBWAY Saturday, February 9 - Bigger Thomas, The Big Green, No Shirt No Shoes No Ska and Below Me performing at Cafe Metropolis at 8 p.m. - Earth Stood Still, Captain We’re Sinking and A Golden Era performing at Test Pattern at 8 p.m. - The Woody Brown Project and Post Junction performing at the River St. Jazz Cafe Sunday, February 10 - Motionless In White, Mayella Omerta and By All Means performing at Cafe Metropolis at 7 p.m. - Johnny Rapp’s Biodiesel performing at the River St. Jazz Cafe Monday, February 11 - American Red Cross Blood Drive in the SUB from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 FEBRUARY 5, 2008 Local artists record Dan Aykroyd tribute CD BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor He gained fame in the early years of Saturday Night Live and then made his mark in well-known films such as Ghostbusters, Coneheads, and Blues Brothers. But soon actor Dan Aykroyd will be making his mark in a local music compilation. What began as an idea pitched on a message board, the “Dan Aykroyd Music” compilation will be completed and released this March. The compilation is being put together by Scranton resident, Bobby Keller, who explained, “I was literally just bored one day and posted on the Prison Jazz message board that I was going to make a compilation CD about Dan Aykroyd, and literally the next day, Eric Schlittler of Kid Icarus had sent me a track for the CD. So, after that I felt obligated to actually finish the CD. It’s not making fun of Dan, but it’s not a real serious tribute album. It’s just fun.” The CD will consist of primarily indie-rock, although Keller has hopes of mixing in additional genres, specifically hardcore. “I wish there was a hardcore song, I may have to just record it myself,” said Keller. The bands currently involved in the project include: Kid Icarus, Strand of Oaks, My Dad is a Dinosaur, Amasa, The Green Chair, and These Elk Forever. Keller is still waiting on submissions from a few bands, such as Marshmallow Staircase, Kinderk*nts, and a possible track from Brian Langan of the Sw!ms. Every band has taken a different approach to the project. One of the darker tracks, by Strand of Oaks, is a song about Dan Aykroyd taking revenge on John Belushi’s drug dealer. There is also an Amasa cover of “Spies Like Us” and a Kid Icarus song in which the group actually sings Aykroyd’s biography. There was definite thought behind the songs featured on the CD, and as Schlittler explained, his band’s song isn’t just a random listing of Aykroyd’s movies, but rather, a way to reflect on Aykroyd’s past. “I’ve always been fascinated by an artist’s body of work. Not just the great things that they’ve accomplished but also the wrong turns or just plain mistakes that they make. With over 30 years worth of mov- ies under his belt, I thought it would be interesting to just sing every movie he has been in for the last 30 years and let people’s own memories sort of craft the feelings you might get from the track for you,” he said. Once the it is out, Keller plans to market and sell the CD through a Myspace page (www.myspace.com/danaykroydcompilation), which is currently up and contains some samples from the CD. Keller has no intention of making money off of the CD and will either sell it for a low price or give it away for free. Photos courtesy members.fortunecity.com, http://www.miamisunpost.com/ . ,. .lei ) Caamb or A. · _B ,ci .- -2 ncy Ap . /mo . * NO FOR SP NTI · G G 2008 ! I ,n · _J' ho....., - S r ·cure Enbry C mberl. 17 V\/es VVHke.·s und 1ry - '\ l\11 - i n V\/1 rn t, t r. S · vv r ,. Tr: h WWW. CU l ,p. s s ·t rreet 1 7 �15 Kudracross BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer 1 5 10 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 26 28 32 35 40 42 43 44 47 48 49 51 56 59 61 63 64 65 67 68 69 70 71 72 FEBRUARY 5, 2008 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ACROSS Musicians gear, for short Marks of a wound Greenish blue Tree anchor Ar Beethoven piece CIA agent Small tropical yellowish fruit Fix _____ County, heart of PA Dutch country Trysted Architectural device Unorthodox religious belief Trendy Looks at flirtatiously North pole employee Not mass produced Wilkes-Barre mine type Billy Joel instrument Sphinx is missing one Humans to linnaeus “Brave____World” Alpha’s opposite Beer vessel M.C.’s job 49 across contents Nervous sign Enterprise engine Electronic music Calcutta location Bird of peace Jurisdiction Fragrance Gets with great effort Campus VIP Number that makes a crowd Tenant payment 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 21 25 27 29 30 31 32 33 34 36 37 38 39 41 45 46 50 52 53 54 55 57 58 59 60 62 63 66 DOWN Give a weapon to Dough, dinero, etc Completely opposite Bad smell Epic adventure Destroy by pressure Quartz type Moon explorer Trap for small animals Capone weapon Fencing sword Fathers sister Hallucinatory sub stance Style and elegance Shed tears Immature insect Pride member Or follower Boil slowly Canyon sound Appear ominously Limelight Drink daintly Asian language family “____Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” Jazz musician Thelonious _____ Wise person Jose or Antonio Char the surface Non-powered aircraft Corkscrew Large farm Restaurant activity Backbone Bring about Number of deadly sins Exhaust Invention causer Prom partner Furious New York time (abbr.) Answers 1/29 10 14 p "E "C 0 "T H N s A 8 s ",.0 E L C "A H I 0 11 13 M I M 0 L E s C E L A T E "A "s "T . y A E R I L I N E 0 s E sl E A s T Lolcats.com BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor I have just discovered the world’s most obnoxious website. I always heard the stupid quotes but never really paid much attention until my sister sat laughing at her computer. When I ask her what is so funny, she responded, “LOLcats.” So, I went on lolcats.com and saw the wide variety of stupid pictures and videos. Let me just tell you that this website is an English major’s nightmare. The creators of this site take pictures of cats doing different things such as a cat in a truck that appears to be driving. They add stupid captions such as “Jebus, take the wheel!” That does not convey the spelling issues. Maybe the most popular Lolcat would be one of a cat smiling with a caption that says “Can I haz a cheezburger?” Not only is the spelling atrocious, the grammar is awful as well. I can’t tell if the creator of this website is seriously this in love with cats or is just trying to create a stupid funny website. I mean, I have a cat. I love her. She is cute. But, I don’t think that I would ever make a website about cats. I don’t understand where the language comes from or who would take the time to pose the cats according to what they want to write on the picture. I guess everyone gets bored every once in a while, perhaps this is how my sister stumbled on this site, or maybe it’s because of various other girls from her high school who have posted these stupid cat pictures on their Myspaces. Regardless, LOLcats is the worst website I have come across. I give LOLcats.com a C for “Can I haz a dik-shon-airy.” �16 SPORTS FEBRUARY 5, 2008 Daytona 500 offers race fans true taste for the season BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon Editor-in-Chief BY MARK CONGDON, JR. Beacon Opinion Editor Some say it’s not a sport. “How hard is it to drive around in a circle all day?” skeptics will say. Others claim it’s a redneck sport. “Dude, they gave away collectible buckets of NASCAR chicken at KFC.” Listen, the fact of the matter is…talk is cheap. According to USA Today, NASCAR is the nation’s second most watched sport. And while some sports fans would rather sit and watch paint dry, others are itching in anticipation for the SuperBowl of the NASCAR season-the Daytona 500- to scratch their need for speed. Along with the 2008 season come many changes and storylines. First, Sprint will replace Nextel as the cup sponsor, thus making it the Sprint Cup. And more races will start sooner, with 18 races in the 36-race schedule starting at two o’clock or earlier. Jonathan Lazarchick, senior criminology major, enthusiastically said, “It should be a good season. There’s a lot of competition and new sponsors, so the drivers will have to prove they’re worth the sponsorship.” But perhaps the biggest stories headlining the 2008 Sprint Cup focus on how Toyotas will fare after a disappointing performance last year, and how Dale Earnhardt Jr. will perform under his new team, Hendrick Motorsports. Just in case you were living under the hood of a car last October, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will no longer be driving the red number 8 for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated (DEI--his late father’s company), but rather the number 88 Mountain Dew Amp car for Hendrick Motorsports. “His father is rollin’ in his grave right now,” said mechanical engineering major Stan Shaffer. “I think he made a terrible decision. Hendrick is pretty boys racing in a man’s sport.” The move, though unexpected, was in no way surprising. The Intimidator’s second wife, Teresa, was handed DEI after her husband’s tragic death, and was accused of being too controlling, not supplying her Dale Jr. with the best motors available, etc. Now at Hendrick, Junior will have state-ofart equipment, joining the best drivers on the circuit, including last year’s Cup champion, Jimmy Johnson (33 Cup wins, 2 Cup championships) and Jeff Gordon (81 Cup wins, 4 Cup championships). Many see this year as a litmus test for “Little E” (17 Cup wins, 0 championships) to prove he is heir apparent of his father’s long-standing legacy. “I don’t think Junior’s as good a driver as his father, and I ing brand new Toyotas with attitude. With Kurt Busch and last season’s Rookie of the Year Denny Hamlin hitchin’ a ride with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR), the team may have a threeheaded monster o n think this will prove it,” Shaffer said. But don’t, for a moment, think that this year’s Chase for the Cup will be comparable to a race between the turtle and the hare, for Tony Stewart and Co. will be creeping up in Hendrick’s rearview mirrors sport- their hands as far as arrogant person- alities are concerned, but quality drivers behind the wheel might equal a championship for JGR. “Toyota didn’t do anything last year,” Shaffer said. “They had a bunch of crap drivers, and had a negative advantage coming into the season. This year, you have top notch drivers, and it’s goi n g to be the biggest story this year at Daytona, to see how the Toyotas run.” Lazarchick explained, “What makes a great driver is the crew team, not just the driver. The driver is like the quarterback. They have to tell the crew what needs to be done to win the race. The pit-crew is like the offensive weapon, and has to make that driver better. They change the tires, fuel the car up and make sure the car doesn’t fail. They protect the driver to make sure they’re safe and that the car doesn’t malfunction. The spotter and crew chief are like the coach. They have the best view of the track and can tell the driver fall, while Frank Heffernan (174) earned a win by major decision. Shaun Farnham (125), Josh Pauling (133), Adam Penberthy (157), Shawn Bradley (184) and Chris Smith (197) added wins by decision for the Colonels. Wilkes claimed seven of the ten individual bouts in the victory over Princeton, including forfeit wins secured by Prentice (141), Smith (149) and Bradley (184). Penberthy (157) was a winner by fall and Ryan Wilson (133) scored a win by major decision. Heffernan (165) and Chris Smith (197) contributed wins by decision for Wilkes. Wilkes 42, Wagner -1 125 – Shaun Farnham (Wilkes) dec. Nicholas Keshecki, 5-2 (3-0) 133 – Josh Pauling (Wilkes) dec. Nick Boghos, 6-2 (6-0) 141 – Brandon Prentice (Wilkes) tech. fall Tyler Harmer, 17-2 (11-0) 149 – Erik Smith (Wilkes) pinned Patrick Larkin, 6:37 (17-0) 157 – Adam Penberthy (Wilkes) dec. Sean Quinn, 8-5 (-1 tm. pt.) (20-minus 1) 165 – James Histed (Wilkes) pinned Marco Tellerico, 2:50 (26-minus 1) 174 – Frank Heffernan (Wilkes) by major dec. Pete Morano, 11-1 (30-minus 1) 184 – Shawn Bradley (Wilkes) dec. Ed Broderick, 7-5 (33-minus 1) 197 – Chris Smith (Wilkes) dec. Anthony Interiano, 4-3 (36-minus 1) 285 – Andrew Feldman (Wilkes) pinned John Graeffe, 4:17 (42-minus 1) Wilkes 34, Princeton 16 125 – Tony Comunale (P) pinned Shaun where to go and what can help them on the track. The car is the offensive and defensive weapon. The car isn’t going to let another car pass them.” Whatever you do, don’t disparage NASCAR drivers’ athleticism. “To get in a car that is 200-250 degrees and physically work it…it’s not like your car at home. They just started having power steering. Imagine driving a car without power steering. Driving a car without power steering is hard as hell. They need to be physically fit, just like an athlete, a n d when it comes down to it, it takes brains,” Shaffer said. Lazarchick added, “Just because they might not throw a football or anything like that, the drivers train just as hard as any other athlete. People say that NASCAR isn’t a sport because all they do is drive around in circles. That’s like saying someone who runs track isn’t an athlete because they run around in circles…Drivers have to be able to maneuver around other cars that are going at speeds that are very fast. It takes much skill to be able to do that.” The Daytona 500 will go down on February 17 at 1:00, on FOX. Wrestlers Top Division I Foes: Wagner, Princeton COURTESY OF SPORTS MARKETING The nationally-ranked Wilkes University wrestling team picked up a pair of impressive wins over Division I opponents on Saturday afternoon at Franklin & Marshall College. The Colonels scored a 42-minus 1 win over Wagner College in their first match of the day, before disposing of Princeton University, 34-16 in their second match. The Colonels ran their overall dual match record to 17-6-1 with the two victories. Wilkes is currently ranked 19th in the latest NCAA Division III national poll. Erik Smith (149), James Histed (165) and Andrew Feldman (285) each picked up wins by fall against Wagner. Brandon Prentice (141) was a winner by technical Farnham, 4:11 (0-6) 133 – Ryan Wilson (W) by major dec. Robert Benitez, 14-2 (4-6) 141 – Brandon Prentice (W) by forfeit (10-6) 149 – Erik Smith (W) by forfeit (16-6) 157 – Adam Penberthy (W) pinned Matt Katz, 2:16 (22-6) 165 – Frank Heffernan (W) dec. Mike Alvarez, 9-2 (25-6) 174 – Travis Erdman (P) by major dec. Rich Pellegrini, 13-3 (25-10) 184 – Shawn Bradley (W) by forfeit (3110) 197 – Chris Smith (W) dec. Zack Morse, 6-4 (34-10) 285 – Sam Ritter (P) pinned Jake Weinrich, 6:13 (34-16) �SPORTS FEBRUARY 5, 2008 17 Women continue Freedom Conference struggles BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Asst. Sports Editor In the seven-team race for the Freedom Conference playoffs, the hopes and dreams of the Wilkes University women’s basketball team were dealt several major blows this week. On the heels of a 67-53 loss to FDU-Florham on Wednesday night, the Lady Colonels allowed a season high in points scored while suffering a 93-46 loss at DeSales University on Saturday. The recent losses drop the Lady Colonels to an overall record of 118, while the team remains winless in Freedom Conference play after seven contests. The game also marked a sour homecoming for Wilkes head coach Rachel Emmerthal and assistant coach Kirby Lutz, both of whom enjoyed stellar playing careers on the hardwood at DeSales during their undergraduate years. The Lady Bulldogs took control of the game from the start as they opened play on an 11-0 run in the first half. Wilkes did mount a charge that was capped off at 19-6 by an Erin Schneider lay-up, but the home team refused to fold. Ripping off scoring runs of 11-0 and 14-0 later in the first period, DeSales crushed any hopes of a Lady Colonels rally and took a 51-15 lead into the halftime locker room. “I think we underestimated their ability to score quickly.” Lady Colonels forward Khadija Bates said of the game afterward. “They came out and scored early and we didn’t respond the way we needed to for us to stay in the game.” The Lady Colonels did narrow the margin of scoring in the second half, as the Bulldogs outpaced Wilkes by a mark of 42-31. Still, the damage had been done early, and DeSales was never seriously threatened en route to its’ fifth straight conference win. Schneider and Sam Lynam led Wilkes with nine points each, while both players grabbed four rebounds. After a non-conference home game with Richard Stockton College on Monday evening, the Lady Colonels will return to Freedom Conference action when they host Delaware Valley on Saturday at 1PM. The Lady Colonels game against the Lady Aggies features the “Think Pink” theme in an effort to fight the war against breast cancer. The Beacon/Jenna Stephens Brittany Ely controls the pace against the FDU Lady Devils last Wednesday. Qu1zno·s~Q M ••• TOASTY! 72 South Main St. ·likes-Barre Hours . onday- . 1.ur sday lOarn-8pn1 - iday . S•· urday 10am-1 0pH1. u , . -~ayl2.P -6pH1. 1 (570) 208-SUBS Cub M . .- .ting? Birt - day arty? Olllce Meeting? oo ball Pa 't y? The a !!ilW r · o al t qu -_ . ion.- -...... Z -_ OS c.· TE~-~-N G Cate· •· ·gt ays st:arting at: 1.999'9 Call for details9 �SPORTS 18 Commentary GAMENBAOF THE WEEK Doubleheader Battle of conference rivals as mid-season nears BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor New Orleans Hornets at Phoenix Suns (2/06) Two seasons ago, the New Orleans Hornets didn’t have a home. Displaced due to Hurricane Katrina, they spent most of 2005-2007 in Oklahoma City, where they struggled for two seasons with a 77-87 record and without any playoff hopes. Now they find themselves atop the Western Conference, keeping pace with such perennial powerhouses as the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks. Their success is the result of a solid core of young players, including 2006 Rookie of the Year Chris Paul, 20.6 points per game and 10.7 assists per game lead a team that includes center Tyson Chandler (12.1 PPG,12.4 RPG), forward David West (19.5 PPG, 9.3 RPG) and guard-forward Peja Stojakovic (15.2 PPG). While the Hornets are a relatively young team, they are playing with poise and confidence, as they are 12-2 in the month of January. They will need to ride that momentum for the rest of the season, as there is still plenty of time for their opponents to make up lost ground. The Hornets will have their work cut out for them, though, as they are up against the NBA’s best offense in the Phoenix Suns, who are averaging nearly 110 points per game this season, while holding their own in the Pacific division. At the offensive helm is Amare Stoudemire, whose 22.7 points per game lead the team, and Steve Nash, the two-time MVP who is one of the best players in the game today. Nash is putting up 17.4 points per game, along with a team leading 11.9 assists per game. The rest of this juggernaut of an offense is rounded out by guards Leandro Barbosa (16.6 PPG) and Raja Bell (12.3 PPG) along with forwards Shawn Marion (15.7 PPG, 9.9 RPG) and Grant Hill (15.2 PPG). The Suns’ Achilles Heel seems to be their defense, as they are averaging nearly 41 rebounds per game, ranking 24th out of 30 teams in the NBA. However, their offense is good enough to make up for any shortcomings in their defense, which has been unable to stop the Hornets this season. The Suns have faced off against New Orleans twice this season, including a downto-the-wire 101-98 loss in December, and a high-scoring 118-113 loss on January 5. Those two games will not soon be forgotten by the Suns, as they can extract some revenge during this go-round. The Pick: Phoenix Suns: 105 New Orleans Hornets: 97 Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers (2/05) How do you go from being the laughing stock of the NBA, a storied franchise that is a mockery of its former self to being the best team in the NBA in under a year? Ask the Boston Celtics. The Celtics, who own the NBA’s best record at 35-8, are just one season removed from a 24-58 record that had their loyal fans thinking: “Do I really need to root for a basketball team? I have the Red Sox and the Patriots, are the Celtics really that important to my well-being?” A few blockbuster trades later, and viola, the Celts are back on top while rolling over any team that gets in their way. Thanks to the skills of “The Big Three” of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, the boys from Beantown are comfortably gliding along in the Eastern Conference en route to their first playoff berth since the 2004-2005 season. Many thanks go to Kevin Garnett, who is leading the team with ferocity while scoring 19.2 points per game with a team-leading 9.9 rebounds per game. Right behind K.G. is the duo of Allen (18.0 PPG) and Pierce (20.1 PPG), who, along with Garnett, have averaged 37 minutes per game through 43 games. Rounding out their offense are guards Rajon Rondo (9.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG) and Eddie House (8.1 PPG), 2.3 RPG), center Kendrick Perkins (7.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG) and guardforward James Posey (7.3 PPG, 4.4 RBG). As the Celtics near the All-Star break, they can ill afford to ease up on the rest of the league, as their backups and role players will need to begin to step it up as the wear and tear of the season takes its toll on the starters. Before that happens, though, they will need to go through the defending Eastern Conference Champions, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are currently second place in their division, and looking for a push that will take them back to the finals. They are led by LeBron James, the wunderkind who is leading the NBA in scoring with 30 points per game, while making his own push to be the MVP. If James wants to live up to his early comparisons to Michael Jordan, he is going to have to step up and lead his young squad in the second half of the season, despite that he is scoring more than twice as many points as anyone else on the team on an offense that ranks 16th in the NBA in offense with 97.27 PPG. Besides James, the only constant offense has come from center Zydrunas Ilgauskas (13.7 PPG), guard Daniel Gibson (11.9 PPG) and forward Drew Gooden (11.5 PPG). If there is one thing that the Cavs have in their favor, it’s their ability to play defense. Cleveland has one of the best defenses in the NBA, averaging nearly 45 rebounds per game and eight steals per game. Their best chance to stay competitive with the Celtics is to outplay them on the defensive side of the ball, while supporting LeBron James under their basket. In the end, the Celtics’ offense is just too good, and will put this game out by the middle of the fourth quarter. The Pick: Boston Celtics: 94 Cleveland Cavaliers: 85 *Statistics are current through 1/30 FEBRUARY 5, 2008 Double Take Steph examines the stats that truly matter... BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor So, I am told that this week I am to write about a double header. Personally I think it would be a cool idea to make a double header with two teams playing against two other teams. For example, we could pit the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics against the New Orleans Hornets and the Phoenix Suns. That would be really interesting to watch. But I know that this is not the case, so I will just write about what it actually means. The first game is the Cleveland Cavaliers v. the Boston Celtics. When I hear the Cavaliers the first thing I think about is two of my friends who both have silver Cavaliers--Chevy Cavaliers, that is. Apparently, where I am from, the Cavalier is the car to have and frankly I am sick of hearing about them. Also, I really hate the song, “Cleveland Rocks” by Ian Hunter. It’s completely annoying. On the other hand, Boston is the home of many amazing things. The Dropkick Murphys, a Celtic punk band, is from Boston, which gives the city double points in my book. Two more reasons are that the gorgeous Matt Damon is from Boston and he stars in one of my favorite movies “The Departed” which is set in Boston. Hands down this game is going to the Boston Celtics. Next up is the New Orleans Hornets v. the Phoenix Suns. While I am a huge fan of the sun, and I’d like to see a little bit more of it this time of year, I’m going to have to give this one to New Orleans. New Orleans has been through a lot the past three years trying to rebuild after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Also, I’d have to say that Real World: New Orleans was my favorite season to date. There were some crazies on that one, and Real World has never even been in Phoenix. At the end of these two games, the cities with the better pop culture histories pull out on top. Sorry, Cleveland and Phoenix, maybe you should have thought about this before you went against New Orleans and Boston. �FEBRUARY 5, 2008 SPORTS Athlete of the Week: Chris DeRojas BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Asst. Sports Editor When Wilkes men’s basketball coach Jerry Rickrode welcomed a young Chris DeRojas to his youth basketball camps, he saw a player whose skill level on the court was far above than that of his peers. Now, with DeRojas starring on that same court in a Colonels uniform, Rickrode sees the same things from his standout freshman on a daily basis. In only his first year of college basketball, DeRojas has established himself as one of the top players in the Freedom Conference this season. Through Saturday’s game at DeSales, the Kingston, PA native ranks second on the Colonels in scoring at 13.6 points per game, while also leading the squad in steals with 22. Appearing in every game this season, DeRojas has recently found his way into the starting lineup and has provided a huge scoring punch as the team progresses through conference play. Key examples of DeRojas’s explosiveness came early in conference play when he posted three straight 26-point scoring efforts in wins over Arcadia, Manhattanville and Delaware Valley. “It’s a great time playing here, especially with a great group of teammates.” DeRjoas said recently when asked about his standout rookie campaign. “Coach Rickrode told me during the recruiting process that I’d have a chance to play early, and I’ve tried to step up and do my best with that opportunity.” Although his emergence in a starring role may come as a surprise to some, DeRojas is no stranger to success. In his first two seasons of high school basketball he helped power his Bishop O’Reilly Queensmen to back-to-back state championships in 2004 and 2005. After graduating from O’Reilly as a member of the school’s last senior class before it was consolidated last summer, DeRojas knew he’d found a special place in Wilkes. “I really liked the school when I looked at it, and I’ve known [Rickrode] for a long time, so I was very happy here from the beginning.” DeRojas said. “So far, it’s been a great fit for me.” “We’ve seen Chris play at a high level of the local basketball scene for many years, and we knew what kind of a student-athlete we were getting when he decided to enroll at Wilkes,” Rickrode said recently. “He’s an excellent student of the game who has a high basketball IQ, and has certainly earned his role on the floor for us.” Rickrode reaches 300 wins BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor He’s pushed dozens of young men to reach higher, hustle and box out. He’s seen amazing game winning shots, heroes emerge from the bench, and has screamed at many referees. And now, he’s seen his 300th win in his storied coaching career. After directing the men’s basketball team The Beacon/Jenna Stephens Head coach Jerry Rickrode, far left, barks out signals from the sideline during the Colonels home game against FDU-Florham last Wednesday. 19 The Beacon/Jenna Stephens Freshman Chris DeRojas focuses his attention down the court during the Colonels home game against FDU-Florham (NJ) last Wednesday. The Colonels won 79-54. from the head coach position for 16 consecutive seasons, Jerry Rickrode reached 300 career wins last Wednesday when the Colonels torched FDU-Florham (NJ) at home 79-54. It was a special day for Rickrode. Not only did the Colonels improve to 5-1 in the conference in a game in which every player touched the floor, but three students revealed a banner during the closing minutes of the game that read: “Rickrode’s 300th.” The assistant coaches tapped Rickrode on the shoulder to direct his attention to the student section where the fans were holding up the celebratory sign. Afterward, he gave the students a thumbs-up and blushed until his cheeks shined red. “Those guys are good fans,” said Rickrode. “I tried to keep a lid on the whole 300 thing. I didn’t talk much about it.” Rickrode remained cool throughout the entire contest but those fans certainly got him to crack a well-deserved smile. Rickrodes’ career record currently stands at 300-115 making him the most successful head coach in Colonels men’s basketball history. He began coaching at Wilkes during the 1991-92 season after serving as the assistant coach at Ithaca College. As head coach, Rickrode has led seven different Colonel teams to the Division III NCAA Tournament including the 1997-98 season where his team won the MAC title and advanced to the Final Four. Rickrode has also been named MiddleAtlantic Regional Coach of the Year for his efforts during the 2000-01, 1998-99, 199798 and 1995-96 seasons. He has also been named Freedom Conference Coach of the Year three times while claiming six of the previous 12 Freedom championships. Throughout his tenure, Rickrode has established an impeccable record. But if you ask him to describe how it feels to win 300 games, he’ll tell you, “It’s not that important to me.” “It’s about the ex-players and the current players. They won the 300 games. I just wanted to get to 5-1 in the conference. That’s what we tried to focus on.” Junior Steve Kline came out firing against FDU on behalf of Rickrode by scoring 18 points in the first half and ended up with a career high 25 points. “We all were aware that it was Rickrodes’ 300th and we wanted to take care of them (FDU) for him,” said Kline, the power forward from Bridgewater (NJ). “That’s a big milestone especially as a Division III coach, because it’s not like Division I where guys are there for a lifetime. In Division III, coaches aren’t there that long. Three hundred wins...he’s got a lot of pull. People know his name. He’s a big dog now.” Rickrode holds the Division III record for the fastest coach to reach 200 wins. He completed that task in just 249 games. �Sports FEBRUARY 12, 2008 20 Colonels score triple digits in win over Aggies BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor If Saturday’s game against Delaware Valley was any indication of how the Colonels will perform down the stretch, you’re looking at a team that will be granted home court advantage at least during the first round of the conference playoffs. The Colonels beat the brakes off the Aggies in a highly up-tempo contest 100-67, in front of an estimated 700 basketball fans watching from the stands of the Marts Gymnasium. Transition baskets and stingy defense were the key recipes for the Colonels who held the Aggies to just under 40 percent shooting and forced 18 turnovers while netting 60.7 percent from the field, their second highest shooting percentage of the sea- son (The team’s season high was 65 percent against Manhattanville on1/22). That win improves the Colonels to 12-8 overall and 6-2 in the MAC Freedom conference which places the team third behind DeSales University and Manhattanville College. The Colonels beat Manhattanville which puts them in control of the second seed. The only reason they trail Manhattanville is because the Valiants played one more conference game than the Colonels. Both of the Colonels conference losses were to the DeSales Bulldogs. The sloppy Aggies are 2-19, 0-9 in the conference. Delware Valley was out-hustled throughout the entire contest. At halftime, the Colonels doubled the Aggies point total as the score stood 53-26. If any adjustments were made to slow down the Colonels in the locker room, they certainly did not work. At one point during the second half, DelVal’s Brian Hilinski missed a wide open lay-up from the right side and Aggies head coach, Denny Surovec, smacked his teeth, flapped his arms and asked, “Are you kidding me?” Yes coach, the entire game was a joke. But that’s largely due to how well the Colonels have been playing at home recently. They have won three of their last four at home, winning each game by more than 20 points. “I know it’s a young bunch, but we’re catching on,” said head coach Jerry Rickrode. “We are not one of the more veteran teams (in the conference) but we can be dangerous.” Four Colonels reached doublefigures including junior forward Steve Kline who led all scorers with a career-high 26 points by connecting on nine of his 11 attempts in 25 minutes played. Sophomore Tom Kresge followed with 20 points and made all but one attempt. He went 8-9 from the floor. Both Kresge and Kline hit both of their attempts from behind the three-point line. As a team, the Colonels cashed in 10 of their 18 attempts from downtown including 8-14 in the first half. Junior guard Jason Seipt and senior forward Zack Van Dyke led the Aggies with 13 apiece. The Colonels have three games left to play before the Freedom Conference playoffs. They go on the road Wednesday to face Man- The Beacon/Matthew Gogas hattanville and come back home Saturday to face Arcadia University and King’s College next Tuesday. “We are in a strong position to make a run in the conference playoff,” said freshman guard Chris DeRojas, leader of the Colonels scoring attack with 14.7 points per game. “I think we’re ready.” Conference Standings 1. DeSales, 7-2 2. Manhattanville, 7-2 3. Wilkes, 6-2 4. King’s, 6-3 5. Arcadia, 3-5 6. FDU-Florham, 1-7 7. Del. Val., 0-9 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2008 February 5th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008 February 5 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/86eb57d206c7e3db58281bf49e04e9cb.pdf 5b8bda9ce34bf799f945970d1a8531ba PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW FEBRUARY 12, 5, 2008 2008 In This Issue... Volume 60 www.wilkesbeacon.com Plans for ‘green’ building take center stage Issue 14 13 SLC likely to morph into new SHE building Page 9 Page 12 Penguins vs. Bruins Page 18 , Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 BY MEGAN KRISANDA Beacon Staff Writer The year of the environment has dominated curricular and development conversations at Wilkes this year. And now, evolving plans for the university’s first environmentally ‘green’ building are calling for faculty, students and staff to weigh in on the process. Authorities acknowledge that initial planning has begun to add a Science, Health and Engineering (SHE) building to campus. The building is to act as a “living laboratory” for students, according to Dr. Kenneth Klemow, professor of biology and geoenvironmental science. “Students can conduct experiments on the building, monitor the use of electricity, production of water, the nature of gases coming out. Then students can try to manipulate certain things and create ‘what-if’ scenarios,” said Klemow. Klemow is part of a “programming team” involved in the early stages of planning the SHE building. “The team has evolved from an initial team we had over the summer in which we provided input to the consulting architects. We conducted a variety of site visits to different schools that have other green buildings on campus, or are planning them,” said Klemow. Currently, the team has offered presentations to the faculty of the departments that will be affected by the addition, such as Nesbitt School of Pharmacy and College of Science and Engineering. The location of SHE building has been widely discussed. Some suggested tearing down and replacing all of Stark Learning Center (SLC), expanding it, or replacing some sections and leaving others. While early discussions placed the building on the southern edge of The Beacon/Allison Roth campus, currently the focus is on centralizing its location in an effort to “showcase” the Students work in one of SLC’s aging laboratories. Once finished product. the SHE building is complete students will be able to See SHE page 3 monitor the building’s energy usage. Technology thefts reported in Library, Capin BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor Over the past two and a half months, three vital pieces of technology have been removed from Wilkes University’s campus. Between late November and mid January, two computers and one television were taken from the Farley Library and Capin Hall. On November 19, a mini-Mac located on the first floor of the library was reported missing by a library employee after the keyboard was discovered unplugged and the plastic encasement empty. According to Gerald Rebo, manager of public safety, the monitor was left behind and the remaining cords for the connection were stolen at a later time. “We never had a PC stolen before; it’s the first time. But of course, the smaller these things get, the easier they are to walk out with,” said Heidi Selecky, acting co-director of the Farley Library. “We were shocked to discover someone had gotten away with it.” Approximately two weeks later, a laptop was also taken from the library. According to Public Safety’s incident report, on December 4, a Wilkes student borrowed a laptop from the circulation desk at ap- proximately 11:00 a.m. The student was in possession of the laptop until around 9:30 p.m, when she left the library to get something to eat. The laptop was left in the media room, and when the student returned, it was gone. A library employee reported the laptop missing the following morning. “We’ve had the laptops for four or five years and this is the first one we’ve lost,” said Brian Sacolic, acting co-director of the Farley Library. While the mini-Mac removed from the library in November has not yet been replaced by IT, the student in possession of the laptop when it was taken will be responsible for replacing the missing computer. “The procedure is that they stop by the circulation desk, they sign a form, and they take their laptop. When you check out materials here at the library, you are responsible for them. The form the students sign, if you read the fine print, says ‘I will take full responsibility for the loss, damage, etc. of the laptop’… The student unfortunately will be responsible to recover the fair market price of the laptop. Fortunately, we did not have to charge her the full amount,” said Sacolic. The student who was in possession of the laptop when it was stolen declined to comment on the situation. It is assumed by library staff and Public Safety officials that the people who took both the mini-mac and the laptop left the building through the front doors. While those who work at the circulation desk are trained to watch for suspicious activity and the gates at the entrance of the library are operational and will detect those items that are tagged, Selecky acknowledged that, “Nothing is fool-proof.” In order to eliminate future thefts, Wilkes’ IT department is currently in the final stages of installing recording cameras in the library. While it’s currently unknown where the cameras will See THEFT page 3 �NEWS FEBRUARY 12, 2008 2 SHE building continued Political news analysis Beacon news briefs 3 4 5 Wilkes breaks internship records this semester with 141 and counting BY AMY FUSCO Beacon Staff Writer Whether it involves aiding in the production of original television programming, figuring out the latest trends in the market, or sitting in on legal proceedings, Wilkes students can be found everywhere learning firsthand the ins and outs of the fields they plan to enter. The number of student interns representing Wilkes University in the field has hit a record high this spring semester. According to Sharon Castano, the Internship and Freshmen Coordinator for Student Development, the average number of students who obtain an internship for the spring semester is 100. This semester, the number increased to 141 student interns, which more than doubled the number from last fall. “More students are signing up each day, so the number continues to grow,” Castano stated. There are 25 students each for both business and communication studies majors who are leading the pack in interns. Both mechanical engineering and psychology, are not far behind with 17 interns respectively. Other majors such as criminology and history also have students working for credit in their respective fields. “[Wilkes University’s] enrollment is increasing, so the number of students seeking internships will increase, too,” Castano commented. She also believes that the second annual internship fair held last October impacted the turn out of interns this semester. There were 45 companies at the fair, each collecting resumes and some even interviewing on the spot. About 140 students participated in the internship fair and it is anticipated that this number will also grow at next semester’s event already scheduled for October 23, 2008. In addition to the success of the internship fair, Castano believes that many students wait for the semester before they graduate to have an internship because they are trying to fulfill their major’s requirements. Furthermore, students will hear about other students’ experiences while interning in the fall semester, which will lead them to seek similar experiences. Dr. Deborah Tindell, an associate professor of psychology, is serving as an internship supervisor for two psychology major stu- dents this semester. She believes that with the spring semester, the timing works out for many students. She explained that the internship fair and the psychology department’s newsletter featuring an “Intern of the Month” section allow students to acknowledge that an internship program does exist at Wilkes University. “Part of it is by word-of-mouth and encouragement by faculty,” Tindell added. “[Through interning] I wanted to gain experience and apply the knowledge I’ve learned the last four years here at Wilkes,” said Christopher Borgna, a senior psychology major and neurosciences minor, who is interning at the NeuroSensory Center of Eastern Pennsylvania. He added, “It’s a lot easier setting up an internship at the fair because you are actually speaking to the people you may work with, which gives you the opportunity to better decide where you really would want to intern.” Marcus Magyar, a senior business administration major with a concentration in finance and a minor in economics, is interning with the online investment company, Scottrade, as a stockbroker intern. “I heard about the internships from Sharon Castano in the co-op education department. She knew I was looking for a finance concentrated internship,” explained Magyar. He believes that “the fair may have helped [increase the number of interns this semester] but it is a joint effort by all of Wilkes University professors and PPD programs, as they are always mentioning and encouraging opportunities to receive help from career services and the co-op offices.” Nicole Leader, a senior double major in sociology and political science, is interning at the Institute for Human Resources and Services Inc., a foster care/adoption agency located in Kingston. “I chose to intern in the spring due to the fact that I feel that my schedule, which is normally jam packed... would allow me more time to spend at an internship,” Leader states. For many students, it takes time and effort to plan for when they want to begin an internship. According to the Wilkes University website a good place to start looking for an internship is to, “talk to your advisor for specific details about the program,” and “consult with your advisor to decide if you are able to arrange a co-op or internship for your next semester.” BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Alison Woody Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Christa Sgobba Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. Photo Courtesy Marketing Communications Thanks in part to growing enrollment, word of mouth and internship fairs, Wilkes University has broken its internship record with 141 students currently engaging internships. Wilkes hopes to continue breaking its internship records by holding another internship fair on October 23, 2008. Pictured here are many of the record class of interns who are placed in a wide variety of organizations and businesses in the region. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �FEBRUARY 12, 2008 THEFT from FRONT PAGE it’s currently unknown where the cameras will be positioned, Sacolic expects to see several placed in the vicinity of the computers on the first floor. Rebo is hopeful that the cameras will be up by this summer. “There’s a difference between surveillance and recording. Surveillance implies that someone’s on the opposite end watching. That’s probably not going to be the case here,” said Sacolic. “We want to keep the security measures in place based on the situation. We could lock things down and have air-tight security, but then it’s a real hassle for the students to show off their bag and every other little thing… It’s a balance between user friendly atmosphere and attitude with proper security in place without taking heavy duty, drastic security measures.” “We want the students to feel welcome here, and secure,” added Selecky. The most recent technological theft occurred the weekend before the spring semester began. Between Thursday, January 10, and Friday, January 14, a Panasonic 42-inch screen television was stolen from Capin Hall, Room 102. The television was purchased by the history department and, according to Rebo, had not been secured. “We do have cameras in the rear of Capin for the greenway and I watched those tapes from the Thursday before to the Monday it was discovered. I watched those tapes and they didn’t go out the back way,” said Rebo. However, there are no cameras on the front porch of Capin. There are no leads or suspects in what Rebo is calling “crimes of opportunity.” Even though Wilkes University is a private institution, Farley Library is a public ac- 3 cess library and Capin Hall’s doors are not locked during class time. “We’re a public access library and we have a community situation. It could be that students have a lot of gear these days - laptops, cell phones, iPods - and if someone wanted to take advantage of that, it wouldn’t be a difficult thing to do,” said Sacolic. “I just want to stress to the students that they have to be conscientious… You don’t ever want to leave your laptop unattended or your equipment lying around.” Sacolic said that students are able to leave their belongings at the circulation desk if they have to leave the library for any reason and are planning to return. “It’s sorry to say, but whether it’s students or the public, people do steal. It’s a crime of opportunity… I think this university is going in the right direction with the technology. We’re going to have quite [a few] cameras on campus once we’re all done,” said Rebo. Camera installation is an ongoing project that may be complete within two years. Sacolic believes that the incidents with the mini-Mac and the laptop in the library may be coincidences. Rebo agrees; there is currently no evidence that any of the crimes, including the theft of the television in Capin, are linked. Though no witnesses to the events have come forward, Rebo stressed the importance of reporting any crimes seen on campus. “Theft is the number one crime on college campuses… Help we get from the students, faculty or staff [is vital]. If you see something, call. The greatest information we can get is from the students, faculty and staff.” Photo Courtesy Google Earth The highlighted portion of the Stark Learning Center is the portion that is being considered for renovation. The adaptations will be ‘green’ as part of the University’s effort to become more eco-friendly. The building will also be a living lab. Students will be able to monitor energy usage throughout the building. The design phase will take up to 24 months because of the intricate details involved with attaching the new additions to the old sections of Stark. SHE from FRONT PAGE continue into spring semester through early “What we’re going to do is to take down summer. part of Stark, the older part, the southern “The next step would be the design phase. and eastern parts. And we are going to add I don’t know when it will start, but it could another building to the northeastern corner take anywhere from 18-24 months to design of Stark. There is going to be some rear- this building. After that, we go through the rangement within the building. Nursing construction stage which could last anywill be coming in and joining us, and I think where from 12-24 months depending on Nursing will be thrilled because their facili- how intricate things are, and if what will be ties are distributed around campus,” said involved to connect the addition to Stark,” Klemow. said John Pesta, director of capital projects The building will be ‘green’ as part of and planning. the University’s effort to become more eco-friendly. The building is intended to become LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified. LEED is a national organization that reviews plans and implementation behind the construction of buildings and awards different levels of status depending on the ‘green’-ness of the facility. “We want to try and create a ITR-UEIFAL~ facility that minimizes both the energy footprint that the building will create and also the production The liver can break down alcohol at a of waste material. We are talking rate of about .5 oz per hour, which is about putting in a green roof. We about ½ the alcohol in an average would create roofs in which we grow plants on them. We could drink. Once in your system, nothing deploy certain technologies such can speed this rate. as solar panels to try to actually generate some electricity,” said - Provided By Health Services Klemow. The planning stage is likely to BOOZE TRUTHS Devouring a burger after drinking all night will help you sob er up. IL The Beacon/ Matt Gogas A student borrows a laptop from an employee at the circulation desk in the Farley Library. A laptop and a min-mac desktop computer were stolen from the library within two weeks of each other. IT has agreed to place security cameras in the library to prevent future thefts. The cameras should be installed in time for next school year. http:/lwww.factsontap.org �FEBRUARY 12, 2008 NEWS 4 News Analysis: Beacon Election Update Making sense of the election, candidates and issues BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor On Saturday, February 9, New York Senator Hillary Clinton appeared before a crowd looking defeated and tired after Illinois Senator Barack Obama was projected the winner in all of the states where a Democratic primary or caucus was held on that day. Obama’s most recent wins put him within 100 delegates of Clinton for the nomination. Recently, Obama’s burgeoning numbers at rallies, along with an uncanny ability to raise money, have helped him emerge as the party’s “best candidate” according to several news sources. Some pundits have noted that Obama inspires voters in a way they haven’t been since President John F. Kennedy. Clinton, meanwhile, holds wins in important high delegate states like California and New York, and remains solid in her appeal to middle-aged women. Most acknowledge that the decision for the party nominee will likely not come until the convention, which means that the state of Pennsylvania, previously almost discounted as too late in the primary process to matter (in April), is now likely to be important to both remaining Democratic candidates. On the Republican side of things Governor Mitt Romney withdrew from the race last week in a move that surprised some Key: Sen.Hillary Clinton Gov. Mike Huckabee Sen. John McCain Sen. Barack Obama Gov. Mitt Romney The Beacon/Andrew Seaman party faithful, Early in the week most news sources called McCain’s nomination “inevitable.”. However, as Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee proved on Saturday, it isn’t over yet. Huckabee won the majority of the states that held Republican contests on Saturday. This does not mean that he will pick up a lot of speed though. He still needs to win 90% of the remaining delegates to be the party’s nominee. The reason for Huckabee’s win could be explained as backlash from Romney’s exit from the race. Romney was widely hailed as the only viable “true” conservative because of his stance on abortion and illegal immigration. Now that he is out of the race those hardcore conservative voters look to the next best thing, Huckabee. McCain’s voting record dismays outspoken conservatives and media critics like Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter. They have predicted party defection if McCain gets the nod. McCain’s record offers evidence that he has reached out to Democrats and taken a less than hard-line conservative stance on issues such as immigration. Both Romney and McCain addressed the American Conservative Union’s CPAC conference last week. Romney was the favorite among this crowd, despite his unpopular announcement that he would be stepping back from his presidential bid in an effort to ensure a unified Republican party this summer. A few hours later McCain greeted the same crowd. His appearance was quite different from Romney’s, though. McCain was greeted with boos and Romney supporters remained in their seats with their arms folded in a show of solidarity. The race for the presidential nominations for both parties may be further complicated by the announcement last week that Independent, Ralph Nader, has again formed an exploratory committee to examine another bid for the presidency in November. Nader, known to many as the “spoiler” in 2000, could win independent voters that both McCain and Obama have relied upon heavily to date. So it is safe to say that this race is far from over. RACE Who’s won what? In the bid for the presidency in 2008, the primary and caucus season is now more than half finished. In The Beacon’s ongoing effort to educate Wilkes voters, the following is summary of the state standings and winners to date. Key: C = Clinton H = Huckabee R = Romney O = Obama M = McCain Alabama: H / O Alaska: R / O Arizona: M / C Arkansas: H / C California: M / C Colorado: R / O Connecticut: M / O Delaware: M / O District of Columbia: Feb. 12 Florida: M / C Georgia: H / O Hawaii: May 18 (R) / Feb. 18 (D) Idaho: May 27 (R) / O Illinois: M / O Indiana: May 6 Iowa: H / O Kansas: H / O Kentucky: May 20 Louisiana: H / O Maine: R / Feb. 10 (D) Maryland: Feb. 12 Massachusetts: R / C Michigan: R / C Minnesota: R / O Mississippi: March 11 Missouri: M / O Montana: R / June 3 (D) Nebraska: May 13 (R) / O Nevada: R / C New Hampshire: M / C New Jersey: M / C New Mexico: June 3 (R) / ? (D) New York: M / C North Carolina: May 6 North Dakota: R / O Ohio: March 4 Oklahoma: M / C Oregon: May 20 Pennsylvania: April 22 Rhode Island: March 4 South Carolina: M / O South Dakota: June 3 Tennessee: H / C Texas: March 4 Utah: R / O Vermont: March 4 Virginia: Feb. 12 Washington: M / O West Virginia: H / May 13 (D) Wisconsin: Feb. 19 Wyoming: R / Mar. 8 (D) �FEBRUARY 12, 2008 Beacon News Briefs NEWS 5 Local, National, and International News Snippets Local (WILKES-BARRE) Wilkes University’s Marketing Club is accepting cell phone donations in any condition for the “Donate-a-Phone” campaign. Donations can be dropped off in Breiseth 214 until mid-February. All donations will benefit the Domestic Violence Center. (HAZELTON) On Thursday, February 7, Mayor Lou Barletta announced that he is running for Congress. Barletta, who has received national attention due to his anti-illegal immigration approach, will run as a Republican in an effort to unseat 12-term Democratic Representative Paul Kanjorski. (DAUPHIN COUNTY) Louis DeNaples, owner of Mount Airy Casino Resort, pled not guilty to charges of four counts of perjury on Wednesday, February 6. DeNaples is charged with lying to Harrisburg officials about having ties to organized crime and the Pennsylvania State Gaming Board in order to receive a gaming license to open the resort. DeNaples was released on his own recognizance and is awaiting his preliminary hearing. National (LOS ANGELES) On Saturday, February 10, union leaders announced they may have reached a tentative three-year deal with production companies to bring the Hollywood writer’s strike closer to an end. With the possibility of the writers’ strike ending this week, new episodes of late night talk shows, prime-time dramas, and events like the Oscars will return. (HOUSTON) Plans to attach a $2 billion dollar European science laboratory to the International Space Station were delayed due to a health issue concerning one of the members of Atlantis’ crew. Due to privacy issues, the name of the astronaut and the extent of the health problem were not been disclosed. The chairman of NASA’s Space Management Team claim that the illness was not life threatening. (WASHINGTON) After a bipartisan vote of 354 to 58 on Thursday, February 7, the House approved legislation to create a federal list of 136 of the wealthiest colleges in the US in order to stabilize costs of college tuition instead of raising them. The bill will raise the Pell grant’s maximum amount from $5,800 to $9,000, a significant difference to needy students who apply for the award. International (TOKYO) When a Russian Air Force bomber violated Japanese air space on Saturday, February 10, Japan promptly launched 22 fighter jets and immediately contacted Moscow to protest. Three minutes after receiving warnings from the jets, the Russian Tupolev 95 left the air space. The Russian Air Force denied the incident. (LONDON) Late Saturday, February 10, a fire tore through Camden Market, the center of London’s alternative fashion scene and partially engulfed popular celebrity hot spot, Hawley Arms. More than 100 firefighters were on the scene to fight the blaze, but the cause of the flames at the tourist draw was still unknown Sunday morning. (BARINAS, Venezuela) On Saturday, February 10, President Hugo Chavez announced that Venezuelan authorities are preparing for the release of Gloria Polanco, Luis Eladio Perez and Orlando Beltran, three hostages who were kidnapped in 2001 by Columbian rebels. The hostages are in supposed good condition and their families, who turned to Chavez for help in their safe return, are looking forward to their return home. Because there is no guarantee or time limit for the release, a date has yet to be set by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia. FIIIIJ~•ellC INNOVATIVE �Opinion Juke Box Hero Here’s To You Angry Rant FEBRUARY 12, 2008 Kenya’s heartache is Wilkes’s challenge BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD Since December 27, 2007, Kenya has gone from one of the most stable, tourist rich countries on the African continent to one of the most violent and dangerous places in the world. On that date, Kenya held its presidential election, and the outcome returned President Mwai Kibaki to power. Kibaki is known to have little concern for those in his country who suffer any sort of hardship or problems. He won over the more powerful and younger candidate Raila Odinga. Odinga’s supporters insist that the election was rigged and is therefore invalid. They also would rather see their country destroyed than be turned over to the leadership of Kibaki. In outrage, teenagers armed with machetes, farmers armed with clubs, and others protested what they believed to be an unjust election and the promise of continued oppression. In one month, the death toll in the country has risen above 1,000, according to both BBC and Reuters reports. The United Nations reports that over one-half million people have been displaced and now face starvation and disease. So, what should Americans do about this? What actions can we take to help the citizens of Kenya? Frankly we don’t know. After long editorial staff discussions about what should happen, we could not come to an agreement. For us to say that the United States should just wait and see what happens seems too isolationist. The fact is, America’s action or inaction on any international crisis sends a signal to the rest of the world. And people are dying. It is irresponsible, perhaps even immoral, to stand by idly and say and do nothing. On the other hand, how do we know that forcing one plan of action onto the country is the right thing for that country’s own culture? If America weighs in on civil war, isn’t it likely to impose Amer- ican ideals and American culture upon a nation with its own unique cultural heritage and needs? Barring Nobel Peace Prizeworthy plans for specific change in Kenya, The Beacon staff has thought of some things that will make the Wilkes University student body more culturally aware overall. Education is, after all, the first step toward action. Suggestion #1: to Student Government. Please bring back Wilkes student free copies of the New York Times newspaper. We are guided by the words of Joseph Pulitzer: “Put [a newspaper] before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.” While yes, students can learn about Kenya and other international challenges online, students also require the knowledge that a worldwide paper provides. The New York Times remains one of the most important sources of indepth analysis and international news coverage in the world, and students who have access to it have the opportunity to engage in class discussion and casual conversation about issues more far-reaching that parking problems at Wilkes. It is that simple. If students have the paper sitting by the door in the Henry Student Center, they might pick it up and find something that interests them. There is just something about having a newspaper of that caliber in front of you that makes you feel more connected to the outside world. Pennsylvania State University implemented a newspaper system for its students, and surveys show that over half of the student population said they believed the program contributed to their ability to have a conversation. In addition students read the paper four times per week. Suggestion #2: to all student organizations. Consider hosting as many diverse and culturallybased speakers as possible. If we can expose the student body to as many cultures as possible our student body cannot help but become more culturally aware. But of course, there is no guarantee that ‘if you build it, they will come.’ It is also up to the student body, faculty and staff to make an effort to attend such events and actively engage. We encourage everyone on campus to set a personal goal to attend two cultural events per semester. This weekend, for example, Wilkes hosted a Chinese New Year celebration in the Henry Student Center. While the event will occur shortly after this issue is put to bed, our hope is for a good turn out. Such events expose all students and faculty to people, customs and cultures different from their own. Suggestion #3: to university administrators. Advancing a campus in its world literacy requires commitment of resources. If this campus is to produce future problem solvers who can address conflicts like the current one in Kenya, we need to send students to conferences, offer a variety of study abroad opportunities and help students afford them, and we need to open all major speaking engagements such as the Outstanding Leaders Forum and the Rosenn Lecture to students free of charge. Suggestion #4 to all Wilkes community members. Cultivate 6 a climate of active listening and sensitivity on campus. One of the reasons that countries dissolve into violence and chaos is because communication channels break down. When they do, sensitivity to the plights of others evaporates. While we are powerless to manufacture a new and effective means by which factions in Kenya can better communicate, we are capable of building good models right here that may be useful down the line. On a very basic level, when you see another student in need, do not be afraid to lend them a hand. Maybe someday they will return the favor. Think about how you feel after someone, who does not expect anything in return, comes over to lend you a hand. It is like a natural high and you just feel good about people. So, our solution to the violence in Kenya is really no solution at all that will touch the country directly--at least not right away. While we do not advocate going into the country with force, or even simply dropping peacekeepers into the middle of the conflict, we leave the actual peace-brokering to ambassadors and NGOs with the sort of clout necessary to move change along quickly . Instead, we focus on a local solution that acknowledges we are the future and that Kenya’s current conflict will not be the last of its kind in our lifetime. Wilkes students, you are our solution. You are the best way to make a difference in the world. Become educated. Become informed. Acknowledge that it’s a big world out there and we may well be its future peace-makers. 9r"',J; c-e. ilc,.\c..s .. ,._.,,-;.__ ) f\ 1 ";:) ,,_.,,.,"? R ·,o+ Beacon Poll Results The following are results of a poll that The Beacon conducted online this past week. The poll was unscientific, and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on campus. Results are based on 35 responses. The Beacon asked: What country would you want to study abroad in? • • • • • • • • • • Greece-17% Japan-9% Peru-9% South Africa-0% China-9% New Zealand-22% Russia-0% Germany-13% France-4% Other-17% Next Week’s Question: If Cupid’s arrows had gone astray, who would be the worst Valentine’s couple ever? • • • • • • • • • • A Sight for Sore Eyes By Aleksander Lapinski 7 7 8 Rosie O’Donnell & Don ald Trump Miley Cyrus & R. Kelly Britney Spears & Dr. Phil Michael Jackson & The Jonas Brothers Pamela Anderson & Bill Gates Mary-Kate Olsen & a Cheeseburger Amy Winehouse & Prince William Tom Cruise and Elisabeth Hasselbeck Hugh Hefner & Betty White Cher & Mitt Romney Visit www.wilkesbeacon.com to cast your vote. Results will be published in next week’s issue of The Beacon. �OPINION FEBRUARY 12, 2008 7 “Jukebox Hero” anything but heroic to music lovers BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon Editor-in-Chief “You know, a bar offers all kinds of other things other than alcohol,” said Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike in the 2007 flick Death Proof. “Women. Nacho Grande platters. The fellowship of some fascinating individuals...” I would like to add one more thing to the Stuntman’s list…the juke box. Originally a coin-operated phonograph in the 1920s, the jukebox gained massive popularity in the “Happy Days” generation of the 50s and 60s, spinning vinyl 45s on a bulky contraption that resembled a cross between R2D2 and a Cadillac. In the compact disc era, patrons could now flip between album sleeves and seek the track they wished to play by reading the listings on the back. But in this tinny-sounding era of digital music, where MP3s and illegal downloading are all the rage, the good ‘ol Rock O-las and Wurlitzers are being replaced by these wall-mounted sentries known as TouchTunes. TouchTunes is the first commercial digitaldownloading jukebox, released in 1998, and contains over two million licensed tracks from all major and independent labels in its digital library. Sounds almost too good to be true, right? Well, it most certainly is. After feeding a dollar into the machine, the customer is granted two plays, (one less than the standard jukebox allows) and instead of flipping through the albums, the customer must drag his or her finger down a scrollbar marked A-Z to find the first letter of the artist’s name. The only problem is, customers are only provided with one or two hits by each artist, and in order to search TouchTune’s vast library, they must feed another dollar into the machine. To further complicate things, there is the ever-so-annoying Play Now feature, which means that for another dollar, somebody can cut your songs off and start theirs. For example, let’s say I just dished out $10 worth of AC/DC, and some idiot comes along and selects the whole Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas album. For an extra buck, the Chipmunks fan can hit “Play Now,” and I’ll be lucky if I hear two of my songs before the night’s end. It’s a money making scam that has made playing tunes on the juke a competition. The jukebox once gave a place character. People would actually go to a bar simply because it had a great jukebox, flipping through song after song only to find a gem to impress their friends (and clientele). Sadly, TouchTunes has ruined this whole musical experience, making it too expensive to be the “Jukebox Hero.” And where is the Led Zeppelin? “No Child Left Inside Fund” no solution to obesity issue BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Opinion Editor How would American children feel if their government forced them to play outside? How would they feel if after a long day of school and work American children were penalized by the government for playing video games and watching TV? How might American parents feel if the federal government implemented a special tax on televisions and video games in order to deter obesity and force their children to engage in more physical activity? No, this is not the plot to a newly discovered George Orwell novel. According to a recent CNN.com article, a coalition of groups led by the Rio Grande chapter of the Sierra Club is lobbying the New Mexico legislature to pass a bill that would place a 1% sales tax on televisions, video games, and video game equipment. The tax revenue would be used for government sponsored outdoor education programs as a means of deterring children from sitting on the couch and to encourage them to be more athletic. The bill attempts to combat childhood obesity. Some argue that if cigarettes and alcohol are taxed in order to deter people from engaging in unhealthy, even self-destructive behavior, then why not do the same for television, video games and equipment; it’s only fair, right? Wrong. Taxing such items is likely to cause more of a financial burden on people who can afford it the least. Although it’s only a 1% tax, it adds up and money is tight. Moreover, the article reported that, “The tax could put New Mexico retailers at a disadvantage as they compete with online stores and retailers that offer downloadable games.” There are more prominent factors that contribute to obesity than children passively watching TV and playing video games. Irresponsible parenting and the lifestyles parents allow their kids to live are a big factor in the current obesity epidemic. The television and video game industries shouldn’t be punished for parents’ mistakes. Ultimately, while childhood obesity and resulting health problems such as juvenile diabetes are at an all-time high in American society, it’s important to remember that America as a whole has never been fatter. We often need look no further than the parents of the children for whom this initiative is proposed to understand that obesity is a family problem. According to a recent CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) report, 22 states reported a prevalence of adult obesity (which is considered equal to or greater than 30 BMI) in 20-25% of their population. As a child, I was obese, weighing around 155 pounds in the fifth grade. I didn’t play sports, not because I played video games or was lazy, but because I wasn’t good at them. I was constantly picked on and the bullying I endured caused me psychological problems during my elementary and middle school years. Because of these constant putdowns, I would eat food as a way to deal with my problems, and become even more overweight. The low self-esteem born of awkwardness and a lack of athletic aptitude led to the obesity. Or was it the other way around? Although I am healthy and in shape now, and could not care less what others think of me, having a tax like this wouldn’t have deterred me from watching TV or playing video games, and I wouldn’t have been any more motivated to play outside. What I needed was to adopt a more positive attitude. At the time, though, I didn’t feel as if I had a place to go to try to become more positive and deal with issues in ways other than eating food for comfort. If the government taxes its people who choose a sedintary lifestyle, what’s next? Putting a tax on puppies because their owner won’t pick up their droppings when they walk in public? Having a tax on these products and using the money to create outdoor social programs will not work, and there are other more effective solutions that could help combat childhood obesity that are already available at our disposal. Existing alternatives include increasing the amount of time school students spend in physical education, eliminating unhealthy junk foods and beverages in schools, and including a healthy lifestyle curriculum into public schools’ health program. More importantly however, there needs to be some type of an effective comfort zone space where students who struggle with their weight can go to get advice, be heard and get positive emotional encouragement and feedback, such as guidance counselors or school psychologist. If schools don’t have an effective guidance counseling program, that’s where the funds need to be redirected. Here’s to you... Mr. Really Loud Cell Phone Talker BY GINO TROIANI Staff Writer/Photographer Here’s to you Mr. Really Loud Cell Phone Talker. Comparable to William Hung, we don’t want to, but we can’t help but listen. No matter where you are, we can always pick you out in a crowd. While the rest of us are trying to mind our own business, you never seem to have a problem breaking that awkward silence. Of course no one cares about your aunt Ruth, girlfriend, or dog Fluffy, but we can always count on you to inform us. Keep on keeping on! ~ ~ ~ ( I i "' ~~ ~ - ""' \ ~ , '..1 ' Drawing By: Matt Vital �FEBRUARY 12, 2008 OPINION 8 The Angry Rant: No Voter, No Cry BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor It’s one of those years again. That’s right, a leap year. A year that is going to be so busy that we actually need another day added to our calendars in order to fit everything in. Regardless of what the scientific community tells you, leap years don’t exist to keep the calendars synchronized; instead, there is a far greater reason for the leap year: The Presidential Election. The genius who thought up the idea of the leap year did so in order to prevent us from losing a full day of our lives watching the election unfold on television, while we blissfully remain ignorant to the rest of the outside world. True story: A friend of mine actually missed the birth of his first child during the last election because he spent the entire night flipping back and forth between MSNBC and CNN, in a futile attempt to see which channel said the word “projected” more. To be fair, though, his kid was pretty unspectacular. I mean, he is almost four-yearsold and he can’t even ride a bike yet. Weak. Anyhow, now that Super Tuesday has come and gone, Americans are left with a limited selection of candidates from which to choose on the Presidential Menu. As the field diminishes with each passing day, options dwindle to nothing more than a garden salad and the smoked catfish. After everything unfolded last week, we were left with a clear front runner of the Republican party in John McCain, who proved that people over 70 really can live a normal life - not that there was really a debate over that. On the other side of the political spectrum, the Democratic party narrowed its choice to Hillary “My husband was President, so I have experience by proxy” Clinton, and Barack “Hussein” Obama. That’s actually his middle name, it’s not a joke. Others that suffered a crushing blow on Super Tuesday include Mitt Romney, who spent over $30 million out of his own pocket to finance his campaign before dropping out of the race. What a shame, now he is only worth $200 million. Former Senator John Edwards ran a solid campaign, but he was forgotten faster than a Jodie Foster movie. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has made some headway during the primaries, but his campaign is all but a lost cause at this point, despite the fact that he had Chuck Norris as one of his main supporters. Many critics point to his foreign policy as his biggest weakness, but the truth is that his campaign slogan of “Chuck Norris IS the electoral college” turned a lot of people off after Norris would lie in wait outside of voting booths with the intent of roundhouse kicking anyone who voted for McCain. All joking aside, this election is vitally important to our nation, just like every election that preceded it. History could be made during this election, and with the impending recession looming around the corner, Americans have to be more involved in the process than ever. However, we all know what’s going to happen. There is going to be a large push for young voter turnout, akin to the “Vote or Die” campaign of 2004, and the same thing is going to happen: Nothing. Young people aren’t going to vote, just like the last election and the election before that. Consider this: In four years, most college students are going to be entering the workforce in some capacity. Isn’t it important to them (or yourself) what the state of the country is? How are taxes? What’s the unemployment rate? Will the draft be reinstated? (The answer to that is no, but you get the point.) One of my biggest pet peeves with people is when they complain when things don’t go their way, notwithstanding the fact that they did nothing to help their own cause. The same thing can be said with the voters in this country. The last time that we had a voter turnout of over 60% was in 1968. However, those same people who don’t vote will sit back and complain about the state of things. But here’s the thing: If you don’t vote, you forfeit the right to complain. It’s true, if you don’t participate in the political process, then why should you com- plain? No one goes into a restaurant and says “surprise me,” do they? That would be ridiculous. Classic excuses: But I don’t like any of the candidates. Last election, there were literally over ten people that you could have voted for. If you don’t care for the Republican or the Democratic nominee, then vote for someone else. At least your voice will be heard. But my vote doesn’t make a difference! True, one vote might not determine the election, but what if it did? That’s the power that voters have. But I’m too busy to pay attention to this stuff. sure you are. But you’re not too busy to browse YouTube for hours, watch wrestling on cable television, or stare at the walls of your apartment or dorm room and complain that there’s nothing to do in town. But don’t I have the right not to vote? I suppose you do, but non-voters don’t impact a vote. Voting is a right that is given to most, something that other countries are fighting and dying for on a daily basis. It’s a privilege more than anything else, and every single person in this country who is able to vote should be registered and in line come November. That’s it for this week, readers. And, as of last week, if you don’t agree with me, then you’re wrong. For the first time, young voters actually hold power BY LAUREN SALEM Beacon Staff Writer The last time this country has seen masses of young voters flocking to an election was in 1972, when the voting age was lowered to 18. Given the state of the nation at that point, there was certainly much for young people to care about and want to vote for (or against). But after that high point in 1972, voting trends suggest that most people under the age of 30 quickly lost interest in presidential elections. Analysts have chalked this up to many factors, but mostly disillusionment with national leadership. But at the turn of the millenium, some polls indicated that young people were again beginning to re-engage and pay closer attention. According to Time magazine, only 13% of voters 18-to-29-years-old paid attention to presidential campaigns in 2000, but that number increased to 42% in 2004, and has taken yet another leap to 74 % in 2008. In addition, 7 of 10 young voters said that they pay closer attention to the presidential race than celebrity news or sports. This year, presidential candidates have been working to woo young voters to caucuses and primaries through the use of new technologies provided by the internet as well as text messaging. Social networking and videos posted on YouTube have gotten young voters involved, which caused record-shattering youth turnouts in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primaries. And somewhat unusual appeals have also surfaced. Amber Lee Ettinger, better known as “Obama Girl”, has emerged as a YouTube and music video sensation with her musical tributes to Barack Obama called “I’ve Got a Crush on Obama” and “Super Obama Girl.” On the Republican side, Mike Huckabee won Iowa, because of his “young evangelicals,” a part of his campaign called “Huck’s Army,” which netted 37 % of young voters. Young voters also helped John McCain win New Hampshire, and to some extent South Carolina. Exit polls from South Carolina and Iowa show that Obama received more than half of the youth vote, helping him to win both states. Last spring, Obama hired Hans Riemer, his youth vote director, which benefited Obama the most out of all the other candidates, according to an article posted by the Morris Daily Herald. While Obama may have been the first among this year’s candidates to reach out to young voters, others like Hillary Clinton quickly caught onto the trend and launched her “Students for Hillary” campaign at high schools and college campuses across California using her daughter, Chelsea, as the campaign’s icon. Analysts attribute Clinton’s strong showing on Super Tuesday, at least in part, to that effort. According to a recent article in The Buffalo News, David Burstein, who has recently released a documentary called “18 in ‘08” said, “What these technologies are doing is they’re giving young people an unprecedented amount of power and access to the political process.” While college students don’t regularly watch the news, or read the newspaper, their universal attachment to the internet ensures access to political appeals; they can catch a candidate’s speeches and debates on YouTube. They also share their thoughts through social networking groups on sites like Facebook and Myspace, which bring people together and ultimately can receive billions of hits per day. A study from last year at the Students’ Public Interest Research Group, which works to turn out votes nationwide among college students, found that sending a text message asking students to vote a day before an election resulted in a 4 % increase in student turnout at the polls. The tides appear to be turning, and just as Pennsylvania may matter in its primary to be held in April (at least on the Democratic side, as things are unlikely to shake out before then), young voters now appear to have a newfound power to sway the election. Pay attention. Ask questions about the issues that matter to you. Vote. This year, for a change, it appears it may make a difference. �LIFESTYLES FEBRUARY 12, 2008 Student of the Week 10 Tour of Africa 11 9 Valentine’s Day targets lovers...and wallets BY MARK CONGDON JR. Beacon Opinion Editor It’s that time of year again when love is in the air and in romance all things are possible. Yes, February 14, Valentine’s Day, happens this week. But how did this holiday get started and how is it observed today? According to the History Channel, there are many legends to how this love-fest all began. HistoryChannel.com notes that St. Valentine’s Day contains remnants of both ancient Roman and Christian traditions. One of the most popular legends is that St. Valentine was actually the first to send a ‘valentine’ greeting. It is believed that while he was imprisoned because he refused to worship the Roman Gods, he fell in love with a young woman who would visit him. It’s alleged that before his death, he wrote her a letter and signed it, “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still used today. While there is much folklore as to how and why Valentine’s Day began, and we may never know the complete truth behind this holiday, the legends paint Valentine’s character as a compassionate and romantic icon. His idealized character is celebrated to this day, and millions of people all around the world express their love and affection to their sweethearts with cards, candy and gifts. While, a popular American tradition, St. Valentine’s Day is not exclusive to the United States. Dr. Anne Heineman Batory, professor of marketing in the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership is spending the semester in the United Kingdom and has also ob- served cultural traditions for the holiday. “Valentine’s Day is a holiday here as well -- the red lights and decorations have been up since early January. As in the USA, it is a big evening for dinners at pubs and restaurants (second only to Mother’s Day). Flowers, always a big draw, are the gift of choice here. The flower markets are beautiful,” she said. Dr. Mary Beth Mullen, CSE Advising Coordinator for University College, explained that over the years, Valentine’s Day has changed since she was an undergraduate student. “When my husband and I started dating, it was 1975. We were in college, and if we went out to dinner it would be someplace inexpensive. We would also get each other a small gift because we were students without much money,” Mullen said. “Now, we still get each other something small but stay in. Having an evening of quiet relaxation by the fireplace at home is how we like to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Just spending time together is more important than going out,” stated Mullen. She added, “Today, I see numerous ads for diamonds and other jewelry; it’s just excess. But there are more non-tangible ways to show your sweetheart you love them. Now, it’s the bigger the gift, the more you love them, and it’s not right!” According to a recent Forbes.com article, the average Valentine’s Day consumer will spend approximately $120 on the holiday this year, up from last year’s average of $101. The article report- ed that in total, American citizens will spend around $16.9 billion on their lovers this year. Some of the biggest industries that profit financially from Valentine’s Day are those that sell jewelry, candy, greeting cards and flowers. In order to attract customers, Plumb Gold, a jewelry store located in the Wyoming Valley Mall, is having special promotions for the holiday for lovers, which The Beacon/Christine Zavaskas appear to be working. This Valentine’s Day, consumers will spend about $120 on Melissa Bacorn, the their loved ones, up from last year’s average of $101. store manto show your love in a more sentimental ager of Plumb Gold, said, way,” said Danielle Capone, sophomore “Valentine’s Day is one of nursing major. our biggest holidays…Love When Petrosky was asked what she is in the air, and it’s fun time planned to get her sweetheart, she replied, to work.” “I like to make my Valentine’s Day cards Valentine’s Day is an especially because I think it means a little more…I’m lucrative holiday for florists. Rick Berry, probably going to spend between $30 and the owner of McCarthy Flowers in down$40 to make a Valentine’s Day dinner.” town Wilkes-Barre, counts it as the biggest Capone said that she plans to get her darholiday for the shop. ling some “chocolates and a movie.” “It’s the largest holiday for us of the year, Regardless if St. Valentine’s Day has sales volume-wise. We’ve been here for 25 evolved over the years, one thing is still for years…our customers know about the qualsure, believes Capone. ity we provide,” said Berry. “This year sales “Valentine’s Day is a day that celebrates are up compared to years past…college stuthe love and appreciation you have for those dents have been coming in more.” you care about,” she said. “Whether you Many students appear to be enjoying the plan to spend your Valentine’s Day with romantic atmosphere that Valentine’s Day friends, family or your significant other, it’s brings with it. nice to go out of your way to do something Mandy Petrosky, sophomore integrated nice for someone you love.” media major, stated that she enjoys the holiday because, “I have a cute outfit picked out, and it’s the only time of the year when you can get the candy conversation hearts.” “Valentine’s Day is a special holiday because it’s one of the only times of the year when it’s acceptable to be a hopeless romantic…It’s kind of corny, but it’s fun The Beacon/Matt Gogas The Beacon/Christine Zavaskas �LIFESTYLES 10 FEBRUARY 12, 2008 Student of the Week: Mario DellaFortuna BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor was the first thing my friend and I saw and we knew right away we wanted to do it. For one to four hours a week you will not find Mario DellaFortuna, a junior biology major with a minor in secondary education, playing sports, doing class work, or even spending time with his college friends. Instead, DellaFortuna is spending time with his “little brother,” James. DellaFortuna became a volunteer for the organization Big Brothers Big Sisters last October. According to the organization’s website, www.bbbs.org, “Big Brothers Big Sisters matches children ages 6 through 18 with mentors in professionally supported one-to-one relationships.” Volunteers then spend time with their “little” in order to provide an encouraging role model and friend. In addition to this community service, DellaFortuna is also a member of the football team, the Education Committee Chair for Tri Beta (the biology honor society), and a member of Education Club. For his dedication to being a positive role model, The Beacon has chosen DellaFortuna as this week’s Student of the Week. The Beacon sat down with him to find out more about his experiences as a “big brother.” The Beacon: How did you get involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters? DellaFortuna: For one of my classes, Multicultural Education, we were encouraged to do community service. There was this big list of topics. Big Brother Big Sisters The Beacon: Why did you pick that community service? DellaFortuna: I thought it would help me, because I want to be a teacher. Also, I grew up in a town that was similar to this. There were a lot of bad influences around, so I wanted to be a positive role model. Plus, my coach for football always stresses how he wants people to be part of the community and be those types of positive role models. The Beacon: What kind of activities do you do with your “little brother”? DellaFortuna: Last week, we actually went to the Penguins game. We’ve also played basketball and gone to the movies, stuff like that. because…I got him a basketball not even knowing that like a week earlier, his basketball had gotten run over by a car. So it worked out perfect and he was really happy. It was really nice. The Beacon: Since Big Brothers Big Sisters is all about being a positive role model, who is your role model? DellaFortuna: One of them was my high school biology teacher that I had my freshman year of high school. I always liked math and science better than English, and when I took biology with him as a freshman he just made it so fun. It really had an impact on me. He’s the reason I want to be a biology teacher, because I just want to have that impact on somebody else. The Beacon: What have you learned from this experience? DellaFortuna: I’ve learned skills that will help me deal with things when I become a teacher. Just talking with somebody younger than me on a regular, consistent basis helps me make sure I can connect with them. The Beacon: What is your most memorable moment with your “little brother”? DellaFortuna: For his birthday, I got him a gift and he was really happy. It was nice to see his expression Beacon/Matthew Gogas Courtesy Mario DellaFortuna IN I CAl!.l: Bl LL ti EN lY at 115-761-4619 OR CHICK iliHE WEB S:liliE FOR INFOHMA.110N ·n . I nt 665 .· sma · dty+ · ·nt J _ In . ' ·, (570 s2 · ,_ · 9 - t �FEBRUARY 12, 2008 LIFESTYLES 11 Summer African tour offers Wilkes community exotic experience The seats on the flight to East Africa are filling quickly, and only up to twenty-five people can experience the best trip of them all according to Dr. James Merryman, an anthropology professor at Wilkes University. Merryman hosted a question-answer session in the Miller Room of the Henry Student Center on February 5 about a special summer excursion to Tanzania and Zanzibar he is sponsoring. Tom Kisura, the owner of the tour company, Safari Dreams, was also on hand to answer questions. “I built this trip to Africa for all the people who hate packaged tours,” Merryman said. “It combines a classic big game safari and a vacation on an exotic Indian Ocean island paradise.” From August 4-16, Merryman will lead a trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar in the eastern part of the continent. The trip will cost $5,000 which includes all flights, camp reservations, and most meals. The plane will arrive at Dar os Salaam, where the group will spend the night before flying for five hours out to Solous, Tanzania. For four days, Safari Dreams will guide safaris by foot, car, and boat. “Few places allow people to walk on foot,” Kisura said. “Most tours are in the vehicles, but we will walk with a game scout [for protection].” “This [walking] safari allows an intimate impression of the African bush and wildlife, which is unforgettable and brings you, closest to pristine nature,” Merryman said. During the game drive, people will be able to stand in the Safari car and see diverse animals up close through the pop-up roof. People will also see hippopotamuses up close during the boat safari in Solous, which has Africa’s highest concentration of hippopotamus. “Africa has spectacular national parks and reserves where we saw hippopotamuses, giraffes, elephants, and big cats,” said Wilbur Hayes, who traveled with Merryman to Africa in 2002 and in 2006. “I was also paying attention to hyenas, jackals, crocodiles, storks, fish, eagles, mongooses, catfish, and even Army ants.” The tour continues from Solous to Ruaha where tour members will spend two days hiking and camping in the Ruaha National Park. They will camp in tented lodges that blend in to the wild, but will also be provided with comfortable accommodations like flushing toilets, showers, and sofas. The last few days of the trip will be spent at Zanzibar Island where participants will first stay in the Tembo Hotel, which is one of many old Arab buildings downtown in Stone Town. “Zanzibar is famous for its building decorations and magnificent coral and fish,” Kisura said. On the way to the white sand beaches on the east coast, people will be able to stop at Jozani Forest and view the rare endemic Red Colobus monkey. While at the beach, they can snorkel or scuba dive in the ocean. “The best part of the vis- Dr. James Merryman and a group of students pose in front of the it was having equator on a previous trip to Africa. a tour guide who could speak the local language and was “We share the earth with other cultures so it familiar with the area and local customs,” is important to be aware of how other peosaid Dr. Brian Redmond, an environmental ple live in different environments.” engineering and earth sciences professor. as an agricultural volunteer the first time he visited East Africa and was sent to the capital city of Nairobi where he helped set up small-scale dairy farms. This year marks the 40th anniversary of his first time in Africa, where he lived for twelve years and has lead many trips since then. During the first major drought in Kenya, which took place in the early 1970s, Merryman returned to Africa as a paid volunteer to start teaching. Because of the dry conditions, many people lost their camels, so he started an irrigated agricultural project. Camels and other dairy farm animals like cows and goats are important staples to the natives’ diets, which mostly consist of warm milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, and meat. “Everyone has to go there and see that once people could live and live relatively well on so little,” Merryman said. The average African family uses five gallons of water a day for drinking, cooking, and washing their hands five times a day. During the day, the women walk for miles to collect a pile of firewood and find water to fill up their hand-carved, wooden jugs that weight around 78 pounds and can carry five gallons of water. “Tribal cultures are very family and community oriented, which aren’t concepts that are alien to us, but it’s something that we’ve moved away from as we became more urbanized,” Merryman said. After Merryman married, he took his wife back to Africa, where she and another volunteer started the first girls’ high school in a Muslim area the size of Pennsylvania. The first year the two-room school opened, 30 girls attended. Every year more girls attended and more rooms were added on, until enrollment reached 240 students. Eventually, another school had to be built to contain the overflow. Boys and girls there are segregated not only in schools, but also during social activities like dances as well. The girls sing in All photos courtesy Dr. James Merryman BY LAUREN SALEM Beacon Staff Writer Wilkes professor offers glimpse into African culture BY LAUREN SALEM Beacon Staff Writer Hosting a 12-day trip to Africa is no big deal for anthropology professor Dr. James Merryman. After living there for 12 years, he has learned the intracies of the culture and finds great fulfillment in sharing it withstudents. Merryman worked for the Peace Corps the chorus while the boys dance in a circle. During the dance, the boys would step in the middle of the circle to try to show off, and the girls would make up songs to flatter the boys. “They can’t say you’re cute or a hunk,” Merryman said. “It has to be indirect, like ‘his grandfather has a thousand white camels and killed a hundred Ethiopians.’” “We found the culture fascinating and the people were welcoming and hospital,” Merryman said. In the 1980s, Merryman lived in Somalia and did Arab land-development work like deforestation and working with Ethiopian refugees. He did a socio-economic study of all the people who lived over a 400 mile stretch of land and assessed how they would be affected by the government building a large dam on the most important river in the country for hydropower and irrigation. “Just the music, spirituality, stories, cultural richness, and the diversity are wonderful gifts that shouldn’t be ignored,” Dr. Merryman said. “I liked it very much and my wife liked it, which is the reason why we kept going back.” �A&E Folk Arts YOUniverse Crossword/Website Strange Wilderness FEBRUARY 12, 2008 13 14 15 LOCAL BAND SPOTLIGHT: tigers jaw BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor If you frequent music venues outside of the bar scene, it’s pretty impossible to miss Tigers Jaw. At any given time the band seems to always have an upcoming show in the area--and for good reason. Tigers Jaw offers a crowd-pleasing set each and every time its members take the stage. The band consists of Ben Walsh on guitar and vocals, Pat Brier on drums, Adam Milwee on guitar and vocals, Dennis Mishko on bass, and Brianna Collins on organ and vocals. Much of the music is somewhat mellow indie rock, but there’s such a great amount of energy put into the songs that by the end of a performance the crowd is pushing each other over just to sing along the lyrics right near the stage. Recently The Beacon caught up with members of the band to talk about changes the band has undergone and the experiences of a “teen heartthrob sensation.” The Beacon: How long have you been a band and how have things progressed since the start? Tigers Jaw: We started Tigers Jaw two years ago, and I think having so many lineup changes made it possible to keep trying new things. The Beacon: Who writes the majority of your songs and what do you usually put into your lyrics in terms of subject matter and experiences? Tigers Jaw: Ben and I write an equal amount of songs. Most of our songs are about girls and wrestling. The Beacon: Which one of your songs is your favorite, and tell us why. Tigers Jaw: I think all of our songs are equally terrible. The Beacon: What in the world is the Age of the Fall website you have as your band website on your Myspace page (www.myspace.com/tigersjaw)? Tigers Jaw: Age of the Fall is the best faction in professional wrestling today and everyone should know about them. The Beacon: Tell us about your favorite show you’ve played. Tigers Jaw: My favorite show was when Matt Walsh filled in on bass and put his cord through a flowerpot because he loves gardening so much. The Beacon: Sum up your band in simply three words. Tigers Jaw: Teen heartthrob sensation. The Beacon: What have been the lineup changes? Tigers Jaw: Mike from Captain, We’re Sinking! used to drum for us, as did Thomas from Louch when we went on tour last year. Ben also used to play drums, but after a few months moved to guitar and started writing a lot of our songs. Our friend Bob, who’s in Election Day now (www.myspace.com/electionday2) used to play bass, and our friend Dan played organ before Brianna joined. DJ Getz has been with us since we started though, and really does a lot to help us out. II - The Beacon: What’s the story behind the band name? Tigers Jaw: There isn’t much of a story really. “Tigers Jaw” comes from a Microphones song, and I like that it doesn’t have an apostrophe after “tigers” and that it isn’t capitalized. Sometimes not capitalizing the name makes us look sloppy though, so we’ll capitalize it for like...this interview. The Beacon: Describe what your first show was like. Tigers Jaw: Our first show was one that we put together with The Green Chair, My Dad is a Dinosaur, Kid Icarus, and Okay Paddy at a youth center in Scranton. We didn’t have a bassist then, and I know that there were not that many people at the show, but that’s all I really remember. The Beacon: And what are your live shows like nowadays? Tigers Jaw: Better than our first one...we’ve become good friends with Title Fight and Three Man Cannon, so we play a lot of our shows with them. They’re writing some of the best songs now, and I think we take away more from them than any other bands. Our friends from The Mother/Daughter Team, who broke up a few months ago, started a new band and we’re all looking forward to playing shows with them again. The Beacon: What projects are you currently working on? Tigers Jaw: Right now we have a full-length and a six song EP already recorded, and we’re working on releasing those with our friend Mark, who has been helping us out a great deal lately. We’re also going into a studio for the first time to record a full-length for Prison Jazz Records and a 7” for Flight Plan Records. The Beacon: How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard you before? Tigers Jaw: We sound exactly like Jewish War Veterans (www.myspace.com/jewishwarveterans) • Picture courtesy Tigers Jaw �FEBRUARY 12, 2008 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 Arts YOUniverse seeks to expand for folk artists BY MARISSA PHILLIPS & Beacon A&E Editor ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Assistant A&E Editor Anyone who steps into Arts YOUniverse at 156 South Franklin Street can see that it’s expansive and accommodates many facets of the art world. From dance to painting, from sculpture to jewelry creation, founder Kathleen Godwin has effectively created a true arts mosiac all under one roof. However, Godwin is the first to acknowledge that while the former mansion does house a large cross section of the arts, it is not all encompassing. That is why Godwin has a new project in development stages. To put it simply, she “wants to have it all.” Godwin explained that she sees three types of art: fine art, healing art, and folk art. Despite the space provided by three floors of the mansion, Arts YOUniverse is basically limited to fine art because there is not enough space to include it all. Godwin’s next project is to accommodate folk artists and develop an entirely new location where she will offer a Folk Arts YOUniverse. Final plans have not been solidified, but Godwin is in the planning phase with the building owner of Randy’s Paint, located on South Main Street. They have discussed having two floors available for Godwin’s newest project where there will be available space for folk artists such as jewelers, wood carvers, weavers and potters to work on and sell their work. The main idea is to develop something like a “mart atmosphere.” The artists will have their work space but the areas will also be open for people to enter and shop, making it both a working and shopping environment. Godwin feels like folk art has a wider audience appeal than fine art and the new yoga and voice lessons to any type of building would painting. The fees for all classes vary be a successful by artist. endeavor. According to the Arts YOUniverse While Godwebsite, the collaboration of artists win continues was created because, “Shopping for to work out the the best artistic experience should be details with the as easy as shopping for the best shoes, business owner, or freshest groceries.” Arts YOUniher main converse is open to the public and features cern is to find activities for those of any age group. serious crafting The current Arts YOUniverse space and folk artists. serves its purpose for now; however, She currently has the addition of the new space at Rannumerous artists dy’s Paint on South Main Street may interested in the allow for Godwin to come closer to project, but she achieving her dream of having it all. feels that there need to be 50 artists for the Arts The Beacon/Gino Troiani YOUniverse off- Arts YOUniverse is located at 156 South Franklin Street, across from shoot to succeed. Breiseth Hall. It’s only the first of mutiple arts center that Godwin The current hopes to create in the community. Arts YOUniverse building has welcomed the public and local artists to its location in downtown Wilkes-Barre for approxiTuesday, February 12 mately two and a half years, - “Beyond the Wall” poster sale at 10 a.m. in the SUB according to artist Maria - The Passion of the Christ showing at 6:30 p.m. in the Henry Student Center Grand Ballroom Livrone. Her clay and - Every Avenue, Livingston, Automatic Loveletter and Black Tie Affair performing at 7 p.m. at glass-fused work is featured Cafe Metropolis in a studio entitled “Potter’s Eye.” Wednesday, February 13 Her work includes a range - Lemongelli performing at 10 p.m. at the Woodlands of brightly colored glass- Open Mic featuring Mike Vierling at the Jazz Cafe fused jewelry, from necklaces to earrings featured Thursday, February 14 in a gift shop. Livrone also - “Passion at the Mansion” (yoga, dance, and pottery) at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Arts YOUniverse teaches pottery classes at - Free Music Orchestra at the Jazz Cafe Arts YOUniverse. Livrone is not the only Friday, February 15 artist offering classes. Arts - Musical Theater production, “The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd” at 8 p.m. YOUniverse, offers various in the Darte Center classes ranging from dance, - Star 69 performing at 10 p.m. at the Woodlands - Zach Deputy performing at the Jazz Cafe No more contacts. No glasses? NO WORRIES! Butler Eyecare has special Student Pricing! 20% discount on Frames $49 eye exams 822-8727 yecare for everyone www.bu tlereyecare.com 34 S. Main St. Across from SUBWAY Schedule of Events Saturday, February 16 - Benevento-Russo Duo performing at the Jazz Cafe - Musical Theater production, “The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd” at 8 p.m. in the Darte Center - The Menzingers, Static Radio, Three Man Cannon and Young Hearts performing at 8 p.m. at Cafe Metropolis - Picture Perfect performing at 10 p.m. at the Woodlands Sunday, February 17 - Musical Theater production, “The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd” at 2 p.m. in the Darte Center - Trippin On Nothing performing at the Jazz Cafe Monday, February 18 - Lenten Prayer Service being held at 6:30 in the Student Development Leadership Room �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Kudracross BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer ACROSS 1 Heads that are better 4 Silenced 9 Approximately 14 Tombstone letters 15 Oklahoma Indian nation 16 Tenant contract 17 Dwight Eisenhower nickname 18 Massive 19 Inquired 20 Very small (prefix) 22 Get attention quietly 24 Schedule abbreviation 26 New York clock setting 27 Tarzan partner 30 EPA concern 31 Grassy field 32 Regretted 33 Prolonged hiatus 34 Wing like 35 Comic book creator _____ Lee 36 Band coming to Wilkes 4/11/08 42 Musician Tori ____ 43 Consumed 44 Fishing bait 45 Uncooked 46 It would contraction 47 Delay 48 Conceal from sight 50 Small Madagascan primate 54 Like a Rubik’s puzzle 57 South Beach local 61 In the past 62 Shout of approval 63 Steamed rice dish 64 Sick 65 Alarm 66 Slightly intoxicated 67 Soap ingredient 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 21 23 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 33 34 37 38 39 40 41 48 49 51 52 53 54 55 56 58 59 60 DOWN Clip the edges Collaborative website Oil countries grp. Type of cocktail? Canada neighbor Paving material Bacon sidekick Like the abyss Sorrowful exclamation Highest quality Acorn producer Take advantage of Bill & ___’s Excellent Adventure Comments Bayonet action Era Santa helper ______ Anne’s pretzels Nut type Adam’s home AKA Manatee Surge again Camel relative Slightly open Household servant Try Flanders first name Pipe bend Competent for something Bee abode Object of worship Slow communication method Hideous Acting part ABC rival Psychic Geller Happy hour establishment Half of VI Andes’ kin More in Spanish FEBRUARY 12, 2008 1D l 11 IZ 1~ 14 fEJ 86 Answers 2/05/08 14 Deadpeopleserver.com BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor Ever thought about a beloved, old TV show and wondered if your favorite character was still alive? Or have you read a great book by an author who hasn’t written in years and wondered if they were still kicking? Well, there is now a website that can answer these questions. Deadpeopleserver.com prides itself on not being the first to report a death, but on being the most accurate. Deadpeopleserver is a website dedicated to compiling information about dead political figures, authors, actors, singers, and other well known people. Each listing offers the date of birth, date of death, cause of death and a brief description of career highlights. For example the listing for Marilyn Monroe looks like this : “Marilyn Monroe (actress) -- Dead. Suicide or accidental overdose. Died August 5, 1962. Born June 1, 1926. Seven Year Itch, Some Like It Hot, famously sang “Happy Birthday” to President Kennedy, married to Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller.” If you think that a website dedicated to dead people can’t be entertaining, you’re wrong. Deadpeopleserver has a section dedicated to people who aren’t dead, just rumored to be dead. Take Jimmy Buffet’s listing which reads: “Not dead, just chillin.’” Also, there is a list of obituary cliches and examples from real obituaries of the celebrities. Bob Hope’s said, “Thanks for the memories…” Elvis Presley’s notes: “Elvis has left the building.” Frank Sinatra, even to the end, “Did it his way.” The only real problem I have with this site are that the search is kind of confusing. When you type in a name the search brings up random websites. I’d suggest searching by letter. Also, I am extremely creeped out by the section called “Spaced,” which is dedicated to celebrities whose ashes have been scattered in space. It’s just weird to know that there are people’s cremated ashes floating around in space. Otherwise, I find this website to be really interesting. Just randomly going through the years or searching by letter you can learn a lot about random people that you never knew. I give this site an M for Mighty Morbid. �FEBRUARY 12, 2008 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 15 Movie Review: Strange Wilderness C ra a m host Peter Gaulke (Steve Zahn of Saving Silverman) finds out that his program, which he took over for his late father, is losing it’s grip on its coveted 3 a.m. time slot, and that he has only two weeks to turn things around before going off the air for good, he and his best friend/soundman Fred (Allen Covert of Little Nicky) must come up with something, and quick. Luckily, an old friend of his father’s has just the right thing to save the show; a picture of Big Foot and a map leading to exactly where it was taken. So, rather than using their remaining time to produce some quality nature documentaries, they do the rational thing: pile their crew, which includes Kevin Heffernan (Super Troopers’ Farva), Justin Long (Live Free or Die Hard) and Jonah Hill (SuperBad), and head to South America to track down Sasquatch. As anticipated, wacky wilderness antics ensue. The cast, made up of familiar faces, guarantees to cause a few “Hey it’s that guy!”s from the audience, along with a good smattering of cameos, including Robert Patrick (Terminator II: Judgment Day) as a deranged jungle guide and Harry Hamlin (Clash of the Titans) as a smug rival nature show host, add up to create an entertaining eighty seven minutes. However, the abundant laughs never rise above the level of stoner humor and gross out sight gags (not that there is anything wrong that), such as scenes depicting a stolen nitrous oxide tank rupturing inside of a mobile home turning it into a rave on wheels or an enraged mother turkey latches itself to a certain part of a male crew members anatomy. Although it’s produced by the typically family friendly Adam Sandler, this one is definitely not Happy Gilmore. With almost every scene jam packed with drug use, bad language and nudity, the film certainly earns its R rating. Overall, though the comic offensiveness of the film may sometimes overpower the audience with lewdness, it’s still a very enjoyable film for anyone who can still appreciate some good, old fashioned American toilet humor. In true cult comedy fashion, this is a movie that audiences will either love or hate. There is no middle-ground. Just like almost every movie in this genre, Strange Wilderness is destined to follow the trail which was blazed by flicks such as Anchorman and Super Troopers, as it will be panned l>e 1 r ,..~,,_. - cl ) ,-, N'O FOR SP ~ ·--~-- . by critics and will probably do poorly at the box office; however, the work of Steve Zahn and the rest of the gang will finally be fully appreciated once it is released on DVD and takes its rightful place in the low-brow hall of fame. Grade: Now, C Give it a few months, B+ Photo courtesy photos.almosthuman.net BY MKE WILLIAMS Beacon Staff Writer There are some movies that when someone asks how they were you can answer emphatically: “It was great,” or “I want eight bucks and two hours of my life back.” When you can do this, the movie in question has either obviously succeeded or failed. However, every once in a while a movie hits the theaters that poses a predicament to anyone hoping to critique it. Every fiber of your inner movie critic screams out to let you know the film wasn’t “good.” But, it was funny enough that you just can’t bring yourself to say it was “bad.” But for movies such as this, more often than not, these are the films that find themselves with cult followings. Think about it. How many times do you hear somebody quote Citizen Kane (no offense to Orson Welles fanatics intended), and now think of how many times you’ve heard people quote Super Troopers. Strange, huh? So, in the vein of Half Baked, Grandma’s Boy, and Waiting, Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison production company brings you Strange Wilderness. When nature show NTI G 2008 I J } _' 8 · ·n · '17CyAp $475 . / · . cy . $87.SJ · .2 ho....., s CIILl lf""e Entry undry - '\l'V1-F r n· >e I. . __ es, . ~ll ke ·s ~· ·.. · .- 1ee 18702 570~· ,8 7-· ·20 vvw-w. c mb r1 ndliv~n · ..co �16 SPORTS FEBRUARY 12, 2008 Freedom Conference champs look to build upon 07’s success BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon Editor-in-Chief The Colonel’s Season Comes To An End With A 4-2 Loss To Elizabethtown At NCAA Regional. This cold headline lingered on the Wilkes website all off-season, a painful reminder of the baseball team’s quick two and out performance in regional play last May, due in part to costly errors and untimely hitting. However, with a promising pitching staff and the heart of last year’s lineup back for 2008, the 2007 Freedom Conference champs (24-12) seemed upbeat as pitchers and catchers reported for a workout last week; the only remnant of last season were the calluses on their hands. “We’re gonna take it one step at a time, get back into the playoffs, and hopefully make another run at the league,” said outfielder Kyle Follweiler. Senior Corey Helfrich will lead the rotation after a successful return from Tommy John surgery in ‘05. “Helfrick” picked up six wins and fanned 28, though he admitted it would be nice to lower his 6.54 ERA. “My ERA was nothing to shake a stick at, but I’d like to get it under three and a half,” he said. Brad Wozinski and Freedom Conference Tournament MVP Tom Buckler, who are both coming off outstanding performances in regionals, will help round out the rotation, while Follweiler will come in to close from the outfield when needed. “Despite the fact we probably could have won those two games because we pitched so well, we came up a little bit short. Hopefully, we’ll get an opportunity to avenge that,” said 2007 Freedom Conference Coach of the Year Joe Folek. Unfortunately, the Colonels will have to make due without catcher Matt LoPresto, first baseman Justin Popovich, and reliever John Milius-who are no longer eligible to play. “Those are big losses,” Folek said. “Matt, Justin, and John each filled a valuable role on the team, and did it very well. ‘Matty’ and ‘Pop’ especially had tremendous postseasons, so in order for us to be successful, somebody’s going to have to step up and fill those positions.” Enter “Mr. Versatility,” senior Chris Mayerski. “Mersk” (.302 average, 8 HR, 2 3B, 7 2B, 37 RBI) is capable of playing literally every position with grace, and while he still owns the hot corner, it’s a safe bet that he’ll be seeing some time behind the plate along with Andy Garafoli and Jordan Padams, as well as first base, where he’ll figure into the mix with Mike Brennan and Brad Wozinski. “Our four seniors, (Follweiler, Helfrich, Mayerski, and Wozinski) they’re going to be the keys to the season. And those four guys we’re going to put in as many positions as possible to help dictate the outcome The Beacon/Gino Troiani Wilkes senior Anthony Giufridda practices at the UCOM on February 9. The Colonels open up their season on March 1-8 in the Cocoa Expo tournament in Florida. The home opener is March 11 against FDU-Fordham. of the game,” Folek said. con keeps you updated on all of the latest The Colonels will head for Cocoa Beach news and developments to come out of the on March 2 for spring training as The Bea- Sunshine State. No. 19 Wilkes nips Elizabethtown in wrestling, 20-15 COURTESY OF JOHN SEITZINGER Sports Information Director The 19th-ranked Wilkes University wrestling team won the final two bouts to rally from a 15-11 deficit and score a 20-15 win over Elizabethtown College on Saturday afternoon. The win improved the Colonels to 18-7-1, while Elizabethtown saw their record fall to 5-9. Wilkes won the first two bouts to jump on top 7-0. Shaun Farnham scored a 4-0 win over Marty Harnish at 125 pounds, and Ryan Wilson followed with a 13-5 major decision of Jarrod Cawley at 133 pounds to provide the Colonels with the lead. Elizabethtown then won the next four bouts to go ahead. Drew Winegar was a 4-3 winner over Brandon Prentice at 141 pounds and Bud Croswell topped Erik Smith, 6-2, at 149 pounds to cut the Wilkes lead to 76. Jereme Heisey pulled out a 5-3 win over Adam Penberthy at 157 pounds and Mike Lussier was a 6-4 winner over James Histed at 165 pounds to give the Blue Jays a 12-7 lead. At 174 pounds Wilkes’ Frank Heffernan won by major decision, 10-2, over Paul Connor to make it 12-11. Elizabethtown’s Bill Meaney topped Shawn Bradley, 6-2, at 184 pounds to make it 15-11 in favor of the Blue Jays. Wilkes remained in contention when Zach Pizarro scored a 7-1 win over Josh Herbert at 197 pounds to cut the lead to 15-14. Then, Wrestling Results from from 02/09 125 – Shaun Farnham dec. Marty Harnish, 4-0 (3-0) 133 – Ryan Wilson maj. dec. Jarrod Cawley, 13-5 (7-0) 141 – Drew Winegar dec. Brandon Prentice, 4-3 (7-3) 149 – Bud Croswell dec. Erik Smith, 6-2 (7-6) 157 – Jereme Heisey dec. Adam Penberthy, 5-3 (7-9) 165 – Mike Lussier dec. James Histed, 6-4 (7-12) 174 – Frank Heffernan maj. dec. Paul Connor, 10-2 (11-12) 184 – Bill Meaney dec. Shawn Bradley, 6-2 (11-15) 197 – Zach Pizarro dec. Josh Herbert, 7-1 (14-15) 285 – Andrew Feldman pinned Mike Daub, 4:04 (20-15) Wilkes’ wrestlers are in BOLD in the final match of the day, the Colonels’ Andrew Feldman was able to pin Elizabethtown’s Mike Daub in 4:04 to give Wilkes the 20-15 victory. �SPORTS FEBRUARY 12, 2008 17 Women fall short in close contest BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Asst. Sports Editor When the Wilkes University women’s basketball team returned to Freedom Conference action Saturday afternoon, they knew they needed to show improvement from the 47-point loss they suffered a week earlier at DeSales. While the effort from the Lady Colonels was much improved this time week, the team still found themselves searching for answers in its aftermath. Buoyed by 21 points from Moira Donohue, the Aggies of Delaware Valley College pulled away in the second half Saturday to post a 63-51 win over Wilkes. The Lady Colonels see their overall record slide to 1-20 overall. The team is still searching for its first conference victory after eight games. Despite Delaware Valley opening the game on a 122 run, the Lady Colonels remained poised and slowly chipped away at the lead. Brittany Ely scored five straight points before the intermission to set the score at 28-25, and Kajija Bates would score inside to open the second half and bring Wilkes within one. Delaware Valley refused to fold, however, and embarked on a 12-3 run that gave the Aggies a lead they would not relinquish. “We knew it would be a tough game coming in here,” Donohue said after the game. “We were coming off a rough loss, and with one of our best players out, our team knew Wilkes would give us a battle today.” Despite the big run, the Lady Colonels didn’t fold early in the second half. Erin Schneider knocked down a 3-pointer to pull Wilkes to within eight points of the Aggies with 9:56 left. However, Delaware Valley would take advantage of several Wilkes turnovers and grab several key rebounds in the ensuing minutes to pull away with the win. “We needed more intensity in the second half,” Lady Colonels sophomore Ashley Matcarczyk said of the team’s performance. “It was a great first period, but we need to put together a complete game to make real progress.” Despite enduring another painful defeat, Wilkes coach Rachel Emmerthal remained optimistic about her squad’s continuing development and maturity. “Our girls played with tremendous intensity today, particularly on the offensive glass,” Emmerthal said after the game. “We know we have a long way to go, but we’ve been making slow and steady improvement. The girls have kept working hard and making progress.” Katie Cappelloni led Wilkes with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Brittany Ely contributed nine points. The Lady Colonels will hit the road on Wednesday to take on Freedom Conference newcomer ManhattanThe Beacon/Matthew Gogas ville College on Wednesday night, before returning Freshman Brittany Ely pulls up for a jump shot against Aggies home to square off against Arcadia University in an- guard Brittany Battinieri. Ely finished with nine points, three other conference clash this Saturday at 1 PM. assists and three rebounds. Round.Pi~:s t2"'.M ediwn .Pi.zm 16·"" Lqe Pizza l 2 ~ran.Pizza 'Whit~ Cut Bmcoo.li. Cut icilum . t Tray 10 Cu1.Tn1.y 10 ·111tT:ray PIZZA • WINOa - - - 1.ALADIJ www..-jm.11zzl:sp'h.za..wm W ~ -B'a m,:~ . 'O.Etul ·NorlJulmyton.St•. 8.1:S,-51 titi I 8'25"563-7 Hot Deli Melt Ualiat'll M~tiba]l w/ Ch~-~ Tllfm. . Oh-ei:s ·.nWltl u & h . heese Steak . . .eese Chicken Plifffl(gia C1ub Sllb Tmlbcy· _·. Checs,c Can. B con Cheese Ro · t Beef&. 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Plains - DElivrry' Only 825- 5082 frioo Mus.mo~m Fried :RaVli.oli (6) Mo.zzareifa S'tiw .S) M1m Taco· (12) · ini Potato anru.cs. 02) JaJ~eno Po pers (5: F[e.nch ri Ch_ees.e F1l'i:es On~onRmg C.hiclcon Nuggcts 8) Bread Sticks Dallu 67 ' 777~ �SPORTS 18 FEBRUARY 12, 2008 Commentary GAME OF THE WEEK NHL: Black and Gold Special Pens, Bruins battle for conference standing Double Take BY KEVIN REED Beacon Correspondent The road to the NHL playoffs is 82 games long, but this time of year each game becomes increasingly magnified in its importance. Jockeying for position, each team wants not only to qualify for the playoffs but also to put themselves in the most optimal situation once they begin. Such is the stage for these two Eastern Conference foes as the Pittsburgh Penguins play host to the Boston Bruins. One major caveat of hockey in February is the inevitability of playing through injuries. Unfortunately, both teams are currently being forced to make due with depleted lineups. The Bruins come into this game with many of their offensive weapons on the shelf. Forwards Patrice Bergeron, Alexei Zhamnov, and Glen Murray are out of the lineup. Pittsburgh has been dealing with a rash of injuries, the most detrimental have been the high-ankle sprains of starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and reigning league MVP and top scorer Sidney Crosby. Luckily, both teams have been supplemented with solid play from minor-league callups from Providence (Boston) and WilkesBarre/Scranton (Pittsburgh). The Penguins (30-19-5, 65pts, 2nd in Atlantic division, 5th in East) have been treading water in the standings since the injury of their captain, Sidney Crosby back on January 18. The team has been led offensively by second-year phenoms Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal as well as forwards Ryan Malone, Petr Sykora, and Erik Christensen. On the blueline, Sergei Gonchar, Ryan Whitney, and Darryl Sydor lead by example with a sufficient mix of solid defense, opportunistic offensive ability, and experience to anchor a young team such as the Penguins. The last line of defense belongs to the current starting netminder Ty Conklin. After beginning this season down the road at Wachovia Arena, Conklin has made been a savior for the Pens in goal since his call-up when Fleury went down with his injury in December, posting a 13-3-3 record and keeping the Penguins near the top of the Atlantic division. The Bruins (28-21-5, 61pts, 3rd in Northeast division, 7th in East) are hanging by a thread to one of the final spots in a very tightly packed Eastern Conference playoff race. The aforementioned Patrice Bergeron, the Bruins best offensive talent, is still out after remaining ill effects of a hit from behind by Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Randy Jones earlier this season. Therefore, the spotlight has been shined on forwards Marc Savard, Marco Sturm, and sophomore star Phil Kessel. The defensive corps is headed by the proverbial giant wearing #33, 6’9” 251 lb. Zdeno Chara. Not to mention being a stalwart against the opposition’s best offensive attack, he is fairly handy standing in front of the net on power plays by screening opposing goaltenders as well as being an intimidating force to anyone brave enough to drop the gloves with him. Veteran defensemen Andrew Ference and Aaron Ward add depth to their blueline. Backstopping the Bruins is all-star goaltender Tim Thomas, who is on pace for a 30-win season, which is quite a feat in this era of the NHL. The game-plan both teams decide to use will be fun to watch unfold. Expect the Bruins to send out Chara and Ference against Pittsburgh’s top scoring line of Malkin, Sykora, and Malone. The Penguins will most likely rely on solid defensive play by their 3rd and 4th lines as they do not possess a true “shutdown defenseman”. The closest entity they have for that role are young defensemen Brooks Orpik and Rob Scuderi, both of whom are still trimming flaws from their game. Steph examines the stats that truly matter... BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor Potential “X-factors” for this game could be two players short of the country’s legal drinking age. Boston boasts 19-year-old winger Milan Lucic, whose 6’4” frame and quick feet tend to put defenses on their heels more often than not. Yet another WilkesBarre/Scranton grad could help the parent Pens to victory, as 20-year-old defenseman Kris Letang’s smooth style of play gives Pittsburgh an extra offensive punch, especially on the power play. This game should not be a runaway on either side. The Bruins will try to play a good solid road game, take the crowd out of it early, and dictate the flow of play to their liking. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, will try to play responsible defense in front of Conklin and take advantage of turnovers in order to manufacture odd-man rushes and scoring chances the other way. Do not be surprised to see this match-up go into overtime or a shootout even though both teams will want to win in regulation time, assuring them two points in the standings while the other plays for another day. The Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins: 4 Boston Bruins: 2 The Boston Bruins v. The Pittsburg Penguins…what? I have never heard of those teams. In fact, I even doubted that they existed. After doing a little bit of research (I talked to my friend Jimmy - by the way, he is quite a character. He used to work for his Uncle Gary as a hot-tar roofer. He quit after a day because the fumes were making him hallucinate. He claims to have seen spoken to Patrick Stewart in a tar-induced trip. Too bad for him, I guess. William Shatner would have been better. Oops, it seems like I’m getting off track here. Back to the double take), I learned that these are both hockey teams. Hockey is a sport that I honestly know nothing about. Anything I might know, I learned on the TV show Full House because Uncle Joey played it. I also had to ask what a bruin is. Apparently a bruin is a bear, a European bear. This slightly peeves me; The Boston Bruins are trying to be European bears. This just feeds into the common idea that we, Americans, want to be just like Europeans. We are boosting their egos by trying to be like their bears. For the sake of alliteration, Boston could have just been The Boston Bears, Beavers or Beatles. This is America; they should be a bit more patriotic. And the Pittsburgh Penguins, when have you ever seen a penguin in the United States? Penguins in zoos don’t even count; real penguins are just chillin’ in the southern hemisphere. Why are teams having such a hard time finding American animals to be their mascots? I guess all the good ones are taken. There are already the Sharks, Islanders, Rangers and Avalanche in hockey and I guess they can’t steal names from other sports. I’d have to give this one to the Penguins. No one is getting a bigger head because of their mascot. They are also from Pennsylvania…I’ve got to support the home state and penguins are a lot cuter than bruins! �SPORTS FEBRUARY 12, 2008 19 Athlete of the Week: Katie Cappelloni BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Whenever any athletic team is faced with adversity such as injuries and long losing streaks, the squad often searches for a player to rally around and work with to build for better times. In the case of the Wilkes University women’s basketball program, senior Katie Cappelloni has proven to be just that kind of leader. A four-year performer on the hardwood for the Lady Colonels, Cappelloni has excelled in leading a young Wilkes squad both on and off the court. Through Saturday’s contest against Delaware Valley, the Scranton native ranks first on the team in points per game (12.7), while ranking second in total points scored with 190. Cappelloni’s finest hour of the season came in a non-conference game on February 4 when she poured in a career-high 27 points in a non-conference contest versus Richard Stockton. Playing on a squad that features six freshmen and three sophomores, Cappelloni knew from the start of the campaign that she would be looked to by many players as a leader and role model. However, her experience became all the more vital when her fellow senior and close friend Lacey Andresen was lost for the season to a knee injury during a January 22 game against Manhattanville. The injury to Andresen came just a few games after Cappelloni returned to the lineup following recovery from a leg injury that caused her to miss multiple games earlier in the season. “It was tough for all of us to see Lacey go down, but especially for me after we had played together for our whole careers at Wilkes,” Cappelloni said. “Lacey has been here with us even after her injury and it’s still great to have her on the sidelines working along with our team.” 1 Number of regular season matches the Colonels wrestling squad has remaining. They take on King’s College this Friday in the Marts Gym at 7 p.m. “Katie has been an outstanding player for us in all aspects this season,” Wilkes head coach Rachel Emmerthal recently stated. “She’s brought one hundred percent to every game and every practice. Even when we’ve taken her out to give her a rest, she’ll be chomping at the bit to go right back in again.” While Cappelloni will not be able to enjoy a winning season or playoff trip in her final season on the court for the Lady Colonels, the senior sees a bright future ahead for her current teammates, and believes the squad has taken many steps forward a group this year. “We’re taking the rest of the season one game at a time, and we’re looking to improve in every game.” Cappelloni said. “We’ve got a young team this year, and I know these girls will grow up on the court more and more as they go along in their careers here.” Congratulations to Katie Cappelloni on being named Beacon Athlete of the Week! The Beacon/Matthew Gogas Senior basketball standout Katie Cappelloni reached a career milestone by scoring a career-high 27 points in a non-conference game versus Richard Stockton last week. SOFTBALL Cappelloni Season Stats Total points: 190 Rebounds per game: 5.4 3-point goals: 8 Free throw percentage: .651 Minutes played: 466 The Beacon/Gino Troiani Members of the Lady Colonels softball team participate in a youth softball clinic held by the team to benifit the program’s spring break trip. The clinic takes place at UCOM and is held through the weekend of Febuary 22-23. NUMBERS OF THE WEEK 26 Number of points scored by junior forward Steve Kline during the Colonels game against the Delaware Valley Aggies last Saturday. 26 is Kline’s career-high. 48 Number of rebounds collected by the Lady Colonels during Saturday’s game versus DelVal, the second highest total by the team this year. 61 was their season-high. 29.5 Average margin of victory for the Colonels basketball team last week in wins over Penn College and Delaware Valley. �Sports FEBRUARY 12, 2008 20 Colonels score triple digits in win over Aggies BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor If Saturday’s game against Delaware Valley was any indication of how the Colonels will perform down the stretch, you’re looking at a team that will be granted home court advantage at least during the first round of the conference playoffs. The Colonels beat the brakes off the Aggies in an up-tempo contest 100-67, before an estimated 700 basketball fans in the Marts Gymnasium. Transition baskets and stingy defense were the key recipes for the Colonels who held the Aggies to just under 40 percent shooting and forced 18 turnovers while netting 60.7 percent from the field, their second highest shooting percentage of the season (The team’s season high was 65 percent against Manhattanville on1/22). The win improves the Colonels to 12-8 overall and 6-2 in the MAC Freedom conference which puts the team third behind DeSales University and Manhattanville College in the conference. The Colonels beat Manhattanville which puts Wilkes in control of the second seed currently. The only reason they trail Manhattanville is because the Valiants have played one more conference game than the Colonels. Both of the Colonels conference losses were to the DeSales Bulldogs. The sloppy Aggies are 2-19, 0-9 in the conference. Delware Valley was out-hustled throughout the entire contest. At halftime, the Colonels doubled the Aggies point total as the score stood 53- 26. If any adjustments were made to slow down the Colonels in the locker room, they certainly did not work. At one point during the second half, Del Val’s Brian Hilinski missed a wide open lay-up from the right side and Aggies head coach, Denny Surovec, smacked his teeth, flapped his arms and asked, “Are you kidding me?” Yes coach, the entire game was a joke. But that’s largely due to how well the Colonels have been playing at home recently. They have won three of their last four at home, winning each game by more than 20 points. “I know it’s a young bunch, but we’re catching on,” said head coach Jerry Rickrode. “We are not one of the more veteran teams (in the conference) but we can be dangerous.” Four Colonels reached doublefigures including junior forward Steve Kline who led all scorers with a career-high 26 points by connecting on nine of his 11 attempts in 25 minutes played. Sophomore Tom Kresge followed with 20 points and made all but one attempt. He went 8-9 from the floor. Both Kresge and Kline hit both of their attempts from behind the three-point line. As a team, the Colonels cashed in 10 of their 18 attempts from downtown including 8-14 in the first half. Junior guard Jason Seipt and senior forward Zack Van Dyke led the Aggies with 13 a piece. The Colonels have three games left to play before the Freedom Conference playoffs. They go on the road Wednesday to face Man- The Beacon/Matthew Gogas hattanville and come back home Saturday to face Arcadia University and King’s College next Tuesday. “We are in a strong position to make a run in the conference playoff,” said freshman guard Chris DeRojas, leader of the Colonels scoring attack with 14.7 points per game. “I think we’re ready.” Conference Standings 1. DeSales, 7-0 2. Manhattanville, 7-2 3. Wilkes, 6-2 4. King’s, 6-3 5. Arcadia, 3-5 6. FDU-Florham, 1-7 7. Del. Val., 0-9 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2008 February 12th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008 February 12 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/1df2cb0d9af508b6c374647d0469d6ca.pdf 57b60aca2cc1bc1341318d3eb562ceb2 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW www.wilkesbeacon.com FEBRUARY 19, 5, 2008 2008 In This Issue... Students With Disabi Iities PAGE9 NEW MUSIC CLUB Volume 60 Issue 15 13 Wilkes hosts Dean of Law School Initiative candidates BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor Last week, Wilkes University invited two candidates for the Dean of Law School Initiative search to campus to speak with the dean’s council, the search committee, the provost, members of the president’s cabinet, members of the Board of Trustees and members of the Luzerne County Bar Association. Open forums were also held for interested faculty, staff and students. “We are considering the possibility of creating a law school, and there’s a whole bunch of unanswered questions before we go out and do it,” explained Dr. Paul Browne, Dean of the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership and chairperson of the search committee. “The university and the Board of Trustees believe that the only way we can come to a conclusion on that is to have someone who really knows the business come in and lead the final stage of development planning. If then under this person’s guidance we’re ready to move forward, our expectation would be that this person would become the founding dean of the school.” According to Browne, the search committee is looking for someone who knows how to determine if a law school is a good idea for Wilkes and who also has experience in planning, developing and launching a law school. On Tuesday, February 12, Wilkes welcomed Terrence L. Blackburn, professor of law at Michigan State University College of Law. Blackburn received his Juris Doctorate (JD) from Columbia University School of Law in 1973 and practiced law for 15 years prior The Beacon/Jenna Stephens Terrence L. Blackburn, candidate for the Dean of Law School Initiative, speaks to faculty, staff and students in an open forum Tuesday. See LAW page 4 PAGE IS VS. KING'S COLL GE PAGE 18 r Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 \. Local entrepreneur set to revitalize WB nightlife BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Managing Editor With the recent closings of both Club Mardi Gras and Slainte’s, local college students and young professionals have been struggling to find a new location that will meet their nightlife requirements. Enter Ron Kamionka, a successful business leader who is known for revitalizing the areas where he chooses to locate his bars. As company president of Kamionka Entertainment Group, he oversees 14 nightclubs currently in central Pennsylvania. “We are in three different markets right now. However, we thought it was time to expand again,” said Kamionka, originally from nearby Mountaintop. “Realistically, we chose Wilkes-Barre as our next location because it is my hometown… I’ve been successful and I want to come in and help out.” Ironically, Kamionka chose the old location of Club Mardi Gras at 12 South Main Street to “be the catalyst” of a current five building business plan. The Hardware Bar, which will feature a “Coyote Ugly” type of atmosphere, is set to open Thursday, March 13--just in time for St. Patrick’s Day weekend. The Hardware Bar will be open every Wednesday thru Saturday from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. and will also feature beer pong, flip cup, and pool tables. There will be a large selection of premium beers, which will be available every day for only $2. That deal should ring a bell with college students who are always looking to save a few pennies. Kamionka described his target audience as those 21-24 years of age and said that both Wilkes University and King’s College offer a “built-in core audience” that he believes to be vital for at least 25% of business. Mike Canzanella, a senior psychology major, said, “It’s not really about the girls dancing on top of the bar for me… I don’t care how hot they are or how many of them there are. If the beer is cheap, they have my business.” Kamionka has already booked three live entertainment acts for the first weekend at The Hardware Bar. Green Eggs will play on Friday, followed by Emily’s Toybox on Saturday. However, the most notable act coming to WilkesBarre will be Vanilla Ice, who is set to bring a large crowd at the Thursday grand opening. In addition to The Hardware Bar, Kamionka envisions a “strip mall of bars” for the downtown. He has purchased two more buildings at both 10 and 14 South Main Street and plans to make it into an entertainment complex. “My products are gauged at people having fun. I want to bring [Wilkes-Barre] to a different level. Nobody does it at the level we do,” exclaimed Kamionka. The second bar, preliminarily named The Main Street Saloon, will open around May or June and third will be in place by the end of 2008. While all three bars will operate separately, Kamionka explained that once inside one of the buildings, patrons will be able to move about freely among all three. See HARDWARE page 2 �NEWS FEBRUARY 19, 2008 HARDWARE from FRONT PAGE He also has plans for two more nightlife options in downtown Wilkes-Barre; however, they will be located away from this complex. Todd Vonderheid, President of the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, communicated excitement about the addition of The Hardware Bar to “the mix of destination and entertainment based establishments already in the downtown.” “Hardware Bar will be both a draw in its own right, as their business model is unique and tested in several other similar markets, and will be able to capture a good share of the patrons already working, living or playing in the downtown and the region,” Vonderheid said. But the Hardware Bar is likely to face some challenges, as have other new venues in the downtown. Kamionka acknowledged, “When you have a downtown area such as Wilkes-Barre, the only knowledge [citizens] have is of the past and they get a negative perception. But, we are more of a destination point and we want to make the downtown a viable option.” Vonderheid said, “Businesses, especially restaurants and night clubs close and start all the time. The good ones close and new ones open. If they are good they’ll be here for a long time and our knowledge of how the owners of The Hardware Bar operate gives us great confidence that they’ll be here for the long run.” He added, “Clearly, downtown Wilkes-Barre is changing for the better. Just come to the corner of South Main and Northampton Streets on a Friday or Saturday evening and you’ll see the activity, excitement and opportunities for even more.” Watch Beaco,n News on WILKESWORLD Channel15 Service Electric Cable & www.wilkesbea,con.com 2 Luzerne Cultural Council SG Notes Snow and Ice Election Update 3 3 4 5 Courtesy www.vanillaice.com (Above) Singer and reality TV star Vanilla Ice will be the opening act at the Wilkes-Barre Hardware Bar on March 13. (Right) The Hardware Bar will be located where the former Club Mardi Gras was located. Pictured right, from The Beacon archives, is the inside of Club Mardi Gras before its opening. Eventually the owner of The Hardware Bar hopes to move in up to four bars into downtown Wilkes-Barre. The Beacon/Nick Zimijewski B E ACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Alison Woody Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Christa Sgobba Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �FEBRUARY 19, 2008 Wilkes creative writing graduate to head Council 3 Burnside to fill newly created position BY MEGAN KRISANDA Beacon Staff Writer The Cultural Council of Luzerne County welcomes a new face to fill a brand new position to its organization. Mike Burnside will serve as the council’s very first executive director. Burnside is a native of the area and received his master’s degree in creative writing from Wilkes. Burnside is a published writer, photographer and the managing editor at WilkesBarre based Etruscan Press. He is also an active member of the community belonging to a number of regional organizations, including the Luzerne County Historical Society, the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and the Great Valley Technology Alliance. The need for a full-time, paid executive director was essential said Shelley Pearce, Chairperson of the Cultural Council. “I, and the board, are all volunteers and it’s very difficult to run an operation without paid employees. When we received funding last year from the county, I then went out and got matching funding, corporate funding, and we had enough to hire an executive director,” said Pearce. One of the most important aspects of the executive director position is a sense of advocacy, explained Pearce. “Mike has a lot of published articles under his belt. He has been writing all his life and will be writing to our legislators and newspapers about the importance of the arts and the economic impact of the arts,” said Pearce. Burnside will also be responsible for implementing the “cultural plan” which included a study of the county by the Joint Urban Studies Center. This study gave recommendations as to how to move forward and elevate the level of arts and culture in the area. Burnside recognized the need for a high quality, readily-available exhibit space in the valley. “We’d like to find a place where there would be public access to the offices of the council and exhibit space where it can be used for exhibits the council sponsors, but also for organizations like the Wyoming Valley Art League,” said Burnside. The council is a non-profit arts advocacy program which began in 1999 as an extension of the Greater Chamber of WilkesBarre Business and Industry. The organization has existed through corporate donations, fundraising and several foundation grants. The “Miles of Mules Project” is one of the council’s most high profile endeavors. The council worked with three other arts organizations to place 300 life sized mules from the Wilkes-Barre area to New Hope, Pennsylvania. “This project was probably the most significant... we raised a lot of funds and we put 150 artists to work. And, we benefitted, I believe, 26 non-profit agencies through this fundraiser,” said Pearce. The council’s focus this year is the environment. “We want to highlight the environment through the arts,” said Pearce. The council will be providing kayak tours to islands on the Susquehanna River for artists to paint, sketch, and take photographs of the surroundings. There will be artist activities taking place at the river during the festival as well. Pearce adds the council will be looking for volunteers during these events and is hoping to add a student committee for the arts council in the future. SG Notes February 13, 2008 Treasurer’s Report All College: $21,250 General: $10,000 Special Projects: $3,500 Spirit: $2,000 Leadership: $4,550 Conferences: $9,500 Start-Up: $1,500 Rollover: $2,996 Club Reports The following clubs presented updates on their events. Programming Board Anime Club “We are collaborating with about eight environmental and wellness groups on the River Fest celebration on the weekend of June 21,” said Pearce. The council will also be providing a trip to the Roberson Museum in Binghamton, New York on May 30. “This trip will tour the exhibition called “Visions of the Susquehanna” which is a national exhibition of 200 years of paintings of the Susquehanna River. There is also a local arts exhibition in Binghamton at the Museum of Contemporary Works of the River, which we will Courtesy of Mike Burnside be touring as well,” Wilkes creative writing graduate, Mike Burnside, has been named said Pearce. In the fall, the executive director of the Luzerne County Cultural Council. The council will be executive director position is a newly created position for the having a juried ex- council. According to members of the council, Burnside will serve hibition entitled as an advocate for the council. ‘If you build it, they will come.’ I think the “Inspired by the challenges are to facilitate the development Susquehanna.” “I believe if we’re able to succeed in ex- of artists and not just visual arts, but all the panding art opportunities and making them cultural segments and then making it very more accessible and visible, it will be like, visible to the public,” said Burnside. request. Step Club - Students who would like to form a new club on campus, the Step Club, presented why they would like to be a club and also showed their skills to SG. * Off-Campus Council (OCC) Constitution - Due to a misplaced constitution, OCC created a new constitution and gave a copy to the board. * Commuter Council (CC) - A representative from the commuter council presented a fund request for the organization. The funds would go towards events and activities. SG representatives suggested that CC try to cut back on their request because in the past their events have not been successful at getting people to attend. * Winter Weekend Budget - Jef Bauman, SG Vice President, presented the budget for Winter Weekend. The event will cost about $3,000 and the amount is less than previous years. St. Patrick’s Day Parade Float - SG decided to table discussion about placing a float in the Wilkes-Barre St. Patrick’s Day Parade. * Old Business New Business SAE Mini Baja Lacrosse Club Donation - S.A.A.C. and the Lacrosse Club asked SG for $440 to give Chemistry Club away free pizzas and t-shirts during athletic events to build team spirit. SG granted the AFROTC Donation -H}LKES l/.\HERS/H'- * = action will be taken at the next SG meeting. �NEWS FEBRUARY 19, 2008 The Beacon/Gino Troiani Loren Prescott speaks to the attendees of an open forum on February 15. LAW from FRONT PAGE teaching. He served seven years as the dean of the law school at Michigan State and was the acting and founding dean of John Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University in New Jersey from 1997 to 1999. “I think law school education has a lot to offer these days. I am very intrigued by the vision that has evolved [at Wilkes] as to what a law school could be. And much of that dovetails with what I think law schools ought to be doing, which is more connection with the real world, more training people to be lawyers - to act like lawyers and not think like judges,” said Blackburn. “I think there’s an opportunity here to rethink legal education.” During the open forum, Blackburn stressed the importance of becoming American Bar Association (ABA) accredited, mentoring, developing a curriculum, and making the law school a real part of Wilkes. “I think one of the issues will be to make sure that from the beginning the law school is part of the university in much more than a name. It won’t happen by accident, because law students tend to be separate students. They think differently, they teach differently and they don’t play well with others,” said Blackburn. “Some things need to be done separately… [but] it’s something you have to work at.” Blackburn noted foreseeable challenges in the project such as finding the space for the building, finding enough students and attracting nontraditional students, but also stated that failure was not an option, especially when it comes to getting the school accreditation. On Friday, February 15, a second forum was held for candidate Loren Prescott, professor of law at Widener University School of Law. Prescott received his JD from Willamette University College of Law in 1984 and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in public administration at Pennsylvania State University. He practiced law for four years before becoming interested in teaching and 4 administration and served as vice dean at Widener 1996-2001 and again 2004-2007. He was involved with the redevelopment and re-accreditation of Widener’s law school. “I believe very strongly in the legal profession and legal education as an essential component in the ongoing process of producing the lawyers who are in the position to serve the general public. It’s a privilege to be in a situation where you can help people to understand their legal rights and help them pursue the dreams that you really need a lawyer’s help to do. I believe very strongly that legal education can be a significant advantage to the legal profession,” said Prescott. Prescott stressed the importance of paying attention to the needs of law students and referred to a recent report by the Carnegie Foundation (Education Lawyers: Preparation for the Profession of Law, 2007) on which Wilkes has based much of its search. “A brand new law school that is designed with the benefit of studying the Carnegie report and some of the really great work being done at other law schools… can form the creation of a law school that has the potential to serve as an illustration of a new model of legal education for the twenty-first century,” said Prescott. Building relationships, fundraising, mentoring and benefiting the community are all important factors that Prescott believes plays a role in the foundation of a budding law school. He discussed opening a clinic that provides law students the opportunity to practice law for those members of the community who cannot afford legal representation and also made mention of a curriculum that incorporates emphasis on ethics and writing in every course. Using the existing faculty at Wilkes to start up the potential law school and also creating joint programs with both the business (JDMBA) and pharmacy departments (JDPharmD) are among the many ideas that Prescott presented. Seeing that the school receives ADA accreditation and is able to be affordable to prospective students are on the top of Prescott’s list, as well. At the end of each forum, a feedback form was filled out by those in attendance. The forms will aid in the search committee’s discussion of each candidate’s strengths and weaknesses. Once a decision is made by the committee, the recommendation will be passed on to the Provost, the President and the Board of Trustees. A third candidate, Peter Glenn, will be on campus Monday, February 18. * Michele Flannery contributed to this article. Snow and ice disrupt classes and transportation The Beacon/Jenna Stephens A student walks to Conyngham Hall from the Stark Learning Center as sleet and freezing rain hit his umbrella. On Tuesday, February 12 up Students made a peace sign that was on display outside of to 6 inches of snow fell on the Breiseth Hall after the snow and ice fell on Tuesday Wilkes-Barre area. The snow caused many minor accidents and an accident that caused the Pennsylvania Turnpike north and southbound lanes to be closed for over an hour. As a result of the snow and ice, Wilkes University cancelled classes on Tuesday night and started school at noon on Wednesday. Students had to maneuver around icy spots and large puddles. Meteorologists are also saying that there could be another measurable snowfall in the forecast for Friday, February 22. The Beacon/Cara Koster �NEWS FEBRUARY 19, 2008 5 News Analysis: Beacon Election Update Making sense of the election, candidates and issues BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor After Tuesday’s primary in Wisconsin, all the presidential candidates will have 14-days to make strategic changes to their campaigns before the next major contests March 4 in Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, and Vermont. Wisconsin offers 40 delegates up for grabs; however the March 4 date will add 265 to the mix. For the candidates, those 14 days can make or break chances to sit behind the desk at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. However, New York Senator Hillary Clinton is not waiting for the two-week long break to make changes. She recently brought Maggie Williams, her former White House Chief-of-staff, onto her campaign as its manager. According to many former Clinton advisors, Williams has a reputation for telling the truth, even when no one wants to hear it. Williams officially stepped into her role as campaign manager on February 10. She replaced long-time Clinton campaign companion Patti Solis Doyle. Many news agencies are characterizing the shake-up in the Clinton campaign as a cry for help, because the changes occurred after Clinton suffered some noteworthy losses in the last key primaries and caucuses. On the other side of the Democratic ticket, Illinois Senator Barack Obama is holding strong and has now officially taken the delegate lead from Clinton. Obama, who joyfully invokes his populist slogan, “Yes, we can!” at many rallies, has built what pundits are calling a considerable momentum, after sweeping the contests in the states that have followed Super Tuesday. However, the Illinois Senator has also made some changes--most notably in his stance on the war in Iraq. Originally Obama supported immediate withdrawal from Iraq, but now he is saying that he supports a withdrawal from Iraq that is structured in several phases. This change is most likely do to the reported “successes” that the “surge” in Iraq has had. Over the next two weeks, the Clinton and Obama camps will fight for some crucial votes. Obama will be able to survive some losses but it will be hard to tell if Clinton can sacrifice more delegates to Obama without losing her chances at the nomination. Arizona Senator John McCain is still looking like the favorite to win the Republican nomination. His only remaining challenger is Governor Mike Huckabee, who has fewer delegates than Mitt Romney, the candidate who is not even in the race anymore. Talk, however, could soon turn to the idea that John McCain may offer the vice presidency nomination to Mike Huckabee or Mitt Romney to balance out his ticket. McCain needs someone who would have the backing of the entire conservative base, something he doesn’t currently enjoy. This week’s Newsweek magazine lead story analyzes the challenge McCain faces with the conservative base in his own party. Romney could be McCain’s favorite as of right now, because just over the weekend Romney endorsed the Arizona Senator. Romney’s endorsement is the second largest endorsement McCain has received from a former candidate. The first one was from Rudy Giuliani after his withdrawal from the RACE race. As people look forward to the March and April contests, McCain will not have any trouble, but it will undoubtedly still be interesting between Clinton and Obama. That is why Pennsylvania can expect to see more of the candidates sooner than ever. Northeastern Pennsylvania has been extremely important, so going into April do not be surprised if you see Clinton or Obama making a stop in Scranton or Wilkes-Barre. The chances of some campaign stops are even made better by the fact that Pennsylvania’s primary is the only one slated for April. T lE STUDE~ FOR THE 21st CENTURY CAll: Bl LL HENRY at 21 5-71H619 OR ( HECK THE WEB Sf11E FOR IN FORMATION R .· IN elp •· ave lives! D a n up to ntc st t · _I 665 · R sma t d y.. noflth! ·m Inc. cy .· ve -B r :, a a I (570) 823- 1 9 �Opinion FEBRUARY 19, 2008 6 Angry Rant Recycle Here’s to You The value of having an early voice in politics BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD Thirty-eight states will have their delegates allocated to candidates before any Pennsylvanian has the opportunity to step into a voting booth on April 22. However, unlike previous years, there is a good chance that Pennsylvania’s primary will mean more than it has ever meant before. Nevertheless, though the tight race among Democrats may ensure a lively process late in the game this year, 2008 is arguably an exception to the rule: “the later you weigh in, the less it really matters.” So, we So why should Pennsylvania’s primary remain so late in the election season? The state’s primary is a relatively large one and is crucial to many campaigns. As Pennsylvanians, do we move the primary forward or leave it in the middle of April and hope that all elections will be like this one? Consulting the history books, Pennsylvania’s primary has never really meant this much since 1976 when then-presidential candidate Jimmy Carter took home the Democratic nomination after winning the Pennsylvania primary. In 2000 and 2004, the two more recent races, both nominations were largely locked-up by the time Pennsylvanians had a chance to weigh in. Despite the big delegate pay-off, if the candidates have already proven themselves in states such as New York, California, Texas, Ohio and Florida, the chances are that choices will be all but made before the middle of April, discouraging Pennsylvania voters from engaging fully in the primary process. So, we are suggesting that Pennsylvania moves its primary up and add itself to the list of states that vote on “Super Tuesday.” It is important to note that we are not calling for a national pri- mary day. Such a move would undermine the all-important faceto-face that happens if candidates are physically unable to campaign vigorously in each state. The existing staggered approach at least offers a chance for lesser-knowns to shake hands and fight for name recognition alongside the wellheeled and established party names. In Iowa and New Hampshire we see candidates do what they were born to do: knock on doors, work a crowd of people at a winter carnival, go to the town squares and But we would like to see Pennsylvanians’ votes mean something more than once every generation. So how is this done, why isn’t it done, and to whom do we go for a change? In all reality it is up to the individual states, but there is often a lot of pressure from the national parties that determine when the primary dates will be scheduled. The national committees see the primary process as a beautiful system of interlocking battles that are spaced perfectly apart towards the beginning of the race. They do not want to see that system disrupted, happens in late August, Floridians will have no representatives. While this ruling may eventually be overturned (mostly because it cancels out millions of votes), the warning still stands: mess with national scheduling, and pay the price. The idea of regional primaries has also been floated. Such a move would mean Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts would all have their primaries on one day. This idea usually fails because it would allow one candidate with a lot of support in those states to just focus on are suggesting that Pennsylvania moves its primary up and add those four and possibly take itself to the list of states that vote on “Super Tuesday.” home a considerable number of electoral votes. Thus, it would not be fair, paroffer good, old fashioned stump and if a state attempts to do so, it ticularly to less populated states, speeches, and hammer their signs could face sanctions that negate to create regional primaries. into people’s yards. If there were votes. It is relatively easy to change the Florida is a great example of primary date in a state, as is evia national primary day this would not happen. We would see visits this. Last year Floridians decided dent by Florida’s action this year, from the candidates throughout that they would prefer to make but states must be careful not to the country, but they would take more of a difference in the elec- create backlash from the national place in stadiums and amphithe- tion process, so lawmakers sched- committees. So, the earliest a state aters, not in town halls like those uled the state’s primary for Janu- could move its primary, without we see in Iowa and New Hamp- ary 29, before “Super Tuesday” on facing national sanction, could be February 5. shire. “Super Tuesday.” When the Democratic National A national primary day would So our suggestion to the Pennkeep Americans from seeing ex- Committee (DNC) received word sylvanian Republican and Demoactly how the candidates interact that Florida was scheduling its cratic Committees is to investigate with the public on a one-on-one primary in the middle of a very moving Pennsylvania to “Super basis, and would make it nearly important first round of prima- Tuesday.” The move would guarimpossible for the candidates with ries, the DNC stripped Florida of antee that PA voters’ choices mean less money to actually press the its delegates, which means that something. when the Democratic convention flesh. S1'e-lovu """ ...+ S~11.,\o>Je~ w,e. Sht-10•« ..,., .... -l- A Sight for Sore Eyes: By Aleksander Lapinski · .. 7 7 8 Beacon Poll Results The following are results of a poll that The Beacon conducted online this past week. The poll was unscientific, and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on campus. Results are based on 16 responses. The Beacon asked: What country would you want to study abroad in? • • • • • • • • • • Rosie O’Donnell & Don ald Trump-25% Miley Cyrus & R. Kelly0% Britney Spears & Dr. Phil-0% Michael Jackson & The Jonas Brothers-0% Pamela Anderson & Bill Gates-0% Mary-Kate Olsen & a Cheeseburger-25% Amy Winehouse & Prince William-13% Tom Cruise and Elisabeth Hasselbeck-0% Hugh Hefner & Betty White-38% Cher & Mitt Romney0% Next Week’s Question: What was the worst Best Oscar Picture in the past 10 years • The Departed • Crash • Million Dollar Baby • Lord of the Rings: Return of the King • Chicago • A Beautiful Mind • Gladiator • American Beauty • Shakespeare in Love • Titanic Visit www.wilkesbeacon. com to cast your vote. Results will be published in next week’s issue of The Beacon. �FEBRUARY 19, 2008 OPINION 7 The Angry Rant: Overrated movie? Juno’it! BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Every once in a while, a film comes along that captures the hearts and minds of the country, hitting all the right notes as it rides a steady word-of-mouth campaign before turning itself into a full-on Titan at the box office. Sometimes, these movies are even able to impress even the most jaded movie critic, whose icy façade is cracked, if only for a moment, to revel in the beauty of a skillfully crafted film. Even rarer still, that movie is able to snag a much deserved Best Picture nomination; the ultimate prize for a movie worth its weight in Oscar gold. However, Juno is not one of those films. Don’t get me wrong, Juno is a fine little movie. It’s a solid 7 out of 10, a fun little romp that is enough to distract you for about two hours, but a nomination for Best Picture? Not so much. It’s like Natalie Portman: Cute and smart, but at the end of the day, just can’t compete with the likes of Scarlett Johansson. Here’s the story: Juno (Ellen Page) is pregnant at the hand of her friend Bleeker (Michael Cera), who is okay with Juno giving their baby away to a couple of yuppies (Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner), while her father (J.K. Simmons) and stepmother (Allison Janney) look on, armed with a steady dose of advice and humorous dialogue. All the while, some other stuff happens that Juno comments on like she just got finished watching a Kevin Smith movie (thank you to the three people who got that joke). That’s it. That’s the whole movie, a dark-horse indie film that becomes overly schmaltyz and gooey by the end, and you realize about a week later that you didn’t really enjoy it. It’s the opposite of a dumb comedy that gets better with time (Dumb and Dumber, for instance), because for a few days after you’ve seen it, you start to think about it more, and the flaws start to appear, until you realize that you liked the movie, but didn’t love it like you thought you did. One of the problems with Juno is that the dialogue is so painfully crafted that it loses its sense of realism. In the first 20 minutes, the audience is treated with such quotable quotes as: “Your eggo is preggo,” “Honest to blog?” and “I am for shiz up the spat.” The verbal assault tapers off after a while, but the entire film is so peppered with these confabulatory gems that it never allows the viewers to fully immerse themselves into a scene because it is so over-the-top and manufactured. I like dialogue to be smart and well-written, but Juno surpasses that more than any movie that I’ve seen in recent memory…and that’s not a good thing. Quantity does not equal quality. Another issue I have is that Juno is ostensibly an independent film, almost to the point where it becomes pretentious. It’s no secret that indie films are noticeably so, but nearly every aspect of Juno is coated in it. From the colored pencil opening credits, to the entire makeup of Juno’s bedroom, to the musical and film tastes of Juno and Jason Bateman’s character, all the way up to the end of the film when Juno and Bleeker sing, “Anyone Else But You” by The Moldy Peaches, who are, guess what? An indie band out of New York. Shocking. So... I liked the movie Juno. It’s a fun picture that makes you laugh. But that’s it. It isn’t worth any nominations that are combination of the words “best” and “picture,” nor is it worth a place on the Internet Movie Database’s Top 250 list, where it currently ranks at #135 (this will change by the time you read this), where it is ranked above such films as Gone With the Wind, Heat, and Dog Day Afternoon. Shameful. Okay, that’s it for Juno. Now onto the picks for the 2008 Oscars! In the interest of space, I’m only going to pick the major categories, because, quite honestly, does anyone really care who wins Best Costume Design in a Foreign Animated Short Film? Best Picture: No Country For Old Men-- A tale of blood, money and fate come together in this film set in 1980 Texas. This film is worth seeing not only because it’s great, but because of the great musical score. Best Director: Julian Schnabel for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly--A film about a man who is paralyzed after suffering a stroke. Wait, he is trapped in his own body and unable to move? This sounds just like that time I watched “Grey’s Anatomy.” (Side note: I don’t care for “Grey’s Anatomy”. So much so, that I refuse to devote an entire rant to it. It’s one of the most derivative shows of the last decade. The main character narrating the show as a hip soundtrack plays in the background while the young doctors get into all sorts of crazy hi-jinks? The show was light-years better when it was called “Scrubs.” Get lost, Dr. Grey; your show blows.) Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood-- By far, this is the best single performance I have seen this year, and it easily ranks in the top 10 performances of all-time. Simply put, Daniel Day-Lewis is to acting as Oscar Meyer is to hot dogs. Best Actress: Julie Christie for Away From Her-- Christie’s performance as a woman who is suffering from Alzheimer’s is both heartbreaking and brave, and it makes you forget that she was in the train wreck known as Troy. Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem for No Country For Old Men-- His portrayal of the sociopath Anton Chigurh ranks as on of the greatest villains of all-time. Also, didn’t everyone have a friend in high school that looked just like Chigurh? You know, the guy who is a little too old to be in high school, but you hung out with him anyway because he had a mustache and could buy you beer, even though he probably killed a guy to get tickets to a Jefferson Airplane concert? Man, that guy was cool. Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett in I’m Not There. In the film, Blanchett is one of six actors portraying Bob Dylan at various points in his career. Noticeably absent is scene where Bob has to avoid running into himself at “The Enchantment Under the Sea” dance after he and Doc Brown went back in time to stop Biff from getting the almanac and becoming a rich tyrant in the future. That’s it for me, I’m going to find myself a hip girl and see if she will carry my child in hopes of hilarity ensuing. My guess is that it ends in tears and pain. Happy Oscaring. Make an effort to recycle and it will make a difference BY MACKENSEY O’HARA Beacon Staff Writer Since I arrived at Wilkes as a freshman in August, the university has been increasingly making the effort to “go green” as the rest of the nation has been as well. Recycling has been something that I did regularly at home. We would collect paper, cardboard, and bottles and would take them all to the center every few weeks. This not only cut down immensely on our garbage amounts but you really do get a sense of accomplishment, a feeling that you are doing something good. When I first got on our campus and was walking around regularly, I noticed the containers specifically set out for papers, cardboard, and plastic items. These were set up in most all the buildings and outside in pathways where students walked frequently. As time went on, the bins started showing up in dorms and even more in the buildings. In my dorm alone we have bins on all three floors and they are really convenient. The problem is not the lack of recycling receptacles around our campus, but rather the lack of caring and interest by some students to make that very small extra effort to put, say, your Gatorade bottle in the plastics bin instead of the garbage can. It doesn’t even come down to there not being a bin nearby. Almost always, wherever I see a garbage can, I also see recycling bins right next to it, so it’s really convenient. When I see someone toss their halfeaten piece of pizza in the paper bin or see someone empty their binder of its paper into the garbage, it is aggravating. I’m not pointing the finger at everyone at Wilkes because there definitely are some who do care and do recycle. It’s the fact that a large number really do not care and do not recycle and this is extremely annoying to see when it’s something so elementary. The bins are right next to the garbage cans for a reason. The people who put them out there know that students, or anyone for that matter, are going to be a lot less likely to recycle if they have to hold onto the item and actually search for the proper bin. Recycling is one of the easiest things we can do to help our environment. It is even easier here in our situation because we don’t actually have to do most of the process of recycling. We just have to put the stuff in the bins; we don’t have to collect the bins, sort them, or take them anywhere. That’s all done for us. All that it will take to eliminate the bad habits in people and to erase the mindset that every bin is a garbage bin, is for people to care just a little, to pay attention to where they are putting something, and to make that tiny effort needed. It might not seem like a big deal if you recycle one bottle, but think if every single person on the campus recycled one bottle. That’s a lot! Also, by leaving legitimate garbage solely for the garbage cans, an enormous amount of extra, unnecessary work is erased for those who do have to take the recycling to a center. Just be aware of what you are throwing away, and where you are throwing it. I promise, it will make a difference and it’s not difficult at all. �FEBRUARY 19, 2008 OPINION I’m not giving my rags to the mechanic just yet... 8 ...and I’m not voting for Barack Obama BY ANDEE SCARANTINO Beacon Staff Writer I had a conversation with a friend the other day. He’s very religious. OK- he’s a religious leader. And I...I am not. Needless to say, we got into an argument that I did not want to be in, nor could I keep up with. So, I used my Andee-like wit to throw a statement at him that not only made me sound like a tortured genius with an I.Q. of 178, but also one that made me sound correct. “You really are in love with your wit, aren’t you?” he said. Then, he proceeded to tell me that despite my ability to articulate such statements, I really had no idea what I was talking about. He was right. Most of the time, when I haven’t a clue about the subject of my conversation, I just resort to my wit. People usually just think I am correct, and stop arguing with me. It works most of the time. It also works in churches where ministers stand and offer sermons to strengthen people’s faith. Faith in? I’m confused. Somehow, with their words ministers can move people, and make them believe their sermons and teachings are the truth. They inspire people to believe, believe in what, I don’t know. All of these things are good in their own right. It’s great that with our words, we can sometimes have that effect on people, but not when it comes to electing the next president of the United States of America. Barack Obama inspires the nation. That’s what I keep hearing anyway. Look at his campaign web site. Every single solitary section begins with something “witty” he has said. Apparently, his ability to inspire is causing some moderate conservatives to lean a little bit to the left, and listen to what he has to say. After all, he can “unify us,” and John McCain doesn’t want to kick the illegals out, so he’s bad. That’s the story I’m hearing. And those conservatives aren’t the only ones jumping on the Obama bandwagon. Democrats are starting to doubt Hillary Clinton, who has a definitive plan for action. Barack Obama has a dream. It’s everywhere, “The American Dream.” My generation wants to have its dream, and far too often, I hear people who have denied “The American Dream” ever existed, and who are now proudly referring themselves as “Obamicans,” a name Barack Obama is so proud of, he has used it in political speeches. Of course, despite the Obama rage, nobody is taking the time to realize that he is very much like me, great with words, all talk. The man is a young dreamer. First, (and least important, in my opinion) is the Iraq war. Obama has recently stated that he doesn’t have a time frame to withdraw the troops, despite his original plan. I wonder why? Perhaps it’s because he’s starting to see the reality that getting out of Iraq in the ideal sense is not feasible? Both Clinton and Obama have plans to withdraw troops, and I think America needs to realize it will happen, but it’s going to happen in its due time. We don’t even know half of the problems in Iraq currently. The media doesn’t tell us. Oh, but let’s not forget that Obama was never “for” the war. Right. Because he was on the Senate at the time and everything… Who knows how he would have voted? Obama has been compared with John F. Kennedy on countless occasions, sometimes by right-wing conservatives. We often forget in America, that JFK, had he finished his term, may not have been remembered quite the way he is today. We remember him because he was young, inspirational, and killed in public. We don’t remember him for other actions, however, like, oh I don’t know, almost blowing up the world in the Bay of Pigs situation? Second, and I find this to be most important, is the constant weakening of the middle class. Where did we go? I heard recently that a distant friend is voting for Obama because “the rich, intellectuals” are voting for him. Now, this girl is $100,000 in debt. She lives off of her more than generous parents. I wonder where she will be when she has to start fending for herself, and when she realizes that her class no longer exists, and that the $100K she spent for college isn’t doing her much good. A lot of that is the problem; parents with high credit card debt, just burying themselves financially to get their kids through college, all the while giving the kids the misconception that their families/the economy is perfectly fine. It isn’t. The Bush administration has virtually run it into the ground, and it is becoming nearly impossible to find jobs, particularly in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Unless your field is health care, you’re going to struggle. Hillary has a plan. She lists strengthening the middle class as one of her top priorities. She has worked actively on researching and improving this very problem. Obama has a dream. He lists his plans for reform, but never tells the American people if they’re feasible. He just “talks good.” Hillary also is planning to completely reform our private education system, making it easier for people to go to college. She lists this as a high priority. Obama just mentions the subject. He’s going to give each student a break of about $4,000. Thanks, Barack. Now I’m only $76,000 in debt. Thank God my field, unlike most others, doesn’t really require an advanced degree. I’m about $80,000 in debt, and I come from a poor family. I’m not going on spring break this year. I can’t afford it. I don’t have a gas credit card, or a “Daddy credit card.” I work at a bar, and make tips. I buy clothing once a year, if that. My mother had to cash in her retirement policy to give me money to move to NYC (which may last me three months, when I finally move. However, I have to go, because there are no jobs in my field in my area that I could make a living on, without working two extra jobs.) My stepfather was just laid off for a year and a half, lowering our household income to just over $30,000. When I applied for financial aid, I was denied once again, because we’re apparently “too rich.” If we didn’t have relatives die a few years ago and if we hadn’t paid off our mortgage ahead of time, we may very well be homeless today. Studies have shown when one family member that majorly contributes to the overall household income becomes unemployed, families rarely have enough money to sustain themselves for a few months following. Thank God for my dead relatives. I was once middle class, but my family, despite their college education, and their large vocabularies, their work ethic, and their nice-sized I.Q.s are quickly becoming “the working poor.” In a few years, we very well may be, because my mother and stepfather will lose their jobs so someone much younger can take them over for a lower wage; someone who has the energy to wait tables on weekends. We can always vote for John McCain. He’s under pressure about those illegals. I can’t wait to see the nation when we kick them out. Then all the McDonald’s workers can take the jobs in sweat shops, and those of us who are just getting our BAs can take them over! Nice. I’m not turning my rags into the mechanic just yet. I may need them to sew myself some clothing when we elect a nice, big, pompous, “great talker” to be the next president of the United States of America. You’re all blind. See you at the polls. Here’s to you... Mr. Facebook Stalker! BY GINO TROIANI Staff Writer/Photographer Drawing By: Matt Vital Here’s to you Mr. Facebook stalker! Your lack of confidence prevents you approaching real, live girls, so what’s the next best thing? Stalking! Why not? Whether someone changes their relationship status, or adds a new photo, you always know who, what, when, where, and why. Because of this we have cool labels like ‘creeper,’ and even cooler television shows such as “How to Catch a Predator.” One would think that you would try and hide what you’re doing, but no. You insist on only placing cute young girls on your top friends for the rest of us to gaze in envy. Keep on, keeping on! �LIFESTYLES FEBRUARY 19, 2008 Student of the Week 10 Adult Learners 11 9 DSS aids students with learning and physical challenges speech command computer programs and mobile organizer devices, but there is still plenty of For those who have ever doubted their opportunity for students ability to perform in everyday life, it would with disabilities. The be wise to ask the question that Mathew disability services do not Gold poses: “What would you do if you require extra fees for the knew you cannot fail?” He uses this quesstudent or their parents. tion as an example of his own inspiration to In fact, all disability serguide him to where he is today. vices can be used by any Gold is almost like any other college stustudent who may feel he dent here on campus. He lives in a dorm or she requires them. that makes him mostly independent from The DSS are constantly is parents. He attends classes, goes to ocmonitoring the progress casional parties and has an endless number of their students. Grades of friends. are being updated and But Gold also has several learning distheir performance is abilities, such as epilepsy, ADD, a mild case constantly being recordof cerebral palsy, stutter/hesitation, Artesia ed. Should there be a of the right ear canal (equivalent to putting noticeable a hand over decrease your ear), in the and has also sustained a There is no such thing as starting an assignment the day before it s t u d e n t ’s grades, few concus- is due, or cramming for an exam. It would be the end of me. The Beacon/Jenna Stephens counselsions along Matt Gold, a senior history major, has overcome many ors, such the way. Matthew Gold learning disabilities during his college career. His intrinsic as Sandra Despite the senior history major motivation, along with assistance from the University’s DisRendina, challenges, ability Support Services, helps him during his journey. will do her Gold has best to personally work with not want to keep going, but his parents have continuously “There is no such thing as starting an as- the student to get them back on track. “The never allowed him to be taken over; instead conquered year after year of college, he is anticipating his bachelor’s degree in history signment the day before it is due, or cram- usual academic performance from the stu- he should always overcome. When Gold in one more semester. Of course, the aid of ming for an exam; it would be the end of dents in this program are usually at the av- needed to undergo a series of surgeries for erage level, if not, above average. We try re- his hearing, his mother, Fran, was in charge the university’s Disability Support Services me,” he said. He explained that when his instructor as- ally hard to make sure that the student does of contacting all of his professors and ar(DSS), has played a leading role in Matt’s ranging accommodations for the days that signs a research paper, he must start imme- not fall behind for any reason.” academic success. Though the DSS does not work directly Gold would miss. DSS provides programs and accommo- diately in order to finish and pull together “Its better taking the road less traveled with the students to prepare them for the dations for students with learning disabili- his final paper. Because Gold suffers from several learn- workforce, there are other ways that help than go where the masses go,” advises ties. Sandra Rendina, the coordinator of academic services and DSS, describes the ing disabilities that interfere with his abil- train them. Sessions such as mock inter- Gold. He speaks directly to those potential program as an outlet where any student who ity to concentrate and hold a thought long views offered through career services can students who may feel that their disadvanmay have a disability, whether learning or enough to get it down on paper advanced help the students understand what to expect tage may stop them from making the deciphysical, can seek special services. Cur- technology has offered important outlets. In when hunting through the job market. Ren- sion to go to college. With his parents by his side, and DSS to rently, the DSS department has a total of 40 this case, “Technology is key,” says Gold’s dina communicates with the students and students utilizing the services. This allows mother, Fran Gold. “Matt can type, but it works with them to lead them in a profes- provide further aid, Gold is a prime example counselors such as Rendina the opportunity would take him too long. The Dragon Natu- sional direction in her own individual meet- of a Wilkes students who can and has found success in higher education, overcoming to work one on one with the students. Stu- rally Speaking 9 Preferred (DNS9) program ings. Rendina also explained that she has no- any potential challenges of a learning disdents, like Gold, who attempt to achieve a is 98 percent accurate. After you dictate ticed a drastic change with the parental ability. He could not be happier with the college degree with a learning disability, your papers, you go back and edit them.” This means that Gold can speak his involvement with the student’s journey help that Wilkes has provided to him. find this service extremely useful. “Wilkes has honed my skills. I am more Through the DSS department, students thoughts as they come clear in his mind, through their college career. She feels that with learning and physical challenges can and they are immediately scripted onto his the role of the parents has a great influence of a historian than I ever was,” said Gold. If triumphantly completing the last five request accommodations that would benefit computer. In addition, he also uses a Palm with the attitude of the student and their dethem in their academic studies. With proper Trio to help him store important dates, re- cision to make the effort to overcome their years of his college career is not enough, Gold plans to continue his education in forms and letters of approval from licensed minders, appointments, etc. As Mrs. Gold disability and get their education. This observation proves to be true with graduate school, but not before a well-dephysicians, the students can have their text explained, “These are good suggestions for books put on tape, have extended time for others to work ‘smarter’ not ‘harder’ pro- Gold and the inspiration that his parents served spring break in Punta Cana. have been to him. He explained that there tests, an in-class note taker or any other spe- vided they can afford it.” The reality is that not everyone can afford have been many times that he simply did cial service. BY WILFREDO MERCADO Beacon Correspondent “The instructors are great with the program and they are always willing to work with the students,” Rendina said. “There may be a time where a student may need extra time for tutoring, or special arrangements outside of class to take an examination, and the instructors are always there to help.” Other campus services, such as the Writing Center, which is available to anyone, are also a great help for students with disabilities. This particular campus service is extremely useful for a student like Gold who struggles with typing. Before his visit to the Writing Center, Gold has already been through several steps and preparations for an assignment. Unlike most of the self proclaimed procrastinators of school, Gold does not have the option of putting off his duties. �10 LIFESTYLES Student of the Week: Angela Wood BY MATTHEW GOGAS Beacon Staff Writer Known as “Alex” to her friends and professors, Angela Wood is just itching to make her mark on the legal world. But this young woman with seemingly so much clear focus on her post-Wilkes career still remembers her time as a freshman and the anxiety she felt about how her life would turn out. She is living proof of how four years of undergraduate school can shape and hone direction--sometimes in ways the student cannot anticipate. Wood, a political science major, was originally interested in criminal law, but through her college experiences with professors here, she now feels as though she wants to work in constitutional law. She is currently the secretary for the campaign committee for the Young Democrats of America. Young Democrats of America is one of the top ten largest interest groups that focuses on drawing in young voters. She is also vice chair of development for the college Caucus. This group includes 24 schools that are participating in college voter registration. Wood is also the president of the political science club here at Wilkes. Because of her leadership in a variety of roles at Wilkes that are designed to educate, particularly would-be voters, The Beacon has chosen Wood as its Student of the Week. Recently, The Beacon had the opportunity to sit down with Wood to learn more about her hopes for advancing political advancement on campus. The Beacon: Explain your role in the political science club. Wood: We took a break for a little while, but now that we have a lot more students that want to take an active part in the club, we are reviving it. The first thing we want to do is take a trip to Harrisburg where I know some state representatives personally and they said that they would help us out and get us an inside look [at government] that normally we wouldn’t [see]. We also want to get [Representatives] Carney and Kanjorski here to speak. We would love to have debates, but try and get the campus involved because the upcoming election is historic. We can really change the primary and the political science club wants to take a huge role. The Beacon: How do you feel about how Wilkes has suited your needs as you have been here? Wood: Well, I come from New York City so it’s a little different than Pennsylvania, but as corny as it sounds, I could not have asked for anything better. My professors have been more than amazing. Dr. Baldino never let me wander off. Dr. Kreider never accepted any of my garbage. I want to thank Dr. Miller for telling me I was wrong, which challenged me to prove that I was right. When somebody challenges you, that’s the best thing they can do. I can’t forget Dr. Garr, my advisor. I must have forgotten my pin at least a hundred times and he was always so sweet to give it to me. Oh, I did not enjoy passing Dr. Seeley’s ECON course, but I learned so much. FEBRUARY 19, 2008 The Beacon: Do you like the campus here? Wood: I love the small campus. Like I said, I couldn’t ask for anything more. My professors made my college experience. It’s going to be weird not having them around. The Beacon: So, you graduate this semester? Wood: Yeah, I’m going to law school next semester. It’s crazy. I feel like a freshmen and it’s the second week of school. The Beacon: Do you have anxiety about not being in college anymore? Wood: I don’t think its anxiety. I think it’s that I have come to know my professors and appreciate what they have added- the new insights they have given me. It’s weird. I have finally really gotten comfortable with all of them. The Beacon: So you hope to go to law school and practice constitutional law? Wood: Well, I would like to run for office. The Beacon: What would you want to be? Senator? Governor? Wood: I would love to be a Senator. Being a Governor would be awesome! It’s getting your hands dirty and being able to change the way people live their lives. A lot of people think that government can’t change anything, but from my experience, and I have been with campaigns and interning since I was in the eighth grade, they really do. You may not see it all the time, but when we can help somebody get social security or prevent someone from being convicted for the wrong reason, that is really where government comes in. I may be from New York, but I love it here. I love Pennsylvania and would love to be part of the government here. The Beacon: If you had your choice of law schools, which one would you attend? Wood: I think Penn State. I’m trying not to think about where actually I want to go until I get the letters. I am checking the mail everyday and it’s un-nerving. I had a dream the other night where law schools said no to me-law schools I didn’t even apply to. It’s really gotten under my skin, but I would love to go to Penn State. The Beacon/Cara Koster -=uve A£oustic Music" : ··. . We.dnesday night in our care! «Dealer In W:are{' . February 20th @ 6:30-8:30pm "Live Acoustic music" «Middleport Wednesday" Friday, November 22nd 7 :30-10 :30pm Justgo t.o: "ff'BFREE-'' ·.. during free 11ve. . owsw1thyow- smdent · '! .DO' ~ fmget to picl( up a .iF~qu.et!it Buyer Cam ' todar- �FEBRUARY 19, 2008 LIFESTYLES 11 Adult learners break ‘tunnel vision’ of student definition BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Lifestyles Editor Like many students, John Mazur is looking excitedly to his graduation in May of 2009. But unlike the majority of his fellow graduates, he doesn’t have to stress over the subsequent job search. After he receives his degree, he’ll still be retired. Mazur, 53, is one of the growing number of adults throughout the United States who have opted to go back to school to earn a degree. According to an article published in the Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration in 2003, adult students have increased 170 percent from 1970 to 2000, compared to a rise of only 41 percent for students aged 18 to 24. While the article states that about 42 percent of students at public and private institutions of higher learning are 25 years old or older, the percent of nontraditional students at Wilkes University reaches nowhere near that figure. During the fall semester, only 160 students out of a total enrollment of approximately 2,400 undergraduates were over 25 years old, coming out to 15 percent of the student population. “There aren’t really any programs designed specifically for part-time adult students. There just doesn’t exist any at Wilkes currently,” said Kathleen Houlihan, the director of graduate and part-time undergraduate enrollment. “Right now, their only option is to take what is offered to the traditional students and try to make it work.” There are no current programs geared specifically for part-time adult students, but Houlihan says that one is being developed. The Center for Continued Learning is beginning to work with the business de- partment faculty on a program for an accelerated bachelor’s degree in business administration. Other majors, like education, may follow. While the program remains in its developmental stage, Houlihan says the biggest complaint she hears from adult learners is the lack of flexibility regarding course times. “At Wilkes, you’ll hear students say there aren’t times that work for them,” she said. “It’s not like they wouldn’t come here if the programs were available, but a lot of them can’t come during the day.” Diana Krogulski, a 55-year-old communications major, started at Wilkes in the fall of 2006 after transferring from Luzerne County Community College. Because she needs to work nearly full-time, her choice of courses is limited to the few classes offered during the evenings. The Beacon/Allison Roth “It’s hard to make your schedule when you Nontraditional students like John Mazur are making up a growing number of the have to work so much,” she said. “You end student enrollment at schools across the nation. up taking classes in the evenings that may not have been your first choice. I can’t say a classroom,” she said. “They’re afraid can bring to the classroom. “The benefit for the traditional age stuI haven’t enjoyed the classes, but there may to see if they can handle the work itself. There’s some hesitancy about whether they dents is that they are going to have a difhave been ones I wanted to take more.” ferent perspective, which is really where Besides working outside the school, adult can keep up.” According to Houlihan, the majority of learning occurs,” she said. “If everyone’s students often have more on their plates coming from the same background, you’re than their not learning anything. But with more diver20-yearyou’re going to enhance your learning old classI want to get up and go already. Time’s burning away. sity, experience.” mates. Krogulski believes that the faculty, staff, M a n y I don’t have all these years that young people have. and students have been very respectful and juggle a Diana Krogulski accommodating since she started at Wilkes. full-time adult learner Her classmates seek her out as a confidant, job with tease her during classes, and send her text caring for messages over the breaks. children adult learners she works with have had While she is pleased with her education at and other family obligations. Krogulski, the mother of four children, some college experience in the past. Popu- Wilkes, Krogulski believes there are some took her first college class 30 years lar reasons for returning to school include changes that can me made to make the proago. After her first son was born, honing an edge for an increasingly compet- cess more conducive to adult learning. “Maybe they could offer more night classshe put her education on hold to itive job market or changing careers. “Some people have been working in a field es in our fields,” she suggested. “Sometimes raise her family. When her youngAlcohol, food, and est daughter entered high school, for a long time, and they just finally say, you have to wait two years to get that class non-alcoholic beverages she decided to go back to school ‘I’m done with it,’ or ‘I want a change,’” you need. I want to get up and go already. she said. “They want to do something else Time’s burning away. I don’t have all these to earn her degree. are all digested “My daughter kept encouraging with their lives, so they go back to school years that young people have.” Houlihan believes it is important for Wilme to go back,” she said. “When for that reason.” the same way Mazur, who started at Wilkes in the sum- kes not to lose sight of the important adult I started these classes in my 40’s, I was so intimidated by the students. mer of 2007, switched gears completely learner demographic. She said that while They were so witty and smart, and when he declared his major of internation- universities across the nation are seeing a al studies. Prior to that, he worked in the decrease in the number of traditional-age I was terrified.” electronics field in the Marines, and studied students, the number of older learners is risAccording to Houlihan, many of Jcohol is not digested like other foods electrical engineering on and off during the ing rapidly. the adult students she works with & beverages. It passes directly into But in order to start focusing on that are concerned with how they will 1970s and 1980s. the bloo dstremn through the tis sue “I have such an interest in what’s going bracket, Houlihan believes that Wilkes has fit into campus culture. She says that lines the stomach and small many of them worry if they can on in the world now,” he said. “I hope I can to see more than just the “tunnel vision” of intestine. its traditional-aged student enrollment. handle the workload, keep up in learn to understand it a little better.” While adult learners may worry about “We’re starting to break down some of class, and learn the technological - Provided By Health Services - aspects of college. fitting in with their twenty-year-old class- the barriers,” she said. “As soon as we get “Some of them are hesitant mates, Houlihan says that they shouldn’t them thinking along that wave, it’s going to http: /lwww.fac-tsontap.org about coming back and being in cut themselves short regarding what they enrich everyone’s experience.” OOZE TRUTHS �A&E Racial Comedy Crossword/Website New Music Community FEBRUARY 19, 2008 'II n' the "Led'' Out BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon Editor-In-Chief Ever wonder why you never hear of a successful Gun ‘N Roses tribute band? It’s because very few can duplicate the primal screams of front man Axl Rose that ensured the band so much widespread appeal. And the same holds true for rock ‘n roll god Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin fame…the vocals mean everything. Perhaps that’s what makes Michael Dougherty, lead singer of the premier Zeppelin tribute band in the Valley - Misty Mountain - so special… he’s got Plant down to a tee, and he’s only 18. It all started in the backwoods of Lake Lehman, where Dougherty and best friend Justin Mazer formed a rock ‘n roll band called Dirty Water. While playing a Zeppelin cover at Bart and Urby’s on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre, Dougherty caught the attention of River Street Jazz Cafe general manager Tom Moran who said, “S***, he sounds like that guy from Zeppelin.” “I challenged them,” Moran said. “I said, ‘If you could learn 35 Led Zeppelin songs and prove to me that you could play ‘em, I’ll give you a night at the Jazz Cafe.’” Three weeks later, band members called Moran, recorded 15 songs, and got their show, now playing as Misty Mountain (derived from the song Misty Mountain Hop from “Led Zeppelin IV” or “Zoso.”) However, if Moran was going to successfully market the band (like he had with the likes of Trippin’ On Nothing and the Woody Browns Project), some crucial changes had to be made. Drummer Jordan Kravits and bassist Steve Cornia were replaced by well-known Pennsylvania artist George Wesley’s son, James, on drums and Ian McDougal on bass, both of whom are in their thirties. “It’s really comin’ along. I’m actually gonna try to market it in the summer and see how it does. The reaction you get here is incredible, so why not move it to another town?” said Moran. If you ever meet Dougherty, who bar backs at the Jazz Cafe, chances are the conversation won’t be very engaging. The dirty blond mop head is mopey, shy, and extremely mellow. But once he steps onstage, he undergoes a metamorphosis, suddenly transforming into “Bobby P,” rocking in skin tight jeans, brandishing a tambourine, and moving the crowd with his best impersonation of rock’s greatest front man, often breaking out into “B-B-B-B-Babys!” and “Oooh-Oooh!s,” which is no easy task as Doughery explains. “I really have to change my whole personality ‘cause I’m like kind of a shy person, and when I’m on stage I can be completely different,” Dougherty said. “I can be Robert Plant, I can woo the girls a little bit wearin’ the tight pants, so might as well be a little crazy on stage,” he said. Playing Zeppelin favorites such as “Dazed and Confused” and “Rock and Roll,” Misty Mountain often delves into lesser known gems as well, like the extraterrestrial “No Quarter.” In fact, the last time they played The Jazz Cafe, the quartet broke into an acoustic set with “Goin’ to California,” “Battle of Evermore,” and “Thank You,” which was highlighted by McDougal playing the mandolin, which sounds like a high pitched banjo, as heard in Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May.” “I think there’s a lot of promise for these kids,” Moran said. Though the band hopes to someday play at bigger venues such as Penn’s Peak, Dougherty and Mazer still record with Dirty Water, with new material to be released by Summer 2008. Misty Mountain’s next show is set for Sunday, April 20 (4.20) at The Jazz Cafe with the Phish cover band Trippin’ On Nothing. The event is being billed as “Led Phish.” Grace Notes: While Dougherty’s favorite album is Led Zeppelin I, his favorite song to perform live is “Immigrant Song” from Led Zeppelin III. 13 14 15 �FEBRUARY 19, 2008 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 No issue is black and white Temple and NYU presenters discuss double-edged sword of racial humor BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor No more contacts. No glasses? NO WORRIES! Butler Eyecare has special Student Pricing! 20% discount on Frames $49 eye exams 822-8727 yecare for everyone www .butlereyecare.com 34 S. Main St. Across from SUBWAY The Beacon/Jenna Stevens A lot of comedy is hit or miss. A well-timed joke with good execution can get a crowd of diverse people doubled over with laughter. However, when it comes to racial comedy, it’s not always so easy to determine the good jokes from the bad ones. While watching the comedy of well-known comedians such as Carlos Mencia, Dave Chappelle, or Chris Rock, viewers may end up asking questions such as, “Wait! Is it okay if I laugh?” or “Am I supposed to find this funny?” When it comes to jokes about race, there is a fine line between what is deemed comedic and what is deemed offensive, and it can often be hard to see where a particular comedian is coming from. In the opinion of Jason Sutton, junior English major, people tend to laugh at racial comedy because “racial humor is funny due to its taboo nature. The same way dirty sex jokes are funny. Or the way jokes with curses are funny in elementary school. The humor is based more on the shock value it causes than anything else.” Brandon Ice, who works in Student Affairs in Temple University, and Ty Trisman, an employee at New York University collaborated to create a program designed to inspire conversation about racial comedy and presented it to the Wilkes community on Sunday. Ice and Trisman have been doing the presentation since 2005 in an attempt to raise consciousness and awareness about the issues surrounding racial humor. They use the medium of comedy because it is something that many students are comfortable with, but, as Ice explained, he also “hopes everything we talk about can transfer to other issues so that we can pro- deem positive. vide some scope.” In their show, Ice described racial comedy is a double- they offer clips edged sword. He acknowledged that there by Jerry Owen, is a purpose and intent behind most of the a white comecomedy. It can serve to present relevant dian, which issues, and to act as a coping mechanism is seen less for the presenter as well as the audience. among those Yet, at the same time, racial humor causes who doing raa reinforcement of negative images and cial comedy. stereotypes. Despite the comedian’s inten- Ice explained tions, the fact that they do not offer a dis- that the strong claimer at the end, stating that their mate- point of his rial was either an exaggeration or a parody comedy and may cause the audience members to miss material is that the point. “his methods Because of that double-edged sword, Ice develop cred- Brandon Ice and Ty Trisman conducted a presention on Sunday, and Trisman do not judge the various co- ibility, and he discussing racial issues in comedy. The two used comedy clips and medians at face value. As Ice explained, can make the discussion to create a dialogue among the students. “We think comedians are modern day phi- same jokes losophers and have always been.” When anyone else can make.” Credibility, is of ences reach their own conclusions. “We comedians incorporate topics of race in course key in this aspect of comedy. Se- can’t tell you if its okay or not because it their material, “it supports the idea that nior Computer Science major, Mike Domi- depends on how you relate to the matethese are still issues America faces.” Of nic, explained that while he sometimes find rial,” said Ice. With their two-hour precourse, many times a comedian’s material humor in racial comedy, he does only “if sentation they will continue doing what can be misunderstood. it’s not made in bad taste. It’s funny when they can to get students to talk more about Ice referenced Dave Chappelle, whose they’re making fun of stereotypes and the and consider the various issues surroundshow has been deemed a “modern min- absurdity of it. I kind of find that funny, but ing racial comedy. Ice explained his and stral show” by some. Chappelle delivered sometimes people go over the line or don’t Ty’s main goal, saying “we just want to racial satire, but ultimately chose to step realize that they are in fact being very racist start dialogue. To get [students] talking with us and give them skills things to start down from his show because he felt like when they do it.” people were laughing at him instead of Ice and Trisman present the comedy and a dialogue with each other. with him. Issues such as this are of con- the issues, but ultimately they let the audicern to Ice and need to be discussed. Although Ice and Trisman resist making negative judgments about other comediTuesday, February 19 ans, their brand of - Karaoke at the Woodlands at 9 p.m. comedy employs racial Wednesday, February 20 humor they actually - Wilkes sexual assault program, location TBA, at 9 a.m. Schedule of Events - The Five Percent performing at the Woodlands at 11 p.m. Thursday, February 21 - Comedy Night at Donahues at 10 p.m. - Max and Ruby playing at the Kirby Center at 10 a.m. Friday, February 22 - Winter Weekend - VPA production “The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd” in the Darte Center at 8 p.m. - Jim Gaffigan performing at the Kirby Center at 8 p.m. - Generation Next performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. Saturday, February 23- Winter Weekend - VPA production “The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd” in the Darte Center at 8 p.m. - Generation Next performing at the Woodlands at 10 p.m. Sunday, February 24- Winter Weekend - VPA production “The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd” in the Darte Center at 2 p.m. - DJ Dallas at the Woodlands at 9 p.m. Monday, February 25 - Christian Fellowship Club “Winter Praise Night” in the SUB ballroom at 5 p.m. �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Kudracross BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer ACROSS 1 Hairless 5 Drivers License and others, for short 8 Attention-getter 12 Smell 13 Breakfast area 15 Fruit maturation process 16 Take out order 17 Dr. Pepper for example 18 Vote into office 19 Burglar accessory 21 Tangle 23 Type of tattoo 24 Windows graphic file 25 Pounds, for short 28 Fear of crowds 33 Frost covered 36 Hasten 37 Sickly 38 Increase of the earth’s temperature 41 Stares at 42 WSW opposite 43 Dedicated verse 44 For an instant 47 Lid 48 Musician ____ Paul 49 Main artery 54 Wagons pulled by horses 57 Assail vigorously 59 Above a whisper 61 Above 63 Proposal 64 Tailored 65 Greek flat bread 66 China sound 67 Tailor tools 68 Buddy 69 “Dark ___ of the Moon” :, .... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 14 15 20 22 24 26 27 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 39 40 41 45 46 50 51 52 53 55 56 57 58 59 60 62 DOWN Mess up Admire Enter username Submerge under water Machu Picchu resident Open sesame object Roman sun god A heap of something Enchant Short amount of time, for short Alfred Nobel invention Buddhist fate Race one’s engine Sheep sound Wardrobe Milwaukee baseball team Excessive indulgence Droop Shockingly frightful Black gold A male Dish of many ingredients Domed domicile Prevent from moving Long ago “Night at the Museum” actor ___ Stiller Musician ____ DiFranco Greenwich Mean Time, for short Greek fabulist Sweet potato Death notices, for short Parts of circles Current style Figure of speech Repents Tally Second letter of the Greek alphabet Freud stage Poisonous snake Aloha gift Big shot We-6 ciU Off tM, we,e,£ FEBRUARY 19, 2008 1 ID T B 11 O 12 U 11 T 14 Fl 17 Wackyuses.com Answers 2/12/2008 14 I G 0 G2 B 65 S R A I V L A L y L E BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor I’ve finally decided to review a website that can actually be useful -- wackyuses.com. At first glance it is easy to doubt the quality of this website. Users who play the little video on the home page of the site will be greeted by a crazy guy, Joey Green, who has been featured on many well known talk shows. The video also features Wayne Brady, of “Whose Line is it Anyway” fame, with mustard on his chest, a maxi pad on his forehead and his feet in Jell-O; Rosie O’Donnell having her legs shaved with peanut butter; and Barbara Walters with a wet diaper on her head. But anyone who can get Babs to put a wet diaper on her head has got to win at least a little benefit of the doubt. This website is all about time-honored home remedies. Remove a lipstick stain from clothing by rubbing it with Smirnoff Vodka and throwing it into the wash. I would never think to use Listerine as a deodorant or Miracle Whip to soothe sunburn. Watching Rosie O’Donnell’s legs be covered in peanut butter was not only totally gross but totally legitimate. It actually works, as do all of the strange sorts of home remedies on this website. The scariest thing about this website would have to be all of the uses for Coca-Cola. People drink Coca-Cola everyday, but this website has so many harsh uses for the beverage it makes you wonder what soda does to your body. Coke can be used to remove stains from a toilet bowl, remove rust spots on a car bumper, clean corrosion from car batteries, loosen rusted bolts, clean tarnished pennies, kill slugs and snails, and strip paint off metal furniture. It ought to make the casual observer wonder what the beverage might do to stomach lining. It’s actually surprising to find so many strange tips on the website, but even more so when we learn that its creator, Joey Green, has written at least ten books with these tips in them. He said, “I wanted to know what else I could do with Coca-Cola besides drink it.” All of the claims that are made on the website have been personally tested by Green and actually sound like they work. I give this website a NDCA for Never Drinking Cola Again! �FEBRUARY 19, 2008 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 15 Photo Courtesy of Cody Null “We are trying to create a community so musicians know where other musicians are,” Null explained. Stan Bradley, also a freshman pre-pharmacy major, decided to join Null in his efforts to recruit other musicians upon hearing of the idea. “There is really no musical group I can think of except for orchestra or chorus, but that is not for everyone,” Bradley said. Together Null and Bradley have begun recruiting members through Today at Wilkes and so far approximately ten students have expressed interest. With a constitution drafted, the next step will be to go to Student Government (SG) to gain club status at Wilkes. According to the constitution, the music group, still unnamed, states the purpose “is to create a network of musicians in order to promote a friendly environment for any musician and to encourage the sharing of musical styles and talents with the student body.” Bradley, who plays a variety of instruments varying from the bass to general percussion, explained the group is not limited to any certain type of musical style. “We are hoping to bring together jazz, rock, anything that anyone wants to be a part of,” he said. The group is looking for musicians of all types. Null explained anyone from singers to drummers and guitarists are welcome to join. He wants to create place for musicians who play other than the traditional concert band instruments. Null envisions a musical community where Wilkes musicians can come together and play freely. c=.arad -> C 1 a an1'llb . _ ... ,. ,.-.A. E [Pr,,,I "'T~, - - -- - Photo Courtesy of Stan Bradley New music group aims to create artistic community BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Assistant A&E Editor Not into traditional concert band or orchestra? For musicians looking for a place to come together and play a variety of music, freshman Cody Null is putting the plan together. Null, a pre-pharmacy major, came to Wilkes University with approximately three years experience playing guitar. He immediately noticed that Wilkes lacked music ensemble opportunities for those students who were interested in playing but not into the traditional concert band or orchestra. Bradley encourages anyone who wants to play for their own enjoyment to join. Bradley summed the music group up best by explaining, “People getting together and playing what they want to play. They can set their own schedules, not someone unrelated to the group.” Bradley added that those best suited to the group will include, “Anyone who wants to play with other people and not be graded or be required to do anything outside of class for it. People who want to do it for fun and their own enjoyment.” Musicians interested in learning more about the newly created community for musicians at Wilkes, contact Cody Null at cody.null@wilkes.edu. NO NTI FOR SPRJ G 2 !J } · •nt ncy Ap . /mo . ... ,r:;:i - 1l .2 _J' - Fun B S; hen,,., CU lll"'"ll;;li V r Entrry to , Cum - e _l ·1 7 Wes W'~lk . ::s - IL ·und 1r y - IF h WVtrlW. C p .a .rtm1e '. ' 7-2220 ndl v n 1• • co .2 , �SPORTS 16 FEBRUARY 19, 2008 Commentary 2008 Major League Baseball preview BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor It’s the best time of year again: the warm air, the green grass, the smell of supple leather and dirt. It’s time for Spring Training. As we sit on the precipice of the 2008 baseball season, here are 10 teams you can look out for this year. Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox won their second World Series in four years last season, and are well on their way to making another run. The team is nearly identical to last year’s championship team, except for the loss of starting pitcher Curt Schilling, whose shoulder injury might have him sidelined for the entire season. Even without Schilling, the Sox have one of the best rotations in the American League with ace Josh Beckett, followed by Daisuke Matsuzaka, knuckle-baller Tim Wakefield and young hurlers Jon Lester and Clay Bucholz. The bullpen is still solid, with Jonathan Papelbon anchoring the back end. With a lineup that consists of a healthy David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, this team is going to score a lot of runs. J.D. Drew should adjust to the A.L. in his second season, and it will be interesting to see how 2007 Rookie of the Year Dustin Pedroia fares, along with fellow youngster Jacoby Ellsbury, who spent the latter part of last season dazzling opponents. Kevin Youkilis is going to produce and play sterling defense, while Julio Lugo looks to bounce back in 2008. Mike Lowell, fresh off a World Series MVP and a new contract, is going to play a pivotal role in the clubhouse. New York Mets After a historic collapse in 2007, the Mets made some big moves in the off season to right the ship. The biggest move in all of baseball was the acquisition of pitcher and two-time Cy Young winner Johan Santana. He instantly makes the Mets better, but a bigger question is whether or not there will be any hangover from last season, in which the team blew a seven game lead with 17 games left to play. The rotation behind Santana includes Pedro Martinez, who bounced back nicely in limited playing time last season, followed by John Maine, Oliver Perez and Orlando Hernandez. It’s a solid rotation, but the biggest question is whether or not Pedro can stay healthy for an entire season. The Mets also have to worry about their Ten teams to watch in the new season bullpen, especially Billy Wagner, who lost some steam towards the end of last season. The Mets lineup has its question marks: Which Jose Reyes will show up? Can Carlos Delgado bounce back in his final year? Will Moises Alou stay healthy for an entire season? Detroit Tigers One of the bigger trades in the off season was between the Tigers and the Florida Marlins, which saw pitcher Dontrelle Willis and third baseman Miguel Cabrera head north to the Motor City. That trade gave the Tigers a solid rotation, and Cabrera is one more big bat in a lineup that already includes Magglio Ordonez, Curtis Granderson, Edgar Renteria, and Gary Sheffield. The Achilles’ Heel of the Tigers is the bullpen that includes aging closer Todd Jones, and fireballer Joel Zumaya is on the disabled list until at least the All Star break. In order for the Tigers to succeed, the starting rotation is going to need to carry the team until the bullpen can get on its feet. New York Yankees Despite a slow start in 2007, the Yankees challenged the Red Sox for the A.L. East title, but lost to Cleveland in the playoffs. The 2008 squad returns with most of the same key figures from 2007, including MVP Alex Rodriguez, team captain Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada. After failing to land Johan Santana, the Yankees are going to battle with Andy Petitte, ChienMing Wang, Philip Hughes, Mike Mussina and Ian Kennedy. The bullpen is anchored by Mariano Rivera and Joba Chamberlain, after a lights-out performance in 2007. Early struggles from Mussina, Kennedy or Hughes might see the arrival of Joba to the starting rotation. The biggest change for the Bronx Bombers wasn’t their players, but with their manager. Long-time Yankees manager Joe Torre went west to manage the Los Angeles Dodgers and was replaced by former Yankee and 2006 Manager of the Year (Florida Marlins) Joe Girardi. Will Girardi’s presence on the field make a difference in October? Will the team be affected by Andy Petitte’s recent admission to the usage of performance enhancing drugs? Philadelphia Phillies After a historic comeback to make the playoffs for the first time since 1993, the Phillies found themselves at the losing end of a sweep at the hands of the Colorado Rockies in the first round of the playoffs. The Phillies dealt early after the season and acquired closing pitcher Brad Lidge from the Houston Astros. Lidge’s arrival moves Brett Myers back to the starting rotation, where he will join the staff ace Cole Hamels, veteran Jamie Moyer, youngster Kyle Kendrick and Adam Eaton, who could find himself riding the pine if he doesn’t bounce back after a tumultuous 2007 campaign. The bullpen remains a strong suit for the Phillies, who will see J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson and Tom Gordon bridge the late innings of games. The lineup is potent as ever, despite the loss of Aaron Rowand. Newly acquired players Geoff Jenkins and Pedro Feliz will provide additional offense for the club, but the real question mark is whether or not the starting rotation will stay healthy. Seattle Mariners The trade to acquire ace Erik Bedard from the Baltimore Orioles gave the Mariners a deadly one-two punch at the top of the rotation of Bedard and young Felix Hernandez. A solid rotation and bullpen that is anchored by J.J. Putz, coupled with one of the games better offenses led by Ichiro Suzuki makes the Mariners a heavy favorite in the American League West. Chicago Cubs The Cubs made a strong surge after the break last season to win the National League Central division en route to getting swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS. The Cubs made some nice moves over the winter, including signing right fielder Kosuke Fukudome of Japan, whose power from the left side of the plate balances an offense that includes Derrick Lee, Alfonso Soriano and Aramis Ramirez. With a strong rotation of Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly and Rich Hill, the Cubs should easily win the N.L. Central for the second straight season. Arizona Diamondbacks Despite being outscored by opponents in 2007, the D’Backs edged out the competition to win the N.L. West before losing in the National League Championship Series to the Colorado Rockies. In the off-season, Arizona traded for ace pitcher Dan Haren from the Oakland Athletics, giving the Diamondbacks the best rotation in the National League that includes Haren, Cy Young winner Brandon Webb and future Hall-of-Famer Randy Johnson. The big question mark here is whether or not Johnson can stay healthy. If so, the D’Backs will easily out pitch their competition. The lineup remains mostly the same with youngsters Stephen Drew and Chris Young at the helm, but still lacks a powerful bat in the middle of the lineup. Much like 2007, the D’Backs are going to outplay their opponents rather than outscore them. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Despite a somewhat comfortable win in the A.L. West in 2006, the Angels saw their hopes evaporate as they were swept by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the playoffs. This year’s squad is mostly the same, with the notable exception: the signing of centerfielder Torii Hunter, who will provide some additional offense behind Vladimir Guerrero. The Angels have another great pitching staff which includes John Lackey, Jered Weaver and newly acquired Jon Garland. The bullpen is as strong as ever, with closing pitcher Francisco Rodriguez looking to record at least 40 saves for the fourth straight season. Colorado Rockies Last season’s Cinderella team, the Colorado Rockies, are looking to make it another memorable season as they gear up to defend their National League title. Despite being swept in the World Series by Boston, the Rockies made an unprecedented run down the stretch last season by winning 14 of their last 15 games, including defeating the San Diego Padres in a thrilling one-game playoff that saw the Rockies score three runs off Padres’ closer Trevor Hoffman. Their offense includes MVP runner-up Matt Holliday, veteran Todd Helton, and budding stars Troy Tulowitski, Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe. Their rotation is filled with mostly unheard-ofs including Jeff Francis, Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez. The back end of the bullpen is filled with stoppers, including Brian Fuentes and Manny Corpas, whose strong 2007 earned him the closers role in 2008. This team certainly is strong, but was 2007 just a flash in the pan or the start of something special? Only time will tell. �SPORTS FEBRUARY 19, 2008 17 Just Do It: Men’s tennis readies for SC spring training BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon Editor and Chief The serene chirp of the robin red breast will soon be interrupted by loud grunts as the men’s tennis team gears up for its “official” 2008 season. “It’s a little bit different than all of the other sports, since we don’t technically even have a traditional season,” said head coach Chris Leicht, referring to the team’s three matches and two tournaments played in the fall. “I like to have a short fall season to get everybody out, get the freshmen integrated with the team, and kind of see where we’re at.” This year’s squad features a unique mix of under and upper classmen, with three freshmen playing key roles under the leadership of junior Kyle Ungvarsky, a firstteam All-Conference player who ranks among the elite in the Freedom Conference. “It’s always nice to have new faces,” Unvarsky said. “But these guys (the freshmen) could easily play at the DII, DI level. They don’t need much guidance. They just have the instincts,” he said. Wes McCollum (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin), Jon Rohrbach (Muncy, PA/Muncy), and Chris Cozzillio (Harrisburg, PA/Trinity) will be the freshmen factoring in for the Blue and Gold…but don’t be fooled by their age. Cozzillio and Rohrbach, according to Leicht, are capable of delivering blistering serves in the 120 miles per hour range. Seniors Tom Miller, Josh Gardner, and freshman Brian Fanelli should also figure into the mix. “This is probably the deepest team I’ve had,” Leicht said. “We’ll be able to compete with anybody.” Currently practicing in the UCOM with the ball machine and playing sets of singles and doubles, the team will head to Hilton Head, South Carolina, for spring break to get some outdoor play against Lynchburg, Va. and Eastern before returning to play its first conference match in late March. “It’s kind of a warm-up for the regular season,” Leicht said. Under Leicht, the team has made the conference playoffs five straight seasons (winning its first ever playoff match in 2004), and went a school record 17-3 in 2005. However, coming off an 8-6 season, the coach has not set any significant goals. “I’m not a big goal guy,” he said. “All of the guys work extremely hard. I think we’re going to have a lot of success, but I wouldn’t say we have any set goals… just go out and compete.” The Colonels will open up this season on the heels of a successful 2007 campaign, when they went 8-6-0 en The Beacon/Gino Troiani route to a berth in the MASCAC Individual ChampionWilkes senior Josh Gardner takes practice swings at the UCOM ship. on February 15. The Colonels open their season at home on March 17 at 3:30 against Neumann College. Cl b M - ting? Bir - ay Par -y? Ol'Rce M . -et.· ng? Footbal P - r -_ ? he answer · o all these Q.·u1znos-~ OASTY! 72 South Main .S t. Wilkes-Barre ■■ _ ours Monday-Thur. da... 10aJH-8p1D -· riuy · _ a wrday lOam-IOpm ndayl2_p m-6pD1 - . _r (570) 20-8 -SUBS qu Q ·ion_- .... ZNOS CAT RING Cate ii• ,g t ays sta t·· gat _'19. 9 Call for de ails. �SPORTS 18 FEBRUARY 19, 2008 Wilkes vs. King’s Colonels fighting to ensure spot in the playoffs BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor When the Colonels played King’s at home last year on Feb 13, they weren’t playing for much. The Colonels were a young and inexperienced bunch that was 2-10 in the conference. Their road loss to the Monarchs on Jan.10, 2007 sparked a seven game conference losing streak. And at no point during the season were they contending for the playoffs except for maybe the first couple of games of the conference play. Honestly, they were a hot mess. With nothing but pride on the line the second time against the Monarchs (a team that was already guaranteed a playoff spot), the Colonels won 66-58 at home in front of an estimated 600 feuding fans. The conference-winning Colonel football jocks that spanked the Monarchs in last year’s Mayors Cup, 28-7, got a chance to scream, “Just Like Football.” The only thing missing in that basketball game was confetti trickling down from the ceiling. Even though the Colonels were cleaning out their lockers immediately after the following game against FDU-Florham, they beat the cross-town rivals and ended their season on a high-note. This season, the Colonels are playing for the best possible seed in the postseason John Defeo Jr. Center 6-6, 230 lbs. 17 Blocks John Soboleski Sr. Center 6-6, 240 lbs. 171 Rebounds while playing to secure a shot to even play there. Had the Colonels won their home game against Arcadia three days ago, fans could’ve certainly counted them in the playoffs. But their losses to the Knights and Manhattanville last week set the Colonels back in the playoff race and opened the doors for a new team. Arcadia. “Our guys just didn’t show up,” said head coach Jerry Rickrode. “They seemed lethargic and they didn’t want to be out there. I tell the truth.” Therefore, the Colonels might want to beat King’s today at 8 p.m. if they want breathing room in those crowded playoff standings. The Monarchs have been on fire in February. They have won all five of games this month including a 29-point blowout against the second-seeded Manhattanville Valiants last Saturday. Their average margin of vic- tory from the past five games stands at 22.2 points per game. It’s going to be tough for the Colonels. Although the Colonels seemed somber after dropping their last two games, don’t count them out. In early January, the Colonels strolled down the street and beat Monarchs 8070 en route to their first conference win. Sophomore Tom Kresge led the Colonels with 21 points and freshman Chris DeRojas added 16 of his own. If you take a look at the box score, you would find that both teams ended with similar numbers. The Colonels finished shooting 2646 from the field while the Monarchs went 22-45. Wilkes cashed in 22 of their 26 free throw attempts and while the Monarchs went 22 for 28 from the stripe. Both teams had 11 assists. The Colonels threw the ball away 10 times to the Monarchs 13. Statistically, the game was pretty much even which means this time, rivals should witness another quality contest especially with a heated playoff race at stake. “King’s and Wilkes is always a big rivalry and it may be one of the best in D3 because Chris DeRojas Fr. Guard PPG. 14.4 55 3-Pointers Steve Kline Jr. Forward PPG. 12.5 14 Blocks Colonels V. Jamie Cousart Sr. Guard PPG, 14.8 96 Assists Chris Hacker Fr. Guard 2.4 RPG 34 Assists Matt Gould Sr. Guard 78 Assists 48 Steals the teams are so close (in location),” said former player and current assistant coach, Tyler Jenkins. “This game is a lot bigger because it’s of the playoff situation that goes with it. This game is all about placement and most of all, it’s all about pride. You don’t want to lose to King’s.” Once a year Wilkes gets the chance to beat the Monarchs at home, and if they win this year with what’s at stake, it’ll be o-so-sweet for the Colonels. Freedom Conference Standings 1. DeSales, 9-2 2. Manhattanville, 8-3 3. King’s, 7-3 4. Wilkes, 6-4 5. Arcadia, 5-5 6. FDU-Florham, 1-9 7. Del. Val., 0-10 Tom Kresge Soph. Forward PPG. 14.0 RPG. 6.2 Monarchs Kevin Conroy Fr. Forward 121 Points 53 Rebounds Vince Scalzo Sr. Forward 10.6 PPG 36 3-Pointers �FEBRUARY 19, 2008 SPORTS 19 Wilkes University grapplers upend rival King’s College COURTESY OF JOHN SEITZINGER Sports Information Director Wilkes University, ranked 23rd nationally, won seven of ten bouts en route to a 26-18 win over local rival and 30th-ranked King’s College on Friday night in the Marts Center. The Colonels conclude their dual match season with a record of 19-7-1, while King’s also ended their dual match season and sports an 8-11 mark. Both teams will be idle until next Sunday, February 24, when they compete in the Metropolitan Wrestling Conference Championships that are being hosted by Wilkes. The match started at 184 pounds and King’s Zach Martinez (14-11) got off to a fast start against Devin Sassone-McHugh (9-9). He scored a pair of takedowns and five back points in the opening period on his way to a 9-1 lead. Martinez would continue to add to his lead before pinning Sassone-McHugh with just 1.2 seconds left in the second period to give King’s a 6-0 lead. Wilkes’ Zach Pizarro (25-8) was impressive in his match at 197 pounds. Pizarro scored a takedown and two near-fall points in the first period to go on top of Zach Wilkinson (4-3), 4-0. Pizarro would add another takedown and three near-fall points in the second period to forge in front 9-0. After escaping to start the third period for a 10-0 lead, Pizarro snagged a riding point for an 11-0 major decision that pulled the Colonels within 6-4. At 285 pounds Wilkes’ Drew Feldman (15-9) scored the only points of the first period with a takedown to go in front 2-0 over Justin Bender (8-4). Bender would begin period two on bottom and escaped to trim the lead to 2-1. The score would stay that way until the opening seconds of the third when Feldman escaped after taking the down position for a 3-1 lead. That’s the way it would end and Wilkes had a 7-6 lead. Shaun Farnham (31-15) got out of the gate quickly at 125 pounds with a takedown and two near-fall points in the first period of his match against Rich Dorsey (10-11) for a 4-0 lead. Dorsey would get two points of his own with a takedown in the second period to cut the gap to 4-2. Farnham would then escape and earn another takedown for a 7-2 lead. Two more near-fall points gave the Wilkes grappler a 9-2 lead heading into the third period. Farnham chose the top position to start the third period and not only road Dorsey the entire period, but also scored three more near-fall points for a 13-2 major decision that upped the Colonels lead to 11-6. Defending NCAA Division III champion Dave Morgan (22-1) of King’s held a 2-1 lead over Josh Pauling (22-10) after one period. Morgan got a takedown with 12 seconds left in the opening period and Pauling immediately escaped. Morgan would up his advantage to 3-1 with an escape to begin the second period. Pauling selected the bottom position to start the third period and also gained an escape to pull within 3-2. However, Morgan would catch Pauling with less than a minute remaining and scored a fall at 6:35 to give King’s a 12-11 lead. At 141 pounds Wilkes’ Brandon Prentice (19-17) scored the only point of the first period when his opponent, Anthony Miele (15-16), was called for a technical violation. Prentice took the down position in the second period and scored a reversal for a 30 lead. Miele would then escape to trim the gap to 3-1, but Prentice got another takedown before the end of the period for a 5-1 lead. Miele got an escape with just over a minute left in the final period after opting for the bottom position to make it 5-2. Another takedown by Prentice with 20 seconds left gave him a 7-2 victory and put Wilkes ahead once again, 14-12. Wilkes’ Erik Smith (27-10) and King’s Frankie Davis (13-20) were scoreless through the first period of their match at 149 pounds. Smith gained the first advantage with a takedown with just over a minute to go in the second period for a 2-0 lead. Smith increased his lead to 3-0 with an escape point just four seconds into the third period, and neither wrestler was able to score again as Wilkes assumed a 17-12 lead. At 157 pounds the Colonels’ Adam Penberthy (24-16) and the Monarchs’ Taylor Green (9-7) wrestled to a 0-0 standoff after one period. Penberthy took the down position to begin the second stanza and needed only four seconds to escape and take a 10 lead. Penberthy followed that up with a takedown to increase his lead to 3-0 heading into the final period. Green chose to start the third period in the neutral position, but was unable to get on the scoreboard. Penberthy added a riding time point for a 4-0 win that increased the Wilkes lead to 20-12. With a chance to ice the team verdict Wilkes sent Frank Heffernan (29-9) to the mat at 165 pounds to take on Ryan Trees (0-13). Heffernan had two takedowns and four near-fall points in the first period alone as he opened up an 8-1 lead heading into the second stanza. Heffernan took the top position to start the second period and picked up two more near-fall points in the first 20 seconds for a 10-1 edge. Heffernan would secure three more near-fall points with 55 seconds to go in the period for a 13-1 lead. He rolled Trees to his back one more time, this time scoring the fall at 4:45 to give Wil- The Beacon/Gino Troliani Wilkes University junior Erik Smith grapples with a King’s College student during a match on February 15th at the Martz Gymnasium. Smith would go on to win the match by a score of 3-0. kes an insurmountable 26-12 lead. In the final match of the night King’s Mike Reilly (17-2) jumped out to a 12-0 lead over Travis Davis (2-10) after one period thanks to a takedown and four sets of near-fall points. Reilly took the bottom position in period two and gained a reversal before putting Davis on his back and scoring the pin with one second left to make the final score 26-18. Wrestling Results from from 02/15 Wilkes 26 King’s 18 184 – Zach Martinez pinned Devin Sassone-McHugh 197 – Zach Pizarro maj. dec. Zach Wilkinson 285 – Andrew Feldman dec. Justin Bender 125 – Shaun Farnham maj. dec. Richard Dorsey 133 – Dave Morgan pinned Josh Pauling 141 – Brandon Prentice dec. Anthony Miele 149 – Erik Smith dec. Frankie Davis 157 – Adam Penberthy dec. Taylor Green 165 – Frank Heffernan pinned Ryan Trees 174 – Mike Reilly pinned Travis Davis Wilkes’ wrestlers are in BOLD �Sports FEBRUARY 19, 2008 20 Lady Colonels earn first conference win Bates and O’Hara pour in 16 points each BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Nearing the end of what has been a long and trying season, it would have been easy for the Wilkes women’s basketball team to lay down and simply hand over a win to the Lady Knights of Arcadia. Instead, the team pulled together and picked up a victory that they hope will springboard them to better times. Khadija Bates and Mackensey O’Hara each scored 16 points, Katie Cappelloni grabbed 9 rebounds, and the Lady Colonels held off Arcadia down the stretch to post their first conference win, 68-63, on Saturday afternoon at the Martz Center. The team sees its overall record improve to 2-21, while moving to 1-9 in Freedom Conference play. “The girls really worked hard for this one,” Wilkes head coach Rachel Emmerthal said following the win. “We had a great inside game today and that gave us a dimension we didn’t have working in many of out previous games.” The first half of the contest was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams putting together scoring runs at different times in the period. A key shift in momentum came with just under four minutes to play, as the Lady Colonels would embark on an 11-3 scoring run to send Wilkes into halftime with a 32-28 halftime lead. The lead changes and scoring spurts continued into the second period, with Arcadia eventually taking the lead for the final time, 56-55, with 4:27 remaining in the game. After Nichole Quick scored the go-ahead goal for Wilkes with 4:01 remaining, O’Hara would score five points down the stretch and Brittany Ely would knock down several free throws to ice the win. “We had a really good practice on Friday that helped us a lot today,” Bates added after the game. “Our team and the coaches have really made an effort to communicate much better recently, and I think it really paid off for us today. Perhaps the biggest difference for the Lady Colonels was the team’s ability to keep coming back and answering each scoring run made by Arcadia with a scoring streak of it’s own. Numerous games that ended with a loss for the Lady Colonels this season would see the team competitive early, then give up a big lead change that they would never recover from. In Saturday’s game, the Lady Colonels never let the score get out of hand, and at the end of they day they walked away with the victory. “We finally put together 40 complete minutes,” freshman guard Sam Lynam said afterward. “It feels great to win.” Conference Standings 1. DeSales, 10-1 2. FDU-Florham, 6-4 3. Del. Val., 6-4 4. King’s, 6-4 5. Arcadia, 4-6 6. Manhattanville, 3-8 7.Wilkes, 1-9 The Beacon/Allison Roth The Lady Colonels will face the Lady Monarchs today at 6 p.m. in the Marts Gymnasium.Wilkes will be looking to avenge its 71-43 loss to King’s on Jan. 8. Sophomore Ashley Makarczyk and freshman Brittany Ely led the team with nine points a piece. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2008 February 19th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008 February 19 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/db699c89cf931d61112c79e30368d21e.pdf 36c47472997698b4e84cf4594855df5c PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW www.wilkesbeacon.com FEBRUARY 26, 5, 2008 2008 In This Issue... * Winter Weekencf * Pages 10-11 Spring Break: ftede.fined Pages 12 Metropolitan Wrestling Championships Pages 16 r Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 Volume 60 Issue 16 13 Scores change status of Wilkes nursing program NCLEX pass rate falls below state requirement of 60 percent BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor According to State of Pennsylvania documents dated October 4, 2007, Wilkes University is listed under “provisional approval status” on the roster of “Pennsylvania State Board Approved Nursing Programs.” The issue was raised last week when four freshmen nursing students attended the President’s “monthly chat,” on Wednesday, February 20, in the Weckesser Hall board room, to ask about the state of Wilkes University’s nursing department. The four students said that they had “been told by upperclassmen that the department was on probation,” and with the nursing department’s accreditation up for renewal next year, they wanted to know what would happen to them. Dr. Tim Gilmour, President, addressed the students’ concerns and said that the department had a problem with its pass rate on state exams last year and the university is working to improve the test scores. When the four students asked what would happen if the department lost its accreditation, Gilmour responded, “It’s not going to happen.” Wilkes is one of four institutions in Pennsylvania listed under the “provisional approval status.” Currently there are 81 state approved nursing schools. The Beacon/Allison Roth “Provisional approval status” according to The Pennsylvania Bulletin, is President Tim Gilmour, tells four freshmen nursing students that placed on a school by the state Board of Nursing. the Wilkes Nursing School is not in danger of losing its accreditation despite the school’s pass rate falling below the state requireSee PASS RATE page 4 ment of 60 percent. Final Law School Initiative candidate speaks Search committee to recommend finalist to provost, president BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor On Monday, February 18, Peter Glenn, Shareholder and General Counsel at Stevens & Lee, P.C. in Reading, Pennsylvania, spoke with faculty, staff and students in an open forum. Glenn was the third and final candidate for Wilkes’ Dean of Law School Initiative search. Glenn received his Juris Doctorate (JD) in 1968 from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was Class President and graduated Cum Laude. He taught in various academic settings, working his way up from assistant professor of law to professor of law from 1972 to 1983. After holding the position of partner at Jones, Day, Reavis, & Pogue in Cleveland, Ohio, for seven years, Glenn became the Dean and Donald B. Farage Professor of Law at The Dickinson Law School of Pennsylvania State University. He led the independent law school through its affiliation and eventual merger with Penn State in 2000. He left Dickin- son for private practice in 2002, but returned to teach one more year from 2005-2006. “This is an opportunity to write on a clean whiteboard and because of the nature of this university, it’s an opportunity to develop a law school that fits together with the profession,” said Glenn in the Wilkes open forum. “This is an opportunity to think about doing something new and different… and think about some things in a different way. I’ve become increasingly impressed by the extent to which the notions that I have about what makes for good legal education seem to be consistent with the notions that the university has about what makes a good education generally.” Similar to the other candidates Wilkes invited to campus two weeks ago, Glenn stressed the importance of not only accreditation, but making sure that the law school is a part of the campus and not its own separate entity. “One of the first things that I think I would do, or anyone who might take this position would want to do, is to figure out how to make the law school organic from the university and not just a separate power. I mean really try to figure out what the university is about, what its cultures and values are, and then try to create a law school that’s consistent in following those cultures and values. Also to try to figure out as many ways as possible to crosswire the law school with the rest of the university, whether that be through joint degree programs or combined courses or using faculty from different parts of the university and so on and so forth,” said Glenn. Glenn spoke of the impact the law school may have on Wilkes-Barre’s revitalization process. He also offered ideas of a part-time program, point system for admission standards, externship activity, emphasis on writing, and a small, intimate faculty that is willing to be serious about the learning process. “There’s no question that Wilkes can do See LAW page 4 �NEWS FEBRUARY 26, 2008 Trail guides cater to iPod generation 2 Addy Awards Pass Rate Law School SG Notes More guides to come in Wilkes-Barre and surrounding areas BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon Editor-in-Chief In Last Child of the Woods, a book by Richard Louv, the author describes a generation that has become disconnected with Mother Nature and instead plugged into televisions and computers. “This guy came up with a term called NDD…Nature Deficit Disorder,” Wilkes ecologist and biology professor Dr. Ken Klemow said. “The question is, what will this bring 20 years into the future?” To answer his own question, Klemow and his students are working on a project that reunites nature and humans--creating podcast trail guides in the Wilkes-Barre and surrounding areas for those suffering from NDD. “As far as I know, this is one of the first places in the world that this is being done,” Klemow said. “So instead of having a paper based trail guide, someone could simply go out there, [plug in] their iPods as they walk through, and listen to what they’re seeing…and see pictures, too.” After the flood of 1936, engineers built a 15-mile long levee away from the Susquehanna river’s edge, allowing the natural flood plain to remain untapped. Over the years, in a process known as ecological succession, this meadow has transformed into an 65-plus acre riparian forest which harbors a wide variety of birds, mammals, and amphibians as well as many native and invasive species. Riparian forests (wooded areas that grow next to a stream or river) are said to have high ecological value because they serve as a natural way of cleaning up the flood waters after heavy rains. “It’s a real treasure that a lot of other places don’t have, so you walk through and you don’t even feel like you’re in Wilkes-Barre,” Klemow said. “You feel like you’re out in the wild.” Currently up on the iTunes website is a trail guide of “The Meadow,” which is a natural area directly south of the Market Street Bridge. “The Meadow has many grasses, herbs, and small shrubs and trees in it,” said Rachel Curtis, a Wilkes biology major. “I mainly worked on podcasts concerning the plants that may be found in the natural area, but there’s also a podcast describing the history of Kirby Park, which is very interesting.” Curtis hopes that as the weather breaks, students will take advantage of this hidden treasure in Wilkes-Barre, using the new technology as an introduction to the 3 4 4 5 NowPla ing 1-i wildlife and history of the Kirby Park natural area. “All of the podcasts are designed to be no longer than 2-3 minutes, so listening to them doesn’t take much time at all. The natural area is just over the bridge, and exploring it is great exercise, or relaxation, for anyone.” The podcast can be accessed by going to http://www.wilkes.edu/ pages/1829.asp and clicking on “Launch iTunesU.” Click on the Kirby Park Natural Area. B E ACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Alison Woody Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Christa Sgobba Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. The Beacon/Nick Podolak People can log onto http://www.wilkes.edu/pages/1829.asp to download trail guides for local trails in and around the Wilkes-Barre area. Dr. Ken Klemow, Wilkes ecologist and biology professor, says the trail guides are to fight what he calls Nature Deficit Disorder. The trail guide that is currently on the iTunes website is for natural area near the Market Street Bridge. 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �NEWS FEBRUARY 26, 2008 One-on-one marketing appeal wins awards...and students 3 bered the brochures the most. “It gets you acquainted with everything,” Bromwell remarked. For those who travel along Rt. 309 to the “We always try to have one eye on the Back Mountain with any regularity, a billfuture to see how we can best engage high board has been working to introduce drivschool students currently”, commented ers to Greg Heindel, a prospective student Mickelson. In the near future, a plan for refor the 2008-09 year. The billboard, along designing the original Wilkes website will with other personalized messages, is just begin. The MyWilkes portal has been creone way Wilkes University has sought to ated, so the original website does not need distinguish itself for high school students. to serve its multiple purposes for However, these advertisethe internal and external audiments are not just attracting ence. The portal can be for the high school students anyinternal audience and the website more. “A Majority of One,” for the external audience, which the creative campaign is, includes prospective students. “The University’s risk-taking It is a hope that prospective stuadvertising campaign focused dents can post their camera phone on six individual accepted or digital pictures of their campus students, highlighting Wilkes’ tour on the website. Blogs and a mentoring commitment,” says At Wilkes University, we'll help you become a journalist. change in the virtual tour are also Christine Tondrick, Associate being looked at to add to the WilLesson one: Get used to thousands of people reading your name. Director of Marketing Comkes website. munications at Wilkes, and it “The whole premise of our apCall a Colonel 570-408-6032 has turned quite a few heads. proach to student recruitment is So far the campaign has to build strong relationships bewon several awards includtween the admission’s staff and ing: the Council for the Adprospective students and their vancement and Support of families, as well as other people Education District II gold and on campus,” said Michael Frantz, silver awards for advertising; A billboard from last years “A Majority of One” campaign. the Vice President for Enrollment the International Association Melanie Mickelson, Director of AdmisOne new plan in the making is to place Services. Furthermore, Frantz commented, of Business Communicators Harrisburg sions, said the campaign is just Wilkes’s articles in teen magazines about the Zebra “Faculty members here are wonderful atChapter awards for Comprehensive Comstyle. “We’ve always built our recruitment Communications Agency at Wilkes Univer- tractions, both as professionals in their field munication in a Marketing/Communicahere on personal contact,” she said. Mick- sity. Zebra allows Communications Studies’ and also in their assistance in the recruittion Campaign, Electronic Advertising for elson has served as director of admissions students concentrating in PR to have “real ment process.” The faculty has been effiMySpace.com ads, Special Purpose Piecsince 2002 and has helped initiate a variety world” responsibilities on campus. This cient in responding to questions in emails es/Displays or Exhibits for ads in mall kiof methods used to attract students. Through shows that students can leave the university and letters, which makes the prospective osks, Special Purpose Pieces/Outdoor Billstudents even more comfortable. Frantz phone calls, email, IM, texting, and personal with work experience. boards; and awards from the College and counselors, who are current stuIn addition, “HelloWilkes,” an interac- added, “Coaches also do a fantastic job on dents at Wilkes, prospective stu- tive website that resembles Myspace links the recruitment of student athletes.” According to Frantz, the next step to take dents can gain knowledge about prospective with current students and enthe real college experience here. courages them to share their interests. In is for Wilkes to have a presence in the tech“[Students] feel like they can its inaugural year, “HelloWilkes” helped nology “world” of the future generations of ask questions because it is a better acclimate 625 freshman students, the larg- students via Facebook or Myspace. As long as you•ve gotten a environment for them. It is more est freshman class on record. “Since it’s few hours of sleep, you 1II be peer-to-peer rather than peer- so similar to Myspace, they know how to to-head counselor,” said Jessica utilize that system very well,” McMahon fine to drive the morning McMahon, a sophomore Student stated. after you've been drinking Ambassador in the admissions “I looked at whatever anyone else asked, office, about the tele-counseling but I didn’t ask anything because people had program. McMahon has been a similar questions,” said Alicia Bromwell, a TRUE tele-counselor and tour guide for freshman secondary education math major. one and a half years. She is one of the many Wilkes students who The award-winning personal took advantage of “HelloWilkes” before Your motor coordination can marketing appeal was developed entering the fall 2007 semester. be affected for as many as by marketing communications Another successful method of attraction agency, 160-over-90 located in is the personalized academic and extracurThe Addy awards will 10 hours after you Philadelphia and has been work- ricular brochures sent to the senior high be presented at the finished your 1ast drink. ing with Wilkes since 2005. school students. After the second year of Westmorland Club on “[Wilkes and 160-over-90] put this method was in use, a focus group of Monday, February 28. together the ad campaign that freshman students were asked what they The awards were post- Provided By Health Services - speaks to students in the one-on- thought about the marketing materials used poned due the inclemone level. It further enhances the by Wilkes. Most of these students remement weather. http://www.1actsontap.org University Public Relations Association of Pennsylvania for PR-Promotion - Marketing Campaigns. This week, Wilkes is also up for another six to seven awards from the Northeast Pennsylvania Ad Club, otherwise known as the “ADDYS”. The award ceremony was supposed to be held on Friday, February 22, but due to the inclement weather the ceremony was pushed to Monday, February 25. BY AMY FUSCO Beacon Staff Writer idea of the personal attention that Wilkes provides students, but through a mass ad campaign,” said Michelle Prescott, a PR account executive at 160-over-90. Beyond the billboards, Wilkes has also launched commercials on MTV and VH1, displayed slogans on pizza boxes, and Myspace account ads. The campaign works to communicate how the student will fit into the Wilkes atmosphere. Megan Smith lM OOZE TRUTHS IFAI. �FEBRUARY 26, 2008 PASS RATE from FRONT PAGE “The Board will downgrade a registered nursing (RN) education program from fully approved to provisionally approved status if 40% or more of its first-time examinees fail the [National Council Licensure Examination] (NCLEX),” states the Bulletin. According to the results issued by the State of Pennsylvania for “NCLEX-RN Performance of First Time Candidates Educated in Pennsylvania,” Wilkes University had a pass rate of 59.65 percent, 0.35 percent below the states accepted level. As explained by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, “entry into the practice of nursing in the U.S.… is regulated by the licensing authorities within each [state]. To ensure public protection, each [state] requires a candidate for licensure to pass an examination that measures the competencies needed to perform safely and effectively as a newly licensed, entry-level registered nurse... the NCLEX… [is] used by state and territorial boards of nursing to assist in making licensure decisions.” According to the results, out of the 57 students from Wilkes who took the NCLEX-RN for the first time, 34 passed. These numbers brought the university’s pass rate below the 60% mark for the first time in at least the past three years. When asked about the low pass rate, Dr. C. Reynold Verret, Provost, said, “That 60% is important.” He also said that the university will have to work on its efforts to get more students to pass the NCLEX on their first try. Verret also said the change of status is, “a warning that one has to take seriously.” Dr. Bernard Graham, Dean of the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy and Nursing, echoed Verret saying, “If the number was even 60 percent, we would have still been very concerned.” He LAW from FRONT PAGE that Wilkes can have a law school. But the question is whether Wilkes will have a law school that they can be proud of,” said Glenn as he addressed the issue of needing capital resources and fundraising. Glenn wants to spend the first four to five months speaking with undergraduate students to find out what characteristics they are looking for in a law school. David Sborz, junior criminology major, already had an answer for Glenn. “ I look for schools that have a strong focus on whatever part of law I am interested in. I also look at the law library - is it functional? And will I be able to find everything I need? I also look for a faculty that is committed to their students inside and outside of the classroom [and] at what schools have to offer as far as network- NEWS 4 added, “Our typical pass rate has been very high.” According to the State of Pennsylvania since 2003, Wilkes University’s pass rate has not dropped below 70 percent. Graham said that the low numbers “caught the attention of the faculty.” He also added that the department is “… doing a self-study right now… It [is] helpful because it articulates our strengths and weaknesses.” One of those weaknesses, Graham said, is that “the class sizes are outgrowing the increasing resources allocated.” To combat this, the nursing department has “instituted some progressional and entrance requirements,” says Graham. One of these requirements is an entrance exam that all incoming students must take to make sure they are ready for the course load. However, with the school’s accreditation evaluation coming up next year, will this have any affect on the accreditation? According to Verret there is a connection between the accreditation and the state Board’s approval, but Graham says, “They will never pull accreditation right from under you… The loss of accreditation requires several steps which allows for remediation. We are not even near the first step.” The nursing department may have an added challenge on its hands because the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing has proposed new rules that would make the minimum pass rate for a school of nursing 80%, within three years of the rules being approved. An official Board of Nursing document states, “This commonwealth’s minimum pass rate is the least stringent standard in the nation when compared with the 32 other states that use the NCLEX pass rate as a criterion for approving a nursing education program.” With the new rules, all nurs- 100 NCLEX-RN Performance of First Time Candidates ing schools need a 70% pass rate for the first year after the rules are approved. Within two years of the approval, the 85.74% schools would need an 80% 50 82.53% pass rate. If this were 59.65% currently the rule, 27 out of the 81 schools that teach RNs would be listed at the “provisional approval” 0 stage. Wilkes University Pennsylvania United States Another sub- The graph above shows Wilkes University’s pass rate compared section of the to the average pass rate of Pennsylvania and the U.S. for 2007. new rules being suggested by the state Board is that once a the Department of Nursing, said that she program’s status changes, the program must did not want to comment on the matnotify all prospective students and those ter before she spoke with her students. Other faculty members of the nursing currently enrolled in the program. Graham said that faculty are currently department were also unavailable for preparing an informational statement to be comment. Wilkes is also not the only institution released to the students (a copy of the informational statement was not available at the in the area to have problems with its time of publication). Graham also added, pass rate. Marywood University has had “If the parents or other stakeholders asked, failing pass rates for the past two years, we have been and will be very truthful to the maximum amount of time a program them… and answer any questions that they has to reconcile their poor performance levels. have.” Please check www.wilkesbeacon.com Wilkes University has also been looking into adding a doctoral track to their nursing for a copy of the informational stateprogram. Graham says that those plans are ment provided to the nursing students. still on track and “we are submitting for the doctoral of nursing.” Dr. Mary Ann Merrigan, chairperson of ing for the future. Finally, I look for location, where is the school located and the area around the school.” Glenn recognized that by forming a law school, Wilkes would be “adding supply to an oversupplied market,” but was confident that through speaking with the students the school would be targeting, he would be able to find out what qualities Wilkes would need to make their small law school more attractive than others. “When I look at a law school, I look at many different things. I like schools that have a low student to faculty ratio, well equipped and staffed library, and most importantly many programs, clinics, and other opportunities to get out of the classroom and actually work with lawyers and see the actual practice of law. I think there is no substitute for actual experience and am interested in any law school that offers opportunities to get that experience,” said Sheldon Paprota, junior political science major. According to Dr. C. Reynold Verret, provost, the search committee for the initiative may present him and the president with their recommendation for the position as early as this week. “I have some personal preferences, but I want to wait and see what the committee’s details and thinking are. I think we’re pretty close to coming to a decision.” There has not been a decided salary for the position, but Verret said that research and negotiation will be performed to determine one. It is also unclear whether or not the university will provide housing for the dean. If the chosen candidate accepts Wilkes’ offer, Verret expects an announcement to be made sometime within the next two months. It is hopeful that the dean will begin work with Wilkes on June 1 and will have a financial and academic plan ready to be presented by the spring of 2009. If approved, the first class of law students at Wilkes University may begin in the fall of 2010. “I believe that for Wilkes to have a successful school, it will be up to them to have adequate facilities where students can learn everything they need to know and that is functional. I also believe that if the faculty is committed, and builds a mentoring coalition between the students, the law school will be a great success,” said Sborz. �NEWS FEBRUARY 26, 2008 5 SG Notes February 20, 2008 Treasurer’s Report All College: $18,250 General: $9,904 Special Projects: $3,500 Spirit: $1,560 Leadership: $4,550 Conferences: $9,500 Start-Up: $1,500 Club Reports The following clubs presented a report to SG. Programming Board Psychology Club New Business Step Club - motioned passed 35-2-3 for club recognition; the club needs to revise con stitution to take effect Running Club - initial motion to grant $1,500 for their annual Relay for Heat event was denied 18-22; a second motion, for $600, was passed on a 25-14-1 vote. Psychology Club - a motion was called to keep the issue on the table until next week; the chief issue concerns $2,265 for a conference to present research on behalf of the department and students. St. Patty’s Day Parade - Wilkes will not be participating in this event due to a lack of enthusiasm. Commuter Council - The CC was denied a fund request of $2,000. Adventures in Science Donation - SG approved a donation request for $1,500. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Old Business Lacrosse Club Donation Step Club OCC Constitution Commuter Council Winter Weekend Budget Students were able to sign a book of condolences to be sent to the Northern Illinois University. Five people were killed when a gunman burst into their lecture hall and reloaded his gun twice. According to several news agencies, the shooter was driven by a chemical imbalance. · & NO , AT YOUR @ \'VJLKES- I(INC'S BOOKSIO ., THIS a~,.-. · '! Co s FOR THE 21st CENTURY "Live Acoustic music" "Eve might" Friday, February 29th 7 :30-10 :30pm ~'Live A£oustic Music" «the five percent, We.dnesd.ay) February 17th 6 :30-8:30pm Uea.ren.owa Justgo t.o: "ff'BFREE-'' CAll: Bl LLHENRY at 215-71H619 OR ( HECK THE WEB Sf11E FOR IN FORMATION 25%,ml d1 caif.e itiems during f ue 11ve. ihows:with your smdcn.t ID'! .Don\: fmgct to pic'l1c up a .iF~q~t Buyer Card ' todat -oonl: fuq;d to SC,}'ffllr'fTlcx Cash" anywhere m,i )Of tM'e.!'.... �Opinion FEBRUARY 26, 2008 6 Facebook Here’s to You Angry Rant Pollution in China threatens 2008 Olympics BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD breathing environment. According to a recent Mother Jones article, China has spent $3.6 billion and taken some extreme steps to clean up the capitol before the summer games. One of the changes China has made is building four new subways in order to tion has spread to 30% of China’s cropland. The World Bank also reported that China has 16 cities with the worst air pollution in the world. Even more astonishing is that China’s Ministry of Science and Technology estimated that 50,000 newborn babies die every disadvantage to the athletes who aren’t from China because those who have lived with the pollution have grown accustomed to the smoggy atmosphere. All future hosts should be designated “green cities” and prove they are environmentally friendly. A Sight for Sore Eyes: By Aleksander Lapinski Soon, the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China will be upon us and athletes will be fine-tuning their training to try and bring home the gold for their respective countries. However, no amount of vitamins, regimens, or stamina will prepare many of the world-class athletes for the Even more astonishing is that China’s Ministry of Science and Technology sort of air pollution they will face in Beijing. Some experts estimated that 50,000 newborn babies die every year due to the unhealthy have wondered aloud whether effects air pollution causes. athletes’ lungs will be able to adjust to all the chemicals and smog currently plaguing the Chinese environment. With the 2008 Summer Olympics right around the corner, the ath- encourage more public transpor- year due to the unhealthy effects Additionally, if the environment letes will not only have to compete tation and cut down on traffic. air pollution causes. isn’t cleaned up at least six months With all the environmental prior to the games starting, the with each other, but will also face One million vehicles will also be problems China has and the health Olympics should be moved to a new challenge: an unhealthy banned during the Olympics. Anproblems that can arise during the a previous city who has hosted other action China took was that 'l,,u. k"•"' \-l& Ot1 ... f c. 'J"'"'"'~ it relocated 200 factories and steel Olympics, the Olympic Commit- them, since they already have the ,;..re\, e;,- 0 \,,~\ } ;,_ (~ ;,..,._ mills outside the city. A more radi- tee needs to come up with a plan buildings. w\- ... cal step included a campaign to to evaluate a city’s healthy enviIf the Olympic Committee takes C.om~.._\:,L., 'f oo\s b <?,u,i,,,e, reduce the usage of air condition- ronment for future games. Air and actions like the ones we have ofl....... p;"'-'.'l o..r._..~ Co, \-.,_ ••,J......s ing; bureaucrats were told to wear water quality should be consid- fered, then perhaps we could avoid ,:,...te.... ; o.. ls ... ered as key criteria in determining a problem like this in the near and short sleeves. However, though these actions a winning city in the worldwide far future, while simultaneously are a step in the right direction, competition to host. promoting and rewarding cities Currently, there is no “Plan B” that are environmentally friendly. China needs more than a quick-fix for its broader environmental cri- or repercussions in place if China sis-in-the-making. FinancialNir- fails to clean up its air pollution vana.com recently reported that by the summer. It’s potentially a G- ....... (, "',.._ h-.t) \.. \- \.o H,e. environmental J.~~\.- ... experts believe China’s problems can be attributed to a weak legal system, corruption, poverty, two decades of double-digit industrial growth, and government ... ., l. ·h ,..\ik \,a_.,_,.;1; ·,1 -\-,.J.....,.. policies that put ._,_,._,O'-''t>\i. job growth ahead of the environment. Moreover, according to Worldwatch Institute’s State of Photo courtesy of johnibii.wordpress.com the World 2006 Despite China’s efforts to clean up the air, China’s skies remain hazy white. report, acidifica- 7 7 8 Beacon Poll Results The following are results of a poll that The Beacon conducted online this past week. The poll was unscientific, and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on campus. Results are based on 37 responses. The Beacon asked: What was the worst Best Oscar Picture in the past 10 years? • The Departed-0% • Crash-8% • Million Dollar Baby-5% • Lord of the Rings: Return of the King-22% • Chicago-5% • A Beautiful Mind-5% • Gladiator-16% • American Beauty-5% • Shakespeare in Love-11% • Titanic-22% Next Week’s Question: What fashion trend from the past should be brought back? • The Mullet • Platform Shoes • Neon Spandex • Tie-Dye • Scrunchies • Slap Bracelets • Skinny Ties • Poodle Skirts • Muffs • Other Visit www.wilkesbeacon. com to cast your vote. Results will be published in next week’s issue of The Beacon. �FEBRUARY 26, 2008 OPINION C-word limits power of words BY ASHLEY FILIPEK Beacon Correspondent There are many words in the English language that give people pause if used in “polite company.” And the FCC has long regulated language that it deems inappropriate for general audiences. There are just certain terms we will never hear on anything other than late-night cable programming. So when Jane Fonda recently let the four letter “c-word” slip into an interview on NBC’s Today Show, it raised a lot of eyebrows. As Meredith Vieira explained it’s “a word from the play [The Vagina Monologues] that you don’t say on television.” While discussing the 10th Anniversary of V-Day along with Eve Ensler, author of the acclaimed Vagina Monologues, Fonda inadvertently let the word slip. She said, “”I was asked to do a monologue called ‘C***’, and continued, ‘I don’t think so. I’ve got enough problems.’” Yes you do, Ms. Fonda! Because she didn’t think before she spoke, Fonda’s action or lack of action may have damaged the credibility of NBC’s popular morning television show. Moreover, children could have been watching with their parents, and they shouldn’t have had to be exposed to this language at such an early time. In an effort to try to control the damage, Vieira made an on air apology for Fonda’s accident. “We would do nothing to offend the audience, so please accept that apology,” she expressed. We have yet to hear an apology from Fonda for her “slip.” But what’s perhaps most interesting is that the word itself is one that is both celebrated and shouted with glee in actual performances of the play. Ensler, it appears, wants to reclaim the c-word in a move that empowers women and aims to undermine the objectification that the word represents. Wilkes recently offered its own production of the Vagina Monologues, which I attended, and the audience laughed and laughed when that particular C-word popped up. Kaitlin Taber-Miller gave a wonderful performance of the monologue “C***” which was greeted with laughter and loud applause. My face turned bright red with laughter as she repeated the word over and over again. My boyfriend looked to me as the production began and said, “You owe me, Ashley.” By the end, he was rolling with laughter as well. Wilkes community members gave an excellent performance of the The Vagina Monologues… and hopefully Fonda’s “slip” did nothing but encourage those who haven’t seen the Monologues, to get out there and enjoy it. 7 Here’s to you... Here’s to you Mr. Camouflage Wearer BY GINO TROIANI Staff Writer/Photographer Drawing By: Matt Vital Are you hunting? Nope. Protecting our country’s honor? Nope. Are you even in the woods? Not even close. No matter what your reasoning is, the rest of us feel safe because your attire screams, “Yes I am a mighty hunter, and I will slaughter animals at will.” God forbid a rabid dog gets loose and starts preying upon innocent bystanders. We know whom to position ourselves behind. Like an ailing chameleon, you try to blend in, but always end up sticking out. Keep on keeping on! Beware of The New Hotel California: Facebook BY LAUREN SALEM Beacon Staff Writer Many users join Facebook or the “social network that connects you with the people around you” and never realize that they’ve walked into a room surrounded by hidden surveillance cameras. “It’s like the Hotel California,” Nipon Das, an ex-facebook member said to the New York Times. “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” For two months Das tried to erase his profile and even with help from Facebook’s customer service representatives, his profile was still found, according to the New York Times. Facebook invades the privacy of its members through the use of its applications and inefficient ways of closing members’ accounts. In May 2007, Facebook launched its application developer program, which now holds more than 14,000 applications. Most of these applications are created by companies outside of Facebook or by individual developers, who have access to Facebook member’s personal information after members install the application. According to an article posted by Surveillance State, the applications don’t run on Facebook’s servers, but on servers owned and operated by the application developers. After the application is installed, the Facebook member’s profile is displayed and the application servers contact Facebook requesting the members private data. The problem with applications is that Facebook gives application developers access to a lot more personal information than is required to run the application. The University of Virginia released a recent report that surveyed the top 150 Facebook applications and stated that 90.7 percent of applications are requiring more personal information than they need. Application developers can access almost everything including the Facebook member’s name and address, interests, relationship status, future plans, network affiliations, works and education history, and photos, but that’s not all. In Facebook’s lengthy application terms of service, members also agree to give this information about their friends without their consent. “They seem to be going on the assumption that if someone uses Facebook, they really have no privacy concerns,” Daniel Solove, a law professor and privacy expert at George Washington University said to Surveillance State. “A kind of vague notice in a privacy policy that no one reads suddenly permits Facebook to do whatever they want with minimal to no privacy protections.” Members use developer applications at their own risk, because according to the Facebook application terms of service “[each application] has not been approved, endorsed, or reviewed in any manner by Facebook…we are not responsible for…the privacy practices or other policies of the Developer.” Besides sharing a Facebook members’ personal information with application developers, Facebook also keeps backup copies of the member’s account on their servers which is difficult to erase. Steve Mansour, a Canadian online community developer, spent two weeks trying to delete all the information off of his Facebook account, which frustrated him enough to create a blog entry called “2504 Steps to closing your Facebook account,” according to the New York Times. The blog included e-mail messages sent to and from Facebook’s costumer service representative as well as diagrams that showed fallacies in Facebook’s service terms. There is no option anywhere on Facebook that lets members completely wipe out their profiles, but there is a “deactivate” option, which hides the profile from friends until it’s reactivated. When an account is deactivated, Facebook still has the profile floating out in the web. “I had to ‘contact’ Facebook and ask them how to delete my account only to find out that I have to manually delete every single minified item, friend, post, wall writing, etc. by hand, one-by-one, or else they will refuse to close your account,” Mansour wrote in his blog “2504 steps to closing your Facebook account,” “When you’re a member of the Internet High Society as I am, you find that you have thousands of these items to delete.” Even after Mansour successfully deleted his account, Facebook still kept a backup copy of his profile, which is why students must be careful about what they post on Facebook. You never know who might see it. �FEBRUARY 26, 2008 OPINION The Angry Rant: disparaging a movie that I didn’t see BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor I am going to admit something right now, and I ask that you don’t judge me, not right away, anyway. I just got back from a screening of the movie Fool’s Gold. No, not really. Actually, I just saw the commercial and decided to write about it. Can you imagine me going to that movie? Seriously. They would need to have a ball-check at the door. What has happened to our movies? Why does it seem like every week another piece of regurgitated cinema shows up, passing itself off as a new, original piece of work, when in reality we just saw it last week with another title? The point is, too many bad actors are getting work, and that’s a problem. The film industry needs to carry out its business like the oil companies: Lower the supply, increase the demand. Henceforth, the moviegoing public will be far less forgiving when they have to choose between Step Up 2 The Streets or Jumper. The movie studios would be forced to green-light movies that were only of superior quality, thus allowing the public to avoid the near-aneurysm they get when they see the preview for Good Luck Chuck. Which brings me back to Fool’s Gold. Did anyone say to themselves: “Wow, I really need to see this fine piece of filmmaking. McConaughey and Hudson are at the top of their game. It’s like watching a modern-day Bogart and Bergman.” Of course not! That would be ridiculous. Anyone who would think this movie is even remotely watchable needs to take a step back and seriously examine their lives, because quite frankly, something went terribly wrong. Moving forward. The first problem with this movie (aside from the writers, directors and producers) is that it stars Matthew McConaughey, who has essentially turned into a walking parody of himself. He hasn’t been good since he was Wooderson in Dazed and Confused. And even then he was playing a stoner. What a stretch. The problem here is that he hasn’t found a breakout role to really establish him as a credible actor. Tom Hanks had Big, Russell Crowe had The Insider, and Denzel Washington had Glory. What has McConaughey had? The Wedding Planner? Unlike the aforementioned actors, he has one-speed, one dimension. Could you imagine McConaughey playing Vito Corleone (God forbid) in The Godfather? How would that have gone? Francis Ford Coppola: Alright, Matt, in this scene, you’ve just been shot and you’re near death, and your son, Michael, is coming to visit you. Matthew McConaughey: Sounds good. When do I take my shirt off? Coppola: What? McConaughey: My shirt, when do I take it off? So I can show my effortlessly sculpted abs to the world. Coppola: I don’t understand, why do you need to take your shirt off? McConaughey: Did you not just hear me? I need to show off my six-pack, my love-buttons. You know, for the ladies. Coppola: No, Matthew. The scene isn’t aboutMcConaughey: Come on, metrosexuality is all the rage! Coppola: Metrosexuality? Matt, it’s 1972, that term won’t be invented for another 20 years! Besides, you’re barely conscious in a hospital bed, and goons are coming to kill you. It wouldn’t make sense. McConaughey: Cut and print, Franky! You see what I mean? The solution: Take a break from acting, gain 45 pounds, and get arrested for picking up a hooker on Sunset Boulevard. It worked wonders for Hugh Grant. The second problem is that the movie also stars Kate Hudson, who, similar to McConaughey, hasn’t been in anything good since Almost Famous, when she earned an Oscar nomination and some serious buzz with her performance as groupie Penny Lane. Since then, she’s gone on to star in You, me and 8 Dupree and Raising Helen. That joke pretty much tells itself. I can’t adequately explain Hudson’s noticeable drop off into the world of bad romantic comedies and poorly produced dramas. Maybe she hit her stride too soon, winning a Golden Globe along with America’s hearts with her performance in Almost Famous, or maybe she caught lightning in a bottle once, and is choosing paychecks over statues. Who knows? A lot of you reading this are probably a little sour on my endless tirade about a movie I’ve never seen and two people I’ve never met, who could be some of the nicest people around. Some readers probably think that I’m a little jealous of these two celebrities, who get paid millions of dollars to sleepwalk through a by-the-numbers romantic comedy. And you would be right. Who wouldn’t be jealous of Matthew McConaughey? It seems like all he does is work out on the beach without a shirt while being romantically linked with Sandra Bullock, Ashley Judd and Penelope Cruz. Sounds terrible, doesn’t it? And Kate Hudson? Who wouldn’t want to have those blonde tresses? I know I would. Enjoy spring break. Ah, the joys of Winter Weekend ...or why I hate the debauchery of late February BY CARA KOSTER Beacon Photo Editor I hate Winter Weekend-the stupid t-shirts, the less than imaginative themes, drunken idiots running around the streets screaming only later to be angry because they are cited for underage drinking. This Winter Weekend a friend discovered vomit on and around his door and down his hallway. Even better, Friday night several students tried to escape an underage drinking violation by running out onto an icy, snow covered roof top (smart one, kids). But I suppose it’s better than jumping from one roof top to another. And last I heard, 78 freshmen were busted by the cops over the weekend (who were on stand-by). And don’t get me started about all of the embarrassing Facebook photos soon to come. Winter Weekend is just yet another excuse, and basically an endorsement from the school, for underaged and binge drinking. Now, I’m not going to start with an underage drinking rant. If you’re going to do it, then you’re going to do it. The only thing I care about is that you do it smart. I don’t understand how under-agers are wandering around campus clearly transporting alcohol without anyone noticing. Back in my day, kids, we used backpacks, though it’s not like everyone didn’t know what was in those backpacks at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. How is it that after all of the underage drinking busts last semester some degree of education has not yet happened? So what’s to be done? Cancel Winter Weekend. It’s a pretty dumb concept, and the numbers of participants have been dwindling in recent years. I’m not naive enough to think that Winter Weekend is the root of all underaged and binge drinking at this university, but the issue is that the university basically schedules a time and gives a venue for it to happen. It must be Winter Weekend if… · Everyone is dressed in matching t-shirts with sexual innuendos · There’s vomit in the snow · A pack of freshman can be seen running from the cops on South Franklin Street · The RAs and Public Safety are disgrun tled and tired · Everyone’s carrying a back-pack at 10:30pm on a Saturday · Water bottles are suddenly filled with soda and juice · Everyone thinks they’re a star-athlete · Someone is passed out in the common area · You have a story about your friend’s friend’s hospital visit · The administration is on-call 24/7 · Wal*Mart is out of Solo cups �LIFESTYLES FEBRUARY 26, 2008 Winter Weekend Collage 10-11 9 Three pharmacy students named Students of the Week BY LAUREN SALEM Beacon Staff Writer Three pharmacy students from Wilkes University placed first in the Self-Care Championship held at the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association (PPA) Midyear Meeting in Camp Hill, PA. The competition took place February 8-10. Teams from all six pharmacy schools in the state participated in a mixed game of pharmaceutical “Jeopardy” and “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” Melissa Sweigart and Shannon Carr, both P4 students, and Todd Weibel, a P3, received a traveling trophy and cash prize for beating out teams from Temple, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne, and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Because of their excellence in this statewide competition, The Beacon chose all three pharmacy majors as our Students of the Week and spoke to them this week about their win. The Beacon: How did you get involved in the competition? Carr: I got involved with PPA my P2 year. At that time there was a push to increase student involvement in the organization. The competition was designed as a way to foster interest in PPA at schools across the state. I competed last year and had a great time, even though we took second place. Sweigart: I’m an active member of the PPA. I helped the student academy organize the event last year and was pleased that I was chosen to be on the team. Weibel: I’m the student advisory board member for Wilkes to PPA. The Beacon: What did you like about the competition besides winning first place? Carr: As a P4 student, I liked that the competition tested my knowledge of overthe-counter (OTC) products. Soon I will be practicing on my own and patients will trust me to answer these types of questions all the time. The competition is also unique in that it brings students from all of the pharmacy schools in PA together. Sweigart: I learned a lot of information that I didn’t already know. The competition was also an opportunity for continuing education credits for the pharmacists that attended. The Beacon: What didn’t you like about the competition? Sweigart: We were down by -1100 at one point which at the time was my least favorite part. Courtesy Shannon Carr Melissa Sweigart, Todd Weibel, and Shannon Carr place first in competition The Beacon: What types of problems do pharmacists face on a daily basis? Sweigart: Pharmacists are approached about self-care and OTC drug information on a daily basis. Because patients do not need to consult their doctor before purchasing these medications, often times the pharmacist is the only healthcare provider that determines if the product is safe for the From left Sweigart, Weibel, and Carr represented Wilkes University at the Self Care Championship patient. which took place during the Pennsylvania Pharmacy Association Midyear Meeting. The team took first Weibel: Pharmacists place in the competition, beating out five other teams. get asked a lot of quesSweigart: I learned a lot of great informa- was announced as the judges tallied the tions on OTC medications and what should be done about basic conditions when the tion. Unfortunately in our curriculum we scores from the final question. We knew patient does not want to go to their doctor. aren’t given a lot of information on all areas that only one other team was close to us The pharmacist has to be able to recom- of self-care and herbal medications. This in points and they answered wrong so we mend a suitable product and know when to was an opportunity to build upon what I al- knew before the scores were revealed. ready knew. Sweigart: I was absolutely thrilled and refer the patient to their doctor. surprised. We came from a huge deficit. The Beacon: What information did you I’m pretty sure no one expected us to pull The Beacon: How did this competition find was most important to know? it out! focus on these problems? Carr: It is crucial to know what OTC Weibel: It was a good feeling. I didn’t exCarr: The competition focused solely on OTC and natural product questions. The medications interact with prescription med- pect that we would win, but it was nice. random nature of the questions mimicked ications. Many patients are under the imThe Beacon: How will this competition real life in that we never know who is going pression that because a medication is over to ask a question or what type of question the counter, it is automatically safe to take. benefit you in your future career? Sweigart: Doses of medications were imCarr: Overall, the competition was a they will ask. Pharmacists must possess a broad knowledge base in order to answer portant, as well as the top herbal medica- great learning experience. We got to meet tions. with students and pharmacists from across questions on the spot. Weibel: The questions really varied and the state, providing some great networking The Beacon: How did this competition covered a large range of topics including opportunities as well as a chance to showhelp you learn things you may have not age restrictions, dosage forms, uses, side case our knowledge. effects, contraindications, medical/lay term Sweigart: I feel more knowledgeable known before about pharmacy? about over-the-counter medications and I Carr: The competition had a variety of conversion, and more. feel that it will help me in my professional categories, all focusing on over the counThe Beacon: How did you feel when you career when patients come to me for adter products. At Wilkes we have exposure vice. to this material for only a short time during found out you won first place? Carr: We couldn’t believe that we won. Weibel: I’ll put it on my CV. our self care module making it hard to cover There was a long pause before the winner everything. �LIFESTYLES 10 FEBRUARY 26, 2008 Winter “The Flash” won the dodgeball tournament 4 T - S IR - s.COM YOUIR. #1 SfJtlRCiE FOR SCREEN PR Nill'\ NG EMBRO'IDERY1 “Punisher” placed first in the volleyball tournament .AND PRO OTIONAL ITE F!ER:FECI FOR EllllSIN~SB IIBS,TAUR:ANT ~OLLEGES.1 .AND - Gtt SCHOOLS_, Wt CARRY ALL. BRA!ilDS. AND STYLES Of T~ ' SWEAJTSHIRfS, GOUP D UNIFORMS,. PLIJS~A $\JOH A-'fli DE: VAffl~ OF PHOMO'lii O -_ · IUS., ITE! , rtUGS, OUSE~S COOLERS KE"iCliAI S, .IUD. . fillE. GREA1 PRICES AND A · .OW D6EAI ART SrMF~ 1 570.823.9272 EWLOCATION 148 Soua -c n - -_ m N omln ryl nl 1eeme Cob Wilkes University celebrated W teams comprised of 20 studen such as a three-legged race, ma of war, and wheelbarrow race Superman, The Flash, Captai isher, Captain Planet, and Batm event, which was “Superheroe �FEBRUARY 26, 2008 LIFESTYLES 11 We e k e n d an “Batman” team members try to pass an orange T lE IN R ,s·· . . . . . .- . I sma · d4'y+ Winter Weekend February 22-24. Eight nts each competed in a variety of games ascot contest, dodgeball tournament, tug e. The participating teams were named in Underpants, Quailman, X-men, Punman to correspond with the theme of the es.” All photos courtesy of The Beacon staff - -n th_.r nt 665 . - I . a l (570 82 -- - In . , 9 �A&E Carrie Underwood Crossword/Website Steam FEBRUARY 26, 2008 13 14 15 Options for the under--funded and out--of--ideas Spring break ideas for those who won't be tanning in Florida BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor Theoretically, spring break is supposed to be full of excitement and exotic getaways. It’s the time when students are supposed to take a break from all of the stress of school, rustle up the cash, and make plans to spend the week at some destination outside of the US, whether to learn about another culture or just spend the days basking in the sun. Of course, that would be the ideal. The reality is that cash for such adventure is rarely just hanging from trees or arriving unbidden in the mail. Most have to work for their money, and even if they’ve saved, it’s tough to take a week off from the job to enjoy it. Students can get group rates and discounts and all sorts of deals for spring break trips, but when it comes down to it, the costs still make such extra adventure for spring break out of reach for most normal students. But perhaps the main problem isn’t lack of funds, but lack of creativity. Maybe the key to an enjoyable spring break is to find things to do that are new, interesting, and ultimately, cheap. In fact, a lot of things go on during the first week of March that might fly under the radar, or rather, just might not pique people’s interests at first glance. Here’s a look at some events happening near our area over spring break that you may not have known about, or originally considered. Philadelphia Flower Show - March 2-9 The key question here would probably be, why? Why would anyone other than gardeners or nature fanatics want to make the trip the Philadelphia to look at a bunch of flower arrangements? Well, a better question would be, why not? At first glance, a flower show doesn’t sound like the most riveting of events to attend during time off, but believe it or not it’s far more engaging than it might sound. Basically, it’s a sight to see, and a grand one at that. Each year the show has a specific theme to which presenters adhere (this year, New Orleans), and with the theme in mind the entire convention hall is transformed to bring the outdoors indoors. Think less neat and fancy flower gardens and more artisans crafting the most over-the-top, elaborate displays possible, each trying to outdo the next exhibit. The exhibits are massive, and many of them are interactive or walk-through. Beyond the flower show, the plus is that the Philadelphia Convention Center is located right in Center City Philadelphia, and right next to Chinatown, opening up plenty other options for entertainment. Location: Philadelphia Convention Center, Center City, Philadelphia Cost: $24-28 Recommended for: nature lovers, a first date, artists, people who like pretty things The Bench - Saturday nights The Bench is self-explanatory. It is truly nothing other than a bench. But there is a lot more that goes on at The Bench than there is with most other benches. Matt Goias, a New York DJ and marketing mogul is one of the founders of The Bench and came up with the idea to offer people an alternative to spending their weekend nights at the city’s crowded nightclubs. It may be nothing more than a bench, but it attracts an array of people from DJs, artists, full-time partiers, and eager observers. Basically, they’ve managed to turn a simple seating area into a nighttime hotspot. In the past The Bench has even held sponsored events, spawned some limited edition t-shirts, and gotten some entertainment press. Another plus of The Bench is that it’s supposedly frequented by numerous pseudo celebs, such as some reality show contestants, DJs to big name rappers, and NY party moguls. The Bench may be a hit or miss type of place to visit, depending on who or how many people show up on a given night, but how many people can brag about spending their night partying at a bench? And of course, best of all, it’s free. Location: The bench on the corner of Orchard and Houston Street, New York City Cost: Free Recommended for: someone looking for a nighclub alternative, fans of the slightly absurd, people under 21 Neo Nohcon - March 7-8 First thing’s first: you do not need to be a fan of anime (Japanese Animation) to enjoy yourself at an anime convention, but you do need to have an open mind. There are numerous events that Neo Nohcon has to offer, such as anime movie screenings, video games, guest panel discussions, traditional Japanese dance performances, and karaoke, but perhaps the crowning glory of the convention is the cosplay competition. For those unfamiliar of what a cosplay competition is, it features a group of people living out their wish to become the real-life replica of their favorite anime or video game character, if only for one day, and that surely is a sight to see. In addition to the cosplay, it’s worth mentioning that conventions always have lots of free things to offer. Whether it’s welcome gift bags, video game demos, candy, mini comics, or stickers, when you leave a convention you always leave with a bag of obscure objects to remind you of the day. Also, for actual fans of anime, the event is reasonably priced, and just around the corner, in comparison to where most other US anime conventions are held. Location: Daemen College, Buffalo NY Cost: $25 Recommended for: fans of anime or gaming, people interested in Japanese pop culture, anyone looking for a good story and camera full of really interesting pictures Philadelphia’s “First Friday” - March 7 (and every month) “First Friday” events in Philadelphia are full of variety and showcase some of the city’s great, artistic talents, and also expose artists that may not get their work noticed otherwise. Each “First Friday” is filled with music, visual artwork, crafters, and food (sometimes free). On First Friday, all the art galleries in Old City, Philadelphia are opened from 5-9 and rows of tables line the streets for artists and crafters to display and sell their work. Street musicians fill the gaps in between the artwork, and food vendors make their way into any space remaining. Every now and then big name companies will set up a space, such as Ben and Jerry setting up camp and giving everyone free scoops of ice cream. Nothing costs money during these events, unless you choose to buy something from the artist. Everything is free for the artists as well, as basically anyone can set up camp to selll their goods without the usual table and space fee required in most craft fairs. It’s a rather unified and open environment, as artists from all disciplines and skills ranges come together for one night each month to celebrate and showcase the art in Philadelphia. Location: Old City, Philadelphia Cost: Free Recommended for: art lovers, someone looking for a unique gift, casual window-shoppers, another date spot �FEBRUARY 26, 2008 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 Concert Review: The Carnival Ride Carrie Underwood and Josh Turner take the stage at Wachovia Arena BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Assistant A&E Editor The Wachovia Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township played host on February 18 to American Idol superstar Carrie Underwood, who took the stage alongside Josh Turner’s deep country voice. The lights were dimmed promptly at Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons Attribution 7:30 p.m. and Turner took the stage offering the down home warmth his fans have come to expect. The country boy wowed the audience with his current hit, “Firecracker,” but also performed his title track, “Long Black Train” off his debut album and “Another Try,” his duet with Trisha Yearwood. Turner performed each song belting out the lyrics with his impossibly low country voice, all while preparing the audience for the superstar of the night, Underwood. He performed for slightly over half an hour before the crew changed the set for Underwood to take the stage. After exciting the crowd with Turner’s performance, the stage crew spent nearly half an hour preparing for Underwood. Although the crowd seemed to lose excitement during the wait, as soon as the five minute countdown for Underwood began, the cheers of fans never stopped. After a brief intro video, Underwood made a dramatic entrance rising from below the stage. From her current album Carnival Ride, Underwood belted out the lyrics to “Flat on the Floor.” And the crowd’s cheers just never seemed to stop. Dressed in a black top, black pants and a diamond encrusted belt, Underwood worked the stage, moving from side to side interacting with the entire arena. With two quick costume changes throughout the entire 90-minute show, the crowd never quieted as Underwood kept even mellow songs upbeat. In a blue gown, Underwood sang her first single off her debut album Some Hearts, “Jesus Take the Wheel.” The song is one of her better known singles and won her the Grammy for “Best Country Female Vocal Performance” in 2006. Underwood performed nearly twenty songs including a melody from Some Hearts, “Wasted,” “All-American Girl,” in conjunction with a video of Underwood in various occupations of an “All-American Girl” and “I Ain’t in Checotah Anymore,” a song about her hometown in Oklahoma. After singing her apparent final song of the evening, Underwood exited the stage on a lower-energy song. At this point, I was disappointed, because “Before He Cheats” was left unperformed and the crowd was left with a calming ballad instead of a high energy song. But after a minute of the crowd screaming, cheering and clapping, Underwood took the stage again. Her rendition of “Paradise City” by Guns ‘N Roses got the crowd more excited than any of her previous songs and she finished by dedicating her final song, “Before He Cheats” to any girl in the audience who had been cheated on. Her final songs of the evening made Underwood’s performance. If she had never come back onstage, this review would be totally different, as my favorite single of Underwood’s would have been left in the dust of the country superstar. The only problem with “The Carnival Ride” concert was the time spent between Turner and Underwood’s performance. The point of an opening act is to excite the crowd, with so much time in between, the crowd is bound to lose some excitement. Grade: B+ **Beacon Correction: In last weeks’s article, “No issue is black and white,” the name of presenter, Ty Crisman, was misspelled as Ty Trisman. Schedule of Events Underwood was the winner of the fourth season of the FOX hit American Idol and recently performed at the Wachovia Arena. No more contacts. No glasses? NO WORRIES! Butler Eyecare has special Student Pricing! 20% discount on Frames $49 eye exams 822-8727 yecare for everyone www .butlereyecare.com 34 S. Main St. Across from SUBWAY Tuesday, February 26 - Interfaith Programming from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Student Leadership Center - Vanna, Every Bridge Burned, Always and Forever and To Outlive the Beginning performing at 7:00pm. at Cafe Metropolis Wednesday, February 27 - Lou Marino Benefit featuring: The Five Percent, K8, Rob Brown, Flaxy Morgan and The Collective at 9:00 p.m. at the Woodlands Thursday, February 28 - Club X (18 and over) at 9:00 p.m. at the Woodlands - Open mic comedy at Donahues at 9:30 p.m. Friday, February 29 - Spring break begins - Alternative Spring Break (ASB) begins - Go Go Gadget performing at 10:00 p.m. at the Woodlands - Clarence Spady performing at the Jazz CaFE at 10:00 p.m. Saturday, March 1 - 15th Annual Midwinter Festival at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Resurrection Cathedral Parlours, in Wilkes-Barre - Tigers Jaw, Stay Six, All in a Year and Kite Party performing at 7:00 p.m. at Cafe Metropolis - Dimensions performing at 10 p.m. at the Woodlands - Indobox performing at the Jazz Cafe at 10:00 p.m. Sunday, March 2 - Ethnic Folk Festival at 3 p.m. at Vine Street, Scranton - Open Mic Poetry at Donahues at 9:30 p.m. - Strawberry Jam performing at the Jazz Cafe at 10:00 p.m. �14 Kudracross BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer ACROSS 1 Cooking spray 4 Religious official of a synagogue 9 Geographical region 13 Hurry-up letters 15 Alf, for example 16 Bank offering 17 Tropical pizza toppings 19 Assign roles 20 Parting comment 21 Parts of a TV series 23 Pupil 26 Library sound 27 Classical 32 ____ Lang Syne 36 ____ de Janeiro 37 An intense passion 38 PC operators 40 Carry with extreme effort 42 Big Apple newspaper 43 Strong belief 44 Adriatic, for example 46 Lincolns local 47 Miscellaneous items 50 Winter Olympics category 51 Teachers job 56 Astronaut lounge? 61 Heathen 62 Spanish currency 63 Wedding party member 66 Among 67 Sobriety testee concerns 68 Therefore 69 Constructed 70 Beats a birdie 71 Carpenter’s tool DOWN 1 Concerning the Pope 2 Away from 3 Madness 4 Billboard category 5 The Matterhorn, for example ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 18 22 24 25 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 39 41 45 48 49 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 64 65 FEBRUARY 26, 2008 Liver secretion Page Demand AA atendee Abbey ___, Beatles album With comfort Picnic pests Person of equal status Fathers sister Transfer Make a mistake Amtrak track Extinguish Personal identifier Congregational response “_____ we forget” Detroit export Took advantage of Grant temporary use Rules of attire Dracula deterrent Star Trek creator, ______ Roddenberry Ritalin use Bite off small bits Small swallows Appeared Biological gels Subarctic, evergreen forest Give gift Stitching site Large North American cat Like the Sahara Elaborate melody Proposal gift Costa ____ Sol WNW opposite Answers 2/19 Snopes.com BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor Last week a friend of mine told me that if I were to get robbed at an ATM to punch in my PIN number backwards and the machine would give me the money and notify the police. My first instinct was to check out the validity of this claim by logging on to Snopes.com. The purpose of this website is to clear up any confusion about urban legends and other word-of-mouth rumors. Users can search the site by category ranging from “Cokelore” to “College” to “Old Wives’ Tales.” The search engine on this site is pretty efficient. Upon my search, I learned that the “reverse ATM PIN number” rumor is false. It was an idea that someone had that never worked because of numbers like 2002. Upon browsing, I learned various useless facts. It costs more than one cent to make a penny. Coca-Cola actually once contained cocaine. Eating celery results in negative calories. The Marlboro man died of lung cancer. The Disney movie, The Rescuers includes an image of a topless woman and the company also produced a movie called The Story of Menstruation. I also learned that many things that I spent years believing weren’t true. For example, Lauren Hill never said, “I’d rather die than have a white person buy my album.” Chewing gum does not take seven years to pass through the digestive system, nor does aspartame cause cancer. I could probably go through the different categories and read about random people and situations all day long delaying my studying or homework. And I’m not going to lie; while I was doing the research for this review I spent more time reading random facts than I did actually writing this thing. I give this website a P for Proceed with caution: will probably result in procrastination. �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 15 Movie Review: Steam BY GINO TROIANI Beacon Photo Staff/Photographer What can generate more steam than three women, at different places in their lives, searching for answers to some of life’s biggest questions like, “Who am I?” “What do I want?” and “What am I willing to sacrifice to get it?” The independent film Steam written and directed by New Jersey native Kyle Schickner, had its world premier at the Dietrich Theater in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania last Wednesday and despite its title, the view to the top seems clear. Schickner and actress Kate Siegel were on hand at the event to answer questions and probe the audience with a few of their own. For Wilkes community members, the film’s debut was also a “family affair.” The show’s writer/director is son of Al Schickner, Wilkes University shuttle bus driver, and a familiar face to many on campus. Steam, which is Schickner’s fifth film, is an uplifting movie--though there are moments that are anything but-- that chronicles the lives of three women and their struggles to navigate major challenges in their own selfimages. A steam room acts as a common meeting place for all three of the women throughout the movie, which represents a soothing way for them to relax and reflect upon their past life altering experiences. The film is fascinating, because of the different layers and dimensions that help the viewer understand what each of the women have experienced in the recent past. And it boasts award-worthy performances among its threewoman cast. Elizabeth, portrayed by actress Kate Siegel (Curse of the Black Dahlia), is a young adult who comes from a traditionally “proper Christian” family. Upon arriving at college, the audience begins to see her branch out, and explore both her sexuality, and inner self. From this point on, she faces an uphill struggle to gain her independence as a young adult. Ally Sheedy (Noise, A Good Night to Die) plays Laurie, a middle-aged woman who finds herself in a custody battle for her son with her ex-husband. She is broke, desperate, and single, a typical train wreck for any woman on the brink of losing everything, but as her character progresses throughout the film, a stronger and wiser Laurie emerges. The final woman of the trio is Doris portrayed by Ruby Dee (an Academy Award nominee this year for American Gangster), is an elderly woman mourning the recent death of her husband. Hopeless and helpless, she struggles to see the ‘beauty’ in life that she once knew, at least in part through music. Another unique aspect of Steam is that it was shot in and around Schickner’s hometown of New Brunswick, New Jersey. Some scenes are shot on the Rutgers campus, a local jail cell, and the church where his parents were married. The run time is close to two hours, just enough to generate a strong understanding, without boring the viewer. Steam is scheduled to open for the Women’s Film Festi- CUMB LAND FEBRUARY 26, 2008 val on March 28 in Miami, Florida, and will be showing in select theaters throughout the United States. Unfortunately, DVD copies of the film are not expected to drop for at least another year. I would highly recommend Steam to anyone, and would also like to commend Kyle Schickner and cast on an excellent, believable story. It is nice to know that there are still independent artists out there, and that the movie industry is not completely overrun by Hollywood. I give Steam two thumbs up. Beacon/Gino Troiani Director Kyle Schickner and actress Kate Siegel offered a Q&A for viewers after the premier of the new film, Steam. • Private bath with shower • Free Internet access • Laundry • Free off-street parking • Free water, sewer, & trash. • Secure entry/ Remote access-buzz in • Fully-equipped granite kitchen • Cable TV 17 West Ross Street Wilkes-Barre, PA www.cumberlandliving.com 570-687-2220 �SPORTS 16 FEBRUARY 26, 2008 Metropolitan Championships Pizzarro, Feldman and Heffernan reached finals for Wilkes BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor Statement issued prior to championships: Five nationally-ranked teams will be among the ten teams that will compete in for the Metropolitan Wrestling Conference Championships today inside the Wilkes University’s Marts Center. The Metropolitan Championships serves as a qualifier for the upcoming NCAA Division III Championships that will be held at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on March 7 and 8. The ten individual weight class winners, along with seven at-large selections that will be chosen by the coaches, will represent the conference at the NCAA Championships. Teams that are slated to participate include No. 14 New York University, No. 17 The College of New Jersey, No. 23 Wilkes, No. 25 York College and No. 30 King’s College. Centenary College, Elizabethtown College, Hunter College, the University of Scranton and Yeshiva College are also slated to wrestle in the event. The Colonel wrestling team hosted the Metropolitan Conference Championship Sunday February 24 in the Marts Gym. In his quarterfinals bout, at 125 lbs, Colonel junior Shaun Farnham, seeded fourth in the tournament, pinned Centenary College’s Dustin Overs 59 seconds into the first period. In the semi-finals bout, Farnham lost a close 3-2 decision to York College’s Kyle Flickinger, the first seed. Junior Josh Pauling, the fourth seed at 133 lbs, defeated New York University’s Thomas Masciale by an 11-4 major decision in the quarterfinals. Pauling lost his semi-finals bout to King’s College’s Dave Morgan, the first seed in the tournament. At 141 lbs Colonel freshman Brandon Prentice lost a close 4-2 decision to York’s Ryan Catton, the third seed in the tournament, in his quarterfinals bout. Wilkes junior Erik Smith entered the tournament as the second seed at 149 lbs. Smith would win his quarterfinals bout by a 9-3 decision over Centenary College’s David Alsieux. In the semifinals bout, the College of New Jersey’s John Barnett pinned Smith in a controversial finish. Smith was pinned in period 3 after being choked unconscious by Barnett. Barnett put Smith on his back. In an attempt to pin him, Barnett used force directly on Smith’s throat, knocking him unconscious. No penalty was called. Colonel senior Adam Penberthy, the fifth seed at 157 lbs lost a close 3-2 decision to the TCNJ’s Dan DiColo in his quarterfinals bout. At 165 lbs, Wilkes sophomore Frank Heffernan entered the tournament seeded second. Heffernan defeated the University of Scranton’s Steve Gray 6-0 in the quarterfinals. Heffernan then defeated York’s Brian Alwine 7-6 in the semi-finals. Wilkes freshman, Travis Davis, lost his quarterfinals bout to the third seed Naum Shuminov at 174 lbs. Shuminov pinned D a v i s in the sec- ond period. In the quarterfinals bout at 184 lbs, Colonel sophomore Devin Sassone-McHugh lost by technical fall in the third period to TCNJ’s Al Wonesh the second seed in the tournament. Colonel sophomore, Zach Pizarro, entered the tournament seeded first at 197 lbs. Pizzaro would win a 13-5 major decision over Centenary College’s Kaleb Wisner. In his semi-finals bout, Pizzaro defeated Deron Sharp of Elizabethtown College 8-5. At 285 lbs Wilkes sophomore Andrew Feldman, seeded second in the tournament, pinned his quarterfinals opponent, Centenary’s Adam Pearsall, in the first period. Feldman defeated his semi-finals opponent, TCNJ’s Steve Carbone 4-3 after scoring a takedown in 3rd period. As of press time, the Colonels entered the finals with three wrestlers, Heffernan at 165lbs, Pizarro at 197 lbs and Feldman at 285 lbs. Several other wrestlers were still in consolation wrestlebacks. Final results will be available later this evening at www.wilkesbeacon.com. Wilkes wrestlers getting busy on the mat hoping to reach the finals. Log on to wilkesbeacon.com for the postmatch coverage. The Beacon/Gino Troiani �SPORTS FEBRUARY 26, 2008 BASKETBALL “When we played at DeSales the first time, we were right in it until the end”, Gulla added. “If we play together, I think we have a shot to beat anybody.” from PAGE 20 Kresge led his team with 20 points on 8-13 shooting during their home loss against the Bulldogs on Jan. 16. The Colonels lost the rebounding battle 33 to 25 and only attempted 11 free throws while DeSales cashed in 14 of their 25 charity shots. The Colonels also struggled from behind the arc shooting only 17.6 percent hitting three of their 17 attempts. Sophomore Darnell Braswell led all scorers the second time around with 20 points. Ohlson finished with 10 points and 10 assists as the Bulldogs hit 61 percent of their total shot attempts. Junior Steve Kline was high-man for the Colonels with 14 points. Senior Matt Gould followed up with 12 points of his own. Gould, the lone senior on the Colonels roster, will be key for the Colonels during the playoffs simply because this will be his third trip to the postseason. The Colonels missed the playoffs last season. “DeSales has a senior post player and point guard who are both very solid, and some good players in between, but I like our chances,” Rickrode said of the playoff situation. “We’re not a senior-dominated team, but it’s a whole new season in the playoffs.” 17 Final Standings 1. DeSales, 9-3 2. Manhattanville, 9-3 3. King’s, 9-3 4. Wilkes, 7-5 5. Arcadia, 6-6 6. FDU-Florham, 2-10 7. Del. Val., 0-12 Log on to wilkesbeacon.com for post-game coverage of the Colonels game v. DeSales. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Wilkes University will be providing transportation to Center Valley, PA for the Colonels game against DeSales on Wednesday. The trip is approximately an hour and 30 minutes. Buses will leave around 6 PM. If you have any questions, contact Adelene Malatesta or John Seitzinger at the Marts Center. Round Pi,1-:s t2'MediwnPttm 16.. Laq;e Pizza ] 2 ~~ .Pan. .Pizza -_ . ' PIZZA · WW Fried SiciIDian 9U8•1.ALAlM 120UtTray Broccoli. Cw: 10 Curt Tlilly· 10 Cut Tuy f'ri_ed Mum,ooms Fried RaVli.o]i (6) Mruza..-1:dfa Snw 5) M~nt Tacos ('12) Mini P.otate am:akcs (ll) JalBpeno Pnp_pers (6 . Frueh Fri.es Cb..ees.e Fries On~onRm.g Chiekm Nuggcts (8) Bread. Slicks ~ - B'a m ~""' liOE.tu.t NDTthamphmst 81$-Sl 66 I B:25"563-1 Hot DeliMe:h ~al!l w/ Che,e -~ -"~rs Mil"n- - 11,ur, J J AM - 11 .PM P.ri ,&. s.. i 1.i AM' - li:3.0.AM Sun llP.M - 11 PM Va · Ch±c:lam Cheese Steak !Buffltlo Ohicke.rii C. s Kinptan- Dr1iv-vy Only 3687 -- Pa i g AND 1096 iscou t for S .,._ &--r 474-6669 Too ed w/ CfOOJt01i}6 Tossed w/ Tuna !P.a w/ Ohee e Cd.spy Clnekr:n Chkl::,em Caesar Chef'S lild Gn:ek 1 All Vmeti.~. Chiclc:en C SaJ1 Cheese Steak Grilled Ch~ ken Ve =e. CriBpy Chi.den Tmki::y· Club Catif~ffllill Che Steak Ttma Plauu - Dl!!livffy Only 82-S-S0l-1 Ant'ip to C-aesar Dallu 67 777-7 �SPORTS 18 FEBRUARY 26, 2008 Commentary 2008 Philadelphia Phillies Preview 10 Reasons to feel good about the boys of summer BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Last season, the Philadelphia Phillies accomplished something for the first time in over a decade: They made the playoffs. Not only did they win the National League East, but they did it after overcoming an 1114 start and a slew of injuries to key players including ace Cole Hamels, closer Brett Myers, veteran pitchers Jon Lieber and Freddy Garcia, relievers Ryan Madson and Tom Gordon, 2006 MVP Ryan Howard, right-fielder Shane Victorino, bench players Michael Bourn and Jayson Werth, and AllStar second-baseman Chase Utley. In other words, the Phillies fell on some hard times. But the ever-resilient boys from the City of Brotherly Love bounced back, posting a solid 17-11 record in September, including a 13-4 run in their last 17 games to overcome a seven game deficit, en route to unseating the reigning NL East Champion New York Mets. While their first postseason since the Clinton era was rather short-lived, it was a step in the right direction, as they’ll be heading into the 2008 seasons as the team to beat. Here are 10 reasons that I’m optimistic about the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies. Pat Burrell aka “The Mets Killer” - Despite his shortcomings in the field and on the basepaths, Pat Burrell was one of the best offensive performers during the second half of the season, where he hit .295 with 19 homeruns and 60 RBIs in an offense that was missing Chase Utley for nearly a month. On top of that, Burrell spent most of his career terrorizing the New York Mets, including 119 hits, 41 homeruns and 102 RBIs in 134 games. Brett to the Rescue - When Brett Myers moved to the bullpen last season, Phillies fans all gave a collective “What?” Turns out, it wasn’t a terrible decision, as he nailed down games with his fierce playing style and great talent. Now that Brad Lidge will be closing the door on the opponents, it gives Myers a chance to shine again in the rotation, joining ace Cole Hamels for one of the best 1-2 punches in the National League. MVP X 3? - Last season, the Phillies had the leading candidate for National League MVP on July 25 in Chase Utley until an errant pitch broke his right hand, sending him on the disabled list for nearly a month. He returned on August 27 in time for a key four-game series against the Mets, where he would go 3-5 including a homer and 2 RBIs. He would go on to hit .321 over the rest of the season with 5 homeruns, 21 RBIs, and 25 runs. Utley is one of the best pure hitters in the game, and his talent is limitless. Expect a lot from Utley in 2008 - Can the Phillies make it three MVPs in a row? Brad Lidge - Last season, the Phillies moved Brett Myers, their opening day starter, to the bullpen while Tom Gordon was dealing with injuries. Despite his success in the bullpen, Myers has the talent to be a dominant starter again. Enter closing pitcher Brad Lidge, who was acquired early in the off-season to strengthen the back end of the bullpen. Despite some rough seasons in 2006 and 2007, the Phillies are hoping that Lidge can return to his 2005 form, when he saved 42 games with an ERA of 2.29. Perhaps a change of scenery is what Lidge needed to cure his problems in Houston. His lifetime stats at Citizen’s Bank Park: 9 innings pitched, 6 saves, 1.00 ERA. Kyle Kendrick - After the Phillies lost Freddy Garcia for the season, they turned to Double-A pitcher Kyle Kendrick to be a temporary stop-gap until help could arrive. There was only one problem: Kyle didn’t want to be a temporary replacement. So he won, and won again...and won again. In fact, Kendrick pitched so well that he finished 4th in the National League Rookie of the Year voting, with a 10-4 record and a 3.87 ERA. Kendrick is slated to be in the starting rotation this year, and it will be worth watching how he follows up his successful rookie campaign. A Healthy Howard - When Ryan Howard won his MVP for his monstrous 2006 season, he spent most of his off-season accepting awards instead of working out - and it showed. The slugger started off slowly in 2007, and ended up with a stint on the disabled list. He bounced back nicely, hitting 47 homers and 136 RBIs in only 144 games. After a restful off-season and a better workout regiment, Howard is primed to recapture the stroke that turned him into one of the most feared hitters in baseball. Father Time - At age 44, veteran pitcher Jamie Moyer pitched the Phillies to a win in their last game of the year, as he dazzled the Washington Nationals with an 84 mph fastball and enough trickery to confuse any established hitter. Moyer proved to be a horse for the Phils in 2007, as he was the only pitcher to throw 200 innings as he avoided the disabled list. Moyer will be the oldest player in the majors at 45 in 2008, and it is his final year with the Phillies. Can the hometown hero overcome time in his final year with the Phillies? The Ace Has Arrived - In 2006, a lanky lefty named Cole Hamels made his Major League debut after he went 20 in Triple-A with 36 strikeouts, one walk and one earned run in 23 innings pitched, leaving him with a sparkling 0.36 ERA and on the fast track to the show. He didn’t disappoint in 2006, and a 15-5 season in 2007 proved that Hamels is the real deal. Despite some nagging injuries, Hamels was consistently solid throughout the season, including a complete game, 15 strikeout performance against the Cincinnati Reds on April 21. He would put the finishing touches on the season with a stellar performance against the Nationals during the last week of the season, pitching eight solid innings with no earned runs and 13 strikeouts. Jimmy Rollins - After boldly proclaiming that the Phillies were the team to beat in the NL East before the 2007 season, Rollins drew the ire of Mets fans before backing his words up with a great season that ended with an MVP and a Gold Glove. This season, Rollins predicted that the Phillies could win 100 games. Can the Phillies back him up? Momentum - The most important thing for the Phillies going into the 2008 season is this: For the first time since 1994, they are opening the season as the defending National League East Champions. Not the Mets, not the Braves. That should be more than enough motivation for the team to get over the hump and start the season off on the right foot. With a solid pitching rotation, a strong bullpen and the National League’s best offense, the Phillies could find themselves in the same position next season. 2008 Projected Leaders: AVG Chase Utley .328 HR Ryan Howard 54 RBI Ryan Howard 143 Runs Chase Utley 126 SB Shane Victorino 41 Wins Cole Hamels 14 Saves Brad Lidge 31 K Brett Myers 181 Projected Stats courtesy MLB.com �FEBRUARY 26, 2008 SPORTS 19 Softball players strategize for winning 2008 season BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon Editor-in-Chief Over the past four seasons, pitcher Laurie Agresti has greeted batters with three pitches: “good morning, good afternoon, and good night.” This year, however, the Wilkes University softball defense may have its work cut out for it. “We’re replacing literally the whole entire pitching staff,” said head coach Frank Matthews, referring to the loss of Agresti (1,002 career strikeouts) and Samantha Evanich (8 wins, 71 Ks last season). “We’re a little lean on experience, but we have some skills on the mound,” he said. The new-look rotation will feature senior Sarah Plavchak, juniors Maureen Pelot and Kaitlyn Kormanik, and freshman Lindsay Behrenshausen on the mound to put the ball in play. “With Agresti gone, that puts a lot of pressure on all of us,” Plavchak said. “She was really our only overpowering pitcher. All four of us must rely on getting the ball down and making opponents hit the ball, basically.” Eight position players will return from last year in a healthy line-up from top to bottom including sophomore slugger Gina Stefanelli (.350 average, 24 runs, 41 hits, 27 RBI, 7 homers), the scrappy Alex Ingram (21 runs, 9 stolen bases, 4 2B), and Erin Plank (.313 BA, 31 H, 7 2B). Stefanelli not only led the team in most offensive categories last season, but the league with the fewest strikeouts per plate appearance and the fewest number of errors among shortstops. “As a matter of fact, she was about fourth or fifth in the country at one time for her strikeout percentage,” Matthews said. Last year’s runners-up (24-13) to King’s, the Lady Colonels have a tough road ahead as they open their season in Virginia Beach and Salisbury, Maryland, playing ten games among nationally and regionally ranked teams before coming home to play Lycoming. “We’ve had a great pre-season and have an extraordinarily difficult schedule down south,” Matthews said. “So it’s going to be a very, very rough ten game start for us, but those first ten games are going to be very critical,” he said. Cool Fact:The Lady Colonels will play two games under the lights this season. March 25 versus Scranton in the nightcap of a double header and Baptist Bible on April 2 will both be illuminated by stadium lighting. Both games are slated for 6:00 p.m. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Wilkes senior Alex Ingram takes batting practice at the UCOM on on February 24. The Lady Colonels open up their season at the Virginia Wesleyan Tournament on Febraury 29. Lady Colonels drop season finale BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Asst. Sports Editor The Beacon/Gino Troiani Wilkes senior Katie Cappelloni takes a hard fall during against King’s College on February 19. Wilkes finished their season with a 2-23 record after a tough loss against FDU-Florham on February 23. After picking up their first conference win of the season last Saturday, the Wilkes University Lady Colonels were hoping to end their season on a high note in their final game of the season at FDU-Florham. Unfortunately, the host Lady Devils were in no mood for an upset. FDU standout Danielle Michlovsky scored 33 points and the Lady Devils outscored Wilkes 17-0 in the first half, which set the pace to eventually hand Wilkes a 73-27 season-ending defeat in Madison, NJ on Saturday. The loss sees the Lady Colonels final record fall to 2-23 overall, 1-11 in Freedom Conference play. Both teams kept the score close to open the contest, as FDU held an 18-13 lead with just over 10 minutes to play in the opening half. However, the Devils then proceeded to take control of the game, as FDU embarked on a 17-0 run to set the half-time score at 35-13. Ashley Makarczyk knocked down a 3-point basket for Wilkes to start the second-half scoring, but the Lady Colonels would not get any closer as they were outscored 36-14 by FDU in the second period. “Every bucket seemed to fall for them today. We took a lot of good shots but they weren’t falling.” Wilkes head coach Rachel Emmerthal said after the game. Michlovsky posted a double-double by adding 13 rebounds to 33 points, which included a 13-for-17 shooting performance. Katie Cappelloni was the high scorer for Wilkes with 10 points in her final game as a Lady Colonel, over a third of all points on the board for Wilkes in the game. Sam Lynam and Macarczyk added seven and six points respectively. For the Lady Colonels, the loss marked the end of a trying season that saw the team lose several key performers before the start of the year and suffer through long stretches of missed time by its two seniors, Cappelloni and Lacey Andresen, because of injuries. “We had a very young team this year, and missing our senior leaders on the floor was tough for us, both in games and practices,” Emmerthal explained. “We will miss our two seniors very much. They did all they could for us this season. But we have a great amount of talent coming back, and they can definitely put it together out there.” “It’s been a tough year, but we’ve tried to push through,” Cappelloni said following the game. “I think these girls will definitely grow into their roles with the team and take the program to a higher level.” �Sports FEBRUARY 26, 2008 20 The Colonels Are In The Beacon/Gino Troiani Kresge’s 28 points helps Wilkes to their fourth playoff trip in five years BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Asst. Sports Editor After slipping up in several chances to lock up a conference playoff berth in recent games, the Wilkes men’s basketball team knew the predicament they were in heading into Saturday’s game at FDU-Florham. Not only would they need to defeat the Devils, but they would also be watching the scoreboard because they needed Manhattanville to defeat visiting Arcadia in another conference contest , or else players would’ve been sitting in Rifkin sipping hot chocolate this week chatting about how they barely missed the playoffs. The Colonels contest finished four minutes earlier than the game in Purchase, NY. Afterwards, Wilkes parents anxiously whipped out their cell phones hoping to learn Arcadia lost to the third-seeded Valiants. Moments later, the Colonels and their fan base clapped to the sounds of good news as they gathered in the lobby after the game. As it would play out, luck and skill were both on their side. Therefore, the Colonels will be dancing their way to the postseason for the fourth time in five years. Tom Kresge posted a doubledouble with 28 points and 12 rebounds, Chris DeRojas fired in five 3-pointers, and the Colonels defeated FDU-Florham, 77-64, in Madison, NJ, on Saturday. Wilkes finished their season with an overall record of 13-11, while moving to 7-5 in conference play. Coupled with Arcadia’s loss, the win put the Colonels into the number four seed in the upcoming league playoffs, and the team will travel to top-seeded DeSales on Wednesday evening for an opening round game. “I don’t think there is an overlydominant team in the conference playoffs this year. Every team has had its ups and downs,” Wilkes head coach Jerry Rickrode said after Saturday’s win. “We played very well today in key areas where we were deficient in the past several days.” Saturday’s game would see both teams trading baskets and answering scoring runs by the other side to keep the score close. However, the Colonels were able to seize control of the contest by closing the first half on a 12-2 scoring run that gave Wilkes a 12-point halftime lead. Kresge, DeRojas, Anthony Gabriel and Steve Kline all contributed during the run before an FDU jumper at the buzzer set the half-time score at 37-25. FDU opened the second half with a basket from freshman center Ricky Fetske, who posted a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Still, the Devils would not be able to get the lead under 10 points again and Wilkes posted its playoff-clinching victory. “We came into the game knowing what we needed to do. We played as a complete team for the first time in a few games,” said Wilkes sophomore guard Chris Gulla. “We had a tough few days of practice, and it really paid off today.” While Wilkes will head to DeSales Wednesday evening, thirdseeded Manhattanville will travel to second-seeded King’s in the other first round match up. The winners of Wednesday’s games will meet Saturday afternoon at the campus of the highest remaining seed for the conference final, with the winner receives an automatic berth into the NCAA division III national tournament. As they meet the Bulldogs of DeSales University, the Colonels will be squaring off against the only conference opponent to defeat them twice this season- a 68-58 loss at the Martz Center, followed by a 71-61 defeat on the road on Feb. 2. DeSales is led by their senior tandem of center Phil Stricker and point guard Eddie Ohlson. Stricker leads the Bulldogs in both rebounds (168) and points per game (13.8), and will be a key challenge for the Colonels this week. See BBALL page 17 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2008 February 26th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008 February 26 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/f0c64b2fe83d886e4fa7a9ba77f910a6.pdf dc1c8f438ef3a5b1b01f0687b45568e4 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW FEBRUARY M ARCH 18,5, 2008 2008 In This Issue... www.wilkesbeacon.com Volume 60 Issue 17 13 US Presidential race comes to Northeast PA Clinton campaign stops by Wilkes; Obama sets up shop Alternative Spring Break Trips BY ANDREW SEAMAN Page 9 1/!ao Hardware Bar Page 13 NBA Doubleheader Page 18 r Inside News................................1-5 Opinion.............................6-8 Lifestyles.........................9-11 Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 Beacon News Editor The “Old Bookstore” in the Henry Student Center was filled to capacity when Chelsea Clinton, daughter of presidential hopeful New York Senator Hillary Clinton, made a stop at Wilkes University on Wednesday, March 12, to answer questions from students, faculty, staff and the public about her mother’s campaign. Meanwhile, only two blocks away supporters of Illinois Senator Barack Obama, Clinton’s rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, were busily setting up campaign headquarters for the area in Midtown Village. Chelsea did not mention the Illinois Senator in her hour-long question and answer session. But she did say that, in her opinion, her mother was the most viable candidate for the Democratic nomination. She was asked a series of questions from the audience, ranging in topics from the war in Iraq to the DREAM Act. Some audience members declined to ask a question, but showed their support for Hillary Clinton by The Beacon/Cara Koster telling Chelsea to “Go get them, kid!” Chelsea Clinton thanks the people who gathered for a question and answer session in the “Old Bookstore” at Wilkes University. She answered several questions about her mother, See PRESIDENT page 5 New York Senator Hillary Clinton, and the campaign’s stance on several issues. Three pharmacy faculty to leave Wilkes BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor At the end of the spring semester, the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy and Nursing at Wilkes University will lose three key faculty members in pharmacy. After finals, Dr. Sheila Kang, assistant professor of Pharmacy Practice, will move to Chicago with her husband, who recently finished his fellowship at Geisinger Medical Center in Gastroenterology. Kang is currently negotiating a position with a school in Chicago. Kang joined the Wilkes community in August 2005 and teaches the second half of the infectious diseases course. She also has an internal medicine clerkship rotation at Mercy Scranton Hospital. “It’s nice when you do a lot of mentoring and get to know [the students] as more than just students. Three years is definitely enough time to be able to develop a relationship with students in the class,” said Kang. “I have no idea what kind of program I’m going to end up at when I get to Chicago, but I think the students that we have here are very professional and very ma- ture. I think it’ll be hard to find students like this again.” “She has been a great advisor over the years and has always been there when I needed someone to talk to. It didn’t matter if it was about school or my personal life; she was always there with an open ear, and of course some helpful advice. Even just passing in the hallway, I always knew that I’d get a smile,” said Nicolas Fisher, P3 pharmacy student. Kang is the advisor to one-sixth of the pharmacy class of 2009. Her advisees called their team the Kangaroos. “The best way I can think of it is that it is almost like losing a parent. She’s always been there for our team, looking after us with a careful eye and making sure that we were getting through the program fine and taking time out from her busy schedule when we needed someone to talk to. And now that she’s leaving, it will be hard to get the same relationship with our new advisor,” said Fisher. In addition to Kang’s departure, on June 1, Dr. Nicole Culhane, associate professor of Phar- macy Practice, and Dr. Jim Culhane, associate professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, will begin new careers with the College of Notre Dame of Maryland (COND), which is located four miles north of downtown Baltimore. At COND, they will assist newly appointed Dean, Dr. Anne Y. F. Lin in the process of bringing the new School of Pharmacy to life. Lin was the founding chair of the Nesbitt School of Pharmacy and Nursing at Wilkes University. According to the COND website, the new School of Pharmacy “will be the first one established on the campus of a women’s college in the United States.” The school is currently seeking accredidation and hopes to welcome its first class in fall 2009. The Culhanes were on board when Wilkes began developing its own School of Pharmacy in August 1997. Nicole is currently a practicing clinical pharmacist at Nesbitt Memorial Medical Center and also helped develop a post-doctoral See PHARMACY page 5 �NEWS MARCH 18, 2008 2 Interfaith Coordinator Guardian Angels in W-B Presidential Campaign Pharmacy 3 4 5 5 Center for Global Education and Diversity announces location, goals BY MEGAN KRISANDA Beacon Staff Writer A new center that emphasizes international education and diversity is taking shape at Wilkes University. The Diversity Task Force proposed the idea of a Center for Global Education and Diversity to the Board of Directors in December 2007, and the Board unanimously approved its concept. Currently, an implementation committee is discussing the structure of the center, staffing in its first year, and budget issues. Dr. Maria Suarez, special assistant to the President, is spokeswoman for the center. A final proposal will be presented to the Board of Directors in April of 2008. University officials have housed the center on the third floor of Passan Hall. The center has two major related goals which include overseeing global initiatives at Wilkes and addressing needs to meet the growing diversity of the Wilkes community. “We hope to increase the number of Wilkes students who have experiences abroad--not only study abroad in the classical sense, which is a semester or longer, but it is also looking at shorter term experiences, a week or 10 days, a summer,” said Suarez. Suarez added that some of these experiences are already happening now. However, the goal is to increase the participants significantly. “Right now, about 3 percent [of Wilkes students] travel abroad, and we want to make that, within the next 10 years, 30 percent. It’s a very ambitious goal. But we feel that it’s important for our students to have an international experience...at least one... as they prepare for the global workforce,” said Suarez. This idea of increasing students’ experiences abroad in hopes to gain competence in dealing with the global environment is a national movement. “The other side of this center is providing support and resources for our faculty and bring a global perspective to what we do in the classroom, events, and speakers. In addition to that, there’s also a need to address support for our international students. Those numbers are growing and they contribute greatly to the education of everyone here. They bring very different perspectives to the campus and the classroom,” said Suarez. Embracing and supporting international students will also be a goal for the center. The center will serve as a gathering place for these students and any student interested in learning more about studying abroad and the opportunities available. Global education and diversity are interrelated said Suarez. “There is a very important relationship between the two. It is not only ethnic diversity. {Diversity] encompasses gender, political views, age, interests…We want to build a support structure and capacity to embrace all of the different groups that make up [the] Wilkes community,” said Suarez. Jasmine King, a freshman nursing major, is a diversity ambassador working part-time in Passan Hall. King, along with a number of other students will be trained in the near future to be a part of the Center. “I just feel like this center will be a great place to learn about other students and what they have to bring to Wilkes. Diversity is a great thing, and I think that we can all learn something new as well as teach others things that can benefit them in the future. Also, I just think that the Center for Global Education and Diversity will just be a fun and interesting experience,” said King. The center will be a space which will provide advice and resources. “This way it will be more of a cohesive approach to the development of our campus in terms of its growing diversity and how it embraces its community,” said Suarez. BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Alison Woody Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Christa Sgobba Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school year. The Beacon/Andrew Seaman During the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Wilkes-Barre on Sunday, March 16, several bagpipers walked down Main St. Joining them in the parade were political candidates including Congressman Kanjorski and his opponent, Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta, Republican candidate for the 11th Congressional District. Onlookers lined the street to see several other organizations march. There largest group was “Parents in support of SDACT (Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers).” 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon.com �NEWS MARCH 18, 2008 Theresa Monaco named new Interfaith Coordinator BY AMY FUSCO Beacon Staff Writer Wilkes University’s Student Development Office has announced that Theresa Monaco, former religion teacher in New York, has been hired as the new Interfaith Coordinator for campus. After a lengthy selection process, the Diocese of Scranton made the offer to Monaco. Though Wilkes is an independent institution, The Scranton Diocese funds the Interfaith Coordinator position and therefore runs the search. According to Philip Ruthkosky, the Associate Dean of Student Development, Wilkes will provide Monaco with an office and living accommodations. According to Monaco, after spending eight years at the high school level first working in the library and then as a teacher, she decided that she wanted to interact with a more mature group. She also wanted to become more involved exploring multiple faiths, rather than only the Catholic religion. She checked out the Wilkes website several times and chose to apply for the position. “She’s going to offer an office that is very conducive to students feeling free to just wander in and have candid conversations about faith, values, morals, whatever is on their mind,” stated Ruthkosky, after meeting with Monaco. “She will be another trustworthy mentor where students can go in and really have these open conversations,” he added. “[Monaco] has a really diverse background in various different fields where she’s done this kind of thing before and I think that will be a real benefit coming to the college,” said Gabrielle Lamb, the Student Development Coordinator. “I expect that she’ll put together a nice offering of programs to support the interfaith initiative on campus,” she added. “I feel that God is already working in the lives of the students and I want to encourage that development,” stated Monaco. She explained that in its mission statement Wilkes highlights the “constantly changing world” that we live in and the need for continuing learning so the students can survive in it. “I see that the spirituality aspect, a relationship with God, to be the piece that helps you manage the constantly changing world. Without that firm foundation, it becomes more difficult,” she said. Andy Curry, a senior mechanical engineering major and co-president of Christian Fellowship Club, is eager to begin working with Monaco. He has been involved since “God started CFC in February of 2006.” He explained that the previous Interfaith Coordinator, Angela Hermes, was a very active co-advisor for the group and anticipates the new coordinator to be similarly active. “We are excited to become involved with the new coordinator, Theresa, in establishing a respectful relationship between the Christian Fellowship Club and Interfaith… though we strongly differ from the doctrine of interfaith as a whole,” stated Curry. Curry also said that, “Much like she would expect from us, we expect Theresa to be supportive of pointing students to seek a life of purpose. Also, we expect her to be respectful of the student ministry emphasis on Christian Fellowship Club, but at the same time willing to offer fellowship and support.” Ann Hofmann, a sophomore pharmacy student, is also looking forward to speaking with the new Interfaith Coordinator. She feels that the previous coordinator was very good at answering questions and helped her 3 explore the different churches in the area. “I want her to somehow be involved in CFC and at least be able to make us aware of what is happening in the community [involving Christianity],” Hofmann stated. “I want to be a vessel for information about religion,” Monaco said. Students should be aware of her as a resource for finding out what is available in the area in reference to faith and religion, such as the locations of faithbased institutions and their schedules. Monaco said that she is very excited to be a part of what is going on at Wilkes and to meet new people. Her main focus now is “trying to see what it is that the students at Wilkes see as the need [in respect to their faiths].” Monaco is also excited about the community service programs she will be involved in. She has always wanted to have mission trips and believes that when people do community service “we get back more than we give.” Lamb said that she is happy to have a new member on the Student Development team, “Having an Interfaith Coordinator here just fits really nicely into the whole puzzle that is Student Development.” KR.eflect and Rel.ax DayD Thursday) March 20th 11 :00-1 :OOPM: Get a C:omplimentary chair mu:s age : from A1Jno phere Salon and Day Spa · IN while you wait to get your Live Acoustic Music by "Jay Luke" Wednesday, March 19th «Angelic Mess age» read by Angela DeMuro 6 :30-8 :30pm .-~Gear~~ Spring Sale! f1-'earen.owa I Jc p •·n •,11,, hr -·m In. - -1· , · -B r , · a 1 (570 82 ~ - . 9 ~ Int 665 d y.. ·sma ll_ll - ~+ ) Justgo t.o: "1,I'BFREE" Come visit the fun colored Gear t- shirt table on sale now! Womans 'pink'' & st. Patty s Day 'ween' tees for only $12.99 reguhrfy $19.98! l'r'ferl s gTey & navy tees for on:IJ $9 .99 regularly $14.98 �MARCH 18, 2008 PRESIDENT from FRONT PAGE However, the majority of the questions asked to Chelsea were not particularly biased. The first question came from a woman asking about Hillary Clinton’s stance on smoking. The woman said that in her opinion the federal government has ignored the poorer areas when it comes to anti-smoking legislation. Chelsea answered by explaining her mother’s health care plan, which requires people to have health care coverage. Hillary Clinton allows people to remain under their current carrier but will also open up care under the Congressional health plan. Chelsea said that this plan would help smokers because they will be able to get treatment, even if they have a previously diagnosed condition, and they cannot be turned away. She also explained that, in her opinion, the plan would force premiums down. The premium paid by patients under the health plan would be “a little less than three-percent” of their income. Many of the questions came from people who supported Hillary Clinton’s campaign; however, they still wanted to know more about her stance on specific issues. One Iraq War veteran asked Chelsea about her mother’s plans for returning veterans. Chelsea said that her mother wants to allow family members of returning veterans to take part in the Family Medical Leave Act, to take care of the returning veterans. Chelsea also said that her mother wants to make sure every veteran has health care. Another question for Chelsea came from a young man who sat behind her during the session. He asked why Chelsea’s mother voted for the DREAM Act, which he contended helps children of illegal immigrants obtain an education while putting them on the path towards citizenship. PHARMACY from FRONT PAGE pharmacy residency program with colleague Eric Wright. She was the recipient of The Outstanding Faculty Merit Award and the American Association of College of Pharmacy Teacher of the Year two times each. At COND, Nicole will act as the Director of Experiential Education in the Department of Pharmacy Practice. “I’ll miss a lot of things, especially my colleagues and students,” said Nicole. “I will always look back at my time at Wilkes with fondness and gratitude.” Caitlin Flaherty, P3 pharmacy student, will be affected by the Culhanes’ departure. “As my advisor, Dr. Nicole Culhane has of- NEWS The DREAM Act was created primarily as a way for children of illegal immigrants to gain citizenship, since there are currently no ways for a child brought into this country illegally, by his or her parents, to obtain citizenship. Currently, children of illegal immigrants must return to their native country and wait 10 years to re-enter the United States. This policy is true even if the child in question was primarily raised in the United States and has lived in the US 5 an and ask for pictures and autographs. Before the conclusion of the event Jef Bauman, Student Government Vice President, presented Chelsea with a tote bag filled with various Wilkes University items. “She expressed her gratitude for the care package and said that it was very considerate and let me know that she wouldn’t forget Wilkes,” said Bauman. Bauman said that, “Tuesday afternoon Margy [Sromovski] approached me about dent, also attended the session and said that, “I think the visits by candidates and their representatives are just great. There is no better way to get our students engaged in the electoral process and that is a key part of being a good citizen.” Currently, Gilmour said that there is no word on more candidates stopping by. “We have put out the word that we would like to host key candidates on campus. I am optimistic more will come.” The political invasion of Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) kicked off with Senator Hillary Clinton’s visit to Scranton last week. Clinton’s family, the Rodhams, once owned a small summer cottage at Lake Winola. Clinton greeted supporters at a rally inside Scranton High School after eating pizza in Old Forge. On Saturday, Clinton topped off her week of face time with NEPA residents by marching in Scranton’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. Thanks to favorable weather conditions and the promise of her presence, crowds were record-breaking, topping 100,000. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Obama, who is the first candidate to open a campaign the Wyoming Students were headquarters able to sign in a book of conValley,to is be set sent to make a few stops inIllinois NEPA dolences to the Northern next week. So people far there is no word as to University. Five were killed when a whether Arkansas Senator Johnhall McCain has gunman burst into their lecture and rescheduled appearances, though most anticiThe Beacon/Jenna Stephens pate all remaining candidates will spend Obama supporters stand outside Illinois Senator Barack Obama’s campiagn head- a great deal of time in the state in coming quarters in Wilkes-Barre. The Obama headquarters is the first presidential candidate weeks. to set up shop in Wilkes-Barre. Videos@ for the majority of his or her life. This piece getting some stuff together for Chelsea from of legislation has been brought to Congress different offices in Student Development. several times and has failed every vote so Zena Miller, director of Campus Catering far. was the one who actually came to Margy Chelsea told the questioner, “I am proud about it.” of my mom for voting for [it]… I support He added that he “spoke with [Miller] that. I think we should be standing up for and… coordinated… the bag. In order [for children who have been raised as Ameri- Chelsea] to remember [her] visit to Wilkes, cans, [and] their right to live up to their God as well as give her something for the road given potential.” since she will be traveling across the state At the end of the event, people rushed all day, we had some snacks.” onto the stage to meet the 28-year-old womDr. Tim Gilmour, Wilkes University Presi- WilkesBeacon.com fered much guidance and is someone I admire. Dr. James Culhane is a great professor. He has always made class an enjoyable experience. It will be very difficult to replace such great professors and mentors.” Dr. Jim Culhane departs Wilkes to assume the role of Chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences at COND. During his time at Wilkes, he received multiple awards, including the Carpenter Outstanding Teacher Award for the 2007-2008 year and the American Association of College of Pharmacy Teacher of the Year award three times. “This is the job that I’ve always wanted to have… You start off in a position, you grow and develop professionally and personally, and you get to a point when you realize you’re ready for that next challenge and step,” he explained. “I’ve always thought that I would always like to be chair of a department like this. The opportunity came when Dr. Lin called me and asked if I would be interested… and I said ‘absolutely.’ It’s an exciting opportunity for me to do this.” “Wilkes University Pharmacy school will not be the same without the Drs. Culhane. I have learned so much from them throughout my years here. Not only have they taught me valuable knowledge about topics pharmacy related but have been very instrumental in motivating me to do better and always push to do better. I will miss them very much but wish them well with all of their future endeavors,” said Morgan Kuhns, P3 pharmacy student. Eryn Briggs, P3 pharmacy student, agreed. “I feel that the Culhanes will be two very difficult people to replace. I’ve learned things from both of them that I’ll carry with me throughout the rest of my professional career. Dr. [Jim] Culhane is one of the most engaging professors I’ve ever had, and I looked forward to classes in which he was going to be teaching in. “ With three members departing from the pharmacy faculty, Dr. Edward Foote, chair of Pharmacy Practice, and Dr. Arthur Kibbe, chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences, will have to work to fill the positions over the summer. Foote is currently recruiting for Kang’s position and has described the faculty members as being “very valuable” to the department. Human Resources will assist Kibbe in the search for someone to fill Jim’s position. “We wish them nothing but the best,” said Kibbe. �Opinion Angry Rant Parade Sex Trade MARCH 18, 2008 7 8 8 6 America’s biggest threats: intolerance & hatred BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD If asked what the most harmful threat facing the United States is today, most Americans might name the Iraq war, a troubled education system, the looming threat of recession and job loss, immigration, or perhaps terrorism. The answers to the question would be as varied as the American people themselves. But according to a March 10 CNN story, Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kerns believes that homosexuals are the biggest threat facing American society today. In a speech to members in her district she said, “I honestly think it’s [homosexuality] the biggest threat...that our nation has…Even more so than terrorists or Islam, which I think is a big threat.” She added that she isn’t gay bashing but, “according to God’s word, that is not the right kind of lifestyle. It has deadly consequences.” Kerns even added for good measure that the American education system is indoctrinating children as young as two years old into the gay lifestyle and, “The homosexual agenda is destroying our country.” Her comments have predictably caused harsh backlash from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organizations, allies and advocates. Most have called Kerns’s comments “hate speech.” Ultimately, what Kerns appears to want is an all-out war on the LGBT community, though she was somewhat vague about how such a war might be carried out. Regardless, any lesbian, gay, bi or transgendered individual, any ally, friend, or supportive relative would be considered “the enemy” in terms that Kerns has laid out. State Representative Kerns’s statements are particularly disturbing considering that there have been many incidents of hate violence against gay and transgender youth reported by the media. The Ventura County Star recently reported that on February 12, a 14-year old boy in California, who was bullied and taunted by his classmates, was gruesomely murdered at school by one of his peers because he was gay. Moreover, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported on February 23 that a 17-year old transgendered male was shot and killed, and police officials believe it may have been a result of a hate crime. These murders are only a few of the ones that have actually received attention. Who knows how many incidents of assault and bullying occur on a regular basis across this nation, all in the name of hatred and intolerance? Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign, recently said in response to Kerns’s comments, “The FBI’s most recent hate crimes report shows an increase in bias-motivated violence from the previous year. Hate crimes based on religion and sexual orientation are the second and third most prevalent, following only race in their frequency.” The Beacon staff believes that a federal law such as the Matthew Shepard Act needs to be passed by Congress to help combat and deter hate crimes against the LGBT community. Moreover, public schools need to implement programs that deter bullying and promote a safe and accepting environment. For example, The Denver Post reported on March 13 that Denver area public schools are implementing a new program, titled “No Place for Hate,” sponsored by the AntiDefamation League (ADL), which will allow Colorado schools to implement anti-bias programs and projects. The program will take one year for schools to complete the five steps needed to earn their designation as a “No Place for Hate” community. The five steps include: “1. Creating a coalition of administrators, teachers, staff, students, parents and community leaders to oversee the implementation of anti-bias programs and projects at the school. 2. Sign ADL’s “Resolution of Respect” and display it in the school. The resolution says, in part, that “I firmly believe that one person can make a difference and that no person can be an innocent bystander when it comes to opposing hate.” 3. Complete three or more activities listed in the ADL’s “Positive Impact!” Resource guide’s 101 Ways to Make a Positive Impact in your community. 4. Participate in one of ADL’s “A World of Difference” Institute training programs. 5. Complete and submit the “activities and fulfillment forms” to the ADL.” Once these steps are completed, that school will then become a “No place for Hate” campus. Other training programs include focus on face-to-face bullying, cyberbulling, and peer training, which provides students with the resources to design and lead interactive programs that contribute to “respectful, bias-free schools and communities.” If other programs similar to the “No Place for Hate” program are implemented at public schools, the likelihood that bias motivated hate crimes against those of different race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity and social class would most likely decrease. More importantly, however, our elected leaders may have a better understanding of the need to be respectful, accepting and understanding of others and comments and attitudes like those made by Kerns could become a taboo of the past. If America is to become a country that is accepting and welcoming for all, we must change the environment in which our children are taught. We encourage all students, faculty, staff and Wilkes-Barre community members to contact their federal legislators and emphasize the need for the passage of the Matthew Shepard Act. On a local level, contact the school boards in Wilkes-Barre and surrounding communities and express the need for programs like Denver’s “No Place for Hate.” A federal law such as the Matthew Shepard Act and implementation of anti-bullying and antibias programs are a step in the right direction that will help build American communities to become a more accepting, more inclusive and more welcoming for all that could eliminate the detrimental threat of hatred. Beacon Poll Results The following are results of a poll that The Beacon conducted online this past week. The poll was unscientific, and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on campus. Results are based on 83 responses. The Beacon asked: What fashion trend from the past should be brought back? • The Mullet-13% • Platform Shoes-4% • Neon Spandex-11% • Tie-Dye-14% • Scrunchies-2% • Slap Bracelets-19% • Skinny Ties-8% • Poodle Skirts-5% • Muffs-12% • Other-11% Next Week’s Question: Who would you pay $5,500 to spend an hour with? • Ashley Alexandra Dupre (aka Kristen) • Brad Pitt • Jesus Christ • Christopher Walken • Ghandi • Helen Keller • George Clooney • Marilyn Monroe • Angelina Jolie • Other Visit www.wilkesbeacon. com to cast your vote. Results will be published in next week’s issue of The Beacon. A Sight for Sore Eyes: By Aleksander Lapinski �OPINION MARCH 18, 2008 7 The Angry Rant: Discipline your kids! BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Remember high school? Remember when you would get a question wrong on a test, or when you would lose points on a project because you failed to follow instructions? Or when you were yelled at by the teacher because you weren’t listening? Or when you were made to sit in the hall because you were being disruptive? Those were all basic tenets of high school. It was essentially a four to six-year training program that got us ready for the “real world,” with a very clear message: you’re going to be punished if you mess up. Bad choices have consequences, whether it’s a demotion at work because you botched a report, or a jail sentence because you took out a row of mailboxes with your Jetta after a night of hookers and cocaine. There was a time when no one argued with it. If I got a bad grade on a test and was suspended, yelled at, etc., it was because I screwed up somewhere. On top of all that, I would probably be in trouble with my parents when I got home. That’s how it worked. As we were growing up, we could reasonably expect castigation from by at least two separate parties for mistakes. Being called out was part of what we could all expect when we were stupid, self-absorbed, or wrong-headed, and it was right. These days, though, teachers can’t discipline students or even give them bad grades without some parents calling up and complaining about it. I have several friends who teach at the high school level, and I hear horror stories about how parents call in and demand, not ask, demand, that a grade be changed or that the teacher shouldn’t yell at little Johnny because it’s embarrassing. For whatever reason, parents have stopped being parents. They no longer teach their kids to work for their success, they are instead teaching them that they are automatically entitled to everything, and that everyone else is wrong. For example: a month or so ago, there was a high school student from Ohio who decided, in true high school fashion, to play a prank on his principal. But instead of writing “Mr. Principal Sucks” on the bathroom stall, he decided to make a MySpace page about the principal, in which he put some unflattering and downright insulting information, including listing Hitler and Saddam Hussein as his heroes, and also mentioning that he enjoys having sexual relations with the students in his spare time. As a result, the student was expelled for the remainder of the school year for harassment, and rightfully so. But the parents of the student pitched a fit and fought the ruling, using the defense that it was only natural for students to disrespect their teachers outside of the classroom, and tried to get it dismissed because they contended that the school was in violation of the student’s free speech. Here’s the thing: Free speech isn’t the blanket law that most interpret it to be. If you make a public website that besmirches the reputation of someone with lies, you’re not protected. That’s called libel. What if I were to make a website that says that those parents enjoyed skinning babies and spitting on senior citizens? How would they react then? It’s free speech according to these two geniuses, so why not? Of course, the parents should know better; they are presumably full-grown adults who should have some sort of formal education, but who knows? They are clearly without any sort of internal barometer of how to discipline their kid, so I guess all bets are off. But really, how can the parents just let their kid do this without any repercussions? The kid got himself expelled from school, and all they can do is claim that their little angel’s free speech has been violated? Here’s a suggestion: Discipline your kid! So the next time this happens, you won’t have to drive 30 miles out of the way because the new school you’re sending your kid to doesn’t have bus service to your house. Honestly, what has happened to parents? It seems they are more concerned with being best friends with their kids, instead of being parents. As a result, you have a lot of kids walking around thinking that they can get away with anything because mommy and daddy are their buddies and they’ll understand. What is the root of this problem? Was there a secret meeting among parents and they just decided to vote on this? “Hey, let’s let our kids run around and do whatever they want!” It’s happening everywhere, too. Even the usually morally sound showbiz types are jumping on the bandwagon. Lindsay Lohan’s mother has a reality show with her other, younger daughter, in which she tries to become an actress/singer/whatever. Really? Is that the best idea? Of course, Dina Lohan’s excuse is that her daughter wants to be an actress. Fair enough. When I was seven, I wanted to fly. But my parents didn’t tie a bed sheet around my neck and throw me off the roof. They had more sense than that. It blows my mind that Dina Lohan wants to expose her other daughter to the same lifestyle that was the catalyst for her oldest daughter’s scrapes with the police and stints in rehab. Parents need to decide what’s best for their children, and that may mean making tough decisions when one of your kids gets busted for having blow in their car. These days parents are trying so hard to be best friends, managers, agents, and coaches instead of being parents. As an adult and as a parent, you have a responsibility to guide your children in the right direction on all levels. So allow me to offer some advice and words of wisdom to the kids: You’re Not Special. Remember that; it’s important. Until you find a way to differentiate yourself from the rest of the pack, you’re just another booger-eater who spends too much time playing World of Warcraft or checking your MySpace page. You may think you’re entitled to something, but in reality, no one is entitled to anything (see chart below). Everyone has to work for basic things like respect, money, accolades. High school is a gimme. It’s easy. In fact, it takes more effort to not graduate from high school. You have to earn what you get in this world, nothing is going to be given to you. You don’t know it now, but high school is a cake-walk. When you take your attitude into the real world, chances are that you’ll meet up with the harsh reality that you are a small fish in a very, very large pond that is populated with other fish that are smarter, faster, and stronger, because unlike you, they actually worked for everything they have. And those fish are going to chew you up and spit you out, and all that you’re going to have to say is “Do you want fries with that?” And to parents: Get tough and parent. When children do something wrong, make sure that they are aware of it. Don’t immediately defend them, because it’s setting a very bad precedent for the rest of their lives. If they failed a math test, it’s probably because they’re stupid or they didn’t try. Stop calling and complaining to everyone because you don’t want your precious demon seeds to be embarrassed when they are disciplined for talking on their cell phone during class. Discipline your kids; it will make the world a much better place for all of us. And you don’t have to be a genius to understand that. Sense of Entitlement Scale Cast of Dane Cook " Grey's Anatomy" High School Students AIDS/Cancer Curer Zero Entitlement Co1lege Graduate GuysWith Lip Rings FormerUS President I Tyra Bank$ Harvey Levin fromTM Z Reality Show Contestants High School Graduate Current US Inventor Of Sliced President B1·ead 16-year-old JohnasSalk genius ala Doogie Howser, M.D. Just as people become more and more entitled as they accomplish more, entitlement can also be taken away. For instance, Tyra Banks ranks on the low end of the scale because she went from smoking hot supermodel to nausea-inducing talk show host, whereas the great Jonas Salk ranks high on the scale due to his work with the polio vaccine. As you can see, kids don’t get their first sense of entitlement until they graduate from college. �OPINION MARCH 18, 2008 Child sex trade: The sad truth about Cambodia BY GINO TROIANI Staff Writer/Photographer The nation of Cambodia is located in Southeast Asia, just west of Vietnam. It is largely underdeveloped, poverty stricken, and lacks a strong central government. To support themeselves, many Cambodians live and work on farms, or in factories. In a nation where the average annual salary is around $350 a year, some citizens turn to illegal activities such as narcotics or the sex trade to make money. Brothels have been an easy way to generate revenue for Cambodian pimps since the early 1900’s. When the United Nations (UN) entered Cambodia, sending troops to supervise the country’s transition to the current democratic government, there was a large demand for prostitutes. Not long after the UN left, brothel owners discovered that they could market young girls to huge numbers of foreign clientele. Today the sex trade in Cambodia is one of the largest money making businesses in the nation. Out of an estimated 20,000 sex workers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, the aver- age age is around 15. According to the U.S. State Department, sex trafficking is becoming a bigger business worldwide than drug trafficking. This means that every day thousands of young girls and boys are bought and sold into slavery. The big question is, how do these young people find themselves as sex slaves? According to a recent MSNBC article, one of the most popular ways of recruiting is by promising young girls steady work and shelter, an appealing prospect for girls who hope to help their families with much needed income. When they agree, they are brought to the brothel and sold for money. Because many young women in Cambodia are homeless and uneducated, one can imagine how easy this type of recruiting is. It is also not uncommon for a struggling family to sell one of their own children into the sex trade. The article reported that one woman recalls being tricked and sold to a brothel by her newly wed husband for $200. The majority of brothels are usually filthy, run down shacks, that offer subhuman living conditions. Upon arrival, the young women are usually beaten, cadged and drugged. Dateline also reported that, it is also common for the pimps to show pornography to the youngest women, as “educational” background so they know how to service a paying customer. Because Cambodia is ravaged with HIV, AIDS, and numerous sexually transmitted diseases, it is considered good luck for a Cambodian man to have sex with a virgin. Because of this, it is not uncommon for the young girls to have their hymen re-stitched so that they can be sold as virgins more than once for a larger sum. Their ages range from 4 and up. CNN recently reported that, a young girl only fifteen who was recently rescued from a brothel testified that she had been “locked in a cage,” and forced to service at least fifteen customers a day. If she objected she was starved, and shocked with electric rods. She was also given a methamphetamine tablet several times a day to cloud her memory and keep her in an altered state. What is being done? There have been numerous efforts by both internal and external organizations to break up the sex trade in Cambodia, but the (LEFT) King’s College students walk alongside a float featuring a balloon arch rainbow. One student was dressed as a leprechaun and danced on the float. (BELOW) The King’s College mascot rides in the back of a security vehicle. 8 struggle is far from over. The Cambodian government has set up an anti-trafficking department, but it is poorly funded, and many of the enforcement officers partake in the illegal activity themselves, such as taking handouts and tipping off the brothel owners. For the girls who do find a way out of the sex trade, many of them turn to specialized shelters, which are dedicated to the rehabilitation of the young women. Here they receive both medical and psychological attention. The sad truth is that most of these girls die at a young age because of AIDS or other physical problems. Also a large number of the girls end up leaving and returning to a life of prostitution because it is the only thing they know. Most of these young women have been exploited and abused on a daily basis for the majority of their lives. They have been stripped of their basic human rights, and demoralized to the point where there is nothing left but an empty shell. The United States and other developed countries have a moral obligation to educate and hold Cambodia to ensuring basic human rights for all. Here’s to you... Mr. Over Competitive! BY GINO TROIANI Staff Writer/Photographer The Beacon/Andrew Seaman After much discussion at recent Student Government meetings, Wilkes decided not to place any floats in the Wilkes-Barre St. Patrick’s Day parade. However, during the parade King’s College was represented by several students and vehicles. Some carried flags, others walked alongside a The Beacon/Andrew Seaman float. Drawing By: Matt Vital To us, it’s a game of pick up basketball at your cousin’s bar mitzvah. But to you, it is as if the fate of the world rests upon this victory. We can always spot you out because while the rest of us are trying to have a good time, you’re the only one yelling, flailing your arms, and looking like a complete fool. But that doesn’t matter, because we all know you’re the best. Right? Keep on, keepin’ on! �LIFESTYLES MARCH 18, 2008 Student of the Week 10 Young Scholars 11 9 Alternative spring breakers volunteer across the globe BY LAUREN SALEM Beacon Staff Writer been under 9 feet of water, by mulching the pathways and filling ditches with clumps of mud and clay. “When we went to the St. Bernard ComFor some students at Wilkes University, spring break wasn’t a time to relax on the munity Center, that started to change our beach or catch up on extra sleep. Rather, it students’ lives and they could see the purprovided time for week-long excursions to pose of the alternative spring break trip,” help the less fortunate in places around the Boone said. On the second day of work, the group split world. More than 20 Wilkes students split up and up again and half the students went to Chilspent their spring break providing commu- dren’s Museum, while the other half went nity service to the St. Bernard’s community to help at the Animal Rescue New Orleans in New Orleans as well as the Succotz com- animal shelter. At the Children’s Museum, students munity in Belize. In each community, the helped kids volunteers heard inspirwith arts and ing stories from the peocrafts, face ple they were aiding. painting, and storytelling. New Orleans When they “I think the person that fi nished at affected us all the most the Children’s was a volunteer named Museum, they Steve,” said Kelly PatchCourtesy Kelly Patchell met up with ell, a junior psychology the group at the animal shelter. major involved in this year’s Alternative “In addition to our cleaning duties, we Spring Break, in the New Orleans Journal also pet the cats and took the dogs out for 2008. “This man was both the most insightwalks,” said Jen Smeraldo, a junior maful and inspirational man I’ve met.” joring in musical theater, in the blog New Steve, a cook at the St. Bernard CommuOrleans Journal 2008. “I wish I could take nity Center, was one of the many victims of every single cat and dog home.” Hurricane Katrina. Three years ago when Some of the cats and dogs picked up by the hurricane hit, Steve helped his sick wife, the animal shelter after Katrina hit were not whose heart was barely pumping, escape domesticated or needed socialization befrom the storm by pushing her wheelchair fore they could be adopted. Students also up into the attic. He told his wife that “they will get out worked with the St. Bernard Animal Shelof it together or not at all.” Steve’s house ter, which was operated by only two people, flooded in 14 feet of water, but they both and will be receiving money from a fundraiser Megan Boone is planning to set up survived the hurricane. “It takes a long time, but the people are in the future. This fundraiser so appreciative of students being there, be- will also give cause they keep coming back and the gov- money to the Bernard ernment does not,” said Megan Boone, the St. C o m m unity coordinator of Student Development. Center. After the students arrived in New Orleans, “Hearing they settled into a mansion on St. Charles that we’re the Street, which had only two bathrooms that heroes made had to be shared between 42 people. They the trip worthwere each given an army cot to sleep on said and an itchy prison blanket made out of “30 while,” Kaitlyn DeFapercent wool and 70 percent other fibers.” Even though the living accommodations cis, a freshman in were uncomfortable, Boone says it helped majoring nursing. “You bind the entire group emotionally. imagThe eleven students and two advisors who can’t ine what these went to New Orleans volunteered to distribpeople had to ute food and clothing to the residents of go though unthe St. Bernard’s Parish at the community center. On the first work day, they helped less you were Courtesy Barbara King make a new trail in the city park, which had there.” Belize Students who spent their alternative spring break in Belize also saw firsthand the difficulties facing a poverty-stricken community. “American tourists have given themselves a bad reputation which precedes them-having little respect for the local facilities and partying into all hours of the night,” said Dana Courtesy Amanda Kunkel Lehman, a senior Twenty students from Wilkes participated in alternative spring communication studbreak trips to New Orleans and Belize. They helped restore city ies major, in the Bepark trails and they volunteered at an animal shelter in New lize Journal 2008. “I, Orleans, and aided in building a library in Succotz, Belize. an alternative spring break participant, am not the typical tour- needed for mixing, and wiring with the rebar. ist.” “I have never experienced heat like we Ten Wilkes University students and two felt in Belize,” said Kaitlyn Taber-Miller, a advisors spent their spring break in San senior musical theatre major. “There were Ignacio, Belize, helping the community of moments where many of us experienced Succotz build a 12 X 30 library, which at nausea, headaches, and dizziness. It’s difthe time the group arrived had only a floor. fi cult to work in conditions like that.” On Within four days, the students were able to average, the daily temperatures in the rain lay nine rows of concrete block to create forest were above 90 degrees, and felt far the walls of the library without the aide of hotter because of the high humidity. a concrete mixer or any other modern techThe students also worked and interacted nological tools. with the children of Belize in after-school “The building is activities almost daily. actually also going to serve as a hurriAlan, a six-year-old boy, told junior comcane shelter and a traveling health clinic,” mnications and political science major Valsaid Amanda Kunkel, a junior elementary erie Martinez about life with his parents and education major. “Knowing that said that he does not have a curfew, because children will have a place to go his parents work until very late at night. after school to read and that Another boy she spoke with, Orvin, 12, said more people will be safe in he was joining the Belize Defense Force, the event of a hurribecause his mother would not be able to afcane is very comford for him to go to high school. forting to me.” Students were physically and emotionally Some of the challenged by hardships involved in undertasks students standing another culture as well as hardperformed while ships involved in manual labor. Martinez, constructing who is fl uent in Spanish, translated messagthe library es to help the students and Belize residents included communicate. concrete mix“The Belizean children truly touched me ing, mortarwith their curiosity for life, their mannering, carrying isms, and their thirst for interaction,” said blocks, laying Martinez. “They just reminded me of how blocks, sifting privileged we all are and how beautiful life sand, carrying truly is.” water, shoveling dirt and sand Dana Lehman and Justin Balint built a wall in Belize. �LIFESTYLES 10 MARCH 18, 2008 Student of the Week: Kaitlin Taber-Miller BY CHRISTINE ZAVASKAS Beacon Asst. Lifestyles Editor For Kaitlin Taber-Miller, a senior musical theatre major, spring break last year was not just a chance to catch up on sleep and homework, but an experience that changed her life. After serving as a coordinator for the Alternative Spring Break trip to New Orleans in 2007, Taber-Miller realized that she wanted to make her senior capstone project a script which would be written based on real interviews conducted with the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Last August, she returned to the city and began work on her project. Now in the process of staging the script, entitled “Project New Orleans,” Taber-Miller has also been accepted to Teach for America, which she was inspired to apply for after seeing the inequality of education during her work in New Orleans. For her work to bring the plight of the victims of Hurricane Katrina to greater attention, The Beacon has chosen Taber-Miller as this week’s Student of the Week and sat down with her to hear more about her project. The Beacon: Why did you take on this senior capstone project? Taber-Miller: I had this concept about the United States…I knew that we had flaws as a nation, but I guess I didn’t understand exactly how flawed we were until I had gone down to New Orleans…I want to do this capstone because I was ignorant about how things were down there before I went. I came back and met all my friends, family, and peers and I was talking to them about how it was, and they had no idea…I wanted to change that, which is what inspired me going back, filming interviews, and then writing a script that will be presented in April. The Beacon: How did you arrange the interviews? Taber-Miller: Dr. Hebert-Leiter put me in contact with her sister, Dr. Hebert, who is a physician in New Orleans. She introduced me to a couple of people via email and gave me their phone numbers once she requested their permission. Then, Lisa Mulvey in Career Services also has a strong connection with New Orleans, so she helped me… Then the rest of the interviews, I literally would just walk up to people in New Orleans and say, “Hey, I’m here doing this thing from Wilkes University and would you please just give me a few minutes of your time and talk to me about your experiences with the hurricane?” The Beacon: How did people respond when you approached them? Taber-Miller: They responded in very different ways… One woman, we spoke with her, and I get a little upset about it. We asked her if she’d like to talk to us and she said, ‘No I can’t. I’ll cry. It just hurts too much...’ Then some people I went up to were like, ‘Yes! Please, please tell people about what’s going on down here. Please tell them that we feel like we’re ignored, like we’ve been forgotten about...’ When I tried to speak with the firefighter, I had to go back five and six times just to get him to speak with me…I kept saying to him, ‘I’m not here to point any fingers…I’m here to find out about what you experienced.’ The Beacon: What are Photo courtesy Taber-Miller your plans for the future? Taber-Miller: I know that eventually I would really like to end up in higher education, either working in service programs like alternative spring break or perhaps teaching about education in terms of what I learn with my experience in Teach for America. I definitely know that I would like to work in higher education, I would like to travel, and eventually I would like to have a family. “Project New Orleans” will be presented at the Black Box Theatre in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center on April 18 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and April 21 at 8 p.m. in the Henry Student Center Ballroom. Admission is free, but donations for the victims of Hurricane Katrina will be accepted. THE 4 , T-SHIR S. COM YOUR #1 S011JRCiE FOR S-OREEN P RUrlTI NGi E BROl DERY. .AN I I PRO OTIONAL ITEMS! -Rs-:· IN . '·. . -· l?ERFECili FOR BUSI ~SE ' IIBS,TAURANT · C:01..LIEGl~.!:_1 MID GH :SCHOOLS. W!CA!RRY. ALI!. BRHll!ISAND S1YLESO leE · SWEA:1&11 :rs GOJ.IP RTS, . DU · RMS~Pi . , A DE 'f/Affl!::il'Y' Ofl MOMOiFf ITEMS . AS . , IMUGS, MOUSEl?ADS, COOLERS KEYCttAJ S, AND .f.ifE. GREAll PRICES AND AKNO OGE.WE ART SIMF. 570.823.9272 EWLOCATION 146 SouUI Pe -.,1 .· nl · A .. · • across from Noly Redeemer Mig n · ·r Domino · nd Corb School a· ·rag I C p n n t · st . sma · d y+ ,n th! · In . 665 ·.· a . y .· vc . r 1k a I (570 8 3- . 9 ... �MARCH 18, 2008 LIFESTYLES 11 Young Scholars balance high school work, college demands BY CHRISTA SGOBBA Beacon Lifestyles Editor during the past six years in his English composition class. He believes it was a popular choice for Young Scholars because it prepares them for college writing at whatever school they would choose. “I think they want to be able to write the best paper possible by the time they actually begin college,” he said. “The students who I’ve had in the Young Scholars program all indicated that they were going off to college, and they have gone off to a variety of schools like Bucknell, Gettysburg, and Susquehanna, as well as Wilkes.” Grier, who taught high school for 30 years, says he is familiar with the differences in college and high school learning that initially can cause the Young Scholars challenges in adjusting to the work. “The interesting thing is that they are of course younger, and are not used to the give and take that exists in a college classroom that may not exist in high school classroom,” he said. “Some of them are a little timid at first about speaking up, saying things, but they get right into the swing of things. They fit in with the other students very well, and they are quite bright.” Other challenges that Young Scholars face include balancing college courses with their high school work. They need to find courses offered at times that would cause the least disruption to their high school day. Stueben says that most Young Scholars who take courses during the fall or spring semesters opt for the 8:00 or 9:00 a.m. classes so they can get back to their high When Julia Salem entered Wilkes University in the fall of 2007, she was already a step ahead of most of her freshman peers. She already had a semester’s worth of college credits under her belt. Salem, an 18-year-old with sophomore status, took college courses at Wilkes during her senior year at Crestwood High School under the Young Scholars Program. The program, which was developed in the 1980s, gives qualified high school students the opportunity to take college courses at a reduced tuition rate Students who participate in this program must not only rank in the top 20 percent of their classes, but they must also demonstrate characteristics that show their guidance counselors that they can balance the workload of college classes and high school responsibilities. “They’re the ones who are more active The Beacon/Christa Sgobba in high school and interact more with their This semester, over 80 students from local area schools are attending Wilkes Univerhigh school teachers and guidance counselsity as members of the Young Scholars program. Young Scholars can take up to two ors,” said Henry Steuben, the director for courses each semester for $70 each credit. Julia Salem, a dual business and Spanish the Center of Continued Learning, who is major, entered Wilkes with 12 credits during her time as a Young Scholar. also in charge of the Young Scholars program. “They’re a little more open, and are so they fit in. In fact, I’ve heard from a numHowever, Grier hasn’t seen grades give really wanting something more out of high ber of faculty if we hadn’t told them which his Young Scholars much of a problem. school.” ones were high school kids, they wouldn’t Out of all his Young Scholars, he never had Over 80 students from area high schools have known.” any withdraw from the course or do poorly. are currently taking courses at Wilkes this When Salem first started the Young Schol- While one or two initially had difficulties, semester. They represent schools includars program, she didn’t find it overwhelm- they brought their grades up after talking ing Crestwood, Dallas, Meyers, G.A.R., ingly challenging, but she did think that the through the problems with Grier. Coughlin, Wyoming Valley West, Ha“I never had a weak Young Scholar Stunover Area, and Holy Redeemer High dent. I don’t want to say they’re better than Schools. Wilkes students, I certainly don’t mean that, Young Scholars pay only $70 a credit but they are as good as an average Wilkes for their courses, and are allowed to The students who do have the desire to take college courses are student,” he said. “The students who come take two courses each semester. They here are very well prepared and appropriby and large a little more mature than their peers, so they fi t in. In can take any course as long as they ately fit into the classroom and the learning meet any prerequisites and have the fact, I’ve heard from a number of faculty if we hadn’t told them environment.” recommendation of their high school which ones were high school kids, they wouldn’t have known. Grier believes that the Young Scholguidance counselor. ars program is “tremendously beneficial” Salem, who took four classes at Wilto high school students. It gives collegeHenry Steuben kes in her senior year at Coughlin, bound high school students a sneak peek at Director of the Young Scholars Program chose introductory courses in English, their next four years, and cuts down on the history, and psychology. stress of worrying how they will adjust to “It’s good to get ahead and have college classes. these credits coming in,” said Salem. Salem believes that the Young Scholars “It actually helped me out because I’m a experience just felt different. program helped her not only adjust to colschool and miss the least amount of work double major in Spanish and business, so I “The teachers expect you to know what lege classes, but also gave her a head start can graduate on time because I got some of possible. Some who attend city high schools you’re doing, and they don’t tell you every to college life. take evening classes, and others enroll only the requirements out of the way.” little thing you need to know,” said Salem. “We knew how to write papers from the According to Steuben, the most popu- in summer courses. “And you have to study more for the tests.” English class, and we knew what college Despite the challenges, Stueben believes lar courses for the Young Scholars are According to Steuben, another challenge life would be like before we got there,” she COM101, HST101, and introductory cours- that the majority of Young Scholars adjust for Young Scholars is they have to keep said. “We knew where things were on camwell to college life. es in sociology and psychology. Some even “For the most part, they adjust very, very their grades up to a C or better for the course pus, that new students didn’t know. They come to Wilkes to take advanced calculus well,” he said. “The students who do have to count for credit. If they have below a C had to get their maps out, but we already classes. the desire to take college courses are by and average, they have to withdraw from the knew where things were.” J. Bartholomay Grier, an English professor large a little more mature than their peers, course. at Wilkes, taught around 25 Young Scholars �A&E Hardware Bar/Step Club Crossword/Website Movie Review MARCH 18, 2008 13 14 15 When the old beco01es new again Music's past heroes return to the spotlight BY MARK CONGDON Beacon Opinion Editor missing in today’s music!” Duttry added that, “I would go see the Spice Girls if they went on tour again. I saw the Spice Girls in 1998 at Montage Mountain, and it was a really great concert.” People Magazine reported in January that there are speculations that the New Kids on the Block will be reuniting. The group is best known for hits songs “Hangin’ Tough,” “You’ve Got it (The Right Stuff)” and “Step by Step.” The magazine even reported that the band has reactivated its website, and there’s even a new, never released song with a video posted on the band’s website, NKOTB.com. Gibson is one of the thousands of fans awaiting their return. She said that if they reunite and go on tour, “I would be the first person in line buying tickets for New Kids on the Block. I know all the songs and all the dances.” With popular musicians from the 80s and 90s currently reuniting, what is the attraction that draws their old fans base and even a new fan base to come out and support them? Susan Biskup, Wilkes University Campus Counselor, believes it’s the way music resonates with others. “Music gives people the feeling of being young again… When you put on music from your past, it can illicit the feelings and memories you had when you were younger,” stated Biskup. Gibson believes that, “Everyone wants to go back to when they were younger. I think it has a lot to do with the culture now. If you look at the movies and fashion, many of them represent that of the 80’s.” Biskup added, “If you’re a person in your twenties and have grown up with a Recently the music scene has seen a resurgence of 90s bands making new albums and positive experience and relationship with comeback tours. On Friday, Vanilla Ice performed at the new Hardware Bar in down- music and your parents, you are more likely to embrace their music along with town Wilkes-Barre and the Spice Girls just completed a world tour. your own.” This could help explain why The group Hanson has also been in the some songs and styles of music have tranConsidering that the Spice Girls are now spotlight over the past few years. They are scended from generation to generation. in their 30s, and most are married and have most known for their 1997 hit “MMMBop.” “It brings back youthful memories bechildren, their vocal and dancing ability According to Hanson.net, the Band’s web- cause that’s what I listened to when I was was shockingly good. One would have nev- site, the band will begin touring on April 9 kid…I think the fans come out to support er guessed that the Spice Girls were aging. in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Hanson will even these musicians because it makes them In fact, they appeared to be in better shape be performing in Sayreville, New Jersey feel young again,” expressed Duttry. now than they did at the height of their ca- and Allentown, Pennsylvania on April 29 Biskup said, “Some songs today are rereers. and May 2. makes or remixes from the youth of babyGibson, enthusiastically summed up the Gibson noted that she will attend two of boomers and other generations which concert by saying that, “The Spice Girls their concerts this spring. “I love Hanson. allows today’s generations to enjoy the concert was an unforgettable pop culture I have seen them 12 times and am going music with them. The wonderful thing event that brought fun, passion, and love to see them again in April and May in Al- about music is that it brings people from back to the free-spirited fun-flowing pop lentown and Sayreville, New Jersey,” she all different backgrounds and perspectives music of the 1990’s, and demonstrated that said. together.” ‘Girl Power’ still lives on, something that’s Courtesy home.beaumontenterprise.com Everyone knows that the old favorites never fail to inspire audiences. American Idol regularly tests new talent by challenging with songs from decades past. Artists such as Led Zeppelin and Queen are the models for many new, young performers. But while Led Zeppelin and Queen won’t be coming back anytime soon, some former pop stars have decided that they’re not quite finished. Recently, there has been an explosion of bands and singers coming out of the shadows of the 80s and 90s and taking back the spotlight. The Spice Girls and Hanson are just a couple of these musicians returning to the spotlight and trying to recapture their audiences. And locally, in keeping with the trend, 90s pop star Vanilla Ice opened the new Hardware Bar in downtown Wilkes-Barre on March 13. The bar was standing room only. When he performed his hit song “Ice Ice Baby” from 1991, the crowd went wild, and for about three minutes, it seemed like it Wilkes-Barre had been transported back in time two decades. Vanilla Ice also performed some of his lesser known songs, and even offered his own twist on Bob Marley’s hit, “No Woman No Cry.” The Spice Girls also recently reunited and completed their world tour in Toronto, Canada on February 26. The band performed at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia on February 19. Everyone from the band, Baby Spice, Sporty Spice, Ginger Spice, Scary Spice, and Posh Spice was there, which wasn’t the case when they performed at Montage Mountain back in 1998. As the Spice Girls came onto the stage, the screaming and cheering crowd became hysterical. The band performed some new songs like “Headlines” and all of their hits including “Wannabe,” “Say You’ll be There,” “Stop” and “Spice Up Your Life.” The crowd was dancing and signing along like it was karaoke during the entire concert. Jamie Gibson, senior communication studies major, said, “It was really fun; it had a lot of energy, and made me want to dance and sing. I felt like a 13-year old girl. It brought back many memories and made me feel like a kid again.” Becca Duttry, senior psychology major agreed, “The Spice Girls were role models when I was growing up. A lot of girls looked up to them because they had diverse personalities, and almost any girl could, at least, relate to one of them.” �MARCH 18, 2008 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 Nightlife Review: The Hardware Bar About a half an hour later, we were finally let in. Let me just say people were not too pleased to be standing outside in the cold, some of whom were left to freeze for more than an hour. The Hardware Bar, located at 12 South Main Street in Strike One. Once inside, the decor impressed me. Especially the huge wall Wilkes-Barre, had everything going for it before it even opened its doors. It is run by a successful owner who op- of liquor stacked behind the main bar. While the bar slightly reerates numerous other bars across Pennsylvania, it has a sembled Club Mardi Gras (the prior establishment located in great “Coyote Ugly” theme and, lastly, it is a fresh face in the same space), it had a different feel to it. There were three separate areas where patrons could buy a drink and a staff of a slow downtown nightlife. It had everything going for it, that is, until I actually friendly cocktail waitresses. This resulted in efficient service, which I deemed a positive on such a busy night. showed up. My main concern was the seating. As a female in extremely The Hardware Bar was supposed to open up at 7 p.m. on March 13 for “VIPs” who held tickets, but when my friend high heels, I found it terribly uncomfortable that there was not and I finally arrived about 7:15 we were already welcomed one place to sit in the entire room. I had to resort to sitting down in the bathroom. I understand that the majority of people come by a long line that stretched down the street. to a bar to dance and have fun, but every now and The Beacon/Cara Koster again one needs to take at least a five minute break. There was nowhere to do that here, unless, that is, you wanted to be surrounded by toilets. Strike Two. The music was playing and there was great energy from the crowd when five of the female bartenders jumped on the bar and attempted to do their best rendition of a “Coyote Ugly” dance. I’ve been to the real Coyote Ugly, both in New York City and Las Vegas, and I will be the first to admit that there is no true comparison. Ladies at the authentic bar work to empower the women in the crowd while still maintaining a sex appeal for the men. I honestly feel that for the girls of The Hardware Bar, it must have been a prerequisite to have had some experience dancing with a pole before. I love dancing just as much as the next person, but their routines were raunchy and way too oversexed for me. I noticed many of the female faces in the room turn Bartenders dance on the bar to entertain guests in a “Coyote Ugly” fashion. The dancing is provocative and may alienate to disgust when the girls started dancing, while all of the men, young and old alike, had their eyes glued to female customers. the bar. Now, I am not saying that these routines aren’t BY ALISON WOODY Beacon Managing Editor a great draw for a big crowd. However, I do feel that the bar should accommodate the likes of both genders. The Hardware Bar is truly a man’s bar. Strike Three. The alcohol prices were fairly reasonable. Three dollars a beer is what I would expect to pay almost anywhere else. However, The Hardware Bar was plastered with a ton of posters advertising their drink specials every night. Wednesday is called “Cheap Beer Night” with 25 cent drafts and upcoming events include a pajama party, bikini bingo and visits from Coral from MTV’s The Real World and Jess from VH1’s Rock of Love. The most expensive shot will cost patrons ten dollars. That will get you the liquor of your choice poured straight into your mouth, a seat in the barber chair on top of the bar, a male or female bartender straddling your lap and a belt spank on the behind. Lastly, The Hardware Bar’s management decided to engage the D-list celebrity, Vanilla Ice, as the entertainment for opening night. He may not be the best concert draw, but I would give anything to hear him sing “Ice, Ice Baby” up close and personal. His concert was exactly what I expected after seeing him on television shows such as VH1’s The Surreal Life. It was angry, had bad rapping and scary clowns, tons of swearing and it even had some unexpected female nudity. Overall, though, it was completely entertaining and totally crowd appealing. I feel the management picked the perfect first act and I applaud them for the live music groups they have coming up in the next few weeks. While I did give The Hardware Bar three strikes, it also had some attractive qualities to it. Even though I was initially turned off to a return visit, I will rate it a “C”. This is because I do believe it has the potential to completely revitalize the nightlife of downtown Wilkes-Barre and that is the most important factor of all. Sigma Kappa Tau features rhythmic stepping BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Asst. A&E Editor Outside the meeting of Sigma Kappa Tau, the rhythmic sounds of stomps and claps beg passersby to stop and listen. Those who do peek in, might soon find themselves moving unconsciously to the lively music and infectious beats. Sigma Kappa Tau, a new Wilkes step club, was recently granted official status by Student Government. The group’s founder and team captain Frantzddyn Pamphile Butler Eyecare has special explained that the club offers Student Pricing! a different style of movement from the traditional dance team or cheerleaders at Wilkes. 34 S. Main St. “It’s a motion Across from SUBWAY No more contacts. No glasses? NO WORRIES! 20% discount on Frames $49 eye exams 822-8727 yecare for everyone www .butlereyecare.com that you do to express yourself,” Pamphile said of Sigma Kappa Tau. Pamphile, a sophomore nursing major, initiated Sigma Kappa Tau after freshman students came to the university looking for another place to express themselves with movement. Having been on the step team throughout high school, Pamphile believed a step club at Wilkes would be the perfect fit. Sigma Kappa Tau performances offer a full body dance, including hand motions. Tracy Garcia, a sophomore accounting and business administration major, is a member of the step club and explained the difference in the style of dance. “It’s [Sigma Kappa Tau] something different on campus from the dance team and cheerleading. [Stepping is] a different type of motion to express your self,” Garcia explained. The faculty advisor to Sigma Kappa Tau is Brenda Stanley, Director of Residence Life at Wilkes. Pamphile said the step club currently includes 12 members; however, it is open to anyone and always looking for new members. “It’s [Sigma Kappa Tau] something new and different.” Garcia said. She added that the step club can be a way to meet new people on campus. According the constitution, Sigma Kappa Tau “means individually unique together complete. This shall be a team created for school spirit through expressive dance and steps.” The movements in the stepping are highly rhythm based. Pamphile explained step club performances will definitely begin in the Fall 2008 semester; however she hopes, with practice there may be performances before this semester is done. Sigma Kappa Tau plans to meet Tuesday evenings from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center. Anyone interested should contact Pamphile at frantzddyn.pamphile@wilkes.edu. �14 Kudracross BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer 1 6 10 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 26 30 31 32 33 35 39 41 43 44 46 47 49 50 51 54 56 57 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 ACROSS Religious robes Guitar ridge Campus building, for example Travel by walking Back end Random collection Starbucks offering Not difficult Arm bone Greek mathematician Eyed Cheers character Current styles Aroma Asia ethnic groups Evergreen fluid Act by gestures Suspects Concerning the nose Titanic’s nemesis Fertilizer ingredient Belief Electrified swimmers Equine pace Move slowly Call from the Titanic Sweet potatoes Spacecraft designation Forced government change Type of skirt Rear vehicle illumination “____the wild blue yonder” Long, easy stride To improvise One of the South Park four At all times “_____ truly” Absorbs Golf pegs ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 71 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 21 25 26 27 28 29 34 36 37 38 40 42 45 48 51 52 53 55 58 59 60 61 62 Land of Nod DOWN Festival Out yonder Campus military organization One and the other Beer glass Roaming livestock Let in again Effortlessness Secret rendezvous Something done when parents are away Type of wrench Type of paper Bank offerings Automobile part Babble on and on Eliminate from text Vegas rollers Dark cloud or black cat Uprisings Bystanders Singer songwriter _____ Barelilles Molecule component Allows List ending Political concern Prison fugitive Harry Potter and the _____ of Fire Out of proper order Spotted bean Drinks ready to be served Broadway happenings Presidential adviser Karl ___ Object of worship Elmer’s _____ Employ Cooking meas. MARCH 18, 2008 Answers 2.26 Retrojunk.com BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Assistant Opinion Editor Remember those toys you used to play with as a kid? How about the cheesyyet-catchy commercials that enticed you to want them? If so, get ready for a blast from the past on RetroJunk.com. This website compiles the greatest toys, commercials, people, public service announcements and TV shows from the 70s, 80s, and 90s that could inspire nostalgia in anyone who lived through any of those decades. I don’t remember much of the 80’s since I was born in 1987, but the artifacts from the 90’s definitely brought back childhood memories for me. When you click on the movies link, the website offers a list of movies from the era you choose and lists them by popularity. You can then read a summary, see a cast list, read memorable quotes, view still images and watch trailers. Site visitors can then read the comments left by other users relating the movie to their memories and even leave your own comments. The television section allows visitors to watch the introduction and see the end credits. It would be much improved if it offered full episodes but there are copyright laws against videos that are longer than 30 seconds. My favorite part of the site is the commercial section. Users can choose a category and see the commercials that fall under each. The most memorable ones I saw were Little Caesar’s “pizza pizza,” Pizza Hut’s Pizza Head, the infamous “He likes it, Hey Mikey,” and my personal favorite Teddy Ruxpen. The only down side to this site is the people section. The pages of many of the people listed are lacking the depth of information the website offers for others. The pages that are filled in offer quotes, biographies, photo gallery and roles played for each person. You can search people by profession or alphabetically. The people listed are actors, athletes, business people, criminals, directors, TV hosts, models, musicians, politicians and scientists. RetroJunk.com is easy to navigate and offers plenty of information on the shows, movies, toys and commercials mentioned. It definitely serves as a great way to waste time and it takes you back in time. I give this website an N for Non-stop Nostalgia. �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 15 Movie Review: There Will Be Blood BY MIKE WILLIAMS Beacon Staff Writer The way things are shaping up, it looks as though 2008 can forever be known, in movie terms at least, as the “Year of the Villain.” With many of this year’s highest award nods going to people like Johnny Depp for his portrayal of a bloodthirsty barber in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Javier Bardem for his run as No Country For Old Men’s murderous Mexican hit man, Anton Chigurh. However, these fiendish characters aside, there is one cinema heavy that outweighs them all. In There Will Be Blood, the latest film from Paul Thomas Anderson (Magnolia), Daniel Day Lewis (Last of the Mohicans) turns in yet another jaw dropping performance as possibly the most ruthless character ever committed to film, Daniel Plainview. Lewis has an uncanny knack for portraying rogues and scoundrels. In fact, the worse they are, the more audiences become enamored with them. Just look at his turn as Bill the Butcher in Gangs of New York. Equally as evil, and equally as mustached, Plainview is every bit as captivating as the Butcher; however, he doesn’t stab as many people. (Hey, nobody’s perfect). Set in the American West, the film begins in 1898 and follows the life of Lewis’s character, Plainview, who begins as a simple silver miner before his life begins down its slippery slope of greed and deceit. Opening with Plainview working tediously in a dark mine shaft, the film holds the viewer in its intense grasp for over ten minutes before the first lines of dialogue are spoken. From this point on we watch as a simple, hard-working man is transformed by wealth, as Plainview strikes oil and creates his own drilling company. Along the way, Plainview adopts the orphaned, infant son of a deceased co-worker. However, what seemingly starts as an act of good will and humanity soon becomes yet another money making scheme, as Plainview uses his innocent son (newcomer Dillon Freasier) as a selling point, hoping to create a “family man” image for prospective clients. All is going well for Plainview and his son until they are approached by small town boy Paul Sunday (Paul Dano, Little Miss Sunshine), who tells Plainview of a town, Little Boston, Ca, where the oil is literally seeping through the cracks of the earth, and the land of the people living there can be taken cheap. After a quick negotiation for the whereabouts of this town, Plainview and son head off to Little Boston, where they swindle and smooth-talk their way into an incredibly lucrative land deal. However, Plainview finds himself opposed by the town’s fanatical preacher, Eli Sunday (also played by Dano), which creates a fierce rivalry that begins to build from the first time the two meet. From the moment the first oil derrick is constructed in the dry dusty landscape of Little Boston, the life of Daniel CUMB LAND MARCH 18, 2008 Photo Courtesy of blogs.indiewire.com Plainview transforms into an intense rollercoaster of deceit, death, greed and madness, as his wealth, mistrust and general disdain for all things living force him to alienate himself from every other aspect of his life other than his business, including his son and his long lost brother (Kevin J. O’Connor, The Mummy). In the end, the film boils down to an incredible character study of a good man driven to evil and madness by the stress of success, wealth, business and greed. Based on Upton Sinclair’s novel Oil, There Will Be Blood is an incredible piece of filmmaking. Not a single element falls short of breathtaking. From the cinematography and the score, which never fails to keep the audience on edge, to the awe inspiring performance of Daniel Day Lewis. The film will no doubt solidify his place as one of the greatest actors/artists of all time. A film such as this comes along once in a great while, so go see this film. Now. Grade: A+ • Private bath with shower • Free Internet access • Laundry • Free off-street parking • Free water, sewer, & trash. • Secure entry/ Remote access-buzz in • Fully-equipped granite kitchen • Cable TV 17 West Ross Street Wilkes-Barre, PA www.cumberlandliving.com 570-687-2220 �CHANGE THE WORLD REGISTER TO VOTE BY MARCH 24 IF YOU HAVEN’T REGISTERED TO VOTE YET, YOU HAVE UNTIL MARCH 24TH TO DO SO. t�:06�.645�#& REGISTERED AS A DEMOCRAT TO VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA t�:06�/&&%�50�#&�18 YEARS OF AGE BY THE APRIL 22 PENNSYLVANIA DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY t�:063�3&(*453"5*0/�"11-*$"5*0/�.645�#&�RECEIVED OR POSTMARKED BY MARCH 24 t�:06�$"/�'*/%�"--�5)&�'03.4�"/%�*/'03."5*0/�:06�/&&%�50�3&(*45&3�"5� PA.BARACKOBAMA.COM OR BY CALLING 1-866-675-2008 OBAMA'08 WWW.BARACKOBAMA.COM VOTE IN THE PENNSYLVANIA PRIMARY ON APRIL 22 PAID FOR BY OBAMA FOR AMERICA QUESTIONS? NOT SURE IF YOU’RE REGISTERED? NEED YOUR POLLING LOCATION? VISIT PA.BARACKOBAMA.COM OR CALL 1-866-675-2008 �SPORTS MARCH 18, 2008 Club begins season with loss to Lafayette BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor At the start of the spring semester, during training camp, coaches Matthew McCaffrey and Mike Fox set a goal for the lacrosse club this year to win three of its scheduled eight games. They aimed for that particular number due to the team’s struggle to win games in recent years. But senior captain Anthony Fortunato angrily intervened and set a goal of his own. “We’re going out there to win and go undefeated,” said Fortunato. “We’re not going to go and set a three game goal. That’s not a goal any team should ever set. We’re going out to win every single day and that’s what we’re going to do.” Unfortunately, the team lost its first game of the season 11-2 to Lafayette College, a team they have never played before, on February 24. But the bright side is the Colonels have seven games left to play which gives them the opportunity to accomplish the initial goal set by the coaches. The lacrosse club is currently playing its Spring Schedule 2/24 @ Lafayette College, Lost 11-2 fourth consecutive season after the sport just to name a few . (which was once a varsity sport) was The team ismandated to play at least eight banned from Wilkes University for 22 games to be eligible for playoff contention years due to budget cuts. but can also pick up teams outside of the 3/15 V. Millersville University, But with financial help from alumni and conference. Problem is, some non-conferPPD the Student Government, the lacrosse club ence do not foresee benefits from playing is back in business and will be looking to a club team like the Colonels. Therefore, post their most successful season since it’s difficult for the Colonels to schedule 3/16 V. Northhampton County 2004. enough games to reach the postseason. College The team has made quality adjustments If all scheduled games are played, look to their roster through recruiting and the for the Colonels to make a run for the postaddition of athletes who have played other season. 3/29 @ York College, 1pm sports on campus. According to the coaching staff, the 2008 team is solid compared to recent years. “Most of these kids had a 3/30 V. Bloomsburg, 4pm stick in their hand most of their lives,” said Fox. 4/5 @ Albright College/Kutz“It’s a different kind of sport,” said Fox. “It’s not as cut throat as a varsity sport town University, 1pm where we can say, ‘you need to be here all the time. It’s more of a relaxed atmosphere but we still expect a lot out of the players. 4/12 @ Penn College, 1pm The Colonels are part of the National College Lacrosse League and competes 4/13 @ Lehigh University, 1pm in the Eastern Pennsylvania Division which includes teams such as, Kutztown, Freshman Tyler Pearson sweating it out Bloomsburg, Lehigh, Penn, and Albright, during practice. The Beacon/Gino Troiani *Home games are played at Misericordia Club Me · t· · g? •irt · .d ay Party? Ollie · M t· g? Par · y? a Qu1znos~Q ■■■ OASTY! 72 South Main St. Wilkes-Barre M Ho i l;"S, m,day-Thursday l ·• -8 ,011 · iday ··· '. Sa · ur,dii;y 1 Oalll-1 OpHl 1 17 ..· · n.dayl:2p,n- · pmn (570) 20.8 -SUBS a . ZNOS "t es ·. ·"""'"' ·T NG Cat . ., g trays s art· g at: 19~ .9 Call for· details. �SPORTS 18 MARCH 18, 2008 Commentary GAMENBAOF THE WEEK Doubleheader Red Hot Rockets look to continue streak; Suns battle for playoff spot BY TIM SEIGFRIED Beacon Asst. Sports Editor With just under a month remaining in the regular season, it’s time for all the contenders in the NBA to saddle up and clamp down the eight playoff spots in each conference, and with a very tight race in the west, each of the remaining games are getting to be more and more important. Houston Rockets v. Golden State Warriors 3/21 The Western Conference is host to some of the best teams in the NBA, including the Los Angeles Lakers, the Utah Jazz and the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. While the Lakers and the Jazz are sitting somewhat comfortably atop their divisions, the Spurs have recently relinquished first place to the upstart Houston Rockets, who have been the best team in the NBA since January 27, when they played the Jazz. They lost that game by a score of 97-89, and haven’t lost since. As of March 16, the Rockets have been winners of 21 straight games. The wins have propelled them to the top of the Southwest Division, despite the fact that they lost their star center Yao Ming in late February to a broken foot. The team has apparently not noticed, as it is currently 9-0 without the big man. One reason for that is the spectacular play from guard/forward Tracy McGrady, who has carried the team over the stretch with some great performances, including a 41point game against the New Orleans Hornets last week. While McGrady has been putting in a heavy workload, he’s been assisted by the likes of guard Rafer Alston, who has been having solid performances lately, alongside the Argentina-born center Luis Scola, who has big shoes to fill (literally) as he takes over for Ming on the court. While Scola isn’t a great scorer, he has been valuable under the glass, and has averaged over nine rebounds per game over the last six games. If the Rockets hope to continue the streak, they’re going to need big performances from Scola and Alston, along with strong minutes from the rest of the bench. The Rockets begin the crucial home stretch of the season with a critical game against conference rival Golden State Warriors, who have some work to do of their own. The Warriors are currently in third place in the Pacific divison, behind the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns. Last season, the Warriors established themselves as a dark horse candidate in the Western Conference as they played their first playoff game in 13 years, with an upset win over the Dallas Mavericks in the first round. They are keeping their hopes alive for another trip to the playoffs, but they have some work to do, as they are currently 8th in the conference standings, so a win over the Rockets will certainly improve their odds at another postseason berth. The Warriors are led by the young duo of Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson, both whom are averaging over 20 points and 39 minutes per game. The young core is rounded out by guard Monta Ellis (19.6 points per game) and forward/center Al Harrington (14.3 points per game) to help power the NBA’s leading offense. They are going to need all the offense they can get, as Houston’s solid defense and winning streak is going to put Golden State’s weak defense to the test. The Pick: Houston Rockets: 109 Golden State Warriors: 98 Phoenix Suns v. Detroit Pistons 3/24 Just over a month ago, the Phoenix Suns made the biggest move at the trading deadline when the acquired Shaquille O’Neal from the Miami Heat, in an effort to boost their team as the season comes to a close. The trade was well received, as the big center was expected to turn the tide in the western conference. In his Phoenix debut, Shaq has averaged just over 10 points and 10 rebounds per game; however, the Suns stumbled out of the gate after his arrival, going 2-6 in his first eight games. Despite that, the Suns remain poised for a playoff berth, and a recent winning streak, including a key victory over the Golden State Warriors, have put the Suns on the right track. The Suns’ offense, which has averaged over 109 points per game this season, is powered by two-time MVP Steve Nash (17.4 PPG, 11.5 assists per game), whose style of play lends itself nicely to the fastpaced offense which puts opposing defenders to work. Behind Nash, is forward Amare Stoudemire (24.2 PPG, 9.3 RPG), guard Raja Bell (12.2 PPG), veteran forward Grant Hill (14.3 PPG) and guard Leandro Barbosa (16.2 PPG). While the Suns are in good position to make the playoffs, they aren’t there yet, and with a month to go before the season ends, they are going to have to play well down the stretch, as the Western Conference by far is not decided. They’re going to be put to the test in the last month, especially against the Detroit Pistons, who have already clinched a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. While Detroit can coast until the playoffs start, they are going to need to play tough to make ready for the playoffs, and a game against the high-scoring Suns is going to be good practice. On the offensive side of the ball, they are led by guards Richard “Rip” Hamilton (17.8 PPG), Chauncey Billups (17.7 PPG) and forward Tayshaun Prince (13.8 PPG). The real story behind the Pistons’ success has been their defense, which has been the best in the NBA season, with opponents scoring just over 90 points per game against the team from the Motor City. As the season winds down, the games are only going to get more and more meaningful, and this contest of the Suns’ offense versus the Pistons’ defense could very well be a preview of the NBA championship. The Pick: Phoenix Suns: 98 Detroit Pistons 95 Double Take Steph examines the stats that truly matter... BY STEPHANIE GERCHMAN Beacon Asst. Opinion Editor I’ve had a few weeks off from writing Double Take and what better way to get back into the groove than to take on a double header? For game one we have the Houston Rockets v. the Golden State Warriors. Game two is the Phoenix Suns v. the Detroit Pistons. The first game is definitely going to the Houston Rockets, hands down. I’ve noticed with all of the teams that I’ve come across the general form is city name, then some sort of mascot. The Golden State Warriors seem to think that they are the exception to this rule. I am not okay with this. First of all they chose to go with the state instead of the city, which is Oakland. Second, they couldn’t even use the state name. They had to use a nickname for the state. I would have totally chosen the Oakland Warriors. I think that Warriors are way better than Rockets. Rockets aren’t even human. But they Warriors blew it with lack of city pride, and for that they will be penalized. The second game is going to the Phoenix Suns. The Pistons is an awful team name. It seems borderline inappropriate when it is said aloud. Personally I can’t even understand what a piston technically is or what it does, mostly because I hate science. The moral of my Double Take today is don’t pick dumb team names that involve science and don’t think that you are an exception to the rules and you won’t get beat by the Rockets and the Suns! �MARCH 18, 2008 SPORTS Wilkes players honored by the Freedom Conference 19 Mayerski, Huff earns weekly awards Courtesy of Sports Information Wilkes University baseball players Chris Mayerski (Swoyersville, PA/Wyoming Valley West) and Justin Huff (Montrose, PA/ Montrose) have been honored by the Freedom Conference for their efforts in the Colonels 5-2 spring break trip to Florida. Mayerski was named the Conference’s Player of the Week, while Huff was selected as the Conference’s Pitcher of the Week. Mayerski enjoyed a solid week in Florida for Wilkes, hitting .407 during the sevengame stretch. The senior had an .815 slugging percentage after cracking two doubles and three homeruns for the Colonels. He also led the team with 12 runs scored and drove in eight runs. Mayerski’s play defensively was also stellar, as he committed only one error at third base during the trip.Huff was outstanding on the mound for Wilkes in the two games that he appeared in. In his first start he tossed seven innings of three-hit ball and allowed only one run in a 13-1 complete game win over Franciscan University. Later in the week, Huff came in relief to pitch one and two-thirds innings to pick up the win in the Colonels 18-7 victory over Franciscan. In that contest he allowed only one hit. For the week he was 2-0 with a 1.04 earned run average and allowed only four hits in 8.2 innings of work. Courtesy of Sports Information Men’s Tennis The Wilkes University men’s tennis team opened its season on March 4 with a 6-1 rain-shortened victory over Eastern University in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The Colonels improved to 3-1 overall, while the Eagles saw their record slip to 0-3. Wilkes swept all three doubles matches to take control. Wes McCollum and Jon Rohrbach gained an 8-4 win at first doubles over Eric Walter and Taylor Kiser. Josh Gardner and Brian Fanelli added an 8-3 victory over Dan Wilson and Sean McGuinness at the second position. The third Colonels tandem of Chris Cozzillio and Tom Miller capped the sweep by disposing of Jon Falcone and Phil Smock, 8-0. Cozzillio was a 6-2, 6-1 winner over Wilson at second singles and Gardner grabbed a 6-3, 6-2 win over McGuinness at numberfour to give Wilkes an insurmountable 5-0 lead. Fanelli would add a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Falcone at sixth singles for the Colonels. Eastern got its lone point at fifth singles when Josh Hall rallied for a 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (14-12) win over Miller. The first singles Colonels Twinbill Cancelled Due to unfavorable field conditions, the Colonels games scheduled for Saturday and Sunday against Rochester Institute of Technology (NY) were postponed. The Colonels 5-2 record compiled over their spring break trip to Cocoa Beach, Florida puts them second in the Freedom Conference. Manhattanville College’s 6-2 record tops the conference by a 0.5 game. Moravian (PA), Baruch (NY) and Franciscan all fell short to the Colonels. Franciscan faced the Colonels three times and lost each game by more than 11 runs. The Colonels opened their season with an 8-5 victory over Moravian in the first game of a doubleheader. Sophomore Tom Buckler pitched the initial five innings . He faced 26 batters, struck out three and gave up five runs on six hits. Senior Kyle Follweiler earned the save. Second baseman Geoff Miller scored three runs for the Colonels and short-stop Mike Andrews smacked in three RBI’s. The Colonels lost the second game against the greyhounds 8-7. Junior Keith Rhinehammer started on the mound for Wilkes. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Wilkes sophomore Mike McAndrew takes cuts during practice at Ralson Field. The Colonels’ next home contest is against Muhlenberg College on March 19 at 4PM. Spring Break recaps match between McCollum and Walter, and the third singles match between Rohrbach and Kiser, were not completed. Women’s Tennis Wilkes University lost only 14 games in the entire match on the way to a 9-0 rout of Lynchburg College in a non-conference women’s tennis match on March 5. The Lady Colonels, ranked 13th in the Atlantic South Region, improved to 14-1 overall and upped their current winning streak to 12 straight matches. The squad’s only loss of the year came in September to Division II foe Bloomsburg University. Lynchburg saw its mark fall to 0-2. Alison McDonald and Xiaoqiao Zhang began the onslaught with an 8-0 win over Elizabeth Eckert and Jessica Moore at first doubles. Kristin Wilt and Victoria Bybel added an 8-1 win over Krysten Bishop and Amanda Dennis, while Michelle Knight and Megan Bucher copped an 8-0 victory over Bridney Tune and Rachel Moore, as Wilkes bolted out to a 3-0 lead heading into singles play. McDonald made it 4-0 for the Lady Colonels with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Eckert at number-one singles. Zhang cruised to a win over Bishop at second singles, 6-0, 6-2, to give Wilkes an insurmountable 5-0 lead. Wilt notched a 6-1, 6-2 win over Jessica Moore at number-three, and Bybel earned a 6-0, 6-1 win over Dennis in the fourth singles match to up the Wilkes lead to 70. Knight posted a 6-1, 6-2 win over Tune at number-five, and Bucher was a 6-0, 6-0 winner over Rachel Moore at number-six to conclude the sweep. Wrestling Wilkes University 149-pound wrestler Erik Smith (Danville, PA/Danville H.S.) and 165-pound wrestler Frank Heffernan (Slatington, PA/Northern Lehigh H.S.) were both eliminated in day one action at the NCAA Division III Championships at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Smith, who concluded his junior season with an overall record of 31-13 and was in the NCAA event for the first time, was pinned in his opening round match by second-seeded Willy Holst from Augsburg at 4:21 of the second period. In his first consolation match #7 seed Frank Camissa (253) from Bridgewater State scored the only point of the match to hold off Smith for a 1-0 victory. Like Smith, Heffernan also had to wrestle a pair of seeded opponents in his first trip to the NCAA event. In his first round match he dropped a 7-3 verdict to sixth-seeded Ben Youel (37-7) from North Central College. Heffernan then pushed #3 seed Gino Russo (25-2) from Baldwin-Wallace College to the limit before falling by a score of 9-7 in his consolation bracket match. He ended his sophomore season with a record of 32-12. Women’s Lacrosse Wilkes University balanced its women’s lacrosse record at 1-1 with a 14-10 nonconference win over Methodist College on March 4. The loss dropped the Monarchs to 2-3 overall. Ashley Leggio had five goals and two assists and Justine Leggio contributed five goals as well to lead Wilkes offensively. Brittney Hodnik chipped in with three goals and seven assists. Wilkes also received a goal and an assist from Jennifer Powell and an assists from Chelsea Weinstein. Andrea DiStefano and Christina Layson scored three times each to pace Methodist. Chrystal Bradley chipped in with two goals for the Monarchs. Wilkes goalkeeper Stacy Fimmano picked up the victory in goal after stopping 12 shots. �Sports MARCH 18, 2008 20 Beacon Archives Wilkes junior Sarah Elliot makes contact during a game last season. The Lady Colonels are 6-4 this season. They will play Lycoming College and the University of Scranton before opening up conference play against Arcadia on March 29. Softball opens season with tough slate BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Asst. Sports Editor As is the case with many of their fellow students, the Wilkes Lady Colonels softball team was able to enjoy some fun in the sun over their spring break period. However, the women also made sure to mix in some very demanding contests to open their season along the way. With nearly every player on the squad seeing significant playing time, the Lady Colonels were able to fashion a 6-2 record on their annual spring break trip, before dropping two games at perennial power Moravian on Saturday afternoon in non-conference action. After Saturday’s contests, the Lady Colonels see their overall record slide to 6-4. While the Lady Colonels dropped the first two games of their spring break trip to Peace and Rowan, the team was able to rebound and rip off six straight wins over Albright, Neumann, Rutgers-Camden, Virginia Wesleyan and two wins over Averett. Although two additional contests at the end of the trip were cancelled due to weather, Wilkes head coach Frank Matthews was pleased with the progress his team made during the opening stretch. “We have many positions that are still unsettled, and we were pleased by the play at many of those spots over the spring break trip. In terms of hitting, we took some time to adjust to being outside after our preseason practice was mostly indoors, but in the later games we hit very well. We were hot and cold on the defensive sideour squad would be error-free in one game and then commit 5 or 6 errors in the next game.” Wilkes came into Saturday’s doubleheader in Bethlehem ranked 17th in the latest Division-III top 25 poll conducted by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, while Moravian had spent the previous week ranked in the same spot before falling out of this week’s poll. Moravian pitcher Maria DeBonis tossed a perfect game in leading her team to an 8-0, six-winning game in the first contest of the afternoon. The second game would see Moravian build a 6-0 lead heading into the sixth inning, when Wilkes would score four straight runs to help narrow the gap. The Greyhounds refused to fold, however, and picked up six runs later in the inning to put the NCAA 8-run rule into effect and end the game. “The losses to Moravian this weekend were very disappoint- ing, but as with every loss, we’ll look back and see what we can improve on for the next game” junior infielder Kathy Dalton said after Saturday’s contest. “By doing that, we are better prepared for the next opponent we face.” While the Lady Colonels may only sit two games above the .500 mark, that team has faced a challenging schedule that, according to head coach Frank Matthews, is an excellent precursor to the demands his squad will face in Freedom Conference play this season. In addition to perennial power King’s and upstart programs in Delaware Valley and FDU-Florham, Wilkes will need to content with two new challengers in Freedom Conference newcomers Arcadia University and Manhattanville College. “Anyone who has followed our program in recent years is familiar with Moravian’s excellence in Division-III softball, and we knew that game would be a brawl with a very good squad. The new teams in our league this season, Arcadia and Manhattanville, are very talented, and the non-conference schedule we’ve played has been great preparation to face those challenges.” “The conference has not made our league schedule any easier by adding those two programs” Matthews added. “We expect to make the playoffs. That is- and always has been- our primary goal. Until then, we’ll continue to take it one game at a time.” �MARCH 18, 2008 NEWS Wilkes-Barre Guardian Angels chapter in development 4 Volunteer organization offers to serve as watch group for community BY NICK PODOLAK Beacon Editor-In-Chief Locals may have noticed them patrolling the streets decorated in red berets and jackets. But have no fear; the community has just gotten a lot safer. The Guardian Angels, an unarmed citizen safety patrol unit born in New York City in the late 70s, recently opened a Wilkes-Barre chapter to help local law enforcement and the Crime Watch Coalition fight criminal activity with what coordinator Scott Koppenhofer calls a “visual deterrent.” “When you see a patrol of Angels coming along, anybody who’s a criminal knows we’re not just gonna let them commit a crime,” Koppenhofer said. “We’re gonna call the police.” A night manager at a troubled New York City McDonalds, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa hired his employees based upon their ability to fight crime and eventually formed a group called the “Magnificent 13” who patrolled and fought crime in the subways, especially on the troubled number 4 express known as “Mugger’s Row.” After conducting a study, the city found an increase in crime on every train except for “Mugger’s Row,” which had dropped significantly. Receiving praise for their efforts, The Angels were officially established in 1979 and have grown to over 100 chapters in 14 countries worldwide. “We know that throughout the world, we’ve made a difference. We’re not gonna stop crime; it’s never gonna go away, but we’re just one option to be used to try and help prevent it,” Koppenhofer said. After receiving several calls from the area requesting assistance, Sliwa visited WilkesBarre last month and spoke to a crowd of about 20 people that did not include a member of local law enforcement or city administration, though both reportedly had been informed of the event via e-mail in advance. Koppenhofer also said that despite repeated attempts to contact Wilkes-Barre Police Chief Gerald Dessoye and Mayor Thomas Leighton, neither has yet responded. “According to the newspaper articles that I’m reading, they formed an opinion without even talking to me about what our organization stands for, and that’s disheartening,” said Koppenhofer. Mayor Leighton recently commented in the February 21, 2008 issue of The Times-Leader, “It’s not a matter of us working with them. We’re always looking for an extra set of eyes and ears,” Leighton said. “I just don’t want any group to come in here and interfere with what the police department is doing.” Koppenhofer, though, claims to have plenty of credentials, which include dealing firsthand with the most ruthless of gangs during his career, including the Bloods and the Crips. “Where would they think that we’re not 85.74% qualified? I would venture to say, from 82.53% my understanding; this Chief of Police 59.65% has only been a police officer in the city of Wilkes-Barre. My background probably qualifies me to know more about gangs than he does.” Despite repeated efforts for an interview, Dessoye declined comment. Dessoye has also received heat from the community for not releasing geographical breakdown of crime statistics in the downtown area. The Beacon/Andrew Seaman “You can’t tell me it’s (crime) not there, The Wilkes-Barre chapter of the Guardian Angels walked in the Wilkes-Barre St. Patrick’s Day Parade on because I’ve seen it March 16. The group was originally started in the 1970s to help local law enforcement. firsthand. You could “We have a guy in his 70’s still patrolling tration will soon cooperate with him. try to change the perception, but you can’t in New York and he’s still probably in bet“Eventually, over time, I’m sure we’ll change reality. That’s all there is to it,” ter shape than I am, Koppenhofer admitted. earn their respect, but I would ask that Koppenhofer said. “We’re looking for volunteers at all time.” they at least come and talk to us. I’m The Guardian Angels are unarmed and Koppenhofer stressed the importance of available anytime they want to set up a travel in groups of four around Public community in fighting off the slumlords and meeting. We can be a wealth of knowlSquare and surrounding areas. Though they drug dealers who are big fish in a small pond edge to them…a wealth of knowledge,” can place an individual under citizen’s ar- after coming to Wilkes-Barre from New York Koppenhofer said. rest, the main goal is to notify the police City, and hopes the police and city adminisdepartment and diffuse the situation until they arrive. The use In the February 19 news article, “Wilkes creative writing graduate to head Council” the article stated that the of force is a last Cultural Council of Luzerne County, “…is a non-profit advocacy program which began in 1999 as an extension resort, which is of the Greater Chamber of Wilkes-Barre Business and Industry.” However, The Beacon has learned that the Culone of the main tural Council was formed in 1989, and will soon celebrate its 20th anniversary. points they are taught in their In addition, the February 26 news article, “Final Dean of Law School Initiative candidate speaks,” author was training. incorrectly identified as Andrew Seaman. The actual author of the article was Nicole Frail, Assistant Beacon And just about News Editor. anyone can become an Angel, Also, in the last issue The Beacon printed an opinion article, “Ah, the joys of Winter Weekend.” The author of from teenagers this piece made several assertions about events surrounding Winter Weekend including that over 70 freshmen had 16 years of age been cited for alcohol violations. The figure was not accurate. The Beacon apologizes for any incorrect informaand up to col- tion in this article. However, the views and opinions expressed in opinion articles are solely those of the author, lege students to and do not represent this paper. possibly former gang member The Beacon strives for balance and accuracy in all reporting and regrets the errors. who know the ins-and-outs of Dr. Andrea Frantz, Faculty Advisor crime. Nicholas Podolak, Editor-in-Chief Beacon Corrections � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2008 March 18th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008 March 18 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/e7bb34fa61df04541c0f88789230369a.pdf 924ebefbbc628ca52d5d479136847769 PDF Text Text Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA The THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW FEBRUARY A PRIL 1, 2008 5, 2008 In This Issue... Volume 60 www.wilkesbeacon.com Issue 18 13 Obama holds town hall meeting at WU Tuesday Democratic nominees put Wilkes-Barre in national spotlight BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor Wilkes University will host Illinois Senator Barack Obama on Tuesday, April 1 at a “Road to Change” town hall meeting. The meeting will take place in the Arnaud C. Marts Center at 11:45 a.m. and doors will open at 9:45 a.m. New York Senator Hillary Clinton, Obama’s opponent for the Democratic nomination, will also be in town at King’s College William S. Scandlon Physical Education Center. Her speech will begin at 2:30 p.m. and doors will open at 12:30 p.m. Both stops are part of tours through Pennsylvania by the candidates. “Wilkes-Barre will be the focus of the nation on Tuesday,” said Wilkes University president Tim Gilmour. “Wilkes University is proud to host Senator Obama at this pivotal point in the Pennsylvania primary race. This is a wonderful educational opportunity because our students get to see the political process first-hand.” Students who want tickets to the event can get free tickets on the first floor of the Henry Student Center between 10 a.m. and noon Monday, March 31. Those Page 10 Humanitarian Week See OBAMA page 2 Computer science department proposes curriculum revisions Page 15 Gaming, Media Design track encourages interdisciplinary cooperation BY NICOLE FRAIL Beacon Asst. News Editor Wilkes v. Arcadia At a time when technological advancements are almost constant, colleges across the nation are challenged as they attempt to maintain upto-date computer science programs. On Thursday, April 3, a proposal by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science will be presented to faculty members concerning the revision of Wilkes’ Computer Information Systems (CIS) and computer science curriculum. Page 18 “We want to make the computer science and CIS [tracks] more student-friendly, more enticing to students. One way we’re going to do that in the computer science program is we are goNews................................1-5 ing to offer two tracks: a standard, traditional Opinion.............................6-8 computer science track and a Gaming and MeLifestyles.........................9-11 dia Design track,” explained Dr. V. Ming Lew, Arts & Entertainment....12-15 Sports...........................16-20 chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. If approved, this will be the \. first major revision of the department’s curricu- , Inside lum in approximately five years. According to Dr. Matt Zukoski, associate professor of computer science, the idea of developing a Gaming and Media Design track came with the realization that there is currently a significant demand for gaming programmers and media designers in what has become a $10 billion industry. “We’re adding two new gaming courses, so there will be an Introductory and an Advanced Gaming course. With these two courses, we won’t have a student who will be ready to write a complete game, but it will better prepare them to get a job in the gaming industry as a designer or a programmer,” said Zukoski. “We’ll have students developing some games on a small scale and, initially, they’ll probably just be for the PCs… but ultimately, we’d like to show them how to develop games for Wii, X-Box and Playstation.” While schools across the country such as Southern New Hampshire University and New Jersey’s Science and Technology University have recently developed concentrations and majors with goals similar to Wilkes, Lew said that cooperation with Wilkes’ Integrative Media (IM) department will make the new track unique. “The integrated media comes in when you start talking about animation; you have to have some notion about perspective, shape and shadowing. There’s an artistic side to it, but then it has to translate over to the programming side. You know what something is supposed to look like, but how do you get the program to do it?” said Lew. “IM and computer science naturally blend.” 3D Game Development (CS 368) will be one of the courses offered to IM and computer science majors interested in working together in the new concentration. Interdisciplinary cooperation is also currently in place between the Jay S. Sidhu School of Business and Leadership and the CIS program. Students who are involved in these programs learn how to use computers to conduct business. See GAMING page 4 �NEWS MARCH 18, 2008 2 Novak lecture continued SG election results Obama visit continued 3 4 5 Stachacz second candidate chosen for Dean of Library Services position BY MEGAN KRISANDA Beacon Staff Writer The Farley Library will soon welcome fresh leadership and the prospects of modern renovations. Beginning July 1, John Stachacz will serve as the new Dean of Library Services. As the Wilkes campus grows and library services across the nation evolve, many have argued that the Farley library has lagged dramatically behind the more technologically advanced buildings that surround it. However, Stachacz’s expertise in renovation and his experience understanding the needs of a modern library are two of the main reasons why he was chosen as the new Dean of Library Services. “He has deep experience. He has been working in libraries for decades. More specifically, he was at Dickinson College when they went through a massive renovation of their library. He was actually head of the library at that time. He has a lot of experience in facility renovation, in terms of the library,” said Darin Fields, Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. As Dean of Library Services, Stachacz will be responsible for directing the library functions of the university and overseeing the planning and modernization of the library. Stachacz will also participate in the academic leadership and collaborate with the provost and deans for the advancement of academic programs. Currently, Stachacz serves as the Director of Library Services at the University of Indiana at Kokomo. Stachacz also presides over the Indiana Cooperative Library Services Authority (INCOLSA). During his time at Kokomo, Stachacz was responsible for a revitalization of their library including increasing the activity of the library and recentering it within the institution. “He presented a lot of evidence of his excellent work he had done there. His experience is relevant to what our library needs. When he came to campus, he had a very clear sense as to what some of the needs and solutions were. He had a positive rapport with the library staff and with everyone he met with so that made him a very attractive candidate,” said Fields. The search for a candidate to fill the position began last year. Dr. Fred Sullivan, professor of mathematics and computer science, served as chair to the committee during the initial search. However, the first search failed due to a chosen candidate changing his mind on the position. In August 2007, a second search committee was formed with Fields serving as chair of the committee. The second search committee worked closely with a search firm in order to gain resources and develop prospects for the position. Along with the search firm, the committee released an advertisement for the position. “We had about three or four prospects over the fall semester. We brought two of them to campus and Dr. Stachacz was the finalist and he was the one we recommended,” said Fields. Stachacz holds a masters degree in Library Science from the University of Kentucky. He also earned a bachelors and masters degree in geography at the University of New Mexico and University of Kentucky. Stachacz is a member of the American Library Association, Association of College and Research Libraries, and serves on the board of the Academic Libraries of Indiana and Kokomo Literacy Coalition. “John Stachacz’s experience will allow us to rethink our library in light of the evolving role of academic libraries,” said Provost Reynold C. Verret. SG Notes, March 26, 2008 New Business Elections Announced- Election winners were posted outside the SG office. ASME Fun Request- The American Society of Mechanical Engineers were granted a fund request to hold their annual car show that has proven successful in the past. Wilkes Association of Musicians Club Recognition- SG decided not to offer the WAMC club status. Some members felt the club did not have a clear enough focus and decided that the idea needed to develop more. Tom Bigler Journalism Conference Donation- SG donated $640 to the Communication Studies Department to buy t-shirts for their upcoming Tom Bigler Journalism Conference. Society for Advancement of Management Fund Request- SG heard from SAM members regarding their national competition in Arlington, VA. This is a two-week process and action will be decided next week. Spring Fling Budget - The budget for Spring Fling was presented to SG. First Week of Presidential Nominations - SG Members Jeffery Bauman and Carl Santana were nominated and accepted the nomination for SG President. Courtesy of John Stachacz John Stachacz’s responsibilites as Dean of Library Services will begin July 1. BEACON Serving the community through fair and accurate reporting while supporting the views and opinions of our readers. Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief: Nick Podolak Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com Managing Editor: Alison Woody Email: wilkesbeacon@gmail.com News Editor: Andrew Seaman Email: news.beacon@gmail.com Op/Ed Editor: Mark Congdon Jr. Email: thebeacon.oped@gmail.com Lifestyles Editor: Christa Sgobba Email: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com A&E Editor: Marissa Phillips Email: thebeaconae@gmail.com Sports Editor: Carlton Holmes Email: beaconsports@gmail.com Photo Editor: Cara Koster Advertising Managers: Stephanie Yachim Dana Zlotucha Email: thebeacon.ads@gmail.com Advisor: Dr. Andrea Breemer Frantz Established in 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member Printed on Tuesdays during the academic school 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall, Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 (570) 408-5903 wilkesbeacon@gmail.com www.wilkesbeacon. �NEWS APRIL 1, 2008 Robert Novak to present Allan P. Kirby Lecture 3 Lecture focuses on 2008 presidential race and hot button issues BY ANDREW SEAMAN Beacon News Editor Courtesy Marketing Communications Refl.ect and Relax DayD ThUI'Sday) Marclt 20th 11 :00-1 :OOPM Get a Complimentary chair mu$ age · from Ailno sphere Salon and Day Spa I[ while you wait to get your . Live Acoustic Music by "Jay Luke" Wednesday, March 19th 6 :30-8 :30pm «Angelic Me$$ age» read by Angela DeMuro '1 G.ear~~ Spring Sale! Come viit the fun colored Uearenowa Justgo to: "»'BFREE-'' Gear t-shirt table on sale now! Womans 'pink' & st. Patty s Dly 'ween" · tees for only $12.99 regul.arfy $19.98! · · Mens grey & na1,,1 tees for on.lJ $9 .99 regularly $14.98 Robert Novak, veteran journalist, and keynote speaker for the Allan P. Kirby Lecture Series, recently sat down with The Beacon to offer some insights into his take on the 2008 race for the Presidency and preview his appearance at Wilkes. The lecture is slated for 7:30 p.m. in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday, April 1. His lecture will offer an analysis of the 2008 presidential election, and discuss the implications of the ongoing Democratic race between New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Illinois Senator Barack Obama. The 77-year old Novak began his career in journalism after his service in the Korean War. He started with the Associated Press (AP) and in 1957, the AP transferred him to Washington, D.C. where he began covering Congress. In 1963, Novak began writing the political column “Inside Report,” and quickly established himself as a formidable conservative political commentator. He was a founding commentator for CNN and hosted The Novak Zone, served as the co-host of Crossfire, was co-executive producer of the public affairs program, The Capital Gang. In 2003, Novak made headlines by identifying Valerie Plame by name as a CIA operative, based on information he had received by “senior administration officials” touching off an extensive investigation and widespread discussion about First Amendment privilege. The visits to Wilkes-Barre by both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama earlier in the day, serve as the perfect backdrop for Novak’s lecture at Wilkes. Novak acknowledged that the Democratic race is interesting, “Because this is clearly a great year for the Democrats. All the indicators point to a Democratic victory and maybe a massive Democratic victory and certainly substantial gains in the Senate and some gains in the House.” He added, “All the polls indicate that if you give [the people] the choice between a Democratic president and a Republican president, the Democrats win overwhelmingly. But when you put names into the brackets, instead of just Democrat or Republican, McCain is running competitively with both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama.” This shift in the polls, Novak said, shows that, “there are some problems with both Clinton [and] Obama, which are created by the contest between them that has run lon- ger than anybody anticipated… The great hope of the Republicans [is] that they will continue this increasingly bitter contest as long as possible to Senator McCain’s benefit.” However, Novak believes that even if the Democrats continue to fight among themselves, McCain still has a battle to fight. “I don’t think anything will hand a Republican the White House this year, because the Republican party is in bad shape and the economy is looking worse all the time. So it won’t hand it to him. I think it will give him a chance to win the election, which he wouldn’t have otherwise,” he said. According to Novak, the Democrats have the added struggle of a Catch-22. “A lot of people say that the racial gap is so bad that if Senator Clinton is nominated, and it appears that she has stolen the nomination from Obama, that there will be a real stay-at-home vote by the African American population,” Novak stated. He added, “The other side of the coin is, is there going to be a backlash against Senator Obama? Right now, with the problems [caused by] the statements made by his former minister and indeed some of the statements by his wife, I think there is a problem of some racial backlash against him. So there are a lot of complicated factors involved there.” But after over a decade of solid Republican control in Washington, Novak noted that the party is currently under great pressure for what it has not managed to accomplish in that time. “The Republicans have really squandered their mandate. Twelve years in control of Congress, eight years in control of the presidency, most of the last generation, and really [they] have not done a very good job on a lot of issues,” said Novak. But while the issue may be a very different one for Democrats, the question of the vice presidential nominee is largely a nonissue for McCain, the Republican party’s apparent nominee. Novak said that he is not very concerned with the Republicans’ vice presidential choice. “I don’t think vice presidential candidates mean much, even in this election. I’ve been at it for fifty years and the only one that [has] won an election was Lyndon Johnson in 1960, under very special circumstances. None of them ever lost an election for anybody. So I think it’s a story everyone likes to talk about. People are interested in it, but it doesn’t make much difference,” he said. As for possible vice presidential nominees, Novak said, “I’ve thrown out all See NOVAK page 5 �APRIL 1, 2008 GAMING from FRONT PAGE “Whenever you have the ability to take different groups of students and put them together, especially juniors and seniors, they really learn from each other… You get to see how different parts of the process work when you’re in a group like that as opposed to just doing programming or IM. You end up being more able to get out and work in the real world because you’re not in a small box, but you’re interacting with other people with different skills,” said Dr. Anthony Kapolka, associate professor of computer science. Alongside faculty, students are also eagerly awaiting the proposal’s approval, confident that the addition of the Gaming and Media Design track will attract positive attention. “A lot of the students who are really interested in computers are the people who use computers and play games. The next step after playing games is to make them. The gaming industry is huge now and it’s only going to get bigger,” said Simon Elmir, junior mathematics and electrical engineering major. While having an interest in playing video games will aid students taking courses within the new track, Zukoski hinted that an interest in mathematics may also prove to be helpful. “[Developing games] is not an easy thing. You’re dealing with physics, gravity and collisions. There’s a lot of calculus involved to do those things, a lot of math and physics. Students sometimes talk about how they like to NEWS play games, but creating them is another story.” In addition to the formation of the new track, the classic computer science track will also undergo changes if faculty members vote in favor of the proposal. In order to add the new gaming courses, Machine Language (CS 230) will be dropped and courses currently part of the “first two years experience” will be consolidated and reorganized. “In the first two years, the first four computer courses have been changed around… In our mind, that’s as important, if not more important, than the gaming track,” added Kapolka. “Nationally, we’ve seen a dip in computer science enrollments and with our school’s size, we happen to see those trends becoming much more prominent… We’re trying to address the trends that we’ve seen here over the past couple of years,” said Lew. Kyle Hatcher, junior computer science major, is confident that the new track has the potential to attract more students with interests in learning more about the games they play and the computers they use on a daily basis. “I was kind of surprised when I got here and realized that they didn’t have [those courses] as part of the curriculum because gaming is really a big thing with computer science and programmers.” According to Zukoski and Lew, topics courses related to gaming and media design offered in the past filled quickly and parents of prospective students who tour 4 The Beacon / Jenna Stephens Frank Kopyta, sophomore computer science and IM double major, works on an assignment in a Computer Data Structures class. Students like Kopyta with interests in both game programming and media design will benefit from the creation of a new track and restructuring of the program’s core curriculum. the campus and attend open houses are already inquiring about the new track. “This can’t hurt us; it can only help,” said Zukoski. The department is not seeking any additional programs, software, faculty or computers at this time, but will continue to update the tools used and courses offered in hopes of keeping the programs “organic,” said Lew. The proposal for the revision of the curriculum has previously been approved by the Curriculum Committee and now faces a formal faculty vote. If approved, the current curriculum will be adjusted for the fall semester. General Board Election Results S IOR N E S RS O I N President- Jill Kalariya JU The Beacon / Jenna Stephens Jack Welsch, Vice President of Product Development at InterMetro, spoke to students, faculty and staff about the subject of product development from a business perspective on Tuesday, March 25. Welsch also discussed what he believes motivates customers to buy the products that his company develops. InterMetro Industries Corporation is based in Wilkes-Barre and is a large division of the Tools and Storage group of Emerson Electric. Emerson Electric attributes its success to its core competency in developing superior, awardwinning products and getting them to market, fast. Welsch has been granted more than 25 U.S. patents, and he has spoken at also served as adjunct faculty at Lehigh University. President- David Sborz Vice-President- Jeffrey Bauman Secretary- Kathy Dalton Treasurer- Tanya Feiretag Representatives- John Botch, Andy Julian, Carl Santana, John Edler (WI), Sherri Homanko (WI), John Luff (WI) Vice-President- Lacee Wagaman Secretary- Jake Reichert Treasurer- Justin Balint Representatives- Nick Koch, Ashley Palkovic, Maria Rinaldo, Charles Siorkowsk, Katie White, Jason Woloski H SOP S RE O M O President- Ben Beidel Vice-President- Megan Dickinson Secretary- Jess Gen Treasurer- Laura Perkins Representatives- Christina D’Ippolito, Katie Gallagher, Stephen Nathan Grouver, Konstantina Papa Thomas, Katherine Munchel, Derek Nye �APRIL 1, 2008 NOVAK from PAGE 3 sorts of names… Rob Portman of Ohio… I’ve even thrown out Condoleezza Rice’s name… so if I throw out all of these vice presidential names, one of them is going to be right and I am going to look good.” But Novak did talk about what he thinks McCain should look for in a vice presidential nominee. “I think what McCain is looking for is somebody who looks a lot younger than he does, because he is old… They need somebody that is twenty-years or so younger. Secondly, it’s got to be a conservative, and that’s not hard either… and I think they are looking for somebody who is probably adapted in the field of economics… but they would like somebody that wouldn’t make a fool out of themselves in the debate,” he stated. As far as campaign issues go, Novak thought the debate on immigration is far too overrated and candidates squander their NEWS time talking about it. “After [Mitt Romney] got surprised by Huckabee in Iowa, he was convinced that immigration was the key to beating McCain… It didn’t help Romney much… So I think it is an overblown issue. It is also an issue that the Democrats can’t make much hay on, because they are bitterly divided on it. They are trying very hard to keep their very important Hispanic base. Both parties are split on the issue and I don’t think it is a very good campaign issue.” Novak also added some advice to journalism students who attend his lecture. He said the most crucial thing for a young journalist to do is, “… read the newspapers. I suppose if you get all your news off the computer… that’s ok. I think holding the paper in your hand and going through it is more important. But you really have to keep informed. I just find a lot of journalism students think they’re going to get their information by osmosis or something.” The Allan P. Kirby Lecture is free and open to the public. 5 The Beacon / Cara Koster The Indian Cultural Association hosted an “Indian Treat Sale” on Thursday, March 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Henry Student Center. Attendees enjoyed delicious Indian snacks and Chai tea. OBAMA from PAGE 1 unable to get tickets there can go to Obama headquarters in Midtown Village on Main Street. For Obama’s stop at Wilkes, all ticketed guests must pass through security and metal detectors. Guests are asked to limit personal belongings, and should know that no signs or banners are allowed. But cameras and cell phones are permitted. There will also be some interruptions to Wilkes operations in conjunction with Obama’s stop. According to Christine Tondrick, “The Barnum and Marts Center lots will be closed from 10 p.m. Monday through 4 p.m. Tuesday. Anyone affected by the lot restrictions may park in the South Main Street garage. The university asks for your patience and understanding as parking accessibility on Tuesday is expected to be limited.” Tondrick also says that “Barnum Place will be closed by Wilkes-Barre Police at 8 a.m. Additional street closings may be necessary and will be announced as soon as possible.” The Marts Center and fitness center will also be closed as of 9:30 p.m. on Monday, March 31 through 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1. The Recreation and Athletic Center in UCOM and the YMCA fitness facilities are available to students and staff free of charge. For continuing coverage of Obama’s and Clinton’s visit to WilkesBarre on Tuesday please stay tuned to www.wilkesbeacon.com.and cell phones are permitted. There will also be some interruptions to Wilkes operations in conjunction with Obama’s stop. According to Christine Tondrick, “The Barnum and Marts Center lots will be closed from 10 p.m. Monday through 4 p.m. Tuesday. Anyone affected by the lot restrictions may park in the South Main Street garage. The university asks for your patience and understanding as parking accessibility on Tuesday is expected to be limited.” Tondrick also says that “Barnum Place will be closed by Wilkes-Barre Police at 8 a.m. Additional street closings may be necessary and will be announced as soon as possible.” The Beacon / Andrew Seaman The Marts Center and fitness center will also be closed as of 9:30 p.m. Former President Bill Clinton spoke at Coughlin High School in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, March on Monday, March 31 through 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1. The Recre19 in support of his wife’s, New York Senator Hillary Clinton’s, candidacy for the White House. Clin- ation and Athletic Center in UCOM and the YMCA fitness facilities are ton was due to arrive at 3:45 p.m., but due to other stops in the area, was delayed over an hour. The available to students and staff free of charge. rally was held in the school’s gymnasium, where supporters flooded the bleachers. Wilkes-Barre MayFor continuing coverage of Obama’s and Clinton’s visit to Wilkesor Tom Leighton and U.S. Congressman Paul Kanjorski also spoke at the rally. Barre on Tuesday please stay tuned to www.wilkesbeacon.com. �Opinion Your Voices Cafeteria etiquette Vandalism APRIL 1, 2008 7 8 8 6 Remember when: looking back on 75 years of education BY THE BEACON EDITORIAL BOARD The 1963 doo-wop smash by The Earls, “Remember Then,” is probably a familiar tune to the Wilkes professors who were consulted for this article. Though, they probably never gave thought to the day when they would actually have to go back and do it. In light of Wilkes University’s 75th anniversary over the next academic year, The Beacon, in consultation with Dr. Harold Cox, Professor Emeritus of History and University Archivist; Dr. James Rodechko, Professor Emeritus of History; Dr. Bradford Kinney, Professor of Communication Studies, and Dr. Brian Redmond, professor of Enviromental Engineering and Earth Science, compiled a list of the top 10 events and people who have influenced Wilkes University most during its 75 years. This week, The Beacon offers Part I of “Remember when...” which examines the first five most memorable people and moments in Wilkes University’s history. Next week, we will offer the final five and ask readers to submit their own most memorable moments in history. The following have been pulled from historical atlases, newspaper archives, and favorite old professors who are still hanging around to share their stories from the days of old. The Beacon’s Top Ten most significant moments in Wilkes University’s history: 1. THE DAVIS REPORT Before Wilkes was the Blue and Gold, it was the Blue and Orange. Yes, that’s correct. Feeling the effects of The Great Depression with an oversized faculty and a drop in student enrollment, Bucknell University, located in Lewisburg Pennsylvania, was in search of a site to establish a satellite school for its survival. Frank G. Davis, Chairman of the Bucknell Education Department at the time, was involved in a state-wide study to find the best possible location to set up shop. He chose WilkesBarre. Davis proposed the idea to Bucknell president Homer Rainey in March 1933, and in September of that year Bucknell University Junior College (BUJC) opened its doors as a two-year institution in Wilkes-Barre, PA. “Without the Davis report, there would have been no Bucknell Junior College. And without a Bucknell Junior College, there probably would have never been a Wilkes or an equivalent thereof,” said school archivist Dr. Harold Cox. 2. DR. FARLEY’S ARRIVAL (March, 1936) The first three years at the institution were a struggle, to say the least. The entire school was located in an abandoned business school, which was a three story brick building located at what is now the Park and Lock South at 29-31 Northampton Street, directly across from the Y.M.C.A. The lone building contained a 500-seat auditorium and administrative offices on the first floor, a small library and classrooms on the second, and laboratories on the third floor. The school’s director quickly departed after it fell into a $20,000 hole, leaving the new president in Lewisburg, Arnaud Marts, to search for someone to direct the Wilkes-Barre campus. He found his man in Eugene Sheddon Farley, a towering graduate of Pennsylvania State University, who was a football letterman and AllAmerican in lacrosse. Within five years of serving LEFT: Wilkes University’s as the instituhumble beginnings took place tion’s director, in an abandoned Wilkes- Farley secured Barre business school, located (in order) some of on what is now the Park and the downtown’s Lock directly across the street from the Y.M.C.A. on Northampton Street. A decade later, the facility was used by King’s College. RIGHT: WilkesBarre was the perfect place to host an Army Airforce pre-flight school, which boosted male attendance during World War II. Conyngham Hall was the first building deeded to the Wilkes back in 1937 by Bertha Conyngham. Sadly, it burned to the ground in 1968. LOOK HOW WE’VE EVOLVED... 1934-1935 1936-1947 most prominent and beautiful mansions to become part of the campus. Those buildings remain and are now called Conyngham Hall, Chase Hall, Weckesser, and Kirby Hall. The abandoned business school in the Park and Lock became the birthplace of King’s College a decade later. President Farley’s tenure was colored with numerous advances and successes including establishing new curricula, hiring dozens of faculty members, and helping the school into more financial stability. 3. FLYBOYS TO THE RESCUE (1945) BUJC had seen peak numbers in 1939 and 1940, but the following year the bottom dropped out on the male attendance figures as the United States entered World War II after the attacks on Pearl Harbor. “The place was ready to close for all practical purposes,” Cox said. “Farley wasn’t about to let that happen.” The president marched down to Washington D.C. to lobby for financial help, and he got his answer two weeks later. Government entities showed interest in establishing an aviation school in the Wilkes-Barre area, which would guarantee over 250 students at a time at BUJC. Farley welcomed the idea with open arms, and thus an Army Air Force pre-flight training program was established. The 6th Training Detachment (or Flyboys as they liked to be called) were housed in the Hotel Sterling and made good use of the Forty 1947-present �OPINION APRIL 1, 2008 continued from page 6 Fort airport, which could be reached by street car in those days. Enrollment jumped from 51 men and 86 women in 1944 to 643 men and 154 women in ‘46…amazing. 4. THE DEAN ARRIVES! (1946) In 1946, George F. Ralston stepped onto campus and quickly became the face of the university. He was--and still is--regarded as The Father of Wilkes Athletics for establishing the first sports program here in 1946. With his district southern drawl and a vice-like grip of a handshake, he served as the coach for the football, baseball, and basketball teams. In fact, in his first year coaching football, he led his team of hardened, sons of coalminers to an undefeated season, in which two of his players, John Florkiewicz and Gerrard Wasco, would go on to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He became the Dean of Student Life in 1960, but would still be seen at every home game, performing his legendary “G-O W-I-L-KE-S!” cheer. Ralston passed away last April, but his legacy will endure forever. “He’s the greatest man I’ve ever met,” said Cox, holding back tears. “He’s the only man I’ve ever cried for.” What do you think? -- 5. THE WILKES CHARTER (June 26, 1947) Ah, what’s in a name? In 1947, thanks to much growth and some continued stability, the school had outgrown its junior college status and was instituted as a private, fouryear, non-denominational, liberal arts college. But of course, at that point, the school needed a new name, and it got one... that lasted for only 30 days. After becoming a four year college, the school briefly went by the name Wyoming Valley College. This didn’t go over too well with the folks at Wyoming Seminary, a college preparatory high school across the river in Kingston. Leaders at Wyoming Seminary argued that the similarity between the names could cause confusion, and instead of getting involved in a heated argument, Trustees renamed the school Wilkes College. NEXT WEEK...memorable moments from the 1950s and forward in Wilkes University history. (RIGHT) These are rules students had to follow back in the 1936-1937 academic school year as seen in the first issue of the Bucknell Beacon. ■ The Beacon wants your voice to be heard. Your Voices is the opportunity for students to voice their concerns. If you want your voice to be heard, please contact The Beacon with the following information: 1 Contact information including your email address and a phone number where you can be reached 2 Your name, major, and year 3 Your opinion thebeacon.oped@ gmail.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for space and content. 7 FRESHMAN RULES-19}6,19n Permanent Rules:· (1.) There shall he NO loitering on the first' floor. (2.) Freshmen shall keep the lounges in order at all times. {) .) Freshmen must speak courteously to ·sopho· mores and faculty members. (.•t) Freshmen will rise when approached by a far culty mcmhcr or visitors. ( s:) Freshmen will attend at least two home games in three sports, (6J Freshmen will ·observe nil rules of the house committee. Temporary Rules: ( 1.) Men will wear <links until Christmas ·recess. (2) Fir!-t week: a. Men and women will carry sulphur matchrs for sophomores. b. Women w1ii wear .no make-up. c. Mi:n and women will wear l.1rge cards l~aring thefr names, nick-names, and alm·a· m·ater. <l. .M~il wiil wi:ar plai11 l,Jui.? ur urange !,t raight tics. (j;) S«c·nd. week: a. Wom'.'Yt wilLw~r blue or . orange hair rihbons three ( .; ; ·inches wiue anci no make• up. h. Men wiiJ' wear. plain blue or ora~g~, strJight ties. ( 4.) Third wcc:b a. The Alma Mater will l)C known thorough; ly. h. . Freshmen will rfre ,vhen directly ap, proach:-d by sophomores in .the lounges. NOTE: Thc.<-e rule.,; are .to be enforced only within one hlock of the college huilding. · Your Voices To The Beacon Editorial Board: We applaud you for your recent article “America’s biggest threats: intolerance and hatred”. The Anti-Defamation League, the nation’s premier civil rights/human relations agency fighting anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, has worked for almost 100 years defending democratic ideals and protecting civil rights for all, including those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. We, too, are concerned with the increase in bias-motivated youth violence, and we believe that anti-bullying, anti-bias and diversity programs will help provide students with an education in which social, ethical, and academic development are inseparable goals. Our No Place for Hate program creates safe, inclusive environments in schools by addressing the damaging effects of bias, bullying and name-calling. No Place for Hate provides teachers and students the tools to build learning communities in which everyone is accepted, differences are appreciated and celebrated, and all members are encouraged to succeed. No Place for Hate enables individuals to challenge racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia and all forms of bigotry in their communities and schools. It seeks to provide a model for responding to and preventing acts of hatred and for developing projects that enhance understanding of diverse groups. No Place for Hate strives to create more harmonious communities and classrooms by reducing bias and increasing an appreciation of the richness that diversity can bring. The Beacon staff recommends that schools “implement programs that deter bullying and promote a safe and accepting environment”. You cite Denver area public schools’ recent implementation of the No Place for Hate program. In fact, the No Place for Hate program has been used in schools across Pennsylvania and Delaware since 2001. With Governor Ed Rendell’s official endorsement of the program in the fall of 2006, more than 130 schools have registered to become No Place for Hate, with additional schools enrolling on a regular basis. It has been introduced in Montour, Monroe, and Lehigh counties, as well as 23 other counties across Pennsylvania and two in Delaware. We join with The Beacon Editorial Board in encouraging students, faculty and concerned community members to confront the challenges of bigotry and diversity headon by engaging various groups, including law enforcement, religious institutions, parents, teachers, school administrators, and civic groups; exploring programs such as A CAMPUS OF DIFFERENCE (TM); and challenging them to encourage K-12 schools to join No Place for Hate. Sincerely, Lisa Stewart Project Director, No Place for Hate, Anti-Defamation League, Eastern Pennsylvania/Delaware Region �APRIL 1, 2008 OPINION 8 Forgotten your table manners? Beacon Poll Results Cafeteria etiquette goes a long way during busy days BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Asst. Sports Editor elevator sees, it’s more than natural for it to break down on occasion, but don’t you think a good deal of its problems may be caused or exacerbated by the punishment many students dish out to it? Having the elevator out of operation takes away the easy route up for all of us, but much more importantly it leaves those who physically can’t make it up the stairs in a difficult situation. I did not speak with any physically challenged members of the Wilkes community before writing this, but just imagine the dilemma they face when the elevator is out of service due to childish nonsense. The Beacon asked: Who would you pay $5,500 to spend an hour with? • Ashley Alexandra Dupre (aka Kristen)-11% • Brad Pitt-0% • Jesus Christ-59% • Christopher Walken-4% • Ghandi-4% • Helen Keller-2% • George Clooney-2% • Marilyn Monroe-1% • Angelina Jolie-11% • Other-7% The Beacon/Gino Troiani For nearly every Wilkes student, eating in the third floor cafeteria of the Henry Student Center is a key part of life on campus. While the number of visits to the cafeteria may vary among commuters, residents and off-campus students, one thing that is common among nearly every visitor is the desire for quick and efficient service among all diners. In my years at Wilkes, the vast majority of students have been well-behaved, polite, and courteous during my many visits to the cafe. However, a number of visitors seemingly always feel the need to cause delays and hassles for those of us who simply aim to enjoy our meal, catch up with friends, and pick up with the rest of our busy schedules. First, let’s look at one of the most important pieces of working machinery on campus- the HSC elevator. While the elevator is a major asset for nearly everyone on campus in reaching the upper two stories of the student center, it also Trash on the floor of the elevator in the SUB provides a vital link to the upper floors for those students and staff who face a daily We can all get a kick out of grabbing the battle with disabilities and mobility issues. door and keeping it from closing to accomAlso many students, staff, faculty, and visi- modate a friend, but is it really necessary tors use the elevator in taking essential ma- to have a full load of students jumping up terials to events and activities on the second and down on the ride up, or for passengers floor. to pull down part of the ceiling to put cookAccording to Campus Support Services, ies and other foods on top of the grating? the HSC elevator required service on 14 Not only does the interior damage cause separate occasions from March of 2007 headaches for maintenance personnel, but to March of 2008. Out of those calls, five it also puts passengers in danger of having were attributed to overloading or jumping the loosened ceiling fall down on subsein the elevator car, while one was attributed quent loads of riders- something that I’ve to vandalism. With the frequent use the experienced more than once in four years. The following are results of a poll that The Beacon conducted online this past week. The poll was unscientific, and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on campus. Results are based on 85 responses. Added to this are the carvings, writings, and inscriptions put into the panels containing the buttons and displays next to the door- is it really necessary to carry over such childish habits from high school years? In terms of etiquette in the cafeteria itself, nearly all students clean up after themselves when they leave, but a small number leave their tables a mess and sometimes don’t even take their glasses or trays to the proper area. It’s no secret that one of the most popular events at the cafeteria is wing night, and when large groups of diners leave their areas a mess, it prevents other groups coming in from using those areas. I often visit the late-night operation with six or seven of my friends, and we frequently have a hard time finding a table big enough for all of us. I must admit that the cafeteria staff closes some areas that hold larger tablessomething they should seriously consider changing- but it doesn’t help when they need to do plenty of unnecessary cleaning up after irresponsible customers. All of us can- and do- get caught up in having fun with our friends in the cafeteria, and in the process of going up and coming down from eating there. Make no mistake about it- the student center is there for our benefit, and the caf should be a place where we can kick back a bit and relax in the course of busy days. But in order for that to happen, and in order for the caf to operate at maximum efficiency, all of us who spend any amount of time there need to make sure we take care of the facilities we use there every day. It doesn’t take much- just some basic manners that you probably learnedand perhaps forgot- long ago. Next Week’s Question: Who do you think will win the NCAA basketball championship? • UNC • UCLA • Memphis • Davidson • Kansas Visit www.wilkesbeacon.com to cast your vote. Results will be published in next week’s issue of The Beacon. On Saturday, residents and members of a downtown Jewish synagogue discovered that religious intolerance and hate are still a problem in the community. Anti-Semitic graffiti defaced the front facade and side of the Ohav Zedek synagogue on South Franklin Street, an act of vandalism that investigators are calling a hate crime. Swastikas were spray painted in gold on the front doors and signs of the building. There was also a silver six-pointed star painted on a front door and the word “Jude,” or Jew in German, on another. The word “abshaum,” German for scum, was also painted on another door. This senseless act of hatred and vio- lence forces the community to recognize that racism and intolerance still exist in the world and even in our own neighborhood. It should also spur the Wilkes community, as good neighbors, to reaffirm our vigilance and watch for those who would target Ohav Zedek, or nearby neighbor Temple Israel, with hate. Anti-Semitic acts can never be tolerated. Wilkes University and the surrounding communities need to come together as leaders in education and hate crime prevention efforts. The Beacon/Jenna Stephens Local synagogue target of hate mongers �LIFESTYLES APRIL 1, 2008 Philosophy of Sport Student of the Week 10 11 9 SBDC gives interns a taste of the real business world BY WILFREDO MERCADO Beacon Correspondent Those who have dreamed of starting their own business, need look no further than next door for a nudge in the right direction. The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers the chance for students to get great hands on experience for a successful career without the need to go very far. Located right above the Barnes & Noble book store on Public Square, the SBDC allows for students to gain real life small business education, according to Ed Kowalcyk, the assistant director of the SBDC. “The Wilkes University Small Business Development Center is a non-profit agency which provides confidential business consulting services to clients in a five county territory including Luzerne, Columbia, Sullivan, Schuylkill, and Carbon counties,” said Kowalcyk. Graduate assistants and interns work with clients who have ideas or concepts about starting their own small business. “Our goal is to finish their business plan and then send them out to different sources for financing,” said Josh Savitski, a graduate assistant for the SBDC. Through this process, the client gets the aid necessary to start their business, and the student gains skills and experience. Savitski feels the program is a great place to establish a career in business. “Right now, I am comfortable editing business plans, researching industries, and creating graphics for business plans,” he said. “Last June, I was not comfortable doing so. In just 8 months, I feel very confident in every plan that I edit.” Other services offered through the SBDC include marketing, advertising, market analysis, computer applications, extensive research capabilities, environmental compliance assistance, energy efficiency evaluations and assistance, government contracting assistance, in-depth training seminars, and feasibility analysis. “These services are offered to both entrepreneurs who are interested in starting their own business and existing business owners who are interested in growing their small business,” added Kowalcyk. Graduates from Wilkes who interned with the SBDC have successfully started their own business. Last year’s Graduate Assistant, Rick Simon, has his own webbased business, gopoko.com. Similarly, this year’s graduate assistant, Savitski is looking to start his own business. He feels that he owes it all to the SBDC for giving him the working knowledge of what it takes to get a business off the ground. Sharon Castano, who is in charge of internships and freshmen student development, refers students to the SBDC who are interested in accounting, want to network or those who want to be entrepreneurs. She also recommends the program to those students who do not have transportation because of its convenient location within walking distance to campus on Public Square. Though it is not the sole reason to be a part of the program, Savitski admits that The Beacon/Jenna Stephens a wonderful perk Senior Danielle Mathieson interns at the Small Busness Defrom being a gradu- velopment Center, an organizaion that lends a hand to new ate assistant in this companies in our area. program is the tuition average, great interpersonal skills and must remission for his graduate program. “Graduate Assistants are required to work be comfortable working in a team environ17 hours per week at the Small business ment. “The SBDC gives students a chance to enDevelopment Center and in return, are paid a small stipend and are able to earn their hance the information learned in the classMasters in Business Administration degree room. It’s one thing to learn about a busifrom Wilkes University for almost no cost ness plan and another to actually work with to them, paying only technology fees out of one. It sounds redundant, I know, but it’s the truth. Joining the SBDC was a wonderpocket,” said Kowalcyk. He also warned that the graduate assis- ful choice,” said Savitski. tantship positions are highly competitive. Interested students must have a 3.0 GPA What is the best April Fool’s joke you’ve been part of? “Freshman year, my one friend used to always sleep until 11 a.m. and I’d wake him up for lunch. On April 1st he had this big paper due at 1 p.m., so I changed every clock in his room to 5 p.m...I had him going until he got online and went to the world clock.” Anthony Giuffrida senior, pre-medicine major “I’d probably say toilet papering a teacher’s room in high school.” Santino Ardo freshman, undeclared major “A really good family friend called me and told me his mom was pregnant, and she is forty-some years old and her youngest daughter is only two years younger than me...I called her and told her congratulations and she had no idea what I was talking about.” Jenn Prusjowski junior, P1 pharmacy major “I saran-wrapped someone’s car.” Anthony Dimarco junior, communication studies major The Beacon/Matthew Gogas �LIFESTYLES 10 APRIL 1, 2008 Philosophy of Sport explores current athletic controversies BY LAUREN SALEM Beacon Staff Writer What is the true price of winning in athletic competitions? Should performance-enhancing drugs like steroids be legalized in formal athletic contests? These are just two of many questions students explore and debate in the class, Philosophy of Sport. Visiting professor Dr. Mark Holowchak developed the Philosophy of Sport class year ago, but is teaching it in a new format for the first time this spring semester. Previously, he has taught the class at other institutions over the last 21 years. “My view of teaching is this: good teaching is like good cooking,” Holowchak said. “A chef, to create something special, has to take some chances sometimes. So, too with teaching.” The class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 1:002:15 p.m. in the Darte Center where students play a weekly team game in the form of a philosophical debate. By the tenth week in the semester, each team will have competed in four games and have collected a number of wins and losses. The team with the most wins will receive the “Colonel’s Cup,” which is a bye to the final debate, while the remaining teams will engage in playoff games to determine who will compete against the winning team. “I feel that this is a very important course not just for athletics but more classes like this should be taught about other topics,” said Anthony Fortunato, a senior majoring in entrepreneurship. “I believe Dr. Holowchak is very good at making people feel like they can say whatever they want because it’s their opinion.” Holowchak has been a competitive athlete for over 20 years and has competed in power-lifting competitions and coached strength clubs or power-lifting teams at the University of Pittsburg, Eastern Michigan University, and Kutztown University. “I was the strongest man (drug-free) in Michigan in 1992,” Holowchak said. “Competitive sport has taught me that discipline, effort, and perseverance ulThe Beacon/Gino Troiani timately always pay off. My academic Students in the Philosophy of Sport engage in weekly debates on topics successes are the direct result of my athsuch as violence in sports, comparison of male and female athletes, and letic successes.” whether sports refl ect social mores and values. Holowchak has published more than 30 papers and several books about ethics, ancient philoso- of sport, violence in sports, rank comparison of male athletes versus female athletes, whether or not sport affects or phy, and social and political philosophy. “I’ve taken some philosophy classes before but I wanted merely reflects social mores and values, and whether or not to learn about something else,” said Nicholas Lutz, a senior sport is a species of art. “I became more aware of the pressure society puts on political science major. “Sports seemed like a very interesting topic because there are hot moral issues in sports right professional athletes,” said Ashley Yob, a sophomore psychology major. “It gave me a different outlook on sports as now.” The class explores issues and topics that are currently af- a whole and what goes on in professional sports that you fecting the world of sports. These include the definition may not realize.” - TUDE~H U I G FORTH IN I -P - CA + BILL HENRY at 215-?6H619 0R CHECK THE WEB S.11iE OR IN FORMATION 1 ·• v s! ·. n up _ nth! I nt 665 sma ,· d y.. -~ kr . (570) 823 - ' ', vc ' J In . , 9 t �LIFESTYLES APRIL 1, 2008 11 Student of the Week: Brad DeFrain BY MATTHEW GOGAS Beacon Staff Writer a huge fan of the internet or cars or iPods. I think technology strips us of our souls as human beings to make a long story short. DeFrain: My shoes have been to seven different countries. When I studied abroad it was a month long program where eighteen American students and I went and lived in six different cities in Germany with four different host families. I had a blast. Although Brad DeFrain just transferred to Wilkes University this semester, he has The Beacon: Tell us about the ESL proalready made his mark on the campus. A gram. friendly and charismatic junior, DeFrain has DeFrain: It stands for English as a Secbecome involved in the English as a Second ond Language. Here it’s located in HollenLanguage (ESL) program at Wilkes, where back Hall on [South] Franklin Street. We he works as a conversation partner for interbring in a lot of students from all over the national students. world. We bring in a lot of Chinese students Before coming to Wilkes, he attended The Beacon: What are and Saudi Arabian students to come here Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. your plans when you graduand study English for two and a half years Originally a German major there, he left to on a program that’s more or less the English ate? come to Wilkes UniDeFrain: I versity because it is haven’t quite figlocated much closer ured that out yet. to home. Upon trans- I guess the coolest thing you learn is that I am looking into ferring to Wilkes, he we’re more or less the same in a cosmic sense. graduate schools. changed his major to I am looking into sociology because he Brad DeFrain the University of enjoys working with Chicago for their Junior sociology major people, different lanMaster’s in sociolguages, and different ogy. I really want cultures. As a volunto get into a good language 101. The goal is to put them on a teer with the ESL program, DeFrain helps career working with people conversational level to get through college. to improve international students’ speak for the rest of my life. and become more comfortable with the The Beacon: What do you do there? English language. DeFrain: I do conversation partners, DeFrain has also made it a personal goal which means I get hooked up with one perto help international students assimilate betson for an hour a week to just sit down and ter to the campus. Aside from the internatalk with them about anything that comes tional students he has befriended, Brad has into our minds. We are just supposed to give also made many friends on campus in just them practice speaking English with a nahis short time here. Because of his deditive speaker. cation to helping the international student population at Wilkes, The Beacon has choThe Beacon: What do you feel you are sen DeFrain as our Student of the Week. learning from this experience? DeFrain: I’ve learned lots. Sometimes The Beacon: How does Wilkes differ they will teach you funny little things like from Calvin College? how to order food. I have learned about reliDeFrain: Well, there are a lot more elecgion--the religions they practice. I guess the tives for majors that are a lot more interestcoolest thing you learn is that we’re more or ing than Calvin College. Also, the campus is less the same in a cosmic sense. YOU : #1 SDUR1CE FOR SCREEN PRJ a lot smaller. There are smaller class sizes. The Beacon: How would your friends describe you? DeFrain: Old fashioned. I don’t use technology as much as everyone else. I’m not The Beacon: How did you decide to work for the ESL program? DeFrain: Well, my first major was German. I had the chance to go abroad a couple of times. I really enjoy working with culture and people and the whole nine yards as far as that goes. The Beacon: Explain your experiences studying abroad. Would you like to nominate someone for Student of the Week? Send an email to: beacon.lifestyles@gmail.com The Beacon/Marissa Phillips IRTS.COM 4 T - S The Beacon: Why did you choose sociology as a major? DeFrain: I became a sociology major because I thought that it would give me the opportunity to work with people. The Beacon/Marissa Phillips INGE BROJDERY1 .AND1PRO OTION!AL IT ?ERFECill' FOR EIUSINJH;SE RH!i,f.AURANT · ~01.l!EGES.1 .A.Nil - Gtt SCHOOLS, Wt. CARRY AJ..L BRUIJS. AND STYLES Of" TEE S'WEAJTSH JS GDJJP RTS. ll UNIFORMS. A DE: VAmE:'lr( OF PilW 0'11 • ·_ · ITE A-'S G , rtUGS, OUSEPcAD COOLER.S- KE'li'CttAI S, AI\ID. PRICES ANO AKNOW~D6EAI -Re. ART STMF. 570.823.9272 EWLOCATION 141 Sour acrass rum N n r Domino I I .- nl eeme..- Co b �A&E APRIL 1, 2008 Humanitarian Week Crossword Doomsday 13 14 15 Local talent spotlight: Dawud Anderson, a cut above BY MARISSA PHILLIPS Beacon A&E Editor Not many people can boast about a resume as extensive as Dawud Anderson’s. Anderson is a singer, actor, and a comedian. Yet what takes the lead role in his life is his career as a salon owner and stylist. Anderson grew up around the music business, so music has It’s a task to chronicle all of Anderson’s entertainment Just as Anderson’s music, comedy, and acting caendeavors, “Because I do a lot of other stuff, I just can’t reers are progressing, so is his salon career. In the tell you everything,” he explained, but another aspect of next few weeks, Anderson will open a new salon in his entertainment career is his acting. He began acting Wilkes-Barre, on South Main Street. His current sawhen in Maryland, but once he came to Pennsylvania lon has been open for nine months, but he felt that he he performed in his first musical, The Full needed an addition to better cater to college students Monty. Now he’s on his way to costar in an who can’t reach his salon in Plains. upcoming movie. He’s slated to be a serial Anderson explained that he’s sincerely interested in killer by day, singer at night, in a movie that serving every different type of customer needing hair will be shot in Scranton. care, regardless of nationality, type of hair, or finanDespite all of his roles as an entertainer, cial situation. He wants to offer equal opportunities Anderson devotes the majority of his time and reach out to every demographic. He plans to ofto his other passion--working with hair. fer discounts to students who show up with student He owns his own hair salon, where he is IDs, and work to serve women with problems such as head stylist, and even has his own hair care thinning hair and alopecia. He’s working to establish product line, Seba. his services in the area, and be seen as a hair care proJust as Anderson grew up surrounded by fessional who puts an emphasis on healthy hair. music, he was influenced to get into hair Some people aspire for a chance to pursue a life care while he was growing up as well. of entertainment. Some aim to serve more one-toWith a beautician and a barber in his family, eventually Anderson found his way into the stylist ranks as well. Anderson admitted that it was also “a good way to meet women.” He was trained at at Empire Beauty School and gained experience Anderson with his staff at Who’s Nex: Lauren Cephas, Victoria around the country Jones, and Chrisna Deliscart. in Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Washingbeen a part of his life from the beginning. Recently, he’s been ton D.C., among other places. taking his influences from musicians such as Prince, Bootsy Eventually, Anderson decided Collins, and Chubby Checker and has been working towards to open his own salon, Who’s recording a full-length funk album. His music is high energy, Nex. He also opened a salon which is heard on his first released single, “Don’t Stop.” He in Philadelphia, but eventuprovides the lead vocals and is looking for a rapper to collaboally decided to come to this area rate to finish the album. “because of the atmosphere and Incidentally, music was also the medium that helped Anderthe quietness, and for peace and Despite actively pursuing multiple other creative endeavers, such as son transition into comedy. Three years ago Anderson attendsecurity” and opened a salon in music, acting, and comedy, Anderson devotes the majority of his time ed what he thought was a talent show at Wise Crackers, only Plains. to hair styling and hair care. to discover he was onstage during an open-mic comedy night. Anderson finds a way to meld Despite the misunderstanding, Anderson stepped up and as he his creativity, and his various one through beauty and style consultation. Somehow explained, “I just started telling jokes with my musical instrucreative side projects with his salon. He refers to himAnderson manages to pursue all of the above in style. ments and the next time I brought my piano I played that and self as “The Hair Doctor” and offers downloads of his As a funk singer, actor, comedian, and salon owner, eventually I tried it without that and the rest is history.” Anmusic single online on his salon website, whosnex.com. Dawud Anderson makes appearances all around Wilderson now makes weekly appearances during comedy night Also, Anderson’s comedy usually includes numerous kes-Barre, striving to keep the community entertained at the downtown bar, Donahues, and occasionally makes apstories about his experiences with customers at his hair and their hair healthy. pearances with his act in Philadelphia. salon. Photos courtesy The Beacon/Marissa Phillips �APRIL 1, 2008 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 13 Movie Review: Doomsday BY MIKE WILLIAMS Beacon Staff Writer There comes a time when everyone acknowledges, “Hey, I’d like to watch a movie.” It’s a fairly common occurrence for anyone with enough cash for a theater ticket or a DVD player. But what happens if, instead of watching one movie, you want to watch…oh…say, twelve movies? Unfortunately, few of us have the time, money or home entertainment equipment to accomplish this feat. Enter Doomsday… For the past eight years, writer/director Neil Marshall has been breathing a breath of fresh air into the lungs of Hollywood’s somewhat stagnant horror genre by pumping out such terrifying gems as 2002’s Dog Soldiers and 2005’s The Descent. With his latest release, Doomsday, Marshall delivers once again, with a slick, stylish tip of the hat to more cult favorites than you can shake a severed head at. Combining elements of cult classics such as Escape From New York, The Mad Max trilogy, The Warriors and 28 Days Later, while mixing in vibes of such blockbusters as Gladiator, Braveheart, Aliens, and Lord of the Rings. The end result is an action packed, gore splattered, darkly funny homage to the past 30-odd years of action/horror cinema. The story begins as the horrifying, flesheating Reaper virus infects England, forcing the English government to quarantine the disease in Scotland by resurrecting the legendary Hadrian’s Wall, which runs across the island nation coast to coast. As the rest of the country attempts to recover from the ordeal, those forsaken on the other side of the wall are left to die. Fast forward 30 years. As the world has turned its back on England for its treatment of the virus’s victims, the nation is plunged into a crippling depression, forcing thousands upon thousands of the unemployed into cramped, disease infested ghettos, which is the perfect breeding ground for a resurgence of the Reaper virus. Luckily for the U.K., there is one hope for salvation: a secret satellite has detected human movement in the quarantined city of Glasgow, suggesting that there may be some sort of cure lost somewhere in the hot zone, and that’s where the fun starts. With only two days until the virus once again sweeps across England, a crack team of special agents including stoic heroine Rhona Mitra (The Number 23), hard as nails marine sergeant Adrian Lester (The Day After Tomorrow) and scientists Sean Pertwee and Darren Morfitt (Dog Soldiers). Once inside the hot zone, the team finds that the survivors of the virus have divided themselves into two warring factions. The first, a medieval society, reigned by former government scientist Kane (Malcom MacDowell, Gangster No. 1). The other, a blood thirsty army of cannibalistic Scottish gutter-punks, led with a flare by the charismatically psychotic Sol (Craig Conway, The Descent). To give anything else about the plot away would be a disservice to fans. Staying consistent with his first two servings of splatter cinema, Marshall and company offer up gore galore. In its hour and forty five minute run time, Doomsday offers up some of the most stunning and shocking visuals to hit the screen in years including car chases, grisly sword fights, body barbeques and Sol’s big entrance, which, if it had to be compared to anything, would probably resemble what would happen if MonEvery ty Python decided to No more contacts. No glasses? NO WORRIES! Butler Eyecare has special Student Pricing! 20% discount on Frames $49 eye exams 822-8727 yecare for everyone www .butlereyecare.com 34 S. Main St. Across from SUBWAY attend Spring Break in hell. Intriguing, huh? Unfortunately, aside from the anatomically correct gore and loads of action, those hoping for more than blood splatters and explosions may be a little disappointed by the film’s lack of meaningful dialogue and somewhat underdeveloped characters, which is common for Marshall’s films. On the other hand, those fans who realize that a film like Doomsday is driven by the excitement and intensity of its scenes, the explosive action will more than make up for its short comings in other departments. When all is said and done, there are only two ways that audiences will receive Doomsday. Either they will love it, cheering on the carnage crazed characters as they rampage BOOZE TRUTHS time you drink alcohol. .. you kill 10,000 brain cells T:R."UE F Not el{actly. However, long-term, chronic drinking can cause permanent memory loss & brain damage . Almost 70% of people in treatment for alcohol-related problems suffer severe impairment of memory formation, abstract thinking, problem solving, and ability to concentrate. - Provided By Health Services http:/lwww.factsontap .org Courtesy www.impaawards.com through scene after bloody scene, or they will turn away in disgust halfway through for the exact same reasons. There is no middle ground on this one. Those looking for an award winning piece of cinema, head to Blockbuster. Most of this year’s Oscar winners are ready to rent. However, if you are the type who can appreciate a little (a lot) of blood, some bad language, and enough action to make an hour and forty five minutes feel like a thirty second roller coaster ride, Doomsday is the flick for you. Grade: B ** For video of political candidate visits to the Wilkes-Barre area go to the Wilkes Beacon website at www.wilkesbeacon.com** �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 Kudracross BY CHRISTOPHER KUDRAK Beacon Staff Writer ACROSS 1 Casino wagers 5 Increased 10 Away from shore 14 Hundred ____ Woods 15 Forested area 16 Call manually 17 Type of question 19 Do___others… 20 Fur scarf 21 Ump counterpart 22 Without detail 23 Winter Olympic event 28 Give cold shoulder 30 Overturn 31 Strip the skin off 32 Not outside 36 Nautical direction 37 Conclude 38 Ones equal 40 EPCOT local 43 Son of Isaac 44 No longer obedient 46 Religious ritual 47 Lopsided 53 Pass along a message 54 Mrs. Lennon 55 Promise to pay 58 Increased in size 59 63 64 65 66 67 68 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 33 34 35 37 Broadway performers, for example Equal UFO passenger Start of a children’s story Wimbledon units Black hole, for example Heavenly body DOWN Fish hook Sound rebound Financial officer Erector ____ Concur Large snow accumulations Medical professional, for short _____ Braun Neighbor of PA Mature Biblical mountain Dinning option “_____ came a spider…” Mine find Italian explorer Done in the presence of a king Rotate wildly Posterior legs Ancient Resort hotel Angel topper Classical vocal music Resists change Chair Blade side 39 41 APRIL 1, 2008 Feel sorry over Military group 42 45 47 48 49 50 51 Tuesday, April 1 52 - “Sweetheart Like You”; Roller Derby Portraits art exhibit at the Sordoni Art Gallery 56 - Film: Savages at the Kirby Center at 1 p.m. and 7 :30 p.m. - Barack Obama “Road to Change” bus tour rally; Wilkes University Marts Gym; 9:45a.m. doors open, 11:45a.m. speech 57 59 -Hillary Clinton, “Solutions for the Pennsylvania Economy” town hall meeting, Scandlon Gym, King’s College; 2:30 60 p.m. - The Allan P. Kirby Center Lecture Series in Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship featuring Robert Novak in the Darte 61 62 Center at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 2 -Brown Bag Theatre: If Men Played Cards as Women Do performed at King’s College at 12 p.m. Thursday, April 3 -Pi Sigma Alpha hosting a lecture on illegal immigration from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., see Dr. Tom Baldino for more information -Employment Fair at the Wachovia Arena at 1 p.m. -Evening of Kander & Ebb theater capstone at 4 p.m. -Comedy Night at Donahues at 10 p.m. Friday, April 4 - First Friday at Test Pattern at 6 p.m. - Original members of Asia performing at the Kirby Cener at 8 p.m. - Fight Amputation, YGGR, Let Down and The Early Birds performing at Cafe Metropolis at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 5 - Springline Driver, Losing Caufield and Far From Honored performing at Test Pattern at 8 p.m. -Below Me, Shock Value, Under The Wave and Chemical Dependents performing at Cafe Metropolis at 8 p.m. -Bellydance Hafla event at Arts YOUniverse at 5 p.m. 66 -Spring Fling dinner dance at Waterfront Banquet & Convention Center at 6 p.m. M -Poetry Night at Donahues at 9 p.m. ~3 I Sunday, April 6 M s - Battle of the Rhymes at the River Street Jazz Cafe 6g Monday, April 7 s - Captain We’re Sinking, The Dinosores and Under the Wave performing at Test Pattern at 8 p.m. Answers 3/18 Schedule of Events ___ de guerre Wears away Compels Sensation sensor Slushy snow Fatigued responses Ridiculous Swindle Free Willy animal Computer worker Small amount Alcoholic beverage Tailor item Sin, _____, Tan N N T D L I B T A 0 IJ R s 0 p L E E p �ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 15 APRIL 1, 2008 Humanitarian Weekend to raise awareness on world issues BY ALISSA LINDNER Beacon Assistant A&E Editor What do Wilkes community members know about the crisis in the African nation of Darfur? What sorts of challenges to refugees, displaced by war, environmental disaster, and famine face? Whom do the Keep a Child Alive and Heifer International organizations benefit? Wilkes in the World is sponsoring Humanitarian Weekend 2008 to try and help students, faculty and staff answer these and scores of other questions related to people in need across the globe. Humanitarian Weekend, April 1113, will also benefit four non-profit charitable organizations. The Wilkes in the World club aims to inform the campus about humanitarian issues around the world, according to Alyssa Ciesla, a junior sociology major and member of Wilkes in the World. This year the club has decided to focus its efforts on issues in Africa. Ciesla explained the money raised during Humanitarian Weekend will be split between four organizations: Save Darfur, American Care for Sudan, Keep a Child Alive, and Heifer International. Various activities will be held throughout the weekend that aim to educate and involve Wilkes community members. The kickoff event for Humanitarian Weekend will be a Create-a-thon held in the first floor student lounge in the Henry Student Center beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 11. At the Create-a-thon guests are invited to create various crafts and paintings, which will be sold at a later event during the weekend. The event will run until 5:00 p.m. and tables explaining the four non-profit organizations will be set up, Ciesla said. On Saturday, April 12 a film festival will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Kirby Salon. According to Ciesla, the film festival will feature various documentaries about the humanitarian issues in Africa. Immediately following the film festival, an open forum will be held where students and faculty can discuss and debate on various humanitarian issues, not only in Africa but around the world, Ciesla explained. The final day of Humanitarian Weekend 2008, Sunday April 13 will begin with a poetry reading at the Barnes and Noble bookstore on South Main Street. The creations made on Friday at the Create-a-thon will also be sold. A memorial service will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the Peace Pole in remembrance of those have suffered as a result of humanitarian crises. All events for Humanitarian Weekend 2008 are free to attend; however, donations are accepted throughout the weekend to benefit the four organizations. Wilkes University junior, Pete George, an engineering major, thought the idea for Humanitarian Weekend was good and would probably attend one of the events. “We don’t really have an idea of about the problems peo- CUMB LAND ple in other, less fortunate parts of the world have. I think it’s important to understand the problems that others are having and try to help,” George explained. • Private bath with shower • Free Internet access • Laundry • Free off-street parking • Free water, sewer, & trash. • Secure entry/ Remote access-buzz in • Fully-equipped granite kitchen • Cable TV 17 West Ross Street Wilkes-Barre, PA www.cumberlandliving.com 570-687-2220 �Wilkes posts a 7-2 win over Arcadia in baseball before falling 5-4 in game two Colonels run their record to 8-6 overall and 3-3 in conference play COURTESY JOHN SEITZINGER Wilkes University split a Freedom Conference baseball doubleheader at Arcadia University on Saturday afternoon, winning the opener 7-2, but dropped a 5-4 verdict in the nightcap. The split moves the Colonels to 8-6 overall and 3-3 in conference play as they prepare to host Keuka College in a non-conference doubleheader on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Artillery Park. Arcadia, who also fell 9-6 to the Colonels in game one of their three-game series on Friday, is now 5-13-1 overall and 3-3 in the conference. Corey Helfrich was outstanding in picking up the win in the opener for Wilkes. He tossed a complete game and allowed only four hits. Helfrich, who improved to 2-1 on the hill, The Beacon/Gino Troiani struck out 10 and gave up only a pair of seventh inning runs. Mike Ramsden (2-1) was tagged for six hits and four runs in six innings of work to take the loss for the Knights. Junior Andrew Garofoli catches one deep in left field during the Colonels home Mike McAndrew had three hits and drove in two runs to key Wilkes at the plate. Dwight game against Arcadia. Smith added two hits and two runs batted in for the Colonels, who scored three runs in the second inning to take the lead for good. A double by Arcadia’s Andy Bella was the only extra base hit of the game. John Curreri, Tim Smith and Austin Ley added a single apiece for the Knights. In game two, Ley’s one-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning scored Anthony Champi as Arcadia rallied for two runs in their last at-bat to notch the one-run victory. Steve Chobert (1-1) was the winner on the mound for the Knights, scattering five hits over seven innings. Brad Woznisky (0-2) allowed only eight hits but suffered the loss for the Colonels. Ley had a single and double and drove in a pair of runs for Arcadia. Bella also finished with a single and double and drove in one run. A triple by Ken Spangenberg and a double by Kevin Kolodgie were the other extra base hits for the Knights. Eric Wetzel, who doubled, and Billy Sisko had two hits each for Wilkes in the nightcap. The only other Colonels hit was a single by Helfrich. Wilkes splits softball twinbill with Arcadia Lady Colonels win opener 2-1 before dropping 1-0 decision in nightcap COURTESY JOHN SEITZINGER Sports Information Director Wilkes University and Arcadia University opened their Freedom Conference softball slates on Saturday afternoon by splitting a pair of games at the Ralston Complex. The Lady Colonels claimed a 2-1 win in the opener, while the Knights bounced back for a 1-0 victory in the nightcap. The split moves Wilkes to 9-5 overall, while Arcadia saw their record change to 6-6. In game one, Lindsay Behrenshausen fired a complete game four-hitter to up her pitching record to 5-2 for Wilkes. She struck out five and surrendered only a sixth-inning unearned run. Kiersten Hughes took the loss for Arcadia to slip to 3-3. She gave up only three hits and one earned run. The Lady Colonels got all of the offense they would need in the first inning when Gina Stefanelli drew a two-out walk and Melisa Bracone followed with her fifth homerun of the season to give her squad a 2-0 lead. Arcadia would trim the lead to 2-1 in the sixth inning. Brittni Holland reached on a one out error and Jaime Bee singled to put runners on first and second. After Virginia Buechel flew out, Kristen Burns singled to score Holland. However, Behrenshausen was able to strike out Diana Rufo to end the threat. Bracone had two of the three hits in the game for Wilkes. Stefanelli had the other hit for the Lady Colonels. Amanda Celentano had a double and Bee, Burns and Rufo had a single each for Arcadia. In game two, Arcadia’s Jessica DeFluri (1-1) tossed a shutout and allowed only four hits to lead her team to the win. Maureen Pelot, who gave up six hits and struck out eight in six and two-thirds innings, suffered the loss for Wilkes to fall to 1-2. The Knights scored the game’s only run in the third inning. Kim Servello singled and advanced to second on a one-out walk to Danielle Discher. A wild pitch allowed both runners to move up a base, before Holland’s infield single loaded the bags. Pelot was able to strike out Bee for the second out, but Buechel drew a walk to force homer Servello and give Arcadia the 1-0 win. Servello had two hits, while Holland, Buechel, Burns and Celentano had one hit each for Arcadia. Stefanelli, Kristy Ordile, Erin Plank and Sarah Elliott had the hits for Wilkes. Junior Colleen Labor gets in defensive position at first base during the Lady Colonels doubleheader against Scranton last Tuesday. Lady Colonels won both contests 3-2, 1311. Junior Kathy Dalton is playing outfield. The Beacon/Gino Troiani �SPORTS APRIL 1, 2008 17 Widener Nets 19-14 MAC Lacrosse Win Over Wilkes The Lady Colonels see their overall record move to 3-3 COURTESY OF JOHN SEITZINGER Sports Information Director Wilkes University began their 2008 Middle Atlantic Conference slate on Saturday afternoon by dropping a 19-14 verdict at Widener University. The Pride improved to 2-5 overall with the victory, while the Lady Colonels saw their overall record even at 3-3. Widener held a 40-27 advantage in shots and a 23-17 edge in ground balls, while Wilkes was able to secure a 20-15 edge in draw controls. Jill Cummings had eight saves in net for the Pride to garner the win in goal. Stacy Fimmano was credited with 17 saves in goal for the Lady Colonels. Jackie Elliott had six goals and one assist and Tara Krasley finished with five goals and one helper to key the Widener attack. Grace Cavanaugh added three goals, Amanda Wilson had two tallies and Rebecca Corrado, Kerri Schulz and Brittany Dippolito had one goal apiece for the Pride. Ashley Leggio was the leading scorer for Wilkes with six goals and one assist. Brittany Hodnik chipped in with three goals and two assists. Mellissa Polchinski added three goals and Justine Leggio contributing two goals and one helper. Freedom Conference Standings 1. Lycoming College 2-0 2. Widener University 1-0 3. King’s College 1-0 4. FDU University 1-0 5. Messiah College 0-0 6. Wilkes University 0-1 7. Elizabethtown College 0-1 8. Manhanttanville College 0-1 9. Arcadia University 0-2 Ashley Leggio is the second leading scorer with 41 points. Fried Mill hroo.-mSI Fried Ravioli · 6) R.mmdPit::s l.2 Mediwn Pilla 1 16"" Lqe Pizza l2 ~ ;m .Piizza Ou-Ori. Fried Slicili.am Re rnlar Cut 120Ut Tray 'Whi Cut Broe-coli. 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Chmclb:m Caesm Chees Steak Grilled Ch~cki:::n Ve tL Crispy Chicl:,c n TmkcyC~ub Cali.fomia ·Che · St:eak nma Plains - . 1iln-u7·Only 825- 5082 J ·1 Dailu 67 . -777? �SPORTS 18 APRIL 1, 2008 Commentary GAME OF THE WEEK NASCAR: Samsung 500 Double Take BY MARK CONGDON, JR. Beacon Opinion Editor In a year in which racing has seen many changes with drivers and sponsorships, one thing remains constant: NASCAR fans can’t seem to get enough of the sport. In fact, NASCAR.com recently reported that as of the Food City 500 race on March 23, the ratings for NASCAR races have increased from last year for all of the races except the rain-delay at California Speedway on February 25. The seventh race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup season, the Samsung 500, on Sunday, April 6 , at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, is expected to be another win for NASCAR ratings because it’s almost impossible to predict who will win the race. Last Season: Jeff Burton passed Matt Kenseth with one lap remaining in last year’s race. Mark Martin finished third and Jeff Gordon finished fourth. Gordon initially led the race for the first 153 laps, but then Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the lead at lap 154. The race consisted of many spins and crashes which caused many drivers to fall behind including Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson. In the past 12 races, Jeff Burton is the only NASCAR driver to win at this track twice--in 1997 and in 2007. All of the other winners have been different drivers who have posted only one win in that span. This has been one of the longest streaks for any NASCAR track. The Track: The track consists of 334 laps which equals 501 miles. When describing the difficulty of the track, Steve McCormick, NASCAR reporter and author of, “Ya Know? Stock Car Racing,” said that the, “Texas Motor Speedway is a 1.5 mile quadoval…In order to be fast, a driver needs a car that is handling well so they can carry that speed through the turns.” Top Fifteen Official Driver Standings as of Food City 500: In order to predict who may be the top performers for the Samsung 500, it is important to look at the driver standings in points. The following official standings were taken from NASCAR.com. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Kyle Busch with 782 points Greg Biffle with 752 points Kevin Harvick with 749 points Jeff Burton with 745 points Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 686 points Kasey Kahne with 674 points Tony Stewart with 656 points Ryan Newman with 635 points Clint Bowyer with 606 points Kurt Busch with 605 points Matt Kenseth with 604 points Martin Truex Jr. with 595 points Jimmie Johnson with 581 points Jeff Gordon with 574 points Denny Hamlin with 568 points Predictions: The only way to wage any sort of prediction is to juxtapose this year’s points and the entire NASCAR season to date against last year’s outcome of the race. As a result, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Jeff Burton will all be strong contenders for the The hot-headed young gun Kyle Busch zooms in a NASCAR Sprint Cup race. 2008 Samsung 500. Harvick is likely to make the top 5 because this is one of the tracks he shows particular skill with. Although he has struggled this year for a win, he is due, which can make a guy pretty aggressive on the track. Harvick knows the ins and outs of the Texas Motor speedway, and knows the fastest lanes to use and which ones will help him to a victory. He currently is also third in points and for the first five races, has been in the top five 40% of the time and top ten 80% of the time. Busch currently leads in points and of the first five races, has won one. He also has finished in the top five in three of the first fi ve races. races. These five These stats st are convincing and his driving record his driving record should hold up at this track. track. Though Though Samsung Samsung is one of the few tracks Gordon hasn’t Gordon hasn't won, won, he has proven himself here as a leader here as a leader in in the past. In last year’s race, for instance, he led the first 153 laps and ended up placing fourth. In the first five races of this year, Gordon is thirteenth in points and has placed in the top five twice. Earnhardt Jr. has been a leader throughout this season. He has won two of the first five races and has the fifth highest number of points. Earnhardt Jr. has also placed in the top five 60% of the time during the first five races of the 2008 season. Moreover, despite his wreck last year, he performed well and took the lead over Gordon at lap 154. Burton is also worth a mention as a top contender. He won last year and clearly has a read on the track as its only two-time winner. As of the Food City 500 race, Burton leads fourth in points and has won one race so far this year. He also has placed in the top five two times since Food City 500. Though stats may make it easier to determine who will win the race, history has shown that it has been unpredictable at times to determine the actual outcome for the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. The Samsung 500 will go down on April 6 at 1:30 PM, on FOX. It will also be broadcast via Sirius Satellite Radio on the Performance Racing Network beginning at 1 p.m.. Note: At press time, Goody’s Cool Orange 500 at the Martinsville Speedway had yet to take place, and the analysis for the predictions is based on the first five races of the 2008 season. Steph examines the stats that truly matter... Nascar. If there is one “sport” that I don’t know a single thing about it is Nascar . When I was told the contest of the week was the Samsung 500, I had to look it up. I know a little bit about basketball, baseball, and soccer but nothing about auto racing. Anything I know, I learned from the movie Talladega Knights and I’m sure that Ricky Bobby isn’t a real racecar driver, though that would be more fun than just watching cars drive in circles for hours. I decided to resort to what any woman who is unaware of the nuances of the sport would do. I went on the website and looked for the hottest race car drivers. I decided to give you the guys who would be in the top five, in no particular order, if this race depended on physical appeal. First we have, Patrick Carpenter. Carpenter is sporting a red, one piece jump suit featuring the Budweiser logo. He looks like a young Patrick Dempsey and even shares the same first name. Next is Martin Truex, Jr. He has nice eyes and looks a little bit rowdy and he has some sexy scruffy facial hair. With the number 1 on his car, who can deny this guy is a winner? Aric Almirola is my next pick, mainly because he looks like a guy I work with and shares the same first name, if only it were spelled with an E and had a K tacked onto the end. My last two picks aren’t even all that attractive, but they stood out to me. Denny Hamlin jumped off the website page out of a sea of men because the box around his name is PURPLE as opposed to the black surrounded every other racecar driver. Any man secure enough to rock a purple box on a page full of black boxes is okay by me. Finally, there is Kyle Busch. He is nott hot by any means, but he exudes attitude. He looks like he couldn’t care less who wins so I’d say he’s going to be up there. Now that I’ve narrowed down the list of who should win this race thingy, I guess I have to come up with a winner. Based on the judge’s votes, Patrick Carpenter is the winner. *Insert Miss America Pageant Music Here.* �SPORTS APRIL 1, 2008 Veteran Sports Information Director to leave Wilkes 19 Seitzinger has accepted new position with PA state gaming board BY GERARD HETMAN Beacon Asst. Sports Editor Starting in mid-April, coaches, players, and staff associated with athletics at Wilkes University will need to adjust to operations without a familiar face at their games and matches. After more than a decade of working in the athletic department at Wilkes, Sports Information Director John Seitzinger recently announced that he is stepping down from his position to accept a new job as a Gaming Enforcement Agent with the Pennsylvania State Gaming Control Board. A native of Scranton, Seitzinger came to Wilkes in December of 1997, after spending seven years as sports information director at Marywood University in Scranton, while also having served as the head men’s tennis coach at the University of Scranton for seven seasons. Sietzinger’s new position will see him establish liaisons and working relationships with all levels of both law enforcement and casino management to ensure compliance with state regulations at casinos in the State of Pennsylvania. “I am excited about starting this new chapter in my life. My new position is go- ing to be both challenging and interesting” Seitzinger said recently. “I am really looking forward to getting started.” When asked about the benefits of his new position, Seitzinger noted the opportunity to work for the State of Pennsylvania as a major plus, along with a change in schedule that will allow him more time off from his job. “There are many benefits to the job, including the fact that it is a position with the State of Pennsylvania.” Seitzinger added. “The other benefit is the fact that the job is four days on and three days off consecutive each week. Being an SID we are used to working seven days a week. Now I will have three days off each week, which is a real benefit.” Seitzinger’s departure will require a major adjustment for other staff members in the Wilkes athletic department, many of whom have come to rely on his years of expertise in the sports information field when dealing with members of the media. “John has served as Wilkes’ liaison for sports information for every NCAA event, conference post season tournament and countless home athletic events.” Wilkes University athletic Director Addy Malatesta said recently when asked about Seitzinger’s time at Wilkes. “He also established a positive working relationship with the media whether it was promoting a feature story on a Wilkes team, a student athlete or a coach, filing a story or finding an extra seat in the press box on game day.” While Malatesta did not comment on a timetable or process to find a successor to Seitzinger, she was quick to praise his efforts in working with all personnel he has dealt with during his career at Wilkes. “We are grateful to John for his devotion to Wilkes athletics and wish him the best life has to offer as he pursues a new career path.” Malatesta added. “Most of all, I believe that John will be remembered for his efforts on behalf of the student athletes at Wilkes University, most of whom he knows by name.” While Seitzinger is eager to being work in his new job, he will certainly miss the people he has met and worked with during his time here at Wilkes. “This was definitely a difficult decision. I really enjoy the Sports Information profession and I know that there will be days when I certainly miss it.” What I will really miss is the day-to- day interaction with the people at Wilkes.” Seitzinger added about his change in jobs. “As I said to one of our alums the other day, I feel that Wilkes will always be a part of me and for that I am truly grateful. I know that I will not be a stranger at Wilkes, especially at sporting events. The only difference is that I will be there as a fan instead of a worker.” FDU-Florham pulls out 5-4 tennis win over Wilkes Colonels fall to 6-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play COURTESY OF JOHN SEITZINGER Sports Information Director FDU-Florham claimed a tough 5-4 win over Wilkes University in a Freedom Conference men’s tennis match on Saturday afternoon. The win improved the Devils to 4-4 overall and 2-0 in the conference, while the Colonels slipped to 6-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play. FDU-Florham took a 2-1 lead heading into singles player by winning two of the three doubles matches. Jason Thalmann and Adam Geiger scored an 8-6 win over Kyle Ungvarsky and Chris Cozzillio at number-one, and Alex Bruin and John Zalesky topped Wes McCollum and Jon Rohrbach, 8-5, at number-two to give the Devils two team points. Wilkes got their lone doubles victory at the third position when Josh Gardner and Brian Fanelli scored an 8-2 victory over Sid Dunn and John Gaw. McCollum tied the match at 2-2 with a relatively easy 6-0, 6-1 win over Geiger at first singles. Ungvarsky then copped a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Thalmann at numbertwo to give Wilkes a 3-2 lead. FDU-Florham answered back with wins at the third and fourth positions. Bruin was a 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3) winner over Cozzillio at number-three and Joe Li topped Rohrbach, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 to give the Devils a 4-3 edge. After Wilkes tied the match at 4-4 thanks to Gardner’s 6-4, 6-4 win over Zalesky at number-five, Wes Harnett defeated Tom Miller, 6-1, 6-2 at number-six to give FDU-Florham the win. Freedom Conference Standings 1. Manhattanville 2-0 2. FDU-Florham 2-0 3. Wilkes 1-1 4. Arcadia 1-1 5. Delware Valley 0-0 6. King’s 0-2 7. DeSales 0-2 The Colonels are at home against DeSales tomorrow at 3:30 pm. The Beacon/Gino Troiani Freshman Chris Cozzillio is 9-2 on the season. On March 25th, he won in three sets against King’s College junior Blake Bonsor. �Sports APRIL 1, 2008 20 The Beacon/Gino Troiani Shocker Squad shoots to three-peat intramurals title BY CARLTON HOLMES Beacon Sports Editor For students who play basketball as hobby and are looking to compete in an organized season rather than occasional pick-up games, intramural season is like hoop heaven. Fourteen teams are split up into two conferences. There’s an East and West conference (not literally but an efficient way to sectionoff the playoff race) comprised of seven teams each. NCAA rules are applied including two 20-minute halves. Varsity basketball players serve as referees and are constanly screamed at by the players because they are caught between making the correct calls and letting the students play. A lot of sweat and tears are shed on the gymnasium floors of the UCOM. This year, The Shocker Squad has emerged as the team to watch, as it has managed to cruise its way to back-to-back titles. Its captain, Phil Sampona, senior business major, is a self-proclaimed competition freak. In fact, if he were on the verge of losing an intense game of Madden he would probably launch the controller to the point where his roommates/intramural teammates would ask “Dude, what are you doing?” But his dedication to winning has certainly rubbed off on his teammates. The Shockers have started the first week of intramurals with a 2-0 record and now they’re looking to complete a three-peat. Dressed in street clothes thanks to a knee injury prior to the Shocker Squad’s game against The Dream Team on March 27, Sampona knew his team needed a well-designed game plan against such a high caliber team. So, he scribbled plays on a notebook and met with each player before tip-off to inform them of their roles. “The first game, (on March 26th against The Dudes, Shockers won by 10) our offense was very stagnate,” said Sampona. “Our team wasn’t moving and we struggled against a team that wasn’t that good. I didn’t write up plays. They were quick hitters that worked every time we did it. It was a fluid offense and it was easy for them to learn. It was simple. It took me less than a minute to show them.” Though Sampona’s planning and strategizing sounds like March Madness coaching at its most intense, this is, indeed, Wilkes University intramural we’re talking about. Sampona might as well have a suit on, be surrounded by assistant coaches, and have Dick Vitale in the UCOM shouting, “Look at those Shockers, Baby!” Intramural basketball is that serious. The Shockers did, in fact, hold the Dream Team, a team comprised of five former basketball players, to only 27 points while they scored 35. Senior business major, Jake Williams, led the Shockers with roughly 14 points. Seniors Anthony Piscitelli, Rocky A’conti, Brad Woznisky, Anthony Fortunato, Paul Trovato and junior Matt Renzi all played well and chipped in on the offensive end. “I enjoy playing with my teammates,” said Sampona. “The biggest thing is that everyone knows their role on the team.” “We may not have the best players but we play as a team,” said D’Aconti. Last season the Shockers lost just one out of eight games using the same personnel minus one player who left the group to start his own team this year. During the 2006 season, the Shockers won all regular season contests including the playoffs with minor adjustments to the roster. Although intramural competition is not as respected as a varsity sports, to the students who play, it’s hoop heaven. It’s about beating your opponent so that you get a chance to walk through the cafeteria with a winning swagger. “Another reason why we’re so competitive: you don’t just win an intramural champion T-shirt, but you win the respect,” said D’Aconti. The Shockers will be in action tonight at 10:00 p.m. against Braj. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon Newspaper Collection, 1947-present Description An account of the resource <p>This is Wilkes University's <em>Beacon</em> Newspaper collection, 1947-present. We also have digitized copies of the <em>Beacon's</em> predecessors, <em>The Bucknell Bison Stampede</em>, 1934-1935 and <em>The Bucknell Beacon</em>, 1936-1947 June. It should be noted that Wilkes University does not have a complete set of issues for the Bucknell Bison Stampede and Bucknell Beacon. For researchers who are interested in seeing the complete issues for these publications, please contact <a href="https://researchbysubject.bucknell.edu/scua">Bucknell University's Special Collections Department</a>.</p> <p></p> <p>Missing Issues:</p> <p>1947 August 8th<br />1947 September 5th<br />1947 October 3rd<br />1947 October 17th<br />1947 October 31st<br />1947 November 21st<br />1947 December 19th<br />1948 September 9th<br />1950 April 28th<br />1953 April 10th<br />1962 February 2nd</p> Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Beacon staff is comprised of Wilkes University students who are advised by a full-time faculty member of the Communication Studies Department. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1934-present Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Copyright of the Wilkes Beacons is retained by Wilkes University. Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Professor Emeritus Harold Cox digitized the collection from 1934-1970 and created a <a href="https://beaconarchives2.wilkes.edu/">legacy website</a>. Digital Archives student John Jenkins digitized the collection from 1970-present. Special thanks goes to Communication Studies Professor Dr. Kalen Churcher, Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Peters, Beacon staff member, Emily Cherkauskas, and other Beacon staff for their help in acquiring digitized copies of the Beacons from 2006 onward. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Wilkes Beacon 2008 April 1st Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008 April 1 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Newspaper Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Communication Studies Department Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Wilkes University