221 15 4134 https://omeka.wilkes.edu/omeka/files/original/719dce244a19751b7779e85546329e60.pdf b0cba8f3b11962b40d6a4ed89c6cdf88 PDF Text Text February 21, 2012 Volume 64 Issue 13 THE NEWS OF TODAY REPORTED BY THE JOURNALISTS OF TOMORROW www.thewilkesbeacon.co Downtown successfully attracts new businesses BY BRYAN CALABRO Design Editor In September 2001 , WilkesBarre's downtown area was in a dire state. Nightlife was nonexistent, inhabitants had very few choices when it came to entertainment, and storefronts were either abandoned or closing. "Downtown used to be the hub of business activity," said Dr. Anthony Luzzio, Business Professor at Wilkes University. Luzzio said businesses in downtown struggled mainly because of the challenge to compete with strip malls, chain restaurants and mass retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target and Kohl's. To combat the depressed and primitive state pre-2001 in WilkesBarre, Many were held throughout Wilkes-Barre to tackle the business drought then the Diamond City Partnership was formed. The The Beacon/Bryan Calabro partnership laid the groundwork Junior com munications major Mikel Hartsough bites into a habanero filled pulled pork sandwich at Maer's BBQ for a fund raiser for Zebra Communications Relay for Life team. Maer's is one of many new down town businesses in Wilkes-Barre. SEE BU SINESS, PAGE 5 Who will fill the presidential shoes of Tim Gilmour? BY DEVONI NOVAK Assistant News Editor While the country is debating who the best candidate is to fill the seat in the White House, Wilkes University has its own decision to make in filing the presi- dential seat in UCOM. Two candidates came to campus last week to introduce themselves to the Wilkes community, faculty, staff and students. The final candidate will soon arrive and present his insight to the presidential position. Dr. Jim Gandre, executive vice president of Roosevelt University in Chicago, is among the three finalists of possible presidents for Wilkes University. Gandre was attracted to Wilkes by the tight knit personality of the campus which reminded him of the university he Arts & Entertainment Pages 13-15 Life Pages 9-12 Opinion Pages 6-8 The Gingrich debate PAGES studied at as a student. He feels the Wilkes campus has the power to be life-changing to attending students. In honor of Valentine's Day, Grande used a love affair metaphor to explain his passion for Wilkes. "From my first introduction to Wilkes I' ve sort of had a bit of a Heart Disease Awareness PAGE9 Estwick's Oscar picks PAGE 13 love affair," Gandre said. "This is like the engagement period right now, but unfortunately the university is two-timing on me; I've got to win the final heart of the university and be chosen to get married." SEE PRESIDENT, PAGE 3 Sports Pages 16-20 Women's Tennis preview "' PAGE 16 VH1 Established 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member �CONTACT EDITOR: phatnguyen@thewilkesbeacon.com PRESIDENT Continued from Front Page Although Gandre has few plans for Wilkes presently, as he is not familiar with the issues of the institution. He feels the true core of the university resides within the people who make up the student, faculty and staff population. In the future, Gandre plans to implement changes that correlate with Wilkes' mission vision and values. Before he does so, Gandr~ feels he needs to become more engaged on campus first. A strong on-campus presence is something Gandre deems of high importance. In order to reach out to students, he plans to make frequent visits to the campus cafeteria and classrooms. Gandre explained he would rather approach students personally, since students are busy and often don't show up to scheduled gatherings. By reaching out himself, Gandre believes his interaction with students will be more natural and effective. He hopes students will be comfortable talking with him ifhe is chosen as the next president. Because of the recent cuts in state funding, Gandre understands financial issues may become a setback to the institution. Gandre stated that all cuts have a long-term effect. However, if cuts need to be made, he would make eliminations that have the least shortterm effect on students. If programs were at stake of depletion, Gandre would consider how things can be done differently in a way that is more efficient. • Gandre said it is vital to include faculty, staff and administration in order to make the best decisions for the institution. Although state funding has been cut, Gandre believes PA. will eventually be able to provide funds again in the future. In order to assure funding revival, Gandre suggested that Wilkes maintain a positive relationship with state legislatures. Gandre feels the other candidates were carefully chosen but hopes he is still the best choice for Wilkes. He aspires to become the The Beacon / Dan Lykens Gandre plans to implement changes correlating with Wilkes' vision and values by engaging more with students. university president because he loved being a "chief officer" as a dean and is excited to work with the students, faculty and staff at Wilkes. "I loved being a dean it was probably the best job I've ever had," Gandre said. "And being president is kind of a big deal, you get the chance to work with the entire community in ways that inspire and motivate." Dr. Molly Smith, former president ofManhattanville College in New York, who also visited campus last week, recognizes the value Wilkes puts on diversity. Although she understands Wilkes has a rich history of diversity on campus, Smith would like to increase the institution involvement with the UN. She believes the world is becoming a diverse place and it is important that students BEACON 130 5. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 PHONE: (570) 408-5903 WEBSITE: www.thewilkesbeacon.com understand different cultures in order to be successful. "If you are going to succeed in 2050 you're going to have to know and understand the importance of diversity," Smith said. "We would be failing ifwe didn't anticipate that." Before coming to Wilkes, Smith said she looked for references to her Indian heritage to make herself feel more at home. After finding a Thai restaurant that offered her favorite cuisine within walking distance, she knew she was on the right track. While researching Wilkes further, she was captivated by the institutions tie to community and the beauty of the campus' old buildings. Smith noted how lucky Wilkes is to be close to the community. She has worked on college campuses that are bound by fencing because of the dangers of the location. Smith understands that Wilkes has an identity as a thriving member of the community of Wilkes-Barre. Part of her vision for the institution is to strengthen the college's ties to the area while expanding the institution globally, "preserve your core while extending your footprint." Because she believes that students can unite through various clubs offered on campus, Smith encourages students to enjoy college by getting involved. "You know you're in- an extraordinary enviable position as students, I don't think you quite realize," Smith said. "By the time you reach your fourth year and you're about ready to get out, you will realize all the things that are precious about being a student (and) make the most of it." A big issue Smith hopes to address if chosen as president is the cost of education. Smith suggested that the cost of education is a big issue everywhere and many are financially unable to attain higher education. A goal of hers is to work on fundraising and make education more accessible by offering scholarships. Overall, Smith hopes to increase access for students by providing funds that will make college more affordable. Although Smith worked at three places for short periods of time, she is looking at Wil- Photo courtesy of Marketing Communications Smith wants education to be more affordable for students by pushing for more fundraising. kes with the intention of staying until the end of her career. When asked about her job record, Smith stated she didn't stay long at her previous positions for various reasons. Smith intended to stay at Manhattanville until her career was finished; however, it didn't work out. Her career goal is to help lead an institution during her last 10 to 12 years of work. Students who have attended the candidate forums feel that the two candidates, who have come to campus so far, are very different although both would be fit for the job. "I think that we definetly have some strong candidates," said junior accounting and business administration major, John Sweeney. The Wilkes portal will offer a survey for students to voice their opinion on the presidential candidates. Dr. Timothy Leahy will visit Wilkes Tuesday at 5p.m. in the student union building. CONTACT DEVONI NOVAK AT: devoninovak@thewilkesbeacon.com Editorial Staff 2011-12 Editor-in-Chief: Kirstin Cook Managing Editor: Michael Klimek Ad Manager: Brittany Battista Photo Editor: Laura Preby Adviser: Loran Lewis News Editor: Phat Nguyen Opinion Editor: CarlyYamrus A&E Editor: Bill Thomas Life Editor: Christine Lee Sports Editor: Justin Franiak Meet the Staff Justin Franiak Sports Editor �1THE BEACON j,'FEBRUARY 21.. 2012 NEWS 3 Beacon Briefs >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BY DEVON! NOVAK Assistant News Editor Intramural bowling tournament Members of the Wilkes campus and community are welcome to join the intramural bowling tournament. Sign-ups are now open and will end March 1. Those who are interested are encouraged to sign up ASAP. The tournament is scheduled March 12-15. For more information, email the Intramural Office at neal.biscaldi@wilkes.edu. Local cop book signing at Barnes & Noble - Keith Gilman will be signing copies of his detective novel "My Brother's Keeper" Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Barnes & Noble book store on Public Square starting at noon. This book is the second to be published in Gilman's award winning series. Fans are encouraged to attend. Wilkes website newly updated - Check out the Marketing Communications department's new web page design on wilkes.edu. The department would like to thank everyone who contributed to the new design. Al- though design changes were drastic, functionality of the Wilkes website is primarily the same. If anyone has problems with the updated site, call 408-4755. Educational Forum Series - Caroline Maurer, associate dean of the School of Education, and Helen Semanski, professional development of school liaison and elementary teacher will both speak on behalf of the Wilkes University and Heights-Murray Elementary School Professional Development Partnership on Feb. 23 at 4:30 p.m. in Martz 214. The lecture is open and free of charge to the Wilkes campus and community. After observing the speakers on behalf of the educational and business community, those who attend are able to receive Act 48 credit. Contact Robert Gardner at 800WILKESU, Ext. 4686 or robert.gardner@wilkes.edu for more information. Other scheduled events in this educational series can be seen at Wilkes.edu. Linda Rottenberg presents as part of the Allan P. Kirby Lecturer Series - The Allan P. Kirby Lecturer Series will feature Linda Rottenberg at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 in Stark Learning Center Room 101. Rottenberg's presentations "Reclaiming the American Dream: Getting Back Our Entrepreneurial Spirit" is free and open to the public. Contact 408-4330 for more information. Daughter of Fidel Castro Scheduled to speak for Women's History Month - Alina Fernandez will share her experiences growing up in Cuba as a daughter of a leader in honor of Women's History Month March 22. Fernandez will begin at 7 p.m. in Stark Learning Center room 101. Attendance is free and open to the public. Northeastern Pennsylvania Diversity Education Consortium and the Office of Diversity Initiatives will sponsor the event. Wilkes art professor teaches abroad Wilkes associate art professor, Sharon Cosgrove, will be traveling to Kazakhstan this March to teach master classes in art. As part of the Art in Embassies Program, the Ambassador Kenneth Fairfax's residence in Astana has four of Cosgrove's paintings on display. While in Kazakhstan, Cosgrove will be visiting Kostany, Astana and Almaty to spread her knowledge of art to students and local artists at various institutions. For more information on Cosgrove's art visit www. sharoncosgrove.com. Wilkes running club races for Heat - At Relay for Heat, sponsored participates will raise money for less fortunate families in the area to help pay their heating bills during the long winter months. The eighth annual relay will be hosted by Wilkes University's· running club on Feb. 25. The event will be held on the Kingston flood wall at 6 a.m. Participants must relay and run a combined total of 100 miles to raise money that will go toward the Martin Luther King Fuel Fund. Those who prefer not to run can help by donating a fixed amount for each mile run. Contact Dr. William Terzaghi at (570) 4084762 for more information. CONTACT DEVON I NOVAK AT: devoninovak@thewilkesbeacon.com Open House! At 40 West, you get the best. And then some. You don't want to miss our Open House with free food, Top 40 hits from DJ Hersh and a guided tour of the newest off-campus apartments. RSVP on Facebook today! • Wednesday, Feb. 22 and Thursday, Feb. 23 4:40 p.m.- 8:40 p.m. Enter thru Wilkes-Barre YMCA on Franklin St. Contact our Community Coordinator, Jacki Lukas, at 570.855.4686 or jlukas@radnorproperty.com for more information! Sign up on our Coming Soon page and get $40 off 1st months' rent! I] . Facebook us! 40 West Apartments Tweet@ us! @40WestApts �4. NEWS THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 21', 2012 Budget cuts keep birth control under wraps Pfizer recalled over 1·million packets of birth control due to packaging error BY PHAT NGUYEN about the recall. Wilkes 2002 alumnus Dr. Donald Miller, Pfizer's administrators and researchers are the pharmacist in charge in Kingston's CVS, reflecting on policies and errors in proce- also has not seen too many concern users of dure that lead to the recall of over 1 million Pfizer's birth control medications. packets of birth control. "Part of the reason is that I believe it was Testing revealed that some blister packs mostly the brand," Miller said. "We don't contained an inexact count of inert or active have a whole lot of people who are on the ingredient tablets and that the tablets could ones that were recalled, so we haven't seen be out of sequence, Pfizer said. too much impact." As a result of Pfizer's packaging error, Drugs are made in batches on a large scale Wilkes Health and Wellness Services was which can make up to millions at a time, contacted for more information regarding Miller said. Each batch is issued a lot numconcerns with birth control. ber on the outside of the packages to differThree years ago, Wilkes had a nurse prac- entiate one from the next. titioner group called Women to Women that "They probably test each lot, but with would teach women's health at the univer- thousands to test, it probably takes a while sity. to get results, Miller said. They probably reDiane O'Brien, the director of Health and lease the lots to the market and if they find Wellness Services, said due to changes in a problem with one of the lots, that's when Pennsylvania state law, Wilkes is "no longer they do a recall." in the business of handing out birth control." Pfizer recalled 14 lots of Lo/Ovral®-28 The previous policy used to cover the first birth control and 14 lots of its generic norgpack for free with each additional pack cost- estrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets on Feb. 1. ing $20, O'Brien said. Lo/Orval and its generic are oral contracep"With new state laws, they have to run it tives mainly used to prevent pregnancy. through students' insurance. That makes it "Birth control works by tricking your body tough for the kids," O'Brien said. into not ovulating," O'Brien said. "It the The Beacon / Bryan Calabro No students have come to Health and amounts are off by a little there can certainly Pfizer estimates that 30 packs of birth control have received an incorrect count. Wellness Services worried about Pfizer's be consequences. I would hope girls are takrecall, O'Brien said. She believes most stu- ing extra precaution. I know some don't, but Birth control pills are normally packaged who took pills from any of the recalled lots dents would either go through Ptizer or their they really should." in blister packs containing 21 tablets of should use a non-hormonal form of birth pharmacist now after changes in governThe recalls are handled in a few different active ingredients and with seven placebo control immediately, Lewis-Hall said. She ment funding. ways, Miller said. At a manufacturer level, tablets. Contraception may be significantly urged woman on Lo-Ovral or Norgestrel to O'Brien would refer concerned students to people are no longer able to order the medi- weakened if the sequence of birth control take caution and consult their doctor immeWomen to Women or Planned Parenthood. cation anymore. At the patient level, the pills is out of order, Fuller said. diately. Nurse Practitioner Cheryl Fuller of Worn- pharmacies call the patients about their pre"If this is the case, patients may be at "If you are a woman in the United States en to Women has not seen many students scriptions. higher risk for unintended pregnancy," who has used Lo-Ovral or Norgestrel pills the over the last several months, please confollowing "Birth control works by tricking your "During the Fuller said. cuts in governDigitek recall, While birth control medications seem suit with your physician and begin using a ment funj .ng. body into not ovulating. If the amounts we actually very similar chemically, they have somenon-hormonal barrier method immediately," had to call per thing called an "estrogenic effect," Miller "Wilkes stu- are o ff by a litt · 1e there can certam · 1y be Lewis-Hall said. dents used to person to ev- said. That effect can be drastically different Non-hormonal barrier methods are only come to us but consequences. I would hope girls are eryone that between them even though the chemicals used during sexual intercourse. They inelude male condoms, female condoms, diaever since th e taking extra precaution. I know some had. It's a very could be pretty close to the same somegovernment common heart times the effect is different, Miler said. phragms, caps and spermicidal lubrication. funding has don't, but they really should." medicine. That "Not so much that it wouldn't work for Wilkes Health and Wellness Services has took us hours them," Miller said. "You'll still get the changed, we provided free male condoms in their wait-Diane O'Brien, director of Health and Well- to call and try coverage as far as having children but the haven't had too ing room for students for the last 20 years, many Wilkes ness Services to get them to problem would be mood swings, weight O'Brien said. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ bring it back." students." gain, weight loss, or agitation. All of those "Students will always utilize that," When they brought it back, there was a things could be expected when they are She said her patients have not affected by O'Brien said. "The kids know they can take the recall either. system to refund the patient and give them taking things that have been recalled." as many as they want. We're just happy that "We were concerned at first, but none of a brand to replace it. Send everything back Pfizer's Executive Vice President and they use them." ,.. our patients were on the recalled medica- to the manufacturer so CVS would get re- Chief Medical Officer Dr. Freida LewisHealth and Wellness Services is on the first tions. If they were, we would've called them imbursed. Hall said all lots possibly affected were refloor of Passan Hall. Because the Pfizer recall was the manu- called, the problem was fixed and prevenand had their prescription changed." The Wilkes-Barre Planned Parenthood facturer's responsibility, pharmacists were tion measures are now in place. CONTACT PHAT NGUYEN AT: branch had only seen two patients concerned not given a similar calling list, Miller said. But even if the error was limited, women phatnguyen@thewilkesbeacon.com News Editor �THE-BEACON I -FEBRUARY. 21; 20~ 2 . BUSINESS Continued from Front Page groundwork for six downtown revitalization strategies. Then the Diamond City Partnership was formed to tackle the business drought. The partnership laid the groundwork for six_downtown revitalization strategies. The downtown revitalization work plan was divided into six groups, each having their own specific duty. Group one focused on Business Improvement, group two focused on the quality of life of downtown residents, group three worked on maintaining historical landmarks, group four combined Wilkes-Barre's collegiate institutions to address issues of mutual concern, group five 's job was to lead the way with strategic marketing and group six's duty was the formation of the Main Street program. Statistics on storefront occupancy trends over the past 10 years from the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business & Industry show a slight impact of these revitalization strategies. The trend shows on average that for every business closed, two businesses opened. Therefore, the average rate of success of a startup business in Wilkes-Barre over the past «> years is at 50 percent. Bureau of Labor Statistics data on establishment age show that 49 percent of establishments survive 5 years or more, 34 percent survive 10 years or more, and 26 percent survive 15 years or more. Since 2002, there have been two years in which one can see staunch growth in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Before the recession in 2007 and 2008, store occupancy was on the rise, with an opening-to-closing rate of 4 to 1, an 80 percent business success rate. One can argue that the economic recession may have played a role in the leveling ofbusiness success. Larry Newman, the Vice President of Planning, Policy and Development at the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry thinks this is the case. "The 2008 great recession created a chilling effect for the ability of entrepreneur to create a business," said Newman. Newman still is proud of the progress Wilkes-Barre has made. "We are very happy with downtown's performance last year and seen a net gain of 35 filled storefronts from 2002 to 2011," said Newman. Newman said he believes there are many reasons a business might collapse in WilkesBarre. He outlines a set of problems an entrepreneur might encounter when they start up a business in Wilkes-Barre. "They are not competitive in their given market, competitors are better. The business entered into a lease that was not supportable," Newman said. "If you know you are only NEWS 5 going to be grossing $300,000 a year, you shouldn't be entering into a lease that costs $100,000 a year." Phil Rudy, president of Circles, a successful hoagie shop since 1985 on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre, knows what it takes to be suc0 Businelses Closing ■ Businesses Opening cessful in the Wilkes-Barre economic climate. "You have to understand demographics, who your customer is, have a strong idea of . 18 what service you provide and then mate the IS two," Rudy said. 12 For Rudy, downtown Wilkes-Barre has treated him well, most of his customer base 9 revolves a block around Public Square. 6 As an experienced 25-year business owner, 3 Rudy knows the situation can dramatically change at any moment. He insists that busi0 ness owners have to be flexible and expect -3 change in the market. -6 "It is an owner's responsibility to have a -9 certain amount of skill with asset management and make sure to not squander everything," - 12 said Rudy. -IS Drew McLaughlin, administrative coordi-18 . nator for Mayor Tom Leighton's administra2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 20 IO 2011 tion, explains that the when the $28 million Photo courtesy of Larry Newman James F. Conahan lntermodal Transportation Facility opened July 6, 2010 in Wilkes-Barre, Before the recession in 2007 and 2008, store occupancy was on the rise, with an many businesses now had a better reason to opening-to-closing rate of 4 to 1, an 80 percent business success rate. move into Wilkes-Barre simply because they , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - finally had a place to park. The federally funded six-level facility on South Washington Street brings the total number of parking spaces to 1, 100 in downtown Wilkes-Barre because it connects with the Park and Lock Central garage. In a July 2010 Wilkes-Barre Times Leader article, Rob Finlay, president of the city's largest landlord, also cites as a factor when it comes to businesses moving to Wilkes-Barre. According to Finlay, the Wilkes-Barre We Deliver to Wilkes University! Call (570) 331-FAST (3278) Center at 39 Public Square, a IO-story office Ask about our combo specials featuring our complete line up of pizza, subs, building with 116,381 square feet of space is wings, burgers & more!visit us onlioe for a complete menu & listing of specials at almost 97 percent filled from 45 percent three www.grottopizzapa.com years ago. or visit our restaurant & sports bar Despite all the obstacles entrepreneurs Grotto Pizza, Gateway Center, on Rt. 11 in might face in downtown Wilkes-Barre, they Edwardsville (just across the bridge!) are still coming out to open new businesses. Maer's Barbecue, Franks Pizzeria and Outrageous are some of more recent businesses opening in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Akeno Sushi Restaurant will also add to the growth of downtown by opening in early March to take over the previously occupied Blue Chip restaurant that closed in October. Before 2001, the state of downtown WilkesBarre was faltering on every level, businesses were closing, shops were riddled with plywood over windows and the future was uncertain. Ten years later, downtown Wilkes-Barre the legendary taste has stabilized and it has leveled with national averages. STOREFRONT OCCUPANCY TRENDS: DOWNTOWN WILKES-BARRE, 2002-2011 i the legendary taste Go Colonels! . zza CONTACT BRYAN CALABRO AT: bryancalabro@thewilkesbeacon.com I I $5 OFF Any Order of $20 or More I For delivery or take out I Expires 06/30/12 I - - - - - valid only at Grotto Pizza locations �CONTACT EDITOR: carlyyamrus@thewilkesbeacon.com FEBRUARY 21, 2012 Circumcision: Foreskin or against it? Body mutilation for men and women is unjust, immoral BY CATHRYN FREAR Staff Writer These days, body modification is relatively commonplace. By its most basic definition, it's likely that more than half of the people you know have modified their bodies in some way. Even everyday ear piercings are a popular and widely accepted form of body modification. There is one other form of body modification that is also conm but which 85 percent of the world does not the tip of his penis when something went undergo: circumcision. wrong and his entire penis was burned off. His family was advised by psychologist The thing about circumcision is it's not solely a simple change to one's body, it's Dr. John Money to raise him as a girl. Almutilation. Generally though Money reported this case a success story, Reimer never identified as female and speaking, Americans think circumciwhen his parents told him what had happened, he immediately wanted to begin livsion is fine to ing his life as a male. do to boys. Regardless of the turnaround, the damHere is a age was done and Reimer eventually killed fun fact: himself due to depression. There Circumcision in females is something just is no anesthetic about everyone in the U.S. will stand up and give a resounding "NO!!" response to; involved because it's considered too dangerous. Yes, you read however, it happens all over the world all of the time. In certain countries and cultures, that right. The doctor uses a scalpel to slice off and permanently remove a women are forced into having their labia minora and clitoris completely removed to piece of skin -- which is not causing any prevent the women from becoming sexual health problems whatsoever -- off a baby and it's not considered dangerous. But beings. . While that is the most commonly referanesthetic is. This is a decision made by the parents of enced occurrence of female circumcision, an individual before that individual even has there are times when such actions are actuthe chance to object or otherwise decide for ally voluntary. This usually doesn't involve himself. And I don't know if you've heard, the clitoris, but rather a trimming of the labut penises are pretty important to males. bia minora. As it turns out, women are afraid their As they should be: they are used to make other people. So this is a big decision that genitalia are ugly, so they get local anesstarted out back in the day as a way to keep thetic and-while awake-have a doctor men from cheating on their wives, as it re- remove what they consider to be excesduces sexual pleasure for men. Nowadays sive, unnecessary amounts of their labia. If it's generally anyone ever tells you your vagina is ugly, ladies, argued punch them in their probably circumcised penis and leave. To see an example of female circumcision done by choice, watch "The Percircumcision is for hyfect Vagina," a documentary by the UK's giene. Channel 4 on these types of procedures. But, really, how hard is it to move a little There are certain religions that require circumcision be done as a religious rite. piece of skin for a second to wash? Admittedly, a Jot of the research I have And I'm not going to touch on that because done about circumcision is documentary- it's a whole other topic of discussion. But I stand by the belief this is unjust and based. If you want to hear a horror story or two, watch documentaries on this. immoral. If we don't cut off a man's nipSpecifically, watch "Dr. Money and the ples, why do we cut off part of his penis? Boy With No Penis," a documentary by It's barbaric and wrong and it needs to be BBC Horizon. It's heartbreaking. Basi- stopped. cally, a Canadian boy named Bruce Reimer was having a circumcision in which a ma- CONTACT CATHRYN FREAR AT: chine was used to burn the foreskin off of cathryn.frear@wilkes.edu BEACON POLL The Beacon poll is unscientific and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on the Wilkes campus. These poll results are based on 3 responses. Last week's question: What do you miss most about being home? • Pets- 33% • Home-cooked Meals - 33% • Not having to do your own laundry - 33% • Friends - 0% • Family/Siblings - 0% This week The Beacon asks: Which Winter Weekend activities, if any, are you participating in? • Competing on a Student Gov't sponsored team • Watching Student Gov't sponsored campus events • Attending off-campus parties • Visiting area bars • I will not be participating Cast your vote online at: www.thewilkesbeacon.com SPEAK UP! The Beacon wants to heor your voice. Send your name, major, year and opinion to: carlyyamrus@thewilkesbeacon.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for length and content. Anonymous letters will not be published. �7 THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 21; 2012 I' The show will go on Judge dismisses PETA whale lawsuit BY LYNDSIE YAMRUS Assistant Opinion Editor SPIT Facebook: battle of the breast-feeders BY ANTHONY GORECZNY Staff Writer Facebook has become so permeating that itJ~ now evolving into more than just a s·oc1al networking and utility website. For many, it has become a technological extension of their everyday lives, and has nearly replaced the real social interactions of some excessive users. Once this realization is made, it's not surprising that many Facebook users upload virtually every aspect of their lives to the site. As is to be expected, this has brought to light a question which is both recurring, and difficult to answer. How much is too much? A recent report from CNET states that a group of women have begun organizing demonstrations to protest Facebook banning their breast-feeding pictures. The fact that this is even an issue is appalling. Humans are, by nature, social animals. However, there are certain things that, in regard to either self-respect or interpersonal civility, should be kept private. Public breast-feeding has been a controversial issue for many years and on the surface may seem like the main concern of this Facebook confrontation. But the reality is, this is another matter altogether. I am primarily concerned with the posting of breast-feeding photographs on Face book. This is, for all intents and purposes, wholly unnecessary. While I understand that there are logical arguments for breast-feeding in public, no such argument exists in favor of posting pictures of this action on Facebook. If a women wishes to post pictures of herself breast-feeding her child online then there are plenty of other websites on which this would be acceptable, and some forums that might even welcome these posts. However, Facebook is not one of them. The posting of these photographs on Facebook serves no legitimate purpose, and represents a lack of respect for oneself and a disregard for other people. The minimum age requirement for opening a Facebook account is only 13, and children of this age are often still innocent and impressionable. Most users do not wish to be exposed to uncovered breasts while they are browsing Facebook. Also, if older users are looking for bare bosoms online, they will, in all likelihood, not be perusing this social network. If they are, I doubt they have the same intentions for the photographs as the uploader originally did. One of the leaders of this movement, Emma Kwasnica, claimed that most of the photographs that are removed were uploaded in error by the mother. If this were truly the case, these women would be thanking Facebook employees for saving them from a possible source of great embarrassment, not organizing "nurse-ins" outside of their workplaces, and Kwasnica would not have been banned four times with 30 of her pictures removed. On the other hand, perhaps exposing themselves to Facebook employees in large groups is their way of thanking them. The final, and most compelling point, is that Facebook only removes photos that have been flagged as inappropriate by other users. In other words, Facebook users are stating quite clearly through their actions that these photographs do not belong on this website, and that they don't want to see them. I hope that these women eventually realize how inconsiderate they are being, because I am truly sorry for any child who is raised by a mother who appears to lack basic human decency. CONTACT ANTHONY GORECZNY AT: anthony.goreczny@wilkes.edu The captivity of orcas, or killer whales, for amusement park performances and exhibitions first occurred in the 1960s, predominantly at SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla. SeaWorld describes its "One Ocean" Shamu show (previously known as "Believe") as a spirited and energetic journey that connects humans with the colors, vitality and rhythms of the ocean. Killer whales are acknowledged and appreciated for their extraordinary behavioral, learning and problemsolving skills, and are thus used to enchant thousands of marine-loving visitors, young and old, each day. All marine-loving visitors that is, except PETA, who is making another splash in the news. Last October, PETA filed a lawsuit against the San Diego SeaWorld for violating the 13th Amendment and denying the orcas of their constitutional right to freedom. The organization argued that the whales deserve the same protection from slavery and involuntary servitude as humans. PETA complained that the five plaintiff whales, Tilikum, Katina, Corky, Kasatka and Ulises, are stripped from their natural environments, artificially inseminated and bred as performers solely for SeaWorld's profit. This lawsuit was unquestionably a publicity stunt, and SeaWorld describes that act as a "baseless" argument and a waste of both time and money. The multi-million dollar company has been delighting park guests with whale performances for a little more than 50 years now, and nothing has been said about the performers until recently. The show was created to showcase these majestic creatures and their talents and to bring awareness toward nature conservation and appreciation. The performances are certainly not just money-making schemes. SeaWorld is a business. Its goals are to provide an entertainment service to the public and to protect and preserve wildlife, respectively, at the same time as making a profit. (That's what businesses do, PETA). According to SeaWorld Inc., the company donates more than $1 million toward animals in need and endangered species each year, and has previously donated $8 million to protect wildlife and natural environments. In my opinion, if the whales weren't happy flipping and diving around for fish snacks all day, they wouldn't be doing so. What about the actual human individuals who were enslaved in our country during the 17 and 18th centuries? It's a tad bit unbecoming to that matter, especially since the whales are perfectly content in their SeaWorld homes. Luckily, U.S. judge Jeffrey Miller agreed on Feb. 8 that PETA's outrageous equalrights-for-whales claim should no longer be discussed. The lawsuit was the first in U.S. history to attempt to apply constitutional rights to non-human animals and was dismissed two days after its beginning. SeaWorld claims to treat its animals with love and care, stressing positive reinforcement, trust-built relationships and providing the whales and other marine creatures with proper healthcare from well-trained professionals. The parks are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and remain respectable institutions for the care and appreciation of marine animals. CONTACT LYNDSIE YAMRUS AT: lyndsie.yamrus@wilkes.edu Image/PETA PETA, an animal rights organization, unsuccessfully tried to sue Sea World for enslaving its killer whales for entertainment purposes. �8 OPINION THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 21 , 2012 Newt Gingrich: The chosen one, or lying crook? Coworkers from his own party His policy experience makes can't stand his lack of morals him the best GOP candidate BY KIRSTIN COOK Editor-in-Chief No one is more qualified to speak on a person's professional ability than a coworker. So, it is fitting that we look to Newt Gingrich's coworkers to determine what type of professional he would be in the White House. According to USA Today, several Republicans who worked with Gingrich when he was speaker of the House have strong feelings about his deficiencies as a leader. Peter King, R-N.Y., said Gingrich doesn't have the "mental discipline, the consistency, or the ego control to be a good nominee or a good president." Steven LaTourette, R-Ohio, described him as a "sober Charlie Sheen." If you don't believe his acquaintances, look at his record. Gingrich's immoral conduct in his past marriages does not correspond with his supposedly wholesome beliefs that he intertwines with his campaign. One minute, Newt is making a speech on family values. The next, he is handing his first wife divorce papers while she is recovering from cancer surgery, or asking his second wife to tolerate his affair with his wouldbe third wife. For those who separate his ethics in the bedroom from his ethics in the Oval Office, think ag<lfl. There are clear examples of Gingrich's lack of morals in the workplace. Gingrich was fined $300,000 by a House Ethics Committee investigation that found he used poor judgment in his ethical conduct, according to The Christian Science Monitor. Gingrich demonstrated a clear conflict of interest by distributing his conservative views through films of a college course he was teaching and using tax-exempt organizations to finance his propaganda. Even more condemning is the fact he provided false information to the committee during this investigation. When confronted, Gingrich blamed his staff for distributing the mistakes. You would think the speaker of the House would give a little scrutiny to documents from his office regarding an investigation of his ethics. Some consider this misinforma- tion to have been intentional. It was the first time in the history of Congress that a speaker was scolded for unethical conduct. Gingrich has also spewed out false information on increasing gas prices, increasing food stamp usage, and the development of Iranian missiles that could U.S. Not to mention his ego the size of Canada, and the $1.6 million he pocketed from Freddie Mac. He states his deception best in his own words. During an interview with Esquire, his second wife Marianne Gingrich recalled his comments to her after she found out about his affair. "It doesn't matter what I do," he said. "People need to hear what I have to say. It doesn't matter what I live." Actions speak louder than words. Do you despise Newt Gingrich? Tell us at thewilkes beacon.com CONTACT KIRSTIN COOK AT: kirstincook@thewilkesbeacon.com BYIAN FOLEY Correspondent, President of College Republicans Newt Gingrich is a better candidate for president than a lot of people give him credit for. In the race for the White House, meaning is reduced to meat, and presidential d e - bates are postulated as evening entertainment. The interests of American voters are being compromised in order for the "gotcha" question of the night to appear on the Colbert Report. Foremost and center, hypocrisy takes the cake, the ultimate spin raw from the strategists, cooked up by the media, and served to the public. There is no denying that Gingrich is on his third marriage. However, it is important to step back and ask if this disqualifies him from governance. He admits the affair and apologizes. The question is: Does this make him any different from John Edwards and Bill Clinton, who remained in office after the affair was made known? And then, we have the recent surfacing of White House intern Mimi Alford, whose words of relations with Kennedy, supplemented by information from White House Aide Barbara Gamarekian in her JFK files, calls into question another president. The world gives little credit to the integrity on past indiscretions, not seen by those akin, in some cases even worse than his own. Gingrich also comes under fire for money he received for consulting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These moneys are really no different than those Romney received from the same industry and are similar to those Obama received in contributions. Obama is the second highs:st recipient from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, second only to Sen. Frank Dodd, senior Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, and ahead of Sen. John Kerry, who has spent decades in the Senate. In terms of policy, Gingrich has the ability and record of reaching across the aisle . When he was in office there was no problem, but on the campaign trail, it is a matter both sides can take pot shots at him with. Politicians flip-flop to get reelected, but wait, since his election to the House in 1978, Gingrich has never faced a fiercely competitive re-election race. He is a man who has been through compromise and the bipartisanship needed for substantive policy to move this country forward. Gingrich made these past decisions based on the service of government and the people, something missing from the current arena of politics. When you separate the campaign rhetoric and Entertainment Tonight framing, that is what makes him different from the rest of the field. t C Are you a Gingrich fan? Let us know at thewilkesbeacon.com CONTACT IAN FOLEY AT: ian.foley@wilkes.edu Photo Illustration: Michael Klimek ' a �- - - - -- - - - -- - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - CONTACT EDITOR: christinelee@thewilkesbeacon.com .,.· WILKES UNIVERSITY HEALTH & WELLNESS BY CHRISTINE LEE Life Editor February celebrates not only love and romance but also the heart. This month is American Heart Month and aims at spreading awareness of heart disease. \ According to the National Library of Medicine, Heart Disease is the leading cause of death for men and women. This month the American Heart Association sponsors the "Go Red for Women" campaign to spread awareness of heart disease in women. Director of Health Services Diane O'Brien defines the disease as anything that affects the vascular system. It is a class of diseases that involves the heart, arteries and veins, including coronary .• heart disease, heart failure, inflammatory heart disease and cardiomyopathy. Hypertension and heart attacks also fall under this category. O'Brien said some of the risk factors for heart disease include obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, lack of exercise and stress. She said other conditions have an effect on the disease as well. "Having chronic health conditions like hypertension and diabetes play a part in heart disease, as your our chances of running into heart disease are greater," O'Brien said. O'Brien said one can get heart disease at any age, but there is often a hereditary component involved. Those with onset heart disease may not be able to do physical activity as well, like not being able to walk a great distance without getting winded or having chest discomfort (angina). "Lots of times people with heart disease have a limited amount of physical activity, they get winded, or feel chest tightness short of breath," O'Brien said. ·-- ' •C<~ <->» ,:;,,; ,., . -~ Have a heart for heart disease awareness month O'Brien ecommends staying physical active, watching one's diet looking at labels and watch· g the fat contents in foods to void the disease. "Diet and physical ac ·vity are two of the biggest key o avoiding (heart disease) an we need to start it early on with good habits and choices," O'Brien said. O'Brien said good health practices started .early and maintained throughout one's life are the key to preventing heart disease. for women your heart \ American Heart Association~ CONTACT CHRISTINE LEE AT: The America~ Heart Association uses the month christinelee@thewilkesbeacon.com of February t°'{aise awareness of heart disease as the No. 1 killer f women with Go Red for Women. Forgiveness Garden flourishes 'Phlash' mob takes over SUB Spot seeks to comfart those who grieve BY LAURA PREBY Photography Editor BY ALYSSA RALSTON Correspondent College can bring stress and hardships to many in their lives. Sometimes a break from the hassle of everyday can help to ease the mind. A garden of forgiveness in the works gives visitors the chance to relax and take time to reflect on whatever has been bothering them and let go of problems that are a burden in their lives. · The Wilkes greenway will have a new exclusive spot for forgiveness, a garden with a bench for students, faculty and staff to sit and reflect on the day or what is bothering them located between Kirby and Chase halls. Professor of psychology Robert Bohlander's positive psychology class is planning the construction for this place of solitude by creating a garden with places to sit. They will be working throughout the semester on the garden with the goal of finishing by the end of April or beginning of May. The Garden of Forgiveness will be built for those who want to think about the hurts and troubles in their life and let go of them. It will be a little secluded from the rest of the greenway for relaxation. Bohlander was inspired to construct this garden from three specific ideas he has that he believes are central to the process of forgiving. "Engaging in forgiveness can raise one's level of psychological well-being and good health," Bohlander said. "Being a clinical psychiatrist, I see patients stuck in anger and depression for years because they can't forgive people in the past who have hurt them and it holds them back from leading a better life." Bohlander gave an example of successful forgiveness through a guest speaker he brought to his .positive psychology class. SEE FORGIVENESS, PAGE 19 The first floor of the Henry Student Center was filled with pharmacy students on Thursday, Feb. 16, when a surprise "phlash" mob took place during club hours. The mob was organized by Courtney Graham, a senior P2 pharmacy major, who wanted to do something unique to draw attention to the pharmacy program. Students from different parts of the School of Pharmacy came together to interact and present to students what they're all about, using poster boards and displays to inform students on heart health, diabetes, drug abuse and other health topics. At exactly 11 :30 a.m., the pharmacy students broke into their best dance moves and proved to Wilkes that not all pharmacists fit the serious, labcoat-sporting stereotype. "I got the idea from another pharmacy school, but we put our own spin on it," Graham said. "I talked to Meribeth (Derkach) ,who has a dance minor and is very good with music, about putting together the choreography." Junior Pl pharmacy major Meribeth Derkach not only choreographed the moves, but also mixed the music for the mob to dance to. The songs she chose were "Party Rock Anthem," by LMFAO and "This City," by Patrick Stump. "I WclJJ.ted to do a dance everyone would be able to do, and they'd have fun with," Derkach said. The pharmacy students were recruited during their classes and those who wanted to participate practiced by attending two of six sessions organized by Graham and Derkach. The mob was organized quickly. With only two weeks of practice, the pharmacy students mastered their moves and pulled off their spontaneous performance to an audience full of their unsuspecting peers. "I was very happy with the results," Graham said. "It was nice to see pharmacy students in a different light." Graham hopes the event will spark an interest in the pharmacy program and create and awareness for the health issues they are trying to address. CONTACT LAURA PREBY AT: /aurapreby@thewilkesbeacon.com �- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ----- THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 21, 2012 10 School of Pharmacy students hit the (SUB) floor The School of Pharmacy had signs with important health information up around the first floor of the SUB. The dance scene broke out at around 11 :30 a.m. during club hours, attracting a crowd on all three floors of the SUB. Photos: The Beacon/Laura Preby Pharmacy majors practiced the unexpected dance routine for two weeks under the direction of junior p1 pharmacy major and dance minor Meribeth Derkach. Coordinator and senior P2 pharmacy major Courtney Graham thought of the idea last semester and used this semester to put her plan into action. She hopes the flash mob will get more people interested in the pharmacy program and hearing what students have to say about living a healthier lifestyle. Students from various parts of the School of Pharmacy rehearsed during class periods. The songs chosen and re-mixed included "Party Rock Anthem" and "This City:' Derkach says "This City" reminded her of the city of Wilkes-Barre. picli;]sb screen printing • embroidery • promo Items rr0m:rn ALWAYS The Beacon/Christine Lee The new garden of forgiveness is being placed in between Kirby and Chase halls and will give students, faculty and staff a place to reflect and forgive events in their lives. FORGIVENESS Continued from Page 9 Bohlander gave an example of successful forgiveness through a guest speaker he brought to his positive psychology class. Gadeson had lost both of his legs in combat in Iraq and was able to move forward from the incident and forgive what had happened. A quote Bohlander lives by is, "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and to find out the prisoner is you." •GREAT GRAPHICS • GREAT PRICES • ON TIME DELIVERY "It is an uplifting, freeing kind of experience," Bohlander said. Bohlander may be looking for volunteers in the near future to help out with the construction of the garden of forgiveness. Each volunteer will be assigned a certain job helping out with the construction of the garden. Anyone who wants to volunteer for the program can contact Bohlander at (570) 408-4561 or robert.bohlander@wilkes.edu. CONTACT ALYSSA RALSTON AT: alyssa.ralston@wilkes.edu 146 SOUTH PINNSYLVANIA AVINUI / WILKIS•BARRI, PA 1&701 NEAR DOMINO'S AND CORBA BEVERAGE! �THEBEACON I FEBRUARY21 , 2012 11 LIFE Relay for Life campaign hopes to'~ cancer goodbye" BY ALYSSA STENCAVAGE Staff Writer It's that time of year again for the Relay for Life! The kickoff was held on Tues., Feb. 14 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Student Union Building, with a theme of"Kiss Cancer Goodbye." The main goal at the kickoff was registering teams an~ participants, and providing people with information regarding fundraising and about what will be going on. In support of fundraising efforts, a fundraising social took place on Feb. 29 at Red Robin, and there will be others in the next few months at different restaurants. "This year we have more focused on keepi~g our events balanced between team development, fundraising, survivorship, and advocacy, which is something that we hope will be visible at the kickoff," Relay for Life Coordinator Bethany Sharpless said. There is not much being done differently in preparation for this year's Relay for Life event, aside from the fact that the relay committee is larger which will hopefully be helpful in trying to work on fundraising efforts. Overall, everything is being led in similar manner. ~ •◄ . RELAY FOR LIFE • - . Relay for Life 2012 will be held from April 28-29 from noon until 6 a.m. Those who are interested are encouraged to sign up. CONTACT ALYSSA STENCAVAGE a/yssa.stencavage@wilkes.edu The Beacon/D~ Lykens On Tuesday, Feb. 14, Relay for Life at Wilkes kicked off with a sign-up table for teams interested and a game of scrabble. This year's Relay for Life at Wilkes takes place beginning the morning of April 28 and ends the early morning of April 29. This year's theme is yet to be determined but teams are encouraged to register online as soon as possible. Winter Weekend competition intense for teams competing Team names reflect 90 s Nickelodeon cartoons such as "CatDog" BY ABBEY HALDEMAN Staff Writer It is time to start talking strategy. Winter Weekend is creeping up and now that the teams have already been formed, the competition is ready to begin. Every team consists of 10 people -- five male and five female. Teams pick a name, and often include a team slogan, which is generally put on to their shirts. Examples of slogans include: "We're the things that go bump in the night" for Team Ahhh! Real Monsters!! and "double the trouble" for Team CatDog. For this year's contest, teams include Ahh! ! Real Monsters, CatDog, Rugrats, Angry Beavers, Doug, Rocket Power, Hey Arnold and other Nickelodeon shows from in the 1990's. Junior chemistry major Breanna Conklin, and few of her friends from the Chemistry Club coordinated Team Ahh! ! Real Monsters! Some of the members are returning competitors, while others are new to the events of Winter Weekend. This is the team's first year competing as a group. "You never know what the Chemistry Club members are capable of .. . we don't even know what we are capable of," Conklin said. Sophomore psychology major Alysha Bixler is part of the CatDog team, which is primarily made up of the Wilkes softball team with a few outsiders. Bixler thinks the CatDog team will have a leg up on the competition when it comes to the sporting aspect. Their team is also working hard to prepare a skit they said is sure to never be forgotten. "We joke about studying up on Nickelodeon," Bixler said, referring to the trivia part of the competition. With teams as varied they are this year, there is no doubt this year's Winter Weekend will be fierce. 8•1' 9C,W- TMMS reGd9•••rr·s bOUT To 90 down \ Courtesy of Kristofer Rivers CONTACT ABBEY HALDEMAN AT: abbey.ha/deman@wilkes.edu This year's Winter Weekend theme of 90's Nickelodeon cartoons is reflected in the logo, designed by junior integrative media major and Student Government member Mike Ogar. The competition begins Friday night at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Building and ends around 4 p.m. in the same location. Events include athletics, trivia, a scavenger hunt and a mascot competition. �12 ""t Q14esfiorJS Important People U"i~~otf THEBEACON I FEBRUARY21,2012 LIFE with JOHN STACHACZ, DEAN OF THE EUGENE S. FARLEY LIBRARY I love movies; . I watch about 15 movies a week. I love seeing movies in the movie theatre with the big screen and I love being around people to see their reactions. I also play a little golf, too. What kind of sports do you like and what are your favorite teams? I love baseball. I am a Mets fan, but it's hard to be one these days. I am also a long suffering Cleveland Browns fan, having been from Cleveland. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Older (he kids). You know, I'm still trying to answer that question. To be honest, I wasn't interested in becoming a librarian until graduate school. I was working on a Master 's Degree in geography, but I always knew it was going to be a career in academics. The Beacon/Dan Lykens Dean of the Farley Library John Stachecz is most often found at the Reference desk, where he offers his services to members of the Wilkes community looking for research resources. What are some of your hobbies? I like to read. I am a huge big movie buff, Where at is your favorite place you have ever traveled to? Mexico. I had a good opportunity to go by train across Mexico. I saw a lot of the country site. I was young in college; and it was a spring break kind of thing, but that was pretty memorable. I've actually been all over the United·States with the exception of the Pacific Northwest. EAlll'£C- ltlltlll... IIIIIF■ ■,_EIHIV' BY REBECCA BOLUS Assistant Life Editor What are your duties as Dean of the library? To make sure the library operates to its fullest capacities and to explore new ways to bring services and resources to students and faculty. We support the educational mission of the institution and it's my job to figure out ways to do that. Where would you like to travel that you've never been before? Europe. I have had opportunities to go, but they all fell through. If you could recommend a good book, what would it be and why? "Encounters with the Archdruid" by John McPhee. It's a great book. I read it when I was younger and I have used it in first year seminars that I have taught in other places. It's not preachy, it comes to no conclusion, and it makes the reader make up his/her own mind. It's an excellent book for students who are just starting college to learn how to form arguments and make their own decisions. What was the last movie you saw in theatres? "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" with Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks. I did and I did not like this movie. It was a little preachy, but it was a decent film. What kind of music do you listen to? I'm a parrothead. I love Jimmy Buffet. CONTACT REBECCA BOLUS AT: rebecca.bo/us@wilkes.edu _.· ..·_·_ ~Ill SPECIALS WEEKDAY SPECIAI.S M-TI Large Pie $7. 95 Chicken Wing Pie $10.95 20 E Northampton St. Wilkes Barre 825-5166 NEXT TO MOVIES 14 FREE WI-Fl In our Dining Room (carry out/dine in only) PIZZA DOUBlES 2 Medium Pizzas $13.95 2 Large Pizzas $16.95 Mll&MATCH Any 3 Subs or Wings 2 Tickets to Movies 14 WB 1 Medium Pizza - 1 Topping 2 Drinks I We Cater Parties At Movies 14 $15.95 WE CATER lARGE GROUP EVENTS PlEASE CAll BEFORE YOUR NOT MEDINGI Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 11am-11pm Fri.-Sat. 11am-12am Sun. 12pm-11 pm We're more than just great pizza ... see our entire menu at www.ja n uzzispizza .com �- Wilkes' resident film expert weighs in on Oscar noms BY BILL THOMAS Arts & Entertainment Editor Every spring, film buffs everywhere start buzzing with talk of Oscar gold. Just about everyone has an opinion, including Evene Estwick, an associate professor of communication studies at Wilkes University. If any faculty member should have an opinion on such matters, it's Estwick. Estwick is currently teaching the class "The Art of Film," a course she said Wilkes intends to offer every other year, with this being the second time it's been offered since she started teaching it in 2010. "I've always loved film, even when I couldn't use the academic terms, the proper terms for what I was seeing," Estwick explained. "I just liked to watch films. I was fascinated with how you can take words and use visual images with those words to tell a story." That fascination led to Estwick getting an undergraduate degree in film production from Howard University. During her school days, she directed a 10-minute short film and had the opportunity to intern as a production assistant on several movie and music video sets. Since coming to Wilkes, Estwick has offered the students in her yearly "Mass Media Literacy" class a chance to take part in an Oscar poll. The students are challenged to offer up their predictions and pit them against Estwick's own. How many times has she lost? "Quite a few times," she said with a chuckle. "I've lost a few times and I've won a few. It's about fifty-fifty." Estwick recently sat down with The Beacon to give her opinions on the nominees for the 84thAcademy Awards, offering up her take on who should win, as opposed to who will. Though she said she rarely agrees with who the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ultimately picks to win its major awards, she admitted that, this year, if her predictions tum out to be correct, it would mark a rare occurrence wherein most of the nominees Estwick feels ought to win an Oscar actually do. The awards telecast will air Sunday, Feb. 26. at 7 p.m. on ABC. Best Picture: The Artist "The Help" will win because of the sentimental nature of the story. But ''The Artist" should win because it is a true work of cinematic excellence. There's a difficulty of acting with no words, which is a lot more involved. With other films you have words and you have visuals, but with ''The Artist" you just have the visuals. Best Director: Michael Hazanavicius Without a doubt, Viola Davis both will and should win. She was the center of ''The Help"; she kept it grounded. Her acting is so nuanced. Again, the novelty of it and the difficulty of filming silent makes ''The Artist" stand out." Again, ''The Artist" is a silent film, so you have to tell a complete, engrossing story without any dialogue. That's impressive. "Drive" got snubbed just because of the violence, but Gosling's performance was so strong. Read the Beacon staff's "Best Picture" picks at: thewilkesbeacon.co~ �14 A&E THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 21, 2012 Hometown heroes take NEPA noise nationwide The triumphant return of Title Fight A Fire with Friends is burning· bright BY BILL THOMAS Arts & Entertainment Editor Outside, the February night held a bitter chill and the faint scent of cigarettes. It was very quiet and very cold. Inside? Not so much. Sweaty, shaking bodies stood shoulderto-shoulder, wall-to-wall. A capacity crowd filled Wilkes-Barre's Redwood Art Space to the brim, 200 rabid punk and hardcore music fans swelling the boundaries of a room probably never meant to hold a single hundred, let alone two. The atmosphere crackled with electricity as stage-divers flung themselves into the audience and s~t poured from the bows of several dozen banging heads. The cause for all this heat and kinesis? Title Fight was back in town. . On Saturday, Feb. 18, the band played in front of a hometown crowd for the first time in eight months, with supporting acts Halfling, Self Defense Family and Pianos Become the Teeth. Seeing as how members of Title Fight helped found and fund the fledgling all-ages venue when it first started just one year ago, the sold-out concert proved to be a homecoming triumph for the Kingston-based band in more ways than one. "I was going to shows at Cafe Metropolis (Wilkes-Barre's now-defunct all-ages music venue) since I was 12 and 13 years old, Courtesy of Johnny Bouchard With a·· spot on the 2012 Warped Tour, Title Fight is look forward to the future. so when that place shut down there was nowhere left to go," singer-bassist Ned Russin said. "A couple ofus from Title Fight got together with (Redwood co-founders Greg Gover and Matt Wren) and we found this place on Craigslist. It was vacant for two years or something, but all these kids came up and helped us build the stage, paint, set up the P.A. system, everything. We put a lot of our own money into it, but it was a big community effort." That sense of community is strong in the local music scene that Title Fight comes from and which the venue they helped create caters to. Before the group - which also consists of singer-guitarist Jamie Rhoden, guitarist Shane Moran and drummer Ben Russin - took the stage, flannel-clad Redwood regulars mingled among themselves in a manner more akin to an extended family reunion than a punkrock mosh-pit. Unfortunately for any "family members" who might not be fans of Title Fight, it doesn't look like the band's momentum will be letting up anytime soon. After teaming up with SideOneDummy Records, the members of Title Fight have shown up everywhere from the interior of AMP Magazine to the cover of Alternative Press, in whose pages their first full-length album, 2011 's "Shed," was named one of the most-anticipated releases of the year. They've also had the opportunity to tour with the likes of Rise Against and New Found Glory. This summer, though, what might be Title Fight's biggest break awaits. The band was recently tapped to be part of this summer's Vans Warped Tour, alongside acts like Senses Fail, Every Time I Die and another clan of NEPA noisemakers, Scranton's own Motionless in White. "I'm not excited to be playing out in the sun for 12 hours a day, sweating my ass off," Russin said, chuckling. "It's like a rite of passage though. I'm grateful for the opportunity, getting the chance to play to so many new people, different people, kids who have no idea who we are. "Who knows? Maybe that will get people to come out to a place like Redwood and discover this whole other world of music they never knew existed. Even if it's just one person, that would make it completely worth it for me." For more information, visit titlefight.net. CONTACT BILL THOMAS AT: billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com J r J I• Courtesy of Katie Trott With a new album in development, things are heating up for this Scranton 7-piece. BY JANEL NARO Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor Scranton band A Fire with Friends shows promise of a bright future. With the band's 2010 record "Happily Haunted" voted Best Album of that year by Electric City/ Diamond City magazine and a music video about to get national play on Fuse TV, things are looking good. Band member Dan Rosier agrees. It's the band's eccentricities he thinks most peopleincluding himself - find most exciting. One thing that makes AFWF unique is that it's not the typical rock-band lineup of three or four. The band katures seven artists, including Rosier on guitar and vocals, Chelsea Collins on piano, Eric Foster on synthesizer and percussion, Brian Errigo on drums, John Husosky on bass, Chris Pelak on percussion and guitar and Scott Jordan on guitar. The inherent unconventionality of AFWF has spilled over into the recording studio as well, most notably during the creation of their 2011 album, "Like Giants Sleeping in Basements." For that album, the band worked with friend and engineer Shawn Davis, not in a slick, state-of-the-art facility stocked with all the usual creature comforts, but instead in a barn that had been remodeled into a recording studio. Other times the band worked with Davis, they tracked songs in a trailer where there was no heat or water. "It was kind of wild," Rosier said. "I remember recording vocals and a horse walked through the front door. It makes it interesting. But I wouldn't mind a more normal recording process this time around." "Normal" isn't always something in the cards for AFWF, though. Their music video for "Electric Chair Blues" was shot in a courtyard at The Ellen Powell Memorial Museum in Philadelphia. Although an ex- hilarating experience, Rosier admitted it wasn't his favorite way to spend the afternoon. "It was very awkward but very fun at the same time," Rosier said. "It was awkward because none of us have any rock star attitudes and there is a camera in your face and I was like I don't know ifl can do this." Currently scheduled to air on Fuse OnDemand throughout the month of March, the national exposure "Electric Chair Blues" promises to bring isn't the only thing AFWF fans are eagerly anticipating. The band is also working on a new album, with about a dozen songs under way. "It's cool that I have a number of songs that I've written and then we have songs that are kind of like a collective effort," Rosier said. "So I guess right now we're just trying to do the best we can and see which way the album will take shape." Despite being poised to embrace a brand new audience, Rosler 's home remains Pennsylvania. When asked to name his artistic influences, Rosier praised the local music community. "There are a lot of really good bands in the area," Rosier said. "They make you want to get better." A Fire with Friends will be playing at "Winter Weekend Bash" which will hosted by special guest Angelina Pivarnick from the MTV reality show, "Jersey Shore." The event is for those ages 21 and over and will be held from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 24, at The Mines nightclub at 105 N. Main St. in Wilkes-Barre. Tickets are $15 in advance for Kings and Wilkes students only by texting Nick Z. at 570-498-1363, or $20 at the door. CONTACT JANEL NARO AT: janel.naro@wilkes.edu \ ( I( ') f ' ) < '.) I j ) :J )" •l L , ( (] ' IJ ,,. �A&E 15 ... Latest Marvel movie doesn't THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 21, 2012 Benulis' epic tale of angels and demons is heaven for readers have a'ghOst" of a chance BY BILL THOMAS Arts & Entertainment Editor the subtly sympathetic quality of Hinds' Devil, are left unexplored. Directed by the filmmak:ing brain-trust of Admittedly, Neveldine and Taylor have a Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor - the same talent for crafting powerful visuals with dizzyanarchic duo responsible for the "Crank" franing energy, even if the imagery doesn't always chise - "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" gel with what's happening on-screen, and Dahopes to rescue the Marvel-licensed property vid Sardy's industrial-metal score is suitably from cinematic perdition. Sure, this sequel is apocalyptic, with an aggressive, infectious miles ahead of its predecessor, but what we're pulse. The film's sole major success, though, left with is still a one-way ticket to Dullsville. is its portrayal of the otherworldly Rider. Barely supported by the thinnest storyline Gone is the previous movie's stepped-offthis side of porno, "Spirit'' reintroduces us to the-front-of-an-Iron-Maiden-shirt cartoonishJohnny Blaze (Nicholas Cage, looking dopey ness, replaced by a Rider who is truly infernal. and bewildered as ever, like he still hasn't figAll twitching, snarling viciousness and laconured out what actors do). Mostly ignoring the ic fury, this Rider is ~ imposing, occasionally tone and plot of the first film, Blaze - host to unsettling presence, a horror-geme Terminator the soul-sucking, sinner-scorching, antiheroic of burning bone, sizzling leather and flailing demon-entity known as the Ghost Rider - is chains. It's telling that every scene in now a bitter, self-pitying hermit who's opted which this computer-generated for a solitary existence in Eastern Europe(?!) creation isn't on-screen, in an attempt to snuff the hellfire inside him. out-acting his human ~Alas, Blaze's bid for isolation is undone counterparts no less, when he's enlisted to keep a child with mysis a total bore. A terious powers (Fergus Riordan) out of the In the end, , ~ · clutches of no less vile a villain than the Devil this "Ghost ~ himself (Ciaran Hinds). Along for the ride is Rider" seeyeliner-abusing love interest Nadya (Violan- quel wants O te Placido) and wisecracking black sidekick to be hell Moreau (Idris Elba, slumming big-time). on wheels, Can Blaze and the Rider learn to co-exist? but it's a Why exactly is the Devil after some snot- lot closer to nosed brat? How does Nicholas Cage keep being just getting work? These are the questions "Spirit" plain helldares us to ask, unaware that the answer to ish. the first two is "Nobody cares," while the an,~ swer to the last one is ''Nobody knows." ~ .7 Meanwhile, more interesting ques' \ .7 tions, such as those inves,,,, tigating the blurry line between vengeance and justice or BY ANNIE YOSKOSKI Staff Writer The concept of Wilkes alumnus Sabrina Benuli's novel, "Archon: The Books of Raziel" - the first in what is set to be a trilogy of books published by HarperCollins - drew me in at once. Fresh out of a mental institution, Angela Mathers attends Westwood Academy, a special university operated by the Vatican, to find some balance in her life. Balance is nowhere near, though, because Angela is a "blood head." As a blood head, Angela has special abilities that act as more of a curse. An angel comes to her day and night, for instance, but that's just the tip of the iceberg in this supernatural universe. Some characters believe Angela is the one who will fulfill an ancient prophecy, which keeps both .,.,.A good and evil allies ~ vyin~ for her at~ tention. ~ This plot is - - original in every way, and C it resembles : 0 nothing that -. I have ever read before. It is a mix of mythol- ---t--- 9\ * ff:,'(, .it C *,.~ D ,..* ogy and religion that comes at a fast-paced rhythm, with plot twists around every comer. For such a supernatural book, the characters are surprisingly relatable. I was pleasantly surprised to connect with Angela, who doesn't really want to conquer a universe. She just wants some control over her own life. Readers will never be bored with this book; in fact, they may not want to put it down. Usually in a trilogy, at least in my experience, the first book isn't too dark or ace6npacked. It serves the purpose of slowly setting things up for the next book. "Archon" throws this model out the window. The action starts immediately, and there is no denying that the tag line "The war between heaven and hell begins now," is a perfect description for the novel. The writing is held together well, with a nice flow evident in everything from characterization to plot structure. Many ideas in the novel show so much potential for the rest of the series. The inhabitants of Westwood Academy and the isolated island city of Luz draw the reader in and make you want to know more about them, even if they are evil. The only issue with the book that I could find was that if you don't pay attention, you might get confused. When I pick up books, I don't read them lazily or only a few chapters at a time. Ifyou are a reader who does, though, you may have to remind yourself who, for the example, the Jinn, Supernal, High Assassin or Archon are and what roles they play. Honestly, I loved this fast-paced, enticing novel. Even in moments where there is little action, a reader can sense the pulse beneath. Something is going to happen. I can't wait for the next one to come out. 'The Fat Dagwoo excels at excess touching Staff Writer I've heard about Dagwood's Deli & Subs in Kingston for quite some time now. Those that went raved about their hoagies and meals. I knew about some of their more 'unique' hoagies before going to the restaurant. Beacon Advertising Manager Brittany Battista joined me once again. We stood at the menu board for quite some time because there were so many options. Soups, salads, full meals, barbecue sandwiches, wraps and a plethora of different hoagies were all on the menu. We decided to try the hoagie that we both heard about, the legendary "Fat Dagwood." This hoagie is made with chicken fingers, fries, and mozzarella sticks topped with wing sauce, bleu cheese and provolone cheese. Sounds like a healthy hoagie to me! When the hoagie came out, I wasn't sure how to eat it because it was so big and had so much on it. Luckily, they give you a knife and fork. The hoagie was actually really good. The chicken fingers were my favorite part because they were crispy. I counted three full-sized chicken fingers just on my half of the hoagie alone. The mild chicken wing sauce that we chose drenched the hoagie. The sauce was not sweet at all. It had a nice tang to it. The mozzarella sticks were very good, and there were about two of them on the hoagie. There were plenty of fries on the hoagie, too, but they were a little soggy because of all the wing sauce. The provolone cheese on top was gooey while the actually hoagie bun was toasted and crunchy on the outside. I couldn't even finish my half of the hoagie because it was so filling. If you like any of the items I mentioned that are on this hoagie, then I would definitely recommend getting it. Brittarry described the hoagie as "everything I love that is unhealthy for me, all on one hoagie." Another customer got a grilled-chicken wrap. She thought it was great. She said the chicken was warm and tender, and all the other ingredients in the wrap made for a delicious and filling meal. Dagwood's impressed her enough she said she could see herself going there on a regular basis. Another customer had soup and a ~ 4/5 grilled cheese sandwich. He told me he loves their soup and sandwiches. He makes a visit to Dagwood's a couple times a week. The atmosphere is very nice. When you walk in, you look at a menu board and then you place your order at the counter. Once your food is ready, they bring it to your table. The employees were all extremely pleasant. Prices are reasonable. The Fat Dagwood was $12, but it was big enough for two people. Dagwood's is right across the Market Street Bridge at 418 Market St. They are open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. At lunch time, though, the restaurant can get crowded, so keep that in mind if you go. CONTACT BILL THOMAS billthomas(a)i:hewi/ke~.beacor, �FEBRUARY 21, 2012 Wilkes beats King's on senior night BY JUSTIN FRANIAK Sports Editor At the end of each sports season comes a week of rivalries, and Wilkes is no diffe rent. On Friday night, King 's College traveled a few blocks down the· street to take on the Colonels grapplers. The match began with honoring Wilkes's six senior wrestlers. Captain Anthony Dattolo, Ben Marich and Ryan Wilson were all honored along with Matt Ellery, Buddy Gouger and Shane Everett. After all the beginning festivities , the team honored its seniors by winning big. Freshman Michael Fleck began the night off with a technical fall of King's ~ Aaron Perez. Fleck is now three wins away from tying the single-season win record at Wilkes. Sophomore 133-pounder Myzar Mendoza didn't disappoint either. Coming out to the crowd favorite "Zombie Nation" song, Mendoza tacked on three more points for the Colonels en route to a 19-6 major decision over Travis Boardman. The first senior wrestler of the night was 141 -pounder Ryan Wilson. Wilson stepped onto the mat while "Wild Thing" played in the background. Wilson ended his regular season with a pinfall in 4:40. At 149-pounds, Wilkes suffered its first loss of the night as freshman John Lynch lost a close one, 3-1, to King's Chris Mazzochi. The Colonels then received a forfeit at 157-pounds, and senior Matt Ellery recorded that win. Junior Nathan White continued the Colonels success with an 11-2 score over King's Ahmed Burton. Junior Dustin Stough took on King's Shane Stark at 174-pounds and used his riding time point to gain the victory. The score was 28-3 after this close match. Senior Buddy Gouger lost to nationally ranked Mike Reilly in the 184-pound match-up. Reilly is a returning All-American. Sophomore Dave Oberrender gained Wilkes' last win of the night as he beat King's Cemah Tudae-Torboh. Sophomore Jon Slack rounded out the night by losing by pinfall. The Colonels won big 32- 14. CONTACT JUSTIN FRANIAK AT: justin.franiak@wilkes.edu BY BRYAN WI SLOSKY Columnist The Beacon/J ustin Franiak Freshman wrestler Sean Lombardi sports face signs made by wrestling fans. The signs were in honor of seniors (from left) Benjamin Marich, Anthony Dattolo, Matthew Ellery and Ryan Wilson. ,Women's tennis set to begin new season Colonels look to improve after historical, successful run BY SERENA MOLYNEUX Assistant Sports Editor :i. It is that time of year again. Women's tennis is back at it for the spring season and they have already begun to accomplish great things. The Colonels look to carry over their success from last year, which saw them win the MAC Conference and gain a NCAA national bid, for only the second time in history. The team was led by Coach Chris Leicht for the eighth season, along with senior captains Anna Mitchell and Rebekah Shanaman. "We' re working hard and hopefully good things are going to happen," Leicht said. There are nine girls on the team, and the top seven consists of all upperclassmen. "This gives us a lot of good experience and depth," Leicht said. "We really don't have a weakness." With such a strong line-up, Leicht has added some new competition to the season. The women will be playing some division two schools and they are looking forward to the increased competition that they have coming up. New competition is not the only excitement that the team has to look forward to. The girls will be going on a week-long spring break trip to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina beginning March 5. "We get to have team bonding in an atmosphere that isn't typical," said Melanie Nolt, junior accounting major. "It's a chance to relax and enjoy a change of pace." The Broad Street Breakdown While in South Carolina the girls will get to play outdoors and also take part in some tournaments. The athletes said the spring break trip is a big contributor to helping the players prepare and train for the season. Right now the women are practicing four to five days a week indoors, working on conditioning and running. "After returning from the spring break trip we will definitely be ready for the season to start," Leicht said. While the team is working hard to get ready for the season, it is also working to improve their double strategies. "I wouldn't call it a weakness, but it is something we need to work on," Leicht said. TENNIS, PAGE 19 As much as I hate to do this, I need to congratulate the Detroit Red Wings for the NHL history they made. Last Tuesday, Feb. 14, they beat the Dallas Stars 3-1 for a National Hockey League record 21st straiglit home victory. They surpassed the 1929-1930 Boston Bruins and the 1975-1976 Philadelphia Flyers, who were both tied with 20 straight home wins. This is just one more reason for me to hate Detroit. I became a diehard Flyers fan when I was 6 years old. Philadelphia made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, but they were swept in for games by the Red Wings. Now they break what I feel is a very impressive record partially held by my franchise . Detroit's home winning streak started on Nov. 5 with a decisive 5-0 win against the Anaheim Ducks. Before that, the Wing's home record was a mediocre 3-2-1. Throughout this streak, they have beaten the Ducks, Avalanche, Oilers, Stars, Flames, Predators, Lightning, Coyotes, Jets, Kings, Blues, Blackhawks, Sabres, Blue Jackets and Flyers. So that's 21 straight wins against 15 different teams. The irony in all of this is that a one of the teams who shared the record, my Philadelphia Flyers, had a chance on Sunday, Feb. 12 to stop the Red Wings from tying the record. They had 19 straight home wins going into the Sunday night showdown with Philly and tied the record against one of its holders. If we look back at the previous two record holders, Wings fans should be getting excited since both the Bruins and Flyers made the Stanley Cup Finals in the years they sej the record, 1930 and 1976 respectively. But the city that should be really pumped for the playoffs is Montreal. Even though both Boston and Philadelphia made the Stanley Cup Finals in those seasons, both had their championship dream crushed by the Montreal Canadiens. The 1930 finals were a best-of-three series and Montreal defeated Boston two games to none, winning Game 1, 3-0, and SEE RED WINGS, PAGE 19 �17 ,"'" THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 21, 2012 SCOREBOARD Wrestling . 2/17 King's College W 32-14 Men's B-Ball 2/14 DeSales L 59-61 2/18 Kings W 74-60 Women's B-Ball 2/14 DeSales L 54-66 2/18 Kings L 61-70 WEEKAHEAD Wrestling 2/26 Metro Championships @ Elizabethtown Men's B-Ball 2/22 Freedom Conf. Playoffs vs. Eastern University GUEST HOME OU1\RTER BONUS FOULS SHOT CLOCK FOULS Tweet us pictures of the scoreboards @wi Ikesbeacon !f@@@@@J Sports have always been filled with legendary players and legendary achievements. But ever since the beginning, we have been trying to come up with new ways to remember certain plays and players. "The Catch", and "The shot heard 'round the world," are two examples of great plays that we remember just by hearing the name. Players' nicknames are the same: they transcend time by being unique in their own way, all unique to their own sport. Some that come to mind when we talk about all time greats: Michael "His Airness" Jordan earned his name with his · massive dunks and style that he brought that no one ever had before or after him. Deion Sanders was called "Prime Time," he was a showman and .a performer and he loved the big stage and the bright lights. Babe Ruth had several: "The Great Bambino" "The Sultan of Swat" or simply "The Babe." Ruth was the most popular baseball player who ever lived. His nicknames were more popular than his real name, which was George Herman. Babe was larger than life. Another is Earvin "Magic" Johnson. No one knows Johnson by his first name, we simply say Magic when we talk or refer to him. Boxing probably had some of the best nicknames around. We all think of Rocky, yes, a movie character, as "The Italian Stallion." Muhammad Ali was known as "The Greatest" and "The Louisville Lip" for all his witty banter. The best from boxing is probably "Iron" Mike Tyson. This past week we said goodbye to another great nickname, Gary "The Kid" Carter." "The Kid" transcends all other nicknames; it is the one I would love to have. "The Kid" exemplifies what sports is all about, sports are made for kids and should be enjoyed as such. Carter brought that mentality to the field every time he stepped out there. He played every game like it was his first with contagious enthusiasm and joy. Whether it was a single or a homerun, Carter would have a smile like a child who got a base hit in Little League. For Carter it wasn't a business or a job, it was a game. Long live "The Kid" and rest in peace Gary Carter. CONTACT JOSEPH PUGLIESE AT: joseph.pugliese@wilkes.edu Nicknames come naturally to me. I have been everything from Maniak to Big Guy to Peanut Butter and Jelly. So remembering memorable sports nicknames is second nature. One of my favorites is William "The Refrigerator" Perry. The man was a massive individual and his nickname reflected that. One of the worst was former Eagles, Freddei Mitchell. After his catch against the Packers in the NFC Championship he was known as "4th and 26" and "Fred-Ex" It seems that the Eagles that year had ~ any horrible nicknames, including Todd "Gator Arms" Pinkston and James "Trash" Thrash. Harry Kalas presented me with one of the most memorable nicknames. Kalas would always call Mike Schmidt, Michael Jack Schmidt. Jack was his actual middle name and transcend any nickname. More recently, Shane Victorino has been known as "The Flyin' Hawaiian" and Ryan Howard has been known as "The Big Piece." The Phillies always seem to have great nicknames. My favorite this year was Vance "Vanimal" Worley. With Jeremy Lin's recent success many nicknames have sprung up. Linsanity and Super Lintendo seem to be the most popular. Signs sporting "All I do is Lin" have also been sprouting up. My favorite nickname from the past few years is Benj arvus Green-Ellis. His nickname is "The Law Firm." This nickname is one of the most clever nicknames I have ever seen. We all have seen the law firm commercials with multiple names, so this nickname suits him perfectly. I need to pay homage to some of the greats. Babe Ruth, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Jake "The Snake" Roberts and "Broadway" Joe Namath. These guys not only had great nicknames, but grew into them. A nickname can make or break a player. He can either live as a legend, or be known by some goofy name. Some of the worst include "Booger" McFarland, Randy 'The Big Unit" Johnson, and Lester "The Molester" Hayes. Hopefully your favorite athlete won't wind up like Lester. CONTACT JUSTIN FRANIAK AT: justin.franiak@wilkes.edu �18 SPORTS THE BEACON J EEBRUARY.21r2012 , WE TREAT INJUR IES AND lllN ESSES FOR ALL AG ES,. + J UST VJALK IN. + ,ALWAYS A PHYSICIAN! ON SITE .. + MOST 1NSUftA.NCE ACCEPTED ·"'· BUT t.l!OT REQUIRED . + X· RAYS, LABS, EKG~. IV:s, MIHOR SU RG ERV. �TENNIS Continued from Page 16 . Making improvements to the double strategies will help ensure that the women will win the conference .., again. Along with that, they are going to use their biggest strength, which Leicht said is their depth and experience. "We have been dominant in the past and you can expect even more commitment and team unity this season," said junior team member Katrina Lynn said. The team has some exciting matches they are looking forward to, like a competition against NYU at the Flushing Meadows tennis courts, where the U.S. Open is held. More locally, they are looking forward to the match-up against Bloomsburg University. The women took a close loss against Bloomsburg last season with a score of 5 to 4, so they are looking for a big win this season. Women's tennis first home match is against rival Elizabethtown on Saturday, March 17 at the Ralston Athletic Complex. 'BLUE ARMY' RAGES AS COLONELS WIN CONTACT SERENA MOLYNEUX AT: serena.molyneux@wilkes.edu UPCOMING TENNIS SCHEDULE FOR 2012 ns 1f:>r .er rk u1te 110 ag si- :or SI- :s- 3117/2012 Elizabethtown Ralston Athletic Comp.lex 1:00p.m. 3120/2-012 Bloomsburg Bbomsburg, PA 3:30p.m. 3J22!20t2 Haverford College Ralston Athletic Complex 3;30 p.m. 313112012 Eastern * St Da•1ids, PA 1:00 p.m. The Beacon/Justin Franiak Da.llas, PA 3:30 p.m. The Wilkes basketball cheering section, known as the "Blue Army:' shows off its various costumes. The crowd included Gumbi and Pokey, along with men in denim dresses and jumpsuits. The "Blue Army" cheered the Colonels to a win against crosstown rivals King's College. The win solidified a home playoff game 7 p.m. this Wednesday, Feb. 22 at at the Marts Center. * 4/512012 MiericordJa 4/912012 Dickinson Carlisle, PA 4:00p.m. 4114/2012 King's." Ralston Athletic Complex 'f:OOp.m. 4/1512012 NYU New York City, NY 1:00p.m. 4118/2012 Muhlenberg Allentown, PA 3:3Op.m. 4121/2012 Manhatta:nville • Purchase,. NY 1:00 ,p cm. STRESSED? HEADACHE? RED WINGS Continued from Page 16 game 2, 4-3. By 1976, the finals were in its current format of a seven game series, but the Flyers suffered the same fate, losing the series four games to none. However, it doesn't look like history will be repeating itself. Currently the Montreal Canadiens are tied for 11th place in the Eastern Conference with the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders, and are eight points away from a playoff spot. If the Habs do find a way into the playoffs, it will be a story to keep an eye on, though. Even if it isn't against Montreal, I could definitely see the Red Wings losing in the finals this year. Given that they are 24-2-1 at home, their incredibly average 15-15-1 road record is preventing them from separating from the rest of the pack in the Western Conference race for top seed and the overall race for the President's Cup, most points in the league. As I write this they hold only a two point lead in the conference Headaches and back pain are two of the most common ailments treated at our clinic. Often, we can bring relief simply by taking the pressure off a pinched nerve. Here are other common symptoms of a pinched nerve. over the Vancouver Canucks and a one point lead over the New York Rangers for the most points in the NHL. So once again, congratulations to the Detroit Red Wings and their record for most consecutive home wins, but as we've seen in the past, it doesn't always lead to hoisting up the cup. oinment/ ari Join t e e ate on Bryan's post on http:/ · thewilkesbeacon.com. CONTACT BRYAN WISLOSKY AT: bryan.wislosky@wilkes.edu Neck Pain Back Pain Shoulder Pain Arm Pain Leg Pain Muscle Pain - Sports Injury - FREE20Min Hydro Massage Auto Accident - 'W WILKES UNIVERSllY FREE EXAM & FREE 1st Treatment Wilkes-Barre Chiropractic & Rehab Dr. David Lewis Chiropractic Physician 825-5535 3 80 Old River Road Wilkes-Barre, PA All Insurances Accepted dblewis326@aol.com www.nepachiro.com �20 SPORTS THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 21 , 20 12 " Dance team brings new energy to halftime festivities Performers use experience to break it down at mid-court, on the field BY JUSTIN FRANIAK _ Sports Editor ,u •ei ·• The rebirth of the Wilkes Dance Team is spicing up halftimes at Colonels basketball games. Before the 2010-2011 school year the team had been defunct, but now it's entertaining crowds at every home basketball game. "Dancing at halftime is so much fun," Hayley Dutka, sophomore co-captain, said. "We love performing for the crowd, and lately we've been getting a lot of positive attention for it." The Spanish/secondary education major says the dance team likes to shock the crowd with their routines, which usually gets positive feedback from the crowds. Sophomore pharmacy major Jaclyn Palummo also feels the adrenaline rush at games. "It's really exciting," the co-captain said. "The audience gets really into it; I'm glad we can entertain the crowd. Palummo took over the program last year and says it's a little more organized than it used to be. Dutka and Palumm collaborate on planning the choregraphy and music. Dutka says that she thinks different viewpoints make for a better experience. "I feel that Jaclyn and I have different dance backgrounds," Dutka said. So when we mix our styles together, it creates a great piece." Palummo and Dutka bring vast experience to the team. Palummo had been dancing for 18 years, and Dutka has been in the studio since she was 3. "When I came to Wilkes, I knew I would have to do something with dance because it's what I love to do, and I can't imagine not doing it," Dutka said. Starting the team back up last year was a little tough Palummo said, especially as a freshman. Dutka also said there are sometimes struggles to promote the club. "It is hard to build up a club that isn't that well known," she said. "We are always trying to expand the team." The dance team is always trying to be innovative and try new things, even if that is changing dancing venues. "This was actually the first year the dance team performed at a football game," Palummo said. "Dancing on the turf wasn't as bad as you would think too." The team is also community oriented. It participated in last semester's flood and relief and is starting a Relay for Life team too. "I feel like we are definitely a lot closer this semester because of involvement in the community," Palummo said. Both captains said that making the team stronger was their biggest goal. They both want to leave Wilkes by making an impact on the team. "The most important thing is to make the team as strong as it can be," Dutka said. Whether we have 10 girls or 20, it's all about The Beacon/Justin Franiak The Wilkes Dance Team performs at halftime at a recent basketball game. The team has garnered a positive response from the crowd and continues to entertain fans. The club practices at beginning of each week and is always looking for new members. the strength of the dancers and the routines." Palummo said the team practices Sunday and Monday nights for around two hours. They are always looking for new members. Dutka says that practice is always a good time. "We have a blast at practice, we are constantly sharing stories and laughing," Dutka said. "The team got really close, so it's a great way to make friends too." As for any plans to continue dance after college Palummo said, "I don't think there is much a dancing pharmacist can do." CONTACT JUSTIN FRANIAK AT: justin.franiak@wilkes.edu ., For more information and pictures, check us out at: thewilkesbeacon.co~ � 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 2012 February 21st Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 February 21 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/29d3bc1614d4379dd846a4764a251157.pdf eb80661432cc74ca458aab03661589cf PDF Text Text goes colonel as 3rd candidate BY DEVONI NOVAK Assistant News Editor The Beacon/ Austin Loukas The last of the three candidates, Scranton University's vice president Dr. Patrick Leahy, came to Wilkes last week to meet with students, faculty and staff. At the student forum , Leahy led off by declaring what attracted him to the presidential position at Wilkes along witli what he feels he can do if given the position. "I'm going to be perfectly candid with you," Leahy said. "I sense that there is some great work that happens here and I'm not sure that it's properly appreciated; I think there's a real opportunity to promote what we do here better than we have." Leahy feels he can be helpful in making Wilkes a better known school, which in his opinion will add to the university's credibility. After meeting with various members of the faculty and staff, Leahy noticed that many had a strong interest in improving the SEE PRES IDENT, PAGE 2 Aftermath of the biggest party weekend at Wilkes University left beer cans scattered in front of Breiseth Hall . • Behind the scenes of the real Winter Weekend BY DEVONI NOVAK Assistant News Editor Students celebrated the annual Winter Weekend in starkly dif~ ferent ways. Some students participated in an on-campus photo scavenger hunt ending with five grueling rounds of Nickelodeon trivia. Others roamed South River Street with solo cups and cases of beer in their backpacks. Every year, Student Government sponsors the official campus Winter Weekend event for students. In addition to SG's events, numerous off-campus events also take place. When asked what Winter Week- end meant to them, many students had the same reply as senior communication studies major, Evan Katz. "Partying," said Katz. This year, Katz and his roommates took part in the festivities by creating their own team "Are You Afraid of the Dark? Because you Arts & Entertainment Pages 13-15 Life Pages 9-12 Opinion Pages 6-8 Birth control in vending machines PAGE 7 look better with the lights off," in line with SG's theme of '90s Nickelodeon. The team attended various off-campus house parties. Junior earth and space sciences major Mack Thomas planned to spend his Winter Weekend checking out the special events Downtown bars had to offer. Thomas Bio dept's wild inhabitants PAGE9 Anti-Flag punk politics PAGE 13 also planned to host his own house party complete with $5 cups and team T-shirts. Thomas explaind what Winter Weekend means to him. "It means celebrating my time at Wilkes by drinking more than I usually do," he said. SEE WEEKEND, PAGE 3 Sports Pages 16-20 Wmedupfor WIikes Baseball PAGE 18 ~ Established 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member �FEBRUARY 28, 2012 SG Notes BY DEVONI NOVAK Assistant News Editor Bottom floor of SUB to be renovated Buffer Fund, a group that works on large projects, is working with architects on refurbish the space on the first floor of the SUB. The fund will make the space more cohesive, modem and warm. Making the three rooms on the bottom floor flow together better will allow the space to feel more open, the architects suggested. Renovations will include new paint, wallpaper, carpet, lighting and seating. Funds granted for rock wall equipment and mascot head - Buffer Fund Committee requested funds for new rock wall safety gear including ropes and harnesses. Buffer budgeted two ropes for $900 and 30 harnesses at $55.33 each. Buffer fund also asked for $3,500 for a new colonel PRESIDENT Continued from Front Page university. To Leahy this attitude is a positive; he said it's great that so many are "hungry for improvement." Wilkes' sense offarnily is another aspect of the university that Leahy appreciates. While searching for a school that has the atmosphere he found at Wilkes, Leahy was surprised to find it in his present hometown. The more Leahy learns about Wilkes the more enthusiasm he gains for the possibilities. "To be able to find a place where I think that there's untapped potential where I think they really ~ bout improving and where I think they really care about each other, I've been traveling far and wide to find a university like that to be a part of," Leahy said. Thrilled to be one of three finalists, Leahy believes he is a unique candidate that has distinctive experiences to bring to Wilkes. His involvement both inside and outside the system of higher education is a valuable skill Leahy feels he can use to overcome the university's challenges. In addition to the university's values, Leahy CONTACT EDITOR: phatnguyen@thewilkesbeacon.com head, claiming the old one was growing illnesscausing mold. Because both issues concerned safety, SG voted in favor of two separate motions: $3,500 for a colonel head and $2,560 for rock wall gear. In total, Buffer Fund was given $6,060. SG attempts to wean paintball club off tournament funding - Paintball Club requested $617.53 to help pay for upcoming tournament fees. Because the club consistently asks SG to fund their tournaments, SG deliberated whether they should grant the amount. SG also felt continuation of Paintball Club was an issue because many of the members will be graduating after this semester. Because Paintball Club has been a strong organization and has been dedicated to community service throughout its existence, SG decided to grant them $617.53 for their next tournament. SAAC fund request for Plutino community service award - The Plutino Award was an idea proposed by Student-Athlete Advisory Committee that will encourage community service while honoring Wilkes alumnus Sgt. Sandrino Plutino, who died while serving in Afghanistan. When Plutino attended Wilkes, he was a wrestling team captain and Army Ranger. To honor Plutino, sports teams will compete for the Plutino award by obtaining the most community service hours per player. SAAC requested $570 to put toward a plaque that will list the winning team each year. Spring Fling at the Woods - A Hollywoodthemed Spring Fling is scheduled for March 30 and will be held at the Woodlands. The venue and dinner will cost SG about $30 a person, although tickets will be priced between $5 and $10. Other costs include a DJ, security guards and shuttle services. Prior to the event, there will be a photo contest where winners will be given $100 to act as paparazzi at the dance. IEEE Club requests funds for Engineering Olympics - The Institute of Electrical and was also impressed with the location of the campus. Although he would like to help improve the downtown area, Leahy likes how the campus has a river view and proximity to the town's shops. Leahy feels there is great potential to improve the attractiveness of the campus and if chosen to fill the job, he plans to further develop the quality of campus. When asked what he believes is most important to receiving an outstanding education, Leahy placed the responsibility in the laps of the faculty. In Leahy's opinion, it is student interaction with the faculty that is the single most important aspect of their education, although he understands it takes a little more than that to make an outstanding institution. "A university is only as good as the people who work there, go to school there, and dedicate their lives there," Leahy said. After the last of the three candidates made a presence on campus, students had many opinions on each of the applicants. Although many felt all three had something unique to bring to Wilkes, most favored Gandre and Leahy. Before hearing Leahy, junior John Sweeney was leaning toward Gandre. However, after meeting Leahy, he was unsure which of the two he liked more. "They were both very impressive," Sweeney said. "What I like about Gandre is his approach to student interaction, I think that's something important because the university is about the students; Dr. Leahy is also very impressive with his fundraising abilities and he still seemed to have good intentions with student interaction." Crista Filipkowski said she is unsure which of the candidates will get the position as she feels all of them have strong qualities. The online surThe Beacon/ Austin Loukas vey at, www.wilkes.edu/ Dr. Tim Leahy respects Wilkes' value on family. candidates, can be filled out by students and will be considered in choos- CONTACT DEVONI NOVAK AT: ing the next president. devoninovak@thewilkesbeacon.com BEACON 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 PHONE: (570) 408-5903 WEBSITE: www.thewilkesbeacon.com Electronic Engineers requested $4,000 to help pay for the Engineering Olympics, a competition that brings as many as 10 high schools to Wilkes to participate in five engineering events. So far nine schools (more than 200 students) have confirmed participation. This is week one of the fund request; SG will make a decision at next week's ijeacon. would liket to apologize for eonfusion in last week's SG notes n Academic Banktupt~y. The Academi¢ tandards yonunittee recentfy began dis.. ussingrevisfon of'Grade Adjustment Pol~ y'' a policy that was used in the •1980s, ~? : ':. ··. . ecause the matter.is to·be.discussed fur4 ~ ;- News Editor: Phat Nguyen Opinion Editor: Carly Yamrus A&E Editor: Bill Thomas Life Editor: Christine Lee Sports Editor: Justin Franiak ··.. .·. ~ nted to theJuU faculty, it will !~ (l~ci~,in,lh~ltnnlf.'dlilt~fiilln'~. CONTACT DEVON I NOVAK AT: devoninovak@thewilkesbeacon.com Editorial Staff 2011-12 Editor-in-Chief: Kirstin Cook Managing Editor: Michael Klimek Ad Manager: Brittany Battista Photo Editor: Laura Preby Adviser: Lo ran Lewis . Meet the Staff Nona Poehler Design Editor �THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 28, 2012 3 NEWS WEEKEND Continued from Front Page One team in particular put extra planning into their party: team Rocket Power. Since the offcampus house mates previously lived in the dorms, they have looked forward to hosting their own Winter Weekend party. Rocket Power kicked-off their party Thursday night with a team-exclusive gathering to get them ready for the big weekend ahead. The team hosted a house party Friday night that included a DJ, multiple kegs and an ice luge. Saturday morning, kegs and eggs were served followed by the beer Olympics. A party this big required a lot of work and money. Allegedly, team Rocket Power grew to over 100 people, all of whom paid a $25 fee that got them a T-shirt, solo cup with unlimited refills, access to the house events and food. All together the team estimated that $2,000 was spent on the entire weekend. Although they originally hoped to make a profit, they considered it good budgeting to at least break even. When asked why they spent so much time and money on this one weekend, Rocket Power team member and junior biology major Jabih Hernandez, said it was all about having a really good party and an even better time. "Wilkes isn't really known to be a really big party school, so to have one weekend that's dedicated to partying makes you want to go all out," Hernandez said. Students that celebrate Winter Weekend offcampus as opposed to the events run by SG do so for various reasons. Most of these students claimed that they simply didn't hear much about SG's Winter Weekend. "I don't really know what that is about," Katz said. Junior psychology major Ally Gill said she was unfamiliar with SG's Winter Weekend ~ that she was unable to go anyway because of her job at Red Robin. "I actually didn't hear anything about it," Gill said. "My freshman year I heard they do games and stuff in the SUB but I didn't go." Senior psychology major Nick Zinskie said The Beacon/ Austin Loukas Empty beer cans and cartons decorated student porches after the recent Winter Weekend festivities. Some say the celebration was a time to drink more than usual. SG's Wmter Weekend was foreign to him as well. "I don't even know what goes on in Student Government Winter Weekend, I'll be honest," Zinskie said. "I actually found out a few weeks ago that it's some scavenger hunt, I think." Zinskie hosted his party at The Mines on Friday, Feb. 24. He used the event for his entrepreneurship class, in which he was required to create a project that generated money. Since Winter Weekend has always been full of memories for him, Zinskie decided to use The Mines event to finish his last year with a bang. "It's the one thing that we look forward to every year," Zinskie said. "There's not much in this area, let's be honest, besides bars; from the beginning of the year we all know that winter weekend is going to happen, everybody looks forward to it all year." The party at The Mines included a DJ, live band, food from Maer's BBQ, an appearance from Angelina of Jersey Shore and drinks compliments of Clique Vodka. Students 21 and over from neighboring colleges were invited to attend. Zinskie believes the official Winter Weekend events don't cater enough to the students. He feels that most students pick a school that allows them to live the college lifestyle. He is concerned that if Wilkes isn't fun, no one will want to come here in the future. "People are in college and some want to drink and some don't, that's as simple as it is," Zinskie said. Although some consider drinking to lead to bad behavior, Zinskie believes that the majority of students are responsible when they party. He suggests that different demographics exist among students. "There are certain demographics that come to college for the college experience off-campus and there are also people who go to school for education, that's how it is," he said. SG members hold their own opinions on students celebrating Winter Weekend offcampus. "Realistically the students are going to do what they want to do," said junior P-1 Pharmacy major and SG Winter Weekend coordinator, Kris Rivers. "Students are going to do what they want to do off-campus but we will continue to offer them the opportunity oncampus to participate in the activities." As a resident assistant, Ian Foley expressed his concerns for Winter Weekend. "RAs like myself are committed to making sure our residents have a safe weekend, as they do each weekend of the school year," said Foley, a sophomore political science and communication studies major. "We are a very safe campus and public safety also does a good job at making the campus safe." However, some would disagree. Zinskie said he frequently calls Public Safety for a safe ride to avoid driving while he's drunk, although he can tell Public Safety does not like giving rides. "I go to ask for a ride home from the bar and they give me a lot of grief about it," Zinskie said. "I do it every weekend, that's what they're there for." Public Safety officer Zakk Patterson said Public Safety's main concern with Winter Weekend is vandalism. "Our main objective is t? keep campus safe from any vandalism that may go on," Patterson said. Patterson also said Public Safety's Safe Ride policies have been revised because too many were taking advantage of the service. Now, students can only use the Safe Ride for an oncampus address. Whether students decided to celebrate on or off-campus, participants of both groups claimed the weekend was memorable. Junior mechanical engineering major Sloan Citriello shared his fondest Wmter Weekend memory. "Freshman year I got really drunk, and then I took two Natty Lights and put them in my jeans and went to Rifkin," Citriello said. "I ordered something and put them on top of the tables and I was drinking a beer in Rifkin. Nobody said anything to me and it was fine, I don't know how I got away with it." CONTACT DEVON I NOVAK devoninovak@thewilkesbeacon.com · Na vi gating for healthy options: a warning to eat better BY 808 GRABOSKY Correspondent A registered dietitian held a presentation on Tuesday, Feb. 21 on the Wilkes campus. Susan Hurd, of Sodexo Dining Services, said that students should all eat healthy because they will acquire more energy, which will reduce the risk of high-blood pressure and minimize the possibility of a stroke. There is a rising concern in the United States about child obesity. Children who eat an enormous amount of chips, candy, white bread and cookies when they're young are at risk of becoming obese when they are adults. People who are obese are at risk for diabetes, a disease that forces those who have it to limit their diet. There are about 26 million diabetics in the United States alone. Guidelines at Wesley Village nurs- ing home suggested people with diabetes should not have seconds at any meal. The best way to curb diabetes is to cut out the starchy foods such as chips, diet soda and sugar packed snacks. Hurd provided examples of foods that should be part of a diabetic diet. "Eat more whole grain, vegetables, fruits, low-fat or fat free milk, yogurt, cheese, or fortified soy beverages, and vegetable oils," Hurd said. The dietitian said healthy eating is necessary but it is also important to eat at every meal. Skipping either breakfast, lunch or dinner every day is not a good sign. "Always .eat breakfast, because it is the most important meal of the day," Hurd said. For more information, see the American Diabetis Association at diabetes.org. CONTACT ROBERT GRABOSKY AT: robert.grabosky@wilkes.edu �4 THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 28, 2012 NEWS Benefits to support student injured in accident BY PHAT NGUYEN News Editor Sophomore biology major Natalie Smime and a friend were driving home from a concert in New York on Route 84. A routine drive turned for the worse when a deer ran across the highway. The driver swerved to go around it, but it was too late as sudden shift caused the car to flip over. Although the driver was unscathed, the accident left Smime paralyzed from the chest down. After being discharged from the hospital, Smime found she could not go home. Her house was not equipped for her needs. It was not wheelchair-accessible and the doorways where too narrow for her wheelchair. My parents are working on it. They got a loan so they could get it remodeled, but that won't be until after March, Smime said. "Bring Natalie Home" is a series of two benefits being held to raise money for a down- stairs bathroom and ramps for her house. Professional wrestler A.J. Evers, a high school friend of Smime, is one of the hosts of the other benefit. He wanted to do something for her as soon as he found out what hapSMI RN E pened. "It was a really heartbreaking story," said Evers, a junior business major at King's College. "I had this wrestling thing going on so I decided to help out an old friend." Keystone Wrestling Live features an eight -man single-elimination tournament to name the first ever Keystone Wrestling champion on Saturday, Mar. 3 at Grant's Martial Arts, 404 Main St. in Plymouth starting at 7:30 p.m. The event also features the first ever tag-team championship. While professional wrestling might turn away audiences, Evers said the wrestling is a family friendly event. "We don't want the stereotype where we're an 'over the top' offensive group," he said. "It's basically PG-13 rated version of Smack Down. Bring your kids." The benefits will help with repaying the loans and medical expenses. In addition to a show, they plan to have concession stand and a 50/50 raffle to benefit Smirne. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Feb. 1, and will be available at a number of locations, as well as at the door the day of the show. General admission tickets are $10 while reserved ringside seating is $12. A.J Evers can be contacted for ticket information at 570-4790366. A Keystone Wrestling Live Facebook page has been created for more information. Kildare's Irish Pub in Scranton is hosting the other benefit. As of Feb. 26, a benefit for Nata- lie Smirne's Facebook pag~ has 360 people attending. The response has Smirne nervous, but very excited. "I'm kind of nervous," Smirne said. "It's a lot of people. I'm very happy about that." Smime believes the success of this event is due to the efforts of her managers at New York and Co, Tracy Capalongo and Breynne Stanko. Her managers can be contacted for tickets at Breynne Stanko 570-909-8844 and Tracy Capalongo 570-589-1473. "If it wasn't for them, I don't think this would've really happened so quickly," she said "They're doing a lot for me. I really appreciate the help." "There are a lot of people who are helping and they really don't need to be, but they are." CONTACT PHAT NGUYEN AT: phatnguyen@thewilkesbeacon.com E.h Meyers High School may become the next Hotel Sterling BY KIRSTIN COOK Editor-in-Chief A chorus of the E.L. Meyers High School alma mater ended the night after a special meeting focused on the possibility of closing the school. The Wilkes-Barre area school council held the meeting to reveal and discuss the findings of a report analyzing the effects of moving the 1000 current Meyers students to the other area schools, GAR, Coughlin and Solomon/Plains. Current students, alumni, parents and local politicians nearly filled the Coughlin High School auditorium to capacity, speaking out on this possibility of closing Meyers. They brought up concerns that a deserted Meyers High School building would become another Wilkes-Barre eyesore. "I hope it doesn't become another Hotel Sterling," Wilkes-Barre councilman George Brown said. Superintendent Jeff Namey said the idea of closing Meyers evolved from discussion on more efficient budgets, which led to the study of consequences of moving Meyer's students from the building. Namey said the closure would be an attempt to cope with a constantly shrinking budget from cuts to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. He said the goal would be to lessen the burden on taxpayers and benefit students at the same time. "There are some positives, there are a lot of negatives, and most importantly, there are a lot of unknowns," Namey said. Some of the unknowns include the boundary separation on which school students would be redistributed to, and classroom space in the other schools. Supervisor of Curriculum Andrew Kuhl said all the rooms in the remaining three schools are already assigned. are excessive," Kuhl said. Namey reiterated that these class sizes would be unacceptable, saying he understands the importance of a good student-to-teacher ratio. "We're very much aware that 30, 32, 33 in a classroom is outrageous, and that is some- The Beacon/ Au stin Lou kas M eyers High School, located on Carey Ave may close due to a lack of enrollment Kuhl said the study estimated that, with the addition of Meyers students, the class size at the area high schools would average in the high 20s to low 30s, which the crowd responded to with gasps. "We are fully aware that (those numbers) thing that we would not do," Namey said. After the results of the report were released, the meeting turned into a forum of praise toward the school's value and protest toward its elimination. Luzerne County Judge William Amesbury spoke as a Meyers alumni on the school's community and history. "Meyers is not simply a building located on Carey Avenue, but it is part of the substance and soul and the fiber of those who have walked through its halls," Amesbury said. Josh Schiowitz, an eighth grader, said it would be much more efficient to hire more competent and capable janitors and grounds keepers to repair maintain the building than relocating students. Michael O'Donntll, an area attorney and "proud" 2001 Meyers graduate, wanted to know why studies aren't being done on closing the other schools. He held up a thick book of laws that outline Pennsylvania codes for school closures or district reorganization, saying the many Meyers graduates in law enforce those laws. "Rest assured that the lawyers of the Wilkes-Barre Area School District and the families they support will be holding you to the letter of the laws in this book," O'Donnell said. Along with pride for the school, speakers reflected many questions they had on the possibility of a closure. How would the education of students be affected? Would the building end up boarded up and broken? Would there be issues of increased crime at the other schools? Will there actually be a savings through the closure? For now, those questions remain unanswered. CONTACT KIRSTIN COOK AT: kirstincook@thewilkesbeacon.com �THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 28, 2012 NEWS 5 Clean energy debate ignites to drive research at Wilkes Biased opinions on Marcellus Shale contradict recent scientific studies BY KIRSTIN COOK Editor-in-Chief A debate has ignited over Marcellus Shale drilling and whether the natural gas it produces is as clean as it's claimed to be. The concerns of air emissions from natural gas production have environmental engineering professors and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection calling for more information on the topic. The conversation has spread to The Institute for Energy and Environmental Research at Wilkes. Kenneth Klemow, IEER director and Wilkes biology professor, said more research must be conducted on the extent of emissions. He said the IEER is looking for funding to allow Wilkes researchers to conduct independent measurements and studies to shed some scientific light on the concerns. "There are different perspectives that you have and that's fine, but we need more science, we need more research to be able to figure out what's going on," Klemow said. The debate is between coal and natural gas, and which is the better energy source for the environment. Natural gas derived from Marcellus Shale has been generally held to be cleaner, but Klemow said there's not enough research for the public to be sure on this. Marcellus Shale is a rock that is found under approximately 72 percent of the surface of Pennsylvania, according to the IEER. Natural gas, mostly composed of methane, is extracted from the shale to produce energy. The problem, Klemow cited, is some researchers may have opinions on gas drilling that interfere with their studies. "It seems that there are some scientists that have almost an anti-drilling agenda, so the question is whether they're letting their pre~ nceived ideas influence their science," Klemow said. With the IEER, Klemow said the goal is to analyze both sides of the debate and evaluate scientific findings without bias. "We see the discussion is so fractured," Klemow said. "People are really in favor of this, or people are really against it, and our view is that we see both benefits and drawbacks." Klemow worked with IEER Coordinator Ned Fetcher to write "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with Marcellus Shale," an essay in which they attempted to surveying the findings - some of them contradictory of various studies in an unbiased manner. The paper was updated three times to include newer studies. However, Klemow said Courtesy of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Gas well locations all over NEPA raise questions about environmental well-being. the most recent version, released in December 2011, is already out-dated because of how quickly information is being dispersed. "Now there are a couple new studies that have come out, which this is sort of out of date also, so the science on this is moving very quickly," Klemow said. A particular study that has served to fuel this acceleration was a project that stated natural gas from shale could emit up to twice the greenhouse gases compared to coal or oil. The study, conducted by a Cornell University team led by Santoro Howarth and focusing on data from the Environmental Protection Agency, contradicted previous statements on natural gas. "This just created a firestorm of controversy, and a lot of people were very, very upset by Howarth on this," Klemow said. "If you have people in the industry saying we have to use gas and not coal, but then if you have some scientist saying 'no, coal is better than gas,' that's going to have tremendous ramification." Fetcher explained the concerns were based on an apparent reversal of the status quo of natural gas. He said methane is often advertised as a cleaner form of energy than coal. "Methane and natural gas have been sort of touted as the answer to some of our greenhouse gas problems, because presumably when you bum natural gas it's much more efficient than burning coal," Fetcher said. Many researchers analyzed the same EPA data that Howarth did and found different conclusions. Howarth issued a rebuttal and fueled a heated and opinionated argument that Klemow said is detrimental to scientific reasoning. "Science isn't really based on opinion, we come to conclusions based on data," Klemow said. "And if you have a disagreement, the way you resolve the disagreement is not like having an argument with somebody, you go out and you collect new data, or you do new experiments." He said this recycling·of EPA information is one reason researchers need to collect new data. "If anybody else just does a reanalysis of EPA data, or .some of the other data ... I'm going to throw up my hands and just scream and go running out the building," Klemow laughed. Fetcher said that most of the concern from this data is focused on leakage that occurs during the extraction period. "When you bring it out of the ground, some of it's going to leak into the atmosphere, and the problem with that is methane is a very powerful greenhouse gas," Fetcher said. He added that leakage may occur during processes such as shipment and storage, as well. These leaked emissions can travel by wind to areas beyond the drilling sites, said Prahlad Murthy, associate professor of environmental engineering and earth science. He said this route of pollutants is one reason people should pay attention to air quality issues even if they do not live near a drilling site. Murthy has been working with students to study damaging emissions from drilling operations, such as construction of roads to sites and usage of heavy-duty diesel vehicles. He said they found indication that smog can develop from nitrogen oxides emitted from burning natural gas. "Initial results indicate there is potential for us to have smog related issues in the region," Murthy said. Despite the significance, Murthy said air issues have often been overlooked. "Most of the focus has been on water," Murthy said. "Air quality is an issue we need to be thinking about too, especially because, in the case of air, the problem doesn't sit at the source." Lauren Burge, staff attorney for the Group Against Smog and Pollution, echoed that air quality often "falls under tqe radar." She said a major issue with air emissions from Marcellus Shale is the long-term effects are unknown. DEP announced on its website that longterm monitoring studies on natural gas air emissions will begin this year. To spark this process, DEP is requiring 99 natural gas facilities to submit data on their air emissions from 2011. Burge said these reports, which will be available to the public by the end of the year, are important in planning and prevention by identifying pollutants. "It's hard to be able to reduce those emissions ifwe don't know what they are," Burge said. Also, the reports would help provide the state necessary information to EPA to determine if health standards are being met. "Right now they don't really have the information they need to report accurately on the Marcellus Shale industry," Burge said. Klemow feels these reports will be beneficial in eliminating what he calls an information gap on Marcellus Shale air emissions. However, he said the best solution to this lack of information would be scientific field work by scientists, which he hopes the IEER can accomplish. "If it keeps moving the way that it does, in two or three years we should have a good idea about what's going on, but right now we're still at such an infancy of knowledge," Klemow said. "At Wilkes, we'd like to contribute to that knowledge." CONTACT KIRSTIN COOK AT: kirstincook@thewilkesbeacon.com �I tTIBillli E3 ~ [IB:QJB(D CONTACT EDITOR: carlyyamrus@thewilkesbeacon.cor FEBRUARY 28, 2012 Lessons learned in laptop shooting Unusual punishment teaches respect and appreciation BY CARLY YAMRUS Opinion Editor If you have not yet seen the most recent home video gone vial, you probably should. I am talking about the Youtube video entitled, "Facebook Parenting: For the troubled teen." The video features a fuming dad, Tommy Jordan, sitting in a lawn chair and smoking a cigarette as he reads and responds to a nasty letter that his 15-year-old daughter, Hannah, posted on her Facebook wall. The letter, titled "To my parents," is nothing more than a long list of complaints about the chores that Hannah's parents require her to do. With a lot of attitude of course. In the letter, Hannah writes things like, 'Tm not your damn slave," and "We have a cleaning lady for a reason." She offers a solution to the problem which was, "You A North Carolina man shoots his daughters could just pay me for all the sh** I do around the house!" didn't threaten to shoot any people, just an Prior to finding the letter online, Jordan inanimate object. Happens every day. had just spent time and money updating his . When aske.d in a Question and Answer daughter's laptop. After his response to her why Jordan had used a gun to destroy the Facebook letter, he then took his pistol and laptop, he responded, "Because that was shot 6 rounds into her computer. what I promised her two months ago. If I'd The video was originally posted for promised to use a hammer, or promised to Hannah's friends and the parents of these give it to someone else, then that's what I'd friends. have done." No, I don't "like" guns, but they exist, and While this method of punishment may have been extreme, I firmly believe the they are legal in some states. If shooting anidad's spoiled, disrespectful daughter defi- mals is okay, then shooting laptops is definitely deserved that. Since the video, sev- nitely fine. eral opinions have sprung up. Some say that The point of the laptop shooting was to the punishment was ineffective and sent the prove a point. Jordan gave his daughter a wrong message. Others congratulate the laptop, and he has every right to take it away man fo~ • king a stand and giving his daugh- if she disrespects him, (which she did sevter a taste of her own medicine. eral times.) It wasn't necessarily good or bad In my opinion, that father had every right parenting; it was permanent fix to a reoccurto be mad at his daughter. After all, her fa- ring problem. This doesn't mean we should ther gave her that laptop and only asked for solve all problems with guns, I just don't chores in return. She repaid him by writ- think shooting a computer did any psychoing nasty messages on her Facebook about logical damage on this man's daughter. her parents, not once, but multiple times! Yes, there were definitely better ways of Clearly this girl is a spoiled brat who did disposing of the laptop. He could have donot appreciate everything that her parents nated it to someone more deserving or approvided for her. preciative. But in the end, it was his laptop But was gun use the proper way of solving to do what he pleased. The overall message this particular problem? In this case, sure! was a good one. I'm sure Hannah will reCome on, the video was funny. The dad member this punishment and think twice be- BEACON POLL The Beacon poll is unscientific and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on the Wilkes campus. These poll results are based on 1O responses. Last week's question: Which Winter Weekend activities, if any, are you participating in? • Attending off-campus parties -60% • Visiting area bars - 30% • I will not be participating 20% • Competing on a Student Gov't sponsored team - 10% • Watching Student Gov't sponsored campus events - 0% mage courtacy o outu e laptop after repeatedly disrespecting him. fore bashing her parents who give her everything. I highly doubt that she will "fear" her father for using his gun on something that wasn't moving. He could have easily used a hammer, a shovel, a rock, or a bathtub to ruin the computer. There are too many children who have this "entitlement" mind set, as if their parents are obligated to give them a computer, an iPhone, a television, etc. It is perfectly fine for a teenager to have to do _a few chores in return for all these nice material items that are handed to them. Most parents would be livid if their child was that unappreciative! Kids deserve to be punished, especially if that kid has an attitude and continuously fails to comply with their parent's rules. Nowhere in this video was the child harmed in any way. There may have been "better" ways of solving the issue, but hey, it made a good video. Hopefully Hannah learned a lesson in respect and appreciation. And if you were wondering what Hannah had to say about it, here was her reply: "I was mad, but you would be too. I got over it. I'm not, like, scarred for life." CONTACT CARLY YAMRUS AT: carly.yamrus@thewilkesbeacon.com This week The Beacon asks: What are you doing over Spring Break? • Going on vacation • Staying on campus • Going home • Alternate Spring Break • I don't know Cast your vote online at: www.thewilkesbeacon.com SPEAK UP! The Beacon wants to hear your voice. Send your name, major, year and opinion to: carlyyamrus@thewilkesbeacon.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces ·for length and content. Anonymous letters will not be published. . �TH E BEACON I FEBRUARY 28, 2012 Food regulation gone too far Inspector takes a pre-schooler's lunch lunchbox had most of the essentials, including meat, dairy, fruit, and grains. They must Assistant Opinion Editor have denied the meal due to the lack of vegetables and substitution of the salty potato Within the last few years, health news ar- chips. ticles regarding childhood obesity have inThe mother of the child explained that the creased tremendously. The problem is now girl was a picky eater, and vegetables were being referred to as a nationwide epidemic. never included in her lunch because she enAccording to the Centers for Disease Con- sures that her child gets them at home. trol and Prevention, childhood obesity has Picky four year olds don't care about namore than tripled in the past 30 years, and tional food guidelines, obviously. by 2008, more than one third of children and To make matters worse, the girl was then adolescents were overweight or obese, and given a school lunch in which she ate only the numbers are growing. three chicken nuggets and ignored the rest It is without a doubt true that of the food on the tray out of American children are pickiness. growing in size. With Let's talk about this. more than 17 perchicken cent of children and nuggets really more adolescents benutritious than the ing overweight home-packed or obese in the lunch described US, restrictions in this article? are an absolute And preschool must. The govcaretakers actuernment had ally sat around the right idea and watched in 2004, passing this young girl the Prevention of avoid her lunch? Childhood ObeThey couldn't have sity Act that aimed just given it back to to coordinate federal her and advised her policies and activities mother to pack more in hopes of lower- A preschoolers lunch was confiscated acceptable lunches ing obesity in homes, because it was deemed "unhealthy'~ in the future? Nutrischools and in the The meal was replaced with an un- tionally speaking, 60 community, accord- healthy alternative. percent of a chicken ing to congress. Some nugget is fat, whereas states chose to advance with their own re- a turkey and cheese sandwich is around 40 strictions such as required physical educa- percent, according to various nutrition fact tion for grades K-12 and the prohibition websites. Plus, chicken nuggets are deep of sugar-sweetened drinks in vending ma- fried! Talk about healthy! ~ hines. These restrictions and requirements With this, West Hoke Elementary mandatare perfectly acceptable, and as unappealing ed that the mother pay for the school meal as gym class in the middle of the day may forced upon her child. sound, it's necessary. Now I know if I were the parent in this But how much is too much? situation, I would be extremely bothered A preschooler at West Hoke Elementary by this. When it comes to childhood obeSchool was recently forced by a state in- sity in America, I am all for moderate food spector to put her home-packed lunch away regulations and the addition of daily physiand eat a school-provided meal because her cal activity in schools. However, lunch box lunch did not meet United States Depart- searching and seizing just crosses the line ment of Agriculture standards. That day, the completely, especially when it comes to prefour-year-old girl's mother had packed her a schoolers. They're three and four years old. turkey and cheese sandwich, a banana, a bag They don't understand. of chips, and apple juice: a perfectly reason- Photo: The Beacon/Laura Preby able meal. When I was young, I vaguely remember eating junk foods like Fruit Roll-Ups, CONTACT LYNDSIE YAMRUS AT: Gushers, and Smartfood popcorn. The girl's lyndsie.yamrus@wilkes.edu BY LYNDSIE YAMRUS 7 Shippensburg Uoffers Plan B BY DEVON I NOVAK Assistant News Editor I disagree with those who criticize Shippensburg University for offering Plan B in a vending machine. College is a time of experimentation and people sometimes get a little crazy. As young adults, students often don't think of the consequence until it is staring them straight in the face. But why should someone's entire life change because of a single mistake? I think Shippensburg offering this second chance to their students is not only acceptable but responsible. If a nurse were to simply hand the pill over, I feel that no one would think negatively about it. However, because it is offered in a vending machine, the public has this nasty image that they now correlate with Shippensburg University. I would like to clarify the cheap picture many have of vending machines all over Shippensburg's campus where students can buy a Coke, a snickers and, if needed, the morning after pill. In fact, there is only one vending machine that sells Plan B at Shippensburg, and it is located in a private room inside the university's health center. In my opinion, the health center using a vending machine to distribute Plan B preserves the discretion of students. Instead of having to ask a nurse, which could be embarrassing, a student can inconspicuously purchase the drug. Jimmy Chadwick, an entrepreneurship major who graduated this past December from Shippensburg believes the machine is a good idea. "I think the machine is a great way to allow those in need of Plan B to buy it more discreetly and maintain privacy," Chadwick said. · According to ibtimes.com, the morning after pill can be legally obtained at any pharmacy without a prescription as long as the purchaser is 17 years or older. Because the machine is offered in the university's health center, only students have access and according to their latest records, all students enrolled at Shippensburg are 17 and over. So why shouldn't the university be able to supply the morning after pill to their students? Campus health care facilities are able to administer other medications such as antibiotics which need a prescription. If campus health centers are able to provide prescription drugs, then they should be able to provide medications that don' t call for a prescription as well. It's just common sense. The FDA has questioned whether or not proper medical advisory has been given to those who have purchased the pill at Shippensburg. In my opinion, this argument is weak because any purchase of Plan B comes with medical information in the package. Also, the machine is located in the health center where medical aids are always on duty. Not only does information come with each purchase, but any student who wishes to seek further advice is in the proper place to do so as soon as the pill reaches their hands. Providing Plan B in their health center's vending machine does not encourage unsafe sex but instead allows students to make responsible choices according to their own beliefs. The same machine also provides condoms and pregnancy tests so students are not swayed by any one products availability. The University is merely making over the counter products more easily available to their sexually active students. CONTACT DEVON I NOVAK AT: devoni.novak@thewilkesbeacon.com The Beacon/Laura Preby A vend ing machine at Shippensburg discretely dispenses Plan B, condoms and pregnancy tests to students. �8 OPINION THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 28, 2012 Oscars give a narrow minded view of greatness BY BILL THOMAS Arts and Entertainment Editor There's no such thing as a bad movie, only a bad audience. That may seem a strange thing to say from someone who writes movie reviews, but, it's how I feel. My reviews are my opinions, nothing more. I don't pretend to speak for everyone, nor do I have the audacity to think my opinions are the "right" ones: In any case, I'd like to get say something else that may seem strange corning from someone like me, and that's this: I hate the Oscars. What's wrong with the Oscars? You mean, besides the fact that they amount to little more than a decadent, masturbatory, selfcongratulating, backwards-thinking sham wherein nominations and wins are awarded more because of industry politics than legitimate achievements? You mean besides their focus being more on maintaining the status quo and playing favorites with already-established stars -- many whom are long past the point of true relevance -- than on pushing the boundaries of the medium and honoring the hungry young talents on the front lines, who are busting their asses trying to expand and explore new possibilities in storytelling? You mean, besides all that? Well, how about this? Period. No, on second thought, hold the "period." Because the Oscars aren't just bad for cinema specifically; they're bad for art and entertainment in general. On a broader scale, I'll even argue that they're bad for society. Don't laugh, I'm serious. Now, we can argue all day long about who deserves to win an award and who doesn't, or about who got snubbed and why. The truth is it doesn't really matter. It's all opinion. The fact that it's all opinion, however, reveals a deeper problem with the Oscars, and that's that they built primarily on the idea that some people's opinions are more valid than anyone else's. See, here's the thing: art and entertainment are subjective. That's the way it is and that's the way it should be. "Good" and "bad" are meaningless words, the definitions of each relative to the worldviews of individual people. Simply put, different people have different tastes. Those with similar tastes may gravitate towards each other and form bonds based on shared opinions. Friendships are born. Somewhere along the lines, though, some people with shared opinions got together and decided that a friendship based on common tastes wasn't good enough. Their opinions, they decided, were the only ones that mattered. Those people formed the Academy of Arts and Sciences. The Academy gave us the Oscars, an award show meant to honor those films that best em- what distinguishes excellence. We've been deferring to them ever since. The Oscars have been around for almost a hundred years. A hundred years! Think about what that has done to our cultural consciousness, to the cinematic zeitgeist. For almost a century, the Oscars have essentially billed themselves as America's guide to the best filmmaking on the planet. We look to them to tell us what's good, and, by association, what's bad. The Oscars are a great, big homogenizing machine, dictating people's tastes to them. Modem society has developed a conventional, elemental understanding of what constitutes quality based on what we're told is worthy ofAcademy recognition. We all know that Katharine Hepburn was a brilliant actress, or that John Ford was a genius director. We know this because the Oscars said so. The fact that you can watch a movie and call it "Oscar-bait" or look at the Academy nominations and predict who is going to win illustrates the problem perfectly. You watch a movie and you can tell if it's going to get an Oscar, not necessarily because it's a groundbreaking or captivating work of art, but because it hits all the Oscar· criterion right on the head. At this point, when we ask ourselves who we think is going to get the "Best Picture" Oscar, we're not asking ourselves which "Best Picture" nominee actually is the best of the best. We're asking which one fits the longestablished, easily-predictable model that the Academy has established as necessary for all movies to conform to if they are to be deemed worthy of recognition and acclaim. CONTACT BILL THOMAS AT: bil/thomas thewilkesbeacon.com Benefits of being short during possible zombie apocalypse BY CATHRYN FREAR Stqjf Writer Growing up, I lived in a house of tall people, with their average height being just below six feet tall. There were setbacks to this, due to my height being five-foot-two. I had a hard time reaching and often even seeing things which were kept on top of the refrigerator or in the top two shelves of cabinets. It seemed unfair that I was so unlike my family. Our extended family still thinks I am between five and eight years younger than I am solely based on my height, as they had all been this tall by fourth grade or so. They continually tell me, "Don't worry about it, Chatti. You'll be fine. You're still growing!" I am 23-years-old. Growth outlook: not so good. Luckily, wi.t h age comes wisdom. A better understanding of the world and your place in it. Putting that into perspective has made being short a gift. Mostly due to the realization we will outlive all of you tall people. Within the next year or so, there will likely be many, many deaths due to Armageddon being upon us. No, it has nothing to do with the Bible or the Mayan calendar; those are just cover-ups for the real impending problem: the zombie apocalypse. During this zombie takeover, short people will be less likely to die. Bare with me. There are reasons. They are real. Short people have greater agility because, while our proportions may be the same as a tall person, we have less length to actually move. This means we can more easily dodge brain-consumption attempts. Especially is these are going to be the slow-moving zombies of "Night of the Living Dead," which, for the record, are so much scarier than fast-moving zombies. We short folks are also more likely to be able to use the agility for a longer period of time as the instance of health ailments such as heart disease and cancer are found less in short people. Issues with many other organs occurs less in short people, as well, because our bodies are shorter and our cell reproduction can be used in more useful places, like our livers and kidneys, which both lead to healthier blood, which leads to healthier everything else. It's a cycle of awesome, you guys. The planet will also last longer because we need less to live. Namely, less food, water, our clothes require less cloth, and so on. Because of our needs being quantitatively less than tall people, our carbon footprints are also lower. If everyone were shorter, we would use less fossil fuel because there would be less energy used for the supplies humans need. Tall people: the real cause of climate change. In addition and possibly most in direct re- lation to the fast-approaching zombie apocalypse is our tininess gives us more options in the places-to-hide department. I can, if necessary, fit inside of a dryer or in the cupboard underneath a sink. Point made there, I think. The only setback? It's much easier for our bodies to become unhealthy because the things we consume affect us greater than tall people. What does this mean? Mostly it means it's much easier for a short person to get fat, which cancels out all of the aforementioned benefits. So it's probably best you start to get yourself fit, now, short people. So, the next time someone picks on you for needing to"' stand on that rickety chair or that squeaky footstool-I'm talking to you, Farley Library-let it slide. They'll be dead soon, anyway. CATHRYN FREAR AT: cathryn.frear@wilkes.edu �CONTACT EDITOR: christinelee@thewilkesbeacon.com FE~RUARY 2~, 2012 Mobile apps a popular means of entertainment BY REBECCA BOLUS Assistant Life Editor The world of technology speeds ahead minute by minute. In this world of technology, smart phones have turned into more than just a means of communication, but also a source for entertainment and information. Everywhere you look, people are glued to their smart phones. With these devices comes the trend that is blossoming more than ever before: mobile applications. Mobile app producers, such as Apple and Android, continue to create new apps and are constantly updating current ones. Every day more and more apps are being d-.vnloaded. According to Apple's website, Apple is nearing its 25 billionth app download. The app market is vast for Apple and Android. Apple offers more than 500,000 apps and Android offers more than 400,000. These immense options include free and paid apps. Apps are not just for cellular devices either and are offered by products such as iPads, Android tablets and even Kindles. Categories of apps range from games, news, shopping, social networking and much more. So what is it about these apps that attract mobile device users? Apple's app store states on their website in bold lettering that there are apps "for work, play, and everything in between." After asking several students why they love mobile devices that provide apps, they adhered to Apple's statement from their website. "Apps take a plain phone and turn it into everything," said Anthony Bartoli, sophomore communications major. Apps allow mobile users to do many different tasks from that device anywhere, anytime. An app can turn a cellular device into a flashlight or a barcode scanner. It can help you figure out the name of a song when you're stumped. "Apps sort of transform my phone into what I want and what I need. They're easy to install and once I download an app, I'm curious as to what else is out there," said Stephanie Orr, sophomore education major. Apps appear to be a part of socializing among students, as well. "I always hear people talking about the new app they just downloaded or people comparing their apps," Orr said. Sports apps were also a very popular choice among students. "My favorite app is the ESPN app because I can check scores of any game right from my phone," said Steve Oprendeck, freshman, undeclared major. Overall, students surveyed about their favorite apps mentioned mainly social networking ones, such as Facebook and Twitter. "I like that I don't have to go on the computer to update my Facebook or Twitter since I have the apps for them; It's just convenient," said Nicole Kelly, junior pl pharmacy major. Along with the ability to check Facebook and scores of sports games, apps provide a world of gaming and ·music entertainment. Popular game apps among the Wilkes students surveyed, are Temple Run and Scramble with Friends. For music, Pandora radio is the most popular among music streaming apps. Apps have changed the way phones are being used entirely. This popular trend attracts students through its easy installation, being a convenient source for news and information, and its offerings of many different games. Who knows where the app market will take us in the future? The opportunities seem to be endless. Top Free Apps Move the Box. 1. Games V iev1 in lTunes ► · Draw Something Fr-e .. Games 2. VJew :in ffunes 3. ► Blood & Glory Garnes View in .i Tunes 4. 5. ■ ► Police Chase Smash Games V iew Jn iTunes ► Temple Run Games VieY\! in iTunes ► Courtesy o App e.com CONTACT REBECCA BOLUS AT: rebeccabolus@thewilkesbeacon.com Pictured are the most-downloaded free apps on the Apple app store. The top apps among students are social media apps. Ferrets, cockroaches, other wild inhabitants of Bio Department BY CHRISTINE LEE Life Editor Walk through around any room in the Biology department on the third floor of Stark Learning Center and one is likely to encounter a critter wandering around in a tank, cage or on its own through a classroom or lab. Most of these animals are used for scientific research involving undergraduates. Research Associate Andrew Bartlow has been doing research in the plant-animal interactions lab for several years and highlights several research projects the department has undergone that involve small animals. One project done two years ago involved research on patterns of seed dispersal, focusing on how rodents disperse seeds and how it affects oak forest regeneration that involved grey Squirrels at Kirby Park. The study looked at the cache recovery Courtesy of Dr. William Terzaghi ·oana (above) and Rana were familiar sights to those who had a lab with Dr. Terzaghi. Sadly, both ferrets have passed away. Terzaghi also keeps Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. behavior of grey squirrels, or grey squirrel behavior around burying acorns in the ground for later use. The question posed was whether grey squirrels have priority over their caches. Bartlow said part of the experiment involved live trapping and marking Eastern Grey Squirrels. "That's what I did for a month, just trapped squirrels everyday and marked them, painted them up," Bartlow said. "We had at least four or five people on that project and that's what we did for one summer. That was fun." Passive integrated transponder tags, small electronic devices implanted into an animal 's skin used to track movement, were placed in acorns and presentecNo._Qie squirrel§ and he-team observed the squirrels burying the acorns, making sure they were in the ground with the tracking tags. "We had two types of animals: animals that were left in the park as we monitored the caches and squirrels that were taken to Dr. (Mike) Steele's house as we monitored the caches," Bartlow said. Bartlow explained that the caches of squirrels that stayed in the park had acorns that ( SEE ANIMALS, PAGE 12 �THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 28, 2012 Photos:<:ourtesyof Jason Benjam in, Meri beth Derkach and The Beacon/ Dan Lykens Winter Weekend culminated the weekend of Feb. 24-2S. Teams included memb~ of the Ultimate Frisbee Team, Cheerleaders, Student Government, Hiffi1N1 Club and Chemistry Club. The winning team of Angry Beavers was composed of members of the Ultimate Frisbee Team. Blue's Clues was-composed of cheerleaders and Hey Arnold had members of the History Club as its members. Events included athletics in UCOM, a scavenger hunt and a mascot competition. The winning team of Angry Beavers will have its name engraved on a plaque outside the Student Government office. �2 THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 28, 2012 LIFE 11 51:.pACRJCf5 t:)AI tveNC5 MAl\Ch 1N D)l\_0U(}h0Ut: D)e M0ND7 ;0,;;t;~ ~ ~iliiiiliiiiiiiailiiii....~U.. . "?~}. ~9, '. 'I?~ y '~ • ~~-· Mat:Th& Renal Race 'When: Minh t1. leyisllaliuu begins, at7 a.m.: race starts at 8a.m. 'Where: Kny Pn Wltat Pub toor Men: March 11 arotll'lilt2 ' pm. (m8owing the parade) Wllel'e,: Muligan's frish Pub. SaulhMairlShet. What: Cefm rook 500W ,When: Mardi 1. 1:30 p.m. Where: F.M. Kimy Center fur tie Perfmmm.g.Arls. Publlic ,, •Square Photo Illustration: Nona Poehler St. Patrick's Day celebrations will take place around Wilkes-Barre leading up to the March 11 parade on South Main and Main streets. Special Events Coordinator Lore Majikes said the parade usually draws from 10,000 to 15,000 people every year. Throughout March there are celebrations taking place all over NEPA, such as Scranton. has the bagpipers jumping and dancing and the crowd clapping. "People really get into that," Modzelewski said. "It draws a nice crowd; people love BY KIRSTIN COOK Editor-in-Chief Irish pride in the Wilkes-Barre l}!ealias expanded St. Patri<;k's Day celebrations from more than just one day. Butch Modzelewski, self-proclahne9 Polish bagpiper, said it's m~,like "St. Patrick's month." The Wyoming Valley Pipe and Drum band, which MOffli;elewski plays the bagpipes for, will,be~orming throughout the month at area pub.st as well as the Wilkes-Barre and Scran t. ades. Modzelewski said the crow s tp come out for the band's unique bagp~ sound and Irish outfits. The audience members aren't the only ones that e the show. "We put a lot of fun into our performanc• es ... we have a ball," Modzelewski said. He said their signature song, "Five Times Fast," really gets the crowd going. The song starts out slow but then speeds up, resulting in an upbeat performance that r"'., '"'~! u. . ,II" The Wyoming Valley Pipe and Drum ~ has bee~-8f0und for four years, and they've playt}d in the Wilkes-Barre parade every year. , . , This year•\patf'a p will take place 2 p.m Sunday, March 11, along South Main and Main Streets.i ajikes, special events ilkes-Barre, organized the it gives everyone a chance Irish culture regardless of of the lrJsh clans are represented in the parade. "They all want to be out there to celebrate their pride," Majikes said. The parade will include many musical performances, from the Wyoming Valley Pipe and Drum band to The Imaginary Boys. Majikes said there are a lot of young adult performers that would appeal to college students. The Wilkes-Barre St. Patrick's Day parade draws an estimate of 10,000 to 15,000 attendees, Majikes said. "Our parades are always very popular." She added that they don't try to compete with the Scranton parade, which will take place noon on Saturday, March I. She said the relatively smaller Wilkes-Barre parade gives everyone good views of the event. Majikes said the parade has such a good turnout because it's something different to do in the springtime. "I think people are just looking for something different to do," Majikes said. "People are anxious to get outside and do something different." A new addition to the parade events is The Renal Race, which is a one-mile fun run to raise funds for The Kidney Cancer Association. Registration will begin at Kirby Park at 7 a.m., with the race starting at 8:30. The parade and related activities are only a part of the St. Patrick's day plans for the area."St. Patrick's month" begins with Gaelic Storm, a Celtic rock show at F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. on March 1, which are $22 for balcony seating and $32 for orchestra and mezzanine seating. According to kirbycenter.org, the band plays traditional music of Ireland with a modem American rock and pop twist. The band will be visiting the WilkesBarre Hardware Bar at 12:30 prior to the Wilkes-Barre parade on March 11, and after the parade will stop at Mulligan's Irish Pub, Senuna's Bar and Grill, Outsiders Saloon and more. To continue the March St. Patrick's festivities, the Wyoming Valley Pipe and Drum band is holding several pub tours throughout the month. More details on their events can be found at http://wyomingvalleypipeanddrum.com. CONTACT KIRSTIN COOK kirstincook@thewilkesbeacon.com �12 UriiW\Y,orft;rif Q14esfioris with _Important People _ JERRY REBO, PUBLIC SAFETY MANAGER BY ABBEY HALDEMAN Staff Writer ;.---------------- What is your role on campus? I am the public safety manager, which means I the supervisor 15 public safety officers. What are some of your hobbies? Eating -- no, I'm kidding. I like to watch baseball and football and play with my grandkids. My favorite teams are the Yankees and the Colts •• What is the last movie you sa;w in theatres? _'::, That's a tough one 'cause I haven't been ANIMALS Continued from Page 9 disappeared after a few days. But the squirrels that were taken out of the park had caches that remained and when the squirrels were released, the cache would go missing. The team concluded that Eastern Grey Squirrels have priority over their caches with no pilfering. Bartlow said small mammal trappings of mice, chipmunks and voles are common in the department. The department also monitors animals indirectly by placing seeds and monitoring how the animals in the wild interact with the seeds. He explained that small animals are useful in research because they show best how species of plants and animals interact. Students that have had a laboratory with professor of biology Dr. William Terzaghi will no doubt be familiar with the two ferret mascots that frequented the lab or the Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches that inhabit his office. Terzaghi got Princess Ribonucleic Acid -- (or Rana) after students working in the lab over the summer asked for a lab mascot. A r~ student noticed a ferret that was up for adoption at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Terzaghi said he had to work with Dean of the College of Science and Engineering Dr. Dale Bruns and biology department chair Dr. Mike Steele to get approval. But by the time approval was granted the ferret at the SPCA had been adopted but Terzaghi was the movies in, I bet you, 15 years. I really don't go to the movies that often. I work too much. I'm a workaholic. When you were younger, what did you aspire to be? Two things, a baseball player and cop. And I reached one of those goals. Is there anywhere you would really like to travel and why? Ireland. I am Irish so, my grandmother was from there. I would really love to see Emerald Island . What was your first job? able to get a ferret at a local pet store. Terzaghi said in order to keep Rana and her predecessor, Prince Deoxyribonucleic Acid (or Dana), he had to sign an agreement with the Animal Care and Use Committee that they would be his pets and would go home with him every night. He would also have to get rabies shots, and the ferrets had to be confined to one part of Stark. He said most students liked the ferret mascots and was surprised by the number of students who had ferrets and liked the animals. "About 90 percent positive, 5 percent neutral and 5 percent hated them," Terzaghi said. "I had quite a few girls over the years that said 'I miss my ferret, can I pet him?"' Terzaghi said ferrets have to be trained about not biting and are playful and catlike, investigating things and socializing with people and other animals on their terms. "In a Biology department you ought to have living things running around, it's fun and it's something to talk about," Terzaghi said. Terzaghi originally got a colony of Madagascar hissing cockroaches for what he calls "cockroach death matches" during Pre-Med Day. "I would have two different varieties of cockroaches and we'd put them both in a container with dry ice and saw which keeled over first," Ter- The Beacon / Dan Lykens Jerry Rebo has·been the public safety manager at Wilkes for 15 years. My first job was working at car wash. What is your favorite type of animal? Why? My little Yorkie that I have, Bella. She is zaghi said. "Then you take them out and do a little cockroach CPR and they come back to life." Now in retirement, the cockroaches are used for a different purpose. "Now I use them to creep out the freshman," Terzaghi said. as cute as a button. CONTACT ABBEY HALDEMAN abbey.ha/deman@wilkes.edu CONTACT CHRISTINE LEE christinelee@thewilkesbeacon.com �CONTACT EDITOR: billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com Anti-Flag's punk rock politics 'Human Floor' breaks record but not bones J BY BILL THOMAS Arts & Entertainment Editor In addition to whatever else he has in store for those who check out the Diane's Deli show, Tino will also try to break his record. As always, he's looking for the audience to get involved. • Specifically, Tino hopes to get at least 24 girls to come and stand on him, hoping for a combined weight of 4,000 pounds, or two tons. Strange as Tino's act may seem, his abilities have landed him TV appearances on such shows as "America's Got Talent" and "The Tyra Banks Show" among others. Despite pushing his body to the very limit literally hundreds of times throughout his life, though, Tino said he's never been seriously injured. "This one time, I was on a bed of nails with two girls standing on top ofme. I had my arms outstretched and I had my bracing onto something. One of the girls went to get off me and she stepped right on my arm. It pushed my elbow in," he said. "It felt a little funny at the time, but the next morning I couldn't move my arm. I thought I broke it, but it was OK. I got lucky." Admission for the show at Diane's Deli in Pittston is $5. The event starts at 9 p.m. For more information, call 570-602-5200 or look for "The Human Floor" on Facebook. When most folks say "people walk all over me," it's a bad thing. When Pete Tino says that, it's a way of life. Pete Tino, you see, is "The Human Floor." What does that mean? Well, in 2010, at the Shawnee Playhouse in Shawnee On Delaware, Tino set a world record by having 21 women, weighing a cumulative total of 3,531 pounds, stand on his torso, arms, legs and even his face for 10 seconds. The achievement was recorded Courtesy of Cory Morton· by the Record Holders Republic. Touring in support of a new album, Anti-Flag's W-B show will offer fans free music. "Everybody asks me if I meditate when explained that, following Anti-Flag's depar- I do this stuff, and I say 'No. I just do what BY BILL THOMAS ture from major label RCA Records and the I do.' I don't put any thought it into it," Tino Arts & Entertainment Editor release of their 2009 album "The People or the remarked. "If I think I can do it, I can do it. Since the 1997 release of Anti-Flag's debut Gun" on independent label SideOneDummy That's all there is to it." On Saturday, March 3, Tino will return to album "Die for the Government," the Pitts- Records, the members of the band members burgh-based punk group has gained a reputa- found themselves contemplating just what de- NEPA for a show at Diane's Deli & Internet Cafe in Pittston. In between performances tion for being a "political band," openly voic- fines Anti-Flag. "Maybe there are others who have a simi- from local bands Our Ashes Remain, One Red ing their support for groups such as Amnesty lar agenda that we do, but I don't think many X, Psycho 38 and Snow Falling on Cedars, International and Greenpeace. Likewise, the band has performed every- people approach that in a fashion similar to Tino will entertain audience members with where from the steps of the Minnesota State the way Anti-Flag does. Whether for better or an assortment of freakish feats from his bag Capitol, in opposition of the 2008 Republican worse, with Anti-Flag you know you're go- of tricks, which includes eating and breathing National Convention, to the middle of New ing to be getting a band that is writing songs fire, rolling around in piles of broken glass and York City, in support of the Occupy Wall that are standing up to racism, sexism and ho- being sandwiched between beds of nails. Tino points out that, unlike many sideshow mophobia," Head said. Street protests. Watch videos of "The "We felt like, in 2012, there aren't really any performers, he doesn't use assistants. The Still, guitarist Chris Head insists that, reHuman Floor" in action at: gardless of the causes the band support, the bands that sound like Anti-Flag so let's just be people he gets to throw darts at his chest and www.thewilkesbeacon.com message at the heart ofAnti-Flag is a relatively confident and make the best-sounding Anti- swing sledgehammers at those cinder blocks Flag record we can make. That's what 'The stacked on his stomach aren't trained professimple one. CONTACT BILL THOMAS AT: sionals. They're average, unsuspecting people "Whether it's just going to school and General Strike' is." lucked from the audience. To give fans a taste of "what 'The General hearing someone throw homophobic speech around or whether it's going to your job and Strike' is," everyone who attends any of the your boss is an asshole but you feel like you Redwood show will receive a free download can't say anything to him because he's your card featuring three songs from the album as boss," Head said. "With our songs, what we well as two exclusive unreleased tracks. "When we picked the songs that we thought try to do is give people some solace." Fifteen years after "Die for the Govern- were right for the record, we were left with a ment," Head and the others members of An- few more," Head explained. "We figured the ti-Flag - singer-guitarist Justin Sane, bassist basis of the band is the live show and the peoChris #2 and drummer Pat Thetic - are set ple who come out to the live show. So why not to release their 15th full-length studio album. reward them with these extra songs?" Admission for the Redwood Art Space conTitled "The General Strike," it is due out Tuescert on Saturday, March 10, is $15. Doors open day, March 20. Before that, however, the band will perform at 7 p.m. For more information, visit anti-flag. at Wilkes-Barre's Redwood Art Space on Sat- com or redwoodartspace.tumblr.com. urday, March 10, supported by The Flatliners Courtesy of Pete Tino and Have Nots. CONTACT BILL THOMAS AT: Pete"The Human Floor" Tino is inviting the ladies of NEPA to be a part of his recordTalking about "The General Strike," Head billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com breaking attempt to withstand two tons on his face, torso and extremities. �14 THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 28, 2012 A&E NEPA filmmaker seeks funding for'smoking hot' new project BY BILL THOMAS Arts & Entertainment Editor For NEPA-based filmmaker Mitch Csanadi, it's all about the characters. The more unique, colorful or over-the-top, the better. Since founding Dirt Productions in 2005 alongside producer Dan Maher, Csanadi has written and directed a number of short horror films and one feature. All have been lensed in NEPA, throughout the Lehigh Valley, and all have showcased their fair share of oddball personalities. The characters that have captured Csanadi's imagination as oflate, however, have not been works of fiction. "Everything from a gnarly 85-year-old dude in a wheelchair who orders his wife around while she's cooking all this barbecue at a competition to a team of really hot, young, blonde girls from Long Island who do it and win," Csanadi said, describing some of the personalities that have inspired his latest project: an in-depth, feature-length documentary about competitive barbecue called "American Smoke." "There are so many interesting characters out there. It really writes itself. I was like 'We have to capture this. This is a chunk of America. We've got to get this scene.' It's a scene I never even knew existed four years ago." Four years ago. That's when Csanadi got bit Courtesy of Mitch Csanadi "American Smoke" allows Csanadi to combine his passions for film and barbecue. by the barbecue bug and began competing. He is now part of two teams, Zombie Barbecue and Smokerhead Barbecue, which make the .rounds in the East Coast competition circuit. The other bug that bit Csanadi, the one that bit the hardest and whose grip has held the Iongest, is the filmmaking bug. Talking about his adolescence, Csanadi describes himself growing up as "just a little punk, renting a VHS camcorder from West Coast Video down the street and shooting backyard horror movies." Hold down the fast-forward button. Csanadi, now 30, has plied his passion on a seeming- ly endless number of short films - including award-winners ''Nothingface" and "The Dead" - as well as a music video for Allentown-based hip-hop act Fat Cat Daddies. The filmmaker's first feature-length project, the raunchy '80sinspired comedy ''Nacho Mountain" was recently picked up for by Chemical Burn Entertainment for national video-on-demand DVD distribution this summer. With all that under his belt, "American Smoke" marks Csanadi's first adventure into documentary territory. "As a filmmaker, I never want to get lumped in with any one category. I love the excitement and I love the challenge of doing some completely different," Csanadi said. "We've never done something like this, but the material is so damn interesting to us. Also, it's unique. It's something we really haven't seen. Yeah, there's been TV shows like "BBQ Pitmasters" and little things here and there, but there's really a huge underground world of barbecue competitions that's never really been explored in-depth. These people are diehard." Csanadi plans to venture beyond the East Coast competition circuit to get a fuller picture of the barbecue lifestyle. To do that, he is currently raising funds for "American Smoke" on Kickstarter.com. Accepting donations until Sunday, March 11, the project has received $1,190 of its $2,500 goal as of press time. For more information, visit dirtproductions.com or kickstart- Watch Mitch Csanadi's short horror film "Torment" as well as the trailer for "Nacho Mountain" at www.thewilkesbeacon.com CONTACT BILL THOMAS AT: bi Ilthomas@thewi Ikesbeacon.com Vintage photos offers glimpse of harsh history BY JANEL NARO Assistan1 Arts & Entertainment Editor Lewis Wickes Hines died in 1940, but his work continues to have an impact even today. A sociologist hired by the National Child Labor Committee in 1906 to illustrate the harsh working conditions children faced in the coal mining industry, Lewis spent 10 years taking pictures of workers in canneries, coal mines, cotton mills, farms and sweatshops. The goal was for Hines' photos to capture the attention of both the government and the public, raising concern against child labor in the United States at the time. Many of those photos can currently be viewed as part of an exhibit called "Let Children be Children: Lewis Wickes Hines' Crusade Against Child Labor," which will be on display in Wilkes University's Sordoni Art Galley until Sunday, March 11. "(Hines) was a visual socialist. He was a reformer," Robert Wolensky, a University of Wisconsin Stevens Point sociology professor, said. "He was fighting for a very important cause - to get rid of child labor, to outlaw it - which eventually happened - and to get these kids in school." Wolensky, also an adjunct professor of history and sociology at King's College, gave a presentation entitled "The Anthracite MininglndustryinNortheasternPennsylvania During the Lewis Hines Years" at the opening of the exhibit on Jan. 17. For Wolensky, what made, and still makes, Hines' work stand out the most was, and is, "his dedication to the cause of eliminating child labor and, secondly, he took photograph of local boys that nobody ever took. Wolensky, originally of Swoyersville, has written books on Northeastern Pennsylvania's history, with an upcoming release "Anthracite Labor Wars," co-authored by William Hastie, due out in the spring. Wolensky is also involved such area organizations as the Luzerne County Historical Society, the Lackawanna Historical Society, the Huber Breaker Preservation Society, the Anthracite Living History Group and the Anthracite Heritage Foundation. Like many others who grew up in the area, Wolensky has a connection to the Pennsylvania coal mining industry through family ties. "Both of my grandfathers were miners, and niany uncles, and my own father was a mine lhe Beacon/ Austin Loukas On display until March 11, the current Sordoni exhibit is a window into the past. worker," Wolensky said. "The breaker is a big, tall, black building where coal is processed. There are about 300 in the area. My father worked above ground at the breaker, cleaning the coal." The conditions faced, especially for children, were extreme. "There were some young boys who worked underground too, opening and closing doors, they controlled the draft. They worked in the damp and cold for 10 or 12 hours a day picking rocks out of the coal," Wolensky said. "Children should not be working in breakers. They were terribly abused. It was a brutal existence." The Sordoni Art Gallery, located in the Stark Learning Center, is open daily from noon to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 570-408-4325. CONTACT JANEL NARO AT: janel.naro@wilkes.edu �~ A&E 15 THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 28, 2012 'Hilarity·Ensues' is hard to put Generic rom-com focuses on clash between yuppies, hippies down, but it's not for everyone BY ANNIE YOSKOSKI BY BILL THOMAS Arts & Entertainment Editor There are two types of people in this world. There are people who hate hippies. And there are hippies. It's not the philosophy that rubs folks the wrong way, mind you. It's the execution. The hippie ethic of peace and love is a worthwhile vision, but the holier-than-thou superiority complex, impractical naivete and flighty lack of reliability quickly become overbearing and obnoxious. It's appropriate, then, that "overbearing and obnoxious" turns out to be an ideal desctiption of"Wanderlust," the latest comedy dud from producer Judd Apatow and director David Swain. Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd play Linda and George, a couple of uptight would-be social climbers trying to keep up with the fast pace and high cost of big-city life. When that doesn't pan out, they pack up and head out to the suburbs, where George's insufferable brother.offers him a bottom-rung job doing data-entry for a Port-a-Potty rental agency. Serendipitously, the pair's pilgrimage instead leads them to a hippie commune, where they decide to trade in their beautifully manicured but meaningless existence of "stress, Blackberrys and sleeping pills" for a life of pot-smoking, casual sex and didgeridoos. In other words, paradise. After all, who doesn't love a didgeridoo? Unsurprisingly, the high-stnmg duo's metropolitan worldview ends up clashing with the hippies' hardline nature-worshipping, New Age rabble-babble. Wackiness ensues. Or, rather, it's supposed to. Sure, the directing, edit- there. He has vices that society frowns upon and an intelligence level most of us wish that we possessed. Even if you end up pretty much disgusted with him, depending on how easily offended you are, you stil.l don't want to put the book down. Tucker and his cast of friends move throughout life and go on ridiculous adventures that land them in various parts of the country, in jail at the O'Hara airport, on the Northwestern of"Deadliest Catch" fame and in many, many bars. He tells these sto~ s with as much honesty as he can remember and even the pickiest o-freaders can all agree on that one thing: the man can write. These books do not necessarily need to be read in order of publication date. The sto1ies are different each time. The only part that might be confusing would be to figure out who some of his nicknamed friends are, but Max explains it as well as he can without going over the entire cast of his life again. The first book has also been turned into a movie. Tucker Max is a phenomenon, something no one understands, something most young adult men want to emulate for a short period of time and something women are confused by. Max is loud, crude and does some of the most infantile things, but he is also intellectual and hilaiious and much more honest than many autobiographers out there today. He has captivated many people with his writ~ ing an~ the "fratire" genre he's created. • ~/ ~ If you are not sure whether or not ._, his writing is too crude for you, check out his website, tuckennax.com, and sample some of ing and music here is competent and confiStoff Writer dent, even exceptional. But this is a comedy, and that means the weight of the film rests Many of you have probably heard of on the shoulders of the script and the actors. Tucker Max. Best known for his runaway ln examining these elements, one major flaw best-seller "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell," becomes unavoidably apparent. Max created his own genre dubbed "fratire." Simply put, there's not a single likable "Hilarity Ensues" is Max's third and final character anywhere in the film. Our protago- book of this nature. nists are irritating. The hippies are irritating. Many people have been offended by his The villains are irritating. The ancillary char- writing, and just as many have laughed hysacters are irritating. It almost seems like this terically over it. Even so, Max's books should was done purposefully, as if "Wanderlust" come with a warning "do not try this at home, was trying to deliver some kind of misanunless you're Tucker Max." thropic message: There are douchebags evMost of Max's stories center around erywhere, in the city and in the country, in drinking and sexual escapades. The main business suits and bell bottom s. In short, evthing I wondered though was, how does he eryone sucks. get away with all of this? Speaking frankly, " Wanderlust" is This man spent a month in an apt title for this derivative, ----1t---ancun, while he enrolled generic comedy, as that's · law school. To top exactly what you' II be ~· · all off, he sti II struck with while assed . watching it. Per~ Max not sonally, for , ~ admits much of its ~ 98 -m inute ~ runtime, l ~ could not help but wish l was the biggest somewhere ego of any else. Anyautobiogwhere else. rapher out l\\* ff:,'v <_ Euro Bistro is a 1amond in the roug BY DOMINICK COSTANTINO Stoff Writer I love going to restaurants where I feel welcomed the minute I walk through the door. This was the way I felt when l ate at Euro Bistro located at 21 Public Square in WilkesBarre. I knew my dining experience was going to be wonder.th] when the owner was so welcoming and outgoing. My regular dining partner Brittany Battista and I were greeted and then given menus once we got to the counter. The menu has European-style homemade soups, bistro salads, sandwiches (wrnps or pitas), baked sandwiches, paninis, sweets and pizza. I love panini and I don't get to eat them often, so I decided to order the "Veggie Baby." This panini is made with. a traditional east- - they added a nice touch. While we were waiting for our meal, the ern European vegetable spread (giilled eggplant, tahini, lemon juice and garlic), zucchini, staff let us try the chicken that is used for gyonion, sweet peppers and mozzarella. It was ros. Good stuff We also san1pled their "Euro delicious. The homemade panini bread was Wedding Soup." It had a different taste than cnmchy and had a great texture. The sweet Italian wedding soup, but it was still good. peppers and zucchini dominated, packing a I'd previously had a chance to san1ple their powerful punch. This is definitely a wonderful homemade crepes made with a variety of fruit fillings including blueberry, cherry and grape menu option for vegetarians. Brittany got a panini cal led "For Chicken fi lling. I tried one with Nutella and was surLovers Only." This one had roasted chicken, prised at how good it was. It was nice and light pickles, sweet peppers and mozzarella over with that great Nutella taste. The ov.ner said a thin spread of honey mustard. Brittany said they don't sell a lot of them because most peoit was delicious. The chicken was tender and ple don't know what they are. flavorful. She wasn't sure how she would like The restaurant's subtle European-sotmding pickles with this particular combination, but music in the background sets th.e mood for a relaxed envionce she ronment. The tried it she paintings on thought 5/5 his the walls are stunning. The ow11er said they're even better at night when it get<; dark out and they shine special lights on them. The staff really went above and beyond to talk with us and make sure we liked what we ordered. It was also very nice of them to let us sample some of the items. When we went to pay, the owner asked us if we were students so he could give us the IO percent off discount. In most restaurants, the customer has to mention the discount. I would recommend this place to anyone who loves phenomenal service and great food. For more infonnation, visit theeurobistro.com. CONTACT BILL THOMAS billthomos@thewilkes.beocon �FEBRUARY 28, 2012 Hockey skates its way onto campus New team is finding identity on and off the ice The Broad Street Breakdown BY BRYAN WISLOSKY BY PHAT NGUYEN Columnist News Editor The phrase 'to break a leg' is used to wish someone good luck. Junior psychology major Hayden Lerner got the most of this well-known idiom when he literally broke his leg. That bit of luck was exactly what the Wilkes Hockey Club needed. A broken leg forced Lerner to take a medical leave of absence, allowing him to focus all his attention on starting up the Wilkes Hockey Club last fall. Lerner and a friend pitched their idea to ' Student Government, which voted in favor of the formation of the club. The next step was to find a way to pay for uniforms. Lerner's luck came through once again, and after hundreds of emails between companies like Warrior, Timberline and National Business, Warrior decided to sponsor the Colonel club. "They reluctantly gave us jerseys, which really saved us a lot of money," junior psychology major Ryan Maloney said. As the team grew, the biggest hurdle has beefl#llances. They wanted to join a Men's B league on Coal Street that costed $2,400. Also, every player on the team would need to pay the $40 registration to USA hockey. • They presented to SG that they needed $900-$ I, 700 for the league, $300 to refill their account and $500 for the community service that they did as a club. The club has worked to fulfill their service hours this semester by making Nylon with the Chemistry Club for Women Empowered through Science, and through a dual team Relay for Life with the Mixed Martial Arts club. After gathering the majority of funds, the next biggest hurdle was gathering interest, Lerner said. With a limited roster, it would " be difficult to consistently field a team. "We only had seven or eight guys initially, and I was really worried that we didn't have enough for a team," Lerner said. But the team saw progress quickly as time went by. "Even though we only had seven or eight guys responding to emails initially, as word spread and got out, the team grew," Maloney said. the students by insisting for them to call him by his first name. "Listen this isn't a classroom. Call me Greg," Peters said. The Coal Street men's league has nine games, plus two play-off games. Harris believes the competition is top notch. "We're playing against pros, former pros, semi pros and junior hockey players -- the level before you go pro -- and NCAA guys," Harris said. "Dennis Bonvie was on defense for the last team." Bonvie was a former member of the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins. Another problem the club has that it's limited to hold regular practice since paying for ice is expensive. "That's the biggest reason why I never played when I was growing up. The league itself is $2000 to set up," Maloney said. They are limited to open hockey at UCOM. Coaching and managing the team is Well, it's almost March, which means we are getting into the heart of the NFL offseason. The NFL Scouting Combine started this past week with over 100 hopeful NFL prospects participating in the drills. This year, there is also a plethora of high profile free agents hitting the market, especially at the wide receiver position. Oh, and there's the situation regarding Peyton Manning's future, just in case you didn't hear. It's just over six months until week one of the 2012 NFL season, and with all these major offseason stories to follow, the landscape of football will be bent backward by then. With the combine comes thoughts of April's NFL Draft. Will the Colts take Andrew Luck? What will the St. Louis Rams do with the second pick? Is Reisman Winner Robert Griffin III a better pick than Luck? And most importantly, will fat Andy finally stop trying to outsmart everyone and actually make a move to push the Eagles in the right direction? Even though I will be more focused on who Philadelphia will take with their first pick -- hopefully a linebacker -- the majority of football fans will be looking at the Colts. With Peyton Manning owing a massive bonus at the end of March and having the opportunity to draft a quarterback with the most promise since Manning, the Indianapolis Colts need to decide if they want to keep their four-time MVP QB or cut him loose and start over with Luck. Rumors surfaced this week that the most probable destination for Manning is the Miami Dolphins. I personally think Indy should draft Luck and keep"llilll under Peyton's wing for two years, but that's just my opinion. Rookies won't be the only players calling new cities home in September. 2012 has quite an impressive free agent class, headlined by Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Ravens running back Ray Rice, although both of them are likely to remain with their current teams. The big story in free agency this year is the laundry list of wide receivers on the list. SEE HOCKEY, PAGE 19 SEE NFL, PAGE 19 The Beacon / Phat Nguyen The Wilkes hockey club poses with its new jerseys. Pictured are (left to right) Ryan Maloney, Epes Harris and Hayden Lerner The newly formed team plays Tuesday and Thursday nights at the local ice rink. Lerner, a junior, (right) was instrumental in the formation of the new club. By the time the first league game rolled around, the team grew to 20 members ranging from freshman to senior and including Dr. Gregory Peters, an assistant professor of chemistry. Peters was recruited through multiple students in the club. "Personally, I'm friends with him," Maloney said. "Our club secretary Jess Khalil is also very good friends with him." Peters played competitive hockey in graduate school at Wyoming nearly 18 years ago. "The last time he played hockey competitively was before some of our freshmen were born," Lerner said. "He's not bad, but some of his equipment would've looked bad on Gretsky though." Maloney joked after noticing Peters' old gloves. Junior criminology major Epes Harris said he's seen a lot of passion from Peters. "He has real fire in his eyes," the assistant captain said. "He even slammed his helmet on the bench one time." Peters has adjusted to the camaraderie of �SPORTS 17 THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 28, 2012 SCOREBOARD Men's 8-Ball 2/22 Eastern W 103-98 OT 2/25 Misericordia L 69-41 WEEK AHEAD Baseball 3/3 @ Manchester, in S.C. 3/4 @ Roanoke, in S.C. @ PSU-Abington 3/5 @ Catholic U, in S.C. 3/6 @ PSU-Harrisburg, in S.C. 3/7 @Averett, in S.C. Softball 3/2 @York, in V.A. @John Jay 3/3 @F&M, in V.A. @ N.C. Wesleyan, in V.A. 3/4 @ Randolph, in V.A. Tweet us pictures of the scoreboards @wilkesbeacon The MLB offseason has focused mainly on the Miami Marlins and the L.A. Angels. The Marlins added all-star shortstop Jose Reyes, as well as veteran Mark Buehrle and shut down closer Heath Bell. The Angels added the best hitter in baseball, Albert Pujols, and the best starter available, C.J. Wilson. But neither team is the most improved in the league. As far as wins and losses relative to other teams in the division, neither is a lock. In the NL East, the Phillies the favorites. The Marlins can add as many players as they want, but if Josh Johnson does not give them 30 plus starts they will not get close to winning the division. Though the Phillies certainly haven't gotten better, they are still a 94 to 97 win team. Reyes, Buehrle and Bell cannot close that gap alone. Add healthy 20-game winner Johnson and it is possible, but still unlikely. Chances are, the Marlins will be fighting for a wild card berth. The most improved team is the Yankees. The Yanks had one glaring need and weakness that prevented them from getting far, which was starting pitching. They addressed it the right way by trading Jesus Montero -- whom they did not need -- for a great young starter in Michael Pineda, who last year at age 22 pitched to a 3. 74 ERA with 173 strikeouts on a last-place team. They also added Hiroki Kuroda, a great work horse and mentally tough veteran. Last year, Kuroda, had a 3.07 ERA and had over 200 innings pitched -- exactly what the Yankees needed. With the Red Sox a big question mark and the Rays showing no glaring improvements other than maturity, the defending divisionwinning Yankees did what they needed to do. They will not win many more than 97, but they have succeeded in widening the gap. They still have an all-world lineup and a close to unstoppable bullpen. Rivera at age 42 is still the best closer in baseball and with David Robertson as the best setup man in the league and Soriano as the seventh inning guy, starters usually just have to get to six with a lead to secure a win. The Yankees for once will show you don't need big names to have big improvements. They will be the favorite to win the AL east and most likely the AL. Yankees have another year or two before they have to replace the rest of their core in Jeter and Rivera, -- and even A-Rod soon, -- but these guys will be hungry for one more. The MLB season is quickly approaching, and the smell of pitchers and catchers is in the air. Gloves are being broken in, bats are being cracked against the ball and cleats are being screwed in. Everyone is undefeated. Looking back at this past offseason, many teams made big moves, while some stayed content with what they have. The newly named Miami Marlins come to mind as a very improved team. With the addition of Heath Bell and Mark Buehrle, the fish have added to a solid pitching staff which includes Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco. The health of the Marlins is a big concern. Jose Reyes in an injury prone shortstop and hasn't finished a season in the last couple years. The addition of Reyes also leads to Hanley Ramirez having to bump over to thijl base, a position he has never played. Staying within the division, the Washington Nationals made big strides in the NL East. The Nationals expect Stephen Strasburg to come back and be healthy and effective. I would also not be surprised to see Bryce Harper up in the bigs this year. The Nationals made my favorite move of the offseason in acquiring Gio Gonzalez. This young pitcher is on his way to pure domination in the league. The Nationals also snagged closer Brad Lidge, and expect Ryan Zimmerman to have a stellar year. The Nationals can make a push for a wild card, but it comes down to Jayson Werth getting back to his old ways. The Detroit Tigers became a whole lot better with the addition of Prince Fielder. The vegan slugger will fit perfectly in Detroit and automatically bring them more wins. The Yankees added Hiroki Koruda and Raul Ibanez in the offseason. Koruda was a very smart addition, but Ibanez will be a work in progress at the designate hitter position. A sleeper pick for a very improved team is the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays added Reds reliever Francisco Cordero, along with White Sox closer Sergio Santos, to make an effective punch in the late innings. The Angels made the biggest and most effective moves this offseason. They added the feared hitter Albert Pujols,"El Hombre," who will absolutely thrive in LA. But what is more interesting is the Angels' pitching rotation. C.J. Wilson was one of the best offseason signings. He has no pressure in L.A., as he . will be the No. 3 started behind the talented Jered Weaver and Dan Haren. This pitching staff will be something to watch this year. CONTACT JOSEPH PUGLIESE AT: CONTACT JUSTIN FRANIAK AT: joseph.pugliese@wilkes.edu justin.franiak@wilkes.edu �18 THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 28, 2012 SPORTS ·- Wilkes baseball uses preseason to improve skill Colonel sluggers are set to take on spring training in Myrtle Beach, S.C. BY JUSTIN FRANIAK " , Sports Editor The grass is being mowed and the field is being raked to prepare for this year's Colonel baseball squad to march out for its 2012 campaign. The Colonels are looking to improve their record of 21-16 from 2011, after losing a few key components from last year. Returning to the team are athletes Tay Sidler and Matt Ruch, both of whom batted above the .330 mark, with Ruch recording 34 RBI's. Sidler posted a .443 on base percentage in the 2011 campaign. Infielder Carmen Lopresto also returns, bringing his 33 runs scored and .300 batting average from last year. Senior business administration major and relief pitcher Mark Siebel is excited for new players this season. "I'm excited to see how the freshmen • do," Siebel said. "I've been impressed so far, I want to see them in conference play against tough opponents." Siebel said the freshmen have a good chance of starting and making a big impact on this year's team. Last year, the Colonels were 11-10 in the conference, and are looking to improve from that. "We can improve everywhere," Siebel said. "Hitting and pitching are areas where we can always improve." The Colonels return pharmacy major and starting pitcher Ryan Fetterman who led the team with a 3.26 ERA from last season. Fetterman also tacked on 11 batters struck out looking. Senior Sean Flecknoe led the team with 13 batters struck out looking last season. Senior history and secondary education major Mike "Snail" Olerta say the preseason is going well. When asked what the purpose of the long preseason is, Olerta said many thing are involved. "Getting and shape and staying focused is what we need to work on now for the season," Olerta said. Olerta, along with others, will look to spark the Colonels offensively this season. The team will soon leave on its annual spring training trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Siebel and Olerta both said the trip is fun and enjoyable. The team bonding is a key component of the trip. Senior business administration major and Colonel infielder Tom Pless! also commented about playing on the turf in South Carolina. "There's not bad hops, which helps everybody," Pless! said. Personal goals are a part of every team season, and the Colonels are no different. Siebel is within grasp of the appearance record and saves record and hopes to break both of those. Pless! is at 79 games played and his goal is to reach 100. Olerta would like to break the .300 average this season. A major team goal for the season is making a playoff run, according to Siebel. "If you make the playoffs anything can happen," Siebel said. "The ultimate goal is to win the MAC." Olerta said that there is always room for improvement, and with i{l1provement comes that coveted playoff run. Olerta said it boils down to one thing. "Winning," Olerta said. "Winning and hitting, I think we have a good team this year." Siebel summed up his biggest fear for the season simply. "I hope my curveball works," Siebel said. CONTACT JUSTIN FRANIAK AT: j ustin.franiak@wilkes.edu STRESSED? HEADACHE? the legendary taste Go Colonels! We Deliver to Wilkes University! Call (570) 331-FAST (3278) Ask about our combo specials featuring our complete line up of pizza, subs, wings, burgers & more!visit us online for a complete menu & listing of specials at www.grottopizzapa.com or visit our restaurant & sports bar Grotto Pizza, Gateway Center, on Rt. t I in Edwardsville (just across the bridge!) Headaches and back pain are two of the most common ailments treated at our clinic. Often , we can bring relief simply by taking the pressure off a pinched nerve. Here are other common symptoms of a pinched nerve. Neck Pain Back Pain Shoulder Pain Arm Pain Leg Pain Muscle Pain - Sports Injury - FREE 20 Min Hydro Massage Auto Accident - w WILKES UNIVERSll\' FREE EXAM & FREE 1st Treatment Wilkes-Barre Chiropractic & Rehab Dr. David Lewis Chiropractic Physician the legendary taste I $5 OFF Any Order of $20 or More I For delivery or take out I Expires 06/30/12 I --------valid only at Grol1o Pizza locations 825-5535 380 Old River Road Wilkes-Barre, PA All Insurances Accepted dblewis326@ aol.com www. nepachiro.com �19 THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 28, 2012 'W' is for Wilkes Fans cheer Colonels to victory The Beacon/Laura Preby Students who were a part of the "Blue Army" get rowdy at halftime of Wednesday's Freedom Conference Playoff game. The crowd featured students with painted bodies, referee shirts and the "Blue Army" shirt. Wilkes went on to win the game in overtime, helping the Colonels advance to the Freedom Conference Championship Game. Continued from Page 16 The Beacon/Laura Preby Wilkes cheerleaders lead soccer players, wrestlers and Wilkes fans. The cheerleaders and "Blue Army" cheered Wilkes to an overtime victory over the visiting Eastern Eagles, putting them in the Freedom Conference Championship Game. NFL Continued from Page 16 Notables include Dwayne Bowe (Chiefs), Marques Colston (Saints), DeSean Jackson (Eagles), Vincent Jackson (Chargers), Mario Manningham (Giants), Mike Wallace (Steelers), Reggie Wayne (Colts) and Wes Welker (Patriots). Now Pittsburgh's Wallace is a restricted free agent, so they have a very good chance of resigning him, but everyone else is basically free game. Personally, I'm waiting to see what Philly does about their prima donna WR. Just as early as the end of the 2010 season, DeSeari Jackson was adored in Philadelphia. He was known as the most explosive player in the league and essentially end- ed the New York Giants season with a gameending punt return to cap an incredible threetouchdown deficit comeback. However, at points this season, he was doing his best Terrell Owens impression and didn't even look like he wanted to play. By the end of the season, it appeared he realized he was being a baby and actually started to try. I think they should give him the franchise tag and focus on giving LeSean "Shady" McCoy a contract extension so he doesn't become a free agent next offseason. Also a minor note, Reebok's contract with the NFL ran out, and Nike scooped it up. So Nike will now be making NFL jerseys. It is also planning make many different jerseys for each team, like it does for the Oregon Ducks. So it definitely appears as though the NFL is entering into a strange new world. CONTACT BRYAN WISLOSKY AT: bryan.wislosky@wilkes.edu another problem. Team captain Maloney balances out the team while he lets Lerner manage lineups. "He's a dictator," Maloney said with a smile. "Hayden did a lot for the club. He's been putting out the lines. Sometimes not everyone agrees with him, but we'll have a talk before the games." The goalie situation is a mess, Maloney said. "Right now we have three goalies, that's unheard of," he said. "We're giving them all a period each because there's nothing we really can do." Some of the players are still trying to understand the game. "It's tough. Some kids are trying to score and don't even have a puck," Lerner said. The captains said there are only two true defensemen on the team with 15 skaters who don't want to play defense. This forces them to put a few of their best forwards as defensemen because no one wants to play defense. There is also a wide range in skill level, Harris said. "The skill level ranges from 15 years experience to someone who says, 'hey this is my fifth game,"' Harris said. "So picking lines is tough. At the same time, we are play- ing in the very tough league." However there has been many signs of progress, Maloney said. "We lost the first game 20-8, but we were playing against a kid named Marty, who tried out for the baby Pens," he said. "We're just a bunch of college kids who are trying to have fun. He made us look silly to say the least." "I love this game. I've played football for 15 years of my life, but there's nothing 1ufe stepping on the ice for the first time," Maloney said. "Being on there when someone scores their first goal of the season, it's a special feeling." There have been many close calls where the game was in reach for the Colonels, but due to sloppy play, they have been unable to convert them to wins, until last week when they won their first game ever. But even with losses, the team said the experience was still unbeatable, Maloney said. "To play with some of the guys who I've grown up with, it was still a lot of fun to actually get on the ice and play some hockey." The club also draws in a strong fan section, which includes roughly 30 people a game. Maloney claims that half those people are probably his family members The hockey club team has long term goals to one day become a D-III athletic team. CONTACT PHAT NGUYEN AT: phatnguyen@thewilkesbeacon.com �20 SPORTS THE BEACON I FEBRUARY 28, 2012 ~ Wilkes outlasts Eastern to advance to championship Colonels down Eagles; drop conference championship to Misericordia BY JUSTIN FRANIAK Sports Editor . _______________ , The Marts Center was rockin' this past Wednesday night as the Colonels opened up their playoff run by beating the Eastern University Eagles 103-98. The win, however, did not come easily, as both teams would need extra time to finish this Freedom Conference game. Senior Kendall Hinze led the way for the Colonels. The big man scored a career high 28 points and 14 rebounds. But Hinze's free throw percentage is what took the Colonels to the win. Hinze shot 75 percent from the free throw line, adding 12 points to the scoreboard for the Colonels. Both teams held the same momentum going into the half as the score was tied. But, the Colonels would keep pushing. Senior Paul Huch hit some momentum swinging three throughout the entire game. Huch shot 80 percent from beyond the arch, adding to his total of 24 points. The Colonels held the lead with under two ·• minutes left in the game, but the Eagles answered and tied the score back up. Wilkes held the advantage late in the game, but the Eagles would not backdown. Eastern would need a jump shot to send the game into overtime as the score stood 75-75. The Colonels opened up the overtime period on a hot streak. Freshman Jourdon Wilson would score the Colonels first six points as Wilkes jumped to a lead quick. Wilkes would outscore the Eagles 28-25 in the extra time. With under three minutes to go the Colonels would have the adavantage 86-81, but the Eagles would not be held down. A few three-pointers later the game was still very close. The Colonels would use their excellent foul shooting to pull them through this hard fought victory. The foul line saw the Colonels shoot a 77 percent. Wilson scored 17 points and dished out four assists, while senior Matt Mullins would also tack on 17 points and four assists. "We knew the game would be close," Mullins said. "We just kept trying to knock down our shots and keep on increasing our lead." The Colonel senior did comment on what his squad would need to improve on to bring home a ring. "We gave up a lot of points," Mullins said. "Ifwe stiffen up our defense and keep playing the way we can on offense, we can definitely bring home a win." Misericordia 69, Wilkes 42 The Colonels win over Eastern set-up a clash with neighboring foe Misericordia. The game put the No. I and No. 2 seed in the conference against each other. Kendall Hinze scored 21 points in the Colonels loss. Hinze did, however, reach the 1,000 point milestone. Hinze helped the · Colonels go into halftime with a 27-24 lead. The Colonels lead would not last long though. Misericordia would open up the second The Beacon/Laura Preby half with a hot three-pointer streak, giving Freshman Jourdon Wilson sets up a play inthe Feb. 22 game against Eastern Univerthem a 35-29 lead within the first three mintsity. The Colonels would go on to win the game in overtime. Wilson scored 17 points ues of the second half. along with four assists. Wilkes would not regain the lead for the rest of the game. Misericordia would lead by 25 points at one point, and the Colonels would not catch up. Wilson scored seven points in his rookie year finale. Senior Paul Huch would add five points, four blocks, and two steals for the m Colonels. Matt Mullins dropped four points B and a steal. Misericordia's Steve Artzerounian would J be named the Freedom Tournament's most valuable player. Artzerounian dropped 18 points while snagging 10 rebounds in the game. Junior Cliff Richardson summed up the loss by being optimistic. "We have nothing but determination to get back to the MAC championship game," Richardson said. CONTACT JUSTIN FRANIAK AT: justin.franiak@wilkes.edu 146 SOUTH PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE/ WILKES-BARRE, PA 18701 � 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 2012 February 28th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 February 28 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/3e59914a070247fb17c22e01bef44a1a.pdf e076cbde7016410837b0f42a0b07440b PDF Text Text w Est. 1936 PA Newspaper Association Member www. thewilk:esbeacon.corn March 20, 2012 Volume 64 Issue 15 The Beacon/Dan Lykens After being announced as Wilkes' sixth president, Patrick F. Leahy made it a point to visit every academic and administrative office on campus within his first 60 days. He currently serves as executive vice president at the University of Scranton. Leahy begins duties July, 1. THE NEWEST COLONEL Wilkes appoints Patrick Leahy to succeed Gilmour as President BY KIRSTIN COOK Editor-in-Chief PHATNGUYEN News Editor Patrick Leahy went from being a Scranton Royal to a Wilkes Colonel in a matter of hours. The former executive vice president of University of Scranton was announced as Wilkes' sixth president on March 12. "It's not every day that a college administrator can become a Colonel in just a few hours," Leahy said. After his introduction, Leahy stressed his plans to both enhance liberal arts at Wilkes and expand professional programs. "In my opinion, nothing prepares students better for the complexities of today's world than a liberal arts education," Leahy said. "I think engineering students should read Shakespeare. I think business stu- dents should study the American get to know as many of you personally as I can, and try to understand Civil War." Leahy stressed this enrichment of as well as possible the rich history liberal arts would be a continuation here at Wilkes," Leahy said. He began this goal immediately of Wilkes' strengths. following the announcement by visit"We must strengthen the tradiing the cafeteria, library and classes tions of the past as we imagine the to ta1lc one-on-one to students about possibilities of the future," Leahy what they like about Wilkes, and said. what they'd like to change. Leahy stated his first goal will be Leahy, who begins his position July to get to know the campus commu1, promised to visit each academic nity. "My first assignment will be to SEE LEAHY, PAGE 4 The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow For more information and content, check us out at: thewilkesbeacon.co~ �National Security retnains hot topic ten years after 9/11 BY DEVON I NOVAK Assistant News Editor Wilkes political science students brought two speakers to the Miller room in the SUB last Tuesday to speak on behalf of national security. Although it has been 10 years since the devastation of 9/11 , many believe national security remains a topic with many questions remaining. "As the two panelist discussed, it is still an open debate," said political science professor Kyle Kreider. "Even though we know what the issues are, we still do not have set answers as to what is the proper balance between liberty and freedom." The Wilkes chapters of Pi Sigma Alpha, Sigma Pi and the National Political Science Honor Society along with the rest of the political science department welcomed two speakers who presented "Ten Years Later: 9-11 and American Life." The two presenters, Richard Glenn of the department of government and political affairs at Millersville University and Reggie Shuford, executive director of the Pennsyl- Beacon Briefs BY DEVON I NOVAK Assistant News Editor ASl\Y: car show - Wilkes American Society for Mechanical Engineers club requested $5855 for their annual car show which takes place Apr. 22. The club has $850 in their account with the addition of an anonymous check. With a projected cost of $5854.50, many SG members questioned why ASME did not factor in the money they already have in their account. ASME claimed the check will go toward covering prize costs for trophies and plaques. ASME believes this event is beneficial to students as it allows them to connect with people from different Photos Courtesy of Kyle Krieder Richard Glenn, left, and Reggie Shuford spoke about finding an acceptable balance between government actions towards security while maintaining American ideals of freedom to a room full of students. vania American Civil Liberties Union, both shared their knowledge on the history of national security before turning the discussion over to the audience for open conversation. The matter of debate was finding an acceptable balance between government actions toward security while maintaining the ideal freedom America was founded upon. Concern for national security has been an everlasting weight on the shoulders of each president to take office. Kreider explained that presidents receive classified information daily that the public never knows about and therefore the responsibility to keep the country safe lies predominantly in their hands. "The presidents have a need or desire to protect national security," said Kreider. "They are the ones that would face the recourse at the ballot box if there is a terrorist attack in the United States; they feel the pressure to keep America safe." Because the president has such a huge responsibility to maintain national security, the matter allegedly makes political party obsolete. For example, Kreider explained how many expected Obama to reform the policies Bush implemented for the War on Terror drastically. However, Obama kept the policies in place and just recently began bringing troops home from the Middle East. Political science professor Andrew Miller explained how significantly different views are to students on such a controversial issue. "I think it's important for students to get a different perspective," said Miller. "To cover different topics with different voices." age groups while learning about the history of mechanics. Some SG members argued this event benefits students directly. Since ASME only requested $2000 last year, SG feels this year's show cost increase comes with very little change. The decision on the fund request will be decided next week. with United Way, Luzerne County Disaster Relief and the City of Wiikes-Barre to make a difference in the community. The· event will cost a projected $3000. Campus e-mail switch to g-mail - IT's efforts in converting Wilkes e-mail over to Google's g-mail is a work in progress. Many SG members seem to be in favor of the idea. However, the decision is ultimately up to the IT department and their determinations. April Fool's Day - Students, faculty and staff are invited to join the "Big Event" Apr. 1. The event is a campus wide community service project allowing clubs and organizations who have not fulfilled their community service requirement for the year to do so. Breakfast will be offered before shuttles and SG vans transport participants to service sites. An estimated 200 participants have registered to date and will be working in conjunction BEACON Editor-in-Chief: Kirstin Cook Managing Editor: Michael Klimek Ad Manager: Brittany Battista Photo Editor: Laura Preby Adviser: Loran Lewis PHONE: (570) 408-5903 WEBSITE: www.thewilkesbeacon.com • ~: · Mac Miller concert - Tickets for the Mac Miller concert are available every day in the SUB from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from now until Mar. 30. Student tickets are $15 with ID and limited to two per person, faculty/staff/ alumni tickets are $20 and also limited to two per person, public tickets are $30 with a limit of four per person. CONTACT DEVONI NOVAK AT: devoninovak@thewilkesbeacon.com Editorial Staff 2011-12 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 l Changes in SG - Because many students have complained about lack of friendliness portrayed by SG members at meetings, SG is considering creating a new position to host presenting students. A new office as sergeant in arms will welcome in students presenting at SG meetings by restricting the amount of chatter among representatives. SG has also discussed a harsher probation. Members who have scarce participation have been given the status of probation in the past. Because probation is nothing more than a status, little reform has happened. CONTACT DEVONI NOVAK AT: devoninovak@thewilkesbeacon.com ' .. t ... ( \. ~ , .. J News Editor: Phat Nguyen Opinion Editor: Carly Yamrus A&E Editor: Bill Thomas Life Editor: Christine Lee Sports Editor: Justin Franiak Meet the Staff Rebecca Bolus Assistant Life Editor �THE BEACON I MARCH 20, 2012 3 NEWS SHE building shoots for green and gold standards Architects plan for environmental friendly features, better energy efficiency BY KIRSTIN COOK Editor-in-Chief The new Wilkes science building is going to be silver and green. Silver meaning the certification level it is aimed to reach with an environment-friendly design, and green for the conscientious impact designers hoped to have on the planet. Architects hope to ensure green standards through the design and construction of the science building by including many innovative, environment-friendly features. These features include everything from the restroom sinks to carpeting. Wilkes President Joseph (rim) Gilmour described the new science building as green in nature at the M arch 1 groundbreaking ceremony. "We will really have a green building in character," Gilmour said. The building architects are aiming at reaching the second highest level, silver, in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, but Gilmour said he'd like to see the highest standard. "We're hoping for gold, but we will definitely be at least LEED silver," Gilmour said. One of the designers for the building, SaylorGregg architect Tom Breslin, said the architects met with the building committee to discuss the LEED checklist. The LEED certification is granted based on a system that awards points in categories, such as energy efficiency and construction waste management. "W• try to be as wise as we can selecting the strategies we can use that will get the most bang for your buck, both in terms of investing in future savings and just environmental impact of what credits you go for," Breslin said. Photo Courtesy of Marketing Communications One of the green features includes a "living wall:' an exterior wall covered in vines which would cut back on heating in the winter and save on cooling in the summer. Breslin said they hope to use sinks that are quick use and low flow, which will make the building much more water efficient compared to traditional buildings. "The goal is to reduce water use by 30 percent over what a typical building would be," Breslin said. Kenneth Klemow, biology professor and associate director of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, said another feature that would reduce water usage would be no flush or low flush toilets, which he said would be hygienic as well as conservative. "There are things that you can do that are still sanitary but reduce the amount of water coming through," Klemow said. Klemow was involved with the design of the building, as he and other faculty members provide ideas to the ~chitects. He said the green considerations are as detailed as the carpeting and adhesive used in construction, which may release vapors and pollutants depending on the type. But focusing on these details was always part of the plan, as Klemow said they've been planning on having the science building reach green standards since the first discussion. He said the building will allow Wilkes to "lead New businesses downtown W-B BY AMANDA LEONARD Correspondent A walk through Wilkes-Barre's downtown a few years ago would seem dull and almost lifeless, compared to today's revamped scene. Recently, Wilkes-Barre has had a face lift, as well as many businesses jumping at the opportunity to open or establish a business in the area. With the implementation of the RC WilkesBarre Movies 14 theater and the renovation of Wilkes-Barre's YMCA, the streets have became more lively. The trend of Wilkes-Barre businesses opening is on the rise and each owner has a different rea- son why he or she decided to open in the area. Tim Multahy, owner of ArtStreet USA & The Sweet Cafe, was born and raised in the area and is aware of the economic hardships the area has faced. However, he believes in the potential that the downtown area holds. "I'm from the Heights area (Southwest Wilkes-Barre) and I've always seen downtown as thriving and attractive for visitors," he said. "It took a little bit of a downturn for awhile but I think it's well on its way to recovery." Multahy has seen the downtown revitalized with RC Wilkes-Barre Movies 14 theater on 24 E. Northampton St. "I want to be part of this revitalization as seen by the movie theater and new restaurants on the square," he said. "So far, my business is doing very well." Multahy's business offers an assortment of coffee, vintage penny candy and jewelry that is made in the USA. Multahy is not alone in deciding to open a business in downtown Wilkes-Barre. According to a storefront occupancy trend chart provided by Larry Newman, vice president of planning, policy and development, the past six years have been successful for new business owners. "The reason is that 2006 is the year when our by example" in environmental design. "We knew a long time ago that we wanted to make the building a green building, because we wanted the building to be like a showpiece," Klemow said. One of the green features of the building will be a living wall, an exterior wall covered in vines, which Klemow said would cut back on heating in the winter and save on cooling in the summer. Large windows will be a feature to save energy on lighting by allowing maximum natural lighting inside the building. But, to balance out this light intake, Klemow said awnings must be included over the windows to avoid excessive heating in-the summer. "It's a whole bunch of things that you have to balance off of each other," Klemow said. Another feature that will help maintain building temperature will be the green roof, which will partially be covered in plants. Klemow said this roof will also help with storm water issues, and will direct excess rainwater to a rain garden that students can help design and monitor. Breslin said the roof would work as a sponge, as rooftop plants would absorb rainwater and prevent flooding issues from the traditional gutter system. "You're decreasing the additional load on the storm system and sewage treatment plants and everything down the line," Breslin said. Breslin said the biggest challenge of planning the building was offsetting the high-energy consumption of the science laboratories. "A lab building in general is an enormous user of energy," Breslin said. Klem ow explained that much of the energy is consumed by about 70 fume hoods needed SEE SHE, PAGE 5 downtown revitalization efforts really hit their stride with the opening of several anchor projects, such as Movies 14 and Barnes & Noble," Newman said. Since 2006, 70 businesses in Wilkes-Barre have opened while 38 closed. Newman said that in the United States, 3 of 10 businesses fail within the mt two years of opening and more than half of all businesses fail within the first four years of opening. "The recession has only exacerbated this trend in the United States," he said. However, Wilkes-Barre continues to see new businesses open to take the place of those that have closed. SEE BUSINESS, PAGE 4 �NEWS 4 BUSINESS LEAHY Continued from Page 3 Continued from Front Page The trend of opening a business in downtown Wilkes-Barre seems to be a mix of overcoming economic hardships and the desire to showcase a potential talent or skill. Susan Wampole, owner of Brazil Street Blues, found that a mix of both of these factors helped her make the decision that she wanted to open up a homemade pierogi business. The idea for her one-woman business, based entirely in her home, originally started within her family when they wanted to find a place that sold locally homemade pierogies. Most of the local churches that had sold pierogies at bazaars or other church-sanctioned events had stopped selling them, due to lack of volunteers and funds. So, while churches closed their doors on the pierogi-making business, Wampole opened hers. Wampole said that the supply and demand for pierogies is what structured her business. While some business owners open a business solely to sell what it is they have to offer, other owners delve more into the marketing aspect of it and understand that the supply and demand aspect is much more prevalent in a city that is devei ping, as seen in Wilkes-Barre. Mulligan's Irish Pub, located on 41 S. Main St, is within walking distance of both Wtlk:es University and King's College. With the success of Hardware Bar, the owner, Kaminoka Entertainment Group, has decided to open up another bar aimed toward college students, but without the club scene that Hardware Bar offers. Kaminoka Entertainment Group owns the Hardware Bar chain that includes the Bourbon Street Saloon, Buck Wild Rode House and Mulligan's. The chain is now extended to five locations: Bloomsburg, Harrisburg, Scranton, West Shore and Wtlk:es-Barre. Angelo DelSordo, general manager of Mulligan's, has always been attracted to the area and wanted to be a part of the downtown restoration. "The downtown area of Wilkes-Barre has been cleaning up nicely and there is a huge potential for bars locally, between all the businesses in the area along with colleges," he said. "Mulligan's is doing extremely well thanks to the local colleges." The majority of Wilkes-Barre's business growth stems from local colleges that have students who are looking for something to do at night. Prior to downtown's revamping, students' options were limited. As Wilkes-Barre continues to grow, business owners and college students alike become more attracted to the area and help with the revitalization and cleanup of a once broken city. department and administrative area on campus within his first 60 days. "We' ll have ample opportunities to get to know each other, that I promise," he said. He said focus groups will help him to establish a personal connection with students. "Students are the heart of the matter at a university like Wilkes," Leahy said. Leahy plans on using this feedback to remodel the decision-making process, placing a priority on involving campus views. "What we'll do is take a fresh look at governance here at the university to ensure that we're getting the proper voice from students, faculty and staff, the three important constituencies on campus," Leahy said. Besides this assessment process, Leahy initially plans on ensuring the new science building is "on-time and on-budget." He said his next target would be increasing enrollment, but he hopes this is not limited to NEPA. "I think we continue to invest in the campus so that we make coming to Wilkes University, coming to Wilkes-Barre, Pa. a destination place for students," Leahy said. "And not only throughout eastern Pennsylvania, but I think increasingly throughout the entire northeast portion of the U.S. and even specific areas abroad." Leahy said the futures of Wilkes University and Wilkes-Barre are intertwined, and Wilkes plays an important role in the city's revitalization. Leahy's appointment as the newest Wilkes president ended a nine-month search by an 11-member search committee composed of students, faculty and staff. The university's Board of Trustees chair Jack Miller said Leahy's presentation to the committee on his vision for Wilkes included a track record of outstanding fundraising, financial management and budgeting skills. "In order to move the institution to new levels of achievement, we need a visionary leader," Miller said. "I'm confident that Patrick Leahy is that leader." While Leahy said fundraising today is challenging, two things will make it easier to raise funds for the project. "One, is it is a very compelling project. What that science building will do is strengthen what is already a strong part of this university," Leahy said. "Two, we have no shortage of people who care about Wilkes University." During his tenure at the University of Scranton as executive vice president, Leahy's achievements include 16 percent increase in undergraduate applications CONTACT PHAT NGUYEN AT: phatnguyen@thewilkesbeacon.com THE BEACON I MARCH 20, 2012 The Beacon/Dan Lykens Christa Filipkowski, far right, handed out gifts to Leahy and his family following the open remarks. One of the Leahy sons struggled to put his new shirt on. leading to enrollment of a class of 1,059 students in fall 2011. He was also a part of a team that raised $125 million "Pride, Passion, Promise Campaign" that ended at 29 percent above its original goal - nearly three times as much in the previous capital campaign. Leahy joined the University of Scranton in July 2004 as executive assistant to the president and has also taught student through the business leadership honors program. He earned a doctor of education degree in higher education strategy and management from the University of Pennsylvania and a dual master's degree from Cornell University in business administration and labor relations. He earned a bachelor's degree in English literature at Georgetown University. He said he is both humbled and energized by the university's prospects. Current president Joseph (Tim) Gilmour said he feels positively about the future of Wilkes with Leahy as his replacement. "I think he's someone who is extremely wellprepared for the position," Gilmour said. "I also think he understands what Wilkes needs to do next, and I think that's really exciting. I feel that Wilkes is going to be in great hands." Gilmour joked that he did not have any tips for the new president. "I'm not going to tell him anything," Gilmour said with a smile. "I'm actually going to see if I can learn from him. He's a great guy. I know he's going to be great." Gilmour said he has worked to establish Wilkes as a leading educational institute, and feels Leahy will continue to guide the school to its fullest potential. "The thing that I've been working for these years to do is set the stage for Wilkes to really emerge on the big stage," Gilmour said. "I think (Leahy) is the right person to do that." CONTACT PHAT NGUYEN AT: phatnguyen@thewilkesbeacon.com �THE BEACON I MARCH 20, 2012 SHE Continued from Page 3 is consumed by about 70 fume hoods needed in the labs to remove dangerous fumes from chemicals from the building. "In some cases, each hood can use as much energy as a small house," Klemow said. To combat this, high efficiency lab machinery will be installed, which Breslin said would lead to 19 percent less energy usage. Erin Emery, communication manager of the U.S. Green Building Council that coordinates the LEED Certification, said energy consumption is just one of the wide variety of categories the certification process considers. Emery said the LEED system, which began 11 years ago, has seen an increase in demand. She said they currently have over a billion square feet of projects certified, and 25 percent of new construction projects in the U.S. are pursuing some level of LEED certification. Emery said a commitment to sustainability is only one of the reasons LEED is important. "There are so many different reasons," Emery said. "It's about a consciousness of the space you occupy in the environment and how you treat your environment and our planet. She added that financial benefits are particularly pertinent with the economic state, which she said may be part of the increase in demand for certification. NEWS "There are also really money savings associated with it," Emery said. "There are big advantages to saving on energy, not only an conscientious impact to bettering our planet, but it's also saving the bottom line." Emery said that attaining these savings through certification doesn't necessary have to be more expensive. "It doesn't have to cost any more money to build to LEED standards than it does to build to regular standards that don't consider any green measures, but people can save a lot of money," Emery said. Some of the LEED credits are based on location. Breslin said that points specific to building in Willces-Barre emphasize storm water and construction waste management, with the respective issues of the nearby Susquehanna River and lack oflocal landfills. Breslin said he is confident the building will reach the goal of LEED silver, even though he said some parts of the requirements, such as proper disposal of waste materials, can not be estimated beforehand. "Based on our current projections, we are well exceeding LEED silver, so we feel like we have a good buffer," Breslin said. "If anything comes up during construction, we feel like we should be able to achieve LEED silver." CONTACT KIRSTIN COOK II etth aster's r e ree ith ire'' P er Graduate Programs • Master of Education Programs • Master of Science in Forensic Science • Master of Science in Nursing: Administration or Education • Pan-European Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing - NEW! Cedar Crest College was recently ranked a "Top Regional College" and "Best Value" for 2012 by U.S. News and World Report. ~ School of Adult and Graduate Education (SAGE) sage.ceda rcrest.ed u CEDARCREST COLLEGE kirstincook@thewilkesbeacon.com SPECIALS ' 5 WEEKDAY SPECIALS M-TH Large Pie $7.95 Chicken Wing Pie $10.95 20 E Northampton St. Wilkes Barre 825-5166 NEXT TO MOVIES 14 FREE WI-Fi in our Dining Room (cany out/dine in only) PIZZA DOUBLES 2 Medium Pizzas $13.95 2 Large Pizzas $16.95 Mll&MATCH Any 3 Subs or Wings 2 Tickets to Movies 14 WB 1 Medium Pizza - 1 Topping 2 Drinks We Cater Parties At Movies 14 $15.95 \ WE CATER lARGE GIOUP EVENTS PlEASE CAll BEFORE YOUR NEil MEfflNGI ' Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 11am-11pm Fri.-Sat. 11am-12am Sun. 12pm-11pm I . We're more than just great pizza ... see our entire menu at www.januzzispizza.com �CONTACT EDITOR: carlyyamrus@thewilkesbeacon.com Commuter addresses misconceptions Living at home with mom and dad is really "not so bad" BY ALYSSA STENCAVAGE Correspondent Coming to Wilkes as a freshman, I was nervous about the workload and making friends, like everyone else about to embark on their college career. Being a commuter made that worse in a way, since I am not on campus all of the time and thought it would be more difficult to make friends. My nerves got the better of me, and I can remember on the very first day of classes I almost did not know what to do with myself. The first couple weeks were somewhat rough for me as I was adjusting to the new environment and getting the feel for what college would be like. I felt that it was going to be more difficult for me to make friends that I could socialize with in my free time and spend time with outside of school. However, as the semester progressed,· I gradually found myself becoming more comfortable and things got much better. I began to socialize a little more and feel good about going to classes. Now, I could easily blame so much of this on commuting, and there is no doubt that commuting makes some aspects of college more complicated than living on-campus. But in the end, it was ultimately my decision, and after one semester down, I can say that I would not want it any other way. After much debating on what major I wanJd to pursue and what college would be oest for me, I concluded that dorm life was not for me. Some people may think that wanting to live at home and driving to and from school every day is a bad idea. The truth is, commuting is not nearly as bad as some people are led to believe. I find comfort in knowing that at the end of the day I can return home to do my work in peace rather than be bothered by the usual distractions of dorm life that I so often hear about. Granted the experience residents have is a little than the typical commuter experience. But, any commuter could do all the same things as a resident if he or she chooses to. Part of the reason I was initially so nervous to start at Wilkes was because even before school began, it seemed that the residents had formed groups. However, all resi- BEACON POLL The Beacon poll is unscientific and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on the Wilkes campus. These poll results are based on 25 responses. Last week's question: What do you REALLY think of the SHE building? • It's ruining the greenway 32% • It's a great opportunity for the school - 32% • Don't care - 21 % • Would rather have si law school-17% This week The Beacon asks: The Beacon/ Laura Preby Junior Katie Circone enjoys living off-campus because it gives her freedom to study and do her own thing. However, she still remains active in extracurricular activities. dents I have encountered so far have been extra friendly. Naturally, I think I clicked more with other commuter students who were probably in the same situation as me coming in, but I am also friendly with some residents. I personally feel that commuters are just as much a part of the overall Wilkes community as are those who live on campus, even though commuting is not what most people think when they hear the word "college." Many commuters choose to live at home because for many people who live in or around the area, Wilkes is a local university which allows people to save money and still get a good education. After all, Wilkes does have a high commuter population. People who live within 30 minutes or less of the university would rather not spend $15,000 on the 'college experience' when they can have the same experiences while living at home. The only downfall of commuting is the possibility of inclement weather during the winter months, but Wilkes is accommodating to those who have to drive to school. Furthermore, commuters have many opportunities to participate in different activities both on and off campus. For example, my friends and I attended the Winter Snowball Semiformal dance last semester at Bentley's, and we had a great time. The comedy night featuring Dave Russo was also a great time and offered the opportunity for a good laugh. Overall, even as a compmter student I feel fully satisfied with my college experience at Wilkes thus far and I am also so glad I chose to live at home. Some may disagree with the idea of commuting because college is about coming out of your comfort zone and meeting new people. I do believe that it is important for everyone to know what commuters do and that commuting really is not so bad. It allows one to do well academically, participate in social events and activities and enjoy the college life all at the same time. I love being a commuter and I would not change a thing. Many people assume that I am a resident most of the time, as if commuting in some cases is unheard of. In fact, a man at work recently said "I bet you wish you didn't live at home," and I found it interesting, because many commuters do not feel this way at all. CONTACT ALYSSA STENCAVAGE AT: alyssa.stencavage@wilkes.edu How much food do you dispose of on an average day at the Wilkes cafeteria? • None • About a cup • A plateful • Several platefuls • I don't eat at the cafeteria Cast your vote online at: www.thewilkesbeacon.com SPEAK UP! The Beacon wants to hear your voice. Send your name, major, year and opinion to: carlyyamrus@thewilkesbeacon.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for length and content. Anonymous letters will not be published. �THE BEACON J MARCH 20{ 2012 ~ I A I I I I ' 7 1 , Q I Ellen DeGeneres makes her haters her motivation BY LYNDSIE YAMRUS Assistant Opinion Editor On typical Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, I usually go straight from politics class to the SUB cafeteria and watch The Ellen DeGeneres Show as I eat a grapefruit. Since its debut in 2003, the show has become very popular, and includes jokes and gags, celebrity appearances and audience participation. Ellen almost always starts her show with a dance segment, a witty monologue and a chitchat with the DJ. The show and Ellen herself are both funny and entertaining. I can't see why anyone would have a problem with her. But unfortunately, One Million Moms (OMM), an activist group against negative influences from society on children, is in great distress over Ellen regarding her new role in JC Penney commercials, which first aired during the Oscars in late February. The commercials feature Ellen shopping in different periods in time, including Ancient Rome, the Old West and Victorian England. OMM's official purpose is to end child exploitation from the media, including profanity, immortality, violence and vulgarity in TV commercials, movies and music, to name a few. The group argues that fighting against sud. exploitations is highly necessary in order to preserve a moral society for our children. Now this sounds like a good cause, and I can definitely see their reasons for existing, but their recent complains have been nothing but ignorant. OMM believes that hiring Ellen as an "openly homosexual spokesperson" is essentially a joke, and will cause JCP's business to plummet since most of their current customers are primarily traditional families who have been forever faithful to the department store. They complain that homosexual individuals make up only a small percent of their customer base overall. The group also accuses JCP of''jumping on the pro-gay bandwagon." OMM's webpage includes whiny details about the issue, complaining that JCP's corporate customer services ignore their complaint calls, transfer them to voicemail or hang up on their demanding requests to replace Ellen with a more family-value oriented spokesperson and remain neutral in the culture war. What we're really dealing with is a lot of close-minded people with strong opinions and large mouths to voice them. There are five new commercials, and not a single one of them shows any sign of homosexuality whatsoever. The chance of children being exploited by these commercials is extremely low. Most children probably don't even know that Ellen is gay. I'd be surprised if they even knew what the word "homosexuality" means! The commercials are fun, amusing Mobile apps are invading our privacy as Big Brother, then Facebook must be that annoying, nosy cousin who you don't really Staff Writer want to spend time with, but your parents Most people are well aware of George make you do so anyways. According to a report by The (London) Orwell's 1984, and more specifically the character of Big Brother, the embodiment Sunday Times, Facebook has been using the of tyrannical government control achieved access granted by its app to read user's personal text-messages. through a complete and utter lack of privacy. As surprising as this may seem, Facebook Well, if the government is conceptualized isn't the only company who has admitted to doing this. Fatebt:N>k hf!t~.. you t:Ofltt~(l t\~O !thJrt wHt< Other compathe pe.op1e in yout hfe. nies, including Flickr and Yahoo, have been snooping into your personal lives as well. Don't think it stops at textmessages either. Certain apps can interThe Beacon / Laura Preby cept and lisIt has recently been reported that Facebook, YouTube and other ten in on your sites have been using their apps to read texts, intercept phone phone calls, calls and view pictures without their user's knowledge. BY TONY GORECZNY Courtesy of JC Penny Ellen DeGeneres dresses as a cowgirl in the new JC Penny commercial. Her cameo has sparked outrage from the family-value activist group "One Million Moms:• OMM believes JC Penny is jumping on the pro-gay bandwagon. and accurately represent the new changes JCP is trying to make. Thankfully, JCP is holding their ground. The company stood firm on their decision to keep Ellen as their spokesperson because her values match those of the company. According to Ron Johnson, JC Penney's CEO, the company was founded 110 years ago on the rule of treating people fairly. Ellen responded herself by giving a monologue on one of her shows, saying, "haters are my motivators." "First of all, being gay or pro-gay is not a bandwagon," Ellen joked. "You don't get a free ride anywhere, there's no music, and occasionally we'll sing 'We Are Family', but that's about it." All in all, major props to JC Penney for doing the right thing, and to Ellen for being the strong, confident and ambitious individual she is. and the YouTube app can access your camera at anytime to capture pictures or video without asking your permission. In 1984, the government monitored us though our television screens, In 2012 corporations track us through our cellphones. Governments are well aware of these capabilities as well. Though ours does not constantly monitor the messages and calls of the average person, it has the ability to access your phone and do all sorts of fun things. These abilities include reading text-messages, listening to calls, accessing your GPS locator, gaining control of your camera and even turning on your phone's microphone. Even if your phone is turned off, someone, somewhere can simply press a button to turn it on and create a window through which they can see the most personal and private aspects of your life. While this is a crux of modem technology that we must live with, it is the government's job protect a person's privacy, not to infiltrate it. Though there are laws in place to help protect phone records and prevent wiretapping, the legislature has been unable to keep up with the incredible growth rate of mobile communication technology. There are currently no laws specifically restricting what an entity can or cannot do with your smartphone through installed apps. According to Lawyers.com, courts have deemed it inappropriate for government officials to track people through the GPS locators in their smartphones. The only exception to this is when a person with a GPS equipped cellphone calls an enhanced 911 service, so that emergency responders may more easily locate and provide assistance to the victim or victims. Well, what about corporations? The government must protect people's privacy not only from itself, but also from other people. Accottding to the Supreme Court rulings in Dartmouth College v. Woodward and Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad, corporations are people. As such, they should not only be afforded the protections given to people, but adhere to the restrictions which confine them as well. The actions of Facebook, YouTube and the other implicated companies are an egregious invasion of privacy. Not only should they have to answer for these abuses, but permanent protections should put in place to protect a person's privacy from the proclivities, and propensities of profligate people looking only to profit from the penetration of an individual's personal and private passions. CONTACT LYNDSIE YAMRUS AT: lyndsie.yamrus@wilkes.edu CONTACT ANTHONY GORECZNY anthony.qoreczny@wifkes.edu �8 THE BEACON I MARCH 20, 2012 OPINION Here's a restaurant tip: Pay your server, or else! BY CARLYYAMRUS Opinion Editor As a server working in food service for the past five summers, I've come to the realization that many people of varying ages and ethnicities do not know the first thing about restaurant etiquette. In particular, I mean tipping your server. The minimum hourly wage of a tipped employee in the state of Pennsylvania is a whopping $2.83, according to the United States Department of Labor. Subtract the taxes and, well, that's almost nothing. Almost all of what a server makes comes from tips. Many people complain about having to tip at restaurants. They often ask why the restaurant doesn't pay its servers minimum wage -- between $6 and $8, depending on the state. It actually makes a lot more sense to tip your server based off their performance. A server is not running around, getting drinks, taking orders, carrying food or writing checks for the kitchen staff, they're doing all that for their customers. The most irritating thing about being a • The Beacon / Laura Preby Misconceptions about restaurant employee pay leaves many servers stiffed and unhappy. Good service deserves 15 to 20 percent tip. waitress is bending over backwards for a customer, thinking you did a really good job, only to find an awful tip or worse: no tip. This is extremely discouraging and confusing to those servers who did everything they could to make their customer's dining experience a good one. People may not tip because they are assuming that their server I the legendary taste Go Colonels! We Deliver to Wilkes University! Call (570) 331-FAST (3278) Ask about our combo specials featuring our complete line up of pizza, subs, wings, burgers & more!visit us onlinc for a complete menu & listing of specials at www.grottopizzapa.com or visit our restaurant & sports bar Grotto Pizza, Gateway Center, on Rt. 11 in Edwardsville Gust across the bridge !) the legendary taste $5 OFF Any Order of $20 or More I For delivery or take out Expires 06/30/12 I valid only at Grotto Pizza locations is making tips on top of minimum wage. Restaurants are only required to compensate their employees if their tips and meager "tipped employee" wage does not equal the hourly minimum wage. Before leaving the restaurant, one must consider a few things before deciding how much they will leave their server. Were they friendly? Did they greet you and effectively explain the menu? Did they answer your questions and make you feel comfortable? Did they deliver your food in a timely fashion? If you answer yes, then they probably deserve 15 to 20 percent tip. Servers are not robots. They are not perfect and sometimes they make mistakes. It is easy to forget that food service is a pro- cess and many people are working together to satisfy the customer. Sometimes there are miscommunications and things go awry. Understand that they have other tables to tend to and that their focus cannot be on you at all times. If anything, remember that they may be the ones cleaning up the mess you made on the table when you leave. However, a poor tip is acceptable if your server fails to recognize your needs or if they are unpleasant. Even if the service was unacceptable, remember that it is almost never acceptable to throw a temper tantrum in public. Customers who yell and cause a scene can hardly be taken seriously, as they are being rude to not only the staff but to other customers. If you take anything away from reading this article it's this next part right here: If you cannot afford to tip your waiter or waitress, you cannot afford to eat at that restaurant. A poor college student myself, I understand why people are so frugal with their money. However, this is no reason to stiff a server who relies on their customers' understanding and generosity, or lack-there-of.So the next time you go out to eat, I hope you sit down, order your drink and consider the logistics of that restaurant and how hard the staff is working to get those chipotle chicken tacos to your table. CONTACT CARLY YAMRUS AT: carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu Letter to the Editor: Sugar Tax BY GARY NEALE MD Laparoscopic Bariatric and General Surgeon Pennsylvania collects $1.5 billion from cigarette sales, and the CDC recommends they spend $155 million on tobacco prevention. Sadly, Pennsylvania spends just 9 percent ($13.9 million) on prevention (tobaccofreekids.org). Obesity is an enormous problem, and you can continue to allow people to eat all the sugar they want, but they will gain weight, develop more diseases, cost more money to care for, and that means higher health insurance costs for everyone. Not to mention the added costs to programs like Medicare and Medicaid that are run by the government through taxation. Thirty eight percent of the country is obese (has a body mass index greater than 30, healthy is between 18.5 and 25), and 68 percent of the country is obese or overweight, which means being of a healthy weight now represents the minority. So do not worry yourself that just a few people are ruining things for the rest of us. Obese individuals have 50 percent greater medical costs, and 80 percent greater prescrip- tion costs. Morbidly obese people (generally more than 100 lbs overweight) have a greater risk of diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, cancer and a shorter life expectancy. Next to smoking, it is the second leading preventable cause of death. ., The medical costs associated with obesity total over $168 billion a year. Taxation of sugar may seem ridiculous, but the public has shown that making healthy choices is not easy, since 1.8 million of Pennsylvanians smoke. And do not think for a minute that obese people do not affect the lives of those around them, like drunk drivers or secondhand smoke. When people get to 300 lbs, 400 lbs or 500 lbs and have appendicitis or colon cancer, they put all the the health care workers at risk. From back injuries trying to lift the patient, to the bad outcomes of increased rates of infections, bed sores and mortality. Sugar taxation may not do much more than raise awareness, but since we have gone so far as to develop surgical operations for weight loss, perhaps we should still consider all options, even taxation. �CONTACT EDITOR: christinelee@thewilkesbeacon.com MARCH 20, 2012 UrtiMY,otfl\rtf Q14esfiorts with Important People GEORGIA COSTALAS, INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR GLOBAL EDUCATION AND DIVERSITY work involving these students. What is your main goal in this position? To provide Wilkes University with opportunities for learning perspectives that are different from one's own. What is your favorite hobby? Biking. I've been doing a lot of that in the past year. It's just been tremendous. The Beacon/Dan Lykens Georgia Costalas has been working with international students for 30 years. BY ALYSSA STENCAVAGE Staff Writer What exactly does your job entail? I have two jobs. I am Executive Director for the Center for Global Education and Diversity, which oversees study abroad, international student services and diversi- . ty initiatives; three separate units. Here I act as the supervisor, where I support and help get things done. I am also the Director of International Student Services. I work directly with students about international student issues, help international students come to campus adjust and help professors with paper What is your favorite and least favorable part about Wilkes? My favorite part is that people seem so willing to go out of their way to help. My _ least favorite part is that I have to travel 62 miles to and from work every day. What is your favorite book? My favorite book is "Jane Eyre." What is your favorite and least favorite part about your job? My favorite part is the interaction with students and my least favorite part is the paperwork How old were you when you got your first job and what was it? I was in sixth grade, 11 years old, and I took care of a first grader when she got home from school, such as helping her do her homework. What you find is the best way for you to relax after a long day at work? Reading or biking, depending on the weather. Ifl'm exhausted, reading. Is this the career you always saw yourseH in? Being in education, yes. I've worked with international students since 1982. Where is your favorite vacationing spot? Colly, Columbia, my other home. I used to come to the United States for vacation and now I go there. What has been your greatest or worst experience at Wilkes so far? Having this job is the greatest experience of my current life. It is my dream job. What advice can you give to the students here at Wilkes? To take advantage of opportunities that introduce them to people that are different than themselves. It is safe environment to do that, and it will help them forever. CONTACT ALYSSA STENCAVAGE AT: alyssa.stencavage@wilkes.edu C.A.S.U.A.L Day brings awareness of colon cancer . BY REBECCA BOLUS Assistant Life Editor Colon and rectal cancers are some of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in areas of Northeastern Pennsylvania with regional incident rates about 18 percent higher than the US average, according to Northeast Regional Cancer Institute. In response, the institute has created Colon Cancer Awareness Saves Unlimited Lives Day. This is a program to promote awareness of colon cancer and how early detection could significantly save lives. Student Services Associates Ann Marie Carey and Camille Daniels volunteered . as captains for the Wilkes University C.A.S.U.A.L. Day "team." Both learned about the event from a Lunch 'n Learn, coordinated by Wilkes human resources generalist Michele Grushinski. At these Lunch 'N Learns, faculty and staff are welcome to a free lunch and to learn about various wellness topics. "This is what got us involved," Daniels said. "We were shocked that Northeast Pennsylvania is 18 percent higher than the US average, and with early detection, you can be helped." C.A.S.U.A.L. Day was created in memory of Helen Phillips, who battled against colon cancer and passed away in the summer of 2002. - f' I I • I • Northeast Regional Cancer Institute will host the ninth annual C.A.S.U.A.L. Day on March 29. This event will be a day dedicated to wearing C.A.S.U.A.L. Day goldenyellow T-shirts and pins that were sold earlier in the month at Student Services. Various organizations across Northeastern Pennsylvania, including Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, Marywood University and WNEP News will be sponsoring C.A.S.U.A.L. day alongside Wilkes. "It's good as a university to get involved in the community to support public awareness," Carey said. The proceeds of the C.A.S.U.A.L. day Tshirts will go toward colon cancer awareness. "Since the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute is a local organization, 100 percent of the funds raised through C.A.S.U.A.L. Day will stay in Northeastern Pennsylvania to support colorectal cancer education and outreach efforts," Northeast Regional Cancer Institute Community Relations coordinator and Wilkes alumnae Christine Zavaskas said. For more information about C.A.S.U.A.L. Day and to participate in March Colon Cancer Awareness Month activities, visit www. cancernepa.org . . CONTACT REBECCA BOLUS AT: rebeccabo/us@thewilkesbeacon.com �THE BEACON I MARCH 20, 2012 10 Students deliver service to others during break Alternative spring break provides Colonels with unforgettable retreats B L, aI cc ti1 Ee gr IS WI in vc co Courtesy of Caitlin Czeh Courtesy of Justine Pevec Sophomore psychology major DJ Rembish clears debris in Eastern Kentucky. Senior psychology major Justine Pevec poses with children at a school. She taught English to internationational students through Outreach360 in the Domincan Republic. The Beacon/ Kirstin Cook BY CH RISTI NE LEE Life Editor On May 22, 2011 a tornado one-mile-wide and six-miles-long struck the city of Joplin, Mo., leveling the city. On March 2, 2012, an outbreak of tornados struck Eastern Kentucky and also wiped out entire towns. In other words, time to send in the Army Of Colonels. This year's Alternative Spring Break had students heading to four distinct locations at home and abroad to lend a hand. They were Joplin, Mo., Kentucky, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. Misso»ri Upon arrival at the Southwestern Missouri city, an hour west of Springfield, a group of six students and three chaperones encountered a site they could only describe as "incredible." The group knew the city needed help and were prepared to work to help out, but they were unprepared for just how extensive the damage was. Even a year after the city was struck, the damage was still apparent. "I had an idea of what to expect but it's so much worse than you can ever imagine without actually seeing what it's like," junior business administration and accounting major John Sweeney, one of the students who went to Joplin, said. Student Development coordinator and Joplin chaperone Melissa Howells was humbled by the people of Joplin's resilience in wanting to rebuild their city. "My impression of Joplin was that no one is leaving, they are rebuilding and that's all there Junior history major Alex Madaya picks coffee beans at a plantation in Costa Rica. is to it; they're not going to let this them scare them out," Howells said. "Most of the people who have been in Joplin have been there their entire lives and they are not giving up on their city." Sweeney feels he made a difference by helping with relief work in Joplin. He said he could see firsthand that the group's work was helping residents out. Sweeney said even clearing lots made a difference and said you could see it on their faces the satisfaction people were feeling about their work. Howells said she cannot say enough about how satisfied she is with the work the students accomplished. "They were always looking for more to do and you can only accomplish so much in a week but I feel completely satisfied with what we did," Howells said. SEE ASB, PAGE 12 G~ ( Ar tat Bu j tio in~ tri1 the lari the IS C C staJ ti Si to f "] it £ nit) we, Dominican Republic As soon as Willie Eggleston wa!J<:ed into a school in the Dominican Republic, he was greeted with the chants of "Americano!" from the children. Eggleston, a senior pharmacy student who went to the Dominican Republic, described the children as affectionate and said he didn't expect the children to trust the group so quickly. "We walked into that school, taught our first class and had a recess after that with the kids and they were climbing on us and hugging us," Eggleston said. "The trust was immediate." The group worked with the organization Outreach360 teaching in English to students in Rt op wi ha grc cou H lliil' ,,, M IDOi sidt win L, tion for nict R1 COUJ 146 SOUTH PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE/ WILKES-BARRE, PA 18701 buil fron vide harr Lrur �THE BEACON I MARCH 20, 2012 LIFE Adventure Education to host 'Cabin Fever' field day at Wilkes BY CHRISTINE LEE Life Editor Who's ever heard of Cabin Fever Day? Or better yet, who's ever jumped out of an airplane before? Or gone on a last-minute, completely random hike? Turns out these are just some of the activities and initiatives offered by Adventure Education this spring. Cabin Fever Day is a University-wide program in conjunction with Residence Life that is billed as a "University-wide field day." It will consist of teams of students competing in physical and strategic challenges that involve obstacle courses, problem-solving and communication exercises. "We are looking for ways to partner with Residence Life and provide more on-campus opportunities for residents to intermingle with the student body as a whole and to have some fun competition between the two groups," Adventure Education Coordinator Gabriel Lamberti said. Cabin Fever Day is scheduled to take place April 14 from lla.m. to 3p.m. Information tables were set up in the Student Union Building on March 13 and 15 and this week. Another highlight that Adventure Education has planned for this spring is a skydiving trip at the end ofApril. Lamberti said this trip is only offered every few years due to the challenges of arranging a trip of sue large proportions. But it is one that nonetheless students look forward to when it is offered. One thing that Adventure Education is starting this spring is random hikes. Lamberti said this one kind of event that is designed to fill the downtime students may have. "I try and fill some of the downtime when it feels like there's enough of an opportunity to get a few people together, and the weather's been so great to try and do a couple short-notice hikes or maybe a mountain bike or try to get people outside a bit when we catch a break in the winter weather," Lamberti said. Lamberti also said he is open to suggestions from students or groups of students for outdoor activities _when the weather is nice. Recently, the rock wall and high ropes course in the University Center on Ma· building gym has been given a buffer fund from Student Government that has provided the rock wall with new ropes an harnesses so the older equipment, as Lamberti puts it, "ends their useful life." "All this equipment is still safe," Lamberti said. "(But) you retire it every x number of times that it's been used. If you (have) such an increase in the use of the rock wall, that time has come a little bit earlier, so it's a good thing that we have to buy more gear because it means that the (equipment) are getting used significantly more than they were in the past." Lamberti said this is the first renewal of the rock wall equipment since the wall has been opened for five years. He said the ropes were in need of replacing and the harnesses are "pretty decent" but said it is a good idea to replace everything as brand new so it can be tracked for risk management purposes. Open rock wall is every Monday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Lamberti said he is always interested in people becoming potential facilitators for Adventure Education trips and programs. He is also interested in forming the Adventure Education Advisory Council comprised of members of Student Government members, faculty, staff and students. The mission of the advisory group is to "to guide the program toward offerings and events that appeal to the widest swath of students" and to serve as a liason between Student Government and Adventure Education. Anyone interested in any of the Adventure Education programs or initiatives explained ~bove can sign up at the SUB information desk or contact Lamberti at gabriel.lamberti@wilkes. edu or (570)408-4036 for. - more information. Climbing The Rock Wall: - ~ " " ' ' · .1 ,What: "The Great Wall Climb" Where:UCOM When: Every Monday and Thursday 4-5:30 p.rn. Adventure Education: What: "Cabin Fever Day" Where: Wilkes University When: April 14, 11 a.rn. - 3 p.rn. �THE BEACON I MARCH 20, 2012 LIFE 12 ASB Continued from Page 10 ''No matter where you were, no matter what the language was, you still felt like you were at home because these people were so friendly," Eggleston said. Sweeney, Rembish, Adams and Eggleston said their trips were excellent, life-changing and amazing experiences for them they will surely never forget. Kentucky · Since last year, students have gone to Eastern Kentucky to work with the ministry organization Christian Appalachian Project housing facet to repair homes. The group was originally slated to do general home improvement repairs and renovations for the elderly, disabled and those who can't work for themselves. But when an outbreak of tomados swept through Magoffin and Johnson counties in Eastern Kentucky, the group was thrust into helping those affected by the tornadoes. . Campus Interfaith coordinator and Kentucky chaperone Caitlin Czeh described seeing the damage firsthand as "heartbreaking." "There are no words to describe how heartbreaking and just the complete and utter devastation that you saw," Czeh said. Sophomore psychology major D.J Rembish said it was sad to see how people lost everything they had in 50 seconds, but inspiring to know the work the group did made .• a difference to those affected. "There was a family that came in and they literally cried on our shoulders saying 'thank you so much, you are my inspiration, you're the reason why I keep going on,"' Rembish said. .- Rembish described the work as physi- Courtesy of Melissa Howells Even a year after the city was struck by a tornado, the damage was still apparent. Wilkes sent this army of Colonels to Joplin, Mo. during spring break. cal: pulling apart houses, cutting wires and sifting through houses that were no longer stable. He said the work was emotional to some. "For some people it was overwhelming picking up people's lives: children's toys, shirts, seeing how someone's life had been placed out in front of you," Rembish said. The group was broken into two teams who worked a church, three houses and a holler -- a piece of property with multiple homes with one owner and one occupying family. Czeh said she could not be prouder of the students' work in Kentucky. "We worked through snow and then blistering heat, in complete mud. We were battered and bruised and exhausted from working nine and 10 hour days and the students never said 'I can't' or 'I wantto be done,'they just kept on going," Czeh said. The Beacon/ Kirstin Cook Students in Costa Rica turned coffee beans to properly dry them during a volunteer project. Alex Madaya attempts to turn beans. I ' Costa Rica The expression "Pura Vida" is Spanish for "pure life" and is universally known in Costa Rica since the 1950's. This expression certainly described the ex- periences of the students in assistant professor of political science Dr. Andrew Miller's Politics of Coffee class who went to the Latin American country. "The lifestyle there is a lot more laid back, the people are extremely friendly and it just gives you a wholesome and warm feeling everywhere you go," said senior psychology major Justine Adams, who went to Costa Rica this year. Having gone to the Dominican Republic last year, Adams said although she loved both trips, her trip to Costa Rica as a service learning trip had more variety to it. "You did different projects every day rather than focusing on ·one specific project, so there's a little more diversity with the services (done)," Adams said. Adams said going to Costa Rica taught her about the culture of another country. "I learned a lot about the environment and different ways oflife that Costa Rica has that we don't have in the U.S," Adams said. CONTACT CHRISTINE LEE AT: christine/ee@thewilkesbeacon.com ----------------------. Take your classes here. Transfer your credits . SAVE LOTS OF MONEY. �[ITI8]] ,[lli'@]'fJD CONTACT EDITOR: billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com _ MARCH 20, 2012 Courtesy o S aron Cosgrove The four paintings in the Elements Series, by art instructor Sharon Cosgrove, are currently on display in the home of US Ambassador Kenneth Fairfax in Kazakhstan.jrom March 26 to March 31, she will act as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Deparment's ART in Embassies Program, representing America through her art. Wilkes prof. takes US culture international Sharon Cosgrove to teach classes in Kazakhstan as part of ambassadorial program BY BILL THOMAS Arts & Entertainment Editor Though Wilkes University associate professor of art Sharon Cosgrove speaks neither Kazakh nor Russian, the two primary languages of Kazakhstan, she said that when she travels there at the end of the month, she doesn't expect the language barrier to be much of a problem. As part of the US Department of State's ART in Embas~ies Program, Cosgrove's trip will take her to areas with strong Englishspeaking populations and she will also be accompanied by a translator fluent in both Kazakh and Russian. However, Cosgrove explained, there is something even greater that allows her to communicate on a deeper level with the people of Kazakhstan. "Even though I don't speak the language, we have the visual language of art," Cosgrove said. "Colors, lines, shapes, styles. It transcends politics or climate and things like that." From March 26 to March 31, Cosgrove will spend time in Kazakhstan .visiting schools and cultural institutions in the Kazakhstani cities ofAstana, Kostanay and Almaty. There, she will act as a cultural ambassador, meeting and greeting Kazakhstani citizens and of- ficials and also offering lectures and classes to Kazakhstani art students. Four of Cosgrove's paintings are also on display at the U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Fairfax's residence in AsCosgrove tana. Started in 1963, the Art in Embassies Program will soon celebrate its 50th anniversary. In all those years, Cosgrove points out, the program has allowed the United States to share thousands of works of art with its international neighbors, so much so that art historian Henry Geldzahler notably referred to the program as a "footprint that can be left where people have no opportunity to see American art." Arguably more important, though, is the way the program allows for mutually beneficial cultural exchange, as the artists who participate interact with peoples of various foreign cultures. "This is a great international program that represents American artists worldwide," Cos- grove said. "It's like being called to duty to represent America. Why wouldn't I want to be involved?" Of the many items on Cosgrove's overseas agenda, one key element will be her visits to Astana, Kostanay and Almaty's "American Comers." American Comers are, in Cosgrove's words, "special places where they have movies, games, speakers, all in English." According to the website for the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan, access to the American Comers is free and open to anyone. Their extensive offerings of activities and English teaching materials are intended to help interested Kazakhstani citizens learns English in more organic, engaging manner than a single simple academic course could offer. "That's part ofit," Cosgrove noted, discussing the purpqse of the program, "to help them prepare for classes in America." Cosgrove's visits to the American Comers, she said, will be "very informal" compared to the classes and the presentations will be doing. "Those will be big, long productions. It's very friendly, just us sitting down and talking," she said. Furthermore, Cosgrove points out that, whereas her classes will be geared specifical- ly toward art students, her American Comer visits will allow her to interact with "children, adults, people of all ages and walks of life." "My role as a cultural ambassador is something I'm very excited about," Cosgrove said. "I wish I could leave tomorrow. " · Experiencing other cultures is nothing new to Cosgrove. She has also spent time in Italy, where she was a visiting artist at both The International School of Art in Umbria and The American Academy in Rome, and taught students at Santa Reparata International School of Art in Florence. In 1999, she was the recipient of the Medici Award from the International Biennale Exhibition of Contemporary Art in Florence. · "Every time I travel to a place other than home it's an opportunity to see the world from a different perspective and gain insight from different point of view," Cosgrove said. "I think that what happens, as an artist, is it doesn't always take effect immediately. I tend to be very reflective. It takes a while to put things into place. Sometimes it takes months of years for whatever it was that transformed you to settle in. For an artist putting that into their work can have a very profound and long-term effect." CONTACT BILL THOMAS AT: billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com �_THE BEACON . I .MABCH 20, 2012 14 Curse of Sorrow rocks, shocks with new album BY BILL THOMAS Arts & Entertainment Editor Horror and metal are kissing cousins. It's no surprise that the two genres work well together. They're both aggressive, cathartic, outlaw art forms which get little respect from the mainstream public, but whose admirers are of the most ardent, die-hard sort. Nick Necro, lead singer for self-described "Grave Rock" act The Curse of Sorrow, knows all about that. Since the group's debut in 2006, the band has built up a devoted NEPA fan base, something Necro partially attributes to his chosen genres' ability to help listeners vent their own real-world frustrations through jet-black fantasy. "Our style is horror, because that's what we're into. But at the same time, with the music itself, we don't focus on trying to be terrifying. We focus on reality a lot," Necro said. "I think one of the best things about our lyrics is that I could play a song for ten people and ·· have every one of them take it in a completely different way. They can personalize it, put themselves into the songs." Preparing to unleash another slab of snarling, raucous horror-metal on the helpless masses, the Wilkes-Barre-based five-piece - which also consists of lead guitarist Jay Bones, rhythm guitarist Mark Massacre, bassist Steve Slaughter and drummer Evil Eric - • I ·' Courtesy of Keith Perks The NEPA five-piece returns with sophomore horror-metal record "The Uninvited:' will celebrate the release of its second album, "The Uninvited," with a special concert on Saturday, March 24, at Brews Brothers West in Luzerne. Supporting acts include Sinister Realm, Prosody and Mobday. Promising an unforgettable stage show, Necro remarked that the band's reputation for delivering flashy, frenzied live performances is no accident. "We do everything in our power to put on one hell of a show for anyone who comes out. We go above and beyond with our energy. We're not all about the shock, but we get car- ried away in our music," Necro said. "We just dropped a lot of money on a lighting system, because we want people to come out and experience not only music but a visual as well. We do everything we can to make sure we stand out." Ultimately, however, Necro feels the music itself is the star attraction. He credits the band members' eclectic range of influences for contributing to their unique "Grave Rock" sound, rattling off a list of inspirations including everything from Motley Crue, The Misfits and Iron Maiden to more surprising additions like The Grateful Dead and Johnny Cash. "That's the one thing I pride myself the most on with The Curse of Sorrow. When we sit down to write a song, it's not like a group meeting where we start playing a guitar part over and over until we have something great. We just get together and jam out," Necro explained. "It's not that any one of us really focuses on our influences. It's just that we've evolved from our influences and listened to our influences for so long, it just comes naturally. I've been playing music my entire life, but music just does not come together like it comes together with The Curse of Sorrow. We're blessed to have what we have." Tickets for the Saturday, March 24 show at Brews Brothers West are $7. Doors open at 8 p.m. and footage of the concert will be shot for an upcoming music video. For more information, visit thecurseofsorrow.com or brewsbrothersbar.com/brewsbrotherswest. Listen to a free track off The Curse of Sorrow's upcoming CD "The Uninvited" at www.thewilkesbeacon.com CONTACT BILL THOMAS AT: billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com WB film series commemorates centennial of Titanic disaster BY BILL THOMAS Arts & Entertainment Editor For many, when thinking about the Titanic in cinema, the first thing that comes to mind is the James Cameron-directed 1997 epic. A new film series being offered at Wilkes-Barre Movies 14, though, may just change that. From Thursday, March 22 to Sunday, April 15, the downtown multiplex will present "A Titanic Experience," a series of five films, one screening every Thursday at 7 p.m., with the exception of the Sunday, April 15 date, which will mark the 100th anniversary of the night the Titanic sank back in 1912. The films included in the series will be the documentaries "Titanic Tech" (2003) and "Ghosts of the Abyss" (2003), and the fictionalized docudramas "A Night to Remember" (1958) and "Titanic" (1953). In between the latter two will be blockbuster adventure film "Raise the Titanic" (1980). More than just an opportunity to see a series of classic motion pictures up on the big screen, however, the series also promises to be an educational experience, with introductions and discussions led by Penn State Wilkes-Barre communications instructor Bill Bachman. "I'm going to guarantee that everyone who walks out of the series at the end of the fifth week will be a semi-professional on the Titanic. People will learn so much about that ship than they ever thought possible," Bachman said. "I felt it was necessary to give everyone a foundation in the first two weeks. What the heck was the Titanic? Was it unsinkable? In the second week's screening (Ghosts of the Abyss) we can see it literally dissolving into the ocean floor." The series will also feature a few special guests, including Penn State Wilkes-Barre chemistry professor Dudley Snyder and engineering instructor Jon Carson. It is the April 15 screening's guests, though, that Bachman is most honored to have present. "At the conclusion of the movie on April 15, I will introduce two families in the audience, one from Wilkes-Barre, one from Plains, both of whom had relatives on the Titanic," Bachman said. "They will speak for several Photo Courtesy of 20th Century Fox No Leo here! The 19S8 film "Titanic" will screen at Wilkes-Barre M ovies 14 in April. minutes and we'll conclude the whole thing with a memorial service, 100 years to the day the Titanic sank. We'll never get a chance to do something like this, not ever." Though the series is being offered as a class to students of Penn State Wilkes-Barre, it is open to the public and Bachman encourages both students from other schools and nonstudents in general to check it out. Non-Penn State students can attend the screenings either for their own pleasure or for the benefit of receiving a continuing education credit from Penn State Wilkes-Barre, which Bachman also encouraged non-Penn State students to talk to their advisers about transferring to their home schools. Anyone interested in participating in the series.., should register as soon as possible. Registration can be done online, by mail or inperson at the inaugural March 22 screening. Registration ends Thursday, March 29. Cost is $40. To register, go to wb.psu.edu/ce. For more information, contact Rachel Rybicki by phone at 570-675-9269 or by email at rrybicki@psu.edu. CONTACT BILL THOMAS AT: bil lthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com �15 THE BEACON I MARCH 20, 2012 A&E Hard-boiled whodunit keeps things fresh with varying POVs 'John Carter' is a stellar sci-fi flick that no one wants to see BY BILL THOMAS Arts & Entertainment Editor The box office has not been kind to "John Carter." The sprawling science-fantasy epic cost more than $250 million to produce, but made less than a quarter of that in America its opening weekend. Interestingly, audiences who actually paid to see "John Carter" have been much kinder to the fl oundering film , and a positive word-of-mouth buzz has begtm to stir. Still, the -future of the any planned sequels is in jeopardy. That's a shame, because, all in all, "John O uter" is pretty damn good. Based on Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs' seminal series of genre-bending sword-and-stardust stories, "John Caiter'' sees the title character (Taylor Kitsch), a Civil War-era cavalryman transported by means mysterious to him (and us) to the planet Mars, which he finds is neither airless nor lifeless, but dying. In addition, he finds his human muscles, accustomed to the greater gravity of Earth, make him capable of fantastical feats of strength and also allow him to make huge leaps that would ttm1 The Incredible Hulk green(er) with envy. Lost in th is strange, alien environment, called " Barsoom" by the natives, Carter wanders in search of a way back home, but instead finds himself embroiled in conflicts both between and within the various tribes of Mars, which include the green-skinned, four-armed, tusk-faced warrior Tharks and the royal Red Martirms. It is from the latter group that Carter encounters Dejah TI10ris (Lynn Collins), a strongwilled princess of the citystate Helium. A romance between the slowly blooms as cata- clysm looms over the red planet. It's sad, and danming evidence of Disney's grossly incompetent marketing campaign, that many mainstrean1 audiences think "John Carter" is some generic "Stai· Wars"f 'Avatar" knock-off. The tmth is that Burroughs' "Barsoom" books are among the most unique and endwing adventttre tales in the canon of American pulp fiction. That this adaptation has been in the works literally since the 1930s and that its release coincides with the centennial anniversary of the series' original publication makes the misconception even more insulting. As it is, "John Carter" inspires a genuine sense of awe and wonder, not to mention thrilling two-fisted fun, the way few films manage nowadays. Even better, it blends that with a str emotional core, as well subtext that manage say much about t human conditi despite the fi l being pop lated wit characters who are, on the surface, anything but. BY ANN IE YOSKOSKI Staff Writer In James Patterson's "First to Die," Detective Lindsay Boxer of the San Francisco Police Department has a large problem on her hands: a serial ki ller intent on ending the Iives of newly betrothed wealthy couples. Even though Lindsay is a decorated police officer, she and her partner, Warren Jacobi, cannot crack this case alone. When the case stalls and the FBI is called in to help the homicide department, Lindsay feels that the investigation is going in the wrong direction. She wants take matters into her own hands. Lindsay gets by, however, with a little help. Claire Washburn is Lindsay's best friend, and the chief medical examiner. Cindy homas joins these two women llowing the story of the ' ride and Groom" urders, hoping to ake the front ge as the se·or writer at e San Francisco Chronicle crime desk. Finally thro"wn into the mix is assistant dis- ---+--- trict attorney Jill Bernhardt, the prosecutor who needs all the evidence that she can get. These four women make a group of talented, powerful individuals and form what they call "TI1e Women's Murder Club," taking on the case from different perspectives and utilizing all the resources they cai1. The first novel in a series, Patterson alternates viewpoints from each short chapter to the next, writing from the perspective of all four women and the killer. TI1e con~tant switching of characters is not as confusing as one might think., because every piece fits together. This isn't Patterson's typical hardboiled detective novel, but it's also not the clumsy, cozy, amateur-Jinds-out-a-big-secret mystery either. It's rare to find a detective novel with multiple heroes, but Patterson juggles all four women, the killer and their separate lives with ease, even giving Lindsay Boxer a love interest. Everything intertwines at the end. One would think with so much detail that Patterson would make it easy to find out "whodunit." Think again. One of the best parts of this novel is the ending, which comes as a complete surprise to the reader. Just when the book seems to close and everything is nice and tidy, another twist is thrown in the epilogue. The ability of Patterson to constantly keep his readers on edge and still make everything plausible and interesting is a rare talent in writers today. lf you like detective shows on television like "Law and Order," "Castle," "NCIS," or any of the others you will love reading he's: a classic t a a ways hits the sp BY DOMIN ICK COSTANTINO Staff Writer Most people in this area are familiar with the taste of an Abe's hot dog. There are many locations in the Wyoming Valley. The location I chose to eat at, though, is just down the street from Wilkes University on S. Main St. lt is a little street-side restaurant that draws countless customers every single day. I never ate at this location so I figured I would give it a try. The restaurant is small, but has a decent amount of tables for customers to sit at. Customers have the option of either sitting down and eating at the restaurant or ordering their food at the counter and taking it out. I took notice that a lot of people get their food for takeout. Since Abe's is famous for their hot dogs, l knew I had to order a couple. I got mine with ·'everything" on it. " Everything" translates to mustard, onions, and their homemade meat sauce. The hot dog itself was cooked well. It had a little bit of a brown grill but it was not burnt. The buns had a good texture and were not soggy at all. Some places that I've had hotdogs at before had buns that were mushy. The mustard and onions both added to the taste but did not dominate. I was a little disappointed in the meat sauce, though. It had a good taste to it and they definitely put plenty of it on the hot dogs, but the meat ;~;8 d~/ti am a fan of meat sauces that are a little more juicy. Despite this, the hot dogs were still very good. A friend of mine ordered a grilled ham and cheese sandwich on white toast. She described the sandwich as being "delicious and gooey." I tasted a little piece and found the toast was crunchy and the cheese melted and warm . The ham had a little bit of a salty taste, but still very good. The personalities of all the workers here were great. They were extremely hospitab le and showed us they really appreciated our business. "Thank you so much for coming," and "Thank you, buddy," were repeated multiple times prior to our leaving. ~ 'JIIII(' W 4/5 ~ewo::t:! in particular "FirS t to was very personable with us and asked us how we were enjoying the beautiful weather. This is defi nitely a place where yo u feel welcomed the entire time. Prices are very cheap here. My two hot dogs with everything and a large soda came to less than $5. This is definitely an affordable lunch spot fo r anyone who is watching their spending. In addition to hot dogs, Abe's also has hamburgers and other grilled sandwiches. If you're up in time, they also have a large breakfast menu. By the amount of people that were coming in and out as I was there, I can tell Abe's is a landmark that people value and love. CONTACT BILL THOMAS billthomas@thewilkes.beacon •• �MARCH 20, 2012 Getting to know ... Anth0 ny Da\t2\2tain, 149 lbs. lntramurals offer fun, social outlet BY JUSTIN FRANIAK -sports Editor BY BILL CONWAY Correspondent Meet Anthony Dattolo, a senior captain from Succasanna, N.J., who repeated as an All-American in NCAA Division III national wrestling championships in Wisconsin. Dattolo fell in the finals to Ithaca~ Jeremy Stierly 3-1. The prior weekend Dattolo won his second consecutive Metroplitan Conference Championship. The Wilkes Intramural program allows students with a tight schedule to get out of their dorms to enjoy a fun, social college sports experience. That's the primary goal of Intramural director Neal Biscaldi, getting the students out of their dorms and involved in a valuable learning experience through sports with fellow students ~d faculty. "A benefit of being involved in the program is meeting, and making new friends," Biscaldi said, "I Jove seeing these individuals around campus after just having met at one of our events." Biscaldi feels that the Intramural program is not only a great way to make friends, but that it is also a great way to take your mind off of school. The program offers a variety of sports, and has season specific programs. For example in the Spring, the program offers basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer, and bowling. Biscaldi says that it is possible to suggest other sports that you might be interested in playing, all you have to do is e-mail him, and prove that there is a big enough group for participation so that they can form a league. The area of participation is an interesting one. Biscaldi mentioned that for the more popular sports such as soccer, and basketball that they get between 70-100 kids participating. Biscaldi also encourages more female participation. The ratio of men to women is staggering, and Biscaldi would like to see it evened out. "I'm not really sure what the problem is," Biscaldi said, "I have done research and it's like that everywhere, not just here." If you're one of those females not participating in..Intramurals, or a male looking for something to do - the Intramural program is a way to solve that. The activities take place around two nights a week from 8:30 to 9:30, and to get involved e-mail neal.biscaldi@wilkes.edu Year: Senior Major: Business Administration Hometown: Succasanna, N.J. Going into conferences where was your head at? At this point in the season, it is do or die so I knew I had to wrestle tough for the full seven minutes of each match. What were your thoughts going into nationals? Going into nationals, the only thing I was thinking about was becoming an All-American. There was no way I was • going to be denied. I got a lot of inspiration from my coaches, teammates and family. When you got closer and closer to the finals what was running through your mind? I tried not to become overwhelmed with emotions as the tournament went on. I tried to keep a level head throughout the weekend. How about wrestling long time rival Zac Andrews from Delaware Valley to get into the finals? It was a war. Best moment at nationals? Making the finals and wrestling on the main stage. Courtesy of Sports Information Anthony Dattolo {left) poses with his second place NCAA Division Ill national wrestling championship at 149 lbs. Dattolo became a two time All-American en route to a championship finals birth. He dropped his finals bout _3-1 to Ithaca's Jeremy Stierly, placing second in the nation. He placed seventh last year. How was the atmosphere in the arena? It was really intense. People were always yelling. It was awesome to hear the roar of the crowd. How was the cheese in Wisconsin? Delicious. My favorite was the Pepper Jack. Did you really see WWE Superstar BookerT? Wilson, Fleck and I saw him waiting for his flight in the Detroit airport. Best moment during your Wilkes Career? My four years of competing. Advice for the young guys? Want it more than the guy in front of you and wrestle like there is no tomorrow. Plans for wrestling in the future? I want to open a wrestling club and coach. Any regrets in your career? All the times I cut weight the wrong way. Favorite pair of wrestling shoes? 2000 Adidas Sydney's. Favorite food? Pizza with a lot of black olives. Favorite Athlete? Derek Jeter. Favorite TV show? "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." CONTACT JUSTIN FRANIAK AT: justinfraniak@thewilkesbeacon.com CONTACT JUSTIN FRANIAK AT: justinfraniak@thewilkesbeacon.com �THE BEACON SPORTS 17 MARCH 20, 2012 SCOREBOARD ,&, Baseball 3/13 Marywood W 10-9 3/16 Eastern W 14-7 3/17 Eastern L 1-18, L 7-10 Softball . 3/17 Eastern L 4-10, W 4-1 W-Tennis 3/17 Eastern W 7-2 Lacrosse 3/17 PSU-Abington W 17-12 WEEK AHEAD Baseball 3/20 Penn College 3/23 FDU-Florham 3/24 FDU-Florham Softball 3/21 Alvernia 3/24 FDU-Florham 3/29 Lebanon Valley W-Tennis 3/22 Haverford M-Tennis 3/25 Elizabethtown Lacrosse 3/22 Albright Send messages and pictures to @wilkesbeacon There is no doubt that the quarterback is the most important position in the NFL. You could argue it's the most important in all of sports. It's no wonder why NFL teams look build their franchise around a quarterback. But what happens if you had to build your team around a non-quarterback? For me, it's not that simple. Team building is all about preference, who would you pick? There is no one player that is so dominant in the NFL that they can be the clear choice. If you look at this question from a fantasy football point of view then you'd be most likely r-="'\t~%H?--••4:•;w,.,,, to go with a wide out or running back such as Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson, Calvin Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald. They're all very good choices, but ifl would go with an offensive linemen. The offensive line, it really is the back bone of one's team, and a great offensive line can w,,W make an average running back into a star like Shaun Alexander once upon a time. They give average quarterbacks the time and protection they need to thrive and develop. The center is the general of the OL. He snaps the ball, calls the shifts and audibles which are essential to a good flowing offense. The best center in the NFL is clearly Nick Mangold of the New York Jets and until this year has never missed a game, the 4 games he missed ended in disaster for the Jets this year. The defensive side of the ball gets a little tricky though since there are so many different choices to pick from. Darrell Revis is certainly the best defensive player in the NFL. He can shut down an entire side of the field and take even the best receivers out of the game. Patrick Willis has taken the title of best linebacker in the NFL away from Ray Lewis, who is aging. Willis, 27, gets better every year. He is a dominating force that teams are scared to face, if you like linebackers and a 3-4 style defense he might be a good choice. If you like pass rushing there are a lot of choices but if you're looking to build your team around. I would go with Jason Pierre Paul. JPP is one of the most dominant big play machines in the NFL after only two years in the league, he is 23 and has not even come close to reaching his potential levels. There is no safety in the league, other than maybe Eric Berry, that I would build a team around. But I even have a hard time with that because he tore his ACL last season. Ed Reed is aging and Troy Polamalu can disappear a lot in games. 1 a'e ; e WAatnp wq\lldqy tearh ,a ' t" 1he,. B ···:. "~'.:'de.··. ···>s.1 . ay : .· "'•: • . ,p .a}1~Yi;;iO \.;.,.·.·.· .;e. . . . , .. . , In the whirlwind of the Peyton Manning saga, other free agent players have been signing with new teams. This raises the question, if you had to build a team around a non-quarterback player, who would it be? My first choice would be the Broncos Von ~ Miller. He is a young talented linebacker and won defensive rookie of the year. He is still growing into his role, and his rookie year proved he will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. Patrick Willis is another choice. He is still young and arguably the best linebacker in the league. He makes everyone around him a better player. Navarro Bowman and the Smith "Brothers" became great players because of other teams being concerned with Willis. • Ndamukong Suh is also another player tc build around. He has a hard-nosed mentality and is a force on the field. He took an irrelevant Lions team and instead of making them just relevant, he made them extremely intimidating. He strikes fear in offensive player's eyes. Darelle Revis is also a viable option. But in such a pass happy league, getting to the quarterback is an essential part of the game. Revis is an amazing defender, but you can plug him in anywhere and he'll excel. On the ·offensive side, the linemen are the core of the team. Building around a guy like Nick Mangold is not a mistake. He is massive and is the best center in the league. Putting role players around him will help any team win games. The left tackle spot might be the most important position on any football team. He protects the blindside of the quarterback. You can have the greatest quarterback of all time behind center, but if he is getting sacked every play, a team cannot win. Jake Long is a monster on the field. He is arguably the best tackle in the game. Building a solid offensive line around him will gurantee a solid running and passing attack. Running backs can also be an option to build around. Adrian Peterson and Arian Foster have exploded onto the scene and can be built around. They both can make a mediocre offensive line look great with one move. I believe that a defensive player is the most logical player to build around. If you sack the quarterback, you win. If the other team can't run or pass, you win. Finding stud defensive players is hard. but when it is done, teams are almost guranteed to win. After all, defense wins championships. �, 18 THE BEACON I MARCH 20, 2012 SPORTS Lady Colonels down Elizabethtown, stay unbeaten Wilkes women's tennis nearly sweep singles, sit at a perfect 7-0 in the MAC COURTESY OF SPORTS INFORMATION The Wilkes University women's tennis team moved to 7-0 on the season in a matchup of two unbeaten squads Sat' ,,. urday afternoon posting a 7-2 win over Elizabethtown College. The Lady Colonels took two of three doubles matches before posting five wins in singles play. The team of Melanie Nolt /Katie Lynn scored an 8-4 win at the No. I doubles position, while Anna Mitchell / Ana English grabbed an 8-5 victory at No. 3 doubles giving Wilkes a 2-1 lead heading into singles play. Ally Kristofco posted a straight set c 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 3 singles followed by another Lady Colonel win at No. 5 sin- gles from Alexis Donner (1 -6, 6-2, 6-2). Lynn clinched the match with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win at No. 2. Nolt and Holyk were also victorious in their singles matches at No. 1 and No. 6 respectively. Wilkes returns to the courts Tuesday with a road contest at Division II Bloomsburg University at 3:30 p.m. Wilkes University 7, Elizabethtown 2 Singles 1. Melanie Nolt (Wilkes) def. Madison Pipkin (ETWN) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 2. Katrina Lynn (Wilkes) def. Alena Marani (ETWN) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 3. Ally Kristofco (Wilkes) def. Allison Burkhardt (ETWN) 6-0, 6-0 4. Kristi Noecker (ETWN) def. Anna Mitchell (Wilkes) 6-3, 5-6, retired 5. Alexis Donner (Wilkes) def. C. Evangelista (ETWN) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 6. Amanda Holyk (Wilkes) def. Sarah Poulle (ETWN) 6-3, 6-5 Doubles 1. Melanie Nolt/Katrina Lynn (Wilkes) def. Allison Burkhardt/ Madison Pipkin (ETWN) 8-4 2. Alena Marani/Kristi Noecker (ETWN) def. Ally Kristofco / Alexis Donner (Wilkes) 9-7 3. Anna Mitchell /Ana English Photo courtesy of Steve Finkernagel (Wilkes) def. C. Evangelista/Kait- Wilkes' Ally Kristofco continued her hot lyn Pellegrino (ETWN) 8-5 streak by beating Allison Burkhardt 6-0, 6-0. Eastern downs Wilkes baseball twice in doubleheader weekend COURTESY OF SPORTS INFORMATION • The Wilkes University baseball team dropped a pair of games at Eastern University Saturday afternoon in a Freedom Conference doubleheader. Eastern claimed an 18-1 win in game one, then followed with a 10-7 victory in the nightcap. Wilkes slips to 5-8 overall and 1-2 in league play, while Eastern improves to 9-4 overall and 2-1 in Freedom contests. Game one was all Eagles as the hosts pounded out 19 hits and 18 runs over the seven inning affair. Eastern jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings of play then plated 10 runs in the fourth to clinch the opener. Carmen Lopresto finished with two hits for the Colonels. Matt Ruch, Tay Sidler, and Bobby Schappell posted one hit each as Wilkes managed just five hits in the contest. Starter Ryan Fetterman recorded the loss on the mound going just one and twothirds allowing seven runs on eight hits. The Eagles wasted little time getting off to a good start in game two leading 4-0 after three innings of play. Wilkes finally responded in the fourth with a four-run frame to tie the game. Joel Watson singled to right field followed by a Stephen Ruch single to left field. Pinch-hitter Michael Olerta connected on an RBI single to center field scoring Watson. After back-to-back walks loaded the bases, M. Ruch doubled to deep center field plating all three Colonel runs tying the game at four. The Eastern bats were up to the task yet again breaking the tie with a five-run fourth inning to take back the lead for good, 9-4. Wilkes scored twice in the seventh to make things interesting down 10-7, but the Colonels could not find another key hit to make the comeback complete in their final at-bats. M. Ruch finished 2-for-5 with three RBI's to lead the Wilkes offense in game two. Watson and Schappell added two hits each. Sean Flecknoe was tabbed with the loss on the mound going three innings allowing nine runs on 11 hits. The Colonels host Penn College Tuesday in non-conference action at 3:30 p.m. at Artillery Park. STRESSED? HEADACHE? Headaches and back pain are two of the most common ailments treated at our clinic. Often, we can bring relief simply by taking the pressure off a pinched nerve. Here are other common symptoms of a pinched nerve . Neck Pain Back Pain Shoulder Pain Arm Pain Leg Pain Muscle Pain - Sports Injury - FREE 20 Min Hydro Massage Auto Accident - 'W WILKES UNIVERSllY FREE EXAM & FREE 1st Treatment Wilkes-Barre Chiropractic & Rehab Dr. David Lewis Chiropractic Physician 825-5535 380 Old River Road Wilkes-Barre, PA All Insurances Accepted dblewis3 26@aol. com www.nepachiro.com �19 THE BEACON I MARCH 20, 2012 WE TREAT INJUR IES AND lllNESSES FOR ALL AG ES. + J UST \VAll<IN . +.Al.W AYS.A PHYSICIAN ON S ITE. + MOST UJSUftAHCE ACC EPTED BUT NOT REOUHtED . + X- RAYS, LA.BS, EKG~. !V:s, MJHOR SURGER:Y. flu The ca · just wal .,~- ED. 271:"We .•• · .· ·wyomiqgA,en 570-28:J}t)'JQt 11, f;u:eaoJ~'COffl J �NEWS 20 . . The Beacon/Dan Lykens Ceremony opens SHE building's construction BY PHAT NGUYEN News Editor • President Tim Gilmour was revealed as the mystery excavator for the groundbreaking kick-offMarch 1. Equipped with a shovel used in the Stark Learning Center's 1956 opening, the president was the first to remove dirt for Wilkes University's new $35 million science project. The new building will house Wilkes' biology and health sciences, chemistry and engineering programs. The 72,500-square-foot building is scheduled to open in the fall of 2013. It is located between the Stark Learning Center and Conyngham Hall. Gilmour believes that the building will bring not only state-of-the-art collaborative learning spaces to the campus, but also an enhanced pursuit of excellence in science education. "This greatly increases our ability to attract the best and brightest students every year," said Gilmour. Gilmour hopes the new building will open new opportunities for medical and other research with partners such as the Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton and regional health care organizations like Geisinger Health System. "The building will contribute to the economic development of the region, but it is for our students first and foremost," Gilmour said. The.project is funded through private financing, philanthropy and government grants. Jack Miller, the chair of Wilkes Board of Trustees, announced the public phase of "Achieving Our Destiny," a $20 million fundraising campaign. The campaign has already raised $10.4 million towards its goal. Miller believes the science building will ensure another decade of extraordinary success. "Wilkes is at a tipping point and this building will put us over the top," Miller said. The Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development estimates the building's annual economic impact at $5.8 million from new jobs and scientific research. The 18-month construction period will generate $20.5 million in Luzerne County and $46.8 million in Pennsylvania. Trustee member Michael Mahoney serves as chair of the campaign, with Hedy Wrightson Rittenmeyer and John Cefaly as cochairs. Frank M. Henry and William B. Sordoni are honorary chairs. The campaign's leadership donors played a major role in securing the more than half of its $20 million goal. Wilkes plans to use tax-exempt bonds to finance the remaining $15 million. State Sen. John Yudichak, state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski and Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton were all in attendance and helped secure $1 million from the Pennsyl- vania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program and $2 million from Local Share Assessment Fund, gaming funds . Yudichak also spoke before the groundbreaking events stating his pleasure with the SHE building. "Wilkes and president Gilmour have been unremitting in their quest to establish the university as a regional, educational and economic asset," Yudichak said. "Wilkes is boldly charging into science and research." He went on to quote former US president John F. Kennedy saying, 'If history teaches us anything, it is that man in his quest for knowledge, is determined and cannot be deterred.' Yudichak then linked Wilkes' success as a leader in science to attract pharmaceutical giant CVS Caremark to the area. The project creates 18-months of ongoing construction apd fences off half of the university's 'greenway,' however, student government president William Eggleston believes the barriers and loud construction will be worth it. "Over the next few semesters, we'll encounter some noises and fences, but it'll all be worth it, because being Colonel means making these sacrifices for students who will follow in our footsteps, so they can truly achieve greatness," Eggleston said. CONTACT PHAT NGUYEN AT: phatnguyen@thewilkesbeacon.com � 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 2012 March 20th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 March 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/1a24c784a4f31edff89663ca79cc509c.pdf b2c3926e3a5bf4ede8b4b7f57ce48d67 PDF Text Text Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member THE BEACON www.thewilkesbeacon.com March 27, 2012 Volume 64 Issue 16 HARD HATAREA AUTHORIZED !!,!tSONNEL O The Beacon/Phat Nguyen Wilkes is set to have 18 months of continuous construction for the $35 million science building. The construction has drawn mixed reactions from students and faculty, as some support the building but others feel th~ liberal arts are being overlooked. Science building draws mixed reactions Bailey said his labs are almost always filled up, and he feels that News Editor Stark does not match the quality Senior accounting major Weston education being offered. McCollum believes Wilkes' new "Stark is starting to get old and science building is "a waste of shabby," Bailey said. "I think a money." state of the art science building is "They took away the only ap- essential." pealing part of our campus," McStudents and faculty hold strong Collum said. opinions regarding the new science Sophomore pre-med major Adam building, some of them conflicting. Bailey is happy to see the entire While some strongly support the greenway is not taken up but be- advancement of the school's scilieves the sciences do need a new ences, others see it as a selfish probuilding. motion and financial burden. BY PHAT NGUYEN The $35 million building, which is set to open in fall of 2013, will undergo 18 months of ongoing construction. That daily construction, which starts as early as 8 a.m. , doesn't seem to have students and faculty concerned about loud noises as much as costs and the loss of the university's greenway, which has been fenced off. One of the science departments allegedly in need of renovations is the Chemistry Department. Amy Bradley, chemistry chair, often deals with leaky sinks that have been reinforced but still require maintenance and cleaning. "It's a danger," Bradley said .. "Students can slip and fall." With 98 students emolled in organic chemistry and 135 students in general chemistry, scheduling is also issue. The department has to offer nearly 10 labs for organic chemistry which is limited to 16 students per lab because Occupational Safety an"a Health Administration SEE BUILDING, PAGE 5 The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow Check us out at: thewilkesbeacon.com~ �Church and state reunite for the presidential elections BY MIKEL HARTSOUGH Correspondent "And that is what the perception is by the American Left who hates Christendom. .. Satan has his sights on the United States of America," Senator Rick Santorum, GOP presidential nominee candidate has brought religion into his campaign. Interfaith Coordinator Caitlin Czeh believes Santorum's sudden surge is not due to his core religious beliefs, but because of his traditional conservatism. Santorurn won Colorado and Minnesota convincingly. His momentum has slowed in the recent months, barely losing to Romney in Michigan and by a larger margin in Arizona. "Religion definitely plays a major role in how a voter chooses a candidate; different beliefs can turn people off from voting for you. There are candidates who push their religion onto people, these people especially affect a voter's decision." Czech said. Michael Tigue of the Catholic Student Union blames Santorum's misuse ofreligion. "When a candidate such as Santorum speaks about his religion, he is only doing so to win his primary. Over 80 percent of Americans identify with a religion, if yo1,1 present yourself as a strong religious candidate you appeal to a large percentage of Americans. Santorum is Christian, and over 60 percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians," Tigue said. Although experts such as political science professor Dr. Andrew Miller believe that religion won't play a large part in the election, those in the religious profession don't see faith taking a back seat. "The candidates are pitting religion against each other when religions not meant to be compared. A voter can look at a candidate and say 'hey that's my belief.' Sometimes people can feel like they're one with that candidate, help them identify with them." Czeh said. Romney got the support of 90 percent of the Mormon voters in Arizona, which is a state Romney dominated in the polls. "A person should not be elected because of his faith, nor should he be rejected because of his faith," Romney said in response to the massive support from Mormon voters. Santorum who has spoken at several religious establishments in recent months was endorsed by the evangelical Christian leaders he spoke at the Cathedral of Praise in South Carolina during the primary. After Santorum was endorsed by the evangelical leaders the online donations toward his campaign increased 50 percent, the U.S. census identifies more than 2 million evangelicals in the U.S., but states the religion question is openended and not mandatory to answer. South Carolina Republican voters define themselves as born-again Christians, which is in association with the evangelistic church. According to the exit polls conducted during the 2008 elections 69 percent of voters said that the religious beliefs of the candidate mattered to them. 11 percent of born-again Christians voted for Romney in the election. According to a study at Baylor, Professor Wade Rowatt concluded that a higher percentage of people voting in a church instead of a school vote for a conservative candidate or proposition. The study showed that an Arizona school voted on a funding referendum in 2000 and voters who were polled in schools tended to vote in favor of increasing the state tax. While voters in churches tended to vote against the increase. Obama makes several references to his religious background in "The Audacity of Hope." "I was not raised in a religious household. For my mother, organized religion too often dressed up closed-mindedness in the garb of piety, cruelty and oppression in the cloak of righteousness. However, in her mind, a working knowledge of the world's great religions was a necessary part of any well-rounded education," Obama said. Greg Emory of Westminster Presbyterian had this to say about religion in politics: "I remember when there was serious discussion over Kennedy and his Catholic background, so looking at the history of religion and presidents, there will always be scrutiny. "However, I feel the majority of voters won't take it seriously. Candidates like Santorum can gain voters by expressing their religious beliefs, but at the same time they run the risk of alienating themselves to that specific audience." CONTACT PHAT NGUYEN phatnguyen@thewilkesbeacon.com Beacon Briefs >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>»>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>:->>>>>>>>>>>>>>->>:>>>>>>>>>>>> BY DEVON I NOVAK Assistant News Editor ASME i equests funds for annual car show - For this year's car show ASME requested $5,800 to cover the cost of T-shirts, prizes, entertainment and materials. Last year, ASME requested $2,000 which left SG wondering about such a large increasing in fund demands. After deliberating whether funding the car show would be an effective use of student activity fees, SG felt that ASME was unprepared and did not fundraise enough in preparation of the event. ASME was granted $2,000 to pay specifically for a DJ and a dynamometer. The Big Event of April Fools - Campus -wide community service project, The Big Event, has 209 students on board so far and is set to take place April 1. A fund request of $2,600 was granted to the event to pay for water bottles, bags, T-shirts, transportation and breakfast. Relay for Life fund requc;st - To cover the upfront cost of the Relay for Life event, $1,500 was requested for T-shirts, food for participants, a survival dinner and decorations. About 195 people have signed up to relay so far, an increase from last year's 100 participants who registered by this time. Out of the 195 people, 25 teams were created, 21 of them consisting of Wilkes students. BEACON 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 PHONE: (570) 408-5903 WEBSITE: www.thewilkesbeacon.com Much less than last year's $3,000 request, the $1,500 was granted. The event will take place April 28-29. · Casino Night: prizes, prizes, prizes - The main focus of Casino Night is the prizes. This year students can try their luck at winning a plethora of awards. The top items include: the MacBook Pro, the iPad, jewelry, a TV, gas and Visa gift cards and a skydiving trip. Each night free pizza and soda will be available for all participants. The event is projected to cost $11,500, most of which will pay for prizes. Casino Week is scheduled to take place April. 10-13. Campus g-mail - IT has decided unani- mously to make the switch from Wilkes email tog-mail. Use of g-mail will begin in the upcoming fall sefi!.ester. IT committee has considered holding a luncheon for faculty, staff and students to instruct on how to use g-mail. No final decision has been made yet on the luncheon. Spring to Hollywood - Spring Fling is set for March 31 at the Woodlands. Hollywood Bash will be a night with dinner, drinks and dancing. Tickets are now on sale for $5 in the SUB. CONTACT DEVONI NOVAK AT: devoninovak@thewilkesbeacon.com Editorial Staff 2011-12 Editor-in-Chief: Kirstin Cook Managing Editor: Michael Klimek Ad Manager: Brittany Battista Photo Editor: Laura Preby Adviser: Loran Lewis News Editor: Phat Nguyen Opinion Editor: CarlyYamrus A&E Editor: Bill Thomas Life Editor: Christine Lee Sports Editor: Justin Franiak Meet the Staff Laura Preby Photo Editor �THE BEACON I MARCH 27, 2012 NEWS 3 Hotel Sterling and traffic blocks still standing Luzerne country unable to reach demolition agreement with city BY SARAH KENNELLY Correspondent One of Luzerne County's most famous and oldest hotels is causing the county some distress. The Sterling Hotel in Wilkes-Barre was condemned a few months ago, after the September Flood of 201 1. The 114-yearold building will likely be demolished in the future. Luzerne County has been trying to negotiate a demolition agreement with WilkesBarre and City Vest, the owner of the Sterling, for months. One reason the agreement has not been reached is the city refuses to waive demolition-permit fees. Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton said the city committed roughly $250,000 in state gaming funds toward the demolition. In addition, Wilkes-Barre is also paying $5,000 a month for traffic barriers constructed around the Sterling due to concerns of building debris falling onto nearby traffi c. The traffic barriers have caused irregular traffic patterns on River Street where the Sterling Hotel is located. "This county must make a decision soon because the building is a fire hazard and continues to attract the homeless," Leighton said. "It's likely the nonprofit CityVest will fi le for bankruptcy if the county doesn't take the property off its hands." Leighton said. "The property would then be frozen and conti~i e to deteriorate until the city could obtain funds for demolition." Leighton also predicts that the county will be tied up in bankruptcy court for years to try to recover some of its investment in the project. According to a March 2011 report released by CityVest, it would cost about $1 .2 million to demolish the property. The study also included a roofing company estimate to redo the roof, replacing the wood framing with steel and metal. This estimate, released in 2009, was $1.4 million. The CityVest study says it will cost anywhere from $5 million to $7.7 million to stabilize and mothball the entire building. There were some suggestions to save the Sterling Hotel. Wilkes-Barre architect Carl Handman asked Luzerne County officials to consider the cost of structurally securing and mothballing the Hotel Sterling for future preservation. Handman worked on the Sterling project The Beacon Archives The Sterling Hotel was condemned after the September 2011 flood but is still standing today. One reason the agreement has not been reached is that the city refuses to waive demolition permit fees. The 114-year-old building will likely be demolished. in 2003. He publicly criticized CityVest for failing to listen to his past recommendation to mothball the structure to prevent further deterioration. "CityVest's study claims that it will cost about $7 million to mothball the property," Handman said, "but the study lacks detail on how they arrived at that estimate." There is even a Facebook page group called "Save the Hotel Sterling" with 782 followers . People who have lived in the area for more than a few decades, such as Wilkes University Dr. Bradford Kinney, say it's a shame that the Hotel Sterling will probably be demolished. "There were so many things that could have been done to that building," Kinney said, "It could have been a museum, to attract people from other areas, or dorms for Kings and Wilkes students." Kinney remembered when the Sterling rented out part of the 1898 building to King's College and Wilkes University for dormitory space. By the 1980s, the tower had become a low-cost residential hotel. Around the same time the owners announced a plan to tum the hotel into condominiums for tourists. Unfortunately, the project was never completed. City health authorities later discovered several building code and health violations and ordered all residents living in the hotel to leave. Due to ownership issues, unpaid taxes, and a fire in 2000, the building remained abandoned for years. In late 2005, the nonprofit 0rganization CityVest bought the Hotel Sterling and decided to redevelop the original hotel building into residential and commercial space, with a budget of $6 million in Luzerne County money. The rooms and hallways in the 17- story Plaza Tower were too narrow and low for redevelopment, so CityVest demolished the building in February 2007. CityVest's initial loan papers with Luzerne County promised to begin work on the hotel in February, 2007 finish the job a year later, and create jobs for people of low and moderate income. County Controller Walter L. Griffith Jr. released an audit of the project in June, accusing CityVest and the county community development office of mishandling funds. "CityVest had failed to complete plans that should have been done years ago, and they never bothered to find a developer," Griffith said. "Now they claim they cannot pay back the $6 million they borrowed from the county and want to tear down the building and give the land to the county." Luzerne County council has split views over what should happen to the Hotel Sterling. Four council members are in favor of finding ways to save the Sterling Hotel. Elaine Maddon Curry, Rick Williams, Harry Haas and Eugene Kelleher have said the county should find out how much it would cost to mothball and stabilize the Sterling, and find out if the county has enough funds to afford it. The seven other members of the council expressed support for demolition. However, council members said they won't make any decisions unless a cooperative agreement is reached among Luzerne County, Wilkes-Barre and CityVest. "There is no time frame yet to when or if the demolition will take place because the three groups, Wilkes-Barre, the county, and CityVest, have not reached an agreement." explained Council Vice Chairwoman Linda Mcclosky Houck. "As for the current condition of the building, with collapsing ceilings and holes in the roof, I believe if it was turn,,over to the county it would have to be demolished." Luzerne County Council hopes to receive some agreement with CityVest and Wilkes-Barre within the next few weeks, though it is not likely. CONTACT PHAT NGUYEN phatnguyen@thewilkesbeacon.com �4 NEWS THE BEACON I MARCH 27, 2012 Coal Street Project adds two lanes, revamps park BY AMANDA LEONARD Correspondent Every day, people drive on Coal Street to get to popular Wilkes-Barre destinations, to commute or to get to the other sic;le of town. As of late, it has become a congested, dangerous road giving headaches to many. Coal Street is a vital road that links WilkesBarre Boulevard to Business Route 6309. It also leads to Mohegan Sun Arena, the Wyoming Valley Mall and other commercial businesses. The $13.7 million Coal Street Project, a plan that will expand the three-lane road to a fivelane highway and revamp a 31-acre park, has been under construction since 2009. However, the project is not a new idea; it has been talked about since the 1990s. Butch Frati, Wilkes-Barre director of city operations, said that the idea for the project was developed in the late 1990s by a group who realized that the area needed to expand for businesses to flourish. "The conceptual idea for the Coal Street Project was put together by the local Metro- politan Planning Organization," Frati said. "The group identified a need to expand both the areas and roadways leading from the interstate system to urban areas as a way to encourage business investment specifically in the Wilkes-Barre area." The MPO is a federally mandated and funded transportation policy making group. Along with the Coal Street Project, the MPO is adopting a Long Range Transportation Plan that will serve as a guide when selecting projects for future transportation improvement programs. These two organizations coincide for the Coal Street Project. Along with the widening of the existing Coal Street from three lanes to five lanes from State Route 309 to Wilkes-Barre Boulevard, residents of Coal Street will also see a revamping of their front yards. "New curbing and sidewalks on both sides of Coal Street will be implemented, along with 97 new street lights, updated traffic and pedestrian signalizations and new pavement markings," Frati said. Michael Simonson, assistant Wilkes-Barre director of city operations, works closely with STRESSED? HEADACHE? • Headaches and back pain are two of the most common ailments treated at our clinic. Often, we can bring relief simply by taking the pressure off a pinched nerve. Here are other common symptoms of a pinched nerve. Neck Pain Back Pain Shoulder Pain Arm Pain Leg Pain Muscle Pain - Sports Injury - FREE 20 Min Hydro Massage Auto Accident - w WILKES UNIVERSllY FREE EXAM & FREE 1st Treatment Wilkes-Barre Chiropractic & Rehab Dr. David Lewis Chiropractic Physician 825-5535 380 Old River Road Wilkes-Barre, PA All Insurances Accepted dblewis326@aol.com www.nepachlro.com - The Beacon/Austin Loukas The Coal Street Project adds two lanes, improves curbs and side walks along with 97 new street lights and updates traffic and pedestrian signals to a busy intersection. Frati and is optimistic about the project. "It's our hope that this project will inject life into one of the city's most trafficked.rnadways," he said. Along with the widening of the road, the 31acre park, now named the Coal Street Complex, is complete and has office space to rent. It is a two-story structure that houses a 500-seat hockey rink with training facilities and opportunities for the public to skate. The Coal Street Complex is the former Ice-ARama structure. It has been renovated and connected to the new two-story structure. The Coal Street Project also demolished the swimming pool, in preparation for reshaping the park section of Coal Street. More than $600,000 is earmarked for two lighted basketball courts, tennis courts, a playground and a sports field. This sports complex will be available for ice hockey leagues, tournaments and camps. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins also hold practices at this complex, which is closer to their arena than their formerly used ice rink in Pittston, The Ice Box. The financing of the $13.7 million project has a breakdown of 80 percent federal funding and 20 percent local funding, Frati said. "The local match is a combination of three local taxing bodies contributing to a fund that is managed by the Luzerne Count Redevelopment Authority," he said. On May 18, 2009, the Coal Street Project received $950,000 in federal funding from Senator Bob Casey and Congressman Paul Kanjorski. This funding will be specifically used to construct new basketball courts, a sports field and other public recreational amenities. Though Coal Street has already seen its fair share of demolition, renovation and construction, it is not over yet and Coal Street businesses are hurting due to lack of customers and difficulty with entering their business. Nicole Theodore, owner of Arena Bar and Grill, said that the project has been affecting her business. "We now need to spend more money in the form of marketing and advertising to compensate for our lack of traffic flow," she said. Corridors blocked the entrance for Arena Bar and Grill and Walgreens, making it difficult for customers to enter their businesses with ease. Across the street from Arena Bar and Grill and Walgreens, Sam's Club sees similar problems. Sharon Holloman, Sam's Club employee, has to redirect her route to work due to the congestion of the road. "I usually come up Northampton Street instead of Coal Street since it's always so busy," she said. James Conlon, a Sam's Club supervisor, faces the problem of traffic congestion when cashiers report late to work due to traffic. "Not only is the construction inconvenient to us, its also dangerous," he said. Coal Street is a popular street that many need to travel every day. However, the construction deters some people from going to Coal Street businesses. "If I ever went ice skating, I'd be stuck there for five days trying to get out of the parking lot," Conlon said. Though residen~, commuters and businesses have shared in the stress of the project, Frati said that the end of construction is in sight. "The project is scheduled for completion by the end of October 2012," he said. "As the project stands now, it is relatively close to the original schedule, however by the end of 2011 the project was a few weeks behind schedule but with the extraordinary warm winter the contractor was able to make up time." CONTACT PHAT NGUYEN phatnguyen@thewilkesbeacon.com �THE BEACON I MARCH 27, 2012 BUILDING Continued from front page mandates space to two students per hood due to space. Seven labs are open for the general chemistry students, but they are not limited by hood space. Bradley, one of the two organic chemistry teachers, said there are many fines that the school could face regarding cleanliness if the school does not meet standards set by the OHSA. OSHA's mission is to assure safe and healthful workplaces by setting and enforcing standards, and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance. "We're up to code on everything, but it'll certainly be easier with a new, clean lab," Bradley said. "I think students will benefit, research will benefit and safety will be better." Bradley went on to note the importance of air suction for the organic chemistry labs. "Organic students will all encounter dangerous chemicals and gases which need proper air suction for their safety," Bradley said. "While the students will only be in the organic labs for a fall and spring semester, the chemistry faculty and staff will deal with these chemicals as long as they're at Wilkes." Since Bradley has come to Wilkes, the school has installed lab hood monitors that indicate safe levels of air flow in laboratory fume hoods. The monitors are used to measure and report on exhaust flow in many critical or controlled indoor environments, including pharmaceutical and university laboratories. Each organic hood has been equipped with anAirGard405, which each costs $330. Bradford Kinney, professor of communication studies, believes the liberal arts should not be overlooked. "I think the sciences are good, but not on the back of the liberal arts," Kinney said. "Not that we don't need a science building, because we really do. I really believe that." When Kinney first came to Wilkes, he said he remembered how growing complaints eventually led to Wilkes buying property, tearing down houses and making the greenway, an open green space -and social playground. "It was so nice to see the kids out there throwing the Frisbee and enjoying their time," Kinney said. "Now, there is no greenway." Kinney is becoming increasingly conThe Beacon/Phat Nguyen cerned with what will become of the TV Faculty say the chemistry laboratory hoods need to be repaired often. Also, air sucstudio. tion is essential for safety as they work with dangerous gases. The science building, which was originally planned to be built near the Henry Student departments and they're ruining his educaQuestions remain on what the school will Center, is being built in between the Stark tion as the university is offering fewer up- focus on after construction is completed. Leaming Center and Conyngham Hall. per-level classes each semester. The next Wilkes president, Patrick Leahy, With the science building wrapping "We could have more things in the comm stressed the importance of a liberal arts eduaround Stark, there might be issues with department, and we could have more class- cation in his opening remarks, which may construction and a need to move the state-of- es, but we're funneling millions of dollars offer hope to non-science majors. the-art TV studio in the basement of Stark. into a science building that will only benefit CONTACT PHAT NGUYEN The fenced-off greenway also bothers ju- a portion of the school," Kurtz said. phatnguyen@thewilkesbeacon.com nior communications studies major Trevor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Kurtz more than just physically. The greenway, he said, was the student's place to hangout, and he is upset that Wilkes puts a higher priority in the, sciences rather than the liberal arts. "What really bothers me is I love my department," Kurtz said. "The fact of the matter is the school cares more about the sciences more than anything else." Kurtz believes budget cuts were made by Wilkes to fund the science building by all Special Offer! 40 West Apartments Leased 4 BR units receive a S100 grocery store gift card! Wait! There's more! First five 4 bedroom units leased also receive 3 MONTHS FREE INTERNET! The Beacon/Austin Loukas This 18-month construction comes at a heavy price of $35 million and questions about what will happen to places like the TV studio in the Stark basement. Students are upset about the fenced-off greenway. Fully furnished units include double beds, utilities and laundry facilities! For more info, contact Jacki Lukas at 570.855.4686! CALL TODAY! j lukas@radnorproperty.com �~ mmn [lliillJillI3 mm CONTACT EDITOR: carlyyamrus@thewilkesbeacon.com MARCH 27, 2012 Guilty verdict in Tyler Clementi suicide is a wake-up call for bullies BYCARLYYAMRUS Opinion Editor "You do the crime, you do the time." Former Rutgers student Dharun Ravi is no exception to this rule after being found guilty of bias intimidation - a hate crime, invasion of privacy and 13 other counts in the recent webcam suicide case. Ravi could potentially be imprisoned for up to 10 years and may even be deported to his native India. The trial used Ravi's text messages and "tweets" as evidence, which he tried to delete after hearing his convictions. Was the sentence too extreme for this young man's actions? I think not. This particular case was a real eye-opener for to-· day's teenagers who use social media and text messaging as a way of expressing their every thought, opinion, or reaction. Immature tweets and text messages are one thing, but the real crime in this case was the carefully calculated webcam spying that Ravi broadcast not once, but twice. Ravi undoubtedly had no idea of the effect his socalled "prank" could have had on someone. Only after hearing that his roommate, Tyler Clementi, was contemplating suicide did he make an attempt to apologize and make ametfls. Dharun Ravi was 18 years old, a freshman in college, at the time ofClementi's suicide. At the age of 18, we are considered to be adults, and should possess some knowledge on bullying and the effects it has on others. Cyber bullying has been increasingly detrimental to the reputations and self-esteem of high school and college students. Clementi had asked his roommate for several hours of privacy in their shared room. Ravi responded by broadcasting the encounter to several friends and Twitter followers on multiple occasions. Clearly he did not act foolishly on a whim, as the spying occurred over the course of several days and required the setting up and testing of a webcam. Ravi committed an adult crime, and should be responsible for accepting the adult repercussions. Whether he was actually homophobic or not, the deeds were done and they are assumed to have been the motive for Clementi 's suicide, although it is not confirmed that this was the cause. BEACON POLL The Beacon poll is unscientific and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on the Wilkes campus. These poll results are based on 7 responses. Last week's question: How much food do you dispose of on an average day at the Wilkes cafeteria? • Several platefuls - 29% • None - 29% · • About a cup- 14% • A plateful - 14% • I don't eat at the cafeteria -14% This week The Beacon asks: Courtesy of Facebook, The Beacon/Austin Loukas Two years after Tyler Clementi {top left) commited suicide, roommate Dharun Ravi was found guilty. The court used that verdict as a way to crack down on bullying. Too many instances of bullying go unrecognized and without punishment. Ravi's conviction sends a clear message to teenagers about accepting consequences for their actions or words. This trial lets teenagers know that bullying can have serious effects on the lives of other people as well as the bully himself. Dismissing Ravi of his actions would send the message that bullying is OK, and that it is fine to embarrass others and invade their privacy. After reading other opinions on the topic, I was actually surprised that several people believed that Clementi did wrong in the situation by bringing a man into their shared dorm room, and that Ravi's actions were pranks. These people must have forgotten what it is like to live in a dorm room in college. That dorm room is essentially your house. As long as the actions are legal, I don't see how having a visitor in the room was in any way wrong. Many comments suggested that Ravi was only fooling around as college kids often do by playing a prank on his gay roommate. But since when is spying on someone with a webcam and knowingly violating their privacy a prank? Just because a dorm room is not private does not mean the students oc- cupying it have no privacy. If Ravi was that uncomfortable with his gay roommate, he should have gone to student housing and requested a different room. I am disgusted by the comments that ex cused Ravi for doing what he did. I cannot believe that people have the audacity to call this trial a promotion of homosexuality. Clementi killed himself because he was the target of homophobic bullying his entire life, a problem that many homosexual men and women face . No, Ravi probably did not think of the long term effects of his immature actions, but just because he did not see it coming does not mean he wasn't wrong. Ravi was offered a plea bargain that would have required him to complete 600 hours of community service and probation instead of jail time and possible deportation. He pied not guilty. There is no reason why our tax dollars should be spent keeping someone who influenced a suicide in jail for 10 years. We have no room in America for more homophobes or bullies. Send him home. CONTACT CARLY YAMRUS AT: carly.yamrus@thewilkesbeacon.com What do you think Rutgers student Dharun Ravi's verdict should have been in the suicide death of his roommate? • 1O years in jail and deportation • Only a few years of jail time • Probation and community service • Deportation • He was innocent Cast your vote online at: www.thewilkesbeacon.com· SPEAK UP! The Beacon wants to hear your voice. . Send your name, major, year and opinion to: carlyyamrus@thewilkesbeacon.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for length and content. Anonymous letters will not be published. �I ;;_. t I I jj 111 I\ - r THE BEACO-N I MARCH 27, 2012 7 Arts and humanities are still important at Wilkes BY CHRISTINE LEE Life Editor With the groundbreaking of the new fourfloor science building the mission is now clear: Wilkes will become the one of the premiere educational institutes in the region for science education. However, few are aware that at one time, Wilkes was once one of the premiere edu- cational institutes in the area for music. You heard me right: music. During an interview with associate professor of music Dr. Phil Simon, I was told that at one time, every room. on the third floor of the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center had one baby grand piano. Now there is really only one that I can think of on the third floor: the one in associate professor of music Dr. Steven Thomas's office. Even better, at one time Wilkes had more The Beacon/ Austin Loukas Wilkes was once a premiere educational institute for music. Nowadays, the sciences have dominated the school, leaving the arts and humanities in the dust. than one language major besides Spanish. They included French, German and Russian and even had an art major, not just the current art minor or the integrative media major. According to the 2011-2012 Fact Book, the School of Pharmacy in total has 408 total enrolled as its primary major that includes the pharmacy practice program and the pre-pharmacy program. The Division of Performing Arts, meanwhile, only has 13 emolled as its primary major. And look at philosophy: only two majors emolled and one professor in its entirety. Now Wilkes is one of the few schools in Pennsylvania that has a fully accredited pharmacy school and is the size that it is, so I have to give it credit for that. But majors such as philosophy, Spanish and theater arts are only in existence because at least one class in one of these areas is required.for general education requirements. Every major has to take at least Philosophy 101 or Spanish in order to graduate. It simply blows my mind that a school that at one time was considered one of the best music schools in the area has now seemed to almost completely ignore the arts and humanities. I believe Wilkes should place more emphasis on the arts and humanities, as there is so much that they offer to society in terms of communicating human emotions, beauty and experiences that appeal to everyone. The arts and humanities give society the opportunity to pause, think and reflect on our experiences and the world around us. According to an essay online through Whitman College (which, by the way is also getting a new science building), the role of the arts in the academy, as in life, is to enable us to see the world and the human condition differently, and seeing the world through a particular work of art, to see a truth we might not have understood before. The arts and humanities should not just exist at Wilkes for extracurricular activities and general education but should be in place as academic classes, even academic majors for that matter as they compliment everything around us in society. The arts and humanities should not be viewed as something interesting to look at or something to do in one's down time. They need to be valued as academic majors just as the scientific majors are currently. CONTACT CHRISTINE LEE AT: christine./ee@thewilkesbeacon.com Sit back, relax and stop complaining about concession prices BY LYNDSIE YAMRUS Assistant Opinion Editor The next movie I plan to see is "The Hunger Games." I will purchase a small bag of popcorn costing around $4.50 and probably a small fountain soda at $4, give or take a few cents. The - tal will be a whopping $8.50. There's no doubt about it, I will definitely complain about this, but I will nonetheless snack and enjoy the movie. We've all had to deal with the burden of over-priced movie concessions at one point or another. The same burden exists at sporting events, amusement parks and concerts. Such events have a duty to make a profit; therefore, outside food and beverages are typically banned so that individuals are forced to buy their snacks from event vendors. Let's observe a hypothetical family of four who, for the sake of keeping things simple, each order a small bag of popcorn, a small soda and a box of candy (price estimate, $3.50). The four popcorns total $18. The drinks add up to $16 and candy boxes, $14. Dad then takes out his American Express card to pay and $48 disappears from his bank account. These prices are indeed outrageous, especially when you could get the same snacks at the CVS down the street for under $20. Michigan resident Joshua Thompson took matters into his own hands after buying a Coke and Nestle Goobers candy for $8 at an AMC theater, angered by the refreshment prices. In hopes of a statewide decrease in snack prices, the man later sued the theater for over-charging its customers. The majority of ticket sales actually go to the movie production and distribution companies, not the theatre. Within the first week of a showing, the theater is allowed to keep around 25 percent of ticket sales profit or less, according to theaterseat.org. EconWeekly says that distributors sometimes even split the revenue 90: 10 during the first week and decrease this amount every week that follows to 80:20, 70:30 and so on. Such splits are called sliding percentages. All in all, theaters do not come out ahead and must make a profit elsewhere. They tum to selling high-calorie refreshments that taste good and please movie-goers. After all, America excels in eating. Additionally, the theater keeps 100 percent of snack profits. All things considered, it's necessary for such high prices to exist, as unfair as it may seem. In reality, if food costs decrease, ticket prices would skyrocket. The theater must stay afloat if people want to have the treat of going to the movies. Otherwise, you'd be stuck with watching movies on your couch in DVD format on a much smaller screen. So look at it this way: a movie theater is essentially a junk food restaurant that happens to feature a movie. If you're in the snacking mood, suck it up and pay the price. If you're still unable to get past the prices, wait and rent it from Redbox. CONTACT LYNDSIE YAMRUS: lyndsie.yamrus@wilkes.edu The Beacon / Laura Preby A $5 popcorn may seem unfair, but these prices are necessary for the survival of the theater, which does not make enough money from ticket sales alone. �8 OPINION THE BEACON I MARCH 27, 2012 The Senate should increase funding for NASA BY ANTHONY GORECZNY for our future. As anyone will agree, the space program is a great financial Endeavor. A single space "Space, the Final Frontier. These are the shuttle launch costs nearly half a billion dolvoyages of the starship Enterprise. Its con- lars. While many people may see this as an tinuing mission: to explore strange new unnecessary expense, that is only because the worlds, to seek out new life and new civili- grandiose nature of theses extraordinary unzations, to boldly go where no one has gone dertakings is lost upon them. before." The space program did not only expand our Those are the opening lines from "Star knowledge of our solar system and countless Trek: The Next Generation." Ever s~.141! _ ·;.:.swllac: phenomena, but also inspired every asremember.I have been fasc~ witb o~ ·· -~.Df humanity. space and what we might find•oot ~~ most obvious benefits are to all areas I am intrigued by the idea that we might dis- of math and science. Every individual field in cover new things none ofus have ever imag- these two areas of study has what is essenined in the nearly infinite unknown that is tially a symbiotic relationship with the space our universe. But there can be no Discovery program. without exploration, and recent massive cuts Clearly, space travel would be inherently to the space program have brought our extra- impossible without the study of math, physterrestrial exploration to a near stand still. ics, chemistry, and medicine. Consequently But it is not just my own infatuation with these disciplines, and many others, would not the skies that drives my opposition to these have made the advancements and achievecuts, nor is it the dreams and determination of ments we now take for granted. all the scientists and astronauts involved with GPS would be nothing but a dream if not NASA. Among those stars is a shining path for the satellites place in orbit using technolStaffWriter thin. .: · · the legendary taste Go Colonels! We Deliver to Wilkes University! Call (570) 331 -FAST (3278) Ask about our combo specials featuring our complete line up of pizza, subs, wings, burgers & more!visit us online for a complete menu & listing of specials at www.grottopizzapa.com or visit our restauraut & sports bar Grotto Pizza, Gateway Center, on Rt. 11 in Edwardsville (just across the bridge!) zza $5 OFF Any Order of $20 or More I the legendary taste For delivery or take out Expires 06/30/12 valid only at Grotto Pizza locations I ogy from decades of aerospace research. new Apple product is released That dream was made possible by the hard that is, for all intents and work and determination of men and women purposes, exactly the striving to achieve their own dreams. In a re- same as the previous cent testimony to the U.S. Senate, well known year's. astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson delivered I doubt I need an inspiring message of hope for the future. to tell Through the space program, mankind has accomplished things once thought impossible. Cell phones, cordless power tools, mod- the econoem computers and even Lasik surgery all use my. ·when inncwations attributed to the space prograg:i. · The reason for this is, quite simply, these · Pre~ident men and women are dreamers. When told Obama set something is impossible, they do not simply the bailout accept their Challenger's supposition and in motion, walk away. They ask "Why can't it be done?" he poured This spirit of exploration is not unique to $750 billion the men and women as NASA, but they posses it in great abundance. This is the some spirit that drove Christopher Columbus, and the reason our first space shuttle was named the Columbia. the economy. It is their determination, their belief in the That would possibility of a world with a brighter future, similar to a parent who that invigorates their ambitions and inspires gives his child $1,000 in people across the world. the hope that it will teach him to Space travel has had as great an effect on stop wasting his allowance. To help our culture as it has upon our technology. pay for this, he made massive cuts to NASA, For years authors, poets, musicians and art- and put on hold all hopes for future exploraists have created works exploring the beauty, tion of the moon and Mars. mystery and enthralling sense of adventure This bailout cost more than NASA has rethat are inherent in space travel. There are few ceived in funding since its inception. As we people who would not instantly recognize El- have been continually abandoning our naviton John's "Rocket Man" or have never heard gation of the skies, our hopes for the future of"Star Wars." have been left among the nebulas and infant Since the dawn of ~e humanity has been suns of outer space. driven forward by our inclination toward It is time we reclaim them, and through edexploration. Our oldest stories include lost ucation and exploration bring all of humantreasures, like the city of Atlantis, that are just ity into a new golden age of prosperity and waiting to be discovered. progress. It is clear why many people refer to the Exploration and education provide jobs for modem era as the space age. So much of what millions, and motivate and inspire millions is integral to our society was either taken di- more to see possibilities they had never conrectly from, or inspired by the advancements sidered. Take the money back from the banks, and discoveries made by NASA and its com- which seek only to acquire more money, as patriots. that is their sole purpose for existence, and The space program brings us stability and reignite the fires which, in the Cold War, fupurpose. How many kids spread out in an eled the innovations that drove us to become open field to stare up at the stars, or dream of the most influential nation in world. being an astronaut as soon as their heads hit We may no longer have USSR breathing the pillow every night. It doesn't just inspire down out necks, but we have enemies far innovation and art; it unshackles imagina- greater that we carmot conquer along. War, tion and determination. If we turn our backs famine, injustice: all of these enemies may be on that now, our culture, our technology and confronted w:Wi knowledge and experience even our economy will severely stagnate. In gained through the space program. Perhaps fact, it has already begun. this path will give us all the ability to live Once we were entertained by stories of long and prosper. cowboys facing the unknown of the western frontier. Now we enjoy watching people get Photo courtesy of sxc.hu/ drunk and insult each other, and girls who are CONTACT ANTHONY GORECZNY AT: only 16 and already have a child. Every year a anthony.goreczny@wilkes.edu �. ~,,,,~0 ,1\1'.f'\~ EDITOR: christ) nelee@th,J~wilkesbe.1con.com WILKES UNIVERSITY HEALTH & W ELLNESS Alzheimer's Disease: a disease that disconnects The Beacon/Dan Lykens Left, Dr. Rhonda Soricelli presents on understanding Alzheimer's disease from the arts perspective. Right, a student views the work of artists in the "Memories in the Making:' a project that encourages those with Alzheimer's disease and caregivers to express their feelings and emotions about the disease through art. BY CHRISTIN E LEE LifeE~or Minerva Gaspar's grandmother has trouble remembering Gaspar. She can't even remember Gaspar's father, her own son, and thinks of herself as a child. "She needs constant care and (needs) to be watched 24 hours a day," Gaspar, an undeclared freshman, said. Gaspar said it-is stressful for her family to deal with the disease, as there is nothing they can do about it and the medication doesn't seem to help. Gaspar's grandmother is one of millions worldwide suffering from Alzheimer's disease, a form of memory loss affecting people aged 65 and older. This month, the Pre-Professional Society is hosting a series of awareness sessions with doctors and other professionals to help educate the public about the disease. About 5.4 million Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and there are approximately 15 million unpaid caregivers devoting 17 billion hours of care to those afflicted by the disease. The Greater Pennsylvania chapter of the Alzheimer's Association said every 68 seconds a person is diagnosed and the disease is the sixth leading cause of death and the only one that can't be cured or slowed significantly. GPCAA interm Director of Programs and Services Clayton Jacobs said until recently, Alzheimer's had a stigma that made people not want to discuss it. But the growing number of people aging makes the discussion more important. "Not only is it important for those going through it, we know one in every three families is affected so we all know someone, so (it has) some impact on our lives," Jacobs said. "It's partly our need to understand and to support each other in the community." The first session, "Diagnosis and EarlyStage Alzheimer's Care," held on March 13, touched on some of the warning signs, early stages of the disease and the disease's impact on families. The second session, "Understanding Alzheimer's Disease: A View from the Arts," was held March 21. Pre-Professional Society members Brielle Stanton and Nathaniel Lamoreaux, both biology majors, spoke at the session about the emotional and personal side of the disease. The session included a reception featuring artwork from the art therapy program "Memories in the Making." "(The program) is about the process of creating and finding different outlets for someone to express themselves even if they're having issues with memory and the ability to communicate," Jacobs said. Stanton said she was honored with participating in the session, and it has given her a new awareness about the disease. She has come to understand how it affects people and their loved ones. "With Alzheimer's and the Arts, (it) gives a better representation of how people are actually dealing with Alzheimer's," Stanton said. "You get a different perspective you wouldn't necessarily get through scientific information." The third session, "Alzheimer's Issues: Panel Presentation and Discussion," a panel discussion with six experts in Alzheimer's disease from around Northeastern Pennsylvania will take place at 6 p.m. March 27. The session will discuss available services, care needs and options for those working in the field or dealing the disease personally. Stanton hopes the presentations makes people more aware of the effects of the disease. "It's becoming a bigger topic today so it's very important that those who may be affected by it are aware of it because sooner or later each person is going to ~ave some connection to it," Stanton said Gaspar said awareness of the disease will help her family members prepare for the disease, particularly her father. "It'll prepare us for my dad, who (doctors) say is most likely to get it, we're looking at the way he acts as he gets older to see if he has any of the symptoms that she experienced and maybe get him on that medication that prevents it," Gaspar said. CONTACT CHRISTINE LEE AT: christinelee@thewilkesbeacon.com �10 LIFE THE BEACON I can has Wilkes Memes? Students bring the lnb BY KIRSTIN COOK Editor-in-Chief Foul bachelor frog. Good guy Greg. Success kid. Courage wolf. Socially awkward penguin. Those are just a few of the Internet memes that have gone viral on websites like Memebase, Reddit and 9gag. The trend has even sparked an online database, KnowYourMeme, to document these Internet sensations and explain the humor behind them. And now, memes have spread to Wilkes. With the Facebook page Wilkes Memes, Wilkes students are putting their spin on Internet humor. Garrett Schrader, a junior history major, first noticed the Wilkes Memes page a few months ago, but followed memes in high school on web pages like the LOL Cat inspired blog, I Can Has Cheezburger? Through Internet memes are often known as images, they can also be catchphrases or videos spread across the online community. Schrader defined memes as inside jokes that everyone is in on. While he said people enjoy the humor behind them, the true purpose of a .meme is to describe things that happen in culture. "People can relate to them real well, that's the definition of a meme," Schrader said. "What a meme really is is it brings people together." People relate to meme situations, Schrader said, because they've been in those situations before or know someone who has. The more you can relate, the funnier they are, he said. "What people like about it is it relates to them in a funny way," Schrader said. Wilkes students may notice some familiar themes on the Wilkes Memes Facebook, like the new science building and the MyWilkes portal. Schrader said he has seen meme pages for other schools, but now Wilkes students can be in on the joke. "It's funnier here because we're a part of it," he said. Schrader said memes have become more popular recently as more people get access to them and they continue to spread. He said one reason memes are becoming more mainstream is that same relatability that defines the trend. "A lot of people share that same perspective, I think that's why they've grown in popularity," Schrader said. Darrell Dech, an undeclared freshman, agrees that memes have caught on and they refuse to let go. "I believe memes have become very popular in the last few months," Dech said. "Two to three months ago, practically nobody knew what a meme was. Now, you ask anyone and most people will be able to tell you one." Dech is another student who relates to Wilkes Memes. Some of his favorites include a Futurama character mocking the Wilkes mascot pronunciation and the Lord of the Rings character Boromir parodying online class registration. "My favorite Wilkes Memes is probably the 'Not sure if it's pronounced kernel or colonial' with Fry from Futurama," Dech said. "My other favorite is the "One does not simply log into the portal to register for classes."' Dech first found out about memes from the website Iwastesomuchtime.com after friends linked to them on Facebook. He decided to try making his own memes using quickmemes.com. "Memes are very simple to make," Dech said. "You just need to pick a topic and think of some creative, funny line about that subject." Schrader also occasionally makes his own memes, such as for the Ultimate Frisbee team. He said he hopes the trend of memes continues, especially the trend of Wilkes memes. He's always checking for updates to the Wilkes Memes pages, since he said those are especially entertaining. CONTACT KIRSTIN COOK AT: kirstincook@thewilkesbeacon.com SG hopes The Big Event volunteers make a sm BY ALYSSA STENCAVAGE Staff Writer This year students, faculty and staff have given lots of hours toward community serv_.e, particularly in September after the flooding from Hurricane Lee. But, Student Government felt this Army of Colonels could do more for the community at large. The Big Event is a one day mass community service event with ultimate goals of the a group of Colonels will be doing tasks such as small home repairs, putting up fences, cleaning up parks and helping out in general. They will be taking work orders and then pairing up different people for those work orders and sending them out to help the community. For anyone who wants sustenance before the day's work begins, free breakfast will be served beginning at 9 a.m. Bagels that morning will be donated by the Bake House of Wilkes-Barre. Those on the Big Event committee have been working with different organizations to obtain volunteer sites such as the Jewish Community Center, St. Vincent Soup Kitchen, Wilkes-Barre Department of Public Works and the Luzerne County Disaster Relief group working for flood victims. "Most schools have this event, but because we are a university that is big on community service, we wanted to make sure we are doing something in the way of community service," Student Government President Willie Eggleston said. There will be short-term and long-term sites, so volunteers who finish up at one site can move on to another. The committee is trying to get the whole campus involved clubs, faculty, alumni, staff and athletic teams. Event flyers are posted all over campus with a barcode that can be scanned with a smart phone to lead directly to the website for the Big Event. This event has a Facebook page as well to reach out to volunteers. "Right now we are having a volunteer rush to get everybody registered and pair them up for sites. We have the work, we just need JUS the volunteers," said freshman class president and pre-pharmacy major Taylor Moyer. So far there are around 250 volunteers. Everyone will receive T-shirts and bags for their participation. The Big Event takes place April 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. followed by a barbecue at 4 p.m. CONTACT ALYSSA STENCAVAGE AT: alyssa.stencavage@wilkes.edu The Beacon/Christine Lee Freshman integrative media major Moniquie Wood,)Nard helps clean up a home in Duryea during flood relief cleanup in September. Because the of the turnout for flood relief, Student Government and civic engagement have come encouraged more community service thorugh The Big Event. Jaimie Reside first-yE tion stl Hornet Camp, Reside1 lection, hall saf andR01 Justin , Reside1 �:ACON MARCH 27 2012 11 LIFE nternet trend to Wilkes Internet Memes 101 Here's some of the meme images that make the 'popular entries' thread on Knowyourmeme.com: LOLcats - One of the more classic memes, LOLcats can be traced back to 20th century photographer Harry Whittier Frees, who would add funny captions onto cat photos. Nowadays, the funny cat pictures are often captioned with the broken Englis text 'lolspeak'. Rage comics - Forever Alone, "Me Gusta" Guy and Y U NO Guy are a few of the many characters in the rage comic cast. The characters are all simple, stick-figure drawings made · Microsoft paint, and usually come with their own punch lines relating to real life. Advice Animals - This range of characters are captioned wi text showing funny, common character traits. These include Philosoraptor, Socially Awkward Penguin, Good Guy Greg,71'1""'••w.,;iiloti;~'l'ffl!.-Courage Wolf, Foul Bachelor Frog and many more. I took an arrow to the knee - An example of a pop culture influenced meme, this catchphrase is from the video game "The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim." The original phrase was, "I used to be an adventurer like you, then I took an arrow in the knee." The phrase went viral, allowing anyone to replace 'adventurer' with their own term. Yo Dawg - This celeb-o-meme features Pimp My Ride host Xzibit, who is known for putting random things like fireplaces into cars. The purposefully misspelled format is, "Yo dawg, I herd you like X, so I put an X in your Y so you can verb while you verb." This meme is often closely tied to the movie "Inception," because of the whole dream within a dream concept. residents in your hall especially with a position like ours where we're that much more removed from some of the traditional students, it still gives us the opportunity to interact with them on a regular basis because we live and work in the same place. JUSTIN ASTRIN, UNIVERSITY TOWERS RESIDENT DIRECTOR AND JAIMIE OSBORN, EVANS HALL RESIDENT DIRECTOR BY REBECCA BOLUS Assistant Life Editor ee O- le in ut nt Jaimie Osborn Residence Life Graduate Assistant and first-year Master of Business Administration student Hometown: Nazareth, Pa. Campus Role: Assists with the duties of Residence life, housing and in-housing selection, and the duties of Residence Life, hall safety and roommate conflicts at Evans and Roth no- Justin Astrin Residence Life Graduate Assistant and second-year Master of Business Administration student Hometown: Long Island, NY Campus Role: Oversees the RA staff that resides in University Towers and helps RAs with event planning, any issues that arise, and also serves on the Student Affairs oncall rotation. What do you like best about working at Wilkes? Osborn: I definitely like the friendly atmosphere, I feel like it's easy to get to know everyone not only the staff and faculty but also the students on campus. Astrin: Because it is a smaller, tight-knit community, it's easier to get to know the If you were to win a million dollars, what would you,,__ _,_spend it on? Osborn: I would pay off my stuI'd take a va. use whatevover to put on a house. would ball and go in it and roll down big hills and stuff. I would also buy a house, pay off my student loans, and get Lasik surgery. If you were to put something in a t_!_me capsule about yourself what would it be? Osborn: I would put my Nikes thaC I just bought because the United States no longer makes them. I would put it in my time capsule so I would have good shoes to run in 20 years down the road. Also I would put in Twizzlers just in case · they stop m aking them. Astrin: I would put my skydiv.· , ing See Questions, page 12 �12 LIFE THE BEACON I MARCH 27, 2012 Spring Fling goes classy with new theme, venue BY ABBEY HALDEMAN Staff Writer Spring has just begun and students begin thinking about saying goodbye to this school year. One way Wilkes University is bringing an end to the school year's to celebrate the student's hard work with Spring Fling. "Spring Fling is just a dinner-dance at the end of the year that helps you escape the stress of finals, and it is a time for final goodbyes," Student Government corresponding secretary and senior business administration major Kevin Hopper said. For the past several years, the dance has been held at Genetti 's Hotel, but this year it will be put on at The Woodlands Resort. Student Government was hoping that a more modem venue this year would help to draw in more students. "The venue change is going to give it a different feel," Hopper said. This year's Spring Fling has a classic Hollywood theme to appeal more to students. QUESTIONS Astrin: My ability to draw out what I'm thinking in picture form. Courtesy of Freestockexchange.com The change of venue is not the only change, either. The event organizers decided to go with a more elegant theme after arranging a venue, figuring out prices and selling it to the Student Government executive board. "Last year there was a poll taken in which students got to decide which theme they would like best, and Hollywood came in second so, we (Student Government) chose it for this year's theme," Hopper said. Also, in the past there has been a photo booth, giving students an opportunity to take some sort of memorabilia with them when they left. For the theme of this year's Spring Fling there have been some modifications made to that. "There is a whole scene in which students can walk through and get pictures taken during," sophomore class president Amber Konopka said. Konopka, a middle school math and science education major, said Spring Fling is a good way for students to get together. "It is a good time and different than a usual social setting, as it a dinner dance. It also helps to bring students closer together," Konopka said. This year's Spring Fling will give students a chance to escape and have a fun time with those whom they have spent as much as (our years with or even as little as two semester with. Spring Fling starts at 7 p.m. on March 30. Tickets will be on sale for $5 · until Wednesday, March 27 in the Henry Student Union Building. CONTACT ABBEY HALDEMAN AT: abbey.ha/deman@wilkes.edu Continued from Page 11 video in there. I went skydiving twice and it was the coolest thing I've ever done. It was great time. If there was a movie made about your life, what actor would you want to portray you? Osborn: I would want Vmce Vaughn's per- sonality in Kate Hudson's body. Astrin: I would want Michael Scott's character from the office. Not Steve Carel! as a person, but Michael Scott's actual character. • If you could have any super power what would it be? Osborne: Definitely teleportation. Astrin: I would say, just to be able to fly on a whim like Superman. What is your favorite restaurant? Osborn: Carmines and the Melting Pot. They're pretty tied for me right now. Astrin: I've been a recent regular at Frank's Pizza on Main Street. It's awesome. Where is the most interesting place you've ever been to? Osbvrn: Capri, Italy. I studied abroad there for a semester. Astrin: The Seven Tubs up near Bear Creek. It was interesting because being in a city like Wilkes-Barre and having that only 10 minutes away, it is nice to have a cool get away like right next door. I don't get out much (laughs). What is your most unique talent? Osborn: I can French braid my hair upsidedown. What is your favorite time of year (season)? Osborn: Summer because it's my birthday season. There's wedding seasons, like I have a birthday season. Astrin: I would say spring because my birthday is in the spring, and I like the renewal that the season brings. What would you do if you had a time machine? Osborn: I would go back to the like the 1920s. I feel like there are a lot of things I could make happen. I could make my name in history, especially as a woman. Astrin: I would go back to the 1600' or 1700s because it would be interesting to see how people interacted more with each other then we do today. What is some advice you have for students living on campus? Osborn: I would say to definitely get involved on campus. I think the more involved you are, the more fun you'll actually have and get to know different people from different majors, grade levels from freshman to senior. Astrin: Your campus experience is like a cocoon where you're inside this place where you can grow, mature and and evolve as a person and you eventually graduate and appreciate the experiences that you had, not only you were a student at Wilkes, but the experiences you had living on campus. CONTACT REBECCA BOLUS AT: rebecca.bolus@wilkes.edu Take your classes here. Transfer your credits. SAVE LOTS OF MONEY. �MARCH 27, 2012 CONTACT EDITOR: billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com Old is new again: The enduring appeal of vinyl How a seemingly obsolete recording format is bridging the generational gap BY BILL THOMAS Arts & Entertainment Editor Spinning. Shining. Black. Needle strikes vinyl. There's a faint hiss, as though the record player were a hotplate, with music notes sizzling in place ofbacon ' n' eggs. Then, a voice. Sounding as clear and packed with raw feeling as the day the song was recorded, decades ago. The audio is not just crisp, but also warm. Enveloping. Jay Notartomaso goes back to work, swimming around in waves of sound. He takes a black vinyl record out of its casing, inspects it, puts it in a pile. Does the same with another one. And another. And a couple dozen more. Some go in one pile. Some go in another. _ This is a life Notartomaso has lived and-. loved for more than 25 years. That's how long he's been the owner and operator of Musical Energi on 59 N. Main St. in Wilkes-Barre. His love affair with vinyl, though, can be traced back even farther. "I got my first record player when I was 4 years old. My dream was to be up to my eyeballs in records, and that's basically what's happened," he said. No kidding. The shelves of Notartomaso's shop are lined with LPs. Picture-discs and singles by everyone from Billy Idol and Tiffany to Motorl!ead hang on the walls. There are stacks and there are stacks, and then, just to switch things up, there are more stacks. "When I went to college, I had student loans, but I would sacrifice food for records," Notartomaso said. "When you buy a record you actually own something, as opposed to a download, which is just a tiny little spot on your hard drive." That's part of why Notartomaso feels vinyl records have endured while cassette tapes and 8-tracks have gone the way of the dinosaur. But another key to their resilience in the hearts of music aficionados is their resilience to the entropic effects of aging. "Vmyl is a permanent format. Records wear very, very little, as long as you have a good record player and a good needle," he said. "Most damage that happens to records is when they're not being played. People don't put them back right or they don't know how to handle them. But if you take care of them they'll last many lifetimes. We have records now from when they first started making re- The Beacon/ Austin Loukas Above: Trevor Kurtz has parlayed his love of vinyl into a classic rock show on Wilkes' radio station, spinning records from his personal collection on-air. Right : Musical Energi in Wilkes-Barre offers a an extensive array of vintage records for music fans. cords that are in beautiful condition." Looking back on the more than two decades he's spent preserving the legacy of vinyl in his own small way, Notartomaso has watched trends and cultural shifts breeze in and out the front door of Musical Energi. It's probably an understatement to say that the enthusiast in him is excited by the revitalized interest in vinyl he's witnessed firsthand from his post behind the counter at his shop. "It's great for me to see young people, especially, who like records. For me, it's a nostalgia thing. I grew up with records. It's part of my history. But to see young people who like to play records, I feel like there's more to it than that." One member of the new generation that has embraced vinyl is Wilkes University student and junior communication studies major Trevor Kurtz, who hosts the Vital Vmyl radio show on 90.7 WCLH, every Wednesday at4:30 p.m. For Kurtz, it is indeed more than nostalgia. It's an event. "I'd rather hold this big ol' thing," Kurtz said, comparing the new Bruce Springsteen LP, "Wrecking Ball," to its shrimpier CD counterpart. "Yesterday, I got this record in the mail. I sat on my couch, reading the lyrics, looking at the artwork. It's an experience. It involves you more in the music." Kurtz's affection for the format had led him to amass an extensive - and ever-expanding - collection. It's not just his love of classic rock or his preference for the more irnmersive experience of playing records that ultimately attracts him, however. In Kurtz's view, vinyl is simply a superior format. "With digital and CDs now, the recording process is different. It has a cold sound to it and it just doesn't sound right," he explained. "With vinyl, it's a much warmer sound, a much nicer sound. The fact of the matter is, with digital recording every record from every band sounds the same. With vinyl, you have different textures with different bands." It is that sense of auditory excellence that Kurtz believes has not only imbued vinyl with an eternal appeal, but has also given rise to the format's resurgence in the current musical climate. According to The Nielsen Company & Billboard's 2011 Music Industry Report, sales of vinyl LPs increased a whopping 36 percent from 2010 to 2011, marking a Nielsen SoundScan sales record. No other format's growth matched that number. Conversely, CD sales dropped by more than 5 percent. "There's a generation of people coming up that are like me," Kurtz said. "They're interested in the older technology because the newer technology is too much. For me, it's too much. I don't like downloading. I don't download legally, I don't download illegally. I just don't do it. "Frankly, the generation before us, I think, was much more concerned with convenience than quality. I think we're starting to see a turnaround in that." CONTACT BILL THOMAS AT: billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com �Stiff upper lip: Student seeks facial hair fame BY BILL THOMAS to donate the prize to Student Government. That prize? A $500 gift certificate to SpenArguably, few things say "man" in as man- cer's Gifts. ly a manner as a mustache. "I think with that they could throw a pretty Monolithic mountains o' machismo as kick-ass laser-light black-light party for the iconic as Burt Reynolds, Theodore Roosstudents." evelt, Wilfred Brimley and John Holmes Though Margavage is enthusiastic and have all boasted bountiful gardens of bushy hopes to solidify the terms of his donation bristles upon their upper lips, as if to com- soon, Student Government President William municate to the world - and to the ladies in Eggleston pointed out that no definitive plans particular - that the potency of their testos- for any such party have been made. terone levels is simply not to be questioned. "We are always interested in fulfilling as These days, it's not always easy finding a many student requests as possible and we chap with enough two-fisted derring-do and would certainly do everything in our power shave-resistant stalwartness to rock a robust to make the event happen if we received the mustache the likes of which Yosemite Sam donation," Eggleston said via email. would envy. "However, students would need to underWilkes University student Mark Marga- stand that events take a lot of preliminary vage, however, might just be planning and realistically NEPA's great mustachioed any sort of black-light parhope. ty or other event covered "The looks I get are usualby the donation would not ly from girls who just can't take place until the fall sebelieve it, or from guys who mester at the earliest." are jealous and wish they As of press time, Marcould grow a mustache like gavage has more than 800 this," Margavage said with a votes, putting him in fourth chuckle. "I groom it every place. And rising. day and it gets a little bit bet"The top three mustachter every day." es (besides my own) are all So distinctive are the jufake mustaches," Marganior earth and environmenvage said, imploring WilJill science major's handlekes students to stand up bar whiskers that they've for the cause of facial hair begun to get him attention Courtesy of Mark Margavage authenticity. whenever he goes out. It's Margavage hopes this picture Margavage's three main not uncommon for awe- will earn him the top spot in the competitors currently struck passerby to stop Mar- "Mustache March" contest. include "Nanuwins," a gavage and ask him to pose woman wearing a fake for a picture. mustache, "Kristina," an infant whose picture One such instance recently inspired the Ed- features her clad in a wool cap with a fake wardsville native to try and take his mustache beard attached to it, and "Lostboyz70x," a national. After a Spencer's Gifts employee man who isn't wearing even a fake mustache spotted Margavage's impressive 'stache, she in his photo. Instead, the mustache has been told him about a contest sponsored by Spen- drawn with marker onto the photo itself cer's, called Mustache March. "This is important. Help me beat these phoThe contest encourages mustachioed men nies." - and women! - of all ages to submit a headVoting ends Saturday, March 31. To vote shot so that Facebook users can vote on just for Margavage, go to facebook.com/spencers who actually has the best mustache of them and search for "Mark" using the Mustache all. Now, Margavage is on a campaign to be Marchapp. crowned Mustache Master. Users can vote once a day, though voting "I have a legit shot at this if the Wilkes stu- is not supported by the mobile app and must dents support it. I figured, if they support me be done using either a desktop or laptop comit's only right that I give back, " Margavage puter. said. It is with that sentiment in mind that Mar- CONTACT BILL THOMAS AT: gavage, if his campaign is successful, plans billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com Arts & Entertainment Editor Courtesy of Sarah Hassinger Art Club members, from left, include: pre-pharm freshman Kalie Burke, business administration freshman Shayne Wharton and pre-pharm freshman Riley Jackson. Creative juices flow at at new campus art club BY JANEL NARO Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor With busy class schedules, social activities, assignments to complete and papers to write, students have a hard time fitting in recreational pastimes such as art or music. But for those willing to make time for their passion, Wilkes University's new Art Club, formed just last semester, gives students outside of the art department the chance to partake in art projects throughout the year. "It seems so ridiculous that Wilkes didn't have an art club before," Sarah Hassinger, president and founder of the club, said. "I came from a school in an area, Neshaminy High School, outside of Philadelphia, where art is just such an important thing and everyone does art at least once. I was surprised they didn't have anything here." Most of all, Hassinger is passionate about providing an opportunity for busy students to express their artistic capabilities. "It just helps you think differently," Hassinger said. "You need a club for people to be able to go that don't have art classes to just do art." Hassinger, being a freshman pre-pharm major, cradles a busy academic schedule, but still finds time to start a club and host creative outlets for students. "I took it lightly at first and I started it, and I did not realize how hard it would be," Hassinger said. "It's hard for one person to do, because we're a new club." Sara Pisarchick, an integrated media professor at Wilkes, is the faculty adviser for the art club. Being a new club, it doesn't have any officers other than president. Hassinger hopes to build a committed group of officers for next year and has a pool of26 members this year to choose from. Of those 26 members, about 10 different people come to each event. Because of the low tum-outs, events featuring an art project are held at various times instead of having weekly meetings during club hours. The club's last project involved lighting a candle and dripping the wax on canvas then painting on top of it, then picking the wax off when it dries. "It doesn't take an artist exactly, someone who's trained, with shadow and shading and everything to do that," Hassinger said. "It's just fun." Hassinger has creative ideas for future projects, including a group statue made of recyclable materials in honor of Earth Day. Their upcoming event will feature a listening session, creating art inspired by music. "I'm going to have a really crazy diverse playlist of!Jlusic playing and we'll paint colors that you associate with each genre of music. So each song will have a different beat, mood and tone and you'll express it using colors and lines," Hassinger said. Anyone interested in joining the Art Club can email Hassinger at sarah.hassinger@wilkes.edu or check out the Art Club's Facebook group by searching "Wilkes University Art Club." CONTACT JANEL NARO AT: janel.naro@wilkes.edu �15 THE BEACON I MARCH 27, 2012 A&E From page to screen: 'Hunger Hikers journey through nature, Games' film brings book to life self-discovery in 'End to Ending' BY ANNIE YOSKOSKI Staff Writer When the announcement of the "Hunger Games" movie adaptation was made, I was wary. "Oh, great," I thought, "Another amazing book that the movie will ruin." Well, I was wrong. "The Hunger Games" is an amazing movie, capturing the essence of the book without sacrificing the art of film. Reading the book, the characters are welldescribed. The film adaptation nailed down those descriptions and picked a perfect cast consisting of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, Josh .Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark, and Liam Hensworth as Gale. Jennifer Lawrence is best known for her Oscar-nominated role in2010's "Winter's Bone." The story features a concept disturbing to some people. Two teenagers from each of 12 districts are chosen to compete in a fight to the death on national television. Needless to say, there is a lot of action. The action scenes in the arena, where the games take place, were fast and precise. Seeing the images on the screen was almost paralyzing in their uncanny likeness to what readers had previously pictured. The violence and brutality of the book is still in the movie, but, due to the PG-13 rating, it is faster and less drawn-out. What amazed me the most was the actors' ability to keep the different plots and sub-plots of the movie as important as the special effects and theatrics. In addition to the titular gan1es, there is a romance, a look at the home lives of those in the impoverished districts, the decadent reality of the Capitol, and the entire idea of a dystopian America. l11e bittersweet romance scenes between Peeta and Katniss in the cave of the arena are just as important as the deaths of the games' contestants. Due to the craziness ofthe Capitol as it was depicted on the page, T wasn't sure that everything would tum out well on the big screen. But, once again I was pleasantly surprised as every wonderful, strange hair color and skin tint turned out vivid and striking, leaving the impression that the viewer was supposed to come away with a realization of how extreme this world is. Lenny Kravitz makes a perfect Cinna, and takes the outrageous character to new levels. Few scenes from the book were left out of the movie. The only thing that readers may miss is the character of Madge source of the Mockin · pin which holds so mt · symbolic signific in the story. 0th than that, eve other detai I fi neatly int place, inter locking th story an · reality in its wonderful film adaptation. BY KIRSTIN COOK Editor-in-Chief It's not about the beginning or the end, it's about the journey. This is the message the book "End to Ending: an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker's Sto1y" gives while telling the story of the author's hike along the 2,000 mile path. Tanner Critz told the story of his six and a half month-long trip from Georgia to Maine. But, this tale is about much more than walking. It's about his self-realization as he transfom1s into his trail. name, Wayah, and the memorable experiences he has making close friends along th.e way. Critz, a young college student, start.<; off his trek alone. But, he's not alone for long, as he meets up with a band of various hikers with distinct personalities. .,,,. The new ac~ quaintances join ~ Critz to form *,.~ · ~ •.. , C ... 0 * ing group, the Vikings. The group builds a sense of camaraderie based on their support and reliance during the strenuous travel. You begin to feel like you're one of the Vikings as you follow them along. They create a tradition of sharing potluck camp food over little camp stoves, write inside jokes through the Appalachian Trail shelter journals and build other memories that you can't help but feel a part of. Despite the Vikings' man-bonding antics, there's a serious, emotional strain un~ eath the whole story. There's a recurring reflection ofpersonal gro""th, and the ever-looming threat that someone will cut their journey sho1t. If you read this book, don't expect a climax or any fonn of action. There isn' t a lot of excitement built into the plot; it's not that type of story. It more describes a setting, and the overall fee.ling of the journey. While some might find this format to be boring, I fmmd it peaceful and relaxiru5. l think anyone who enjoys simply walking in the woods or camping would get that same sense. At times, 1 wish the description was enhanced more on the surroundings and the nature they come across. While the development of the setting gave you a picture, it didn't quite satisfy my urge to want to drink the whole journey in with all its details. Nevertheless, the book was a light read to give outdoors enthusiasts wann feelings in their chest. The emotional and memorable qualities of this book make it hard to believe it's actually just about walking 2,000 miles. Spoiler alert: He finished the trail. ungry for Asian eats? Try Akeno Sus BY BILL THOMAS Staff Writer Luzerne County doesn't exactly have the most tantalizing array of options to offer those with a taste for sushi. Super Happy Panda Fan1ily King Buffet isn't going to cut it. Fortunately for those looking for higher quality Japanese eats at reasonable prices, a new restaurant has opened up in downtown Wilkes-Barre: Akeno Sushi, located at 72 S. Main St. In the interest of trying as wide a range of Akeno's offerings as possible - on a col1.egiate budget, no less - dinner for this outing consisted of "Sushi for 2," a sampler platter boasting an impressive selection of nigiri, as well as a California Roll (crab, cucumber and avocado) and a Spicy Tuna Roll (plenty of tuna, but surprisingly not a lot of spice). Before that, though, soup and salad acted as an admirable appetizer. Though the Mi.so soup lacked the authenticity the rest of the meal would proudly present, it was also far less salty and, thankfully, less gritty than the soup-mix Miso of other budget Asian eateries. More successful was the ginger dressing that was piled on the otherwise unren1arkable salads. Setting itself apart from its competitors, Akeno presented a clearly homemade ginger dressing more robust than the watery sort found elsewhere. Almost like coleslaw more than a salad dressing, with thick chunks of ground ginger - and, in one instance, sesan1e - clearly visible. Onto the main event, each piece of nigiri consisted of a single, thumb- length bed of sticky rice topped by a length of fish. The purpose was to highlight the tastes and textures of each individual piece of seafood, the simplicity allowing the inherent flavors of the fish to speak for themselves. Featured fish included tuna, salmon, Spanish mackerel, yellowtail, stray bass, red snapper, fluke and eel. Portions were generous without being indulgent. The flavors in both the nigiri and the rolls tasted fresh and clean. The rustic, earthy flavors of the mackerel and eel packed the boldest wallop whereas the fluke, yellowtail and snapper offered a more subtle, airy experience. Green tea-flavored mocha ice crean1 - essentially rice-based ice cream wrapped in a soft dough - capped the feast nfoeiy, oftering just the right mixture of chewy, • chilly and 3 5/5 subtle sweet to make a dessert ideally matched to the meal preceding it. For the more adventurous, Akeno offers a variety of rolls both standard and w1ique, as well as tempura and unagi don (broiled eel over white rice). Most specialty rolls are priced in the $10 range, which puts Akeno in an admirable position of marrying affordability with delectability. All told, "Sushi for 2" cost around $30, which, taking into account beverages, soup and salad, is pretty respectabl.e indeed. Throw in an enthusiastic staff and a tranquil atmosphere, and Akeno Sushi proves itself another exciting addition to Wilkes-Barre's downtown dining scene. CONTACT BILL THOMAS billthomas@thewilkes.beacon �MARCH 27, 2012 Colonels drop series to FDU-Florham Devils use multiple late-inning rallies to down Wilkes BY JUSTIN FRANIAK BY BRYAN WISLOSKY Sports Editor The Wilkes baseball team suffered three losses this past weekend in MAC conference play. FDU-Florham used a late inning rally on Friday to take down the Colonels in the first of a three game series. Junior Zach Lazar gave the Colonels just over six inning, allowing 11 hits and recording three strikeouts. Senior Matt Ruch gave the Colonels a triple in the first inning to start the Colonels scoring. Senior Mike Olerta took a pitch to the body, allowing Wilkes to put a run on the board. The Colonels would hold a 1-0 lead going into the fourth inning until FDU came and tied up the score, eventually taking the lead. Senior Tay Sidler helped the Colonels take the lead in the sixth inning by getting walked and moved to second after Mike Olerta's sacrifice bunt. Freshman Stephen Ruch would help Sidler score with a two-run RBI. FDU would use a triple and a single to bump their lead to 3-2. Junior Carmen Lopresto would use a deep triple, along with a wild pitch, to help the Colonels take a 4-3 lead in the seventh • inning. Freshman Dan Pisanchyn used his pinch hitting appearance to his full advantage, using a double to give Wilkes an 8-4 lead. FDU would not stay silent, as they blew the game wide open the next inning. The Devils used three hits and a multiple run double to take the lead 12-8 in their last appearances at the plate. The Colonels would only manage to score two additional runs, and fell to the Devils 12-10 in the first meeting of these teams this past weekend. The Colonels schedule continued to be grueling as they traveled to FDU-Florham on Saturday after losing a close nine-inning affair the day before. The Colonels jumped out to a 3-2 lead in the -first of the afternoon doubleheader. The Broad Street Breakdown Columnist The Beacon/Laura Preby Junior pitcher Zach Lazar (right) throws a pitch during Friday's baseball game against FDU-Florham. Wilkes went on to lose the game 12-1 o._T~e ~olon_els ~ro~ped the three game series to the Devils. Lazar pitched just over six innings m his Friday outing. Freshman Stephen Ruch (left) added a two-run RBI in the contest. Sophomore Tyler Marino and freshman Dan Pysanchyn would work together with a double and single to put the Colonels out in front. The Devils would come back to tie the game 3-3 and send the contest into extra innings. In the bottom of the eigth the Devils would use a RBI single to grab the win from the Colonels, 4-3. Wilkes would have no luck in the second contest of the day either. The Devils continued their streak by scoring 12 runs through six innings jumping out to a 12-3 lead. Wilkes would put up nine runs, including Pisanchyn and Stephen Ruch who would reach base and score. Sophomore A.J. Mihaly blasted a three-run home run to keep Wilkes in striking distance. The rally was not enough as the Devils scored six runs in the next two innings, and Wilkes fell for the third time 18-9. Senior Pitcher Mark Siebel said the Colo- nels need to finish ·their games strong in order to get back to their winning ways. Mike Olerta thinks that the next time the Colonels see the Devils, the outcome will be different. "It was a tough series, we battled hard the first two games," Olerta said. "I definately feel that if we get another shot at them in the playoffs things will go differently." Mark Siebel believes that finishing games is the key to winning. "When we are winning we need to keep playing hard," Siebel said."We need to work on having games where we hit, pitch and field well, not just one of the three." The Colonels currently sit with a record of 5-10. Wilkes will be in action again against the University of Scranton on Wed. March 28 at Artillery Park. CONTACT JUSTIN FRANIAK AT: justinfraniak@thewilkesbeacon.com This Sunday, April 1, 2012, we finally get the mega-event we've been waiting for since last April. Live on pay-per-view, in Miami, Florida, in the legendary Orange Bowl, is the historic Wrestlemania 28. This year is possibly the most star-studded line up in the nearly three decade history of the event, headlined of course by the clash of the titans of the wrestling world, when John Cena goes one:on-one with the Great One, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. This match was made on the Monday Night Raw after last year's Wrestlemania, so needless to say, it has some hype. Also on the card is the End of an Era match, where The Game, HHH, takes on the Deadman, the Undertaker, inside "Hell in a Cell," with special guest referee Shawn Michaels, the Heartbreak Kid. The Apocalyptic Warrior is undefeated at the Show of Shows and can make it an unthinkable 20-0 with a victory over the Cerebral Assassin. The only thing is, HHH nearly ended "The Streak" at last year's Wrestlemania, and Taker didn't even leave the ring under his own power. Then there is the bout for the WWE Championship between current champion CM Punk and Chris Jericho. This match will determine who truly is "The Best in the World." Also, we have the World Heavyweight Championship match between D~el Bryan and Sheamus. The Celtic Warrior earned this title shot against D-Bry by winning the 2012 Royal Rumble match. As we move down the card, there is the 12-man tag match where Raw General Manager, Johnny "Ace" Laurinaitis, will put a team together against Smackdown GM, Teddy Long, where the winner will gain cont,rnl over both shows. Team Johnny consists of team captain David Otunga, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger, Mark Henry, Christian and a wrestler to be named later. SEE WWE, PAGE 19 �17 SPORTS THE BEACON I MARCH 27, 2012 SCOREBOARD Baseball 3/20 Penn College L 6-7 3/23 FDU-Florham L 10-12 3/24 POU-Florham L 3-4, .., L9-18 Softball 3/21 Alvernia L 8-9, L 2-10 W-Tennis 3/22 Haverford W 8-1 Lacrosse 3/22 Albright W 20-13 3/24 Cedar Crest W 16-4 WEEKAHEID Baseball 3/28 Scranton 3/29 Keuka Softball 3/29 Lebanon Valley 3/31 Manhattanville W-Tennis 3/31 Eastern M-Tennis 3/31 Eastern 4/1 Marywood Lacrosse 3/31 Rosemont East- Miami Marlins-97 wins, Philadelphia Phillies-94 wins- Wild Card #1 The NL East is one of the most competitive divisions in baseball. Last year, the Phillies won the division with a MLB best 102 wins and a monstrous pitching rotation. The Marlins have a new look, with a new stadiwn and new players. They brought inAllStars Jose Reyes, Heath Bell and Mark Buehrle. The Braves also have a good team with deep pitching staff and an interesting mix of veterans and young players, even .after their record collapse last season. This year, I think the Marlins will come through. The Phillies still have the best rotation in the division. But they might have the worst offense. Ryan Howard could miss most of the season with an Achilles injury, and Chase Utley is now in question. I still pick the Phillies to get a wild card slot. Central- Cincinnati Reds-94 wins, Brewers-92 wins- Wild Card #2 Last year when Adam Wainwright went down with an injury. I counted the Cardinals out. They ended up winning the World Series. This year they have no Pujols, and Chris Carpenter is looking like he is not healthy. It's hard to count the defending champs out. The Brewers lost Prince Fielder and a lot of protection and power in the lineup. But they did add Aramis Ramirez and already have a top of the line young pitching rotation that is probably in the top three in the NL. I pick them to win the Wild Card and play the Phillies in the play-in game. The Reds are my dark horse this year. Last year, the Reds were at the bottom of the league in pitching with a lot of injuries and inconsistences. NL West- Arizona Diamondbacks-95 wins Send messages and pictures to @wilkesbeacon Last year was no fluke for the Dbacks. They won the west by eight games over the defending champion Giants. I love the Giants pitching rotation, but their hitting is just not good enough to compete with the best. The return of Posey will help, and Lincecwn will have a much better year than last. I like the Dbacks with their young talent, Ian Kennedy, who has come into his own, and a great manager in Kirk Gibson. I see them winning by a game or two. East-New York Yankees 103 wins, Red Sox 97 wins-Wild Card #1, Rays95 wins-Wild Card #2 The American League East might be the best division in the history of sports this year. The Yankees have added a ton of pitching both young and old, addressing their major need last year. The Rays are a young team that just won't die. Mix the cut-throat "us against the world mentality," a great coach in Joe Maddon and a young pitching rotation, and they are a dangerous team. The Red Sox have all the talent they need, and new manager Bobby Valentine is bringing a fresh new mentality. The Blue Jays are worth mentioning, sin_ce they lead the league in home runs and ~ve great young pitching coming up this year. Central- Detroit Tigers 100 wins The Central is a mess this year, and the only constant is the Tigers. They added Prince Fielder to the monster Miguel Cabrera for the best 3-4 combo in the bigs. Mix that with Justin Verlander, Doug Fister and a great bullpen, this is a runaway year for the Tigers. The only question is Cabrera's move to third. The White Sox and Twins have disappeared and the Indians cannot stay healthy, so look for the Royals to finish second with an 85-win season but not come within 12 of the Tigers. West- LA Angels 96 wins The West is interesting. Take out the two bottom feeders in Oakland and Seattle, and you have a slugfest that spans 162 games for the division title. The Angels have vastly improved with Pujols and CJ Wilson coming over. The Angels rotation rivals the Phillies and is extremely deep. The Angels had 86 wins last year before adding Pujols, a 15-plus game winner in Wilson and healthy Morales. Look for them to get 96 wins. Texas has a great lineup but their pitching is a question mark. We don't know how Yu Darvish will do and their team lost their ace. I foresee them having 90 wins, but no playoffs because of the strength of the Angels and the East division. My ALCS pick is going to be the Tigers. I believe the Tigers have a fantastic pitching staff, and I am huge on Doug Fister. I think the Yankees will face them in the championships series, but Prince Fielder will claim his throne in the World Series. �THE BEACON I MARCH 27, 2012 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -SPORTS --~---------------------- 18 Wilkes downs BU Huskies The Beacon/Laura Preby Amanda Rossi warms up before she and her teammates defeated Division II foe Bloomsburg University. Wilkes claimed victories in four out of six singles matchups. The team of Junior Alexis Donner and Sophomore Ally Kristofco clinched the victory for the Colonels in their doubles matchup. Wilkes beat the Huskies 5-4 and will be in action again March 31 against Eastern. Re '='~ • Ph'G't l A & ;,%/# $ As ¾)ft.,, Vid .. On.l,it1~9de-~i:Sl[llrrs : ... an.d m,e r,i, 146 SOUTH PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE/ WILKES-BARRE, PA 18701 We're hiring No experience necessary. We'll train. The Beacon will begin accepting applications April 2 for all the positions you see listed here. Don't leave Wilkes with just an education ... get experience. Working with The Beacon provides an opportunity to improve communication skills that are essential for any career field. For more information, contact Kirstin Cook, editor-in-chief, at kirstin.cook@wilkes.edu, 570408-5903 OR Dr. Loran Lewis, adviser, loran. lewis@wilkes.edu, 570-408-4165 UBEACO N ~ r-' News of Toda Re orted B the .Journalists of Tomorrow �19 THE BEACON I MARCH 27, 2012 Wrestlers attend benefit - WWE Continued from Page 16 n :rs lior ed ;s. of ut :td n- er k- :s, rs n:rr Team Long has team captain Santino Marella, Kofi Kingston, R-Truth, Zack Ryder, The Great Khali, and another mystery participant. It should be noted thift by the time this article comes out, the final two wrestlers for the match will most likely be revealed, but for now my predictions are Miz for Laurinaitis, and Brodus ----·--Clay for Long. Next, we have Randy Orton taking on Kane. The Viper and the Devil's Favorite Demon should put on a good show for the crowd. Then there is the match for the Intercontinental Title where Big Show hopes to end his string ofWrestlemania woes against current champion Cody Rhodes. The final match currently on the card is the Divas tag match, featuring Maxim bombshell Kelly Kelly teaming up with the host of Extra, Maria Menounos, to take on the dastardly Eve Torres and Divas Champion Beth Phoenix. This match is really only on the card as filler. As far as winners go, my predictions are Kelly Kelly and Maria Menounos, Cody Rhodes retains the Intercontinental Title, Randy Orton, Laurinaitis will take control of both shows, Sheamus becomes the new World Heavyweight Champion, CM Punk retains his WWE Championship, Undertaker goes to 20-0, and as much as I am a part of Team Bring It, I have to say that the Cenation leader will take the victory in The Rock's hometown. John Cena is just too big a star, and Rocky just isn't around enough that a win will do the company any good. Either way, Wrestlemania has a sick lineup and could possibly be the greatest show of the year in the world of sports entertainment. CONTACT BRYAN WISLOSKY AT: bryan.wis/osky@wilkes.edu OPEN HOUSE I :s .n :e w :n is 1r, n Photo courtesy of Dave Oberrender Wilkes wrestlers Dave Oberrender (left), Ben Marich (middle), and Eric Bach (right) pose with Natalie Smirne. They recently attended a benefit for Smirne held at Kildare's Irish Pub in Scranton. The benefit was held to raise money to renovate Smirne's home to accomadate her and her new wheelchair. For information or to donate contact Oberrender at david.oberender@wilkes.edu. @ 40 WEST · At 40 West, you get the best. And then some. We' re hosting an Open House on a Saturday for students 8: parents to check out all the great amenities 40 West has to offer! WHEN: 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturday, March 31 WHERE: Wilkes-Barre YMCA Lobby-enter through Franklin St. WHY: To showcase our amazing, new student housing complex! PERKS: Free food, awesome tour of modern & safe apartments and applications/leasing packets available! RSVP on Facebook! 40 West Apartments ' Follow us on Twitter! @40WestApts Call us with questions! 570.855.4686 Email our community coordinator, Jacki Lukas-jlukas@radnorproperty.com �SPORTS :.. Check us out at: thewilkesbeacon.com ~ THE BEACON I MARCH 27, 2012 � 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 2012 March 27th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 March 27 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/b4de591ef44be4e67815bcf6a71f02b0.pdf fd998742bba9b0a2fc0c8a966d8d9120 PDF Text Text Est.1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member THE BEACON The Beacon/Austin Loukas Wilkes dining officials say the amount of food that comes back on the cafeteria .conveyor belt is frightening. They believe the problem stems from the majority of student who fill their trays to the maximum but only eat a portion of the food. . Food waste at Wilkes has negative impacts tined for the landfill can be downright frightening. "If you spend a few hours in the dish room, the sheer amount of Christina Martinez takes a bite of food that comes back there somemashed potatoes in the Wilkes caf- times is really scary," Dining Sereteria and decides they taste bad. vices General Manager Ronald So, she brings the almost un- Williams said. touched bowl to the conveyor belt The U.S. Environmental Protecand sends it away to the dish room. tion Agency states that in 2010 "I throw out a lot, actually," the more than 33 million tons of food freshman biology major said. waste was thrown away, accountAnd Martinez isn't the only one. ing for almost 14 percent of all Wilkes dining officials say the garbage. amount of food that comes back The stream of food waste from on the cafeteria conveyor belt des- Wilkes alone is impacting the enBY KIRSTIN COOK Editor-in-Chief vironment by adding to swelling landfills, as well as the Wilkes budget because of high costs associated with this garbage. The issue is fed by a lack of awareness, leading to excess food being tossed. Williams said the problem stems from the majority of students who fill their trays to the maximum but only eat a portion of the food. "A lot of p«:!ople take something from every station and then end up throwing maybe a third ofit away," Williams said. He said a lot of people don't think about how much they're wasting, and he'd like to make them more aware. Williams explained there are costs throughout the food cycle from bringing in the food and preparing it to transporting the waste to the landfill - putting a price tag on every plate of disposed food. Luzerne County recycling coordinator Beth DeNardi said this cost is the bottom line ofreducing food waste. "I think once you start diverting the food from the waste stream, SEE WASTE, PAGE 3 The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow Check us out at: thewilkesbeacon.com ~ �CONTACT EDITOR: phatnguyen@thewilkesbeacon.com APRIL 3, 2012 Wilkes trains leaders through annual service positions BY PHAT NGUYEN News Editor Senior English major Jason Neare is looking at programs with the Duke Talent Identification Program where he would be in charge of teaching talented high school graduates upon graduation. He is also considering doing a writing program with Duke in New Mexico about politics and law in China. This is all possible because he was one of the Wilkes scholars selected for the Scholars in Service to Pennsylvania program. Wilkes University is partnering with ArneriCorps for the sixth consecutive year. The school has been awarded more than ten part-time ArneriCorps positions. The program is centered on the student's personal interests allowing them to coordinate and plan their own service event said Me!i11 Boone Valkenburg, the civic engagement and community service coordinator. ArneriCorps, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency, supports more than 50,000 people each year who make significant service commitments. Students will then plan and complete 300 hours of service in one year with an educational stipend of $117 5 from the Corporation for National and Community Service. They also receive leadership training and help recruit additional volunteers. Boone believes this will enable the school to work closely with nonprofit agencies in very meaningful ways. "We have been able to pilot a communitycentered research project with the Victims Resource Center through the hard work and dedication of our Scholars in Service to Pennsylvania students," Boone said. "This research will help inform educational and preventative programs on our campus." Boone will be recruiting students for next year's program from now through the end of The Beacon/Kirstin Cook Senior Jason Neare, a Wilkes Americorps scholar, takes part in Alternative Spring Break in Costa Rica. Neare is considering more service projects upon graduation. the spring semester. She is looking for students with outstanding leadership qualities and will have trouble narrowing down to just ten people. "It is hard," Boone said with a smile While there is an application process with essays and recommendations required, the competition will bring out the best in her BEACON 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 PHONE: (570) 408-5903 WEBSITE: thewilkesbeacon.com scholars, she said. Neare, a current scholar, knew that he wanted to become a leader in the community and quickly took interest in helping people. Some of the events on campus that he has been a part of include the Orange Ribbon Campaign for Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Root Beer Social, which was a water pong tournament to raise awareness of the use of narcotics/alcohol as a means of committing rape. Students were provided with the statistics of date rape drugs during parties. "The purpose of the projects are to raise awareness of the ways in which students live to make sure that they are safe outside of the classroom," Neare said. "SISPA allows students to do these tasks in order to break through the barrier of reaching the college community through peer advocacy." These events lead to the Victim's Rights Rally, Take Back the Night, which is when Wilkes University and King's College recruit people to join an organized walk in support of stopping domestic violence/rape, Neare said. Neare was able to apply his English background to Domestic Violence Service Center workshops by providing the women with an outlet to work on resumes, cover letters and creative writing. "One of the most rewarding experiences of my time here at Wilkes was when one woman worked on a resume in the workshop," Neare said. "Two weeks later, the DVSC notified us and said that the same woman was able to attain the school job she wanted, purchase her own home and regain a custody fight for her children." Neare was able to use his education to provide another individual with a better quality of living, thus fulfilling the SIS PA goal. Many of these SISPA scholars, such as Neare, have had leadership opportunities in the past, been involved with extracurriculars such as English honors society and are very good at communicating, Boone said. "My kids are not afraid to ask why and how to get more involved. They're also not afraid to talk to other students," Boone said. A lot of her past scholars are still at Wilkes as student teachers or working in nonprofit SEE LEADERS, PAGE 3 Editorial Staff 2011-12 Editor-in-Chief: Kirstin Cook Managing Editor: Michael Klimek Ad Manager: Brittany Battista Photo Editor: Laura Preby Adviser: Loran Lewis News Editor: Phat Nguyen Opinion Editor: Carly Yamrus A&E Editor: Bill Thomas Life Editor: Christine Lee Sports Editor: Justin Franiak Meet the Staff Serena Molyneux Assistant Sports Editor �THE BEACON I APRIL 3, 2012 WASTE NEWS ey Continued from the front page you'll see a drop in what it is you put out for garbage," DeNardi said. "You'll see a drop in the cost of it as well." Composting as a solution DeNardi said there are useful outlets for food waste, such as composting the scraps to create nutritious soil or giving it to local farmers to feed livestock. "You're taking something you could use down the line, that doesn't require a lot of work, and you're paying to throw it away," DeNardi said. "To me that doesn't make sense." She called composting a win-win situation because it would generate benefits at the same time as reducing landfill that produces pollutants such as methane DeNardi does not know of any area colleges that have a composting program. She said it'd be a great idea for all of them to start one, but she suggested preliminary feasibility studies to determine effectiveness. The first step would require schools to determine a location for the project. "Unfortunately a lot of the colleges in · town don't have that type of space to work with," DeNardi said, though Environmental and Earth Sciences professor Jule McMonagle said Wilkes could partner with local municipalities and organizations for the project. "It would require an investment of time on Wilkes' part, but if at the end of the day they can reduce their overall costs as well as have some nice partnering activities, that might be very attractive," McMonagle said. DeNardi said the tangible benefits would be w<¥th the effort. "With a compost pile, you're not going to pay as much for garbage, you're doing something that's educational, plus you could use the end product," DeNardi said. "I don't see anything bad about that." DeNardi stressed the most important part of reducing waste is education. This is something McMonagle also stresses in class. She said a composting project would be a powerful tool in this education process. Developing a partnership project would be time-consuming, but she said the rich fertilizer from compost, cost-effectiveness and positive press for Wilkes are just a few of the rewards. Simpler alternatives EEES professor Mark Kaster added that educating the public on food waste is a part of Wilkes' role in the community. "The university should be a leader in that area, because that's all about educating the community," Kaster said. He said there seems to be a disconnect The Beacon/Austin Loukas The stream of uneaten food from the Wilkes cafeteria is affecting the environment by adding to landfills, as well as the Wilkes budget because of high costs associated with this garbage. This issue is fed by a lack of awareness, leading to excess food being tossed. Dining Services tries to keep leftovers at a minimum by making food in small batches. ----------------- between today's generations and the realization of how much work goes into producing food. "Maybe that's partial explanation why it's so easy just to fill your plate up," Kaster said. "You're on a meal plan, so mound it, and eat half of it and the rest of it goes away." Kaster said the solution to cutting food waste in the Wilkes cafeteria is simple: Take only as much as you're going to eat. But, he said, this requires consciousness toward sustainability. "It's a value thing," Kaster said. "If you really care, or even care a little bit, you say 'OK, I'll only take what I want.' You can always go back and get more. You don't have to fill your plate massively." He said producing compost would have local benefits because the soil quality in this area is very low. Williams said Dining Services tries to keep leftovers at a minimum by making food in small batches. He said they will give food to the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen in Wilkes-Barre when the cafeteria closes for breaks rather than letting it spoil. Some schools are going tray-less to cut back on waste, he said, something the Wilkes cafeteria does on Earth DaY. to spread awareness. He said there's the potential to eliminate trays completely, which he believes would be effective in decreasing waste. But he said this would have to be student-driven to be successful. "It has to be student-driven almost, because at this point there's too much pushback from faculty, staff and students," Williams said. "If there was an initiative like that that was student-driven, it definitely wouldn't get a fight from us." Despite the advantages of a compost program, Williams said there is the major downfall of the idea in who would take on the project. He said there would almost have to be an employee on staff strictly to maintain that program. In the meantime, he said other routes to bring awareness - such as trayless initiatives and food donations - are a step in the right direction. "Anything we can do to reduce the amount of food and garbage that's taken off campus is a plus." @kirstinjeancook kirstincook@thewilkesbeacon.com LEADERS Continued from page 2 organizations. Boone also encourages students to reapply, as they can be a scholar up to four times as long as they meet criteria. "When people see that you can give yourself up to help other people, think creatively and work with diverse people, it really makes you stand out," Boone said. "It shows that you are able to see projects through a long period of time which employers are looking for." Lisa Mulvey, career services and development coordinator, said professional volunteer experience always looks really good on a resume. "AmeriCorpS"is such a well-known, prestigious program," Mulvey said. "To get accepted into a program like that is definitely going to catch onto employers especially if you can relate it to your major." @phat_nguyen phatnguyen@thewilkesbeacon.com �THE BEACON I APRIL 3, 2012 NEWS 4 SG: Lady Luck and $12,000 in prizes for Casino Week BY DEVON I NOVAK Assistant News Editor fundraise because we already have access to the student activities fees." Casino Night: Lady Luck will be sporting a dress made of student activities fees - SG unanimously granted $11,900 of student activities fees to cover the cost of this year's Casino Week. Most of the money is projected to be spent on prizes such as the MacBook Pro, the iPad, a giant flatscreen TV, a skydiving trip, gift cards and jewelry, just to name a few. Included in the budget will be a feast of pizza and soda. Pl pharmacy major and SG treasurer, Samantha Bickert presented the proposal and after re-joining the rest of SG, she was jokingly told that her fund request was denied. Bickert however, was not convinced and laughed off the joke as she accepted just under $12,000 for the event. When asked why SG was entitled to such a large chunk of the student activity fee pot without having to fundraise - a practice that all of SG suggests to every club that receives SG funding - sophomore political science major Ian Foley explained, "We don't need to SUB renovations aim at giving the first Ooor of the SUB a more modern look Buffer fund has projected the renovations on the first floor of the SUB to cost $105,000. To achieve a coveted modem style, $15,000 of the budget will be used to buy new furniture and another $15,000 will be set aside "just in case." Taking students' feedback into consideration from the online survey, minor changes to the virtual model will be made and installed accordingly when re-modeling takes place this summer. Instead of the tapered counter originally designed for the game room, a full counter is preferable among students to make it more functional and accessible. The game room will also feature a half wall that will be set against the future booths of Rifkin Cafe. By dividing the space with a half wall, a more modem, open feel is attempted. In the lounge, the stage will be removed and in its place will be a counter complete with movable chairs. Nominees for 2012-2013 SG President As the end of the school year approaches, it's once again time to pick SG president for next year. So far the nominees include: junior nursing major, Sam Schuler; sophomore mathematics education major, Amber Konopka; and junior pharmacy major, Kris Rivers. Nominees who declined include: junior accounting and business administration major, John Sweeny; sophomore political science major, Ian Foley; and sophomore pharmacy major, Julie Miller. Further nominations will be announced at the next SG meeting, followed by campus voting and election. Psi Chi's game show allows students to talk about Wilkes -After their own department denied them the funds to host their annual fundraiser, The National Honor Society of Psychology, Psi Chi, came to SG last week to request $357.25 for a "Family Feud" event. Senior psychology major Nick Zinskie presented on behalf of Psi Chi and explained that while this is the only fundraiser used by Psi Chi, their mock version of "Family Feud" gives students a chance to "receive great prizes for participation in a campuswide event that brings all students together to talk about Wilkes." After Zinskie's presentation was complete, SG deliberated on the matter and ultimately agreed with Zinskie. Psi Chi was granted the full $357.25. In preparation for the event, members of Psi Chi first conduct a series of surveys across campus and use the generated answers to create their own version of this classic game show. After the top answers according to the surveys are recorded, Psi Chi must then await interest to spark at sign-ups. This year, interested students can register at the table marked "Psi Chi" in the SUB on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m with a participation fee of $2. Psi Chi's "Family Feud" will take place on Tuesday, April 17, from 6 to 9 p.m. in the SUB Ballroom. Refreshments and prizes will be provided. @DevoniNovak devoninovak@thewilkesbeacon.com Don't miss out on 40 West You don't want to pass up this awesome opportunity to live in the BEST off-campus student housing! Don't risk NO VACANCY for this upcoming school year! Reserve your spot at 40 West today! Call us to set up a tour! 570.855.4686 Email our community coordinator, Jacki Lukas: j lukas@radnorproperty.com Applications & Leases available at www.40westapartments.com 40 West Apartments @40WestApts �THE BEACON I APRIL 3, 2012 NEWS S A Spark of Clean Energy: Marcellus Shale Formation Natural gas industry to create more jobs, develop local businesses BY BRYAN CALABRO Design Editor From the current drilling trend, within the next 10 years the economic impact of the Marcellus shale formation -- which underlies 60 percent of Pennsylvania's total landmass -- will hit an all-time high throughout Pennsylvania. Job creation will be a result. ''NEPA has experienced significant job losses, higher unemployment, and net population loss over the last 40 years. The natural gas industry has created jobs in its own industry, but also helped a number of small businesses grow and become suppliers and/or vendors to the industry," said Terry Oomes, executive director for The Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection reports the number of natural gas drilled wells throughout the Marcellus Shale formation has been increasing rapidly. In 2007, only 2 7 wells were drilled in Pennsylvania. Now, the number of wells drilled exceeds 4,000. "With over 4,000 natural gas wells drilled in Pennsylvania, drilling is more important than ever. The presence of Marcellus shale has provided Pennsylvanians with direct and indirect jobs, over 72,000," said Samuel Denisco, director of government affairs at the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. The U.S. Geological Survey issued an updated Marcellus Shale resource assessment in Pennsylvania, indicating that the "region contains some 84 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered, recoverable natural gas, far more than thought nearly a decade ago," as reported by the Associated Press. Dr. Sid P Halsor, professor of Environmental Engineering and Earth Science at Wilkes University, agrees people will benefit directly from natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania. "Job creation as a result of Marcellus -shale gas development for people's development is probably the biggest dividend from the development of gas play," Halsor said. He said drilling into the Marcellus Shale formation is not a fad, either. STRESSED? HEADACHE? Headaches and back pain are two of the most common ailments treated at our clinic. Often, we can bring relief simply by taking the pressure off a pinched nerve. Here are other common symptoms of a pinched nerve. Neck Pain Back Pain Shoulder Pain Arm Pain Leg Pain Muscle Pain - Sports Injury - FREE 20 Min Hydro Massage Auto Accident - w WILKES UNJVERSllY FREE EXAM & FREE 1st Treatment Wilkes-Barre Chiropractic & Rehab Dr. David Lewis Chiropractic Physician 825-5535 380 Old River Road Wilkes-Barre, PA All Insurances Accepted dblewis326@aol.com www.nepachiro.com "Natural gas is here to stay for quite some time," Halsor said. "We are looking at 40 to 50 years of natural gas development for the Marcellus Shale region." He pointed out the economic impact drilling has already had in Pennsylvania. UGI Penn Natural Gas has already started reducing its rates for Pennsylvania customers. This shows the profound effect natural gas will have on future economic success, Halsor said. And even after these 40 to 50 years are up, Halsor said if economics are right, much deeper shale formations like the Utica formation can be drilled into. The Utica shale formation is much thicker than the Marcellus shale formation, geographically extensive and has already shown promise of a commercial impact in eastern Ohio. Gene Andzulis, petroleum landman with Gary A. Momoe and Associates, knows exactly what kind of commercial impact the Utica shale formation can have. Andzulis, a recent Penn State grad with a B.S. in petroleum and natural gas engineering, moved to Ohio because of a job opportunity to work on the Utica shale formation. "Drilling operations have· barely begun in northeastern Pennsylvania, once the pipelines have been placed and projects completed in Ohio, western Pennsylvania operations will move east," Andzulis said. Andzulis said he understands the strong economic power natural gas has in rural regions. "The economic impact natural gas drilling has is limitless. Creating new, high-paying jobs in a failing economy in a primarily rural area is not an easy task, a task now possible," Andzulis said. The Bureau of Labor statistics mirrors what Andzulis says about the creation of jobs. Employment related to oil and natural gas extraction for January 2011 topped out at 186,000 jobs, a 1,000-job increase over December of that year. But there are many concerns about whether these newly created jobs will be safe. "With any work site comes hazards," said Andzulis. "Those present on a drilling rig come from a lot of overhead dangers such as well casings, drilling components, tripped pipe, etc." Andzulis disagrees with the argument of many anti-drilling advocates that the hydraulic fracturing process creates methane. One of these anti-drilling advocates, Robert W. Howarth, Cornell professor of ecology and environmental biology, writes how the fracturing process creates methane in his scholarly journal. "Higher emissions from shale gas occur at the time wells are hydraulically fractured as methane escapes from flow-back return fluids and during drill out following the fracturing," Howarth said. Andzulis counters this by saying, "The hydraulic fracturing process does not create methane, methane gases are naturally present in the earth, however during fracking, it may be released and find its way to the surface." Andwlis suggests natural gas is a form of modem-day coal mining. Instead of going deep into the mines, workers stay above the surface and operate large scale·drilling equipment. Technological innovation has superseded the out-of-date methods of humans garnering coal. Now, he said, the same impact coal mining had on small towns, drilling has today. The impact of natural gas extends past its economic benefit: it is claimed to be much cleaner to bum and better for the environment. Naturalgas.org cites the main products of natural gas when lit are carbon dioxide and water vapor; both products humans exhale throughout the day. Coal and oil, the leading fossil fuels up until natural gas, are composed of much more complex molecules, with higher carbon, nitrogen and sulfur contents. "When combusted, coal and oil release higher levels of harmful emissions, including a higher ratio of carbon emissions, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide," according to the website NaturalGas.org. "Coal and fuel oil also release ash particles into the environment, substances that do not bum but instead are carried into the atmosphere and contribute to pollution." The creation of natural gas is quite an extensive process, a process that takes place over millions of years. The Union of Concerned Scientists describes how natural gas is created: "Like oil, natural gas is a product of decomposed organic matter, typically from ancient. marine microorganisms, deposited over the past 550 million years." It continues by saying when this decomposed matter is sealed off and exposed to increasing amounts of heat and pressure from being nearly a mile underground, a thermal breakdown process converts this decomposed matter into a gaseous state. The natural gas drilling industry employs thousands of jobs across the U.S., 72,000 in Pennsylvania alone over the past year. @BryanCalabro bryan.calabro@wilkes.edu �[ll(Bilill) ~,r, il1lil[ill ITUuDLru _/~~ GE{ITT (D L......L..L..L.~ ~ CONTACT EDITOR: carlyyamrus@thewilkesbeacon.com APRIL 3, 2012 Well-intended Kony 2012 campaign a dangerous ignorance for the U.S. BY CARLYYAMRUS Opinion Editor Good intentions, poor execution. This is the most basic definition of the KONY 2012 movement. Like most Americans, I had no idea what KONY 2012 was until I woke up one morning and saw that Facebook was spammed with videos and statuses for change. It was not until recently that I decided to watch the thirty minute documentary on the issue, produced by the non-profit organization Invisible Children. KONY 2012 is a movement to find and arrest Joseph Kony, who is considered to be the world's worst war criminal. In 1987, Kony took over an existing rebel group and renamed it The Lord's Resistance Army. Kony's tactics for acquiring soldiers are horrifying. African children are abducted and forced into the LRA as soldiers or as sex slaves. They are then told to rape, mutilate and kill civilians, including their own parents. The mo, ement's rnain event called "Cover The Night" is set for April 20. When the rest of the world goes to sleep, KONY 2012 advocates will spam the country with KONY 2012 posters and the like. The point of this is to raise awareness and get the rest of the United States involved in this mission. I am actually a little excited to see how this turns out. It could really go either way, boom or bust. Co-founder of Invisible Children, Jason Russell created the video to make Kony famous and raise awareness for his arrest in the year 2012. The video itself features Russell and his 3-year-old son. It was an inspirational film but I couldn't help but feel that it was also misleading and oversimplified. Surely the task of arresting this rnan is not as easy as the video makes it out to be. While the whole idea of global change through the youth of America sounds enticing, Invisible Children may have gone about it the wrong way. What Invisible Children did here was both good and bad, but I'm leaning a little more toward the bad side. It is true that a cause needs awareness and momentum. Maybe I'm being a little cyni- BEACON POLL The Beacon poll is unscientific and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on the Wilkes campus. These poll results are based on 11 responses. Last week's question: What do you think Rutgers student Dharun Ravi's verdict should have been in the suicide death of his roommate? a h s, e h SI "'tt tt p V. Courtesy ofYouTube The recent KONY 2012 movement has recently spawned negative feedback from Africans who say that it showed too many white people and oversimplified the issue. cal but I don't think the target audience has the attention span for such a big issue. After all, the hype died down incredibly fast -- 48 hours at most. The group effectively rallied the masses but it didn't quite follow through. It's easy to click a button on Facebook in support, but how many people are actually going to give it the financial support that it needs? And even if it does get financial support, how much of the money goes directly to the cause? According to KONY2012.com, only 37 percent of the money raised goes toward Central Africa programs. The group claims to spend 80 percent of their profits on "the goal," with a great portion of this money going towards awareness programs and products. Sadly, most of the money would go towards marketing techniques and ignorant videos that fail to accurately represent the real victims. The video itself is really not sad enough for what it is trying to portray. I think rnore people would be inspired to do something had the video focused on African children. Instead, the video showed a lot of white people who were portrayed as the heroes -- the ones who, by spreading posters and bumper stickers, would set all the little African children free! The Invisible Children KONY 2012 video did get people talking, however, Ugandans responded negatively to the video. According to CBCnews, they were outraged that there was hardly any talk of their suffering over the years. They were puzzled as to why Americans were wearing Kony's face on Tshirts and buttons. Now that we are aware ofJoseph Kony and his arrny, it rnay be time to take a step back. On March 23 , the African Union deployed 5,000 soldiers in search of Kony on top of our 100 soldiers. Everyone wants to do what they can to stop this cruel rnan, but we have to be mindful of the victims and stop taking so much responsibility for this cause. The KONY 2012 movement has upset a lot of people who now think we are ignorant to their hardships. In the corning months, we will see how the rest of this movement plays out after the Cover The Night event. In the meantime, I highly suggest that supporters of KONY 2012 and Invisible Children educate themselves and donate directly to the African people instead of sending money back into the endless cycle of awareness. If you want to help, help the victims. @carlyyamrus carly.yamrus@thewilkesbeacon.com • 1O years in jail and deportation- 64% • Only a few years of jail time-9% • Probation and community service -9% • Deportation - 9% • He was innocent - 9% This week The Beacon asks: How do you feel about the upcoming Mac Miller spring concert? . He was my top choice for a performer He was not my top choice, but I will still go I do not like his music I do not know who Mac Miller is SPEAK UP! The Beacon wants to hear your voice. Send your name, major, year and opinion to: carlyyamrus@thewilkesbeacon.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for length and content. Anonymous letters will not be published. cl d, it st m 0 st b! \\ fc ar ti< \\ lo s, Q or ch el: dr ge sit a1 A, Pl: Ce pl~ hi~ wi wa of wa pri l'v gr~ �THE BEACON I APRIL 3, 2012 7 Animals suffer unnecessarily for product testing BY KIRSTIN COOK Editor-in-Chief Most people wouldn't put shampoo in their cat's eyes before they use it themselves. They wouldn't put mascara in a rabbit's mouth to make sure it's not toxic before using it. They wouldn't rub floor cleaner on their dog's skin before putting in on their floor. So why do consumers continue to support companies that do? Many common household items, from toothpaste to dish detergent, are tested on animals. In the U.S. alone, PETA states more than 100 million animals are experimented on every year, including dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, monkeys, mice and birds. The animals are treated the same way experimenters would treat a pair of latex gloves. Used throughout the experiment until they are worn out, and then disposed of. The animals are confined to cages, waiting for the torture to begin. Then, they can often be restrained in devices for hours, and are exposed to horrors like having their skin burned off or inhaling toxic fumes. These cruel practices will often lead to the animal's death. No animal deserves to die in a laboratory, at the hands of a human. Major companies and brands like Dove, Chj)stick, Johnson & Johnson, Maybelline, Neutrogena and Suave use these horrifying testing methods to test their products. This is no law that prohibits or enforces animal testing on this corporations - they decide to take part in the abuse. Consumers need to boycott these inhumane companies. The resources are at our fingertips, as PETA has an online database of cruelty-free companies and products. Yet, some justify their usage of cruel products with the idea that animal testing is necessary for human safety. If that was true, then the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would not outwardly state they do not require animal testing to ensure safety of any cosmetics. They go so far to say that if a company finds it essential to test their product, it is recommended they consider all alternatives to animal testing. The human safety argument comes up to support animal testing for medical reasons, as well. There are claims that testing on animals has enabled medical breakthroughs. The real breakthrough has been the conclusion that results on animals are rarely compatible with results on humans. Publications like the "British Medical Journal" and "Journal of the American Medical Association" have concluded that the immense biological differences between humans and animals lead to unreliable, incomparable and inaccurate results from animal testing. You simply cannot test a drug on a rabbit and expect the effects to be the same on a human, and the same is true with any animal. Basically, these animals are suffering needlessly. Finally, one company has stepped up to its ethical obligations. French cosmetic company L'Oreal announced last month they would partner with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to end animal testing in the cosmetics industry. The Beacon /Austin Loukas Despite companies efforts to end animal testing with new technologies, consumers are still purchasing their beauty products and supporting inhumane practices. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, As more companies and stars make the ethiL'Oreal is donating $1.2 million to fund a cal choice to reject animal testing, consumers computer model that will test the toxicity of need to join the movement. It takes a few minchemicals used in products. This new technol- utes to check the back a product for a logo or ogy will allow consumers to ensure their new statement labeling that item as cruelty-free. Or, flavor of toothpaste is safe, and not at the ex- you can go to an organic section at places like pense of innocent animals. Wegman's, where the cruelty-free products are More companies need to follow L'Oreal in vast. their noble lead, And consumers need to supAnd if you choose to continue supporting port L'Oreal in their moral decision to support companies that torture animals, look into the this project. eyes of your pet dog, cat or guinea pig the next Celebrities have started to show their support time you're using that product. Think about the for the cause, as well. Media giant Ricky Ger- animals just like them that suffered to ensure vais, best known as the brains behind "The Of- that your beauty products won't irritate your . flee," recently released a video lauding the or- skin. ganization Cruelty Free International for their @kirstinjeancook work in ending cosmetic testing on animals. kirstin.cook@wilkes.edu Rising gas prices the consequence of global supply and demand BY LYNDSIE YAMRUS Assistant Opinion Editor Passing gas stations nowadays is arguably one of the worst parts of driving. The prices seem to only know one direction, and it's not down. As of Wednesday, March 28, the lowest gas price in Wilkes-Barre could be obtained at US Gas on North Pennsylvania Avenue and Butler Street, and PSC on Main Street with a price of$3.83, according to gasbuddy.com. Nearing $4 a gallon, it is hard to believe that a decade ago, gas was below $1.50 a gallon. Despite popular belief, gas attendants do not simply wake up in the morning and mess with the numbers in a random fashion. As easy as it may be to put Obama or the oil companies at fault, gasoline prices are really just a function of crude oil prices and economic conditions, along with a few other aspects like weather, refinery closings, and tension in the Middle East. Crude oil prices are affected by the sup- ply levels in comparison to the current and expected demands for fuel: a simple supply and demand case. For example, the reason why fuel prices shoot up in the spring is in preparation for the summer, when more people travel and the demand for fuel increases. Other countries like China and India are also depending more and more upon oil every day, and the overall supply is decreasing, even though the global supply of crude oil is expected to be an adequate source for at least 25 years, says the United States Energy Administration. Weather also affects price, especially major storms that affect oil production. During the mid to late 2000s, gas prices spiked due t0 the hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and floods in the Midwest. Such disasters caused pipeline and operation malfunctions, causing the refineries to shut down. Taxes, competition between gas stations, and distance from the source may also affect the prices. Essentially anything that affects oil production can cause an increase. At the end of February 2012, three refineries closed: two in the Philadelphia area (ConocoPhillips Trainer and Sunoco's Marcus Hook refineries) and one major Caribbean export (HOVENSA's U.S. Virgin Islands refinery) that supplies much of the East coast, the United States Energy Information Administration released. The EIA warned that such refinery closings could potentially increase fuel prices if supply was endangered. The only way to bring prices down is to diversify our energy options, which America is currently working on; however, a change like this certainly won't happen overnight. So naturally, since Americans have such a problem with the gas prices, you would think they'd be more frugal with their money, right? Wrong. According to a New York Times article based off information from the U.S. Census Bureau, America spends about $40 a week on gas. But surprisingly, rising gas prices had "no significant effect on the consumption of movies, bowling and billiard(s), casino gambling and only insignificant declines for recreational camps, sightseeing, spectator sports and spectator amusements," states the ar- . , , The Beacon/Austin Loukas ticle. These personal spending habits were observed during a period of high fuel price. Clearly the prices have affected our lives in all sorts of detrimental ways. Quit whining, America. Life isn't fair. @lyndsieyamrus lyndsie.yamrus@wilkes.edu �8 OPINION Nuclear energy is not our bane BY ANTHONY GORECZNY Staff Writer With rising gas prices, and dwindling fossil fuel resources, more people, companies and governments than ever before are looking to convert to current forms of alternative energy, or discover new ones. Of the myriad possibilities for our future energy supply, one of the most hotly debated is nuclear fission. While very few would doubt the cleanliness of it, many people are concerned with what they see as inherent safety issues. Events like Chornobyl and Fukushima have caused many people to become wary of nuclear energy. These rare phenomena that occur infrequently they have a comparatively negli- i the legendary taste Go Colonels! We Deliver to Wilkes University! Call (570) 331 -FAST (3278) Ask about our combo specials featuring our complete line up of pizza, subs, wings, burgers & more!visit us online for a complete menu & listing of specials at www.grottopizzapa.com or visit our restaurant & sports bar Grotto Pizza, Gateway Center, on Rt. 11 in Edwardsville (just across the bridge!) zza the legendary taste $5 OFF Any Order of $20 or More I For delivery or take out Expires 06/30/12 valid ouly at Grotto Pizza locations I gent effect when likened to other sources of power, but consequences are often drastically overstated and sensationalized by media outlets. This causes a disproportionate level of fear toward what is not only one of the cleanest, but also the singular safest form of viable energy production. Since its inception, nuclear power has been supplying electricity continuously across the world for more than 60 years. The total number of number of nuclear fission plants has grown unceasingly, and even with the most recent incident in Japan, there are still over 200 plants in the construction or planning stages. During that time there have only been three major incidents. Of these three, only two were considered Level 7 events on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale. The first, and most infamous of these is the meltdown at Chornobyl. This is the one incident that all nuclear power opponents will reference. This is because it is the only one of any true consequence. Some sources claim nearly a million deaths resulted from the meltdown and residual radiation, but in reality the death toll was far lower. The official report, available on wolrd-nuclear.org, lists the primary casualties as combined total of 59. These were the workers who died in the initial explosions, and the emergency responders who received lethal doses of radiation. Additionally, there were about 4,000 deaths attributed to the radiation spread across the region by the wind and flowing water. While this is not doubt a tragic loss ofltfe, it is clearly no where near a million souls. Another reason why Chornobyl is not the harbinger of doom that many people have been led to believe is that it is incredibly unlikely it happen again, ever. The safety protocols in place were incredibly inadequate, even by 1980s standards. Now I am sure most of you are wondering if this is impossible, what happened at Fukushima? The other indent that INES classified as a Level 7 event does have much in common with Chornobyl, mainly some notable design flaws and the tabloid journalism applied to the event by mainstream media. While the design flaws are not a grievous as the ones that plagued the Chornobyl reactor, it seems that the engineers lacked common sense. According to an article on theconversation.edu. au, not only were the emergency backup generators place in the basement when the are was know for flooding, but the flood wall was only 5.5 meters high, despite the fact that the same area has been hit by two tsunamis weighing in at 30 meters before the the plant was even built. Approximately 20,000 people were killed when the earthquake and tsunami stuck. While this is a horrific loss oflife, and a truly sorrowful disaster of epic proportions, most people will be truly perplexed by how many THE BEACON I APRIL 3, 2012 of these deaths were contributed to the power plant. A whopping five people were killed, and of these, an appalling zero died from radiation. One was crushed by a crane during the earthquake, two others were carried away by the tsunami, and another died of a heart attack. The last man's death will remain a mystery, as the company won't reveal any information except to confirm that it was not due to radiation. This particular reactor was built in 1971, making it older than the Chornobyl reactor. Yet it was still able to survive an earthquake and a tsunami in quick succession, two of mother nature's most brutal and destructive whims, without claiming a single life on its own. Needless to say, the reactors that are in production now are far more advanced and contain far more safety regulation than were present in the Fukushima reactor. The final incident took place at Three Mile Island, not far from here, and was considered a Level 5 event. In this case a partial meltdown started, and the safeties that were in place engaged exactly as they were supposed, completely shutting down the reactor. Little to no radiation was released from the plant and absolutely zero deaths were involved. The only reason this incident is even worth mentioning is because it a perfect example of how well protected these systems are. An Internet marketer named Seth Godin performed a study in 2008 on energy production methods and safety by comparing the deaths attributed to each and the energy it contributes, and made a surprising discovery. Out of all viable sources of energy, nuclear is, by no small margin, the least deadly. For every one person who is killed due to nuclear energy, 4,000 deaths are attributed to coal. That means that for each and every one of those 4,000 people who died at Chornobyl, coal has caused another 4,000 deaths each, or in other words, 4,000 Chornobyls. In China, coal kills 500,000 people a year. To put it differently, in three days as many people will die in China from coal as have died in over 60 years across the entire world from nuclear energy. I find this both mind -boggling and disturbing. Coal isn't the only culprit either. Oil kills 900 times, and biofuel 300 times the number of people nuclear energy kills per terawatt hour. Even the next saf~t from of alternative energy, hydro-electricity, still kills more than twice as many people as nuclear power does, and these calculations include the deaths caused by Chornobyl. If Chornobyl had never happened, as it never should have, the number of deaths per terawatt hour due to nuclear energy would be a decimal followed by so many zeros that even the most insane @4TonyG4 anthony.goreczny@wilkes.edu Al C ... l e, Ar Ur du re, pit ga hii far sta th{ us, pl~ za1 of Jar Lu an1 F zar wr. Mc pe< the pai tra: lirn tO I hin har for thiJ 1 er, to i lati cru con oft lati, par the his "I at t und stra �APRIL 3, 2012 - CONTACT EDITOR: christinelee@thewilkesbeacon.com Women's and Gender Studies Conference goes global in 2012 BY CHRISTINE LEE Life Editor To fulfill the Wilkes general education requirement, all students must take a public speaking class or two oral presentation option classes and a senior capstone. For students enrolled in Women's Studies 101, giving a presentation as a part of the annual Women's and Gender Studies Conference fulfills both of these requirements in a unique way. "This year's Women's Studies 101 students are completing critical analysis of the roles women in various films such as 'All About Eve,' 'Woman of the Year' and 'Thelma and Louise,"' Women's and Gender Studies director Jennifer Thomas said. This year's conference focuses on the theme of women across the globe, a theme Thomas said she chose to highlight the everyday actions of ordinary women. "Although women represent approximately half of the world's population, their accwnplishments often go unnoticed and they are often not afforded leadership positions," Thomas, assistant professor of psychology, said. Although this year's events have a global focus but not all of the events have this focus. Women's and Gender Studies Intern Julia Cikota said this year's theme is nice because people can learn about women's issues at home and abroad. "A lot of the events have a more global focus but the nice thing is not all of the events do," Cikota, junior psychology major, said. "So while that's the overall theme of the conference and one good reason to come to the conference is because you can experience things and learn about women from other cultures you can also learn about the conditions women here in the U.S." The conference will also go beyond Wilkes' campus. This year's conference is a partnership between Wilkes and neighboring King's College, with presentations from both Wilkes and King's professors and students. King's College Women's Studies director Robin Field had taken King's Women's Studies students to this conference in the past and Misericordia University's gender studies conference last year. After attending these conferences over the years, it occurred to Field to combine the re- The Beacon/Dan Lykens Some of Wilkes' women from across the globe include from left to right, associate research professor of biology Linda Guitierrez from Venezuela, visiting scholar Rael Sospateri from Tanzania, and assistant director of international students Felixa Wingen from Germany. sources of the Women's Studies program at King's and the Women's and Gender Studies program at Wilkes. "It seemed like a good idea to combine our resources and try to work together so that's what happened with me speaking to Thomas and getting our administrations' support," Field, an English professor at King's, said. Field hopes with the combined conference that Wilkes and King's students get an opportunity to interact in a unique way, particularly by going to each others' panels or combined panels of students from Wilkes and King's and exchanging ideas. "Some of the panels have students from both colleges to present so they'll get to hear each others' work and then I hope they'll go to panels where there are students from only one college or university and be able to exchange ideas," Field said. "We are studying the same things and have important ideas to talk about dealing with women and gender." All panel sessions will take place at Wilkes on the second floor of the Student Union Building in the Ballroom, Miller Room and Savitz Lounge with the exception of the keynote speaker, which will take place at 7 p.m. at Burke Auditorium in McGowan Hall at King's College. The keynote speaker this year is assistant professor of sociology at Boston University Ashley Mears, a former runway model who will speak about how the fashion industry puts labels on people to make them more valuable. Another highlight of the conference will be a luncheon on Tuesday, April 17 featuring Esther Petrie, a nurse who has been collecting and sending used, outdated, leftover and retired medical equipment to needy parts of the world for more than 20 years. She is joined by Kathye Gentry, a physician's assistant who has participated in medical missions all over the world as a volunteer health care provider. Those interested in attending the luncheon can contact Thomas at jennifer.thomas@ wilkes.edu for an invitation. It will feature a variety of international dishes. Other highlights of the conference include a screening of the documentary "A Walk to Beautiful," a performance' ~"The Waiting Room" by the Acting II class, n evening of dance featuring modem, Indian d African dances, anc.+ a poetry reading by Wilkes and King's students and faculty. Field hopes through this conference that students can see how interesting it is to present research at a conference and to pass along more ideas about women's studies, as it applies to all disciplines. "The ideas discussed within a women's studies class or the minor itself are very important and applicable across various disciplines so someone who's majoring in biology should minor in women's studies just as well as somebody who's majoring in English could do so," Field said. CONTACT CHRISTINE LEE AT: christinelee@thewilkesbeacon.com �10 LIFE THE BEACON I APF IRHC Challen e goes lar er than life for spring semester 2012 (A l1 NI1 BYCI Life E< What like b The Beacon/Dan Lykens Inter-Residence Hall Council hosted its spring semester Cake Challenge on Monday, March 26, with the theme being big foods. For on-campus, the first place winner was Sturdevant Hall with the Swanson's Hungry Man TV dinner tray (bottom right, above) with second place going to Evans fourth floor with the pizza (bottom right, above). For off-campus, the winner was Commuter Council with the pancakes (top right, above) and senior p2 pharmacy major and Student Government President Willie Eggleston and Director of Residence Life Elizabeth Swantek with the strip of bacon (top left, above). Sturdevant received a $30 gift card to use for hall activities. Studer Woodl tures t. of the anticip morec "When by the night, I �I I APRIL 3 2012 NICHOLAS WIERMAN, OFF-CAMPUS COUNCIL PRESIDENT BY CHRISTINE LEE Life Editor "' Year: Junior Major: Earth and Environmental Science Hometown: Middletown, Pa. Duties: Representing off campus students, and serving on traffic council, student affairs committees and disciplinary committees. bicycles, fixing bicycles. That really stems from a family thing, my family does a lot of that. What is in your fridge? Indian food, I really like Indian food. If you had a superpower, what would it be? Ifl could choose a superpower I would say reading minds. The Beacon/Dan Lykens Off-Campus Council President Nicholas Wierman enjoys biking in his spare time. What are some upcoming OCC events? Block party is April 21 , right now we're in the process of closing off South Street because normally Block Party is held on the greenway but due to the construction of the science building it is being held on the remaining part of the greenway and South Street. What are some of your hobbies? I really like bicycles so anything with bicycles. I like mountain biking, road cycling, building What are some of your plans after graduation? I have a couple of options but nothing set in stone. I thought about joining the military after college actually or getting a job in computer science, geographic information systems aspect or working for an environmental protection agency whether that be the Environmental Protection Agency or a local community organization. What is a secret talent of yours? I'm really good at origami. Particularly unit origami, where instead of folding one piece of paper into an object you fold a bunch of pieces of paper and make a bigger object. I haven't done it in a while but in high school I made a tower that was about 4 feet tall. I loved it. What is the best place you have ever been to? The Dominican Republic (For Alternative Spring Break) If you were an animal, what would you be • What is your favorite TV show and movie? I really like "The Daily Show," that's the only show I watch consistently, that and "Archer." I just saw "The Hunger Games." That was a book I read a long time ago and and why? I would be a giraffe. Giraffes are awesome and really tall. CONTACT CHRISTINE LEE AT: christine/ee@thewilkesbeacon.com 4T■SHIRTS.COM screen prlntln1 • emlaroldery • promo Items 1I0m~rn ALWAYS •GREAT GRAPHIC • GREAT PRICH • ON TIMI DELIVERY •. ens vas re). 99- The Beacon/Christine Lee Students danced the night away at Hollywood-themed Spring Fling, held at the Woodlands Inn on March 30. In addition to the new venue, students had their pictures taken at a set-up archway and take-home movie clapperboards as souvenirs of the night. Although the numbers weren't as high as Student Government had anticipated, SG corresponding secretary Kevin Hopper (above, right with sopho- more class president Amber Konopka, left) considers this year's Fling a success. "When you make a change you never can really be sure how it's going to be taken by the student body;' Hopper said. "But based on everyone's perceptions of the night, I think it went really well:' 14' IOUTN PINNIYLVANIA AYINVI / WILKU•IIARRI, PA 11101 NIAR DOMINO'S AND CORBA BIYIRAGII ------------ �12 THE BEACON I APRIL 4, 2012 LIFE SG to offer new Casino Week prizes, including skydiving trip BY ALYSSA STENCAVAGE Staff Writer Students who enjoyed last semester's Casino Week don't have to look far for some more gaming fun. This semester's casino week will be running from Tuesday, April 10, to Friday, April 13, right after students return from Easter break. The games are Texas Hold 'em, which will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Union Building Ballroom on Tuesday. Bingo will be from Wednesday from 8 to 10 p.m. in the , Miller Room, Horse Racing will take place W€dnesday from 7 to 9 p.m in the SUB first floor lounge. Finally, Casino Night will be from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday in the SUB Ballroom, with prizes announced at 9:30 p.m. The top eight winners for Texas Hold' em will receive Best Buy gift cards. For Bingo , night, $20 gift cards to Rifkin and Colonel Gambini cafes will be distributed: !Pad 2s will be given out for Thursday's Horse Racing and the door prizes for Friday's Casino Night will include a 47-inch LCD/HD television set. There will also be a new skydiving and mountain biking trip offered as a prize this year. Student Government Corresponding Secretary Kevin Hopper said this year's two Casino Weeks have set a new record for a Student Government-hosted event. "We usually get about 600 students to attend; that set a record. This is the most successful event Student Government hosts," Hopper, a senior business administration major, said. Student Government Executive Board Treasurer Samantha Bickert evaluated the prizes for Casino week to see which prizes were most popular. "I sent out a survey after spring break. It basically asked what prizes people like, what they want to see in the future, their favorite door prize, and any suggestions they had," Bickert, a junior Pl pharmacy major, said. Bickert said she tried to incorporate the student suggestions into the prizes. For example, the iPads from last year's event were highly popular among students, so she's Health and Wellness Fair 2012 added two of them as prizes this year. She be taking place during this Casino Week and also increased the number of door prizes more prizes will be available than at past caper requests from students, along with other sino events. Casino Week will be the last Student Govprize variations. "Also, people wanted more gas cards, so ernment event of the semester. I got more Sheetz gift cards, etc," Bickert CONTACT ALYSSA STENCAVAGE AT: said. "And then of course, I kept all the priz- a/yssa.stencavage@wilkes.edu es that people voted for the most and got rid of the ones with the least amount of interest to make room for new prizes." Like most Student Government events, pizza will be served, but Wilkes identifica- . tion card is required to prove that those who attend are Wilkes students. This semester's Casino Week will be similar to last semester's, except for the differences in prizes. Also for the first time this year, participants can donate one ticket to Wilkes Relay for Life, where one ticket will be the equivalent of $1. When one cashes in their chips, they will get a ticket, but instead of donating a dollar to Relay for Life, they can donate the ticket. For every ticket, up to $150 is donated to Wilkes Relay for Life from Student The Beacon/Archives Government. Garrett Schrader, junior history major, In addition, Hopper said more events wilt dealing at last semester's Casino Week. et the ree ire'' l er Graduate Programs • Master of Education Programs • Master of Science in Forensic Science • Master of Science in Nursing: Administration or Education • Pan-European Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing - NEW! . r ' Cedar Crest College was recently ranked a"Top Regional College" and "Best Value" for 2012 by U.S. News and World Report. I n ,, I The Beacon/Dan Lykens Health and Wellness Services hosted its annual Health and Wellness Fair in the Student ,Union Building Ballroom on March 27. Included were cholesterol and thyroid screenings, massages and chiropractic evaluations. Also included were educational topics on diabetes, nutrition, sex education and stress management. - L- - -- �CONTACT EDITOR: billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com APRIL 3, 2012 Shades of gray: The tragic duality of ~ Amadeus' Wilkes' theater department explores morality as good, evil take center stage BY BILL THOMAS Arts & Entertainment Editor Don't be fooled. The title of the Wilkes University Theatre Department's latest production may be called "Amadeus," but the real driving force of this celebrated period piece isn't actually famed composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Rather, it's one of his contemporaries, a man many will be less familiar with: Antonio Salieri. "The character of Salieri is never offstage," Teresa Fallon, Wilkes' director of theater and the stage director for "Amadeus," explained. "This is basically a memoryplay for him. It's Salieri's memories of Mozart, who he feels has destroyed his peace of mind." Sophomore English and theater arts major Jamie Alderiso and junior theater arts major Luke Brady are taking on the roles of Salieri and Mozart, respectively. Presenting a fictionalized version of Mozart's life, the Tony Award-winning play, written by Peter Shaffer, introduces us to a Mozart very different from the image most people may have in their heads. Instead of the stuffy, po-faced man of stone busts and painted portraits, the Mozart that Brady portrays is a jovial, obnoxious eccentric with limited social skills. "The burden of genius is what Mozart has to deal with," Fallon said. "His abilities set him apart from everyone, which makes it hard for him to understand other people and for other people to ~derstand him. He sees things in another way." Mozart's rival, Salieri, is another composer whose own musical mediocrity leads him to spitefully sabotage Mozart's life. The relationship between the two characters is the crux of the play, which proves itself more complex than a simple black-and-white tale of bitter enemies. "Their relationship is a professional relationship poisoned by envy on Salieri's part," Fallon said. "He's very crafty. With the mask of friendship, he lures Mozart to his own destruction. "It's a complicated relationship, because at the same time, he's the only person who understands Mozart's music. So it's this strange love-hate relationship. Salieri loves Mozart's music and is amazed at his talent, but hates him for having it." Fallon described both Brady and Alderiso as "grabbing their parts with gusto," and remarked that Alderiso, in particular, has thrown himself into the character. "There's no amount of overdoing it for him," she said. "He's always delving deeper and deeper. " For Alderiso, all that delving has helped him dig up nuggets of psychological and emotional gold. The more the actor has come to understand Salieri, the more he's come to realize just how relatable the character actually is. "You hate him one minute and .then the next minute you feel really bad for him," Alderiso said. "He gets what Mozart gets. He gets the art of music and why music is important to humanity, but he can't contribute the kind of masterpieces that Mozart can do just off the top of his head. That gnaws at Salieri forever. No matter how hard he tries, he just doesn't have that in him." Preparing to play such a dark and multifaceted personality hasn't been easy for Alderiso, who called it the hardest role he's yet played. It's not just the layered characterization or the start-to-finish, nonstop stage-time that's pushing the actor to his limits, however. Salieri's penchant for breaking the fourth wall is also putting his skills to the test. "As an actor, it's challenging because I have to know when to switch. I' 11 be in the middle of a conversation with Mozart then suddenly stop, turn to the audience and say ' Did he just say that to me?" Then I have to snap right back to Mozart," Alderiso said. "A lot of Peter Schaffer's work is like this, where the main character is almost in a session with his or her shrink, and the audience is the shrink." When it comes to the stage, it seems there's never any shortage of challenges. A bout of pharyngitis recently sidelined Alderiso for a few days and weakened his voice. For Fallon, though, that particular speed bump has barely registered a blip on the radar. For her, a more pressing obstacle has been the fact that the "Amadeus" production period is trying to weave itself around the college's spring and Easter breaks. "There's always something that happens that you need to deal with. Theater is not the kind occupation where what you expect to happen happens every day," she said. "As a matter of fact, it makes you stronger. You get a little creative spark when you have an obstacle that you have to overcome. The show goes on." Taking such complications in stride, Fallon and Alderiso both believe that "Amadeus" has the potential to distinguish itself as a truly standout department production. The key to the story's power, Alderiso opined, is its fully fleshed-out principal characters, as well as the universal sense of duality they represent. "Mozart and Salieri are the epitome of the exact opposites of each other. Mozart holds nothing back. He's a genius, but he's not very socially intelligent. We all have moments when we feel like we're doing something really great but the world doesn't understand us. Meanwhile, Salieri is the average guy. He works hard to get some recognition, but Mozart comes in and doesn't have to try at all," Alderiso explained. "There's a little bit of each of them m everyone. They represent the eternal "Amadeus" will run in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center, at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 12, 13 and 14, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 15. Tickets are $15 general admission and $5 students and senior citizens, but are free for those with a valid Wilkes ID. @thatbillthomas billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com us all." Courtesy ofTeresa Fallon Antonio Salieri, played by Jamie Alderiso {left), looms over his hated rival, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, played by Luke Brady {right), in "Amadeus:' _ �14 A&E THE BEACON APRIL 3, 2012 Our Ashes Remain rises from ruin With new EP BY BILL THOMAS Arts & Entertainment Editor It's hard to think of a more fitting name for Scranton-based metalcore act Our Ashes Remain. After their previous band, Pave the Way, went down in flames back in spring 2011, guitarist Butch Frable, bassist Rory Harper and drummer Bill Lester soldiered on, seeking a new vocalist to help them keep the fires of creation burning. "We did some try-outs and we had some excellent singers come in. It was very hard to / choose in the beginning.," Lester said. "We'd all known Jane (Moser) for quite some time, but when she came in and tried Courtesy of Bill Lester out, we were blown away. She nailed it. She With the disfolution of their previous band behind them, the members of Our Ashactually had lyrics written for one of the songs es Remain are ready to attack the NEPA music scene with a new EP out on April 14. we'd been working on, so we were like 'Wow.' That's the dedication we were looking for." opportunity to explore other genres and show- not only shows the talent and experience of Thus, Our Ashes Remain was born. case greater versatility. each individual involved, but also the passion ,,.. Now, one year later, the band is set to release "It has elements of everything we played in for what we're doing." - its first EP, titled "From Ashes We Rise." To previous bands. Rory and I come a little more Musical chops and a breadth of influences celebrate the event, the band will perform at from the hardcore background, Butch is more aren't the only things the members of Our Diane's Deli & Internet Cafe in Pittston, on thrash and power metal, and Hellistic Threat Ashes have gained from their respective pasts. Saturday, April 14, supported by opening acts (Moser's previous band) was underground Lessons have also been learned. One Red X, Psycho 38 and Cathedra. death metal," Lester explained. With the disbanding of Pave the Way still Using old songs originally written for Pave "What we did was take all three of those ele- fresh in the minds of Lester, Harper and Frable, the Way as a launch pad, the band members ments and we put them together and made it it seems like Our Ashes Remain is determined took the formation of Our Ashes Remain as an fit. I think the way we were able to mesh them to make up for lost time. "We're out there two, sometimes three nights a week, rehearsing, playing shows," Lester said. "We love it. We love working on new music. We just wrote two new songs in the last month and we have another one we're almost done with." For these workhorses, the constant cycle writing, honing and performing is not just something they savor for the fun of it. It's also what propels their claws-extended ascent. "We take a lot of pride in our hard work. We take our little breaks when we need to, but I think it's important for us to maintain our edge, maintain our focus. It's been working for us very well." Tickets for the Our Ashes Remain EP release /concert at Diane's Deli & Internet Cafe are $5. For more information, visit reverbnation.com/ ourashesremain or find Our Ashes Remain on Facebook. Listen to a track off Our Ashes Remain's 11From Ashes We Rise" at www.thewilkesbeacon.com @thatbillthomas billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com Karaoke for a cause at Wing 'n' Sing benefit BY DEVONI NOVAK Assistant News Editor • Zebra Communications, the student-run . public relations agency at Wilkes University, will be hosting a "Wing 'n' Sing" to benefit orphans in Tanzania through the "Embrace a Child in Tanzania" campaign. The Wmg 'n' Sing will be an all-you-can-eat wing-tasting event and karaoke challenge. All proceeds will go toward the campaign's fundraising goal and be used to sponsor children in Karagwe, Tanzania, whose lives have been affected by the AIDS virus. Senior communications studies major, Sara Cosgrove, who has been working on the campaign since it began in fall 2011, has been looking forward to the Wing 'n' Sing all semester. "I'm looking forward to see who actually wins the wing competition, and I hope we have some funny karaoke performances," she said. So far, local restaurants donating chicken wings for Wilkes students, members of the faculty and staff and the community to taste include the Ice House Pub and Bart & Urby's. Tasters will be able to vote for their favorite, and the restaurant with the most popular wings will be granted the title, "Wing 'n' Sing Champion" and receive a plaque to recognize their victory. While munching on wings and amusing their · tackle the uniquely choreographed taste buds, participants will be able show off hip-swinging performance. their singing ability in the karaoke challenge, The "Embrace a Child in Tanzania" or simply relax and be entertained by the mu- campaign has been working through sical stylings of the contenders. Attendees will the fall semester to raise funds for also be able to request the talents of a particu- orphans in Karagwe, Tanzania, who lar person by donating an amount of money show superior academic potential and to the campaign. The requested vocalist must have been affected by the HIV/AIDS sing or else donate an amount that exceeds the virus. Going to school in Tanzania is sum given by the challenger by at least $1. very competitive and many are not At the event, Alyssa Fursarro Lewandows- given the opportunity to receive an adequate ki, lead singer of the hit band "Soul" will be education. calling the shots as the appointed Master of The children who are sponsored are supplied Ceremonies. A feature slide show created by with a year's worth of food, clothing, school Dr. Linda Winkler, cultural anthropologist and books and tuition. School admission not only dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and provides students with an education but it also Social Sciences at Wilkes will be displayed at gives them sufficient housing and medical 8:30 p.m. treatment as it is needed. Winkler, who has worked in conjunction When asked why NEPA residents should with the AIDS Control Office in Karagwe show concern for the children in Tanzania, for more than 10 years, accumulated the fea- Communications Studies Professor and faculty tured pictures herself during her many trips adviser of Zebra Communications Jane Elmesto Karagwe. Winkler said that each person Crahall explained that instead of seeing race, depicted in the slideshow has their own story. she simply sees children. An African style dance will be performed "The children in Tanzania are children that at 10 p.m.by Tanzania native Rael Sospateri will grow up and interact with our children," Kakulima, who is teaching Swahili at Wilkes shesaid. "We are likely to cross paths with peothis semester as a visiting professor. All Wing ple around the world, all of whom are affected. 'n' Sing attendees are encouraged to partici- I have real difficulty saying that one child is pate with Rael and student volunteers as they less worthy than another child." Courtesy of Stock.Xchng Last semester, the campaign raised $1,400, resulting in the adoption of three boys. For the spring semester, the campaign hopes to raise $2,400 sq that five more orphans can receive aid and be given the chance to succeed. The Wing 'n' Sing will take place Wednesday Apr. 11 beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the SUB ballroom. Tickets are on sale now for $5; to purchase tickets in advanced contact Zebra Communications at 570-408-4158 or sara.cosgrove@wilkes.edu. @devoninovak devoninovak@thewilkesbeacon.com �15 THE BEACON I APRIL 3, 201<2 A&E 'Mirror, Mirror' on the screen, Adarker shade of noir: Crime, the classic as you've never seen existentialism in Sallis' 'Drive' BY DOMINICK CONSTANTINO Staff Writer Disney portrayed Snow White as delicate and soft. In "Mirror, Mirror," Snow White still has a heart of gold, she can also defend herself. She holds her own in a ~ncing duel and even rescues her "Prince Charming" when he's in trouble. Another interesting alteration is that the seven dwarves in this movie are all crooks who steal from anyone who ventures through their forest. Just like their Disney counterparts, though, the dwarves all love Snow White and protect her in any way they can. Tl's strange to see Julia Roberts as the villainous Queen. She · is usually the good character in most movies. Regardless, she does a great job. Her acting is believable and it's obvious that her character simply cannot stomach Snow White. The Queen's signature magic-mirror has also been given a face-lift. Once she says "mirror, mirror" in front of it, she is taken to an mystical cottage surrounded by water. Lily Collins plays the lead role of Snow White and gives a wonderful, realistic perfonnance throughout. Her fencing scenes are especially impressive, and the connection she shares with the Prince feels genuine. When their eyes met, one can easily see the love. The best scene displaying this is when Snow White has to break the Prince out of the Queen's spell by kissing him. The expressions on both actors' faces shows how much their characters love each other. The costumes here are very elaborate, with the Queen's dresses being the biggest. When she sits in her throne, her dresses take up the entire space. The outfits are colorful and puffy. Comically, it's the Prince's shirtless state in two scenes that gets the Queen interested in him. At one point, she has to summon someone to get the prince a shirt because "she couJd not focus." This is certainly an element that was not in the Disney version. Throughout th.e movie, I wondered when the infamous poison apple would come into play. In an intriguing twist on the story we all know so well, the Queen appears and offers Snow White the apple following her marriage to the Prince. Snow White cuts a piece and offers it to the Queen first. This symbolizes the end of the Queen's reign and a return to harmony for the kingdom as a whole. This is the classic happying fairy tale. The fonc· and other fighting see add a bit of acti to the movie th makes it mo enjoyable. you are a ti of the sto of Sno White, you will enjoy this movie. BY BILL THOMAS Arts & Entertainment Editor At a tightly coiled 158 pages, James Sallis' "Drive" is an effortless read as lean and mean as its protagonist. Don't let the size of the slim volume fool you, there's nothing light about "Drive." This is a darker shade ofnoir. Many will no doubt recognize the story thanks to the Nicolas Winding Refn film adaptation released last year. The book on which it is based is a somewhat different animal. Call it "the 'Die Hard' effect." Much a'i with "Die Hard" - based on the Roderick Thorp novel "Nothing Lasts Forever" - although th.e book and movie versions of"Drive" are drastically different in places, the spirit of both remains the same. More importly, and more rarely, neither · rsion of "Drive" is betr than the other, deite significant al· rations. They're th good. Just ·fferent. Essentially a character study, "Drive" tells the story ofa man working as a Holly- ~--t---- wood stunt driver by day and underworld getaway driver by night. A laconic loner living a Spartan existence, this guy's a blank slate. So blank is he, in fact, that he doesn't even have a name. He is referred to simply as "Driver." That's it. His identity adapts for whatever rQle he must fill at any given moment. He is defined solely by what he does. When one of Driver's criminal exploits goes awry in a decidedly bloody and spectacular fashion, he finds himself on the run with a butt-load of mob money and a target on his back. Though the plot is basically the same as in the fi Im, the sequence of events is different, as is the tone. Sallis' book is darker but also has a dry, grizzled sense of wit and humor. More human, but Jess redemptive. More hopeful, but somehow less merciful. The most notable change is in the character of Driver himself. Whereas in the fitt, he was a strictly reactive personality, here he is more proactive. The focus is less on themes of repression and inevitability and more on unfortunate happenstance and the idea of violence as a means of self-reflection. Sallis' prose is sparse, his matter-of: fact approach to bloodshed offering a glimpse into Driver's loneliness. Sallis' style is all blunt, unsmiling elegance, brutal and shocking without being graphic or exploitative. Just as the "Drive" movie marked a neonoir high point in modem cinema, Sallis' existentialist crime novel is a contemporary classic in the vein of Jim Thompson's "The Killer Inside." Not for the easily w1settled, but utterly hypnotic to those with a taste for the grim ' n' lie's Restauran : n o die·but a goo Staff Writer This week I went to Ollie's Restaurant, a family-friendly eatery at 89 S. Wyoming Ave. in Edwardsville, across the street from Planet Fitness in the Gateway Shopping Center. The restaurant is older, but it's a great place to go, both for its food and its sense of history. If you are from the NEPA area you will find the memorabilia and murals on the walls charming. They illustrate the history of the Wyoming Valley with nostalgia and warmth. The restaurant's slogan, "quality at a price you can afford," definitely rings true. l 've eaten at Ollie's several times, and the greatest thing about the restaurant is the variety. I can order anything from a simple grilled cheese and french fries to Pecan encrusted tilapia or calf's liver with sauteed onions. The menu is huge. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert: it's all there, all great examples ofhomestyle cooking. Ollie's also caters and delivers, so you can have their food served wherever you are. To have a good dinner here, I would recommend being able to pay a bill for about $25 for two people having full meals. There is also a salad bar that has amazing Duchess Cheese soup and fresh baked bread. Unlimited, of course. For this trip, I ordered the penne pasta with alfredo sauce, and added the salad bar for a few dollars more. My friend ordered the Ollie burger with fries and the salad bar along with a piece of chocolate pie. The pasta was delicious and al dente, just the way l like it. It wasn't too buttery, and there was the perfect amount of sauce. A garnish of chopped parsley was added to the dish, but had no effect on the flavor. The alfredo sauce was a well-balanced mix of sweet and savory. The Ollie burger was topped with bacon, melted cheese and barbecue sauce. It looked delicious. I had some of the French fries so I know that they were great and not too greasy. T he salad was fresh and crispy, the bread was fresh and warm and the famous Duchess Cheese soup was hot and creamy. You will run into all sorts of people at Ollie's. Families, younger children, older folks and 4.5/5 ::;::~e c! gritty. something to love about Ollie's love. There wasn't a single person I saw during my visit who didn't look looked satisfied and happy at the end of their meals. What many people around me where raving about the most was the desert choice. Apparently Ollie's has ab~olutely amazing pie, which I will certainly have to try sometime. The wait staff is attentive and pleasant. There was no rush to get people in and out, drinks were always refilled and the food was delicious. For college students, you may not be able to eat here every day, but when you are craving a good, home-cooked meal, go to Ollie's. @WU_BeaconAE WU_BeaconAE@yahoo.com �CONTACT EDITOR: justinfraniak@thewilkesbeacon.com Drebitko qualifies for ski nationals The Broad Street Senior business major, ski instructor to compete in Colorado Breakdown: BY JUSTIN FRANIAK MLB Preview Sports Editor "When I'm going down a mountain I feel free," Jonathan Drebitko said. "There's no stresses or worries about anything else." Drebitko's stress and worries will be nonexistent as the junior business major prepares to ski down the mountain at the USASA ski nationals in April in Colorado. Drebitko has not been competing long, but skiing is in his blood. "The first time I skied I was five," Drebitko said. "My dad influenced me because b~sed to race, and my whole family skis." Drebitko only took one skiing lesson in his whole life, but picked up the activity relatively quickly. He loved to go fast as a kid. Drebitko's competitive skiing started just last year. In his first competition, he claimed three gold medals and a silver. He went on to win the Mid-Atlantic region and will go into nationals ranked fifth in the nation. Drebitko competes in two types of skiing: skier cross and NASTAR, a type of • ski racing. Drebitko has always had the urge to compete, but didn't take the step until recently. "I knew that my dad raced and I' ve been we.nting to compete since junior high," Drebitko said. "But this year I finally took the steps to start. I've always thought I could be pretty good at skier cross." Drebitko said there's usually around 100 competitors at a ski event, depending on the competition. The national compeition will have 180. All skiers will inspect the course and be granted a few practice runs. All skiers will then run qualifying runs and will be placed into heats of skiers. The top two of these heats move on, continuing until there is a final heat, where a champion is'crowned. Drebitko says the training for nationals is tough and grueling. "Its hard to train for skier cross because not many mountains have courses," Drebitko said. "Any kind of racing or freesking is good." Drebitko credits Coach Keith Klahold for helping him train for this big event. Drebitko said he has spent hours in the Marts Fitness Center preparing. He said the work- BY BRYAN WISLOSKY Columnist Photo cou rtesy of Jonathan Drebit ko Jonathan Drebitko recently qualified for a national skiing competition in Colorado. This is Drebitko's first year of competitive skiing, but has been on the slopes his whole life. The national competition is April 7-10 and former competitors include professional snowboarder Shaun White. out Klahold created will help him adapt to the 13,000-foot altitude in Colorado. Drebitko also uses his time as a ski instructor to help him get ready. He taught ski lessons to everyone from beginners to intermediate. He said the overall experience was fun, yet insightful. "I had a great time working as a ski instructor this year," Drebitko said. "I met a lot of great people and learned so much from the older more experienced racers." Along with the rush of skiing, Drebitko said qualifying for nationals was a phenomenal experience. "It felt great to qualify for nationals and win the region," Drebitko said. "I'm really excited for nationals because I will get to race against some of the best in the country." At nationals there is lots of potential to get noticed, Drebitko said. He said that renown snowboarder Shaun White started competing at the USASA nationals. Drebitko said if he does well at nationals, he may get an invite to a professional tour next year. Drebitko said his favorite place to ski is Utah. His favorite mountains are Solitude and Brighton for the challenge they present. "The hardest mountain I ever skied was Solitude in Utah," Drebitko said. "It was incredible back country skiing, and it was awesome shredding untouched snow as high as your chest." Drebitko said he has had some spills and embarrassing moments skiing, but they aren't anything to worry about. "This past winter I was training on Sno's weekend NASTAR course and caught an edge and did a complete yard sale and cart wheel and slid into the woods and hit a tree," Drebitko said. He was not badly hurt, but noted that his coach and everyone watching had a good laugh afterward. Drebitko's coach said he possesses some natural ability. "There are some things with Skier Cross that you can't teach, and he has those," Radvanyi said. Drebitko will take his talents to Colorado April 7-10 and said he will "go big or go home!" @WU_BeaconSports justinfraniak@thewilkesbeacon.com The 2012 Major League Baseball season kicks off this week, so.I would like to give my predictions for the teams that will be playing this October in the postseason. Let's start in the National League, more specifically the National League East. Call me biased, and maybe I am, but I'm picking the Philadelphia Phillies to win their sixth straight NL East division title. I just feel as if the Atlanta Braves are going to take a step back this season, the New York Mets are still a last-place team, and even though the Washington Nationals and Florida Marlins will be better this year, I can't see either of them staying consistent all season. I will admit the Phillies do not have anybody they can really count on at the plate, except for Hunter Pence, but their pitching staff is just too dominant to not at least be in contention for the division crown. Next we have the NL Central. This division is tough because the two big guns from last season, the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals, both lost their fire power in Prince Fielder and Albert Pujol~. But the other teams in the division just don't seem · that impressive. For that reason, I'm picking the Brewers _ to win their second consecutive division title, based solely off their great pitching staff. Now we have the NL West. None of the teams in this division made much of a splash in the offseason, so I'm picking the Arizona Diamondbacks to win it again since they ran away with the division last season. This year marks the first expansion of the postseason since 1995, when the MLB decided to add another wild card team. My NL wildcard teams are the Chicago Cubs and Florida Marlins, a first-round rematch of the controversial 2003 NLCS. So now it's time to move onto the American League. Like the NL, let's start the AL in the East. SEE MLB, PAGE 18 �SPORTS 17 THE BEACON I APRIL 3, 2012 SCOREBOARD Baseball 3/28 Scranton PPD 3/29 Keuka W 9-3 Softball . 3/29 Lebanon Valley L 3-6 L 1-11 M-Tennis 3/25 Elizabethtown W 5-4 Lacrosse 3/31 Rosemont W 18-0 WEEKAHEAD Baseball 4/3 Lebanon Valley 4/4 Misericordia 4/5 Misericordia Softball 4/4 Baptist Bible 4/5 Misericordia M-Tennis 4/4 Misericordia 4/10 Scranton Lacrosse 4/5 Eastern W-Tennis 4/4 Misericordia end messages nd pictures to Baseball will soon be in full swing. Bats will crack, popcorn will pop, and hot dogs will getboiled. Along with all the nostalgia, the critics will begin their predictions. The MLB awards are always interesting, especially with a pitcher taking the MVP and Cy Young award last year. My AL MLB award picks were actually pretty hard to predict. My rookie of the year will be Yu Darvish. Some may criticize me for it, but this kid has a lot ofupside. Although the history of Japanese pitchers in the bigs isn't too good, I have a good feeling about Darvish. I love Matt Moore from the Rays. This year he will actually reach rookie status and could make a run for the rookie of the year award. Yoenis Cespedes of the A's had a good two opening games, and has a huge upside, but I see Darvish taking it. My Cy Young pick is Jered Weaver. Based on last year's performance, Weaver should be the favorite and only has room to improve. I believe with the addition ofC.J. Wilson and Dan Haren on the staff, Weaver will push himself to the limit and capture the award. In tum, Weaver will lead the Angels to a deep playoff run. The usual suspects like Sabbathia and Verlander will give Weaver a run, but I think the Angels ace will excel. My pick for Manager of the Year is Bobby Valentine. Being a Mets fan, I love Bobby Valentine; he's my hero. I believe his no funny business attitude and hard working mentality will take the Red Sox far in the playoffs. If Valentine can control that locker room, he is a shoe-in for the award. My MVP for the AL is Robinson Cano. Yankees fans will love me becuase Cano will finally win. The second baseman will finally get the appreciation he deserves. Albert Pujols made the jump to the AL this year, but I do not think he will win the award. I would also not be surprised to see the Ray's Evan Longoria in the running for the honor. Miguel Cabrera's move to third may affect his chances for the award, but if he keeps his hitting to the usual, he can definitely make a push to take most valuable player. Baseball gets into full swing Thursday, and I cannot be more excited. Hoepfully the Mets will surprise me this year. Hopefully. With the MLB right around the come , predictions will start to fly on who will be this year's top performers. This year's competitions for MVP, Rookie of the Year, Cy Young and Manager of the year will be close no different from past years. The easiest one to predict in the NL w·IJ be rookie of the year. No one will be surprised when the Washington Nationals bring up the phenom Bryce Harper. Harper will most likely be in the majors after the All-Star break but could be in Nationals red as early as May. I predict Harper to put up solid numbers, but the hype around him could propel him to be voted as Rookie of the Year. • This year's Cy Young will contribute to a very interesting race. Almost all of the Phillie's pitchers ...:.il~ be considered for this award, but I see Cliff Lee pulling ahead as the front runner. I would not be · surprised if Madison Bumgarner or Tim Lincecum give Lee a push. Even Lee's teammates Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels will give Lee a little trouble. But I foresee Lee winning the award on a team where Halladay is considered the head guy. Clayton Kershaw will be in the mix also. A year after achieving the triple crown, the young gun will again put his name in the hat for the award. My sleeper pick in Gio Gonzalez. In arguably one of the best moves in me offseason, the Nationals picked up a guy who could potentially win multiple Cy Youngs, this just isn't his year though. Manager of the Year will also be a tough race. If Ozzie Guillen can guide the new look Marlins to a playoff spot, he is a shoe-in for the spot. Davey Johnson could also make a push for the award. If the Nationals nab a wildcard spot, expect Johnson to be accepting the trophy. My MVP pick was pretty hard to make. I do not see a pitcher winning it in the NL this year, unlike the rare occurence in the AL last year. I do,however, see Justin Upton taking the award. He's on a young Diamondbacks team which is young and not a joke. Arizona will continues its momentum from last year, make the playoffs and take a run. Upton will lead them to a nice playoff showing. �THE BEACON I APRIL 3, 2012 SPORTS 18 MLB Wilkes softball drops series Continued from Page 16 As much as I hate them, I'm picking the New York Yankees to win this division. While the Boston Red Sox have more raw talent, the Yankees are just a more complete team. Now we have the AL Central, which is easy. The Detroit Tigers are going to run away with this division. Adding Prince Fielder to an already good line-up, and having Justin Verlander as their ace-yeah, this one's a nol;irainer. ' Finally we have the AL West, which again is an easy pick. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim added arguably the most soughtafter free agent in baseball history in Pujols; they also lured starting pitcher C.J. Wilson away from division rivals the Texas Rangers. Like the Tigers, the Angels will run away with their division. . My picks for the two wildcard spots in the American League are the Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays. Boston has too much pure talent to not make the playoffs again ~ s season, and Tampa is a solid team, where nobody else in the AL jumps out and wows me. As for the World Series itself, again call me biased, but there just seems to be a lack of talent in the NL this year, so I feel as if • Colonels lose doubleheader to Leb Val BY SERENA MOLYNEUX Assistant Sports Editor the Phillies pitching staff can carry them to the Fall Classic. However, as much as I want to pick them to win it all, I really don't think they can, unless they can find a couple of solid bats in the lineup. My pick to win the 2012 World Series is the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They were so close to making the playoffs last season, they've obviously improved the most in the offseason, and can really take control of L.A. with the Dodgers in the state they' re in. @WU_BeaconSports bryan.wis/osky@wilkes.edu 5....-.--....- 11111111._.. IFA,,,,1f"Py. . . :SPECIALS WEEKDAY SPEClllS ■-TH Large Pie $7.95 Chicken Wing Pie $10.95 Wilkes' women's softball team the hosted Lebanon Valley Dutchmen in a doubleheader Thursday, in a non-conference game. The Colonels fell short twice against the Dutchman. In the first game, Lebanon Valley took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Visiting Dutchman Allie Hartman had a two-run homer. Lebanon Valley earned two more runs, making it a 5-0 lead in the third. Wilkes' sophomore pharmacy major Kait Brown led off the inning with a single and made it home from an RBI double from sophomore pharmacy major Jordan Borger. The Colonels made an attempt to come back against Lebanon Valley's 6-1 lead. Junior psychology major Jessalyn Paveletz had an RBI single, which scored the Lady Colonels two runs in the fifth inning. Wilkes didn't score any runs in the last two innings, making the final score of game one 6-3, Lebanon Valley with the victory. Lebanon Valley continued to dominate the scoreboard in game two. The Dutchman scored four runs in the first inning and added another four in the second, which kept the Dut~hman in the lead 8-0 at the end of the third. Visiting Dutchman Hartman had a second homerun of the night, adding three more runs to the scoreboard, while Lady Colonel Borger scored the lone run making the end of game two, 11-1 victory for the Dutchman. The Wilkes Women Softball record is 4-8 overall for the season. The Lady Colonels hit the road to play Manhattanville College in the Freedom Conference on Saturday. @WU_BeaconSports serena.molyneux@wilkes.edu ..►1111'11" IIIIE=■ ■ 20 E Northampton St. Wilkes Barre 825-5166 NEllT TO MOVIES 14 FREE WI-Fi In our Dining Room (carry out/dine i n only) PIZZA DOUBIES 2 Medium Pizzas $13.95 2 Large Pizzas $16.95 ■ll&MATCH Any 3 Subs or Wings 2 Tickets to Movies 14 WB 1 Medium Pizza - 1 Topping 2 Drinks I We Ca.fer Parties At Movies 14 $15.95 WE CATER lAIGE GIOUP MNTS PlEASE CAll lEFOIE YOUR NElT MEfflNGI Hours: Mon. -Thurs. 11am-11pm Fri.-Sat. 11am-12am Sun. 12pm-11pm We're more than just great pizza ... see our entire menu at www.januzzispizza.com �' ... ' ' ·'"' ... THE BEACON I APRIL 3, 2012 ft 19 WE TREAT INJURIES AND ILLNESSES FOR ALL AGES. + JUST WALK IN. + ALWAYS A PHYSICIAN ON SITE. + MOST INSURANCE ACCEPTED BUT NOT REQUIRED. + X-RAYS, LABS, EKGs, IVs, MINOR SURGERY. s t �r 20 SPORTS Check us out at: thewilkesbeacon.com "'J> THE BEACON I APRIL 3, 2012 � 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 2012 April 3rd Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 April 3 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/e7c61b07ce029b53b9a13638fe2a6589.pdf 121bb93e509581ed5ac4acecf391f11c PDF Text Text Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member THE BEACON www.thewilkesbeacon.com The Beacon/Austin Loukas Along with business and fundraising experience, Leahy brings a personal appreciation of humanities to Wilkes. He studied English as an undergraduate at Georgetown University, and he says he will ensure it will be cultivated along with sciences. ·Leahy outlines plans for the Wilkes' future BY KIRSTIN COOK Editor-in-Chief There are still six weeks before Patrick Leahy is officially named the sixth president of Wilkes University. Yet, even though his job hasn't started, Leahy has been making visits to the university in his goals to absorb the culture, history and values of Wilkes. Leahy was announced as current President Joseph (Tim) Gilmour 's successor in March. He will begin the position on July 1, and he said until then he will be working to build valuable relationships on campus and to learn everything he can about the school. Leahy, whose experience includes being executive vice president of the University of Scranton and 13 years in the -private sector, said he looks forward to introducing his wife Amy and his four children to the Wilkes community. "I'll thrilled about the feasibility of being the new president at Wilkes and my family and I are delighted about this opportunity," Leahy said. Leahy promised to start his posi- tion by visiting every department and administrative unit within his first 60 days to get to know the community. Along with business and fundraising experience, Leahy will bring an appreciation of humanities to Wilkes. He said this area is important to him, as he studied English as an undergraduate at Georgetown University, and he will ensure it will be cultivated along with sciences. "I believe wholeheartedly in strength of the liberal arts, in particular because of the skills and the critical thinking and the communication skills that it creates in our students irrespective of what field they choose to go into," Leahy said. "So I'll look hard to make sure we properly fund the humanities while we' re making this big investment in the sciences." Sitting down with The Beacon for an exclusive interview, Leahy tole us what he's learned about Wilkes so far and gave a preview of his presidential plans. SEE LEAHY, PAGE 4 The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow Check us out at: thewilkesbeacon.com ~ �T DE@]~ APRI L 17, 2012 CONTACT EDITOR: phatnguyen@thewilkesbeacon.com Buffer Fund to renovate SUB N.J. Mayor Booker to speak at Wilkes BY DEVON I NOVAK Assistant News Editor Student Government Total Treasury: $22,777.21 Buffer Fund granted money to cover SUB renovation expenses SG unanimously granted $105,180 for Buffer Fund to go ahead with the planned SUB renovations that will begin this summer and be completed by the next fall semester. Although the architects have yet to update the sketches according to the student survey request, remodeling will include new furniture, paint, fl ooring and possibly overhead projectors with screens, water fountains that fi ll water bottles, surround sound, newspaper racks and a recycling station. In SG's opinion, the new renovations will improve the appearance and efficiency of the bottom floor of the SUB. SG president and pharmacy major, Willie Eggleston commented on the decision to allocate funds, "You just put forth a lot of money to make a huge change." Buffer Fund works to make library basement accessible 24/7 - Dean of the Library, John Stachez, has been working with Buffer Fund to keep the library's basement open 24 hours a day. In order for the space to always be accessible, an J-card swipe system, security cameras and a new entrance will need to be installed. All of these accommodations will cost a projected $9,000. According to Buffer Fund representatives, Stachez is able to raise $4,000 himself which minimizes fund request to $5,000. The decision on basement availability is yet to be finalized. School spirit starts at orientation - Photo courtesy of Marketing Communications Spirit committee was granted permission to use their remaining $729.20 on Wilkes Tshirts to give out to incoming freshman at orientation as prizes. By giving out more shirts, Spirit Committee hopes to begin spreading school spirit the first day students come to campus. Cory Booker will speak at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 22, in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center as part of the Max Rosenn Lecture in Law and Humanities. HAWC hopes to bring Shaun T to Wilkes next fall - Health and Wellness Club requested $1 ,750 of this year's student activities fees to bring fitness expert, Shaun T to Wilkes next semester. The creator of fitness programs Insanity and Hip Hop Abs, Shaun T, will cost a total of $2,500 to provide a one hour workout, a question-and answer period and an opportunity to get autographs. HAWC is planning the event for Nov. 3 in UCOM. The club is working on offering discounted prices: free for students, $5 for the public and $3 for YMCA members. With a projected 300 attendees, SG members said they believe the event will benefit both students and the community. "I think it's a good idea because a lot of people are into the Insanity thing," said junior integrative media major and SG member, Mike Ogar. The Honorable Cory A. Booker, 42, the mayor of Newark, N.J., will speak at Wilkes University as part of the Max Rosenn Lecture in Law and Humanities at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 22 in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center Booker has been making headlines with the recent heroics including rescuing two neighbors from a burning house. He was treated and released from a hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation and second-degree bums to his hand. Booker is serving in his second term. Elected with a mandate for change, Mayor began work on realizing a bold vision for the city. Newark's mission is to set the national standard for urban transformation from marshalling its resources to achieve security, economic abundance and an -·environment that is nurturing and empowering for individuals and families. Booker and his administration, together with the city's residents, have made meaningful strides toward achieving the city's mission by tackling significant challenges with innovation, new coalitions, creative public private partnerships and building off the already existing foundation. @phatnguyen phatnguyen@thewilkesbeacon.com Upcoming Events Relay for life: Saturday, April 28, 2012, to Sunday, April 29, 2012 Tye-dye for a Cause: at 11 a.m. on the greenway on Tuesday, April 17. Family Feud: at 6 p.m . in the SUB ballroom on Tuesday, April 17. Wilkes Scavenger Hunt: at 9 p.m. in the SUB Lounge on Thursday, April 19. @devoninovak devoninovak@thewilkesbeacon.com BEACON 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 PHONE: (570) 408-5903 WEBSITE: thewilkesbeacon.com Editorial Staff 2011-12 Editor-in-Chief: Kirstin Cook Managing Editor: Michael Klimek Ad Manager: Brittany Battista Photo Editor: Laura Preby Adviser: Loran Lewis News Editor: Phat Nguyen Opinion Editor: Carly Yamrus A&E Editor: Bill Thomas Life Editor: Christine Lee Sports Editor: Justin Franiak Austin Loukas Photographer �THE BEACON I APRIL 17, 2012 NEWS 3 Some fire drill policies have yet to be fulfilled BY DEVONI NOVAK Assistant News Editor Fire drills are conducted as a "double check" to make sure alarm systems are functioning without error and that students know the best route to properly evacuate their dorms. Once out of their building~, students are supposed to meet at a designated post where Residence Life will take a head count to be sure every student is accounted for. After the building is cleared by the fire department, students may re-enter the building and carry on their business. According to the Department of Education's fire safety requirements, each dorm building must have a fire drill at least twice every year. However, some RAs have stated that only one drill has taken place this year and others say their dorms have not been drilled this year at all. RA in Sterling Hall, junior integrative media major, Mike Ogar, said that his building has had just one drill the entire year; it took place this past fall. In an attempt to fulfill the Department of Education's mandate, Public-Safety and Residence Life team up once every fall and spring semester, and schedule the dorm fire drills. Manager of Public Safety, Jerry Rebo, explained that each building is in fact consistently given their bi-yearly dose of fire drills. "Every year, it's all documented," Rebo said. "All the dorms will be checked." Once a fire drill date is set, Residence Life informs the Resident Assistants in the building of the general time in which the drill will take place. Specifics times are withheld so the drill will be adequate practice, even for the RAs. RA of Schiowitz Hall, junior nursing major, Allie Givens, said there has only been one occurrence concerning fire in her building all year, which involved a student's unattended curling iron setting off the alarm. According to Givens, an actual drill has yet to be scheduled for this year. The collash between written policy and RA reports raises a question: What isn't the university following through on, practicing enough fire drills or failing to inform the resident assistants? In addition to practicing fire drills, fire safety at Wilkes also includes an alarm check in each campus building twice a year. Eastern Time, a maintenance company out of Scranton, takes care of the smoke detectors' upkeep by testing them during summer and winter breaks. Public safety has their own periodic checks throughout the year as well that involve testing their alert system on a designated computer where all the alarms come through, instantly announcing fires to public safety. The phone line link between the alarms and their computer allows public safety officers to pin point the location of the triggered alarm, down to the exact room. The computer also mechanically checks the connection of each campus smoke alarm on a daily basis. If an alarm is suspected of malfunction, the computer will beep, signalling that the alarm needs to be inspected or replaced. The age of the alarm systems vary from building to building, which according to Rebo The Beacon/Austin Loukas All dorms are required to have two fire drills every school year; however, some RAs have said their buildings have not. is because updates are done as necessary. "If one goes bad, a new one goes in," Rebo said. Some systems date back to the '90s, while others, such as the one in Towers are just a few years old. According to the executive director of facilities, John Pesta, every new installment is followed by a timely check by the local fire department to be sure the system is working correctly. "All of our systems are basically function- ing and up to code at this point," Pesta said. University Towers is especially notorious for it's frequent fire alarm incidents. Some towers residence have admitted that they don't always leave the building because false alarms are so frequent and sometimes occur extremely early in the morning. As a second floor inhabitant of Towers, Junior business administration major, Jasmine Edwards expressed her opinion of the alarm system in towers. "I think the smoke alarms are too sensitive," she said. Another junior business administration major, Terrance Ives, who lived in Towers last year, said that he and his roommates set the smoke alarm off in their apartment three times. He identified the kitchen area as the main culprit. According the Ives, the RAs and other residents would get mad at them because they were repeatedly responsible for complete evacuation, even though it was by accident and happened due to slightly burnt food. "It's going to happen," Ives said. "People are learning how to cook." The only legitimate issue with fire in the dorms took place last year when a dryer in the laundry room of Evans went ablaze. Immediately, fire alarms in the building sensed the smoke and sent screeches of warning throughout the entire building. According to Pesta, an over-loaded machine was the cause of the occurrence. Only the dryer and a few clothes made the injury list. @devoninovak devoninovak@thewilkesbeacon.com Zebra's Wing 'n' Sing Robbers heist the Crown The Beacon/Brittany Battista The Beacon/Austin Loukas The Ice House Pub was named "Wing Champion" at Zebra Communications' Wing 'n' sing event on April 11. Proceeds benefited the "Embrace a Child in Tanzania" campaign. Approximately 82 tickets were sold, $300 was raised through karaoke challenges alone and the silent auction of an African-style rug went to the highest bidder for $50. Zebra raised more than $700. According to police reports, a man with a pistol robbed Crown Fried Chicken, 357 S. Main St., around 11 :11 p.m. on April 5, police said. The clerk told police a man wearing a black leather jacket, with a black hooded sweatshirt and light blue jeans asked for an iced tea and then all the money in the store. The clerk turned over the money and the man fled on foot, police said. -------- - - �NEWS 4 THE BEACON I APRIL 17, 2012 an incoming president to feel when talking to people." LEAHY 4 Continued from the front page ' Challenges anticipated for next year Feedback from the Wilkes community "I'm trying to demonstrate an openness to new ideas and candid conversation, and I think if I can establish that early that will serve me well when I become the president." "The most important constituencies that we have at a university is the students. I intend to be very present to them. You'll see me quite frequently in the SUB ... as well as be present around campus. I don't know if there are specific things so much as just being present to the campus and the student and just delighting in the interactions that I have with them. I think that alone will demonstrate to the students rrty commitment to them." "The candid conversations that we're having I think are going to be extremely constructive when I become the president in July." "I think the primary feedback, my primary understanding is people love this place. They care deeply about it, in particular improving to the extent we can - continually improving the student experience here at · Wilkes. That's a verv comforting thing for "I think we have our challenges as a university, which are consistent with challenges faced by universities all across the high education community. I don't think we're alone in that. But I sense in the people I'm meeting a sincerity in addressing these challenges and turning into opportunities in the future. "With a new president there's always some concern about whether that person will bring a new culture to the place. I think some people see that positively and other people like to keep things the way they are, so I think there's a little bit of anxiety about that. But I tried to assure them that we're all in this together and that my style, my design is quite collaborative. I believe those challenges I mentioned are going to be the responsibility of all ofus." "It's a new job for me, I fully expect there to be a learning curve. I'll try to move up that curve as quickly as possible for the benefit of Wilkes." "What I won't have the benefit of our personal relationships with donors, and I do believe that big gifts can some times originate from personal relationshio. and I won't have STRESSED? HEADACHE? I The Beacon/ Austin Loukas Leahy said he wants to take fresh look at everything in a smart way, especially the budget. He hopes to rely on balancing our budget rather than cutting it. Check out the full video interview at www.thewilkesbeacon.com Neck Pain Back Pain Shoulder Pain that because of how new I'll be. "And our hope is to sort of complete this campaign in the next couple of years, sort of consistent with the opening of the building, so it won't give me a lot of time to develop those relationships. "So that might be a bit of a challenge in the early years, but I do think that one of my strengths is the ability to develop relationships with people." Arm Pain Leg Pain Muscle Pain Budget cuts and possible solutions Headaches and back pain are two of the most common ailments treated at our clinic. Often, we can bring relief simply by taking the pressure off a pinched nerve. Here are other common symptoms of a pinched nerve. - Sports Injury - FREE 20 Min Hydro Massage Auto Accident - w WILKES UNIVERSllY FREE EXAM & FREE 1st Treatment Wilkes-Barre Chiropractic & Rehab Dr. David Lewis Chiropractic Physician 825-5535 380 Old River Road Wilkes-Barre, PA All Insurances Accepted dblewis326@aol.com www.nepachiro.com 1' "I' ll take a fresh look at everything in a smart way. I do think certain programs are ripe for growing enrollment, and I think I'll focus to the extent possible first on growing our resource base so we don't have to rely on balancing our budget simply by cutting." "I do think we ought to look at growing resources hopefully by growing headcounts and enrollments where it makes sense to grow enrollments, and of course trying hard to raise a lot more money for the faculty and students here at Wilkes University. I think that's the way, ultimately, we will address any budget challenges, is to be really smart about our budgeting and to generate more resources, both of which I intend to do as president." Wilkes' areas of strength "One of the most exciting things about coming to Wilkes is·:· we have an incredible exciting university, replete with all kinds of different things going on, so there's no shortage of compelling projects to introduce to donors, No. 1. The science center is just one of them, I believe. "And secondly what I've discovered in my time both as a candidate and now as the incoming president is there's no shortage of people who love Wilkes University. And when you put together compelling projects and a compelling future with people who really care and have resources, that's where great philanthropy happens. "I think that we've just began to scratch the surface on the philanthropic support this university can get. I'm really enthusiastic about that part of the job." "I'm incredibly impressed by the care in which our faculty members pursue their work. It's been very moving to be to see how committed they are to the students here. The single most important thing is how engaged are the..faculty in the work that they do day in and day out, and ours is incredibly engaged in that. And what a luxury for an incoming president to have that already available to have that to him or her. I feel very lucky joining a community like that." @kirstinjeancook kirstincook@thewilkesbeacon.com �THE BEACON I APRIL 17, 2012 NEWS 5 Ca1:1-didates strategiz_e to win ~G's woo<;ien gavel Junior class representatives campaign for presidential bid BY DEVON! NOVAK Assistant News Editor Three nominees from the junior class are set to race for the Student Government presidential seat. The candidates are: nursing major and SG recording secretary, Samantha Schuler; pharmacy major and SG vice president, Kristofer Rivers; and accounting and business administration majcr, junior class president and Buffer Fund Committee Chair, John Sweeney. All three have different outlooks on the position and have their own ideas of what they would like to do if chosen to become student body president. Sweeney, who is running for the second consecutive year, believes it will be interesting to see the results of the race since this year there are three candidates when last year there was just two. To promote himself as a candidate, Sweeney has been hanging up posters and banners around campus while spreading his clear-cut mission statement. "My platform is that I want to be president because Student Government is something I've been involved with my entire time here and it's something that I really love," Sweeney said. "I think we can do a better job connecting to the students and promoting our events." If chosen to be the next SG president, Sweeney would like to improve the connection between Student Government and the rest of the student body. He also plans to make SG representatives well known among their classmates. Sweeney believes if more students are aware of who their representatives are, they will be able to voice their i pinions more easily and in turn, SG can be · more effective. Sweeney feels his previous experience running for the position will give him the upper hand in the campaign. With involvement that dates back to his freshman year, Sweeney believes he is well suited for the job mostly because he has always held leadership positions such as treasurer, and junior class president and vice president. Sweeney's main objective is to make things happen that students want to see. According to Sweeney, his previous involvement has allowed him to form a good connection with students while becoming informed on what students deem important. This background has encouraged him to run for president again. "I am trying again because I think that I would do a good job with the position," Sweeney said. "I think my experience John Sweeny Kris Rivers Sam Schuler With a passion for the Wilkes communit y, each cand idate aspires to become the next student body leader. All three nominees have been involved with St udent Government since their fresh man year as representatives of their class. Voting will take place April 18-19. speaks for itself." Rivers has also been involved with Student Government for the past three years. He feels that becoming president would be a great chance for him to work with the school and the different people involved with the campus. "I really would like to lead the group; I think that it's a great honor and it's also a great experience," Rivers said. "It would be a great opportunity for me to give back to the university." Rivers' primary aim is to improve student involvement on campus. Although he believes SG is already doing well as far as providing different activities, he feels there is always room to be better. If chosen for the position, Rivers plans to create a wide variety of smaller events in order to increase student participation. He wants more people to attend Wilkes sporting events as well. By encouraging more students to take part, Rivers hopes that an improvement in school spirit will result. Reaching out to people on campus and letting them know who he is, why he is running and what he plans to do as SG president, is Rivers' campaign strategy. When asked why people should vote for him, Rivers said his personality gives him the edge that he needs. "I think people should vote for me because of my personality and who I am," Rivers said. "I'm always trying to be there for others and I'll always try to help out others, I have a great dedication to this school, I have great school spirit, I'm proud to be a Colonel here and I feel that, that is one of the biggest requirements, to be proud of your university and proud of where you are." After serving SG as a class representative since her freshman year and working on the executive board for the past two years, Schuler is now aspiring to become the next president. During the campaigning period, Schuler plans to promote herself by reaching all types of students that make up the Wilkes population. Schuler will bridge across major, athletic team and class, to not only endorse herself as a candidate, but to also encourage students to cast their vote. This strategy, Schuler believes, will set her apart from the other two nominees. If chosen to be the next president, Schuler would like to spread school spirit while improving activities for students. She also hopes to inform more people of what SG actually does for the university. "It's not just sitting in a room deciding what we are going to spend money on, it's so much more than that," she said. "After walking around and asking people to sign my (nomination) petition, I also realized most people do not know we have a student government." Schuler would also tike to improve the atmosphere of weekly meetings for both SG members and groups that are presenting. She anticipates that more students will then attend the meetings and feel comfortable offering their opinions and sharing their concerns. Her ability to look at things differently is why Schuler believes she is best fit for the job. "I am more open minded than most, I kind of like an idea (and say) 'hey this is something new, let's give it a try' if it works it works, if it doesn't, at least we tried," she said. SG would like to remind their fellow students that voting will take place April 1819; they encourage everyone to vote for the candidate they believe is best fit for the presidential position. Since SG's purpose is to interpret the voice of the student body, the power of change lies within each individual student. "Student government is one of the organizations that definitely has the power to bring change on campus," Sweeney said. Student Government Election April 18-19 Candidates Kris Rivers, pharmacy Samantha Schuler, nursing J nSweeney,.accounting/business m i·. ,. ..,::-,. \ ,=::: •:ii IOA @DevoniNovak devoni.novak@wilkes.edu -- ,,.,.,,~- �'=-ONl"ACT EDITOR! carlyyamrus@thewilkesbeacon.com America gives .,pink-slime' beef the pink slip for all the wrong reasons BY LYNDSIE YAMRUS Assistant Opinion Editor When I think of a hamburger, I think of a patty made of ground beef, not pink slime. Pink slime, otherwise known as "Lean, Finely Textured Beef," has been making headlines for a few months now, and meat eaters are not happy. The United States Department of Agriculture explains that Lean, Finely Textured Beef, or LFTB, is a meat product derived from a process that separates beef trimmings and fat pieces to decrease the overall fat content of the meat. LFTB is essentially the leftover scraps that cannot sell alone. These trimmings undergo a highly technical separating process to separate the fat from the perfectly healthy beef that would otherwise go to waste if the leftovers were not centrifuged. Many ask why the products are not labeled as being LFTB. There is no need, because the meat is 100 percent beef. No specific ingredient needs to be singled out. The trimmings contain ammonia, a compound commonly associated with cleaning products that health officials approved for food since 1974 (close to 40 years), according to the American Meat Institute. The ammonia is mixed with water to form ammonium hydroxide, which is sprayed onto the beef trimmings in order to balance acidity and reduce pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonell._ As soon·as the news leaked out that "pink slime" can be found in 70 percent of the US supply of ground beef, including school, grocery store and fast food beef, a heated outrage quickly broke out, and many of the distributors listed previously have even gone as far as to rip the beef from their supplies and discontinue their use. The U.S. population swiftly pounced on the meat industry with grossed-out cries of disapproval, questioning why chemicals are being put into their beef. There was even more discontent when Govs. Terry Branstad of Iowa, Rick Perry of Texas and Sam Brownback of Kansas defended the slime after touring the Beef Products Inc. plant in South Dakota, who BEACON POLL The Beacon poll is unscientific and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on the Wilkes campus. These poll results are based on 44 responses. Last week's question: How do you feel about the upcoming Mac Miller spring concert? He was not my top choice, He was my top choice fora performer: 9% but I will still go: 5% I don is:70% The Beacon/Laura Preby The controversey over"pink-slime" beef has put meat eaters in a frenzy. The ammonia put into lean, finely textured beef actually reduces pathogens and is beneficial. have been using ammonium hydroxide to ensure safety for about 30 years. All three governors believe that the product has been criticized unfairly and incorrectly, emphasizing that the company produces quality, safe and nutritious beef. The governors and food industry workers explained that consumers appear to have an issue with the bacteria-reducing process because of its "yuck" factor. And of course, when someone gives the beef a name like "pink slime," most individuals are not going to be very accepting. It is natural for people to be skeptical about what goes on in the food industry. The business is highly complex and challenging, constantly seeking the most productive and reliable ways to yield enough food for the world that is both safe and able to sell at an economically fair price. Truth is, Beef Products Inc. is not out to poison its consumers. It is attempting to offer safe, high-quality beef. Since 2001 , the USDA and FDA have collectively deemed the use of ammonium hydroxide as a safe method to destroy bacteria that would otherwise make individuals sick in the event that undercooked meat was consumed, according to the American Meat Institute. The ammonium hydroxide used to kill bacteria is also not the same as the common household cleaner. Ammonia is found naturally in beef, humans and virtually all food, according to the South Dakota Department of Agriculture. Ammonia is important in synthesizing proteins, regulating the body's nitrogen cycle and maintaining pH levels. Ammonium hydroxide is also found in cheese and chocolate products like pudding. The amount used is very small- measured in parts per million. When compliant with USDA standards, the use of this compound is beneficial. In reality, LFTB is not new, sneaky or health threatening. And it is certainly not slime. The public has successfully created an overly dramatic argument over something that appears outrageous and horrifying, yet · is completely inaccurate and misunderstood. Pictures used to support the pink slime claims are even controversial, ranging from goo being pumped out of a machine to photos of mechanically separated chicken. More importantly, the Texas, Kansas and Iowa beef plants have all been affected, putting hundreds of individuals out of work, all over some silly misunderstanding that would take five minutes to research and understand. @lyndsieyamrus lyndsie.yamrus@wilkes.edu This week The Beacon asks: How has the "pink-slime" controversey effected your meat eating habits? It has not changed my opinion on beef • I eat beef only if it is highgrade I do not trust the meat industry I don't eat meat • What is pink-slime? Cast your vote on line at: www.thewilkesbeacon.com SPEAK UP! The Beacon wants to hear your voice. Send your name, major, year and opinion to: carlyyamrus@thewilkesbeacon.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces fo, length and content. Anonymous letters will not be published. �f THE BEACON I APRIL 17, 2012 OPINION SPIT 24/7 library access beneficial BY ANTHONY GORECZNY Staff Writer I get distracted very easily, and while there is no place more comfortable to do my homework than my own room, there are quite a lot of distractions there. Consequently, ifl really wish to get any work done, I must first find a place where I will not constantly be distracted. I happen to be a relatively social person, so any place with lots of people just won't be a suitable work environment for me. Though coffee shops are great place to get work done for many individuals, I would be perpetually preoccupied by the continuous flow of people, even if didn't speak to a single one ofthem. • For me pretty much the only option is isolation, as complete as I can make it. Since I am not lucky enough to own a small cabin off in the woods somewhere, I find that when I need to get a lot of work done, the next best substitute is the Eugene S. Farley Library. Specifically the back comer of the top floor, where there seems to be fewer people than the rest of the building. Up there I find it easier to focus on work because, for the most part, the only distractions I have to contend with are the ones created by my own mind. While these mental diversions are just as disruptive as others, the .later it gets, the fewer of these I experience. I am very much a night person and usually my productivity increases as the skies grow darker. Eventually my cerebral voyeurs subside almost entirely and I am able to be quite studious. It is around this time that the lights snap off, and then back on, informing me that the library is preparing to close. The frustrates me thoroughly. I swear that sometimes the librarian is hiding between the bookshelves, spying covertly from the cover provided by the rows of publications. He waits patiently until I have clearly finally focused on my work, and then gleefully pulls out a remote with a single, red button on it. After a maniacal little snicker, he presses the button, the lights go out, and all the students who were just now intently studying are now preparing to leave the library. Thankfully, library Dean John Stachez has been working to keep the library basement open 24 hours a day. Installments such as cameras, swipe access and a new entrance are all needed to keep the space constantly open, and the job will cost around $9,000 to complete. The plan has yet to be finalized, but I think all-day access is essential to the success of Wilkes students who study like I do, or even those who just can't make it to the library during day-light hours. Obligations including work, sports, clubs, etc. make it difficult for some to study at "normal" times. It is important to remember that Farley Library is not a community library; it is an academic one. Studying, and the pursuit of knowledge, may take place at any time of day, whether incredibly early in the morning, or exceedingly late at night. Naturally, students should be able to access the library whenever they feel it would assist their academics. While 24-hour operation may seem unnecessary, one must consider those students who have resigned themselves to the dreaded allnighter. Having the resources available in the library accessible at any time could be very useful to the student who is cramming last minute for a test, or desperately in need of a final source for a paper. There may also be someone who simply cannot sleep, or could find no other time to meet with a project partner. Admittedly, there is usually less studying going on during the weekend, but it should not be assumed that no student has work to do on a Friday or Saturday night. As boring as that may sound, sometimes there is no other option, and the work needs to be completed regardless of what day or time it is. Another advantage of all-day library access is the increase in work study hours. Who knows, a few more shifts might help some off-campus student upgrade from Ramen noodles to macaroni and cheese for dinner. If there are students who are willing to drag themselves to the library in the wee hours of the night to inundate themselves with information for a test that they will have forgotten by this time next year, then there are most certainly students willing to be paid for watching over the library at those hours. Farley Library is an academic library, and it is therefore important that the library be accessible whenever the forces of academia find themselves in need of its myriad services and functions. This would promote diligence, and perhaps even reduce traffic earlier in the day as students would now have the option of staying later, and possibly feel less pressured to finish their work before the library closes. I hope to see this improvement initiated. @4TonyG4 anthony.goreczny@wilkes.edu The Beacon/Laura Preby Students need a place where they can study 24/7 especially with final projects and exams approaching, and the library is the ideal location for this. i the legendary taste Go Colonels! We Deliver to Wilkes University! Call (570) 331-FAST (3278) Ask about our combo specials featuring our complete line up of pizza, subs, wings, burgers & morel visit us online for a compl_ete menu & listing of specials at www.grottopizzapa.com or visit our restaurant & sports bar Grotto Pizza, Gateway Center, on Rt. 11 in Edwardsville (just across the bridge!) the legendary taste $5 OFF Any Order of $20 or More For delivery or take out Expires 12/31 / 11 valid only at Grotto Pizza locations in Pennyslvania �8 THE BEACON I APRIL 17, 2012 OPINION Media paints picture of innocence, exposes bias BY CARLYYAMRUS Opinion Editor Even those who are unfamiliar with the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman case could look at the media pictures and decide who was innocent and who was guilty. The 17-year-old African American man was shot on Feb. 28 by self-appointed Neighborhood Watch Captain, George Zimmerman, a white Hispanic. Martin was walking to a family member's house after he bought a bag of Skittles and an iced tea at a convenience store in Stanford, Fla. After Zimmerman called 911, the operator told him not to pursue the boy and that o ficers were on their way. He ignored the instruction and went after Martin. There was an altercation, and then a gun shot. Zimmerman was not arrested because of Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law that allows the use of weapons for self-defense if a threat is perceived. Although the case remains unclear, it is apparent which way the media has swayed. The pictures of Martin and Zimmerman hardly resemble what they look like today. The photo used for Martin is a picture of him as a young boy, around 13 years old with a baby face . The picture of Zimmerman portrays him as a criminal, dressed in an orange shirt. Anyone looking at this picture would assume he was already convicted. Repof Partipants gather a vigil held in Wilkes-Barre's public square to honor victim Trayvon Martin. Media cover eon the case has been biased, inaccurate and unfair. Recent photographs of Zimmerman and Martin show them in a different light. In these pictures, Zimmerman looks like a nice guy, smiling in a suit and tie. Martin looks more like an adult, wearing a hoodie and lowering his eyes. After comparing these pictures, it is unclear who the victim was and who the aggressor was. Media bias in this case is apparent. It is important for media to present the facts so that ·•Ji ~hot9{ •. Ph Graphics .es1gners Layout.;1,,:~i sts Advertising reps Section;; ,ed itots Assistant edifo'rs Vide Or1li / ••• the public receives an accurate representation of the event. This is not always the case, however, since media sensationalize stories to get more readership or viewership. NBC for example, took the 911 call and edited it to make Zimmerman seem racist. NBC quoted Zimmerman saying, "This guy looks like he's up to no good. He looks black." In reality, the dispatcher was simply asking Zimmerman what the suspect looked like, if he was white, Hispanic or black. What Zim- merman actually said was, "This guy looks like he 's up to no good. Or he's on drugs or something. It's raining and he's just walking around, looking about." This example of selective editing is highly unethical from a journalism standpoint, where one of the most basic rules is to never change the meaning of a quotation. The facts of this case are still emerging months later, yet the media decided early on that this was an unjustified killing based on racial intolerance. They are painting a picture of what they want you to believe. They want you to believe that a young man was innocently killed because he was black. The media would never tell you that Martin had several large tattoos or that he sported gold teeth in recent pictures. His Twitter name had a derogatory racial slur in it, and rumors of drug dealing have surfaced. But the mainstream media would never tell you any of these tidbits of information because they certainly do not support the babyfaced image that America has sympathized with in the past few months. We put our trust into the hands of the media to give us fair and accurate news. Who can we trust if the media reports unfairly and inaccurately? @carlyyamrus carly.yamrus@tbewilkesbeacon.com We're hiring No experience necessary. We'll train. The Beacon will begin accepting applications April 2 for all the positions you see listed here . Don't leave Wilkes with just an education ... get experience. Working with The Beacon provides an opportunity to improve communication skills that are essential for any career field. For more information, contact Kirstin Cook, editor-in-chief, at kirstin.cook@wilkes.edu, 570408-5903 OR Dr. Loran Lewis, adviser, loran. lewis@wilkes.edu, 570-408-4165 ~BEACON ·C: r" News of Toda Re orted B the Journalists of Tomorrow �l~~h~wil~~~l:te¥0'};5Qf!}® Education seniors student-teach a world away Six student teachers gain global teaching experience by travelling to Malaysia BY REBECCA BOLUS Assistant Life Editor Student teachers from Wilkes, along with Associate Professor of Education Gina Morrison recently returned Malaysia from a seven week trip to teach international students. Morrison, who started this program, is very familiar with the country of Malaysia. "Last year I went on sabbatical and I went to the University of Technology in Malaysia," Morrison said. While she was there, she did research on women and engineering and got to know the people on campus, who invited her back for a year. Morrison did not have schooling for her daughter because there were no more funds being released for visiting professor's children at that time. So, she found the Sri Utama International School and enrolled her there. "It was the least expensive international school around," Morrison said. Because Morrison does teacher training "That's how much they want American techniques in their schools," Morrison said. Morrison got permission from the state and from the department for the student teachers to do half of their residency in Malaysia and the other half in Pennsylvania. Through a selection process six students were chosen to embark on the journey to Malaysia. Although this trip was full of work, the students also had the opportunity to experience the country. They attended Thaipusam, a Hindu festival popular in Malaysia, and 'they spent a weekend on the beach at the Qimi Resort in Paulau Kapas. Another opportunity during the trip was that Morrison, along with her six student teachers, got to partake in an international presentation in Singapore. Overall, this trip expressed a positive learning experience Courtesy of'Wilkes in Malaysia' blog "I can't wait to go back some day. The Senior elementary education major Katie Shedden works with students in Malaysia. people in Malaysia are so friendly and the here in the United States, Dato Fawlzia, the ers to teach her students. Dato Fawlzia paid students were so eager to learn and to get to woman who runs the school in Malaysia, of- for their airfares and accommodations, as SEE MALAYSIA, PAGE 12 fered to bring over Morrison's student teach- well. Senior hopes to go all-out for Relay for Life fundraising this year BY ABBEY HALDEMAN ·• Staff Writer "Eight years ago, my family participated in an event, because almost 11 years ago my aunt passed away of melanoma and once I found out we were doing one here, I decided to join," Aaron Nikles said. Nikles, a senior mechanical engineering major, is a prime example that even if cancer hasn't personally affected you, there is probably someone around us who has. Nikles, a senior mechanical engineering major, said the noncurable disease has affected almost everyone on his Relay for Life team. For the past six years, Wilkes has been hosting a Relay for Life event to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The two-day event will be held on the greenway beginning at noon on April 28 aand ending at 6 a.m. on April 29. As part of the event, separate teams participate in fundraising, entertainment events. "The events range from more serious to more fun," Relay for Life organizer Bethany Sharpless said. Nikles and his team are working together to raise money, and for the past three years they have been the relay team with the highest fundraising count. Between asking his family to donate, hosting Guitar Hero fundraisers and just doing what he can, Aaron is hoping to personally raise around $1 ,000 this year. He said these things motivate:; him to push forward and earn as much money as possible. "This is my last year here, so I want to beat my past records and it would also be nice to be able to pass the torch on to someone else," Nikles said. Current fundraisers include the sales of Tshirt sales and pins reading "cancer sucks." "We have raised over $200 in T-shirts and pin sales so far, and anticipate quite a few more as the event approaches-the pace is beginning to pick up," Sharpless said. Beyond the T-shirt and pin sales, there have been restaurant socials, which have raised up to $500 a piece, bake sales and sales of luminary bags. Nikles and his team plan to make a tribute poster for the individuals team members have lost or know are battling cancer. Because the teams are separated and come up with a theme for themselves, Nikles and his team will be pirates once again. The first year Nikles was involved in Relay for Life his team had a pirate theme and he decided this would really help to bring them full circle for his final year. As a team full of pirates, he said the team plans on wreaking some havoc during the event. "Our goal is to kidnap a member from other teams and hold them for ransom, if people aren't willing to pay for them, we are going to make them walk the plank," Nikles said. Some of the events taking place during the two-day event are ceremonies remembering those who have passed away or survived cancer, a talent show, Mr. Wilkes crossdressing beauty pageant and team competitions. There will also be a BBQ taking place along with the other events. Nikles maintains the disease is near to everyone, whether it is personal or not. "It is impossible to find someone without a connection to cancer." Nikles said. @wilkesbeaconlife abbey.ha/deman@wilkes.edu �I I I :r Preby and Austin Louka ltural Society hoste al Color ., tl-'W,G~ way. The event cele e Hi oli, which honors th ring rv Jll!rJlll91f pants throwing colore owder · n the pi r : from left to right in the fron ow are Parikh, Hirai Patel, Shivani Pate rmaa. In the second row from le Patel, Himil Desai, Birju Patel, Anu eshi. Below: from left to right ar Katherine Dodson, Katrian Topoce The Beacon/Austi The week of April 10-13 S hosted its annual Casino Wee Government promised nicer ing prizes for winning studen big-screen TV and a skydivin started out on April 10 with 1i on Wednesday, Horse Racing o eluded the week with the fin Friday. �The Beacon/Austin Loukas and Dan Lykens f April 10-13 Student Government nual Casino Week. This year, Student promised nicer and more interest• winning students induding an IPad, W and a skydiving trip. Casino Week n April 1O with Texas Hold 'Em, Bingo y, Horse Racing on Thursday and conveek with the finale Casino Night on Simply come and take part in Senior Assessment Day May 3, 2012 • 10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Testing takes place in Breiseth Hall. Register online by Friday, April 27th. For details and to register, visit www.wilkes.edu/assessment w WILKES UN I VERSITY �12 BRIAN KADEN, NEW EXECUTIVE CHEF BY CHRISTINE LEE Life Editor Brian Kaden has served as executive chef since the beginning of the semester in January, but has been with food services corporation Sodexo Inc. for five years. What are some new things you have added to the cafeteria? We've decorated more and had more food on display. I've also been revamping the vegetarian options. And we've definitely tried to initiate more theme days for the buffet like baseball. If you were a food, what would you be and why? Pizza cause I eat it so much. It's a favorite in my family. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would go you and why? Italy. I'm all Italian on my mom's side and, of course, the food. Favorite kind of music? Rock, particularly 80s rock and groups like Three Days Grace. If you were an animal, what would you be and why? Something really fast like a cheetah because I'm always moving around all the time. Favorite TV show/movie? For a TV show, definitely "Seinfeld." For a movie I would have to say "Wedding Crashers." Photos:The Beacon/Dan Lykens and courtesy of Brian Kaden Left, Executive Chef Brian Kaden has added more themes to the dining menu including foods found at a baseball park. If you were in a band, what would the What is a hidden talent of yours? I'm really good with word searches. What do you like to do in your spare time? I like spending time with my kids, who are ages 14, 12 and 7. I also like playing sports, particularly baseball and softball. name be? "Constant Motion" @wilkesbeaconlife christine/ee@thewilkesbeacon.com Day fundraises, educates MALAYSIA Continued from Page 9 • know us," said senior elementary education major Katie Shedden, one of the six student teachers who went on the trip. Morrison, who teaches diversity in her education courses, got to see first hand her students embrace the diversity in Malaysia. Students at this school were from all over the world, so diversity is an everyday aspect of their society. "It was nice to watch my students take their skills, transplant them there, and see the wonderful reaction that they got," Morrison said "What they learned is that kids are kids and people are people. It doesn't matter where you come from, what your first language is, or what your religion is, we're going to react in a positive way and we're going to make learning fun." @REBbo/us rebecca.bolus@thewilkesbeacon.com Courtesy of'Wilkes in Malaysia' blog Senior history major Felicia Leclair, who is minoring in secondary education presents host Dato Fawziah with a gift of items from the United States while waiting for food at a restaurant upon the group's arrival. See more photos and information the Malaysia group on www.thewilkesbeacon.com The Beacon/Laura Preby The History Club celebrated its annual History Day event in the Student Union Building Ballroom on April 12. The day included posters of any kind of historical item or person including military figures, the 'RMS Titanic' and the Kennedy family curse. The event was also an information session about the History Club and a fundraiser for the group's trip to Boston this spring. Pictured above from left to right are Dustin Hough, Jenifer Earley, Samantha Hunter, Max Morales and History Club President Rachel Gill. �CONTACT EDITOR: billthomas@t hewilkesbeacon.com APRIL 17, 2012 Paint tli.e town red: Artist makes city his canvas BY CHRISTINE LEE Life Editor When Katy Betnar first took her son, Brandon, to swim lessons at the Wilkes-Barre YMCA, he was intimidated by the swimming pool environment. But upon noticing the mural of whales, dolphins and other marine animals, the 2-year-old's fears were eased. "It really helps make kids more comfortable with the pool environment," Betnar, the Wilkes University college-learning specialist, said. "It plays into the Y's swim program and helps to connect the program to people." The mural in the Wilkes-Barre YMCA is one of several by local artist John Pacovsky, of Plymouth, commissioned by Arts YOUniverse and funded through the Mural Fund at the Luzerne Foundation. "I think introducing the arts in any way, shape or form starts a conversation," Pacovsky said. Though he was originally commissioned to paint just a simple logo, Pacovsky said the design quickly turned into a more elaborate project. "It started as two dolphins looking at each other, because that's the YMCA's (swim team) logo," Pacovsky said. 'Then someone said 'What would you do to the wall?' and I said 'Well, let's do it as an aquarium,' and it turned out to be something that started small and just got bigger and bigger." Although the aquarium mural inside the YMCA pool area is attractive, it is upon exit- ing the YMCA and walking through the adj acent parking lot that one immediately comes upon another of Pacovsky's murals, and one of his most popular: A large still-life painting of fruit on the side of Thai Thai. This mural, the first of those Arts YOUniverse commissioned from Pacovsky, is entitled "Life is Just a 32-Foot-High Bowl of Cherries." Arts YOUniverse founder Kathleen Godwin described it as "striking." "When people pass by, instead of a plain brick wall, they are instead greeted with an exquisite work that proves high culture can be pragmatic," Godwin said. Pacovsky said he was working on still-life paintings when he was contacted by Arts YOUniverse to do the mural for the downtown area. At the time, however, he thought the city wouldn't accept it. "I thought I probably would have come up with something a little more clever," Pacovsky said, laughing. What makes the still-life so popular, though, Pacovsky said, is the simplicity. He said he hears comments on the mural at least every other month. Godwin said the fruits depicted in the mural remind passersby of the annual Farmer's Market held in the nearby Public Square during the summer and fall seasons. "When people look at a close up of the cherries, one can only hope that the Farmer's Market that takes place on Thursdays in the (Wilkes-Barre Public Square) is open," she said. Another popular mural Pacovsky has worked on, along with artists Amber Summers and Katie Martin, is on the site of the former Blum Bros. building on South Main Street next to Boscov's. When the building was demolished, Arts YOUniverse saw the blank wall as an opportunity to put the artists' skills to work. "They are planning on making another Innovation Center but it's not supposed to be built for a year or two, so (the city) is faced with the option of having this big hole where everybody could walk by and look. So they decided to put up a wall and then paint something on it," Pacovsky said. Pacovsky said Arts YOUniverse was open to suggestions but didn't know what to put there. He said the idea of painting an art gallery would be amusing. " It would be interesting to look at something on the wall as opposed to a hole in the ground or even just a blank wall," Pacovsky said. Pacovsky said the mural is so convincing that, once, while he was painting the "gallery," he was approached by a woman who asked him what time the "gallery" opened. "I'm usually not at a loss for words but frankly that threw me off," Pacovsky said. Godwin said the painted people depicted gazing at the works of art in the mural are based on local residents that modeled for the John Pacovsky ter is completed, each of the replication pieces will be installed inside. Sophomore chemistry major Rachel Gill is one of those who finds Pacovsky's mural work inspiring. "They brighten up the area instead of there just being blank brick walls or a blank plywood board," Gill said. "It brings a different layer to the city that wasn't there if they were just plain walls." @WU_ BeaconAE christinelee@thewilkesbeacon.com The Beacon/ Laura Preby John Pacovsky's "Life is Just a 32 Foot-High Bow l of Cherries;' which adorns the side of Thai Thai on Main St. in Wilkes-Barre, has quickly become a local landmark. Modeled after real citizens seen around Wilkes-Barre, "Innovation Gallery;' a mural Pacovsky painted on the site of the former Blum Bros. breaks the fourth wall. I �14 THE BEACON I APRIL 17,2012 'Dance or die': Students prep for spring concert BY ELIZABETH FARRINGTON For many, having to make it to practices while staying on top of one's other classes can be a lot to handle. Every spring, Wilkes University holds a "In order to prepare myself for this amount dance concert, which includes all of the stuof dances (I have to do), there has to be a lot of dents taking dance classes in the spring sepractice time and hard work put in at the dance mester. It is held on-campus at the Dorothy studio," Brownmiller said. Dickson Darte Center. This year, the concert An average week for Brownmiller consists will be held at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, of practicing for two hours every Monday, on the Main Stage. Wednesday and Friday for his modem dance "The dancers prepare the entire semester and jazz dance pieces. for the spring concert. In addition to workThe three other dances Brownmiller will be ing on technique for the beginners, learning performing in are choreographed by fellow the basics of each dance discipline, we begin students, who he meets with once a week for working on choreography early in the semespractices that run anywhere from two to three ter," Lynne Mariani, one of the dance teachers . hours. choreographing the concert, said. Along with the rest of the dance department, The dance department takes full advantage Brownmiller has been practicing for months. of the whole semester to teach and practice the With spring and Easter break now behind him, choreography with the students. Brownmiller said it is now "time to put in "All students involved in the concert are more hours so we can perfect our dances and dedicated to the goal and often work outside clean up all the details, (and) so we are ready of class to prepare," Mariani added. to put on a great show for the spring recital." Senior history major Jared Brownmiller will "Dance," he said jokingly, "or die." be performing in five pieces for the concert, consisting of eight dances total. Brownmiller @WU_BeaconAE is not the only one who will be in more than WU_BeaconAE@yahoo.com one performance, though. Correspondent Q . The Beacon/Austin Loukas The students in Lynne Mariani's noon Friday dance class practice their balance in anticipation of the upcon:ting spring dance recital. In addition to their own bodies, the students also have to learn to balance social lives and class schedules with the demands of the dance concert rehearsal schedule. Br.eathing new life: Alt-rockers make plans for full-length CD BY BILL THOMAS Arts & Entertainment Editor Three, it seems, is the magic number for singer-guitarist Mike Kaminski, bassist Nick Davison and drummer Cameron Lewis. Together, they form a Wilkes-Barre alt-rock band called 3 to Breathe. It's a moniker that not only alludes to the group's status as a trio, but also acknowledges the symbiosis that fuels their collective fire. "Our music is what keeps us going," Kaminski said. "Me, especially. I was going through a really rough time when we got together, and the music was pretty much my therapy. Cameron came up with the name. He rolled all that together into this 'us staying together to stay alive' kind of thing." At the time of the band's formation in 2008, the music of 3 to Breathe offered Kaminski both an escape from and an outlet for frustrations and anxieties brought on by a series of unfortunate events, including financial woes and a number of deaths in the family. With the friendship of Davison and Lewis providing a support system to help him get through the dark days~ Kaminski channeled his emotions into the confessional lyricism and heavy-yet-melodic progressive post-grunge Courtesy of Don Simpson In hard times, music provides solace to the members of 3 to Breathe: (from left) bassist Nick Davison, drummer Cameron Lewis, singer-guitarist Mike Kaminski. sound that has come to define 3 to Breathe's style. Again, the number three looms large. That's how many years it's been since the release of the band first album, a free-to-download 7-track EP titled "Insomnia." Now, the members of the band are anxiously anticipating the chance to get into the recording studio again. In fact, they're already hard at work perfecting their new material. "We've been doing basement-type record- ings to get a feel for how everything is going to progress. When we go into the studio, we're going to have these rough tracks and we're just going to say 'OK, let's make better versions of these,"' Davison explained. "We don't plan to spend a whole lot of time in the studio, partly because it costs money to be there. But, also, we're not writing in the studio. We have tons of music we're already ready to put out." As of now, the members of 3 to Breathe are hoping to make it into the studio before the end of the summer. To "make up for lost time," the band will try to pack as many tracks onto the album as possible. Because this is a selffinanced effort, however, the musicians know that everything depends on what they can afford. Unfazed by the limitations of their DIY approach, Kaminski said the key will be to make the most of however much time they have. "We're going to just go in and pound out the songs we've been playing, get the best versions recorded we can, then focus on working on the CD itself We want to really, actually mix and master it. For the EP, we just did a little bit of equalization. For how good that sounds, I can't wait to hear us do a fully produced, full-length rock album." 3 to Breathe will play at Coasters, at 85 Brown St. in Wilkes-Barre, on Thursday, April Listen to three tracks off 3to .Breathe's"lnsomnia" at 'W:ww.thewilkesbeacon.com ··· . ,. , w,h W · · .. @thatbillthomas billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com �15 THE BEACON I APRIL 17, 2012 A&E Postmodern horror resides at Evil twins, serial killers, drug Whedon's 'Cabin in the Woods' deals convolute detective tale BY BILL THOMAS Arts_&Entertainment Editor Stop me if you've heard this one before: A lantern-jawed jock, a vivacious blond bimbo, a bespectacled egghead, a wise-cracking stoner and a virginal goody-two-shoes go up to an isolated cabin in the woods"for a lawless weekend of drugs, sex and rock 'n' roll. Instead, they end up getting picked off oneby-one by a horde of seemingly unkillable baddies. Think you know the story? Think again. Subverting the cliches and conventions of the horror genre with take-no-prisoners aplomb, "The Cabin in the Woods" first blends the bare-bones story outlined above with a quirky, hilarious razor-wit. Then it introduces an unprecedented, self-aware, sci-fi conspiracy-theory concept that offers compelling explanations for damn near every overused plot device in the genre cinema playbook. A heady splash of epic, Lovecraft-inspired apocalyptic menace tops the whole thing off, for flavor. Basically, without giving too much away, th.e core conceit goes like this: Imagine if almost every horror picture you ever saw took place in the same universe. "The Evil Dead." "Hellraiser." "The Strangers." "Ringu." They're real, they happened and, what's more, they're happening again and again, over and over, in a dozen different permutations, all the time. Now, imagine if there was a reason homy teenagers had to die at the hands of zombified rednecks, killer clowns and bloodthirsty mermen (yes, mermen). Imagine if there was a shadowy government organization controlling these events. Pocket protector-sporting paperpushers turning on fog machines, unleashing the undead and convincing otherwise levelheaded guys 'n' gals to have sex at the worst possible times or split up in the face of danger. 111ankfully, the movie never gets drunk on its own cleverness. It doesn 't smugly smack us over tl1e head like the "Scream" or "Scary Movie" franchises. "The Cabin in the Woods" is more in the vein of Scott Glossem1an's postmodern slasher mockumentary "Behind the Mask: The Rise ofLesli.e Vernon." Though a divisive, climax de.rails things slightly at the very end, writer Joss Whedon once again prove his storytelling chops are just as legit as his fanboy street cred. An existentialist, deconstructionist genre study that implicates the audience itself as both voyeur and ~ villain, "The Cabin in -.\\\\' the Woods" delivers all the raunch 'n' ,A~ · splatter we want #~~ when we're ~ watching a horror flick, O but is smart Qr and skillful enough to make us ask ourselves why. * t:t....fv'• .it BY ANNIE VOSKSOSKI Staff Writer Lately, I have been on a mystery kick, so James Patterson has been rather prominent on my bookshelf As a famed mystery novelist who is known for collaborating - in tl1is case, -with \\triter Maxine Paetro - readers have many books to choose from. The latest book I picked up was "Private: #l Suspect." It has everything a reader expects from Patterson at this point: action-packed and suspense-filled. The only problem is it's a bit too far-fetched. The novel follows Jack, a fonner Marine who owns the top private detective company in the world, which is simply called Private. The company was handed down to him his father, but Jack is the one ho truly built it from the ound up .His only ompetition is his win brother, who ns th.e similarnamed Pri·ate Security. Jack is obscenely wealthy , well-connected and extremely intelligent. < When he comes home from a trip to find his fonner lover and secretary dead in his bedroom, he becomes the prime suspect for her murder. At this point in the story, things start to develop into over-dramatization. DNA evidence could implicate him or his evil twin brother. Witnesses say they saw Jack, but that also could have been ms brother Tommy. As if the twin aspect wasn't enough to confuse anyone, Jack has various employees and assistants who all help in one way or another, jamming their own subplots into the already convoluted main one. While Jack is out on $20 million bail, the reader follows not only his story, but also two different accounts of murder that his company is investigating. Because the chapters are short, the reader must bounce around from Jack's quest to prove his innocence to a whole new narrator - Jack's assistant Justine - wl" & is working on another case with a young mo• ie star and trying to clear him of murder as well. Just as abruptly, the reader has to switch (again!) to story about a hotel-hopping serial killer. Then there's the $30 million drug deal with the mob. Readers are pulled back and forth from case to case. While the book is enjoyable, it's not exactly light reading. This hard-boiled detective novel has far too much going on, and too many plots that do not connect with one another. The book is well-written, but jumpy, and readers shouJd prepare to forget who certain characters even are. At least, I can say it can't be classified as a cook·tter. ete's Place offers sanctuary for vegan Assistant A&E Editor Being vegan, it is usually difficult and frustrating to find things to eat out other than salad. I was delighted to find Pete's Place, a Middle Eastern family restaurant located on 35 E. South St. in Wilkes-Barre. Offering a wide selection of vegan and vegetarian options along with their many carnivorous selections, Pete's Place fell nothing short of the pleasantly unique dining experience l hoped to enjoy. The waiter was friendly and enthusiastic as he explained any questions I had with items on their menu. He made me feel relaxed and at home. The restaurant's menu includes salads, wraps, dips, gyros, kabobs and platters, as well as American cuisine, not to mention a familiar favorite dessert, baklava. As an appetizer, I ordered baba ghanouj (roasted eggplant dip with lemon garlic tahini and olive oil) and, as my main course, a falafel wrap (fried fava bean and chick pea patties with lettuce, tomato, radish, parsley and tahini sauce wra]?ped in a large pita bread). For my beverage, I enjoyed a glass of cool lemonade. The baba ghanouj had the consistency of hummus and a heavy taste of garlic and was served with fresh pita bread. I loved it. Then again, I'm a huge fan of garlic. The falafel wrap was absolutely delicious. The warm falafel had the crumble-like texture it should and was very flavorful. The lettuce, tomatoes, radish and parsley on the wrap were crisp, cool and refreshing. The whole wrap was topped with a warm tahini sauce, made of ground sesame seeds, lemon juice, and garlic. It tasted similar to ranch dressing. I ate with a friend of mine, a very picky eater, who had ordered a grilled cheese, which came with SunChips and fries. She enjoyed every bite of it, saying the cheese wasn't "overpowering" as it can be at many other restaurants. Pete's Place really gives you your money's worth, selling large portions of food at a very reasonable price. It's possible to spend just $10 on a meal and drink, and 4/5 still have plenty leftovers to take with you. One of the best aspects of restaurant, though, is its at-home, chill atmosphere. A scenic painted mural covered one wall while the other was adorned with photos from Middle Eastern countries. Wicker chairs were placed at the tables ar.r\ what appeared to be a natural wood, brown picket fence was hung sideways on the ceiling, draped ·with small wicker baskets. The location is perfect for Wilkes' students, as it is just across the street from University Towers. lt is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m . @WU_BeaconAE WU_ BeaconAE@yahoo.com �CONTACT EDITOR: justinfraniak@thewilkesbeacon.com APRIL 17, 2012 Lady Colonels continue to impress The Broad Street Wilkes brings new life to lacrosse program; racks up wins Breakdown: BY ALYSSA STENCAVAGE NHL Playoffs Staff Writer BY BRYAN WISLOSKY Columnist BY JUSTIN FRANIAK Sports Editor The women's lacrosse team has made quite a comeback this year from previous years. The change came mostly with the dynamic of the team. There were always low numbers before mixed with a lot of negativity, which turned around with the new members who were recruited by the coaches. "This year has been a great improvement over last year," says freshman Sarah Brozena. Another aspect that could account for the change of pace with the team is the fact that they worked out during the winter and developed better team bonding. There was always ll0 percent effort from everyone. "I think we work really well. We may not be the best and amazing, but we get things done when we have to," says freshman Carley Smith. Senior players include Captain Caitlin Jordon, Cassie Cronin, Lindsey Davenport and Kate McGurk. Juniors are Jackie Harrison and Brittaney Costigan. Sophomores are Gabby Ford, Keri Meerholz, Samantha Pavalko and Olivia Dworak and freshman players are Brozena, Smith and Elizabeth Bracco. The coaching staff includes head coach Kammie Towey and assistant coach Danielle Hawkins. The team seems to be one big family with inside jokes and a great coaching staff who cares ab~t their academics and tries to make them the best that they can be both on and off the field. "We have a good bunch of girls that play with their heart," Jordan says. "Heart is the key to our success." The Lady Colonels currently sit at 6-2, with a record of 0-2 in conference play. Ford leads the team with 32 goals on the season, while Smith has netted 29 goals. The Colonels have four players who have scored.double-digit goals. Wilkes has outscored its opponent 124- Photo courtesy of Sports Information Pharmacy major Olivia Dworak is an integral part of the Lady Colonels turnaround from last season. Dworak started all 17 games in 2011, and has netted 13 goals in this years campaign. Dworak has 15 total points and two assists. Wilkes has doubled its win total from last year to six. The Lady Colonels return to action at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17, at Schmidt Stadium. 81 en route to having a winning record. The Colonels also own a record of 4-1 on the road. The goalkeeper is the last line of defense for a lacrosse team, and Wilkes has two very capable goalies. Cronin owns a 9.34 goals against average, while sophomore Justine Thimmel has a .410 save percentage. Teamwork runs rampant through the Colonels squad as Keri Meeholz leads the team with 15 assists. Wilkes has forced 74 caused turnovers with Smith leading the way. Wilkes suffered its second loss on the season, as the Colonels lost to Arcadia this past Saturday. Arcadia scored 15 goals in the first half, jumping out to a huge lead. Ford took 10 shots and scored on five, but her charge was not enough as Arcadia scored the game's first three goals. Wilkes would go into the halftime break down 15-6. The Colonels came out hot in the second half netting six goals, but Arcadia would respond with seven more scores. Wilkes fell to Arcadia 22-12, with Thimmel and Cronin splitting time in goal. The Lady Colonels return to action at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17, at Schmidt Stadium. The Colonels will take on crosstown rival Misericordia University. The Cougars are 4-9 on the season. The Cougars are coming off a loss to conference opponent Manhattanville. Misericordia surrendered 23 goals in the loss. The Colonels will look to improve their 3-14 record from 2011 as the Cougars travel to Wilkes. @WU_BeaconSports justinfraniak@thewilkesbeacon.com Well, my favorite time of year got under way in the past week, the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This year, the 16 teams rying for, in my opinion, the greatest trophy in all of sports are: Eastern Conference: (1) New York Rangers, (2) Boston Bruins, (3) Florida Panthers, (4) Pittsburgh Penguins, (5) Philadelphia Flyers, (6) New Jersey Devils, (7) Washington Capitals, (8) Ottawa Senators; Western Conference: (1) Vancouver Canucks, (2) St. Louis Blues, (3) Phoenix Coyotes, (4) Nashville Predators, (5) Detroit Red Wings, (6) Chicago Blackhawks, (7) San Jose Sharks, (8) Los Angeles Kings. The match-ups in the east are Rangers v. Senators, Bruins v. Capitals, Panthers v. Devils, and Penguins v. Flyers. In the West we have Canucks v. Kings, Blues v. Sharks, Coyotes v. Blackhawks, and Predators v. Red Wings. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are my favorite postseason system because the difference between a first-place team and a last-place team in the NHL is so much closer than any other professional sports league. You almost never see a one seed lose to an eight seed in the NBA playoffs, yet upsets like that occur almost every year in the NHL playoffs. For example, when the Flyers went to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2010, they were the seven seed in the East and actually had home ice advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals because the team they played, the Montreal Canadians, was the eighth seed. So the bottom two teams in the east managed to overcome higher seeds in the first two rounds of the playoffs. The competition level in the National Hockey League is just that high. As for who will win Lord Stanley's Cup this season, call me biased, but I really think my Philadelphia Flyers will be able to get it done. " SEE NHL, PAGE 18 �,,, j ,.,,.(#,. . . " .. , ~,,-~_,,,,, ___ ,,_ ' 17 SPORTS THE BEACON I APRIL 17, 2012 SCOREBOARD Baseball 4/14 Kings L 25-6' Kings L 7-4 Softball 4/14 Kings L 0-11 Kings L 1-10 M-Tennis 4/14 Kings W 7-2 Lacrosse 4/14 Arcadia L 12-22 W-Tennis 4/14 Kings W 9-0 WEEKAHEAD Baseball 4/17 PSU-Wilkes Barre Softball 4/19 PSU-Hazleton (DH) M-Tennis 4/19 Moravian Lacrosse 4/17 Misericordia W-Tennis 4/17 Muhlenburg end messages nd pictures to When we talk about sports and which team is the best in a given sport in a given year, there's only one way to find out: the playoffs. The playoffs is what every fan of every team in every sport lives for. Each sport has a unique playoff structure and each has its strengths and weaknesses. Unless you're a college football fan, you don't dispute the results. So, which system is the best? My personal belief is hockey. Hockey clearly has the best playoffs. Even though I think it's a little too long, it does last over a month and a half. The results of the playoffs are clearly the greatest and leave you on the edge of your seat from the start. First, unlike baseball and the top heavy NBA, every series·goes six to seven games. There are few occasions where a team gets swept or blown out in a seven game series. Also, there's the fact that the league is so even throughout that an eight seed can beat a one seed like the Kings are doing to the Canucks so far. Hockey top to bottom is the most evenly competitive sport and in the last 20 years, hockey has had 12 different teams win the Stanley cup; the NBA had seven. The NHL also has the most energy and passion during the playoffs. The hits are harder, the goals more impressive, the fights are more brutal; this is what the players live for. If you're not convinced hockey is the best I have saved the best for last: playoff beards. Yes, it is the one league where every player on every team, and even every member of the organization, will not shave until the playoffs are over. Trust me, I love baseball and I think the structure of 5-7-7 should be in all leagues, it's short, sweet and to the point, but baseball at times can get one-sided. What fun is the world series if a team wins in four games? The NBA, I believe, is the worst. I find it boring, and chances are if you have half a brain, you can guess the finals before the playoffs start. It's too top-heavy and there are rarely surprises. With the tournament, NCAA basketball might be the only close one, but to be honest there are so many games it can be overwhelming at times. Yes it is exciting, and we always have Cinderellas, but if you're a casual college fan like I am, it might just not do it for you. Playoffs?! Don t talk about Playoffs! 11 Playoffs?! The playoffs for any sport are like Christmas for me. It's a new season and a new day. New life is given to a team. Being a hot team is always key in any sport, this was made apparent when the Rockies went to the World Series a few years back. The NFL playoffs allow for a hot team to take a wild ride. If you're hot in the NFL, a Super Bowl run is a very easy task. The Pittsburgh Steelers proved that when they won after being seeded sixth. The NFL is also "do or die." One loss ends your season and dreams • f a ring. There are no excuses at the end of the day, you either win or lose. This is why the NFL is unique. All other major sports involve series, while football is one game. So much preparation and concentration are involved in one game. Coaches and players prepare for a whole week before they face an opponent. When game day comes, everything is put on the line. I love the hockey playoffs. I even had a hard time picking the NFL over them, but there is something special about football playoffs. Whether it be the video packages, pregame parties, postgame festivities, the NFL playoffs is intense yet comforting. I believe the NBA playoffs are the worst There is too much time in between games. Sometimes teams wait two days between contests. The NHl waits one day between competitions, and these guys beat each other up really bad. The NBA short be shortened. I love baseball, and nothing should be changed. Alternate playoff uniforms would add a little flair though. I am also an advocate for a NCAA football playoff. It would add more excitement and drama, the good kind, to an already riveting sport. The BCS ranking system can stay, but a bracket must be created. I would love to see an undefeated team get knocked off by a Cinderella team. The playoffs are an all-around great event, no matter what sport. My choice for the best system is the NFL. Nothing compares to huge hits and the passion exuded by players in the weeks after a hard fought season. We are currently, however, amidst the NHL playoffs so I must say: GO FLYERS! �SPORTS , 18 FORD Continued from Page 20 opporhrnities as a lacrosse player. Who is your celebrity crush? I have a bunch of crushes but Channing Tatum takes the number No. 1 spot haha Who is your favorite athlete? Tim Tebow for sure! He's one-of-a-kind and just an overall good person. He played a game with a broken leg! If that's not heart, I don't know what is. Who is your favorite team? The New York Jets! Gang Green all the way! What is your favorite saying? Hakuna Matata! .favorite food? I don't discriminate. I love all foods (laughs). THE BEACON I APRIL 17, 2012 what would it be and why? Invisibility. I would pull so many pranks on my siblings and friends, it'd be great! What did you want to grow up and be when you were little? Honestly, I thought the ice cream man had the greatest job in the world. If you had to pick a place to live for the rest of your life, where would it be? Why? When I get older and am done with everything I've wanted to do in my life, I want to live on a beach and I don't care where (laughs). As long as it's warm and the water is beautiful, I will be more than happy. ec out more pictures o Gabby online at ww. thewilkes beacon.co The· Beacon/Laura Preby Favorite movie? Any of the old Disney princess movies. They're classics! If you could have one superpower, @WU_BeaconSports justin.franiak@wilkes.edu Colonels drop tw"o to rivals Photo courtesy of Sports Information The King's College baseball team completed a sweep of the Colonels this past Saturday. King's beat Wilkes 25-6 in the first of two games. The Colonels kept it close in their second meeting, but the Monarchs prevailed 7-4. Joel Watson, above, hit a solo home run in the second game, but his longball was not enough. The Colonels will return to action Tuesday, April 17, at Penn State-Wilkes Barre. Sophomore Gabby Ford is leading the Lady Colonels in goals this season with 32. The lacrosse squad is currently 6-2 on the season and will return to actionat 4:30 p.m. Tuesday April 17 at Schmidt Field. NHL Continued from Page 16 However, I could just as easily see them getting bounced in the first round by our cross state rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins. I firmly believe that whoever wins that first round series between the four and five seeds in the east will move onto the finals . Down the stretch of the regular season, they really were the two most consistent teams, especially since Ilya Bryzgalov found his game in early March. Also, the Flyers have owned the Penguins this season, so even though everyone else considers the Penguins the best team in the NHL, the Broad Street Bullies will find a way to prevail. As for the Western Conference, I'm going with the eight seed. Yes, I think the Los Angeles Kings will be able to upset the President's Trophy winner Vancouver Canucks and ride that momentum all the way to the finals. The only reason the Kings are the lowest seed in the conference is because of their dismal start to the season. They have been probably the hottest team in the West over the last few weeks, and getting hot at the right time is all it takes. So my prediction for the Stanley Cup Fi- nals is the Philadelphia Flyers over the Los Angeles Kings in six games. Do you have NHL Playoff predictions? Tweet us at@WU_ BeaconSports. . @WU_BeaconSports justin.franiak@wilkes.edu �19 THE BEACON I APRIL 17, 2012 ' WE TREAT INJURIES AND ILLNESSES FOR ALL AGES. + JUST WALK IN . + ALWAYS A PHYSICIAN ON SITE. + MOST INSURANCE ACCEPTED BUT NOT REQUIRED. + X-RAYS, LABS, EKGs, IVs, MINOR SURGERY. �20 SPORTS Check us out at: thewilkesbeacon.com "'-J:, THE BEACON I APRIL 17, 2012 � 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 2012 April 17th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 April 17 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/eb09a772100e306f66261105ba82f3a2.pdf a0a654bd21ddb45a0e84384d42abd436 PDF Text Text Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member THE BEACON The Beacon/ Austin Loukas At last week's budget forums, faculty expressed concerns about the proposed budget for next year, which includes reductions to the faculty retirement benefits and an absence of raises. Some fear these cuts will hurt faculty morale, saying it's a recipe for mediocrity. Gilmour's paid sabbatical amid proposal of cuts disturb faculty BY KIRSTIN COOK Editor-in-Chief A contract granting Wilkes President Joseph (Tim) Gilmour a oneyear paid sabbatical following his retirement this summer combined with faculty compensation package reductions has created a rift between faculty and administration. Faculty members are facing a reduction in retirement benefits and another year without raises. In light of Gilmour's paid academic leave, some are saying it doesn't add up. Fred Sullivan, associate professor of math and computer sciences, gave the example of an employee at a $25,000 salary who could potential lose about $2,250 due to reduction in retirement funds and changes in the health care package - a 9 percent reduction in compensation. "So my question is, 'How can the president and the cabinet and board sleep at night doing that?"' Sullivan said. Last week, Faculty Affairs Council Chair Don Mencer addressed the contrast of these reductions from Gilmour's break terms with an email to Vice President Loren Prescott. The Beacon obtained this email, in which Mencer stated, "How can you justify the absence of raises and reduced retirement benefits in contrast to a presidential sabbatical contract." Mencer said most of the comments he had heard from faculty on the budget were negative. He said one of the faculty members went so far as to call it a "recipe for mediocrity." "There's real concern that we're SEE BUDGET, PAGE 4 The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow Check us out at: thewilkesbeacon.com~ �,m l] (BJ(IJJ]J C [RT'@] 0 CONTACT EDITOR: phatnguyen@thewilkesbeacon.com Library extended hours a possibility BY DEVONI NOVAK Assistant News Editor Students Government Total: $10,448.21 Library extended hours project Buffer Fund was granted $5,000 to put toward the cost of making the library basement open 24 hours. Dean of the library, John Stachez, plans to raise another $4,000 himself to make the needed accommodations. It is unspecified when the extended hours will begin. HAWC Brings Shaun T to Wilkes Health and Wellness Club was granted its requested $1,750 to bring fitness expert, Shaun T, to Wilkes next semester. Shaun T who is the creator of fitness programs Insanity and Hip Hop Abs, will offer a 1 hour workout, a question-and-answer period and an opportunity to get autographs. The event is set for Nov. 3 in UCOM. SIFE to participate in competition Students In Free Enterprise requested $5,700 to attend a national competition in Kansas City, Mo. Students request funds to attend conference in Utah. Up to $3,400 was requested for five students to attend a conference at the University of Utah School on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies. Terzaghi Lab requests funds to attend annual presentation in Austin, Texas Four students from Terzaghi will be presenting at the annual American Society of Plant Biologists Conference this year. Considering the cost of travel, hotel rooms and registration, the club requested $3,000. Upcoming Events: Mad Hatter Tea Party: April 24 Relay for Life: April 28-29 Mac Miller: May 1 Study Break Party: May 3 @devoninovak devoninovak@thewilkesbeacon.com Photo courtesy o Mo ly McDonough Wilkes students saw the U.S. Supreme Court in action and met with Justice Ginsburg last week in Washington, D.C. Pictured from left to right are Sarah Seman, Ross Ramaley, Molly McDonough, Ashley Flaherty, Randy Keiser, Nour Elbattah, Brandon Wesneski, Morgan Palermo, Dr. Kyle Kreider and Brittney Grizzanti. Simply come and take part in Senior Assessment Day May 3, 2012 • 10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Testing takes place in Breiseth Hall. Register online by Friday, April 27th. For details and to register, visit www.wilkes.edu/assessment . w WILKES UNIVERSITY -------------- -- -- �THE BEACON I APRIL 24, 2012 3 NEWS Budget process raises additional questions BY PHAT NGUYEN News Editor Faculty and staff still have questions following several budget meetings with Vice President of Finance Loren Chip Prescott. Concerns include cuts to retirement, health care and academic department budgets. Along side these concerns faculty have a sense that their input is not being considered. They say one of the biggest problems facing Wilkes is the failure to adhere to the decisionmaking process. "That was not done," assistant professor English Marcia Farrell said. "We were not given an opportunity to recommend, or even given a chance to review decisions that were being made." Prescott held two budget forum meetings last week to present the proposed budget to faculty members. The budget is projected to include a 4 percent tuition increase, along with various cuts. He said these budgetary decisions incorporated feedback from the campus community. "There probably will be an ongoing discussion on whether the judgments we made were the best ones, and sometimes you can revisit those, but I think we got through with a lot of discussion, a lot of involvement by the budget committee, and by the president's cabinet, and some interaction with others on campus," Prescott said. However, faculty members are upset with the decision-making and lack of input outside of the president's cabinet. Don Mencer, chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee, was hard-pressed to call this a standard operating procedure. "It sounds like to me that they're reacting to circumstances," Mencer said. Budgetary priorities have not been given to faculty, he added. "~ were not asked whether to fully fund depreciation or build revenue contingencies," Mencer said. Associate professor of pharmacy practice Jonathan Ference added his concerns about the communication process. "There is a lingering concern that the process of communication was broken between faculty and administration. We don't know what process by which decisions are made," Ference said. "If we're not familiar with this process, how are we able to make sure we are represented by part of that process?" Ference said discussions about the 2013 fiscal year budget should not be happening in third week of April. "We should be discussing the 2014 budget," Ference said. Prescott said in past years the budget has The Beacon/Austin Loukas Vice President of Finance Loren Prescott held two forums to present the proposed budget for next year. Faculty members are upset with the decision-making process behind the budget and lack of input outside of the president's cabinet. been reviewed and approved in April. One of the biggest challenges that delayed the budget was state funding cuts to programs such as graduate teacher education. According to the Wilkes Fact Book, teacher education graduation enrollment has decreased from 3,720 in 2009 to 3,463 in 2010 and 2,673 in 2011. These losses have negatively affected the budget, Prescott explained. Although losses and expenses are stemming from the graduate programs, the university still plans to expand some existing graduate programs and brand new graduate programs in nursing, engineering and education. Despite budget cuts, Prescott said the university strives to continue to make progress reducing increases in tuition. According to the Wilkes Fact Book, the 2011 tuition increased 3.8 percent. The university is now planning a 4 percent increase, but hopes to eventually lower that increase in the future. "One of the assumptions in that budget model was a tuition increase for the entire period to accurately project revenue," Prescott said. Prescott said he was disappointed the school couldn't reduce the annual tuition increase as quickly as that model portrays. The model anticipates a 2 percent tuition increase in a couple years. · The budget is comprised of a combination of different groups including the president's cabinet and a budget committee - composed of president's cabinet, full-time faculty, student representatives and staff. An ongoing process of meetings will exam- ine expected revenue from a variety of sources, operating expenses and other expenditures - such as maintenance and new projects like the science building, Prescott said. The finance administrator pointed out that 150 people on campus manage budgets, including academic areas such as deans for each of the colleges, who work closely with department chairs. Conclusions are then drawn to balance anticipated revenue sources and estimated operating expenses. These savings are going to be different for each of the budget units depending on their mission and how they use resources. "Budget managers know their operation best, they know their budgets best, and so they should be ones who in most cases are making judgments abc;mt where there are opportunities to save," Prescott said. Prescott plans to try to tum this year's cuts into ongoing savings. He said there is a significant list of operating expenses that affect all the operating units such as food for oncampus events, office supplies and many categories of expenses that were reviewed by the finance office and budget committee with idea that they could operate more efficiently. "As part of the budget process this year, we prepared, for the first time in a number of years, a long-range planning budget that projects, for budgetary purposes, the university's operations out to 2020," Prescott said. Another issue that affects the budget is the $35 million science building. A $20 million capital campaign is intended to be ultimate source of funds, but construction will put the university $15 million in long-term debt, but donations and fundraising could lower that debt. "The difficult thing with the last two years is that we didn't do as good as job as we need to do in accurately projecting revenue, but the problem is when you create a budget you' re guessing on sources of revenue," Prescott said. He said the basis is an educated guess from past experience with programs, but it really a guess with new programs. "The budget for next year, I think, is more conservative on revenue estimates than it has been in the last couple years, and that's intended to address that problem," Prescott said. "The danger is being overly optimistic about revenue, and then later on having to come back to the budget and saying 'well it turns out we didn't have the revenue that we really thought,"' he said. The handbook states that the Faculty Affairs Counsel should be consulted by administration before decisions are m,11de. Faculty emphasized there should be an understanding in advance, which could have avoided what they are calling a very public and pesky quarrel. Despite these issues, they say there are good things happening. "There are people who are trying to do what they think is right for the institution," Mencer said. Mencer believes the breakdown in communication has led to many of the faculty concerns. "We all understand that we have to live within budgets," Mencer said. "There is no imaginary world that faculty live where they have unlimited salaries and budgets. However, there's no doubt there's deviation from this policy." Mencer said these meetings and time consumption also come with an opportunity cost. "Faculty, staff and administration are all attending numerous meetings over budgetary decisions affecting morale and grading," Mencer said. In addition, he said faculty still works hard to uphold the values of the Wilkes community. Ference, a Wilkes alumni, has come back to Wilkes as a professor because he wanted to contribute to that community. "I love being a Colonel, but part of this process is breaking my heart," Ference said. The next step in the budget process will take place Tuesday, April 24 where the FAC will have a joint meeting with deans and president's cabinet<t£egarding the 2012 fiscal year among other concerns. Contributer: Kirstin Cook @phatnguyen_ phatnguyen@wilkes.edu �4 BUDGET Continued from the front page • talcing budgetary steps that are not in the best interest of the institution," Mencer said. The 2013 fiscal year budget proposes a 3 percent cut to matching contribution for employee retirement plans. Mencer said there's fear this type of reduction will lead to a decrease in faculty efficiency and a loss of a strong faculty commitment to students that Wilkes is known for. "It affects morale, low morale affects the service and quality of interaction that the students on campus have with staff and faculty." Prescott said difficult budgetary choices were aided by discussion and campus participation. "It's a balancing act, and you have to reach compromises when you're in a situation where you have limited resources and you have a lot of competing priorities," Prescott said. Mencer outlined the main areas of concern of the FAC to Prescott, beginning with the financial details of Gilmour's sabbatical. Though The Beacon learned of Gilmour's sabbatical two weeks ago, Prescott confirmed the contract at an April 17 forum. According to Wilkes' 990 tax form, Gilmour's presidential salary was $358,874 in 2009. Prescott would not release how much he would receive during his sabbatical. Vicki Mayk, associate director of public relations, said Gilmour will be receiving less than his current salary. She said the sabbatical was negotiated between the board of trustees and a presidential compensation expert, who called granting this type of sabbatical a common practice. During this sabbatical, Gilmour said he plans to do some work on the capital campaign that funds the new science building, providing background information to the new president and possibly writing a book. Gilmour said when he agreed to the sabbatical contract two years ago, Wilkes was in a better financial state than today. "It was a contract that we negotiated two years ago, and we certainly did not know we would be in quite the position we're in," Gilmour said. However, in February 2010 The Beacon reported Wilkes was trying to close a $2.2 million deficit. Also, according to the 990, many of the highest-paid employees at Wilkes received pay cuts in 2009, including more than $24,000 in reductions in Gilmour's salary, compared to 2008 data that showed $60,000 in bonuses for the 14 highest-paid employees. And these days, faculty members are being told the university is financially sound. Mencer said undergraduate, transfer and ·in- NEWS The Beacon/ Austin Loukas It was confirmed WIikes President Joseph {Tim) Gilmour will receive a one-year paid sabbatical, during which he said he will be completing various work for the university. Gilmour said the university was in a better financial state when he accepted the sabbatical two years ago. Both public relations and finances declined to release his sabbatical salary, though public relations stated it will be less than his current pay. ternational student emollment is up, which he feels contradicts the slashes to faculty benefits. "From the faculty perspective, when you keep telling them the emollment indicators are high, then you begin to question, well if the things that positively impact on revenue are encouraging, then why is it we're being told we have to tighten our belts and have some reductions in compensation packages," Mencer said. Mencer said faculty members have not been receiving 'salary increases in recent years to keep up with the cost of living. Prescott, however, said Wilkes has made a commitment to provide competitive salaries. "The university has committed itself to trying - for employees, not just faculty - to try to continue to focus on making sure that all of the employees are paid a competitive salary," Prescott said. Mencer said the main concerns faculty have are less about the contents of the budget, such as faculty compensation, and more about the lack of faculty input on the contents. He said this lack of involvement does not give the faculty the chance to deem the budget decisions as essential, a classification he doubts. "If it's really essential, and it's the only way the institution can survive, then I don't think you would have people at the institution arguing against it." Contributer: Phat Nguyen @kirstinjeancook kirstincook@thewilkesbeacon.com STRESSED? HEADACHE? Headaches and back pain are two of the most common ailments treated at our clinic. Often, we can bring relief simply by taking the pressure off a pinched nerve. Here are other common symptoms of a pinched nerve. Neck Pain Back Pain Shoulder Pain Arm Pain Leg Pain Muscle Pain - Sports Injury - FREE 20 Min Hydro Massage Auto Accident - w WILKES UNIVERSllY FREE EXAM & FREE 1st Treatment · Wilkes-Barre Chiropractic & Rehab Dr. David Lewis Chiropractic Physician • 825-5535 380 Old River Road Wilkes-Barre, PA AJI Insurances Accepted dblewis326@aol .com www.nepachiro.com �THE BEACON I APRIL 24, 2012 NEWS 5 Google Cloud takes over Wilkes University System upgrade expected to be more efficient and reliable BY ABBEY HALDEMAN Staff Writer Freshman nursing major Cheyenne Cassimore was forced to make a new password, not once, but two times this week because her Wilkes email denied her access. "I had to change my password so it would let me in. It is really frustrating me," Cassimore said. In addition to changing passwords, stu dents and faculty have voiced other complaints, which include never · obtaining outgoing and incoming emails. There is a constant struggle among the students, the faculty, the staff and the university email. The login battle, messages getting lost in cyberspace and storage space - or lack thereof - are only a few major issues. "We have been hearing a lot of concerns about email for quite some time," Chief Information Officer Gloria Barlow said regarding the current Microsoft Outlook Web email system. "It's a large undertaking to manage a mail system for thousands of students." On top of all the struggles through the email itself, there has been one specific time when the entire system had to be shut down. During this time the flood evacuation in the Fall of 2011 , the university had to completely shut down the system in order to preserve and protect it. In doing so, the only way to communicate with students was through Facebook or some sort of web-based system. "I've been in this business a long time; -1've never needed to turn off my machines, shut off the light and leave and not know when we were coming back," Barlow said. In order to ensure that something like completely shutting down the system would never happen again and in an effort to ease the ongoing struggles, the IT department realized it was time for some adjustments. Email would be switched to "the cloud." "At this point in time about more than 60 percent of colleges around the country have migrated some portions of their campus to the cloud," Barlow said. Cloud systems are a simplified operating systems that run as a web browser, providing access to a variety of web-based applications that allow the user to perform many simple tasks without booting a fullscale operation system. Cloud systems are a simplified operating systems that run as a Web browser, providing access to a variety of web-based applications that allow the user to perform many simple tasks without booting a full-scale operation system. The operating Because of its simplicity, Clouds can boot in just a few seconds. The operating system is designed for Netbooks, Mobile Internet Devices and PCs that are mainly used to browse the Internet. From Cloud the user can quickly boot into the main OS, because Cloud continues booting the main OS in the background. Cloud can be installed and used together with other operation systems, or as a standalone operating system. When used as a standalone system, hardware requirements are relatively low. After evaluating the current email via student response surveys, a committee of 12 decided that the switch to the cloud would be the most beneficial for everyone. The initial debate was whether to go with Microsoft Live or Google mail. The ultimate deciding factor for the conversion to Gmail came when Microsoft made a change in its offerings with universities, system is designed for Netbooks, Mobile Internet Devices and PCs that are mainly used to browse the Internet. From Cloud the user can quickly boot into the main OS because Cloud continues booting the main OS in the background. granting free use only for students and not faculty. For the campus, Gmail met the criteria and was the most cost-effective option. "There was a unanimous recommendation from the IT committee, which never happens," Barlow said. After Barlow presented the report and the recommendations to the president's cabinet they were given the go-ahead. The mass of migration to Gmail will be. Start this summer. Many students believe the switch to Gmail will help fix the frustrations they have been facing. "I think that Gmail is a bigger network than Microsoft, so it is going be faster," Allison Bitner, a freshman pharmacy major said. Gloria believes the size limitation issues will be solved by the switch, due to the massive growth in space. With the change to the cloud, students will have more than 250 times the space that they have with the current email. She also believes that students will enjoy having a Gmail account because it can be personal to them, which many students have requested previously. "It is a service and interface most (students) are already familiar with, comfortable with and like," Barlow said. The move to Gmail will allow students and faculty to keep their @wilkes.edu domain. The cloud system will also allow better mobile access due to its simplicity. "If we ever had an emergency again, as long as you are somewhere with an Internet conDection, we as a campus will still be able to communicate with all wilkes. edu addresses, which is very important for us," Barlow said. @wu_beaconnews abbey.haldeman@wilkes.edu �CONTACT EDITOR: carlyyamrus@thewilkesbeacon.com President Gilmour says farewell to the Wilkes University community BYTIM GILMOUR Wilkes University President The title of my inaugural speech was "The Courage to Be Great." Throughout my presidency, I've challenged our University community to have the courage to work together to build a truly great institution. And as a community - our students, faculty and staff - I think we have been courageous. I look back over the ·past 11 years and see so many achievements. We've been able to accomplish them because of the courage, the talent and the hard work of the people here at Wilkes. As an institution, we've grown significantly, setting records for enrollment on the undergraduate and graduate levels. We're a more diverse institution, doubling our minority population and drawing more than 100 international students representing 21 countries. We've earned significant honors such as the grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and research grants to our faculty from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Several of our faculty has been recognized by their national associations as leaders in their field. There have been additions to our program offerings - such as the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership, four master's degree programs, and two doctoral degrees. And recently, we've opened the Pocono Center and begun construction of the new, state-or.he-art science building. We' re making a lasting impact in the city of Wilkes-Barre and in the region, with over $20 million in investments in the Downtown and initiatives such as the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development and the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research for Northeastern Pennsylvania. And we sent an Army of Colonels out to help our community after the flood last fall. So before I say farewell, I want to say thank you to everyone who made these achievements, and so many more, possible. There is no way I could list all of our successes in one article. And no president accomplishes these things alone. The members of the University community are who BEACON POLL The Beacon poll is unscientific and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on the Wilkes campus. These poll results are based on 24 responses. Last week's question: How has the "pink-slime" controversy affected your meat eating habits? Don't eat meat 1% What is pink slime? 4% The Beacon/Austin Loukas President Tim Gilmour will retire this summer after 11 years at Wilkes. Above, Gilmour celebrates at a goodbye party at Fenner Hall with faculty, staff and students. make it all possible and deserve the credit. I've talked about some of the changes and accomplishments during my tenure at Wilkes. But one thing endures: This is really a wonderful place that brings a lot of people great joy. I've been honored to be a part of it. Here at Wilkes, we care about the people we serve. We.remain focused on our mission of educating our students. It's what is great about this institution. Our faculty members come to work every day, committed to doing a good job. You, our students, are the beneficiaries of their commitment. Your growth and achievements make it all worthwhile. I feel a bit like a graduating senior as I prepare to take my leave. I have enjoyed being here. Now this time is coming to an end and I don't know what it's going to be like when I leave. I have always been what I would describe as a "Point A to Point B" kind of person. I've always known where I was go- ing next. As I anticipate leaving Wilkes, I have an opportunity to do new things. And this time, I'm trying to leave myself open to opportunities tha~ have yet to present themselves. The field of higher education will continue to be a focus for me: I'm planning to write a book about its future. We are going to have to re-think the way we do things at our colleges and universities and I'll be spending the next year talking to people about how they see that future. New ways of teaching students and new ways of delivering instruction will surely be part of what's on the horizon. In dosing, let me say thank you once again for the priviiege of serving this institution. I'm optimistic about the future of Wilkes and about the future of you, our students. If there's any thought I leave you with, it's the same one that I shared when I started my presidency: Have the courage to be great! Do not trust the meat industry 4% This week The Beacon asks: Do you plan to vote in the 2012 Pennsylvania primary? • Yes, I already have • Yes, I plan on voting • No, I do not plan on voting • No, I am not eligible Cast your vote online at: www.thewilkesbeacon.com SPEAK UP! The Beacon wants to hear your voice. Send your name, major, year and opinion to: carlyyamrus@thewilkesbeacon.com The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces "'for length and content. Anonymous letters will not be published. �THE BEACON I APRIL 24, 20 12 . 7 'OPINION And God said 'Let there be marriage': Inequality of civil unions BY CATHRYN FREAR Staff Writer In the United States of America, people have certain "unalienable" rights. According to the Declaration oflndependence, anyway. In fact, the exact wording as written in the preamble is, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." Regardless of word choice, what they meant was there are rights our government couldn't take away. It's important to note this is past tense. The government up and decided to ignore the grounds to which this country was founded on in search of God in government. The word "Creator" in the preamble seems to be the focus of those opposed to marriage equality. But, you will notice it is this "Creator," God, who has guaranteed these "unalienable rights," including marriage. So how that reasoning makes sense, I will never understand. Nowadays, we generally hear such Creator-given rights referred to as "inalienable." And those rights include the right to be single, married, separated, divorced or widowed but not civilly unionized. Go ahead and see for yourself. Pick a legal document, any legal document. Generally, The Beacon/Ki rsti n Cook Civil unions can be compared to the Civil Rights movement. Civil unions do not offer any legal protections and responsibilities that married couples have. there is no box to be checked marked with the option of"civilly unionized." Why? Yes, the federal government leaves it to the states to decide on issues regarding marriage. But this only goes so far. Not all rights with regards to those obtained through marriage remain at the state level. According to the National Organization for Women, marriage offers up a minimum of 1,049 legal protections and responsibilities on the federal level. Civil unions offer exactly zero. This is because civil unions really are only state-by-state. What this means is, if you could get married in Vermont, it would be recognized as legitimate regardless of where you are in the country. However, Vermont only gives prospective lawful homo-citizens the right to a civil union with a partner. Not a husband or a wife. But, travel to somewhere such as the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and your rights are officially null in that location. It's tax time, folks. Time to fill out all those W2s and cross your fingers for big money, no 'X.hammies. But civil unions offer up plenty of whammies. Taxes are a mix of federal and stat overnment. This is comparable to ·xing oil and water, respectively. The oil is ge erally going to rise to the top. In other words, the federal government can force those in civil unions to fill out their tax- es as if they were single. This also applies to benefits such as medical insurance and pension programs, both of which are extended to one's family. A civil union does not make a family. Divorce is such a dirty word, isn't it? Well, compare divorce which can be filed and completed in any state which those parties involved reside to what civil union contracts will do, and it sounds beautiful. In order to break up a civil union, those parties involved instead must establish residency in the state in which the civil union was declared. Many who discuss obtaining gay civil rights compare it to the Black Civil Rights Movement. I only see one definite similarity: second-class status. Getting a special water fountain sounds excellent, doesn't it? But if the fountain isn't maintained and the water isn't as clean, it's not exactly excellent. It's way less cool to have your own water fountain because people believe you are dirtier than they are or less-deserving of basic needs. What all of this comes down to in either civil rights movement is second-class status. Civil unions are very much the dirty water fountain of the Gay Civil Rights Movement. @cathrynfrear Cathryn. frear@wilkes.edu Mitt Romney: too wealthy to represent middle-class America Photo Courtesy of blog.quickmeme.com BY BRITTANY BATTISTA Advertising Manager When you think of the word "politician," • what first comes to your mind? A tall man with slicked-back hair? Does he wear a suit with a price tag no middle class person could afford? Is he one of those people who only tells you what you want to hear? Mitt Romney fits this stereotype. Mitt Romney is that classic politician you are warned about. One whose opinions change depending on the people he's speaking to and whose accent changes depending on the state he's in. It's all a ploy to get votes. I firmly believe that Mitt Romney is in the position he is now because of his money. That's all these campaigns are. The more money you put in, the better the outcome. It's not the 2012 Presidential Race, but the 2012 Money Race to see who can get the most money. It is completely outrageous that it is legal to raise millions and millions of dollars when the U.S. is so in debt. I once heard Romney say the word "poor" during one of the past GOP debates. I have never witnesses anything more frightening. I don't think he knows what poor is. He must only hear about us in rumors being spread around Bloomfield Hills, Mich., one of the top five wealthiest cities in the U.S. which Romney grew up in. Then again, we all would have more money ifwe had Romney's tax rate, which is less than what most middle class families pay. It makes sense if you don't think about it. no idea what the middle class is like? He has not gone through the struggles ofliving payRepublican presicheck to paycheck with dreams of sending dential candidate kids to college. We cannot elect a president Mitt Romney fits who cannot represent us properly. the classic politician Mitt Romney is a candidate for the rich. stereotype, raking in With the nation's middle class becoming money and votes in extinct, I think it's important for the Unitevery way possible. ed States to have a leader who understands Romney cannot what we're going through. We don't need relate with middlesomeone who can easily bet $10,000 like its class America and pocket change. I'm all for working your way does not represent to the top, but when you come from money us properly. it's pretty easy to get the kind of education His income does not come from a salary, that can take you places. but earned money through stocks, shares and So all I ask is that come Election Day you other investments taxed under the special all take a moment before handing in that rate. Romney doesn't play by the same rules ballot and think of yourself. Who can best as the rest of us and it doesn't stop there. A represent YOU. Don't vote for who has the study by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center most "electability," vote for yourself. We stated that under Romney's plan the top 1 have a voice and Romney can't hear it while percent of taxpayers would get a tax cut of counting his money. He can't represent mamore than $150,000. The rich get richer and jority of America. If he wins, we lose. the poor get poorer. @brittanybattista Why would we want a president who has brittany. battista@wilkes.edu �8 THE BEACON I APRIL 17, 2012 OPINION • Cash in your pennies for change that makes cents BY CARLY YAMRUS The Beacon/Lau ra Preby Opinion Editor In today's economy, pennies are worth less than the cost to make them . The United States should retire its one-cent coin and round prices up or down to the nearest nickel. Doing so would save both time and money. See a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll be carrying around a worthless piece of copper-plated zinc. According to the U.S. Mint's annual report, it costs 2.4 cents to make a penny that is worth 1.0 cent. Each year, the United States produces approximately 7 billion pennies. Over the years, the cost of producing and distributing the one-cen!,_,eoin has actually cost us money; 60 million dollars in 2011. This price is sure to go up due to the rising costs of zinc and copper used to produce the penny. Last month, Canada decided it was time to call the quits on their one-cent coin. CBC news reported that it costs them 1.6 cents to produce their penny, costing them about 11 million dollars a year. The United States penny support group, "Americans for Common Sense," says that two-thirds of Americans wish to keep the penny. They provide reasoning such as, "The penny is sentimental," and "Prices will be rounded up ifwe eliminate it." It's apretty safe bet to say that most of these people hardly use the coin that they hope to save. The amount of pennies in circulation is unknown due to the large amounts of hoarding over the years. What can a penny buy you these days? Nothing. Maybe half a drop of gasoline but that's about it. Pennies are so useless that they are now offered for free at almost any store. Many people physically toss their pennies in the trash because they are a burden to carry. A penny for your thoughts these days is basically like saying "your opinion is worthless." As a waitress, I find it extremely annoying having to wait for customers to fish out several pennies from the deep dark depths of their purses and pockets. Many people firmly believe that the entire country will go into disarray the very minute the U.S. mint stops cranking out the coins. If we do ditch the penny, prices will have to be rounded to the nearest nickel. The propenny argument will always be that prices will always be rounded up and never down. No fear! Canada has a solution. Prices ending in 1, 2, 6 or 7 will round down to O or 5, and if the price ends in 3, 4, 8 or 9, the total will be rounded up. This may take a week tops to get used to. For those of you who wish to keep the penny because it honors Abe Lincoln, last time I checked he was on the $5 bill! I am sure Abe would be honored seeing that his penny is typically thrown on the ground, in sewers, on train tracks, under your car seat, in water fountains .. . My favorite argument is "But it teaches children the value of saving money." The only reason children save pennies is because they buy nothing in today's economy. Give a child 100 pennies and they will probably laugh at you. Even if they do make it to the dollar store with a pound of pennies, the cashier will most likely not accept them as a method of payment. By giving up pennies you are actually saving time, which is more valuable. It is silly to hold onto a useless coin that costs us millions of dollars annually to sustain. There have been plenty of coins in U.S. history that have served a purpose at one point but were discontinued for one reason or another. Of course it will take time to adjust to life without the penny, but commerce is sure to continue and America will find something else to be upset about after the nickel becomes the norm. That's my two cents on the great penny debate. @carlyyamrus carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu E;ltl#'IEJr., . . . . ■ • SPECIALS WEEKDAY SPECIALS II-TH Large Pie $7.95 Chicken Wing Pie $10.95 IIIIE■ ■,-Ellll"Y 20 E Northampton S t . 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"It was when I first moved (to California from Pennsylvania). I had only been out here for two months, and the lead actor Tony Shalhoub told me I had beautiful hands. "He kept talking about them, and he told me I should get in touch with his agent because I could make a lot of money. So I met with his agent and she signed me, and I've been working as a hand model ever since." Though Gibson, a 2007 Wilkes University graduate, admitted hand modeling isn't exactly something she ever imagined herself doing, the experience has turned out to be a rewarding one. It's also something that's proven more challenging than she initially expected. "I do both print ads and commercials. For commerciaJs, they'll bring me in to do things that are very precise. I know it sounds silly, but I did a Haagen-Dazs commercial where I had to get the ice cream to roll onto the spoon in this perfect shape. You have to do it all day long and it's just you, so there's a lot of pressure. "I didn't realize everything that went into the job, but I'm pretty good at it now," she said, laughing. More than anything, Gibson's modeling - which includes work for Avon, Mazda, Charmin and the movie "Friends with Benefits," where her hands doubled for Mila Kunis' during the end credit sequence - along with her work as an extra in television and film, represents for her another step deeper into the world of show business. It's a world Gibson had wanted to be a part of for a very long time. Without the support of her Wilkes University teachers, though, the one-time communication studies major confessed she may never have been able to take that first step. "The best thing about Wilkes is that you Courtesy of Ashley Gibson Clockwise from top: Ashley Gibson poses with the "Outstanding Drama Series" Emmy Award at the "Mad Men" Season 4 wrap party, Gibson in full period regalia on the set of "J. Edgar:' Ashley Gibson (far right) and other extras on the set of"Mad Men" Season 4. can really get to know your professors. I got a lot of backing, specifically from ( communication studies professors Jane Elmes-Crahall and Bradford L. Kinney and assistant business professor Matthew J. Sowcik). They let me come into their offices all the time to talk about this crazy idea I had about moving to California and working in entertainment," she said. "There were a lot of people who told "I was 'bit by the bug,' as they say. I really can't imagine myself not being on a set now. I can't imagine myself not doing this." Ashley Gibson me 'Don't do that. Just stay in Wilkes-Barre and work for the newspaper or something.' I'm so appreciative of all (my teachers' ) help." Inspired to chase her dreams, Gibson moved to California in 2009, intending at first to find work in public relations. It was a task that turned out to be easier said than done. However, her efforts would quickly lead to new ventures which Gibson said she found far more fulfilling. "It's really difficult to find a job out here if you don't have any connections, so I started exploring other areas," she explained. "I heard about an open casting call they were having for 'Entourage,' looking for extras. I'd been here for a couple months and still not found anything in PR, so I figured this might be something fun to do ~nd also make some money.• · Spoiler alert: Gibson got the gig. From there, she said, it was just a snowball effect of getting to know more people in the industry and picking up more jobs as an extra and stand-in on TV shows and movies like the Golden Globe-nominated biopic "J. Edgar" and the upcoming Paul Thomas Anderson drama "The Master." Most recently, Gibsor s been rubbing shoulders with the likes ~f Al Pacino and Christopher Walken on the set of "Stand Up Guys," an action-comedy due out next year. Of all the projects she's appeared in, though, Gibson said her favorite is undoubtedly the critically acclaimed AMC television series "Mad Men." "I was a secretary in the office throughout Season 4," she said. "The people were great and I loved that it was a period piece. It was the first time I'd ever done anything like that. It was really fun being in period hair and make-up every day, completely transformed into somebody else. "It was also amazing to see how talented the cast members on that show are. I was basically going to work, but I felt like I was getting free acting lessons every day. " Though she had no prior experience as an actress or model of any kind before her westward pilgrimage, Gibson hopes to continue doing both in the future, and is already ambitious about getting parts in bigger projects, including more film work. The time she's spent in the entertainment industry, it seems, has proven quite addictive. "I was 'bit by the bug,' as they say. I really can't imagine myself not being on a set now," she said. "I can't imagine myself not doing this. " @thatbillthomas billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com �\ �I ays vi9la as p �12 THEs·EACON A&E I A PR IL 24, 201 2 Don1t slap yourself for missing 'Bitter is the New Black1 gives out, give 'Three Stooges1 a shot hilarious life tips, fashion quips BY BILL THOMAS Arts & Entertainment Editor .0-, J, What about Shemp? That the biggest complaint to be leveled at "The Three Stooges" regards the absence of the original third Stooge (replaced in 1932 by the now more well-known Curly) is a minor movie miracle. With a self-imposed PG rating, as well as the uneven output of writing-directing team Peter and Bobby Farrelly conspiring against it, this flick could easily have taken a pratfall right off the map. That it manages to somehow stumble its way into the heart is nothing short of sweet cinematic sw-prise. Telling the life story not of the performers b~neath the bad haircuts but rather of their fictional Stooge personas, the generic plot sees our trio on a long, meandering quest to save a nun-run orphanage from foreclosure. Along the way, they get hired as hitmen, become reality TV superstars, give a dolphin the Heimlich and use the flammable power of their own flatulence to save the day. Will Sasso (best known for "Mad TV") is C'urly, Sean Hayes (best known for "Will & Grace") is Larry and Chris Diamantopoulos (best known for, um, nothing) is Moe. Despite such debatable comedy pedigrees, a better gang to play the iconic nyuk-nyuknyuk-leheads you'd be hard-pressed to find. Sometimes they try too hard, sometimes not hard enough. But, more often than not, the ruse is damn near "poifect." For some, seeing the greatest comedy ensemble stage 'n' screen (the Marx Brofiers being the first, natch) practice their elabo- rately choreographed vaudevill ian chopsockey on Snooki is downright blasphemous. Ultimately, though, the original trio had misfires worse than this ("Snow White and the Three Stooges" springs agonizingly to mind). And if this nostalgic love-letter inspires a new, younger audience to rediscover the real deal, a ll the better. Admittedly, the Fanellys' bright, modem style diminishes the claustrophobic kinesis of the Stooges' Depression-era cartoon anarchy and the overall pacing is a mess, with l.o ng stretches that drag on tiresomely. But when the film hones in on the same rapid-fire shtick, roughneck slapstick and corny puns that made Moe, Curly and Larry household names in the first place, the film is a joy. While not as good as last year's "The Muppets," it's a similarly refreshing dose of optimism, kitsch and ,A~ simplicity in an , ~· increasingly ~ cynical genre. Like its tituO lar heroes, Ill: "The Three Stooges" is dim of wit, but pure of heart. I.* ,\\\l' c...'l,,'-. BY ANN IE YOSKSOSKI Staff Writer Jennifer Lancaster has been fired from her job. Her cozy life in her upscale Chicago apartment is in j eop ardy. What is a girl to do? In th is case, the solution would be to involve yourself in some mischief and hijinks, adopt some pit bulls and blog all about it. In her first memoir, "Bitter is the New Black," Jennifer Lancaster honestly tells the story of her fall from grace, the lengths she went to in order to restore it, and how she ended up happy with a new career in the end. Reading this book several years ago and following her career ever since, 1 have laughed many times at Lancaster's \\Titing. "Bitter," however, is the one that tarted it all. Having recently -read it, I actually forgot w funny it was . Readers take note: Don't bring this book with you to a public place if you are selfconscious. I laughed so hard at the idea of a grown woman army-craw ling down the hall of her apartment building to see who was steal ing her paper, so she could paint-bomb them, that I practically fell out of my chair in our own Farley Li brary. The lengthy subtitle, "Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, or Why You Should Never Carry a Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office," pretty much describes the book perfectly. It may all seem shallow, but Lancaster does find herself at the end, and sees what is really important in life: Family, friends, happiness, passion and integrity. Also, the discount rack. A memoir with a moral is always an interesting twist - and an unexpected one, based on the title. I try to stay away from ':chick lit", and tend to read more serious material, but I am a person who likes to laugh. A man might not enjoy this book, being less able to relate to some of the girly tendencies Lancaster portrays, but anyone with a sense of humor is nevertheless guaranteed to crack a smile. Lancaster may speak about "shallow" topics, but she is a very intelligent woman who expresses herself through snarky footnotes and hilarious text. Currently, Lancaster is releasing her fifth book, "Jeneration X." The memoirs keep rolling and the h ilarity continues, but "Bitter" is the book that launched her writing career and subsequently her happiness. The blog that Lancaster started, and still runs, is Jennsylvania .com . If you want a light-hearted read for finals or summer acation, pick up this book and laugh until et what you pay or at Cafe Toscana BY DOMINICK CONSTANTINO Staff Writer Cafe Toscana is the perfect restaurant to end a semester of great food reviews. Located right on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre, this Italian restaurant's menu ranges from appetizers like shrimp cocktail to full meals like Gamberi Toscana. T decided to get something that I never had before: Lobster Ravioli. Before the meal came out, each diner received a piece of bruschetta with a tomato spread. It was so good that when I was finished, I wished l had about five more. The tomatoes were very sweet but the diced onions offset that sweetness. We also got a half-loaf of warm, homemade bread with a tasty seasoned olive oil-based dipping sauce. The main course wa'l outstanding. Though the pinkish-orange sauce over the ravioli was less than appetizing in appearance, it was utterly delectable. TI1e flavor was reminiscent of vodka sauce, but with a little bit more tang. The fresh-grated Parmesan cheese added to the flavor. The ravioli were cooked al dente - just how I like it - and came loaded with lobster and a variety of seasonings. Though lobster isn't normally my go-t~ grub, the chunks of tender, well-seasoned lobster mixed with that wonderful pink sauce made me a fan. TI1e meal only came with five ravioli, but they were ve.1y filling because of how jam-packed each one was. There was enough extra sauce that I was able to dip the bread in it. My sister Bethany joined me and ordered penne pasta with shrimp in a pesto sauce, topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. The dish was very rich and creamy, and the shrimp were tender and not overcooked. The portion was big enough that she had some to take home. The atmosphere here was extremely nice, with decor from the fancier end of the spectrum. The classic Italian music playing through the sound system added to the ambience. Customers came well-dressed; no shorts or sweatpants here. This isn't the kind of place you go to on a leisurely afternoon when you' re hankering for Italian, but it's a great place to go for special occasions or v.ihen the parents come to visit. Of the restaurants 5/5 course of the semester, the menu here .is the priciest. My lobster raviolis were $18, though that pri.c e included the bruschetta, bread and the entree itsel[ If you want a soup or salad from the menu, it is an additional $6. The lunch menu is a little cheaper than the dinner menu, pricing soups and salads around $5 and meals starting at $9. The old adage, "You get what you pay for," rings trtle, however, as the excellent quality of the food makes Cate Toscana worth the price-tag. I ate at a lot of great restaurants this semester, but I definitely saved the best for last. @WU_BeaconAE WU_BeaconAE@yahoo.com �™ CiillIJlJIB -® UrtiM)'orf'lrtf Q14esfiorts with Important People JESSICA SHORT, PROGRAMMING BOARD PRESIDENT BY CHRISTINE LEE Life Editor at 8 p.m. in the SUB lounge, and of course the concert. Year: Junior Major: Elementary Education Hometown: Forest City, Pa. Favorite hobbies? My favorite hobbies are definitely cheerleading, dance and baton; definitely a girly-girl. Programming Board president Jessica Short is a familiar face to many on campus. Short has been the driving force behind many entertainment activities on campus including the upcoming Mac Miller concert at 8 p.m. on May 1 at the F.M. Kirby Center. Short's responsibilities this year as president have been mostly to get ideas out of students and think of what the school wants. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? I've been to the Caribbean a lot so my big interest is going over to Europe, like Italy. I come from an Italian family so I'd really like to go visit the Mediterranean. What are some upcoming Programming Board events? Tuesday April 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. we're having street signs and a fortune teller come in. Like the ones that say so-and-so street and so-and-so boulevard, like I have one that says Cheerleader Boulevard. The next day on April 25 we're having black light mini-:-golf, which is regular mini-golf but all the lights will be out and there will be a black light and all the glowing stuff. We're actually doing it partly with Relay for Life and we're doing a bake sale at it for Relay for Life. Then that Thursday, April 26, we're having an ice cream social What is in your refrigerator (favorite food)? Pickles. My roommates always laugh at me cause there's always pickles no matter what. Our fridge might be bare but there are always pickles. Favorite TV show or movie? TV showwise I watch a lot of the stuff people hate like the "Teen Mom" and all that. Moviewise, one of my favorite movies that's kind of recent is "Friends with Benefits." What plans do you have for after graduation? I really want to go to Korea to teach English, or I want to do the Teach for America program, where you put you in a bad school district, so I'm hoping for somewhere south like Texas, or my third back-up plan is going to graduate school for student development and doing something like Jamie (Miller) and Missy (Howells), and Programming Board actually led me to that kind of job. Favorite Wilkes memory? Probably when we went to the Programming Board conference. I've actually gone twice but there's a small group ofus with our advisers (who go) and we all got to know each other really well and it's kind of fun because we got to see different bands and comedians,just stuff that would be able to come next year. This year there was a Bowling for Soup concert at it and you could feel the floor shaking cause everyone was dancing. @WU_BeaconAE christine/ee@thewilkesbeacon.com This year's Relay for Life is board-game themed BY ROBERT GRABOSKY Correspondent Each year millions of Americans are diagnosed and die from cancer and don't get to see their next birthday. But one nationwide event is hoping to give people with cancer more birthdays to celebrate. This year, the American Cancer Society's annual Relay for Life will make its way to campus from noon April 28-29. This event is one of the biggest fundraisers on campus. It brings many local residents out to campus to participate in the event Community service coordinator Megan Valkenburg said this year's theme is board games. She said it would be very much like the board games children play, only with a more serious purpose. Students involved are trying to raise enough funds for the American Cancer Society. This year's theme includes games such as Monopoly, Password and Risk. "There are two reserved locations. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved indoors to the gym," Valkenburg said. Junior pl pharmacy major Bethany Sharpless is co-coordinating Wilkes Relay for Life with Valkenburg, having personally experienced dealing with cancer within her family. Sharpless said more than 200 people signed up for the event so far, but explained these numbers are only an estimate as the list continues to grow day by day. "There's no way knowing the exact number of people," Sharpless said. Sharpless said there has been a lot more success in recent years than ever before and said although most proceeds go to the American Cancer Society, a percentage of the proceeds go to Wilkes as well. This year's Relay for Life will contain events such as a survivor ceremony, lumi- naria candle ceremony in memory of lost loved ones, a talent show and the Mr. Wilkes pageant -- where men from each team compete for the best imitation of a woman. Each team will have at least one mel]lber walking around the Greenway for the 18-hour event. Team members are rotated throughout the event so everyone gets the chance to walk. Each year millions of Americans lose out on another birthday due to cancer, but Relay for Life is hoping more Americans will beat cancer and celebrate another birthday. CONTACT ROBERT GRABOSKY AT: robert.grabosky@wilkes.edu �14 LIFE THE BEACON I APRIL 24, 2012 Wilkesversion of 'Family Feud' Comedian talks women issues · The Beacon/Dan Lykens The Beacon/Brittany Battista Psi Chi, the Psychology International Honor Society, hosted a "Family Feud" to try to become more involved on campus. Pictured is Psi Chi President Nick Zinskie, who ran the event with Willie Eggleston and Psi Chi Secretary Justine Adams. Adams said the event was made possible by a Student Government donation. All questions were Wilkes-themed and based on a spring 201 0 campuswide survey. "Team Pink" won in first place and took home the $100 gift card. L~cal comedian and Wilkes alumnus Teri Granahan presented "A Conversation with a Comedian - Who Just Happens to Be a Female"Tuesday, April 17, as part of this year's Women's and Gender Studies Conference. The presentation combined spoken and visual elements with Granahan's trademark wry sense of humor in an effort to look at the messages women receive from the media and encourage them to be confident in knowing that they are, in fact, "good enough:' - �: 1S LIFE THE BEACON I APRIL 24, 2012 Unusual and useful study habits to use for upcoming finals week . BY ALYSSA STENCAVAGE Staff Writer >t 1e :It "Y 1/o Finals week is fast approaching, and that means one thing: lots of studying. Some specific and different, unique study habits exist out there, even songwriting to better remember information. "When 1 study I like to make songs up so it's easier to remember the material," Miranda Godlewski, a freshman English and political science major said. Other means of studying include listening to music while studying. "When 1 study, it's with music on," Kate Wedman, a freshman Q.Ommunication studies major said. It's no surprise that making charts to organize information or using index cards are common strategies, especially for those who have to deal with biology or science on a daily basis. "I use index cards, make charts to compare things especially for bio, and organize important points into study guides and study quizzes and home works," Kimberly Price, freshman biology major, said. Reading over and writing the material is another way for students to prepare for exams. "Writing the material usually helps me study. For bio I usually make charts to organize the material and study it. It also can't be silent when I study because 1 will fall asleep," Sarah Brozena, a freshman prephannacy major, said. Despite these common study pattems and techniques, some may still be wondering what the best strategies are. University College learning specialist Katy Betnar offers some helpful tips and advice for studying so students can effectively master their studying and reduce their stress at the same time. Betnar suggests starting early, especially with cumulative finals, saying it's not a good idea to cram. She recommended that students begin studying two to three weeks in advance. They should figure out what and when things are going on and then form a management system and study plan, like a "divide and conquer" strategy. "It is important to take a look at the big picture and start to break down piece by piece," Betnar said. Staying calm is also important. One way to do this is breathing exercises, which Betnar said is best for students to mental mindset of the test, as well as knowledge of the information. Betnar also advises that students take last minute use of the tutoring facility, which shuts down during the last week of classes. In order to prepare for finals, students should find out where they stand currently in their classes as far as grades, which can be done by consulting the syllabus and/or meeting with the teacher. Much of a student's grade is determined before finals week. She said knowing current grades can help with motivation and goals to boost grades and study harder. Betnar also suggests simple habits like healthy eating and getting enough sleep, as she said not having a healthy lifestyle can affect mental sharpness. "People forget the importance of eating and sleeping as well," says Betnar. "A lot of students stay up late and they can be worse off, therefore keepg a balance of .......-~:;regular, sufficient ,..~::;;:-leep patterns is !ways good." Research shows hat studying in shorter chunks and when · one is more alert are among the most important ways to accomplish successful studying. Studying in 30 to 50-minute intervals with a IO-minute break is recommended. Betnar said students should figure out which learning strategies work for them, such as color-coding, flashcards, graphs, etc, and to stay organized. Budgeting time and studying the hardest subjects first are some of the time management tips Betnar gave. Other tips include finding a quiet place to study, identify what materials are going to be tested, if you don't understand to ask for help, put together a study guide to collect and organize the material and practice self-testing. Another tip Betnar suggests when it comes to the end of the semester is to simply attend class. Betnar said the final thing for preparing for finals is to visualize success, because after all, if one can see it, one can achieve it. CONTACT ALYSSA STENCAVPiE AT: a/yssa.stencavage@wilkes.edu i the legendary taste Go Colonels! We Deliver lo Wilkes Univernity! Cllll (570) 331-l'AST (3278) Ask about our combo specials featuring our complete line up of pizza, subs, wings, burgers & more!visit us onlil;le for a complete menu & listing of specials at www.grottopizzapa.com or visit our restaurant & sports bnr Grolto Pizza, Guteway Ceu1er, on Rt. 11 in E<lwardsville (just across the bridge!) The Beacon/Dan Lykens t [. Block Party was held on the first and second floor of the Student Union Building from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 21. The event was hosted by Off-Campus Council and featured inflatable games and obstacle courses, such as the bungee run pictured above. Prizes for raffles and door prizes included a television, a Nintendo Wii and a Kindle tablet. Raffle tickets were won at various carnival-style games. Free food ranged from gyros to cotton candy, which tied into the carnival theme. I For delivery or take out Expires 06/30/12 ------ - valid only at Grotto Pizza locations I �i APRIL 24, 2012 CONTACT EDITOR: justinfraniak@thewilkesbeacon.com Wilkes tennis continues winning ways on court Omen S team remai nS unbeaten TA T VV have been able to earn it if my teammates weren't pushing me on a daily basis at practice." Wilkes continued its quest for another conference championship by beating Manhattanville this past Saturday. The team's final match is at 1 p.m. on April 28 against FDU-Florham at the Ralston Athletic Complex. Freedom Conference semifinals begin May 1. I BY MIKE DARGATIS Correspondent The women's tennis team at Wilkes University has continued its dominance this season, compiling a perfect 15-0 record and earning the 18th ranking in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings. The Colonels have shown they can play with some of the top teams in the region, defeating two Division II schools and six regionally ranked teams. Coach Chris Leicht credits the teams' success to depth, leadership and how close the team has become. "We have great upperclass leaders who have helped keep the team focused," Leicht said. "Also, these girls are a very close-knit group and do a great job supporting and helping each other succeed." Another key to the Lady Colonels' success has been the play of sophomore Ally Kristofco, who has a 17-1 individual record The Beacon/ Phat Nguyen Junior Melanie Nolt prepares to return a serve in a Wilkes tennis match. this season. "We're trying to take it one match at a time," Kristofco said. "We have to keep our motivation high to win the conference again this year, it's a team effort." Kristofco was recently named the Freedom Conference Player of the Week, after a 3-0 week with wins at King's and NYU. "It's really nice to have others notice that your hard work is paying off," Kristofco said of her player of the week honors. "I wouldn't Men's team looks toward playoffs BY BILL CONWAY Correspondent With only two matches left, the Wilkes University men's tennis team looks to wrap up another very successful season. The Colonels are 10-3 overall and are undefeated in conference play as of April 20. "We have played a difficult nonconference schedule," said head coach Christopher Leicht, "that has really helped us succeed in the conference matches." Over the past weekend, Leicht was hoping to maintain dominance over conference opponent Manhattanville. "This Saturday we have a big conference match at Manhattanville, who we have defeated in the last few conference championship matches," Leicht said. Leicht's squad has confidence heading into the final matches two matches and will be gearing up to play in the conference tournament where players are hoping all of the hard work pays off. "We are really happy with the work ethic and dedication of this year 's team," Leicht said. "I can say that we have improved so much from the beginning of the year and we will be playing our best tennis entering the conference tourney." Leicht and his squad are no strangers to postseason play as they strive to win another conference title. "This team will be very ready for the conference playoffs, which start soon," said Leicht, "We are excited to try and win our fifth straight conference title, and get back to the NCAA National Tournament again." 0 @WU_BeaconSports justin.franiak@thewilkesbeacon.com 1'he Broad Street Breakdo-w-n: WWE sun1n1er plans BY BRYAN WISLOSKY Columnist Well sports fans, this is my last article of the year, and I wanted to do something special, so I've decided to take a page out of John Laurinaitis' book and use "People Power." I'm going to give my people what they want and write my final article of the semester on the greatest thing in the world, professional wrestling. It's shaping up to be one of the best summers in recent memory for the WWE. Raw and Smackdown general manager, John Laurinaitis, has begun adding lackeys to his coalition and it appears as though WWE may soon have another faction like The Corporation to deal with. The faction will wreak havoc on the babyfaces of the business much like how the original tried to make life miserable for Stone Cold Steve Austin. At the forefront of this group is the returning Brock Lesnar, who has made it clear his first goal is to overtake John Cena as the face of the company. Also, keep an eye out for The Rock to make some appearances this summer, after defeating John Cena at Wrestlemania XXVIII earlier this month, The Great One addressed the crowd on Raw the next night claiming that it wasn't his final match and he one day like to be WWE Champion again. It is rumored that The Rock will have a match at SummerSlam in August. So we have a lot to look forward to this summer. The first thing WWE should do this summer is try to bring back some legitimacy to the undercard titles. Although I like Santino Marella, he is a joke of a United States Champion. He does have great in ring skills, but Vmce McMahon refuses to utilize that. Santino would be a great United States champion ifhe only had a more serious character. He could still do his wacky antics after the match and outside the ring, but needs to be all business when competing in a match. Big Show on the other hand, is a good pick to try to reestablish the once prestigious Intercontinental Title. Big Show is a veteran, and in my opinion a future hall of famer, so when he beat Cody Rhodes for the title at Wrestlemania, it may have started a chain reaction to bring better competition to the IC title hunt. I think giving one of these titles, either the United States or Intercontinental Title, to Daniel Bryan would be a good move. He's a former world heavyweight champion, and produces a great reaction from the crowd, whether they love or hate him. Now let's move on to main event storylines that will develop over the next couple months. I firmly believe that Lesnar will beat Cena at Extreme Rules next week in an effort to try and get the crowd behind Cena once again. After this Laurinaitis will focus the attention of his faction on WWE Champion CM Punk, but Punk needs to finish things off against Chris Jericho, which he will do in his hometown of Chicago at Extreme Rules. Some believe that Johrmy Ace will have Punk defend his title against Lord Tensai, but I just don't see him in the main event. I think CM Punk will defend and lose his title to Brock Lesnar at Over the Limit next month. Lesnar will then hold the title throughout the summer, and will defend the title at SummerSlam against The Rock. This will be a rematch of their first encounter for the WWE Championship at the same event in 2002, where Brock defeated Rocky for his first title. For the first time in a good while, I'm excited to see what unfolds in the WWE this summer. The faction John Laurinaitis is forming reminds me of the Attitude Era, which got me interested in professional wrestling in the first place. @WU_ BeaconSports bryan.wislosky@wilkes.edu �SPORTS 17 THE BEACON I APRIL 24, 2012 New Lease Opportunity from 40 West Now offering a School-Year lease option! You can save at least $1,200 compared to a 12-month lease! Living at home for the summer? No problem! . Save money with an August to May lease! Sign a lease and be entered to WIN! 1st prize: 2 mos. free rent 2nd prize: 1 mo. free rent Call or text for a tour! 570.855.4686 Email Jacki Lukas: j lukas@radnorproperty.com Applications & Leases available at - - - • www. 40westapartments. com B & N Wilkes-King's Bookstore 7 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 ~ 570.208.4700 - wilkes.bncollege.com .We will be doing an on-campus book-buy • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 2, 3 and 4 • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 7-11 in the Henry Stud~nt Center Stop by the SUB with your student ID or stop by the bookstore Please remember: Your rentals are due by May 21 Always check with the bookstore first! �.. 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[3) Excludes Avenger SE and Charger SRT Ends 4/30/12 DCJdge is a registered trademark of Chrysler Group LLC. �20 SPORTS THE BEACON I APRIL 24, 2012 Wilkes Colonel athletics: 2011-2012 in review Coaches reflect on memories, fans and achievements; look toward future BY JUSTIN FRANIAK Sports Editor ,I As finals begin and the semester winds down, athletes are beginning to pack up their bags. Fields are being prepared for summer and gyms are being newly waxed. Graduating seniors take one last look at the field, gyms and mats where they spent the last four years making memories. The future graduates reminisce on the times they had and look toward the future. Their success does not go unnoticed. The Wilkes football team had some memorable times this year. Coach Frank Sheptock said that beating an undefeated Widener team was a high point of the season. Wilkes captured this year 's Mayor's Cup beating crosstown rival King 's College with a late interception by senior Joe Chrismer. Sheptock nominated all his graduating seniors as his team MVPs. He also cannot wait to report to pre-season camp on Aug. 11. Women's field hockey coach Mollie Reichard said that the bonding the team experienced this year was her greatest memory. "We were a very young and inexperienced team with 11 newcomers," Reichard said. "The team's greatest achievement was coming together as well as what they did and the welcoming attitude that our upperclassm~• had with the freshman." She also said the bonding has helped the team develop and mature during this past offseason. · Reichard is looking toward next season as a new freshman class comes to Wilkes, set on adding to the team's success. "I am most looking forward to the great group of players we have returning and the addition of another freshman class that will be able to have an immediate impact," Reichard said. "I feel the current group of players will be able to provide much insight to this freshman class." Women's soccer also experienced great success this past year going 4-1-2 in the MAC. Coach John Sumoski said that clinching a playoff spot was the most memorable moment this past season. Sumoski also said senior Katy Fissel was the team MVP. Sumoski will look to capture another playoff spot next season as he returns almost all of his first team. The winter season saw great competition MVP awards and said that every team mem- and knowledge of the game." Much like other coaches, Towey is lookber adds a certain something to the success and extended success through all teams. ing forward to a new freshman class and getThe Wilkes University men's basketball of the team. team saw itself in a playoff race at the end of Although in season currently, Leicht is ex- ting experience under their belts. She hopes the new group of players will bring another the season. Coach Jerry Rickrode said that cited for next year's seasons. team becoming a family was their greatest "We have strong returning players next level of competition to the Colonels. "With the incoming freshman, it will help_ achievement and the best memory was in year, and it will be fun," Leicht said. The Wilkes women's lacrosse team is also to make the team more competitive amongst the playoffs. "When the guys won a classic battle in the currently playing their season out, but Coach themselves," Towey said. "I think next year MAC semifinal game with Eastern," Rick- Karnmie Towey said their greatest achieve- holds a lot of promise for us both in nonrode said. "It was such a back-and-forth ment so far happened at the beginning of the conference play as well as conference play." The Wilkes wrestling team saw three wresgame and when they sealed it with clutch season. "I think our team's greatest achievement tlers qualify for nationals, with one becomfree throws down the stretch it was very rewarding." this year started on spring break when we ing an All-American. Coach Jon Laudenslager said that nation Rickrode said that seniors Kendall Hinze beat Sweet Briar in a thrilling overtime vicand Paul Huch were the teams MVPs cit- tory," Towey said. "That sense of accom- al finalist and senior Anthony Dattolo was ing that they both had outstanding years and plishment carried through March as we went the team's MVP and said his run through provided leadership to the team. He also undefeated proving our growth as a team as the post season and competing on the "Big Stage" was his greatest memory. looks forward to getting next season under- well as our talent." Laudenslager said the team's 19-4 record way. Towey also talked about the team's spring "We may be overlooked by many, but break trip to Washington, D.C., and Virginia. was its greatest achievement and he is lookthose people may be surprised," Rickrode She said the team bonding and activities, like ing forward to having more All-Americans visiting the famous Georgetown Cupcakes and cracking the top 10 in team rankings. said. As the school year winds down, the gates Rickrode also wanted to give a shout-out and tubing, led to the team's 2-0 record on and thank you to the men's basketball fan- the trip and helped contribute to its success will be closed on another year of Colonel athletics. The summer months will bring base. down the road. "They were outstanding and were a great Towey said that at this point in the season hard work mixed with relaxation as the Colonels set out to conquer their challengers help to our team here at the Marts center," the MVP race is neck and neck. "I think the team MVP would be a tie at next year. Rickrode said. Both Wilkes tennis teams are still in ac- this point," Towey said. "I think Gabby @WU_BeaconSports tion, but are both on the road to making Ford and Keri Meeholz would be our team's justin.franiak@wilkes.edu MVPs. Both bring a ton of talent, versatility noise in the postseason. Coach Chris Leicht said that the teams current records are their greatest achievements so far. Both women's and men's tennis are in first place in their conferences and the women's team is currently undefeated. Leicht said the best memory from this season is the annual spring break trip to Hilton Head in South Carolina. "We had fun, and played great tennis," Leicht said. Leicht said he doesn't like to single out Members of the Wilkes basketball cheering section, the "Blue Army:' pose for a picture. Coach Jerry Rickrode said players for the fan support gave the Colonels home court advantage heading into the team's playoff run. Check us out at: thewilkesbeacon.com ~ � 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 2012 April 24th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 April 24 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/b173de30176329d8c1a669b5563d7111.pdf 3517b48dfa320087d0bf6b80b286d600 PDF Text Text Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member THE BEACON The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow. ---.----,-- For more information and content, check us out at: thewilkesbeacon.co JJlv, �Sept. 11, 2012 Contact editor: christine.lee@wilkes.edu New admin changes aim to improve communication Adjustments include new interim provost, inclusion of academic deans in president's cabinet By Christine Lee News Editor With the start of a new year, new faces join the Wilkes administration. Associate professor of chemistry and department chair Therese Wignot has been named interim provost following the resignation of Reynold Verret. In addition, all academic deans will now serve in the president's cabinet for the 2012-13 academic year. Over the summer, Verret announced that he would be leaving Wilkes to join Savannah State University in Georgia as that school's chief academic officer in August. Following his resignation, Leahy met with the Faculty Affairs Council and appointed an ad hoc committee consisting of three faculty members and three administrators to recommend candidates for an interim provost. FAC chair Justin Matus describes Wignot as eager to lead the faculty and understands their perspective. "She has the right disposition, she's very collaborative, a good communicator and is willing to listen," Matus said. "She'll help with the faculty morale and be a strong voice for the faculty in the president's cabinet." Wignot earned her B.A in biology and Ph. D. in biochemistry from Lehigh University. She has been at Wilkes since 1989 during which she served as department coordinator from 2000-05 and department chair from 2005-11. S~ e 2000 she has been the director of Science in Motion, a grant-funded science program that gives Wilkes the opportunity to extend outreach to area schools. During her time at Wilkes she has served on a variety of committees including serving as student athletic representative and FAC. "She has a very good understanding of the concerns of faculty and she has a desire to help the university fill this very important role," Executive Assistant to the President Jack Chielli said. "She's a very approachable individual and very concerned with student success." Wignot said her initial reaction upon hearing she would be considered for the position was "complete shock" but felt honored and The Beacon/Dan Lykens Associate professor of chemistry and department chair Therese Wlgnot was named Interim provost. Wignot will hold the office while a nationwide search Is conducted for a full-time replacement. flattered that her colleagues on the committee another on what the issues are and how we can felt it was something she would be appropri- all move forward together as a community," ate for. Wignot said. "I was really and sincerely shocked initially Wignot said she has always had an openbut then when I met with Dr. Leahy and talked door policy as a faculty member for students, to him about what his goals for moving the even as chemistry department chair and hopes university forward and what part I can play in to have this same policy as Interim Provost. that I actually got , , "I think students felt ex~ited a~out., it," I think students feel comfort- comfortable _coming _to W1gnot said. And see me," W1gnot said. then was again able coming to see me." "I always tried to listen somewhat shocked Th . . and then come up with but thrilled when he - Dr. erese Wignot, Interim Provost a solution that took into asked me to serve in account the student, facthis position." ulty and administrative Wignot said she wants to help bring all the issues and I hope to do the same thing here." constituents back together to become a comWignot hopes to be more visible on campus munity again to discuss issues and ways to after she gets adjusted to her new role by walkmove forward as a community. ing around campus buildings and talk to differ"I really want to help to bring all the constit- ent faculty members and student groups to hear uents, faculty, students, staff, administration, I what people on campus are thinking. really want to play a part in pulling us all back There is a search committee being formed together to become a community again where to look for a permanent provost, which is bewe're all talking to one another, listening to one ing chaired by Vice President of Student Af- fairs Paul Adams. Adams said members of the search committee are being identified. Ted Marchese of search consulting firm AGB Consulting has been identified as the search consultant. Marchese previously served as the search consultant on the last Provost search. Adams said the search process would resemble the search for President in terms of soliciting thoughts about the position for the candidates. Marchese and the search committee will come to campus to get a feel for the campus and solicit feedback about the search for provost. "One of the first things (the search committee) will be doing is helping Dr. Marchese write a prospectus, which is a multi-page description of the University which is intended to set the stage and familiarize any candidate with the state of affairs at Wilkes University so they can make a good judgment about whether or not there is a good fit for Wilkes," Adams said. Adams said there is no search for recently departed Associate Provost Vernon Harper and Director of Undergraduate Education Dr. Ellen Gregorie as he said it should be up to the Provost him or herself to choose his or her staff. In addition to the new interim provost, all the academic deans will now serve as official members of the president's cabinet for this year. This includes the deans of all the colleges and Library Dean John Stachacz. Chielli said having all the academic deans in the Cabinet is a reflection of Leahy's desire to be more transparent, to build trust and get more input from the faculty. "During this interim period where we don't have a permanent provost, having additional academic voices can only help us get input from the faculty," Chielli said. @cleespot christine.lee@wilkes.edu Watch an interview with Dr. Wignot on thewilkesbeacon.com. THE BEACON Editorial Staff 2012-13 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 PHONE: (570) 408-5903 WEBSITE: thewilkesbeacon.com Editor-in-Chief: Kirstin Cook Managing Editor: Bryan Calabro Ad Manager: Brittany Battista Photo Editor: Laura Preby Adviser: Loran Lewis News Editor: Christine Lee Opinion Editor: Carly Yamrus A&E Editor: Bill Thomas Life Editor: Anne Yoskoski Sports Editor: Frank Passalacqua Lyndsie Yamrus Assistant Opinion Editor �THE BEACON I Sept. 11, 2012 3 NEWS New year .brings new changes to campus dining services By Shawn Carey Staff Writer Rifkin Cafe may look a little different, that is because it is. The cafe has undergone a renovation and it has everyone noticing. A recent remodeling over the summer included tearing down the walls that separated the game room on one side and the lounge on the other, and turning it into one big space for students to study, eat or hangout. "I think it came out awesome!" Procurement director Justin Kraynack said. "It now gives a nice flow from one to the other." Administrators are not the only ones noticing the new changes. Students have also noticed and commented on the renovations. Sophomore Criminology major Tiffany Spencer commented on the project, "I think the renovations look great! It has really opened up the first floor of Rifkin and lets the students interact more with each other." The process to renovate the area began about twelve months ago. The Food Committee started planning the renovation of Rifkin Cafe and also discussed renovating Colonel Gambini's Cafe. Then in January of this year, they began discussions with the Student Activities Committee of Student Government. The idea for what is in place today did not actually happen until the end stages of the planning. "It was roughly $200,000 for the whole project," Vice President of Finance and Gen- The Beacon/Austin Loukas Right, students line up for lunch at Rifkin Cafe. Above, Tom Ring plays pool in the renovated game room. era) Counsel Loren Prescott said. "It evolved into this idea of one interconnected space to encourage students to move between the cafe and the game room and the lounge." Kraynack said there were two goals in mind with the renovation project. The first goal was to give Rifkin a nice face lift. The second was to finish the renovations to the Student Union Building that were already begun, starting with the second and third floors to give a new feel to the SUB. Kraynack said new flooring to the cafe to finish the project. Food Service General Manager Ron Wil- Iiams also approved of the renovations. "I think it looks great, it's opened up so much," Williams said. "It is a completely different environment down there." With the new renovations to Rifkin Cafe, Late Night dining services have also moved to the newly renovated cafe. Late night dining used to be on the third floor cafeteria but has moved to the brand new Rifkin Cafe. Students are now able to hang out with friends and satisfy that late night craving from a long day of studying. Also new to the food service is a program for the students and local businesses. Beginning this year, students are now able to use their dining flex dollars off campus at local restaurants. Flex dollars are now being accepted at Subway, Sheetz and Maer's BBQ to name a few. "It is something that students and businesses have asked for years, most extensively in the past five years," Kraynack said. @wilkesbeacon shawn.carey@wifkes.edu Swim Club officially recognized as new student club by Student Government at recent meeting By Christine Lee News Editor Meeting Aug. 29 called to order 6:01 p.m. Treasurer's report: All College: $35,000 Conferences: $2,500 General Funds: $20,000 Leadership: $600 Spirit: $2,000 Student Government Total: $60,100 New Business: Library Update: Library Dean John Stachecz reported that the automatic front doors should be finished soon. The 24-hour, seven days a week access door is currently in operation and has a sign on it stating "after hours door." He also reported that printing issues are being addressed and new printers are being purchased including a color printer. Fund Request Form Update: A constitutional change was approved to change the Club Fund Request form to NonClub Fund Request form. New rules were announced: clubs need proof of projected costs and forms are due by midnight on the Friday before meetings on Wednesday. Adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Meeting September 5 called to order at 6 p.m. Treasurer's Report: All College: $35,000 Conferences: $2,500 General Funds: $20,000 Leadership: $600 Spirit: $2,000 Student Government Total: $60,100 New Business: Wilkes Alumni Fund Request: Alumni Director Mirko Widenhom and several students from the Student Alumni Association requested $500. The money would be used to cover the cost of 50 tickets for the Reunion Celebration which will take place on Saturday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. during homecoming weekend. A motion was made to allocate $500 for student tickets and was passed 19-0-6 Wilkes Summer Research Conference Fund Request: Students who did summer science research requested funds to send 10 students to go to San Francisco for an international biology conference in January. The request for $2,500 was made to cover registration, hotel and travel fees. A motion to give $1,400 for registration ofup to 10 people was passed 21-0-4. Wilkes Swim Club recognition: Members of the newly formed Wilkes Swim Club asked for SG recognition. A motion was made to recognize the Swim Club as an SG club and passed 23-0-2. Students in Free Enterprise Request: Members from SIFE requested $800 to go to a Sumit in Arkansas during the weekend of Sept. 11. The donation would cover the cost of hotel stay and part of the travel fee cost. A motion was made to allocate $400 to SIFE for travel fees and passed 19-4-2. Cheerleading Fund Request: Cheerleader Meribeth Derkach orginally requested $800 for new porn-porns. In her second request the amount had dropped to $750 due to bake sale profits. A motion was made to allocate $750 to cheerleading and passed 200-4. Club Day Fund Request: SG President Kris Rivers requested $500 to help Student Development on behalf of SG. The cost would cover associated costs for club day. A motion was made to allocate $500 to Club Day and passed 22-0-3 Homecoming Fund Request: Secretary Amber Konopka requested $17,450 for Spirit Week the week of Homecoming. A motion was made to allocate $17,450 for Spirit Week and passed 22-0-2. Fall Fest Fund Request: Vice President Ian Foley requested $3,000 for Fall Fest. A motion was made to allocate that amount and passed 21-0-3. Spirit Committee Fund Request: Senior class president Meribeth Derkach on the SG Spirit Committee requested $545.66 for the Football Game Tailgate Party. $2,000 is normally allocated. Old Business Updates: Fund request forms have been updated. Clubs requesting money from SG must have detailed budget breakdown and proof of where their money comes from in order to be considered bySG. Adjourned at 7:30 p.m. @cfeespot ch ristine. /ee@wifkes.edu �4 NEWS THE BEACON I Sept. 11, 2012 Public safety enforces parking policy with ticketing and towing By Kirstin Cook Editor-in-Chief Ryan Baicher always parked in the same spot on campus. He would even brag to his friends about how he parked in this spot, which is not technically a designated parking space, only an empty space between rows of the Student Union Building parking lot - and had not received a ticket all year. But one day while the senior business major was showing off, he entered the parking lot to find his car on a tow truck. "I freaked out," Baicher said. "At first I tried begging the guy to take it off the lift. Then I offered him 20 bucks. When that don't work I just started cursing at him." Baicher got a taste of the parking policy oncampus, which is enforced by Public Safety. The policy supplements the permit selection process conducted by Residence Life, and involves warning and eventual towing for campus parking violations. This method of punishment is a way to enforce parking rules and distribution on campus. According to Jerry Rebo, manager of Public Safety, Baicher is not the only student who parks in undesignated locations. "You name it, they park there," Rebo said. Rebo said parking violations range from parking on grass and sidewalks, parking without permits and parking in the wrong lot, up to the more serious violations of parking in fire lanes or handicapped spots without a permit. .• Campus parking permits are allotted by Residence Life through an application process. Residence Life Director Elizabeth Swantek identified four main priorities to granting parking permits: students who are student-teaching, have an internship, attend nursing clinical or have pharmacy rotations. "Wilkes University only gives out about 300 passes each semester," Swantek said. Permit applications are sorted by credits, GPA and whether medical need is a factor. "There are also students who have medical needs that we have an exception for, for example if they need to get to doctors' appointments back home and have no other way," Swantek said. Then, there is the distinction of academic need to a certain parking location, or mere want. Rebo said there's not an issue of students not getting spots, it's just an issue of students not getting spots they want. He said many students try to avoid being placed at the Ralston Field parking lot, but that is unavoidable. "Almost everyone can get parking if they ask for it, but it's not all on this side of the river, and that's what the students sometimes don't understand. We can't give 100 percent on this side of the river, we just don't have enough spots," Rebo said. Rebo said 80 spots were granted to the Ralston field lot last semester, compared to about 20 applicants that actually preferred that lot. "That's a very small percentage that want it, but that's just the nature of parking. You only have so many parking spaces." Ralston permit holders have a financial advantage, as their permits cost $40 a semester The Beacon/Austin Loukas Public Safety said there are Issues with students parking In places labeled as no parking zones, such as the cars above parked in the University Center on Main parking garage. compared to $120 for other campus lots. The clear disadvantage is the location, but Rebo said the shuttle services the lot from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. He also added that Public Safety is able to transport students after hours. "If they call 2 o'clock in the morning and they park over there, we' 11 go over there and pick them up," Rebo said. Despite these options, Ralston lot permit holders have declined. "Ralston permits holders have dropped over the years, and we still have a lot of parking over there left," Rebo said. "That's why I can't understand people that are getting tickets say they can't get any parking - it's not true. There's plenty of parking over there." Because many of Ralston's 325 spots remain open, Rebo said he doesn't understand why people still park where they're not supposed to or when they don't have a permit. He said it's important for students to follow the policy because they're taking spots that other students paid for. "It's not fair to people who pay," Rebo said. One issue that comes up is the conflict of campus events and parking availability. Rebo said students might be inconvenienced when looking for spots during events. "They're going to have to search, but some students want to park next to their class, and they don't want to walk a block or two," Rebo said. But Rebo said he receives very little complaints about parking during events. He said if students are really having trouble finding a spot, they can notify Public Safety and usually get approval to park elsewhere. "As long as you tell us where you're going to park, we usually say go ahead and park there for the day." Without approval, Rebo said students are subject to punishment. He said three to five tickets are given as warning before Public Safety gets towed. "We try to be helpful and we try to be lenient," Rebo said. Though Baicher said he doesn't recall getting any warnings before his car was towed. "Well I talked to the school and they said they had given me warnings but I don't ever Monday September 10, 2012 6pm Moving Out 3-15-06 6:30pm Dept. Stores 7:00pm Know Your Rights 7:30pm Honk 9:00pm Mavericks at Work Classic Arts Showcase Tuesday September 11, 2012 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm Moving Out 3-22-06 Revit. Of W.B. An American In Normandy Kirby Lecture-D-Sousa Classic Arts Showcase Wednesday September 12, 2012 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm Moving Out March 29-06 The Trolley Lincolns of Springfield remember getting them," Baicher said. Instead of paying a $25 parking fee, he paid between $150 and $200 to get his car back. "Don't park just anywhere around here," Baicher said. "You might think you're safe but when you least expect it they will get you. Then you're 200 bucks broker." To add salt to his wounds, Baicher said fellow students at the Wilkes SUB front desk was not very friendly when he tried to find out where his car was taken. "I went to the help desk to try and get information on where to go and they had no information for me and were not very nice," Baicher said. "My dad had to call a couple places before he could find my car." Despite the inconvenience, Baicher said he understands the need for parking enforcement. "My first reaction is to say that, yeah, it is really unfair that they get cars towed because we're college students we don't have the money to pay for it," Baicher said. "But I guess if someone is constantly parking illegally then yeah they deserve to get towed." @kirstinjeancook kirsti n. cook@wil kes. ed u 8:00pm Kirby Lecture-Kris Jones Classical Arts Showcase Thursday September 13, 2012 6:00pm Moving Out April 5-2006 6;30pm Profiles 9-2-10 7:00pm Revielle to Taps 8:00pm J.C. Watts Classical Arts Showcase Friday September 14, 2012 6:00pm Moving Out April 12-2006 6:30pm Profiles 9/15/2011 7:00pm Rosenn Lecture-Dillon-Dau 8:00pm Gov. George Pataki 9:07pm Philadelphia 2000 Classical Arts Showcase �THE BEACON I Sept. 11, 2012 NEWS 5 Public Safety: Emergency text alerts flawed but effective Not all students notified about recent off-campus crimes despite signing up for notification By Bryan Calabro Managing Editor, Phat Nguyen Correspondent, and Sarah Kennelly Correspondent Contributed by Christine Lee News Editor At 1:30 a.m. on August 27, a male Wilkes student had his laptop stolen from him when he was using on a porch at 363 S. Franklin St. That same week, five Wilkes students were injured and sent to a nearby hospital after two separate incidents of assault by non-Wilkes students. The assaults were believed to be the same in both assault instances and the assailants allegedly attacked the students after being expelled from an off-campus party at an apartThe Beacon/ Laura Preby ment near Academy and South River streets. Last year, there were incidents like assualts The university's text alert system Is meant to keep students informed about the and robberies near campus. Senior integrated crime commited on and around campus. media major Ethan Pidcock had no idea about to let its students know when there is a crime." Pesta, who handles the text alert system, these incidents because he did not receive a Wilkes Public Safety manager Jerry Rebo said students must renew their membership text alert. Instead, he was informed by his said emergency notifications were posted with E2Campus every two years. However, concerned parents. within the hour of the incident. However, some most students are likely to forget their user "I di~'t get a message, and 1 th ought students who claimed they were signed up for name and password, but these can be reset by I was signed emailing him at John.Pesta@wilkes.edu. up," Pidcock , , Rebo said the text alert process starts by said. "I've gotIt makes me feel good to know that our contacting Student Affairs after an incident octen alerts in the d . . . d th" l . t curs. Upon verification with Paul Adams, dean past, but didn't a m1n1strahon oes some 1ng to et Its s uof Student Affairs, the alert is sent. know about th e dents know when there is a crime." Alerts are sent in three ways: text, email armed robbery and flyer. All three methods are not required by on campus until - Sean Ryan, Junior P 1 Pharmacy Major law, but Wilkes always applies all three methmy mom called ods, Rebo said. me." alerts, did not receive any information. Pesta said alerts are only used for emergenNot all students missed the alerts. Junior Wilkes University utilizes E2Campus, an cies and breaking news. Petty crimes do not pre-pharmacy major Sean Ryan said the text emergency notification system that alerts stu- warrant alerts, he explained. alerts are effective because of their conve- dents and faculty of imminent dangers, such "It takes away from the mind set that this nienc~ as a fire or criminal activity. It also notifies is important," Pe;,ta said. "We don't want that "It s great not having to look up delays or students if school is canceled due to severe to happen" cancellations," Ryan said. "It's also great to weather. Regardless of these off-campus incidents, know what's going on and what to look out The Beacon asked Rebo and Interim Di- Rebo said crime is not an issue, since Wilkes for on our campus. It makes me feel good to rector of Facilities John Pesta why messages has a lit-campus and always has officers on know that our administration does something might not have been received. patrol. "Thank God we don't see many criminals walking around campus, or in our buildings," Rebo said. "We might have a homeless guy sometimes, but I am talking about drug dealers, thieves and people like that. I don't know if there's an invisible fence, but I'd like to say it's because of our patrol. You see us out there all the time." Public Safety's patrol duties include checking campus buildings and facilities. "We don't stand on street comers because there are buildings on campus with millions of dollars of equipment in them," Rebo said. Alert notifications must disclose information about crime on campus because of the Clery Act -- named after Jeanne Clery, a student who was raped and murdered in 1986 at Lehigh university. The act was created specifically to promote crime awareness. It requires institutions to give timely warnings of crimes that represent a.. threat to the safety of students or employees. Institutions are required to publish their policies regarding timely warnings in their Annual Campus Security Report due Oct. 1 each year. Before 2004, Public Safety had to manually set up flyers and send alerts through email, but now they have an easy way to reach out to students digitally. Since switching to E2Campus, Wilkes has been able to provide timely information to our university community as a whole. In order to subscribe to the services, you must have a Wilkes Email Account. Users can subscribe at wilkes.edu/pages/2611 .asp Awareness is part of the prevention, Rebo said. While students can get used to always feeling safe, they should be aware of their surroundings. "A lot of students think, it won't happen to me, but there are bad people out there," Rebo said. "There is crime everywhere you go. Let's face it. You gotta deal with it." Public Safety is advising students to be aware of their surroundings and to take reasonable precautions to protect themselves. @c/eespot christine./ee@wifkes.edu Facilities hopes building demolitions make campus more 'green' By Abbey Haldeman Assistant News Editor The science building renovations are hard to miss, but there are some other forms of renovations going on around campus that may be slipping under the radar. During the week of Aug. 20, demolition began for a couple of buildings that used to be part of campus. But with new renovations comes new space. Green space, that is. Collins Hall and a building located 266 South River St have both been demolished. While Collins Hall had been used as a residence hall in the past, it has proven to be an inadequate space for such use due to its size. 266 South River St. was bought and ana- lyzed by the university somewhere around eight months ago. This piece of property was even smaller than Collins Hall which made it of no use for residential life either. Due to the fact that neither building is needed or usable by the university at this time, they were both demolished and will be turned into additional green space for the campus community. Another piece of property owned by the campus was supposed to be tom down with the other two. 247 South Franklin St, just off the Henry Student Center parking lot, was to tom down as well. "That's in bad condition, it needs a lot of work, somewhere around a million dollars worth of work. And it just didn't seem like that was the best investment for university dollars at the time," John Pesta, Director of Capital Projects and Planning, said. The demolition of this building has been put on hold due to Asbestos in the building. The dates for the demolition are not yet known. What will become of this space though will initially be more added green space. "That block of land on Franklin Street would be ideal for that," Pesta said about the possibility of these lots becoming residency halls someday. While the university didn't look at this as a way to make up for the loss of green space due to the science building, they did feel the campus, as a whole, needed some added green space. While it is not available for use yet, green space will be available for Wilkes University community. At this time, they are spreading topsoil and planting grass seeds. When the university is given the go ahead for use of the space, students and faculty will have the advantage of utilizing the areas for various activities. They hope to add picnic tables and benches to the areas so that students will be able to enjoy them. @wifkesbeacon abbey.haldeman@wilkes.edu �Sept. 11, 2012 Contact editor: carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu Working together to be Colonel President Leahy addresses Wilkes community about future plans By Patrick F. Leahy Wilkes University President I want to thank the Beacon editorial staff for providing me with an opportunity to address their readers in the semester's first edition. Wilkes University is very fortunate to have such an informative and well-read, student-run publication. There is no one more enthusiastic about the start of this semester and of becoming the newest member of the Army of Colonels than I am. The opportunity to be the president of this extraordinary institution is the highlight of my professional career. I am humbled by the trust everyone has given me, and I am energized by the many possibilities to make Wilkes an even better institution. I also want to thank everyone for the warm welcome you've given to my wife, Amy, and my four children. We already feel part of the Wilkes family. During my first months on the job, I intend to get to know as many people in the Wilkes community as possible. I plan on meeting with every academic and staff department and will be someone students see often at campus and athletic events. With my two young sons in tow, I will be hard to miss. I also am actively involved in learning what is unique about the academic and co-curricular programs that are at the heart of what ~ do. My impression so far is that Wilkes is an institution singularly focused on student success. From the professors who take the extra time to collaborate on research with students to the coaches who mentor their athletes after wins and losses - from the advising staff who carefully craft curricular and co-curricular opportunities for our students to the facilities staff who keep our campus beautiful - everyone here works in some fashion or another to make our students successful. I've learned that Wilkes is eager to innovate. It's part of who we are. We know that to keep our education affordable we must be on the lookout for new opportunities. That is why we created an innovative pre-engineering program that allows talented high school students to get an early start on an engineering degree here at Wilkes. We are a community that cares deeply about each other, and I am certain we will build on Wilkes' tradition of working together to find ways to invest in our academic programs so that both our students and our region continue to thrive. As many of you know, I will be installed as BEACON POLL The Beacon poll is unscientific and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on the Wilkes campus. These poll results are based on responses. Last week's question: No poll results to display in this issue. This week The Beacon asks: How difficult has it been for you to park this semester? The Beacon Archives President Leahy speaks to students faculty and staff after being announced as the sixth president of Wilkes University March 12. He officially assumed the office July 1. Wilkes' sixth president on Sept. 15 at the F.M. Kirby Center. I am extremely grateful for all the help that has gone into making this event special for Wilkes and my family. There will be several days of celebration that I encourage everyone to attend. The Faculty Scholarship Showcase at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts promises to be particularly fulfilling. We will showcase the extraordinary scholarship of our faculty. This is a can't-miss event. I also hope to see you at the Campus Installation Party Friday night in the Henry Student Center. Everyone is invited to stop by for refreshments and to enjoy the music. This coming year will go fast but we will get an enormous amount accomplished. We will graduate students with doctorates in pharmacy and bachelor's degrees in English, engineering and earth and environmental science, to name a few. Underclassmen will advance to the next grade in nursing, accounting and education. And along the way, we will do our best to have fun, stay safe and Be Colonel. Thank you. Patrick F. Leahy, President Schedule of Events • Very difficult • Somewhat difficult • Not difficult • I do not park on campus • I was not aware that people were having difficulties parking on campus Installation Day Schedule Friday, September 14 Cast your vote online at: 8:00P.M. Campus Installation Celebration I Henry Student Center, second floor Saturday, September 15 11:00A.M. Installation of Dr. Patrick F. Leahy I F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts www.thewilkesbeacon.com SPEAK UP! The Beacon wants to hear your voice. Send your name, major, year and opinion to: 12:30 P.M. Reception I F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts Lobby 2:00P.M. Wilkes University vs. Albright College Football Game I Schmidt Stadium carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for length and content. Anonymous letters will not be published. �TH~ BEApON I Sept. 11, 20.12 OPINION 7 Modern medicine: Prolonging life or prolonging death? By Carly Yamrus Opinion Editor Nobody talks about death. We close our eyes to it; change the subject. Ignore and deny. Don't talk about it, don't write about it. Maybe ifwe don't think about, it won't happen to us. Because we don't acknowledge death, we are often faced with difficult decisions when the time does come. Many questions suddenly yet not so suddenly arise with the beginning of the end. Should we utilize advanced medical procedures and drugs to put up a fight or should we acknowledge our inevitable fate? In what circumstances should we fight? If we choose not to fight, does that mean we giving up? Symbolic terms such as "winning" and "losing" are almost always used when talking about illness and dying. Many people choose the fight, no matter the circumstances, because nobody wants to Jose. As humans we have the right to life. With that right, we go to extreme measures to defend it at all costs. And the cost is very, very high. The amount of money spent on terminal patients is astounding. Your bill when you die can be between thousands and several hundred thousand of dollars if you spend your last days in a hospital or hospice. According to a CBS news "60 Minutes" documentary, "The Cost of Dying," Medicare spent more than $50 billion on people with degenerative diseases, chronic illnesses, Stage-4 cancer and other fatal conditions. There are certain circumstances in which fighting to live is most definitely an option. There are also certain circumstances in which continuing the fight is comparable to torture. Are we prolonging life or prolonging death? Patients with terminal illnesses succumb to toxic treatments that devastate their bodies. Desperate last-minute treatments, transfusions and other invasive procedures are costly and usually produce an array of ruinous side effects that debilitate the patient further. With the health care we have today, we have painted an unrealistic picture of what goes on in the hospital. We look to health care to fix us. Surely the technology and medicine we have developed will save us from ourselves. At an early age, we learned that doctors make us better. Go to school and become a doctor so that you can help sick people be well again. The question of "How Jong do I have to live?" becomes "How long will I try to stay alive?" Accepting death as part of life does not mean you gave up, it means you gave in and recognized it as a natural part of life. You can't The Beacon/Laura Preby Desperate, last-minute treatments and procedures are costly and often make the dying experience worse than It needs to or should be. choose when your time has come or how it will happen, but you can sometimes choose a better way out. There is only so much that can be done to help sustain life in the final months or days. After the procedures become unreasonable, maybe the best thing to do is to just be comfortable. Let loved ones express their love and support instead of having them helplessly watch and do nothing. I don't think dying is the worst thing that can happen to a person. Dying without dignity is. @carlyyamrus carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu Online courses vs. classroom learning: Internet cheats education By Lyndsie Yamrus Assistant Opinion Editor The things we've accomplished and the advancements we've made as a human popula~ n is astonishing. The world is a much different place now than it was a decade ago, which in the grand scheme of things, is not a very long time. One of our most valued creations of all time, the ever-popular internet, has completely changed the way we live our lives, and very quickly at that. I remember like it was yesterday how long it would take for a single page to load on the Internet, and here I am today, multitasking Facebook, Twitter, email, Google and various other tabs, all at once and within seconds. I really appreciate the Internet, and yes, it is an extremely revolutionary tool that has improved the world we live in immensely. However, we have become rather obsessed and increasingly dependent upon it -- enough Every 1ime rou ,n;ih ii 1heeri11r,3t:;w111 hro ,,-- ' 1 __ 1<:'+M,11,,:~tc ;J 0%<'.~~ '411 ,..... The Beacon/Kat Dodson The Internet Is a powerful tool, but should not be u~d to replace traditional methods of teaching and learning. to believe that nearly anything can be obtained online. A thorough and valuable educational experience is not one of them. As we all know, there are many advantages to the online route. It is much cheaper than going to college. You can learn at your own pace. You can work at your own speed. You can take the class virtually anywhere and adjust your work to fit your lifestyle. You can eat a steak in your pajamas while you take a test, which are always "take-home." You can easily Google something you don't know. Does anyone remember what life was like before the Internet readily spit out knowledge when you asked it to? I certainly do not. I grew up in the middle of this explosion we now call the digital age. Prior to the Internet, you had to actually use the library. You had to do research! Which involves actually reading the books. What a concept. I'm a firm believer in reading books for information. Books are classic. I'm "that guy" who walks out of the library with a stack of eight books dating back to the '70s and older. People think I'm nuts. But you learn more because you have to read the book instead of skimming over Google hits and using CTRL+F to find keywords pertaining to your paper topic. The Internet cheats education. My belief is that there is a definite level of respect associated with traditional classroomstyle learning. The process has generally remained unchanged for many years: an individual who has attained extensive knowledge and experience in a given field passes that knowledge and experience to others. If you don't understand something, you can raise your hand, ask any question for clarification or further direction, and receive an answer almost as quickly as you asked. You have others next to you to motivate you and support you. There are people to impress and people who could potentially make an impression on your life, or vice versa. You don't just learn subject matter when listen to and work with others. You develop as an individual because you collaborate with different people who see things from different perspectives. Interaction between individuals is highly necessary and adds an entirely new dimension to learning. You can talk the material out, face-to-face, with someone who knows what they' re talking about. The self-teaching, Google-everything-you-don't-know-or-understand method will leave gaps in your education. You'll miss things. You really only learn the course material when you study for courses online. The knowledge you acquire is mostly limited to what is written in the required textbook -- knowledge that proba~ly won't change your attitude or opinion or the way you think in general. Typed dialogue loses the emotion and passion of the lecture as well. Your professor doesn't truly know you because all they can see is a name on a computer screen. Professors stimulate creative thinking and application in a way that would not be as effective if taught online. They often add personal stories, insights and ideas that encourage students to have new insights and build new ideas. A lecture should inspire, and people are the ones who do this. Not textbooks, and certainly not a search engine either. @fyndsieyamrus lyndsie.yamrus@wifkes.edu �8 OPINION THE BEACON I Sept. 11, 2012 Second Amendment is out of touch with modern technology By Kirstin Cook Editor-in-Chief Fear is a common reference in gun control debates. Many gun supporters say those who want increased gun control are motivated by fear. I agree. I'm afraid of guns. I'm afraid of walking down the streets of Wilkes-Barre and being caught in the crossfire of gun violence. I'm afraid of mentally-ill students shooting innocent bystanders on campus. I'm afraid of psychopaths storming into a crowded movie theater with assault rifles. In light of the heinous crimes reported this year, we should all be afraid. The numbers are chilling. According to CNN, there were 11,493 homicides by firearm in 2009 alone. That's because there were 310 million nonmilitary guns reported in the U.S. in 2009. Sure, it's a constitutional right to own a gun. More specifically, the Second Amendment to the Bill of Rights states: "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." But let's put this into context. According to About.com, this amendment was created in 1791. That was back when the most commonly used gun was the flintlock. In order to fire it, you had to load it with gunpowder, place a ball on a patch and used a ramrod to move these items down the barrel. Nowadays, guns are more efficient and more deadly. Guns with rapid-fire technology and high-capacity magazines are freely available, even on the Internet. Do we really need a 100-round gun to protect our homes from burglaries? USA Today states that even police officers usually only carry 10 to 12 rounds. According to USA Today, a 100-round magazine gun is one type of weapon James Holmes used at the Aurora theater shooting. He bought it legally from a website. Criminals often are not even the target of these advanced guns. An article on CNN.com stated that having a gun in the house basically doubles the risk that a household member will kill himself or herself. Americans are 50 percent more likely to fatally shoot themselves than be fatally shot by a criminal. Yet, misinformed opponents of gun control cite countries like Switzerland, which has high rates of gun ownership coupled with low rates of crime. They say, "if there were as many armed Americans as there are armed Swiss, America would be a much safer country." The funny thing is, there's actually a larger percentage of citizens in America who own guns than in Switzerland. Yet, we still have crime rates that are worse than some developing countries. So, clearly, there is no correlation between the two. As IBTimes states, the cause of Switzerland's lower crime rates is more likely the lack of drug trade and social inequality, two major factors that increase violent crime frequency. I don't see how our stockpile of firearms is helping with those problems. Part of the reason there are some many guns in America is how easy they are to get. Typically you can walk into a store and pass an instant background check, unless you're ·Reporter, Ph.otogrJ;1phers,: Graphic d..e$ignet1 . Layoq ·•· , •· ;:;· · ·· Adve ·' 'ecti.'. ·•s,si'' · 1 .c..- ··, __ " registered under the National Instant Criminal Background Check System as ineligible. Recorded mental instability is grounds for disqualification. However, many states keep mental health records confidential, making it impossible to restrict mentally unstable customers. Even states that do report mental health background do not have an effective system. Take Virginia, for instance. The FBI reported in 2007 that Virginia had released more mental records than any other state, but yet somehow a certain Virginia Tech student was able to legally buy a gun and kill 32 of his classmates and teachers. That shooter, Cho Seung-Hui, had been determined to be mentally ill and a danger to himself and others, but that didn't stop him from being eligible to purchase a gun, leading to the massacre in 2007. Some claim that even if you limit guns, murderers like Seung-Hui would still access them. By that logic, we should make illegal drugs readily available as well. Even if criminals would still access firearms illegally, restrictions would inherently make it more difficult, especially for those who are mentally ill and don't have any connections to gangs. The Second Amendment doesn't provide any of these restrictions. In 1791, there was no need for limitations. But, because technology has made guns more dangerous and more accessible, our constitution should adapt to modem reality. Guns are advancing; it's about time our laws start advancing, too. kirstin.cook@wilkes.edu @kirstinjeancook The Beacon/ Austin Loukas Guns are readily available for purchase In some states, in stores such as Walmart. We're hiring No experience necessary. We'll train. The Beacon will begin accepting applications April 2 for all the positions you see listed here. -ct, Don't leave Wilkes with just an education get experience. Working with The Beacon provides an opportunity to improve communication skills that are essenti'tt.l for any career field. For more information, contact Kirstin Cook, editor-in-chief, at kirstin.cook@wilkes.edu, 570408-5903 OR Dr. Loran Lewis, adviser, loran. lewis@wilkes.edu, 570-408-4165 ~BEAC ON · i: r-- News of Toda Re orted B the .Journalists of Tomorrow �By Cody Bauman PC Staff Writer After a long summer, garners are ready for some new releases to feed their desire for digital bliss. With a new semester here, though, money can be tight. This is where the realm of independent and downloadable games comes into play. These bite-sized games are normally smaller experiences when compared to big titles such as "Call of Duty" and "Madden." Nevertheless, they can bring just as much enjoyment for a fraction of the price. Perfect for college students with a limited budget looking for a way to kill the time. Indie games are games made by small, independent developers and are normally self-published. These independent developers can sometimes comprise teams as small as one or two people. While the teams may be small, that doesn't necessarily mean quality has to be sacrificed. Garnes such as "Braid" and "Bastion" are highly regarded as "mustplays" for even seasoned gaming veterans. Here are some of the best indie games currently available, listed by console: iOS "Cthulhu Saves the World" (RPG, $1.99) "Cthulhu Saves the World" is a game whi<;J many old-school garners will appreciate for its throwbacks to the RPGs of yesteryear. Meanwhile, new garners will enjoy it for its tongue-in-cheek humor. This game is a spoof of all the great 16-bit RPGs of the Super Nintendo era and that's what makes it so much fun. It manages to feel new and different while still having that same air of nostalgic familiarity about it. "Infinity Blade II" (Action, $6.99) "Infinity Blade II" is an action game that shows what an iOS device can do. It runs off the Unreal Engine, which is the same game engine used by such titles as "Gears of War," "Fable." On top of this game being gorgeous, the deep and intriguing fighting mechanics makes this one shine as a labor of love. "Bastion" (Action/RPG, $14.99) "Bastion" is the epitome of what every game wants to be. It seamlessly melds together tight gameplay, an interesting story, provocative music and an eye-popping art style to make a game that is more than the sum of its parts. Every facet of this game lends to another element and just heightens the whole experience to a new level, which is something that truly separates this game from the rest of the pack and lets it shine as one of the best indie games ever made. ustin ou as Cash-strapped gamers looklng for a cheap way to kill time can feed their need without breaking the bank. lndle games offer fresh fun at bottom-dollar prices. Xbox360 "Braid" (Platformer, $10.00) "Braid" is considered to be the very title that broke indie games out of their niche audience, and for good reason. This game showed that one prograrnrner (in this case, a man named Jonathan Blow) could not only create a well put-together and executed game, but also weaves a story of intrigue. When "Braid" was originally released back in 2008, it was Metacritic's highest-rated Xbox Live Arcade game and was also among the top 10 Xbox 360 games of all time. With perfect and near-perfect scores on websites like Giant Bomb and GarneSpot , "Braid" turned heads. It quickly became a must-play for any garner worth with his or her weight in gold coins. "Braid" offers a fun ride, keeping the gameplay fresh enough to continually lure players back for more, even as the difficulty steadily increases. PS3 "Journey" (Adventure, $14.99) In "Journey," players take the role of a wanderer trudging through the rugged desert towards a giant mountain as it emits a giant beam of light. As players travel, other wanderers may help them out or show them secrets, but the nature of these wanderers is not revealed until the end of the game. This element of mystery, and its conclusion, is one of the aspects of"Journey" that will make players reconsider how they view their entire play-through experience. "Spelunky" (Platformer/Adventure, Free) "Spelunky" is a "rogue-like" platformer that puts players in the shoes of an Indiana Jones-esque explorer searching deep caverns for treasure, dames and ancient secrets buried away from the rest of the world. In "Spelunky," the player only gets one life, with just four hits to that life per play-through. Even with your limited life, the game doesn't hold any punches. Arrow traps, bats, ghost, cavemen and more do everything in their power to bring this short game to a close that much quicker. Something "Spelunky" manages to do very well, though, is almost never make dying an aggravating experience. The levels are randomly generated and as players progress, they slowly learn how to deal with each type of monster and trap as well as how to spot some of these devious death-dealers before they even have a chance to trigger them. This game's difficulty only adds to the reward. Conquering each bite-sized level makes ·every death feel like it was a step into the right direction towards ultimate victory. "Plants vs. Zombies" (Tower Defense, $9.99) PRO TIP: All PC games in this article can be found using Stearn, a free download service for video games that routinely has sales and special events where almost everything instock is discounted. @wilkesbeacon cody.bauman@wilkes.edu Kim Price, Sophomore "Biology �HOMETOWN PUNKS GO 'GREEN' ... . . : ' . ,- , - ,- · . & Entertainment er of Alternative Press magazine. They've itor toured with the likes of Rise Against and , ' I r - - - - - - - New Found Glory. Just this summer, the Out of the un- they played alongside everyone from derground and Every Time I Die and Lostprophets into the limelight, to Anti-Flag and The Used as the last few : a whirlwind for Kingston-based punk band Title Fight. part of the 2012 Vans Warped Tour. Now, the group's highly anticipated second fulllength album, "Floral Green," is due to hit shelves on Tuesday, Sept. 18. It's safe to say the guys in Title Fight are counting their blessings. At the same time, they're determined to keep sight of what's important and not let success go to their heads. "We're trying to grow as a band while still hanging on to the things that keep us who we are," guitarist Shane Moran said. "I think it's just important to not get duped into the kinds of things environments (like Warped Tour) might tempt you THE BEACON Se You have to realize what makes your band special, what sets you apart, and you have to hang onto those things. We're staying with what we're comfortable with and not letting any of this stuff change us." That said, Title Fight - which also comprises bassist-vocalist Ned Russin, guitaristvocalist Jamie Rhoden and drummer Ben Russin - isn't afraid to push the boundaries of its comfort zone or explore new territory musically. For "Floral Green," Moran said it was important for the band members to maintain a balance between the stylistic progression that keeps things fresh for them and the familiar sound that fans have come to associate with Title Fight. "There's definitely been a growth,'' he said. "We just really tried to push ourselves to write something that was exciting and challenging for us. We're not really interested in re-writing the same music, al though there are similarities. Every- thlri SODJ ran Ore ''I it, 1l of~ dle stu for~ plaJ mo1 we with . "'1111!--.. • By BIii Thomas Arts & Entertainment Editor If there's any truth to the old adage that says still waters run deep, then it's not surprising that the music on "Fathoms," Empire of the Sea's nautically-themed 2010 debut, is of a moody and meditative sort. For a follow-up, however, the group decided to shed the maritime trappings of that album, as well as the murky, monolithic am- bient-metal style that accompanied it, in favor of something lighter. Enter the upbeat post-rock of "Skywatchers," BOTS' new EP, released just this month. It's a sound that soars. "Me and Bill actually worked together for two and, when- ever we'd go on break, we'd walk around the building and watch the birds flying around," guitarist Mike Flaherty said. The "Bill" he's referring to is fell ow guitarist Bill Check who, along with drummer Michael Tyahur and Flaherty's bassist brother Patrick, comprises the Wilkes-Barre foursome. Flaherty continued: "We got to thinking, what ifthere was a family ofbirds, each from a different species, but all living together?" The concept allowed the band to create its own mythology on "Skywatchers," one that in turned allowed them to explore various archetypes through its "bird family." Each of the EP's four tracks is named after one of their aviary inventions: "Moth.er Hawk," "Father Owl," "Sister Sparrow" and "Brother Crow." The change in EOTS' musical style is also a direct result of the subject matter. Whereas "Fathoms" submerged the listener in an ocean of atmosphere and sonic textures, the trajectory of the new EP is aimed squarely skyward. The music constantly races toward bigger and brasher crescendos, which only seem to propel the music on further, the intent being to ere ing "' as "TI got ma Jj sic gre opt fori ES me 1 c~ Ne' hoJ Wai the mo " �11 & ~ , • a a 1 . 1 1 , thlng we write has to be interesting and new to us." Evidence of that can be readily heard when comparing "Floral Green" to its predecessor, 2011 's "Shed." The brighter, more agile style of that album has given way to something denser and darker, a change Moran said was deliberate. Still, not every aspect of the evolution exhibited on "Floral Green" was premeditated. "It can be hard for us to even be aware of it, because we come from this weird frame of reference where we're right in the middie of it," Moran said. "We live with this stuff. We'll be working on ideas a year before they show up on a record, so when you play the records back to back, I guess it's more apparent. But, for us, it's just where we are as a band." As Title Fight's music continues to grow, so too does its audience. In create a feeling of perpetual ascent. "The songs themselves are not as dark as they were (on "Fathoms")," Check said. "The best way I can describe it is as feelgood music. It's like you' re up on some mountaintop looking down at the world." In a continual quest to WJburden their music and hopefully enable it to rise to even greater heights, the members of BOTS have opted to eliminate vocals altogether, transforming the band into a iOO percent instrumental project from "Skywatchers" on. The band members admit it's a drastic change that might alienate some listeners. Nevertheless, they feel it's the right decision, hoping it will shift audience focus more toward the songcraft of the music itself. It is there, Check said, EOTS differentiates itself most significantly from its contemporaries. "We like to keep it very ambient but still port of "Floral Green," the band's upc-0ming tour will take the hometown punks all over the world, including dates in England, France, Italy and Germany among others. Despite all that globe-trotting, Moran said the band makes sure to stay abreast of goings-on in the NEPA scene. "When we're in Japan or somewhere like that, I miss home a lot, but I never feel disconnected or out of the loop," he said. "All of our friends are in local bands. That's who we talk to: people who do art, photography, play music or deal with venues. That's world." For more information, visit title-fight. By BIii Thomas net. Arts & Entertainment Editor -------------One look at Dennis Condusta, frontman for Wilkes-Barre band Astorian Stigmata, and it's obvious that this is a guy with a fully developed aesthetic sense. Whether onstage strumming a guitar adorned with hand-drawn illustrations or lurking in press photos with a top hat on his dreadlocked head and a black umbrella in hand, Condusta leaves an impression. He looks like a character tom from the fever dream of a morbid Victorian poet. "I think having a distinct visual style is extraordinarily important," Condusta, who is also a photographer, said. "You can give someone a birthday gift in a blank box and they'll just be like 'Uh, thanks,' or you could give them it in a really cool, decorated box and they'll be like 'Wow, thls is awesome."' Even still, Condusta acknowledges that the visual element is there to complement, not supplant, that which matters most. "The music is obviously the most important thing, but it's cool .to put something around it, to put it in a different context that makes it a whole experience," he said. "It's just fun, to have a look, to try and create something that's more thanjust music." It's the music that does c orthe talking on the band's porate a recently released EP, lot of struc"A Dark Sumture within, whlch is different from most post-rock bands," he said. "Most post-rock bands will just let seven minutes of guitars go on with thls big build-up that ends up dying out. We' re more into using actual riffs and doing something with them." EOTS will perform alongside Ethereal Collapse at The Crimson Lion in WilkesBarre, on Swiday, Sept. 16. For more information, find Empire of the Sea on Facebook. @wifkesbeacon billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com most oft-cited influences, Modest Mouse and The Cure, are still readily apparent. But there's something else there, too. "This album is much darker, heavier, faster," Condusta said. "It's also a lot more keyboard-based, more atmospheric, going a little more toward an industrial style, though I hate to use that word. It's still very much indie rock." "lndie," of course, is short for "independent," and it's that part of the indie-rock tag that Condusta and his longtime friend and band-mate, D.J. Laury, value the most. Astorian Stigmata has always operated under a DIY ethic. Condusta and Laury book their concerts themselves. They bring their music to life in makeshift bedroom recording studios. The music video they released for the EP track "The Dancing Dead'' was shot entirely in a basement. It features the band members smashing blood-smeared instruments among flickering lights. "If someone gave us a million dollars to go make a video," Condusta said, "I'd probably give them $999,000 back, go b lunch and then make the same video." For now, with no charitable, millionaire gothrock connoisseurs in sight, the tenebrous twosome wil continue diering on o day at a time. Summers S currently available online via iTunes, with a follow-up already planned for late fall. No outside help needed. "It's just how we are. I couldn't imagine being any different," Condusta said. "We do everything ourselves and have full creative control. We have no budget. We do the best we can. That's what you have to do if you want to get the message you want out there. You have do it all yourself." A pause. "You don't make much money doing that, but that's not really what it's about." For more information, find Astorian Stigmata on Facebook. �Every issue, Arts & Entertainment Editor B ill Thomas and Assistant Editor Jake Cochran indulge their vanity and give a thoroughly biased crash-course in whatever madness happens to be dwelling in their wa!Y.ed minds. Their views do not reflect those of The Beacon, its staff or Wilkes University. Blah blah blah. This week, Bill Thomas is tackling ... £ vmttJlll;a~ IDV!JM eumm Best spot to declare war on your liver and brain cells: Hardware Bar (14 S. Main St.) New to Wilkes-Barre? Here's some hidden gems and not-so-hidden hotspots that' ll help you retain your tenuous grip on sanity when finals week hits like a ton of bricks. Best spot to get your smoke on: The Crimson Lion (37 E. South St.) Grab your journal, your shoulder bag and your ironic 80s pop-culture tee and curl up at The Crimson Lion to write some poetry, sip some coffee and smoke some Starbuzz Purple Savior. Yes, the nicknames are ridiculous, but the flavored tobacco packs a heady wallop. The experience of smoking it in a hookah is unique, plus it'll make you look cooler than your cigarette-suckin' pals. Even if you don't smoke, The Crimson Lion is a chill hangout for the artsy-fartsy set, complete with paintings on the wall and occasional performances by local bands (see p.10-11 for perfect examples). A night at the Hardware Bar is the closest thing to gueststarring on an episode of "The Jersey Shore" you're likely to experience in NEPA. It's a good idea to put a condom on your soul beforehand, lest you catch some kind of existential STD. Nevertheless, when you've just finished typing up a 12-page report on the sociopolitical implications of, I don't know, stuff, and you're looking to completely cut loose and indulge your most excessive hedonistic impulses, there's no place more suited than Hardware Bar. Enjoy the loud music, overpriced alcohol and sweaty make-out sessions with scantily-clad strangers tonight; Worry about the consequences tomorrow. Best spot to question your sexuality: 1\vist (1170 Highway 315) Ostensibly a gay club, that doesn't stop hetero folks in search of a party from gravitating toward Twist as enthusiastically as George Michaels exposes himself to undercover police officers in public restrooms. Whereas Hardware Bar is all about sleaze and sweat, Twist is, well, also about sleaze and sweat. But it's less cramped and less aggressive, plus a lot more colorful, flamboyant and fun. Drag queens are awesome. What more do you need to know? Best spot to indulge in all things retro: Musical Energi (59 N. Main St.) Everything a hipster needs that can't be found at Salvation Army is here. Movies, music, funky posters, freaky oddities and, let's not forget, vinyl, vinyl and more vinyl! The place is loaded with vintage goodies and is overseen by an assortment of colorful characters. Talk to Jay, the owner, and he'll be happy to explain just how awesome vinyl records are and why mp3s are the tool of Satan. Talk to employee Rich and he'll tell you more about cult/horror/b-movie obscurities than you ever wanted to know. Ask other-employee Mark about his band Mock Sun and you may just discover some of the best local music NEPA has to offer. Best spot to ogle naked chicks: Gentlemen's Club 10 (205 Mundy St.) Don't pretend you don't want to go, dude (or dudette, if that's how you roll). You know you do. Make sure to hit Amateur Night every first Thursday for your best shot at seeing that cute redhead in your Principles of Fundamentals class doing something she' ll regret in the morning. @thatbillthomas billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com rJ _ _ _ _ ____,,r_. \ NEPA Glossary__-____ ~ - - 1 i -----~NEPA _J - llawa --OK, you're going to be hearing The sworn enemy of all - ffiis one a lot, so 6est get It out the - - -good. red=blooded, true-blue --way·first:wltls,noMhat·hard, NEPA-is-·" · Sheetz»eustomers-:-If,your ";:J __::li9rthe~wnL~~m1sY1xani.a.'.:JWJL•.--~·~-fuenq~-ggjQ-\YllJY~,_th~J'.-<ll~-- it's the best part of Pennsylvania. Not not your friends. '· reatly,15ufweYe supposed to saytliar . . . .,......UHnake-0ur-selv-es..feel-0etter-apout.not Luzerne.County,Counhouseliving~in :rhilad!;:l~~:__ _ An~ youyhougi?;t t~Galac- r ·· =-•-·--·--~--·r --•-HeynafToni, ti~:~:p~~~~t~:;;;s- ~·f · ___.AJittle"o.utdated•.bu,tit.stilLc.omes up . . famous.fotituoleinJhe "kids . . 1 from time to time. 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Otherregionarfoods')'ou-·-·_ ""'""' Th,.,,e....sUhings..are_e...v,.ery:w,hete-Relimightstumble_acrossJn.clud~ 1 able for quick, cheap, made-to-order pierogies (fried dumplings with 1 --rooct'tliaf pleases tliepalateollliose potato. omon, cheese or oilier .- · haunted-by-late-night-mun•ohies-(or---- - -fiUings,), haluski-.(4'ried-noodle~ a telling lack of disposable income), with sweet cabbage) and / :_,.S heetz«marseenrlikeJijust1¼ g · agaeh»tbasieaHy-,apizza,,with0 ,.,_,SYitlQn,milJi:mm.J>~Q:um@ more. ~ 0 m~b~J2Q!lltQS<$.,.Al).£1,.m:ii~m- ~=~~~:lc~d tomato ,,,their-Shmiscuit~d-Shwings; You'll see where the obsession comes from. J - \ r· ·, JoePa Let's not go there. \ 1. ) \ r \ ~""'- \; ""----~---•..-.--------..-,---- r.----,-..J ------------------------------------------------ - - -- -- --~ ---- �Contact editor: anne.yoskoski@wilkes.edu Sept. 11, 2012 Res life staff makes adjustment into college easier Rebecca Bolus Correspondent According to the Residence Life office on Wilkes University's website, their goal is to foster a residential environment supportive of individual student growth and development through programming, training and the room selection process. Director of Residence Life Elizabeth Swantek does more than that. She is in charge of the RAs, assistant director and graduate assistants. She works with facilities to make sure the buildings are in good condition and also deals with judicial and disciplinary affairs for on-campus residents. Swantek also works with the living learning communities, where learning happens in the residence hall. "We work with professors as well as the RAs on developing different living learning communities on campus," Swantek said. A big part of Residence Life is the housing process for freshman. Residence Life does not just put random people together and hope for the best. There is a process and work involved with choosing who lives where their first year. All first-year students must attend freshmen orientation where they fill out a housing contract and take a survey. They have the opportunity to tell Residence Life a little about themselves such as studying and sleeping habits, if they smoke, if they share clothes, etc. This data is then compiled and organized into Excel. Besides this survey, incoming freshman have another way of getting a roommate. "At orientation, they have an opportunity to meet someone," Swantek said. "If they get along, they can fill out a form saying they want to live together." Those students that find someone they would like to live with are then taken off that Excel spreadsheet. At that point, Swantek and the assistant director go from who put down their housing deposit first and use the surveys to pair up those remaining students. Residence Life also goes over their handbook to see if there needs to be any new rules or regulations or if any current ones need to be modified. One rule that has already been set in stone and passed by the university is now requiring the incoming freshman of2012 to live on campus See Res life, Page 15 The Beacon/Austin Loukas Assistant Director Danielle Kern, left, and Residence Life Director Elizabeth Swantek preparing for the new year at their office on the third floor of Passan Hall. Programming board opens up semester with fun for Fall 2012 Alyssa Stencavage Correspondent Wilkes University's Programming Board has scheduled fun events and activities to kick off the 2012 fall semester. "We have a really enthusiastic board, and a lot of freshmen are interested in joining so there should be a good turnout. Our events are every Thursday, so hopefully we will keep building a bigger and bigger audience and keep the momentum going," said Jessica Short, president of Programming Board. The first event, a barbecue and scavenger hunt, took place on Thursday, Sept. 6. The barbecue started at 7 p.m. right outside the first floor of the SUB near the parking lot. The scavenger hunt was a photo scavenger hunt and began shortly after the barbecue at 7:30 p.m. Students were placed in teams of five and used their cameras or a camera phones to photograph different things around campus based on the clues. The hunt ended at 8:30 p.m., with the winners announced at 8:45 p.m. Prizes were given to the top three teams, so each member of the first team received a $30 Visa Gift Card, each member of the second team received a $25 Visa Gift Card and each member of the third team received a $20 Visa Gift Card. In the event that there was a tie, the prize would have been given to the team who was done first. Fall Fest Weekend is a three day-long event run by Student Development, Student Government, Inter-Resident Hall Council, Commuter council, Off-Campus Council and MSC. It will go from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21. Thursday night will be Movie in the Marts, which is sponsored and run by IRHC; Friday night is the battle ball game, which is a mix of laser tag and paintball. For more information on battle ball, check out the website www.notpaintball.com. On Saturday there will be a carnival-like event, which will be sponsored by all the groups. Times of these other events will be announced shortly. As of right now, the Powderpuff Football game is tentatively going to be held in either Ralston Field or UCOM. This event is going to be on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m., and signups will be on Sept. 11 in the SUB. Students will sign up by class, with :freshman first. Grocery Bingo, which will be held on Thursday, Oct. 18, starts at 8 p.m. in the first floor of the SUB. This will be the same style as regular bingo, except baskets of food will serve as prizes, which include everything needed to make different meals. There will also be baskets that are quick, easy and microwavable. On Thursday, Oct. 25, there will be a Halloween party at the UCOM. Activities include a roller-skating rink, which will be brought into the UCOM, a costume party and a costume contest. "This one is my favorite," Short said of the Halloween party. The fun has only just begun, so join in while you can! @wilkesbeacon alyssa.stencavage@wilkes.edu The Beacon/Austin Loukas This year, the Programming Board has magnets ready to remind students of upcoming events for this semester. �14 Wilkes Club Day 2012 offers new clubs By Anne Yoskoski Life Editor If you happened to be on the Greenway during this year's Club Day, the popularity of the event was indesputable. Introducing several new clubs and gaining membership for the pre-existing ones. Held on the greenway, the event had students flockir'tg in at 11 a.m. on Sept. 6 to see what Wilkes has to offer. "In addition to the approximately 81 existing organizations and clubs on campus, and those are just the clubs who signed up for a table," said Jamie Miller, Student Activities director, "new clubs are also looking for members." The most recent club was added at the end of last year, the Veterans Club. Currently, a Swimming Club is in the works and there's interest in starting other clubs, such as the up and coming Autism Speaks group. In order to start a club at Wilkes, students have to make sure there is no other club like the one being discussed, and see a reasonable amount of interest from potential members. Then the group must present their idea to Student Government after filling out all the paperwork, after which they can be granted club status and received funding from SG. Club Day is something many people look forward to, as it helps build a community on campus. "Club Day is a great time for students to get involved in Wilkes Culture," Student Govemment President Kristofer Rivers said. "It gives the clubs a chance to showcase what they are about and build new membership as well as help students see what is available on campus and meet new people." New students, transfer students and seasoned Club Day veterans all had something to look forward to this year, whether it was gaining new recruits for their club or making new friends. When asked how involved a student should be in clubs, Rivers' recommended," ... that everyone try to attend Club Day and find at least one club to get actively involved in." @annieyoskoski anne.yoskoski@wilkes.edu The Beacon/Austin Loukas Manuscript Society members (left to right) Kendra Kuhar, Dr. Mischelle Anthony, Gabby Zawacki, Miranda Baur, Dr. Sean Kelly, and Ashley Brlngmann. The Indian Cultural Association greets students with cultural deserts from their Club Day table. Right, student line up for food outside of Kirby Hall. The Beacon/Austin Loukas . t - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - �1.,.- ... 1n11;;, U!l;.l'I""'" J '-'"'I-''· .1..1., ,v.1., lips encourage students to use caution for safety Anthony Bartoli Staff Writer Due to the recent events that have taken place over the past two weeks on and around campus, Campus Security has offered some tips to keep you safe: 1. Always keep this number handy: (570) 408-4999. If you have an emergency, call it. 2. Don't walk anywhere atone, especially at night. 3. You are allowed to carry mace on campus. Keep it in an accessible place, such as on your key chain or in an accessible pocket of your clothing or bag. 4. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. 5. Don't let your friends go anywhere alone, even if it's right down the street. 6. Always make sure your cell phone is charged, just in case something does happen and you need to call for help. 7. If you need an escort, call the number listed above. If you ever need a ride back to campus at anytime, for any reason, Public Safety Res life continued from page 13 for both their freshman and sophomore years. "We decided to look into the sophomore living requirement because most of our area colleges and our peer groups and aspirational groups have this requirement," Swantek said. With this new regulation, students will live in the one of the ten residence halls for their freshman year and then move into upperclassman residence halls for their second year on campus. "I am really glad that I lived on campus my freshman year because I got to meet a lot of friends," Makala Flottemesch, sophomore communications major, said. "I think with this new rule, students will be able to feel even more comfortable and feel more at home at Wilkes." Wilkes has emphasized getting involved and J ( will come get you, no questions asked. 8. Make sure that the doors to your dorm building or apartment are closed behind you. 9. Try not to carry too much cash or extremely valuable things. Keep expensive items concealed or close to you at all times. 10. Lock your dorm, house, apartment and car doors. Campus Security and the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department work side-by-side to help ensure student safety. One thing students could do right now is go to the link http://www.wilkes.edu/pages/2611. asp and sign up for the Wilkes Emergency Contact System. All you need to do is create a user name, enter your first and last name, create and verify your password, enter your phone number (must have a valid text messaging plan), agree to the terms of service, and click create account. It's that easy. According to the Wilkes website: "Possible uses for this system will include closures and delays, community crime notifications, weather emergencies and power outages." @anthonybartoli anthony.bartoli@wilkes.edu living on campus. Swantek and RAs feel it is important to get involved. "It is a great way to make new friends by getting involved on campus and it also keeps you busy," Amber Konopka, resident assistant for freshman at Evans Hall, said. One of the jobs of resident assistants is to do hall activities to give residents a chance to get to know one another. Swantek said that attending the RAs events along with getting involved with activities on campus is her best advice for incoming freshman. "You will feel more attached to campus if you get more involved with on campus activities," Swantek said. "You will feel like you belong more if you found your niche or created your niche." @rebeccabo/us rebecca.bo/us@wilkes.edu The Beacon/Austin itJukas Some students are under the impression that pepper spray Is not allowed on campus, but Campus Security says students are welcome to carry It for extra protection. Diversity is something that everyone will at some point encounter, and most likely something everyone has questions about. New this semester is a column called " Open Inclusion Dialogue with Office of Diversity Initiatives," welcoming student questions about diversity. Common diversity-related issues are : race, gender issues, stereotyping, disabilities, religion and culture. Students who have questions are encouraged to ask the questions they have been curious about or have previously been afraid to ask. I diversity@wi I kes.ed u Ms. Erica Acosta, Associate Director of Diversity in the Wilkes Center for Global Education & Diversity will be answering your submitted questions. Don't hesitate, better yourself with information! The Beacon/Austin Loukas Res llfe Assistant Director Danielle Kern (left) and Director Ellzabeth Swantek (right) stand outside their office before preparing for a busy semester. �Contact editor: frank.passalacqua@wilkes.edu Sept. 11, 2012 Wilkes Colonels football season preview By Frank Passalacqua Sports Editor "Through camp many players have perf~rmed admirably," Wilkes football coach Frank Sheptock said. "I am impressed with our terun's work ethic, maturity and focus. Our focus has been to play fast, play hard and to finish plays. The player's intensity, sense of immediacy and intelligence is what is sticking out thus far." Wilkes University put together a memorable game to start the 2012 season. Coming out with a 9-7 victory over Morrisville State College, it was kicker Jordan Fredo who delivered a clutch game-winning 18-yard field goal. Fredo went 3-for-3 on the day and earned himself the MAC Special Teams Player of the Week award for his heroics. The Colonels came out fighting from the beginning, allowing only 86 passing yards on defense while lighting it up for 287 passing yards of their own. Behind that was Tyler Bemsten, throwing for 157 yards on 10 of 18 attempts. Alex George had an impressive evening as well at quarterback, throwing for 130 yards on 15 of23 attempts. However, it was running back Andrew Regan making the highlights by going over the century mark with five receptions and 110 yards, tacking on to his 17 rushing attempts for 43 yards on the ground. The Colonels' defense was remarkable. The D allowed only 225 total yards and gave up only one score on the entire outing. Making sure to seal the game was defensive back Paul Gaffney, who recorded seven total tackles and prevented a late rally by catchiPg the interception with nine seconds on the clock. This was the ninth season opener victory for Sheptock. With the whole season still ahead of them, only good things are hoped to come to the Colonels. Wilkes gained 41 freshmen this offseason and the coaches could not be more excited for what the future holds. "The first year class is an impressive group," Sheptock said. "They have acclimated themselves well to the collegiate game and have handled their transition very well." That many new players is a lot to handle, but the coaching staff has the needed experience to bring these young guys to the desired level. The team is looking to improve from last season's 4-5 record. "We were very pleased with our offseason," Sheptock said. "We improved the team with recruiting and our veteran players demonstrated significant improvements in their physical conditioning." The Colonels have an early Sept. 8 bye, but make their first home game appearance Sept. 15 against Albright College. The Week 3 match-up will be the MAC Conference opener. Last year, Wilkes lost 2665 and has a 1-4 record against Albright since 2007. Looking to bring the first home game to an end with a W, it's the building process for any great team to succeed that Sheptock spoke of. "I like our team chemistry and the maturity the team is exhibiting. Our seniors have done a great job bringing the team through camp." In the season opener for Albright, the Lions came out on top with a field-goal, much like Wilkes, with a 29-26 win over Kean University. Running back Ty Hughes for the Lions received honors for MAC Offensive Player of the Week with 142 yards and three touchdowns. If the Colonels want to start off the season ~ 'ls11l1)!1 I J<'C~P.M J ~ l MORRISVIUESTATECOLLEGE Allli!.: !W,~l?l:m:JPM .rflf' Al.BRJGHTCOUEGE' =, WIDENER UNIVERSITY ' i 1ilJOM <.)1.'lY&ttt I tOOP..M m FAIRLEIGHOICKINSON-CO!.LEGEAT FlORHAM' 1ml'Zl'!2 I lo'.X) S.M ll:;i MISERJCORllA UNIVERSITY • 1(¥13?;)12 I 1m PJA LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE• Kt'il>W9 I 11Jc~P.M STEVENSON UNIVERSITY • -v:n1l2ITT 1 I 1:00 RM. LYCOMING COLLEGE ' ~ - 1filZllXl1WJ>M -.,,:e OELAWAREVAU£Y COLLEGE• 11M':@12 i 12:t'l.lPM i3 ~NG'SCOLLEGE • (MAYOR'SCUP) 2-0, it's the running game the team should focus on by shutting them down. The 142-yard performance by Hughes is more yards than Wilkes allowed all together on the ground, so stopping him will be the key. Be sure to come out to all the home games this season to show your support for the Wilkes Colonels. @WU_BeaconSports frank.passa/acqua@wilkes.edu The Beacon/Archives Wilkes University's football team had a memorable game to start off the 2012 season with a 9-7 victory over Morrisville State College. The Colonels make their first home appearance on Sept. 15 against Albright College. Area 151: The UFC event that didn't happen By Jake Coc.hran Assistant A&E Editor For years, every time a fighter signed a contract for the UFC, they could guarantee that come that date they would have a fight. But recently, for the first time in 11 years, the UFC hlid to cancel an event, prompting outrage from fans and fighters alike. Dana White would say that Jon Jones, the current UFC light heavyweight champion, and his manager and controversial strategist Greg Jackson, have blood on their hands for the death of this event. But dig a little deeper and the problem gets much more complicated. Jones was originally set to defend his title against former Olympian Dan Henderson, but when the typically indestructible Hendo blew out his MCL during a training session, the UFC had to scramble to find a replacement for the fight that was nine days away. So the organization had to pull out all the stops and try to find someone to face Jones in just under two weeks, and a few fighters stepped up to the plate. Middleweight contender Chris Weidman said he would take the fight, but the UFC pursued another former Olympian, Chae! Sonnen. Sonnen is known for his ability to sell a fight and has been called the best trash-talker in sports history, but he was coming off of a loss in a rematch to pound-for-pow1d king and longtime middleweight champion, Anderson Silva. To the credit of the UFC, Sonnen was planning to make the move up to light heavyweight to face Forrest Griffin at the end of the year but honestly, they were giving a man who just lost a title shot at a lower weight class, a title fight at the next weight class, a weight class he hadn't fought at since 2005? Adding to this, Dan Henderson said that he tried to work through the injury and said he couldn't do it. Sonnen and Henderson train in the same camp, so it is very likely that Sonnen knew before the UFC that Hendo wasn't going to be able to fight. And when Sonnen went on a trash talking tirade about Jon Jones on UFC Tonight the same week as the announcement of Henderson being hurt ... just put two and two together and you'll see the bigger picture. But Sonnen signing the fight wasn't the problem; it was getting Jon Jones to sign the fight. Jones currently looked unstoppable and was looking for his fourth title defense of an incredible reign as champion. So with a drastic change in opponent on nine days notice, defending his title didn't seem like the best idea to his coach and manager, Greg Jackson. Jackson has often been a punching bag of the MMA community for his somewhat lackluster point fighting strategies, emphasizing winning fights over finishing fights and advising Jon to not take this fight cemented him and Jones as the enemy for Dana White who dragged both Jones and Jackson through the mud during the press conference when he announced the cancelation ofUFC 151. While many will question Jones's merit and manhood, this was the right decision for him. Besides, this has happened before, title fights have been cancelled from cards and the show has gone on. But the UFC had put together a very weak card beneath the title fight and realized that without the title fight they had a very undesirable product, with little to no name power. They had to pull the event for fear of poor performance on the pay-per-view market, thus leaving a gap in DVD collections that will be forever known as Area 151. @WU_BeaconSports jake.cochran@wilkes.edu �17 SPORTS THE BEACON I Sept. 11, 2012• Field hockey rises to intense competition early on By Kirstin Cook Editor-in-Chief The women's field hockey team at Wilkes is going into what may be its best season in at least three years. Coach Mollie Reichard said the athletes this year are off to a better start than the past two years she's been coaching at Wilkes. "The group of kids that I have this year, in all honesty, is probably the best group that I've had since I've been here," Reichard said. Reichard said this improvement is due to increased athleticism, hard work, good attitudes and a positive atmosphere. She said the athletes came into two-week preseason in better shape than ever. Another reason the team is in such a good position is the amount of returning athletes. This year, there are only five freshmen on the team, compared to 11 new players on the roster last year. This helped make the preseason training go more smoothly, and allowed the players to work drills at a faster pace. Despite their improvements, the team lost 3-2 against Washington College in round one of the Salisbury Invitational. However, it pulled through with a 3-2 win against Husson University. The first weekend of competitions led to a loss in the season opener to SUNY Geneseo, 6-1. "It was a little rough," Reichard said of the weekend. But, the Colonels pulled through against Wittenberg in the second game of the weekend. With only 18 seconds on the clock, senior midfielder Lauren Pawling scored a goal to tie with Wittenberg 3-3. Freshman Lexi Thompson scored the winning goal after .just over two minutes of overtime. "The kids did a really good job at coming back and staying in the game, instead of letting one or two goals go and then having their reaction," Reichard said. The team has already faced challenges with these first competitions, and it won't be getting easier. Reichard said the games leading up to the Freedom Conference will pit the athletes against tough opponents to try to prepare them to for the goal of making playoffs. "It's putting our kids against what should be good competition right away to challenge them," Reichard said. Reichard is trying to give the team a competitive edge by placing them against teams that have a higher national Rating Percentage Index than Wilkes does and have done well in their respective conferences. She hopes this gives the players the chance to overcome mistakes early on and learn from them. "You hit your kids hard to see what they're possibly made of and what their mentalities are, so hopefully once you, so that way once you get into conference play you have things adjusted, and your kids have been able to overcome things that if it happens in conference play, they know they can do it again." She said she hopes the challenge of these competitors will increase a competitive mentality for the girls rather than pressure when facing these accomplished teams. "I don't think it should feel like pressure," Reichard said. "In my opinion, it should feel like more of a challenge, more of a reason to step up your competitiveness and your passion in the game because you know that you can go out there." Reichard also said wins against these higherranked teams will pump up the girls' confidence, along with their playing skills. "If you would win against a higher level opponent, to me that's just a boost to everything: your mentality, your play, your aggressiveness," Reichard said. "So to me it's just about going out there no matter who the competition is and going 100 percent all the time." Reichard said upperclassmen have contributed to the positive atmosphere on the team. She said all the freshmen talked about how the elders made them feel welcome. "I think that's one· thing that's really great about the kids that they will tell you is they really feel like they're a family, compared to just like a group of people playing on a team." The field hockey family will have to come together to beat out Widener this Friday, Sept. 14. Reichard said this will be a good game because Wilkes lost to Widener last year by just one goal. The home game will be at 7 p.m. Schmidt Stadium. @kirstinjeancook kirstin.cook@wifkes.edu The Beacon/Kirstin Cook Danielle Distefano, freshman utility, heads back to the goal after Wilkes goes on attack against Wittenberg University. The Beacon/Kirstin Cook o one m y a a, Jun or ut1 ty at center, wor berg University during a home game Sept. 1. �,18 THE BEACON SPORTS I Sept. 11, 2012 SCOREBOARD Football 9/1 Wilkes- 9 Morrisville- 7 Field Hockey 9/1 Wilkes-4 Wittenburg-3 M-Soccer 8/31 Keystone - Win 2-0 F-Soccer 9/1 Muhlenburg- Win 2-1 Volleyball 9/1 Alvernia - Win 3-0 WEEK AHEAD Football 9/15 VS. Albright College Field Hockey 9/14 VS. Widener M-Cross Country 9/14 VS. Misericordia F-Cross Country 9/14 VS. Misericordia Volleyball 9/12 VS. Misericordia Tweet us: Send messages and pictures to: @wu_BeaconSports I hate being on a bandwagon. I prefer to drive it and try to pick a sleeper for the super bowl every year. In a season where I have the Bears being the big sleeper in the NFC, for the AFC I just cannot find a team that can sneak in that isn't one everyone is already picking. Even though my team is not a sleeper, it was a difficult choice. I went back and forth for a while trying to decide. I came down to a Patriots-Texans AFC title game which, anyone who doesn't have the Ravens in the big game, has. This was tough but I am picking the Texans to get to the Super Bowl. It comes down to the fact that the Texans are just the most complete team in the league._They have a borderline elite quarterback in Matt Schaub who suffered a tough injury and who is dying to take that next step and prove he deserves mention in the top quarterbacks conversation. They have Arian F Oster one of the top running backs in the league with a good backup that can step up in Ben Tate. Andre Johnson, need I say more? And, finally, Houston has a top-ranked defense last year that can get to the quarterback and force turnovers led by and upcoming JJ Watt, Brian Cushing and Jonathan Joseph with a guru defensive coordinator in Wade Phillips. Gary Kubiak is really underrated and is my pick for coach of the year. I think a healthy Texans team is better than the Patriots, last year's AFC representative in the Super Bowl. The Patriots were exposed last year by the Giants. They have an awful secondary and cannot get to the quarterback, and their offensive line has deteriorated from what it used to be to mediocre. The Ravens are a sad story. They have been missing that "it" factor to make them a complete team and by the time they might find it they are just about too old to make it to the Promised Land. Suggs is out for the year; Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are too old to shoulder the load anymore, and is Joe Fiacco, Ray Rice and the offense ready to carry a team that far? I doubt it. I love that Denver has Peyton Manning. That is enough to put you in the conversation but their lack of a big time wide receiver and Peyton being slightly rusty I can't see them getting far in the playoffs this year. The Steelers are going to have a rough year with an aging defense, disgruntled wide receiver and a quarterback in Roethlisberger (who I believe will not finish the year with a partially torn rotator cuff). I can see it getting worse and surgery being the only option in December. Texans-Bears in the Super Bowl, and I have the Bears winning it all -- 24-20! @tl .,, "· '· ,; · '"' ·= ,; ·,. · ··· c:· ·· ❖--:·:., I As the 2012 NFL season kicks off, every fan knows February seems only a few short weeks away. In the National Football Conference, many teams are making a strong case for being the NFC Champions and ultimately making their way to the Super Bowl. When it comes down to it, there are two teams favored to be atop of this list: the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles. Representing the NFC North, the Green Bay Packers are one team heavily favored to return to the Super Bowl for the second time in just three years. Last season, the Packers finished with a 15-1 record before getting knocked off by the New York Giants in the Divisional round. • · Blame it on the two-week break the team had, but the Packers fell out of contention early despite having the best record in the entire NFL. With Aaron Rodgers coming off a 4,643 passing yard season and 45 touchdowns, the reining MVP will do whatever it takes in 2012 to get his team back on top and right where they left off last season. The second team many experts think will finally break through and live up to their "dream team" expectations are the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles had a rather disappointed season last year, finishing 8-8 and missing the playoffs entirely by one game. With a great offseason full of added players and talented rookies emerging in the spotlights, it's hard to look at this team and doubt them in 2012. Coach Andy Reid lost his son Garrett in early August and with the season devoted to him, the team won't look back until they can put a ring on Coach Reid's finger. With a deadly offense and a greatly improved defense, the only hindering factor on this team is the health of quarterback Mike Vick. If Vick can stay on the field and hold those late leads, this year may be the first year Philly fans can celebrate a Super Bowl victory. Both teams are a team that once they catch fire, there is no slowing them down. If the two franchises make it to the NFC Championship game, I'd have to bank on the Philadelphia Eagles coming through to represent the NFC in the 2012 Super Bowl. The Eagles will go on to win 27-17 and make it to the big game for the first time since 2004. @wilkesbeacon frank.passalacqua@wilkes.edu �THE BEACON I Sept. 11, 2012 SPORTS 19 Getting to Know: Megan Binder, women's soccer By Kirstin Cook Editor-in-Chief . Meet Megan Binder, a freshman defender for womens soccer who already is looking ahead to an exciting college career. In high school, she was named all-county her, senior year, and all-conference her junior year. The biology major from North Babylon, NY., said she already feels close to her fellow athletes at Wilkes, even though its only been a few weeks since she met them. She said soccer is basically in her blood, because her dad played and her two younger siblings now play. Playing together is a whole family event for them. In the games, Binder is hooked on the competition of the game, and shes always trying to be the best. When did you first start playing soccer? When I was about 4 years old. Probably my mom just signed me up for it, something for me to do, and I just liked it a lot. Why did you decide to stick with it through college? · It's always been a big part of my life, and I don't think I was ready to give it up yet. And it's still fun, so I still enjoy it. What is your fave part about being on the team? I like the girls, it's like a family. I feel very included. And it's fun and I like the competition. How do you stay motivated in conditioning and competition? I am very competitive. I always want to beat the person next to me, I always want to be first, I always want to be the best so I just keep pushing myself and it pays off. I get results, and if I get results than I'll keep going. the hard work paid off. Do you have any moments you are especially proud of in your soccer career? Probably just playing in college. It's what I've always wanted to do, so I'm pretty excited for the next four years. Being a freshman, do you look up to the upperclassmen on the team? Yeah, I just like how hard they work, and how long they've been here and all their experiences and stuff. It's cool listening to their stories and how they've achieved things. Do you have any superstitions going into games? I always have to put my left sock on first, then my left shoe, and then my right sock and my right shoe. And then I just have to listen to music and focus, not let anything distract me. Megan Binder is shown tossing around a soccer ball. Binder is brand new to the Wilkes soccer team and looking forward to an exciting sport career. So far, she says being on the team feels like being a part of a family. • Do a lot of your friends come to support you at games? · Yeah. They're a cheering squad. Them and my family. Is your family really into soccer? Yeah, we always play. And my mom and dad always come. When we're bored we just go outside and play. All my siblings play. My dad played. So did you encourage your siblings to get into soccer? Yeah. I like forced them. I told my parents to sign them up. What is your favorite pre-workout snack? I like Clif bars. So much. My favorite flavor is chocolate chip. Do you know what you want to do in the field of biology? I want to be a physical therapist. A lot of people want to do that now. How long have you wanted to be a physical therapist? Probably since I was in ninth grade. I broke my ankle and had to go to physical therapy, and I liked what they did there. What are you looking forward to the most in the next four years? Everything. Just the whole experience, the journey. Are there any challenges you face in balancing sports and academics? Yeah, balancing is hard, but it's manageable. I just have to get organized. I always have my planner, and have to have certain times for homework, certain study hours, and go to practice, and class. What is your favorite part about competing? It just gives you a good feeling, like all The Beacon/Laura Preby @kirstinjeancook kirstin.cook@wilkes.edu Intramural sign-ups approaching, don't forget and don't miss out! Ever feel like playing a sport but didn't want to go through the hassle of all that running at practice? Do you want to exercise, but don't want to deal with going to the crowded gym? Well, intramural sign-ups are about to begin! Gather up all your athletic friends and hit the field! From flag football to softball, Wilkes Intramurals has it all. If there are enough participants, director Neal Biscaldi would like to even start up at Billiards and Bowling Tournament. If this interests you, sign up right away. Fall Semester Sign Up Date: • Flag Football Sign Up By Sept. 12, 2012 starts Sept. 16 • Coed Outdoor Soccer Sign Up By Sept. 14, 2012 starts week of Sept. 17 • Women's Softball Sign Up By Sept. 14 2012 starts week of Sept. 17 • 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament- TBA • Billiards Tournament-TBA • Bowling Tournament- TBA Spring Semester Sign Up Dates: • Coed Volleyball - Sign Up By Jan. 25, 2013, starts Jan .. 28 • Coed Indoor Soccer - Sign Up By Jan. 25th, 2013 starts Jan. 30 • Coed Basketball- Sign Up By March 1, 2013 starts March • Softball Tournament- Sign Up By April 12, 2013, starts April 17 �" 20 SPORTS THE BEACON ~ I Sept. 11, 2012 ~Like I] FIGshirts -,11,.-is.t: - ~.A'I•,. ii@fio";'irts 146 SOUTH PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE WILKES-BARRE NEAR CORBA BEVERAGE AND DOMINO'S! 570.823.9272 � 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, 2012 September 11th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 September 11 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/0d7e6a3a77d4c482ed22252af6219820.pdf 5d6d816ebb5f865c981c5a7c5e0cd66e PDF Text Text - - - -- The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow. Sept. 18, 2012 T. #.At,:. T3 i C ~- - - - ----· THE BEACON Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Dlft£CTQl!i t;Aiti£RA: -- Volume 65 Issue 2 ~ For more information and content, check us out at: thewilkesbeacon.co~ n �Contact editor: christine.lee@wilkes.edu Sept. 18, 2012 Patrick Leahy ushers in new era at Wilkes as president By Christine Lee News Editor The Wilkes campus was abuzz with activity on Thursday, Sept. 13, Friday, Sept. 14 and Saturday, Sept. 15 for the weekend of Patrick Leahy's formal installation as Wilkes' sixth president. Reflecting on the theme of "Looking back with pride, looking forward with confidence," the weekend's festivities were arraigned by a steering committee co-chaired by Vice President of Student Affairs Paul Adams and Board of Trustees member Melanie Lumia. Because the annual John Wilkes Society dinner, which honors Wilkes' leadership donors, happened to fall around the time of the installation celebrations, it was worked into the events leading up to the installation. It was held on Thursday night at the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre. On Friday afternoon, five faculty members representing each of Wilkes' academic colleges presented research done in their fields. The research was part of Leahy's interest in having a faculty presentation. "Dr. Leahy knew from the beginning that hf wanted to have some kind of academic or faculty presentation and so we built that in and it just worked out that we did that as part of Friday's activities," Adams explained. The program started off with assistant professor of biology, physics and engineering Gregory Harms of the College of Science and Engineering presented his research on "Revelations Through Image Resolutions: Stimulated Emission Depletion Microscopy and Sheet Illumination Microscopy." Harms's research focused on improving microscopy, or the ability to visualize something small, by making the effects of a stimulated emission depletion microscopy laser smaller so scientists could see sub-cellular structures of a tissue sample. The laser would do this by turning off the signal domain "lights" of the cell selectively. Assistant professor of education Elizabeth Johnson of the School of Education presented her research on "The Role of Statistics in Educational Research." Her presentation focused on her work with rubric development for exams and math anxiety in teachers in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. The Beacon Archives Dr. Patrick Leahy was officially installed as Wilkes' sixth President on Saturday, Sept.15 Associate professor of history Diane Wenger of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences presented her research on "From Single Brother to Celebrated Snuff Maker: The Story Behind Demuth's Tobacco Shop," a case study on Demuth's Tobacco Shop that was opened from circa 1770 to 2010 in Lancaster. Associate professor of business administration Justin Matus of the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership presented his research on "An Analysis of Technology Enhanced Pedogogy and Learning: Student Response Systems (Clickers)," in which he and several alums of the school examined whether "clickers" in the classroom have an effect on students' learning outcomes at the college level. Associate professor of pharmacy practice Eric Wright of the Nesbitt College of Pharmacy and Nursing presented research on "Improving Health Through Patient Engagement," in which he discussed research he is involved helping patients that were not taking their prescribed medications to be able to take them. On Friday night, students, faculty, staff and alumni were invited for a celebration of the installation in the Henry Student Center ballroom, which included free food and drinks and a dance floor for attendees to enjoy themselves to with the music of local band Pop Rox. Adams said the committee wanted to create a series of events that culminated in the installation. In particular, the committee wanted to have something for everyone on campus and it members Melanie Lumia, the co-chair for made sense to have the installation celebration the installation committee and Virginia Sikes, on Friday night. chair of the presidential search committee, by "We wanted to have a celebration for ev- presenting Leahy with the charter of Wilkes, erybody at the campus, something that every- the seal and the presidential chain of office. body could attend, something that everybody In his inaugural address, Leahy reflected on could enjoy, something that everyone would the installation theme and commented on the remember and so with a Saturday ceremony it proud history and traditions at Wilkes while just seemed to made sense that we would have giving his outline for the future. And while he a big campus party on Friday night," Adams was reflective of his time at the University of said. Scranton, Leahy expressed to the crowd, "be The weekend of events highlighting the in- forewarned Scranton, Wilkes is coming after stallation theme of "Looking back with pride, you." looking forward with confidence" culminated Leahy plans to spend the year getting to on Saturday morning with Leahy's formal in- know the University by getting to many indistallation at the F.M Kirby Center on Public viduals that make up Wilkes. Square in Wilkes-Barre. "My first year will be full of getting to know The ceremony was kicked off with a proces- the university as well as possible, the best sion of 200 people that included , , way to do that is to get to know members of the Board of Trustc d as many individuals that are part ees, faculty, administration, delBe 1.orwarne of this community, the faculty egates, alumni and student repre- Scranton Wilkes members, the staff members and sentatives from 1946 to 2016 and ' of course. The most constituents, four past presidents. is coming after the students," Leahy said. "I'm An original musical work en,, going to spend much of the first titled "Noble Truths," written by you, year listening and developing reassociate professor of performing - Patrick Leahy, lationships and enjoying the oparts S~even Thomas with lyrics _by President po~i~ to get to ~ow Wilkes associate professors of English Uruvers1ty," Leahy said. Larry Kuhar and Mischelle AnLeahy said despite the duties thony was debuted by the University Chorus of being president, he does hope to teach in and the Robert Dale Chorale. the future. Speeches welcoming the new president were "Despite the demands of the job of presigiven by board member Virginia Sikes, Stu- dent, I think it's important, for the president dent Government President Kristofer Rivers, in particular, to maintain some presence in the Matus, who is the chair of the Faculty Affairs classroom," Leahy said. Council, University College advising coordiLeahy is also said he is planning on moving nator Gretchen Yeninas, Alumni Association his office to Weckesser Hall to be more visible president Thomas Ralston from the class of on campus. 1980, State Sen. John Yudichak of the 14th "My comings and goings will put in me in Senatorial District and Wilkes-Barre Mayor touch with the core constituents of the univerTom Leighton. sity, the faculty, the staff, the students," Leahy A musical selection of "Fanfare and Fantasy said. on Wilkes Our Alma Mater," composed by asOverall, Leahy acknowledged that he is sociate professor of performing arts Philip Si- grateful to be chosen as president of Wilkes. mon was performed by the Civic Band. "It's a gre"at privilege in my life to named The keynote address was given by Rev. Scott and installed as the new president of Wilkes Pilarz, president of Marquette University in University, and I'm going to do everything I Milwaukee, Wis. Pilarz had previously served can to make sure that this university meets all as the president of the University of Scranton. of the ambitions that it has for itself." Pilarz was also presented with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. @c/eespot Board Chair Jack Miller formally installed christine.lee@wilkes.edu Leahy as President with the help of board THE BEACON Editorial Staff 2012-13 130 S. River St. First Floor,Conyngham Hall Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 PHONE: (570) 408-5903 W EBSITE: thewilkesbeacon.com Editor-in-Chief: Kirstin Cook News Editor: Christine Lee Managing Editor: Bryan Calabro Opinion Editor: Carly Yamrus Ad Manager: Brittany Battista A&E Editor: Bill Thomas Photo Editor: Laura Preby Life Editor: Anne Yoskoski Adviser: Loran Lewis Sports Ed itor: Frank Passalacqua Meet the Staff Carly Yamrus Opinion Editor �THE BEACON I Sept. 18, 2012 3 NEWS New changes at Farley Library hope to improve accessibility to all By Abbey Haldeman Assistant News Editor When Farley Library first underwent reconstruction in 2010 with the creation of the Alden Leaming Commons the first part of a four-phase journey began. This year the process to modernize the Eugene S. Farley library is continuing as they come to a close with phase two out of four: the remodeling of the front entranceway. With the installation of the new handicapped entrance, everybody will be able to come in through the front door. The new ramp allows for those who used to not be able to access the library through the front door to now be able too. The new doors are automatic and allow for easy entry. Farley library has also opened up the Alden Leaming Commons 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to students. "It was always kind of in the back of my mind when we created the Alden Commons but I couldn't quit rally enough support around it," John Stachecz, dean of library services, said about the 24-hour access system. However, after hearing some discussion of the possibility of closure in computer labs, the thought resurfaced. With the cost being relatively small and generous donations made by Student Government and Dr. Harold E. Cox, the 24-hour access began. With a grant given to them by Student Government, the university established a means of security throughout the building without staffing Farley through the entire night. Security cameras run in different areas and are fed directly to the Public Safety office. A public safety officer makes their way through the library once every hour. There is also an The Beacon/Dan Lykens The Alden Learning Commons in Farley Library is now open 24 hours. Above is the after-hours entrance located next to South Main Street. emergency telephone located in the Alden Leaming Commons. "I think it is probably as safe as we can make it," Stachecz stated. An issue some students may find with the 24-hour access is that it is not technically handicapped accessible. For those who need access the library after hours and use the elevator, Public Safety officers are available to come allow you access to the elevator and walk you through the building to reach the Alden Leaming Commons. Likewise, when leaving the library, they are available to escort students from the basement to the exit. At this point, the addition of a handicapped accessible entrance being put in just isn't in the budget for the University but nothing is written in stone yet. Students seem to be appreciative of the advantages the 24-hour access is giving to them. Sophomore biology major Adoma Yeboah is one of those pleased with having 24-hour access to the library. "The 24-hour access to the library is a great addition to the new 2012 school year," Yeboah said. "I feel that it is another reliable venue to study, finish assignments as well as get papers printed. Essentially, the 24-hour access to the library sets no time limit to the way a student works." While Yeboah told The Beacon she has not had a chance to use it, she is looking forward to it during the next few weeks. This is something the library was looking for with the addition of 24-hour access, availability for students who struggle to make it to the library during its 93 hours a week of operation. The 24-hour entrance, on the southwest comer of the building is accessible by a swipe card system similar to those used in dorms. All students, faculty and staff are able to make use of the area. The original goal was for the finishing touches to be put on the entrance before the installation of President Leahy. Remodels were put on hold for a while due to damages in the doors that were delivered. A big difference in the entrance came not through means of renovation, but rule changes. The front entrance will now be a smoke free zone due to large amounts of complaints from students. "It is a cost-effective way to give additional service to the students and faculty," Stachecz said. At the beginning of the fall semester some difficulties came to place with printing in the library. These problems have'been solved with the installation of new high capacity printers. On top of that, there was an additional high capacity color printer added to the library. While renovations aren't complete, the steps in the right direction are being made. The next two phases to take place, will be the replacement of the HVAC system and to refurbish the rest of the floors to match the Alden Leaming Commons though times for these to occur are not scheduled. Stachecz said he really wants students to know that the library listens to their needs. In a century where people feel libraries are dying, Farley is only growing. @wilkesbeacon abbey.haldeman@wilkes.edu Educational Forum series discusses issues in education By~ob Grabosky Staff Writer A series of lectures dealing with issues in education are being held starting on Sept. 18 on campus. They are one of the biggest events being held on campus this semester and will take place over two months, not only for students and staff to be informed, but the community as well. Dr. Robert S. Gardner and his wife, Judith, will host the Educational Forum series oflectures on starting on Sept. 18 and continuing until Nov. 7. The people slated to speak are former Max Rosenn Law Clerk and General Counssel of the Los Angeles Unified School District Hal Kwalwasser, retired senior information specialist at the Library of Congress Frank Evina, associate professor of education Dr. Gina Morrison and Randy Granger, dean of academics at Wyoming Seminary. Gardner said for the forum, he and his wife, adjunct instructor of education Judith Gardner, bring in 8-10 speakers to talk about issues in the educational process. The first will be Hal Kwalwasser on Sept. 18 at 4:30 p.m. Gardner said the lectures fit in with his phi- losophy that education is not only in the classroom, but also out of the classroom, where students can gain broader experience. The lectures cover a wide range of topics in education over the course of two months. The educational forum is to let the students, faculty, staff and the community understand issues in education and to inform them about these issues are going to affect them going forward. Schedule of Events RENEWAL Education Forum Series Tuesday, Sept. 18 "Renewal, Remaking America's Schools for the Twenty-First Century" 4:30 p.m. I Marts 214 Wednesday, Oct. 3 "Using Library of Congress Resources in K-12 Classrooms with an overview of the Junior Fellows Intern Program" 4:00 p.m. I Breiseth 316 @wilkesbeacon robert.grabosky@wilkes.edu Monday, Oct. 8 "Teaching and Learning in Asia: The Malaysia Opportunity" 4:30 p.m. I Marts 214 Harold Kwalwasser, author of "Remaking America's Schools For The Twenty-First Century" {right), will be making an appearance on campus to talk about issues In the educational process. REMAKING AMERICA'SSCHOOlS FOR THE TWENTY~FIRSJ CENTURY HAAOtOKWAL'ttASStR Wednesday, Nov. 7 "The Independent School Experience" 4:30 p.m. I Marts 214 �4 THE BEACON NEWS I Sept. 18, 2012 Marijuana usage linked to decrease in IQ, other negative effects By Kirstin Cook Editor-in-Chief Adolescents who smoke marijuana could be at risk for a drop in IQ, as a new study links heavy marijuana usage in teenagers with cognitive decline. The study, published in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" at the end of August, found an IQ decline in 5 percent of teen users with a loss ofup to eight IQ points. The study is being called the first of its kind because of its long-term examination of IQ before and after routine use of the drug. "That was the first one I looked at that looked specifically at adolescents, at least as far as IQ," said Dan McCune, pharmaceutical sciences professor at Wilkes. The study is bringing attention to some of the known negative effects of marijuana usage, as well as what is still unknown about the drug) effects. While knowledge on the consequences of the drug has been increasing, so have the statistics on usage. 17.4 million Americans 12 years old or older reported using marijuana at least once in the.previous month, according to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. This high number of usage may be a driving factor behind these new studies. The IQ study was groundbreaking not only for the subject matter, but for the unprecedented indication of permanent cognitive effects. McCune explained he has seen past studies showing a drop in IQ for adults, but the effect was always temporary and could be reversed after about a month. "The fact that there's an IQ drop isntt surprising," McCune saidr :;Tiie surprising part and the concerning part is that it's apparently permanent." Psychology professor Edward Schicatano, who teaches classes on neuroscience and how drugs affect the brain and behavior, agrees that this is the mostalarming part of the study. He said the connections between neurons in t~ brain are usually only affect~d,wl!jle th~ drug is in the system. .,. "It might be temporary while the drugts in the system or there might be just a littl(blt~f the way the neurons are connecting, bu'J;c;tpat can grow back,'' Schicatano said. "If you,:§titrt learning ,aga~ the neurons will reconnect, and "that's typically what happens. I didn't know this, that it's permanent and that's the first I've seen that." He said the findings are alarming because they may indicate that the,drug is killing cells in the brain. ' "As far as this oeing a long-term effeCL'?n IQ ... That does imply that it's killing cells, or at least the conne,ctions between nerve cells," Schicatano said. But McCune said he was not surprised by the findings, since the drUg is affecting brain connectivity at an age when chllt}-ges )ike breakage and formation of connections is gq--' ing on at a high rate. ·, ~ "During that time in life, there is a, great deal of changes taking place, with th1;'?neµ- &' "'t--~..1 rons in the brain,'' McCune said. tent of damage. "There's been some question - and there's Shannon Gilhooley, sophomore pharmacy major, also said she wasn't sury:,rised to hear of no definitive proof, studies are conflicting - as the findings from what she observed in friends to whether or not inhalation from smoke from who began smoking marijuana in high school. marijuana is as dangerous as inhalation of "Just knowing people who have done it smoke from tobacco cigarettes,'' McCune said. He said marijuana poses issues because filseem to have a lower IQ," Gilhooley said. "They seem to have less ambition and do!l't ters, like the ones on cigarettes, are want to try as hard." not often used and there some of · This side effect of lacking ambition is ac- the same carcinogens in tobacco tually a symptom grounded in science called present in marijuana. However, amotivational syndrome, which is linked to there are other factors that influmarijuana usage. This syndrome is also often ence the potential for lung cancer, like the frequency of use and size seen in depressed people. Schicatano said amotivational syndrome of intake of smoke. Then, there's the misconception may have influenced the study findings. "If you're not motivated to take a test, even that marijuana is not addictive. Mcan IQ test, your IQ is going to suffer, it's going Cune said marijuana works on the ,game pleasure system as heroin and to be lower," Schicatano said. McCune said there are other potential draw- cocaine do, so while it's not to the backs to the study, like that it didn't take into · same extent, the drug does have addictive qualities. account enviromnental and social factors. Schicatano said there's potential for "(With) studies of this nature, there are often outside factors like environment and psy- marijuana users to fall into a pattern of chosocial things or who knows what could've habit rather than a physical addiction, affected the outcome,'' McCune said. "You especially if the drug is used to decrease would like to s¢e more studies in this particular stress. population with adolescents to see, to verify, , that this is a real' and permanent effect"' " Once you start usOther effects of marijuana ing it to calm It appears that lowered IQ is just the tip of down, to reduce the iceberg for side effects from marijuana us- anxiety, then you age. Schicatano said that impaired driving i s can become depensomething that gets a lot of attention with al- dent." Schicatano said there coho!, but it just as dangerous while under the are also positive effects of influence of marijuana. "You' ve got several things that all are im- marijuana that can be applied portant for driving,'' Schicatano said. "So, to "special cases." He said the drug (marijuana is) as bad as alcohol if not worse: can decrease aggression, inhibit nausea, stimulate appetite and minimize stroke damNo doubt about it." Some of the things that are decreased by age. However, he said in tbe case of a colmarijuana , usage •include reaction time, motor coordination., peripheral vision and visual lege student using the drug for recretracking to follow something that's moving. ational purposes,, the symptoms "Driving under the influence of marijuana like decreased motivation, . is equally dangerous, and I don't think people , reduced problem solv,, really think of it that way, because.ma,rijuana "ipg abilities and even a does have some central nervous syst~m de; drop in IQ will only be harmpressant effects,'' McCune said. "It does ,slow} ful to a college career. "To be able to function, like your reflexes, your psycho-motor coordin~!ion and it does impair your ability to drive a motor in college, obviously marivehicleY juana would have negative McG.une sai~ piat some of the subjective effects,'' S~hicatano said. feelings;',like a.buzz or a relaxed feeling, wear off aftet'about a.ii hour, but the impairment to motor skills last much longer and users may not even realize. An effect that lasts even longer may be the ' impairment of the memory system in the brain. Schicatano said the long~tenn damage to m~mory is not understood and needs more study.' "Whj.le it's in the brain., your memory's not good,'' ·schicatano said. "What are the longterm effects of that, I'm not sure." He said the dnlg affects many types of memories while in th!'), •system, and also hin ;:ability to form n~w fllemories. . Another area thatJmight call for morf @kirstinjea cook is the consequences bf marijuana smoke · kirstin.cook@wilkes.edu (l") lungs, since there is no conclusion on th ~i ,~ Q;, i i * �THE BEACON I Sept. 18, 2012 NEWS 5 New bioengineering master's program is hands-on By Shawn Carey Staff Writer For the 2012-2013 academic year the College of Science and Engineering is offering a new master's program in bioengineering. The program was officially launched this semester and has nine students talcing the 36 -credit course. "It has been tremendous, because of what it took to launch the program, we did not get it approved until late into the academic year (Spring 2012)," program director Dr. Rodney Ridley said. The program is the first of its kind in the Wyoming Valley. It is designed to give students a chance to get hands-on experience and practice real-world situations during their studies at Wilkes. "I am anxiously excited to get things going and to see if the program will work," Associate program director Dr. William Terzaghi said. "The bioengineering program is an exciting development for Wilkes University and an important asset for northeast Pennsylvania," Wilkes president Dr. Patrick Leahy said in a release. "Offering this advanced program will help the region increase jobs by meeting industry needs and solidifies Wilkes as the re- The Beacon/Dan Lykens gion's premier provider for science and engineering education," Leahy said. Students who are accepted into the program will choose between two tracks: biomedical engineering and cell/metabolic engineering. "The job market requires highly skilled candidates," Justin Flam, a student in the program said in a release. "This puts me in a better position to get a job right out of college at a higher pay rate, especially in the science and technology fields." Associate program director Dr. Gregory Harms, who also teaches in the program, commented on the uniqueness of the two-track system at Wilkes. "Usually most programs have more of a onetrack mind," Harms said. "I think that is one of our advantages, we really have a two-track program and we are thrilled to have it." In order to be in the program, students need an undergraduate degree in engineering or biology. Harms also commented the uniqueness of bringing these two majors together into one program. "Biologists are going to work directly with the engineers and the engineers get to work directly with the biologists," Harms said. Ridley stated students are going to have a lot of advanced hands on experience in the classroom and applying it to real world situations. "You would be hard pressed to find a school where you can get really hands on, world class research and access to industry," Ridley said. "You get the benefit of what makes small schools great which is access and personal relationships and working with professors." Students who are interested in the program should contact the graduate admissions department counselor Joshua Savitski at joshua.savitzki@wilkes.edu or 570-408-42_38. Students will have to meet the graduate level admissions requirements to be in the program and are strongly encouraged to have either a biology or engineering background. @shawncarey8 shawn.carey@wilkes.edu IT, food services updates announced at SG meeting By Abbey Haldeman Assistant News Editor WILKES UNIVERSITY'S ONE STOP - PRINT SHOP Sept. 12 meeting called to order 6:01 p.m. Mention this ad for a FREE Hat with your first order! TreaA rer's Report: All College: $9,550 Conferences:$700 General Funds:$18,750 Leadership:$600 Spirit:$1,454.34 Student Government Total:$31,054.34 New Business: Food Services Update: Sodexo Advertising Manager, Jason Alinet, talked to the board about the redesign of Rifkin Cafe including the difference in late night now being served at Rifkin instead of Henry's dining hall. Sunday, Monday and Thursday nights there are specials running which includes pizza, wings and nachos. Students are able to call in orders on those nights or order in person. In the Henry Student Union Building Cafe they are offering more gluten free items and themed days and events. Also informing students of the Off-Campus Service plan, through which students can use their Flex Dollars at places such as Sheetz, Subway, and Asian Kitchen. IT: IT Executive Director Cindy Greene informed the Student Government panel that fi.:llfllfD1, ··;:, ,;;;, , .c·. ' ·;·-· ·=:1;,':;;?,:;; , What We Can Do For You Google migration will be completed in January and the split will be made from Outlook Web access to only Gmail. Thus far, there have been over 1,400 students who have opted-in. If students are having issues logging into LIVE they can access web.wilkes.edu/elearning to help with login issues. The wireless internet in Towers is being addressed. The Help Desk hours have been changed, Monday - Thursday 7 am, to 10 p.m., Fri. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and opening again Sun. at 12 p.m. Student Government T-shirts: New T-shirts are to be ordered. A motion was made to allocate enough money to purchase 80 T-shirts and was passed 21-0-3. Called to a close at 7:09 p.m. @wilkesbeacon abbey.haldeman@wilkes.edu Tees Hoodies Hats &More Great For: Clubs & Activites Sports Teams Fraternties / Sororities Fund Raising Dept. Uniforms CALL 570-822-2221 to Get Started Now! �Sept. 18, 2012 Contact editor: carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu Clueless at the ballot box America's young voters are discouraged and misinformed By Carly Yam1·us Opinion Editor How educated are young voters in politics? How many young voters go into the poll pressing buttons, voting blindly for issues they don't even understand? Last spring, the COM 398 Controlling Spin class at Wilkes conducted a study on young voters age 17-30. Its purpose was to gain insight on how students view the candidates and issues of the 2012 election. The first focus group consisted of men and women 18-23. As I was reading the data from the focus group, I saw a few excerpts from students that truly bothered me. When asked where the students received their political information from, the majority said they read it online. By online, they mean on Twitter and Facebook, and by occasionally skimming headlines of news websites. If this is where the majority of young voters are getting their information from, we might be in trouble. As a not-so-proud owner of both a Facebook and Twitter account, I can tell you that neither of these two websites are reliable sources of information for anything other than what that girl you met once at a party ate for lunch. One student stated that he did not have any time at all to be bothered by news about the election and that it did not interest him. As a whole, young voters are misinformed about politics. They are misinformed about the candidates, and they are even misinformed about the voting process. Many young voters feel as if they should not vote because they have not gathered enough facts to make an informed decision. Media bias, personal opinions and half-truths are a problem for young voters trying to find credible sources to read up on the candidates. It's not that we don't want to be informed. Its that we are confused and in need of some guidance. We are not incompetent. We are not ignorant. There is no doubt that some people are simply lazy and uninterested in politics, but I do believe that many young voters, including me, are thoroughly discouraged by the empty promises and dishonesties that we've been getting from both parties this year. I took a politics class my first semester at Wilkes. I was hoping to learn more about the voting process and the two-party system. Instead, I learned about the founding fathers and the history of democracy. All-important, however, learning the basics of voting process is necessary for every newly registered individual who may be unaware of his duties as an American citizen. The election is here and now. At least on election years our history and politics classes should give students some idea about to do and why to do it. Otherwise young voters will continue to blinding cast their ballot based on a Facebook status they saw that morning. According to Rock The Vote, there are 44 million eligible young voters, representing a fifth of the electorate -- 44 million people whose votes matter. As a registered voter, you have a voice. If you would like to vote in the November election but feel you are not properly educated, there is still time to learn. Look for credible sources when reading about the candidates and where they stand on the issues. Facebook and Twitter cannot possibly give you the wealth of knowledge you need to make an educated decision. Young voters can register to vote at voterreg. com or rockthevote.com. @wilkesbeacon carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu BEACON POLL The Beacon poll is unscientific and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on the Wilkes campus. These poll results are based on responses. Last week's question: How difficult has it been to park on campus?? This week The Beacon asks: How informed do you consider yourself on politicians and their positions on national and international issues? • • • Very informed Somewhat informed Not informed Cast your vote online at: www.thewilkesbeacon.com SPEAK UP! The Beacon wants to hear your voice . . Send your name, major, year and opinion to: carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu The Beacon/Austin Loukas Many of today's young voters feel they cannot make an educated voting decision because they have not been properly informed. Such individuals often obtain their political information from sources that are not credible, such as Facebook and Twitter. The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for length and content. Anonymous letters will not be published. �THE BEACON I Sept. 18, 2012 7 OPINION Issues with campus parking anger commuter students Commuter Council fails to communicate with students who are denied parking passes By Austin Loukas Asst. Photo Editor The Beacon/Austin Loukas Students have begun to park In "no parking" zones due to the lack of spaces available on and around campus. Students parking illegally without parking passes while paying students can't find spots By Anne Yoskoski Life Editor As almost everyone knows, the first week of classes is hectic in many ways: new academic pressuref. new clubs to be involved in and new people to meet. There is only one little problem: where do you park to get to class? The first week of classes has been known as a parking exemption week, a week where public safety doesn't ticket cars without parking passes in any lot. This does help some students by giving them more time to procure a parking pass, but for other students who applied last semester, it is a large inconvenience. Many commuters do not have time to get to Wilkes at 8 a.m. for a 10 a.m. class. Unfortunately, this is what has been happening. Students pay $160 per semester for a commuter parking pass and then find nowhere to park. In addition to several parking lots such as the one behind the Student Center, one located behind UCom, another behind Weckesser Hall and one on the side of the Marts Gymnasium, there is also a five-story parking garage. This should provide plenty of room for students, especially commuters, to park. However, people have been crowding the meters, parking at the local YMCA and parking in "no parking zones." Many of the people taking up these spots have not paid for parking passes, and as the second week of classes has showed, they may not need to if public safety continues not to ticket. As long as "free parking" continues at Wilkes, people who paid for their parking passes, resident or commuter, are being short-changed out of their time and money. One can obtain a parking pass by filling out a form and handing it into Public Safety. The pass is one that hangs from a driver's rear view window and is numbered and color coded. The student will then receive an email telling them they have been granted a parking pass. The set up is a little confusing, as commuters get their parking passes from Commuter Council, residents get their passes from Res Life, and public safety enforces the policies. Most tickets are approximately twenty five dollars, and are automatically added to a student tuition statement. In the future, students should appeal to Public Safety for separate lots: a faculty lot, a commuter lot and a resident lot, so that someone who drives from Dallas or Laughlin to school gets a parking space instead of someone who drives from the dorms, and staff members do not need to battle students for parking. As a commuter, the parking situation can only be described as chaos. There are several spots that could be turned into more parking such as the field next to the sub parking lot. There is no reason Wilkes needs an empty field when people can not find a place to park. There are also several spots for "government officials" that no one ever uses. As the semester goes on, hopefully Public Safety will start ticketing people who are actually breaking the rules, freeing up some spaces for students, faculty and some residents who paid for their parking passes and truly need to get to class on time. @wilkesbeacon anne.yoskoski@wilkes.edu To this day, I am not even sure if the Commuter Council was even aware that they had a crisis on their hands. I, like many others this semester, was refused an on-campus parking pass. And I, like so many others, was only told why weeks after the fact. To this very day, the Wilkes University Commuter Council has not answered my emails. The organization of the parking pass system at Wilkes is overly complicated and quite deceiving. To most students it may seem as if Public Safety is in charge of choosing who does and does not receive parking passes. This is not true. For on-campus residents, Resident Life chooses qualified candidates for parking passes; for off-campus and commuter students, Commuter Council is in charge of choosing good candidates. Neither Res Life nor Commuter Council sends out emails to notify students if they did not qualify for a parking pass. This is surely something that must be changed. Last week The Beacon did an online editorial on the Wilkes' parking pass system that I urge you to check out. The editorial focused on Tim Jurkowski, an off-campus nursing student in Army ROTC who seemed to be overlooked when it came to parking passes this semester. Now Jurkowski has to get ride with Public Safety to the Ralston lot early in the morning in order to get to nursing clinicals and ROTC physical training. Jurkowski,was seemingly denied a parking pass because he lived too close to campus. The apartment building we both live in does not supply us with private parking. Thus, Jurkowski, many other off-campus and commuter students, and I were turned down. Being adjacent to campus did not affect another student, Ryan Weber, from getting a parking pass. Weber lives the same distance from campus, however, he received a parking pass as usual this semester. Meanwhile several commuter students, who actually drive to class in the morning, were denied parking passes along with Tim "superbusy" Jurkowski. This makes me seriously question the organization of this system. Why are some students picked, seemingly at random, over others? Who is truly choosing who gets these passes, is it a fellow student, a faculty member, or someone from the administration? Perhaps it is just a hogwash of random commuter council students prone to their own biases and inconsistencies. I am not sure; I have tried to reach out via email to Commuter Council several times with no response. This parking "crisis," as I've heard it put by fellow students and friends, is not fair to the students. I understand that there are only a limited number of spots. I have also heard many stu- The Beacon/Austin Loukas Sophmore nursing student Tim Jurkowski displays four parking tickets as a result of the campus "parking crisis." dents complain that they are unable to find parking spots before class even when they have received a parking pass for the semester. I believe that it is a necessary evil that these organizations deny students for parking. I request, however, that the commuter council deny these students in some type of organized way and, perhaps even more importantly, communicate with students about the reasoning for this denial. I also understand how hard it must be for Public Safety, they have had to deal with countless students calling and complaining while they themselves are not truly responsible. I'm sure that it is a huge hassle for public safety to deal with the complaints of students and parents on the matter of parking on campus. I assume it is au.o a hassle for public safety to cart students to and from the Ralston Parking Lot at 4am in the morning because commuter council overlooked a student's needs for a parking pass. I urge the commuter council to speak up and educate the students to whatever organizational system they have for parking passes. In the meantime, I' II be in the parking garage next to Boscov's. @wilkesbeacon austin.loukas@wilkes.edu �8 OPINION THE BEACON I Sept. 18, 2012 Deadly hit-and-run accident reminds us to drive safely By Alyssa Stencavage Assitant Life Editor We have all been told since we were young children to look both ways before crossing the street, not to talk to strangers, and so on. But, how often do we really think about the importance of safe driving? Too many of us seem to take that for granted and forget about it. Recently a close friend of mine since kindergarten, Rebecca McCallick, was the victim of a fatal hit-and run car crash. I always hear about things like this happening on the news, but never did I imagine that it would happen to someone I knew for such a long time. I remember waking up the morning of the accident and checking Facebook, only to see the news about Becca's passing. Of course I was shocked and devastated; I did not want to believe it. After talking to friends and others that knew her, I learned that she had been involved in a deadly hitand-run crash. Tragedies like this should remind us of the importance of safe driving. Most importantly, never text or talk on your cell phone while driving. Do not be distracted by The Beacon/ Samantha Dauber The tragic death of Rebecca McCallick reminds us to always drive with caution. friends, play loud music, or try to adjust the pecially considering all of the recent incidents radio, as these can all be dangerous as well. near the Wilkes campus, where several stuMany people do not believe that bad things dents were robbed and attacked while walking can happen to them, but you never know back to their dorms. For example, it is never when you may be involved in an accident, and a good idea to walk alone at night. While practicing safe driving can prevent that from these are important things to keep in mind, happening. Also, we all need to be cautious life is too short to take people for granted. of those around us because even if we are Always appreciate the people we have in our doing the right thing, someone else may not lives because as what happened to Becca be. If everyone practiced these safe driving demonstrates, we can lose anyone at any mohabits, there would be less accidents. ment and at any time. Saying "I love you" Just as important is staying safe at night, es- and letting others know that we care reminds them that they mean something to us. Losing Becca taught me the extreme importance of being safe behind the wheel. Even though I always try to be a cautious driver, there is always room for improvement. None ofus should have to imagine being responsible for claiming the life of another individual nor would we want to lose our lives as result of someone else's recklessness. I think the biggest lesson I learned from losing Becca as a close friend is to appreciate the people I have in my life because you never know when you will see someone for the last time. Each day is a privilege, not a promise. It's as simple as that. My heart goes out to Becca's family, who I have also known for many years. The tragedy of her death should serve as a lesson to us all, no matter how invincible we may think we are. Life brings many sudden changes, and it never hurts to take the extra precaution to ensure your safety and the safety of others. @wilkesbeacon a/yssa.stencavage@wilkes.edu LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Gun Control and the First Amendment Second Amendment Fires Forward by Jerome Frederick If you take a look back through the past 100 years and really look at how gun control worked you will see it failed miserably. We can look and the great country of Germany led by Adolf Hitler who imposed gun control, Benito Mussolini leader ofltaly, or Fidel Castro Cuban president, and they all have one thing in common, it failed. Gun control is not because people are afraid of guns, it's just a way of slowly turning our democracy into a dictatorship led by Mr. Obama. The only reason people are afraid of guns is because either they have no background knowledge or experience with guns because they think guns are only meant to hurt people ♦nee that's what they see on the news. Well, just because you implement gun control onto this once-free land that doesn't stop the fact that those criminals will still find a way to obtain those weapons. In those 11,493 homicides that were committed 42 percent were robberies and another 22 percent was aggravated assault and in 68 percent of those crimes the guns were not registered meaning they were received illegally (National Institute ofJustice). That leaves a minute amount of murders considering there are over 310 million guns in circulation including pistols, rifles, shotguns, semi-automatic machine guns and automatic machine guns. People who are ill-informed about guns, and basically about what is going on in the world, would see this and say "let's ban guns," which is anything but the right thing. Yes, guns have become much more modern in this world, and at the same time they have become harder to obtain as you need to have a background check, proper permitting, a specific gun permit and age restrictions just to name a few barriers to own a gun. Contradicting to the article in the (Sept. 11 Beacon) there are very few guns that have a 100-round capacity, like the one used in the Colorado shooting. People obtaining these guns and magazines will only grow through gun control with illegal purchases. Looking at the statistic on suicides and guns in America is like comparing "apples to oranges" they have nothing to do with each other. The gun doesn't pull the trigger on its' own; it is the operator, and what's to say that a veteran doesn't have a war flashback one day and end (his) life tragically. That is an instance where the stress of being somewhere undesired rears its head and a terrible outcome evolves out of it, where people just see the bold letter's in the news "Man Shoots Himself' so they have something to talk about. In America, if you look at the different states and their gun laws, you see different numbers pertaining to fatalities, but what you usually don't see is that most of them are justice being served. It is a proven fact that where there are more concealed carries there is less crime according to Ted Nugent NRA and TeaParty member, and you only have to look at Texas to prove that. We are the only ones who can stop this madness from happening and as far as I can see we American Gun owners will never let that happen. I am a proud to say I am an avid outdoorsman, hunter, trapper, shooter and I will always be a proud member of the NRA and fight for our gun rights. Experiencing flaws in gun distribution by Nancy Weeks I am writing in response to your "Second Amendment is out of touch with modem technology" article, published on Sept. 11, 2012. Your article has especially hit home to me, considering that I was involved in the Mehoopany Wind Farm shooting you might have heard about several weeks ago. It was my vehicle that the rogue, intoxicated gunman aimed and shot at. The shooter, Wade Douglas Wright, a known associate and friend of Hugo Selinski, has had at least one former arrest, previously jailed for a probation violation on a drunken driving conviction. At the time, we were traveling on public roads (not private as articles incorrectly stated) when we came upon Wright sitting on his parked quad in the center of the road. He had purposely created a roadblock so that we had no choice but to stop and comply with his demands. Upon releasing us, Wright waited a few seconds and then started to fire shots directed at us as we were exiting the area. One of the two bullets of the .22-caliber pistol, later found inside Wright's residence, traveled through the back seat, completely through my sister Mary Jo's chest and lung, and lodged inside of the lining ofmy husband's seat. I ask myself repeatedly, how is it possible that this lunatic was in possession of a gun after having a police record and probation violation? I assume Wright must be registered under the National Criminal Background Check System; however, what agency is assigned the task of researching the existence of and physically removing any additional guns in the possession of known criminals? Wright is now being held in the Wyoming County jail, in lieu of his $250,000 bail. He awaits his preliminary hearing, scheduled for Oct. 1. The Beacon/Laura Preby Prompted by recent shootings, gun control Is being heavily debated. �Contact editor: billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com ..-»'--·-' ~ Field of dreams: Wilkes students' movie a tale of rustic romance From comedy skits to dark drama, directing duo Wood and Oravic's ambitions are growing By BIii Thomas A&E Editor On Friday, Sept. 7, the first night of shooting for the short film "Pitchfork" took place. Right out of the gate, co-directors Ryan Wood and Todd Oravic realized they needed to call 911. It's not that there was an emergency, but the recipe for one was certainly there. "The scene we shot on our first night was, by far, the hardest scene in the entire film," Wood said. "It was us in the pitch-black of night, with 8-foot torches on a stage while people danced, and we had to make it rain on cue. With a budget likes ours, that is a worst-case filming scenario." An independent production paid for primarily with donations garnered via crowdsource-funding website Kickstarter.com, "Pitchfork" is the most ambitious project to date for Woodavic Studios, a filmmaking company founded in 2011 by Wood and Oravic. "It was chaotic," Wood, a senior communication studies major at Wilkes University, said bluntly when asked to describe that first night of filming . At the suggestion of the film 's lead, Michael Lally, who is also a firefighter in Scranton, Wood and Oravic decided to let emergency services know of their plans ahead of time. "I told them right away ' Listen, this is not an emergency' and the response was just ' Uh, OK,' Oravic, a senior English major at Wilkes, recalled. "I said 'We're shooting a film in ifis cornfield and there's going to be a lot of fire. We just don 't want people to call you guys saying there 's a field on fire."' "Their response was 'Well, we can have it on the docket as a controlled bum, but if we get any calls from anyone saying that everything's ablaze, we're coming out there anyway."' Fortunately for the pair, filming for that scene went off largely without a hitch. That's more than can be said about the rest of the weekend, though. On Saturday, the planned shoot got rained out. Wood and Oravic also found themselves overwhelmed, at first, in their attempts to oversee the large crew assembled before them. Prior to the shoot, they'd hope to at- tract volunteers, but they hadn't expected the sheer number of people who would actually show up to help. While thankful for the eagerness with which the public has embraced the project, the directors admit the film has WOOD revealed itself to be more of a double-edged sword than a pitchfork. On top of inclement weather and potential fire hazards, abrupt and unforeseen circumstances sent the filmmakers in search of a new filming location mere days before production was scheduled to begin. Despite all the headaches, Wood and Oravic feel "Pitchfork" is a project worthy of their best efforts. "When we read the script, we were blown away," Wood said. "We knew right away that we had to make this movie." Written by Kevin Conner, who finished the sceenplay while enrolled in Wilkes' graduate Creative Writing program, "Pitchfork" tells the story of a down-on-his-luck farmer trying to salvage both his drought-ravaged cornfield and a slowly hemorrhaging marriage, only to find that the future of one may come at the expense of the other. "It goes to a dark place, but it's also goes into an amazingly uplifting place. It's a love story, but a gritty one." Oravic said. "The tone of it is very quiet. There's no dialogue. It's heavily based around sound effects and visuals and the performances and the music." The intense-yet-subttle dramatic narrative of "Pitchfork" marks a departure for Wood and Oravic, whose previous collaborations have mostly focused on no-budget skits of absurdist comedy. To date, the pair estimates they've made around 15 such skits together, several of which can be viewed on the Woodavic Studios YouTube channel. Though their background is in lighter material, the directors believe the division between comedy and drama is a superficial one. Both genres, they noted, are still based on engaging the emotions of an audience and moving viewers toward a specific impassioned reaction. "Comedy and drama are different houses built on the same foundation. They're just different color houses," Wood said. "You go about ORAVIC designing it differently, but really the roots are the same." Fittingly, the directorial duo 's excitement for "Pitchfork" has proven equally as infectious as a hearty laugh. Though their initial fundraising goal was $2,500, donations came in not just from family and friends but from people the pair had never met before, from as far away as Singapore, Australia and Portugal. The outpouring of support pushed the budget up to $4,176. In a symbiotic cycle wherein the pair 's enthusiasm seems to spread to those around them, only for the enthusiasm of others to embolden their own, Wood and Oravic have developed lofty aspirations for their labor of love. Once "Pitchfork" is completed, they hope to submit it to a number of film festivals, including the iconic Sundance Film Festival, and will also be seeking distribution. "The second anybody reads this script they're in love with it and they instantly want to do everything they can tg help bring this thing to life," Wood said. "All we can do is be sincerely grateful for all the help we've received." For more information, visit facebook.com/ PitchforkFilm. @wifkesbeacon billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com Courtesy of Woodavic Studios From left: Ryan Wood and Todd Oravlc seek advice from writer Kevin Conner while directing actor Michael Lally in their latest film production, "Pitchfork." Cochrap ~haneWalsh �10 A&E THE BEACON I S, "Looking back with pride, looking forward with confidence," Patrick Leahy is installed Wilkes president Above, Board Chair Jack Miller formally installed Dr. Leahy as Wilkes president with the help of trustees Melanie Lumia and Virginia Sikes. Left, Leahy presents an honorary doctorate of humane letters to Rev. Scott Pilarz. Below, the University Chorus sang "Noble Truths" and ROTC members processed flags In. �• I Sept. 18, 2012 A&E tt Above, left, right, below: On Saturday, Sept. 8, Dr. Leahy, his two daughters and student volunteers helped clean up around the city of Wilkes-Barre. Below: Students, faculty, staff and alumni were Invited to a campus-wide celebration in the Student Union Building Ballroom on Friday, Sept. 14, complete with free food , a dance floor and local band Pop Rox. 11 -, �A&E THE BEACON I Sept. 18, 2012 Every issue, A&E Editor Bill Thomas and Assistant A&E Editor Jake Cochran indulge their vanity and give a thoroughly biased crash-course in whatever madness happens to be dwelling in their warped minds. Their views do not reflect those of The Beacon, its staff or Wilkes University. Blah blah blah. This week, Jake Cochran is triumphantly declaring ... FVIK •S liOT :l> EA:I> 1 It's a term that gets thrown around too often, and it's typically not something people give much thought to. The idea that "punk is dead" has existed for just about as long as the idea of punk itself. Let's get this out of the way first, punk's not dead, just because we have three dead Ramones, a Joe Strummer who's pushing up daisies and a Sid Vicious who's been in the ground for decades, that does not mean the genre died with them. Contrary to what some people woul.d have you bel.ieve, there is a very well-established core of veterans keeping punk rock on life support. Actually, it might just be as healthy as ever. Having that die-hard core has made 20 J2 an amazing year for the genre. Hell, even this past week was a great, with two new album s dropping on the same day, one from NOFX and one from The Adicts. On top of that, this year also marked the 40-year anniversary for the British genre royalty of Cock Sparrer and the 20-year anniversary of the snotty Californians in Rancid. Earlier in the year, all four bands teamed up for a handful of shows on the West Coast, to commemorate the anniversaries of their formations and promote their albums respectively. When the bands came to the East Coast, however, the bands each went their separate ways, launching their own tours and putting on show after show at packed venues all over. Celebrating 40 years as a band, Cock Spaner went on tour and played shows all across the globe. During this tour the group visited Philadelphia for the first time in its generation-bridging career. In this writer's estimation, the band put on an absolutely flawless perfonnance. Before the show, fans standing in line were cracking jokes that frontman Colin McFaull would need to have his microphone attached to a walker, but once the show was finished they had the respect of everyone in the soldout venue. Proving even further that age hadn 't tamed Cock Sparrer's youthful punk-rock spirit, the end of the show was not even close to the end of music. The band played the same venue again the next day. Once again, the show sold out almost instantly. Rancid started its tour for its 20-year anniversary as a way of jumpstarting the creative spark it will need when the band members head back into the studio to record their first album since 2009. According to founding member Tim Armstrong, the band is looking at an early spring 2013 release, if everything goes as planned. Am1strong is expected to have a busy next few months, as it's also been mmored that he will be going back to the studio with partnersin-crime Skinhead Rob and Travis Barker of Blink J 82 for a new Transplants a.lbum . That would be the group's first album since 2005. The punk-rock supergroup has already teased fans with a sporadic series of shows featuring a new song, "In a Warzone." Speaking of album releases, just last Tuesday The Adicts released their newest album, "All the Young Droogs." Sticking to the group's roots, "All the Young Droogs" serves up 12 cuts of overly theatrical party music with lighthearted lyrics and sing-a-long hooks. The members of The Adicts are also touring across North and South America to celebrate this release and, if you've never seen TheAdicts live, you should reconsider your life choices. Not alone in releasing new material, NOFX put out an album on Tuesday, Sept. 11, the same day as The Adicts. Called "Self Entitled," the new release is one of the faster albums NOFX has put out to date, but it sticks to the group's trademark tongue-in-cheek make-funof-everything style, truly showings that punk is nowhere near dead. To read more about the above-mentioned albums and tours, as well as other random "war stories," visit The Beacon online at thewilkesbeacon.com. (J CHEATSHEIT ~ J " l_.._........ N,...., . ··o»_Jf'7•j"u"'""""'"" a -i :ie""'"" s -.-.-.- - . -.. -. rliistrong---•---"-~ * -.....-,-.-.-.-._ ....... MtttrFrl!'emm-----"-"-~--✓ '" · people..think-'.punk,..the~---Som~eople.ar,e~oo~Ltheir-,.,,,,} think moh~w~~y clothes ,and •· · . trade. Some are Jegend~ry. Th~n __ angry music. Enter Tim Armstrong. . . ffiere's~ollutic1a. ---while"'ATITJstrong-haS"'tradecHrrh~+'<>ntrpoint-in-tim-,.flreeman· - -y .""_ __,"l..,. _ ~i...,b~pik,e.s::llaio:l<UP~-- ---.}X9$- ~&,_QQ.Q. at stangard !2ass :;;-:! ed skull tatto.o, he is still as energetthat, for his . s.ide- project (evr' 1c as ever an as seen success m a et'y"orie1feedsone)~ecfo~ ~ ru,iety..o?bi&»>Side-projeet--a-s-.weH~ witch,.to.,,stcand,,up,.hasS,,®d , · obill act called the course. r- Jello Biafra .. . . . Jeri)'. (}_nly • O ·. e many people wnonave 'S"" om """'e""--=p-=eo"'p=e.....,.,w ,±,,; o~ua say "', · -••-•-Tun..for-mayOMtr"San-Franeiseo-or---herro.r-punk~grou~e,.MiS:nts,.,--,/ ,_ for President of the l}niteq St,n~s ended once mastermind GJenn for the Green Part.y, one c.an sati.el.y Danzig left. Those pe-ople would ( ;----n'Sslfi'lre'tlfa:nrtrty,omrcamt1tlltt~lffir -tre'i'diuts:"'fetry"'0n:fyiS""tlre'iuw-- -e.ver.snar.led--theJ:yr.ics,to.songsJike--,,_.gest.,s.unnin~heL-oL.Xhe.,._-· · ·sfits. only missed out on ofa 'ongmal mem6er" status \ afra formerfrontman ofCalifonria by a scant few months. And hardcore act Dead Kennedys. Still while thabsn 'tactually the most ?--·,:me""'"t>f-tlre- mtlsrt,mspoken-untl~·~~-prestigious--1:itte;---you- neeu-t~ ~ ell~.spoken members.in.,,alLoi:the__gixe.,him,.cxeJ:!iUOLin.:entingjhe_,_/ entertainment industry, Biafro has . Devilock, horror-punk's signano pro · em saying wliat's wrong fure fours e. - -·---with·th~orld·and~how4o-fixs.it, • ..............__......_....,._,,......_...__.......,..__....._ __ ~~~~~~~-( Iggy Pop -- ~-srzA-crac+.,·---------,.......--........,,(J'bnn-oW'it'term-Jto~ ~ S:t.ZAZ:.-i~ not-.hiS-£hristian-----z:ilian,,,...MMA.,._phenom.-.Y.ito~ name but, it's what he's best known Belfort, Iggy Pop is what could . - -as:-·Whathecloes best . th.ough is only be referrecl"to as a "Yow~ ' ~--hawaH- authority~ures~d-play----··E>inos-aur!k.-Simply-put;-P o ~ .J ,-.:i --·~:~!~~~o~~~~e!~~!~~~~!1t~~;~~i:;~~~:~- I ~ - but 1s mostly known for the bands ----rm' mgestmg mountainsofdrugsft:over-Graek- aRd-Ghok,ing-\lic~d-alcohol....as- lead- singer-ior......-1 tim •. . . • . . .. The Stoo&es in the late '60_s and_= , '70s, its miracle this .guy is still i -------------------.. --~,, . , -~,~11v--.~-----------~· ' @wilkesbeacon jason.cochran@wilkes.edu \ ~ "----~-----·----._,;-~-----•.·---4-~J a. ·- '"" J �Contact editor: anne.yoskoski@wilkes.edu Sept. 18, 2012 Making the switch: many students are opting in to the new Gmail system By Alyssa Stencavagl Assistant Life Editor It is no surprise that many people have been experiencing frustration due to a loss of emails or just having to face yet another email issue. But for every problem, there is a solution, and the solution here is the new Gmail system by Google. Since the opt-in period has begun, many students and faculty have been taking advantage of the perks the new system has to offer. It does not take much to understand what prompted the migration to the Cloud, as there are a number of reasons for the switch. But even before we ask why, we must also consider some of the issues our campus was facing before. As technology has moved forward, the question has become, should we be investing so much time and money managing a system that everyone considers troublesome? That was a question posed by Gloria Barlow, chief information officer of information technology services. "A lot of students wanted to stop using their email because they didn't want to keep deleting mail, and too much mail means not receiving everything you need," Barlow said. But then Microsoft introduced Google Apps, and the idea of being able to deliver information in a more efficient and cost effective manner using Google as the free service that it has started to seem like the better option. Last year during the flood we faced an email shut down, and with Google's new Gmail system we hope to prevent that from happening again. Wilkes University has been using the old system for a while. "Approximately 60 percent of colleges and universities across the county have made the migration, and we wondered if we should be doing the same," Barlow said. The Cloud Email Evaluation Sub Committee spent months examining the pros and cons of alternatives. The committee then made a unanimous recommendation for the Cloud, which IT reviewed and unanimously agreed upon. Finally this was taken to the cabinet, and approved. "It is very unusual to find everyone on campus in agreement," said Barlow. Barlow said Wilkes could be saving $90,000 over the next five years by switching to the new Gmail system, which was part of the committee's charge. These savings include peripheral costs, hardware costs, and software licensing costs. Some software licenses could also be eliminated. When we look at the benefits of making the switch to Gmail and Google, many aspects have to be considered to see that this system has proven to do better than Outlook. Cost savings, efficiency, ftmctionality and integration, increased access, no advertisements and mobile access are among the many advantages these solutions provide. As a college campus, we are always in need of computers and working email. Better ftmctionality was needed for staff, faculty and students. Gmail also allows for larger mailboxes for storage. Barlow said Google provides 25 gigabytes, which is 250 times the 100 megabytes we have now. Business continuity can also be added to the list of e 1111 I advantages for Gmail. This means that if for some unforeseen event or technical problem were to occur and a Please enter your Wilkes user name and password. person happened to have InUser name ternet connection, he or she would still have email conPassword nection, which would in tum enable continued connection with everyone on campus. Questions? check out the EMJ.. Finally, if you are worried about having to change your.___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___, email from the address used with Outlook, with Gmail you can continue to keep the same email address as well. It is still firstname.lastname@wilkes.edu. So, where do we stand now? Well, "we have migrated more than 1, 100 students and of those 1,100, less than 1 percent have had any difficulty with the new system," Barlow said. "We have had the opt-in period for about three weeks, and more than 1,100 students have made the decision on their own." All staff will be migrated at once because they do too much collaborative work to be switched at different times. The decision is being left up to students and faculty for now whether they want to opt-in or not, but at the start of the Spring semester shortly after the first of the new year, everyone will required to make the switch to Gmail. "By winter we will be shut down and Wilkes will have become a Google campus," Barlow said. Barlow said students do seem to be happy with the new system "because it is a system and an application that they are comfortable with." Students are also voicing their opinions about the new Gmail system. "I like it a lot better. It's much easier to navigate on the computer and I like how professors and students names come up u:w:he "to" section. The only problem I have is for some reason it didn't sync to my phone so that's annoying," said Kendra Kuhar, a junior English major. "I haven't heard complaints about using the system," Barlow said. "I've had more questions than complaints. If students have concerns, they can come to me or the IT department, and we take care ofit." Sophomore Tyler Brown voices his opinion about the email system: "It sucks because I only get some emails to the Gmail and for some reason all the important ones stay in the regular mail so I don't even use it anymore." It is definitely a learning process for students and faculty alike, but "people will appreciate their mailboxes not being full," Barlow said. You can make the switch to Gmail at: ewilkes.wilkes.edu. @wilkesbeacon a/yssa.stencavage@wilkes.edu Flex program gives students many dining opportunities By Anne Yoskoski Life Editor For Wilkes Students, the Flex Dollars program has just been upgraded. Several new venues are now accepting Flex Dollars, such as Sheetz, Rodano's, Asian Kitchen, Frank's Pizzeria, Primo Hoagies, Subway, Maer's Barbeque, and Vesuvios. Previously, some of the choices students had for Flex Dollar venues were limited. Now, many popular Wilkes-Barre hot spots will be accepting Flex dollars in lieu of cash. "I go to Rodano's with my friends and usually we have to use cash or charge it," said P2 Pharmacy major Kiran Rai. "As college students, we don't always have a lot of money, so if we can use our Flex Dollars that would be great! A lot of people who don't really go out to eat might be able to now." For students who are not familiar with the Flex Dollars program, it is a way to use your Wilkes student ID as a card, pre-loaded with money or charged to your tuition bill. The Wilkes website states that "Wilkes University partnered with Off Campus Solutions by Sodexo to create the Flex Dollar Program as the ultimate compliment to your campus experience. Flex Dollars can be spent to make ala carte purchases in any campus or local establishment that accepts them." The Flex Dollars Program provides security, convenience, flexibility and freedom to students. Using the Flex Dollars plan makes the job of budgeting your money easy, as you can put money on the card at any time and also not worry about over-spending. Special off-campus discounts and promotions are also sometimes available, saving students even more money. Some students do not use Flex Dollars, and like to keep their spending money out of their university ftmds. With a debit card, students can check their balance almost anywhere, even on their phones, while the process of checking the amount they have left on their Wilkes ID may be tricky or only pointed out after a purchase. "It's nice that there are more choices," said senior T.J. Dennis, "but I am not sure if I will really use them." This sentiment seems to be reflected by not only commuter students, but students that reside in other states when they are not at school. A New Jersey or New York gas station or Subway restaurant will not accept your Wilkes ID, and that renders your money useless until the next time you come to Wilkes-Barre. Another problem with the Flex Dollars program is that even though the choices have ex- panded, they are still limited. If all gas stations and restaurants in town, even local hot spots like Movies 14 or some of the stores around campus accepted Flex Dollars, more students would most likely take advantage of the program. The best situation would be if out of state Subway restaurants and otehr venues accepted Flex Dollars. " The upgrades and improvements regarding the Flex Dollars Program are great for students that use Flex Dollars. In order to get more students involved in the program, the venues may have to be expanded in both number and size. While students can now use a Wilkes ID in more places, even more choices would benefit the school financially and the students in regard to variety. @annieyoskoski anne.yoskoski@wilkes.edu �14 LIFE THE BEACON I Sept. 18 , 2012 Taking a look at historic buildings in Wilkes-Barre By Christine Lee, Amanda Leonard, Mikel Hartsough .r1.1ews Editor; Correspondents Wilkes-Barre has garnered a reputation of being a city with run-down buildings and high levels of poverty and homelessness. Some do not realize Wilkes-Barre has ma,py historical buildings in its downtown area and in the surrounding communities that shape the city's landscape. Today many of these buildings are open to the public for tours and special events and have undergone extensive renovations to update their interior or preserve their historic qualities. Forty-Fort Meetinghouse The F_orty-Fort Meetinghouse, located 40 River St. in Forty-Fort, is known for its Vespers and memorial services. It is also known for being one of the oldest establishments in Northeastern Pennsylvania, located beside the famous Old Forty Fort Cemetery. Joseph Hitchcock created the design for the house. He also designed the Zion Church in Wilkes-Barre. The building is called a meeting house because it was shared by two different faiths since many churches were destroyed during the Revolutionary War people resorted to practicing their faith in what was called meeting houses. This meeting house was shared by both the Presbyterian and Methodist faiths in the area. "The church was built mimicking a New England style meeting house, definitely not the style you would imagine in this area during the early 1800's," Nancy Lychos, a member of the Preservation Committee and co-chair of the Docent Committee of the meeting house, said. "We did get a grant in 2009 from the state gaming fund, we got the exterior of the building painted, and we do not receive any money from government within Luzerne County." The meetinghouse is open for weddings and memorial services and any school is invited for a tour and can make reservations. "People love the meeting house, they want to see it preserved," Lychos said. membership to was opened in 1934 with a budget of $625,000 on the site of the former George S. Bennett mansion. "We've been a staple in Wilkes-Barre since as long as people can remember," YMCA marketing director Meghan Davis said. While the current YMCA is not as religiously based as when it was built, it still closes down on religious holidays such as Easter and the program still acknowledges its roots and promotes its faith. "The YMCA puts Christian principles into practice through programs to build healthy spirit, mind and body for all," Membership Director Kirn Greenip said. Greenip said the YMCA has been an integral part oflocal history, even serving the children of Wilkes-Barre in an important way. "The YMCA has become a huge part of Wilkes-Barre's local history. At one point it had a mining school located inside the building." Recently, the historic downtown building has undergone extensive renovations on its interior including new exercise spaces and men's and women's family locker rooms. "We have been working on our huge $15 million renovation project since July 2011 and plan on finishing it by mid-May, which we will hold a grand opening for," Davis said. Davis said the historical aspect of the YMCA makes it marketable in the area for attracting new members, especially since the re-opening in May. "We often advertise the historical aspect of our building for upcoming events such as our re-grand opening." Frederick Stegmaier Mansion Nestled near Wilkes is the Frederick Steg- Wilkes-Barre YMCA The Wilkes-Barre YMCA, similar to the Forty-Fort Meetinghouse, was also founded to foster the religious programs within the community. The current YMCA building across from Pearsall Hall that students are given free The Beacon/ Austin Loukas The Stegmaier Mansion, former home of Fredrick Stegmaier, was built In 1870. The owner of the brewery lived In the mansion from 1906 until his death. in the past several years, restorations have been underway to restore its beauty. Sophomore Poll Science Freshman B1oChem Major Freshman Mechanical Engineer "I don't know, I don't even study." "I listen to screamo when I study physics!' Major "I type all 111y notes In class." - - ------ maier Mansion, a building that exemplifies high Victorian and French Chateau Style with a Gothic revival. A locally renowned architect and builder, Missouria Houpt, constructed the mansion in 1870 with the aid of architect Bruce Price. Houpt and Price worked together on many of Wilkes-Barre's historic buildings, including the Colonel Ricketts Mansion, otherwise known as Wilkes residence hall Rifkin Hall, which is on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the River Street Historic District in Luzerne County. After two previous owners, Frederick Stegmaier purchased the mansion in 1906. The Stegmaier family also owned and operated the Stegmaier Brewery and made many contributions to Wilkes-Barre. In 1857, Charles Stegmaier began brewing Stegmaier beer and by 1913, the beer had won many gold medals in Paris, Brussels and Rome; shortly after it was called the Stegmaier Gold Medal Beer. This beer is still brewed at the Lion Brewery, 700 N. Pennsylvania Ave. in Wilkes-Barre. In 2001, Joseph Matteo, proprietor of Fret erick Stegmaier Mansion, purchased the mansion and has worked to restore its former structure. "In the past 11 years I have restored everything wall-to-wall to get it back to its former self," Matteo said. The mansion now serves as a bed and breakfast and a historic house that holds banquets, wedding receptions and other prestigious events. Historic tours are also available. Matteo said that unlike most cities, WilkesBarre does not have a preservation code to help maintain historic buildings with funding or anything enforceable to protect it. "There really should be a specific code that helps with the keep-up with such buildings," he said. "Most cities have applications that have to be cleared by the National Register of Historic Places to protect the integrity of the building." Most cities place buildings like the Fredrick Stegmaier Mansion on an ordinance that cannot be touched without approval of application. Along with the application, the potential buyer needs to submit a plan with intended alterations. "I could have bought this mansion and painted it weird colors or tore it down," he said. @annieyoskoski anne.yoskoski@wilkes.edu "I go back and forth between studying and readlnf comic books. �15 LIFE THE BEACON I Sept. 18, 2012 Insanity workout creator to visit Wilkes University Shawn Carey Staff Writer "' Shaun T, the creator of the worldwide phenomenon known as Insanity, is making an appearance at Wilkes on November 3 in the UCOM. The Insanity workout is an exercise program that was created in 2009 to turn up the volume of the mundane workout. Since then people have been flocking to the stores to buy the routine and try it for themselves. However, for Wilkes University students, they do not have to buy a copy because Insanity is coming to Wilkes-Barre for one day. On November 3 from l-5 in the UCOM gymnasium students will get to do the insanity workout with Shaun T himself and will get a chance to meet him as we! I. Health and Wellness Club, or HAWC . The club was formed last year and has been doing the worko uts since last semester. Besides the Insanity workouts, HAWC also offers cycling classes at the Wilkes-Barre YMCA. They are still deciding on the actual workout that will be done. Coordinator of HAWC, Allie Givens stated, "The workout that Shaun Twill do on the day of the event is unknown. I am assuming he will pick the workout we do the day of the event or closer to the event." Students who are interested in the event will need a ticket to get into the event. Giv- ens stated, "We are only selling 300 ti.ckets and as of right now we are looking at starting to sell tickets sometime in October." Students should notice signs going up soon about ticket information. Tickets will be free to Wilkes University students that are interested in the event. The event will be laid out between one and five on that Saturday. The actual workout session will be from l -2 with a break from 2-3 where students will get a chance to purchase Shaun T inspired apparel and then from 3-4 there will be a meet and greet session with Shaun T and then Shaun Twill do a dosing ceremony from 4-5. Givens sai d there will not be any restrictions for students. •·we do encourage them to be safe while participating in the worko ut and only push themselves as much as they can." Givens stated. Givens is also very excited for the event stating, "I cannot even describe how excited I am to meet Shaun T and actually perform a workout with him in person! It wi ll be an awesome experience and I can't wait!" Other students have also shared thei r excitement of the event. Kyle Henry, shared his thoughts about Shaun T stating, "Having Shaun T come to Wilkes is beyond amaz·ing! His fitness programs have helped change my life around. In the past year alone, I feel like a healthier and more confident individual." @shawncarey shawn.carey@wilkes.edu Diversity is something that everyone will at some point encounter, and most likely something everyone has questions about. New this semester is a column called" Open Inclusion Dialogue with Office of Diversity Initiatives," welcoming student questions about diversity. Common diversity-related issues are : race, gender issues, stereotyping, disabilities, religion and culture. Students who have questions are encouraged to ask the questions they have been curious about or have previously been afraid to ask. diversity@wilkes.edu Erica Acosta, Associate Director of Diversity in the Wilkes Center for Global Education & Diversity will be answering your submitted questions. Don't hesitate to better yourself with information! What does reflection of one self have to do with diversity? By Erica Acosta They go hand in hand. How do we expect to learn about others and understand their culture when we might not understand our own? When learning about diversity and including others you have to be comfortable with sharing your space. At times it might feel uncomfortable and that is ok. It is ok because you are introducing yourself to something new and you have to find your own position in that new environment. Once you understand your own culture, traditions, your stand on different issues, it becomes easier to understand the other person. When you have reflected and understood your personal diversity then you can start embracing others' diversity and seeing how similar or not so similar you might be to that specific group. This process does not happen overnight knowing yourself is important to embrace diversity & it takes time. Courtesy of Marketing Communications Shaun T, creator of the Insanity workout, will be at Wilkes November 3 from 1-5 p.m. worklgn out with students in the UCOM Gymnasium. �Sept. 18, 2012 Contact editor: frank.passalacqua@wilkes.edu Wilkes. Paintball Team looks to move up Developing group continues to grow in the hopes of building on high rankings from past nior, Hayden Lerner, senior, Chris Wildfoerster, freshman, Gabe Nazareno, freshman, and Jesse McDermott, freshmen, are currently the men representing WU. Mike Sawka is the team president and after You would never guess that Wilkes Uni- only his second year on the team, Tom Rowe versity would be associated with schools has been voted captain due to his past expelike Florida State University, University of rience with the sport and is looking to make Alabama, Rutgers University, and Clemson great things happen. University. "It's really just like any sports team like in You probably would have never guess that high school," stated Tom Rowe, Team Captain. Wilkes would be ranked higher than all of "You just need to have the level head in all the them either. In fact, you probably did not even situations and be there for your guys. Everyone know Wilkes had a paintball team. deals with tournaments differently, but paintWell guess what, Wilkes has a paintball ball feels different than all those other sports. team, and they're pretty good. You're watching a clock tick down until your The Wilkes University NCPA Paintball start, your adrenaline is going as you're stepTeam is currently ranked 30th in the Class AA ping onto the field and lining up at the starting Rankings, and the history behind it is rather box ... there's really nothing else like it to me. interesting. Its one of the best feelings in the world." Take it back five years ago. If someone At the past Club Day, many students gained around the Wilkes campus was a life-long interest in joining the team. In fact, the paintpaintballer and wanted to keep their hobby ball team filled up over 70 slots on their signgoing, they were out of luck. It was time for up sheet, all of which looking to be a part of change, and a group of guys wanted to start the team. something new for their school. "That's 70 new faces that have never been In 2008, Kevin Meinenger founded the associated with Wilkes paintball and we're club and along with the really excited to get a few outseven original members, ings this semester to some local they brought the team to stated Rowe. You're watching a fields," life immediately. The folDespite all the recent suclowing year after getting clock tick down until cess the team has had in the past the team off the ground, year, Wilkes is not the top team Charles "Nick" Gambo your start, your adrena- in the conference. That is one was voted president and line is going as you're thing the team is aiming to imremained so until he on in 2012. stepping onto the field prove graduated in 2011. Looking forward to the up1a. In the first couple of and lining up at the start- coming tournaments, these years as a recognized Colonels know what needs to be collegiate team, Wilkes ing box . . . there's really accomplished in order to move found themselves ranked nothing else like it to me. their way back up the charts. in the Top 10 and fought "We only play at events that for some respect. In 2010, Its one of the best feel- count for competitions. GenerWilkes placed second at ings in the world?' ally schools compete in 2 per the Blue Crab Classic in semester due to funding and be-Tom Rowe, ing able to prepare for them," Maryland. This win was the first "podium" finish Paintball Team Captain said Rowe. "We're hoping to for the team, and it did play two this semester and at not stop there. least one in our conference, the 2011 brought great success with a first NEIC, and Nationals next semester. Our first place victory at NEIC Event 1 in Jackson, event is the Brick City Open held in Syracuse, New Jersey. Not only was winning gold NY and hosted by RIT. " sweet, but it was the team's first ever gold in Do you think this is your cup of tea? The t a NEIC Event. Wilkes paintball team welcomes anyone and Following the win, Wilkes landed third- everyone who wants to play. place in Syracuse, New York at the SUNY "As far as the club goes all you need is the Open (NEIC event 2), and another third-place desire to play paintball and if anyone wants medal in Maryland at the White Oak Chal- to start playing competitive they're more than lenge (NEIC Event 3). welcome to come out and they can practice For a relatively new team with only seven with us. No one is going to get turned away for players, these accolades are highly respect- lack of skill or gear," stated Rowe. able. For updates and news on the Wilkes paintWith only one senior left on the squad, ball team, check out wilkespaintball.com. young blood is looking to take over right @wilkesbeacon where the team left off. Tom Rowe, sophomore, Mike Sawka, jufrank.passalacqua@wilkes.edu By Frank Passalacqua Sports Editor '' Photos courtesy of Tom Rowe Above, Paintball Team captain Tow Rowe takes aim during competition. Rowe was voted team captain after two years on the team due to his past experience with the sport. Below, the Wilkes Paintball Team poses after their first place victory at the National Collegiate Paintball Association South Conference in Jackson, New Jersey. The men beat out teams from universities like Rutgers University, Penn State University and Temple University. It counted as the team's first win since their formation in 2008. Pictured, from left to right, is Adam Keeth, C. Nick Gambo, Clayton Wicks, Ashen Hackenburg, Tom Rowe, Mike Sawka and Hayden Lerner. �17 SPORTS two moments in my career that I would say I am most proud of would have to be when I was named player of the year in my division my seContinued from Page 20 nior year. Also when I recently broke the Wilkes school record for most assists in one game, What is the best part about playing volley- which was previously set in 1993. ball? The best part about playing volleyball is always having something that I'm able to When you think of the word "team," what push myself to become better at. All year I comes to mind? When I think of the word work hard to become better than I was the day team, I immediately think of the word family. before. Also, I love being on this volleyball With only having nine girls on our team, we are team for the fact that I have gained eight new closer than many other teams. We work togethfriends that I now consider to be like my sis- er as one group with confidence in one another that things on the court will get done. But also, ters because of how close we have become. we look at each other off the court with the love Being a freshman, what's the biggest chal- and respect that a family would. lenge you feel you have? So far, the biggest challenge I have come across when playing as Is working with classes and practice hard? a freshman and basically having the role as a Absolutely. One of the hardest things so far is "quarterback" on that court, is realizing that trying to manage my time. Everyday classes this is a whole new level of playing. The non- get harder and the work gets more demanding. sense that happened in high school isn't ac- But being able to get through a day of classes, cepted here. Controlling my temper has been lifting, practices, and studying gives me a great sense of accomplishment because of how much a huge part of my game too. I really do get done in a day. Is there something you do before every game? Whether we're on the bus for an away Do you have any idea of what you want to game, or I'm walking over to the Marts Center do with your major? Yes, as of right now I for a home game, I always listen to the song am majoring in accounting and I am planning "Remember the Name" by Fort Minor. The on double majoring it with business administrasong gets me pumped up and excited for game tion. I hope to pass ·my CPA exam, then make more career decisions after that. time! Powers Are there any proud moments in your career that you could never forget? The top Athlete Megan Powers is already getting comfortable with being a new player on the Wilkes volleyball team. She said the biggest challenge of being a freshman on the team has been adjusting to a whole new level of playing at the college level. She also said she has to work hard to control her temper during the gam.., The Beacon/ Laura Preby @wilkesbeacon michelle.coy/e@wilkes.edu We're also on 'l'witterl W@FIGshirts 146 SOUTH PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE WILKES-BARRE NEAR CORBA BEVERAGE AND DOMINO'S! 570.823.9272 Monday September 17, 2012 6pm Rosenn Lecture Dillon-Dau 7:00pm Spotlight 7:30pm As You Like It Classic Arts Showcase Tuesday September 18, 2012 6pm Spotlight 6:30pm Det. Stores 7:00pm I Enjoy Being A Girl 7:30pm Showstoppers 8:00pm Rosenn Lecture-Lee Zanny 9: 17pm Classic Arts Showcase Wednesday, September 19, 2012 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:30pm ' 8:00pm 8:30pm Spotlight An American In Normandy ShowBizKids Wy. Val. Media Kirby Lecture-Tom Zasky Classical Arts Showcase Thursday, September 20, 2012 6:00pm Spotlight 6;30pm Ax Of Murder 7:30pm Student Press Freedom 8:00pm Kirby Lecture Lawrence Reed 9:00pm Philadelphia 2000 Classical Arts Showcase �18 SPORTS THE BEACON I Sept. 18, 2012 SCOREBOARD Football 9/15 Wilkes - 13 Albright - 27 Field Hockey 9/14 Wilkes-3 Widener-2 M-Soccer 9/11 Baptist Bible"'- W 6-0 9/15 Elizabethtown - L 1-4 W-Soccer 9/13 Lebanon Valley - L 1-0 9/15 Widener - W 5-0 Volleyball 9/15 Baptist Bible - L 3-0 9/15 Lycoming- L 3-1 W-Tennis 9/15 Lycoming - W 9-0 M-Tennis 9/15 Lycoming- W 8-1 M-Cross Country 9/14 Cougar Classic - 7th F-Cross Country 9/14 Cougar Classic - 8th WEEKAHEAD M-Soccer 9/18 VS. Penn College 9/22 VS. Lebanon Valley W-Soccer 9/22 at Arcadia 9/23 VS. Daemen M-Tennis 9/22-23 Scranton Trnt. Football An offer they can't refuse Time for change Notre Dame announced this week that it will join the Atlantic Coast Conference in every sport except football, which will remain independent. I like the fact that Notre Dame is joining the ACC. I think it's a very good fit. Even though it will provide difficulty in basketball with stiffer competition, it will raise the level of the program as a whole. The best part of this deal, however, is the football program staying independent. By staying independent, the Notre Dame football remains one of the biggest unrestricted power houses in college football. This prestige alone allows them to have a big time schedule every single year. Notre Dame already plays five ACC teams a year, so they are practically in the conference but do not have the luxury of playing for the ACC championship. That being said, by staying independent Notre Dame gets to play big-time schools and classic rivals like USC, Michigan and Michigan State, whom they beat Sept. 15 Another key proponent of staying independent is the automatic BCS bid that Notre Dame gets if it is in the top eight in the nation. Also, Notre Dame is allowed to represent the ACC in bowl games should the conference decide to go on that route. The biggest part of this, however, is the money. Notre Dame gets to keep all of its television money from its national television contract. This was the deciding factor in where Notre Dame Football goes. If Notre Dame was in the ACC, the conference would get the rights to televise conference games. In this case, Notre Dame, being a premier program, would be televised by the ACC as much as possible. That would take preference over Notre Dame's independent television contract. That is a lot of money lost for the school. Overall, this is a deal that Notre Dame cannot go wrong with. If I were the athletic director and school president, I would be ecstatic on the way this all worked out. With the recent trend of developing super conferences in college sports, it's almost inevitable that every college football team will be on the move in the next few years. The interesting part will be to watch how the famous independent teams handle the changing landscape. In the last week, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame jumped ship from the Big East to the Atlantic Coast Conference. On the outside it seems like a decent move, until I found out the football program will remain independent. The ultimate goal of any sports program is to win a championship. The road to a championship goes through conference play. With the current BCS system, conference play is compared to the level of the playoffs since the BCS doesn't have a playoff system. Since there is no playoff system, being in a strong conference with strong competition helps teams become recognized and chosen for the championship game. Notre Dame decided to switch all sp!ts to a new conference. This will create great rivalries and help the student-athletes win championships. The only downside to this switch, besides the money and pending lawsuits, is that football remains independent. Notre Dame is based on tradition and consistency. The tradition comes with the uniforms and pre- and post-game antics, while the consistency and tradition meet in remaining an independent football team. I respect tradition in all aspects, but Notre Dame is in need of change. A program with such prestige and a huge fanbase needs to see the facts. The regular season is equivalent to the playoffs. The current BCS will not let an independent team into its grandest of all stages. The BCS wants to see a team that conquered all conference foes and went through hardships to get to where they are. Granted, ND usually plays some big names throughout their seasons, and has the ability to mold its schedule anyway they like. That flexibility can make or break a team like the Irish when it comes to going to the big game. Notre Dame will play up to five ACC opponents per year within the next few seasons. So in a sense the Irish are playing a conference schedule without committing to a conference. I believe it's time that Notre Dame put aside tradition for once. They need to jump ship and become part of a conference. Becoming part of the ACC will create new rivalries and bring better competition. It will make things more exciting for fans and alumni. The most important thing though it will bring all the fans, students and players what they want: a championship. @wi/kesbeacon joseph.pugliese@wilkes.edu 9/22 at Widener Field Hockey 9/18 at Juniata Cross Country 9/21 NEPA Classic Volleyball 9/22 at Keystone Tweet us: Send messages and pictures to: @wu_BeaconSports @wilkesbeacon justin.franiak@wilkes.edu �THE BEACON I Sept. 18, 2012 19> SPORTS Fourth choice gets shot at UFC 151 championship WET P.A INT T-St+lftTS Belfort jumps at chance to take on Jones WILKES UNIVERSITY'S ONE STOP - PRINT SHOP By Jake Cochran Assistant A&E Editor After Jon Jones rejected the UFC offer to fight Chae! Sonnen as a replacement for Dan Henderson on nine days notice to defend his title on the advice of his coach and manager Greg Jackson, the light heavyweight title picture became murky. Once the organization decided there was no hope for UFC 151, they immediately had to decide what to do with the title fight and who would face the champion. Chae! Sonnen was already signed to a fight later that year, his title aspirations were dashed as quickly as they were presented, after all what did he have to show to say he deserved the shot, other than he would fight on short notice. Then the organization did the logical thing and went to the next No. 1 contender in the Light Heavyweight Division, Lyoto Machida, but he was currently unreachable because he was visiting his relatives in Brazil and didn't have cell phone service. He really can't be blamed at this point because, honestly, a title fight to decide who he would face next was nine days away. So why would he expect a call to arms so soon? But during the cancelation of UFC 151 it was stated that The Dragon would be fighting Jones at UFC 152, on Sept. 22. Later that day, Ed Soares released a statement saying that Lyoto wasn't even aware of this arrangement, because he is still unreachable because there was no service, so he never agreed to fight Sept. 22. After Machida was brought back from the stone age and made contact with his manager he said that he would not fight at 152 but he would fight at 153, which is scheduled for later date in October. This was too far for the UFC, so they needed to find a replacement for the title fight that was just moved to UFC 152. This is where the UFC decided to offer Shogun Rua the title shot, but Rua had to decline because he was still under a medical suspension from fighting recently. They decided that Vitor Belfort another perennial contender should fight Jones. Vitor Belfort jumped at the opportunity and is now set to face Jones at UFC 152 "Kids today are worried about their careers, I just want to fight," Belfort said. Belfort will have a quite a task with taking on the current champion because the odds opened at 13: 1 making B~lfort the biggest underdog in a title fight since UFC 69. Georges St. Pierre was a huge favorite over Matt Serra but that didn't stop The Terror from interrupting the champion's reign in the first round with a flurry of punches to complete a story fit for a movie. 8: 'vV a: :e, S~ree: vV1 IKes r3ci · · e. PA , 8 702 www. wetpai nttsh irts.com Mention this ad for a FREE Hat with your first order! t.·1 :,':...'l :E:' ,...,.,i ll" » W hat W e Can Do For You Tees Hoodies Hats &Mo re Great For: Clubs & Activites Sports Teams Fraternties / Sororities Fund Raising Dept. Uniforms CALL 5 70-822 -22 21 to Get Started Now! @wilkesbeacon jason.cochran@wilkes.edu ,c-, Reporters Photo,g raphers Graphic 'de's ign~rs L..ayout actistsi%, . , repsqwr> , ,Ad·vefi,.... L:l~tt,Ag. SeetibA ed ito.ns Assistaa.t editor:s \lideographers O nline ,designers ... and"'m ore ,,fr··· ~~ ft We're hiring 1 No experience nec essary. We'll train. The Beacon is looking for a few good people to fill the positions you see listed here. Don't leave with with just an education .. . get experience. Working with The Beacon provides an opportunity to improve communication skills that are essentail for any career field . For more information, contact Kirstin Cook, editor-in-chief, at kirstin.cook@wilkes.edu, 570408-5903 OR Dr. Loran Lewis, adviser, loran. lewis@wilkes.edu, 570-408-4165 ~BEACON fl4❖1--I.JA®&rnH•li@ ■ ~n,mwu1 1 1a,HltANti6i.j,,j.JiiH❖ • �r- BY MICHELLE COYLE Staff Writer ]Veet Megan Powers, a freshman volleyball player who has already stepped up•and shown off her skill in games. In high school she was named All-Area her senior year and captain. Studying accounting at Wilkes, she has a plan for her future and is excited to make decisions down her path. From Pottsville, Pa. to a new team at Wilkes, she w illready feels like family anif she couldn't be happier. She says if it wasn't for her most inspirational person in life, her dad, she wouldn't be where she is today. When did you start playing volleyball? I started playing volleyba11 in 6th grade for my CYO team. Why did you get involved with the sport? I got into playing volleyball because I was told my by cousin, who played, that I'd enjoy it and had the potential of being a good player. After 'earning all aspects of the game, I completely fell in love with the sport and that caused me to put in the effort to become a great player. Did you always know you were going to play in college? Originally I had planned to play volleyball in colltge, applying to Wilkes, West Chester and Shippensburg. I changed my mind and decided to apply to the University of Alabama. After I got accepted, I visited the school and made the choice to go there. But l then changed my mind again realizing that volleyball was a huge part of my life that I wasn't ready to give up yet. :Where do you get your inspiration? My inspiration comes from all the support I receive from my family, friends, and even old high school coaches that coached me. At least weekly I get texts and calls from coaches congratulating me or asking me how everything is going. I'm also blessed with family and friends who make it to games and are so supportive. My mom and dad try to never miss a game, and seeing their faces in the stands make me push IO times harder to make them proud. Knowing I have such great people behind me gives me the inspiration to be the best I can be. See POWERS, 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, 2012 September 18th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 September 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/03ae3e2122c962acc6fb18eea8253d8b.pdf 15b6038564b193f6af4f14583dc30edc PDF Text Text Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Sept. 25, 2012 HE BEACON The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow. Volume 65 Issue 3 n The Beacon/Brittany Battista For more information and content, check us out at: thewilkesbeacon.COt:Th:J, �Contact editor: christine.lee@wilkes.edu Public Safety: campus is safe despite recent incidents By Christine Lee News Editor An increase in students moving further from campus and an upbeat mind set are part of the reasons given for a rash of crimes that occurred close together. Three weeks after five students were assaulted near Academy and South River streets and a male student had his laptop stolen on a porch at 363 S. Franklin St., a female student was walking alone near the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center around 2 a.m. when a silver car approached her. A man in the car wearing what is described as a dark hoodie asked her if she wanted a ride. The student declined the invitation and the man got out of the car and grabbed her thigh. It was reported the student was able to get away and ran back to her residence hall. Despite the frequency of which crime incidents occurred on campus in the first part of the school year, Public Safety says there is no increase in the amount of crime on and near campus and the campus is safe for students. Public Safety manager Rebo said it only seems like the crime rate on and around campus has increased because the three incidents occurred so close in time. "Things like that happen but when they happen together it seems like a lot," Rebo said. Rebo said the three incidents that occurred so closely to each other occur every semester. According to last year's Campus Crime Report, there were five instances of burglary on campus, 13 arrests made for liquor law violations and one arrest for drug-related violatio_Jls. ~ ice President of Student Affairs Paul Adams thinks part of what contributed to crimes that occurred is there being a frenzy of activity and good spirits at the beginning of the year. "I think at the beginning of the school there's always a lot of activity in terms of people being on the streets at all hours; the weather doesn't inhibit that at all, it's warm and people tend to, upon return to campus, be in a little bit more of a celebratory spirit and, as a result, tend to be traveling about," Adams said. Adams added that the three incidents occurred well after dark and in places where people weren't in a group and somewhat isolated, which created some vulnerabilities for them. The Beacon/Austin Loukas Pictured Is South River Street,facing the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center, where a man jumped out of his car and grabbed the thigh of a female student walking alone. Public Safety offers safe rides 24 hours a day 7 days a week and encourages students to use them to avoid such incidents. Associate Dean of Student Affairs Barbara King said part of the reason for crimes occurring to students off-campus is they are moving further from campus. "Part of the issue is we have so many students off-campus now they're moving further and further into the neighborhood," King said. "They're moving further into neighborhoods that haven't been desirable over the years but we have people moving down further and further all the time." Rebo said Public Safety has increased patrols as far down as 339 S. River St. and the university has hired off-duty Wilkes-Barre police officers to patrol the area around campus on Thurs., Fri. and Sat. nights from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Although Public Safety has no jurisdiction off-campus but they have courtesy calls, which means if a student calls from off-campus, they will respond to them. Public Safety Supervisor Phil Miller said the safe escort service and safe rides available are under-utilized every year and Public Safety always has these options available. "It's unfortunate cause our officers are always available," Miller said. King said students residing off-campus are not required to report crime in their area but are encouraged to report it. The police rely on Public Safety to report incidents that occur to students residing off-campus. "The only way the police will ever get a handle is if neighbors living there report it," King said. "We would certainly hope that if there are major things going on they would report THE BEACON Editorial Staff 2012-13 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 PHONE: (570) 408-5903 WEBSITE: thewilkesbeacon.com Editor-in-Chief: Kirstin Cook News Editor: Christine Lee Managing Editor: Bryan Calabro Opinion Editor: CarlyYamrus Ad Manager: Brittany Battista A&E Editor: Bill Thomas Photo Editor: Laura Preby Life Editor: Anne Yoskoski Adviser: Loran Lewis Sports Editor: Frank Passalacqua to Public Safety and the Wilkes-Barre police." Wilkes president Patrick Leahy issued the following statement regarding the recent crimes on and around campus: "Nothing is more important to me than the safety and well-being of our students, both on and off campus. I want to assure students and their parents that, although we are an urban university, we have a safe campus." "While I am confident that the incidents that occurred at the start of the semester do not constitute a continuing problem, these incidents have provided us with an opportunity to evaluate safety practices. We acted quickly to employ a second off-duty'Wilkes-Barre police officer to help to increase patrols in our adjacent neighborhoods." "I've made a personal commitment to monitor the situation and well address any concerns quickly. I ask students, faculty and staff to be our partners in promoting a safe campus. I urge you to use the escort service provided by Public Safety and, when off campus, take advantage of the Safe Rides program that offers free taxi rides. Together we can keep Wilkes safe for all ofus." Dean of Students Mark Allen there are times when students can take precautions to minimize being a victim of crimes and the university strives to educate students how to be safe and making sure students are safe. "We have to strive to educate our students and to put forth the resources to help ensure their safety," Allen said. "I believe overall the campus is a safe environment." Adams believes that good things can come out of these incidents. "You hope that you can find something positive and that's that everybody else learns from this," Adams said. "All ofus are able to adopt behaviors that hopefully diminish the likelihood that something like this would happen and I hope we can be proactive in encouraging those kinds of behaviors." @cfeespot christine./ee@wifkes.edu Meet the Staff Alyssa Stencavage Assistant Life editor �THE BEACON I Sept. 25, 2012 3 NEWS Students' partaking in city activities helps economy By Amanda Leonard Correspondent Wilkes-Barre's revitalization has been successful thus far partly due to the rapid growth and expansion of two local colleges, Wilkes University and King's College. Both schools have attracted local businesses, restaurants and bars; some of these businesses cater specifically to college students, while others offer special discounts with a valid college ID. On average, Wilkes has an annual undergraduate enrollment of 2,200 students and King's has an annual undergraduate enrollment of 2,700 students. Around 5,000 students look for places to eat in between classes and for activities to do on the weekend. In 2011, Wilkes was ranked as one of the fastest growing universities, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. Total enrollment of undergraduate and graduate students grew from 4,634 in the fall of 2004 to 6,239 in the fall of 2009. In September, the Downtown Party on the Square, sponsored by the city of Wilkes-Barre and the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, brings local vendors and businesses to showcase what they offer to college students. Students are also given a discount card, valid for the entire school year that can be used at the businesses that were in attendance at the event. Wilkes-Barre mayor, Tom Leighton, described the annual Party on the Square as "no better way for businesses to showcase themselves to the college community in one place, at one time" However, Party in the Square will be taking the year to talk to some students and businesses to ensure that it is the best it can be. Al$1ough the event is not taking place, there will still be student discount cards being handed out in the fall. Diamond City Partnership, a public-private alliance for downtown revitalization, helps form the community's vision for Downtown Wilkes-Barre. Founded in 2001, it began when almost 1,000 citizens met during a series of public sessions to devise strategies for a new, restored downtown. The partnership serves as a downtown management organization with a work plan intended to improve the economic longevity and downtown's business district. Larry Newman, Wilkes-Barre city vice president of planning, policy and development, said the Diamond City Partnership made it clear that Greater Wilkes-Barre's institutions of higher education had to be an integral part of downtown revitalization. "Downtown in particular becomes a very different place when the two schools are in session," he said. "We've worked hard to build upon the economic impact of the city's student population since Wilkes-Barre's colleges are among the strongest assets we can muster in the battle of a competitive region." In 2004, DCP and Wilkes and Kings jointly created the Downtown/Collegetown Initiative to create a downtown that benefits from the presence of over 11,000 full-time enrolled students in the Greater Wilkes-Barre are, including 6,500 students at three center-city campuses. The purchasing and media habits of the college community were not well understood so the Initiative's first task was to rectify what was happening. A business class at Penn State Wilkes-Barre worked with a five-college steering committee to create a focus group. As a result of the focus group, market information became available to present to businesses, retailers and nightspots. The local nightlife has seen a revamping in attendance, as well as an increase in revenue. Among the most popular bars are Senunas' Bar and Grill, Gonda's Elbow Room, Rodano's, Mulligans and Hardware Bar. Angelo DelSordo, general manager of Mulligan's, has always been attracted to the area and wanted to be a part of the downtown revitalization. "The downtown area of Wilkes-Barre is cleaning up nicely and there is a huge potential for bars locally, between all the businesses in the area along with colleges," he said. "Mulligan's is doing extremely well thanks to the local colleges." The Downtown/Collegetown Initiative also resulted in a number of recommendations to improve the climate for college students. Surveys have shown that 69 percent of the college students are using the student discount cards regularly and 27 percent of those surveyed use the cards at least once per week. Another direct result of the Downtown/Collegetown Initiative were capital projects by the two schools, such as the creation of the Barnes & Noble Wilkes/King's Bookstore, which opened on downtown's primary retail block in 2006. "We have seen tremendous growth in student patronage of downtown businesses," Newman said. "Some of the new businesses in the downtown area set out primarily to serve the student market and others see college students one of several specific groups of potential customers. Newman noted that Crimson Lion is an example of a new business aiming to serve the student market. Establishments like Frank's Pizza, Bart & Urby's, Thai Thai, Barnes & Noble and Outrageous include college students as one of several different customer bases. The DCP surveyed college students asking them how frequently they come to downtown The Beacon archives Students compete in a pizza eating contest at last year's party in the square. Party In the Square is one way that Wilkes helps to impact the economoy Wilkes-Barre businesses for shopping, dining, movies or entertainment. Newman said that 48 percent reported that they patronize downtown businesses at least once or twice each week; 16 percent came downtown even more frequently. The most popular downtown destinations for college students, according to a DCP survey, are RIC Movies 14, Barnes & Noble and downtown restaurants. @wilkesbeacon amanda.leonard1@wilkes.edu SG working on way to grant conference funds to clubs sufficiently By Devoni Novak Staff Writer A Student Governrnent policy on funding for conferences is in the midst of review by members. SG vice president Ian Foley said conference funding will not be eliminated but guidelines will be set to ensure that student activity fees are fairly distributed. "At the end of the day we want to make sure the activity fees are open and everyone can have access to them," Foley said. After looking into a policy on conference funding used by Bloomsburg University's student governrnent, Foley became interested in applying a similar standard at Wilkes. "The thing I pulled from them was how they set standards for their food and it's a conceptual idea for what we do," Foley said. Junior class vice president D.J. Rembish claims that an increase in conference funding requests is the reason for the recent adjustment to the allocation of funds. Foley suggested that the cost of conference funding is part of a bigger SG spending audit that will also include fund request for trips. Instead of relying on SG to cover the full cost of conferences, Rembish suggests that students try to pay their own way through fundraising. , Rembish "I suggest that they do fundraising earlier on, once they find out that there is a conference coming up," Rembish said. "Coming to us should be more like a last resort." Although SG encourages students to fundraise their way to conferences, fundraising for their own events will not take place. A detailed breakdown from students is a possible revision of the conference funding policy under discussion. If SG decides to follow through, students will be expected to provide brochures or receipts that prove each expense when they come to SG for their conference funding needs. "We are looking for researched and justi- Foley fied budget cost because what we do in the real world is have hard figures quoted with documentation to back it up," Foley said. According to SG faculty advisor Dean Mark Allen, the purpose of providing research and documentation is so students will accurately reflect how much the conferences are going to cost and what exactly the money is spent on. In turn, SG will be able to provide the appropriate funding while ensuring that there is enough of the student activity pool to go around. "The only real change this year in looking at conferences is making sure that there's a accountability for money that is spent," Allen said. "That accountability of a fund request is not a lot different than any other way in which student governrnent approves funding for their own campus wide projects." When deliberating a fund request SG considers a variety of factors including the amount of community service the club or organization has done, fundraising attempts, how their attendance will benefit Wilkes and the possible impact of the schools representation. Each of these elements is key to SG deciding whether funding the conference is an appropriate use of the student activity pot. "One of their central responsibilities is to try to actively"make the best use of the money that 2,300 students have given them," Allen said. SG believes attending conferences is important for Wilkes students as it benefits them academically and reflects positively on the university. To fairly allocate funding request of all types, each proposal will be dealt with individually and funding decisions are up to the board. According to SG president, Kristofer Rivers, attending conferences will continue to be a supported activity ofSG. "We want to support our students in whatever they choose to do," Rivers said. @wilkesbeacon devoni.novak@wilkes.edu �4 NEWS THE BEACON I Sept. 25, 2012 Loan debt affects many college students By Bryan Calabro Managing Editor For generations, a college degree has ensured that Americans from all facets of life would achieve a better chance at a successful future. With the increasing cost of education, the ongoing economic recession and financial burden placed on many families in our country, families and students now rely mainly on student loans to fund their college education. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, student loan debt amounted to $1 trillion at the end of 2011. Pierre Lapointe, a Brockhouse & Cooper Inc. Strategist, knows that this debt can be attributed to many factors. One factor is the inflation adjustment on college tuition. A report written by Lapointe and two colleagues found tuition had climbed 57 percent on inflation basis. During this time, the wage between American workers age 24 to 34 dropped seven percent. The report also said many students will have issues when they try to obtain mortgages at affordable rates because of their debt burdens. From the report, interest payments on student debt amount to $1,165 a year, based on an average balance of $23,300 in the third quarter of 2011 and five percent interest rate. At Wilkes, Melanie Wade, vice president of enrollment services, explained how the loan system works. "For students to receive Stafford loans, a student has to file a FAFSA form, then the Stafford availability for that student is automatically applied for them. The student has the authority to inform financial aid they don't want the financial aid or if they don't want the maximum financial aid," Wade said. "A student is never forced to take a Stafford loan." Wilkes University makes a preferred lender list to help students decide on reliable sources of loans. "The preferred lender list is a list of people we have a working relationship with, they are reliable and we worked successfully with them before in the past," Wade said. She said students need to understand the costs, risks and benefits of the loans they use to help pay for the school of their choice. Michelson said you cannot just decide to not pay off your debt, because it's against the law. "You can't default on a Stafford loan because it's illegal, there is really not much of a way to stop it from happening but typically if you are defaulting on a federal loan," Michelson said. The National Office of Postsecondary Education works with students, families, the financial aid community and others to develop formats for financial aid offer forms. The office makes forms, and other offers, as user-friendly as possible to ensure that loan default never happens. According to the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, the average debt from graduating seniors across the country was $23,186. At Wilkes University, the average debt for federal aid is about $27,000, about $4,000 in excess of the national average. Julie Zinskie, vice president of accounting and controller for a company in Scranton called Diversified, said it was hard to pay off her debt when she graduated from Marywood University. "Making minimum wage out of college made it near impossible to pay off my debt, so I had to develop a strategy," Zinskie said. Zinskie said the reason many students fail to pay off their debt is because they are never really trained on how to manage money. "Being obsessed with numbers and managing money my whole life has benefited me when it comes to paying off my debt," said Zinskie. "I think there needs to be some kind of class or instruction mandatorily provided to students to help them develop a plan for managing expenses in their future." Being ignorant to the ongoing debt crisis is also a problem, according to Zinskie. Luke Brady, a senior musical theater major, fears what the future holds when it comes to his debt. "I just know I am going to owe a lot of money," Brady said, "My mother takes care of it, that's all I know." Brady also thinks that the need for a class on managing money and loan debt is important. "If they developed a financial class or a money management class to help with planning for the future, I think I would be in a better situation right now and I would be more informed," Brady said. "My friends don't even know what to say about their debt situation, they always say they will worry about it after they graduate." Many economists say college is a good investment because of the pay gap between jobs with college degrees and jobs without college degrees. However, when more people go to college and college loans continue to rise because of inflation, it may take longer time for employees to hit benchmarks in their career because of competition and student debt. Albert Munley, a banking lawyer from Scranton and father of three, knows how hard it is to stay afloat in a tough economic time and never-ending college expenditures. "When each ofmy daughter's picked a major, I figured out their projected starting salary and the amount of time they would be in college then I made a plan to manage my resources," Munley said. "I opened up bank accounts for each of my daughters and deducted money directly from my paycheck into their accounts to help start funding their college education." Munley also made an emergency plan with his wife, assets and financial adviser in case either of them lost their jobs. "It's all about future money management planning and knowing that you aren't invincible to hazards in life, I tell my kids that all the time," said Munley. @wilkesbeacon bryan.calabro@wilkes.edu Obamacare topic of this year's celebration of Constitution Day By Abbey Haldeman Assistant News Editor Each year, Wilkes holds a presentation to honor Constitution Day and give students som~ asic information about the Constitution and how Congress comes to conclusions. With the theme of the presentation this year being, "Obamacare and the Constitution," there was a lot of information given out for those present to take into account. The university has been hosting Constitution Day for the past seven years under the coordination of Kyle Kreider, associate professor and chair of political science. "In 2004, Congress passed and President Bush signed the law requiring that an education institution that receives federal funds set aside one day, Sept. 17 to commemorate the signing of our most cherished governrnent document," Krieder said. People believed that U.S. citizens didn't know enough about the document and that they needed to be educated about it. To inform students about the Constitution this year was Judge Joe Cosgrove, who has often been faceto-face with constitutional law cases. When asked if college students know enough about the Constitution, he said, "the American people, whether college students or not, are not nearly as well informed about the The Beacon/Austin Lukas On Tuesday, Sept.17, Judge Joe Cosgrove spoke during the Constitution Convention Presentation. He presented to the students how Obama's health care reform related to the Constitution. Constitution as they should be. Former Justice are than know the names of our Supreme Court Sandra Day O'Connor has developed a pro- justices. Given the impact our judiciary has on gram designed to expand our knowledge of the our daily lives, this is troubling." In the past Constitution Convention PreConstitution which shows that more Americans know who the judges on "American Idol" sentations have been based on hate speeches, the constitutionality of nativity scenes on governrnent property and a talk about the Fourth Amendment. "Our Constitution is only 4,543 words short compared to every other constitution but it has endured over 220 years," Krieder said. "That is amazing. Our framers, under enormous time constraints, crafted a brilliant document that speaks in wonderful generalities. Its legacy endures. It is vague enough that many different political philosophies and ideologies can find support in this document." The topic focused on the process of passing "Obama Care. " It allowed for those present to see what went into the process and how the judicial system came to its conclusion to pass the bill. "I didn't realize how long the process was," senior chemistry major Jamiee Ash said. Cosgrove wanted students to take from this presentation, the nature of the judicial process and how the S~reme Court addresses questions of a constitutional nature. He also hoped that students would become more interested and informed in what the constitution means and how it affects them. @wilkesbeacon abbey.haldeman@wilkes.edu �THE BEACON I Sept. 25, 2012 NEWS 5 iPad leasing and changes to Jay S. Sidhu School of Business By Abbey Haldeman Assistant News Editor When students enter the college environment they go in with a label: business major, biology, communications or whatever it may be. Underneath those labels, lies another: their focus. The Sidhu School of Business and Leadership has been working on a way to ensure the focus of the students is met and that they graduate with the proper education for their dream job. This year, the school now offers three new majors to help the focus of students be narrowed. There is now a bachelors of business administration in finance, management and marketing. How might this benefit the students? "Students are going to be able to say, 'I have a major in marketing' rather than saying 'a major in business administration and a concentration in .. . '; the major is going to hold more weight," Sidhu School Dean Jeffrey Alves said. The changes to the department came from listening to the feedback of not only students, but also businesses. Businesses are looking for individuals, who have a degree in those three focuses, not just a concentration in them. Professor of accounting Marianne Rexer believes this change is going to provide the school with the skills they need to help students create the job they want when entering the real world. For those students who have been in the program now for three years, they have the opportunity to switch to the new system or stay with the old. Rexer feels it would be most beneficial for freshman and sophomores to make the switch to the new majors. The changes to the department aren't they only changes in the business. Starting this fall, the Business Department has begun leasing iPads to students in both the Personal and Professional Development courses and the Integrated Management Experience courses. For classes such as IME, students used to have to drag around two separate textbooks, one for accounting and one for management, to every class. With the usage of the iPad and a program known as E-Pubs (the standard format for electronic books), everything is now paperless for students in those courses. "When you guys graduate, you aren't going to be handed a laptop or a desktop, you are going to be handed a tablet, so, the main objective was to help students make the transition Autism Group Proposed Student Government to decide clubs status By Shawn Carey Staff Writer Called to order at 6:01 p.m. Treasurer's Report All college: $9,550 Cont rence: $700 General funds: $18,750 Leadership: $600 Spirit: $873.43 Student Government total: $30,473.43 New Business: Two representatives from the Health and Wellness Club discussed the visit from Shaun T. Members Kyle Henry and Sam Biggers discussed that they have talked to Public Safety about the event and have been cleared to hold the event. Henry said tickets will go on sale on Oct. 2 and the ticket cost will be $2, but students will receive a reimbursement at the door when they attend the event. He also said two weeks later tickets will go on sale at the YMCA for $3 for the general public, and the general public will also be able to purchase tickets at the door for $10. The event will be held on Nov. 3, from 1-5 p.m. A representative from a new on-campus group, Autism Speaks, presented the club to the board. Nicole Weaver was there to present the club and what they plan on doing throughout the year. She said they plan on holding fundraisers and charity walks. She said the club will be primarily dealing with outside groups. Student Government will be voting this during the Sept. 26 meeting to determine whether not it will be accepted as a club. John Sweeney, from the van committee, requested $900 to get the vans cleaned. He said it is approximately $250 per van and he was also looking into getting the decals repaired. He also said the van policy has changed. People or clubs requesting to use the vans must now fill out a mileage form and a van condition form. President Kris Rivers said Homecoming Week will be Oct. 1-6. Student Government will be forming a Relay for Life team this year. The meeting was adjourned at 6:47 p.m. ':-i« The Beacon/Dan Lynkens Students in the business department use iPads to benefit their learning experiences. tram usmg a device that 1s pnmar1ly used tor entertainment to making it a productivity tool," Alves said. The Business Department has been thinking about this for a while. After taking different types of tablet devices and researching which would be most beneficial to the students as well as the department, they came to the consensus that the iPad was the best choice. "Between research and practical applications, we came up with a list of iPad apps that we would want, because we just found out Apple right now is supporting the educational system better," Rexer said. Students who lease the iPads will be using several apps that were chosen. Notability is a study tool that allows not only for students to take notes, but also for their professor to go in and add things to their notes. A flashcard app allows for a more effective way for students to study by creating flashcards right in front of them. Each iPad also has access to Microsoft Office. Rexer wants students to know the school is listening to them and trying their best to better their learning experience by giving them the tools to learn and study better. While this is a new experience, they are hoping for the best. The leasing will begin with the freshman of this year and be an unfolding process after that so that next year they will accessible to both the sophomore and they freshman classes. "There is contradictory research on whether or not it enhances the learning experience, but it does make for a lot more flexibility in the classroom," Alves said. @wilkesbeacon abbey.haldeman@wilkes.edu WET PAINT T-St+lftTS S-1 Waller Street Wilkes Barre, PA 18702 www.wetpainttshirts.com WILKES UNIVERSITY'S ONE STOP - PRINT SHOP Mention this ad for a FREE Hat with your first order! What We Can Do For You Tees Hoodies Hats &More Great For: Clubs & Activites Sports Teams Fraternties / Sororities Fund Raising Dept. Uniforms CALL 570-822-2221 to Get Started Now! @shawncarey8 shawn.carey@wilkes.edu �Sept. 25, 2012 Contact editor: carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu Looking forward to President Leahy The Beacon staff requests more attention for the humanities By The Beacon Editorial Staff During his installation as the sixth president of Wilkes University, Patrick Leahy focused on the theme of "Looking back with pride, looking forward with confidence." Now, The Beacon staff looks forward to a new era under President Leahy and the changes promised under his administration. For his first year in office, Leahy has stated his intention to get to know the campus. In this process, he plans on visiting with every department. He also plans to learn about the extracurricular organizations on campus. But after this introductory period, Leahy's vision will begin to shape the future of Wilkes. We've already seen some positive changes. Leahy has involved the local businesses of Downtown Wilkes-Barre to offer Flex Dollars. This is a great way to immerse students in the culture of Wilkes-Barre while supporting the downtown economy, and we hope to see more interaction with the city. There have also been major changes have been made to the Wilkes administration. All academic deans now serve as member's of the president's board in an attempt to improve communication. In his installation speech, Leahy mentioned his plan to move his office from UCOM to Weckesser Hall so he can be more visible on campus. This is just one of the ways he is aiming to become more accessible and engaging to faculty, staff and students. TI-. Beacon staff feels the existing changes, and the ones planned, are heading in the right direction. Looking forward to this new era, there are several areas we hope Leahy will focus on. Leahy has mentioned several times the importance he hopes to place on humanities at Wilkes. We hope that he follows through with this focus. From The Beacon's perspective, humanities have been pushed to the wayside in recent years. With the science building and other advancements in the scientific departments, programs like Communication Studies and English have been ignored. The accomplishments of these departments have been overlooked, and the activities they promote have been overshadowed by some of the more populated disciplines. We believe this negligence of the humanities at Wilkes is a problem, and there are several major ways that President Leahy can help solve this problem. The first is through finances. Communication Studies has continued to receive cuts to its budget annually, along with many other programs. These cuts make it difficult to sustain BEACON POLL The Beacon poll is unscientific and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on the Wilkes campus. These poll results are based on 8 responses. Last week's question: How informed do you consider yourself on politicians and their positions on national and international issues? The Beacon/Laura Preby President Leahy holds up a Wilkes University T-shirt that reads, "Be Colonel." The Beacon staff reflects on Leahy's upcoming time at Wilkes and believes that we should strengthen the school as a liberal arts college. a range of courses within that program. Many communications students have noticed their class choices dwindling. The Beacon would like to see more funding for more classes to allow students to expand in their chosen humanities focus. Funds could also help support the extracurriculars and events the humanities departments put on. Money funneled through the respective departments could pay for more staff for these organizations, or attendance at beneficial, academic programs like workshops and conferences. The money is also needed for new equipment for humanities programs. It is vital to have updated tools and software, especially in fields like journalism and integrative media that place an importance on usage of the latest technology. Graduates from Wilkes will have an advantage entering the work force if they're up-todate on the latest trends and how to use new tools and programs. How is that possible if they're using dated materials? While money is being spent on new labs for pharmacy students or new robotic equipment for engineering students, there should also be aid for new cameras for journalism students. Besides dated and limited resources, the communication studies program in particular has to deal with being fragmented across campus. Coordinating media cooperation becomes even more difficult when the radio station is in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center, the television station is in the basement of Stark Learning Center, Zebra Communications is in the basement of Breiseth, the debate and speech team is in Fenner Hall and The Beacon is in Conyngham Hall. Oh, and our professors are in Capin Hall. We need a centralized location to allow Communication Studies students to work together and learn from all of the media sources in one place, rather than the scattered and disorganized state the department is in now. This would also help give the department more of a presence. Leahy can also help the presence of the humanities programs overall by directing more attention to what they do. The same level of publicity applied to the developments in the science programs should be placed on the happenings of all departments. The Beacon staff hopes Leahy can help give the humanities programs the attention and resources they deserve. Ultimately, we would like to see Leahy look back at Wilkes' history as a well-rounded liberal arts school - not a science school - and look forward to it regaining that status. @wilkesbeacon wilkesbeacon@gmail.com This week The Beacon asks: Do you think that employers should have the right to view online profiles to make employment decisions? • Yes • No • Unsure Cast your vote online at: www.thewilkesbeacon.com SPEAK UP! The Beacon wants to hear . your voice. Send your name, major, year and opinion to: carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for length and content. Anonymous letters will not be published. �THE BEACON I Sept. 25, 2012 7 OPINION Wilkes should use Jewish Community Center parking lot By Christine Lee News Editor Last summer, I was finally able to bring my own car to campus for the first year student orientation session. Since I was assigned to Evans Hall, I decided the nearby Jewish Community Center parking lot would be a convenient spot to park my car. But when I texted one of the RA coordinators, I learned I couldn't park there because the JCC would have me towed, so I would have to park in the University Center on Main parking garage for the rest of orientation. Most of the time when I pass by it, that parking lot is never full. In fact, it is half-full at the most and there is no one parked by the residence halls or off-campus housing that is next to the JCC. So then why does the JCC have to tow everyone that parks there that isn't a member? Let's face it, parking is an issue on this campus. Take one look at the Student Union Building parking lot or UCOM parking garage on a regular weekday and you'll quickly see what I mean. There can be days where there is nowhere to park and we all love getting tickets from Public Safety for parking where we aren't supposed to. So I think for a solution to the parking issue on campus, the JCC should give up the part of its parking that is near Wilkes buildings and off-campus apartments and let Wilkes use it for a parking space. This could benefit a lot of people that have to find parking on campus, from students that reside in off-campus apartments to students living in residence halls along River Street to staff members that work in Conyngham Hall. I know personally several students who live in one of the residence halls on River Street and have to park in the UCOM parking garage. They shouldn't have to walk that far away to get to their cars, especially if they are ones that go home frequently. Students that reside in Evans, Roth, Weiss, Catlin, Rifkin and Sterling halls and the offcampus John Henry Hall could benefit from the parking by the JCC because they don't have to walk far to get to their cars. Staff who work in Conyngham Hall could also benefit because they also wouldn't have to walk very far to get to their cars, and most of them commute to get to campus. The parking lot of the JCC is barely full most of the full. There are lots of people living and working nearby, so why not give it Wilkes for students, faculty and staff to use? It could serve as a good solution to the pretty big problem of parking on campus. @c/eespot christine.lee@wilkes.edu OMMU ENTER f WVOMINH \/AIU The Beacon/Laura Preby The Jewish Community parking lot, located near multiple WIikes Universityowned buildings would be a prime location for more student parking. Too many people are uninformed about their cars, how they work Basic knowledge on how vehicles operate is necessary for the safety of ourselves and others By Dominic Manzione Staff Writer For the past two summers I have valet parked cars at a luxury relaxation spa and resort in my hometown. This was a big job for me guests at this spa were sometimes famous stars like NFL Pro Bowl running tnce back Ladainian Tomlinson! At my time there I've gotten to drive all sorts ofcars, from six-speed Corvettes and Mustangs to high end BMW, Mercedes Benz and Bentleys. I got to learn a lot more about all types of vehicles, but I learned one thing that really scares me. I learned that a lot of people don't know much about their vehicles and how they work. Being a long-haired 20 year old, I had to make sure I didn't upset the guest handing me keys to a vehicle that costs twice as much as my Wilkes tuition. So you can imagine the trouble and difficulty in telling someone that their tire pressure is low or that their break pad might be warped. But for me and the safety of others on the road I felt it was my duty as a knowledgeable car guy to help. So where am I going with this article, well, Vehicles are not just 0 SO something that gets me from point A to point B. To me a vehicle is a 2,000 to 4,000 pound behemoth that can go speeds from Oto more than 100 mph. And for anyone who is a physics major, the rare few there are, can understand that anything over 40 mph is a ridiculous amount of force. Now think of what happens when that force hits something, say a tree or another car going the same force right at you. People say guns are dangerous but to me putting an 18-year-old kid behind the wheel of a vehicle can be more devastating. Now imagine if that vehicle (or metal behemoth) isn't working as efficiently as it should be, because of low oil or tire pressure, that vehicle has just become even more dangerous. My sisters are prime examples of not knowing enough about vehicles. A little over a year ago my little sister drove home from work late at night ... with only the parking lights on. Now that's a big deal because regular headlights are way brighter than your car's parking lights. Now my sister, the high honor roll/dean's list student, drove 15 minutes home thinking there was something wrong with the battery. Not only was it dangerous for her, but it was also dangerous for anyone else on the road. And that's the sad truth; lots of people just don't know the basics about cars. What I want people to get out of this opinion is not to be scared of cars but to respect them and realize that we need to take the time to learn about our vehicles fo~ our safety and everyone _else s. Every_body should • know Slffiple tasks like how to check oil and tire pressure levels as well as change each when needed. Knowing how to jump start a car is an essential skill as well. You may be saying "pfft, I' 11 just call someone to do it for me." And if you want to go that route I can tell you it's a bad idea, because sometimes it's too late. Being the only brother to two girls who know very little about vehicles, I've learned the hard way that it's a lot nicer to be proactive when it comes to maintenance and respect for a car. It will save you a lot of time, money and maybe even your life. "That's the sad t ru th ; I t f peop Ie just don't know the basics about cars " The Beacon/Laura Preby Not knowing what Is wrong with your vehicle can be dangerous. Taking the time to learn about how cars work can save time, money and even a life. @wilkesbeacon dominic.manzione@wilkes.edu �8 OPINION THE BEACON I Sept. 25, 2012 Internet identities are a false representation of skills By Carly Yamrus Opinion Editor In about two years, I will be in search of an entry-level job. At that time, I will also delete my Facebook and Twitter pages and do a complete search and delete everything on every website I ever signed up for. Not because I want to, but because I have to. Social media websites have been helping people lose jobs they have or are applying for since the early 2000s. With the invention of Friendster, classmates.com, Myspace, Facebook and Twitter, among others, our generation gained an outlet to share their likes, dislikes, opinions, fleeting thoughts, pictures and videos with their friends and family. With that invention they also lost all privacy, despite countless efforts to protect personal information from reaching the wrong people. The ever-changing Facebook (I didn't say ever-improving) has actually made changing privacy settings a difficult task. I like to think that I am technologically savvy when it comes to figuring things out on the Internet, but hiding my profile from certain individuals was quite the challenge. After a series of Web tutorials and haphazard clicking, I manually blocked those choice individuals from viewing my information. Privacy settings are fine and dandy, definitely necessary, but what happens when a prospective employer demands you give them your usemame and password for such websites, giving them full access to your account? Any information that you have been hiding from them can now be seen, through a process called "shoulder surfing," where employers investigate an applicants social media sights so that they can see the "real" you. After researching candidates online, employers often make decisions about hiring based on the information that was posted online. I have a real problem with that. Who's to say that there is any correlation at all between what people do in their spare time and their work ethic while they are on the clock? Before social media, the hiring process was based on your resume, your experience, sometimes a background check, your overall knowledge, your attitude, your interview, and how you present yourself, (depending on the job you are applying for.) Now, candidates can be judged off their Internet identity, an identity that can be whatever you want it to be. Employees have a right not to disclose personal information to employers. So do em- ployers have the right to punish their current or prospective employees based off information they legally shouldn't have access to? I want to know how you can judge an applicants work ethic off of a website designed for family and friends to keep in touch and share their lives electronically. I can tell you what a website cannot possibly show. It cannot show drive. It cannot show good leadership, communication skills, adaptability, problem solving or creativity. No profile can ever adequately show that a person is dependable, self-motivated, confident or willing to learn -- all of which are of importance when hiring an applicant for a position. I analyzed my own profile as ifl were a prospective employer just to see ifl was "hirable." On my page were the following: picture of Photo illustration by Austin Loukas and Laura Preby A person's social life, often viewable online, can hinder chances of getting a job. my friends and I, pictures of me with puppies, pictures of British Olympic diver Tom Daley (yum!) and song lyrics. There were a few random opinion statements, my relationship status, my religious views, my political party, and a several of my "likes," (linkable pages for quite literally, things I like) which included but were not limited to: sleeping, whole wheat bread, sloths and bacon. Even I wouldn't hire me ifl based my decision off of that. My Facebook or Twitter account does not tell you anything about my education other then where I went, it does not show any of my work samples, leadership positions, or accomplishments. I firmly believe that social media websites should be eliminated as a means of gaining information about an applicant. They do not always accurately represent the individuals or how they will perform in the job that they are hoping to acquire. Of course, there will always be situational events in which people- should be reevaluated because of their social media, including distasteful comments, racial remarks and drug references that might be offensive to others. It would be impossible to single out every situation in which people should be fired or not get the job because of social media. What I will say is that social media is here to stay whether we like it or not. In recent years it has seemly gotten out of hand and is not being used how it was intended. Employers should really refrain from judging people one-dimensionally on information on a website for personal, not professional, use. @wilkesbeacon carly.yamrus@wifkes.edu Is dignity worth dying for? Death not a natural part of life By Bill Thomas ~&E Editor This article was written in response to an article written by Carly Yamrus titled "Modern Medicine: Prolonging life or prolong death" on Sept. 11, 2012. Y'know what's been on my mind a lot lately? Death. I know how morbid that sounds, but don't worry. I'm not a serial killer or a suicide case, and I haven't been listening to a lot of Joy Division recently. Here's the deal: On Tuesday, Sept. 4, my grandmother died. After suffering a stroke, her second in four years, she was left unable to swallow food. Her health deteriorated and the inevitable happened. Except, it wasn't inevitable. Years before, she had specified that if the time ever came where she needed a feeding tube, she didn't want one. Part of me sympathizes, but another part will always resent that. In this case, it's not like she was brain-dead. She was simply unable to ingest, on her own, the nutrition needed to sustain life. Some will argue that there are times when accepting death is a positive thing, times when either the financial cost, the physical cost or the psychological cost of fighting death simply isn't worth it. Some will argue that dying isn't the worst thing that can happen to a person, but that dying without dignity is. My retort? There is no such thing as dying with dignity. Period. You know what "dying with dignity" is? It's an erroneous trope perpetuated by an overly idealistic motion-picture industry, which leads us to believe that we, on our death-beds, can go quietly into everlasting slumber with some sense of peace and honor. How quaint. Truth is, we all go hurting and afraid, moaning and miserable, covered in our own urine, feces and fear. Everyone dreads death. It's hard-wired into our brains, a biological imperative as relentlessly motivating as the need to breed. The only ones who don't are the ones who go suddenly and unexpectedly. And, heck, even they have a half-second of pain, confusion and bowel/bladder evacuation, in which all traces of dignity and peace are purged before the horrible transition from warm humanity to cold pile-of-rotting-meat is finally complete. If the recommendation here is to simply quit while we're ahead, to embrace the end before things get really rough, why shouldn't we just eat a bullet when we're young and beautiful, instead of waiting for the first corrosive effects of age to creep in? We're all dying, after all. Slowly, but surely. The idea that "death is a natural part of life" is a wrong-headed cliche borrowed from Eastern and New Age philosophies that we've been using for generations now to make ourselves feel more enlightened and transcendent than we really are. It's a flimsy notion snipped right from the same hackneyed, ham-handed cloth as "Everything happens for a reason" and "God works in mysterious ways." The idea that "death is a natural part of life" is like the concept of the afterlife, a fabrication we've devised to comfort ourselves and make the inevitable somehow digestible. It makes us feel like our own deaths are just another link in some great, big, beautiful "circle of life." Hakuna matata, right? Except death is not a part of life, despite what all the would-be Buddhas out there would have you believe. Death is the polar opposite of life. In actuality, the very essence of life is the whole snarling, spitting, frantic fight to stay as far away from death as possible. Suffering and struggle are part of that. Nothing should be more important than life; not financial debt, not escape from pain, not promises made, not even liberty and justice for all (sorry, all you idealists who put political martyrs on pedestals, I think you're nuts). It's certainly more important than some half-baked virtue like "dignity." No measure of life is trivial, no procedure to prolong it unreasonable. The moment you "accept death" as a "natural part of life," you're already dead. Simply put, "giving up" and "giving in" mean the exact same thing. Don't be fooled into thinking otherwise. @wilkesbeacon bill. thomas@thewilkesbeacon.com �Sept. 25, 2012 . . ·. . . ·. ·. . . . Contact editor: billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com 'New Shorts' offers eight . pl8Ys ·in One · ·o~oust: From Wilkes theater students, faculty unite for inclusive season debut By BIii Thomas A&E Editor A middle-aged housewife working to resurrect her dreams of thespian stardom. A group of college students unwittingly caught up in the conflict of the 2006 Lebanon War. A wedding party in in which the attendees are thinking very different things than what their smiling faces imply. Any one of these premises could easily carry a full three-act play by itself. But in ''New Shorts," the latest Wilkes University theater production, they're all just pieces of a greater whole. "Some of the plays are funny, some of the plays are disturbing and some of the plays are really, very sad and even kind of gut-wrenching," Naomi Baker, an associate professor in the Theatre Arts Department, said. "I'm going to be really surprised if anybody's bored." Baker is directing two of the seven one-act plays - each written by Obie Award-winning modem playwright Israel Horovitz - that make up ''New Shorts." Associate Professor Joseph Dawson is likewise directing two, while Director of Theatre Teresa Fallon is directing three. The production runs in the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts from Thursday, Sept. 27, through Saturday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m, and on Sunday, Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. Demonstrating their stylistic diversity, the seven tales that make up "New Shorts" alternate from dark drama and sweet sentimentality to sardonic ~ wit. Alfofthem, Fallon said, are told with a sense of mystery meant to keep audiences guessing while they simultaneously explore heavy themes like death, prejudice and self-identity. "These are thoughtful plays," Fallon said. "There's something interesting about human nature in each one of them. They say something about the human condition." If variety is the spice of life, then ''New Shorts" promises to rank pretty high on the Scoville scale. In addition to showcasing seven different stories, the production will also bring together a cast of almost 20 students, which is notably large for a dramatic production according to Dawson. Furthermore, Dawson said, with ''New Shorts" bringing together not only the directorial trio of Fallon, Baker and Dawson, but also a large cast composed of actors and students of every experience level, from freshmen to seniors, the production acts as an ideal start to the new theater season. In being such an inclusive production, Baker added, this inaugural offering helps cement a feeling of family among everyone in the Theatre Arts Department. As if directing two one-acts wasn't enough, Baker will also act in a third. One reason for this is simply to bring a measure of realism to the play: The role Baker fills is that of a character intended to be much older than any of the others. By playing the role herself, Baker feels the in-story age disparity is illustrated more clearly. Another reason, however, is that it provides students a unique learning experience, allowing them to rehearse and act side-by-side with a seasoned theatrical veteran. "I've been doing this for forever, since before these students were born," Baker said with a smile. "I bring a very different sensibility to things than they do. I think it's really good for them to be able to work with someone who's got that kind of experience." When Baker joins her students onstage for ''New Shorts," though, she won't be alone. Adding to the already idiosyncratic nature of the production, audience members will be seated on the stage itself, scant feet from the performers. As such, seating is limited, , but Dawson believes the effect the approach has on the audience is more than worth it. "These plays are intimate in nature, so the closer the audience is the more they will understand the play," he said. "They're short plays, ranging from ten minutes to about a half an hour. You only get a glimpse of some of these characters. Doing it this way is just right for the material. The audience can see facial expressions up close and the actors don't have to project so much." "The plays here are ideadriven, rather than image-driv- en," Fallon said, agreeing. "It's not about spectacle." Admission for ''New Shorts" is $15 for the general public, $10 for Wilkes alumni, $5 for seniors and students. Wilkes students with valid college ID will be admitted for free. @wifkesbeacon billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com stage to page By Jake Cochran Assistant A&E Editor Whenever Renee D' Aoust would check her mailbox and find a letter from a publishing company with a long-winded, generic half-apology saying that her work wasn't what the company was looking for, she would breathe a sigh of relief. ''You're by yourself D'AOUST and you aren't turning red in front of everyone, you aren't being told 'Number 99, you can leave now,"' she said, comparing the letters to the open auditions she experienced during her years as a modem dancer. During that time, D'Aoust attended the prestigious Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance in New York City. And though D'Aoust still has a passion for a dance, she has long since found a new love: Writing. Since turning her attentions more toward the written word, D' Aoust has penned a book, "Body of a Dancer," published just last year by Etruscan Press, a publishing house located oncampus and founded by Wilkes University Creative Writing program faculty members Philip Brady and Robert Mooney. On Sunday, Sept. 30, D' Aoust will visit Wilkes for book signing, reading and Q&A session, at 7 p.m. in the Krrby Hall salon. "Body of a Dancer," which was a finalist for Foreword's 2011 Book of the Year Award, "is a memoir of her time as an up-and-coming preprofessional dancer and all the challenges and changes that she experienced in that time. In it, she tells of how her time dancing ultimately taught her that "every second from the moment you walk through the door to the final judgment, you are making an impression." For full coverage of D' Aoust's upcoming campus visit, as well as an extended interview with D' Aoust, be sure to pick up next week's edition of The Bt!acon. GRAVEY:ARD'SHDCK "cThf! X Factor'' h'1ake Cochran .· mining ~arl Grimes �10 A&E THE BEACON Wilkes' annual Fall Fest event transforms campus greenway into kaleidoscope of colors, games, fun The 2012 Fall Feat was held Thursday, Sept. 20, through Sunday, Sept. 22, on the WIikes campus greenway. The event was sponsored by the Programming Board, Student Government and the Inter-Residence Hall Council. ding each event and then tum them In Prizes ranged from a new IPad to a ets for the varloua food • ......... Photos By Kat Dodson, Brittany Battista, Austin Loukas, Dan Lykens I S1 �N 1 I Sept. 25, 2012 A&E 11 �d2 By Bill Thomas A&E Editor This past weekend, the movie "Dredd" c'ame barreling into multiplexes across America, an adaptation of the long-running U.K. comic book series. That's right, "Dredd"'' isn't merely a remake of an execrable 1995 Sylvester Stallone vehicle. Its roots go back much further, sprouting from a'"subterranean world of comics very different from the one dominated by web-slingin' wall-crawlers and dark-knight detectives. While superheroes are what the mainstream typically associates with comic books, the truth is that the medium runs much deeper and richer than that, boasting a more diverse spectrum of stories than what the capes-andtights oeuvres of Marvel and DC would .imply. Take Judge Dredd. Created in 1977 by British writer John Wagner, artist Carlos Ezquerra and editor Pat Mills, Dredd was a far cry from the optimistic demigods of American com ics. Env isioned as a critique of the establishment-friend ly authori tarian fascism embod ied by superheroes in general, and also as an over-the-top exaggeration of the popular tough-guy uber-cop archetype, Dredd was borderline misanthropic, unforgiving and ultra-violent, with Did I say "was"? Make that " is." Judge Dredd is still one of the most well-kn0"-'11 com ic characters in the U.K. , having been the breakout star of Jong-running anthology series "2000 AD" for almost three decades now, in addition to headlining a spin-off title of his own , the "Judge Dredd Megazine," in 1990. A&E It, too, is still in publication. In France, another anthology magazine, "Metal Hurlant," lived a short but influential life, spinning off a surprisingly long-lasting U.S. edition called "Heavy Metal." What do these anthologies have in common? Well, besides an emphasis on longer, more epic tales told in short-but-sweet serialized format, there's a notable lack of any characters in the traditional superhero vein. When they do appear, they 're most often treated as parodies. Instead, the focus of comic magazines like "Heavy Metal" is on tales of horror, science fiction, fantasy and erotica. Simply put, these are not kiddie books. They're graphic in terms of violence, language and, yes, sexuality. However, they're also more adult in tem1s of plot, characterization and theme, and much more expe1imental in tenns of storytelling, art and genre-bending. To wit, "Requiem : Vampire Knight" - written by the same Pat Mills who helped co-create Dredd - explores a high-concept universe in which Hell is expressed as a perverse planet Earth. Everything there is the opposite as it is here : Pain is pleasure, evil is good, beauty is ugly and everyone ages in reverse. On the surface, it's a simple tale of nihilistic, BDSMinspired sword-and-sorcery. Jn time, though, it reveals itself a layered study of human history, morality and theology. Proving the U .S. can be just as iconoclastic as its foreign cousins when it wants to be, the homegrown world of alternative and underground "comix" operates at both ends of the spectrum: On one side, mad geniuses like Robert Crumb and Gary Panter ply their trade in the form of hippie and punk culture-inspired low-brow high-art. Imagine inebriated, existential porno versions of Looney Tunes or psychedelic nuclear-nightmare iterations of pre-Comics Code horror yams. On the other side, mature themes are taken to their most sophisticated conclusions in cath.artic, confessional tales of love, angst and self-discovery a la' Henry Pekar's autobiographical "American Splendor." Even "The B.ig Two" are in on the act. In 1993, DC founded the avant-garde imprint Vertigo, publisher of such critical darlings as " Fables" and "The Sandman." All would prove essentially more "grown-up" versions of the same experimental pulp one might fin d in a back issue of "Heavy Metal," transp lanting glittery fairy-tale icons to the shadows of noir or forging new Goth icons in the fires of Greek mythology. All this, and we haven't even touched Japan. Clearly, there's a lot more to comic books than box-office bonanzas like "The Dark Knight Rises" and "The Avengers" would have the mainstream believe. Much more than superheroes, to say the least. THE BEACON I Sept. 25, 2012 CHEAT SHEET -·Req·u ired-'Fe:x:t~ ~-.--·---·-------r --------------------------- ' . "The Invisibles" . 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If you don't shed ~ iKeSOilletlffng oufot"a151sney a tear rearung tnls one, you~ - , -ft~clc;'but~"Fritr1h~t'"'-iS7:lefl-- --·probably-a-soeiopath~ - - -.. ~ r· tely..,.,.no,t -Io.t-children.-A..µer-• - - - - - - · 1i / ---r · - ~c~Zr:, ·~r - 0:;~tiQe~xp)!isb:6~ ~,qtlesli"----~ _ _life. hi~qnterculture and Serialized in _ "2000 AD," \ race/gender relations from the "Flesh" is about time-traveling ~ rspechve of a clue1esnmtsicler"'"""""'"'tl>wt5oyn.vtrcr1rera-amunf11i-- - , . _ . · !s--a---world-weary- -----nosaurs- foF---their--meat--.so-as- to--- I µlated fuJµre_ ·, .m~~ ~~~~~~lfi~~ae ="'""" !- _ _ _c_·m _._o_n_, _th_a_t'_s_j _ us_t._plain COOL -.- -r) r \ \ @wilkesbeacon billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com ~ j ~ '-.-...--~-·--------_,.,__..-_ _ _ .,._.J �Sept. 25, 2012 Contapt ed i~or: anne.yoskoski@wilkes.edu New renovations push Farley Library into the 21st cen~ury By Anne Yoskoski .. Life Editor Whether using the computers, attempting to print something or meeting a study group, students have most likely spent a lot of their time in our Farley library. Lately, big changes have been taking place in order to benefit the students and push the library into the 21st century. Some of the most obvious changes are the new front entrance doors and handicap access ramp. Previously, any handicapped students had to take the service elevator in order to access the library. Many of the other changes, however, are technological. "We are trying to update the library to make it a 21st century library," said Head of Public Services Brian Sacolic, "and every year we are getting closer to that." The basic goal behind the latest library updates has been to align the first, second and third floors with the Alden Learning Commons in the basement, which has received an excellent student response. "We have hard data that proves our statistics as far as foot traffic, laptop rentals, interlibrary loans and book checkouts have improved dramatically over the last few years," Sacolic said. The improved data has to do mainly with the improved library. Students are able to rent MacBooks and iPads for use in the library as well as access more than 5,000 eBooks. "We have been amassing eBook collections and databases over the years, and we have built an impressive collection," Sacolic said. In addition to the new archives -- the newest being American Historical Newspapers -and databases, students now have new, highvolume printers that are capable of printing up to 30,000 pages per cartridge of ink. This includes a functioning color printer, so students can customize their printing in various ways. With these new printers, it is hoped that The Beacon/Austin Lo ukas Library staff voices their eagerness to open the new library doors (above), but everyone is pleased with the beautiful result pictured on the right. students will not lose as much money printing things and will not have to go running to IT for refunds. Students can also take advantage of the new Xerox machines that will produce a clearer copy with less shadowing. One of the biggest changes to the library are the hours of operation. Farley Library now has a 24-hour computer lab that students can access with their Wilkes ID. It will allow full use of the lower floor of the library, allowing students to enter through the South Street entrance. Security will walk through at various times, making sure the environment is safe for all students. As for the future of the library, more renovations are planned. The goal so far is to make the second and third floors as conducive to productivity as possible, modeling them after the lower and first floors. Now that the new doors are installed, the next thing on the agenda for the library is possibly a new air conditioning system 'to 'combat the stuffiness so many students have experienced in the spring semesters. "We are trying to move away from that archival-warehouse mentality," Sacolic said. "We are still pushing for a coffee bar, but honestly, the improvements in physical and Web presences have taken place at amazing speeds. We are thankful for the support of the administration and the great reception from the students". The staff at Farley Library is enthusiastic about the changes and the feedback from the students. Even more upcoming changes are being planned, such as more instructive classes on bibliographic information and creating an environment similar to what Sacolic ~ ls "an academically inclined Barnes & Noble rather than an information warehouse." @annieyoskoski anne.yoskoski@wilkes.edu �14 LIFE THE BEACON I Sept. 25, 2012 Apple's iPhone 5 is the biggest iPhone release ever By Anthony Bartoli Correspondent As you are all more than aware, whether you are an Apple lover or hater, the highly anticipated iPhone 5 was released to the public on Sept. 21. Most people were, and still ar,E, weary about purchasing it. This article delves into main points that may help you decide if this phone is worth your hard-earned cash. First and foremost, the screen of the iPhone 5 is larger than any model before it. It measures an astounding 4 inches. With the new screen, the phone's length is a bit longer as well. Not much (less than half an inch taller) from previous models, but you can clearly distinguish an iPhone 5 from any other Apple product. Accodring to Apple, this model also has a brand new design. Along with the new four 4-inch screen, the iPhone 5 is also only 7.6 mm (millimeters) thick. Because it's so thin, Apple had to create a new, smaller SIM card. It is being called a "nano-SIM" card. So, if you have the 4S or any model before it (or any other type of phone) you will need to get a new SIM card to fit the iPhone S's SIM slot. A new SIM card is free of charge, no matter which carrier you use. Another thing that will cause you to purchase new items, such as an iHome, is the new "port" or "dock." For some people, this is a nightmare because it means buying all new accessories. For others, it's a dream come true. "The intelligent, reversible Lightning connector is 80 percent smaller than the 30-pin connector" (apple. com). Apple will be selling $29.99 conversion kits for old chargers, or iPhone users can buy new chargers outright. One hot topic of conversation is the new operating system, iOS 6. With iOS 6, iPhone users can now get turn-by-tum directions using the Maps app. Along with that, the Maps built-in app also features "FlyoverView." For example, if you're looking at New York City, you can see almost every detail of the skyline, as if you're actually flying over the city: Siri can now make you dinner reservations at your favorite restaurant. She can also give you movie times, and the scores of your favorite teams. She can also open apps now, which is extremely helpful. Also with iOS 6, you can now tweet, and update your status either using Siri, or the notifications bar. "FaceTime now works over cellular net- works as well as Wi-Fi, so you can make and receive FaceTime calls wherever you happen to be. You can even make and receive FaceTime calls on your iPad using your phone number. That means you can use FaceTime wherever you are, on any device. And never miss another wink, smile, air kiss or eye roll," (apple.com). The iSight camera also comes with a really awesome new feature-Panorama. "The new panorama feature for iPhone and iPod touch lets you capture everything from a momentous family reunion photo to a sweeping vista.6 With one simple motion you can shoot up to 240 degrees - even vertically, to get that redwood tree, say. Then hardware and software work together to create one seamless, highresolution panorama," (apple.com)". iOS 6 is compatible with the' following devices: - iPhone 3GS - iPhone 4 - iPhone 4S - iPhone 5 - iPod touch (4th generation) - iPod touch (5th generation) If you're interested in purchasing Apple's newest, must-have gadget, prices and mode)s vary, as well as the colors. The only two available colors of the iPhone 5 are "black & slate" or "white & silver." For the 16 GB (gigabyte) model, the price (when available for an upgrade) is $199. The 32 GB (when available for an upgrade) is $299, and the 64 GB model (when available for an upgrade) will cost $399. The closest Apple Retail Store is located at the Lehigh Valley Mall (250 Lehigh Valley Mall Whitehall, PA 18052. However, to save yourself a 45-minute trip, you can just go to http://store.apple.com/us or call Apple at 1-800-MY-APPLE. - iPad 2 @anthonybartoli anthony.bartoli@wilkes.edu - "The new iPad" The Beacon/ Laura Preby The new IPhone 5 has a bigger screen, different charging port, better speakers, an AG processor, thinner, lighter, Improved Siri, updated maps app and passbook app. The new iPhone is carried by Sprint, at&t, and Verizon. Nick Cholewa: , Junior Criminology/ Sociology "Where can I hide a body?" Senior Environmental Engineering "Can you tell me a story?" Freshman English Major "WIii you go out with me?" "How late Is Asian kitchen open?" �15 THE BEACON LIFE I Sept. 25, 2012 First annual volunteer fair at Wilkes University is a success By Bob Grabosky Staff Writer . Wilkes University held its first volunteer fair on Sept. I 8, 2012. There were a number of non profit organizations participating, including Blue Chip Farms, American Red Cross, Special Olympics of Luzerne County and Center for the Village. Coordinating the event was Megan Valkenburg, director of Community Development. Valkenburg was pleased with the outcome of the fair, despite the inclement weather that dampened the region. "It ·was a good fair, but the weather hindered some students from attending," said Valkenburg. Those people who did come took advantage of the fair which may help them in the long run and the volunteering will be a good piece to any resume when it is time to look for a permanent job. Blue Chip Farms Animal Refuge is a nonprofit organization that rescues all kinds of animals, from dogs and cats to exotic animals, such as giraffes. It does not euthanize the animals if they are not adopted. Shannon Scannell, a volunteer for Blue Chip Farms, said that they rescue any animals that are on the street or abandoned. She also said that they try to find the animals loving homes with people who love animals and can take care of them. Some organizations like the SPCA are government funded. She said these organizations tend to give up looking for a home for an animal after a certain period of time, not caring about our furry friends. "The government puts their arms down when the animals are not adopted." said Scannell. The organization is a volunteer one that depends on the donations from the public so it can fulfill its mission, which is to save all kinds of animals. Scannell also said that Blue Chip's method is better and more humane than the SPCA's. The American Red Cross depends on blood and plasma donations for those in need. The Red Cross is similar to The Salvation Army in that they help disaster victims and children in need. The Red Cross also has a Bloodmobile, which travels all over the area, to local high schools, colleges and work places so other people can volunteer their time and blood, giving to a good cause. For more information, e-mail Pauline. Schwalm-Andel@redcross.org or Edna. Vivian@redcross.org Another participant of this year's volunteer fair was a local organization called Center of the Village; a ministry comprised of three Presbyterian churches that recently merged. Their main goal is to help children through an after-school program. This program helps the children in the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre area that are in need. Mostly these consist of first, second and third grade students. Once school is over for the day, they go to the Village for help in reading and math. The Village also offers a course in music and theater. The organization also gets the children outside to play basketball, baseball and ice hockey. Ann Anderika, volunteer for the Center of the Village, said the purpose of the organization is to get the children doing physical activities, like playing catch, which helps their balance. There are other exercises that they could do, like yoga, which is offered to the kids. It also improves the childrens' strength and agility. "We teach the children to read, the multiplication tables, and for the girls, throw like a boy," Andreika said. The organizations volunteer their time to help out students in the community and in Monday, September 24, 2012 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm Wilkes On Wednesday Reveille To Taps The WB Generation X Classic Arts Showcase the county. They are also trying to get the children away from the computers and go outside and play, make friends, and communicate with one another. Below, the Red Cross and Special Olympics of Luzerne County talk about their charities at the volunteer fair. @wilkesbeacon robert.grabosky@wilkes.edu 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm Thursday, September 27, 2012 6:00pm Tuesday, September 25, 2012 6:00pm The Beacon/ Austin Loukas Shannon Scannell, a volunteer for Blue Chip Farms Animal Refuge requests students to sign up to help. The Revitalization of Downtown Wilkes Barre 6:30pm Flyboys 7:30pm Wilkes on Wednesdays 8:00pm Rosenn Lecture-Greg Mortenson 9:49:52pm Classic Arts Showcase Wednesday, September 26, 2012 6:00pm Wy-Val-Media: Challenges and Changes Class of 1986 The Price Is Almost Right Rosen Lec.-Michelle Rhee Classical Arts Showcase 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm Iron Horses: A History of Railroads in the Wyoming Valley Magic to Do Unlucky Cinderella OLF-Eli Wiesel Classical Arts Showcase Friday, September 28, 2012 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm Wilkes Barre History Documentary Cross Gen. Focus Group Under The Sea Much Ado About Nothing �Sept. 25, 2012 Contact editor: frank.passalacqua@wilkes.edu No. 21 Widener powers past Wilkes, 90-0 Pride scores on 12 straight possessions as Colonels' offense, defense struggle in MAC loss Courtesy Sports Information The Wilkes University football team saw its first 100-plus yard rusher this season as junior Auxence Wogou went for 116 yards on 20 carries, but the high-powered No. 21 Widener University offense exploded for 681 yards of total offense to post a 90-0 win over the Colonels in Middle Atlantic Conference play Sept. 22. Wilkes falls to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in MAC play. Widener remains unbeaten at 4-0 and moves to 3-0 in league games. The Widener offense needed little time gaining momentum taking a 7-0 lead after a Robert Getz two-yard touchdown run on its first possession. The Wilkes defense caused its only turnover of the game when DJ Shuttleworth intercepted Widener quarterback Chris Haupt midway through the first quarter setting the Colonels up at the Widener 34. The Colonel offense struggled throughout the contest, not converting a point with the positive field position after failing to pick up a first down on the drive. From there, the Pride scored touchdowns on its next 12 possessions including five through the air as Haupt finished with six touchdown tosses on 21-for-27 passing and 415 yards. Wogou led the Colonel offense with his best outing of the season going for more than 100 yards for the first time this year. Quarterback Alex George started under center, going ll-for-23 for 76 yards and two interceptions. Sophomore tight end Drew Devitt was the top Colonel receiver finishing with three catches for 24 yards. On defense, Tyler Thomas, Jake Sarson, Tate Moore-Jacobs and Ty Cunningham each contributed six ta~kles. Wilkes (1-2, 0-2 MAC) returns home Sept. 29 to host FDU-Florham at Schmidt Stadium. Courtesy of Sports Information Junior running back Auxence Wogou, right, rushed 116 yards at the Sept. 22 'Ultimate Fighter': It's broken, so let's fix it By Jake Cochran Assistant A&E Editor Sept. 14 was the premiere of Season 16 of "The Ultimate Fighter," and it had the lowest ratings of any season's debut, while 947,000 isn't terrible for a Friday, it's a far cry from it's glory days. A common sentiment with fans of the series is that, they just feel it's blurring together and it's just not an interesting format anymore, and it's just over done after 16 seasons. Every season there is always going to be a ringer whom no one really recognizes and then delve a little deeper into the fighter's history. The person has a fight against a current champion and it turns out he is miles ahead of everyone else, like Jonathan Brookins. Then the producers put the fighter in the house just to mess with everyone and that person ends up having minimal talent other than the fact that he has a knack for getting under the skin of everyone. Sometimes this person ends up turning it around after a couple fights in the UFC but during the series he is hopeless. Still, he somehow manages to make it to the quarterfinals, like Josh Koscheck or Matt Mitrione. By far the most frustrating thing about the series recently though, has been its emphasis on staying in the lighter weight classes. While I'm well aware the organization has recently added bantamweight and featherweight and was trying to expand those divisions, there is absolutely no need for another season on lightweights. The lightweight division is arguable the most competitive and deep division in the sport, UFC does not need to be using a reality TV series to gain new competitors for this division. It can just take any number of lightweights from any other promotion because when you are 15 5 pounds, you don't have a ton of sports options. You really can't be a linebacker like the heavyweights can. UFC needs to get back to what gave it the best ratings and give the people what they want to see. They need heavyweights. For chrissakes, UFC 146 was an all-heavyweight main card and sold like gang-busters. Make another heavyweight season. The talent is out there and the fighters want to get back to the UFC, so make them go the same route Kimbo Slice had to go; send them through the TUF house. Tim Sylvia wants to get back in the UFC so badly, make him live in a house with Andrei Arlvoski, Brett Rodgers and a bunch of other guys and have them figh~or a contract. That season practically just sold itself. 1 The coaches could be practically anyone, they could have literally the most boring coaches on earth and the fighters in that house would sell the season because at this point how many of the past few coaches have actually fought each other. Then to narrow that down, how many of those fights were actually competitive or good fights? Faber and Cruz never fought, Junior and Brock never got to fight, Chuck and Tito didn't fight, Rampage-Rashad and Serra-Hughes took about a thousand years to happen, and most recently Vitor and Wanderlei coached TUF Brazil, and they didn't fight. So really why even bother building all this animosity between coaches when in the end, they don't even fight each other. Then if you think about when Rampage and Evans finally did get to lock horns, Rampage looked like he should have stuck with acting and saved himself that embarrassing fight. I'm not saying that Rashad outclassed him; I'm saying it was a poor performance on both fighters. But if you want to find a fight that showed someone who did get outclassed, that would be when Season 14's coaches fought, or to be more correct, when Michael Bisping beat up and humiliated Mayhem Miller. I'm not sure what the circumstances were that led Mayhem Miller to look so terrible but he never seemed to get his mojo back and went on to lose one more fight in the UFC before getting cut and retiring. To sum up the points I'm trying to make here though, "The Ultimate Fighter" can still be successful, it just needs some tweaking and for the love of all things holy, take the series off Friday nights. The target demographic is not at home on Fridays at 10 p.m. @wilkesbeacon frank.passalacqua@wilkes.edu Cross County competes at NEPA Classic race Courtesy Sports Information The Wilkes University men's and women's cross country teams competed at the NEPA Classic hosted by King's College Friday afternoon at the Hollenback Golf Course. The Wilkes men finished fifth in the 6k race, while three Lady Colonels recorded times in the women's 4k race. For the Colonels (135 points), Martin Tolbert (York, PA/William Penn) ran the second fastest 6k time in school history crossing the line at 22:28 for 22nd place. Mike McCleaf (Fairfield, PA/Delone Catholic) followed with a time of23 :20 for 25th place, while Stephen Synder came in at 23:50 (27th). Sam Miller (24:29/30th), Trevor Kapschall (25 :54/31 st), RJ Sperazza (27:0l /32nd), and Ashton Zanecki (Annapolis, MD/Annapolis) (29:46/34th) rounded out the Wilkes finishers. On the women's side, Rachel Constant (Nazareth, PA/Notre Dame) ran the second fastest 4k time in school history with a mark of 17: 16, good for 14th place. Both squads return to action Sept. 29 when they travel to Carlisle, Pa., to run in the Dickinson Invitational. �17 SPORTS THE BEACON I Sept. 25, 2012 Ryan Joyce, a sophomore defender for the Wilkes University soccer team, said he usually gets nervous before games, but he tries to relax by staying loose and joking with fellow players. Joyce What is your biggest source of inspiration? My family is by far my biggest inspiration. It means the world to me when I see my dad at Continued from Page 19 every game, knowing that it can be a two-hour drive or more. Every time I walk on the field Any specific job you would love to hold in I know that I want to play to my full potential life? There isn't a specific job that I would and represent my last name in a positive way. love to have, I just want to enjoy what I do and Family is everything to me. hope that I look forward to work everyday. What pro soccer players do you admire and look up to? I'd have to say t,bat my favorite player is the Bayem Munich defender Philipp Lahm. Every time I watch him play I always try and mimic his style on the field. Season Stats: Games Played: 5 Shots Per game: Describe to us your pre-game ritual ? I usually prefer to stay loose and joke around with some players. I get nervous and anxious pretty easily, so I find it easier to just relax and enjoy the game. 0.40 Goals Per game: 0.00 Assists Per game: 0.20 What kind of music gets you pumped up before games? I always listen to Red Hot Chili Peppers before the games and sometimes house music. I just need something with a fast beat to it, because it helps me focus on the game but not get too nervous. Is it hard balancing school work with games and practice? I actually find it easier to do schoolwork during soccer season, because when you're constantly busy you manage time a lot better and eliminate procrastination. The Beacon/ Laura Preby Points Per game: 0.20 • Total Minutes: 387 @wilkesbeacon frank.passalacqua@wilkes.edu WE, PAIN, 1-St+llt1S 81 Waller Street Wilkes Barre, PA 18702 i the legendary taste www.wetpainttshirts.com I WILKES UNIVERSITY'S ONE STOP - PRINT SHOP Go Colonels! Mention this ad for a FREE Hat with your first order! We Deliver to Wilkes University! Call (570) 331-FAST (3278) Ask about our combo specials featuring our complete line up of pizza, subs, wings, burgers & more!visit us online for a complete menu & listing of specials at www.grottopizzapa.com What We Can Do For You Tees Hoodies Hats & More or visit our restaurant & sports bar Grotto Pizza, Gateway Center, on Rt. 11 in Edwardsville (just across the bridge!) 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King's THE BEACON SPORTS Q [?1} Joseph Pugliese I Sept. 25, 2012 I Frank Passalacqua Columnist [ Sports editor Fork over the cash Bring them back! The NFL only a year after it locked out its players has locked out its regular referees. The referees were demanding more money, most importantly a better pension and retirement package. The refs, just like the media and players, took a step back and saw the money machine the NFL has become and basically have said we want a bigger piece of the pie. Now at first I was on the NFL's side on 17""',_..,__,..,=,;; this issue, the refs have had a pretty good deal. They work mid-August to February and that's it. And they only really work one or two days a week and get paid a range of $25,000 to $75,000 ranging from young line judges to head refs. I would definitely not mind making 50k to work one day a week and watch a NFL game up close. That's pretty good. The preseason was rough and made me doubt their ability to control and manage an NFL game. The first week was a pleasant sur- I, prise, though, and I started to become confiav~rage dent that these refs are actually pretty good and The that the locked-out refs would stop their protest and come back. There were some procedural issues and they were lenient on the holding calls but overall RQ, n:}pst most games I wouldn't have known the differ- per ence. partThen week two hit. Week two was so bad of to the point where I could barely watch. There ~[!!;Jg were fights in games refs failed to control, holding was being called on DBs and they .,. . .,. "' · "' . . .·.' ,, . ., .:::·~ became pass interference happy to the point t where it was called before there was ever contact. One game was reported to have 28 wrong calls or procedures. Five maybe, 10 is under- oUter Jobs. standable, but 28?! Week two made me yearn for the old refs. My advice to the NFL is: pay the money. In the grand scheme of things, it's a drop in the bucket. Player safety and quality of the product is at stake here. I won't say all the new refs are 1re~~ree' Ed -Hoehull 'WOrK;~. ,<c bad; I have been impressed with a select few. [~Ve,, Some will probably be offered a job after the ¾ • new refs come back, and this did open the door .· e·r ·1. for the first female ref to come into the game 11 which is a great story. But bring the refs back please. The NFL is officially a mess; see what I did there? Last year when the players failed to reach an agreement with the CBA, the lockout had fans all across the country scared out of their minds. What could be worse than no football? Well, I'll tell you what: replacement refs. This year, the NFL finds themselves in a similar situation as last season. Instead, 2012 brings a feud between the league and the referees. What it all comes down to is money. The refs want more dough and the league doesn't want to budge. As a result, the NFL is left with horrible excuses for replacement refs. First off, the referees calling a game on Sunday are far from knowing how th~ NFL runs. Most of them are from Division mcolleges, like Wilkes, or they're just an average Joe. In fact, referee Jim Core is an every day eight-grade geography teacher! If any fan or an occasional viewer has sit down and watched a full game so far this season, they will surely see a difference in what is going on. It's not too uncommon for players, coaches or announcers to disagree with a call, but this trend of missed calls or just completely pointless flags are starting to ruin the image of the game. You know something is wrong when during a game when you hear the announcers laugh and pick apart what the ref thinks he knows. Not only are penalties becoming a problem, but these refs simply can not keep control of the players, and that is a bad sign. I have never seen more fights break out in a season than I have so far in just two weeks. For instance, during the Philadelphia Eagles vs Baltimore Ravens matchup, the game was stopped a total of six times due to fighting. No players were ejected, and the penalties given off-set, giving the teams no consequences for their actions. If the referees don't step up and gain control, it will be out of their hands before they know it. I am not saying the league is right by not giving the real refs their money, but it really is just getting ridiculous. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell obviously sees what is going on on Sundays, so unless he wants the games to become a mutual joke to the teams, he better make a move. Ifus, the fans, had any say in this, I'd love to go on a "watching the game" strike so they lose millions! But hey, like we have any power. On the bright side, at least the refs have now learned to face the camera while giving a call. J'.he refs waot mere - money. Shou1.4 the" 11ea~oep$ them ·the,-, ear:nlngsft f .facts,; lJle NFL l'referee ~arns J~,nw$here, ,'' ,from $2q.,Qodto $~Q!OOO l thefn referee s~~son~ et, fy lume:" and l'SMb.xefer• Iees1~et pa i:d eteuble;tbU:ts tthey,,ar~n't'aJlowea·.,to wcir,~ Thttargumept;;;flernaps the ~~c?goi~~'.~: J\lf,L l mo~t lbea tha:n @wifkesbeacon joseph.pugliese@wilkes.edu Tweet us: Send messages and pictures to: @wu_BeaconSports @wifkesbeacon frank.passalacqua@wilkes.edu �THE BEACON I Sept. 25, 2012 BY FRANK PASSALACQUA Sports Editor Meet Ryan Joyce, a sophomore accounting major and defender for the Wilkes University mens soccer team. Ryan hails out of Warminster; Pennsylvania (right outside of Northeast Philadelphia). Fresh out ofArchbishop Wood, Ryan earned himself a starting role on the team as only a freshman. He is All Catholic honors, cdptain ofPIAA state runner up and the District 12 champion. With Colonels like this, it is no doubt the team is headed in the right direction. When did you first start playing soccer and why? My parents got me enrolled around the age of 5 because they wanted to get me involved in a sport. They figured soccer would be a good start, because other neighborhood kids were already on the . team. How is the game different from high school to college? The game isn't too different talent-wise, it's just a lot quicker and faster. It also requires a lot more dedication to staying conditioned and fit. What makes it give it your all from week to week? It's the little things that make us pursue the ultimate goal of winning a MAC championship. We all understand that even if we take one week off, that can be the difference between a championship or not. What is the hardest part about being on the team? Fun Fridays or conditioning we receive after having a day off. I know in the long run it's going to better us, but I dread those practices. What was your proudest moment on the field? My proudest moment had to be my first game. Coach put me in the starting lineup and I was really nervous, but all of the guys were there for support and really had my back. It was a great feeling to experience. What is one game you'll never forget? The game against Arcadia was probably my most memorable game. It was an intense game that had a lot ofred and yellow cards and a season ending injury to our goalie Dave Marr. Even though the game was out of control, we all showed good character and made sure we looked out for each other. What made you decide to major in accounting? My dad and other family members are CPA's and accountants, so I figure it would be a smart decision to follow into their occupation. See JOYCE, Page 17 SPORTS 12 r �Fall Faslikm tips ,t BY ALYSSA STENCAVAGE --- Asst. Life Editor 1_ Once again, the leaves on the trees are changing colors and the temperature of the air indicates a change of season. This only means one thing: Fall is right around the comer. Some enjoy the changes this season brings, while others not so much. When we think of we probably think of cooler temperatures, which might bring to mind the idea of things like hot chocolate and the wearing of boots, sweaters, scarves and all of those fun fall accessories. To keep up with fashion and trends that are constantly evolving, we might seek new and creative ways to improve our current styles, and junior Communication Studies major Morgan Evans is here to help us do just that. "I love large-face menswear-inspired watches mixed with different raw stone accessories for a combination of both classic and bohemian style," Evans said. She said you can never go wrong with a scarf, no matter what style a have, because it keeps you cozy and looks good. Sophomore Britney Williams said she likes "scarves, jeans with leather boots and a long sleeve shirt or sweater" for the fall. Studded anything is a popular or "hot" trend this fall, which "adds a rough edge to any look" and still allows for "soft touches in order to make an outfit feminine," Evans said. Leather jeggings are also big this season, and while colored jeans are still popular; they give an edgier look when in "darker, jewel-tone washes," Evans said. Denim button shirts are seen everywhere and you can make a trend your own just by taking advantage of the million DIY projects out there. If you're interested in fashion, you might 1rl, - . if h . l b e w on dennK t ere are any new amva s out there for this upcoming fall season. The answer is yes. Most notably designers such as Herve Leger, BCBG Max Azria and Jason Wu from New York Fashion Week feature some harness-like wear. If you' re willing to try a bit of a different look, tops that look like a harness like the belted straps look is one option for a new fall appearance. What is the most important fall fashion tip? Well, Evans says that it is best to layer, layer, layer! "I love this time of year because layering means I am super cozy in class, but sometimes this time of year makes the weather situation a little tricky," Evans said. She suggests that mixing different pieces you can take off after a breezy walk to class is a good way to avoid the Goldilocks "too hot, too cold" dilemma. A final piece of advice is to invest in a good pair of boots that won't fall apart because "that is something no girl should live without and will go with any outfit." She said boots are "always in and are a classic piece that can stay with you for years to come." "My style for the fall consists of boots, moccasins, hoodies, leather jackets, colorful scarves," junior ZabaidaAzad said. By listening to what is presented here, new ideas are brought to the table for this fall season and also offer ways to deal with the cold temperatures that will follow. Living in an area where things are constantly changing, we must always be open to conforming our styles to the season and being prepared for any unexpected turns. These fall fashion tips can help us get started. Photos By The Beacon/Austin Loukas @wilkesbeacon alyssa.stencavage@wilkes.edu Morgan Evans offers helpful tips on ways to stay fashionable t his fall season. By adding a few minor accesories anyone can make an outfit look successful, Evans points out . Her tips will keep you warm, comfortable and fashionable. Below, fall fashion accessories to keep as closet staples. � 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, 2012 September 25th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 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/4e187ab9e2c93a522e087c89b4478958.pdf 75e0c2d5223eca320a89589dee6cc952 PDF Text Text Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Oct. 2, 2012 THE BEACON The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow. Volume 65 Issue 4 n The Beacon/Laura Preby For more information and content, check us out at: thewilkesbeacon.co~ �SG vans undergo $840 update utism group given ormal SG club status By Abbey Haldeman Assistant News Editor Last fall after flood relief efforts, the Student Government vans underwent full detailing to return them to their original form. However, over the past year the vans have not had the proper upkeep and SG says they are in need of a full detailing once again. "They are used on a close to daily basis, it is hundreds of different students using them across the area they just naturally get dirty," John Sweeney, vans committee president and senior class vice president, said. During the SG meeting held on Sept. 26, the executive board voted to grant the vans committee $840 to ensure the $210 fee per van is covered for the full detailing they will undergo starting next week. "Although it does sound expensive, it is an extremely thorough cleaning," Sweeney said. "It is really a complete 180 from when we drop them off to when we pick them up." While there has always been a policy in place to help ensure the safety and cleanliness of the university vehicles, they are hoping to make some changes in order to fix some of the re-occurring issues. Executive Director of Capital Projects John Pesta said the changes would include items such as drivers must be at least 19 years of age, they must submit a Motor Vehicle Record check, drivers being responsible for evaluating the condition of the university vehicle and drivers being subject to applicable university disciplinary procedures for failure to comply. Sweeney said the vans committee now includes a checklist for those making use of the SG «ms. In-town trips will have a form that will reflect the name of the driver, the starting mileage, where they are going and any problems there may be with the vans. For out-of-town trips, there is a full checkout form, including, name, WIN number, names of passengers, where the trip is going, if the van has a full tank of gas, if it is clean, if the taillights and headlights work and other details. "We decided that it would be a good time to really update the way that we track the use of the vans to make sure that they are staying clean, that they aren't being left on empty, that we find out when a taillight or a head- The Student Government meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m. The Beacon/Dan Lykens The vans rented out by student government were given new regulations dealing with factors as age, record check and evaluating their condition. light is out or the wipers need to be replaced," Sweeney said. "Because I don't drive them all the time, we need the feedback from students so we can properly maintain them and ensure their safety." For those using the vans that do not properly follow the new system or are still returning the vans with messes or problems, there will now be a suspension system put in place. For firsttime offenders there will be a warning, and after the second and third time there will be a possible a two-week suspension from using the vans. Sweeney said policies to keep the vans clean are good for the entire student population. "The vans are there . . . so, by keeping them clean, you are not just helping yourselves, you are helping the student body as a whole," Sweeney said. rrectlons: n'1he st9ry""'~ew St,ol't$''.:0ff lgbt'p(ays In o.ne",,fto,PI s issue; ~tµdetafs lj the ac,-," n, . compt•ny ·phqto wer4! ln<;p!ft\~IY rctentifled. lJ'le Qotr~ot paptfoq ts• 1'From. .1eft.,Clerra CFDerar,, ,, Janile,.Alderlso:s aa,d Luke,Jradj act &p ''New Shorts/" A1sc,,.lnJbes pt. 1.8 Jssue,tbe"~~t of.the n.Ii on-campus parking fee . was!lncor•".: rectly'reported. The -cost Is $12q,, t The Beacon apologizes far ttiese errors. @wilkesbeacon abbey.haldeman@wilkes.edu @shawncarey8 shawn.carey@wilkes.edu THE BEACON Editorial Staff 2012-13 ) 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall Wilkes University Wil kes-Barre, PA 18766 Editor-in-Chief: Kirstin Cook News Editor: Christine Lee Managing Editor: Bryan Calabro Opinion Editor: CarlyYamrus Ad Manager: Brittany Battist a A&E Editor: Bill Thomas PHONE: (570) 408-5903 Photo Ed itor: Laura Preby Life Ed ito r: Anne Yoskoski WEBSITE: thewilkesbeacon.com Adviser: Loran Lewis Sports Editor: Fra~k Passalacqua I All College: $9,550 Conferences: $700 General Funds: $18,213 Leadership: $600 Spirit: $872.34 Student Government Total: $29,935.34 Paintball Club . A representative from the Paintball Club discussed the club and successes over the past year. They are hoping to keep new membership up for the year and want to be sanctioned by the NCPA. The club is on week 1 of 2 for requesting funds for an upcoming trip. The club is requesting $673.92. They said that they do not have any plans for a large fundraiser because of the transition of leadership. Autism Speaks The Autism Speaks club met for the second week. The club is seeking club status by the student government. Club representatives said they met with the community service department who said it would not make sense for them to be considered a community service club, but instead should be a student government recognized club. They said they have 78 students interested in the club, majority of that comes from sophomores and seniors. A motion was made to recognize the Autism Speaks club as a Student Government recognized club. The motion passed 33-0-7. Van committee update The van committee presented for the second week. The committee is seeking funds from Student Government to clean and get new decals for the vans. Chair of the vans committee, John Sweeney, said that the cost for cleaning the vans would be $840. He was also asking $70 for new magnetic decals. A motion was made by treasurer Sam Bickert to allocate $840 to clean the vans, no magnets. The motion passed 38-2-2 The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m. Meet the Staff Michelle Coyle Assistant Sports Editor �THE BEACON I Oct 2, 2012 3 NEWS Wilkes named military-friendly school for the third year in a row By Devoni Novak Staff Writer For the third consecutive year, Wilkes University ranked among the top 15 percent of Military-Friendly Schools in the nation for its dedication to aiding the success of veteran students. With 55 veterans enrolled, Veterans' Counselor Lt. Col. Mark Kaster explained the significance ofWilkes' making the Military Friendly Schools List in G.I. Jobs Magazine. "It's a great honor," Kaster said. "It shows that Wilkes has met many high standards to support veterans at many different levels." When considering which school to attend, "military-friendly" stands out to veterans and encourages them to pursue higher education. Marine Corps veteran Cassandra Mignot, a pre-physical therapy major, is one of those who has benefited from the veterans' counseling program on campus. She said she was looking at four other schools when she decided Wilkes was the one. Mignot chose Wilkes because of the services the institution offers to vets. Before coming to Wilkes, Mignot attended Penn College, a school that was not as accommodating to the knee injury she acquired while on active duty. As a school that values students that are military veteran, Wilkes has provided Mignot with convenient parking and her professors allow her to sit during three hour lab courses. "Wilkes was a lot more military friendly." Mignot said. "They have the yellow ribbon program which allowed me to go to a private school, not a lot of private schools offer that." As a yellow ribbon school, Wilkes makes an extra effort to aid veteran students. When tuition costs aren't completely covered by the post 9/11 G.I. Bill, Wilkes picks up the remaining costs by splitting the remainder 50/50 with the Department of Veterans Affairs. These benefits can also be passed to a vets spouse and children. Although all schools accept the G.I. Bill, the yellow ribbon benefits are not always adopted. According to Alex Magee, Marine and president of Veteran Counsel, the added support is a big relief. "For a lot of veterans, the yellow ribbon benefits are a huge reason for coming to such an expensive private institution," he said. "That's one of the big factors as to why I chose Wilkes." Magee is taking advantage of her GI bill and the yellow ribbon benefits and hopes to eventually get into the pharmacy program. She said joining the Marine Corps gave her the focus he needed to go back to school and get her degree. "It's one of those holes in my life that hasn't been filled yet," Magee said. "The Marine Corps definitely helped me focus; now I know which direction I want to go with my life." Magee feels that being able to use his mili- tary benefits to further her education at Wilkes is a great honor. "Every day I wake up it's almost a privilege because of everything I've been through and everything that I did in the military," Magee said. "It is really nice to be able to come back and have the community give back to me." Wilkes is a guiding institution for veterans as they make the transition from military career to college student according to Kaster. He feels that because Wilkes provides yellow ribbon benefits, the school is genuinely committed to their vet students. "I believe that hiring me (as veteran counselor) shows a very high level of commitment," she said. As veteran counselor Kaster feels his position is an opportunity to continue to serve his country. "I spent 32 years in the military." she said. "I always felt to serve our country was a great honor for me and in a way I am still doing that by helping the vets at so many different levels." * Colonel logo controversy resolved Md. high school using Wilkes logo has removed infringement By Christine Lee News Editor A high school in Maryland using a logo bearing an uncanny resemblance to the Wilkes colonel logo has removed the design from everything school-related. The Beacon first reported in 2011 that Colonel Zadok A. Magruder High School in Rockville, Md. was using a logo looking exactly like the colonel logo primarily used by Wilkes athletic teams. The case came to the attention of administrators when wrestling coach Jon Laudenslager visited the high school on a recruiting trip in December 2010. The discovery led administrators to question whether it was possible they had infringed up on Magruder's logo. However, an investigation later revealed Wilkes had purchased the sole rights to the logo from New York City-based Phoenix Design Works in 2003. According to associate vice president of marketing communications and government relations Jack Chielli, after the incident was brought to Wilkes administrators' attention, a letter and phone calls were sent to Magruder asking them to stop using Wilkes' logo. Chielli said because the school wasn't a direct competitor and it wasn't misusing the logo, it had an unspecified period of time to remove and change the logo. Magruder Principal Leroy Evans said the situation came as a complete surprise on his part and everyone involved with the school, as no one knew they were infringing on Wilkes' logo until representative visited the school. "It took a lot of us by complete surprise," Evans said. However, Evans said the school complied with the request from Wilkes and removed the logo from everything school-related. "We started the process immediately of removing the mascot," Evans said. Evans said the school understood fully that it was infringing on Wilkes' logo and it is designing several new logos. "We are in the process of creating a new, unique logo," Evans said. "We hope to have two, one that is business-academic and one for sports." Evans said the school is still completing the design with the help of students and faculty. It is also making sure these new logos are authentic. Chielli said he hasn't had any communication with Magruder since the formal request was sent to remove the logo. He explained it was important for Wilkes and Magruder to have separate identities to avoid confusion. "When it comes to university identities such as mascots, it's pretty difficult to have someone imitate your logo so directly," Chielli said. "While there isn't a great danger that anything could happen there is some confusion or if something should happen at the high school and that particular icon gets splashed all over the national media, people would confuse it with ours, and that's the main reason for such The Beacon/Dan Lykens Junior nursing major and Air Force ROTC member Tim Jurkowski Is one of those helped by @wilkesbeacon devoni.novak@wilkes.edu the recently hired veterans' counselor. separate identities." Evans said the school did the right thing by removing the logo to avoid any legal proceedings. "We did the right thing and moved on from there," Evans said. "There were no legal grounds to fight it." Chielli said he is glad the issue was resolved so quickly and in a clear-cut manner. "I'm just glad it was resolved as amicably as it was," Chielli said. "I'm glad that they're getting their own identity mark and wish them the best with it." Courtesy of Marketing Communications The logo of Magruder high school In Maryland was the same as the one below except the 'W' in the flag was replaced with an 'M' and was shaded grey and purple. The logo has been removed. @c/eespot ch risti ne. /ee@wi/kes. ed u �4 NEWS THE BEACON I Oct 2 , 2012 WE TREAT INJURIES AND ILLNESSES FOR ALL AGES. + JUST WALK IN . + MOST INSURANCE ACCEPTED, BUT NOT REQUIRED . + ALWAYS A PHYSICIAN ON SITE. "M Wi ea O·e ens ,9 a.m. E~W~276We Wyomi 570·;_ �THE BEACON I Oct. 2, 2012 NEWS 5 Wilkes to unveil new mobile application this semester By Shawn Carey Staff Writer Now, Wilkes can count itself among those who can say, "there is an app for that!" Debuting for the fall 2012 semester, Wilkes is creating a mobile application for students that have an iOS or Android smartphone. "The app will allow us to bundle a lot of services to students. So think of it as a mobile version of the My Wilkes portal," Chief Information Officer Gloria Barlow, said. The app will be linked directly to the student's LIVE D2L account, have access to events on campus, sports schedules and weekly dining menus. Students will be able to download the app for free. There will be different "phases" for the app and more features will be added to the app in the future. However, the features will be dependent on student's reaction to the app. The tentative release of the app is scheduled for the middle of October. So far, students seem to be very excited about the release of the app as well. "It would be really convenient to be able to have information like the dinner menu and The Beacon/Dan Lykens Chief Information Technology officer Gloria Barlow presented a rough draft of the app to faculty, staff and administrators in a meeting on Sept. 26. sports schedule at my fingertips no matter where I am," sophomore pre-pharmacy Krista Bower major, said. The app is being made by mobile convergence company Moofwd, whose primary goal of is to design mobile applications that stu- Ed prof gives education lecture dents and faculty members can use for educational purposes. Barlow has been working with Moofwd since February to design an app that students would want to use. This past week, The Beacon, was able to get an "insiders-look" at the new proposed app that students will use. Students will have access to their professors, grades and course documents whenever they want. Professors will be able to send students notifications right to their mobile device when there is new course content. Students will also have access to their grades and how they are doing in each course. Barlow said the cost the university has to pay for the app is laid out in a "pay-per-student" agreement. "A wonderful thing that I am delighted with this company is that it is taking a more progressive pricing model," Barlow said. The university will only pay for the number of students that download the app and not a large lump sum of money. Barlow also said that she will be having a contest for students to name the new app. There will be more information to come. Students with any questions about the app or contest can contact Barlow at gloria.barlow@ wilkes.edu. @shawncarey8 shawn.carey@wilkes.edu WET PAINT T-St+l"TS By Haley Adam Correspondent 81 \Nailer Street WilKes Bari-e, PA 18702 Gina Morrison, associate professor in the School of Education will present a free public lecture on "The Malaysia Opportunity" at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8, in Room 214 of the Marts building as part of the Educational FoI111¥eries. Series co-founders Robert and Judith Gardner started the series as an outgrowth of their personal classroom teaching. It is a way that students, faculty, staff and the public can learn about issues in education without being cooped up in a classroom all day. "It's part of our philosophy of teaching that learning should not be confined to the classroom," Robert Gardner explained. "We believed that these experiences offer opportunities to be other places and hear other voices. These are powerful experiences that help people understand what education can be." Other lectures in the forum are scheduled throughout the semester. The topics are varied so as to reach out to different people. Lecture topics vary from "Using Library of Congress Resources in K-12 Classrooms with An Overview of the Junior Fellows Intern Program," presented Oct. 3 by retired senior information specialist in the copyright department of the Library of Congress. Another is "The Independent School Experience," presented by Wyoming Seminary academic dean and dean of the faculty Randy Granger on Nov. 7. WILKES UNIVERSITY'S ONE STOP - PRINT SHOP @wilkesbeacon ha/ey.adam@wilkes.edu www.wetpainttshirts.com Mention this ad for a FREE Hat with your first order! What We Can Do For You Tees Hoodies Hats & More Great For: Clubs & Activites Sports Teams Fraternties / Sororities Fund Raising Dept. Uniforms CALL 5 70-822-2221 to Get Started Now! Courtesy of Wilkes in Malaysia blog Dr. Gina Morrison will deliver a lecture for the Educational Forum series which will focus on multi-cultural education, speclflcally her work teaching In Malaysia. �Oct. 2, 2012 Contact editor: carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu Replacement app an 'oops' for Apple i0S6's Apple Maps was a catastrophic failure for the consumer By The Beacon Editorial Staff Apple's new operating system is now available for purchase and despite the many features it offers to faithful, casual and long-term Apple users, the smartphone contains one huge flaw. The upgrade to iOS6 eliminated Google's Mapping application, the default map app for the iPhone and iPad. Not only did Apple attempt to cut ties with the largest, most reliable and widely used mapping tool known to humankind, it also failed miserably with its replacement application. 'Hooray, I have the newest version of Apple's operating system on my iPhone: iOS6, but now I am lost. I am lost because Apple took away my long time default 'go to' mapping application: Google Maps and they replaced it with their own version of maps, which leads me literally in the wrong direction,' said this reporter along with thousands of other consumers. Apple's forced alternative to Google Maps is not even close to the quality of Google's Maps in many ways. Users have experienced multiple issues since the new Maps made its debut on iOS6. The app has been said to miscalculate locations of entire cities, businesses, streets and towns and display a melting wavy effect on many of the streets in satellite view. Many have compared Apple's maps to Salvador Dali's Persistence of Memory painting. Biogs, news sources, forums and social networks have been buzzing over the past weeks about this inferior "upgraded" mapping application. Christina Bonnington, a writer for Wired, callllJiliis new app a "Mapocolypse." Huffington Post calls the new map app a "debacle." And @jsjohnst tweeted it best: "Doing LSD was one of the most important things I've done in my life." --Steve Jobs Before we agreed with all these people (there were many more), The Beacon staff decided to investigate how Apple's new map app compared to Google. When we opened Maps for the first time, we decided to lookup the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. When we found the pin we dropped it on the Brooklyn Bridge location, I was shocked to see the Brooklyn Bridge collapsed and cars driving off the edge into a hole in the ground. Tom Tom, the leading manufacturer of automotive navigation systems in Europe, is a major contributor for all the information Apple used to create this digitized wonky version of navigation. However, they maintain the fact they had no part in the actual creation of the BEACON POLL The Beacon poll is unscientific and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on the Wilkes campus. These poll results are based on seven responses. Last week's question: Do you think employers have the right to view online profiles to make employment decisions? Screenshot Courtesy of Apple Maps io6 Maps The Brooklyn Bridge Is just one of the many iconic structures distorted In satellite view on Apple Maps. Users are also plagued with misrepresentations of entire cities, businesses, streets and towns. app. "There is a difference between a map and an app. We don't develop the app. We license the map data, which is like a foundation. The customer can build on top of that, but we license the same mapping data to all our customers," said TomTom media manager Cem Cohen. If an alien were to look at this application before visiting our planet, they would think our world was in chaos (without the smoke and fire of course), I bet this was not in the data Apple received from TomTom. "We don't know what is causing the issues (on the Apple maps) but from our perspective the quality of our data is great and we stand behind it," said Caroline Fisher, vice-president ofTomTom's consumer business unit. TomTom insists they will continue to work with Apple and give them support to work out there mapping issues. "We are more than willing to work with Apple to help fix any problems, as we would with any of our customers," said Fisher. TomTom is known mainly in the US for its line of small navigation systems that can be placed on dashboards inside cars. Apple stands committed to fixing the problems associated with their mapping service. "We launched this new map service knowing it is a major initiative and that we are just getting started with it," an Apple spokeswoman said, according to Mashable. Getting started with what? How can I possibly worry about "getting started with" a form of navigation on my phone that does not work? It seems to The Beacon tl).at Apple was a little unprepared. There has also been a blog set up solely dedicated to listing all the problems people have with the new Apple software. The blog is called The Amazing iOS6 Maps blog and can be found at: theamazingios6maps.tumblr.com/. People can submit their own issues for review, The Amazing iOS6 blog collects them and distributes them across the Internet. All of this negative publicity is still publicity for Apple. Apple will continue to still have these faithful, casual and long term users. This map app dud can be hopefully be remembered as just a hiccup in Apple's past in the future. We are sure there are many software updates to come to Apple's iOS6. These updates will no doubt build on the feedback Apple has been getting bombarded with across the world. Although, Apple still may never be on par or surpass what Google has been building with its mapping app since 2005. Google Maps is here to stay. Apple Maps still needs to prove itself. @wilkesbeacon wilkesbeacon@gmail.com This week The Beacon asks: About how many apps do you have on your smartphone? • 0 apps • 1-5 apps • 6-10 apps • 11-20 apps • More than 20 apps • I do not have a smartphone Cast your vote online at: www.thewilkesbeacon.com SPEAK UP! The Beacon wants to hear your voice. Send your name, major, year and opinion to: . carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for length and content. Anonymous letters will not be published. �7 OPINION THE BEACON I Oct. 2, 2012 Rifkin cafe should accommodate student requests By Nicholas Wesley Correspondent Progress is an illusive dream, or so it seems. With change comes growing pains, but with time come amendments, and so we progress. At Wilkes University we have seen many changes come about with our food supplier, Sodexo. Within the past few months we have seen changes such as late night in Rifkin, the dropping of Einstein Bagels, and the introduction of Starbuck's coffee. Despite all the bells and whistles, there are still some major underlying problems with campus dining options. Late night at Rifkin is one example as I experienced firsthand. When a person goes to eat one last time before they go to bed, they normally opt for something light and healthy to allow that person to fall asleep faster and wake up earlier. In my isolated incident I wanted a buffalo chicken wrap, nothing more, nothing less. Upon picking this one wrap I was told that it comes with chips, a fountain drink and a brownie. My reaction was simple. I said that I did not want the brownie, chips or fountain drink, all I require is a wrap. When I asked how much the wrap would be I was told I could not pay for the sandwich alone. "We have to charge you for the whole package, you cannot just get the one item," Sodexo said. A student's health is directly related to his or her performance. A healthy individual will have more energy and focus. More energy and focus translates to an increase in knowledge retention and problem solving. This is what a student needs to succeed at Wilkes University. Our food provider has not been providing us with the best options possible. So I kindly went to the manager. I am planning on sleeping, the last thing I need before bed is a sugary drink, a high-calorie, low-taste brownie or a bag of Lays potato chips. But as I was instructed, it would be impossible to serve me just the wrap, I am required to have these other food items. I am required to pay $7 to Sodexo because it is after 8 p.m. and there is nothing they can do about it. So there you have it folks, we built the Panama Canal, we figured out how to put a man on the moon in less than 10 years, but it is im- possible to separate a meal from a sandwich after 8 p.m. Somehow I'm not convinced. It's a pricing strategy; Sodexo could care less what you eat as long as it gets the most bang for its sub-par buck. The second problem is there are no organic options. Besides coffee there is no chance of finding an organic tomato or chicken or juice. That's a major problem. If I am expected to buy from this company, at least give me the choice to eat what I want, something healthy, wholesome, and something that is not killing the earth, acre by chemical ridden acre. From this point on I am opting to vote with my dollar. I will not buy from a company that will sacrifice health for money. Instead I am going to shop local and do what this university The Beacon archives Rifkin Cafe should offer more choices for students, Including organic options and late-night meals with less sugar and calories. is so keen on claiming they're doing and that is enhance the Wilkes-Barre community. Bring outside funds into local restaurants, shop at the farmers market which is every Thursday on the square. There are plenty of places that will give you much more bang for your buck. For example, Maer's BBQ, right on Main Street will give you a fantastic BLT with pulled pork for around $7, and it is open late! Circles, on the square, has delicious sandwiches and artisan food products, along with a deli to make your own cold cuts at home. Euro bistro has slow-cooked, fresh gyro's and salad bowls for around $5. There are numerous othei: examples, Frank's Pizza, Pete's Place, Akeno Sushi, Abe's hot dogs all which serve better food for much less than Rifkin. Most people get the block meals and dining dollars for convenience, but it's a rip off. What can Sodexo do? Give a S***! My goal is to show what's available and how we can save money, contribute to the community, and best of all eat better. You only live once, why eat microwaved chicken when there is a cook slaving over a slow-cooked BBQ chicken not 200 yards from you right now? @wilkesbeacon nicholas.wesley@wilkes.edu America's obsession with celebrities brings our country down • By Lyndsie Yamrus Assistant Opinion Editor In the news today, among political remarks, NHL and NFL lockout rants and whatever Apple has to say: "Kristen Stewart in Short Shorts." And guess what, guys. She paired the shorts with a nude and black-colored top and black patent leather shoes. Additionally, her relationship with Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson has been rekindled, if anyone cares. I just want to thank ABCNews.com for sharing this fascinating information with all of us. News like that is definitely too big of a deal to leave out, I know. In all seriousness, ABC, are stories like this necessary? I think not. A similar news article that I had stumbled across online a few weeks ago displayed a bold headline that mentioned both "9/11" and "Kardashian." Turns out, while every other major news network paused their scheduled programs to air the moment of silence at 8:46 a.m. in remembrance of the 2001 attacks, NBC decided that it was OK to just go ahead and completely skip over the tribute and continue the "Today Show" airing of a story on Kardashian mom Kris Jenner's breast augmentation. More than one person at NBC must have thought this was fine because the network actually went through with it. After intense criticism, the network hardly apologized, stating Rather than focusIng on Important news topics, the media often covers the lives of celebrities. Focusing on celebrity gossip Is a waste of time and shows us how skewed our priorities are. The Beacon/ Austin Loukas that NBC had already devoted a significant amount of airtime to anniversary events and that acknowledging the national moment of silence "wasn't their tradition" like all of the other major news stations, and an apology was therefore unnecessary. What completely blows my mind more than NBC's distasteful actions is the fact that people actually care about Kris Jenner's personal life choice to get implant replacements, Kristen Stewart's outfits, that Miley Cyrus cut her hair, or that Justin Bieber is writing a book. Hundreds and thousands of women get breast implants every year, we all wear clothes, everyone cuts their hair, and an uncountable number of people write books. Looks like we have a problem: America is altogether unhealthily obsessed with celebrities. We stalk them on Twitter like we know them and take humiliating pictures of them for our own enjoyment. We spend our hard-earned money on perfume, clothes, shoes and other items solely because their names are on them. Our priorities are all wrong. When Neil Armstrong passed away recently, coverage of the story and his life were rather limited. I don't even think I found out until a day later. With that, NBCNews.com actually even managed to screw up big time on one of their article headlines. The title read, "Astronaut Neil Young, first man to walk on the moon, dies at age 82." I could be wrong, but I'm pretty positive that Neil Young is still alive and is most certainly not an astronaut. News networks were apparently broadcasting their usual jail documentaries and re-run interviews a few hours after the news broke, according to the Huffington Post. But when news broke of Michael Jackson's death back in 2009 however, the media went nuts. The King of Pop made headlines every week for a long while. Whitney Houston 's death in February gained significant coverage as well. In any case, the man who took one "giant leap for mankind" should have been celebrated just a little bit more. The media clearly doesn't have their priorities straight if they think Kris Jenner's implants are more important than a remembrance service for the victims of Sept. 11, or that Neil Armstrong deserves less air-time than a documentary about criminals in jail and a couple of celebrities. Let's talk about something that matters instead of who is dating who, who wore what, or the latest Hollywood scandal. A lot of the gossip knowledge fed to us by the media is useless, and we don't need to be wasting our time hearing the nonsense. As they say, "Great people talk about ideas, average people talk about things, and small people talk about other people." @wilkesbeacon lyndsie.yamrus@wilkes.edu �The Beacon/Austin Loukas Assigning a perfect score to students' work gives them the idea that their work is flawless and does not need improvement. Is a 4.0 really perfect? Perfect scores hinder learning "4.0's will mean nothing to me when I am out of school and need to apply the information I learned to real life scenarios:' By Carly Yamrus Opinion Editor A lot of people here at Wilkes have a similar goal, and that is to obtain a certain GPA. Preferably a high one. We spend our semesters striving for that 4.0; a perfect score. But is a 4.0 really a perfect score? Well it really depends on what you are measuring. The knowledge in testing can be either objective, which is unbiased, factual information, or subjective, which can be analytical and interpretive. A 4.0 in a calculus class is far different from a 4.0 in a creative writing class. In calculus, you either got the answer right or you got it wrong. In the writing class though, there ii always room for improvement. In my first year English course I received multiple 4.0's on papers that I believed were far from flawless . So here is where I pull out the double-edged sword. Of course I want a 4.0. Why? Because we need a high GPA to succeed in future endeavors. But did I deserve a 4.0? I don't think I did. I wanted my papers to be better. I would rather be a good writer with a C than an average writer with an A. We are cheating our students by telling them that they are turning in perfect work when they have ample amounts of room to expand their ideas and improve their abilities. There is simply too much emphasis placed on getting that "perfect" score. When we focus so hard on such an impractical grading system we lose sight of the real goal of higher education, which is to learn and understand new ideas and to practice until we get it right. I have found myself on many occasions cramming in last-minute fragments of information for a test, and then completely forgetting what I had learned after I was done. That 4.0 will mean nothing to me when I am out of school and need to apply the information I learned to real-life scenarios. So much information, so little time. We are sponges. Always absorbing information and then getting it squeezed out of us so we can absorb more. A vicious cycle, really. I suppose the number grades are really only there as an incentive to try. Not everyone is self -motivated enough to want to learn information for the sake of knowing. So which is more effective: infiltrating our brains with a vast amount of information that we have a nominal understanding of, or focusing on only a moderate amount of topics that we have more time to become familiar with? A 4.0 to me doesn't necessarily mean you know the information. I really do believe that too much emphasis is placed on the grade. A 4.0 seems to me like a period at the end of a sentence. Once its reached, we're done. Finished. Don't have to learn anymore. But really there is no end to our knowledge and understanding. There is always room for improvement. We should continue to further develop our skills and go beyond our set definition of what is "perfect." @wilkesbeacon carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu �~ Oct. 2, 2012 ~ _ .• ..,.~=-•~.,~• . " Contact editor: billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com Horror instructor recommends Halloween fare for thrill seekers By Chad Stanley which explains the headache. Understandably, he puts on a hat. But then people start telling him about their most disturbing urges, and the horns grow. "Horns" is a brilliant, surreal, funny and quite sentimental, heartfelt horror novel. Essentially a breakup story, it's a mixture of Nick Homby's "High Fidelity," Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" and Stephen King, who is, in real life, Joe Hill's father. Associate Professor of English Spiders and mice. The dark. Nuclear war. Rats and actually "any sort of critter." Clowns, mimes and people in "huge costumes (like) the Easter Bunny." What these things have in common is that they were all responses when I asked students in my current ENG 397: Horror and Science-Fiction in Modem Literature course, "What are you afraid of?" Apparently, there are a lot of things that scare us, even those of us who have willingly enrolled in a course on horror fiction. This is not surprising. During the Cold War, fear became cultural currency. Now, more recent events have awakened anxieties that generally lay dormant during the 1990s. It's no wonder that horror has again become a growth enterprise and that horror writing and filmmaking are undergoing a new renaissance. But while horror novels and films capitalize on and sometimes amplify our fears, they should also allow us to put our anxieties into perspective, reminding us that our world is actually a much safer place than we often perceive it to be: Werewolves and vampires don't really exist - and as the Centers for Disease Control glibly reminded us this summer, neither do zombies. As long as we keep this in mind and truly do keep it real, there's some great scary stuff out there to enjoy - as always, it's a good time to be scared. The following list collects a number of interesting, mature and multicultural American, British, Spanish, Norwegian and Russian horror .• ovels and films: "The Ritual" (2011) written by Adam Nevill Starting with the line "And on the second day things did not get better," this novel focuses on a group of former college friends hiking through Sweden. They get lost, bicker and fight, and things get progressively worse. Then they encounter something else in the woods. A supernaturally infused improvisation on James Dickey's "Deliverance," this novel is also an interesting take on a very real early-'90s Norwegian cult and its legacy. Nevill's "Apartment 16" (2010) is excellent as well, and his newest novel, "Last Days" (not yet published outside of the U.K.), is spookier than anything else he's written. Vampires vs. Zombies "Troll Hunter" (2010) directed by Andre Ovredal I dido 't think there was any way the image of a troll could arouse fear or even laughter anymore. I was wrong, so very wrong. Here, a few students in Norway decide to investigate illegal bear shootings; They're film/communications majors, so they videotape everything. However, instead of finding an unlicensed bear-hunter, they find a troll-hunter, a sort of fish-and-game warden employed by the Norwegian government. Not all that scary, but a really fun movie. "Dead Snow" (2009) directed by Tommy Wirkola The Beacon/Laura Preby Chad Stanley has heard of college students acting llke wild animals, but this is ridiculous. Can't a guy enjoy a book without lycanthropic interference? "Dog Soldiers" (2002) directed by Neil Marshall The "Twilight" films tell us that where vampires shop at Hot Topic, werewolves model for Abercrombie & Fitch. But it's a lot easier to make an informed life-decision about selecting a vampire or a were-boy as your significant other when the werewolves are 8-foot tall mangy critters that look like Scottish Deerhounds on steroids. This movie is fun and smart, from a time before we completely "Fight Club"-ed the image of the werewolf (see ''Underworld"). Also, like Marshall's later film, "Doomsday," this movie pokes fun at the history of Scottish-English tensions and related concepts of race and ethnicity. "Mr. Gaunt and Other Uneasy Encounters" (2008) written by John Langan This collection contains some very creative short stories. My personal picks are: "On Skua Island," about the exhumation of a bog mummy, and the over-the-top titled "Episode Seven: Last Stand against the Pac~ in the Kingdom of the Purple Flowers," where two people are pursued not by werewolves, but a pack of another kind of seriously supersized canines. "[Rec]" (2007), and "[Rec] 2" (2009) directed by Paco Plaza These two Spanish films - about what at first appears to be a standard zombie outbreak - are extremely tense, realistic and immersive. Filmed in "shaky cam mode," they create a sense of immediacy and powerlessness for the viewer. Unusually, the sequel is every bit as good as the original, and they are both very smart, and very scary. Nyctophobics beware. "Horns" (2010) written by Joe Hill Another Norwegian film, this - be warned - is a much more gory horror-comedy about a much more real historical inheritance. During World War II, Norway was occupied by Germany, and while Norwegians established an effective resistance force, Vidkun Quisling seized power and became the nation's Germany-backed leader. Horrors, and a legacy of guilt, ensued. In this movie, students head to the mountains for a holiday in the snow. There, they get a history lesson and confront zombified German soldiers. @wilkesbeacon chad.stan/ey@wilkes.edu Real more of Dr. Stanley hair.raising horror book and movie P.Jdcs at TheW\t.kesBeacon.<om H owt(N . G~~ So the story goes: a twentysomething man goes out for the night and wakes up feeling less than well. Not an ideal or to-be-condoned situation, but not so unusual. At least not so unusual until we realize that he's grown horns overnight, THE BOOK REPORT with Anne Yoskoski "Grave Mercy," by Robin LeFevers C:l:: THE GRAVE-YARD SHTICK with Jake Cochran Examining Andrea �10 THE BEACON A&E Oct. ~ Creative Writing grads brings visions to lif e D. From stage to screen to printed page, Wilkes students make good Re By BIii Thomas A&E Editor In their heads, it's all so clear. The images are vivid, the characters as real as people in the flesh. It's not always easy, though, for writers to translate the things they see in their mind's eye onto paper. That's where Wilkes University's lowresidency Creative Writing MA/MFA program comes in. "I grew up down South, in Alabama," Taylor M. Polites said. "I went to college in St. Louis to study history and French. Then I moved to New York City and ended up working in finance for 13 years, but I always wanted to write novels." Polites, who now lives in Providence, R.I. , graduated the program with his MFA in 2010. His first novel, "The Rebel Wife," about the struggles of a Civil War widow, was published by Simon & Schuster earlier this year. While the idea behind "The Rebel Wife" predates history-buff Po lites' enrollment at Wilkes, Polites nevertheless said it was the Creative Writing program that helped him refine the skills he needed to bring his long-held vision to life. "It was great to go down to my basement and write every day. I was making progress and I was writing things, but it was in a bubble," Polites said. "I had this anxiety of wondering 'Arn I doing this right? Is what I'm writing making sense? How can I understand the quality of the work I'm doing?' I began to realize the kind of support and feedback I could get from a community of writers." "Community" is a word that seems to pop up a lot when talking to graduates of program. And quite the sizeable community it is, named by literary organization Poets & Writers as the largest program of its kind in the country. The program currently has 79 full-time and 11 part-time students enrolled, instructed by 30 faculty members in five tracts: fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, playwriting and screenwriting. The faculty line-up covers every aspect of the writing world, from editors and published authors - like Beverly Donofrio, whose memoir "Riding in Cars with Boys" was turned into a movie of the same name starring Drew Barrymore - to literary agents and film producers. "A lot of the programs I looked at before Wilkes' didn't offer screenwriting," Jonathan Rocks, of Philadelphia, said, noting the wide range of styles and genres the program covers. Rocks finished the program in 2009 and has since had a screenplay he wrote in it, called "Luke Whimsey,"optioned by New York-based production company Triboro Pictures, who will take the script to this year's American Film Market at the end of October to seek funding. "My expectations were more than met, thf they were exceeded," Rocks said of the program. "I came out of an undergraduate program and I expected something similar, just more specific. What I found instead was more of a true writers' community, which is what I think (program founders) Bonnie Culver and Mike Lennon have strived for since the beginning." There's that word again, "community." All despite students and faculty often being separated by miles, if not entire states. For Laurie Powers, who lives in Shreveport, La., one of the most attractive things about the Creative Writing program was its balance of in-person and distance learning: Creative Writing students visit Wilkes' campus for two eight-day periods in January and June every year. The rest of the work is done via Internet. "I love the low-residency program, because you do get some face-to-face contact," she said. "That's something I wanted, but I didn't want to quit my job to go back to school and I didn't want to do everything online either." Powers has done visual effects work on many major motion pictures written by other people, including "The Amazing Spider-Man" and "Men in Black 3." Looking to develop her own screenwriting further, she recently received her MA through the program, and is pursuing an MFA. "Killing Time," one of Powers' own screenplays, which she wrote in the program, was recently made into a short film that is now a finalist in the Louisiana Film Prize festival, due to take place this coming weekend. Passionate about working in mediums outside of film as well, though, Powers' MA thesis was a stage play called "Spirit Medium." Telling the story of supposed psychic Mina Crandon, who is best-known today for her early 20th century clashes with Harry Houdini, "Spirit Medium" has since had readings in Los Angeles and New York City. Another play Powers wrote, "The Trunk," was staged at the Virginia Playwrights' Forum last November. All of these things, Powers said, may never have happened if it weren't for her participation in the program. "Before I went in, I liked to write but I wasn't really disciplined to write. Going through the program really puts you in the mindset of being a writer and writing every day," she said. "It helps you understand how to start a project and how to finish it and how to get through all the hard stuff in the middle that a lot of people give up on." @wilkesbeacon billthomas@thewilkesbeacon. com ourtesy o ay or . o 1tes Taylor M. Polites always dreamed of being a published novelist. His first book, "The Rebel Wife," was published in Simon & Schuster. He credits the Wilkes graduate Creative Writing program with he!J)lng make that happen. Lasts Dane~ llshed "I began to realize the kind of support and feedback I could get from a comor munity of writers." - Taylor M. Polites, "The Rebel Wife" �Oct. 2 2012 A&E 11 Dancer turned writer visits Wilkes campus for reading Renee D'Aoust recounts tales of passion, struggle, self-discovery in NYC By Jake Cochran Assistant &E Editor One of the things Renee E. D' Aoust learned very early on, as a pre-professional dancer studying at the Martha Graham Center for Contemporary Dance in New York City, was that the old theater adage of being in the right place at the right time was very much true. However, she remarked, there is also a part to that adage that often goes unsaid. Simply put, it's not just about being in the right place at the right time. There also has to be a role there to begin with, and, yes, luck is a part of it. "In my book you will see that there are just so many talented people, and it's never an issue of commitment or dedication," D' Aoust said. Once a dancer achieves a certain level, she added, everyone is very well-prepared and pouring their heart and soul into the art. That which determines success, she said, is often a certain intangible that more or less comes down to good fortune and good timing. Just this Sunday, D' Aoust visited Wilkes University to sign, read from and answer questions about her memoir, "Body of a Dancer." The book was published in December 2011 by Etruscan Press, an on-campus publishing house founded by Philip Brady and Robert Mooney, both of whom also serve as faculty members for ~ the school's graduate Creative Writing program. "Body of a Dancer" recounts D' Aoust's experiences as a student at the aforementioned Martha Graham Center, revealing the extensive physical - and sometimes emotional - toll the demands of modem dance can take on a person. Perhaps the experience with the most impact, she recalled, were those that saw her going head to head against other dancers at open "cattle call"-style auditions. "When you are at these auditions you are walking around with your number on, and other people are bumping into you," she said. "It's almost overwhelming how many people would be there." The talent pool at these auditions, she said, was immense and far deeper than ourtesy o truscan ress most in the general public might expect. The competition was dedicated, vivid and Last Sunday, Renee D' Aoust performed a reading of her book, "Body of a real. The energy? Unimaginably intense. l>ancer" in the Kirby Hall salon at Wilkes University. The book was pubFor some, it showed. Others came across as lshed by Etruscan Press, a publishing house founded by WIikes faculty. relaxed and casual. For D ' Aoust, all these different personalities combined to create a peculiar environment with an array of emotions. One lesson D' Aoust learned from her audition experiences, a lesson that has continued to stick with her all these years, is the idea that every moment counts toward something. "Sometimes the person that would give the dancers their numbers and deal with the sign-ins at the auditions would also be the rehearsal director," she said. "That way, Body al . 0 "You do not put on any airs. You honor who you are, but you just are aware that you're being watched." - Renee E. D~oust, "Body of a Dancer" they could get a feel for how the dancers would carry themselves when they weren't being watched, or at least didn't think they were." When D' Aoust found this out, it cemented the idea in her head that every moment counts and that one should also be aware of he or she is meeting. "The training at the professional dance schools is such that you're always representing yourself and you have to be together when you walk in the door," she said. "You also are still who you are, though. You do not put on any airs. You honor who you are, but you just are aware that you are being watched." Another lesson that she learned through her time as a dancer which is can be applied to more in life than just dancing is how to deal with rejection. "The rejection doesn't stick," D' Aoust said. "You still have to get up every morning." It's a philosophy D' Aoust has retained and used in her future endeavors. Though she said she still loves to dance, these days she's indulging the whims of another muse: the written word. D' Aoust is an English instructor at North Idaho College and has contributed writings to such anthology titles as "Reading Dance" and "On Stage Alone." Just as her roll-with-the-punches attitude helped keep her motivated while braving the hazards of dance auditions and New York City life, it has likewise kept her motivated when the time came time to send her writing out in hopes of getting published. Unlike the dance auditions, though, the experience proved far less harrowing. "When you get the letter no one is yelling at you, no one is saying your body isn't right for the part, it's really quite civilized," D' Aoust said, explaining that she never feared rejections letters. They simply couldn't compare to some rejections she witnessed, and received, in her time as a dancer. @wilkesbeacon jason.cochran@wilkes.edu For more information on the Creative Writing program, visit Wilkes.edo/CreativeWriting. For more information on Renee D. D'Aoust;·visit ReneeDAoust.com F9r more,·jnfoqpatjon on Etruscan · Press, visi, ~trusc~nPre!s.org. �THE BEACON By Bill Thomas A&E Editor There is a belief held by some, including yours truly, that comic books and professional wrestling are the two closest things modern society has to traditional mythology. Last week, The 10 l took a guided tour through the world of comics, so this week we're going to step inside the squared circle to analyze this thing called affectionately by some "rasslin' ." Looked down on by pseudo-intellectual elitists who consider such things "low brow," pro wrestling nevertheless provides a ritualized, streamlined outlet for both emotional catharsis and the symbolic expression of timeless values via elemental iconography. Likewise, both pro wrestling and comic books focus on larger-than-life characters specifically designed to represent classic archetypes. Really, is there any truly significant difference between Hades, Batman and The Undertaker? Of course, all these over-the-top personalities are locked in perpetual combat with one other on an ever-shifting battlefield, one wherein the more things change, the more they stay the same. The costumes may be oh-so-colorful, but good and evil are often as clear-cut as black and white. Just like there will always be kids who dream of flying the skies like Superman, there will similarly be those who fantasize about filling the boots of "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, Bret "The Hitman" Hart, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin or "The Best in the World" C.M. Punk. Put on pedestals as emblems of rugged individualism - not, as some would contend, archaic misogynist masculinity - figures like these become more than merely men in tights. They become representations of undisputed human ideals like chivalry, tenacity, nonconfonnity and self-actualization. Their ceaseless warring min-ors that of the gods of old, as well as the conflicts, both external and internal, that every person on Earth engages in daily. Some will laugh and snidely quip that "it's all fake." However, what such detractors fail to realize is that most fans, save for those with the mental capacities of children - not all of them actually are children - already know that. Still, you wouldn't call ballet fake, would you? What about opera? Therein shines the elevating beauty of pro wrestling. Despite some superficial similarities, it's completely unlike boxing or mixed ma1tial-arts, both of which could arguably be fingered as legitimate examples of contemporary barbarism, along with hunting, fishing and capital punishment. See, pro wrestling is all about cooperation instead of competition. Consider pro wrestling matches to be "exhibitions," if that helps. Does that make them any less athletic? Any less demanding of skill, strength, speed, stamina and timing? The bloody feuds that play out in wrestling rings are fictions. But the blood itself, left smeared across foreheads and turnbuckles? That's real. The elaborate and carefully orchestrated body slams may not deal as much damage as we're led to believe, but there is damage done nonetheless. Being thrown to the ground hurts, regardless of who does the throwing. Injuries happen. A lot. Why, then, would someone put themselves through such rigorous physical conditioning only to tum around and put his or her body on the line for something so many snobs will continue to derisive ly denounce as "fake"? For some, it's passion. For others, it's business. Or a hunger for fame, a need for attention. ln the end, tho ugh, it all comes down to two simple things: Telling a story and entertaining the crowd. As much as it may or may not be a "sport," pro wrestling is infinitely more than that. It's a form of art. It is theater and it is drama. Tragedy and comedy. A carnival, a circus, a sideshow. lt's a hustle, a dance and, yes, even a soap opera. Pro wrestling is mythology. It's folklore made flesh. It's all these things smashed together, distilled to their purest essences, then injected full of testosterone, with the pageantry and spectacle turned all the way up to 11. 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A dying breed, .·• e viJ~ composed primarily of young ~ ~ -1n . 1as;'.sfill5oorn aie-:.fiar<ls'of the ex- / I ~ ~ ~ ~ = ~eeptronally--dease. , , ------ :, -~ ~;;;;;··4,,ID1.1t10llstiy lnSl'oer WUOKDOWS etHiifficult..to,pu1Lof£. r .how"-the- bus,inesS'1work-s;-Imows,,- ' •.~ S , ~ ~ cr---j .Smark ~-----ginunieks-an01'}layed-out--angl~~f-mark7ksrrrark- / ·- ----""7it@1ence fatigue with-'faffiTiiar ~ J l S U alJy,,,kicks-0.fL:w:i:th..JI_-is,a-wrestling~fan-who.lmo;yvi.«Jhe- ·, swerve. . . .. same thin s a smart knows but ) · ·· - , - - - - - - - - -~ n't an insider and is, in actual-- I ......,,--=ever ·• · · •• · ·•· - - - " " "ity;jusr:rs,n,u:ch4l~frurmnr M'llfk: "" \ · When a wrestler is getting exactly the kind of reaction he hopes to get. Whether the wrestler 1s a ' -,. face or heel, being over requires Smarks enjoy wrestling for its athletic and art~stic .qualities, r_egardless of the Illeg1ttmacy of !ls appearance as competitive sport. r ' ,, ; .,." ':~ ~ ----------..,,--------------~--__,,,._.--- _ _ ,.._.J ------------~----- �Contact editor: anne.yoskoski@wilkes.edu Oct. 2, 2012 2012 pep rally kicks off Programming Board and SG collaborate By Anne Yoskoskl Life Editor Wilkes University will have its first pep rally of the 2012 fall sports season from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4. This year's pep rally being a unique one for Wilkes, as the organization of the event was a collaborative effort between the Wilkes University Programming Board and Student Government. The event kicks off at 7 p.m. with a performance by the cheerleaders. Coaches for fall sports teams will then make speeches about their homecoming weekend games and introduce their players. The dance team will close out the ceremony, leaving students to wander around to different activities and enjoy the night. Jessica Short, president of Programming Board has planned many fun events for students . "We will have inflatables or blow ups, such as an ultimate sports arena, jousting, boxing, a touchdown pass game, sumo wrestling and others. There will be a sign-making station for students to make spirited signs for the game. There will also be a T-shirt making station," she said. The T-shirt making station is predicted to be one of the most visited tables. There will be 500 white "Colonel Pride" shirts for students. At the station, there will be puff paint, spray fabric paint and fabric markers for students to decorate the T-shirts to wear to the game. Before leaving, students can enjoy a meal of "cotton candy, snow cones, soft pretzels, popcorn, hot dogs and hamburgers," Short said. The first pep rally of the season has been in the planning stages for months now, and the WUPB and Student Government are excited to see the outcome. "WUPB is funding the whole event, while student government has done a lot of planning aspects over the summer," Short said. "We are all excited for the students to let loose and have fun." @annieyoskoski anne.yoskoski@wilkes.edu The Beacon/archives The pep rally wlll spotlight sports teams for the 2012 season, including the cheerleadlng team. This year's homecoming to include Problems with D2L continue community service opportunitities By Shawn Carey Staff Writer By Alyssa Stencavage Assist. Life Editor Wilkes University will soon be holding two community service events in support of the upcoming Homecoming Activities. The first of these events is a bone marrow registration event called "Get Swabbed," which will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5, in the Student Union Building Lounge. "Get Swabbed" is a national program for bone marrow registration, and on Oct. 5 students will be given information about becoming a bone marrow donor. For those who do not know, bone marrow is for people who are suffering from cancer. Every year 10,000 men, women and children could benefit from a bone marrow transplant, but only four out of 10 patients will find a match. All it takes to register is a cheek swab, which will then be sent away to a lab. Students will then be given a questionnaire, all of which takes only five minutes. This is where to start in order to become a person on the registry. The event will have stations, and volunteers are needed: both donors and people to help out in general. "It's painless," Megan Boone, coordinator of Student Development, said. "We are hoping to maximize the number of students we have coming in." The donor and patient must have at least eight tissue characteristics in common. By registering to become a donor, you are increasing the chance that a patient will find the lifesaving match that he or she needs. If you do register and are selected as a matching donor, you are still able to decline the donation. If you are interested in continuing, a few blood tests will be conducted as well as a review of your family medical history. In order to become a donor, you must be 18 to 55 years of age, in good general health, weigh at least 110 pounds, not exceed a body mass index of 40, and be willing to donate to any patient in need. For the second event, about 20 students, faculty and staff will be able to attend the Commission on Economic Opportunity, where volunteers will be packing boxes of food for distribution. "We are hoping to get a lot of boxes packed for a supplemental food program," Boone said. @alyssastencavage alyssa.stencavage@wilkes.edu Since the start of the semester, some students have been having numerous problems with the online class program, LIVE, also known as D2L. StudeQts have not been able to access their classes through the MyWilkes portal; instead they were told to go directly to the LIVE page. "What we found out is actually a patch to view the upgrade was put on our system, which should not have been put there," Barbara Mo- ran, director of eLearning and the center for educational research, said. The program that is used recently underwent an upgrade of software over the summer and after the upgrade, a patch was placed on the communication between the portal and the LIVE page. "Students were actually having a cache issue, they ended up having to clear their cache," said Moran, "The first day this happened, there were 200 calls and we did not See D2L, Page 14 : tv'l,!'511-S · ~>tt~•H'P-S.t!'<•H.iflli , U.,>JJ,lO.u:i;, i Hfll\91111¥ ' . . n f'l;-rt,~m...r ¥0,1•,t"'¢.'-~~,.~s1..ro:1:~~ ~..-·l®:•U • ~~:,: ~ ~,l:.ltllt.5$ -1:n~-~-~~~ ~ n~H¢ -f~-~ , ~tMVI ~~~~~- l.~?°§..,: ~n)l~ ®-DJ· '-t:M"Af¢ ~ t1>'\<'SttK¢;:~ tf ~ t..w,.uo ~ ! ) ( ~ f.l(' ~ ~ t - - ~ ~ r♦ ~.al\ll Giis.J~~Ulil ~lMfflil'J• kiW: :11t• ii,V4~(~ ~ N -~ O f ~ f t J t . ~ t 4 ffl'Wt!; Gilw . n ~ ~ • ~ ~ ~~~~ ~~~ art"'1!1osl~ ~ h ~.it($. l"lf.~U-A·itf'~~~~~i'ltf·:W1.~"1,~U.~ ~!t~ ,w.-;1.1--01, ~-..x, -~16b,)01ne $SSV,»f~ >!:-0<,r-~ • -,mu.NtBO ll'll.!:tM!~W~~, l...J,,rL ~ ~ ~t fi!t.klt ~-p:f/$~ ~ ••• la!" ~-•WOIC"<tk ~l,;H~?fw~Mt\"'tJll1'1UkiiU t l d ~ ~dmlukm.HdW°M~ )'llU"~-i. . -~ • ~~ ~ >'! "'1§ ~ . , . . ~ ~,. hl ~ l ~ ff ~ ' 6 ~ ~ ffl.nffit ~ ~ -M The Beacon/Austin Loukas D2L Is the online learning platform. Students have been having Issues accessing classes and submitting assignments. �14 LIFE THE BEACON I Oct 2, 2012 D2L the courses. According to Moran, "the "Portal to L.I. V.E". connection is working again as of this morning Continued f ro m Page 13 which is great news for us. We still recommend that students go directly to http://live.wilkes. edu, but at least students have the option again know about what hapto go to D2L from the pened." tu ents were actua y portal." After the patch had Students and faculty been discovered, students avtng a CaC e lSSUe, who are still having iswere told to go directly to they ended up having sues with their LIVE or the LIVE page and then D2L account may conthey could log in. to clear their cache. tact Moran's office or For some students gothe IT Helpdesk. ing directly to the LIVE page actually worked. "I just used live.wilkes.edu "S d h . II h . The first day this happened, there were 200 calls and logged in from there," and we did not know Rhonda Lynch, sophomore criminol?gy ~d about what happened " psychology maJor, said. ' -· , "After I was logged in it - Barbara Moran, was smooth sailing. I was director of eLearning able to find all my classes and access their content." Moran has now set up a website for students to see whether or not the D2L website is working. Students can visit web.wilkes. edu/eleaming to see the status of LIVE and D2L. Students are also able to enroll in student tutorial classes that help teach them how to @shawncarey use the new software. Students are able to go shawn.carey@wilkes.edu directly to their LIVE homepage to enroll in We're also on Twitterl ~ @FIGshirts 146 SOUTH PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE WILKES-BARRE NEAR CORBA BEVERAGE AND DOMINO'S! 570.823.9272 E41iFT. IIIICll-.r . .E■ .... .. 20 E Northampton St. Wilkes Barre SPECIALS WEEKDAY SPECIALS M-TH Large Pie $7.95 Chicken Wing Pie $10 .95 (carry out/dine in only) PIZZA DOUBlES 2 Medium Pizzas $13.95 2 Large P izzas $16.9 5 Mll& ■ATCH Any 3 Subs o r W ings ..,,. 825-5166 I i : NEllT TO MOVIES 14 FREE WI-Fl In our Dining Room 2 Tickets to Movies 14 WB 1 Medium Pizza - 1 Topping 2 Drinks I We Cater Parties At Movies 14 $15.95 WE CATER llRGE GRIIP IVENTS PlEASE Clll lEFIRE YOII NOT MEOINII Hours: Mon .. -Thurs .. 11am-11 pm Fri .. -Sat .. 11am-12am Sun. 12pm-11pm We're more than just great pizza ... see our entire menu at www.januzzispizza.com �15 LIFE THE BEACON I Oct 2, 2012 Vegetarian Awareness Month a chance to go meatless Meat-free options included vegetarian section; artificial meat items available at the cafeteria By Kirstin Cook Editor-in-Chief It's a way to reduce your risk for cancer, heart disease, diabetes and otesity. It cuts back on air and water pollution, land use and climate change. It prevents the killing of cows, chickens and pigs. These are just a few of the reasons to turn vegetarian, as listed on peta.com. But when it comes to taking the step and making the change in our diets, there are obstacles in the way of cutting out meat altogether. Alyssa Klinitski, a senior psychology major, first decided she wanted to become a vegetarian two years ago after watching a PETA video on chicken cruelty in the meat industry. But, her first attempts were unsuccessful. "I tried going cold turkey- no pun intended - and it didn't work," Klinitski said. But as of two months ago, Klinitski said she is a full-Hedged vegetarian, and she has noticed a huge difference. "After about a month or two you notice your body feels better, you feel lighter and more fit," Klinitski said. With October being Vegetarian Awareness month, there's no better time to take advantage of these health benefits. And with new options at the Wilkes Henry Student Center Dining Hall, it's easier to make the switch and still have variety. Wilkes Chef Brian Kaden said it's not hard rice and potatoes, but there's a lot of real cool being a vegetarian while eating at the cafeteria things you can do with different ingredients." Along with trying different items at the cafon a regular basis. "I don't think it's difficult at all," Kaden eteria, Klinitski advised to try items from difsaid. "We really focus on having something ferent store brands, like Morningstar Farms or Boca. This was how she found what she liked, available at every station." Kaden said he typically features three or and she came up with even more options by four items at the vegetarian section, which mixing foods together or seasoning meat subis an expansion on the previous standard of stitutes as if they were meat. "I started mixing in different vegetarian maybe one item. " When I first got here, we had the veg- meats and found what I liked and what was deetarian section in the corner," Kaden said. "It licious and how I can make it even more deliseemed like an afterthought. It di.d n't look like cious," Khnitski said. Another tip that helped Klinitski transition anyone put much effort into it." Now, Kaden said the section is a focal point is to strut slowly. This is where Klinitski went wrong in her first attempt at becoming vegetarfor vegetarians. Besides the vegetarian section, there are ian. She said the successful approach was to meal options at the other cafeteria sections first cut back meat items to one a day, and then scale back to only eating meat six days a week. too. There's the full salad bar, of course, but She continued this process unti I her d iet was meat-free. that's just the beginning. Morningstar Farms, a major provider of Kaden said there's a vegetable served at the Classics section every night. There are veggie meat substitutes, offers tips on going meatless burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and cheese on its website, and a gradual start is one of the first things the site sugquesadillas at the Gri 11, gests. It advises to start egg salad sandwiches at with familiar meals with the Deli. • meat components and He also tries to incorusing textured vegetable porate the Red Hot Chef c protein as a replacement. and the International sec0 S To find out about these tions with things like the c . replacements, Kaden said popular tropical stir fry ifs good to do some reor the fettuccini alfredo search. with broccoli. , For those who want _ Alyssa Klinitski, "If someone's looking . . to turn and go the vegto become vegetarian, senior psychology ma1or etarian route, I highly enKaden suggested they courage them to research survey the options at the exactly the products that cafeteria. "I would just say look at all the options you are out there, come see what we're doing, have," Kaden said. "Sometimes the thinking come talk to me," Kaden said. Talking to people is not only a good way to is that it's boring food, it's just vegetables and "After about a month Or tWO YOU notice your b dY 1.eeI better, YOU 1.eel hghter and more fit ,, The Beacon/Kirstin Cook Top, cafeteria server Josh Gardinor serves a vegetarian chicken burger, which Is one of the meat alternatives offered at the dining hall. Below, Improving t he vegetarian section has been a focus for Chef Brian Kaden. get advice, but also to get support during your transition. Klinitski said finding other vegetarians and getting people to hold you to the diet makes the difference for success or failure. You can a lso clear up misconceptions about vegetarianism by talking to people. A few of the big ones include the ideas that vegetarians only eat vegetables, or that they can't get enough protein. But Kaden said those are invalid if you look at the variety of meals at the cafeteria and the high-protein options like soy product tempeh or wheat product seitan. "It's not just, throw some vegetables out there ru1d throw some rice out there, we really try to incorporate things that are going to give a balanced diet, not just the simple stuff," Kaden said. @wilkesbeacon kirstin.cook@wilkes.edu �. Oct. 2, 2012 Contact editor: frank.passalacqua@wilkes.edu Soccer star pays Wilkes soccer team visit Olympic, World Cup soccer goalkeeper, Jillian Loyden, serves as role model for players Courtesy of Kate Mahoney Above: Jillian Loyden, top center, smiles with the team before their home game. Right: Loyden, pictured on left, poses with Wilkes senior Katy Fissel. Fissel met Loyden while she was volunteering for the Sky Blue soccer team. act with the girls and talk to them. After talking to a couple girls on the team, you can really tell that they took what Loyden When inspiration comes to mind, the worn- said to heart and realized what she said is true. en's soccer team thinks of Jillian Loyden. Not They now believe that even if they dream big, everybody can have the chance to say that to just go out and excel. She also tried to make the players on the they met an Olympic and World Cup player. On Sept. 23, 2012, the women's soccer team realize that even if they don't start the game, or get as much playteam at Wilkes was able ing time as they would have to do just that. Loyden liked, she emphasized that came to Wilkes to talk to you're still just as important the team about the game as anybody else on the team. of soccer and obviously She said this will make you inspire them and make a better teammate. them never stop chasing Loyden explained that if their dreams. "Dream big and go you believe that your time will come, and you put the after it. You were born effort in, people will notice. to do big things," was just one of the inspiring ~ Jillian Loyden Only positives can come out of working hard and reachthings Loyden said after Professional Soccer Player ing your goal. asking her what's her Senior Katy Fissel had main goal for coming already met with Loyden through volunteer and talking to the girls. She wants to travel around, being a positive work. She became her one-on-one trainer and role model to young soccer players, and make family friend. them push themselves to be the best player Volunteering for the Sky Blue team, Fissel did half-time event coordination for each home they could be. She came to speak to the team, talk to the game they had. The Sky Blue team was the youth about her experience about the World year before the women's professional league Cup and the Olympics, and just simply inter- was re-established. By Michelle Coyle Staff Writer - "Dream big and go after it. You were born to do big things," Men's Soccer Loyden talked about her experience with soccer and how she's grown up and molded into the kind of player she is today. "It makes me smile. It makes it worth living for," Loyden said. Loyden said she lives for the opportunities to be able to travel and play the exciting game she loves. To Loyden, it's more than just a game, it's her life. "She was always encouraging me while I trained, on and off the field. We would discuss the game and what I can do better," Fissel said. Fissel said Loyden was always an inspiration to her. And now since she's made the national team, and has a gold and silver medal, giving the athletes more reason to look up to her as a role model. After hearing the motivating words of Loyden, the girls on the team took what she said and brought it all on the field. They ended up defeating Daemen College that day, 4-0. The girls were really excited and thankful for Loyden to take the time to come and speak to them. They won't forget the words she spoke, and will forever use what she said for the future. @wifkesbeacon michelle.coy/e@wilkes.edu �17 SPORTS Women's tennis team seeking to continue its winning ways By Frank Passalacqua Sports Editor . The Wilkes University women's tennis team is looking to bring home a first-place victory in the Middle Atlantic Conference Individual Tournament. The Lady Colonels will participate in the MAC Individual Tournament at the Ralston Athletic Complex in an all-day event starting at 8 a.m. Oct. 6-7. The four senior players Melanie Nolt, Katie Lynn, Alexis Donner and Amanda Holyk will be playing in their final tournament. "The team is very excited about our upcoming MAC Individual Tournament," Coach Chris Leicht said. "This tourney concludes our fall season, and we look forward to it each and every year. All of our fall preparation leads into this tourney." The MAC Tournament is hosted at Wilkes every year on the six tennis courts and also takes advantage of the additional 10 courts at Kirby Park. A total of thirteen teams from the MAC Conference will be coming, and each team will bring at least six players to participate. Albright, Alvemia, Arcadia, East- em, Elizabethtown, Fairleigh Dickinson, Hood, King's, Lebanon Valley College, Lycoming, Messiah, Misericordia and Stevenson are all expected to compete Over the past two years, Wilkes has won more titles than all the other 13 schools combined. Wilkes is 2-0 and is second in the Freedom Conference behind only Misericordia (3-1). Singles: 1. Melanie Nolt 2. Alexis Donner 3. Ally Kristofco 4. Katie Lynn 5. Amanda Holyk 6. Anastasia English 7. Amanda Rossi 8. Cayleah Markulics Doubles: 1. Nolt - Lynn 2. Donner - Kristofco 3. Holyk - English 4. Rossi - Olivia Hewison The Beacon/Laura Preby frank.passa/acqua@wilkes.edu Senior women 's tennis players practice for the upcoming MAC conference. WILKES UNIVERSITY'S ONE STOP . . PRINT SHOP the legendary taste Go Colonels! Mention this ad for .a FREE Hat with your first order! We Deliver to Wilkes University! Call (570) 331-FAST (3278) Ask about our combo specials featuring our complete line up of pizza, subs, wings, burgers & more!visit us online for a complete menu & listing of specials at www.grottopizzapa.com What We Can.Do For YOU Tees Hoodies Hats &More or visit our restaurant & sports bar Grotto Pizza, Gateway Center, on Rt. 11 in Edwardsville (just across the bridge!) Great For: c tubs & Activit es Sports Teams Fraternties I sororities Fund Raising Dept. Uniforms CALL 570-822-2221 to Get Started Now! egendary taste I $5 OFF Any Order of $20 or More I I L For delivery or take out Expires 12/31/12 valid only at Grotto Pizza locations in Pennyslvania I I �18 SCOREBOARD THE BEACON SPORTS I Oct 2, 2012 Wilkes bounces back after major loss to Widener with record-breaking game Cross Country 9/21 NEPA Classic - M 5th ! Field Hockey ;,-. 1dla I ric first! ame 9/24 Alvernia - L 1-2 9/22 FDU Florham - L 3-4 Football 9/29 Wilkes - 37 FDU Madison - 27 M-Soccer 9/29 Delaware Valley - W 1-0 9/27 Penn College - W 2-0 9/25 Elmira - L 0-5 when Wil- ordia .er.: W-Soccer }' 9/29 Delaware Valley- W 3-0 9/26 Susquehanna - W 3-0 Volleyball 9/26 King's -W 3-1 WEEKIHEID Cross Country 10/13 DeSales Invitational Field Hockey 10/6 at Manhattanville 10/9 VS.Susquehanna Football 10/6 VS. Misericordia M-Soccer 10/3 at Steven's 9/6 at FDU Florham 10/9 VS. DeSales W-Soccer ,. 10/3 at Rowan 10/6 at FDU Florham M-Tennis 10/13-14 MAC Individual Trnt. W-Tennis 10/6-7 MAC Individual Trnt. Volleyball 10/2 at DeSale's 10/6 at Alvern ia The Beacon/Jon Conklin Wilkes gained a record of 667 total yards In its 37-27 victory against Madison. By Frank Pass·a lacqua Sports Editor After last week's 0-90 loss to Widener University, the Wilkes football team is looking to put the past behind them and move on. Sitting at (2-2) on the season, Coach Frank Sheptock said the Colonels know what is needed of them to succeed. "We need to embrace the adversity we went through, we need to learn from it and grow from it," Sheptock said. "The next step is to focus on what we can control this week from a preparation standpoint. Practice, film study and team unity, adversity teaches us we need each other." With six games remaining on the schedule, the team is still optimistic about getting back on track. Last year, Wilkes beat Widener 35-27 and ruined Widener's chance at the Middle Atlantic Conference Championship. Was this beating revenge for last year? Many people think it may be. However, Widener Head Coach Isaac Collins said otherwise. "I'm 100 percent opposed to someone scoring 90 points in a game," Collins said in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer. Regardless of the score, Sheptock and Collins shook hands at the end of the game and the Colonels walked off the field with their heads up. Sheptock zeroed in on a few areas the team will look to improve on and wants the recent loss to be motivation for the future. "We need to improve on being opportunistic with offense scoring chances, and defensive big play opportunities on third and fourth down," Sheptock said. "We need to handle the momentum swings of games with more consistency and improve in red zone scoring. We didn't play very well fundamentally but we had done well in that area in the first two games." Sheptock said the athletes are eager to improve. "I met with the team, and many of them individually as well - they are disappointed but anxious to take the field again. They understand what we went through doesn't define who we are; it was a tough day, but together we are pulling through. "This is a group of committed student athletes whom take great pride in representing Wilkes University and the Colonel football program. They are learning to control what they can control. We controlled how we would respond -- together and focused. We will be back!" When the Colonels took the field on Sept. 29 against FDU-Florham, it was clear their heads were on straight. Wilkes put up a school record 667 total yards in the 37-27 victory. Everything Sheptock said the team needed to improve on was corrected and perfected. Adding to impressive day, Sheptock sealed his 100th career win as head coach for Wilkes. Wilkes takes on Misericordia next Saturday in a home game at 1 p.m. and will try to improve to (3-2) on the year. i Cou- 1 •· ,rdia at 1 um in all. at ver- The Beacon/Jon Conklin After coming off of a big win this past weekend, the team is looking to take on Mlsericordia on their home field, this Saturday Oct. 6. �. By Evan Willey Staff Writer Wilkes welcomes freshman crosscountry runner Brian Smith to the team. Being a full-time pharmacy major doesn 't tire him out too much as he continues to provide his talents to the university and team. Smith comes from the small town of Sullivan County, Pa., where his skills stood out. In his senior year of high school, Smith qualified for PIAA Cross Country states and was named.first team Heartland Athletic Conference All-Star. With a positive attitude and natural running ability, the path loo/cs clear for a successful cross-country season. What does running mean to you? How does it make you feel? Running is important to me. I love running. I always have fun whether I'm out on a run or competing. It keeps me in good shape as well. How does it feel to adjust from high school cross-country to being on a college team? Having a new team was different, but my teammates are great so that wasn't too hard to adjust to. There's definitely a difference running a 5k compared to an 8k and I'm still getting use to that. I'm really enjoying my first year of college running, though. What is your favorite thing about being on your new team? The best thing about the new team is listening to each other's stories on runs and having good times together. A lot of the guys on the team have things in common and the stories we share always make me laugh. What is your main goal to accomplish this year for cross-country here at Wilkes? My goal for this year is to run at Regionals and possibly break the school record. What is a memory you will never forget? The best memory I had would be last year at districts when I went from 21st place with a half-mile to go and finished eighth to qualify for States. Do you have any special rituals you do before a meet? I try and do everything the same every time before my race. I listen to music on the way and I picture myself running even if I've never seen the course. I always put my left sock and shoe on first, I slap my legs to get myself pumped up and put my left foot on the start line! What are some of your favorite things to eat and drink before and after a run? The night before I have a lot of pasta, bread and water. I have a bagel and water for breakfast and after the race I usually have Gatorade and Subway. How do you like Wilkes University so far? Wilkes is nice and I've met a lot of people already. The construction is annoying though, but everyone is friendly. What are some of your other hobbies you do when you are not running? I like to hunt, ride four-wheelers, go swimming and work on cars. Why did you choice to major in pharmacy? I chose pharmacy because I want to help people and by supplying them the right medication I can enable their wellness. Who or what inspires you to keep running? Being healthy inspires me to keep running. Also reaching goals, as well as my family's love and support. Do you look up to any professional athlete? Jordan Burroughs, an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling. His determination and hard work pays off and proves it works. What is your biggest strength you've added to the Wilkes crosscountry team? I feel like I add a little bit of leadership and I help push the guys to work harder. Lastly, what is a major obstacle you had to overcome to reach you goal? A major obstacle I had to overcome would be the district race because I haven't had a lot of success there in previous years. @wilkesbeacon frank.passalacqua@wilkes. edu The Beacon/Austin Louka f �• 20 SPORTS "' THE BEACON ·e come Bae '• Bring this AD to the Bookstore anytime during HOMECOMING WEEKEND and get 10~ OFF One (1) WILKES S,c hool Spirit Gift or Clothing item! May not be cotnbinecl with any other discpunt Barnes 41 Noble Wilkes-l{iog's Bookstore lD ' 7' South Main Street Downtown Wilkes-Barre " 570-20~ 8-4700 i\'1-F 8:30an1-9pn1 Sat lO,un-9ptn Sun Noon-~pn1 I Oct. 2, 2012 � 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, 2012 October 2nd Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 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/c06b3a287920a8e953fedcc1db42399d.pdf 6775bdd55d06e4078897f4628591d4e1 PDF Text Text ������� 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, 2012 October 9th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 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/cb8f4697456a4c0aa3b2dc0b3e71f25b.pdf f509ac71e52b5cc56e52ae48829b86b5 PDF Text Text Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member Oct. 23, 2012 THE BEACON The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow. Volume 65 Issue 6 ~~,-.,,--------~ For more information and content, check us out at: thewilkesbeacon.co~ �THI N Cor Wh Oct. 23, 2012 Contact editor: christine.lee@wilkes.edu in ti Donation ensures Cohen Science Center on time for fundraising pha it b1 will yeai By Christine Lee President Leahy announces the donation of $2.5 million by Lawrence and Sally Co~en, which was one of the largest monetary donations In WIikes history. News Editor A $2.5 million donation assures that funding for the newly named Lawrence and Sally Cohen Science Center is going along as planned. On Oct. 10, President Patrick Leahy announced the donation of the gift by alumnus Lawrence '57 and his wife, Sally, one of the largest single cash gifts from an individual alumnus. Leahy said he can't overstate what a show of generosity the gift was to the university, especially at this time during the construction process and his recent installation as president. "Coming at this time of this project, sort of midway through the construction, midway through the capital campaign and this early in my presidency, it's a very significant moment in our history as a university," Leahy said. "I cannot be more grateful to the Cohen family for their show of support for Wilkes University, it's incredible." Leahy said he was delighted to be able to announce the naming of the science building after the Cohens, knowing as long as the building stands it will bear the name. The donation brings the total raised in the Achieving Our Destiny capital campaign project to $13.5 million. Vice President of Advancement Mike Wood said the campaign was started j• January and is planned to raise $20 million to pay for part of the $35 million expenses. "Typically campaigns take five years and we've been in this campaign for a little more than a year and a half," Wood said. "What we're trying to do is get to that goal as quickly as possible." There are so far about 100 donors in the campaign. Wood said this is the most amount of money raised by Wilkes in this short amount of time in its history. In addition to the Achieving Our Destiny capital campaign, $15 million bonds were issued last spring by the university to the public market to cover the rest of the costs for the Cohen science center. Vice President of Finance and General Council Loren Prescott said this process helps with getting money quickly for the building. "The capital campaign is about receiving pledges from a variety of donors that are satisfied over ~ period of time, so you can either The Beacon/ Kirstin Cook wait until all of that money comes in, or we can borrow money, anticipating that the capital campaign produce all of this cash and that's what we've decided to do," Prescott said. "We didn't want to delay the beginning of construction because we're anxious to complete the building and begin using it so the borrowing was an effort on our part to speed up the construction process." Prescott said in addition to the $15 million in bonds, the university will borrow money to allow the construction to proceed, which will then be paid back with the expected proceeds from the capital campaign. Prescott added student tuition is not being directly spent on construction. Wood said the campaign is just beginning the alumni outreach portion. Wood said this portion will reach donors for smaller gifts. "Not everyone can do a $2 million gift, but gifts of all sizes count," Wood said. Wood said as Advancement reaches out to the alumni portion of the campaign, there will be more sending of direct mail, a re-starting of the Army of Colonels advertising campaign and promoting in the "Wilkes" magazine, although Wood said fundraising is more effective when it's done face-to-face. "Most of the time fundraising is done best when you're sitting and talking with people face-to-face and we try to do that whenever possible," Wood said. Wood said there are dozens of events around the country where Advancement is gathering alums to talk about the science building and other needs at Wilkes. They also have hundreds of individual appointments with alumni throughout the country. Leahy said he will be dedicating the next nine months to raise the additional money needed. He said the donation from the Cohens is the kind of gift that will give the necessary cash flow to continue the construction. He also said the plan is to have the Cohen Science Center completed and ready for occupancy sometime in August or early September 2013. In addition to the fundraising, Leahy wants to make sure the continued construction is completed on time, on budget and safely Leahy said he firmly believes the building will be completed on time so it is ready for the following academic year. He also said the next tangible part of the building the campus community will see is the building enclosed with the siding and roof. He hopes that this will be completed within the next couple of months. "My hope is that we can have a lot of that work in the coming months so that even if January and February are really tough winters, our construction crew can work on the interior of the building," Leahy said. "The building will really take shape." Leahy said although he doesn't know what building will be referred to in the future, he hopes the name Cohen Science Center will be embedded in the campus lexicon and hopes the campus community will use the full name to show appreciation of the donors. "I' II work hard to remember the Cohen name and embed it firmly into our campus jargon," Leahy said. "Every time we refer to those buildings, we are in some special way sort of summoning the spirit of the people who helped make them possible and I think it's important for our students to know that." Leahy said he looks forward with great enthusiasm to when the building is formally dedicated and expressed that the human component that makes a building remarkable. "You can build state-of-the art buildings on college campuses but you have to have dedicated and talented faculty and staff to work in those buildings," Leahy said. "That is the essence of an academic building, is the quality of the faculty and the quality of the staff that occupy the buildings. "That's what makes them remarkable, not just the physical space, that's only one small part of it," he said. It\,the human component of a building that makes it remarkable and I think Cohen Science Center will be a remarkable building." THE BEACON Editorial Staff 2012-13 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 Editor-in-Chief: Kirstin Cook News Editor: Christine Lee Managing Editor: Bryan Calabro Opinion Editor: CarlyYamrus Ad Manager: Brittany Battista A&E Editor: Bill Thomas PHONE: (570) 408-5903 Photo Editor: Laura Preby Life Editor: Anne Yoskoski WEBSITE: thewilkesbeacon.com Adviser: Loran Lewis Sports Editor: Frank Passalacqua Wh goU ing and frie D01 broi goll go!: Wo wh; lot 1 one but ' p li1 p Yi fj, e. A ir ,., If e @Cleespot christine./ee@wilkes.edu Meet the Staff Tho BIii Thomas A&E Editor Prod Prl-<I 02( �THE BEACON I Oct 23, 2012 3 NEWS Wilkes faculty members react to presidential debates By Shawn Carey Staff Writer With the 20 12 Election Day weeks away, the pressure is on for national debates. Thus far, President Obama and Mitt Romney have met twice and their running mates, Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan, have also squared off. In light of the recent debates, three Wilkes faculty members with expertise in politics examine the performances of Obama and Romney. The first televised debate was highly anticipated and many were able to see the candidates together for the first time. Many viewers wanted to see where the candidates stood on issues and what they would do as president. "In the first debate, I went in with an open mind because the president is so well known and Mitt Romney has never really come across visually and vocally as a strong person," professor of communications Bradford Kinney, who specializes in political rhetoric, said. Many believed Obama had an edge in the debates because of his speaking ability, but others believed Romney would do better because of his earlier campaign start for the primary. Thomas Baldino, professor of political science said, "I was looking at the first debate as an opportunity to see how each candidate reacted in real time. What I watched was one candidate who was prepared and the other candidate who appeared not prepared." Professor of communications Jane ElmesCrahall, who also specializes in political rhetoric, said it appeared Romney had a better chance with undecided voters than the presiden~ Baldino Elmes-Crahall "I was hoping we would see a clarification of what was starting after the conventions, where the president seemed to be emerging and had a pretty solid lead and Governor Romney did OK, but was still being seen as connecting with undecided voters," Elmes-Crahall said. Coming off the first debate, many thought that Obama was not his typical self and that he was not prepared. "I noticed that (Obama) wasn't scripted," Kinney said. "He seemed nervous, he seemed unsure of himself and he seemed like he did not want to be there." Many also believed that Romney was riding a wave of confidence from Obama's sub-par performance. "Mitt Romney was now seen as a viable person and much more relatable then he had been going into that first debate," Elmes-Crahall said. "The president had a series of bad mistakes in terms of how he presented himself in the first debate." In the first debate the moderator, Jim Lehrer, was viewed by many as passive and not in control of the candidates. "He let the debate get out of hand complete- Kinney ly," Kinney said. With Romney's performance in the first debate, Baldino said many voters seemed to take notice. "The outcome of the debate was a shift in the polls by as much as four points in some polls," Baldino said. Meanwhile, Elmes-Crahall said the vice presidential debate is viewed by many as a debate that does not affect the overall race. "Vice presidential debates are fun, they always have been. I doubt that they changed a single vote," Elmes-Crahall said. "They are very telling in terms of the campaign and how well it's going and they do have the potential of being very important if one of them becomes president." Biden, during the debate, seemed to be sneering and laughing to certain issues and some of the answers given by Ryan, which Baldino said was expected as it is typical of his nature. "Biden was Biden, more under control then he is sometimes, he showed his passion and he was articulate on issues without putting his foot in his mouth," said Baldino. "Everybody expected him to put his foot in his mouth." Baldino also commented on Ryan's performance in the debate. "Ryan had to look competent, most people didn't really know much about him," Baldino said. "So he came across as confident." In the third debate many expected a comeback by Obama and a more aggressive moderator. "The momentum had to be shifted for this election would start becoming clearer," ElmesCrahall said. "So in the second (debate), my expectations were framed on what are they going to do strategically to change the momentum, if you are on the Democratic side." Kinney said the second debate was critical for Obama to change his image for voters. "This debate became critic~.l, the president has to change a visual image that people have," Kinney said, "He came out and you could see he was prepared." Kinney commented on how effective Obama's arguments were but also how well Romney was able to return them. "He threw some of the hardest body blows at Romney," Kinney, said. "What impressed me was Romney took them and returned them." With only one debate left, many are waiting to see what happens in the last debate on foreign affairs. "The third debate in this election is the determining outcome and it happens close to the election," Elmes-Crahall said. "Foreign affairs is not an area of strength right now for the Obama Administration." The third and final presidential debate was held Monday, Oct. 22, at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. @shawncareyB shawn.carey@wilkes.edu Annual review allows for more funds towards awareness programs By Abbey Haldeman Assistant News Editor Every two years, staff from Campus Counseling, the Health and Wellness Center and Residence Life sit down together and participate in an event known as the Biennial Review. "It provides us the opportunity to take a look at what we accomplished in terms of prevention programs with respect to drugs and alcohol," Dean of Student Affairs, Mark Allen said. With the review, they are able to find what is working and what isn't working, in regards to drug and alcohol prevention. When that is done, changes are made to events to allow for improvement in those areas lacking. One of the most significant changes made this year during the Biennial Review was a switch in the online alcohol assessment course, which is mandatory for all incoming students. Since 2006, all incoming freshman students have been required to pass an online drug, alcohol and sexual assault course. In the past, students had been using college.alcoholedu. com, but now Wilkes students will be using a program known as My Student Body. "We felt it fulfilled the same requirements in terms of passing along important information with respect to alcohol, drugs and sexual assault, but it did so in a less expensive way so we were able to, through the savin~s that we had, reinvest those funds in other sorts of alcohol awareness initiatives so a chance to expand programs a little bit more," Allen said. Alcohol Awareness Week, which took place during the week of Oct. 15, is a time when the money saved by the switch, can help expand events on campus. National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week is celebrated by college and university campus' everywhere. It began here at Wilkes around 1988 with and event known as the "dry run," which today is the "Alcohol Awareness Walk." Gail Holby, coordinator of health and wellness center and the BAACCHUS club, a national club, at Wilkes coordinated events for the entire week. Some of these events included, guest speakers, a texting and DUI/DWI car simulator and the traditional Alcohol Awareness Walk. "Our 201 2 Alcohol Awareness Walk was one of the best attended walks in our history," Holby said. "We estimated that approximately 500 students, staff, and faculty were part of the important gathering." Both Holby and Allen believe that Wilkes works hard to inform its students about the risk of drugs and alcohol. By starting early, at Welcome Weekend holding presentations on sexual assault and by making it mandatory for incoming students to take the required alcohol course. Allen also believes that the amount of clubs on campus allows for students to have things that preoccupy them. Allen said, "it's providing an environment so students can definitely involve themselves in a healthier environment." With the Biennial Review and the National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, students will be educated and informed as to the affects of drugs and alcohol and efforts the university makes to help students stay active and out of the influences. The staff involved in the review and those who coordinated the week will continue to work together to find ways to make changes for the better. "It is always good to sit down and reflect on what is working and what is not working and try to improve upon things for the years that follow," Allen said. The Beacon/Laura Preby Gail Holby and the BACCHUS club put together events for the entire week of Oct. 15 for Alcohol Awareness week. Above, a textlng and driving and DUI/ DWI simulator car was part of the events put in place to inform and educate students on the effects of drugs and alcohol. @wilkesbeacon abbey.haldeman@wilkes.edu �4 NEWS THE BEACON I Oct. 23, 2012 Wilkes plays host to two congressional forum debates By Christine Lee News Editor Four congressional candidates couldn't agree on many issues affecting voters but each one agreed on one thing: There are issues affecting young voters and they need to get involved. The candidates squared off on a variety of issues important to Penn. voters, from health care to foreign policy, to creating jobs. Getting young voters involved All four congressional candidates stress that young people should get involved and register to vote. Cummings said young people need to get involved because election results determine their future. "They need to get involved as this is their future," Cummings said. Barletta thinks the most important thing that college students should know is to get to the polls, they need to make sure their voices are heard. Stilp also said young voters have to get involved and added they need to look at all the facts and numbers. Cartwright issued a message to young voters about getting out there to vote. "So many young people just take it for granted, our democracy, and they don't realize that a lot blood and tears were shed to give them the right to vote," Cartwright said. "My message to young people is inform yourselves of the issues, read the national newspapers, inform yourself about the issues and make up your own mind and vote." 11th District Congressional Debate The congressional candidates running in the 11th District said that jobs and federal financial aid were the best solutions to the hardships college students are facing. Rep. Lou Barletta and his democratic challenger Gene Stilp discussed these possibilities at a debate hosted by Wilkes and The Times-Leader on Monday, Oct. 8. The forum was moderated by Times-Leader editor Mark Jones. Stilp said he is in favor of strengthening and preserving the federal Pell Grants. "I want to make sure that we strengthen the Pell Grant system," Stilp said. "All our colleges have to be strengthened be£use that's where the innovation comes from, that's where our future comes from, our colleges and our schools so therefore I'm in favor of keeping the Pell Grant system strengthened." Stilp also wants to make sure college students don't go into severe debt because of tuition. "We've got to keep those interest rates at a place where they are good for the college students but at the same time they're not so severe whereby they stop the students from going to college," Stilp said. Barletta said the biggest challenge for college students is that more than 50 percent will not find a job when they graduate and the policies of the current administration aren't working for college students. He also added that America needs to get back its hiring spirit so college students know they have a better opportunity and the policies of the current administration are making it harder for them to find jobs. "They need to understand that the policies of this government are making matters worse, making it harder for them to find jobs and we need to change that," Barletta said. "I'm concerned that this November if we don't change the direction and provide a clear, brighter opportunity for our students that we're never going to be able to tum this country back again." In his opening statement, Barletta stressed the fact that the U.S. is $16 trillion in debt and the issues associated with that and the country's 14.6 percent unemployment rate. In his opening address, Stilp spoke about getting rid of waste, fraud and abuse in government. Questions directed at the candidates included government gridlock, health care, representing constituents in light of the recently re-drawn congressional districts in the state, government reform, entitlement programs, national debt, job growth, foreign policy, climate change and the fiscal cliff. 17th District Congressional Debate It was all about taxes and health care when 17th district running mates Laureen Cummings, the Republican and a member of the Scranton Tea Party, and Matt Cartwright, the Democrat, met on Oct. 10. for a forum hosted by Wilkes University and The Times-Leader. The forum was also moderated by TimesLeader editorial editor Mark Jones. Cummings said the fair tax plan she is in favor for would be better for young voters as they would keep their whole paycheck and they wouldn't have any more federal taxes taken out on them. She emphasized that young voters should get involved as the $16 trillion debt is something they have to deal with. Cartwright said he is in favor of supporting President Obama's Affordable Care Act, which would allow young people to remain on their parents' health care insurance up to when they are 26 years old. "I think that's a good idea and a lot of people like it because really you don't land on your feet until you're at least 26 years old and it makes life a lot easier until you can stay on your parents' insurance until then," Cartwright said. Cartwright said the recently struck down Voter ID law is important for young voters because unless they have a college ID, some young voters without a driver's license would have a hard time voting. "There are some young people that don't have drivers' licenses who are old enough to vote and unless they go to a college or a university where they have an ID that has an expiration date on it, they're going to have a hard time voting," Cartwright said. "Striking down the Voter ID law is a good thing for young people." In his opening statement, Cartwright talked about standing up for working families and building infrastructure to create jobs. He referred to the Tea Party as 'the party of no. ' Laureen Cummings opened by talking about being an advocate for everyday people. The issues discussed in the forum included small business and job growth, preparing for the role of representative, defense spending, energy, poverty, health care, transportation The Beacon/Dan Lykens 11th district Democratic congressional candidate Gene Stilp, left, faces incumbent Republican Rep. Lou Barletta, right, on issues such as government gridlock and health care. Candidates from the 17th district also ~quared off. and highways, term limits for office, priorities @Cleespot as representative, campaign finance, national christine.lee@wilkes.edu debt, foreign policy and tax reforms. the legendary taste Go Colonels! We Deliver to Wilkes University! Call (570) 331-FAST (3278) Ask about our combo specials featuring our complete line up of pizza, subs, wings, burgers & more!visit us online for a complete menu & listing of specials at www.grottopizzapa.com or visit our restaurant & sports bar Grotto Pizza, Gateway Center, on Rt. 11 in Edwardsville (just across the bridge!) the legendary taste $5 OFF Any Order of $20 or More For delivery or take out Expires 12/31.12 L ------ valid only at Grotto Pizza locations in Pennyslvania �THE BEACON I Oct. 23, 2012 NEWS 5 Inactive club disbanded UN Peacekeepers help inform By Shawn Carey Staff Writer The meeting was called to order at 5:57 p.m. All college: $12,050.00 Conference: $700.00 General funds: $6,434.18 Leadership: $600.00 Spirit: $873.34 Student Government total: $20,657.52 The Chemistry Club was present at the meeting to give a report. Next week, is National Chemistry Week and the club has many events planned for the week. It is planning a bake sale and "Pie Your Professor" event. Half of the proceeds from the events will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The budget for Casino Week was presented for the second week. There was one change to the budget and that was upgrading the Nintendo Wii to a Nintendo Wii U. Treasurer Sam Bickert said this is a pre-order and the winner will receive the prize after Casino Week. A motion was made to allocate $11,739 for Casino Week. The motion passed 35-0-6. Jill Price, the new Adventure Education coordinator, was at the meeting to introduce herself and did a couple of activities with the members. President Kris Rivers spoke about inactive clubs. He said that he talked to members of Environmental Club and they told him this club may be merging with the Outdoor Club, so the issue was tabled for the next meeting. However, Rivers did not hear anything from the Student Political Action Forum. There has been no activity within the club for four years. A motion was made to disband the Student Political Action Forum due to inactivity. The motion passed 37-0-3 Reports of Homecoming will be at the next meeting due to invoices that need taken care of. The meeting was adjourned at 7 p.m. @shawncarey8 shawn.carey@wilkes.edu The Beacon/Austin Loukas Lt. Col. J. Guillermo Rosa, deputy military adviser, United States military staff committee, and Peter Schmitz, above, director of Europe and Latin America Division at the U.N. Department of Peacekeeping Operations informed students of the effects and importance of peacekeeping in Haiti. WeT PAINT 1-St+f f'TS ;.: · VV,:illPr (_;if ,::,pt 1vV1lv2~·\ ~tYrP. -',.\ · h /::.:> www.wetpainttshirts .com I WILKES UNIVERSITY'S ONE STOP .. PRINT SHOP Mention this ad for a with your first order! FREE Hat . What We can Do For You If you can answer that uest1on, your overseas experience can pay even greater dividends in the Study Abroad Essay contest Write a 500- to 750-word essay on the topic and you'll have a chance to have your essay published and win valuable prizes. More infonnation will be coming, in the meantime, contact Godlove.F onjweng@wilkes.edu or Loran.Lewis@wilkes.edu Sponsored by the Center for Global Education and Diversity and The Beacon newspaper .. Tees Hoodies Hats &More Great For: Clubs & Activites Sports Tearns Fraternties l Sororitfes Fund Raising Dept. Uniforms CALL 570-822-2221 to Get Started Now! . �1!: C F Oct. 23, 2012 Contact editor: carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu Wilkes lacking political involvement Students are encouraged to get the facts, spread the word and vote GOTTA VOTE Get the facts. Gef the word out. Get ready to 'Vote. The Beacon/Laura Preby "Gotta Vote" posters around campus urge students to become more actively involved in politics. Political presence on campus can be extremely influential to students who are unsure about the candidates and their positions on issues. By The Beacon editorial staff In the p• few weeks, Wilkes has seen two former Congressmen and four congressional candidates participate in debates for districts representing this very region. However, with the exception of a couple students who had class when the two former congressmen visited, there were few students at the congressional debates and at the forum with the former congressmen. These, combined with limited vocalization from students on political issues, have led us to come to the conclusion that Wilkes students do not participate in politics. The Beacon believes students should take an active role in politics as the issues the candidates are talking about in their campaigns have an impact on them. Take, for example, the following: •Health care: Will students still be covered under their parents' insurance until age 26 under "Obama care"? •Jobs: Will students be able to find them after college? •Immigration: Will those students here illegally be able to stay or be deported? According to an article in The Michigan Daily entitled "Students demonstrate po- litical support for upcoming 2012 presidential election," students play a pivotal role in shaping politics through both voting and actively participating in elections, and that student involvement will continue to be important in the upcoming 2012 presidential election. The article explains that students are valuable as presidential campaign volunteers because they have the time, energy and will work for free. The article also said politicians often will look toward college campuses for volunteers and voters because students are already in a central location and are often organized according to political beliefs. The Beacon staff believes all Wilkes students have political beliefs, and if not, then they have beliefs about something. We think students shouldn't be shy about expressing their beliefs on a particular topic during this national election season. After all, it is the basic right of all citizens to address the federal government about issues they are passionate about; students should readily take advantage of this freedom. The Beacon staff does not understand why Wilkes students don't actively participate in politics on campus, especially when one of the ways policies get passed is by people actively addressing the president or members of Congress. On a campus level, the College Republicans have done some activities on campus for all students, including the highly-attended presidential debate watch party, which was very successful. The College Democrats don't appear to be active as a group on campus. There doesn't appear to be anyone from either group actively rallying for Republican or Democratic candidates running for office in November. Because these groups are highly influential in informing students and getting them to vote, The Beacon believes these groups need to be more visible on campus. The Beacon thinks campus political groups, or students in general, should take the time to get campaign literature for current candidates from campaign headquarters, some of which are located downtown within walking distance of campus, and spread it around campus. That way students will be more likely to cast a vote this November. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University, 46 million people ages 1829 are eligible to vote and make up 21 percent of the voting population in the U.S. They point out that the percentage of 18 to 29 year-olds that voted in the 2008 election was 48.5 percent and 67 percent for citizens 25 and older and 30 and older. CIRCLE points out that students who are contacted by an organization or campaign are more likely to vote and those who discuss an election are more likely to vote in it. They also say one of the most effective ways of getting new voters to cast a ballot is by personalizing and interactive contact with these voters. This means students shouldn't hesitate to get campaign literature from current candidates running for national and local office and spread it across campus. The Beacon praises organizations such as The League of Women Voters, which has had members give out voter registration ballots on campus, and Student Development, which sponsored events like Rock the Vote to get students registered to vote. This type of activity is likely to spur students to vote in upcoming elections. Regardless of your political affiliation, The Beacon staff encourages students to take advantage of these resources and make your voice be heard by voting. Your vote really does count. BEACON POLL £, By Life 1 The Beacon poll is unscientific and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on the Wilkes campus. These poll results are based on 15 responses. Pro p.lT (in Last week's question: pro one Have you ever cheated on an assignment or exam? Stu E fes~ E and one !err par " par par bra 1 lari bra ci al Co1 bet This week The Beacon asks: What is your favorite Halloween activity? • • • • Trick-or-treating Pumpkin carving Partying Watching horror movies • Attending local haunted attractions Cast your vote online at: www.thewilkesbeacon.com SPEAK UP! The Beacon wants to hear your voice. Send your name, major, year and opinion to: carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for length and content. Anonymous letters will not be published. St, @wifkesbeacon wilkesbeacon@gmail.com on se1 �7 OPINION THE BEACON I Oct. 23, 2012 No matter what method of tipping, make sure you do it By Nicholas Wesley Correspondent Maybe you're a 15 percent man, maybe you're a 20. Maybe you only tip your brain surgeon, or maybe you're a Mr. Pink and just don't tip. Who really cares how you tip, that's a secret between you, the almighty and Darleen at Denny's. Is it necessary to not tip? What if the service is exceptionally lousy, then do you stick it to Darleen and not leave $2.25 behind? Maybe next time she will be more clear on what type of senior can have the senior Grand Slam. But what if you're in another country? Is it rude to tip? What do you say to the man who enlightens you that tipping these waiters will be offensive? Do you respond "Thanks pal" and slip him a five spot? Who really deserves a tip? Your congressman? Or is that called a bribe? But they are a public servant. Shouldn't the public be allowed to leave them a gratuity when they've done an exceptional job? Yes, but don't ever ask them for anything. Do I vote with my dollar, or with my Social Security number? I like to feel I made a difference; that's why I vote for pro wrestling. How do I tip? Growing up as a human dynamo, I failed to learn basic division. So I like to tip like it's the lottery. I like to round things up, sometimes you win big, sometimes you curse my name and vow to drop my skirt • The Beacon/Lau ra Preby Whether you believe In standard tipping rates or tipping at random, you can always vote wit h your dollar and give what you think they deserve. steak on the floor next time, only to be pleasantly surprised when I give you a little extra, for the floor grease. But is there anything more satisfying than leaving one crisp bill on the table and walking out like you're Don Juan? People tell me there's an app for tipping. Please, like I need to treat tipping like one of those antiquated, vestigial skills I've evolved out of, like my sense of direction, ability to keep track of appointments and memory of seven-digit numbers for more than five seconds. What do you do when you see a donation box? Do you give your change to the saps with the bells before and after you leave Wal- greens? It is cold outside. Do you check yes on donating $3 to the presidential campaign with your taxes? Do you round your earnings up to an even number, just because they look like they could use the money? Was your quarter the quarter that caused the rescue of that missing girl at Turkey Hill? Do you leave a penny in the take a penny leave a penny? Does that make you a socialist? Can you really feel good when you drop that shiny dime into that platform game you see at fair-priced diners? The proceeds may go toward leukemia, but the first platform wins a free slice of pie. It's not selfish gambling if it goes toward charity, right? Only if you lose. Now, do you donate on campus? The library is implementing a new COIDipunity coffee pot. Donations benefit Enactus, an on-campus club. They say to leave a dollar, but what's SO cents between friends, right? I'm excited to see the result from this experiment; it will be a testament to the tippers and toppers of Wilkes University. Let's keep the ball rolling, and don't be a Mr. Pink. So next time you vote with your dollar, give them a little extra, they deserve it. And most importantly, tip your editors. American currency only, please. @wifkesbeacon nicholas.wesley@wilkes.edu IFlll#FIC-. . .. .... .. .E■ ■..►411V' 20 E Northampton St. Wilkes Barre SPECIALS WEEKDAY SPEClllS M-TH Large Pie $7 .95 Chicken Wing Pie $10 .95 (carry out/dine in only) PIZZA DOUBl ES 2 Medium Pizzas $13.95 2 Large Pizzas $16.95 Mll&MATCH Any 3 Subs o r Wi n g s 'I ' 825-5166 NEllT TO MOVIES 14 FREE WI-Fl In our Dining Room 2 Tickets to Movies 14 WB 1 Medium Pizza - 1 Topping 2 Drinks I We Cater Parties At Movies 14 $15.95 WE CATIB lARGE GRIUP EVENTS PllASE GAU BEFIRE YOUR NEil MEfflNGI Hours: Mon.-Thurs .. 11 am-11 pm Frl .. -Sat.. 11am- 12am Sun. 12pm-11pm We're more than just great pizza .... see our entire menu at www.januzzispizza.com �THE BEACON I Oct. 23, 2012 8 OPINION Bullying for friendship: the absurdity in Greek life hazing An instinctual desire for approval provokes intelligent students to make senseless decisions By Lyndsie Yamrus Assistant Opinion Editor Andrew Lohse emolled into Dartmouth College as an undergraduate student in the fall of 2008. Lohse, as described in the April 2012 issue of Rolling stone magazine, was a highly involved, self-aware and intelligent young man with sophisticated ideas that he himself believed were "incredibly douchey, brash and stupid." The young man was alleged to have participated in an extensive list of extracurricular activities in high school, ranging from varsity lacrosse to orchestra to debate club. As a highly involved, highly sophisticated individual often is, Lohse was headed in the right direction. The bright young man pictured himself someday resembling his grandfather- a wealthy banker with powerful connections who could drink hard, work hard and achieve high: the embodiment of a true Dartmouth man and Sigma Alpha Epsilon brother. One of these men, as Lohse explained for Rolling Stone, was "good-looking, preppy, charismatic, and excellent at cocktail parties, masculine, intelligent, wealthy, and a little rough around the edges." In addition to these essential characteristics, a true brother could drink immeasurable amounts of alcohol, vomit and "rally" repeatedly, and was obligated to execute a number of extreme feats, as any fraternity brother could. Although not much of a partier, Lohse pledged. Becoming a SAE brother seemed to be a highly necessary step toward becoming the ideal man. Tums out, to become the model man, you had to be an animal. Getting to the point, Lohse was ratted out by another SAE brother near the end of his sophomore year for openly snorting cocaine in tlf: house's pool room. Lohse was suspended from Dartmouth for a year. In January 2011, after spiraling into a state of fury and depression over the incident, Lohse craftily published an op-ed in the school's student-run newspaper "The Dartmouth." Breaking well-established brotherhood codes of secrecy, he heatedly leaked his experiences in becoming a SAE brother, which I will discuss momentarily. As I am not a sorority sister, I do not know half of what goes on in these types of organizations, but I do know that a lot of nonsense occurs within many (but certainly not all). People have told me, "It's not like that- you don't have the inside-perspective." No, I don't. But I have the outside perspective, and from the outside looking in, I don't like what I see. Pledges are often singled out or isolated for one thing or another. They're asked to spit out random tidbits of meaningless information or Greek-related knowledge and given some crazy "punishment" if they fail their given tasks. Some wake you up in the middle of the night to do "fun" . activities, and most incorporate alcohol. I've heard of fraternities that actually kept pledges from studying and doing their homework because involvement in senseless activities was more important. We are at school right? Just checking. The possibilities in the Greek domain are endless. From my experience, there are a lot of crazy men out there, willing to do crazy things, and girls can be very, very mean. These mild "bonding-experiences" were what I had anticipated when it came to Greek life. But sometimes, to be even considered for initiation, pledges around the world are humiliated, harassed and abused in various ways as a way to connect and, in more or less words, "pick out" the worthy ones for the group. In Lohse's fraternity, the simpler, more obvious (and probably more desired) activities included bonging a "quick six"- six beers in 30 seconds or under, playing pong with five times the normal amount of beer needed, guzzling the cheap beverage MD 20/20 (otherwise known as Mad Dog) and other hard-liquors on command, chugging a gallon of milk in 20 minutes or downing straight vinegar, to name a few. Yes, hazing is illegal in 44 states in the US, but it exists regardless. I knew the basis of hazing, but I didn't know how bad it could get, or what seemingly bright individuals were capable of doing to each other for no reason. For some purpose that to this day remains highly unclear to me, human beings find it essential that in order to be welcomed as a member into one of these groups, you have to prove yourself. The psychology of it has been studied by Harvard University, among other associations. Humans strongly desire belonging, intensely ''1 Just . cant) get past how and why good, intelligent individuals do the things they do to each other in order to be friends:' close-knit relationships and approval. It's evolutionary. We by no means want to be rejected, so it is therefore crucial to prove ourselves worthy of others' approvals. We crave exclusivity too. I understand that these feelings are beyond our control. It's all pure human nature. What I do not understand is how SAE fraternity pledges were encouraged to continuously vomit on each other and do "slip and slides" on vomit-covered tarps, or how they were required to crawl through lines of naked male bodies, drink beer off of each other unclothed and eat omelets filled with vomit. Perhaps the most revolting requirement was for pledges to swim in a kiddie pool filled with the unimaginable: a horrifying mixture of urine, fecal matter, vomit, semen and food products. Things are equally as bad in the Dartmouth sorority world, though less disgusting. Last spring, sophomore Kappa Kappa Gamma pledge Ravital Segal and two other pledges from another sorority were blindfolded, guided to the back of a car, and instructed to chug a The Beacon/Austin Loukas Extreme binge drinking is among the many potentially harmful activities occuring in Greek communities around the world. Students pledging fraternities and sororities often succumb to making bad decisions from higher members in order to fit In. 64-ounce water bottle containing a mixed drinl< and numerous shots of vodka. Upon waking up in the hospital the next da) with bruises, cuts, broken teeth and tubes attached to her body, the physicians informed Segal that her blood alcohol content was .399. A .4 BAC means coma and death. The young girl was literally one sip of alcohol away from dying. In my opinion, this is absurd; that for man) Greek communities, in order to create bondi with one another, some type of artificial, unnecessary and potentially dangerous affau must exist. Even if mental and physical healtl: is at stake, even if death is in the running, thii extreme perception trumps all rationale. I just typed into Google, "Reasons to join , sorority." I clicked the first link, SororityEverAfter.com. • The seventh line down reads, "A sororit) gives you the philanthropic, leadership, anc personal development experiences you need tc be successful in the "real world." The page goes on to explain that joining a sorority opens doors for life-long friendships, internships and jobs and gives your life a "highe1 meaning." I disagree. I strongly believe that I have just as equal ol a chance as anyone in any Greek community a1 "being successful in the real world." I've already made life-long friendships, no, not with 60-plus girls, but I'm satisfied wit!: what I've created. I will leave school and gain an equally distinguished career because I worked my youknow-what off for it, not because I was judgec and embarrassed and have Greek letters tc show for it. That's enough "higher meaning' for me. Greek life isn't the only thing that definei a person, and if an employer wants to choosf Greek alumni over me, well, that's their owr problem. Writing this opinion as caused me to think Greek life doesn't sound too bad if you takf out all the garbage. If there were sororities a1 Wilkes, I feel as though I might actually enjo) them. I won't lie, they do sound fun and unique. I just can't get past how and why good, intelligent individuals do the things they do to eacl: other in order to be friends. I have entirely toe much dignity to waste my time trying to provf myself to others, hoping to get a bid. There are plenty of fun, safe and normal ways for people to bond, and swimming ir each other's bodily fluids isn't one of them. I realize that after pledge time, you're , member and tl'Iat's that. You' re accepted. Ym; passed the test. I'm sure it's an awesome feeling. But the vicious cycle is repeated over anc over again, this time on new pledge victims. l can't see any member really liking what the) do, but that's just the way it is, and society jus1 accepts it as conventional and all-in-all OK. Must be a kink in evolution. @wilkesbeacon /yndsie.yamrus@wilkes.edu - =--=--- �Cont<;!Et E!ldJtor: bill~homas@thewilkesbeacon.com The living dead invades NEPA once again, toys in tow Good-hearted ghouls gather with charity on the brain for third annual ·W-B Zombie Walk By Jake Cochran to partner with Toys for Tots this year. The idea is that, since times are tough, the need to start the drive as soon is prominent. With Christmas on the way, Lindgrin said, it's never too early. So, while it sounds like the terrible plotline of a Z-grade bootleg horror movie, zombies are in fact teaming up with the Marines to save Christmas. Just because zombies crave brains, that doesn't mean they don't already have hearts. • In addition to the Toys for Tots bin, the Kirby Park starting point will also have a few trained professionals and enthusiastic hobbyists to help would-be zombies add some bite to their ensembles. The artists will be working with some latex based makeups to add bite wounds and tear-away flesh chunks, as well as the obligatory splatters of blood. While the artists will be doing their work free of charge, Lindgrin encourages any endorsers to be a good sport and put a little something in the tip jars they leave out, noting that the cost of the make-up is not cheap. When asked about what type of zombies she expected from her experience last year she had a wide range of predictions. Last year she saw everything from Gothed-up ghouls to Mohawk-headed crust-punk flesheaters. She also noted a group of zombified nurses as well as a group of what she referred to as "green slime zombies." "I like to see people be very creative with their ideas. I like to see people work with what they've got," Lindgrin said. "I want to see creativity, people always say that this area has nothing to offer and I think this is a great opportunity to showcase our creativity." Assistant A&E Editor A mass of 80 or more zombies hobbled across a nearly deserted snowy park. Then, for some unseen reason, they all changed direction at once. Now making their way across a bridge, they came to the end, then to a complete stop. The zombies were waiting for the crosswalk signal. They weren't actually a horde of real zombies, of course. Just a horde of zombie enthusiasts, dressed up to participate in the 2011 Wilkes-Barre Zombie Walk. Jessica Lindgrin, the event coordinator and zombie wrangler for this year's event, remembers her own experiences at last year's walk. Back then, Lindgrin wasn't an organizer. She was just another participant. "It was frigid cold, it was freezing," she said. "There was myself and five other friends and we were on and off: 'Do you wanna go?' 'Yeah. No. Yeah. No. Yeah.' And finally we just threw makeup on and went and it was a lot of fun. The running joke between everyone was that zombies don't get cold." Around 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27, shamblers will gather once more in Kirby Park before shambling along their usual root: From there, crossing the Market Street Bridg_e, then looping around the WilkesBarr~ Square before returning to Kirby Park again. New to this year's event, though, is a mission to bring awareness to a cause that is not just apocalypse preparedness. Lindgrin, the primary organizer of the event this year, wants the focus to be about helping give back to the children of surrounding communities, through the addition of a Toys for Tots bin at the start of the walk in Kirby Park. "I talked to the guy from (the Wyoming Valley Detachment Marine Corps League, which oversee the local branch of Toys for Tots) and he will be there with the bin and I joke with him about 'Are you going to come dressed as a zombie?' and he kind of just laughed back that he will have to see what's going on," she said. "Maybe the Marine will be dressed as a zombie, maybe not, we'll just have to see," Courtesy of Melissa Christian @wilkesbeacon jason .cochra n@wilkes.edu This weekend, don't be surprised If you find some ghouls, like Melissa Christian, right, and her friend, wandering through your neighborhood. Lindgrin joked. "I'm thinking probably not because he won't look professional." With the focus on children this year Lindgrin, a special effects makeup aficionado, made it clear that the walk should be a family oriented event and that they are really try- CULTURE CLASH with Sarah Mitrotz & Bill Thomas Scary Freddy vs. FunnJ: . Fre<Jdy ing to do some good with the Toys for Tots foundation. Whi le the recent economic recession is technically over, the effects of it are still being felt. Lindgrin cites this as one reason why the Wilkes-Barre Zombie Walk wanted THE BOOK REPORT with Anne Yoskoski "The Casual Vacancy/' by J.K. Rowling with Jake Cochran . Season Three.predictions �1O A&E THE BEACON From jazz to punk:·Diversity on display at film festival 'Music without borders' spotlighted in joint offering from Wilkes, Misercordia By BIii Thomas A&E Editor Godlove Fonjweng grew up in Cameroon, a country in west Central Africa. Music was a part of his daily life. In church, in school, intraditional ceremonies; music was woven into the very fabric of his formative years. In 1999, Fonjweng - currently director of global education at Wilkes University - visited Cartagena, Colombia. While touring the surrounding areas, he traveled by boat to a small community nearby. What he found surprised him, for, in some ways, it was like coming home. "When I came out of that boat and was walking around, I noticed that everything around me seemed oddly familiar, as if I'd been there before," he recalled. "There were little kids with shorts and no shirts trying to sell little things along the beaches, and there was this music in the background. I recognized it. I realized someone was playing Cameroon music, right there in this small place in Colombia. I was not expecting that. It was so unbelievable." It's an example, Fonjweng said, of the way music connects us all. Recently, he was reminded of that experience while screening "Sons ofBenkos," a documentary highlighting the influence of African culture in Colombia. It is one of six international music-themed documentaries that will be shown as part of the Cultural Lens Film Festival being held this week, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25, 26 and 27, as a joint offering of Wilkes and Misericordia University. To kick off the event, Fongjweng will team with Philip Simon, associate professor of music at Wilkes, for a special presentation at 5 p.m., on Thursday, which will precede the first documentary in the series, ''Return to Goree." ''Human beings recognize four important things about music: melody, harmony, rhythm and form. Every music from around the world takes all of the ways it is constructed, presented and performed from generally three or all four of those elements," Simon said. ''Hopefully the presentation will educate the audience as to what folk music is, what national music is - or music that has a nationalistic scope - and how most musics around the world are tied together by certain common things." Speaking of things that are "tied together," while this marks the third year of existence for the Cultural Lens Film Festival, 2012 is the event's first as a collaboration between Wilkes and Misericordia Previously, it was hosted only by Misercordia. Before coming to Wilkes as associate director of diversity affairs in 2011, Erica Acosta spent three years working at Misericordia. There, she and Daniel Kimbrough, assistant professor of communications at the school, originated the film festival as a tool for multicultural education. "It was my baby over there," Acosta said. "When I came here, I still wanted to maintain that relationship and also build something more unified, with our students getting to meet their students, all in the spirit of inclusion and diversity." In that sense, the festival 's growth into a now intercollegiate offering reflects its central mission. So too does as this year's theme of''Music Without Borders." Nick Driscoll is director of the Wilkes University Jazz Orchestra, the rhythm section of which - consisting of two percussionists, one guitarists, one bassist, one keyboardist and Driscoll himself on saxophone -will perform in the Henry Student Center Lobby as part of the festival's closing reception, taking place at 7 p.m. on Saturday. "Using music to show diversity is absolutely wonderful," Driscoll said. ''You could take four people from the four farthest corners of the Earth who couldn't communicate verbally at all, put them together, and they could play a tune together. Music is a language." Although the festival's closing reception will take place on the Wilkes campus, the six films preceding it are being divided evenly between the two schools' locations. For Wilkes students interested in attending any of the screenings held on the Misericordia campus but unable to provide their own transportation, Acosta stressed that free transportation via SG Van will be available. At press time, Acosta said that there were 28 slots available, but if more than that were to RSVP, she added that she would be able to accommodate. Students can RSVP all the way up the day of a screening, but advanced notice is preferred. To RSVP, students can contact Acosta by phone at 570408-7856 or by email at erica. acosta@wilkes.edu. @wilkesbeacon billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com "One Voice" (2011) 5 p.m., Oct. 26 McGowan Hall, Misericordia "Return to Goree" (2007) 6 p.m., Oct. 25 Lemmond Theater, Misericordia The musical road movie that tells African singer Youssou N'Dour's epic journey following the trail left by slaves and by the jazz music they invented. Youssou N'Dour's challenge is to bring back to Africa a jazz repertoire. A film that tells the story of the Kamehameha Schools Song Contest. Every year in Hawaii, 2000 high school students compete, with young leaders directing their peers in singing Hawaiian music in four-part harmony. I Oc1 �Oct. 23 2012 A&E 11 "When I Rise" (2010) 7 p.m., Oct. 26 Stark Learning Center (Room 101), Wilkes A gifted black music student at the University of Texas is thrust into a civil rights storm that changes her life forever. Barbara Smith Comad is cast in an opera to co-star with a white male classmate, fueling a racist backlash from members of the Texas legislature. When Barbara is expelled from the cast, the incident escalates to national news. "Jazz, Episode 3: Our Language" (2000) 12 p.m., Oct. 27 Marts Center (Room 214), Wilkes In the 1920s, jazz is everywhere, and for the first time soloists and singers take center stage. We meet Bessie Smith, Empress of the Blues; Bix Beiderbecke, the first great white jazz star; and Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw, for whom jazz offers a chance to escape the ghetto and achieve their dreams. Plus Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. "Taqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam" (2009) 3:30 p.m., Oct. 27 McGowan Hall, Misericordia The film follows an American convert named Michael Muhammad Knight and his kindred spirits on their first U.S . tour, where they incite a riot of young hijabi girls at the largest Muslim gathering in North America after Sena takes the stage. The film then travels to Pakistan, as Michael begins to reconcile his fundamentalist past with the rebel he's become. "Sons of Benkos" (2003) 6 p.m., Oct. 27 Marts Center (Room 214), Wilkes A documentary that explores the African culture of Colombia through music. The film presents the music of the Sons of Benkos, one of the most important black leaders in the fight for freedom during the times of slavery in Colombia. The film also shows the evolution of Afro-Colombian music over time through the fusion of Cuban and contemporary African rhythms with traditional music. Photos and film synopses courtesy of ArtMattan Productions, Junirosa Productions, PBS and Eyesteelfilm Productions. �By Bill Thomas A&E Editor They have titles like "Bloodsucking Pharaohs 'in Pittsburgh" and "Frankenhooker.'' They feature actors like Robert Z' Dar and Michelle Bauer ("Who?" Exactly!). They can be found at the bottom of the budget DVD bin of your locaJ retain destination of choice. For those with more traditional tastes in cinema, they're nothing more than "bad movies." But for those with more rarified tastes, they're a whole lot more. For some, "bad movies" are synonymous with "good entertainment." Of course, there are a lot of folks that just don't get it. How, they ask, could anyone actuaJly enjoy watching a "bad" movie? ls it out of some perverse sense of self-torture or just a twisted enjoyment in the failings of others? ls it cinemasochism or cine-schadenfreude? For Andrew Bomtreger, the answer is "none - of the above." "I do make fun of them, but [ aJso appreciate _ the effort that went to them.... Sometimes you watch these movies and there's a lot of interesting ideas in there. They just didn't have the budget to pull it off," Bomtreger said. "All l really ask of a movie is that it entertains me. I don't care how it does it. [ don't care if [ sit there the whole l movie wondering what the heck is going on. The worst thing a movie can be is boring." - As owner am.4 operator of the website BadMovies.org, Bomtreger knows a thing or two about the subject. Type "bad movies" into Google and Bortreger's website will invariably be the top search result. Despite that, he's not a low-brow mutant wallowing mindlessly in a sewer of cliche plots, THE BEACON I Oct. 23, 2012 A&E 12 jerry-rigged special effects and gratuitous nudity. Nor is he a hipster in thick glasses and tight jeans who thinks it's funny to ironicaJly feign affection for something he obviously means to mock. Bomtreger is a Marine with three kids. He holds acclaimed motion pictures like "Seven Samurai" and the 1957 version of "12 Angry Men" as near and dear as he does outre obscurities l.ike "The Giant Claw" and "StarCrash." And he's not alone. Unsurprisingly, the humble writer whose words you're currently reading - or, more likely, passing on the way to the sports section in fact gathers regularly with a tight-knit circle of friends to indulge a long-held mutual addiction to cinematic junk food. In a sense, what better way to view bad movies than as junk food for the soul? Like Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Ho Hos, bad movies contain pretty much no nutritional value and admittedly shouldn't be ingested all the rime. But, every once in a while, it can be a rush to indulge in something you know is bad for you. After al I, without the concept of "bad" with which to contrast with, how can one ever fully understand the concept of"good" in the first place? "You don't apprec.iate cream unl.ess you've drunk a lot of milk, and maybe you don't even appreciate milk unless you've drunk some that's gone sour." So vvrote Stephen King in his nonfiction book "Danse Macabre." And, while yours truly takes issue with some of his statements in said book, even King acknowledged in it that bad movies can be used "to define positive values in tenns of their 0\'1111 negative charm. They show us what to look for because it is missing in themselves." King's words are especially amusing, given that he himself once directed an infan10us film flop, 1986's oft-overlooke.d "Maximw11 Overdrive," about sentient appliances terrorizing Emilio Estevez in a truck stop. On the flipside, th.ere's Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett, who've made careers out of making the unbearable bearable. As key members of the creative team behind the gone-but-not-forgotten, Emmy-nominated, Peabody Award-winning TV show "Mystery Science Theater 3000," the trio skewered such celluloid stinkers as "Hobgoblins" and "Manos, th.e Hands of Fate" to the delight of viewers everywhere and, in doing so, transformed B movies of all sorts into unintentionally hilarious masterpieces of accidentaJ art. Nowadays, the trio continues cracking wise in the form of downloadable film commentaries available via the website, RifITrax.com. Interested in experiencing a little of that "so bad it's good" charm for yourself? This Thursday, RIC Wilkes-Barre Movies 14 will be one of severaJ theaters across the cowJtry hosting a special. live simulcast event at 8 p.m., wherein the RifITrax trio will do what they do best, gleefully tackling the 2010 instant crap-classic Birdemic: Shock and Terror (see sidebar). Don't miss it. After all, there's no such thing as a bad movie. 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Mi<lllli..Coming ~1tayUiTsDecemt5er. ,__,,,_ _ _.s;FJan-'}.from,Oute,..Space 1 -- •·=~~•-·--1'.u~creni_c.4&.Jitcml2Llhi•u-Ci:..,,._~J:tn:Cw.b""'.- ~ ~ - fi suckfest earned infamous trash . As with "Birdemic," ''Star. ~ ~ --fibnmakercoWoocf1he'Uo@~ra~h'"""'iswnarnappens- wnefi- { ,,......,....._...<M• aspbeFry½4ward,.for-worst•direc~~ ow-budget~1mmaker~•try= to- \ ·-.;_..;.,........!sY&S:Xe.L!JJ+,<l~jt§gjfgQn~sm19Jie- mgr~{!1~.JiitdJ::P.Y9&~,,J;1lQ,CKPJJ§t:;;_ r· known far an.d wide as the worst . .. ers. In this case, it's .Italian direc- , ..._ m.o,vie.ofaalLtime..Xhe,.costumes,- tor:,.Luigi£0zzLtcy.ing-to..ape the- \ ;,.-s 1<.!_~p_ec!al effects . ~rawling_1pace-fantasy of "Star le and the story is Wars" as well as the epic adven-·-•-·- -nonsense:~A:liens~011reLO'"":Eart~ture""'t1f~'R:ay-Barryhausen"'" clas::--/ . ?-, 1 ·- - - .aruJ- raisc,~~t~r.ecentl~cm;L,as-·•-·sics,,like.!!,'I'.h~e.ven~:-Y.oyage,0£- 1 a : . .. 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( J _ , _""1)lant=hybrids;'"Whiclrihey-then"""""'"tlamed"""'" fohnny;'""",vho,howe~ -~-..._.devour~hlle..,,-said.....plan.bpeople__.Jlis"'wife.,.,with..affection, muddied~ / · are stiU alive. .Starrin .a cast. of. thou it ma be b~is slow wit ·, American actors, but written anr-arid heavy tongue. Despite her ) --·~· directed"bTit~lian·~"who s~?ke«al-"--hub~y·being:"sach' a "c3Ych;"s_he i~::--· / - ~ - -mosLna...Engbsh,~ TroU~ever- ,,,.,,exphcably..cheats,,on.bllll-.-WJth.h.is,-\ had a chance. So popular is it in best friend, Conflict and tragedy · bad-movie circles that it earned its ensue. More like boredom and own retrospective documentary, more boredom. To retain your / ' called "Best Worst Movie." sanity, don't watch this one alone. ' ~~ '-s.--·-----....,.--._-·------___....___,___.... - ½ ,.._,_.,,,_J �Contact editor: anne.yoskoski@wilkes.edu Oct. 23, 2012 Students spend Fall Break at local animal shelter By Alyssa Stencavage Assistant. Life Editor Some students spent their fall break cleaning stalls and pens, washing bowls and tubs for larger animals, sweeping the barn, cleaning the refrigerator, helping to compost expiring foods and breaking down boxes to take to the recycling center at the Indraloka Animal Shelter in Mehoopany. Founded by a woman named Indra Lahiri, Indraloka is a nonprofit, volunteer-based sanctuary that gives animals a second chance at living who otherwise would have been slaughtered or euthanized. This is a place Lahiri calls her home. She told the volunteers from Wilkes that some of the animals were from other rescue centers that had shut down. From Thursday, Oct. 11 to Saturday, Oct. 13, the students who volunteered through Alternative Fall Break helped with morning feedings and some daily chores on the farm as well as many tasks that needed to be done. All of this helps ensure that these animals have a clean place to come into at night. Much of the trip was simply about being present and socializing with the animals that they know that they are loved. "Being able to volunteer there was a great opportunity for me," Dawn DiMaria,junior sociology maj or, said. "I personally love working with animals. All of the animals were extremely friendly and we were able to feed them treats each day such as apples, carrots and nectarines. It was awesome being able to spend so much time with them." Lahiri said that she started the sanctuary because she believes each life is sacred and a miracle and ought to be treated as such. After the work of each day, these volunteers were able to enjoy a lunch made of local, vegan ingredients. "It was a wonderful trip and a great experience," Wilkes University Interfaith coordinator Caitlin Czeh said. "Students were working hard and eager to work and help the animals. It was a very serene and calm atmosphere at the sanctuary." Czeh also said one of the students had never seen or touched a horse before, so the student's goal while on the trip was to change that. "It was not only exciting for her, but also for me, being able to see her fulfill that dream," Czeh said. Among the students that took part in the AFB charity work, there was some very positive feedback. "The trip was fantastic. Our AFB group really clicked and we became like a little family rather quickly," DiMaria said. "We all got along really well and worked as a good team. We didn't want to leave the sanctuary on our final day because we knew we wouldn't be back." DiMaria said the group discussed possibly making a monthly trip to volunteer. Another student commented on the beauty of the experience and what an amazing place the sanctuary is. "Having the opportunity to be part of the Alternative Fall break at Indraloka Animal Sanctuary was a motivational, self-learning, team-building and inspirational experience I will always remember from my first year here at Wilkes," junior English major Susan Zobitne said. "Through this experience I had the chance to work with an amazing group of people and animals, gain first-hand knowledge of what an animal sanctuary does and how much it means, have my eyes opened to heart-felt stories that led many of the animals to be at Indraloka and enjoy the cool, fresh air, the open land and beautiful scenery." Zobitne agreed with DiMaria that none of the students wanted to leave the sanctuary because it was an amazing place to volunteer their time. Cou rtesy of Ca itl in Czeh @wilkesbeacon a/yssa.stencavage@wilkes.edu Wilkes Students Celebrates National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week By Holly Boyer Staff Writer The National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week was held here on campus Oct. 15-Oct. 19, as well as many other colleges across the country. Gail Holby, Health ,Services coordinator, and health and wellnes club BACCHUS held several events for Alcohol Awarness Week throughout the week including a DUI simulation, educational activities, and activities with the Northeast Highway Safety Program to inform and educate the campus about alcohol awareness. ~ "The DUI Simulator was pretty neat," says sophomore criminology and psychology major Rhonda Lynch. The DUI/DWI Car Simulator, which was located outside of the Student Union building, showed participants how their driving was without actually being under the influence or while even texting. Another thing they held was a walk for the awareness. Students, faculty, and staff walked from the greenway, across the Market Street Bridge, through Kirby Park, and back around to campus. "The turnout was really great, definitely more people than we expected," said Elizabeth Bracco, sophomore pre-pharmacy and business administration major. The club supplied 500 shirts for participants of the walk. All shirts were given out, and there were even participants without shirts walking. This year was the largest turnout to date for the walk, very many people got involved. "I hope it impacts students," Holby said. "It's for kids to be aware that drinking isn't everything, you can still have fun, be social, and have a good college experience without drinking." Statistics are showing that the social norms are changing. Students are not all participating in underage drinking in college. "It's really great how we could reach that many people on campus at one time," Lynch said. The awareness week is all about educating the students on the risks involving in severe underage drinking, that it can be harmful to not only one's future, but their health. "The point of this week is not about stop drinking," Lynch said. "It's about being aware of the dangers of excessive drinking." The Beacon/ Austi n Lou kas @wilkesbeacon hol/y.boyer@wilkes.edu Students are issued shirts before a walk around campus and Kirby Park for Alcohol Awareness. October is National Breast Cancer Awarness Month Visit the Feather Me Pink Event in the SUB and the pink Bake sale �. -------------------~ \ 14 THE BEACON LIFE I Oct 23, 2012 The man behind the grill: Meet Tony Wallace 'The Grill Guy, serves up positive attitude, food in Student Union cafeteria By Kirstin Cook Editor-in-Chief With one hand holding a ~atula and the other pointing across the Wilkes cafeteria, Tony the Grill Guy tends to his work station and his customers at the same time. He displays a wide grin as he calls to a student by name. "How you doing today?" He asks. "You have to try today's special." And while his real name is Tony Wallace, mru:e students associate him as Tony the Grill Guy because this nickname describes him in his setting, doing what he does best. It also fittingly describes his laid back, friendly approach that has gained him so much popularity among students at the cafeteria. "Everyone knows Tony, I'd say," Matthew Bishop, senior English major, said. "You just see him every day, talk to him, see how he's doing," "He's very friendly," J.T. Keer, sophomore education major, said. "He's looking out for ' the students ' best interests." "He actually starts a conversation with you," Sydney Mohr, freshman nursing major, said. Wallace joked that this popularity with students is because he talks so much. Or, it could be due to the warm greeting he extends to students, which he said is something they remember. . "I think when the student walks into the caf.__'.__ eteria, the first thing, it starts with the first person they see," Wallace said. "So if they get a warm greeting and they feel welcome there ... j it might start their day off right." This interaction with students is something Wallace feels is important to his job at the Wilkes University dining hall, where he has worked since February 2006. While he describes his position there as "just a grill person," his role includes much more than simply cooking grilled food. Wallace's other duties include various tasks like cleaning, preparing food stations and transitioning into other meal periods. He's never at the grill for too long, because one second he'll be flipping grilled cheese sandwiches and the next he's moving to the classics station to serve a waiting student, or rushing out back to get more ingredients. Even though he admits the rushing around can be mentally straining, Wallace said he's never had a bad day at the cafe. If he's having trouble with knee pains or such, he doesn't let it affect his work. "You can't let the students see that. You have to have that smile, have to have that positive energy every day," Wallace said. He said this positive interaction is something all workers should strive for. "That's what I think everybody should do, to have that approach," he said. He said there's nothing worse than when a food server has a negative attitude and abruptly hands students their food without trying to start a connection with them. This is something he experienced when he went to college for two years. He said he felt uncomfortable because ''1 think when the student walks into the cafeteria, the first thing, it starts with the first person they see. So if they get a warm greeting and they feel welcome there ... it might start their day off right:' - Tony "the Grill Guy" Wallace the staff was very cold. "I wouldn't want that on anybody," Wallace said. So, Wallace puts the extra effort in making students feel comfortable when they visit the cafeteria. Students have noticed this effort, as they have recognized him for "outstanding customer service" at food committee meetings. Customer service is not just something he feels he is required to do. Interaction with students is something that he genuinely enjoys and it's what he cites, without hesitation, as his favorite part of the job. "It's the students. They make my days go by fast," he said. "Working here and getting to see people every day and talking to people and just conversing makes for a shorter day than just coming in and doing your job and not putting any extra effort into it." Part of this is simply Wallace's love of talking. He enjoys talking to the students, faculty, coworkers and whoever else is willing to listen. "I like talking to people. I like talking about different things." And people like talking to him. "Some people come here every day just to talk, just to say 'hi.' They don't even come for the grilled food," Wallace said. Mainly, he likes to talk about current events. He said he watches the news three or four times a day to stay informed. He follows campus news as well, using means like the Student Government Facebook page. Wallace also follows the Wilkes Athletics Facebook page. He said he always keeps up with how the Wilkes sports teams are doing, and that's a big way he gets to know students. He said students like it when he can identify them from a game and acknowledge things like how many points they scored. He makes frequent appearances at sporting events to support these athletes. He also gives advice to athletes going through injuries. Wallace, who ran track for four years in high school along with playing football and basketball, tore his ACL twice, so Tony "The Grill Guy" Wallace he knows what it's like to go through a sports related injury. In general, he notices when students are having a bad day and he tries to support them. "I try to give them a little bit of advice and they say, 'you know what, Tony, thanks a lot,' and that makes them feel good," Wallace said. Another way he has reached out to students is on Facebook through his Tony the Grill Guy 49 page. He uses it to post pictures of various foods, especially the daily specials and healthy options. From a student perspective, Keer said this is a good technique. "People actually look at that," Keer said. "It encourages people to go to the cafe." Wallace also uses Facebook to stay in touch with his large family. He visits these family members in Atlantic City, his hometown, during the summer. While there, he enjoys fishing, lying on the beach, walking on the boardwalk and visiting high end casinos - though he said he doesn't gamble. Wallace has background in working at the casinos in Atlantic City, which is where he said he learned his people skills at a young age. He said his best jobs were working for Playboy Club and Casino, where he met Hugh Hefner and Al Pacino, and Planet Hollywood, where he met Arnold Schwarzenegger,• Whoopi Goldberg and Sylvester Stallone. And now, Wallace has become a little bit of a celebrity himself at Wilkes. He has nearly 400 likes on his Facebook page, which he started at the end of the summer. He hopes to continue this trend so more people will know the man behind the grill. @wilkesbeacon kirstin.cook@wilkes.edu Frie nds Uke Tonr the grill guy Recent Posts by others on To1w t,l,e griil gur ■ . Derrick Husbands Happy Birthday October 5 at 6: 39pm o1 Kristine Kuriger HEY TONY! I like the things you do ... g:j 1 Q t ' Septesnber 25 at 8: 12pm Tony Wallace TODAY'S GRILL SPECIAL: CHEESE QUESADILLA'S '.;eptember 13 at l: 1/om Tony Wallace Stop over for a Bacon cheese burger, see you at lunch time . August 29 at 6:23am More Posts ~ See All �15 THE BEACON LIFE Chemistry Club organizes Pie P rofessors in the Face Event to benefit club, Komen Foundation I Oct 23, 20 12 THE WORD AT WILKES: Out of any fictional character, who would you pick for president? By Anne Yoskoski Life Editor The Chemistry Club w ill be holding a Pie Professors in the Face event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Thursday, Oct. 25 on the greenway (in case of rain, it will take place in the Henry Student Center). Each pie costs $2, and you can pie your professor of choice. Breanna Conklin, senior chemistry major and president of Chemistry Club, said getting professors to participate was not as difficult as one might think. "Since the Chemistry Department is like one big fami ly, the professors have no problem participating, and are actually excited to participate," Conklin said. "Dr. Christopher Henkels, the chemistry department's newest professor, is excited to be part of our little family and is trying to embrace our fun ideas such as this." The idea isn't a new one, but it still has a large appeal. "We (the Chemistry Club members) were brainstorming about fundraising ideas and socials and this idea was thrown into the mix," Conklin said. "The Chemistry Club had done this once before many years ago so some of the profes- sors had al ready participated in an event like this. We have been planning behind the scenes for the past three weeks or so by asking professors by emai l, but we are stil l getting replies that pro fessors want to participate." The fundraiser will benefit two causes: The Susan G. Komen Foundation and the American Chemical Society. The Susan G. Komen half of the donations will support breast cancer research, while the ACS half will be spent sending students to the soc ieties national meeting in the spring. 'Thi s meeting allows the chemistry students to present their research as we ll as present our student chapter and represent our university and its achievements in the sciences," Conklin said. So far, a preliminary list of profess ors wi 11ing to be pied has been released. The professors include: Don E. Mencer, Amy Bradley, Christopher Henkels, John Harrison, Kenneth Pidcock and Michael Simko. Anyone interested in participating or helping out with the event can contact breanna. conklin@wilkes.edu to add their name to the participant list and he.I p create a schedule. @annieyoskoski anne.yoskoski@wilkes.edu Ben Payne Kendall Beard Sophomore Electrical Engineering Major Undecided Freshman "Iron Man, why not?" Michelle Kuzma Sophomore Pre-Pharamcy "Lucy from the Peanuts. She knows what she wants and gets things done." "Roger Rabbit. Everything would be fun!" Sydney Mohr Freshman Nursing Major "Spongebob. I love Spongebob." We're also on Twitterl -@FIGshirts 146 SO UTH PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE The Beacon/ Bryan Calabro Students participated In an Anti-Bullying Rally in Kirby Park from 7 - 10 p.m. on Oct. 15. The candle light vigil honored the teens who have died In the past several months due to bullying. WILKES-BARRE NEAR CORBA BEVERAGE AND DOMINO'S! 570.823.9272 �Contact editor: frank.passalacqua@wilkes.edu Lady Colonels soccer eyeing MAC playoffs Wilkes second in conference "She (Mahoney) has really stepped up this year. Our team set a new record for shutouts so she has Correspondents really been having a good season," The Wilkes University women's Hughes said. The Colonels play their last soccer team may only have three games left in the regular season, but game of the season on Oct. 'JIJ at the postseason is right around the King's College, a rivalry game. corner for the Colonels who are cur- The Colonels will use that game to rently second in the Middle Atlantic build momentum as they head into the playoffs, where they will look Conference. With a record of9-4-2 overall and to make a run. Wilkes women's soccer will be 3-1-1 in conference play, the Lady Colonels are honing in on their goal having a Think Pink game Tuesof making playoffs and finishing day, Oct 23. The game will be held at Schmidt Stadium at 7 p.m. Fissecond in the MAC. The Colonels are feeling confi- sel is hoping this game serves to dent as they finish up the season and highly their strengths this season. "We've been having a great seahead into the playoffs. "We definitely know we can play son we need to finish strong on our with the teams that are going to be last few games, no matter how we in the playoffs, we just came off a finish I'm still proud of the team," 2-1 loss, which was a close game Fissel said. With two conference games left, to Misericordia which is seeded · first so we just have to bring our A the Lady Colonels are ready to game," sophomore midfielder Ka- wrap up their season. The Oct. 23 game against SUNY tie Hughes said. Misericordi::i was nationally Courtland is their next to last game ranked for that game, and the Lady and also helps out a good cause by Colonels had a 1-1 tie with them bringing attention to Breast Cancer until the 85th minute when the Cou- awareness month. Assistant Coach Becky Barritt gars scored to escape with the vicsaid it'll be a good game to watch. tory. "The girls are having a great seaStrong leadership from Katy Fissel and Erin Donnelly has been one son and put up a lot of tough fights of the reasons the Colonels have not only should this be a good game but it's for a good cause, also been so successful this year. "Katy Fissel has been our cap- it should be fun," Barritt said. Breast Cancer awareness month tain for the last four years and she has always been very consistent. that is going on all October. EveryErin Donnelly has stepped up to be one is encouraged to come out and a captain this year and has proved watch the Lady Colonels play for this cause. herself," Hughes said. The soccer team is also selling Scoring has also been important for Wilkes this season and some of Play for a Cure shirts. The shirts that offensive firepower has come are $12 and all the proceeds go tofrom sophomore forward Alicia ward helping fight breast cancer. Roberts. Upcoming games "Ally Roberts had a really good 7 p.m., Oct. 23 - SUNY Cortland at offensive season, she scored a hat Ralston Athletic Complex trick in the Widener game," Hughes 5 p.m., Oct. 27 - King's College at said. King's College, Wilkes-Barre Freshman goalkeeper Kate Ma@wilkesbeacon honey has played a big part in the evan.wiley@wilkes.edu team's consistency this year. By Matthew Ciampaglio, Stephanie Hahn Courtesy of Sports Information Department Dave Marr, left, had 12 stops In goal for the Colonels in a 1-1 draw against Manhattanville Saturday evening. Senior Joe Brennan, right, scored his team-leading sixth goal against DeSales last week. Men's soccer looks to finish season with win against rival By Tyler Thomas Correspondent The Wilkes men's soccer team (59, 1-4) will be looking to close out its 2012 season with a win over King's College in the big rivalry game Oct. 27. The matchup will be at 7:30 p.m. on King's home turf in Wilkes-Barre. The Monarchs (10-3-1, 4-1) are sitting in second place in the Freedom Conference. Traveling on the road has appeared to be an issue for the Colonels thus far this season as they have not been able to win an away game in five attempts. "It's not the problem of our team playing on the road, but the opponent playing on their home field" said head coach Phil Wingert. "Most teams prefer to play at home because it's perceived as an advantage. "We've played at opponents' tournaments, homecoming, family day celebrations and senior recognitions, which provides the home team with additional incentive and motivation, playing in front of family, friends, alumni and former players from the program," Wingert said. "Regardless Joe Brennan - Midfielder Geoffrey Arentz - Defender of the venue or opponent, the team continues to put forth its best effort." The Colonels leading scorer this season has been senior midfielder, Joe Brennan. Brennan has been responsible for 16 points thus far. For the Monarchs, their primary scorer has been a freshman forward Daniel Hernandez, whose 18 total points is good for fifth in the Freedom Conference. Last season, King's won an intense, low-scoring game, 1-0. A late goal propelled the Monarchs to vie- tory in a very disappointing loss for the Colonels. "We are really looking forward to ending the season on a good note," said Geoffrey Arentz, junior defender. "This year's record doesn't show how strong of a team we are. To end the season with a win against our rivals would be the strong finish the team deserves." @wilkesbeacon tyler.thomas@wilkes.edu �17 SPORTS THE BEACON I Oct. 23, 2012 • "" , _, . WE TREAT INJURIES AND ILLNESSES FOR ALL AGES. + 'JUST WALK IN. tr . MOST INSURANCE ACCEPTED, BUT NOT REQUIRED. •·. '2 5 �18 THE BEACON SPORTS SCOREBOARD Joseph Pugliese I Oct. 23, 2012 Frank Passalacqua NBA Super-Teams Cotumnist Sports editor Field Hockey 10/17 vs. King's - L 1-2 10/20 vs. DeSales'"- W 3-2 Football 10/20 vs. Stevenson - W 38-35 M-Soccer 10/17 Misericordia - L 1-2 10/20 Manhattanville - T 1-1 W-Soccer 10/16 Misericordia - L 1-2 10/20 Manhattanville - W 4-2 Volleyball 10/16 Manhattanville - W 3-0 10/20 Hilbert - L 0-3 WEEK AHEAD Cross Country 10/27 MAC Championships vs. Misericordia Field Hockey 10/23 vs. Misericordia 10/26 vs. SUNY New Paltz Football 10/27 vs: Lycoming M-Soccer 10/24 vs. Scranton 10/27 vs. King's W-Soccer 10/23 vs. SUNY Cortland 10/27 vs. King's Volleyball 10/24 vs. Fairleigh-Dickinson College at Florham Tweet us: Send messages and pictures to: @wu_BeaconSports The NBA has always been a league run by stars. Great teams always have great stars that carry their team almost single-handedly to the playoffs and beyond. Few teams have been dominant or even major contenders in the last couple of decades without having that one big star. Recent years in the NBA have been characterized by a "Big 3" or super teams. One star gets you to the playoffs, two stars gets you deep into the playoffs and three can come close to a conference final or a championship caliber year. The Heat, Celtics, Lakers and Spurs all under this formula have won 12 of the last 14 years and dominated basketball. The Lakers this year have even gone as far to a Big 4. This idea of gathering stars and letting them control the game with mediocre role players has worked almost too well in a game that is supposed to reward great teamwork and coaching. This also creates an environment where only nine different teams have won an NBA championship since 1984. The lack of disparity mixed with an awful cap structure that benefits big market teams causes half the teams in the league to suffer losses instead of profits year to year. The soft cap allows team to add pieces in free agency but also go over the cap if they resign players already on their roster up to the hard cap. This is great in theory but allows for the Heat to have three contract players. For example, Dwayne Wade was already part of the heat, allowing them to exceed the soft cap with his contract. There are simply not enough stars to go around in the leagues. Stars flee small market teams that drafted them in free agency for big markets. They love endorsement deals and the lights and the fact that they are hot spots for other stars to get them that ring. With the way the NBA works, a star is not a star unless they get that immortal stature of champion. There are only four MVPs in league history without an NBA championship: Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Steve Nash and Derrick Rose. Rose still very young and Nash is on the Lakers who have a Big 4 and a big chance to win it all this year. The cap situation and the glamour of the bright lights and championship puts pressure on big stars to win is why we have these super teams. The draft is not like the NFL; stars are only available in the first few picks before the talent drops off severely. Rarely does a star come outside the top 20 picks. Can you blame Lebron or Carmelo or any other star for leaving their small markets to chase that ring? There's so much pressure to win it, and your career is not legitimized until you win that ring? Super teams are saving the NBA as much as they hurt it. @wi/kesbeacon joseph.pugliese@wilkes.edu 1 J. s·Inee · th .. e BOSt•on Celtics landed the ]_: "Big 3'1 in .·· 2007, sl~. " th· t • th e O er ea ms In,. ( · { NBA have acquired · I ,::multiple all-stars.· toii th • f h• l il . e1r ranc I.S e. • ] i ·.1' ·1·.< Recent NBA 1 championship winners: • 2011-2012 Miami Heat OKC lh:under, 4-1 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks ~¼hi::" % 2009-10 Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics, 4-l • 2008-09 Los Angeles Lakers: Orlando Magic, 4-1 • 2007-08 Boston Celtics As the 2013 NBA season gets ready to begin, there are a few teams in the league that have a glaring All-Star roster. Now take it back around 20 years. How many teams in the league had three or more all-stars on their rosters? Not many, that's for sure. However, 2013 brings a season with teams like the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers into a whole new category ... super teams. The Boston Celtics is where we can point the finger at for starting this "buy your championship" trend, because they brought Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to join Paul Pierce in what was known as "The Big 3." In their first season as a team, the Boston Celtics won their first championship..-,ince 1985. Seeing their success, the 2010 offseason prompted Miami Heat to become one of the most hated teams in the NBA when LeBron James decided to take his talents to South Beach, along with all-star Chris Bosh to join former champion Dwayne Wade. Two seasons later, the Miami Heat are NBA champions. Guess what, there's more. The Los Angeles teams have also bought some talent, with the Clippers signing Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups and Lamar Odom to join the talented Blake Griffin. But, it's the other L.A. team making headlines. This offseason, the Lakers made some huge moves to try and match what is going on in Miami. The Lakers brought in Steve Nash and Dwight Howard to join Pau Gasol and the one-and-only Kobe Bryant. Yeah, Superman on a super team. Why do teams feel they have to spend money to win? The entire NBA is starting to look like the New York Yankees if you catch my drift. What happened to the old days when teams made a winning bunch? The Oklahoma City Thunder is the one team in the NBA who actually hasn't made any moves and yet still managed to make it to the NBA Finals last year. Personally, I think there should be a limit. Not a cap limit, but a limit restricting the overly dominating level of talent on a team. It would be much more interesting to see these all-stars spread across the NBA and it's 32 teams, not just three or four. What's the fun of watching a game when you know who the ball is going to on every play? Last year, NBA Commissioner David Stern stopped a trade that would send Chris Paul to the Lakers, stating it would make them too powerful. Well, now Nash and Howard are in purple and gold. Stick to your plans commish and stop this NBA super team nonsense. • Los Angeles Lakers, 4-2 C @wilkesbeacon frank.passalacqua@wilkes.edu �THE BEACON I Oct. 23, 2012 SPORTS I 19 Nolt Continued from Page 20 What do you want to do with your major in the future? I haven't decided what field of pharmacy I would like to get into. Whether it be hospital, retail, academia or industry, I will get a lot of experience on rotations next year and decide which path to pursue. What do you enjoy doing when you are not golfing? I play a lot of sports and enjoy staying active. I also really enjoy hunting, fishing and the outdoors and just hanging out with friends. Does your family golf as well? My older brother is the only one else in my family who golfs, but I've tried to get my parents into golf as well. Monday October 22, 2012 6:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm Would you prefer power or accuracy and why? I'd say power. Hitting a big tee shot is a lot more fun to watch then hitting an accurate one. Preferably it'd be a combination ofboth, but you can't always get what you want. @wilkesbeacon frank.passalacqua@wilkes.edu The Beacon/Laura Preby Jeremy Nolt, above, has been playing golf for 10 years. He brings his expertise on the green to the Wilkes golf team. Kirby Lecture J.C. Watts Profiles Flapper Classic Arts Showcase Tuesday October 23, 2012 Wilkes Now Kirby Lecture Tom Szaky 12:00pm 6pm 7:30pm 8:00pm Wilkes Now 8:00pm Snow White Showstoppers Classical Arts Showcase Friday October 26, 2012 Rosenn Lecture Zanny M. B. Wilkes Now Spring Dance The Trolley Classical Arts Showcase 9:30pm Emest Hemmingway Classic Arts Showcase Wednesday October 24, 2012 Norman Mailer Lecture Wilkes Now 6:00pm 7:30pm 6:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:20pm WET PAINT T-St+tft•T s Picture a new kind of future - one where you can make an impact, not just a living. 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Prudential. b.• PrutJ;.mt:.al t>go a,~ the Rock syinboi are Si.!!'lice mat~.s iJt Prudential Fiturirl, t1e. and its relatoo e,1L•.x?S. 1 C: ""7 t www .wetpai nttsh irts.com Want to make. an exciting career change? If you have a strong interest in financial sales, email your resume or call me today. Lisa Hummel Agency Recruiter 32 Scranton Office Park Scranton, PA 18507 Phone 570-340-7052 Fax 570-340-7063 www.applicationstation.com Code: PRUDWB_2R Lisa.Hummel@Prudential.com 7:30pm Wilkes Now YOUR CAREER. REINVENTED. You'll Jearn hands-on from seasoned professionals, in the classroom and the field. And you'll get the support you need to prepare for required licensing exams. All while receiving a generous compensation and benefits package. After your training period, you'll have a world of opportunities including the chance to lead your own practice. 6:00pm Seusical Spring Classical Arts Showcase Thursday October 25, 2012 Rosenn lecture Michelle Rhee �BY FRANK PASSALACQUA Sports Editor Meet Jeremy N11lt, a fifth year pharmacy major from Blooms,. burg, Pa. Nolt attended Central Columbia High School, Class af 2008, and is on the Wilkes golf team. How long have you been playing golf? I have been playing golf for about 10 years now primarily on a casual basis. I got more into it when I played for my high school team my junior and senior year. What made you want to join the Wilkes golf team? I decided to join the Wilkes team last spring when a friend of mine, Darren Mensch, said they were short a couple guys on the team and could use some help. I wasn't about to pass up on free golf either. / Can you explain the difference in playing on a team? Golf is really an individual sport and you are usually only concerned about your own score. However, when playing as part of a team it adds a little excitement because your playscore affects the outcome of the team. How has your play improved over recent years? Fortunately, I have been able to get a lot more golf in than usual over the past few summers and I feel like I'm hitting the ball as well as l ever have. What is one memory you' will never forget whjle you were gol!Jng? , I'd lik~to say thafit was a hole--in-one, butl.haven't been able· to accomplish that yet. Who •"are your favorite golfers and the one' that inspires you? My favorite golfer, bandsdown is Tiger. He bas changed the game of go~ during his era, and in my opinion is the greatest of;all time. " Do you have a "pre-golfi~g" ritual? I don't have a set pre-golf ritual. I just got out there and hope for the best. What are some of the nicest courses you've played on? J1went on a trip With a ,group of friends to Myrtle Beach this sutntner and gpt to play some really nice courses. My favqrite would have to 'be Rivers Edge. !will saytbat our home course, Hunts\rille, is reiil.ly ni8e and ' is definitely.near the top. What made you decid~ tdipick youJ; nfajor?' rm big on math and science; ' and rphannacy seemed like.a good career chbice to pursue. � 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, 2012 October 23rd Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 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/1bf9aeececbd5516aeacd3d6b5d35d62.pdf d2cf9e21f8598da71c6b06089c2ffa94 PDF Text Text Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member THE BEACON The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow. Oct. 30, 2012 The Beacon/Kirstin Cook For more information and content, check us out at: thewilkasbeacon.co~ Volume 65 Issue 7 �Oct. 30, 2012 Contact editor: christine.lee@wilkes.edu Cory Booker tries to invoke the power of individuals Newark mayor highlights vision for transforming cities through changing perspective By Kirstin Cook Editor-in-Chief Cory Booker diagnosed some Americans with a problem that he called "sedentary agitation." During his appearance for the Max Rosenn Lecture Series at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center on Oct. 21, the Newark, N.J. mayor describing this ailment as looking at the issues in the world but sitting back and doing nothing about them. "You're so upset about what's happening in . the world, but you're not getting up and doing something about it," Booker said. With his speech theme of "How to Change the World with Your Bare Hands," he talked about how this issue affects cities like Newark and Wilkes-Barre and what people can do to fix this problem. He said the real obstacle that America faces is with people who surrender to cynicism and negativity. He said he imagined this to be a problem in Wilkes-Barre. "The challenges actually are not the problems, the challenge is the spirit," Booker said. Calling himself a "prisoner of hope," he said this pessimism is the "only thing that stops us" from making a difference in the community. With hope, he said American cities have the potential to band together to overcome their problems. "It is the American ideal, that every generation - in places humble and challenges great - pull together to do more for each other understanding this noble truth that we're all in this together." With this ideal, he explained that the question changes from "can we?" to "do we have the collective will?" "The problems we have in society are not a r~ ection of something else, they're a reflection of us," Booker said. "Our capacity to come together and solve them. How dare we think in our generation there's a problem anywhere that's bigger than who we are?" He said he has seen proof of that in what his community has accomplished. He cites this community level as where the power stems from rather than with mayors, governors and other government officials. He also said the power to make a difference The Beacon/Kirstin Cook With his lecture theme of "How to change the world with your bare hands," Newark, N.J., major Cory Booker offered ways Americans can impact their communities. lies with individuals. His lecture was filled with examples of these individuals who he encountered throughout his life. He told stories of individuals that independently cleaned up the streets of their cities, women who brainstormed on how to help children in their community and other citizens who met in town halls, dorm rooms and church basements. Most of Booker's speech focused on these people who surround him, even though his presentation was prefaced by an outline of his own achievements. During this introduction of Booker, Wilkes President Patrick Leahy posed the question: how has the mayor of Newark, N.J., become a national figure? His answer was simple. "Cory Booker is not your typical public servant," Leahy said. Leahy listed some of the accomplishments that he said makes Booker unique, such as his IO-day hunger strike that he used to bring attention to issues in his city, his late night patrols to help police watch for neighborhood crime and the famous incident during which he ran into a burning building to save the life of a woman. These acts of public service that Leahy mentioned were as small as when Booker, on request, shoveled snow from the driveways of city residents. Booker said a small act of kindness is the biggest thing a person can do. Separating icons who do one, major act of greatness from those who strive for smaller acts on a daily basis, Booker referenced the latter type as people he adores. "Those people that get up every single day and do consistent acts of decency, of goodness, of kindness all through their entire lifetime, are not only ones that make a heroic difference in the world, but they're the ones who continue, in my opinion, to radiate that goodness." The difference between these groups of people comes down to a daily choice, which Booker outlined. "One thing we have, we can do every single THE BEACON Editorial Staff 2012-13 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall Wilkes University Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 PHONE: (570) 408-5903 WEBSITE: thewilkesbeacon.com Editor-in-Chief: Kirstin Cook News Editor: Christine Lee Managing Editor: Bryan Calabro Opinion Editor: CarlyYamrus Ad Manager: Brittany Battista A&E Editor: Bill Thomas Photo Editor: Laura Preby Life Editor: Anne Yoskoski Adviser: Loran Lewis Sports Editor: Frank Passalacqua day, every single hour, every single second: We have one choice we can make," Booker said. "That's a manifestation of power or surrender to another. And that choice is to accept things as they are or take responsibility for changing them." Booker said that many people don't realize the potential of this choice and the power they have. This lack of recognition is the most common way they give it up, he said. He said access to this power is something that others, as well as himself, have to learn to appreciate and use. "I've got to recognize the power that I have, the power that we all have, to make a difference in this world, and indeed it's not just a power that we have, it's a power that we need and must use." To use this power, Booker suggested the simple act of voting but added there is a deeper component involving the privilege and obligation of being American and working toward American values. Calling himself a "devotee to social media," he praised the ability of new technologies like social media to fulfill this power and resolve social problems like discrimination. "These are powerful tools now that are stopping the force of bigotry and bullying in high schools all across America," he said. But he admitted that fighting "sedentary agitation" to make a difference in the world is easier said than done. "This is a difficult path," Booker said. "Those who choose to walk it are going to get broken and discouraged." Using graphic description of a personal situation, he described a time he felt broken in this journey. He described a situation when he encountered a young man who was shot on the street. He said he held the man's body in him arms and saw his "white shirt filling up with red blood" and "foamy blood pouring from his mouth." After the young man died, Booker said he felt rage and negativity crowd out his hope. But through these severe challenges, he urged to the crowd: "We must stay faithful." @kirstinjeancook kirstin. cook@wilkes. edu Meet the Staff Christine Lee News Editor �THE BEACON I Oct . 30, 2012 3 NEWS Lack of usage at Ralston causes changes to shuttle schedule By Abbey Haldeman Assistant News Editor "We went from 300 - and - some - odd students who participated the program down to less than 80," John Pesta, executive director of capitol projects,0 said about the shuttle service usage. Last year, university staff decided it was time to cut back on the hours for the shuttle service. They said there was less use and it was not efficient for them to be spending university dollars to provide gas for shuttles that were not carrying students. When their services began Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday 6-10 p.m., there was at least one shuttle running. After the decrease in usage, however, and the cut back on the times, the shuttles now run Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and continue with the Sunday evening run. While there has never been a Saturday run for the shuttles from the time they began, they do provide the service on Saturday's when there are home sporting events taking place at the fields. In addition to those times, the shuttle will only run on Saturdays if requested previously by a group. Students like sophomore pre-pharmacy major Allison Bitner aren't even aware of the time schedule for the shuttle or its multipurpose use. Bitner said she thinks the shuttle runs every 15 minutes and she guesses it is used to shuttle kids around to different areas of campus. •• The Beacon/Laura Preby To save money In gas cost, Wilkes cut the shuttle service program to run Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The shuttle service for students at Wilkes' which has been in place since the late '90s, allows for transportation for students who park at Ralston Athletics Field, those attending sporting events and special requested trips to the mall or Chacko's Family Bowling Center. During trips to and from Ralston they shuttle will also make stops at the university bookstore or in the square if requested by a passenger. The vast majority use of the shuttle comes from those students who either didn't get a space on campus, or commuter students who park at Ralston. Manager of capital projects Paul Kaspriskie said there are somewhere around 90 people taking advantage of the 300 parking spots available to them at Ralston and due to their lack in participation, came the adjustment and changes to shuttle runs. Neither Pesta or Kaspriskie think the changes will affect many students being that after 4 p.m. anyone is able to park on campus and students who park at Ralston also have the option of parking their cars in the lot behind the Student Union Building during the weekends. So, why are students taking advantage of the shuttle runs or the Ralston field-parking program? "Everybody is in a rush,"Kaspriskie said, He and Pesta said for students to park over there, they have to plan accordingly and get to campus earlier than they would if they could park in the student center. For some, that seems like an inconvenience. Students like Bitner have found that sometimes the shuttle can be late, which can cause frustration. Pesta said that most of the times when the shuttle runs off schedule it is because of traffic issues, things the drivers cannot control, but that 99 percent of the time they make the run every half hour. "I don't want anybody wailing," Kaspriskie said. "If it means a couple more trips an hour, it means a couple more trips an hour." With four part-time drivers, there are always two on at a time as well as two shuttles available. For the majority of the time, only one shuttle runs and one sits at the field unless instructed otherwise. "If participation in the Ralston field parking program increases we'll need to accommodate the additional students with our services," Pesta said. For now, the shuttles will continue with their Monday through Friday and Sunday evening runs. @wilkesbeacon abbey.haldeman@wilkes.edu Visit our newly designed website! @thewilkesbeacon.com THE BEACON The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow. Like us on Facebook . Alypa Sl9ncavage, Aut. Lit. Editor Oclober18,2012 Some students spent their fall break cleaning stalls and pens. washing bowls and tubs for larger animals. sweeping the barn, c leaning the refrigerator, .,. READ MORE »» WIikes faculty members react to presldentlal debates l!lhaWn Catvy, StwJ Wnler Wilh the 2012 Electlon Day weeks away, the pressure is on fot nallona1 Follow us on Twitter @Wilkes beacon �4 NEWS THE BEACON I Oct. 30, 2012 College identification cards critical to vote on Nov. 6 Public Safety will give Wilkes student ID cards expiration dates for casting ballots upon request By Christine Lee to vote. Aichele added that 141 of the 156 colleges in Pennsylvania had changed their ID cards or offered stickers on them, which makes it easier for students to vote. Even though the voter identification law "We think that we've got most of the colwas struck down, identification cards will lege kids covered and we hope that they take still be important for Pennsylvania college advantage of this opportunity to vote here in students, especially those who are first-time Pennsylvania," Aichele said. voters. Aichele said the Commonwealth is really Earlier this month, Judge Robert Simpson encouraging their university systems to get of the Commonwealth Court struck down behind the movement to make sure the Coma key component of a state law requiring a monwealth's youngest voters participate in the strict form of photo identification approved election process and to make the process easier by the Commonwealth. This means Pennsylfor them. vania voters will not have to present a state"We're hoping that Pennsylvania universiapproved form of identification to vote in next ties have that as one of their month's election. Wilkes student ID cards priorities in every election do not have an expirayear but particularly in this • • .c. one," Aichele said. tion date but Public Sa_fe~ Aichele strongly recommanager Jerry Rebo said 1f mends young voters get a student requests an expiration date for their ID for photo identification because voting, they will give them proof of identification is so one. much a part everything done In a press teleconference today if one is 18 years of age or older. on Oct. 25, Secretary of "If , 18 f the Commonwealth Carol you re years O age Aichele said voters will be or older you probably need to have---a--pb:otoIDrora lot asked for photo identification but it is not required. of reasons; everything from buying allergy medicine However, she_said peoto riding on an airplane," pie who are votmg for the Aichele said. first time or voting in a new s · Eng1IS· h maJor · J · on precmct nee d to h ave some • K demor . ki · mfi rt bl fi f ·d tifi · a ~es 1s co o a e orm O 1 en ca~wn to - Carol Aichele, with his forms of identificavote. These forms mclude . . . a student ID card with an Secretary of the tlon for votmg and is glad the law was struck down. expiration date, a driver's Commonwealth "I feel that it was a good license, a U.S passport, a idea done improperly, I utility bill or bank statethink that people should have to show a stronment. ger, more fool-proof form of identification but ~chele thinks there was a sincere attempt the way the law was working, it was requiron 1he part of the general assembly to enfraning people to spend money to be able to vote, chise younger voters by adding college photo which I just don't agree with. " Kadjeski said. ID's with expiration dates to the kinds of ac"Fortunately, because I am a driver and I've ceptable forms of identification that would be been overseas through Wilkes, I have a college accepted for voting purposes in Pennsylvania. ID, a driver's license and a passport so I would She said the bigger problem the Commonhave been OK, either way." wealth had with voter identification was seAichele hopes to establish a pattern for votnior citizens who never had a birth certificate ing going forward in Pennsylvania so the Comor were unable to get a birth certificate to promonwealth is able to make sure people who are vide proof of identification. voting on Election Day are who they claim to "Most of our young people today have birth be. certificates that they can access and also have "We're going to try to make sure that we social security numbers because I think social begin the process of educating voters to the security numbers are issued at birth," Aichele new voter ID law and establish a pattern going said. "The younger generation is far more forward in Pennsylvania so that we're able to suited to getting photo identification under the make sure that people who present themselves new process than some of our 80 and 90-yearto vote at Pennsylvania polling places are who old citizens." they say they are," Aichele said. Aichele said the process of upgrading uniElection Day nationwide is Nov. 6 and a versity ID cards began with Temple Univerpolling place will be set up at the Marts Gym. sity, when political affiliates in the student body asked that Temple update their student ID cards by putting expiration dates on the @Cleespot cards, which made it possible for thousands of thousands of Pennsylvania college students christine./ee@wilkes.edu News Editor "The younger generattOn IS 1.ar more SUI•te d tO h getting p OtO 1·dent1·ficat1·on- than SOme Of OUr 80 and 90-year OId Cl•t•1zens " The Beaeon/Laura Preby In addition to a U.S passport or driver's license, a college ID card with an expiration date Is accepted as a form of identification when going to the polls In Pennsylvania on election day. �THE BEACON I Oct. 30, 2012 NEWS 5 Effects of shale gas topic of upcoming presentation By Bob Grabosky Staff Writer The community and environmental health effects of shale gas development is the topic of the latest presentation by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research. The presentation will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 7 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at William B. Schaeffer Hall in Stark Learning Center. Applied anthropologist Simona Perry will be presenting. She will be focusing on human societies, which are interactions that are interested in Marcellus Shale development. IEERAssociate Director Ken Klemow said that Perry will focus on a number of topics, including a look at how human societies will be affected by shale gas development in the region. Another major topic she will be talking about is how the communities will adapt from the Marcellus Shale development, and how the region will deal with the boom bust cycles associated with shale gas development. The community and environmental health implications of shale gas are important to the region because Northeastern Pennsylvania has a history of experiencing energy development that goes as far back as when the coal Courtesy of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Issues with local well sites, such as the one pictured above, will be topic of the Nov. 7 discussion. industry was dominant. Klemow said the demise of the coal industry left its imprint on the region both ecology and economically. Klemow hopes the audience will have a better appreciation of some of the social and economic impacts of shale gas development. He also hopes that, with gas prices decreasing Studio 20 presents update WET P.Af NT T-St+lftTS www. wetpai nttsh irts.com Staff Writer WILKES UNIVERSITY'S ONE STOP - PRINT SHOP The meeting was called to order at 5:57 p.m. All college: $2,660.00 Conferences: $700.00 General funds: $6,434.18 Leadership: $600.00 Spitt: $873.34 Student Government total: $11,267.52 Homecoming Homecoming recap was presented at the meeting. Corresponding Secretary Amber Konopka said the event was a huge success and the turnout at every event was great. SG members discussed comments and feedback for next year's celebration. Konopka also issued a big thanks to everyone who had a part in homecoming this year. @wilkesbeacon robert.grabosky@wilkes.edu 81 Waller Street V\/1lkes Bar1·e. PA 18702 By Shawn Carey Studio 20, the student-run design studio run through the Integrative Media department, presented its club report to update SG on its activities. It has many community service projects planned including helping out with the Empty Bowls campaign. The group is working with the Integrative Media and Art departments. They said that they have a lot of client-based work and will be helping them with logo services. They announced that they now have a club logo. Studio 20 members said they are willing to help anyone who would like to use their services, and they have a wait list for services. Also, they said they have approximately 10 students involved but hope that it will expand in the future. in cost, the audience will commit to shale gas development in the near future. Other activities associated with shale gas development includes work by IEER, which includes a study on the regional questions of shale gas development. The results of summer data will be a collage composition. "Once we finalize and analyze the data, we will be able to understand more fully the impacts of shale gas development," Klebow said. Klemow said more essays on shale gas development are needed, as well as more tests that should be done on radioactivity and compressor stations in the region. Keri Skvarla, a student researcher for the IEER, said students should be concerned with shale gas development because it will affect all inhabitants of the region. Another concern for Wilkes students is that shale gas development will bring a lot of jobs to the region, which relates to college students who will be looking for jobs once they graduate. Shale gas development affects students in the sense that there are going to be a lot of job opportunities, which is a positive for the region. There are a few implications of shale gas development that are negative, too. "If there are any negative implications from shale gas, it only affects the state and community as well," Skvarla said. The event is free and open to the public. Mention this ad for a FREE Hat with your first order! What We Can Do For You Community Service Next on the agenda was an overview of the new community service website, GiveGab. President Kris Rivers gave a brief overview of how to navigate the site of how students can add community service hours, how to find community service, and how to create events. Pre-registratioin Student Services executive director Janine Becker asked SG members about an effective way to contact students about their accounts. She said it was pre-registration week and students are just realizing holds on their accounts and therefore cannot register for classes. She said any feedback from members on how to efficiently contact students would be greatly appreciated. The meeting was adjourned at 6:46 p.m. @shawncarey8 shawn.carey@wilkes.edu Tees Hoodies Hats &More Great For: Clubs & Activites Sports Teams Fraternties / Sororities Fund Raising Dept. Uniforms CALL 570-822-2221 . to Get Started Now! �Oct. 30, 2012 Contact editor: carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu In search of the perfect gyro, Part 1 A Chicagoin's search for the real-deal meals of Wyoming Valley By Nicholas Wesley Correspondent The Beacon/Austin Loukas American gyros (pronounced yeer-ohs) originated In Chicago in the late '60s. A gyro is comprised of slices of roasted lamb, onion and tomatoes wrapped in a puffed pita. If you can answer that uest1on, yo ove, experience can pay even greater dividends inthe Study Abroad Essay contest Write a 500- to 750-word essay on the topic and you'll have a chance to have your essay published and win valuable prizes. More information will be coming, in the meantime, contact Godlove.F onjweng@wilkes.edu or Loran.Lewis@wilkes.edu Sponsored by the Center for Global Education and Diversity and The Beacon newspaper Now where I come from, any person who pronounces this meat 'n' pita dish by anything other than its god given name YEERoh, will be shot on sight. For some reason nobody around here seems to have a problem with calling it a GY-ROE. Well, I'm here to tell you- yes you reading this- that your whole life has been a lie; and if you don't change your ways you may just find yourself being "speered" with a "nife" by some less forgiving 85-year-old Greek cook. Now that were on the same page let me tell you, there is a version of this dish in every country this side of India, and they are all called something different. Swarma in the mid-east, Maqloub in Tunisia, Dyuner in Bulgaria, Broodje Doner in the Netherlands ... the list goes on. But in America, the factory farm capital of the world, one style, made by one company prevails. The meat hunk they call a "gyros" is made by a company based in, my hometown, Chicago. Kronos produces this loaf of meat that consists of a lamb-beef-spice-filler blend, which is ground, pressed, packaged and sold around the USA. Not surprisingly, Chicago is where the gyros craze first started in America, somewhere between 1965 and 1968. But this quest is not about the mass-produced mega sandwich that dominates most grimy, orange tiled, food establishments seen in Yourqity, USA. No, this is about finding the most delicious, handcrafted rotisserie masterpiece in this god fc;,rsaken food hell we cpll the Wyoming Valley: Now I am no pessimist; if I was i would just continue complaining and not document this journey to the center of the plate. I believe there is hope for you, I believe somewhere there is a perfectly puffed pita, with gleaming shanks of lamb sitting gracefully on a bed made of sweet onions, bright tomatoes, and crispy lettuce; all smothered in a yogurt sauce which grabs your taste buds by the balls. BEACON POLL The Beacon poll is unscientific and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on the Wilkes campus. These poll results are based on 13 responses. Last week's question: What is your favorite Halloween activity? Pumpkilt Carving 8% This week's question: What is your favorite movie genre? • • • • • Romance Comedy Horror Sci-fi Action Cast y~pr vote onllne at: www.thewllkesbeacon.com SPEAK UP! The Beacon wants to hear your voice. Send your name-, major, year and opinion to: carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for length and content. Anonymous letters will not be published. @wifkesbeacon nicholas.wes/ey@wifkes.edu �7 OPINION Birth control mandate: It's everyone's responsibility By Carly Yamrus Opinion Editor As of August 2012, the Obama Administration passed a contraceptive mandate that allows 47 million women to receive government-subsidized birth control. With these health-care revisions, women will no longer have to pay out-of-pocket fees when they go to pick up their birth control. This means birth control is now free for women with new or renewed private insurance plans. Before this mandate, there were 22 states that did not require insurance plans to cover birth control. Only those who had the money could engage in healthy family planning. Now, all women have the option without money being the restricting element. As a registered independent, I believe that this is not a liberal issue, nor is it a conservative issue. This affects everyone. According to Pro Choice America, 1 in 3 women struggle with the costs of birth control. By giving millions of woman access to the most effective birth control and emergency contraceptives (pills, intrauterine devices, or IUDs, injections, rings, plan B etc.) the amount of unwanted pregnancies and abortions have drastically decreased. To be clear, the government is not forcing anyone to take birth control. They simply made it available for women who before had no choice and no options. Some may say, "But that's not fair, why The Beacon/Laura Preby The new birth control mandate gives 47 million women access to contraception while saving taxpayers $4. 7 billion to $6.2 billion a year. should I have to pay for someone else's birth control?" Under the United States federal income tax system, we are all obligated to pay for things that we might not want to pay for. Some of us don't support funding the arts, the museums, the space programs, national parks, or public schools. The purpose of taxes is to pay for things we all need. What we all need is to decrease the number of unintended pregnancies and abortion that cost us billions of dollars each year. Not everything we pay for is going to directly affect or benefit us. If that was why you were against birth control because you didn't want to pay for it, well here is some good -news: Supplying women with birth control ultimately benefits the taxpayer. A study done by the Guttrnacher Institute reported that unintended pregnancies cost taxpayers approximately $11.1 billion a year due to the medical costs of both the mother and the infant. A Brookings Institute study called, "Unintended Pregnancy and the Taxpayer," reported the savings that would result from free birth control: between $4. 7 and $6.2 billion a year. As a nation in $16 trillion worth of debt, you would think this would help us out a little. Now that birth control is available, there is hype that sexually transmitted diseases will increase. Just because birth control is available does not mean that STDs will skyrocket uncontrollably. The contraceptive mandate also provides HPV and IIlV testing, and well as STD counseling. Providing birth control does not mean mean all women will stop having safe sex. Many women use more than one method of birth control. It is still very important, if not more important, to educate people about the issue now that birth control is readily available. I know a lot of men believe they should not pay for birth control because they do no have to take it. . "Its not my birth control, so I shouldn't have to pay for it," is a rather selfish thing to say. I am no feminist, but it really grinds my gears when my male counterparts try and justify the situation by saying, "I shouldn't have to pay for a woman's mistake." Well my friends, let me just tell you that it takes two to get one in trouble. So if she's in trouble, then so are you. Unless she magically got pregnant with no man involved, it is your mistake as well. Just wait for the male contraceptive to come out and then we can chat about how fair it is. @wifkesbeacon carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu Planned Parenthood not just for people who 'messed up' By Lyndsie Yamrus Assistant Opinion Editor One of the most ignorant remarks I've ever heard, in the middle of a political debate, went something along the lines of: "Planned Parenthood is just an excuse for girls so they can go sleep around on the weekend." How unfair it is to just assume that everyone who has ever visited one of these health centers is there because they "messed up" somewhere along the line and got pregnant or has gotten an STD. First of all, both men and women use Planned Parenthood services, not just females alone. Yes, unfortunately there are many oblivious and/or selfish sexually active people in the world that aren't mindful of the risks or careful by any means. These are often the finger-pointing cases; where others regard your need for Planned Parenthood as your own problem, since you were the one who wasn't careful and got pregnant, or got an STD. "Why should I pay for your problems?" is a common outlook. I single out these two services first because they are the top two provided services provided to clients (35 percent each), according to factcheck.org. This obviously isn't the case for everyone though. Sometimes contraception fails. Sometimes people don't inform their partners that they have STDs, forcing them to pay the consequences. Everyone is entitled to their equally valid opinion regarding birth control and abortions, but must realize that although their main goal is the prevention of unwanted pregnancy, these services do not fully represent the aims of Planned Parenthood. In fact, abortions make up only 3 percent of Planned Parenthood services, and federal funding does not go toward financing them. Abortion in any case is legal in every state in the United States and has been since the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe vs. Wade. Funding cuts to Planned Parenthood will not prevent abortions, but will instead prevent men and women alike from obtaining the necessary reproductive health care they need. Not all individuals rely on Planned Parenthood because they "messed up." For men, Planned Parenthood offers testicular, prostate and colon cancer screenings as well as infertility screenings and referrals. Routine exams and problem checkups are provided as well, among other necessary assistances. Similarly, infertility, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and cervical cancer screenings and respective treatments are offered for women. In a perfect world, everyone would have health insurance. But for one reason or another, they don't, and that shouldn't be the sole factor in detel1_!lining quality of life. These cancer screenings are vital, as many individuals will not know they have cancer cells in their bodies until it is too late. For example, the cervical cancer-causing virus (in rarer cases) known as HPVrarely shows symptoms, but can be found in regular Pap-tests that have proven to save lives. According to the National Library of Medicine, "Most women who are diagnosed with cervical cancer today have not had regular Pap smears or they have not followed up on abnormal Pap smear results." The idea here is that the fate of a man or woman should not be a dependent on their economic status. This is the real goal of Planned Parenthood; to provide high-quality and affordable reproductive care and support to those who need it, no matter what the need is. And Planned Parenthood does accept insurance if you have it, so people who can afford it are able to receive these services as well. More important is the need to remind society of who really uses these services. They're people like you and me. Many are just picking up birth control, but many others need tests, treatments, screenings and advice for situations beyond their control. The last thing the users of Planned Parenthood need is for others to judge them and assume they're where they are because they made bad decisions. That's not always the case. @wifkesbeacon Jyndsie.yamrus@wifkes.edu •'ti ■■ I The Beacon/Laura Preby The services offered at Planned Parenthood benefit both men and women in other ways than just birth control and abortions. �THE BEACON I Oct. 30, 2012 8 OPINION The 10 commandments of movie theater etiquette Movies are a communal experience; with that experience comes communal responsibilities By The Beacon editorial staff I I As Blu-Rays replace DVDs and NetFlix and other streaming services replace BluRays, there is at one least one constant in the world of motion picture that can likely be counted on to withstand the effects of time: The in-person movie-going theater experience. Nothing can compare. It doesn't matter how high definition a DVD or download is, or how high definition the screen you watch it on is. It doesn't matter how big that screen is or whether you watch it on a computer or a television. It doesn't matter where you acquired it or if you paid a dime for it at all. There's simply nothing quite like going to a multiplex, plunking down your hard-earned cash for a ticket and some popcorn, entering the dimly lit theater, finding a seat, sitting down among however many other audience members there are and being bombarded with sights and sounds on a larger, more immersive scale than even the most bombastic home entertainment system could replicate. It's a transformative experience in many ways, not unlike dreaming. It takes you out of the real world and into a darkened chamber, separated from outside reality. When the movie begins, a new reality takes over, one composed of imagery and audio that isn't really there, like hallucinations on a screen. The unreal becomes real, if only for a time. In some way, the enormity of a movie - enormity not only in terms of experiential size, scope and depth but also in terms of dramatic, emotional resonance - makes it more real than reality for the time that it dominates our existence. Seeing a movie in the theater is also a communal experience, like taking in a stage-play or attending Sunday mass. We look at multiplexes and see gaudy flashing lights and exploitative advertising, but scratch the surface and underneath we find a church. The theater is a temple of imagination. ~ ltimately, these are common ideas, though admittedly not often expressed in such a grandiose way. Deep down, many of us hold some reverence for the movie theater, treating them with a certain sense of sanctity not lightly violated. Alas, not everyone understands or recognizes the unspoken scripture. That's the drawback of the communal experience. By its very nature inclusive, that inclusivity opens itself up to tranquilitydestroying forces embodied in the form of junior-high revelers who put their feet on the back of your seat or slow-witted but loudmouthed blobs who take the idea of movieas-new-reality too far and think they can actually have a conversation with the characters onscreen. Here, then, is The Beacon's 10 Commandments of Movie Theater Etiquette. Take heed, and do not ignore these simple but oh-so-sacred laws. Otherwise, you will surely go to Movie Hell, where forever roast the scorched souls of noisy soda-slurpers, inconsiderate text-message addicts and the fans of "direc- tor" Michael Bay. Commandment 1: Thou shalt not arrive to the movie late You wouldn't start reading a book two chapters in, would you? Then why would you sit and watch a movie that's already been going for ten minutes? Both tell stories and both introduce crucial information at the very beginning. Coming into a movie later displays disrespect toward the story itself and the work that went into its telling. It's also disruptive to those who have already become immersed in the unfolding narrative. With a book, if you start two chapters in, you can instantly flip back a few pages and start all over. If you miss the beginning of a new movie playing in theaters, though, you'll likely not see that movie again nor have the opportunity to catch up on what was missed until the DVD is released months later. The obvious exception would if you're the type of person to go see a movie in theaters multiple times, but if you're that into movies, you're probably not the type of person to waltz into a film 10 minutes later. Ultimately, if you can't make it to a movie on time, don't even come. Just hit the next showing instead. Commandment 2: Thou shalt not leave theater mid-movie This operates on the same principle as the first commandment. It's disruptive to the audience members around you and also disrespects both the film and the filmmakers. If you absolutely have to leave due to an emergency or other pressing concern, then suck it up and stay gone. If it's not an emergency, there is no excuse. Go the bathroom and get your snacks first, not in the middle of the big plot-twist at the end of the second act. If you leave and come back, you're disrupting and disrespecting not just once, but twice. 'Nuffsaid. Commandment 3: Thou shalt not bother thy neighbor for explanation as to what thou missed If you dare to commit violations of the first and second commandments, or are simply too easily distracted to pay attention, don't expect the person sitting next to you to fill you in. It's not their responsibility and will only cause them to miss out as well. Commandment 4: Thou shalt turn off thy damn cell phone Ifit rings, that's bad enough. If you answer it, that's worse. Don't just switch it to vibrate, because we can all hear that too. And don't use it to text message. That brightly lit little screen is like a bug zapper, it's unavoidably magnetic and ultimately destructive. Everyone around and behind you can see it, and all those people want to wring your neck. Commandment 5: Thou shalt leave the theater in no worse condition than when thee arrived This is just common courtesy. Remember, the theater is not your living room. Someone has to pick up the mess you leave behind. Hold onto your empty cups, popcorn bags and candy boxes until the end of the movie. Then throw them away on your way out. Don't just crumple them up and shove them between the seats or toss them on the floor, and take care not to spill your crap all over the place. How' d you like if someone pulled that in your living room? Commandment 6: Thou shall honor the The Beacon/Laura Preby The "10 commandments of movie theater etiquette" are the rules that moviegoers must abide by out of respect for others trying to enjoy the movie. "courtesy seat" between thyself and thy neighbor This law isn't always applicable, especially on Friday nights when a highly anticipated new movie is freshly released and the theater is packed to capacity. But, if you can, leave an empty seat between you and the stranger next to you. No one welcomes the awkward proximity of someone they've never met in a darkened room, and no one likes fighting over armrests either. Commandment 7: Thou shalt not put thy feet upon the headrest of the seat in front of thee That's someone's skull you're framing between your muddied up, dog crap-stinking Reeboks. Remember that, or you might end up getting a good stiff kick to the head yourself. Commandment 8: Thou shalt not bring thy children to the theater unless thou canst control them The movie theater is no! a daycare center. The other audience members aren't babysitters. If you can't control your kid, don't bring the Ii'! rug-rat with you. The last thing anyone wants to hear as Aragorn and Arwyn are lamenting their forbidden love is some barely-out-diapers brat shrieking that about wanting another bag of Sour Patch Kids. Commandment 9: Thou shalt not whine about pre-movie advertisements or the cost of admission Movies and other form of art are a privilege that we enjoy, not a right. If the thing that allows us to partake in such an ultimately extraneous, indulgent form of entertainment as movie-going is the revenue provided by a half-dozen big-screen commercials for Colgate and jacked-up 3-D ticket prices, then that's a necessary evil you should grin and bear. There are cultures that don't have access to this kind of modern technology and carefree living whatsoever. Remember that before you whine. Besides, you can't really blame anyone else but yourself. If you put up with it, then you've basically accepted it and given the powers-that-be the big A-OK to continue. If admission is too expensive or you feel the entertainment value of a movie isn't worth the inconvenience of watching Martin S·corsese shill for American Express, then why are you even there? Don't just be a blowhard. Commandment 10: Thou shalt shut the hell up This is the final and most important commandment. If you have to talk, keep the conversation short, quiet (anything above a barely audible whisper is totally unacceptable and will be dealt with harshly) and with someone you actually know. Don't ask stupid questionS\ Don't offer your predictions. Don't crack jokes about the movie loudly expecting everyone else to laugh because you're not as funny as you think. Seriously, shut up. @wilkesbeacon wilkesbeacon@gmail.com �.. ~,<~:;:,<-,,.,:;:,.,;::,,,.,=:::::>,:-,., , ,, Cdhtact editor: billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com ·= .#0;•:•. <- ••,,,:-:h<-x-c-•,. &, :-:-:d:-:,-. .c-: P Local horror filmmakers deliver blood, guts, hyuks Independent spirit on display in gore-drenched horror-comedies from two of NEPXs own By BIii Thomas A&E Editor Two savage murderers will soon be on the loose in NEPA. One hungers for flesh. The other, vengeance. Both are the creations of local filmmakers with small budgets but big passions for horror, not to mention a whole lot of independent do-it-yourself ambition. Earlier this year, Bobby Keller, of Scranton, finished "Deatherman," which was originally supposed to premiere this past weekend at the Horror Factory Film Festival in New Jersey, only for the event to be cancelled at the lastminute due to concerns over Hurricane Sandy. The film tells the story of a local TV weatherman who is murdered by a vicious-ambitious fellow meteorologist eyeing his spot, only to return from the grave seeking bloody retribution. Yes, Keller knows it's a silly story. That, he said, is the whole point. "I wanted the movie to feel like something a ten-year-old might make, lots of bad acting and horrible special effects," he said. "If a kid stole his dad's camcorder and tried to make a movie, I wanted it to look worse than that." The intention, Keller explained, was to recreate the artless aesthetic of shot-on-video horrorcomedies of the 1980s, a la "Black Devil Doll from Hell" and "Video Violence," which Keller feels fall squarely into the "so bad it's good" category. Blending~ lifelong love of horror with his own firsthan~ experience in comedy - in addition to performing stand-up, he briefly had his own sketch comedy show on Electric City Television - Keller was well-prepared to capture the half-satiric trash-cinema spirit he sought to recreate, even going so far as to shoot the movie on old-school VHS tape. One thing Keller wasn't prepared for, though, was actually making a good movie. "The movie came out better than I tried," Keller said with a chuckle. "I tried to make it a lot worse than it is, so in a sense I guess I failed. I think it's very enjoyable. Everyone I've shown it to so far has liked it." In keeping with the movie's retro inspiration, "Deatherman" is available on VHS at deatherman.storenvy.com. The decision to release the movie on tape was influenced not just by Keller's own affectionate nostalgia for the antique format, but also by the unsung aesthetic qualities that it possesses. feature-length filmmaking. Also like Keller, Allen is no stranger to the world of no-rules, nobudget horror cinema. He traces his fascination with the macabre back to a seminal screening of Tobe Hooper's original "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" when he was just 5 years old. Fast-forward to 2002: At the age of 26, Allen began churning out shorter tongue-in-cheek terror tales of his own, an outgrowth of his interests in creative writing and special makeup effects. • "After years of trying to figure out what I wanted to do with myself - all I did was skateboard every day - I was looking for something else to do and I realized the one thing I always really, really wanted to do was make movies. So I decided to just start doing it." Looking to take his filmmaking to the next level, Allen formed Goremonger Media Inc. in 2010 (info about current and future projects can be found at goremongermedia.wordpress. com). Trying to juggle his artistic passion with a personal life has been proven no easy task for Allen, and progress is often slow. Regardless, Allen remains undeterred. "Horror," he said simply, "is my life." Pondering just what it is about the genre that appeals to him, the easygoing filmmaker noted that violent horror films have a lot in common with his other great love, equally violent deathmetal music. Both, Allen said, offer audiences a cathartic experience wherein they can safely vent their pent-up aggressions in a harmless, Courtesy of Bobby Keller even therapeutic way. "It's all a release, really. People think that a The forecast Is partly bloody with a chance of gore for John Kasper, star of "Deatherman," a locally lensed movie t hat has horror fans losing their heads. lot of horror fans and death-metal fans are crazy and off-the-wall, but that's not often the case. "Aside from 8mm, the best way to watch and independent filmmaker Shawn Allen (aka Most of the ones I know tend to be really nice a horror movie is on VHS," he said. "I just "Shawn Goremonger"), of Frackville, is putting people, really laidback," he said. watched 'A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2' on the finishing touches on his own mini-magnum "That's a little different from what people DVD and I remember it being so much scarier opus, "Cannibal Nightmare." might expect, I guess." on VHS. Freddy Krueger was harder to see beA self-described "cheesy gore/schlock flick," cause of how bad the quality was. Everything "Cannibal Nightmare" is about an alien entity @wilkesbeacon was kind of murky and grimy. It had this dark, that comes to Earth and takes over the body of billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com seedy feel to it that worked for horror. When an unsuspecting woman, turning her into cannithey remastered it, he just looked like Robert balistic killing machine. Allan has been working DeNiro with pizza on his face." on the project for much of 2012. Due to have its Now, with "Deatherman" under his belt, premiere in April 2013, "Cannibal Nightmare" Keller is considering what comes next. He's will be released on DVD by fledgling New already planning the first of many hopeful York-based distributor Titan Video, along with "Deatherman" sequels, and is also hard at work another under-construction Allen original title on a script he's been tweaking for years called "Hunted 2: Deep Woods Dismemberment." "Beelzebub Gets a Valentine." For now, Allen is hard at work. Like Keller, Meanwhile, fellow NEPA horror-junkie Allen's current projects mark his first forays into YARD SIITICKr ,< ocbran ,, ,gethectlfe threads ' :... ?' ... :-:_ ' .':;;: ::~: �THE BEACON 10 By BIii Thomas A&E Editor With the 19th annual lnkin' the Valley tattoo convention has proven that is set to descend upon the Woodlands Inn in Wilkes-Barre once again on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 2, 3 and 4, The Beacon decided to spotlight some "ink in the university." Here are six current Wilkes University students sportin' some seriously significant tattoos loaded with personal meaning. To see more from these and other Wilkes students, visit TheWilkesBeacon.com. Kyle Wolfe Year: Senior Major: Communication Studies Tattoo: dog paw with halo and angel wings on left leg (see far right) "The paw print was just a paw print originally. Its my dogs actual paw print. I stamped her paw and took it to a tattoo artist and tattooed just that on my leg. Then, the end of the semester last year, right after finals we had to put my dog down. So when I went home for the summer, I had the halo and the angel wings around it. " Cora & Emmie Gibson Year: Senior (Cora), Freshman (Emmie) Major: Elementary Education (Cora), Undeclared (Emmie) Tattoo: infinity symbol with anchor on left ribs (Cora) and left wrist (Emmie) " We both got the anchor portion because we both grew up on Lake Ontario together. That lake has a lot ofmeaning. The infinity portion is because we 're sisters and we 're bonded together forever. We anchor each other." - Cora . Year: Senior Major: Communication Studies Tattoos: Native American iconography on left upper arm "The one on my left arm reminds me ofa great trip out West I took with my family. Its amazing to look up and look to the left and look to the right and all you see for miles is blue sky. Theres a dream catcher in the tattoo, too. I'm a strong believer in the power ofdreams." �~CON I Oct. 30, 2012 A&E Cheyenne Cassimore Year: Sophomore Major: Undeclared Tattoo: picture frame on right side (see left) "The idea behind the frame was that over time I'll get more tattoos. I want to fill it up everything I'm going through during my younger years, memories and little symbols that will remind me of the things I've done. In the end, it will be a reflection of myself throughout my college years." Sam Kerpovich Year: Junior Major: Integrated Media Tattoos: shark with ear buds and phrase "And dear I fear that this ship is sinking tonight" on back of right shoulder (see left) "I get most ofmy inspiration for my art from the ocean. Its so beautiful and so calming and I guess its also kind of a nostalgia thing for me. The shark is based off my own art. The lyrics are from a song by Bring Me the Horizon. Music and art are the two most important things in my life." Kathryn Roshong Year: Sophomore Major: English Tattoo: father's class crest from US Military Academy at West Point on back of right shoulder (see right) rmy and too. "I'm terrible at math, so my senior year in high school I made a bet with my dad where ifI could get an A in my first two quarters he would pay for me to get a tattoo. It pushed ' , me. I came out of it with an A+. Throughout my whole family, West Point is the biggest thing. Since I was born, we've always been going up to West Point for football games, class reunions.Anytime we think of my dad, thats what we think of, West Point. Its like a second home for us all." Photos by Laura Preby, Bill Thomas �12 By Bill Thomas A&E Editor Before it was used to describe comic-book fans and guys who dress up like Scotty from Star T~ k on the weekends, the word "geek" referred to a bottom-rung sideshow performer who bit the heads off of live chickens. Remember that the next time you throw around phrases like "geek chic" whilst watching reruns of"The Big Bang Theory." Like it or not, the art of sideshow (yes, "art") has left an indelible impression on the cultural consciousness over time. Though it may seem like an archaic relic long since made obsolete, echoes of it can be seen in everything from lowest-common-denominator entertainment like "Jackass" and Howard Stem to huge, glitzy pop-culture institutions like the WWE (pro wrestling was once a staple of carnival sidesb-;;,.vs, in point of fact) and the band Kiss. This weekend, the 19th annual Inkin' the Valley tattoo convention and Sideshow Gathering will invade the Woodlands Inn in Wilkes-Barre once again. While the tattoo side of the event (see p. l 0-11) has become a local institution, for those with an interest in the more esoteric and unusual extremes of fringe Americana, it's the Sideshow Gathering - the only event of its kind in the world - that holds the most fascination. A brief history lesson: Though the roots of many sideshow acts can be traced all the way back to the Renaissance (at least), sideshow as we know it today really took form in the post-Civil War 1800s, when circus pioneer P.T. Barnum took over the American Museum in New York and turned it into a showcase for oddities. Some of Barnum's exhibits, like the midgets, albinos, armless men and microcephalysuffering "pinheads," were real. Others, like the mummified "Feejee Mermaid" or "Olga, the Headless Girl," were not. For Barnum, it didn't matter as long as it turned a profit. For Barnum's customers, it didn't matter either. Calling such things "hoaxes" was missing the point. The wall between reality and fantasy became translucent, and those standing on the side of the former, staring into the latter, saw wonders there. That was all that mattered. Soon, Barnum took his successful troupe of freaks and performers on the road, dubbed it "The Greatest Show on Earth" and subsequently helped give shape to the modem circus as well as its grittier, more eccentric sibling, the sideshow. Today, of course, political correctness has taken most of the albinos and midgets off the bally stage and driven the armless men and pinheads toward daytime talk shows instead. The "born freaks" have moved on. Conjoined twins and "lobster boys" can get operations and lead normal lives or start charity foundations and continue the anything-to-make-abuck sideshow-exploitation huckster tradition there. In other cases, the abnormal has become normal. Bearded ladies and tattooed men live right next door. Your little brother does more outrageous stunts than most fairground daredevils would ever risk, while hanging out hammered with his high-school pals. It's not polite to stop and stare anymore, though deep down the desire remains inside us all. Thanks to that, sideshow endures even as it faces dilution by a culture eager to adopt its traditions but unwilling to admit to doing so. It's the "working acts" who rule the roost now, having picked up the slack of their departed "born freak" companions. Sword-swallowers and knife-throwers, flame-eaters and fire-breathers, human blockheads and human pincushions, men who lay on beds of nails and women who walk up ladders with machetes for rungs; no one else does what they do and so there will always be a market for it. Dressed in edgier modern attire, sideshow has found a new home far from the funnel cake and livestock feces-scented midway\ of the county fair. It thrives now in heavy-metal and punk-rock music clubs, or in posh subterranean circles where hipsters laud it as avantgarde performance art. The art of the hustle is, as an old freak-show banner might lie, "alive on the inside! " In the immortal words of Robert Ripley, believe it or not. @wilkesbeacon billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com c'H ~t~~H'ITT - .J Secrets Oftlie Sideshow (, ---"'"T..,b:!:::~i::~k!e:~,~~ -~::::~!~eroos.-fire.r I ~ Q!Lt!Ji.J_~!t-'.:1]:i_Q_H-l!Plan Block- . . acts1 this one m~ seem cut-andhead" is an act wherein the perdry: Performer fills mouth with~ ~ rffi~"filiiiii:iiers'~ ah"'"o6fecf, · .fueTs71f6rds-liITorclfaffi spews -·-·-·-·- usual1~nail, inttr=bis~f""her--•·- fuewire,irtight-jet~streaID"'Of"ffl:is ,_ _......oo,'itriL~~acLi£.based..nILth~ u,wardJ:lam!:l,~Creating.ajirebalL common misconception that the .. That doesn't mean fire breath?asal cavi~ goes up, when in fact mg is easy or safe, though. 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For instance, alcoholand/"-. ·beBetlofNads""'··--·--··-··--·---..pe1rocliem1cats111'e no~ ~ '---------A,nother~ xploitation·of tM)om-----assume,-the-,preferred-fuels--for~ _..,.,,_Jll<?Lmis,eo.Jl.~Ptio.n,.,lhe=b.ed :iucLJ.l<;iilOffl)aQC\<.S, ...Xo,iL.knOL{ ?f an one wou rm a s sa o . on . - -,,.,,1mMo- say-plenty-ornsk-'does:t1 · r1-----.....,._,_,.,-,,-_,..,....._ _ _ _ _ __ ~:l~~~~:~~~~ ·~"~~(i~ ~:~~~tnwliaf \ an entire b e ~ ~ o t ymrve--been:-trying-to-get-your- i' • . ''trick~ls.-'Ihey.:re.not.rubb~idfuendJo,;try,.ior..the.past.tht:ee../ . and the 're not dull What eo le ears sword swallowio is the don'.t realize, though, is thatthe . . r~. de11l. . No 1ricks here· the m.o re nails'lh ·•·•a. l,e°:'"71ie. mo.•~e i ·•· sw9rds. are ?Ot ·ruobe.r., no~ .are ~, - -.evenl~nner·ssweig)l~apsible:--~bility....f&-\ ,------·~....istribu~ecLacm~s.easm nail, giv- . , swallow s.w;i~~eanL~ · · · hieved onl when a , - 't as. ~ occurre4 en need to be r - -liHor-OMnt&his"61.'·h e r ~ t & ~·- - - - ~--allo~he.JlameJ~he_,snu:ffe,d,,out . ' ..PickledEJ.mks,_ , from ~ack of oxygen. As always, Admittedly, this one isn't an act / -tliete46""extreme,,,danger-hereras~-anY"kind,➔ut.r~ \. ~ ~~t:tom~OllSLJllak~~JiQU· . ~ ~ ... rr~\~~~e-~~a~: ~~t ;i:eJ~~ ..• ~~~ ;enti~~ ~~i~~ j r· ine ·-·--nearby;iris-·orhermoutlr·()ther--~for-a-fetus·-preserved· io-aiarof- ' - - -wise,,-the. ,eonseque:nces.-can- be--4onnaldehyde,,,,usually-human.and-.~ disastrous. Fire acts of all kinc,Is usually displaying some kind Q L{ are among the most dangerous m physical deformity. Some pickled · all of sideshow. Do not try this at punks are fake, as many would ex\ home, seriously. pect. But some are real, too. Only the showman displaying them \ ' · -,,,,__ knows for sure. .............___..._____,_______... ... _________-- �-~m.-.~.~~~~~~~~~ Oct. 30, 2012 Contact editor: anne.yoskoski@wi lkes.edu ES Penitentiary can bring excitement, scares By Alyssa Stencavage .. Asst. Life Editor Walking along in pitch black may seem like a pretty fun thing to do, until someone jumps out right in front of your face. This is what one would experience at the Eastern State Penitentiary in downtown Philadelphia, one of the oldest and once the most famous and expensive prisons in the United States. "That's probably the creepiest part," Student Development Activities Assistant Jamie Miller said. "They always find the people who scream the most and are the most scared, and will specifically target them. Yet they are the ones who usually have the most fun." Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, the ES Penitentiary was the world's first true penitentiary, designed to inspire penitence in the hearts of convicts. Students can take a trip to the ES Penitentiary on Friday, Nov. 2, if they are feeling brave enough. The tour is an hour-long, and the bus will arrive back to Wilkes by 11 :30 p.m. or midnight. While the idea of walking through the dark may seem like a scary one to some people, the prison has actually been modernized into different sections to give it a bit of a different taste. Tourists can be walking through what seems like actual parts of the jail and then suddenly come to parts that would not have been there in the original facet of the building. "The cool part is that it was real, functioning jail cells," Miller said. "It's historic for holding some of the world's most notorious criminals." Among some of these infamous inmates include Alphonse "Scarface" Capone, Victor "Babe" Andreoli, Morris "The Rabbi" Bolber, Joe Buzzard, Leo Callahan, Freda Frost, Clarence Alexander Rae, William Francis Sutton, Frederick Tenuto, _Charles Yerkes and William "Blackie" Zupkoski. This history and other information is available on eastemstate.org. Those behind the scenes take one wing of the prison and turn it into a haunted house with such things as mirrors and lights, which one can go to in the fall. But, visitors can also take a tour of the prison the way it originally was before the reconstruction. Sharon Castano, student development coordinator, said she supports trying new events like this, even though she joked that trip is too scary for her. Students can sign up at the information desk. Tickets are $10, which also covers the cost of the bus. Photo Courtesy of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site @wilkesbeacon a/yssa.stencavage@wilkes.edu The Eastern State Penitentiary can bring a mix of emotions to those w!'~ are brave enough to try It. THE WORD AT WILKES: What is the best ·1 the legendary taste Go Colonels! We Deliver to Wilkes University! Call (570) 331-FAST (3278) Ask about our combo specials featuring our complete line up of pizza, subs, wings, burgers & more!visit us online for a complete menu & listing of specials at www.grottopizzapa.com or visit our restaurant & sports bar Grotto Pizza, Gateway Center, on Rt. 11 in Edwardsville (just across the bridge!) Halloween costume you've ever seen? Joe Kubicki Freshman Marketing Major WfheWllkes COionei'' Kristen Konosky Znl the legendary taste $5 OFF Any Order of $20 or More For delivery or take out Expires 12/31 / 12 L - - ------valid only at Grotto Pizza locations in Penoyslvania Senior Pharmacy Majo.r "A Sundrop Girl" Michael Venditto Freshman Pharmacy Major "The Joker from Dark Knight" Omar Urena Sophomore Engineering Mechanlcal Major "A guy dressed as King Kong chasing a girl dressed asa banana." -~I "1 �- ---.--- 14 LIFE THE BEACON I Oct 30, 2012 Events excite students for Halloween, fall By Annie Yoskoski Life Editor With Halloween just around. the comer, Wilkes is prepared to celebrate with several events happening on campus very soon that will put everyone in the Halloween Spirit. Some of the festivities have already started, w,ith a Programming Board roller skating costume party, Make a Difference Day, Psi Chi candy apple bake sale, Check Your Melons and Feather Me Pink breast cancer awareness events, the Empty Bowls fundraiser (which had been pushed back to Oct. 28) and a Manuscript Society Halloween reading. "I loved the roller skating party," sophomore biology major Jess Winters said. "Who wouldn't love to see a man dressed as a roller skating nun? These events are about letting loose with your friends, and it's always a good time." The Check Your Melons and Feather Me Pink events benefited breast cancer awarevc ~s by featuring hair feather extensions for $7 each or two for $10, bra pong and a pinkthemed bake sale. The biggest seller of the event was the pink hair extensions, and many students were seen walking around campus with pink feathers in their hair. Several students enjoyed the Manuscript Halloween reading, including undeclared freshman Julia Tass. "The reading was interesting, Julia Tass said. "It helped get me in a Halloween kind of mood. Kirby Hall was decorated for Halloween, too." "The reading had a great turnout, Manuscript Editor Miranda Baur said. We filled most of the salon and had a handful of wonderfully dynamic readers such as Dr. (Thomas A) Hamill who read in Middle English and Gabby Zawacki who read a lively poem she wrote in the third grade. The reading lived up to its expectations as being our most popular event besides the unveiling." Upcoming events are fall and Halloween centered, keeping the season in mind. The "scariest" of the events will be an upcoming trip to the Eastern State Penitentiary where students will participate in the "Terror Behind the Walls" event on Nov. 2. Several students are looking forward to this event, including senior business major Jeff Bloom. "It's the prefect way to cap off the Halloween season. I heard that they chase you around, so I hope I can run fast enough. I don't think this is for the faint of heart." To start off the first of the fall-themed events, a Fall Skirmish Paintball event has been scheduled for Nov. 10 by the Adventure Education Program. No previous paintball experience is necessary. The cost of the trip is $15. Students looking for more information should contact Jill Price at jill.price@wilkes.edu. Professors get pied in the face The Beacon/Austin Loukas Chemistry Club hosted Pie Professors in the Face event on Thursday, Oct. 25 where students get the chance to pie a professor of their choice In the face. The Zeta Psi Nursing Honor Society is participating in a fundraiser with the WilkesBarre/Scranton Penguins. The Penguins will play the Hershey Bears Nov. 9 at 7:05 p.m. Buying a ticket gets a student not only admission to the game, but also a hat, hot dog and chips and one drink. Ticket cost varies depending on where the seats will be. Students can sign up at the front desk in the Henry Student Center. More upcoming events include a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, Ruth's Place fundraisers, casino nights, a karaoke night and the annual Snowball dance. Additional events will be popping up as the fall season goes on, and WUPB along with Student Government is always looking for new @wilkesbeacon annie.yoskoski@wilkes.edu Photos: The Beacon/Austin Loukas Roller skating costume party begins the Halloween and fall festivities. Students had a fun time dressing up and spending time with friends as a way to prepare for the season. �15 THE BEACON LIFE I Oct 30, 2012 How to s tay active in the cold weather during winter YMCA activities, Wilkes gym, intramural sports are just a few ways to keep busy, stay trim By Ashley Hahn Correspondent rn d Its I The warm sunny weather is beginning to change into that brisk and chilly fall. Running and doing activities outside are becoming less and less popular as the cold becomes stronger. So what are you supposed to do to keep in shape or just stay active? There are a lot of things actually. The YMCA in Wilkes-Barre offers many classes; anything from volleyball to aquatics classes. Wilkes University students, faculty and staff can go to the YMCA for free. All you need to do is go dovvTI to the YMCA sign up and they will give you a pass so you can enter. James TI1omas Executive Director said the YMCA offers may different varieties so everyone can find something they like. Many of the programs they offer are as follows : Personal Trainers Boxing Cycling Tai Chi Zwuba Co-ed volleyball league Another thing that is great about the YMCA is that if you don't like group classes, you are free to j ust use the gym as you wish. They just redid many parts of the building and have updated many of the machines and work out equipment. The pool is also available for j ust swimming .laps. Another great program the YMCA offers is the Certification Courses, like the American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification Course. Any information regardi ng the YMCA in WilkesBane visit their website at www.wbymca.org. Don't want to make the wa lk to the YM CA? Wilkes University offers many healthy activities right here on campus. Wilkes offers a bunch of intramural sports and club t hat anyone can join. They include the fol lowing: • Crew Team (Rowing) Equestrian Club Fencing Club Lacrosse Club Paintball Club Racquetball Club Running Club Ski and Snowboard Club Ultimate Frisbee Club "The goal for the intramural program at Wilkes University is to provide the Wilkes commw,ity, students, faculty and staff, an opportunity to come together outside of the nor- mal student/faculty-staff relationsh ip," said Nea l. Biscaldi Director of lntramurals. Wilkes provides intranmral sports programs for students, faculty and staff the opportunity to participate in organized, nonvarsity teams and individual contests. Structured leagues and tournan,ents are otfored in a variety of sports. Health Services also offers a couple of classes in UCOM. Those who are interested can contact the coordinator, Gail L. Holby on th.e first fl oor of Passan Ha ll. UCOM also has an indoor track and basketball courts that are at your di sposal. If classes are not your thing, Wilkes a lso has the Marts Center. The gym on the bottom fl.oor and a green room are avai lable to do activities as well as a basketbal l court. Th e Beacon/ Austin Loukas The YMCA offers many activities and l ays to stay @w ilkesbeacon annie.yoskoski@wilkes.edu In shape. as the cold weather arrives. Pharmacy go'es Gangnam in Stark IO I , aud Friday -- \Vater tep and Sculpt at 9 * .; Cycle with Cindy ~ ZUliiba at 11 a.m. , Y ;{ Power Train at m (JC<:;); Sti::p & t 11 a.rn.; Cycle I to: edit ent. 1ed. d Cycle () a.m.; The Beacon/ Austin Loukas Pharmacy students fllm their version of the YouTube sensation "Gangnam Style" retltled "Wilkes Pharmacy Style" In front of classmates In Stark 101. d 10/27 10/20 m.; �~ ~ fil.J] [ITT'{filW) Oct. 30, 2012 C9ntact editor: frank.passalacqua@wilkes.edu Anderson Silva is most dominant athlete of all time UFC competitor hasn't lost since 2004 By Jake Cochran Assistant A&E Editor The Wilkes University men's basketball team practices In preparation for the 2012-13 season. Wilke's men's and -women's basketball off to strong start By Michelle Coyle Assistant Sports Editor As the fall season begins to come to an end, the winter season sports are already in action, preparing for their long upcoming season. Full -of hard practices, intense games, and screaming fans, both the men's and women's basketball team here at Wilkes is getting already getting ready to give their all work together as a team. It may just be considered a winter sport to some, but to the coaches and players, they work hard all fall season to know what to expect come the winter. Having open gym, to even shooting hoops on outside baskets, both teams find anything they could do to make them even better, and become :nore a team even before they start really working out. The more players are around each other more, and how they are working together to achieve one goal, the more you get a feel for how they play, and what they bring to the table. · "Everything and everyone seems to connect," freshman Brandon Thompson said. "We really get along well as a team, and that's the No. 1 thing; team chemistry. We already have that." As any team strives to do, is win a championship, come together as a team, and compete against other team that are just as strong as they are. Cliff Richardson sees his teammates already clicking and coming together. "We are a young team, but we have a lot of guys back with experience that work real hard." Richardson said, "The team chemistry is great on and off the court which makes it fun and exciting." Richardson also said that being a senior, he expects himself, and his teammates to give it their all every game. "Play together, have fun, and make every game like it's your last." During the cold winter, both team are in the gym, sweating, running up and down the court, getting better. Pushing each other to their limit, and learning how each other play, the team gets a good feeling how the team will play during the real games, and not just scrimmaging against themselves. "It's a lot of hard work!" says incoming freshman, Brianna Zazzaro. "Practices are all about making sure we know what is expected ofus. We are working hard at our positions and working on both the defense and offense of the game. We're making ourselves the best we can be and our hard practices show that!" Sophomore Captain Elena Stambone feels she's ready to take on the leading role and push her team to be as successful as they can be. "I expect to improve as both a team and a player from last year. The returning players now have some experience under our belts and we are looking to be a solid" "We're going to surprise many people with how competitive we are," Stambone says. "We have been working to hard at everything to not be a top contender. I know we all want to be as great as we possibly can." All teams want to be intimidating and come off stronger then the opposing team. "We want to be a .500 team and above. We want to prove that we aren't a team that people can walk all over," Zazzaro strongly enforced. "And if people are going to win over us, they are going to have to fight for that win. We just want to keep improving from game to game." @wilkesbeacon miche/le. coyle@wilkes. ed u After UFC 153 many fans were closing out their PPV purchases with a familiar feeling in mind. Just like Christmas brings presents and Easter brings too much candy, for 14th time in a row, Anderson Silva had left the Octagon, victorious. While Stephan Bonnar could hardly be considered top competition to end the Spider's reign of terror, it did show how deadly Silva still is as he is now rapidly approaching 40. Many critics said the only way that Bonnar had a chance against Silva was ifhe could get him against the cage and just grind out a boring decision. Silva decided to be a good sport and help Bonnar out, by leaning with his back against the cage and just letting The American Psycho tee-off on him. But Silva has such a mastery of head movement, timing and just overall striking prowess that even when he had his back against the wall, he was STILL out classing Bonnar. Think about this scenario in any other sport: The undefeated '72 Dolphins never let anyone just go down to the 20 yard line to show off how great their defense was. The closest possible comparison would be when Michael Jordan started shooting with his eyes closed, but still that's nothing like dodging potentially game-ending punches and then making your opponent look ridiculous. Silva has also constantly faced top competition. The way best way to compare this would be to think of any other sport, after the team wins the championship for the season, the players just go back to playing their regular schedule the next year. Spider does not get the advantage of just running through the schedule, when Silva fights his Championship Belt is practi. ally always on the line. The only occasions when it wasn't would be most recently UFC 153 because he took the fight to save the card because the headliners were injured (which is a whole different reason.) But to reiterate the idea that whenever Silva fights he faces the next best contender, to use this example again, when the Superbowl champs win the Superbowl, they don't play in the Superbowl again next month, they have another year before they can ever think about going and competing for the championship. Every time Anderson Silva steps into the cage (almost) he is facing the No. 2 middleweight in the world, and that person is going to try to end his championship reign. That started Oct. 14, 2006, and since then no one has been able to take that title away from him. When the last "real" defeat an athlete has is on the New Years Eve 2004 -- nearly eight years ago -- that person should most definitely be recognized as the greatest of all time. Anderson Silva is that. @wilkesbeacon jason.cochran@wilkes.edu Field hockey waits to hear from ECAC The ECAC tournament accepts eight teams with a .500 record or better. The field hockey team had two games this past week, and going 1-1, the team hopes to qualify for the tournament. To be prepared if they are added into the tournament, the team will continue to practice every day. Check the Wilkes Athletics website to keep updated on whether the team will play in the ECAC tournament. �' Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member . THE EACON The Wilkes Beacon provides access to: • 2,600 full-time students • Wilkes brings visitors, parents, • 2,600 part-time students alumni and guests to campus • 157 full-time faculty throughout the year. • 308 part-time faculty • Many departments host end-of- • 375 full- and part-time staff year banquets, buy supplies and • 6,000-plus potential customers make many other local purchases. Email: wilkesbeacon.ads@gmail.com Phone: 570-408-5903 *Ask about prices. �SPORTS · SCOREBOARD Field Hockey 10/23 Misericordia - W 2-1 10/26 SUNY New Paltz- L 0-1 Football 10/27 Lycoming - L 38-7 M-Soccer 10/24 Scranton - L 0-1 10/27 King's - T 0-0 W-Soccer 10/23 SUNY Cortland - T 2-2 10/27 King's - W 1-0 Volleyball 10/24 FDU Florham - W 3-0 Golf 10/15 Muhlenberg Fall Classic, cancelled - rain WEEKAHEID Cross Country 11/10 NCAA Regionals Field Hockey 11/7 MAC Tournament Starts Football 10/27 at Del. Valley College Volleyball 10/31 at DeSales Men's soccer For me, an elite quarterback isn't determined by wins or by rings or by records. It's determined by the ability to lead your team, to bring them back from the brink in an almost impossible situation and win the game. To walk into another team's home field and come out with a victory in the biggest spot when even the weather seems to be against you. Clutchness is the measure by which I choose my quarterbacks. In the NFL, there are three undisputed heavyweights in this category who I can truly call elite and who are by far the top three quarterbacks in the league. The first is Peyton Manning. In the history of the NFL there has never been a better regular season, clutch or smarter QB to play the game. I won't list all the categories he is ranked among the best in NFL history in. It will simply take too long. But over his career Peyton has orchestrated 48 game winning drives, 11 more than Tom Brady, the second highest active and only three behind the all-time leader Dan Marino, who has 51 total game winning drives. He is first all time in comebacks defined as starting the fourth quarter down by at least one score and winning the game. He has 37 of those, 11 more than Tom Brady, and just recently took the record away from Dan Marino with his comeback over the chargers. The second QB is Tom Brady, who has been clutch. Last week he tore apart the Jets with a minute to go to tie the game with one timeout. As I mentioned, he is second to only Peyton in clutch statistics over his career. And he has three rings. If I don't have Peyton leading me down field, Brady is almost just as good. The final quarterback that I would actually take in the clutch over Tom Brady, and unmentioned QBs Rodgers, Brees and Roethlisberger, is Eli Manning. Want to talk about clutch: two Superbowls won in the last two minutes down a score against the Patriots. Eli, in both instances, leads his team down field to a championship with the greatest show of composure I have ever seen in a situation that intense. He went into both San Francisco and Green Bay to win playoff games against opponents considered superior. Last year alone he had eight game winning drives and seven comefrom-behind wins in the regular season alone, which led the league. He already ranks third in active players in comebacks, behind only big brother and Brady. Ask me right now and I will take Peyton Manning to lead my team to victory every time. Put Peyton aside for a moment and ask me the same question and I say there is no debate Eli Manning is the most clutch QB in the league and still only halfway through his career. Besting Brady twice on the biggest stage and an ability to win games on the road in the cold or in the mud makes him above other "elite" QBs like Rodgers, Brees and Big Ben. season ends 5-10-2, 1-4-2 @wilkesbeacon joseph.pug/iese@wilkes.edu Quarterback is arguably the most important position on any football team. A game can pivot and change on a moments notice depending on the quarterback's actions. The trend this season within the NFL is possessions late in games. Almost all NFL games have been decided this season on the last or close to last possession of the contest. Picking a quarterback to lead my team on a last second drive is challenging. When deciding on a QB to pick, the first name that pops up is Tom Brady. This guy is the quintessential comeback king. He's won multiple SuperBowls, memorable playoff games, and has had his share of comebacks in the regular season. His first experience would be the Raiders game in 2002. Remembered as the "Tuck Tule Game," Brady put on a stellar performance. It was even more impressive that he led the team to a win in his first season as a s~er, as 2002 was the year he took over after lirew Bledsoe was injured. Brady would go on to lead his team to multiple fourth-quarter comebacks, and establish himself as a great "Comeback Kid." The new guy on the block is Eli Manning. This guy looks like he has no idea what is going on in the first three-quarters of a game. It looks like he just put his pads on for the first time. He then "Hulks Out," and owns everyone in the fourth quarter. The way he led his team to a win over the Redskins a few weeks back was unreal. He told RGIII that this is his division. I have been apprehensive to call Eli the "EWord," (elite) but at this point in his career he is slowly getting there. I know I will get yelled at for saying he isn't elite because of his Superbowls, but the inconsistency is just not what I want in my QB. The QB I want on my team when the game is on the line is easy. I consider Peyton Manning the single greatest QB of all time, and he is my pick to lead my team late in a game. I might have picked Tom Brady a few weeks back, but a certain game changed my mind. The Broncos comeback over the Chargers completely changed my view of Peyton Manning. The guy is unreal. The fact he came back in a game to win by double digits, after being down double digits, solidified him as the greatest fourth quarter QB ever. The scary part is the guy did the same thing against the Bucs a few years ago. When the fourth quarter rolls around its "Peyton Time." @wifkesbeacon justin.franiak@wifkes.edu Tweet us: Send messages and pictures to: @wu_BeaconSports �THE BEACON I Oct .30, 2012 SPORTS 19 Wilkes wraps up fall intramural sports Pawling with new friendships, relief from stress Continued from Page 20 By Michelle Coyle Assistant Sports Editor Wilkes University provides an the opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to play in non-varsity sport competitions. With being able to have an intramural league for everybody to join, it gives students that either didn't want to play sports for the university, or just simply wanted to keep playing the sport they love, another chance to stay active. It also brings the student and faculty/staff relationships stronger, because they can come together for the teams. The purpose of the program is to give people an organized program to promote competition and all around fun . The fall intramural sports at Wilkes have been off to a great start. The sports that are offered for the fall season are, flag football, co-ed soccer and women's softball. There are also tournaments being held which include, 3-on-3 basketball, billiards and bowling. As for co-ed soccer, freshman Forrest Jordan said he's had nothing but fun. "It's a great way to meet new people. I love playing soccer." He said intramural sports gives students the opportunity to go and play sports they love, and meet new people. "It's a friendly face you could say hi to around campus. Getting to know people outside the classroom, in a different atmosphere, is great because you really can relate with each other," said Britney Kister, who also plays coed soccer. "My team was put together from the students who signed up as a single, looking to join a team. They put us all on the same team, and now we're so far undefeated." The intramural sports can provide students and faculty-staff a time to get away from the workload and go have some fun. People get involved because they want to keep active, they don't want to give up a sport they've played for so long, some students realize their classwork is tough, but want a fun get away. And intramural activities gives you all that. "I was going to play for the university," Jordan said, "My schedule got affected. Intramural games start at either 8:30 or 9:30 p.m., so it's easy for people like me to play. If you love the game, it's a great way to keep playing." "I play to relieve stress. I go and play the sport I've loved and played for 13 years. I didn't want the pressure to play for the school, so this was the next best thing," Kister said. With all the sports offered, anybody who is interested could join. If interested in playing intramural sports in the Spring, you could sign up for the following sports ... Co-Ed Volleyball - Sign Up by Jan. 25 Co-Ed Indoor Soccer - Sign Up by Jan. 25 Co-Ed Basketball - Sign Up by March 1 Softball Tournament - Sign Up by April 12 *All dates are subject to change or be cancelled do to student participation* @wilkesbeacon michelle.coyle@wilkes.edu What does the word "team" mean to you? To me, the word team means that when you are out on that field, you know you have 10 other girls out there trying to make you look' better. What are some things you think a captain should do for her team? I think that a captain always needs to hear what their team is saying, whether or not they agree with it. Are there any role models in your life that you feel got you where you are today? I've had so many positive influences in my life; every single one of my coaches have influenced me in some way and my parents have always encouraged me in everything that I do. What's the hardest thing you've dealt while playing a sport in college? • Definitely time management. You really have to learn how to be more productive with your time and set yourself on a schedule. @wilkesbeacon miche//e.coyle@wilkes.edu �BY MICHELLE COYLE Assistant Sports Editor Pharmacy major and field hockey all-star, Lauren Pawling (captain since her sophomore year), has been a huge impact to the Wilkes team the past four years. Coming from Lancaster, Pa., she began to love the sport, thanks to her friends encouraging her to play. Playing in high school and on a club team, she played in various games and tournaments, only to make her• a better player and help her get to where she is now. Pawling also loves to read, especially Harry Potter. When did you start playing field hockey? I started playing field hockey in middle school, when I was in seventh grade. What's your favorite thing about field hockey? The competition. Do you have any moments that you are proud of in your career? Scoring my first collegiate goal my junior year! It felt like it took forever. What was the reason you got into playing field hockey? I started playing mainly because a lot of my friends wanted to play, I didn't know a lot about the sport at the time but I'm glad they encouraged me to try it. How ha11. yout career of playing at Wilkes . lJniversifyn~n? . . .. .·. . , " Amazing! I have g to play"with so many different ~ople and I have formed so many friendships through field hockey, What are planning to do when you graduate? My dream would be to get a veteriniuy pharmacy residency right after graduation and then hopefully find a job. Is there anything you always have to do before a game? I always have to have my hair braided; I can't . " it braided. � 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, 2012 October 30th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 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/67ecae9cb076005f8c83da7494c970c8.pdf 07ffec0f6cd71971fc95079fb4304925 PDF Text Text - - - --- -- Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member THE BEACON The news of today reported by the journalists of tomorrow. For more information and content, check us out at: thewilkesbeacon.com '\Ji �TH Contact editor: christine.lee@wilkes.edu Nov. 6, 2012 Lack of interest in politics reason for student political inactivity By Christine Lee News Editor Although hyped as "historically close" in the media, this year's presidential election does not seem to be inspiring action among college students, as evident by the lack of signs and other materials for different candidates on campus. In a survey of 15 students, 12 said they do not support a candidate running for president, 13 said they would not get politically involved on campus and 13 said they would not actively endorse President Obama or Gov. Romney on campus if given the chance. The most commonly cited reasons for not getting involved politically is that students were busy, they were not "big political people" or the election was a worthless activity. Wilkes political science professors Tom Baldino and Kyle Kreider agree the lack of interest in politics from college students is not unusual. Kreider thinks the reason there aren't any campaign literature for any political parties on campus is because students don't care as much as other age cohorts. He also explained young v~ ers' level of apathy is higher, which is partly caused by a negative perspective on politics. "They don't care because they think that politicians are a bunch of liars, they're a bunch of snake-oil fails, so they kind of see both the Republican and Democratic parties as corrupt and the candidates are simply a reflection of that corruption," Kreider said. "They' re apathetic but they're also very cynical and I think that cynicism works its way into non participation." Kreider said when students are cynical of politicians in general it leads to a decline in voting for college students, particularly when they think that Obama did not deliver on his campaign promises of 2008. Baldino said campaign literature was present all over the place during the 2008 election because students were energized and both campaigns were spending time getting the vote in Pennsylvania on TV and in-person. This year both campaigns decided not to put 1 as much focus on Pennsylvania. "We don't see much on campus now butl we don't also in Pennsylvania see very many campaign ads because both candidates and their campaigns decided Pennsylvania wasn't in play," Baldino said. "The Democrats were perceived as having locked up the state so we're not seeing Democratic campaign ads. Romney pulled his money out so we're not seeing his ads and that trickles down to affect everything else." Baldino said if the top of the ticket isn't spending a lot of time in the state, there isn't any reason for anyone else to do so as well. Kreider said part of what explains that the survey results are not abnormal, and there are several other factors that explain this. For a long time people thought of voting as a civic duty, a responsibility as an American citizen. He said the younger generations have strayed from this classification compared to older generations. "For a number ofreasons they don't think of voting as a duty and so they just participate at much lower rates than older Americans," Kreider said. Junior criminology and sociology major Paige Kulsa isn't sure which candidate to endorse and an opportunity to get politically involved would give her a better idea of the candidates running. "I want to get more knowledge of each candidate's side," Kulsa said. Kulsa said she isn't fully aware of what the candidates stand for because each of them has good viewpoints of some things and others have views she doesn't agree with. Sophomore environmental engineering major Corbin Shermin doesn't endorse any candidate running for president and said he was never interested in understanding politics. "I've never really had time to get into it, it just never clicked for me," Sherman said. "Looking at their platforms I couldn't really side with either." Kreider said the life stage that 18- to 21-yearolds are at determines how they vote. Because many people that age are away at college, they are responsible to change voter registration and many don't think they have the time to think about getting the absentee ballot done. "You simply have a lot of college students who do not change their voter registration, are not home on Election Day because they're in college and have never filled out an absentee ballot. In order to vote absentee you need to think about voting six weeks before the elec- The Beacon/Austin Loukas Above, Romney's headquarters on Main Street is one place where students can go to make their voice count. However, Wilkes students have been lacking in interest toward this year's election. tion," Kreider said. "I think a lot of college students, even if they are registered where they're living in college, they get busy with schoolwork and other sorts of things so it's simply more work to vote." Baldino said the prominent time that students were fully engaged in a presidential election was 1972, followed by 2008, both of which were unusual in terms of activity level. He said some students don't see the political system doing anything important for them and use that opinion as a reason for them not getting engaged in politics. "I hear this from students all the time: 'I don't see what the government does for me,' 'I don't understand what government does' and the other line is 'I think government should be doing more but government doesn't respond to the needs of students or of young people in general,' but that gets into the circular argument that elected officials use is that elected which is elected officials will tell young people 'we don't act on your interests because you don't vote," Baldino said. "They don't vote, and therefore they're not going to get any attention. If they voted, elected officials will respond." Baldino said in 1972, the Vietnam War was still going on and a lot of students were politi- THE BEACON Editorial Staff 2012-13 130 S. River St. First Floor, Conyngham Hall Wilkes University . Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766 PHONE: (570) 408-5903 WEBSITE: thewilkesbeacon.com Editor-in-Chief: Kirstin Cook News Editor: Christine Lee Managing Editor: Bryan Calabro Opinion Editor: CarlyYamrus Ad Manager: Brittany Battista A&E Editor: Bill Thomas Photo Editor: Laura Preby Life Editor: Anne Yoskoski Adviser: Loran Lewis Sports Editor: Frank Passalacqua cally active outside of government protesting, so a lot of them voted against Richard Nixon at that time. The 18-25 population was the least politically active until 2008, in which the participation rate among all voter ages increased. Baldino also said the expectation is students won't vote in as high numbers as in 2008 because they are disappointed with President Obama's policies and initiatives. "Some of these young people are disillusioned, they worked for Obama, they voted for Obama and they don't think he delivered for them," Baldino said. Wilkes has established chapters of both the College Democrats and Republicans. The College Republicans are currently active while the Democrats club is dormant. College Democrats adviser Jim Merryman explained that the issues of the campaign four years ago energized students to want to be involved with the clu.9. Now there aren't as many issues for students to get excited over. "It's like OK, we know all about that, what is there to get excited about other than a poor economy," Merryman said. "It's hard to get stirred up about the current state of affairs." See Polltlcs, Page 4 Meet the Staff Laura Preby Photo Editor -I �THE BEACON I Nov. 6, 2012 3 NEWS l'llaJr.,, ....... SPECIALS WEEKDAY SPECIALS M-TH Large Pie $7 .95 Chicken Wing Pie $10.95 ..EIRV" IIIIIF■ ■ 20 E Northampton St. Wilkes Barre 825-5166 NEXT TO MOVIES 14 FREE WI-Fl In our Dining Room (carry out/dine in only) PIZZA DOUBlES 2 Medium Pizzas $13.95 2 Large Pizzas $16.95 Mll& ■ATCH Any 3 Subs or Wings 2 Tickets to Movies 14 WB 1 Medium Pizza - 1 Topping 2 Drinks I We Cater Parties At Movies 14 $15.95 WI CATER lARGE GROUP EVENTS PlEASE Clll BEFORE YIUR NEXT MEDINGI Hours: Mon .. -Thurs. 11am-11pm Fri.-Sat.. 11 am-12am Sun .. 12pm-11pm We're more than just great pizza .•• see our entire menu at www.januzzispizza.com Visit our newly designed website! @thewilkesbeacon.com THE BEACON The news of today reported by the journo/lsts of tM!Of'l'OW. Like us on Facebook . 111,... -•"90, Ao.L Oc_t,..iffl 1,A, lldl"" Some ..tulerts _ . lt-,eir fllll breek e1ean1n,1 stalls ane pons, wat,;n; bo\i.1s anc tUOO ~or ~rgor or,i,nnls. sv.-ocping: tl"!n t..1arn, cleaning the refrlgere.tr;r, .. l'!EAD MORE »11- Follow us on Twitter @Wilkes beacon �4 THE BEACON NEWS I Nov. 6 2012 Professor publishes book on ecotourism in Costa Rica By Christine Lee News Editor Pura vida. That is the expression that comes to mind when one thinks of Costa Rica. It's rainforests and beaches have in recent times been a popular choice of vacationers the world over. This vacation spot is the topic of a new book by assistant professor of political science Andrew Miller entitled, "Ecotourism Development in Costa Rica: The Search for Oro Verde." The book examines the use of ecotourism as an economic development strategy in Costa Rica and its applicability to other Latin American countries. Having traveled to Costa Rica on several occasions, Miller had been interested in unique development initiatives and how they have affected a country's economy. "I had been interested in non-traditional development strategies because if you look at the economic development in Latin America, many of the things they've tried haven't worked, and so I think if you look at Costa Rica and the fact that they've achieved a much higher average income than people in their region, you start to then look at the reasons behind that," Miller said. "I was really drawn to this particular topic because of the success in Costa Rica and the fact that the development plans in other states have not been nearly as successful." Ecotourism, a form of tourism that involves visiting natural areas, as a development strategy is distinctive. In order for it to The Beacon/Austin Loukas Assistant professor of political science Andrew Miller focuses on tourism in Costa Rica in his newest book. succeed, it must preserve the natural environment, but it also must do so in a way that does not preclude growth in other sectors of the country's economy. The book examines how the successful pursuit of foreign direct investment combined with Costa Rica's biodiversity and its attractiveness as a tourism destination is important to understanding the success of the Costa Rican economy. "What makes ecotourism interesting is that people go some place to see something different," Miller said. "Ecotourism seeks to put some of this money back into the environment so it can basically be utilized as an incomegenerating activity but one that's non-destructive." Miller said ecotourism is interesting because it seeks to preserve what people to go to see on vacation, such as Costa Rica's rainforests, animals and volcanoes. "I think that there can be an economic development path that makes money off the environment without destroying it," Miller said. In addition to taking students to Costa Rica this spring for Alternative Spring Break for the fourth year in a row, Miller will also offer a summer class during the first summer session in Costa Rica that will spend two weeks in the town of El Coco, partnering with the chamber of commerce to help boost their ecotourism industry such as sustainability projects, translating brochures and making sure maps are correct. Miller also has another book coming out this summer entitled "Globalization, Neoliberalism and Ecotourism Development," which will examine the applicability of the Costa Rican model of economic development to Panama, Belize and Nicaragua. Senior psychology major Chelsey Schoch will be getting her first taste of Costa Rica during Alternative Spring Break this year. She is excited about experiencing a different culture and understanding other people. "It's really exciting to be able to go to another country and be able to meet with people that are from another culture and see their perspective," Schoch said. "I'm a psychology major so it's kind of our job to understand other people as best as we can so I think it's really important for me to do something like this in order to help other people as best I can." Schoch hopes to completely immerse herself into the Costa Rican culture and gain a better understanding about the fair trade business. She also hopes to gain a better appreciation of coffee. "I hate coffee right now so I'm hoping that by the end of this I'll be able to at least be able to drink a cup of coffee 'cause it's going to be the coffee business fair trade we'll be learning about," Schoch said. Senior history major Alex Madaya traveled to Costa Rica last year for Alternative Spring Break and said there were so many amazing things there. She also said she gained a better appreciation for the United States' infrastructure. "We put our recyclables on a curb and it is picked up and taken away and it's not even something we have to think about. We go to the grocery store and we buy food that comes from a farm that we don't even think about," Madaya said. "With Costa Rica it's a little bit different. With the recycling project, those were people who volunteered to pick the recyclables out of the garbage or we worked on a coffee plantation and it took me two hours lo pick one basket of coffee cherries where that would have paid me about $2." Madaya said she has an appreciation for the U.S. economy and infrastructure as the result of her experiences in Costa Rica. She would recommend it to any students "in a heartbeat." "Costa Rica is beautiful, the people there are so welcoming, they welcome you into their homes, they feed you dinner every night and you bond with everyone on the trip so I would absolutely without a doubt recommend it to anybody who wants to apply," Madaya said. christine./ee@wilkes.edu Politics Continued from Page 2 MjlYman also cites a lack of campus leadership and the exciting causes as some of the reasons for the College Democrats not being active. He said it has been hard getting students interested in the group. "Our former president graduated, as did a number of very active students, so it's a question of finding that core of politically active students who can rally the troops," Merryman said. College Republicans president Ian Foley said the club has been active in organizing a watch party for the first presidential debate that was open to all members of campus, along with organizing several voter registration and absentee ballot drives and volunteering at the Romney campaign headquarters. Foley said the group has gained five to six freshmen, including one who is serving as the group's secretary. He expects younger membership to continue into next year. "I'm just glad we've been able to remain a force on campus," Foley said. Merryman said sees no reason why both groups can't exist at the same time. Baldino, Kreider, Merryman and Foley all stress the importance of students getting involved and voting. "I would say it is important for college stu- The Bea con/Laura Preby Pictured Is the Obama campaign headquarters on Main Street In WIikes-Barre. dents to get involved in every election," Baldino said. "Government does have an impact on your life, you may not see it directly as a young voter but it has an impact on your life." 6pm 7:00pm Spotlight 7:30pm As You Like It Classic Arts Showcase - Tuesday. Nov. 6, 2012 12:00pm 6pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:17:pm Wilkes Now Spotlight Del. Stores I Enjoy Being A Girl Wilkes Now Rosenn Lecture-Lee Zanny Classic Arts Showcase 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:30pm Spotlight An American In Normandy Wilkes Now Wednesday.Nov. 7,2012 @Cleespot christine./ee@wilkes.edu • y. a. Media 8:30pm Kirby Lecture-Tom Zasky Classical Arts Showcase Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012 6:00pm SpotlightApril 8 6:30pm Ax Of Murder 7:30pm Wilkes Now 8:00pm Kirby Lecture lawerence Reed 9:00pm Philadelphia 2000 Classical Arts Showcase Friday,Nov.9,2012 6:00pm Wilkes On Wednesday 6:30pm Reveille To Taps 7:30pm Wilkes Now 8:00pm Generation X Classical Arts Showcase �THE BEACON I Nov. 6, 2012 NEWS 5 Stachacz's new role helps out IT Steele earns Bullard Fellow By Shawn Carey Staff Writer Mike Steele's acorn research interest lands him spot at Harvard for 2012-13 academic year Called to order at 5:58 p.m. By Haley Adam Correspondent All college: $2,660 Conferences: $700 General funds: $6,313.35 Leadership: $600 Spirit: $873.34 Student Government total: $11,146.69 An update from library Dean John Stachacz was given to the Student Government board. Stachacz said he has assumed an additional role on campus, and that is dean of Information Technology Services. He said his office will remain in the library, but will now have to two administrative roles to fill. He said that he is hoping to get IT Services more responsive and able to help students even more. He said if anyone has any questions to please contact him. Representatives from Nursing Student Organization were present at the meeting. The NSO is an organization that represents nursing students here on campus. Three student representatives are requesting funds for a conference in Philadelphia regarding first-aid and nursing. They are requesting $1,500 from SG in order to attend the conference. There are 16 people registered for the trip. There are several campus events coming up in the next two months. Council of Clubs will be held on Nov. 6. Wing Wars has been rescheduled to Nov. 19. The Inter-Residence Hall Council Study Break party will be on Dec. 10. The SG Retreat has been scheduled forNov. 14. The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m. @shawncareyB haley.adam@wilkes.edu Wilkes biology professor and H. Fenner Chair of Research Biology, Michael Steele, was appointed a Bullard Fellow at Harvard for the 2012-2013 academic year. Steele's research interests focus on how acorn characteristics influence how, why and where animals move acorn seeds and how the behavioral decisions they make, in tum, influence oak seeding establishment. "My research examines the close ecological and evolutionary relationship between the oaks, their fruit, acorns and the animals that disperse acorns, primarily squirrels, other rodents and jays," Steele said. The fellowship will allow Steele to spend about a year conducting research at the Harvard Forest in Massachusetts, which is about 3,500 acres. In past research publications, Steele has focused on the subject of oak dispersal and oak-animal interactions. He went to the Harvard Forest to research more on the New River Common statue The Beacon/Laura Preby On Thursday, Nov. 1 , "The Ribbon " was finally unveiled at the Mlllenlum Circle Portal at the River Common. The sculpture, designed by Mark Boyer Dryfoos and built by Ray Preby, Is the first piece of publlc art on the River Common. "The Ribbon," expected to take six months to build, was finally completed after two years. This 2-ton, 27-foot high sculpture (30-feet high if you Include t he base and post) Is a gift to the community from Millennium Circle members and The Luzerne Foundation. The Millenlum Circle fund of The Luzerne Foundation was created to give assistance when need Is displayed in the community. topic at hand. Since arriving at Wilkes 23 years ago, this had been an ongoing focus of much of Steele's research. Steele will be working alongside several internationally renowned forest ecologists, and a "small army" of very competent post doctorates, doctoral students, staff and technicians. He is given complete freedom in his research and study. "On the one hand, it is at times intimidating to be surrounded by so many leaders in the field, but its also energizing and inspiring," he said. Established in 1962, the Charles Bullard Fellowship program was created to support the study and advanced research of individuals likely to make important Gontributions as scholars or administrators in forest ecology. Steele has made important contributions, and will continue to make more under this fellowship. @wilkesbeacon haley.adam@wilkes.edu IRTS AND SO MUCH MORE! PENS WATER BOTll KEYC t 1 " KOOZH:S BRACELETS P LUGGAGE TA n,,~ ..........---.J"'"QS lliii BOTTI. E OPtf'·lERS BEER "' TCriES SHJCONE :iAOlUM CU S SAFETY KffS !CE SC BALLS TEES I GOLF RA.MES ~OERS · ·ses Pt 1'4S 'NAT. -. KOOZlES A~\. . . . . . . . BRACELETS POM LUGGAGE TAGS t KrfS ICE SCRAPER . 1,000'S OF PROMOTIONAL ITEMS TO CHOOSE FROMI Why trust anyone else? I 46 SOUTH PINNHLVANIA AYINUI �Nov. 6, 2012 Contact editor: carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu Americans should put reading on top shelf BEACON POLL I With e-books and lending libraries, there is no excuse not to read By The Beacon Edltorlal Staff Americans read all the time when it comes to Facebook posts, Twitter and Instagram captions all across the country. The issue is, not many of these "reading" sessions are longer than the amount of time it takes to read 140 characters. When is the last time that an American adult read an actual book not required by some form of school? A report released this year by the National Endowment for the Arts says that only 43 percent of American adults read a book that could be classified as literature in the past year. While that is a significant increase from previous years (the lowest being 14 percent in 2007), this has been attributed to the rise in cultural cache and significance regarding certain book series such as Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games" and E.L. James' "Fifty Shades of Grey". Many people will use the standard excuses of "I don't have time," "It's too expensive" or even "I'm too tired" to avoid reading. The problem is that these excuses can be nullified rather quickly. Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook are two of the world's best seller e-readers. Both boast about fast downloading speeds, Wi-Fi connections, small size and minimal weight. These devices are not only conducive to reading, but owners can download certain applic_itions, a moderate amount of music and a num~er of games. For those tech-savvy people with an iPad instead of the Kindle or Nook, the application iBooks serves the same purpose. Many books can be downloaded and stored, becoming transferable among all Apple devices you own. Those who complain about having to carry around the device (the lightest Kindle weighing less 13.9 ounces) also no longer have a scapegoat. Smartphones like iPhone and Android both have Kindle and Nook applications that will wirelessly sync to your device at home. This way, on the way to work, readers can read five pages of a book, and then return home and open their actual e-reader device to the exact same spot that they left off during their commute. These innovations in e-reader and smartphone technology eliminate the need for thousands of books on a shelf, taking up space in one's home, car, bag or office. The second issue people tend to complain about is cost. A brand new, hardcover book will set a reader back approximately $20, sometimes more. For that $20, the person may never pick up the book again, leaving it to The Beacon poll is unscientific and does not claim to reflect the overall attitudes of students on the Wilkes campus. These poll results are based on 11 responses. Last week's question: What is your favorite movie genre? The Beacon/Laura Preby According to the National Endowment for the Arts, only 43 percent of Americans have read at least one literature-classified book this year. But with the creation of innovative reading technology, there really is no excuse not to read. gather dust and take up space on a shelf. The good news is, this problem has also been solved. E-readers like Kindle now institute a "Lending Library," where you can rent books for no charge for a certain amount of time. If you do not finish the book, readers can always re-rent the title. The time amount a reader has (usually 30 days) starts only when he or she starts the book, ensuring that the amount of time a reader gets with the book is fair. In addition to the "Lending Library," many classics can be downloaded free of charge from computers, Kindles, Nooks, iBooks and other programs. There are even sites on the Internet dedicated solely to providing free books to readers. The last option isn't new by any means, but it still works. Going to the local library in your town is still an option. Library cards are usually free or a very small amount of money and the cards are good for life. This way someone can take out books and read them relatively at his or her leisure. "This is a much better option than an e-reader for some. A lot of people still like having the feeling of the pages between their fingers, the smell of books ... it's also inexpensive," Librarian Jeanne Pearlman of the Osterhout Library said. There is generally a large divide between people who pursue higher education compared to those who stop at high school when it comes to reading and literacy rates. According to Suite 101, a site that publishes NEA reports, those who continue to focus on reading can increase their success in life. "There have long been correlations recognized between reading and literacy rates and their impact on educational and financial success. Indeed, some have posited that the very nature of democracy in an increasingly complex and technologically advanced society is at risk if we lack educated, adaptive, logical thinkers. And while reading alone cannot guarantee flexible, energetic minds, the absence of such a fundamental cornerstone of thought development and information gathering harkens towards sobering predictions of intellectual decline." Reading can transport someone to another time and place by exciting the mind and giving the reader a break from reality. Even if a book isn't required by school, pick up a good fiction and lose yourself. For reading recommendations, look for The Book Report in the Beacon Biogs. @wilkesbeacon wilkesbeacon@gmail.com This week's question: How many books have you read in the past six months? (excluding textbooks) • • • • O books 1-3 books 4-6 books 6+ books Cast your vote onllne at: www.thewilkesbeacon.com SPEAK UP! The Beacon wants to hear your voice. . Send your name, major, year and opinion to: carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu The Beacon reserves the right to edit submitted pieces for length and content. Anonymous letters will not be published. �7 OPINION THE BEACON I Nov. 6, 2012 Increase awareness for lesser-known health concerns lI\'» ,.- --~- By Carly Yamrus Opinion Editor October has come and gone, and Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign has come to a close. As a supporter of the issue, I am very glad people use this month to increase awareness of this devastating illness. Although it is important to continue to fund and acknowledge breast cancer, I think by this point we are decently "aware" that it is a problem and should focus on other issues that we recognize as serious threats to health and safety. That being said, I have compiled a list of several diseases and health risks or days of importance that people are hardly aware of: The month of January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. Cervical cancer affects approximately 11,000 to 13,000 woman a year, and is directly related to Human Papillomavirus. There are more than 100 types of HPV, with two specific high-risk types: HPV-16 and HPV-18. HPV is said to be the most common sexually transmitted disease. Nearly 80 percent of women by the age of 50 will contract some type of HPV. The majority of these strains only last about two years. Those who do not detect the HPV early have a greater chance of getting cervical cancer. Safe sex and routine check-ups can help lower your chances of contracting HPV or cervical cancer. February 14th is National Donor Day. According to organdonor.gov, there are currently over 116,000 people in need and waiting for an organ. Each day, 18 people will die waiting for a match. ~ y becoming an organ donor, you can help people recover from trauma, bone damage, spinal injuries, burns, hearing impairment and vision loss. One donor can help save up to eight lives. You can register in your state to become an organ donor today at organdonor. gov. April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Focusdriven.org (the advocates for cell-free driving) stated that cell phones are a factor in one of four vehicle crashes. In 2009, about 448,000 people were injured in cell-phone related accidents while 5,474 people were killed. Cell phones require the brain to multitask, which diminishes the brain's capacity by 37 percent to collect and process information necessary for safe driving. Texting while driving is 100 percent preventable, yet it causes over 100 thousand crashes and thousands of deaths every year. Don't drive distracted. The month of May is Lupus Awareness Month. Lupus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects various areas of the body including the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys. Antibodies that are supposed to attack foreign bodies instead attack healthy tissue causing inflammation, pain and damage to parts of the body. Lupus is a genetic disease and cannot be passed to another person. Woman ages 14 to 44 are the most likely to get lupus, as well as women of color. However, men, women and / :NtW / CHOLESTEROL \ ~.M• \ A Cervical cancer, lupus, bullying, distracted driving and cholesterol are just a few health concerns that should have Increased awareness. children can also have the disease. September is National Cholesterol Education Month. More than 65 million Americans are affected by high cholesterol. High cholesterol increases your risk for heart disease and the chances of having a heart attack. Cholesterol, which is a waxy fat-like substance found in the body, can build up in the arteries if there is excess. Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising and not smoking can decrease your chances of having high cholesterol. Have your cholesterol levels checked every five years. October is National Bullying Prevention Month. The definition of bullying according to stopbullying.org is, "unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance." There are three types of bullying. Verbal; saying or writing mean things, social; ruining someone's reputation or relationship, and physical; hurting another person's body or personal belongings. Bullying usually takes place during or after school hours, such as at school or on the bus, as well as on the Internet. Bullying can have a lasting effect on the victims. Kids who are bullied often have anxiety or depression, loss of appetite, sleep, and interest in activities. Bullying is often linked to suicide. Talking about and understanding bullying can help prevent it in the future. I do hope this article has educated you on atlleast one issue that you were truly unaware of. These issues may not get nearly as much publicity as breast cancer receives but they exist and are important none the less. Please take the time to educate yourself on other national health observances at healthfinder.gov. @wilkesbeacon carly.yamrus@wilkes.edu If you can answer that question, your overseas experience can pay even greater dividends in the . Study Abroad Essay contest Write a 500- to 750-word essay on the topic and you'll have a chance to have your essay published and win valuable prizes. More information will be coming, in the meantime, contact Godlove.Fonjweng@wilkes.edu or Loran.Lewis@wilkes.edu Sponsored by the Center for Global Education and Diversity and The Beacon newspaper �THE BEACON 8 OPINION Food Critic: In search of the perfect gyro, Part 2 Are Euro Bistro's ingredient-packed, freshly shaved, pita wrapped gyros the area's best? By Nicholas Wesley Correspondent Does Euro bistro have the best gyro in Wilkes-Barre? To quote the dude, "that's just like, your opinion, man." Despite that first sentence, I will not subject this piece to open biasness, before I have even tried all of the limited options Wilkes-Barre has to offer. What I will say is they got some damn good gyros. The first thing you notice when you walk into Euro Bistro on the square is the atmosphere. This is an aesthetically pleasing joint, not the place where you are worried about how legit your food is going to be. There is a very well done mural on the wall, definitely take time to examine and enjoy it. You also may see some sort of extraterrestrial garden; don't be frightened, be enlightened. That's an aquaponics garden, and thanks to Enactus club here at Wilkes, Euro Bistro is able to offer freshly grown, in-house produce on their already superior products. Definitely a big plus in my book. Now enough with the environment, how's the chow? Hold on, let's set up the experience a little more. So you go up to order, if you are lucky, you are greeted by the owner, Ivan or his dad Emil, two interesting characters. I will not say more about these folks, but if the food doesn't bring you back (which I doubt), you may find yourself stopping in for some good conversation. But seriously! How is the GYRO! Well, they are good. They have a choice of chicken, lamb and beef. All are delicious. They pre- The Beacon/ Lau ra Preby Euro Bistro's gyros are made with freshly shaved and slow roasted beef, chicken or lamb, tossed with fresh Ingredients In a panini pressed wrap or pita. pare the meat early in the morning, slicing it into thin wafers and putting it on a skew. Then letting it roast, slooowly. They slice to order, on your choice of pita bread or tortilla. Then they have you choose your toppings, olives, peppers, tomatos, spring mix lettuce, they have more than eight choices (the exact number evades me, but it's enough). You guide Ivan through this journey of toppings, but then the sauce. The Tzatziki sauce (that's the yogurt sauce on a gyro for you noobs) is very good, a nice and tangy complement to the dish, and the hot sauce adds this special kick. My recommendation is to add Tzatziki, and a Iii' bit of hot. It gives it that kick, that is promptly extinguished by the Tzatziki, giving a nice complex variety of flavors. After this dish is rolled into the pita or tortilla, mind you, this is not standard protocol in the gyro world, they will toss it into a panini press, to give it a compact warm finish. Now he will add a chunk of sauce to the top, don't be alarmed, and whatever you do, DON'T BITE RIGHT INTO IT. I don't want to sound overbearing and tell you how to eat your food, but I feel you should be warned that the best way to eat this is by chomping on the side and returning to the Tahiti volcano side periodically throughout the dish. A quick side note before I cap this baby: They have many other options of delicious meals. Their paninis are fantastic; Emil bakes the bread in house, the pizza is also a solid slice. There are plenty of vegetarian options, such as baked falafel, their fantastic mac and cheese and the soups of the day, plus they got a salad bar. Back to the reason were here, how was it? Overall they use a nontraditional approach to the gyro, in the monotonized Greco-American sense of the word. They push for the tortilla which is good but the pita is always overflowing with ingredients, making for a messy lunch. Nevermind the mess, how was the taste? It is a very good eats, the meat is freshly prepared and it shows! They clearly put a lot of care into creating this and never substitute quality. Their base ingredients are superior to anything you' d find at those eerily similar gyro joints plaguing any medium to large city. With care and grace your food is prepared in front of you, no room for question, no possibility of spit. Cost-wise the food is very fair priced, 5-8 buck gets you full. My recommendation is don't take my word for it, try it for yourself. This is a great place to have a lunch, if you go there enough, you will notice regulars of an almost cult-like following. This is definitely a place that will stay in Wilkes-Barre. Give it a try. • Email me @ nicholas.wesley@wilkes.edu and tell me what you thought about it, along with recommendation for other local staples. @wilkesbeacon nicho/as.wes /ey@wilkes.edu Benefits of re-electing President Obama drastically outweigh replacing with Romney By Austin Loukas Assistant Photo Editor There seems to be three things that upset people about our president. Ti. first and most obvious reason to not be satisfied with President Obama is his failure to fully repair or reverse America's high deficit and unemployment numbers. The failure to close Guantanamo Bay is, I believe, another one of Obama's large failures. The third disappointment I have in our commander-in-chief is his failure to abolish the Bush tax cuts. Obama has made the United States internationally popular again. He has ended the war in Iraq and brought many of our troops home. The war in Afghanistan is in the process of ending. America has the best relationship with Russia since the second World War. Obama has also successfully held off Iran as a nuclear threat by effectively using sanctions. Obama's face is seen on T-shirts around the world because he is seen as a symbol of progress and hope. Other countries now see the United States as having humbleness instead of hubris. This is a change for which Republicans, Democrats and Ron Paul fans especially should all be thankful. Many people complain about the Affordable Health Care Act because they do not understand what it is. To me, "Obamacare" does two great things. First and most importantly, it requires health care companies to cover individuals with pre-existing conditions. Before Obamacare, if a doctor found a small hole in your heart with the potential to be fatal that the doctor says you have probably had since birth, you would not receive health insurance and you would most likely be forced into debt. Obamacare also lets us traditional collegeaged students stay on our parent's health insurance policy until we're 26. This means that if you graduate from Wilkes and you can't find a job with benefits, your health is still safe. Obama also cares about middle-class fami- lies. Over the last four years, Obama has fought hard to give the middle-class tax cuts. I believe that the middle class is truly the heart of capitalism; if the middle class fai ls, all classes suffer. Mitt Romney is not only planning on maintaining the Bush tax cuts, he is also planning on stripping health care coverage of pre-existing conditions. Perhaps the most disturbing part about Mitt Romney is his inability to maintain an opinion on health care, social security, international affairs, religion, taxes, abortion and the validity of math. It seems that for this election, people are not voting for Mitt Romney because they like Mitt Romney, but rather because they dislike Obama. If you are one of these individuals, I urge you to weigh the costs and benefits of our current president. I believe you will find that the benefits drastically outweigh the costs. @wilkesbeacon austin.loukas@wilkes.edu The Beacon/ Austin Loukas Although Obama failed to restore America's economy, he successfully ended the war In Iraq, made health care affordable and fought for middleclass tax cuts. �ITIBBffirB~ Contact editor: billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com Emotions alight in 'fire dance' By Jennifer VIiia Correspondent base of classical Indian dance combinations. "You really need to be concentrated and focused to get the repetition and movements," Leah Thomas said. Fifteen-year-old Thomas is a student a Scranton Prepatory School taking the beginner Indian dance course at Wi~es for dual enrollment. Dual emollment allows students to obtain a head start by receiving college credit for taking university courses while still in high school. Thomas said that, although the class is challenging, she has already been able to apply some of the skills and lessons she's learned to her personal life outside the class. "The class helped me learn to focus more in school," she said, offering an example. In addition to the physical training and discipline the class offers, there is also an element of multicultural education to the course. Bharata Natuam originated in South India, where inspiration was taken from sculptures from ancient temples. The name Bharata is a combination of"Bha" for "Bhavam," representing facial expression, "Ra" for "Ragam," meaning melody and "Ta" for "Talem," expressing beat pattern. The second part of the name, ''Natyam," means dance. "I learned more about my culture," Thomas, who is of Indian descent herself, said. "It was really nice to explore different ethnicities." It's known as a "fire dance." With its smooth, eloquent style, the style of Indian dance called Bharata Natuam focuses on fluid body movements in steps and hand gestures. The graceful flow and strength behind each gesture expresses the personification of fire throughout the body. This semester, Wilkes University is offering classes in Bharata Natuam for both beginnerlevel and experienced dancers. "The classical Indian dance is most like American ballet," Sujata Nair-Mulloth, the instructor of the course, said. "It's a whole new set of movement vocabulary that could be used in anything you do." Courtesy of Teresa Fallon Nair-Mulloth is not only an instructor; she Those don't look like apostles! Updating the Gospel of St. Matthew for a is also a choreographer and performer herself. The movement vocabulary she teaches in modern age, "Godspell" blends biblical parables with modern pop music. the class not only allows further flexibility in By Nicole Zukowski McGraw and choreography by adjunct faculty dance, but also can be utilized for the improveStaff Writer member Sean Harris. ment of everyday living. Like Comoy, Baker said her religious backBeing comfortable with the body's physical A timeless tale combines with contemporary ground helped her connect with the script. Nevabilities brings an inner comfort psychologistyle this weekend, when "Godspell" takes cen- ertheless, Baker asserted that audiences don't cally, Nair-Mulloth said. ter stage at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center have to be religious to find "Godspell" entertainThe entire class consists of nine dances, all for the Performing Arts as the latest production ing. "I would encourage the audience to look be- performed to fulfill one of the nine categories ofWilces University's Performing Arts Departneath the surface to the growing relationship and of Bharata Natyam inspired by emotions and ment. moods like love, wonder and tranquility. "Godspell" presents the Gospel of St. Mat- how the stories affect the characters behaviors," By challenging the body to learn the intrithew in an unconventional way: Jesus Christ she said. "(Godspell) has got great stories in it, @wilkesbeacon cate steps, movements and gestures, students joins a group and together they spread the word it's got music in it and whether you actually bewilkesbeacon@gmail.com in the class learn about the style and rhythmic of God by re-enacting biblical parables to the lieve in Christianity or not doesn't affect your enjoyment of the show" background of pop, rock and rap music. "Godspell", Baker said, offers a high enStarring as Jesus is Cassidy Comoy, a junior theater arts major. Comoy - who attended Na- ergy and an assortment of musical numbers tivity B.V.M. High School, a Roman Catholic - by "Wicked" composer Stephen Schwartz school in Pottsville, Pa. - noted that, yes, filling brought to life by the a cast expressing immense the part was somewhat daunting, but his own enthusiasm and flamboyance through their charfaith helped him tremendously. acters. "A lot of it is their creation, I just guided "I could find the same morals to relate back to the part," he said in reference to his religious them," she said. "It's the same basic idea, but with just a little twist, our own little twist." background. "Godspell" will run in the Dorothy Dickson Though tackling such a weighty figure as Jesus Christ was a challenge for Comoy, the actor Darte Center on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 9 and 10, at 8 p.m., and on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m., has good faith behind him. "I think he is going to do a good job," Naorni then again on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 16 and Baker said. "He has the right balance of humil- 17, at 8 p.m., and on Sunday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. ity because he's not really an egotistical per- Tickets are $10 for general admission and Wilformer, and I think that's going to work right for kes alumni, $5 for students and seniors and free this part." for current Wilkes students with valid school ID. The Beacon/Tauri Philip Baker, an associate professor of performing Sujata Nair-Mulloth teaches Bharata Natuam in her classical Indian dance arts at Wilkes, is directing "Godspell," with musical direction by adjunct music instructor Ken class, educating students of all ages, ethnicities and experience levels. FRON1' ROW FILM SCHOOL THE BOOK REPORT with Bill Thomas with Anne Yoskoski "The Likeness," by Tana French with Jake Cochran Dealing with loss �10 NEWS Administration reacts quickly to wrath of Hurricane Sandy By Abbey Haldeman Assistant News Editor With threats of flooding once again approaching the Wilkes community, campus authorities had to find ways to keep students safe. Hurricane Sandy approached the WilkesBarre region this past weekend, as it did much of the East Coast. Fortunately, Wilkes and the surrounding area went untouched by the category one hurricane dubbed "Frankenstorm." "Wilkes University weathered the recent storms caused by Hurricane Sandy with no damage," President Patrick Leahy said in an email to faculty, staff and students. "Our campus was indeed fortunate to avoid significant problems." And, although the university made it through, it wasn't without preparations for what may have been a repeat of what happened last year. On Sunday, Oct. 28, the Emergency Preparedness Team, which includes Leahy, all the vice presidents, facilities, student affairs and residence life, met and discussed the weather conditions approaching. Together, they decided that it would be advantageous to close campus Monday, Oct. 29, and Tuesday, Oct. 30, due to the worst of the storm being predicted to hit some time late Monday afternoon. Students were not told to leave campus, as there was no mandatory evacuation put into place by the governor and Wilkes-Barre city officials. Vice President of Student Affairs Paul Adams said the team as a whole wanted to find a * Yto keep students safe and a way of doing so was by saying the university was closing, which would lead to several of them going home prior to the worst of the storm. Resident assistants were given the direction to meet with their residents and give them the proper information regarding what was going on at the moment and how future issues would be handled. "Keeping track of the students that were on campus was one of the biggest concerns for Residence Life," Director of Residence Life Elizabeth Swantek said. "Making sure that (students) understood that it could be a severe situation." For those students who remained on campus, they went under a state of low occupancy. Rules under low occupancy included no guests permitted into the residence halls, checking in and out with RA's at all times and letting one's RA know if you were to leave campus. The city of Wilkes-Barre issued a curfew for 9 p.m. Monday night. Students who had to be out of their residence halls during that time were only able to walk through campus if escorted by a public safety officer. With the threat of power loss, university officials had to come up with a course of action. "We always worry about the river, but we were able to have some predictions that indicated that, it probably wasn't going to be our biggest problem," Adams said. "We are probably most concerned about losing power on campus." In the case that the power would go, due to predictions of a longer period of darkness, students would be moved from their residence halls to buildings on campus that have generators. This including the Marts gym, University Center on Main, Evans and Roth halls and the Student Union Building. Students were issued front door keys to their buildings in the event that they would not have swipe card access. They were also given a list of things to bring with them if they were to relocate and encouraged to keep their cell phones and laptops fully charged. "We had a good game plan with the help of our colleges," Swantek said. During the duration of the low occupancy period, most things continued as normal. "All of our RA's remained on campus, so technically, the halls weren't closed, they were still open, food services was operational, the fitness center had hours for students, the library had hours," Assistant Director of Residence Life Danielle Kem said. "So, the halls weren't closed, all of the RA's remained on campus so that students didn't have to evacuate the residents halls that they live in." When the emergency preparedness team met again on Tuesday afternoon they determined that the worst of the storm had passed and it would OK for everything to open back up again. Wilkes weathered the storm, although other places were not as lucky. Several students had families that were affected by the storm. Relief efforts are being made by the university to help those in need. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted by this historic storm," Leahy said. "Members of the Wilkes community struggling with its effects remain in our thoughts." @thewilkesbeacon abbey.haldeman@wilkes.edu Snapped trees In Bloomsbury, NJ and Moscow. Above right, the river front In WIikes-Barre after the storm, Cohen science center damage, cleaning crew picking up leaves from a storm drain. �THE BEACON I Nov. 6, 2012 NEWS 11 Hurricane damage leaves direct impact on students By Kirstin Cook Editor-in-Chief Above, snapped trees In Bloomsbury and Avenel, NJ and Moscow. Above bottom, playing cards In Avenel, NJ by flashlight. Right, a house In New Jersey lit by candles followi ng a power outage. Mikel Hartsough watched nervously as ocean water seeped up the stairs of his house. As the rain pounded his city relentlessly, the flooding slowly and steadily crept higher. The sounds of roaring wind and his dogs barking in fright only added to the intensity. "It was a little intense seeing the water rise above your steps," the senior communication studies major said. "It's definitely odd." Hartsough was at his home in Ocean City, N.J. when Hurricane Sandy struck. While Wilkes-Barre avoided the brunt of the storm, many students like Hartsough were affected when the storm hit their hometowns. Hartsough was unable to leave the city until Wednesday because of closed bridges. By the time he left, and even the following day, he did not have power at his house. While there was no damage detected to his house, Hartsough observed a great deal of destruction to the physical properties of his oceanside community, as well as the resulting impact on their economy. He said the local businesses typically stay open until Christmas, but many of them were forced to close early due to the damage of their storefronts. "There's no point in refurbishing, reopening and whatnot," Hartsough said. "I know that'll affect the business in the area." He said the most destructive time was when ceeds going to an undetermined grassroots orthe storm started up again at night. Many resi- ganization that is aiding hurricane victims. dents were wrongly informed that the worst Wolfe, a senior communication studies mahad passed. jor, said he decided to pursue the T-shirt sales "The second half, when the eye had passed, despite having no personal connection to New was actually much worse in Ocean City," Hart- Jersey and having only visited the Jersey shore sough said. "That's when most of the damage once. He said it creates an easy way for the was done." Wilkes community to provide aid. Besides damage to businesses, he said the "I saw there was a need and a lot of people major impact was on the Boardwalk, piers and need help," Wolfe said. beaches. He said the feedback to the fundraiser was "The beaches are not even in existence any nothing but positive, and the numbers speak more. It's weird." for themselves: There were 137 pre-orders He said the hardest part was seeing the dam- made for the shirts in less than 24 hours. age to the Boardwalk, an icon that strikes up T-shirts cost $10 for Small to XL and $12 memories of childhood and vacations for many for 2XL and larger. There are four designs and students. four colors to choose from. Pre-order can be "The thing that was significant as far as made in the Student Union Building from 11 growing up there was just seeing the Board- a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, through Thurswalk in kind of shambles," Hartsough said. "It day or by emailing kyle.wolfel@wilkes.edu. was the worst I've ever seen it." Wolfe said enough orders could make a big Hartsough is just one example of a Wilkes difference. student living in the path of the destruction. "Wilkes University is a small school in According to the Wilkes Fact Book, Pennsylvania, but we can still do big things." 253 students from New Jersey were emolled at Wilkes in 2011. Kyle Wolfe said this connection to the af@kirstinjeancook fected locations is a reason to help out the kirsti n. cook@wil kes. edu victims of the storm. That's why he started the Wilkes Cares campaign to raise relief money. Photos courtesy of: "A lot of our students are from the areas that James Daly got hit by the hurricane," Wolfe said. "So I feel David Lee like showing them that even though we're in Ron Lee Northeastern Pennsylvania that we still care Austin Loukas about their homes and where they're from." The campaign is a T-shirt sale with all pro- Rosie Singalewitch I �12 By Jake Cochran Assistant A&E Editor Every group or fan base has its own little nuances and things that are accepted, cheijshed or even worshiped. However, "Star Wars" is one of Grose things that just goes above and beyond most, its fans rivaling even the Kiss Anny in their devotion to something that seems trivial to most outsiders. At almost every comic book convention, film convention or other large gathering of those of the more nerdy persuasion there will without a doubt be some variation of a Stormtrooper and/ or Darth Vader. Even Mickey Mouse has gotten in on the act, with no less iconic and all-American an institution than Walt Disney Co. recently indoctrinating tales of "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away" into its entertainment empire. This is something that can be counted on almost as definite as the sun rising, but the question is why7 Why "Star Wars"? It could be that the series has spanned generations of nerd-dom: Father nerds that somehow managed to bring little nerds into the world, raised these little nerds to love "Star Wars." Those little nerds got brought up playing with ancient relics like Luke Skywalker's original X-Wing and reenacting battles between "Ben" Kenobi and Darth Vader, and the father finally being able to assert his fatherhood over the child in an all-too-cliche fashion. But that old, almost legendary phrase uttered deep inside the bowels of Cloud City never did stop echoing. It has been used in so much more than a "Star Wars" context, and has never stopped being relevant. If someone says "Lukkkkkke, I am yourrrrr faathurrr'' into an old desktop fan, everyone will get the reference. Even if the actual line is ''No, I am your father." You get the point. But what is even more amazing about the series is the way that it refuses to stop reinventing itself, somewhat to the disdain of some fans. It will constantly be updated with ''better" special effects and sound. It has been a constant workin-progress with the addition of completely new scenes on practically every re-release. While these new scenes are not always welcome additions by the hardcore fans, they eventually learn to embrace them, although some things like the case of the Mos Eisley Cantina and whether Greedo or Han shot first give new life to the series and keep the series only a page or two away from the front of most Internet discussion message boards. Furthemore, the expanded universe is literally always expanding, with graphic novels and the animated TV series "The Clone Wars" continuing to bring the series to new generations. To keep up with all the material out there for the series would be an incredible task, and this is why it the franchise receives so much enthusiasm from its fans. If someone is baffled by a character like a Boba Fett or even an old Jedi like Kit Fisto, just going online and typing in their name in a Google search reveals page after page after page of results. Whether in the form of licensed books or fan fiction or even just aimless speculation, there is a wealth of material out there. The casual fan may be thinking, "Well, big deal." What some people don't realize is, for example, in the three original movies Boba Fett appears in, he's probably on screen for a total of, like, an hour. Tops. He barely makes any real impact. Nevertheless, people will spend upward of $500 to get the full Mandalorian Battle Armor suit so they can look just like him. That fact alone shows how devoted "Star Wars" fans are and, honestly, after sitting for a long time thinking this over, it seems the reason cannot be pinned down to one exact thing. However, the fact that the series is so expansive and inclusive that any part of the series can be important definitely helps. More important is that the series has constantly reinvented itself. Most recently, with the advent of extremely customizable and interactive video games like "Star Wars: The Old Republic" and "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed," the fans feel they are making an impact on the series for years to come by creating new characters. Every new generation of fans feels like they are the most important generation of fans. As the "Star Wars" franchise continues to grow and evolve, it seems that will eternally be proven true. @wilkesbeacon billthomas@thewilkesbeacon.com CHtATSHtCT . J . . ~mall Fries in a Big Universe ( . This 1~ a_hst of charac:ters that app.ear on screen with m . inimal sere:~ r~ time, or tnJUSt one movie, but somehow they have managed to beco~ marquee cliaracrers mthe setiesrofo1fineasorr·or ·aootlieCifsnows I ·---,,·how--expansive·,the"4 Sta.r-War~univers<ris"lllld4low~evetrthe,,smalles~ ~ - ~elementsJ)fiLcan.becomeJntegralparts.,oEan~ver::evolv:ingJnythos_~ -·__._J.ltl!g!Lf£tt ·-~~ G11t~1l9--._._.-.,,_. J r- _ _ _O_ften reP,licated but never duGreedo was never that big p 1ca~xcept once, hteraHy. a deruup untif one aay wlien ;:_J ~ mgo«Fett1s·thC'~'father'·ofHoba---·-6eorge·I::,ucas·randomlyotlecidecf"'- 1 - - -;ett-~cL..~~ fathe~ean_,,_~at-Han-Snl.o-ShouldJle-actittg._{ ' host. Boba 1s an 7xact clone of . m. self-defense whe,::i he killed Jango Fett. Jango 1s also one of the otherwise insignificant alien, ffie mosr fearec.rboUnfy-mmter~atlierthaYibefiig11,"'gefiefal"1,~ - - -~n-the-univer~&-hH~self-dass:--:Fhi~mad~millions..,,,of"""'-f . ...,..,...Js..aloneJhe..hasisJ'ro.m..which.al I · oe.nls.J.eam,bis...name to ge:fi;:ruL--; t ;r- C.. lo.nwe~e= eT .. ro.clone._ o....P ..e.r.s an ..So,d...wlille Sto..rm ..tr ...Jango oop....-. .· t.bea h .e fa.1lvicti~Jl ct that he0~ w;surn. _.__.7rs"' e scruffYed ne •.,.. . tsn rthe most~pllrtmtrcar,nr--~ trerder;,mtldrrg'hltrr'lf'nfore-hotly-"'"/ •~ he- olocki,- he-literally-was-the---debated4-0pio.than«Roe.¥,.Wade- . muse for an.entire army. After a little gene manipulation, that is. · · · · · · . iljfiafhe'lliffi l ,-----,.-....--.---------,---•-·--·-•- -4 · abba,is»e0nsisten+with'°1lis«ap---•- lrt~~;:{s~~~;:s:;~;-·-r ~ ~~~;~;!!!fig~ 'f'alhef;"~orc-·-· r - was- a- notonous-bounty--hunter---that- important-until •"R:etu:rtr,o~ -·- ~Lhas.Jle,en..Jn«Jite.tally.Jlu:~th.ededi,:.:-Wher.ein..Jabba.,...only.__, times the amount of movies is ra er as een m. n ot · er ~ becomes a main character for a l,ri'er:f(rriiinutes before croak-:--- - woro~e~vies:-:Tnsnhree. • irrg:-Whttelre'beoomes;rperfecr---, - -Desp1te..,,,this,--h~has-beco~e--•- l~hatable..villiaw.iiwhat-time41~, ,____,h.u:U,ogelY.J>~3:f· We first see this • . creates something else the •"Star ..,,.. future senal killer on Kamino as Wars" fan base cherishes: Gold~ ltle-6oy s easy o no ice >ila.mslaVe ancH ~ 1s-training41as-already-starte . - - -B.ut..when.he.trul)LC.o mes..toJru·~ tion is when he brin s Han Solo _ _to ~abba the Hutt to a pay a mob Le~oa:-' --! Ewoks . These lovable teddy bears are ,-' \ oeb . ~ r o ~ e a d l y 7 i i r·~faot,4nes~:furry4ellas-ar~appar~ 1 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.........5,ntJ;y.Jh.e.JeaSO.n.Jhe...empire...sup_- _ \ Darth Maul . . . . . . . . . .. . posedly crumbles . . Apparently, ✓ Some may ask " ~ e w l i o l e galaxy's fate was to be _,,__ M~11l;-the-·nu:i~·-antagonist~·of·-·="decided·on:'amuri:mportantmaon··-·-r ---Ep1s-0de-I,-a.mnumal,chamcter.?!?s_,-,,_·Of,Endor.--~··----=·"'----·-·--- - How~ut this: He's only in one movie and says about a para/ :.___graph-oL.dialogue,.,,,So,-shut-up. Jar J.ar-Binks,_________ ~ Maul has taken the tribal tattoo This is the op osite of a be,__,!? .:1 new pinnacle. as it was the loved character. Rarely has any advent ortliat patticiilar styleof - characterbeen7nerwmr sucn~ ! j ~ r-· - --ink~hewEpisode+was~released-- -hate-and-disdain-;-·Jar-Jar.-is-·be·-- · 1 __iIL19.9,9_ Lw,oncl.eLiLMauL.w.as__y,onclth.e.,.pULcushion.£or.the...se,,__ ) creat7d toda , would he be covered m anchors and sparrows? \ '. ries; he is the bane of the series' existence, and this writer thinks wrongfully so. Let the hate mail begin. ( · r -'-------~----~-----------J ' \ �Nov. 6, 2012 Contact editor; anne.yoskoski@wilkes.edu Election Day: What it means for college st udents around $16,266,170,704,733.51, could possibly be lowered by raising taxes. If Obama is re-elected for a second term, there is a great Depending on the result of the 2012 presi- possibility that Americans will have to pay dential election, policies that impact lives of more to cover the government's debt. Romney college students may change. is against this, not wanting to raise taxes for Both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney anyone. Not raising taxes on anyone includes have not only differing parties, but differing the 1 percent of wealthiest people in America. views on several key issues that affect the Obama has said that these people should be college aged population. Depending on who taxed more, and that the Occupy Wall Street wins the election, many key policies voters movement that they are targeted by was a good feel strongly about will be put in place or thing for Americans, while Romney thinks it is stopped. a damaging force. According to ProCon.org, an organization When it comes to outsourcing jobs to other that takes political candidates and lists their countries instead of providing our own people opinions taken from debates and speeches re- with jobs, both men think that this is damaging garding certain topics, there are 75 issues that to the country and the economy. voters should take into consideration. The isOne of the most important issues to colsues picked out for this article are specifically lege age students is financial aid in education. related to the college , - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ - - - - - ~ When asked if the fedaged voter. era! government should Although it should . increase direct finanbe taken into considcial aid (loans/grants/ By Anne Yoskoski "' Life Editor ~~~~ ~~b~ cies may reflect the ideas and values of their respective political parties rather than the candidates themselves, the candidates individual responses do shed a light on their political leanings and which issues they are willing to fight for. When it comes to abortion and the question of whether or • · not it should remain a legal practice in the United States, Obama supports a woman's right to ownership over her body. As it stands now, Romney is against abortion. Romney has not said what he will do, if anything, to the abortion laws if elected. The idea of lowering the drinking age to 18 instead of the usual 21 has been floated around, and the results are mixed. Obama is against this, but Romney has not commented either way. Capital punishment has been debated for decades, and surprisingly, both Obama and Romney are pro death penalty. No matter which man is elected into office, it doesn't seem as if the death penalty will be debated at all. ** * students, Obama has said he is in favor of increasing financial aid. Romney has not stated a clear opinion on this, but the Republican Party has voiced that they do not see this as a major issue. What would happen if a Republican were in office would be based more on the candidate himself rather than the party at large. One issue that has been especially prevalent in Pennsylvania lately is the voter ID law. Should voters be required to show photo identification in order to vote? Obama says no, and Romney says yes. For college-aged students this should not be an issue, as a college identification card is accepted as a valid form of ID as long as it has an expiration date. Another issue that has raised a lot of controversy is the March 2012 federal health care reform laws, commonly called "Obamacare." Obama is still standing behind his policies, but Romney wants to repeal certain aspects of the bill. There are pros and cons to "Obamacare"; one pro being that students can stay on their parent's health care until they are 26 years old. Romney has voiced no opposition to this. The only part Romney has voiced an issue with Courtesy of Jeremy Tobin The main presidential candidates discuss issues related to college students during a televised debate, which was screened in the ballroom. publicly is the possible mandate that everyone should be required to have heath care. Another issue close to many people of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area is immigration. Obama does not believe that local law enforcement should be allowed to enforce federal immigration laws, while Romney supports empowering local law enforcement to apply federal law. Both Romney and Obama support the continued construction of a physical barrier between the U.S. and Mexico. Both men are also in favor of E-Verify, the federal government's electronic employment verification system as a mandatory procedure for all employers. The issue of gay marriage and adoption is split between parties. Gay marriage is supported by Obama, but not by Romney. Adoption seems to be unclear for the republicans, as they have made no clear statement through Romney. Marijuana as a medical option should still be upheld in another Obama term, but possibly repealed if Romney wins. Requiring mandatory national service in the form of a draft or required civil service is something that comes up in every election. Both candidates are against the draft policy. Issues of embryonic stem cell research funding by the government also splits the two can- didates, Romney not approving and Obama supporting the cause. Although the two candidates in this year's election are very different people, they do agree on some things. Many of the issues that are important to college aged students are set to stay in place or be changed, and many students have opinions on that. President of Wilkes' College Republicans, Ian Foley said, "It comes down to two different paths, a re-election of President Obama would continue the failed policies of the past four years and our future will be mortgaged to pay for it. A Mitt Romney presidency means we will have a proven job creator, who in his career as a public servant has actually worked across the aisle with members of the other party. " A local campus democrat, Jennifer Alban said, "Obama should win. He has done well the past four years. People just need to give him more of a chance. Another year and the country will be in a different place." Whatever your opinion, no matter what party seems to have better answers, the important thing is to be informed and get to a polling station to cast your vote. @annieyoskoski anne.yoskoski@wilkes.edu �14 LIFE THE BEACON I Nov. 6, 2012 A Taste of the world at Wilkes for students and faculty By Alyssa Stencavage '' Assistant Life Editor Every year an event is held at Wilkes that features a range of foods, including specialty dishes such as gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian meals. This year's cultural fo6d fest, also known as the Taste of Wilkes, will be taking place on Nov. 15 in the ballroom on the second floor of the Henry Student Center. Tasters will have from 11 :30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to enjoy the various foods this event has to offer. This event brings people together in a different sort of way. "It's a fun and festive atmosphere," Meg~ (Boone) Valkenburg, community service coordinator said. "It's a great way to enjoy each other 's food and celebrate each other's cooking." Boone recommends that anybody who is going should get there early for "the best selection of tasty food." - The minimum donation for students, faculty and staff is $5 and all proceeds will go to the United Way of the Wyoming Valley, which the event has now been supporting for 19 years. There are many people who support this organization to provide the essential resources our community needs. The Children's Service Center of Wyo- It's neat to see how many different types of cultures and people are represented by the foods that people make." - Megan Boone Valkenburg, Community Service Coordinator ming Valley, Victims Resource Center, American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America and the Catholic Youth Center are just a few of the United Way's partner agencies. This and other information regarding the United Way is available at http://unitedwaywb.org. "It's important to keep those utilizing the service of the United Way in our thoughts as we make donations, because the donation we contribute has a true impact on the life of someone in our community," Valkenburg said. "Five dollars may not seem like a lot, but when you compile it all, it goes a long way for those who utilize the services." The goal of this year 's fundraising theme, "Thanks-for-giving," is to remind families of ... how fortunate they are to be able to spend this time of year together. The cooking that is the driving force behind the Taste of Wilkes fundraisers has been going on for about 10 years, and United Way also cooks and submits recipes, which will be sold for $5 per recipe book. All are invited to submit a favorite recipe for this year's edition of the Taste of Wilkes cookbook. Recipes must be submitted by Friday, Nov. 9. "It's neat to see how many different types of cultures and people are represented by the foods that people make," Valkenburg said. However, this year is the 20th anniversary of Taste of Wilkes, which will mark the end of the university's United Way campaign. Departments and individuals are encouraged to support the event by contributing a themed basket for the silent auction. The deadline for basket donations and registration to cook for Taste of Wilkes is Monday, Nov. 12. To register or for more informatiot, contact Valkenburg at megan.boone@wilkes.edu Faculty bringing classes should also contact Valkenburg for information about a group discount. @wilkesbeacon a/yssa.stencavage@wilkes.edu Comedy Night keeps students laughing, relieves their stress Brittany Budman Sophomore Psych Major Kristen Lopatofsky Sophomore Bio Major "We mudbog." "We make Jello cake." Marissa Kotar Ryan Weber Sophomore Pre-Pharm Major Senior Electrlcal Engineering Major "We watch a Christmas movie." ~·,..;; !;' "We watch football and eat cranberry sauce." By Holly Boyer Staff Writer As a part of the weekly Thursday night events that the Programming Board hosts, they decided to have a comedy night this past Nov. 2. This event had three Wilkes student entertainers as well as a professional comedian performing. The student comedians were Jaleel Sterling, Cartier Scott and Matt Gaines to open the show. "I thought the MCs did a phenomenal job," Gaines, a communication studies major, said. "Jaleel and Cartier are absolutely hilarious and are great at pepping up a crowd." Gaines, who enjoys the thrill of making people laugh, gets excited at the opportunity to test out his jokes and delivery to the students on campus. He tries to talk as much about the school and its surrounding landmarks to give the audience something they can appreciate. "Matt Gaines was one of my favorites because he can make you laugh just by him laughing and he made a lot of relatable jokes," Programming Board President Jess Short said. After the student entertainers performed, they finished the show with Ian Fidance, who is a professional comedian. Fidance works well with college crowds. He went through the college experience and he remembers all of the stupid and silly things that typical college students do. "Ian was absolutely hilarious, his jokes and delivery are remarkable." Gaines said. "He is a great inspiration to me, and I am truly envious of his talents as a comedian. He gives me something to shoot for. " The event was clearly a successful turnout by the looks of the packed lounge in the Henry Student Union Building. "It was really impressive, I think we had about 200 people in the lounge, which was phenomenal," Short said. Although many more students attended this comedy night compared to past ones, the comedy events are always usually a big hit on campus. "A comedy night is definitely a nice stress reliever," Short said. "Especially if it's some of the stu- ~ dents 'cause you know :r. them and they often ·. ~ · · · say things that can be relatable." @wilkesbeacon holly.boyer@wilkes.edu ·~~ .. ~ ,,.1,,,, ~~ �15 · LIFE THE BEACON I Nov. 6, 2012 R enovations scheduled to Weckesser, Bed f o rd halls By Anthony Bartoli Correspondent Renovations to Weckesser and Bedford halls arc scheduled to begin soon, and President Leahy's office will move to Weckesser Hall following the renovations. Weckesser Hall is one of ··the marquis buildings on campus," as Vice President of Finance and General Counsel Loren Prescott calls it. "Weckesser Hall is one the largest and maybe most visible," Prescott said. "It certainly is in a key location in the central part of campus." .. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. When you walk into Weckesser Hall, you are greeted with a chandelier that hangs from a 24-foot chain, an old elevator (which still works), a beautiful grand staircase and exquisite detail everywhere you look. From 1914 to 1916, Charles H.P. Gilbert of New York constructed the home of Frederick J. Weckesser. "The Castle," as it was previously known, originally had a ballroom on the third floor, where School of Business classes arc now located. Wilkes acquired the mansion in 1956 after Anna Weckesser passed away. From .1964 to 67, the hall was used as a female dom1. Prescott says that Weckesser Hall hasn't undergone a major renovation in about 20 years. Along with just general upgrades to the building, there are more reasons why the renovations are taking place. "The other reason is that our new president, Patrick Leahy, very much wants his office and the presence of the president's office. to be in the central part of the campus." The president's office is located on the edge of campus in the University Center on Main building. "It is an important part of the university's commitment to the community to have a presence on South Main Street," Prescott said, "but his (Leahy's) feeling is that the president's office belongs in the heart of the campus." The move from UCOM to Weckesser Hall means that the president, along with his cabinet, will move their offices to Weckesser as well. The renovations to Weckesser are only to make the building suitable for office space for President Leahy and his staff. "This is not a major, expensive renovation. There will be some painting done, and I think some of the floors are going to be refinished. Just a basic facelift for a building that needed it," Prescott said. The renovations to Weckesser do not have a final price because the university is still in the process of pricing all of the work that needs to be done to the building. Another reason why there is no final price or budget for the renovations to Weckesser Hall is because Wilkes decided to push the renovations back until after Homecoming. Prescott said the university is only in the second week of the prqject. "Our hope is that we can have the president and his staff in the building by the first of December," he said. " In other words, we are hoping that the renovation The Beacon/ Austin Lo ukas work will go Historic Weckesser Hall quickly. How- will soon be home to ever, we also President Leahy. recognize that there are some uncertainties associated with that work, and it might be that we have to delay it until the holiday." Changes will be made to Bedford Hall as well. Bedford Hall, which in 1967 was known as the "new building on campus," was 1878 by Bruce Price. The home, the former residence of attorney Paul Bedford and his wife, was given to Wilkes University in November 1967, after Bradford had passed away. The home was designed in High Victorian Gothic style. The home is sai.d to be the earli- est of Bruce Price's homes still in existence. (Wilkes.edu) Paul Kaspriskie, Wilkes University project manager, is in charge of overseeing the construction projects. "We are moving the art department to Bedford Hall," Kaspriskie said. The art department was in Bedford Hall originally, and then moved out several years ago," Kaspriskie said, "Now they've decided to go back to Bedford HaH." "The first floor and second floor are going to get a face lift. We are going to create some classroom space, and some studio space on the first floor. The printing press will be located on the first floor, too." Offices and a classroom/studio will be added on the second floor. The university is also going to provide handicapped access to the building, whi.c h will include a wheelchair lift at the side entrance to the bu ilding. "The renovations are due to start any time now, we are just putting together the final pieces." Kaspriskie said the renovations should be completed during the holiday break. Renovations to both Bedford and Weckesser halls are scheduled to begin within the coming weeks, and to be completed by start of the spring 20 13 semester. • @anthonybartoli anthony.bartoli@wilkes.edu �Contact editor: frank.passalacqua@wilkes.edu Expectations high for wrestling team By Grant Rogers Correspondent Photos courtesy of Sports Information Brittany WIiiiams had 13 digs against DeSales, a season-high on Nov. 2 . Playoff run leaves volleyball team hopeful for next season By Frank Passalacqua Sports Editor As the Lady Colonels volleyball team closes the season at 9- I 6, it moves to 4-3 in league play and clinched the third playoff spot in the Freedom Conference Tournament. By defying the odds and making the playoffs for the first time since 2009, Coach Joseph Czopek reflected on the season and looked forward to what the future holds for the Lady Colonels. "This season definitely turned out better than anticipated," Czopek said. "We were ranked sixth in the Freedom Conference in the preseason poll and fought our way to a third-place finish. "Going into the playoffs this weekend is a challenge due to the set backs the storm caused. We hope to regain our momentum that carried us through the FDU match and play at that level against DeSales." Standout junior Casey Bohan agreed the season has been a fun journey. "This season turned out to be so much better than anything I had ever expected," Bohan said. "Our team is small, but the amount of heart we play with is unable to be matched in size. Going into our first playoff game, we are the underdog. "No one in the conference ex- Casey Bohan at the net. pected us to make playoffs at all, let alone take the third seat," she said. "We're just going to play with everything we've got, and hope to come out on top. We've got nothing to lose, and the world to gain" Bohan earned First-Team AllFreedom Conference and recorded a team-best and Freedom-best 406 kills for an average of 4.37 kills pergame. She is also second in the Freedom with 0.76 blocks per-set. Unfortunately, when the Lady Colonels took the court against the No. 2 seed DeSales University, they were swept 0-3 in the Freedom Conference semifinals at Muhlenberg College. This ended the team's sea- son and hopes for a championship. Bohan led Wilkes with match-high 17 kills, five digs and one solo block. Teammates Paige Trusty followed with 13 kills and two assists, Megan Powers also recorded 32 assists, while Erin Nothstein finished with a team-high 23 digs on the night. Czopek said the team can only improve and has an entire year to build off what hindered them. "The outlook for this team is a continuing to grow as we will not graduate anyone this coming spring," Czopek said. "All eight players are returning, and we hope to bring in some recruits that can help improve the offensive side of our game. "Our defense was spectacular this season," he said, "and I can only see the program growing from here on out." The Freedom Conference Championship was played Nov. 4 with DeSales facing Eastern University for the title. Volleyball falls to DeSales The Wilkes University volleyball team saw it magical postseason run come to an end falling in straight sets 3-0 against No. 2 seed DeSales University Friday night in the Freedom Conference semifinals at Muhlenberg College. @wilkesbeacon frank.passalacqua@wilkes.edu The Wilkes wrestling team has high expectations as it is ranked No. 13 in the country heading into this season and looking to top their last year's 19-4 record. "We will be looking to win the new NCAA East regional as the format for qualifying for the NCAA has changed," head coach Jon Laudenslager said. "We would like to get at least two more guys to the NCAA National Tournament than last year and certainly get somebody new wrestling on the big stage in the NCAA finals as Anthony Dattolo was last year." The Colonels return seven starters to the mat this season including sophomore 125-pounder Michael Fleck, who last season set a school record for most wins in a season in posting his 37-9 mark. Also returning for the Colonels is junior 133-pounder Myzar Mendoza who went 28-8 last season and is ranked No. 7 in the preseason polls. Wrestling kicked off its season at the King's College Monarch Invitational Nov. 3. The team won two individual titles and finished in second place, posting 137 points to trail SUNY Cortland with 14 7 points. Thirteen Colonels finished in the top six or better in their respective weight classes. "Some of the more competitive teams that will be at King's this week are York, Cortland, Roger Williams," Laudenslager said. Next week the Colonels wrestle Cortland, Centenary and Johns Hopkins. Cortland and Centenary are ranked No. 7 and No. 8 in country and Hopkins is No. 19. The Colonels face six ranked teams in dual meets these teams include Cortland, Centenary, Johns Hopkins, Wesle~ (20) and The College of New Jersey (26). "It's another year with a lot of ranked opponents throughout the schedule and a few tournaments where we will have the opportunity to send multiple wrestlers to the mat," Laudenslager said. The Wilkes wrestling team returns home on Nov. 10 to host the John Reese Duals. @wilkesbeacon frank.passalacqua@wilkes.edu Golf ends with 1-3 record, finishes 7th in conference By Stephanie Hahn Correspondent Having only three matches this season, the Colonels may have not finished with the most ideal record ,but they didn't lose by much. Finishing second in the King'sScranton tri-match, Wilkes shot a 338, but the University of Scranton beat Wilkes and King's shooting 308. Jeremy Nolt and Michael Daubert both shot seven over par. Wilkes met Scranton again for a match-up but Scranton came out on top again, 302-362. Wilkes also fell in home debut to Misericordia shooting a 386 but it wasn't enough Misericordia shot a 335. The Colonels' last match was cancelled due to weather. Wilkes then went on to Hershey for the championship where they placed seventh. In the first round, the Colonels shot a total of 364 round two of the event they shot a total of 371. Anthony Gagliostro placed 24th by shooting 94 in round two and a combined total of 176 in the contest. Daubert placed 28th in the contest having a team low in round two of 85 and a total of 180 in the two days. "We may have not won the championships but we are very proud of how we finished and maybe next year we can do better," junior Daubert said. Wilkes golf team is looking to improve even more next year and place better in the championships. Having a lot of returning talent will help the Colonels do better next year and through using the off-season to practice and get further nest season. The Colonels hope to finish with all wins next season. �.i WE TREAT INJURIES AND ILLNESSES FOR ALL AGES. + JUST\/v'ALK IN. + MOST INSURANCE ACCEPTED, BUT NOT REOUlRED. + ALWAYS A ,,:<PHYSICIAN ON SITE. i''' ' . : ;, , '~! �SPORTS 18 THE BEACON I Nov. 6, 2012 Women's soccer team: 'Win or go home' By Matt Ciampaglio Correspondent SCOREBOARD Football 11/3 Delaware Valley - L 7-23 W-Soccer 11/2 Eastern - L shootout 4-5 Season Record - 11-4-4 M-Soccer Season Record - 5-10-2 Volleyball 11/2 DeSales - L 0-3 Season Record - 9-16-0 Field Hockey Season Record - 8-9-0 WEEK AHEAD Cross Country This year's Wilkes women's soccer team are in a "win or go home" situation as they head into the playoffs to face Eastern University on Nov. 2. The Colonels are 11-4-3 as they head into the playoffs with very high hopes The Colonels have already faced Eastern this year when they played them on the road in an intense game which ended up in a 0-0 tie. That tie appears to have given the Lady Colonels a lot of confidence as they head into this monumental game. "The girls know they can play with Eastern, along with the rest of the teams in the playoffs," said assistant coach Becky Barritt. "We tied them on the road and we felt like we should've won that game. Now that we'll be at home we definitely feel like we have the advantage." The Colonels have been led this whole season by their leading scorers Alicia Roberts and Katy Fissel. Roberts and Fissel have been responsible for a combined 15 goals thus far. What has also made this year such a successful one for the Lady Colonels has been its tremendous defense. It has set a new record for most shutouts in a single season. The Colonels have gotten better every year 11/15 vs. Shenandoah Go Colonels! We Deliver to Wilkes University! Call (570) 331-FAST (3278) Ask about our combo specials featuring our complete line up of pizza, subs, wings, burgers & more!visit us online for a complete menu & listing of specials at What do you plan to do with your career one day? I would love to be a veterinary pharmacist. I love animals so it would be the perfect job for me. M-Basketball W-Basketball @wilkesbeacon frank.passalacqua@wilkes.edu i the legendary taste What made you decide your major? My favorite subject in high school was chemistry, and I knew I wanted to do something involving health care. However, I'm pretty freaked out by blood so I knew I couldn't be a doctor, so I did some research and decided I wanted to be a pharmacist. Preferable racket brand? I just got a Wilson for my birthday, and I am in love with it. 11/16 vs. Penn State Hazleton ness, and team play that has made this season a special one, no matter what happens in the playoffs. Going 11-4-3 while also finishing second in the conference and making the playoffs as well is something they should <ifinitely be proud of." Rossi 11/10 vs. King's Football the past three years. They went 6-11-2 in 2010 and 8-6-3 in 2011, and look to add a playoff victory to their resume this year as well. Whatever happens in the playoffs, the Colonels truly feel like they have succeeded in many of their goals this year. "These girls have really earned all of the success they have had this season," coach Barritt said. "It's been their dedication, selfless- Continued from Page 20 How do you balance school work and athletics? I actually find that during the season I don't procrastinate as much as in the off-season because I know I have to manage my time. Also my coach is very flexible if I need to take a day off of practice every once in a while to study for a big test. 11/10 NCAA Regionals ..w"'·' Photo Courtesy of Sports Information Brooke Edwards had three assists In the game over King's on Oct. 27. www.grottopizzapa.com or visit our restaurant & sports bar Grotto Pizza, Gateway Center, on Rt. 11 in Edwardsville (just across the bridge!) Who is your favorite pro tennis player? Novak Djokovic is my favorite male tennis player and Maria Sharapova is definitely my favorite female. She's been my idol since I was little. zza the legendary taste $5 OFF Any Order of $20 or More For delivery or take out Expires 12/31 / 12 @wilkesbeacon frank.passalacqua@wilkes.edu L valid only at Grotto Pizza locations in Pennyslvania �19 SPORTS Est. 1936 Pa. Newspaper Association Member EACON The Wilkes Beacon provides access to: . • 2,600 full-time students • Wilkes brings visitors, parents, • 2,600 part-time students alumni and guests to campus • 157 full-time faculty throughout the year. • 308 part-time faculty • Many departments host end-of- • 375 full- and part-time staff year banquets, buy supplies and • 6,000-plus potential customers make many other local purchases. \ Email: wilkesbeacon.ads@gmail.com Phone: 570-408-5903 *Ask about prices. \ �-- - - - - - - - - - - - - BY FRANK PASSALACQUA Sports Editor Amanda Rossi, tennis player and pharmacy major, is in her junior year at Wilkes University. While attending Parkland High S'}liool, Rossi was the recipient of the Jean German award for enthusiasm, sportsmanship and courage. throughout the season. She also ,,competed in states her junior year of high school and won the .Lehigh Valley Conference and won MA Cs in the sixth singles bracket this past/all • Bow old were you when you first started playing tennis? I g2tmy first racquet whenl was about 8 but I choose to play soccer instead. J didn't start talcing . ;ously until around,.seventh grade. Bow is tennis in college different from when you played in high school? For the most part, the girls in college are more consistent than the girls I played in high school. What makes you give it your all from week to week? I have a great team and great coaches who always push me to be my best. I would never want to let any of them down. What is one moment you'll never forget on the court? I will never forget winning MACs this past fall. It was the first time I made it all the way to the finals and finally winning was such a great feeling. Describe your pre-match ritual. I always listen to music before matches. It keeps me focused and calm. What are you better at, forehand or backhand, accuracy or power? My backhand is better than my forehand and my game is more about accuracy than power. What made you .firsfstart playing? Jloth 'Of my parents play, so they got me my first racquet for Christmas wh~n I was about 8. My dad has been my tennis coach since I started playing. What is your favorite feeling when you step on the court? I feel as if nothing else matters, all the stress of school and everything else talces a back seat. ' .. f> "i-'' .'~ See Rossi, Page 18 cx:tk, ~ � 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 2012 November 6th Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2012 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